4 Card Blind: The Silkster Seasons

[Reeplcheep]

I’m confused. The term ceiling and lowest scoring conflict. Are we trying to build the strongest deck that loses to something? Or the weakest deck? If you are just building the weakest deck why is the ceiling relevant?
We should probably have a ceiling deck for the first round.

[FTW]

I was confused too. I thought this was like Backbuild and submitted a deck that can't win much.

So we are trying to win games against each other but lose to the "ceiling deck"? So for Round 1 we are just trying to win period?

[Wrath of Pie]

I’m confused. The term ceiling and lowest scoring conflict. Are we trying to build the strongest deck that loses to something? Or the weakest deck? If you are just building the weakest deck why is the ceiling relevant?
We should probably have a ceiling deck for the first round.

Still trying to win, just has to lose to the sample hand.

I'm guessing the reason that there is a warm-up round is that we really don't need to argue incessantly over whatever the starting hand should be, which is always the worst part.

[silkster]

Wrath of Pie has it right. You are trying to win. The legal decks are the decks that lose to the ceiling deck of the round. So you're looking for the "best/strongest" deck each round.

We will have a ceiling deck in the first round. We're just having a "submit anything" warm-up round to determine what the round 1 ceiling deck will be. You can view this round as a vote and the winner is the one in the middle.

Personally, I'm aiming to submit a deck that ends up being the median. It's an interesting challenge to think about. But you can submit anything you want. Lotus + Thassa's Oracle + Leyline of Anticipation + Street Wraith will make a whole lot of decks legal the following round. Island + Island + Island + Merchant of Secrets would make far fewer decks legal. We probably won't end up with a deck like those because they would score far too many or far too few points in this warm-up round. It's also a chance to submit joke decks like four dogs in a horse suit. Or a silly collection of lesser known goblins. You're welcome to resubmit if you misunderstood the warm-up (or if you want to for any other reason). I haven't looked at any of the submissions yet.

[Asthereal]

Okay so the plan is this:
We create the best deck possible (trying to win) which still loses 0-6 against the ceiling deck?
And then we have a new ceiling deck each round, which is reveiled at the opening of submissions for that round?

If true, I'm still not sure what that line "After round 1, the ceiling deck will be the lowest scoring deck* of the previous round" means.

[dte]

Okay so the plan is this:
We create the best deck possible (trying to win) which still loses 0-6 against the ceiling deck?
And then we have a new ceiling deck each round, which is reveiled at the opening of submissions for that round?

If true, I'm still not sure what that line "After round 1, the ceiling deck will be the lowest scoring deck* of the previous round" means.

The deck/hand that got the smallest amount of points, and was then likely the weakest deck/hand in the metagame, becomes the ceiling deck/hand. You hope yours is never chosen.

I would think it a good idea to not allow the use of the cards in the current ceiling deck. Mimick/clone deck is no fun.

[Asthereal]

The deck/hand that got the smallest amount of points, and was then likely the weakest deck/hand in the metagame, becomes the ceiling deck/hand. You hope yours is never chosen.

I would think it a good idea to not allow the use of the cards in the current ceiling deck. Mimick/clone deck is no fun.

Ooh right, that makes sense. Not sure why my brain didn't go there.

And for your second point: that's a good idea, temporarily banning the cards of the ceiling deck each round could add to the fun.

[Wrath of Pie]

I would think it a good idea to not allow the use of the cards in the current ceiling deck. Mimick/clone deck is no fun.

Mimicking is still going to happen, even though it's never really a winning strategy (akin to going as slow as possible in Backbuild).

You do have a fair point in not allowing the cards in the ceiling hand, though.

[silkster]

I would think it a good idea to not allow the use of the cards in the current ceiling deck. Mimick/clone deck is no fun.

I've been thinking about this this week, but there are just so many identical or near-identical cards that I don't expect the banning of cards in the current ceiling deck to reduce mimicking. That said, we might as well ban them.

[silkster]

Ceiling Season - Pre-Round

dte: The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale Utopia mycon, Leyline of the Guildpact, Coalition Victory, comment: It is May first, so "United, saproling & Fungus shall prevail!".
Reeplcheep: Bazaar of Baghdad Blazing Rootwalla, Basking Rootwalla, Vengevine, comment: Hoping for wheel decks
GoblinSmashmaster: Chancellor of the Annex Solitude, Hearthfire Hobgoblin, Fountain of Cho, comment: Goblin Smash!
Wrath of Pie: Fountain of Cho Elspeth, Knight-Errant, Elspeth Tirel, Elspeth, Sun's Champion, comment: Too bad I can't actually submit all the Elspeths
FTW: Black Lotus Thassa's Oracle, Force of Will, Subtlety, comment: Not Backbuild!
Fourdogs Ina Horsesuit: Channel fireball, gruul turf, forest, comment: CFB
Silkster: Mountain Mountain, Shock, Chandra's Magmutt, comment:

We'll do scores for this round, to determine what will be the ceiling deck next round. We will also put temporary bans each round on the cards in the ceiling deck (not including basic lands).

Link to the pre-round scores page: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...gid=1491769699

[silkster]

dte: The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale Utopia mycon, Leyline of the Guildpact, Coalition Victory, comment: It is May first, so "United, saproling & Fungus shall prevail!".
WW - Shock too good.

Reeplcheep: Bazaar of Baghdad Blazing Rootwalla, Basking Rootwalla, Vengevine, comment: Hoping for wheel decks
LL - So much power here!

GoblinSmashmaster: Chancellor of the Annex Solitude, Hearthfire Hobgoblin, Fountain of Cho, comment: Goblin Smash!
LL - I can get my 2/2 into play, but it's nowhere near fast enough.

Wrath of Pie: Fountain of Cho Elspeth, Knight-Errant, Elspeth Tirel, Elspeth, Sun's Champion, comment: Too bad I can't actually submit all the Elspeths
LL - This is almost complicated, but I think I lose most convincingly to turn-7 Tirel who makes enough blockers to trade and then gains life.

FTW: Black Lotus Thassa's Oracle, Force of Will, Subtlety, comment: Not Backbuild!
LL - I very briefly considered submitting a deck like this.

Fourdogs Ina Horsesuit: Channel fireball, grull turf, forest, comment: CFB
DD - I burn you, you burn my creature.

Silkster: Mountain Mountain, Shock, Chandra's Magmutt, comment:
I thought this would be more middle-of-the-road. I'm curious which of these will win the most medium.

[FTW]

FTW: Black Lotus Thassa's Oracle, Force of Will, Subtlety, comment: Not Backbuild!

dte: The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale Utopia mycon, Leyline of the Guildpact, Coalition Victory, comment: It is May first, so "United, saproling & Fungus shall prevail!".
Force Mycon, Thassa WW 6-0

Reeplcheep: Bazaar of Baghdad Blazing Rootwalla, Basking Rootwalla, Vengevine, comment: Hoping for wheel decks
Counter 1 creature, Thassa WW 6-0

GoblinSmashmaster: Chancellor of the Annex Solitude, Hearthfire Hobgoblin, Fountain of Cho, comment: Goblin Smash!
Evoke Subtlety, countered by Chancellor, Thassa WW 6-0

Wrath of Pie: Fountain of Cho Elspeth, Knight-Errant, Elspeth Tirel, Elspeth, Sun's Champion, comment: Too bad I can't actually submit all the Elspeths
Thassa WW 6-0

Fourdogs Ina Horsesuit: Channel fireball, grull turf, forest, comment: CFB
Thassa WW 6-0

Silkster: Mountain Mountain, Shock, Chandra's Magmutt, comment:
Thassa WW 6-0

36 points (12 W)

I went full-tilt from "can't win" Show and Tell Phage the Untouchable to Tier S. Did not understand this round.
First submission would have scored 0 points (12 L).

[GoblinSmashmaster]

GoblinSmashmaster Results for "Pre-Round"

dte: The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale Utopia mycon, Leyline of the Guildpact, Coalition Victory, comment: It is May first, so "United, saproling & Fungus shall prevail!".
Hobgoblin smash! 6-0

Reeplcheep: Bazaar of Baghdad Blazing Rootwalla, Basking Rootwalla, Vengevine, comment: Hoping for wheel decks
Hobgoblin smash! 6-0

GoblinSmashmaster: Chancellor of the Annex Solitude, Hearthfire Hobgoblin, Fountain of Cho, comment: Goblin Smash!
Hobgoblins too strong :(

Wrath of Pie: Fountain of Cho Elspeth, Knight-Errant, Elspeth Tirel, Elspeth, Sun's Champion, comment: Too bad I can't actually submit all the Elspeths
Elspeth smash 0-6

FTW: Black Lotus Thassa's Oracle, Force of Will, Subtlety, comment: Not Backbuild!
Thassa 0-6

Fourdogs Ina Horsesuit: Channel fireball, gruul turf, forest, comment: CFB
Hobgoblin smash! 6-0

Silkster: Mountain Mountain, Shock, Chandra's Magmutt, comment:
Hobgoblin smash! 6-0

[FourDogsinaHorseSuit]

dte: The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale Utopia mycon, Leyline of the Guildpact, Coalition Victory, comment: It is May first, so "United, saproling & Fungus shall prevail!"
WW FIREBALL!
Reeplcheep: Bazaar of Baghdad Blazing Rootwalla, Basking Rootwalla, Vengevine, comment: Hoping for wheel decks
LL a 1/1? Unbeatable!
GoblinSmashmaster: Chancellor of the Annex Solitude, Hearthfire Hobgoblin, Fountain of Cho, comment: Goblin Smash!
LL a chancellor? Unbeatable!
Wrath of Pie: Fountain of Cho Elspeth, Knight-Errant, Elspeth Tirel, Elspeth, Sun's Champion, comment: Too bad I can't actually submit all the Elspeths
WW FIREBALL!
FTW: Black Lotus Thassa's Oracle, Force of Will, Subtlety, comment: Not Backbuild!
LL We doing this for real?
Fourdogs Ina Horsesuit: Channel fireball, gruul turf, forest, comment: CFB
Me
Silkster: Mountain Mountain, Shock, Chandra's Magmutt, comment:
DD A shock? Unbeatable!

[dte]

dte: The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale Utopia mycon, Leyline of the Guildpact, Coalition Victory, comment: It is May first, so "United, saproling & Fungus shall prevail!".
Me, with one of the most control land legacy offers & a wincon that bypass the attack phase. That is crucial, combat maths can be tricky.

Reeplcheep: Bazaar of Baghdad Blazing Rootwalla, Basking Rootwalla, Vengevine, comment: Hoping for wheel decks
6-0, allies victory.
6

GoblinSmashmaster: Chancellor of the Annex Solitude, Hearthfire Hobgoblin, Fountain of Cho, comment: Goblin Smash!
0-6, too much control!

Wrath of Pie: Fountain of Cho Elspeth, Knight-Errant, Elspeth Tirel, Elspeth, Sun's Champion, comment: Too bad I can't actually submit all the Elspeth
0-6. Too bad you chose elspeth that can get rid of lleylines!
6

FTW: Black Lotus Thassa's Oracle, Force of Will, Subtlety, comment: Not Backbuild!
0-6. I fail to see the subtlety here.
6

Fourdogs Ina Horsesuit: Channel fireball, gruul turf, forest, comment: CFB
2-2. That is some big fire for a little fungus.
8

Silkster: Mountain Mountain, Shock, Chandra's Magmutt
0-6. Shock is too good a removal.

Total 8.

[silkster]

Fourdogs Ina Horsesuit: Channel fireball, gruul turf, forest, comment: CFB
2-2. That is some big fire for a little fungus.
8

Silkster: Mountain Mountain, Shock, Chandra's Magmutt
0-6. Shock is too good a removal.

Doesn't Fourdogs just kill you on turn 3 before you can do damage on turn 5?
I almost played Spark Spray instead of the Shock. :)

[FTW]

FTW: Black Lotus Thassa's Oracle, Force of Will, Subtlety, comment: Not Backbuild!
0-6. I fail to see the subtlety here.
6.

I missed some of the rules everyone else seemed to understand:
- This week is PRE-Round (aka Round 0, not Round 1)
- Pre-Round does NOT count towards season score

My submission makes more sense under that context

[silkster]

I missed some of the rules everyone else seemed to understand:
- This week is PRE-Round (aka Round 0, not Round 1)
- Pre-Round does NOT count towards season score

My submission makes more sense under that context

I think dte was mostly just making a pun on "subtlety", though I missed it on first pass.

I realize that I forgot to declare how to make tie-breakers for the lowest scoring deck of the round, so I'll make it now. A deck that is submitted earlier scores higher for the purposes of determining a ceiling deck. The deck submitted later scores lower.

[Wrath of Pie]

Wrath of Pie: Fountain of Cho Elspeth, Knight-Errant, Elspeth Tirel, Elspeth, Sun's Champion, comment: Too bad I can't actually submit all the Elspeths

dte: The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale Utopia mycon, Leyline of the Guildpact, Coalition Victory, comment: It is May first, so "United, saproling & Fungus shall prevail!". - WW
Reeplcheep: Bazaar of Baghdad Blazing Rootwalla, Basking Rootwalla, Vengevine, comment: Hoping for wheel decks - LL
GoblinSmashmaster: Chancellor of the Annex Solitude, Hearthfire Hobgoblin, Fountain of Cho, comment: Goblin Smash! - WW
FTW: Black Lotus Thassa's Oracle, Force of Will, Subtlety, comment: Not Backbuild! - LL - Comment needed more subtle puns, although at least you did live up to your username.
Fourdogs Ina Horsesuit: Channel fireball, gruul turf, forest, comment: CFB - LL
Silkster: Mountain Mountain, Shock, Chandra's Magmutt, comment: - WW

6w = 18 points

All the Elspeths manages to be just average, nothing more and nothing less. (I think Reeplcheep also managed to be average.)

[dte]

Doesn't Fourdogs just kill you on turn 3 before you can do damage on turn 5?

How can 4dogs kill - me or anyone?