This is my line of work, so I'll try to give you some pointers as best as I can.  Here are some questions:

*  Did you get a police report number with an Officer's name?
*  When can you reference this number so you can obtain the police report?
*  How much was your deck worth?  This will determine if this will be a misdamenor (Petty Theft) or a felony crime (Grand Theft).  If your deck's value breaks the felony threshold in your state, more priortiy should be given to your case.
* If you were given a report number, (which you should have if the Police responded), have you followed up with the Officer that took the report?  What has he/she done since you filed?
* Has the Police Officer questioned the subject's friends? 
* Luis Rivera is a pretty common name.  You'll need to obtain a correct Date Of Birth if you want to get an address.
* Is the subject in question a juvenile or an adult?
* Are you an adult or juvenile?  If this is a misdamenor, are you prepared to make a citizen's arrest?
* Can you identity a the thief?  What did he look like?  Could you pick him out of a photo lineup?
* If it's a juvenile, ask his friends what school he attends.  The police can then go directly to the school, now that they have a report to follow up with, and the school administration will most likely assist with locating the juvenile in class and/or hand over the subjects address.  Often times, the Police will not have a juvenile's address on file because they haven't acquired a Driver's License yet.
*  Whether the subject is an adult or juvenile, ask the Police Officer taking the report, to run an "In-House" check on the subject's name in order to reference previous Police contacts with a "Luis Rivera".  This is another way to obtain an address.  Most likely this person has stolen before and has some type of file.  Anytime anyone's name gets "run out", the name gets logged in that department's "in house" database.  Also aske the Police Officer to run an "In-House" check with neighboring cities.  Often times neighboring cities will link up their suspect databases.
*  If this person has been in trouble before, hopefully he/she is on some sort of probation, which can be a tremendous assest in recovering you cards.
* Do you have any proof that you owned those cards.  I encourage everyone to videotape or photograph their valuable assests so they have some evidence of ownership.  Very important.
* Have you spoken with this subjects friends?  What did they say?
* Have you spoken with the store owners of where this kid plays and hopefully buys his cards?  Ask them if he has purchased anything recently.  If so, get that Officer to speak with that store owner.  In my experiences, store owners will hand over receipts or customer information without a warrant.  They hate thiefs just as much as the next guy.

It sucks having your property ripped off.  No doubt about it.  To be brutally honest, your case probably isn't as high a priority for the Police as you may wish.  A lot of crimes could be solved if the Police simply had more resources they could spend to investigate all leads.  Most likely they are on to other investigations.  However, you can still do a lot on your own to assist them.  It's incumbant upon you to actively pursue this on your own.

Talk to other players in the area.  Offer some reward for information.  Clearly someone knows something that can help you out.  In my opinion, this is some kid younger than 16 years old that did this.  He ran from the scene so he doesn't drive.  He most likely is local, and if he isn't, he's a short bus ride away.  People that don't drive don't take long bus trips to play magic.  If he's local, he attends school somewhere.  Once you get identify the school, the police can identify your thief.  Good Luck.

Here is another small tibit from Forsythe regarding Mishra's Workshop:

http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/af65

I'm a Police Officer in California (Bay Area).  It's been tough to post lately due to training but hopefully now I can get back into the swing of things.  If anyone has a legal question, concern, or situational "what if" and would like a cop's perspective, feel free to drop me a line.

As for my bio, I have two degrees from UC Davis (poly sci and philosophy) and if I play my cards right I'll be going for a master's  next year.  I've been taking Kung Fu classes for almost two years (Eagle Claw) and trying to get back into surfing. 

I been playing magic since Unlimited and reading TMD since 2002. I f&*king love the information that I get from it.  You guys have done an outstanding job with the site and should be damn proud of yourselfs.

It's about time that  Portal, Portal Second Age, Portal Three Kingdoms, and Starter are availible for vintage play.  Now that these cards are at our disposal, how readily accessable are these cards?  Were these sets printed in mass or just as a limited release?  I'm pretty sure that I have no cards from these sets and having looked on ebay for tutor and seal, there dosen't seem to be a lot of auctions for them.  Are these cards more limited than those from Antiquities?

I realize that lot of people still need to dig through their boxes to see if they have cards from these sets, but who honestly purchased them to begin with (besides dandan?)  I can't remember any stores that even sell these packs.

 Props to the collectors for sticking to their guns on these sets.  It'll be interesting to see if seal reaches triple digits in auctions.

Congrats dandan!  Your quest is finally complete.

Major karma points for this.   You're a man of integrity.  Good show.

If SCG presents an option to pay for just vintage articles, then I would gladly pay a yearly fee.  I would be more than willing to contribute for something that I routinely use for research and entertainment.  However, paying for format information that I would never read isn't all that appealing.  Hopefully, SCG can remedy this concern as I'm sure others feel similliar to me.

On a sidenote, while linking artiles from premium sections of SCG won't be feasible, what's to stop someone from a simple cut and paste?  I'm certainly not advocating a practice such as this become the norm, I am curious to see if they'll be some sort of gentlemen's agreement between TMD and SCG.  

Finally, what sort of impact will there be to tmd users that are premium writers for SCG in regards to posting content here on this site?  I ask this question because I hope SCG new setup won't create a vaccum effect that may make some writers here at TMD reluctant to post information for TMD because they may what to save that for an upcoming article.

Awesome!  I've played in a t1 tourny at Eudemonia about a year ago.  I competed against some really nice players and had a blast.  It's a quality store.  Lots of old cards, A LOT of room to play, and a great atmosphere to hold a tournament.  

Thanks for the post JP, I'll make sure to mark these dates on my calender .

Personally, I think this is a great idea.  I have a short list of cards that I need and I'm tired of losing auction after auction on Ebay.  If the powers that be allow a trading thread, I would offer to be a third party in trades:

Person A and person B both send their cards to person C.  Once person C has the cards from both parties, he mails the trade through.  No one gets ripped off (provided that person C doesn't take off with the cards).  

I've done this before and would be willing to do it again for expensive trades.  Plus, I'm a cop so I'm definitly not is the stealing business.

Steve,

As others have previously mentioned, this was a fantastic article.  Having an article in which a reader can investigate how/why the metagame had shifted so many times over the past 12 months is a very dynamic tutorial and can serve as a great tool for all players despite their skill level.  You really hit a homerun with this latest article and it set a nice tone for the format in '05 as well as the upcoming Waterbury tournament.

To answer your first question, I learned a great deal.  I found it interesting to read how decks gained prominence simply through their positioning in the metagame in addition to new tech added.  A prime example was the resurgence of Oath in it's response to 5/3.  Also, I thought this article was a great complement to an earlier piece that you wrote which desribed the 5 basic elements of the format:

http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/expandnews.php?Article=6811

Rereading your older article helped process this newest peice.  Everything seemed to fall into place and it was interesting to piece 04' together using your 5 point diagram.

As for your second question, I'm definitly not a qualified player to answer it.  I have some guesses (combo) but I can't suggest anything with confidence.  To respond to 5/3 being the "new fish" I do think that it is an upgrade for tempo based aggro/control decks.  While the control elements are not the typical FOW/Drain/other counters mechanisms, it does provide newer control elements such as crucible/trini/sibe boarded chalices.  The beats can even drop on turn 1 just like fish was able to in juggy and su-chi.  It's draw isn't see in brainstorms or standstills, but it does pack TFK, jar, wheel, and tinker.  I never made the connection of 5/3 paralleling fish, but your comment put everything in perspective.
As to what will sucessfully beat this aggro-control build, I've looked to your 5 point diagram but really haven't been able to insert a straight aggro build to defeat it.  Perhaps a revision ravager that won't lie down to trini could work, but I think I'm reaching with that one.

I would like to see some sort of combo deck finish in the top 8 at waterbury.  Dragon might be a choice if sideboard selection becomes specific enough against other builds causing Dragon to fly under the radar.

Finally, props to you on the article, Ray and starcitygames for the tournaments, other writters for the format, and of course everyone who maintains this site.

Great thread.  I recently just got back into the game after a 6 month layoff (job training) and played in a local tournament.  I had a blast, vintage still rocks.

I STRONGLY encourage that players take some time (5 minutes) to personally thank the tournament organizers and judges.  Without all of there efforts we really wouldn't have much to speak of.  Regardless of the size of the tournament, many people put a lot of time and energy into setting these things up and I feel that they deserve some sort of thank you beyond your entrance fee.  This is a general rule of thumb for myself because good tournaments are hard to come by in the SF Bay Area (although I've heard they have been increasing).

I also make an effort to introduce myself to the players that I compete against.  While some may think that small talk can be trite, throwing out a couple of ice breakers like a hand shake, how long you've been playing, tips & ideas (after the match) can set a nice tone for the match.  I have met a lot of great people in this game espically with this format and a huge reason why I play this format is that for the most part everyone is civil and friendly.

Finally, if I am playing against someone who is very inexperienced and/or young in age, be patient with them and try to help them out without causing yourself the match.  I have found ample opportunity to help new players along and they have always been pretty receptive.  Tournaments should be fun for everyone and a helping hand to newer players can really go along way.

Ric,

This was an awesome contribution.  I have been following this site for a little over two years now and it was great to finally get a chance to see a lot of the personalities that I have been reading.  I know that filming/editing can be labor intensive at times so I really appreciate the time and effort you put into this project.  I would love to see more video clips in the future, espically from the tournaments that a lot of us can't participate in due to location.  It would be great if this became a staple for the larger profile tournaments.

Fantastic job.  Major major props!

This is an old question but a situation arose in a card store tournament that I was playing in and I wanted to get an exact explaination of this interaction.  I wasn't involved in the match so I didn't chime (probably should have) but I'm not sure I could articulate the correct ruling as a normal DCI judge would have.

Player 1 casts a mind twist for 5.
Player 2 casts Mana Drain and the drain resolves.

Player 2 claims that he has 6 free mana on his next main phase.
Player 1 protests claiming that the Drain is set at 1 free mana.

The store owner interjects and rules in favor of player 2 citing this ruling:

203.Ruling.1 - If a cost has an "X" in it, the mana cost equals the amount announced as part of playing the spell or ability while it is on the stack, but if the card in any other zone, X is treated as zero. [D'Angelo 2003/09/08] See Rule G24.1a.

What is the best way to resolve this dispute?

Dutch can mean many things    Somehow it's fitting though...
 [/quote]

I concur with the "Open" title.  It really has a nice ring and it's catchy.  Too bad that it might not be an option.  As for other titles here are a few off the top of my head:

"Selected"
"Budget"
"Prime"
"Representative"
"Perennial"
"Median" (been mentioned but catchy)
"Emblem"
"Definitive"
"Kosher"
"Vanilla"
"Headline"
"General"
"Dutch"
"Red-Headed Step Child"

Fantastic Job Windfall!!!  I can't wait to read the report.  Props!

Here is Brain's winning build:

Animal Farm:

4 Polluted Delta
4 Tropical Island
2 Underground Sea
2 Undiscovered Paradise
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Strip Mine
3 Wasteland
3 Mishra's Workshop
1 Barbarian Ring
1 Glacial Chasm

1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Black Lotus

1 Memory Jar
1 Zuran Orb
4 Horn of Greed
4 Crucible of Worlds
2 Engineered Explosives

4 Exploration
1 Fastbond
1 Trade Routes

1 Regrowth
1 Time Walk
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Tinker
1 Timetwister
1 Yawgmoth's Will
2 Living Wish

1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Crop Rotation
1 Ancestral Recall
4 Brainstorm

SB:
1 Gorilla Shaman
1 Woodripper
1 Viridian Zealot
1 Xantid Swarm
1 Mesmeric Fiend

4 Null Rod
4 Damping Matrix

1 Wasteland
1 Glacial Chasm

EDIT: By request here is a link to how the build evolved Animal Farm (Brainburst forums)

Brian has been testing this build for months now.  He has really been putting the time in and he has gone through numerous verisions of the deck.  Its great to see someone succeed like he has in winning that lotus espically when you have helped in testing.  Brian has been opened to A LOT of ideas and critics and it is great to finally see him make some critical decisions with the build.

I believe he is writing an article about the build and tournament soon.  I'll update this thread with a link to that article for anyone who is interested.

Eudemonia is easily one of the best card stores that I have seen in the Bay Area.  I played in a t1 tournament there several weeks back and it was a great introduction to the store.  Good players, good setup, and a great atmosphere to magic.  Plus the store is huge

I am excited to hear that there will be weekly events that will be held on the weekends, something the Bay area has been needing for a while.  Hopefully in time Eudemonia can draw more players and perhaps offer a big prize every 3 months or so.

Dr. Sylvan,

Agreed.  I should have been clearer on my point.  What I was driving at was that it is too bad that Magic doesn't require you to pony up some cards as a wager, that aren't from your deck or sideboard.  If players in a tournament had to bet a rare from there collection, I think it would make the games much more intense and interesting and people would be less inclined to show up with decks that are horrible and untested.

Poker has a distinctly different edge to it because there is a risk involved and at times that risk can be big.  You don't really have anything to risk in Magic which is one reason why poker has such a large appeal to it.  Granted that Magic has MANY unique qualities as well, but it doesn't require the player to wager which in my opinion is a big difference in games.

I think a lot of people would debate in favor of poker being the more strategy intensive & deeper game.  I think a lot of people find poker much more interesting and more fun than magic.  

This article really wasn't necessary as it was mentioned before that it is like comparing apples and oranges.  However, 3.5 million dollars and being able to play in a casino clearly makes poker more "adult".

EDIT:  It is really too bad that Magic no longer requires an ante.  If players had to pony up a rare (or cash) everytime they played, it would make the game so much more interesting.  The risk & reward factor in Poker gives it a essence that Magic will never be able to capture.

I heard this one was pretty good.  

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/080652569X/ref=ase_theofficialni-20/102-6092983-4511332?v=glance&s=books

Its the Official Ninja Book.  Here's a review by the author:

Book Description
"Dear Stupid Idiots,
A lot of you have been saying that I don’t know anything about REAL ninjas. But that’s a bunch of bull crap! You dummies don’t know anything. And maybe YOU should get a life. I bet a lot of you have never even seen a girl naked! You idiots believe that ninjas had some "code of honor." Yeah right! If by "code of honor," you mean "code to flip out and go nuts for absolutely no reason at all even if it means that people might think you are totally insane or sweet," then you are right. But if you mean a "code to be nice and speak nicely while sharing and not cutting off heads," then you’re the biggest idiot ever!!!!!! So if you have any brains, you will shut up and get a life. So go shut up, you stupid idiot.

No thank you,

Robert Hamburger"

This maybe inappropriate to ask in public but what was the name of the Judge who made these errors?  It might help just to send him an e-mail telling him of the error so it could be prevented in the future.  Also, in all sports (magic's now offically a sport just like poker, billards, and bowling aren't all judges reviewed and evaluated?  Is there someone specifically that these players can write to besides just the DCI?  

I'm not trying to get this guy removed but certainly this is a situation that can be remedied in the future.

Nice thread.  I started a similliar thread on the topic of Crucible inside 4 color control about a month back:

http://www.themanadrain.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17430

I think a lot of that thread's discussion is relevant for this thread as well.  While your final build differs from my 4cc build in a couple of areas, in my experience I have found a lot of sucess boarding CoW in for a Wasteland.  I feel that with 4 strip effects and being able to tutor for CoW is enough to get your disruption online.  Further with a resovled CoW, drawing into multiple strips really isn't wanted.  They are a virtually dead cards that become only colorless sources of mana with CoW in play:(

Dozer Writes:



I have actually tested this alot and have different conclusions for certain matchups.  Currently, 2 shamans in the MD are very necessary as they serve duel puposes, disrupting lands and artifacts (obvisous).  Rarely in an artifact.dec matchup will you wish to see Crucible over Shaman.  An early shaman can spell doom quite often where as an early crucible doesn't have quite the same effect.  You have to ask the question of "Does cutting a Shaman for CoW make the deck stronger?"  I would argue that it doesn't, that in fact it actually hurts it.  I would look to dropping a  wasteland for CoW whenever you wanted to add this land hate artifact to the MD.

I think this situation can further illustrate that CoW will most likely end up being a SB option rather than a MD option.  Zherbus already went over this but just to reiterate, there are several matchups where CoW won't be as bombtastic as you need it to be.  The fish matchup is another story.

Right now I am trying to figure out if CoW can improve the Hulk matchup for 4cc.  It seems logical that this artifact maybe a way to hate out tropical islands.  Has anyone else been boarding in CoW against Hulk?

EDIT: Grammar

I would love an invite as well.  I'd be willing to trade cards for one

Dr. Sylvan,

When you prepare your data for your "Archetype Concentration" section how difficult would it be to make your numbers regional?  I am curious to  see how similliar/different something like the Dulmen meta game compares to that of an East Coast Meta game over a 3 to 4 month period?  Also, I am wondering if a more regional archtype breakdown would be more conclusive in trying to predict the Top 8 archtypes for several big tournaments coming up.  Is it more important for players to read about the meta game in terms of the type 1 format as a whole or would seperating your data into major "locations of play" be more revelant for event preparation.

I'm not tyring to create more work for you but if I were a type 1 in D.C., why would I care about data from the European tournaments for my upcoming events?  I'm guessing that the number of fish builds that top 8 are drastically different in these regions, right?

EDIT: I realize that you are painting the picture of what the format looks like in an all encompassing fashion but I was just trying to see if you actually had the data collected and readily availible to present on a regional basis.

?!  That's a hefty price for a revised tutor.  You should be able to find a tutor on ebay for around 3 bucks.  You may want to try and price your cards through online stores.  Take for example cardshark.com.  See if you can locate the bulk of your cards from a couple of sellers to reduce shipping costs.  Often times it is worth buying a volume of commons & uncommons through on-line stores because of the one time shipping payment.  Use e-bay for 1 of's and rares.  Prices always vary but if you're dilligent you can usually find bargains.

This may seem slightly off topic but I think it does have some relevance towards the discussion.  I was goldfishing a GAT build last night that ran 4 Visions in order to evaluate it's performance.  My question concerns what is a more optimal play on turn one when holding a good hand but not holding Dryad (and an island in play).  Is it better to play Visions or Brainstorm on turn one when holding both blue spells in this senerio?

At first I quickly jump on the eot brainstorm play as the more logical choice.  However there were several cases where that turn 1 brainstorm did not dig into an anticipated Dryad.  In these cases, if I had Visioned first I could have dug deeper into my deck by placing the scry cards on the bottom.  On turn two,  a Brainstorm would seem more effective because I could now draw into 3 new cards with a better chance of digging towards my goal.

I'm sure other factors play a role in this senerio like the other cards that I am holding but I am curious to see what others have done with their first turn mana sources, socerey speed or the instant?

EDIT: This pm was sent to me by cssamerican:

I haven't tested post-5th GAT but I would like to pose this question to those that have.  Has the current enviroment made a red splash unnecessary for this build.  For hulk, red is critical in my opinion.  While some argue that these builds operate differently they do have many common elements.  I'm curious as to why GAT doesn't need a red splash.

Finally, does the aggro element by Dryad negate the need for any main deck utility?

In my experience with trading, Birds of Paradise are like magic currency.  You can always count on them for keeping their value and you'll always be able to trade them.  Often times when trades need to be evened out I'll throw in BoP or just ask for some because they are essentially act like cash.