From: U Stroinski Subject: Uwe's Guide to MtG Tournaments in UK - only 1 flame - more UK ratings Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 14:44:44 GMT Uwe's Guide to MtG Tournaments in UK - only 1 flame - more UK ratings Due to me mishandling my mailer last weeks report only went to the uk newsgroup. This means most of you will NEVER know what MOXIBUSTION actually is. Bad luck! The welcome sideeffect was that I received only 1 flame. Yeah! Only 1, from a japanese player with an australian name. (No ... not the current world champion. He is australian with a japanese name.) We were arguing about me (apparently) insulting players who do not believe in the existence of BaubleBind until they have seen it. I quote from this post (and hope he has humor): > Like I said, the only reason I posted was the "%4*s" bit. You might > think it generated "funny" tone - but if the people you're talking I actually meant what I wrote. Sometimes I do indeed. ... and I say it again. People who do not believe in the existence of BB until they have seen it are %4*s. ... now I feel better. > about aren't there, it just sounds insulting and cowardly. I agree. Therefore I repeat it so that they can hear it. > I don't > believe in insulting someone behind their back, or hitting from behind > - you have a problem, you take it up face to face. You have probably done martial arts for 20 years and spend 2 years in the army. I have to be more careful ;-) > Now, I'm not going to ask you to post a clarification of that - that's > up to you. Yes! Finally someone acknowledges the POWER I have. > But I, for one, would think it a marvellous gesture if > you'd note it somehow on the UK group (no need for the > misunderstanding to spread any further). Convinced. THE MARVELLOUS GESTURE Just to make that completely, utterly clear. I think that all MtG players who do not believe in the existence of BaubleBind decks until they have seen the deck list are ..... %4*s. ( ... and now I sign Mark Alexanders bill against foul language on MtG newsgroups.) Only one flame! What should I write about to mobilize my readers? As you know my usual topics are: WotC Actually they do a pretty good job here in UK. No reason to complain. Jason Nicoll He behaves too and lost the last tournament he played in (1 out of approx 8). Oliver Schneider He was very disappointed about his approx 40th place at the worlds. Richard Garfield Who started the thread with the RG jokes? I can't hear them anymore. PCL They start winning. MPA I still have to figure out what they are doing, but meanwhile I practice Tom Guevins cheats. Goblin Players Had trouble with "the goblin king". High Wycombe The team seems to dissolve. DCI They rank me #325, so they can't be too wrong ;-) Girls and MtG That's what you want to read, but I can't provide pictures. The Cardiff Cartel They now have a t-shirt. Embarrassing enough. Tournament organizers They use the optional draw rule, and most provide swiss (some with knock out finals). The unknown reader of rec.games.trading-cards.magic.misc Since Mark signed up the IQ doubled. Our national team 18th place. Together with Mexico. Mexico ... London players see goblin players Since I cant run people down I should concentrate on more serious stuff. Neil Ford published ratings of UK players similar to the following 1806 Jason Nicoll 1726 Graham Thompson 1706 Jakimuto Mokanara (sp? Name sounds australian to me) 1697 Graham Baker 1697 Matthew "the staller" Jiggins (I wouldn't like that nickname) 1691 Oliver Schneider Additionally I got 1677 Steve Easton 1610 Steve Lamb and Oliver Schneider 1629 (sealed deck) That means we have now a grand total of 8! ranked UK players. -------------------------------- Uwe's guide to tournaments in UK -------------------------------- In this pamphlet I have collected my tournament experiences. They are BY NO MEANS objective or MEANT to be objective. Just my opinion! As it happens you (player or organizer) might disagree. Then there is no point in flaming me or telling me how wrong I am. Simply hit the reply button and ADD you opinion. Just be carful not to Xpost. Let's keep that on uk.games.trading-cards.misc. Everybody's opinion welcome! Even if you have attended only 1 tournament in your life. Simply add you opinion. Organizers don't complain ... add your opinion. Have fun. -------------------------------- Uwe's guide to tournaments in UK -------------------------------- ***** a must **** excellent *** very good ** average * i'd rather spend a weekend with my girl/boyfriend than go there again no rating - i didn't attend or ... it's soo bad i don't want talk about it Birmingham *** + great venue + trader + great competition + great prizes - expensive, really expensive - round robin with 3 or 4 knock out rounds Comments: I refer to the UK nationals and PT II qualifier. Less entrance fee and a reasonable tournament format (eg swiss, double knock out, knock out ...) would result in a *****. Organizer: WotC, Storm Traders (?) Bristol ** + traders + great venue - 3 rounds swiss, 3 rounds ko Comments: I refer to the Crusade series Good value for money. The format makes it very hard to qualify for the final 8. Otherwise ***. Organizer: Iain MacDonald Doncaster ** + great prices + great venue + snacks, hot meals + trader - entrance fee too high. - 3 rounds round robin, 3 rounds swiss, 3 rounds ko Comments: The entrance fee make this tournament effectively the most expensive event (nonWotC). With a reasonable format (say swiss) I give it a ****. Organizer: John Milner Ealing *** + great venue + snacks - 6 rounds round robin, 3 rounds ko - no traders Comments: The tournament format makes it difficult to reach the final 8. Organizer: Steve Beer Finchley * - smocky pub - chaotic organization - 3 rounds round robin and then I went home. Comments: Only for masochistic Londoner's. Organizer: (?) London **** + great prizes + knock out format ++ very competent organization - no traders - no snacks, hot meals Comments: I refer to the Mox a Month series. The organizers manage to hold a 128 player event at a location suitable for only 32! Another venue and I give the full *****. MtG needs (at least) one big KO event. IMO MaM is for MtG what Wimbledon is for tennis. Organizer: Jason and Martin Reading ***** + great venue + great competition + special event for beginners + traders + snacks, hot meals ++ swiss Comments: I refer to the Thames Valley series. You want to play the "big" names? Come to Reading. You are a beginner and you want to avoid the big names? Come to Reading. Organizer: John Garrett Shrewsbury **** + money prices + snacks + very competent organization - smocky pub - 6 rounds swiss, 3 rounds KO Comments: Very good value for money. That's what I expect when entering a tournament. Less smoke, more top players and I give it a *****. Organizer: Mark Kennett Swindon ***** + great venue + snacks + great competition ++ many traders + very competent organization - 6 rounds swiss, 4 rounds KO Comments: 6 rounds of swiss ensure that experienced players as well as beginners find their match. Win this tournament and you know you are a good player (so far Jason Nicoll and Clint Oldridge). Organizer: Martin Steed Worthing ** + knock out format + snacks + trader + charity event - small pub Comments: I refer to the Jolly Brewers series. Better venue, more top players and I would give ****. Organizer: Gavin Chester Next weekend I try to see the big showdown between Jason Nicoll (UK#1) and Graham Thompson (UK#2). If you can't make it ... ... there is always another of my weekly reports. Uwe Stroinski uwst@maths.bath.ac.uk