[Discussion] Melrak Recruiter

Its ability is speed, and as a mana source it's best used on your own turn.

A change to speed would make the card much more convenient without really affecting the card's balance at all, and bring it in line with the other mana source abilities.

That's really not a bad idea at all. I actually wouldn't say it's best used on your own turn (that really depends on the situation), but S speed for convenience could help here.

I disagree that it's best used on your own turn - unless you're getting end turn follower synergy or need the mana that turn, having it available to defend just in case (or if it'd definitely help!) would probably be a good idea. I don't see any significant situations where adding "follower" would be important at A vs. S speed, though.

I'm more concerned about why the HELL we gave it a generation ability. Seriously, what the fuck?

That would be why.

Also, while I don't agree either, I think all of his reasons have to do with the mana generation rather than the follower addition.

And 25/31 wouldn't have done the trick?

That has nothing to do with the fact that I was answering your question or my attempt to clear up your misconception with what Nacho was trying to say. Try again. Maybe this time with a "thank you for attempting to help" rather than a "I'm continuing some random argument that you were never involved in."

(03-11-2009 01:15 AM)Chibi Chen Wrote:  I'm more concerned about why the HELL we gave it a generation ability. Seriously, what the fuck?

cause it's cool

(03-11-2009 01:32 AM)Chibi Chen Wrote:  And 25/31 wouldn't have done the trick?

I'd be all for removing the (completely arbitrary) mana gain ability and giving it a stat boost instead (25/31, 30/25, 27/27, whatever works).

Aside from -5/-5 and the ability to add followers relative to Kelar Fencer, it has the ability to give mana and has a 2 sac profit. Together, this allows for an effective 3 sac profit, and is the cheapest dark card that has this (next cheapest being Honor Burrower and Gremlin Pit at 4 cost).

So... yeah, it's a bit of a generator and a source, and I don't think it should do both of these at its cost.

Particularly at only -5/-5.

Ok then, assuming we don't rebalance the card, can we make it speed to match the rest of the mana sources?

That speed thing is fine by me. But I kind of agree that the generation ability is a little too good for a three mana monster with half decent stats.

I'm not so sure guys. Without the generation, his ability is really crappy. I don't think you'd ever put him in your deck over Melrak Pikeman or Cody, even if he was a 30/25, or a 27/27, or whatever. If you don't like the generation, that's fine, but a straight stat boost won't make him playable without it.

the mana gain is rarely more then one unless you control the field to begin with and if your melrak deck is controlling the field then you'd probably be attacking not mana making.

It still generates AND has extra sac. >30 life would make it generally more capable of making use of the extra sac while matching Paladin Trainee's attack with different (if even weaker) synergy that he can share with miscellaneous creatures.

Nacho's right, though, without that ability I'd pretty much never use him over Melrak Pikeman, even in Follower decks. If I needed something just to sac, there's plenty of effects that get the job done while not being prone to dying like a creature is, and Pikeman is better on both offense and defense most of the time (seriously, that +10 on defense rocks).

edit: if there's a problem with him saccing too much, I'd rather just reduce his sac rather than reducing the ability back to suckitude.

There are 5 other dark monsters who share his sac of 5 and cost of 3, and you'd be hard pressed to find stats that make him worth using over them. At 25/31, I'd rather use Melrak Bearer or Pikeman in a follower deck, Robot Flunky, Cody, or Goblin outside of it, and Bank Robber, Shigatsu Ninja, or Rio if I actually expected to sac him for some sort of gain.

comparing his effect to bearer's I'd say he's balanced.

I'd say the same when comparing it to Mana Bird and Glowey Slime.

That's great and all, save for the bit where Recruiter costs less, has more statpoints, and also grants follower synergy to other cards.

And in return, he probably doesn't generate as much.