Ertai’s Meddling Back on Gathering Magic!
That’s right, I’ve returned to Gathering Magic for one of our most popular features, Ertai’s Meddling!
In this series, I take an Intro Pack deck and tune it up, subject to two simple rules:
- No added mythics or rares- commons and uncommons only
- I can only draw from card sets included in the original deck
In today’s inaugural feature, we look at the madness-and-Vampire concoction, Vampiric Thirst.
Come on over and let GM know if you enjoy the series!
Battle for Zendikar: Rallying Cry Review (Part 1 of 2)
Back in 2010, while reviewing The Adventurers from Zendikar, I wrote, “[Allies are] a solid and delightfully fun mechanic, one that I hope is revisited in future sets down the road.” Although it somehow feels like less time has elapsed somehow, it was just a six-year wait.
As initially designed, however, the Allies were a bit different than what we know to be their final form.
Shadows over Innistrad: Angelic Fury Review (Part 1 of 2)
We’ve arrived at the last of the five Intro Pack decks for Shadows over Innistrad, the Boros-colored Angelic Fury. Thus far, we’ve seen three mechanic-centered decks, with Unearthed Secrets (Clue tokens and investigate), Vampiric Thirst (madness), and Horrific Visions (delirium). The fourth deck, Ghostly Tide, was tribal Spirits, which leaves Angelic Fury as a bit of a conundrum.
Which decks should we do next?
After Shadows over Innistrad concludes, what would you like to see next?
Duel Decks- Blessed vs Cursed: Blessed Deck Review (Part 2 of 2)
In the rush of excitement for Shadows over Innistrad’s Intro Packs, the poor set-themed Duel Deck didn’t get completely reviewed. Phil has joined be on the battlefield to put Blessed through its paces, and round out the set. Read more 
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.
Ertai's Lament 