From: Carl Subject: Report: tourney in Belgium Date: 21 Mar 1996 19:08:37 GMT Belgium. Did you know this country before you heard that it was there that Carta Mundi make the Magic cards? I went to the qualification for the Belgian Nationals on the 16th of March. It was held in Liege, there will be a second in April in Antwerp. I was still playing the G/U/W deck that I used for the tourney in UK (see the report in the misc newsgroup), lightly modified (see listing at the end). Basically, it's an Ernham/Armaggedon deck with counterspells. It was a swiss draw 7 rounds. You played 3 games against each opponent, got 3 for a game won, 0 for a loss and 1 for a tie. An unfinished game is 0 point. I first played a G/R/W deck, with Land Tax, Stormbind, Bolts, Ernhams, Serra, Armageddon and orcish Lumberjack. His deck was supposed to be quick and was well built, but he was unlucky. I won 2-1. The second one was playing a U/w deck. He had Serra, Rashka the Slayer, Mesa Pegasus, Benalish hero and her Kjeldoran twin, Aysen Crusader, Crusade, Spectral Shield. This enchantment is good but the weakness is that the fast effect can still target the creature, so I could control the critters via Icy Manipulator. Also, I killed many of his small creatures with Serrated Arrows (love it :-). I won 2-0, and the time was out before we could start the third game. My next opponent was playing a G/W Armageddon, but very original: 4 Armageddon, 4 Autumn Willow (the only sources of damage), 4 Plow & Disenchant, 3-4 Wrath of God, several Icies, 1 Green and 1 White Mana Batteries, 4 Fellwar Stones, Land Tax, Sylvan Library, Ivory Tower, 3-4 Fountain of Youth, Feldon's Cane (this one is compulsory in his deck). I conceeded the first (he would have decked me (he had used his Cane). This game lasts 40 minutes. I sideboarded my Cane and a second Cap. I won the second game quickly thanks to my creatures. The third game was another marathon, and he finally conceeded after I capped him his cane and that all his Autumn willow were in his graveyard. We played about one hour and an half because the judge allowed us to go on during the lunch (I think it is not fair, but since I got three more points, I didn't argue). At that point I was feeling rather bad, I had a headache because of the short sleep and the last Guiness at 5.40 in the morning, but now my headache was because of the lack of relaxation. I just had the time to eat a sandwich before I started to play again. It was against a W/b weenie deck, with lots of Knights and Orders. He knocked me down once, I got the second game and the third was longer, I managed to kill him with 2 Mishra's and one Icy in play. Again, I needed the whole hour to finish (actually he conceeded in the last game, there was no hope for him). In this duel I found the Elvish Archer useful and better than Savannah Lions. The fifth guy I played was rather young, he got a pure white weenie with four Millstones (rather a strange idea). The creatures were Lions, Javelineers, Orders, Mesa Pegasus, Serra. I got a lucky first turn Ivory Tower twice, which means two easy win and a harder third one thanks to my Erhnams (and no forests in play). At least, this was a quick match and I had some spare time. I played another white weenie with a touch of blue. It had 8 pumpable knights, 4 Mishra's and Hallowed Ground which was very effective when I didn't have any Icy in play. I lost 2-1 (he managed to get the 6th place at the end). My last opponent was playing a G/R creature deck: Ernhams, Timber Wall, Lumberjack, Shambling Strider, Shivan Dragon, and a few direct damage. He was mana screw the first game (so I won). The 2 last games I didn't draw my plow, so I got killed :-( It was not a bad deck but nothing original. That's all for the games report. I've seen a few other games. One was Dominic Siemens (3rd place in the 94 World championship, I think it was Lestree who beat him) vs Elkaim. Dominic was playing a rather strange five color deck with Winter Orb, BoP, Fellwar, mana elves, Icies, Stormbind, Aeolipile, Powersink. Elkaim was playing a R/W direct damage (I think). He was locked thanks to Winter Orb + 2 Icies and one Gloom. Dominic got the third place of the tourney. (I dunno why I wrote this last paragraph, I guess you found it like rubbish - I agree). I hope I won't forgot to take notes next time (could be in 2 weeks). Comments on the report and on my deck requested. Here was my deck: 3 Counterspell 1 Merchant Scroll 1 Recall 1 Control Magic 2 Elvish Archer (against Mishra's and Knights) 2 Dervish 3 Erhnams 1 Autumn Willow 4 Disenchant 4 StoP 1 Balance 3 Land Tax 2 Armaggedon 1 Serra Angel (which never shows up) 1 Ivory Tower 1 Zuran Orb 1 Serrated Arrows 1 Jayemdae Tome 3 Fellwar Stone 2 Icy Manipulator 1 Jester's Cap 3 Mishra's 3 City of Brass 4 Forest 6 Islands 7 Plains 62 cards Sideboard 2 Sleight of Mind 2 COP Red 2 Hydroblast 1 Wrath of God 2 Control Magic 1 Serrated Arrows (weenie killer) 2 Divine Offering 1 Feldon's Cane 1 Jester's Cap 1 Black Vise Thanks for making it so far. Carl