German Highlander

[HighlanderMagic.info]

The point with Hulk is: We don't want the HulkFlash deck, which had nothing more to do than find Hulk and find Flash, to mutate to "find Entomb" + "find Necromancy/Footsteps of the Goryo", which would cost 2 mana more to perform in a single turn.

We chose to ban Hulk and not Entomb, because Entomb is "broken" with no other card in the format, but can be put to good use in many decks, while Hulk will always be merely a combo piece. Thus banning Entomb would limit deck building far more than the absence of Hulk does. This decision was based on the same argumentation as the banning of Worldgorger Dragon.

And as I said: We decided to go the way of keycard banning, not tutor banning. I see you disagree with this, but there's no point in further discussing this specific issue.

[asi]

The point with Hulk is: We don't want the HulkFlash deck, which had nothing more to do than find Hulk and find Flash, to mutate to "find Entomb" + "find Necromancy/Footsteps of the Goryo", which would cost 2 mana more to perform in a single turn.

We chose to ban Hulk and not Entomb, because Entomb is "broken" with no other card in the format, but can be put to good use in many decks, while Hulk will always be merely a combo piece. Thus banning Entomb would limit deck building far more than the absence of Hulk does. This decision was based on the same argumentation as the banning of Worldgorger Dragon.

I didn't even knew Entomb is unbanned as well in your format, which is a mistake as well in my opinion. The graveyard is a strong ressource in Highlander, even though lots of hate is played in the casual plays I play. But with cards as strong as Entomb, the hate certainly isn't sufficient. I don't know why the decision to ban Entomb should be so hard. And Entomb is broken, because it's simply to good in this format, as are lots of other tutors. For one black, you get a flashback card, Riftstone Portal, a big creature for reanimation, Genesis/Wonder/Anger, Ichorid if you feel the need, something nice to Eternal Witness. And at instant speed, too.

[HighlanderMagic.info]

You're saying it. Precisely.

Nothing of what you suggested can be done with Entomb is even close to being banworthy.

And the sheer number of examples you gave us - thx for that - proves that Entomb is a very versatile card that can be used for many a purpose - but NOTHING broken except Gorger/Hulk - which is why we banned those two.

Now how many decks can you imagine that want to play Hulk without being the cheesy combo guy?

@all others: Anyone interested in me uploading my current gauntlet?

Edit: As international interest in the format grows, I have set up a new forum for highlander players all over the world. I kindly ask everyone interested in Highlander to register and be part of the crowd! You can find the new forum here: http://www.magicplayer.org/forum/

[Georg B]

That could be interesting: http://www.magicplayer.org/forum/index.php
Its a forum from magicplayers.org, but in English.

[asi]

You're saying it. Precisely.

Nothing of what you suggested can be done with Entomb is even close to being banworthy.

And the sheer number of examples you gave us - thx for that - proves that Entomb is a very versatile card that can be used for many a purpose - but NOTHING broken except Gorger/Hulk - which is why we banned those two.

Now how many decks can you imagine that want to play Hulk without being the cheesy combo guy?

Entomb is an excellent tutor in a format where tutoring is extraordinarily strong. It's the Merchant Scroll of the format, at very least.

Why ban a fair card (Hulk) when the actual troublemakers are other cards, in this case Flash/Entomb (and some others)?.

How many decks I can imagine: well, lots of. Decks with Sneak Attack, for example, and with the restriction of broken tutors, that means not necessarily combo decks. I play him in my G/B Sacrifice deck, which plays similiar to the old Husk/Promise of Bunrei decks. He's a fair card that has become a political victim because of your banning policies.

edit: by the way, I think http://www.themanadrain.com/index.php?topic=33923.0 is a better thread to discuss more general issues of Highlander bannings. I feel specific discussions don't really pay off when there are so many difficulties.