Subject: Connecticut State Championships - by Christopher Bock *13th place* Date: Sun, 08 Nov 1998 17:14:35 -0500 From: Christopher Bock To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com The day started out pretty grim. I had to wake up at 5:45am to make the trip to Hartford in time for registration, after working pretty late the night before. I was carpooling with some two fellow magic players from the local store, so I got to their house at 6:30. Man, was it cold! After everyone was ready, we hopped in the car, and got to the tourney with plenty of time to spare, because there was no traffic at all. Well, we were the first three people there, which was kinda wierd, but it gave the two guys I was with to do some last minute playtesting. All of my cards were with my friend, who was comming with a different group of people. Well, they were the last people to get there, so I had to write out my decklist like mad, and also quickly re-sleeve my deck. Enough about my personal story...on to the tournament. The whole crew from the local store (Barron's Comics and Cards in Milford, CT.) was there (about 12 of us), so it was going to be a fun day no matter what the outcome of the matches were. After every round, we all would go out into the lobby, relax on the couches, and discuss the previous matches. All of us had come prepared for the deck we all thought would be huge: Academy. I had made the choice to play Draw-Go, thinking it would do well against Academy. So speaking of that, the deck I played: 4 Force Spike 4 Counterspell 4 Mana Leak 4 Forbid 2 Power Sink 4 Dismiss 4 Whispers of the Muse 2 Propaganda 2 Morphling 4 Nevinyrral's Disk 3 Stalking Stones 4 Remote Isle 20 Islands The SB was kinda horrible, so I wont even mention it. My final standing was 5-2, going 4-0 for the first 4 rounds. Not to shabby for Draw-Go. The Morphlings were great, much better than Great Whale like some people prefer. So on to the matches, but I wont give huge detail. Round 1 vs. White weenie This was so easy...after I popped a disk 5th turn, it was over. This happened both games. Round 2 (1-0) vs. another white weenie Again very easy. White weenie is to horrible now without Emp armor and tithe. Same as round 1. Round 3 (2-0) vs. black weenie I wouldn't even call this deck suicide. Both games after I pulled off a disk, the other guy drew nothing but land. Oh well...that happens. Round 4 (3-0) vs. Survival/Nighmare First game he pulls a Scragnoth and beats me to 2 life, then I disk, and he can't handle the counters. Second game he puts out all his green mana guys early and I cast hibernate(SB card). Never puts out anything more than land after that. Round 5 (4-0) vs. Sligh This round I played a guy from the local crew, so I didnt feel too bad that I lost this one. I get smashed game 1, and SB in 4 hydroblast. Game 2 he beats me to 1 life, and I finally pull a morphling and beat him. Game three I get mana screwed and that's that. Round 6 (4-1) vs. Suicide Now this was a real suicide deck. First off, the guy doesnt show, and one of his friends notices and goes to get him. I told him "it's his own fault if he doesnt show up" and the friend told me "well, i'm his friend so f--- you." Well, that didnt sit well with me. Anyways, this was a good suicide deck, and I could never keep up. Round 7 (4-2) vs. Draw-go It was possible for me to be in the final 8 if i won this match 2-0, but that didnt happen, although I did win the match 2-1. First game he draws more counters. Second game I do. Third game we both had 25 straight turns of "land...go". Boring as hell. I finally play a stalking stones, and he can't pull a disk. Well, that's how it went. 4 of the top 8 were from the store, so I was very happy about that. The best part of the day was when one of our crew-mates played, and lost to, a deck we dubbed "turbo-congregate" or "stream-a-geddon". It was a gain-life deck with NO sideboard. And the quote of the day was when the kid was asked, "Do you know the current errata on stream of life?" Funny as hell. All and all a great day with some great magic played. Props to: Mike, and losing to "Streamageddon" Dan, for being funny as hell, and making the top 8 with a "bad" deck Dwane's dad, for letting me use a force spike Mr. Mason, for being nice enough to let me join him for the ride and finally, for the comfortable couches at University of Hartford.