Subject: [MISC] Re: Stop Printing Decklists Date: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 08:48:36 -0400 From: "Tom Wang" To: People who copy decklists straight from the Dojo are digging their own grave. The stereotype that you can play someone else's deck without playtesting or planning is completely untrue. It's not just enough to own the cards that make up a deck, and it's not just enough to be able to combine them together into a decklist. Each deck has a specific way that it has to be played. Usually, this style of play matches the style of play for the person that designed the deck. If your playing style doesn't conform, you'll find yourself losing with the deck time and time again. Brian Weissman's "The Deck" is a prime example. Any rich kid can go out, blow $1000 dollars on all those power cards and have their own little copy of "The Deck." If that's true, then why don't all tournaments go to the kids with the richest parents? Because the cards are only half of the equation when it comes to winning. The other half is skill. Everyone can vouch that "The Deck" is one of the most advanced decks in the game. It uses principles and theories that your everyday scrub can't grasp. >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 In my opinion, Magic has never been more fun. If you think it's too competitive, remove yourself from tournaments and just play with your friends with those weird serpent and dragon decks. And does it really matter that there are so many cards? Two years and four expansions ago, people were complaining about the same thing. But those people still play Magic. The sad truth is, you don't have to buy all that 'stuff'. If you want to play Magic the way it was meant to be played, by 2 starter decks, a few boosters, and play for ante. You'll find it very refreshing. >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. One website cannot destroy a multi-million dollar franchise. Not even the Dojo. If you want, look back to the 1997 U.S. Nationals. Pretty much everyone knows that David Price went undefeated in Standard competition with his Deadguy Red deck. So what did everyone do after the Nationals? Copy the Deadguy deck of course. But did those decks win a lot of tournaments? No. They all got killed by white weenie decks with Freewind Falcons and Honorable Passages. >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. People are always encouraged to change the decklist to match their particular style of play. Again, copying a deck is just like digging your own grave. >Dorian Anders >Philadelphia suburbs Decklists are a way to spread ideas about a deck. They also provide a means for beginner or novice players to advance to the next level. Most people can't grasp intricate card combinations without both seeing the cards and having it explained to them. And one final point. My handy dandy back issues of the Duelist Sideboard tell me the following. - The first Pro Tour was won with a Millstone deck. Strange because Standard play had shifted toward the aggressive creature decks at that time. - The 1996 Nationals was won by a Necropotence deck with no Nevinyrral's Disks or Drain Lifes. - The 1996 World Championships was won by a white weenie deck with 12 protection from black creatures. - The 1998, Pro Tour Los Angeles was won by a Sligh deck with Giant Strengths and practically no way to get rid of Circle of Protection: Red or Honorable Passage. Tom Wang