Our blog is missing something: a Reigning Champion acknowledgement on the sidebar. As I so generously allowed someone else to experience the glory of victory, this week's champion is Stuart Lally; if that name doesn't sound familiar, he also goes by 'Monique' on weekends, or weekdays by appointment.
Second is the issue of our next event. If we're going to stick with our once every two weeks plan, then that takes us to the weekend when I'll be away for at least Friday, possibly the whole weekend. I have a wedding to go to on Friday in NB and I may stay over for a couple of days afterwards; I'll know more shortly. I suppose there's not much to discuss in terms of planning until I do know more... hmm... what a useless paragraph...
Anyway, the other issue is what we're going to do for the next tournament. It sounds like most people are up for a draft, is that right? I'd prefer one, but I'm not hugely opposed to another sealed. I'd be up for a Shards 0f Alara block draft, but we do have some M2010 packs left, so we could draft that instead. Monique suggested we draft a combo of M2010 and Shards, but I'd rather not do that as Shards is so heavily oriented around playing multicolour (3+, really) decks that I think you'd need the 3 Shards packs to get enough mana fixing to make the 3 coloured gold cards playable, but that's just my opinion.
Any thoughts?
I agree with you. I'm happy to do an M10 draft, I'd say, and either draft or sealed of Alara block. Mixing them seems silly, although I am still totally in favour of mixing Shards block and Shadowmoor block, because they work on similar themes but might have very interesting interactions with one another. We *can* of course save the M10 packs until the third tourney. Or just do m10 again (but I don't *quite* feel like opening another six packs of it just yet! Hence thinking draft if anything).
ReplyDeleteAlso let's instate prizes on the next one.
ReplyDeleteAnd let's all remember to update the spreadsheet...JESSE.
I should be free Saturday if we want to do this then, otherwise I am free next weekend as well, and I'm also free this Thursday LOL... However Friday I'm going to Costas party!
ReplyDeleteAs for what to do, I thought that we were going to do, please let me know before so that I can start making an Excel to go with.
Personally I really enjoy 2010, but if anyone is starting to get semi-bored of it, it is probably better that we mix it up sooner rather than later.
"As for what to do, I thought that we were going to do, ..."
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell does that mean?
I'd definitely be up for a 2010 draft to use up the remaining packs, but after that we should try the Alara stuff.
Okay so I think we said we would be doing this 2 weeks from the last game, so that would have it on the 7th, 8th or 9th. I think drafting should definitely be the way to go.
ReplyDeleteI am a little sad that the prizes are being brought in now... after I won THREE tournaments in a row without any prizes. But that is fine, I will just have to win again this time. But if we draft the prize is just a rare draft yes?
I think we should draft M2010 net time. For the following times what if we drafted the first Alara set (shards?) then the next draft we do the 2nd set (con... something) and then the following draft we do Alara Reborn? That way we can really see how each set works.
I have been thinking about it, no one here has actually even drafted 2010 yet, so I think we really should do that next time. I think it is a fun set and then we will have a great base of cards for a constructed deck.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good question too actually, when do we want to do our first constructed (with 60 card decks)? I think it should be after 2 drafts. We should have a great base of cards then.
You mean after the next two? That's probably good. Given that at the moment our constructed potential is absolutely dreadful. I feel like my constructed deck(s) will only start to take shape at all after a draft or two.
ReplyDeleteI'm not certain it makes sense to do Conflux or Reborn on their own, as they are relatively small expansion sets, and may also not have, for example, the mana fixing that is needed to make decks work properly (although there are those borderposts in Reborn).
I've also played a pile of Shards but barely even seen the two expansions, so I'm strongly partial to doing one booster of each when we do them, instead of yet more Shards.
I think a M10 draft next makes sense, and I'd like to follow it with a Alara-block draft (or sealed), afterwards. And yes, the prize for a draft would be a rare-draft.
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
ReplyDeleteLOL, Yeah, I don't know what that meant up there either Chris...
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I agree with Jesse and Stuart
I currently am free next weekend... but I have my Scuba dive certification test.... what have you, on Saturday (I think that it is early though)
If we're talking next weekend and not this coming one, I think I'll be coming back from NB on Saturday, so doing it on Sunday would probably be better for me.
ReplyDeleteYes, there's still a bit of uncertainty there, but I'll know for sure this weekend.
Sunday the 9th is not great for me. I have a bit shin-dig on the lake with my family. If Sunday works for everyone else that is fine, you guys can have a new winner. Chris, what time do you think you will be back on Saturday? We could always do it at 2 or 3pm that should give us time for Christos's test and your drive back (it is in St. John right?).
ReplyDeleteOh just one more thing. I know I started talking about the 9th, this plan with family just hit on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteBACK TO PRIZES:
ReplyDeleteI just want to be clear - the first game we played (last week) was a no prize affair because it was our first. But I want to get us thinking about how the rewards work outside of drafts (which are rare drafts, pretty clearly).
The next time we play a sealed or constructed game it will be after we have 9 boosters. After a sealed the pool will be up to 15 boosters per person. At that point having a prize of a booster or two (2 for 1st 1 for second?) seems like it should be pretty fair. But I am wondering what we want to do for constructed. We obviously can't rare draft a constructed game. There are two ideas and while we shot down one of them last week, I think we shot it down because we felt it would be happening all the time, but really we won't be playing constructed tournaments all the time, probably just a lot of casual games.
Idea the first - provided by Christos:
This idea could work for constructed and sealed. At the end of the tournament we open 1, 2, 3, however many boosters we decide on. We spread the 15 cards out on the table and the 1st place player gets first pick, then 2nd - 2nd, 3rd - 3rd ex-cetera until we are back at 1st.
This method will provide for some interesting picks, may provide the winner with 1 or 2 rares (depending on how many packs) and should be beneficial for everyone).
Idea the second - provided earlier by David:
Since constructed games are going to be rare (maybe one in three tournaments... could even be a lower ratio) we could still try the "bring cards into the Tournaverse approach". We could provide points like we discussed (8 for 1st, 6 for 2nd, 4 for 3rd and so on with a min of 1 point) so that everyone gets the possibility of something and can bank the points if they wish to save up for a mythic or a rare. I think if this is only tied to constructed than we have 3 different prizes that kind of compliment the different styles of tournament.
That is all for now...
END COMMUNICATION
LOL, I'm in for my idea... I like the idea of having a pack or two of new things, and you have first choice as the winner.
ReplyDeleteI really dislike the idea of bringing in a card.. I think this gives people a good chance of getting something that they really want as the winner of a constructed, without getting a specific card that means they are far more likely to win the next constructed as well.
I see what you are saying, but one or two cards for a constructed vs. getting a pool of 90 cards (+prize packs?) for sealed and 45 for draft (with rare drafting) seems fair to me. Sure it is one card that you want but really we won't be playing constructed more than 1 ever 3 (that is generous) and more likely 1 ever 4 or 5. If that is the case we would have gotten a min of 135 and likely 270 cards plus trading opportunities.
ReplyDeleteI think bringing one card in will not make the winner too powerful, and since even the last place person will get a point I the comparative advantage is really not unbalancing. It is just an interesting prize.
You are correct about the infrequency of playing constructed, however if the PRIZE system for winning the CONSTRUCTED game calls for bringing in a specific card, then we run the issue of the person who wins once greatly (and I mean greatly) increasing his odds for the next constructed.
ReplyDeleteI think that everyone will agree that playing 23 cards in a deck with 17 mana giving the person an additional amazing card to that deck (which is already dominant in theory since it won) 1 card represents 1 of 23, or 4.6%.., so you take out a useless fraction with a TRUMP...
I disagree that it is one card with no bearing, I think that one card in magic makes a BIG difference and it would be less than fair to do this.
For the above reasons I am against the idea of bringing in cards.
The opening of one booster each, and allowing the rare and uncommon cards to be chosen starting with the winner I think is a far more fair, and generous enough prize.
Okay I think you and I are on different pages about what I am suggesting. I am not suggesting that just the winner gets a card. I am suggesting that the winner gets a certain number of points that can be used for a card. Everyone else will get points too, perhaps just not as many. So it is not one card vs. zero.
ReplyDeleteOne other point (though I get what you are saying) is that constructed decks are 60 cards minimum. Not a huge deal, but a worthwhile point to clear up.
So it is not the winner getting a huge advantage it is the winner getting a slight advantage about what cards he can bring in. Everyone would be able to bring a common (for instance) but maybe the winner has enough points for a rare while the 2nd place guy has only enough for an uncommon and a common (this is all up for debate). And since the points are bankable, two middle place finishes can still be good.
I guess the other thing to remember is that we can be trading during this time, so if you deck loses badly in the first constructed tournament, that does not mean you will lose again. It may, however, mean that your green elf deck will not work and that using a craw wurm or two might be worth considering.
Anyway, that is my two cents.
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ReplyDeletePersonally, I think that brining in cards is not that big of an advantage. I do think, though, that it is against the spirit of a close-world tournaverse.
ReplyDeleteI Dont see the point of this debate just yet. Right now we're a LONG way away from playing a constructed tournament and I font are the point in rushing towards it. For example, I was thinking of making a blue/black control deck, but guess how many blue cards I have in total: 9. And they all suck.
ReplyDeleteRemember, not having a constructed tournament doesn't mean that we can't play constructed decks. We're also able to make constructed decks using whatever the hell cards we want, as long as we keep track of which cards we have in the tournaverse with the spreadsheet.
Lol, "I font are" = "I don't see"
ReplyDelete...stupid iPhone
Okay I relent. I was talking to Chris about trades and then I "got it". It will be really fun to play constructed with such limited cards.
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
ReplyDelete