M13 - Quick Math

As of today there are 193 spoiled cards for M13.  Granted, most of the money cards are likely spoiled, but here is this set's "Quick Math" thus far:

M13
Average Mythic Value - $12.65 (*Fun fact - the two new walkers are fetching the top prices here)
Average Rare Value - $2.21 (*Fun fact - This is a very high number, considering there is no $10 plus rare, [i.e. no Snapcaster or Cavern slot])
Average Rare Slot Value - $3.5 (This is generally your average pack value.  This does not include commons/uncommons, but generally they are of nominal value.)

Average of $3.50 a pack?  Sounds pretty nice!  Heres a comparison of the Avacyn Restored values in case you were wondering:

Average Mythic Value - $9.69(* Fun Fact -Tons of 10 buck plus mythics here - Grislebrand, Avacyn, Bonfire, Sigerda, Entreat, Tamiyo, Temporal)
Average Rare Value - $2.04 (*Fun fact - Vexing Devil is only $5.99 now, and doomed to plummet even further.)
Average Rare Slot Value - $3

This is mostly due to the 25% price increase before a set hits, but still its pretty certain that M13 will be a money set, due to the fact that Avacyn Restored is also a money set.  Want a example of a poor set?  Let's look at Mirrodin Besieged:

Average Mythic Value - $6.80 (*Tezz is only $7 bucks!)
Average Rare Value - $1.18  (*Fun fact - Green Sun's Zenith is still high at $10, but Inkmoth has dropped from $15 to $5.)
Average Rare Slot Value - $1.88

Quite a bit of difference!  You'd have to get 2 packs of Mirrodin Besieged for the price of one pack of M13 for it to be worth your while. (and still I would'nt recommend it.)

Stay tuned for a short M13 set review/prerelease primer next week.  Enjoy the math!

Marks of Misery Update

Been working on Marks of Misery a bit on my mini-vacation.  I have two trial decks ready to go, so we will be starting the Alpha testing next week.  I did a little PvP "solitaire" and found that the battles ended way too quickly, like 1 to 2 mins tops.  Also, if dailys were to be allowed (Which wouldn't make any sense) it would matter on who won the die roll, and thats no fun.  The following rules are to be set into place prior to the alpha testing regarding PvP:

- Daily cards are banned.

- Encounter cards are optional.  (I'd recommend a ruling that had them do 1/2 damage if you use them)

- Cards that force players to skip turns or attack phases instead reduce the damage dealt next turn by 50%.  (Example: Ray of Frost)

- All status effects are subject to a saving throw, whether or not the card calls for one.

- Players start with 2 healing surges. These can be used normally.

After we do some testing, I'd expect some changes to this, as we are only in the Alpha stage of testing.

I also created a template for a Character Sheet.  I went into this project wanting a clear, concise form of data.  I ended up leaving too much info out, such as the Luck stat, and the Healing Surges, but here is the first draft of it:

The goal is to use this to capture all of the needed data, and use cards for the rest (spells, equipment, etc).  I might even use healing surge counters or cards to reduce the clutter on these sheets.  The sheets need to be as user friendly as possible and as simple as can be.

Last post, I spoiled two of the "At-Will" cards.  Those are cards that will be in your physical deck.  You will also have access to Encounter and Daily cards.  These are different as you have access to them at anytime.  They also exhaust when used, taking some time to refresh.  Think of them as "cooldowns" on World of Warcraft.  The encounter ones will reset after each battle, but the daily ones are only available once per dungeon!

Here are two spoilers/examples of this:

Finally, I will present a diagram that might clear up any questions about the cards themselves:

As always, feedback is appreciated!

Marks of Misery (plus spoilers!)

Introduction

Had some requests about my custom tabletop/TCG, Marks of Misery.  Its currently in the alpha stage but planning to move into the beta stage testing sometime next month.  As such, I cannot reveal to many details.  But here's a few facts and the first spoilers!

Game Facts

- Magic/TCG/D&D fusion, with some Torio flair here and there.
- Smaller deck sizes, currently looking at 20-30 card "At-Will" decks.
- Earn new skills and equipment as you progress through the game, giving you the option of building your character as you see fit.
- Currently up to 6 classes to choose from and over 200 skills. (expect these numbers to continue to grow)
- Earn rare loots!  From rare equipment to rare spells, there is a ton of different ways to max your characters abilities.
- Choose your own skills!  If you are a wizard, you can build an all-fire deck, maximizing your damage against cold creatures.  Or you can opt to use some of each element, giving you more options.  The choice is up to you!

Products

So far, the only way to obtain cards for this game will be:
- Starter Decks
- Dungeon Expansions (more on this later)
- Winning "in-game" loot rolls
- Completing "in-game" quests
- Participating in PvP events

In closing/SPOILERS!

As far as the cards, which is roughly 40% of the game, I used MSE2 and the VS. card frames.  I wanted something different than the same old magic borders, and the VS. card frames did the trick. 

And here is the first official spoilers for Marks of Misery.  Let me know what you think, and I just might reveal more about this exciting project...

Introducing: The SPG Cube

Hey guys,

I'm working on a ton of projects this month.  Between logging in 40 hours a week at work, from various side-jobs from web design to business management, attempting to hit 6 or so hours a week into D3, working on Marks of Misery (my upcoming D&D based card game), working on custom sets, keeping the SPG group alive and fresh with different, fun ways to play TCG's (did a Avacyn Restored draft last week and doing Planechase all this week), keeping up with M13 spoilers, trying to marathon Big Bang Theory, well, let's just say I've been keeping pretty busy. 

Yet another simultaneous endeavor I'm currently amidst is creating the SPG Cube.  Cube is a pretty vague term for a collection of cards that are carefully selected and put into a box (cube) and used to play Magic with, primary limited formats.  Cubes can be various sizes but for our group I'm aiming for a 275-300 card cube, since rarely will there be more than 6 players at one time.  Most cubes select the best cards throughout the history of Magic, making the Cube format a random yet very potent format.  I plan to keep the power level pretty high, but keeping the majority of the cards within the recent years (mostly Zendikar+, with some notable exceptions).  If you've been following on facebook I have been polling on some suggestions for possible Cube inclusions.  For example, I asked for a Zendikar card of each color at the uncommon rarity and more than likely the top votes will see play in the cube!  Most of the cards in the cube will be the definitive high power cards like the Titans, but doing community votes like these will help bring variety in the power level for our cube.

I'm still going to be adding more cards and tweaking it until the end of the month, but here is the cube so far:

Green (26)

Primeval Titan
Birds of Paradise
Llanowar Elf
Viridian Corruptor
Arbor Elf
Avacyn's Pilgrim
Fauna Shaman
River Boa
Strangleroot Geist
Wolfir Avenger
Obstinate Baloth
Oracle of Mul Daya
Thrun, the Last Troll
Acidic Slime
Wolfir Silverheart
Krosan Tusker*
Avenger of Zendikar
Terastadon
Vines of the Vastwood
Explore
Rampant Growth
Beast Within
Cultivate
Garruk Wildspeaker
Garruk Relentless
Green Sun's Zenith

blue (23)

Mana Leak
ponder
Preordain
Frost Titan
Delver of Secrets
Snapcaster Mage
Phantasmal Image
Sea Gate Oracle
Fettergeist
Dungeon Geists
Mist Raven
Phyrexian Metamorph
Sphinx of Lost Truths
Inkwell Leviathan
Spell Pierce
Counterspell
Jace Beleren
Deep Analysis*
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
Time Warp
Voltlion Reins
Sphinx of Jwar Isle

Red (33)

Lightning Bolt
Burst Lightning
Inferno Titan
Goblin Guide
Grim Lavamancer
Vexing Devil
Spikeshot Elder
Stromkirk Noble
Ember Hauler
Goblin Wardriver
Plated Geopede
Kargan Dragonlord
Hellspark Elemental
Stormblood Berserker
Ball Lightning
Chandra's Phoenix
Goblin Ruinblaster
Hellrider
Hound of Griselbrand
Archwing Dragon
Siege-Gang Commander
zealous Conscripts
Faithless Looting
Arc Trail
Incinerate
Searing Blaze
Brimstone Volley
Chaos Warp
Staggershock
Molten Rain*
Chandra the Firebrand
Chandra Nalaar
Devil's Play

Black (25)
Doom Blade
Go for the Throat
Black Sun's Zenith
Grave Titan
Diregraf Ghoul
Pulse Tracker
Vampire Lacerator
Bloodghast
Gatekeeper of Malakir
nantuko Shade
Vampire Nighthawk
Hypnotic Specter
Geralf's Messenger
Abyssal Persecutor
Phyrexian Obliterator
Bloodgift Demon
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
Unburial Rites
Sheoldred, the Whispering One
Duress
Tragic Slip
Dismember
Barter in Blood
Liliana Vess
Sorin Markov

White (25)
Baneslayer Angel
Day of Judgement
Terminus
Sun Titan
Oblivion Ring
Path to Exile
Elite Vanguard
Student of Warfare
Wall of Omens
Lone Missionary
Stoneforge Mystic
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
Mirran Crusadar
Fiend Hunter
Blade Splicer
Hero of Bladehold
Restoration Angel
Angel of Jubilation
Condemn
Journey to Nowhere
Honor of the Pure
Lingering Souls
ajani Goldmane
Gideon Jura
White Sun's Zenith

Gold (12)
wall of Denial
Havengul Lich
Bloodbraid Elf
Venser the Sojourner
Sarakan the Mad
Terminate
Blightning
Edric, Spymaster of Trest
Glissa, the Traitor
Putrid Leech
Qasali Pridemage
Unmake*


Artifact (22)
Sword of War and Peace
Sword of Feast and Famine
Sword of Body and Mind
Eldrazi Monument
karn Liberated
Mindslaver
Ratchet Bomb
Duplicant*
Palladium Myr
Myr Battlesphere
Molten-Tail Masticore
spellskite
wurmcoil Engine
Phyerxian Revoker
Everflowing Chalice
Sphere of the Suns
Manalith
Basilisk Collar
Batterskull
Lightning Greaves*
Mortarpod
Tumble Magnet

Land (24)
Fetches
Terramorphic
Evolving Wilds
Shimmering Grotto
Core Duals
Manlands WW
Hailimar Depths
Shards Tri lands

*Pre Alara card deemed needed in this format.