Whatevers

Space Marine Land Speeder

Bought another Warhammer 40K miniature today in Neutral Grounds - Glorietta 2. A Land Speeder worth 2.2K. I am anticipating for another one of this figure come May because I asked a hobby friend to buy me one in California. Purchasing from the US is cheaper since it'L not be charged for Customs taxes and stuff. Well, that's two more models to spend my time painting. Nagiging addict na nga ako sa acrylic fumes. I-rehab nyo ko!

Space Marine Land Speeder Tornado

Seeker Nostalgia

I used to be a contributor for this local hobby and games magazine called Seeker and it ran pretty well on the shelves for quite sometime before finally publishing its farewell issue last December. They eventually have to stop because the demands to maintain the quality of the magazine will sooner or later push the operating cost a notch higher that payments from local advertisers will not be enough to compensate.

During my stint on the mag, I was assigned to write for the card game Magic the Gathering. Here's my first article for them: (Jargon alert!)

Deck Check!Constructed Decks for Magic Tournaments
by Obi ParconEquipped for Battle
The game stepped into a new height as Mirrodin introduced the new artifact sub-type called equipments. Since then, numerous players have exploited its capabilities in both Constructed and Limited format tournaments. Now, with Darksteel joining the warfare and introducing more equipment-based support cards, Equipment Decks have fortified into a more competitive killer deck.

The Bootcamp - Your Deck

Creatures:
4 Auriok Glaivemaster
4 Auriok Steelshaper
2 Leonin Shikari
4 Skyhunter Cub
4 Leonin Den-Guard
4 Deftblade Elite
Equipments:
4 Bone Splitter
4 Skull Clamp
2 Lightning Greaves

Spells:
3 Arrest
2 Razor Barrier
3 Akroma’s Blessing

Lands:
20 Plains

Sideboard:
2 Altar's Light
2 Hallow
2 Second Sunrise
3 Wing Shards
2 Raise the Alarm

The Brigade - Your Creatures

Mirrodin has introduced some of the best recruits perfect for an equipment-intensive battalion and this deck enlisted them in the line-up. Once equipped, the evasive Skyhunter Cub was the deck’s answer against enemy flying squadron. Given that all of the equipments in this deck are cheap-to-cast, cheap-to-equip, teaching the Cub to fly or turn your weenie battalion into killer commandos is never a problem. Another staple in every Equipment Decks is the heavily-traded Auriok Steelshaper. With four copies on the line-up, it is never impossible that you can equip your battle gears like casting an Ornitopther. Plus, it also acts like a living Glorious Anthem when equipped, given that all other creatures here are Knights and Soldiers. Speaking of soldiers, perhaps the fastest combatants included on this deck were Darksteel-born. The weenie Auriok Glaivemaster could be transformed into a 4/2 first striking commando with a turn two Bonesplitter. On the other hand, Leonin Shikari's ability is as deadly against opponent's attacking creatures when the feline started passing around equipments at instant speed. Another surge attacker in this deck is the top-rated Deftblade Elite which made it to the line-up because the deck needs four more one-to-cast soldiers. It might not capitalize on using equipments the way its other comrades here do but who would ignore the fastest and most efficient “provoker” of the Legions-block?? Gear them up and use their provoke ability in two tactical ways: 1) equip the Deftblades so its power is enough to kill any “provoked” blockers of your choice, and 2) with two mana to spend, you can protect the Deftblades from lethal damage and in the same time, can even pave the way for its other attacking comrades to get through – blocker free!

The Battleplan - Your Strategy

Your tactic is to surge the field with your battalion that even the Goblin King will be left with a sole-mark of your Glaivemaster's combat boots on his face. Speed, speed, speed... it’s the key element for victory when using this type of deck. At the worst scenario, you must have either at least two creatures or an equipped creature on turn three. Eight of the creatures are one-to-cast soldiers that turns into lethal assassins once equipped so balance on playing creatures and equipments. Remember that equipments are likely to stay in the game longer than creatures so it will be better to prioritize on dropping creatures first. Equipments can be played on the subsequent turns, empowering your forces before the siege. Adding to the element of surprise is a pair of Lightning Greaves, an all-time favorite on speed oriented decks. It was included in the line-up to give your creatures the much-needed “open-fire” signal once it hit the battlefield and in the same time, turn your platoon spell-proof like ‘ol Mrs. Willow.

If you are facing against non-weenie decks and the field is clear of early attackers, do not hesitate to use Skullclamp-kills on your Deftblades to look for the needed key cards like the Akroma’s Blessing and Razor Barrier. However, if you are playing against Control and Slight Decks, don't give the opponent the luxury of holding off your attacks - equip your creatures and siege at the first sign of opportunity.

Stall spells have been included so as to ward off potential creature threats. Arrest is one of the most promising stall spell in the Mirrodin-block. Choose the target for your Arrest wisely, though. While waiting for the opponent’s more lethal key creatures to come in play and to use your Arrest on, you can take creature damages or block with your creatures then use protections from the Razor Barrier and Akroma’s Blessing to negate the combat damage.

Your middle game (if your opponent will survive your early onslaught) must be as swift as the opening barrage. The deck has three Akroma’s Blessings and two Razor Barriers, so use them to prepare a blocker-free path for your attacking brigade while protecting them too against any pesky spells that might come along. You need to make your army’s damages go through and as early as possible – that is the main mission of this deck.

In the end, the strategy decisively lies on how you will manage your mass attacks and use those utility spells on the right targets and timing. Timing is very crucial when playing any weenie deck so focus on how your cards will systematically be played.

The Specialists - Your Sideboard

The sideboard focused on more utility spells that can help the deck in special cases depending on the deck you are about to face. Altar's Light is a staple on white decks to remove pesky artifacts (yes, even indestructible ones!) and enchantments. Hallow is to be included against direct-damage intensive decks while the “storming” Wing Shards, when in combo with your low-cost creatures and spells, can clear the battlefield of opponent's weenies and even those beefy Darksteel indestructibles. Second Sunrise is of course a very good counter magic against control-staples like Armageddon, Balance, Death Cloud, and Wrath of God. Raise the Alarm on the other hand is a draw-combo with Skullclamp as well as a provider of surprise blockers, not to mention that the tokens are also beneficiaries from the Steelshaper's triggered ability.

The Casualty - The Deck Cost

The deck was priced at estimated 2,100 PHP besides having four of its key cards under heavily-traded list: Auriok Steelshaper, Leonin Shikari, Skullclamp and Lightning Greaves.

As suggestions to a cheaper substitute, try using Soldier Replicas for the Steelshapers and the very efficient Razor Golem for the Leonin Shikari. You may also add Leonin Scimitars instead of the Skullclamps and Whispersilk Cloak for the Lightning Greaves. The Scimitars and the Clamps share the same casting cost while the Cloaks provide the Greaves’ spell-proof ability and will turn your soldier unblockable in the same time so the idea behind the deck would still be pretty much the same with these substitutions.

***Obi came from a lineage of military heritage and his frustrations to join the Philippine Military Academy led him to plan of establishing his own PMA – Philippine Magic Academy – and command a brady bunch of bald Steelshapers and Glaivemasters.
Pope Benedictine XVI
Just got news that a new Pope was elected! Yey!

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger from Germany.

May the Holy Spirit guide you on your service to the Lord!

**Sayang magpapasa pa naman ako ng resumè sa Vatican para sa vacancy ng Papal slot.

Whatevers

Space Marine Land Speeder

Bought another Warhammer 40K miniature today in Neutral Grounds - Glorietta 2. A Land Speeder worth 2.2K. I am anticipating for another one of this figure come May because I asked a hobby friend to buy me one in California. Purchasing from the US is cheaper since it'L not be charged for Customs taxes and stuff. Well, that's two more models to spend my time painting. Nagiging addict na nga ako sa acrylic fumes. I-rehab nyo ko!

Space Marine Land Speeder Tornado

Seeker Nostalgia

I used to be a contributor for this local hobby and games magazine called Seeker and it ran pretty well on the shelves for quite sometime before finally publishing its farewell issue last December. They eventually have to stop because the demands to maintain the quality of the magazine will sooner or later push the operating cost a notch higher that payments from local advertisers will not be enough to compensate.

During my stint on the mag, I was assigned to write for the card game Magic the Gathering. Here's my first article for them: (Jargon alert!)

Deck Check!Constructed Decks for Magic Tournaments
by Obi ParconEquipped for Battle
The game stepped into a new height as Mirrodin introduced the new artifact sub-type called equipments. Since then, numerous players have exploited its capabilities in both Constructed and Limited format tournaments. Now, with Darksteel joining the warfare and introducing more equipment-based support cards, Equipment Decks have fortified into a more competitive killer deck.

The Bootcamp - Your Deck

Creatures:
4 Auriok Glaivemaster
4 Auriok Steelshaper
2 Leonin Shikari
4 Skyhunter Cub
4 Leonin Den-Guard
4 Deftblade Elite
Equipments:
4 Bone Splitter
4 Skull Clamp
2 Lightning Greaves

Spells:
3 Arrest
2 Razor Barrier
3 Akroma’s Blessing

Lands:
20 Plains

Sideboard:
2 Altar's Light
2 Hallow
2 Second Sunrise
3 Wing Shards
2 Raise the Alarm

The Brigade - Your Creatures

Mirrodin has introduced some of the best recruits perfect for an equipment-intensive battalion and this deck enlisted them in the line-up. Once equipped, the evasive Skyhunter Cub was the deck’s answer against enemy flying squadron. Given that all of the equipments in this deck are cheap-to-cast, cheap-to-equip, teaching the Cub to fly or turn your weenie battalion into killer commandos is never a problem. Another staple in every Equipment Decks is the heavily-traded Auriok Steelshaper. With four copies on the line-up, it is never impossible that you can equip your battle gears like casting an Ornitopther. Plus, it also acts like a living Glorious Anthem when equipped, given that all other creatures here are Knights and Soldiers. Speaking of soldiers, perhaps the fastest combatants included on this deck were Darksteel-born. The weenie Auriok Glaivemaster could be transformed into a 4/2 first striking commando with a turn two Bonesplitter. On the other hand, Leonin Shikari's ability is as deadly against opponent's attacking creatures when the feline started passing around equipments at instant speed. Another surge attacker in this deck is the top-rated Deftblade Elite which made it to the line-up because the deck needs four more one-to-cast soldiers. It might not capitalize on using equipments the way its other comrades here do but who would ignore the fastest and most efficient “provoker” of the Legions-block?? Gear them up and use their provoke ability in two tactical ways: 1) equip the Deftblades so its power is enough to kill any “provoked” blockers of your choice, and 2) with two mana to spend, you can protect the Deftblades from lethal damage and in the same time, can even pave the way for its other attacking comrades to get through – blocker free!

The Battleplan - Your Strategy

Your tactic is to surge the field with your battalion that even the Goblin King will be left with a sole-mark of your Glaivemaster's combat boots on his face. Speed, speed, speed... it’s the key element for victory when using this type of deck. At the worst scenario, you must have either at least two creatures or an equipped creature on turn three. Eight of the creatures are one-to-cast soldiers that turns into lethal assassins once equipped so balance on playing creatures and equipments. Remember that equipments are likely to stay in the game longer than creatures so it will be better to prioritize on dropping creatures first. Equipments can be played on the subsequent turns, empowering your forces before the siege. Adding to the element of surprise is a pair of Lightning Greaves, an all-time favorite on speed oriented decks. It was included in the line-up to give your creatures the much-needed “open-fire” signal once it hit the battlefield and in the same time, turn your platoon spell-proof like ‘ol Mrs. Willow.

If you are facing against non-weenie decks and the field is clear of early attackers, do not hesitate to use Skullclamp-kills on your Deftblades to look for the needed key cards like the Akroma’s Blessing and Razor Barrier. However, if you are playing against Control and Slight Decks, don't give the opponent the luxury of holding off your attacks - equip your creatures and siege at the first sign of opportunity.

Stall spells have been included so as to ward off potential creature threats. Arrest is one of the most promising stall spell in the Mirrodin-block. Choose the target for your Arrest wisely, though. While waiting for the opponent’s more lethal key creatures to come in play and to use your Arrest on, you can take creature damages or block with your creatures then use protections from the Razor Barrier and Akroma’s Blessing to negate the combat damage.

Your middle game (if your opponent will survive your early onslaught) must be as swift as the opening barrage. The deck has three Akroma’s Blessings and two Razor Barriers, so use them to prepare a blocker-free path for your attacking brigade while protecting them too against any pesky spells that might come along. You need to make your army’s damages go through and as early as possible – that is the main mission of this deck.

In the end, the strategy decisively lies on how you will manage your mass attacks and use those utility spells on the right targets and timing. Timing is very crucial when playing any weenie deck so focus on how your cards will systematically be played.

The Specialists - Your Sideboard

The sideboard focused on more utility spells that can help the deck in special cases depending on the deck you are about to face. Altar's Light is a staple on white decks to remove pesky artifacts (yes, even indestructible ones!) and enchantments. Hallow is to be included against direct-damage intensive decks while the “storming” Wing Shards, when in combo with your low-cost creatures and spells, can clear the battlefield of opponent's weenies and even those beefy Darksteel indestructibles. Second Sunrise is of course a very good counter magic against control-staples like Armageddon, Balance, Death Cloud, and Wrath of God. Raise the Alarm on the other hand is a draw-combo with Skullclamp as well as a provider of surprise blockers, not to mention that the tokens are also beneficiaries from the Steelshaper's triggered ability.

The Casualty - The Deck Cost

The deck was priced at estimated 2,100 PHP besides having four of its key cards under heavily-traded list: Auriok Steelshaper, Leonin Shikari, Skullclamp and Lightning Greaves.

As suggestions to a cheaper substitute, try using Soldier Replicas for the Steelshapers and the very efficient Razor Golem for the Leonin Shikari. You may also add Leonin Scimitars instead of the Skullclamps and Whispersilk Cloak for the Lightning Greaves. The Scimitars and the Clamps share the same casting cost while the Cloaks provide the Greaves’ spell-proof ability and will turn your soldier unblockable in the same time so the idea behind the deck would still be pretty much the same with these substitutions.

***Obi came from a lineage of military heritage and his frustrations to join the Philippine Military Academy led him to plan of establishing his own PMA – Philippine Magic Academy – and command a brady bunch of bald Steelshapers and Glaivemasters.
Pope Benedictine XVI
Just got news that a new Pope was elected! Yey!

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger from Germany.

May the Holy Spirit guide you on your service to the Lord!

**Sayang magpapasa pa naman ako ng resumè sa Vatican para sa vacancy ng Papal slot.