Having spoken to combo_dude and due to the lack of entries, this tournament will be extended for the next 2 weeks. Neither of us can do it next thursday, so may as well make it an extra 2 weeks. Hope this doesn't disappoint too many people, but with only 6 entrants it's far from worth it.

Tom

Personally, I don't think the British did much better than the French and the Dutch. We seemed to use the "India and Palestine" model regarding pulling out of Africa - it was about time we went, but then buggering off when the going got tough. The Empire was no longer economically viable, so we decided it was time to get out. But after the 'Winds of Change' speech in 1960, we might have done a better job of leaving behind decent governments - take Zimbabwe, for example; there was unrest in the 1960s, but after 1965 there was a pretty horrible minority white government left behind. So who do we eventually find as a replacement? Mugabe. Stunning. Kenya's much the same.

Oh and when you say "awesome governments like in South Africa," I'm not entirely sure what you're getting at. After the Boer Wars, the British left Kruger in power, if memory serves, and it eventually evolved into Apartheid. Which bit of this was awesome? It may have been stable, but it was certainly not awesome.

Tom

First comment to make is that you've got a deck number 18 in the table but not in the list - I take it that it's my steel wheels deck?

As for 3vs10, it's 6-0 to Chifley. Dropping a vineyard by either side will just mean that a face-down vigilante comes into play which can destroy the words before 3 bears get into play (the minimum to make a fight of it).

2vs7 is 6-0 to 49 Cents - he can duress, mana burn a couple of times and then cast brand. Going second will mean his life total goes 20-18-17-14-13-9 and then cast brand. It's quick enough.

6vs7 is a bit more complicated, but I think it's 4-1 to Godder. Compared with 2vs7, thallid is stronger than the flying men, but not enough to make it 6-0, as whenever he attacks with the thallid itself brand will be played, killing the thallid and winning. Can't quite calculate it in my head, but I'm fairly sure that 4-1's right.

Tom

If you want a get-out clause, how about "whenever ~this~ counters 3 or more spells in a turn, sacrifice ~this~"? It's maybe set at the wrong level, but it seems like a much more fun attempt than discarding the cards...

Tom

Oh, I'm sure you're right. It's just I've only ever found it to be something that happens to other people!

Tom

Oooh. Yesterday was my birthday too. Not so surprising, given that you need (if memory serves) 23 people to give a better than 50% chance for 2 people to share a birthday, but even so...!

If you find a problem with any of your matchups, I'll be happy to change them. As it is, said mistakes aren't all that apparent. I like the combo of brand and the orchard, certainly, but maybe a different support card such as Swords, Oxidize, Duress (most likely the strongest) or Shattered Dreams would be in order.

Tom

@49 Cents: Your deck was the 8th one entered. Your position is given in brackets at the end of the table. To see your scores against each other player, go along your row of the table and that will give you your scores against deck 1, deck 2 and so forth.

@rvs: The deck works, albeit not all that well this time! The tokens belong to the player who made them, not to the player who controls them, hence playing brand will regain control of either 1 or 2 tokens (depending on whether ostracize has been played).

@matt: No idea. I think I was thinking about a different card to ostracize at the time. I'll change it. In fact, I've made a couple of errors with his deck - combo_dude's second deck also 6-0s it.

Tom

I'd like to congratulate Chifley and Nazdakka as the winners of 3CB Tournament #58. The card that seems to be currently in vogue proved dominant this time, and a very solid deck walked off with the top prize this time. Well done both!

Banned list:
Portal
Unglued
[card]Black Lotus[/card]
[card]Mesmeric Fiend[/card]
[card]Nezumi Shortfang[/card]
[card]Blackmail[/card]
[card]Chain of Smog[/card]
[card]Cabal Therapy[/card]
[card]Encroach[/card]
[card]Mind Swords[/card]
[card]Anvil of Bogarden[/card]
[card]Strip Mine[/card]
[card]Wasteland[/card]
[card]The Rack[/card]
[card]Balance[/card]
[card]Meddling Mage[/card]
[card]Isochron Scepter[/card]
[card]Glacial Chasm[/card]

1.   wonkey_donkey   -   2sphere   -   City of Traitors,   Soldevi Sentry,   Sphere of Resistance
2.   Revvik   -   Sucks to go second   -   Island,   Flying Men,   Daze
3.   Chifley   -   TET   -   Treetop Village,   Eladamri's Vineyard,   The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
4.   ReAnimator   -   Fr0mz of the D4rg0n!!1   -   Saprazzan Cove,   Show and Tell,   Form of the Dragon
5.   Frodo Fett   -   Slow and Unsteady   -   Teferi's Isle,   Blinkmoth Nexus,   Energy Field
6.   combo_dude   -   (No Name)   -   Mercadian Bazaar,   Karakas,   Starke of Rath
7.   Godder   -   Phyrexian Doom   -   City of Traitors,   Sol Ring,   Phyrexian Processor
8.   49 Cents   -   Suck This!   -   Forbidden Orchard,   Brand,   Ostracize
9.   Nazdakka   -   Reactorsaurus   -   Saprazzan Cove,   Darksteel Reactor,   Energy Field
10.   Virtual   -   Something for the field   -   Mox Sapphire,   Blinkmoth Nexus,   Energy Field

11.   wonkey_donkey   -   Kimberley Fields   -   Lions' Eye Diamond,   Sheltered Valley,   Roar of the Wurm
12.   ReAnimator   -   Goblin Crack   -   Mountain,   Goblin Vandal,   Crack the Earth
13.   Chifley   -   (No Name)   -   Saprazzan Cove,   Darksteel Reactor,   Energy Field
14.   combo_dude   -   Not Bodyroc   -   Tropical Island,   Thallid,   Daze
15.   Godder   -   Down on the Farm   -   Savannah,   Thallid,   Swords to Plowshares
16.   Nazdakka   -   Storage Hoser   -   Mishra's Workshop,   Ferropede,   Serrated Biskelion

   _ 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   0   1   2   3   4   5   6   T    (P)
1|   x   3   6   0   0   2   6   4   0   0   4   4   0   3   3   3   38   (9)
2|   3   x   6   0   2   0   6   4   0   2   3   4   0   0   1   3   34   (13)
3|   0   0   x   0   0   6   0   6   6   0   0   6   6   2   6   0   38   (9)
4|   6   6   6   x   0   6   3   6   0   0   3   0   0   6   6   0   48   (4)
5|   6   2   6   6   x   2   6   6   0   2   2   0   0   6   2   2   48   (4)
6|   2   6   0   0   2   x   0   0   0   6   3   6   0   6   2   0   33   (14)
7|   0   0   6   3   0   6   x   6   0   0   6   0   0   0   6   6   39   (8)
8|   1   1   0   0   0   6   0   x   0   0   0   2   0   0   3   4   17   (16)
9|   6   6   0   6   6   6   6   6   x   6   6   0   3   6   6   0   69   (1)
0|   6   2   6   6   2   0   6   6   0   x   2   0   0   3   2   2   43   (6)
1|   1   3   6   3   2   3   0   6   0   2   x   6   0   3   0   1   36   (12)
2|   1   1   0   6   6   0   6   2   6   6   0   x   6   0   0   0   40   (7)
3|   6   6   0   6   6   6   6   6   3   6   6   0   x   6   6   0   69   (1)
4|   3   6   2   0   0   0   6   6   0   3   3   6   0   x   2   0   38   (9)
5|   3   4   0   0   2   2   0   3   0   2   6   6   0   2   x   0   30   (15)
6|   3   3   6   6   2   6   0   1   6   2   4   6   6   6   6   x   63   (3)

And now for something completely different... this week, there was a monster performance from energy field, showing up in no less that 3 of the top 4 decks! Fadeblue, who originally came up with the winning deck (IIRC), was not here to see his creation's coming of age, but it was truly dominant this time around. Maybe it's time for Port-based decks to make a comeback? Meanwhile, the performance of my deck has led me to think it may be better leaving at least one or other of leveler and dreadnaught - big, fast creatures simply don't cut the mustard without either of these two. Further congratulations must be given to Nazdakka, who gave a truly dominating performance in this 16-plaer field - nicely done, sah!

Please post corrections/discussion, and don't forget to send decks to combo_dude this time around!

Tom

With reference to the results of 3CB Tournament #58, I'm going to put them up about this time tomorrow. If you've not entered (with either one or two decks) then please do so, as although I have just about enough decks to scrape together a tournament, the more entrants (as in people, rather than second decks, although a second deck is better than nothing!) I get the better. So if you haven't done so, send me a deck first for #58, then combo_dude for #59. Hopefully this won't lead to confusion, but if you've got any questions then send them to me with a deck .

Tom

Second decks are now being accepted. Sorry for not letting people know sooner, but posting here wasn't my first priority when I'd been awake for the previous 42 hours!

Tom

Sorry, no, it isn't. It will be for the next one, however, as it ends after Saviors becomes tournament legal on 20th June.

Tom

You were unlucky with the metagame this time around - two threat MWS decks are about the strongest ones out there. As a general rule, playing wheel of torture instead of one or other of the threats (depending on how much tabernacle you expect to see) is a good idea, but even without this I was surprised it was as low down as it turned out to be.

Tom

I'd like to congratulate combo_dude as the winner of 3CB tournament #57. A fine piece of metagaming gave him the top spot by a fairly comfortable margin, and has given rise to a card being banned. Well done!

Banned list:
Portal
Unglued
[card]Black Lotus[/card]
[card]Mesmeric Fiend[/card]
[card]Nezumi Shortfang[/card]
[card]Blackmail[/card]
[card]Chain of Smog[/card]
[card]Cabal Therapy[/card]
[card]Encroach[/card]
[card]Mind Swords[/card]
[card]Anvil of Bogarden[/card]
[card]Strip Mine[/card]
[card]Wasteland[/card]
[card]The Rack[/card]
[card]Balance[/card]
[card]Meddling Mage[/card]
[card]Isochron Scepter[/card]

1.   wonkey_donkey   -   If it ain't broke, don't play it…   -   City of Traitors,   Illusionary Mask,   Phyrexian Dreadnaught
2.   Chifley   -   (No Name)   -   Fountain of Cho,   Preacher,   Maze of Ith
3.   fadeblue   -   So Unoriginal   -   Subterranean Hangar,   Caustic Tar,   The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
4.   combo_dude   -   (No Name)   -   Mishra's Workshop,   Jinxed Choker,   Glacial Chasm
5.   endersdouble   -   Techlessness   -   Mishra's Workshop,   Trinisphere,   Steel Golem
6.   Frodo Fett   -   Poor Man's Moat   -   Mox Pearl,   Blinkmoth Nexus,   Island Sanctuary
7.   Machinus   -   Going second sucks   -   Mox Sapphire,   Mishra's Factory,   Hesitate
8.   Das Boot   -   (No Name)   -   Lion's Eye Diamond,   Arrogant Wurm,   Nether Spirit
9.   ReAnimator   -   Shameless Plagiarism   -   Mishra's Workshop,   Trinisphere,   Steel Golem
10.   rvs   -   (No Name)   -   Lion's Eye Diamond,   Arrogant Wurm,   Nether Spirit
11.   skumble humble   -   my first time   -   Subterranean Hangar,   Smokestack,   Hypnotic Spectre
12.   Godder   -   Mishra's Nightmares   -   Mishra's Workshop,   Mishra's Workshop,   Duplicant

13.   wonkey_donkey   -   The TET Offensive   -   Treetop Village,   Eladmiri's Vineyard,   The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
14.   ReAnimator   -   Rat You!   -   Mox Jet,   Mishra's Factory,   Ravenous Rats
15.   rvs   -   (No Name)   -   Mishra's Workshop,   Chimeric Idol,   Steel Golem
16.   Frodo Fett   -   Mishra's Stronghold   -   Mishra's Workshop,   Ensnaring Bridge   Scalding Tongs
17.   Chifley   -   (No Name)   -   Mox Jet,   Mishra's Factory,   Ravenous Rats
18.   Godder   -   Down on the Farm   -   Savannah,   Thallid,   Swords to Plowshares

_   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   T   (P)
1|   x   0   6   0   3   0   3   6   3   6   6   2   6   0   6   0   0   0   47   (7)
2|   6   x   0   0   6   2   2   2   6   2   2   2   0   2   6   0   2   0   40   (13)
3|   0   6   x   0   6   6   0   6   6   6   2   6   0   0   0   6   0   6   56   (4)
4|   6   6   6   x   6   6   3   3   6   3   6   6   0   0   6   6   0   6   75   (1)
5|   3   0   0   0   x   3   6   3   2   3   4   2   2   4   2   0   4   6   44   (9)
6|   6   2   0   0   3   x   3   6   3   6   0   6   6   3   6   0   3   2   55   (5)
7|   3   2   6   3   0   3   x   3   0   3   2   6   6   4   0   2   4   1   48   (6)
8|   0   2   0   3   3   0   3   x   3   2   6   2   0   6   2   0   6   0   38   (14)
9|   3   0   0   0   2   3   6   3   x   3   4   2   2   4   2   0   4   6   44   (9)
0|   0   2   0   3   3   0   3   2   3   x   6   2   0   6   2   0   6   0   38   (14)
1|   0   2   2   0   1   6   2   0   1   0   x   2   2   2   0   2   2   0   24   (17)
2|   2   2   0   0   2   0   0   2   2   2   2   x   0   1   0   0   1   1   17   (18)
3|   0   6   6   6   2   0   0   6   2   6   2   6   x   1   6   6   1   6   62   (3)
4|   6   2   6   6   1   3   1   0   1   0   2   4   4   x   2   2   2   2   44   (9)
5|   0   0   6   0   2   0   6   2   2   2   6   6   0   2   x   0   2   2   38   (14)
6|   6   6   0   0   6   6   2   6   6   6   2   6   0   2   6   x   2   6   68   (2)
7|   6   2   6   6   1   3   1   0   1   0   2   4   4   2   2   2   x   2   44   (9)
8|   6   6   0   0   0   2   4   6   0   6   6   4   0   2   2   0   2   x   46   (8)

The margin of victory confirmed that glacial chasm needs to go. Unless you're playing vineyard, discard or artifact removal (often a bad idea, for example in a trinisphere or speed-based metagame), the deck is close to unstoppable, and it is not even beaten by energy field. I wish people the best of luck in breaking jinxed choker, however! As I said in the other thread, I think that it's the only immediate ban that's necessary - for the time being, most of the rest can be left alone. Dreadnaught, Wheel of Torture/Paupers' Cage and Leveler are all far from safe for the moment, although they aren't quite in the league of Glacial Chasm. As for the decks this time, things got very congested about the 45-point mark! Credit must go to Frodo Fett for his high finish with both decks, including a new deck that is a new contender in the metagame. It's good to see some effective innovation coming from him and, to an extent, fadeblue. Nice work.

Please post corrections/discussion - it may make a difference to placings, especially in the middle order!

Tom

The rules for this competition will be: Anything Goes... as in, more than usual goes!

Banned list:
Portal
Unglued
[card]Black Lotus[/card]
[card]Mesmeric Fiend[/card]
[card]Nezumi Shortfang[/card]
[card]Blackmail[/card]
[card]Chain of Smog[/card]
[card]Cabal Therapy[/card]
[card]Encroach[/card]
[card]Mind Swords[/card]
[card]Anvil of Bogarden[/card]
[card]Strip Mine[/card]
[card]Wasteland[/card]
[card]The Rack[/card]
[card]Balance[/card]
[card]Meddling Mage[/card]
[card]Isochron Scepter[/card]
[card]Glacial Chasm[/card] <--- NEW ARRIVAL

NB this is subject to change within 48hrs of first posting.



To make an entry, PM your deck to wonkey_donkey in the following format:

Subject: 3cb Tournament #57 Entry or 3cb Tournament#57 Revision
Deck Name
Card #1
Card #2
Card #3

Optional Deck discussion, random sucking up, etc.

I'll close entries after 2 weeks. Get your entries in by 9th June and I'll calculate. As I said, the banned list may change within 48 hours of this post going up. After that, it stays as it is. This is not a reason to withold your decks, though - this is not a particuarly serious format! If something's broke, please fix it whilst we can!

Well, as far as the banned list goes, I'm banning one card - Glacial Chasm. I've long felt that it is simply overly strong, and the results will reflect/have reflected this. As far as other bannings are concerned, there seems to be little indication that they'd be necessary as of yet, but I'm confident that I know what would be next on the list. It's looking as though LED, the 1-mana LD and the 2-mana double-discard stuff are all safe, however.

Results hopefully up a bit later today or possibly tomorrow.

Tom

Unfortunately, I've not seen enough of it to have any specific complaints, but I will say that in general I'm for the idea but NOT YET. I'm very much pro-Europe as a general rule, but I feel that too many steps are being taken towards economic and political unity before it's been verified that it is the best for all European states. As a Brit, for example, I'm pro-Euro in principle, but with the British economy performing as it has done over the last few years, I'd not like to give up monetary (and probably soon fiscal) autonomy just yet. So in 10 years, perhaps, I'd be saying something very different. For now, though, it's no Euro and no constitution.

I am, however, hoping that France votes for the constitution, as without one of its main proponents, the idea will go for a long time rather than just this specific constitution. I like the idea, and France is probably best suited for the constitution of any nation, but as long as Britain says no I'll still be happy!

Tom

You're all right on all counts, with the exception of 7vs9 - playing the hippo first will guarantee that the dreamsower gets into play, and then the dragon will just get tapped after every attack. Remember shadow ensures it will get through. I'll change the results later tonight when I've got more than 1 minute to spare!

Tom

Second decks are being accepted. I've not got many entries thus far, would appreciate some more!

Tom

This may get messy, all told. The Active Player chooses first, but as this spell hasn't finished resolving yet, there's nothing on the stack for it to target until it's too late (as you have to choose targets before they go on the stack)? Maybe. There are some serious timing issues with this - maybe best to try and word it so that spells can't be countered with this. Alternatively, make this an instant that only affects sorceries, although that is probably limited by flavour.

Tom

I feel sure that I've recorded a 0 score somewhere, I'll see if I can find it if it exists...

Tom

Ah. That might explain something... I would have said something to you earlier, but I kept on thinking that there were decks that you could beat and hence I kept quiet. Sorry!

Tom

I'd like to congratulate wonkey_donkey as the winner of 3cb tournament #56.
The upwelling and trinisphere meant that cheating the limit by playing more than one land was the way forward, and consequently the two-land decks finished very high up. An interesting format, nonetheless.

Banned List:
[card]Strip Mine[/card]
[card]Wasteland[/card]
[card]Mishra's Workshop[/card]
[card]City of Traitors[/card]
[card]Ancient Tomb[/card]
[card]The Rack[/card]
[card]Wheel of Torture[/card]
[card]Rackling[/card]
[card]Skullcage[/card]
[card]Paupers' Cage[/card]
Any card that can force your opponent to discard more than one card.

1. wonkey_donkey -   The Sky is Broken -   Karakas,   Crystal Vein,   Decree of Justice
2. combo_dude -   Piece By Piece -   Dust Bowl,   Crystal Vein,   Leveler
3. Nazdakka -   Undiscovered Tech -   Undiscovered Paradise,   Vindicate,   Eternal Witness
4. Tristal -   (No Name) -   Scrubland,   Empty-Shrine Kanushi,   Evil Presence
5. Chifley -   (No Name) -   Stalking Stones,   Saprazzan Skerry,   Mana Drain
6. ReAnimator -   3sphere is bz0rkEn -   Mishra's Factory,   Mountain,   Molten Rain
7. fadeblue -   Funky.dec -   Tropical Island,   Pygmy Hippo,   Thalakos Dreamsower
8. rvs -   (No Name) -   Mishra's Factory,   Tundra,   Meddling Mage
9. Godder -   (No Name) -   Island,   Mana Drain,   Quicksilver Dragon
10. epeeguy -   Form is da bomb -   Island,   Show and Tell,   Form of the Dragon

11. wonkey_donkey -   Red Dust -   Ghitu Encampment,   Crystal Quarry,   Bringer of the Red Dawn
12. Nazdakka -   Duh… Ponza smash good! -   Mishra's Factory,   Mountain,   Stone Rain
13. combo_dude -   (No Name)   Mishra's Factory,   Tundra,   Meddling Mage
14. ReAnimator    - (No Name) -   Savannah,   Kor Haven,   Words of Wilding
15. rvs -   Just because I can -   Mishra's Factory,   Plains,   Akroma, Angel of Wrath
16. Chifley -   (No Name) -   Tropical Island,   Pygmy Hippo,   Capsize

__   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   0   1   2   3   4   5   6   T    (P)
1|   x   1   6   6   6   6   3   2   6   6   6   6   2   6   6   6   74   (1)
2|   4   x   4   6   2   6   4   0   4   4   2   6   0   6   6   6   60   (2)
3|   0   1   x   4   2   0   6   0   3   6   6   0   0   6   3   2   39   (9)
4|   0   0   1   x   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   01   (16)
5|   0   2   2   6   x   2   0   2   0   6   6   2   2   3   2   2   37   (10)
6|   0   0   6   6   2   x   6   2   6   6   0   2   2   0   2   6   46   (6)
7|   3   1   0   6   6   0   x   0   6   0   0   0   0   0   6   6   34   (13)
8|   2   6   6   6   2   2   6   x   6   6   2   2   2   3   2   6   59   (3)
9|   0   1   3   6   6   0   0   0   x   6   6   0   0   0   6   1   35   (12)
0|   0   1   0   6   0   0   6   0   0   x   6   0   0   6   0   0   25   (9)
1|   0   2   0   6   0   6   6   2   0   0   x   6   2   0   0   6   36   (11)
2|   0   0   6   6   2   2   6   2   6   6   0   x   2   0   2   6   46   (6)
3|   2   6   6   6   2   2   6   2   6   6   2   2   x   3   2   6   59   (3)
4|   0   0   0   6   3   6   6   3   6   0   6   6   3   x   0   6   51   (5)
5|   0   0   3   6   2   2   0   2   0   6   6   2   2   6   x   6   43   (8)
6|   0   0   2   6   2   0   0   0   4   6   0   0   0   0   0   x   20   (15)

An impossibly hard to calculate format, in many cases! Please check your results very carefully. I'm thinking that were we to do this again, banning man-lands may help, although it's far from clear! I don't think I missed anything on the banned list of a great deal of note, though, and it seems to have provided an interesting metagame. Well, back to normal for next time - suggestions for special formats for the future would be appreciated.

Please post corrections/discussion (there's bound to be some of the former this time!).

Tom

The rules for this competition will be: Anything Goes... as in, more than usual goes!

Banned list:
Portal
Unglued
[card]Black Lotus[/card]
[card]Mesmeric Fiend[/card]
[card]Nezumi Shortfang[/card]
[card]Blackmail[/card]
[card]Chain of Smog[/card]
[card]Cabal Therapy[/card]
[card]Encroach[/card]
[card]Mind Swords[/card]
[card]Anvil of Bogarden[/card]
[card]Strip Mine[/card]
[card]Wasteland[/card]
[card]The Rack[/card]
[card]Balance[/card]
[card]Meddling Mage[/card]
[card]Isochron Scepter[/card]


NB this is subject to change within 48hrs of first posting.



To make an entry, PM your deck to wonkey_donkey in the following format:

Subject: 3cb Tournament #57 Entry or 3cb Tournament#57 Revision
Deck Name
Card #1
Card #2
Card #3

Optional Deck discussion, random sucking up, etc.

I'll close entries after 2 weeks. Get your entries in by 26th May and I'll calculate. As I said, the banned list may change within 48 hours of this post going up. After that, it stays as it is. This is not a reason to withold your decks, though - this is not a particuarly serious format! If something's broke, please fix it whilst we can!

Again, we've got the cut down banned list. I'll be making a couple of additions to it, I'm sure, after this week, but for the time being I'm trying to see what is going to need putting back on the list. One tournament was not enough - maybe this one isn't either - but each one gives a better idea of what needs to go.

Results up later in the week - I'm still calculating, for once, as the matches are so horrifically complicated most of the time!

Tom

One of the most sporting gestures I've seen in a while. You've certainly earned a lot of respect from this quarter if nowhere else.

Tom

Krark-Clan Ironworks, Altar of Dementia, Phyrexian Altar, Caller of the Claw, Grinding Station, Summoning Station, Goblin Bombardment, itself... as printed, it's too good. With a very small correction, such as a nontoken trigger or colourless tokens, it sinks to the levels of 'interesting' rather than 'overpowered.'

Tom

I think it's a valid point being worried about the ability to replace itself. So why not make it produce colourless tokens rather than artifact tokens, a la [card]Summoning Station[/card]? Seems to solve most of the problems...

Tom

Second decks are being accepted. Please see what you can come up with for this, as it's an extremely bizarre format (especially from the perspective of calculating the results!).

Tom

Much the same at my end - I don't like playing online, as it seems to take two of the biggest elements of poker out of the game; reading players by their other actions (not just the way they bet, which is why I also don't really like fixed-limit poker - hold'em's more suited for pot-limit or no-limit), and the element of playing with real people, so to speak. Generally speaking, the majority of the poker I play is with friends (although there are exceptions, of course, if I feel like playing higher stakes stuff for example), so losing the social aspect is often a fairly big thing. Playing online doesn't quite do it for me, somehow.

Tom

The rules for this competition will be: All spells cost at least 3 mana to play. Mana pools do not empty at the end of phases/turns - i.e. Trinisphere and Upwelling are permanently in effect, although the cards themselves are not in play.

Banned list:
Portal
Unglued
Unhinged
Strip Mine
Wasteland
Mishra's Workshop
City of Traitors
Ancient Tomb
The Rack
Wheel of Torture
Rackling
Paupers' Cage
Any spell that can force your opponent to discard more than one card.

NB this is subject to change within 48hrs of first posting.



To make an entry, PM your deck to wonkey_donkey in the following format:

Subject: 3cb Tournament #56 Entry or 3cb Tournament#56 Revision
Deck Name
Card #1
Card #2
Card #3

Optional Deck discussion, random sucking up, etc.

I'll close entries after 2 weeks. Get your entries in by 12th May and I'll calculate. As I said, the banned list may change within 48 hours of this post going up. After that, it stays as it is. This is not a reason to withold your decks, though - this is not a particuarly serious format! If something's broke, please fix it whilst we can!

I hope I've got the banned list right for this, given that I've gone pretty light on the possible bannings. All LD and all discard may have gone, and (if memory serves) all artifacts went last time, too, but if people were to make recommendations it'd be much appreciated. Any questions or suggestions, post them her or PM me and I'll do my best to answer them.

EDIT: Strip Mine and Wasteland are banned. An oversight on my part.

Results posted by combo_dude earlier today (my internet, as you can see, is now up and running again).

Tom

Got most of those except a few US political figures... but if there'd been people like Ruth Kelly or Oliver Letwin then I'd have been sorted ... go UK.
Damian Rice is a singer, if memory serves?
Ethan Hawke is a name I know, and I think he's an actor, but I may be wrong.
I recognise Hickenbottom and Rhodes, too, but refuse to google to get the answers!

Tom