Subject: stronghold -more thoughts.... Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 18:59:21 GMT From: andy@mcnish.demon.co.uk (andy mcnish) Newsgroups: uk.games.trading-cards.misc had a chance to take a longer look at the stronghold spoiler (it's on the dojo at www.dojo.com for any who aren't aware of it) further thoughts as follows: black's most interesting stuff is all enchantments ... bottomless pit is a pain for counter and combo decks grave pact looks fun in necro-gnome megrim is the subject of much disussion (but outside of the zur' weirding combo looks relatively pointless - hey if his hand is emptied by discard just smack him with a necrosavant instead - that's what all the old rack-discard decks found anyway...) tortured existence is so cheap i can't believe there's not a use for it somewhere - maybe in black ice to recurse blood pets with roaches or something.. blue - i still think mana leak (esp in orb and weenie decks) is a god card and that spindrift will be one of the best critters in T2 intruder alarm is begging for combos , and mind games looks like the best of the buybacks in this expansion. rebound could really ruin a burn or discard players day and reins of power could see some action in b/u control or counterbolt shift is a sorcery but may be playable i the right circumstances (esp as a splash card in non-counter decks) tidal warrior improves merfolk decks (add 4 spindrifts, 12 1/1 merfolk,4 lords of atlantis , 4 unstables,4 waterspouts and counters orbs/scrolls to taste -hmm.. fishy) green picks up decent phat in carnassid,spined wurm (hey a 5/4 for 5 splashable and common) and the endangered armodon (? 2nd turn for vineyard decks) and ,having looked at the spikers again i quite like the spike feeder (1GG) we all know how useful gnomes can be and this can get you 4 life back for zero mana - or be a 2/2 critter... the tempting licid may actually be worth playing too - now it's a lure,now it's a 2/2 critter... of course none of the above sort out the perish problem but that's just one that green will have to live with for the forseeable future i'm afraid (at least it means no-one will be expecting green decks) and volrath's gardens looks like it could be the fastest life-gainer since ivory tower..... (will necro-weenie splash it?) red - fling is a better bombardment...mogg flunkies/maniacs can go into sligh...shock (mini-bolt) will go into any red burn and ruination into most sidebords... white the nomads en-kor (W) (with or without the wall of essence) will find their way into white weenie and possibly the 2cc en-kors will appear here and there... the soltari champion (2W-shadow)(+1/+1 to all your critters when he attacks) looks great in any critter heavy deck - and he can easily be splashed - he's a rare too....so start looking out for him.. smite is no sword but then again what is these days ? it may be the best replacement - certainly for a weenie deck pursuit of knowledge is the most broken card in the set (not on it's own but in combo with sylvan/brainstorm or any other card that let's you 'draw' 3 or more cards (even if you must put some back later in the resolution)) - and i don't think the combo is even disruptable by a disenchant - so this looks truly evil....and splashable... gold - the slivers must have a shot at being playable now - u/g/w would be my bet...maybe with ragutans (to deal with orbs),harrows,mana leaks and even a nat. order or two for the queen... artifacts... ensnaring bridge - well weenie burn or critterless burn will love this - may also encourage deck archytypes that kill by scrolling/poking/enchantment damage etc. - so long as they can empty their hands of course heartstone - sliver deck natch horn of greed - i like this card - as i've said especially nice in black or green where you can drop it 1st/2nd turn - but it's great for the long haul too - read as 'get an extra draw every c.3 turns for no mana' mox diamond - still can't figure-i suspect some deeply devious combos are possible -any thoughts ? sword of the chosen - this is truly a dreadful card - quite the most obviously useless rare since mercenaries - toilet paper.... volrath's stronghold - playable though not as good as the excavations...