It is frustrating when that happens. The thing is, commanders like Riku or Ghave, they are the precon commanders. Tons of people out there have decks with them, but in a small group of maybe six people it seems like it would not be an issue. We have been playing together for over two years, and he had never once produced a Ghave or Riku deck. He had never even once mentioned having a deck with either of those legendaries, and when I was feeling inspired to make something new Riku really jumped out at me. I don't think it was until he realized just how strong my Riku deck was starting to shape up to be that he decided to make his own. He would text me constantly, gloating about how awesome it was, even after I told him it irritated me. He proceeded to do much the same about Ghave after claiming to have already had a Ghave deck as well.
It's alright though. I've had a lot of input for my Teneb deck, and it is starting to shape up to be better than both of those ideas were anyway. That's life though. Sometimes great ideas fall apart, and even greater ones are born.
I had a similar problem with a band buddy in high school. I had a comparatively crappy Jund deck at the time, but for me at that time it was my best deck. Towards the end of the year, he mentioned that he had been thinking about building his own version of the deck, and I stupidly encouraged him.
His version ended up trouncing my version, and I dismantled it. Also, he got a Dragon deck for free from his dad, so I was just right narked off, lol.
I built a mono-black vampire deck that could actually go toe to toe with his decks, but then we moved away from playing Magic (it was our Freshman year of college at this point, during ZEN). He also went on a Mission for the Mormon Church, so he hasn't been around.
It didn't get to actual Fallout like your situation, but I felt kinda close to it. I think it's good he went on that Mission; it's given me time to cool off, find out what I love about Magic, and to build some kick ass decks. He doesn't want to play EDH? Sucks for him, this format is awesome :D.
Also, if/when he comes back and is similarly inspired by a deck, I will flat-out tell him that if he does want to build a similar deck, I will never want to play against it, see it, talk about it, or anything like that. Find your own damn inspiration for decks. (aimed at my friend, not at you :))
It's alright though. I've had a lot of input for my Teneb deck, and it is starting to shape up to be better than both of those ideas were anyway. That's life though. Sometimes great ideas fall apart, and even greater ones are born.
His version ended up trouncing my version, and I dismantled it. Also, he got a Dragon deck for free from his dad, so I was just right narked off, lol.
I built a mono-black vampire deck that could actually go toe to toe with his decks, but then we moved away from playing Magic (it was our Freshman year of college at this point, during ZEN). He also went on a Mission for the Mormon Church, so he hasn't been around.
It didn't get to actual Fallout like your situation, but I felt kinda close to it. I think it's good he went on that Mission; it's given me time to cool off, find out what I love about Magic, and to build some kick ass decks. He doesn't want to play EDH? Sucks for him, this format is awesome :D.
Also, if/when he comes back and is similarly inspired by a deck, I will flat-out tell him that if he does want to build a similar deck, I will never want to play against it, see it, talk about it, or anything like that. Find your own damn inspiration for decks. (aimed at my friend, not at you :))