I am aware that this is not a perfectly performing deck at all. I also know that Goblins and Ichorid with proxies are much stronger budget decks. However, I have already discussed my reasoning for chosing this deck in my previous posts, and I don't find any good reasoning (yet) to pick up another deck. As a recap, the main purpose of this deck is to serve as a starting point to play vintage with, and be a deck that I can gradually expand as I get more vintage staples. Decks like TMWA and Goblins might be better on a budget, but they don't really allow for easy integration of newly acquired vintage staples.



Regarding that first statement, I have to ask: What do you mean with "doesn't cut it"? Do you mean that it will never get a win in and doesn't allow for learning about vintage environment? Or do you mean that it won't win a tournament? If it's the last, then don't worry, because I just want to use it to learn about the environment and gradually expand into a better deck (or transform it altogether, depending on the situation). If it's the first, then I could you give me a pointer to a discussion about this, or give a more detailed explanation.

Mostly the latter, that it probably won't do well in a tournament setting. However, it does kind of restrict your ability to learn about the format, mainly because, you aren't using the optimal cards for your deck and getting the "full effect." I mean, fetchlands can pull off some amazing tricks when you have the proper synergy with the optimal decklist. Even if you play Vintage casually, you should play with the mindset that you want to compete with the top decks.


So what you say is that you'd advise against getting into vintage with a deck that you can expand over time, but instead pour resources into a completely different budget deck and then start working on something I want to play. The problem with that, as I see it, is that I'd probably have to spend as much time and money getting a budget goblin deck together as I need for the lists I presented above. I can't use goblins to expand my vintage collection (except for expanding into TMWA variants). Also, part of what I need is playing skill and vintage gaming knowledge, and while I can get that using a goblins deck, I think that the skills required to play a variant of the above are more in line with the skills I need for my eventual vintage deck(s) (Blue being my favourite color in magic).

Ok, I understand completely on what you are saying, but it would be sorta unproductive to put all of your time and energy into a deck that you can't even play correctly now, due to not having all the cards you need. Plus, it sounds like it may take some time before you'll even be able to get all the basic stuff that most blue-based decks need, let alone power. Platinum Control isn't a top-tier deck, and it may not even be viable 6 months from now.

The Vintage format does change over time. It's good to have the staples regardless of what deck you play, so that you can build other decks down the road. Learning how to play other decks also helps make you understand the game better. You'll start to pick up on your own mistakes and learn strengths & weaknesses of other decks. If there's one thing I learned from playing underpowered and suboptimal decks....you will learn how to lose.

I really just threw out some decks that I knew you could build cheap (under $200 with 10 proxy). Mainly because you are faced with this decision: Play an underpowered, sub-optimal deck and spend years building it, or play a deck that can fire on all cylinders (with proxies) and potentially do well in a tournament setting. This is important, because you can win power or cash to buy the expensive stuff and complete your "pet" deck by playing in tournaments.

However, after looking over some lists, maybe these decks might be better suited to you: Flash, Fish, and Landstill. Here are 3 more decks that can be built under $100 (with proxies for the expensive stuff). Plus, you won't have to invest a lot into cards that you don't need for your pet deck.
@h3x: Thanks for the support, I'm going to think about Meloku but as I have no sideboard yet, I can always play with that in the (virtual) sideboard for the moment. She seems like an interesting and powerful choice, but what spot would she take? 2 Platinums seems a little low for a deck that already compromises in efficiency (due to terramorphics etc.). Also, I don't yet have a good understanding about how singletons without dedicated tutors to search it affect a deck like this.

Finally as a general question: With Forces being the first addition I want to make for vintage, which 4 new proxies should I think about? the 4th mana drain seems obvious, but after that? Fetches seem like the most stable choice, but a pair of moxen and a time walk is also appealing. What would you guys advice?

Very rarely.

Cutting Bargain and Necro are almost certainly mistakes.  They're just too powerful.  As far as Duress slowing you down, you don't have to play it just because it's in your hand.  If you think all it's going to do is slow you down, then don't play it.

Nope.  I've lost too many games to playing draw 7's.

I agree that Gush will be fun and interesting, but I'm not sure I want the Vintage metagame used as a test range for "hey, is this card still broken?"  Gush especially is a dangerous card, granted maybe not as much as before, but it's still two new cards for free and is disgusting with Fastbond in play.  It seems unexpected to say the least for Gush to get thrown back into the format like it was.  If it stays off, that's good; if it goes back on, that's annoying.

Also, am I mistaken in remembering that Wizards said they wanted Mana Drain to be the benchmark speed for Vintage.  That is, once Mana Drain stopped being viable hate they would try to slow the format?  Regardless of whether they said that, it seems like we're at that point.