Version 1:
This is a simple white weenie deck that utilizes equipment to pump the creatures up.
Everything has a casting cost of 3 or less in anticipation of getting multiple casts per turn.
Most equip costs range from moderate to high, but the majority of creatures have abilities that either mitigate equip cost or reduce it to 0 entirely.

Deck Strength: Fairly focused theme with creatures subtype being either "Soldier" or "Knight"
Concern: Only card currently in the deck to take advantage of this is "Auriok Steelshaper"

Deck Strength: Moderate-Low casting cost keeps mana expectations fairly consistent
Concern: There are currently no 0 or 1 casting cost creatures. Best case scenario is a turn 3 attack.  Too slow?

Deck Strength: Equip cost is highly mitigated
Concern: Equipment abilities are offensively focused; defense is relatively lacking

Deck Strength: Some opportunity for extra card draw
Concern: Is the mana ratio too low to take advantage of this?

Probably dispensable for further experimentation:
Knight of the White Orchid
Plains

Possibly dispensable for further experimentation:
Auriok Steelshaper (viability dependent upon replacement)
Kor Outfitter (viability dependent upon replacement)
Sword of Vengeance
Surestrike Trident
Vulshok Gauntlets

HINDSIGHT VERDICT: I had the right idea here but as the linchpin card Puresteel Paladin was not yet available, the mechanics were a little slow and clunky.


Version2:
Sideboarded all irrelevant cards.

In this version, less focus is put on mitigating equip costs; instead lower cost equipment was put in.  Additionally, lower cost creatures were put in.

So rather than depending upon a structured combo to create a single "uber" weenie, I have the opportunity to summon greater numbers with the possibility of equipping them independent of other cards.

Probably dispensable for further experimentation:
Mask of Memory (if proven useless)
Plains

Possibly dispensable for further experimentation:
Ardent Recruit
Elite Vanguard
Auriok Steelshaper
Kor Outfitter
(basically very minor balancing)

HINDSIGHT VERDICT: I think I got a little overzealous with different equipment effects.  Mask of Memory, for instance, was indeed deemed unnecessary.  The overall mana curve was improved.


Version 3:
The spirit of the deck remains the same but substantial tweaking has gone on here including less focus on card draw (the removal of Mask of Memory) and on one-on-one creature combat (Elite Vanguards removed).  Additionally, less powerful equipment has been substituted for more substantial equipment (Bone Saw and Trusty Machete has been replaced with Sword of Vengeance and additional Ogre Cleaver & Volshok Gauntlets).

Puresteel Paladin with metalcraft activated are the backbone here.  Again, this deck isn't terribly effective in creature combat.  The focus has shifted towards dealing direct damage as a result of Surestrike Trident.  With those two elements going on, I'm able to fairly consistently defeat the enemy somewhere between rounds 5-7 in simulation.

At this point I'm looking at getting Basilisk Collar to replace Bladed Pinions and artifact lands to replace standard lands.  Both of these should bolster the effectiveness of this deck fairly dramatically.

HINDSIGHT VERDICT: My simulations proved mostly correct.  This deck has the potential to be very fast and it's effectiveness is certainly cumulative depending upon the luck of the draw.  This deck is very strong versus creature decks, it has some trouble versus burn decks, it is unproven versus control decks (I expect this type will be its greatest weakness), it struggles versus mill/discard, and is unproven versus artifact destruction.


Version 4:
Basilisk Collar has replaced Bladed Pinions.  This has made equipped weenies substantially more powerful and improved my chances in a longer game.

Accorder Paladin has been substituted with Elite Vanguard because I now think that the lower mana cost is of greater value than the Paladin's activated ability (which is rarely activated in this deck.)

Additionally, some Plains have been replaced with Ancient Den and Darksteel Citadel to increase the viability of obtaining Metalcraft early on.

I'm anticipating an increase in speed due to these changes.  If this deck iteration proves as effective as the previous version, then I expect I will consider this deck complete for the foreseeable future.