[Article] The Anatomy of a Vintage Team

[Mr. Channel-Fireball]

Teams are fine...when they remain a cohesive unit with one goal in mind: winning.

If you're on a team and you're bragging about how you run the format...well that's not a team, that's a fraternity for guys who were never "cool" enough to join one in college.

Personally I believe humility and class is always enough to earn respect.

Oh, and on a sidenote, I'd imagine the reason it's hard to find teams in vintage is due to the fact that a lot of people play this format for fun.  You'd be hard pressed to find people in places like Montana, Michigan, or Kansas who own power within a 50 mile radius.  

So:

-Not as accessable
-Format has always held a higher degree of respect (less competitive)
-Card restrictions
-Very little support from the makers of the game.

[Tristal]

There's a great deal of us in Michigan that own power.  We just don't have a fancy intarweb team, so we're not seen as legitimate, despite having won the last T1 worlds.

[Komatteru]

There's a great deal of us in Michigan that own power.  We just don't have a fancy intarweb team, so we're not seen as legitimate, despite having won the last T1 worlds.

I'll second this.  Michigan has no proxy tournaments for the most part.  Despite this, we had a very, very competitive meta over the summer that (the World Champion came out of there after all).  There's also a very strong meta in Kalamazoo with most of its players owning the power, not proxing.  So there's a lot of power in Michigan.

[Mykeatog]

 Michigan has no proxy tournaments for the most part.  Despite this, we had a very, very competitive meta over the summer that (the World Champion came out of there after all).  There's also a very strong meta in Kalamazoo with most of its players owning the power, not proxing.  So there's a lot of power in Michigan.

Did you guys win the last Waterbury or something?

[TrixR4Kidz]

I tend to assume there are TONS of teams in vintange, just people are not aware of them, Part of the reason is it's not easy to be as outspoken on the forums when their access to the regular "tournament forums" is limited, and exams are being denied, so random.team is being overlooked, meanwhile team Meandeck/Shortbus is written in bold lettering everywhere (no, not literally).

I think if someone even has a friend that is involved in type one magic, and they playtest with eachother, and don't give their "team" an official name, they are still a team.

[nataz]

I tend to assume there are TONS of teams in vintange, just people are not aware of them

Agreed, which is why I think you are incorrect Hi-Val. Type one dosn't need more teams, it needs more dedicated players, no matter if they are on teams or not.  

And if you want to see examples of skill level and its relation to prize payout, take a look at the Pro-Tour vs FNM.

I'm honestly surprised you don't see the connection. Note that I am in no way saying that teams don't help create better players, I'm just saying that those players have to want to get better/put in the time to get better first.

its all about baby steps.

[jazzykat]

I think that the article is well written but would have preferred an article on 4cc or whatever deck you like, but you do a good job of clearly explaining your thoughts on páper regardless of what you write about.

WRT Teams: I think that they are certainly nescessary, but the smaller T1 community than extended or T2 means there are less people to make teams. Take into account that almost all stores push T2 and it is cheap for kids without lots of $$$ to get into, etc., so our format has a higher percentage of people who work everyday, have wifes, girlfriends, and children :0. All those things severely limit the amount of free time you have which may have to be spent cleaning a gutter or unplugging your toilet, cleaning dishes etc.  

Point of post: I think that we can work harder to make teams and even "innovate" but without thousands of $$$$ for prizes no one can expect the huge effort that goes into the other format. People play t1 because they LOVE THE GAME, not to make money, or not even have a dream of making money. Yeah, someone can say Player X won soooo many moxes but I can't live off the few hundred bucks, even if I won a mox every month. In fact it wouldn't pay my school loans(yes I consolidated).

JK

[Dante]

Besides hours of playtesting, simply reflecting on details is probably the best way to get better.

In general, this is true for most anything you will do in your life (especially competitive things).  Most people don't reflect internally enough.

Bill

[BlkXplsn]

Oh, and on a sidenote, I'd imagine the reason it's hard to find teams in vintage is due to the fact that a lot of people play this format for fun.  You'd be hard pressed to find people in places like Montana, Michigan, or Kansas who own power within a 50 mile radius.

We don't have proxy tournies in KC... so everyone who plays with any kind of seriousness has it all.

 

[MrZuccinniHead]

I tend to assume there are TONS of teams in vintange, just people are not aware of them

Agreed, which is why I think you are incorrect Hi-Val. Type one dosn't need more teams, it needs more dedicated players, no matter if they are on teams or not.  

And if you want to see examples of skill level and its relation to prize payout, take a look at the Pro-Tour vs FNM.

I'm honestly surprised you don't see the connection. Note that I am in no way saying that teams don't help create better players, I'm just saying that those players have to want to get better/put in the time to get better first.

its all about baby steps.

But teams want to win...so they make players dedicated.

[forests failed you]

One of the reasons the Michigan metagame is so strong is the support it has received from local shopowners who host DCI santioned Type I events, and also there is a lot can be said of the core group of players who show up week after week.  Most of the prominant type I players in the Michigan Meta (Windfall, Onelovemachine, everythingitouchesdies, Jdizzle, as well as the Canadians ...what's up guys?) tend to be particularly supportive of new players, and try to encourage and teach them what they need to know to compete.  In this regard, I would definately agree that being part of a Type I team (or even a loosely knit group of the local "good players") isn't just about making top eight tables, and posting decklists; but also, developing strong strong and healthy metagames and making sure that people are having fun.  A good example of this would be after beating an opponent in a sanctioned event, telling them what they could have done more effectively or give them examples of cards that might be useful and improve their game for the next week.

[forests failed you]

I meant to put Tristel on the list of good players too.  No disrespect intended by leaving you off Todd.

[Mr. Channel-Fireball]

Ummm...I'm from Michigan and the point I made was that you'll be hard pressed to find people within 50 miles of each other. There is land North of Detroit and Kalamazoo...In fact, a portion of the power that is in Kalamazoo and some in Detroit came from me.

When you talk of a Michigan metagame I think you might need to specify...Besides, I've been winning GenCon tournaments before they were the "Championships" so don't think Michigan hasn't always been well represented as far as T1 goes. (Pat Chapin? Eric Taylor?)

The point that was lost (and I chose those states sooo very randomly) was that in most states you aren't going to find a concentrated group of T1 players or power.  Why? Well you aren't going to find many shops that dedicate one night a week to a format that isn't recognized as sanctioned by the DCI.  Think of all the little mom-and-pop stores you know that run FNM's for the kiddies.

[sucidedrain]

Complete randomness removed.  Please remember to say relevant things, and in a fashion in which people would actually like to read it.
-Kowal[/color]