I think karma dictates Finkel wins game 5 here, if Hayne wins it's gonna be really awkward for him knowing he technically should've been given the game loss.
Well, kind of option 1.5, as IIRC they'll throw games to help push each other through. So it's not just a matter of training together, it's also a matter of directly affecting the results of others in the tournament itself.
Every once in awhile if one player is locked for top 8 in the last couple of rounds of a tournament they will scoop to a teammate. But it doesn't happen every tournament and it sometimes happens between players who aren't teammates for matchup or other reasons. It's definitely not frequent or significant enough though to really be a 1.5.
I didn't see Simon Gortzen or Samuel Estratti doing very well lately...
Gortzen maybe but Estratti has a GP top 8 and Worlds top 16 since he won his PT, which wasn't even a year ago. Kind of harsh to say he's a one hit wonder in that short a time, especially when those results are respectable.
You have to put your money on Team CFB since they've just done so consistently well over the past couple of seasons or so. But SCG Black is a group that has been working together off and on for a little while now with Team Mythic and their guys are just as capable. SCGBlue is a few talented under achievers at the PT and GP level, some up and comers and Todd Anderson. It very much seems like magic past (black), present (CFB) and future (blue).
I feel like it's silly to be disappointed because Wizards can't give everyone amazing prizes in the Helvault so I'd rather 5% of the population or whatever gets a special treat rather than nobody at all.
How long have you been playing for?
2 years
What was your Win/Loss/Draw record(s)?
4-1
What color/archetype(s) did you play?
G/W
Which card(s) was your MvP?
Borderland Ranger, had a really high curve/double and triple color spells.
Which card(s) was your unsung hero?
Geist Trappers, played against a lot of fliers
What was the most powerful card in your deck?
Entreat the Angels. miracled it once for 1 angel on turn 4, never cast it again
What was the most valuable card in your sealed pool?
Entreat the Angels, whiffed for money but did well in the prize packs
What was your biggest play?
Miracle Revenge of the Hunted twice for exactsies with pump spells
Which card(s) exceeded your expectations?
Blessing of Nature, I think it's worse than Travel Prep but similar enough when I thought it'd be clunkier.
Which card(s) fell short of your expectations?
Devout Chaplain, weren't a lot of relevant targets for him.
In your opinion, order the colors from best-to-worst for AVR Limited:
To soon to tell
What are your general overall impressions of AVR?
Felt kinda random but at the same time the games were very dramatic. Good fun, not what I'd want to play competitively at a GP, PTQ or PT
TwitchTV has a ton of pro's live streams, which can be fun. It's also where Pro Tour videos are streamed now when WOTC has a large event. It's a good resource!!
Yeah streaming has picked up a ton in the last few months with MtG. SCG has a list of pro streamers as well as just regular players that shows who's live at what time. The only major streamer not on there that I can think of is Tom Martell.
GGSLive is definitely a great place to watch videos of GP matches, especially as they tend to be higher quality footage. It will only be tournaments in the last 2-3 years or so, but still great stuff there across many formats.
As for PT's, this youtube channel has a ton of old PT top 8's uploaded, quality varies but it's the best place I've found to see this sort of thing
The problem is how you define good. Is it someone that is simply above average in the world Magic population? Someone who wins more than 50% of sanctioned matches at say FNM? Someone who dominates the local store events? A renowned regional force at PTQ's? Someone on the gravy train? A regular high-level pro getting appearance fees? Or the cream of the crop, someone with many PT and GP top 8's that is, or will be, a hall of famer? The concepts and cards you have to understand to get to each level differ greatly.
Unfortunately the clear two best cards are both B/W. Also, ironically, the next best cards are Death's Caress and Thraben Heretic. I went with the land, ended up U/W and am splashing it. I assuredly would've splashed for either, but curious what everyone thinks the pick is? And there is definitely nothing close to this power level in the rest of the pack in other colors.
"Umezawa's Jitte is better than Library of Alexandria AND Mana Drain! I've playtested it in my cube!"
Yuuup.
This one probably just depends on the cube. In a typical cube I agree, the other two are more powerful. But in a faster, more creature dominant cube Jitte seems better.
The Channel fireball deck isn't built to beat Delver tho. Its built to have a better matchup then just a big guy one (conley list) but even Paulo said the reason they played it is its better against everything except delver, which is 45/55, and Angelic Destiny, which you just die to.
Very true but I think they're more referencing a more stock Delver list that works with Geist, Stalker and Equipment more than Lingering Souls, Dungeon Geists or Lords. As the PV-Jelger match showed, their Delver deck has less counter spells and less explosive draws meaning that the Wolf-Run deck has more time to stick a threat than normal, won't just randomly lose to hexproof/equip as often and has an easier time resolving their important spells. Finkel has to stick Multiple lords or have substantial counter magic at the right time to win.
I'm living in Madrid for a semester abroad from my university and I just wanted tips on the local Magic scene. I know GP Madrid was the biggest GP of all time so it must be fairly substantial. I did a quick locator on the Wizards site and saw some places, but wanted to get some local advice on what the better places are for FNM, singles, and bigger events since the Prerelease is this weekend and I might be able to get out for it on Sunday.
I'm by the Bambu metro stop on Line 1 of the Metro, but I'm willing to go just about anywhere metro accessible if you guys really think they're the best place to play in the city.
My only other questions are what the prices are like for packs and tournament fees, and if the culture of trading is the same? And if so for trading, what is the generally accepted pricing method, since in the States it tends to be SCG or Magiccards.info but those sites are in dollars, not euros.
Thanks for anything you can answer, and hopefully I'll see you all around the city soon
Every once in awhile if one player is locked for top 8 in the last couple of rounds of a tournament they will scoop to a teammate. But it doesn't happen every tournament and it sometimes happens between players who aren't teammates for matchup or other reasons. It's definitely not frequent or significant enough though to really be a 1.5.
Gortzen maybe but Estratti has a GP top 8 and Worlds top 16 since he won his PT, which wasn't even a year ago. Kind of harsh to say he's a one hit wonder in that short a time, especially when those results are respectable.
You have to put your money on Team CFB since they've just done so consistently well over the past couple of seasons or so. But SCG Black is a group that has been working together off and on for a little while now with Team Mythic and their guys are just as capable. SCGBlue is a few talented under achievers at the PT and GP level, some up and comers and Todd Anderson. It very much seems like magic past (black), present (CFB) and future (blue).
2 years
What was your Win/Loss/Draw record(s)?
4-1
What color/archetype(s) did you play?
G/W
Which card(s) was your MvP?
Borderland Ranger, had a really high curve/double and triple color spells.
Which card(s) was your unsung hero?
Geist Trappers, played against a lot of fliers
What was the most powerful card in your deck?
Entreat the Angels. miracled it once for 1 angel on turn 4, never cast it again
What was the most valuable card in your sealed pool?
Entreat the Angels, whiffed for money but did well in the prize packs
What was your biggest play?
Miracle Revenge of the Hunted twice for exactsies with pump spells
Which card(s) exceeded your expectations?
Blessing of Nature, I think it's worse than Travel Prep but similar enough when I thought it'd be clunkier.
Which card(s) fell short of your expectations?
Devout Chaplain, weren't a lot of relevant targets for him.
In your opinion, order the colors from best-to-worst for AVR Limited:
To soon to tell
What are your general overall impressions of AVR?
Felt kinda random but at the same time the games were very dramatic. Good fun, not what I'd want to play competitively at a GP, PTQ or PT
Yeah streaming has picked up a ton in the last few months with MtG. SCG has a list of pro streamers as well as just regular players that shows who's live at what time. The only major streamer not on there that I can think of is Tom Martell.
http://starcitygames.com/streams/
As for PT's, this youtube channel has a ton of old PT top 8's uploaded, quality varies but it's the best place I've found to see this sort of thing
http://www.youtube.com/user/Alicabob/videos
Unfortunately the clear two best cards are both B/W. Also, ironically, the next best cards are Death's Caress and Thraben Heretic. I went with the land, ended up U/W and am splashing it. I assuredly would've splashed for either, but curious what everyone thinks the pick is? And there is definitely nothing close to this power level in the rest of the pack in other colors.
This one probably just depends on the cube. In a typical cube I agree, the other two are more powerful. But in a faster, more creature dominant cube Jitte seems better.
Very true but I think they're more referencing a more stock Delver list that works with Geist, Stalker and Equipment more than Lingering Souls, Dungeon Geists or Lords. As the PV-Jelger match showed, their Delver deck has less counter spells and less explosive draws meaning that the Wolf-Run deck has more time to stick a threat than normal, won't just randomly lose to hexproof/equip as often and has an easier time resolving their important spells. Finkel has to stick Multiple lords or have substantial counter magic at the right time to win.
I'm living in Madrid for a semester abroad from my university and I just wanted tips on the local Magic scene. I know GP Madrid was the biggest GP of all time so it must be fairly substantial. I did a quick locator on the Wizards site and saw some places, but wanted to get some local advice on what the better places are for FNM, singles, and bigger events since the Prerelease is this weekend and I might be able to get out for it on Sunday.
I'm by the Bambu metro stop on Line 1 of the Metro, but I'm willing to go just about anywhere metro accessible if you guys really think they're the best place to play in the city.
My only other questions are what the prices are like for packs and tournament fees, and if the culture of trading is the same? And if so for trading, what is the generally accepted pricing method, since in the States it tends to be SCG or Magiccards.info but those sites are in dollars, not euros.
Thanks for anything you can answer, and hopefully I'll see you all around the city soon