Anyone have recommendations of good/entertaining matches to watch online? I want to start watching more videos of games to see how the "pros" play, but I'm not sure where to start.
I usually find the SCG Live matches somewhat embarrassing to watch, personally. There are some good players there, but all-in-all the level is rather low.
You can generally find the best match coverage from the Pro Tour. Most of it is on YouTube. I'm partial to PT Los Angeles '05, personally - you'll find a lot of strong plays (and some weak plays!) in that top 8, just watch Antoine Ruel's games. It starts here.
watch old premium videos at SCG? I have SCG premium and I like watching Kibler, Duke, and Sam Black play MTGO.
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I just want people who redraft to admit this:
"I can't draft objectively unless I am able to guarantee that I receive at least 3 rares. I am also better than most average/new players so I want to make sure that I get the best rares and they end up with worse ones. I care more about the monetary value of cards than actually playing the game for decent prizes."
I usually find the SCG Live matches somewhat embarrassing to watch, personally. There are some good players there, but all-in-all the level is rather low.
You can generally find the best match coverage from the Pro Tour. Most of it is on YouTube. I'm partial to PT Los Angeles '05, personally - you'll find a lot of strong plays (and some weak plays!) in that top 8, just watch Antoine Ruel's games. It starts here.
I love the announcing combinations from the older tournaments compared to the new guys. I don't really know how to explain it--it's like the new commentators only tell you what's going on at the moment and the old commentators tell you what plays could be made, both good and bad. That's the kind of analysis I like.
Not sure if this gives you tips on how to play like the pros, but it's a great video. Nassif v. Chapin.
There was a Legacy Burn video that CorpT posted that was simply amazing. I think the player's name was Patrick Sullivan. I wish I could post it, but I can't remember anything beyond that, but boy was it awesome.
An excellent* (and hilarious) stream of FNM's that has been going strong for a little over six months now. Every week they stream live on twtichtv, and have archived all the videos on Youtube.
Hey, if you watch the stream, you can win a free playset of Rock, Paper Scissors cards from Unglued. Whats not to love?!?
* I know the progenitor of this stream, and thus am absolutey 100% biased in favor of it. YMMV.
**I may or may not be featured in one or two of these links. Shameless self-promotion. Sue me.
There was a Legacy Burn video that CorpT posted that was simply amazing. I think the player's name was Patrick Sullivan. I wish I could post it, but I can't remember anything beyond that, but boy was it awesome.
Thanks for those links. That kid with the storm deck was hilarious - he was just going out of his way to be that tiny kid, candy, yoo-hoo and all.
Naive question about the Mahar/Davis game: what exactly were they playing? Legacy? Had format restriction not been put in place in 1999?
Also, and this is not regarding the much lauded commentary from that 1999 game, but rather all the commentary in general: could commentators focus more on a play by play rather than loose commentary? It's hard enough to see the cards half the time, I'd rather know what was being played than what they could have played or played in a game two weeks ago.
Thanks for those links. That kid with the storm deck was hilarious - he was just going out of his way to be that tiny kid, candy, yoo-hoo and all.
Naive question about the Mahar/Davis game: what exactly were they playing? Legacy? Had format restriction not been put in place in 1999?
Also, and this is not regarding the much lauded commentary from that 1999 game, but rather all the commentary in general: could commentators focus more on a play by play rather than loose commentary? It's hard enough to see the cards half the time, I'd rather know what was being played than what they could have played or played in a game two weeks ago.
The format was extended, which at the time included cards from Revised and on, if I remember correctly.
And I'd rather have somewhat loose color commentary rather than play-by-play, personally. I think it's rather easy to see what they're doing, so I'd rather hear comments on why they're doing what they're doing, who they are, what their decks are, background, setting, etc.
Just finished watching the Nassif v. Chapin video, had to look up the cards but wow that was pretty awesome to see! I've been watching all the Pro Tour vids on youtube, among my favs was the kibler v finkel where kibler wins in dramatic fashion with 3 galvanic blasts and in another match I forget between who where one guy went 20-0 or something with some ridiculous 10 min. infinite mana combo deck and finally got taken down by an infect deck. Was cool to watch the first time, but after the 4th or 5th time he pulled it off even the commentators were starting to fall asleep.
That was simply amazing. At the age of 12 he seemed to have everything mastered about that deck, which is very "all-in." He knew all the interactions between the cards, like holding priority when he did Lion's Eye Diamond and Burning Wish... something I could of never even fathomed when I was 12. Kudos!
GWUBRDraft my Old Border Nostalgia Cube! and/or The Little Pauper Cube That Could!RBUWG
Modern:WDeath & TaxesW | RUGRUG DelverRUG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMei_cxSC0c
Mostly just for the stark contrast between the way they play. Maher keeps his cool while Davis makes a number of important errors.
He is The Great One for a good reason.
Also, don't forget about the SCG Live archives. I dunno if that's considered "pros", but I don't really find too many obvious mistakes.
http://www.starcitygames.com/pages/scgop/archive
Modern:
(online)Enduring Ideal
(online)BUG
(paper)Mono White Control
Standard:
(paper) Whatever I can throw together
(online) UWR Control
Legacy:
(paper)The Gate
(paper)Dream Halls
I usually find the SCG Live matches somewhat embarrassing to watch, personally. There are some good players there, but all-in-all the level is rather low.
You can generally find the best match coverage from the Pro Tour. Most of it is on YouTube. I'm partial to PT Los Angeles '05, personally - you'll find a lot of strong plays (and some weak plays!) in that top 8, just watch Antoine Ruel's games. It starts here.
Cringe inducing video there. I feel like im watching a snuff film with the way they are shuffling without sleeves.
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I love the announcing combinations from the older tournaments compared to the new guys. I don't really know how to explain it--it's like the new commentators only tell you what's going on at the moment and the old commentators tell you what plays could be made, both good and bad. That's the kind of analysis I like.
Not sure if this gives you tips on how to play like the pros, but it's a great video. Nassif v. Chapin.
I'm convinced that Kibler only shuffles his hand that way to put opponents on tilt. I know I'd be annoyed and distracted.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qwm904bq3s
https://www.youtube.com/zachsellsmagic
An excellent* (and hilarious) stream of FNM's that has been going strong for a little over six months now. Every week they stream live on twtichtv, and have archived all the videos on Youtube.
Here's a few direct links I personally enjoy:**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvs3PuaoUTE&list=PL3utD86unBLjJl8y-Tp3F6DgWFb_97G17
(skip to about 12 minutes in for pure entertainment)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjGDh4Cl6Cc&list=PL3utD86unBLjJl8y-Tp3F6DgWFb_97G17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLNlMLuZnLI&list=PL3utD86unBLi_GXFWd_fHO_RBsFsr0XiN
Hey, if you watch the stream, you can win a free playset of Rock, Paper Scissors cards from Unglued. Whats not to love?!?
* I know the progenitor of this stream, and thus am absolutey 100% biased in favor of it. YMMV.
**I may or may not be featured in one or two of these links. Shameless self-promotion. Sue me.
Playing:
Maze's End
Developing/playtesting:
W R Land Destruction
http://blip.tv/scglive/scg-la-lgc-t8-patrick-sullivan-vs-ross-merriam-6359891
I'd watch the whole match for enjoyment + context but if you're pressed for time the play is at 30:00
And people say that Burn is a dumb deck that doesn't require skills. Amazing play there
It starts here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXlBCi_RsZo
Actually, all of his videos are worth watching. He's good at explaining his thought process.
Naive question about the Mahar/Davis game: what exactly were they playing? Legacy? Had format restriction not been put in place in 1999?
Also, and this is not regarding the much lauded commentary from that 1999 game, but rather all the commentary in general: could commentators focus more on a play by play rather than loose commentary? It's hard enough to see the cards half the time, I'd rather know what was being played than what they could have played or played in a game two weeks ago.
GWUBRDraft my Old Border Nostalgia Cube! and/or The Little Pauper Cube That Could!RBUWG
Modern:WDeath & TaxesW | RUGRUG DelverRUG
The format was extended, which at the time included cards from Revised and on, if I remember correctly.
And I'd rather have somewhat loose color commentary rather than play-by-play, personally. I think it's rather easy to see what they're doing, so I'd rather hear comments on why they're doing what they're doing, who they are, what their decks are, background, setting, etc.
LSV playing Omnidoor Thragfire in a Standard daily event
An LSV Cube Draft - The last game is my favourite
I just watched that match with Patrick Sullivan vs Maverick. That play to close out game 3 was just awesome!
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That was simply amazing. At the age of 12 he seemed to have everything mastered about that deck, which is very "all-in." He knew all the interactions between the cards, like holding priority when he did Lion's Eye Diamond and Burning Wish... something I could of never even fathomed when I was 12. Kudos!
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Legacy love.
This is what I was talking about when I meant play-by-play, mostly so I could just know what a card actually does if I've never seen it before.
GWUBRDraft my Old Border Nostalgia Cube! and/or The Little Pauper Cube That Could!RBUWG
Modern:WDeath & TaxesW | RUGRUG DelverRUG