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Thieving Magpie
Profile Blog Joined December 2012
United States6752 Posts
September 30 2013 21:08 GMT
#9341
On October 01 2013 05:24 Kommatiazo wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 01 2013 03:45 Thieving Magpie wrote:
On October 01 2013 03:34 Kommatiazo wrote:
Hey guys! So I played MtG once a long time ago (like 12 years ago...) with a friend's green deck at a FNM event, or something similar. Once. And now I am trying to get into the game a little more, easing in, as it were. I bought MtG:O and have been messing around with a buddy on there, and I think I want to join a Sealed league as that format appeals to my tastes and my wallet the most. Due to this most of my studying of magic literature has been geared towards learning sealed/limited deck strategy. Which is great, except that when I play my friends it's the standard game mode with a 60 card deck that's prepared ahead of time. I have thus read up on constructed and standard deck strategy a bit and I really like the Black/white deck I have despite it being made up of only new player pack cards.

Also, I haven't picked up on all the jargon yet, so please let me know if I'm misusing some term or whatever, and go easy on the acronyms for me, most times MtG speak is still foreign to me, but I'm getting there.

Anyway, I had a question or ten for you knowledgeable TLers here about the differences in deck strategy pertaining to going from Sealed->Constructed specifically. I find that it's hard for me to separate what's good in what format and why. I mean, I understand that some card specific tactics can work well in constructed and awfully in sealed simply due to the ability to select virtually any card and vise versa, but mostly I'm getting confused when trying to ramp up my deck strategy to the 60 card format. In sealed its almost always going to be better to run 40 cards to be as focused and efficient as possible right? Does the same apply for 60 card format? Or is it more viable to run 70 or 80+ cards? I've been trying to make my deck work with as few cards as possible, as I think this fits my play style as well as my experience in various card games telling me that a slim deck is a good deck.

Some more specific questions: In sealed I prefer to run 2 colors, max of 2+ a small splash, but in standard with a 60 card deck is 3 or more colors a better, or at least, a more viable option? Should it still be 2+splash? Or is 3+splash or even 2+2 splash more worth it? Am I going about this the wrong way? Lol

About card strategies: are there any differences in what I should try as far as that goes? Like in sealed I feel it's a solid play style to just try to go for quick wins with either creatures or some combo or another, basically to just to focus on low cost/quality but high quantity and beat down your opponent. in constructed though, are quick wins (with the applicable color, red is the go to for fast and dirty right?) even viable? Or is it "standard" to shoot for the long game in that format? If you try and stick to a 60 card late game deck what mana cost is it best to focus on? I.e. do you just want to load up on strong 5 mana spells? Or 7+ bombs? I'm a complete noob in this format so I'm a little clueless.

I doubt anyone wants to take me by the hand and answer all this in detail, so if you have a link to a helpful guide/article I'll definitely read it. I just haven't found answers to my specific questions in that vein yet, so I thought I'd ask here. So please don't take this as "I'm a noob, I'm unwilling to research on my own, please explain everything to me so I don't have to do any work."

Thanks guys! Kommatiazo is also my name on mtgo if anyone wants to add me and play (I'm garbage so go easy! :p )


If you want to know more about control/long game, then read Oscar Tan's Control Player's Bible Part 1-20

http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/archive.php?Article=Oscar Tan

His other articles are also good and worth a read.

Don't memorize card names or card interactions, listen to him talk about how a deck functions and how you can trust your deck functioning.


That article series is intense! Just finished part 1, and it's helping me to understand the more complex strategic layering that can happen in structured play. Thanks for the link! And side note: "The Deck" is fucking insane. Those cards are ALL so goddamn powerful. That article was written in '01, so is that deck/are those cards still usable/in play today? Or are they all outdated or banned now?


Its for the Vintage format, so they're all legal except for the fact that its not likely you'll play them. The specific card choices don't matter as much as the concepts he talks about. Flexibility of cards, card relevance changing from turn to turn, clutch cards you keep and protect, etc...

Other articles to look for are "Who's the Beatdown," almost anything by Mike Flores, Brian Kibler, and Adrian Sullivan (at least back when he was posted on The Dojo.

Also important to start learning about mana curves--articles like this is help but there is many more. http://www.wizards.com/sideboard/article.asp?x=sb20001005a
Hark, what baseball through yonder window breaks?
Risen
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
United States7927 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-09-30 21:38:46
September 30 2013 21:18 GMT
#9342
On October 01 2013 05:55 MCMcEmcee wrote:
Uwr mana is worse than uw and the power level is worse than esper. Could get tuned to the point where it's good but esper just seems more promising.

Oh shit I thought the UR scry land had been released.

Edit: on the subject of articles everyone should read, and I feel this is more catered to people who have played and understand the game on a familiar level, http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/misc/2005_Stuck_In_The_Middle_With_Bruce.html

After reading that all I could think was fuuuuuuuuuuck...
Pufftrees Everyday>its like a rifter that just used X-Factor/Liquid'Nony: I hope no one lip read XD/Holyflare>it's like policy lynching but better/Resident Los Angeles bachelor
Thieving Magpie
Profile Blog Joined December 2012
United States6752 Posts
September 30 2013 22:18 GMT
#9343
On October 01 2013 06:18 Risen wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 01 2013 05:55 MCMcEmcee wrote:
Uwr mana is worse than uw and the power level is worse than esper. Could get tuned to the point where it's good but esper just seems more promising.

Oh shit I thought the UR scry land had been released.

Edit: on the subject of articles everyone should read, and I feel this is more catered to people who have played and understand the game on a familiar level, http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/misc/2005_Stuck_In_The_Middle_With_Bruce.html

After reading that all I could think was fuuuuuuuuuuck...


Everyone must read everything by Rizzo.

It won't make you a better Magic player, but it will make you a better human.
Hark, what baseball through yonder window breaks?
Judicator
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
United States7270 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-09-30 22:49:17
September 30 2013 22:48 GMT
#9344
+ Show Spoiler +

[image loading]

This is why Thoughtseize is overrated in Standard. This is also why you don't play BUG. This is also why I refuse to switch to tri-color control. Finally, you don't deal 8 damage to yourself and expect to win.
Get it by your hands...
DEN1ED
Profile Joined December 2009
United States1087 Posts
September 30 2013 23:07 GMT
#9345
One game doesn't really prove much. Also not sure why he conceded. Guess his hand was nothing.
Judicator
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
United States7270 Posts
September 30 2013 23:25 GMT
#9346
I am sorry, but when you use 3 Thoughtseizes on the draw to rip Jace/Aetherling/Sphinx's against a control deck that mulled and still find yourself in a parity situation, the card probably isn't that good.

It's more commentary about the efficacy of the card in Standard, and not player skill. His 2nd and 3rd thoughtseizes were pretty much worse than countermagic or an actual threat.
Get it by your hands...
DEN1ED
Profile Joined December 2009
United States1087 Posts
September 30 2013 23:36 GMT
#9347
I just dont understand how the game got to the point it is. He tapped out for sphinx knowing you had Elspeth? If that is the case he is bad. If you topdecked the Elspeth when he thought the coast was clear since he has stripped your hand, well shit happens sometimes and that's just magic.
Judicator
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
United States7270 Posts
September 30 2013 23:52 GMT
#9348
He tapped out for the 3/5 Sphinx on 5 and I was on 5 lands. It's not a bad play when he only knew about Sphinx's in hand since a Sphinx for 2 or 3 doesn't break his board. I had to decide whether to Sphinx for 3 on my turn or Elspeth, since he played a Downfall already in an attempt to kill Mutavault, I opted for Elspeth.

My line only makes sense if I draw a Detention Sphere since Jace blanks the tokens. I needed some luck to win for sure, but again, there's no reason that an aggressive line should be that open to a control deck when the opponent is playing black.

He misplayed for sure, but it's not like his Seizes whiffed on junk either. Basically his Seizes didn't see the Syncopate to save my last Mutavault, didn't see the Elspeth, he had full knowledge of everything else.
Get it by your hands...
Risen
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
United States7927 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-09-30 23:53:50
September 30 2013 23:53 GMT
#9349
I believe the sphinx belongs to Judi :S

Edit: Oh, prog sphinx rofl
Pufftrees Everyday>its like a rifter that just used X-Factor/Liquid'Nony: I hope no one lip read XD/Holyflare>it's like policy lynching but better/Resident Los Angeles bachelor
Judicator
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
United States7270 Posts
October 01 2013 00:08 GMT
#9350
Pretty much his line would have been great cause it would have given him all day to set up his board, wreck my early game, mid game, and late game plans if it weren't for the 2 Mutavaults...cause he can't block them well. I was leaving up any countermagic I drew to protect the Mutavaults once he decided to start the game at 14 life.
Get it by your hands...
WindWolf
Profile Blog Joined July 2012
Sweden11767 Posts
October 01 2013 11:37 GMT
#9351
Will go on a Theros sealed event this Friday. Is it much different from drafting?
EZ4ENCE
mordek
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States12705 Posts
October 01 2013 12:41 GMT
#9352
On October 01 2013 06:18 Risen wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 01 2013 05:55 MCMcEmcee wrote:
Uwr mana is worse than uw and the power level is worse than esper. Could get tuned to the point where it's good but esper just seems more promising.

Oh shit I thought the UR scry land had been released.

Edit: on the subject of articles everyone should read, and I feel this is more catered to people who have played and understand the game on a familiar level, http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/misc/2005_Stuck_In_The_Middle_With_Bruce.html

After reading that all I could think was fuuuuuuuuuuck...

Found this a couple weeks ago. Seriously, hits home.
It is vanity to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides. Tiberius77 | Mordek #1881 "I took a mint!"
Risen
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
United States7927 Posts
October 01 2013 14:33 GMT
#9353
On October 01 2013 20:37 WindWolf wrote:
Will go on a Theros sealed event this Friday. Is it much different from drafting?

Slower than draft. Forces you to play more colors. You will likely be 2 colors with a third splashed, this is normal. If you can stick to two colors great. Don't try and force mono color.
Pufftrees Everyday>its like a rifter that just used X-Factor/Liquid'Nony: I hope no one lip read XD/Holyflare>it's like policy lynching but better/Resident Los Angeles bachelor
Audemed
Profile Joined November 2010
United States893 Posts
October 02 2013 00:03 GMT
#9354
On October 01 2013 21:41 mordek wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 01 2013 06:18 Risen wrote:
On October 01 2013 05:55 MCMcEmcee wrote:
Uwr mana is worse than uw and the power level is worse than esper. Could get tuned to the point where it's good but esper just seems more promising.

Oh shit I thought the UR scry land had been released.

Edit: on the subject of articles everyone should read, and I feel this is more catered to people who have played and understand the game on a familiar level, http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/misc/2005_Stuck_In_The_Middle_With_Bruce.html

After reading that all I could think was fuuuuuuuuuuck...

Found this a couple weeks ago. Seriously, hits home.


No kidding, I'm reading that thing and it's just wow, I went 2-2 last night...because of me. And seriously, that's what it was. HERPADERP I'LL TAKE A 6 LAND REVELATION HAND BECAUSE I HAVE A SCRYLAND AND MUTAVAULT AND CAN TOTALLY FIND A VERDICT IN TIME.
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -George Orwell
Judicator
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
United States7270 Posts
October 02 2013 00:56 GMT
#9355
I mean you reap what you sow. It's like players are always expecting the breaks for them and only them. That's why you shouldn't play Magic if you feel like you need to win and are expected to win.

Hell, we all watched micronesia go like 2 steps down that road kicking and screaming while the rest of us tried to drag him back from it when he first started playing the game. Same for the other guy that got banned here.

LSV probably said it the best in as few words, if you feel like you have to win, then you really shouldn't be playing the game.
Get it by your hands...
micronesia
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
United States24752 Posts
October 02 2013 01:14 GMT
#9356
I maintain I had a very rough stretch of bad luck with mana.
ModeratorThere are animal crackers for people and there are people crackers for animals.
iGrok
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States5142 Posts
October 02 2013 02:34 GMT
#9357
On October 02 2013 10:14 micronesia wrote:
I maintain I had a very rough stretch of bad luck with mana.

Today playing BW in draft, I keep a hand with 2 plains, as the earliest black cost I require is turn 4 (ox and scholar, skeletal griffin hemlock and something), and I'm running more swamps than plains anyways. My next draw is grey merchant, plains, hythonia, 3 plains straight, I'm dead. Sometimes mana screw is real.
MOTM | Stim.tv | TL Mafia | Fantasy Fighting! | SNSD
Judicator
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
United States7270 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-10-02 03:47:28
October 02 2013 03:46 GMT
#9358
Thats fine, but how you deal with it is more important than anything in allowing youself to enjoy it in the long run.

Anyone going to GP Louisville?
Get it by your hands...
CruelZeratul
Profile Joined May 2010
Germany4588 Posts
October 02 2013 13:45 GMT
#9359
When will Theros be released online?
MCMcEmcee
Profile Joined April 2008
United States1609 Posts
October 02 2013 15:56 GMT
#9360
Very likely to play junk at states, uw is another possibility. Or master of waves???? (Probably just jamming junk)
[iHs]MCMcEmcee@UFO | のヮの
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