Quote from AzureShadow »Just because it's pyramid scheme doesn't mean it's bad, per say. It provides a service that nowhere else does, just like one could argue that Bitcoin does, albeit an illegal one in that case. It does, though, absolutely fit the textbook definition of what a pyramid scheme is. The initial referers or payees have the highest amount of value in the system, and that collectively decreases as it spreads to the bottom.
The biggest risk to pucatrade is that the owner can give himself an account with, say, a few million points and buy up a huge pile of cards, then shut the entire thing down. I don't think that's particularly likely, but it is possible.
EDIT: Actually, allow me to amend that. The biggest risk to pucatrade is that the owner(s) can give themselves any points at all, because if they exchange them for cards then that represents more loss when the system inevitably closes, period. That is the big payoff of the pyramid scheme, is that they can exchange a non-existent entity that will eventually lose all value and which they can generate in infinite quantity, which can then be traded to others for physical value. It is very easy to obscure that, and I'm sure it does happen. The question then becomes how long it's worth risking the use of the system before it shuts down and the value vanishes.
I've seen this pop up a few times--why would puca close down? I also believe enough people buy points to hurry some of the process along (thus keeping the site up). I could see everyone trying to cash out if they did announce closure, but its a hypothetical that seems to be getting more attention that it probably should (surprise surprise).
4 Master of the pearl Trident
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Cursecatcher
3 Phantasmal Image
2 Coralhelm commander
2 Merrow reejerey
1 Kira, Great glass-spinner
1 spellskite
2 Spreading Seas
2 Thirst for knowledge
2 Spell Snare
2 Spell Pierce
1 Cryptic Command
Artifacts
4 Aether Vial
2 Relic of Progenitus
Lands
15 Island
4 Mutavault
1 Cavern of souls
2 Torpor Orb
2 Ghost-Quarter
2 Kurkyl's Recall
3 Echoing truth
1 SpellSkite
1 Spell snare
1 Spell pierce
1 Kira, Great Glass-spinner
1 Spreading Seas
1 Cryptic Command
I've been running this for a while now pretty pleased with my combo match up due to my heavier spell package (what I think Merfolk is supposed to be in any meta), Haven't lost to Tron in...god knows.
Probably best as an SB card against combo.
I don't think any deck should be more than 2.5 colors. Goodstuff is lame.
I'm not trying to make a not-BW tokens deck. Bob is great, not much else to say about it.
If there wasn't DRS, pod, or bob running around I think Grim lavamancer wouldn't be worth it either, but in this meta...he seems pretty great. Keeping a goyf small w/o running green and DRS and pinging the opponents utility seems better.
I am biased in a way because I think Young pyromancer is lame (pre-pubescent child art mostly), and I like Falkenrath Aristocrat--plays with the humans, blanks the removal, has HASTE and natty evasion which seems perfect, and otherwise you can't really aim a removal spell at it if I've got something else on the board. I think as a 2 of I might want to keep it.
AdamP-- IDK about the mask of memory, over something like magma jet which would play nicer w/ Bob.
Mostly I noticed that you got rid of all the planeswalkers.
4 dark confidant
2 grim lavamancer
3 Falkenrath Aristocrat
4 Cartel Aristocrat
Spells
3 Dismember
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Duress
4 lightning bolt
3 lingering souls
Artifact
1 sword of war and peace
1 sword of light and shadow
1 sword of fire and ice
Planeswalkers
1 elspeth, knight-errant
3 Liliana of the veil
2 ajani vengeant
3 Arid Mesa
4 Marsh Flats
3 Blackcleave Cliffs
2 Godless Shrine
3 Mutavault / Ghost Quarter
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Blood Crypt
1 fetid heath
2 Swamp
1 Plains
1 Mountain
4 contaminated ground
2 torpor orb
2 relic of progenitus
2 tormod's crypt
2 fulminator mage
2 illness in the ranks
1 boros charm
I just imagine putting a YP into play and not casting another spell or equipping a sword before it gets bolted.
Bob seems worth it to get the ball rolling, GLM just killed their DRS, Cartel Aristocrat might blank their removal--and is basically indestructible after I get a soul token on the board. This is where Goyf just seems like another threat--green doesn't seem worth running otherwise.
Pyromancer is overhyped, gonna die to electrolyze all the time, and isn't as good as lingering souls in basically the same role.
4 dark confidant
2 grim lavamancer
3 Falkenrath Aristocrat
4 Cartel Aristocrat
Spells
4 Dismember
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Duress
2 boros charm
4 lingering souls
Artifact
1 sword of war and peace
1 sword of feast and famine
1 sword of light and shadow
1 sword of fire and ice
1 elspeth, knight-errant
3 Liliana of the veil
2 ajani vengeant
Land
3 Arid Mesa
4 Marsh Flats
3 Blackcleave Cliffs
2 Godless Shrine
3 Mutavault / Ghost Quarter
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Blood Crypt
1 fetid heath
2 Swamp
1 Plains
1 Mountain
4 contaminated ground
3 lightning bolt
2 torpor orb
2 relic of progenitus
2 tormod's crypt
2 fulminator mage
I'd definitely appreciate some input, but hear my out first as far as my goals are concerned, and what I'm still in the air about:
1. Blank the other players removal-- pro-appropriate color seems really powerful based on a format ruled by Path and Bolt.
2. Planeswalkers--1-3-2, 2-2-2, Do I have the right Ajani, I feel like the the 3CC Ajani might kickass with -2'ing a dude with a sword. Also that might never happen.
3. The swords package, I think I really want to be playing 3 and one in the side. I want to blank as much removal as possible, and also push through goyf's--obviously a meta choice, but pretend I'm only going to buy 3 swords to start.
3. SB help? Help!
4. I really want to go contaminated ground main, followed up with Ajani for some solid land denial--should I be sneaking in ghost quarter?
5. Land advice? Seems fine, maybe drop mutavault
army of the damned as the big finisher
[C]grave titan
[/C]increasing ambition
damnation
amulet of vigor
and
zombie infestation
to wick away dead cards later game--it was way too slow because the trick with an on-line tron going is to be able to cast things off it.
All that to say my zombie tron is fun, but I'd add colored mana rocks for sure dimir signet or Talisman of indulgence/talisman of dominance--they might help you. with the BR talisman you might be able to just run pyroclasm too.
If you do that, run serum visions to avoid your high CC cards.
For flavor reasons, I consider splashing white as well and using a typical gifts package, but it could go either way.
It was all very combo, but it still stood out out in my mind.
I'm sure Ooze will be an additional 1 or 2 of in any deck that wants him, maybe ending up a split 2-2, or a 1-2, 1-3 with Goyf.
Looking for a little clarification on a ruling or two. I've been a casual player since sixth edition and as I start to invest in real decks and maybe play for ca$h it would be great to learn some of the rules actually.
The interaction between Tallowisp and Æther Vial is confusing in the deck I want to work--if I vial in bloodghast as opposed to 'play' him from my hand do I get to look for a card? Also if I landfall return the bloodghast to the battlefield would that trigger tallowisp?
If its not obvious I haven't quite kept up with all the 'new' rules changes (although the m14 ones are noted).
Thanks for your helps!:thumbsup: