As fuel for burn and combo decks, it's really really good. But it's just not versatile enough for the decks that want it for reanimator or Welder shenanigans. And as noted, you can't dig for land very well. Pity. Sorcery speed doesn't matter too much, you're usually fine casting this sort of spell on your turn to fuel whatever you're doing with it.
It needs a name, though. Paris Mulligan refers to a very specific thing. What do we call this? "New mulligans" is clunky and nonspecific. Origins Mulligan is meh.
Yeah, I think the best way is to make it very clear to people that you're going to be counting pools and inspecting cards at the end of the draft. It's a big deterrent. It eliminates the idea from their mind that you're not paying attention, and no one will notice if they pocket a couple cards. It doesn't stop a malicious rando from just walking out between games with their deck in their pocket, but deterring an opportunistic theft is probably the majority of the real threat.
But even then, it's a risk you take, and you have to accept the possibility. If you're not willing to take the risk, then go pauper or proxy. Also, you can get your cube insured on homeowner's or renter's insurance, with a speciifc rider that covers the value you have in your cards. Losing one or two cards probably won't be worth the hassle and deductible, but a whole deck would be. And of course, insuring against someone mugging you for your whole cube or losing it in a fire is worth a few bucks a month.
It also helps a small bit with pattern recognition. Have you ever played with an alt-art card, and it takes you a little while to recognize that card at a glance without actually reading the name? Same thing with basic land art. Playing identical ones instead of random cards out of the land box lets you assess your board at a single glance, and this will lead to less instances of mistapping your mana and speed up your play slightly. Again, a very small edge, but still nontrivial.
I'm about to update my copy of the Space Cube, and was wondering--what do folks think is the "definitional" powered 360 these days. The cubetutor average is pretty wonky, and now wtwlf is at 540...
I think the latter makes the most sense. Just jamming in all the duel decks is going to result in a vast gulf of power level, from a lot of frankly unplayable commons all the way to a couple of the best planeswalkers in the game. That seems massively luck dependent and weak on archetypes. I think you could put together a decent cube by cutting 75% of the card pool down, though.
Finished foiling out the draft-matters cards finally! I nearly bought the set from SCG for a total of like $30 when it was first released, but hesitated since I knew I'd be drafting it. Then I failed to open any foils that I wanted and the prices skyrocketed. Oops?
For cube, I consider real cards to be anything that Wizards printed. CE, world championship, artists proofs, they are all real cards. Tournament legality is irrelevant. That said, I also use a few proxies because there are no inexpensive versions of Library or Workshop or Mana Drain. It's more important to me that cards make the cut based on fun, not affordability.
Cool, I have to try that. In other news, I got this today, shipped from a TCGPlayer seller. The funny thing is, I didn't order it. I did, however, make a post on another forum lamenting how hard it was to find a FS foil Cairns for a reasonable price. 7 forum members, people from around the country who I've posted with for years (and met up with at various GPs to cube), spontaneously pitched in to secretly buy it and mail it to me.
I love the sense of camaraderie and community that springs up around Magic in general and Cube in particular. Thanks guys! This gesture means the world to me.
But even then, it's a risk you take, and you have to accept the possibility. If you're not willing to take the risk, then go pauper or proxy. Also, you can get your cube insured on homeowner's or renter's insurance, with a speciifc rider that covers the value you have in your cards. Losing one or two cards probably won't be worth the hassle and deductible, but a whole deck would be. And of course, insuring against someone mugging you for your whole cube or losing it in a fire is worth a few bucks a month.
http://www.cubetutor.com/viewcube/1572 is aggressive with newer cards but looks fun
http://www.cubetutor.com/viewcube/1000 a bit more traditional
I love the sense of camaraderie and community that springs up around Magic in general and Cube in particular. Thanks guys! This gesture means the world to me.