Good and Bad deck names....

[Astro]

Ok, this thread is about good and bad deck names.  We may discuss existing deck names or come up with some new ones for fun.

Personally of the existing decks these are the good ones (in no particular order): 

*Reanimator
*The Perfect Storm
*Fruity Pebbles
*A Beautiful Mind   
*Keeper
*Duck Tape 
*Full English Breakfast
*Neo Academy

The bad ones:

*Sligh
*Stax
*Oath
*Dragon
*Long
*Stasis
*Or any other deck that is either named after the main card of the deck or named after the creator (booooring)


Now heres a list of deck names that I feel would be great (keep in mind some of these would be great band names and alchoholic shots too):

*Party of Five (an aggro control deck with a total of 5 different creatures)
*Taking Back Sunday (a deck that recurs Time Walk)
*Die Hard (combo aggro)
*Trainspotting (combo with two or more win conditions)
*Threes a Company (three card combo deck)
*Different Strokes (combo that wins with Stroke of Genius)
*Total Recall (a combo deck that either wins with Ancestral Recall, or uses cards that recur shit like Replenish, Second Sunrise, Living Death, ect...)
*Jimmy Eat World (prison deck centering around Braids Cabal Minion)
*Paper Cuts (combo that wins with storm based abilitys like Brain Freeze and Tendrils)
*Boys to Men (a bird shit type deck that wins with Threshold creatures such as Werebear)
*Gone in Sixty Seconds (combo)
*Weezer (lock or prison control deck that fucks with mana sources)
*Who's the Boss (a FEB variant)
*Pretty Hate Machine  (this one is so good I'm sure its been done before)
*Rosemary's Baby  (A deck centering around a single creature as kill or lock such as Sundering Titan, WG Dragon, Phage, ect...
*Growing Pains (a Miracle Grow variant)
*Ever Since the Accident (aggro control centering around mass destruction Joklhaups, ect...)


Discuss!

[crazynlazy]

IMO SSB has a pretty boring name, but not the deck. control slaver sounds pretty cool too. If it counts affinity should be on the bad name list. sensei has an alright name I wouldn't really know where to put it. Any color control or anything like 5/3 is dumb too.

[Komatteru]

*Long

"DeathLong" remains called 'Long' because I call it that.  While I'm perfectly content sounding arrogant in saying that, I'll elaborate: I am one of the only people who still care about this deck.  I've put a lot of time and effort into it, mostly to mixed and largely inconsistent results.  I attribute this to the decks inconsistences in combination with it requiring perfect play.  At the last SCG, I played it well, but snubbed a couple matches to JD's Desire fizzling on me twice, and mana screw, etc, so I didn't quite make T8.  The next week, I played it not very well.  I made some mistakes and the deck certainly didn't help me out in the slightest (I had several Jar hands I looked at, played a land, and tossed into the graveyard, as I couldn't cast anything in it).  Despite all this, I continue to screw around with the deck in my spare time and usually end up playing it at like every tournament I go to.  Because of all the hassle (which I enjoy very much), I call the deck Long (sometimes JDLong, depending on how arrogant I feel like being).  It has nothing to do with giving credit to Mike Long or denying credit to anyone who helped tune the deck after the restriction of Burning Wish.  'Long' just sounds cool.  That's really all there is to it.  There's two other reasons I give for calling the deck Long: 1) it takes some really long turns; and 2) just look at the decklist (which as 38 different cards I think, and 14 more in the sideboard).

In general, I'm a fan of naming a deck in the spirit of what it actually does.  I mean, I called my KCI deck in T2 "36 Chambers" because Krark-Clan reminded me of "Enter the Wu-Tang" one day when I was driving in my car listening to the first Wu-Tang album.  If someone heard that name, they'd have no idea what the hell deck I was talking about.  Names like SSB (which attributes the design of that build to Shortbus), MSB (Meandeck's improved build), etc. describe what the deck does and give credit to their creators.  Names like Control Slaver and Dragon tell you what the deck does.  That's really what's important in a deckname.

[Kowal]

How could you list sweet deck names without even coming close to Ninja Sword?

Also, Cerebral Assassin and Your Mother.  Hadley is pretty good at coming up with amusing names.

Amusing names are confusing for newbies though.  It's best to keep things (relatively) simple.

[Jacob Orlove]

Worse Than Fish is perhaps the ultimate deck name.

[Hi-Val]

[jp]

Deck names should describe what the deck does or what's in it. Naming your deck "Holy Tommy Gun" or "Full English Breakfast" or "Eon Blue Apocalypse" may sound cool but it makes it hard for other people to actually identify the deck. It also creates a higher barrier to entry for beginners when something is named for being cool instead of what it does.

[/jp]

To that end, I think that the community has been much better about naming decks for what they really do in the past year. With a few exceptions, most decknames tell what the card or strategy is that is dominant in the deck.

[rvs]

*Sligh
*Stax
*Oath
*Dragon
*Long
*Stasis
*Or any other deck that is either named after the main card of the deck or named after the creator (booooring)

Actually, these names are the best since it's actually clear what is being talked about, instead of those (often) poor attempts at humor ^^

[Bram]

I thought Scuba Mask was one of the more interesting ones I saw recently. I ofcourse like The Perfect Storm as well, having come up with it myself (the name, not the deck...).

All in all, while I love weird and funny names, I tend to think names like Oath, Stax, Dragon, Gifts Belcher etc. are more useful.

[Astro]

*Sligh
*Stax
*Oath
*Dragon
*Long
*Stasis
*Or any other deck that is either named after the main card of the deck or named after the creator (booooring)

Actually, these names are the best since it's actually clear what is being talked about, instead of those (often) poor attempts at humor ^^

True, but then again some of those decks like Long, Sligh, and Stax aren't totally clear.  Even then some of the decks I listed as good names like Neo Academy, Reanimator, Keeper, and Fruity Pebbles either make perfect sense or at least hint as to what the deck does.  So in a sense I agree, I feel a good deck name should sound cool while hinting without having to spell it out.  And to some extent there are decks that are variants of other decks or decks that have evolved from a different deck where different deck names are necessary.  Contrary to what I just said, I also always thought Stacker 2 was a cool name.

[Matt]

[jp]

Deck names should describe what the deck does or what's in it. Naming your deck "Holy Tommy Gun" or "Full English Breakfast" or "Eon Blue Apocalypse" may sound cool but it makes it hard for other people to actually identify the deck. It also creates a higher barrier to entry for beginners when something is named for being cool instead of what it does.

[/jp]

To that end, I think that the community has been much better about naming decks for what they really do in the past year. With a few exceptions, most decknames tell what the card or strategy is that is dominant in the deck.

I agree fully. I have actually seen people boasting about what they named their deck. Does no one else feel really fucking ridiculous saying these things aloud?

[LordHomerCat]

I was always a big fan of "Rector(I nearly killed her)" and the T1 version "Rectal Agony".  Thats just me, though, I prefer the deck names that have little to nothing to do with the actual deck (FEB is another awesome one, because of what it relates back to).  Clever names are a lot more fun than descriptive ones, and if you can do both, well, thats the best of all.

[Kowal]

Again, I submit, NINJA SWORD!  It's awesome AND descriptive.

Does no one else feel really fucking ridiculous saying these things aloud?

No way, I get so totally pumped I want to kick my mom in the face!

[T1Guy]

I could not disagree more.

Good deck names have two functions:

1) They identify the archetype

2) they indicate a variant of a major archetype.
An example of this is "Goth Slaver."  You know immediately 56-57 cards in the decklist.

Bad deck names are people thinking they are "Creative" when really they are just obfuscating.

Oath is a great name because it tells you exactly what's in the deck - it's an Oath of Druids deck.  Long was not the best name ever, but it was chosen because "Burning Academy" just didn't catch.  I think Burning Academy was far more appropriate, despite the fact that the deck really wasn't an Academy deck.  The "Academy" part of the moniker demonstrated that the deck was similar to the Academy shells of years prior. 

People who are creative with decknames in Vintage are just being stupid.  Because then the deck has to be completely renamed when it is presented to the broader public. 

Although it may not be as cool, it is infinitely simpler.  In fact, the more a deck name tells you about the deck, the better.

[Mixing Mike]

"She Gave Sloppy Top"

Oh yeah....

[Astro]

Bombs Over Baghdad doesn't suck.

[kl0wn]

"Rectal Agony" is BY FAR the single greatest deckname ever conceived.

Not only did it describe the deck based on the cards in it, it is also a reference to sodomy AND it makes the overbearing parents bringing their bastard little rugrats to Type 1 night at the cardshop cringe when they hear it. How can you go wrong? Unfortunately, the deck sucks sweaty man-ball.

[Klep]

True, but then again some of those decks like Long, Sligh, and Stax aren't totally clear.  Even then some of the decks I listed as good names like Neo Academy, Reanimator, Keeper, and Fruity Pebbles either make perfect sense or at least hint as to what the deck does.  So in a sense I agree, I feel a good deck name should sound cool while hinting without having to spell it out.  And to some extent there are decks that are variants of other decks or decks that have evolved from a different deck where different deck names are necessary.  Contrary to what I just said, I also always thought Stacker 2 was a cool name.

Are you on crack?  Fruity Pebbles says NOTHING about the deck.  Like seriously, what do you think of when you think Fruity Pebbles?  I know I think of little multi-colored bits of cereal.  I certainly can't associate any Magic card or style of play to the term.  Stax implies Smokestack and/or stack tricks and as for Sligh, well  I feel sorry for anyone trying to play competetively who isn't familiar with the basis of Sligh.  Sligh is such a fundamental part of deckbuilding theory it's damn near impossible to not know about it.  Sligh may not have been a great name when it was first made, but now it's iconic, and certainly better than Fruity Pebbles.

[Outlaw]

"She Gave Sloppy Top"

Oh yeah....

It was actually one of two names... Your Mom Gives Sloppy top, which soon just became Sloppy Top.  Then Viagra, Destroyer of Floppy top, which soon got nerfed to become Sloppy Top. 

[Morganti]

The best deck names are the ones that serve three purposes.

1) Identify the Archtype
2) Distiguish the Variation on the Archtype.
3) Sound cool.

to that end, SSB for instance is a good name.  You can make those three letters mean "Shortbus Smallpox Blankets" or "Shortbus Severance Belcher" in conversation, and if someone doesn't know what the long form is, you can just say, SSB, and they will generaly know right away.

Best Deck Name ever = Tangled Kobalds.

~D~

[Jacob Orlove]

as for Sligh, well  I feel sorry for anyone trying to play competetively who isn't familiar with the basis of Sligh.  Sligh is such a fundamental part of deckbuilding theory it's damn near impossible to not know about it.  Sligh may not have been a great name when it was first made, but now it's iconic, and certainly better than Fruity Pebbles.

The original name they tried to stick on the sligh deck was "geeba". Fortunately, Paul Sligh won something with the deck, and the name stuck.

[Astro]

as for Sligh, well  I feel sorry for anyone trying to play competetively who isn't familiar with the basis of Sligh.  Sligh is such a fundamental part of deckbuilding theory it's damn near impossible to not know about it.  Sligh may not have been a great name when it was first made, but now it's iconic, and certainly better than Fruity Pebbles.

The original name they tried to stick on the sligh deck was "geeba". Fortunately, Paul Sligh won something with the deck, and the name stuck.

His deck was hilarious, it orginally ran Ironclaw Orcs and other random crap commons.  Nothing like the Sligh decks as of late (not that anyone has played it in the last year, but what the fuck?)

@Klep- (not that shouldn't already know this) Fruity Pebbles originally garnered its name as a metaphor relating to being  plinked to death by Goblin Bombardment and being killed by a shower of pebbles.   I guess its not totally totally totally clear but its fun in a not quite hit you over the head with a frying pan Miracle Gro sort of way.

[Jacob Orlove]

His deck was hilarious, it orginally ran Ironclaw Orcs and other random crap commons.  Nothing like the Sligh decks as of late (not that anyone has played it in the last year, but what the fuck?)

The real joke was that the original build ran Goblins of the Flarg AND dwarves. It was a total pile.

I thought "fruity pebbles" got its name because that was the era of naming combo decks after various breakfast cereals (trix, wheaties, etc).

[Astro]

His deck was hilarious, it orginally ran Ironclaw Orcs and other random crap commons.  Nothing like the Sligh decks as of late (not that anyone has played it in the last year, but what the fuck?)

The real joke was that the original build ran Goblins of the Flarg AND dwarves. It was a total pile.

I thought "fruity pebbles" got its name because that was the era of naming combo decks after various breakfast cereals (trix, wheaties, etc).

True, but Fruity Pebbles is what started it all.  Then came Cocoa Pebbles with the splash of black for Necropotence then the rest just followed without any meaning what so ever except that they were named after cereals Wheaties and such.

[forests failed you]

Has anybody mentioned parfait?  I was always kind of fond of that one.

[Astro]

Yeah, thats a decent one.  Deck Parfait meaning the perfect deck in French.  I always really liked the variant name Cherry Parfait, assuming that it was a desert rather than the perfect deck.

[Nefarias]

Deck Parfait meaning the perfect deck in French.  I always really liked the variant name Cherry Parfait, assuming that it was a desert rather than the perfect deck.

Of course, Perfect Cherries aren't so bad either.

[Methuselahn]

Deck names should be clear enough so that people who are actually involved regularly with Vintage can speak or type them fast.   I don't want to be in a conversation and have it spammed up with ridiculous proper names.  I want to be able to communicate efficiently.

As far as making names easy for new players to understand, well, fuck that.  Why?  It's not like Vintage is in danger of dissolving into obscurity.  If you are serious about learning the format and playing in it, learning the deck names will come naturally and without effort.  Deck name learning is hardly the most important thing to do on the Vintage learning itinerary.

[Godder]

My understanding is that Fruity Pebbles was first (Enduring Renewal, Goblin Bombardment and Shield Sphere), then Cocoa Pebbles (adding Black for Necropotence), then Trix (Illusions of Grandeur + Donate with Necropotence), named for the rabbit on the cereal box by the same name. Paul Barclay decided he wanted a deck with a bit more punch to it, hence the Full English Breakfast, rather than boring old cereal, and when the Pebbles combo was added to RecSur decks, we had Wheaties.

[Triple_S]

the Best deck names ever:
Funker
Vengeur Masque
5/3
7/10
ShortbusSmallpoxBlankets

Worst deck names ever:
Meandeck (fill in the blank)
 

[VonDouche]

Worrying this much about naming decks just seems kind of silly to me.  I mean you could call Parfait "Tax/Rack.dec" or "The Lord Jesus Christ", but its still not going to change the fact that it fucking sucks balls.