[Free Article] The Eternal Spotlight

[Islandswamp]

Hello everyone,

I'm starting this thread to share my article series on PureMTGO with you all.

I've been writing for the website for a while, and a few months ago, I started playing Legacy, and more recently, Vintage (on Magic: Online).

If anyone has any opinions, constructive criticisms, etc, I'd love to hear it. Since starting to play and write about the Eternal formats, I've been studying the work of other authors in far greater detail. I love how deep of a format Vintage is, and I've really come to respect some of the great Vintage writers out there.

My latest article features my Oath of Druids build, that I took to my first Daily Event. I was undefeated until the final round, where I lost in three close games. I'm happy with the result, being that it was my first Vintage event ever.

Here's the link: http://puremtgo.com/articles/eternal-spotlight-griselbrand-every-format

Here's a link to my past work, if anyone is interested: http://puremtgo.com/articles/recent?uid=joe+fiorini&title=&field_summary_value=

Joe Fiorini - Islandswamp on MTGO

EDIT: Here is the Latest article, I'm posting it here so it's on top and people can find it better. Thanks to everyone for reading, and I hope it's enjoyable for everyone.

/ =[/b] http://puremtgo.com/articles/eternal-spotlight-mental-probing-and-gitaxian-missteps

[TheMonadNomad]

Nice article!  I wasn't aware of the give-your-opponent-a-spirit-token-then-redirect-abrupt-decay-to-the-spirit-token trick - that's pretty clever.    The game where your shops player cast a Metamorph - did you activate your Griselbrand in response to the casting of Metamorph?  This is normally what happens when I play shops vs Grisel-Oath; they activate Griselbrand's ability in response to the casting of Metamorph, which then typically results in Metamorph getting FoW'ed.  You went on to win the game regardless but it might be something to take note of.  Keep up the good work!

[Islandswamp]

yes, I believe I did. If i didn't, it's because I may have already drawn a lot on my own turn looking for a Time Walk. I can watch the replay and find out.

I'm hoping to get a new computer soon, and start streaming or making videos. I tried before, but the videos didn't come out right, and I think it was due to my laptop being not so great. I'm also not the best with computers, at least in comparison to a lot of people out there.

Thanks so much for reading! I do these articles once a week, and I'll keep posting links. You can also check the website on Fridays. There is a Vintage podcast on the site called Yawgmoth's Soap Opera that is quite good as well.

[Islandswamp]

The next episode should be out there by Friday. I'm currently working on it.

I have done a couple interviews in past articles, and I am interested in doing more. It's a goal of mine, and I think it's a good way to promote vintage and legacy, and the eternal formats on mtgo.

So, if you read this, and think you're a good candidate to be interviewed, by all means, contact me.

[gribdogs]

I believe I read your article.  I usually check the feeds via my Decked Builder app on my iPhone.  I'm also partial to Oath decks being that when I play tournies (which is very rarely) I am playing Oath anymore.  My preference is the Pitch Long variant, but the control versions are also fun, too.

I don't have any tips for you on the deck (as I'm hardly qualified to do so), but I enjoyed the article and enjoyed the Vintage shout out.  I'll keep reading if you keep writing.

[Islandswamp]

http://puremtgo.com/articles/eternal-spotlight-episode-iii-newb-hope

That's the Link to the latest episode. The Eternal Spotlight is a weekly series focusing on the Vintage and Legacy scene on Magic: Online

Thanks again for reading!

[Islandswamp]

I believe I read your article.  I usually check the feeds via my Decked Builder app on my iPhone.  I'm also partial to Oath decks being that when I play tournies (which is very rarely) I am playing Oath anymore.  My preference is the Pitch Long variant, but the control versions are also fun, too.

I don't have any tips for you on the deck (as I'm hardly qualified to do so), but I enjoyed the article and enjoyed the Vintage shout out.  I'll keep reading if you keep writing.

Thanks man! I really appreciate the kind words. That's what keeps me going.

[Teluin]

Not a huge deal, but in the deck box you put Creatures: 0 and then 2 Griselbrands in the Other Spells section.

[Islandswamp]

Hopefully, when puremtgo gets its not a upgrade, the deck list generator will as well.

Every single deck list has that problem. Certain creatures like grislebrand and restoration angel get listed under spells.

There's no way to fix it without using another table Generator .

If anyone is wondering, every picture and link, and autocard is added by me, so the entire process is more labor intensive than you'd think. Thanks for reading.

[gribdogs]

Another fun article.  I, too, also love(d) Legacy Reanimator and Sneak and Show.  However, I got out of Legacy a while back as the direction of the format was just not fun for me anymore.  During that period, though, Vintage picked up through the roof so it was easy to transition fully.

[Islandswamp]

Here is the latest, came out today. http://puremtgo.com/articles/eternal-spotlight-quantum-fluctuations-and-elemental-tokens

I'm still working on the format for the article. If anyone sees anything they like, or don't like, let me know so I can find the best formula for providing useful, entertaining, and relevant content.

I think that adding each article link to this one thread is probably the best, so the board isn't flooded with a different thread post each week. People seem to notice when I add a link. So, until I have a reason to do otherwise, I'll keep posting here.

I have to say, I couldn't do as good a job without everything that I've learned from reading The Mana Drain, and from reading/listening to Stephen Menendian and Kevin Cron's podcast. Those two have set a high bar for me, but I keep trying to get better.

Thanks for reading!

[Islandswamp]

Another fun article.  I, too, also love(d) Legacy Reanimator and Sneak and Show.  However, I got out of Legacy a while back as the direction of the format was just not fun for me anymore.  During that period, though, Vintage picked up through the roof so it was easy to transition fully.

I assume you mean in paper, not online? As much as I do enjoy mtgo, holding these cards in your hands must be awesome.

[evouga]

Regarding your Oath deck:

1. I would replace Gaea's Blessing with Memory's Journey.
2. I would increase the maindeck Show and Tell count to 2 or 3 copies. Show and Tell is a turn faster than Oath, which is critical when racing Delver in the midgame, and leaves the opponent very few good sideboarding options.
3. I'm not a huge fan of Mystical Tutor -- the only combo piece it can fetch is Show and Tell, and it is very slow post-Griselbrand, unless you are willing to pay an extra 7. I'd replace it with more countermagic, or another Preordain.

[evouga]

Also, I would cut the Library and replace it with a Strip Mine. Library is indeed a great card that can steal games, but only really shines in a deck that is comfortable playing the control role for an extended period of time. Because Oath is all about resolving one of your must-counter threats, and has several otherwise dead cards to do so reliably, the deck isn't well-equipped to abuse Library.

[gribdogs]

Another fun article.  I, too, also love(d) Legacy Reanimator and Sneak and Show.  However, I got out of Legacy a while back as the direction of the format was just not fun for me anymore.  During that period, though, Vintage picked up through the roof so it was easy to transition fully.

I assume you mean in paper, not online? As much as I do enjoy mtgo, holding these cards in your hands must be awesome.

Yes, I refuse to play MTG Online.  It's a ridiculous concept paying for cards twice basically (at least if you play paper).  And yes, playing Legacy and Vintage decks in paper is beyond awesome!

On topic, I love playing Vintage Oath decks, so if you keep writing about yours it'll make for interesting reading for me.  I've been playing the Pitch Burning Long variant as of late.  I just can't pay for a tournament with some blue to back me up, as much as the original Burning Long appeals to me. 

[Islandswamp]

Also, I would cut the Library and replace it with a Strip Mine. Library is indeed a great card that can steal games, but only really shines in a deck that is comfortable playing the control role for an extended period of time. Because Oath is all about resolving one of your must-counter threats, and has several otherwise dead cards to do so reliably, the deck isn't well-equipped to abuse Library.

Lately I have been playing Jeskai Mentor decks, but I ended up taking the Library out of oath (and my Mentor deck as well). If you have a Library in your opening seven, it's usually great, but it is a really bad top-deck.

I might be going back to oath here and there, but I have been trying to really learn one deck inside and out, and that's been my mentor deck.

[Islandswamp]

This article was inspired by the discussion of Gitaxian Probe on So Many Insane Plays. I even linked to that episode of the podcast, because I think that it's a crime that anyone would miss hearing it. 

I had been thinking about Probe since I was trying to fit it in my Legacy RUG Delver deck, and I had a hard time.

I also talk about Mental Misstep and some issues that I see surrounding that card.

http://puremtgo.com/articles/eternal-spotlight-mental-probing-and-gitaxian-missteps