Would Solemnitycause for Sagas to effectively be mostly ineffective as they would enter with no counters on them, and thus have no effect aside from an enchantment entering the battlefield?
I'm trying to start up a non-profit retail corporation for a local community and for tax exemption purposes it looks like I'll need to classify it as either a recreational sport group, or do research and see if I can justify it as an educational organization. The sport idea looks possible as I remember hearing something about "League of Legends" being considered a sport in some universities (United States) and I've also heard poker as being referred to as a sport in legal context before.
My goal is to find the cheapest way to run WOTC MTG sanctioned events in our area.
Chess being a recognized sport has me feeling a bit more hope of this being a potential way to gain tax-exemption for this organization.
EDIT2 - Area owned is zoned for indoor recreational activity organizations. WPN account is filed, resources to file for Non-profit tax exemption found, business licensing resources found for two potential cities (one being current location, other for future potential location), articles of incorporation filing information found for state of Washington.
Any advice on how MTG can be defined as a sport, or other recommendations on opening a MTG Store/Non-Profit organization is appreciate.
Incase this is a time-sensitive issue I'll point out that the Ghost Council returns under its OWNERS control during their next upkeep. Your opponent will have ghost council back regardless.
I'm relatively sure you would choose how to order both the exile trigger and the return of control trigger. If you exile, he will have the ghost council re-enter play during the befogging of his upkeep and have you lose 2 life and him gain 2 life. If you choose to do the return control trigger first (or just choose nto to exile ghost council) he will simply regain control of ghost council and neither of your life totals will change from the ETB effect.
*Edited - And whoops, even if it were time sensitive for a game I answered a bit late.
I'm expecting quite a few players to shortcut to declaring attackers from their mainphase 1. Be sure to say something along the lines of "Using my priority before you enter combat phase I'll cast ______" to avoid disputes where the judge would side with your opponent due to you allowing him to declare attackers.
Immediately after declaring attackers Bazillion will have triggered. At that point it's too late to stop it by using removal.
I really like the idea of not casting FathomMage until I have 5 mana open (including one additional U to the cost of Fathom Mage) and if they try to remove her before the end of their turn casting Bioshift in response to put Counters on her.
Versus Dimir charm you only have to move 2 counters to make their spell fizzle (And draw 2 cards). Versus any conditional or damage removal you get a chance to overcome said conditions or damage.
People have already covered talking about using it after the enemy assigns blockers for some shenanigans as well. I'm definitively going to hope to have 1 maindecked at the pre release. It honestly feels like a strong card against the removal avaialble to any other guild aside from Orzhov (Near useless againstOrzhov charm unless you want to save the counters on a creature or do some additional damage to their life) (Executioners Swing's -5/-5 is a big order to stand up against).
Declare defenders, let them play their combat tricks, then Aetherize (Attacking player has first priority). I can see this card being strong against anyone, especially if you know how to act effectively.
Hoses combat tricks and equipped enchantments.
The extra perks vs each guild
Boros - Bye tokens
Dimir - Anything with cipher on it will lose cipher as it changes zones
Gruul - Blood rush
Orzhov - They'll be least susceptible as you stalling the game out with 4 mana open means they have time to get more extorts in.
Simic - Double edged sword, evolve creatures will lose counters, but he'll have a hand full of creatures ready to rEvolve efficiently.
That 4 mana (if they choose not to attack) can also be used in mana sinks such as the Simic Guildmages GU Remvoe a +1 counter draw a card, or Dimirs guildmages Mill/Poke shennanigns.
One of my favorite quotes off gatherer - "Curiosity + Liquimetal Coating +Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas.
You: I'm making Curiosity into a 5/5 artifact creature.
Opponent: 0_0
You: You're being attacked by Curiosity.
Opponent: I'm blocking with Sanctuary Cat.
You: CURIOSITY KILLS THE CAT!!!!!!
Opponent: 0_O !!
"
Not quite a straight up cat recommendation, but by using curiosity on your side (rather than opponents) It could be open up a pun along the lines of "Curiosity killing alongside the cat"
Mixed feelings on this. If theyre joining pods to get them to 8, I can see the argument both ways. One on hand, theyre cutting shares of prize pool, on the other theyre getting the event sanctioned with their own employees who are getting payed, theyre entitled to that minimal compensation don't you think?
I know people are saying its unfair to the prize pool, yeah, it is. However, this isn't some grandiose scam. This would be the worst con of all time, get 2 people to play Magic for 4 hours while you pay them wages so they earn on average 1-2 packs each you worth $2-2.5 to you. No one in the world would sign up for that.
The pods are only used for drafting, and in this particular case (Where the owner verbally attacked me for dropping) there were 9 participants, 2 of which were employees, 7 of which were players, and a prize pool for 6 people. Pods are always mixed here after drafting and the prize pool is divided between top 3 players in a 3:2:1 payout. Ex- 20 person prize pool = 30 packs. 1st place gets 17, second gets 8, third gets 5 or something similar. The employees aren't being paid for this, they're coming in out of their own desire (and on their own time) to win packs, get promos, and to play some magic.
After reading through this thread I feel pretty comfortable with my decision to send the businesses facebook page a message with my concerns. I'll be comfortable reporting them. Losing my business alone isn't going to hurt them too much. The locals who live next door provide a regular 15 people whilst there's some decent competitive players who travel there sporadically and might join me in going to some other businesses but.. I"ll miss the friendly locals.
I'm honestly surprised other posters on here don't have LGS's that have modified FNM promo distribution or free employee entry. I'll be playing modern (With a standard deck..) at another store tonight and testing the waters. Thanks for the replies MTG salvation, <3 you guys (and gals)
I'd recommend calling the store and asking about the searing spear FNM promo. If they state that it wasn't a sanctioned event due to not having 8 players which lead to a lack of promos... You know otherwise and have proof that you can bring up. If they still insist on not giving the FNM promos (Surely it can't be too much of a hassle to mail them since you talk as if it's not nearby) you should feel free to open up a ticket with wizards.
My goal is to find the cheapest way to run WOTC MTG sanctioned events in our area.
EDIT- https://www.google.com/search?q=is chess a sport&oq=is chess a sport&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.1352j0j4&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8
Chess being a recognized sport has me feeling a bit more hope of this being a potential way to gain tax-exemption for this organization.
EDIT2 - Area owned is zoned for indoor recreational activity organizations. WPN account is filed, resources to file for Non-profit tax exemption found, business licensing resources found for two potential cities (one being current location, other for future potential location), articles of incorporation filing information found for state of Washington.
Any advice on how MTG can be defined as a sport, or other recommendations on opening a MTG Store/Non-Profit organization is appreciate.
Off topic - My simic pack had a biovisionary.. I didn't feel as bad for them after seeing that.
I'm relatively sure you would choose how to order both the exile trigger and the return of control trigger. If you exile, he will have the ghost council re-enter play during the befogging of his upkeep and have you lose 2 life and him gain 2 life. If you choose to do the return control trigger first (or just choose nto to exile ghost council) he will simply regain control of ghost council and neither of your life totals will change from the ETB effect.
*Edited - And whoops, even if it were time sensitive for a game I answered a bit late.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=483131
Immediately after declaring attackers Bazillion will have triggered. At that point it's too late to stop it by using removal.
Versus Dimir charm you only have to move 2 counters to make their spell fizzle (And draw 2 cards). Versus any conditional or damage removal you get a chance to overcome said conditions or damage.
People have already covered talking about using it after the enemy assigns blockers for some shenanigans as well. I'm definitively going to hope to have 1 maindecked at the pre release. It honestly feels like a strong card against the removal avaialble to any other guild aside from Orzhov (Near useless againstOrzhov charm unless you want to save the counters on a creature or do some additional damage to their life) (Executioners Swing's -5/-5 is a big order to stand up against).
It's unthinkable that a hobby could help fund itself
Hoses combat tricks and equipped enchantments.
The extra perks vs each guild
Boros - Bye tokens
Dimir - Anything with cipher on it will lose cipher as it changes zones
Gruul - Blood rush
Orzhov - They'll be least susceptible as you stalling the game out with 4 mana open means they have time to get more extorts in.
Simic - Double edged sword, evolve creatures will lose counters, but he'll have a hand full of creatures ready to rEvolve efficiently.
That 4 mana (if they choose not to attack) can also be used in mana sinks such as the Simic Guildmages GU Remvoe a +1 counter draw a card, or Dimirs guildmages Mill/Poke shennanigns.
You: I'm making Curiosity into a 5/5 artifact creature.
Opponent: 0_0
You: You're being attacked by Curiosity.
Opponent: I'm blocking with Sanctuary Cat.
You: CURIOSITY KILLS THE CAT!!!!!!
Opponent: 0_O !!
"
Not quite a straight up cat recommendation, but by using curiosity on your side (rather than opponents) It could be open up a pun along the lines of "Curiosity killing alongside the cat"
The pods are only used for drafting, and in this particular case (Where the owner verbally attacked me for dropping) there were 9 participants, 2 of which were employees, 7 of which were players, and a prize pool for 6 people. Pods are always mixed here after drafting and the prize pool is divided between top 3 players in a 3:2:1 payout. Ex- 20 person prize pool = 30 packs. 1st place gets 17, second gets 8, third gets 5 or something similar. The employees aren't being paid for this, they're coming in out of their own desire (and on their own time) to win packs, get promos, and to play some magic.
After reading through this thread I feel pretty comfortable with my decision to send the businesses facebook page a message with my concerns. I'll be comfortable reporting them. Losing my business alone isn't going to hurt them too much. The locals who live next door provide a regular 15 people whilst there's some decent competitive players who travel there sporadically and might join me in going to some other businesses but.. I"ll miss the friendly locals.
I'm honestly surprised other posters on here don't have LGS's that have modified FNM promo distribution or free employee entry. I'll be playing modern (With a standard deck..) at another store tonight and testing the waters. Thanks for the replies MTG salvation, <3 you guys (and gals)