Just starting out (Vintage or Bust)

[jmedina]

Hey Guys. I have been playing magic for about a year now and my interest has been peeked about vintage. I decided to go on a quest to play and become good in the format. I have been posting my adventures here:

http://mytradebinder.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=13&Itemid=22

I thought it might be amusing for seasoned veterans to read and maybe helpful for newbs like me. I have to say the vintage forums are very informative. I have been reading up in here for the last couple weeks- Thanks all your valuable input- if you have any advice for me, feel free to post it here.

[Twaun007]

Welcome to the gentleman's format.

I would suggest that you go visit Smenenendians articles over at StarcityGames. They are pretty good reads and are filled with little tid bits oh knowledge.

Here is the link

Smenenenendian's ramblings

[Euphonic]

Welcome to the format! I read your blog and i think its awesome that you are getting all your cards with only other cards you own. I've always loved the trading aspect of magic so reading about you trying to trade up is cool. Good luck with that deck. Its super fun, however, SUPER complicated to pilot it to a win, let alone a world championship. Its always good to see vintage attracting new players.

[jmedina]

Sweet thanks! It was actually his tournament report for the 2008 Championship that really got my into the format. I aways thought that vintage was a coin flip until I seen the way his games played out - there was a lot of intention and alot of skill behind the plays.

Thanks for the welcome.

Welcome to the gentleman's format.

I would suggest that you go visit Smenenendians articles over at StarcityGames. They are pretty good reads and are filled with little tid bits oh knowledge.

Here is the link

Smenenenendian's ramblings

[jmedina]

Yeah - I played alot of type 2 and I have spent way too much money on cards. So I really want to put those cards to work. I watch the price trending and keep on top of the tournament anyways.. why not use that knowledge to sell/ trade cards and try a new format!

The deck that I have chosen "Pitch Long" is pretty complicated for me as type 2-1.5 player. I have to get used to the format. I have killed myself twice already with that deck already LOL - I have to learn that life is a comodity and one of my resources to balance, like mana and cards in hand. In the other formats life is a measure of how you are doing. In this format it's a resource. (That's spoken by a newb.. maybe I'm totally off )

Thanks for the welcome. I will be posting on my blog regularly. I wont be posting much on the forum.. Unless I have something constructive to say - but I will be an avid reader on these forums .

Welcome to the format! I read your blog and i think its awesome that you are getting all your cards with only other cards you own. I've always loved the trading aspect of magic so reading about you trying to trade up is cool. Good luck with that deck. Its super fun, however, SUPER complicated to pilot it to a win, let alone a world championship. Its always good to see vintage attracting new players.

[Implacable]

Great to see something new and Vintagey to peruse.  I strongly recommend that you use Magic Workstation, the free online tool, for testing purposes.  The players are often sketchy, but you will still get a good deal of experience.

[Euphonic]

I have killed myself twice already with that deck already LOL - I have to learn that life is a comodity and one of my resources to balance, like mana and cards in hand. In the other formats life is a measure of how you are doing. In this format it's a resource. (That's spoken by a newb.. maybe I'm totally off

You definately are on the right track there, especially in the deck you chose. In many ways, life is just another sort of "mana" to be used to win. I have won many games, stabalizing at 1 life, and then pulling it out to win the game. Always remember, you havent lost until your life is at 0...OR you deck has been ground away.

[jmedina]

Staying at 1 life plus the number of force of wills in my hand is a good idea LOL I forced at 1 life - doh!

I have killed myself twice already with that deck already LOL - I have to learn that life is a comodity and one of my resources to balance, like mana and cards in hand. In the other formats life is a measure of how you are doing. In this format it's a resource. (That's spoken by a newb.. maybe I'm totally off

You definately are on the right track there, especially in the deck you chose. In many ways, life is just another sort of "mana" to be used to win. I have won many games, stabalizing at 1 life, and then pulling it out to win the game. Always remember, you havent lost until your life is at 0...OR you deck has been ground away.

[EnialisLiadon]

Pitchlong is a good deck to start with--you'll have a lot of cards that can go in many, many decks upon it's completion.  I started out with slaver (borrowing Forces and Drains from two friends to get to the proxy limit), and then I got a lot of the cheaper restricted cards that see play in combo and other decks.  After getting Forces, Drains, a Mana Crypt, and some more duals and staples over the course of three years, I can now play a wide variety of decks at tournaments.

But it's excellent to see someone joining the format!  Hopefully you can be a great example to other players in dispelling the myth that vintage is impossible to get into!

[jmedina]

I agree- Especially because I am not investing any money (that isn't generated from my current collection) to get into the format. I think that alot of people think that vintage takes a ton of cash - but as I looked at the decks I noticed that I had alot of the cards and that the only really expensive ones were the power 9 and some of the tutors. In a weeks time, I am already pretty close to being able to join a tournament with 10 proxies. Hopefully I can make it to the tournament in NH at Myriad Games next weekend.

I will probably trip up with group of my friends who are getting into vintage also. I have one question - where can I get some sweet proxies? Like not hand drawn but maybe printed.

Any other advice is welcome!

Pitchlong is a good deck to start with--you'll have a lot of cards that can go in many, many decks upon it's completion.  I started out with slaver (borrowing Forces and Drains from two friends to get to the proxy limit), and then I got a lot of the cheaper restricted cards that see play in combo and other decks.  After getting Forces, Drains, a Mana Crypt, and some more duals and staples over the course of three years, I can now play a wide variety of decks at tournaments.

But it's excellent to see someone joining the format!  Hopefully you can be a great example to other players in dispelling the myth that vintage is impossible to get into!

[EnialisLiadon]

I agree- Especially because I am not investing any money (that isn't generated from my current collection) to get into the format. I think that alot of people think that vintage takes a ton of cash - but as I looked at the decks I noticed that I had alot of the cards and that the only really expensive ones were the power 9 and some of the tutors. In a weeks time, I am already pretty close to being able to join a tournament with 10 proxies. Hopefully I can make it to the tournament in NH at Myriad Games next weekend.

I will probably trip up with group of my friends who are getting into vintage also. I have one question - where can I get some sweet proxies? Like not hand drawn but maybe printed.

Any other advice is welcome!

My moxen proxies are 6th edition basic lands with the name and type crossed out and "Mox ______" and "Artifact" replacing them.  I also added a zero at the tops.  So my moxen are pretty basic proxies, no pun intended.

My Ancestral proxy is a modified Disarm, and my Time Walk a Train of Thought.  I took cards that shared as many characteristics as possible with the blue power.  Similarly, my lotus is a sharpied Welding Jar.

You can either make your own proxies, of whatever quality you choose, or perhaps you could commission a set of proxies from someone, for a price.

[ELD]

How could I resist:



If you ever play in New England, they have the added bonus of not counting towards your proxy limit at any ELD, Myriad, Stillpoint, Pandemonium, Batter Up or Over the Edge Games proxy vintage events!

[jmedina]

Yeah ELD- I heard that you were the man when it comes to proxies .. How do I get your proxies. How much are they?