TappedOut in Atlanta: Part 3

Features

crossclimber

2 February 2011

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Table of Contents

The Cream of the Crop
Interviews
The Innovator
The World Champ
The Dragonmaster
Top 8
Magic Player for a Day

The Cream of the Crop

As the tournament wound down to the top 8 it was clear which were the best decks. Faeries had three of the top 8 spots and decks with Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle held three others, two a very Standard looking RG Valakut build, the other a new look RUG Prismatic Omen build. I give Charles Gindy props for getting to the top 8 with his deck: Jund list and Jody Keith who piloted his deck: UW Control deck to the semi-finals although both lost to the eventual champion, Jason Ford and his unique, and baller all foil, RUG Valakut list.

RUG Valakut

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Jason’s deck was a smooth blend of ramp spells like Explore, Rampant Growth and the super powerful Oracle of Mul Daya and a bunch of counter magic and bounce spells to handle his opponent’s answers like Runed Halo and Leyline of Sanctity. He also played 7 library manipulating spells in Ponder and Preordain to help smooth out draws and also to help find the unusual number of 1 and 2 of’s in his deck. Looking at the decklist it seems improbable that such a list could do so well and keep its pilot in such a comfortable position in so many matches. The deck is chocked full of important decisions that would take the average player a long time and probably hundreds of games to master. I think it speaks volumes to Jason’s skill as a Magic player that he could use the deck so effectively and absolutely crush whoever was seated across from him in each game I watched. Even in the finals against Ben Stark and his RG Valakut deck he looked really comfortable and in control. He did lose game 2 but was so far ahead in games one and three that he could have given Stark 3 extra turns and it wouldn’t have mattered. It did seem that he gave Ben at least one extra turn in game one when he had lethal damage on the board with his fetches and passed the turn. He then countered Ben’s spell and won the next turn.

It will be really curious to see how this event and all its Valakut decks along with the release of Mirrodin Beseiged will change this format in the next couple weeks. I’m sure we’ll see new strategies rise out of the new cards and mechanics and players will come up with new strategies to take down Valakut. I didn’t however see much in the new set that could take it or Faeries out of their spots as the “best decks” in the format. Especially with Faeries getting the addition of Go for the Throat, which I’m imagining will be the most universally played card from the new set, and Black Sun's Zenith giving the deck access to a wrath effect. Will Green Sun's Zenith help Oracle of Mul Daya and Lotus Cobra see more play in the Valakut decks, and how much of an edge does it give the Elves deck? How much better do the red decks get with Goblin Wardriver and just how relevant will Hero of Oxid Ridge’s third ability be? It certainly blanks Bitterblossom, Wall of Omens, Sea Gate Oracle, plant tokens and a host of other common chumps.

         

Interviews

I spent the better part of Sunday watching matches and talking to players about the weekend and the upcoming set. My interviews started while in line to have Mike Bierek sign a few of my cards. Ryan Vogner was in line right behind me and while Mike was customizing another player’s plain blue playmat with a Sharpie rendering of Frost Titan we had plenty of time to talk.

Ryan was from Los Angeles and while maybe not one of the big names in the game he has been playing for a while and travels to a lot of tournaments. He was in the draft that I played in the night before and had even watched me lose to the poison deck. As we chatted about the weekend I came up with a few questions I wanted to ask him and others.

TappedOut: So are you playing today?
Ryan: Maybe just in some side events. I got eliminated yesterday from the main event.
TappedOut: What were you playing?
Ryan: I was playing a GW Trap/Hideaway deck but with some changes. I was running four Baneslayer Angel and two Wurmcoil Engine main deck and had cut Primeval Titan completely. This gave me a better match-up against red decks and Jund since Baneslayer did a nice job of holding off Demigod of Revenge and other creature base assaults. Baneslayer is really good right now.
TappedOut: Yeah, I think in the current metagame Baneslayer is as good as its ever been. So what was the most fun match you played all weekend in any event either main event, side event or even just in testing?
Ryan: I think it was against a guy playing UW control. He was doing a good job of keeping me off Windbrisk Heights but it seemed he eventually gave up and let me have one. I swung with 3 guys and got to cheat in my Emrakul, the Aeons Torn and won the game.
TappedOut: So the guy just gave up?
Ryan: Yeah.
TappedOut: Wow. Nice. So looking ahead we have a new set coming out and I’m curious what you think it and where Magic will be in say 5 years.
Ryan: I think Magic is getting to a point where they can’t keep printing creatures at this power level without things getting stale and we’ll see a swing back to powerful spells again. Things seem to be moving towards a level of absurdity with creatures. I mean the new card Blightsteel Colossus is just ridiculous. Mark Rosewater said when he submitted the card it didn’t have indestructibility, but that R&D added it. But then I think Wizards knows what they are doing. I think Magic often moves in a cycle. The power of creatures will go up but then things will shift and the power of spells will catch up and maybe pull ahead then it starts all over again. So I think well soon be heading back into a time when spells will be more powerful. I think the Sun’s Zenith cycle in Besieged is a good start and a move back towards a more level playing field.

I thanked Ryan for his insight and before I knew it I was talking to Mike Bierek. He signed my Stoneforge Mystics and Frost Titans and I asked him for an artist proof of the Titan with some of his custom work on the back. It turned out awesome and I’m really proud to have that as a part of my collection.

The Innovator

I then walked around the corner and saw Patrick Chapin checking his deck and getting ready to play in the first round of Day 2. Patrick has been at the cutting edge of deck design for a long time and has rightly earned the nickname “the Innovator”. If you ever get the chance to talk to him you’ll quickly understand that this may be one of the most passionate proponents of our game. I have never met anyone more excited about where the game is going and how its played. You’ll also find yourself talking to a very opinionated person. As I was watching Ochoa and Sperling playing Vintage on Saturday, Pat had been standing nearby talking about how the game was growing and he saw sponsorships as becoming a very large part of Magic in the future. I tried not to listen since I was not part of the conversation but I was intrigued so on this fine morning I introduced myself and asked him a few questions about the game. On a side note as I introduced myself I thanked him for being one of the first opponents I had ever faced in competition Magic back in the 90’s but then later it became clear that it wasn’t him but a look alike, awkward start to a conversation but it got better.

TappedOut:I overheard you talking yesterday about where you thought Magic was going in the next few years. I was trying to eavesdrop but you were saying some pretty exciting things about how you thought Magic would soon have people making $100K a year without even playing the game. Can you maybe explain that a bit?
Pat: People will be playing magic but they’ll be earning money from other things than tournament results. For example basketball players and other athletes get paid for playing and win money on the field but they also get large payments from endorsements and things off the field. I see Magic moving in that direction too with all the websites posting strategy articles, Magic coaching, and things like that. I can easily see a handful of players earning $100K a year from those sorts of things on top of tournament winnings and then maybe 30-50 more earning $30K a year.
TappedOut: So you really see this game taking off and growing a lot in the near future.
Pat: Absolutely. I mean there are more players now than there’s ever been, more tournaments, more coverage of tournaments, and the number of related websites is growing quickly. I definitely think the game is growing.
TappedOut: Some people have questioned whether the high price of some of the top cards will make it hard for the casual player to really enjoy the game and we could see the game lose some of its popularity as the cost of cards creeps up.
Pat: I don’t think so at all. I mean what’s the most expensive card in Standard right now.
TappedOut: Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Pat: Right but that is an aberration.
TappedOut: But then there are cards like Vengevine and Primeval Titan that are $40 a piece too.
Pat: Right but overall I think the price of cards has gone down. I mean if you think back to before there were Mythics how much would all the dual lands we have now be worth?
TappedOut: Maybe closer to $10.
Pat: And how much are they now.
TappedOut: $2-$5
Pat: Right so I see Mythics as just moving the price around a bit. The overall cost hasn’t changed much it’s just moved to a few chase cards. Do you think Mythics were a good idea.
TappedOut: I certainly remember the first time I opened one. It was pretty special.
Pat: Right and in a lot of ways they’ve created excitement for the game. So how can something that creates excitement for the game and attracts more people to it be bad for the game? I think it was a great idea from Wizards.
TappedOut: But when decks are requiring 4 of each of these chase cards to be competitive then it gets really expensive.
Pat: You see I think that is a misconception most people have about Mythics. When they were first introduced they were said to be, “not necessarily the most powerful cards in the set.” Which people just naturally assumed meant that they wouldn’t be the most playable. I mean when you think about what a Mythic should be do you think planeswalkers should be Mythic?
TappedOut: Yeah
Pat: The Titans?
TappedOut: Yeah.
Pat: So Mythics are just adding a bit of specialness and attractiveness to the game. Some of them might be more expensive than cards in the past but its only a few of them and it has caused the price of most Rares to really go down. So how can something that creates excitement for the game and attracts more people to it be bad for the game? I think it was a great idea from Wizards.

It was about then that the players meeting for the day was called and ended our conversation. Actually, it was good point to end on as well. I thanked Pat for his time wished him good luck for the rest of the day. He then went on to finish 37th in the Grand Prix, which is certainly respectable.

         

The World Champion

As I walked around the corner I saw another famous face who was not sitting in on the players meeting, meaning he had been eliminated yesterday which worked out just fine for me because who can resist the chance to sit down and chat with the reigning World Champion and in contention for Player of the Year 2010 (to be decided at Pro Tour Paris is a single match play off with Brad Nelson). I’m speaking of course of Guillaume Matignon of France. Guillaume struck me a very humble guy with a wonderful blend of being soft-spoken and excitable at the same time. Our conversation was a pleasure.

TappedOut: First off congrats on being World Champion!
Guillaume: Thank you.
TappedOut: So what deck did you bring with you for this weekend?
Guillaume: Faeries
TappedOut: Any new tech or special cards?
Guillaume: No it was a pretty standard list.
TappedOut: Ok so what was your most fun match of the weekend?
Guillaume: [laughs] No fun matches!
TappedOut: Not even in testing or in any of the side events?
Guillaume: Well, I’ll be doing team drafts later and that will be fun.
TappedOut: So where do you think Magic will be going in the next 5 years and what do you think of the new set that’s coming out?
Guillaume: I think we’ll be where we are now with maybe a few more events. Hopefully a few more Pro Tours. I think Wizards is doing a good job. I always get excited when a new set comes out so yeah I’m excited about this one, too.
TappedOut: So what are some of the differences you see in Magic here in the States versus in Europe?
Guillaume: Pretty much the same except no one in Europe asks me to sign cards. People here ask me to sign their cards. We are all just Magic players. I’m the same as anybody else.
TappedOut: Well you are the World Champion. Are events typically bigger over there? I heard there was a GP in Spain that had like 2000 or more players.
Guillaume: Well that was different because it was Legacy and Spain is really big on Legacy. Of those 2000+ people 1700 were Spanish players.
TappedOut: Wow, really? That’s pretty cool. Is it like there are pockets of places where certain formats tend to dominate the play?
Guillaume: Not really just Spain. I’m from the south of France and there we play whatever, all formats.
TappedOut: So what are your plans for today are you going to do any side events or anything?
Guillaume: No I’m just going to watch my friends play and then tease them [laughs] “You play so bad!”

I thanked Guillaume for his time and wished him good luck in Paris. For the rest of the day he could be found looking over the shoulder of his fellow countryman, Guillaume Wafo-Tapa, who was still alive in the event. I spent the round watching the different match-ups and watching people play decks that I hadn’t seen before. One of the more interesting ones was played by none other than Brian Kibler. I made it a goal to catch him in between rounds to ask him about it.

    

The Dragonmaster

Brian Kibler has been around the game for a long time and was a great player back in the 90’s but then took a break and has come back even stronger and earned a spot in the Magic Pro Tour hall of fame. His list of accomplishments within the game is extensive including multiple Pro Tour and Grand Prix wins as well as many more Top 8’s in those and other high level events. Yet it could easily be argued that he has done more for the game away from the table. He has a winning smile and a personality that is simply impossible not to like and be drawn to.

TappedOut: First off I believe congratulations are in order for your recent induction to the Magic Hall of Fame.
Brian: Thank you it’s an honor.
TappedOut: I noticed that you’re not wearing your ring.
Brian: I have it right here in my pocket. [Pulls it out and hands it to me. It is a beautiful piece of work and even has his name and the year inducted on the side] I just don’t want to be seen as some jerk walking around lording it over people. Its actually pretty cool because if I press my ring really hard into someone’s skin I can leave my mark on them. I put it on and punched my brother in the forehead to see if that would leave a mark but it didn’t work so well.
TappedOut: Well I’m sure it was fun to try anyway. So how is this event going for you?
Brian: X-2 right now and 2-0 on the day.
TappedOut: That sounds pretty good. Good luck on the rest of your day.
Brian: People often ask me what my goal for the year is and its simply to win every tournament I enter. That may not be realistic but that’s my goal.
TappedOut: Why play if you’re not going to play to win? So what deck are you playing?
Brian: It’s a green white creature deck with Fauna Shaman, Vengevine, Squadron Hawk.
TappedOut: Squadron Hawk? Is this becoming so sort of pet card? (Brian played a Caw Go deck in the Standard portion of World’s 2010 recently to a perfect 6-0 record which featured the card as one of the key parts of the deck.
Brian: Yeah I guess so. The card is so good and almost everyone undervalues it. It flies. It’s cheap. It chumps. It refills your hand. It’s just an all around great card.
TappedOut: So tell me about the most fun game you’ve played this weekend.
Brian: I’d have to say it was in round 10 against a Naya deck. I was getting beat down pretty hard but then managed to pull back with Squadron Hawk and ended up winning.
TappedOut: There you go, Hawks to the rescue.
Brian: It really is a good card. I don’t know why more people don’t play it.
TappedOut: So tell me where you think Magic is going in the next 5 years or so and what are your opinions on the new set that’s coming out.
Brian: Magic is going to be bigger than ever. Its clearly growing with lots of coverage and events and event reports and ggslive.com. There are lots more events and I think there will be even more as the game grows. I think there will be a growth in things like the $5k events as well as more GPs and PTQ’s. All of these things will give more people a chance to play and grow the game. I’m really excited about the new set. I think there will certainly be some new decks to come out of it like a Tezzeret deck or an artifact deck. It’s got a lot of powerful cards. I’m always excited when a new set comes out because it gives me something new to figure out. That is what I love about Magic. It’s always changing and evolving and there are always things to figure out. It keeps me intrigued and gives my brain something to work on. A new set will bring about new ideas and new thoughts and that’s always fun.

Brain went on to finish 87th and later commented that if the Valakut ramp decks continue to grow in popularity he wouldn’t recommend his deck at all. It has a decent match-up against Faeries and Jund and Naya but it got hosed by RG Valakut.

              

Top 8

Lastly I got an interview with Charles Gindy. Gindy was on a tear the whole weekend going 13-2 to reach the Top 8 where he unfortunately ran into the buzz saw that was Jason Ford. Gindy was proving all weekend long that Jund was a skill intensive deck and even though a lot of decks had a “favorable” match up, a well played Jund list can compete with almost anything. Unfortunately this was a pretty short interview as he had a lot to do before his Top 8 appearance.

TappedOut: Congrats on making Top 8! Gindy: Thanks yeah it’s pretty exciting. I feel like I got this!
TappedOut: So you’re running Jund. Any special tech that sets your deck apart?
Gindy: No not really. It’s a pretty stock list with Fauna Shaman, Demigod of Revenge, and Anathemancer.
TappedOut: What was the most fun match you played all weekend up to this point?
Gindy: I’d have to say the one against LSV (Louis Scott-Vargas). It was a feature match and he’s always a good opponent and a really good player. We went to 3 games, although, the third game was pretty short as I went Putrid Leach, Putrid Leach and then he Thoughtseized me and saw double Bloodbraid Elf and scooped.
TappedOut: So where do you think Magic is going in the next 5 years and what do you think about the new set?
Gindy: I think the game is just getting better and better. Wizards is doing a great job right now. I mean looking at the new set you can easily see power creep but it’s a necessary evil. I mean if things didn’t get more powerful we’d be stuck playing with Serra Angels and stuff like that. The game would just get stale. So yeah I’m pretty excited about where things are going

         

Magic Player for a Day

I really hope this article and these interviews can be a spark for discussion. I’ve really enjoyed thinking about the most fun matches I’ve played recently and its always fun to speculate where magic will be in the next 5 years. As I reflect back on my weekend in Atlanta I’m really happy with the way things turned out and I’m super excited to have had the chance to promote this website there. However, the whole weekend has been skewed a bit. While in Atlanta I stayed with one of my good friends from college, Andrew, and spent the evenings hanging out with him, catching up on what is going on his life, and reliving the great memories we shared from our time together at college. Sunday night we went out for a meal with his fiancée and she was a wonderful compliment to him. Before leaving he asked if I’d teach him the game of Magic so I pulled out some of the more liner decks I had along and we played a couple of games. He was a quick learner and at the end of our short gaming session his comment was, “I’m intrigued but a bit overwhelmed.” Soon after we said our goodbyes and I started the long trip home. On Tuesday morning I got a call that made no sense. I was told that Andrew had died on Monday night of a heart attack. He was 28 and in good shape and I had just had dinner with him 24 hours before that and he seemed fine. Now as I look back on Atlanta I’m most blessed to have had spent a few hours with my good friend at the end of his life. He was truly one of the best people I know and affected everyone he met for the better. I take some comfort in knowing that he had a saving faith in Jesus and is now partying in Heaven where I’ll see him again someday. I’m sure any thoughts and prayers towards his family and fiancée would be greatly appreciated.

Andrew Millette 1982-2011