So I will be entering my first tournament larger than an FNM in two weeks at Cincinnati. I have a few questions before I go about what it is like.
1. Do I need to bring my own playmat, dice, tokens, counters, ect? Or do they provide them like I see on SCG Live?
2. What can I expect from the other players? I have heard stories around my shop that make me cringe. Like opponent purposefully shuffling your cards in order to break your sleeves and get you a game loss for delay. Should I be prepared to face ********s all day long?
3. How much stuff can I expect to carry with me to every table? Currently at FNM's I take my ultra pro bag, my playmat, paper and pen, a second bag with my binders in it, my jacket and sometimes sunglasses. That sounds like a lot, should I be cutting back?
4. I would like to bring my video camera and tape some of my matches, or just my experience at my first major event. Is it likely that this is allowed? Is it worth it to bring even more stuff to the table and take time to set it up?
Anything you can help me with I would very much appreciate it. I am kind of nervous about this one and do not want to come home with a lame story like I got DQed round 1 for something technical that I didn't even know about. Thank you for anything!
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Bring back Transmute as a U/B mechanic and take your mill back to the depths of hell where it came from!
1. Bring your own stuff. Not every match will get its own judge and that little hand who replaces your dice with the easier to see white dice every time.
2. If anyone hassles you, get a judge. Don't expect your opponent to have your best interest at heart.
3. It will be a huge convention center and a lot of tables with not a lot of room. I'll have one bag that will hold my deck, a binder, and a water bottle. Don't bring so much stuff that you'll struggle through crowds or be unable to keep track of it all whilst playing. You don't want to be crowding other folks, having them trip over your stuff, or risk your stuff being stolen.
4. I doubt you'll have time to set stuff up each round like that. If you're really wanting to do something like this, just keep notes.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
One of these day I have to get myself organizized.
And as for dice i would bring cheap plain white dice, nothing fancy. And a pad, pen and extra sleeves. If your opponent seems to be handling your deck ruffly (on purpose) that might break your sleeve like he said above call for a judge. They can get in trouble too.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Just my 2 cents worth
EDH Decks
[red] Krenko, Mob boss
[Green][/White] Sigarda, Host of Hero
I think I will just bring my backpack with the one deck I will be playing, my trade binder, playmat, dice, pen and paper. Trying to keep it down to one bag. Maybe I will still bring my camera but just try and tape some random stuff between rounds and when I get there. Any other advice you guys can give?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Bring back Transmute as a U/B mechanic and take your mill back to the depths of hell where it came from!
For the most part, you'll probably want to keep your backpack between your feet while playing a match. This keeps it out of the isle so no one trips on it, and also makes it less likely to be stolen. It also keeps it out of the way of other players. Some people will even suggest that you put a leg/foot through one of the straps to further reduce the possibility of it being stolen, though I can't say that I'm a fan of doing that myself.
It sounds like I carry a similar setup to you normally (Ultra Pro bag for decks, bag for binders, playmat). I clear enough decks out of my Ultra Pro bag and leave them in my hotel room that I can carry all of my Magic supplies in it (playmat, dice, pen/paper, primary deck for each format, water additive). While still playing in the tournament I leave my binders in the hotel room, because there are usually plenty of things to do besides trade between rounds anyway.
As far as other advice; it's hard to enjoy anything when you're tired, hungry, and/or thirsty. Get a good night's sleep the night before the tournament and make sure you stay fed and hydrated; I promise it will be much more enjoyable that way. I also recommend bringing extra cash, but I personally have a weakness for foils to put in my pet decks. You may not have that problem like I do.
Just some advice: Some of the people you face will be very nice, and some, to put it mildly, will not. It's often hard to tell the difference, so unless they do something completely reprehensible (for example, one of my opponents at GP Vancouver came up to me after I lost my win and in for day 2, then pumped his fist when I said I had), assume they're of the nice variety. And don't be shocked if something like that happens to you.
I like putting the leg of my chair through a strap on my backpack. It keeps the bag safe, but also doesn't cause discomfort during the game.
GP Cincinnati will be my first big event as well. I plan to take a backpack with just my deckbox, a binder, and a water bottle around with me. I may end up with just my deckbox and water bottle though. I like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and assume their a nice, reasonable person until proven otherwise. If we ended up facing each other I would have no problem with you setting up the camera as long as you weren't late getting to the match.
GP Cincinnati will be my first large event (GP) as well.
How does a two day tournament work exactly? I know X-2 makes cut to second day, but I was curious if anyone knew how pairings/tie-breakers are handled going into day #2.
Super excited. I have been testing the deck I will play for a month now, and just went 3/0/1 last week at a very small tournament. However, I am considering some last minute changes. Should I just go with what is working right now? Or should I go for more raw power (Replacing the two daxos of melitis with two brimaz in esper humans). I kind of don't want to change anything because I have done so much testing and know how my deck works right now. But I have not played against a lot of mono black and currently everything in my deck would be swept away by a drown in sorrow.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Bring back Transmute as a U/B mechanic and take your mill back to the depths of hell where it came from!
Super excited. I have been testing the deck I will play for a month now, and just went 3/0/1 last week at a very small tournament. However, I am considering some last minute changes. Should I just go with what is working right now? Or should I go for more raw power (Replacing the two daxos of melitis with two brimaz in esper humans). I kind of don't want to change anything because I have done so much testing and know how my deck works right now. But I have not played against a lot of mono black and currently everything in my deck would be swept away by a drown in sorrow.
I would bring in Brimaz if you're that vulnerable to Drown in Sorrow. Not to mention he's amazing in almost every matchup.
Not sure if someone else mentioned it, but your camera won't be allowed at a GP. You sign a media release (or your parent will if you're under 18) that gives WotC exclusive rights to media related to the event. You can take notes on your games and report them back, but you won't be allowed to tape them.
1. Do I need to bring my own playmat, dice, tokens, counters, ect? Or do they provide them like I see on SCG Live?
2. What can I expect from the other players? I have heard stories around my shop that make me cringe. Like opponent purposefully shuffling your cards in order to break your sleeves and get you a game loss for delay. Should I be prepared to face ********s all day long?
3. How much stuff can I expect to carry with me to every table? Currently at FNM's I take my ultra pro bag, my playmat, paper and pen, a second bag with my binders in it, my jacket and sometimes sunglasses. That sounds like a lot, should I be cutting back?
4. I would like to bring my video camera and tape some of my matches, or just my experience at my first major event. Is it likely that this is allowed? Is it worth it to bring even more stuff to the table and take time to set it up?
Anything you can help me with I would very much appreciate it. I am kind of nervous about this one and do not want to come home with a lame story like I got DQed round 1 for something technical that I didn't even know about. Thank you for anything!
2. If anyone hassles you, get a judge. Don't expect your opponent to have your best interest at heart.
3. It will be a huge convention center and a lot of tables with not a lot of room. I'll have one bag that will hold my deck, a binder, and a water bottle. Don't bring so much stuff that you'll struggle through crowds or be unable to keep track of it all whilst playing. You don't want to be crowding other folks, having them trip over your stuff, or risk your stuff being stolen.
4. I doubt you'll have time to set stuff up each round like that. If you're really wanting to do something like this, just keep notes.
EDH Decks
[red] Krenko, Mob boss
[Green][/White] Sigarda, Host of Hero
It sounds like I carry a similar setup to you normally (Ultra Pro bag for decks, bag for binders, playmat). I clear enough decks out of my Ultra Pro bag and leave them in my hotel room that I can carry all of my Magic supplies in it (playmat, dice, pen/paper, primary deck for each format, water additive). While still playing in the tournament I leave my binders in the hotel room, because there are usually plenty of things to do besides trade between rounds anyway.
As far as other advice; it's hard to enjoy anything when you're tired, hungry, and/or thirsty. Get a good night's sleep the night before the tournament and make sure you stay fed and hydrated; I promise it will be much more enjoyable that way. I also recommend bringing extra cash, but I personally have a weakness for foils to put in my pet decks. You may not have that problem like I do.
Commander
WUBRG Child of Alara Pod
UR Izzet Storm - WB Ayli Cleric Tribal
BG Frog Dredge - GW Saffi's Value Town
WU Brago Tokens - BRG Karrthus Control
I like putting the leg of my chair through a strap on my backpack. It keeps the bag safe, but also doesn't cause discomfort during the game.
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/developing-competitive-modern/598381-kiki-chord-kiki-company
Bring to Niv
https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/deck-creation-modern/814060-bring-to-niv-the-golden-deck
Legacy - Lands
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/legacy-type-1-5/established-legacy/control/535484-primer-lands
How does a two day tournament work exactly? I know X-2 makes cut to second day, but I was curious if anyone knew how pairings/tie-breakers are handled going into day #2.
Twitter: twitter.com/axmanonline
Stream: twitch.tv/axman
Current Decks
Modern: Affinity
Standard: BW Control
Legacy: Death and Taxes :symw::symr:
Vintage: NA
I would bring in Brimaz if you're that vulnerable to Drown in Sorrow. Not to mention he's amazing in almost every matchup.
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/developing-competitive-modern/598381-kiki-chord-kiki-company
Bring to Niv
https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/deck-creation-modern/814060-bring-to-niv-the-golden-deck
Legacy - Lands
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/legacy-type-1-5/established-legacy/control/535484-primer-lands