[FREE CHAPTER] Understanding GUSH: The Ultimate Primer

[Smmenen]

Two months ago, I stopped writing for starcitygames after eight years on that site, the last three years of which I wrote (unbelievably) a weekly column.  Only when I stopped writing a weekly column did I realize how insane it was, and not just the title.   Writing a weekly column is an extremely difficult thing to do.   Especially if you want a good column.   It's not hard to write a good article if you are a good writer and a decent Magic player.   Almost every Magic player has a good article in them.   What's difficult is writing good quality articles week after week, month after month, and year after year.    What's so amazing is that after so many years, many of my articles were among the most popular on the website.   More than a few times this year I had some of, if not the, most popular premium articles on the website.  For example, my faux-fiction matchup article, Clash of the Titans (Oath v. TPS), was the most viewed article on that site that week.  As was my fictional Legacy Lands. v. Reanimator article, and my 50 decks of Legacy primer.    What's so impressive about that is that I wrote a column on niche formats: Vintage and Legacy.  

For the last two months, I've been MIA, but that's because I've been working on two secret projects.   This is the first.   I'm so proud that this day has arrived that I can finally share this with you.

Let me begin by saying that I LOVE primers.   A good Vintage primer is one of my favorite things in the world.    I re-read the classic primers from back in the day, and even the one's from the early themanadrain.com.    Even though the tactics change, the strategic insight endures. The little nuggets of knowledge remain.   A primer is the best way to introduce and immerse players into a deck.   It not only teaches the reader how to play a deck, but it motivates them to do so.   It inspires them to pick it up and compete.   A primer is arguably a unique Magic form, too.  I can't think of another game or medium where primers exist, and serve the same ends.   A video game walkthrough doesn't inspire.  

Since I love primers so much, I wrote an epic primer on Gush decks.  How Epic, you ask?  

Epic as in 100+ pages.  ON.  GUSH.

It certainly didn't start out that way.    After winning a Mox Jet with Grow, my plan was just to write a standard-length article, or perhaps an article like my three-part TPS primer.   As I began writing, and developing new Gush decks, this project took a life of its own.   It grew and evolved, and new chapters emerged, and other chapters had to be broken apart to accommodate the expanded content.   I wanted to write a piece that would cover every possible angle with Gush from storm combo to grow.  

It's written for clarity and detail.  Not only that -- not only does this book have every single thing you need or would want to know about Gush decks -- I have four sweet Gush decks to unveil, brand new tech.  

Without a weekly column, I've been free to do something this cool.    If you like my work, you'll love this.   It's two months worth of my articles in one place.   Every one of these chapters is equivalent to a full length premium SCG article.   It's got everything you'll love in my work: lots of detail and analysis, in-game analysis, and plenty of examples.  

The best part?   The first chapter is completely free.   It's all about how to play Gush.  I provide specific rules for timing and sequencing Gush with other spells.   It's not a teaser; it stands 100% on its own.  And it's not a teaser.    The free chapter isn't a cliffhanger or incomplete.   I really want you to read this free chapter and tell me what you think.      It's right here:

http://www.quietspeculation.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/QuietSpeculation-Understanding-Gush-eBook-Free.pdf

In the process of writing this article and this book, I put to words things that I only understood implicitly.   There were many revelations.   This book is also geared for everyone.  Most of you will be most interested in the new decklists and the sideboard tables.   Beginners will find Chapters 3-5 most helpful.   But the masters among you I think will most appreciate my chapter on role, in which I develop a brand new metaphor for understanding how to play role.    

Finally, this book is not a flash in the pan.  It's not a disposable product.  This is something that, while not timeless, has enduring qualities.   I will, from time to time, release supplements.   Already, I have much to add.  My next article will likely be Q&A from this book, and more, and will be free on QS.    

Read the free chapter, and tell me what you think.  If you are intrigued enough to get the book, I'd also (of course) love to hear from you.  

The full sales page with more details is here .  

   Enjoy,

   Stephen

[H]

Steve, i bought it, enjoyed it, thought it was very informative.  I really liked the lists too and i very much liked the discussion of sideboarding with them and such.  Good stuff, was worth 9 bucks for certain.

Couple points, just to nitpick, you know, because that's how i am, a Berserked Kiln Field's power would go from 4 to 14 not 16, there is no Myr Battlestation, and Braingeyser has two e's, 

[Smmenen]

Steve, i bought it, enjoyed it, thought it was very informative.  I really liked the lists too and i very much liked the discussion of sideboarding with them and such.  Good stuff, was worth 9 bucks for certain.

Couple points, just to nitpick, you know, because that's how i am, a Berserked Kiln Field's power would go from 4 to 14 not 16, there is no Myr Battlestation, and Braingeyser has two e's, 

All editorial feedback should also go to Doug Linn, who served as editor (just kidding).  I blame Brian Demars for Myr "Battlestation" (which is fully armed, and operational).    There are a few other spelling/grammatical errors which will get cleaned up in future editions of the book.   

Thanks for the feedback though.  Also, if you've read the book but haven't had a chance to pose questions or provide feedback here, you are very welcome to do so.   All of the feedback so far has been phenomenally positive.  But, only the folks who've read the whole book have really given me substantive feedback. 

I'd love to hear from folks who just read the free chapter so far.   The free chapter is the equivalent to one of the best premium articles I've written, but it's free!   

[Stormanimagus]

Steve, i bought it, enjoyed it, thought it was very informative.  I really liked the lists too and i very much liked the discussion of sideboarding with them and such.  Good stuff, was worth 9 bucks for certain.

Couple points, just to nitpick, you know, because that's how i am, a Berserked Kiln Field's power would go from 4 to 14 not 16, there is no Myr Battlestation, and Braingeyser has two e's, 

All editorial feedback should also go to Doug Linn, who served as editor (just kidding).  I blame Brian Demars for Myr "Battlestation" (which is fully armed, and operational).    There are a few other spelling/grammatical errors which will get cleaned up in future editions of the book.   

Thanks for the feedback though.  Also, if you've read the book but haven't had a chance to pose questions or provide feedback here, you are very welcome to do so.   All of the feedback so far has been phenomenally positive.  But, only the folks who've read the whole book have really given me substantive feedback. 

I'd love to hear from folks who just read the free chapter so far.   The free chapter is the equivalent to one of the best premium articles I've written, but it's free!   

Hey Stephen. I bought the full book, and am currently at the decklist section (I read everything before then don't worry), and, without giving much away about the Oath list, may I ask about a possible SB Oath creature to consider for battling Dredge? Would you consider Stormtide Leviathan? And if you did use Leviathan could you then cut dredge hate cards? Stormtide is very hard to answer for Dredge most of the time and completely cuts them off from the win while being a super fast clock on its own. Just curious.

-Storm

[Smmenen]

Certainly I would consider Leviathan.  I played the Oath list at RIW this weekend and made top 8, after going undefeated in the swiss.   I had a Jailer in my SB to oath up, in addition to the usual oath creatures.   Back in the day, we used Blazing Archon.  Leviathan is probably an upgrade to Archon -- so good spot on catching that one.   I also ran Brain Freeze maindeck this weekend, and that also gives you a huge leg up game one against Dredge, if that is a matchup that concerns you.   If you run Leviathan, maybe you cut down to 4 leyline and a tormod's crypt.  

BTW: the Oath list truly does pwn Workshops.  Tyrant is just a much,much better Terastodon against Workshops when you play with Gush.   

[Stormanimagus]

Certainly I would consider Leviathan.  I played the Oath list at RIW this weekend and made top 8, after going undefeated in the swiss.   I had a Jailer in my SB to oath up, in addition to the usual oath creatures.   Back in the day, we used Blazing Archon.  Leviathan is probably an upgrade to Archon -- so good spot on catching that one.   I also ran Brain Freeze maindeck this weekend, and that also gives you a huge leg up game one against Dredge, if that is a matchup that concerns you.   If you run Leviathan, maybe you cut down to 4 leyline and a tormod's crypt.  

BTW: the Oath list truly does pwn Workshops.  Tyrant is just a much,much better Terastodon against Workshops when you play with Gush.   

Cool. I am almost done with reading the whole book. I am curious about one fundamental claim you make about anti-shop cards. I'm not sure I agree that Trygon Predator was even the saving grace in that match-up before the printing of Steel Hellkite. I have talked to many shop pilots about this and, though Trygon usually wins the game upon resolution (barring an immediate Trike or Dup or Hellkite), it tends to never hit the board due to the prohibitively high mana cost. Simply put, most shop players claim that 1UG mainphase will often not be available or enough. Consider the following cards and considerations:

1. Lodestone Golem or Sphere or Tangle Wire (Makes the Trygon go from 1UG to 2UG to 3UG in a hurry depending on the amount of spheres)
2. UG requirement often means the fetching of basic Forest and this means the potential of not having 2 islands up for Gush. None of your lists, except the Oath one, seem to run basic forest (and for good reason, you are playing Gush after all) so this means that 1 of those lands must be a dual. In fact, with only 1 island in the deck often 2 lands must be duals and now you are just asking for it from Wasteland.

So now, between those 2 weaknesses consider the number of cards the Shop player runs that slow the resolution of Trygon.

4 Lodestone Golem
4 Sphere Of Resistance
4 Tangle Wire
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine

That's 17 cards that immediately hinder your ability to cast Trygon. And that is before you even get into answers like Trike, Dup, or Hellkite.

I'm not trying to bash Trygon. I'm just saying that Trygon on its own might not ever hit the table and a Single FoW won't necessarily be enough to stop the sphere effects in time to stabilize for Trygon. They just run a freaking lot of them. I think Oath is infinitely more effective against Shops and I applaud you for finding a good list, but I still don't think Trygon solves a whole lot without a lot of support cards (like 3-4 Claim) which probably dilute the deck too much in terms of plan.

Now I see that you are not including Trygon most of the time right now, so it seems that you get that it isn't too great either. I simply object to you describing its primary weaknesses as Hellkite, Trike and Dup. I think that its primary weakness is the mana denial from the opponent and its secondary weakness is the 3 above cards.

-Storm

[Mr. Sligh]

Hi Stephen,
really impressive work... 9 bucks for a detailed work like this is a rare thing...
However I have some questions for you regarding GAT: first of all, why Mana Drain is no more considered? In your 2007 version of this deck you (and all the other players) run 2 Mana Drain, but today seems there are no slots for them... And so what about cutting the mono Misdirection and the fourth Thoughtseize?
Adding to this, I don't understand the exclusion of both Regrowth and Library of Alexandria... Would you like to explain me why such a those foil cards were cutted from Grow decklists?
Thank you so much for your reply

Mr. Sligh

[Smmenen]

Certainly I would consider Leviathan.  I played the Oath list at RIW this weekend and made top 8, after going undefeated in the swiss.   I had a Jailer in my SB to oath up, in addition to the usual oath creatures.   Back in the day, we used Blazing Archon.  Leviathan is probably an upgrade to Archon -- so good spot on catching that one.   I also ran Brain Freeze maindeck this weekend, and that also gives you a huge leg up game one against Dredge, if that is a matchup that concerns you.   If you run Leviathan, maybe you cut down to 4 leyline and a tormod's crypt.  

BTW: the Oath list truly does pwn Workshops.  Tyrant is just a much,much better Terastodon against Workshops when you play with Gush.  

Cool. I am almost done with reading the whole book. I am curious about one fundamental claim you make about anti-shop cards. I'm not sure I agree that Trygon Predator was even the saving grace in that match-up before the printing of Steel Hellkite. I have talked to many shop pilots about this and, though Trygon usually wins the game upon resolution (barring an immediate Trike or Dup or Hellkite), it tends to never hit the board due to the prohibitively high mana cost. Simply put, most shop players claim that 1UG mainphase will often not be available or enough. Consider the following cards and considerations:

1. Lodestone Golem or Sphere or Tangle Wire (Makes the Trygon go from 1UG to 2UG to 3UG in a hurry depending on the amount of spheres)
2. UG requirement often means the fetching of basic Forest and this means the potential of not having 2 islands up for Gush. None of your lists, except the Oath one, seem to run basic forest (and for good reason, you are playing Gush after all) so this means that 1 of those lands must be a dual. In fact, with only 1 island in the deck often 2 lands must be duals and now you are just asking for it from Wasteland.

So now, between those 2 weaknesses consider the number of cards the Shop player runs that slow the resolution of Trygon.

4 Lodestone Golem
4 Sphere Of Resistance
4 Tangle Wire
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine

That's 17 cards that immediately hinder your ability to cast Trygon. And that is before you even get into answers like Trike, Dup, or Hellkite.

I'm not trying to bash Trygon. I'm just saying that Trygon on its own might not ever hit the table and a Single FoW won't necessarily be enough to stop the sphere effects in time to stabilize for Trygon. They just run a freaking lot of them. I think Oath is infinitely more effective against Shops and I applaud you for finding a good list, but I still don't think Trygon solves a whole lot without a lot of support cards (like 3-4 Claim) which probably dilute the deck too much in terms of plan.

Now I see that you are not including Trygon most of the time right now, so it seems that you get that it isn't too great either. I simply object to you describing its primary weaknesses as Hellkite, Trike and Dup. I think that its primary weakness is the mana denial from the opponent and its secondary weakness is the 3 above cards.

-Storm

I think my claims regarding Trygon are slightly more qualified in the book than you may be suggesting.  That said:

I understand why Workshop players might downplay the efficacy of Trygon Predator.  The fact is that with Hellkite and Trike being so heavily played, it's not nearly as good as it once was.   There are other reasons why Predator is not as effective, as players have adapted in other ways besides.  That said, I think it's difficult to believe that it was never really an effective anti-Workshop tool, or else the Maher/Ochoa/Turtenwald/Williams Trygon Tez list that dominated Gencon would not have had such remarkable and undeniable success against Workshops.   Was it that Workshop players played poorly?  Partly, yes.  Was it that Workshop players were unprepared for Predator?  Partly, yes.  But neither one of those facts can take away from its efficacy in the match at that time.   Similarly, you must admit that Workshop players will almost always downplay the efficacy of any particular Workshop answer.   The truth is that any particular answers utility will depend not simply not on the usual evolution of a game state, but the design and tactical preparation of the pilots, particularly the Workshop pilots.   These are matters that depend upon the current metagame but also trends in design more generally, which deeply, and sometimes invisibly or imperceptibly embody those metagame currents.   Trygon is neither as difficult to resolve or use as you are suggesting.   That said, it's not particularly effective at this moment, as you've noted I mention in the article.   Debating whether it ever was as effective as I think it clearly was or not is not a particularly productive point of debate.  

In terms of current solutions, look at cards like Ingot Chewer, Ancient Grudge, and, as you'll note, my (currently, and likely temporary solution) of Oath of Druids.   Ancient Grudge has actually gotten much better and more powerful given the current metagame shifts towards Metalworker powered Steelhellkite lists, which have fewer big threats compared to the lists from a few months ago.  

If folks would like, I can send around my slightly tweaked Oath list to the email addresses of everyone who's purchased a book.  Send an email to the Quiet Speculation email at the end of the book and I'll forward you my revised list.   

Hi Stephen,
really impressive work... 9 bucks for a detailed work like this is a rare thing...
However I have some questions for you regarding GAT: first of all, why Mana Drain is no more considered? In your 2007 version of this deck you (and all the other players) run 2 Mana Drain, but today seems there are no slots for them... And so what about cutting the mono Misdirection and the fourth Thoughtseize?
Adding to this, I don't understand the exclusion of both Regrowth and Library of Alexandria... Would you like to explain me why such a those foil cards were cutted from Grow decklists?
Thank you so much for your reply

Mr. Sligh

Those are good questions, and I will definitely address them in the follow-up Q&A article.   For now, just note Regrowth IS in my current Grow (now Grow-A-Fiend) list.  It just wasn't in the October Grow list.   When you read the final chapter, you'll see that it plays a pivotal role in the Time Vault Control match.  

[Stormanimagus]

Stephen,

your points are well taken with regards to Trygon Predator, but I do think you may be working from a slightly false narrative on what Shop decks look like. They all should be running at least the 17 cards I posted above and many run 4 Chalice and 4 Thorn. That is an extremely high density of cards that inhibit your ability to cast spells. Perhaps the move towards Metalworker give players an opening for something like Oath to be good, but I'm pretty sure that Metalworker is not optimal (at least not 4) and don't really understand why players clog their decks with it at all. True "Espresso Stax" decks really look to deny mana and even resolving something for 2 Mana can be a chore (i.e Ancient Grudge). I'm not saying Grudge is a bad answer. It is actually quite good, and the best around most likely atm. I'm just saying that a true mana-denial strategy will be aiming to do its job, deny mana. Trump cards like removal on their end are secondary to their primary goal which is to deny mana. one needs to understand this in his/her analysis to properly attribute game wins and game losses. I'd be willing to bet that 2 extra basics lands have more to do with game wins vs. Shops than any mid-late game answer like Trygon Predator. I'm asking you go deeper into the shop match-up analysis in the future (future book, future arictle?) with more focus on how a versatile deck like a Gush variant deals with dedicated Mana denial. You showed the boarding plan for Shops, but didn't offer terribly complete explanations about the match-up IMO. Perhaps it is because you have been shot down by the "authorities" on shops one too many times, but I think you held back too much with discussing it in your book. I would say screw the naysayers and go for it. I want to see some more play examples vs. common shop archetypes for example. Thanks!

-Storm

[Smmenen]

come on man, I'm not saying there is "one" workshop deck.   I most definitely appreciate the variety and diversity of shop options, and I've tested against the range of them with teammates like Kevon Cron in the last month and a half.   We tested thoroughly against the Workshop deck that won the Waterbury before I took GAT to a tournament in early October, and all of tournament winning MUD lists that we've seen since we've been testing.  For example, Sam Berse, who won the Blue Bell, played a Metalworker list here: http://www.morphling.de/top8decks.php?id=1364  This Metalworker list is almost identical to another list we saw from Europe, I think this one: http://www.morphling.de/top8decks.php?id=1356  Note the 3 Trikes and Hellkites as anti Trygon tech.

If Sam just won a major american tournament with Metalworker MUD, it's just flat wrong to say that I'm presenting a 'false narrative' of Workshop decks playing with metalworker.   That doesn't mean that I'm saying that Metalworker is the main Workshop deck, either.   Just that it's a popular one right now. 

The reason to play Oath, btw, isn't because of Metalworker.  It's because it's a two casting cost spell that is the biggest step you need to win the game.   It's alot better than relying on Tinker or Will or trying to Gushbond under Spheres.   Oath is simply the most efficient strategic option.    Now matter how effective a Workshop is at denying you mana, there will be opportunities to play spells.  If Workshop decks could consistently deny players the ability to play 1-2cc spells, then Workshop would be restricted.   They can't.   You are on the play, and you play land, mox.   It's not difficult to resolve turn two Oath, even under a Sphere.   There are opportunities to resolve spells.   I hear what you are saying about Trygon, but again, the facts are that Trygon frequently resolved.  Just watch the Vintage Champs videos, both the swiss and the top 8.   Trygon repeatedlly came down under a variety of scenarios, turn one, turn 10, and everything in between.   Oath is much easier to slip into play, and it's particularly good against Lodestone Golem.   Does oath win the game by itself?  No.  But it's a huge, huge bonus.  It's like resolving Yawgmoth's Will against Workshops.   It doesn't win the game by itself, but it's a giant step in that direction.  It's a major strategic objective.   With Tryrant, you can bounce things like Tangle Wire on your opponent's endstep, and then untap and go off. 

I find it interesting that you felt that in a 100+ page book I held back!  Next time I'll let loose (j/k).   I included extensive discussion of Workshops throughout the entire book.   I nearly included another game in the book, one on Workshops v. Oath, but I felt that the book was already very long, and I wanted to illustrate the role ideas, which I felt was the most important concept to get across, and that's why I chose Grow v. Jace Control. 

[Tha Gunslinga]

If you can get the mana up for Trygon, the Shop player has most likely already lost the game.  If the Shop player hasn't excessively mulliganned, there's very little chance you can put together the mana for Trygon, through 13 Spheres, 4 Wires, 4 Chalices, 5+ Strips, and probably Smokestacks as well.  Then there's the fact that the Shop player will have some variety of Duplicants, Triskelions, and/or Steel Hellkites to deal with Trygon.  As a MUD player, I don't really fear anything, except excessive mulligans, the mirror, and my own poor play.

[Smmenen]

It's not true that if you could play a 1GU creature that the MUD player has lost anyway.  There are often small windows of opportunity where you can resolve a 3cc creatures in the early game, but that doesn't translate into a MUD loss otherwise.   For example, if you are on the play, and you force t1 sphere or golem, and you have a Mox, turn two Trygon is an easy play.   If you are on the play, there are lots of ways to resolve Trygon. Double Mox, Lotus, Mana Crypt, or Spell Pierce their first Sphere, etc. The main problem with Trygon Predator isn't resolving it, it's the fact that it doesn't survive and can't combat Steel Hellkite, which invalidates it.  

But again, I'm puzzled by the obsession with Trygon. I've explicitly stated that it's not the right tactic at the moment.   The tactics that are good against Workshops will be constantly shifting.  I advocate a particular set of tactics at this moment with the expectation that once those prove effective, they will lose their luster and their potency.  At that time, I will shift to a different set of tactics.   I once used Trygon; I no longer do.  I now use another tactic detailed in this book.  And when Workshops adapt, I'll shift again. 

[Ten-Ten]

I just read the free chapter and I can't wait to buy the book

It's not true that if you could play a 1GU creature that the MUD player has lost anyway.  There are often small windows of opportunity where you can resolve a 3cc creatures in the early game, but that doesn't translate into a MUD loss otherwise.   For example, if you are on the play, and you force t1 sphere or golem, and you have a Mox, turn two Trygon is an easy play.   If you are on the play, there are lots of ways to resolve Trygon. Double Mox, Lotus, Mana Crypt, or Spell Pierce their first Sphere, etc. The main problem with Trygon Predator isn't resolving it, it's the fact that it doesn't survive and can't combat Steel Hellkite, which invalidates it.  

But again, I'm puzzled by the obsession with Trygon. I've explicitly stated that it's not the right tactic at the moment.   The tactics that are good against Workshops will be constantly shifting.  I advocate a particular set of tactics at this moment with the expectation that once those prove effective, they will lose their luster and their potency.  At that time, I will shift to a different set of tactics.   I once used Trygon; I no longer do.  I now use another tactic detailed in this book.  And when Workshops adapt, I'll shift again. 

I agree..
I see shop decks becoming like dredge, where they are becoming more diverse in answering your hate causing you to diversify your SB package or shift accordingly rather than just using hurkyl's, rebuild or Trygon MB to battle shop decks. 

[Odd mutation]

If folks would like, I can send around my slightly tweaked Oath list to the email addresses of everyone who's purchased a book.  Send an email to the Quiet Speculation email at the end of the book and I'll forward you my revised list.

That's a great idea. You'll get my email later tonight.

Robrecht

[H]

If folks would like, I can send around my slightly tweaked Oath list to the email addresses of everyone who's purchased a book.  Send an email to the Quiet Speculation email at the end of the book and I'll forward you my revised list.

That's a great idea. You'll get my email later tonight.

Robrecht

Yeah, me too, as an old Oath player, it always close to my heart, 

[voltron00x]

It's not true that if you could play a 1GU creature that the MUD player has lost anyway.  There are often small windows of opportunity where you can resolve a 3cc creatures in the early game, but that doesn't translate into a MUD loss otherwise.   For example, if you are on the play, and you force t1 sphere or golem, and you have a Mox, turn two Trygon is an easy play.   If you are on the play, there are lots of ways to resolve Trygon. Double Mox, Lotus, Mana Crypt, or Spell Pierce their first Sphere, etc. The main problem with Trygon Predator isn't resolving it, it's the fact that it doesn't survive and can't combat Steel Hellkite, which invalidates it.  

But again, I'm puzzled by the obsession with Trygon. I've explicitly stated that it's not the right tactic at the moment.   The tactics that are good against Workshops will be constantly shifting.  I advocate a particular set of tactics at this moment with the expectation that once those prove effective, they will lose their luster and their potency.  At that time, I will shift to a different set of tactics.   I once used Trygon; I no longer do.  I now use another tactic detailed in this book.  And when Workshops adapt, I'll shift again.  

Not coincidentally, a shift away from Trygons as an anti-Workshop strategy gives incentive to playing Oath, as does the use of Metalworker-centric Shop decks in place of Smokestack-centric Shop decks.

Still, I don't think the problem with Oath is beating Workshops, but rather, beating the other blue decks.  I still find that to be the problem.

EDIT:  FWIW, I agree with Stephen here re: Trygon.

[H]

Still, I don't think the problem with Oath is beating Workshops, but rather, beating the other blue decks.  I still find that to be the problem.

Stephen, can you maybe address this with regard to your revised Oath list?  (Which, by the way, thanks for sending me.)

Looking at the list, i am wondering how you find it against other blue decks.

[Smmenen]

Still, I don't think the problem with Oath is beating Workshops, but rather, beating the other blue decks.  I still find that to be the problem.

Stephen, can you maybe address this with regard to your revised Oath list?  (Which, by the way, thanks for sending me.)

Looking at the list, i am wondering how you find it against other blue decks.

There are a number of ways of addressing this concern, with mainboard and sideboard adjustments, or even transformative sideboard strategies.  I'm writing up a comprehensive response to this very good question in the Q&A follow up to the book.   

[TheShop]

Emailed your publisher-  I really wanted to give hard copies of this book for Christmas.  Hope something works out there in the new year.

Cheers steve, a masterwork.

[Smmenen]

Emailed your publisher-  I really wanted to give hard copies of this book for Christmas.  Hope something works out there in the new year.

Cheers steve, a masterwork.

Thanks!  We are working on it!   

I'm currently revising the book, working on the second edition, which I hope to have finished by this weekend.   QS plans to take pre-orders very, very soon.   There is a chance we can get it to you by Christmas. 

As for the second edition of the book -- my understanding -- is that the updated version (with expanded material, typographical corrections, and a second edition preface) will be sent to everyone who purchased the first edition, but will also be available for purchase as a hard copy book.   

Doug Linn can handle questions about the details.   

Also, the first Q&A newsletter/column is nearly finished and will probably be up next week.   

Thanks for the positive good feeling.

[CorwinB]

As for the second edition of the book -- my understanding -- is that the updated version (with expanded material, typographical corrections, and a second edition preface) will be sent to everyone who purchased the first edition, but will also be available for purchase as a hard copy book.   

Great news ! Do you know if people who bought the digital copy will be eligible for a discount on the hard copy book ?

Regards,

[Smmenen]

As for the second edition of the book -- my understanding -- is that the updated version (with expanded material, typographical corrections, and a second edition preface) will be sent to everyone who purchased the first edition, but will also be available for purchase as a hard copy book.    

Great news ! Do you know if people who bought the digital copy will be eligible for a discount on the hard copy book ?

Regards,

Great question! the hard copy, paperback orders have begun on Quiet Speculation.   Anyone who orders a paperback will be receive a free second edition of the book.  

I just finished writing the second edition of the book before Christmas, and it has added 40+ pages to the book, including another sample game.   Also, I'm getting ready to send around the first newsletter to everyone who has ordered a book.  Let me know if you have any other questions.  

[Smmenen]

FYI:

My Quietspeculation email account has been down for about a month now due to technical issues, so I wanted to let everyone who bought a book know two things:

1) The Second Edition of the Book (which has 50% new content, photos of opening hands, and a new sample game) will be available to everyone who bought the first edition of the ebook for FREE.    

Doug Linn has uploaded the book and will email everyone a link.   Please be on the look out for that, or contact him at QuietSpeculation to find out how to get that link for your free download.

I put alot of work into the second edition of the book, updating it and clarifying and expanding lots of content.

2) The Paperback Edition of the book (which looks AMAZING btw) will soon ship.  We got the paperbacks in last week, but there was a printing error and the images of the opening hands came out looking terrible.    Doug is sending it back to the printer, and hopefully we'll get the new one's next week.   There have been alot of hiccups in getting the paperback produced.   QuietSpeculation is sorry for the delay.  

Hopefully Doug can give you all a sense of the time frame for both of those things.

Thanks!  

PS:

Here is a page from the book so you can see how awesome the new edition turned out:

[Smmenen]

FYI:

Doug came over tonight with books for me to sign.   I signed a ton of books tonight.  My hand is sore!   I personalized a copy to everyone who pre-ordered.   They'll be shipping out tomorrow.  

FINALLY!

After many production errors, we are extremely happy to finally be able to ship these out.  Once you see them, you're friends will want a copy of the book.  I truly hope this is something that folks will enjoy for many years to come!

Stephen

[Joblin Velder]

FYI:

Doug came over tonight with books for me to sign.   I signed a ton of books tonight.  My hand is sore!   I personalized a copy to everyone who pre-ordered.   They'll be shipping out tomorrow.  

FINALLY!

After many production errors, we are extremely happy to finally be able to ship these out.  Once you see them, you're friends will want a copy of the book.  I truly hope this is something that folks will enjoy for many years to come!

Stephen

Can I find this at Barnes and Noble?

[Smmenen]

Two requests:

1) when you receive your paperback in the mail, post and let us know what you think!

2) My Quietspeculation email address hasn't worked in several months, despite my pleading.  The QS staff hasn't seemed to be able to figure out why.  If you sent me an email to that address, please know that, and PM me here or on facebook instead.   

Thanks!

Stephen

[Joblin Velder]

Can I find this at Barnes and Noble?

[nataz]

I'd be much more likely to read/buy this if I could get it as a kindle single (http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=sv_kinc_2?ie=UTF8&node=2486013011). Any idea what the process is for getting it published as an e-book outside of QS and in a more widely used marketplace? I'll impulse buy all day long on the Amazon whisper net since a) they already have my CC info, and b) I get recommendations w/free chapters after I finish a book setting me up nicely for my next read.

[Smmenen]

Both the paperback version and the ebook are ONLY available through QuietSpeculation Press.   The paperback was printed to order (although there are a few extra copies available that Doug Linn has -- get them while you can!).   I think having a downloadable version for a Kindle or through Amazon is a great idea, but only if it required minimal work for the QS folks.   You'll have to ask Doug or email QS about it.

Stephen

[Hi-Val]

Hey, so happy to see continuous interest in this! Quiet Speculation will be at GenCon in some form or another and we'll be happy to sell you a copy of the book there, if you'd like.

Selling these things as ebooks through Kindle has been considered; I've looked into it but we haven't made firm plans on it yet.