The True Power Of The Dark Side
Jan. 17th, 2002 11:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jackofallgeeksIt doesn't think. It doesn't feel.
It doesn't laugh or cry.
All it does from dusk till dawn
Is make the soldiers die.
-Onean children's rhyme
Do Not Overestimate The Power Of The Dark Side
This post is partly in response to a comment Rachel said about the overwheling 'kill-em-all' -ability of Black Magic in Magic: The Gathering.
It's also just an excuse for me to talk about Magic.
One thing that Newbies always ask is "Which color is the most powerful?" Often, the imps are eventually drawn towards Red, for it's devastating directness, or Green, for it's undeniable muscle. Often they look over the versatility of Blue, with it's control, and EVERYONE, myself included, underestimates the power of White Magic.
Most newbies avoid Black Magic. The simple reason is, it's dangerous. There are only two things black can do flawlessly - that is, force Discard and kill creatures. Black is by far the most efficient creature-killer in the entire game, unless the target creature is itself black. All evil, after all, is the same evil.
But, Black can do just about anything the other colors can do, and that's what makes it dangerous. Not to the opponent, but to the Mage who uses the dark spells. Black Magic is known for consuming itself, and this is no exception. You can do almost anything you want...for a price. Be it creature sacrifice, the loss of a land, or even a bit of your own life, Black makes you pay in the end. When I play Black, I've been known to kill myself in the process, finishing off my opponent with just 2 or 3 life left.
Even at this, Black isn't the strongest color. If you can get around the 'extra costs' for Black Magic, you still have to realize this - it's inefficient. Black can do it, yes, but another color could do it so much easier, and infinately less painfully. A few of my best Black decks are a Black-Blue splashed with Red, a Black-White - the two compliment eachother disturbingly well, and a Black-Green that gets big stuff out and keeps them out..for the most part. My pride and joy, though, is a Green-Blue deck that doesn't use Black at all.
The reason I'm so excited about Torment? It'll be so much FUN. Black is a color that makes you think, at the very least, and it'll be interesting to see what they do with this.
Along those lines, there is one new mechanic, and a simple rule, that levels the battle feild. The mechanic is that there will be some card which you can play, for a reduced cost, if they are being discarded. And since Black is so good with discard, that will hurt. O.O
The simple rule is just this - a double-edged blade cuts both ways. Black may well open alot of doors for me, but it will kill me in the end. Period. And you also have to realize that other Mages may use Black as well, and then I would get a taste of my own medicie, wouldn't I?
If fear is the only tool you have left, then you'll never control me.
It doesn't laugh or cry.
All it does from dusk till dawn
Is make the soldiers die.
-Onean children's rhyme
Do Not Overestimate The Power Of The Dark Side
This post is partly in response to a comment Rachel said about the overwheling 'kill-em-all' -ability of Black Magic in Magic: The Gathering.
It's also just an excuse for me to talk about Magic.
One thing that Newbies always ask is "Which color is the most powerful?" Often, the imps are eventually drawn towards Red, for it's devastating directness, or Green, for it's undeniable muscle. Often they look over the versatility of Blue, with it's control, and EVERYONE, myself included, underestimates the power of White Magic.
Most newbies avoid Black Magic. The simple reason is, it's dangerous. There are only two things black can do flawlessly - that is, force Discard and kill creatures. Black is by far the most efficient creature-killer in the entire game, unless the target creature is itself black. All evil, after all, is the same evil.
But, Black can do just about anything the other colors can do, and that's what makes it dangerous. Not to the opponent, but to the Mage who uses the dark spells. Black Magic is known for consuming itself, and this is no exception. You can do almost anything you want...for a price. Be it creature sacrifice, the loss of a land, or even a bit of your own life, Black makes you pay in the end. When I play Black, I've been known to kill myself in the process, finishing off my opponent with just 2 or 3 life left.
Even at this, Black isn't the strongest color. If you can get around the 'extra costs' for Black Magic, you still have to realize this - it's inefficient. Black can do it, yes, but another color could do it so much easier, and infinately less painfully. A few of my best Black decks are a Black-Blue splashed with Red, a Black-White - the two compliment eachother disturbingly well, and a Black-Green that gets big stuff out and keeps them out..for the most part. My pride and joy, though, is a Green-Blue deck that doesn't use Black at all.
The reason I'm so excited about Torment? It'll be so much FUN. Black is a color that makes you think, at the very least, and it'll be interesting to see what they do with this.
Along those lines, there is one new mechanic, and a simple rule, that levels the battle feild. The mechanic is that there will be some card which you can play, for a reduced cost, if they are being discarded. And since Black is so good with discard, that will hurt. O.O
The simple rule is just this - a double-edged blade cuts both ways. Black may well open alot of doors for me, but it will kill me in the end. Period. And you also have to realize that other Mages may use Black as well, and then I would get a taste of my own medicie, wouldn't I?
If fear is the only tool you have left, then you'll never control me.
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Ah, nostalgia...
Date: 2002-01-17 09:45 am (UTC)*Narrows Eyes*
If you went in to see a thewrepist saying things likle that, they'd tell you you had self-confidence issues you had to deal with, and you'd believe them. But since you're talking to me about Magic, anything I say has no bearing on reality because "it's the truth."
Well, I think that if you simply applied yourself to getting back into the game, you could be a great player, just like anyone. Compare yourself to me, if you'd like, but remember, I've been playing for near seven years now, and I didn't start out with any special talent or the encyclopedic knowlege of every card ever made. Hell, when I started playing, I thought that Colorless Mana could be used for any color mana.
Nothing personal, Leslie, I just get sick of people who decide they can't play Magic simply because they don't know how, or they've grown rusty. There are plenty of people with even less experience than you who have beaten me, as much as you people seem to think I'm an unbeatable Champion.
In your defense, at least you're not one of those "I think know everything about Magic because I played it back when if first came out, when I know [Radio Edit] about the game or the rules."
Enough Rant. I think I'm gonna go blow away some bots in Unreal.
Re: *Narrows Eyes*
Date: 2002-01-19 11:40 am (UTC)I'm sorry I implied that
Date: 2002-01-20 07:57 pm (UTC)