I have reflected about the timer issue (25 minutes vs 40 minutes).
I think that the benefits of a 40 minute clock outweigh the negatives. The main benefits are:
1. Players will not feel rushed. I play many formats online, and this is the only format where I feel under a lot of pressure to avoid dying from the clock. This decreases the enjoyment of a match. One cannot sit back, relax and enjoy the match to the maximum. Instead players can be on edge to keep ahead of the clock. This problem is not limited to control decks, as I have timed out many times when playing midrange as well.
2. The 40 minute clock gives players a buffer in case of disconnections or lags (and since lag is a known problem with the client itself rather than exclusively the user's device, I think this should be taken into account).
3. No one except the two players in the game are affected by the additional time. This tournament is unusual in that it is a league rather than a scheduled event. One of the main problems of a long clock in a scheduled event is that players who finish their matches early must wait unreasonably amounts of time for their next match to start. Therefore I don't think it is fair to compare the 40 minute clock to what is "normal" in scheduled events.
4. Wizards of the Coast have given us very few choices with the clock duration. If there was a 30 minute option, that would be perfect. However, since Wizards force us to choose between 25 minutes and 40 minutes, I think it's best to err on the side of allowing people to finish their matches rather than be killed by the clock.
5. If players who have aggressive decks feel that it is painful to sit through a long match against a control player, then such players have the option to concede when it is clear that the game is unwinnable. In many aggro vs control matches which go long, there reaches a point in the game where there is inevitability. If the wait really bothers you, just accept this and move on, rather than frustrate yourself by watching yourself die a slow death.
6. Arranging a match with another person at a mutually convenient time sometimes takes effort. It would be a pity if players go to this effort, then die to the clock (when there was no pressing need to have a 25 minute clock in the first place).
7. If a player can say such a thing as "I can't practically finish a match in time lately. I will send WotC an email about this because it seems I'm not the only one", then clearly a 25 minute clock is a genuine problem for some people, and this problem is avoidable with a 40 minute clock.
Agree with these points by Michelle. And if I may add:
- It's a known fact that most of aggro, especially the ultra fast aggro, will lose if the control player manage to drag the game. I have concede a game several times to a control player when I know the control player already ahead of me. Why bother dragging the match, unless we are trying to win by clocking down our opponent (usually we can do this to those combo decks)
- Disconnected during a game is a common issue. Usually, it will take 1-3 mins from the clock before the client show the Restart or Close option to me. Then depend on our computer, it will take another 1-3 mins to re-login (and wait for Mtgo to finish loading up data). So total of 2-6 mins generally will be lost during disconnection issue.
Old post, but still I need to ask, how you can have Chameleon Colossus on Game 1? It's in your SB, not MD.
And to add idea for this deck, I just tried put 1 Copperhorn Scout on MD, and he is damn good. Tried 2 match with it (1 tron and 1 deck unknown since i killed him fast), the untap effect is just crazy, especially if you have mana dorks
Yesterday I played against timesieve deck. I can see how boring to play against it, especially when your opponent is new to that deck. It took him quite a long time to calculate things, have maybe 4-5 extra turn, but in the end, he can't go off. Hahahaha.
[#s100] ML_Berlin: however ALL events that did not pay the host have been quit
Above statement is false. Me as Legacy and the whole TO for PD never take anything from the prize pool. We host our event for free.
Just to set thing straight because I don't want players think that all TOs receive some sort of compensation.
Thanks
I want to join your event, but sadly the time is the constraint. In my place, your event start on Sunday 5am.
And seems like this format isn't for me. My memory of cards is not that great
Maybe around Modern Inq event tomorrow?
Agree with these points by Michelle. And if I may add:
- It's a known fact that most of aggro, especially the ultra fast aggro, will lose if the control player manage to drag the game. I have concede a game several times to a control player when I know the control player already ahead of me. Why bother dragging the match, unless we are trying to win by clocking down our opponent (usually we can do this to those combo decks)
- Disconnected during a game is a common issue. Usually, it will take 1-3 mins from the clock before the client show the Restart or Close option to me. Then depend on our computer, it will take another 1-3 mins to re-login (and wait for Mtgo to finish loading up data). So total of 2-6 mins generally will be lost during disconnection issue.
But like michelle said, 80 mins total of match is quite long and maybe uncomfortable to some people. For me personally, I am ok with 40 mins
Old post, but still I need to ask, how you can have Chameleon Colossus on Game 1? It's in your SB, not MD.
And to add idea for this deck, I just tried put 1 Copperhorn Scout on MD, and he is damn good. Tried 2 match with it (1 tron and 1 deck unknown since i killed him fast), the untap effect is just crazy, especially if you have mana dorks