Anywho, let's get to the juicy details!
The trade negotiations kicked off last night with Chris and Stuart discussing what the other was interested in. Chris declaring that he was going to play a typically Chris deck while Stu decided to break the mold and go with Red/Green. This conversation though fruitful did not lead to a new trade but rather to Christos and Stuart having a similar discussion this afternoon. It was then that a deal was struck and the executed some hours later.
The deal was big with a total of 20 cards changing hands. While the details can be found on the spreadsheet the highlights of the deal include the only Rare (Coat of Arms) going to Christos along with one uncommon (Undead Slayer) and a collection of commons. Christos got Blinding Mage (a common) which Stuart insists "was a great pickup, one of the best commons in my opinion". Christos was overheard yelling "what the hell else do you want man, it is a common I am offering some pretty fucking good commons".
Stuart left the trade with a net increase in the number of cards in his roster. Some of his notable pickups include the possible game winning Overrun (uncommon) and the pesky Pyromancer (uncommon). His mana ramp also got a further upgrade with the addition of rangers, elves and rampant growth.
Both traders felt they got fair deals and both feel close to ready to start testing their constructed decks. Stuart has informed The Tournaverse Blog that he has in fact constructed the first version of his deck and it is playing well on 5 turn opening simulations. He is likely full of shit.
It is rumored that both players have been in conversations with Chris trying to hammer out other deals with a few high profile cards getting quite a bit of attention. We have been asked not to reveal too much detail on ongoing negotiations.
The other four players have been relatively silent on the trading front. When approached (on the street in the rain) Gavin indicated that the North Knight team was unlikely to begin trading until after the draft. Will their wait and see strategy work out or will the players with a head start have secured strong positions on their future decks? We will find out soon.
Thanks for your time!
P.S. Do we think some uncommon are so powerful (Sara Angel, Fireball etc..) that there should be a Rare and Uncommon draft?
"Stuart has informed The Tournaverse Blog that he has in fact constructed the first version of his deck and it is playing well on 5 turn opening simulations. He is likely full of shit."
ReplyDeleteI read the first sentence and immediately thought to myself 'he's so full of...', then I read the second sentence.
"P.S. Do we think some uncommon are so powerful (Sara Angel, Fireball etc..) that there should be a Rare and Uncommon draft?"
No. If we're doing a rare draft, we're doing a rare draft. Which uncommons should be considered of rare value would be far too subjective.
And it's 'Serra' Angel, Stu. What the hell? Are you pants-on-head retarded? I think so.
I agree that we should probably just raredraft.
ReplyDeleteAnd also, jeez, you guys. I think I am going to wait too, at least to make any significant trade. I figure you're getting an edge now, but it doesn't matter much now, and you'll cry when your cards in the next couple drafts compel you to change colours! Maybe we should have a set date for the first constructed tournament, perhaps the first thing after the two coming drafts? That would give some solidity to our strategizing here.
I have had a LONG conversation about this with Chris already today.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think that it is best to have an uncommon and rare draft at the same time.
- It stops people from uncommon drafting, which unfortunately is an issue when this is the format
- It evens out the number of uncommons and rares that each player has for their constructed
- It allows more flexibility for trades because everyone will have the same number of uncommons and rares to deal with
- It does not take that long to do, sometimes it has because we had no clear goal in what we wanted to keep, whereas now we are looking to build our constructed we have a better idea of what will work for us
- I truly see no reason NOT to do this (draft both uncommon and rare after the tourney)
This is my humble opinion on the matter
and yes, I am a pessimist and paranoid as Chris already called me. However I stand by my view that people would prefer to take cards they know they will hold for their constructed over beneficial cards for their draft deck.
Also, I know I won the trade, so don't rub it in Stu's face
There is no way I am sitting through a uncommons draft. It will take forever. We're talking about choosing among 72 cards, at least! That will not be fast. Besides, there are also good commons. If people are taking uncommons for their constructed decks, we just need to make winning the draft more important so people will focus on that.
ReplyDeleteI am fine with either. I think the trading will be our outlet for most things. I do think that there are quite a few uncommons that are more desirable than rares but in the interest of drawing a line on time commitment a rare draft should be fine.
ReplyDeleteHere's a suggestion:At the end of the draft (after the raredraft) the winner cracks X packs. They select Y cards from them, and pass them to the 2nd place. They pick Y cards, pass them to the 3rd etc. The 2nd place person then cracks X2 packs, takes Y2 cards, passes them, etc. The 3rd place, etc..
ReplyDeleteMy suggestions for the values are:
X = 2
Y = 2
X2 = 1
Y2 = 1
This gives a large incentive for winning, but also keeps everyone with around the same number of cards (even if some of those are worse.)
"Some of his notable pickups include the possible game winning Overgrowth (uncommon) and the pesky Pyromancer (uncommon)."
ReplyDeleteI think "Overgrowth" should be "Overrun", as Overgrowth isn't in M10.
I like that idea Jesse
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely against the uncommon draft -- you would more or less be completely dissolving our decks from the draft itself and just pouring everything into whatever constructed projects people are working on. I would rather get a varied supply of cards, and get to keep MOST of the draft deck I build, and leave that stuff for trading afterward.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm fine with sweetening the deal for the winner of the draft to compensate. But should we maybe make X3 and Y3 = 0? (Or either of them, for that matter.) Too much 'etc.' would make for us cracking quite a lot of packs.
Also, when second place opens his X2 packs, does he pass them to the person in third and leave the player in first place for last?
I agree with XN = YN = 0 for N > 2.
ReplyDeleteAs for the order, I think that it makes little difference, but I would do 1234 then 2341 to give 3rd place a chance.
I wish I could edit my post because Gavin is quite right that Overrun was the name of the card.
ReplyDeleteI think second place should pass the 3rd so as to make 3rd and 4th okay and worth fighting for.
I agree completely with Gavin, uncommon drafting is retarded. And with Jesse, it would take forever.If someone really wants to be an ass and 'uncommon draft' we'll just purple nurple the hell out of him so he'll never do it again. But really, it won't be an issue.
ReplyDeleteBeyond that, I don't care too much how we do the prizes, as long as it doesn't involve adding significantly to the cost of the events and that the formulas we use don't involve a graphing calculator.
"I agree completely with Gavin, uncommon drafting is retarded".
ReplyDeleteGavin?? Now who's pants-on-head retarded!
I believe I agree with you, anyhow. And winner prizes are there to remove the need for too many purple nurples, regardless.
So let's say I win this coming draft, and Shamus dominates constructed play. Who becomes Ruler of the Tournaverse? How exactly is that title being assigned? Maybe that's a big enough issue to merit a new post?
I believe Christos has been working on some standings.
ReplyDeleteSo if you place 1st in this draft but I place 2nd should I remain the ruler (if we indeed use rankings).
Aha! I see it's appeared in the spreadsheet, too. Great!
ReplyDelete