[Article]Eternal Europe: Threat Value

[Mon,Goblin Chief]

Shedding some light on a particular facet of Magic gameplay this time:

http://www.starcitygames.com/article/28285_Threat-Value.html

Enjoy!

[Einherjer]

Exceptionally well thought out article! Very well done!

I really enjoy this game of bluffing and double bluffing (I always have to think about the wine-in-front-of-me-principle) - yet you have to be aware of the fact, that those games only happen at the upper tables at any given tournament. I had quite some situations where I put my opponent on a higher level than they actually were - which lead to unnecessary drawbacks, and once an utterly humiliating loss. Like cracking the Fetchland prior to setting up Terminus made me frown a bit. Because... yes, bad players are going to shoot all their Stifles at your Fetchlands, while advanced Tempo-pilots will know when all hope of manascrewing Miracles is gone, and keep those Stifles for Miracle triggers or other vital moments just as Stifling the Fetchland that would enable the Miracle player to fight over a counter which targets a Win-Condition or anything. You get me? So... I think it's very important to differ between "Noobs", where you probably shouldn't think too much, just play mechanically well and you should win. "Normal Players" - where you should probably add one level of bluffing to your game and the uplifting games when you face someone your caliber, where you play a game inside a game.

Anyways, great read.

Greetings

[Dzra]

Great article, I definitely appreciate your more recent approach to (Legacy) fundamentals rather than just decks, decks, decks.


I think it's very important to differ between "Noobs", where you probably shouldn't think too much, just play mechanically well and you should win. "Normal Players" - where you should probably add one level of bluffing to your game and the uplifting games when you face someone your caliber, where you play a game inside a game.

Along these lines, I'd be interested to read an article on evaluating Legacy players' skill level. Sometimes it isn't always apparent how good your opponent is; they might not be making any overt misplays, but perhaps there are nuances that you can watch for? For example, better Miracles players will activate the "look" ability of Top, holding priority before cracking a fetch land. Also, the consistency with which a player represents some spell (REB, Stifle, Spell Pierce, etc) might give insight. For example, does your RUG opponent appear to represent Stifle on turn 1 then immediately give up and tap out on turn 2? Maybe they actually have the Stifle and maybe they don't, but they've now told you that representing spells isn't necessarily something that they are thinking about.

[Koby]

Kudos Carsten. This is an excellent article about the implicit valuation of information available to players. I continue to hope you will put this series into a book, so that I may purchase it.

[Mon,Goblin Chief]

@Einherjer: definitely a good point. If your opponent just isn't fully in the game (or good enough) a lot of these mental game techniques lose a lot of value, sadly. Utterly adore them, too ;)

@Dzra: that's quite the subject you suggest there (and start off with ;) ), not sure if I feel actually qualified to write that article. Much appreciated, definitely an excellent article idea.

@Koby: Thanks! :) I'd like to write that book/article collection, honestly. Will happen at some (as yet undetermined) point in the future. If I don't sell at least one copy, I'll know you were just flattering me then ;)

[ThoSha]

Great article like always.
Sometimes I wonder why they are still free, not that I am complaining. :)

To add on the information bit, I totally agree with you that Vendilion Clique and Gitaxian Probe are very potent cards in legacy.
Playing Clique in Miracles in combination of being known for having maindeck Redblasts is a real force, because you can bluff and unmask your opponent in good fashion.

[ScatmanX]

Ment to write sooner. Awesome one!

Enviado de meu GT-S6313T usando Tapatalk

[Plague Sliver]

@Koby: Thanks! :) I'd like to write that book/article collection, honestly. Will happen at some (as yet undetermined) point in the future. If I don't sell at least one copy, I'll know you were just flattering me then ;)

Add me to the list of people who would love to read a collection! I've enjoyed your articles over the years, even if the feedback was silent.

[phazonmutant]

Add me to the list of people who would love to read a collection! I've enjoyed your articles over the years, even if the feedback was silent.

Couldn't have said it better. Best Magic writer on the internet as far as I'm concerned.

[Ellomdian]

Great article - I think there isn't much else that defines the difference between Standard and Legacy more than the ways that Threat Value reflect and impact strategic choices. Turn 1 Scry Land go is such a world of difference from T1 Volcanic->Ponder.