/ article in construction. /
Duel 1/1.
Saturday, 29 December 2018
Monday, 17 December 2018
Sunday, 9 December 2018
[MTGO, STORY] 'Unicorns Hecatomb'.
/ article in construction. /
/ ... of how a wicked, meddling mage plans to do hecatomb sacrifice of the most innocent of magical animals. /
/ ... of how a wicked, meddling mage plans to do hecatomb sacrifice of the most innocent of magical animals. /
Sunday, 2 December 2018
Sunday, 18 November 2018
Saturday, 10 November 2018
[MTGO] 'Jeskai Alliance' Deck in Action, Part 4.
/ article in construction. /
... one has to be wary of creatures with infect.
Each point of damage from a infect-creature is either -1/-1 on a creature, or a poison counter on a player's avatar.
10 poison counters is death, and opponent had creatures' power-boosting cards in hand.
Duel 1/1.
... one has to be wary of creatures with infect.
Each point of damage from a infect-creature is either -1/-1 on a creature, or a poison counter on a player's avatar.
10 poison counters is death, and opponent had creatures' power-boosting cards in hand.
Duel 1/1.
Tuesday, 6 November 2018
Monday, 5 November 2018
[MTGO, STORY] Elephant Grass.
/ article in construction. /
/ ... opponent's deck (probably): GLENN JONES'S ENCHANTRESS. /
... of how Attentus' mind and spirit were touched by Enchantress' beauty and charm, of how he retreated from duel and started to turn from enmity to friendships.
/ ... opponent's deck (probably): GLENN JONES'S ENCHANTRESS. /
... of how Attentus' mind and spirit were touched by Enchantress' beauty and charm, of how he retreated from duel and started to turn from enmity to friendships.
Sunday, 4 November 2018
Saturday, 3 November 2018
Friday, 2 November 2018
Tuesday, 24 July 2018
Wednesday, 11 July 2018
[MTGO] 'Chea's Illusions' Deck in Action, Part 1.
/ article in construction. /
... a fun match - a lot of time to build up, then great slaughter, blood spraying everywhere. ;)
... opponent 'had to cut this short', and conceded whole match after a first duel, won by me.
Duel 1/1.
... a fun match - a lot of time to build up, then great slaughter, blood spraying everywhere. ;)
... opponent 'had to cut this short', and conceded whole match after a first duel, won by me.
Duel 1/1.
Tuesday, 10 July 2018
[MTGO] 'Chea's Illusions', a Deck.
/ article in construction. /
... a part of a tale of Chea Allin, my d&d roleplaying character.
... in 'Modern' format.
... a part of a tale of Chea Allin, my d&d roleplaying character.
... in 'Modern' format.
[MTGO] 'Vampyre Erotica' Deck in Action, Part 2.
/ article in construction. /
... in a 'Legacy' format since now.
... Vampyres shall not be eaten by rats, they shall control rats instead. ;)
Duel 1/2.
Duel 2/2.
... in a 'Legacy' format since now.
... Vampyres shall not be eaten by rats, they shall control rats instead. ;)
Duel 1/2.
Duel 2/2.
Sunday, 3 June 2018
[MTGO] 'Paradoxical Storm' Deck in Action, Part 2.
/ article in construction. /
Duel 1/3.
Lost this duel early because of 'Stony Silence' enchantment in play.
Duel 2/3.
Won this duel, opponent conceded when extra turns from Paradox Engine and Time Vault combination accumulated.
Duel 3/3.
Won this duel as well, waited for opponent to be tapped while i was untapped so i could complete Time Vault and Voltaic Key combination in one turn. Had the Force of Will counter ready as well.
Duel 1/3.
Lost this duel early because of 'Stony Silence' enchantment in play.
Duel 2/3.
Won this duel, opponent conceded when extra turns from Paradox Engine and Time Vault combination accumulated.
Duel 3/3.
Won this duel as well, waited for opponent to be tapped while i was untapped so i could complete Time Vault and Voltaic Key combination in one turn. Had the Force of Will counter ready as well.
Thursday, 31 May 2018
[MTGO] 'Paradoxical Storm' Deck in Action, Part 1.
/ article in construction. /
Duel 1/3.
Lost this duel, because i've underestimated the combination of Painter's Servant with Grindstone.
Should destroy these when i could, by counterspelling the Pyroblast's response to my By Force spell. Could do it with Force of Will.
Duel 2/3.
Some interaction, artifact mass destruction, and when things started to look grim, won by a combination of Time Vault with Future Sight-ed Voltaic Key.
Duel 3/3.
Opened with Duress that removed Time Walk from opponent's hand.
Soon after played some mana artifacts, then won by casting Tezzeret the Seeker, bringing & untapping the Time Vault.
Defended him twice against Pyroblast, each time with the Force of Will.
Duel 1/3.
Lost this duel, because i've underestimated the combination of Painter's Servant with Grindstone.
Should destroy these when i could, by counterspelling the Pyroblast's response to my By Force spell. Could do it with Force of Will.
Duel 2/3.
Some interaction, artifact mass destruction, and when things started to look grim, won by a combination of Time Vault with Future Sight-ed Voltaic Key.
Duel 3/3.
Opened with Duress that removed Time Walk from opponent's hand.
Soon after played some mana artifacts, then won by casting Tezzeret the Seeker, bringing & untapping the Time Vault.
Defended him twice against Pyroblast, each time with the Force of Will.
Sunday, 13 May 2018
[MTGO] 'Paradoxical Storm' Deck Solitaire, Part 1.
/ article in construction. /
... a victory by using a Braingeyser spell to exhaust opponent's library.
... a victory by using a Braingeyser spell to exhaust opponent's library.
Saturday, 12 May 2018
[MTGO] 'Paradoxical Storm', a Deck.
/ article under construction. /
This is a very fast vintage combo deck.
Can win in 1-3 turns, or occasionally a little later, depending on a starting hand.
When played with skill, it can compete in leagues & tournaments in the vintage constructed format.
... i am far from playing it skillfully, however - and league or tournament entrance costs money - so i'll skip for now.
Noteworthy Combinations:
Paradox Engine + Artifacts + Paradoxical Outcome: a Lot of mana, a Lot of Cards Draw,
Mana Artifacts + Paradoxical Outcome + Tendrils of Agony + other cards to build-up Storm: a victory by a Storm Life Drain,
Time Vault + Voltaic Key / Paradox Engine and Tezzeret also work /: Local Timestream Domination - Infinite Extra Turns,
Tezzeret the Seeker + Artifacts: a Victory by a Numerous 5/5 Artifact Creature Attack.
Other notable mentions:
Future Sight + Sensei's Divining Top - good card draw. Even better with fetch lands as Scalding Tarn.
Force of Will is a good interaction - counterspell protecting against fast combo wins, evwn in 1st turn before playing a mana source. It can protects from artifact removal or other permanent removal as well.
Can win in 1-3 turns, or occasionally a little later, depending on a starting hand.
When played with skill, it can compete in leagues & tournaments in the vintage constructed format.
... i am far from playing it skillfully, however - and league or tournament entrance costs money - so i'll skip for now.
Noteworthy Combinations:
Paradox Engine + Artifacts + Paradoxical Outcome: a Lot of mana, a Lot of Cards Draw,
Mana Artifacts + Paradoxical Outcome + Tendrils of Agony + other cards to build-up Storm: a victory by a Storm Life Drain,
Time Vault + Voltaic Key / Paradox Engine and Tezzeret also work /: Local Timestream Domination - Infinite Extra Turns,
Tezzeret the Seeker + Artifacts: a Victory by a Numerous 5/5 Artifact Creature Attack.
Other notable mentions:
Future Sight + Sensei's Divining Top - good card draw. Even better with fetch lands as Scalding Tarn.
Force of Will is a good interaction - counterspell protecting against fast combo wins, evwn in 1st turn before playing a mana source. It can protects from artifact removal or other permanent removal as well.
Wednesday, 2 May 2018
[MTGO, STORY] Weatherlight.
/ article in construction. /
... a part of 'Vault Guardians' Deck,
... a tribute to Hannah Nydahl, Lama Ole Nydahl's wife - who guided Buddhism to Greatness in the Modern West, when she lived.
... Buddhism and Church are - by Lama Ole Nydahl's words - two boats that travel by each other for a while, then depart to different destinations.
... 'Vault Guardians' Deck contains most holy ideas from a Buddhist perspective - there's Enligtenment, Meditation, Pondering, Pacifism, Tutoring, Monks and more. White Magick of Light, Blue Magick of Mind, a little of Red Flames of Love, a little of Green Holistic Wisdom and Nature. No Black Magick in this deck. But what makes magick black? It's most importantly intentions.
... in this tale monks and soldiers should travel on board of the sky ship 'Weatherlight', find ancient artifacts, spells and clues that will grant Attentus and Liliana the power of 'Paradoxical Storm'.
... a part of 'Vault Guardians' Deck,
... a tribute to Hannah Nydahl, Lama Ole Nydahl's wife - who guided Buddhism to Greatness in the Modern West, when she lived.
... Buddhism and Church are - by Lama Ole Nydahl's words - two boats that travel by each other for a while, then depart to different destinations.
... 'Vault Guardians' Deck contains most holy ideas from a Buddhist perspective - there's Enligtenment, Meditation, Pondering, Pacifism, Tutoring, Monks and more. White Magick of Light, Blue Magick of Mind, a little of Red Flames of Love, a little of Green Holistic Wisdom and Nature. No Black Magick in this deck. But what makes magick black? It's most importantly intentions.
... in this tale monks and soldiers should travel on board of the sky ship 'Weatherlight', find ancient artifacts, spells and clues that will grant Attentus and Liliana the power of 'Paradoxical Storm'.
Sunday, 29 April 2018
[MTGO] 'Go Wild & Rural', a Deck.
/ article in construction. /
This is a tribute to the Art-cliche of a Villager - Werewolf idea.
Wolves used to endanger livestock so villagers used to hunt wolves.
Forests were scary, full of wolves and other wild beasts, so young male villagers often styled themselves as wolf-men, to be more mean, manly, intimidating and handsome in women's eyes.
... i think this led to tales of werewolves living at villages' outskirts.
Perhaps a worst source of mana in this deck is a swampy forest wilds of a Bayou, still useful in summoning a Creakwood Liege.
In this deck ideas of villages and wilds are intertwined, with a little hint of a town-gossip-and-rabble as well.
This complements and opposes a cliche of an aristocrat-vampire, that feasts upon villager's work and lifeblood.
Villagers and Peasants used to toil at fields, living according to whims of weather and seasonal changes, their lives was endangered not only by a bad weather ruining their crops, but also by bandits, cruel aristocrats with their laws & taxes, as well as by wild beasts and other horrors of the woods.
Occasionally a warrior settled in a village, and turned his life by sword to plowing the fields.
This is a tribute to the Art-cliche of a Villager - Werewolf idea.
Wolves used to endanger livestock so villagers used to hunt wolves.
Forests were scary, full of wolves and other wild beasts, so young male villagers often styled themselves as wolf-men, to be more mean, manly, intimidating and handsome in women's eyes.
... i think this led to tales of werewolves living at villages' outskirts.
Perhaps a worst source of mana in this deck is a swampy forest wilds of a Bayou, still useful in summoning a Creakwood Liege.
In this deck ideas of villages and wilds are intertwined, with a little hint of a town-gossip-and-rabble as well.
This complements and opposes a cliche of an aristocrat-vampire, that feasts upon villager's work and lifeblood.
Villagers and Peasants used to toil at fields, living according to whims of weather and seasonal changes, their lives was endangered not only by a bad weather ruining their crops, but also by bandits, cruel aristocrats with their laws & taxes, as well as by wild beasts and other horrors of the woods.
Occasionally a warrior settled in a village, and turned his life by sword to plowing the fields.
Saturday, 28 April 2018
[MTGO] 'Vault Guardians' Deck in Action, Part 2.
Duel 1/1.
Story.
As roads did unravel, Liliana, Attentus & Nasturtium travelled ... and looked for local myths & tales.
In one village they heard about the Weatherlight - flying ship hidden in one of the sea-caves along the shoreline.
Deciding to check the tale, they were noticed by Vlad, a Planeswalker & Psychic Vampyr who chose to challenge them.
Attentus' Mind was attacked by Vlad, who sent torments and denied Attentus his spells.
A few weeks of nausea & travel, of pains and emptiness in mind ensued.
Considering other planeswalkers, Attentus had quite Iron Will, as his Mind was considered. He patiently endured mind torture looking for opportunity to dominate local time-streams.
... Liliana did what she could to ease her consort's pains - and one day Tezzeret the Seeker, a Planeswalker Ally of Attentus and Liliana - answered Attentus' call. He brought with himself trinket that gave Attentus, Liliana and Nasturtium access to the Time Vault.
Vlad tried to avert the inevitable by constructing Nevinyrral's Disk, powerful artifact of destruction - but this came too late to save him, as Tezzeret sent consciousness-fragment with an override-sequence to the Time Vault, securing the Local Timestream Domination before Nevinyrral's Disk could turn the battlefield to a land of dust.
Story.
As roads did unravel, Liliana, Attentus & Nasturtium travelled ... and looked for local myths & tales.
In one village they heard about the Weatherlight - flying ship hidden in one of the sea-caves along the shoreline.
Deciding to check the tale, they were noticed by Vlad, a Planeswalker & Psychic Vampyr who chose to challenge them.
Attentus' Mind was attacked by Vlad, who sent torments and denied Attentus his spells.
A few weeks of nausea & travel, of pains and emptiness in mind ensued.
Considering other planeswalkers, Attentus had quite Iron Will, as his Mind was considered. He patiently endured mind torture looking for opportunity to dominate local time-streams.
... Liliana did what she could to ease her consort's pains - and one day Tezzeret the Seeker, a Planeswalker Ally of Attentus and Liliana - answered Attentus' call. He brought with himself trinket that gave Attentus, Liliana and Nasturtium access to the Time Vault.
Vlad tried to avert the inevitable by constructing Nevinyrral's Disk, powerful artifact of destruction - but this came too late to save him, as Tezzeret sent consciousness-fragment with an override-sequence to the Time Vault, securing the Local Timestream Domination before Nevinyrral's Disk could turn the battlefield to a land of dust.
[MTGO] 'Vault Guardians' Deck in Action, Part 1.
Duel 1/1.
Story.
As they went along shores, Attentus, Liliana & Nasturtium transgressed a forest that another plainswalker claimed as his own mana source.
A short duel ensued, Attentus gathered power quickly and summoned Transcendent Master, Silver Stream and two soldiers as an escort.
A shaman opposed Silver Stream, and was quickly defeated.
Enemy Plainswalker retreated from the duel as he wasn't prepared for this encounter.
Attentus, Lily & Nasturtium let him escape alive - and left his land as well, preferring to go around contested territory.
A little of delay was better than creating enemies wherever they walked, afterall.
Story.
As they went along shores, Attentus, Liliana & Nasturtium transgressed a forest that another plainswalker claimed as his own mana source.
A short duel ensued, Attentus gathered power quickly and summoned Transcendent Master, Silver Stream and two soldiers as an escort.
A shaman opposed Silver Stream, and was quickly defeated.
Enemy Plainswalker retreated from the duel as he wasn't prepared for this encounter.
Attentus, Lily & Nasturtium let him escape alive - and left his land as well, preferring to go around contested territory.
A little of delay was better than creating enemies wherever they walked, afterall.
Saturday, 14 April 2018
[MTGO] 'Vault Guardians' Deck Solitaire, Part 2.
Solitaire.
Story.
Travelling across shores, Attentus, Lilly & Nasturtium continued their training maneuvers.
They quickly found advantageous conditions for the time vault access, and voltaic key's construction.
They focused on dominating the local time streams, and maitaining the control.
... it was tricky & elusive endeavour, they were not sure if they succeeded - when they walked with their presence manifesting across multiple realities, everything seemed hazy, sleepy dream. Silvery energies of time streams they travelled superimposed with a plains & isles landscapes in slow motion.
Summoning escort in these conditions increased the challenge - focusing on a spellcasting is one thing, but casting while maitaining other challenging spells, while tapping on time vault's qualities was even more difficult.
As in a dream, they called upon services of the Mark's Monks - of Cornelia and her Spiritual Teacher, Silent Stream, Transcendent Master.
Silent Stream was impressed with a dream-walking experience of the maneuvers, he participated in, and signed agreement with Attentus & Lilly to come when needed for a price.
After a little more than a week of challenging realities, of adjustment to a new ways, of tactical maneuvers within the silvery time stream advantage, they concluded that part of the training.
They gifted monks with a modest payment and let them go their ways.
Their quiet and nice company will be missed for a while.
Story.
Travelling across shores, Attentus, Lilly & Nasturtium continued their training maneuvers.
They quickly found advantageous conditions for the time vault access, and voltaic key's construction.
They focused on dominating the local time streams, and maitaining the control.
... it was tricky & elusive endeavour, they were not sure if they succeeded - when they walked with their presence manifesting across multiple realities, everything seemed hazy, sleepy dream. Silvery energies of time streams they travelled superimposed with a plains & isles landscapes in slow motion.
Summoning escort in these conditions increased the challenge - focusing on a spellcasting is one thing, but casting while maitaining other challenging spells, while tapping on time vault's qualities was even more difficult.
As in a dream, they called upon services of the Mark's Monks - of Cornelia and her Spiritual Teacher, Silent Stream, Transcendent Master.
Silent Stream was impressed with a dream-walking experience of the maneuvers, he participated in, and signed agreement with Attentus & Lilly to come when needed for a price.
After a little more than a week of challenging realities, of adjustment to a new ways, of tactical maneuvers within the silvery time stream advantage, they concluded that part of the training.
They gifted monks with a modest payment and let them go their ways.
Their quiet and nice company will be missed for a while.
Friday, 30 March 2018
[MTGO] 'Vault Guardians' Deck Solitaire, Part 1.
Solitaire.
Story.
After a few weeks of travel, when winter was still young, Attentus, Lilly & Nasturtium arrived at Sejiri Refuge.
Mark, the Serene Master welcomed them stoically, and soon they embarked to visit the soldiers he recruited so far.
Human monks & soldiers of a nearby Castle-Town of 'White Haze' were waiting for them in nearby inns.
Attentus, Lilliana & Nasturtium collected their hairlocks, arcane connection used in summoning rituals - and promised a good payment for their services.
Contracts were signed, initial payment was issued.
Then a couple of Plainswalkers with their young female friend went to nearby plains, to practice new strategy with no enemy.
Together they walked Attentus & Lilliana's lands, awakening the sites of Magickal Power, drawing mana from Ley-Lines.
Liliana conjured a Voltaic Key when opportunity appeared, Attentus summoned four guards - Serene Master Mark, a Tactician-Lieutenant Ulyas, a Champion-Monk Cornelia, and a Vanguard Elite Soldier of a Mercenary Army by a name of 'Red'.
They practiced some tactical combat maneuvers, visited Destinies Doors with the escort, and consulted telepathically their Enlightened Tutor, a Sage they could contact occasionally with a spell - on a Way to gain access to the Time Vault in their present conditions.
More of offensive & defensive tactical exercises commenced, then Time Vault's access was obtained, and privileges were succesfully overridden with a Voltaic Key.
Training Maneuvers commenced, soldiers were paid and left.
After a few of nights by a campfire tents, Attentus, Lilly & Nasturtium decided to keep training still.
Story.
After a few weeks of travel, when winter was still young, Attentus, Lilly & Nasturtium arrived at Sejiri Refuge.
Mark, the Serene Master welcomed them stoically, and soon they embarked to visit the soldiers he recruited so far.
Human monks & soldiers of a nearby Castle-Town of 'White Haze' were waiting for them in nearby inns.
Attentus, Lilliana & Nasturtium collected their hairlocks, arcane connection used in summoning rituals - and promised a good payment for their services.
Contracts were signed, initial payment was issued.
Then a couple of Plainswalkers with their young female friend went to nearby plains, to practice new strategy with no enemy.
Together they walked Attentus & Lilliana's lands, awakening the sites of Magickal Power, drawing mana from Ley-Lines.
Liliana conjured a Voltaic Key when opportunity appeared, Attentus summoned four guards - Serene Master Mark, a Tactician-Lieutenant Ulyas, a Champion-Monk Cornelia, and a Vanguard Elite Soldier of a Mercenary Army by a name of 'Red'.
They practiced some tactical combat maneuvers, visited Destinies Doors with the escort, and consulted telepathically their Enlightened Tutor, a Sage they could contact occasionally with a spell - on a Way to gain access to the Time Vault in their present conditions.
More of offensive & defensive tactical exercises commenced, then Time Vault's access was obtained, and privileges were succesfully overridden with a Voltaic Key.
Training Maneuvers commenced, soldiers were paid and left.
After a few of nights by a campfire tents, Attentus, Lilly & Nasturtium decided to keep training still.
Thursday, 22 March 2018
[MTGO] 'Vault Guardians', a Deck.
'Vault Guardians' Vintage Casual Deck, themed for Monks & other Humans guarding the Time Vault.
Still in construction.
Transcendent Master for the Vault Guardians deck. it's written cleric but i believe it's buddhist martial arts monk with godly powers.
Serene Master can still outtrick him, especially with the Bident of Thassa legendary enchantment artifact.
Swords to Plowshares is hilarious, and pacifist. People should not kill.
They should work in field, instead. Even if it's Buddha's Powerfield.
... with a lot of card draw & tutors to enable faster cards combinations.
i like to Meditate & Ponder, as well as Kalachakra (Buddhist Wheel of Time) - related Time powers.
Story.
After facing their Destinies, Attentus & Liliana sent his Raven Familiar - Visage - with a letter to kobolds - notified them of the success and - without promising - said that they should contact them later, after payment is ready.
Meanwhile they decided to seek escort to the Time Vault & it's Keys.
Their initial skrying revealed that these keys allow to override usual privileges, and to dominate the local time streams.
But until whole process is complete, they have to survive the duel.
Lilly contacted Mark, the Serene Master and gave him a task - to seek other monks & soldiers, and be ready for a call - promising him deeper insight into the Kalachakra powers, access to the power over the time-streams.
Mark initially agreed and said he should be free for that quest soon enough.
Meanwhile they visited their fief-lands and collected seasonal coin - this automn's harvest was rich this time.
Then they visited the nearby Mage Academy and bought most of their lost spells from the other Planeswalkers, including: 'Ancestral Recall', 'Timetwister' & five Moxen.
They did reacquire the 'Power Nine' for future, as well as did invest into some lands.
Attentus also got fairly cheap legendary artifact that required significiant amount of power to activate, the Bident of Thassa, but could hasten the time stream domination and taunt enemies to attack Mark, whose strength was mostly in defense. 'Too hasty attack is often defeat', as Attentus explained for Lilliana - 'On defense we have advantage. They won't muster crushing forces that way, not to mention we can get rid of their support forces'. She accepted that legendary artifact for it's price - and mentioned that Bident is almost a Trident, symbol of Awakened Energies, as well. It was blue magick, associated with Mind, Oceans, Seas, with Air, Illusions, Time and Water.
After Academy visit, they praised the moon godess in an annual rite and embarked to see Mark in his Sejiri Refuge - hoping to arrive just after winter's beginning.
They also met their new apprentice, a woman named after a flower, Silver Nasturtium, who wished to learn from them and travel together.
She was not so rich, but was eager and willing to commit herself seriously, at least.
They accepted her charms & company gladly.
Sunday, 18 March 2018
[MTGO, STORY] Attuning Destinies.
As Attentus & Liliana arrived at a Destinies Door, it turned out to be grass-overgrown glade, with trees, gently warmed by sun, shadows dancing a little.
Time-flow was different from the moonlit place they left, obviously.
Stone Doorway in midst of the forest-opening was dormant and closed. They had to find a way to activate it.
Attentus went closer and touched the Doorway, tracing finger along it's lines, trying to find some writings or runes that would hint them at Doorway's functioning.
Then sudden light emerged from the cracks and from around the Doors ... and a booming, ethereal voice could be heard from around.
'State nature of beings to attune with'.
Attentus looked at Liliana, suprised.
'Human Planeswalkers, for now' - she mindfully seized the opportunity with a wicked smile, and came to Attentus' side - but letting him stand in front of the door first.
'Let the Human Planeswalkers face their destiny, keys of Reality that will lead them to Power' - booming voice announced.
Door's surface became a vortex of energy, then turned out to be mirror-like. In this mirror Attentus could see Liliana Vess, black-and-silver-robed woman with black hair to her neck, with a spellbook under her right arm, with the Black Lotus flower in her hair.
'Women to be blamed for all ... It's You!' - he looked at her with a smile, she was laughing as well - 'That Black Lotus suits You as well, i mean Water Lilly is a flower that resemble Lotus ...',
She became more serious but still smiling, yet she nodded to the doors - 'Look at the Mirror, perhaps there's more'.
After a while this image waned, and more women appeared - their necromancer friends of black, red and blue magic - Dominika, Marlene, Nienna, Alice, Hannah, Isabelle, ... and many other. Then Time Vault appeared in Mirror, and four small keys materialized at Door's foundation.
'Take the Voltaic Keys, these will come useful with Time Vault' - booming voice told them - 'For i, Nyth, have plans for you both'.
Attentus suprised pocketed the keys.
'Now it's her turn' - booming voice was slightly impatient.
Attentus stepped aside, and Liliana took her place in front of the Doors.
Images that did appear in front of Liliana wre: Attentus, Pyotr - Dominika's Assassin friend, Mark the Serene Master, Rafal the Painter and Amaranth, the Vampyr. She also saw magickal tools & spell-symbols, mostly of black, red & blue colours.
'Now begone' - booming voice said - 'My plans will be revealed to you later, when You reach the power of Paradoxical Storm, which will take you some time'.
Liliana hooked her arm under Attentus arm and pulled him to the portal, smiling, obviously in the good mood.
'Our friends are keys to our Power' - she said as the portal closed behind them.
'Yes, we have to care or we'll wither and die' - Attentus added.
They hugged each other for a while, then sat by a still-burning fire of the plateau they used to open the portal.
...
Later they contacted Nienna in their minds, and offered her to protect their keys - both voltaic keys as well as secrets that lead them there. Nienna was the Elven Guardian of the Keys, anyway. Keys to Reality were her favourite. She took the offer, and extended proper spells - and they exchanged gossip for a while.
For the months to come, they could feel strength from their each other's presence, as well.
Saturday, 17 March 2018
[MTGO, STORY] Search for the Doors of Destinies.
After their warm-night sleep at kobolds' inn heathfires, Attentus & Liliana decided they will do as Kobolds ask.
They needed coin, and kobolds offered such reward. Besides, they could use them as cost-efficient allies for lesser tasks, and the Shivan Dragon-relation could be rekindled as well.
Liliana reached for a pouch at her belt, gathered some bones she kept there and cast a Skeletal Scrying spell.
'Spirits of the Ancient Past, i consult You. May the secrets you keep be revealed, i seek the counsel about Door of Destinies' - she incantated in a sinister song-like voice as she rose her hands, letting the bones slip past her fingers. She threw the remaining bones, placed a black candle in front of her and lit as an offering, then entered the meditative trance-state, surrounded by bones and dust.
Other times when she did that, she told Attentus that she's experiencing ancient-old chants in her head, praises to old gods sang by dead. The spirits flew by and were attracted to her until ones with answers appeared. If there were such, of course.
This time such meditation took her shorter than usual, mere twenty of minutes about.
With eyes closed, she spoke in a hushed, sinister voice to those nearby.
'Doors of Destinies can be reached from anywhere, seek the moonrise at dusk, follow the spirit bridge. Speak the name of a Dragon Guardian, Nyth and offer him something worthwhile. if he'pleased, Spirit Bridge will manifest in Reality, and ways will open'.
Shaking a little she let spirits depart, then opened her eyes, snuffed out candle, gathered cast bones to her pouch and rested in Attentus' arms.
Skeletal skrying took it's toll on her, drained her life force - so she had to do it in moderation, using minimal amount of power to achieve her tasks. This time, thankfully, not much of it was neccessary.
'What do you think of that?' - She asked looking at him, still shaking a little in his arms from the spell-damage.
'We might need to ponder about details of the spirit bridge's meaning, otherwise it's clear. It has to be related with Doors and that Dragon, for sure' - Attentus thoughtfully answered to her in a quiet voice.
'i'll consult our friend Dominika on that, she's quite well-versed in the Dragon Lore, and has excellent skrying abilities as well' - Liliana offered.
Dominika was old colleague of Liliana Vess when they studied in the Necromancer Academy back at their home plane, and Lily often borrowed Attentus to her as a husband-in-mind, for some whiles as a joke. During these times Dominika guarded Attentus, so Liliana could pursue other tasks.
Telepathic meeting was arranged, they gossipped for a while. Spirit bridge was indeed a way of thinking what to offer Nyth, something related to the creatures meant to visit the Doors, something that will bind their services to Dragon a little.
After some more of chit-chat and fairly-informal salutations, telepathic meeting was concluded.
Wise kobold was informed by a messenger, and Attentus left with Lilliana the Kher Keep. They had to find a proper place to form a spirit bridge, and day could prove to be barely enough.
They considered finding a glade, traditional place for reaching to the Moonlight - but they were in the mountains. If Doors could be reached from anywhere, they decided to find a high plateau in the mountains instead.
In a few hours of search, they found such, a little away from the Dragonskull Summit - otherwise Nyth could feel challenged by other Dragon's presence.
They lit the fire, and composed a spirit-bridge offering, considering the great kobold tribe in it.
'Great Nyth, the Dragon-Guardian of the Destinies Doors ... we call upon You. May the Great Kobold Tribe of Kher Keep in the Dragonskull serve You and Your kind once again. We ask You to open the bridge to the Doors so we can reach, so the alliance might be forged for now, and for future ... as it was in the past' - they chanted standing at opposing sides of the fire under the rising moon, and rose arms upwards. Chant was repeated by them three times in the unison, then they added some of the juniper wood to the fire to raise smoke and scent high.
The portal appeared next to them, shining light from beyond which a gateway of stone could be seen.
They corrected their uniforms, gathered their equipment and entered the portal lettting the fire still burn.
Dragon himself, didn't appear this time.
Friday, 16 March 2018
[MTGO] Cult of the Dragonskull, a Deck.
Ahout.
This is a Legacy format deck, about Kobold Cult of the Shivan Dragon, located in the Kher Keep, Dragonskull Summit.
Kobolds rely on Dragon for protection, as well as on their warrens with scarce weapons.
They dream of a Planeswalker leading them to the Doors of Destinies of the Ancient Past, that can make even meekest very strong.
Kobolds of the tribe dream of restoring their former glory, meanwhile serving Dragon.
There's a story introducing the kobolds to Attentus & Liliana Vess.
Deck.
[MTGO, STORY] Kobold Cultists of the Dragonskull Summit.
After fleeing from the Elven Woods, Attentus & Liliana Vess embarked for the mountains.
Scavenging food from scarce shrubs, hunting for occasional birds or other animals they reached the Dragonskull Summit - officially their property, but largely undiscovered.
Attentus encouraged Liliana to 'broaden the horizons', and she took that offer cautiously but warmly.
Aside from sightseeing & exploration, they wished to pay a visit to the Shivan Dragon they used to summon & bargain with long ago.
Travelling for weeks, they passed marshes & mountains ... and closed to the Summit ... when by an accident Liliana noticed a cave opening at the side of the mountain.
'Let's rest there for a while, my legs hurt already too much, and night is approaching soon anyway' - she complained gently to Attentus.
'Alright, but let's be cautious - there might be bears or other animals inside'.
They set a torch alight, and approached cautiously.
Opening was dark ... but they saw a light flickering deep inside.
'Civilization?' Attentus told this in this snide-joke tone.
'Let's hope it's not too primitive for our tastes', Liliana replied sharply to his manners.
They went in slowly, with torches in one hand, and daggers in another.
They noticed rails, for mining carts reaching in ... and approached further.
'Who goesssss ?!?' - high pitched, wary tone welcomed them from inside.
'We are just travellers, seeking shelter from the night. We didn't foresee the civilization there. And who are You?' - Attentus this time was more polite.
'We are the Great Kobold Tribe of the Dragonskull!. If you came to rest & trade, your goods and services might be welcome! Come inside!' - Kobold was excited for no apparent reason.
With their guide leading, they marched through the mines, attracting vary glances of the hard-working kobolds at the metal & crystal veins. Then they entered the Halls, something similar to Ancient City, with Statues, Cobwebs, and occasinal torch stands.
'This is our Kher Keep, i'll lead you to an Inn. Do not make troubles! We have warrens with weapons here, and more!' - He explained in his fast, excited, high-pitched & hissy voice.
Inn was nothing more than some roofs & campfires with roasted food, some bear rugs and beer kegs placed in open.
'So what do you have to offer? Gold? Gems? Weapons?' - He asked them before they approached innkeeper.
'We travelled far, seeking for Ancient Magick. We can make Your tribe stronger by our Secrets, Artifacts & Powers' - Liliana used her seductive, hushed, slightly hissy voice that mimicked Kobold tongues.
'Artifacts! Lore! - i'll inform our Wisefolk, you wait here and eat!' - He told and ran off.
Attentus & Liliana enjoyed the roasted meat & watered down beer in moderation, despite their hunger. Manners required them to do so.
After meal & drink they were cuddling each other by the fire, speaking softly of the private matters .... then a kobold that looked like Old Shaman appeared.
'Do you know of Planeswalking?' - he started openly.
'Yes ... ' Attentus looked at him and told cautiously, as Liliana held his hand.
'You must lead us to the Ancient Doors of Destinies, so we can be strong again. For that we will pay handsomely. And do not think of causing trouble, or we'll awaken the Dragon' - his voice was cautious, excited and menacing for a hissing, raspy kobolds.
'We can agree to terms' - Attentus carried the conversation - 'And we wish to parley with Shivan Dragon'.
'Dragon is sleeping, didn't you hear?!? - After You show us something promising we'll wake her!'
Then he sat by Attentus & Liliana, and exchanged tales of Tribe's Past, when another Planeswalker led them ... they forgot her name. Now they formed Alliance with Dragon, who protected them for their mining services & other assistance. But the Tribe dreamt still about retaining former Glory, Dragon cared not.
Shaman explained that Doors of Destinies are places hidden & protected by old Magick, perhaps damaged by time. 'They can make even meekest very strong - so our fathers told' - he explained.
Then Attentus told them these and those of more colorful parts of their adventures, and revealed that they are allied with Vampyre Clan of nearby swamps, catacombs & castles.
'We shall see how it goes - You better find the Doors!' kobold insisted.
'As soon as we can. Caution is neccessary, and this takes time & effort'.
Nodding, kobold left them to sleep by fire, they decided they will plan what to do next, tomorrow.
[MTGO] 'Darefire' Deck in Action, part 8.
Match.
... this time Vampyres against Squirrels ;)
First game opponent conceded because of bad starting hand & mulligans.
Second match was fun, however.
Squirrel mob, including caped superhero trampling squirrels was defeated by Lightning, Hero's Downfall & some of weaker Vampires.
A Noble Lineage of them, with Coat of Arms, associated with Elven Powers, nevertheless.
See also, if You wish:'Darefire', a Deck.
Story.
Attentus & Liliana Vess were drenched on funds, to the point they had to sell some of their lands & spells to other Planeswalkers.
This weakened them, overall.
Acquiring & maitaining magickal abilities, lands & artifacts costs a lot, as does paying their allies & henchmen - so the very little was left for their own sustenance.
Scouring the Elven Forests for food, they caught attention of Elven Powers who sent against them one of their Planeswalking Mages.
At first they could feel skrying presence & eerie silence - this alerted them to a possible opposition.
'It's too quiet, i don't like this' - Liliana said.
'Yes, and i can sense magickal auras arising around us. Can You?' - Attentus added.
'Indeed, let's be wary' - She replied in a short, harsh tone.
Attentus summoned a Vampire, Olivia's Bloodsworn as their escort.
Then a wind arose, along with it thudding of many small feet, and the screeching voices of the many angry squirrel - these little critters were charging them!
Seeing a Squirrel Mob coming from a nearby glade, Attentus called Lightning from the skies, starting fire, burning and scattering the mob.
'... this should give us some time before more come', he hissed.
They were running away from the woods, for a while neglecting their feeling of hunger & poverty.
Then one Seriously Oversized a Squirrel wearing an Armadillo Cape jumped from the nearby tree, charging them, trampling nearby flora, with bloodlust in it's eyes.
'Hero's Downfall!' - Attentus shouted incantation.
Squirrel stopped on it's track with a heart attack, bloody eyeballs rising to show milky white below.
They kept running for hours, while more & more of Vampires scoured the woods, searching for a source of the threat ... and they heard a chanting of many elven and animal voices, a chanting of hymn against trespassers, telling to run or die as recruits come and noble forces of the forests turn against them.
Finally Vampires found the threat, neutralized a Hooded Planeswalker draped in green and brown ... this gave Attentus and Liliana time to leave the woods.
'Let's never return to this mad place, promise me that' - Liliana demanded from Attentus.
'... i promise' - he reassured her.
... they understood grimly that they have to search for food elsewhere.
Friday, 2 March 2018
[MTGO, STORY] Access & Discovery.
Interrogation & Release.
After a duel with a time-meddler, Liliana forced out formula from his defeated mind - formula that in proper conditions gave access to the Time Vault itself. They also took from him an artifact - the hourglass figurine made of powdered dragon scales & glass - that combined with formula & preparatory rites, could open the way to the Time Vault. Liliana learned that preparatory rites are difficult to convey in short time, but can be learned by studying the figurine.
They experimented for a while, and confirmed it can work - so after letting Vampyres feed, they let the defeated planeswalker free.
Attentus & Liliana believed in Reincarnation & Karma - so were against killing, and cautiously spared lives when possible - especially the lives of meaningful foes.
They still placed wards & precautions on his mind & soul, so enemy could not retaliate too quickly - meanwhile they would be far away, by their plan.
... as with most of magickal tools, using too much of power in too short time, or maitaining powers for extended periods of time caught too much of attention - of the more dangerous hostile forces of the Multiverse - so they let their access wane and left the area relying for a while on the more mundane means, as much as possible.
Access.
In different Dominaria's part they stopped to create conditions & gain the Time Vault access again - after weeks of skrying on statue, of thinking & meditation they did succeed - a mindstream-channel opened in reality, leading their consciousness to see the chamber guarding the Source - the Swirling Light phenomenon from which many of timestreams originated, affecting different beings & phenomena differently.
They meditated with that vision in mind, Liliana noticed first that different timestreams were interwoven, and linked to the consciousness streams of beings.
Attentus understood her lesson fairly quickly & well.
There were some rules by which those who gained access adhered.
Unless authorized otherwise, those accessing Time Vault had to invest some effort & time to gain time-advantage in a near future.
Liliana was all about breaking these rules as soon as possible, but Attentus persuaded her to gain basic understanding of the Time & it's mysteries at first. His arguments were that unskilled use of such tool would attract too much of unwanted attention to them. In his mind they should be patient & cautious - that way they would learn more in shorter amount of time, anyway.
They interacted with Arcane Machinery, accessed Source telepathically - learned protocols, commands, rules & theory of the Time Vault's functioning.
These theories were complex, but they started from basics - experimenting a little as well.
Discovery.
One of these experiments let Attentus discover a new power, a new spell - with enough of mana they could cast spells they would learn & prepare in future.
'A spell of Future Sight.' - he explained.
This power awakened & placed itself in their pentacles, silver arcane pentagram necklaces with Triple Moon Godess symbolism. It worked as spell-wisdom was granted to them by Moon Godess on the fly, without need to read the books or arrange a memory-refresh other way.
Liliana Vess was thrilled, yet her calm & cold demeanor did not show it - only determined, fascinated light in her eyes showed Attentus that she did care. She was gentle for Attentus in these moments of their triumph, yet pondering upon the possibilities it might unfold for them.
She never slipped such opportunity, Attentus was sure this time she won't either.
They decided to focus on this spell for a while, as it was a key to understanding many of Arcane Secrets, both within, as well as outside Time Vault's theoretical domain.
After a duel with a time-meddler, Liliana forced out formula from his defeated mind - formula that in proper conditions gave access to the Time Vault itself. They also took from him an artifact - the hourglass figurine made of powdered dragon scales & glass - that combined with formula & preparatory rites, could open the way to the Time Vault. Liliana learned that preparatory rites are difficult to convey in short time, but can be learned by studying the figurine.
They experimented for a while, and confirmed it can work - so after letting Vampyres feed, they let the defeated planeswalker free.
Attentus & Liliana believed in Reincarnation & Karma - so were against killing, and cautiously spared lives when possible - especially the lives of meaningful foes.
They still placed wards & precautions on his mind & soul, so enemy could not retaliate too quickly - meanwhile they would be far away, by their plan.
... as with most of magickal tools, using too much of power in too short time, or maitaining powers for extended periods of time caught too much of attention - of the more dangerous hostile forces of the Multiverse - so they let their access wane and left the area relying for a while on the more mundane means, as much as possible.
Access.
In different Dominaria's part they stopped to create conditions & gain the Time Vault access again - after weeks of skrying on statue, of thinking & meditation they did succeed - a mindstream-channel opened in reality, leading their consciousness to see the chamber guarding the Source - the Swirling Light phenomenon from which many of timestreams originated, affecting different beings & phenomena differently.
They meditated with that vision in mind, Liliana noticed first that different timestreams were interwoven, and linked to the consciousness streams of beings.
Attentus understood her lesson fairly quickly & well.
There were some rules by which those who gained access adhered.
Unless authorized otherwise, those accessing Time Vault had to invest some effort & time to gain time-advantage in a near future.
Liliana was all about breaking these rules as soon as possible, but Attentus persuaded her to gain basic understanding of the Time & it's mysteries at first. His arguments were that unskilled use of such tool would attract too much of unwanted attention to them. In his mind they should be patient & cautious - that way they would learn more in shorter amount of time, anyway.
They interacted with Arcane Machinery, accessed Source telepathically - learned protocols, commands, rules & theory of the Time Vault's functioning.
These theories were complex, but they started from basics - experimenting a little as well.
Discovery.
One of these experiments let Attentus discover a new power, a new spell - with enough of mana they could cast spells they would learn & prepare in future.
This power awakened & placed itself in their pentacles, silver arcane pentagram necklaces with Triple Moon Godess symbolism. It worked as spell-wisdom was granted to them by Moon Godess on the fly, without need to read the books or arrange a memory-refresh other way.
Liliana Vess was thrilled, yet her calm & cold demeanor did not show it - only determined, fascinated light in her eyes showed Attentus that she did care. She was gentle for Attentus in these moments of their triumph, yet pondering upon the possibilities it might unfold for them.
She never slipped such opportunity, Attentus was sure this time she won't either.
They decided to focus on this spell for a while, as it was a key to understanding many of Arcane Secrets, both within, as well as outside Time Vault's theoretical domain.
Monday, 26 February 2018
[MTGO] 'Darefire' Deck in Action, part 7.
This time 'Darefire' vs a deck with Time Vault & Black Vise.
A victory of 2-0 in a match.
Duel 1:
... i am not sure how opponent meant to win, but his Time Vault play confused me, so i didn't take full advantage of my extra turn.
... i suspect a some sort of combination with Galvanic Key or Voltaic Key.
... with my Sol Ring could play the Bloodline Keeper in my turn 2nd.
... still won in my turn 5th, thanks to my large Vampire tribe.
Duel 2:
Opponent's 2x Black Vise almost got me, but i won in my turn 6, again thanks to my Vampire tribe that could be quickly played.
Black Lotus allowed to play Vampires faster, with transformation & haste.
... every turn counts when one faces the Time Vault with Galvanic Key or Voltaic Key combination.
... a victory in 6th turn.
Story.
... in his travels with Liliana Vess, Attentus the Planeswalker faced many rivals & enemies - who were challenging them for resources - for mysteries, spells, artifacts, power sources & allies mostly.
As soon as a planeswalker was in vincinty, rivalry usually ensued, even if diplomatic efforts occasionally proved a success, as well.
This time letter was unanswered, and pursuit of information began.
Enemy's reputation was considerable, rumours told of his vast magickal lore & wealth - Liliana wanted Attentus to quickly defeat him and steal his secrets for them both.
Attentus prepared with black & red magick spells, allied himself with a Vampyre Clan - this was his fastest opening, and Liliana wished for a hurry, afterall.
What Attentus could not foresee, was a time-meddling challenge, probably enemy was trying to take over the time flow with artifacts of his.
When the time is at stake, one should hurry - as is told by the Wise.
Attentus constructed the Sol Ring Artifact of Power in a mere eight of hours, then used it with a spell to contact Amaranth, the Bloodline Keeper.
'Thou shall recruit more of yours, with utmost haste. do not attack personally as of yet' -- Attentus ordered.
Vampyr preferred to obey this time, recognizing great magickal power within the planeswalker, as well as being seduced by ideas of rising in ranks, and of feasting upon the enemy planeswalker as well. On the noble planeswalker's blood.
Soon after, enemy gained access to the Time Vault, so at first Attentus was confused with the resulting erratic time flow, with it's leaps & stops - but maitained enough of focus to analyze his mistakes & adopted to the new rules of the duel within just one of a night.
First of Amaranth's recruits did a quick recon-attack, didn't report any opposition - he managed to drain some of enemy's life-blood using his supernatural powers, then was forced to retreat.
A quick analysis of the battlefield told Attentus that he should be persistent with initial plan of summoning as many of Vampyr as is possible in the shortest time, preferably the ones with powers to increase strength of the whole clan.
Enemy still played with time's ebbs & flow, Attentus untiringly performed summoning rites of his own, in a nervous hurry of the time-pressure.
He made sure that Vampyres obey him for a while, tempting them with noble & powerful, magickal blood of enemy planeswalker.
Two days later, he did summon enough of Vampyr, that by his hasty judgement was enough to foil enemy's plan of the local time-stream domination. They were numerous enough to arrange for Transformation, to adopt to a Clan-Tactic which increased their powers considerably.
Attentus ordered the attack, part of his forces were able to participate. Yet it proved a partial success - enemy fled weakened in last moment, forgoing his plans for long time. A second round of a magick-duel ensued.
The chase went for months, a game of hide & seek, of covering own tracks & following a trail.
Clan left him, but allowed Attentus to contact them again in future - when enemy is proven to be close.
Enemy warned, enemy prepared - in his pursuit Attentus fell into two artifact-traps that started to torment him, making his spell-advantage a tool of demise.
There was no opportunity to construct the Sol Ring this time, so the summoning rites took one day longer.
Amaranth ansered again, with more of summon spells his clanmates joined as well.
Tortured almost to his death, Attentus did maitain focus for enough to summon enough.
To prepare for the attack, Attentus needed to invest mana - magickal power - into his Vampyr allies.
Problem was it was time consuming, but a solution appeared - he could draw it from the Black Lotus, as he could once a while - transformation was complete, hastening as well.
Vampyres fell upon their prey and feasted fully this time, while Attentus & Liliana Vess gained access to the Time Vault - perhaps they will research it more fully in future.
A victory of 2-0 in a match.
Duel 1:
... i am not sure how opponent meant to win, but his Time Vault play confused me, so i didn't take full advantage of my extra turn.
... i suspect a some sort of combination with Galvanic Key or Voltaic Key.
... with my Sol Ring could play the Bloodline Keeper in my turn 2nd.
... still won in my turn 5th, thanks to my large Vampire tribe.
Duel 2:
Opponent's 2x Black Vise almost got me, but i won in my turn 6, again thanks to my Vampire tribe that could be quickly played.
Black Lotus allowed to play Vampires faster, with transformation & haste.
... every turn counts when one faces the Time Vault with Galvanic Key or Voltaic Key combination.
... a victory in 6th turn.
Story.
... in his travels with Liliana Vess, Attentus the Planeswalker faced many rivals & enemies - who were challenging them for resources - for mysteries, spells, artifacts, power sources & allies mostly.
As soon as a planeswalker was in vincinty, rivalry usually ensued, even if diplomatic efforts occasionally proved a success, as well.
This time letter was unanswered, and pursuit of information began.
Enemy's reputation was considerable, rumours told of his vast magickal lore & wealth - Liliana wanted Attentus to quickly defeat him and steal his secrets for them both.
Attentus prepared with black & red magick spells, allied himself with a Vampyre Clan - this was his fastest opening, and Liliana wished for a hurry, afterall.
What Attentus could not foresee, was a time-meddling challenge, probably enemy was trying to take over the time flow with artifacts of his.
When the time is at stake, one should hurry - as is told by the Wise.
Attentus constructed the Sol Ring Artifact of Power in a mere eight of hours, then used it with a spell to contact Amaranth, the Bloodline Keeper.
'Thou shall recruit more of yours, with utmost haste. do not attack personally as of yet' -- Attentus ordered.
Vampyr preferred to obey this time, recognizing great magickal power within the planeswalker, as well as being seduced by ideas of rising in ranks, and of feasting upon the enemy planeswalker as well. On the noble planeswalker's blood.
Soon after, enemy gained access to the Time Vault, so at first Attentus was confused with the resulting erratic time flow, with it's leaps & stops - but maitained enough of focus to analyze his mistakes & adopted to the new rules of the duel within just one of a night.
First of Amaranth's recruits did a quick recon-attack, didn't report any opposition - he managed to drain some of enemy's life-blood using his supernatural powers, then was forced to retreat.
A quick analysis of the battlefield told Attentus that he should be persistent with initial plan of summoning as many of Vampyr as is possible in the shortest time, preferably the ones with powers to increase strength of the whole clan.
Enemy still played with time's ebbs & flow, Attentus untiringly performed summoning rites of his own, in a nervous hurry of the time-pressure.
He made sure that Vampyres obey him for a while, tempting them with noble & powerful, magickal blood of enemy planeswalker.
Two days later, he did summon enough of Vampyr, that by his hasty judgement was enough to foil enemy's plan of the local time-stream domination. They were numerous enough to arrange for Transformation, to adopt to a Clan-Tactic which increased their powers considerably.
Attentus ordered the attack, part of his forces were able to participate. Yet it proved a partial success - enemy fled weakened in last moment, forgoing his plans for long time. A second round of a magick-duel ensued.
The chase went for months, a game of hide & seek, of covering own tracks & following a trail.
Clan left him, but allowed Attentus to contact them again in future - when enemy is proven to be close.
Enemy warned, enemy prepared - in his pursuit Attentus fell into two artifact-traps that started to torment him, making his spell-advantage a tool of demise.
There was no opportunity to construct the Sol Ring this time, so the summoning rites took one day longer.
Amaranth ansered again, with more of summon spells his clanmates joined as well.
Tortured almost to his death, Attentus did maitain focus for enough to summon enough.
To prepare for the attack, Attentus needed to invest mana - magickal power - into his Vampyr allies.
Problem was it was time consuming, but a solution appeared - he could draw it from the Black Lotus, as he could once a while - transformation was complete, hastening as well.
Vampyres fell upon their prey and feasted fully this time, while Attentus & Liliana Vess gained access to the Time Vault - perhaps they will research it more fully in future.
Thursday, 15 February 2018
[MTGO] 'Shadows under Westvale' Deck in Action, part 1.
... this time a Legacy format match, 'Shadows under Westvale' vs 'Poison-Proliferation' deck.
When opponent summoned a creature with infect, it was my clue to speed-up, to go more aggressive.
i didn't do it enough, even that i had Dark Rituals on hand, it was my mistake.
... still i won, barely, in 6 turns.
... opponent conceded 2nd game as well, during my sideboarding phase.
When opponent summoned a creature with infect, it was my clue to speed-up, to go more aggressive.
i didn't do it enough, even that i had Dark Rituals on hand, it was my mistake.
... still i won, barely, in 6 turns.
... opponent conceded 2nd game as well, during my sideboarding phase.
Monday, 12 February 2018
[MTGO] 'Shadows under Westvale', a Deck.
A Deck.
... another, unrefined yet, a deck idea - without finished sideboard for now.
... this time it's not in the Vintage, but in the Legacy format.
... it has unlimited mana potential, with Magus of the Coffers & Umbral Mantle.
... Chalice of Life can transform with life-ganing abilities,
... Umbral Mantle works well with Bloodline Keeper, Royal Assassin, or Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet - especially if we have unlimited mana. ;)
... Umbral Mantle can be passed between creatures for a 0 mana equip cost.
... Hecatomb works well with mono-black decks / lot of Swamp /, with token creation / Westvale Abbey, Bloodline Keeper, Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet, Creakwood Liege /.
Story.
In the Westvale area, covered with swamps, there's Ivory Tower surrounded by four wings of Westvale Abbey.
Each wing corresponds with one of four elements: Air, Water, Fire & Earth.
Ivory Tower in midst is associated with Spirit that binds elements together.
Rumours say that in the Ivory Tower, the Planeswalker Mage resides, summoning & commanding minions, creating artifacts, casting spells, duelling with other Planeswalker Mages.
... for what reason these duels are waged?
... difficult to tell, exactly.
Another rumour claim that Planeswalker Mage researches topics of Life, of Death, of Mass Destruction, of Dark Ascension & Immortality, of Unlimited Magickal Power.
... it seems he didn's succeed fully as of yet, despite his great Magickal Powers.
He seems unnaturally long-living, however, his Ivory Tower & him been there for over two hundred years.
About Westvale Abbey, it's claimed that it's corrupt at it's core.
Rumours claim, again, that dark rituals & unholy sacrifices are performed there, that vampyres & other evil creatures dwell in it's catacombs.
Vile slithering beasts are bred in catacombs, and there are sinister prophecies of dark times when these army will be unleashed, under flying vampyr warriors & other, to wage the mass-destruction war.
So far Planeswalker didn't confirm these rumours, but there are those who claim they have seen something similar under a moonlight in the Tower-nearby swamps.
People serve this Planeswalker Mage, fearing his wrath.
Sometimes they have dreams of his presence, requiring them to do tasks.
People suspect that a cursed well of Westvale affects their dreams and steals what's precious in their spirit.
--
... inspired by Ars Magica 3rd edition, a roleplaying ame about Art of Magic in a Feudal, Medieval Fantasy world, as well as by Planeswalking, Necromantic & Unholy ideas of Dominaria and D&D.
Sunday, 11 February 2018
[MTGO] 'Darefire' Deck in Action, part 6.
This time 'Darefire' vs a deck with land destruction, creature removal & with big monsters,
a challenging match consisting of 3 games.
Duel 1st:
After playing Badlands, and having them destroyed with Wasteland, summoned the Bloodline Keeper with a Dark Ritual in turn 3rd.
Opponent summoned Blade Splicer, then i had opportunity to play Olivia's Bloodsworn, and gather 5 vampires to transform Bloodline Keeper.
Opponent made me sacrifice a token with Chainer's Edict, but conceded this game nevertheless.
A quick victory in 6 turns.
Duel 2nd:
Opponent playd creature removal Vindicate & Wrath of God spells on my Vampire tribe, until could summon the Rune-Scarred Demon.
He destroyed my Mind's Eye as well, with Revoke Existence.
Couldn't destroy Rune-Scarred Demon with Grave Pact, because my only creature, Gatekeeper of Malakir didn't have flying ability.
With advantage on table, he destroyed all lands with Ravages of War ... while keeping his or her Crucible of Worlds' ability to play lands from his or her graveyard.
At this point i stood no chance, so did concede this game.
Duel 3rd:
This was most exciting & interresting part of a match.
Early Asylum Visitor did a lot of damage to opponent, as i struggled with lack of black mana.
Could win in turn 8, but made a mistake of not summoning a Vampire Nighthawk before attack. It could gain haste by Olivia's Bloodsworn & finish opponent.
Opponent summoned Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite that decimated weaker parts of my Vampire tribe.
He didn't attack despite vigilance ability, probably because my Vampire Nighthawk had deathtouch. This was his or her mistake, as for deathtouch to work, at least 1 damage must be dealt. At this point Vampire Nighthawk was a 0/1 creature.
He or she summoned Obzedat, Ghost Council increasing his or her life points total and reducing mine's.
He or she was no longer within the Lightning Bolt's finishing range.
Then i summoned Olivia Voldaren, he or she didn't attack again.
In my turn 12 acquired the Black Lotus, flower. It gave me enough mana for Olivia Voldaren to invite Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite for a dinner, turn him into a Vampire, then to dominate, steal control from opponent.
Probably she had that flower in her hair as she dated the Praetor.
Opponent conceded game, then.
a challenging match consisting of 3 games.
Duel 1st:
After playing Badlands, and having them destroyed with Wasteland, summoned the Bloodline Keeper with a Dark Ritual in turn 3rd.
Opponent summoned Blade Splicer, then i had opportunity to play Olivia's Bloodsworn, and gather 5 vampires to transform Bloodline Keeper.
Opponent made me sacrifice a token with Chainer's Edict, but conceded this game nevertheless.
A quick victory in 6 turns.
Duel 2nd:
Opponent playd creature removal Vindicate & Wrath of God spells on my Vampire tribe, until could summon the Rune-Scarred Demon.
He destroyed my Mind's Eye as well, with Revoke Existence.
Couldn't destroy Rune-Scarred Demon with Grave Pact, because my only creature, Gatekeeper of Malakir didn't have flying ability.
With advantage on table, he destroyed all lands with Ravages of War ... while keeping his or her Crucible of Worlds' ability to play lands from his or her graveyard.
At this point i stood no chance, so did concede this game.
Duel 3rd:
This was most exciting & interresting part of a match.
Early Asylum Visitor did a lot of damage to opponent, as i struggled with lack of black mana.
Could win in turn 8, but made a mistake of not summoning a Vampire Nighthawk before attack. It could gain haste by Olivia's Bloodsworn & finish opponent.
Opponent summoned Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite that decimated weaker parts of my Vampire tribe.
He didn't attack despite vigilance ability, probably because my Vampire Nighthawk had deathtouch. This was his or her mistake, as for deathtouch to work, at least 1 damage must be dealt. At this point Vampire Nighthawk was a 0/1 creature.
He or she summoned Obzedat, Ghost Council increasing his or her life points total and reducing mine's.
He or she was no longer within the Lightning Bolt's finishing range.
Then i summoned Olivia Voldaren, he or she didn't attack again.
In my turn 12 acquired the Black Lotus, flower. It gave me enough mana for Olivia Voldaren to invite Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite for a dinner, turn him into a Vampire, then to dominate, steal control from opponent.
Probably she had that flower in her hair as she dated the Praetor.
| 'If You don't wish my demise, buy energy me at least'. |
'Jeśli nie chcesz mojej zguby, to energię kup mi luby'. |
Opponent conceded game, then.
Sunday, 4 February 2018
[MTGO] 'Darefire' Deck in Action, part 5.
This time one of 3-games match, one that i won.
Remaining two games were lost by me, because of poor starting hand while opponent had good starting hand, with many mana accelerators.
Impoertant points of the game, that let me win this part of a match were:
- Destroying Garruk Relentless with a Lightning Bolt spell - before he let opponent have too much of advantage on table,
- Destroying Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary with a Lightning Bolt spell - so summoned Mistcutter Hydra could have been defeated,
- Softening Hydra with Incinerate so a first-striking Stromkirk Captain could block & kill,
- Using Vampiric Tutor for the Bloodline Keeper, then summoning the Bloodline Keeper, for token production & other.
Remaining two games were lost by me, because of poor starting hand while opponent had good starting hand, with many mana accelerators.
Impoertant points of the game, that let me win this part of a match were:
- Destroying Garruk Relentless with a Lightning Bolt spell - before he let opponent have too much of advantage on table,
- Destroying Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary with a Lightning Bolt spell - so summoned Mistcutter Hydra could have been defeated,
- Softening Hydra with Incinerate so a first-striking Stromkirk Captain could block & kill,
- Using Vampiric Tutor for the Bloodline Keeper, then summoning the Bloodline Keeper, for token production & other.
[MTGO] What to Remove?
When building a deck, we start with ideas of our strategy, of how we intend to win.
Then we choose cards and make a prototype. These cards cost money.
Then we refine the deck, replacing cards - often with more expensive ones, but not always.
After a while, the main deck building dilemma is: 'what to remove?'
By the M:tG rules, deck can consist of minimum 60 cards. It is a good practice to keep this minimum, as adding too much affects probability, predictability of drawing powerful cards, negatively.
Deck's speed & mana curve should be considered, but not only that - there are ways to turn the tide of battle & win with slower decks as well.
With a 'Darefire' Deck, i focused on a Vampire tribe & cards that do direct damage mostly.
Direct damage spells are used to remove opponent's creatures, or to finish him or her when he or she is in range.
Vampyres in this Deck are kept fairly small & cheap in mana, support each other, and scale their abilities with time.
In practice this results in doing 20+ damage in 4-6 turns when unopposed.
In a tribal deck there should be 20-28 tribal creature cards, in my opinion.
Recently i've 'armed' myself with some cards, but chose to not put most of these in this Deck.
Example 1:
... i've considered adding a powerful creature, Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet, but considering mana costs, mana curve & deck's speed - there was nothing to remove to give space to put him in.
Our current most powerful creature cards - Bloodline Keeper & Olivia Voldaren are far more powerful considering their abilities & costs, anyway.
Example 2:
Door of Destinies might be powerful in a tribal deck, but i prefer to increase creature count with creatures that also have power/toughness increasing abilities / Bloodline Keeper, Stromkirk Captain, Captivating Vampire /. Door of Destinies is worth nothing without a decent creature count, anyway.
... just had no space in a deck for these.
Example 3:
... i've considered replacing sideboard's 2x Hero's Downfall with 2x Dreadbore.
Mana cost is smaller & more aligned with 'Darefire' Deck's colors, so it was a simple decision.
Did it when i could afford the cards.
Example 4:
While Vanquisher's Banner might seem a nice replacement to Mind's Eye, there are other considerations.
Mind's Eye allows to draw at least 3x more of cards / there are 21 Vampire cards in 'Darefire' /.
But even more importantly, i need Mind's Eye for Art's purposes, as i wish to create art that uses ideas from my cards & decks.
Mind's Eye is also related with Buddhism & Esoterics, important parts of an Art Style i am creating: 'Art of Magick & Light'.
These arguments might seem not valid or silly to most, but M:tG is not my priority in life, i have different needs than most dedicated M:tG players.
Then we choose cards and make a prototype. These cards cost money.
Then we refine the deck, replacing cards - often with more expensive ones, but not always.
After a while, the main deck building dilemma is: 'what to remove?'
By the M:tG rules, deck can consist of minimum 60 cards. It is a good practice to keep this minimum, as adding too much affects probability, predictability of drawing powerful cards, negatively.
Deck's speed & mana curve should be considered, but not only that - there are ways to turn the tide of battle & win with slower decks as well.
With a 'Darefire' Deck, i focused on a Vampire tribe & cards that do direct damage mostly.
Direct damage spells are used to remove opponent's creatures, or to finish him or her when he or she is in range.
Vampyres in this Deck are kept fairly small & cheap in mana, support each other, and scale their abilities with time.
In practice this results in doing 20+ damage in 4-6 turns when unopposed.
In a tribal deck there should be 20-28 tribal creature cards, in my opinion.
Recently i've 'armed' myself with some cards, but chose to not put most of these in this Deck.
Example 1:
... i've considered adding a powerful creature, Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet, but considering mana costs, mana curve & deck's speed - there was nothing to remove to give space to put him in.
Our current most powerful creature cards - Bloodline Keeper & Olivia Voldaren are far more powerful considering their abilities & costs, anyway.
Example 2:
Door of Destinies might be powerful in a tribal deck, but i prefer to increase creature count with creatures that also have power/toughness increasing abilities / Bloodline Keeper, Stromkirk Captain, Captivating Vampire /. Door of Destinies is worth nothing without a decent creature count, anyway.
... just had no space in a deck for these.
Example 3:
... i've considered replacing sideboard's 2x Hero's Downfall with 2x Dreadbore.
Mana cost is smaller & more aligned with 'Darefire' Deck's colors, so it was a simple decision.
Did it when i could afford the cards.
Example 4:
While Vanquisher's Banner might seem a nice replacement to Mind's Eye, there are other considerations.
Mind's Eye allows to draw at least 3x more of cards / there are 21 Vampire cards in 'Darefire' /.
But even more importantly, i need Mind's Eye for Art's purposes, as i wish to create art that uses ideas from my cards & decks.
Mind's Eye is also related with Buddhism & Esoterics, important parts of an Art Style i am creating: 'Art of Magick & Light'.
These arguments might seem not valid or silly to most, but M:tG is not my priority in life, i have different needs than most dedicated M:tG players.
Monday, 29 January 2018
[MTGO] 'Darefire' Deck Solitaire, Part 5.
Had a powerful opening this time, that's how it was played:
1st Turn:
Played Swamp, Dark Ritual & Drana, Liberator of Malakir.
2nd Turn:
Played a Dragonskull Summit land, attacked with Drana, Liberator of Malakir, summoned Olivia's Bloodsworn as well.
3rd Turn:
Played a 2nd Swamp, Black Lotus, sacrificed Black Lotus for 3 red mana, summoned the Bloodline Keeper, hastened the Bloodline Keeper to produce a Vampire token, hastened a Vampire Token, attacked with everything untapped - lowering life points total to 9.
4th Turn:
Played a Mountain, summoned Stromkirk Captain, transformed the Bloodline Keeper, attacked with everything without summoning sickness - lowering life points total to -16.
... a victory in a mere 4 turns, 36 damage dealth within that time.
1st Turn:
Played Swamp, Dark Ritual & Drana, Liberator of Malakir.
2nd Turn:
Played a Dragonskull Summit land, attacked with Drana, Liberator of Malakir, summoned Olivia's Bloodsworn as well.
3rd Turn:
Played a 2nd Swamp, Black Lotus, sacrificed Black Lotus for 3 red mana, summoned the Bloodline Keeper, hastened the Bloodline Keeper to produce a Vampire token, hastened a Vampire Token, attacked with everything untapped - lowering life points total to 9.
4th Turn:
Played a Mountain, summoned Stromkirk Captain, transformed the Bloodline Keeper, attacked with everything without summoning sickness - lowering life points total to -16.
... a victory in a mere 4 turns, 36 damage dealth within that time.
Sunday, 28 January 2018
[MTGO] 'Darefire' Deck in Action, part 4.
This was a close match, 'Darefire' vs a discard deck.
Opening:
After we both did a mulligan, i've decided to play Swamp on top of my Library - planning for playing the Bloodline Keeper fairly fast.
1st Turn:
Played a Swamp, did Thoughtseize at his or her Mind Twist, while looking at opponent's hand.
Expected Hypnotic Specter soon.
Opponent played a tap-land with black mana that removed my graveyard into exile.
2nd Turn:
Played a 2nd Swamp & Mox Ruby, summoned Drana, Liberator of Malakir to protect myself from the Hypnotic Specter.
Opponent played a Swamp & cast a Distress spell at me, and made me discard the Bloodline Keeper, ruining my initial strategy to play it in 3rd turn.
3rd Turn:
Played Mountain, and attacked with Drana, Liberator of Malakir which got +1/+1 token, becoming a 3/4 Vampire with flying & first strike abilities.
Opponent had no Hypnotic Specter yet, so i could attack without losing my last card: 3rd Swamp.
Opponent Played a 2nd Swamp & summoned the Hypnotic Specter, as expected by me.
4th Turn:
Drew a Vampire Nighthawk, so i could attack with Drana, Liberator of Malakir again without losing a card in a response.
Played a Vampire Nighthawk after attack. Drana, Liberator of Malakir became the 4/5 Vampire with flying & first strike abilities.
Opponent cast Shrieking Affliction and Demonic Tutor spells.
He or she played Maze of Ith land as well.
5th Turn:
Shrieking Affliction started to bite, my life total was reduced to 15 during my upkeep phase.
Attacked with both Vampires, reducing his or her life total to 8 and increasing my life total to 18 with Vampire Nighthawk lifelink ability.
Thanks to Drana, Liberator of Malakir, both of my Vampires icreased in power & toughness by +1/+1.
Played a Swamp despite Shrieking Affliction in play - preferred to play fast, and to have it not be discarded, even if lost life points due to Shrieking Affliction & Hypnotic Specter attack. This turned to be a wise decision in the end. Opponent had Phyrexian Obliterator in hand, as Thoughtseize revealed at play's beginning, anyway - so it added pressure on me to end game fast.
Opponent played 2nd Shrieking Affliction & attacked with Hypnotic Specter.
My life point total went to 16.
6th Turn:
In my upkeep phase, my life total went down to 10 points, so i had only 2 turns to finish the play at best, before losing - because of Shrieking Affliction spells.
Attacked with both of my Vampires, delaying Drain Life to after attack, as usual, as is wise.
Opponent didn't suspect Drain Life, so he or she used Maze of Ith on a lesser threat, Vampire Nighthawk - probably preferring to deny me life points gain via it's lifelink ability.
This seemed wise, but opened me a way to win this 1-game match with a Drain Life spell.
Did cast a Drain Life spell at opponent - for 3 life points total, just enough finish him or her.
... i think i played to best of my ability & reason this time, which allowed me to win.
Opening:
After we both did a mulligan, i've decided to play Swamp on top of my Library - planning for playing the Bloodline Keeper fairly fast.
1st Turn:
Played a Swamp, did Thoughtseize at his or her Mind Twist, while looking at opponent's hand.
Expected Hypnotic Specter soon.
Opponent played a tap-land with black mana that removed my graveyard into exile.
2nd Turn:
Played a 2nd Swamp & Mox Ruby, summoned Drana, Liberator of Malakir to protect myself from the Hypnotic Specter.
Opponent played a Swamp & cast a Distress spell at me, and made me discard the Bloodline Keeper, ruining my initial strategy to play it in 3rd turn.
3rd Turn:
Played Mountain, and attacked with Drana, Liberator of Malakir which got +1/+1 token, becoming a 3/4 Vampire with flying & first strike abilities.
Opponent had no Hypnotic Specter yet, so i could attack without losing my last card: 3rd Swamp.
Opponent Played a 2nd Swamp & summoned the Hypnotic Specter, as expected by me.
4th Turn:
Drew a Vampire Nighthawk, so i could attack with Drana, Liberator of Malakir again without losing a card in a response.
Played a Vampire Nighthawk after attack. Drana, Liberator of Malakir became the 4/5 Vampire with flying & first strike abilities.
Opponent cast Shrieking Affliction and Demonic Tutor spells.
He or she played Maze of Ith land as well.
5th Turn:
Shrieking Affliction started to bite, my life total was reduced to 15 during my upkeep phase.
Attacked with both Vampires, reducing his or her life total to 8 and increasing my life total to 18 with Vampire Nighthawk lifelink ability.
Thanks to Drana, Liberator of Malakir, both of my Vampires icreased in power & toughness by +1/+1.
Played a Swamp despite Shrieking Affliction in play - preferred to play fast, and to have it not be discarded, even if lost life points due to Shrieking Affliction & Hypnotic Specter attack. This turned to be a wise decision in the end. Opponent had Phyrexian Obliterator in hand, as Thoughtseize revealed at play's beginning, anyway - so it added pressure on me to end game fast.
Opponent played 2nd Shrieking Affliction & attacked with Hypnotic Specter.
My life point total went to 16.
6th Turn:
In my upkeep phase, my life total went down to 10 points, so i had only 2 turns to finish the play at best, before losing - because of Shrieking Affliction spells.
Attacked with both of my Vampires, delaying Drain Life to after attack, as usual, as is wise.
Opponent didn't suspect Drain Life, so he or she used Maze of Ith on a lesser threat, Vampire Nighthawk - probably preferring to deny me life points gain via it's lifelink ability.
This seemed wise, but opened me a way to win this 1-game match with a Drain Life spell.
Did cast a Drain Life spell at opponent - for 3 life points total, just enough finish him or her.
... i think i played to best of my ability & reason this time, which allowed me to win.
Friday, 26 January 2018
[MTGO] Fan Art Poetry, Part 1.
... i can light ...
... the Sky ...
... with Thunder. ...
See also, if You wish: Vajra.
/ this blog's author is a Vajrayana Buddhist /.
... the Sky ...
... with Thunder. ...
See also, if You wish: Vajra.
/ this blog's author is a Vajrayana Buddhist /.
Thursday, 25 January 2018
[MTGO] 'Darefire' Deck in Action, part 3.
This time 'Darefire' vs 'Counter the Whole World' decks match, consisting of 3 games.
First game was won by me with a raw speed of starting Vampire creatures.
Against counterspells & similar, it's better to play less deadly cards first, to deplete the counters.
Second game was lost byy me, not only because my opening was too direct-damage oriented - but also because i drew Yawgmoth's Will with Vampiric Tutor when Arcane Laboratory was in play.
This mistake had poor effect on my morale, so i surrendered this game.
... at least i saved my precious time / there's 25-minutes limit in most matches, for all of 3 games in match; when time is over, whole match is lost /.
Thrid game was interresting, important points of my play can be summarized as:
- Sideboarded 'Grave Pact' for 'Mind's Eye' - so opponent had one more of spells to counter; this added to my victory conditions in the end,
- i think i should move to a sideboard also the Yawgmoth's Will,
- i've played lesser threats first, to be countered - so in the end Bloodline Keeper entered play,
- i was unfocused too much, forgot to store mana in a Molten Slagheap every turn when still i could,
- Olivia's Bloodsworn increased speed of Vampire token production,
- Created a Vampire token in response to a Cryptic Command unsummoning ability.
Thrid game was barely won by me.
... i think my opponent played psychologically as well, keeping cards in hand, probably to pretend he or she had counters.
... i think 'Counter the Whole World' decks are too defensive & too time consuming, however - but still can be challenging.
First game was won by me with a raw speed of starting Vampire creatures.
Against counterspells & similar, it's better to play less deadly cards first, to deplete the counters.
Second game was lost byy me, not only because my opening was too direct-damage oriented - but also because i drew Yawgmoth's Will with Vampiric Tutor when Arcane Laboratory was in play.
This mistake had poor effect on my morale, so i surrendered this game.
... at least i saved my precious time / there's 25-minutes limit in most matches, for all of 3 games in match; when time is over, whole match is lost /.
Thrid game was interresting, important points of my play can be summarized as:
- Sideboarded 'Grave Pact' for 'Mind's Eye' - so opponent had one more of spells to counter; this added to my victory conditions in the end,
- i think i should move to a sideboard also the Yawgmoth's Will,
- i've played lesser threats first, to be countered - so in the end Bloodline Keeper entered play,
- i was unfocused too much, forgot to store mana in a Molten Slagheap every turn when still i could,
- Olivia's Bloodsworn increased speed of Vampire token production,
- Created a Vampire token in response to a Cryptic Command unsummoning ability.
Thrid game was barely won by me.
... i think my opponent played psychologically as well, keeping cards in hand, probably to pretend he or she had counters.
... i think 'Counter the Whole World' decks are too defensive & too time consuming, however - but still can be challenging.
Wednesday, 24 January 2018
[MTGO] 'Darefire' Deck Solitaire, part 4.
... a little more of practice with 'Darefire' Deck, as with 'Know Yourself' part of 'Know Yourself, Know Enemy' philosophy.
i've tried to play cards & use mana optimally, i think i did almost perfectly.
... this play demonstrates how fast 'Darefire' can be, Mox Ruby added to that speed.
1st turn:
Olivia's Bloodsworn, with a Swamp & Mox Ruby - but had no red mana left to hasten it.
Still i think it was the best, fastest opening.
2nd turn:
Olivia's Bloodsworn attacked, reducing life total to 18,
Summoned Drana, Liberator of Malakir - but i think Stromkirk Captain before attack would be better this time - as Olivia's Bloodsworn attack would have 1 more of Power.
3rd turn:
Summoned Stromkirk Captain, hastened it, then attacked with every of my creatures, reducing life total to 10.
Thanks to Drana, Liberator of Malakir ability , every of attackers got +1/+1 counters, as well.
4th turn:
Summoned a second Stromkirk Captain, hastened it.
Summoned a Sol Ring as well - while it wasn't neccessary to end game faster, i am trying to develop advantageous habits in my play. Using mana efficiently is advantageous, as is adding pressure - but occasionally we want to keep Sol Ring uncast - to suprise opponent.
There are mass-destruction spells as well, of course - including artifact-destroying destruction spells.
But overall, too much of paranoid caution defeats speed, and speed is one of main tools to win using this deck.
Attacked with everything, reduced life total to -7.
With a better play, could reduce life total to -8, still in 4 turns.
... a Victory in 4 turns.
i've tried to play cards & use mana optimally, i think i did almost perfectly.
... this play demonstrates how fast 'Darefire' can be, Mox Ruby added to that speed.
1st turn:
Olivia's Bloodsworn, with a Swamp & Mox Ruby - but had no red mana left to hasten it.
Still i think it was the best, fastest opening.
2nd turn:
Olivia's Bloodsworn attacked, reducing life total to 18,
Summoned Drana, Liberator of Malakir - but i think Stromkirk Captain before attack would be better this time - as Olivia's Bloodsworn attack would have 1 more of Power.
3rd turn:
Summoned Stromkirk Captain, hastened it, then attacked with every of my creatures, reducing life total to 10.
Thanks to Drana, Liberator of Malakir ability , every of attackers got +1/+1 counters, as well.
4th turn:
Summoned a second Stromkirk Captain, hastened it.
Summoned a Sol Ring as well - while it wasn't neccessary to end game faster, i am trying to develop advantageous habits in my play. Using mana efficiently is advantageous, as is adding pressure - but occasionally we want to keep Sol Ring uncast - to suprise opponent.
There are mass-destruction spells as well, of course - including artifact-destroying destruction spells.
But overall, too much of paranoid caution defeats speed, and speed is one of main tools to win using this deck.
Attacked with everything, reduced life total to -7.
With a better play, could reduce life total to -8, still in 4 turns.
... a Victory in 4 turns.
Tuesday, 23 January 2018
[MTGO] 'The Power Nine'.
'The Power Nine' are the most powerful / therefore expensive / cards in Magic: The Gathering,
all first printed in Limited Edition Alpha, the original form of the game.
Every single one of them is so broken that they are banned in every format except Vintage, and even then they're restricted to one per deck.
These cards i did invest in, and these are:
all first printed in Limited Edition Alpha, the original form of the game.
Every single one of them is so broken that they are banned in every format except Vintage, and even then they're restricted to one per deck.
These cards i did invest in, and these are:
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