Would anyone be interested.....
Modern forum
Posted on Oct. 25, 2014, 7:08 a.m. by ChiefBell
....in a generic 'modern format' primer?
It'll be a fairly large job but I already have some ideas:
I'll create it as a blank deck and the description will be the actual primer. The aim will be to highlight how the format works, and what the top decks are. From there I would like to advertise a few of the top decks on this site in the format, some under $100 examples and some infinite budget examples.
The point of this will be to show newer players what modern is about and what they should be aiming for.
Obviously this will be a collaboration between many, many people.
Thoughts / ideas?
Update: If you want to help with this - give me your email address on my wall. I'll then add your email onto the list of allowed editors to the google document, and delete your email address off my wall so no one else can see it.
I could help. We could even post the finished product as an article,
October 25, 2014 8:05 a.m.
Yes we sure could. The reason I suggested a deck is because articles drift off mainpage and are usually never seen again, whereas deck can be cycled or featured so they can be brought up as many times as you want. Also does the search feature do articles? I know it goes through decks.
October 25, 2014 8:06 a.m.
So it's a toss up between an article and a deck. Decks are easier to edit and can show up on mainpage multiple times. Articles look a bit cleaner, can only show up on mainpage once but if featured can be there for weeks. Both can be searched for. I'm unsure. I'll let others weigh in.
October 25, 2014 8:20 a.m.
Ohthenoises says... #7
Articles are better.
Who determines "top decks in the format"?
I could help, keeping in mind that my work schedule is one that's an "on call" and as such it's pretty random.
October 25, 2014 8:30 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #8
I'm down to help out on this. I'm not sure which would be better. I'd actually consider using both. Articles are much better for relaying ideas, but we could use decks to lists contents, etc.
October 25, 2014 8:46 a.m.
Ohthenoises - just go on mtgtop8 and have a look at what makes up around 10% of the meta. These are the decks that are really solid and probably will always exist in modern in some form. These seem to be RDW, Affinity, Pod, and Twin. Rock is an interesting one because it only makes up a tiny percentage on its own, but including the jund and junk variants it makes up a solid 10% - unsure on that one. But it's probably also discussing T2 stuff like Burn or Ad Nauseum or 8Rack etc.
What makes you say that articles are better? (out of interest).
From an editing perspective we can write it on google docs, share it with each other and then copy and paste what we do into an article or into a deck. It doesn't really matter either way.
October 25, 2014 8:57 a.m.
VampireArmy says... #10
I suggest using mtgsalvation As a source for determining what the top decks are
October 25, 2014 9:35 a.m.
Most of the sources seem to be agreeing anyway so it's not too controversial as a topic.
I'm more interested right now in the whole article versus deck argument, and how to write and what everyone would like to see.
October 25, 2014 9:42 a.m.
Articles can be refeatured. Plus, if we did these for every format, yeaGO could put a link on the forum page to the primer.
October 25, 2014 9:43 a.m.
Alrite. Let's do it as an article then. I'm ready for this.
(yeaGO - can you 'sticky' threads? The primer could be like at the top of the modern forum?)
October 25, 2014 9:47 a.m.
An idea: Make like "two primers".
A short one, which covers the most basic things. Like, just some few tips when making a modern deck.
Then you could do a large primer. Which covers all the things. Many people don't want to spend hours reading through all the stuff (I guess it will be a very large primer).
Well, it's just an idea :D
October 25, 2014 9:54 a.m.
I think we could use collapsible arrows that show/hide blocks of text. That way people don't have to wade through too much information if they don't want to. Also you can use page links - like links you click on that take you to a particular section. However I don't know how those work.
October 25, 2014 9:56 a.m.
I know how to do internal page links. Pretty much anything can be found on the internet if you know where to look for it.
October 25, 2014 10:04 a.m.
JexInfinite says... #17
Do you want primers for T1.5 decks, or fringe strategies as well? I'm pretty sure I know enough about 8-Rack, Soul Sisters and Infect to help with primers on those, as well as UWR control.
October 25, 2014 10:11 a.m.
I don't think we want primers in the primer. Too much primeception. What we can do is put links in the modern primer that take you to primers about the specific archetypes. The modern primer is more a description of how modern is played, how the decks work (in a basic sense) and the absolute key cards, but it won't be an indepth look at every single deck in the format.
October 25, 2014 10:16 a.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #19
I am certainly interested in participating in this. I was thinking that this effort could actually be more of a mass primer creation scheme, where people who are experienced with an archetype write their own primers (likely as decks due to the sheer volume of these), and these are featured from time to time or can be posted in the Modern forum and marked somehow.
I am also down for writing a general primer on the format, but am interested as to how we would go about organizing this. I'd like there to be sections for prominent decks, but also sections on sideboarding building and playing techniques, how to know what popular decks are given away by (T1 Blackcleave Cliffs , T1 Search for Tomorrow , T2 Remand from two Steam Vents , etc.), and in general things that will get people ready to play Modern and know what is coming at them.
October 25, 2014 10:21 a.m.
We could have links in the overarching modern primer to various examples of decks and other primers that fit that archetype.
I want to focus on this overarching primer first, and agree that it should just have sections for prominent decks, identifying plays etc.
I can start tonight maybe
October 25, 2014 10:33 a.m.
VampireArmy says... #21
Sideboarding tech cou ld be done in each individual deck i think. What parts do you need help on cheif
October 25, 2014 10:46 a.m.
All of it. I'll create a document and then find a way to share it with you guys.
October 25, 2014 10:50 a.m.
If you want to help with this - give me your email address on my wall. I'll then add your email onto the list of allowed editors to the google document, and delete your email address off my wall so no one else can see it.
October 25, 2014 10:58 a.m.
derKochXXL says... #24
This seems awesome I just don't have nothing to contribute since I just recently started modern, but thanks for the work and effort.
October 25, 2014 11:15 a.m.
gnarlicide says... #25
I am down to help. The only issue I will have would be connectivity issues for the next few months, as I will be away for a little while. But I will jump on when I can.
I have quite a bit of experience in the format, and love to help others get into such a healthy/growing format.
I have played rogue decks, budget decks, top tier decks (even with a budget in mind). Let me know where we would start.
October 25, 2014 11:32 a.m.
gnarlicide says... #26
And I would stray away from comment shenanigans.
For the good of the group.
October 25, 2014 11:33 a.m.
I have a google doc that you can look at whenever. I gave instructions above
"If you want to help with this - give me your email address on my wall. I'll then add your email onto the list of allowed editors to the google document, and delete your email address off my wall so no one else can see it."
October 25, 2014 11:33 a.m.
I would be interested in helping if you'll have me. I can write a b/w primer as well if you want.
October 25, 2014 12:01 p.m.
Everyone is welcome. I think if we have 5-10 people working on this it shouldn't take longer than a week or two.
October 25, 2014 12:03 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #31
II'muppet for helping however I can, even if that just includes spelling and grammar, haha.
October 25, 2014 12:06 p.m.
Epochalyptik can you put
"If you want to help with this - give me your email address on my wall. I'll then add your email onto the list of allowed editors to the google document, and delete your email address off my wall so no one else can see it."
in the OP please?
October 25, 2014 12:09 p.m.
i'd love to help. And I have a great solution: make a "primer" forum. That way, they don't rotate away, they are all in one place, and any Joe Shmoe can find them. I would also suggest a fraternity style thread adder, where only a select number of members can make threads, but they can allow others access to editing them, and anyone can comment on them.
October 25, 2014 12:10 p.m.
I'm sad people have forgotten me :< I'mma active modern player!
October 25, 2014 2:11 p.m.
You can be in too. Follow the instructions to be added to the document.
October 25, 2014 2:48 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #37
Shame on you ChiefBell for forgetting LeaPlath!
I will do some writing on the consistency section.
Also, we cannot forget List of Modern Sideboard Staples. It has the budget and alternate colour variations of all the main sideboard staples as well. The one thing I want people to look at for this is which sideboard cards will not see play even if they are budget/colour variations. Then we can direct all the sideboarding techniques of one specific deck against another specific deck to that one.
I actually just thought of something, someone told me once that they didn't know the reason why affinity is so prevalent at the moment in modern (posting this here as I believe it was one of the people that was tagged in the first post), and I think I know the answer to this. There are a lot of new modern players that have started since Modern Masters, and all the ones that want to try to get into professional play would be going for the relatively cheap modern decks, and that is affinity.
October 25, 2014 3:31 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #38
Burn and affinity. Easiest to build not easiest to pilot
October 25, 2014 3:34 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #39
@Femme_Fatale You'd have to give that list a look though, as there are plenty of miserable cards on it.
Affinity is actually a rather expensive deck. It's also incredibly hard to pilot.
October 25, 2014 3:37 p.m.
There are 5 people involved at the moment. Keep giving me email addresses and I'll add you.
October 25, 2014 3:40 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #41
What I meant when I said "who determines" was simply a request that you don't do it based off of opinion. That you use sources rather than try to rank them on your evaluation alone.
Articles are superior in that a deck can easily be lost in the other decks. Articles are easier to support and look far more polished.
I'll be posting my email soon.
October 25, 2014 4:01 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #42
That is why I posted it here GlistenerAgent so other people can critique it. I keep telling people to suggest which cards to remove but no one does. Like I said, I have budget/colour variations of all the main staples, but I need to know which ones will not be used even in those circumstances.
October 25, 2014 4:01 p.m.
NotSoLuckyLydia says... #43
I'd be glad to help with this. I don't play with aggro decks (in this format) much, but I tend to be pretty good with choices for control and some combo decks. (UW[x] control happens to be my specialty, but I've got plenty of other experience)
October 25, 2014 5:06 p.m.
If anyone still hasn't got the link to the document and wants it just hit me up on my wall.
October 25, 2014 5:43 p.m.
slovakattack says... #45
have you thought about having the "Primer Nexus" be a decklist, with links to articles therein? That way, the Nexus would never really drift into obscurity, and we could make use of the more superior (in my mind) article format.
I'm totally down to help, and surprised that my name's come up here. I posted my email to your wall, Chief.
October 25, 2014 7:32 p.m.
We'll use articles anyway. Perhaps try and get them posted at the top of something, somewhere.
October 25, 2014 7:37 p.m.
Deckwose, if you want primers I am pretty decent with scapeshift. And Ive worked on some budget fnm only brews
October 26, 2014 3:17 a.m.
I'm going to close this to editors now. We have around 12.
October 26, 2014 6:54 a.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #49
ChiefBell this would be awesome for us noobs who want to get into modern but don't know how to go about doing it.
October 26, 2014 5:02 p.m.
You'll be glad to hear that it's coming along nicely then!
ChiefBell says... #2
VampireArmy, GlistenerAgent, GoldGhost012, APPLE01DOJ, slovakattack, GoofyFoot, gnarlicide, fluffybunnypants, MetaphysicalxProdigy, Femme_Fatale
October 25, 2014 7:46 a.m.