Subject: Multiple Formats
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 23:23:13 -0700
From: Alex Saltzberg <coper@uclink4.berkeley.edu>
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

In reply to Zvi's article about magic needing more formats, Zvi overlooked
one of the greatest sources of truly bizarre formats.  The PlanesWalker
League.  With Apprentice (get it at www.planeswalker.com/apprentice/), any
player may have any card they want.  This allows for the typical player to
play any format, ranging from T2 to an annual April Fool's tourney with no
restrictions at all.  It also allows for odd tourney structures, without
having the tourney director stockpile the nessacery cards beforehand, or
having a player go out and trade for the tornado that they only need for
one tournament.

As an example, some tournament formats of past and future PWL tournies are
the previously mentioned April Fool's Tournament, Rainbow Stairwell*, True
Sealed, Beanfest*, all green St. Patrick's Day, and other odd formats that
wouldn't be playable in the real world by the typical T2 player.  In fact,
in September the PWL is doing a retro T2 tournament (when it first came
out) and a T1 tourney of just Alpha through Legends.  Although I'm sure
these tournies could be run in real life, most people I know would not be
able to play in them.  The Planeswalker League is probably the best place
to play any crazy format that you desire.

*Rainbow Stairwell is a format where each player has 2 of each dual, and
one of a card from each casting cost (1-6) in each color and artifacts.
For example, green could have Birds of Paradise, Regrowth, Winter's Grasp,
Creeping Mold, Stunted Growth, and Autumn Willow.  This will result in a 56
card deck.  Also, the current Rainbow Stairwell rules follow T1
restriction, and all cards that mention non-basic land are banned.
Beanfest is simply T1 with _BE_ta, _A_rabian _N_ights, _F_allen _E_mpires,
and _ST_ronghold.  It follows all T1 restrictions as well.

This article is not written with the approval of the Planeswalker League,
so don't get mad at them if you favorite alternative format isn't
mentioned.  Instead, send me an email at copersmag@geocities.com, and I'll
try to hold an online tournament for it.
If you would like to learn more about the Planeswalker League, go to
www.planeswalker.com and #mtgleague in EFnet.

"The dead have risen and they're voting Republican." -Bart Simpson

-Copernicus