Posted on by Jed Fowler · 1 Comment

What’s the play: starting to stall

Definitely starting to run a little dry on SNC. With the spikes leaving the format I’m drafting Brokers uncontested and winning a lot of games easily. While nice for the gem count it’s not great for interesting play moments. But last night had some spice!

17 Lands Deck

Specific Play

Okay, so opponent just cast the Maestros Diabolist, got their devil but then held back from attacking this turn. Opponent has a bounce spell in hand, but not enough mana to cast it this turn. I have one flier in the air, the Angel combat trick, and a removal spell. Here are the lines as I see them

  • Just dink in with the 2/1 flier and pass turn
  • Hold for Ransom their Diabolist, attack with the flier and 3/2. When they block with the devil to try and ping my flier, cast the Majestic Metamorphosis
  • Same as above, but swing with the team to trade 1/1s and push more damage through.

What’s the play?

Read more
Posted on by Jed Fowler · 1 Comment

The New Land Page

Lands are the best part of Magic. Sure the other cards allow you to “do things” but the foundation is the land. Whether the humble basic land or the most ridiculous source of multiple colors ever, I’ve always enjoyed basic lands. And my first collection was of dual lands. Sure this was MAYBE spurred by some insider trading allegations (i.e., I read the episode of the Duelist and my friends hadn’t) but I got em! One of each! They are now known as Lil Chandra’s college fund!

And in my original trade binder, I put together a very nice 3×3 with a clear center square.

Ahhhh, so elegant. But then I got a new trade binder that is a bifold and now has a 4×3 layout! Must… reorganize… cards!

Read more
Posted on by Jed Fowler

What’s the play: to stabilize or…

This was one of the better fought games lately. Facing a quasi-Maestros mirror in the rubber match. Oppo got out to a fast start, removed my blocker, and has me pretty firmly on the back foot. But now it’s Echo Inspector time!

17 Lands Link

Deck

Do I pitch a card to make the E.I. a 3/4? That can block the 3/1 initiate but *can’t* block the Body Dropper due to threat of activation. Is that worth a card? Potential lines include:

If I pitch a spell, I probably pitch the Slip out the Back, looking to build up my own Body Droppers with a blitzed Night Clubber.

If I pitch a land, I’m priced into trading the E.I. for the Initiate, which doesn’t feel great. I set up a double Body Dropper next turn along with a Slip out the Back to protect them (or buy a turn with a block). What to do?

Read more
Posted on by Jed Fowler · 1 Comment

On Indoctrination

For me, the best part of parenting is indoctrination. We talked about this with music, we’re getting close to Magic cards, but it’s also interesting what they pick up on their own. Since I do the cooking in the house (Benalish Momma, as a scientist, is an excellent baker but can’t get dinner on the table) Lil Chandra watches me cook a lot. And then wants to do what I do. With knives!

Like all things in late stage capitalism, Big Childrearing is delighted to sell you things interact with your child. I have found the following two things helpful.

cooking utensils (en francais)

Bought on an impulse, I was shocked by how utilitarian this is. The knife has a real edge, but not pointy. So it cuts nicely but is unlikely to take out an eye. The peeler is right in that sweet spot of satisfying and easy to accomplish: a.k.a. perfect for a four-year old. I tossed the finger guard.

Opinel Le Petit Chef Complete 3 Piece Kitchen Set,

kevlar gloves

These are straight construction-site kevlar gloves. But they come in tiny sizes! And while a bad grip can be more dangerous than just holding a knife, the gloves give me permission to hand her the knife in the first place.

NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves

policy

With knives came a new policy. “Is there a grownup that can help?” When using a tool that is potentially dangerous, Lil Chandra is instructed to always ask that question before grasping. Ask before picking up a knife. Same goes for turning on the fireplace. Fortunately, she inherited a double-dose of teacher’s pet recessives so this has been a breeze to implement.

Posted on by Jed Fowler

What’s the play: regarding mulling

Keep or mull is usually a bit more straightforward than the multiple facets of a What’s the Play. But it’s still good to keep one’s hand in. So here’s a good one. We are on the draw in game 1, already mulled once.

17 Lands Link

Pretty self-evident keep with good removal and early plays and a pretty powerful card. But what to toss? Normally when on the draw I pitch the third land automatically. However, is that the best choice here?

Read more
Posted on by Jed Fowler

What’s the Play: turning the corner

Mana advantage is a real thing, and being able to triple-spell on turn 5 is usually a pretty delightful thing. While I doubt there’s a wrong answer, it’s important to squeeze out every angle of value.

17 Lands

Situation

options

It’s clear that we’re casting all of our spells, but at what?

  • Lifelinker in the sky
  • A gathering throng that trades with our ground forces
  • Or that stupid 2/1 epic common angel
Read more
Posted on by Jed Fowler · 1 Comment

What’s the play: smelling a trick

I don’t love that Arena automatically gives tells when oppo has an something they can do at instant speed. But it’s available and I’d be a fool not to use it. Oppo has something at instant speed and this is the second round of attacking into my 4/4 (my 2/2 traded with their 2/2 last turn). What’s the play?

  • Block the 3/2 with either of my smaller creatures
  • Force the trick by blocking their 2/4 with my 4/4
  • Take the damage, there’s still time.

17 Land Details

This Turn

Read more
Posted on by Jed Fowler

What’s the play: turning the corner (ish)

17lands Info

The Play

Okay, at last a welcome change from being cornered in a bad situation. I’ve finally stabilized versus a pretty good UW deck. I just countered their 7-mana shattered Seraph, some good card advantage in Evelyn’s exile pile and a big-honking flier. Of note, we are both in some danger of decking (I have 9 cards, oppo has 5) What’s the play

  • Attack with the 4/5 and the 5/5 flier
  • Attack with just the 4/5 to leave the flier back on defense
  • Cast Raffine’s Informant
  • Or mill some more with another 3/3 Snoozy.

What’s the play?

Read more
Posted on by Jed Fowler · 1 Comment

What’s the play, Vol IV

Deck and details found here

This turn found here

I’ve fallen behind and oppo has a pretty threatening flier. That said, I’ve stabilized and have a great steal n sack in my hand. There are really only two choices

  • Steal their flier, attack & sack it
  • Play second body dropper and plasma jockey and wait a turn to steal
  • More aggressively you could Blitz out the Jockey with a 2nd Body dropper to chip in damage and get additional counters.

Which do you choose and why?

Read more