Post by sourman on Jul 7, 2013 12:48:02 GMT -5
and I finished 10th out of 11, with a 1-2 record
Friend: You're into that all commons thing, aren't you?
Me: It's called Pauper, and yes I am, mister "The only non-mythics in my decks are the lands".
Friend: The store is having an event with that on Friday, you interested?
And so began my quest to actually play paper Pauper.
Now, I only play online, I don't have physical cards. But I did have what I thought was a pretty sweet Cyclops/Delver deck, so through begging and cajoling I found my way into borrowing almost everything I needed (how come no one in my group has searing spears, I ask you?). I practiced a lot just turning the cards and actually paying attention to triggers, online play has spoiled me in that area.
Game day comes up and it's a 3 round Swiss format. My first opponent? The friend who told me about the event and lent me almost all the cards. He was playing Drakeird of Seakite, the deck that won the last PDC Standard Deck Challenge. I open with a good hand, but then I only draw lands for 5 turns (at least I got all my Izzet Guildgates on the field). 0-1
His turn to get mana flooded, and after a couple of hits with a turned Delver, I take this one. 1-1
Remember, the mana gods are fickle and toy with us paltry humans. I got mana screwed, 2-1 (0-1).
I won the second match, but it doesn't really count, I played against a kid who had only started playing the week before.
He had an intro deck from which he removed everything above common rarity, threw some commons into to get 60 cards and went for it.
After the match I had him trade decks with me. He was amazed at the idea of a dual land and didn't know he could play things at the end of his opponent's turn. The look on his face when he realized that if he played things at the end of my turn he would have all his mana up at the beginning of his, that made my day. I gave him a lot of websites about magic in general and pauper in specific (including Pauper to the People, naturally). (1-1)
Third match. Really friendly guy who was playing the same deck as my friend.
Despite his Delver not flipping for 8 or 9 turns (we were both laughing about it) he managed to beat me. 0-1
The game of the night for me. Somehow I managed to get my Cyclops to hit for 15 in one turn (Dynacharge is incredible with the Cyclops). My inner Johnny was most pleased. 1-1
Not to break tradition, I was soundly beat in the last game. 1-2 (1-2)
Lessons learned:
Shuffle. For the love of Vorthos, shuffle your decks.
Play some actual paper once in a while. I needed cards that no one in my group had. If I had drafted a little with them I might have them.
Pay attention to the current meta. I'm a Johnny with some Timmy mixed in, so I don't see myself copying a deck, but it is important to know what is currently playing if I want to win the occasional game
All in all, I had a great time, can't wait for the next event ;D
Friend: You're into that all commons thing, aren't you?
Me: It's called Pauper, and yes I am, mister "The only non-mythics in my decks are the lands".
Friend: The store is having an event with that on Friday, you interested?
And so began my quest to actually play paper Pauper.
Now, I only play online, I don't have physical cards. But I did have what I thought was a pretty sweet Cyclops/Delver deck, so through begging and cajoling I found my way into borrowing almost everything I needed (how come no one in my group has searing spears, I ask you?). I practiced a lot just turning the cards and actually paying attention to triggers, online play has spoiled me in that area.
Game day comes up and it's a 3 round Swiss format. My first opponent? The friend who told me about the event and lent me almost all the cards. He was playing Drakeird of Seakite, the deck that won the last PDC Standard Deck Challenge. I open with a good hand, but then I only draw lands for 5 turns (at least I got all my Izzet Guildgates on the field). 0-1
His turn to get mana flooded, and after a couple of hits with a turned Delver, I take this one. 1-1
Remember, the mana gods are fickle and toy with us paltry humans. I got mana screwed, 2-1 (0-1).
I won the second match, but it doesn't really count, I played against a kid who had only started playing the week before.
He had an intro deck from which he removed everything above common rarity, threw some commons into to get 60 cards and went for it.
After the match I had him trade decks with me. He was amazed at the idea of a dual land and didn't know he could play things at the end of his opponent's turn. The look on his face when he realized that if he played things at the end of my turn he would have all his mana up at the beginning of his, that made my day. I gave him a lot of websites about magic in general and pauper in specific (including Pauper to the People, naturally). (1-1)
Third match. Really friendly guy who was playing the same deck as my friend.
Despite his Delver not flipping for 8 or 9 turns (we were both laughing about it) he managed to beat me. 0-1
The game of the night for me. Somehow I managed to get my Cyclops to hit for 15 in one turn (Dynacharge is incredible with the Cyclops). My inner Johnny was most pleased. 1-1
Not to break tradition, I was soundly beat in the last game. 1-2 (1-2)
Lessons learned:
Shuffle. For the love of Vorthos, shuffle your decks.
Play some actual paper once in a while. I needed cards that no one in my group had. If I had drafted a little with them I might have them.
Pay attention to the current meta. I'm a Johnny with some Timmy mixed in, so I don't see myself copying a deck, but it is important to know what is currently playing if I want to win the occasional game
All in all, I had a great time, can't wait for the next event ;D