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.