How many cards should it be?

How do you "pack" them to draft from?

Do you randomly pack cards and not use the entire cube to draft from?

Anything else I should know about?

~MM

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I am MeddlingMage...YOUR Motl Survivor 11 Champion, 2007 Captain N award winner, 2010 Marlboro award winner, and 2011 Champion Tournament Pick'em
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CM Punk "OMG Kevin Nash WTF, thought he was dead, LOL"

My peasant cube is 420 cards which is enough for 9 to draft but we mostly get 6. It leaves enough of the card pool unused to not become repetitive.

If you can consistently hit 8 drafters or plan to draft more than once or twice a week then maybe a 720 card cube might be the way to go.

As for making the packs, yes, usually there are a number of cards from the cube that aren't going to be used.

There's a number of ways to make the packs but what we usually do is shuffle up each color section individually (WUBRG, Colorless, Multi, Land) and make packs with 2 of each WUBRG and 2 Multi colored cards. That leaves 3 open spots per pack. We add up the number of total open spots (6 drafters, 3 packs, 3 open spots equals 54 open spots) and take half of those in lands and half in colorless. Shuffle those two piles together and place them into the packs to bring them up to fifteen cards.

One final note is that before anyone sees their pack, they shuffle it up and randomly pass 3 cards forward. This makes it so that the packs aren't completely color balanced. If we didn't, then if you get passed your first pack and there was only 1 white card in there you know at least what color he took.

Also, for smaller drafts (4-6) we've toyed with the idea of making five 9 card packs as with the 15 card packs there's a lot of cards tabling that normally wouldn't.

@Cubfan: So what you're saying is have X amount of cards in seperate piles (Blue, Black Green etc.)face down. Then grab 2 cards ffrom each pile, forming "a pack". Then once all players do this, shuffle them up and each player then randomly removes 3 cards from the current pack (making 12 card packs), the draft those packs and repeat? We will probably for the most part only have 4 of us. On occasion 6. How many "packs" get drafted?

Also, cards are put in a cube in one of's, right?

What are some auto-include cube cards?

~MM

__________________
I am MeddlingMage...YOUR Motl Survivor 11 Champion, 2007 Captain N award winner, 2010 Marlboro award winner, and 2011 Champion Tournament Pick'em
MOTL NCAA Bracket Challenge winner!

CM Punk "OMG Kevin Nash WTF, thought he was dead, LOL"

quote:

---

Originally posted by CubFan81:
The size probably depends more on how many people you expect per draft and how often you expect to draft.

My peasant cube is 420 cards which is enough for 9 to draft but we mostly get 6. It leaves enough of the card pool unused to not become repetitive.

If you can consistently hit 8 drafters or plan to draft more than once or twice a week then maybe a 720 card cube might be the way to go.

As for making the packs, yes, usually there are a number of cards from the cube that aren't going to be used.

There's a number of ways to make the packs but what we usually do is shuffle up each color section individually (WUBRG, Colorless, Multi, Land) and make packs with 2 of each WUBRG and 2 Multi colored cards. That leaves 3 open spots per pack. We add up the number of total open spots (6 drafters, 3 packs, 3 open spots equals 54 open spots) and take half of those in lands and half in colorless. Shuffle those two piles together and place them into the packs to bring them up to fifteen cards.

One final note is that before anyone sees their pack, they shuffle it up and randomly pass 3 cards forward. This makes it so that the packs aren't completely color balanced. If we didn't, then if you get passed your first pack and there was only 1 white card in there you know at least what color he took.

Also, for smaller drafts (4-6) we've toyed with the idea of making five 9 card packs as with the 15 card packs there's a lot of cards tabling that normally wouldn't.

Also, buy good sleeves. The cube will be used and abused. Resleeving is a nightmare and a pain in the ass. You want them to last as long as possible. Buy an extra pack to replace any that might split or get something spilled on.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by MeddlingMage:
Thanks for the help thus far guys.

@Cubfan: So what you're saying is have X amount of cards in seperate piles (Blue, Black Green etc.)face down. Then grab 2 cards ffrom each pile, forming "a pack". Then once all players do this, shuffle them up and each player then randomly removes 3 cards from the current pack (making 12 card packs), the draft those packs and repeat? We will probably for the most part only have 4 of us. On occasion 6. How many "packs" get drafted?

Also, cards are put in a cube in one of's, right?

What are some auto-include cube cards?

~MM

---

Drafting is just like a normal draft, so in the end each drafter should end up with 45 cards. Usually three 15 card packs. The three cards you remove from your pack don't get shuffled anywhere, they just get passed down the line one drafter before anyone looks at their cards. So for the first pack that everyone is going to draft they shuffle it around (15 cards), pick three at random and pass those three to the person to their left. Once everyone has done so they should be back at 15 cards and then you can draft like normal. Its not the only way to make packs though, but it works pretty well for us.

Yes, a cube is generally just singletons.

Nothing is ever really auto-include. Though if you aren't doing a powered cube then there might be a few auto-excludes. Sol Ring is ridiculously busted and while I used to be on the Signets are fine camp, the drafting has actually been more fun after we've taken them out. It helps keep green as the ramp fixing color which has lead to more interesting decks instead of a bunch of 4 and 5 color good stuff piles.

I want to ensure this is fun for those poeple doing it with me. I don't want to build it and they don't have fun and want to do it again.

Thanks so far!

~MM

__________________
I am MeddlingMage...YOUR Motl Survivor 11 Champion, 2007 Captain N award winner, 2010 Marlboro award winner, and 2011 Champion Tournament Pick'em
MOTL NCAA Bracket Challenge winner!

CM Punk "OMG Kevin Nash WTF, thought he was dead, LOL"

I'd start with something like 30-45 lands, 30-45 artifacts, and an equal number of white, blue, black, green, and red cards split among the remaining cards.

So, you could do a split like this:

30 lands
30 artifacts
60 white
60 blue
60 black
60 red
60 green

Here's a list of many commons and uncommons you might find useful to include in your cube (by no means exhaustive):

Path to Exile
Swords to Plowshares
Temporal Isolation
Journey to Nowhere
Pacifism
Arrest
Oblivion Ring
Griffin Guide
Faith's Fetters
Midnight Haunting
Spectral Procession

Elite Vanguard
Gideon's Lawkeeper
Goldmeadow Harrier
Mother of Runes
Soltari Trooper
Soltari Monk
Soltari Priest
Stormfron Pegasus
Mistral Charger
Kor Skyfisher
Kor Aeronaut
Leonin Skyhunter
Blade of the Sixth Pride
Wall of Omens
Knight of Meadowgrain
Porcelain Legionnaire
Flickerwisp
Kor Sanctifiers
Calciderm
Glimmerpoint Stag
Cloudgoat Ranger

Force Spike
Preordain
Ponder
Miscalculation
Mana Leak
Remand
Counterspell
Essence Scatter
Remove Soul
Impulse
Exclude
Repulse
Forbid
Capsize
Crystal Shard
Fact or Fiction
Deep Analysis
Compulsive Research
Thirst For Knowledge
Condescend
Repeal

Enclave Cryptologist
Looter il-Kor
Welkin Tern
Waterfront Bouncer
Man-o'-War
Pestermite
Sea Agate Oracle
Calcite Snapper
Aether Adept
Thieving Magpie
Mist Raven
Mulldrifter
Riftwing Cloudskate

Duress
Inquisition of Kozilek
Night's Whisper
Sign in Blood
Hymn to Tourach
Doom Blade
Terror
Go for the Throat
Dismember
Barter in Blood
Snuff Out
Diablic Edict
Chainer's Edict

Fume Spitter
Carnophage
Diregraf Ghoul
Vampire Lacerator
Dauthi Horror
Nezumi Graverobber
Nezumi Cutthroat
Vampire Hexmage
Black Knight
Vampire Interloper
Bone Shredder
Phyrexian Rager
Hypnotic Specter
Liliana's Specter
Vampire Nighthawk
Nekrataal
Skinrender
Okiba-Gang Shinobi
Shriekmaw

Firebolt
Lightning Bolt
Burst Lightning
Arc Trail
Incinerate
Magma Jet
Pyroclasm
Searing Blaze
Volcanic Hammer
Arc Lightning
Staggershock
Pillage
Flame Javelin
Fireblast
Fireball
Rolling Thunder

Jackal Pup
Reckless Waif
Goblin Patrol
Mogg Fanatic
Ember Hauler
Fireslinger
Blood Knight
Goblin Wardriver
Hearth Kami
Hellspark Elemental
Keldon Marauders
Lightning Mauler
Stromblood Berserker
Torch Fiend
Fire Imp
Vithian Stinger
Cunning Sparkmage
Gathan Raiders
Manic Vandal
Avalanche Riders
Flametongue Kavu

Rancor
Cultivate
Kodama's Reach
Harmonize
Sprout Swarm

Krosan Tusker
Pouncing Jaguar
Fyndhorn Elves
Llanowar Elves
Arbor Elf
Wild Dogs
Avacyn's Pilgrim
Joraga Treespeaker
Twinblade Slasher
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Viridian Emissary
Wall of Roots
Wall of Blossoms
Albino Troll
Mire Boa
River Boa
Wild Mongrel
Strangleroot Geist
Imperious Perfect
Viridian Shaman
Uktabi Orangutan
Civic Wayfinder
Borderland Ranger
Eternal Witness
Wolfir Avenger
Yavimaya Elder
Phantom Centaur
Blastoderm
Briarhorn
Wickerbough Elder
Indrink Stomphowler
Acidic Slime

Bonesplitter
Lightning Graves
Loxodon Warhammer
Swiftfoot Boots
Skullclamp
Icy Manipulator
Azorius Signet
Boros Signet
Dimir Signet
Everflowing Chalice
Golgari Signet
Gruul Signet
Izzet Signet
Mind Stone
Orzhov Signet
Rakdos Signet
Selesnya Signet
Simic Signet
Sensei's Divining TOp
Chimeric Idol
Everflowing Chalice
Mindstone
Prismatic Lens
Juggernaut

Mishra's Factory
Strip Mine
Evolving Wilds
Terramorphic Expanse
Urza's Factory

Vivid Crag
Vivid Creek
Vivid Grove
Vivid Marsh
Vivid Meadow

Sejiri Refuge
Jwar Isle Refuge
Akoum Refuge
Kazandu Refuge
Graypelt Refuge

Seaside Citadel
Arcane Sanctum
Crumbling Necropolis
Savaage Lands
Jungle Shrine

Please guys, list some more cards to help a guy out...You too Yak

~MM

__________________
I am MeddlingMage...YOUR Motl Survivor 11 Champion, 2007 Captain N award winner, 2010 Marlboro award winner, and 2011 Champion Tournament Pick'em
MOTL NCAA Bracket Challenge winner!

CM Punk "OMG Kevin Nash WTF, thought he was dead, LOL"

Merfolk Looter
Memory Lapse
Hinder
Control magic
Into the Roil
Dismiss
Mind Control
Persuasion
Azure Mage
Ninja of the Deep Hours
Latch Seeker
Shaper Parasite
Jetting Glasskite
Errant Ephemeron
Clone
Mystical Tutor
Miscalculation
Daze
Complicate
Power Sink

Dark Ritual
Blind Creeper
Dauthi Slayer
Animate Dead
Demonic Tutor
Sudden Death
Makeshift Mannequin
Ambition's Cost
Fleshbag Marauder
Necrogen Scudder
Chittering Rats
Keening Banshee
Disfigure
Innocent Blood
Grasp of Darkness
Stupor
Skeletal Scrying

Goblin Ruinblaster
Whipflare
Plated Geopede
Keldon Vandals
Puncture Blast
Brimstone Volley
Slice and Dice
Blaze
Mogg War Marshal
Ronin Houndmaster
Suq'Ata Lancer
Vulshok Sorcerer
Skirk Marauder
Keldon Champion
Gorehorn Minotaur
Ancient Hydra
Firemaw Kavu
Smash to Smithereens
Molten Rain
Volt Charge

Dawntreader Elk
Viridian Emissary
Werebear
Search for Tomorrow
Rampant Growth
Overgrown Battlement
Beastbreaker of Bala Ged
Trusted Forcemage
Briarpack Alpha
Cudgel Troll
Bestial Menace
Nantuko Vigilante
Vines of Vastwood
Naturalize
Beast Within
Bramblecrush
Hurricane

Wall of Denial
Azorius Guildmage
Momentary Blink
Court Hussar

Agony Warp
Moroii
Recoil
Ribbons of Night
Soul Manipulation

Murderous Redcap
Bituminous Blast
Terminate
Blightning

Kird Ape
Firespout
Boggart Ram-Gang
Bloodbraid Elf

Loam Lion
Qasali Pridemage
Kitchen Finks
Behemoth Sledge

Mortify
Gerrard's Verdict
Lingering Souls
Shrieking Grotesque

Fire//Ice
Electrolyze
Gelectrode
Nucklavee

Putrid Leech
Putrefy
Consume Strength

Skyknight Legionnaire
Lightning Helix
Duergar Hedge Mage

Snakeform
Lorescale Coatl
Trygon Predator

~MM

__________________
I am MeddlingMage...YOUR Motl Survivor 11 Champion, 2007 Captain N award winner, 2010 Marlboro award winner, and 2011 Champion Tournament Pick'em
MOTL NCAA Bracket Challenge winner!

CM Punk "OMG Kevin Nash WTF, thought he was dead, LOL"

As for more card suggestions - focus on powerful mechanics like kicker, threshold, morph, etc. Cards like jilt and werebear are outstanding for multiple archetypes, and they are considered useful cards at multiple points in the game. Your overall focus should be for every color to have options at the early-game, mid-game, and late-game.

This is kind of a gray area, but also look at a few of the cards printed specifically in special sets, like the new cascade creature in the planechase deck ( I think its an uncommon).