Someone explain Vial and Meddling Mage please

[Moxlotus]

I know it works, I just do not understand how.  I know you can't use Orim's Chant or Abeyance as a counterspell, why can you do it with this combo?

[Jacob Orlove]

You can't, unless it's a madness spell. Same as with Chant or Abeyance.

edit: to answer without spamming up the forum: it lets affinity reliably cast Mage naming Energy Flux.

[Moxlotus]

Then what is the big deal with that combo in extended and why are people going apeshit over it?

[Zelc]

This probably doesn't belong in the rules forum, but it allows Affinity to play Mage without having to worry about the UW casting cost.  Mage can stop crucial spells like Energy Flux and Deed.

[jpmeyer]

This is heavily because Affinity wants to have Vial set at 2 anyway to allow for surprise Ravagers.

[Komatteru]

Since no one else has answered the original question, here's how it works (I assume you speak of the Meddling Mage and Circular Logic thing):

Player A is playing Madness and B is playing Affinity.
Ok, Circular Logic is discarded and its Madness trigger goes on the stack.  What this means is that Player A gets to decide whether or not to remove it from the game.  If he does, he may play it as an instant before he passes next.  Player A also has the option of just putting the card into his graveyard, forgoing the ability to play it.  Ok, while this trigger is on the stack, player B Vials in Meddling Mage and names Circular Logic.  Now, the Madness trigger resolves, but Circular Logic cannot be played because Meddling Mage forbids it (remember that paying a spells Madness cost is still playing it, much like paying the alternate cost for Force of Will or Morph).  Thus, Circular Logic is not countered, it was never played because the Madness trigger hadn't finished resolving, so it was not able to be played yet.  That's how it works.  If you vial in Meddling Mage while Circular Logic (not the Madness trigger, as I have it there before) is on the stack, nothing happens.  This difference is ever so slight, but very important.

[Moxlotus]

Ok, I didnt realize my question was 2 parts (it turned out it was).

Thread can be closed now.