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by solardev 918 days ago
> Then keep to the same cube. The "owner" of the Cube is responsible for "balance patches" (Hmmm... Red is too strong. I'll replace some of these powerful Red cards with weaker ones). So its not completely static. But the general plan is to build a set that your group can "recycle" and grow to become experts in.

Thanks for explaining this! I actually really like this. I will suggest it to our Magic group next time :) That might just be the kind of experience we're needing.

> All of this information is published ahead of time. Some, more competitive, players even playtest / draft when the spoilers are released long before the Pre-release. Using computer software to emulate a draft.

Wait, really? I didn't know that either. So if I'm understanding you right, people basically simulate drafts (in software... any recommendations?) before the actual release? Does the software include estimated rarity, such that if you practice drafting a few times, you're as unlikely to get the rares as in the real card version?

> Draft-players don't "collect" the cards. You usually sell the cards after the draft.

This probably just goes back to the difference in preferences earlier: novelty in cards vs novelty in tactical deck-building. I prefer the latter, where you work a small pile of "knowns" and rearrange them more effectively, vs constantly having new piles of unknowns. The "curated Cube" may just be the perfect answer to that. Thanks again!

2 comments

There's a large crossover between magic players and software developers, so there are a huge amount of great tools. The ones I currently use are:

- https://cubecobra.com for inspiration. There are draftbots but they are not very good. - https://draftmancer.com the ideal way to draft online or against bots

https://dr4ft.info/

https://ponymtg.github.io/cockatrice1.html

> Does the software include estimated rarity, such that if you practice drafting a few times, you're as unlikely to get the rares as in the real card version?

Yes, of course. Rarity is important to drafting strategy.

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You ain't gonna beat a top level player who has practiced drafting a set dozens of times before the release, lol.

But grow to the skill level you're comfortable with. A bit of practice goes a long way.

Thanks!