Subject: MTG Article
Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 22:57:09 -0500
From: diabolic@shreve.net
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

I am writing in regard to the message from Hatter that was posted on The
Dojo. May I say that his insight almost mirrored my own. I have viewed
the tournament scene from many levels myself, including the aspects of
competing, judging, and retailing. I am what would be referred to as a
first generation player from the "pre-tour" era.

My DCI ranking -- for whatever that's worth -- is relatively good. The
DCI point system is as efficient and accurate as can be expected but
that is still woefully inadequate for the purpose of pro-tour
invitations. I think removing the policy of inviting the top "N" players
from the DCI list to PT's was a good decision.

Many things that The Mad Hatter mentioned in his letter struck very true
for me. Ironically, the first PTQ I ever attended was run by Hatter in
Lubbock. It was a nine hour drive one-way from Shreveport and a very
enjoyable event. There were no rules complications during any of my
games and -- with the exception of the drive home -- it was great fun.

The second PTQ I attended approximately a year later was in Dallas.
Attendance was about 120 people which, based on vague memory, is around
the same as attended the Lubbock event. Competition was fierce and rules
complications were positively rampant! To make matters far worse, the
"judges" were positively incompetent. Aside from not being up to date on
current erratta, they struck me as having only vague familiarity with
the overall game!

In this and later pro-tours, I saw the exact trends that Hatter
insightfully points out for us: cheating, abuse of the rules
(intentional draw comes to mind), attendance dropoffs by fun players,
and certainly worst of all... the "magic ego". I have experienced many
upturned noses and snide commentary from my opponents over time.
Regardless of whether the individual is to blame or some other
factor(s), the stakes of the pro-tour environment inevitably breed these
problems.

I can't remember the last game where I sat down and played outside of a
tournament or simply for "fun". It has probably been at least a year.
Likewise, I can say that the concept that PTQ's sell cards is highly
inaccurate. Pro-Tour ambitious players are the lowest overall spenders
among all the varied player types.

Although the PT is probably here to stay, I think Wizard's should very
carefully consider an alternative to help offset the difficulties for
the other 95% of the players...those interested in enjoying themselves.
Again, I am just trying to express my concern and agreement with the
facts that Hatter (like so many others I know) has observed in current
PT trends.

Tom McClure