Gen Con Event Breakdown

by Terence Jason Dorman

For those of you attending Gen Con next weekend, you are probably struggling to figure out how to set up your schedule and play in all the events you want to play in. I know I'm having this problem myself as I'm spreading myself thin across a number of games, but it is a good problem to have.

By now you have probably already seen The Spoils event list for this weekend and have a general idea of what events interest you. This article is meant to help those who have no idea what events to play in, or those who just want a little more info, decide which events are right for them.

ALL WEEKEND

Pick Up Drafts

• Time: Whenever 8 people are available to play
• Cost: Unknown, but I imagine $12-$14 - Medium
• 1^st Place Prize: Unknown, but probably packs and promos
• Competition Level: Low – Casual
• Summary: These events are perfect for players just getting into the game or players who just want to relax with a low level casual event. These events could even be utilized by higher level players to practice drafting before a big event, although I doubt that will happen too often. In essence, these events are a great way to learn the game, the cards, and drafting, so definitely be sure to take part in one or more of these as they will help you learn AND build your collection.

THURSDAY

Sealed Deck

• Time: 6 pm
• Cost: $24 – High
• 1^st Place Prize: Entry into both National Championships with a first round bye in each, iPod Shuffle, packs, promos
• Competition Level: High – Top players expected to attend
• Summary: While a sealed deck tournament doesn't usually seem like the kind of event that would bring out the big guns, I imagine a lot of the top players will be entering this event due to the prizes that pertain to the National Championships. The iPod Shuffle is awesome, but top players will be gunning for the first round byes in two events and the $60 in savings from not having to pay to enter those events. Plus, this is the only official Spoils event on Thursday, so top Spoils players won't be drawn away by other events.

FRIDAY

Cash Draft

• Time: 12 pm
• Cost: $16 – Medium
• 1^st Place Prize: $40 cash, first round bye in National Constructed Championships
• Competition Level: Medium – Possibility of some top players
• Summary: The cash events are interesting because the prizes seem a bit top heavy due to the cost of the event, but you have to remember that the cost includes the three packs you are drafting with. Similar to the Sealed Deck event on Thursday, the hot ticket item with this event is the first round bye in the National Constructed Championships. This doesn't come with free entry to that event, however, so this event definitely registers lower on the competitive level.

Cash Draft

• Time: 2 pm
• Cost: $16 – Medium
• 1^st Place Prize: $40 cash, first round bye in National Constructed Championships
• Competition Level: Medium – Possibility of some top players
• Summary: Same as the 12 pm event only this event will likely have less top players in it as, if they played in the 12 pm event, some of them will likely still be involved in it. Also, this event is much closer in time to the National Constructed Championships, so players definitely playing in that may avoid this one out of fear for the events overlapping.

National Constructed Championships

• Time: 7 pm
• Cost: $24 – High
• 1^st Place Prize: 42” television
• Competition Level: Pro – Top players WILL be at this event and bringing their A games
• Summary: This is the first of the two “big ones” for the weekend and is expected to have a big turnout. The National Constructed Championships last year drew 17 players, which included five of the Pros you met in the “Meet the Pro Interview” article series, as well as many other big name players. Last year's event was also tied for second in terms of tournament turnout, so there is no doubt this year should have a similar or greater turnout. Also, with such an awesome prize on the line, many players will be pouring in to take their shot at the T.V. and the title of National Constructed Champion.

Booze Draft

• Time: Midnight
• Cost: $14 – Medium (with added stipulation that you must be at least 21 years old to enter)
• 1^st Place Prize: Bottle of Patron
• Competition Level: Fun! - A super casual event in which anyone and everyone will play
• Summary: The Booze Drafts are always exciting events as tons of non-Spoils players ask about them and usually wind up playing. Top players are likely to play too, but nobody ever really takes these events seriously as they are just a good time to hang out with other Spoils players and fight for a silly (but fun!) prize. Having won one of these events last year, I can say from experience that these events bring out some of the best of what the Spoils community has to offer.

SATURDAY

Seed Block Constructed

• Time: 10 am
• Cost: $20 - High
• 1^st Place Prize: Entry into National Limited Championships with a first round bye, iPod Shuffle, promos
• Competition Level: Medium – Possibility of some top players
• Summary: This event is a tricky one for me. It has nearly the same cost and prizes as Friday's Sealed Deck tournament, which I rated as High Competition Level, but the format leads me to think it may not garner as much attention as that event. While some stores and play groups have probably dabbled in Seed Block Constructed, there have been no Seasonal or ASS events dedicated to the format, so it is entirely possible that some players have not tried this format at all. As such, I've set the Competition Level at Medium as I'm really not sure what the turnout will be for this event as I don't know how many people even have Seed Block only decks and want to play in an event with it.

Eight Man Draft

• Time: Noon
• Cost: $14 – Medium
• 1^st Place Prize: Foil Rare Set of Seed 2, first round bye in Limited Championships
• Competition Level: Low - Casual
• Summary: I rated this and the other two Eight Man Draft events as low competition level due to the fact that these tournaments are limited to eight players. Sure, one of these events may be packed with pros looking to earn a first round bye (if they haven't already via other events), but each successive tournament will probably have less top players, if any at all. Plus, the foil rare set of Seed 2 is likely to draw in a lot of players who don't have big collections (which a lot of pros do), so these events should be pretty casual.

Eight Man Draft

• Time: 1 pm
• Cost: $14 – Medium
• 1^st Place Prize: Foil Rare Set of Seed 2, first round bye in Limited Championships
• Competition Level: Low – Casual
• Summary: See the Eight Man Draft event at noon for details.

Eight Man Draft

• Time: 2 pm
• Cost: $14 – Medium
• 1^st Place Prize: Foil Rare Set of Seed 2, first round bye in Limited Championships
• Competition Level: Low - Casual
• Summary: See the Eight Man Draft event at noon for details.

National Limited Championships

• Time: 6 pm
• Cost: $36 – High (also highest cost Spoils tournament of the weekend)
• 1^st Place Prize: iPad 3
• Competition Level: Pro – Top players WILL be at this event and bringing their A games
• Summary: This is the second of the two “big ones” of the weekend and is expected to have a big turnout, possibly even bigger than the Constructed Championships as the consensus I gather I have gathered over the years is that most players favor Limited over Constructed. The 2011 National Events saw both tournaments draw 17 players, although between the two tournaments there were roughly 27 different players, so it is clear that some players lean towards one format over the other. Also, some players may value the iPad 3 as the “better” prize over a 42” television, so players who may have to choose between the two events may do so because of this. Also, expect a much longer tournament than the National Constructed Champs when you join this tournament as there will be extra time spent on pool registration, pool swapping, deck building, deck registration, and the Top 8 draft.

Booze Draft

• Time: Midnight
• Cost: $14 – Medium (with added stipulation that you must be at least 21 years old to enter)
• 1^st Place Prize: Bottle of Grey Goose
• Competition Level: Fun! - A super casual event in which anyone and everyone will play
• Summary: See Friday's Booze Draft event for details.

I hope this article helps you all decide which events you are going to take part in this weekend at Gen Con. I personally wish I had some sort of device that allowed me to be in two (or more) places at once that way I could play in every event, but sadly that is not the case. If any of you have access to that kind of awesome tech, though, please be sure to let me know.

See you all this weekend!