[Article] The Early Regionals Metagame

[MixedkNuts]

Most of this article deals with metagaming in general, and I included a section about Type I that I'd like some feedback on.

http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/expandnews.php?Article=6886

"To me, Type I is utterly fascinating from a metagame standpoint because the format is so far behind the rest of the game itself. Before everyone gets up in arms, let me clarify what I mean, and you'll realize I'm not being derogatory. First of all, Type I is the only known format where you still see the words "Decklist withheld by request" from Top 8 results. Every other format seems to operate under the rules that, if you make the Top 8, your deck becomes public knowledge, but not Type I. I don't completely understand why this is the case, but it segues to my next point nicely."

Thanks,
Knut

[Zherbus]

It's because despite all of our innovations, our format changes slower than other formats. If there is a deck that has technology that can be used over again (since you know you're mostly going to be facing the same sort of decks again in a month or two), then keeping it secret until you've used up all the freshness of the tech isn't so hard for me to believe.

[Akuma]

If a deck makes the Top 8, it should be published. I don't understand this "decklist withheld by request" crap. If you don't want your "oh so secret tech" leaked, don't play the deck in a sanctioned tournament. Wait until the event that you want to take by storm to come around.

This is how it works in the most competitive formats. It creates a clear picture of what is available (coherent metagame), it allows for innovation to continue by finding a foil or by reaching the conclusion that something is inherently too powerful.

[Dr. Sylvan]

You have no idea how much I HATE "decklist withheld by request". It's one thing (and still highly annoying) when a decklist is simply lost or unavailable. It's quite another to willfully restrain reporting of tournament results. It's quite a pet peeve of mine, actually, because I have to pepper my articles with reminders that "decklists X, Y, and Z were unavailable, so my data is actually not complete". Grrrr.

I think gradually the "best deck" problem is disappearing due to proxies. WotC don't like it, but it's the truth, particularly in North America. People are playing closer and closer to their best possible deck. (If GenCon were unsanctioned, I wouldn't currently be basing my deck options on the assumption that 10+% of the field will be monored and I'm only half-Powered.

One of the positive trends I'm seeing is reporting results. Within the last two weeks I've gotten data from totally unexpected tournaments that happened in February, magnetized to my inbox by my articles. (Yay for TK!) They do show definite trends, and I think that while overall Type One is more scatterbrained than any other format, we're also improving to a more coherent level. (Hulk is best, decisively. It's not just Paragon theory or even "just" GenCon anymore. And March is barely begun.)

[mouth]

Sean Astin used to be Rudy, now he's forever branded as Sam, or some unnatural mutant hybrid of the two.

Anyhoo. Vintage is a casual format, even if some people don't treat it as such (i.e. everyone on these forums). Whether it be because they have an innate competitive streak, ala Spike, or perhaps they don't like losing (that would be the same thing, or, nevermind). In any case, Type 1 is largely based around the metaphorical, or proverbial, whatever, penis size.

People vehemently protect their deck tech because they have a desire to win. They're not trying to Q, or make any money. Well, not much. Vintage events are, in general, unsanctioned, so  ratings can be ruled out as motivation.

So, what're you left with? A desire to be successful that is based on an entirely seperate premise than that of most PTQ player's. But umm, what exactly the defines this premise isn't something I can flesh out at the moment. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with penises though.

[jpmeyer]

I never understood why people would withhold decklists and whatnot.  With regards to hiding tech, half the reason that we keep it down too is so that it has tournament results to back it up.

And besides, if you know what you're doing, providing decklists for stuff that you win with lets you stay one step ahead of the game.  You win, decklist goes out, people play that list or try to figure out how to beat that list.  You, OTOH already did that so now you get to work on beating what they're working on.  Serving > receiving.

[firebird365]

I dislike the "withheld by request" as well, for all the reasons above. I can see the reasoning, because with Vintage there is no Pro Tour that teams can focus on to win money; Vintage players have to compete in the long run. However, I think those players are losing sight of what Magic is about <blah blah blah meant to have fun blah blah play casual sometime blah>.

Zherbus also makes a good point about "preserving the freshness" of your deck (so to speak), and winning a tournament because of your "secret tech" is motivation enough to have it withheld, but I think it is taking it a little too far. In my mind, the payoff isn't great enough for me to share my innovation. At most, I might wait til a major tournament to reveal it.

And, of course, I'm speaking hypothetically. My Plains tech hasn't quite caught on yet.

[Smash]

The funny thing is, decklist withheld people never win. They are like 6th placers. Whoppe doo, like I want their tech


"(If GenCon were unsanctioned, I wouldn't currently be basing my deck options on the assumption that 10+% of the field will be monored and I'm only half-Powered. "

Gencon isn't that bad. At the championship after round 2, all you play is people from TMD.com, and most have pretty good cards.

Edit - P.S. Phil - If you go to gencon, I usually have extra power/power cards.  Talk to me sometime before then.

[defector]

Withholding a deck list is your prerogitive, I guess.  I don't do it and I find it snotty when other people do do it.  On the other hand, Ido find it humorous when I see, "Iso-Keeper" list held by request.  All your hiding is how well you metagame, something I would personally show off.  Anyway, my two cents.
defector

[rvs]

Anyhoo. Vintage is a casual format,

How so? It's only casual if you are NOT at a tournament. All this vintage is a casual format makes me want to load up the shotgun

[defector]

this is just a rant, I doubt it adds anything

I don't play casually even if I never went to a tourny, I paid 300 bucks for a fuckiong recall, there is nothing casual about that, that's obsession to a form of deranged sickness, that's not casual.  Casual woukld indicate somecoincept of small stake, dropping 30-40% of your montjly income on cards, much less one card is not casual.  I play with general intyensity, i count mymistakes when I teach my ten year old friend how to play, nothing casual about that.  Mayeb you are causal with the same cards that i am not casual with, if so thats your attitude, not mine.  Quit wihthe casual talk please, or I will get MoreFlings shotgun, because I don't have oen of my own andload bothbuckets.
defector

If only you'd count your typing mistakes as well.  
-Matt[/color]

[kirdape3]

It's casual because of the level of play, which is still generally below a PTQ level.

[defector]

I guess, but is the PTQ that big a deal?
defector

[Spizzard]

I guess, but is the PTQ that big a deal?

To most people that attend a PTQ it is.  Afterall, whats the real point in attending if you aren't going to try and actually qualify?  Granted, there are some people there just to have a good time, but most seem pretty serious.