I understand the sentiment... sort of. Instead of a lack of content, I have the opposite problem, too much content. I see something and I get inspired to write an entire novel out of the one spark. And the sad thing is that I have more than enough content to do it most of the time.
To give you an example of how bad my problem is, I read on Wikipedia about how hard and difficult it is for humanity to get the idea for an alphabet (like the Latin alphabet we use). This got me to think, well if it is so hard to create an alphabet, I wonder if any other intelligent life in the universe has created an alphabet that could easily represent different languages. Which led to the idea that once humanity makes contact with aliens, humans become the default linguists and diplomats of the universe since they introduce the first trans-language alphabet to the universe. And then by extension English becomes the universal language of the universe. And basically this is just the tip of the iceberg of my entire idea that was sparked by that one line that I read on Wikipedia, because then I got thinking that humans are unusually well programmed for language learning, retention, and making a wide-range of sounds and inclinations, meaning there is a strong possibility that we would be able to learn and speak most alien sound-based languages in some form or another. Another interesting fact is that the more languages one learns the easier it is to learn and retain another language.
But the problem is that I get one idea, get 10-20 pages into it and then find another idea that drags me in the opposite direction. Well that and it seems most of my ideas revolve around vampires (which is no surprise to anybody that knows me).
The best I ever did was I got about 100 pages into a finishing writing the novel before I got dragged into a different direction by another spark. Though it is so far along that I will come back to it eventually. Plus it is number two on my top 3 novel ideas, so I got motivation to finish it.
Right now I am like 50 pages into the novel I am writing, and I have committed myself to finishing it through thick and thin, no matter what else may ignite my spark.
Hmm... I wrote a lot for just a response.
Here it means "vigor". Though even saying that, I don't think it is the best word choice for the quote as gusto has a enthusiastic/joyful connotation, where this quote instead has the toymaker acting via annoyance.
From what we've seen so far it seems in Kaldheim each color combination has two themes instead of the usual one. One tribal and one non-tribal. For example UG has Shapeshifter/Changeling tribal, while also having a snow theme. WB has angels, while also having a cast two theme. RW, dwarves and equipment. Etc.
I get a PM, which causes me to actually check my notifications. And BAM! I see kpaca posting. It's like fate or something.
Hi kpaca!
Long time no see. Good to see you still around. Also good to see a lot of familiar faces still around.
Just felt like I should stop in and say hi. Yep, yep.
*Guardman fades back into the shadows*
Actually based on the wording I think Dramatic Reversal won't do anything as it only has to be tapped when cast, it doesn't see to care about tapped/untapped after cast.
As for Subira, I am pleasantly surprised she is in. I sort of had this nagging feeling she wouldn't be getting a card.
Here is my thought process.
1. His ultimate is meant to be used to exchange Elks he creates.
2. Exchanging a creature or artifact you control for a creature an opponent controls is powerful, but with the power 3 or less restriction it is not especially useful, especially to just get a 3/3 Elk.
3. But using a Food token to undo a transformation after exchanging control of an object seems a lot more like an ultimate.
4. There is a lot of transforming, cursing, disguises, and glamours in Arthurian and Fairy Tales. I could see it being a theme. And every theme needs a way to interact with it and what better way to interact with it than being able to undo the transformation/curse/glamour/granny-pajamas. Hence food tokens.
Overview of the Deck
Sarkhan’s Madness is a Big Red Midrange deck that wants to use free or repeatable rummaging effects (i.e. discard a card then draw a card) to quickly and efficiently power out madness cards such as Reckless Wurm, Stromkirk Occultist, and Fiery Temper. Thanks to the namesake card Sarkhan, Fireblood the deck also can easily add a small dragon subtheme.
This is the perfect deck for midrange players who want to do something a bit different.
Decklists
Below find two sample decklists. A Non-Budget Version and under $50 Budget Version (though even the non-budget version is relatively cheap for a modern deck coming in at around $150).
4 Field of Ruin
2 Blast Zone
1 Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Stromkirk Occultist
3 Reckless Wurm
3 Glorybringer
2 Neheb, Dreadhorde Champion
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Fiery Temper
1 Lightning Axe
1 Magmatic Sinkhole
1 Desperate Ritual
2 Blood Moon
3 Damping Sphere
3 Relic of Progenitus
2 Anger of the Gods
2 Basilisk Collar
1 Shenanigans
1 Fry
1 Abrade
1 Shatterstorm
1 Pillage
2 Scavenger Grounds
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Stromkirk Occultist
3 Reckless Wurm
3 Glorybringer
2 Neheb, Dreadhorde Champion
4 Desperate Ritual
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Fiery Temper
1 Lightning Axe
1 Magmatic Sinkhole
2 Sweltering Suns
3 Dragon's Claw
2 Tormod's Crypt
2 Shatterstorm
1 Shenanigans
1 Fry
1 Rampaging Ferocidon
1 Grafdigger's Cage
Card Choices
As a general rule you should be looking to have the following number of each category of card in your deck:
1. Lands
2. Discard Payoffs
3. Discard Effects
4. Burn/Removal
5. Mana Ramp
6. Dragons
7. Other
8. Sideboard
8a. Artifact/Colorless Removal
8b. Graveyard Hate
8c. Storm/Big Mana Hate
8d. Creature/Planeswalkers Hate
8e. Life Gain
Guide to Playing the Deck
The deck isn’t that difficult to play, especially compared to some other modern decks, but does have some unique aspects thanks to the rummaging effects and madness cards.
Tips
Matchups
Mono-Green Tron
Very build dependent. With maindeck Blood Moon and Field of Ruin this is a good match-up. Pre-board it is mostly using fast mana, Field of Ruin and Blood Moon to keep them off Tron. Post-board should be better as you can bring in cards like Damping Sphere, Pillage, Pithing Needle, Shenanigans or Crumble to Dust. The name of the game is keeping them off of Tron for as long as possible while applying pressure.
Amulet Titan
Very similar to Tron. Mostly use your disruption to keep them off their gameplan while building up your board.
Jund/Rock/BW Tokens/Eldrazi and Taxes
Against this deck these match-ups mostly play out the same. These can be long, grindy games, but funny enough they are often decided in the first couple of turns. The key is you want to put out either a big threat or source of card advantage as soon as possible. Their discard is useful on the first couple of turns and when you are tapped out, otherwise it becomes card disadvantage to them. And Liliana of the Veil is really only a three mana Cruel Edict. Because of this unless they are able to have a fast start you can usually win by burying them in card advantage and grinding them out of resources. Relic of Progenitus is a great sideboard card in these matchups (outside of Eldrazi and Taxes) since it nukes the graveyard and cycles.
UW Control
Note – This analysis is done before Stoneforge Mystic unbanning. Unsure how this will effect the matchup.
A lot of it depends on how they build their deck. Teferi, Time Reveler and Narset, Parter of the Veils can be huge problems. But if you are able to keep them off those two planeswalkers the deck has the ability to grind out wins through getting card advantage through rummaging plus madness.
Whirza
Pre-board the goal is to be as fast as possible and kill Urza, Lord High Artificer on sight. Post-board the match-up is much more of a card check. What you are looking to bring in is a mix of graveyard and artifact hate, plus maybe a Pithing Needle on Thopter Foundry. Do you have the right answer at the right time? If you do the match-up is pretty easy since thopters don’t chump block Tramplers well.
EldraziTron
Their creatures are on average the same size or bigger than yours which can cause problems. Plus Thought-Knot Seer has discard that works well against you. This doesn’t even include the inevitability Karn, the Great Creator gives them. Not an easy match-up, but winnable. You really want to be as much of the aggressor as you can.
Humans
The deck can be annoying, but is usually beatable. Most times I’ve lost to humans was due to things like killing the wrong creature or playing a creature when I should have left up burn. Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Noble Hierarch and Unsettled Mariner are usually not too big a problem and should be left along since she is tiny. Instead it is better to focus your removal on things like Meddling Mage, Mantis Rider, Champion of the Parish, and Thalia's Lieutenant even if the removal costs extra. The rest of the creatures are usually too small to matter. Sweepers and Abrade are great coming out of the sideboard.
Infect
Sort of a boring match-up. Burn, an early blocker, and Field of Ruin for Inkmoth Nexus can collapse their house of cards leading to an easy win. If you don’t have Burn or an early blocker you are usually dead by turn 2 or 3.
Storm & Twiddlestorm
Preboard can be difficult since the deck isn’t the fastest and your main way of interacting with them is bolting their Goblin Electromancer if they are traditional storm. Blood Moon on the other hand is great against Twiddlestorm if you have them maindeck and can find it in time. Postboard cards like Damping Sphere and graveyard hate can be a big help. Also don’t forget your sweepers in case of Empty the Warrens
Burn & Mono-Red Prowess
A hard match-up since you aren’t that fast and have limited ways to interact with them. Basilisk Collar and Dragon's Claw out of the board can give you the time to win.
Neoform
Thoughts and prayers. Literally. You don’t have a good way to disrupt them and you are too slow to pressure them.