Hey everyone, I'm a MTG newb, so naturally I'm not that great yet at coming up with combos and such, and I don't know all of what's out there, so I thought I'd come here to ask for help with the EDH deck I'm going to try building to play with my friends, who all love EDH. It's the format they play most, so the EDH deck can be made out of any card in my inventory, as it will be the most played. I've talked a bit with one of my friends, and the concept is currently this: A deck focused around gaining life and causing my opponents to lose life at the same time (Cards like Oloro, Ageless Ascetic, Sanguine Bond, but hopefully with enough utility to protect itself, likely through countering spells and raising a defensive wall of zombies (Grave Betrayal). I'll lay out some basic ideas for cards I own (or that are coming in the mail, which are also in my Deckbox inventory), and ideas for what I should get. I'm asking for opinions, criticisms, suggestions, anything to help me refine the plan and hammer out a deck that'll allow me to keep up to some degree with my more experienced friends in the 4-5 player games we play without having to use one of their own decks.
So Oloro, Ageless Ascetic, is my planned Commander. He provides me with lifegain from turn one, provides me a way to draw cards and burn opponents at the same time, and I actually already own him, unlike any other Esper legendary.
I only own two Planeswalkers, and the only of the two that will fit into this deck is Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver. Personally I do like him a lot, but I'm not sure whether he is a good idea for this deck. I also have an Athreos, God of Passage, which would help either keep up defensive creatures or burn my opponents. One of my friends has suggested throwing in a Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts, but I'm not sure how well she'd perform in this deck. Opinions?
Where mana is concerned I'll probably have mostly basic lands, but I do also have:
Orzhov Guildgate, Dimir Guildgate, and Transguild Promenade
Cabal Coffers, Magus of the Coffers and Crypt Ghast, which could both pump up my black mana in conjunction with Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, which would allow high amounts of damage/lifegain from Corrupt, Debt to the Deathless, and Consume Spirit.
A friend also gave me Expedition Map, Pristine Talisman, Manalith, and Obelisk of Esper to throw in.
I also have a Boseiju, Who Shelters All coming in that'll help get my spells past any counters my friends can throw out.
Where creatures are concerned I've had a little more trouble. I have the aforementioned Magus of the Coffers and Crypt Ghast, as well as the Athreos, God of Passage and Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts, but beyond that I'm unsure what to put in. I can throw in a Gray Merchant of Asphodel, as well as adding a Gift of Immortality in the hopes of drawing both of them, though both could be used separately without issue. I've been told to put in Burnished Hart, Eidolon of Countless Battles, Vampire Hexmage, and Siren of the Silent Song. I think Vizkopa Guildmage, Galvanic Alchemist, Nyx-Fleece Ram, Auramancer, and Archaeomancer would all fit in as well.
Other considerations include Congregate, considering there'll usually be at least four people at the table, Plea for Guidance to get the enchantments I'll be relying on, and possibly Angelic Accord so that my focus on gaining life will also provide me with creatures.
I have other cards in my inventory I'm not sure whether to throw in or not as well, and I don't know what all my cards do yet, especially the playsets of all the Theros black commons and uncommons that are getting sent to me. In addition I know I'll need to buy some singles to make this viable, but I'm hoping not to spend too much, because I've got bills and school to pay for and a car that needs work. So if someone could point out some cards that won't cost me a paycheck I'd really appreciate it. Right now I'm looking at things like Exquisite Blood, Boon Reflection, Blood Baron of Vizkopa, Blood Artist, Divinity of Pride, Bloodseeker, Bloodchief Ascension, Beacon of Immortality, Ajani, Caller of the Pride, Ajani Goldmane, Liliana Vess, and Liliana of the Dark Realms.
So I'm looking for tips, pointers, suggestions, and constructive crticism, if you can spare them. If you read all that, thanks a lot, and thanks in advance for any help.