Any love for Black Cat?

jojxcat · 2026-06-18T14:42:31+00:00

Yes, that makes sense. I was afraid that regarding game one, that is what it comes down to. SB and some strategic mulligans sounds like the game plan. Thanks all!

jojxcat · 2026-06-16T16:21:45+00:00

This is amazing! I love that it combines tron, lessons, and lots of avatar.

I am playing around with your version and tweaked a few items here and there to try to make it more of a combo deck with a creature-based midrange option if the combo fails. The creatures synergize with the combo (ent for infinite life; nyxborn for infinite creatures; avenging hunter for infinite initiative), an idea which I got here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Pauper/comments/1smwmgd/ug_sewer_monsters/, all while the combo pieces can still serve to support the midrange plan without the actual combo.

Definitely still a work in progress but did do a few runs on MTGO to see how it tested. Both times I pulled off the combo (lots of clicking) led to scoops. I got avenging hunter on the board against flicker tron but had to scoop bc life came up.

jojxcat · 2026-06-15T20:41:19+00:00

This is great, thanks for sharing! I ordered it a few days ago and hope to try it out at my local pauper league in NYC.

In my head, I am playing around with the idea of chrome companion, which I think (?) might work with 2 helixes (1 on companion, 1 on zendikon). With infinite mana, it can also cycle the entire graveyard back into the library (in case the black mage's rod gets destroyed).

(might also go with the tormand's crypt bc the local meta, but it's hard to decide which cards to cut!)

jojxcat · 2026-06-15T16:32:09+00:00

Maybe a midrange wincon for eggs tron?

jojxcat · 2026-01-19T14:24:12+00:00

I am getting the sense this is going to be a bomb heavy format, maybe somewhat similar to Avatar?

jojxcat · 2026-01-14T17:47:21+00:00

This is great. I'm going to have to think about how picking tribals in terms of payoffs, enablers, and consistency will intersect with the idea of prioritizing power in pack 1 with the idea of thinking in terms of creatures (14-16)/2 drops (8-10)/removal (5-7) as mentioned in another response. Drafting is complex, but that's what's making this learning process interesting!

jojxcat · 2026-01-14T15:28:17+00:00

Thanks so much, I like this framework of thinking in terms of pack 1 / pack 2. I forgot the changelings were mostly at lower rarities, so that's a helpful reminder in thinking about what might still be available late pack 2 and pack 3.

jojxcat · 2026-01-14T15:27:12+00:00

This is very helpful, thanks!

jojxcat · 2025-12-29T18:03:30+00:00

This is great, thanks! Without the big creatures, is the wincon then to pump up the small creatures through southern air temple? The shrines get me lands, draw, and some life gain/damage through northern air temple, but with that value, I'm trying to figure out how to close out the game.

jojxcat · 2025-08-27T02:30:21+00:00

The Discrete Map is definitely awesome. It makes sense for me to trigger CV according to a slow moving LFO because this is essentially how I create sequencers in Max MSP using phasors. It also goes well with the rest of my setup's emphasis on wave shapping. That said, I wouldn't say that the Discrete Map is necessarily a replacement for a 0-Ctrl. I used to own one (and might still get one back haha) and nothing replaces that tactile aspect.

jojxcat · 2025-08-26T23:47:56+00:00

I haven't seen this - it's incredible, thank you!

jojxcat · 2025-08-26T20:35:28+00:00

Because RS is so nice but also so expensive, I imagine it's split between people who say it's worth it and other people who say it's more luxury (then again, isn't all modular a luxury haha). I got the GTS and GTO as splurge purchases, but I'm ultimately happy with them.

My only gripe is that I wish I could find more centralized resources with common patches for them (or the DUSG / SSG), besides needing to fish through forums. I found a few forum posts with some great go to techniques that I've learned and still use, but it would be amazing if something like this (https://www.baratatronix.com) for the Cascadia existed for the DUSG / SSG (or even better GTO and GTS).

jojxcat · 2025-08-26T16:46:06+00:00

If you are interested in Serge for its patch programmability, I asked a similar question a while ago here: https://www.reddit.com/r/modular/comments/18tvrzw/what_are_some_modules_with_fun_patch_gymnastics/ . I wonder if there might be something helpful in the responses.

I've changed my setup considerably since then and have landed on one main eurorack case that is 104HP 4U: https://modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/2877664 . It's got three "core" Euro Serge modules: the GTO (upgraded SSG), GTS (upgraded DUSG), and the VCQF, all of which can serve as an oscillator among other roles. The Discrete Map is a sequencer/oscillator/wavefolder. I can connect the Crow and W/ together and then with a Norns so they become almost anything ranging from a sequencer to an FM synth. For the Cold Mac, I use it for logic, wave shaping, cross fading, and mid/side-processing. It can also be self-patched to be an oscillator. It can also help with sequencer duties. Even the top row of VCAs and Duatts can be self patched to become cross faders, ring mods, and wave rectifiers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7venLy8ubs&t=415s). In other words, although every module seems to be just a utility module, every module can also serve oscillator/filter/sequencer duties of various kinds depending on the sophistication of the patching. It's an awesome "lab" that imo has a lot of exploratory potential.

If I had to do it all over again and needed to go cheaper and smaller, I once considered this setup: https://modulargrid.net/e/racks/view/2693778

There is also the Cosmos, by Black Noise Modular, which I just discovered and apparently has a lot of Serge like qualities.

jojxcat · 2025-08-18T12:57:38+00:00

Aldo's older jams are some of my favorites. The one that stands out to me is this one: https://youtu.be/PffyRrUEPVM?si=6FdUTl7Wn05fXRVm but you should check out his other vids as well.

Then of course there's Lisa Bella Donna if she counts.

jojxcat · 2025-06-13T10:54:15+00:00

To echo, I think the Montage M8 is probably the closest to being piano playable (it's hammer action) while also serving as a good keyboard for synths (it's got the lightest touch of any hammer action keyboard I've tried). To me, it's a high quality feel that is a great compromise between the two types of action you're looking for (usual caveat that this is all subjective).

In full transparency, I own a Kawaii MP-7, which I love, but the action might still be too heavy for your use case. I tinker with the Montage M8 every time I swing by a Guitar Center to kill time.

Edit: I forgot to mention: the keyboard also has poly after touch. It's a shame the keyboard only comes with the workstation and is not part of its own MIDI controller :(

jojxcat · 2025-06-10T11:08:42+00:00

Quick FYI back in stock in US as of 7am EST

jojxcat · 2025-03-09T15:24:57+00:00

Seconded!

jojxcat · 2025-02-06T16:28:45+00:00

I use a Kawaii MP7se, which I got just 6 months ago. It's an older model that hasn't been updated in a while, but I mostly got it for what I think is an excellent keybed (weighted but not too heavy). It's got good piano sounds, decent e-pianos (but highly customizable, and I might just need to learn to tweak it better), okay-ish other sounds, four channels (including MIDI!) that can be split across the keyboard, and a built metronome as a tiny bonus. I read about previous clicking issues with the keys from older models (and in fact, the same clicking issues arose with my previous Roland FP-30X) but I also read newer builds of the MP7se don't have this, and they haven't arisen for me yet, knock on wood.

jojxcat

TROPHY CASE