I am invited!

[Heartless_]

I am going write a bit more in depth later, but I won my invite today in a Winston Draft limited tournament. I had a strong draft netting two 1337! on my second turn of the draft. I followed on with some strong Rogue/Banker/Gearsmith cards to make a 3-way, but low threshold deck. The deal was sealed with a late drafted Pluck that proved crucial in my final game to win the invite. I made sure to draft a couple powerful Warlord cards like Shriever Attack just so I wouldn't have to deal with them :P Worked out very nicely in the end.

[Osion]

Congrats on the invite! Question though:

Is Winston draft a supported format for IQ? Was it one of the "player-chosen" formats that the shop was allowed to do?

[LucienofShadow]

Winston Draft? I think the only options are Draft, Sealed, and Constructed.

[Heartless_]

Congrats on the invite! Question though:

Is Winston draft a supported format for IQ? Was it one of the "player-chosen" formats that the shop was allowed to do?That is what the judge ran and has run at another store he organizes/judges for. It is an age old draft style developed by Richard Garfield (you know... the guy responsible for that other game). I would assume it is allowed because it is fair to all parties involved.

On a side note... this draft style is nearly impossible in the Warcraft TCG, but it is pretty evident any draft/limited play in the WoW TCG is nearly purely based on luck and what you get in your card pool.

[sdesiano]

im sorry stupid question can you explain wat the difference between a regular draft and this one

[Froto]

Could someone explain what the winston draft is? TIA

Oh and congrats hart.

[Omniscient Sean]

I also have an invite. Went 5-0 at a constructed IQ playing my insane Arcanist deck. Got a foil Heist Planner as part of the prize. (There are two stores in Arizona running IQs.)

Though I'm shootin' for being the TO for the Invitationals, so I probably won't actually use my invite.

[Heartless_]

Winston Draft

2 Players receive 3 boosters each. All of the boosters are opened and placed face down into a single pile without any player viewing the cards. The pile is then shuffled.

Three cards are dealt face down off the main deck creating three piles. The first person drafting looks at the first card pile and determines if they want it. If they do they add it to their card pool. If they don't take it they place it back face down and add one card from the main deck to that pile. Then they look at the second card pile and determine if they want it. If they don't they add a card to the second pile. Then they move onto the third card and if they don't want it they do the same as before. If they haven't chosen anything by the third pile they draw the top card off the main deck and add it to their card pool.

If the first player chooses to take a pile they replace the pile they took with a single card from the top of the main deck. Then the second player looks at the first pile and starts the process all over again. This does mean that one player could end up with more cards than the other, but I've never had it turn out where one side gets completely screwed. After a few rounds it is easy enough to tell what your opponent is drafting and that creates strategy all within itself.

This drafting format is ideal when you have less than 8 players to draft with. It works fine with larger groups, but really shines in the smaller play groups. It requires an even number of players unfortunately.

Another key point is that you shouldn't play the person you drafted against right out of the gates. If you come against each other in later rounds it is fine.

[LucienofShadow]

Sean - How many IQs has that store had?

[ripark]

Winston Draft? I think the only options are Draft, Sealed, and Constructed.

I'm the TO at Reality Check Games, where Heartless just qualified. Just to note, I did send my schedule with Winston Draft to Tenacious and they never responded that I could not run Winston. There will be the required 2 of Constructed, Sealed and Booster Draft as well.

[Hordak]

That Winston format sounds really awesome... talk about making it a skill based format.

[1r0n w!LL]

That Winston format sounds really awesome... talk about making it a skill based format.


I am opened to experimentation, but this format sound less skill based than regular draft. Any format where players play each other after drafting out of different cards pools is not good; it pushes the format toward sealed instead of draft. If you only played the person you drafted against, this format would be quite good as long as the card pool is not too perverted by bombs.

[Hordak]

Eh, I disagree. I'd prefer a format that pits fewer players against each other in draft/counter-draft. It seems to me that it'd create a much more focused environment. I'd have to try it first hand to fully endorse it, but it sound fun to me.

[1r0n w!LL]

Eh, I disagree. I'd prefer a format that pits fewer players against each other in draft/counter-draft. It seems to me that it'd create a much more focused environment. I'd have to try it first hand to fully endorse it, but it sound fun to me.

It may be fun, but if we play and I don't build my deck from the same card pool as you, we are not really drafting. In draft, you are interacting with every other player that you can play. When you cross tables (whether those tables have 2 or 8), you are removing that interaction.

This interaction is the basic difference between sealed and draft.

[Omniscient Sean]

Sean - How many IQs has that store had?

It was the second IQ at the store I got my invite at, though the previous one had been rather depressingly small. The next IQ at that store will also be rather depressing, as it falls this Saturday, which you may recognize as the pre-release for Planar Chaos. Yesterday was the first IQ at the store at which I TO, and that went well.

[LucienofShadow]

Heist Planner shouldn't have been given out at the second one. These things are regulated, every first IQ gives out one card (3p1ph4ny 31f), every second IQ gives another (Ritual of the Shattering Teeth), and so on until there have been eight IQs.

[Omniscient Sean]

Well... I haven't gotten my own IQ packet yet so I didn't know that. In any case, I wasn't TO, so at least I feel free of blame.

[Shivan Darkeyes]

I am already qualified (or should be at least), but I qualified AGAIN at OnBoardGames in DeKalb. It was a Constructed format tournament. I ran a Rogue/Warlord deck and smashed faces with Menacing Mauler and Rudo Mangod. Seth, an excellent player got 2nd and thus the invitiation passed down to him.

Congradulations to Heartless on qualifying.

I also qualified for WoW Nationals this weekend getting 3rd in Niles with a Shaman deck. I am looking forward to the coming months to be sure.

[Sabash]

Shivan: When was that that you got the top at OnBoardGames? They've only had two IQs so far as I'm aware, and I thought they were both Sealed. If I had known yesterday's was Constructed I might have ditched work! At least the first one (where I got my invite) was Sealed. It's constructed there next Sunday, right?

[Shivan Darkeyes]

Shivan: When was that that you got the top at OnBoardGames? They've only had two IQs so far as I'm aware, and I thought they were both Sealed. If I had known yesterday's was Constructed I might have ditched work! At least the first one (where I got my invite) was Sealed. It's constructed there next Sunday, right?

They have IQs on Sundays on Mondays (though not back to back to my knowledge). This particular IQ was on Monday (MLK Jr. Day) and was constructed. It was a lot of fun and it was only $2. I couldn't pass up a chance to get some constructed games in at that price and even ended up getting 4 boosters for winning in addition to the Ritual of the Shattering Teeth. I have to admit that I really wished there were 8 people so I could get the third STE point since that was the prize I was the most excited about.

After the Constructed tournament which was three rounds, we decided we wanted to play some more so we drafted for the low low price of $5. The guys at OnBoardGames really are doing and outstanding job of promoting the game we just need more people to participate in it.

As far as next Sunday I am fairly certain that is IS in fact Constructed, but I do not have access to the schedual right now to check for sure. Most of the players besides myself did not have access to all the commons even so the Constructed tournament was a little mismatched. I think everyone enjoyed themselves though.

-John Siadak

[Sabash]

Shivan: Cool, I'll definitely be there next Sunday, especially if it is Constructed. I went to a constructed up in Antioch this past Saturday (where you won your invitation) and kicked some butt. Didn't really think my deck was going to do that well, but it far exceeded my expectations. I'm looking forward to matching it up against some other players...

[Heartless_]

John Siadek doesn't just play Dreamblade? Go figure :)

[LucienofShadow]

They have IQs on Sundays on Mondays (though not back to back to my knowledge). This particular IQ was on Monday (MLK Jr. Day) and was constructed. It was a lot of fun and it was only $2. I couldn't pass up a chance to get some constructed games in at that price and even ended up getting 4 boosters for winning in addition to the Ritual of the Shattering Teeth. I have to admit that I really wished there were 8 people so I could get the third STE point since that was the prize I was the most excited about.

After the Constructed tournament which was three rounds, we decided we wanted to play some more so we drafted for the low low price of $5. The guys at OnBoardGames really are doing and outstanding job of promoting the game we just need more people to participate in it.

As far as next Sunday I am fairly certain that is IS in fact Constructed, but I do not have access to the schedual right now to check for sure. Most of the players besides myself did not have access to all the commons even so the Constructed tournament was a little mismatched. I think everyone enjoyed themselves though.

-John Siadak

Prices are supposed to be standardized for IQs, Constructed should be $5. It's nice that your store is promoting the game though.

[Osion]

Yeah, the new standardized prices kinda jammed up the system a bit.

$18 for sealed, though it is below MSRP, is just a little high to keep it a popular in my opinion. I'd like most of the Tournamentmajigs (sp?) to be draft or constructed. But then again, sealed does get the most turnout, and there's nothing wrong with bigger tournaments (more prize packs :D )

[Kallen000]

is anyone else interested in the fact that no one is running IQ's right except in Washington and MD. I thought it was important to run formats supported by tenacious. Winston Draft isn't going to happen anytime soon I imagine. They give you the foils in order they are to be awarded when you get them front to back I believe. Either way have fun guys Im sure the game needs support but for a set of official tournaments seems like a lot of people are doing it haphazerd.

[ripark]

is anyone else interested in the fact that no one is running IQ's right except in Washington and MD. I thought it was important to run formats supported by tenacious. Winston Draft isn't going to happen anytime soon I imagine. They give you the foils in order they are to be awarded when you get them front to back I believe. Either way have fun guys Im sure the game needs support but for a set of official tournaments seems like a lot of people are doing it haphazerd.

I will note that I run IQs every weekend in two locations in SC and I follow the policies noted in the TO packet given to the IQ sites (I have been giving out my foils in order and have the retail stores following the pricing suggested by Tenacious). The fourth format was the choice of the TO/retail location and it did not say specifically that it had to be Sealed, Booster Draft or Constructed. I decided to run Winston because I believe it to be a neat format and something my players are not normally exposed to. To say that no one is running IQ's right except for places in two states is a harsh generalization.

[1r0n w!LL]

is anyone else interested in the fact that no one is running IQ's right except in Washington and MD. I thought it was important to run formats supported by tenacious. Winston Draft isn't going to happen anytime soon I imagine. They give you the foils in order they are to be awarded when you get them front to back I believe. Either way have fun guys Im sure the game needs support but for a set of official tournaments seems like a lot of people are doing it haphazerd.

I played at the first IQ at Obororo in WA and I would not exactly call it run "right." If fairness to the TO, it was early and I don't think he had complete information. We ran 4 rounds for 16 people. The winner was determined on tie breaks between two 3-0-1s who timed out against each other. We should have done at least one more round.

Also I played an IQ in Madison, WI and as far as I know Yugidad followed all the directions given to him by :chomp:. It was a fine IQ.

[La_Sin_Grail]

Yeah, the new standardized prices kinda jammed up the system a bit.

$18 for sealed, though it is below MSRP, is just a little high to keep it a popular in my opinion. I'd like most of the Tournamentmajigs (sp?) to be draft or constructed. But then again, sealed does get the most turnout, and there's nothing wrong with bigger tournaments (more prize packs :D )

I would tend to agree, but only because of this.

I used to play Magic: The Gathering much more than I do now (I can't remember the last tournament I attended) but I remember it was 25$ or 30$ depending on the tourney for sealed. However, the winner qualified for the Pro Tour, or won some sick amount of boosters, or had some sort of large prize. What I don't understand is why the prize structure is kept such low-scale- it's not that 18$ is necessarily too much, but for a game with limited following and limited prizes, it may be pushing it.

Once there is a larger/more competitive following and there are grander prizes, I see nothing wrong with a price increase, but I think to attract enough players, there has to be either more prizes dangled, or less cost for a first- timer.

[Heartless_]

Whatever happened to playing games to have fun and win if you could? If you are paying to play in tournaments and are solely worried about prizes you are barking up the wrong tree at Spoils IQ events. The big money is found only by those willing to work through the tournament scene not by those that try to show up one time expecting to compete for a huge prize.

[turning_of_the_tide]

is anyone else interested in the fact that no one is running IQ's right except in Washington and MD. I thought it was important to run formats supported by tenacious. Winston Draft isn't going to happen anytime soon I imagine. They give you the foils in order they are to be awarded when you get them front to back I believe. Either way have fun guys Im sure the game needs support but for a set of official tournaments seems like a lot of people are doing it haphazerd.

You really should not make such false claims on here sir. To say this is to base your facts on opinions you have heard from only a few people. All three IQ locations in Michigan (including my tournements) are being run correctly. You really should choose your words more carefully because some people may become offended when you sling acusations.

Heartless_
I agree I don't understand why people can't play for fun in this game. I do both I play locally at my shop and online for usually no prize. But at the same time I travel to the cons in order to find those large prizes and tournements. Great Comment.

-Ryan:spade:

[Duress]

I'm sorry if this has been previously address or I'm off topic, but I enjoy playing for prizes because that's how and where I find the best competition. It's not so much about the spoils as playing The Spoils against the best players who have prepared for the event and are giving their best.

P.S. I'm invited!!!

[Hordak]

While prize support is certainly a movitvator, I find that the best players at anything (CCG or otherwise) are the people that bring their A game to every encounter, not just when a prize is on the line.

[Heartless_]

Also when there isn't a huge prize on the line a lot more unique decks get played. It gets quite dull when a big prize is up and the entire tournament turns into a meta slug fest.

[doc8466]

I am already qualified (or should be at least), but I qualified AGAIN at OnBoardGames in DeKalb.

I'd like to know if it's ok to get two invites at all? Since we're not restricted to any one Invitational (can attend whatever one you happen to be closest to at the time or whatever) an invite is an invite. A second one does no good. If this hasn't been addressed yet, I think whomever was the next highest finisher without an invite should get it.

[Dapuma]

The invites drop down to whomever finished highest that does NOT already have an invite