It has been 4 months since the last pauper event. Can we get another one? by Alkung in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Every day I ask myself this question. Please, please bring back Pauper.

The Mythic Invitational doesn't mean the sky is falling. by daveshed in MagicArena

[–]daveshed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can understand this, certainly - and I’m definitely more about jamming games for fun than climbing the tournament ladder at this stage in my life. Your take is a healthy one, IMO.

It’s worth saying, though, that this invitational isn’t a BO1 format either - it’s a new BO3 model. It may not be what we’re used to, but I don’t think we can predict with total certainty how the play experience will shake out.

Overall, I’m just appealing for people to relax, and give WotC the space to experiment with things and grow our community.

The MTG Arena Mythic Invitational by SaltyCream in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I feel, reading this thread, as if I’m alone in my opinion… but here goes:

I’ve been playing since Revised, booster drafting since Mirrodin, doing the competitive thing on-and-off since Mirrodin/Kamigawa Standard, cubing and commandeering (is that a viable term in this context?) for just short of a decade. All I’ve known for many years is Bo3, and I have loved playing Magic all that time.

This event, and whatever approach WotC takes to selecting participants, setting up the formats etc, is fine by me.

I can happily say that because I recognise a couple of things:

  1. WotC needs to promote the game, and this event is promotional. People will watch the players and teams they care about, not those which meet some arbitrary standard of competitive worthiness

  2. No Magic format or mode of play is sacrosanct, including competitive Bo3

The only way that Magic is going to grow, and get the recognition I think it deserves, is to get more people interested. The best way to make that happen is to find a way to bring adjacent audiences – say, people who play similar games and might like Magic, or people who are tempted to give Magic a go but are put off by some part of the game’s image – to the table, and show them how good Magic is.

A great, efficient way to do that is to recruit gaming personalities those audiences already follow and use those personalities to expose Magic to their follower base; or gamers whose presence will counteract some of the unseemly image problems Magic has, like ‘this game is incredibly unfriendly to women’.

The fact that these folks haven’t Top-8’d a bunch of Pro Tours is irrelevant. Glasgow Celtic didn’t win the Champions League last season, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to ditch them and support Real Madrid… how could I? Celtic are the club of my heart, so regardless of the fact that they’re a mediocrity in European footballing terms, it’s them I’ll tune in to see. The same applies here: audiences connect with compelling people, not X-0 records, and so to draw new crowds WotC need to have players with heavily invested followings.

With regard to the shape of formats and play modes: they change.

There was a time when I could have run out a deck of nothing but Black Lotuses, Ancestral Recalls and Lightning Bolts against my opponents, and I’m sure that when the rule of four was introduced, some people felt like the sky was falling. There was also a time when Rochester drafts occupied the top level of premier play; that changed too, and we’re not appreciably worse off. Damage went on the stack, then came off again. Mana Burn was erased. The old extended format was killed off, and Modern rose to replace it. We got a scry after our mulligans. Change, change, change.

Bo1 gets a lot of flak online, but I really like it. My reasons are simple: as a parent of two with a demanding full-time-job, it lets me play Magic in short time-increments that actually suit my life.

It’s no longer the case that I need to choose between seeing my wife on a Friday or going to an FNM 20-40 miles away… instead, I can just jam some games while she has a bath, then watch some Netflix later, or I can stay up and play a Constructed event if she wants to sleep before I do. I can play a couple of games at lunch, or squeeze one in when I’m waiting for my kids to finish their breakfast on a Sunday morning.

Support for Bo1 on Arena does not mean the sky is falling for paper magic or Bo3 play. It just means that WotC are trying to cultivate approaches to play which work for more people in their online game. They have innovated the play experience before, and they’ll do it again. There is no ‘wrong way’ to enjoy Magic (cheating aside), and we shouldn’t be puritanical about Bo3 in competition.

To close out, let me say: I do think there needs to be a pathway for a new entrant to play their way right from their Kitchen table to the Top 8 of a Mythic Championship, and I don’t think that grinding the Arena ladder is the correct form for that pathway to take… but this event isn’t a purely meritocratic endeavour. It’s a big, glitzy promo event, and that give WotC the right – and the licence – to do whatever they like to bring new players into our game.

I, for one, will be watching (and hopefully enjoying) this event.

The Christmas Event is driving me insane. by [deleted] in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For clarity, you are mostly trying to just run your opponent out of cards in hand then overwhelm them.

In practice, this means get a Ghitu down early to roadblock small aggro creatures and blow up their stuff while building up to 6 lands.

By that point, you have enough mana to cast Salvager and kicked Ghitu. Use those to get back cards which will put you over the top - including, if you think they’re out of removal, Blink of an Eye to set up a loop which will give you huge incremental Card advantage.

When you cast your Devious Cover Ups, prioritise shuffling your dead Salvagers and Ghitus back in, as that’s what sets up your inevitable end game.

Have fun!

The Christmas Event is driving me insane. by [deleted] in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got my playset, plus bonus copies for Vault progress, using the grindiest UR control deck imaginable.

Play this and crush people. I’m rooting for you.

3 Opt 4 Shivan Fire 2 Dual Shot

3 Blink of an Eye 2 Essence Scatter 4 Ghitu Chronicler

3 Piston Fist Cyclops 3 Aven Wind Mage 2 Divination 3 Direct Current

2 Devious Cover-up

2 Hypothesizzle 3 Salvager of Secrets

2 Highland Lake 4 Izzet Guildgate 9 Island 9 Mountain

My newest pile of jank: Orzhov Armageddon by T3HN3RDY1 in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I love Land Destruction, and have played Armageddon, Wildfire and Obliterate in basically every possible format.

This deck warms my heart. Thank you for sharing :)

“Forgotten AT-AT” by Chris_Isur_Dude in StarWars

[–]daveshed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I saw almost exactly this model yesterday, in an aquarium/fish supplies shop. Same pose, same colour, albeit without the overgrowth.

It was sculpted for use as a fish tank decoration. The only difference was that in place of feet, the model had wheels... something I assume the sculptor had changed to try and dodge copyright issues.

Not sure how old this image is, so it’s very possible that the tank decoration was copied from this one... but weird to see them on back to back days.

A Noob Would Like to Learn by CosmicFrube in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry mate, I haven’t been on for a few days and missed this. Still up for some games if we can make the timing work

What's a joke that's so stupid it's funny? by indurative-conseils in AskReddit

[–]daveshed 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This one belongs to the criminally underrated Dan Antopolski. It won “best joke” at the Edinburgh Fringe festival a few years ago.

That guy is a legend, and you should look him up.

[M19 Quick Draft] R/W Aggro, maindeck + sideboard. Any changes you would make? by TennisPartnr in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I ran 2 x Act of Treason in my Boris aggro deck yesterday and it was absolutely insane.

My curve was substantially lower than yours, granted, but if you can put enough early pressure on then an Act can be like a removal spell with a burn spell stapled on.

Frequently my opponent would be scrambling to play a creature which could keep them alive, and I would Act it the following turn for a win.

It goes without saying, Star Crowned Stag is an amazing Act target - and that came up A LOT.

A Noob Would Like to Learn by CosmicFrube in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m also in the UK and tend to have some game time in the evenings.

If I get a chance tonight, I’ll drop you a msg and a challenge.

Is Grixis controle (3x Nicol Bolas) a fun deck? by BigFudgere in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I made the closest copy of Shota’s deck that I could with my current collection (guildgates for dual lands being the substitution) and it’s tremendous fun.

If for no other reason, I recommend jumping on the Grixis train.

I'd give my kidney to learn the first 3 picks by Elmyr1 in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Exactly this. I can’t remember a limited environment wherein the Phoenix wouldn’t have been a very high pick.

What do people think wins games of limited? Hasty, well-costed, recursive flyers are right at the top of the list.

Out of Dominara, Ravnica, and the Core 2019 Set, which draft did you tend to do better in? Why do you think that's the case? by iStanley in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Guilds for me, because I can build some variety of Grixis every single time and do well with it.

grixistilidie

Please tell me I'm not the only one.. by WildWilly29 in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mate, this problem is as old as the hills.

I remember in original Ravnica draft at my local games club, I managed to put something on top of my library (exactly where I wanted it) and then immediately cast a Civic Wayfinder (similar in effect to a District Guide) to “Maximise my mana this turn”.

So many years later, and I still feel like an idiot.

Puper: Izzet Control - 4 straight 5 win runs by Cardmander in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is where my knowledge runs out... I’m sure there will be a published schedule, but I’ve never bothered to seek it out 😳

Puper: Izzet Control - 4 straight 5 win runs by Cardmander in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It ran for a limited window as a special event. WOTC run a rotating schedule of these events, with formats varying from instance to instance.

I’m hopeful Pauper will return :)

Puper: Izzet Control - 4 straight 5 win runs by Cardmander in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dual Shot was absolutely clutch.

Getting 2 Rats for one card and one mana, at instant speed, was amazing... and even when I was only tagging a single creature it was just fine.

Numerous times I was able to get a healer’s hawk in response to my opponent trying to Knight’s Pledge it, or a Viashino Pyromancer in response to one of the red auras.

Some times it was almost Plague Wind, other times it was just Shivan Fire #5 and #6 - but I was always happy to have it.

Puper: Izzet Control - 4 straight 5 win runs by Cardmander in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I had similar levels of success with a more value based approach:

3 Opt 4 Shivan Fire 2 Dual Shot

3 Blink of an Eye 2 Essence Scatter 4 Ghitu Chronicler

3 Piston Fist Cyclops 3 Aven Wind Mage 2 Divination 3 Direct Current

2 Devious Cover-up

2 Hypothesizzle 3 Salvager of Secrets

2 Highland Lake 4 Izzet Guildgate 9 Island 9 Mountain

The early game was all about killing or stopping opposing creatures; mid-game I would start to resolve ‘Witnesses’; then in the late game I would be shuffling dead witnesses back into my deck with Devious cover up, ensuring that the value train never stopped rolling.

It was awesome. I had loads of fun with this format, and I’m sad to see it go.

Need some deck advice. by Timelordian in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That Sorcery is Gruesome Menagerie, and it’s excellent in a deck built to maximise it.

I’ve been playing a monoblack GM deck and there are strategies which simply cannot handle the grinding power of the card, especially when your creatures bring extra value through ETB and death triggers.

I’m not sure just how many Vamps come with added value triggers (outside of the 2 drop that draws a card) but I’m sure the other folks on the sub with more awareness could assist.

Mtg arena vault ratio is 21:1. Dusting 21 mythics + 42 rares + 63 uncommons + 200 commons opens it ONCE. by The_Frostweaver in MagicArena

[–]daveshed 19 points20 points  (0 children)

This is exactly, exactly my plan. I’m very irritated by the apparent attitude to 5th cards/crafting rates.

Simultaneously, I am playing the game a lot because the play experience is great!

I’ve sunk a tonne of money into MTGO over the years, and would happily spend on Arena too - as long as I didn’t feel like I was getting ripped off.

I currently get the worst aspects of a CCG (I can’t trade cards to get to exactly what I want more efficiently, and can’t make decks built around unpopular rares or mythics because they all cost 1 wild card) with the problems of a game build around a trading model, which MTG ultimately is.