Great suggestions! Bouncer, Ship and Reparations are in. Bargaining Table was already in. I also added in Long-Term Plans, Soulsworn Jury and Grand Arbiter.
Thanks for the input LadySeltsam! Yeah, there are a lot of underpowered cards, which I kept most in for now, but opening it up to the idea of a crooked business owner/Magic universe mobster makes for a more interesting (and probably more powerful deck).
At this point, it's obviously not done. But I'm looking for more suggestions on cards to put into this theme deck. Basically, I want to make a deck that revolves around buying/selling/trading and all things that go into it. I figured I'd also add in some various merchandise, all things gold, idols, jeweled and treasure. Because let's be honest, Gwafa makes some serious bank. He is a profiteer after all.
Just so you know, I'm looking for suggestions, especially if they're better than some questionable cards (Merchant Ship, I'm looking at you.) I especially need some flavorful win con suggestions. The deck can't really get there as it stands.
Oh and one more thing, what do you think about me adding in a bunch of buyback spells? Too tongue-in-cheek?
Honestly, what you need to do with the deck is to make it as much fun for everyone as possible, but to still have a point.
First, devise your kill strategies, as crazy as you can think. I'm talking 4-5 card combos that might win or even some crazy bad kill conditions like Cosmic Horror or Giant Shark. Make it a theme to try to win with bad cards or convoluted combos so that you can't be tempted to "go off" on turn 4.
After that, mix in some all-scenario type cards like Oblivion Ring , Fracturing Gust and Wrath of God. Cards that are flexible enough to deal with threats as they come up. The key is to have enough of these to where people can't just combo off on turn 4.
Next, add in some cards like Nova Pentacle that are flexible enough to both help and hurt opponents at the same time. So if one person is going in for the kill, you can use these types of cards to not only stop that from happening but can also be beneficial in giving something to your opponent. You know, more political cards, but versatile enough to where you're not the one that's always making the political decisions. Cultural Exchange is a decent card that fits this category (but you're still making the choices, unfortunately). Fatal Lore might be a better example of this type of card.
Lastly, add in a just few group hug and chaos type cards. Keep in mind these shouldn't be things like Phelddagrif or Confusion in the Ranks. But subtle enough to where it may mess things up a bit. Think more along the lines of Capricious Efreet or the join forces cards.
That's my two cents, at least. Hope that gives you a decent foundation to start finding cards and building.
I agree, the best approach would be to write up a list before you go around purchasing precons needlessly. Now if you want to purchase precons to have multiple decks to play, that's one thing.
If you don't really care what the list is and just want to purchase some cards for the sake of purchasing them for the deck, then try to find a deck that has more cards for your colors. Since you already have BU covered from the Devour for Power deck, maybe try to pick up Heavenly Inferno for more BR cards. Even this isn't the best use of your energy though. If you don't care what the cards are and just want some good EDH cards, look at the top 50 list here in the EDH forums and try to purchase some of the cards in your colors.
Step aside Angus Mackenzie, I want to see more people run Lady Evangela. She's such a good political general, forcing people to attack others. Even then you can mess up combat for someone, thinking that they're going to swing in and either destroy a dude or hit for damage. Instead she can force the bigger dude to not deal damage, hopefully either causing the blocking creature to deal lethal or just to fog for a turn. Hopes and dreams, crushed. Seems like a good general for those that want something else in Esper besides the always annoying Zur and Sharuum.
Tetsuo Umezawa is another solid general from Legends that I wish more people would run. He allows you to have an assassin general in Grixis colors, which is just awesome. Then again, I have to second the previous poster on how sweet Lord of Tresserhorn is. He's kind of group hug-ish but people quickly find out how annoying a 10/4 regenerating monster is.
PS - Someone should do an alter of Lord of Tresserhorn wearing a trucker hat. "That's a big 10-4 there buddy!"
Ragnar seems pretty boss. I'm going to try him out with a ton of combos that revolve around creatures. There aren't many that can protect creatures as well as him. Eight-and-a-Half-Tails protects creatures fairly well, but then you're in mono white, which limits the combos you can do.
If you're looking for a mono-white general that's interesting, look no further than General Jarkeld. He can do some crazy things with blocking that just messes up combat for your opponents. Not to mention that he can switch a non-flying creature to block a flying creature. Shenanigans abound when you mix in creatures with protection or even creatures with banding.
Yuk. I'm not fond of Hydra's and I really hope this isn't part of the Mythic Hydra Cycle. Please Please Please no. Unless.... Lolz
There's a blue one that counters stuff
A green one that ramps
A red one that does direct damage
A Black one that does discards any card, your choice
At the expense of a +1/+1 counter of course.
Then...that might be cool. =)
And Wizards would be trolling us hardcore by releasing this one, which I would find hilarious.
I, for one, hope that there's a hydra cycle. It'd be awesome if the blue one tapped, removed a counter, then countered a spell unless they pay 1 for each counter on it.
At any rate, I like how it opens up the potential of other colors getting "hydras." He's splashable, versatile and doesn't require a mana investment to keep him going. He provides another interesting way for white to break board stalls (besides current Wrath effects). And if not, sit back and make him bigger.
It is kind of weird too that he plays out much like a creature version of a planeswalker with this tug-o-war on +1/+1 counters instead of loyalty counters. He could've essentially been a planeswalker with an XW cost that came in with X counters with his abilities being at +1 and -1 and 0 (for an attack power like Gideon). Maybe it would've felt too much like Gideon and Ajani put together; maybe it would've been 1 too many planeswalkers for their liking. Maybe they kept it this way because it's just more interesting to be able to sit back and use his abilities at instant speed.
Either way, I like it. Quite a bit. It's unique for white to get something so versatile, even if his abilities don't really provide a huge wow factor.
I really wish that they'd print some legendary creatures that are moreso creatures than animals that are anthropomorphic. If I have to see another cat with huge knockers, I think I'm going to cry.
Maybe it's because I just watched all 3 LOTR movies in a row, but something similar to Shelob or Gandalf's Eagles would be nice. It'd definitely play into more of a naive type of old folk story, where people speak about legendary beasts lurking in the shadows and sea. But to me, that'd be cool as hell on a magic card. I mean we see it all the time on nonlegendary creatures; why not mix it into the story a bit and make a legendary cyclops, spider, serpent, beast, bird or wraith.
Wizards, for once, embrace the monsters that go bump in the night, not always the people, anthropomorphic animals, or typical angel/dragon/demon races.
EDIT: Now that I really think about it a legendary raven would be badass.
Unfortunately, it's probably not worth a slot. It'll draw far too much hate once people know what you're up to. Really the only deck it could probably go into is a BU draw-go style deck with something like Dralnu or Oona at the helm.
If you're looking for specific cards that go with it, I suppose Guile + Dovescape might work, but then you're in 3 colors (and would already have infinite 1/1 birds)
Etc.
You'd have to get pretty creative for some of them. Off the top of my head I can't really think of Legends for Snow White, Cinderella or Belle. But Snow White's deck would be interesting if you could find 7 dwarves and an apple.
Ariel is a hoarder, so just toss in a bunch of Artifacts and "island generating" effects.
I can't find one for Snow White per se, but I found a good one for the Evil Queen (Princess Lucrezia). You could even have the Mirror of Fate in there for some more flavor.
Eon Hub seems like a match made in heaven for Karona, since it gets rid of the ability for other opponents to gain control of it. Plus it messes with the game state.
I like it though; Mannichi seems like a fun general. Definitely different than the norm, especially for mono-red.
1 Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer
Pocket Bureaucrats:
1 Droning Bureaucrats
1 Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
Thugs:
1 Cho-Arrim Bruiser
1 Waterfront Bouncer
1 Armored Guardian
Prized "Possessions":
1 Gilded Drake
1 Jeweled Spirit
Transports:
1 Stronghold Zeppelin
1 Metathran Transport
1 Aerial Caravan
1 Merchant Ship
Escorts:
1 Harbor Guardian
1 Blockade Runner
1 Diplomatic Escort
White-Collar Stiffs:
1 Icatian Moneychanger
1 Port Inspector
Dealers and Vendors:
1 Information Dealer
1 Charm Peddler
1 Vodalian Merchant
Looters:
1 Merfolk Looter
1 Magus of the Bazaar
1 Looter il-Kor
Brokers:
1 Cephalid Broker
1 Lore Broker
Raiders and Thieves:
1 Scroll Thief
1 Master Thief
1 Cache Raiders
1 Thada Adel, Acquisitor
1 Treasure Hunt
1 Tithe
1 Acquire
1 Bribery
1 Trade Secrets
1 Wheel and Deal
1 Opportunity
1 Thieves' Fortune
1 Tariff
Trinkets for Sale:
1 Jeweled Torque
1 Quicksilver Amulet
1 Xanthic Statue
Arms for Sale:
1 Darksteel Plate
1 Shield of the Righteous
1 Sword of Vengeance
Vendor's Leverage:
1 Credit Voucher
1 Bargaining Table
1 Crooked Scales
1 Ashnod's Coupon
Jewels for Sale:
1 Sisay's Ring
1 Sol Ring
1 Charmed Pendant
1 Marble Diamond
1 Sky Diamond
Tricks of the Trade:
1 Reparations
1 Take Possession
1 Confiscate
1 Treachery
1 Diplomatic Immunity
1 Aurification
1 Treasure Trove
1 Customs Depot
1 Trade Routes
1 Embargo
1 War Tax
1 Land Tax
1 High Market
1 Icatian Store
1 Rishadan Port
1 Azorius Chancery
1 Coastal Tower
1 Nomad Stadium
1 Buried Ruin
1 City of Brass
1 Gemstone Mine
1 Gemstone Caverns
1 Grand Coliseum
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Saprazzan Cove
12 Island
10 Plains
At this point, it's obviously not done. But I'm looking for more suggestions on cards to put into this theme deck. Basically, I want to make a deck that revolves around buying/selling/trading and all things that go into it. I figured I'd also add in some various merchandise, all things gold, idols, jeweled and treasure. Because let's be honest, Gwafa makes some serious bank. He is a profiteer after all.
Just so you know, I'm looking for suggestions, especially if they're better than some questionable cards (Merchant Ship, I'm looking at you.) I especially need some flavorful win con suggestions. The deck can't really get there as it stands.
Oh and one more thing, what do you think about me adding in a bunch of buyback spells? Too tongue-in-cheek?
First, devise your kill strategies, as crazy as you can think. I'm talking 4-5 card combos that might win or even some crazy bad kill conditions like Cosmic Horror or Giant Shark. Make it a theme to try to win with bad cards or convoluted combos so that you can't be tempted to "go off" on turn 4.
After that, mix in some all-scenario type cards like Oblivion Ring , Fracturing Gust and Wrath of God. Cards that are flexible enough to deal with threats as they come up. The key is to have enough of these to where people can't just combo off on turn 4.
Next, add in some cards like Nova Pentacle that are flexible enough to both help and hurt opponents at the same time. So if one person is going in for the kill, you can use these types of cards to not only stop that from happening but can also be beneficial in giving something to your opponent. You know, more political cards, but versatile enough to where you're not the one that's always making the political decisions. Cultural Exchange is a decent card that fits this category (but you're still making the choices, unfortunately). Fatal Lore might be a better example of this type of card.
Lastly, add in a just few group hug and chaos type cards. Keep in mind these shouldn't be things like Phelddagrif or Confusion in the Ranks. But subtle enough to where it may mess things up a bit. Think more along the lines of Capricious Efreet or the join forces cards.
That's my two cents, at least. Hope that gives you a decent foundation to start finding cards and building.
If you don't really care what the list is and just want to purchase some cards for the sake of purchasing them for the deck, then try to find a deck that has more cards for your colors. Since you already have BU covered from the Devour for Power deck, maybe try to pick up Heavenly Inferno for more BR cards. Even this isn't the best use of your energy though. If you don't care what the cards are and just want some good EDH cards, look at the top 50 list here in the EDH forums and try to purchase some of the cards in your colors.
Tetsuo Umezawa is another solid general from Legends that I wish more people would run. He allows you to have an assassin general in Grixis colors, which is just awesome. Then again, I have to second the previous poster on how sweet Lord of Tresserhorn is. He's kind of group hug-ish but people quickly find out how annoying a 10/4 regenerating monster is.
PS - Someone should do an alter of Lord of Tresserhorn wearing a trucker hat. "That's a big 10-4 there buddy!"
If you're looking for a mono-white general that's interesting, look no further than General Jarkeld. He can do some crazy things with blocking that just messes up combat for your opponents. Not to mention that he can switch a non-flying creature to block a flying creature. Shenanigans abound when you mix in creatures with protection or even creatures with banding.
I, for one, hope that there's a hydra cycle. It'd be awesome if the blue one tapped, removed a counter, then countered a spell unless they pay 1 for each counter on it.
At any rate, I like how it opens up the potential of other colors getting "hydras." He's splashable, versatile and doesn't require a mana investment to keep him going. He provides another interesting way for white to break board stalls (besides current Wrath effects). And if not, sit back and make him bigger.
It is kind of weird too that he plays out much like a creature version of a planeswalker with this tug-o-war on +1/+1 counters instead of loyalty counters. He could've essentially been a planeswalker with an XW cost that came in with X counters with his abilities being at +1 and -1 and 0 (for an attack power like Gideon). Maybe it would've felt too much like Gideon and Ajani put together; maybe it would've been 1 too many planeswalkers for their liking. Maybe they kept it this way because it's just more interesting to be able to sit back and use his abilities at instant speed.
Either way, I like it. Quite a bit. It's unique for white to get something so versatile, even if his abilities don't really provide a huge wow factor.
Maybe it's because I just watched all 3 LOTR movies in a row, but something similar to Shelob or Gandalf's Eagles would be nice. It'd definitely play into more of a naive type of old folk story, where people speak about legendary beasts lurking in the shadows and sea. But to me, that'd be cool as hell on a magic card. I mean we see it all the time on nonlegendary creatures; why not mix it into the story a bit and make a legendary cyclops, spider, serpent, beast, bird or wraith.
Wizards, for once, embrace the monsters that go bump in the night, not always the people, anthropomorphic animals, or typical angel/dragon/demon races.
EDIT: Now that I really think about it a legendary raven would be badass.
If you're looking for specific cards that go with it, I suppose Guile + Dovescape might work, but then you're in 3 colors (and would already have infinite 1/1 birds)
Nice, or maybe call it "Reading Rainbow"?
A couple others:
Some Creatures:
And for LOL's:
My First Tome
Oh and because Nicol Bolas can't read all that well, being so old and all, he always needs his reading glasses :D:
I can't find one for Snow White per se, but I found a good one for the Evil Queen (Princess Lucrezia). You could even have the Mirror of Fate in there for some more flavor.