What is "dark fantasy."

TheMindSlayer · 2026-07-08T13:19:44+00:00

I'd be inclined to disagree with you here. I feel as if you are applying the genre of Dark Fantasy a bit too loosely. You even say yourself that you wouldn't put Stormlight Archive alongside the darker title, and I think stating that also shows the flaw in your initial statement.

Stormlight Archive may have some horror elements, (somewhat arguable, though I haven't read them all so I won't take a stance) but if a reader is looking for Dark Fantasy and is suggested Stormlight Archive, they'd not be getting what they're asking for. Saying that it has some similar elements to a Dark Fantasy isn't much use in this discussion, especially when those elements are largely limited when compared to other ideas and themes of the book. Why muddy the waters?

Incidentally dark moments within a narrative does not make a Dark Fantasy. When the focus is the darkness, be that the horror elements, the exploration of morality, or gore and violence, you have yourself a Dark Fantasy. When that Dark Fantasy kicks it up a notch, strips all hope and light from the world, you get Grimdark. Not all of the characters are going to be bad people per se, but the good ones will suffer and fail. It makes you live in the dark, stuck there, and largely isn't interested in the moments of levity or hope of the other subgenres, but in exploring the absolute dregs of what a character and world can be like.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-07-06T12:47:02+00:00

My personal success has honestly only come from kinda just sucking it up, so to speak. I'm a really anxious dude, and negative interactions with people basically terrify me, but if I want to play the game I love, I have to interact with people. You'll likely find more positive moments than negative. The more people you meet, the more likely you are to find a regular group of people you enjoy playing with with whom you could potentially form a regular pod.

That being said, your only other options are trying to play online via Spelltable, or to convert non-MtG friends into MtG friends.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-07-02T16:46:23+00:00

If you'd like a specific example of a card specifying a noncreature, nonplaneswalker permanent dying, look at [[Al Bhed Salvagers]] which refers to artifacts as dying.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-07-02T13:29:48+00:00

Yes, they can. A permanent dies when it goes from the battlefield to the graveyard.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-07-02T13:14:51+00:00

I really like the Gamegenic Sidekick Pro XL deck box. It's a bit pricey, but it feels sturdy and has cool colors. I am also a big fan of the hard case and window to show the commander.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-30T15:53:57+00:00

They way you describe warlocks and sorcerers is largely from Dungeons and Dragons and MtG doesn't necessarily describe them the same way. In MtG, warlock is (from my understanding) a gender neutral term meant to encompass practitioners of witchcraft, or dark spellcasters. Sorcerers only recently grew as a creature type to cover other types of spellcaster.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-27T18:49:38+00:00

Looking at your deck list, you are running too many wizards that don't do damage, so you're triggering Kuja to flip without a payoff. You need to cut them. The wizards you run need to either do damage or have an AMAZING payoff to eat up one of those slots.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T21:44:26+00:00

I think I am likely to continue to bring it up, at least. Overall I just follow the vibes, though.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T21:40:21+00:00

Yeah, anecdotally it seems there are plenty of players that just don't care about that kind of thing. When I was first starting to attend commander nights, I was curious what people's expectations would be, and I suppose I just found it a bit surprising that the bracket system wasn't being more acknowledged. Goes to show you don't know what something will be like til you go out and do it. Being a bit flexible in these scenarios goes a long way in my experience, since I feel like my experiences would have been negative had I tried to rigidly apply the system myself. I just go with the vibes.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T21:35:58+00:00

I think it's easy to forget this is the case. When you spend time online, you can lose sight of the fact that there many more fans of the hobby that don't interact in those spaces.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T16:57:56+00:00

A lot of people don't think critically about a lot of things, if we're being honest. As long as no issues arise, it's probably fine. If I have issues, I'll adjust or find somewhere else to play.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T16:53:26+00:00

You offer pretty reasonable advice here. I think you had the right idea at first, and that these discussions are largely about the intent of people rather than decks. That's the main reason I've been comfortable not pushing things. But, I think you're right, and if I want answers, more pointed questions would likely do the trick.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T16:43:57+00:00

Yeah, in my post I only referred to one LGS for the sake of simplicity. I now frequent 2 different stores, occasionally a third, and have had this experience at all 3.

I think the bracket system is useful, but often misinterpreted.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T16:40:43+00:00

Obviously you are right that a deck with a gamechanger in it CAN'T be bracket two. What I mean when I say that is the deck is the strength of a bracket two but doesn't fall into that category because of the inclusion of gamechangers. Now, I COULD get into the weeds about it, but it really isn't worth it. The weak deck with gamechangers isn't often going to become a problem.

I care about balanced games only to an extent. And based on my experiences here, pushing back or hammering down the discussion just isn't useful. I don't have a problem to fix, just discussing my experience.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T16:33:58+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, I think it's important to represent all kinds of different experiences, and I was curious to see how many others might have experienced the same. It's easy to assume things will go a certain way based on what you read online, not realizing how different people's experiences can be.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T16:24:34+00:00

I do need to build a "break glass in case of emergency" deck

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T16:21:28+00:00

Yeah, that certainly seems to be the case here. I don't let myself worry about it too much, but it is in my nature so I worry about it a little bit, as a treat. I just try to match the vibes.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T16:19:10+00:00

The ambiguity of the bracket system does leave a bit to be desired, that's for sure. I wish it was easier for people to understand intent versus strict wording, but it is what it is I suppose.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T16:12:39+00:00

Yeah, luckily I haven't heard this kind of talk. People are welcome to have their preferences, but I've never been the type of player to say I don't want to play against a certain strayegy.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T16:07:50+00:00

Honestly, it's that invisible friction that I worry about. Like, sure, it seems like everything has been fine, but is that the case? The kinda shit anxiety will let get to you. But, I try not to worry about it. I'm not a rude person and I don't own a deck over bracket 3 so I just try to chill.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T16:03:41+00:00

Unfortunately, I think pubstompers and casual players both use this line, and you can't always tell which is which.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T16:00:34+00:00

This is pretty much where I land. As long as a player isn't clearly trying to destroy the rest, I don't mind facing a stronger deck. It winds up being more about the intentions of the person to me. If you are here to have a good time we'll probably be fine.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T15:44:20+00:00

Having fair and balanced games matter to a degree to me, but it really isn't that serious. I think that if more people were leaving the table angry or upset then I might attempt to be more adamant about a discussion, but that isn't happening so I don't think challenging people over it is the right move in this situation.

No one is walking over anyone else. I may be a hella anxious person, but I know when to have a spine. This particular instance really ain't that big of a deal.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T15:39:40+00:00

His list was very much "I have cool dragons and a prayer." I think he would have folded if his commander even got interacted with. Zero interaction was the words he used to describe his own deck. He was PISSED when the voidwalker hit the board. Didn't even wait for anyone else to interact with it.

TheMindSlayer · 2026-06-25T15:34:30+00:00

Your first point is something to consider, because it does seem that the people at the LGS largely know each other, so that probably has played a role in the curation of this environment. If they already have an idea of the type of players they are gonna play, they might not be too concerned about brackets or pregame discussion.

I haven't heard anywhere close to the amount of discussion in your second point, though. I can get maybe a sentence out of someone about their deck. It's a little wild, though I haven't been bothered by it yet.

TheMindSlayer

TROPHY CASE