Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV-isCOeiFSyjHekh682xN8GT9yEJH4ua
And I recorded it just now, tonight, to help celebrate the new logo. It's relevant and everything, I swear!
I hope that worked. I just copied the HTML to see if it wouldn't work.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Return to Ravnica, hope and fun in hand.
New Standard Eruptus.
This is exciting. With all but 8 cards spoiled from Return to Ravnica, we at Team "You don't say?" have gotten into brewing mode. Here's a decklist, complete with notes that lead to other decklists, and cute ideas so a general mishmash of everything, based soley on Ravnica's new offerings. This ignores the current standard metagame, and the "top dog" Delver deck which is set to be torn asunder anyway.
It's fully possible that the last 8 cards really open up new things, seeing we don't have the Azorious artifact yet (a cycle that produces mana and then activates for bashing) but it'll be sweet regardless, and you can always Terminus, Wrath and then activate afterwards. No more Gideon, but we get these guys instead.
The positioning for Standard looks like Jund will come back in force, Rakdos and Golgari ripping new faces apart with glee. The much simpler Naya will continue to try and play a gentlemens game of competition, and possibly do so well enough that it'll dip into blue for sideways answers, things like Uncounterable Wrath for the Jund mirror, followed by the Rakdos bin clearing Charm, why not?
The main excitement at the moment is how open all mana bases are. With Gatecrash (not for another 3 months tho) we'll have the ability to play 12 mana sources for whatever colour combo you want, so it'll be exciting to see what the cooking pot of Standard produces.
Regardless, I have my eye on cards now, so I know what I expect my 3 boxes to crack. Mostly blue/white, because I love that colour. Anyway, my random scribbling, to aid you in your launchpad as well as to act as a snapshot of the excitement that new sets (Avacyn Restored excepting) create!!
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Azorious Guildgate
5 Islands
5 Plains
---
22 lands
4 Judge's Familiar /// Delver for aggro build
4 New Prahv Guildmage // knight of glory (pro rakdos)
4 Lyev Skynight (great for 1 2 3 drops aggro)
Artic Aven in control
3 Dungeon Geists? good cap
3 Sleep in aggro build
4 ???? not Index
4 Azorious Charm lifelink/draw/atkblk top of lib
4 Cyclonic Rift
4 Azorious Artifact tap for u/w, activate creature)
4 Terminus
1 Supreme Verdict (yeah, just 1)
3 Detention Sphere
2 Sphinx's Revelation
4 Rewind?
2 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Isperia, Supreme Judge
1 Fall of the Gavel
4 Azor's Elocutor? build around deck, obv. Hexproof, prevent all damage.
1 Stormtide Leviathan (just one)
1 Sudden Disappearance
sideboard
3 dispel?
3 Civic Saber (birdy beatdown?)
2 Misthollow Griffin [the mirror, o ring ME hey?)
2 Negate?
2 Outwit v Bonfire of the Damned
"Cute" other
4 Void Stalker
4 Index
Allows for the aggro into control plays, while Index can be played. If
shite, shuffle with Void Stalker.
No, it isn't a solid 60, and that sideboard is totally guessing at things. I know people say that Aggro reigns at the start of a season, but why wait? Just think of the aggro you'd play, and build to beat that. Who isn't going to enjoy eating up the field then Scavanging? The good cards only, of course.
My biggest dream for those remaining unspoiled 8 cards from Return to Ravnica?
Ancestral Recall. Totally.
This is exciting. With all but 8 cards spoiled from Return to Ravnica, we at Team "You don't say?" have gotten into brewing mode. Here's a decklist, complete with notes that lead to other decklists, and cute ideas so a general mishmash of everything, based soley on Ravnica's new offerings. This ignores the current standard metagame, and the "top dog" Delver deck which is set to be torn asunder anyway.
It's fully possible that the last 8 cards really open up new things, seeing we don't have the Azorious artifact yet (a cycle that produces mana and then activates for bashing) but it'll be sweet regardless, and you can always Terminus, Wrath and then activate afterwards. No more Gideon, but we get these guys instead.
The positioning for Standard looks like Jund will come back in force, Rakdos and Golgari ripping new faces apart with glee. The much simpler Naya will continue to try and play a gentlemens game of competition, and possibly do so well enough that it'll dip into blue for sideways answers, things like Uncounterable Wrath for the Jund mirror, followed by the Rakdos bin clearing Charm, why not?
The main excitement at the moment is how open all mana bases are. With Gatecrash (not for another 3 months tho) we'll have the ability to play 12 mana sources for whatever colour combo you want, so it'll be exciting to see what the cooking pot of Standard produces.
Regardless, I have my eye on cards now, so I know what I expect my 3 boxes to crack. Mostly blue/white, because I love that colour. Anyway, my random scribbling, to aid you in your launchpad as well as to act as a snapshot of the excitement that new sets (Avacyn Restored excepting) create!!
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Azorious Guildgate
5 Islands
5 Plains
---
22 lands
4 Judge's Familiar /// Delver for aggro build
4 New Prahv Guildmage // knight of glory (pro rakdos)
4 Lyev Skynight (great for 1 2 3 drops aggro)
Artic Aven in control
3 Dungeon Geists? good cap
3 Sleep in aggro build
4 ???? not Index
4 Azorious Charm lifelink/draw/atkblk top of lib
4 Cyclonic Rift
4 Azorious Artifact tap for u/w, activate creature)
4 Terminus
1 Supreme Verdict (yeah, just 1)
3 Detention Sphere
2 Sphinx's Revelation
4 Rewind?
2 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Isperia, Supreme Judge
1 Fall of the Gavel
4 Azor's Elocutor? build around deck, obv. Hexproof, prevent all damage.
1 Stormtide Leviathan (just one)
1 Sudden Disappearance
sideboard
3 dispel?
3 Civic Saber (birdy beatdown?)
2 Misthollow Griffin [the mirror, o ring ME hey?)
2 Negate?
2 Outwit v Bonfire of the Damned
"Cute" other
4 Void Stalker
4 Index
Allows for the aggro into control plays, while Index can be played. If
shite, shuffle with Void Stalker.
No, it isn't a solid 60, and that sideboard is totally guessing at things. I know people say that Aggro reigns at the start of a season, but why wait? Just think of the aggro you'd play, and build to beat that. Who isn't going to enjoy eating up the field then Scavanging? The good cards only, of course.
My biggest dream for those remaining unspoiled 8 cards from Return to Ravnica?
Ancestral Recall. Totally.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Team name decided!!
Oh this is exciting. After some more playtesting and general discussion of the new Standard once Ravnica rotates in, we got together and discussed the all important team name. It had to be something we all liked, and I wanted to keep the idea of "yeah constantly."
If you remember, "yeah, constantly" was my first idea because it's your response to someone when they tell you their bad beats story.
"I was going to kill him next turn, but he had the Wrath."
You nod, sagely. "Yeah. Constantly."
So in respect to all that, we have come together and found the modern-est equivalent. Introducing...
*drum roll please*
Team "You don't say."
You don't say? We DO say. Every time they had the Murder for your Nefarox, you tilt your head and invoke it, 'You don't say?' Every time you have 5 power on the board, but +1 with Ajani instead of just swinging for 10 and the win*, to yourself you invoke, 'You don't say?' Whenever you try to max out on the Ravager beats, and they have the Smelt in response to the final attacker with all the counters, 'You don't say.'
I could bore you further with news of what we spoke about, re Return to ravnica, but it's obvious. "Seems good." Instead I think it's more interesting to discuss buying and selling cards, on places like eBay, sure, and trends.
When Return to Rav was announced, everybody hushed together to discuss the Shocks coming back, as though secret covens may just be enough to tempt the gods-that-be to do it. Or, discussing with shop keeps, and knowingly pointing out Mutiliate and Liliana of the Dark Realms, you choose to simply "know" that the Shocks are surely returning.
At the point in time, the cost of lands was morphing. Some stayed high, at around 20/25 each. Then the set began to leak, and they stayed constant, some dipped in hopes of quick sales, or just sales at all. This was when we did most of our buying, and luckily so. A playset of dual shocks will go for different amounts, and Ravnica: City of Guilds will definately fetch a higher price and return a great percentage of their value. The new Return to Ravnica lands wont gain anything amazing, be EVERYWHERE and people wont treat them as well. Still very good, becoz functionality is that key, but compared to the older lands?
Regardless, the old cards shot straight back up to their full price, knowing the rich greedy or stupid would still pay full price for proper Rav lands (see? Writers are already refering to the old lands as "proper") and that's where they'll stay.
I'm just going to say that we managed to slaughter the arena, and to good reason to. If the lands came out, it makes the older one's premium, so we make money on resells, or just "awesomeness". And if the lands weren't reprinted? They'd maintain their rare value and being a key cycle of lands in Modern we would have made money anyway.
So that's my two bits on buying and selling cards at the moment. Watch eBay to see the fluctuations, and strike when something obvious it happening. Obviously the lands are a BIG DEAL and were more obvious than, say, Stoneforge Mystic. But the sharp eye can spy these things and move like shadows, snatching cards for peanuts.
Whatever the way you do get your cards, always be on the lookout for the rip off.
* This actually happened, only it was against me that it occured. I know how to bash for the win.
If you remember, "yeah, constantly" was my first idea because it's your response to someone when they tell you their bad beats story.
"I was going to kill him next turn, but he had the Wrath."
You nod, sagely. "Yeah. Constantly."
So in respect to all that, we have come together and found the modern-est equivalent. Introducing...
*drum roll please*
Team "You don't say."
You don't say? We DO say. Every time they had the Murder for your Nefarox, you tilt your head and invoke it, 'You don't say?' Every time you have 5 power on the board, but +1 with Ajani instead of just swinging for 10 and the win*, to yourself you invoke, 'You don't say?' Whenever you try to max out on the Ravager beats, and they have the Smelt in response to the final attacker with all the counters, 'You don't say.'
I could bore you further with news of what we spoke about, re Return to ravnica, but it's obvious. "Seems good." Instead I think it's more interesting to discuss buying and selling cards, on places like eBay, sure, and trends.
When Return to Rav was announced, everybody hushed together to discuss the Shocks coming back, as though secret covens may just be enough to tempt the gods-that-be to do it. Or, discussing with shop keeps, and knowingly pointing out Mutiliate and Liliana of the Dark Realms, you choose to simply "know" that the Shocks are surely returning.
At the point in time, the cost of lands was morphing. Some stayed high, at around 20/25 each. Then the set began to leak, and they stayed constant, some dipped in hopes of quick sales, or just sales at all. This was when we did most of our buying, and luckily so. A playset of dual shocks will go for different amounts, and Ravnica: City of Guilds will definately fetch a higher price and return a great percentage of their value. The new Return to Ravnica lands wont gain anything amazing, be EVERYWHERE and people wont treat them as well. Still very good, becoz functionality is that key, but compared to the older lands?
Regardless, the old cards shot straight back up to their full price, knowing the rich greedy or stupid would still pay full price for proper Rav lands (see? Writers are already refering to the old lands as "proper") and that's where they'll stay.
I'm just going to say that we managed to slaughter the arena, and to good reason to. If the lands came out, it makes the older one's premium, so we make money on resells, or just "awesomeness". And if the lands weren't reprinted? They'd maintain their rare value and being a key cycle of lands in Modern we would have made money anyway.
So that's my two bits on buying and selling cards at the moment. Watch eBay to see the fluctuations, and strike when something obvious it happening. Obviously the lands are a BIG DEAL and were more obvious than, say, Stoneforge Mystic. But the sharp eye can spy these things and move like shadows, snatching cards for peanuts.
Whatever the way you do get your cards, always be on the lookout for the rip off.
* This actually happened, only it was against me that it occured. I know how to bash for the win.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Pauper is online!
Just a quick note, Channel Fox Murdoch has finally gotten it's pauper together. Even though round 5 is a recorded replay, we have five rounds of Pauper.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV-isCOeiFSwmptJ94Qvyt42yHVGwZMY5
And what can I say other than I think I HATE how completely stupid and ridiculous some "playlist" setting up can be. Seriously. You should have a folder that every thing goes into, and remains seperate from everything else. YouTube has zero ability to guide a completely random guest, to my channel, toward what they want. DIRECT LINK is the best I can do for them.
It doesn't help having three accounts with them, but oh well. You want "TheFoxMurdoch" which will be our video hall for the moment. Once we settle on a proper team name, we may open a new one.
Channel Yeah, Constantly.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV-isCOeiFSwmptJ94Qvyt42yHVGwZMY5
And what can I say other than I think I HATE how completely stupid and ridiculous some "playlist" setting up can be. Seriously. You should have a folder that every thing goes into, and remains seperate from everything else. YouTube has zero ability to guide a completely random guest, to my channel, toward what they want. DIRECT LINK is the best I can do for them.
It doesn't help having three accounts with them, but oh well. You want "TheFoxMurdoch" which will be our video hall for the moment. Once we settle on a proper team name, we may open a new one.
Channel Yeah, Constantly.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Updating, making vids, constantly.
Quick post tonight. I started work on a new article (still have about 3 that could just be pushed out the door, but I like the write when inspiration strikes). This one is about position, integration and something else. Can't tell you the whole thing, you'll have to wait for it. The main bread of it though is to help give aim when building a deck for a new environment. You know, like when standard rotates.
I've also got four matches recorded for the Pauper zombie deck, but I'm not going to post it yet. It'll go on my youtube account, which is youtube.com/thefoxmurdoch, but why not yet? I want to do another round. Round 4 was rather brief, and I also using all my gf's gear.
When I record at home, I lock myself into the dining room and mostly remain undisturbed, with a headphone/microphone onepiece that works quite well. It's not uncomfortable but inbetween games I certainly feel a need to take it off my ears, and it's only real annoying trait is the way it can pick up all the sounds of my swallowing, at times.
So, used to those, I put my gf's friend on and find out that it plays back whatever I say. Hey, it's a gimmick, cool! Until I finish my first game recording and find out that it's not cool, but recording the echo! I try to fix it between games of a single round, but it's no good and so round 4 I have an echo the entire time. The things we learn.
After the game (versus poison), I had enough time to find the solution. So next time I make vids at Amys the sound will work, and we wont have an echo. I just have to worry about the 10 cats running around.
-Fox
I've also got four matches recorded for the Pauper zombie deck, but I'm not going to post it yet. It'll go on my youtube account, which is youtube.com/thefoxmurdoch, but why not yet? I want to do another round. Round 4 was rather brief, and I also using all my gf's gear.
When I record at home, I lock myself into the dining room and mostly remain undisturbed, with a headphone/microphone onepiece that works quite well. It's not uncomfortable but inbetween games I certainly feel a need to take it off my ears, and it's only real annoying trait is the way it can pick up all the sounds of my swallowing, at times.
So, used to those, I put my gf's friend on and find out that it plays back whatever I say. Hey, it's a gimmick, cool! Until I finish my first game recording and find out that it's not cool, but recording the echo! I try to fix it between games of a single round, but it's no good and so round 4 I have an echo the entire time. The things we learn.
After the game (versus poison), I had enough time to find the solution. So next time I make vids at Amys the sound will work, and we wont have an echo. I just have to worry about the 10 cats running around.
-Fox
Monday, September 3, 2012
GP Auckland side events!
The side events for GP Auckland are up! Click here. https://sites.google.com/a/cantripgames.co.nz/cantrip-games/home Or there <<-----
Hello again, and welcome! Things are heating up. Times are exciting. We've got an in-progress Return to Ravnica spoiler over at mtgsalvation.com (http://mtgsalvation.com/return-to-ravnica-spoiler.html) and the dual lands are confirmed! Thank God.
What has team "Yeah, Constantly" been up to? I can't speak too much for the others, but we've been buying up duals in general, as well as figuring out new ways to get boxes on the cheap. Normally a store will want $160 for a box, which is great, but I'm not too interested in paying a lot for what turns out to be a mostly common/uncommon collection, you know?
So to that end, I've done some judging recently which got me a box, as well as my articles for Good Games (that you should go and read, they're all good too!) give me credit to get a cheaper box, plus a new story about to open up in West Ryde (the Cardboard Bunker) are doing a VERY cheeky deal, so I can say pretty easily that I'm about 3 boxes in. That'll help, surely?
Rony has been having the occasional weekly trials at mine. We play Standard, but have been favouring Modern lately. We've got three decks that we gauntlet quite often, which at the moment is Seismic Loam, Sceptre of Secrets and r/w aggro bash (not Brozek wins).
I suppose it'd make sense to detail the decks and minute changes we've made here. I don't imagine too many ppl will read this and be able to get all HULK CRUSH! on me next time I play in the city, for example, and it gives you awesome readers something to do. So expect that soon, both on Seismic Loam and Sceptre, I'll hit up Rony and see if he doesn't wanna do red.
At the VERY moment, I am enjoying Travis Woo's take on pauper, with monoblack Stinkweed Zombies. It's fun, and I've made some videos thus far. Expect them soon!
Ammy and James have been fronting the Standard efforts, James piloting a very cool Naya build.
Hello again, and welcome! Things are heating up. Times are exciting. We've got an in-progress Return to Ravnica spoiler over at mtgsalvation.com (http://mtgsalvation.com/return-to-ravnica-spoiler.html) and the dual lands are confirmed! Thank God.
What has team "Yeah, Constantly" been up to? I can't speak too much for the others, but we've been buying up duals in general, as well as figuring out new ways to get boxes on the cheap. Normally a store will want $160 for a box, which is great, but I'm not too interested in paying a lot for what turns out to be a mostly common/uncommon collection, you know?
So to that end, I've done some judging recently which got me a box, as well as my articles for Good Games (that you should go and read, they're all good too!) give me credit to get a cheaper box, plus a new story about to open up in West Ryde (the Cardboard Bunker) are doing a VERY cheeky deal, so I can say pretty easily that I'm about 3 boxes in. That'll help, surely?
Rony has been having the occasional weekly trials at mine. We play Standard, but have been favouring Modern lately. We've got three decks that we gauntlet quite often, which at the moment is Seismic Loam, Sceptre of Secrets and r/w aggro bash (not Brozek wins).
I suppose it'd make sense to detail the decks and minute changes we've made here. I don't imagine too many ppl will read this and be able to get all HULK CRUSH! on me next time I play in the city, for example, and it gives you awesome readers something to do. So expect that soon, both on Seismic Loam and Sceptre, I'll hit up Rony and see if he doesn't wanna do red.
At the VERY moment, I am enjoying Travis Woo's take on pauper, with monoblack Stinkweed Zombies. It's fun, and I've made some videos thus far. Expect them soon!
Ammy and James have been fronting the Standard efforts, James piloting a very cool Naya build.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Introducing Team "Constantly"
I figure it's time to introduce my team. I call it mine, because I know the fun and importance of having a proper outfit, and of all the Australian team of magic players I know, none are distinct enough to remember. I can only recall something, once, about pirates.
My testing team consists of my friends who consider themselves good yet ever improving players, who're also fantastic collectors and sellers. If we need a specific something fixed, one of us can do it.
For rules, that's me. Lvl 1 who all the judges say should really be level 2. Plus article writer afficionado, for the past 3 years and 1 year previous to that to (though year 1 of Murdoch Monthly is hardly worth the recollection).
Next we have Rony, who's been my faithful bestest mate since ages and ages ago. We're the closest together, and we've travelled to ACT before for Magic, though more for the side event fun. I tend to think of Rony as the rogue deck player of the group. It doesn't matter who built it or found it, but Rony will test it. If he needs money, I just buy up all his Goyfs and Steam Vents and hopefully one day his bobs.
The next member is a members, plural. Ammy and James. Ammy first. One trip to the ACT Rony and I met Ammy. Female Magic players aren't very common, certainly less so good players who improve dramatically fast, catching up to me in about one year. I started playing 1999 and still make mistakes like walking right into That Obvious Mana LeakTM. She's fantastically good at player, probably a better pilot then I am while in the seat, and yet still capable of missing something like having lethal on the board whilst playing white weenie against a Primeval Titan. Pro green + sword equals win, but like EVERYBODY the right creature on the opposite side of the board throws you into reverse. I tend to think of Ammy as our best player, which is, I guess, odd to say considering her brief amount of time playing, but I include all aspects of her as a gamer, Magic player, intellectual and female.
The next member is James, who is an awesome fella and introduced me to ginger beer when I wanted something that wasn't coke. He's a fantastic sharp mind and only as cool as a cucumber. As in "cool as a". In play level I'm not sure where I place James in our group, possibly at the same level as Amy, but he comes from Poker and simply being great at talking with people, dealing with them and otherwise handling "the situation" moreso than playing a game. And all without being a jerk, pushy, or forth-right about it. Always a gentlemen. He's also the best at trading selling and buying cards, because he just understands a fantastic quantity about cards, and nonmoney value, such as trading cards to people who need them now for cards later on. I tend to think of James as the managerial brains of things, and if we had a collective Magic website we all wrote on, he'd run it. ChannelFoxball, you know?
The last member is myself. I played Magic because it was fun at school, took up writing and judging it because I thought I was a crap player, and proved myself right up until this year. I took Magic and made it the main focus, over work and other things, and it's proved both my writing and my playing, so I can only say I'm happy about that. I have the best knowledge of any player I know personally (that means players I know and would want to have a drink at the bar with, completely unrelated to some Magic event on the day) and I'm always trying to figure out the best way to maintain control, and therefore composure, even without any mana or any way to interact. Think of a blue player without any Islands untapped whatsoever, and the fact that they can still Pact of Negation your anything, or Commandeer any noncreature you cast. That's me, waiting in the wings, with the rules and sharp timing as my glinting knife in the moonlight.
I tend to think of myself as the best "would be" player of the group, seeing I would be better if I paid more attention and practiced a lot more, but my location compared to people I like as people AND as players makes it hard to practice together, or often. So I keep myself busy and my rules knowledge sharp. I'm also the community heart of the group, seeing I organised GP Melbourne and contacted all my mates on things like flights and accomodation. This group of "mates" refers to other players than those listed above. None of them made it saves Gibbers, who I'd love to have on the team, but the effort of organising everything into a simple "yes" or "no" for the others is what I do, and it's because I know having a micro community whenever you go to an event makes it more fun, etc.
There is also that group of Lismore players I'm totally down with, run by Liam. They're team Lismore. They exist in Lismore.
SO what's brought on this pouring out of the mind? GP Auckland isn't that far away. AND we now which cards our new Standard wont have, but we have scant few ideas of what Ravnica's return will bring -- so it's time to get ready. As far as I know, the Team will be myself, Ammy and James for GP Auckland, plus Liam from Lismore may be playing or judging, depends. But that's the Team. There's the study, and training, and deck building/testing/fixing.
I'll keep you posted.
Fox Murdoch.
ps.
The topic of team name constantly comes up, and I always like grand things. Think like "The Fox Murdoch experience, featuring Ammy +2, Introducing JDNoice." The number changes as you get and lose numbers, depending on the event and ability of players to come along with the team. GP Sydney next year (2013!) for example could be +7, considering we all live in Sydney Australia. Travel is cheap, and no accomodation! Though GP Auckland? Planeflights and accomodation ain't cheap, so +0 in this case =(
Suggestions welcome!
My testing team consists of my friends who consider themselves good yet ever improving players, who're also fantastic collectors and sellers. If we need a specific something fixed, one of us can do it.
For rules, that's me. Lvl 1 who all the judges say should really be level 2. Plus article writer afficionado, for the past 3 years and 1 year previous to that to (though year 1 of Murdoch Monthly is hardly worth the recollection).
Next we have Rony, who's been my faithful bestest mate since ages and ages ago. We're the closest together, and we've travelled to ACT before for Magic, though more for the side event fun. I tend to think of Rony as the rogue deck player of the group. It doesn't matter who built it or found it, but Rony will test it. If he needs money, I just buy up all his Goyfs and Steam Vents and hopefully one day his bobs.
The next member is a members, plural. Ammy and James. Ammy first. One trip to the ACT Rony and I met Ammy. Female Magic players aren't very common, certainly less so good players who improve dramatically fast, catching up to me in about one year. I started playing 1999 and still make mistakes like walking right into That Obvious Mana LeakTM. She's fantastically good at player, probably a better pilot then I am while in the seat, and yet still capable of missing something like having lethal on the board whilst playing white weenie against a Primeval Titan. Pro green + sword equals win, but like EVERYBODY the right creature on the opposite side of the board throws you into reverse. I tend to think of Ammy as our best player, which is, I guess, odd to say considering her brief amount of time playing, but I include all aspects of her as a gamer, Magic player, intellectual and female.
The next member is James, who is an awesome fella and introduced me to ginger beer when I wanted something that wasn't coke. He's a fantastic sharp mind and only as cool as a cucumber. As in "cool as a". In play level I'm not sure where I place James in our group, possibly at the same level as Amy, but he comes from Poker and simply being great at talking with people, dealing with them and otherwise handling "the situation" moreso than playing a game. And all without being a jerk, pushy, or forth-right about it. Always a gentlemen. He's also the best at trading selling and buying cards, because he just understands a fantastic quantity about cards, and nonmoney value, such as trading cards to people who need them now for cards later on. I tend to think of James as the managerial brains of things, and if we had a collective Magic website we all wrote on, he'd run it. ChannelFoxball, you know?
The last member is myself. I played Magic because it was fun at school, took up writing and judging it because I thought I was a crap player, and proved myself right up until this year. I took Magic and made it the main focus, over work and other things, and it's proved both my writing and my playing, so I can only say I'm happy about that. I have the best knowledge of any player I know personally (that means players I know and would want to have a drink at the bar with, completely unrelated to some Magic event on the day) and I'm always trying to figure out the best way to maintain control, and therefore composure, even without any mana or any way to interact. Think of a blue player without any Islands untapped whatsoever, and the fact that they can still Pact of Negation your anything, or Commandeer any noncreature you cast. That's me, waiting in the wings, with the rules and sharp timing as my glinting knife in the moonlight.
I tend to think of myself as the best "would be" player of the group, seeing I would be better if I paid more attention and practiced a lot more, but my location compared to people I like as people AND as players makes it hard to practice together, or often. So I keep myself busy and my rules knowledge sharp. I'm also the community heart of the group, seeing I organised GP Melbourne and contacted all my mates on things like flights and accomodation. This group of "mates" refers to other players than those listed above. None of them made it saves Gibbers, who I'd love to have on the team, but the effort of organising everything into a simple "yes" or "no" for the others is what I do, and it's because I know having a micro community whenever you go to an event makes it more fun, etc.
There is also that group of Lismore players I'm totally down with, run by Liam. They're team Lismore. They exist in Lismore.
SO what's brought on this pouring out of the mind? GP Auckland isn't that far away. AND we now which cards our new Standard wont have, but we have scant few ideas of what Ravnica's return will bring -- so it's time to get ready. As far as I know, the Team will be myself, Ammy and James for GP Auckland, plus Liam from Lismore may be playing or judging, depends. But that's the Team. There's the study, and training, and deck building/testing/fixing.
I'll keep you posted.
Fox Murdoch.
ps.
The topic of team name constantly comes up, and I always like grand things. Think like "The Fox Murdoch experience, featuring Ammy +2, Introducing JDNoice." The number changes as you get and lose numbers, depending on the event and ability of players to come along with the team. GP Sydney next year (2013!) for example could be +7, considering we all live in Sydney Australia. Travel is cheap, and no accomodation! Though GP Auckland? Planeflights and accomodation ain't cheap, so +0 in this case =(
Suggestions welcome!
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