@solemn_storm said in Game Layout rules:

A clarification on enforcement from Toby Elliot:
"If everything is clear and both players are acting on mutually-understood information (both active and passive), then we’re not going to worry if there’s technically a violation."

Generally speaking, if you and your opponent don't have an issue with it, a judge isn't going to swoop in and make you fix it,

In other words, it's prohibited to drive on red, but if there are no cars and pedestrians that's ok. It's quite silly to introduce the rule only to tell players to ignore it, but keep the right to punish players for subjective lack of "mutually-understood information."

@dstinct said in Game Layout rules:

What people really find strange is that I play all my cards facing my opponent and always have. I just figure I already know what everything in my deck does, so it just makes it easier for my opponent to read the cards. Anybody else do this?
edit: interesting. As per 4.6 this is illegal. "Each untapped permanent should face its controller." I've never been called on it. Perhaps because it says "should" instead of "must"?

And how do you mark creatures with summoning sickness? I have always played them facing my opponent as a courtesy and reminder which creatures just came into play.

@bazaarofbaghdad said in MTGO:

I wouldn't treat it as income unless it actually were income.

I wouldn't too :). But it's up to the IRS ;). I'm surprised there is no clarity on this from WotC.

@bazaarofbaghdad said in MTGO:

@chronatog MTGO prizes are in digital objects of no value. Only if you "cash out" do you realize reportable income. FWIW, when I sold off $7500 worth of digital cards last year, I reported those on my taxes.

Stocks in ones brokerage account are also digital objects. However, they have value. Many so-called crypto-currency investors learned in a painful way that their tokens also have value.

Since everything on MTGO is valued in tickets and, to my knowledge, one ticket is one dollar as WotC sells tickets at this price, perhaps there is a preponderance of evidence indicating that digital objects on MRGO have value.

Anyway, I'm not arguing about how it should be. I'm trying to understand how it is now or can be in the nearest future. Magic is a hobby and as any hobby it cost money and time, but provides some economic utility. So that's alright to spend money on your hobby directly or indirectly through taxes. It's not right to create any complications with the IRS.

Is there any official explanation from WotC?

Always wanted to ask about MTGO and taxes. Are prizes taxed as gambling winnings? And what about gains on sale/trade of digital cards? Does WotC provide Form W2-G and/or any other tax forms?

@enderfall said in [DOM] Jhoira's Familiar:

I still don’t understand what is “historic” about 99% of artifacts, but that’s beside the point I guess.

My theory is that because artifacts were initially created by the Thran, an ancient super race, all artifacts are considered historic. For example, Misha and Urza learned a lot from their archeological studies of Thran artifacts.

Jhoira's Familiar looks mana expensive, as many suggested already. But why not? I remember when Lion's Eye Diamond was considered the worst rare, if not the worst card. And look who is on the Restricted list now.

@kat said in Turbo Stasis:

• Kismet

Forgot one more card - Suppression Field. With 2CMC it is possible to put it into game early on so many decks will be hosed. And with active Stasis afterwards there will be very difficult for them to break out. Since your win condition is passive, Black Vise, you will be fine.

And finally, on a personal note, the deck needs more Chronatogs; the metagame is stagnant without them.

@stuart said in White Eldrazi:

@chronatog Whoops. 3 Wasteland. 3 Wastes is a bad idea.

I see. On a separate note, one Wastes can be useful in some metagames, but in general it is more a puzzle-your-opponent-with-the-content-of-your-deck card :).

@kat said in Turbo Stasis:

• Kismet

I played Stasis a lot back in the days; very cool prison deck. Statis is one of the Magic cards that just changes rules of the game. So glad to see some interest.

Since you already have green mana base, you can try Root Maze. It doesn't help against creatures though. But if you want to add some white mana base Authority of the Consulate can be useful against creatures, especially in combination with Ghostly Prison (instead of Propaganda).

I think it is impossible for Dredge to pay (2) for each attacking creature. Shops can pay, even by inflicting some damage from Ancient Tombs, but Shops need only one creature to deal damage in combat and Walking Ballista will finish the game. Both decks are fast, so Authority of the Consulate can be very helpful against them to slow them down.

Combo decks are much tougher opponents as cancerous Menatal Misstep will handle your Black Vise, Root Maze, Authority of the Consulate, and all other 1CMC spells. A good news is that there is a wonderful card Arcane Laboratory. It works very well with City of Solitude, but this is an expensive combo to put into the game.

@stuart said in White Eldrazi:

As a follow up to my last post, I went 5-0 at our recent Vintage event on White Eldrazi, playing the following manabase:

5 Plains
1 Karakas
1 Strip
3 Waste
4 Tomb
4 Temple
4 Cavern

So I feel like trimming a Wasteland is fine. I'm not sold on the idea of cutting any white mana (i.e. how Montolio moved the Karakas to the board), especially if you're gonna strain your Caverns by including Wingmare.

Did you use 3x Wastes or 3x Wasteland?