This thread is for the discussion of my latest article, MTGCast #88: Gavin and Math Don't Mix. We would be grateful if you would let us know what you think, but please keep your comments on topic.
I can see a bright future for competitive Magic in the form of the increasing attendance at various GPs. The big problem with the Pro Tour is the huge time investment it requires to play. By the time you've learned a format inside out, designed a deck, tested your deck to perfection and qualified you're looking at a huge amount of effort all to play one PT which you'll have to travel (maybe a really long way) to attend and you could be out of contention in as few as two matches.
With a GP you just turn up and play. Admittedly the byes system makes that horribly unfair, but at least you get to play.
Re: MtGO V3
My prediction is a release around the start of March, but with many key features missing. None of that matters, though. Only one thing matters: server stability. If they've fixed it, everyone wins. If they haven't, we all cry. And hit them with heavy things.
Re: Art
My vote goes to Simic Guildmage. Innovative, perfectly executed and the first card I ever saw by the awesome Alexei Briclot (my current favourite).
(I'm not a maths master like Lesurgo, but I think the answer is: 3)
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(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
I suppose I had better give my three favourite pieces of card art!
#3: Damnation
One I think will come up a lot as it seems to be pretty popular, and no wonder - just look at it!
#2: Deranged Hermit
I love all the squirrel cards, and this the most - the text box promises a guy covered in squirrels, and the art delivers.
#1: 4th ed Terror
My favourite piece from way back when I played briefly in high school, and still my favourite today. I have a print of it signed by Ron Spencer! As an aside, the expression on the poor subject's face is exactly the expression I wear after a rough day on the phone in tech support D:
Checking the updates on the mothership today, I noticed a load of new ads all over the website. Coupled with the news about fewer pro tours, another american worlds, cutting the scholarship program and the stuff about level 3s, do you guys think Wizards are in deeper financial trouble than they've admitted?
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I imagine Maro has a huge ancient book in his office titled "Tempo Defined" and inside it is hollowed out and there is a bottle of whiskey
I think that Wizards' may have some financial issues as a result of any number of reasons, but I'm glad that they seem to be taking steps to keep the core of their Organized Play programs running smoothly. Even as a casual player, knowing that the Pro Tour exists gives a great sense of stability to the game so I hope that they can get things turned around or at least prevent the need for any further cutbacks.
As for my Favrerite art (It's a real shame about the Packers, we had such a good season, but there's always next year), I think it's gotta be Order of Yawgmoth. I loved the stories that involved Dominaria, and the Phyrexians were the ultimate bad guy(as a Star Trek fan, they remind me of the Borg). The art on the Order has a lone knight on a wasted landscape, holding an extremely dangerous-looking scythe. The red glow in the haze and the faint objects in the background are the only remains of a once-great city that has been burned to the ground. When you see the card, you immediately think "Now that is evil."
I used to mulligan just to get a hand with an Order in it because I loved the art so much that I absolutely had to play it every single game. It may have caused me to lose from time to time but it was definately worth it.
Good show again! As a player trying to make the jump from "I can win against some of the best players in the area." to "Hey, let's qualify for a PT!", I'm anticipating investing pretty large amounts of time and financial resources to make it happen (especially in Extended season). However, the impact of changes at the pro level will probably trickle down to the PTQs in my region, and that might make the difference between me making that investment and deciding to judge instead. Right now, I'm leaning toward judging. Thanks for bringing up this issue and looking at what it will mean for players trying to break into the not-quite-top tiers.
A favorite art is tough to pick. Even narrowing down to a top 5 or 6 is tough, like getting past Chad Clifton. The obvious choice is my namesake, Planar Guide. As it has no real play value, the art is one of the reasons I collect it. I've got close to 90 (just 1 foil, though).
In looking for a favorite art piece, I disregard anything from the last few sets that looks like it might have some CG aspects to it. While a computer might add a perfected curve or clean up a gradient here and there, I feel its contributions to a piece of art speak less to the skill of the artist and more to the attributes of the software used.
Math > Gavin! teh 7! And as much as it pains me to do this, as a HUGE bears fan, we'll go with Aaron Kampman and just because he's from Iowa.
Another great podcast guys. I'm starting to get into a weekly routine where after I get through all my email from overnight at work, I flip on the podcast Tuesday morning and just let it play in the background as I start my programming for the day.
Hands down my favorite are is the original Icy Manipulator (actual art) art by Douglas Shuler. After I started playing again (at Future Sight after stopping at Planeshift), I saw that there was the foil Promo with the Original art. I had to have it.
I've always loved Rebecca Guay's art. I know of people who can rant endlessly about how her art is uncreative and repetitive, but I don't care; her watercolours stand out in the Magical world of oil paints. In fact, I used to have a box of Rebecca Guay-only cards which I updated whenever a new set comes along (until I stopped playing for a couple of years, and now I've misplaced that box, crap!).
My favourite Guay art? But there's too many cards to choose from! If I really had to choose, it'd be a tie between Angelic Page and Priest of Titania, both from Urza's Saga. The former because it was the card that caught my attention in my very first game of Magic, and the latter because... let's face it; who doesn't like being able to cast 10cc bombs on Turn 3?* These cards arguably set me off on my quest for more Guay-ness in the years to come.
The runner-ups are: Persecute Artist for irony. Elvish Piper for replacing the goofy 7th edition bagpiper. Kaysa for being cooler than the other legends she painted. APAC Plains... it's the Great Wall of China! Scryb Ranger for untapping Spectral Force every turn. Bitterblossom for screaming to be broken.
Yeah, I know I ended up plugging eight Rebecca Guay cards, but every click of those links only brought you closer to appreciating the watercoloury awesomeness that is her art. I'm praying really hard that Wizards sends her down to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia represent!) next month.
*Llanowar Elves, Rofellos and Gaea's Cradle required.
Wow, you suck at math. 2*3=/=8, 9, or 10 its freaking =6
Anyways my farve-rite art (kill me now) would probably be Basal Sliver. I was taking an art class my local community college and Drew Tucker had me hold a piece of cloth and a stick while he sketched it really quick. Time Spiral comes out and those are my hands!
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That's the remarkable thing about life. It's never so bad that it can't get worse
Calvin and Hobbes Cube Tutor
Just wanted to say that at my local store for FNM they have a gifts given for sale for $20 if you still are having trouble finding one for less the $30
sorry guys i believe my post is 12 but if ya want my favorite Packer player it is Brett Farve ( hope i spelled his last name right ha ha) , as far as my favorite art goes it has to be Radha, Heir to Keld , first of all its a girl elf soaked in blood and holding a broken sword over her shoulder and some dudes head in her other hand . how bad --- is that , and flavor text fits her picture so well its not even funny " Run home , cur . I've already taken your master's head . Don't make me thrash you with it . " come on now she is a total bad --- . i have two cards i collect Radha is and Eternal Witness is the other . I have 54 Radha's ( 4 foil eng 4 rus 4 spn 4 chn 4 jap 1 foil jap all the rest in eng ) and i always pick them up when i see them hell i can usually find her for a buck or two . Witness is hard to come by and more money wise , but i am up to 42 ( 4 foil 4 singed by Terese Nielsen 4 chn rest eng ) . well thanks for the cast and the pro tour its not looking as good as it did but i am sure it will come back around .
Back when I was 15, my friend RyanGranted me the opportunity to see his Windreaver.
Since then, it has been my favorite art. The image of the raging elemental crashing through the dark clouds is just awesome. The look of determination in his glowing eyes, is just too cool.
Gavin, we missed you last night at City Champs... I'm now at 15 or 16 points for the Shop. You're slipping to the bottom of Top 8... we need some Magic: The Gavining.
ANYWAY, not to sound like Cheesehead, but I recently did an altered art card paying homage to my favorite art...
Great show this week, very informative and I really wish we could rally enough articulate people to atleast get the MSS back on foot.
Sorry Billy, I couldn't make it out yesterday. I have a lot of work to do this week and City Champs had to be cut from my schedule. If I attend the next two, I should hopefully still be fine.
Sorry Billy, I couldn't make it out yesterday. I have a lot of work to do this week and City Champs had to be cut from my schedule. If I attend the next two, I should hopefully still be fine.
You could probably skip the next two and still be fine. We missed you there, but it was all good.
You have bigger things to worry about since you've declared Marshall Law on Dom's Standard Combo rule. I think Tom was a little shocked at your disregaurd to the rules.
I love magic Art and my fav art i've been lucky enough to pull more then once tot he point where i pulled a foil playset and nonfoil playset out of packs. My Fav art comes from my fav artist, his names Aleksi Briclot, i love the way his cards look Surreal as though there above normal beings in the magic world, Like planeswalkers for example, but its not a planeswalker he has drawn another set of colorful creatures, there the grandeur creatures!!
Tarox Bladewing is my favourite art and card, its no Donald PileDriver but to me it has a surreal look as tho it could take a planeswalker full on and win the battle! All the planeswalkers and Grandeur cards are just that, above the norm in the magic world making this card look and feel just fantastic!
Great question guys i love talking about tarox and why hes my fav card!!
As a fantasy geek one of the huge things that got me into playing Magic were the dragon cards. It was back in the old days of Invasion. Quite a while ago, but not far enough back that the Majik man himself, Don Majkowski (#7, or was it #6, or uh, #4...no wait, he is another magic man from Title Town) was throwing his majik all over the field. Anyway, I remember bidding on ebay for one particularly smooth dragon that had an even more majikal name:
Dromar the Banisher.
Just hearing name and seeing that big blue beast swooping through the air gave me chills. It wasn't until later that I learned that his ability would swoop him back into my hand after playing the blue and two colorless unless I called red and green permanents to return. Alas, the two over-priced ebay cards still remain favorites of my collection and I smile at them when rummaging through my older rares.
Hey Derek, don't feel too bad...your Packers knocked out my Seahawks.
MEMPHIS! YES! I get to go again! And Les, quit complaining. It could be Charleston, S.C. again.
The MSS thing sucks. I was hoping my son would be ready to start playing next year.
Really, If WotC has that kind of cash problems, it should stop putting massive amounts into promoting crap like Dreamblade. (Though I actually had high hopes for Hecatomb.) Next year, it will have to cut into Magic deeper because Maple Story will flop. All of these games are GOING TO KILL MAGIC
My FAVREite art ... Jaya Ballard! The hotest art in Magic in more ways than one. Luckily, I got Matt Cavotta to sign the one I had, plus got a print at Grand Prix, Columbus. (I actually had that written BEFORE I heard Derek mention it, just from the other posters.)
I guess the Cheeseheads stand alone.
@ Billythefridge — That's martial law, not Marshall Law (unless Gavin's real name is Marshall), but when the Dom's away, the hosts will play.
My favorite card art is definitely the scourge Form of the Dragon. It just leaps out at you. I was once able to use it to ride to victory and deal 23 damage, they had a samite healer, to my three opponents in chaos with this here guy.
My favorite art I think... (man this is hard, there has to be at least 24cards I can think of that can have my favorite art) the Rhox from the 2000 starter. Infinitely better than the Nemesis version, and being my first foil and first rare, the art holds a special place in my heart. Not to mention the creature looks pretty bad ass.
Great show guys! I sympathize with you. Me no do good math either! (2+2=fish?)
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Quote from Seth Dracovitch »
If I could "like" or "upvote" you right now, I would.
Quote from Boing »
Into the Maw of Hell is a name so awesome, it deserves its own song.
It would be about a world of brown spikes and red fire, where men fight and scream and become blurry masses. Then it would change to somber, we learn that this glorious place exists only in Raymond Swanland's head. To visit it, you must enter the maw of Hell itself.
finacial reasons hmm you know the need to retool the protour get som sponsorship in here ultra pro nokia rim the pt is to market the ame an they need to broaden the market
Personally I like the Might of Oaks pictures the best. The original one with the squirrel cracks me up every time I see it cause everyone is going Oh My God, Its a freakin giant SQUIRREL, AHHHHHHH!!!. The poor squirrel is just like "guys, I'm just trying to find my nuts." The new tenth edition one just makes anyone who plays it look like a complete bad***. Besides, this is also my favorite card in my spellwild ouphe/fatal frenzy deck. It usually is what causes people to die.
lol @ Gavin's math skills.Well at least you're not 29 with such horrid math skillz.
My fav card art is Angel of Despair. She's just so hardcore...just look at her! Her forehead is pierced for Urza's sake. In the words of Nathan Explosion: that's brutal. Plus she's in two of my 3 favorite colors(the other one is green).
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I can see a bright future for competitive Magic in the form of the increasing attendance at various GPs. The big problem with the Pro Tour is the huge time investment it requires to play. By the time you've learned a format inside out, designed a deck, tested your deck to perfection and qualified you're looking at a huge amount of effort all to play one PT which you'll have to travel (maybe a really long way) to attend and you could be out of contention in as few as two matches.
With a GP you just turn up and play. Admittedly the byes system makes that horribly unfair, but at least you get to play.
Re: MtGO V3
My prediction is a release around the start of March, but with many key features missing. None of that matters, though. Only one thing matters: server stability. If they've fixed it, everyone wins. If they haven't, we all cry. And hit them with heavy things.
Re: Art
My vote goes to Simic Guildmage. Innovative, perfectly executed and the first card I ever saw by the awesome Alexei Briclot (my current favourite).
(I'm not a maths master like Lesurgo, but I think the answer is: 3)
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
#3: Damnation
One I think will come up a lot as it seems to be pretty popular, and no wonder - just look at it!
#2: Deranged Hermit
I love all the squirrel cards, and this the most - the text box promises a guy covered in squirrels, and the art delivers.
#1: 4th ed Terror
My favourite piece from way back when I played briefly in high school, and still my favourite today. I have a print of it signed by Ron Spencer! As an aside, the expression on the poor subject's face is exactly the expression I wear after a rough day on the phone in tech support D:
Checking the updates on the mothership today, I noticed a load of new ads all over the website. Coupled with the news about fewer pro tours, another american worlds, cutting the scholarship program and the stuff about level 3s, do you guys think Wizards are in deeper financial trouble than they've admitted?
I think that Wizards' may have some financial issues as a result of any number of reasons, but I'm glad that they seem to be taking steps to keep the core of their Organized Play programs running smoothly. Even as a casual player, knowing that the Pro Tour exists gives a great sense of stability to the game so I hope that they can get things turned around or at least prevent the need for any further cutbacks.
As for my Favrerite art (It's a real shame about the Packers, we had such a good season, but there's always next year), I think it's gotta be Order of Yawgmoth. I loved the stories that involved Dominaria, and the Phyrexians were the ultimate bad guy(as a Star Trek fan, they remind me of the Borg). The art on the Order has a lone knight on a wasted landscape, holding an extremely dangerous-looking scythe. The red glow in the haze and the faint objects in the background are the only remains of a once-great city that has been burned to the ground. When you see the card, you immediately think "Now that is evil."
I used to mulligan just to get a hand with an Order in it because I loved the art so much that I absolutely had to play it every single game. It may have caused me to lose from time to time but it was definately worth it.
A favorite art is tough to pick. Even narrowing down to a top 5 or 6 is tough, like getting past Chad Clifton. The obvious choice is my namesake, Planar Guide. As it has no real play value, the art is one of the reasons I collect it. I've got close to 90 (just 1 foil, though).
In looking for a favorite art piece, I disregard anything from the last few sets that looks like it might have some CG aspects to it. While a computer might add a perfected curve or clean up a gradient here and there, I feel its contributions to a piece of art speak less to the skill of the artist and more to the attributes of the software used.
After some consideration...Look at me, I'm the DCI comes in a close second to Squirrel Farm.
Former US Southwest Regional Coordinator
Favorite cards of all time:
Overall - Peacekeeper
Flavor text - Blazing Archon
Another great podcast guys. I'm starting to get into a weekly routine where after I get through all my email from overnight at work, I flip on the podcast Tuesday morning and just let it play in the background as I start my programming for the day.
Hands down my favorite are is the original Icy Manipulator (actual art) art by Douglas Shuler. After I started playing again (at Future Sight after stopping at Planeshift), I saw that there was the foil Promo with the Original art. I had to have it.
My favourite Guay art? But there's too many cards to choose from! If I really had to choose, it'd be a tie between Angelic Page and Priest of Titania, both from Urza's Saga. The former because it was the card that caught my attention in my very first game of Magic, and the latter because... let's face it; who doesn't like being able to cast 10cc bombs on Turn 3?* These cards arguably set me off on my quest for more Guay-ness in the years to come.
The runner-ups are:
Persecute Artist for irony.
Elvish Piper for replacing the goofy 7th edition bagpiper.
Kaysa for being cooler than the other legends she painted.
APAC Plains... it's the Great Wall of China!
Scryb Ranger for untapping Spectral Force every turn.
Bitterblossom for screaming to be broken.
Yeah, I know I ended up plugging eight Rebecca Guay cards, but every click of those links only brought you closer to appreciating the watercoloury awesomeness that is her art. I'm praying really hard that Wizards sends her down to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia represent!) next month.
*Llanowar Elves, Rofellos and Gaea's Cradle required.
Anyways my farve-rite art (kill me now) would probably be Basal Sliver. I was taking an art class my local community college and Drew Tucker had me hold a piece of cloth and a stick while he sketched it really quick. Time Spiral comes out and those are my hands!
Calvin and Hobbes
Cube Tutor
Since then, it has been my favorite art. The image of the raging elemental crashing through the dark clouds is just awesome. The look of determination in his glowing eyes, is just too cool.
ANYWAY, not to sound like Cheesehead, but I recently did an altered art card paying homage to my favorite art...
Great show this week, very informative and I really wish we could rally enough articulate people to atleast get the MSS back on foot.
LISTEN TO MAH SONGZ!
@BillyTheFridge
You could probably skip the next two and still be fine. We missed you there, but it was all good.
You have bigger things to worry about since you've declared Marshall Law on Dom's Standard Combo rule. I think Tom was a little shocked at your disregaurd to the rules.
LISTEN TO MAH SONGZ!
@BillyTheFridge
Tarox Bladewing is my favourite art and card, its no Donald PileDriver but to me it has a surreal look as tho it could take a planeswalker full on and win the battle! All the planeswalkers and Grandeur cards are just that, above the norm in the magic world making this card look and feel just fantastic!
Great question guys i love talking about tarox and why hes my fav card!!
Drizzs
Sig By Zaphod
Dromar the Banisher.
Just hearing name and seeing that big blue beast swooping through the air gave me chills. It wasn't until later that I learned that his ability would swoop him back into my hand after playing the blue and two colorless unless I called red and green permanents to return. Alas, the two over-priced ebay cards still remain favorites of my collection and I smile at them when rummaging through my older rares.
Hey Derek, don't feel too bad...your Packers knocked out my Seahawks.
The MSS thing sucks. I was hoping my son would be ready to start playing next year.
Really, If WotC has that kind of cash problems, it should stop putting massive amounts into promoting crap like Dreamblade. (Though I actually had high hopes for Hecatomb.) Next year, it will have to cut into Magic deeper because Maple Story will flop. All of these games are GOING TO KILL MAGIC
My FAVREite art ... Jaya Ballard! The hotest art in Magic in more ways than one. Luckily, I got Matt Cavotta to sign the one I had, plus got a print at Grand Prix, Columbus. (I actually had that written BEFORE I heard Derek mention it, just from the other posters.)
I guess the Cheeseheads stand alone.
@ Billythefridge — That's martial law, not Marshall Law (unless Gavin's real name is Marshall), but when the Dom's away, the hosts will play.
The Cheese Stands Alone and The Fridge Stands Corrected.
LISTEN TO MAH SONGZ!
@BillyTheFridge
Great show guys! I sympathize with you. Me no do good math either! (2+2=fish?)
need web design and other services check us out.
http://www.webstudio914.com/
yeah i bet som chicks wish they looked like gueys artwork lol
need web design and other services check us out.
http://www.webstudio914.com/
Personally I like the Might of Oaks pictures the best. The original one with the squirrel cracks me up every time I see it cause everyone is going Oh My God, Its a freakin giant SQUIRREL, AHHHHHHH!!!. The poor squirrel is just like "guys, I'm just trying to find my nuts." The new tenth edition one just makes anyone who plays it look like a complete bad***. Besides, this is also my favorite card in my spellwild ouphe/fatal frenzy deck. It usually is what causes people to die.
My fav card art is Angel of Despair. She's just so hardcore...just look at her! Her forehead is pierced for Urza's sake. In the words of Nathan Explosion: that's brutal. Plus she's in two of my 3 favorite colors(the other one is green).
You mean lovely lady lumps, right?