The ELO rating system has been adopted by Magic for some time now, for reasons I have yet to understand. I don’t hold that opinion out of some deep-seated frustration borne of not understanding ELO. In fact, I understand it about as well as anyone, as will be made evident throughout this article. It is precisely because I do understand it that I think it is inappropriate for Magic.
In the past Nick Eisel has produced some of the most creative and interesting Limited articles around as part of his Snapping Thragg series. That series is back today, as Nick takes a chance to examine one particular matchup in full block Limited at a very detailed level to see which archetype is clearly superior.
It’s not often that we get an article that unexpectedly amuses the editor with just how clever and a fun it is, but that’s exactly what this one did. Today Quentin gets in touch with his Pro Tour friends and forces them to talk about their favorite creatures in the game, while explaining exactly why they fell in love. This first article contains snarky segments from Ruud Warmenhoven, Jelger Wiegersman, World Champion Julien Nuijten, and Martin himself and should be a delight for anyone who simply likes to play the game.
The beats just won’t stop as the inimitable Mr. Romeo keeps plugging away at block, looking for decks off the beaten path that give up their wins more easily than a Grinch gives up an ounce of Christmas joy.
Yesterday I hinted that we’d come up with a game that was very exciting as a product – much cheaper than other games in its category, with enough rebuy potential to let us (and stores) invest in customers but not so much as to turn off a new gamer.
That game is Battleground: Fantasy Warfare.
Kanoot finally updates the weekly contest winners. If you’ve submitted an article in the last six weeks, check inside to see if you have won.
The controversial Mr. Szleifer returns with the conclusion of his London report, which includes more than a little discussion of bad beats, getting smashed by Nicolai Herzog, and a hint of self-reflection. Love him or hate him, this sixteen-year-old Pro Tour winner certainly gets a reaction out of his readers.
Are you losing games because you keep bad hands? Are you unsure what makes the difference between a good hand and a bad hand? Are you the type of player that knows what hands to keep when playing a Constructed deck but are clueless in Limited or vice versa? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then Terry Soh is here to help you and hopefully add a few more wins to your tournament experiences.
7AM rolls around and I am up and at’em! Man o man, do I feel like crap. 5 hours? Am I retarded? But we persevere. Jump in the shower, go down to the little hotel café to grab a coffee and a doughnut thing; We’re on the main floor at 7:45. Let’s do this thing!
Whoops, I was misinformed. Things start at 9, not 8. @$@#%. %#$@
This week I’ll be talking about life as a game designer/publisher. Today and tomorrow I’m going to talk about game design. Instead of talking about design philosophy or some other subject best left to people like Mark Rosewater, I’m going to talk about the business side of game design. What do you want, I’m a Harvard MBA!
The story of how one of the funniest men in Magic started 0-2 and clawed his way all the way back to his third Pro Tour Top 8 appearance. This article is an absolute treat to all readers, whether you are a long-time Walamies fan or just discovering the Finnish master for the first time.
Bearl! I know it’s been a Bearl since I Bearled at you, but I’ve been pretty Bearl. I just got my Bearl and have been doing non-Bearl things in my spare Bearl. But since there was a Bearl in MN this previous weekend, I had to Bearl. It went pretty Bearl, and here’s the Bearl. Bearl!
Ahem. That’s what happens when you spend a week in Minnesota.
It’s kind of odd, but the best use of Godo that I’ve seen since the start of writing this series had the namesake legend hidden in the sideboard. I’m speaking, of course, of the “Godo Gifts” deck piloted by Katsuhiro Mori to a first-place finish at Grand Prix: Niigata.
It’s Friday! Another awesome Flores article. How surprising! This time it’s on maximizing your plays and options when you are the beatdown or the control. In other words, it’s yet another Mike Flores article that will go a long way toward making you a much better Magic player, whether you are a newbie or just made the Top 8 at a Pro Tour.
The King of Fatties is off to Montreal, Quebec to PTQ with his friends. Did he manage to qualify this time, or is it yet another chapter in the Wakefield string of brilliant disasters? Whatever it is, you know the article will be amusing and enlightening, so come along for the ride!
