The “You” in Community

When rifling through our prior content for Sunday’s new “Blasts from the Past,” this was the first article that popped into my head in terms of wanting to share. Though dated, the backbone of this article still holds true. If you didn’t catch this way back when in November of last year, buy a beret, read this, and think ‘revolution.”

- Travis R. Chance

This week I’d like to focus on how we, the people of the 100 Card Singleton community, can improve the support and communication for our format.

But before I go any further, I’m sure some of you are wondering just what, exactly, gives a notoriously antagonistic jerk like myself the right to grab the mic and play Vox Populi for the rest of you. And for those of you that have entered the conversational fray with me before, you would be justified in thinking this, which is why I would like to issue a formal apology for my past transgressions.

Recently I have made a concerted effort to reverse my status of ill repute by personally extending an olive branch to those of you that I have crossed swords in the past. Perhaps it is a pittance, as a few people have made aware their campaign to have my account revoked, a paltry gesture to some, and unwarranted to others. But nonetheless I offer it with absolute sincerity. No tricks, tripwires, traps, joy buzzers, banana peels, whoopee cushions, or hidden cameras whatsoever.

I’m sorry, guys.

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

It only dawned upon me recently that this game – this format in particular – was something more than just a casual vehicle for venting my frustrations. I dedicate a copious amount of my free time to building, fine-tuning, and playing decks. It’s a cathartic and, more importantly, creative outlet that not only stimulates me, but is just plain fun.

Now I would be lying if I pretended that maintaining my reputation as a smack-talker wasn’t something upon which I have prided myself for a very, very long time. For those of you that know me a little more intimately, “The Spectacle of Travis” has been running for 31 seasons now, with no scheduled cancellations in sight.

On the whole, I mean very little to no harm really. Being antagonistic is simply in my nature. I sometimes provoke people for the sake of my own entertainment, which is hardly something to be proud of, I know. Other times, I have waged psychological war on the guy sitting across the virtual table from me hoping to garner any advantage that may be possible.

Whatever the reasons, they were all wrong. So I put away my implements of verbal cruelty, took a rag to my tarnished reputation, swallow the black, unctuous bulk of my pride, and take a step in a better direction.

A DOOR OPENS

When I caught wind that Plejades, the online handle for the fellow behind the wheel of the MTGOAcademy.com machine, had a new site and was looking for content, perhaps some occasional editing/site maintenance, I was more than interested. His aims were noble and admirable, particularly wanting to create another place for 100 Card Singleton players to congregate and conjecture. I had the time and inclination, sure. But I also had my own reasons.

REASON ONE

The first was the transformation from 60 to 100 Card Singleton had so thoroughly tore the competitive element out of the format it made me want to sweepkick a newborn baby. From Premier Event to Premier Event, from Queue to Queue, I was dumbfounded, disgusted, and disappointed at what I was seeing: a giant lurch backward in deck construction, overall play, and format maintenance.

Now I in no way am implying my ideas are by any means the best. There are a number of players I respect in the format, but on the whole I wanted to donkeypunch Wizards for imposing this idea of “varied play” on me and the other people that loved the format as it was. I wanted sideboards! I wanted my thirty-some-odd ticket Vampiric Tutor to not collect dust in my collection. I wanted justice, swift and sweet. I wanted to be heard; to mount a soap box and shout: “What the hell are all you people doing/thinking?!”

(Dramatic pause…)

But alas… The format stuck. So I sojourned through the change with some admitted difficulty, but came out accepting, and somewhat enjoying, the new challenge ahead. Still, the evolution of the format was still unsatisfactory to me. Things were in, what we in the break-dancing community call, “a funk.” As self-inflating as this sounds, I just wanted things to be better. But what to do, what to do?

ChrisKool and I got to talking, as we are both Hoosiers and once played at the same card shop “back-in-the-day” (which was a Tuesday, incidentally), and tried to mount an initiative with regard to getting weekly Premier Events, better prize support, Sideboards, and reconsideration of the current Bannings. He compiled a massive amount of player data (suggestions, complaints, and comments) and we included it in a formal letter to people of authority.

Since this petition, we have been granted weekly Premier Events with better prize support than previously. Sideboards – which were promised but not delivered for over a month after a scarcely known and/or circulated post in the Wizards forums – were reintroduced, as was Grindstone and Upheaval (though only briefly thanks to an update error that has yet to be corrected).

Of course, the aforementioned changes occurring so suddenly after our missive could be entirely coincidental. But perhaps our efforts made the difference. And the possibility of that really resonated with me.

REASON B (yes, this is intentional)

My other motivation for joining the contributor roster of this site was simple: freelance writing is what I do (or editing, rather), so why not reconcile two of my interests into a singular, focused irradiated beam of Travdom. This way I could assuage my girlfriend’s unrelenting complaints that I “don’t do enough,” all-the-while improving my craft as one of the many hopeful creative-types doing this-and-that-just-to-survive-in-NYC – a two-fer squared, indeed!

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Now, if you would be so kind as to allow me to stow away my white flag for the interim and jog back in the direction of the subject at hand: how can we improve upon our 100 Card Singleton community?

Like it or not, the continued existence of this format rests squarely upon our shoulders. Let us not forget that Wizards is a company whose aim is primarily to create and maintain a viable and profitable product. They keep accurate and detailed play data: what Queues are firing and how often, how many people participate in the weekend Premier Events, as well as the formats people are playing in both the Casual and Tournament Practice Rooms.

And there’s nothing wrong with this- nothing nefarious, despicable, deplorable, or Orwellian in the slightest. It’s simply a measuring stick for what’s going on in the virtual world they’ve created. Wouldn’t you do the same? In order to curtail the chances of yet another format change, or, worse yet, total and utter Old Testament-style format annihilation, we need to keep each other informed, inspired, and, most importantly…

PLAYING!!!

First and foremost, we need to move any and all earnest competitive testing and/or play from the Casual room into the Tournament Practice room. This could take some time, as most players congregate in the former, but it’s vitally important that we do so. This encourages Wizards to continue offering coveted weekend Premier Events. It flags an intention and desire for tournament play. This is something we want them to see. This is a declaration from the players that are taking this format seriously! Additionally, this could attract the former “star power” that 60 Card historically had. I remember having to battle Paul Cheon and LSV in the Top 8 way back when. And I’m sure there were others, too.

Another method of preserving the certainty of Premier Events and Queues is simply by participating in them. I’ve noticed that in the last three weeks we’ve barely fired over the minimum amount of players. Perhaps this has more to do with when Events are offered – Saturdays are seemingly bad for most people, myself included. Regardless, if there is ever a trend of low attendance, don’t be surprised if we go back to playing for packs every other month again, if at all.

Queues just aren’t firing anymore. This is another flag we don’t want. Granted, the payout is just insulting at the moment (as Tempest booster packs are barely over 2 tickets of worth on the secondary market), but this will more than likely change, as I have heard gossip about Pauper, Classic, and Kaleidoscope switching to 2010 packs in the immediate future. If, and when, this happens, we should coordinate a day where enough of us can participate in an 8-man. I have never seen one of these fire (ever), but I know plenty of players that like to play for keeps.

If this interests you at all, merely contact ChrisKool or myself. We will play the role of Paul Revere, don’t you worry, my slothful friends, and spread the message high and low!

SPEAK UP!!!

Communication is another area that needs improvement. The Classic players grabbed the reins, made a site, and kept their format thriving by, again, simply taking some initiative. We need to do the same.

There are a few sites that support 100 Card Singleton out there already with forums on the format, deck lists, etc. Make sure that other players know where this information can be found. It takes little effort to keep each other in the know. If you’re feeling the zest of revolution as you read this then there’s no reason not (eat that, dub negativo!) to register with this site and participate in an open discussion about whatever you deem worthy of conversation. I’m not suggesting there need be only one hub for players, but, rather, some.

Next, I would encourage any complaints, suggestions, and comments regarding the format to be aired to the appropriate people. The WOTC site’s forums are ideal for this. On occasion, Wizards staff will directly answer and/or respond to player queries, issues, comments, etc. If you prefer some direct contact, here is the e-mail of the man with the clout: Mike Gills, MTGO Tournament Organizer
michael.gills@wizards.com

There are a lot of problems in need of addressing at the moment. The current issue with the random update error/re-ban of Upheaval and Grindstone is a prime example. We need to file complaints, contact Customer Service, and express our discontent. Things like this keep happening, and a little too often.

Remember the prolonged delay in instituting Sideboards? Anyone else here a bit peeved about the Tempest payout in 2-Man Queues? What about the Premier Event a few weeks back that didn’t have a Top 8? Anybody out there interested in having the current Banned list reevaluated?

THEN SAY SOMETHIN’!

Let’s take it upon ourselves to be more proactive with addressing format-related issues and getting them rectified as promptly as possible. Let’s function as a community and do something more than just tread water. Get involved, encourage new players, introduce yourself to the existing ones, don’t sit back idly while people with no investment whatsoever in the format make decisions for you!

But pat yourselves on the back, people. Seriously. There’s been a definite improvement as of late: lots of new players and interest, a more discernible metagame coalescing from the randomness that was competing every other month, better decks, tighter play, all of which, in my eyes, puts us one step closer to being recognized as a legitimate competitive alternative by players and moderators alike. But there’s still a lot we can do. Tons.

SHOW AND TELL

I am interested in writing a monthly “Deck Doctor” article for the site where I would select a deck submission, evaluate it, and offer suggestions on how to improve upon the fundamental strategy proposed. We’ll take the discussion to the forums and see what everybody thinks.

Now contrary to your initial suspicions, I will do so in a constructive manner only. No abrasive banter, criticisms, or deliberate roughhousing, I promise. I’ve shared a deck with all of you; now share one with me. I’m curious to see what you are playing, the issues you may be having with executing an idea, card appraisals, etc.

Feel free to message me online any time. For those of you that don’t know, my screen name is so many trolls. Beyond the requested deck submissions, I encourage and appreciate any feedback about my articles, decks, and ideas in general. Thanks again for reading.

Until next time,

Travis: so many trolls

P.S: Please feel free to comment in the mtgoacademy forums or the area below.