Monday, December 23, 2013

2013 Wrap Up, Predictions, and Wishlist

For my last post of the year, I think it important to revisit a few stories that still have some relevance to me, as well spend some time looking forward to next year.  Before we get started though, I have to offer a big thank you to my son Jacob, for dragging me into the world that is Magic the Gathering.  Without him I would have never met some wonderful people, learned about the most amazing game in the known universe, or found a real opportunity to express myself in print.  This has been a great year for me and I have my son to thank for that.  I can only wish that my readers have a chance to develop the same type of relationship with a child, parent, cousin or other family member.  Magic has become our common language.  Mr. Garfield, wherever you are - you are a mage of the first order for having created this wonderful experience that we can share.

For me, 2013 was about two different worlds of Magic.  The first world was about my personal experiences.  Everything from the most trivial - learning about a card interaction - to the most difficult - deciding to work towards becoming a Judge.  My first world was filled with wonder, sometimes daily as I learned one of the most complex yet accessible games I've ever been exposed to.  Kids play it, but true mastery only comes with years of experience.  I yearned regularly not just for new cards but also to understand Magic at a level that many people seem to take for granted.

I started the year privately thinking being a Judge would be a wonderful way for me to become more deeply engaged with the game and community.  As I spent time playing, the thought grew until it wouldn't go away.  Since about halfway through this past year, I've been on a personal quest to become a Judge.  I know others have done it faster, but that doesn't bother me in the slightest.  I'll get there, and when I do I'll do my best to represent the community in a manner that promotes the game, Wizards, and my local stores.

On the other side, I became involved in the larger 'Community'.  I use the capital 'C' here only to emphasize the difference between my local opportunities to play Magic and the national and international Magic communities.  By writing about Magic, even independently, I quickly gained the attention of a broad audience.  With a little help from Twitter and a lot of help from well timed articles supported by some caring Magic community members, I received enough attention and positive reinforcement to keep writing.  If this is the first time you're reading me, I encourage you to go back and take a look at some of my other articles - particularly those that I'll highlight here.

If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Ride
My best writing this year is hard for me to pin down.  Personally what I think of my best achievement had to do with overcrowding at GPs and what I thought could be done to improve them.  Since then, I've learned how far in advance WotC tackles issues.  It wouldn't surprise me in the least to find out that they were already considering how preregistration could be improved to prevent surprises the morning an event started.  I still feel a small sense of pride though thinking back to the events that transpired this year, and what effect I may have had on them as a single gamer - especially given how happy most players seem to be with this change.

Looking forward, there are some things I'm hoping for in 2014.  Here are just a few of them:


A Revision to the HoF Voting System
I still think this needs to happen.  Fan involvement is what makes the Community tick.  The selection process and final voting for the Pro Tour Hall of Fame leaves a bitter taste in every fan's mouth for two weeks every year.  Yes, I understand that Pro's put in a tremendous amount of time and energy to get to the point where they are worthy of consideration.  I don't want to devalue that.  But to sit on the sidelines while every relevant conversation about Magic for two weeks straight is about something that has nothing to do with any of us is tough to swallow.  Fans should have a way to contribute meaningfully - even if our total vote value only contributes to a weighted 20% of the final evaluation.  I stand by this position, and I wish other fans of Magic would take up this cry to review and revise the existing system to make it more inclusive.

Develop Community Recognition or...
I'm deeply torn about this next issue.  Part of me very much wants to see several of the changes I wrote about here happen in the next year.  If nothing else, a broader system for recognizing those that make important contributions should be put into place.  But then we read an article like this one - The Day Kibler Shut Down the World by MTG Color Pie - and I know I have to reevaluate my priorities.  What is more important?  After reading Robby's article, if I had to choose between the two changes I'd want his idea to happen.  Even though his article is incomplete, it is easy to gather his intent.  While I don't play on MODO myself, I can see how important a concept like this is to the long term health of Magic as an online commodity.  I think Robby has identified the crux of the problem facing WotC.  His solution, while more complicated than maintaining the status quo is certainly worth consideration.  I hope for the MODO players the world over that his concept or one of a similar ability to improve MODO is considered by WotC.

The Next Un-Set
If 2013 was the year of Modern Masters, Gods, and the revitalization of WotC's support of EDH, then what could 2014 bring?  Aside from a couple of known quantities (crosses fingers for continued EDH support) I predict the next rabbit that will be brought forth from the WotC hat is the long overdue third Un-set.  Unglued was released in 1998.  Unhinged was released in 2004.  Given just that information alone, I'd say we're overdue for the third Un-set by about 4 years.  Add in 2013 was the year that Magic celebrated it's 20th anniversary, I'd say the best way to start off next year would be to announce by April that the next Un-set is on its way before the end of the year.  Call me a hopeless romantic, but I really love the idea of those silver bordered cards and full art lands.

Supplemental Product(s)
I'd like to see a supplemental product in 2014 along the lines of another Planechase set.  Why?  Judging by the popularity of the Game Day event of facing the Hydra for Theros and word of a similar activity for Born of the Gods, team style gameplay seems to be on WotC's mind lately.  It's not a stretch to think that Planechase will be due for an expansion as a result.  If not Planechase, then Archenemy or Vanguard will be highlighted this year (or a new, undisclosed format such as Hoard).

Growth
This one is so easy to predict that I decided to keep the Amazing Kreskin locked up in his room so I could do it myself.

Magic in 2013 saw unprecedented growth.  And if 2013 was good, 2014 will be even better.  Modern has been given a shot in the arm from Modern Masters (I missed the mark on this when I wrote about the inflated cost of it - but I still hold to the principal).  Legacy is alive thanks to continued efforts by SCG and other local play groups.  Add in the excitement we've seen in the RTR block and the wide acclaim of Theros, and you have a recipe for success.  This growth does have an important consideration though that WotC and TO's will need to keep in mind - Professional Players matter.  You don't have to like them, follow them on Twitter, or give them a second thought.  As a fan of Magic, you're allowed your opinion.   Truth is though, they dedicate an obscene amount of time to trying new decks, playtesting, and traveling.  It's not an easy life, and it's far from lucrative (not counting writing or endorsement deals, your average 5 people working at Wal-Mart likely make more in a year than any 5 Pros).  Pros matter though to the continued visibility of the game.  They matter to new fans, who need someone to look up to.  And they matter to events, where their rumored and/or guaranteed attendance surely draws in some players that may be on the fence about going themselves.  People do jump at the chance to meet LSV or get a playmat signed by Reid.  So while some may make fun of Pros, look to 2014 as a year WotC and TO's will spend more time figuring out how to make Pro Magic players happy.  If you love Magic as much as I do, put on your big boy pants and move away from worrying about what they are complaining about in a given week.  If they have a valid point (and most of the time they do), don't knock them.  I'm not saying don't test them by arguing them.  After all, the best way to find the holes in an argument is to poke at it.  I'm just suggesting that you step back and realize, as a participant in the process, that they often have a point that is worth consideration, even if we don't get it from our perspective.  They do a tremendous amount for the game as ambassadors and deserve if not your respect, then at least your tolerance.

Increased Visibility and Acceptance
There are two organizations in the community which now receive insufficient attention from fans - and I believe that 2014 will be the year that changes for the better.  The Lady Planeswalkers Society (Facebook page) believes in creating, "A welcoming, friendly environment for women to learn & play Magic: the Gathering!" Led by Tifa Robles, the LPS has had some growth during the past year, but I'm sure they'd like more. Tifa recently left her job at WotC with an intent to give greater attention to her love of promoting Magic through her group.  It's my hope that the LPS will aggressively develop new markets - every major metropolitan area should have their own chapter of the Society - as well as promote their message at major GPs.  The other group that is I think is on the cusp of a real watershed moment is Planeswalkers for Diversity.  Created by Trevor Murdock, their mission is as follows, "This group was created to facilitate networking and sharing of ideas between Magic Players who are interested in creating a safe environment for people to play the best game on earth regardless of their gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, age, or anything else that has nothing to do with it."  In a nutshell, I think that Trevor's vision is that Judges will never have to be called on to make Unsportsmanlike Conduct calls, but more than that Trevor sees Magic the Gathering as a chance to create a perfect microcosm of society - one where no one ever has to worry about who they are or what other people may think of them when they sit down to their match.

My Personal Magic 2014 Wishlist
  • Develop a winning record at Limited Draft
  • Meet great people - my shortlist includes Erin Campbell, any of the Judgecast Judges, LSV & more
  • Become an L1
  • Find a home as a writer
  • Eternal Weekend comes back to Philadelphia in the fall
  • Both of the LGS's I use have a banner year in Magic
  • Helene Bergeot doesn't ever leave WotC
  • Use more pictures in my articles - everyone likes card art and kids playing Magic
  • Design and complete a special project to help others learn Magic (I have SUCH the idea...)
  • That I get every [REDACTED] to [REDACTED] with me next year (Spoilers!)
  • Increase my reach via Social Media
  • Get to play hundreds of games with my friends and Jacob
  • And that everyone that plays Magic has an even better year than I hope to have.
With that, I leave you until 2014.


Magic Blessing
May you always have mana a plenty,
May all your spells resolve,
May you topdeck every card you want,
May you find a way to win against all odds,
And until we meet again friend,
May you play with intelligence, honesty, and grace.



~And Jim, wherever you are when you read this, thank you.

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Reblogs, Retweets, & Mentions of all kinds are appreciated - as an independent writer I'm only read when others like what they see and share with their friends.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Getting There

As I watched my beloved Dallas Cowboys make another series of mental mistakes on offense this past Sunday leading to yet another preventable loss, something struck me.

I'm the Tony Romo of my LGS.

I'm not cute.  I'm no good with the ladies.  And I don't have millions in my bank account.  I'm Tony Romo because of my play style in Magic.  This revelation set me back.  It made me realize that something in me needs to change.

Let me take you back to a conversation I had at my LGS just a few nights before...

Another One Bites the Dust
It was getting to be late in the evening.  I'm wasn't tired but I also wasn't feeling great about continuing to play.  The deck I was pretty satisfied with at the start of the night had betrayed me.  My record for the evening was poor and I was questioning myself and my choices.  I sat down across from my opponent.  She looked at me and asked how I was doing.  Instead of responding with a platitude, I told her the truth.

Drafting Theros earlier that night, I felt that I had a pretty solid deck.  B/G, with a fair number of tricks.  I judged it to be solid, albeit with a slightly higher curve than I felt comfortable playing.  After playing a couple of opponents though I realized something was wrong with it.

I shared it with a friend who was pretty much everyone's go to for deck tech questions.  He looked through it, pausing occasionally to point out a good trick or a solid beater.  After he was done he did something he had never done before with one of my decks.  He handed it back to me.  He then looked up and said, "Seems ok, you should win some tonight with that.  Your curve is a little high, but B/G can be like that."  In the past when he had looked at decks for me he always had some advice.  This time though, he seemed to think otherwise.  Instead of laying it all out by color and mana cost to figure out how best to tweak it, he took a pass by handing the deck back to me.  This action alone told me that I had a good deck.  Sure, I probably didn't need one or two cards in there - but most were strong contributors to the strategy that revolved around B/G Theros draft decks.

So when I sat down across from Sarah, I opened up.  I don't think I had won a game at that point - and oddly enough neither had she.  I knew her to be strong player and one who thought more about her plays that most of the people in the room.  When I spoke, it felt like a confessional.  I felt a burden lift off my shoulders as I confided in her.

Heartbreak Hotel
"I'm not doing great tonight, but you knew that [seeing as how we were paired against each other].  I pulled a decent deck, but I just can't seem to 'get there'.  I can't close the deal and win matches with this...this mess.  Actually, I think it's how I play, I think I just don't do well closing out at the end.  I watch others do it all the time - especially to me.  They always seem to have the right combat trick or ability to overwhelm me at the last second.  Situations where I think I'm in control turn into one-sided beatings.  I know I'm close, but I must be playing wrong."

We played our matches then.  The first game was the same old story.  Sarah beat on me, and pretty easily too.  She beat on me so badly that she was actually apologizing.  Second game I won.  But it was the second game that I realized something.  As I was playing against Sarah, I felt like I was always in a better position.  I had a stronger board state at every step of the game.  I was in control.

And yet, I never felt that I was 'there'.  I never thought I was in control enough to put the game away.  Each move I made was calm and calculated to do two things.  Never leave me exposed to a counter-attack and to never overstep myself in my own attacks.  I wasn't playing to win - I was playing to eventually make it across the finish line.  And this isn't the first time.  When situations call for calm and collected, I'm hot and fast.  When I'm supposed to be pressing the advantage I find myself shoring up my defenses.  And when I'm supposed to be patient and hold back a trick, I'm always worrying that if I don't pull the trigger now that I won't get a better chance.  My ying and my yang are diametrically opposed to the point where I'm my own worst enemy.

Game three?  Sarah was apologizing again.  It felt like Foreman/Ali, and I was playing rope-a-dope.  Only thing was, I wasn't Ali.  I had no plan to come back.

Bitter Little Pill
The draft ended following our match.  If it didn't, I probably would have begged, 'No mas' and run home with my tail between my legs.  I was stunned.  How did I go 0-4 with such a solid deck in Theros draft?  I felt the answer was there, just waiting for me to pick it up off the white plastic table.  Instead, I put my coat on, picked up my bag and left the store.

I drove home that night thinking of plays, missed and otherwise.  I tried to recreate some defining moments in my head but was unsuccessful.  I'm just not one much for recall after a round is over and I'm not great on notes.  Perhaps that is something I need to start to do so I can go back and look at how to improve.  In the meantime, I need to get back to the comparison.

We Aren't the Champions
My man, Mr. Tony Romo, threw away another critical game last night.  As I watched him and the Cowboys play in the final 15 minutes, I realized something.  He was a part of a broken system.  The offensive play calling was atrocious.  As quarterback, Tony could have and should have recognized that.  He is the face of the team, the general on the field.  All he had to do was call an audible, switch to a run and move the sticks.  The Cowboys were pushing too hard when they should have been burning clock time, deliberately moving forward.  Even at the very end, when they had sufficient time to not rush and get the job done, they still made bad calls and executed poorly.

Tony was executing a plan, not unlike I was the other night, without thinking about the consequences.  Or he was thinking too much and trying to do more than the hand that he was dealt would let him.  The Cowboys threw the game away - just as I think I've done too many times to count.  In Magic, you have to know when attack and when to sit on your hands.  You have to understand when to slow the game down and when to go no huddle.

Failing to understand these things and you end up like Romo.  Ineffective when it matters the most.  As an outsider, it is easy for me to see why Romo failed on Sunday.

I don't know the reason for each of my game losses on Friday.  But as I was the one holding the cards, I know I bear responsibility.  So to find a way to stop losing, I need to start to take a few moments each game to try to take the long view.  I need to look at how my opponent is playing and what they're playing and it will effect me.  I need to realize that there are times that I need to change my posture from attack to defense - and vice versa.

But most of all, I have to realize one important thing.  It's what Romo has to realize as well.  The cards didn't betray me.  I betrayed them.  I'm done being my store's bad example of a player.  I hope Tony looks back on last night's game and realizes something similar.  Maybe then we can both be Champions.

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Reblogs, Retweets, & Mentions of all kinds are appreciated - as an independent writer I'm only read when others like what they see and share with their friends.

Friday, December 13, 2013

The Great Twitterment of '13

Both during and after last weekend, Twitter erupted with another round of arguing between MtG professional players and personalities.   This 'Twitterment' developed as a result of an simple question about of all things, deck names.

Twitterment - noun 1. An argument that takes place over Twitter.  Often lasting less than 48 hours due to lack depth or permanence of the discussions being held.  Either that, or the holders of the argument realize the futility of carrying on at a rate of 144 characters a post. 2. A silly website that sends followers to you for a 'low, reasonable fee' - similar to the concept of buying friends.

The Twitterment started innocently enough.  An innocuous comment posted and likely initially forgotten, about the naming conventions used for creating deck names.  That was all it took.  The MtG Twitterverse erupted, picking sides and printing banners.  War paint was issued, battle plans were drawn, and people chose sides.  Was the Pro magic player right?  Maybe.  Did it matter to anyone not in the line of fire?  Probably not.

If I want to call my deck, "Stoke the Fires, Here Comes the Carol Burnett," then that is what I want to name it and YOU can't do anything about it.  There is no requirement that states my deck name must reflect what my deck does or does not do, what my personal values are, or what type of childhood trauma I may suffer from.  Nowhere in the Comprehensive Rules is this issue directly addressed.  People are allowed to name their deck anything they want.  So long as the chosen names are not offensive, they can be anything.  It can be a paragraph long and describe every aspect of the deck, or it can be one four letter word that doesn't relate at all to the contents or purpose.

I always wanted to name a deck, 'Fred'.  "Hey Magic Dad, what is your deck's name?"  "Oh, it's Fred."  "Fred?"  "Yes, Fred."  "What's it do?"  "It's a WU Combo-Control deck."  "I don't get it, why Fred?"  "Why not?  It's my deck.  Somebody decided I needed to name it and I thought 'Fred' was a good, strong name.  You have a problem with that?  Well, do ya?"

But the Pro didn't make a statement about a rule.  The Pro made a general statement about deck names and from that point forward, the Magic sub-community of Twitter had a new topic to beat to death.  It is fun watching the Twitterment evolve.  First there is shock, "What did they say?"  Then there is a bit of denial, "There is no way I agree with your stance...and your hair is stupid."  Eventually, we come around to acceptance, "..."  The Twitterment peters out and a new topic is started.  Unless someone with some juice comes along to restart it, the argument at this point is dead - and in many cases undecided.  Who won?  Who lost?  Why did they say that thing about my hair?

Fallout
Great Twitterments though should not be forgotten but is the nature of the format that they fall to the ravages of time.  Instead of losing them forever, they should be dragged out from whatever hole they crawled into and examined at least once more in the cold, stark world of bloggers.  In this instance, while maybe not a 'great' Twitterment, the MtG Deck Name Controversy of GP Dallas/Fort Worth 2013 should be reviewed once more.  So what can we learn from this Twitterment (and perhaps others like it?).

First, as a consumer and fan of the MtG Community, I need to state that I am becoming less surprised when these Twitterments erupt.  In fact, it happens with such regularity that there are certain evident truths.  Those truths are, in no particular order:
  • You can almost smell the wind change just before a Twitterment starts
  • Pros are reasonably consistent about which side of an argument they will take
  • Unless a Pro weighs in, a Twitterment typically fizzles within 20-30 Tweets
  • Pros and MtG Personalities should have ranks - there are obviously generals and majors and sergeants and privates in these wars
  • Certain people have the power to end Twitterments, depending on the topic
  • The power to end a Twitterment by means other than letting it run its course diminishes exponentially by the number of minutes it's been in force and the number of Pros involved
  • WotC sees everything - just because they haven't commented, doesn't mean they aren't watching
  • Twitterment length is better determined by who is involved than topic
  • Unless the Twitterment is about an event or circumstance that hasn't happened, it will conclude in 48 hours
  • All contributing circumstances must be taken into account when predicting how long and nasty the Twitterment will be
In the case of the most recent Twitterment, what really added fuel to the fire was something no one could have seen coming.  A savage ice storm hit the Dallas/Fort Worth area just before the event.  A number of pros canceled their plans to attend leaving them with free time.  And we all know what happens when guys have too much free time on their hands - they find ways to get into trouble.

Second, a good Twitterment provides an important service.  It gives Twitter users a release valve for the community to express itself.  Many community members dedicate a great deal of time, money, and personality to the pursuit of a perfect deck.  Others feel a connection to some of the popular Professionals and personalities.  A good Twitterment can be cleansing, a chance to blow off some pent up steam.  It also allows for WotC and others to see and weigh in on what is important - at least this week - to the Pros and other players who follow them.  Even better, a good Twitterment can be enjoyed and contributed to by all.  Something as universal as deck names appeals to every Timmy, Johnny and Spike.  Even better, there isn't anyone that can't contribute to the argument.

Perhaps most important of all, a Twitterment provides us with a chance to see which Pro is the whiniest, most self... - err, no, that's not right.  Let's travel back to Brian Kibler's attack of MtGO for just moment.  When he was booted from the MOCS he was participating in and lashed out via Twitter and his blog, he wasn't saying anything particularly unique.  Players have complained about the reliability of MtGO for some time, especially in larger events.  So people who claim, "I had to unfollow [insert name here] because I couldn't take their complaining anymore," should really think for a moment about what happens when Pros do complain.  A strong Twitterment, well thought out and hard fought by one Pro, can do something that takes 50 or more other regular grinders to do.  It can effect change on a large scale.  Will MtGO be fixed as a result?  Probably not fully, but I can guarantee that it will be better.  The net result here is a win for the fans.  It doesn't matter if you play MtGO or not, the MODO item was a victory for us all.  Why?  Because - if Kibler won this time about MtGO and it results in an improvement, perhaps it will embolden LSV to make a point about drafting that has long irked him and would result in an improved experience at sanctioned drafts.  Or another Pro such as Del Tora could take up the banner about a needed website improvement.  Success is its own positive reinforcement.

[Side note: WotC is tremendously responsive to all fans, I've had some wonderful conversations with them and I don't spend thousands of dollars in a month on MtG, nor am I a Pro.  There is no denying though that Pro's voice with their legions of followers carries serious weight].

So how does this most recent debate stack up to something like the MODO EXPLODE-O?  Not very well I'm afraid.  But it did provide some entertainment for a few hours.  I'm sure this past argument had everyone thinking, just a little bit, about how they name their decks.  Even if it doesn't affect you now it will sometime in the next year.  You'll find yourself filling out a decklist at some event and you'll actually ask yourself - does Big Greenie/White Weenie really describe what I'm trying to do?  Or better yet, you'll wonder about whether or not you really want to use the cutesy name you came up with on camera when you pull a dark horse and get to the Top 8.   Anything is possible.

And when I win with my Fred deck at some major event, most of you will understand.  Except for those Pros that think this matters - the ones who do can go pound sand.  It's my deck, and I'll party with it however I want to.

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The list below is incomplete, but if you feel any difficulty in coming up with a name that is suitable for event coverage you could do worse than start here.  Anyone who is interested in a full sized .pdf or would like to see some terms added, then please email me with "DECK NAMES" in the subject line.



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Reblogs, Retweets, & Mentions of all kinds are appreciated - as an independent writer I'm only read when others like what they see and share with their friends.  

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Sometimes, you just get lucky...

So a few weeks ago (before he was grounded for reasons), my younger son Jacob and I were at a Friday Night Magic Draft held in our LGS.  I've been helping with the drafts recently in my quest to become an L1, but this story isn't about me.

No, this is about one 12 year, a Theros draft, and his march to have his first 5-0 night.  Sounds promising?  Well read on...

From Humble Beginnings
Jacob rarely turns in better than a 2-3 performance.  He's hit a wall in his drafting.  Improving his skills is something he and I talk about occasionally.  Most often, we spend some time reviewing some of the latest strategies handed down by the great Limited Resources podcast.  For those that don't listen to Marshall and Brian, I'm sorry.  Actually, I'm not.  It's your loss and you can live your life the way you want.  I won't judge you.  I'll just hope that you're in my pod when we get to draft.

This night was no different from any other.  Angels didn't drop out of the sky to ordain him.  A gypsy woman didn't stop and glare meaningfully at us.  Weird, alien looking green men didn't circle our house in a freakish space ship.  Rather, Jacob and I piled into my truck and started our path to the store as we do any other Friday night.  On the way, I was determined to repeat some of the wisdom I had picked up that week listening to Limited Resources.  We talked a bit about what colors are strong and what some key cards are in the format.  I was trying to keep things both simple for Jacob and also educational - pointing him in a direction that I thought played to his strengths.

I know that BREAD was also a topic of conversation that evening (and how do I know? - because almost every conversation about drafting includes it).  BREAD (Bombs, Removal, Evasion, Aggro, Duds) is the lifeblood of picking cards in any draft or designing a sealed pool deck for play.  We haven't gone much deeper than BREAD and color philosophies in a given block.  When talking about BREAD, I try and focus on reminding him that using it correctly gives him a fighting chance.  Even with my pep talk and new wisdom to share about colors in this draft, I was worried about how he'd approach his draft that evening.

The reason is Jacob had reached that point where for him, he felt there was little left to discover in Theros draft.  I could tell by talking with him that he was almost as confident as he becomes when looking at a draft format.  I could also tell that he had reached that dangerous point many of us reach - that he was in danger of becoming bored with it.  When one becomes bored of a thing (a game format, surfing big waves, or whatever your thrill is), it is easy to lose respect of that thing.  And that is when it reaches up and bites you in the backside.

Prepwork Makes it Easy
When we were both first learning to draft, I was watching other people as much as I was trying to figure out what two color combos were most dangerous.  Before you all going off half cocked and screaming at me in the comments section, let me clarify.  I wasn't cheating.  I was most definitely respectful of other players as they made selections.  Rather, I was watching for tricks and steps that would make it easier for Jacob and I to focus more on drafting and less on mana, tokens, and other garbage.

So when Jacob arrived that night, he was as ready as I could make him.  Sure, he has to take care of his stuff, but we both have the following (thanks to Bank of Dad, where all gamers get their start):

  • 1 Fat Pack box
  • 150 sleeves of the same make and color
  • About 100 lands (twenty of each color), sleeved in 2/3rds of the sleeves
  • Tokens (some of mine are sleeved to accommodate my OCD)
  • Dice/Counters
  • A method to count life
He'll also have a few other items as will I.  His bag often includes something to drink, perhaps a snack, some trades and his favorite playmat.  Depending on his mood, he'll either have his EDH deck or his current super-jank standard deck.  This kit hasn't changed since the second or third time we drafted.  Sure, his sleeves have been replaced.  He's even updated the Fat Pack box.  But truth is, this is as near to perfect as I can make it for him.  I still have yet to see a better or easier setup than what we use.

Why is this great?  Our setup allows us the maximum amount of time needed to decide how to build our decks.  Neither of us goes to time.  We always have a nice, comfortable margin left over after we've completed making our picks.  This is most beneficial when our draft goes sideways halfway into our picks.  It gives us the maximum time left on the clock to figure out how to build an optimum deck.

After you here about his draft though...you'll realize that he needed all of five minutes.  And three of those were spent looking at his cool loot.

The Draft to End All Drafts
Let's get it out of the way.  Pack 1, pick 1 was the Foil Anax and Cymede.  Spare the melodrama about him picking a dual color card first in a draft format that isn't based on a two color system.  Anytime you can grab an Anax and Cymede as your first pick, it's rarely the wrong thing to do.

He went red from there, picking up some choice cards.

Pack 2, pick 1 was the Stormbreath Dragon.  At this point, he knew that he was Red and likely white.  But when people are passing you Skullcleavers and Lightening Strikes, you practically can't go any other way.

Pack 3, pick 1 was the Spear.  Pick 2?  The Titan.

You just can't make this stuff up.  And yes, he ended up with a playset of Skullcleavers and Lightning Strikes.  For those interested, his complete draft list will be at the end of the article.  I'm just sorry I couldn't tell you specifically what order he received all of these picks.  To say he was happy following the draft was an understatement.  Was it 'perfect'?  Probably not.  But it was as close as most of us will get.

Integrity
No one needs to know how he beat one opponent after another that night.  No one needs to hear the step-by-step dismantling he handed out to player after player.  And for certain no one needs to hear about how one of his victims played me in a match-up towards the end, destroyed me in two, then looked at me and said, "Consider that payback for Jacob beating me earlier tonight."  (Yes this did happen folks.  Truth is stranger than fiction).

What you need to hear is that Jacob reached the big table.  Game 5, the last one of the night, he and one other player were undefeated.  The other player was twice Jacob's age, weight, and and probably three to four times the experience looked him right in the eye when they first sat down and offered a draw.  He knew that Jacob had a bonkers deck and quite frankly didn't really want to play against it.

At first, Jacob was a little bit confused.  Understandably so, given this was the first time he'd ever been offered a draw.  His opponent explained, fairly, that a draw meant that neither would win, but then neither would lose.  Given the position of the rest of the field, they'd both end up on top for the night.  No mention was made of splitting prizes.  My kid is no dolt though and got it right away - and he also understood that at most he was probably throwing away two packs.

Jacob only thought about it for a moment but said, "No, I want to play."  Running through his mind were two things - his deck was fabulous and he wanted to be 5-0, not 4-0-1.  I could see it.

Game one, his opponent came out of the gates fast running a more white/red deck (Jacob's deck was more red than white).  Jacob had difficulty finding a mountain, and it was all over.  Game 2?  Same story in reverse. Jacob manhandled his opponent.  Before he started game 3, I looked at him and said I was proud of him so far, and no matter what he was coming home with a decent amount of prizes.

Game 3?  It was longer than both of the first games put together.  But in the end, Jacob lost due to an inability to put together the right mana base.  Variance happens.

Truth Is...
I know a truth though about that night.

Jacob didn't lose.  Sure, technically he lost the last match.  But that night he was special.  He was on fire.  He saw that it was possible to do amazingly well, and he handled it in a mature manner.  The best part for him wasn't the draft.  It wasn't finding a way to 2-0 nearly all of his opponents.  It was from where I sat, his standing up and stating, "No, I'm want to play."

That my friends, is a victory.


Jacob's TOTALLY BRUTAL R/W Theros Draft
Creatures
1 Akroan Crusader
1 Akroan Hoplite
1 Anax and Cymede (Foil)
2 Arena Athelete
1 Borderland Minotaur
1 Cavalry Pegasus
1 Favored Hoplite
1 Deathbellow Raider
4 Minotaur Skullcleaver
1 Stormbreath Dragon
1 Titan of Eternal Fire
1 Traveling Philosopher
16 Total

Spells
4 Lightning Strike
1 Rage of Purphoros
1 Spark Jolt
1 Spear of Heliod
7 Total

Lands
9 Mountains
8 Plains

Sideboard
1 Breaching Hippocamp
1 Crackling Triton
1 Decorated Griffin
2 Ephara's Warden
1 Evangel of Heliod
2 Fleshmad Steed
2 Lagonna-Band Elder
2 Last Breath
1 Psychic Intrusion
1 Rescue from the Underworld
1 Scourgemark
1 Thassa's Bounty
1 Traveling Philosopher

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Eternal Weekend

I'm fresh back from Eternal Weekend, a Legacy and Vintage event weekend held in Philadelphia this year under new sponsorship. Even though I know nothing about these two formats, I did have some things I wanted to share.  I'll keep this weeks installment brief, as I have some serious work to get done.

Legacy and Vintage are NOT Dead
I've heard that Legacy is as good as dead.  You've heard that no one plays Vintage anymore.  We've all heard rallying cries that have appeared in articles and on Twitter feeds.  We especially heard it following the death of Extended as a format.  People (important people with a capital 'P') have said that Legacy and Vintage should be retired.  These 'people' said that the formats are both no longer relevant and too expensive.

I'm here to say that what I saw this past weekend proves one of my founding beliefs.  People are sheep.  In this case, I'm specifically referring to the naysayers who said it was time to retire both formats.  The Legacy and Vintage main events fired with over 600 players in total between the two days.  In fact, the Vintage event on Sunday was record breaking, with more attendees playing this 'dead' format than at any previous event on American soil.  These two formats have a great deal of support in the area surrounding Philadelphia.  Having a pro Magic players like Reid Duke topping out to sit at the semi-finalist Vintage table is further proof that some 'people' are simply wrong.

Legacy and Vintage are far from dead, and holding Eternal Weekend in a new venue is the reboot the format needed.

There Ain't No Party...
...like a Nick Coss party.  It's been heard a few times in our region (actually, more than a few).  The TO of Eternal Weekend 2013 is well known for a few reasons.  The number one reason is he's generous almost to a fault with friends and gamers.

At his pre-release events, food is available to the 100+ gamers that attend.  At his PTQs, he offers some of the most aggressive prize structures in Magic.  And when it comes to creative ways to reward players who come to Eternal Weekend, it's easy to see why Nick is such a big guy - it's so that his heart doesn't burst from his chest.

Nick is generous.  He wants people to come back and play again.  And again.  He is a businessman, don't make any mistake about that...but he wants people to have a great time too.  For a case in point, all one had to do was to look at the creative prizes awarded to those who played Vintage on Sunday with a little handicap:

Budget Bonus Prizes!

Highest placing decks without any of the following cards:
The 'Power 9'
Bazaar of Baghdad
Mishra's Workshop
Time Vault
Imperial Seal
1st: $400
2nd: $200
3rd-4th: $100
5th-8th: $50

If you ever have a chance to attend an event in which you hear that Top Deck Games, Card Titan, and/or Nick are even remotely involved in planning and you pass on it, I don't want to hear whining about it later.

Personal Challenge
I don't have deep pockets, nor have I been playing this game for very long.  So I went to Eternal Weekend for a few reasons, none of which included playing in the main events.

Firstly, I wanted to support Top Deck Games and Card Titan, but that's pretty obvious.  Secondly, I wanted to give my son a chance to play a marathon session of limited.  Once events started firing on Saturday, I think he was in four different events.  The MMA was a bit rough, but he made up for it in Theros drafts.  The last, and most personal reason was I wanted to help with the event as a 'Level 1 Judge Candidate'.  I figured if I could help on Friday and Sunday, I could gain some much needed experience.

Things don't always work out the way you anticipate them to.  Friday was a bit slow - so I spent the better part of my time answering questions the L1s and L2s present felt like fielding me.   The patience exhibited by the Judges there was pretty incredible to me, and I wish I had a suitable way to thank them all.  Instead, I'll simply state that Michael Arrowsmith, Matt Hall, & Min Moldover were all excellent in this regard.

On Sunday, it started much the same way.  I sat in on an early meeting held by one of the head judges.  As the morning progressed, I found myself in another question and answer session as there were no side events fired before 10am.  Eventually, the L2 who had been throwing question after question at me asked if I was testing this weekend.  Leading up to the weekend I had made a decision not to test.  I still felt I had a lot to learn regarding the rules.  But Michael's apparent confidence in me when he asked the question got me thinking that I could do it.  So when he proposed I take the L1 practice test, I agreed.

I'm still not sure what the name of that freight train was that ran me over, but it was big.

Since I hadn't yet passed my Rules Adviser test (a prerequisite for taking a L1 Practice Test), one of the other Judges, Simon Cooper, brought out his personal laptop and helped me log into Judge Center.  I created a RA test and sat down to take it.  Over the next 50 minutes or so, I wrestled with 25 rules questions about card interactions.

The score I received was low.  Aside from me writing about it now, we shall never speak of this RA test again.  I was disheartened and embarrassed.  Thoughts that ran through my head included things like, "Wow, these guys have spent hours with you this weekend and this is how you perform?" to "A (Score redacted to protect the innocent and my already bruised psyche)%?  Go home, loser."  I wanted to curl up in the fetal position and make it all go away.

Instead, I went to get some lunch.  The sun was out, the weather was beautiful and the Reading Terminal Market was around the corner.  I consoled myself with a pulled pork sandwich from Dinic's.  I even splurged and bought a couple cookies from one of the many bakeries.  When I was done, I sat down with Min Moldover, who spent easily an hour going over the questions I missed and helped me to see where I made mistakes.  It was painful - many mistakes were due to simple reasons.   I missed most of the questions by 'that' much - I wasn't far off on any of my answers.  And what was even worse?  Min actually said to me one of my problems with a particular question was, 'reading comprehension.'

Ahem.  ME?  Reading comprehension?  Surely you mean the other Magic Dad, right?

When Min was done with me, I felt again like curling up into the fetal position.  I also wanted to turn around and retake the RA right then and there, to prove I wasn't stupid (which was the way I felt and had no bearing in any way to the way Min treated me).  I wanted to punch a wall.  Instead, I did none of those things.  I grabbed a box of product and fired off the first of a half dozen Theros drafts.

I know Judges talk, so I'm sure that my score...or at least my poor performance was shared with more than a few people who wore black shirts that day.  I'm ok with that.  I'm sure while my performance was shared, most didn't know my name or wouldn't be able to pick me out of a police lineup six months from now.  The people who do matter, the ones who will remember me, won't remember this test, taken on a beautiful fall day during Eternal Weekend 2013.

Why?

Because next time I take that test, I will KICK IT'S POSTERIOR PLUMP MID-REGION INTO NEXT MONTH.  And when I take my L1, I'm going to do the same.

A singular screw up is one thing.  But now I know where I'm lacking and I'm working diligently to fix it.  Min and Michael will be proud of me when I'm done.  I may not write much in the next few weeks.  You see, I have a test to study for.

__________________________

Closing Comments:
Thank you Matt Wall, Liz Richardson, Dimah Eroshkin, Simon Cooper, Nicola Dipasquale and Mike Noss.  Special thanks to Min Moldover and Micheal Arrowsmith, two princes among Judges.

Also, a special shout out to Kate C. on Twitter.  Her compliment regarding my youngest was wonderful to receive.  Players, if you do play against a well-mannered child, be sure to let their parents know.  They love to hear it and it reinforces behavior (whether you see it or not) that we want all young players to exhibit.


Reblogs, Retweets, & Mentions of all kinds are appreciated - as an independent writer I'm only read when others like what they see and share with their friends.


Friday, October 18, 2013

Sitting at the Big Table

I have a few memories from my childhood that I cherish.  Running through the grass not wearing any shoes on a spring day.  Finding a million and one uses for rather large magnifying lens that my stepbrother let me 'borrow'.  The day I permanently moved to live with my dad.  There are many more, but there is one that sticks with me that I want to share with you today.  It has to do with Magic, socialization, and growing up.

Large Families, Small Table
During the holidays, large family gatherings were common occurrences.  Thanksgiving and Christmas especially were reason enough to gather, but anytime one of my 2 uncles came in from the west coast special attempts were made to get everyone together.

Anyone who comes from a large family is probably familiar with the result.  Picture if you will, grandma and a few aunts cooking in the kitchen, occasionally chasing out the foraging menfolk and children.  Older adult siblings likely telling stories with younger adult siblings arguing about every small detail, up to and including what the weather really was like that day they both fell out of the boat 3 miles from shore.  The multiple attempts to keep the youngest children occupied while the older children do everything in their power to stave off boredom (this was pre-Internet people, with 5 channels on tv).  In short, a picture of a large and loving slice of Americana.

As dinner time nears, two tables are set.  There is the large banquet sized table that has had 3 leaves added to it so it can seemingly seat a million people (but it only sits 10, 11 in a pinch).  And then there is the 'kiddie table'.  It's an abused card table that has been drafted into service.  The table looks lonely, set off to the side and lacking the same level of sophistication seen on the larger table.  Often, its settings were common dishware or in some circumstances, 'fine china', aka paper plates, would be employed.  Even the difference in height spoke volumes.  Those that sat at this table were 'less than' those that sat at the adult table.  This lonely island in a room of cheer was my purgatory for many years.

From the kiddie table, even as young as five, I would watch my father and the rest of his family engage in rousing discussions and tale telling.  While I never felt as a child that I wasn't watched or unloved as a result of sitting at the smaller table, I did know that I was also thought of as unready to join my older relations.  I was ostracized due in no small part to my inexperience.  My grandmother would take a particularly keen interest in my table, making certain no one left hungry.  More importantly, she suffered no ridiculous behavior, often swooping in to check on us all or gazing at me from her perch at the adults table.

Nothing would have made me happier than to join the adults.  Unless my older cousin was in town, I was the oldest at the table and as the years moved on I was expected to help manage my younger sister and cousins.  The privilege of leadership though didn't diminish my feelings.  I felt that I was sure I had proven myself trustworthy enough to sit at the big table and it got to the point when I was twelve or thirteen that I felt I was being punished by my placement.

One holiday though, everything changed when I was promoted.  I don't remember my age at the time that it happened, likely because I viewed it as a natural, yet overdue, progression.  I'm sure it happened one year when an uncle didn't fly in to join us, or when someone perhaps discovered a fourth leaf for the table.  Regardless of the reason, I found myself seated to my father's left.  Eating off of the fine china didn't impress me (even though I was VERY careful with it).  What did impress me though was finally being included in all of the conversations that happened that night.  Even though I had been watching the adults for years, I was still a little uncomfortable.  I distinctly remember feeling bashful and awkward when it came to talking with and answering questions from my relations.  I was probably 14 at the time, but it still took a few more years of practice at the big family table before I really felt comfortable.

I made myself a promise following that evening.  I vowed to never have my children, if I was so lucky to find some woman weird enough to have children with, sit at a separate table at family gatherings.  Over the past twenty-one years, I've kept that promise, both figuratively and literally.  I have taken steps in the past to protect my boys - but when it comes to introducing them to social challenges, I've given them many opportunities to prove themselves.

MtG - It's All a Big Table
Magic the Gathering represents a wonderful example of equality, completely different than my family's holiday seating arrangements.  Certainly, younger players can sit and play a casual game separately  from other players.  But when you start talking about the competitive environment, everyone has an equal chance to participate.

Drafting at my LGS on Friday nights is a perfect example.  Somewhere between 16 and 35 players gather, pay the entry fee and are seated into pods using a randomizer built into Wizards Event Reporter.  WER doesn't care how old you are or how many drafts you've played before when it seats you.  It just throws your name in and churns out a seating arrangement.  The system plays no favorites and pulls no punches.  It can result in some wickedly difficult pods for novice players to be seated into, but by the same extension the randomness of the seating also allows for pods to be formed with lower skill levels as well.

And then there are larger events.  PTQs.  Grand Prix.  States.  All of these are democratic as well, with first round pairings being completely random.  You could just as easily find yourself at table 1,000 as table 1.

All of this means that at 40 years old, I can find myself seated against a almost anyone in the room.  And so can my son, Jacob.  While we've both been playing for the same amount of time, Jacob is only twelve and his grasp of the rules isn't as strong as mine.  He's learning an important lesson though every time he sits down to play.

No one is going to roll over for him because of his age, and everyone is forced to respect him as a player.

There is no kiddie table in competitive MtG.  There's also no 'Under 16' age division.  Jacob has to find his seat, sometimes in a hall with 2000 chairs.  He has to get himself there on time, ready to play.  He has to get out his gear, shuffle his deck and confirm the person across from him is his opponent.  At his first competitive experience last year, that was both confusing and educational.  On his second match, he didn't remember the correct table number when he went to find it, costing him time and nearly resulting in a game loss for tardiness.  MtG is about equality - if he wants to play it competitively he has to overcome mistakes like that.

Better than teaching him some small lessons about responsibility, competitive MtG gives him something else that is more important.  Jacob has to meet, play, and talk to people that are on average at least twice his age in just about every match-up.  This is one of the many reasons I'm so supportive of his playing the game.  He doesn't sit off at some table at events and just stare at his cards and try to pick up games with other kids his age (who are very few and far between).  And he certainly doesn't gaze longingly at some group of players engaged in a draft because he's shut out due to age or inexperience [Note: the 'inexperience' example is for the most part no longer valid].  Instead, he jumps right into open queues, often seated in pods with at least 5-6 players capable of growing facial hair.

Why is this a big deal and worth writing about?

Jacob's self-esteem is on par with any other youth 4-6 years older than he is.  He has no problem engaging adults in conversation.  He talks with them respectfully, but at the same time there is a measure of equality in his discussions.  Certainly, there is the youthful exuberance and tendency to oversell a point in a story that one would expect of a pre-teen.  But the fear one often sees when younger children speak with adults is almost non-existent.

A small part of me is cringing, thinking I may be setting myself up for some blowback in the feedback section, so please allow me a chance to clarify.  He's not untrained in stranger danger, nor is he going to strike up a conversation with a guy driving a van near his bus stop.  MtG Tournaments are reasonably safe environments, and he is often in sight of me or has a cell phone with him.  He also knows to call for a Judge if and when something bothers him or gets out of his control.  So please, reserve any criticism you may have in this area.

This confidence does extend beyond Magic.  Recently, I saw him at a non-MtG related meeting of other kids his age and older.  He was asked to present an opinion on a topic he had researched.  Unhesitatingly, he walked to the front of the room, turned around and spoke for five minutes straight on a topic with no notes at hand and more importantly, zero fear.  He smiled.  He scanned the crowd, looking at other kids (some as old as 17).  He spoke to them, not above them or at the floor.  He was absolutely charismatic - well, as charismatic as a 12 year old can be.  When he finished talking, he took questions and handled the group of 20 other boys as if he were a teacher.  Was I proud?  You bet I was.

But it was only upon reflection later that night that I really understood how proud I was of him.  The funny thing is, I've come to expect it of Jacob.  The confidence and ability to speak with his friends is something I've started to take for granted as something that he simply does.

MtG: The Equalizer
Magic isn't just about offering people valuable lessons in a Mensa level game.  It's not just about teaching them to them to do math quickly in their head or how to read at an advanced level.  We call it a 'Social Game' all the time.  And that is what is about.

Magic, whether you are comfortable with it or not, is about interaction.

Certainly, the game has its share of bashful Barry's.  Players who don't socialize well, but still continue to come out to LGSs and play because the enjoyment of the game is strong enough to overcome their reticence.  I'm happy they continue to come out.  Maybe one day they'll overcome whatever is lying in their way and come out of their shell.  I anxiously await those days and I'm confident it will happen for many.

Until then, I'm proud of the progress Jacob has made.  He hasn't yet figured out how to 3-0 drafts (although my wallet would love that).  I'm referring of course to his progress in his social development.  Perhaps he'll be the catalyst to one day help someone else come out of their shell.  Or maybe he'll just continue to break the curve, acting in ways that defy his age.  No matter what though, I know I'll continue to challenge him with new opportunities.  So long as he promises to pass the mac'n cheese.  I hate it when he sits at the opposite end of the table from me and hoards the good stuff.
__________________________________

This article, as many of my pieces, deserves a couple of end notes:
First, if your child is nine or ten years old and interested in MtG, take them occasionally to a draft at an LGS.  Invite them along to play some Standard.  Allow them a chance to sit at the big table.  You can't tell me they aren't ready until they'd had a chance to prove it.

Secondly, Jacob does receive other chances to socialize with adults in other structured settings.  However, none of them require him to meet and speak with new adults a tenth as often as Magic does.  Involving Jacob in larger, competitive settings even occasionally drives up this percentage a thousandfold more.

Lastly, MtG is not a panacea for social development.  People still have to be willing to learn.  If you give a pre-teen age child though opportunity and challenges in the guise of a game, you should be prepared for some potentially remarkable results.

Reblogs, Retweets, & Mentions of all kinds are appreciated - as an independent writer I'm only read when others like what they see and share with their friends.


A special note...
A good friend of mine is responsible for Eternal Weekend in a few weeks.  As of this writing, there are still pre-registration slots open to score a wicked, one-of-a-kind Tarmagoyf playmat.  Believe me, this offer won't last much longer.  So if you're into Vintage or Legacy, click on the link to find out more about it:



Monday, September 30, 2013

My First Judging Experience

Over the pre-release weekend for Theros, I had a chance to participate in Magic in a new way that I've long wanted to attempt.  Working with my good friend and semi-local TO, Nick Coss, I was allowed to Judge a Sunday sealed event with over 30 players.  I want to share with you how I found it to be a rewarding experience and some advice if you're interested in doing the same.

The Wish
I've written before how I wanted to explore the idea of becoming a Judge.  I still feel like a newbie, especially when people start talking about wild EDH combos or sick Legacy decks, but some of my shininess has finally started to rub off.  I knew that to take the first steps I wanted to do so with someone who was experienced and patient.

The only problem I faced wasn't who to approach about becoming a Judge, but rather when could I do it.  You see, gentle reader, Nick's store isn't exactly in my backyard.  Top Deck Games is over an hour away for me by car.  My local game store, by extension, is only just over ten minutes away.  I am a guy with many commitments, from work to school to other volunteer activities, so getting out to judge for my first time was a matter of aligning some serious planetary bodies.  The clock was ticking for me though - I have a definite goal in mind.  I want to become an L1, hopefully before the end of the year.

So I reached out to Nick a few days before I thought I could be there and popped the question.  It wasn't as romantic as getting down on one knee (texting rarely is), but I did get a small chill up my spine when he agreed.

The Secret World of Judging
Here's the first (and I think most important) thing you need to know about judging an event.  Lean in close, because it's a little bit of a secret.  Are you ready?

You don't have to be an L1, or even a Rules Adviser, to help with an event.

I was blown away when I learned that.  Surely it had to be wrong?  But no, let us back up for a minute and look at what the Judge program really is about.  There is a word that appears over and over again.  That magical word is 'Mentoring'.  The entire program is built upon this principle.  To be a mentor, one must have experience and knowledge that is both of value and worth sharing to others.

Nick, while an L1, is also a Tournament Organizer since he both owns a store and runs events there and offsite.  That makes someone like him an ideal person to talk to as a first step to becoming a Judge.  He is someone willing to both share his experience and offer a place for someone interested in the quest to take the black.  He is a mentor and looks forward to sharing his knowledge and resources.  His store is full of smart players, which makes some things either but definitely raises expectations.

I saw one other advantage with going to Top Deck Games instead of my local game store, at least initially.  While I've played there a few times and have learned the names of a couple of the regulars, it was a place that I didn't have strong relationships with the other players.  I wanted to try my hand at helping with an event for the first time in a place that I could comfortably fail at, without being judged too harshly by people who have become my friends.  I didn't expect to fall flat on my face.  If I did though, I knew that my relative anonymity at Nick's would allow me to do it without making me feel worse for having done so in front of people I knew well.

So with that in mind, I found out when Nick wanted me there and made a few plans of my own.

Prep Work
Any successful event starts with careful planning.  Careful planning is integral.  I knew that Nick would do his usual outstanding job preparing his store and staff, which meant I only had to worry about myself.  I reviewed what I knew about the event:
  • It was at Regular REL w/ new rules and interactions
  • It was sealed and would run 4-5 hours
  • I would be helping to some degree, but I didn't know how much
Figuring out known quantities is easy and how to answer them is more so.  For the first item, I'd spend time reviewing the Comprehensive Rules, paying particular attention to parts of a turn and spell casting.  As this would be a limited environment, I wasn't overly worried that I'd get complicated questions about Layers.  To nail down my set specific interactions, I'd review the FAQ posted by WotC on Theros.  I didn't know if I'd be making calls by myself or not, but I figured the more I knew the better I'd feel.

The second item required some advanced planning on my part.  The event would fire off at noon, and I was bringing my younger son to play in it.  We both also wanted to stay afterwards to play in the 2HG event.  So clearly, food was going to be important to both of us (hungry players are cranky and make stupid plays).  My plan was to feed us both a good breakfast before leaving the house, plan to arrive at Nick's with at least 30 minutes to spare before start time and hit a convenience store on the way.  This meant leaving the house no later than 10am.  Jacob and I would pick up some snacks (beef jerky for me), a couple of subs, and drinks.  The subs we could place in the fridge behind the counter and the rest we'd go through to keep our energy up until we needed to eat.

The last item was still a mystery.  I figured that Nick would give me as much rope as I felt I was capable of taking.  We've known each other for almost ten years.  He trusted that I wouldn't bite off more than I felt I could chew and conversely, I believed he wouldn't let me get in over my head.  So with a small amount of trust in us both being right - I put the question out of my mind.

The Event
To make a long story a better one (keep it pithy), everything worked out almost as I had planned.  Jacob and I arrived earlier than we thought we would with lunch and snacks in tow.  Nick allowed me to do the opening announcement and make calls with the understanding that if I felt I didn't know an answer I was to defer to the staff at the store.  I'd say there where about 35 players in the room.  That is more than double what is recommended for a first Judging experience, but I wasn't worried.  I'm an old dude as many of you now by know, with a small lifetime worth of experience to help me to handle younglings.  Nick's clients also don't fall into the spectrum of your average LGS, many of them are very experienced players as well.  And the best part, everyone (including me) seemed to have a good time.

There are a few things I'll take away from the experience that I want to share with you:
  • Keep a timer on hand in situations where the game room is distanced from the clock. (Smartphones work well).
  • Have a copy of the Comp Rules accessible.  I use MTG Guide, an app available for iPhones.  Make sure it is updated.
  • Realize you aren't in it alone.  The store owner likely wants to see you succeed as much as you do.
  • Wear comfy shoes.  I was basically on my feet for most of the afternoon.  Mostly by choice - I wanted people to see me, but also so I could better see what was going on around me.
  • Be prepared to say, "I don't know, let me check."  The one time I did it I found the answer in the Comp Rules.  But it isn't the end of the world to state you're not sure of an answer.
  • Keep your eyes open.  I made one call just by observing players shuffling - I'm sure I'd catch more if I had fewer people to watch and more experience with which to catch errors.
The whole experience was more liberating than I could believe.  I had done my homework so I felt pretty comfortable.  But more than that, I wasn't the one antagonizing over a decision about which of 2 or 3 cards was the best play.  I was the one watching the play happen, realizing that I was only there to help if needed.  Playing and Judging are two very different worlds.  Yet I think as I spend more time in the future Judging, I'll come to love them equally.

For me, the best end to the day was that I was able enter into a 2HG event with Jacob.  We went 2-1, with him calling all of the shots.   I couldn't be more proud - especially since his smart play kept my butt out of the fire more than once.  All-in-all, the entire day was a wonderful experience.  I look forward to playing at Nick's again, Judging whenever possible (even now at my local LGS) and eventually becoming an L1.  I know my wallet will thank me when I do.

Gentle reader, just do me one favor.  Don't tell my wife that Jacob and I didn't get back home until two hours past Jacob's bedtime for a school night.  We can plan for a lot of things, but one thing you can't plan for is having so much fun you forget the time.

And that, my friends, makes for a perfect day.

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Several closing notes:
1. While I was allowed to Judge the event without anyone else in the room, many pre-releases are done this way.  Since it is at Regular REL, there is no qualification that a Judge be present.  Also, while we only conversed briefly twice, a business partner and store stakeholder was present in the game room as a player.  At anytime, I'm sure he could have stepped in if I had made a mistake that required it.
2. Top Deck Games can host upwards of 150 players and they have well over a 100 players attend their prerelease.  If you're near Philadelphia and a gamer, you do yourself a disservice in not checking them out.
3. I've known Nick for about 10 years.  I wouldn't put it past him that from the first moment he put a deck of Magic in my hands over a year ago that this wasn't his plan from the beginning.  He'll smile at this I'm sure.  But he'll admit...NOTHING.
4. It is highly recommended that your first Judging event be for a group of between 8 and 16 players.  Want more info?  I can't recommend the Magic Judge Wiki enough.  There are other sources, but this is a great starting point for those interested.


Reblogs & Retweets & Mentions of all kinds are appreciated - as an independent writer I'm only read when others like what they see and share with their friends.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Delays...

Sorry to my loyal readers, the last few weeks have been crazy for me.  Between school, work, and working on a top secret MTG project (at least for the moment), I haven't had any time to dedicate here. I promise, my first priority this week is to get a new article posted.  I have at least three or four ideas that I want to explore over the coming weeks.


Sunday, August 11, 2013

The Cure for Community Recognition

I find the rituals and practices of the Magic community fascinating.   It seems like every day, I learn something new.   Whether it's a weird card interaction or a finding out how the Hall of Fame process works, every day is an adventure, every article, Tweet, and game is a new experience.

This often leads me down paths of discovery that I think others don't see.   Or perhaps, I simply find a way to express something others have thought of, but have never moved forward with aside from a conversation with a few of their friends over drinks.   I know I was pretty loud over the increasing attendance problems at tournaments.   I realize that my view about the Hall of Fame vote (see it here) is hopefully correct but likely naive.   I am self-aware, in that my own opinion isn't one that has a lifetime of experience with MtG behind it.

Sometimes though, I have idea that burns with the intensity of a thousand suns.   Something that I MUST share with world.   This is one of those.   I'm positive that this is a direction that the community should move towards.   Execution will be difficult and some stakeholders may fail to see the big picture of the following concept.   That doesn't make this idea without any merit.    I am sure that the community will embrace the concept and overall quality of the play experience will improve as a result - which means it isn't a matter of whether or not to do it.   It's a matter of how.

How We Ended Up Here
The concept I'll share in a few minutes is one that is born of complaints.   Not mine, mind you.   I complain enough sometimes for five people (guilty).   Rather, these are complaints overheard in the dark alleys of Twitter and podcasts.   One complaint was about those who have been writing for five years have no ability to vote in the Hall of Fame process.   Another was a hurried whisper, stating that the MTGO Community Cup was moving in the right direction but wasn't doing enough.

Did the people making these statements envision what I'm going to lay out below?   I would like to think they did.   Or if not, that what I'm going to suggest below is at least in the spirit of what they were talking about.


I think people who contribute to the community should be allowed/invited to help with the HoF process.   And while I've never played MTGO a day in my life - nor do I actually have plans to do so - I get how people feel shut out from that process as well.   Even Sheldon Menery's recent article that touches on one way to improve the Pro Tour Hall of Fame vote has a bit of flavor that helped to shape my current concept.   (Sheldon, where ever you are, thank your idea).


Concept
Ask yourself the following question.   How does the Magic Community recognize those that make worthwhile contributions?   With the limited exception of the MTGO Community Cup and the highly limited exception of the Pro Tour Hall of Fame, it really doesn't.   Yes, occasionally people who have proven themselves as gamers or major contributors but somehow miss the cut due to unusual circumstances are given a special dispensation to attend an event.   But that's not what I'm talking about today.

I'm talking about finding a way to recognize those that contribute to the overall community in a meaningful way.   I'm stating that there are hundreds, if not thousands of people, groups, and small companies that make Magic stronger through their efforts.   I'm positive that there is a method that can easily be adopted, edited, and implemented that would through its existence further support, grow and improve our overall community.

This isn't something that can be set up overnight.   I do have a few thoughts about how to make it happen that I'm going to share.   I hope that this ends up in the right hands, people with the ability and vision to make something like this viable.   Yes, there are games out there that have been around longer (in the modern era, I'm thinking along the lines of Monopoly and Scrabble).   Yet none have the diversity, the support network and the shear mass of community that is demonstrated by those that love and play Magic.   By Hasbro's estimates (according to a recent article), over 12 million people have played the game, and there are over 3 million current players.   Magic is a global phenomenon.   What better way is there to celebrate its twentieth anniversary than to find a new way to celebrate its community?

Award Concept
Create an annual MTG community awards and recognition program.   Working name for the concept is, "Magic the Gathering Awards".   Or, if you prefer, the 'Watcies'.

Organization
As with the Pro Tour Hall of Fame selection committee, there has to be some oversight in the process.   The mothership is the likely top of the organization, but aside from providing some minor support and serving as the head, their role could stop there.   The real workhorses of this program in my mind have to be a fair mix of independent representatives with enough experience in the community and owners/operators of community destination websites.   There should be a minimum of two separate and distinct committees.    The first would have oversight of the award categories.   The second would be in charge of actually selecting candidates (either directly or through some submission process).   There are other committees that could be formed and I'll list them, but this is the core that is required.

      Chair: Wizards of the Coast
              Category Committee
              Selection Committee
              Biography Committee
                  Additional Committees: Awards, Marketing/Promotion, etc.

WotC
Wizards has to be an active partner.   Their level of participation in this would vary depending upon the final model that this program takes.   The bare minimum investment on their part is to offer a secure method of voting so that members of the community may only vote once using their DCI number and planeswalker account.   I think this is a limited investment on their part, one that is relatively easy to program, oversee and validate the final voting.

WotC should chair the process.   Their level of participation beyond setting up the overall design of the process can and possibly should be limited.   They may, as chair, choose the first committees and fill a few seats on each.   After that, I see the real work being done by the members of the committees.

Committees
The various committees have an enormous responsibility.   I think the first time this is done, it will also be time consuming.   This is the hard part of selling this concept.   I envision people like major store and content site owners/managers being the stakeholders.   People like Adam Stybs and Pete Hoefling (or designees) should be directly involved to chair committees.   The committees should all have an odd number of seats and should have between 5 and 9 people on them.   Each committee should have at least one Judge and one Pro Player on them - but after that, they should be filled with people who both understand the history of the game and, more importantly, the community that supports it.   Efforts should be made to include people who have displayed outstanding service to the community in all aspects: online, paper, various formats, judging, writing/artists and more.   No one person should be on a committee that doesn't have a pedigree of at least 5 years with the game.

This isn't something that can be put together overnight - but it's not difficult either.   Given the current grumbling about the HoF process, finding a few talented people to staff a new method of recognizing all levels of Magic should be easy.

Members of committees would serve 2 - 3 years the first time.   Those given awards in the first two years would have a chance to also sit on the committees as people are rotated out, to maintain balance and fresh ideas.

Category Committee
Responsible for designing the list of categories that people, websites, and/or organizations can be nominated to and the rules for entry into a category.   This committee will also determine in future years what changes need to be made to the categories and any support activities.

Selection Committee
Following the rules and categories established by the Category Committee, I see this group as responsible for actually determining a list of initial candidates for each category, based upon a system of submission/voting/nomination.   Some categories are very subjective perhaps should have larger pools that may be voted for, while other are more narrow in focus.

Biography Committee
This committee is critical.   Their job is to develop a way to help everyone understand the contributions individual nominees have made to the game of Magic.   It should be staffed principally by seasoned writers and the chair should be a well recognized and skilled editor to ensure a fair approach is taken to all biographies written.

Categories
The following are ideas only for what areas that I think deserve recognition.   It is a starting point in the conversation - it may be that there are too many categories or that I'm overlooking something important.   The actual category committee would hammer out what the final list looks like, and then they would add or subtract categories as warranted in future years:

Best Alterer
Best Art - Core Set
Best Art - Block 1
Best Art - Block 2
Best Art - Block 3
Best Art - Additional Sets/Products
Best Art - Overall
Best Comic
Best Content Site
Best Coverage Team
Best Game Innovation
Best Game Mechanic
Best New Product (non-WotC)
Best New Product (WotC)
Best On-Air Presenter
Best Podcast
Best Product Site
Best Support Product - Internet
Best Support Product - Physical (open to sleeves, etc.)
Best Support Product - Software/App
Best Tournament Feature Match
Best Tournament Organizer
Best Tumblr Blog
Best Twitter Feed
Best Writer - Overall
Best Writer - Casual
Best Writer - Judge
Best Writer - Format Specific
Best Writer - Fiction/Flavor/Vorthos
Best Writer - Pro
Lifetime Achievement Award - Wizards Employee
Lifetime Achievement Award - Gamer
Lifetime Achievement Award - Community Support
Social Media Maven (See Tumbler/Twitter)
Wildest T8 Deck - Standard
Wildest T8 Deck - Modern

Recognition
This is a topic I'm sure could be debated for the next 10 years.   Let us all set aside our differences and realize a few things that our very important to remember, even now:

1. There is no physical location for the Pro Tour Hall of Fame museum.   There are no busts of players heads in any location in the world.
2. Recognition can be payment in and of itself.   Imagine, being a content site and being able to state, "Home of 2015's Magic Writer of the Year," or even better, "Winner of 4 Magic Awards."   For those who would drag their feet at the work involved in setting up this program, the dividends are clear and valuable.

That said, there are a few different ways to permanently recognize those that make contributions.   Most of them are beyond cost-effective and easy to implement.

WotC should (and must, in my opinion), find a permanent way to recognize members of the Hall of Fame.   While they do have a page for the Hall of Fame on their site, it fails to offer a clear picture of who these players are.   That is easy enough to fix and worth doing.   I envision a page that shows the current year's Hall of Fame players (pictures and brief biographies) with links to previous years.   A visual, permanent online museum is the solution until WotC comes up with a physical alternative (if one is to be made).

This solution, in fact, works for the purposes of the MTGO Community Cup (if it is determined to maintain it) as well as for this concept as well.   If MTGO Community Cup is folded into this concept, there should still be an opportunity for winners of selected categories to play Wizards employees in a mini-tournament.  Other awards are possible as well.   Everything from a gold DCI card to a small prize of MtG product to a custom playmat to a signed edition of artwork would be available for consideration.   Even a custom trophy can be awarded.

The point is, WotC can do a little bit more with little to no investment (other than principally time) to make being chosen a valuable commodity.   I'm sure that ideas from this can be incorporated into the current program and should be considered if this concept is given a green light.

Conclusion
This concept isn't one that everyone will support.   I expect there to be a fair amount of discussion about pro's and con's of different aspects of this concept.   Let's be clear about a what the goal is though.   Players are currently not fully satisfied with some aspects of the current methods of recognition.   Magic the Gathering is 20 years old, and it is time for a full review of how to move forward and improve recognition of players and contributors to the community.

The goal is as follows:

Find a way that improves recognition, bolsters the play experience, and addresses the needs of the entire community.

I believe that this plan does that and more.   It will be something that WotC must fully engage in as a parent, but I think the concepts here are a starting point to make certain that it is a fair process that places the weight of responsibility back on the community to be successful.   In the end, that is what this is all about.   The community, supporting and recognizing the those that make it special.

If you need further convincing, just ask yourself one question.   Who do you think deserves to be recognized as a top contributor to the community - and why haven't they been yet?



Things I Think I Think but Couldn't Fit Elsewhere:
1. Sheldon Menery - First off, I think this man deserves his own category for his contribution to creating one of the coolest formats we play today.   That aside, he recently wrote an article that touches on the topics expressed in this article.   You can find it here: My Hall of Fame Ballot.   When you're done reading it, ask yourself if he's right - or if this idea I've outlined here would be a better way to recognize those that make Pro Tour happen.   It's something to consider.   With a few additional categories, we could accommodate Sheldon's idea and still come up with something wonderful.

2. MTGO - I really have only a basic idea of what Magic Online is and an even more limited idea of what the Community Cup is.   And that's it's problem.   Recognition for a job well done shouldn't be limited to a microcosm of a community that has multiple barriers to entry (truth).   We need to break out of the MTGO Community Cup and find a way to thank anyone and and everyone.   The MTGO model could continue, but my belief is that if it does not evolve it will become stagnate.

3. Retailers & Content Providers - They are the true engine for this award system.   Without them, this can't happen.   I will state this unequivocally - any retailer that wants to talk to me about this I'm happy to do so, at length.   This concept is one that will require them to work - but the dividends for participation and the end result are WELL worth the investment.

4. Mark Rosewater - The discussion on Twitter about the problems with the Community Cup came full circle with a pair of Tweets by MaRo yesterday.   I've been working on this article for almost three weeks, and he sums up the problem in 144 characters.   Mark, thank you for your position.   Judging by your statement, I finally think the time is write to polish and publish.   Here it is, this one is for you, Helene, and all of the others at WotC that support the community well above and beyond punching a clock.

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Reblogs & Retweets & Mentions of all kinds are appreciated - as an independent writer I'm only read when others like what they see and share with their friends.