Why No Love for Death and Taxes?

[monovfox]

Alright, I 'm sort of fed up. How come Death and Taxes sees no streaming love? It's in the top 8 at SCG St.Louis, and was in contention at last week's SCG (getting knocked out in round 9). I feel like starcity is actively avoiding streaming the deck, and when it does appear the coverage for it is awful.

More importantly, I've been seeing way too many of the following decks on stream:

Sneak Attack
Rug Delver
Esper Deathblade
Shardless Bug

Soooooo many of them. Not to mention they are extremely boring to watch in comparison to the other decks that are/could be in top8 contention/are doing well. The tezzeret deck is interesting, but they showed it twice today.

One more thing:
Bias in broadcast. "I hope X player can make it..."
SCG, you're not hired to be biased and root for a team, the commentators of SF Giants baseball, however, are hired to do such. They should be rooting for format diversity, and get people excited about new decks so people buy new cards.

/Rant.

Also, does anyone remember what Grant Wilkonson was playing today? A friend of mine is up against him and top 8, and I just don't want to get my hopes up since it probably won't be streamed.

[Tammit67]

How to get on a stream at SCG! By Matthew Bevenour


Be X-0
Play against someone well known or be well known
Have a weird deck choice (something people don't see every day like oops all spells or doomsday or breakfast)


That's like it.

[monovfox]

How to get on a stream at SCG! By Matthew Bevenour


Be X-0
Play against someone well known or be well known
Have a weird deck choice (something people don't see every day like oops all spells or doomsday or breakfast)


That's like it.

Because Esper Deathblade is totally a weird deck choice.

[Barbed Blightning]

Because Esper Deathblade is totally a weird deck choice.

It's a good stuff deck that takes DRS--a typically non-blue, non-control card--and sets it beside force and Stoneforge Mystic. It's not a deck that will make it very far or see much play at local events but at opens it is a strangely popular choice.

Part of it is also the arbitrary nature of live streams. A few rounds at Baltimore I found both my neighbors under the camera.

Also its popularity; D&T is an uncommon deck while the others are not, and the majority of people want to see how others pilot their deck. Thus, SCG is maximizing the usefulness of the stream. That said, I would love to see more D&T!

[Undomian]

Kind of ironic though that you ended up getting your wish shortly after posting this. :laugh:

[phazonmutant]

Alright, I 'm sort of fed up. How come Death and Taxes sees no streaming love? It's in the top 8 at SCG St.Louis, and was in contention at last week's SCG (getting knocked out in round 9). I feel like starcity is actively avoiding streaming the deck, and when it does appear the coverage for it is awful.

Completely agree. I think Death and Taxes is pretty much the absolute best representative of the diversity of Legacy. It's a freaking mono-W creature control deck.

I think there are 2 reasons they don't feature it more: the commentators have no fucking clue how the deck works, and their best buds never would play that deck.
To be fair, D&T is super unintuitive and weird if you haven't played with/against it several times. It looks like a pile of garbage because it's so reliant on synergy and I bet there's also not very many experienced D&T players at opens.

[apple713]

Completely agree. I think Death and Taxes is pretty much the absolute best representative of the diversity of Legacy. It's a freaking mono-W creature control deck.

I think there are 2 reasons they don't feature it more: the commentators have no fucking clue how the deck works, and their best buds never would play that deck.
To be fair, D&T is super unintuitive and weird if you haven't played with/against it several times. It looks like a pile of garbage because it's so reliant on synergy and I bet there's also not very many experienced D&T players at opens.

there may just not be very many people playing it. If not many people are playing it the chance are limited of it being showcased or whatever. The deck unfortunately cannot influence it's draws so it lacks a certain consistency of blue decks and appears to have no card advantage.

[Hopo]

.. appears to have no card advantage.

It sure does, but if you're used to think that card advantage is just drawing more cards then your opponent, it might not be that obvious. Jitte is a good example. Mangara + Karakas is another.
But as already mentioned, the deck has some tricks going on with it that probably don't open up if you haven't been playing with it or against it enough.

[mort-]

Completely agree. I think Death and Taxes is pretty much the absolute best representative of the diversity of Legacy. It's a freaking mono-W creature control deck.

I think there are 2 reasons they don't feature it more: the commentators have no fucking clue how the deck works, and their best buds never would play that deck.
To be fair, D&T is super unintuitive and weird if you haven't played with/against it several times. It looks like a pile of garbage because it's so reliant on synergy and I bet there's also not very many experienced D&T players at opens.

Actually, watching the stream I really don't know if there are any experienced players at the opens. Might sound arrogant, but the level played in feature matches is quite horrible.

[Megadeus]

Actually, watching the stream I really don't know if there are any experienced players at the opens. Might sound arrogant, but the level played in feature matches is quite horrible.

Youaren'twrong. I mean there are good players, but the level of play seems low alot of the.time.

[Barook]

It looks like a pile of garbage because it's so reliant on synergy and I bet there's also not very many experienced D&T players at opens.
This

The second game in the finals could have been easily won if the D&T player had flickered the 5/5 CotV and killed Tezzeret instead of blinking back a useless Batterskull.

GP Strasbourg showed how powerful the deck can be in the hands of experienced pilots.

Plus, the power level of the deck might very well increase if Theros is actually a legendary block with playable legends.

[force_of_phil]

As others have mentioned, the level of play in these tournaments is far from optimal. Naturally the best players want to play a deck where you've stacked the majority of your draws, not the deck that will sometimes give you 3 plains in a row and knock you out of the tournament against someone you should beat every time. D&T requires very tight mulligan decisions and maximizing the value of every business card you're gifted, and even then you're going to come up short sometimes. Great deck, but not a great choice for this tournament series IMO.

[phazonmutant]

D&T requires very tight mulligan decisions and maximizing the value of every business card you're gifted, and even then you're going to come up short sometimes. Great deck, but not a great choice for this tournament series IMO.

I find it hard to believe that it top 4'd and won a GP by being inconsistent over long tournaments.


Actually, watching the stream I really don't know if there are any experienced players at the opens. Might sound arrogant, but the level played in feature matches is quite horrible.

Yeah...I guess Magic is hard and stuff.

[monovfox]

This

The second game in the finals could have been easily won if the D&T player had flickered the 5/5 CotV and killed Tezzeret instead of blinking back a useless Batterskull.

GP Strasbourg showed how powerful the deck can be in the hands of experienced pilots.

Plus, the power level of the deck might very well increase if Theros is actually a legendary block with playable legends.

He'd also been playing for 13 hours straight. Had he been on a decent amount of sleep, I think he would have done a lot better. I know him, and that was honestly just a product him being tired.

[force_of_phil]

I find it hard to believe that it top 4'd and won a GP by being inconsistent over long tournaments.

I wouldn't call it inconsistent, but it's certainly more vulnerable to variance than a deck packing a bunch of manipulation. That doesn't necessarily mean it will lose more games (it may win more of the games where variance is not a major factor), I just wouldn't personally run it in a SCG event for the reasons I stated.

[Barook]

He'd also been playing for 13 hours straight. Had he been on a decent amount of sleep, I think he would have done a lot better. I know him, and that was honestly just a product him being tired.
I didn't blame him, considering how long such a tournament can be.

My point was that D&T is just harder to play.

You'll probably have an easier time to jam down a T1 Emrakul with counter backup after so many rounds.

[nedleeds]

I wouldn't call it inconsistent, but it's certainly more vulnerable to variance than a deck packing a bunch of manipulation. That doesn't necessarily mean it will lose more games (it may win more of the games where variance is not a major factor), I just wouldn't personally run it in a SCG event for the reasons I stated.

Disagree. It's a fairly redundant mono color deck; with Vial as a mana crutch as well. I think it mulligans fine. It doesn't have Brainstorm to salvage bad hands but it's a bunch of 4 of's and isn't looking to win on turn one anyway. I think the deck doesn't appeal to a large sub segment of players who'd rather just cast blue spells and never enter a meaningful combat phase. I think being successful with it means being good with combat, understanding the stack with respect to Vial and the various activated abilities and understanding when to deny mana vs. deploying threats (especially sans vial).

Chalice / Trinisphere / Stompy decks are the decks I consider 'vulnerable to variance'; they have huge upside when you are on the play and land your turn 1 chalice into Trinisphere into bomb but over a 9+ round tourney will get enough no lander, one lander into wasteland, triple trinisphere hands it's pretty tough to outright win a large event.

[1mpulse]

I don't think that it's not that SCG doesn't like featuring DnT, it's that the coverage team only really focuses on household names because that is who their friends are. To get a feature match, you really just have to be in with that crowd. If you ever go to SCG Opens and watch the coverage team, you'll notice it's no coincidence that the guys they are hanging out with during their breaks are the ones getting feature matches.

Alternatively, the only other way you can get a feature match is if you play a really off the wall deck. I've played in quite a few SCG Opens over the years, and been X-0'ing for awhile at a couple different events, and have never gotten a feature match until this weekend where I played Enchantress (then naturally lost that one :frown:).

[Lt. Quattro]

I don't think that it's not that SCG doesn't like featuring DnT, it's that the coverage team only really focuses on household names because that is who their friends are. To get a feature match, you really just have to be in with that crowd. If you ever go to SCG Opens and watch the coverage team, you'll notice it's no coincidence that the guys they are hanging out with during their breaks are the ones getting feature matches.

Alternatively, the only other way you can get a feature match is if you play a really off the wall deck. I've played in quite a few SCG Opens over the years, and been X-0'ing for awhile at a couple different events, and have never gotten a feature match until this weekend where I played Enchantress (then naturally lost that one :frown:).

That was you? Nice build dude.

[force_of_phil]

Disagree. It's a fairly redundant mono color deck; with Vial as a mana crutch as well. I think it mulligans fine. It doesn't have Brainstorm to salvage bad hands but it's a bunch of 4 of's and isn't looking to win on turn one anyway.

Being a bunch of 4 ofs with no manipulation is a double edged sword. Ripped 2 STPs against ANT, drew my 3rd revoker against RUG, 2 Karakas, 5th turn vial, etc. Stuff like that makes some players feel helpless. I certainly agree with your point about combat, having seen more Maverick wins thrown away in the combat phase than I care to remember. No surprise that deck has gone into hiding on this side of the ocean.

[1mpulse]

That was you? Nice build dude.

Thanks! ^.^

[monovfox]

Ugh. Starcity again with their stupidity. The deck is not white weenie. get the fucking name right:


http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=56517

[twndomn]

I don't think that it's not that SCG doesn't like featuring DnT, it's that the coverage team only really focuses on household names because that is who their friends are. To get a feature match, you really just have to be in with that crowd. If you ever go to SCG Opens and watch the coverage team, you'll notice it's no coincidence that the guys they are hanging out with during their breaks are the ones getting feature matches.

Alternatively, the only other way you can get a feature match is if you play a really off the wall deck. I've played in quite a few SCG Opens over the years, and been X-0'ing for awhile at a couple different events, and have never gotten a feature match until this weekend where I played Enchantress (then naturally lost that one :frown:).

Of course, SCG is trying to build a brand. By featuring SCG writers who are playing in the Open, they would appear to look smart if they win. If they lose, at least the coverage can praise the creativity of these writers' opponents.

[force_of_phil]

Ugh. Starcity again with their stupidity. The deck is not white weenie. get the fucking name right:


http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=56517

And TinFins was labeled reanimator :eyebrow:

[monovfox]

Time for round 2:


Todd Anderson, and fucking esper deathblade, have been on screen 3 times today (might have been more if I remember correctly).

What. The. Actual. Fuck. I don't want to see this much esper deathblade.

[Lejay]

Time for round 2:

Todd Anderson, and fucking esper deathblade, have been on screen 3 times today (might have been more if I remember correctly).

What. The. Actual. Fuck. I don't want to see this much esper deathblade.

I think watching dredge twice in a row is worse.

[monovfox]

I think watching dredge twice in a row is worse.

But the dredge player is an actually good one, and is interesting to watch.

Dredge is interesting compared to deathblade. That's just sad.

[Lt. Quattro]

Time for round 2:


Todd Anderson, and fucking esper deathblade, have been on screen 3 times today (might have been more if I remember correctly).

What. The. Actual. Fuck. I don't want to see this much esper deathblade.

Now he is on camera in top 8, I would rather be watching the omnitell or lands deck.

[from Cairo]

The 'Cabal Pit control' deck was sort of cool though. :tongue:

But yea I would really like to see OmniTell at some point in the video coverage.

[Lt. Quattro]

The 'Cabal Pit control' deck was sort of cool though. :tongue:

But yea I would really like to see OmniTell at some point in the video coverage.

He is on camera again for the semifinals, who ever is deciding the camera matches (cedric?) please keep your man crush under control.

[monovfox]

well, fuck Todd Anderson. Seriously. I had to watch 9 fucking rounds of this deck, only to see him win against a shitty player. That was lovely. Lovely lovely lovely lovely.

[from Cairo]

That was a really disappointing T8 to sit through. Watching Todd Anderson walk his opponents into seemingly obvious traps and just jam goodstuff.dec for hours is not very entertaining. I guess props to the 'Pro'/grinder players, they've taken down several consecutive events on their play skill or their opponents' missed opportunities (not Flickerwisping 5/5 Chalice, not Force of Willing the Force of Will targeting Geist of Saint Traft). Bad beats. :confused::frown:

[feline]

That was a really disappointing T8 to sit through. Watching Todd Anderson walk his opponents into seemingly obvious traps and just jam goodstuff.dec for hours is not very entertaining. I guess props to the 'Pro'/grinder players, they've taken down several consecutive events on their play skill or their opponents' missed opportunities (not Flickerwisping 5/5 Chalice, not Force of Willing the Force of Will targeting Geist of Saint Traft). Bad beats. :confused::frown:

You going to be pushing Death & Taxes again in Seattle in October? It's the next one for the Northwest area. Congrats again on that Portland trophy!

[monovfox]

You going to be pushing Death & Taxes again in Seattle in October? It's the next one for the Northwest area. Congrats again on that Portland trophy!

I'm trying to show up to that one (yes, I realize that this is directed at ben).

Btw, Feline, are you going to the MTGDeals open?

[from Cairo]

You going to be pushing Death & Taxes again in Seattle in October? It's the next one for the Northwest area. Congrats again on that Portland trophy!

Thanks Feline, congrats to you on the top 32 at St. Louis. I definitely hope to be at SCG Seattle (and hopefully the Mirkwood Cup in the meantime), there's a pretty good chance I will be pushing something with Thalia and Stoneforge Mystic.

[feline]

Ty. ^.^ I would like to go to the MTGdeals open, but I won't have enough to go to another Open for about a month, in which the next one will probably default to Minneapolis.

[Barook]

Now he is on camera in top 8, I would rather be watching the omnitell or lands deck.
That was also because he was up against the BUG Walker deck which they made a deck tech about.

It was still boring to watch. How many times have they shown people playing Death/Esper Blade this week?

[monovfox]

That was also because he was up against the BUG Walker deck which they made a deck tech about.

It was still boring to watch. How many times have they shown people playing Death/Esper Blade this week?

9.


also:

https://www.facebook.com/StarCityGames/posts/616962241655770?comment_id=6779328&offset=0&total_comments=8&notif_t=share_comment

I really want starcity to see people complain about the stream.

[Barook]

Out of 2 matches, we're already seeing 2x Esper Stone-/Deathblade again. For crying out loud!

[Einherjer]

No, you got it wrong. This time it is EsperDeathGeistBlade! The innovation of the week!

Greetings

[from Cairo]

We've got to see a match of 12 Post vs. OmniTell; Chris Pikula on camera playing RUG. I would say that this coverage is better than the last Open.

[monovfox]

We've got to see a match of 12 Post vs. OmniTell; Chris Pikula on camera playing RUG. I would say that this coverage is better than the last Open.

agreed. I still have deathblade overload, though.