[Report] 3rd at NY P9 with Changstax and Kowal Rapes Pink Ponies!

[Changster]

     Before I start, I must say though, traveling through hours of crappy weather, taking 3rd, and going home without a physical prize (Mox Sapphire) in hand is a real psychological let down.  So as a warning for future Tournament Organizers, if you don’t physically have/own the prize-support power ahead of time that you are “guaranteeing” to give out, please don’t host it at all or don’t expect me or my crew to show up.
     Going to “the-middle-of-nowhere-NY” with minimal planning is what you would call a disaster waiting to happen.  Although my day at this tournament was not so disastrous, the weather and the tournament itself turned out to be.  I drove up to Baldwinsville, NY with my bud Lyle_H and a new recruit to the Vintage scene, Andy Hopkins.  I traveled from Oxford, OH to Ada, OH (to pick up Andy and Lyle), then to Medina, OH (my hometown, for some sleep), and finally to Baldwinsucksville, NY.  The total hours I drove on Friday afternoon into Saturday morning came out to just over 12 hours!  Yeah… that sucked, but having Andy and Lyle along for the ride made the trip bearable. 
     Starting at 4:30am, we drove 7 hours through an unexpected snowstorm that rattled my new Matrix, challenged me with whiteout conditions, and 20 feet visibility or less.  With about 1 hour to go before the tournament started, we got lost while following Rt. 31 West, instead of Rt. 31 East.  That tacked on an extra 25 miles of driving time in this crappy weather, just because Google Maps screwed that up for us.  With half an hour left before the tournament’s starting time (they never start on time), we finally discovered the decrepit old deserted Tri-County Mall.  Moments before the tournament started, Kowal, Elias Vaisberg, and I raped this poor 25-cent Pink Pony ride.  I definitely got that hot bestiality action all on video.
     I played Changstax for the tournament and I’m proud to say that 5c Stax is still alive and well.  It took me through the first 4 rounds of Swiss without dropping a single game and then intentionally drawing the last two rounds to secure a spot in the Top 8.     

So here’s what I played:

Changstax 2006

1 x Black Lotus
1 x Mana Crypt
1 x Mox Emerald
1 x Mox Jet
1 x Mox Pearl
1 x Mox Ruby
1 x Mox Sapphire
1 x Mana Vault
1 x Sol Ring
3 x Sphere of Resistance
1 x Trinisphere
3 x Crucible of Worlds
4 x Tanglewire
4 x Smokestack
1 x Triskelion
1 x Sundering Titan
1 x Darkblast
1 x Imperial Seal
1 x Vampiric Tutor
1 x Demonic Tutor
1 x Ancestral Recall
1 x Tinker
1 x Crop Rotation
2 x Gorilla Shaman
4 x Goblin Welder
1 x Swords to Plowshares
1 x Balance
1 x Barbarian Ring
1 x Bazaar of Baghdad
1 x Strip Mine
1 x Tolarian Academy
3 x Gemstone Mine
4 x City of Brass
4 x Mishra’s Workshop
4 x Wasteland

Sideboard:
3 x Chalice of the Void
2 x Choke
2 x Rack and Ruin
2 x Ray of Revelation
3 x Red Elemental Blast
2 x Tormod’s Crypt
1 x Viashino Heretic   
   
Round 1 vs. some dude named Ross playing Mono Blue

Game 1 – I’m on the play and I get a first turn Crucible/Strip lock on him.  He had no Force of Will in hand to stop this, so for about 5 turns in a row, he played an Island and I stripped it away while my Mana Crypt ate away at my life total.  Then I finally got a Trinisphere into play and he scooped.

Game 2 – This game dragged on for what felt like forever.  I had a crap load of permanents on board with Welder in play and Tanglewires coming in and out of play.  Eventually, I got a Crucible/Strip combo to start eating away at his 7 or so Islands.  The Titan got welded in after so many turns of dredging and Bazaaring my library into the yard.  His two threats on the board were Thieving Magpie and Serendib Efreet.  LOLz!

Record:  2-0 games, 1-0 matches

Round 2 vs. Crossman playing Gifts?

Game 1 – He misregistered his deck.  So I got a freebie, BUT the Judge allowed him to sideboard for Game 2!  WTF!

Game 2 – I didn’t sideboard because I had no clue what he was running, but he surely knew what Roland Chang was playing, so he probably had all types of Stax hate boarded in for this game.  Nevertheless, our match started off slowly with each of us dropping Mana Crypts on our first turns.  For the next 4 turns, he lost all 4 die rolls, taking 12 damage total.  My Mana Crypt didn’t harm me once during those turns.  Eventually, with lock components out, I swung in for the kill.

Record:  4-0 games, 2-0 matches   

Round 3 vs. Rian Litchard (Meandeck) playing White Weenie

We decided not to be pussies like Kowal and Outlaw did sitting right next to us, and played this round out.  It seriously felt way too early to intentionally draw, even to a teammate.

Game 1 – He got out early beats and brought me down to about 7 life before I tinkered out Titan for the win.  During the “beating” I even had to block his Savannah Lion with my Welder to stop the bleeding.  Mr. 7/10 trumps all little dudes though.

Game 2 – I got Crucible/Strip lock online first turn for the second time today.  Rian saw this and painfully scooped to my insane luck.

Record:  6-0 games, 3-0 matches

Round 4 vs. Josh Schneider of RIT playing Gifts

Game 1 – On the draw, I kept a hand that had Shaman, Mox, Tanglewire, Crucible, Smokestack, Gemstone Mine, and Welder.  I thought about this hand for a good 2 minutes before saying “why not.”  With my luck, I topdecked a Workshop after he went Island, Mana Vault, go.  I immediately played the Workshop, Mox, and Tanglewire, which he did not Force of Will.  That play killed his mana acceleration and I eventually locked him out of the game with multiple threats each turn.

Game 2 – I think he fetched one time, and then I Crucible/Strip locked my opponent for the THIRD time.  He scooped.

Record:  8-0 games, 4-0 matches

For Rounds 5 and 6, I just intentionally drew with my opponents, Mike H. and Kowal, to secure the spot in the Top 8.  I spent the next 2 free hours trading with Eli Kassis to finally trade up to a Beta Lotus and dicked around while jotting down some notes about other decks.

TOP 8

Quarterfinals vs. Justin Timoney (Outlaw of Team GG’s) playing BrassyGifts

Game 1 – Once again, I had no idea what Justin was playing.  I noticed that he was screwing around with a Stax deck, so I figured that could have been his deck.  I kept a decent mirror match hand which included double Crucible.  After his first land drop, I knew I screwed up, so I played it out to see what he was actually running.  I should have known better.  He eventually got out the Flame-Vault kill and destroyed me.

Game 2 – I grinded this close game out and it left us with only around 10 minutes left to play the last game.  What really bothered me was the fact that sudden death would be determined by Life Total.  What BS!  I specifically remembered telling Justin during this game that I’d hate to see one of us walk away with the win based on life totals.  I won this slow game through a lock and little guys beating him down.

Game 3 – This game was pretty retarded as we both slowly chipped away at our own lives.  With Mana Crypt flips and a Shaman eating away at his life, our life totals were eventually 12 (me) to 11 (him) when time was called.  Another Mana Crypt flip brought him down to 8 life.  At that point, I had also wiped the board clear by stacking us both out with 2 Smokestacks in play.  I know that it was really sh*tty to win that way, but it did ensure me the win.  There was nothing really left for me to tell Justin, but to let him know that I did not agree with the system either.

Record:  10-1 games, 5-0-2 matches

Semis vs. Mike Hetherington? playing Severance Belcher Gifts

Game 1 – I had no idea what kind of Gifts deck he was running, but I got Belched mid-game because I could not find a friggin’ multi-colored source/land.  I had Tinker, Balance, Swords, and other goodies in hand, but my deck did not show a City of Brass until it was too late.

Game 2 – My deck totally sh*t out on me again.  I kept a reasonable hand, but my luck finally caught up to me and even my StP for his Colossus was not enough.  He Time Walk’d with Colossus in play and won.  What a boring ass match.

Getting 3rd isn’t bad at a 53-person tournament.  I think it’s the fact that prize support, or lack thereof was what got me.  I had a ton of fun joking around with and meeting a bunch of northeast guys.  Maybe next time, I’ll play out a real match with Kowal.  He thinks I’m scared of his lazy ass 

Props: 
* 52 other people for showing up to this shady tournament
* Kowal for winning the damned thing
* Eli for upgrading my Lotus to Beta
* New Trinisphere ideas from Outlaw and others
* Lyle and Andy for tagging along for this ridiculously dangerous road trip
* Rian for giving us a homestay on Saturday night after the tourney

Slops:
* Judge for enforcing the “sideboarding allowed” after a first game loss
* Judge for making the Top 8 rounds determined by Sudden Death
* TO for organizing a NON-guaranteed tournament
* Kowal for taking on the Pink Pony from behind
* Deck for sh*tting out on me in the Semi’s against a deck that I dominated at GenCon

[MoxMonkey]

Great finish and nice read.  Good to see some others who came out far for a toruanment.  I missed out on Breakers and wish I didn't leave early since I would have played Outlaw Round 6 and would have had the chance to knock him out myself.  I hope everyone gets the Power cause you guys all earned it.

[xrposiedon]

Ahh yes, the awesome white out conditions that covered your car in salt after the fact. Was fun. Hell, im just glad that I get drains out of the trip. I still wont forget of Lyle saying "I wish I was rich enough to have a band play Ride of the Valkyries every time I play Yawg's Will."

[SonataOfTheCathedral]

I definitely bonded with that pony for at least an hour.

Great performance as always because you are the Stax masta. I'm pretty faithful and expect everyone's power to come in the mail sooner or later. I don't blame you for getting paranoid over the fact that you didn't get a mox handed to you. But everything will work out, I have faith in humanity!

[Juggernaut GO]

    Semis vs. Mike Hetherington? playing Severance Belcher Gifts

Game 1 – I had no idea what kind of Gifts deck he was running, but I got Belched mid-game because I could not find a friggin’ multi-colored source/land.  I had Tinker, Balance, Swords, and other goodies in hand, but my deck did not show a City of Brass until it was too late.

Game 2 – My deck totally sh*t out on me again.  I kept a reasonable hand, but my luck finally caught up to me and even my StP for his Colossus was not enough.  He Time Walk’d with Colossus in play and won.  What a boring ass match.

He had some insane luck against me as well in round 5.  the winner would go on to draw in.  Game 1 he got locked out, and game 2 I had out welder, 2 lands and a mox after he played pithing needle on welder and tinkered colossus in with 2 cards left in hand.  I had trinisphere workshop demonic and gemstone left in mine so I demonic for gorilla and play the gemstone and pass, he draws a card and swings for 11.  I go on my turn and eat his pithing needle and weld out the colossus for said pithing needle instead of mana vault or lotus because I had the funny feeling he had will in hand.  So I dropped trinisphere and he forces pitching force.  1 card left  in hand, and he pithing needles my shaman.  He draws, plays the land he just top decked and cast will.  Back to back turns he top decks the cards he needed, but nothing wrong with luck i guess.  Maybe I'm just sour from losing to gifts for the past month. 

Good job on the finish and I hope the TO does the right thing, keeps to his word, and sends the sapphire your way.

[Kowal]

That pony was great.  It does all the grinding for you, you just have to lean.  Awww yeah.

[Lyle H]

Congrats to the changsta!  That last round in the semis was some dumb luck but you have now gone without dropping a game in the swiss at 2 different p9 tourneys. 

THEY ARE GRAPE VINES WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY ARE!! Haven't you heard of our Pennsylvania grapes?

[Changster]

Haha, Thanks guys.  I also really hope that Mr. Amrod follows through with his "contract."  What repercussions could take place on his online store or his TMD Tournament Announcements are what I'm banking on bringing me that piece of power.  Though, I do feel sorry for him because the weather took out at least another 15-20 participants, but I might have traveled the farthest distance to make it to this tournament.  Life is unfair.  Even if those 15-20 people did show up, that's still well under the 100 or so expected to attend.  I look at it this way... if the weather conditions were fair, we still probably wouldn't have gotten any power in hand anyways.  Shady Sh*t Yo!

Yeah, about those grape vines.  We saw them everywhere along the long stretch of I-90.  Lyle, Andy, and I couldn't figure out what they were until we asked a Rest Area Janitor.  And No, I have never heard of Pennsylvania Grapes.

[Lyle H]

To be fair our first guess was Grapes but since we figured you always hear about California graps and not Pennsylvania ones we thought maybe there could be something else.  That guy acted like not hearing about Pennsylvania grapes is like not knowing about Florida oranges.

I see "contracts" like that on The people court and other shows like that all the time, and almost always the judge rules in favor of the "contract" even though it isnt an actualy legal document.

[xrposiedon]

Hell yea, peoples court rules! I liked the old ones with the white haired old fogey and he wouldnt take sh*t from anyone. Now its just judge judy...oh well, i guess they always figure out who owes child support. Neways, congrats Roland. And Lyle, ill be seeing you on the 11th.

[Whatever Works]

But everything will work out, I have faith in humanity!

I dont... I got 5th, and right now I have NO faith whatsoever that I am going to get it... At the time with other people in the same boat I had faith, but today I sat down by myself, and realized... I have no way to contact him... He will never be able to run a good tournement again... His contracts were very very poorly done, and sueing him would cost more then power itself...

ELD probably is right... Calling the police should have been the way to go... HE WASTED THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF PEOPLES TIME... On fraud, lies, and deception, all for a bigger tournout... just sad...

Congrats Chang, you midwesterners are so friendly! Or as Elias puts it "hes from Ohio... He has to be nice... Its like me with coins... If they hit the floor... I HAVE to pick them up..."

Kyle L

[Changster]

Thanks Kyle!  I don't think all of us Ohioans are really that nice, to be honest with you.

On another note... if I knew how to upload that video of Elias riding the Pony while Kowal reamed it from behind, I would do it in a flash.  It's a must see.  Here's a few pics with that Pony though...

Andy screaming "Hi Ho Silver, Awaaaaayyy!
http://community.webshots.com/photo/547821843/2567506940060127186ZTnGLe

Elias sporting the Reverse Cowboy!
http://community.webshots.com/photo/547821843/2688275240060127186QLYdbr

And Me... Yeah... I did Something too!
http://community.webshots.com/photo/547821843/2689474220060127186YPKKod

[SonataOfTheCathedral]

Most sexy things EVAR. What a horrible tournament...that was one of the funnest things ever though!

[herbig]

The tournament was a lot of fun, despite the obvious lack of prizes.  It was fun meeting all you die hard vintage fans and I look forward to beating you in future tournaments on your own turf.

- Mike, Lamedeck Lucksack

[Komatteru]

Roland Chang, showing the world that not all World Champs catch the Mark Biller syndrom.  <3

Meandeck once again shows that they can sling Workshops on two sides of the country at once.

[xrposiedon]

awesome pics, I was throwing up that number one...dont exactly know why, but oh well, still the pony was one of the best things at that mall...

[xrposiedon]

Oh since I read the announcements, I figured I may enlighted you all to the worst sight my eyes have seen....or one of. At this god forsaken hellhole of a mall, I decided it would be a good idea to go to the restroom. Since there is only one restroom in the whole building...i was forced to walk next to the pizza shop. Opening the door ever so slightly as anyone does going into a dirty restroom...what do I see? Ill tell you what I fu*kin see. I see the what looks to be the TO, with his pants pulled down and bent over picking up dice. Now...to an average person, this would seem unusuall, so then it got me thinking...what grown man pulls down his pants to take a piss? let alone has dice out while doing so...you make the judgements...but I am forever scarred into thinking he was wankin it. Now...ask yourselvess, will you get the prize? I dont know...but im hoping that its clean when u get it.

[PucktheCat]

I see "contracts" like that on The people court and other shows like that all the time, and almost always the judge rules in favor of the "contract" even though it isnt an actualy legal document.

I don't know what you mean by "it isn't an actually legal document."  If someone writes down a promise in exchange for something that's a legal document - no magic words required.  I can't tell you how that applies to the current situation because I don't have all the facts (and I'm not a lawyer, and I am unfamiliar with NY law, and probably a million other reasons), but don't think that just because a document wasn't typed up by a lawyer on a computer with a lot of hereinafters and wherefores it isn't binding; it could be and quite possibly is.

[LordHomerCat]

To be fair our first guess was Grapes but since we figured you always hear about California graps and not Pennsylvania ones we thought maybe there could be something else.  That guy acted like not hearing about Pennsylvania grapes is like not knowing about Florida oranges.

I see "contracts" like that on The people court and other shows like that all the time, and almost always the judge rules in favor of the "contract" even though it isnt an actualy legal document.

You watch a lot of People's Court?  Don't you like, have a job?  Oh, how'd you do Lyle, I don't recall seeing a mention of that...

[CrashTest]

Oh since I read the announcements, I figured I may enlighted you all to the worst sight my eyes have seen....or one of. At this god forsaken hellhole of a mall, I decided it would be a good idea to go to the restroom. Since there is only one restroom in the whole building...i was forced to walk next to the pizza shop. Opening the door ever so slightly as anyone does going into a dirty restroom...what do I see? Ill tell you what I fu*kin see. I see the what looks to be the TO, with his pants pulled down and bent over picking up dice. Now...to an average person, this would seem unusuall, so then it got me thinking...what grown man pulls down his pants to take a piss? let alone has dice out while doing so...you make the judgements...but I am forever scarred into thinking he was wankin it. Now...ask yourselvess, will you get the prize? I dont know...but im hoping that its clean when u get it.

lol.

         Maybe he just dropped the dice at the exact moment you came in! I often roll before I go to the bathroom. 4 or higher, and it's a #2 I am the winnar of.

[Jacob Orlove]

Sorry Roland, but I have to close this now.