StarCityGames.com returns to Baltimore this weekend, and one of our favorite venues for the Open Series. The last time we visited Maryland, Jace, the
Mind Sculptor and Stoneforge Mystic were dead cards walking—already banned in Standard, they did a quick lap around the room before taking the
tournament by storm in Twin-Blade. The finals featured Grand Prix Atlanta champion Jason Ford squaring off against Baltimore Standard Open titleholder
Ali Aintrazi, yet to earn his National Championship at Gen Con. Ali triumphed in his title defense—it’s safe to say that the Baltimore venue has
a special spot in Ali’s heart as well!
This time around, it’s going to be a completely different tournament. The last Baltimore Standard Open featured a stale format that had exhausted many
players—this one is still only blossoming, yet to find its footing and become a stable metagame. Wolf Run Red and U/B Control have both risen to
the top over the past two weeks, threatening to supplant several Standard strategies by virtue of their very existence. If you can’t beat Primeval
Titan fetching Inkmoth Nexus, or permission and removal flanked by Snapcaster Mage, then you are in for a world of hurt in Baltimore this weekend.
Speaking of Snapcaster Mage, that dude is a presence in Legacy. Appearing in the decks of both finalists during the Nashville Legacy Open,
it’s clear that Tiago is going to be a player in the format for the foreseeable future. How will his presence affect the average Legacy player’s
understanding of graveyard disruption and creature advantage? Todd Anderson joked in Nashville that even the simple act of looking at your graveyard
had now completely changed in meaning, and he’s not wrong—it’s become some pretty serious business to glance through the discarded pile. It’s
possible we’ll see some more concrete graveyard hate appearing in maindecks, and I’m not just talking Scavenging Ooze in your Green Sun’s Zenith decks,
boys.
It’s an alter enthusiast’s paradise in Baltimore, with three of our best-known names in attendance and offering custom alters at their own booths.
Brandon Brown of Modfly Alters will be back at it, doing a variety of work that ranges from cartoons and comics to popular culture. His Grimgrin,
Corpse-Born “white walker” from Game of Thrones is cool, but my personal favorite has to be his turn at Daybreak Ranger | Nightfall Predator, as Brian
Kibler | Runic Lycanthrope from Ascension! Check out more of Brandon’s work on his blog, and contact
him at [email protected] if you’re interested in discussing his pricing or commissioning an original
alter.
Northeastern native Hannah Murray rejoins the circuit in Baltimore after a small break, and she’ll no doubt be busy all weekend, as usual. She does a
lot of seasonal alters, varying Wastelands and even Vengevines with the weather, and she’s best-known for extending the art well past those pesky
borders. You can check out Hannah’s gallery for a preview of what’s to come, or drop her a line at [email protected] to discuss ordering in advance of the event.
Last but certainly not least, alterist extraordinaire Eric Klug will have a booth in Baltimore! Having just moved, this Open became a home stop for
Eric on the circuit. While we can all curse those lucky Baltimore natives together, this weekend Eric available on the Open Series. Always willing to
push boundaries and try new ideas, Eric has changed many of our perceptions on alters over the course of the year. His blog updates often, giving you a glimpse into his latest masterpiece or an update on his whereabouts.
If you’d like a Klug in your collection—and who doesn’t—email Eric via [email protected] for pricing
and information.
The Innistrad PTQ season is now in full swing—don’t forget that you can get a lot of Limited practice out of our Draft Opens. These events have
begun to get pretty competitive with the transition to Planeswalker Points, and it’s not uncommon to see some big fish in these waters. The stiffer the
competition, the more you can learn from playing in one of these draft-only events. Of course, there’s also the $1100 prize pool to consider, but
that’s significantly less substantial, right? Right? Personally I love this format, and am quite jealous every time I hear one of these events fire.
Beyond the Magic, there’s also some sports stuff in this city, if you’re into that (I kid). The Ravens and the Orioles both have pretty significant
followings, and if you’d like pay your respects then I’m sure you can find a suitable stadium/sports bar nearby!
SCGLive took a week off for States but we’re back in Baltimore, with commentators Joey Pasco and Gerard Fabiano! Gerard’s been a busy guy since his
Charlotte debut, but we’re happy to be able to once again feature him as a live commentator. If you’ve got questions for Joey, Gerard, myself, or
director Jeremy Noell, point them to @SCGLive on Twitter, with the hashtag #SCGBalt. We’ll see them, and do our best to deliver the shoe that you want
to watch. Decks you’d like to see under the camera, players you want to watch, interviews you’d like to hear—we’re there to give you what you
want!
I’m happy to also announce that SCGLive will soon be debuting our feature match
castle
gazebo
tent, the newest addition to our gear setup. This should reduce glare and give us a lot more control over the show, amplifying the experience for you
and us. Expect to see it in Kansas City, or perhaps Las Vegas depending on how a few other things fall into place. Enjoy!
Coverage Content Manager