Quote from cme »So I really SHOULD be asking - how do I get over the irrational fear of not having something I don't need? I mean, I just acknowledged that I don't value them as high as their current price...
That's a great question, and one that many of us should be asking ourselves.
I think that the answer (or at least, part of the answer) is: move to MODO. Legacy and Vintage on MODO are dirt-cheap compared to paper, and I'm convinced that's where the future of the formats will live. Once we're more comfortable playing online, it'll be easier to say "Oh, I don't need to keep a set of Power around - I can just play digitally."
That's just a theory, though, and I've certainly not put that into practice. Love to see some other opinions.
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For Vicious Shadows, cards to consider might include Awakening Zone, Sprouting Thrinax, Dingus Staff, From Beyond, Mitotic Slime, Mycoloth, and Phyrexian Altar.
For Miracles, I'm pretty sure you could port over a Legacy version (except perhaps with the full Entreat playset). Though there is this copy of Scroll Rack + Land Tax Miracles floating out there.
I have no idea how to combine the two.
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I would have paid $0 - bulk rares/uncommons/commons have no value to me. And it costs money to ship to buylist...
Did he actually pay $800, or just claim to have provided $800 worth of cards as the birthday present?
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Contamination is not fun - if you can support it by sacrificing a creature each turn, it shuts down decks so some of your opponents can't "play magic," which can lead to scooping (which means no one gets to play), or very irate opponents.
Either Sanguine Bond or Exquisite Blood is fine. Combined, though, they create an infinite combo, which is kosher in some groups, but not others. With only a single copy of each (and no tutors or real ramp), it's not like EVERY game (or even many games) will end that way. But some folks get a little irrational when playing against someone with a known infinite combo and send unneeded hate in that direction.
Exsanguinate is an awesome card. My observation is mostly around running 4 copies. Odds are that you WILL see one of these each game, and it's hard not to just win with the card - which can feel a little abrupt. Abrupt may not be "fun." You may consider shaving the number of copies (FWIW, I typically play 1 or 2) - the deck already has access to a bunch of other life gain options.
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I would still want to get some early creature drops in there. In groups that are new to MP, many folks will still run duel decks - i.e., complete with 1, 2 and 3 drops. You may not want to give 3 opponents 3 free swings at you while waiting for the 4 drops or a board wipe. Vampire Nighthawk helps a litte, but depending on how aggressive your group is, you might consider some 1 or 2 drops as well.
Underworld Connections is a strong recommendation as well. Someone (probably Prid3) had proposed a rule of thumb of including 6 draw spells in a deck - I want to see one every game, so I'm a strong believer.
I'm not saying that you CAN'T make a Korlash deck, but the difference between spending $22 on a set of Korlash and $5.50 on a Nykthos or $8 on a Phyrexian Arena or $13 on a Cabal Coffers is that you can use the latter three in a broader variety of decks (and you don't need a full playset). Just something to consider.
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I like Korlash, but I'm not sure that he provides enough value to spend 25-30% of my deck budget on him.
The last Korlash deck I assembled looked something like this (I'm not saying this is perfect):
3 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
3 Cabal Coffers
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Phyrexian Tower
3 Leechridden Swamp
11 Swamp
3 Syphon Mind
3 Phyrexian Arena
2 Mutilate
1 No Mercy
1 Lashwrithe
1 Whip of Erebos
1 Exsanguinate
1 Army of the Damned
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
4 Thrull Parasite
2 Wight of Precinct Six
3 Vampire Nighthawk
1 Fleshbag Marauder
4 Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
4 Demigod of Revenge
1 Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
1 Kokusho, the Evening Star
1 Griselbrand
Some differences: generic card draw (Syphon Mind) over Liliana to ensure I made land drops, some variety in mana sinks (Army of the Damned, Drana to go with Exsanguinate), some early creature drops that remain useful throughout a game, reusable recursion, different options for ramp (Cabal Coffers) and Urborg to make everything a swamp. Korlash was probably the weakest card in the deck - i.e., I wanted two of them before playing one, then I wanted to recur the one you discarded over and over. It's kinda durdly and still only nets one swamp/turn - there are more efficient ways to ramp in Black.
With $80, I might try instead something that ramps (Crypt Ghast), but doesn't rely on Korlash. This deck comes out under ~$40 (shipped!) using TCG's massentry and cards are all under $2, except for Demigod of Revenge (@$3). Any additional funds might go into Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx or Phyrexian Arenas.
1 Bojuka Bog
4 Leechridden Swamp
19 Swamp
Spells (14)
4 Syphon Mind
2 Mutilate
2 Lashwrithe
1 Whip of Erebos
2 Exsanguinate
1 Army of the Damned
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
1 Tortured Existence
4 Thrull Parasite
2 Wight of Precinct Six
4 Vampire Nighthawk
1 Fleshbag Marauder
1 Pack Rat
4 Crypt Ghast
4 Demigod of Revenge
2 Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
If you want to stick with Korlash, then I would add 4 Syphon Mind, 4 Crypt Ghast, 2 Lashwrithe, 2 Phyrexian Reclamation and consider dropping 2 Liliana, 4 Magus of the Coffers, 2 Ghoulcaller's Chant, 4 Jet Medallion.
I would run 4 Lashwrithe before the first Squelching Leeches and I would also consider warm bodies over the rituals. You might also consider shaving Nightmares. And in this deck, Mutilate is a very inexpensive Damnation.
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One suggestion might be to use graphic novels for story time. I find that they 1) keep me interested, and 2) my daughter loves them. They tend to have more vocabulary and advanced themes/concepts that will naturally lead to questions and mini conversations. I edit the story line & words as necessary to be age appropriate. We've made it through a bunch of series together - Adventure Time, Knights of the Lunch Table, Avatar, Zita the Space Girl, Bone (required heavier editing), The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Marvel...
Oh, and the library has a bunch of these so I can try-before-I-buy.
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Over time, I suppose it also has helped to become (a little) better at some of the things I used to beat myself up over.
I might also note, though, that there is an upside to introspection. Someone qualified might be able to help with leveraging the benefits of introspection without layering on the negativity.
If you elect not to seek assistance, then please at least read this Playing with Kindness article (Magic and psychology in the same place!), and consider picking up the Self-Compassion book recommended therein.
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It seems like the worst thing that could happen is that you might need to add a second pack. But then, "hurray, opening MOAR packs!"
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