I know that you're tired of the argument and so I don't expect a response, but I wanted to drive home a point about something I keep seeing on these boards--
While rarity might affect a player's ability to acquire a card and therefore hurt a format (Jace, TMS for example), evaluating cards for competitive constructed potential always has to make the assumption that all players can find the optimal cards. When evaluating the most powerful decks in standard, I wouldn't have ruled out Jace and replaced him with Jace's Ingenuity just because I can't afford him-- that doesn't make sense. Constructed power-levels aren't determined by your wallet, but by the presence of cards that objectively (via testing and tournament results) work better together. Rarity only matters for budget players, and it doesn't make sense to evaluate power levels based on individual budgets, except for the individual.
Not quite true.
Financial issues can distort metagames. You can see this in Legacy — go to a big Legacy event and you'll see budget decks have a far higher whole-field representation than they would based on their strength alone.
This can impact choices for a competitive player. Suppose you're considering Deck A, which has one really bad matchup: Deck X. Under the assumption that all players can find the optimal cards, Deck X will only have a 5% representation, so this isn't a big weakness. But suppose Deck X is a budget deck and the top-tier decks are expensive, to the point that Deck X has 30% representation. Suddenly Deck A doesn't seem that smart a choice.
Yeah, but if your opponent is spending tempo and cards to ping you for 1 every turn, you're not going to have to chump block anyway. The only conceivable use of the Scepter in limited is as a Bloodthirst enabler, and even then it's a pretty loose play.
I mean, even if this made a significant enough impact to force your opponent to make bad blocks, how long would that game be going? Best case scenario this is down turn 3, and very rarely do draft games go beyond what, turn 8-10? More likely is drawing this turn 5-10 and thinking, "welp, I wish this were a real card!"
I'm not saying this is an awesome card (outside of EmpireTron or Bloodthirst archetypes). I was just objecting to the general statement that life loss doesn't matter until you hit 0.
Making someone lose life doesn't do a thing until they are down to 0
Not true. Life is a resource and making someone lose it limits his or her options. As your life gets lower you are less able to block with your life total and so you're more likely to be forced to make disadvantageous plays such as chump blocking.
As long as you're just playing this in casual (since it probably is too gimmicky for tournaments anyways) Urza's Hot Tub is perfect for these, the Kaldra set, AND the Urza lands! The best part is that you can even discard the Kaldra cards to search for the Empires cards and vice-versa because both cards have the word "of" in their titles XD.
However, sadly they don't with with _____ without additional help.
I wonder what kind of shenanigans could be had with these three with some metalcraft, since they, sorta, activate it themselves once all three are out.
If you have all 3 out, you don't need Metalcraft cards to win.
I really like the draft tension in that the effects are all worthwhile on their own, but not bomby, but if you assemble the voltron you auto-win basically.
The problem is that with all 3 playable by themselves and colorless, the chance of getting a full set is really low.
Notice how it does not say until end of turn. Notice how also if something happens to the crown the creature you now control is still under your control.
Hmm...
Yup.
The exception is that if the throne or scepter get destroyed in response, it will just tap the creature.
In photoshop, i sized up the space, and only two lines of text can be accommodated for each card as a second ability. There is enough space for, "If you control Throne of Empires and Scepter of Empires, you win the game." (assuming the effect would only call out for the other two pieces.)
It would use the template "If you control artifacts named ...." And there would probably be an "At the beginning of your upkeep...." before that.
Not quite true.
Financial issues can distort metagames. You can see this in Legacy — go to a big Legacy event and you'll see budget decks have a far higher whole-field representation than they would based on their strength alone.
This can impact choices for a competitive player. Suppose you're considering Deck A, which has one really bad matchup: Deck X. Under the assumption that all players can find the optimal cards, Deck X will only have a 5% representation, so this isn't a big weakness. But suppose Deck X is a budget deck and the top-tier decks are expensive, to the point that Deck X has 30% representation. Suddenly Deck A doesn't seem that smart a choice.
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
I'm not saying this is an awesome card (outside of EmpireTron or Bloodthirst archetypes). I was just objecting to the general statement that life loss doesn't matter until you hit 0.
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
Not true. Life is a resource and making someone lose it limits his or her options. As your life gets lower you are less able to block with your life total and so you're more likely to be forced to make disadvantageous plays such as chump blocking.
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
True. Though, do I need to use _____'s ability before or after I discard it? Or will both work?
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
However, sadly they don't with with _____ without additional help.
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
If you have all 3 out, you don't need Metalcraft cards to win.
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
The problem is that with all 3 playable by themselves and colorless, the chance of getting a full set is really low.
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
There's still a chance that they will print some sort of enabler.
M11 gave us Mass Polymorph. Maybe M12 will give us Mass Shape Anew.
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
Yup.
The exception is that if the throne or scepter get destroyed in response, it will just tap the creature.
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
We have a winner!
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
It would use the template "If you control artifacts named ...." And there would probably be an "At the beginning of your upkeep...." before that.
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
It's not that bad, actually. Compare:
And we still have an additional ability.
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
Does it have the space, given that font size?
Keep in mind the templating for these things: "If you control an artifact named...."
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)