Decks and Marks: Same or Separate?

[Demagog]

This weekend's tournament has brought up an interesting question. Does changing your mark change your deck?

In my opinion, the deck consists of your cards. Your mark is separate. If we think about the game in its "fantasy setting," we know that a mark represents the elemental him/herself. The cards are separate entities from the elemental (spells, arguably, are not since they stem from the elemental, but they are not tied to the elemental's element).

I'll leave it at that for now, gotta play a match.

[Ifailgood]

Well the mark cards are cards too.

[jmizzle7]

The mark, while literally the elemental identity of the player (Elemental), is also mechanically a card that is permanently in play in permanent slot #5. Changing your mark changes your deck literally, as well as functionally and mechanically.

[PuppyChow]

The mark, while literally the elemental identity of the player (Elemental), is also mechanically a card that is permanently in play in permanent slot #5. Changing your mark changes your deck literally, as well as functionally and mechanically.

QFT.

[Demagog]

Yes, it's a "card," but it's not a card you ever play/draw, therefore not a card in your deck, and therefore separate.

Ignore mark cards. This is only about the mark you start each game with.

[jmizzle7]

Yes, it's a "card," but it's not a card you ever play/draw, therefore not a card in your deck, and therefore separate.

Ignore mark cards. This is only about the mark you start each game with.

But it is a card in your deck, and as such changes your deck's performance and function. Have you ever changed decks, gone into a PvP Duel and had a moment of "Oh crap, I forgot to change marks!" Why is it, then, that this ever-so-important part of deck design should not be considered a part of your deck?

Even if you don't consider your elemental mark to be a card, per se, it is most definitely a part of your deck. And a very important one, at that.

[Appawesome]

If mark was part of your deck, then mono-earth with time mark wouldn't be mono-earth. It would be dual earth-time.

[Demagog]

Just because it's important doesn't mean it's a part of the deck.

Anyway, the simple answer is that this all is based on your opinion of what makes up a deck (kinda circular...). I say a deck is only the cards you draw, you say it's everything you have that influences the game. I'm taking a literal approach and you're taking an applied approach.

And no, App, it would be mono-earth. A shrieker rush is mono-earth. If you put time cards into your deck, then it becomes an earth/time deck.

[Appawesome]

And no, App, it would be mono-earth. A shrieker rush is mono-earth. If you put time cards into your deck, then it becomes an earth/time deck.

Exactly. If time mark is your mark, and mark counts towards your deck, it would be earth-time.


But it is mono-earth, which means the mark isn't part of the deck.

[jmizzle7]

But the functionality of the deck is far different with different marks. The fact that you have to consider your mark as part of deck building strategy is concrete evidence that a mark is a part of your deck. Especially now that Pendulums are live, it is foolhardy to assume that a mark is not part of your deck, because it effectively produces half of the quantum in your deck if you use Pendulums.

[Demagog]

I view a mark as a compliment to your deck. With pendulums, it's a power source that you can tap in to. Yes, marks are very important and obviously must be considered in deck building, but you don't draw it, so it's not actually a part of your deck.

Notice when it says, "your deck must contain 30 cards?" That says it right there. If you have 29 pillars and a mark, you only have 29 cards in your deck. Not 30. It also says you can not have more than 60 cards in your deck. If marks were included, you'd actually have 61 cards in your deck. So, they aren't included.

And sorry, App, I misread your post.

[jmizzle7]

It's not a card that you draw, no. It's not a card that you play, no. It is, however, most definitely a part of your deck. Anything that is an internally driven source of influence on a deck is a part of a deck. External influences on a deck are obviously not a part. That's really all I have to say about it, because this is as redundant a thread can get... (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,2315.0.html).

NOTE: linked thread discussion is old and further discussion in that thread will be considered spam.