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My SoCal VS Day TR; Long, but with pictures.
Topic Started: Oct 28 2009, 05:19 AM (1,673 Views)
TheDerangedBear
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This weekend I took a trip down to SoCal to play some VS.

I was a little hesitant about this trip at first as I found out. Actually, I was quite excited, but as my fellow NorCalers dropped out, I begun wondering was it such a good idea to go, especially as I am trying to save money.

Ultimately, I decided that since the SoCalers took the time to come up north... it's only right that some of us go back down to repay the favor.

Last minute flights are a bit expensive, and it's looking like two hundred some dollars. I'm soured, but I figure if I'm going to pay extra, I might as well ride first class.

Fortune is smiling on me though, and at the last minute, I am able to acquire $40(!) tickets to SoCal. Amazing!

I don't really get to sleep the night before as I am getting ready to build decks and organize my cards. I am short some MEV cards and Miguel is nowhere in sight, but I let Kariggi know, so it should be fine.

I head out around 6 AM to SFO, where after being slightly detained by Home Land Security, I am able to get on my plane without a hitch.

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Some kids in the board gate to my flight.

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Baby Cora who was on the flight next to me. (no pedo, even though she was a really cute kid...)

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Since the plan was to sleep at the airport over night, I borrowed my brother's PSP and picked up a copy of the Dracula X Chronicles. I've never played it before, but it has a copy of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night which is one my favorite games of all time.

Unfortunately, it's actually a little annoying to unlock the game, but it was totally worth it as the 90 minute flight was both extremely nostalgic and entertaining for me.

9:25 AM

Thanks to the hard hitting winds, I arrive five minutes early to John Wayne Airport:

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The food court - didn't get to eat here, but there was a nice bar.

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I text Omar "m4g0" Erazo has soon as I get off the airplane and tell him to call me as soon as he gets off the free way. Sure enough he calls me and tells me will be there in 20.

Castlevania time! 2 levels an a boss battle, I am greeted by Saddam Hussein in a Toyota Corolla with a anime character riding Shotgun.

wtf?

Anyhow, apparently Majestix Comix is super duper closer to John Wayne Airport - it's like a 3 minute drive - and we get there early enough for registration and to see Billy Zonos himself attend!

Shot of MX

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Of better days : (

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The match clock:
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You could play dice for packs if you were interested:

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Anyway, I play a quick game with TBZ giving him my World's Finest, while I pull out my Spider-Friends Illuminati.

I fail to draw Ops, and Billy crushes me summarily Greco Roman style, all the while telling me that Superman, Founding Member is terrible.

Cool story bro.

(You know what's a really story? Did you know that shift originally wasn't defined for Exiles? Can you believe it was originally designed for the Hulk?)

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I try to get in a game of Dota with Ludin too, but that doesn't work out well either. Sigh...

11:30 AM

After awhile, we are sat down to begin the tournament. Bean - the long haired gentleman in blue - who is helping Patrick run the tournament starts passing out packs according to the raffle ticket number number, with evens getting DC and odds getting Marvel. Here's what I end up getting...

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... and here's what I end up plying:

Spoiler: click to toggle


Round 1 - Billy Zonos

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It's hard to remember this game accurately because Billy Zonos was playing a bunch of shitty cards that probably aren't even real. I mean, wtf is a T-jet?

We both miss on turn one, while Billy has a turn two Dark Lantern to my Johnny Quick, and he flips Flying Fortress to face me.

Turn three he plays DORky Roy, equipping him with a Laser Watch and drawing a card. I don't think I had a three.

On four, I have Gorilla Grodd, while he has some random stuff. I make some monkey attacks, and Billy Baddest of the Bads one of his guys to fetch Ravager.

On five I have Lex Luthor, while Billy has I think Norman Shiloh and Shayera Thal DCR.

Turn six, I believe I play a Trident, Batman Hidden Crusader, and Surveilance Pawn, I do some damage to Billy's board and he skips his turn.

Turn seven, Billy plays a T-Jet and some dorks and launches a huge attack. T-Jet plus Batman is apparently some type of combo, and Billy has the foresight to play against my maxed out Plunder Plan and Power Syphon.

Anyways, I can't quite remember how I win this game. I remember the events leading up to the end pretty well: I have Guy Gardner on seven. Billy teams into my Lex trying to free people up, then plays Teen Titans Go, and teams everyone into Guy Gardner.

After the attack is legal, he plays another Go - one was DOR, the other was DCL - to which I respond by bouncing Guy Gardner to recover Lex.

He can't deal breakthrough and I survive to go to the next turn, but I can't remember why it is he scoops... did I have lethal or something? Not sure, but I remember I win this one.

Afterwards Billy tells me he could've won this one if he played his second Go after his attack concluded. Oh well.


1-0

Round 2 - Christine "American Maid" Williams


There was a costume contest at MX today, and AM came prepared in a very well done Catwoman costume.

Anyway, this game is over pretty quick, we both match two drops, and on three I have Ahmed but she has Wolverine.

I swing my two into her two, my three into her three.

Then she Sand Traps.

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But I fortunately, have Foiled Assasination to stop the king kill. I don't think it's possible to come back a resource short handicap and I am able to win.

2-0

Speaking of the costume competition:

Kenneth 'kariggi' Williams as Rohrsarch:

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OMar "m4go" Erazo as Hayate Kakashi

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'
Round Three - Luis

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Luis is not particularly thrilled about his chances, prefacing our game with a "you'll probably win."

Luis has some random two drop on two that escapes me an Mad Dog on three, while I have a two drop and Ahmed Samsarra.

The crucial exchange comes on turn five. Luis has some random four drop, with four attack and Killer Croc. I have Ahmed, Lex and Batman. I attack Ahmed into his four with a Burning Gaze, while Luis flips over Checkmate Secret HQ.

I have a copy of Prodigies in my row, but my only face down is a Path to Destruction. I end up binning the Path, and it wins me the game as Luis is unable to king kill me with a Systematic Torture.

From that point on, I just play beefy guys smash face and win.

3-0

Round Four - Ludin


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Ludin is not very happy about his deck. As he has related to me, his deck is Nimrod or bust. While he is very self deprecating about it, he has managed to go undefeated with it.

In all honesty, this is perhaps the player I least wanted to face. Despite the terrorist beard and his RocketGurl misnomer... Ludin is really good at VS.

Anyway, I remember bits and pieces of this game and I'm sure I'll reform it all into a cohesive narrative at some point.

Ludin has turn four Franklin Richards, while I have turn four Batman, Hidden Crusader.

Ludin has turn five Nimrod with Nega Bands while I have Blue Devil. I believe I have some sort of concealed low drop, because I am able to stun all and remove a counter of Nimrod, and Foiled Assination to keep us both with a four and five going on six.

I don't remember Ludin's six but I have Shriek. I am able to brick Ludin's attack with Power Syphon and the Plunder Plan and go to seven, where he underdrops with Pyreus.

His life is low at this point, and I spent too long deciding how to make an attack. Yeah, I'm a moron...

4-0

Round Five - Omar


The other guy I rode with... good thing or bad?

I have Surveilance Pawn to Ubu, while Omar's first play is the Mist, who moves Ubu hidden.

My four is Batman, while Omar has Aquaman. Omar flips up Satellite HQ, and gets in for some good damage.

I can't quite remember what Omar's play was on five, but I remember it was on curve and I have Lex. We maintain parity but I am able to whittle his board down.

On turn six, Omar has Man-Bat and gets very close to killing me by assaulting my concealed, but I am able to brick a lethal attack on Shriek by Foiled Assasination to give him -4 ATK.


5-0

Round Six - Billy Zonos


Billy has one loss, so this one is for all the marbles.

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I do not draw Lex this game, but Billy does not draw Roy either.

I do not remember the specifics of this game, as our draws were less good on both parts. Basically, Billy on turn seven Billy recruits Harry Stein. I do not have initiative, but recruit Superboy, Yellow Sun Armor, which helps me eek out a win.

Afterwards, Billy points out something - that I can't remember - which coulda gave him the win. I guess I only win when they mess up... sigh...

So I'm undefeated in limited, and I win a box and a trophy! How sweet! I thought I might've had a chance in constructed, but it's definitely a surprise that I didn't punt limited.

4 PM - Constructed

I had two deck choices either Spider-Friends Illuminati or an Iceman/Reset/Underground Movement Spider-Friends deck that Brian Eugenio thought might not be a terrible idea.

Anyways, I went for the deck that I think was probably not as good simply because I had more affinity with it.

Here's my list:

Spoiler: click to toggle


Round 1 - Billy Zonos

Another bye round, another fun game with Billy Z.

Billy didn't have a deck and he didn't want to play anything that controlled or required thinking - so the JLA/WF I brought was a no go. Instead, he ended up playing AM's copy of Syndiquick that I played against early.

Anyway, Billy fondles his deck to a turn 3 climax of 53 damage, but it leaves him flaccid. Strangely enough, I am actually able to kill him on turn five which a swinging Black Manta because he has dropped himself so low with the Contract.

We play again and. of course, he kills me on turn three, with a flurry of pumps on Quicksilver.

Round 2 - Duder - Crime Lords

I can't remember his name but here's his photo.

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Off tangent, but Erick Reyes stopped by later in the day and I showed him my deck. Erick clearly didn't seem surprised, and quipped: "These kinds of decks are why VS is dead."

Because my game against him was not fun at all. Not only was my opponent very likely a casual player and unfamiliar to the new cards, but he also missed drops too.

My opponent was very friendly and amicable the whole time which made it feel worse. I've made it a policy not to apologize for winning anymore, but I couldn't help it for this gentleman.

Sorry man X (

1-0

Round 3 - Omar "m4g0" Erazo


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Oooh... this is a match-up I knew I was going to have to face sometime this day.

Ludin says I have no idea what the SoCal meta is like, but I know one thing:

Down south, they love their concealed beatdown decks and JLA/WF.

I get a small breath of relief when Omar misses Oracle on three. I think he has an active Alfred and Harvey so I'm not sure exactly why. He does however, manage the money curve from four on - Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, and Hal Jordan.

I on the other hand, have a fairly good amount of my machinery in play... except for Clandestine Ops. I have The Elektra Situation on Wonder Woman, and Omnipotence on Batman, but without the Ops, Omar is able to get in one hit every turn on my considerably smaller guys.

On turn seven, I go for the Gift Wrap to hold his whole board down, but Omar has From the Darkness to negate it to take the win.

2 -1

Round four - Luis - Ultimates


I saw Luis' deck earlier in the tournament and it looked pretty bad, so I felt pretty confident.

Luis plays has turn one Wasp an a second turn Syndey Leach fetching out Muramasa Blade and a third turn Wolverine, Ultimates with the blade.

I don't have Ops, and when Spider-Man goes to exhaust his Wolverine and is Pathetic Attempted. I know the game is over.

It plays out for a bit long, but I'm basically hound locked. Without Ops, and facing down an abyss plus pumps. I scoop it up.

2-2

Round five - asian dude... Kenny? - SHIELD Burn


I wanna say this cat's name is Kenny or something... I can't remember. Sorry man, you're a pretty chill dude but I'm so tired and I just can't recollect. Someone chime in?

Anyway, I don't have a photo of him, because I can't seem to find my iPhone, but he's the dude leaning on the counter in the Kakashi picture.

Here's a picture of his head, his deck, and Kariggi's Sentry esque Golden locks:

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Anyways, this match-up starts off very bad for me as his first two plays are Wasp and Penance. Now, Penane is already pretty bad, but needing to draw two Omnis and Elektra Situation is way worse.

Anyway, I don't get Ops this game, but that's okay... Ops isn't crucial here because his guys aren't really attacking.

I eventually do manage to peel the Elektra Situations and Omnipotence I need to lock down the board, but at this point my endurance is already quite low... and a Torture Chamber an Evil Lair put me out of my misery...

2-3

Round 6 - Christine "American Maid" Williams - Radio!


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You know how you always draw perfect when it doesn't matter?

Well, not only do I draw perfect, but Christine misses her four. Now, Spider-Man is able to turn off Radioactive Man, so I am able to flip up Ops.

At this point, I have the entire ensemble: ESU, SRA, Black Manta, Spider-Man, and Clandestine Operations. I think I might even have a PA or Have a Blast. I'm feeling in really good shape.

However, Christine does not look amused at all, and really... I am feeling terrible.

Why do I enjoy playing such unfun decks? Why?

So what do I do?

I scoop to Christine.

2-3

So I get ready to chill out and play some X-Box, and hey, I'll admit it. I'm feeling a little sad.

Then Luis comes over and says he's paired up against me. Apparently Christine had scooped my scoop back to me? Woah!

Top 8 - Luis - Ultimates

Luis seems pretty excited about this match-up, which makes perfect sense because I am not particularly excited about this match-up.

In fact, I don't think there's any match-up that I'm particularly excited to play against with this deck, which further my suspicion that this deck is terrible... hahaha...

Luis has Clint Barton on two and Sydney Leach on three, but Wolverine doesn't come out till turn four, which is huge for me because I do have Ops this game.

I have Iron Man on five to his Cyclops, Ultimates and am able to stick Omnipotence on Pathetic Attempt, and I really don't look back from there. Luis plays Death of the Dream on my Clandestine Operations, but my on-board guys are handling the board pretty well.

At one point he threatens to use a Triskellion to undo all the set up I've had, but a timely Have a Blast stops it. He has no hand after the few uses, and does't peel into much of anything of consequence. I have no play on six but it doesn't really matter.

A few turns later he still has nothing, and he scoops after I zap him with the Sentry.

Top 4 - Kenny? - SHIELD

This time the tables are turned: I have all the right answers, and Kenny has none of the right threats, as he seems to be able to unable to draw anything but SHIELD Agents. No Penance, no Evil Lair, no Torture Chamber.

I have Elektra Situation plus evens, and there isn't much he can do. He manages to flip Hellicarrier but I have Black Manta an Have a Blast to keep that in check.

I do manage to pull a 'Danger of Cool Plays' when I replace my own Clandestine Operations in order to attack with the Sentry on eight. Kenny returns the favor by lighting my face up with 20+ damage in pumps. Fortunately, I am able to stabilize high enough that I don't die.

Top 2 - Omar - JLA/WF

I scoop to Omar. Omar is an awesome dude, and plus, I think it would be stupid if I won both tournaments. Omar is gracious enough to swap me his box of MEV for my MUN, which I give to Christine to thank her for her generosity.

So that's the end of that tournament. Erick's here already, and everyone's getting ready for the next thing...

7 PM - Two Headed Mutant

I had originally planned to bring two decks to this tournament one Marvel and one DC. I didn't have a partner, so I figure I'd just bring two decks that synergized well and would just appropriate someone at the last moment.

Some ideas I ran through:

Marvel: Wolverine, AoS * Hydra - DC: Lots of Pumps
Marvel: Thunderbolts - DC: Injustice Gang
Marvel: MKKO - DC: Injustice Gang

Anyways, I couldn't find the cards I needed to build my deck, so I figured I'd just build something random at the last moment. Of course, the team tournament comes up right after the Silver Age so I don't have the opportunity.

Luckily there is another player out there who happens to have two decks, but needed a partner. Sweet! I can't remember his name unfortunately - but thank you so much for partnering with me - but he's a swell guy. I end up playing Kree and he plays AGL.

Round 1 - Can't remember Deadpool Acceleration/Future Foes

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I can't really remember how this game goes, but basically he has Mesmero who is really good at slowing the AGL beatdown.

He manages to get off Deadpool on five, but he can't quite finish the job. On six, I press out, get 8 guys on the field, Yon Rogg Deadpool and just walk over them.

I must say however, I was quite impressed by the Future foes deck. We took about twenty or some damage from a constantly recovered Blind Sided Dr. Minerva. Awkward...

1-0

Round 2 - Dennis Miller/Minh - Revenge Squad/Spider-Friends


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I gotta hand it to these guys; there decks really synergized well together and they deserved to win.

I can't realy remember what happened this game either, as I was too busy watching Bean play Marvel vs Capcom 2. I wanted to play him really bad, but unfortunately it never happened and X-Box controllers are terrible.

I do remember, that our loss involves a Heatwave on five and Press the Atttack on a four drop to finish us off. The loss felt somewhat surreal - "Aren't you suppose to be stall decks?" - but the note pad don't lie. Plus, you can't really feel terrible when you're just flat out trumped in the deck building stage.

1-1

Round Three - Christine Williams/Andrew - Weapon X/JLA/WF



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I'm pretty tired by this point, and I really can't play VS right. For some reason we just end up talking about all sorts of very entertaining and hilarious stuff.

I believe at some point someone says I'm almost pretty enough to be dated by a lesbian, after which Ludin and I compare who has hairier legs.

Awkward...

(Let it be known that despite Ludin's Jesus beard, I, in fact do have hairier legs. Hence, why I am the bear!)

Anyway, this game... man, Superman five is broken in this format. But you know what's worse then Superman five? Wonder Woman and Mesmero.

Cause I mean really? I can't pull him out of the hidden, outside of the attack step cause you'll redirect him. On the other hand, once it's the combat step, you're going to brick me with Bring it On?

Boo.

My draw is pretty bad too with no Stargate/Proxy for STargate/Dr. Minerva, but I think even with a good draw we would be hard pressed or even unable to deal with the Metropolis Marvel backed up by Indestructible.

1-2

Round Four - Bye

2-0


Fortunately we get a bye round four, so I get to say we break even : )

Anyways, it's almost one by the time it's all finished. I am asking Omar to drop me off at John Wayne Airport. Unfortunately, I learn somewhere around this conversation, that John Wayne Airport is in fact, not open twenty four hours a day due to the aggressively lobbying of the highly affluent people in Orange County.

Omar graciously offers me to stay his place, and even more so offers to drop me off in the morning there.

Thanks so much man! Without you, I totally would've had to do some bum stuff like sleeping in a Parking Lot... with my back against the wall... and my front side covered....

Anyways, I get back to San Francisco, uneventfully and right on time. Just some random shots to finish off this TR:

Billy and Erick playng together - I believe there team name was some fusion of the last syllable of Billy's name and the first of Erick's.

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Some shots of San Fransisco from the sky:

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Anyway, I end up with a pretty good haul, looking through my bad I have:

- Two trophies
- $75 in best buy money
- A box of MUN
- Two EA Enemies
- Some awesome memories and a great time

Can't wait for the next tournaments coming up...

Peace,

-TDB
Edited by TheDerangedBear, Oct 28 2009, 05:27 AM.
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American Maid
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That was excellent, thank you for sharing though you have now made me late for work!! Next time you come you should plan better, start talking to me sooner! I'm good at telling people what to do!! =) It was great seeing you though, thanks for taking the time to come!
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BatHulk
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Man... I miss these TDB TRs... great write-up.

Hehe... I forgot to mention, our team name was BYE, Billy y Erick. It was hilarious because every time pairings were posted our opponents would say "We got a bye!" and then we would bust a "Not So Fast". Good times.
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kariggi
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See I thought based upon all available evidence you guys were team Bi-
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BatHulk
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kariggi
Oct 28 2009, 05:54 PM
See I thought based upon all available evidence you guys were team Bi-
Welll... there was that too.

Ambiguity for the win!
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kariggi
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Between team bye over there and Ludin and DB telling everyone they'd kissed a guy, it was a pretty...open minded evening of VS. It was great to see you and Billy playing as a team though, good to see you guys actually just getting to have fun with a game I know you both love and put so much hard work into in the past.
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American Maid
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bear... why would you scoop you clearly won, and seriously its not like I'm trying to get qualified for the PC or something! and no one would scoop me in there anyway, my pc points were all won the hard way! Its true I complain some when I lose but really its half the fun!! and I'm not really serious I'm just making conversation! Besides you probably actually worked on your deck and obviously you were meant to do well with it! :)

Wait...it was that I played in character right? darn knew I should have left it all on maybe everyone would have scooped then!
Edited by American Maid, Oct 28 2009, 10:14 PM.
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Ludin
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NVM
Edited by Ludin, Oct 28 2009, 11:17 PM.
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Orange_Soda_Man
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I fully enjoyed reading this report. Good stuff TDB!
'decks like that are the reason VS is dead'? Erick, don't make me feel bad now haha.
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bkwrds
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Reading this TR was one of the highlights of my day but it took me until now to realise I should say something about it. Thanks for taking the time, sounds like you had a lot of fun.
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BatHulk
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OSM: Hehe... I also told Paul that I MKOwned some kid who ran a similar deck at GenCon.

Bleh! Nerny nerny nerny!

I think you are Billy 2.0, because that deck is almost like a Solitaire redux.

(for the record, I got lucky against OSM, I underdropped unintentionally and KO'd his Black Cat draw engine which gave me enough time to draw into infi pumps that barely won me that game)
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kariggi
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So Erick JLA went 1-1 against MKO Saturday, what sayest thou?
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Orange_Soda_Man
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BatHulk
Oct 29 2009, 04:50 PM
I think you are Billy 2.0, because that deck is almost like a Solitaire redux.
I love solitaire decks; the thrill of your opponent racing to kill you before you hit your wincon I find is very rewarding.

Billy 2.0, huh? Why can't we have custom titles on this site again?
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BatHulk
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kariggi
Oct 29 2009, 04:59 PM
So Erick JLA went 1-1 against MKO Saturday, what sayest thou?
To be the ManKO, you got to beat the ManKO.
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kevmac3685
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Nice write man. It looked like it was a good turnout. Reminds of the good ol' days. Wish something like that happen here on the east coast...(sigh)
Edited by kevmac3685, Oct 30 2009, 06:43 PM.
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