Tim Aten continues his role as a substitute for the grumpy Canadian in the Drafting With Rich series. As usual, he covers each of his picks in a triple Time Spiral draft, from pick one to pick forty-five, and supplies a brief commentary on the draft at the foot of the article. For more enlightened evaluation, visit the forums. Enjoy Tim while you can… Rich returns later this week!
As you’re undoubtedly aware, Mr Blisterguy has spent the last week in Paris trying his hand at the Worlds competition. Today’s article shares some of the sights and sounds experienced during the fledgling days of his trip. While there are no Magic Online details here this week, the article is packed with the usual blisterhumor and photos.
This week’s installment of The Magic Show – Evan Erwin’s Video-based Magic series – concentrates on the author’s excellent performance at the recent StarCityGames.com $1000 Open Standard tournament. He outlines his deck and shares full video action of an important match…
Day three and we’re only up to the H’s? I’ve got time to make up. If you’re late to class, I’m explaining the origin and usage of various uncommon words that have been used on Magic cards. Pay attention, there will be a quiz later.
Chris Romeo answers viewer mail? Well, it’s always fun to watch him toy with the readers. But Chris Romeo picking the Top Seven Must-Have Cards in each color? Oh, how can you stay away?
Our magical mystery tour through the ancient and arcane is only beginning! Admit it, this is much more interesting than Sesame Street (but not The Electric Company — The Easy Reader rules, man). We’re just starting with the C’s now in explaining the origins of Magic card names, so it’s not too late to catch up!
Behind the link are five decks that didn’t quite make it. They aren’t bad or anything; in fact, I think some of them have good ideas as jumping-off points, and one or more may even grow up to be great. But why did these decks fall short, and what can this tell us about Standard?
Bringing a deck that packs to a commonly played archetype is something I’ve come to term “bringing the Glass Cannon Deck.” It’s where you launch yourself head-on at the tournament with a deck whose only chance is to avoid your few nightmare matchups the whole way through. Encountering that matchup more than once — a possibility you can neither avoid nor control — will likely end your tournament on the spot. But when do you bring a Glass Cannon on purpose?
Language is the paintbrush by which we express ourselves to the word, so why limit yourself to the basic spectrum when there’s a panoply of colors upon which to call? If you’re interested in learning what many of these words and phrases you’ve encountered on Magic cards mean, then please, read on. I’ve tried to throw in a funny joke or two. You never know, if you’re not careful, you just might learn something.
The weekend past in Roanoke at the SCG Power Nine double-header was a humbling experience that left me questioning what I know and not knowing what to question. I ended up taking home a Timetwister by the end of the weekend by getting 9th Place on Day Two, but the experience has reshaped my view of Vintage and refined my understanding of Meandeck Gifts. So let me tell you what I learned in defeat.
What follows are some situations I’ve encountered recently where I lost the game due to a poor judgment call on my part. All of my plays are justifiable, but in this format the smallest thing can cost you a game – and you need to constantly be re-examining your play if you want to do well. Let’s take a look at what I did wrong.
Today, both Stephen Menendian and Nick Eisel relate their tales of failing horribly, and what they learned in the process. And heck, who am I to leave myself out of the proceedings? Watch with horror as I open a card pool with solid cards, and somehow manage to go 0-5. Why? That, my dear readers, is a mystery I need your help to decipher….
And for the final draft in the “Drafting with the Nationals Team” series, we have Luis “fob on Modo” Scott-Vargas, with commentary by Tim Aten and Paul Cheon.
Josh takes aim at the sacred cows of Time Spiral Limited, telling you why the cards you love aren’t as good as you think. (Some of his picks? Controversial, to say the least.) And as an extra-special bonus, he’ll tell you what cards aren’t being picked high enough!
This format, more than any Sealed format in recent memory, is defined by bombs. There are twice as many rare slots to open something ridiculous, so you can be sure that pretty much everyone you’re up against is going to have at least one card that will be a complete blowout if it resolves. It’s a double-edged sword, though, because that means chances are you have a nuts guy yourself. So how do you deal with that?
