First, I look at generals, and think of themes. Themes are important for me. They make building and playing the deck fun. For example, my Damia, Sage of Stone has a copy\steal theme for the U part of the deck. Treachery, Sakashima the Impostor, and so on.
For a recent example: the moment I saw Marchesa, the Black Rose I wanted to do something with her. I thought Wizard tribal beatdown could be hilarious, or maybe just a goodstuff with specific functions for each color. But then someone mentioned that if you steal someone's creature, get a counter on it, then sacrifice it, you can keep it permanently. Bam. I'll build the most awesome thievery deck ever. Not only will it use U's theft cards, it will take advantage of R's temporary theft cards and B's sacrifice effects to do more thieving! With the aid of some other stuff like Altar of Dementia, Miren, the Moaning Well, High Market, and so on, this should be serious fun.
Certainly a big risk. But cards like this are actually what makes commander great, IMO. Half the time, you'll luck out and no one else will have a huge drop, and the other half of the time you'll end up wiping. It's fun and unpredictable.
Niv & Ophy Eye aren't actually infinite, they're just going big. You need something else to go infinite with them.
...Not sure what you mean. Just those two cards will kill everyone in the game. You don't "need something else." Tap Niv, draw a card, deal 1 to opponent. Eye triggers. Draw a card, deal 1 to opponent. Eye triggers. Draw a card, deal 1 to opponent. Eye triggers .... Repeat until everyone is dead.
Edit: in response to the OP. There is nothing wrong with unlimited combos. It's more about how you play them, and how prepared your friends are to deal with them. If your friends play lots of spot removal and countermagic and such, I don't think they'd mind at all. If they're completely unprepared for it, and have to heavily modify their decks to deal with you, there are two things that will possibly happen: 1) they will modify and move on or 2) ***** and moan until you don't play that deck anymore. Hopefully your friends are more like the first type.
My Ghave is the master of infinite and redundancy, and no one minds playing against him because, generally, there's enough power at the table to keep him in check while still having a fun game. Even my Azami, which has quite a few unlimited combos and vicious control and protection, is only mildly complained about.
Naturally, a good selection of reprints would be nice. Regrowth, Demonic Tutor, Sensei's Divining Top, and so on. Other than that, as mentioned earlier, some (non-artifact) stuff that supports single-color decks would be interesting. And of course...wedge and enemy color.
I am one of the stronger players at the EDH table (skill, card choice, and deck construction), and the way I ensure the game remains "fun" despite the advantage is: I plop down stuff that can win the game, be it large creatures or combos or whatever. Then if no one has an immediate answer, depending on the state of the table, I'll finish my turn and give the table one more round before eliminating people. They can stop me solo, they can team up, whatever. I try to give "one last chance" whenever I can. It's a lot of fun, especially when it makes everyone think and play carefully: they improve their game, and stop me from winning too.
Last time I checked my decks, 4 and 5 were the numbers that came up the most. Ghave was the exception, falling between 3 and 4, and that's mostly because it's combo Ghave with low CMC combo pieces and lots of spot removal.
The signets give you turn three Kaalia potential. One of them plus Sol Ring give you turn 2 Kaalia or turn 3 equipped Kaalia. So run all three signets and (in this thread's dream world) two Sol Rings...Seems good.
Nope. Don't run Signets myself. Cut them for more spot removal a long time ago.
#1) Ghave: because he's damn powerful, but not "unfun" for other players
#2) Damia: control with a focus on ETB utility (Deadeye Navigator)
#3) Kaalia: Angels and Dragons and Demons, oh my! So much fun!
#4) Rafiq: kill em all with 4 weapons in each hand! Win big, lose big.
#5) Azami: in many cases, too strong or "unfun." Doesn't see much play.
Scion of the Ur-Dragon
Ghave, Guru of Spores
Damia, Sage of Stone
Kaalia of the Vast
Azami, Lady of Scrolls
Rafiq of the Many
Azusa, Lost but Seeking
Building:
Meren of Clan Nel Toth
Retired\Scrapped:
Kresh the Bloodbraided
Rubinia Soulsinger
Adun Oakenshield
Sliver Queen
For a recent example: the moment I saw Marchesa, the Black Rose I wanted to do something with her. I thought Wizard tribal beatdown could be hilarious, or maybe just a goodstuff with specific functions for each color. But then someone mentioned that if you steal someone's creature, get a counter on it, then sacrifice it, you can keep it permanently. Bam. I'll build the most awesome thievery deck ever. Not only will it use U's theft cards, it will take advantage of R's temporary theft cards and B's sacrifice effects to do more thieving! With the aid of some other stuff like Altar of Dementia, Miren, the Moaning Well, High Market, and so on, this should be serious fun.
So yeah. Themes.
...Not sure what you mean. Just those two cards will kill everyone in the game. You don't "need something else." Tap Niv, draw a card, deal 1 to opponent. Eye triggers. Draw a card, deal 1 to opponent. Eye triggers. Draw a card, deal 1 to opponent. Eye triggers .... Repeat until everyone is dead.
Edit: in response to the OP. There is nothing wrong with unlimited combos. It's more about how you play them, and how prepared your friends are to deal with them. If your friends play lots of spot removal and countermagic and such, I don't think they'd mind at all. If they're completely unprepared for it, and have to heavily modify their decks to deal with you, there are two things that will possibly happen: 1) they will modify and move on or 2) ***** and moan until you don't play that deck anymore. Hopefully your friends are more like the first type.
My Ghave is the master of infinite and redundancy, and no one minds playing against him because, generally, there's enough power at the table to keep him in check while still having a fun game. Even my Azami, which has quite a few unlimited combos and vicious control and protection, is only mildly complained about.
Example: Riku of Two Reflections. Spellslinger, ETB copy factory, Warp World combo, goodstuff. Many possible choices. Choose wisely my son.
But seriously. Nothing turns the table against me faster than an Ashnod's Altar.
Nope. Don't run Signets myself. Cut them for more spot removal a long time ago.
Kaalia: Sol Ring (T3 Kaalia)
Damia: Demonic Tutor (control deck needs more options)
Rafiq: Steelshaper's Gift or Stonehewer Giant
Azami: Patron Wizard or High Tide
#2) Damia: control with a focus on ETB utility (Deadeye Navigator)
#3) Kaalia: Angels and Dragons and Demons, oh my! So much fun!
#4) Rafiq: kill em all with 4 weapons in each hand! Win big, lose big.
#5) Azami: in many cases, too strong or "unfun." Doesn't see much play.
Damia: Deadeye Navigator
Kaalia: Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Azami: Patron Wizard or Diviner's Wand (super secret tech)
Rafiq: Sovereigns of Lost Alara or various equipment