TheManaDrain Invitational?

[MolotDET]

Since there have been a few threads about when to schedule a torny to get people from a wider area to show.  And since I had ths idea a while back but didn't act on it because I didn't think the logistics of it were possible.  I am now thinking about it again.

     Because there have been people from afar who have traveled to Gamemaster before (NGNY crew, Binghamton crew, Team Goat, Project5 and a few others).  I was thinking for something like this, it could be likely that I get some people from a wider area to show, esspecially since NJ is centrally located on the eastern seaboard.

     I know I could get the guys who own Gamemaster to go for this or we might be able to get the space to do this at NGNY.  While the header says Invitational, anyone who shows up could play and I would be willing to put up 2 power ten from my collection.  More than the lure of the cards would be the chance of meeting everyone and the competition (if we get some of our best and brightest to show).

      So what do you guys think?  Is it possible to get lots of themenedrainers to show for a big irl meeting in the NJ/NY area?  And when do you think is a good time/date to do it?

edited: by MolotDET

[CrazyCarl]

I was thinking about this actually and I think that someplace like... well, Binghamton might work very well.  It's not too far for the NJ and NG players, and the New Englanders(ie. CT, NH, MA, etc) have a bit longer of a drive, but I think we're closer than say, NG or NJ.  I know of at least one store where I could get us space for about 32 people(but it would be a bit stuffy), but could accomodate 20 or 25 easily with room in the back and basement, we could hold double or even triple that.

I could also look into renting a ballroom at a local hotel, though that would raise the price of entry a bit.

Carl

[MolotDET]

I was thinking the NYC area because it might tempt the VA. crew to come up for it.

     but Binghamton might entice the Canadians to come down.

     Like I said we need to think about this and have a serious discussion, cause I am a bit befuddled as to how to work this out right,

     NGNY just seems like the biggest play space available and should be easy to find for everyone.

[CrazyCarl]

From what i've heard, NG:NY is somewhat..... dirty.  Also, the fact that it's in the city counts against it .  Maybe some place in between Binghamton and Albany?  I could check out Hotels to see where we could get space and for how much.  As for prizes, we can work that out later, but P9 would be cool, but how about a set of Workshops instead(I can ebay for them if need be, but I think Steve has an extra set)?  I'd love to play for that.

Carl

EDIT: Sorry about the dirty crack, it's just what i've heard and I also have a deep seeded hatred for the city So I'd prefer to not go there if possible \n\n

[Anonymous]

Eric, Raymond and I have been trying to talk Matt into having another big tourney at NG. (Harsh crack at the dirtyness, but true) We have even offered to lead the orginization, but we are still discussing it. I don't think NG would be the right place only because the store would end up getting all the money and make the prize worse. I think we're going to try to talk to the people at forbidden planet, they might let us run tournament there, and we would be able offer a better prize. Email me at Westredale@aol.com with suggestions.

[Zherbus]

I dont know about anyone else, but I would rather drive longer to a place thats easier to find and navigate than trudge my way through a strange city.

In New England or upstate NY, I would go. Otherwise, probably not. Of course, what is a TheManaDrain.com invitational without the owner? Just for namesake if the turnout looks good for the weekend of fun up here, thats what itll be called.

[TracerBullet]

Bah.  All you back east losers. I thought we, out here on the left coast proved that you can't even play baseball...Why can't we have a real T1 tourney?  ComiCon is a joke, and it's in San Diego to boot.

[3libras]

if it's upstate i'll go if i can find a ride from the nassau county(PM me, whatever that means) area, I agree, i've been to the city and it's not a pretty place, i would rather drive more to go to an accomadating local shop,

[The Dude]

dude here

WEST COAST REVOLT! yeah living on the west coast blows supremely. maybe the west coast should do somehting similar?

[Abra_Volta]

What about the idea of having a huge TMD tourney at Origins? Maybe as a warm-up to the T1 Championship tourney that is supposed to happen.

Just an idea.

Of course, if I wasn't stuck so far away from either coast I would think about maybe making a trip East or West to play some Magic with everyone else.

[Razor]

Quote ...but Binghamton might entice the Canadians to come down.

 Mapquest is telling me this is about a 6 hour drive from Toronto.  Syracuse is an hour closer for us.

Is anyone offering to billot some people?

[CrazyCarl]

I'll call Altered States in Syracuse and see what they'll do for us.  What are the candidates for locations thus far?  I'm going to nominate Syracuse.  Once we have 5 or 6, we'll have a poll or something.  Sound good?

Carl

Oh, and as for prizes, I'll look into getting a set of Workshops for first seeing as how they're so rare, it's even nicer than playing for Moxes or whatnot.

[specialk]

Hey Razor I'll go if you go because I don't want totravel to the states alone.(It's scary they all have guns)

edit: *lol* you guys thought i was serious?

[CrazyCarl]

No, only in New York and New Jersey, and we(New Yorkers) are only acting like we have guns  .











We don't really

[riverboa11]

I would be so happy if it can be in Syracuse.  Traveling for an hour definitely beats 6 hour trips on the train.

Btw, would this be an exclusive tournament?

[MolotDET]

Quote   I'm going to nominate Syracuse.

well I will second the nomination for Syracuse.  It seems like it is centrally located as far as the New England/Upstate/NYC/North Jersey/Canadians would be concerned.  Course this does leave out any other east coasters, but maybe some of them might make the trip anyway.

Quote Btw, would this be an exclusive tournament?

well seeing as how I started this idea, I think that with all the excitement about it, it should probably be on an invite only type of status depending on how much available space there would be at whatever place it is held.  The bigger the place the more people would be able to be there.  Just from the posts of people that are interested we have 10. and I only started this a half a day ago.
     I think this is a great idea and everyone that wants to be there should be welcomed, but we have to work with the confines of space.
     Also many of the people being on the most likely to be invited list, would be from some out of the way place like: Manilla, Germany, England, California or Virginia.  I'm sure many of those people won't be able to attend even if they wanted to.

Quote No, only in New York and New Jersey, and we(New Yorkers) are only acting like we have guns

hey there aren't really that many guns here.  Well. what would you call alot of guns?

[kl0wn]

I had been thinking about doing this for a while myself. I was even contemplating looking into renting out a conference room at a hotel, but that would be a little expensive and cut into the prize support.

So I nominate Altered States in Syracuse. They have plenty of room if nothing else major is going on that day and they are smack in the middle of New England, Jersey and Canada. They are also easy to find and relatively clean and professional.

I'd be willing to put up some stuff for prizes as well, although the only thing I have of worth laying around is my spare Abyss.

But I'm definitely down with this. I'd also be able to put people up for the night if they didn't mind driving an hour back up north to get to the site.


Regarding the invitiation only thing:

I think we should at least have a few people who aren't from here. Perhaps we could allow invitees a guest or two. Like if a ManaDrainer thinks that someone from their area is a very strong player and/or deck builder or general good guy, but they don't post on here, they could bring them along.\n\n

[riverboa11]

I like the idea of bringing a friend or two, that way it isn't completely exclusive.  Besides I have one or two friends in mind that I know would love to play in a tournament of this nature.

Any ideas on when this will be held?\n\n

[Nimrod]

I would totally like to be there and hang out with all of you guys, but sadly, Im from Mexico, I live in the north-west part, but I dont even have a car (if I had one, I would totally be there) so unless there arises some chance for me to get there (hell, I dont even know where Syracuse is, but if people from Toronto is going I guess it aint close), Ill be.

If someone from the south part of the US is going and have a chance to take me too, PM me, sadly, that doesnt seems the case   . You all have fun anyway.\n\n

[MolotDET]

Quote Any ideas on when this will be held?

    Well thats the rub.  I would want it to be at a time when the most people could attend. so we would have to work around school scheduals and such.

     Depending when the NE weekend of magic goes down, I was thinking of Christmas break or Spring break.  But I guess in the case of the latter people would have conflicting weeks off.  So maybe we should hold off til next summer, but at the rate that people on this board are quitting Magic there might not be any of us left by then.

     So I guess we should pose the question:

Quote When do you think this should be held?

[riverboa11]

I would like to have it during Christmas break.  Next summer is definitely not an option.

[Razor]

School-Christmas break sounds like it would accomodate most people.  When are students released for this break?  Please post the dates that X-Mas breaks typically start and end.  Then we can start electing specific dates within this period.

I have three paid vacation-days leff that I have to use by Dec.31 - shucks, eh?  So, even a weekday tourney in December is cool with me.

Are the Syracuse locals going to be forbidden entry into this tourney unless they are regulars here?  I hope not, as I think this might be unecessarily elitist.

Worlds 2001 in Toronto only attracted 29 Type 1 players (for Cdn$15 registration fee).  Let's not limit entry at all so we can get a decent turnout and a variety of decks to pit ourselves against.

[specialk]

and 2002 Canadian Nationals attracted 40+ people for T1 at $20. Try figuring that one out and the prize was shit like $150 store credit (oh I will get half that over priced unlimited beat up mox)

[DeathByDreams]

Would this tournament be open to all of members on this site or just a select few by invite?

BTW does anyone know how many people would fit in states? Last time I went was for the T1 tournement two months ago that never happened because everyone was there for 1.5 . I remember we had almost 30 in one of the T1's but does anyone know how many people we could fit now after the renovations?

[Lord of the Goats]

i'd think christmas break would be better...... typically people don't go too far away like they do for spring break. besides, i got off from dec 23 til very late january so i have a nice chunk of time.

i think we should come up with a big prize.. like a beta lotus or something. after all it is the mana drain invitational. what would be better than winning something really spiffy? i think that 1 big prize looks better than "an abyss, a playset of workshops, and 2 mox" it may be cool to get that stuff but in the end it has more style to say "check out my beta lotus i won at the mana drain invitational". if the winner would rather have a lot of smaller stuff, they can always sell the lotus.

just some stuff to think about.

i say have it open to the public... worst comes to worst there's scrubs. more people means more money, which means better prizes.

[CrazyCarl]

I doubt we'd restrict entry, that's just dumb.

Altered States can hold as many people as we can get.  They're "a little big".

Carl

[leviat]

I can offer floor space in my apartment for people who will be coming in the night before assuming I'll be in town.

As for the when:

I cannot do anything 12/20 -> 12/28. So if it happens during that time, I must regretfully decline.

I also can't do anything around Thanksgiving.

So, for those still in school, when is the Christmas break? Do you have the week of New Years off?

[DeathByDreams]

My vacation is from the 23rd to the 5th. I think it's the same for Jeremy (riverboa11) too but not 100% sure.

I think it would be cool if we could play for a lotus. That would draw more people to the tourney. Especially a beta lotus like previously mentioned.

@ Carl: Would you still be playing in it? Jeremy said that you weren't playing much anymore and you're selling a bunch of your cards. I never got a chance to play you while we were at states either  

[CrazyCarl]

Nah, i've changed my mind, i'm playing again ;P

So what are the perspective dates?

Carl

[MolotDET]

As far as the dates go. from what I can tell, Between this thread, Zherbus', CooberP's and the one at Gamemaster.

 Saturday, November 30th is the Black Lotus/Mox Sapphire at Gamemaster.

Sunday December 1st is an open date (but most people will probably not be able to make it) and as it stands this is the alternate date for the Gamemaster Lotus.

Saturday and Sunday, December 7th & 8th are the proposed dates for the "New England Weekend of Magic."

Saturday and Sunday, December 14th and 15th are open (but this will not coincide with any sort of school break, as a matter of fact this will probably be finals week for many people).

Saturday and Sunday, December 21st and 22nd are open but many people have said that these days are no good (between the three threads) as they might not be home for break yet or might still have finals if they are unlucky.

Saturday and Sunday, December 28th and 29th are open and may be the best weekend to shoot for, everyone who will be coming home will be home by then, and in the middle of Christmas and New Years and well after the end of Khaunika (<---spelling? sorry not Jewish) this would be a pretty good time.

Saturday and Sunday, January 4th or 5th are open, but this might be cutting it close to the time that people are heading back to school.

     So from this list it looks like we should shoot for the 28th, 29th, 4th or 5th.  Though I think we should defer to Zherbus as to when it should be held, as he might want to make the NH torny the "First Anual themanadrain.com Invitational."

     This being said, a Beta Black Lotus would be a really cool Prize for first place (and would deffenetly grab some attention), with perhaps a set of Workshops going to the second place, and something else for third and forth (though this might be expensive).

     And If the place that we are holding it at will have enough space to accomidate eveyone, well shit, the more the merrier.  I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on this one.  I for one know at least four guys who would like to come.

Edited by MolotDET