Hopeful Initiate is a staple of white aggressive humans decks. It’s a core part of the Pioneer mono-W humans deck, and I believe it makes the cut in Highlander D&T if you’re on a Humans build (ask Wheeler)
I think the idea of Investigator's Journal is that once you've run out of suspects but still not 'solved the case' (i.e. won the game), that in itself can be a clue. In the whole "once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains must be true" sort of way. Plus, it is itself a clue, and those always draw you cards.
Meanwhile if you proliferate suspect counters "Well I'm almost out of suspects, but I got a couple new leads from that Bloated Contaminator and that Phyrexian gorgon lady"
If anyone is actually looking for this aid I'd love to recommend to them Mercury Stardust handy ma'am, they do a ton of beginner friendly tutorials on youtube and other platforms. ;)
I also personally enjoy the full art, black and white basics from the set. They are a little hard to parse at first glance, but they look very pretty in foil.
hopeful initiate is a strong piece in pioneer humans atm hence the value. They curve out well, grow with attacks and you can often get training to trigger a number of times with Adeline growing with number of humans, luminarch aspirant or thalia's leiutenant, also main board enchantment hate etc. very solid card.
Dorothea and her Vengeance is a favorite of mine. Nobody expects the UW deck to start swinging for 4 in the air on round 3, and likely every round after that too.
That card and Mirrorhall Mimic // Ghastly Mimicry are absolute houses that always catch an opponent off-guard. I once beat a Dragon deck in Historic Brawl simply because I put Ghastly Mimicry on a Dragon of theirs. I forget which one it was, but Dragon decks are pretty bad at dealing with their own creatures generally should they become a problem.
I have done collector draft. Is dumb and silly and fun. Highly recommend. (Also full foil Alara block draft, which was in some ways not as silly, and in some ways more)
1:28 Graham saw a picture of the Collar of Avacyn, and didn't make a joke about "The symbol of her church"? Code red, we have a code red doppelganger infiltration!
I never noticed the ring of leaves in Hopeful Initiate's art, probably cuz I'm familiar with the non-full art version and the leaves are mostly copped out in that art
So, when are we going to get to that "Oops, All Collector Boosters" chaos draft we were promised, Mr. Stark? Put that on the FNPF calendar you coward! 😂🤣😁👺
@@SingerOfWI wasn't looking when I heard that part. I have rewatched it with my eyes included, and I see that this is repetitive. I will keep it for the algorithm
MID and VOW absolutely suffered by being sandwiched by STX in the spring (AFR was still neat, but STX was a powerhouse set) and NEO. For a return to a beloved plane, both sets were executed poorly, imo.
A small request for those of us with audio processing issues: can you please stop crinkling the pack directly into the mic? It's an awful sound for me (and presumably others) to listen to; akin to nails on a chalkboard. I understand some people enjoy the sound, but there are troves of channels for that content. I enjoy your content as always, but the pack opening sounds into the mic drive me up the wall if I'm not quick enough with the mute. Thanks.
That's not what this is. It's to spur interesting discussions and observations about the contents. It's why Graham regularly talks about Draft picks in Crack-a-Packs, because it's something about the cards to talk about. If it was JUST to open product, it wouldn't have any of this. There's a reason people send them these packs, and it's not because they need the help getting them.
That's like saying the concept of watching them play Magic is just to watch someone play a game. It's watching people you like make jokes and have a good time. It's not about the game or the video games, it's about supporting LRR and laughing. Crack a packs are a blast from the past, a call back on how cards from back then seem now.
You'll know when a video is just about opening product, because they skim through the commons and uncommons to get straight to the rares. This is a discussion video that takes the time to appreciate each individual card, whether they are worth 1¢ or $100. It's a retrospective, and one comes here for Graham's wit and reminiscing. In pack opening for pack opening's sake, a lot of emphasis is put on value and how much profit or loss occurred, whereas here, it's just an afterthought for inquiring minds.
Ok. I'll admit it. "But wait, there's less!" got me. Well played. :P Always enjoy a new crack-a-pack.
"Two different flavours!" of zombie and "Over half is this w i d e Hopeful Initiate" are both contenders for my favourite quote from this one
Hopeful Initiate is a staple of white aggressive humans decks. It’s a core part of the Pioneer mono-W humans deck, and I believe it makes the cut in Highlander D&T if you’re on a Humans build (ask Wheeler)
I love "But wait, there's less!" as a description of cleave.
I think the idea of Investigator's Journal is that once you've run out of suspects but still not 'solved the case' (i.e. won the game), that in itself can be a clue. In the whole "once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains must be true" sort of way. Plus, it is itself a clue, and those always draw you cards.
Meanwhile if you proliferate suspect counters
"Well I'm almost out of suspects, but I got a couple new leads from that Bloated Contaminator and that Phyrexian gorgon lady"
Graham seemed a little disturbed there pondering the lore of disturb.
I want Graham to be my dad and show me how to fix the sink
Best I can do is beej building you a toilet
IanSound.mp3
Alex Honk.FLAC
Fix your own sink, he's my dad and we're flying kites today dammit.
If anyone is actually looking for this aid I'd love to recommend to them Mercury Stardust handy ma'am, they do a ton of beginner friendly tutorials on youtube and other platforms. ;)
“But wait, there’s less!” Is the best segway into cleave I’ve heard.
I will always remember this set as the one with the unreasonably hot Sorin.
Haha I was like, which one were they talking about, so I googled it. Which one... Which one... Oh. Yeah. I get it.
cleave being described as "But wait, there's less!" is perfect
I also personally enjoy the full art, black and white basics from the set. They are a little hard to parse at first glance, but they look very pretty in foil.
Big fan of cleave as “but wait, there’s less”
Woot woot! I hopes giving you a bazar collector booster might mean a little earlier opening! Glad it had some interesting stuff in it!
Love Glass-Cast Heart in my Anje Blood deck. Used it with Marionette Master to kill the entire table once.
hopeful initiate is a strong piece in pioneer humans atm hence the value. They curve out well, grow with attacks and you can often get training to trigger a number of times with Adeline growing with number of humans, luminarch aspirant or thalia's leiutenant, also main board enchantment hate etc. very solid card.
Dorothea and her Vengeance is a favorite of mine. Nobody expects the UW deck to start swinging for 4 in the air on round 3, and likely every round after that too.
That card and Mirrorhall Mimic // Ghastly Mimicry are absolute houses that always catch an opponent off-guard. I once beat a Dragon deck in Historic Brawl simply because I put Ghastly Mimicry on a Dragon of theirs. I forget which one it was, but Dragon decks are pretty bad at dealing with their own creatures generally should they become a problem.
damn I've been looking all around for an extended art Glass Cast Heart! it's not even expensive but no one seems to have one in Brazil
Delightful as always!
I have done collector draft. Is dumb and silly and fun. Highly recommend. (Also full foil Alara block draft, which was in some ways not as silly, and in some ways more)
*Hopeful Initiate* is strong in many Humans builds.
1:28 Graham saw a picture of the Collar of Avacyn, and didn't make a joke about "The symbol of her church"?
Code red, we have a code red doppelganger infiltration!
I never noticed the ring of leaves in Hopeful Initiate's art, probably cuz I'm familiar with the non-full art version and the leaves are mostly copped out in that art
Bots are coming out early today
Edgar does work in my black rose deck.
A vampire frame on a Human? Wow, spoilers much?
So, when are we going to get to that "Oops, All Collector Boosters" chaos draft we were promised, Mr. Stark? Put that on the FNPF calendar you coward! 😂🤣😁👺
Video quality is amazing
I have never opened a collector booster that was worth it
Heads up y'all if your significant others are big Astarion fans then Crimson Vow cards are easy gifts
Crack! A! Pack!
Graham, explore was not in crimson vow. You started this by saying "let's explore"
They literally made this joke in the video.
@@SingerOfWI wasn't looking when I heard that part. I have rewatched it with my eyes included, and I see that this is repetitive. I will keep it for the algorithm
@@AutkastKain That's the spirit!
MID and VOW absolutely suffered by being sandwiched by STX in the spring (AFR was still neat, but STX was a powerhouse set) and NEO. For a return to a beloved plane, both sets were executed poorly, imo.
And double feature didn't make it any better.
A small request for those of us with audio processing issues: can you please stop crinkling the pack directly into the mic? It's an awful sound for me (and presumably others) to listen to; akin to nails on a chalkboard. I understand some people enjoy the sound, but there are troves of channels for that content. I enjoy your content as always, but the pack opening sounds into the mic drive me up the wall if I'm not quick enough with the mute. Thanks.
The concept of videos to just open product is such a bummer
That's not what this is. It's to spur interesting discussions and observations about the contents. It's why Graham regularly talks about Draft picks in Crack-a-Packs, because it's something about the cards to talk about. If it was JUST to open product, it wouldn't have any of this. There's a reason people send them these packs, and it's not because they need the help getting them.
That's like saying the concept of watching them play Magic is just to watch someone play a game. It's watching people you like make jokes and have a good time. It's not about the game or the video games, it's about supporting LRR and laughing. Crack a packs are a blast from the past, a call back on how cards from back then seem now.
You'll know when a video is just about opening product, because they skim through the commons and uncommons to get straight to the rares. This is a discussion video that takes the time to appreciate each individual card, whether they are worth 1¢ or $100. It's a retrospective, and one comes here for Graham's wit and reminiscing. In pack opening for pack opening's sake, a lot of emphasis is put on value and how much profit or loss occurred, whereas here, it's just an afterthought for inquiring minds.