General MODO Cube Redesign
- Thread starter Laz
- Start date
VibeBox
Contributor
jitte is far less concerning than batterskull still being there, but at least those stupid swords are gone.
for those who want to take an early look:
http://cubetutor.com/cubeblog/19196
it's basically a rather generic 600 card grim monolith cube now with a glut of planeswalkers
which is to say a noticeable improvement over the steaming pile modo cube has been until now
for those who want to take an early look:
http://cubetutor.com/cubeblog/19196
it's basically a rather generic 600 card grim monolith cube now with a glut of planeswalkers
which is to say a noticeable improvement over the steaming pile modo cube has been until now
This is kind of huge.
why is progenitus
Also by my count the cube has 35 PWs out of 600 cards...
Onderzeeboot
Ecstatic Orb
You end up with 35*(360/600)/8 = 2.625 planeswalkers per player on average. That's actually more than two times the average number of planeswalker in my cube. 6 gold cards per guild looks good though, that's an average of 3.6 per guild in a draft, which is just perfect. Cutting back to 600 is also great. First spin on cubetutor looks promising.
This new cube isn't perfect, but it's a huge improvement. I like it.
They also seemed to have improved on the land section since the only EBT lands are included are the temples.
Throw out that stupid wall of omens copycat and run mayor of fun!
how is it that they're missing
Throw out that stupid wall of omens copycat and run mayor of fun!
I agree that the language in the article is quite encouraging. Removing some of the blatant violators (e.g., swords) is good, and I like they are more focused on fixing lands that don't completely suck.
I am going to play the optimist and say this might be their first step toward real, solid design. I might have to sign up for modo soon...
I am going to play the optimist and say this might be their first step toward real, solid design. I might have to sign up for modo soon...
Yeah, I think this is probably still a cube I wouldn't fork over real money to play, but it's the first 'power-max' cube I can think of that's cut all the Swords. Which means it isn't really power-max anymore; they care about players being able to interact, so that puts them in the realm of fun-max. Small steps, but steps nonetheless!
Onderzeeboot
Ecstatic Orb
The thing that bothers me the most after a few drafts on cubetutor is the mana symbol density of the black cards. There's multiple double and triple black cards, multiple cards that care about the number of swamps you control, and even Phyrexian Obliterator at an unplayable in anything but mono black 
. Black is not splash friendly.
See http://cubetutor.com/cubedeck/217612 for a mono black deck I drafted with a whopping 42 black mana symbols in 23 cards!
. Black is not splash friendly.See http://cubetutor.com/cubedeck/217612 for a mono black deck I drafted with a whopping 42 black mana symbols in 23 cards!
FlowerSunRain
Contributor
I think they're doing a good job of appealing to a broad audience. They need to continue to improve the mana and lower the curve, though, adjusted for the lands/size that cube had DOUBLE the 4+ CC cards that mine does. Going in on some kind of thematic goal (even if its a meta-theme like "Legacy Gameplay" or "The Grim-Monoliest Grim Monolith Cube Ever") is the other thing that seems missing here.
Theres not even a tomb of yawgmoth!
FlowerSunRain
Contributor
That's one well positioned Gray Merchant!The thing that bothers me the most after a few drafts on cubetutor is the mana symbol density of the black cards. There's multiple double and triple black cards, multiple cards that care about the number of swamps you control, and even Phyrexian Obliterator at an unplayable in anything but mono black
See http://cubetutor.com/cubedeck/217612 for a mono black deck I drafted with a whopping 42 black mana symbols in 23 cards!
VibeBox
Contributor
but no pox : -/
Laz
Developer
Bumpy, along with Linky!
Highlights follow:
So, those were the learning points. Now... how do we apply them?
Highlights follow:
Jitte, Monolith, not fun cards. Pay attention, this guy might be on to something.
Poison-y cards are poison.
Narrow cards are narrow.
So, those were the learning points. Now... how do we apply them?
See you guys in a couple of months, where we will probably learn that a 1BBB conditional hill-giant was amazing and it only took 7364 games before Captivating Vampire got activated!
Wow that really was a journey from beginning to end.
Are mulch and grisly salvage actually poison though?
If you have like 0 graveyard stuff I guess. I think they're pretty bad examples of poison cards. They help you filter your hand a little bit and develops graveyard plans.
Chris Taylor
Contributor
Pretty poisony, in this cube. Those are some harsh mana costs for pretty poor draw spells in colors that don't want them if you don't have any graveyard synergy (which, as before, in this cube you likely wont)
CML
Contributor
Pros
Co-workers are great. Probably the only reason people stay around. Very devoted and intelligent people working there. Company is understanding you have a life outside work.
Cons
Very low chance to advance, you will be told you can, but what you need to do changes all the time so you will not succeed at it.
Marketing is a joke, they have no idea what they are trying to sell and won't learn. IT is old and out of date.
2 trick pony. Magic and D&D. If it isn't named that it's not going to fly. Don't get your hopes up about a new game you made. Even if they like it, and say they want to do it, it won't get published. But they will own your idea from then on.
Advice to Management
So many layers of managers, it's hard to know who someone has to talk to. Marketing is a joke, find someone better. The employees are smart, listen to them, they have good ideas and good games. Maybe find something other than magic and D&D to make.
I worked at Wizards of the Coast full-time (more than 3 years)
Pros
Wizards has great products and some of the newer folks are trying to make improvements
Nice schedule option to work longer Monday - Thursday then half day on Friday
The regular employees are good people
Cons
The long term employees protect each other even when it is bad for the company and other workers
The executives keep saying how they need to change, but nothing changes
Managers who are ineffective and terrible to their people are rewarded while folks who try to make things better are quickly pushed to the side
Advice to Management
Stop rewarding and protecting the folks that cause your problems
Replace the entire project management group
Replace technology engineering leadership
Stop talking about what needs to change and make the changes
Pros
- Flexible work schedule
- Laid back
Cons
- You'd be hard-pressed to find a more poorly managed company
- Better make friends. Managers and above will become petty and retaliatory if they don't like you
- Don't worry about doing a good job. Nothing is based on merit. You'll be judged on who likes you
- Nothing is organized. Nothing is on time. Everything is on fire
- You will work well over 40 hours a week and not be compensated in any way for that
- Don't take holidays for granted. You'll work some of them
http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Wizards-of-the-Coast-Reviews-E4718.htm
Co-workers are great. Probably the only reason people stay around. Very devoted and intelligent people working there. Company is understanding you have a life outside work.
Cons
Very low chance to advance, you will be told you can, but what you need to do changes all the time so you will not succeed at it.
Marketing is a joke, they have no idea what they are trying to sell and won't learn. IT is old and out of date.
2 trick pony. Magic and D&D. If it isn't named that it's not going to fly. Don't get your hopes up about a new game you made. Even if they like it, and say they want to do it, it won't get published. But they will own your idea from then on.
Advice to Management
So many layers of managers, it's hard to know who someone has to talk to. Marketing is a joke, find someone better. The employees are smart, listen to them, they have good ideas and good games. Maybe find something other than magic and D&D to make.
I worked at Wizards of the Coast full-time (more than 3 years)
Pros
Wizards has great products and some of the newer folks are trying to make improvements
Nice schedule option to work longer Monday - Thursday then half day on Friday
The regular employees are good people
Cons
The long term employees protect each other even when it is bad for the company and other workers
The executives keep saying how they need to change, but nothing changes
Managers who are ineffective and terrible to their people are rewarded while folks who try to make things better are quickly pushed to the side
Advice to Management
Stop rewarding and protecting the folks that cause your problems
Replace the entire project management group
Replace technology engineering leadership
Stop talking about what needs to change and make the changes
Pros
- Flexible work schedule
- Laid back
Cons
- You'd be hard-pressed to find a more poorly managed company
- Better make friends. Managers and above will become petty and retaliatory if they don't like you
- Don't worry about doing a good job. Nothing is based on merit. You'll be judged on who likes you
- Nothing is organized. Nothing is on time. Everything is on fire
- You will work well over 40 hours a week and not be compensated in any way for that
- Don't take holidays for granted. You'll work some of them
http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Wizards-of-the-Coast-Reviews-E4718.htm
Yup. Hierarchies are busted.