Carroll Draft

Let's talk about the best draft format to come out of our play group, Carroll Draft. First, a reminder of the format, stolen from our own Draftstravaganza post...

The second format is Carroll draft. Carroll draft is a normal 8 man format which uses 24 different packs. The intention is to use the 24 most recent expert-level expansions, though the release of two-set blocks requires a little rejiggering (we are adding a pack of Coldsnap for this version). First everyone opens a big set (Lorwyn through Invasion). Drafting proceeds as normal. You will travel backwards in time as you go through the packs so if your first pack is Lorwyn, your second pick will be from Time Spiral, then Ravnica, and so on. The second pack you open will be from a second set (Morningtide through Planeshift). Again, you will travel back in time as drafting moves to the right. Finally, the third pack will be all 3rd sets, though Coldsnap will be in the mix due to Lorwyn being a 2 set block.

So where is the format now? First, Shadowmoor managed to screw it up a little more and Rise of the Eldrazi (a large third set) makes decisions a little more difficult. The general consensus is also the Coldsnap includes far too many linear mechanics to play nice with the rest of the sets. Rise of the Eldrazi on the other hand, points a way to a solution to the two set block problem, though it is a little inelegant. We can stick a large set in for the 3rd set of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor blocks. I kind of like the idea of throwing Scars of Mirrodin in for one. The other can be a core set, older large set or Coldsnap, if you really feel you must. If I were hosting one right now this is what it would look like

Seat	1st	2nd	3rd
1	Zendikar	Conflux	Scars of Mirrodin
2	Shards of Alara	Worldwake	X/M10/M11
2	Shadowmoor	Darksteel	Future Sight
4	Lorwyn	Betrayers	Dissension
5	Time Spiral	Guildpact	Saviors
6	Ravnica	Planar Chaos	Fifth Dawn
7	Champions	Morningtide	Rise of the Eldrazi
8	Mirrodin	Eventide	Alara Reborn

I'll be the first to admit this is basically a Chaos draft without as much chaos, but what an enjoyable trip through time. The strategies are basically the same as Chaos, though of course you can plan a bit for things like Ravnica bouncelands, Mirrodin artifacts and Alara multicolor madness. The other nice way the format is evolving is that WoTC has been developing for draft a lot more in the late aughts than they were around the time of Invasion so the drafts get better as those sets age out. God help us, Nemesis was in the format the first time we did this and man, was that set ever terrible for Chaos drafting.

The other great thing about Carroll drafting is finding the packs. Usually you can get about 80% of them on one website, but shopping around for different sources and trying to get the best deal is a fun little treasure hunting challenge that increases anticipation for your draft. Try Carroll draft out today. Or next week. Whenever you can round up the packs. I guarantee you'll be turning potential drafters away.