[Jas] The Week is for Anime!

[JT's intro:  Wow...  it has taken me so long to write something new, Jas has had to come back from her own blog to kick my ass into shape...  so  today she brings you a new anime round-up!  No notes from me this time since I am a little under the weather, but they will be in within a few days if I find the need to interject, as I usually do :P ]

I haven’t written a post on here for ages, but I’ve taken it upon myself to at least attempt a revival! Here again to talk about the new anime season, it is I, Jas! So let’s examine the weekly schedule that is clearly taking over my planner:

Mondays are for: Ao Haru Ride, Re-subbed Sailor Moon, and Master Chef! A girly anime based off a manga (that I’ve read, but now fallen out of) that was super cute! A girl who wants to stop acting “cute” so that girl’s in her school no longer hate her! She pretends to hate boys, eats a poop ton of bread, and generally acts in tom-boyish ways. Until, that is, she meets a boy she used to know (and had a crush on) now what is she to do?? (Clearly that was about Ao Haru Ride and not Master Chef) I’m also keeping up on the Hulu re-subbed version of Sailor Moon! I love rewatching the orginal, it’s really bringing back my childhood!

Tuesdays are for: Nothing! Free day! No shows for me to watch on this day! I guess I can just Hulu things, like old episodes of Master Chef Junior and Kitchen Nightmares

Wednesdays are for: Love Stage!! And Free! Eternal Summer. Aka the day of the bromance! Love Stage being an actual yaoi and Free being hard core bromance of the sports variety. Love Stage is also a genderbend, which is pretty cute! I don’t think I need to talk much about Free, everyone already knows everything there is to know about Free…though….the new ending song is WAY crazier than the first seasons, no joke.

Thursdays are for: Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus Persona 4 the Golden Animation, Zankyou no Terror, Tokyo Ghoul, and Glasslip! The busiest anime day for me! Whoa! My favorites are Zankyou no Terror and Glasslip, at least, so far. Zankyou no Terror seems like it might be a little slow on the action, but I think it’s going to have amazing back story and deepness to it. The art is great and I love the animation! Glasslip is shoujo with the group of friends, love triangles, transfer student coming into town and messing up all the chemistry of the group, and a little supernatural flare that I did NOT see coming! (It’s explained in the second episode) Tokyo Ghoul is the token horror anime for the season, it’s got gore, and it’s got blood! It seems like it will be an interesting story as well, though I’ve heard the manga is 13 something volumes, so cramming that into 1 season might be rough. We will just have to see. Persona 4 the Golden Animation seems like it will be good, though I know nothing at all about the actual games. As for the new season of Kuroshitsuji, it’s what you’d except: more butler, more demon, more awesome stuff like that. I think it will be all right.

Fridays are for: Tokyo ESP, which had a JAM PACKED ACTION INTENSE SO MANY CHARACTERS INTRODUCED HOW DO I KEEP TRACK OF THEM first episode that I don’t even know what to think except that I have to watch the second episode obviously to figure out what the hell is going on. There are espers, there are bad espers, and there are regular people who don’t seem to like espers. Think X-men, it’s sorta like X-men. At least, that’s what I’m saying after episode 1.

Saturdays are for: SAO II and Barakamon! I HAD to watch SAO II, which is based off GGO (Gun Gale Online) an arc from the light novel series, so yes, this is still canon. Very cyberpunk, many guns, pretty awesome girl introduced who seems like a boss. Looks promising! Barakamon is completely different, being a comedy/slice of life type anime with an adorable small child who constantly annoys an older guy trying to perfect his calligraphy. It has an interesting cast of characters and it’s downright cute at times.

Sundays are for: Haikyuu!! And Gekkan Shoujo Nokzaki-kun! The first is a remanent of the previous season that is still running. I love this whole sports anime trend that is going on. Swimming with Free, Basketball with Kuroko no Basket, and now my precious volleyball anime!! Though, it doesn’t have the intense special move shounen aspect that Kuroko no Basket has, which is quite nice. No spikes on fire or shit like that. (Not that it wouldn’t be cool, but c’mon man, no way) The team is just too cute and I can’t, I love it to death! ADORABLE VOLLEYBALL FEELS! Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun is an adorable, you guessed it, shoujo about a girl who wants to confess to a guy who is secretly (well not so secret, no one believes him) the mangaka of a popular shoujo, but MAN IS HE DENSE! It’s adorable and hilarious! That’s a winning combo in my book.

So that’s my anime weekly schedule! Along with Sailor Moon Crystal, which airs every 1^st and 3^rd week on Saturday (and can also be watched on Hulu)! Another series of note: Yami Shibai has a second season that comes out on Sundays, it’s super short (about 5 min episodes) and is sort of like Tales of the Crypt Keeper in that it tells short creepy stories. I watched all of the first season recently, it’s pretty good! By good I mean creepy, and I like creepy. 

[JT] The Mana Pool Kickstarter! Come on in, the Mana's fine

Hey guys, I'm taking a break from [not] writing new content to share with you THE MANA POOL KICKSTARTER!

Yes, the podcast that has been bringing out free content for more than six freaking years is branching out.  Want to show your TMP Dork pride?  Now is your chance.  The KS is so they can bring us some merch we have been asking for for years now;  tokens, sleeves, t-shirts, you name it*! Check out some sweet art that you can get in different forms, done by Jars!

I am not doing this because I was on a few episodes, and not because they're my buddies, but because (as I have said many times before) without these guys, I would not have as deep a love for MtG as I do.  Every week, these dorks are a reminder of the reason we all started shuffling lands and spells together: the fun of the game.  So if you have ever enjoyed TMP and want to give back, or just want some sweet stuff, now is the time to dive in.

See you pool-side,
JT


*DISCLAIMER: Brian's hot sister and magic-card bikini's are not eligible...  though we might be able to get Mike into the latter... hmmm...

[JT] CGC: Quick Standard Deck

Hey guys, just wanted to through up a quick list while I work on my Sphinx post.  I decided to try out a Phenax deck, and want to know your thoughts!

Creatures:
Doorkeeper x4
Murmuring Phantasm x4  
Wall of Frost x4
Phenax, God of Deception x3
Mind's Eye Drake x2

Spells:
Syncopate x2
Rapid Hybridization x2
Triton Tactics x4
Dimir Charm x2
Curse of Swine x2
Mind Grind x3
Pilfered Plans x4

Lands:
Nykthos, Shrine to Nix x2
Dimir Guildgate x4 (will become Temples)
Watery Grave x4
Island x9
Swamp x5

Side:
Under Construction

Things being considered:
Lavaz, Dimir Mastermind x2-3
Nighthowler x?
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver x2-4
Mind Grind x1
Dimir Charm x2
Curse of Swine x2
Rapid Hybridization x2

Let me know what you think I should add or what needs to go in the sideboard in the comments below!

[JT] CGC: Crying for the Moon

It's been awhile since I talked about my pride and joy; i.e. my Moonfolk EDH deck (last iteration is here).  Unfortunately, there is not a lot of cards that have been released lately that either flavorfully or functionally make me excited to tweak the deck.  Here is where it currently sits though:

Patron of the Moon (Commander)
Uyo, Silent Prophet
Meloku, the Clouded Mirror
Erayo, Soratami Ascendant
Soratami Savant
Soratami Mirror-Mage
Moonbow Illusionist
Soratami Mindsweeper
Oboro Breezecaller
Floodbringer
Oboro Envoy
Soratami Rainshaper
Soratami Seer
Soratami Cloudskater
Soratami Mirror-Guard
Kami of the Crescent Moon
Keiga, the Tide Star
Soramaro, First to Dream
Riptide Director
Riptide Shapeshifter
Roil Elemental
Lighthouse Chronologist
Azami, Lady of Scrolls
Tomorrow, Azami's Familiar
Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
Windreader Sphinx
Grand Architect
Graceful Adept

Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
Jace Beleren
Tezzeret, the Seeker

Counsel of the Soratami
Into the Roil
Hinder
High Tide
Cyclonic Rift
Cryptic Command
Counterlash
Boomerang
Redirect
Blue Sun's Zenith

Infinite Reflection
Spreading Seas
Inexorable Tide
Gravitational Shift
Training Grounds
Archmage Ascension
Parallel Thoughts

Mirror Gallery
Sol Ring
Isochron Scepter
Tatsumasa, the Dragon's Fang
Amulet of Vigor
Coat of Arms
Bident of Thassa
Storm Cauldron
Illusionist's Bracers
Ring of Evos Isle
Adventuring Gear
Everflowing Chalice
Sapphire Medallion

Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
Moonring Island
Riptide Laboratory
Academy Ruins
Seat of Synod
Ghost Quarter
Buried Ruin
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Reliquary Tower
Cavern of Souls
Thespian's Stage
Minamo, School at Water's Edge
Tectonic Edge
Haunted Fengraf
Cephalid Coliseum
Faerie Conclave
Island x21
Maze of Ith
Magosi, the Waterveil

Some changes I want to highlight (and still make in the future):

- Infinte Reflection/Mirror Gallery  I decided to increase the flavor of the Soratami using mirrors as a source of power.  As such, I also want to include a copy of Tempt with Reflection from the new Commander products.  I'm dreaming of a time when I Tempt targeting Keiga, the Tide Star.  I'll let you figure out the fun in that one ;)

- Low Tide  So, as much as I hated to do it, i had to take out Tidal Flats, Tidal Wave, Moonlace, Deluge, and some other flavorful cards because they were just underperforming.  Some of them might make a return, but for now I wanted to use other cards to see how they work.

- Bident of Thassa Another method of controlling Tides, though I am still debating whether or not Thassa and the Moonfolk would actually get along... perhaps she should be the new Commander?  Nah.  Either way, will all of the flying, this can draw me a LOT of cards.

-Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx Speaking of lots of something, how about lots of mana?  This deck can already go infinite, but in a mono-colored, creature based deck, this card can produce stupid amounts of mana.

- Tidal Force I do not have a copy yet, but I feel like it is a pretty obvious inclusion.  The only problem I have with including it (and Tempt with Reflection) is just that there is no foil version, and this is the one deck I want to foil out, but i will suck it up.



- Whelming Wave Probably the one card other than the Bident I was most excited for for this deck.  Whether or not it will actually make it in or not is yet to be seen though.  First I need to get my hands on one.

 So there is my update on my Moonfolk deck.  Kind of short, kind of sweet, but wait until next week, where I go over my new and improved Sphinx deck :3 Theros has been really good for it so far.  And if that does not whet your appetite, maybe this will:  Theros allowed me to almost completely overhaul my Legend of Zelda EDH deck.  That's the one I am most excited to share, but we have to save the best for last now, don't we?

I will leave you with one quick match story with this deck.  Apparently, Tomorrow, Azami's Familiar  and Parallel Thoughts DO NOT GO WELL TOGETHER, especially when you put all of your possible outs into P.Thoughts.  The two create a replacement effect for the same event (drawing a card), and you choose which you do, and unless I am mistaken (which I will be double checking as soon as I am done with this actually), since Thoughts is a 'may' and Tomorrow is not, you must do Tomorrow, meaning you never get to touch the cards you have under Thoughts.  Learned that the hard way.

Do any of you know if that's the correct ruling?  Let me know in the comments.  Feel free to leave any other suggestions for the deck as well.  And don't forget, I still need your help deciding what deck to build next!

Well, until next time, I'll just be over here mooning you.
-JT

[JT] Don't call it a comeba- ... Ok yeah, It's totally a comeback...

Ok guys...  Here it is.  Another post.  I bet you never thought you would see the day.  Sorry I've been so quiet on new content; I've had stuff I wanted to get out, but I just could not focus enough to get them onto paper... err...  I mean a computer screen.  This is just going to be brief, but I need your input on something so I can work on a few pieces, so I figured I would give you all a small update at the same time.

First of all, I was lucky enough to be invited to do another guest spot on The Mana Pool this week!  We discussed the first wave of Born of the Gods spoilers.  You can find the episode by diving into the pool (i.e. clicking).

Over the next few weeks I'll be bringing you updates on all of my constructed decks (standard and EDH).  At the same time though, what I need from you guys is what you think my next EDH deck should be.  I have a few ideas I want you to choose from:

1) Sydri, Galvanic Alchemist / Artifact Control
Esper control in EDH with a heavy artifact theme.  Pretty much sums it up.

2) Venser, Shaper Savant
If you don't know by now, you should:  Venser is my favorite Planeswalker, but since I have not really done much with my Spellbook format in a while, I can't build an EDH deck for him.  So the alternative is his creature form.  Of the three ideas, this is the one I think I can make with the most flavor (something which, if you remember, is something very important for me to be able to keep and maintain an EDH deck).

3) Arcane
Either mono-blue with Uyo, Silent Prophet or an Esper build with Dromar, the Banisher.

So, like I said, I want to know which deck YOU want me to talk about.


For now that's the only definite stuff I have planned.  There are a few other pieces that might come up (a few anime reviews come to mind), and I am going to try and get the rest of my team back into action again.  Not sure how much time they all have for it now, but I'm sure you'll see them again at some point soon (I'm sure they all have some gushing to do over Dr. Who since they haven't in a while).  Speaking of which, Jas has actually started another blog of her own.  Check out a few Bookworms in Dresses.


Ok.  Short and sweet like I predicted.  I promise I won't leave you for such a long time again!
- J.T.