Me and my girlfriend are going to GP Vancouver in a week. I went last year and did the main event (limited, made day two, but didn't get into prizes) and then did a commander game afterwards, that was a pretty excellent deal in terms of packs per dollar. Prizes were equal whether you won or lost, so it was 100% casual. The one game I played I played with my PDH wirewood symbiote deck. Some of the other decks were pretty good, but mostly of the goodstuff, 75% variety, not tuned combo decks.
This year, I won't be doing the main event as it's modern and I don't have a deck or the inclination to learn modern. But remembering how many side events there were, and how good the payouts were, and just the general fun of going to a GP and the relatively short travel time, I talked my gf into going along too.
However, this year I notice that the payouts for commander are structured a bit differently - winner gets 8 packs, losers get 4. So it's not a HUGE benefit to win, but it's certainly going to be a motivating factor for some folks. In addition, there's a big commander tournament or two with a more significant entry fee and significant prizes on the line for top finishes.
My question is - has anyone been to a GP and done commander side events where there were packs on the line? How competitive should I expect this to be - a bunch of precons, a bunch of goodstuff UG decks, or nothing but HD/ad nauseam/doomsday/etc? I'm assuming the big tourneys will be dominated by competitive combo decks, but I'm hoping that won't necessarily bleed into the small side events. But, I don't have experience with this sort of thing. I'd like to get a deck ready before the event, and my preference would by my phelddagrif deck, but if I'm going to need to build something nasty then I guess I can put together something nasty instead. Still doubt I'd do amazingly in the big tourney as I don't have experience with the competitive meta though. Might just be better if we stuck to the limited events if all the events are likely to be hyper competitive.
EDIT: additional question - do people know if we can sort of pick and choose who we play with? If we're able to ask if people are playing combo decks first, it might work out, but if it's just random opponents I don't want to always sit down across from zur and arcum or whatever.
a couple of friends did some commander side events recently at one and hated it.
prize support didn't make it worth it
almost every game was apparently along the lines of one of them having the most tuned competitive decks at the table while two other people had some casual-kitchen-table style edh deck with the fourth guy playing something stupid like beebles tribal that wins by flinging atogs, so they'd generally dominate the pod no contest and then people would get angry.
I've played Commander side events at a few GPs (all in Montreal). The competitive events are degenerate. Be prepared to lose on turn 4 or earlier.
The "casual" pods are hit or miss. Sometimes it is a more casual group of people just trying to have fun, sometimes new to the format. Sometimes there is one very strong deck at the table. Sometimes it's a bunch of people who just lost the competitive event.
The best option I would propose is to find a group of people who want to split packs evenly, or who play at a similar power level, and do multiple pods back to back.
I was pretty frustrated last year at our GP, as I waited a good 45 minutes for my pod to be formed, only for the game to last 15 minutes. I then started drafting and had a lot more fun.
Sorry for sort of hijacking your thread Dirk, but for those of you who've played Commander at GPs before, I'd actually like to interject with a few questions of my own. Do the tournament organizers and other staff members care that you're playing Commander games at their venue? Like, if you're not part of a registered side event? Is that behavior frowned upon, or do folks not care? I've only been to a single GP before (and I was there for only a very brief moment), and the place was absolutely packed. I'm not sure there was a single free table anywhere. Maybe it was just the time I arrived? I don't know. I sometimes think about going to GPs and slinging cards with new faces, but I'm sort of worried about the repercussions.
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WUBRGMr. Bones' Wild RideGRBUW Trap your friends in an endless game with this 23-card combo!
I've been to quite a few GPs as a casual player. No you're more than welcome to play casual non-sanctioned games with your buddies. There're more than enough seats for you to choose from, even better on Day 2 as the main participants are more than halved. Just don't play at areas reserved for tourneys and you'll be fine.
Side events and main event areas are normally split; just play on the side event section.
The fact that people come to play generates curiosity and interest in the game itself. Organizers would be foolish to turn people away. Doesn't matter the format, as long as it's magic it's gonna be an awesome weekend.
Sorry for sort of hijacking your thread Dirk, but for those of you who've played Commander at GPs before, I'd actually like to interject with a few questions of my own. Do the tournament organizers and other staff members care that you're playing Commander games at their venue? Like, if you're not part of a registered side event? Is that behavior frowned upon, or do folks not care? I've only been to a single GP before (and I was there for only a very brief moment), and the place was absolutely packed. I'm not sure there was a single free table anywhere. Maybe it was just the time I arrived? I don't know. I sometimes think about going to GPs and slinging cards with new faces, but I'm sort of worried about the repercussions.
I have had friends bring their cubes to draft, and casual games of commander, etc. Just be careful where you sit! If they have a side event to run and you're at the only table with space, they'll kick you off.
I'd recommend against bringing too much magic armory into a GP. That goes for all players, casual and competitive. Cards/albums go missing all the time.
Just make sure you don't obstruct any of the events going on and the organizers won't mind at all.
That said; I'd never, EVER play in an event where prices are on the line for Commander. Between collusion, insanely tuned decks and shady players there's nothing fun about it.
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
I went to a GP once just to play commander. I paid to get into a single commander event at which point I asked if everyone was ok just keeping their own packs and playing for fun rather than for a prize which we all agreed to do.
After that I was able to find the guys who just wanted to play commander and I played a bunch of fun games and a few unpleasant ones (those were few and far between). I think in general its better to go with fun decks and pick up fun games than it is to go super competative (unless thats your norm I guess).
The one thing I did notice was that it was very hard to get any pickup games of commander until day two sadly. Friday was all events and nobody was doing anything casual yet and the day of the event I also had a hard time finding games. Later the day of the event and in day two was really where I could find games of commander.
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I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
Can't say for GP events, but I've found prizes to ALWAYS have players bringing their A game, so I would assume MOST players who know this prize support to be playing their best decks. My LGS always did top players get prizes and rarely were pods "just for fun".
Don't get your hopes up for casual games, unless you do PUGs...
I went to a GP once just to play commander. I paid to get into a single commander event at which point I asked if everyone was ok just keeping their own packs and playing for fun rather than for a prize which we all agreed to do.
After that I was able to find the guys who just wanted to play commander and I played a bunch of fun games and a few unpleasant ones (those were few and far between). I think in general its better to go with fun decks and pick up fun games than it is to go super competative (unless thats your norm I guess).
The one thing I did notice was that it was very hard to get any pickup games of commander until day two sadly. Friday was all events and nobody was doing anything casual yet and the day of the event I also had a hard time finding games. Later the day of the event and in day two was really where I could find games of commander.
I'm thinking I'll bring 1-2 more casual decks, and one totally insanely brutal no-holds-barred deck. I've never played competitive commander, and although I'm generally opposed to it and believe that competition is the enemy of creativity when it comes to making cool decks, but I feel like I should probably at least try it once. I've got basically all the cards already anyway.
I'm also heading up to GP Vancouver with some friends to do just side events (mostly commander). My hope is to find some like-minded players and play sanctioned events and split the prize pool evenly four ways. That way everyone can just play whatever they're comfortable with. Based on what I'm seeing, the friendly, on-demand events are $20 buy-in (you get 3 packs at that point) and then 40 or 80 gift-wall points depending on if you win/lose. It'll depend a bit on what the gift-wall looks like, but it sounds like dece value.
I'm planning to bring two of my more casual (75% Decks) and one of my more tuned competitive decks just so I can adjust based on the group of people I'm playing with. I'll have a lot more fun playing Borborygmos Enraged or Norin the Wary, but I want to be at least equipped with Karador, Ghost Chieftain if I run into a pod that needs it.
I remember also playing a game just randomly with some players. One of the random guys was playing mono blue and it had combo stuff in it but I think it was mostly kind of fair. Two others sat down with us and they were playing like collusion control where they literally just throw ***** at the two of us all game. I remember giving the other mono blue player a 5 and 0 Fact or Fiction just to middle finger the other two because it was just feaking dumb. In the end the mono blue player pulled it off somehow as he spun up something like x3 mana with capsize and a fully leveled lighthouse chronologist.
That was like my one negative. People coming in to play competitive commander + colluding. That is one reason I would be against paying for pods regardless because getting placed with your friend is dumb.
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I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
This year, I won't be doing the main event as it's modern and I don't have a deck or the inclination to learn modern. But remembering how many side events there were, and how good the payouts were, and just the general fun of going to a GP and the relatively short travel time, I talked my gf into going along too.
However, this year I notice that the payouts for commander are structured a bit differently - winner gets 8 packs, losers get 4. So it's not a HUGE benefit to win, but it's certainly going to be a motivating factor for some folks. In addition, there's a big commander tournament or two with a more significant entry fee and significant prizes on the line for top finishes.
My question is - has anyone been to a GP and done commander side events where there were packs on the line? How competitive should I expect this to be - a bunch of precons, a bunch of goodstuff UG decks, or nothing but HD/ad nauseam/doomsday/etc? I'm assuming the big tourneys will be dominated by competitive combo decks, but I'm hoping that won't necessarily bleed into the small side events. But, I don't have experience with this sort of thing. I'd like to get a deck ready before the event, and my preference would by my phelddagrif deck, but if I'm going to need to build something nasty then I guess I can put together something nasty instead. Still doubt I'd do amazingly in the big tourney as I don't have experience with the competitive meta though. Might just be better if we stuck to the limited events if all the events are likely to be hyper competitive.
EDIT: additional question - do people know if we can sort of pick and choose who we play with? If we're able to ask if people are playing combo decks first, it might work out, but if it's just random opponents I don't want to always sit down across from zur and arcum or whatever.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
prize support didn't make it worth it
almost every game was apparently along the lines of one of them having the most tuned competitive decks at the table while two other people had some casual-kitchen-table style edh deck with the fourth guy playing something stupid like beebles tribal that wins by flinging atogs, so they'd generally dominate the pod no contest and then people would get angry.
The "casual" pods are hit or miss. Sometimes it is a more casual group of people just trying to have fun, sometimes new to the format. Sometimes there is one very strong deck at the table. Sometimes it's a bunch of people who just lost the competitive event.
The best option I would propose is to find a group of people who want to split packs evenly, or who play at a similar power level, and do multiple pods back to back.
I was pretty frustrated last year at our GP, as I waited a good 45 minutes for my pod to be formed, only for the game to last 15 minutes. I then started drafting and had a lot more fun.
Good luck!
8.RG Green Devotion Ramp/Combo 9.UR Draw Triggers 10.WUR Group stalling 11.WUR Voltron Spellslinger 12.WB Sacrificial Shenanigans
13.BR Creatureless Panharmonicon 14.BR Pingers and Eldrazi 15.URG Untapped Cascading
16.Reyhan, last of the Abzan's WUBG +1/+1 Counter Craziness 17.WUBRG Dragons aka Why did I make this?
Building: The Gitrog Monster lands, Glissa the Traitor stax, Muldrotha, the Gravetide Planeswalker Combo, Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix + Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa Clues, and Tribal Scarecrow Planeswalkers
Trap your friends in an endless game with this 23-card combo!
Side events and main event areas are normally split; just play on the side event section.
The fact that people come to play generates curiosity and interest in the game itself. Organizers would be foolish to turn people away. Doesn't matter the format, as long as it's magic it's gonna be an awesome weekend.
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
I have had friends bring their cubes to draft, and casual games of commander, etc. Just be careful where you sit! If they have a side event to run and you're at the only table with space, they'll kick you off.
8.RG Green Devotion Ramp/Combo 9.UR Draw Triggers 10.WUR Group stalling 11.WUR Voltron Spellslinger 12.WB Sacrificial Shenanigans
13.BR Creatureless Panharmonicon 14.BR Pingers and Eldrazi 15.URG Untapped Cascading
16.Reyhan, last of the Abzan's WUBG +1/+1 Counter Craziness 17.WUBRG Dragons aka Why did I make this?
Building: The Gitrog Monster lands, Glissa the Traitor stax, Muldrotha, the Gravetide Planeswalker Combo, Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix + Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa Clues, and Tribal Scarecrow Planeswalkers
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
That said; I'd never, EVER play in an event where prices are on the line for Commander. Between collusion, insanely tuned decks and shady players there's nothing fun about it.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
After that I was able to find the guys who just wanted to play commander and I played a bunch of fun games and a few unpleasant ones (those were few and far between). I think in general its better to go with fun decks and pick up fun games than it is to go super competative (unless thats your norm I guess).
The one thing I did notice was that it was very hard to get any pickup games of commander until day two sadly. Friday was all events and nobody was doing anything casual yet and the day of the event I also had a hard time finding games. Later the day of the event and in day two was really where I could find games of commander.
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[Modern] Allies
Don't get your hopes up for casual games, unless you do PUGs...
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
I'm planning to bring two of my more casual (75% Decks) and one of my more tuned competitive decks just so I can adjust based on the group of people I'm playing with. I'll have a lot more fun playing Borborygmos Enraged or Norin the Wary, but I want to be at least equipped with Karador, Ghost Chieftain if I run into a pod that needs it.
R Norin the Wary: I've Got a Bad Feeling About This
UG Thrasios & Kydele: Knowledge is Power
RG Borborygmos Enraged: The Breaking of the World
BG The Gitrog Monster: All Glory to the Hypnotoad
WUR Zedruu the Greathearted: Endless Possibilities, One Outcome
WBG Karador, Ghost Chieftain: What's Dead May Never Die
Turn your junk into something great with PucaTrade!
That was like my one negative. People coming in to play competitive commander + colluding. That is one reason I would be against paying for pods regardless because getting placed with your friend is dumb.
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[Modern] Allies