Tuesday, September 30, 2008

SSE 01 - He Has Risen

Wow, so... what's been up with you guys?

Me? Well I got bored with Magic after Eventide rolled in. Why? Well a combination of general dislike for the 1st set, 1st set, 2nd set draft format (which we had to have twice this year), lack of interest in Eventide, and distaste for what the pack did to the format. So while I played about 10 or so drafts I never really felt too excited to make a video on it.

Then I stopped playing MTGO altogether for a while. Then I got hit by Hurricane Ike and didn't have power for two weeks, and cable/internet for an additional one week. Blah.

Well the good news is I'm back to full civilization as of yesterday and itching to make some more videos.

Draft


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Round 1


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Round 2


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Round 3


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I'm going to keep my comments to a minimum. I think the draft went well and I followed what cards were being presented to me. I'm still not sure if shoehorning the other two colors was the right call, but both additions managed to win me games, and didn't feel too much like it was impeding my progress.

I would like to blame my play mistakes on rust, but who are we kidding. I actually played a bit more thoughtfully than usual in most of these games, but a major mistake in round 2 nearly cost me the draft.

For easier reference to comment on - here is the draft in text format:

Pack 1 pick 1:
Knollspine Invocation
--> Knollspine Invocation

Pack 1 pick 2:
Raven's Run Dragoon, Runes of the Deus, Medicine Runner, Kinscaer Harpoonist, Cinderhaze Wretch, Scarscale Ritual, Intimidator Initiate, Sinking Feeling, Inquisitor's Snare, Gloomwidow's Feast, Armored Ascension, Puresight Merrow, Dream Salvage, Godhead of Awe
--> Godhead of Awe

Pack 1 pick 3:
Scuttlemutt, Old Ghastbark, Merrow Wavebreakers, Scar, Raven's Run Dragoon, Scuzzback Scrapper, Elvish Hexhunter, Goldenglow Moth, Zealous Guardian, Loch Korrigan, Grief Tyrant, Corrosive Mentor, Fire-Lit Thicket
--> Scuttlemutt

Pack 1 pick 4:
Oona's Gatewarden, Runes of the Deus, Safehold Duo, Ember Gale, Niveous Wisps, Loamdragger Giant, Drowner Initiate, Pili-Pala, Plumeveil, Glamer Spinners, Deepchannel Mentor, Mass Calcify
--> Plumeveil

Pack 1 pick 5:
Scuttlemutt, Medicine Runner, Ghastly Discovery, Wildslayer Elves, Gloomlance, Bloodshed Fever, Manamorphose, Scarscale Ritual, Elsewhere Flask, Tattermunge Witch, Drove of Elves
--> Scuttlemutt

Pack 1 pick 6:
Safehold Duo, Wingrattle Scarecrow, Old Ghastbark, Ghastly Discovery, Oona's Gatewarden, Manaforge Cinder, Cerulean Wisps, Strip Bare, Plumeveil, Flow of Ideas
--> Plumeveil

Pack 1 pick 7:
Wildslayer Elves, Cinderhaze Wretch, Wanderbrine Rootcutters, Boggart Arsonists, Intimidator Initiate, Niveous Wisps, Rite of Consumption, Tattermunge Maniac, Corrosive Mentor
--> Niveous Wisps

Pack 1 pick 8:
Presence of Gond, Safehold Sentry, Consign to Dream, Bloodshed Fever, Loamdragger Giant, Put Away, Mistmeadow Witch, Wild Swing
--> Mistmeadow Witch

Pack 1 pick 9:
Shield of the Oversoul, Merrow Wavebreakers, Smash to Smithereens, Smolder Initiate, Scrapbasket, Strip Bare, Roughshod Mentor
--> Merrow Wavebreakers

Pack 1 pick 10:
Runes of the Deus, Scarscale Ritual, Sinking Feeling, Inquisitor's Snare, Gloomwidow's Feast, Dream Salvage
--> Inquisitor's Snare

Pack 1 pick 11:
Merrow Wavebreakers, Raven's Run Dragoon, Elvish Hexhunter, Goldenglow Moth, Loch Korrigan
--> Raven's Run Dragoon

Pack 1 pick 12:
Runes of the Deus, Niveous Wisps, Loamdragger Giant, Deepchannel Mentor
--> Niveous Wisps

Pack 1 pick 13:
Bloodshed Fever, Manamorphose, Drove of Elves
--> Drove of Elves

Pack 1 pick 14:
Wingrattle Scarecrow, Strip Bare
--> Wingrattle Scarecrow

Pack 1 pick 15:
Cinderhaze Wretch
--> Cinderhaze Wretch

Pack 2 pick 1:
Steel of the Godhead, Rattleblaze Scarecrow, Barrenton Cragtreads, Devoted Druid, Tattermunge Duo, Disturbing Plot, Blazethorn Scarecrow, Spell Syphon, Rustrazor Butcher, Aphotic Wisps, Kithkin Shielddare, Blowfly Infestation, Mercy Killing, Tatterkite, Tyrannize
--> Steel of the Godhead

Pack 2 pick 2:
Curse of Chains, Thistledown Duo, Juvenile Gloomwidow, Power of Fire, Gravelgill Axeshark, Prismwake Merrow, Crimson Wisps, Viridescent Wisps, Cinderbones, Mine Excavation, Cursecatcher, Bloodmark Mentor, Howl of the Night Pack, Elemental Mastery
--> Curse of Chains

Pack 2 pick 3:
Watchwing Scarecrow, Ballynock Cohort, Barkshell Blessing, Sootstoke Kindler, Faerie Macabre, Spell Syphon, Inescapable Brute, Foxfire Oak, Splitting Headache, Woeleecher, Heap Doll, Resplendent Mentor, Reaper King
--> Ballynock Cohort

Pack 2 pick 4:
Rune-Cervin Rider, Scuzzback Marauders, Disturbing Plot, Giantbaiting, Viridescent Wisps, Ashenmoor Cohort, Thornwatch Scarecrow, Mine Excavation, Mistveil Plains, Dawnglow Infusion, Gloomwidow, Fracturing Gust
--> Rune-Cervin Rider

Pack 2 pick 5:
Blight Sickle, Somnomancer, Crabapple Cohort, Sootstoke Kindler, Gleeful Sabotage, Kithkin Shielddare, Flow of Ideas (FOIL), Inescapable Brute, Safewright Quest, Madblind Mountain, Mercy Killing
--> Somnomancer

Pack 2 pick 6:
Fists of the Demigod, Rune-Cervin Rider, Juvenile Gloomwidow, Torpor Dust, Woeleecher, Giantbaiting, Blazethorn Scarecrow, Beseech the Queen, Horde of Boggarts, Impromptu Raid
--> Rune-Cervin Rider

Pack 2 pick 7:
Traitor's Roar, Toil to Renown, Thornwatch Scarecrow, Safewright Quest, Aphotic Wisps, Revelsong Horn, Pale Wayfarer, Illuminated Folio, Savor the Moment
--> Illuminated Folio

Pack 2 pick 8:
Parapet Watchers, Poison the Well, Gleeful Sabotage, Ashenmoor Cohort, Apothecary Initiate, Whimwader, Leechridden Swamp, Raking Canopy
--> Raking Canopy

Pack 2 pick 9:
Rattleblaze Scarecrow, Devoted Druid, Disturbing Plot, Blazethorn Scarecrow, Spell Syphon, Aphotic Wisps, Tyrannize
--> Devoted Druid

Pack 2 pick 10:
Juvenile Gloomwidow, Crimson Wisps, Viridescent Wisps, Mine Excavation, Cursecatcher, Bloodmark Mentor
--> Bloodmark Mentor

Pack 2 pick 11:
Inescapable Brute, Foxfire Oak, Splitting Headache, Woeleecher, Heap Doll
--> Woeleecher

Pack 2 pick 12:
Mine Excavation, Mistveil Plains, Dawnglow Infusion, Fracturing Gust
--> Fracturing Gust

Pack 2 pick 13:
Gleeful Sabotage, Inescapable Brute, Madblind Mountain
--> Gleeful Sabotage

Pack 2 pick 14:
Woeleecher, Blazethorn Scarecrow
--> Woeleecher

Pack 2 pick 15:
Toil to Renown
--> Toil to Renown

Pack 3 pick 1:
Battlegate Mimic, Nettle Sentinel, Grazing Kelpie, Waves of Aggression, Moonhold, Unwilling Recruit, Soul Reap, Odious Trow, Antler Skulkin, Fire at Will, Desecrator Hag, Inside Out, Nip Gwyllion, Belligerent Hatchling, Merrow Levitator
--> Belligerent Hatchling

Pack 3 pick 2:
Scourge of the Nobilis (FOIL), Groundling Pouncer, Rendclaw Trow, Soul Reap, Banishing Knack, Merrow Bonegnawer, Noggle Bandit, Fang Skulkin, Batwing Brume, Stream Hopper, Noggle Hedge-Mage, Recumbent Bliss, Hotheaded Giant, Kithkin Zealot
--> Recumbent Bliss

Pack 3 pick 3:
Jawbone Skulkin, Cankerous Thirst, Cinder Pyromancer, Trapjaw Kelpie, Raven's Crime, Marshdrinker Giant, Springjack Pasture, Scourge of the Nobilis, Heartlash Cinder, Gilder Bairn, Nightsky Mimic, Nip Gwyllion, Riverfall Mimic
--> Nightsky Mimic

Pack 3 pick 4:
Beckon Apparition, Bloodied Ghost, Duergar Mine-Captain, Crumbling Ashes, Edge of the Divinity, Unmake, Flame Jab, Merrow Bonegnawer, Hoof Skulkin, Inside Out, Tilling Treefolk, Noggle Bridgebreaker
--> Unmake

Pack 3 pick 5:
Fire at Will, Double Cleave, Smoldering Butcher, Gwyllion Hedge-Mage, Idle Thoughts, Wilderness Hypnotist, Gift of the Deity, Duergar Assailant, Stream Hopper, Monstrify, Ward of Bones
--> Fire at Will

Pack 3 pick 6:
Desecrator Hag, Wickerbough Elder, Merrow Levitator, Kithkin Zealot, Hotheaded Giant, Hag Hedge-Mage, Cinder Pyromancer, Trapjaw Kelpie, Antler Skulkin, Riverfall Mimic
--> Wickerbough Elder

Pack 3 pick 7:
Slippery Bogle, Stigma Lasher, Twinblade Slasher, Duergar Hedge-Mage, Kithkin Spellduster, Noggle Bridgebreaker, Gift of the Deity, Dream Thief, Beckon Apparition
--> Stigma Lasher

Pack 3 pick 8:
Shell Skulkin, Drain the Well, Harvest Gwyllion, Phosphorescent Feast, Cenn's Enlistment, Hobgoblin Dragoon, Raven's Crime, Creakwood Ghoul
--> Harvest Gwyllion

Pack 3 pick 9:
Grazing Kelpie, Moonhold, Odious Trow, Antler Skulkin, Fire at Will, Desecrator Hag, Inside Out
--> Fire at Will

Pack 3 pick 10:
Scourge of the Nobilis (FOIL), Merrow Bonegnawer, Fang Skulkin, Batwing Brume, Stream Hopper, Kithkin Zealot
--> Batwing Brume

Pack 3 pick 11:
Jawbone Skulkin, Trapjaw Kelpie, Raven's Crime, Marshdrinker Giant, Heartlash Cinder
--> Marshdrinker Giant

Pack 3 pick 12:
Beckon Apparition, Crumbling Ashes, Merrow Bonegnawer, Tilling Treefolk
--> Beckon Apparition

Pack 3 pick 13:
Double Cleave, Gift of the Deity, Ward of Bones
--> Ward of Bones

Pack 3 pick 14:
Kithkin Zealot, Antler Skulkin
--> Kithkin Zealot

Pack 3 pick 15:
Beckon Apparition
--> Beckon Apparition

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

SSS 14 & 15 - Glen Elendraville

I've been kinda burned out lately on making videos, but I did manage to grab a couple so I figured I should share them...

SSS 14 - Draft


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Only the draft for this one. I lost in the second round, but every game was decided by mulls and screw (on both sides) so I didn't bother to process them.

I sold myself too hard on G/W and passed up some great red cards like Jaws of Stone, and Puncture Bolt. I also passed up one Armored Ascension to have another fall in my lap. Its been a while since I did this draft, but looking back on it I should of gone with the red (Witch and Ascension not withstanding).

Not particularly proud of this draft, as I made some major errors, but the deck turned out reasonably well regardless.

SSS 15 - Draft

(Note: I'm still mispronouncing Torpor Dust, just out of habit now. Gravelgill is one that just about everyone screws up too. I bet most people don't even notice the "l" in there.)


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From the looks of things, you might suspect that this table was substandard players, but it was an above average crowd (ratings wise) even for a 8-4. It's not often that you see a 5th pick Prison Term and a tabled Mistmeadow Witch.

I could of made the switch to white to accommodate these cards, but there wasn't too much else flowing and the heavy commitment to U/B hybrids meant that the mana would have to bend quite a bit to make them fit. Conversely if stick with U/B, the mana become practically a non-issue, not to mention that Beseech the Queen gives me twice the access to the Liege. The two Gloomlances helped compensate for the difference. I could of splashed for the Mistmeadow, but I was making some deep cuts already, and didn't see the need to make room for the 2 or so Plains needed to make that worth while.

So on with the games.

I will warn you now... I was literally half asleep when I was playing the games of this draft. I can't say I'm disappointed by the results, but the road to get there was rather embarrassing. Particularly in Round 2 I was fading in and out and made quite a few major tactical and procedural errors. But I've put up every draft I've recorded, so why hide my shame now?

Round 1


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This was a mid 1800 player, so I can only think he was experimenting with this archetype. I can see the logic, but the 1/1 brigade just doesn't have the muscle to pull this off... particularly in G/W.

Round 2


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Yeah, so I started nodding off a bit here...

Game 1 - I like wining the game with a River's Grasp in hand.

Game 2 - Yeah, I messed this one up bad, but without a way to deal with the Windbrisk Raptor, I was a goner anyways.

Game 3 - Really bad play on both of our parts as he either forgets that his Witch untaps his Chained Cohort, or he chooses not to use it pre-combat for fear of losing a 1/1. I just completely forgot until he does it next turn... but its too late to get the job done as his Last Breath on my Liege takes me out of fatal range.

Round 3


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Game 1 - Biting Tethers picks a great time to make its first appearance of the draft as I steal his Liege and knock his men back down to size when he was about to kill me.

Game 2 - He gets a quick start, but reigns it in as our Liege's stare each other down from across the red zone. I pass priority before making the correct blocks on his final turn, but it doesn't matter as he doesn't have a trick and my Witch activates for 27 damage in one glorious alpha strike.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

SSS 12 & 13 - Pros and Joes

So I did about 5 drafts on my own, and for the most part I totally stunk up the place (yes... more so than usual thanks). A combination of trying new archetypes (U/B mill is pretty bad BTW), playing under the influence of muscle relaxers (hey I was sore from moving furniture all weekend!), and not being used to playing without you guys looking over my shoulder caused me to lose quite a few points and packs over these drafts.

Ah well, lets get back on track shall we?

OK, in SSS 12 I noticed a couple of pro names in the draft including Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa so I should be in for an interesting draft to say the least.

SSS 12 - Draft


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Pack 1 Pick 2 was a tough decision. I could see arguments either way on Oversoul or Prison Term, mainly over the commitment that Oversoul takes. I figure that Term was good but just removal, where as Oversoul should win most games on its own.

I think the rest of the draft went more or less to script as I drafted a fairly solid G/W deck featuring several combat dominating creatures and a good array of tricks to help them along the way.

I'm relieved when I see my first round opponent is not a recognizable name.

SSS 12 - Round 1


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Good games overall. I made some mistakes in game 1, but since he had no pressure on me they were no big deal. A couple of top decked Seedcradles forces through the Oversoul vs Warcrawler and the game is in the bag.

Game 2 sees a ton of pressure come my way, and I end up on the losing end of a race even though I get 3rd turn Oversoul with a Tower Above on it to take out Warcrawler. I make a major mistake in attacking with the Sentry into his Lurebound as he doesn't have to block that turn to live. I also screw up by playing the Mudbrawler over the Ghastbark as it takes out Druid as a chump blocker next turn.

The correct play here is to just attack with the Oversoul and just see what he does. This gives us more options if we draw into an out on the following turn.

Game 3 has another Oversoul met with another Warcrawler. I haven't gone through thoroughly this one yet, but I'm sure I misplayed quite a bit... but I don't think with his final creature rush I had much of a chance to win anyways.

OK, so not exactly the performance I was hoping for, but hey... lets get back into action. It was getting late so I just jump on to the next 4-3-2-2 that was firing.

SSS 13 - Draft


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This one just came together beautifully. Having 4 solid pieces of removal from pack one alone gives me a good feeling. Obviously the talent level in this draft was a major step down from SSS 12, but the deck I drafted was so much fun I was excited to play 3 full rounds with it.

I could of gone mono-red to take full advantage of the Jaws, but I would weaken my creature base significantly to do so.

Round 1


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Game 1 features Spawnwrithe getting out of hand (with the help of a perfectly timed Giantbaiting). This guy is so dangerous that with just a little help he can blow a game wide open.

Game 2 was... well it was a major slog. We both drew a ton of land, and his defensive cards kept me from making much headway until he made a mistake and gave me his Puca's Mischief. That allowed me to grab his Trip Noose (for my Chained Spriggan no less) and the rest was history.

SSS 13 - Round 2


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Two quick ones as Giantbaiting and Spawnwrithe do their things.

SSS 13 - Round 3


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Game 1 I misplay when I use a Puncture Bolt to finish off a 6/6 Plumeveil (thanks to 4th turn Liege) that has already claimed two creatures. Had I held on it it and used it to take out the Liege (with help from a Power of Fire) I might of been able to win this game.

Game 2 I play around the Liege this time and keep up enough of an offense to finish him with a Jaws for 3.

Game 3 I skirt around combat tricks long enough use Ember Gale to knock him down from 17 to 7, then clean up with Jaws of Stone.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

SSS 08-11 - I think I blew out my brain...

Yep, four new videos to digest, and these might be it for a while. I've gorged myself on drafts and I think I might actually work on my old house.

For those of you not interested in my comments or the games, I've compressed drafts 08-11 into one video at 4x speed. If you are interested in watching the full length videos, including the games, then check out the links below.

In a nutshell:

SSS 08 - 8-4 Lost 2nd round.
SSS 09 - 4-3-2-2 Lost 2nd round. (1st round opponent didn't show)
SSS 10 - 4-3-2-2 Lost 2nd round. (Two of the most annoying rounds I've ever played)
SSS 11 - 8-4 Won Draft.

Basically broke even on packs, I'll take it.

SSS 08-11 - Drafts Only


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SSS 08

SSS 08 - Draft

SSS 08 - Round 1

SSS 08 - Round 2



SSS 09

SSS 09 - Draft

SSS 09 - Round 2



SSS 10

SSS 10 - Draft

SSS 10 - Round 1

SSS 10 - Round 2



SSS 11

SSS 11 - Draft

SSS 11 - Round 1

SSS 11 - Round 2

SSS 11 - Round 3



I think I'm going to lay low for a little bit and see what bubbles up on Modosharks updated new site. If all goes well I might slink back into the shadows and let everyone check out the new drafters while I just draft on my own. Thanks to everyone who has posted so far, and I'll see you all again soon enough.