A Conflict of Interest
Limited forum
Posted on March 9, 2014, 12:53 a.m. by GoldGhost012
I just got back from drafting Born of the Gods with my playgroup (and no Theros, just BNG- we're weird like that). When we were drafting our cards (in a open draft- a player picks one card out of the pack then passes it to the person next to him/her) when I was suddenly struck with quite a dilemma. I was picking R/G, and was ecstatic to see a Forgestoker Dragon as my rare- before seeing that in that same pack was a foil Phenax, God of Deception .
Hence my dilemma.
Did I want to pick the card that was actually playable with the cards I was picking and could win me games, or the card that was shiny, a God, a shiny God, was pretty $$$$$ for BNG, and a card I knew other people would have interest in?
After thinking about it for a bit, I passed in the God and took the Dragon. I would get more use out of it, right?
So when I opened my next pack, I found- a Forgestoker Dragon . I took it too, but not before nearly flipping the table. I was pretty upset for a couple minutes.
BUT, I did later managed to trade for that same Phenax for my Xenagos, God of Revels . A good trade? Not quite sure yet, but I'll focus on the fact that I HAVE A FOIL GOD!
So, has anyone else had crazy stories like this where you had to choose between two cards you wanted and it either worked out great or bit you in the ass?
GoldGhost012 says... #3
Lol Unforgivn_II, I usually do draft for value. When I was drafting Theros I firstpicked Thoughtseize just because it was Thoughtseize . But this time I was playing in a really competitive pool, and I really wanted to win, so I went with the bomb.
March 9, 2014 1:10 a.m.
Unforgivn_II says... #4
Was there prizing? And you could justify hatedrafting him, when he gets on the field, the player typically wins that turn. If you were lacking bombs, I suppose I can see it. But still, any foil mythic is worth it. Even Deathpact Angel (because there are jackoffs like me who actually want it :D ).
March 9, 2014 1:15 a.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #5
Yeah, there was prizing, and I was lacking a bit in big bombs. But our tourney got cut off because our supervisor wanted to go on to the next activity (it was a multi-game event) and just gave out the prize packs to the leaders, one of which was me. :) So it wasn't too bad.
March 9, 2014 1:19 a.m.
Unforgivn_II says... #6
Ok. As long as it wasn't for nothing. And hey, looks like a Phenax EDH is calling your name...
March 9, 2014 1:20 a.m.
If you keep your rares, take the money cards. If you draft them at the end (which i like more), take the better card for draft. I was in a draft, VERY early triple theros, back when people thought Master of Waves was a junk rare and the best god was purphoros, and my first pack contained a foil Bow of Nylea and a Reaper of the Wilds . I took the reaper, god passed another... and an Ashen Rider ... and a Medomai the Ageless , and heaps of big stuff. Basically my deck was 4 colour midrange, and it didn't lose a match, as the format was so slow. I was tempted to take the bow because it looked shiny, but decided against it for reaper and took the bow as 1st pick. (the rares were absolute junk, with no masters, gods, planes walkers or anything, the best card in retrospect was a Sylvan Caryatid .
March 9, 2014 1:35 a.m.
As other have said, if you're rare drafting at the end just take the better card for your deck. But if you're keeping all the cards, always take the money. Draft can be such a weird format, you can build an awesome deck and just get really unlucky, or vice versa. Taking the money card is much more reliable.
March 9, 2014 1:49 a.m.
NobodyPicksBulbasaur says... #9
The right call in this situation depends entirely on your intent going into the draft.
If you are just there for fun and will be happy regardless of how well you do, then you can easily justify taking the more expensive card. You always feel a little dirty when you rare draft, but I understand why people do it.
Conversely, if your intent is to try to grow as a player and try to become better at the game, then you always pick the card that will be best in your deck. Teaching yourself how to make strong draft decks gives you an advantage as a player, and in the long run will win you more prize packs than your friends who just take the shiniest cards.
I think you made the right decision.
March 9, 2014 3:55 a.m.
megawurmple says... #10
My logic with drafting is that, if I would be happy to open the card in my prize boosters, keep it. The only thing you'll win in a draft such as this is boosters, so if your boosters are unlikely to give you better stuff, take the shiny, pretty, foil god.
March 9, 2014 7:18 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #11
I'm fully guilty of drafting a foil Cryptic Command in MMA draft for my then constructed Scapeshift deck when I wasn't drafting blue at all.
March 18, 2014 10:28 a.m.
KrosanTusker says... #12
Foil Cryptic? No-brainer! You're looking at $80 right there!
Actually, I have a tendency to take even useless foils if they look good. I need to curb this instinct, but they're so shiny...
April 10, 2014 8:52 a.m.
Schuesseled says... #13
Not only are you passing a money rare, but quite often a card that could beat you in the right deck. That phenax would have been horrible for you, but if one of the others might be playing u/b then you definetly take it from them.
April 10, 2014 4:08 p.m.
Dalektable says... #14
i think it is justified for hate drafting alone. If I have first pick on a card like that in a draft I take it whether or not it's in my colors, because If I'm not playing it I don't want it to be played against me.
April 13, 2014 11:24 p.m.
NobodyPicksBulbasaur says... #15
Hate drafting is never an acceptable reason to grab a card unless exactly zero of the other cards in the pack will help your deck. Common sense and math back this up.
Only one opponent will end up with the card you would have hate-drafted. One opponent whom you are not even guaranteed to play against. Even if you do play against them, they are not guaranteed to draw the card.
You're better off with a card that helps your own game plan 100% of the time. Draft with a plan to win rather than a plan to not lose. Yes, there is a difference.
April 15, 2014 12:33 a.m.
NobodyPicksBulbasaur: Platinum Angel agrees with you.
April 15, 2014 5:06 a.m.
NobodyPicksBulbasaur says... #17
Absolutely she does. Don't forget that Platinum Angel is a 4/4 flying win condition that you can put in any deck. She plays both sides of the win/don't lose game, which is perfectly fine.
April 15, 2014 12:29 p.m.
Named_Tawyny says... #18
You were either on your first or second pack - at least two thirds of the cards were still to be chosen. Hell, at that point, you forget about R/G and just start drafting to suit.
April 18, 2014 12:12 a.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #19
Was actually on my... Fourth or fifth pack I think. I was solidly G/R.
April 18, 2014 12:28 a.m.
Named_Tawyny says... #20
Oh! I've only ever done three pack drafts. Just a bigger card pool then?
Unforgivn_II says... #2
Always always always take the money. When its a keep draft at least. Sure we play for the fun, but if you can guarantee that you make your money back (whether there are prizes or not), take it. I feel dirty when I pass Thoughtseize or Hero's Downfall at pick drafts, but when you can't play the card (its not worth splashing for TS and too hard to splash for HD), you just do it and hope you can win it in the pool. That doesn't mean that I'm a rare drafter. Megantic Sliver comes along, and I pass that ish. So I think my only regret was not taking a Ring of Three Wishes that had wheeled around. Mainly because I don't feel like going to buy one for EDH.
March 9, 2014 1:02 a.m.