[Magic] Snakes, Bugs & Assassins

[Aus_Snow]

Ha! Excellent.

Reminds me of a deck, back when I used to play (mostly in between RPG sessions, like beforehand or in a session break) - the Bad Picnic deck. We were all totally on the casual side of things, so it really wasn't tournament worthy or even close, but quite fun.

It wasn't one of mine, but I can remember that it had some bugs, like Deadly Insect, also Hurricanes and other stormy things, a flying carpet (that would be a surprise at a picnic!), and assorted other craziness, including various ants and Killer Bees of course.

Also, another friend did a black/green poison deck, some time earlier on, and that was pretty nasty, but even less focused or 'competitive', even though it gave the rest of us a run for our money. Not that we'd put much money in.

Personally, I always felt casual multiplayer with theme decks was the most fun. I did the tourney thing (got to nationals and stuff, woo hoo ) but it never really interested me to the same extent. And in the end we all jsut stopped playing. Still got the cards though! Might have to go through them again. . .

 

[el-remmen]

Mind you, the biggest problem with your deck are the number of cards you burn for no permanent effect. A Sengir Vampire or three and your deck curls up and dies. Ebony Charm, Fog and Dark Ritual are really nothing cards. Tropical Storm is too situational.

Global Enchantments are worth playing; local enchantments no, unless they're really good.

Cheers!

I am not convinced of the efficacy of enchantments (and you are right, esp. local enchantments). I rather have a one mana instant that does something for me when I need it unexpected by my opponent - and like I said charms rock because they give you a choice, widening their usefulness.

As for Tropical Storm - do you think I should switch them to hurricanes?

The version I am playing now has 3 City of Solitudes in it, so I took out the fogs.

 

[el-remmen]

Ha! Excellent.

Reminds me of a deck, back when I used to play (mostly in between RPG sessions, like beforehand or in a session break) - the Bad Picnic deck. We were all totally on the casual side of things, so it really wasn't tournament worthy or even close, but quite fun.


Personally, I always felt casual multiplayer with theme decks was the most fun. I did the tourney thing (got to nationals and stuff, woo hoo ) but it never really interested me to the same extent. And in the end we all jsut stopped playing. Still got the cards though! Might have to go through them again. . .

I am not a fan of multi-player unless it is a specific format designed for that purpose (and decks designed for that as well), otherwise I am all about casual play and themes. Heck, for a while my gaming group was having a hoot making themes decks based on my D&D homebrew setting!

But we also do so-called "Highlander" decks and played around with decks where all cards (but land) had to have art by the same artist!

 

[Aus_Snow]

But we also do so-called "Highlander" decks and played around with decks where all cards (but land) had to have art by the same artist!

Heh. That sounds awesome. Curses - you might just get me building decks again, should I get the time.

We did the Highlander thing too, but art theme decks? That rawks. Hm, I can see a RKF deck happening. Stuffed if I can remember what cards that would give me though. . .

edit - now I know. Something in Blue (and something), methinks.

Sorry for the threadjack. Just cool, seeing an old game from a new angle. Thanks!

 

[WhatGravitas]

I rather have a one mana instant that does something for me when I need it unexpected by my opponent - and like I said charms rock because they give you a choice, widening their usefulness.

The problem with the one mana instants is that they effectively don't do that much, esp. the Ebony Charms.

One important thing about MtG is what some people call card advantage: Basically, your options and what you can do is limited by the number of your cards - it's pretty easy to see: If your opponent has three cards in his hand and three creatures, then you are lagging behind with two cards in your hand and two creatures.

I think that's also one of your problems, you "run out of gas" in the late game - you don't have enough cards any more.

The Ebony Charm is away after you've played it - but to remain even, it should take at least one card of your enemy with it, otherwise you haven't done anything, effectively - the charm cannot change the state of the game significantly, nor does Fog (that's of course pretty simplified, card quality also counts - having a hand full of land is usually not worth much).

Terror or Giant Growths usually do an even trade - you lose one card, they lose one card. That's pretty okayish, especially if you are already in the advantage or have critters that can avoid being blocked (that's also the reason why blue and card drawing is so effective - card drawing puts you ahead easily - you have more options and more raw material to play and sort out the lands, if you don't need them any more).


That's also the reason why local enchantments are often so bad - if they kill the enchanted permanent, they take the enchantment with them, i.e. do a 2-for-1 trade.

Something like Mutilate, however, can kill several enemy critters with one card - that puts you ahead a lot and gives you breathing room to reassemble your poisonous insects, especially if you held back some of your creatures and used the funeral charm to prevent your enemy from doing the same effectively!

But one mana instants can be fun - I'm partial to the Funeral Charm, it can allow you the final swing, can help you to kill creatures, or just pluck out a card from their hand.

But we also do so-called "Highlander" decks and played around with decks where all cards (but land) had to have art by the same artist!

Can I plug the Elder Dragon Highlander format again?

Cheers, LT.

 

[Runestar]

They brought poison back...?

The key problem with poison, IMO, is that if you can get enough creatures through to inflict 10 poison counters, you are generally better off just dealing 20 damage to your opponent unless he is somehow able to gain life like crazy. The list of poisonous creatures up to visions aren't all that cost-efficient. As it is, your deck looks, and will probably play like some extremely slow and inefficient B/G weenie deck.

Are there any cards which let the creature deal damage to the opponent directly, such as fire whip? That is one way of eschewing blockers. The idea is to quickly get those creatures out, then sac them to directly give poison counters to the opponent. Or maybe some sort of reanimation deck, where you dump them into your graveyard, them bring them back via that tempest card....grave something?

 

[Aus_Snow]

OK, back in line with the actual thread itself, how about some Pernicious Deeds* for keeping some control when you might need it? I never used them, but I remember them working pretty damn well in opposition , as very effective 'sweepers' (a variety of spell I've always had a fondness for, be it WoG, Upheaval or whatever else.)

I agree that most charms and the like are not worthy of a place in most decks. Some are quite cute in the right place, however (the latter I only just saw, for the first time, having searched for 'charm' at the that site, btw.)

I don't know if there are any good split or [black and/or green] (whatever that's called) instants you could look at using in their place, instead?

* Not sure how much these puppies go for - they used to be quite sought after. . .

 

[el-remmen]

As it is, your deck looks, and will probably play like some extremely slow and inefficient B/G weenie deck.

Well, I am not looking for something to be viable in some pro tournament - I just want to be able to get over that 7 poison counter hump I keep running into (which probably has something to do with the speed of the deck - as you mentioned).

Mostly, I just want to be able to laugh at my friends when I beat their deck with poison creatures

 

[el-remmen]

OK, back in line with the actual thread itself, how about some Pernicious Deeds* for keeping some control when you might need it?

Neat card! What set is that from?

 

[Aus_Snow]

Neat card! What set is that from?

Apocalypse, if I'm not mistaken. A great revival for opposing colours getting along all cosy like (well, in the one deck.) Er, was that 'past 7th edition'? I wouldn't know. . . Probably because I hated 7th edition, a fair bit. 6th wasn't much better, mind you.