Before I get into this story, I need to explain a fairly complicated magic card up-front.
This is Wheel of Misfortune. This wall of text of a card spells out a game of chicken. Every player in the game marks down an amount of life they're willing to pay, in exchange for the ability to draw a fresh hand of seven cards.
The least courageous player(s) do not get to do so, while everyone else gets a fresh new hand of cards. The player(s) that chose the highest number get bonked for that much life.
It's the kind of design I really enjoy, wordiness aside! There's a different axis of risk both when aiming high and paying a lot of life, or aiming low and risking not being part of the fun. It creates an interesting dynamic, and gives you some insight into the thought process of the other players!
But this story doesn't have anything to do with game theory. Instead, it's about a game of 1v1 Commander between me and my little brother. He pilots an Eldrazi deck, helmed by Emrakul, the Promised End.
With Commander rules, I am aware of this card from the very start, and my opponent can always cast it -- as soon as he manages to generate enough mana to do so, at least. It's still a pretty expensive card. The moment he does, it's devastating. He's then able to use my removal spells on my own creatures, make unfavorable attacks, the works. Once Emrakul hits the table, it's very often lights out.
But I know it's coming. So I can change my play style. I play much more aggressively, using removal on creatures that would not make the cut normally, using every opportunity to attack and get his life points lower.
And it's working. By the time he can cast Emrakul, I'm out of tools that could be used against me, and he's an attack step away from defeat.
He plays Emrakul. I reveal my hand, containing a creature and a land. "Can't do anything against me with this!", I say smugly.
He's visibly disappointed but still comes to my side of the table. He draws a card for my turn.
... It's Wheel of Misfortune.
Never has a card been this aptly named.
