Budget-izing Standard - by Greyfell - Here We Go Again!

[Streetz]

This thread is reserved to discuss Greyfell's article:

Here We Go Again!

Link:

http://www.magicdeckvortex.com/mdvarticle0037.htm

Please enjoy!

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[Death_By_Beebles]

Very awesome! I loved this article, since budget is kind of one of my things :D

How did you get Jason to write an article, Streetz? That is, if you don't mind my asking.

Anyway, great article, and hopefully we'll see more in the future!

[Streetz]

Originally posted by Death_By_Beebles
How did you get Jason to write an article, Streetz? That is, if you don't mind my asking.

He approached me.

[Greyfell]

I wrote for SCG's back in 2000-2002, about 23 articles worth. At the end of that time, the editors were trying to get everyone to write 'more serious" articles as SCG was trying to change its image into a actual 'good site'.

I'd turn in articles about the current type 2 and extended metagames, and the editors threw them in my face asking for playtesting, more detailed matchup analysis, etc etc etc.... Now I wasnt getting paid, I had two to three jobs AND finishing college while keeping an eye on a sick girlfriend. I barely had time to write, much less playtest 10-15 games every time I made a statement. So I stopped writing all together for them.

the last few months I've felt the need to starrt writing MTG strategy again, but a email to SCG offering to do casual articles didnt even get a answer. So a few weeks back, I sent E-mail to this and a few other sites. Streetz not only responded quickly, but was both enthuisastic and seemed impressed that I'd even offer *chuckle*

I'm also hoping to take a team to AZ regionals in the summer, we've already setup and are doing some tetsing and watching the metagame closely.

[Ultima66]

How did he cut Glorious Anthems, which are like $2, while keeping the Sacred Foundries, which are like $20?

[Twinkee]

He explains that the core of any deck is their mana. As much as expensive the lands are, those cards are essential to a successful tourny deck, no matter how budget it is, mana fixing is one of the most important thing you need to deal with.. having mana screwed for a couple turns because if you can't get the right mana really screws decks over, especially for budget aggro because you are forcusing to win as soon as possible with much of weenies, if the game drags out too long other aggro will either overrun you, combo will combo out before you, and control will stablize the board by then. Tempo is very important to aggro decks.

As for why he cut the anthem, I have no clue... perhaps when he wrote it it was like $5 card or something? Just guessing.

Twink

[Æther Reaper]

Glorius ranges from $3-$17.50 (Shuffle and Cut sell overpriced cards).
Sacred ranges from $15.60-$69.90.

In casual, you would use the glorius anthem. In a tournament, no matter the cost, choose the foundries.

[Ultima66]

The thing is, if you could buy a single Foundry, then you'd be able to buy 4 Anthems, so it's entirely unrealistic that you'll drop the Anthems and keep the Foundries. You'll either keep both or neither, unless your budget is REALLY borderline (EXACTLY $60 for Foundry vs $70 for both?). I don't think so.

[Twinkee]

who says you have to buy? You can score it through packs and trade.. buying is not the only option. Plus if you know how to shop, usually you can score a set of the foundaries for $80-100. Sure it's not cheap, but it's a long term solution that allows you to not just invest into an w/x aggro deck, but also allows you to have the ability play likw w/r control, w/r/g control... w/r/g aggro... etc. It opens up a lot more options compares to what anthem opens as well.

And this article is directed towards to budget tourny play, in tourny.. consistent gameplay is worth a heck lot more pump.. etc etc.

And finally it's your choice to like it or not, but the author has already stated his opinion and explained and fully backed his choice to include this expensive card as oppose to the cheaper one.

Twink

[Streetz]

Personally.. I would have just used Mountains and Plains.

That's just me.

[Greyfell]

but you would end up having those games of 'red cards, all white lands" and vice versa. But its certainly a option if you dont mind dropping a few games here and there to mana screw.

Wakefield summed it up best in his reasoning of why he'll never play anything except monocolor: MTG is a game of 'inches'. If you mana screw several games in a long (7 round+ tournament) thats probably going to be at least one round you had a shot at winning that you won't, simply because your deck shot you in the foot. :)

Course, Jamie didnt have fetchlands :)

[JSweeney]

Originally posted by Ultima66
The thing is, if you could buy a single Foundry, then you'd be able to buy 4 Anthems, so it's entirely unrealistic that you'll drop the Anthems and keep the Foundries. You'll either keep both or neither, unless your budget is REALLY borderline (EXACTLY $60 for Foundry vs $70 for both?). I don't think so.

Foundaries can, and will, fit into a larger variety of decks and deck types that Glorious Anthem will.

Telling newer players (and even those die hard casual players that want to start playing in tournements) the importance of good lands is fairly common...
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgco...com/daily/jm116 (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/jm116)

Even authors on wizard's own site have done the same.

Investing in good lands is not only good for you now, it will be in the future.
If you view it from a pure cost benefit analysis, the more expensive lands are going to be a far more efficent use of your money that a couple good rares right now.

The big thing here is how casual or how serious you plan to be...
if you're only EVER going to play around the table with friends, then mana consistancy, and the occasional dropped game due to a lack of it, isn't a big enough deal to warrant the purchase of a couple hundred dollars of cards.

But if you have plans of going any further than that, it would help you to try to accumulate good multi-lands. They are usually a stable purchase, and more likely than most cards to hold, and even rise in value.

Thank you for such a throught-provoking article, Greyfell.
I love seeing more and more people contribute to Streetz's great website, especially with such high quality work.

(I really need coffee before posting. Yikes. Rapant incorrect spellings and inverted characters. Yikes)

Perish the thought that Streetz might offer a "Premium" service :lol:

[Greyfell]

If he does 'go premium' he looses me. *grin* hear that Streetz? fair warning :)

[Streetz]

If he does 'go premium' he looses me. *grin* hear that Streetz? fair warning :)

For the record, I would never go "premium". I look down on "premium" sites. I think I've mentioned that in the past.. but it never hurts to reiterate it. :P