Armor Ward is also good because it is not a mandatory reveal like Nullify, so you can reveal it on your own timing instead of having to burn it on the next spell wether you are ready or not.

Quote from: baronzaltor on January 06, 2015, 11:35:29 AM

The game already has a built in function for giving handicaps.

If you want to disadvantage yourself against the opponent, simply lower your 120 spell points...  build an 80 or 90 point one.   If you want to give the advantage to an opponent, increase them to 150 spellpoints or so.  Its simple, and the opponent understands the advantage you are giving them by simply showing them the mage card.   You dont have to "play down", and then when they are acclimated they can just start playing a regular book.    This also teaches a value for spell book point effeciency very early on.

That might work, but I'm not sure. Have you tested this?

yeah.  Works out pretty well, having to skim or pad spell books to create handicap works pretty well for me when theres need for some kind of shift.

The game already has a built in function for giving handicaps.

If you want to disadvantage yourself against the opponent, simply lower your 120 spell points...  build an 80 or 90 point one.   If you want to give the advantage to an opponent, increase them to 150 spellpoints or so.  Its simple, and the opponent understands the advantage you are giving them by simply showing them the mage card.   You dont have to "play down", and then when they are acclimated they can just start playing a regular book.    This also teaches a value for spell book point effeciency very early on.

I'm surprised no one has yet to comment on the exploding pig demon. He's hilarious!

He is immune to flame damage, so explode won't do anything to him

Any card to give the Bloodthirsty trait to a mage would need to also have an Upkeep +X feature, so that the controller can choose to stop paying the upkeep whenever it gets out of hand or is getting him in a position where his inability to control actions is being too disruptive.  Otherwise its just suicide, as the opponent can simply keep you from ever being able to cast spells or move on your main phase for the rest of the game. 

The thing about a vampiric weapon is that its simply impractical... the Vampirism enchantment already covers this extremely well.  There is little reason to use a weapon with Vampirc+Drawback when you can benefit from a weapon of your choice AND Vampiric via the enchantment instead.   Vampirism gives very easy access to the trait regardless of weapon at reasonable spellpoint and mana cost (and discountable with enchanters ring).  Even non-dark mages can make good use of it.

Also, having the healing source of Vampirism on the weapon is kind of putting all your eggs in one basket.   A single dissolve knocks out your weapon and your healing engine in one action.  With the enchantment and weapon as separate pieces, the opponent has to spend resources disabling 2 different things.

So, its hard to make a practical weapon with Vampiric due to the sheer utility of the enchantment version and the ability to benefit from things other more rounded weapons grant (pierce, burn chances, reach, ethereal, curse-casting-familiar, etc) with no major drawbacks.

Tarok The Sky Hunter+Bear Strength (or Lion Savagery) will generally make short work of him, and at very effective spellcost/casting cost compared to what the opponent spent on Addy.

Its a crazy useful card to have.

Arcane Zap gives Wizard a "prepared" attack spell option even if one isnt in his hand.
Mordoks Tome adds a third option to the Wizard's spell-prep.

Add in a Wizard's Tower or Huugin (or a Gate to Voltari/Battle Forge), and you have an overwhelming number of ways you can play out a round simply by having so many bankable spells..3 in hand, ranged attack ability, plus familiar/spawnpoint options.

The biggest thing to note on the Tome is that its Legendary..so in Wizard vs Wizard match ups, there is pressure to play it early.