Oath

After completing the necessary card pieces for my choice deck Meandeck Gifts, I thought about having an alternative deck to play with, without necessarily needing to spend much on the cards. It should be drain based first and foremost. With this, i went on to look at possible deck choices. There aren't many, but the choices were great.

1. Control Slaver
2. Sullivan Solution
3. Landstill
4. Oath of Druids

Control Slaver is attractive, as I read through the myriad of articles on SCG. Oath seems to be a good fit in our local meta as aggro and aggro-control dominates the field.

I decided that if I get a set of Goblin Welders, I will play Slaver. If I can get a set of Oath of Druids, then I will play Oath.

In a few days, Franz Lim posted in the classifieds that he is selling his oath pieces

4 Oath of Druids
4 Forbidden Orchard
1 Razia, Boros Archangel
1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath

I picked up the buy option and went on searching for my last remaining set of blue duals: Tropical Island, which luckily I was able to get from JT with the Pearl I got from him.

As I playtest both Gifts and Oath decks, it was clear to me the two decks fit my style. I am happy with the way the Gifts deck plays control and can go aggressive with its famous tinker for DSC and walk for the win. While oath plays control until it can oath up the angels for the finish. Buy as I read through articles, I got reminded that Landstill has a transformational sideboard that makes it an Oath vs aggro. The reason is simple: Landstill gets a hard time versus Fish and aggro and the power of oath versus this archetypes is known. If Landstill can have a transformational sideboard, why can't Gifts have?

I started searching the posts and got a list from Meandeck again: Meandeck Gifts Oath. It was even piloted by Randy Buehler to a top finish in a tournament way back last year. I feel it will be a very good fit in the local meta. Against aggro and Fish, the matchups become highly favorable. And the matchups against control doesn't weaken.

I put the deck together in MWS and tried it. It was good. I just need to playtest it against Fish tomorrow to see how it goes.

Misdirection

While waiting to meet with Ozy, scribe888 in 7th.realms.com.ph, and give him his reserved 3pcs of Mindslaver, I chance upon Louie. As you might now know, Louie was the benefactor of all of my magic cards last Dec 2005. He bought all of my collection, that includes, an Odyssey Mono Black Control, a UG Madness, and my Vintage UR Fish. I had sets of all fetch lands except Bloodstained Mires, sets of Pain Lands too.

I tried to look at his binder and there they were, the signed Volcanic Islands. No one wants them since they say it was in heavily played condition. I recall how I got them from Richie Chua, and how I got my Force of Wills from Wendell.

So as i scan the binder, I saw a remaining piece of Misdirection in SP condition. I told him I will get it as soon as Ozy give me his payment for the Mindslavers. In a couple of minutes, Ozy was there and then the deal was closed. Ozy got my extra pieces of Minslaver, and I got from Louie his remaining Misdirection.

Drains

Rommel, known as Omheng_10 in 7th.realm.com.ph, was asking if I knew someone who has a set of Drains for sale. Why Drains if you may ask? His intent is to focus on a Landstill build, and he is willing to sell most of his other good stuff just to get the Drains. Personally, I think that approach is right in more ways than one.

My Approach in building a deck:
Step 1: Liquidate all your other playable stuff that isn’t your deck's pieces.
Step 2: Get enough money to buy pieces that are needed your deck, the right pieces and not the alternatives.

Simply put, if you want to have a decent deck, you need to get the pieces necessary. If Drains are necessary, then if it means to sacrifice, then do it. If sacrificing means trading off-color duals you have for money, then do it. It’s better than having investment sitting in your binders, and playing a sub par deck. And you need to do this to amp your deck, and increase its chances of winning. Unless you are planning to play in proxy tournaments, that will surely ease out the burden of shelling out a big piece of your savings. It’s another way in playing decks without the need to actually acquire and buy the cards.


While thinking about this, I suddenly had a trip down to Memory lane. It's almost very similar to what I did last year. I needed to be liquid that time, and I have no choice but to sell all my cards! That includes the hard-earned, much worked on UR Fish deck I built for Vintage. Just to give an example why it was hard-earned, I was visiting players and smackers from all over NCR! I went as far as ATC, as far as New Manila, and I was calling Smackers from all around so I can acquire the missing pieces.

I was only able to play it twice in a tournament, but I play tested a lot. I love that deck. It had that sentimental value-- something that became a part of me, but sadly I need to let it go. It was really hard because I invested my time, my money and my effort to get those cards and build the deck.

Uhm, getting back to reality, I don’t need to fret about it, not anymore. I have moved on. I am now equipped with P8, 6 pieces at SP grading and 2 HP in my Lotus and the Emerald. Heck, the Lotus doesn’t even look like HP. It looks more SP to most of my team, me included. If we include the set of SP Drains, I can say that I have indeed moved on… for the better.

MWS

A few weeks ago, Dave was asking me if I have Magic Workstation, commonly known as MWS. But don't confuse this to Mishra's Workshop. I said no, because indeed I was an Apprentice advocate since 2002.

But last night, I tried downloading the software and I can say it is better than I thought it could be. It is more friendly than Apprentice and it even gives you a way to keep track of your card inventory!

David and I then played 3 games. I piloted my pet deck Gifts while he played Horden Tendrils.

I took game 1 as he run out of gas while plainly playing goldfish and drawing a ton of cards using Necropotence.

I took game 2 but not without burning a lot of spells to have a lethal storm count only to find out I lack one more colorless mana to cast the tendrils I just wished for.

But David gave me a break since he went down to 6 life because of Yagmoth's Bargain. On my turn, I managed to play merchant scroll that got forced. He then dropped to 5 points of life. At spell count 2, i played my third spell, the tendrils I just wished for, and won it.

The third game was a pretty straightforward Tendrils win for Dave as he was able to do a lot of nasty stuff when he activated Memory Jar.

All in all, I was so happy with MWS. I was able to put in my inventory and assess the value of my collection to date.

This saturday, I will be meeting with Franz Lim to get the Oath lot I won, through his buy now option, in 7th.realm.com.ph. Once I get that, I might be selling off all of my other card pieces for liquidation. Time to dispose pieces of UW that I thought I'd be playing. Although JT was telling me to hold on to it because of some rumors it may be printed, I'm not sure if I'm holding on or selling.

So after that, I'll end up alternately playing Oath and Gifts. I think I'll settle for those two decks.

The Pearl

I was supposed to meet Alpha Dog JT yesterday but some other important matters came about. The Pearl needs to wait.

I asked him this morning if around 8pm at metrowalk is a good time and he said yes, better than galleria because of the traffic. We discussed some more cards until I asked him if he has some extra Tropical Islands and he said he has none but he is selling his set. So I asked him to include it later. With that inclusion, I need to get back to the house so I can get another hundred as I only brought 400 with me.

Fast forward: After completing my Java Brown Bag session with my colleagues in UBP, I went to go to metro walk. While walking, JT texted me he is already at the metro. I went to starbucks and met him there.

He immediately brought out the Pearl. And a pack with Trops and Foiled Basics as freebies.
As I looked at the Pearl, it doesn't look as bad as the Emerald from Pao. It's not HP for me, it's SP. I gave him the payment and we talked some more how we can work together in some web development projects.

So now I have the Pearl. My Moxen is complete. I am equipped for the next tourny. My goal is to make Top 8 and that now depends on my play skills. Scrubbing out is not an option.

Thresh VS Gifts

After my class in Mapua last Saturday, I went to NG G2 in hope of getting some play tests. I was unlucky at first looking at the tables taken by Standard players. Mondu was there though piloting his trademark Landstill Concoction with Counterbalance-Top tech against an artifact heavy deck, probably a budget stax build.

In a few minutes as I look into binders looking at missing pieces of my UW Fish attempt, Zoilo came and was ready to playtest his new build. So went to the second floor where the tournament for HeroClix just ended and we started playtesting.

I didn't take note much of the details so I will just write my observations.

I was able to win most of the matches once I get too much card advantage and board position control with Gifts. It is such a powerful deck and I have realized in my playtesting that I have so many outs in so many situations. I just don't win by trying to Gifts for Tinker, Recoup, Yawg Will and Timewalk. I can win with any of the pieces that can come up with a protected Tinker for DS, or combo out with a wish for Tendrils win.

The Gifts build I have is ok, albeit I was missing a Misdirection and I think I need to reduce the merchant scroll count to 2 instead of the Mean Deck 4. Freeing up 2 slots from there and decreasing the Misdirection count to two or 1, I can say I will be able to free up 2-3 card slots for metagaming purposes.

1 slot might go to a second Rebuild.

With two slots more, I want to playtest main decking either
2 Impulse
or
2 Electrolyze

My sideboard lacked Rack and Ruin, and I think its a necessity to run at least 2.

This is for today, I'm going to bed now.

The Emerald

I was thinking in getting the Emerald and Pearl at SCG but this time, I think I might be in the losing end if I do so because very few cards to get while the cost of shipping, transfer fees, and the scary tax and duties once it gets held in custom is becoming not an option. I still went to commit the order. As an alternative, I asked team mates if they are willing to let me borrow if they have it, or maybe I can just buy it from them. I talked to Paolo Go and it was just timing he is interested to sell his Emerald. It is in the HP condition but it's ok. I did some computations and the price he is offering it is not far from the HP Grade I can get from SCG, less all the add on expenses.

We met in NG Galleria last night and completed the transaction. There was also a standard FNM in progress during that time and I just saw how diverse the current meta is. It's really nice to see old acquaintances.

My next acquisition and final before I sell some of the cards I don't need will come from the team's alpha player, JT. The price he is selling the Pearl is higher than the HP grade SCG is offering, but all in all, I think getting the HPs here is still better than risking two cards to a new order.

Afterthought: I really forgot I love blogging. Before i blog about anything making sure I can capture the days events. Now, I think I can blog only about Vintage, even Standard and Limited if I decide to join back the format.

Until next time.

Next Stop

My first tournament since last year's 2w-1d drop record was not as good but not as bad after a long layoff. I sported a 4-2 record though the standing doesn't tell the whole story if you have taken the tiime to read my tourny report.

What's next for me then? I look forward to playing the same deck this coming October 15. My short term goal is to get a free pass this December's Vintage Championships. And the ultimate is to make top 8 to the coming of the biggest vintage tournament here in Manila.

Having a once a month vintage tournament is just enough for us to continue supporting the format. Let's not forget that for two consecutive years, we have what we call as the Vintage PT during GenCon. Star City Game's has their monthly Power 9 tournaments all over the US making sure Vintage is alive and kicking.

How do i see the local meta? Well, it's a very healthy one with a diverse set of decks you can see from powered ones like Gifts, Tendrils, Control Slaver, Doomsday, Friggorid, Oath, Dragon, to classics such as Suicide Black, Old School Sligh, Elf-Clamp, UW Fish, Threshold, Stompy, Affinity, UG Madness, RG Aggro-Control, Goblins, Slivers and White Weenie. They even say that Statis sometimes display its head during casual play.

All in all, its always fun to play vintage. In my brief exposure with the format, I've learned a lot and I'm willing to learn more. I miss Oscar Tan's writeups, and his analysis of new cards and how they fit in the vintage scene. He's one reason why I enjoyed magic, and why I tried vintage because I see vintage as the format wherein all the fundamentals of game play exist. From tempo, to card advantage, to board position and forward thinking, vintage gives us everything that this game has to offer for the past 11 years.

So, I want to end by saying I'll be playtesting more and hope to see you guys this coming October 15!

NG Vintage 9/3

Well, after almost 12months since my last tournament where I had a 2W-1D and drop record playing UR fish (which I went on to sell together with all my cards because I badly needed money Dec of 2005) I was asking JT if Keeper is still viable because that is the deck that made me interested to play Vintage. (thanks to Oscar Tan’s The Control Player’s Bible) JT said I better play Gifts.

So I went on to look for a deck list and chose Meandeck Gifts against Brassman Gifts. I went on to borrowing and buying some of the cards that I needed and went on to play a deck I have never play tested well, and just gold fished using apprentice..

Round 1: VS White Weenie Pao

Game 1: I remembered playing Land, Mox, and Scroll for Ancestral Recall. I drew into Mox and a Tutor and Land. I waited until the fourth turn to make sure I have all the mana while taking damage from his white shadow critters and combo with Yawg’s Will, Rebuild, and Burning Wish for Tendrils.

Game 2: Almost same as Game 1 but I won by tinkering for Darksteel Colossus.

1-0

Round 2: VS Elf-Clamp Jeff

Game 1: He started of with Wirewood Herald and some more elves with a clamp in play. I don’t know how to pilot the deck so I was so conscious in trying to gifts for more mana sources. My second Gifts landed me Time walk and Tinker as I drop Recoup and Yawg's Will. He tried to block the first attack with 2 heralds that fetched him more elves but the second attack was lethal.

Game 2: After apologizing that I’m really very slow with my plays, Jeff was very friendly and he started of with Leyline of the Lifeforce! As I read through the card, he played Lotus Petal and dropped Llanowar Elves. I played Land, Mox, Mana Vault, and Go. He didn’t drop a land and went to play Llanowar through its brethren. I played Land, Gifts for more mana, Go. He missed another land drop on his turn and played two more elves. Since I really am not familiar if I am in a winning position or not, I was contented to play Demonic Tutor for Pyroclasm and played it wiping off 4 elves. He missed another land drop and said Go. On my turn I played Gifts for the combo and Tinkered Colossus. He conceded after.

2-0

At that point, I knew I was sloppy and I needed a ton of play testing to be familiar with the matchups.

Round 3: VS Suicide Black. JM

Game 1: He won the die roll and he went with Duress which I forced. On my turn, I played Land, Mana Crypt go. On his turn he wasted my land and played Dark Ritual for Hymn which I Forced again. With one more mana in the pool, he tapped swamp for Null Rod. After Sinkholes left and right, and Mana Crypt damage piling up, I was down to 1 and conceded in a way by suicide, breaking my Polluted Delta to put me out of my misery.

Game 2: Unlike sinkholes wrecking my mana base, the second game was better because I had a very good hand. The problem was, as I play Land, Mox, Mox and thought about Tinker, I hesitated because I’m sure he was packing edicts. On his turn he played Dark Ritual and Duress, and he took Tinker to the graveyard, He then followed up with Planar Void. On my turn I played land, Mox go but his next turn play of Null Rod wrecked my build up. After a next Duress removed Time walk, his Nantuko shade slowly chipped at my life total until it was zero.

2-1

Round 4: VS UGW Fish Zoi

Game 1: I don’t really know how the game will play out but a pair of wastelands wrecked my mana base early. I really don’t know what I was doing and meddling mage and wear bear started beating me. Null Rod hits play and I can’t do anything with my two basics left.

Game 2: I was buying time and had some solid draws. We traded counters and meddling mage, wear bear and null rod saw play. I was able to tinker for Colossus but it got StPed and it gained me a lot of life but there’s no more time. Last 5 turns were called I could have pulled off a Draw if I can combo out with a Burning Wish for Tendrils. I managed to Gifts on the first turn with the cards that I need. On his end of turn step, I played Rushing River on his Null Rod and Meddling mage so I can combo out for the win. Not being greedy and not thinking well, I didn’t build enough storm count and stopped at 9 making my storm count 10. With him down to 18 life, he StPed his own bear with threshold and gained 4 life netting him 22. Down to 2pts of life. I’m not sure if I could have won the next turn because I think I own it because I played time walk, so I could recoup for tendrils. But for some reason, I don't know if I did Time Walk because he got to have the next turn and I lost.

Now thinking about it, with all the things I was doing, I really don’t know how to play. I later found a tormod’s crypt in the graveyard that could have increased the storm count, or just didn’t forget if I did have an extra turn courtesy of time walk, or I was just bad at it. I knew I was bad, but I never thought I was that bad. I hope more play tests, and I could do better on the next tourney. Losing is ok if I just played well, but I lost because I was unprepared and I suck. Aris Go, Mondu and Marcelle were all there to witness how bad I was. Sorry guys I know you all can't bear seeing all those bad plays.

2-2

Round 5: VS Oath Jhay

Game 1: He basically played Land Drop Go. I played Land, Mox, and Scroll for Recall. He played Land Go. I played Land Go. He played Brainstorm at EOT and played Wasteland on my Underground Sea, in response, tapped it for U and played ancestral recall. Guess what? He had Misdirection, but I forced it. After another turn, I Gifts for More mana. My second Gifts gave me the combo pieces. I was so slow trying to build the storm count, making sure its more than enough and making sure I’m not making any wrong plays. I apologized to him because it was very careful and I told him I just lost the previous game because I was careless. It ended with a Burning Wish for Tendrils win.

Game 2: After 3 turns, he was able to play Oath with a forbidden orchard in play that gave me a token. But I have enough Lands and Mana Sources to do Gifts before his EOT for the combo pieces. I then tinkered for Colossus and play time walk. Then attack and recoup Time walk.

3-2

Round 6: VS Old school Sligh Brian Co

I asked him what his chances are to go top 8, and we decided he’ll give me the game because he does not have a DCI number yet. We agreed he does get a pack though if I can get to make the cut to Top 16, but we’re hoping I can make Top 8 if the tie breaks are ok.

Game 1: His hand isn’t that spectacular so after 4 turns I combo for Tinker Colossus. He responded to Hide my DS but I was fortunate to have misdirection.

Game 2: Being confident I have the win regardless, more play mistakes ensued. Brainstorming to put back DS in hand but putting it at the top of my Library does drawing on it on my turn. I suck big time. Big time.

Game 3: I got burned because I was building up for a Tendrils win but I didn’t’ Strip him of his Mountain enabling him to Fireblast me for his win.

4-2

I didn’t make top 8 and we both got packs. I didn’t get any notable cards from the pack except Rune Snag.


Props:
-Thanks for everyone for making me feel ok and not out of place.
-Thanks to Lauren for letting me borrow and buy from him some key cards, and looking for a Tolarian.
-Thanks to Aris for letting me buy his Tolarian and added a Chain of Vapor freebie
-Thanks to Nomer for the Mana Crypt and a freebie Lotus Petal
-Thanks to Dave for helping me out a lot
-Thanks to JT for keeping me company as I feel myself around
-Thanks to Marcelle for discussing with me some tips
-Thanks to Mondu, Aris Go, Gio, and everyone else for being warm
-For the rest of the vintage community for keeping the format alive, healthy and fun

For my Vintage tournament standings:
10-22-2004: Gamers: 2W-4L Using UR Fish 22nd
09-05-2005: NG G2: 2W-1D Drop Using UR Fish 13th
09-03-2006: NG G2 4W-2L Using MD Gifts 12th

Once a year lang hahaha! Naku, I hope I can continue playing to stop this trend. :)