It's been a few weeks since I had the ability to actually write an article - and now that I finally have Microsoft Word back on my machine I couldn't resist writing again. I've been occupied this last few weeks with one thing after another. From computer viruses to lightning strikes to Gen Con, I haven't had much time to do anything on my computer - so let me update you all on how things have been.
When Viruses Attack
On August 1st, 2002, a Trojan virus got through my computer's defenses and erased eight initialization files. That's it; eight freaking files and my computer was as useless as a paperweight (well, more useless than a paperweight when I think about it). It couldn't start Windows up. My computer has DOS (yes it does), and the virus decided to erase DOS for me, too, so I couldn't reach the hard drive in anyway. All my saved stuff was still there, but I couldn't get to it. It took me five days, but I finally reinstalled all the factory setting and started over.
Much to my dismay, some of the Office Suite didn't come back, leaving me without any typing program. I started putting my music and files back on the computer and thought that things were moving back towards normalcy. The odds were against me, it seems - for two days later, my computer is hit by lightning! My modem took the brunt of it, so I was able to get back up and running in two days with a new modem. Flash-forward to today, when I finally have a typing program again; can you hear the angels singing?
Along Comes Gen Con
Ah, yes; the Magic-related section of our program. Gen Con is always a blast, and August 8th-11th were no exception. I made the fifteen-minute ride from my house to the Midwest Express Center at 8 a.m. everyday, and slept a grand total of fifteen hours. I played Magic, and démodé 800 new games during those four days of good times. My only gripe is that they decided to place the tournaments in the warehouse-like third floor, making for a very gloomy and crowded atmosphere. I had a very good four days for myself as far as Magic was concerned:
The Side Events:
I drafted six times during Gen Con, winning one and splitting two more. The drafts were twelve bucks, and you kept the cards you drafted; this, along with three draft packs for winning, made for some very nice prize support. I opened a Call in Draft #1, and was shipped a Haunting Echoes, and Seedtime, late in the same draft. I came out ahead as far as drafting goes. To be honest, the level of competition was far from stellar, as almost any draft an Amazing Adventures (my local shop) regular entered, was won by one of us. Every one of my decks turned out to above average, and getting shipped a sixth- pick Shower of Coals is just wrong.
The PTQ:
I was naïve about OBC; I thought it would be fun, and challenging. How in the nine levels of hell did I come to this conclusion? The PTQ was either Mono Black Control, or W/G or U/G hate decks. The anti-MBC Mirari's Wake deck also showed up. This format is all about winning the die roll and getting good pairing. I was hoping for a mirror match all day in a field that was 50% Mono Black, but instead was graced with three Mirari Wake matches. Needless to say, I was in for a rough ride and forgetting to pump Nantuko Shade at a critical moment didn't help me any. I exited at 2-3 and have vowed to never play OBC again. It isn't because of my performance, but for the fact that the format is horribly dull, and requires less skill than it does pairings. The Mono Black mirror match is who ever gets off mind Sludge first. Not what I'd call exciting. The highlight of the day was when someone played a turn 1 Llanowar Elves.
The JSS:
I wasn't even aware they had them here! I had stayed away from the JSS as I never cared much for its label as the "kiddie tournament", and its amount of first-time competitors. This is the last year I'll be able to play in them so my friends convinced me to enter. I wasn't really excited by Type 2, but I pieced together a Tog deck, and entered.
Round 1 was versus a kid with NoSideboardElvishPiper.dec. He didn't know how Psychatog worked, or how to divide Fact or Fiction piles - but to his credit, it was his first tournament. I beat him in two games, and went to get some food.
Round 2 was against a Mono Green Stompy deck. This kid scared the living hell out of me when me proceeded, to go "elf, elf, elf, elf, Thorn Elemental."
I countered the Elemental and laid my third land. Yeah, it was that quick.
He proceeded to pass his next turn without swinging for four, and throughout the match never attacked with the elves. He played another Elemental, and I had to let it resolve. I was worried at this point until he played a Spore Frog.
Now, I love the little critter, but I didn't remember him being reprinted. I called a judge over, and my opponent was awarded a game loss.
Game 2, had me Slay a creature after it was enchanted with Elephant Guide, which I'm not proud of. It is by far the worst mistake I've ever made in a tournament, and I'll think twice before sleeping three hours a night, and not eating breakfast because I was in a fugue afterward until I got some food. I won the match with Upheaval/Tog, though I shouldn't have with that kind of mistake.
Round 3 consisted of the biggest jerk I've ever had the pleasure of facing. He made me go through every phase, and every bit of priority (announcing, resolving the Tog's ability, rinse and repeat.) After a bit of discussion with a judge, I was forced to go through the motions while ignoring the verbal assault. This kid was three, and was getting thoroughly beaten when as a last-ditch attempt he called a judge and made up a story about me not floating mana to Upheaval/Tog. At this point, both his and my friends jumped in and tore the kid to pieces and the judge dismissed the lie after talking to us both.
Round 4 was a matchup with Balancing Tings. I didn't know what to make of it, but sided in Lobotomies for game 2 and won easily. The kid played well, but couldn't force his key spells through.
Round 5 and 6 I drew and went to tour the exhibition hall. I was assured a spot in the top 8, so I just decided to take a break.
Top 8: I played against my friend Owen, who was running Perniciatog and was completely exhausted at this point. I simply outplayed him, as he wasn't paying much attention to the living world at this point.
Top 4: I played against my second jerk of the day, who lost game 1 to mana screw, and game 2 to two probes kicked. He refused to shake my hand after the game and stormed off whining about getting screwed all the time. It left a bitter taste in my mouth to be sure.
Finals: I was starting to lose focus now as it was 10 p.m. and I was about to fall asleep. After talking to the head judge, I realized I couldn't use the college scholarship at all as I already had one from my mom being a Marquette University administrator. (I'm a very lucky guy when it comes to this; I have my entire college education paid for.) I couldn't transfer the scholarship to anyone else, so I offered my opponent a draw. He took the scholarship, and I took four boxes of product, and the City of Brass Promotional foils. Not a bad day for entering at the last second.
So there you have it, my Gen Con Report. I came out far ahead in these four days, and I had a great time. It's been nice to finally write again, and as always emails can be directed to jbagha@hotmail.com.
Here's my Tog deck, just in case you were wondering:
4 Psychatog
4 Nightscape Familiar
3 Recoil
2 Repulse
3 Fact or Fiction
2 Upheaval
2 Cunning Wish
3 Probe
4 Counterspell
4 Circular Logic
4 Memory Lapse
1 Possessed Aven
4 Salt Marsh
4 Underground River
4 Swamp
12 Island
Sideboard:
1 Fact or Fiction
2 Engineered Plague
3 Slay
4 Gainsay
3 Mana Short
2 Lobotomy
If I were to change one thing, It would be to cut two Recoils and add another Cunning Wish and Repulse to the deck... Then replace a Gainsay with a Recoil. Phantom Centaur is hell for this deck, and Recoil doesn't help versus that.
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