Vintage Teams Article

[CrazyCarl]

Someone mentioned a possible article about the prominent teams in Vintage, and then conveniantly provided a small list of said teams.  The idea has been tossed around by Meandeck a bit lately and I'm stepping up to the plate.

Rather than interview you all individually, I'd like it if you'd have one person give me a reply with answers to the following questions + comments, etc.

The teams in question are:

Team Shortbus
Team Meandeck(we've obviously got this one covered)
Canada
Team Reflection/Shay
Team Hadley
CAB
ISP
BHWC

I'd also like to see a reply by Windfall, the current Vintage Champion if he has a team that he works with and any previous Waterbury or SCG winners that are on teams I haven't mentioned.

The questions:

Where does your team's name come from?

Who are the members of your team?  A quick bio of each would be awesome as well.

List of team accomplishments?

Amount of power/approximate $$ value of prizes won total or per person, whatever.  With this question I'll take the totals and divide it by the # of team members.  It should be interesting

Testing procedure/schedule

Things that work for you?

Things that didn't?


Possibly more to come and suggestions are welcome.

[Methuselahn]

This may be a good idea Carl.  The first thing that comes to mind is; where do you draw the line on teams?  Who determines which teams are worth listing?  In all fairness you'd really have to accept everyone, whether it is Team Meandeck or a much smaller, less organized team.  All or none really.  I'm not sure this thread is worth it if it will only serve as an ego boost to whomever.

Also, questions about team names and who has won what seems extraneous.

Finally, it may be appropriate for you to start this off by answering these questions about your own team.   This will not only be a model to go by but may be a kick in the ass to get the ball rolling.

[Dr. Sylvan]

Since this isn't a data-gathering exercise so much as an attempt to present a wider range of T1's most prominent teams, I think editorial control over the group of teams included can be exercised.

Give a thought to GWS, though. I understand they've been succeeding at tournaments near me that I don't go to.

[rvs]

You might as well scrap Canada, since ISP = Us dutchies + Canucks + a Finnish guy

[Tristal]

Windfall is no longer playing competitive Magic; he's sold his power.  His (our) playtest group doesn't really have a name, but we're not horrible.  Another one of us made top 16 (would've made top 8, if not for registering two Mox Sapphires :( ) at 2004 Worlds.

[forests failed you]

That is not true.  Windfall picked up another set of power a few nights ago, and as far as I know, might be planning on using them to play type one.  BTW, thanks for mentioning the two Mox Sapphires, its good to be known for something.  (not really).

[Razvan]

You might as well scrap Canada, since ISP = Us dutchies + Canucks + a Finnish guy

Yeah, Canada doesn't really have teams, per say, at least not in the way Zherbus described them to be. I mean, there's a team of sorts in Listowel, which includes Balzary, Evilkin, Old_Dan, Mooner, Guy_ and PatronVoidMage... and that's just about the closest thing we have to a team.

In Toronto, which is, more or less, shockwave, dicemanx, specialk, razor, Lam, bebe, Seiji, myself... a couple more Oshawa folks, and a few more Mississauga folks... we test and play together (and beat on Hamiltonians ). Furthermore, the dutchies (there's a finn now, too?) are pretty much part of it as well.

The descriptions will be huge.

[truck373]

The teams in question are:

Team Shortbus
Team Meandeck(we've obviously got this one covered)
Canada
Team Reflection/Shay
Team Hadley
CAB
ISP
BHWC

Carl I am a member of TPOC= "The Power of Cheese" first off our name cam from a die roll.  I lost so my friend named our team  

We put two members in the top eight at the last SCG P9 in Richmond.  Before that we were not seen but we have only been a team, or working as one for the last 6 months.

Our team in includes
Ron
Van
Rocky
Chris / me

First names only as I dont trust the internet that much.  Though you can figure Rocky's and my name out by looking at the top eight from SCG.

We play once a week thats it.  Now that once is a about a 14 hour day but we all have jobs and a life so magic is only part of our life not the whole thing.

Ron is our $$ player he owns almost two full sets of power and workshops and bazaars and those high dollar cards.

Van owns none but he is the player that brings us together he sets it all up.

Rocky is new addition to our team as three was kind weak.  He owns one power I think.

Me I own 2 now since i just won one

Our team was not metioned on SCG as I told Rocky not to tell about us......yet.  Wanted to stay under the wire for a couple of weeks.  Since what the reports said.

If you want to know me more let me know.  

[Windfall]

To be fair, I did sell my collection, but I still had a lot of stuff to work with afterward.  I have friends that will loan me cards if I need them, and I did recently pick up some new goodness.

It is true that I love this game, regardless of what I've said.

As far as the teams I work with, I had playgroups but never a real team.  The people I work with are Josh F (onelovemachine), Ben P (everythingitouchdies), Shay (TheAtogLord), and Brian D (Forcefieldyou).  As of now, Brian and I have formed our own two-man team and we are doing quite well; we've won every tourney since we decided to actually be a team.  We build decks, test, and play more than once a week now.

Oh, and Tristal, you tell me I don't play competitive magic?  You're the one bringing Parfait to tournaments =).

     ~Mark B.

[Clown of Tresserhorn]

Oh man, I can't believe you left me out of the loop Mark...What happened to TEAM POSSESSED PORTAL? I mean come on, who doesn't love good times with Possessed Portal and 1996 WORLD CHAMPION?

But on a serious note, I fear that this list is going to get out of hand pretty soon. I mean, you have to set limits somewhere right? Team Freak-a-Leek is basically Green Knigh, Godot, and me. There are other local members, but for the most part, the playtesting is between Godot and I.

Our only major accomplishment is putting Godot in the T8 at SCGIII. We've won/split in a whole crap load of tourneys in our local area, although, our metagame really sucks. Godot and I have yet to not T4 in a local tourney, but again, thats not saying much when all you did to get there was beat 1 good deck piloted by a T2 player.

-Bob

[Mr. Channel-Fireball]

The questions:

Where does your team's name come from?

Team Meandeck Dropout....

Who are the members of your team? A quick bio of each would be awesome as well.

Matt Smith
Bio:   Former writer for ccgprime, cardshark, and starcitygames
         semi-retired (until they restrict workshop and Kevin Cron)

List of team accomplishments?

Many, many Michigan tourney wins. Origins T8's/wins and GenCon T8's/Wins Ranked #1 in Rural Michigan, #6 in Michigan (only play sanctioned matches at GenCon) Besides, un-sanctioned pays so much better.  

Amount of power/approximate $$ value of prizes won total or per person, whatever. With this question I'll take the totals and divide it by the # of team members. It should be interesting  

KZoo - Pearl
Detroit - Lotus
GR - Emerald
GenCon/Origins - Packs galore and $200 event
Uncounted packs/boxes of product
Whatever random power/cards I've won in 11+ years (who can remember?)

Oh, and I told the tournament organizers at GenCon this year they could kiss my ass and keep their crappy prize...

Testing procedure/schedule

Let Steve suggest a good deck and then play it.

Things that work for you?

Plaid, Rock Gardens

Things that didn't?

30-sided dice...

[Diakonov]

This is a short, non-intensive description of our team.  I may add more later when I have the time.

TEAM HADLEY

Active Members

Mike Broughton - "Mykeatog"
Steve Houdlette - "Grand Inquisitor"
Dave Lawrence - "Eastman"
Dan Richards - "pernicious dude"
Brian Phelon - "hulk3rules"
Chris Kitzmiller - "Moobius"
Matt Snow - myself
Jeff Greene
Brett
Caleb Rozwenc - "MadManiac"
Ethan
Matt Lawrence
Jesse Reffsin
Ray Robillard - "iamfishman"
Jeff Anand - "Samite Healer"
Jarrod - "wicketsnatcher"
Aaron Kerzner - "Kerz"

Inactive Members

Sam Antill
Nick Tourlukas - "BilltheDuck"
Chris Tourlukas
Loren Hodgkinson
Dan Petrelli
Adam Bowers - "ill_dawg"
Bob Leidel


As you can imagine, the team name clearly came from our central location - Hadley, MA.  This can be misleading, however, for more than half of our active members do not live nearby.  

Although we have a somewhat large team, we have definitely made more than $10,000 from tournament prizes.  The team formed itself (if I recall correctly) towards the end of the year in 2002, which makes it slightly older than three years.

We have an efficient team website which is maintained by Mykeatog.  When you think of Team Hadley, Quirion Dryads come to mind.  Only recently have we been more represented by the ominous Possessed Portal, due to our breakthrough innovation "Cerebral Assassin."

On our site we also have a forum for playtesting meeting times, which works very well.  Since we are somewhat spread out, we also frequently use Magic Workstation.

I will try to answer any questions, as well as put up more details when I'm not busy.

[Lost In Admiration]

by popular demand.....

Team GWS (aka that one team from the Chicago Area)

Where does your team's name come from?
We're not talking about the name at the moment.

Who are the members of your team? A quick bio of each would be awesome as well.
Manuel Fernandez (Hspecter)
Mat Endress (me)
Eddie Esparza
Matt Morrison (dogleg969)
John Donovan
Aaron Jarvis
Eric Becker
Chad Haley
Philip Schmitt (moxlotus)
Ryan Mayrand (nether__void)
Brian Fisher (intothesilence)
Ryan Spindler

And probably others.  That's who is on the mailing list.

List of team accomplishments?
Domination of the Chicago/Milwaukee tournament scene
2nd and 8th Place at SCG III
10th and 16th in Gencon World Champs
Best Type Four stack evar

Amount of power/approximate $$ value of prizes won total or per person, whatever.
Honestly, I don't know.  Brian and I built our entire collection on tournaments.  Him and I won or spilt for first in 11 tournaments over the summer.  If I have more time I'll work on it.

Testing procedure/schedule
We live kind of far apart so it works like this:
I call other members of the team and talk about things to test or recent testing.  Brian and I (along with some others that we go to school with) test everytime we have time.  Philip helps as much as he can while he's in school.  Matt and other get together and test quite a bit.  We talk via email.

Things that work for you?

We're a pretty friendly group and, as such, generally when we get together we have a ton of fun.  I think that's our biggest attribute.

Things that didn't?

Me winning anything as of late hasn't worked for us (or maybe just me).  A couple of our decks have sucked pretty bad.  Posting on the SCG forums has been working pretty poorly for us

[Fominian]

This may be a good idea Carl.  The first thing that comes to mind is; where do you draw the line on teams?  Who determines which teams are worth listing?  In all fairness you'd really have to accept everyone, whether it is Team Meandeck or a much smaller, less organized team.  All or none really.  I'm not sure this thread is worth it if it will only serve as an ego boost to whomever.

I concure...

What about all the teams who dominate in their respective areas, and could probably dominate in the larger, high profile events, yet have been unable to go due time and money constrants?

Random idea:  How about if you were to do a similar idea, except in a multi stage project where you interview the high profile members from these and other boards (you would have to since, there are a few on others who do not post here for their on personal reasons...)

[Hi-Val]

I think since it's Carl's article, he has say over what teams he adds in : )

I'd really like to learn more about other teams (like GWS, even though I'm not sure they exist because they NEVER POST ANYTHING!) that are apparently doing well. As far as paring down the list, I don't want to read an article about tiny regional teams that are dominating their weekly $5 tournament in Oregon, but I do want to hear about who's up and coming and get to know the personas of other teams as well. Perhaps Carl will set some cutoffs and save the rest for a later date. Something like tournament success/winnings is a good, objective idea.

As far as Meandeck, you already know and love us but I figure since Cral hasn't posted anything yet, I would.

Where does your team's name come from?

-Long story short, Paul Mastriano was playing against a guy with a 300-card unsleeved deck at Origins or something, and when Paul asked him if he had any Necros in it, the guy said "I don't need no ray-ers, I got me a meeeeean deck!"

Who are the members of your team? A quick bio of each would be awesome as well.

Matthieu Durand
Steve O'Connell
Stephen Menendian
Kevin Cron
Carl Winter
LIZ!
Doug Linn(!)
Joe Bushman, The Silent Killer
Tyler
Justin Walters
Rian Litchard
JP Meyer
Ted Dickinson
Jacob Orlove
Jason Stinnett

List of team accomplishments?
-Much of the team are Featured Writers on Star City, a lot of the decks being played now are Meandeck creations, we T8 in a lot of stuff. I heard Justin once had sex with four women in one night.

Amount of power/approximate $$ value of prizes won total or per person, whatever. With this question I'll take the totals and divide it by the # of team members. It should be interesting
-No Idea. Math is hard.

Testing procedure/schedule
-We get in weekly testing in smaller groups. The Columbus crew tests in person, while the East Coasters and other spread out folks test online. We use messageboards and talk a lot online as well.

Things that work for you?
-Figuring out metagame trends.

Things that didn't?
-Nobody on our team except Kevin has any ability to plan or do logistics. You should see Steve "Easily Distracted By Shiny Things" Menendian think about where he wants to eat dinner, or for that matter, resolve a Brainstorm.

[Saucemaster]

You forgot Christiaan Royer on the team (Zhalfirin), and also, that number only counts if "in one night" includes the next morning, before breakfast.

A man can only do so much.

[Smmenen]

What Doug said.  Right now I almost have more posts on our team boards that I have on the mana drain!  (943 on meandeck boards)

[CrazyCarl]

Thanks for the replies!  I'd hoped for greater detail, but I won't be writing this until next week or so, so there's still time.

I understand there are countless groups that dominate their local tourney scene and, while that's great and all, I'm really only looking for teams that have had success in the larger scaled events (SCG, Waterbury, Tournies that Phil has covered, etc).

As for that Type 4 stack, I may have to challenge that...  

[Matt]

I'd hoped for greater detail,

Actually Team Reflection is working on giving you one big comprehensive thing all at once. What's the deadline?

[CrazyCarl]

Any time in the next week or two.  I'm in no rush, I'd like to have this done before the next SCG, but if I have to wait on it, so be it.

[The M.E.T.H.O.D]

Isn't Bushman on the Meeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand eck?

[Jacob Orlove]

Instead of "power won" or w/e, have everyone list their major rivals. That would be so much cooler

[CrazyCarl]

Instead of "power won" or w/e, have everyone list their major rivals. That would be so much cooler

What Jacob said.

[CrazyCarl]

So...  Anyone else?

[thorme]

Here's the best I can give you for Short Bus:

Where does your team's name come from?

SliverKing, Triple_S, and Thorme devised a casual format on the return trip from Gencon '03. The format required 250 non-tournament-caliber card decks, 20 non-gold, non-split cards of each color, and decks to be highlander. The format was dubbed Short Bus. Once the trio decided to split from the Paragons and form a new, Virginia-based Vintage team, the name became the team name.

Who are the members of your team?  

Andy Probasco
Ben Kowal
David Allen
Josh Reynolds
Marc Perez
Shane Stoots
Eric Miller
various associate members and playtesters

List of team accomplishments?

Here are the main accomplishments - minus SliverKing's since he is a lazy bum and didn't get them to me.

* Runner-up: SCG VA State Vintage Tourney (unl emerald)
* Vintage '03 World Championships: 8th (~$100)
* Gencon '03 $250 event: top 2 split (~$125)
* Winner: NOVA Vintage Tourney '03 alpha ancestral)
* Winner, Waterbury '03 (beta pearl)
* Winner, Hadley '03 (unl pearl)
* ECC: Winner (unl lotus)
* CCC: Winner (unl lotus)
* SCG1: 3rd (unl sapphire)
* NoVa tourney 2: Winner (library + unl ancestral)
* Dreamwizards: top 2 split x4 *~$70 each or ~$280 total*
* Winner: Gencon '04 Day 2 Vintage Tourney (~$100)
* Runner-up: Vintage '04 World Championships (~$150)
* Winner, New Jersey '04 (unl lotus)
* Winner, Mykeatog's Mox 1 '04 (unl jet)
* Waterbury '04 - 4th (unl emerald)
* Waterbury '04 - 7th/8th (library)
* Endicott '04 3rd: (unl sapphire)
* Endicott '04 4th: (unl jet)
* SCG1: Runner Up (unl lotus)
* SCG2: 8th (unl pearl)
* SCG2: 5th (unl walk)
* Somers '04 1st-4th split: (unl lotus)
* TSB Open: Winner (drain)
* Winner: High Point Vintage Tourney 1/05 (unl ruby)
* 3rd, SCG Richmond III '05 (beta pearl)
* 4th, Vintage Evolution '05 (unl walk)
* SCG4: Winner (unl lotus)

Amount of power/approximate $$ value of prizes won total or per person, whatever.  

Included in accomplishments above.

Testing procedure/schedule

Weekly evening meetings leading up to major events. Magic Workstation and ad-hoc testing year-round.

Things that work for you?

Team message board.

Things that didn't?

Well, we did discover an issue that made team relations somewhat strained.  I suppose I can go ahead and spill the beans.  Early on after Kowal joined the team, he and PTW began engaging ... well ... lets just say each became intimately familiar with the other's ansu.  As they became nigh inseparable  (and I do mean literally)  this began to interfere with team testing, tournament preparation, etc.  In the end, for team accord, we had to take drastic measures.  Kowal and PTW, now both eunichs, are back to being fully contributing team members.

[Kowal]

I do believe I have just been pwned.

[Phantom Tape Worm]

SliverKing, Triple_S, and Thorme devised a casual format on the return trip from Gencon '03. The format required 250 non-tournament-caliber card decks, 20 non-gold, non-split cards of each color, and decks to be highlander. The format was dubbed Short Bus. Once the trio decided to split from the Paragons and form a new, Virginia-based Vintage team, the name became the team name.

For some bizarro reason the guys voted down my original suggestion:

TEAM LESBIAN PINK

oh well

Early on after Kowal joined the team, he and PTW began engaging ... well ... lets just say each became intimately familiar with the other's ansu. As they became nigh inseparable (and I do mean literally) this began to interfere with team testing, tournament preparation, etc. In the end, for team accord, we had to take drastic measures. Kowal and PTW, now both eunichs, are back to being fully contributing team members.

See, cause the implication is that I, like, put a weiner in kowal's pooper and it got stuck; and so I, like, had to, like, no more the genitals, and then, you know, the anus.  So then kowal, had to like, super pow the bungus, and then ansu anus shit pooper the butt stinkor assholepants COCK BLAST...BLAMMO!!!!

[Triple_S]

Laughter induced Mountain dew out of the nose does NOT feel good.

[Smmenen]

[See, cause the implication is that I, like, put a weiner in kowal's pooper and it got stuck; and so I, like, had to, like, no more the genitals, and then, you know, the anus.  So then kowal, had to like, super pow the bungus, and then ansu anus shit pooper the butt stinkor assholepants COCK BLAST...BLAMMO!!!!

What the hell is wrong with you?

[Hyperion]

Team Reflection/Shay

Where does your team's name come from?

The team's founders (Al Dubuc and Brad Granberry) devised the Reflection part. The Shay part came from the T1 community .

Who are the members of your team?  A quick bio of each would be awesome as well.

in the order they joined:

real name / TMD name / location
Brad Granberry / Rico Suave / Philadelphia, PA
Al Dubuc / wuaffiliate / Pontypool, Ontario
Andrew Lambe / Hyperion /  Pittsburgh, PA
Jeff Rieck / Methuselahn / somewhere in MN
Josh Silvestri / Vegeta2711 / Fremont, CA
Matt Hargis / Matt / Austin, TX
Rich Shay / The Atog Lord / Norwood, MA

Brad, Al and I were friends that met through the MTGnews forums. Eventually we left those forums but decided we still wanted to do stuff together so decided to form a playtesting group. Jeff joined soon thereafter and we picked up the rest of the guys along the way. Except for Rich and I, who met at Brown University, and Rich and Al, who met at a Waterbury tournament, we've yet to meet each other in real life!

List of team accomplishments?

Amount of power/approximate $$ value of prizes won total or per person, whatever.  With this question I'll take the totals and divide it by the # of team members.  It should be interesting

The notable accomplishments are almost exclusively from the Team Shay contingent of the team .

Non-Vintage 2004/2005 accomplishments:
Won a January 2004 PTQ for Kobe ($500)
Type 2: Top Eight in North American Challenge ($1250)
Type 2/Draft: 27th place at US Nationals
Block: 12th at Grand Prix New Jersey ($1200)
Extended: 52nd at Pro Tour Columbus ($645)
Total: $3595

Vintage 2004/2005 accomplishments:
Won the Dual Lotus tournament in March (Lotus)
Finals in a Cape Cod tournament (Split a Mox)
Top Four in Brockton (Box of Kamigawa)
Won a Waterbury (Over $400)
Split down the Cape ($67.50)
Won a tournament at Origins
Won tournament in Providence (Emerald)
Top 16 Waterbury (winning $20 card)
Won/Split Waterbury Mox Side Event (Library, Abyss)
Split YMG Mox Tournament (200)
Total: Around $1800

Jeff won a couple Moxen several years ago and the rest of us have won random stuff here and there, but that's the extent of our power winnings and/or high finishes at recent higher profile tournaments.

Testing procedure/schedule
Things that work for you?
Things that didn't?

We live in different places all over North America so IRL testing is not an option for the most part anymore, although Rich and I could when I was still living in New England.  Usually some member of the team comes up with an idea for a deck to work on and the rest of us either test with/against it to see if it can go anywhere. More recently though we've started to realize we have very different playstyles / deck preferences so it's shifted more towards helping each other get the chance to practice against each other with whatever we're working on.