Cloned from [The Chicago Cube II](/c/fb0bb3dd-04a9-4776-94db-207ee4d5cb3d) >>> ### THE CHICAGO CUBE 2 <<< These are my initial thoughts on what we should do for Cube 2. I picked themes that felt were opposite from Cube 1, and then found 10 lighthouses that work together. #### Key themes: 1) TOP OF LIBRARY - Instead of looping cards through the graveyard, I thought that we could focus more on the top of the library, and instead making the graveyard a (mostly) dead zone. I think this will create a different kind gameplay, that tests a whole different sets of skills. One of the largest differences will be that a lot of the information will be hidden. 2) CASTING FROM EXILE - This will mesh perfect with the top of library stuff. Exiling cards from the top of library, to cast later or for free, will only get way more powerful if we include a critical mass of library manipulation. 3) ENCHANTMENTS - Instead of artifacts, we should focus on enchantments for our permanent-based synergies. - - - - - - >>> #### FALCO SPARA, PACTWEAVER <<< >>> {G}{W}{U} <<< - - - >>> [[!/ae25db8c-3d10-4196-b002-9d2aabd5f4de]] <<< << [[!/d16453f1-c6ca-4288-ab72-315ed9bb0ab0]] [[!/f5bcb21a-8559-4791-8cd0-482e7b8dcfd2]] [[!/52558748-6893-4c72-a9e2-e87d31796b59]] [[!/4eac2b49-6cb6-4ff4-8fac-2ba669326640]] >> - - - >>> #### AMINATOU, VEIL PIERCER <<< >>> {W}{U}{B} <<< - - - >>> [[!/9f868023-6035-403d-ba91-7a4840c6c392]] <<< << [[!/6bcafc2e-cef6-412d-8c5d-1658c3337292]] [[!/23b62be6-1a80-4f16-a94a-374203052662]] [[!/0a07cba3-2e8d-48ec-a6f8-4d2edfcd833d]] [[!/596fb7a2-bb79-44b7-ad84-414c8139ec13]] >> - - - >>> #### JELEVA, NEPHALIA'S SCOURGE <<< >>> {U}{B}{R} <<< - - - >>> [[!/83f9aeb8-05ba-49d9-a834-62f42fcd295b]] <<< << [[!/2db4fe28-e580-479b-910f-b719d69468b1]] [[!/5e215ab0-efd6-4ea2-8bd2-0a93865e1e3c]] [[!/6a0e5378-310b-44b6-8fc8-26c94eaceafc]] [[!/dc6c9196-6d28-4cc2-9748-60e9632a502b]] >> - - - >>> #### ZIATORA'S ENVOY <<< >>> {B}{R}{G} <<< - - - >>> [[!/ba39154c-aace-4d55-a3ad-7c9eb717ed2b]] <<< << [[!/27e2477d-4f04-408d-8c39-8a886ac81f44]] [[!/5798fdf0-d178-43d9-b821-8f3f654654b4]] [[!/f486df00-7c4a-4ff0-bb0b-c8b5432ac742]] [[!/7ef67487-c8e5-49bb-b0f7-e073ff2e31f1]] >> - - - >>> #### ATLA PALANI, NEST TENDER <<< >>> {R}{G}{W} <<< - - - >>> [[!/f6aa473b-85cd-431d-844b-218368fe955e]] <<< << [[!/880f6602-f335-4ad8-9e2f-f32b6d715f72]] [[!/9afdb38b-cdb4-4f64-8fc7-2df666a9db1b]] [[!/cbac1d27-15e2-4e2f-82ab-625a16e096cb]] [[!/48494ef9-5eb3-4b55-ad1d-b32bbed89ca5]] >> - - - >>> #### GHEN, ARCANUM WEAVER <<< >>> {R}{W}{B} <<< - - - >>> [[!/4b335496-05d2-40f5-a52c-10029f7fa008]] <<< << [[!/5b491d11-d00a-4541-8389-2785a455eeee]] [[!/bfdbef00-bc1b-4dd6-aef5-aeb5ce454344]] [[!/265aac73-bcbb-4332-940b-96e1e312bbf8]] [[!/52705c53-883e-4b6a-9c08-3fa35f6f17d5]] >> - - - >>> #### LOOT, THE KEY TO EVERYTHING <<< >>> #### -OR- <<< >>> #### ILLUNA, APEX OF WISHES <<< >>> #### -OR- <<< >>> #### MAELSTROM WANDERER <<< >>> {G}{U}{R} <<< - - - >>> <<[[!/fb169fa2-c92e-45f7-89a2-0ca0e3910a1c]] [[!/9fc99c81-d112-4811-9bba-77a14d904692]] [[!/9129baf5-ffa9-4ffb-bcab-19d6a42dbfcc]]>> <<< << [[!/a69fb480-a9fc-4f09-ac4e-3ce52c485ea9]] [[!/edc035ca-f0a3-4814-9405-d6dc6f048315]] [[!/8fa281e1-5c48-4bba-b8e9-88c6f5f53abb]] [[!/6ba78cd7-a3b6-4ef2-b6b7-3416c0ba61f1]] >> - - - >>> #### ANIKTHEA, HAND OF EREBOS <<< >>> {W}{B}{G} <<< - - - >>> [[!/8b796a56-1611-4835-ac5b-48b4e9263685]] <<< << [[!/09cfe585-8a55-4b27-89e0-dfb6946fe1f3]] [[!/b20eabfb-f086-45dd-97e2-b2ed5286bc3c]] [[!/8dbb2112-85b9-49cf-9ed5-9273829c34f1]] [[!/0babfe00-9bad-48fc-b3b1-df8280242fd2]] >> - - - >>> #### ELSHA OF THE INFINITE <<< >>> #### -OR- <<< >>> #### KYKAR, WIND'S FURY <<< >>> #### -OR- <<< >>> #### JESKAI ASCENDANCY <<< >>> {U}{R}{W} <<< - - - >>> <<[[!/3b977c0b-07a1-4d16-9fdd-fc0563e0b68e]] [[!/594cb7dc-ea88-4909-ab40-1d40fecc9817]] [[!/ca9c2522-5606-4bbd-863d-f0ab0a612b4e]]>> <<< << [[!/8d42d7aa-7f53-4cfc-842a-086aab2448d1]] [[!/d8be6570-5b5f-4ffc-a5e5-67d7c41c8caa]] [[!/abcd0e32-2e6b-419b-9e8a-af38f2b48a66]] [[!/3e892d86-f443-4846-8049-40ec6b8c22b4]] >> - - - >>> #### GLARB, CALAMITY'S AUGUR <<< >>> {B}{G}{U} <<< - - - >>> [[!/ffc70b2d-5a3a-49ea-97db-175a62248302]] <<< << [[!/06a91cf5-4eab-4d9b-90bd-fb933bb00540]] [[!/4d42e22d-f60e-40c5-b069-5e1708f3bebc]] [[!/1088f33e-cb5f-4248-ae8e-280c4e41f291]] [[!/b22c33bb-47fe-4334-9105-00f4b87811bd]] >> - - - #### Additional Thoughts INSTANTS & SORCERIES - I wanted to focus on these, as another way to differentiate from Cube 1, but I can already tell that this theme is going to bet bullied out in exactly the same way it did in Cube 1. Going through and fleshing out the bulk of the cube will tell us more. [[Arthur, Marigold Knight]] is a totally acceptable option for {U}{R}{W} if we decide we don't like instants/sorceries as a theme, and we don't want to do Kykar with just enchantments. GRAVEYARD - I wanted to make the graveyard basically completely out of play, but there were no good {W}{B}{G} Lighthouse options that don't use the graveyard. So instead, I think it makes sense to only include graveyard cards if they relate directly to the enchantment theme. We also probably should avoid self-mill and any graveyard hate cards. (I know there is a Nyx Weaver in the list, I included it before I thought about all this.) This also lets us play Ghen, which feels much more on theme than the other options. However... ANGELS AND DEMONS - There seems like there might be a subtheme of giant creatures across all colors and major themes. If so, we can make sure they are angels/demons/dragons and play Kaalia. [[Kaalia of the Vast]] would be sweet, but is neither "top of library" nor "from exile." [[Kaalia, Zenith Seeker]] is much more on theme, but also not nearly as cool. SEARCHING - Searching (and shuffling) libraries is anti-synergy with top of library stuff. We should consider trying and removing all "search your library" effects. It will change the feel of games a ton, but we shouldn't sacrifice really good card options for this idea alone. FINALLY - Don't pay too much attention to individual cards that aren't the Lighthouses. I know some of the cards go against what I wrote here, and some are just obviously not sticking around, I was just using the list to record thoughts.