Under pressure to start recording my own solo drafts…I played in an NPH 4/3/2/2. I made so many misplays that I actually stopped counting at eight. The worst one has got to be when I forgot how SUMMONING SICKNESS worked for several minutes. So please comment about what I did wrong, and what I can do better.
I hope you enjoy it, for what it’s worth.
Wait a second. I called you a vindictive *drunk*. You were not even drinking during this recording!
I think this sentence completely sums up this draft “Maybe I should put in the Pith Driller”. Maybe? You think you might want to play it over one of your two Hovermyrs?
I applaud your bravery in posting this sir! BoB, you must have cajones of Sam Cassell-esque proportions.
Some quick comments:
You hatedraft a Geth’s Verdict because you don’t want to face it,
and in the previous pick pass a Life’s Finale?!?!?!
Oh, and play Pithdriller if you draft it.
Tip: When drafting, hide the cards you know you’re not playing. Makes it easier to evaluate the curve.
Build, Play & Sideboard: Don’t mean to be rude, but there’s just too much to comment…
Sorry about the bad draws.
More constructively (and more seriously): you seem to understand the basic tenants of drafting philosophy (e.g. removal > creatures) but choose to ignore them, commenting several times about making decisions that are “wrong” in order to pick up cards you prefer. Drafting towards a preferred archetype is not incorrect. The big problem is that you seem to be drafting based on individual cards that you like, rather than drafting cards that form a cohesive archetype.
Some of this problem may be the set. NPH is kind of scattered and I found myself in a similar boat when drafting NPH-NPH-NPH and had to really focus on building a cohesive frame. I can’t say I really mastered the format, and frankly still struggle a bit in the NPH pack but you don’t really seem to be trying to draft towards a goal.
Without a archetypical goal your picks are all over the place, and it is kind of hard to even start discussing them w/o a framework to do so.
“It would be impossible to intelligently discuss the experience of life after death without a common frame of reference.”
“So in order for you to tell me what dying was like I would have to die myself first?”
“Yes, Doctor.”
Undoubtedly paraphrased but still easily one of my favorite bits of banter from Star Trek.
I knew that I was risking embarrassment in posting this, but it’s exactly how I wanted this to go, in that I really do want to improve. And as you can see, I’ve got a very thick skin, lol. I understand now what you are getting at, but I’m unsure how to correct it. Hell, I don’t think I was consciously thinking about “cohesion.” But are implying that you are either infect or metalcraft and all picks need to work toward one or the other. Is that really the case?
Lord knows I have work to do as well, but I think beyond infect and metalcraft, it could be fliers, dinosaurs, aggro, control, etc. However long you decide to make the list, you need to choose one at some point and build to that goal.
That being said, the latest from LSV is that New Phyrexia should be hit hard for artifacts and phyrexian mana cards first to leave color choice open until pack two when powerful uncommons like Corrupted Conscience and Kuldotha Flamefiend are available. It takes something like Enslave to make you want to declare pack one.
Damn LSV, leaking all the secrets of drafting…
Btw, he also just said that you should keep open then go white infect…
With his skill he can play almost anything and still win.
Every pick should be a result of your previous pick, unless the new pick is very powerful.
So, if you pick a Blighted Agent, all Shriek Raptors and other infect or cards that are good in infect rises in value (for you)…
This also means if you get into an archetype that noone else likes or drafts in your draft you might get very late picks that are very good in your deck.
“are implying that you are either infect or metalcraft and all picks need to work toward one or the other. Is that really the case?”
Not really. In fact I think hybrid infect can work really well in NPH/MBS/SOM drafts in both aggro and control. I’m talking about bigger picture concepts that really gives you a skeleton to flesh out. Starting point: was that last deck aggro or control in your mind? When did you decide (did you decide?). That is the first step.
The next step is placing it in a context. For example: what does an “ideal” UW aggro deck look like in this format, how about a UW control? More abstractly powerful cards may not be as good a fit for a given strategy based on curve implications etc. I mean, I could go on and on about draft/limited theory, but I think your next step needs to be looking at what you are picking up by ~pick 4-5 in pack one an thinking about what direction you would like to take the deck and then start drafting with that concept in mind.
An example of this is format Control bombs>removal>early survival cards/ramp>finishers. Especially in either green or blue you can ALWAYS pick up finishers late in packs what really needs to be prioritized after the obv high picks are ways to get you to the late game.
Blah blah blah. Anyway for more info: A few years ago I wrote some articles on moving beyond “BREAD” (Bombs, Removal, etc.) as a limited concept, first one here: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=8186
More recently, the Limited Resources Podcast has great content over on mtgcast.
Honestly looking forward to your next attempt!
Good effort bob.
Only way to improve at something is play it and just take your licks and learn from them. I can’t wait to see more of these and your continued improvement.
As for your banter and demeanor. Dont change a thing!!
TDK, I would say that you are a scholar and a gentleman…but we both know better. Thanks for the encouragement.
at least u tried man!! (and failed miserably) XD Better luck next time!
Oh and BTW. you guy need to learn to f6