Hello everybody, and welcome to another edition of the Magic Show. This week we’re going to talk about the Magic Hall of Fame and a brand new spin: a Contributor Hall of Fame! We go over my Hall of Fame choices, what a new Hall of Fame may look like, and I spiel about my Mass Polymorph deck. Let’s go! [Bonus: GP Columbus Outtakes!]
And for those who don’t follow us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/starcitygames ) or on Facebook at facebook.com/starcitygames – here is the Grand Prix: Columbus Outtakes featuring Gerry Thompson, Patrick Chapin, and more of Reuben Bresler comedic stylings.
Halls Upon Halls
So this week everyone is talking about Hall of Fame Ballots. Who they chose, why they chose ‘em, and who is more worthy of getting a fat ring and lauded in a ceremony in Chiba, Japan this year. Before we talk about twists, let’s get my votes out of the way.
The first is Gabriel Nassif. If you weren’t aware, Nassif is a stone cold master at Magic. A seasoned poker pro as well, Gabe brings a joy and vitality that is awesome to witness. His deckbuilding skills are unreal – did I mention I watched him construct his Extended deck for Worlds in Rome last year that morning and he still won half of his matches with it? Nassif is an all-star in all senses of the term. Smart, funny, cool, and amazing at slinging spells. Plus he’s been involved in two of the most exciting matches in Magic’s history. Let’s watch his Dragonstorm match versus Patrick Chapin from Worlds 2007
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But that’s not all, of course. Nassif has another incredible moment in the Top 8 of a Pro Tour, this time in Kyoto where he had his infamous ‘Called Shot’ just before he beat LSV to win the whole thing:
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Needless to say, Nassif has a resume unlike few others. Playing in forty-six Pro Tours with nine Top 8 appearances and two wins, Nassif is a shoo-in like Finkel and Kai before him. To not vote for him is simply incorrect.
Next up? Tomoharu Saito. Yes, the guy who just won Grand Prix: Columbus a few weeks ago with Merfolk, one of the best deck designers alive, and one of the best players in the game.
But wait! Saito once got himself into trouble… nine years ago. Let’s investigate. It appears that in 2001 at the APAC Region Championship, a player was unable to compete the following day and offered Tomoharu Saito a prize split. This was deemed bribery by the judges, and Saito was disqualified.
There are plenty of blemishes in the Hall. Olivier Ruel has been suspended for a period of time, and so has Bob “The Great One” Maher. I also feel like if you do something stupid nine years ago, and have been nothing but upstanding from that point on, you’re good in my book. Not to mention his stats are ridiculous. He’s won four Grands Prix and a team Pro Tour. Not a player that is auto-included on every list like Nassif, but I think Saito should get there.
My next vote is for Bram Snepvangers. The bottom line is, not only can he play – I mean, he did just Top 8 Worlds last year in Rome and is only one of two people to ever defeat Kai Budde on Sunday – but he’s been around forever, and by that I mean attending 62 freakin’ Pro Tours. There’s only been 80 in the history of the game! But the real reason he gets so lauded is his community involvement. He’s quite the tournament organizer in the Netherlands, and has been integral to the game’s success there. If there’s anything I can appreciate, it’s community involvement, and Bram is obviously quite the player as well, with four Pro Tour Top 8s and 8 Grand Prix Top 8’s. I hope he has his suit ready.
Up next are few “wildcard” picks. Beyond those three I mentioned, these are the picks that are up in the air for almost everyone.
First up? Chris Pikula. The Meddling Mage. The Skywalker to Mike Long’s Vader. Here was a player standing up for truth, justice, and no cheating in a time in which cheating – to some degree that no one can really define – was put up with. While I can certainly understand Saito’s youthful indiscretions, it’s another thing to have cards on your lap, draw extra cards when your opponent doesn’t notice, and so on. Luckily, not only is Chris an upstanding guy lauded across the pro community, his resume rocks. Three Pro Tour Top 8s, four Grand Prix Top 8s, and oh yeah, he did go to the Invitational twice, and the second one gave us Meddling Mage. Meddling Mage for Hall of Fame? You betcha!
My last vote is going to Brian Kibler. Yes, the man, the myth, the infectious charisma, it’s all there. Here’s a guy who plays from 98 – 2004, then leaves the game to work on other things, and decides he’s not only worth of the Hall, he’s going to prove it. As if eight Grand Prix Top 8s and two wins weren’t enough, he returns to Top 8 in Honolulu, wins Pro Tour: Austin, Top 8s Grand Prix: Minneapolis and emerges as champion for Grand Prix: Sendai! Unreal. For me, the man who got 20% of the vote last year deserves to put it over the top. He’s currently involved in developing the awesomely fun Ascension, and I’m ready to see him inducted the Hall for this great game of ours.
And that’s my ballot. I’m sure you have your own opinions as to who deserves and who doesn’t, so be sure to share your ballot in the feedback.
But let’s flip this thing, shall we? What if instead of a Pro Tour Hall of Fame, there was a Contributor Hall of Fame? Or perhaps even opening up the Pro Tour Hall of Fame to include those that don’t just sling spells? I mean, don’t other sports allow coaches, commentators and other contributors in, how about we recognize those who do more than just play? How about Peter Atkinson, the guy who started WotC and initially invested in the idea of the game? How about Mark Rosewater, one of the most prolific and influential game designers in Magic’s history? What about Mike Flores, who’s paved many a theoretical road that we writers now ride on? Or Wakefield, the “King of the Fatties” and his quest to bring us more than a dry tournament report every week? How about Sheldon Menery, one of the most important figures in the game and the cornerstone of the Judge Program?
All I’m saying is that there is more to this game than decision trees, and perhaps at some point we can start thinking about moving onward and upward in terms of recognizing those who have given more than their fair share of effort in making it great.
Polymorph Massively
A few weeks ago as M11 was being spoiled, it was clear I liked Mass Polymorph. This card has been likened to Tooth and Nail, and I’m a big proponent of that card too, so what could be done here? I knew the pieces were there, I just needed to put them in the right order. So after a week or so of building, allow me to introduce: Mass Polymorph!
Creatures (15)
Planeswalkers (4)
Lands (25)
Spells (16)
Sideboard
Oh man, is this deck a blast to play. The formula is simple: Use Eldrazi guys to get mana to play Mass Polymorph and creatures to exile. After resolving Mass Polymorph, you usually win, I don’t know how else to put it. Flipping over Primeval Titan or Avenger of Zendikar is often game over, and both in tandem usually ensure it.
But why stop the fun? I’ve flipped an Avenger of Zendikar with the first Mass Polymorph, only to flip over my whole deck the following turn when I didn’t have enough to overwhelm my opponent’s Avenger of Zendikar and associated tokens.
The best part of this deck is that it out-ramps the ramp decks, as your Eldrazi Spawn can give you a pretty consistent Turn 4 Mass Polymorph, and it out-fatties the ramp deck too! I see your Avenger of Zendikar and raise you… three of them. Nice answers, here’s a Terastodon to nail your Planeswalkers, Oblivion Rings, or any other annoyance you’ve put forth.
As with any deck that relies on one spell resolving, decks that counter those spells are troublesome, and that’s mainly where the sideboard is focused. First you have your four Anti-Jund Baloths, along with Flashfreezes to really stick it in and break it off as well as being very effective against the Naya Shaman deck. After that, you have the anti-U/W Control package: three Negates for counter wars, two Mind Controls for their Sun Titans or Baneslayer Angel, and the coup de grace: three Spell Pierce. Oh man, how many times I’ve gotten U/W Control players with this card. In today’s Mana Leaked World, players are always on guard when two mana is left up, but one mana? Sure, I’ll run this Jace, the Mind Sculptor into your Spell Pierce. Oh, how’s about Elspeth? Yeah, she’s a noncreature spell. While this may not be the perfect card for the sideboard, it is certainly the most brutal when used effectively. Many times you’ll be a mana or so ahead of Blue/White, and Spell Pierce is just the card I was looking for to really punish ‘em.
So where to go from here? Not sure. I originally began this deck with Red mana, including Lightning Bolt and Siege-Gang Commander. Neither of those were really exciting, at least not when you can just flip over Primeval Titan instead. How about Black, where you get Maelstrom Pulse and Grave Titan? There’s always White, of course, providing Path to Exile and Captain of the Watch’s token-making ability, along with Sun Titan keeping those Oblivion Rings coming back.
All I know is that this build is solid and a hell of a lot better than most are giving it credit for. Next week is U.S. Nationals and the StarCityGames.com Open in Denver, which I’ll be at live and broadcasting both days courtesy of GGSLive! I hope all of you guys can join me there and check out all of the sweet Standard and Legacy action.
Until next week, Magic players… this is Evan Erwin. Tapping the cards… so you don’t have to!
Evan “misterorange” Erwin
Community Manager, StarCityGames.com