9.25.2014

SPDC and MPDC 26.06 Trophies Updated !

NO, you are not seeing double. Pilgrim? What Pilgrim?

Now please mind the details.

The same deck archetype just won both last SPDC and MPDC Players Run Event. Now how come?

Well it's all DrChris' fault / reward and credit !

He built this monster.

Let's call it monster because it's undoubtly and actually the best deck in the format. It has solutions and answers to most threats and mechanics, uses the best value cards in the card pool allowed, runs a well balanced dream mana curve. All it needs is a bit of luck and skills to pilot.

Now many have proven this deck to be the format winning archetype before the fall and Standard rotation.

But time is not on its side...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzcWwmwChVE

Most of the key cards will be rotating out soon, so keep faith in your new builds, don't give it up !

It has indeed taken out Mill, MBC, other Enchantment based decks, Orzhov Extort, RDW and the list goes on. This deck or other slight variations are really competitive and reliable, that's why most players aiming for the win have been trying it out lately.

And with the success they've been hoping for.

Check this out :

Here are the latest trophies entering the Clan's Hall of Fame !


 Congrats Beatnik Bobby !



 Congrats Forli !

And Big Thanks to Gwyned for designing them in a timely manner so we can post them on time before next week's events.

2 Tone decks rule !

Meet you in SPDC or MPDC hopefully !

Ad'

9.23.2014

SPDC and MPDC 26.05 Trophies Updated !

Look at them, now they are here for all to see !

Thanks to Gwyned and DrChrisBaker, our beloved and venerable hosts for MPDC and SPDC, and (edit) big ups to Gwyned for creating and designing them !
Looks like WB is the best color combination to use for the win these days.
Remember Godzo's White Weenie is in fact a Stracciatella.

Click on the Trophies below for a link to the Decklists...


 Congrats Chris !


 Congrats Godzo !


And Congrats to Beatnik Bobby for the incoming SPDC 26.06 Trophy with WB Auras,
and to  Forli for the latest MPDC 26.06 Trophy with another WB Auras decklist , but that's another story.


9.21.2014

(Positive) Changes to Standard (Pauper) rotation



On August 25, Mark Rosewater announced huge changes to the way Standard format rotates. Opinions in response were mixed. For some, more frequent rotations meant less stagnant environments, for others it meant increases in costs to play the game. While everyone was arguing about the future of the most popular Magic format, they completely forgot there is another format influenced by these changes – Standard Pauper! Luckily for us, slightly increased costs shouldn’t hurt at all. So, it’s pure upside! More cards, more blocks, more fun! In case you don’t understand what’s all this buzz about, let’s take a look at these glorified changes.

First, the changes set printing throughout the years:
1. Beginning in the Fall of 2015, Magic Blocks Will Be Two Sets Each

2. Beginning in the Fall of 2015, Magic Will Have Two Blocks Per Year

3. Beginning in 2016, the Core Sets Are No More

I imagine, you’re as excited as me to hear that we will get twice as many storylines in a year. Beginning in 2015, we will be visiting more planes and Wizards should have more space to create flavorful cards with interesting design and such. In addition to that, we are getting rid of Core Sets. They weren’t a huge problem to me, but cards in these were usually very simple, often reprinted and they didn’t provide as much fun as a completely new block. That’s the way we will get our cards delivered in the future, but what’s more important, is how Standard (Pauper) rotations will happen. Make sure you understand what’s written below!

4: Beginning in 2016, the First Set of Each Block (the Fall and Spring Sets) Will Cause a Rotation

5: Beginning in 2016, Standard Will Be Three Blocks Rather Than Two Blocks

In a year and a half, card pool in Standard will change much more frequently. The first set of every two-set block will force the oldest block to shift out. Standard will always consist of either 5 or 6 sets and 3 blocks. What’s even more important to know for us, is the way switching to the new system in 2015 will work.

First of all, Khans of Tarkir will work as usual – Return to Ravnica will leave us along with M14, while Theros and M15 will stay. Everything is staying normal during this block next year and our last Core Set – M16, will join us as usual. Then, the first two-set block, codenamed “Blood” will cause Theros to rotate out. The next block after it, “Tears”, will cut off only Khans of Tarkir and it’s second set, leaving KtK 3rd set in Standard. That's the start of our future Standard with 3 two-set blocks in it all the time.

Be aware, how cards will shift in our near future and I guarantee you fun times, where we are no longer stuck with the same cards for whole two years. It is a good time to be playing Standard Pauper guys and I’m certainly happy about that.

See you next time,
MundisV
(Edit from Adner) Here's the way rotation will impact Standard once KtK is released :
http://www.gatheringmagic.com/news-08252014-new-release-schedule-and-standard-rotation/

9.16.2014

MPDC and SPDC 26.04 Trophies Updated !

Look at them, now they are here for all to see !

Thanks to Gwyned and DrChrisBaker, our beloved and venerable hosts for MPDC and SPDC for creating and designing them.


Click on the Trophies below for a link to the Decklists...


Congrats MyGalaxy !



 Congrats Bigbee !


And Congrats to Chris for the incoming SPDC 26.05 Trophy with WB Pilgrim,
and to Godzo for the latest MPDC 26.05 Trophy with  WB Stracciatella, but that's another story.

9.13.2014

United We Stand !

So here's what it's supposed to be now?

and divided we fall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GQMIXGRjaw

Yeah, yet another sad Dictum making a highlight, sorry for that, way too easy.

Indeed, too few opponents to test Standard Pauper lists with on Magic The Gathering Online nowadays, but the quetion is WHY???

Several Clan members have been noticing and reporting on the Clan's private forums a decreasing attendance receptiveness for our format lately, and it feels bad, and regular members, as well as new customers do feel lonely in the Constructed play rooms. That's been a fact for weeks now, let's face it.

Here are different explanations about it, at least in my humble opinion...

1) The new client, aKa V4, has been keeping people away from MTGO and they are reluctant to joining the game and community anytime again soon. They are away, on vacation, or  / and just fell in love with Online game contenders, mostly Hearstone. Maybe People are tired of vitual money based Internet games and are back to old good Boardgames.
What made them mad is the fact that V4 is not Clan friendly and that Clan Chat and Clan options made social life and experience even more difficult and awkward than ever.

2) MTGO is such a selfish and introspective experience because of V4 nowadays that people only show up when they can in Players Run Events and neglict the fun and testing part of the game, for prize interest as well as deep but passing-by addiction fullfilment. Of course that is related to the first explanation.

3) Standard Pauper Players have now decided to focus on Regular Standard, because there are so many rubbish or stolen games to play there, spending so much for cards that will even soon rotate out earlier than before. Single copy of each new card for collection ? Redeeming only? Regular Standard offers so many opponents afterall.

4) Some players may think the Standard Pauper Metagame is broken, Ethereal Armor being too strong and unstoppable. I can't believe this is real though. I could be proven wrong still. Let's play !

So What are we going to do now ?

- Sit down and wait for everyone interested in Standard pauper to get back into MTGO and install V4 ?
- Wait for Ethereal Armor to rotate out and Mill archetype to be banned so we can play fair games again ? lolz
- Pray and hope for a Pauper format in Hearthstone and sell our MTGO collections ?
- Nothing at all ?

I do think there's a way, an out to this situation, and it's called UNITY through Communication. Clan chat and individual PMs (it's so sad we can't leave messages to a buddie when he's not online anymore), posts on the clan forums can help  finding opponents more regularly and easily than we do now.
Have a look at Home section when connecting MTGO and see who's there amongst clan mates, send a few PMs to them, then let's rock !!

We've got the tools and means to have things going on, it's up to all of us to use them.

And if you're not a member of the Standard Pauper Players Clan yet, I encourage you to get in touch with Captain Gwyned so you can get your invitation !

See you in the Just For Fun Room.

Adner.

9.09.2014

Clan Trophies : SPDC 26.04 and MPDC 26.04

Come on, let's play SPDC !
Hi there !
It's good to be back after a long break from MTGO. Meeting you all again and chatting while burning some Magic cards.
Yes, there's a new client called V4. It is what it is, no further discussion though there's still a lot of work to achieve before wan call MTGO a nice gaming experience online. Getting used to new things is not easy as you all know. Nevermind the 3 deconnections I experienced yesterday in MPDC during my only two rounds of swiss, nevermind the delays at displaying what's going on on the battlefield, still there is fun included and that is all that matters afterall.

In the past two days two new trophies arrived at the Clan Trophy Hall
Well, virtually at least, they shall soon become reality.

Last Sunday we had SPDC 26.04, hosted by RRemedio instead of DrChrisbacker, really busy and doing well so far at GP Salt Lake City. 12 players joined the event. We all know Sundays suffer from event traffic jams, but come on, join the Standard Pauper cause and attend SPDC !
So here’s how it went, you can find the event recap here :


Bigbee’s White Weenie took the win after three rounds of swiss and a top 4 cut off.
Sungrace Pegasus and Heliod’s Pilgrim are both wonderful additions to the archetype, and this list will be difficult to beat this season, furthermore driven by Bigbee’s hands.
Congratulations !!!


“COMMENTS
No more Radiant Fountain! “

And Sunday saw another White based list taking the second finish place. A deck called WB Aura, piloted by Clan mate Beatnik Bobby. The list features more Heroic creatures than Bigbee’s list shown above and makes graveyard creature recursion a viable option with Font of Return. It also includes Crypt Incursion, and more surprisingly, Eternal Thirst.
It’s interesting to check that both lists are very well shafted to face Dimir Mill, maindeck and also after sideboarding cards like Razortip Whip and Eyes in the Skies. 

And the day after SPDC comes MPDC. That was yesterday evening for Europe, once again successfully hosted by Gwyned. 25 players attended the event, you can find the recap here :


Congratulations to Clan mate MyGalaxy, winner after 4 rounds of Swiss and a top 8 cut off. He’s been competing well lately with a list of his own, inherited from last season and taking advantage of the freshly released Invasive Species. And it’s a  Four colors list, I’m sure Godzo‘s stats on the format winners will appreciate that fact. Private joke about our clan’s private forums, don’t pay attention unless you want to join them and take part in the discussions.  So here’s the winning list, and it fared well against most of the current archetypes in the metagame.

 
« COMMENTS
And I won:) With some amount of luck of course:))”

Luck for sure, it’s needed, but this list is well tuned and original and I can see why it is successful in this environment. Maindecking Negates, Duress and Peel from Reality, you don’t see that everyday. The sideboard is really versatile, tuned v/s Mill and WW, and I would give a special mention for Pillar of Light. It ruins most biggies‘dreams.

And now a quick look at the contender, Bigbee again with the same exact list that won SPDC, just scroll up ! Congrats Mr Bigbee !
Now stay tuned and may the shuffler be with you until next week’s events.
I’ll just spend some time purchasing the M15 commons playsets and rebuilding my decks.
See you in Just For Fun soon.


Adner.