Even though I played like crap , I had a really fun time. Shout out to everyone there and Calvin for a great event. I will try to make the next, but I will be on point lol.

Yes, please don't let this dissuade any of you from attending these events, especially with this level of prize support. All that is sorted out. This event was otherwise very well run and fun. Ed has done us a solid by doing these, helping return Vintage to the area.

Felt good. Had those foil Oaths for years collecting dust lol. Kinda felt wrong playing DSC for 2 smh...

THIS

Salute to you, Nick. I am going to try hard to make this. Wish I didn't have to sell my power . I thonk the rest of Team Baltimore is Legacy only now, but I'll see if we can start shaking the rust off.

Bump! Get hype!

Additional note: If you want to participate in the Prerelease, it will start there around 4pm or Round 5 of Vintage, so if you drop from Vintage you still have time to do the PR.

OP updated! I know this is prerelease weekend, but it's the only weekend not occupied by something else major in the region. I am skipping working a PR for this, Vintage usually appeals to a different section of the players. There will be a PR going on at the store there if it makes any difference. Besides, the set looks kinda lame, lol. I'm only getting any for "inventory" pruposes, and to keep decks updated.

What: 20 Proxy Vintage
When: Saturday, September 24, 2011
Where: Xanadu Games

3921 Vero Rd Suite B
Baltimore, 21227 MD
410-501-5040  (Just off 95, super easy to get to, much improved location, direct parking! Check the site at www.xanadu-games.com)

Start time: 11am Registration, 12 noon Round 1
Entry: 25 USD
Format: Modified Swiss
REL: Competitive

Prizes:

SP Double Signed Unlimited Ancestral Recall - Guaranteed! 95% of the wear is on the back, it's gorgeous in a sleeve! If you're dead set against signed cards, I will give you another comparable piece of power depending on what i have at the time.

@ 32 players

1st – SP Double Signed Unlimited Ancestral Recall

2nd – NM Volcanic Island and a NM Scrubland

3rd - $75 store credit

4th - $75 store credit


@40 players

1st SP Double Signed Unlimited Ancestral Recall

2nd SP Mishra's Workshop

3rd/4th - $75 store credit

5th-8th - $25 store credit

 
@52 players

1st SP Double Signed Unlimited Ancestral Recall

2nd SP Mishra's Workshop

3rd/4th – 2x Wasteland

5th-8th - $75 store credit

There will be cash options on all cards TBD on site.

This Saturday! We're hype, turnout looks promising, let's go!

Touche. I thought you guys lived kinda out of town, not in the metro area. Anyways, I meant more as facilitators, helping with building and testing, and organizing the community. Again, the more, the merrier. Let's make this hype!

First, I'm sorry to hear you can't make it. I'd love to hear the story behind the reference, lol.

I considered the extra fee for proxies after the fact, so I will next time. Like I said earlier, it helps the locals a lot. Me and Paul Lynch ARE the Baltimore Vintage players, as far as card availability, save for a couple folks with Dredge, or such. The Legacy explosion has helped encourage people to own cards, but me and Paul are the only people who can build serious 10-proxy limit decks around here. We will most likely be lending already, but we only have so much, especially since I give away most of my top tier cards, lol. I just believe the more, the merrier. And, of course, the bottom line is, the more who attend, the more likely there will be more events. I still like Vintage more than Legacy, and I want to get more people back into it.


IDK, we have become better, we just need a format refresher. The weekly Legacy practices are converting to Vintage until the tourney. Some of these kids are out for blood, lol.

Forgot to put that there. It is. But I do have to enforce adjusting, as I have to pay the store a percentage, but I doubt the turnout will be an issue. Will update the OP.


I make these 20 to get locals and the less inclined to play. It has helped the local turnout a LOT. I am very interested to know why you think 20 is too many? Wouldn't you rather have more people in the event? I do make people use decent proxies for clarity.

Updated!

What: 20 Proxy Vintage
When: Saturday, July 23, 2011
Where Xanadu Games,

3921 Vero Rd Suite B
Baltimore, 21227 MD
410-501-5040  (Just off 95, super easy to get to, much improved location, direct parking! Check the site at www.xanadu-games.com)

Xanadu Games also has video game consoles and monitors, is 100% dedicated game space, is central air-conditioned, has 2 restrooms, indoor drink vending machine, gets delivery from 3 or 4 food places, along with what is around. They also have a couple free-play arcade machines! They also have have a large, well stocked single inventory including Standard, Legacy and Vintage staples, including duals! Your store credit WILL be put to good use. They (and I), will have singles available for trade and sale (them).

Update!

Start time: 11am Registration, 12 noon Round 1
Entry: 25 USD
Format: Modified Swiss


Prizes:

NM Unlimited Mox Emerald - Guaranteed!

@ 32 players

1st – NM Unlimited Mox Emerald

2nd – NM RV Underground Sea and a NM Savannah

3rd - $75 store credit

4th - $75 store credit


@40 players

1st NM Unlimited Mox Emerald

2nd SP Mishra's Workshop

3rd/4th - $75 store credit

5th-8th - $25 store credit

 
@52 players

1st NM Unlimited Mox Emerald

2nd SP Mishra's Workshop

3rd/4th – 2x Wasteland

5th-8th - $75 store credit

There will be cash options on all cards TBD on site.

5. Alexander Bracks - UBG Jace

61 MD, 16 SB?

I didn't play fish, but of course I know all these guys, and Paul who came in 2nd is a playtest partner. We've talked about it, and he and Karl love it. Karl got it T1 against Ben in a game in semis and won off the strength of that. Paul is a huge advocate, it unanswered is blowouts in the mirror and Vault matches, as well as being good in general in the rest, save maybe TPS. I'll ask Paul to join in on this.

Scheduling is getting difficult, dodging other events is more and more daunting. I will try to be more careful with the next date.

Bump for full info.

30 Entrants


1st - Karl Kress - Beta Mox Pearl
2nd - Paul Lynch - Library Of Alexandria
3rd - Ben Friedman - From The Vault: Exiled Box Set
4th - Doug Azzano - From The Vault: Exiled Box Set

Top 8:

Karl Kress (Noble Fish) d. Joe Tanner (Goblins)
Ben Friedman (Noble Fish d. Gronx (5c Tez?)
Doug Azzano (4c Tez) d. Matt Mancinelli (BUG Fish)
Paul Lynch (Noble Fish) d. James Peyton (TPS)

Top 4:

Karl d. Ben
Paul d. Doug

Congrats to Karl Kress, who after winning so often lately, really needs a cool nickname/handle lol. Despite my printer breaking and other silly mishaps, this event went pretty smoothly, hopefully a good time was had by all.

Metagame stats:

Tez 4
MUD 3
Oath 4
Goblins 1
Noble Fish 5
Dredge 1
Stax 1
TPS 7
Depths 1
BUG Fish 2
Drain Tendrils 1



1st Karl Kress - Noble Fish


4 Noble Hierarch
4 Meddling Mage
4 Qasali Pridemage
3 Tarmogoyf
2 Cold-Eyed Selkie
2 Trygon Predator
1 Thada Adel, Acquisitor
1 Time Walk
1 Ancestral Recall
3 Stifle
3 Daze
2 Spell Pierce
4 Force Of Will
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
3 Null Rod
1 Black Lotus
2 Swords To Plowshares
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Flooded Strand
3 Tropical Island
2 Tundra
1 Savannah
3 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Forest
1 Island

SB:

2 Tormod's Crypt
4 Leyline Of The Void
1 Pithing Needle
2 Kataki, War's Wage
1 Trygon Predator
2 Swords To Plowshares
1 Null Rod
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Sower Of Temptation

2nd Paul Lynch - Noble Fish


4 Noble Hierarch
3 Meddling Mage
4 Qasali Pridemage
3 Tarmogoyf
2 Trygon Predator
2 Thada Adel, Acquisitor
1 Time Walk
1 Ancestral Recall
3 Stifle
3 Daze
3 Spell Pierce
4 Force Of Will
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
3 Null Rod
1 Black Lotus
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Mystical Tutor
2 Swords To Plowshares
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Flooded Strand
3 Tropical Island
2 Tundra
1 Savannah
3 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Forest
1 Island

SB:

3 Sword To Plowshares
4 Leyline Of The Void
2 Kataki, War's Wage
2 Trygon Predator
2 Serum Powder
1 Nature's Claim
1 tarmogoyf

3rd Ben Friedman - Noble Fish


4 Noble Hierarch
4 Meddling Mage
4 Qasali Pridemage
3 Tarmogoyf
2 Cold-Eyed Selkie
2 Trygon Predator
1 Thada Adel, Acquisitor
1 Time Walk
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
3 Stifle
3 Daze
2 Spell Pierce
4 Force Of Will
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
3 Null Rod
1 Black Lotus
2 Swords To Plowshares
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Flooded Strand
3 Tropical Island
2 Tundra
1 Savannah
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Forest
1 Island

SB:

3 Tormod's Crypt
3 Ravenous Trap
2 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Kataki, War's Wage
1 Sower Of Temptation
1 Pithing Needle
1 Null Rod
2 Swords To Plowshares
1 Trygon Predator

4th Doug Azzano - Tez

1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Ruby
1 Black Lotus
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Vault
1 Tolarian Academy
4 Flooded Strand
4 Polluted Delta
2 Tundra
1 Island
1 Tropical Island
3 Underground Sea
1 Grim Monolith
1 Library Of Alexandria
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Balance
1 Tendrils Of Agony
3 Enlightened Tutor
1 Time Vault
3 Voltaic Key
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Yawgmoth's Will
4 Spell Pierce
1 Tinker
1 Imperial Seal
1 Sphinx Of The Steel Wind
1 Rebuild
1 Ponder
1 Brainstorm
1 Oblivion Ring
1 Planar Void
1 Tezzeret, The Seeker
4 Force Of Will
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Regrowth

SB:

1 Scroll Rack
1 Sword To Plowshares
1 Tezzeret, The Seeker
4 Leyline Of The Void
1 Spell Snare
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Pithing Needle
1 Volcanic Island
3 Greater Gargadon

5th Joe Tanner - Goblins

4 Earwig Squad
3 Mogg Fanatic
4 Goblin Ringleader
4 Goblin Lackey
4 Skirk Prospector
4 Warren Instigator
4 Goblin Matron
1 Goblin Recruiter
1 Lightning Crafter
1 Goblin Warcheif
1 Goblin Tinkerer
1 Goblin Sharpshooter
1 Goblin Cheiftain
1 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
1 Lotus Petal
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Badlands

SB:

2 Shattering Spree
2 Goblin Vandal
1 Mogg Fanatic
1 Ib Halfheart, GOblin Tactician
2 Warren Weirding
1 Wort, Boggart Auntie
2 Planar Void
4 Leyline Of The Void

6th Gronx - 5c Tez

4 Force Of Will
4 Mana Drain
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Fact Or Fiction
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Inkwell Leviathan
1 Tinker
1 Tezzeret, The Seker
1 Ponder
1 Brainstorm
1 Regrowth
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Mind Twist
1 Fire/Ice
1 Balance
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Burning Wish
1 Pernicious Deed
4 City Of Brass
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Island
1 Tropical Island
1 Tundra
2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
1 Polluted Delta
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Flooded Strand
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Library Of Alexandria
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
1 Black lotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Crucible Of Worlds
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key

SB:

1 Duress
1 Sphinx Of The Steel Wind
1 Sower Of Temptation
3 Oath Of Druids
4 Leyline Of The Void
1 Shattering Spree
1 Chainer's Edict
1 Imperial Seal
1 Timetwister
1 Helm Of Obedience

1 T.O. with hurting hands after typing out what is damn near a Hghlander deck. Nice work, Gronx *shakes fist*

7th Matt Mancinelli - BUG Fish

1 Darkblast
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
4 Force Of Will
4 Dark Confidant
4 Daze
3 Trygon Predator
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Thoughtseize
1 Brainstorm
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Null Rod
1 Black Lotus
3 Stifle
1 Time Walk
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Diabolic Edict
1 Swamp
1 Strip Mine
3 Polluted Delta
4 Wasteland
3 Misty Rainforest
3 Underground Sea
1 Bayou
3 Tropical Island
1 Forest

SB:

3 Deathmark
2 Extirpate
2 Yixlid Jailer
3 Energy Flux
1 Hurkyl's Recall
4 Leyline Of The Void

8th James Peyton - TPS

1 Brainstorm
1 Ponder
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Rebuild
1 Chain Of Vapor
1 Necropotence
1 Yawgmoth's Bargain
1 Tendrils Of Agony
1 Tinker
1 Inkwell Leviathan
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Fact Or Fiction
1 TImetwister
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Imperial Seal
1 Grim Tutor
4 Duress
4 Force of Will
1 Time Walk
1 Misdirection
1 Mind's Desire
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Mystical Tutor
4 Polluted Delta
1 Bloodstained Mire
2 Underground Sea
2 Island
2 Swamp
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mana Vault
4 Dark Ritual
2 Cabal Ritual
1 Lotus Petal
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Memory Jar

SB:

1 Island
1 Swamp
1 Sadistic Sacrament
1 Infest
1 Chain Of Vapor
3 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Pithing Needle
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Yixlid Jailer
4 Leyline Of The Void

I am already in the pre-planning stages for the next one, which should be in May. Thanks again for all the support!

P.S. Team Baltimore is calling out all the out of towners that didn't make it, there were 20 - 25 locals I think. I know some had good reason, but it was assumed the turnout would spike. A few definitely had words for Team NJ. Maybe we can have some "grudge matches" next time, lol. Karl and the gang are really feeling themselves right now. I would like to personally congratulate all the local players who did well, our people are really stepping it up. Especially Matt and Ben, who are great plyers period, but have little to no Vintage experience and smashed.

Full results and info tomorrow

1st - Karl Kress
2nd - Paul Lynch
3rd - Ben Friedman
4th - Doug Azzano

Is it just me or does this seem big for every format BUT Vintage? Maybe won't be sick in Standard, but it's still a way to thin and make your next 2 drops...

Yeah, Paul told me you weren't making it. Sucks, but good luck, make that money! Thanks for the good word. Maybe a local will take it all this time, lol. We have some hungry players around here.

Wow, how did I miss this? OP updated, 25 USD entry.

Either the aforementioned Library or an Italian Drain as of right now. I am still talking to some folks, and I may solicit something onsite. I will be buying/trading once things are under way, so it is covered, but I will still be on the hunt.

Sorry, OP updated.

Sorry for the lack of updates. Check the OP.

Hype!

Thanks, and PLEASE spread the word, I really want to keep the momentum going, if this goes well, I'm trying to go to a bi-monthly schedule where they basically pay for themselves.

I'm back! Got married and surrendered all monies, those of you with wives will understand, lol. Thanks to the random fun that was "Priceless Treasures" in Zendikar, I am in possession of a gorgeous BETA Mox Pearl. After much deliberation and attempts to do something else with it, I said "Screw it, I'm giving it away and getting the tourneys going again." So, with plenty of notice, get ready for another blast, and I will do what I can to ramp up the prize structure and make sure there is plenty of other goodies up for grabs. Stay tuned for details and prize scans, but the date, location and 1st place are locked!

Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010 Registration 11am-noon, Rd. 1 starts at 12:15pm $25 entry
Place: Legends Comics 503 York Road, Towson, MD 21204

Format: 20 Proxy Vintage (1-15 free, 15-20 $1 each), Modified Swiss, Cut to Top 8

1st Place: BETA MOX PEARL - GUARANTEED!
2nd - TBA (Will be variable depending on attendance)
3rd and 4th - New sealed From The Vault: Exiled Box Set

My apologies for the late update. The hunt for 2nd place is still on, looks like WORST case scenario will be a Library Of Alexandria. If attendance is high enough, and I can pull it off, it will be DOUBLE MOX.

I feel this article was very very interesting, as like vassago, I am the main driving force behind Vintage adoption in Baltimore. To be frank, without a high proxy count (20 currently), what I've accomplished so far would have been impossible. In what I guess is a combination of people just not being well off, economic conditions, and the sway of every other format (we have SCG not too far away and a semi major shop in southern MD that does PTQs and such, players are very stretched already), people flat out balked at Vintage until the proxy limit reached 20. Myself and one other player are responsible for about 6 people per tournament due to being the only people having the sort of collections (and pockets AND interest) to loan out that many decks/cards. My last event almost cracked 30 people, which I consider great starting from nothing. What does someone in my position do? Before answering, consider some other variables/thoughts:

1. Every event has been won by an out-of-towner (experienced players who take the power out of this community). We're just not that good yet, we're just starting...
2. Baltimore's job market/economy is less than great, recession or not. These people who are currently playing are most likely not going to invest in single cards over 50-100 USD EVER (just me and that other guy, and we struggle at buying power, I barely can afford my tourney prizes, I do it for love of the game). EDIT: One local guy has a set of P9, he's just richer than us, period. Do I give him an inherent advantage?
3. I could allow CE cards now, they would still be an ugly option because no one else does, so they're useless otherwise, and cost more than your average Standard chase rare that is instantly useful. Conversely, if they become the only option, what happens when CE Lotus becomes 500+ USD? Don't we end up in the same or close to same spot? I won't question Ben's motives or integrity, but if he and Pete go with this system, does anyone believe the new "proxies" won't suddenly see a massive markup? Not to mention Ebay gouging will ensue day one.
4. At say...10 or less proxies, I can see events turning into Fish/RG Beatz/Ichorid/That one guy with P9/out-of-towners with power that already beat us/maybe me if I save up metagame. IDK how long the scene will sustain that cluster...

I apologize if this isn't super well presented, I'm supposed to be working, lol, but I wanted to weigh in, as this issue has been on my mind and is really relevant to me and my group.