Article Cantrippin' Balls

Jason Waddell

Administrator
Staff member
I suppose your ending "cantrip ranking" is going to be a function of your shuffle density. I think Brainstorm is the best one in my cube. Before doubling on fetches and some other changes, I agree that Preordain was the best.

This is an interesting topic as I think skill-based decision density is a large factor of cube enjoyment once you get past the honeymoon phase of drafting high power cards.

I've never tried this before, and I wouldn't mind being sold on the issue a bit more in the thread.
 
There's lots of interesting things here.

Firstly, there is the question of does more consistency lead to more fun? I know there are those here who have broken the singleton rule, which in doing so leads to more consistency by its nature, so I think there might be different perspectives to my question. Or is it that more decisions to make leads to more fun (which I can totally get behind and feel quite excited about)?

I'm in the other camp as I love singleton and try to avoid functional reprints. I also seem to remember a joy of cubing podcast episode (I think) that talked about cards like demonic tutor being horrible picks during drafts because they're easy and lazy picks. I know things like ponder aren't in the same boat but by themselves they don't do anything in terms of giving your deck shape and committing you to a strategy.

Secondly, you write about cantrips which I understand to mean cards with "draw a card" tacked onto it, which would apply to the blue cards you talk about but then you also included a deck with sylvan library and explore. Are you actually talking about cards that let you rearrange the top of you library? If so, would you then include cards like scroll rack and divining top?

However, I do really like your comment about decision making being fun and an important aspect of cube, which I also mentioned over in the eldrazi domain thread. If we are talking about decision making then can you expand your approach to also include (cheap) cards that allow players to have lots of choices? Eg level up, kicker, buy back to an extent?

One other thing I wanted to throw in is gnarly gnarlys modal cube which seeks to promote complex board states. I'm not sure if I've seen him on these boards but he has a thread over at mtgs (which outlines his thinking and appproach http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=418550 ) and is on cubetutor here: http://cubetutor.com/cubeblog/85

I think this cube looks awesome and might be worth a look if you haven't seen it in light of these ideas.
 

Jason Waddell

Administrator
Staff member
There's lots of interesting things here.

Firstly, there is the question of does more consistency lead to more fun? I know there are those here who have broken the singleton rule, which in doing so leads to more consistency by its nature, so I think there might be different perspectives to my question. Or is it that more decisions to make leads to more fun (which I can totally get behind and feel quite excited about)?

I'm in the other camp as I love singleton and try to avoid functional reprints. I also seem to remember a joy of cubing podcast episode (I think) that talked about cards like demonic tutor being horrible picks during drafts because they're easy and lazy picks. I know things like ponder aren't in the same boat but by themselves they don't do anything in terms of giving your deck shape and committing you to a strategy.

Secondly, you write about cantrips which I understand to mean cards with "draw a card" tacked onto it, which would apply to the blue cards you talk about but then you also included a deck with sylvan library and explore. Are you actually talking about cards that let you rearrange the top of you library? If so, would you then include cards like scroll rack and divining top?

However, I do really like your comment about decision making being fun and an important aspect of cube, which I also mentioned over in the eldrazi domain thread. If we are talking about decision making then can you expand your approach to also include (cheap) cards that allow players to have lots of choices? Eg level up, kicker, buy back to an extent?

One other thing I wanted to throw in is gnarly gnarlys modal cube which seeks to promote complex board states. I'm not sure if I've seen him on these boards but he has a thread over at mtgs (which outlines his thinking and appproach http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=418550 ) and is on cubetutor here: http://cubetutor.com/cubeblog/85

I think this cube looks awesome and might be worth a look if you haven't seen it in light of these ideas.


I think focusing on consistency is a bit of a misnomer. All draft sets emphasize redundancy (critical mass of aggro one-drops, for example), regardless of whether they have the same name or are functionally identical. Functional similarity is a bit of a spectrum.

Imagine we have the following options:
a) 3 copies of a card that support the intersection between 3 archetypes
b) 3 different cards that support one archetype each

Choice a actually promotes more flexibility in our decks from draft to draft, as there's more room for mixed-archetype decks and other goodness.

Demonic Tutor is one of the most skill-testing cube cards I've played with so I'll have to take issue with that particular assessment. It's also not equally good in all decks.

There's also a difference between complex board states and interesting decisions, but it's certainly not a dichotomy. Perhaps the best example of a fun "high decision density" card is Vendilion Clique . It's also important to note that even basic spells can have high decision relevancy. Kill spells have multiple possible targets and timing, hand disruption does too, and Jace TMS is a whole barrel of fun decisions.
 

CML

Contributor
Lucre: which? i love library and top in cube. i love them all. i'm not sure i'd find space for see beyond or telling time though

actually looking at this chart 23/405 cards say 'draw a card' which is not that high of a density. beloved draft format RGD has 57/646 (http://magiccards.info/query?q=o:"draw+a+card"+(e:di/en+or+e:gp/en+or+e:rav/en)&v=card&s=cname) and 67/646 if you include bouncelands, though i'm not sure what the as-fan would end up being there

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Azorius Charm ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery RTR
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Baleful Strix ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery PC2
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Cryptic Command ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery LRWREWMMA
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Electrolyze ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery GPCMDCPMBPMMA
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Enclave Cryptologist ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery ROE
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Exclude ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery IN
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Explore ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery WWK
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Looter il-Kor ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery TSP
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Mind Stone ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery JVC10EWLGRC
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Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery RTR
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Phyrexian Arena ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery APPVC8E9EPCH
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Ponder ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery LRWM10M12REW
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Ponder ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery LRWM10M12REW
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Preordain ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery M11DDK
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Preordain ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery M11DDK
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Relic of Progenitus ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery PCHALAMMA
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Relic of Progenitus ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery PCHALAMMA
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Remand ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery RAVFNM
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Repeal ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery GP
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Sensei's Divining Top ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery CHKEXL
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Tamiyo, the Moon Sage ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery AVR
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Wall of Omens ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery CMDROEFNMDDK
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Yavimaya Elder ColourlessColourless LandWUBRGUW (Azorius)BU (Dimir)BR (Rakdos)GR (Gruul)GW (Selesnya)BW (Orzhov)BG (Golgari)GU (Simic)UR (Izzet)RW (Boros)BGR (Jund)GRW (Naya)GUW (Bant)BUW (Esper)BRU (Grixis)RUW (Raka)BRW (Dega)BGW (Necra)BGU (Ana)GRU (Ceta)BRUWBGUWBGRUGRUWBGRWWUBRG 0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 ArtifactArtifact CreatureArtifact LandCreatureEnchantmentEnchantment CreatureInstantLandLand CreaturePlaneswalkerSorcery PVCCMDUD
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Aoret

Developer
CML, I've recently come out of the honeymoon phase that Jason described. Any advice on how to best achieve the flattened power level that you describe? Is there any shortcut or does it just take a lot of work and iteration?

The best method I can think of is to punch my cube into CubeTutor, then sit there opening packs and yanking the "obvious first pick" out of my cube until it gets very difficult to figure out what the hell I want to pick P1P1...
 

Jason Waddell

Administrator
Staff member
CML, I've recently come out of the honeymoon phase that Jason described. Any advice on how to best achieve the flattened power level that you describe? Is there any shortcut or does it just take a lot of work and iteration?

The best method I can think of is to punch my cube into CubeTutor, then sit there opening packs and yanking the "obvious first pick" out of my cube until it gets very difficult to figure out what the hell I want to pick P1P1...


The "obvious first pick" removal is one tool, but I'd be careful with taking it too far. Part of what makes draft work is having cards that people are excited about. It's just a balance. Part of the problem is overpowered cards that people aren't actually excited about, but play because they are overtly powerful (see Moat). You want cards that people are eager and happy to play without being ridiculously OP.

Some things that worked for me:
1) Removal is actually very interactive. If you can have a high removal density and sufficiently powerful aggro, then you have a winning formula. If players have the tools to affect the game most turns then you get really fun games.
2) Make aggro more interesting to play. In my cube this involved multiples of certain cards that have a high decision density (Steppe Lynx, Gravecrawler, eg.)
3) Trim the fat. It doesn't have to be going to 360, but my cube became much better when I focused on getting the most out of every slot instead of just adding cards because I could.
4) Find overlap between archetypes. The more cards fit into multiple decks, the more players will be fighting over cards.
5) Focus on play over "simulation". By simulation I mean some cubes have decks that just kind of "play themselves" (e.g. Turn 1 Blightsteel Colossus). I have found that my cube has fewer "over the top" stories these days, but much more enjoyable games.
 

Aoret

Developer
Thanks for the input Jason! I think I'll probably yank a few obviously oppressive or boring things, play with the cube a bunch, and repeat. Any time I find myself or others begrudgingly picking a card because it is good, that card is getting the ax.

I'm glad you pointed out the flip side of the coin to me though. I can definitely see how you might end up cutting cards that players consider to be very fun just for the sake of evening out power level.
 
I'm not really concerned about the "obvious first pick" cards for my cube. I'm concerned about the obvious first pick cards that don't also commit you to a strategy or color.

Titans and Swords are all reasonably close in power level, but I've cut the Swords and kept the Titans. The Titans commit you to a color, and moreover don't work in every strategy. Sun Titan isn't a great inclusion in a Boros beatdown strategy, for example. Swords, on the other hand, work in a large majority of decks and don't really represent an interesting draft decision. They'll get snapped up as the first pick in any pack, regardless of strategy or color.

Put simply, I'm not worried about the obvious P1P1 cards; I'm worried about the obvious P3P1 cards.
 

Eric Chan

Hyalopterous Lemure
Staff member
Yep, colorless cards were definitely guilty here of getting picked early for being strong and non-committal. I lost track of the number of times I took a Wurmcoil Engine early yet again and went into some kind of blue-based controlling strategy, rather than taking the sweet but less powerful card that I wanted to test out.
 
I really do wish more colours had access to that sort of deck enabling. Green does it okay but despite all the land thinning and graveyard recursion you still feel like you're sitting on your hands until you draw your card that's worth a bunch of cards.

I feel like part of blue's strength is that it got to interact with and bend essential game mechanics and the things everyone wanted to do way more than any other colour. If love to see more of that from its competition. We tend to really love cards in other colours that add selection or unlock cards in weird areas for more value.
 

CML

Contributor
Skrap: the CubeTutor solitaire method works, but there's no substitute for getting a good playgroup of people with heterogeneous yet good taste and playing together a bunch. Actively invite criticism, note which cards never get played, note which cards never get passed (or are accompanied by a bitch and groan when passed), and create a relaxed environment where discussion the quality of the Cube itself is part of the pleasure. Take a step back, if you will. To this end I suggest drinking beers, smoking reefer, and inviting the otherwise profane, drugged, literary, droll, and atheistic.

Ask questions on this forum.

Fiddle with configurations constantly.

Lower your mana curve.

Be gluttonous with high power-level fixing.

Jason's above tips are all solid. 405 is my favorite number as it fits snugly within a booster box, but 360 is the easiest and (let's be real) it's impossible to have a good environment with 720 singleton. The last tip is particularly resonant for me. You don't want games where it's one haymaker after another to the point that playskill and memory become all but irrelevant. In other words, go for actual excitement instead of the appearance of excitement. Looking at Cube as a 'Constructed format,' where I 'ban' cards in order to encourage a diverse environment, has been helpful in this regard.

Try some Legacy. Try some Modern. Try some Standard (a diverse format with dull games).

Draft Standard sets. Draft old formats. There's a lesson in all formats, though the ones that succeed are far more interesting than the ones that fail. RGD is an especial treat.

A Cube can only be as good as its playgroup, though (in the case of nearly all competitive players who keep one) it can certainly be worse.
 

Jason Waddell

Administrator
Staff member
I was thinking about this more. Brainstorm adds so many decisions to Magic games. Of course you have to think about how to time it, what to put back, when to crack your fetchlands, etc.

But there's more than that. Think of these two cards.


In addition to brainstorm itself having lots of decisions, it replaces itself. It's an issue of hand size. For U, you get lots of decisions, and it doesn't even cost you a card. When your deck is filled with Grizzly Bears, each one just expends itself. Casting it drains your hand. But brainstorm doesn't take away, even after casting. You get more decisions per game (and meaningful ones too) because of brainstorm.
 
Damn Jason that is such a great little slice into gameplay design. How can we affect balance so that aggressive decks feel as interesting as ones excited to play brainstorm without interesting aggro matchups (I remember playing aggro in late ravnica block in the form of both boros and rakdos decks and being amazed by how much cool decision making you got to play in decks that had been previously described as "just turning guys sideways" most of it was from the number of creature decks in the format).

I really want more colours to be able to have as much interaction with their own decision making trees as much as blue decks or decks with tutors or say funny little engines.

I also really want to live in a world (cube wise of course) where aggro cards feel like they are worth the card they are printed on. Poor lions. Does coming down 2-3 turns earlier than obstinate baloth really make you worth the same amount of the most essential resource as it?

Anyway here's a card I thought folks might think was cool x appropo

Rattle
manar.gif

Sorcery (U)
Until end of turn target creature cannot block.
Draw a card.
////
Rumble
mana2.gif
manar.gif

Sorcery (U)
Destroy target non-basic land.

To fuze or not to fuze?
 

Jason Waddell

Administrator
Staff member
Damn Jason that is such a great little slice into gameplay design. How can we affect balance so that aggressive decks feel as interesting as ones excited to play brainstorm without interesting aggro matchups (I remember playing aggro in late ravnica block in the form of both boros and rakdos decks and being amazed by how much cool decision making you got to play in decks that had been previously described as "just turning guys sideways" most of it was from the number of creature decks in the format).

I really want more colours to be able to have as much interaction with their own decision making trees as much as blue decks or decks with tutors or say funny little engines.

I also really want to live in a world (cube wise of course) where aggro cards feel like they are worth the card they are printed on. Poor lions. Does coming down 2-3 turns earlier than obstinate baloth really make you worth the same amount of the most essential resource as it?

Anyway here's a card I thought folks might think was cool x appropo

Rattle
manar.gif

Sorcery (U)
Until end of turn target creature cannot block.
Draw a card.
////
Rumble
mana2.gif
manar.gif

Sorcery (U)
Destroy target non-basic land.

To fuze or not to fuze?

Go the Legacy route and make all the aggro decks blue too. :)
 

CML

Contributor
yeah, back in the day there was stuff like Zoo and Burn and even now there's a few non-blue aggro decks like Affinity but not so many anymore. my theory is that deathrite + decay + lilly made it way too appealing to play black to give more than a puncher's chance against combo and after playing punishing jund this evening every fair deck* seemed like a huge joke

*except "jund nic fit," which made my pjund seem like a huge joke
 
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