I know, I'm as amazed as you are. I want to say "Hey guise, I'm totally back fo'reelz", but to tell you the truth it will probably be awhile before I actually post something else on the site. It's not that I'm too swamped with work (Though I do have alot of work I need to do), or that I'm too lazy (Though I am incredibly lazy), the main reason is that I just don't have anything I really want to write about. Actually, that's a lie. I want to write about how the community is killing the game, and making it so the people who spend their time trying to help the game grow want to shoot themselves in the face.

90% of the conversations I have with Pat and Tylar are about all the complaining on the boards. It's gotten to the point where every card previewed falls into one of two catagories: 1. "OMG BANDAI IS SO STUPID, THIS CARD IS BROKEN" or 2. "THIS CARD IS TERRIBLE KILL YOURSELF TYLAR". I'm not even exadurating, go read the preview threads if you don't believe me. It's gotten so bad that Tylar doesn't even check the preview threads most of the time, because he's so tired of everyone jumping to conclusions and complaining about every single card.

If the thread is clearly a number 1 thread, then it will basically end up a 10 page thread discussing how bandai can't seem to print "Fair" (I question if people actually understand what this word means) cards, 4+ card combos that make this card sooo broken, how we can errata this card to be "Fair", why bandai seems to only print broken cards in element X but not Y, and when it will be banned. I initially wrote out a bunch of user names, but decided that it would probably be in bad taste to point fingers, and also because it's very obvious who does it the most anyway. It's not terrible to occasionally over react to a card effect, as we have all done it before (InbeforeQFPstarterhokages), but when you starting calling pretty much every playable card broken, because it has synergy with several other cards in the format, thats when it's too much.

Now with the second type of thread, namely fire related threads, you have people simply looking to complain about how everything in life isn't the way they want it to be. Yes, I'm calling out every one of you who complained about fire getting mill support and the new -1/-1 coin theme,because you wanted a "Uchiha theme". I'm sorry your favorite element isn't based on mass draw and effecient removal, with tons of utility Ninja effects, but you have to move the f*** on, and get over it. For the people who complain that the cards suck and that Tylar is terrible at design; you are awful. I don't care wether you have "designed" tons of games with your friends, or if you can pull a rabit out of your ass; you obviously have no understanding on what a good card is. Fire recieved a ton of playable, and even AMAZINGLY good cards this set. Sure there were some mediocre as hell cards, but EVERY element gets mediocre cards, because designers try out new mechanics, and make weaker variants of cards at lower rarities to help players who don't spend alot to play the themes casually.

So now that we have identified the problem (Everyone being awful), what can you do to fix it? The answer, believe it or not, is to think before you post. When you are about to post how this latest preview is broken because of a 4 card combo that does anything short of win you the game outright, before even typing "Really Bandai? Really?" think to yourself "Maybe I should give bandai the benefit of the doubt and assume that my made up combo is actually pretty bad justification for a card being unbalanced. Why else do I believe this card is unfair for the environment?" From that you should come to one of two conclusions:

1. You might be wrong, as outside of this crazy scenario in which everything is perfect these cards aren't so great- In this case don't post what you initially wrote out. Instead post about the combo you figured out in the thread, and with the other posters that are interested, come up with ways to make it more consistent.

2. The cards alone feel too powerful for the format for a number of reasons that are comparable to previously restricted or banned cards- In this case just post why you feel the card is unbalanced, but accept the possibility that you could be wrong, and try to steer clear of blaming Bandai, calling Bandai/Andy stupid, begging for people to be fired, and complaining.

So now that I have ranted about how awful you all are, heres a Panda. Also, inbeforeyoumad.jpg

Tsu Edit: Yes, that is a real preview card

-Andrew

Labels: Broken Cards, He mad, jdragon #1, KFC, lasers, lolwtf, previews, Set 21, Zero

So I realized today that I haven't post up anything in awhile, and rather than make you guys think I hate you (Hate is a strong word..) I figured I would just post up a random blurb to talk about stuffs going on in the life of Andrew Kardis, Card Game Extraordinaire!... This sounded way more awesome in my head at 2:30 in the morning while taking an online exam for my Biopsychology course, so forgive me if that came off a bit corny.

I recently (about 3 weeks ago) participated in the Magic: the Gathering Grand Prix Torronto event. Being the only one in my group without any byes (Most players walk in to major events with anywhere from 1-3 byes) and the format being Scars of Mirrodin Limited, a limited format I didn't have particularly amazing results with, I wasn't particularly confident in myself. Despite opening a very unusual, bomb-lacking pool, I ended up going 9-1 day one... to then go 1-5 day two in the draft portion of the event. I made some decisions in the drafts on day two that, in retrospect were poor, and as a result, I walked away without any money. I still ended up getting in the top 100 players, out of over 1400, and with any luck next time I'll do even better.

I actually managed to start testing with Path of Pain stuff this past week. I've tested against Water, Earth, and Lightning the most, and I've got to say that Sasuke (State 2) is obnoxious as a card. Chiriku, while good, avoids being over powered by being affected by the number of powerful non-Jutsu effects in the game, only protecting his team, and not being Valid. Sasuke on the other hand is unaffected by everything, Protects every Water Ninja you control, and might as well be valid, since you can just reinforce over an injured Sasuke (State 2). I'm not saying that Sasuke is the end all be all, but he's just too hard to get rid of in my eyes and would be better off banned. I dislike calling for a card to be banned, but I just feel that untouchable Ninjas are just bad for the game.

After talking to Tylar, he confirmed that we will be getting 1-2 Preview(s) for Tournament Pack 2, which is great because I wasn't sure if they were intending on giving out any previews for such a small set (only 30 new cards). Since Pat has his own preview on Bandai for his articles, I will probably be doing a write up for our preview here. Heres to hoping we don't get a completely useless card *Fingers crossed*

I also haven't really had a chance to put out a list of what I feel to be the top cards in the set like I usually do, so here is a quick list of the cards I feel to be Over/Underrated after playing with the set for a bit:

-Overrated-
-Sasuke [Eyes of the Serpeant]: While not a bad card, I would much rather my opponent drop down this guy than his Target exclusive counterpart any day of the week.
-Pledge Under a Setting Sun: Every time this card has been used against me, it's just been a worse version of Water Style: Waterfall Basin Jutsu.
-Pain (Deva Path): Don't get me wrong, he's a good card. He is just nowhere near what the hype made him out to be. I'd probably only play him in a one or two decks as a one of.
-Deidara [Dangerous Artist]: He just doesn't fit in ANYTHING. As expected (By me) his effect is also pretty irrelivant most of the time unless you already happen to be winning.
-Kabuto(Possesed Mode): I really like this card, but I knew he just wasn't good enough to make it into the big leagues (for now). It's just too much effort for a card that actually works against your decks theme (Chakra burn) in a slot with much better ninja.

-Unrrated-
-Kakuzu (Soul form): Testing has shown that he's as powerful as I thought he would be. I lost a few games to him, and brining him out, even in an even board position never caused the one using him to lose, or even be put in a worse position.
-Chiriku: Card is good. I happened to overlook him, but I have to say that I'm fairly impressed by the guy after watching him in action.
-Striking Shadow Snake: With Chakra Generation at an all time high, this card is alot better than most (Including myself) thought it would be.

I still haven't got a chance to play around with the Lee/Guy Platoon, or Third Hokage, but unfortunately, with the way the format is skewed, I don't have high hopes for them. I'm also really looking forward to trying out the new tsunade, who seems to interact fairly well with other new cards like coordination and barrier prep. When I've done a bit more testing I'll put up another one of these. Until next time.

-Andrew

Labels: Blurbs, Broken Cards, Path of Pain, Zero

Link thanks to theforbidden
... What? So that card is ridiculous. At least you can't recur Narutos to your hand every turn, right? Oh, wait Kakashi [True Allies] does that... And Naruto searches him -_-

-Andrew

Labels: Broken Cards, Promo, Zero