<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whims of the Fates" href="#" target="_blank">Whims of the Fates</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CSeb+McKinnon%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Seb McKinnon</a></em></p>
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<p>Hello, and welcome to <em>Am I the Bolas</em>? This week: Put it all on black?</p>
<p>This column is for all of you out there who have ever played some <em>Magic </em>and wondered if you were the bad guy. I'm here to take in your story with all of its nuances so I can bring some clarity to all those asking, "Am I the Bolas?"</p>
<p>I'm ready to hear you out and offer advice. All you have to do is email amithebolas@gmail.com with your story, a pseudonym you want to use, and of course, only include details you don't mind in the column! You might see your story below one day. You might even hear it on the podcast. Which podcast?</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25893" src="https://commandersherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bolcast_logo430x430-300x300.png" alt="" width="249" height="249" /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmITheBolcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THIS PODCAST!</a></p>
<p>I'm Mike Carrozza and this is what I look like drinking hot chocolate in the Fall!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wine of Blood and Iron"></div></div>
<p><i>I mostly spill it on my shirt. </i></p>
<p>(Post edited for brevity, clarity, and then some.)</p>
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<h2>SUBMISSION</h2>
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<p><em>Hey, Mike</em></p>
<div dir="auto"><em>This story comes from a couple months ago I was playing at a Commander night with some friends. We needed one more player and found someone new-to-the-game who had just bought a Fallout precon Commander deck and wanted to play. We pulled out some precon level decks and while we were shuffling, I remembered I had <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whims of the Fates" href="#" target="_blank">Whims of the Fates</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in my deck. I pulled it out, explained to him that often the best play is to put all your permanents in one pile and risk getting your board destroyed. I offered to sub it out for a basic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mountain" href="#" target="_blank">Mountain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if he wanted. He said he didn't mind.</em></div>
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<div dir="auto"><em>During our first game, I drew and then played <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whims of the Fates" href="#" target="_blank">Whims of the Fates</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I kept all my permanents, as did the Archenemy of the pod. However, the others did not. The new player was clearly upset about losing all of his permanents. The game ended soon after and he asked me not to play that deck again. We had another great game but the first one was really bad for him. </em></div>
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<div dir="auto"><em>Am I the Bolas?</em></div>
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<div dir="auto"><em>Gary Ladder</em></div>
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<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Whims of the Fates"></div></div>
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<h2>VERDICT</h2>
<p>Hi, Gary! Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story. As I mention every week, if folks don't write to me, there's no column, so if you, the reader, want to send me a story, whether it's your own or one from Reddit or a friend's, please send it to amithebolas@gmail.com and I'll get to it here.</p>
<p>This one feels pretty straight forward. I'll let you off the hook early: Not the Bolas. I believe that you explained the card and the chances were what they were. Certainly, the go-big-or-go-home strategy of putting all your stuff in one pile and hoping that 66% wins out can work, but there's always the chance that 33% sees you effectively set back if not completely knocked out of the game awaiting sweet release.</p>
<p>What's really happening here is the new player had a bad experience and learned early that <em>Magic</em> can be pretty swingy. He may have hoped that listening to your advice would have worked out, but the card requires chance.</p>
<p>Harboring any ill will there would be disappointing. Sure, he didn't have a great time, and you played the card, so maybe he's not your biggest fan, but there's a roll of the dice at work. Either way, it sounds like the next games were fun and it's water under the bridge.</p>
<p>I'm bummed he asked you not to play the deck again, because - this is the fun part that I don't think he's picturing - you playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whims of the Fates" href="#" target="_blank">Whims of the Fates</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and only destroying your board is very real possibility. And that's hilarious. Heck, the next time you play this card against him, he could be one of the lucky players who keep their things.</p>
<p>Or, hear me out, engaging with the piles and making the decision of how to properly group your permanents is part of the fun for him and he hasn't realized it yet. It's not the most likely outcome, but choosing optimism is nice!</p>
<p>Either way, it's definitely a card to sub out if someone isn't into it, so you did right to offer.</p>
<p>The only thing I can say to this is that land destruction should be disclosed and I hope that this part was communicated when you explained the card to him. I'm operating here as though it was, of course, but it's important to note. I mean, technically doesn't mass land destruction qualify a deck <a href="https://edhrec.com/guides/edhrec-guide-to-commander-brackets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">out of a precon level and send it right to Bracket 4</a>?</p>
<p>The Bracket System will never be perfect, but you've illustrated that the discussion was had prior to the game, so that's what it's really all about.</p>
<p>You played a strange board wipe that's more chaotic and can hit lands; that ain't a crime (not even in-game). If the card was explained and the new player rejected your offer to swap it out, I think you took many precautions to ensure that agency was given and everybody gave a thumbs up.</p>
<p>I mean, the card was literally printed in a precon deck as well! Sure, it was the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder" href="#" target="_blank">Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, but...okay.</p>
<p>I think I have a soft spot for this story. Lately, I've been attracted to cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whims of the Fates" href="#" target="_blank">Whims of the Fates</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> a little more because I enjoy the game-within-a-game aspect of it, but also because it's such a <em>silly</em> board wipe. It's a big moment at the table that injects tension and excitement.</p>
<p>Rather than a decisive <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farewell" href="#" target="_blank">Farewell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can feel like losing your pile of all-my-permanents, it's this board wipe that requires some consideration and personality. You get to learn more about your fellow players. Are they intrigued by this? Are they interested in gambling with their whole board? Are they ready with the perfect split of lands across all piles to give themselves the best shot at making it through this? It's fascinating!</p>
<p>I think this kind of card has the highest chance of you walking away with a story that you remember for as long as you play <em>Magic</em> and beyond. This and cards that say the word "secretly." <em>Magic</em> has given me so many moments since I was nine, and with recent times, I feel like I yearn for more big moments brought on by <em>Magic</em>. Fun, silly <em>Magic. </em></p>
<p>Thank you for reminding me of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whims of the Fates" href="#" target="_blank">Whims of the Fates</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I think I'll find a copy for my "<em>Magic Cards I Love"</em> binder.</p>
<p>Thanks again for writing in!</p>
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<h3>Read More:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="GY7Y0R1tgS"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/am-i-the-bolas-slowing-games-down/">Am I the Bolas? - Slowing Games Down</a></p></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="wU8eUCyXrY"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/am-i-the-bolas-a-rebuttal-from-the-salties/">Am I the Bolas? - A Rebuttal From the Salties</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Am I the Bolas? - A Rebuttal From the Salties&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/am-i-the-bolas-a-rebuttal-from-the-salties/embed/#?secret=5UBY7ui6v5#?secret=wU8eUCyXrY" data-secret="wU8eUCyXrY" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="Jw9tXm9xWy"><p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/am-i-the-bolas-rubbing-off-on-each-other/">Am I the Bolas? - Rubbing off on Each Other</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" title="&#8220;Am I the Bolas? - Rubbing off on Each Other&#8221; &#8212; EDHREC" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/am-i-the-bolas-rubbing-off-on-each-other/embed/#?secret=tsoZy1DLyi#?secret=Jw9tXm9xWy" data-secret="Jw9tXm9xWy" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>


commander chaos

Am I The Bolas? - Whims of the Fates