2015-08-09 A history of my MTG Game Day experience

DGM Game Day at Two Cats Comics.   9 people, 4 rounds of swiss, Top 8.  I was playing Naya midrange (Efro's PT Gatecrash list).  I went 3-1 in the Swiss, lost game 3 of the finals against Aristocrats because I only drew buddylands (no shocklands or basics) and only one red source.  I punt by playing Burning-Tree Emissary off my one red source and a green source, meaning I can't play Hellrider from my hand.  If I had been able to play Hellrider, I would have won (my opponent didn't have any removal).  A A few turns later, he topdecked Falkenrath Arisocrat and killed me with it.  It was upsetting because my opponent was a major douchebag smoking an e-cigarette the whole time, and flaunting the fact that he was a level 1 judge.

M14 Game Day at Two Cats Comics. This event almost didn't happen, due to lack of people.  I was playing Kibler GR aggro.  I beat Slivers in the first round, then lost to my friend who was playing GW Silverblade Paladin combo.   My friend ended up winning the event.

Theros Game Day at Gamescape North.  Four rounds of swiss, and a top 4.  I played Channel Fireball mono-red devotion (from the PT) and I barely squeak into top 4 with a 3-1 record.  I beat mono-black devotion in the semifinals, and promptly lose game 1 of the finals against mono-white heroic because I kept a 1 lander (scry land) on the draw) and didn't get there.  However, I manage to close out both of the next two games.

Born of the Gods Game Day at Gamescape North.  Four rounds of swiss, and a top 4 (again).  I played mono-blue devotion splashing white for Detention Sphere/Ephara, God of the Polis.  Go 4-0 in the Swiss (it gets reported as 3-0-1 for some reason).  In the semifinals, I get paired against the same guy I played against in the 4th round, beat him pretty easily.  Then I win vs. BR minotaurs in a close 3 game session, thanks to Negate countering a (would-be) lethal Boros Charm, and swinging for lethal next turn.

Journey to Nyx Game Day at Gamescape North.  Foun rounds of swiss, top 4.  I go 1-2 playing BW Midrange/control.  Bleh.  I play a 4th round for fun, promptly lose to Boros Burn.

M15 Game Day at Gamescape North.  Four rounds of swiss, top 4.  I decide to play BW midrange again, despite having practiced Boros Burn a bunch.  I promptly go 0-2, drop, then go home to eat some food, then play in a draft at Versus Games.

KTK Game Day at Gamescape North.  I play Jeskai aggro.  Four rounds of swiss, no top 4.  Go 3-1, losing my third round vs GR Devotion.  Game 2 I lose because my opponent played FOUR Courser of Kruphix in a row.  Game 3 I lose because I mull to 4, and my opponent has turn 4 Polyk.  I use Banishing Light, of course, he has Reclamation Sage, then follows up with Arbor Colossus.

FRF Game Day at Gamescape North.  I end up playing in this tournament despite being super ill with a cough.  I play GR aggro.  Four rounds of swiss, I go 3-1 (lost to a douchebag).   Proceed to lose to an annoying kid in the semifinals.  

DTK Game Day 1 at Heretic Games.  I went there expecting it to be pretty chill.  Instead, there are 22 people, most of whom from Anime Imports.  Three rounds of Swiss, with a top 8.   I am playing Abzan Aggro.  I lose first round to a drunk guy playing Temur.  He apparently left after round 1 and didn't come back.  Round two I get a bye.  Round three I beat BW warriors.  Don't make the top 8, but my friend does (playing Esper Dragons).  He loses in the quarterfinals to mono-red. 

DTK Game Day 2 at D20 Games.  I end up going here, instead of Its Your Move Games.  Five rounds of swiss, with a top 8.  I am playing Abzan aggro again.  I manage to go 5-0 in the Swiss.  Beat Abzan aggro mirror in the quarterfinals, then lose game 3 of the semifinals to Atarka Red.  I am kinda back in the game thanks to Sorin + Rakshasa Deathdealer.  However, I lose because I mistap my mana, and don't leave up Hero's Downfall with my opponent swings in with a 1/1 goblin token, and hits me for 7 with his ONE OF Become Immense he rips off the top.   Wow.  Fucking painlands.

Magic Origins Game Day 1 at Comic Cards Etc.  12 people.  Fortunately, it's just three rounds of swiss, no top 4/8.  I am playing Abzan control.    Win game 1 vs. mono red.  Proceed to lose game 2 to a perfect curve out.  Lose game 3 because my opponent plays mono-dash creatures, while I have Drown in Sorrow in hand, and I draw a bunch of lands, and he has removal spells for all of my creatures.   He finishes with a topdeck Stoke the Flames.  I win round 2/3 pretty easy, but going 2-1 leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Magic Origins Game 2 at Comic Cards Etc.   9 people (originally) Three rounds of swiss again, no top 8.   I'm playing Abzan Aggro now (instead of control).   I get a vaunted round 1 bye, then someone shows up late, and he's still sleeving up his deck.  I figure this is gonna be pretty easy, but then I get crushed by red burn deck splashing green for Courser of Kruphix and Savage Ventmaw.  Sigh.   I lose my second round to Bant Heroic, and then I win vs. mono blue mill, but I'm 1-2, and 9th place out 10, so I don't win the promo.    My friend ended up winning the tournament after forgetting to bring his Esper Dragons deck, so he borrows my Mardu Dragons deck. 

Of course, I also find out that Mardu Dragons deck is missing a card.   This sucks because I had previously lent the deck out to a different friend the previous day.  I thought I had counted all of the cards in the deck, but apparently I missed one.  This sucks. 

So far, I have been in 12 different Game Day tournaments, and won two of them. 

5/15/15 Random musing about FNM

Ever since I stopped going to Gamescape North, I don't actually attend FNM very much.  I am usually too tired to want to drive 30 minutes to play at Versus Games or 40 minutes to drive to Anime Imports or 60 minutes to drive to San Bruno/Alameda.  Meh.

2/8:  Got sick
2/13:  Skipped due to being sick
2/14:  Last time I attended Gamescape North

2/20:  Skipped again due to being sick
2/27:  Draft at Versus Games
3/6:  Draft at Versus Games
3/13:  Draft at Gamescape SF
3/20:  Friend visit
3/27:  Missed due to traffic
4/3:   Draft at Heretic Games
4/10:  Family visit
4/17:  Standard At Anime Imports
4/24:  Hung out with friend
5/1:  Drafted at Two Cats
5/8:  Hung out with friend
5/15:  ?

Have roughly a 50% attendance rate now.

5/4/15 Tribals and tribulations of Abzan aggro

5/3 standard tournament  2-1

Round 1:  UB control

Game 1:  Lost to T3 Ashiok

Game 2:  I had Thoughseize for Ashiok, eventually I was down to just Siege Rhino.  I swung in for lethal, flashed in a Pearl Lake Ancient, I had one of my Hero's Downfall for it, and he scooped.

Game 3:  This was a closer game, but eventually I killed him Sorin Vampire token a Rakshasa Deathdealer, and an Anafenza.   I punted during the game by sacrificing a Windswept Heath when I had all four of my basic lands in play.  He had Urborg in play so I basically just paid one life to stone rain myself.   Eventually, Raksasha Deathdealer took down his Silumgar DD, and my opponent ran out of answers.

Round 2:

Game 1:  Pretty uneventful, two Raskasha Deathdealers died, but Fleecemane Lion + Anafenza took it home.

Game 2:  Flooded out pretty bad, lost to Ojutai/Silumgar DD.

Game 3:   Longer grindier game.  I went through all three of my Self-Inflicted Wound to kill his Dragonlord Ojutai (twice). 

Round 3: 

Game 1:  Mulled to 6, kept a 2 Thoughtseize Hand, promptly got killed by mass tokens + Atarka's Command.

Game 2:  I took some pain from my mana sources, and my opponent had two Roast for my first two creatures.  Then I died to tokens again.  I think I need to go up to 3 or 4 Drown in Sorrow.

5/4 standard tournament 0-2 drop

Round 1:  Sultai Whip 1-2

Game 1: Mulled to 6, Rakshasa Deathdealer + Anafenza took it down.

Game 2:  Mulled to 6, kept a 2 lander, promptly didn't draw a 3rd land until it was far too late, died to Satyr Wayfinder beats, plus taking damage from my own lands, and a Sidisi.

Game 3:  Mulled to 6, lost to severe floodage, and Torrent Elemental kept coming back. 

Round 2:  Mardu midrange 0-2

Game 1:  Mulled to 6, kept Mana Confluence, Caves of Koilos, 4 spells.  Promptly take a ton of damage from my own painlands, and die.

Game 2:  Mulled to 6, kept a reasonable hand, but my creatures died to burn spells, and my opponent played double Hordeling Outburst into Brimaz.   Even a Sorin ultimate emblem didn't help, because he had so many tokens.  I should have boarded into Drown in Sorrow.

5/2/15 Catching up on the past week

Awful draft at Versus Games.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2014-04-23-misery-loves-company-part-2-dtk-0-3/

Modern tournament report from Anime Imports, Wilted Abzan:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-04-25-wilted-abzan-3-0/

Draft from Two Cats:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-05-01-gb-butts-dtk-draft-3-0/

Modern tournament report from Anime Imports, Abzan midrange:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-05-02-abzan-midrange-2-0-1/

4/20/15 Game Day history

Dragon's Maze:  Saturday:  Went 3-1 in Swiss, lost in Game 3 of the finals of the top 8 due to mistapping mana.  Arggg.
M14:   Saturday:  Only was a top 8, lost in semifinals.  Didn't know about stores doing Sunday Game Day at this point.
Theros:  Saturday 3-1 in Swiss, 1st place in top 4
BNG:  Saturday 4-0 in Swiss (got recorded as a 3-0-1 for some reason), 1st place in top 4
Journey:  Saturday 1-3, should have dropped at 1-2 TBH.  Was busy with work so I didn't play Sunday.
M15:  Saturday 0-2 drop, went to go eat food.  Was busy with work so I didn't play Sunday.
KTK:  Saturday 3-1 in Swiss, they only did 4 Swiss rounds, so that sucked.  I was not in the top 2 of the Swiss so I didn't get the playmat.  Was busy with work so I didn't play Sunday.
FRF:  Saturday 3-1 in Swiss, lost semifinals of the top 4 because I was super sick.    Was sick so I didn't play Sunday.
DTK:  Saturday 2-1 in the Swiss, but they did 3 Swiss rounds with 22 people, so I wasn't one of the people to advance to top 8.  Sunday, I went 5-0 in the Swiss.  Lost in semifinals of the top 8 due to tapping mana poorly in Game 3 of the semifinals (sadtrombone.com). 

4/19/15 Game Day DTK (day 2) report, Top 4

I wanted to go to bed early last night, but instead I woke up at 2 am, then woke up at 4:30 am., then woke up at 6:30 am, then finally woke up at 8 am event.   Who needs sleep? 

I was originally going to go to Its Your Move Games, but I was predicting a large number of Eudemonia grinders to go there, because it's 3 miles away from Eudemonia.   So I ended up going to D20 Games (instead of Endgame or Comic Cards Etc).

We showed up to the store around 10:35 a.m., and it wasn't open until 10:45 am.  We thought the tournament might not actually happen, but eventually, 22 people showed up.  The event started at 11:30 a.m.

Decklist:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-04-19-bbd-abzan-aggro/

Round 1:  Mono-red 2-0

My opponent seemed to be a bit new, but he was nice. 

Game 1:  He didn't seem to know what a lot of my cards did.   Siege Rhino does god's work, as usual.

Game 2:  I almost died when he played Titan's Strength on Flamewake Phoenix, followed by Satyr Firedancer with Dragon Mantle.  Yikes.  But I manage to stabilize.

Round 2:   Abzan whip 2-1

Game 1:  He played a bunch of Satyr Wayfinders/Commune with the Gods.  Whip decks don't do too well with an Anafenza, the Foremost in play. 

Game 2:  Lost to Hornet Queen.

Game 3:  Barely managed to kill my opponent before he hit 7 mana for Hornet Queen.  Whew.

Round 3:  RG Dragon 2-0

Game 1:  Almost lost this game because I was at 7 life.  He was down to 12 life, and I had a 6/6 Anafenza.  Tapped a painland to play Fleecemane Lion.  If he ripped an untapped land he could have Crater's Clawed me for 6.  I knew he had one because I saw him reveal it off Courser of Kruphix earlier.  That would have been embarassing.   Also, btw, Dromoka's Command is insane vs. GR. 

Game 2:  He kept a two lander, stumbled a bit.  I had double Thoughtseize, to rip his Thunderbreak Regent and one Stormbreath Dragon.  Ultimately, he had defensive Stormbreath Dragon, but I had Hero's Downfall to swing for lethal.

Round 4:  Mono-white heroic 2-1

Game 1:  Regenerating Rakshasa Deathdealers are pretty good vs. an army of 1 and 2 toughness dudes.  Didn't realize he was on monowhite heroic until game 2.

Game 2:  Lost to Phalanx Leader getting out of control. 

Game 3:   Got beat down by a Seeker of the Way that got up to 5/5, and a Phalanx Leader.  After throwing my Sorin, Solemn Visitor under the bus, I stablized, after drawing a Dromoka's Command + Ultimate Price.  Then I made an 8/8 trampling lifelink Spirit Warden. 

Round 5:  Abzan midrange 2-0

I asked this guy if he would draw, because I was hungry/tired, but he said because we were both locked for top 8, he still wanted to play it out.  I could have conceded, but I was determined to play it out now.

Game 1:  He played a Garruk, Apex Predator, and nuked my Siege Rhino to gain 5 life.  I had Hero's Downfall for Garruk, and Ultimate Price for his Tasigur.   Monstrous Fleecemane Lions, plus two more Siege Rhinos finish him off.

Game 2:  Despite me being on the draw, he kept a slow hand, and I was able to curve out with Fleecemane into Anafenza into Sorin.   Next turn, I Thoughtseized, removed his Utter End.  I was about to ultimate Sorin next turn, but then he ripped a Hero's Downfall for Sorin, Next turn, he played out his End Hostilities as a 1 for 1 for my Anafenza.  He was at 4 life though, and I played another Anafenza.  Then he scooped next turn.

Top 8:

Quarterfinals:  Abzan aggro 2-0

Game 1:  The game could have easily been lost if he was aggressive, but instead he decided to hold back.  He had removal for my other guys, but ran out of removal once I had a 13/13 Warden of the First Tree. 

Game 2:  Opponent had three Raksasha Deathdealer, but chose to be defensive.  So I created a 9/9 lifelink trample Warden, backed up by removal spells.  He stood no chance.  

Semifinals:  Atarka Red 1-2

Game 1:  He got me down to 10 life, but then I started regaining it from Siege Rhino into Siege Rhino.  Then I played double Rakshasa Deathdealer,a Fleecemane Lion, and Anafenza.   He had six goblin tokens and a Zurgo.  I liked my position there, for sure.

Game 2:  I kept 2 drop into 3 drop into 4 drop (Siege Rhino) but he had the removal spells to clear my creatures away, then just chipped my life down to 0 with Monastery Swiftspear, Frenzied Goblin, and Foundry Street Denizen.  I think I should have Hero's Downfalled his Frenzied Goblin on the turn I played Anafenza.  That might have bought me some time.

Game 3:  I was down to 2 life.  I had nine lands, and a Raksasha Deathdealer in play.   I drew a Sorin off the top.  I played it, then +1'd.  Then I swung out.  I had to decide whether to pump, to bring myself up to 7 life.  I decided to pump to a 5/2 so I would go up to 7.  Then I cracked a Windswept Heath to get a forest (woops), taking me to six. I should have just waited on that.

He had a 2/2 goblin token in play (pumped by Hall of Triumph).  He swung, and pumped with Become Immense.  I had Hero's Downfall in hand, but didn't have a second black mana (no Urborg in play).  Ugh.

edit:  I realized now what I should have done.

I had two Llanowar Wastes, a Caves of Koilos, a Temple of Plenty, a Temple of Silence, a forest, a plains, a Temple of Malady, and a Windswept Heath.  (I'm pretty sure I didn't have any Sandsteppe Citadel in play during that time). 

I had tapped plains, Temple of Malady (black) and both wastes (colorless) for Sorin.  Then I tapped forest + Temple of Silence to pump Deathdealer.  This left me with:   Temple of Plenty, Caves of Koilos, Windswept Heath with Hero's Downfall in hand.   So I should have tapped the Temple of Plenty (instead of Llanowar Wastes) to pay 1 of the colorless for Sorin, leaving up:    Windswept Heath, Caves of Koilos, Lllanowar Wastes.  Then I would have been able to pay for Hero's Downfall, but pay 3 life to do so (one to crack Windswept Heath, two for tapping Caves/Waste).   I could have played around Stoke the Flames this way, too.  Even if he swung at me for 2, a stoke the Flames would only take me to 1. 

Payout was kinda low..  2 packs in the pool for 22 people, that was a total of 44 packs.  Payout was only to top 8. 

16
10
5
5
2
2
2
2

It sucks playing 6 and a half hours and not going the distance.  Couldn't close it out.

4/18/15 Catching up on the past

Been pretty busy since 3/28, but I haven't updated.

3/29/15 Versus Games Draft with salty people complaining about how poor I drafted.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-03-29-the-hate-is-strong-dtkfrf-draft-1-2/

4/3/15 Heretic Games draft, 3-0
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-04-03-rakdoss-return-3-0/

4/4/15 Versus Games sealed.  9th place, when payout was only to top 8
 http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-04-04-close-only-counts-in-horseshoes-3-1/

4/13/15 Versus Games draft, went 2-1.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-04-13-i-can-counter-on-you-dtk-draft-2-1/

4/17/15 Anime Imports standard went 0-3 with CVM GR Dragon. 

Lost first round to Dragon control.  Drew two creatures first game (one was in my opener).  Mulled to 4 second game.

Lost second round to mono-white heroic.  Mulled to 4 first game.   Second game I kept some hate, but ended up losing because he drew straight gas.

4//18/15.  Went to Heretic Games in San Bruno, hoping there wouldn't be many people playing there.   Of course, I ran into all the PTQ grinders from Anime Imports there.  Ugh.  I played BBD Abzan Aggro.

Lost first round to a drunk guy playing Temur midrange.  The first game was kinda close, but he topdecked a lot better.  The second game, I mulled to six, and kept 3 lands/Sorin/double Elspeth.  Ugh.  Of course, I got run over.

Got a second round bye.  Ate some fried rice.  Value.

Won third round vs. WB warriors.  First game was pretty close.  My opponent got me down to 1 life, but I stabilized, and swung back for lethal.  Second game, wasn't even close.  I kept an opener with 2 drown in sorrow, 2 hero's downfall.   My First Drown in Sorrow got 2 Battle Brawler.  Then he played Secure the Wastes for 4, and Chief of the Edge, and didn't swing.  I swung my Siege Rhino into his tokens, he blocked with 3 tokens, I Hero's Downfall'd the Chief, and ate his tokens.  Then I played a Fleecemane, and monstrous'ed it.  Next turn, I played a second Fleecemane Lion.  He was stuck in CHUMP mode.  

3/28/15 Magic reports

I have not played a lot of tournament magic lately.   I am still sick, and have been busy with World of Warcraft on Tuesdays/Wednesdays.  

Friday 3/20/15 was dinner with friend.

I went to three Dragons of Tarkir prereleases at Versus Games:

Saturday 3/21/15:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-03-21-dtk-prerelease-1-2-2/

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-03-21-dtk-prerelease-2-3-1/

Sunday 3/22/15:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-03-22-whatre-ugin-a-do-prerelease-3-1/

Monday 3/23 and Thursday 3/26 was playtest practice in Standard/Modern at Versus Games.

I didn't make it out to FNM on Friday 3/27/15.  Traffic just didn't allow it.

Saturday 3/28/15:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-03-28-dtkfrf-sealed-practice-2-1-1/

On the plus side, I opened an Ugin, the Spirit Dragon during the 3/22/15 prerelease, and a FOIL Sarkhan Unbroken at the 3/28/15 sealed.  WOOP WOOP. 

3/14/15 Draft reports

 Sweet Abzan deck, because Abzan was super open:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-02-27-abzan-goodstuff-frfktktk-3-0/

Terrible Sultai deck (person on my right was in 5 color):
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-03-01-sultai-misery-frkftkktk-draft-0-3/

Bad Jeskai deck, because person on my right was in Jeskai:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-03-05-jeskai-mediocre-1-2/

Decent Abzan deck (my opponent was in 5 color, but I drew well):
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-03-13-duneblasting-off-again-fkk-3-0/

Bad Abzan deck (person on my left was in Abzan, despite me passing him insane blue cards):
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-03-14-exceeding-expectations-fkk-2-1/

2/22/15 Catching up on the MTG

Sorry I haven't updated my blog in a couple of weeks.  I got the flu on 2/8/15, and still haven't quite yet recovered.

This is the deck I played at Gamescape Game Day.  14 people showed up.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-02-14-gr-aggro/

Match 1:  UW Heroic.   2-0

Match 2:  4 color control.  2-0 (I think)

Match 3:   Temur midrange 0-2

Match 4:   Jeskai tokens 2-0

Semifinals:   Mardu tokens 0-2

5 packs, and the 'Sup, Plant Form? promo for my effort. Meh.

I didn't feel healthy enough to do a second day of Game Day at Its Your Move Games (a place I haven't been before) or Comic Cards Etc (another place I haven't been before).

Here's some draft info from the past two weeks.  Comments are on the tapped out links.  

2-1 WGbr deck from 2/16/15:

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-02-16-frf-ktk-ktk-draft-2-1/

2-1 UR deck from 2/21/15:

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-02-21-izzet-real/

3-0 WUr deck from 2/22/15:

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-02-22-jeskai-business-frfktkktk-3-0/

2/7/15 Lazy Saturday (FRF-KTK-KTK draft 2-1)

Went to Versus Games to draft with some friends at the 4 pm draft.  I was supposed to get there for the 1 pm draft, but got up kinda late and was slow getting out the door.  :\

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-02-08-15-drifting-into-mardu-2-1/

Round 1:  Lost to Temur big stuff.   First game when I played Zurgo, he had disdainful stroke, but I still won.   Second game I had Zurgo, but he had Sandsteppe Mastodon.  Ugh.  Third game he just had bigger creatures than mine, and I couldn't get through. 

Round 2:  Won vs. Mardu stuff.   My opponent was very nice but she was pretty new to the game.  She had some good cards in her deck, though.

Round 3:   Won vs. Abzan durdles.  First game was pretty epic, with me getting stuck on no black mana until turn 15.   He tried to race my 7/6 Abzan Battle priest with Ivorytusk Fortress and tokens.    My battle priest survived a Kill Shot (Feat of Resistance) and Harsh Sustenance (War Flare).   Then he played a Rakshasa Deathdealer and I was in trouble.   Once I drew my swamps I was able to whittle down his board.   Second game I lost to land screw.    Third game I tried to take to the air with Silumgar, but a block with Longshot Squad + Windstorm (2 for 1'ing himself) got me down.  Then I realized he had Kill Shot too, so I had to play around it by not attacking until I drew other gas to put into play.

I Rakshasa's Secret'd him when he had 3 cards in hand, figuring I would never make him get down to exactly 2 cards.   He discarded Return to the Earth and a land.   So he was still holding Kill Shot in hand. 

Opponent conceded at this point because he said he was sick. 

2/6/15 Don't try this at home kids (FRF-KTK-KTK draft 0-1)

Went to Gamescape North for an FRF-KTK-KTK draft. 

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-02-07-esper-misery-draft-0-1-drop/

I won the first game, lost the second game.  The match got called at that point.  My opponent tells me he'll scoop to me, but I tell him I'll drop instead.  I didn't feel like playing any more games with this deck. 

1/31/15 GP San Jose report

I didn't get much sleep last night.  I had to work late (12:30 am) and I could barely sleep before the tournament.  I ended up getting about 5 hours of sleep in total due to waking up several times in middle of the night.

We opened Foil Soulfire Grandmaster, and several insane Abzan cards.  The people across from us, opened a terrible pool (with a Wooded Foothills and Flooded Strand in the KTK packs, not the FRF packs, so we were down two shots at playable rares).  The pool we got passed had a ton of unplayable commons, and no rare bombs at all. 

I ended up playing Mardu with Alesha, Who Smiles at Death, Citadel Siege, Mardu Ascendancy, and Elite Scaleguard.  Unfortunately, my deck was terrible outside of that, though I ended up going 2-1 in my first match, second match, and third match.

The games I lost were due to:

1)  Flood
2)  Tried to race a blue/black flyer aggro deck, ended up losing to Torrent Elemental
3)  Kept a 1 lander on the draw, discarded 3 cards, opponent played a Palace Siege while I was at 18 life, I scooped out of frustration.  Turned out my opponent also had Ugin in his deck. 

Also now that I think about it, I should have probably played at least one of the Hooded Assassins I had in my sideboard (or perhaps both).    They work pretty well with tokens that suicide attack etc.  Or killing off through 0 power/high toughness walls post combat.  

We ended up going 0-1-2 (1 loss, 2 draws).  Though, we ended up getting recorded as going 0-2-1, due to not understanding how Swiss team sealed worked.  We thought it was like the single elimination team sealed practice from yesterday, where the draw match was determined by life total after turns.   It ultimately didn't matter since 0-1-2 eliminated us from Day 2 contention anyways, and we were pretty fed up with our sealed pools.  We ended up going out for food, then signing up for a team draft (30 dollars per person). 

I first picked Wildcall, then got passed an Elite Scaleguard.  Unfortunately, white got cut pretty hard after that.  Green was also kinda cut, and the good black cards were all getting taken.  Of course, Temur was super open (no surprise).   One of my teammates was in Temur splashing white, and my other teammate was in Mardu.  

My match was the Abzan mirror.  He played a Sultai Emissary into Abzan Runemark for the beatdowns.  Then he played a Kin-Tree Warden and a Mardu Hateblade (stalling).  He killed both of my Sage-Eye Harriers, then played Abzan Ascendancy to clog up the board state even further.    I end up losing to mill, even though I mulled to 6, because he was on the play (and thus skipped his firtst draw).   I probably would not have lost this game if I had moved my Ghostfire Blade to my Elite Scaleguard, because it was a 5/6, when he Savage Punched his 5/5 Abzan Guide (buffed to 7/7 with ferocious trigger) with my 5/6 Elite Scaleguard.   With the Ghostfire blade, it would have been a 7/8.  Gah.

Second game, I just gave up due to boredom after he killed my Elite Scaleguard and both of my Sage-Eye Harriers, then created a super durdle ground defense with Rotting Mastodon and other big butts, plus Abzan Ascendancy. 

It sucked because we spent 30 dollars for person for the team draft, and missed out on the 360 prize tix (aka one box) to be split among our team.   If i had won my match then we would have gotten the prizes, but I failed.

1/30/15 Friday night lights

Went over to San Jose for Mini-master and Team Sealed practice.

Ended up making it to the top 8 of my mini-master pod (won 3 matches).  I had Brutal Hordechief, Alesha Who Smiles at Death, and Temur Sabertooth in my deck.

Third match my opponent played Atarka and Tasigur.  However, I managed to slowly drain him out with Brutal Hordechief.   Douse in Gloom + Hooded Assassin + Temur Sabertooth = value as well. My opponent was mad at me post-game because he said I missed an onboard kill several turns ago, by forcing all his creatures to gang-block one of my creatures, while the other one got in for damage.  Woops. 

Unfortunately, I lost the fourth match vs Shu Yun tempo deck.  It was a mistake to not have Arcbond in my deck, because I think it could have saved me (if I drew it) during the second game.   A board wipe (even if it requires setup) is pretty powerful.

In the Team Sealed, I played a Sultai deck with Crux of Fate, Palace Siege, and Sandsteppe Mastodon.   I had Shamanic Revelation and Soulflayer in the sideboard.  I didn't really have the creatures to make Soulflayer better than Gurmag Angler, and I had better spells than Shamanic Revelation to play, though I could have seen sideboarding into it, during grindy matchups.

I went 2-1 with Jeskai aggro, then 1-0 vs. black/white aggro, then 0-2 vs. Jeskai aggro.

My first match I lost my second game due to getting stuck on mana and not having enough anti-flyer hate.

First match third game I played some aggro creatures, while my opponent was stuck on aggro spells.  

My second match first game I mulled to 5 (and my opponent mulled to 5).   He got me down to 10, then I topdecked a land for Crux of Fate to save me from his ground guys.  Then I had to play Dead Drop to kill his lone Wardscale Dragon.  I was now at 6, but then I played Gurmag Angler and Sandsteppe Mastodon to swing for large amounts.  My opponent said "nice mull to 5" and I said "thanks!"

Second match second game my opponent goes on the aggro plan with Soul Summons into Molting Snakesin.  Then he played High Sentinels of Arashin (which I gladly 2 for 1'd myself playing Hunt the Weak on my Typhoid Rats targeting his High Sentinels) and then Mastery of the Unseen.  Unfortunately, I only boarded into one Return to the Earth (instead of two or three like I had in my sideboard).  He got eight activations off Mastery of the Unseen, hitting several creatures, before I was able to draw my Return to the Earth to kill it.   Then I draw my Crux of Fate.  I have Sultai Flayer and several fatties in play.  I decided to swing with all my guys, including my Sultai Flayer, which was my mistake.  Of course, he kills my flayer, and choosed to chump my fatties, instead of blocking with his two hateblades, or his 4/2 regenerating manifest. So I play Crux of Fate post combat, destroying all creatures except my Noxious Dragon and go to 13.   Time gets called, he swings at me with a Mardu Shadowspear (wtf) and his 4/2, taking me down to 7.  Next turn I play Frontier Mastodon and then he scoops (begrudgingly).

Third match first game, my opponent curves out into Monastery Swiftspear into Jeskai Sage into Jeskai Windscout into Jeskai Windscout.  I have Crux of Fate to kill his dudes.  But then he plays Ojutai and I have no way to get rid of it. 

Third match second game, I get stuck with two Archer's Parapet, while my opponent plays Jeskai Sage x 3 into Aven Surveyor + Cunning Strike for lethal.

So for my efforts today, I end up with 25 dollars spent (for the team sealed) and 60 prize tix.  

1/29/15 ooh SHINY (FRF-KTK-KTK draft 2-0-1)

P1P1:   Atarka, World Render (foil) over Sandsteppe Mastodon.

I messed up this draft by accidentally taking the Scoured Barrens from the first pack when I take the token out.  The people at the table got super mad about it, but I wasn't intentionally trying to steal mana fixing.. 

P2P1:   Polluted Delta for VALUE.

P3P1:   I think this was Rattleclaw Mystic.  Not sure. 

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-01-29-shiny-dragons-frf-ktk-ktk-2-0-1/

Match 1:  UW (1-1)

Game 1:

Barrage of Boulders with Dragon-Style Twins and Summit Prowler drops my opponent to 2 life, then next turn, I finish him with Arrow Storm.  

Game 2:

Got down to 6 life due to Mistfire Weaver attacking me.  I had played Atarka, World Render, then my opponent played Singing Bell Strike on it and swung with Mistfire Weaver.  I got down to 3 life, then next turn he swung with Mistfire Weaver again, I untapped my guy, and ate his Mistfire Weaver.  Then he played an Abzan Skycaptain.  Then he played a second Abzan Skycaptain.  I played a tapland to go up to 4 life.  But I was still in trouble, if he had a bounce for Atarka.  So I Arrow Storm'd one Skycaptain, flipped up Jeering Instigator to gain control of the other one.  He had a Arashin Cleric and a Ainok Bond-kin (no counters on it).   I also have a morphed Mystic of the Hidden Way, a Rageform mountain (so it's basically a 2/2 double strike) and another dude. 

I swung with my team, he has Sandblast to kill my Atarka (I didn't play around a second Sandblast) then my swing only takes him down to 4 life.  He kills me on the backswing with his left over 2/2 Skycaptain and now 4/3 Ainok Bond-Kin.  Agh.  Maybe I should have left a dude back.  

I get told that it was time, so there is no time to play a game 3.  So neither myself nor my opponent are getting a pack prize this round.  Ugh. 

Match 2:  Grixis (2-0)

Game 1:

Opponent plays a Silumgar turn 6, I swing with Snowhorn Rider, a 4/3 Frontier Mastodon, a 2/2 Morph (jeering Instigator) and a 3/1.   I finish my opponent off with Arrow Storm.

Game 2:

I swing with a 7/7 Dragon-Style Twins and a 4/3 Summit Prowler for the win.

Match 3:   Sultai (2-0)

Game 1:

Opponent plays a turn 1 Kin-Tree Warden into turn 3 Tuskguard Captain.

He plays Death Frenzy to kill my Goblin Heelcutter, Jeering Instigator, and Bloodfire Expert, and his Kin-Tree Warden.  Ugh.  

I play a Rageform.  He plays Whisperer of the Wilds.  During my turn, he plays Grim Contest.  I respond with Awaken the Bear, swing with a 5/5 double Striker.

Then I play an Atarka.  He scoops.

Game 2:

My opponent keeps a 2 lander.  I go Abzan Beastmaster into Summit Prowler into Dragon-Style Twins.  My opponent scoops again.

Based on my opponent's reaction after the draft, I can tell he's pretty upset with me.  *shrug*

1/25/15 Don't eat the sausage biscuit (FRF-KTK-KTK draft 2-1)

P1P1:   Rare was Temporal Tresspass.  I took Scaleguard Elite (foil)

P2P1:    Rare was Jeering Instigator.  I took Mystic of the Hidden Way.

P3P1:    Rare was Abzan Ascendancy.   I took Alabaster Kirin.

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-01-25-jeskai-mediocres/

Match 1:   5 color (2-0)

This wasn't much of a match.  He played a super slow deck, and I had a bunch of flyers and tempo cards to punish him.

Match 2:  Abzan (0-2)

Lost a british GP grinder who was playing Gurmag Swiftwing and THREE Rite of the Serpent.  To be fair, I got mana screwed first game, and drew 14 of my 18 lands second game. 

Match 3:  Jeskai (2-1)

Game 1 was grindy, and he had Treasure Cruise to get card advantage.  We both got pretty low on life, but I managed to pull ahead thanks to tempo plays.

Game 2 I made a terrible block with Jeskai Windscout on Morph, Monastery flock on Leaping Master with Temur Runemark.  He had Efreet Weaponmaster to punish me. 

Game 3 I basically ran him over.

Got 2 packs for my trouble. 

1/24/15 Channel Fireball team sealed practice, 3-1

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2015-01-24-in-america/

Match 1:  Temur (2-0)

Game 1:

Basically ran over my opponent.  He played a 3/3 with Formless Nurturing, I killed it with Arc Lightning.  He played a 6/6 with Wildcall, I made it not able to block with Goblin Heelcutter.

Game 2:

This was pretty much the same thing, but my opponent played a few more creatures, which died to Mardu Heartpiercer + Arc Lightning.  Flying Crane Technique closed the game out.

Match 2:    Sultai  (2-0)

Game 1:

Guy played an Orc Sureshot.  I offed it with Mardu Heartpiercer.  Then he played a few creatures to stabilize. I finished him off with topdeck Crater's Claw.

Game 2:

This game got a bit more convoluted, with him playing a lot more creatures.  I noticed he tapped down to just 2 forests and no other lands, so I went for the Flying Crane Technique with 4 2 power guys and a 3 power guy.  Flying Crane Technique forced him into a situation where he had to block with his Sagu Archer to not die, and he got down to 2 life.  Then he scooped because I had two flyers with 2 power in play. 

Match 3:   Temur (1-1)

Game 1:

My opponent had TONS of tricks (Rite of Undoing, Whisk Away, Will of the Naga, and Icefeather Aven) and Avalanche Tusker.   I barely manage to win thanks to Whisk Away, and Aven Surveyor.

Game 2:

This game ended up not mattering, because my teammmates lost their matches.  But we ended up playing it out.  He had me on the backfoot with his aggression, but I managed to stabilize a bit.   I kill a morph with Crater's Claw, and it turns out to be Spellsnatcher (thankfully he only had 4 mana and couldn't flip it up). 

I try to go for lethal with Icy Blast, but then he has Will of the Naga to punish me, so I have to hold off my attack to not die.  He swings, and I end up going down to 1 life.  I end up Mindswiping my own spell to kill myself.

Match 4:  5 color ramp (2-0)

Game 1:

My opponent plays Map the Wastes x 2 making a 6/4 Alpine Grizzly, but doesn't attack me with it.  I guess he didn't want to trade his dude for two of my guys. 

Anyways, Kheru Lich Lord ends up gainining him a bunch of value.  I have to try and stall him until I can deal 21 damage in one turn with FCT.  I mess up by playing FCT before attacks.  I should have waited until after attacks, but before blocks, so that my dudes would untap so I wouldn't die if he had a removal spell.

I kinda punt when I cast Write into Being and manifest a Mardu Heartpiercer.  That doesn't make any sense, because the raid trigger from Mardu Heartpiercer only goes off if the Mardu Heartpiercer ETB.  Doh.  

Game 2:

This game ends up a lot of the same, with Alpine Grizzly and Kheru Lich Lord.  I have to use Flying Crane Technique defensively on my Shockmaw Dragon to not die to his attacking Mindscour Dragon.   My opponent gets me down to 3 life with a Scaldkin in play (jeez).   Then I start drawing straight gas, after my flood, and get 6 creatures into play.    

I assemble the combo of:

Jeskai Infiltrator
Goblin Heelcutter
Sage-Eye Avengers

My teammates won both their games, so the result of this match didn't matter, but I end up winning it anyways.

Lesson learned:  It's better to cast FCT AFTER declaring attacks, but before blocks.  

1/23/15 Too late (no Magic tonight)

I went over to Gamescape Noreth to play in the FRF release sealed.  Unfortuntalely, I was told that the store was at max capacity for signups (66).  I was 8th on the waitlist, and my friend was 4th on the waitlist.  Of course, they took exactly 7 people on the waitlist, so I was out in the cold.  Basically wasted an hour and 15 minutes of my time (I left home around 5:13 p.m., and left Gamescape around 6:28 p.m). 

I could have avoided this by signing up in advance, but I didn't think I needed to do this.  The other Friday night release events I went to barely got 30 people to show up.  So why 75 people tonight?  Fuck. 

I guess it's fine, I went home to drink beer and watch Twitch.tv. 

1/22/15 The definition of insanity.. (Modern 2-1)

I went over to Versus Games for modern.   I was playing RUG Twin, with 4 Dig Through Time, 3 Thought Scour, and only 2 Splinter Twin.

Match 1:  Bogles

Game 1:

My opponent mulls to 5, and I kill his Kor Spiritdancer.  He fails to draw any other creatures to suit up.

Game 2:

Kept a hand with no disruption, managed to stabilize at 2 life with a 5/6 Tarmogoyf, but then my opponent swarmed me with 1/1's.  

Game 3:

This was kind of an intense match.  I played a turn 2 Spellskite, he tried to Path to Exile, I had Negate.  Then he had another Path to Exile, and I had no answer.  Then he played a 7/7 Bogle, and got up to 34 life.   I resolved an Engineered Explosives on 1, and a Scavenging Ooze.  Eventually, I managed to kill his Bogle with Anger of the Gods, and I had a 6/6 Ooze and a 4/5 Tarmogoyf in play.   I had a Cryptic Command and a Counterflux in hand.   He tried to suit up another guy, and then I used Counterflux.  He tried to counter it with Guttural Response, and someone else pointed out that Counterflux couldnt be countered.  So I swung for lethal. 

Match 2:  4C Gifts (2-0)

Played against my friend who I drove to the store with.

Game 1:

Milled one of my Splinter Twin with Thought Scour, next turn, I drew the other one.  Combo'd off and won.

Game 2:

This was a grindy match, where my opponent was making me discard all my stuff with Raven's Crime, while at 1 life.  I managed to topdeck Tarmogoyf and he was out of removal, so he scooped.

Match 3:   Ad Nauseum (0-2)

Game 1:

Kept a weak hand with a bunch of cantrips, couldn't draw any pressure besides a Tarmogoyf on turn 3.  Lost to the combo on turn 5.

Game 2.

I kept a hand with some disruption and Tarmogoyf, but my opponent had turn 3 combo protected with Pact of Negation.

Result:  2-1, ended up 3rd place out of 6 people, for 5 dollars store credit.  :\

Added:  My round 3 matchup from my opponent's side:
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/established-modern/221735-ad-nauseam?comment=908

1/18/15 Six FRF packs

1st pack:

Thornwood Falls
Warden of the First Tree
Mardu Shadowspear
Pilgrim of the Fires
Rite of Undoing
Alesha's Vanguard
Ainok Guide
Defiant Ogre
Frontier Mastodon
Bathe in Dragonfire
Jeskai Sage
Sandblast
Sultai Skullkeeper
Sibsig Host
Whisk Away

2nd pack:

Dismal Backwater
Sage-Eye Avengers
Neutralizing Blast
Vaultbreaker
Abzan Kin-Guard
Goblin Heelcutter
Great-Horn Krushok
Return to the Earth
Smoldering Efreet
Refocus
Abzan Advantage
Ethereal Ambush
Hooded Assassin
Lotus Path Djinn
Aven Skirmisher

3rd pack:

Tranquil Cove
Monastery Siege
Goblin Boom Keg
Hungering Yeti
Honor's Reward
Smoldering Efreet
Archers of Qarsi
Lightning Shrieker
Feral Krushok
Harsh Sustenance
Reach of Shadows
Sultai Skullkeeper
Soul Summons
War Flare
Ancestral Vengeance

4th pack:

Tranquil Cove
Wind-Scarred Crag (foil)
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Noxious Dragon
Wild Slash
Battlefront Krushok
Hunt the Weak
Smoldering Efreet
Sandsteppe Outcast
Lightning Shrieker
Refocus
Abzan Advantage
Ethereal Ambush
Hooded Assassin
Lotus Path Djinn

5th pack:

Wooded Foothills
Archfiend of Depravity
Renowned Weaponsmith
Hewed Stone Retainers
Shockmaw Dragon
Defiant Ogre
Frontier Mastodon
Bathe in Dragonfire
Great-Horn Krushok
Feral Krushok
Hooded Assassin
Lotus Path Djinn
Aven Skirmisher
Pressure Point
Grim Contest

6th pack:

Blossoming Sands
Wildcall
Break Through the Line
Elite Scaleguard
Winds of Qal Sisma
Tasigur's Cruelty
Temur Runemark
 Fierce Invocation
Hunt the Weak
Temur Battle Rage
Gurmag Angler
Rakshasa's Disdain
Dragon Bell Monk
Grim Contest
Typhoid Rats

1/18/15 "In America" FRF prerelease sealed 2-1-1

I went to Gamescape North for the FRF prerelease (day 2).  I originally signed up for Sultai, but decided to change my pick to Mardu.  Unfortunately, I got put at "table 27" so I was lowest priority for Mardu packs.  So I ended up getting a Jeskai pack instead.  The kid next to me (who picked Mardu) was super ragey about me getting to play Jeskai. 

I went to bed around midnight last night, but woke up twice in middle of the night, which sucked.  I got out of bed aroud 8 am and notice I have terrible black circles on my eyes, which doesn't help.  Being super tired during a tournament is not good.

Rares:
Jeskai Infiltrator (rare)
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest
Dragonscale General
Citadel Siege
Arcbond
Ivorytusk Fortress

Match 1:  Mardu  2-0

My opponent is still sleeving his deck, which sucks.  I end up waiting 5 minutes for him to finish sleeving his deck.

Game 1:

I almost lose this game due to my opponent playing 2/3's vs. my 2/1's, but I end up stabilizing into Citadel Siege + Shu Yun ftw.

Game 2:

This game isn't nearly as close, as I simply outpower him with the Citadel Siege tapping one of his guys + Dragonscale General combo buffing my guys. 

Match 2:  Abzan 1-1 draw

My opponent is a known slow player.  He's gone 3-0 in multiple drafts and 4-0 in multiple sealed events by winning the first game then playing super slow.

Game 1:

My opponent makes a gajillion manifests from Mastery of the Unseen.  I manage to clear the board with Arcbond + Sandblast, but it doesn't matter, because he starts the manifest train again.

Game 2:

I win with Dragonscale General, Citadel Siege, and Shu Yun.  I end up Sandblast'ing my own Dragonscale General to counter Channel Harm. 

Game 3:

My opponent goes Qarsi High Priest into Sultai Runemark, attack.  I block with a 2/2 manifest token (from Soul Summoning) and a Mardu Hordechief.   He plays Abzan Charm, making his dude a 4/6.  For some reason I bin both my guys.  I almost die to his stupid 4/6, until I topdeck Jeskai Charm.  Then he plays Tasigur and Sibsig Host.   The game ends up a draw.  But I was dumb for double blocking his 2/4 Vigilance.  All I needed to do was playing out another two power guy to play around Abzan Charm/Dragonscale boon.  

Anyways, the game ends up going to time.

Match 3: Mardu 0-2

Game 1:

Stumble on mana, end up losing to Aven Skirmisher plus Orc Sureshot and Alesha's Vanguard.  Ugh.

Game 2:

Lost to Orc Sureshot taking out 5 of my creatures.  Eventually I get overwhelmed by weenie creatures and die.   Where's my Arcbond??

Match 4:  Abzan 2-1

Game 1:

My opponent plays Hooded Assassin and Armament Corps and Temur War shaman.  I feel like I'm outclassed here with my crappy 2/1's.   I make a bad block on Armament Corps with my Frost Walker + Arashin Cleric.  I should have blocked the Armament Corps with my Frost Walker + Abzan Skycaptain, so the bolster trigger would make my Arashin Cleric into a 3/5.   Anyways, I end up losing that game after he plays Lightform.

Game 2:

I board out my crappy two drops, into Gore Swines and Hungering Yeti. 

Game 3:

Whisk Away does work vs. Lightform.  Thankfully it wasn't Cloudform (which gives hexproof).  

Again, this is a grindy match.   Eventually, Dragonscale General + morphed Efreet Weaponmaster + Gore Swine + Abzan Skycaptain + some timely removal spells (Sandblast + Channel Harm) allow me to eke out a win.

Result:  2-1-1, 3 booster packs

1/16/15 The salt is real (KTK draft 2-1)

This was the last KTK draft at the Gamescape North.  Turnout was pretty low;  26 people. 

I ended up in the draft pod with a known complainer/know it all type.  Greeeat.

Anyways, here's how my draft went:

P1P1:   Clever Impersonator
P1P2:   Ivorytusk Fortress
P1P3:   Highspire Mantis

P2P1:   Master of Pearls

P3P1:   Thousand Winds

I think I could have drafted a decent Jeskai deck, but I decided to take green and black cards for some god awful reason.  Also most of my fixing was Temur. 

Match 1:  Abzan

I don't remember much about this match, but I won in 2 games.

My opponent mentioned that he went undefeated in his last draft.  Cool story bro.

Match 2:  Jeskai complainer

My opponent keeps mentioning I could concede to him.  I tell him to stop.

Game 1:

Lost to double Singing Bell Strike into dudes into Jeskai Charm into Rush of Battle.  I played Feat of Resistance for the first Singing Bell Strike, and my opponent said it was a lousy play (among other comments about my plays). 

Game 2:

Lost to dudes into Rush of Battle into Briber's Purse.  I kinda punted the match by not playing a land during one of my turns.

I say "gg" and he offers a handshake.  Trying to not to dwell on it, I accept.  Whatever. 

Match 3: 

Game 1: 

We trade off a bunch of creatures.  My opponent plays double Scout the Borders.

I show off Clever Impersonator and Master of Pearls.

Eventually I topdeck Winterflame, tap down his flying blocker, swing with Alabaster Kirin + Clever Impersonator ftw.

Game 2:

I'm on the play again, but apparently my opponent concedes to Tuskguard Captain into Kin-Tree Warden into Snowhorn Rider into Whirlwind Adept.  I didn't want to play out my Ivorytusk Fortress into open blue mana (Disdainful Stroke or Cancel). 

Result:  2-1, two booster packs.

Meh.  Unfortunately, the guy who was a complainer, goes to the drafts every week, so I'm bound to run into him again.  But hopefully I won't lose next time.

1/12/15 A bitter pill to swallow (Standard, 2-2)

I went to Versus Games to play tonight.  I had a cold and had to work to do at home, but toughed it out.

I played this list, which was kinda bad for the store meta, seeing so many UW heroic, Temur deck, and some people playing Esper control.
http://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=8671&d=249574&f=ST

Match 1:  Temur (0-2)

Game 1:  

Turn 1 Stubborn Denial puts me on tilt.    I manage to get rid of Savage Knuckleblade after throwing Hero's Downfall, Abzan Charm, and Duneblast on it.   But it doesn't matter in the end, I lose to Ashcloud Phoenix.

Game 2:   

I lose to monstrous Stormbreath Dragon while I'm holding Utter End and Abzan Charm in hand.  

Match 2:   Temur (again) (2-1)

Game 1:

I concede to double Boon Satyr, Crater's Claw to kill my Siege Rhino + Ashcloud Phoenix.

Game 2:

My opponent goes for Crater's Claw on my Siege Rhino with X = 5 (thanks to Ferocious) even though he has 2 more mana open.  I respond with Abzan Charm, making it a 6/7.  He then doesn't attack with his Boon Satyr.    Bile Blight on the Satyr, then Sorin into attacking twice makes quick work of him.

Game 3:

I get behind in the game due to double Savage Knuckleblade.  Abzan Charm into an End Hostilities gets me back into the game, sort of.  

Win in extra turns thanks to Sorin Ultimate and Courser of Kruphix/Siege Rhino beatdown, while my opponent topdecks lands.

Match 3:    GR Monster (0-2)

Game 1:

I mull to , draw mono tap lands.  Goblin Rabblemaster token + Rattleclaw Mystic wear me down, and I lose to Crater's Claw.

Game 2:

I have Bile Blight for Rabblemaster this time.

I was at 11 life, with Siege Rhino and Sylvan Caryatid on board.  I let my opponent swing at me with Heir of the Wild (3 damage) and Stormbreath Dragon (4 damage) and he kills me with bestow Boon Satyr.  Agh.  

After this match, I got a SECOND lecture about putting backpacks on tables, despite the fact that I only had my backpack on the table for like a second before I remembered to put it on the floor. 

Match 4:  Bye

I got a bye, but my friend ended up going 3-1 split, so I still got to go home early.  Whew. 

Result:  2-2, and a bunch of bad feelings.

1/8/15 Modern madness (1-1-1)

I went to Versus Games to play this game.

Match 1 Game 1:

My opponent's a regular constructed grinder. 

I lose the roll.  I open with the Exarch/Splinter Twin combo in hand, but need to find a decent situation to use it.  Turn 1 Faithless Looting into turn 2 Grisly Salvage into a turn 3 second Grisly Salvage and Faithless Looting.

I Remand a couple of his flashback Faithless Lootings (value).  I punt by discarding Tarmogoyf and Spell Snare when I had 8 cards in hand.  For some reason I thought I had 9 cards.

He plays Necrotic Ooze, and I have Cryptic Command in hand with Dig Through Time and Deceiver Exarch.   I check his graveyard, see Boborygmos Enraged and Griselbrand and Lotleth Troll and let it resolve.  ???  For some reason I tap out for Dig Through Time, he domes me with 4 lands and a Soul Spike.

Match 1 Game 2:

He discards Griselbrand to Faithless Looting again.

I counter his first Goryo's Vengeance with  Negate.  Unfortunately, while I'm tapped too low to Snapcaster Mage-Negate he plays a second Goryo's Vengrance and kills me with Griselbrand into Fury of the Horde.

Match 2 Game 1:

This guy accused me of cheating during a BNG/THS/THS draft, which is why I stopped attending FNM there.  Anyways, I try to play the game without saying much.  Of course, my opponent (and his friends) like to make comments about my card choices during the match, constantly).  

I lose the roll, but turn 1 Twisted Image on his Birds of Paradise = value.

Shadow of Doubt to kill one of his fetchlands, almost punt by trying to crack a fetchland afterwards. Woops.   He's attacking with Kitchen Finks, but it doesn't matter because I have double Tarmogoyf.   Vendilion Clique to tuck his Archangel of Thune and Remand for his Eidolon of Rhetoric lets me swing for lethal. 

Match 2 Game 2:

Turn 1 Twisted Image on Noble Hierarch = Sweet.   Anger of the Gods wipes away a Kitchen Finks, a Birds of Paradise, a Voice of Resurgence token, and a spellskite with 1 damage on it from Deceiver Exarch.  Of course, he has another Spellskite, into Birthing Pod, sac Spellskite, get Eternal Witness, play Spellskite.   I Ancient Grudge his Birthing Pod, he Shriekmaw's my Tarmogoyf.  I attack with double Snapcaster Mage, he blocks one with Shriekmaw.  Then I lose to topdeck Archangel of Thune.

Match 2 Game 3:

I had the combo in hand but it didn't matter since he had turn 1 mana dork, turn 2 Wall of Roots, turn 3 Thoughtseize to remove my Splinter Twin.  When I Vendilion Clique'd my opponent he had double Murderous Cut. 

Game went to time.

Match 3 Game 1:

This guy is a visitor from out of town.

I lose the roll, mull to 6, opponent is playing vampires, and main Surgical Extraction on my Lightning Bolt.  I end up kiling opponent with triple Tarmogoyf.

Match 3  Game 2:

I play around Surgical Extraction, by not playing Tarmogoyf until I have Dispel or Negate in hand.  I counter his Surgical Extraction when he goes for it.   Then he plays Surgical Extraction targeting my last Tarmogoyf.  He starts picking away at my life with Bloodghast, which I remove with Anger of the Gods.  Then he plays  another Surgical Extraction on my Anger of the Gods.  I'm down to 1 life, and eventually win off Desolate Lighthouse into Batterskull into Batterskull.

Unfortunately, I'm 1-1-1, and there were 9 people in the modern, and I ended up out of prize contention.   That's fine, at least I ddn't run into any "nerd-ragers" during the draft.