1/ Three reasons why #oathbreaker #OBK may be the definitive competitive #multiplayer constructed #mtg format everyone is looking for;
- More strategic
- Provides clearer feedback on how to improve
- Better bang for time investment buck
- More strategic
- Provides clearer feedback on how to improve
- Better bang for time investment buck
2/ Disclaimers:
- Competitive standpoint (not here to invalidate casual play or pass judgment on which is 'better')
-Perspective is vs #cedh baseline
- I'm <48 hours in my #oathbreaker journey
- Based on qual; no quant data
- I could just be wrong - and that's ok!
- Competitive standpoint (not here to invalidate casual play or pass judgment on which is 'better')
-Perspective is vs #cedh baseline
- I'm <48 hours in my #oathbreaker journey
- Based on qual; no quant data
- I could just be wrong - and that's ok!
3/ What is Oathbreaker?
- 'Lunchtime format'; designed to be quick & explosive
- 60-card 20-life singleton with EDH-like mechanics (PW 'general,' signature spell')
- Self-managed banlist; notables incl. fast mana
- Made by good people who do good
oathbreakermtg.org/obintro/
- 'Lunchtime format'; designed to be quick & explosive
- 60-card 20-life singleton with EDH-like mechanics (PW 'general,' signature spell')
- Self-managed banlist; notables incl. fast mana
- Made by good people who do good
oathbreakermtg.org/obintro/
4/ #mtg is designed as a game with 2 phases - 1) Deckbuilding, 2) Play.
#obk compares favorably compared to #cedh via;
- Greater emphasis on strategy
- Clearer feedback loops on what wins / what doesn't
- Faster cycling
Let's break down each of these.
#obk compares favorably compared to #cedh via;
- Greater emphasis on strategy
- Clearer feedback loops on what wins / what doesn't
- Faster cycling
Let's break down each of these.
5/ #obk is more strategic than #cedh.
Before you clutch your pearls, let's first understand what exactly strategy - a commonly misunderstood concept - actually *is.*
Simply, strategy is CHOICE.
fs.blog/playing-to-win….
Before you clutch your pearls, let's first understand what exactly strategy - a commonly misunderstood concept - actually *is.*
Simply, strategy is CHOICE.
fs.blog/playing-to-win….
6/ Due to its 100-card 40-life nature, brewing for & playing #cedh has a greater number of choices than brewing for & playing #obk.
So how can I say #obk is the more strategic format?
Simple.
Each choice in #obk matters *more* than in #cedh.
So how can I say #obk is the more strategic format?
Simple.
Each choice in #obk matters *more* than in #cedh.
7/ As you limit card slots, the choice of what to play increases in importance.
The faster the pace, the more important each individual game action becomes.
Choices matter more in #obk than in #cedh - but not so much that it's just a coin flip.
The faster the pace, the more important each individual game action becomes.
Choices matter more in #obk than in #cedh - but not so much that it's just a coin flip.
8/ To be clear - #obk is more strategic than #cedh because it has a better balance between number of choices & impact of each choice.
Just enough choices so it's not boring / one track.
Not so many that the impact of each choice feels too small.
Just enough choices so it's not boring / one track.
Not so many that the impact of each choice feels too small.
9/ Clearer feedback loops.
One consequence of a better number / impact balance re: choices is that it allows for more refined feedback loops.
This is a fancier way of saying that it's easier in #obk to understand why you won or lost than in #cedh.
One consequence of a better number / impact balance re: choices is that it allows for more refined feedback loops.
This is a fancier way of saying that it's easier in #obk to understand why you won or lost than in #cedh.
10/ With 100-cards / 40-life per player, the impact of your choices in #cedh is often very difficult to see.
Sure, everyone knows what happens when you play a Rhystic Study.
But can you see 3 turns in the future how blowing up A's Cursed Totem leads to C winning the game?
Sure, everyone knows what happens when you play a Rhystic Study.
But can you see 3 turns in the future how blowing up A's Cursed Totem leads to C winning the game?
11/ Winning in #cedh is due to the sum impact of your choices - because there are so many - reaching a tipping point that results in a win.
This also means that it's very, very hard to point to *one choice* as the pivotal one.
It's also why it's hard to 'get better' at #cedh.
This also means that it's very, very hard to point to *one choice* as the pivotal one.
It's also why it's hard to 'get better' at #cedh.
12/ In contrast, because there are fewer choices in #obk, it's easier to identify *where* something went wrong.
Which *choice* did you make lose you the game?
And thus, it's easier to improve your skills moving forward.
Which *choice* did you make lose you the game?
And thus, it's easier to improve your skills moving forward.
13/ There's another component to this; telegraphing.
Unlike #cedh, #obk telegraphs more heavily given 60-card decks & Oathbreaker + signature spell.
You *know* with more certainty what you're facing than in #cedh, where you could be facing any individual variation of Blue Farm.
Unlike #cedh, #obk telegraphs more heavily given 60-card decks & Oathbreaker + signature spell.
You *know* with more certainty what you're facing than in #cedh, where you could be facing any individual variation of Blue Farm.
14/ Ergo, you know with more certainty whether you won or lost because of a deckbuilding choice or a gameplay decision.
You know with more certainty what your path ahead will be.
You know with more certainty what your path ahead will be.
15/ Feedback is the lifeblood of strategy because it shows the impact of your choices.
In #cedh, players spend so much time figuring out what mattered that they forget to take steps to improve.
#obk allows players to focus solely on skilling up due to clearer feedback loops.
In #cedh, players spend so much time figuring out what mattered that they forget to take steps to improve.
#obk allows players to focus solely on skilling up due to clearer feedback loops.
16/ Faster cycling.
Let's be honest - despite the 'sub-3-turn format' meme, #cedh games take a long, long time.
The high number of choices means a lot of furrowed brows as @kenlikescarbs attempts to remember algebra or @Ilvaldi tries to predict the future 50 turns from now.
Let's be honest - despite the 'sub-3-turn format' meme, #cedh games take a long, long time.
The high number of choices means a lot of furrowed brows as @kenlikescarbs attempts to remember algebra or @Ilvaldi tries to predict the future 50 turns from now.
17/ We all know the best way to improve playing Magic is - in the words of world's wisest AI @SonRebell - playing Magic.
But each #cedh game requiring so much time means improving in the format costs a time commitment beyond what is honestly reasonable.
But each #cedh game requiring so much time means improving in the format costs a time commitment beyond what is honestly reasonable.
18/ Why do you think the best decks in #cedh are mostly decks that are the most *popular*?
The time commitment to improve in #cedh is so demanding that you literally need TEAMS of people playing a deck just to get enough feedback to make a change!
This cycling is too slow.
The time commitment to improve in #cedh is so demanding that you literally need TEAMS of people playing a deck just to get enough feedback to make a change!
This cycling is too slow.
19/ #obk is designed as a lunchtime format - 'win lose next' as time-efficiently as possible (while remaining strategically interesting).
Faster games = more feedback / minute.
Faster cycles = faster improvement.
More importantly, more *access* to impactful feedback.
Faster games = more feedback / minute.
Faster cycles = faster improvement.
More importantly, more *access* to impactful feedback.
20/ As a brewer, this is particularly exciting because it means - as an individual - I can iterate on & improve an #obk deck far faster than in #cedh.
TEAMS of people remain nice to have but no longer required.
I'm no longer held back by having no Magic friends!
TEAMS of people remain nice to have but no longer required.
I'm no longer held back by having no Magic friends!
21/ To recap - here are 3 reasons why #obk may be the competitive multiplayer format we've all been looking for - especially compared to #cedh;
- Better strategic balance
- Clearer process to upskill & improve
- Lower time investment
All due to format rules!
- Better strategic balance
- Clearer process to upskill & improve
- Lower time investment
All due to format rules!
22/ Does this mean #cedh is bad?
No, of course not. It's a beloved format for many people with a unique gameplay that can't be replicated by #obk.
But it may not be the best competitive multiplayer format anymore if its uniqueness don't overcome its underlying shortcomings.
No, of course not. It's a beloved format for many people with a unique gameplay that can't be replicated by #obk.
But it may not be the best competitive multiplayer format anymore if its uniqueness don't overcome its underlying shortcomings.
23/ To close-
Ultimately, all of the above analysis can be summed up in the below two statements;
1) #cedh is a Magic-based multiplayer game.
2) #obk is a multiplayer Magic game.
Ultimately, all of the above analysis can be summed up in the below two statements;
1) #cedh is a Magic-based multiplayer game.
2) #obk is a multiplayer Magic game.
24/ Final thoughts-
- Big ups to the OBK Discord for putting up with my random questions & sharing their experiences!
- I hope the format continues to grow, if only to shine a brighter light on all the good @magikidsMTG is doing for the community at large
- Cats
- Big ups to the OBK Discord for putting up with my random questions & sharing their experiences!
- I hope the format continues to grow, if only to shine a brighter light on all the good @magikidsMTG is doing for the community at large
- Cats
25/ Thanks for reading!
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
