[Report] My GenCon Experience

[Clown of Tresserhorn]

Intro

In preparation for GenCon, the whole Colorado Crew (Jim Gaffney, Scott Limoges, Zach Gable, Travis Spero, and Lou Christopher) did some mad playtesting weeks beforehand. I was set to play Stax, Zach was set to play Meandeck Gifts, Lou was set to play Control Slaver, and Scott was set to play AC/DC. Then Jim picked up Uba Stax. For some reason, it did extremely well in testing, and I was feeling a bit uncomfortable with my build of Stax. About a week before GenCon at Zach’s crib, me and Jim tested the Uba Stax vs. Slaver matchup and I absolutely wrecked him. This gave me some confidence in the deck and it lingered in the back of my mind as a potential deck to play. Thursday rolls by and we hop a plane to Indy.

Let me just say that the convention center is huge! On top of that, it is full of nerds. Now, I’m still in-the-closet about my magic wielding skills, so I’m a bit uneasy at first. Then I realize half the city is there to play games more nerdy than magic, so I felt more comfortable.

GenCon

Thursday Night

We get there, and there’s a miscommunication with Whatever Work’s room, and Zach’s bag of a complete set of beta power and others was misplaced. Some way to start GenCon huh? Zach finds his bag thanks to his wonderful wife Heather, and they, being awesome peeps, let us stay at their hotel for nothing. I want to sleep, but Scott and Lou convince me to play, so I sleeve up uba stax and round 1 starts. I play a nice guy from Wisconsin playing CS and get bested in 3 games. It gets worse from there as I beat a horrible (but fun) 4cc deck, and proceed to lose to moxlotus and Brian Cox.

I drop and watch Lou as he makes a SAVAGE play error vs. the mirror. He’s nearly out of it, until he brainstorms into demonic/recall/walk, or something that ridiculous. He casts recall and walk, which resolve (meaning the opponent did not have a counter). He finds lotus (his only black source) and uses it to tutor. Instead of getting will and ending the game right there, he decides to get academy to destroy the one in play. The game ended in a draw, but if Lou won, he T8s. He then gets SAVAGELY beat by Lorenzo, the Italian champ.

Scott Limoges, OTOH represented for the team, as he T8s with TnT. His list is pretty techy and definitely shut me up, as I was predicting a good 0-2 drop for him .

Friday

So I was planning to take stax, but Lou tells me to play slaver and report to him which cards he needs to board, etc. I fold and play Jim’s version of slaver with a different board.

Control Slaver
5 Fetch lands
2 Islands
2 Snow-Covered Islands
4 Volcanic Island
2 Underground Sea
1 Tolarian Academy
7 SoLoMoxen
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mana Vault

4 Goblin Welder
4 Brainstorm
4 Thirst for Knowledge
4 Force of Will
4 Mana Drain
1 YawgWill
1 Tinker
1 Fact or fiction
1 Walk
1 Recall
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Vamp Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Rack and Ruin
1 Echoing truth
1 Gifts ungiven
1 Sundering titan
1 Mindslaver
1 Pentavus
1 Triskelion

SB:
2 Lava Dart
2 BEB
2 REB
1 Pyroblast
2 Rack and Ruin
2 Echoing truth (AMAZING vs. 5c Stax)
2 Arcane Lab
2 Old man of the sea

Round 1 – Josh playing Meandeck Gifts
Game 1: Great, my worst matchup round 1, oh well. I don’t remember much about this game, except he keeps a mana light hand, and I sandbag Mana Drain like nobody’s business. Eventually, I cast welder, which resolves. On his end step, I cast a gifts, which he lets resolve, I chose Slaver/Pents, he says he didn’t know I could do that and scoops them up.
Game 2: I mull to 6 and keep a reasonable hand. He then duresses my brainstorm away and I don’t hit business until it’s too late.
Game3: This game went back and forth. He plays pithing needle naming welder, but it wasn’t much concern to me. I resolve a recall, which meant he had no counter. I draw into will and will into a hardcast titan, which rapes his board. Two turns later, he scoops them up.
1-0, 2-1

Round 2 – Philip Schmidt (Moxlotus) playing Sekret Tech Oath
Game 1: He gets the whole oath thing going, until I slave his ass. I think a welder was in play, and I just slow-rolled it for the W.
Game 2: It was a slaughter. Seriously. Like I kept a hand of six with mana crypt and island as my only sources of mana. He duresses me and drops chalice 0, then I draw mox sapphire  .
Game 3: I realized I sideboarded wrong, as he doesn’t run Mana Drain, so REB is complete ass. I get beat down holding a REB…
1-1, 3-3

Round 3 – James playing Goblin Sligh
Game 1: He’s a cool guy, who mainly plays Legacy, and decided to play in this tourney for fun. This game I resolved a turn 2 tinker for pentavus and he couldn’t deal.
Game 2: I’m stuck on like 3 mana and tinker up a pentavus, only to have him naturalize it L.
Game 3: I go busted nuts on him, with a turn 1 recall, turn 2 walk, turn 3 tinker, turn 4 will/tinker.
2-1, 5-4

Round 4 – Jeremy playing 5c Stax
Game 1: I felt bad as I won the die roll and started the game with island sapphire go. I think he mulled once and was just out of this game as I never missed a land drop and eventually tinkered out a pentavus.
Game 2: He mulls to 5 and it’s a close game (I forget there’s a chains in play and cast thirst). I sit on welder for a while, and eventually weld out all his spheres for smokestacks EOT, and cast a HUGE will for the win.
3-1, 7-4

Round 5 – Andy Probasco playing SSB
Game 1: God he wrecks me. I think something like 3 thirst before my turn 2. I made a savage error (but I don’t remember what it was) and it’s on to game 2.
Game 2: I think I slave him midgame just to see what he’s holding. When I see no forces, I make him tap out and will.
Game 3: He gets LoA active turn 1, but I have the turn 1 welder, turn 2 thirst pitching slaver. I draw like 4 artifacts in a row, wreck his hand, and tinker out a titan for the W.
4-1, 9-5

Round 6 – Robert Vroman playing Uba Stax
ID
4-1-1, 10-6-1

T8 – Brain Cox playing UW vial fish
Game 1: I’m mad happy for Brian, as we scrubbed out at the 500 dollar tourney, and now, we’re sitting at T8 (not to mention he knocked out Steve last round) and have a guaranteed foil Gemstone mine. He wins the die roll and opens with lotus, island, true believer, meddling mage naming brainstorm. Ofcourse I’m holding a brainstorm and a gifts…
Game 2: He doesn’t board cause he doesn’t know what I’m running. He counters some trivial stuff and I resolve a tinker for pentavus to seal the deal.
Game 3: This game was intense, I tinker a pents into play, but he vials out a devout witness and kills it. I play welder and a mox while he has no cards in hand. Then on his upkeep, I echoing truth the witness, he passes back, and I weld pentavus into play for the W.
5-1-1, 12-7-1

T4 – Philip Schmidt playing Oath
Game 1: This was a short game, as he doesn’t get oath till like turn 3. My hand was pretty solid and I think I just Slaver locked him.
Game 2: I mull to 5. and he has turn 1 duress or oath, I don’t remember.
Game 3: This was easily one of the best games of magic I’ve played. He plays a turn 1 oath, then turn 2 choke with an orchard. I’m still okay because he oaths up hyra (me with dude) and then iridescent angel. On his EOT, I echoing truth the choke, which resolves. On my turn, I walk, then tinker up a lotus. On my walk turn, I will, truth the hydra, play a welder, time walk, mystical for gifts, and then recall into gifts, sol ring, mana vault. I show him my grip and he scoops them up.
6-1-1, 14-8-1

Finals – Fuckin’ Lou playing Slaver
He beats Kevin Cron in a long match, and we decide to draw. Lou, being the pimp that he is, gives me the bye for tomorrow. I hope Lou posts a report, because he played really well and beat 2 Meandeckers on his way to the finals.
Final Record 6-1-2

Saturday

We get like 4 hours of sleep (but it’s okay, because I had byes) and sat morning rolls around. I sleeve up 5c Stax, but then Lou and Zach persuade me to run CS again. I waffle and sleeved up CS. My board didn’t change at all as I felt it was perfect.

Rounds 1 and 2 – Bye
2-0

Round 3 – Nick Trudeau playing CS
Game 1: I’m not really in this one. He resolves turn 1 welder and like turn 3 trisk.
Game 2: He hardcasts a slaver with 4 mana on his turn 3 or 4 and 1 card in hand. I tinker up a sundering titan to wreck his board and play a welder.
Game 3: I we trade welders, I tinker a titan to wreck his manabase (he had 1 volc in play), he plays welder, I draw Brainstorm into lava dart. I felt really bad, as I didn’t outplay him, I just drew much better. BHWC is extremely cool, and I enjoyed hanging out with them this past week.
3-0

Round 4 – Josh Rayden playing Meandeck Gifts
Game 1: He goes island go. I know I win this game because this matchup is about mana development. I hit 4 mana by turn 2 and just crush him.
Game 2: He mulls to 6 and goes turn 1 recall, turn 2 pithing needle/tinker.
Game 3: It’s down to the wire. He’s got mox ruby, mox jet, volc, and sea in play and 3 cards in hand. On my turn, I tinker, he rebs, I drain, he rebs. I’m holding Reb. On his turn, he uses his drain mana to gifts (rebed) and scroll for Gifts, I don’t draw anything else, while he sets up the kill.
3-1

Round 5 - ???(Sorry I forgot your name) playing CS
Game 1: He shows up 5 minutes late because he was getting cards signed by Tedin. I felt bad, but he gets the game loss.
Game 2: It goes back and forth, as he duplicants my welder, and plays a welder and shaman. I’m unfazed, as I tinker a triskelion into play. He has 1 card in hand to my 2 drains and will. I sit back on will for a couple turns and play it when he attempted to cast something huge on my EOT.
4-1

Round 6 – Patrick playing BU Fish
Game 1 – He plays turn 1 duress, turn 2 mesmeric fiend, turn 3 duress, turn 6/7 spiketail as I’m sitting on trisk. I topdeck a tinker and decide to sit on it, as I’m under no pressure. I then topdeck a drain and cast tinker for pentavus. He can’t deal.
Game 2 – We trade cards and I darted his board (which felt amazing). I tinker on my turn holing BS and Force of will. He vamps in response and I let it resolve. Seeing as how I knew he had mesmeric fiend in hand (I truthed it on his eot), I get titan and knock out his black sources. He plays waterfront bouncer on his turn, which I counter, and I draw into the old man for the win. He shows me his hand of duress, duress, fiend, null rod. If I got anything but titan, he would have definitely won.
5-1

Round 7 – Andy Probasco playing SSB
God there was drama. I offer andy the draw and he accepts. We sign the slip. Then, moxlotus informs me that Andy won’t make it in, and I likely won’t either. I tell Andy this and as we start to play, the head judge comes over and tells us that we are forced to draw. The draw helped Andy more than it helped me, so he makes it in as 8th seed and I scub out at 9th. Andy is a real stand up person and kicks me packs of Italian legends when he didn’t have to.
5-1-1

So the Main Events are over and I win like 2 boxes, 15+ Legends packs and 2 foil gemstone mines. I can’t complain much and go home. On Sunday, I get mad shit signed and have Mark Poole do the coolest playmat EVAR.

We go out with Chang to Houlihan’s to celebrate and then Lou dares me to take a shit in the urinal at GenCon. Who am I to turn that dare down? After about 5 minutes, there’s a nasty turd with jalapeno’s hanging off it chillin’ in the urinal. We laugh for about 5 minutes, Lou takes a pic, and we bounce out.

We go back to Kyle’s room and draft. Apparently type 1 players suck at draft, as I get passed an okiba-gang shinobi 7th pick. My deck was RIDIC as I had 2 elder pines, 2 scuttling deaths, okiba-gang, and other amazing cards. I end up losing to Ray with the weirdest draft deck ever (but it had kagemaro), and Lou because I miscounted combat math. I end up 4-2 with probably the best tie-breakers. Ray (the winner) took home altered cards by each of the 7 of us.

Me – Smokestacked!
Lou – Penta-dick
Kyle – Lim dick’s vault
Scott L – Quirion S&M
Scott M – Thirst for Dick
Ray – Goblin Char-Pipe
Andy – Mana “Checkmate bitch� Severance

The cards looked AMAZING and I hope Lou puts up the picks.

Props:
Roland Chang – You my dog! Seriously, I knew you’d win it. I don’t care if peeps said you made play errors, you def. deserved it.
Josh Franklin – You finally T8ed!!! Seriously guys, he’s been playing the same deck flawlessly for quite awhile, and I’m glad to see that it paid off for him.
Meandeck – You guys were awesome. We definitely had some good times at steak and shake, and you guys represented at GenCon. Hopefully, the rivalry will continue at SCG Chicago!
BHWC – It was great kicking it with ya’ll. Sucks that Nick and Gio didn’t repeat, but I totally expect you guys to do well at the next Con.
GWS – It’s always awesome seeing you guys. My only question is what GWS stands for. Is it Good Worker Syndrome?
Andy probasco – For being cool about the drama in round 7 of the main event.
Lorenzo Fedeli and the other Italian player – Ya’ll were mad cool and played flawlessly.
Zach and Heather – Seriously, it was SO COOL that you guys hooked it up with your room. I know GenCon wouldn’t have been the same if we didn’t all get a room and party.
All TMDer’s I met – Especially Endress, Ashok, Purple Hat, and Brian Demars for T8ing at the main event.
Kyle, Scott M, Ray – For letting us crash the last night of GenCon.
Sara Thompson – For being my groupie. J/k  :lol:
The Whole Colorado Crew including those who didn't make it for all the support!

Slops:
That $10 salad at Houlihan’s. Seriously, it was crap.
Me – For not T8ing

[Moxlotus]

Our top 4 match was insane.  It was one of the best matches I've ever played.  You shitter lucksacked me.

Oh well, I got the 3rd place stuff and ripped a Drain, Chain Lightning, Thunder Spirit, foil Llanowar Elves, foil Serra, Coat of Arms, and Yavimaya Coast in 1 Legends pack and 5 9th editions.  I then sold the other 2 legends packs to Roy Spires, knowing he was going to get the absolute shittiest cards ever-which he did.

I'm waiting to improve my record to 3-1 against you Bob at the next SCG.

[PacmanXSA]

Bah... Not even a shout out for the Canadians...

You crushed my boy Jeremy on Friday!  It was good times baby

Good to talk to ya for a couple of seconds.

Pac

[Godot]

Geah, that trip sounds hella lame.  Im so glad I stayed here and worked.

Congratulations again dude, but fuckin lou has passed on some disturbing information.  Apparently the flesh ninja remained locked in its cloth prison?  You pussy.

[Smmenen]

I better see you mother fuckers in Chicago!  Great Jorb Bob WU.  .2 percent. 

[Lou]

Geah, that trip sounds hella lame.  Im so glad I stayed here and worked.

Congratulations again dude, but fuckin lou has passed on some disturbing information.  Apparently the flesh ninja remained locked in its cloth prison?  You pussy.

OK, I will now tell the story of the groupie...

So we get to the site Thusday night for the midnight tournament, and as Scott and myself sit down, I declare in a very loud voice, that "I am unbeatable."  So this chick, Sarah we find out she is called, looks around to see who said that, and of course sees that it is me  So she immediately comes over and starts talking about all kinds of shit.  Come to find out, this little vixen has just dropped a couple of E tabs, and is now feeling very good, and is enjoying our company.  So Bob comes over, is introduced, and we now have a groupie.  Every tournament we play in, she is there asking us how we are doing and totally wanting the cock.  The best part, she has a boyfriend who is there every second of the way as well.  Poor son of a bitch.  So on Saturday night, as the Top 8 is playing out, I go and look for some Asian stuff, cause that's how I try to roll.  I find this dude, and Bob comes with me as we are both looking for Asian Academies.  She also follows us over, and is again rolling.  As we head over, she is all over Bob, with her head on his arm like a good little groupie should.  As we sit down, Bob says something about a hand job, and then I think she is about to oblige when Bob says, along these lines, "Don't touch me, I have a boner."  No shit, Bob really did say that.  So I'm like, "DUDE, WTF!"  He totally bitched out, and lost the chance to hook up with a decent little 18 year old who was rolling.  BOOOOO.  That is all I have to say to Bob.  BOOOOOOOO!

[Whatever Works]

Bob made up for it with the three girls from tennesse Lou... Anyone who can keep a straight face when they say, "Hey Baby, how are you feeling tonight" at 3:00 in the morning is a pimp... And offering to take the fat girl for the team is a true wingman!

Kyle L

[Komatteru]

Good times.  Congrats and great jorb out here in the desolations of Indiana!  I would expect nothing less from my former teammates.  Look forward to seeing all you guys at Chicago.  Let the rivarly begin!

Also, I will not lose to Fuckin' Lou a third time in a row.  Next time we meet, Lou, beware.

[Akuma]

Bob - the Colorado crew was awesome. Great to meet all of you guys. Some bad breaks cost BHWC some critical games, but what can you do. You were savage on Saturday, too bad about the drama. At least the drama was with Andy who was totally cool.

Nick will be making the trip to SCG Chicago, and I will try my best to make that one.

Gio

[CHA1N5]

Colorado is good people.  Thanks for the report, Bob.

btw: that girl was cute, and naturally she was jockin' Meandeck when all was said and done.  Next time you need to know who's in charge around here: just read her left breast. 

[Luiggi]

Shit, it sounds like GenCon was a blast! If I hadn't just started a new job a few weeks ago I might've been able to make the trek from NYC. Oh well, there's always next year. Congrats on your performances, Bob, and on your extremely entertaining report, .

Luiggi

[Xenoben187]

OK, I will now tell the story of the groupie...

So we get to the site Thusday night for the midnight tournament, and as Scott and myself sit down, I declare in a very loud voice, that "I am unbeatable."  So this chick, Sarah we find out she is called, looks around to see who said that, and of course sees that it is me  So she immediately comes over and starts talking about all kinds of shit.  Come to find out, this little vixen has just dropped a couple of E tabs, and is now feeling very good, and is enjoying our company.  So Bob comes over, is introduced, and we now have a groupie.  Every tournament we play in, she is there asking us how we are doing and totally wanting the cock.  The best part, she has a boyfriend who is there every second of the way as well.  Poor son of a bitch.  So on Saturday night, as the Top 8 is playing out, I go and look for some Asian stuff, cause that's how I try to roll.  I find this dude, and Bob comes with me as we are both looking for Asian Academies.  She also follows us over, and is again rolling.  As we head over, she is all over Bob, with her head on his arm like a good little groupie should.  As we sit down, Bob says something about a hand job, and then I think she is about to oblige when Bob says, along these lines, "Don't touch me, I have a boner."  No shit, Bob really did say that.  So I'm like, "DUDE, WTF!"  He totally bitched out, and lost the chance to hook up with a decent little 18 year old who was rolling.  BOOOOO.  That is all I have to say to Bob.  BOOOOOOOO!

That girl would not shut the fuck  up jesus.  On Saturday, I was sitting next to Roland in his T4 match against Hale.  Then she comes over and asks Roland where Lou and YU are because she needs someone to bother.  Then Roland is like, bother Ben then.  So she sits down next to me and blabs for like 15 minutes.  Hale couldn't concentrate and basically told her to shut up.  Then when she kept talking, the judge asked her to leave.  Sorry Hale, blame Roland.

I don't really feel sorry for her boyfriend, her boyfriend looked as though he might want to join in with whoever she went home with.

Anyways, gencon was fun hope I see you guys at chicago,
peace,
Ben

[DameonHv]

Bob, I told you I would smash you saturday.  You just didn't want to believe    It's a shame I lost the next three to Endress, Demars, and Smennen.  Next time we can meet up in the T8 instead, sound good?  I had a blast meeting you and Lou.  I'm sure I'll see you guys around.  As Steve said, come to Chicago.  You're welcome at my place for much partying.

-Josh Rayden

[Green Knight]

Excellent report Bob; Yu the man!

Thanks for the props and no worries about the room; Heather and I had a blast, it was great having you guys there (I’m just glad there was no urinal in our bathroom , lol that’s savage). Next year we’ll just have to plan it out and all go in on a bigger room. Also did you take those leftover Jalapeños with you when you left the room? Those were so friggin’ hot!

I dunno if that chick (the groupie) was legal or not I heard everything from 16 to 21. Either way my money was defiantly on you if the bf got outta hand…

Congratz once again on all yer winnings, did you open all of your packs? I opened 11 Legends and managed 1 Mana Drain and a Mirror Universe as far as money cards. I remember the stack you had but dunno if you tucked any away…
Way to represent Colorado my friend!!!

As far as your play mat, that thing is sick! You could easily get a C-Note for it, but hang on to it. It’s way too cool to sell. (Mark Poole is the shit, such a cool guy. Definitely my favorite artist)

I’m still kinda shocked about you not making top 8 w/ the 5-1-1; that stinks that the judge wouldn’t let you two play it out after you figured out what happened. Such is life.

Btw – I made it all the way back to CO with the bag in hand…

[Changster]

BOB!  YU da man  :shock:

Great report and I hope to actually play against you in a real event sometime, not some dinky Chicago side event!  Enjoy those foil Tangle Wires too!

Here's a few words of advice though... Next time you get a boner from having a girl pet you, you say three magical words:  "Suck me beautiful!"

@ Ben, I didn't think that she would blabber on for so friggin' long.  It takes a lot for me to get annoyed with someone, but DAMN, that chick needed to just shut the $&#@ up!  You must have missed it when I got the Eric's (the judge) attention, to tell her to shut it or leave.

I guess she wasn't too bad though.  After the tournament, I signed her left breast in permanent marker.  PWND!   :lol:

[forests failed you]

It sucks that you ended up drawing into eighth.  I was really hoping we'd get to play a match!  It'd be like old times playing my Tooth and Nail against your Vial Affinity in the Hotel back befofe SCG Chicago a million years ago.

[Xenoben187]

I guess she wasn't too bad though.  After the tournament, I signed her left breast in permanent marker.  PWND!   :lol:

That was my permanent marker   

[M.Solymossy]

roland i wouldn't get too fond of winning!  If you top 8 at chicago again you might just have to sign MY left breast!   :lol:

[Godot]

After he wrecked me in the top 8 of Chicago I, I asked roland to sign my left nut.  I havent washed it since.

[The M.E.T.H.O.D]

She gave me her bag and told me to watch it which i did for about 20 minutes until i saw her around me so i left.  She randomly came up to me and yelled at me and tried to punch me in the balls. Great Story.