Subject: Reply: Stop Printing Decklists! Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 10:27:17 -0500 From: belfrazz To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com here we go.... >Frank, > > For a long time I have been thinking about a major disadvantage >to the Dojo's actual existence- finally I have chosen to write to you >about this. I will well understand if you choose not to print this, but >anyway, I would like to share these concerns with >you at least. i _really_ don't see how this is threatening the dojo's 'actual existence.' i always thought it promotes it. maybe i'm wrong. > >First and foremost: The practice of publishing constructed deck lists >on the Dojo is very bad for Magic as a whole. (No problem with sealed >deck lists here - just constructed). > >Fine- publish the ideas behind the decks. he does >Fine - publish the combos that make the deck work but he does >DON'T PUBLISH THE COMPLETE DECKLISTS.. PLEASE stop doing this. i'll respond to this later in the message... > >I love to read about a new idea for a deck.. gets me thinking.. and >thinking is good. But to just be able to copy a complete deck without >thinking about it, without even needing to play test it.. this is not >good. Magic should be a game to stimulate creative thought and >problem solving skills. Being able to play a "dojo" deck and win a >tournament with it, without any thought, playtesting, planning or >whatever is a very bad thing for the game. > >I have read many articles/comments from magic players about how the >game >is: >(1) not any fun anymore >(2) too competitive >(3) been ruined by the protour >(4) dying because there are too many new cards sets and who can afford >to buy all this stuff anyway > >But the real problem is that the popularity of the Dojo is destroying >the game that supports it. Players should be thinking for themselves, >but if they know that they will have to be able to play against Dojo >decks, then they have to be able to take the time to build >these decks and playtest against them (or play them if their >"homegrown" >decks are not good enough). This has greatly increased the amount of >time required to stay on top. Now when a player prepares for a >tournament, he/she has to prepare to play against all the >local decks and all the Dojo decks (contributed worldwide and with >corresponding skill).. Its no wonder that this is a daunting task >scaring many away from tournament play. > >I would like to make a request that the Dojo no longer prints complete >decklists for any constructed decks. I would like to request that all >Magic players refrain from sending in their complete deck lists. . >Just send in the "theme" cards and the combos but only if the ideas >themselves are not enough. > >If you print decklists, players will read them and the massive >deck-copying will continue. Promote individual thoughts and creativity >and exercise your editorial powers. Please don't continue in this >practice because it "ruins" the game for many. > >Dorian Anders >Philadelphia suburbs Okay. You ranted, now it's my time. I see now that (at the time of me writing this), most people don't want deck lists to be posted (my source is that little poll thingie at the bottom of the dojo's main page. a good 70 something percent of you don't. Hey, i've got an idea, you play chess? Well, go back a few (okay, more than a few years), and make sure no one knew the moves of a particular strategy. That's sure to help the game, right? Nope. Grand Masters and the champions of chess come from one basic element: mastery. They take a strategy that fits their play-style (quote,endquote), and they make it _better_. Regardless of how much this has to do with magic decks, i'm sure it's a colorful illustration. You see, i'm on a Magic team (many of us are now-a-days' huh?). We know one thing is a solid golden rule: If you cannot beat the "dojo decks" consistantly enough, DON'T SHOW UP!!! The dojo has become more than a cool web site run by a cool guy -- it's Magic pop culture!!! everything that's cool right now, whether it be decks, phrases, or the new coolest person on the tour, it's all here. it's all archived. it's everyone's own personal history book (via online). I was bored last night at work, so i started reading the MirVLight PTQ reports all over again. Just to see what was good, and why. I even learned a bunch of things, but that's irrelevent. Without the deck lists, these things would be no fun. Reports would loose their luster. I mean, immagine a Wakefield report without a decklist (wouldn't know what the hell the guy was up to, like more than ever). It's not just that. Our team makes decks that we don't post, and, well, they have a lot better win % than those on the dojo. We will never post them. Most teams don't post their best decks. The decks you see posted are almost always in beta, even if someone took it to a tourney. Probably my last point: What the hell good would that do? Stop printing decklists. Regardless of whether you want them or not, it really doesn't matter. If Frank stops, he looses _so_ _so_ _so_ many readers. Do you think Mindripper will stop if you ask them nicely? You should know the answer to that. Do you think the people on the multiple threads on usenet will ever stop? You should know the answer, too. It's just the fact that i don't like paying my taxes, but it's the way the fuckin' world works. So I do it. People post their decks, so live with it. Magic has proven time and time again that it's not a fad, and that it will not die to a stupid thing like that. If it ruins the game for many, come up with a rogue deck now and again. It's not that hard, but it is a true master who can build a deck no one had even heard of, and almost always win. It can be done, you just have to try harder thatn the "dojo junikes" who just copy. Stoping the posting of the decks doesn't help the Dojo, it KILLS IT!!! Think. One more thing before i go: you don't HAVE TO READ THE DECKLISTS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO!!! Well, i believe i've said enough. NEXT!!!!! belfrazz@megsinet.net Chris Schobert