I run a Garruk Caller of Beasts in my casual Sliver deck, and that card is absurdly fun. I have nightmares about Jace, Memory Adept and Ashiok though, as my brother is a fanatical control/mill mage. I've seen more of those cards than any human should. Nightmare weaving indeed.
I'm relieved not to see an Elspeth pin. XD
That’s awesome. I wish I had gotten into Magic back in the day as it seems like a blast.
I owe much to the game-- I learned more life lessons playing magic than from any other one source.
The importance of not telegraphing more information than you should.
The importance of making sacrifices you just don't want to make. A sixty card deck simply can't have every card you like in it-- you have to cut your favorites for the greater good.
The Whole is greater than the sum of the parts. It doesn't matter how good your individual cards are if they can't work together well. What is your mana curve? What is your lands to spell ratio? Do you have enough mana sources to consistently pay for your cards? SO many questions go into building a deck that play together synergistically, and there is not room for a single card that can't provide a consistent function.
Then there are so many triggers and interactions to keep in your mind at once, and forgetting even one can be the difference from a win or a loss.
I'm very grateful to the game, and the people I've been able to play it with along the way.
I hope you give it a try sometime, but I know you're crazy busy too!!!