Let’s briefly discuss the miracle of carpooling. With Lil Chandra and her friend Lil Nissa enrolled in the same Lil Kickers (actually called that) soccer lessons, this allows for the miracle of carpooling. One parent takes two kids. This leaves one couple with an empty house and leaves me with an hour to pound out a guilt-free draft. Or two. In my defense, I’m also running two loads of laundry.

draft

This is a very interesting P1p1. The classic “pretty powerful gold cards versus reliable uncommons.” “But Dad,” you say, “I only see one gold card.” OR IS THERE?!

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Florian is straightforward: great rate and a good recurring source of value. Doesn’t really turn around a game, so it’s ceiling is more “high power” than “bomb” which keeps me from enthusiastically taking it P1p1. The Skaab Wrangler is shockingly powerful… if you’re in UB with a host of decayed zombies to draw from. Outside of that it’s fine, but nothing special. The other commons are all solid (Search Party Captain, Siege Zombie, Silver Bolt). I take Florian on a high-upside but low likelihood play. Definitely not wedded to it.

The rest of pack 1 is a good exercise in consciously looking at the best card in the pack versus the best fit with the cards I’ve taken so far.

P1p2

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P1p3

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Picks 4 and 5 were more clear, snagging a Contortionist Troupe and a Harvesttide Sentry (a solid 2-drop) only to pick up a late Thermo-Alchemist and then a Falcon Abomination. Thus giving me 5 colors in seven picks. This is not a great feeling; I was pretty sure I was green but still feeling out the other options.

But here’s why “drafting the hard way” is so powerful: two (!) Shadowbeast Sightings wheel and then I’m passed two (!) Seize the storms in pack two. By staying open I pilot into red and build a very saucy RG deck.