Yes, a Paul Reiser reference was the best I could do this week. Sorry!
Providence was a soft entry into the new Standard format, with only a handful of Avacyn Restored cards impacting the Standard and Legacy Opens. In Standard, Cavern of Souls appeared but did not have the oppressive influence many expected; Delver still had a pretty reasonable weekend after all. Wolfir Avenger was a surprise all-star, giving G/R a flash threat that helped them pressure sorcery-based control decks and also a threat that Wolf Run Ramp had tons of trouble removing.
Virtually everyone feared the worst for Legacy when Temporal Mastery was originally spoiled, but the card snuck into the Top 16 with just a whimper this weekend. Aggro Loam won the day, a strong choice in a field that has become more and more infested with RUG Tempo over the past few tournaments. U/R Delver also posted another Top 8 finish in the format, proving its Birmingham success wasn’t a fluke!
I’m personally looking forward to a weekend in Madison—not only is it a town that loves Magic, but Adrian Sullivan has often extolled its other virtues. To get you prepped for the Standard and Legacy Opens we’ll be holding in Wisconsin, I’m here with the weekend’s information!
The StarCityGames.com Open Series will take place in Hall C of the Alliant Energy Center, on the road of the same name. WE don’t have a sponsored hotel near the venue, but accomodations are within a reasonable distance. I recommend www.kayak.com for your booking needs; it’s all I personally use, and their iOS app is top-notch.
If you need cards on-site, make sure to get your online order in by Thursday, May 10th at noon. Select the Event Pickup option, and we’ll truck it out to Wisconsin free of charge!
We’ve got a trio of alterists for the weekend, including both of our 3-D alter all-stars: Mike Fairservice and Lindsay Burley. Mike’s Facebook page will let you contact him about custom orders, while his deviantART gallery has plenty of images. Lindsay’s been using her new website to do plenty of business recently, but the standard email—[email protected]—will also work for arranging commissions and custom orders.
Chris Bergeson of Oneiros Alters will be making the trek from northern Illinois for Madison. He’ll be trading and selling his altered works, but you can request special commissions my sendind an email to [email protected]. He’s got a Facebook page up as well, and also has his own photobucket gallery. Check them out, and look Chris up on-site!
If you’re attending the Open Series in Madison, our official fact sheet is right here for your convenience. If you won’t be, then the commentary and comedy of Joey Pasco and Jake Van Lunen will take your mind off those woes! They’ll be hosting @SCGLive all weekend, and you can contact them on Twitter using the weekend’s hashtag: #SCGMAD. I’ll be there myself on the laptop, working written commentary all weekend before making the trip to Florida for #SCGORL.
Enjoy the show, and good luck if you’re going!
Event Coverage Coordinator