Ok, I see the different sides of the effects of such a list. 
What about hand stamping?
For example: You have the organizers of the event, you have a number of dealers, you have the participants, and then you have the those that don't fit into those categories.  They may be parents or friends, people that just want to hang out. There also may be those that come with no intention of doing anything other than trading, watching, whatever.
Bear with me for second. . .

I have no idea what category a thief may fit into.  Its probably more an opportunistic action than not.  So would cutting down on the tight intermingling before, during and after matches help?  Participants get their hands stamped and stay in the main seating/playing area - this is a lot of people to deal with anyway.  So, those without can hangout over by the dealers' tables where there would be those extra tables I always seem to see at the events and/or the feature match table.

It may cut down on traffic.  It may make the judges better able to get in and out of the rows easier.  I don't know.  I'm just throwing things out I think seem reasonable.  To me, this seems to add minimal extra effort for the benefit of discouraging theft. Other than a few dollars for a stamp and ink and an extra body to do it (yes, I would volunteer to help with this) it seems to take little extra effort.
As usual, my disclaimer:  I'm not a TO, I've been to a decent amount of events but only as a player so please discuss. Oh, and I promise I will never get to the point of metal detectors and bag and pocket searches.  Let's leave that in the high schools where it belongs. 

Richard Raupach, LPCS
Sr. Claim Examiner 
Father of four future magic players

Wow, just wow.  Thanks Ray.  I sent you a message.
Fish will return! (or at least my crappy version)
I'll happily return this favor for anyone else if I have the cards.


Richard Raupach, LPCS
Sr. Claim Examiner 
Father of four future magic players

Merfolk. Laugh now - it could happen someday. :lol:

I agree that people change.  Happens all the time.  But when?  How long does it take?  Who knows. 
I don't think this should be a permanent list.  It really should just be kind of a guide or warning. 
This is not an uncommon thing to do, in a variety of industries, and in some instances, actually helps.

Geez, this is just a game. With expensive cards that get stolen, but still, just a game.  Put a time limit on the thing.  Neither myself, nor anyone out there is qualified to make a permanent judgement.  But being on "the list" for a while may make someone think again the next time around.  It's not like its going to affect anyone's credit rating   

On the other hand, is something like this simply over the top, or a wasted effort?
Is there anything else that can act as a preventative instead of forcing people to react after the fact?  Is it impossible to police an event that is nearing 200 participants?  I'm not a TO so, please, keep the opinions coming.

Richard Raupach, LPCS
Sr. Claim Examiner 
Father of four future magic players

I LIKE that idea.  Posting names for everyone to see or even just providing a list of names of people caught stealing to TO's so they can decide if they should be allowed in or if extra alertness is necessary.   That's doing something.  How effective it is, well, that would be seen down the road.  Information sharing is the key.  Hell, I do it all the time with claims to help prevent fraud.  We enter them into a large database accessible by other insurance companies so we can see if there is a trend with any particular person or group.  It helps us flag potential problems.
Anyone have space they can make a database of names accessible to TO's?  I'd volunteer the space if I had the means or know/how.
Everyone - let's expand on this idea, or discuss the cons.  Why wouldn't this be a good idea given that we'd like these events to be a perpetual, ongoing happening?

Richard Raupach, LPCS
Sr. Claim Examiner 
Father of four future magic players

Thank you.  And thanks for posting the deck.  I appreciate that.  I have no doubt the community as a whole abhors the fact that a few people take things that don't belong to them.  It just leaves a complete sense of helplessness and frustration to lose cards that one spends years acquiring.  I've been to other events and I'm not blind to the fact that it occurs.  I thought I took reasonable precautions - you know, put the deck back in my bag and carry it around with me.  But my oversight or a simple accident became another's opportunity, and that's just sad.

It's also maddening to hear (more and more now that more people are talking to me about their own experiences) that this happens ALL THE TIME and apparently nothing can be done about it after the fact.  Who is going to call the cops and ruin an entire tournament?  I'm not about to although I seriously considered it - I was that pissed but everyone else didn't deserve that.  Would they even care enough to investigate despite the value of some of the cards?
 
Another fact to note is that the Cloud of Faeries were signed in black marker. Again, for whatever its worth.


Richard Raupach, LPCS
Sr. Claim Examiner 
Father of four future magic players

This is my first post on TMD and I wish it was under better circumstances.  If this is in the wrong place, please move it to the correct area. 

I've been on the edge of Vintage for a long time.  Family and work obligations keep me busy enough so I get rare chances to get to any organized play.  I get sporadic chances to put together decks, read the forums, play a couple of games with friends.  So its kinda a big deal for me when I get an entire Saturday to come out and play.  I'd arranged to be able to attend this past Waterbury when I first saw the posting for it.
I went with a couple of friends.  I was playing a Fish concoction and we also brought Oath and CS.  My first round was with a guy named Mike (if I remember correctly) playing Oath with Ancient Hydra that it took me too long to find answers to.  After we finished and reset our decks I thought I put my deck in my bag and went to the bathroom (with my bag).  Then I realized my deck was gone.
Did it fall out?  Did I misremember putting it in and leave it on the table?  I don't really know.  We looked around for it but found nothing.  But someone has it and did not turn it in.

I had thoughts of asking Ray to send me my deck list so I could post it along with the back of the sleeves I was using (as it was distinct and I doubt there were any others like it there, bright orange with an angel pictured), hell, I even emailed him yesterday, but the reality is that I don't expect to see the deck again.

What the hell, I will do this:  For whatever its worth, I now offer a reward of a Mana Drain for information that leads to the recovery of my entire deck or the actual return of the deck.  No questions asked.

I would like to thank Ray - you were understanding and helpful to the extent you could be. Please go ahead and forward my list as we discussed.  Jeff, one of the dealers there(and nicest one I've come across), I still have your card and may take you up on some future transactions.  There were a few others that were helpful and sympathetic but I'm sorry I did not get your names.

Richard Raupach, LPCS
Sr. Claim Examiner
Father of four future magic players