From: Mark.Alexander@atowers.seuk.com (Mark Alexander) Date: 13 Oct 96 23:41:01 Subject: Report : Thames Valley XII (UK) Hello All! Tourney Report : Thames Valley XII, Reading UK : 13/10/1996 Is Necro dead without Hymns ? It seems so... A fairly low turnout compared with other Thames Valley events. Maybe everyone was still lost in Nottingham searching for a venue ;-> Many were *very* disappointed that the Pro-Tour event had been cancelled and grumbles of discontent with the DC were evident. John was selling Mirage uncommons at 20p each (Some exceptions) and had a good selection of rares on offer. Most players were trading Mirage uncommons (Too nervous to trade out the unidentified power rares). I was able to pick up enough Diamonds and Tutors for my needs and managed to trade in two Kjeldoran outposts for some Homelands cards someone needed for their set. I also obtained a Fork in a straight swap for a RV Serendib Efreet. People are trading these again in anticipation of type 1.5 becoming popular. The Swindon Crew had come raiding with a white green artifact deck heavy on defense with Djinns and Song for the hammer. Dave Fry had decided to play in the Mirage sealed Deck event instead of the type-ii. The Assasins were fielding Necro-X to prove that Hymns are not required with Necro (Icequakes replace Hymns). They were to be proved wrong. I had resurrected my old U/W Artifact lock Deck (Winter Orb,Kismet,Icy) with tweaks from Alliances (Phelddagrif, Arcane Denial ,Force of will & Kjeldoran outposts). The Format today is 7 Round Swiss. Round 1 Vs Andy Kennedy. Andy was hoping to play in the Sealed Deck event and had not prepared properly for the type-ii event. His Djinn/Elf W/G Deck put up a good fight but succumbed 2-0 to the lock deck. Round 2 Vs Colin Tipton. No Notes on Colins deck but he beats me easily first game. I lock him and deck him second game. Third game could go either way but he manages to swing it. 1-2. Round 3 Vs Martin Steed. (Swindon Crew) This morning I had been considering what the worst card against my deck type would be. Hurkyl's Recall sprang to mind and I decided to try one today. Martin was unchuffed as all his mana producing and life gaining artifacts flew back to his hand to add to the cards counting for vise damage prior to my dropping a winter orb. Second game was almost a repeat of the first but this time his glasses of urza showed him what was coming. He finally died due to a power leak on his hallowed ground. I get a perverted satisfaction from killing people with power leaks. Maybe it's the picture... Round 4 Vs Graham Klaka. Graham is playing a weenie with heavy creature removal. First game I take heavy early damage before a zorb balance trick turns the tables. I lock him and Graham concedes. Second game he starts with a black vise. All my cards seem to cost 4 mana and with the added pain of his weenies I never get a chance to recover. Where did all the disenchants go? Decider is also over quickly as the sheer speed of white weenie overwhelms me. 1-2 24 pts. Round 5 Vs Dean Irvine. No Notes but I win 2-1. Decider was a close thing I believe. Round 6 Vs Uwe Stroinski. My first duel with this master of the dark side and I wonder what has replaced the hymns. First game and Uwe is mana screwed. Only Mishra Factories appear for Uwe but even these would be enough and so I have to drop an early winter orb to slow them down. The game is fairly even and when I finally have a lock with vise for pain Uwe Concedes. We move to game 2 and I allow his hypno to bite me once and it grabs a balance 8-( This would have eventualy made the difference which ended in a very close finish with my Pheldagrif contagioned before I can plowshare it. 1-1. We did not have time to play the decider. Ah well, Next time I show Uwe the power of the Goblins ;-> Round 7 Vs Steven Hill. Steven is playing R/G Tinder Wall,Lumberjack,Djinn,Bolt,Incinerate, Dervish Deck and seems completely unprepared for an artifact storm. I lock him and mill his deck away in the first game. Second game I lock him again and kill him with Mishra Factories. 2-0 Results :- 1 : Jason Nicholl 7 Straight 2-0 wins, Gimme a decklist! 2 : Carl Crook 3 : Mike Malyon 4jt: Anita Smith 4jt: Mark Alexander Mirage Deck & 2 Boosters + Japanese Chronicles 6 : Dean Irvine Jason's Match Record (All 2-0) Chris Agass,Anita Smith,Mike Malyon,Colin Tipton,Uwe Stroinski,Carl Crook, Dan Norris. I wonder how many resin boxes Jason has in stock now ? I was very pleased to have made it into 4th after losing two of my first five matches. In the Swiss + Elimination format, that I hate so much, I would have been out of the prizes. The deck I used could be described as prisonesque but the addition of Relic Bind, Power Leak, Outposts and Pheldagrif (What a creature) give it more ways to kill an opponent. It's not a hot killer and requires concentration to play. If you want a listing send me a private e-mail and I'll provide. Interesting to see new deck types emerging. Erniegeddon has gone and Necro just can't cut it anymore. Outposts are everywhere and artifacts are back with a vengeance. Hopefully Uwe's report can provide some insight into what Jason is currently using. Can't wait for Mirage to become legal. Should be some new ideas out. I'll be experimenting with a Black/Green Poison Deck next week. I Wonder if it will be fast enough? Chuckie Elves and Dark Rituals... Regards, Mark -- Standard disclaimer: My views are strictly my own.