Cactus Game Design Message Boards

It's a good idea but I don't even like other categories being able to make a card. I think only type 2 and Type 1 2 player winners should make a card. Although some luck is involved, those are the only two categories that are solely based on your deck plus skills. Sealed is drought, what you pulled plus did your opponent trade you or not, then followed by skill. Booster is table placement, drought, then deck construction and skill. So when it comes to solely deck construction and skill, only both 2 player categories involve that which I feel should be rewarded with card creations.

I agree to some extent, I really only won because I was able to draft all the best heroes at my table, was able to get crazy lucky with the soul drought, and my last table was more worried about Brian winning, so Justin let me have like 2-3 free souls I think.   

But, Isaac, that's what MP is all about! Look like you're not the threat, then swoop in for the win!

Agreed!  Somehow a total noob got a placing in Type 2 Multi!

I agree to some extent, I really only won because I was able to draft all the best heroes at my table, was able to get crazy lucky with the soul drought, and my last table was more worried about Brian winning, so Justin let me have like 2-3 free souls I think.   

I must disagree! Isaac is actually a very good player who is capable of winning a draft even at Nats, like he just did! Great job! 

Seeing some of the decks that ended up being drafted due to inexperienced drafters passing certain cards made me wonder if it's time for a "Type B" at Nationals (Booster for young players). 

Why isn't booster 4 players at a table then 2p for the games? This would eliminate the political aspect

Why isn't booster 4 players at a table then 2p for the games? This would eliminate the political aspect

This is something that is being considered as a potential optional format for tournament hosts to use.

Personally I like the idea, but there are also a couple potential issues to consider.
1. The nature of multi-player means that a player is less likely to become "stuck" where he has zero viable options to attack. In two-player, the opponent might have drafted a crazy strong EC and it just becomes a one-sided game.

2. Time--adding another 2P category works at a tournament like Nationals where you have 3 days, but for a one day tournament it might not be feasible to have both a T1 2P tournament and a 2P booster tournament (or you end up running minimum rounds for both categories which isn't ideal).

Drafting is an art, not a science, because there is one huge unknown variable--the cards you may or may not see in the next pack(s).

You can know what you've already drafted and what other people have drafted (to some extent) and thereby make the "correct" decision for each pick you make based on that data, but you'll never know what's going to be available in the upcoming packs. You can have an idea about the probability (i.e. you're drafting RoJ at a table of four so there's a decent chance you'll have the opportunity to get one Silver Hero from those packs), but there are no guarantees.

The other thing to remember is that trying to predict what other players will draft can sometimes be a fruitless exercise. I once opened a box pack that contained a Warriors Moses, a Patriarchs Ehud and a Transfiguration. I'm pretty sure that's the only time in my life I've passed an Ehud, but I decided that the potential for the Moses/Transfiguration combo was simply too good. Imagine my surprise when the pack got back to me and the Transfiguration was gone...but the Ehud was still there...

None of this is to say it's pointless to teach younger/inexperienced players better drafting strategies, but only that drafting is rarely black and white. Is it usually "incorrect" to pass a Strong Angel or Captain of the Host? Yes. Is it the "correct" move if your pack has a Barnabas (TEC) and you've already drafted a lot of strong Green and/or Clay enhancements. Yes.