[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.

[JT] Pokemon XYD (The D is for Disappointment)

 

Ok...  I've had a bit of time to let this stew and see if my opinion changes after giving some thought, which is why this post has taken so long (it has nothing to do with my laziness.  Nope.  Nothing.), and I am just going to get it out in the open right up front: I found Pokemon Gen. VI, a.k.a. X and Y to be a HUGE let down.

Go ahead.  Throw all the garbage you want at me.

*waits*

You done?  Ok.  Now that that is out of your system, let me explain why I think this:

1) Storyline
Without a doubt, the biggest reason I was let down by the games was the lackluster story.  Black/White had the single greatest story line in a Pokemon game (which is a lot for me to say since (Heart)Gold/(Soul)Silver have always been my favorite in the series).  The story was one of the reasons I got as re-enamored with the games as I did, so imagine my disappointment when I reached the apex of X's story, expecting it to take a massive upswing or even continue on after the ridiculousness that is Team Flare (probably one of the worst Teams ever, if not THE worst), only to find a lackluster post game (that will not be a separate point since I will admit that I have not finished the post game yet.  I had to put the game down after the bad taste that was left in my mouth by the main game.  In fact, today was the first time I had started to seriously play it after finishing the main game a few days after it's release).


2) 3D
Let me get this out of the way: I like the 3D.  These are without a doubt the most beautiful games in the

series (though I do miss the mini sprites and graphics, but that's something that's just a personal preference).  The problem I have is with the seemingly random uses of 3D.  You get the opening cut scene with Prof. Sycamore in 3D, which gets you geared up for the adventure.  Fletchling flies through your house and wakes you up in your bed in 3D, and you start to walk around.... in 2D?!  You walk down the stairs in 2D, talk to your mom in 2D, and then walk outside, and get a 5 second cut scene in 3D?  The cut scene in and of it self is fine... something new for the series besides just sprite standing still or walking back and forth.  I am fine with those, but the fact that they seem to use these as a medium to show off the 3D, and only then (besides in certain battles and a few other select areas) seems like a cop out.

Again, don't get me wrong.  I love the 3D graphics... WHEN THEY ARE USED.  The Elite Four chambers are incredible, and watching the Pokemon World Championships are going to be a whole heck of a lot more entertaining if they use XY with the battle animations on, but the inconsistency with HOW they used the graphics is my main problem.

3) Poke Transfer
It has been a standard pillar of the past few gens that there is a way to transfer in Pokemon from previous gens into your new game, and that is no different in X and Y.  What IS different though is that there is no internal method of doing so.  From what I have gathered (and I will admit that it is possible I have not given this due diligence, but this is my understanding currently) is that starting in December, there will be a Pokemon Bank app/download you can get that will allow you to store up to 3,000 Pokemon to use in this and future gens, which is a great idea.  However, you get a free trial and then you have to pay a fee to use the bank.  It's something small (like $5 a year or something), but the thing that really irks me about it is that this is why things like Skylanders and the like have been something I have stayed away from.

Pokemon was always something that could stand alone; you buy the game, and everything is done in game.  You did not have to worry about buying figures or points or anything like that.  You invest in the new game and that was it.  Now you have to pay to do something that you've been doing for years.  Sure this is will (I hope) have a few other features that make it worth while, but we do not even have the option to do things the old way.   The other thing that bothers me is that we have to wait until December!  Two months after the game is released.  Why do I have to wait that long, especially for a game that has very little post game following a main game that can be completed in no time at all?

These are the three biggest things I have had a problem with.  There are some other smaller and more aesthetic/personal things I had a problem with (new Exp. Share for instance), but those are just me so I won't bog down this post with it.

Basically, TL;DR :

From Penny Arcade

So, what do you think?  Do you agree?  Think I'm just an old man that wants you young whipper-snappers off my lawn?  Let me know.  Until then, I think I'll be here waiting for the ability to transfer in old Pokemon -_-

*JT used TELEPORT*

[Jas] ConView: NYCC 2013

This was my second year of going to NYCC, this time I flew, which limited the costumes that I could take. But, on the flip side, I got to stay at my friend's apartment, which made the trip a lot cheaper overall! (Paying for hotels is a real drain on the wallet, lemme tell ya!) Anyways. I got there a few days early to sight-see, and by sight-see I mean go places in NYC that I hadn't been before! But...that's a story for the other blog! Let's focus on NYCC here!!

Cosplay doggy!

It's a HUGE convention. I mean seriously. Over 130,000+ people, I don't even know the actual number, but that's what some guy in the dealer room told me. The cosplays are always something to see, that's for sure! I look forward to taking pictures at this convention, more than some others! Although there aren't really nice places inside the center to take pictures, which kinda sucks!

On another note, the dealer area in NYCC is something to really take in. There are SO MANY VENDORS! (And I don't mean small time vendors) These vendors are publishers, game companies, and even companies like Intel and Verizon for goodness sake! There are always freebies like tote bags (Which I got from Wtf is Yeah!) as well as free nails?! Yeah, that's right, free stick-on nails. You heard me right. 

proof!!

This year wasn't a cosplay year for me really. I re-did Peach and also did Bee from Bee and Puppycat, since it was comfy and relatively easy to put together. I ended up even getting interviewed in both costumes. Go figure! But there were a lot of other fantastic costumes! I can't even begin to talk about them!! (I want to brag about all my friends, but I should actually highlight strangers too, you know, it's nice) 

That must have taken so much effort to make!! The girl couldn't hear anything though!

I didn't really have a haul from this con, since all I bought was a shirt in the dealer room! Whoa what?! Crazy right? I spent all my money on taxis and food.

Best shirt ever, hands down. 

[JT] CGC: Something cool...

... happened to me last week.  I'm chilling on my couch, watching anime, and I get a text seeing what I was up to.  Well, it turns out my class was cancelled, so nothing at all...  One thing led to another... and this happened...

Let's hear some other people's thoughts on the rotation, shall we?

[JT] CGC: Spotlight/Highlight #2: Rotation MVP

I should have had two more of these up by now, but there hasn't been anything that has really grabbed my attention from Theros and the pre-release.  Sure, there were some standouts...

Sunday's Sealed pool.

Medomai, the Ageless is a freaking house, and the Bident can be huge if you have an unchecked flier you've been getting in with, but nothing really gripped me.  So I decided to forgo this for a while.  However last night Theros officially released, and that means that the standard format has officially rotated.  So, I would not be doing my duty if I did not do a HL/SL on the one card that has stood out to me for the past standard format...

Redirect!   Yes.  Redirect.  How many of you thought I was going to use my old buddy Deadeye Navigator?  While I did build my deck around him for two years, I have to give the MVP to the best counterspell ever (ok, not really).

At the end of it's legality, the count of Bonfire of the Damned's that I have redirect totals 3 (should be 4, but I misplayed at last week's standard), and I have even countered the uncounterable Counterflux with it.  I whole-heartedly believe that there is no feeling more satisfying in Magic that your opponent miracling a Bonfire and you blow them out with a Redirect; or when your opponent goes to Counterflux your finisher, you tap two blue, they say "It can't be countered", and you respond with "I know. Redirect Counterflux to Redirect"; or when the same scenario plays out with an Abrupt Decay pointed at your Detention Sphere.

Here's another cool thing... Redirect get's around Hexproof since the only thing it is targeting is the spell.  That means you could have Redirect-ed your opponents kill spell back at their own Geist of Saint Traft.  This spell has done some serious work for me, and I am just as sad to see it go as I am to see Deadeye go.

With that, I leave you to ponder "what could have been..."; How would Redirect have changed your life for the better?  Or are you super lucky that it did not see more play in your area?  *Sigh*  I hate to see you go, old friend, but perhaps we will see you again.