Weissman Strikes Back
I received quite a few inquiries due to last week’s column, so here are a few excerpts from my mailbox:
“Honestly Oscar, I stand by my current design, and I’d happily take it head to head against any of the Gencon Top 8 decks – including the winning Psychatog deck. I don’t believe that that deck can reliably go off in the face of my land destruction, and woe to him if I get Library on the draw. Feel free to release the design I emailed you, though you should definitely caution your readers that it’s my personal build and that I have nine years of practice with it – wthout TONS of practice and repetition, it’s very easy to lose games with The Deck, and one tiny mistake can mean everything.
“I have been thinking about my mana base, and I still feel the Cities are justified. I really am wary of diluting my total land count, and I won’t be able to get adequate green without cities unless I use crap like Tropical Island. If you were going to drop the Cities, then probably one more Polluted Delta, one more Underground Sea, and a Tropical Island would be the correct replacements.”
“The Deck”, Brian Weissman, August 2003
Blue (18)
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Cunning Wish
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Braingeyser
1 Stroke of Genius
4 Mana Drain
4 Force of Will
1 Misdirection
1 Morphling
Black (5)
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Mind Twist
1 The Abyss
White (3)
1 Balance
2 Swords to Plowshares
Red (3)
1 Red Elemental Blast
2 Gorilla Shaman
Green (1)
1 Regrowth
Artifacts (2)
1 Jayemdae Tome
1 Zuran Orb
Mana (28)
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Emerald
1 Sol Ring
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Strip Mine
4 Wasteland <—— Strip Mine is restricted for a reason, I think
3 City of Brass
3 Polluted Delta
3 Underground Sea
4 Volcanic Island
2 Tundra
Sideboard (15)
1 Circle of Protection: Red
3 Red Elemental Blast
2 Dwarven Miner
1 Gorilla Shaman
2 Swords to Plowshares
1 Blue Elemental Blast
1 Diabolic Edict
1 Mana Short
1 Moat
1 Dismantling Blow
1 Urza’s Rage
And in another e-mail, Brian added:
“Definitely not Oscar – I feel that Regrowth is far too powerful and flexible to ever cut from the main deck. It is another part in the Tutor/Ancestral over and over again chain, and it can also bring back Wastelands. It’s not a huge compromise to include some green sources in the deck, and I really don’t see what the big deal is with Cities of Brass. If the dominant decks are combo decks or Psychatog decks, then why does the 1 point of damage matter at all?”
Due to time and space constraints (and midterms… I’m still answering the last two weeks’ worth of e-mail), I’ll reserve my comments for another time.
Column Confusion
Incidentally, some of you were confused about the column renumbering, and I admit it is a bit confusing especially if you followed “You CAN Play Type I” from the start. Here are a few notes to clear things up:
This is actually my 104th StarCityGames column. I was not a Featured Writer when I contributed”A Commentary on Deck Parfait” so Column #1 is actually “Why You Shouldn’t Force of Will a Channeled Fireball.” (Guess what? It isn’t now, and all future columns will be numbered as if Lessons From History is it – The Ferrett, who spent six hours going through and fixing the many mysterious skips and leaps both forward and back in Oscar’s numbering by hand) Finally, “[author name="Mark Rosewater"]Mark Rosewater’s[/author] Monday Column Leaked” was a brief spoof that wasn’t counted as a column, and still isn’t after The Ferrett renumbering.
The “Control Player’s Bible” columns were numbered as”You CAN Play Type I” columns, but the “Back to Basics” columns were numbered as a separate series.
Some columns that were split into two parts (but put up simultaneously) for format purposes were numbered as two columns instead of one, such as my second anniversary mailbag column, “Mana Drain to be Reprinted in Eighth Edition.”
My special 101st column was renumbered as Column #98 after you all read it, but it still has the same adorable photo of my dog. If you didn’t catch it then, now you understand the title.
Inquest Gamer has still not reacted to the allegations of plagiarism made last April 8, 2002 along with the”Inquest Idiocy Quiz.” Yes, people have written about the Issue #100″killer” decks. No, I haven’t found a coherent thread in those ten decks so I’m having trouble articulating the humorous critique you all want. (Thanks to Glenson Lim, a.k.a. Glenchuy for the scans of the”The Deck” and Necrodeck articles. Next time, slap the Surgeon General’s Warning, though.)
A bit of fun
The”Control Player’s Bible” got sidetracked by a lot of developments from the Gush restriction to the joys of the Type I Championship. After all the heavy tech discussion before and after GenCon 2003, though, I think everyone needs some lighter reading – including me!
I was heartened when reading about intelligent but desperate plays while editing [author name="Kenny Oberg"]Kenny Oberg’s[/author] GenCon 2003 report for him, down to a last-ditch effort against I@n de Graff that hinged on the miniscule chance I@n would forget to ping with Mogg Fanatic on his turn. I’ve written about opponents making mistakes before, in “Screwing Up a God Hand,” but the most rewarding games are those impossibly lopsided starts you somehow squeeze out of, and not thanks to your opponent’s incompetence.
This is Type I and broken things happen, but”The Deck” is the most entertaining archtype when it comes to setting up last-ditch plays that work.”Typical ‘The Deck’ behavior,” Chris Flaaten calls it, but even opponents laugh with you when you snatch a win at one or two life.
Here are three randomly selected games I hope prove entertaining.
Game #1: Shaman All The Way!
This is both the most humiliating and most amusing way to win”The Deck” has, and take a look at this practice uphill climb that began with a lousy hand, mulliganed into a mediocre one:
16:17:30 – — Ginuwin says: ””
16:17:30 – — Rakso says: ”Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war”
16:17:40 – Ginuwin says:’play’
16:17:43 – Ginuwin drew 7 cards.
16:17:44 – Rakso drew 7 cards.
16:17:59 – Rakso says:’mull’
16:18:07 – Rakso drew 6 cards.
16:18:17 – It is now turn 1.
16:18:19 – Ginuwin plays Polluted Delta.
16:18:20 – Ginuwin buries Polluted Delta.
16:18:20 – Ginuwin’s life is now 19. (-1)
16:18:24 – Ginuwin moves Volcanic Island from Ginuwin’s library to tabletop.
16:18:28 – Ginuwin plays Lotus Petal.
16:18:42 – Ginuwin plays Mana Crypt.
16:18:47 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
16:18:49 – Ginuwin plays Goblin Welder.
16:18:51 – Rakso says:’k’
This has to be Stax, unless it’s some kind of blue/red Teletubbies or Stacker 2 variant. Fast opening; the permanents are sure to start rolling after my next turn.
16:18:51 – It is now turn 2.
16:18:55 – Rakso draws a card.
16:18:58 – Rakso plays Underground Sea.
16:18:59 – Underground Sea is tapped.
16:19:00 – Rakso plays Duress.
16:19:26 – Ginuwin buries Tinker.
Nothing spectacular, but at least I stop Memory Jar from burying me along with that Welder.
Isn’t Type I fun? We’re ending the first turn in a control-on-control matchup, and we’re already talking about being fortunate not to lose right here?
16:19:34 – It is now turn 3.
16:19:57 – Ginuwin says:’heads or tails?’
16:20:00 – Rakso says:’always heads’
16:20:02 – Ginuwin flipped a coin: TAILS
16:20:04 – Ginuwin draws a card.
16:20:09 – Ginuwin says:’hmmm’
16:20:11 – Mana Crypt is tapped.
16:20:13 – Ginuwin plays Sol Ring.
16:20:15 – Sol Ring is tapped.
16:20:19 – Ginuwin buries Lotus Petal.
16:20:22 – Ginuwin plays Jester’s Cap.
Wonderful… despite some seeming confusion with the mana, my opponent is lucky enough to maindeck the most psychologically intimidating anti-control card since Ice Age and play it by his second turn.
16:20:24 – It is now turn 4.
16:20:35 – Rakso draws a card.
16:20:41 – Rakso plays Polluted Delta.
16:20:46 – Underground Sea is tapped.
16:20:48 – Rakso plays Brainstorm.
16:20:51 – Rakso drew 3 cards.
16:21:18 – Ginuwin says:’=/’
16:21:22 – Rakso says:’dude’
16:21:25 – Rakso says:’you have Welder + Cap’
16:21:29 – Ginuwin says:’yeah’
16:21:31 – Ginuwin says:’thats bad’
16:21:31 – Rakso says:’I stand to lose already you know ;)’
16:21:31 – Ginuwin says:’:P’
16:21:37 – Ginuwin says:’basically’
The lone Underground Sea didn’t allow me to counter, much less Wish up Disenchant. My feeble response is Brainstorm.
16:22:02 – Rakso’s life is now 19. (-1)
16:22:02 – Rakso buries Polluted Delta.
16:22:06 – Rakso moves Volcanic Island from Rakso’s library to tabletop.
16:22:09 – Rakso plays Mox Jet.
16:22:10 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
16:22:11 – Rakso plays Gorilla Shaman.
16:22:12 – Mox Jet is tapped.
16:22:18 – Ginuwin says:’hmm’
16:22:19 – Ginuwin says:’resposne’
16:22:21 – Goblin Welder is tapped.
16:22:22 – Ginuwin buries Mana Crypt.
16:22:25 – Ginuwin moves Lotus Petal from Ginuwin’s graveyard to tabletop.
16:22:26 – Lotus Petal is tapped.
In retrospect, this was hasty. Shaman is going to be my only damage source very soon, and I could have munched the Crypt during his upkeep for a chance to deal damage, and still restrict his main phase mana. The three life could have mattered.
16:22:28 – It is now turn 5.
16:22:34 – Ginuwin draws a card.
16:22:38 – Ginuwin says:’hmmm’
16:22:43 – Sol Ring is tapped.
16:22:47 – Ginuwin buries Jester’s Cap.
There go my win conditions…
16:23:16 – Ginuwin says:’hmmm’
16:23:24 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
16:23:25 – Lotus Petal is tapped.
16:23:26 – Ginuwin buries Lotus Petal.
16:23:29 – Ginuwin plays Time Walk.
16:23:32 – Rakso says:’k’
16:23:40 – Rakso says:’ouch’
16:23:46 – Volcanic Island is untapped.
16:23:46 – Sol Ring is untapped.
16:23:47 – Ginuwin draws a card.
16:23:47 – Rakso says:’savage’
16:23:50 – Ginuwin says:’heh’
16:23:53 – Sol Ring is tapped.
16:23:54 – Goblin Welder is tapped.
16:23:56 – Ginuwin buries Sol Ring.
16:23:59 – Ginuwin moves Jester’s Cap from Ginuwin’s graveyard to tabletop.
16:24:00 – Ginuwin buries Jester’s Cap.
16:24:03 – Rakso says:’what?’
16:24:05 – Ginuwin says:’use it’
16:24:06 – Rakso says:’you didn’t tap for mana!!!’
16:24:07 – Rakso says:’kidding :D’
16:24:09 – Ginuwin says:’heh’
Unless I happen to have Beast Attack or Flaming Gambit in my sideboard, I am very lucky that last-ditch Brainstorm pulled Gorilla Shaman into my hand.
16:24:48 – Rakso says:’I assume you can kill my Shaman :D’
16:24:54 – Ginuwin says:’eventually’
16:24:54 – Ginuwin says:’;’
16:24:57 – It is now turn 6.
16:25:01 – Rakso draws a card.
16:25:07 – Gorilla Shaman is attacking.
16:25:11 – Ginuwin’s life is now 18. (-1)
Trust me. He’s shaking in his boots.
16:25:12 – It is now turn 7.
16:25:16 – Ginuwin draws a card.
16:25:54 – Underground Sea is tapped.
16:25:54 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
16:25:55 – Mox Jet is tapped.
16:26:09 – Rakso removes Cunning Wish from the game.
16:26:09 – Rakso moves Blue Elemental Blast from tabletop to Rakso’s hand.
16:26:10 – It is now turn 9.
16:26:12 – Ginuwin draws a card.
16:26:20 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
16:26:22 – Rakso plays Blue Elemental Blast.
16:26:29 – Ginuwin buries Goblin Welder.
16:26:30 – Ginuwin says:’the thing i hate about stax is that you run out of perms faster than your opponent’
16:26:32 – Rakso plays Wasteland.
16:26:35 – Ginuwin buries Volcanic Island.
16:26:37 – Gorilla Shaman is attacking.
16:26:39 – Ginuwin’s life is now 17. (-1)
16:26:42 – Underground Sea is tapped.
16:26:43 – Rakso plays Brainstorm.
16:26:54 – Ginuwin says:’why does stax kill themself first?’
16:26:58 – Ginuwin says:’but yet does so good’
My hero. Thanks for getting rid of that Goblin, love Morphling from the sidelines.
16:27:00 – It is now turn 10.
16:27:03 – Ginuwin draws a card.
16:27:05 – It is now turn 11.
16:27:09 – Rakso draws a card.
16:27:11 – Rakso plays Flooded Strand.
16:27:13 – Gorilla Shaman is attacking.
16:27:15 – Ginuwin’s life is now 16. (-1)
16:27:16 – It is now turn 12.
16:27:22 – Ginuwin draws a card.
16:27:25 – Ginuwin plays Mishra’s Workshop.
16:27:27 – Mishra’s Workshop is tapped.
16:27:27 – Rakso says:’!!!’
16:27:28 – Ginuwin plays Tangle Wire.
16:27:30 – Ginuwin says:’lol’
16:27:30 – Ginuwin says:’;/’
16:27:37 – Rakso says:’wait’
16:27:58 – Underground Sea is tapped.
16:27:58 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
16:28:00 – Rakso plays Mana Drain.
16:28:12 – Ginuwin buries Tangle Wire.
I don’t want him to get an opening just yet, and spare a counter.
16:28:16 – It is now turn 13.
16:28:18 – Rakso’s life is now 18. (-1)
16:28:19 – Rakso buries Flooded Strand.
16:28:24 – Rakso moves Underground Sea from Rakso’s library to tabletop.
16:28:27 – Rakso draws a card.
16:28:31 – Rakso plays Tundra.
16:28:32 – Rakso plays Mox Ruby.
16:28:34 – Gorilla Shaman is attacking.
16:28:35 – Ginuwin’s life is now 15. (-1)
16:28:38 – Rakso’s life is now 15. (-3)
16:28:38 – It is now turn 14.
16:28:39 – Ginuwin draws a card.
16:28:40 – Mishra’s Workshop is tapped.
16:28:41 – Ginuwin plays Sphere of Resistance.
16:28:43 – Rakso says:’k’
16:28:43 – Ginuwin’s life is now 14. (-1)
16:28:50 – Rakso says:’eot’
16:28:53 – Underground Sea is tapped.
16:28:53 – Ginuwin says:’bleh’
16:28:53 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
16:28:54 – Underground Sea is tapped.
16:28:54 – Mox Jet is tapped.
16:28:55 – Mox Ruby is tapped.
16:28:55 – Ginuwin says:’nm’
16:28:56 – It is now turn 15.
16:28:57 – Ginuwin says:’thats game’
Shaman all the way! I build up enough mana to munch about anything he throws, and he’s not quite praying for Smokestack.
Game #2: From Mana Screw To Mana Flood
Here’s an old one (July 2002) fellow Paragon Steve O'Connell and I played to gauge my points about mono black’s mana curve, which were eventually written up in “The Nantuko Conspiracy.” Anyway, before the extremely frustrating Stax lock, there was the likewise frustrating Suicide Black disruption barrage. If he gets a good opening, you hang in there patiently, planning your riposte to the last mana:
12:36:43 – — Zherbus says: ”I am ready.”
12:36:43 – — Rakso says: ”Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war”
12:36:53 – Rakso says:’you play’
12:37:11 – Zherbus drew 7 cards.
12:37:16 – Rakso drew 7 cards.
12:37:32 – It is now turn 1.
12:37:35 – Zherbus plays Swamp.
12:37:35 – Rakso says:’go’
12:37:36 – Swamp is tapped.
12:37:38 – Zherbus plays Dark Ritual.
12:37:39 – Rakso says:’k’
12:37:45 – Zherbus plays Phyrexian Negator.
12:37:48 – Rakso plays Force of Will.
12:37:49 – Rakso moves Morphling from Rakso’s hand to Rakso’s removed
from game pile.
12:37:50 – Rakso’s life is now 19. (-1)
12:37:51 – Zherbus buries Phyrexian Negator.
Darn. He had a Turn 1 play.
12:37:52 – It is now turn 2.
12:37:53 – Rakso draws a card.
12:37:55 – Rakso plays Volcanic Island.
12:37:56 – Rakso plays Mox Jet.
12:38:03 – It is now turn 3.
12:38:04 – Zherbus draws a card.
12:38:09 – Swamp is tapped.
12:38:23 – Zherbus plays Demonic Consultation.
12:38:23 – Zherbus says:’swamp’
12:38:25 – Zherbus removes Nantuko Shade from the game.
12:38:26 – Zherbus removes Swamp from the game.
12:38:26 – Zherbus removes Sinkhole from the game.
12:38:26 – Zherbus removes Flesh Reaver from the game.
12:38:26 – Zherbus removes Swamp from the game.
12:38:26 – Zherbus removes Swamp from the game.
12:38:27 – Zherbus moves Phyrexian Negator from Zherbus’s library to Zherbus’s removed from game pile.
12:38:29 – Zherbus moves Flesh Reaver from Zherbus’s library to Zherbus’s removed from game pile.
12:38:31 – Zherbus moves Nantuko Shade from Zherbus’s library to Zherbus’s removed from game pile.
12:38:33 – Zherbus moves Swamp from Zherbus’s library to tabletop.
12:38:43 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
12:38:45 – Rakso plays Mystical Tutor.
12:38:49 – Rakso moves Ancestral Recall from Rakso’s library to tabletop.
I get a crucial one-turn respite…
12:38:41 – It is now turn 4.
12:38:52 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
12:38:54 – Rakso buries Ancestral Recall.
12:38:55 – Rakso drew 3 cards.
12:38:59 – Rakso plays Volcanic Island.
Two land and one Mox in play…
12:39:06 – It is now turn 5.
12:39:09 – Swamp is untapped.
12:39:11 – Zherbus draws a card.
12:39:16 – Zherbus plays Swamp.
12:39:19 – Swamp is tapped.
12:39:19 – Swamp is tapped.
12:39:30 – Zherbus plays Sinkhole.
12:39:32 – Rakso buries Volcanic Island.
And I don’t have the Mana Drain. One land and one Mox in play…
12:39:34 – It is now turn 6.
12:39:35 – Rakso draws a card.
12:39:41 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
12:39:42 – Mox Jet is tapped.
12:39:43 – Rakso plays Mind Twist.
12:39:49 – Zherbus randomly buried Null Rod.
And I don’t have the land drop or anything better to do… Given my mana shortage, it’s fortunate I snagged the Null Rod.
12:39:52 – It is now turn 7.
12:39:55 – Zherbus draws a card.
12:40:02 – Swamp is tapped.
12:40:02 – Swamp is tapped.
12:40:02 – Swamp is tapped.
12:40:04 – Zherbus plays Hypnotic Specter.
12:40:06 – Rakso plays Force of Will.
12:40:07 – Rakso moves Mana Drain from Rakso’s hand to Rakso’s removed from game pile.
12:40:08 – Rakso’s life is now 18. (-1)
12:40:11 – Zherbus buries Hypnotic Specter.
12:40:14 – Zherbus plays Strip Mine.
12:40:15 – Zherbus buries Strip Mine.
12:40:16 – Rakso buries Volcanic Island.
Zero land and one Mox in play…
12:40:18 – It is now turn 8.
12:40:19 – Rakso draws a card.
12:40:21 – Rakso plays Underground Sea.
One land and one Mox in play…
12:40:27 – It is now turn 9.
12:40:31 – Zherbus draws a card.
12:40:35 – Swamp is tapped.
12:40:36 – Swamp is tapped.
12:40:37 – Zherbus plays Nantuko Shade.
12:40:39 – Rakso says:’k’
12:40:43 – Zherbus plays Swamp.
Not good…
12:40:44 – It is now turn 10.
12:40:45 – Rakso draws a card.
Again, not good…
12:40:51 – It is now turn 11.
12:40:54 – Zherbus draws a card.
12:40:58 – Nantuko Shade is attacking.
12:41:00 – Rakso says:’k’
12:41:01 – Swamp is tapped.
12:41:07 – Rakso says:’yeah yeah’
12:41:14 – Rakso says:’1?’
12:41:15 – Rakso says:’okay’
12:41:16 – Rakso’s life is now 15. (-3)
12:41:19 – Swamp is tapped.
12:41:20 – Swamp is tapped.
12:41:20 – Swamp is tapped.
12:41:21 – Zherbus plays Phyrexian Negator.
12:41:23 – Rakso says:’k’
12:41:25 – Mox Jet is tapped.
12:41:27 – Rakso plays Vampiric Tutor.
12:41:29 – Rakso’s life is now 13. (-2)
I have two mana in play and two turns to do something. But what?
12:41:29 – It is now turn 12.
12:41:36 – Rakso moves a card from Rakso’s library to Rakso’s hand.
12:41:42 – Rakso plays Black Lotus.
12:41:43 – Mox Jet is tapped.
12:42:18 – Rakso buries Black Lotus.
12:42:20 – Rakso says:’UUU’
12:42:23 – Rakso plays Yawgmoth’s Will.
12:42:25 – Rakso removes Yawgmoth’s Will from the game.
12:42:29 – Rakso moves Black Lotus from Rakso’s graveyard to tabletop.
12:42:33 – Rakso moves Volcanic Island from Rakso’s graveyard to tabletop.
12:43:45 – Rakso removes Mystical Tutor from the game.
12:44:21 – Rakso removes Black Lotus from the game.
12:44:23 – Rakso says:’UUU’
12:44:26 – Rakso moves Time Walk from Rakso’s library to tabletop.
12:44:34 – Rakso removes Ancestral Recall from the game.
12:44:36 – Rakso drew 2 cards.
12:44:38 – Rakso plays Mox Emerald.
12:44:49 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
12:44:52 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
12:44:55 – Underground Sea is tapped.
12:44:57 – Rakso plays Sylvan Library.
12:45:00 – Rakso plays Time Walk.
12:45:02 – Rakso removes Time Walk from the game.
12:45:08 – Rakso removes Vampiric Tutor from the game.
12:45:12 – Rakso’s life is now 11. (-2)
12:45:24 – Rakso moves a facedown card to Rakso’s library.
12:45:26 – Rakso says:’turn 2′
12:45:31 – Rakso is looking through top 3 cards of library…
12:45:35 – Rakso moves a card from Rakso’s library to Rakso’s hand.
12:45:38 – Rakso plays Tundra.
12:45:40 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
12:45:40 – Underground Sea is tapped.
12:45:41 – Mox Jet is tapped.
12:45:41 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
12:45:43 – Rakso plays The Abyss.
See what difference a single tutor can spell? Patience is the key.
12:45:44 – It is now turn 13.
12:45:58 – Zherbus buries Phyrexian Negator.
12:46:05 – Zherbus plays Swamp.
12:46:07 – Swamp is tapped.
12:46:07 – Swamp is tapped.
12:46:07 – Swamp is tapped.
12:46:07 – Swamp is tapped.
12:46:07 – Swamp is tapped.
12:46:08 – Nantuko Shade is attacking.
12:46:10 – Rakso’s life is now 4. (-7)
12:46:12 – Rakso says:’ouch’
12:46:19 – It is now turn 14.
12:46:22 – Rakso says:’take it like a man’
12:46:26 – Zherbus says:’heh’
12:46:29 – Rakso is looking through top 3 cards of library…
12:46:45 – Rakso moves a card from Rakso’s library to Rakso’s hand.
12:46:50 – Rakso plays Volcanic Island.
12:46:51 – Mox Jet is tapped.
12:46:52 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
12:46:52 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
12:46:53 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
12:46:54 – Tundra is tapped.
12:46:56 – Rakso plays Morphling.
12:46:58 – It is now turn 15.
12:47:03 – Zherbus says:’yeah thats game’
Game #3: Before Noble Panther, We Had Rootwater Thief
TheManaDrain.com’s urban legend goes that Noble Panther singlehandedly destroys”The Deck” because it blocks and kills Morphling and decks the control player. Noble Panther, however, has also been touted as the arch-nemesis of the much-maligned Sedge Troll.
Here’s the Beyond Dominia classic log – which Roy Spires, a.k. a. Random-Miser, still claims is the result of cheating. (Incidentally, this was also the time a number of his online opponents reported mysterious errors during their play, which some alleged were induced by Roy’s newly-installed Backwash program. Yes, JP”Polluted” Meyer still managed first- and second-turn Academy kills against him.) It’s the same log described in the original”Incredibly Crappy Troll” article, “Sucking With The Power Nine.”
This was back in unrestricted Fact or Fiction days. I was at home, sick, saw Roy yakking away on #bdchat on EFNet, and decided to amuse myself by pretending to be Yan Margolin, a.k.a. Negator. Roy bit.
I was using the computer in my Mom’s room, and the file I had there was a rougher build of my deck at the time. I was testing Impulse after seeing the Magic Invitational, and trying Rootwater Thief in the sideboard, though Zvi Mowshowitz advised to just try eight Elemental Blasts against his mono blue Invitational deck that became Britney Spears’ Boobs.
Roy was trounced soundly in Game 1, with me drawing up to 13 cards at one point. He boarded everything but the kitchen sink in, and later claimed he made a mistake sideboarding:
12:36:35 – Negator has a 15 card sideboard
12:36:35 – Negator has a 60 card deck.
12:36:37 – Random-Miser has a 15 card sideboard
12:36:37 – Random-Miser has a 61 card deck.
12:36:38 – — Random-Miser says: ”I am ready.”
12:36:38 – — Negator says: ”Cry havoc and unleash the dogs of war”
12:36:48 – Random-Miser says:’alright’
12:36:51 – Random-Miser drew 7 cards.
12:36:58 – Negator drew 7 cards.
12:37:08 – Random-Miser says:’gues I’ll go first’
12:37:11 – Negator says:’indeed’
12:37:12 – It is now turn 1.
12:37:14 – Random-Miser plays Black Lotus.
12:37:21 – Random-Miser plays Island.
12:37:28 – Random-Miser buries Black Lotus.
12:37:29 – Island is tapped.
12:37:32 – Random-Miser plays Jester’s Cap.
12:37:36 – Negator plays Force of Will.
12:37:41 – Negator removes Mana Drain from the game.
12:37:42 – Negator’s life is now 19. (-1)
12:37:43 – Random-Miser plays Misdirection.
12:37:51 – Random-Miser plays Time Walk.
12:37:52 – Negator says:’you may proceed’
12:37:58 – Random-Miser removes Time Walk from the game.
This was the original”ICT opening” before Roy discovered Blood Moon. Seriously, though, this was not good, and the pride of Beyond Dominia hung on a terribly lucky Turn 1 by a deck that dedicated its entire sideboard against”The Deck”.
12:38:08 – It is now turn 2.
12:38:10 – Negator draws a card.
12:38:15 – Negator plays Volcanic Island.
12:38:17 – Negator plays Mox Emerald.
12:38:17 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
12:38:19 – Negator plays Sol Ring.
Good, but hardly good enough. I consider myself lucky that the Rootwater Thieves I boarded in increase my threat count.
12:38:26 – It is now turn 3.
12:38:32 – Random-Miser draws a card.
12:38:36 – Random-Miser plays Underground Sea.
12:38:40 – Underground Sea is tapped.
12:38:41 – Island is tapped.
12:38:46 – Random-Miser buries Jester’s Cap.
12:40:15 – Negator removes Rootwater Thief from the game.
12:40:17 – Negator removes Morphling from the game.
12:40:18 – Negator removes Masticore from the game.
That’s two Thieves to go.
12:40:27 – It is now turn 4.
12:40:33 – Negator draws a card.
12:40:36 – Negator plays City of Brass.
12:40:37 – Sol Ring is tapped.
12:40:37 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
12:40:38 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
12:40:39 – Negator plays Fact or Fiction.
12:40:43 – Negator says:’allow’
12:40:45 – Random-Miser says:’hmmmm sure’
12:41:16 – Random-Miser says:’like that’
12:41:22 – Negator says:’control please’
12:41:36 – Negator buries Dismantling Blow.
12:41:37 – Negator buries Fact or Fiction.
12:41:38 – Negator moves Underground Sea from tabletop to Negator’s hand.
12:41:39 – Negator moves Underground Sea from tabletop to Negator’s hand.
12:41:40 – Negator moves Rootwater Thief from tabletop to Negator’s hand.
12:41:41 – Negator buries Fact or Fiction.
That’s one safely in hand, and fortunately I got two land to go with it.
12:41:43 – It is now turn 5.
12:41:49 – Random-Miser draws a card.
12:41:53 – Random-Miser plays Badlands.
12:41:56 – It is now turn 6.
12:41:59 – Negator draws a card.
12:42:07 – Negator plays Underground Sea.
12:42:27 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
12:42:27 – Sol Ring is tapped.
12:42:29 – Negator plays Impulse.
12:42:32 – Negator is looking through top 4 cards of library…
12:42:33 – Random-Miser says:’ok’
12:42:48 – Underground Sea is tapped.
12:42:50 – Negator plays Rootwater Thief.
12:42:56 – Random-Miser plays Mana Drain.
12:42:58 – Underground Sea is tapped.
12:42:59 – Island is tapped.
12:42:59 – City of Brass is tapped.
12:43:00 – Negator’s life is now 18. (-1)
12:43:01 – Negator plays Red Elemental Blast.
12:43:04 – It is now turn 7.
12:43:12 – Random-Miser draws a card.
12:43:20 – Badlands is tapped.
12:43:21 – Underground Sea is tapped.
12:43:23 – Random-Miser plays Diabolic Edict.
12:43:25 – Negator buries Rootwater Thief.
Miser not only boarded in an overload of Red Blasts, he also boarded in Edicts. This exchange left no room for error with the last Thief, which I already fetched with Impulse. (The classic cantrip was cute, but less effective than it was in redundant mono blue. Today’s Brainstorm tricks give the same feel, but work far better with the wider selection of cards.)
12:43:37 – It is now turn 8.
12:43:38 – Negator draws a card.
12:43:54 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
12:43:56 – Sol Ring is tapped.
12:43:57 – Negator plays Regrowth.
12:44:02 – Negator says:’allow’
12:44:09 – Random-Miser says:’son what?’
12:44:12 – Negator says:’fof’
12:44:16 – Random-Miser says:’hmmmm’
12:44:17 – Random-Miser says:’ok’
12:44:23 – Negator moves Fact or Fiction from Negator’s graveyard to tabletop.
12:44:25 – Underground Sea is tapped.
12:44:25 – City of Brass is tapped.
12:44:26 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
12:44:26 – Negator’s life is now 17. (-1)
12:44:28 – Negator says:’allow’
12:44:28 – Random-Miser says:’sure’
12:44:57 – Random-Miser says:’hmmm’
12:45:01 – Random-Miser says:’like that’
12:45:21 – Negator moves Diabolic Edict from tabletop to Negator’s hand.
12:45:22 – Negator moves Mind Twist from tabletop to Negator’s hand.
12:45:23 – Negator buries Mox Ruby.
12:45:24 – Negator buries Mox Sapphire.
12:45:26 – Negator buries Balance.
12:45:27 – Negator buries Fact or Fiction.
12:45:28 – It is now turn 9.
12:45:38 – Random-Miser draws a card.
12:45:42 – Random-Miser plays Mox Jet.
12:45:47 – It is now turn 10.
12:45:50 – Negator draws a card.
12:45:59 – Negator plays Wasteland.
12:46:04 – Random-Miser buries Underground Sea.
12:46:08 – Negator buries Wasteland.
12:46:28 – It is now turn 11.
12:46:31 – Random-Miser draws a card.
12:46:37 – Random-Miser plays Mox Pearl.
12:46:40 – It is now turn 12.
12:46:47 – Negator draws a card.
12:46:51 – Underground Sea is tapped.
12:46:51 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
12:46:54 – Negator plays Rootwater Thief.
12:46:59 – Random-Miser says:’hmmm’
12:47:01 – Random-Miser says:’sure’
This is it. I play my last threat and get ready to dig in and protect it.
12:47:07 – It is now turn 13.
12:47:12 – Random-Miser draws a card.
12:47:16 – Island is tapped.
12:47:17 – Mox Jet is tapped.
12:47:18 – Badlands is tapped.
12:47:19 – Mox Pearl is tapped.
12:47:21 – Random-Miser plays Jester’s Cap.
12:47:28 – Negator says:’very well’
Annoying as it is, especially since I didn’t use Ancestral yet, I grit my teeth and conserve counters.
12:47:30 – It is now turn 14.
12:47:41 – Negator draws a card.
12:47:44 – Negator plays Underground Sea.
12:47:50 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
12:47:57 – Random-Miser says:’yup’
12:48:00 – Negator says:’-1′
12:48:06 – Random-Miser’s life is now 19. (-1)
12:48:07 – Sol Ring is tapped.
12:48:10 – Negator says:’show me’
12:48:59 – Random-Miser moves Red Elemental Blast from Random-Miser’s library to tabletop.
12:49:04 – Random-Miser buries Red Elemental Blast.
12:49:10 – Negator says:’REMOVE from game’
12:49:17 – Random-Miser removes Red Elemental Blast from the game.
I edited out a lot of the card movements, but left the above. See, my Thief’s work would be horribly undone by this innocent”error” if a Timetwister resolved. It pays to be very careful when you’re trying to pull off an impossible win.
12:49:20 – It is now turn 15.
12:49:25 – Random-Miser draws a card.
12:49:27 – Random-Miser plays Badlands.
12:49:33 – Mox Pearl is tapped.
12:49:34 – Mox Jet is tapped.
12:49:37 – Jester’s Cap is tapped.
12:49:41 – Random-Miser buries Jester’s Cap.
12:49:50 – Random-Miser says:’lets see’
12:51:50 – Random-Miser stops looking through Negator’s library.
12:51:56 – Random-Miser says:’these’
12:52:07 – Negator removes Mana Drain from the game.
12:52:08 – Negator removes Ancestral Recall from the game.
12:52:09 – Negator removes Yawgmoth’s Will from the game.
12:52:15 – It is now turn 16.
12:52:18 – Negator draws a card.
12:52:22 – Negator plays Tundra.
12:52:24 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
12:52:29 – Random-Miser’s life is now 18. (-1)
12:52:30 – Sol Ring is tapped.
12:53:01 – Random-Miser removes Red Elemental Blast from the game.
12:53:08 – Random-Miser says:’ok’
12:53:08 – It is now turn 17.
12:53:13 – Random-Miser draws a card.
12:53:17 – Random-Miser plays Mox Ruby.
12:53:19 – It is now turn 18.
12:53:24 – Negator draws a card.
12:53:31 – Negator plays Wasteland.
12:53:32 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
12:53:37 – Random-Miser’s life is now 17. (-1)
12:53:38 – Sol Ring is tapped.
12:53:50 – Random-Miser buries Red Elemental Blast.
12:54:01 – Random-Miser moves Red Elemental Blast from Random-Miser’s graveyard to tabletop.
12:54:02 – Random-Miser removes Red Elemental Blast from the game.
12:54:03 – It is now turn 19.
12:54:07 – Random-Miser draws a card.
12:54:14 – Mox Jet is tapped.
12:54:16 – Mox Pearl is tapped.
12:54:17 – Random-Miser plays Demonic Tutor.
12:54:21 – Negator says:’very well’
12:55:51 – Random-Miser moves a card from Random-Miser’s library to Random-Miser’s hand.
12:55:56 – Random-Miser is shuffling library…
12:56:01 – It is now turn 20.
12:56:05 – Negator draws a card.
12:56:09 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
12:56:13 – Random-Miser’s life is now 16. (-1)
12:56:15 – Sol Ring is tapped.
12:56:45 – Random-Miser removes Pyroblast from the game.
12:56:48 – Random-Miser is shuffling library…
12:56:56 – Underground Sea is tapped.
12:56:56 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
12:57:03 – Tundra is tapped.
12:57:05 – Negator plays Mind Twist.
12:57:06 – Negator says:’For 2′
12:57:15 – Random-Miser says:’hmmm….’
12:57:30 – Random-Miser buries Misdirection.
12:57:34 – Random-Miser buries Wheel of Fortune.
12:57:36 – Negator buries Mind Twist.
I hope you didn’t let that Cap fool you. I’m quite in control of the game, as the Mind Twist for his tutored card demonstrated.
What follows is a slow nibbling away of his life total and library – and no, it never occurred to him to concede at this point. You can scroll down to the end if it’s too tedious for you; there’s a summary at the end.
12:57:38 – It is now turn 21.
12:57:42 – Random-Miser draws a card.
12:57:49 – It is now turn 22.
12:57:53 – Negator draws a card.
12:57:57 – Negator plays Underground Sea.
12:57:58 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
12:58:03 – Random-Miser’s life is now 15. (-1)
12:58:04 – Sol Ring is tapped.
12:58:21 – Random-Miser removes Pyroblast from the game.
12:58:25 – It is now turn 23.
12:58:31 – Random-Miser draws a card.
12:58:35 – Random-Miser plays Volcanic Island.
12:58:42 – Negator says:’eot’
12:58:45 – Underground Sea is tapped.
12:58:45 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
12:58:46 – Negator plays Impulse.
12:58:51 – Random-Miser says:’ok’
12:58:39 – It is now turn 24.
12:59:02 – Negator draws a card.
12:59:04 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
12:59:08 – Random-Miser’s life is now 14. (-1)
12:59:09 – Sol Ring is tapped.
12:59:20 – Random-Miser moves Diabolic Edict from Random-Miser’s library to tabletop.
12:59:29 – Random-Miser buries Diabolic Edict.
12:59:33 – Negator says:’SHUFFLE please’
12:59:33 – Random-Miser moves Diabolic Edict from Random-Miser’s graveyard to tabletop.
12:59:34 – Random-Miser removes Diabolic Edict from the game.
12:59:40 – Random-Miser is shuffling library…
12:59:42 – It is now turn 25.
12:59:48 – Random-Miser draws a card.
12:59:53 – Random-Miser says:’hmmm’
13:00:00 – It is now turn 26.
13:00:05 – Negator draws a card.
13:00:07 – Negator plays Undiscovered Paradise.
13:00:09 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
13:00:14 – Random-Miser’s life is now 13. (-1)
13:00:15 – Sol Ring is tapped.
13:00:29 – Random-Miser moves Pyroblast from Random-Miser’s library to tabletop.
13:00:34 – Random-Miser removes Pyroblast from the game.
13:00:37 – It is now turn 27.
13:00:42 – Random-Miser draws a card.
13:00:47 – Island is tapped.
13:00:49 – Random-Miser plays Ancestral Recall.
13:00:56 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
13:00:57 – Underground Sea is tapped.
13:00:57 – Underground Sea is tapped.
13:01:01 – Tundra is tapped.
13:01:04 – Wasteland is tapped.
13:01:05 – Negator plays Force of Will.
13:01:13 – Badlands is tapped.
13:01:15 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
13:01:19 – Mox Pearl is tapped.
13:01:21 – Random-Miser plays Tinker.
13:01:25 – Negator says:’wait’
13:01:29 – Random-Miser says:’ok’
13:01:33 – Negator says:’you must sacrifice’
13:01:37 – Random-Miser buries Mox Pearl.
13:01:45 – Underground Sea is tapped.
13:01:46 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
13:01:48 – Negator plays Mana Drain.
13:02:04 – Random-Miser plays Mox Emerald.
As I said, I’m quite in control, and the impossible win didn’t look as impossible as it did on Turn 1.
13:02:07 – It is now turn 28.
13:02:22 – Negator draws a card.
13:02:25 – Negator plays City of Brass.
13:02:29 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
13:02:31 – Negator’s life is now 14. (-3)
13:02:32 – Random-Miser’s life is now 12. (-1)
13:02:47 – Negator says:’show me’
13:02:54 – Sol Ring is tapped.
13:03:01 – Random-Miser moves Diabolic Edict from Random-Miser’s library to tabletop.
13:03:05 – Random-Miser buries Diabolic Edict.
13:03:13 – Negator says:’REMOVE’
13:03:14 – Random-Miser moves Diabolic Edict from Random-Miser’s graveyard to tabletop.
13:03:15 – Random-Miser removes Diabolic Edict from the game.
13:03:16 – It is now turn 29.
13:03:21 – Random-Miser draws a card.
13:03:24 – Negator says:’Your timetwister tricks are ineffective’
13:03:30 – Random-Miser says:’hehehe’
13:03:46 – Negator says:’you are done’
13:03:52 – Random-Miser says:’hmmm’
13:03:58 – Negator says:’what kind of deck is that?’
13:04:02 – Negator says:’extremely random’
13:04:05 – Negator says:’quite janky’
13:04:08 – It is now turn 30.
13:04:08 – Negator says:’very strange’
13:04:12 – Negator draws a card.
13:04:13 – Random-Miser says:’It be ICT’
13:04:15 – Negator plays Tundra.
13:04:17 – Negator says:’What is that’
13:04:21 – Negator says:’Incredibly Crappy Troll?’
13:04:25 – Random-Miser says:’yup’
13:04:25 – Negator says:’my goodness’
13:04:30 – Negator says:’that is out of Beyond Dominia’
13:04:38 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
13:04:45 – Random-Miser says:’yeah….I’m the inventor :p’
13:04:47 – Random-Miser’s life is now 11. (-1)
13:04:48 – Negator says:’indeed’
13:04:51 – Sol Ring is tapped.
13:05:13 – Random-Miser moves Diabolic Edict from Random-Miser’s library to tabletop.
13:05:16 – Negator stops looking through Random-Miser’s library.
13:05:16 – Random-Miser removes Diabolic Edict from the game.
13:05:21 – It is now turn 31.
13:05:28 – Random-Miser draws a card.
13:05:38 – Badlands is tapped.
13:05:40 – Mox Jet is tapped.
13:05:41 – Mox Ruby is tapped.
13:05:42 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
13:05:44 – Badlands is tapped.
13:05:45 – Random-Miser plays Mind Twist.
13:05:50 – Negator says:’how many’
13:05:56 – Random-Miser says:’4′
13:05:57 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
13:05:58 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
13:06:00 – Tundra is tapped.
13:06:01 – Tundra is tapped.
13:06:12 – Negator plays Force of Will.
13:06:19 – Random-Miser says:’ok’
13:06:23 – It is now turn 32.
13:06:31 – Negator draws a card.
13:06:37 – Negator plays Strip Mine.
13:06:37 – Wasteland is tapped.
13:06:42 – Random-Miser buries Volcanic Island.
13:06:45 – Negator buries Wasteland.
13:06:48 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
13:06:53 – Random-Miser’s life is now 10. (-1)
13:06:55 – Sol Ring is tapped.
13:07:24 – Random-Miser moves Nevinyrral’s Disk from Random-Miser’s
library to tabletop.
13:07:29 – Random-Miser buries Nevinyrral’s Disk.
13:07:34 – Random-Miser moves Nevinyrral’s Disk from Random-Miser’s graveyard to tabletop.
13:07:36 – Random-Miser removes Nevinyrral’s Disk from the game.
13:07:39 – It is now turn 33.
13:07:44 – Random-Miser draws a card.
13:07:52 – It is now turn 34.
13:07:55 – Negator draws a card.
13:07:57 – Negator plays Tundra.
13:07:59 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
13:08:02 – Random-Miser’s life is now 9. (-1)
13:08:03 – Sol Ring is tapped.
13:08:15 – Random-Miser moves Nevinyrral’s Disk from Random-Miser’s library to tabletop.
13:08:18 – Random-Miser buries Nevinyrral’s Disk.
13:08:26 – Negator says:’REMOVE’
13:08:30 – Random-Miser moves Nevinyrral’s Disk from Random-Miser’s graveyard to tabletop.
13:08:31 – Random-Miser removes Nevinyrral’s Disk from the game.
13:08:36 – Random-Miser says:’errg’
13:08:38 – It is now turn 35.
13:08:42 – Random-Miser draws a card.
13:08:44 – Random-Miser plays Volcanic Island.
13:08:48 – Badlands is tapped.
13:08:49 – Mox Jet is tapped.
13:08:52 – Badlands is tapped.
13:08:53 – Mox Ruby is tapped.
13:08:55 – Random-Miser plays Nevinyrral’s Disk.
13:09:04 – Tundra is tapped.
13:09:05 – Tundra is tapped.
13:09:07 – Negator plays Mana Drain.
13:09:09 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
13:09:11 – Island is tapped.
13:09:12 – Random-Miser plays Mana Drain.
13:09:19 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
13:09:21 – Negator plays Red Elemental Blast.
13:09:32 – Random-Miser says:’ok’
13:09:37 – Negator says:’you are done’
By the time he made a dent in my hand, every card that could kill the Thief had been removed from the game. I grab a last counter and prepare to go after his own win conditions next.
13:09:41 – It is now turn 36.
13:09:43 – Negator draws a card.
13:09:48 – Underground Sea is tapped.
13:09:49 – Negator plays Demonic Tutor.
13:09:53 – Random-Miser says:’ok’
13:10:33 – Negator moves a card from Negator’s library to Negator’s hand.
13:10:40 – Negator’s life is now 11. (-3)
13:10:41 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
13:10:42 – Sol Ring is tapped.
13:10:43 – Random-Miser says:’cards in library?’
13:10:46 – Random-Miser’s life is now 8. (-1)
13:10:50 – Negator says:’16’
13:11:08 – Random-Miser moves Sedge Troll from Random-Miser’s library to tabletop.
13:11:12 – Random-Miser removes Sedge Troll from the game.
13:11:28 – It is now turn 37.
13:11:32 – Random-Miser draws a card.
13:11:38 – Random-Miser plays Underground Sea.
13:11:39 – It is now turn 38.
13:11:44 – Negator draws a card.
13:11:47 – Negator plays City of Brass.
13:11:48 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
13:11:53 – Random-Miser’s life is now 7. (-1)
13:11:55 – Sol Ring is tapped.
13:11:58 – Random-Miser moves Timetwister from Random-Miser’s library to tabletop.
13:12:02 – Random-Miser removes Timetwister from the game.
13:12:07 – It is now turn 39.
13:12:11 – Random-Miser draws a card.
13:12:15 – Random-Miser plays Volcanic Island.
13:12:20 – It is now turn 40.
13:12:24 – Negator draws a card.
13:12:26 – Negator plays Mox Jet.
13:12:28 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
13:12:29 – Sol Ring is tapped.
13:12:31 – Random-Miser’s life is now 6. (-1)
13:12:40 – Random-Miser moves Sedge Troll from Random-Miser’s library to tabletop.
13:12:43 – Random-Miser removes Sedge Troll from the game.
I didn’t even need to restock, apparently. Of course, he’s still not thinking of conceding.
13:12:46 – It is now turn 41.
13:12:49 – Random-Miser draws a card.
13:12:51 – Random-Miser plays Underground Sea.
13:12:55 – It is now turn 42.
13:13:00 – Negator draws a card.
13:13:03 – Negator plays Volcanic Island.
13:13:04 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
13:13:05 – Sol Ring is tapped.
13:13:11 – Random-Miser’s life is now 5. (-1)
13:13:23 – Random-Miser moves Yawgmoth’s Will from Random-Miser’s library to tabletop.
13:13:30 – Random-Miser removes Yawgmoth’s Will from the game.
I’m tempted to start removing land to rub it in, but I go for psychological effect and hope he takes the hint.
13:13:31 – It is now turn 43.
13:13:34 – Random-Miser draws a card.
And we now begin the postgame trash talk. If you weren’t a regular of Beyond Dominia, Wizards, MTGNews, Misetings, aren’t a Texan Type I player, or didn’t get to play in the Type I Championships, you should probably skip the nongame parts. It was, however, e-mailed to the Beyond Dominia regulars and quite warmly received as written proof that could be used against future Roy tirades.
13:13:38 – It is now turn 44.
13:13:51 – Negator draws a card.
13:14:00 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
13:14:04 – Random-Miser’s life is now 4. (-1)
13:14:07 – Sol Ring is tapped.
13:14:22 – Random-Miser moves Jester’s Cap from Random-Miser’s library to tabletop.
13:14:24 – Random-Miser says:’I screwed up bording..: (‘
13:14:26 – Random-Miser removes Jester’s Cap from the game.
13:14:32 – Negator says:’you boarded in anti control’
13:14:35 – Negator says:’you screw up’
13:14:37 – Negator says:’i think not’
13:14:38 – Negator says:’3 edict’
13:14:43 – Negator says:’6 red elemental blast’
13:14:47 – Negator says:’3 jester cap’
13:14:51 – Random-Miser says:’naw I didnt do it quite right though’
13:14:53 – Negator says:’that is like cheating’
13:14:56 – It is now turn 45.
13:14:59 – Random-Miser draws a card.
13:15:01 – Random-Miser plays Library of Alexandria.
13:15:09 – Negator says:’eot’
13:15:12 – Tundra is tapped.
13:15:13 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
13:15:15 – Negator plays Impulse.
13:15:18 – Random-Miser says:’ok’
13:15:05 – It is now turn 46.
13:15:35 – Negator draws a card.
13:15:39 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
13:15:40 – Sol Ring is tapped.
13:15:46 – Random-Miser says:’my sideboard should have been even worse ;)’
13:15:49 – Random-Miser’s life is now 3. (-1)
13:15:53 – Negator says:’you boarded 15 cards’
13:16:13 – Random-Miser moves Mana Drain from Random-Miser’s library to tabletop.
13:16:21 – Negator says:’that is impossible’
13:16:23 – Random-Miser says:’and I should wait till I had actual counters before playing alot of my stuff to…’
13:16:31 – Negator says:’strange’
13:16:34 – Negator says:’i would have countered them all’
13:16:41 – Random-Miser says:’I’m very impatient today :I’
13:16:46 – Negator says:’i do not believe so’
13:16:49 – Negator says:’i believe the deck has problems’
13:16:52 – Random-Miser says:’hehehe’
13:16:59 – Negator says:’you must remove Mana Drain from the game’
13:17:03 – Random-Miser removes Mana Drain from the game.
Yes, I already got around to removing Timetwister from the game, but it never hurts to keep good habits. I never played with Rootwater Thieves again in my control deck after this game, but boy was the experiment memorable.
13:17:05 – It is now turn 47.
13:17:09 – Random-Miser draws a card.
13:17:16 – It is now turn 48.
13:17:26 – Negator draws a card.
13:17:30 – Negator plays Wasteland.
13:17:42 – Rootwater Thief is attacking.
13:17:42 – Sol Ring is tapped.
13:17:45 – Random-Miser says:’heck I give up….I messed up too much,,,’
13:17:56 – Negator says:’i have removed:’
13:17:58 – Negator says:’1 Mana Drain’
13:18:01 – Negator says:’1 Jester Cap’
13:18:02 – Negator says:’1 Will’
13:18:04 – Negator says:’1 Twister’
13:18:06 – Negator says:’2 Sedge Troll’
13:18:06 – Random-Miser says:’yup’
13:18:08 – Negator says:’2 Nev Disk’
13:18:10 – Negator says:’3 Edict’
13:18:12 – Negator says:’3 Pyroblast’
13:18:13 – Negator says:’3 REB’
13:18:25 – Negator says:’And you feel that your sideboard is ill suited’
13:18:35 – Negator says:’is that not most peculiar’
13:18:51 – Random-Miser says:’well…theirs more than that :D’
13:18:54 – Negator says:’you are most strange’
Hey, if you had to spend more time than necessary to pull off an”impossible” win because your opponent didn’t think of conceding, you’ve earned the right to rub it in on behalf of the Type I online community at the time.
13:18:58 – Negator says:’where do you hail from’
13:19:07 – Random-Miser says:’I B in Dallas’
13:19:10 – Negator says:’Ah’
13:19:15 – Negator says:’I come from the Philippines’
13:19:18 – Negator says:’you know anyone from there’
13:19:20 – Random-Miser says:’ahhh I see’
13:19:33 – Random-Miser says:’hmmm Isnt Rakso from somewher around there?’
13:19:41 – Negator says:’The great Rakso!’
13:19:43 – Negator says:’You know of him?’
13:20:05 – Random-Miser says:’Only that he likes to delete my posts regardless of content :D’
13:20:12 – Negator says:’I remember now!’
13:20:16 – Negator says:’Aren’t you the spammer on Beyond Dominia?’
13:20:24 – Random-Miser says:’I spam not…’
13:20:24 – Negator says:’The guy always talking about why Force of Will sucks?’
13:20:29 – Negator says:’They all said you do’
13:20:37 – Random-Miser says:’yeah I know…but I dont’
13:20:44 – Negator says:’But why do they say you spam?’
13:20:59 – Random-Miser says:’actually all I said was that force wasnt good in this paricular deck ;)’
13:21:07 – Random-Miser says:’I have no idea’
13:21:08 – Negator says:’But you lost’
13:21:13 – Negator says:’And were always tapped out’
13:21:16 – Negator says:’And you use Misdirection’
13:21:31 – Negator says:’I do not understand’
13:21:50 – Random-Miser says:’yeah….cuz I kept screwin up…and never drew only 2 counters the entire game’
13:21:56 – Negator says:’Your deck loses after getting Jester’s Cap two times’
13:22:02 – Negator says:’And I always had three counters in my hand’
13:22:04 – Random-Miser says:’nopw’
13:22:16 – Negator says:’I could always counter your spell’
13:22:21 – Random-Miser says:’naw I got 8 critters plus bolts’
13:22:32 – Negator says:’strange’
13:22:37 – Negator says:’can you tell rakso i say hi?’
13:22:44 – Random-Miser says:’sure’
13:22:45 – Negator says:’you must be close to him if you are always on BD’
13:22:50 – Negator says:’he is GOD’
13:22:57 – Random-Miser says:’wanna play 1 more game real quick?’
13:23:01 – Negator says:’i must go’
13:23:10 – Random-Miser says:’alright…cya later then’
13:23:11 – Negator says:’it has been most enlightening’
13:23:16 – Random-Miser says:’ahhh…’
13:23:23 – Random-Miser says:’my brain is melted….’
13:23:33 – Random-Miser says:’I keep doing stupid things :p’
Much later, when Roy found out it was me and accused me of cheating on every forum (note my reminders to shuffle in the log, among other things), the closing lines of the two-hour test of patience proved the most hilarious of them all:
13:23:39 – Negator says:’How do you like my opening line?’
13:23:44 – Negator says:”’Cry havoc and unleash the dogs of war?”’
13:24:00 – Random-Miser says:’:D’
Well, that’s it for this week. I hope this has been a welcome distraction and walk down control memory lane. Feel free to send in your own”impossible win” stories. Remember, this is Type I and broken things happen, but it’s always skill that sets up chance.
If you liked this last log, please be sure to check the “Restrict Noble Panther” thread. Hey, if DCI is really going to restrict Burning Wish and Cunning Wish, we may as well help them do a thorough sweep of the degeneracy, right?
Oscar Tan
E-mail: Rakso at StarCityGames.com
IRC: rakso on #BDChat on EFNet
University of the Philippines, College of Law
Forum Administrator, Star City Games
Featured Writer, Star City Games
Author of the Control Player’s Bible
Maintainer, Beyond Dominia (R.I.P.)
Proud member of the Casual Player’s Alliance