Dragon's Maze: Savage Milling

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Talking about exciting cards... I absolutely LOVE what Wizards have done with Fuse cards.. the rares tend to require 3 colors, but boy are they cool when used together!

Breaking is a fantastic mill card on it's own, but coupled with Entering, you can get some pretty devastating monsters to use against their master! Looks like Dimir and Rakdos are working together...

 

I'm not particularly a fan of hydras.. mostly b/c I'm not lucky enough to get them in boosters.. but this one is pretty cool; constantly getting bigger whenever you have extra mana. I don't particularly like relying on one card to win a game, but a few of them working together. Cards like Savageborn Hydra are incredibly powerful, but can be mindcontrolled or removed easily.

They always tend to be mythics as well. Very Gruul feel to it tho. *tip of the hat*

I absolutely love how Wizards have implemented milling in Return to Ravnica; I never liked the straight "mill x  card", and love cards like this one:

It brings a bit of danger to the match, for you 'could' mill a minimum of 4 cards if you're unlucky.. or you can mill half a person's deck. It could go either way. We demand MOAR Dimir goodness!

Ravnica Art

Instead of doing what I should do, I procrastinate and write entries instead. I originally didn't feel like playing MTG over the weekend, but i'm glad we did; its just so fun. Maybe not when you lose, but that just means you can edit your deck to make it stronger (meta game).

I won't write much, other than to say the above and below art are for the same type of card: Watery Grave. A shock land which is a 2 color land mana source in MTG where you can pay life when it comes onto the battlefield ready to be used, or you can forego that price and cause it to be unusable til the next turn. The above art is from the expansion, Ravnica: City of Guilds that released in 2005.

8 Years (!) after, they came out with Return to Ravnica with the same kind of card... both really cool art. For more shock land art, go here. For more interesting articles, go here.

Fire Collective

Do you like Halo?
Do you like politics?

Ok, how much do you like Halo? This link talks about how you'll earn a Halo avatar suit for the 360 if you watch the Presidential Debates. As a Canadian, I personally am really interested in the debates and hope to see full coverage of Obama kicking Romney's butt! Lol
Check this link for more info; if you're gonna watch something, might as well get something in return!

My favorite enchantment in my strongest deck.

Countless Green/White deck ideas came to mind when I saw that.

Cosplay, Assassin Gear & RTR Pre-Release

I dunno what it is about cosplay that I enjoy; maybe it is the fact that its really passionate people that put alot of effort into the design of their costume. These are the kinds of people that become fashion designers or costume directors for movies I imagine. I normally don't like Halloween b/c I don't have an elaborate costume that looks like the ones below; if I did, I would probably enjoy it alot more!

These photos were from the recent Tokyo Game Show.

My best friend would probably love this jacket.. atleast for Halloween.. dunno about wearing it for real life (although thats what it was designed for).. if I was rich buddy, I'd buy it for you ;)

And some REALLY detailed Assassin's Creed costumes!

Its the Pre-release event this weekend for Magic: The Gathering, Return to Ravnica.. now I said I really wanted to go to it.. but i'm having second thoughts.. kinda fickle that way. I think it all becomes real when it gets closer to the date. I obviously would feel more comfortable going with a big group of friends. I guess I don't like competition very much and am kinda a sore loser when it comes to MTG. 

MTG: Shirts

I have a weak spot for enchantments.. and I don't particularly use black mana.. but that enchantment would really make me start using it! Day of Judgement.. with Grave Betrayal.. equals MONSTER ARMY!

When I first saw the announcement, I nearly wet my pants.

25$ (plus what I imagine shipping).. pricey..I dunno.. but I love the look of that shirt!

Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..Borderlands 2..

There are a TON of pistols in Borderlands 2.. 90% of the item drops are pistols
I haven't seen one sniper rifle or SMG drop yet.
Players that didn't preorder the game won't start off with additional weapons.. and need to fight rather hard enemies and a boss with only a pistol... good luck with that... I can envision alot of rage quits from that. But I do believe you are refilled with ammo and grenades when you die tho.
As far as I can see, there are no weapon proficiencies in  Borderlands 2.. but Badass levels (in-game achievements) grants tokens which allow you to customize and buff all your characters across the board.

Borderlands 2: Interactive Skill Tree

Lets go back to normal.

Did you like Chandler played by Matthew Perry from Friends? Go watch his new series Go On. I didn't like Friends, but I really like his new tv show. He's more wacky and impulsive. Not a moment that it slows down. It has heartwarming parts just like Community.

Also, check out The New Normal. The groom from The Hangover (1) is in it and surprisingly makes a really good gay character. I hope both tv series go ones for quite a while.

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Loving this card.. picturing it to be a game-ENDER. Imagine drawing 4 Lava Axes or something that just pounds your opponent into oblivion.

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Lastly.. Borderlands 2 comes out in less than 1 week now. Check this link for an interactive skill tree. Time to study and see which class suits my style.

Le Hasard

Visit my friend's new website: Le Hasard.
Very nice on the eyes, seems to focus on news, business news, food news and recipes.

Doesn't seem 'that' powerful..

Visit this link for a great video of the new Castlevania game. I don't like trying to figure out how to format the video to fit the screen dimensions, so links will have to do.

Return to Ravnica: Card Reveals

Go to this article for an interesting story on a new never-before-seen Planeswalker!
This article gives an indepth look at the Izzet League and Golgari Swarm guilds.


Loving the ability to exile a creature.. otherwise a kinda weak spell.

I love dragons and the art for this card.

Looks like there may be alot of creatures with the Defender mechanic.

You can go here for daily updates of card reveals for Return to Ravnica.

Return to Ravnica: Mechanics Revealed

Happy Sunday everyone!
While everyone is enjoying fast internet speeds and thus Guild Wars 2, I have to settle with waiting for Borderlands 2 and any tidbits of information on the new block of Return to Ravnica. They have a big section on MTG at PAX which has them showing alot of cards which will make you really excited.. in the pants.

Wizards released an article last night on all the mechanics you will encounter in the first set. I've gone ahead and posted them and have a little commentary on them all:

This is a reprint from previous editions.. not too shabby, not fantastic. But the mana cost is what makes it good. Normally, say paying just one color mana, it would take 4 mana for the same amount of life gain.

Notice how all these cards have the guild symbol as a watermark in the flavor text area; this one being Izzet's. So 1R for 4 damage, not bad in early game.. but in late game, Overload it, and that is pretty sick (doing 4 damage to each creature; good by shrouded and hexproof). I love cards that have purpose in both early and late game.

An example of hybrid mana; love hybrid mana, makes you more flexible, especially if you don't draw the right lands at the opening hand. I love the name of this creature, the look, and the flavor text. It sort of reminds me of the Hellspark Elemental, that doesn't get sacrificed at the end of turn.

Detain is the mechanic for Azorius.. and it does seem to fit their kind of cards. Basicly, a 1-turn Arrest. Remember, its til YOUR next turn, not til the end of your turn. If you can somehow combine Blink and Haste with your creatures.. it'll be a very annoying game for your opponent. This seems like more of an early game benefit, and when your opponent cannot pull out many creatures at once.

At first I thought the Selesnya mechanic, Populate was kinda crappy, but the article goes more into depth about it. Basically, yes, you can make a token of the 1/1 white Bird from Eyes in the Skies... OR you have a huge creature already on the field, right? Make a copy of THAT creature instead! SICK. So even if you're copying the 1/1 white Bird, its on par for mana (2 1/1s which both fly)... but once you copy something stronger.. its a great deal.. and its only common! This seems to be good at both mid and late game to fill up your field.

I'm on the fence for the Golgari Scavenge mechanic.. sure it gives your creatures in the graveyard more use, but the standard creature seems to cost more mana than the same kind with scavenge.. I'm thinking this is more a late game kind of mechanic. With creatures such as Splinterfright and Boneyard Wurm, which you would think be a good addition to a Golgari deck, you actually don't want to remove those creatures as much.

So Rakdos.. I do not like your Unleash mechanic.. unless there will be Unleash 1/2/3/4/* like the Devour mechanic.. I don't like just getting one measly +1/+1 counter on my creature and then remove the ability to block. Do not want.

Couldn't format this card correctly; its supposed to be below. Anyways... remember this is a common card so it can't be that fantastic.. What is a Gate anyways? See below.

I looooove two mana-producing lands. The only draw back is that it comes in tapped.. BUT is COMMON and doesn't have an additional draw back like this card.

Return to Ravnica: Guild Welcome Letters

A crazy amount of new and background information can be found at the Wizards website. Magic: The Gathering promotes going to participating stores to have tracked duels and one of the features they have implemented recently with Return to Ravnica, is having you choose what guild you want to be part of (online). And in doing so, you work with your fellow guildmates to reach achievements and unlock perks (maybe?). Anyways below are some intro emails you would receive for joining the specific guild.

Visit this link to get the background story of what happened on the plane of Ravnica. Very interesting story how, what you'd imagine to be the guild of righteousness (white/blue), Azorius Senate, was the mastermind behind the war.

An interesting paragraph on what is currently happening on Ravnica:

Old guild loyalties that never truly died out began to coalesce and new guildmasters emerged to take the lead, attempting to bring their guilds back to full strength. Rumblings from the hellpit within Rix Maadi sent the Rakdos scampering back to the guildhall to await their demon lord. The merfolk zonots were discovered and a new Simic guild with a new identity, as preservers of Ravnica's natural places, emerged. The Boros began to align under the powerful leadership of the angel Aurelia, who promised that crime would most certainly be punished under the fist of Boros. The Azorius were called on to restore the rule of law and to keep other guilds in check, and Isperia created the lawmages to enforce law through Azorius magic that compels compliance. The Orzhov approached the cynical doubts of the Ravnican citizen with a new tack—the restoration of faith—building ornate cathedrals and gathering places filled with lavish artworks and rituals. Perhaps taking a cue from the Orzhov, the Selesnya engaged in their own peaceful struggle for legitimacy in the wake of the Guildpact's destruction and chose to create beauty among the stark buildings, with places to illuminate the wonders of nature and inspire contemplation—hopefully on the blessings of Mat'selesnya—for all of Ravnica. With all this going on, the Dimir quietly and methodically coalesced into a full-fledged guild again, fueled financially by 'the continued need for guilds to keep an eye on one another and to know every move made by their rivals.

Once again from this article.

An exciting beginning quote to this article:

"Return to Ravnica previews begin next week..."

Can't wait for new information!

Return to Ravnica: Selesnya Conclave Details

You're obviously craving for more information on Magic's Return to Ravnica new set right? Right?
Of course you are!

Today's article at the official Wizard's website takes an indepth look at the Selesnya Conclave guild; a white-green guild that is more than it seems on the outside. Order, Harmony, Life, Loxodons (elephant warriors), Wurms, Elementals, Living Buildings, Nature. If any of those intrigue you, this may be your guild!

Can you say: WAAAAAAAAAGGGHHH!

It goes on to talk about the guild leadership, philosophy, signature creatures and attitudes of the other guilds. A good read :)

Holiday Gift Box for the Return

Check this link for the official article on a holiday gift box to add to your Christmas gift list.

For 20$, available November 16, 2012, it comes with:

• 4 Return to Ravnica booster packs (approximate 16$ value)
• A pack of 20 RtR basic land (~$1)
• 6 illustrated plastic dividers
• A sticker sheet for customizing the dividers
• Alternative-art Dreg Mangler (name of card) from RtR

So basically a customized big box to hold your magic cards.. .. It all depends on what the value of Dreg Mangler is and whether you need 'official' ways to organize your cards.

Back from the Cottage

I should have written something, but I was celebrating mine and my gf's birthday with my annual week-long trip to the cottage this past week. It feels like it went so fast, but we did get alot done and celebrated it with the gf's sister and bro-in-law. Speaking about my the bro-in-law (lol; i always do that), he always bugged me into getting into Commander for Magic: The Gathering.. and he finally 'convinced' me by getting me two Commander decks for our birthdays. The Devour for Power and Political Puppets. Very cool gift :D

Pssst to my friends: lets make Commander decks ;)

Just a few links for some strategies/best practices for drafting and competitions which I hope to participate in the Return to Ravnica pre-release events with my friends:
- 'knowing the secret behind fighting the format'
- making your picks matter
- a teaser of what the Golgari guild's leader card will be in Return to Ravnica

Choose your Guild!

 Some screenies of the Return to Ravnica (RTR).. so like I previously said, the first set will have Azorius (white/blue), Rakdos, Golgari, Selesnya and Izzet. While the second set will have the other 5 guilds.. (containing my favorites: Simic and Gruul).

When you go to the prerelease, you'll pick your guild and you'll get the appropriate boosters and guild paraphernalia. Depending on the cards, it'll be a tough choice between Simic and Gruul.. though ill most likely take Simic. I don't particularly like any of the guilds in the first set.. I did make a great black/green deck a long time ago that countered my friend's infect deck. I think if I would pick a guild for the first set prerelease, it would be Selesnya or Golgari for the green side cards.


What guild would you pick? Think you will go to this prerelease?

Danger Zone!

With the Magic 2013 Core Set officially out, Mark Rosewater, a Head Designer for Wizards blew his mind out and spewed tons of juicy information on the upcoming set: Return to Ravnica. Like I said before, totally loving the flavor and the theme and everything about the original Ravnica: City of Guilds design. For those that don't know, its a world covered by one massive city and has 10 different guilds which is a combination of 2 different mana colors. Each has their own special mechanics and feel to it. Their own legendary leaders and captains. My favorite guilds was the Boros Legion for the Red/White (new Vigilance Deck) militaristic orderly bent, but from the two colors that I use most often, I would be on Gruul (Red/Green: Om nom nom Devour) and Simic (Green/Blue: Release the kraken!!!). Extremely excited about it.

Mark Rosewater made me wet my pants from the tweets he made yesterday on the new set:

"All ten guilds are returning in the Return to Ravnica block. Each guild will get a new keyword. No old guild keywords are coming back. "
- fantastic; not sitting on your laurels and reusing major parts which made Ravnica great. Keep innovating

"Return to Ravnica will be a large set coming out this fall. It will feature 5 guilds (Azorius, Rakdos, Selesnya, Izzet & Golgari."
- the original first part of the block of Ravnica had Boros(r/w), Golgari(g/b), Selesnya(g/w) and Dimir (b/u)

"Gatecrash is the name of the 2013 winter set. It too will be a large set with 5 guilds (Dimir, Gruul, Orzhov, Boros & Simic)."
- my most favorite guilds R/G, U/G, R/W.. all in one set.. Winter Is Coming!

"For RTR & GTC prereleases, you choose a guild. You will then get a guild prerelease pack - a box w/ 5 RTR packs & 1 guild booster."
- ok Mark, you did it. I am now OFFICIALLY going to my first prerelease party ever. I'm a bit VERY shy when it comes to public competition events, but this just convinced me. I'm going. For sure.

This may be the next big thing. My bar is set so high! *whimper*


Its always good to read up at the Daily MTG site; articles like this one will give you insight to why an innocuous card like Smelt is actually much better than say... Shatter.

Also something that I now understand from the article. This card is a 'sudden death time' card and gives that epic red spell feel.

Welcome Their Return

The people at Wizards are pretty clever people.. I like it.

After the release of the Magic 2013 Core set (see above), they're going to start talking about the next block: Return to Ravnica. Personally, my favorite set besides the Zendikar block, Ravnica: City of Guilds is an amazing set. I loved how there were factions for every 2 color match. How each had their own flavor, but I get off topic. Notice that flavor text at the bottom of Yeva's Forcemage? Just a little teaser that will lead us to Return.

You may not have been as powerful as the pure white Ally deck, but you were one of my favorite cards!