Though admittedly enough, I have rarely had time to sit down and play some casual vintage, not to mention playtest. Therefore, I would like to initiate a gameshow I call ask Jacob:

1) Will Pithing Needle find a slot in the maindeck? Keep in mind, it turns off Fetchlands, an excellent source of mana disruption.

2) Isn't Gilded Drake a much better option than your previous sideboard versus Oath and The Riddler?

3) Did you shave your beard yet?

4) Is this 'fish' build as based on tempo as previous? If not, explain why, if so, give an example on how games are won or loss do to a sudden loss in tempo.

5) Is Umezawa's Jitte as solid removal as it is made out to be? Do you have problems with the four mana investment? Is vial enough to aid this investment, while keep tempo running?

If you could answer any of these questions, I would be greatly pleased. Thank you very much, and congratulations on another tournament that got Jacorbulated!

P.S: Remember that time we opened all those Xena packs on Cape Cod? Well, if you don't, this should refresh your memory:
YII-YII-YII-YII-YII-YII-YI! (exact number mind you)
Much wub jacob,
-Cape Cod

Though I may be out of place here, preferring to play Type Two and go pro via sanctioned events, I do have some cents to add. The sixty-first card is not math dependant. No great magic players have ever been a math stickler, they are just good players. I think that in Shortbus's Gifts Ungiven deck 61 cards is very acceptable. The reason behind this is it has a lot of tutor effects to get all the busted card anyways. Even in combo orientated decks like Deathlong, 61 cards isn't terrible, as you have a lot of tutors. However, the deck is also very draw-dependant, so it is probably a bad idea. In aggro decks, you shouldn't need to go 61 as there aren't enough broken cards to put in the deck anyways, and the same goes for aggro-control (like fish). In Intuition-based combo decks (I'm sorry if these are not apparent in the format) or even in Team CAB's Gifts deck (sorry if this is outdated) 61 cards is alright, as you want to fit utility into the deck with bombs to match. One last thing, if the sixty-first card is a Cunning Wish, it adds a completely new angle to control decks (and burning Wish for combo decks).

If I am wrong, reconcile me, but it was just logical thoughts/
-.o2

*An honorable return to posting legitimately*

As stressed in posts prior, I as well feel that Root Maze needs some main-decking action. Against control, it causes a 3-turn-fetch delay (one to play, one to break it, one to use it) against Workshops it’s in it’s prime, it stops immediate use of Trinisphere for three turns. This is huge (just not to raise questions: one turn them playing workshop, second turn casting Trinisphere, comes into play tapped so it doesn’t work, you get another turn). Combo seems to be the business you worry about. Root Maze, once again is golden.

I honestly don’t see how this deck is in anyway superior to Madness. It has faster, bigger threats, a stable draw engine, and very similar hate. Why not just play madness? I mean, assuming we are talking about making this deck more competitive, and if not, then why isn’t this in casual? Nonetheless, if you need stay with this deck, then I would make some immediate changes. First off, find a decent threat-base. I don’t see how this deck is competitive, as if I were playing Control Slaver for example; I could sit by allllll day countering 2-3 spells, then dump a slaver. I can see Crucible coming down for a win, but it’s easily counterable. This is my list, for my meta:

Threatbase:
4 Blurred Mongoose*
4 River Boa

Utility:
4 Viridian Zealot
3 Gorilla Shaman/ Goblin Welder (only use Welder if you have an EXTREMELY heavy workshop meta)
1 Quirrion Ranger

Lockdown:
3 Root Maze
3 Null Rod
2 Crucible of Worlds
2 Blood Moon

Removal of Welders/ Spirit Tokens (see: Forbidden Orchard)
3 Lava Dart

Manabase:
4 Wooded Foothills
5 Forest
3 Mountain
2 Taiga
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine

Accelerants:
4 Elvish-Spirit Guide
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Sol Ring
1 Fastbond**

4 Empty Slots (metagame dependant)

* I’d play this against control, I can’t exaggerate how annoying these things get. It sounds like (no offense) your meta is not very competitive, what decks are around (what is the biggest archtype?)

** Fastbond is your new Lotus. Lotus comes out for the same reason as fish, both are tempo decks, but it doesn’t need the tempo boost. That, and opponents welding out your Null Rod/ Crucible will decide games, believe me.

Your game plan against Oath is very weak, consisting of destroying Oath and keeping some steady beats. Go first and play the Root Maze, it will help.

Conclusion:
:p I was just playing this on MWS and went this first turn:
Emerald, Sol Ring, Ruby, Crucible, remove ESG Fastbond, Strip Mine
<Player Lost>

- The Hamburgler

Or, instead of making all these changes, you have three other options:

1) Play Madness
2) play Fish
3) Develop Semmen's (no typo) matchslip technology.

Moderatorgz: If you feel it needed tg\hat this be moved to the Tournament forum, so be it. I just like responding and editing my own post. Thanks, I'd appreciate it if this got left here.
- regards, the Cape.

I bring tidings, my friends! Another Cape Cod Cash tournament has arrived, this time, conveniently on the 18th of December (a Saturday). We had to change the time, as some religion celebrates some holiday on December 25th. N00bs. Need money for the holidays? Well this is your last chance, as something magical has happened for the magic players on Cape! Come January 2005 we are returning to GUARENTEED PRIZE STRUCTURES. I have been yearning for this like Orlove and a shiny new nickel on the other side of the room!  This tournament, however, has this prize structure:

First Place: 500 dead presidents (USD, son)
Second place: 250 G’z
Third/ Fourth place: 75 dollars

Prizes are based on attendance, but we still give out typically mox tournament prizes (value-wise). The entrance is twenty dollars; the format is Type One (WTF is that?!) with five proxies allowed, and one dollar per proxy beyond five. Among the many attractions among the store, including these:

Ridiculously comfy chairs. No. Heinously comfy chairs, I want to steal one to use as a mattress.
2) Video game usage for an entire day, 10 dollars! We have three HUGE TV’s with all types of games, including Soul Calibur, Halo ½, Super Smash Bros etc. You can play eight player Halo, with wireless controllers included.
3) Free pizza. Let me rephrase, enough free pizza to fulfill anyone’s dreams that had to walk across the desert with Moses. In other words, fifteen delicious large boxes of cheese, and pepperoni pizza.
4) Extremely nice venue, we have (I can say this to match any challenge, I will come to your store if you challenge this statement) the best store on the entire East coast. Argue, and I will find you.
5) Great times, easy food to find (a “99” restaurant 50 yards away, a Dunkin’ Donuts and a mall a little drive down the street.
6) Compete with some of Vintages finest, and make a name for yourself.
7) Meet several TMDers! And I will be signing autographs, five dollars per.
8) Play with my recently constructed Type Four deck!!! I copied Meandecks build, changed three cards, so now it’s a meandeck creation no more, Cape Cod prevails. (I wouldn’t be saying this if you guys lived in Massachusetts )

Like I said, next month we will have a guaranteed prize structure tournament! PLEASE represent, PLEASE! We have been hassling the owner for months, and the day is finally coming.

If you are a bad player (like me) come anyways! Make a name for yourself, like Rich Shay (the hooker claims you underpaid) and Jacorb Orlorve (was it a quarter?) or even Kowal, who had the balls bursting from his pants enough to ask for Braingeysers before the tournament, leaving us breathless in ponder-ation of what monstrosity of a deck could possibly be concocted to dare him to ask the question? Find out at this months Cape Cod Cash tournament! Represent!




Shalom, Bitches.
- The Hamburgler (Chamberlain)

Directions can be found at: www.Capegames.com

*One week bump*

Who's going to this shindig, it's in a week... Let's hear some noise.

   Andrewpate: I think JP's meaning was metaphorical, as I can't render this notion sensible. He was comparing the speed of Dream Halls to the speed of modern day Tog, even if they are seperate decks.
- The Hamburgler

Take what he said out of a combo context. Imagine a Crucible of Worlds deck, even mono-green with 4 Crop Rotation. I don't even want to imagine Tolarian unrestricted, I can't believe I'm hearing speak of it. Am I the only one who remembers Saga? I thought it was a mediocre article, but my taste doesn't typically include articles complaing, indicating or attempting to voice an opinion about the restricted list, because at the end of the day, it's still little more than an opinion. Talk all you want, but unless you work for the DCI, I think it's little more than pointless prattle. I did thoroughly enjoy Doomsday, playing it and reading your report. Despite the fact that the list wasn't as optimized as it could have been, I understand it was rumored to be tossed together (the article) I have been playing it since. Sorry to get slightly off-topic, I do agree with most of your judgement, besides anything to even indicate an unrestriction of Academy or Rotation, unless Crucible of Worlds is extinct. From everywhere. Not one. Mind Twist is a terrible card, I wouldn't care if it got unrestricted..... OMFG Mon0 Blackz0rz will pWnZ0rG!!!one!!eleventy-nine!

Disagree with me? That's fine, this entire thread is opinionized and bias*.


*Steve's a combo nazi, therefore revealing why almost all of the cards listed, and examples given are relative to combo, so it wouldn't reveal a Crop Rotation+Strip combo or anything. Just my .02.
-The Hamburgler

I apoligize. It's just when we went to the Brockton Mox Sapphire tournament I had about 14 near-death experiences, then arrived ten minutes late and went back to cape. I'm writing a full report on it, oh yes. Congrats on your winning streak, your reputation will proceed you on Cape.
- The Hamburgler

[moderators- please leave this here so it's open to discussion from all members, thank you]
- Thanks, Kowal


Another month rolls by, and another tournament on Cape is upon us. So why should you come? Why get up so early and drive all the way to good ole Cape Cod? Well, first of all the tournament starts at THREE P.M, sleep in! Then come and chill with fellow TMDers. Last month the titans of the type one world came to strut their stuff, Diaonic, Jacob Orlove, Jeff Anand, smiley, Ray, Team NH and the Brockton crew all made an appearance to fight for this prize structure:

First Place: 500 dead presidents (Dollars, G’s, green, crack, moolah or dough)
Second Place: 250
Third Place: 75
Fourth Place: 75
   
I’m not going to lie, we don’t typically hold this prize structure. It is based on attendance. However, the last three we have had the prize of a good mox tournament, with the top four consistently splitting for a ballpark 100 each. Door prizes are typically some free large pizzas.
   Why else? Why, you’ll get to see my charming face, as well as the rest of the Crew, and we have the comfiest.chairs.ever. More!? We have 3 HUGE T.V’s, all of them with wireless controllers and games such as Halo 1, Halo 2, Madden 2005, Super Smash Bros and Soul Calibur, and an amazing amount more. It’s a great thing to do in between rounds, and if you don’t believe me, ask Ray :p. Do you still need more!? Picky peeps, we give away FREE Dominoe’s pizza for everyone. That’s right, Jacob Orlove just squealed, it’s FREE.
   
Info: To enter into the tournament it’s 20 dollars, and then 1 dollar per proxy above five. The five proxies are free.

When: November 27th, 2004

Start time: 3:00 P.M

Pizza Time: 6:00-6:30

Directions: www.capegames.com

So who will win this months clash of the nerds? Will KerznOrZ emerge from hibernation? Will Mykeatog finally win something, so his critically acclaimed ego can finally indulge to a point where he doesn’t have to jab at Kerz, and he has something to talk about besides being tied up in a leather out fit and being whipped by Stokinger? Will the Cape Cod Crew actually win something, or will Team NH and the Brockton gang threaten us with knives to a point of concession? Last time, all Oath decks scrubbed it up, will Meandeck finally claim ownership of the cape, or will random aggro perish these dreams? Come and find out, at this months Vintage tournament at the mintest cardshop in town. Who will be here this time? Represent!







Bitches.
- The Hamburgler

EDIT: I forgot one more attraction, we have a computer room named "The Bunker". Games available are Call of Duty, City of Heros, Halo and much, much more. The store is located down the street from a mall, and is right next door to a Dunkin Donuts, a 99, Papa Gino's and a convienience store. I hope to see you all there again.










Bitches.

Well, another month, and another Cape Cod Tournament passes by. 16 people showed, and despite the dismal showing, the field was very competitive. The prize structure was that of an average mox, and the tournament strated at 3:30ish. Anyways, the top 4 was five-colored trinistax by Chris Hufnagel, Control Slaver by Corey Frazier, Control slaver piloted by Greg Powers and a random player playing 5/3(ish?).  Orlove played Oath, as did Mike O'niel, both didn't do so hot. I played B/U/G dragon and lost in the top 8. The top four split for 85 each, we gave out for large pizza's as door prizes, and an All Hallow's Eve. This same kid got a free large pizza, a Goblin Game (he came in ninth) and got the All Hallow's Eve. Well, besides that the tournament ran all smooth, no errors of any kind. For all you misers who didn't come, you should have, good times are guarenteed on Cape.

-The Hamburgler

EDIT: EVERYONE go to the Brockton Mox Sapphire tournament on Nov. 6th! 15 dollars for unlimited proxies is the business. There is more info in the thread in the Tournament Forum.

DIRECTIONS
to The Gathering
1600 Falmouth Road (Route 28)
The Bell Tower Mall
Centerville, Cape Cod, Ma 02632
(508) 771-7448

should be all the info you need. It's a really convienient location, next door to a 99, a Pap Gino's and a gas station.
- The Hamburgler

I'll edit this in, but the prize structure would be 50 to make a strong tournament, with great door prizes. This (only recently) has become fundamently unrealistic. If we get 20-30 people, ALL the cash goes to prizes. if we get 20, we give 400 in total prizes, last time we had 30 and gave 600 total. I'll edit this in, and sorry if this was a double post.
- The Hamburgler

Now let me get one thing straight. I know some players have some problems with our store, and I don't think they can justify it. This tournament will be a good time, that much is guaranteed. The most unfortunate thing, however is the prize is based on attendance. We typically get atleast 20, so it is your average sized Mox tournament, and with a prize to match. The store just acquired an entire set of power, and moxen around 300 each, as well as Drains, and workshops. Well, enough of this babble, on to what you want to hear, the tournament info:

Format and Entry Fee: T1, five proxy, 20$ entry fee and the option of one dollar for any proxy over five

Prize Structure:
First Place: 500 cash
Second Place: 250 cash
Third Place: 75
Fourth Place: 75
Fifth Place: TBA
Sixth Place: TBA
Seventh Place: TBA
Eighth Place: TBA

Where: The Gathering on Cape Cod, centerville, Bell Tower Mall

When: October 30th (saturday)

Starting Time:3 P.M! GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP AND STILL HAVE A GREAT TIME AT THE TOURNAMENT!

Door Prizes! Most likely an All Hallows Eve included!

Free Pizza! Dominoes delivery! Atleast two slices each!

COMFY CHAIRS. <3.

Any information needed, directions etc you can PM me, or go to www.Capegames.com

Meet Mana Drain members and support our store. If we get a legit amount of people, I’m positive I can convince the store owner to hold much more sufficient prize structures, help me and yourselves out. Thanks, please give a mana drainer some support, and represent…

Bitches.
- The Hamburgler

Edit: A 50 person turnout would maintain this structure, but if we don't get fifty ALL the money goes to prizes, we aren't making a nickel off this.

It all started when I quit Type One. I started doing well. In Type One. I decided to play in the Cape Cod "500" dollar cash tournament, borrowing Food Chain Goblins from a friend. The morning of the tournament (two AM) I was awake play testing block, until I decided it would be a good plan to tweak the deck. Well, I didn't play test, I didn't optimize the build, I picked it up and played it. I mean, how hard can goblins be? Well, after rereading a few primers, I get a decent feel with the deck. Twenty three players were present, and this is the pile I played:
Food Chain Gobbo's:
Creatures:
4 Goblin Piledriver
4 Goblin Lackey
4 Goblin Recruiter
4 Goblin Ringleader
4 Skirk Prospector
3 Goblin Warchief
3 Gempalm Incinerator
2 Goblin Sharpshooter
2 Goblin Matron
2 Siege-Gang Commander
Food Chain:
4 Food Chain :p

Manabase:
5 Mountain
4 Taiga
4 Wasteland
4 Wooded Foothills
1 Strip Mine
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Ruby
1 Black Lotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Lotus petal

Basically your conventional build, I meta-gamed the sideboard though, preparing for more aggro build than control, there were three control slavers present and 6 (including me) Food Chain goblins. w0wzers.

Sideboard:
3 Artifact Mutation
3 REB
3 Root Maze
3 Pyrokenysis
3 Blood Moon
Onto the report.

Round One: Corey Frazier piloting Control Slaver

game one was as quick as Corey's manabase made it. He sat on two lands after running into 3 strip effects. Earlier the same game, however I played lotus and sacrificed it for GGG. I played food chains, he Force of Willed. I played a mountain, Lackey. Lackey resolved and turn into a second turn Warchief, third turn Warchief and ringleader. I then took care of his manabase, and goblins prevail.

Side boarding:
-4 Food Chain
-4 Skirk Prospector
-1 Matron
+3 Blood Moon
+3 Root Maze
+3 REB

Game two was another bad start, except this time it was less one sided. I got lotus again, and went for the first turn warchief, Lackey, he BEB'd lackey and took two. He played a land, then Goblin Welder. I attacked for many-a-turn before he was down to six via the lone warchief, both of us having many problems. I had two mountains and attempted a piledriver (cost one less- warchief) and he Drains, I REB and he forces. He is at five, I attack him two three, he burns for two, and I win after gemplaming his last blocker (goblin Welder).
2-0
Round Two: Chris Hufnagel piloting Control Slaver
Chris is a friend of mine, and has a good resume, top eight at Waterbury twice, and typically always plays Control Slaver or Hulk. Round One he played and beat FCG. I win the roll, and opt to play first.

Game one was solid. I drew all usable goblins, went aggro on him for the win. I got a lackey in and went for the throat with a Siege-Gang Commander. I got a Piledriver and a Warchief out later, and he desperately cunning wishes for Firestorm, killing Siege Gang, Warchief and Piledriver. I was tapped out, and he is at five. I have three Goblin Tokens out, and next turn play warchief and swing for the win.

Sideboarding: se above

Game two he should have beaten me. I went first turn lackey, it resolves and he played Mox, land number two, lotus, mana crypt and tinker for mindslaver and activation. This was bad play, as I have already side boarded out all things that devastate my position after an activated slaver. He sees this hand:
Sol Ring, Goblin Recruiter, Goblin Recruiter, Goblin Warchief, Goblin Piledriver and Goblin Ringleader. He swings with lackey and takes one, plays the ringleader, and sees 3 lands and a sharpshooter. He casts recruiter stacking two Siege-gangs on top and BEB's my lackey. I play recruiter on my turn, stacking lackeys and gempalms. I play Sol Ring and lackey, and win shortly thereafter.
4-0
Round Three: Yushou Low playing Tubby-stax
Game one he goes first turn trinisphere, and I Wasteland his Mishra's Workshop. He gets Ancient Tomb, and on my third turn I drop lackey. He gets a blocker, and soon enough gets juggernaut. I kill a Metalworker with a gemplam, attack with lackey and play a siege-gang. I then play a recruiter, having the game (Food Chain in hand) I stack my library. He top-decks memory jar and ruins my stack. Boo. He gets out Razormain Masticore and wins shortly thereafter, playing a chalice for two and Crucible of Worlds.

Side boarding:
-2 Goblin Sharpshooter
-2 Goblin Matron
-1 Skirk Prospector
-1 Gempalm Incinerator

+3 Root maze
+3 Artifact Mutation
Game two I get to go first, which gives me huge advantage. I play a first turn mox, lotus petal, Lackey and Skirk Prospector, completely neutralizing Trinisphere. He plays a turn one Metal Worker, and I incinerate it. I swing, drop Siege-Gang and go for the throat. He plays Memory Jar and digs for something, but can't stop my onslaught of little green dudes.

game three was a pushover, second turn metal worker made me attack with lackey and incinerate it, as I pheared its power. I was right, as he told me later he would have played third turn Triskelion and Masticore. Well, he gets chalice for two and three, Smokestack, Crucible and left me with no permanents left. He attacked with Juggernaut for the win. Man, I hate getting beat by german cards.
5-2
Round four I needed a win to draw into the top eight, and lucky me. I play against FCG's absolute worst match up. Goblin Charbelcher ("one land belcher"). Great.

Game one he mulligan, then goes first turn land grant for tropical island, Ancestral Recall, sacrificing LED on the stack for BBB. He draws nothing, and I food chain him on turn two. Mise.

Side boarding:
-2 Sharshooter
-1 Siege-gang Commander
-3 Gempalm Incinerator

+3 Artifact Mutation
+3 Root Maze

Game two he went crazy and killed me before I drew an eighth card.

Game three I tooled him. I get Root Maze out, he mulls and then plays belcher (tapped thanks to Root Maze) on turn three. I Mutation it, and kill him with the tokens/ gobbo's. So good. He did have an early wall thing that sacrifices for RR, and it did a number on my lackey.

Round Five: Pat Broderick playing Control Slaver
ID

7-3-1. 3-1-1.

Top Eight: Greg Powers playing 7/10 split.
Greg leant me his deck, and I didn't exactly return any favor, as I beat him in the top eight.

Game one he went first turn Trinisphere. Boo. He then got the one Mindslaver he runs and a Welder. I lose due to me having no creatures, no lands and a green enchantment on my board. owned.

Sideboarding:
-3 Gempalm
-2 Sharpshooter
-1 Matron

+3 Root Maze
+3 Artifact Mutation

Game two I got silliness, won with a lackey creating more silliness and Food Chain for the win.

Game three was by far the most interesting. He played a first turn Goblin Welder. I played a first turn Black Lotus, Mox Emerald, Mountain, Goblin Warchief, Goblin Piledriver and Goblin Piledriver, attacked and put him down to eight. He playing a thirst ditching a Triskelion, and welded it in for a mox. he couldn't stop the horde though, and lost turn two to aggro. owned x 32950843092680236.

We split in the top four, each taking 75 bucks home.

Props:
Mike Barselow for running a very smooth tournament
Greg for lending me his stuff
Goblins, for being a deck with red creatures and green enchantments

Slops:
Me being paired against and beating two friends
23 people showed up
Pat (the owner) for charging us 45 dollars for free pizza.

Well, all's well that ends well. The top eight was:
me, FCG
Pat Broderick, Control Slaver
Greg Powers, 7/10
Aaron Paterno, U/R fish
Nick ???, Super gro
Yushuo Low, Tubby-stax
Mike O'Niel, 4cControl
and a control slaver?

it was a great tournament, and if anyone has any questions about my build, ask.
- The Hamburgler

O.M.F.G

Mystic Snake? Counters a threat, unexpected ninja, and more inportantly, IT CAN COUNTER A BERSERK MURLODONT! 0/\/\|=G, I mean that takes out atleast half the format. I think a purging of this site is in need, half the people are illiterate noobs, and the other forty-five percent are good players but are assholes to the noobs, and tease them endlessly (see: Kowal, The hamburgler, Hulkrules, etc.) the other five percent that completes the cake are the good, nice players (population:1) (see: The Atog Lord). Maybe EVERYONE should re-lose their accounts, so this way we don't get fucktards sitting on a VA or Full member, not putting anything towards the community, they wont fuck around if they have something they're looking to earn.

Mods, if you think this is warning, or delete or edit worthy, thats fine, just my thoughts. Freedom of speech is so key :p.

THIS SUCKS. Enough of the reports of TEN people! Most of the decks aren't optimal for a general vintage environment, and most of the decks that could be optimal by using good cards, don't. Making them as sub-par as a Jew without bagels. Kowal will close this in under a day (he is lazy, so maybe a week   ).
- THe Hamburgler

Hey, grats on the high finish. I think Phelon is jealous of your VAship :p. Well the tounrament was run very well, and me and Mike (the guy who ran it) wanted to thank you for realizing how smooth it went . I am talking the owner to get the entrance fee down to fifteen dollars, as I really, really want to get fifty people. I have offered to pay, out of my own money, the difference so we can give out full prizes, and guarentee them. He declined this time, but if I make an early announcment, I think TMD will help me, my cardshop and the crack-hore by getting the full fifty.
- The Hamburgler

(ohhh yeah, in the top eight of this tournament was 28 Mana Drain, 32 Force of Will, 57 REAL pieces of power (OMFG real pow3rzorx!) and 7? Library of ALexandria)

For those of you who didn't know but should've, there was a "five hundred dollar" type one tournament today at The Gathering, in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. There was a very impressive showing, not so much by number, more of quality. Well known faces were present such as; Eric (ELD), Rich (The Atog Lord), Aaron (Kerz), Greg (Plainswalker), Chris (top 8 at waterbury, my wife, and cape cod crew cronies: p), Mike (Firefall26), Kowal (honorary mention for playing the shittiest.deck.creatable: p) and I would say myself if I didn't scrub out and lose to a guy who knew less English than my dog. Well, 30 people were representing', and despite the false advertisement (on TMD it said 25 dollar entry fee, but in reality it was only 20). Well, to start from the end, the top eight was something like this:

Rich (the atog lord) (Control Slaver)
vs.
Matrix (TPS)

Chris Hufnagel ("Drain" Slaver)
Vs.
Pat Broderick (Control slaver for this one)

Eric (ELD)
vs.
The German guy who can speak less English than my dog/ cat. (GAT)

Aaron (Kerz) (4cC)
vs.
Mike (Firefall26)(4cC)

The Final Four:
Kerz, ELD, Pat and Rich, who split for one hundred dollars (and 12.50 :p) each.

Big Events in the tournament:
Ninja Atog Lord inconspicuously is absent when I challenge him to a game of mental magic. Wait till next time   .

Speaking of ninjas, a crack head lady comes in saying she walked from yarmouth to here as her car broke down (a good 15 miles from here), she asks for water and a call. Now, Rich, being the nice guy he is, lends her his cell phone. But me, Kerz, Pat, Matrix, Mike and Mike Small realize he is all over macking this girl, talking to her, etc. etc. etc. So now the truth comes out, all the cards are on the table. I go out and trade and look back and suddenly realize they're both, once again, inconspicuously missing. Damnit Ninja Atog Lord! Well... This is (in chronological order) how the series of events happened:

1) The Crack-hore returns momentarily to the card shop.

2) The Crack-hore leaves.

3) The Atog Lord Returns

4) He comes in, yawning and smiling and cranking his arms like he just won the Nobel Prize.

5) I collect money from my five-dollar bet.

end.of.story

In the end, Mike Barslow (running the tournament) did a FANTASTIC job, mad props yo'. It went smooth, no Misdirected Time Walks all tournament. Besides that, there was terrible traffic on the trip up, so Kerz for some reason apparently brought a wooden baseball bat, lit it on fire (in the middle of bumber-to-bumber traffic) and started hitting helpless inanimate objects. He did the same thing in the tournament to the noobs at our card shop (AKA free money/ byes)  :lol: .

I scrubbed out, losing to Madness, GAT and Slaver all in one night. It was a very good tournament, one round two, no match slip mean deck tech, no one lost to suicide black (may have been different if JP was here  :shock: ).

All right, I typed this in 8 minutes. Sketchy. Goodnight all (you need sleep).

By the way: FRee PizzaZor! OMFG 111!!!!!1!1!1!!!leleventy-four!11 - Kerz
-Mat Chamberlain, The Hamburlger

Prozachar: Are you sure? Some guy trying to get his lvl one certification and I think a lvl 1 judge said I could, then again they didn't have a written copy of the oracle on them   . thanks for your input, I'm putting some more testing in, and i will email a lvl 2-3 judge. We need some new judges, Time Walk targets, Blurred Mongoose can't be targetted with Daze, you lose 2 life from vamp even if it doesn't resolve... I should get my certification one of these days. These judges make O.Js judge look like a Supreme Court Justice   .
- The Hamburgler

Well, although you went for a more innovative approach, when it comes down to bone, this resembles "The Shining" combo Keeper enough to be it. You just use Future Sight as broken, Crucible of Worlds and a strip effect to slow down, and then Decree or basically anything for the kill. I have been working on tweaking 4cControl, however what you did helps none of the bad matches. Through play testing, I had a hard time with GAT, Madness if they had too many counters or I had too little removal (game one only, U/G madness) and some Combo (Draw7, Dragon and Belcher- game 1 only, game 2-3 are still hard for Dragon and Draw7). To solve the aggro problem I sat down and discussed it with some friends and discussed the problem at hand. Most players utilize FTK in the sideboard as an answer to Arrogants, Mongrels etc... But, I found against madness, that once you play FTK, its over. They get Wonder in the yard and now you have to play Exalted Angel, and resolve it. So, I started testing random things, more Fire/Ice, less Fire/Ice and more FTK, Sword of Fire/Ice in the board and then, I finally came to a conclusion. To beat Madness, and help against Dragon, I did the following with the build:

Ninja Angels.dec- The Hamburgler

Critters:
3 Exalted Angel
2 Gorilla Shaman

Draw:
4 Brainstorm
3 Skeletal Scrying
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Ancestral Recall

Threat Removal:
4 Force of Will
4 Mana Drain
2 Swords to Plowshares
1 Balance

Tutors for Yawgmoth's Will (and those other cards):
3 Cunning Wish
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor

The Combo:
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Time Walk
(Ancestral Recall, Black Lotus and 56 irrelevant cards)

The Other Busted Cards:
1 Mind Twist
1 Time Walk

Alternate Kill vs. Control:
1 Decree of Justice

Manabase:
4 Tundra
4 Polluted Delta
3 Underground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
2 City of Brass
1 Library of Alexandria
4 Moxen (-1 Emerald, don’t ask: I’m racist)
1 Sol Ring
1 Black Lotus

Sideboard:
3 Red Elemental Blast
2 FTK
1 Blue Elemental Blast
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Skeletal Scrying
1 Ebony Charm*
1 Smother*
1 Gush
1 Stifle
1 Coffin Purge
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Rack and Ruin

Now, the sideboard is the most important thing:
*Ebony Charm: Great card, I use this and Coffin Purge, as you can remove them before the madness creature comes into play, it stops Wonders, Deep Analysis, Dragon, Rectors and helps slow down a fat Yawgmoth's Will. With all these goodness it is good for   there is no reason not to run both Coffin Purge and Ebony Charm.

*Smother: Another important decision. It kills most of what the deck has a problem with, Goblin Welder, ‘Togs, Dryads, Gorilla Shaman (in some scenario's) Xantid Swarm, morphed Angels, Wild Mongrel and Basking Rootwalla.

I use four Tundra's, as I thought three didn't stabilize the WW of Angel enough, and I lost matches in spite of it. The one Decree of Justice is wonderful, ninja blockers, uncounterable win vs. Control, and can make 4/4 bodies that fly to stop and onslaught of creatures from randomaggro.dec.

I use no Fire/Ice, as it s simply not as good as other spot removals. It digs as a cantrip and pitches to Force of Will, but if that's your only argument, then you should know there are better cards to fill the spot. I never had or have a problem with the blue and Force of Will. You generally only cast 1-2 per game (depending on the match up) and if you still have a problem with it, test out Duress.

I dropped down to two Volcanic Islands, mainly because there are only 2 red cards main, and 9 (counting fetches) sources to compensate. I mainly wanted to get the 4 Tundra's in there, cause in early Angel is huge against a lot of decks in the format.

All I can see you doing, is making your aggro match up much worse, losing Swords and Angels is quite the cut.

As Toaddy said, you cut Wasteland, mana denial is important, and sorcery speed is suck. STP is much better than Fire/Ice, as it takes care of Dragon. I can't imagine adding a Crucible of Worlds and taking out a Waste effect, and yet you were complaining about the lack of compatibility in the deck, so isn't this a slight contradiction? Nonetheless, you seemed to do the opposite of what the deck really needs.

Sorry if it was a bit long, after a three week hiatus from magic and The mana Drain, its good to be back posting. That’s just my ".02" cents.
- The Hamburgler

OK. I have played a LOT of workshop based decks, including stacks and Welder Mud. The posts responding to Plainswalkers insight are a disgrace. Transmute Artifact!? The deck may run 29 mana sources, but the odds of getting two blue mana sources are pittiful. Apporximately 7.5 percent chance (I'm not the most amazing mathametician, so I will wait for Dr. Sylvan to prove me wrong  :lol: ). Stacker/ Stax is an excellent choice, as GAT is becoming much, much more popular come Fifth Dawn (more T8 sightings and more hype) and everyone should know Stax is the nemisis, and almost auto-loss for GAT. Sundering Titan is not an auto-win at all, it has clearly and distinctly been designed as a card that fluxes mana and, in the process is a fat threat. It should be in the deck, nonetheless. I like Thirst for Knowledge much more than Meditate, as it is never really "bad" in a situation where Meditate is equal in badness. Plus, bluffing for playing Workshop Slaver is a very underlooked option, especailly in the poker aspect of magic. Just my two cents.
- The Hamburgler

Completely worthless post removed.
- Kowal[/color]

I can't understand your reasoning. I'm not a Hulk expert, I just don't see how not running red for good sideboard options and Gorilla Shaman is good. Like, 'Tog can get easily mutilated in it's board position by an activated slaver, and has trouble with an early Timmy like a first turn Pentavus. I think this, in combination with Hulk using overrated creatures   [/tease], makes it just plain worse than 4c control-ish hulk. As it is like Workshop Slaver, if it sees a hand with a load of broken stuff that makes you cream, you're playing combo. If you see draw effects and Force of Will, you're playing control. Turning it into one or the other is a bad idea IMO, as now you lack the advantage of inconspicuousness, or sudden outbursts of combo or control.
- The Hamburgler

EDIT: Gorilla Shaman is some good I hear in Hulks controversial worst match up; Slaver

This shows what you know about lock components and artifact control biased decks. Nothing. The entire point of the deck is to have a permenant advantage of your opponent to make Tangle Wire and Smokestack more effective. I still think you might as well just play a Mindslaver or a Sundering Titan instead, as Slaver resets opponent's board positions, and Titan kills lands and slows down the opponent enough to swing for the kill.
- The Hamburgler

  The thread has covered a lot of topics', I would suggest reading the entire topic before replying   .

On that topic, however, Rico just thought that my list was begging to become his 710 varient, and so we got into a disscusion about the differences between the two.
- The Hamburgler

Jazzykat:
I have no idea what you are talking about, as I was talking to Rico about his new 710-BFD deck. It doesn't use fetches or force, and I would never use powder unless it was in a modified build of Workshop Slavery. I would keep the mana open, if he played something Drain-worthy I would Drain it, no matter what. During my turn, if I didn't draw anything to pump it into then I would Brainstorm into it.
- The Hamburgler

I, or as far as I know, haven't done as much testing as you with your build. I just found in several games against FCG, Dragon and in positions where I am lacking board position over my opponent that a Mindslaver could even the odds, sometimes even reversing them.

I <3 Serum Powder. It is queer how efficient it is, and I think it is a much better replacement for Brainstorm. Great innovation.

On a more relevant note, I am still tweaking on the manabases for Control Slavery, I have two different ones, and it can be chosen by opinion, meta or likeness:

BasicMountain.Manabase:
3 Polluted Delta
4 Volcanic Island
3 Underground Sea
4 Island
1 Library of Alexandria
1/2 Bloodstained Mire (still testing)
1 Mountain

-or-

4 Polluted Delta
3 Island
4 Volcanic Island
1 Library of Alexandria
3 Underground Sea
1 Flooded Strand
1 Tolarian Academy*

* I am still testing this, I have only had one occurrence where it was rendered useless. We'll just say, " the gorilla's were hungry that day" . It does make artifact destruction and mox monkey effects more devastating.

Any other opinions? Which one do you like best?
-The Hamburgler

Sorry Rico, but I was just reasoning with the list I had been using, and therefore the only one I had substantial knowledge on. I am still undecided between your list or my slavery, there are a lot of differences between the two. I tested your list, however, and comparitively speaking came to some provincial differences between the two. Slaver can play the role of BFD or "the revenge of Rico". If I see a hand alike: Mox, Mana Crypt, Volcanic Island, Tinker, Thirst for Knowledge, Brainstorm and a Ruby then I will get up with Titan early, and do the same thing your deck plays out as. Or I will out-draw control, or play protective against combo. Against aggro I will lay a "timmy" or combo out early. I am circulating one Mindslaver in your build, as against decks like FCG, they can just combo around it. I'm sorry to get my playtesting mixed up with your list.
- The Hamburgler

ELDOwned. Seriously, I read the title and started thinking why people thought this aspect of the game seriously. Then I questioned my sexuality for reading about a topic everyone considered sincere that challenged absolute value of rate.   ELD's a tricky little firestarter .
- The Hamburgler

EDIT: Maybe the demand on Mana Crypt will really skyrocket hence we find a way to manipulate dice! *plots monopoly/ fake coins*





[/sarcasm]