Dan Herd Memorial Tournament TO Report: Decklists and Metagame Breakdown

[Iron_Chef]

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who attended Dan’s Memorial Tournament on Saturday.  A good time was had by all and by the end of the day we raised $2,365 for Dan’s trust fund.  We had sixty four players battle it out for a prize pool that was really amazing.  I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated prizes for this event.  They helped make the prize structure amazing.  The following were donated: Black Lotus, Ancestral Recall, Mox Sapphire, Mox Jet, Mox Emerald (side event), Mox Pearl (side event), Beta Sol Ring, foil Chinese Inkwell Leviathan, FTV: Dragons, FBB Tolarian Academy, FBB Sol Ring, DCI Dark Ritual, DCI Yawgmoth’s Will, foil Gush, FBB Intuition, FBB Swords to Plowshares, foil Ponder, 4x DCI Call of the Herd, foil Chinese Echoing Truth, 3x German Helm of Obedience, FBB Sundering Titan, foil Necropotence, and a foil Empty the Warrens.

For a tournament with such outstanding prize support and for such a great cause I had hoped for more players.  I ask the vintage community; Where were you guys?  Aside from work and other serious conflicts, isn’t it worth it to drive a few hours to play in a big vintage tournament?  Hopefully we see some great attendance at the various events over the summer!  LOOK AT YOUR CALENDAR AND SAVE THOSE DATES NOW! There are major events accessible to every region of the USA this summer, make sure you get out there and play!

PICTURES!!!

The Complete Metagame Breakdown:

19x Tezzeret Decks (7x “Classic” Tez, 4x Bob-Remora Tez, 2x Slaver shell with Tez, 2x Ritual Tez, 1x Bob Tezzeret, 1x Goyf-Remora Tez)
6x Ichorid
5x Fish (various colors, UBW, UGW, UG, UBGW)
4x RGx Beats
3x Stax
3x The Perfect Storm
3x Elf-Ball
3x Oath of Druids
2x Ad Nauseam
2x BUG Aggro (1 Fish, 1 Gro)
2x Painter
2x Snake Pit
1x Aggro Workshop
1x Bomberman
1x Slaver
1x Drain Tendrils
1x Goblins
1x Metalworker Staff Combo
1x Suicide Black
1x The Mountains Win Again
1x Uba Stax
1x UR Landstill
1x Slaverless, Tezzeretless, Welder Control

The standings after the swiss and Top 8 Metagame
15 points: Brian Keil playing “Ashtray Tezz” (Control Slaver Shell)
15 points: Conor Moran playing Ichorid
15 points: Nick Detwiler playing “NYSE Stax” (5 Color Stax)
14 points: James Hangley playing “G/W Aggro” (5 Color Stax, ha ha funny deck name)
14 points: Mark Hornung playing “Next Level Ichorid”
14 points: Eric Markowicz playing “Goyfmora” (Tezzeret with you guessed it, goyfs and remoras)
14 points: Josh Wiglusz playing “Red Green Black Beats”
13 points: Paul Mastriano playing “Confidant Tezzeret” (Tezzeret with no remoras)

Top 8 Pairings and Results:
Paul Mastriano (Tez) defeated Brian Keil (Tez) 2-0
James Hangley (5C Stax) defeated Mark Hornung (Ichorid) 2-1
Nick Detwiler (5C Stax) defeated Eric Markowicz (Tez) 2-0
Conor Moran (Ichorid) defeated Josh Wiglusz (RGb Beats) 2-0

Top 4:
Paul Mastriano (Tez) defeated James Hangley (5C Stax) 2-0
Nick Detwiler (5C Stax) defeated Conor Moran (Ichorid) 2-1

And in the Finals:
Nick Detwiler (5C Stax) defeated Paul Mastriano (Tez) 2-1
This was a great rematch of the last tournament I ran (5/9/09, 55 players) where these two met in the finals!  Great job guys!

The Top 8 Decklists:

1st Place: Nick Detwiler
1x Ancestral Recall
1x Tinker
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Demonic Tutor
4x Goblin Welder
2x Gorilla Shaman
1x Crop Rotation
1x Black Lotus
1x Mana Crypt
5x Moxen
1x Mana Vault
1x Sol Ring
2x Powder Keg
4x Thorn of Amethyst
3x Crucible of Worlds
4x Tangle Wire
1x Trinisphere
4x Smokestack
1x Karn, Silver Golem
1x Triskelion
1x Sundering Titan
1x Barbarian Ring
1x Bazaar of Baghdad
1x Strip Mine
1x Tolarian Academy
3x Gemstone Mine
4x City of Brass
4x Mishra’s Workshop
4x Wasteland

SIDEBOARD:
1x Balance
1x Darkblast
4x Leyline of the Void
3x REB
3x Chalice of the Void
2x Pithing Needle
1x Relic of Progenitus

2nd Place: Paul Mastriano
3x Flooded strand
4x Polluted Delta
4x Underground Sea
2x Island
1x Tolarian Academy
5x Moxen
1x Lotus Petal
1x Black Lotus
1x Mana Crypt
1x Sol Ring
1x Mana Vault
3x Mana Drain
4x Force of Will
4x Dark Confidant
3x Duress
3x Thirst for Knowledge
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Tinker
1x Mystical Tutor
1x Inkwell Leviathan
1x Imperial Seal
1x Yawgmoth’s Will
1x Thoughtseize
1x Time Walk
1x Brainstorm
1x Ancestral Recall
1x Sensei’s Divining Top
1x Gifts Ungiven
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Fact or Fiction
1x Tezzeret
1x Time Vault
1x Voltaic Key
1x Merchant Scroll
1x Hurkyl’s Recall

SIDEBOARD:
3x Yixlid Jailer
2x Pithing Needle
2x Threads of Disloyalty
1x Island
1x Rebuild
1x Slaughter Pact
1x Darkblast
1x Smother
1x Trinisphere
1x Tormod’s Crypt
1x Hurkyl’s Recall

3rd Place: Conor Moran
4x Bazaar of Baghdad
4x Gemstone Mine
1x City of Brass
1x Mox Sapphire
1x Black Lotus
1x Lion’s eye diamond
4x Leyline of the Void
4x Chalice of the Void
4x Serum Powder
4x Golgari Grave-Troll
4x Stinkweed Imp
3x Golgari Thug
3x Fatestitcher
4x Bridge from Below
4x Cabal Therapy
3x Ichorid
3x Dread Return
1x Flame-Kin Zealot
4x Narcomoeba
2x Cephalid Sage
1x Sadistic Hypnotist

SIDEBOARD:
3x Chain of Vapor
3x Contagion
4x Emerald Charm
4x Ingot Chewer
1x Ancestor’s Chosen

4th Place: James Hangley
1x Crop Rotation
1x Trinisphere
1x Pithing Needle
1x Mox Sapphire
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Tolarian Academy
1x Sol ring
1x triskelion
1x Barbarian Ring
1x vampiric tutor
1x tinker
1x mox emerald
1x memory jar
1x mana vault
1x strip mine
1x inkwell leviathan
1x demonic tutor
1x mox pearl
1x mox jet
1x mox ruby
1x bazaar of Baghdad
1x mana crypt
1x black lotus
1x sundering titan
4x goblin welder
2x powder keg
4x tangle wire
3x smokestack
2x gorilla shaman
3x gemstone mine
4x wasteland
4x city of brass
4x mishra’s workshop
2x crucible of worlds
4x sphere of resistance

SIDEBOARD:
1x tormod’s crypt
2x relic of progenitus
1x platinum angel
2x choke
2x null rod
1x balance
3x REB
3x chalice of the void

5th-8th: Brian Keil
4x FOW
4x Mana Drain
4x Thirst for Knowledge
1x brainstorm
1x ponder
1x ancestral recall
1x time walk
1x misdirection
1x fact or fiction
1x yawgmoth’s will
1x pyroblast
1x hurkyl’s recall
1x demonic tutor
1x vampiric tutor
1x mystical tutor
1x merchant scroll
1x intuition
1x gifts ungiven
1x tezzeret
1x tinker
2x goblin welder
1x gorilla shaman
1x sundering titan
1x black lotus
5x moxen
1x sol ring
1x mana vault
1x mana crypt
1x lotus petal
1x voltaic key
1x time vault
1x sensei’s divining top
3x flooded strand
2x polluted delta
2x island
1x tolarian academy
2x underground sea
3x volcanic island
1x library of Alexandria

SIDEBOARD:
3x annul
1x REB
1x trinisphere
1x tormod’s crypt
2x yixlid jailer
1x pithing needle
1x rack and ruin
1x engineered explosives
1x darkblast
1x inkwell leviathan
2x sower of temptation

5th-8th: Josh Wiglusz
3x badlands
1x strip mine
2x wasteland
1x mountain
1x swamp
1x forest
1x taiga
1x bayou
3x bloodstained mire
3x wooded foothills
1x black lotus
1x mox jet
1x mox ruby
1x mox emerald
2x diabolic edict
3x duress
3x thoughtseize
2x pyroblast
2x REB
3x magus of the moon
3x grim lavamancer
3x gorilla shaman
3x mogg fanatic
2x pihing needle
4x null rod
4x tarmogoyf
4x dark confidant
1x krosan grip

SIDEBOARD
3x krosan grip
1x gorilla shaman
2x pithing needle
1x magus of the moon
4x yixlid jailer
3x smother
1x diabolic edict

5th-8th: Eric Markowicz
1x inkwell leviathan
3x tarmogoyf
4x force of will
4x mana drain
4x thirst for knowledge
3x mystic remora
2x duress
2x thoughtseize
1x tezzeret
1x rebuild
1x voltaic key
1x mystical tutor
1x vampiric tutor
1x yawgmoth’s will
1x ancestral recall
1x demonic tutor
1x time walk
1x brainstorm
1x sensei’s divining top
1x tinker
1x time walk
1x black lotus
5x moxen
1x mana vault
1x mana crypt
1x sol ring
3x polluted delta
2x flooded strand
3x tropical island
3x underground sea
2x island
1x library of Alexandria
1x tolarian academy

SIDEBOARD
3x extirpate
1x tormod’s crypt
1x relic of progenitus
1x pithing needle
1x trinisphere
1x darkblast
1x smother
1x massacre
1x engineered explosives
1x krosan grip
1x hurkyl’s recall
1x trygon predator
1x oxidize

5th-8th: mark Hornung
4x bridge from below
4x golgari grave troll
4x golgari thug
3x unmask
4x sinkwee imp
4x serum powder
4x chalice of the void
3x dread return
3x dryad arbor
2x tropical island
4x leyline of the void
4x bazaar of Baghdad
4x cabal therapy
4x narcomoeba
3x windswept heath
3x ichorid
3x sadistic hypnotist

SIDEBOARD:
3x reverent silence
3x oxidize
4x chain of vapor
2x contagion
1x tropical island
1x windswept heath
1x angel of despair

SIDE EVENTS:

We had 16 people play for a Mox Emerald in our single elimination side event. Brian Carey playing Mono Red Workshop Aggro and Rob Edwards playing Tez prize split in the finals.  They played for bragging rights and Rob won in three games.  Great job guys!!

We had 8 people rotisserie-draft my Collector's Edition Set, and I got ALOT of positive feedback on the event.  My friend Richie, who helped log picks for the draft, will be writing his own report including COMPLETE pick order!  I also heard that this event motivated some article writing, to be seen in the near future!  It really is a fun format, and it's a great way to revisit the nostalgia of the old days.  Mahamoti beating down is truly a monster once again!  I errata'ed ante to read "remove the top card of your library from the game".  Chaos Orb works as defined, as in flipping some cardboard through the air!  It goes by the old 5 color "thumbtack through the center of every card as soon as chaos orb enters a public zone" rule.

As a sneak preview, here is the first round of picks (save any discussion about pick order for the report to be posted soon by Rich):

1st pick: Contract from Below
2nd pick: Ancestral Recall
3rd pick: Time Walk
4th pick: Royal Assasin
5th pick: Wheel of Fortune
6th pick: Earthquake
7th pick: Sol Ring
8th pick: Terror

Thanks again for everyone who attended!

-Nick Coss

[daveshotme]

Good times nick! This was an awesome event and thank u everyone that came to this and supported dan and his family he was a great player and will always be remembered. i went 4-2 in this event and got 13th place playing oath. Breakers were bad due to James Hangley crushing my face in round 1 game 3. I had to win my last round but lost to dredge! Good games tho. So only walked out with a fbb sol ring. Not bad for a 13th place prize lol. Thanks again nick and for everyone that donated!

[FAVO!!!!1]

Even though I was sick, this was still a kick ass day of gaming. I probably should have shuffled more personally, but my mind was definitely not in the gaming. The rotisserie draft was amazingly fun! If you plan on doing in again, you can count me in (as long as I don't have a job that weekend.) Hell, I was surprised my deck did as well as it did, as I know I messed up a lot. But that is for a different thread.

Congrats to my friend Mark Hournang, for making his first top 8 after a whole month of discussing viable options to play in Ichorid. And yes, those Windswept Heaths were insane. Can't wait to start testing your version. Oh, and congrats to Eric for making another top 8 and losing in style. How many is that now? 4 in a row?

[Yare]

Looks like this was an amazing event. Thanks for posting the TO report so quickly, particularly one that is so thorough.

Edit: Oh and the pictures are up quickly too. Great job.

[daveshotme]

Heres my report. This is all off memory so sorry if i forget some things.


Round 1 James Hangley playing 5c stacks

Game 1...... He plays lots of cards while smashing my face then gets memory jar and plays it and passes the turn i have no force obv. My hand is ok but not good enough to beat his. I pass turn. On his upkeep he cracks jar and draws for turn. Plays tons of good cards and i loose.

Game 2...... A couple of oxidizes and a oath gets there.

Game 3..... I have to mull to 5 which i end up doing alot this day. He keeps his 7 and plays. He goes turn 1 chalice at 2 and i have no force! Awesome. Then his turn 2 is a smokestack and Turn 3 titan when i have 1 land out which is my island. GG

0-1

Round 2 i think his name is Dom? sorry playing Ritual tezz with goyfs

Game 1......He wins die roll and plays. He mulls to 6 and i keep my 7 cards. He goes turn 1 swamp emerald goyf. Very nice! lol. i play oath and its all over from there.

Game 2..... I keep my 7 and play a turn 1 null rod followed by a turn 1 oath. A couple turns later i get orchard and oath up inkwell and he needs to topdeck hurkyl's or its game. He doesnt and i win

1-1

Round 3 i play against my friend Pat Hixson playing a deck like grow with that new lordscale guy.

Game 1..... I loose die roll once again and have to mull to 5. He just plays lots of creatures and i loose.

Game 2..... I play a turn 1 chalice at 1 and chalice at 0. This is a long game. I get oath out eventually but cant find a orchard for a long time. He is just sitting on land cuase of chalice at 1 and 0. When i finally topdeck my orchard i pass turn and he topdecks his one of krosan grip Awesome! He makes the mistake by not playing his goyf in his hand after he grips my oath. He could have raced me with all his creatures but didnt play them and i play oath again and oath up archangel follwed by Hellkite and win.

Game 3..... He doesnt get anything really good and i find my oath with orchard and win

2-1

Round 4 is Sean Lind playing Fish

Game 1........ He plays Meddling mage on my oath and then plays creature after creature i have no chance.

Game 2......... His hand is ok but mine is better i get out early Oath with orchard and win easily.

Game 3.........He Duresses me turn 1 and takes my oath. He plays a bob and draws a couple cards off that. But i play 2 impulses eot 2 turns in a row and find my orchard and a Oath and its all over

3-1

Round 5 is Josh Scarbrough playing mono red shops

Game 1.... He gets out an early Razormane masticore and i cant find oath so i loose

Game 2..... I play and early Oath and have 2 oxidize in my hand. He plays Smokestack 2 turns in a row and i oxidize them both eot. I Oath out Hellkite and swing and pass turn and he topdecks duplicant removing my hellkite from the game. But i Oath up another guy then topdeck Demonic tutor which gets me my last oxidize getting rid of duplicant and i win.

Game 3.... My opening 7 is pretty solid its.....Lotus,  ruby, jet, island, force, blue card, oath. He plays a turn 1 sphere and passes the turn. I Let it resolve because i still have a turn 1 oath because of my lotus. I play island and tap to cast lotus. I sack lotus for green and play my oath and pass. Next couple turns i play my moxen and i waste his workshop trying to slow him down just incase he gets something good off the top. I get orchard eventually and proceed to win

4-1

Round 6 Connor playing dredge

Game 1..... U know what happens with dredge game 1. I get smoked had no chance.

Game 2.... He mulls to 1 but gets bazzar. I play turn 1 orchard and pass. He goes and plays bazzar and activates. i Eot vamp for Jailer which shouldn't be in Oath cause i am a retard. I eventually find oath and get archangel he scoops

Game 3.... He keeps his 7 and i have to mull to 4. He plays turn bazzar and does some dredging. I play waste and waste his bazzar. On his turn he dredges and gets a couple zombies. He makes me discard my 2 oaths in my hand with that hypnosist guy however u spell it and my hand is empty. Eventually i get an oath out but on my turn i oath out a jailer which did save me cause i was at 8 life when he had 3 zombies out. If i didn't oath up jailer i would have lost that turn. He goes and swings puts me to 2. This is the game decider if i oath up archangel i win and i am in top 8. Of course not i oath up inkwell and i loose cause i am at 2 and he has 3 attackers to my 2 blockers.

4-2




Overall the deck was good but i had to mull alot due to really bad hands with creatures or no land. But good games everyone and sorry again if my report isnt 100 percent. Remember this is all off memory. So i take 13th place and win a fbb sol ring which isnt bad at all for a 13 prize thanks to all the people that donated. Thanks again for coming and supporting dan and his family and hope to see u at the next one. Changes i will make for next time is taking out jailers cuase they are obv not very good in oath lol oops

[Smmenen]

If there were 65 players, why did you only play 6 rounds of swiss? 

[Iron_Chef]

We had sixty four players battle it out for a prize pool that was really amazing.

We had sixty four players, so while it fell right on the dot, the appropriate number of rounds is six.  While looking at the decklists, i noticed I listed sixty five players represented.  One of the decklists from the side event probably made it's way into the main event pile.  Oops!

-Nick

[personalbackfire]

Congrads Nick, you are on a tear of never ending top 8s!

Also congrads to Paul and everyone else in the top 8

[LotusHead]

Top 8 Pairings and Results:
Paul Mastriano (Tez) defeated Brian Keil (Tez) 2-0
James Hangley (5C Stax) defeated Mark Hornung (Ichorid) 2-1
Nick Detwiler (5C Stax) defeated Eric Markowicz (Tez) 2-0
Conor Moran (Ichorid) defeated Josh Wiglusz (RGb Beats) 2-0

Top 4:
Paul Mastriano (Tez) defeated James Hangley (5C Stax) 2-0
Nick Detwiler (5C Stax) defeated Conor Moran (Ichorid) 2-1

And in the Finals:
Nick Detwiler (5C Stax) defeated Paul Mastriano (Tez) 2-1

James's deck doesn't SEEM to be all that geared up against Ichorid. Did the Ichorid deck just killl itself?

Congrats on a great top 8 and to Shop players for dominating!

[TD]

cool pics

[Jinxx]

Amazing event, congrats to all else who made top 8, damn you conor! Great event, Dan was my best friend, hopefully he would of been proud. Allthough I agree nick, the turnout seemed alot smaller then I thought and hoped it would of been.

[Womba]

Top 8 Pairings and Results:
Paul Mastriano (Tez) defeated Brian Keil (Tez) 2-0
James Hangley (5C Stax) defeated Mark Hornung (Ichorid) 2-1
Nick Detwiler (5C Stax) defeated Eric Markowicz (Tez) 2-0
Conor Moran (Ichorid) defeated Josh Wiglusz (RGb Beats) 2-0

Top 4:
Paul Mastriano (Tez) defeated James Hangley (5C Stax) 2-0
Nick Detwiler (5C Stax) defeated Conor Moran (Ichorid) 2-1

And in the Finals:
Nick Detwiler (5C Stax) defeated Paul Mastriano (Tez) 2-1

James's deck doesn't SEEM to be all that geared up against Ichorid. Did the Ichorid deck just killl itself?

Congrats on a great top 8 and to Shop players for dominating!

Mark Hornung here, second tournament ever in vintage.......anyway what happened in this match up is I went stupid game one, Game two he hit an early wasteland followed by a sphere and then a Trinisphere, with a relic shortly after before i could find anything to salvage the game.....Game three he showed me his hand as i had to mull to 3 or 2 for a bazaar and it consisted of a wasteland, sphere, and double relic, so that is pretty good vs ichorid I hear.........

[dickburns88]

Beta rotisserie Draft
                                                 
The picks                             
John-first pick                           
Contract From below
Jugurnaught
Shivan dragon
Demonic horde
Dragon whelp
Beserk
Fork
Animate dead
Word of command
Howl from beyond
The hive
Channel
Earth elemental
Rod of ruin
Disrupting scepter
Frozen shade
Hill giant
Taiga
Bayou
Dwarven demolition team
Weakness
Bog wraith
Fear
Cyclopian tomb
Earthbind
Stream of life
Fog
Burrowing
Wanderlust
Library of leng
Glasses of urza
Kudzu
Dingus egg
Cursed land
Demonic attorney

Fred Chang-second pick
Ancestral recall
Nevinyrral's disk
Wrath of god
Counterspell
Serra angel
Water elemental
Power sink
Jade statue
Phantom moster
Jayemdae Tome
Mox pearl
Copy artifact
Tundra
Wall of swords
Wall of water
Northern paladin
Circle of protection: red
Obsianus Golem
Clockwork beast
Resurrection
Basalt monolith
Samite healer
Veteran bodyguards
Mesa pegasus
Personal incarnation
Blessing
Conversion
Righteousness
Conservator
Island sanctuary
Castle
Animate wall
Drain power
Plague rats
Wooden sphere
Death lace (last pick of the draft)

Walt-third pick
Time walk
Chaos orb
Balance
armagedon
Swords to plowshares
White knight
Lightning bolt
Savanah lions
Meekstone
Hurricane
Elvish archers
Disenchant
Ankh of mishra
Grizzly bears
Giant growth
War mammoth
Ice storm
Holy strength
Tsunami
Savanah
Pearl unicorn
Crusade
Timber wolves
Tundra
Tunnel
Benalish hero
Natural selection
Psycic venom
Red ward
Black ward
Twiddle
Lance
Blaze of glory
Crystal rod
Feedback
White ward

Joe-fourth pick
Royal assasin
Icy manipulator
Demonic tutor
Sengir vampire
Will-o'-the-Wisp
Cockatrice
Regrowth
Pestilence
Craw wurm
Regeneration
Thicket Basilisk
Lure
Black vise
Force of nature
Llanowar elves
Gaea's liege
Giant spider
Helm of chatzuk
Circle of protection: green
Wall of ice
Fungusour
Fastbond
Ironwood treefolk
Aspect of the wolf
Illusionary mask
Circle of protection: black
Disability
Tranquility
Green ward
Jade monolith
Camouflage
Ley druid
Ivory cup
Throne of bone
Sirens call
Dark pact

Doug conway-5th pick
Wheel of furtune
Timw twister
Mahamoti djinn
Control magic
Air elemental
Forcefield
Manavault
Orchish artillery
Rock of kher ridges
Mox saphire
Mox ruby
Granite gargoyle
Phantom forces
Stone giant
Gauntlet of might
Steal artifact
Iron orcs
Unsummon
Goblin king
Volcanic island
Goblin ballon brigade
Mons goblin raiders
Grey ogre
Orcish oriflame
Volcanic eruption
Powersurge
Magical hack
Sea serphant
Sunglasses of urza
Reverse damage
Healing salve
Guardian angel
Holy armor
Iron star
Power leak
Blue ward

Chris-6th pick
Earthquake
Fireball
disintegrate
Psionic blast
Vesuvan doppleganger
Clone
Rock hydra
Prodigal Sorcerer
Keldon warlord
Braingeyser
Pirate ship
Fire elemental
Spell blast
Wall of air
Shatter
Hurly minitor
Blue elemental blast
Wall of fire
Lord of atlantis
Lifetap
Red elemental blast
Manashort
Wall of stone
Raging river
Mana flare
Merfolk of the pearl trident
Sleight of mind
False orders
Circle of protection: blue
Kormus bell
Flight
Phantasmal terrain
Death ward
Soul net
Jump
Thoughtlace

Steve-7th pick
Sol ring
Black lotus
Mind twist
Time vault
Birds of paradise
Lord of the pit
Dredge skeleton
Dark ritual
Distill energy
Animate artifact
Mox jet
Mox emerald
Life force
Wall of bones
Wall of bramble
Tropical island
Underground river
Zombie master
Scryb sprites
Living wall
Scavaging ghoul
Living lands
Death grip
Web
Sky dryad
Stasis
Howling mine
Wild growth
Verduran enchantress
Wall of wood
Living artifact
Lich
Lifeforce
Celestial prism
Purelace
Creaturebond

Dom-last pick
Terror
Hypnotic specter
Nightmare
Bad moon
Nether shadow
Winter orb
Black night
Sedge troll
Uthden troll
Unholy strength
Two headed giant
Drain life
Copper tablet
Paralize
Sinkhole
Stone rain
Dwarven warriors
Simulacrum
Badlands
Karma
Firebreathing
Flashfires
Scathe zombies
Raise dead
Mana barbs
Chaos lace
Sacrifice
Smoke
Warp artifact
Gloom
Circle of protection: red
Scrubland
Meddling imp
Evil presence
Concecrate land
Farmstead

There are the picks, and in rotisserie draft whoever picks 8th picks 2 cards and send the picking order back around. so 1st-7th pick 1 card, 8th picks 2, then its up to 7th to pick again and so on. i believe everyones first pick of choice was going to be contract from below, and  i  100% agree with the recall folowing it, however i do not believe that time walk was the way to go for the 3rd pick. it is known how good walk can be, but i would hate to see the card in any opening hand. when its not played later in the game with a few creatures in play, it usualy reads as 1U untap your lands draw a card and play a land. With that said, i would have liked to see something along the lines of nev's disk or even sol ring before walk. Disk obviosly doesn't put you into and colors and in 3rd position he knew that John was in black, Fred chang was in blue, and by taking the disk he would also see every single other persons colors before having to dedicate to his own.

Now people may not agree with me on talking sol ring so early, however while looking at the table it was apparent that most of the relevant spells were 4-5 mana. this means that when you have sol ring in your opening hand, any land allows it to be played and you could leave your opponent 2-3 turns behind the entire game. After walt was joe, i think that joe suprised everyone with a 1st pick royal assasin. i dont think that anyone at the table read those 10th edition tips and tricks insert cards though because the remaining players allowed the icy manipulator to come back and gave joe an easy 2 card combo. In joes next few picks it was easy for me to see that he had some idea of a plan and he was executing it. with demonic tutor following so he could search for the missing peice of the said combo and sengir vampire and will o the wisp to hold off attackers from getting to his life along  with another 2 card combo in the form of thicket basilisk and lure. which so happends to be on another tips and tricks card, i think he may have studied them.

In the fifth seat doug conway to a 1st pick wheel of fortune along with a second pick time twister. this auto put up a red flag in my eyes for some sort of combo deck, but i did not know what. i started walking through the things he could have taken next, would it be a huge creature like liege of the pit along with ressurection so he could wheel away the big guy and bring him back cheaply and early enought that his opponent could not come back. maybe he was going to take the howling mine and mill his oponent to death, or he could have taken the mana drain and dark ritual so that when he played the twister or wheel he  could have a bunch of mana floating. turned out he just wanted to take every flying or big creature he could get his hands on and bash in the draw a new hand late game to play some more. this acctualy makes sense to take every creature that is just better than your oppenents will be so that when he wheels his opponent draws some bad creatures while every creature card in his hand is pure gas.

the 6th seat in the draft was chris. his 1st pick earthquake was a reasonable enought pick, but his second pick fireball and third pick disintegrate made him the man to be beat in my eyes. he had a plan he executed it. take every good x spell he could. however i then expected to see either the channel go,  the mana flare, or what i would have put money on going next, gaunlet of might. seriously how did he not take the mono red self mana flare with this insane mono red deck, but he did what he did so lets move on with waht he did take, psi blast followed by both cloneing creatures in the pool. i believe the clones are not very good in this format because there really are not very many bomb creatures in the set. he ended up getting the mana flare, but i believe that was pure luck that his opponents did not take it from him.

7th pick was steve who was in my opinion blessed with a 1st pick sol ring, but then he followed it with black lotus which is questionable. that is until he takes mind twist. you have to look at those series of cards in this way, turn one he could play his lotus, the dark rit he got later, sol ring, land for the turn and twist for 6, on the draw bam thats the hand gg, on the play lets get serious its gg anyway. time vault was given to him 4th which apparently he was the only one to see the potential of vault, instill energy and animate artifact. sitting behind these serious of plays already in his hands he proceded to take walls and dumbys to try and ensure his combo will get there every round.

last pick was dom. i think that last pick is acctualy the best. you get 2 cards at one and you lock up your deck colors right then. it is also going to send clear signals which he did in the form of black. with his first 2 picks being terror and hypnotic specter he was saying stay out of black or pay for it because im taking every black card i can. his next about 6 picks were all very good for him, nightmare and bad moon are amazing in mono black to say the least. but then he got some sort of idea to be a land destruction deck when he took sinkhole and stone rain, but i dont think he realized those are indeed the only land destruction spells in the entire set. after looking at him to be the man to beat i soon realized  he was not when he started taking bad red cards and leaving cards that are nuts in his deck such as the kormus bell. i mean come on in a format where there are only 2 sweepers, how is playing the bell not a beating. i mean even if he plays it around turn6-7 and he already has 4-5 guys in play. he just untapps and bashs. i lost all faith in him when he was taking cards that would never make the cut and the bell was taken by someone else only because there was around 20 cards left in the whole pool.

all in all, this format was fun to think about and fun to talk about. i hope that this event gets other people into bringing a complete set of cards to any tornament to have a fun side draft with some friends because i know id love to play.

[FAVO!!!!1]

Walt-third pick
Time walk
Chaos orb
Balance
armagedon
Swords to plowshares
White knight
Lightning bolt
Savanah lions
Meekstone
Hurricane
Elvish archers
Disenchant
Ankh of mishra
Grizzly bears
Giant growth
War mammoth
Ice storm
Holy strength
Tsunami
Savanah
Pearl unicorn
Crusade
Timber wolves
Savannah not Tundra
Tunnel
Benalish hero
Natural selection
Psycic venom
Red ward
Black ward
Twiddle
Lance
Blaze of glory
Crystal rod
Feedback
White ward

There are the picks, and in rotisserie draft whoever picks 8th picks 2 cards and send the picking order back around. so 1st-7th pick 1 card, 8th picks 2, then its up to 7th to pick again and so on. i believe everyones first pick of choice was going to be contract from below, and  i  100% agree with the recall folowing it, however i do not believe that time walk was the way to go for the 3rd pick. it is known how good walk can be, but i would hate to see the card in any opening hand. when its not played later in the game with a few creatures in play, it usualy reads as 1U untap your lands draw a card and play a land. With that said, i would have liked to see something along the lines of nev's disk or even sol ring before walk. Disk obviosly doesn't put you into and colors and in 3rd position he knew that John was in black, Fred chang was in blue, and by taking the disk he would also see every single other persons colors before having to dedicate to his own.

To defend my pick, I honestly didn't think it was wrong. I know I made plenty of bad picks through-out the draft, but it was all with a certain idea in my head as well. From the beginning, I wanted to force white. I figured, going straight into a white/X aggro deck, I would be able to capitalize on the cards most people did not want. Taking Time Walk first insured me that I would have that late game final push into the red zone. That is the major reason why my next 3 picks (Chaos Orb, Armageddon, and Balance) were all cards that had a mass effect on the late game. Add to the fact that I was able to mise a late pick Meekstone and Hurricane, I was set to start taking 1 to 3 mana dorks. That is also why I took the Lightning Bolt when I did; so no one can mise a game off my small dorks. Of course, everyone started taking those same dorks around the same time I did. Figures, right lol.

That is not to say my strategy didn't work. Balance housed Fred Chang after he depleted my first barage of small dorks. And I got to devastate Doug's board with the Chaos Orb (leaving him with nothing.) And that is not say that I would not change some of my picks too. Picking a colorless card (Chaos Orb would have been my choice over Nev's Disk anyway) would have definitely put me into a position to study what everyone else is taking. But needless to say, I still put up a damn good game against players who, in my opinion, probably drafted a better deck than I did.

I beat Fred Chang round 1 on the back of Balance and Armageddon game 1, both allowing me force my small dudes. Game two, Balance and Tsunami let me clear out most of his hand board, giving me time to rebuild my team and take a few points from Fred with my Ankh. A Giant Growthed Grizzle Bear gave me the chance to burn his face with my splashed Lightning Bolt. (4 colors, I know! LOL)

Round 2, Armageddon almost gave me the win after I Swords Doug's Goblin King, but he top decked 4 lands (2 Mountains, which had the bonus of a Gauntlet of Might in play) that let him cast a Mahamoti for the win. Game 2, I drew 7 lands in a row after going aggro with my Elvish Archers. We played a bonus game, which let me blow up his board with a Chaos Orb (which literally made my day.)

Overall, yes, my picks could have been better. But I was happy winning one round with this pile lol.

[elmntfire]

For being only my second vintage event ever (the first being Star City's Richmond 5k last year), I had an absolute blast and it seemed like a beautiful thing.  Glad to see that Nick Detwiler took the whole thing, seeing as he schooled me in the 6th round in what we both considered a must-win match to make top 8.  After seeing the top 8 lists, I think my inexperience would have kicked in to make for a glorious punt.  Regardless I had an amazing time with an amazing group of players.  You guys made a vintage player out of me after I saw the sheer skill involved in playing the format and the amount of support the community lends towards it's members.  Look forward to seeing me more often, especially at the Blue Bell events.

[CaseyMcCall]

Chris here.  I won the Rotisserie draft on the back of X-spells.  I really had no plans on my way into the draft...my plan going into the tournament was to end up with a Lotus, but that didn't work out so Plan B happened.  Only one red card had been taken before I went at sixth so I figured Earthquake housed a ton of stuff.  The fireball on the rebound was nice and to my astonishment the disintegrate was there round three.

I knew I didnt want channel because I figured I'd end up spending 19 and getting it counterspelled or something :p.  I actually just decided I would've rather taken cards that were awesome on their own, rather than needing to be combo'd.  Gauntlets of Might was just a huge oversight.  When someone else picked it I had one of those OH NOES! moments.

The two clones were spectacular for me.  There's only like three or four creatures in the whole environment that they'd don't stall/trade with.  Serra, Moti, Shivan, Force of Nature.  it answers all of them.  They each basically turn into the best guy on the board.  I beat Joe round two by beating down with three fire elementals.

There were a few cards I thought went in weird places.  I don;t really get twister and wheel going that early.  They seem way too symmetrical to me.  it's not like you have a set of jewelry to abuse whatever you draw.  You basically get one or two spells and then your opponent gets a turn with all their resources and all their new cards.  I guess it's nice as a way to mess with hands early but I'd rather just let my opponent do the dirty work and pick up some of the scant removal.  Timetwister actually ended up costing my opponent in the finals the tournament as well.  He had goblin king, mon's raiders, and the drake that pumps toughness.  I had a few cards in hand he twister'd with 5 or six available.  He played a sea monster and passed.  My draw had mana flare, fireball, disintegrate.  After the flare I had enough to burn the drake and goblin king, block the dorks, and untap to disintegrate for a pearl.

The tournament was really fun and I would definately play in more of these at future events.

[Duncan]

Eric's list has 2 Time Walks and no Time Vault

[wiley]

We had sixty four players battle it out for a prize pool that was really amazing.

We had sixty four players, so while it fell right on the dot, the appropriate number of rounds is six.  While looking at the decklists, i noticed I listed sixty five players represented.  One of the decklists from the side event probably made it's way into the main event pile.  Oops!

-Nick

Probably mine since I switched decks for the side event.

I played Snake Pit along with my friend Josh.  I played horribly in my first round but still managed a win and shaped up my game somewhat for my second round (though I did still set myself up for a punt in game three) and pulled it out.  Unfortunately I made a game losing mistake in game three of my third round and sideboarded incorrectly in my fourth round going to a nice 2-2 record.

After that I decided to drop for the side tournament that was supposed to start at the beginning of round five (didn't start till round 6, making me wish I had played another round in the main event for shits and giggles).  I played shop combo in the side event, which is where the 65th list came from and lost game one to seeing no lands after mulliganing twice and powdering 5 cards, finally keeping a hand with lotus and top and not seeing a land in the top 3 cards ... frown town.  Game two I set up a turn two win with fat metal worker wearing a mantle.  Game three I kept a hand with 2 routes to a turn two win.  Too bad he had duress and thoughtsieze :/  He eventually won with vault key after draining a triskelevus O_O

I had a lot of fun despite scrubbing out.  Hopefully in august I'll remember to bring some playskill.

[Prospero]

I had an awesome time, it was great to spend a full day in Philly playing cards with everybody.  Another awesome tournament run by the one and only Nick Coss.  The judging and staffing were awesome, thanks to Nick, Josh, and everyone else.  

Thanks to all my opponents for great games and matches.  There were some ridiculous situations you all put me in.  Nothing quite like going 0-1 and then having to win every round you play.

And thanks to Paul for a great match, for not having the Force of Will, and for not dream crushing me twice in less than a month.

[Mr. Type 4]

And thanks to Paul for a great match, for not having the Force of Will, and for not dream crushing me twice in less than a month.

You did put together my deck and apparently practiced pretty hard!  If I had won it would have been like I killed the Karate Kid, lol.  Really close, though.  I needed to draw an artifact accelerant there and just couldn't get it in like 10 draws (although realistically I needed to hit it in the first few for it to have been really relevant). 

Anyways, "Mr. Detwiler" (lol) you're a worthy opponent.  I guess that makes me up 2-1 against you lifetime now... I hope you're coming to the Steel City P9 and to Vintage Champs so we can continue our little rivalry. You know I'll be there.

This was a really nice event and as usual well run.  I wish I'd have known it so close to the cut off for 7 rounds as I almost ID'd out of the top 8 and my 6th round opponent did.  Sorry about that, Jeff - at least you still got a beta Sol Ring which is pretty decent.  I suppose I owe you one. 

Pictures were awesome.  If you didn't look yet, do it!

It was really awesome to see all the support for Dan and his family.  Dan was a great guy, and his wife seemed really cool.  He had so much life left to live. Thanks to everyone involved in this excellent event. And "Always let the Wookie win."

[Smmenen]

It says something about Vintage that same two players made the finals of 60+ person events a month apart.   Nice work gentlemen. 

[oneofchaos]

Eric's list has 2 Time Walks and no Time Vault

Insurance against null rod.

[Prospero]

And thanks to Paul for a great match, for not having the Force of Will, and for not dream crushing me twice in less than a month.

You did put together my deck and apparently practiced pretty hard!  If I had won it would have been like I killed the Karate Kid, lol.  Really close, though.  I needed to draw an artifact accelerant there and just couldn't get it in like 10 draws (although realistically I needed to hit it in the first few for it to have been really relevant).  

Anyways, "Mr. Detwiler" (lol) you're a worthy opponent.  I guess that makes me up 2-1 against you lifetime now... I hope you're coming to the Steel City P9 and to Vintage Champs so we can continue our little rivalry. You know I'll be there.

This was a really nice event and as usual well run.  I wish I'd have known it so close to the cut off for 7 rounds as I almost ID'd out of the top 8 and my 6th round opponent did.  Sorry about that, Jeff - at least you still got a beta Sol Ring which is pretty decent.  I suppose I owe you one.  

Pictures were awesome.  If you didn't look yet, do it!

It was really awesome to see all the support for Dan and his family.  Dan was a great guy, and his wife seemed really cool.  He had so much life left to live. Thanks to everyone involved in this excellent event. And "Always let the Wookie win."

Well Mr. Mastriano as long as I'm the Karate Kid, and not Dr. Evil, we're alright.

If I can make some of the events over the summer, I will.  Not really sure if I can, it'll depend on my work schedule.  

I'm enjoying our little rivalry as well.  Maybe next time I see you sitting across from me I can get to .500.  Either way, I'm sure it'll be a fun match...

[forcethewill]

Top 8 Pairings and Results:
Paul Mastriano (Tez) defeated Brian Keil (Tez) 2-0
James Hangley (5C Stax) defeated Mark Hornung (Ichorid) 2-1
Nick Detwiler (5C Stax) defeated Eric Markowicz (Tez) 2-0
Conor Moran (Ichorid) defeated Josh Wiglusz (RGb Beats) 2-0

Top 4:
Paul Mastriano (Tez) defeated James Hangley (5C Stax) 2-0
Nick Detwiler (5C Stax) defeated Conor Moran (Ichorid) 2-1

And in the Finals:
Nick Detwiler (5C Stax) defeated Paul Mastriano (Tez) 2-1

James's deck doesn't SEEM to be all that geared up against Ichorid. Did the Ichorid deck just killl itself?

Congrats on a great top 8 and to Shop players for dominating!

its a brutal game 1  but post board it gets better for me.  i played ichorid twice in round 2 and in the top 8.  I played enough of the match up to know what to do and what not to do... and a misplay in game 1 cost me not taking it in 2 i believe.  Im currently writing a report and will explain in there

nice win nick.  great to see all our playtesting is paying off for both of us.

[KingSquee]

Thanks for a great event Nick!

I decided to run a RGB Beats deck I came up with mostly in my sleep. Seriously! I ended up finishing 4-2, good enough for 18th place and a FBB Swords for my effort. All in all not bad, especially considering I got paired up against Elias running Oath in round 1 and promptly got sent to the losers' bracket for round 2.

The Rotisserie Draft was a blast, and I wasn't even in it! Please, do run one again sometime. Doesn't necessarily have to be for a piece of power. Hell you can put up an Italian Legends Wood Elemental for 1st and I'll toss a few bucks in to play.

[Smmenen]

What the heck is snake pit?

[Isaac85]

Its the fish deck that runs lorescale coatle and goyfs with rods and chalices.

[02Dporty]

my performance in the event wasn't that good. i was pleased with how the pics came out. thanks to those who complimented them

[wiley]

What the heck is snake pit?

This

// Lands
    3  Forest
    4  Bazaar of Baghdad
    1  Strip Mine
    4  Tropical Island
    4  Wasteland
    3  Windswept Heath
    2  Wooded Foothills

// Creatures
    3 Lorescale Coatl
    4  Tarmogoyf
    1  Darksteel Colossus

// Spells
    4  Accumulated Knowledge
    1 Ancestral Recall
    1  Brainstorm
    3  Daze
    4  Force of Will
    2  Hurkyl's Recall
    3  Life from the Loam
    1  Time Walk
    4  Chalice of the Void
    4  Null Rod
    1  Black Lotus
    1  Mox Emerald
    1  Mox Sapphire
    1  Tinker

[dickburns88]

What the heck is snake pit?

This

// Lands
    3  Forest
    4  Bazaar of Baghdad
    1  Strip Mine
    4  Tropical Island
    4  Wasteland
    3  Windswept Heath
    2  Wooded Foothills

// Creatures
    3 Lorescale Coatl
    4  Tarmogoyf
    1  Darksteel Colossus

// Spells
    4  Accumulated Knowledge
    1 Ancestral Recall
    1  Brainstorm
    3  Daze
    4  Force of Will
    2  Hurkyl's Recall
    3  Life from the Loam
    1  Time Walk
    4  Chalice of the Void
    4  Null Rod
    1  Black Lotus
    1  Mox Emerald
    1  Mox Sapphire
    1  Tinker

i beleive ive seen some people running wonder, windfall, and time twister so that the lorescale gets huge and it has evasion. and one of the guys playing it at the event ran Vedalken Heretic and rancor in it.