Hey deckbuilders and BBarney, i said i would make a poll for the 2nd round of the contest, but it would be complicated. Let's make it easier: leave a post to choose about the next options.

1. 2/3 fixed colors / 2/3 fixed colors and 1 splash color (if needed) / any combination up to 3 fixed colors / complete freedom.
This is the main reason for this thread. The options are: i choose 2 or 3 colors as for round 1, i choose 2 or 3 colors but the deckbuilder can decide to splash one more color (3 cards max), i choose 3 colors and the deckbuilder can decide any combination of them using 1, 2 or all 3 of them, or complete freedom to the deckbuilders.
So the last two options are basically the same, since the theme ties the deckbuilders to the same 3 colors quite always. Also the first two are basically the same. So the choice is between optimize a theme with the same colors, with possible similar decklists, or having a more relaxed contest, with more different ideas but not much way to compare them. As you know i'm for fixed colors (and maybe a splash).

2. Anonymous decklists / identified decklists.
So anonymous decklists would make the contest fair and there would be a final surprise effect. Identified decklists could let people shame the deckbuilders during the whole testing week. I'm for the identified decklists.

3. Time.
For round 1 i went for one week for the decklists and one for the testing. I think a whole week for the testing is fine, since it gives more time to people busy with life and there is more time for discussion and shame. Maybe 1 week for the decklists is too much but not sure. No options here, but leave a comment.

4. Voting system.
Leave a comment about the voting system i used in round 1 (poll with up to 2 votes) and if you want a system that puts the decklists in order or that cares only about the best one.

5. Theme.
Post a theme you would like to see next week or in the following weeks. I already have 2 ideas for next week, but i like advices.

That's all i think. The important one is 1., you can comment the rest if you feel it can improve the contest.

Look let me first say I'm not a deckbuilder so I don't know how important my feedback should be taken. But I did VERY much enjoy the last content, it was really fun testing the different decks and being surprised by Maggit's deck and such. So I'll leave my feedback just the same:

1. I'll say complete freedom. I have no idea how specific you want to get so I'll just say complete freedom. If the goal is to find the best deck, this is the best way. Either we say something like "Mardu Vehicles" which I think would be really fun, or, if we are trying to make a weird idea work, then the more freedom you can provide, the better. One thing I would like to see is anytime a major type of deck wins a huge real life event, it could be really fun to see who can make the best DUELS version of that deck but maybe that will get too same-y?

2. People are certainly voting for people they like (explains why Maggit only got two votes) so anonymity would be good. But for me, the live blogging of testing is really fun when i know who's deck is who's. Will you allow certain deckbuilders to reveal themselves during the process? It seems like Gem would just privately ask his crew to vote for deck "E" anyway, no? I think I prefer identified decklists, it's more fun and public. If you think it's a popularity contest, then name a panel of judges (like an electoral college) for people allowed to vote officially instead.

3. the more time for testing the better, we don't need lots of these contests so let's take our time and make these big deals so people will want in on them.

4. Yeah, I like being able to vote for 2 or more. Yeah, I like a system that puts decklists in order.

5. "best spike deck?" "best mardu vehicles?"

6. I would also like to see Sjok always step in and try to take this thing over at inopportune times. (just pokin' fun)

5. Literally anything but this.

hehe, i'm just putting in a candidate to wake you guys up to make decent proposals. You know, like when Trump entered the presidential race.

1. Complete freedom. For example round 1 was abzan, but someone might have a better idea for revolt in simic or sultai?
2. Anonymous. People might cheat, but what's the fun from it? We want unbiased opinions imo.
3. 1 and 1 seems enough. That's 2 whole weeks.
4. The voting system seems fine.
5.
A) Blink deck.
B) I've tried making a Crush of Tentacles, Displacement Wave deck work, but it somehow failed miserably online even tho it went undefeated in 10+ games vs AI. I'd be really interested in other people's concept. This deck should theoretically have a good matchup vs vehicles and walkers.

but I took all that time to help you!!

Lol. I meant i fixed the original post.

lol, my bad

nice one

1. Both. Like, mix it up. Some weeks do fixed colors and others leave it open. In general, the more restrictive the concept/theme is, the less restrictive the colors need to be.

2. I like anonymity. BB can just label each submission according to who he THINKS built it and comment accordingly during his testing blog (I really enjoyed reading the last one, btw) and then we can all have a big laugh afterwards when the actual builders are paired with their decks. Well... except for me. I'll be crying about coming in last, but eh, at least it will be because I genuinely suck as a builder and not because nobody likes me.

3. 1 and 1 seems fine to me. A week to brainstorm, build and test and a week to try out and judge.

4. Don't really care that much. I guess 2 votes means ppl can vote for themselves and 1 other if they want...

5. I suck at Spike builds. Just can't seem to resist the jank. So I'm in favor of janky build-around type contests (pick a card or cards that have an interesting ability and try to build a deck that exploits it creatively). As for strategy themes, I like Blink, Crats, Reanimation, and set mechanic themes like Revolt and Improvise.

There's so many funny hijinx that can arise with the anonymity idea. Like I'll get so mad about one of the decks for being terrible that I'll say "ok this has to be TImh's right? Its awful " and then imagine how bad I feel when we see that bachelorette number two is really DJ, vert or elk! Or what if it was Timh all along?? I think I'd feel worse

Since we know deckbuilders a bit, it'll be fun to guess too. Like the big pile of craziness has to be Elk right?

Could be fun

And you could post your deck without being embarassed

You'll never have to worry about that. I don't build bad decks.

1. Complete Freedom
2. Identified
3/4. Don't Mind
5. Flicker or U/Bx Tezzeret's Fun House

1. Depends on 5, but erring towards freedom. I'd probably prefer 3 colors pick 2, or even just a single must include color. Or really just state the theme, and we decide what we want to do with the theme.
2. Definitely identified - this isn't supposed to be a popularity contest, folks need to be mature about not just voting for their favorite poster. I want to know whose decks they are, because I find build style/builder to be very interesting to see.
3/4 same and same as before. I thought it worked fine... up to 2 votes per person. But tbh, it's really not about winning the vote, it's about seeing a variety of takes on a theme, and hopefully generating some discussion.
5. I'm fine with any theme, just not obviously flawed themes so the testers don't get punished for helping us test decks with a long series of losses... e.g. No rats.dec or similar, unless we get some rat lords. Or more realistically, let's not do renowned.deck.

1 fixed. I believe this was about finding 'optimal' builds and that's more likely to happen if it's focused. It's also easier to compare decks against one another if they're cut from the same cloth.

2 identified. I'm sure there's favoritism this way but who cares? This is a fun exercise and joking/teasing seems like it should be part of it. It loses something otherwise and could potentially be more embarrassing at the end with a reveal too ( meaning folks are less likely to hold back comments when the deck is nameless only to be bombed at the end when revealed).

3 a week each. Gives enough time to build, test and submit. Same goes for testing and voting. Too short makes for rushed submissions (like mine was) or doesn't allow for ample members to participate. Too long and people lose interest. A week to build/ submit and a week to test/vote seems reasonable.

4 poll is fine but think it should be 1 vote per person. I'd also like more folks posting results, thoughts, feedback and comments. It's fun to read and is more likely to help hone in on the optimal build.

5 don't have a preference. I will submit a janky mess regardless of choice.

6 agree with Barney (ugh did I just say that?). All in good fun Sjok!


elk

1. I think this should be evaluated case-by-case. If the theme is rather restrictive, open up more colors for the builders. If the theme is more open ended, restrict the colors.

2. Identified. The goal of this is to build and play some weird and/or outside the box decks, and of course, have fun. If people are going to vote for the people they like without playing the decks, who cares? If the number of people interested in this wasn't a concern, I'd say making a board of judges of sorts would be better anyway.

3. 1 and 1 feels good.

4. Having a board of judges to evaluate the decks would be cool, but it's an unpractical idea. What we have right now works fine.

5. I think we should do something like the winner of one round gets to pick the theme for the next one. As for suggestions, I think "Energy deck with Blue and Green" and "Token deck without White" would be interesting.

6. I think we should have a way to reward creativity, like one person or a small group could vote to determine which deck is the more creative based on the inventiveness of the concept, use of obscure cards or concious decision to exclude popular (spike) cards. Maybe the winner of this could be the one to pick the theme for the next round, as an incentive to be creative with your decks.

Jokes on you guys, I'm going to post daily contests! The best contests. THE BEST. Best contests in the world. And I'll make you pay for them!

Okay, to actually be serious you can mark me down as agreeing with Barney for pretty much everything (surely this is one of the signs of the apocalypse?!) apart from spike decks. I'm already rowing crew in the showdown; I'd like to do something that challenges us to use our inner Johnny (why does that sound so wrong?).

Well, of course if the deck is terrible, it's mine. It's like my tell. Some people tell their poker hands by fidgeting with their jewelry - I tell my magic decks by building them horribly.

Suggestion - maybe best deck abusing ETB effects? We have decent tools to rinse repeat and it was a big strategy in Magic 2015 with cards like seance about and beasts like Pelakka Wurm. Go Jund!