Duel Decks- Zendikar vs Eldrazi: Eldrazi Deck Review (Part 2 of 2)
The Eldrazi deck did quite well in the matchup when we reviewed the Zendikar counterpart. How well will it stand on its own when it gets its turn in the spotlight? Phil once again joins me to playtest, and we put the planar menace through its paces and complete our review of the release. Read more 
Shadows over Innistrad: Vampiric Thirst Review (Part 1 of 2)
Long considered a secondary tribe in the game, 2009’s Zendikar was a renaissance for the Vampire. Not only were they made one of the major tribes in the lore of the game- with the deluge of cards to follow- but they were also awarded an Intro Pack deck all their own. Rise of the Vampires was one of the better decks of the set, reflecting the speed that every Limited player knows was bound up in the Zendikar environment.
Shadows over Innistrad: Horrific Visions Review (Part 1 of 2)
One of the things I often liken preconstructed decks to is “museum pieces.” This is mainly true for decks that are from a particular set as opposed to standalone products like Duel Decks. Theme Decks- and their modern counterparts, the Intro Pack- are a great way to explore and experience the themes and mechanics of a set without investing a lot of money in boosters or individual cards.
Shadows over Innistrad: Ghostly Tide Review (Part 1 of 2)
The original Innistrad released in September of 2011, and for the first time since Lorwyn/Shadowmoor in 2007-08 we had a fully tribal Magic set. Lorwyn’s tribes were sunnier, more whimsical in nature: Elves, Goblins, Giants, Kithkin and more painted an idyllic portrait of a world where the sun always shined; a world which took a turn for the dark once Shadowmoor arrived. Even then, however, it was more ‘dark faerie world’ rather than ‘Tales from the Darkside.’ It would take the arrival of Innistrad to bring a feeling of horror to Magic.
Shadows over Innistrad: Unearthed Secrets Review (Part 1 of 2)
In the Autumn of 2010, Wizards of the Coast held a second talent search for new designers called, naturally enough, the Great Designer Search 2. Whereas the inaugural Search in 2006 was more mechanical in nature, there was a very deliberate emphasis on world-building for the second time around.
Contestants were instructed to form Wiki pages, and collaboration was an important aspect of the assignments. Although your humble author had no deep-rooted ambitions to go into game design, nevertheless as a longtime player of the game I gave it a shot.
Duel Decks- Zendikar vs Eldrazi: Eldrazi Deck Review (Part 1 of 2)
Is she or isn’t she?
At time of writing, one of the biggest areas of speculative debate centers around what the unspeakable horror at the heart of Innistrad’s woes could be. The previews of Shadows of Innistrad are upon us, and one of the theories with the most traction is that it’s Emrakul, the third Eldrazi titan and the one whose whereabouts are currently unknown.
Oath of the Gatewatch: Vicious Cycle Review (Part 2 of 2)
Departing the benighted plane of Innistrad for a moment, we’re back at the besieged one of Zendikar. When we last looked at Vicious Cycle, we found a sacrifice-style deck with some intriguing synergies. Of course, what looks good on paper doesn’t always play well, so we’re put it to the test. Joining me is Phil, piloting Concerted Effort, the White/Green support deck. Read more
Duel Decks- Blessed vs Cursed: Cursed Deck Review (Part 2 of 2)
It’s time to take Duel Decks: Blessed vs Cursed to the battlefield to see how it plays out, after having taken a close look at both decks. Joining me is Phil, taking the role of Innistrad’s Blessed. Let’s see how this first clash shakes out. Read more
State of the Site – March 2016
Back on the first of January, I posted an article here called the “State of the Site.” IIt was the first of its kind, as well as the last- later updates for one reason or another I moved to a Tumblr page, long gone to weeds.
Since I haven’t given a site update in awhile, I thought I’d take a few minutes today to do so, even if 06 March isn’t quite as exciting as a New Year’s Day. Read more
Oath of the Gatewatch: Surge of Resistance Review (Part 1 of 2)
“May you know the joy of finding an untapped design vein.”
So Mark Rosewater, head designer of Magic: the Gathering, concluded his column of 21 July, 2014. Entitled “At All Costs,” the feature looked at all of the different cost-reduction mechanics available in the game of Magic. In many cases, such as using life as a currency for mana, much of the design space has already been mined, from Snuff out to Dismember. That isn’t to say it won’t be used again, but it’s not entirely new.
Ertai's Lament 