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And Here We Are...
Sometimes it's really
interesting when you think about how fast a week goes
by. Honestly, I'm still a bit amazed that we are
already past the holiday season and schools are back
in session. It's so strange that we've gone this long
without some good Magic news. The end of the
year/first of the year is a bit boring in that
regard. So we are forced to make due without and
interesting news. Well, I guess it's a good thing
we're here. At least we can offer you something good
to read in the downtime.
First off, I gotta couple
of e-mails that reminded me that I didn't include an
alternate game pick of the week. So this week I'll
offer you two of them.
The first is Filthy Rich.
It's a Richard Garfield game, so some of you might
also be interested for that very reason. Filthy Rich
is a very unique game. IT actually comes with a
binder and 9-pocket pages that you use to play the
game. It has sort of a monopoly mentality in the fact
that you have to pay each player for hitting billboard
that they own. But it depends on what street you are
on, which is determined by what binder page you are
on. It's definitely interesting.
For my second game choice
of the week, I say that we should go with NFL Street.
I don't even know why this game is on my list. I
haven't played it yet. However, if NBA Street is
good, and Madden is good, then my guess is a game that
looks to be a perfect cross between the two can't be
bad. Right? I thought it was released next week, but
apparently it came out this Tuesday. So I will be
going to pick it up.
That reminds me, I also
need to go get WWE Originals. Man, I'm gonna be broke
this weekend.
Oh, and wish me luck, I'm
going to go out looking for a house tomorrow.
Anyway, back to Magic. We
all know that Darksteel cards are starting to be
discovered all over the place. There are a few
pictures of them in the latest Undefeated Magazine by
the way for those of you that are interested. I
believe that it is issue three if I am not mistaken.
It should surprise no one that these are showing up.
The prerelease is now just over one week away.
Everyone seems to be a bit
excited about Fireball coming back. I'm not really
sure why though. As afar as dealing with creatures,
Starstorm is much more efficient. You are going to
spend so much less mana trying to kill multiple
creatures. If you want to go at your opponent's dome,
it's not really any better than Blaze, which has been
around in a while. So, I don't believe that hype at
this moment.
On the other hand, another
hot reprint that everyone is raving about is
Juggernaut. I would love to say that I would use my
old ones, but I am most definitely going to want a
full set of the ones with new art. Lately, the Magic
art has been top notch and the art in Mirrodin is no
different. I seriously think that is Chimeric Idol
got played in a lot of decks, this card will too.
Obviously, it was harder to kill chimeric idol, but
Juggernaut will be a real issue to deal with against
control decks. Five damage a turn is nothing to laugh
at. It's even less to less at when you consider that
it is only four mana to cast. Four COLORLESS mana at
that. However, it is an artifact and it is a 5/3
creature that has to attack every turn. It's by no
means unkillable. I just things it's really good.
Those are the only notable
reprints that I know of at this point. However, I am
definitely liking the new golems int his set that have
Affinity for different land types.
Check out Tangle Golem:
If this guy is a common, I
would start to watch out for Red/Green decks. They
might just become green decks that splash red for
burn. Tangle Golem is great. It's a 5/4 creature
that you can honestly play on turn three, assuming you
play a mana creature on turn one or two. Gotta love
having Affinity for Forests and only being 7 mana.
This could be a contender. Nothing outstanding, but
it does definitely open up a few options.
If nothing else, it looks
like Darksteel is poised to balance the playing field
even more than it already is. I'm all for balancing
play. There are almost too many control style decks
floating around right now anyway. Creatures were
meant to be played and creatures want to die at 90
degree angles.
OK, let me take a break
from my Magic discussion for a second to say something
sports related (sorry, I gotta get my sports in there
somewhere).
Why is everyone down on
Brett Favre. Sure, he got hit and threw up a goose
egg that got intercepted. But lets face it. He's not
the only one at fault. There was a running back and
or a lineman that could have made a better block.
Maybe the receivers could have run a slant or
something. Maybe the back could have gone out for a
short pass. But I will even say that fine; he's the
quarterback, so he takes the blame.
My problem is that
everyone I talk to wants to say the pass should never
even be thrown like that. Have you looked at a lot of
passes ol' Brett has thrown up over the past few
weeks. Hell, one he had earlier in the game sort of
looked like that. Had he thrown the pass and made it,
no one would have said anything. I mean seriously.
The guy has a great week to get his team into the
playoffs. He has an amazing game right after the
death of his father. Everyone sings his praises for
weeks. Then the world turns on him and wants to
condemn him for throwing an interception late in the
game. Sucks to be him
But honestly, if Favre
retires, I'm cool with it. I'm a Cowboys fan. That
just means that the NFC might get a little easier next
year. Since I am a Cowboys fan, I am pulling for
Philly to lose this week to Carolina. I like the way
Indianapolis is playing right now, a lot. But the New
England defense has been playing great. I still say
though that the Colts have been on a major role and
should win by ten. This would leave the Colts and
Panthers in the Super Bowl if I could have it my way.
With my luck both of the other teams win. Either way,
that's fine.
I love sports. Hell, I
think I just love friendly competition. That's part
of the reason that Magic still appeals to me. I can
always find people of all races, nationalities, and
ages to play.
Also, before people ask, I
do think that Magic price hike is acceptable. Magic
has stayed at $3.29/pack for years and have offered 15
card packs during that time. I don't think that any
other game on the market gives more than 11 or 12
cards per pack at that same price. Also, Wizards of
the Coast does PTQs, Pro Tours, Friday Night Magic,
Arena League, Junior Super Series, Grand Prix, Grand
Prix Trials, and a ton of just weekly tournaments held
around the world. I think it's worth paying the money
for.
This brings me to another
point. Don't abandon your local stores during this
tough time. Keep supporting them. They will need you
money and your support after a slow January. Help
them out, or you may not have a place to play real
soon. Unfortunately, that may come off as a bit of
threat. But it's true. For those you that don't
know, there is another major toy chain that filed
for bankruptcy, which doesn't help anything. That can
be a bad sign for the rest of the industry. It
could also be a result of the Wal-Mart effect of
getting to other corporations.
In the end, just go to
your local store and play have fun. Take your
friends. The more people that get to enjoy this game
and get exposed to it, well, the better off we will
all be for it.
Hrm... I guess this is
where we get to my card of the week. I was trying to
think of something fun that doesn't get played that
often that's still pretty useful. I think I'm going
to go with Loxodon Warhammer. This card isn't
stellar, but I think having even one or two of these
in a creature heavy deck can be a weapon. The extra
damage it deals is a good bonus, but it's really more
about the life you are gaining during that time. That
extra life gained can buy you some majorly important
turns late in the game. I liked Armadillo Cloak a bit
and this is just better in a lot of ways to me.
Besides, it's reusable and you can bounce it around.
Unfortunately, I don't
have a fun decklist for you all this week. But if I'm
not mistaken, Jonathan Pechon gave everyone an
Extended legal decklist for Alluren this week. So he
made up for my end of the deal a bit. Thanks JP! I
know that I probably disappointed a few of you, and I
can do is say that I'm sorry. I've spent a lot of
time the past few days working on the whole house
thing. It's an interesting journey. You will get to
hear all about it though. It's actually an
interesting process of choosing your buyer agent that
gets to go to battle with the selling agent. You will
also be interested to know that I did use the term "do
battle" with my agent that I am going to see later
today.
Well, anyway, I've reached
a point where I am seriously rambling. So I will
leave you with the advice tip of the week.
Don't forget to bring new
people into the game. If you go through a stretch
where you don't get to teach the game to someone new,
help a someone else's 'new guy' get rolling.
Everybody knows someone that you probably don't know.
If they are excited they will bring more people to the
game. Excitement is contagious. Give the new guy a
few of your extra cards. Help the new guy out with
his deck. If nothing else, you build up a bunch of
good Karma. Honestly, we can all use some extra luck
and Karma from time to time, right?
Until next time,
DeQuan Watson
a.k.a. PowrDragn
PowrDragn on IRC
PowrDragn on MTGO
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