[Fedoras of Salvation] - White Knights ITT

[zemanjaski]

You suck.

[rcwraspy]

It's a high synergy deck, which appeals to some people and when it all clicks it's really really good. Contrasted with Abzan Mid which is just a high power level deck. And something like Jeskai Tokens probably being right in the middle in terms of synergy and power. It's actually kinda cool how the format looks.

BTW if you don't want to watch standard mirror matches there's a Modern GP right now.

[rcwraspy]

but watching Alexander Hayne trying to teach Rich Hagon how to play Fatestitcher Ascendancy is painful.

[zemanjaski]

The deck is a pile if bad cards, but it's fun.

[Valdarith]

The deck is a pile if bad cards, but it's fun.

It definitely looks fun, but it's one of those "draw the wrong half of your deck" decks that really turn me off. It seems like a deck with a lot of variance and that's the last thing I want to play in a competitive environment.

[Valdarith]

BTW if you don't want to watch standard mirror matches there's a Modern GP right now.

From endless Abzan Reanimator mirrors to endless UR Delver / Jeskai Ascendancy feature matches.

As one who once loved UR Delver, something has to change.

[Kaitscralt]

The legacy ascendancy list is sweet

[BlakLanner]

The legacy ascendancy list is sweet

It is indeed. It also melts horribly to Eidolon so I am always happy to see it.

[Valdarith]

I think Mardu Midrange is the deck I'm looking for.

[Jamie]

I don't have fun playing counterspells/ruining people's day. Its something I enjoy. That's the one distinction in semantics I'll argue since I think its important.

[zemanjaski]

Don't be scrubs.

http://www.sirlin.net/articles/playing-to-win

[zemanjaski]

Anyway, top 8 at a PPTQ today. After some more games here's an updated list:

[deck]UW Heroic[/deck]
Creatures
4 Battlewise Hoplite
4 Favored Hoplite
3 Heliod's Pilgrim
4 Hero of Iroas
3 Seeker of the Way

Non-creature Spells
1 Ajani's Presence
1 Aqueous Form
4 Defiant Strike
2 Feat of Resistance
4 God's Willing
1 Ordeal of Heliod
4 Ordeal of Thassa
1 Singing Bell Strike
1 Stratus Walk
1 Treasure Cruise

Lands
1 Ajani's Presence
1 Aqueous Form
1 Battle Mastery
1 Erase
2 Lagonna-Band Trailblazer
1 Mortal Obstinancy
2 Ordeal of Heliod
4 Stubborn Denial
1 Treasure Cruise
1 Wavecrash Triton[/deck]

[Lightning_Dolt]

Don't be scrubs.

http://www.sirlin.net/articles/playing-to-win

I don't consider myself to be a scrub at this stage. I think I've made it to the point where I can win on my own terms, using my preferred strategy. Stubborn? Sure. Suboptimal? Often, yes. Personally enjoyable (which is the entire point of playing this game)? You bet.

[Lightning_Dolt]

I think Mardu Midrange is the deck I'm looking for.

We have a thread for that.

[rcwraspy]

I think I'm on Yuuya's Jeskai Tokens strategy for the foreseeable future. Deck too stronk.

[Mcdonalds]

I think Mardu Midrange is the deck I'm looking for.

We have a thread for that.

No app though, fucking caveman

[Lightning_Dolt]

@ Ham:

Been play testing this list, and it's been pretty sweet. YP$ > Flashback Lingering Souls is my new favorite play. Feels good man.

[deck] Mardu Tokens[/deck]

Could you help me with tuning the manabase? I think the burn match up is pretty good, the delver match up seems very good, pod is a bit rough, twin / scapeshift are pretty bad pre-board, pretty good post board.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Any ideas on how to improve the pod matchup without running Anger? Pillar of Flame / Magma Spray? I don't know.

[BlakLanner]

Torpor Orb or Hushwing Gryff to stop all the ETB triggers?

[hamfactorial]

LD:

Certainly! I'll build that on MTGO and start testing it out. I think I have all the cards except new Sorin.

If you're looking for maindeck Pod hate, you'll need Pillar or Path. I'm running 4 Aven Mindcensor lately in BBBSG since Pod and Scapeshift are running wild all over MTGO.

Out of the SB, Grafdigger's Cage and Linvala are your best options.

[zemanjaski]

Don't be scrubs.

http://www.sirlin.net/articles/playing-to-win

I don't consider myself to be a scrub at this stage. I think I've made it to the point where I can win on my own terms, using my preferred strategy. Stubborn? Sure. Suboptimal? Often, yes. Personally enjoyable (which is the entire point of playing this game)? You bet.

Apparently it isn't because you complain of not winning enough. Why is that? Playing suboptimal strategies. Either you can derive sufficient satisfaction from playing the game, regardless of outcome, or your enjoyment comes from winning. While you might enjoy yourself more when winning with a preferred strategy, that's still an expressed preference for winning.

That you're imposing artificial constraints on what you'll play, to meet your own perceived view of what competitive play should look and feel like, is textbook scrub behaviour (it's specifically discussed in the link).

Now, whether that's a problem is for you to decide personally when evaluating your input to return in this game.

Nevertheless, please don't you (or others) delude themselves; when you refuse to play the best strategies for personal reasons you're choosing to be a worse player and there are real costs to that (if nothing else matters your hobby will not support itself).

[Jack]

Well said.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Don't be scrubs.

http://www.sirlin.net/articles/playing-to-win

I don't consider myself to be a scrub at this stage. I think I've made it to the point where I can win on my own terms, using my preferred strategy. Stubborn? Sure. Suboptimal? Often, yes. Personally enjoyable (which is the entire point of playing this game)? You bet.

Apparently it isn't because you complain of not winning enough. Why is that? Playing suboptimal strategies. Either you can derive sufficient satisfaction from playing the game, regardless of outcome, or your enjoyment comes from winning. While you might enjoy yourself more when winning with a preferred strategy, that's still an expressed preference for winning.

That you're imposing artificial constraints on what you'll play, to meet your own perceived view of what competitive play should look and feel like, is textbook scrub behaviour (it's specifically discussed in the link).

Now, whether that's a problem is for you to decide personally when evaluating your input to return in this game.

Nevertheless, please don't you (or others) delude themselves; when you refuse to play the best strategies for personal reasons you're choosing to be a worse player and there are real costs to that (if nothing else matters your hobby will not support itself).

I think the thing that this standard taught me is that being completely dominant can be boring. I believe I've turned a corner where I don't really have anything left to prove and am just looking to enjoy myself. I still want to be competitive, but on my own terms. I've also realized that I will never make the pro-tour, so this is really just about having fun again. It's nice to have less pressure on me in something I'm meant to enjoy. I feel at peace. I imagine it's probably how the Sam Blacks and the Conolley Woodses of the world feel.

[Kaitscralt]

but you've never proven anything

[hamfactorial]

I'm here to talk about my scrubs

[Mcdonalds]

No one cares about your medical wear, nor your shitty mid 00's sitcom

[Lightning_Dolt]

but you've never proven anything

I've proved to myself that I can win a game day, I've proved to myself that I can win GPTs, I've proved to myself that I can finish in the money at a GP, I've proved to myself that I'm one of the best players in my area. That's good enough for me at this juncture in my life. I'm not willing or able to devote the time and money necessary to reach the next level and I'm ok with that.

[Jamie]

I hate it when people shit on my way of enjoying the game (tryharding and winning)

[Lightning_Dolt]

As long as you're enjoying yourself, that's all that matters.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Tryharding and winning used to be all I cared about, but like I said, my priorities have changed this season. I will grind for GP: Toronto, but for now, I'm trying to focus on growing as a person. It will eventually help me as a player. I'm trying to not get angry over the game etc.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Oh, and Z, as far as self imposed restrictions, I built and tried an UWR control deck and hated it. I was trying to grow as a player, but was miserable. I accepted then that I'd be like Paul Reitzel and be a one trick pony. I'm ok with that.

[nme]

I like countering spells, drawing cards, and slowly beating people to death with 2/4 flyers.

[TBuzzsaw]

I just heard from my LGS that the store holds the biggest FNMs on average in California since Khans release. We get 60 people on average for Standard and 30 for Modern, but I didn't expect us to actually be that big.

[zemanjaski]

Oh, and Z, as far as self imposed restrictions, I built and tried an UWR control deck and hated it. I was trying to grow as a player, but was miserable. I accepted then that I'd be like Paul Reitzel and be a one trick pony. I'm ok with that.

Paul has top 25'd PTs with midrange and control too FYI. He's legit very good at the game, not just aggro.

[Lightning_Dolt]

He does have a rep for always building a RW aggro deck though.

[zemanjaski]

Accepting that you're Paul Rietzel without actually wining anything doesn't follow. I'm not trying to be harsh on you, but these discussions require honesty.

If you're content with being average that's completely fine, but don't draw comparison to exceptional players (also conley woods) as justification. Whatever limits you *think* they self impose they've succeeded at the highest level.

[zemanjaski]

He does have a rep for always building a RW aggro deck though.

I can see how that justifies you playing bad Mardu decks.

[Lightning_Dolt]

I'm not here to argue with you James. I am fine with being an average, one trick pony kinda player. I don't actually think the Mardu deck is that bad. It has a very good match up against the best deck in the format. The sacrifices I'd have to make in other areas of my life to reach the next level are not worth it to me at this stage in my life.

[Valdarith]

Mardu is fine. It crushes UW Heroic, Abzan, and other non-devotion green decks. It's flexibility is perhaps it's greatest strength.

[Lightning_Dolt]

That said, I am going to grind hard once Dragon of Tarkir comes out to try to secure a good finish at GP: Toronto.