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2 years ago ::
Oct 27, 2011 - 11:16AM
#11
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It's hard to playtest if you're going solo. I'd suggest going to as many FNM as you can for playtesting.
As for sideboard techniques, I (especially in game 1 of matches) imagine the card that would've been swapped out as the card that would've been swapped in. Example: Imagine the card in your hand (the one you would side out) as the actual sideboard card replacing it. If it would've had a big enough impact to change the game into your favor, then you know you need it. Keep your mind open to other cards while you're playtesting too. Just because it's not in your deck at that moment, doesn't mean you can't consider it's impact on your matches.
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2 years ago ::
Oct 27, 2011 - 5:51PM
#12
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Date Joined:
Aug 17, 2011
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I think one of the best things you can do while playtesting (or just playing to learn and get better) is make sure you understand the "why of the win". There is so much more to learn from a game than which deck won. Was it a Steel Hellkite that went unanswered? Did one player die while high mana cost cards were stuck in his hand? Did one player throw his hand on the table only to have it wiped out by a day of judgment? Did the control deck stabilize then win with card advantage? Which cards had a large impact on the game and which didn't? Etc, etc. As far as where to playtest and with who... Online is pretty awesome if you can dish out the cash for digital version of your deck. www.wizards.com/Magic/Digital/MagicOnlin...
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2 years ago ::
Nov 02, 2011 - 9:12PM
#13
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Date Joined:
Aug 17, 2011
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Also, I've found that playing "solo" can be very useful for playtesting. You can take your time, and play a particular matchup as many times as you want. I wrote a little article about how to play solo. birdsofparadise-mtg.blogspot.com/2011/11... There are a few things you have to get past for it to work.
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2 years ago ::
Nov 03, 2011 - 9:32AM
#14
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Date Joined:
Aug 28, 2009
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We do a few things in my group
Set a predetermined number of game 1s. Play those games and then move to post board. We also do what LSV or Flores (can't remember which) suggested with SB cards and that is Cheat. We will swap out some of our cards for cards we brought in from the SB. That way we can actually evaluate their effectiveness. It's hard to say that X card is good post sideboard if you never get to actually draw it.
Switch decks! Play the deck you are looking to test, and after an amount of time swap with your opponent. This way you can also determine if whoever is winning is doing so because of the better deck or because of skill. You and your partner should be familiar with the deck after playing WITH and AGAINST it for a while.
Proxies-Definitely speeds the process up. I don't have alot of cards on hand, but can get them. So I print of an entire proxy deck from magiccards.info, sleeve it up and play.
Keep testing sheets-Record wins losses, mulligans, attacks, even mental notes (thought about leaking that spell, but didn't. or Swung with X, they blocked with Y. Had Z in my hand but didn't use it, because I was afraid of getting 2 for 1'd not realizing he was tapped out) etc.
"My name is Cael and Sonat Hedo-Lina of Lorrd. You killed my father, prepare to die!"
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