Newsgroups: uk.games.trading-cards.misc,rec.games.trading-cards.magic.strategy From: U Stroinski Subject: Thames Valley XI - Ban Hymn and Strip! - Sometimes 16 on D20 is not enough To: mtg-strategy-l@oracle.wizards.com Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 11:08:27 GMT Have you ever had this feeling? Your opponent rolls 16 on a D20 and you know that's not enough to beat you? She plays a first turn BV and you know that's the only 3 damage you take. She starts Swamp, DR, DR, Order, Order and you know you'll draw a Contagion just in time? Have you ever had this feeling? It is strange .... This weekend we had John Garretts Thames Valley XI event in Sonning. For me this was the most important tournament this month and therefore I prepared myself rigorously. John used Mark Alexander's software to run an 8 round all swiss tournament. Needless to say that I was more than happy and I hope the other players (and John) like that format too. To support that I signed up weeks in advance and was therefore player #1 at table #1. There was also a team event. It was won by Team Cardiff & Assassins: Paul Barclay W/G Assassin. Won a Lotus last week. Robert Bown Hamburger (mono G speed) David Maher BaubleBind Cardiff Cartel Uwe Stroinski NewNecro Assassin. But back to the main tournament. John split the field into experienced players and not so experienced players. I like this idea very much and hope that other organizers follow. Here we go 2:0 Adam Howson Swindon Necro Adam is on mtg-strategy-l and reads my reports. It is always hard to play against players who know your deck. A tough start. At least I was awake after that match. 2:0 Anita Smith London Necro Another Necro! Will be a B day today :-) She had mana problems. 2:0 Anthony Goh London W Outpost/Mishra/Hallowed Ground Anthonth reached the quarterfinals in this years UK nationals and played a deck of Oliver Scheider. Unfortunately his combo never worked and when he got his Outpost I usually had an Order or a Shade on the ground. After that match I knew: That can be a big tournament. 2:0 Matthew Trenhaile Brighton region WW I met him last in Worthing, where I could beat him. WW! In game 2 he had me down to 5 life, when I double Gloomed him. A couple of Strips later I started gaining life from Ivy and when he found his Outpost I played an Ihsan. After that match I knew: That will be a big tournament. and then I saw my next opponent 2:0 Jason Nicoll Wycombe W/G DCI#28 1806 You name it, he won it! We both were on 4:0 matches 8:0 games when we played each other for the first time at CRUSADE. Exactly the same situation now. Could I repeat my victory? It didn't look good from the start. He vised me frist turn (that much for Necro) and didn't lay further land. I stripped his only land (I didn't even think about that move) and proceeded to win against a totally mana screwed Jason. I don't remember the second game. Instead of MtG I should have played lottery! 2:0 Dave Maher Cardiff R/W/G BaubleBind The last undefeated players meet each other. From earlier reports you know that I have always problems with these Cartel players. Why can't they simply loose like all the others? It is always CLOSE. Sometimes I win, sometimes they win. This time Dave got a book out and was on 7 cards and I was on 1 card. REMEMBER I play HD and he plays BB. Should have been the other way round. Even that advantage was not enough to win. Believe it or not, I WAS sorry. How can someone be soo lucky. 2:0 Dave Fry Swindon Necro won Worthing. Dave's score against me was up to now 100%. In the second game he opened Swamp, DR, DR, Order, Order (all or nothing) and did 12 damage before I could kill them. At that stage I was on 7:0 matches 14:0 games 70 points and had already won the tournament. Nevertheless there was still 1 round to come. The first and with tension awaited showdown between Oliver Schneider and Uwe Stroinski. Live commmented by Anthony Goh. 2:1 Oliver Schneider London Necro I need not introduce Oliver. He is with no doubt UK's player with the most international experience ... and it was in the second games when he showed all his mastery. Double Hymn followed by triple Strip and Ivy/Necro. I lost! In game 3 we both made mistakes and he was unlucky enough to draw 5-6 mana in a row ... so I could kill him with a Mishra. 8:0 matches 16:1 games 78 points. runner up: Dave Maher BaubleBind 7:1 matches 14:5 games 64 points As a regular reader of my weekly report you know that I was FROM THE VERY BEGINNING for the restriction of Hymn and Strip, but now I realize. That's not enough! BAN HYMN AND STRIP! Without these two card I would have had the perfect score! Ban them! These cards are too powerful ... actually abusive! Ban them retrospectivley! Rip them up! Never mention their names again ... Besides me having more luck than I deserve, what else happened in UK MtG this weekend? - the first UK players entered the DCI rankings with Jason Nicoll on 28th place 1806. For those who are interested: I am on =325 1706. These rankings are still very unstable and we should not read too much into them. Neil produces UK rankings. They will be more meaningful. - Steve Easton had a terrible first day at PT4. He finished 167th out of 193 players. Come on Steve!! We all wish you good luck. - The Swindon Mirage prerelease tournament is booked out. For those who don't know. Check out Neutral grounds homepage for a first Mirage spoiler list. See you next week in Swindon. Uwe Stroinski uwst@maths.bath.ac.uk