MTGNexus

Sounds like we need to make lifetotals higher. Maybe 60 @pokken

I think it's a mix. It used to be that generically good commanders cost a lot of mana, like Damia, Sage of Stone. Now they are a lot less mana, and frankly better.
It used to be that linear commanders like Animar, Soul of Elements and Arcum Dagsson had well-known combos and would be hated out by the table. But now it seems like everyone is building using online resources and buying singles, and just about everyone has combos.

In my opinion, they still make fun commanders. Kess, Dissident Mage, Atraxa, Praetors' Voice, and The Gitrog Monster may be cards that are very powerful, but they are interesting to build around. You have different ways to build them.

I hate cards like Gavi, Nest Warden. What do I do? I put all the cards that care about cycling in the deck? Anything else???
I liked Glissa, the Traitor so much. Obviously, you play artifacts... but how do you take advantage of Glissa? Do you sac them? Do you dredge?
If Glissa, the Traitor were printed today she would also have an ability to sacrifice artifacts. That's what is annoying.

I am vocal about my dislike for commanders that do everything. I don't think the command zone should be able to ramp/draw cards and win the game on its own.
I also want generals to be more open-ended. More Greven, Predator Captain and less Kadena, Slinking Sorcerer.

But at the end of the day, deckbuilding is much more sound now and the only real options for playing the way we used to are:
1. Use Precons. I like the idea of everyone starts with a precon. After game one, each player can substitute 5 cards. After game two, another 5 cards. Or pick another number.
2. Limit card pools: this can be peasant, or budget, or Pioneer only, or Core Sets only... whatever.

For WOTC, I just want them to do this:
1. Less 'do it all' in the command zone (Kinnan, Golos, Urza, etc).
2. More open-ended commanders (more Orvar, the All-Form and less Anje Falkenrath)
3. Supporting Commander events where people have to use precons (or precons with a certain number of modifications).


For the RC, I want them to consider more concretely:
1. Banning the best 5-10 tutors to increase variance in Commander.
2. Reinstating Banned as Commander and banning any commanders that show up excessively. Maybe using Magic Online's stats and CommandFest polling to get an idea.
3. Making an official point system for events that promote unique builds rather than being the last man standing.

After years of reading complaints about aggro not being a playable archetype in EDH it's kind of a nice change of pace to see someone thinking it's too good. Red zone based decks being more competitive doesn't seem like a bad thing to me.

I would love to set up/revive some weekend games again. Things have been a bit hectic on my end currently, but maybe soon?

Dunharrow wrote: ↑

3 years ago

2. Reinstating Banned as Commander and banning any commanders that show up excessively. Maybe using Magic Online's stats and CommandFest polling to get an idea.

I could definitely get behind more aggressive commander banning. Golos and Kinnan are so unbelievably toxic across the board it blows me away that Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary is still banned with these guys legal. It's nonsense.

SocorroTortoise wrote: ↑

3 years ago

After years of reading complaints about aggro not being a playable archetype in EDH it's kind of a nice change of pace to see someone thinking it's too good. Red zone based decks being more competitive doesn't seem like a bad thing to me.

The issue I have with the current situation is that it pushes all the midrange and control decks toward being combo. I don't think it's necessarily a life total thing but it does feel sometimes like the format pushes you to use your life total as a resource to compete and then prints huge power creepy stuff that makes you need to combo finish to be able to survive after doing so

Life totals with combo finishes are a bit too high still, as CEDH shows, rewarding things like Ad Nauseam and Lim-Dûl's Vault and Necropotence and Mana Crypt way too much.

But without combos the balance feels like it's swung toward aggro to the point that most fairish midrange decks are not really a great way to play. You need to be doing something overwhelmingly powerful like looping sweepers which might as well be an infinite combo or dropping bombs like Torment of Hailfire...that again, might as well be an infinite combo.

I struggle with every time something not comboey I get blown away by 800 damage from a linear deck on turn 5 (man I hate Greven, Predator Captain and Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer type stuff sometimes), playing the "got removal? K, you're dead" game.

Dunharrow wrote: ↑

3 years ago

I am vocal about my dislike for commanders that do everything. I don't think the command zone should be able to ramp/draw cards and win the game on its own.

Definitely get behind this statement. The perfect example (and while not pointing fingers at any players or content creators) is the latest Game Knights episode. One of the guests chose Koma, Cosmos Serpent to build (and yes, I know I've harped on about this card lately), and throughout the game he plays exactly 2 other creatures. Regardless of this, he's the king through most of the game and effortlessly has the largest board state. At one point I think he counts like 23 coil tokens and making 3 more every upkeep. That's ridiculous, and while it doesn't win the game on it's own, it means he can literally hold up all of his resources for permission. Which is more or less precisely what he does.

Like, it is what it is as far as gameplay footage goes. It's high quality as always and enjoyable to watch, but I can't imagine any of the other players enjoyed the game whatsoever. Those games do tend to be a little light on removal, and at least one other player got rid of stuff that could've helped bring Koma back to earth, but regardless, seeing the card in action really just confirms for me that it's way too pushed.

Pushed Simic commanders and mythics are a source of contention all their own. Koma is just another in a long line, and the end result is boring, predictable games. I don't even have a Simic deck because I'm just not interested in inflicting that kind of game on others.

toctheyounger wrote: ↑

3 years ago

Dunharrow wrote: ↑

3 years ago

I am vocal about my dislike for commanders that do everything. I don't think the command zone should be able to ramp/draw cards and win the game on its own.

Definitely get behind this statement. The perfect example (and while not pointing fingers at any players or content creators) is the latest Game Knights episode. One of the guests chose Koma, Cosmos Serpent to build (and yes, I know I've harped on about this card lately), and throughout the game he plays exactly 2 other creatures. Regardless of this, he's the king through most of the game and effortlessly has the largest board state. At one point I think he counts like 23 coil tokens and making 3 more every upkeep. That's ridiculous, and while it doesn't win the game on it's own, it means he can literally hold up all of his resources for permission. Which is more or less precisely what he does.

Like, it is what it is as far as gameplay footage goes. It's high quality as always and enjoyable to watch, but I can't imagine any of the other players enjoyed the game whatsoever. Those games do tend to be a little light on removal, and at least one other player got rid of stuff that could've helped bring Koma back to earth, but regardless, seeing the card in action really just confirms for me that it's way too pushed.

Koma's interesting - how would you compare to Chromium, the Mutable or Nezahal, Primal Tide

Dunharrow wrote: ↑

3 years ago

toctheyounger wrote: ↑

3 years ago

Dunharrow wrote: ↑

3 years ago

I am vocal about my dislike for commanders that do everything. I don't think the command zone should be able to ramp/draw cards and win the game on its own.

Definitely get behind this statement. The perfect example (and while not pointing fingers at any players or content creators) is the latest Game Knights episode. One of the guests chose Koma, Cosmos Serpent to build (and yes, I know I've harped on about this card lately), and throughout the game he plays exactly 2 other creatures. Regardless of this, he's the king through most of the game and effortlessly has the largest board state. At one point I think he counts like 23 coil tokens and making 3 more every upkeep. That's ridiculous, and while it doesn't win the game on it's own, it means he can literally hold up all of his resources for permission. Which is more or less precisely what he does.

Like, it is what it is as far as gameplay footage goes. It's high quality as always and enjoyable to watch, but I can't imagine any of the other players enjoyed the game whatsoever. Those games do tend to be a little light on removal, and at least one other player got rid of stuff that could've helped bring Koma back to earth, but regardless, seeing the card in action really just confirms for me that it's way too pushed.

Koma's interesting - how would you compare to Chromium, the Mutable or Nezahal, Primal Tide

I've run neither in the CZ, but Nezahal is very good in the 99. I wouldn't ever say it's top of the pile for mono-U commanders, but it does probably lend itself to a pretty easy build path. Chromium seems a lot more versatile to me, personally. There's an obvious voltron path, but that's probably hardly all it does. I dunno.

I think the difference is Koma IS it's own win condition. It's good enough that it can control the board on its own until your opponents run out of gas or answers, and you've then still got resource to win easily via combat if nothing else presents itself. Literally, the optimal build for Koma is to run supporting goodstuff and counterspells. You could lean into lockdown if you wanna get nasty, but if you're just about the win, the plan really is as simple as cast your commander and leave mana open.

I still want to try a simic commander, but something relative to what my group's decks are like rather than recent pushed stuff, unless I subvert what's typical somehow. Main ideas I've had are:

• Momir Vig, Simic Visionary but no hacking, and use the top-of-deck thing for, say, stuff like Deceiver of Form.
• Tatyova, Benthic Druid but, while posing a threat and engaging the others, I'm really racing to deck myself. This one might be very silly, difficult to balance, and possibly too much of a meme (only good for a handful of games).
• Or go with some other old-school thing like Experiment Kraj or Prime Speaker Zegana.

In an case, I'm going to be keeping ramp moderate (except maybe the Tatyova idea).

lyonhaert wrote: ↑

3 years ago

I still want to try a simic commander, but something relative to what my group's decks are like rather than recent pushed stuff, unless I subvert what's typical somehow. Main ideas I've had are:

• Momir Vig, Simic Visionary but no hacking, and use the top-of-deck thing for, say, stuff like Deceiver of Form.
• Tatyova, Benthic Druid but, while posing a threat and engaging the others, I'm really racing to deck myself. This one might be very silly, difficult to balance, and possibly too much of a meme (only good for a handful of games).
• Or go with some other old-school thing like Experiment Kraj or Prime Speaker Zegana.

In an case, I'm going to be keeping ramp moderate (except maybe the Tatyova idea).

I really want to build Eligeth, Crossroads Augur. So far, thinking of partnering with Green, so it would be my first Simic deck. I know black and red have some good cards for this type of deck, but I have one Izzet, two Dimir, one Grixis and one Temur deck already. So just keep coming back to simic

Might I recommend Eligeth + Gilanra? Gilanra's an unassuming little thing that helps smooth out the early/mid game, and draws a card off Eligeth too. It's honestly good fun. I have a wildly suboptimal list for it in my sig, whenever I win a game I consider if I need to take something out. Still might be good for inspiration. The fact it's simic means you can get away with going into the "redundancy creep" realms of stuff that gets forced out by staples and still have a reasonably functional deck.

Rumpy5897 wrote: ↑

3 years ago

Might I recommend Eligeth + Gilanra? Gilanra's an unassuming little thing that helps smooth out the early/mid game, and draws a card off Eligeth too. It's honestly good fun. I have a wildly suboptimal list for it in my sig, whenever I win a game I consider if I need to take something out. Still might be good for inspiration. The fact it's simic means you can get away with going into the "redundancy creep" realms of stuff that gets forced out by staples and still have a reasonably functional deck.

good suggestion
I think Gilandra or Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix are the main considerations.

Toshi wrote: ↑

3 years ago

Deep diving into the BBCode has me dizzy.

So, i've been working on my Primer application for about a week now.
I gotta say, it took me some time to find my groove, but ever since then, i've picked up speed.
Currently i'm at 35k characters and counting... But i'm getting closer to finishing write-ups, working on graphics and finally replacing my placeholder structure (which has gotten a little love though).

As far as MTG boards go, this has been the most extensive thing i came up with and i can't wait to share it with you.

Funnily enough I just submitted Lathliss today. Being able to go 'yeah most of these dragons are just there for the typeline' was really freeing in terms of the card choices section and it took me the afternoon to get the words bit done as opposed to like, five different sessions. I'll worry about prettying it up at some future point.

Which one of your decks are you working up @Toshi?

Dragonlover

Dragonlover wrote: ↑

3 years ago

Which one of your decks are you working up @Toshi?

Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle.

Maybe i should've done Edric, Spymaster of Trest first:
"Look, there are 25 evasive one drops, 4 extra turn spells, 17 counterspells - the rest is lands and fluff. Questions?"

To be completely honest, Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle may be more writing work to do, but it is a lot closer to my heart and more interesting anyways.
Being a combo deck means i want to include a comprehensive combo chart and that will be some nerve-wrecking hours of coding.

Toshi wrote: ↑

3 years ago

but it is a lot closer to my heart

Best reason to write the primer, you'll get a lot more joy. I look forward to reading it!

Dragonlover

Hey guys! As I'm sure you're aware, I'm new here, and I've just begun to start posting on a couple threads. Naturally, I have decided to go whole hog and post a custom set breakdown as well. Long story short, I joined this forum because I think my designs are probably garbage and the only way to get better is to get some constructive criticism.

Therefore, I would be grateful to anyone who would be willing to head down to my custom set thread and give some feedback. I know it's not much right now but I think that with a lot of effort on my part, (and anyone who wants to contribute) it could start to look like something. Anyways, that's pretty much my introduction I guess, (I'm not sure if I should talk about myself or something) *coughs nervously*

Here's the link to the set page: http://nxs.wf/np123405

@Venedrex
Link up the thread to your custom set and I'm sure we'll chime in.

Lovely to see more Primer submissions @Toshi @Dragonlover!

With the new primer template and looser rules, I've started a Goreclaw primer. It's gonna take a while since I have full time job and dad duties, but I'm gonna chip away.

Venedrex wrote: ↑

3 years ago

Hey guys! As I'm sure you're aware, I'm new here, and I've just begun to start posting on a couple threads. Naturally, I have decided to go whole hog and post a custom set breakdown as well. Long story short, I joined this forum because I think my designs are probably garbage and the only way to get better is to get some constructive criticism.

Therefore, I would be grateful to anyone who would be willing to head down to my custom set thread and give some feedback. I know it's not much right now but I think that with a lot of effort on my part, (and anyone who wants to contribute) it could start to look like something. Anyways, that's pretty much my introduction I guess, (I'm not sure if I should talk about myself or something) *coughs nervously*

Here's the link to the set page: http://nxs.wf/np123405

Welcome to the site, we're glad you're here!

Thanks!

Primer Writers and Cool Post makers:
I've added [cardfan] to create a nice fan of cards that always flow correctly and fit the screen.
Feedback welcome & encouraged.
(haven't added to our how-to yet in case changes/etc are requested)

Feyd_Ruin wrote: ↑

3 years ago

Primer Writers and Cool Post makers:
I've added [cardfan] to create a nice fan of cards that always flow correctly and fit the screen.

Ooooh, that's really nifty. I don't know if anybody would want the lower numbers of 2-3 cards to be more adjacent to each other like 4-7 are (to look a bit more like a hand), but it might be something to consider. The only thing I noticed is that when I click on one of them from your examples, I get a "Did you mean one of the following" dialogue with only one bulleted result, when it could probably just go to the card itself on the quick lookup (especially if it's a 'correct' match - case insensitive maybe).

Does anyone have images of the Kaldheim substitute card[s], or at least a number of some kind to indicate which of the helper cards it is? I'm not a fan of repeatedly unsleeving and resleeving during games so the checklist cards work much better, but I'm not having much luck finding images for the new ones.

Feyd_Ruin wrote: ↑

3 years ago

Primer Writers and Cool Post makers:
I've added [cardfan] to create a nice fan of cards that always flow correctly and fit the screen.

Feedback welcome & encouraged.
(haven't added to our how-to yet in case changes/etc are requested)

1 Card

Show

Hide

[cardfan c1="zap"]

2 Cards

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[cardfan c1="Blightning" c2="Skullrend"]

3 Cards

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[cardfan c1="Chain Lightning" c2="Lava Spike" c3="lightning bolt"]

4 Cards

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[cardfan c1="opt" c2="brainstorm" c3="preordain" c4="Serum Visions"]

5 Cards

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[cardfan c1="Death Stroke" c2="Victim of Night" c3="Malicious Affliction" c4="Walk the Plank" c5="Devour in Shadow"]

6 Cards

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[cardfan c1="Soulsworn Jury" c2="Basilica Guards" c3="Benevolent Ancestor" c4="Stoic Ephemera" c5="Warded Battlements" c6="Wall of Resurgence"]

7 Cards

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[cardfan c1="Steeple Creeper" c2="Gnottvold Recluse" c3="Defiant Greatmaw" c4="Yasova Dragonclaw" c5="Lovestruck Beast" c6="Wayward Swordtooth" c7="Spirespine"]

Can I do something like "giant growth|m11" in order to specify a specific card set?