I started using a draft method for MODO that I'll share for those of you interested in turning 'fake' cards into real ones... I've already shared this with a couple of you, so you can ignore this part.
Anyway... Basically, I get into drafts and stuff, but I keep a 'pick list' next to my computer at all times. So when you're drafting you have your usual set of picks, and the like, so you know what you'd usually pick. The first thing I look at though is my 'pick list' to see what cards I need for my set. I'll draft a set card over anything else 1st pick, no matter what. This ensures that no matter how the draft turns out, I'm that much closer to finishing a set, and of course even if that card is terrible I'll never have to waste another pick on it, so it's a 1-shot deal for bad picks. I'm an average drafter, so I'll usually win my first match, and half the time my 2nd or 3rd match this way, so I still win packs 90% of the time. I use these to keep my drafting sets up and continue this process. Now the thing is, I've finished a grand total of 7 sets online, none foil of course, because that doesn't work nearly as good using this method. But, see I've redeemed these sets now, and I usually have been redeeming 2+ at a time. It costs a grand total of $6.99 shipping and handling + $0.32 tax or something like that, no matter how many sets you are redeeming to be shipped to you! I just got the entire OLS block in the mail, all wrapped in factory sealed boxes, and it cost me about $7. So now I actually do have real cards, not only that, but some people value factory sealed sets quite a bit more over regular ones, so they fetch a descent price. Or hell, I guess I could always crack open a set or two for the cards if I really wanted to.
This system works quite good, and I've never had anybody tell me it hasn't yet, so you really outta give it a try.
The funny thing is, I get most of my product for drafting by playing in Leagues, because they really are the best deal in tournament Magic. You get to play a lot of games, really imrove your overall playing ability, and you most certainly get the bang for your buck. Don't overlook the fact that you can get off cheaper, too. You don't
have to buy that extra booster pack each week to keep playing. So if you ended up with bad first week in league matches, or you just have a crap deck, then you don't need to waste anymore money; just stick with the 2 ticket, 1 Tournament Pack, and 2 Boosters you started with.
League prizes pay down to 128th place, so all you have to do is play and you'll make that. I've known friends of mine who lost all but 1 or 2 of thier 20 league matches and still got that 1 Booster for cryin' out loud, and that's at least a little back.
My biggest disappointment with MODO though is the payout, because Leagues are the only place to really make out on prizes to a level even close to those found in real life Magic. I mean you can usually win a box easily in a real tournament, and for roughly the same cost online, and especially time investment, you don't even get 1/4th of that for the largest of tournaments. When I first hit MODO back in Invasion and ODY I did OK, but then I managed to win 2 ODY/TOR sealed deck tournaments with 100+ people, and back then the prizes were based on the number of people in the tournament. For my first 1st place win I had 110+/- opponents and I walked off with around 70 some-odd boosters. Things like that were cool, and worth it. I mean when 100+ people pay in product and tickets to enter a tournament you expect a payout after that many hours of sitting at your computer. Nowadays you'd get like 8 boosters for winning the same tournament. Not even close is it? That's just beyond pathetic, especially for a product that most people won't redeem and otherwise isn't even real.
So, with that said, I liked MODO better before, but now at least they haven't fucked up the Leagues so they aren't worth playing. As long as MODO has Leagues, and they are pretty much the same as they are now, then I'll be happy with it, I suppose.
They've GOT to do something about that damn shuffler though... When you use the exact same mana base, and loose a match because you draw 9 lands in a row game 1, and draw 2 lands in your opening hand and NONE the rest of the game in game 2, then sure that's messed up, but random... Now, when that same thing happens 4 matches in a row, that's disgusting.
Don't take my word for it on that though... 90% of the peole who play MODO I've ever talked to have complained about how bad the shuffler is, too. Perfectly fine mana bases that work for a million other people just don't seem to work online for some reason... Go figure!
EDIT: Oh yea, and I took 3rd in an OLS League about a month ago now, and it was a pretty nice payout. After pawning that stuff off I got into a couple more MIR Leagues and still had enough to draft a few times. That's some good stuff for the cost to enter...
