Subject: RE: BS about "Dojo" Syndrome myths
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 22:50:44 EDT
From: DBull19002@aol.com
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

 WELCOME!

 Welcome one and all to my witty retort on how EVERYTHING in the world related
to the Dojo is steadily killing competitive Magic the Gathering as we know it.
Publishing decklists, in general, is a part of tournament reporting.  How can
this not produce creative or constructive thought?  People want to know HOW
and WHY a deck works.  They want to see mana ratios in relation to casting
costs.  They want to know why you used 3 Shocks instead of 4.  This is
spawning intuitive brainwork.  Being able to win a tournament with a deck you
slapped together because it won in Thailand last week, is a wonderful thing.
Why?  I'll explain later.

  If players have to prepare to play against "Dojo" decks, it takes time to
test against these decks and construct them.  This DOES greatly increase the
amount of time required to stay on top.  YES IT DOES!  GOD SAVE US ALL!  Work?
To stay on top...oh heavens no!  Do you think professional Figure Skaters just
walk onto the ice at Olympic competitions and skate...1 hour later they win a
Gold?  That kind of reasoning is absolutely preposterous.  To achieve any kind
of notoriety in any sport requires maintenance 24-7...not 10 minutes before an
event.  It takes knowledge, skill, and WORK.  Lots of it.  If you lose to a
deck copied right off of the Dojo...then you didn't do the work to prepare,
and you don't deserve to win that match.  You have metagamed improperly and
beaten yourself in the process.  If your homegrown decks aren't strong enough,
Hell.....fine tune them..fix them...build new decks.  (Wait...that takes
time..and THOUGHT!  The same thought that is not being created by Dojo
decks..hmm....paradoxial.)

  If you print deck lists players, will read them.  Yes, they will.  Inside
info is great.  I saw a good number of regional sites won with "Inside" (or
what the Dojo zombies call "Rogue" ) decks.  That was networking and creative
thought, and metagamed against the Dojo decks.  THOUGHT!  VIOLA!  Preparing to
WIN a tournament has becoming a daunting task.  That is a good thing...it
makes for more though and better play.  It should not be easy to walk in and
go home with the cash simply because you showed up.  If that is all you are
interested in, the Blizzard site (at www.blizzard.com) also has some more
cheat codes for Starcraft at your disposal as well.  This should also make
your life easier.

  Yes, people do copy decks and play that deck until they can play it
blindfolded.  They don't take the time to learn effective resource management,
bluffing, etc.  These people are easy to recognize, and you should use that
tunnel vision against them.  Once again, that takes time and energy though.
You are playing against the best decks in the world at a local tournament, but
you are not playing against the best PLAYERS in the world.  This mindframe is
killing Magic.  Players who consider themselves at the top are suddenly forced
to go for the "weakest animals in the herd" to survive.  Face it, staying at
the top is not easy....the Internet is a Mecca for all..and to be good at
ANYTHING it takes time and energy.  Time you are now being forced to devote.
Welcome to the real world gang, it's a bitch.  Stop generating the excuses, (
"I have a life"..etc.) and start becoming the Homerun killing Babe Ruth's, the
ball crushing Jordan's, the puck slamming Howes....stop crying.

...And just do it.

  Yes, Magic is broken down into the deckbuilders and the "worker ants"...but
this is in all ways of life.  I suppose every Joe Chumly being able to devise
a Nuke at home would be a good thing too.  Not everyone can, but everyone can
find out how.  And it's not killing the bomb making industry.  (I have
absolutely no idea what I just said..damn rants) Magic is always falling short
of realistic competitive sports because of the mindframes of its players.  Not
the popularity of its supporting networks.

  Do you want to be a part of the changes to come in Magic?  Make them happen.
Do the math, put yourself at the top.  Take the time.  Not everyone in the
world has that time, but you are going to see more and more of us willing to
devote it.  We move around the obstacles in our way...we kick down doors and
say "Damn that Shaft is one bad...(watch yo mouth)" If you want to rage
against the dying of the light....

..Do so, but don't blame someone else for your failures.  Lest thats all
you'll ever hope to be.

WORK IT BABY!  STUDY AND GROW STRONG!
Dave Bull
Team Island Magic(v2.0)
DBull19002@aol.com
"Now the most hated man in Magic..yeah baby!"