Magic the Gathering XXI: Tap Target Keg

[sonofzeal]

So! I've been designing custom magic cards with a fairly silly theme - call centres.



Custom keyword - "Confront (this creature fights an opponent's creature, selected randomly)"

Spoiler

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Callspammer (R) - 2/1
Creature - goblin customer

At the beginning of your upkeep, Confront.

"Over, and over, and over..."



Mathematicus Ignoremus (1R) - 3/1
Creature - imp customer

When Mathematicus Ignoremus becomes blocked, remove it from combat and Confront.

"One cannot be reasoned with unless the essential language of thought is shared."




Escalator (2BG) - 3/4
Creature - troll customer

(1G): Regenerate Escalator and Confront. Sacrifice Escalator at end of turn.

"I need a manager."




Credit Fisher (2B) - 1/4
Creature - elf customer

(T): Confront

If a creature damaged by Credit Fisher is put into the graveyard this turn, its controller discards a card.

"Even an iron will can be worn down by incessent demands."




Recaller (2B) - 1/2
Creature - Zombie Customer

Undying

When Recaller enters the battlefield, if it has a counter on it, Confront.

"I know I just asked someone else the exact same thing, but..."




Actually Does Know District Manager (3BRG) - 1/6
Legendary Creature - human customer

(1BRG): Regenerate, gain deathtouch until end of turn, and Confront.

"Many are the pretenders to the throne, but an encounter with the true one is likely to be your last."




Rageful Bigot (4RG) - 2/7
Creature - giant horror customer

Defender, Wither

(T): Confront

"I'm not a racist, but...."




Bearly Audible (1G) - 2/2
Creature - Beast Customer

(T): Confront

".................."




Cent Grubber (2G) - 3/3
Creature - Centaur Customer

(T): Confront

"No amount too small, no invective too harsh."




Rumbling Complainer (2GG) - 4/4
Creature - Beast Customer

(T): Confront

"In my day, companies were honest and valued the hard-earned money of their customers..."

Thoughts, suggestions, feedback?

[Landis963]

Thoughts, suggestions, feedback?

Thought: Are you working through some issues?

Suggestion: "Confront" doesn't lend itself to a random mechanic, name-wise. "Antagonize," perhaps?

Feedback: AKDM is broken. Unkillable except by board wipe, and when it regenerates, it kills a random dude of yours. Scale back just a bit.

[Fable Wright]

So, i'm thinking of building a green deck for casual modern games, but i'm not really sure what cards to put in there. At the moment, i'm just thinking of ones that i like, and could work together.

It's not really meant to be a very serious deck, basically as long as it functions i'll be happy

Spoiler: |Sorta Deck List| Total Cards: 45 - 48

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|Lands| Total: 20
18x Forest
2x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx

|Creatures| Total: 18-21
1x Nylea, God of the Hunt
1x Karametra, God of Harvests
1x Xenagos, God of Revels
1x Kruphix, God of Horizons
2x Khalni hydra
1x Seedborn Muse
1x Oracle of Nectars
1x Oracle of Mul Daya
4x Overgrown Battlement
4x Axebane Guardian
Nx Engulfing Slagwurm

|Others| Total: 7
2x Lure
4x Caged Sun
1x Beastmaster Ascension

Any ideas for cards i could put in that to make it a bit more workable?
Or what cards might not be worth putting in there to begin with?

You know, Big Green Primalcrux is a deck I've seen thrown out there more than once. What you need to add are 4 more Primalcruxes, 4 more Leatherback Baloths, 2 more Khalni Hydras, and possibly some Kalonian Tuskers or Cloudthreshers, and then replacing all of the expensive ramp (Oracle of Mul Daya, Caged Sun, Overgrown Battlement, Axebane Guardian) and cards that don't fit in the deck (Engulfing Slagwurm, Beastmaster Ascension, Lure, Oracle of Necters, Seedborne Muse, all the Gods and Planeswalkers) with 1 mana creatures that tap for G. And then run people over with turn 3-4 Primalcruxes and free Khalni Hydras as you laugh maniacally.

[sonofzeal]

Thought: Are you working through some issues?

More like amusing myself and other friends. Call centers pretty much run my town, and nearly everyone I know who plays mtg has worked at one.

Suggestion: "Confront" doesn't lend itself to a random mechanic, name-wise. "Antagonize," perhaps?

Fair point. Perhaps "Assault" or "Assail"? What about the mechanic itself, does it seem reasonable? Random targets can bog the game down, but it does fill a nice midpoint between caster choosing (like Prey Upon) and opponent choosing (like Arena).

Feedback: AKDM is broken. Unkillable except by board wipe, and when it regenerates, it kills a random dude of yours. Scale back just a bit.

....yeah, I suspected as much. I was looking at Necrobite specifically for the ability, but something can be balanced as an instant and overpowered as a mana ability even at twice the cost. Maybe raise AKDM (3BBGG) for the cost, and for the abilities, "(3BB): Regenerate and gain deathtouch until end of turn" and "(GG), (T): Confront". It can still do everything as before, just with more difficulty, and generally can't get the deathtouch off twice except defending. I'm not sure if the mana splitting out into the activated abilities is elegant or hokey though.

[Sith_Happens]

....yeah, I suspected as much. I was looking at Necrobite specifically for the ability, but something can be balanced as an instant and overpowered as a mana ability even at twice the cost. Maybe raise AKDM (3BBGG) for the cost, and for the abilities, "(3BB): Regenerate and gain deathtouch until end of turn" and "(GG), (T): Confront". It can still do everything as before, just with more difficulty, and generally can't get the deathtouch off twice except defending. I'm not sure if the mana splitting out into the activated abilities is elegant or hokey though.

How about "BB: Deathtouch until end of turn," "GG: Regenerate," "RR: Confront," and drop its toughness to 3? That way you can still potentially spam the combined effect of "Choose a creature you don't control at random and destroy it," but only with dedicated effort because it costs six mana per use and that ain't cheap. With the toughness decrease you can probably also drop its CMC by one or possibly even two.

[Fable Wright]

Just pulled a foil Goyf, after pulling a regular Goyf last time I drafted MM15 at FLGS. I am happy. I finally managed to get 4 Modern Masters-style Goyfs so my Temur Company deck no longer has an awkward 2/2 split of MM/Future Sight.

...Now if only I could get a foil full-art mountain. >_<

[Mystic Muse]

Just pulled a foil Goyf, after pulling a regular Goyf last time I drafted MM15 at FLGS. I am happy. I finally managed to get 4 Modern Masters-style Goyfs so my Temur Company deck no longer has an awkward 2/2 split of MM/Future Sight.

...Now if only I could get a foil full-art mountain. >_<

I'll get you a foil full-art mountain in exchange for that goyf.

[Sith_Happens]

I'll get you a foil full-art mountain in exchange for that goyf.

I'll get you two.

[Mystic Muse]

I'll get you two.

You are now my archnemesis.

[Occasional Sage]

I'm knocking together a Standard-legal B/G deck, and would appreciate comments.

Spoiler: Destroy it all!

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4 Plummet
4 Hero's Downfall
4 Ultimate Price
4 Pharika's Cure
4 Naturalize
2 Diabolic Tutor
4 Foul-Tongue Shriek
4 Heir of the Wilds
1 Pharika, God of Affliction
4 Bloodsoaked Champion
4 Rakshasa Deathdealer
4 Warden of the First Tree
8 Swamp
8 Forest
4 Jungle Hollow

I'm grabbing creatures with more power than their casting cost would suggest, and banking on destroying enemy critters to clear the way. Along with everything else, really.

[Fable Wright]

I'm knocking together a Standard-legal B/G deck, and would appreciate comments.

I'm grabbing creatures with more power than their casting cost would suggest, and banking on destroying enemy critters to clear the way. Along with everything else, really.

Out: Plummet, Diabolic Tutor, Naturalize. The green removal here is just too situational for the mainboard, and Diabolic tutor costs far more than anything you tutor out. I would also take out Foul-Tongue Shriek; you don't have the creature density to actually make use of it.

Then, add more creatures. Gurmag Angler and Hooting Mandrills are cheap in all senses of the word. Tasigur is more expensive monetarily, but absolutely fantastic. I would add 5, maybe 6 Delve cards to the deck total, though, to prevent too much countersyngergy. Not sure what else to add, though, as I'm unfamiliar with KTK block and I assume you don't want to add soon-to-rotate Theros stuff.

I'll get you a foil full-art mountain in exchange for that goyf.

I'll give you a future sight Goyf for a Guru mountain, if you can pull that off.

[Occasional Sage]

Out: Plummet, Diabolic Tutor, Naturalize. The green removal here is just too situational for the mainboard, and Diabolic tutor costs far more than anything you tutor out. I would also take out Foul-Tongue Shriek; you don't have the creature density to actually make use of it.

Then, add more creatures. Gurmag Angler and Hooting Mandrills are cheap in all senses of the word. Tasigur is more expensive monetarily, but absolutely fantastic. I would add 5, maybe 6 Delve cards to the deck total, though, to prevent too much countersyngergy. Not sure what else to add, though, as I'm unfamiliar with KTK block and I assume you don't want to add soon-to-rotate Theros stuff.



I'll give you a future sight Goyf for a Guru mountain, if you can pull that off.

DT and Shriek have been iffy for me, I can't argue either one really; Shriek is only there as a way to manage direct-ish damage. Anglers and Madrills are good adds, but I don't see the value of Tasigur; if the return is my opponent's choice, how valuable could it be?

Also, if I tip the creature balance with Anglers and Mandrils, doesn't Shriek start being reasonable? Probably unnecessary though with more beasties.

Naturalize looks like a niche case, but my play group leans heavily toward both enchantments and artifacts I don't want to see in play: Curse of Exhaustion, Pacifism, Mask of Avycyn, Deathskull, those irritating Rings that give +1/+1 counters every turn..... (and yes, I know I'm restricting myself to Standard when they aren't).

[Ninjaman]

Though it's in theros, reaper of the wilds is like a dollar.
Another good fatty for this type of deck includes Whisperwood Elemental.

[Mystic Muse]

I'll give you a future sight Goyf for a Guru mountain, if you can pull that off.

I'll be honest, this offer is tempting.

[Androgeus]

but I don't see the value of Tasigur; if the return is my opponent's choice, how valuable could it be?

I use to think that but really if tasigur is returning bad cards, it's because they are just bad cards in the first place and not really Tasigur's fault. Also you can use his delve to get rid of any cards you don't want.

[Occasional Sage]

Also you can use his delve to get rid of any cards you don't want.

That's very clever.

[Sith_Happens]

That's very clever.

Don't forget that his ability also feeds your other delve cards.

[Mystic Muse]

Assuming you transform the new Chandra, Liliana, ETC. with moonmist instead of their regular method, do thry still get counters?

[Fable Wright]

Assuming you transform the new Chandra, Liliana, ETC. with moonmist instead of their regular method, do thry still get counters?

They do not. As Garruk has shown us, counters stay on planeswalkers when they're transformed. Thus, unless granted counters through Fate Transfer or other means, they will die as a state-based action.

[Occasional Sage]

Assume I have a Battlefield Thaumaturge in play and attack with all my creatures. I then use WW to cast two copies of Launch the Fleet. What happens? Options:

1. I get a token for every creature I own; the spell being duplicated, I waste the second LtF
2. or, the ability being added to the creatures twice, I get two tokens for every creature.

Opinions? My reading is that I get two tokens per attacker, but I'm hardly an expert.

[Fable Wright]

Assume I have a Battlefield Thaumaturge in play and attack with all my creatures. I then use WW to cast two copies of Launch the Fleet. What happens? Options:

1. I get a token for every creature I own; the spell being duplicated, I waste the second LtF
2. or, the ability being added to the creatures twice, I get two tokens for every creature.

Opinions? My reading is that I get two tokens per attacker, but I'm hardly an expert.

The ability is gained twice. You get two tokens per attacker.

[sonofzeal]

Assume I have a Battlefield Thaumaturge in play and attack with all my creatures. I then use WW to cast two copies of Launch the Fleet. What happens? Options:

1. I get a token for every creature I own; the spell being duplicated, I waste the second LtF
2. or, the ability being added to the creatures twice, I get two tokens for every creature.

Opinions? My reading is that I get two tokens per attacker, but I'm hardly an expert.

<pedant>Actually, you get nothing. Launch the Fleet's added text only triggers when the creatures are declared as attackers, and you said you cast it afterward - which isn't even legal in the first place, unless you've got something like Hypersonic Dragon in play.</pedant>

[Androgeus]

Have people being keeping up with Origins spoilers? What do you all make of Renown & Spell Mastery? Oh and the fact that Prowess & Menace becoming evergreen?

[Landis963]

Have people being keeping up with Origins spoilers? What do you all make of Renown & Spell Mastery? Oh and the fact that Prowess & Menace becoming evergreen?

Renown is very obviously a riff on monstrosity, but it seems underwhelming, especially since it needs to hit face in order to turn on. Prowess and Menace becoming evergreen is something I'm fine with, because despite intimidate's utility as evasion, it made for very frustrating board states. Also RU needed a combat mechanic or two anyway.

EDIT: Where are you seeing Spell Mastery?
EDIT EDIT: Got it. Seems cool. It's another RU mechanic, but again, that color pair needs it.

[Fable Wright]

Spoiler

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Have people being keeping up with Origins spoilers? What do you all make of Renown & Spell Mastery? Oh and the fact that Prowess & Menace becoming evergreen?

Spoiler

Show

Renown is very obviously a riff on monstrosity, but it seems underwhelming, especially since it needs to hit face in order to turn on. Prowess and Menace becoming evergreen is something I'm fine with, because despite intimidate's utility as evasion, it made for very frustrating board states. Also RU needed a combat mechanic or two anyway.

EDIT: Where are you seeing Spell Mastery?
EDIT EDIT: Got it. Seems cool. It's another RU mechanic, but again, that color pair needs it.

Spoilers are technically spoilers and should probably be spoilered.

Spoiler: MTGOrigins Spoilers

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Spell Mastery:
...But why? You're giving fuel to the irritating Cantrips-And-Young-Pyromancers decks for the purposes of making Cantrips-And-Young-Pyromancers decks a thing, while punishing decks that only want to use a few spells. Though I suppose I would be happy if this made creatureless control at least somewhat viable, for people who like that archetype.

Renown:
Interesting. It's like Monstrous and Tribute had a child. If they do anything other than +1/+1 counters with Renown, I like it.

[Dhavaer]

I'm putting together a deck for Modern and I think it should be smaller.

Spoiler: Izzet Prowess

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Land x20
1x Izzet Boilerworks
10x Island
6x Mountain
3x Swiftwater Cliffs

Creatures x25
1x Djinn Illuminatus
1x Spellheart Chimera
2x Wee Dragonauts
2x Kiln Fiend
2x Jeskai Windscout
3x Lotus Path Djinn
1x Izzet Chronarch
1x Dragon-Style Twins
1x Gelectrode
1x Izzet Guildmage
1x Izzet Signet
2x Jeskai Sage
1x Riverwheel Aerialists
1x Elusive Spellfist
1x Sage-Eye Avengers
1x Goblin Electromancer
1x Galvanoth
1x Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind
1x Bloodfire Expert

Other x24
1x Lost in a Labyrinth
2x Pyromatics
1x Reminisce
2x Magma Spray
1x Train of Thought
1x Prophetic Bolt
2x Winterflame
1x Rogue's Gloves
2x Dance of the Skywise
1x Vacuumelt
1x Quicksilver Dagger
1x Sphinx-Bone Wand
1x Lightning Strike
2x Voyage's End
1x Izzet Charm
1x Void Snare
1x Isochron Scepter
1x Invoke the Firemind
1x Brainstorm

Main points:
- creatures that get bigger (or otherwise benefit) when I cast spells (Kiln Fiend, things with Prowess)
- drawing cards to get more spells (Brain Storm, Train of Thought)
- spells that can be cast multiple times (Isochron Scepter, Pyromatics)
- other things that indirectly help with the above (Goblin Electromancer, Izzet Chronarch)

The ideal result being to smack people in the face with giant djinni.

So, what should I remove? I'd like to slim down to 60 cards. Also, is 'Izzet' pronounced 'Iz-it' or 'Iz-ay'?

[Sith_Happens]

Oh and the fact that Prowess & Menace becoming evergreen?

I was about to say that being in a summer set, especially one with a multiplanar theme, but apparently Menace and Prowess have in fact been evergreened. Which I am very okay with (read: ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ GIVE MOAR PROWESS).

Spoilers are technically spoilers and should probably be spoilered.

We went over this a long time ago, set spoilers need only be spoilered if someone actually says they're trying to avoid spoilers. It's in the OP now.

Spell Mastery:
...But why? You're giving fuel to the irritating Cantrips-And-Young-Pyromancers decks for the purposes of making Cantrips-And-Young-Pyromancers decks a thing, while punishing decks that only want to use a few spells. Though I suppose I would be happy if this made creatureless control at least somewhat viable, for people who like that archetype.

Once again I was going to say that summer expansions aren't legal in Modern and I've yet to see a Spell Mastery card with any chance of catching on in Legacy, but apparently Origins is a core set? What's the summer expansion going to be then?

Speaking of that article, I found this line rather nostalgic:

For some reason we became very fond of keeping things from regenerating when they were destroyed (I attribute this to the popularity of the cards Terror and Disintegrate).

I remember very well back when every black removal spell and its mother said "It can't be regenerated." Good old reliable Dark Banishing.

[unseenmage]

As I sit here sorting about 2 booster boxes worth of M2 cards which I had given to me in disgust by the people who opened the packs (they were going to throw them away) a thought occurs.

What if everyone had Tarmogoyphs? Would WotC then have to ban the card for making the format stale? Is that why MM2 sucks so hard, because they didn't want to have to whip out the ban-stick?

Cuz, I mean, it's not just 'Goyph. There are a lot of Modern 'staples' that didn't see a reprint.
I've heard a lot of folks claim that MM2 was a cash grab and blame that reason for the poor reprint policy. But that strikes me as hollow everytime I hear it. Sure they're owned by Hasbro now and, lets face it, WotC needed some corporate oversight to shake things up; And maybe their new corporate overlords require a sacrificial cash grab or two here and there.

But as much as WotC hates banning cards and the bad press that comes with it it sure would seem a sight easier to a) not print problem cards while promising to print them later, and b) restrict access to format stale-i-fying cards with a smaller pack count per booster box and a higher MSRP of $10 per pack.

Maybe WotC wasn't trying to make Magic a pay-to-win game but were trying to avoid banning 'Goyph. Just a thought I had; figured I'd share.

[Fable Wright]

We went over this a long time ago, set spoilers need only be spoilered if someone actually says they're trying to avoid spoilers. It's in the OP now.

I think I may have missed that thread. Thanks for the head's up.

Once again I was going to say that summer expansions aren't legal in Modern and I've yet to see a Spell Mastery card with any chance of catching on in Legacy, but apparently Origins is a core set? What's the summer expansion going to be then?

Magic Origins is the summer expansion. MM2 fills the Commander/Planechase/etc. space.

What if everyone had Tarmogoyphs? Would WotC then have to ban the card for making the format stale? Is that why MM2 sucks so hard, because they didn't want to have to whip out the ban-stick?

Nope. Among the players in tournaments that decide what Wizards thinks of the metagame, Tarmogoyf's price is a non-factor. And while Tarmogoyf is a great card, it is not the best card for all possible decks. If you're attacking with creatures and running Green, Tarmogoyf is pretty good. If you're trying to combo out, not running green, or are more reliant on synergy than size, Tarmogoyf is not particularly good. If everyone had a Tarmogoyf, I would imagine we would see less Tarmogoyf-based decks, as people would get over the myth that Tarmogoyf is the best card ever and stop trying to cram him into absolutely everything.

Also, what? Who thinks MM2 sucks at all? The set's pretty fantastic from what I've seen.

[enderlord99]

Would you say Dark Depths + Pandemonium is a good combo?