Isty laments:
There are no pick-up games anymore. They simply don't happen. Anywhere.
Truth. Well, almost the truth. Ironically, I -- who had previously sworn off strictly casual play as being a contest of who can ignore the rules the most, or play the stupidest decks imaginable -- am playing (a little) more casual Magic these days.
Why? Fun new "party" format.
Here: Using Type 1 deck construction rules, take about 800 of your favorite cards (don't forget the lands!) and build a deck. This is called your "fatty" deck, as it is huge and the best creatures in such a format are too.
You can play as many as 20 (or more!) games using the same deck. Just keep setting aside the used cards in a past games" pile, which will become a kind of proxy library for subsequent games.
Special rules:
-No "play-draw" rule.
-Draw two cards per turn.
-Max hand size is 9.
-Start at 40 life.
-The first five turns (for each player) have no Combat Phase.
-After the first game, cards that let you search your library for something instead search the proxy library. Really, you don't want to be searching the other 100-700 cards. (Trust me on this.)
-Searching your library during the first game, or searching your opponent's library ever, involves grabbing a handful of cards off the top and searching them, then shuffle and replace. (You can use this method in later games if you really want, but the Proxy Library" thing is a lot more fun and time-saving.
-Make up your own house rules. I may be forgetting something, but it's strictly casual, so who really cares?
-Battle of Wits is banned.
Other such instant-win cards (Coalition Victory, et al) are frowned upon.
Sternly.
Use lots and lots of land and mana-fixers (like those awful Homelands filter-lands) and really really big creatures (the little guys will just suck, I'm afraid). The deck will certainly (unless you are a boring old sap) be five colors.
Now, grab you favorite snacks/beverages/other-recreational-substances and get to playing.
The point here is that you can have an evening (or day) of fun fun fun Magic gaming, where every game
will be different.
Now some of you may be thinking, "That's the stupidest thing I have ever seen." You know, I thought the same thing. But I tried it once and...it's fun! You have to develop a strategy on the fly, since you have no way really to assure any kind of consistency whatsoever.
This format succeeded in gaining my interest because you really can't break it. At least, I don't think you can, and it would defeat the purpose anyway.
The best part? You can just split your deck into two piles and have an instant series of pick-up games, in the event that your friends lack your foresight and good judgement.
Maybe I'll do a more in-depth study of the...uhm, "format"...when I return from hiatus. Until then, convince your friends to give this little bit of madness a try. You may have to bribe or threaten them.
Enjoy!