At first I thought it was a funny design to show off teh crazy side of Magic.
Then I thought it was a Johnny card that require careful deck building to take advantage of its unique ability.
Afterward, I realize it was the perfect lightning rod under which to hide a 2-drop standrad staple printed at mythic.
Now I see it's a carefully designed personality test to out people who have no empathy nor ability to entertain that other people might enjoy different things.
Was there ever a card in Magic with a broader application? You can 'accidentally' drop a copy on the table while sitting down and get an instant evaluation of the other players.
As much as I can't understand the "I'm a casual player!" argument, being a spike and all, I don't think this is a casual vs. competitive argument. This card has literally no practical use. Random is bad. It has always been bad. It will always be bad. Does casual = plays bad cards?
Balustrade Spy is the best option, I've switched to it from Sphinx of Lost Truths/Griselbrand. There's really no room for Chancellor of the Forge, the spots he'd occupy are taken by Chancellor of the Annex.
I heard control likes big finishers that also stabalize the board. We're not even halfway through the spoiler, and people are already wanting to burn boxes of the set.
Is the deck the cause or terrible players? How often does the deck go over time and by how much? People tend to ONLY notice the negative sides of things and ignore how often Eggs runs fine without going over time. I firmly believe it is a player issue and not a deck one, similar to High Tide. Ban bad players imo.
It doesn't matter if A or B is causing it. They can't stop B, so stopping A is the solution.
One of the regulars at two of the three shops I play at also judges, though I'm not sure what level he is. It's not intimidating at all. However, him being an exceptionally good player and deckbuilder is fairly intimidating >_>
Geralf's Messenger and Cartel Aristocrat would be good here. Nantuko Husk is nice, though it's easily chump blocked. With Sculler, Fleshbag, Messenger, and possibly a lord, I'd drop Husk for Bloodthrone Vampire. Does the same thing for 1 cheaper.
Eh, the problem is Junk Rites is just a midrange deck w/ Unburial Rites. Yea, it's cool that you can RiP so they can't use their yard, but they run so much ramp already that they'll just cast the guys a turn or two later anyway. Just build a deck that beats a midrange deck, and maybe throw a few RiPs/Grafdigger's Cages in the side.
So I've started playing Nick Carlson's list (http://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=4636&d=226826) and I'm really enjoying it so far. It just feels so decision intensive; there are always so many options, and it feels like the right one will win it, and the wrong one will lose it.
When should I Brainstorm? I've never played with the card before. I've also never played w/ top deck manip + fetchlands/shuffle and wow it's so amazing.
You have to be trolling. The reason shocklands have pay 2 on them is so there's a price to getting them untapped. The reason Mind's Desire has shuffle on it is to provide randomization. If you shuffle your deck enough to randomize it, then flip a card, THE NEXT CARD IS STILL RANDOMIZED. I don't see how you're not getting this.
I've decided to pick up an actual deck for Legacy, that I'm going to slowly trade into over a long period of time. Esper Stoneblade is my pick; it's competitive, it's intricate, and it's fun. I'm completely new to the archetype, as well as Legacy outside of Dredge, so I'm looking for advice on my list.
Here's a few questions out of the gates, without having played the deck;
What should my sideboard look like? I've read that this deck has a fairly consistent MU again most of the field, and sideboard choices are fairly important.
No... I'm not a hardheaded idiot... the card says what it does. There is nothing written on the rules that says short cut.
@LandBoySteve... I doubt mind's desire will be unbanned, but if I happen to play type 1 (vintage) and somebody plays shortcut I will call the judge and I want them to find me where in the magic rules says it's allowed.
Lets look at Burning Wish... the card says you can pull any card outside of the game and put it into your hand... and DCI adds: In a sanctioned event, a card that's "outside the game" is one that's in your sideboard. In an unsanctioned event, you may choose any card from your collection.
Now if shuffling is delaying the game then DCI should had written something about 'short cut' they didnt.
anyway... Mind's desire is banned and I'm thinking it's about the amount of time it would take to resolve.
I'll even go one step deeper.
Impulse has an errata... you no longer shuffle your library.
Again... looking at mind's desire it says nothing about omitting the second shuffle...
How is the Impulse errata even relevant here? Did you just bring it up because it also involves shuffling?
As much as I can't understand the "I'm a casual player!" argument, being a spike and all, I don't think this is a casual vs. competitive argument. This card has literally no practical use. Random is bad. It has always been bad. It will always be bad. Does casual = plays bad cards?
Pile B - 3x Geist of Saint Traft, 1x Auriok Champion, 1x Stoneforge Mystic, 3x Windbrisk Heights
It doesn't matter if A or B is causing it. They can't stop B, so stopping A is the solution.
Swagtusk.
Swagtusk.
Swagtusk.
When should I Brainstorm? I've never played with the card before. I've also never played w/ top deck manip + fetchlands/shuffle and wow it's so amazing.
4x Stoneforge Mystic
3x Snapcaster Mage
1x Vendillion Clique
Instants (14)
4x Brainstorm
3x Counterspell
3x Spell Pierce
4x Swords to Plowshares
Sorceries (7)
3x Lingering Souls
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
3x Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Artifacts (5)
1x Engineered Explosives
1x Batterskull
2x Umezawa's Jitte
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
Lands (23)
1x Academy Ruins
2x Island
1x Swamp
1x Plains
2x Scrubland
2x Tundra
4x Underground Sea
3x Polluted Delta
4x Marsh Flats
3x Flooded Strand
Here's a few questions out of the gates, without having played the deck;
What should my sideboard look like? I've read that this deck has a fairly consistent MU again most of the field, and sideboard choices are fairly important.
Does Liliana of the Veil, Hymn to Tourach or Deathrite Shaman have any place here?
Why do people run Karakas? Even in decks without GoST in the side, I'm seeing a Karakas with only a single Vendillion Clique.
How is the Impulse errata even relevant here? Did you just bring it up because it also involves shuffling?