Here's the new information. I've bolded the new/interesting stuff.
-----------------------------------------------
When
All Tournaments will be held on the weekend of September 27-28, 2008
Prerelease Tournament Format & Structure
DCI™ sanctioned, Shards of Alara™ Sealed Deck
The structure of the Shards of Alara Prerelease Tournament is modified Swiss-style with a minimum of four rounds (tournaments with 8-players may run three rounds) Single elimination rounds are optional (contact local Organizer for specifics)
Prerelease Entry Fee, Product Mix, & Prizes
Please contact your local Prerelease Tournament Organizer for specific entry fee, prizes, prize payouts, and event information
Entry fee payment will entitle you to, (1) one Shards of Alara tournament pack and (3) three Shards of Alara booster packs (to be used to build your deck) Each location will be provided with 36 Shards of Alara boosters to reward top tournament finishers and volunteers The minimum number of Shards of Alara boosters in the prerelease prize pool for payout is (1) one booster per participant, (please contact your local Organizer for specific prize payouts)
Additional prizes may be available at specific locations
Please contact your local Prerelease Tournament Organizer for specific prize, prizes payout, entry fee, and event information
Prerelease Registration Information Most Prerelease Tournament locations will have a 24-player cap
For additional Prerelease Tournament details, including "pre-registration" information, please contact your local Prerelease Organizer
Prerelease Open Dueling
New Magic: The Gathering™ players have the option to sign up for Open Dueling or participate in the Prerelease Tournament. Open Dueling is an informal and flexible format ideal for new or lapsed Magic players. Entry fee payment will entitle you to, (1) one Intro Pack, (1) one Open Dueling Results Card, and (1) one special Shards of Alara foil promo card (while supplies last). After you complete five matches the Organizer will reward you with one complementary Magic booster pack.
Prerelease Public-Events
In addition to the Prerelease Tournament, some locations may offer Magic Team tournaments and/or 24-Player Flights. All teams must receive the same product mix. Contact your local Prerelease Organizer for specific public-events information. Each 2-person Two-Headed Giant team will receive one (1) tournament pack & five (5) boosters to build two decks
Each 3-person Team will receive two (2) tournament packs & six (6) boosters to build 3 decks
Flights – DCI sanctioned, Shards of Alara Sealed Deck
EDIT: Here's information about Large-scale prerelease events from a TO.
Dear Magic tournament player,
Wizards of the Coast has announced major changes in the pre-release program starting with Shards of Alara. Players will now have the opportunity to play in a pre-release at some of their local game stores as well as at Gray Matter events. But you need to be aware of the differences between them.
Most retail stores are only allowed to run one tournament of 24 players maximum. Once the 24 limit is reached, nobody else can play. Many players will show up at retail stores expecting to play and will be turned away. Gray Matter Conventions is allowed to order product for hundreds of players at each of our Shards of Alara event sites.
The special mythic rare foil card for Shards of Alara is expected to be very popular. Most retail stores are only getting 24 foils. Gray Matter Conventions will be getting hundreds of foils of Ajani Vengeant.
Retail stores are NOT allowed to run team events at all. Gray Matter Conventions will be running either 2-Headed Giant or Trios events at all of our Shards of Alara events.
I think I'm gonna skip this one. I'm not saying Wizards has a bad system in place, I'm just saying that a lot of store owners are going to be disorganized and the logistics probably won't work out. The store I normally go to has somewhere on the order of 40-50 people for release tournaments...which I imagine will be even greater for prerelease. I don't get the 24-player cap, but I'm not really qualified to talk about it since I haven't read the other threads in too much detail, and don't know much about tournament organization.
EDIT: And for anyone who's from Houston, Event Horizons -- our "big prerelease" people -- will be hosting their events at 3rd Coast Cards over in Katy. That's one heck of a drive for most people. Also, I've been there before, and I can tell you it's not that big of a store. Keep that in mind if you plan to make the drive...
EDIT #2: NICE playmat! The "esper chicks" are my favorite pieces of art so far in the set, so I'm very happy with this one. Definitely snagging one of these
The 24 player cap should just be for smaller stores. Any stores with regular large attendance should get more. I'm hoping my store gets at least 48, as we always have 30 or 40+ at release events, and there'd be even more at a PreRelease.
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Tournament Victories:
Indianapolis Regionals 2009 (Standard)
Worldwake Gameday (Limited)
I put my announcements up in the Submit News Folder of the forums, for the general Northwest is hosted by Cascade Games, and my local store (in Renton) is hoding them.. although i'm kinda iffy on which to go to, large or small.
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Ravarshi Kashaku, Ancient Dragon of the Darkened Realms;
The Merciless Lord of Torture, Permanently Bound To: ">[THE PACK] 11/5/63 - 11/25/09 Goodbye mom, i'll always love you...
Fortunately I'm in the Twin Cities which means there will be quite a few shops running events. The real question is showing up early enough so that you can book it 10-20 miles to the next place if they are already full up! Also, nice to see that there will be a nice stack of boosters for prizes if there is a small turn out. If the TO is cool enough everyone might walk away with at least something. Intro Pack open duals might be fun as it will be like a mini-sealed. I suppose if you can't get into the main event there is always the "foil angel lotto."
Huh. the info we got today from WOTC in an email varies a bit, there was no mention of 2HG or the option to use single elimination rounds, it said minimum 4 rounds of swiss unless you have only 8 and then you can do just 3...
and the prize breakdown was not listed as such either. for every 2 boxes of boosters we order, we get 1 full booster box of prize support, but no instructions on how to distribute it have been given yet. we were told we were eligible to get a total of 8 boxes of product, 4 for each day (we get to run one on both sat and sun since we are advanced level). thus, we can have product support for 48 people to play in our sealed each day. the odd thing was though, they are still only giving us one prize kit per day, so we only get 24 promos per day. i wonder how one gets a hold of the play mats? no mention of that was made either. or the t shirts, for that matter.
Yeah the 24 player cap is per prerelease package they get. Granted most stores may only get 1, but if your store has enough regular attendence they'll be able to get more. Also don't feel too bad if you don't get to play, after all it's only a week before the release now so it's not like it'll be that long before you can get your fix. Also some stores might run theirs on Sunday. I know alot of people think Sunday might be a disadvantage, but I actually think they'll be a market for people who are mad they didn't get to play on Sat and will be willing to drive alittle further for Sunday.
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I live in San Francisco. There are only two stores with any room at all for FNM, and only one of them does it. Yet hundreds of us go down south to San Jose for the prerleases. The only store in the city that does it has room for maybe 20. Where do I go? I'm not going there, even if it is 5 blocks from my house. It's a small space. Where do I go? Will Wizards have up a list of places to go? Do I need to call ahead of time? Will we play the reservation game where I show up to a store and the owner says, "hey sorry, cap is at 24 and I got three guys on their way here...but theres a store over in Berkeley".
The problem is, if I go to a place and the cap is reached, im screwed. I show up with ten minutes to spare; now I have to drive to another store in the bay area to play the prerelease. I'll miss it.
I live in San Francisco. There are only two stores with any room at all for FNM, and only one of them does it. Yet hundreds of us go down south to San Jose for the prerleases. The only store in the city that does it has room for maybe 20. Where do I go? I'm not going there, even if it is 5 blocks from my house. It's a small space. Where do I go? Will Wizards have up a list of places to go? Do I need to call ahead of time? Will we play the reservation game where I show up to a store and the owner says, "hey sorry, cap is at 24 and I got three guys on their way here...but theres a store over in Berkeley".
The problem is, if I go to a place and the cap is reached, im screwed. I show up with ten minutes to spare; now I have to drive to another store in the bay area to play the prerelease. I'll miss it.
Shards of Alara marks the first set where Prereleases will be available in numerous game stores across the globe in addition to the more traditional large events.
Which means we should be fine.
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<hotshizle> WINE IN FRONT OF MEAL
<hotshizle> i think
As long as the larger ones aren't affected (in which case the place where I play at won't), it's okay.
But small stores able to run prereleases is something I wanna check out. Might be going around sometime before the PR to check which stores are those in my local area. Should be interesting.
So all that stuff about shards and theme tournements was fake? Thought so. Anyway I doubt this will make much difference to me as my store gets 25+ people for FNM's so their prerelease will probably be a gray matter one.
I live in San Francisco. There are only two stores with any room at all for FNM, and only one of them does it. Yet hundreds of us go down south to San Jose for the prerleases. The only store in the city that does it has room for maybe 20. Where do I go? I'm not going there, even if it is 5 blocks from my house. It's a small space. Where do I go? Will Wizards have up a list of places to go? Do I need to call ahead of time? Will we play the reservation game where I show up to a store and the owner says, "hey sorry, cap is at 24 and I got three guys on their way here...but theres a store over in Berkeley".
The problem is, if I go to a place and the cap is reached, im screwed. I show up with ten minutes to spare; now I have to drive to another store in the bay area to play the prerelease. I'll miss it.
This is stupid as hell.
Yeah i completely agree with ya. I live in Fresno, Ca and there is only one place in the entire central valley, Bakersfield , that is running a tournament and they'll probably be capped at 24 cuz they've never held a tournament before EVER! Disaster Ahoy!
I usually go to the San Jose tournament too, so my question is, will they still even be having one? If so how do i find out what they're cap is? For that matter, does anyone know if there is a way or how i could find out where all the tournaments are and what their caps are?
I must say that this is so dumb that i don't think i'm even going to bother going.
So all that stuff about shards and theme tournements was fake?
No, that's for RELEASE tourney the following week. And, yes... anywhere that held large scale tournies before will do so again, but expect a smaller turnout in most cases.
Is there a list of stores that are now running the Pre-releases somewhere? I'm used to going to a giant event in my city's convention center because it's the only one around, but I wonder if there are other options
Is there a list of stores that are now running the Pre-releases somewhere? I'm used to going to a giant event in my city's convention center because it's the only one around, but I wonder if there are other options
I imagine that wizards will be putting up a listing of stores and locations that are holding the prerelease. They did so for the larger venues.
My store will get enough product for two prerelease packages. We could have run on both saturday and sunday, but I coordinated with the other store in the area and they are going to hold their's on sunday. With two packages, there should be enough for everyone who wants to play to be able to play.
It will be interesting to see how everything shakes out. I know a lot of people in the area who were only able to get in one flight at a prerelease then went back home, so local prereleases make more sense for them and they have been looking forward to it.
This is the way it usually is for the smaller sets in a block (re 2nd/3rd set), but because they're shafting you 1 card per pack they're giving you another pack for the pool. Personally I think the smaller set sized made up for the -2 cards in the pool, but I'm not going to complain about getting more cards to play with. Also if you lose you end up with more PR product this way, not that is matters as much now that the PR is only a week before the release.
Prereleases and some releases are often done this way. It gives players the chance to see more cards. It's a more relaxed environment, and an extra pack helps make it a touch less skill intensive. It doesn't have anything to do with the land in the booster.
Wait a minute...do I read right that the entry fee will give us 1 tourney pack and 3 boosters? That's equavient to 6 packs plus lands...that's weird.
This is the way it usually is for the smaller sets in a block (re 2nd/3rd set), but because they're shafting you 1 card per pack they're giving you another pack for the pool. Personally I think the smaller set sized made up for the -2 cards in the pool, but I'm not going to complain about getting more cards to play with. Also if you lose you end up with more PR product this way, not that is matters as much now that the PR is only a week before the release.
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Is there a list of stores that are now running the Pre-releases somewhere? I'm used to going to a giant event in my city's convention center because it's the only one around, but I wonder if there are other options
I have a feeling that when they do get around to putting up the master list, this will be the page to go to:
Okay stupid question forthcoming...never been to a PR. Do you get the playmat for signing up for the PR or something?
I wish. They sell them there.
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I am petitioning for the removal of mythic rarity. Sig this to join the cause!
Famliy Guy Emperor Says,
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Something, something, something COMPLETE!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHiUitciuJ8
:symrw::symrw::symrw::symrw::symrw::symrw: SPIKE GAYMER: not just a beatdown, a beatdown sung to the tune of "I Feel Pretty"!
I don't sig quotes, but if I did, this would've been worthy.
On topic, I don't know what to think about the 24 player cap, but I guess it's necessary for the Network... they kinda force people to visit tinier shops, to increase popularity maybe, dunno, so they make sure everybody has attendance. Who knows. Time will tell.
I'll be glad when 2008 will be over. Too many changes... too many.
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Here's the new information. I've bolded the new/interesting stuff.
-----------------------------------------------
When
All Tournaments will be held on the weekend of September 27-28, 2008
Prerelease Tournament Format & Structure
DCI™ sanctioned, Shards of Alara™ Sealed Deck
The structure of the Shards of Alara Prerelease Tournament is modified Swiss-style with a minimum of four rounds (tournaments with 8-players may run three rounds)
Single elimination rounds are optional (contact local Organizer for specifics)
Prerelease Entry Fee, Product Mix, & Prizes
Please contact your local Prerelease Tournament Organizer for specific entry fee, prizes, prize payouts, and event information
Entry fee payment will entitle you to, (1) one Shards of Alara tournament pack and (3) three Shards of Alara booster packs (to be used to build your deck)
Each location will be provided with 36 Shards of Alara boosters to reward top tournament finishers and volunteers
The minimum number of Shards of Alara boosters in the prerelease prize pool for payout is (1) one booster per participant, (please contact your local Organizer for specific prize payouts)
Additional prizes may be available at specific locations
Please contact your local Prerelease Tournament Organizer for specific prize, prizes payout, entry fee, and event information
Prerelease Registration Information
Most Prerelease Tournament locations will have a 24-player cap
For additional Prerelease Tournament details, including "pre-registration" information, please contact your local Prerelease Organizer
Prerelease Open Dueling
New Magic: The Gathering™ players have the option to sign up for Open Dueling or participate in the Prerelease Tournament. Open Dueling is an informal and flexible format ideal for new or lapsed Magic players. Entry fee payment will entitle you to, (1) one Intro Pack, (1) one Open Dueling Results Card, and (1) one special Shards of Alara foil promo card (while supplies last). After you complete five matches the Organizer will reward you with one complementary Magic booster pack.
Prerelease Public-Events
In addition to the Prerelease Tournament, some locations may offer Magic Team tournaments and/or 24-Player Flights. All teams must receive the same product mix. Contact your local Prerelease Organizer for specific public-events information.
Each 2-person Two-Headed Giant team will receive one (1) tournament pack & five (5) boosters to build two decks
Each 3-person Team will receive two (2) tournament packs & six (6) boosters to build 3 decks
Flights – DCI sanctioned, Shards of Alara Sealed Deck
EDIT: Here's information about Large-scale prerelease events from a TO.
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
EDIT: And for anyone who's from Houston, Event Horizons -- our "big prerelease" people -- will be hosting their events at 3rd Coast Cards over in Katy. That's one heck of a drive for most people. Also, I've been there before, and I can tell you it's not that big of a store. Keep that in mind if you plan to make the drive...
EDIT #2: NICE playmat! The "esper chicks" are my favorite pieces of art so far in the set, so I'm very happy with this one. Definitely snagging one of these
Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/id/jackaltoashes
PS3 Jackal_to_Ashes
Thanks to PurpleD from Left Play Designs for the banner:D
Indianapolis Regionals 2009 (Standard)
Worldwake Gameday (Limited)
See my alters here: http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q16/jimmy2do/Cards/
Its the 26-30ish numbers that seem to be the ones hurt here.
The Merciless Lord of Torture, Permanently Bound To: ">[THE PACK] 11/5/63 - 11/25/09 Goodbye mom, i'll always love you...
Tibalt & His Devils vs. Avacyn's Inquisitors
My EDH decklists
and the prize breakdown was not listed as such either. for every 2 boxes of boosters we order, we get 1 full booster box of prize support, but no instructions on how to distribute it have been given yet. we were told we were eligible to get a total of 8 boxes of product, 4 for each day (we get to run one on both sat and sun since we are advanced level). thus, we can have product support for 48 people to play in our sealed each day. the odd thing was though, they are still only giving us one prize kit per day, so we only get 24 promos per day. i wonder how one gets a hold of the play mats? no mention of that was made either. or the t shirts, for that matter.
Clan MTGSalivation :: Trade Thread
"In another life, in another dream,
By a different name,
Gave it all away for a memory and a quiet lie.
But I felt the face of a cold tonight,
Still don't know the score,
But I know the pain of leaving everything very far behind.
And if I could cry,
And if I could live,
What truth I did then take me there,
Heaven Goodbye."
-Heaven's Not Enough, by Steve Conte
Then I noticed the filligree. I guess Esper girls really are flexible.
The Steamflogged
Human Rigger Minions committed to
forcing Contraptions in YMTC4,
and Resisting The Tyranny of the
Viva La Assembly!
Quotes:
The problem is, if I go to a place and the cap is reached, im screwed. I show up with ten minutes to spare; now I have to drive to another store in the bay area to play the prerelease. I'll miss it.
This is stupid as hell.
Also, cards and comics (the only place that runs FNMs that I am aware of) Will not be running a prerelease, but to quote from WOTC (http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/20080806) Which means we should be fine.
But small stores able to run prereleases is something I wanna check out. Might be going around sometime before the PR to check which stores are those in my local area. Should be interesting.
WUBRGWBGURW
UBRGWURWBGU
BRGWUBGURWB
RGWUBRWBGUR
GWUBRGURWBG
Yeah i completely agree with ya. I live in Fresno, Ca and there is only one place in the entire central valley, Bakersfield , that is running a tournament and they'll probably be capped at 24 cuz they've never held a tournament before EVER! Disaster Ahoy!
I usually go to the San Jose tournament too, so my question is, will they still even be having one? If so how do i find out what they're cap is? For that matter, does anyone know if there is a way or how i could find out where all the tournaments are and what their caps are?
I must say that this is so dumb that i don't think i'm even going to bother going.
No, that's for RELEASE tourney the following week. And, yes... anywhere that held large scale tournies before will do so again, but expect a smaller turnout in most cases.
I imagine that wizards will be putting up a listing of stores and locations that are holding the prerelease. They did so for the larger venues.
My store will get enough product for two prerelease packages. We could have run on both saturday and sunday, but I coordinated with the other store in the area and they are going to hold their's on sunday. With two packages, there should be enough for everyone who wants to play to be able to play.
It will be interesting to see how everything shakes out. I know a lot of people in the area who were only able to get in one flight at a prerelease then went back home, so local prereleases make more sense for them and they have been looking forward to it.
Prereleases and some releases are often done this way. It gives players the chance to see more cards. It's a more relaxed environment, and an extra pack helps make it a touch less skill intensive. It doesn't have anything to do with the land in the booster.
L2 Judge & Store Owner
This is the way it usually is for the smaller sets in a block (re 2nd/3rd set), but because they're shafting you 1 card per pack they're giving you another pack for the pool. Personally I think the smaller set sized made up for the -2 cards in the pool, but I'm not going to complain about getting more cards to play with. Also if you lose you end up with more PR product this way, not that is matters as much now that the PR is only a week before the release.
The Steamflogged
Human Rigger Minions committed to
forcing Contraptions in YMTC4,
and Resisting The Tyranny of the
Viva La Assembly!
Quotes:
L2 Judge & Store Owner
I have a feeling that when they do get around to putting up the master list, this will be the page to go to:
http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/events.aspx?x=mtgcom/events/prereleases
whenever I click on any particular region though, I get a page error and nothing shows, I don't know if it's this computer/IE or their site.
For right now though, you can figure out who's holding pre releases by using the tournament locater here:
http://webapp.wizards.com/tournaments.aspx
Clan MTGSalivation :: Trade Thread
"In another life, in another dream,
By a different name,
Gave it all away for a memory and a quiet lie.
But I felt the face of a cold tonight,
Still don't know the score,
But I know the pain of leaving everything very far behind.
And if I could cry,
And if I could live,
What truth I did then take me there,
Heaven Goodbye."
-Heaven's Not Enough, by Steve Conte
Okay stupid question forthcoming...never been to a PR. Do you get the playmat for signing up for the PR or something?
I wish. They sell them there.
Famliy Guy Emperor Says,
"Something, something something, DARK SIDE!
Something, something, something COMPLETE!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHiUitciuJ8
:symrw::symrw::symrw::symrw::symrw::symrw:
SPIKE GAYMER: not just a beatdown, a beatdown sung to the tune of "I Feel Pretty"!
I don't sig quotes, but if I did, this would've been worthy.
On topic, I don't know what to think about the 24 player cap, but I guess it's necessary for the Network... they kinda force people to visit tinier shops, to increase popularity maybe, dunno, so they make sure everybody has attendance. Who knows. Time will tell.
I'll be glad when 2008 will be over. Too many changes... too many.