Card/Deck Cogwork Librarian

I really like this card. It adds a pretty interesting dynamic to the draft. I was also thinking about what if there was a card in the cube that did something kind of reverse? Like say I stuck a Black Cat into my cube. What sort of effect should it have that wouldn't be too damaging to the person who opened it but still adding in an element of fun?
 

Jason Waddell

Administrator
Staff member
I really like this card. It adds a pretty interesting dynamic to the draft. I was also thinking about what if there was a card in the cube that did something kind of reverse? Like say I stuck a Black Cat into my cube. What sort of effect should it have that wouldn't be too damaging to the person who opened it but still adding in an element of fun?

I don't know what you mean by "kind of reverse". Can you elaborate?
 

CML

Contributor
Well, I guess I can easily get a copy for my cube now?
Jeez, common. Whats that gonna look like


historic complexity at common you say?



edit: i just spent like 60 seconds trying to adjust the text size of my browser so i could read that and i just now figured out why it wasn't working
 
Like you open your pack of 15 you see a Black Cat reveal it and have to do something like take the black cat and skip your first pick.
 
Just one card. To ads a little bit of an element of suspense/fun and general lulziness/bad beats but without something that feels too bad
 

CML

Contributor
The whole thing that's cool about the card is that I'd never even thought of that idea before. Isn't that what's sweet about MTG, getting to explore new design space? Isn't that why we're here? Isn't the refusal to explore that design space what makes MTGS or the Modo Cube a cesspit? Clockwork Librarian has kicked things up a level for me, so to speak
 

CML

Contributor
Yeah it's a more interesting dynamic if there's an upside to playing it. CT, let's say the card is perfectly developed, how would we nerf its ability to make things interesting?
 
So you don't get to make the first pick, the most fun pick? I refuse to salute General Lulziness.
I'm not saying it has to be exactly that. I was just giving an example of what I was meaning by a kind of reverse Librarian. That's what I'm trying to figure out. What effect would have to be on a card that's not too punishing but adds an interesting element to the draft? Also the General worked damned hard to get to his rank.
 

Jason Waddell

Administrator
Staff member
I still think he should be 3 mana for cube purposes :p

I was tempted to openly dump on this idea in my Spoiler Spotlight article, but I figure you're the only person in the world trying to errata an unreleased card so I really don't need to.

Also, I imagine half the fun of the card will be people using it every time Pack 3 Picks 9 through 14.
 

James Stevenson

Steamflogger Boss
Staff member
I'm not saying it has to be exactly that. I was just giving an example of what I was meaning by a kind of reverse Librarian. That's what I'm trying to figure out. What effect would have to be on a card that's not too punishing but adds an interesting element to the draft? Also the General worked damned hard to get to his rank.

So I'm thinking of a card like "Dickwork Librarian" that you draft face up, then later you can put it into packs and people have to draft it? I get what you're saying, I just think Cogwork Librarian is fun because you get to make extra picks, and drafting cards is essentially really fun. An opposite kind of card would stop people making picks and that is just a massive massive feel bad.
 
NECRO

How has this thing been rolling for people? It's actually really useful IMO, and feels great to take when a pack is otherwise lackluster and great to use when a pack is full of your deck. My drafters always ask if it ends with the pack and so far I've gone with 'no' which makes it seem real busted, but there are no rulings on it and the way it's worded makes it sound until end-of-draft.
 

Onderzeeboot

Ecstatic Orb
It is until end of draft. It's not been busted by a long shot in my cube, but it is a very welcome card. Also, because it goes back into the pack, everyone shares in the good feeling that is taking two awesome cards from the same pack :D
 
It is until end of draft. It's not been busted by a long shot in my cube, but it is a very welcome card. Also, because it goes back into the pack, everyone shares in the good feeling that is taking two awesome cards from the same pack :D

I agree that I wouldn't call it "busted", but grabbing it 6th pick to have the opportunity to take picks 1 and 2 from the second pack is pretty strong. It's at a very solid power level for my cube. I run two now.
 

Chris Taylor

Contributor
NECRO

How has this thing been rolling for people? It's actually really useful IMO, and feels great to take when a pack is otherwise lackluster and great to use when a pack is full of your deck. My drafters always ask if it ends with the pack and so far I've gone with 'no' which makes it seem real busted, but there are no rulings on it and the way it's worded makes it sound until end-of-draft.

The only thing I've felt it was too strong was in 4 player drafts (5 packs of 9).
Someone uses it to get 2 first picks, and then nobody wants to give up the early picks of the pack to steal it, and they end up wheeling it, essentially just letting them make both their picks earlier.

Might be conjecture though
 

Onderzeeboot

Ecstatic Orb
I agree that I wouldn't call it "busted", but grabbing it 6th pick to have the opportunity to take picks 1 and 2 from the second pack is pretty strong. It's at a very solid power level for my cube. I run two now.

Yup, totally agree. I run two as well :)
 

Jason Waddell

Administrator
Staff member
I don't think it's possible for this to be busted, is it? The only option is that drafters are undervaluing it?

Is it always a slam P1P1 for you guys? Does it get taken at the first opportunity each time?
 

Onderzeeboot

Ecstatic Orb
No, it's not usually a first pick over here. But it's pretty high. Something like 3rd-6th I think on average? I don't remember any of them wheeling.
 
It's pretty sweet. My drafters love it so much that I've bumped it up to two, really fun draft card. Most of the time it's like a 3rd or 4th pick.
 

Jason Waddell

Administrator
Staff member
It's pretty sweet. My drafters love it so much that I've bumped it up to two, really fun draft card. Most of the time it's like a 3rd or 4th pick.

Yeah, I think this is about what I expected when I previewed the card. But I'm open to somebody quoting me and making me look really dumb.
 

CML

Contributor
even with a theoretically flat power curve librarian is awesome. pick it and pick something extra-synergistic. one librarian makes a draft much more fun.
 
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