MM17 drafting

I was seriously thinking about drafting Modern Masters 2017. Even at the slightly ridiculous price tag of $45, which included prize support. Both stores I was looking at were doing drafts all weekend, Titan Games, and Games & Stuff. Both basically had the same setups.
Then I realized, I really don't know the cards as well as I should. I've tried to study up on the themes, doing simulated drafts, read/watch a bunch on what to look for in the themes of the set. And the daunting piece is- I really don't know if the set is worth my effort to draft. With my lack of experience with the cards, and more importantly, cost. Thats when I realized I could do the normal FNM draft with Aether Revolt for $15... likely have a better chance at knowing the sets/cards, winning some packs/credit, and buying three packs at the end of MM17. Likely it would be a higher rate of success than strictly throwing my hat in the ring for that price.

Then a buddy pointed out this game store in Pikesville- The Game Haven. They were offering to the MM17 draft for cost to them- $18. WHAT?!  (mind you, no prize support!)
On top of that, if it is the first time you have drafted with them, it is $13?!?!?!?!

Holy crow. How do I NOT pass this up? Even if I open jank, I am winning. This is the perfect opportunity to get great stuff for almost no money. It would be cheaper than normal FNM, and doing MM17. I could land a $30 card in one of those three packs.

Trying to scare up one or two other people from the crew to go with. I might have one, because this is stupid cheap.

Off to read some more draft theory.

Practice drafting

Just discovered TOP8draft.com, a decent way to practice drafting. Ok ok ok... you are drafting against bots with pre-determined values. Of which I have no clue. I also don't think the bots draft for value, so they will likely pass on a foil Cavern of Souls, which each of us human types would snap up in an instant and likely trade for a new stack of cards.

I might do this a few times to get a feel of the Modern Masters. Combined with Limited Resources podcast MM 2017 primer, it gets me a lot better feel for what to expect. Thats the best I can hope for with this upcoming set. I will likely not draft it more than once, but I want to at least give it a go.


Practice practice practice... I have found that to be the best way to be "lucky" with results. It also helps to have great draws, top deck skills, and generally outwit your opponent.

Reminder to self

Do not play standard for another 17 years. Gawd, what an awful result tonight.

I'm sticking to draft and formats that make sense.  Like Legacy- where broken things are expected and welcome. I can't keep up with all this new crap.  :)

In other news, I did finally have a reason to play my bling basic lands... likely also the last time!

Standard

I have not played a game of Standard Magic in, oh, I dunno, I think 17 years. If I do play, I will likely play against someone who wasn't born when I last played it. That is a bit odd.

Why on earth would I want to play the very format that drove me from Magic? I decried the existence of the format... Pyramid scheme! Unholy! Breaks with all the great cards in Magic! No one else I know is playing it! Etc, #rant, #fume, rinse and repeat.

The answer in my case is a combination of things. First it is Friday Night Magic at a local game store. There is almost always a crowd there to play. I've gone to the draft section of it a couple times and found it fun and well attended. Second, the Standard crowd seems to be decent. Probably as large as the Modern one, which is nice. So there will likely be a smattering of different decks to challenge against. Third, I am going in with my eyes wide open. By which I mean, I am not going to start going to Pro Tours, or Opens, or whatever. I am a weekend Magic player. I am not an every night draft on-line guy. I really enjoy the game, and this is something I wanted to try- thats it.

Lastly, the reason I wanted to try Standard out for the first time in 17 years- Budget Magic. Yup, I am a low investment ceiling sort of guy. I've been out long enough to know I can't splash, or reinvest, etc. However, I present to you, the deck theme I want to try- Sram Aide. Yup, straight out of mtgGoldFish. It REALLY peaked my interest. Here are the reasons in no particular order:

• Cost, as in it could be pretty cheap. Or it could be a little pricey.
• Interaction, a lot of synergy.
• Other decks don't have great ways to do deal with this type of deck
• Lots of card advantage, LOTS of it.
• Cheap, and almost cheaty, ways of casting bigger things
• Oh, and it has Blue. Most of my favorite decks over time have had blue involved. #bigblue

The only one of in the deck, Skeleton Key, I would love to replace with an equipment that gave Trample. The only candidate is Haunted Cloak. The downside to that- the casting cost of 3. Might be worth putting it in as a one of... Will seriously consider if I can dig one out of the archives.