I need...help or some suggestions I think. (Abuse/flame can be directed to my inbox). I think this was on the cards (no pun intended).
What I have thought of doing, perhaps making 2 semi-playable decks, and just offloading/trading etc the remainder of my cards. Then I will have the decks if I decide to play or get bored, right? Or go play online...por erhaps, the game isn't for me after all..
Let's take a look at some factors.
Travelling 3+ hours via train on SCG trial/GP trial days and/or GP weekends
just to play (and lose constantly) isn't really an astronomical way to "enjoy" the game or even get anything out of it. Don't get me wrong, I do like the game, but to have to go to such ordeals just to play for 4-5 minutes of a 50 minute round..this seems...I don't know.
I am really not good pilot. Sure, I could fart about and spend $800 (or $1100 on our prices) on a deck ripped from the Top8 sites, but it's like putting a child who can't drive inside a Ferrari. I've been playing for so long and get beaten by teen girls playing budget Slivers..:rolleyes:
The last GP was interstate, and spending 12 hours on a train (one way) and over $1000, I didn't even win ONE game. Spending 8 or so hours a day for 2-3 days playing and not win one game, with nothing to show for the $1000+? No prizes, no cards, not one win, nothing lol. Yeah I don't mind losing as I have said, but LOL to THAT extreme? I could have done the $ into a slot machine and actually had a chance to win something LOL.
Travelling 3+ hours via train on SCG trial/GP trial days and/or GP weekends
just to play (and lose constantly) isn't really an astronomical way to "enjoy" the game or even get anything out of it.
For many people, this is pretty short. I used to travel 2 hours for an FNM-level event. for a GP, I'd put up with 6, or even abroad if the plane ticket were cheap enough.
The last GP was interstate, and spending 12 hours on a train (one way) and over $1000, I didn't even win ONE game. Spending 8 or so hours a day for 2-3 days playing and not win one game, with nothing to show for the $1000+? No prizes, no cards, not one win, nothing lol. Yeah I don't mind losing as I have said, but LOL to THAT extreme? I could have done the $ into a slot machine and actually had a chance to win something LOL.
If you're looking at MtG as an investment, yes, then the game is not for you. Only the very best of pros make money off winning, probably less than .01% of the total playing population. The rest are like you, spending hundreds to thousands of dollars on both deck and transportation, without even coming close to breaking even.
You play MtG because you enjoy playing MtG, not because you can win money. Play casually.
I think we could use some context here. Questions I have:
1) What does your local play experience look like? Do you have an FNM? A local playgroup?
2) What format(s) are you trying to play?
If you can't compete at a GP/Open/whatever, you probably need to spend more time practicing ahead of time. If your local scene/playgroup doesn't provide you the resources to do this, then you may have a point. You've said you're not a great pilot, but in order to be one, you need to play and figure out how to pilot well. No one is born knowing how to drive, but that doesn't mean you can't drive a ferrari ever.
If you've decided the competitive scene isn't for you, maybe you need to try some other play experience. Take up EDH, for example. It's a great way to get familiar with cards and interactions while playing in a primarily fun/casual style.
MTGO is an option if you don't have a local playgroup, and it definitely cuts out the travel factor, but it does have problems of its own.
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If you're looking at MtG as an investment, yes, then the game is not for you. Only the very best of pros make money off winning, probably less than .01% of the total playing population.
No. More concerned about the waste of $ factor in the incident.
You play MtG because you enjoy playing MtG, not because you can win money.
If I wanted to try and win MONEY, I would gamble. Anyone can do that, regardless of skill.
1) What does your local play experience look like? Do you have an FNM? A local playgroup?
The local play is at the 3 hour away place lol. Mostly pros and advanced players there.
If your closest "local" play area is 3hrs away then you should definitely try playing online. That's what I did for a couple of years when I was living overseas in a country with zero Magic presence. It doesn't measure up to playing IRL, but it scratches the same basic itch.
If you try it and don't like it...then I would probably just quit. That or try and take some initiative and start a local play group of your own. If the closest shop is 3hrs away you could have an opportunity on your hands.
I need...help or some suggestions I think. (Abuse/flame can be directed to my inbox). I think this was on the cards (no pun intended).
What I have thought of doing, perhaps making 2 semi-playable decks, and just offloading/trading etc the remainder of my cards. Then I will have the decks if I decide to play or get bored, right? Or go play online...por erhaps, the game isn't for me after all..
Let's take a look at some factors.
Travelling 3+ hours via train on SCG trial/GP trial days and/or GP weekends
just to play (and lose constantly) isn't really an astronomical way to "enjoy" the game or even get anything out of it. Don't get me wrong, I do like the game, but to have to go to such ordeals just to play for 4-5 minutes of a 50 minute round..this seems...I don't know.
I am really not good pilot. Sure, I could fart about and spend $800 (or $1100 on our prices) on a deck ripped from the Top8 sites, but it's like putting a child who can't drive inside a Ferrari. I've been playing for so long and get beaten by teen girls playing budget Slivers..:rolleyes:
The last GP was interstate, and spending 12 hours on a train (one way) and over $1000, I didn't even win ONE game. Spending 8 or so hours a day for 2-3 days playing and not win one game, with nothing to show for the $1000+? No prizes, no cards, not one win, nothing lol. Yeah I don't mind losing as I have said, but LOL to THAT extreme? I could have done the $ into a slot machine and actually had a chance to win something LOL.
*shrugs*
Aren't there any LGS near you? Never mind the GP. You can enjoy Magic even
with just FNM, heck you can even enjoy it by just playing casually.
If there's no LGS near you then I'll concede you're better off playing MTG Online.
I tried playing online, and because I am not very good (forget timing, stacks, certain steps etc) people ill on me expect me to be a pro.
(Example: He attacks with a 1/1 and a 3/3. I block the 1/1 with my Experiment One, THEN play Advent of the Wurm and block the 3/3. I thought my Experiemt would evolve to 2/2 and kill the 1/1 and live, but apparantly I can't do it like that)
One main reason I play big events is to...well see people. I don't have friends lol.
I tried playing online, and because I am not very good (forget timing, stacks, certain steps etc) people ill on me expect me to be a pro.
(Example: He attacks with a 1/1 and a 3/3. I block the 1/1 with my Experiment One, THEN play Advent of the Wurm and block the 3/3. I thought my Experiemt would evolve to 2/2 and kill the 1/1 and live, but apparantly I can't do it like that)
One main reason I play big events is to...well see people. I don't have friends lol.
You can't block one thing, then play something, then block another thing for obvious reasons (combat is as structured as the rest of the turn - you can't just do things in whatever order you want). That said, you could have played Wurm after he declared attackers, before you declared blockers. You would still "surprise" him with a 2/2 Experiment One.
Not to be rude, but I honestly have to question why you would spend $1,000 to go play competitive MTG when you're clearly pretty new or never actually bothered to learn the rules. I love poker and have been playing it with my friends for over ten years, but I'm still not going to spend $10,000 to get into the WSOP.
More importantly, MTGO would help you understand this sort of thing. It only takes one instance of declaring blockers, then trying to flash in a creature to block and not being allowed to do so (they wouldn't let you do this in paper, either, you know) before you learn never to try it again. I swear everyone should play online, at least just using the practice decks for free. It helps you understand phases, the stack and certain card interactions that are regularly questioned here, despite being game basics.
He [my opponent] attacks with a 1/1 and a 3/3. I block the 1/1 with my [unevolved] Experiment One, THEN [I] play Advent of the Wurm and block the 3/3. I thought my Experiemt would evolve to 2/2 and kill the 1/1 and live, but apparantly I can't do it like that)
(edited it some-what for readability)
This is fundemental turn-sequencing understanding.
Kind of concerns me in a way too. But back in the day I never played competitively, was mostly "house" or "beginners" things.
I understand. It wasn't until a bunch of FNMs and serious playtesting that I drilled rules, triggers, etc into my head. It is just like any other sports - training is the key to success. Which means - knowing the meta, how to sideboard, how to increase first match-up win %s, know other decks and their interactions, etc. Even from set to set things change dramatically (for standard that is).
Reading all this I think you shouldn't try to play competitively... YET. Also you need to understand that everybody makes mistakes and MTG also has a huge luck factor so if you only play couple games at GP, it says absolutely nothing about your skills. I would definitely recommend playing more online to get more experience and confidence and don't care about the chat. Also try to analyze your mistakes: You gave that example mistake with Experiment One and Advent of the Wurm. That's fine, it was a practice game anyways. Next you need to learn how to do it properly and you're already a little bit better piloting that GW aggro deck of yours... After one month you will be MUCH better with it, I can guarantee that.
Online helped a lot understanding timing, turn procedure, and decks/card choices.
I am really not good pilot. Sure, I could fart about and spend $800 (or $1100 on our prices) on a deck ripped from the Top8 sites, but it's like putting a child who can't drive inside a Ferrari. I've been playing for so long and get beaten by teen girls playing budget Slivers..:rolleyes:
This, I think, is probably a significant part of your problem. Not that you need to drop 100s of dollars on a deck, but good decks win events and bad decks don't. If your not playing a good deck, then you're setting yourself up for failure before you even begin. Doubly so if your playskill is average or below.
Also a player's gender really has no bearing on skill level.
The last Australasian gp was modern format, and not an environment I would walk into without a significant amount of preparation, something your post implies you neglected.
Finally, magic is a game of variance as much as skill. Eg: one of the X-0 players at the gp managed to not win a single match day 2.
I understand. It wasn't until a bunch of FNMs and serious playtesting that I drilled rules, triggers, etc into my head. It is just like any other sports - training is the key to success. Which means - knowing the meta, how to sideboard, how to increase first match-up win %s, know other decks and their interactions, etc. Even from set to set things change dramatically (for standard that is).
Which is why everyone should play with the free MTGO decks briefly early on. It teaches you so much and helps you conceptualize things. So many stack questions are answered before being asked simply by picturing it the way MTGO does it. Similarly, cards like Daxos and Nightveil Spectre have questions asked about them that are so simple to understand if you see the way they do it there (where the card is exiled "behind" that copy of the card - making it obvious that they can't share and recasting it doesn't give you access to the old exiled spells). Plus, it lets you know what sorts of abilities trigger and go on the stack (and can be responded to) and what don't - for example, it shows you that costs and mana abilities of all sorts can't be responded to, but the abilities they trigger can.
Which is why everyone should play with the free MTGO decks briefly early on. It teaches you so much and helps you conceptualize things. So many stack questions are answered before being asked simply by picturing it the way MTGO does it. Similarly, cards like Daxos and Nightveil Spectre have questions asked about them that are so simple to understand if you see the way they do it there (where the card is exiled "behind" that copy of the card - making it obvious that they can't share and recasting it doesn't give you access to the old exiled spells). Plus, it lets you know what sorts of abilities trigger and go on the stack (and can be responded to) and what don't - for example, it shows you that costs and mana abilities of all sorts can't be responded to, but the abilities they trigger can.
Plus the ORCs (aka MODs) answer rule questions quite fast.
Also a player's gender really has no bearing on skill level
Wasn't my intention, sorry, did not mean it to come across like that. I will rephrase: After playing 18 years or what not, I get beaten by young teens who have played maybe a couple times, once or twice in a Game Day, with a budget sliver deck. That doesn't say a lot for me.
Another thing is, sure I have a few good cards but not enough to make a solid deck. I have trouble getting cards (Australian prices are way above US, and we can't just walk into any store like you guys and ask for 4x every planeswalker and 4x Verdict/Anger of the Gods etc).
Also, I have cards that just sit there, that don't interact with others like a set of Loxodon Smiter, set of Fleecemane Lion etc. But what good are the lions if I can NOT get Voice of Resurgence?
The last Australasian gp
Was that the Sydney one? I was there. All I played against was Bant (Thragtusk, Angel, etc)
Another thing is, sure I have a few good cards but not enough to make a solid deck. I have trouble getting cards (Australian prices are way above US, and we can't just walk into any store like you guys and ask for 4x every planeswalker and 4x Verdict/Anger of the Gods etc).
have you tried ordering online? You can probably get allot of singles that way.
Competitive playing, like traveling to GPs, is a luxury reserved for MTG players who have both time and money to burn.
You would have to realize that by traveling to a GP, your purpose isn't limited to playing MTG. A part of the experience is also the traveling and having a mini vacation of some sort. Naturally it would entail vacation-like expenses. If you don't see yourself being able to afford a vacation every month or so don't play competitively anymore.
3 hours to get to a LGS? If that was my situation I'd either go all in on MTGO or quit playing. You're crazy dedicated. I appreciate my LGS all the more now.
My advice is to try to make MTGO work for you. Maybe try to cultivate an online group or join one which matches your preferences and playstyle. You can't be the only one in this situation, maybe there needs to be a magic support group for people who are living out away without LGS support?
You have an uphill battle and you have my sympathies and admiration for sticking to this game.
This thread looks like it was created to vent rather than ask for help or suggestions, thus there doesn't appear to be an actual topic for discussion here. With that said, I'm going to go ahead and close this thread.
I would suggest checking out our Blogs feature if you do feel the need to vent about issues that relate more to you personally than the game itself.
What I have thought of doing, perhaps making 2 semi-playable decks, and just offloading/trading etc the remainder of my cards. Then I will have the decks if I decide to play or get bored, right? Or go play online...por erhaps, the game isn't for me after all..
Let's take a look at some factors.
Travelling 3+ hours via train on SCG trial/GP trial days and/or GP weekends
just to play (and lose constantly) isn't really an astronomical way to "enjoy" the game or even get anything out of it. Don't get me wrong, I do like the game, but to have to go to such ordeals just to play for 4-5 minutes of a 50 minute round..this seems...I don't know.
I am really not good pilot. Sure, I could fart about and spend $800 (or $1100 on our prices) on a deck ripped from the Top8 sites, but it's like putting a child who can't drive inside a Ferrari. I've been playing for so long and get beaten by teen girls playing budget Slivers..:rolleyes:
The last GP was interstate, and spending 12 hours on a train (one way) and over $1000, I didn't even win ONE game. Spending 8 or so hours a day for 2-3 days playing and not win one game, with nothing to show for the $1000+? No prizes, no cards, not one win, nothing lol. Yeah I don't mind losing as I have said, but LOL to THAT extreme? I could have done the $ into a slot machine and actually had a chance to win something LOL.
*shrugs*
If you're looking at MtG as an investment, yes, then the game is not for you. Only the very best of pros make money off winning, probably less than .01% of the total playing population. The rest are like you, spending hundreds to thousands of dollars on both deck and transportation, without even coming close to breaking even.
You play MtG because you enjoy playing MtG, not because you can win money. Play casually.
"Sometimes, the situation is outracing a threat, sometimes it's ignoring it, and sometimes it involves sideboarding in 4x Hope//Pray." --Doug Linn
1) What does your local play experience look like? Do you have an FNM? A local playgroup?
2) What format(s) are you trying to play?
If you can't compete at a GP/Open/whatever, you probably need to spend more time practicing ahead of time. If your local scene/playgroup doesn't provide you the resources to do this, then you may have a point. You've said you're not a great pilot, but in order to be one, you need to play and figure out how to pilot well. No one is born knowing how to drive, but that doesn't mean you can't drive a ferrari ever.
If you've decided the competitive scene isn't for you, maybe you need to try some other play experience. Take up EDH, for example. It's a great way to get familiar with cards and interactions while playing in a primarily fun/casual style.
MTGO is an option if you don't have a local playgroup, and it definitely cuts out the travel factor, but it does have problems of its own.
Currently Playing:
Legacy: Something U/W Controlish
EDH Cube
Hypercube! A New EDH Deck Every Week(ish)!
No. More concerned about the waste of $ factor in the incident.
If I wanted to try and win MONEY, I would gamble. Anyone can do that, regardless of skill.
The local play is at the 3 hour away place lol. Mostly pros and advanced players there.
Standard.
If you try it and don't like it...then I would probably just quit. That or try and take some initiative and start a local play group of your own. If the closest shop is 3hrs away you could have an opportunity on your hands.
Aren't there any LGS near you? Never mind the GP. You can enjoy Magic even
with just FNM, heck you can even enjoy it by just playing casually.
If there's no LGS near you then I'll concede you're better off playing MTG Online.
(Example: He attacks with a 1/1 and a 3/3. I block the 1/1 with my Experiment One, THEN play Advent of the Wurm and block the 3/3. I thought my Experiemt would evolve to 2/2 and kill the 1/1 and live, but apparantly I can't do it like that)
One main reason I play big events is to...well see people. I don't have friends lol.
You can't block one thing, then play something, then block another thing for obvious reasons (combat is as structured as the rest of the turn - you can't just do things in whatever order you want). That said, you could have played Wurm after he declared attackers, before you declared blockers. You would still "surprise" him with a 2/2 Experiment One.
Not to be rude, but I honestly have to question why you would spend $1,000 to go play competitive MTG when you're clearly pretty new or never actually bothered to learn the rules. I love poker and have been playing it with my friends for over ten years, but I'm still not going to spend $10,000 to get into the WSOP.
More importantly, MTGO would help you understand this sort of thing. It only takes one instance of declaring blockers, then trying to flash in a creature to block and not being allowed to do so (they wouldn't let you do this in paper, either, you know) before you learn never to try it again. I swear everyone should play online, at least just using the practice decks for free. It helps you understand phases, the stack and certain card interactions that are regularly questioned here, despite being game basics.
Be my guest, the first replier has already lol.
Travel, accomodation, food, tournament entries
I have been playing since Ice Age block and Judges tell me for a learning experience.
We have 1 GP a year also and a few SCGP trials also, same.
ok, this concerns me after reading:
(edited it some-what for readability)
This is fundemental turn-sequencing understanding.
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list
Kind of concerns me in a way too. But back in the day I never played competitively, was mostly "house" or "beginners" things.
I understand. It wasn't until a bunch of FNMs and serious playtesting that I drilled rules, triggers, etc into my head. It is just like any other sports - training is the key to success. Which means - knowing the meta, how to sideboard, how to increase first match-up win %s, know other decks and their interactions, etc. Even from set to set things change dramatically (for standard that is).
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list
Online helped a lot understanding timing, turn procedure, and decks/card choices.
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list
This, I think, is probably a significant part of your problem. Not that you need to drop 100s of dollars on a deck, but good decks win events and bad decks don't. If your not playing a good deck, then you're setting yourself up for failure before you even begin. Doubly so if your playskill is average or below.
Also a player's gender really has no bearing on skill level.
The last Australasian gp was modern format, and not an environment I would walk into without a significant amount of preparation, something your post implies you neglected.
Finally, magic is a game of variance as much as skill. Eg: one of the X-0 players at the gp managed to not win a single match day 2.
Which is why everyone should play with the free MTGO decks briefly early on. It teaches you so much and helps you conceptualize things. So many stack questions are answered before being asked simply by picturing it the way MTGO does it. Similarly, cards like Daxos and Nightveil Spectre have questions asked about them that are so simple to understand if you see the way they do it there (where the card is exiled "behind" that copy of the card - making it obvious that they can't share and recasting it doesn't give you access to the old exiled spells). Plus, it lets you know what sorts of abilities trigger and go on the stack (and can be responded to) and what don't - for example, it shows you that costs and mana abilities of all sorts can't be responded to, but the abilities they trigger can.
Plus the ORCs (aka MODs) answer rule questions quite fast.
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list
Wasn't my intention, sorry, did not mean it to come across like that. I will rephrase: After playing 18 years or what not, I get beaten by young teens who have played maybe a couple times, once or twice in a Game Day, with a budget sliver deck. That doesn't say a lot for me.
Another thing is, sure I have a few good cards but not enough to make a solid deck. I have trouble getting cards (Australian prices are way above US, and we can't just walk into any store like you guys and ask for 4x every planeswalker and 4x Verdict/Anger of the Gods etc).
Also, I have cards that just sit there, that don't interact with others like a set of Loxodon Smiter, set of Fleecemane Lion etc. But what good are the lions if I can NOT get Voice of Resurgence?
Was that the Sydney one? I was there. All I played against was Bant (Thragtusk, Angel, etc)
The one he appears to be talking about was in Brisbane. I don't see a Constructed Sydney GP ever. Are you sure that's where it was?
Spam warning issued. -Xen
Just forgive him. He's probably stressed out for losing. And everyone else gave him good advices on that.
Nothing Slowly collecting cards for Esper Control.
You would have to realize that by traveling to a GP, your purpose isn't limited to playing MTG. A part of the experience is also the traveling and having a mini vacation of some sort. Naturally it would entail vacation-like expenses. If you don't see yourself being able to afford a vacation every month or so don't play competitively anymore.
My advice is to try to make MTGO work for you. Maybe try to cultivate an online group or join one which matches your preferences and playstyle. You can't be the only one in this situation, maybe there needs to be a magic support group for people who are living out away without LGS support?
You have an uphill battle and you have my sympathies and admiration for sticking to this game.
I would suggest checking out our Blogs feature if you do feel the need to vent about issues that relate more to you personally than the game itself.
Thread closed.
(Also known as Xenphire)