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Magic (The Gathering) => Draft & Sealed => Topic started by: Prophylaxis on November 11, 2012, 02:58:10 PM

Title: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on November 11, 2012, 02:58:10 PM
Hello, and welcome to the first Community Draft here on iMtG!

This is something I have been planning for a while. Basically, we are going to do a full-blown draft here on iMtG. Vote in the poll above on what card you want to pick, and I or a fellow mod will add it to the Community decklist. We will keep passing packs over, and we will try to make a good Limited deck.

This is a chance for you to improve your Limited skills, drafting skills, and getting advice from other iMtGers. I hope that everybody will learn a lot on how to draft better and improve your Magic game. So, lets kick this off! Vote what card you want to pick from this booster pack, and the majority voted card will be included in the deck. I will present another pack on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to ensue that everyone votes and no one becomes disinterested. Lets go! This will run through probably November and December and is another event to finish off the year.

This thread will be a Community thread to talk about the draft and what you should pick. The pack polls are because I'm going to have to do lots of deleting and making new threads, and it's inconvenient. So, I have decided to make a singular community thread for the draft. Some fine discussion topics:

1. What should you pick?
2. What direction do you want the draft to go?
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on November 11, 2012, 05:51:41 PM
I think the pick for this one is obvious - {Rakdos's Return} is a bomb mythic, worth some money, and nothing else in the pack really is that great. {Guttersnipe} is an good card, but Return is too good to not take.

Abd why voted for Terrus Wurm? I outta smack you :P
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on November 11, 2012, 06:17:56 PM
Quote from: Gorzo on November 11, 2012, 05:51:41 PM
I think the pick for this one is obvious - {Rakdos's Return} is a bomb mythic, worth some money, and nothing else in the pack really is that great. {Guttersnipe} is an good card, but Return is too good to not take.

Abd why voted for Terrus Wurm? I outta smack you :P

I don't know about Rakdos's Return. In constructed is it quite good, but in Limited, 2BR for {Mind Rot} + some extra damage doesn't really excite me. It not really that bomby IMO.

I like {Lobber Crew} and {Pursuit of Flight}. Lobber Crew is very good as a wall and usually deals like 4-5 damage. That's a lot for a 2R wall. Pursuit of Flight, while still being an Aura, is stronger because the removal in this set is bad. +2/+2 is huge and if you go Blue then this mows down quick.

Though if this were an actual draft I would take RR just for the money :P
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Willthomjr on November 11, 2012, 07:58:02 PM
{rakdos return} everytime. It's a bomb and totally worth 1-2 pick.

It also helps that this is an awful pack otherwise.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on November 11, 2012, 11:45:31 PM
{Lobber Crew} is good for sure. But quite honestly there is isn't a single mythic in this set I wouldn't first pack first pick, unless a foil rare was in the back to give it a run for the money (figuratively and literally, the $ value of mythics in RTR is something to consider)
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: blckjckjimmy on November 14, 2012, 07:07:26 AM
Anytime you can put someone's card in the graveyard for each extra mana it's always been worth it in my past. The damage the card does is just an added bonus. So the more the merrier.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on November 14, 2012, 08:52:48 PM
p1p2 is up, guys.

{Annihilating Fire} is probably the right card to pick here.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Willthomjr on November 15, 2012, 12:03:17 AM
Quote from: Prophylaxis on November 14, 2012, 08:52:48 PM
p1p2 is up, guys.

{Annihilating Fire} is probably the right card to pick here.

Fire.

Removal, especially so cheap is awesome.  It's a solid 2nd pick especially since we went with rakdos return. 
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on November 15, 2012, 04:28:02 AM
Agreed. Annihilating Fire is solid removal, is on-color with our first pick, and there are no game-changing bombs in the pack to prioritize over it. Seems like an obvious choice.

Just curious, what are you using to simulate this draft? You know, pick packs, remove cards that the phantom other "players" have picked, etc?
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on November 16, 2012, 09:20:40 PM
p1p3 is up. Our first weak pack..
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on November 17, 2012, 04:14:38 AM
Were I actually drafting this, is take the shock land, {temple garden}, hands-down, and give strange logs at the guys next to me for passing it. Doesn't matter if it isn't on color, it pays for the draft by itself.

Now, if I'm not keeping the cards and playing imaginary just to build the best deck, the choice is hard, nothing is good. I might take the {cobble brute}. It's a creature. It's power poses a threat, and is likely to trade with an opponent's creature. It's far from the ideal 4-drop, and will be among the first to cut, but can be playable if you end up in a bind for needing creatures.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on November 21, 2012, 12:01:41 PM
After a long delay, p1p4 is up. Sorry!

Once again, we have a pretty mediocre pack.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on November 21, 2012, 12:04:10 PM
Gorzo: I'm using sticky notes to simulate the draft. It's not complicated and works well. I also have some experienced drafters willing to help me play the other 7 players.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on November 21, 2012, 12:42:53 PM
Quote from: Prophylaxis on November 21, 2012, 12:04:10 PM
Gorzo: I'm using sticky notes to simulate the draft. It's not complicated and works well. I also have some experienced drafters willing to help me play the other 7 players.

Neat! Thanks to them for helping! But how experienced can they be? They passed {conjured currency}! Haha it's always a joke at my LGS to see just how far currency will wheel, and whoever finally takes it is the "loser" for obvious reasons. We break the table talk rule for conjured currency.

Seriously though, I say {spawn of rix maadi}. On color mid-game big threat seems like the right choice. Only other option is {bellows lizard}, and its much more likely well see another one or a replacement for it later on.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on November 21, 2012, 02:49:05 PM
IMO, we should not waste our early picks forcing Rakdos. If we get cut from it, then that will hurt and we will have a bad deck. That's why I vouched for {Blustersquall} in the previous pack - I kind of want to go Grixis just in case Rakdos does not work out. We can snag duals and grab good blue cards. Maybe we might go Izzet and splash black.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on November 21, 2012, 04:08:03 PM
You do have a point - I am feeling a bit color-blinded and have been strongly favoring enforcing our existing colors, which this early on could be a mistake should we get forced out. The problem is, at least with this pack, I don't see anything worth taking as a plan-B startup over reinforcing plan-A. I would stick with rix maadi, I don't see any other good cards worth taking over it, in any color.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on November 21, 2012, 04:43:17 PM
I voted for {Transguild Promenade}. It's a very usable land and if we end up splashing some colors then it can be very good.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on November 23, 2012, 05:42:00 PM
p1p5 is up.

Eugh, this is why I didn't want to commit to Rakdos early. Once again, mediocre pack. I could see myself picking the Electromancer if we wanted to go Grixis. Hussar Patrol is OK. Lots of Azorius cards..
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on November 23, 2012, 06:58:58 PM
The problem is that there are so little 1 toughness creatures in the set. Basically everything relevant is a 3/3 or anything that blocks 3/3s (0/4s) or kills them {Splatter Thug}
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on November 25, 2012, 05:56:04 PM
p1p6 is up.

{Sewer Shambler}, obvious pick.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on November 26, 2012, 03:34:17 AM
There's a {Giant Growth} and a {Golgari keyrune} floating around in this pack that are interesting. The growth could hint at a lack of green being picked, and they keyrune could hep out deck splash green if we need to.

But I don't think I could take either of those "what if" green cards over a solid black creature that will help us double-time against a Rakdos-mirror match or any other deck with swamps.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Juggalonoke on November 26, 2012, 03:55:27 AM
Quote from: Gorzo on November 26, 2012, 03:34:17 AM
There's a {Giant Growth} and a {Golgari keyrune} floating around in this pack that are interesting. The growth could hint at a lack of green being picked, and they keyrune could hep out deck splash green if we need to.

But I don't think I could take either of those "what if" green cards over a solid black creature that will help us double-time against a Rakdos-mirror match or any other deck with swamps.
Yay I picked right for once (still new at drafting ) :0
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on December 02, 2012, 12:24:32 AM
I am extremely sorry for the delay, but p1p7 is up.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on December 02, 2012, 12:38:19 AM
No worries proph! Been a pretty busy week for a lot of people.

This pack is a tough call. Obviously we have no on-color cards to grab here, so what would be worth splashing for? {Golgari Decoy} is a solid card. {Towering Indrix} is a decent creature too, giant spider is always nice. As for tricks, {Swift Justice} and {Druid's Deliverance} are both useful.

I would probably take the decoy, personally. It's uncommon, so I might actually not own a full playset already, plus its still a solid card that I might play if our deck splashes green.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on December 02, 2012, 12:56:04 PM
I like Indrik, gives us defense against flyers.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on December 02, 2012, 09:10:38 PM
gogogo Indrik
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on December 02, 2012, 09:40:30 PM
Indrik seems smart. No idea what an "Indrik" actually is, or why they didn't just reprint giant spider, but yeah :P
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on December 05, 2012, 03:42:38 AM
Hmm interesting choice on this one. The smart pick is probably the useful 1-drop ({Bellows Lizard}), but that ringleader is tempting. Sure the mana cost is stupid, but a 3 power first strike that regenerates for next to nothing is fun.

This is another one of those "I'd take the uncommon because I don't yet own a playset, but the common is the better pick because I -will- get more use out of it" deals.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on December 05, 2012, 10:14:52 AM
Yeah, I feel like {Bellows Lizard} is viable. Sure, it sucks and has bad firebreathing, but it's playable.

Ringleader is not playable at all. You tap out to cast it and your opponent just {Electrickery}s it.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on December 05, 2012, 10:39:36 AM
Quote from: Prophylaxis on December 05, 2012, 10:14:52 AM
Yeah, I feel like {Bellows Lizard} is viable. Sure, it sucks and has bad firebreathing, but it's playable.

Ringleader is not playable at all. You tap out to cast it and your opponent just {Electrickery}s it.

For sure. Ringleader is essentially a 3/1 7-drop, since his 1 toughness makes you wait that extra turn for regenerate mana because of stuff like electrickery. And in Rakdos, if you're playing a 3/1 on turn 7 with all of your mana, you're in trouble. I would much rather have a {Tenement Crasher} or even that 6/2 Minotaur.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on December 05, 2012, 10:56:07 PM
Quote from: Testset on December 05, 2012, 01:57:11 PM
Stonefare Croc. No competition. We're heading toward Jund, so green is acceptable. A 3/2 is a good 3-drop and keeps the aggro coming. He survives Electrickery and chumpblockers. The Lifelink is a handy use of spare mana and can win you the race. Both the lizard and ringleader are inefficient and die too easy.

After reading this I'm tempted to agree with you.

Switching my vote right now.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on December 13, 2012, 09:00:52 PM
Sorry about the late poll. Finals got in the way.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on December 14, 2012, 06:51:07 AM
The quote button is missing... The {Rakdos ringleader} got the pick somehow for the last pack, somewhat odd since nobody in this discussion part of the thread really supported it.

As for this pack, I'm actually going with the {Terrus Wurm}. It's true, the drake is a solid creature, but only really shines if you can pump his toughness with white - which we won't be able to do even if we are forced to splash blue. It would be a vanilla 2/1 flying for us.

The Wurm, on the other hand, is an on-color threat. Overly mana-expensive, absolutely, but it's won me multiple games in the past thanks to it being a double-threat with scavenge - go ahead and remove it! And hey, since we got stuck with the ringleader, imagine scavenging this onto her? Late-game problem solved!  Wurm is also one of few creatures in the set that does not straight-up die to {augur spree}.  It's a good late-game option, which Rakdos is often lacking. Far from ideal, but playable.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on December 14, 2012, 10:12:38 AM
Honestly I wouldn't play any of the cards here.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on December 15, 2012, 07:51:13 PM
Totally rare drafting {Jarads orders} on this one. Might as well. The only other possible pick is {druid's deliverance} if we go Jund, and the odds of fog + populate being that useful to us are pretty slim.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Wally on December 16, 2012, 09:05:16 PM
I always seem to miss out on the current pick.
Anyhow, I also agree with the wurm pick.
For this one since we have started expanding our green possibilities, the orders is actually not a bad choice.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on December 20, 2012, 09:55:42 PM
p1p11 is up. Do you guys want me to just automate everything considering we're getting to the dreg picks now?
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on December 21, 2012, 03:59:13 AM
Yeah, auto pick on the last few is fine. I think we can trust your judgment to pick the least-awful card for us out of 2 or 3 pieces of all junk.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on December 21, 2012, 11:17:42 PM
P2P1 is up.

{Dead Reveler} for me. Guildgate doesn't warrant to be first picked. A runner up could be {Launch Party} but I just love Dead Reveler.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on December 22, 2012, 05:05:10 AM
Quote from: Prophylaxis on December 21, 2012, 11:17:42 PM
P2P1 is up.

{Dead Reveler} for me. Guildgate doesn't warrant to be first picked. A runner up could be {Launch Party} but I just love Dead Reveler.

Gotta give my vote to {Launch Party} but the choice wasn't easy. Dead reveler is a great creature, but removal is removal.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Prophylaxis on December 29, 2012, 05:10:00 PM
I must regret to say that I will be abandoning this project. My central file got corrupted and I couldn't open it, so all of the pick stuff got messed up. In addition, I have gotten more busy.

If someone else would like to do this, with new packs, then I would be happy to pass the responsibilities over to them.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on December 31, 2012, 10:49:24 PM
The draft and sealed section of the forums will still be here here.
Title: Re: RtR Forum Draft Discussion Thread
Post by: Gorzo on January 01, 2013, 03:19:11 AM
Ah, yeah, I'll miss it too. Unfortunately I don't have the tools to continue the project where proph is leaving off or I would. If anyone else is able to, let me know - I will gladly take care of the moderation end of it, stickying and locking new/old packs and whatnot, and anything else I can help with.