ODBC! Sept/Oct: Balance: Machine v. Nature

[Resonantg]

First off, apologies.

It's a learning curve for me too. Now I have it worked out for how to set up for the rules for the next contest theme pick after this one. Because of this, we'll have this contest go through to October to give people enough time to have fun. Now ON WITH THE SHOW!


Balance: Machine versus Nature

Apthaven picked a real lulu of an idea with this month's challenge with a twist from me. With a nod of the hat to the Mirrorden set, we are going to create decks balanced between Artifacts and Creatures. So if you use mirrorden cards, it'll make him all the happier.

-Decks must contain equal amounts of Artifact and Creature cards. Land cards do not have to be balanced, but artifact or creature lands DO!

EXAMPLE::::

20 land (4 Artifact/4 "Creature" included)
16 Artifacts
8 Artifact Creatures
16 Creatures

::::

-No Enchantment, sorcery, instants, or arcane cards. Not even if all they do is introduce token creatures! Told ya it would be tough.

- All colors are allowed.

- the July 31st or any AUGUST release of Forge is allowed due to the extended timeframe. So if a new release happens before Aug 30, it's game.

-All decks must be posted in this thread with a card list. They must be posted before Midnight Central Standard Time, Oct 15th 2010

Any questions, PM me.

Good luck everyone! I'm sure the challenge will lead to some great decks.

[psillusionist]

I have a clarification...by creature lands, are you referring to manlands (lands that require an activation to become creatures) or just true creature lands like Dryad Arbor?

Also, where do lands that turn into artifact creatures fall under? 'Cause when not activated, they are classified as man lands, but when activated, they also become artifact lands.

How are land cards that produce creature tokens classified (i.e. Khalni Garden)? Are they just treated as normal lands and therefore exempt from the balance rule or are they classified as creature lands as well?

[Resonantg]

Right, great question I should have answered better.

Lands that become Creatures with or without an activation cost, must be balanced with an Artifact Land. Lands that produce creature tokens also must be balanced with artifact lands. Thankfully we have a complete set of artifact lands to work with. These are not to be counted towards the Creature/Artifact balance. Only the Land Creature/Artifact Land balance.

Artifacts that produce Token Creatures that are NOT Artifact Creatures are considered Balanced (The Hive, Sarpadian Empires Vol VII) unto themselves. But if it produces Artifact Creatures, the artifact must be balanced against a Creature.

Also, Artifact Equipment counts as an Artifact. The only thing that that does not have to be balanced are Artifact Creatures. :c) .

Oh, I should also point out, Plainswalkers count as CREATURES unless otherwise noted as an ARTIFACT CREATURE.

BTW, I've been kicking myself on what to create this deck myself. It's much harder than I originally considered. Awesome!

[Marek14]

Serpent Generator DOES produce artifact creatures...

[Resonantg]

oops... my bad. Rule will still follow, just a bad example card.

[lord of 13]

A simple affinity-like build... just w/o noncreature, nonartifact cards like Tez.

• 1 Keiga, the Tide Star
• 4 Master of Etherium
• 4 Trinket Mage
• 1 Mox Sapphire
• 1 Frogmite
• 4 Helm of Awakening
• 4 Defense Grid
• 4 Seat of the Synod
• 3 Tolarian Academy
• 4 Darksteel Citadel
• 4 Myr Enforcer
• 4 Etherium Sculptor
• 4 Qumulox
• 3 Academy Ruins
• 4 Dread Statuary
• 4 Mutavault
• 3 Arcbound Worker
• 4 Steel Overseer

[Resonantg]

Don't forget to upload your deck file for the rest of us to download for testing.

[lord of 13]

[belatedly] Done.

[Resonantg]

Marvelous Lord of 13.

[Hellfish]

For my first non-draft deckbuilding effort with Forge I present what will probably be the least sophisticated deck in the compo!
I may tweak it (That is okay, right? At least until Oct. 15th?) a little, as Helm of Awakening is not ideal. But hey, turn 3 Kalonian Behemoth, anyone? (It has happened several times )

Artifacts:
4 Mox Emerald
4 Emerald Medallion
2 Helm of Awakening
4 Lightning Greaves
4 Sol Ring

Creatures:
4 Baloth Woodcrasher
4 Rampaging Baloths
2 Kalonian Behemoth
4 Leatherback Baloth
4 Gigantomancer

Lands:
24 Forest

As an aside, not allowing the dck extension on a forum like this is a decision I don't understand.

[Resonantg]

Actually, tweaks are not allowed after submission. I will be fine to let you pull this one back till you are ready. People download them before they are being officially judged, so they may not have the final version that is considered official in the judging. This is to protect your best effort and you may do best.

For instance last contest I never realized how perfect the Isocron Scepter would have been. I kicked myself for it, but didn't change it either, because I entered it in.

So friendly reminder, don't submit till you're happy with your deck. If you or Lord of 13 wish to pull yours to tweak it, you may, but all other decks posted after this message will be disqualified if edited after this date.

BTW, as is I'm going to have a hard time beating yours I think Hellfish.

[Hellfish]

Oh, that's okay, I'll keep the deck up. It's been downloaded already, so.. While Helm of Awakening is not ideal it's good enough. Just save it for as long as possible before using it to bust out the baloths to avoid giving the opponent too much boost off of it.

[lord of 13]

We don't have the follow the banned/restricted lists? I followed Vintage guidelines for my deck...

[Hellfish]

Good question,actually, I didn't even consider that

[Resonantg]

yeah, I gotta make the original rules post standardized. :c) My bad for any confusion.

So, reminder:

- Decks must be 60+ cards in length.
- Legendary and restricted card rules are in effect (1 legend, one [type]Mox/Black Lotus/Sol Ring...)
- No more than 4 of any regular card except basic land/snowland unless otherwise allowed (Relentless Rats for example)

After that, it's follow the restrictions of the contest challenge. If I've missed any standard 'tournament' rules, let me know.
- All sets are available