TH's HoC Round 3 - Popular Demand

[ThunderHog]

***Alternative Win***

Are you interested in cards that say ‘you win the game’ or ‘target player loses the game’? Yeah, well we all are here at HoC. Your mission in this round is to build a flavorful deck based on a single card that says ‘you win the game’ or ‘target player loses the game’.

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***Banned List***
- AEther Vial
- Cranial Extraction (this round only)
- Disciple of the Vault
- Entomb
- Extirpate (this round only)
- Scour (this round only)
- Skullclamp

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***Alt-Win Cards*** (see rule #3)

CARDS!!!
4 Barren Glory
4 Battle of Wits
4 Chance Encounter
4 Coalition Victory
4 Darksteel Reactor
4 Door to Nothingness
4 Epic Struggle
4 Mortal Combat
4 Phage the Untouchable
4 Test of Endurance

(NOTE: I will only accept a Battle of Wits deck if it is submitted to me in the form MDV forum recognizes as a deck. If you want to use a Battle of Wits deck THAT bad, I suppose you won’t mind typing it up yourself. :D)

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***Rules***
1. You may only use cards which are legal in Extended play. (Invasion and up)
2. You may NOT use cards that are on this round’s banned list.
3. Your deck MUST contain at least ONE alt-win card and have FOUR copies of that card.
4. Any form of net-decking WILL be rejected. A net-deck will be determined by me.
5. Sideboards are still perfectly legal. Feel free to include a 15 card sideboard. 15 cards - no more, no less.

(IMPORTANT NOTE: Just because your deck is based around an Alt-Win card doesn’t mean gameplay will be affected. Games will be played as normal and winning by bringing opponent’s life down to zero, whether by combat or something else, is a possibility and will result in a victory for that player.)

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***Game-Play***
- Games and winners will be decided EXACTLY like how tournament-style magic is. Players will be put into brackets at random (probably by dice rolls) and then decks will play one another. If there is an odd number of players, bye-rounds are likely possible.
- Winners will go best 2 out of 3. If/when you're deck loses, you're out.

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***Point System***
Points are given based on wins. You get 1 point for simply submitting a deck, and an additional 1 point for every game your deck wins.

NEW POINT RULE
Beginning this round, whenever your deck ‘sweeps’ an opponent, you will be given an additional point. Even though you only won two games, your deck will be awarded three.

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Submit your decks to me (ThunderHog), by PM. Sunday, October 28th is the deadline for deck submissions.

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Any questions, feel free to post them in this thread.

[DazBoot]

I'm in, I'll get my deck to you soon!

[battlemaster]

That means no mill decks the correct? And are Cranial Extraction, and extirpate allowed? I think they should be banned personally.

[DazBoot]

I think Cranial needs to be Banned, but Extripate could be okay. You have to get the card in the graveyard to Extripate it, and it also means that Pull From Eternity might see some play...

[battlemaster]

Problem is extirpate is a one mana auto win that can't be countered. Also if someone plays an epic struggle deck can they win by attacking you as well if you control no defense?

[MaxfireXSA]

Then what about if the ensnaring bridge, blazing archon will be banned from the Alternative Win tournament.

[battlemaster]

I don't see why they are easy to get rid of and it doesn't really help in an alt-win game unless you are playing a phage deck.

[DazBoot]

@ Battle


(IMPORTANT NOTE: Just because your deck is based around an Alt-Win card doesn’t mean gameplay will be affected. Games will be played as normal and winning by bringing opponent’s life down to zero, whether by combat or something else, is a possibility and will result in a victory for that player.)

That was the first thing that came to my head too...

Also: I guess you are right, Extripate may be a little overpowered, I might be for banning also.

@ Maxfire

I hate to tell you, but there are so many more cards that need to be banned before that those two. Only one of the alt win decks actually needs to attack, so I would actually see LESS harm in playing those in this format. Also, in extended, there are so many more cards that need to be banned before they ban those two. I don't know what type of magic you play, but if those cards are winning all the time you have some serious problems.

[Unggoy]

:piggy::dito::agree::goodpost::logic::piggy:




Ill play

[AlasterEisaroh]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm getting really mad at having to read "Ban ensnaring bridge" every second post. So now I'm going to Spite Maxfire by putting four ensnaring bridges in my deck.

[ThunderHog]

ENSNARING BRIDGE IS NOT BANNED NOR WILL IT EVER BE!!!

However, I do recall saying that Cranial Extraction and Extirpate WOULD be banned. I've added those two cards to the banned list.

I've also added Scour to the banned list. You'll see why once you pull up the card.

@ Battlemaster and Alaster: YES! If someone runs an Epic Struggle deck, they will probably end up winning by combat damage much of the time. However, cards like the aforementioned Ensnaring Bridge might deter that form of a win. Meta-gaming will be important in this round.

(NOTE: There is NO rule that states that only ONE of the Alt-win cards may be used. If you feel inclined, feel free to use more than one. The rules DO state however, that 4 copies of ONE of them must be used. If you use a second, you may have as many as you wish up to four. I haven't made my deck yet, but I think that's what I'm going to do.)

EDIT: There's been a change in the point system for this round ONLY.

***NEW RULE***
- If your deck wins by it's alt-win method, your deck will receive TWO points for that game. When submitting your deck, if your deck contains multiple alt-win cards, only the one your deck contains four copies of will award you two points. If your deck contains more than one alt-win card and four copies of them, you must CHOOSE ONE of them when submitting your deck.

[Unggoy]

I completed my deck but i want to playtest it out with my brother, is that ok? when do they have to be submited by?

[battlemaster]

Ya sorry for not reading the complete rules in the first place.

[DazBoot]

@ Unggoy

It's due 1 week from today

@ TH

May I have 1 copy of my win card in my sideboard for if I want wish it out?

[Oblivion]

I

WILL

PLAY

.

Max, if you're so against Bridge....just don't play. Period. This whole "Ban Bridge" tripe is getting old fast.

[ThunderHog]

I completed my deck but i want to playtest it out with my brother, is that ok? when do they have to be submited by?

Playtesting is not only allowed, it's encouraged. Feel free to play-test it before you submit it.


@ TH: May I have 1 copy of my win card in my sideboard for if I want wish it out?

Sure, I suppose that'll be fine.


Max, if you're so against Bridge....just don't play. Period. This whole "Ban Bridge" tripe is getting old fast.

I completely agree...

[Devious little fox]

Yeah I am going to love this round :D Also I am going to send you one of my favorite decks in all aspects with a few adjustments since I play a lot of older cards in the deck (I think)

[Devious little fox]

:( I just realized my Squirrel deck plays to many old cards like: Gaea's Cradles, oppositions, caller of the hunts, greater goods, and rafellos, lianowar emmisarys so I will now have to think of a different deck to play:(

[ThunderHog]

Yeah, a squirrel deck might be a bit tough with this one. Not to mention there's many cards that'll stop Epic Struggle.

[Bobsterbeino]

I really really really really hope I do better this time. Lmao Really.

[ThunderHog]

Honestly, I do to. 0 wins, 4 loses... I'm hoping you can get some wins on your record, even if it's only one or two. Lol.

[Bobsterbeino]

Lol same, its horrible. Probably because I'm a newbie to magic. 4-5 months maybe. xD

[ThunderHog]

That's ok. Perhaps this game of mine will help you to become a better deck-builder. After all, that's the purpose of this game - to help everyone become more creative and better at deckbuilding. My purpose is to make you have to work your mind to build a deck around a certain theme. Outside of this game, it will help you to work your mind to your own themes. I think it's working. :D

[Bobsterbeino]

Sweet. Lol yeah, i made a pretty killer deck the other day, its a mono green fungal behemoth deck, and it works out pretty well, I've been making lots of decks lately. Haha.

[Maleficent]

Hm, if only I could get someone to play for me *sigh*

Topsy Turvy would be great with this, eh? 'Cept for the fact it's illegal XD

So, are you taking bets, TH? XD I'm thinking either a Test of Endurance or Phage deck will win :p

[DazBoot]

I dunno, Struggle and Wits could be good...

Struggle just because it has a normal win by lots of creatures

Wits just because it can have a hell of a toolbox

Also, Mal, you know that we don't play the decks, we just submit them and TH gets the matches played.

[Bobsterbeino]

So i'm curious, do you have a whole crapload of cards, or do you play the matches with magic workstation or something?

[ThunderHog]

I use MWS. I build the decks, send copies of them to a friend and then we play them against one another.

[DazBoot]

Question, is Lorwyn good for this one?

Edit: Also, who has signed up?

[Bobsterbeino]

Awesome.

[ThunderHog]

Nope, still no Lorwyn, not until the official patch for it is released.

As for sign-ups, only me and Bobsterbeino. I don't consider someone actually 'signed up' until they submit a deck.

[DazBoot]

Could you then send me a message with who is interested? I'm just trying to find someone to review my deck and I would prefer not to have it be someone I'm going to be playing against.

[ThunderHog]

The only people that you really shouldn't consult with are past player's. Try looking towards other popular members of the forum. Members of your clan (if you're in one) would probably be the best bet.

[Maleficent]

Also, Mal, you know that we don't play the decks, we just submit them and TH gets the matches played.

Damnable! I would have pwned in the last ones :( and alt-win isn't really my thing. Cursed ignorance XD


I dunno, Struggle and Wits could be good...

Struggle just because it has a normal win by lots of creatures

Wits just because it can have a hell of a toolbox

20 creatures is not easy to obtain. Wrath ftw? :p You may as well go infinite, and either way it's much easier to attack with Overrun or something than play Epic Struggle and wait a turn. Maybe there's an oddball way of going about it, but I don't think so. For the Wits... it could have a toolbox, but there are only so many tutors, and you'd be wasting many a turn just looking for the right cards. Maybe with enough control it could work. 100 counterspells! XD (Note: I tried making a Wits deck for real once, with my rather limited amount of decent cards... I don't recommend it XD)

[ThunderHog]

(Note: I tried making a Wits deck for real once, with my rather limited amount of decent cards... I don't recommend it XD)

It's also hard to shuffle as I've done it too. :D

[ThunderHog]

:bump:

Was anyone planning on using Splinter? That card just came to my attention and I would like to add it to the 'banned' list for this round.

I would add Eradicate as well, but Phage is the only creature and she's black so it can't target her anyway.

[DazBoot]

I'm fine with Banning it, I think if you ban Scour you should ban it too. I dunno about keeping Eradicate decks, we might be in trouble with all of those Moonlaces that we will be playing =P

[AlasterEisaroh]

I dunno about keeping Eradicate decks, we might be in trouble with all of those Moonlaces that we will be playing =P

Damn right you'll all fear my deck and its 4 copies of Moonlace.

[ThunderHog]

That makes me giggle. Moonlace... HAHAHAHA!!! If you want to play Moonlace, then feel free to play Eradicate as well. Cuz we ALL know Phage decks are gonna be EVERYWHERE!!!

*rolls eyes*

[Oblivion]

Deck is in, check your Yahoo mail

[Maleficent]

It's also hard to shuffle as I've done it too. :D

That's a bit of an understatement, don't you agree? XD

Oh, and Quash?


That makes me giggle. Moonlace... HAHAHAHA!!! If you want to play Moonlace, then feel free to play Eradicate as well. Cuz we ALL know Phage decks are gonna be EVERYWHERE!!!

*rolls eyes*

XD The best Phage decks I know use Dimir Doppelganger, so it wouldn't matter too much :p

[DazBoot]

Quash should be fine, as it's only instant or sorcery....

[Maleficent]

Right then! Carry on. :D

[ThunderHog]

Yeah, the only thing I see Quash rendering useless is Coalition Victory. I was thinking of making a Coalition Victory deck that uses Door to Nothingness as well, but I changed my mind and went with something that I don't think has a snowball's chance in hell. Lol.

[DazBoot]

Yeah, the only thing I see Quash rendering useless is Coalition Victory. I was thinking of making a Coalition Victory deck that uses Door to Nothingness as well, but I changed my mind and went with something that I don't think has a snowball's chance in hell. Lol.

^ That's what I like to hear! =P

Edit: Now that the deadline has been moved, is Lorwyn good? (I don't have MWS so I don't know when the patch is out...)

[Devious little fox]

Decks In But I also don't think it has that good of chance :paranoid: (o Well)

[ThunderHog]

I have some pretty interesting decks in. Many of them use different alt-win cards. I'm honestly surprised to see such a variety. I like it!

[ThunderHog]

:bump: Wish I had some good news, but I really don't. The way it's looking right now, the results for this round may take awhile to get.

GG Crono's computer took a dump on him and he's currently working on getting it fixed. In the case that he CAN'T get it fixed in time, I've asked Alaster if he would fill in for him for the time being. Needless to say he accepted, but even with that, my schedule is pretty busy next week. At about 11:30pm on Nov. 2nd (next friday), I'm going to be leaving and going on a small vacation. I'll be getting back home around Nov. 5th-6th. If the results aren't done by then, they're going to have to be postponed until I return. Once I get back, I should have ample time and SHOULDN'T have any further problems.

All I hope is that this won't discourage any of you from continuing to submit decks and help me promote this game. Thanks everyone!

[AlasterEisaroh]

Just a quick question how many decks have been submitted? I know at least four have been submitted, but if you're going away for a few days then we can try to get the number of decks submitted up to 16 if we can.

[ThunderHog]

Just a quick question how many decks have been submitted? I know at least four have been submitted, but if you're going away for a few days then we can try to get the number of decks submitted up to 16 if we can.

Decks I have so far (in order they were submitted):
1. ThunderHog
2. Bobsterbeino
3. Battlemaster
4. AlasterEisaroh
5. Oblivion
6. Wolverine

If you're suggesting that I move the submission deadline back until I return from my vacation, I guess that would be doable. It would put less pressure on me AND less on everyone else for having to wait. ALSO, GG Crono's computer should be fixed by then and then he won't have to sit out this round.

If other players support this, I would move the submission deadline to November 7th, 2007. How does that sound?

[DazBoot]

It's fine with me, both me and my brother (Unggoy) have complete playable decks, but are still refining them before we submit them.

[Bobsterbeino]

Yeah, sounds alright, I have no problem.

[ThunderHog]

Alright, it's official then. The new deadline is November 7th. That should give everyone ample time to complete, refine, and submit their decks.

[Oblivion]

TH, check you're mail, I sent you another list

[ThunderHog]

What do you mean 'another' list? Are you changing your deck?

[AlasterEisaroh]

I thought that you're only allowed one deck, and once you've seen TH's deck you can't change the one you submitted.

So I call CHEATER!

Nah I wouldn't do that, but why did you send another list Obilivion?

[Oblivion]

No I tuned the list that's all.

[ThunderHog]

Yeah, I apologize if this may be disappointing, but I'm going to be using the deck you first submitted. If I allowed one person to change their deck, even just a little, then I would have to allow everyone to do it. Not only would that be unfair, but it would also be extremely inconvenient to me.

I may allow it if I didn't show everyone MY deck, but if I didn't show everyone my deck then how would everyone know that I wasn't the one doing the cheating? In that case, I could EASILY modify my deck and sideboard as players submitted their decks. Honestly, if I knew I could get away with it, I probably would. XD Which is why I'm doing it this way. Not only am I not tempted to gain the unfair advantage, but I would most likely get caught doing so.

[Oblivion]

Urg.

Well i was just trying to make use of the extra time given to tune my deck further.

To be honest, it IS rather unfair to those of us who rushed to meet the original dateline, only to have it pushed further forward so the guys who didn't submit got an extra 10 days or so to play-test. TH, the next time you wanna do something like this, keep the original SUBMISSION dateline, but inform the players that the RESULTS dateline may be pushed to a later date. Then and only then will it be fair for all.

[ThunderHog]

*announcer* Quick jab followed by a NASTY right-hook and he's down!!!

Oh, alright... I suppose you're right. I'll allow the deck change based on your argument. Since you didn't change the deck to directly spite mine (not like you need too XD), it won't really give you an unfair advantage.

To everyone who's already submitted a deck: You may edit your deck if you wish, but if I suspect that you're editing your deck in a way that would give it a noticeably unfair advantage against mine, I will reject the edit OR I will simply change my deck, depending on the situation.

I have a second deck built, but I built it AFTER I had already began claiming my first deck as the one that would represent me. I wouldn't mind changing to the new one either as I find it to be better. So :-P!!! :D

[Oblivion]

Hehehhe...many thanks TH. I'm sure we'll all chalk this kinda thing down to experience eh?

[DazBoot]

Um, TH, so is Lorwyn good in the extended deadline? or are we sticking to the origional guidelines?

[ThunderHog]

Original. This is the last round that Lorwyn is banned in though. All future rounds will have Lorwyn be legal.

Also, I was wondering something. Is it alright with everyone if I change the deck I'm using? I've come to realize that the deck I had originally chosen is nothing but a giant piece of crap. Lol. I assure everyone that the deck I switch too will not be, in any way, gaining an unfair advantage against any others submitted thus far. I only wish to change to it because it's better than my original. XD

So, is that alright with everyone? And yes, I will PM my new deck (if allowed to change) to everyone that has already submitted a deck thus far.

[AlasterEisaroh]

Nope it has Enchantment/Artifact hate, why else would you want to change it.

Ok I'm only joking, it's ok with me.

[battlemaster]

Lol your other deck was a piece of crap :) Go ahead.

[Bobsterbeino]

Yeah, go ahead.

[DazBoot]

How about this as a proposition: everyone re-submits their deck?

Or, if they don't want to, they just tell TH to keep it the same?

[ThunderHog]

How about this as a proposition: everyone re-submits their deck?

Or, if they don't want to, they just tell TH to keep it the same?

That's pretty much exactly what we're doing. Lol.

Thanks to all for allowing me to change my deck. PM's will be sent as soon as I'm done with this post... Which I am... Now... RIGHT NOW!!!

[ThunderHog]

:bump: Guess who's back?!?! Yup, me! My trip was great and everything went pretty well. I'm pretty sore from playing football (for the first time in over a year and a half), but it was all worth it. :D

Anyway, I have a problem... I only have seven players. I mean, I could still do it if I threw in a bye match for someone. That would cut down the time it would take to get the results, but I would like all spots to be filled.

Confirmed players so far:
- ThunderHog
- Bobsterbeino
- Battlemaster
- Alaster
- Wolverine
- Oblivion
- GG Crono

People who have played in the past, but are NOT in this round:
- Cashew
- Dazboot

People who have never played, but have showed interest:
- Sensei Kakashi
- Maleficent
- Unggoy

Since Dazboot is already established in this game, I would like the last spot to go to him... But if a deck is submitted by anyone else first, he'll just have to sit out this round. As always, it's a first come-first served basis.

[AlasterEisaroh]

...:paranoid:

Someone submit a deck.

Or if it's ok with TH I'll just submit another one :p

[Bobsterbeino]

Haha, The unluckiest player should get to submit another one. :P

[ThunderHog]

Nah. I IM'd Dazboot and he's going to give his deck by today. If I don't get it, we'll just have to go without...

[DazBoot]

Give me another 5 minutes and it will be in

[Bobsterbeino]

Actually, I came up with a better deck... I was hoping to change it. I will send you it TH, if you don't wanna accept it, thats fine, but yeah, I'm putting it out there.

[DazBoot]

Deck is in!

(Note: my brother Unggoy will not be participating in this round)

[Bobsterbeino]

I threw in my new one.

[ThunderHog]

All decks are in!!!

Playing should start tomorrow. The results thread should be opened up very soon.