Dies to Removal

Go go Zvi! One of my favorite pros of all time.

This is quite a star-studded GP.

Courtesy of LP via MTGS:

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/A ... /welcome#1

It's an odd feeling wishing your mum a happy day when she has surgery scheduled the next day. Phone call was lot longer than usual lol

Finally a Modern format without Eggs.

Say whatever you want about modern, looking at all the name players who placed, you can't say it isn't a skilled format. Favorite deck of this tourney(besides storm obv) had to be the Domain Zoo decks. Watching Sully play was a thing of beauty and I think Shuuhei and Ken Yukohiro had things like Far//Away and something else really random but awesome in there board.

Devastating Thoughtseize seized GP Portland by Merila Pod.

I really enjoyed the tourney overall and I don't get all the commentator hate. I much prefer this duo then like, BDM and Randy Beuhler.

Not sure why the hate as well since it wasn't really bad. Just word overuse.

I really like Melira Pod as an archetype, so I am very happy to see it do so well.

Also, I don't think there are any "un-skilled" formats at all ~ some might be less rewarding (say, AVR draft), but generally, accusations of a format having no skill are just the complaints of bad players whining that their favourite colour combination or archetype is not currently Tier 1 (eg: standard is not skill intensive because UW Control is not by far the best deck).

R/g aggro went to the SCG Open I missed because of work...
ffs

This could've been me!

The decklist is super greedy to:
[deck]
Creatures (33)

4 Boros Reckoner
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Firefist Striker
4 Flinthoof Boar
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
4 Hellrider
1 Pyrewild Shaman
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Stromkirk Noble
Lands (20)

11 Mountain
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
Spells (7)

4 Searing Spear
3 Pillar of Flame
Sideboard

3 Volcanic Strength
2 Electrickery
4 Skullcrack
3 Domri Rade
3 Mark of Mutiny[/deck]

4 riders on 20 land, firefist striker over ash zealot and LM? Interesting, lone Pyrewild too.

Not sure why the hate as well since it wasn't really bad. Just word overuse.

Who was commentating? I had a busy weekend, didn't get to watch any coverage. (Between Mothers' Day and the PTQ that I didn't end up winning this weekend. )

I like the lone Pyrewild I guess...not much else haha.

Zach Hill and Marshall Sutcliff. Also, after watching a friend of mine crush another draft this week, I was wondering if the bloodrush Cyclops that gives +3/3 and double strike is viable.

So once again I've managed to completely screw up. Got my truck towed for parking in a private lot and it's $300 to get it out of impound. You might think, "$300 isn't that bad." And it's not. But my behavior is what is not acceptable. This is the second time in a week that I've managed to be a complete fucking moron and hurt my family. I'm selling a large chunk of my collection, and probably end up getting rid of everything I own. Magic is enjoyable, but I think I have more important things in my life that I need to deal with. Here is a short list of what I have, along with the set it's from and condition. Pricing will be set at whatever TCGplayer.com average price is, but I will cut you guys a deal if your willing to help a brother out.

2x Temple Garden - RtR; SP
4x Isolated Chapel - INN; SP
4x Steam Vents - RtR; SP
1x Hinterland Harbor - INN; SP
4x Sacred Foundry - GTC; SP
4x Sulfur Falls -
INN; SP
4x Clifftop Retreat - INN; SP
4x Sunpetal Grove - M10; SP
4x Razorverge Thicket - SOM; SP
4x Blackcleave Cliffs - SOM; SP
1x Hallowed Fountain - Dissension; SP
3x Hallowed Fountain - RTR; SP
2x Drowned Catacomb – M13; NM
1x Exotic Orchard – Conflux; SP
1x Crystal Quarry – Odyssey; SP
1x Maze of Ith – Dark; HP
1x Karakas – Legends; MP
2x Reflecting Pool – Tempest; MP
3x Cabal Coffers – Torment; MP
1x Winding Canyons – Weatherlight; SP
1x Gaea's Cradle – Urza’s Saga; MP
2x Lake of the Dead – Alliances; MP
1x Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers – CoK; SP
1x Yavimaya Hollow – Urza’s Destiny; SP
1x Mikokoro, Center of the Sea – SoK; SP
1x Palladia-Mors – Legends; MP
1x Scion of the Ur-Dragon – Time Spiral; SP
2x Vraska the Unseen – RtR; NM
2x Venser, the Sojourner – SoM; NM
2x Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker – M13; NM
1x Hellkite Overlord – Shards; SP
1x Xira Arien – Legends; MP
1x Hanna, Ship's Navigator – Invasion; SP
1x Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund – Alara Reborn; SP
1x Razia, Boros
Archangel – HOP; SP
1x Dragon Broodmother – Alara Reborn; SP
1x Armada Wurm – RtR; NM
1x Sarkhan the Mad – ROE; NM
2x Sigarda, Host of Herons – Acacyn Restored; SP
1x Grand Arbiter Augustin IV – Dissension; SP
1x Lion's Eye Diamond – Mirage; SP
3x Mox Diamond – Stronghold; SP
6x Sol Ring – Revised; HP
1x Mox Opal – SoM; SP
1x Sundering Titan – Darksteel; SP
1x Mind's Eye – Mirrodin; SP
1x Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre – ROE; SP
1x It That Betrays – ROE; SP
1x Aurelia, the Warleader – GTC; SP
2x Solemn Simulacrum – 1 Mirrodin; SP 1 Commander; SP
1x Kozilek, Butcher of Truth – ROE; SP
1x All Is Dust – ROE; SP
3x Wurmcoil Engine – SoM; SP
2x Ajani, Caller of the Pride – M13; SP
1x Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite – New Phyrexia; SP
3x Land Tax – 1 Italian Legends; MP 2 4th Ed.; MP
4x Leyline of Sanctity – M11; SP
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant – Shards; SP
4x Wrath of God – 2 Revised; MP 1 4th Ed; MP 1 4th Ed; HP
2x Rhox Faithmender – M13; NM
4x Blind Obedience – GTC; NM
2x Hero of Bladehold – 1
MBS Foil Promo; SP 1 MBS; SP
1x Enlightened Tutor – Mirage; SP
1x Angel of Serenity – RtR; SP
3x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben – DKA; SP
2x Silverblade Paladin – AVR; SP
2x Mirran Crusader – 1 Chinese(?) MBS; SP 1 MBS; SP
1x Chameleon Colossus – Morningtide; MP
1x Multani, Maro-Sorcerer – Urza’s Legacy; MP
1x Silvos, Rogue Elemental – Onslaught; MP
1x Omnath, Locus of Mana – WWK; SP
1x City of Solitude – Visions; SP
1x Primal Command – Lorwyn; MP
1x Primordial Sage – Ravnica; MP
1x Aluren – Tempest; SP
1x Sylvan Library – 4th Ed; HP
1x Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary – Urza’s Destiny; MP
1x Berserk – Unlimited; HP
2x Thragtusk – M13; SP
2x Thrun, the Last Troll – MBS; SP
4x Green Sun's Zenith – MBS; SP
1x Willow Satyr – Legends; MP
1x Primeval Titan – M11; SP
1x Regal Force – Eventide; SP
4x Craterhoof Behemoth – AVR; NM
1x Recycle – Tempest; SP
3x Mayor of Avabruck – INN; SP
1x Genesis Wave – SoM; SP
1x Kamahl, Fist of Krosa – Onslaught; SP
1x Life from the Loam – RAV; SP
1x
Mossbridge Troll – Mirrodin; SP
1x Eternal Witness – 5th Dawn; SP
1x Survival of the Fittest – Exodus; SP
3x Concordant Crossroads – 2 Chronicles; SP 1 Chronicles; NM
1x Verdeloth the Ancient – Invasion; SP
1x Vigor – Lorwyn; SP
1x Oracle of Mul Daya – ZEN; SP
1x Rampaging Baloths – ZEN; SP
2x Rest in Peace – RtR; NM
1x Vampiric Dragon – Odyssey; SP
2x Splinter Twin – ROE; SP
4x Inferno Titan – M12; SP
2x Hero of Oxid Ridge – MBS; SP
1x Wheel of Fortune – Revised; MP
1x Tuktuk the Explorer; ROE; SP
1x Shivan Dragon – Unlimited; MP
1x Fork – Revised; MP
1x Insurrection – HOP; SP
1x Rorix Bladewing – Onslaught; SP
1x Phantasmal Image – M12; SP
1x Reset – Legends; HP
1x Aquire – 5th Dawn; SP
1x Walk the Aeons – Time Spiral; SP
1x Sower of Temptation – Lorwyn; SP
2x Phyrexian Metamorph – New Phyrexia; SP
1x Keiga, the Tide Star – CoK; SP
4x Jace, Memory Adept – M13; NM
1x Gate to Phyrexia – 1 ANT; MP 1 ANT; SP
1x Damnation – Planar Chaos; SP
3x Demonic Tutor – Revised; MP
1x Sorin
Markov – ZEN; SP
2x Liliana Vess – M11; SP
2x Liliana of the Veil – INN; NM

I also have a set of 10 Revised dual lands. One of each. TCGplayer.com average pricing is $840 for all 10, but I'd be willing to let them go for $800. I can get pics of any cards you want.

Wrecking ogre is not so good as bloodrush costs the same as casting cost and you need something with trample. If you have 5 mana why not hellkite? It could make sense in a r/g trample theme deck tho.

I spent evenings this weekend playing at the kitchen table with my son; basically, we did what amounted to FNM play with him playing against different top decks I piloted.

I have to say...I can see why midrange is so dominant right now; the value of the creatures is just phenomenal. Playing Junk Rites is just hilarious...you get to see 3/4's of your deck and just cherry-pick cards while Tusk keeps you viable. In the closest game my son at one point had me down to 2 while sitting at 20 and still didn't realize he was dead. I never even saw EoS in the game, but between Acidic Slime, Resto and Tusk, I always was having to choose from multipleviable lines of play. It's just silly right now, because even with hate running the ramp gives you plenty of options.

Jund is strong as well, but with a bit more variance against strong aggro lists. I played pre-DGM "standard" one night and Turtenwald's sire list the next;
Sire is indeed a beast, but Turtenwald's removal package is not designed to be terribly consistent.

I'm continuing to play around with the vamp list idea from Sam Black, but I'm debating between Junk and Dega. Ultimately I think playing Aristocrat and sideboard Olivia trumps access to BG removal and ramp, though the thought of tranforming to midrange holds some interest. I will continue to tinker.

@zeman - I love me some Zombies, but I can't see the boon of playing BG over BW, BR or Jund. Yeah, I like Rancor and Putrify, but I can have them in Jund and still have Aristocrat. In white variants, having Resto to blink Messenger as well as her evasion is also sweet. And in my likely cobbled opinion, Zombies is primarily viable in this meta as a sac-based deck running Blood Artist. I know your thoughts on the card, but the Crawler and Messenger sac synergies are really the only thing that make Zombies something more than a slow, resilient Aggro deck. Without it, I really don't see why anyone
would try to run Zombies rather than one of the much faster established aggro decks.

What does Sam Black's vampire list look like?

BW Zombies is probably ok; resto doesn't do much but blink messenger which is pretty unexciting, compared to what other colours get. The real attraction for me would be lingering souls, vault and the sac. engine package. Obzedat in the board as well I suppose. Jund zombies is just really bad. The mana is bad and you're a reasonable dog against any other aggro deck. You couldn't pay me to play that deck!

Zach Hill and Marshall Sutcliff. Also, after watching a friend of mine crush another draft this week, I was wondering if the bloodrush Cyclops that gives +3/3 and double strike is viable.

Zac Hill's voice gets on my nerves pretty fast, but the guy does know his shit. I'd rather listen to him than to Ced Phillips and Brad Nelson make inside jokes that nobody cares about while calling "misplays" because of things they would have done differently even though they weren't misplays at all.

I have no negative comments on Marshall Sutcliff because I love that dude. I really enjoyed his side event coverage previously.

I posted this a couple of days ago; I'll just cut & paste for sake of discussion

I agree that Jund Zombies mana ain't great, but neither is having to play 4 gates to get color in a 2-color list. I think BW variants are the strongest right now, and you highlighted the rest of the reasons that I didn't go into. In addition to the more standard BW sac builds, there are some lists out there that go even harder down the sac path and add Extort to the mix. Heavy on two-drops, sac your whole field for Artist Triggers, then play Immortal Servitude to put them all back on the field and do it again. This sort of build isn't nearly as consistent being more combo-natured, but an interesting sideboard consideration.

Personally, I like Esper colors for access to Evil Twin. The concept is the same as BW, but clone effects are gaining value again as midrange again takes dominance in the meta.

Anyway, here's the BW list that
LK and I discussed a while back; I don't think DGM changes it mainboard, but I'd put Sin Collector in the side.

[deck]Lands (23)
8 Swamp
4 Godless Shrine
4 Isolated Chapel
4 Orzhov Guildgate
2 Cavern of Souls
1 Vault of the Archangel

CREATURES (26)
4 Blood Artist
4 Cartel Aristocrat
4 Diregraf Ghoul
4 Geralf's Messenger
4 Gravecrawler
4 Skirsdag High Priest
2 Obzedat, Ghost Council

OTHER SPELLS (11)
4 Lingering Souls
3 Orzhov Charm
2 Tragic Slip
2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad [/deck]

Below is the paste of the Sam Black proposal:
-------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Black posted an interesting deck concept in an article on SCG--Dega vamps. I had been playing with this since the Baron was spoiled and intend to try tweaking it up. I know from trying it in RTR Standard that it's weak to Reanimator...just about the time that you're getting up a head of steam, AoS comes down and screws your day. Baron will help with that issue, but I
still think the sideboard will need stronger options for dealing with them. I considered Slaughter Games, but the deck has an aggro game plan and would rather cast Keeper or Aristocrat T4. He also includes nothing for dealing with Bant Enchantments/Hexproof, so my thinking is that Tribute belongs in the 75. I also think Sin Collector makes sense in the side, as might Ghost Dad. I'm not sold on Sire in this particular list, but I'll have to see.

[deck]Creatures (30)

4 Blood Artist
3 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
3 Bloodline Keeper
4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
4 Stromkirk Captain
4 Stromkirk Noble
4 Tithe Drinker
4 Vampire Nighthawk

Lands (25)

1 Swamp
4 Blood Crypt
4 Cavern of Souls
4 Dragonskull Summit
4 Godless Shrine
4 Isolated Chapel
4 Sacred Foundry

Spells (5)

4 Orzhov Charm
1 Dreadbore

Sideboard
1 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
4 Sin Collector
2 Sire of Insanity
1 Vampire Nocturnus
3 Rest
in Peace
2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
2 Pillar of Flame

[/deck]

I think part of the reason I like Zach hill is because he says things that I'm usually thinking about, like in one match, melira player could have copied enemy snapcaster to flashback chord of calling. SO MUCH VALUE. And yeah, Zach really does know his shit. Sutcliff is fine, not great, not bad. Best commenting I've ever heard was LSV at the PT though.

Marshall is has the best enthusiasm/presence for new players. He is the play-by-play guy, not the colour commentator, so complaints about the knowledge he presents are misguided. He is SUBSTANTIALLY better than Hagon in the same role FWIW. WotC is lucky to have him honestly.

Most pros are terrible commentators, but as LP mentioned, LSV was fantastic, and on some of the old GGSlive streams when they had MJ, he was fantastic as well.

Yeah, I have to agree about vamps being the "wannabe" tribe; they have some of the most killer creatures in Standard, but they are all at 4 CMC! The lack of good early drops make the aggro a hard sell, and the glut at 4 and then drop-to-nothing really kills midranging with them as well. I do think that Baron has some potential, but he contends with Ghost Dad at 5. Of course, running both in a control build might not be shabby...

I'm retweaking Esper Zombies...I'll post the list when I get it settled. I want to run more sac sources than I have room for...gotta make some choices.

[deck]Naya Zoo[/deck]

Does this list look too convoluted?

Curve looks weird with only three four drops.

Another week of Game of Thrones come and gone. Looks like they're breaking up book 3 into 2 seasons as there are 3 episodes left in the season and they've covered maybe half of Storm of Swords so far. Still good either way.

I hope they combine books 4 and 5 into one season

Restoration Angel should still be good without ETB creatures right? I shouldn't jam all the creatures here.

Already a few episodes into Game of Thrones season 2, my two favorite things so far are the Imp (the actor is great and the character even better, I'm starting to think that the whole story is about him and hope/wish I'm not wrong) and

FAX - totally agree with your spoiler. My god, I still think about that scene. And yeah, Tirion is by far my favorite character - he's funny and cunning.

The most hated character? The child king. I love to hate that kid. I'm about halfway thru second season and there's already a few scenes where I just want to reach through the screen and choke him - on of which involves some whores. Although there is one scene that was hilariously funny involving him and Tirion. Tirion sticks it it to him - you'll know it when you see it.

Also, redheaded wildling chick - WOW.

Already a few episodes into Game of Thrones season 2, my two favorite things so far are the Imp (the actor is great ...

Yes, Peter Dinklage's Tyrion is easily the best part of GoT for me. He a great actor. I can really recommend the first movie I saw him in, "The Station Agent" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340377/). "Death at a Funeral" (This version: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795368/. Why a remake, why?!) is great as well.

Also, redheaded wildling chick - WOW.

Yeah, forget what I wrote about The Imp being the best part of GoT...

And everyone wants to wipe Joffrey from the face of the earth. I haven't disliked a character this much since Babylon 5's Emperor Cartagia and he was small potatoes compared to Joffrey.

For those who don't know yet, Cockatrice is back without the hassle of updating the cards/changing the servers yourself. We can rebuild the playtesting group we were originally planning.

Howdy all. Hope everyone had an excellent weekend.

g'morning everybody.

Self - I'm sorry to see you parting with your collection - I think we all know what that's like to a degree. But it sounds like you're focusing on the important things. There were a few things on your list I'd be interested in - I'll shoot you a PM.

Platypus - I dunno of it's just me or what, but everytime I start liking a character on GoT, they either die or turn into a giant douche. Take Little Finger, for example: I thought he was pretty cool, but then he turned shady as fuck. Now I think I hate him.

As much as Peter Dinklage is awesome as Tyrion, I think the most perfect casting on GoT is Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister. The worst is Asha Greyjoy, who looks nothing like she is described in the books.

I really hate how they've changed Robb Stark. In the book, he's truly his father's son: noble to a fault. This arc with him screwing the healer chick just doesn't work as well. I can see how they're shaping it since I know what's coming, but it just doesn't work as well, especially considering "The Rains of Castamere."

@khaos — Littlefinger was always a giant douche. He just doesn't feel like he needs to hide it as much anymore.

As much as Peter Dinklage is awesome as Tyrion, I think the most perfect casting on GoT is Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister. The worst is Asha Greyjoy, who looks nothing like she is described in the books.

I really hate how they've changed Robb Stark. In the book, he's truly his father's son: noble to a fault. This arc with him screwing the healer chick just doesn't work as well. I can see how they're shaping it since I know what's coming, but it just doesn't work as well, especially considering "The Rains of Castamere."

@khaos — Littlefinger was always a giant douche. He just doesn't feel like he needs to hide it as much anymore.

Doesn't Robb screwing the healer fall perfectly in line with the books though? Ned steps outside his marriage, fathers a bastard, decides to keep it. Rob fucks a nurse, decides to marry her cause they already did it. More or less in line.

And Tywin Lannister is EEARILY perfect. In last nights episode where he was giving Joffrey council, I shivered a bit. Tyrion is still my favorite character though. He actually reminds me of George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life in the sense that he's always trying to do the right thing, but it never seems good enough and there's always another crisis around the corner.

Doesn't Robb screwing the healer fall perfectly in line with the books though? Ned steps outside his marriage, fathers a bastard, decides to keep it. Rob fucks a nurse, decides to marry her cause they already did it. More or less in line.

And Tywin Lannister is EEARILY perfect. In last nights episode where he was giving Joffrey council, I shivered a bit. Tyrion is still my favorite character though. He actually reminds me of George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life in the sense that he's always trying to do the right thing, but it never seems good enough and there's always another crisis around the corner.

It actually does, but the setup isn't as good as it is in the book. It's far too random for what happens
later.

Tywin perfectly embodies a "by any means necessary" mentality. Tyrion knows what needs to be done, but it's tempered by a desire to actually help people along the way. He pretends at being uncaring, but he actually does care what happens to others.

The series has an interesting sub theme of "sins of the fathers."

Did Eddard Stark father a bastard, though?


Hmmmmm....