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Thread: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

  1. #301
    Finally changed my avatar Miff's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    I don't have a lot to say on the terms of flavor and design, so I'm just going to be nitpicky and talk about the templating on the first few cards in the batch.



    Critique aside, I really like some of the things you're doing in this set. Messing with exile seems tricky but it can be rewarding if done right.

    The looseness of the rules text reminded me more of early Magic then it does most attempts to make cards by those who aren't fully versed in templating, so you're better then the beginners. (I'm still trying to learn the ins and outs myself.) The best solution I can offer is to look at real cards that do something simular to what you're doing, and look to see what the Oracle text is.

    Custom Magic sets are a unique form of expression that requires both creativity and dedication to a science, so that provides double the reason to keep on practicing and making cards.
    Last edited by Miff; 10-04-2012 at 02:15 AM.


  2. #302
    AKA Shamus_Aran Graven_Image's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Miff View Post
    I don't have a lot to say on the terms of flavor and design, so I'm just going to be nitpicky and talk about the templating on the first few cards in the batch.

    [...]

    Critique aside, I really like some of the things you're doing in this set. Messing with exile seems tricky but it can be rewarding if done right.

    The looseness of the rules text reminded me more of early Magic then it does most attempts to make cards by those who aren't fully versed in templating, so you're better then the beginners. (I'm still trying to learn the ins and outs myself.) The best solution I can offer is to look at real cards that do something simular to what you're doing, and look to see what the Oracle text is.

    Custom Magic sets are a unique form of expression that requires both creativity and dedication to a science, so that provides double the reason to keep on practicing and making cards.
    Thank you very much. I'm getting feedback all around on these, from my college's local Magic players to the forums on MTG Salvation. I'm not sure what I plan on doing with these, but whatever it is, it's going to be with the highest-quality cards available.
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  3. #303
    Finally changed my avatar Miff's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Heh, you're welcome. I'm glad you haven't gotten too annoyed by my critisizim, especially the occasinal mistakes I've noteices.

    Here's red, green, multicolored, and colorless templating critiques.



    Well there's my critique on the rest of the set, I'm glad you seemed to enjoy my last post and didn't take it personally. I'm looking forward to seeing any additions to the set you may post in the future too, and not so I can analyze them! (Awkard complement is awkard.)


  4. #304
    AKA Shamus_Aran Graven_Image's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Thank you, once again. To be honest, a few of those adjustments were things I was planning on changing myself. Two things of note:

    Throwing caution to the wind and playing Corona as a flat 7/1 is actually a neat idea, and the sort of emergent strategy that I imagine Wizards of the Coast squees over every time they see more of it.

    Also, if it's alright with you, I'm going to try to keep the word "banding" out of any cards I put in. "Attacking as a single creature" is both less confusing and easier to append extra keywords ("with trample") to. "Banding" has a stigma about it. But I did put in the "defending player chooses order" clause. Even cut out the flavor text for room.

    I appreciate your help, and you can rest assured that I'll keep on carding. My brain hasn't run out on me yet.
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  5. #305
    Isaac illisid's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Here's a sample humans list for RTR:



    it's pretty untested, but I tested it against zombies and I win against myself most times :P The reasons I want to look at this deck is:

    Geist is still nutty, and there are many ways in this deck to force through geist hits like delver used to. Silverblade paladin, spectral flight, azorious charm, detention sphere, and fiend hunter all get him in there. And zombies has no way of answering a spectral flighted geist.

    Precinct captain is also extremely good against zombies. Diregraf ghoul, gravecrawler, and the first half of geralf's messenger are all stopped by this guy. (fiend hunter and detention sphere are also good against zombies)

    (also zombies is the current deck to beat at the moment)

  6. #306
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by illisid View Post
    Here's a sample humans list for RTR:



    it's pretty untested, but I tested it against zombies and I win against myself most times :P The reasons I want to look at this deck is:

    Geist is still nutty, and there are many ways in this deck to force through geist hits like delver used to. Silverblade paladin, spectral flight, azorious charm, detention sphere, and fiend hunter all get him in there. And zombies has no way of answering a spectral flighted geist.

    Precinct captain is also extremely good against zombies. Diregraf ghoul, gravecrawler, and the first half of geralf's messenger are all stopped by this guy. (fiend hunter and detention sphere are also good against zombies)

    (also zombies is the current deck to beat at the moment)
    My deck is similar to yours:

    I put in the Elite Inquisitors because I am not sure how much more common vampire decks will get, and the zombie Protection is cool.
    Wingcrafter is just an idea, have yet to test. I do not want to run 4 silverblade Paladin because I feel like 4 is too much. This is all just a test deck, but seems runnable. I call it Police Brutality because Azorius people are policemen also.
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  7. #307
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    I just can't wait until they release Orzhov and Boros. They're my two favorite guilds. I've got a B/W EDH deck that needs new cards even after it eventually rotates out >:3

  8. #308
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Opened a Vriska the Unseen and two shock lands in a RtR fatpack.

    Life is good, and so will be the expressions on my school's other MtG club members' faces.

  9. #309

    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    So... they're reprinting Tarmogoyf. How bout that.

    I'm actually really excited about the set, I'm going to assume most of the cards are going to be played a lot in Modern and thus will be worth something, so I might pick up a good amount of packs, Modern would be fun to get into.

  10. #310
    knight of valve time absoluteCertainty's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread


    Best of Forum Games Quote Archive brought to you by the Obliteration Party Station.

  11. #311
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Bobster View Post
    So... they're reprinting Tarmogoyf. How bout that.

    I'm actually really excited about the set, I'm going to assume most of the cards are going to be played a lot in Modern and thus will be worth something, so I might pick up a good amount of packs, Modern would be fun to get into.
    Yeah, hella excited about Mordern Masters, especially since I've always wanted to build Jund, but at the moment I'm looking at a minimum of £350 for the Goyfs ALONE.

  12. #312
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    *Feels like he is missing out on not playing Modern*
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  13. #313

    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Gonna bump the thread to ask for some feedback on a casual-ish GW Human Defiance deck.



    I'd like to add in a few more instant/sorceries, but I really like the creature mix I've got now and I don't want to change it too much, so maybe the only thing I'd do is drop the Rancors for something. Sideboard was kinda just thrown together, I'm never very good with them to be honest. This is kind of a budget build too, but I'm thinking about splurging and replacing the Silverblade Paladins for Ajani instead.

  14. #314
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    I say mainboard Beastmaster and put in Giant Growth. With defiance, all creatures get +7/+7, and that is a big threat.
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  15. #315
    Thinker of Thoughts WillyDeWulfe's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    So I finally bought myself a starter deck and was wondering if you guys had tips for a Golgari beginner. I've only played twice before: Once with someone else's deck(I lost), and once with my current deck split between me and my roommate(I won). Is there a FAQ somewhere that goes beyond the rules in the poster that came with the starter deck?

    For Example:

    I saw this guy earlier in the thread. If I had him and Corpsejack Menace out on the field at the same time, could I increase Pentavus's Power/Toughness by one each for every two lands I control per turn?

    If so, how could that possibly be beaten other than with cards like Murder that instantly destroy a creature or against something with deathtouch?

    Additionally, if the boosted Pentavus's is destroyed while I have Death's Presence out, can I just move all that accumulated awesomeness times 2 over to corpsejack and continue to fuck shit up?

  16. #316
    Basic Pokemon GG7's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Yes. First land you remove one counter, make token. Second and, sacrifice token, get 2 counters. You are up one counter.
    Things that can deal with it include Oblivion Ring and other cards that can exile it, Smelt and other cards that destroy artifacts, and stuff like Terminus that put it back in your library.
    If someone destroys it while death's presence is out, they are stupid or have a plan, because that would indeed fuck their shit up if they have no blockers or answers.
    Usually you can find these things out just from knowledge of other existing cards and experience playing the game. If you want to know neat combos like that, usually you can look up the card and see what other people say about the card. Many have ideas of different ways to use cards.
    Last edited by GG7; 11-04-2012 at 10:37 PM.
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  17. #317
    Thinker of Thoughts WillyDeWulfe's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Thanks for the tips. Here are more questions:

    Death's Presence activates when a creature you control "dies". Is dying considered to be any time a creature is sent from the field to the graveyard? Including sacrifices? If so...

    Korozda Guildmage using her ability on something like Reassembling Skeleton or Terrus Wurm could be a powerful combo when Death's Presence is out. Even more so with Corpsejack Menace.

    Also, can reassembling skeleton and others with graveyard abilities use that ability as soon as they are sent to the graveyard?


    I'm also not entirely sure what constitutes a "turn". For example, if I use Golgari Keyrune's 2nd ability to make it a 2/2 creature with deathtouch until the end of the turn, does it stop being a creature during the end of my Main Phase 2 or on the start of my next Main Phase 1?
    Last edited by WillyDeWulfe; 11-04-2012 at 11:32 PM.

  18. #318
    Dr. ██████ Zombiitwo's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by WillyDeWulfe View Post
    Thanks for the tips. Here are more questions:

    Death's Presence activates when a creature you control "dies". Is dying considered to be any time a creature is sent from the field to the graveyard? Including sacrifices? If so...

    Korozda Guildmage using her ability on something like Reassembling Skeleton or Terrus Wurm could be a powerful combo when Death's Presence is out. Even more so with Corpsejack Menace.

    Also, can reassembling skeleton and others with graveyard abilities use that ability as soon as they are sent to the graveyard?


    I'm also not entirely sure what constitutes a "turn". For example, if I use Golgari Keyrune's 2nd ability to make it a 2/2 creature with deathtouch until the end of the turn, does it stop being a creature during the end of my Main Phase 2 or on the start of my next Main Phase 1?
    The turn is divided into 5 phases with some steps inside of some of them..
    Beginning Phase:
    •Untap
    •Upkeep
    •Draw
    Main Phase 1
    Start Combat
    • Declare Attackers
    • Declare Blockers
    • Assign Combat Damage
    Main Phase 2
    End Phase
    • End of Turn
    • Cleanup

    Funnily enough, your "end of turn" effect on the Keyrune would not end at the End of Turn step! Instead, it ends at the cleanup step.

    Here's a good guide:
    http://i.imgur.com/llXMX.jpg

  19. #319
    Isaac illisid's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by WillyDeWulfe View Post
    So I finally bought myself a starter deck and was wondering if you guys had tips for a Golgari beginner. I've only played twice before: Once with someone else's deck(I lost), and once with my current deck split between me and my roommate(I won). Is there a FAQ somewhere that goes beyond the rules in the poster that came with the starter deck?

    For Example:

    I saw this guy earlier in the thread. If I had him and Corpsejack Menace out on the field at the same time, could I increase Pentavus's Power/Toughness by one each for every two lands I control per turn?

    If so, how could that possibly be beaten other than with cards like Murder that instantly destroy a creature or against something with deathtouch?

    Additionally, if the boosted Pentavus's is destroyed while I have Death's Presence out, can I just move all that accumulated awesomeness times 2 over to corpsejack and continue to fuck shit up?
    ooh ooh I love helping new players!

    that combo does work, it's actually a (watered down) version of a popular commander combo (the combo in question is Ghave, guru of spores as your commander plus doubling season.)
    But you want to be careful, since that combo is incredibly easy to disrupt. Both of the cards in the combo are creatures which are easy to remove, and one of which has a very high mana cost. Which means that most easily available answers to your combo are going to give a significant advantage to your opponent.

    as a general tip, are you familiar with the terms card advantage or mana curve?
    Last edited by illisid; 11-05-2012 at 03:43 AM.

  20. #320
    Thinker of Thoughts WillyDeWulfe's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by illisid View Post
    as a general tip, are you familiar with the terms card advantage or mana curve?
    I don't have any idea what those mean, but I can guess.

    Card advantage probably means either having a creature with better stats or having more creatures on the field. I suspect mana curve has something to do with lands and exponential growth, like having mana allows you to play cards that let you search for more lands so you can have more mana, rich get richer, etc.

  21. #321
    Resident Hivemind. chimaeraUndying's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    iirc card advantage is the difference between the cards in your opponent's hand and yours - creature advantage is the difference between your creature quantity and your opponent's creature quantity. Mana curve is having a decent spread of one-mana cards, two, mana cards, and so on so that you don't end up dead before you can cast any big spells.

  22. #322
    Isaac illisid's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    The basic concept is both players start with 7 cards in hand and must use those cards to kill the opponent. If you use 2 cards to accomplish the same goal that your opponent does with one card, then your opponent has 6 cards and you have 5 cards, which means your opponent has card advantage over you. Example:

    You cast grizzly bears on turn 2 and on turn 3 you enchant it with a oakenform. When you move to attack phase, your opponent kills it with a murder. You have now spent 2 cards and your opponent has spent one.

    More simply, any play that makes your opponent lose more cards than you, or you gain more cards than your opponent, is card advantage. Cards like day of judgement, pyroclasm, concentrate, or arc trail are classic routes to card advantage. Most auras are classic routes to card disadvantage, and should be avoided unless they are so powerful that it's worth it.


    The concept of a mana curve is that you want to build your deck so that you are doing something on every turn. Take a look at this deck - lower on the page you can see a graph that shows the cost of the cards in the deck. You can see that most of the cards cost 2 or 3 mana. this is good for a very aggressive deck because you want enough 1-drops (cards you can play on turn 1) to make sure you do something on turn 1 every game, but not so many that you are flooded with 1-drops on turn 4 or 5 when they're terrible. Similarly, you want very few cards that cost 4 or more mana, because having a hand filled with those cards will mean there's a significant chance you won't be able to play cards on your first 3 turns. On the other end of the spectrum, a deck like this one tries to play later in the game and is less concerned with turns 1 through 3, but it still pays close attention to its curve and while it may be doing nothing on turn 1 most of the time, on turn 2 and 3 it will likely be doing something. because while this deck wants to survive to play its powerful 4 and 5 mana cards, it can only do something if it's playing cards to keep up with the faster plays by more aggressive decks.

  23. #323
    Dr. ██████ Zombiitwo's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Working on making a custom set for a cube, here's a teaser:


    I feel like it's pretty balanced, but also really good. I'm not sure.

  24. #324
    Resident Hivemind. chimaeraUndying's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread

    Couple comments on Greydon:
    His +1 is quite nice against some control decks, although I'm not sure if it shuts down hardcore burn or aggro decks at all. His -2 is rather eh, all things considered - in his current state, a Shock or Lightning Bolt from your opponent gives them a huge advantage by nuking Greydon for four less mana than he cost. Maybe he should start at three loyalty? His ult doesn't really seem to fit in with the rest of the "control / choices" theme he has going - maybe something more like "You get an emblem with 'Whenever a source deals damage to you, that source's controller sacrifices it'"?

    Where'd you get the card border for him?

  25. #325
    Basic Pokemon GG7's Avatar
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    Re: Return to the Magic: The Gathering Thread




    Holy Aurelia (plus Gisela)
    4 Colour rites gets more ammo.
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