Subject: response to JSS: Where is the draft? Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 14:29:46 -0500 From: Toby Wachter To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com Well i certainly agree with Jay...draft is necessary. Anyone who knows anything about this game will tell you that draft is a much more skillful format than any constructed. In the JSS, just about every deck was a variation on something existant....but the real issue here isn't the unoriginality of JSS competitors...hell, the pros do it sometimes too. It has to do with balancing formats. On the Pro Tour, you have 4 very different formats, which is why you get a varied top 8 every time. We all know constructed has a lot to do with matchups, and draft eliminates this problem. Also, this would make my "Just play Sligh and you'll make money" theory from last year die. I really hope this isn't about the powers that be at the DCI thinking we can't play limited. I should really hope that if you're good enough to make it to JSS Worlds, you can draft. If not, practice! Now, the only real excuse I can think of from wizards concerning not putting in draft is the following: JSS Worlds has taken place in early june for the past two yeas, when the competitors are still in school. In order to minimize interference with finals which many players have at this time, WotC compresses a "world championship" into one weekend. Friday is Day 1, the equivalent to the meatgrinder at nationals. Day 2 is the cut from top 64 to top 8, and day 3 is the top 8. Adding draft would be hard, but accomplishable by doing: Another system for meatgrinders, maybe even eliminate it altogether. A few suggestions I can think of are a system like PT points where if you did well the last few JSS's, you're invited, or maybe just bring up the number of people who get invited on rating. this gives you friday free, so you have two days of competiton until top 8. Top 8 same night as the 2nd day of top 64 competition. Or, the most logical way to do it: Run the JSS during the summer, in june/july. Gives us a lot more time to playtest, and makes sure it doesn't interfere with finals. Plus it can be 4-5 days if you wanted to put in block constructed. Cmon, at least act like you care...maybe we can get cameras for Top 8 this year? :P The Reverend Toby Wachter TWachter@reject.org RevToby on IRC Team Digital Boy- http://members.xoom.com/DoomOf_Fools/TDBintro.html