[Report] Starcitygames Indy, or How much fun can you have?

When I first heard about the event, I knew I had no choice but to go. Especially since I moved back into the world where Vintage is a fromat in the game. I had to go, for all those years I wanted to & couldn't. So the obvious problem arose. What deck to play? I threw toegther a Bad GAT build, went up to the MeanDeck Open & promptly sucked, going 2-2, but meeting some really awesome people at the time.

So I still didn't know what I shoudl play, somewhat discouraged by my (what I considered) Bad play. So I talked with a bunch of my friends, in Arizona, in Chicago, and online, and came to the conclusion that I would tinker with decks & most likely play GAT. People I know repeatadly told me I was going to play GAT, no matter what I said. so I tried other decks, and then Steve won the World Championship with GAT, admired the list, decided to play something similar. In fact, very similar.

4-Gush GAT
1 LoA
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Black Lotus
2 Flooded Strand
3 Polluted Delta
3 Undergorund Sea
2 Tropical Island
1 Volcanic Island
2 Island
1 Psychatog
4 Quirion Dryad
1 Yawgmoth's Win
1 Fastbond
1 Time Walk
1 Ancestral Recall
3 Opt
4 Brainstorm
4 Gush
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Cunning Wish
4 Merchant Scroll
4 Duress
4 Force of Will
1 Pyroblast
2 Mana Drain
2 Misdirection

Board
1 Berserk
1 Echoing Truth
1 Smother
1 Fire/Ice
1 Rack & Ruin
1 Artifact Mutation
1 Oxidize
1 Pyroblast
2 REB
3 Jailer
2 Pithing Needle

So it was a pretty standard list, which had mostly effective cards. First change I would do is change the REB's in the board to Pyro's (Ice Age only), and swicth the maindecked Pyro for a Main Echoing Truth. Just kept thinking that would be better overall.

So after not getting to bed at a decent time, I discovered the following.
- My Silver WRX Still is running fine, and can hang in triple digits no problem
- 7 a.m. is to freakin early, especially for a guy who usually gets off work at Midnight
- I rediscovered the Dirty Pleasure that is 2 Sasuage McMuffin with Eggs still keeps you full all day.
- When the foodcourt is closed, find a restaurant earlier than 10 to new round.

But to the much desired games.

Disclaimer. I may get some plays wrong, along with some other aspects as my notes aren't complete, and especially considering I have been travelling since then, along iwth drinking, so I'll try.

Round 1 - Brian with Urbana Fish
I sit down across from Brian, smile, and feel unnerved as I think just my luck, a meandecker. I think this b/c he had a Meandeck playmat, but it turns out, he is just a good friend of them from Pitt. to damned bad he is pretty good as well.

Game 1
I We both start off with Fetch and play out into a bunch of control, depleting both of our hands He ninja's out a ninja or two, which run into some mild problems as they encounter a partially grown Dryad & Dr. Teeth, so I swing it into my court. I keep control, and am setting up the win when he threads of disloyalty my Dryad (9/9 or so at the time) so after a stand off with him at 3 life, he swings forcing me to chumpblock with Tog, who can't gro enough to eat Dryad. I then lose to my own Dryad the next turn. How embarrassing.

So we shuffle up after a 35 minute game 1, and board for game 2. I bring in Truth, Fire/Ice, & Smother I think.

Game 2
I start on the play, and as I recall I end up Topdecking every answer I need and Dr Teeth goes the distance pretty quickly. Thats all I remember.

Game 3
We start to play, with less than 7 on the clock. Smiling, joking, and having a blast, we go swigning blow for blow. He eats 2 damage from a couple of Forces, and ninjas out a coup[le of ninjas inot extra turns, but isn't able to seal the deal. He had me, but we ran out of time & turns. Drops me to 9, and we have a draw to start everything off.

We exchnage handshakes, mad props, and wish each other good luck, hardly knowing we were oging to practically be sitting next to each other the entire day.

0-0-1

Round 2 - Corey with GAT from Louisville
It was pretty cool to meet someone else form Louisville at the tournament. The simple bonus for me is I found out that there is a Vintage Scene here in Louisville. Yea, Bonus Prize for the newbie to the region!

Game 1
He starts with a couple of small plays, after a couple of early counter wars, i get a Fastbond out, and go somehting like Ancestral, Gush, Gush, Yawgs Win Gush, Ancestral, win the game.

Boarding is somehting like Smother, Fire/Ice, Truth

Game 2
I stare at a starting hand of Trop, Sea, Fastbond, Gush, A.call, Brainstorm, Force, say keep, and he goes land go. I drop trop, fastbond, Acall, gush, Tog, and the game lasts about 3-5 turns as I have everything 7 he has nothing.

I felt great after going 2-0 against the mirror, especially since I didn't win a game agianst it in Columbus at the Meandeck Open, but I felt bad about destroying a kid from Louisville who was newer at the format.

1-0-1

Round 3 - Mike Bomholt of Meandeck with GAT

I sit down, introduce myself, and we have a blast talking, kidding, and having fun while we get ready

Game 1
We start with both of us drawing a ton of mana, and I remember hardcasting 2 Force of Wills (Thats how they are supposed to be played, right?) and we both fetch & work our way down, burning & just trying to stop any draw the other person got. I found a threat first, grew to 5, and Dryad went the distance for a Game 1 win.

Board was the same, Truh, Fire/Ice, Smother

Game 2
I get a decent dryad, and get in a couple of turns with a smallish Dryad (3/3 or 4/4), but he drops a fastbond, gets Tog or Dryad while mine is sideways, he grows more and I remember he barely hit my 17 life with it, but he just did hit it. 1 turn away form another 2-0 GAT win for me, but alas, we move to Game 3.

Game 3
he starts with a turn 1 Ancestral which I Mis-D, he Force, I Mis-D, and draw 3, followed by my turn 2 Ancestral. Nothing else much happens until extra turns. He has a Dryad out that is 5/5 judgine form my notes, but I am able to grow my own dryad, playing for the raw on turn 3 of extra turns. I pass the turn, and he swings, dropping another regular dryad. I take the hit, and going into turn 5 I know it will be a draw unless I topdeck a Yawgs. I topdeck a Gush, and cast it floating a UB into a Cunning Wish with 3 moxen untapped & an Island. I smother his untapped dryad, Wish for Berserk, and swing for 18 while he is at 17 life on the last turn, groing just enough. Phew.

2-0-1

I am pretty happy about my play so far, being 2-0-1, beating a tough opponent, drawing with another tough opponent, and doing well in the mirror. I have some pretty decent confidence, and am actually starting to think about going the distance.

Round 4 - Frank with some deck that looks like 7/10 split with Blue Control
He came down saying how uch it sucked to have a 9 or 10 hour drive to get there, with a msile on his face. I laugh, and we talk cards. Finally, we remember to start to play. And we are the last table at the top table, so it felt great to be up there.

Game 1
He does a Turn 2 hardcast Titan for the win. My mul to 5 of Loti, A.Call, Sea, Loa, Drain just wasn't enough. (Frank - Told you I would eventually tell you what that 5th card was)

I board in Artifact Mutate, Oxidize, Truth, Rack & Ruin or something like that. Maybe some needles

Game 2
I drop an early Tog, and when it is almost lethal, he Tinkers to Jar, Jars-> Wheels-> Jar & doesn't find an answer. Tog was close, but that made it for real big time lethal, despite the fact I was holding a Cunning Wish at the end of all of that.

Game 3
We brought a full on game, in which left everything on the line. I recall fighting tooth & nail. I got a needle down naming welder (I think) and in the end, he ended up dropping a Triskevoues and shooting me when I was at 3 life. It was a great win for him and I was toast. Was a close game.

2-1-1

Great game, and Frank was a blast to play against. Fun guy, and actually had a good control-shop deck that wasn't stax as near as I could tell.

Round 5 - Jerry from Columbus with Mono-Red Magus of the Moon
Great. I get paired against a friend. Oh well. We talk & have a blast, the entire match laughing.

Game 1
I play, and do something pretty useless like Land -> Duress, and start to fight against the tide that is Magus of the Moon. Bad idea when you have 2 basic islands & can't fetch them. I did have one out, but it wasn't enough. I gro a Dryad to 5, and still lose. Congrates, and move on.

I board Fire/Ice, Smother, Truth, 2x Needle

Game 2
I look at Jerry, smile, and pretend like I am reading his mind, proudly stating that he wants to go second. It seemed to work. I drop a quick Dryad, gro, and then he kills it somehow, and promptly buries me under a Magus of the Moon & Blood Moon, then goes the distance.

I got completely destroyed. So we laugh, ahve fun, andwish each other luck.

2-2-1

At this point, I don't know if I even have a shot at a prize, ask Steve as he passes, and he says I might have a shot at 15th/16th, but it is a long shot. I say screw it & go for it. Sometimes you have to Roll the Hard 6, and I did come here to play. If I lose one more, I am out for sure, and we will move to partyy phase in Cincinnati. I am barely ut of the drinking bracket.

Round 6 - Steve Ferry with Gush-Tendrils
Seems like a nice guy, though bummed he just got destraoyed by GAT or something. So we smile, I get him startign to laugh, we have a good time, and get playing

Game 1
I assume he is palying GAT from his early plays, but then he ETW for 10 Gobbos. I had a Dryad out at a few, and decide to attack in anyway as I am at 19 life. I go Scroll -> Wish -> Truth over the next few turns (ending at 2 life), and Dryad seals the deal. He concedes a few turns later.

I board in Fire/Ice, Truth, Smother

Game 2
I look at an opening hand that has a turn 2 Truth, with some good draw. it ends up being great as he goes ETW for 20+ Gobbos, at EoT I Truth, drop Dryad, and go the distance.

I shake his hand, we kick it, and talk for a bit. great guy, but sorry man. At this point, I send my buddy who went 2-3 drop to grab some food.

3-2-1

I check the rankings, and I am 45th place. I know I have to play better than Barry Bonds on 'roids to hit my prize. I know I have a shot, even if it is slightly worse than a Snowballs Chance in hell. But what the hell, I go for it.

Round 7 - Jeff from Columbus with Gobbos
I smile, and he is just serious, no fun at all. Bound to hit one of these guys eventually.

Game 1
Don't remember to much, but he opens up with a decent hand, I counter some gobbos, and drop a late fastbond, but it is to little to late. Ends up taking about 30 minutes for him to seal the deal.

Board was Fire/Ice, Smother, Truth, 2x Needle

Game 2
This was another long, drawn out fight. I started off with some stuff, ending up going all the way down to 2 life, and sent a berserked Dryad for 12 at him over his 2 blockers that had toughness total 3, he was at 9 life.

Game 3
Hurried as we started inside of 4 minutes. He drops some gobbos, and I get an early Dryad. With a minute or so left, I DT for Walk. He dropped me low really fact, and could pretty much seal the deal with 1 more turn. At the end of the last turn before extra turn, he is ocmpletely tapped out as I stop his Recruiter from joining the party. He has both his piledriver & his other Gobbo tapped aswell, so everything is sideways.

Turn 1 of extra turns allows me to walk, and swing with a 4/4 Dryad. A Judge is sitting right there, watching. This is prehaps the 2 match he has watched of mine in extra turns, so I am no bothered. I move to the walk turn, and get a draw spell followed by Yawgs Will (in hand earlier), into Timewalk, swing for 7, putting him to 6 life. He immeidiatly tries to weasel his way into getting me a game loss as he demands "Did you put your 'zerk back into your board after the last game." In fact, he won't shut up about it, nor acknowledge anything else, right in front of the judge as he panics seeing his win going the other way. I ignore him, and say, "you're at 6, correct?" and keeps babbling about the Berserk. Having just Demonic Tutored about 3 minutes earlier, I knew it wasn't in my deck. I pick up my deck box because it is obvious that he won't let the match continue until he is satisfied. So being the guy I am, I hand the judge my deck box, without breaking eye contact, and ask the judge "Would you please look in here & tell us if you find a berserk in there?" The judge opens it, and pulls out my Alpha Berserk in my sleeves, and twirls it for my opponent to see. He is dumbfounded & you can see a look on his face like he was getting castrated in the parking lot by a coke bottle as he watched me swing for the win with my Lethal Dryad. He immediatly drops form the tournament in disgust, and storms off as I try to be a sportsman about him.

On a side note. I understand it is a tournament, but come on. If you have a problem, let the match finish, then raise your issue. Don't stall the match, and grasp at straws because you get beat. Beats happen. I understand we were playing for 15th/16th which means last prize slots, but don't be an asshole. Sportsmanship is a virtue obviously not shared by everyone, Jeff from Columbus is obviously one of those people who thinks courtesy & public interatcion only works better when you act like a 3 year old. If I wanted to play with a person who was an ass & acted like a little kid, I would play in the Yu-gi-oh tournament. Thanks.

Sorry Mods for that, but I think it had to be brought up. Everyone is having fun and ruining it like that just sucks. Sorry again to the mods.

4-2-1

So I check the rankings, and find myself at 31st place. I know I have a long shot to jump 15 spots, but I will give it a shot.

Round 8 - Jake with GAT
I sit down across from, well, no-one. The round starts, and I wait. After 3 minutes, we figure out who I am supposed to be playing. There were many jokes about how tough my matchup is, but Jake shows up, apologizing. He said he thought he had dropped. Being 4-3, I knew I had gotten paired down. Crap. Oh well. He was a nice guy who thought he had dropped, but had forgotten to check it on the sheet. We play. He declares he is terrible with the deck, but we are joking & having fun.

Game 1
He wins a counter war, gets out a Tog, and goes the distance. Yea. Terrible for me.

Board is Smother, Fire/Ice, Truth

Game 2
I elect to play, and drop a turn 1 or 2 tog. He Ancestrals, I Mis-D, then drop another land, Scroll, Ancestral & he scoops.

Game 3
I stare at a hand that is made up of a GAT players wet dream. Top, Sea, Gush, Ancestral, Fastbond, Brainstorm, Force of Will. Yea, turn 1 fastbond ends up in a dryad, who is soon joined by Tog. Every topdeck was a draw spell which went into a control spell. He watches as I just kept coming to end the game in a hurry.

5-2-1

Now it was waiting. I had done it. I had won out. I had a shot at the 16th place & a FBB dually, so I waited the 30 minutes while I hoped. I was unsure of how I would end up, but hoped. Met some more cool people, watched some other games, and had fun. Final standings were posted, and I went to look like everyone else. Ok, where's my name? Kept looking. Finally, I found it it.

21st place.

Damn. So close, but so damned far. I could have done this differently. Or that. Played the right play here. Hindsight is 20/20. C'est La Vive.

So it goes down in history. My first SCG P9 event. 21st place. Thats 21 out of 129 people. Based on the attendance announced at the event. I beat out 108 people. Ended up a mere 5 spots out of prize. Damn.

So we started our drive to Cincinnati, having a good time, and knownign that Sunday was a day for partying, then driving back down to Louisville for me. But Sunday was not without a great event. We played DnD for old times sakes as one of my old friends is moving away to South Eastern Ohio to the middle of nowhere to go back to school. And of course, in a battle he sat there, and asked "I can sneak attack the rock." when he was about to hit a Spell Turret made out of stone. Unmovable, normal stone. And after that laughter died down, he then proudly proclaimed (seriously!) & rolled for his critical hit on the rock. Which left us with smiels & big laughs.

Props
- SCG for the great event
- Doug for winning it all
- My 4th Round Opponent, Frank, for getting 16th place
- My WRX for making all of my bummed feeling fall away as I shift up & down thorugh the gears of a damned fine car.
- Matt Alden, my buddy since 2nd Grade for throwing down & manning up & coming
- GAT for being good
- Walk, Will, Walk for being stupid good.
- Me, for moving back into a part f the world where Vintage is actually played!
- All the guys I met who were cool!
- Smother, for being a great card, and me using the one almost every time I boarded it in to change the game completely!
- to Jeff, for mailing me his Beuatiful LoA & Mox Emerald.

Slops
- No open Food court
- Me, for not hitting a single prize
- Matt, for going 2-3
- My 7th round opponent, for being the only unfun person I faced/met all day
- SCG for not deciding to sell food & use a microwave.

SCG, come back to Indy. Great time.

All in all fun, great, and I loved it overall. Hopefully I can get to Chicago for the next one & watch out, prizes, here I come!