Magic: The Gathering

[Cantih]

This is an extreme example, but one of the shallowest mana curves you'll ever see is the ancient Señor Stompy
http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Se%C3%B1or_Stompy
1 | 20
2 | 13
3 | 4
4 | 3
5 | 2*

[Chrius]

A bit more extreme is my The Epic Storm deck (to the uninitiated: a combo deck built around casting lots of cheap spells on the same turn to cast one big spell that kills the opponent in some fashion based on the number of spells played earlier in that turn)

Needs an update, but the last list I actually ran was
0 | 11 (not lands - 0 cost artifacts)
1 | 26 (4 of these are actually 0 and paid for with 2 life instead of 1 blue, usually)
2 | 9
3 | 0
4 | 1
5 | 1

[Xerlic]

I always say that the best way to learning Magic is by drafting. Assuming you don't train wreck your deck, draft games are like 60% knowing combat math, 10% knowing how to read your opponent for tricks and 30% not getting fucked over by variance (this is a constant no matter what format you play).

You guys are giving him bad examples on what a proper mana curve should look like lol. In most casual decks it should resemble a bell curve.

[Chrius]

Ya, those were extreme low ends and not normal ones. If you're going to deviate from a more normal curve, you need a really good reason for it.
Anyone draft Conspiracy yet? Sounds fun but I probably won't get to. Am looking forward to drafting some Vintage Masters.

As for getting better, playing is always good no matter the format.
For serious practice in constructed, you don't need to own the cards. Play with proxies with friends for the explicit purpose of learning how decks work. Play against the top decks of the format by looking at recent top 8/16 lists and proxy them up. This is referred to as gauntlet testing and helps on many levels.
1) If your brew isn't strong enough, then the top decks will beat them more often than you like.
2) You may find your brew is strong against one and maybe two decks, but then is really bad against the others. This can sometimes be a good choice if you think most of the players will bring the first two decks.
3) Take turns with who is playing the deck you are considering bringing (brew or staple deck) and who plays the top deck. You'll learn more about the deck and where it can be strong / falter by both trying to beat it and trying to win with it.

For speed of testing, I can't recommend cockatrice enough - free online program. You can play normal games or set up scenarios like, ok I win this game, but what if you actually had X card in your hand since you have the mana for it. I wouldn't win this turn, but would the outcome change down the road? Also, skype with a playtest partner so you can announce targets / actions live instead of using the chat. Also, I hear there are a lot of really sour players in public games so I try to avoid it.

Also, read up on articles from tcgplayer, starcitygames, stuff like that. Even if you're unfamiliar with the topic, go for it. Immersion will get you there.

[zoobernut]

I finally finished building my first modern deck, U/W KarnTron but I haven't been able to play test it yet because I moved and I don't know anyone who plays magic in my new area I can only shuffle the deck and goldfish it so many times. I am going to have to make an effort to get to my new local game store and start playing again.

[Xerlic]

Conspiracy is fun if you're into multiplayer formats. I drafted it once. Cracked a misdirection. Then got passed a misdirection by someone who didn't realize what it was. Then called it a day. I'm pretty biased though since I can barely stand multiplayer EDH.

[GoggleHead]

Multiplayer's only fun if you've got a group of people who can appreciate the hilarity of something like Thieves' Auction hitting the board.

[BaneTheBrawler]

our group likes to do 2-headed giant or 3-player FFA (and 1v1 of course), but any more than that and the others generally balk. i'm fine with long complicated games, but it does get annoying if people pick slow decks.

[Xerlic]

My store has a very serious EDH group. Foiled out, duals/fetches, P3K stuff, old Legends stuff etc.

They run the type of decks where, once you hit midgame, you start pulling out your phone when you finish your turn to amuse yourself for the 5 minutes until you get to untap.

I run a Grave Pact themed Savra deck which is fun, but not super competitive. Like I said, I'm pretty jaded about the format. My first EDH memory is seeing someone with OG Niv Mizzet cast Mind Over Matter and everyone scooping up their cards.

[Correction]

http://media.wizards.com/images/magi...efz17pc3r2.png

oh lawd

[AlexRuzhyo]

http://media.wizards.com/images/magi...efz17pc3r2.png

oh lawd

God dammit, Notch.

Banishing Light like a motherfucker.

(Also, how's that work with Nissa?)

[Xerlic]

You mean her -7? It would work. Effects that put a land onto the battlefield are not the same as playing a land. So, stuff like Primeval Titan and Font of Fertility get around the drawback of Aggressive Mining.

[Cantih]

Buu, they worded it so it can't be paired with Crucible of Worlds.

[Hank]

The mine is a creeper's face!

[Ghost_Wheel22]

Everything about that card screams Johnny. Kinda nice concept for resource trading but the gymnastics required for it to be even casually playable is too much currently.

[BaneTheBrawler]

well it's for 2015 so they'll probably have some cards that synergize well.

[Cantih]

Such a shame that MTGO is gonna get fucked next month.

[Chrius]

What's happening to MTGO?

[Cantih]

The v3 client we've had the last few years is being shut off.
v4 (the current beta client) is NOT ready. It's buggy, and ugly, and someone is gonna get fucking fired.

[Myrrh_Quetz]

Just build Modern Infect and fuck is it fun and fast. Wins around turn 2-4 depending on how much pump I have in my hand. Man, I love infect.