Hello, everyone. I recently got into cube, and I watned to design oe around the themes and draft-matters cards in Conspiracy and Conspiracy: Take the Crown. It utilizes the general framework set up by Wizards of the Coast in here, and I feel it needs some work. I want there to be multiples of certain cards(mostly commons and uncommons) for conspiracy synergy. My budget per card is no more than $10 USD
Basic Information Cube Size: 720 (For added variety in 8-player drafts and can be allocate drafts for up to two pods of 8) Breakdown: 100 cards per color, 50 multicolor (5 per dual-pair), 50 land, 60 conspiracies, 60 artifacts Standard or Theme: Theme (Conspiracy; all archetypes are at least loosely based on Conspiracy or Conspiracy: Take the Crown archetypes.) Average Number of Players: No idea, but probably 8 How Often Drafted: No idea. I want it built so that I can have something to play in college and meet people over. Complexity: Simple-to-moderate; as mentioned above, I want to meet people with this cube and make friends, so a moderate complexity level with some easier archetypes (Gruul) and some complex archetypes (Simic) would be ideal.
Card Selection Proxies: None Powered: No "Un" Cards: Not for now. Might add Booster Tutor and other non-obnoxious "un"-cards
Cube Design Standard or Multiplayer: Multiplayer Color Balance: Exactly Equal Gold Balance: Exactly Equal Hybrid/Split/Kicker as Gold: Unsure Perfectly Balanced CMC: No
I like the ideas and mechanics behind "Defender Matters" and "Name's the Same" more than every other archetype, but I am worried that they are weaker than the other archetypes.
I know that the cube is severely lacking in the removal department, but because this is designed for multiplayer, I don't know how much should be in it.
I think there are too many conspiracies, so I'll probably make it so that it's 2 copies of the commons, and 1 copy of uncommon/rare/mythic. I don't mind the power of Sovereign's Realm or Worldknit as long as most of that power stems from picking it early and drafting accordingly; if it's picked in packs 2 and 3 and has that same power, I might have to remove them.
The guidelines threw my multicolored cards out of whack, so as of now, ally colored pairs have 3 commons and 2 rares, while enemy colored pairs have 4 uncommons and 1 mythic rare. I want to fix it.
Finally, how can i balance the idea of multiple copies of each card? There does not seem to be a lot of cubes that run multiples, so I'm sort of marching in blindly.
Thank you for all of your help and advice. I am open to all advice and criticism so that it can be as close to ideal as possible.
[[Titania, Protector of Argoth]]. I want to build her sooo bad, because she plays uniquely with an already defined strategy (tokens), but she's just so expensive. [[Crucible of Worlds]], the fetchlands, [[Life from the Loam]] (which I also need for Sidisi), [[Dustbowl]], [[Scapeshift]], [[Azusa, Lost but Seeking]], [[Sylvan Library]], [[Dryad Arbor]], [[Gaea's Cradle]], and a host of other expensive cards. Manipulating lands is my favorite thing about Green, and if I win the lottery, I'm building this deck immediately.
I love it how when things don't get reprinted and people are mad, and then when they get reprinted, people are still mad and call it a moneygrab.
Anyway, it's an amazing reprint, which gives me hope that this set will have more quality reprints to offers, just like its predecessor.
Of course it's a money grab. We're just out of 2 blocks that spam us with Eldrazi, and they reprint one of the most sought-after eldrazi cards in a supplemental product completely unrelated to these blocks.
Well, IoK was in the pipeline for the BFZ block, but it was removed for developmental concerns. It also didn't fit the theme of "Eldrazi are exiling everything", meaning it would have stuck out like a sore thumb.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Geier Reach Sanitarium yet. It could be useful for filling the grave while also helping use cycle through the deck and search for Gisa and Geralf or whatever the situation calls for. Also, what is your plan if you accidentally mill Gisa and Geralf? Surely, a copy or two of Rise from the Grave couldn't hurt.
how many planeswalker you'll need to run for this to hit two consistently?
card is awful.
EDIT: did the math, and on turn 6, if you have 10 planeswalkers on a 60 card deck, you have slightly less than 50% chance of hitting 2...
if you hadn't seen any o them until this turn....
If you really think you'll be seeing a lot of walkers coming into play from this, you're delusional.
Oh, darn those players for liking a splashy mythic, with their "fun" and "randomness". 20 Black Lotuses and 20 Plague Rats. That's real Magic.
I like Gisa and Geralf a lot for my Zombie tribal edh deck. The pair is a must-answer threat, because the zombies just keep coming back after every death.
Who knows, if we get a couple of 1-2 drop Zombies in standard, I could see a reanimator deck coming to fruition. Because Declaration in Stone exists, maybe Wizards is more willing to have stronger reanimator targets and spells.
Are we taking votes for "most flavorful card" yet? This has to be in the top 5, at least.
It MIGHT see play in standard if we get a fun, big creature that can be put into the grave somewhat easily. Imagine, for instance, an 8/8 zombie and a 1/1 Dragonlord Atarka that shot down one or two smaller creatures.
My old Lazav, Dimir Mastermind deck had a solid theme (kills things, copy them, and some slight mill), but everyone assumed I was playing a mill deck, so I was always focused. I quit commander for a time after that.
I like Noosegraf Mob for my zombie tribal commander deck. A fun way to generate zombies on my opponent's turns, and I can always bring it back with Mikaeus, the Unhallowed or Havengul Lich.
Opening a money mythic in a pack, and needing another mythic for it to work seems miserable.
This mechanic is terrible.
That is a good point I didn't see coming. Maybe there are non-specific Meld cards?
This assumption buys into the "more words" fallacy that trips people up every spoiler season. People rating cards assuming they're only ever using every single ability on the card: Figure of Destiny is still a good card if you don't activate its third ability, Planeswalkers are still good even if you don't ultimate them. Adding the Graf Rats text to a Mythic doesn't guarantee that Mythic can't also be independently good. Yes, it loses text box space, but for all we know, Gisela could fit "Flying, Doublestrike" as well as that text, and be costed as an aggressive angel that's playable without Bruna. A theoretical 5/5 doublestrike flier for 5 does not need another Mythic to work, just because it has a bunch of extra text on it (that means it works EVEN BETTER with another Mythic).
This is one of the reasons Wizards curates their spoiler season: If MaRo's preview tomorrow is Gisela and Bruna, and both are sweet cards in the own right and an even sweeter meld, people probably wouldn't be on here complaining about worthless rares and impossible draft strategies. But instead we got a couple of mediocre draft commons first, so of course everything's the worst.
Fair Enough. I'm excited to see WHAT is done with Meld, but I don't want to be burned out by another "This could be really good but requires set-up" like the Processors.
And you guys never teach him how to be better at Magic? C'mon man...
He REFUSES TO GET BETTER. We built him a super powerful Scion of the Ur-Dragon deck, taught him EXACTLY how to play it, and how to win when you've fallen behind. He never listened. We helped him build an Aggro Jund list, taught him how to play it. Played suboptimally, and never carefully weighed his options. You could give him a Narset deck, and he wouldn't cast Narset. At all. We try, and he won't listen.
Basic Information
Cube Size: 720 (For added variety in 8-player drafts and can be allocate drafts for up to two pods of 8)
Breakdown: 100 cards per color, 50 multicolor (5 per dual-pair), 50 land, 60 conspiracies, 60 artifacts
Standard or Theme: Theme (Conspiracy; all archetypes are at least loosely based on Conspiracy or Conspiracy: Take the Crown archetypes.)
Average Number of Players: No idea, but probably 8
How Often Drafted: No idea. I want it built so that I can have something to play in college and meet people over.
Complexity: Simple-to-moderate; as mentioned above, I want to meet people with this cube and make friends, so a moderate complexity level with some easier archetypes (Gruul) and some complex archetypes (Simic) would be ideal.
Card Selection
Proxies: None
Powered: No
"Un" Cards: Not for now. Might add Booster Tutor and other non-obnoxious "un"-cards
Cube Design
Standard or Multiplayer: Multiplayer
Color Balance: Exactly Equal
Gold Balance: Exactly Equal
Hybrid/Split/Kicker as Gold: Unsure
Perfectly Balanced CMC: No
The changing list is available here.
3x Pride Guardian
4x Consul's Lieutenant
2x Paliano Vanguard
3x Syndic of Tithes
4x Wall of Omens
2x Spirit of the Labyrinth
4x Abzan Falconer
3x Basilica Guards
1x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
3x Custodi Peacekeeper
2x Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo
1x Archangel of Tithes
2x Custodi Soulbinders
1x Hero of Bladehold
2x High Sentinels of Arashin
4x Knight of Obligation
4x Noble Banneret
4x Palace Jailer
4x Wakestone Gargoyle
2x Woolly Razorback
3x Expedition Raptor
3x Lieutenants of the Guard
3x Supply-Line Cranes
1x Wingmate Roc
1x Mikaeus, the Lunarch
2x Protector of the Crown
Planeswalker (1)
1x Ajani Goldmane
Sorcery (21)
1x Balance
2x Council's Judgment
3x Rousing of Souls
4x Spectral Procession
4x Survival Cache
3x Spectral Reserves
1x Descend upon the Sinful
1x Devout Invocation
2x Decree of Justice
Enchantment (9)
4x Intangible Virtue
3x Guardian Zendikon
2x Cathars' Crusade
3x Faerie Miscreant
3x Deranged Assistant
3x Illusionary Informant
2x Magus of the Bazaar
4x Merfolk Looter
2x Wharf Infiltrator
4x Deceiver Exarch
1x Skaab Ruinator
4x Sprite Noble
2x Academy Elite
3x Archaeomancer
3x Aspiring Aeronaut
1x Clever Impersonator
1x Niblis of Frost
4x Spire Phantasm
2x Arcane Savant
1x Disciple of the Ring
2x Ringwarden Owl
3x Screaming Seahawk
1x Keiga, the Tide Star
1x Sage-Eye Avengers
1x Sphinx of the Chimes
4x Phyrexian Ingester
1x Quicksilver Gargantuan
1x Windreader Sphinx
1x Lorthos, the Tidemaker
3x Brainstorm
4x Illusion of Choice
4x Mask of the Mimic
Sorcery (19)
3x Careful Study
2x Mitotic Manipulation
4x Talrand's Invocation
3x Ojutai's Summons
1x Crush of Tentacles
1x Rise from the Tides
1x Spelltwine
Enchantment (7)
4x Favorable Winds
2x Gravitational Shift
1x Cast Through Time
2x Mortician Beetle
4x Tenacious Dead
4x Blood Artist
3x Grudge Keeper
2x Skirsdag High Priest
2x Coffin Queen
3x Wakedancer
2x Archdemon of Paliano
4x Bloodbond Vampire
3x Driver of the Dead
2x Sangromancer
1x Smothering Abomination
4x Smuggler Captain
2x Custodi Lich
3x Dread Drone
1x Ghoulcaller Gisa
4x Morkrut Banshee
1x Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
4x Rakshasa Gravecaller
1x Grave Titan
1x Massacre Wurm
1x Reaper from the Abyss
1x Soul of Innistrad
1x Xathrid Demon
4x Havoc Demon
1x Lord of the Void
2x Overseer of the Damned
1x Ob Nixilis Reignited
Instant (9)
3x Regicide
3x Tragic Slip
3x Corpse Churn
Sorcery (22)
3x Bone Splinters
3x Tyrant's Choice
3x Syphon Soul
4x Victimize
4x Bite of the Black Rose
2x Ill-Gotten Gains
2x Capital Punishment
1x Army of the Damned
Enchantment (4)
4x Deadly Designs
3x Cinder Wall
3x Kird Ape
3x Mogg Fanatic
2x Goblin Diplomats
3x Kiln Fiend
3x Sanguinary Mage
4x Young Pyromancer
4x Aether Membrane
4x Conduit of Storms
4x Guttersnipe
2x Rage Nimbus
2x Volatile Chimera
4x Wall of Fire
2x Ember Swallower
1x Hero of Oxid Ridge
2x Instigator Gang
1x Obsidian Fireheart
4x Smoldering Werewolf
3x Vent Sentinel
2x Magma Phoenix
1x Malignus
3x Pyretic Hunter
1x Stormbreath Dragon
1x Urabrask the Hidden
3x Vildin-Pack Outcast
2x Charmbreaker Devils
4x Rage Thrower
1x Ryusei, the Falling Star
1x Scourge of the Throne
2x Skyline Despot
1x Chandra, the Firebrand
Instant (11)
3x Brimstone Volley
3x Garbage Fire
4x Sulfurous Blast
1x Comet Storm
Sorcery (8)
3x Flame Slash
2x Mizzix's Mastery
2x Devils' Playground
1x Subterranean Tremors
Enchantment (4)
4x Tooth and Claw
3x Blisterpod
3x Kessig Prowler
3x Aquastrand Spider
2x Avatar of the Resolute
3x Borderland Explorer
3x Hinterland Logger
3x Nissa's Chosen
4x Rot Shambler
3x Ulvenwald Captive
3x Bloodbriar
2x Champion of Lambholt
3x Crocanura
3x Leovold's Operative
4x Tuskguard Captain
1x Undergrowth Champion
2x Caller of the Untamed
3x Domesticated Hydra
3x Howling Wolf
1x Polukranos, World Eater
4x Animus of Predation
2x Ant Queen
1x Kalonian Hydra
2x Mycoloth
2x Splitting Slime
1x Whisperwood Elemental
4x Brutalizer Exarch
1x Essence of the Wild
2x Hydra Broodmaster
1x Hydra Omnivore
3x Nesting Wurm
1x Giant Adephage
1x Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
1x Nissa Revane
1x Garruk, Caller of Beasts
Instant (4)
4x Predator's Howl
Sorcery (10)
4x Explosive Vegetation
4x Incremental Growth
2x Doubling Chant
Enchantment (4)
2x Awakening Zone
2x Wild Pair
3x Azorius First-Wing
2x Pride of the Clouds
Dimir (5)
2x Dimir Doppelganger
3x Soul Manipulation
Rakdos (5)
2x Tymaret, the Murder King
3x Terminate
3x Zhur-Taa Druid
2x Polis Crusher
Selesnya (5)
2x Fleecemane Lion
3x Common Bond
Orzhov (5)
4x Drana's Emissary
1x Kaya, Ghost Assassin
4x Deathreap Ritual
1x Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest
Simic (5)
4x Wood Sage
1x Progenitor Mimic
Izzet (5)
4x Wee Dragonauts
1x Epic Experiment
4x Flamewright
1x Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
3x Kitesail
4x Spy Kit
4x Warmonger's Chariot
2x Horn of Greed
4x Assault Suit
1x Coercive Portal
1x Ring of Three Wishes
2x Omen Machine
1x Void Winnower
3x Whispergear Sneak
4x Agent of Acquisitions
2x Lore Seeker
4x Burnished Hart
3x Cogwork Spy
2x Deal Broker
4x Gargoyle Sentinel
2x Akroan Horse
3x Cogwork Librarian
3x Lurking Automaton
2x Aether Searcher
1x Platinum Angel
1x Platinum Emperion
1x Darksteel Colossus
1x Ancient Ziggurat
1x Azorius Chancery
1x Azorius Guildgate
1x Battlefield Forge
1x Blighted Cataract
1x Blighted Fen
1x Blighted Gorge
1x Blighted Steppe
1x Blighted Woodland
1x Bloodfell Caves
1x Blossoming Sands
1x Boros Garrison
1x Boros Guildgate
1x Brushland
1x Caves of Koilos
1x Desert
1x Dimir Aqueduct
1x Dimir Guildgate
1x Dismal Backwater
1x Golgari Guildgate
1x Golgari Rot Farm
1x Gruul Guildgate
1x Gruul Turf
1x Izzet Boilerworks
1x Karplusan Forest
1x Llanowar Wastes
1x Mirrorpool
1x Orzhov Basilica
1x Orzhov Guildgate
1x Paliano, the High City
1x Rakdos Carnarium
1x Rakdos Guildgate
1x Rugged Highlands
1x Scoured Barrens
1x Selesnya Guildgate
1x Selesnya Sanctuary
1x Shivan Reef
1x Simic Growth Chamber
1x Simic Guildgate
1x Sulfurous Springs
1x Swiftwater Cliffs
1x Thespian's Stage
1x Thornwood Falls
1x Tranquil Cove
1x Underground River
1x Wind-Scarred Crag
1x Yavimaya Coast
4x Advantageous Proclamation
3x Assemble the Rank and Vile
2x Backup Plan
3x Brago's Favor
4x Double Stroke
2x Emissary's Ploy
3x Hired Heist
2x Hold the Perimeter
1x Hymn of the Wilds
3x Immediate Action
3x Incendiary Dissent
4x Iterative Analysis
3x Natural Unity
4x Secret Summoning
3x Sentinel Dispatch
1x Sovereign's Realm
4x Summoner's Bond
4x Unexpected Potential
2x Weight Advantage
2x Worldknit
My concerns:
Thank you for all of your help and advice. I am open to all advice and criticism so that it can be as close to ideal as possible.
Who knows, if we get a couple of 1-2 drop Zombies in standard, I could see a reanimator deck coming to fruition. Because Declaration in Stone exists, maybe Wizards is more willing to have stronger reanimator targets and spells.
It MIGHT see play in standard if we get a fun, big creature that can be put into the grave somewhat easily. Imagine, for instance, an 8/8 zombie and a 1/1 Dragonlord Atarka that shot down one or two smaller creatures.
I like the idea of these "Accumulate" cards with Harness the Storm.
You know, for reasons.
He REFUSES TO GET BETTER. We built him a super powerful Scion of the Ur-Dragon deck, taught him EXACTLY how to play it, and how to win when you've fallen behind. He never listened. We helped him build an Aggro Jund list, taught him how to play it. Played suboptimally, and never carefully weighed his options. You could give him a Narset deck, and he wouldn't cast Narset. At all. We try, and he won't listen.
That is why we always take his Tempts.