A Magical Huffalump Resides Here: November 2013

A Magical Huffalump Resides Here

My name is Ed, I am a programmer. Just another dude with another blog. I like MTG, Open Source (more towards FREE software). I like sports, and eventually I hope to do business and do good for the world in general. This blog is gonna be about Magic The Gathering. Decklists and snippets will be posted here. It may lead somewhere or nowhere, as with all things arcane, that was bloody obvious =)

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

King's Giveaway!

After two years (or three?) its back!! I think.

Anyways here is the link


I was actually going to just ignore it and do my hunting in Claw Shot City until this happened:



Then I realised. I should'nt be shortchanging myself.

There are a few problems with my setup.

1. I was using the weakest LAW trap.
2. LAW power type is already one of the weakest since it is still in infancy


So whats a miffed mousehunter to do?

I had to do a few things.

1. Use my bestest setup. So that if and ever a Leprechaun mouse were to appear, at least I had the best possible shot aimed at it.

2. Do something useful while I am at it.


So Monstro is the highest power and luck trap for me. The Sphynx may have been better if I am gunning for gold. But the least aggravating thing to do now for me (plus I get to stock up delicious stones for future Tribal tournaments!) is to hunt in Derr Dunes. Where I cut my teeth with the first gen Rhinobotters. Fun times. Of course, with the monstrobot it is ALOT less painful. Can't complain I guess =)


And this was what I got some time later.





I guess I was lucky. Since I just caught a relic mouse too! Oh and as of NOW. The relic mouse will be in Derr Dunes for the next 9 hours or so.




Happy Hunting =)


[20131126 21:49]


Oh I really like the Regal Charms:

Power: 1000
Power Bonus: none
Attraction Bonus: 20%
Luck: 6
Consumed Upon: Encountering a Mouse, Failure to Catch, Successful Catch



[20131126 22:05]

I crafted the Giveaway theme!





Hmmm I can't say I am a fan of the MonstroKing Skin.....





And I get another scroll! This time a Living Garden. Might be useful =)




[20131126 22:26]

I guess the new theme is pretty =)




[20131126 22:31]


And I appear to be on a roll...





[20131126 23:00]

Now, if you are wondering why they rate of attraction for prize mice has fallen, apparently it was addressed in this week's FBF.

Apparently the number of prize mice is fixed. Several thousands of the newer prize mice and for mobsters and Leprechauns only a few hundreds. Something like that. So since most of the mice have been caught, you attract less. Its fairly logical. =)

As for why some people get multiple attractions. I dunno it might be the same mouse in the area? It used to be the mouse would follow you from region to region. And the same mouse if uncaught will keep getting attracted to your trap. I think it still happens, but the attraction is less now.

So what does that mean? It means the real hunt for the leppy happens NOW. Previously the deluge of prize mice means you actually have less chances of getting the leppy prize mice. Now this is a very big assumption of course. If the mice population in a region is divided into 5 parts and 1 part is prize mice of which 50% of that 1 part is leppy. IF the number of "lesser" prize mice is caught but no new normal regional mouse is sent to replace. Then your chances of getting a leppy is actually higher now! However. It is more likely the slot is replaced by a regional mouse.... STILL. Your chances of getting a leppy now is either better or the same =)

So the hunt is still very much on, my fellow hunters =)


Happy Hunting!

Oh btw the event officially ends on Monday, I suppose Canada time =)

[20131130 12:55]

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Friday, November 15, 2013

The Power of Association

The power of association


I wanted the title for today to be :


The Poison of Association.


Since its all negative now =)


But then I remembered the knife cuts both ways and it was positive association that brought me back to magic.


I love poison.


Not because it was awesome. But because it was awesome to win with it.


Because it was an alternate solution.

Because flavourwise it was a win. The inevitability of death, with nothing you can do about it. Just like poison.

Because it was hard to win with it.


Yes I played poison in a time when it was the mockery of mechanics.

The poisoners available at the time were small and dealt only one counter on a successful hit on your opponent.


It was impossible to win with it, barring some combo
(which is also the reason I don't consider combo LD or combo poison the true reflection of those strategies, you died to the combo not to poison or LD, your opponent could have used any bombo, it was a nonbo for me lol)



Then Visions came along, together with Alliances. Poisoners with evasion was available.


The brewer in me simmered.



I looked for cheap fat (this was a time before the power level of creatures creeped to today's highs). Grollub was my main man.

Together with Pernicious deed, I was a happy bunny in  poison land.


That was one of the better moments of Magic for me. There were others, like Argothian Wurm with the goblin that destroyed X lands from weather light. But that one was not quite as consistent.

Part of the fun in poison was that, you can always count on the naysayers to throw a challenge. Many claimed poison will never be back.


Many were wrong =)


Poison came back after 10 years. So to all who keep saying something will never be back. I wish you well =)



What I am driving at with all that drivel was this: What brought me back to magic was the positive association I made from my experience with poison to Magic.


Maro, brought back poison in a big way. Scars, Beseiged and New Phyrexia. A poisoner's wet dream. It did not have to be as strong as it was but I am not complaining. I do not believe it to be overpowered. It is no stronger than a blitz deck. The problem is not with the mechanic, but with the available ways to counter it. (this is also the reason for GOOD counters to exist, but that is a fight for another day).

As an aside, I like it when Maro makes sets =) Urza Saga was one of the highs in Magic for me. He is always pushing the envelope, nothing is vapid and tasteless when you give him free rein.


Anyways it was the positive association that brought me back to magic with NPH.

What took me out of magic in the first place? Mostly it was the greed of the shops. It was very negative. WOTC looked like it was trying to sell as many blocks as ever. They experimented with Lorwyn Morningtide Shadowmoor Eventide. Yes 4 sets. Instead of the usual three. It was big small Big small instead of Big  Small Small. Of course marketing will tell you its two small blocks. Until you consider all blocks in the year =) It was about the time of lorwyn that pack prices at the shop I frequented was jacked up. Yes they were price gouging on the packs.


I quit.





Currrently Magic is delving into those same waters. Modern Masters was the first blow. There was no goodwill in that set. It was price gouger's paradise. Then Vaults. And now Commander. WOTC did say that Commander 2013 is not limited. However shops can only order in sets of five, and they can only order if there is demand. Which means either the shops sits with some Commander decks which won't move and just bite the bullet and order more, or they sit and try to gouge as much as they can with what they have before ordering more. The situation in Singapore is a little like that right now. Maybe it will change in 2 months, I hope so. In any case, the damage is already done WOTC. Even if the product is not limited. It is made to look limited and price gouging has occured. This is also happening (albeit less dramatic) with the Holiday Box product. This is negative association. I am not quitting yet. But I am slowing down my purchases. For every 300 I have to spend on Commander, I will abstain that amount from every LGS I normally buy from before I buy the gorged product. (I do buy quite alot). That is actually quite a fun endeavour at the moment and besides if the impulse buy effect wears off by the time I decide to buy, I save some ;) its win win.

I am tired of Magic.


And I am putting the blame squarely on price gorging by LGS and retailers.


It is the absolute lack of goodwill that is the bile.


It is the fact that you are taken for a fool and paying for a jackasses's xmas that makes it insulting.



Sure its all good for the LGS and retailers. At the player's expense. I am tired of it. Yes Magic is a luxury item, so yes I may decide with my dollar eventually and say:"I absolutely agree. I have better things to do" =)

Edit:
Oh why is this negative association? well when I said I buy less it is mostly the random packs I buy so... the other purchases become collateral damage for Commander 2013 or any other product that is being price gorged. .... well that and if I do quit. But I doubt. I think.

Edit2:

Well the more I think about, its the whole tiredness that is associated, not just with the gorged product, but with Magic in general, even though the trigger was the Commander product. I have to convince myself to go fnm nowadays. I am so tired of all things Magic. Thats is what I meant by negative association. (well at least until I come in and edit again I guess lol)


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