[Discuss]SCG Syracuse, the Metagame, and the Cosmos at Large

[Revvik]

(post)

To me, it is not clear what you mean by 'random' and frankly, correct me if I'm wrong, but if find your usage of the word slightly arrogant.

I find this hilarious.

As for the variety and "randomness" of the Canadian representation, I found it rather refreshing, albeit a complete surprise.  Aggro Control, new variations on the classic 4cC archetype, the lists posted in the top 8 alone look interesting to play, and I look forward to trying out some of the other creations.

Syracuse seemed to bring a lot of originality (COMPETITIVE originality) out of the woodworks, to say the least.

[WildWillieWonderboy]

In a frantic attempt to get this back on track, let's talk about the metagame.

There has been some discussion about the Canadian exchange. I don't think Steve meant random as any type of insult, he was moreover remarking on the lack of overly strong archetypes relative to the US meta, especially the NE. In any case, the Syracuse meta was obviously quite different from what we've seen recently. Is this trend expected to continue? What about the potential of the new aggro-control archetype? Are we liable to see changes similar to those brought about by Fish?

Two of the top 8 decklists are 5-proxy. Is this going to effect an influx of new players and/or any further upheaval in the format?

Steve hopped up on his favorite soapbox about the trinisphere effect. Has the meta fully balanced/accomodated itself to it's presence?

And what is up with that deck with no basics OR Crucible? Has the Crucible effect subsided? Is it safe to get back in the water?

[Carthain]

And my favourite, in a match between player A & B, someone playing a match next to them notices that player A has apparently stolen player B's goblin piledriver with a gilded drake. Problem is this happened two turns ago. So the judge is called over and rules that both players are to go back in time and redo the two turns! How cards in hand and board position was determined is anybody's guess but back in time they went anyways.

I was first call on this one, and bumped it up to the head judge.
It was obviously a mess.
What would you have done?

I'd have to look it up, but you should never back up turns -- especially to the point where a player knows what he or she will be drawing, or an opponent knows of specific spells in another player's hand.

Generally, you leave the game state as is.  If the game has been affected too much by this, I believe (I'm guessing, I'll look it up later) at REL 3 it would be a game loss to the player playing the Drake, and a warning to the other player. (Both players are responsible for such things).

I was the one sitting next to the match who kinda noticed it.  My opponent (dicemanx) was doing something -- tutoring or intuitioning -- and I happened to glance over at the game beside me.  I saw the FCG player with a couple lands, and a lackey in play.  His opponent (U/W I think -- I forget exactly -- I do know it had blue in it though) had a Goblin Piledriver and some land.  I casually asked how he got the piledriver while glancing at the graveyards to see if I could see some effect.  At this point, the FCG player remembers that the piledriver has Pro-Blue.

The blue player quickly checks the text on the Drake (as it was back in his hand at this time) and says it doesn't target.  Myself and another person said that the Drake has a lot of errata, and they should call a judge to see if it does target (I was 98% certain it did).  They did call the judge -- and after the head judge came over, I was rather shocked to see him reversing 2-3 turns worth of actions to set the game back to when the drake came into play.