Format Concept: Chariot
The Blind Eternities forum
Posted on July 31, 2020, 4:22 a.m. by jaymc1130
The idea is that it's like Commander, but with Vehicles. In order to offer interesting games it'd have to have some slightly different rules in order to not just be "Commander but you get a Vehicle in the Command Zone too". I think 100 card singleton is a good place to start, roll with the EDH ban list. Definitely a Vehicle in the Command Zone along with the legendary creature(s). Probably have to open vehicles up to non legendaries since there aren't enough of them yet to offer a wide enough variety.
The way to differentiate it from Commander, I think, would be to tie damage dealt to opponents to that of the vehicular variety. 40 starting life total, you still lose the game for having zero life, but only damage dealt to opponents from vehicle sources causes loss of life (creatures would still deal damage, but it wouldn't decrease life total). In addition, a player must suffer at least 10 points of "vehicle damage" to lose the game unless that loss is self inflicted (this limits a lot of alternate win conditions without allowing players to avoid penalties of cards like Demonic Pact).
Seems like it could be interesting to me. What do you folks think?
I'm not remotely certain about that at the moment and the limiting number of vehicles is restrictive for a multitude of reasons. My initial thought is to simply ignore color identity matters for vehicles and tie them exclusively to the creature also in the command zone just as my initial thought would be to ignore the legendary stipulation in the case of vehicles at the present time. Some years down the road it may be the case that there are enough legendary vehicles with color identities that the standard commander rules could begin to apply to "chariot" vehicles too.
I have a feeling you're correct in that we just need more vehicles in general for this idea to actually get off the ground. It is interesting to begin to consider the possibilities though, and the idea seems like it could be quite a bit of fun in due time.
July 31, 2020 5:06 a.m.
I think there could be a lot of really cool combinations explored in a format concept such as "Chariot", which is what made me post about the idea at all. I think we're a bit far off from being able to realistically try to make such a format a thing, but it's something I'm going to keep in mind for the future when more vehicle options are printed.
August 2, 2020 4:11 p.m.
PadreRasta says... #5
Maybe expanding the format a little to allow equipments too? Like having to deal 21 points of damage, but command damage is only registered if the commander is equipped (no fist fighting!)
But in the main topic, Rafiq of the Many with Fleetwheel Cruiser or Ovalchase Dragster would instantly be top tier. Ramp turn 2, Rafiq Turn 3, vehicle turn 4, swing for 12.
August 2, 2020 6:02 p.m.
I think such combinations could indeed be highly competitive, but there's really no way to tell without first establishing the format rules and then, ya know, playing the format. Lol. It does seem like a powerful idea though given the initial format rule considerations.
I think I like the idea of a "Chariot" format having something like "Chariot Armor" damage being a restriction to limit the effectiveness of some alternative win conditions that are ever-present in Commander. If a player is required to lose their "Chariot Armor" and be dealt some amount of damage from specific sources before being able to lose the match (unless the loss is self inflicted) then it would open up a completely new meta space of game play patterns that aren't present in any other format and would be very interesting.
I find the idea of including equipment in the command zone quite interesting as well. Having now been turned on to this possibility I'm wondering would it be nice to have an equipment or a vehicle in the command zone or might it be even better to require both a "Chariot" vehicle AND a "Chariot Weapon" equipment in the command zone together? I rather like the idea of stressing combat based strategies in a multiplayer format similar to Commander since the Commander format is largely an ineffective meta space for combat based strategies, particularly in competitive settings.
jaymc1130 says... #2
Perhaps have the 10 points of vehicle damage threshold be the requirement to allow creatures to start dealing damage that now causes loss of life?
July 31, 2020 4:28 a.m.