Diarys of an Angsty Amateur Gamer

On the future of society

2010-04-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

I have always had a fascination with fire. I have always held an appreciation for just how easily it can level a playing field and remove imperfections from something. Not to say that I would go around lighting other people aflame but I would and frequently do light things such as paper on fire. I find that there is something marvelous about the fact that if you have a perfectly good, crisp, clean piece of paper and one that is wrinkled and dirty and ripped that lighting them both on fire will essentially put them back on the same playing field. Both of them will be broken down into simple carbon atoms and drift away and the imperfections will forever be gone. And you can apply it to anything, anything at all. You can burn old toys, you could even burn down a forest if you so saw fit (although once again that is not something I would ever find myself doing). But one thing I could never burn down is a building or town.

I love ghost towns and abandoned buildings. If there is anything history has taught us it's that almost every great society eventually ends up as a series of ruins and ghost towns. I love movies such as the 28 x Later titles, or I am Legend where you see these great majestic cities abandoned and left to be reclaimed by nature. There is something beautiful about it. I think that nature on it's own retaking these towns and buildings is just something absolutely beautiful to behold. But it really bothers me when a demolition crew is sent in to speed up the process such as is the case with Centralia and you are left with but a few foundations and a building here or there but nothing all that spectacular anymore.

Picture related: It's us in Centralia

And so it was today I was watching the Discovery Channel or something at my parents house and there happened to be a ghost chasing series on doing a story on an old state hospital / asylum named Pennhurst. Now while I fully believe that any of these ghost hunters are just people bullshitting the location that this episode took place in fascinated me. And so I did some research on the matter, quite intent on taking a trip down there once the semester lets out in a couple of weeks. I found myself finding the typical warnings of no-trespassing, guarded by the police/military, blah blah blah. No real issue as unless you are up to shenanigans officals rarely interfere with urban explorers. And then I found this. Some company is planning on taking control of the compound and opening it up as a haunted house. It outrages me. I don't know where I think I get the right to get angry over something like this but I find it quite frankly to be insulting. Insulting to an aspect of American heritage, and infuriating as a result of the fact that they are essentially stealing something away from society and marketing it as something to sell. I plan on visiting the place before the takeover is finished, but who knows how I will be greeted and just what they may or may not have done to the place yet. And as other people happen upon the story of Pennhurst they will find themselves with nothing but pictures to look at and... blah

I suppose it all circles back to the idea of where do we have the right to claim any piece of land as our own. The idea of these country borders and people owning the land is ridiculous in my opinion. Countries even fight over just who controls what areas of Antartica as if there is any real advantage to having a claim down there. It's stupid, pointless, and limits society as a whole. Oh well, hopefully when I make my way down to Pennhurst in a few weeks time I'm not completly disappointed.

An angered Travy

On a Kelly Spirited Draft

2010-04-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

While I only managed to go 2-1 at tonight's late night draft I still figured I would make this post as I feel that I managed to draft a very Kelly spirited deck. My opening pack had a Conqueror's Pledge in it... which I felt was just begging to be played as I can remember Kelly having a ball in a draft with it a few months back. The rest of my picks were generally white black weenies/removal. The intent of the deck was initially to just drop weenies such as Steppe Lynx and swing with them while throwing removal to keep the board clear. The second round of packs though I managed to grab up a Beastmaster's Ascension which fully completed a Kelly draft deck of olde. In the group of worldwake packs I managed to grab up an Avenger of Zendikar fully completing my Kelly draft deck!

In the Spirit of Kelly! Decklist:

Creatures (12)

1x Apex Hawks
1x Kor Aeronaut
1x Kor Cartographer
2x Kor Hookmaster
1x Kitesail Apprentice
1x Steppe Lynx
1x Giant Scorpion
1x Heartstabber Mosquito
1x Surrakar Marauder
1x Avenger of Zendikar
1x Walking Atlas

Enchantments (3)

1x Journey to Nowhere
1x Corrupted Zendikon
1x Beastmaster Ascension

Artifacts (1)

1x Explorer's Scope

Spells (6)
1x Arrow Volley Trap
1x Bold Defense
1x Disfigure
1x Urge to Feed
1x Conqueror's Pledge
1x Windborne Charge

Lands (17)
7x Plains
6x Swamp
4x Forest

Round 1 I ended up playing against Carl, and the rational beat you in the face with aggro aspect of the deck took the match 2-0. Carl ended up getting in the way of removal against the deck so I didn't have much to worry about and just swung house turn after turn. Our 3rd game for funzies we played saw me resolve an Avenger... but no Beastmaster Ascension with it... not that it mattered as I dropped a land and pumped them with Bold Defense.

Round 2 I ended up playing against Bravestien (sp), and lost 2-1. My first game he manuevered into an 8/8 trample that got +1/+1 on the attack for each forest he controlled, which proceeded to whoop me. Game 2 though is where I shined. I resolved an early Beastmaster Ascension but once again found myself staring down that darned 8/8 enchantment. He ended up attacking me for lethal, forcing me to trade all of my dudes on the board with an Arrow Volley Trap backing them on his 8/8 and other dude... I dropped to 1. The next turn I drew into the Forest I needed to drop my Avenger of Zendikar forcing his scoop phase. Game 3 I found myself mulling to 6, and only getting 3 lands for the game... not quite enough to win with mostly as a result of them being comprised of colors I didn't need... oh the woes of a 3 color deck.

Round 3 I played Decker, and ended up going 2-0. Game 1 saw me resolve Beastmaster Ascension with several dudes to back it. Unfortunately it was a war of sitting there and waiting for the first few turns until I resolved Avenger of Zendikar and swung for 100+ A very Kelly victory ^_- Game 2 happened much the same way, except with my resolution of Conqueror's Pledge in addition to Avenger with Beastmaster's Ascension. Didn't actually do the math, but it was a minimum of 60 or so ^_^

And thus concludes what will probably be my last Zendikar block draft with ROE coming out next week and all. I haven't actually played too many Zendikar drafts and will be sad to see it go. I only played with worldwake a total of 3 some odd times so I really can't formulate an opinion on that set, but I loved Zen-Zen-Zen drafts and found Landfall to be an amazing mechanic to play with. This is probably the most fun I have had drafting since Time Spiral block. Such is life, I plan on attending 2 prerelease events for my birthday this weekend so hopefully ROE sealed will be fun to play. If nothing else at least I get a couple of those ridiculous Eldrazi of win cards for playing!

Off to finish (500) days of Summer now

A Kellified Travy

On Recent Steps to Socialize Our Country

2010-03-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

With my leg in pain and my head being gamed out for a bit I decided to update my blog that I haven't posted on it like... forever... with an opinion relevant to recent events.

This health care legislation that was recently passed is just absolutely amazing for our country. It will probably be one of the most important bills passed this century. We are the only industrialized nation that does not have socialized health care in place to take care of people. A lot of people argue that leaving health care to the private sector gives us an edge on the rest of the world propelling us to the top. That's a lie of course as the U.S. is actually rank 37 in health care with every country before us sporting a social health care system. The contents of this bill are debatable and I don't entirely agree with them but the most important aspect is that this bill is the first step towards putting some form of a leash on these health insurance companies that have run rampant thus far.

I think that this is the only topic I have ever been able to generalize an entire group of people as being ignorant and uninformed. Anyone who thinks that having someone be responsible for your health that is simply there to turn a profit is an idiot, plain and simple. It's irresponsible, reckless, and the only reason the Republican party backs the idea is because it pays for their political campaigns. While some of the provisions laid out by this bill are great such as the pseudo-cap on profit for these insurance companies (they can only bring in a 15% profit off of the money they collect now) and removing the ability for them to drop people from coverage for being sick there are other aspects of the bill that really aren't that great such as the fine imposed on individuals without health care. But the actual rules this bill is putting into effect isn't nearly as important as the fact that it is actually regulating an industry that makes money off of manipulating people.
These insurance companies are happy to "take care of us" when we are healthy, or have a cold, but the second something more serious happens they are going to look for a reason to drop you, which of course has been pseudo-fixed by this bill. But the bill does nothing to stop them from hounding people after the fact in an attempt to mislead some jury somewhere that some injury wasn't covered in your plan and that they shouldn't have to pay for it.
Another frequent argument that has been dragged up against socialized medicine is that it takes forever to get any form of care in that system. Once again, a ton of bullshit, but even if it was true private health care is no better. Instead of waiting a long time to receive health care though dozens of pointless tests are run. I can't remember the last time I had an issue that the doctors didn't require weeks of tests to diagnose and treat. All of that checking and double checking could give a serious issue some time to evolve into something much worse. And it isn't as if a socialized health care system is suddenly going to take emergency rooms away from us if the need arises to go to one. Besides, when was the last time you heard of a Canadian getting a dual citizenship with the U.S. for health care... I have always heard of the opposite case.

Does this bill have problems? Yes. It is far from being anything perfect. But as it stands special interest groups and the puppets they have made out of the Republican party kept the bill from being debated further and forced it through. As an independent voter who has supported both Democrats and Republicans I can say that their methodology of trying to kill this bill rather than fix it has probably cost themselves any votes from me in the near future. I also think people are starting to think a little more clear headed now. Following passage of the bill Obama's approval ratings went up as well as the approval ratings for the bill. Stock values have gone up which should do something to slightly help the economy. This bill isn't a bad thing, and I implore anyone who is reading this to vote your Democratic senators and House members back in come November. The Republican party has proven itself to be a group of people just there to say "No" rather than help the much needed reform on our health system. Once I am done with medical school... some 10+ years down the road... if we don't find ourselves in a much more regulated private health care industry or with a socialized health care industry, I will be shipping my ass over to France.

On blatant indecision

2009-05-09T08:39:00.000-07:00

The semester is coming to a close and I will soon have more than a couple of hours a day to myself. But that leaves me looking forward to next semester. The plan was to switch to an Associates in Science major to get ready for a pre-med program. But I am torn, I really enjoyed my Art and English courses this semester... They are just hobbies and all, but I really do enjoy it and now I really don't know what to do... I guess i have a few days before I sign up for classes.

On Literal Interpertations

2009-04-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

I could never be an artist as a profession. I lack the talent, or at least the required focus and attention required in my opinion. But regardless, I enjoy it. Not necessarily the end product, or even the process of drawing is what stimulates my mind. But sitting down and focusing on something. The same applies to my musical dabbling with the guitar, my writing, or any art form I mess around with. To an individual like me, the act and process of creating art allows me to focus my senses on something, to an individual like me art is an excellent way to discover imperfections.

My mind attempts to interpret things as perfect as can be. Geometrical symmetry, clean and crisp forms. It is because of this I am fascinated by fire, constantly changing and constantly consuming the imperfections of anything it can get a hold of, to feed its own perfect imperfection. In my opinion it's a dangerous way to see life, seeking perfection and sense in the imperfect and irrational. And so for that reason I appreciate the artistic process, at least the step that lets me recognize the imperfections around me, even if I can't represent them properly.

I wonder how long I will have to be in my relationship with Kelly to not fear that it's something only temporary, or something not serious. I am sure the feelings I feel for her are nothing of the sort I have felt for anyone and I am sure she feels the same way for me, but still I find myself questioning just how stable my last relationship left me with relationships in general. I fear I am damaged on too many levels sometimes, and despite my many securities I still have those nagging insecurities that everything is going to fall apart again, not that they are justified in any way shape or form. I worry that I may and possibly do overdo things to make up for the fact that I just can't shake my coldness to the people around me off, even if I am sure I show Kelly just how much she means to me.
Which of course is everything, even I am second to her in my mind...

A relaxed Travy

On overwhelmed by gaming

2009-03-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

As of late I have picked up a game for every system I owned that I seek time to play... it is generally terrible for my school work!

Playstation - Final Fantasy 7 (Feel like replaying it again)
PSP - Final Fantasy Tactics (Kyle gave it to me as a joke, I think I am willing to give tactical RPGs a shot again)
Ninendo DS - Rhapsody/ Pokemon Platinum (Pokemon consumes most of my time)
Xbox - Resident Evil 5

I may even end up buying No more Heroes finally for the Wii...

But yeah.... working full time and going to school full time really does suck sometimes. Honestly though, I mostly have Kelly to blame! With the exceptions of Sundays and Tuesdays, if there is free time to be had, it is to be spent with her!
That isn't terrible though, that isn't bad at all. This is the first relationship that I can honestly say that 100% of the time there isn't something I would rather be doing than hanging out with her. It's great, the feelings I find myself being overcome by.

The feelings I have for her leave me realizing that she is one of the few friends I have now, that 30 years down the road better still be in my life. Ben and Decker are probably the only two other friends I feel that strongly about, friends that have been in my life for a very long time... people that have been there for me for as long as I can remember.

Not that I don't love all of my friends, just the feelings I have for them are something unique.

Ben
Dan
Kelly

They are the individuals I trust heart and soul, no questions asked. If hypothetically one of them told me that ejecting myself into space out of a space shuttle was the only way I was going to survive, even if it was a terrible idea at the time... I would probably do it.

Although Decker has a habit of saying red lights are green...

I suppose I can't emphasize enough my inability to trust people completely, as a result of my belief that trust leads to manipulation.

I can't emphasize how difficult it is to demonstrate and convey my feelings for my friends and family.

I know I love my friends, I know my love for Ben and Dan is equal to that of my immediate family.

I also know that love doesn't begin to describe what I feel for Kelly.

Gawd Pokemon is so nostalgic

A Travy smitten with love!

I was sick of restrictions sick of the boundaries about to close the door
Such a lack of conviction no real connection what should I settle for
But you caught my attention you built on the tension and you left me wanting more
Now I don't know what to do with myself do with myself
I don't want nobody else

I let you in I let you in and you infected me Can' t get enough of you
I breathed you in and now I'm in too deep
Don't think I'm pulling through
Can't get enough of you

You're so contagious Running through my veins
you're so contagious Holding onto every word You're so contagious
And I can't get away
You're so contagious and now I know for sure there is no cure

I saw your intentions i gave you permission Go ahead and start the war
I was out of addictions by my own admission oh I've been keeping score
But you made an exception you taught me a lesson
Who cares where I've been before
You would never leave me all by myself you don't want nobody else

I am burning in your fire
I have only one desire
i can not deny her

Now I don't know what to do with myself I don't want nobody else

You keep running through my veins

On poetry

2009-03-19T09:26:00.001-07:00

First and foremost, a poem I threw together:

Diamond
Symbolizing Love, Beauty, and Perfection
Even more perfect when one discovers the imperfections in your cut.
Perfectly imperfect.
Words cannot truly capture the ideals you represent.

Two Diamonds
Identical in their imperfections, a statistical improbability.
A mold crafted to encompass the pair in warm flowing gold.
A perfect pair of earrings.
One isn't complete without the other.

But the Pair isn't together
Disjoined
I seek you out and I steal you away
It isn't a crime, it's a necessity
to attain perfection.

Of course one word in there isn't actually a word... but it's all good

I finally beat Chrono Trigger the other day. Generally it was an all right game, but I didn't really get into it until the very end. I guess my issues were

The storyline
The final boss
I really didn't get into the combat system until the endgame

Maybe it was just too simple, I don't know, it seemed like the first half of the game was melee + healzor on occasion, and the second half was unleash super abilities of win with megalixers ftw. Even in fights that apparently had a strategy to them I was supposed to do... I just muscled my way through. With the exception of the last boss of course, which was still just me unloading my end game abilities once one guy was out of the way until death.

But regardless I started Rhapsody for the DS, and Resident Evil 5 for the 360 the other day.

Resident Evil 5 so far is exactly what I was hoping for, it truly is a game where you "run for your fucking life for hours until you die." Of course that idea kind of fell on death ears for the first level where I tried to muscle my way through the executioner dude... only to find out I could actually run away from him and just fight the masses on the roof. It's a good time.

Rhapsody really is a musical video game, with periods in the storyline where the cutscene is actually the characters singing... and you kill people with fricken pancakes, it's lush. I'm glad it's following like a turn based battle system, I was told originally it was a tactical RPG, which I just can't stand.

But Rhapsody might be taking a brief break as the new Pokemon game is coming out.

Gawd, I think I will always be a Pokemon junkie.

A content Travy

NO QUOTE HERE, I WROTE A POEM CHUMPS!

On Holy Shenanigans

2009-03-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

Man, I didn't realize Pokemon Platinum was coming out! Going to have to get myself a copy... and the free Regigas from Toy's R Us... Oh well... have to make another post later. But for now, cookies and poetry!

A poetic Travy

The betrayal you see coming is trivial. What is truly fearsome is the betrayal you don't see.

Seeing arch-enemy

2009-03-05T13:41:00.000-08:00

I'm looking for someone in the Binghamton Area
I've been trying to think of ways to spice up my life. I'm 21 years old, and my life is fantastic. But somethings missing. I feel like I'm old before my time. I need to inject some excitement into my daily routine through my arm before its too late. I need a challenge, something to get the adrenaline pumping again. An addiction would be nice, but, in short, I need a nemesis. Nothing crazy. Steal my parking space, knock my coffee over, trip me when Im running to catch the bus and occasionally whisper in my ear, "Ahha, we meet again". That kind of thing. Just keep me on my toes. Complacency will be the death of me. You need to have an evil streak and be blessed with innate guile and cunning. You should also be adept at inconspicuous pursuit. Evil laugh preferred. Send me a photo and a brief explanation why you would be a good nemesis.

British accent preferred.

On Hallucinations

2009-03-03T09:30:00.000-08:00

The other day I ended up getting terribly sick. It's unfortunate, I'm not a normal person who gets sick when the weather is terrible out, I get sick when it's nice. Regardless, it ended with me missing 2 days of work and a day of classes. The advantage to my getting sick was that it sent me on a delusional spree of creating some fever induced mathematical system that didn't make sense, and only confused me greater.
Okay, that wasn't the real advantage, the real advantage was that whenever I was conscious Kelly was around. Generally speaking I would pass out when she wasn't here, and wake up to her being here. It was excellent.
Still, in my state of mind I was afraid I was going to die as a result of my brain melting from the fever...
I fear death.
I am sure I have said that before.
If there is one fear I have above all other fears it is that of death. It isn't because I am a god fearing person I fear death either, I am fairly confident that if there comes a time for me to be judged God will see that I am a wonderful individual. Or at least, in my mindset he should. The only issue is I refuse to follow organized religion. Most religions deem that I should burn in hell or something along those lines as a result of that refusal, which is something I would rather not do. Still, while the morals organized religion teach are generally fine and dandy, the war religion breeds isn't.
I'm a firm believer that God generally doesn't want us waging war in his name. The crusades, 9/11, those are all no-nos in my eyes. I don't think that the god our respective religious books teach us about would approve of such actions. If he does, I'm not confident I would want him as my god anyways.
Still there is always the idea in the back of my mind that I may be making those reasons up to use as excuses to endorse my own sloth. After all, I am not the kind of guy who wants to get up every Sunday morning to go to church.

Of course, I lie when I say I would prefer not to burn in hell. While generally speaking if I was given the option of not burning in hell for eternity or burning in hell for eternity I would obviously pick the later, there are situations where I would pick burning in hell.

Being aware

I want to be aware forever, for all eternity. As I said... I fear death, and I fear that death because in my mind that means I become unaware, non-existent and unaware. Honestly, if I was given the choice between suffering agony for all eternity and being aware; or being peacefully non-existant forever I would pick the burning agony.

Or at least I used to think that...

Now there is a third option I look to, that generally keeps my mind off those options. If I could spend the rest of my life aware and with Kelly, I would be happy with the non-existance at the end.

My life feels complete with her around. Our personalities, our thoughts, our feelings; they aren't all identicle, but they all complement each other perfectly. If ever I could be inspired to write a poem or a song about something, it would be about my feelings concerning her. And even then, I wouldn't be able to do it because I just can't shape words around how I feel for her.
My relationships of the past all arguably had their ups and their downs.
I've had my good and bad life experinces.
But nothing, nothing I have ever felt concerning anything has ever once touched the level of feelings I have for her.

Everything I want in a girl, everything I have wanted for so long.

The person I have wanted to be with for so long

It's finally all there.

A happy Travy

If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

On 25

2009-02-24T12:12:00.000-08:00

Nyeh, figured I would rip this off of facebook, feel free to post your own!

25 Random Things about Me

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

1. I have been waiting to get tagged by one of these ever since Mark Roosewater wrote about it in his article last Monday, I guess I am an attention whore
2. I have issues with grape jelly, specifically on sammichs... the idea of eating it sickens me...
3. I enjoy making things more complicated then they have to be
4. I secretly enjoy confrontation, although I generally avoid it.
5. For having a desire at a degree in English, I certainly do have a ton of grammar and spelling issues
6. I am incredibly lazy, I really can't stand the level of responsibility I am maintaining right now.
7. I put syrup on things I probably shouldn't, as generally while my taste buds may enjoy it my stomach doesn't.
8. I have serious issues with telling lies, I have a hard time doing it.
9. I am incredibly self conscious about my teeth.
10. I am incredibly good at bullshitting, I have bullshitted my way through a good portion of my life.
11. I honestly enjoy working at the Giant, really, it isn't a lie. I look forward to my job.
12. I'm not a racist, but I am always afraid that I come off as being one.
13. Trust is weird with me. It is easy for me to trust people with a lot of things, but deeper/higher levels of trust are extremely hard for people to earn with me.
14. I am afraid I don't spend enough time with my family.
15. I feel that people rarely love or hate, and that true love and true hatred are very scarce in our world. Also if you use the word hate I will be sure to correct you, but not necessarily if you use the world love. I am way too positive
16. I enjoy hugging people, it calls a lot of question in terms of my sexuality and I am okay with that. I'm not really bi or gay, but I am okay with people thinking I am, it makes me giggle.
17. There are times where I am really ashamed to be an American, and so I hope to someday move out of the country
18. I am an eternal optimist
19. I signal every intent, even if it's switching lanes and there is no one around me for miles.
20. I love being a gamer
21. My pride revolves around my honesty, my ability to spread love, my commitment to my friends and family, and the fact that I am generally very right, and very good at the things I do.
22. I really don't have a clear focus on what I want to do with my life, although I would be content to spend the rest of it with the girl I am with right now.
23. My inability to zero in on what I want to do with my life also has adverse effects on my hobbies. I am okay at playing the guitar, drawing, gaming, etc, but I really have a hard time focusing on any one individual hobby.
24. I enjoy giving people nicknames, sometimes they make no sense whatsoever.
25. Coke, not pepsi si vous plait.

On Solidarity and not so Solitary

2009-02-22T18:02:00.000-08:00

With the wonderful Mid-semester Break from BCC this last week, I managed to take a Saturday off from work and play in a Legacy tournament. I haven't actually ever managed to play in a Legacy tournament before, but way back when we were all planning a trip to play in a Grand Prix or something along the lines and we proxied up some of the archetypes we might see to play test the decks we built. It was at that time I first played Solidarity, and fell in love with it. After we were done with the proxy decks, I saved Solidarity, slowly replacing the proxys until finally it was completed in Philadelphia. But I never actually played it until this past weekend in a real tournament, and while I didn't do win or place incredibly well I still had a great time with it. I actually did better then I expected to...

Solidarity

//Spells

2 Brain Freeze
4 Brainstorm
2 Cryptic Command
3 Cunning Wish
2 Flash of Insight
4 Force of Will
4 High Tide
4 Impulse
3 Meditate
4 Opt
3 Remand
4 Reset
3 Turnabout

//Lands

12 Island
4 Flooded Strand
2 Polluted Delta

//Sideboard

1 Chain of Vapor
1 Deflection
2 Disrupt
1 Evacuation
1 Mana Short
1 Remand
1 Stifle
1 Stroke of Genius
1 Train of Thought
1 Turnabout
2 Twincast
2 Wipe Away

Arguably I fumbled a bit on the sideboard, I ended up sleeping in and not going through my collection with enough time to spare, leading to some mishaps such as Train of Thought...

My matches were relativity simple, most of them I either managed to go off or I didn't...

Match 1 - Threshold
Game 1 we both mulled down to 6, he drops a bunch of critters which I wish + evacuate after he empties his hand before going off on his next turn.
1-0
Game 2 he gets mana boned against me, allowing me to build up enough lands to hardcast fows on his disruption vs me, I go off pretty smoothly from there
2-0

[1-0]

Match 2 - Merfolk
I may have been able to win this if I though straight, although the player I played against was pretty good and at the very least top 8'd. My first game he ended up Fowing one of my resets, which I wasn't ready for and the second game he managed to counter most of my shenaigans as well. If my sideboard and mind had been better prepared I may have been able to pull out a win here. Merfolk are going to be tricky for me for a while...

[1-1]

Match 3 - Elves
The first game I managed to go off without a problem, although if I hadn't of managed the turn I did he would have had lethal damage on me, part of the fun of playing Solidarity I suppose! The next game he managed to overwhelm me with his creatures a tad too fast, although the Choke he dropped was mucho unnecessary. And finally game 3 I managed to counter any shenanigans he played against me, it was a good time!

[2-1]

Match 4 - Cephalid Breakfast
I probablly played this match too defensivly, and at the wrong spots. But it happens I suppose, I am rather confident in the future I will be able to win this match up a tad more. Although it was pretty cool the second round of our match I managed to win with just 3 cards, Reset + Brain Freeze + Brain Freeze hehe

[2-2]

Match 5 - Elves (Again)
This deck actually looked like the same elf deck I used to run back in the day, my casual janky elf deck and for more irony points was piolted by someone else named Travis! I did lose the first round though as a result of my inability to draw any of my engine, the rest of the match was cake.

[3-2]

Match 6 - Really not sure XD

The deck had Tarms in it... I remember that much, and I came close to going off the first game but couldn't draw a brain freeze for the life of me... was very lame sauce. The second game I got smacked around on a bad draw... boy do I hate bad draws...

[3-3]

22nd place out of 40 something people isn't terrible, especially in my mind because of the fact that I haven't previously run this deck in anything serious. I think with more playtime I could win some of the matches I lost, even though the deck is relatively unplayed now a days. It was very satisfying though, people routing for me because I was the solidarity guy...

My life is pretty brilliant right now. Me and Kelly are finally together, which is something I have wanted for a long time. I am generally a very cheerful individual, with some depression buried beneath my cheerful visage. But I am definitely happy now, honestly happy. This is also the first of my few relationships I have been in love with, honestly in love with. I haven't felt the level of feelings I do for Kelly as I have for anyone in the past. Arguably many of the people I have been interested in over the years, or have been interested in me I compared to her... I should have done things differently a long time ago, but in the end it worked out to the now. So I suppose the ends justify the means to some extent.

Of course we have our differences, she prefers Pepsi and I prefer Coke, but that is something we can work on.

I am glad my first run in with fruit on the bottom yogurt didn't ruin it for me.

A Solidarity not so Solitary Travy

I don’t want to fight
Every single night
Everything I want is in your eyes

You and me go back
To places I don’t know to care
The spoils of all I got were left for scraps.

Don’t let me say this,
but you’re no worse than me,
It’s crazy

We are the real, if real ever was, and just because
We are the real, they feel we have enough,
We are the real, ‘cause someone gave us up

I want to be there when you’re happy
I want to love you when you’re sad

Can’t stand the morning rain?
Get out I'll take your place then
Can’t stand the blazing sun?
Then close your eyes you’ll see
The angel dust

I don’t want to be
Anything believed
A million watts of sound can’t compare

Come along you’ll see the world
The pulse ripples, the crowd unfurls
The current starts to flow and then you're on

Oh it’s white hot soul they want,
to sing for

We are the real, if real ever was, and just because
We are the ruin of every living soul
We are surreal, ‘cause someone gave us up.

Don’t break this oath!
I want to love you when you’re happy,
Don’t break this oath!
I want to be there when you’re sad,
Freeze-frame the pouring rain.

We are the real, as real as any ghost,
So easy now,
We are the real, in every living soul
Oh don't they know

Can’t stand the blazing sun?
Can’t stand the morning rain?
Oh get out I'll take your place again.

I don’t want to be alone
Oh I don’t want to be alone
I don’t want to be alone at all

If it’s a white hot soul they want
then a black heart they’ll get.

On writing essays

2009-02-16T18:33:00.000-08:00

Hehe, first essay of the semester... and thanks to procrastination all I have is my introduction done T_T Damn you Magic the Gathering!

Obedience and You

Society, past and present, dictates to its youth, or rather all members of what is considered to be “civilized society” that in order to be a constructive part of this society there are rules and regulations that must be followed. In order to maintain what we have become, and in order to advance that which we strive to become you must follow those rules and regulations. Many times we are expected not to be individual members of our society, but rather to be part of the mass, part of the legion of society. Our government on every level expects this legion to follow those rules and regulations mindlessly and without question. Still, many individuals who have helped our society to progress to the point that it is now have been individuals who broke away from that mindless mass obeying of rules and regulations. There are times and places where it is imperative that in order to maintain our humanity, and in order to be a productive member of society, that we break free from our rules and regulations and become the individual, that we disobey the laws set down for us.

On remember remember the 11th of February

2009-02-10T20:07:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is the 11th of February... how nostalgic. Every year that goes by it means a little less to me thankfully, and yet when February rolls around I can't help but think of it. And while generally I would be the one to form the resolve to bring it up, this year it wasn't me... not entirely, I may have over looked or forgotten it this year thanks to some more recent turns in the tides of my life... but I guess it just can't be helped. Eventually it will all subside and everyone will move on with their lives, but that isn't this year apparently.

BU... I sent in an application for it today, hopefully I get in. As much as I am enjoying BCC this semester, I really don't want to go there. It's not my idea of college, it seems so much like a watered down version of high school minus the drama. And while I enjoy my professors its kind of lonely not having anyone in my classes I really know, not that BU would be better in that respect but at least I would be proud to be going to BU. Still I generally doubt I will get into BU. I have my high school grades and a semester of BCC to send to them with my application. It's all a very mehish kind of thing, and probably a waste of my 40 dollars. But at least I am trying, and who knows, maybe my self doubt in other aspects of my life are carrying over to my self doubt in applying to BU and I will get accepted. Would be awesome. Things to do Thursday: Get my transcripts sent over.

I also got a free Blackberry Pearl today. Of course I had to renew my contract with Verizon and tack an extra 30 dollars a month on for the whole Blackberry experience, but it's worth it. I've wanted one for a while now, and from what I have heard from some Blackberry Storm owners the Pearl was better anyways. If nothing else it's an upgrade to what I have now, and should be fun to fandangle with.

I should have my new car on the road this weekend, adding to my list of things to do Thursday includes going down to my car insurance agency and getting the new insurance cards for it. I think eventually I will fix up the tad of paint that came off and get myself some Autobot Decals for it. Should be a good time

Wow this entry seems so uncoordinated... guess it's kind of like my mind right now

Life is cheesecakey

A mehish Travy

Far away
This ship has taken me far away
Far away from the memories
Of the people who care if I live or die

Starlight
I will be chasing a starlight
Until the end of my life
I don't know if it's worth it anymore

Hold you in my arms
I just wanted to hold you in my arms

My life
You electrify my life
Let's conspire to ignite
All the souls that would die just to feel alive

I'll never let you go
If you promise not to fade away
Never fade away

Our hopes and expectations
Black holes and revelations
Our hopes and expectations
Black holes and revelations

Hold you in my arms
I just wanted to hold you in my arms

Far away
This ship has taken me far away
Far away from the memories
Of the people who care if I live or die

I'll never let you go
If you promise not to fade away
Never fade away

Our hopes and expectations
Black holes and revelations
Our hopes and expectations
Black holes and revelations

Hold you in my arms
I just wanted to hold you in my arms
I just wanted to hold

On my Shards of Alara Release event

2009-02-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

I need to start having a little more confidence in my deck building. I am pretty cocky as is when it comes to constructing decks, but there is always a form of lingering doubt when it comes to playing draft or sealed events. I lack confidence in my decks initially, and then they end up working just as well as I would have hoped Arguably I didn't do as brilliantly as I usually do last night as a result of my least favorite aspect of MTG... mana screw. Oh well, here is my sealed deck:

//Creatures
1 Wild Nacatl
1 Valeron Outlander
1 Deft Duelist
1 SIgiled Paladin
1 Wandering Goblins
1 Sunseed Nurturer
1 Knotvine Mystic
1 Rhox Charger
1 Rafiq of the Many
1 Meglonoth
1 Skyward Eye Prophets
1 Rockcaster Platoon

//Artifacts
1 Kaleidostone
1 Obelisk of Bant
2 Manaforce Mace

//Spells
1 Resounding Silence
1 Might of Alara
1 Gleam of resistance
1 Traumatic Visions
1 Fiery Fall
1 Resounding Thunder
1 Bant Charm

//Lands
4 Plains
4 Island
4 Mountain
4 Forest

Looking back on it I really shouldn't have run Rockcaster Platoon, he was generally worthless and I have no idea what I was thinking other then "OOoo Big menz with hurtz to flierz and playerz." In reality he is very not good... But on a positive note, one of my MVPs was Wandering Goblins, many people overlooking the fact that I could pump his ability more then once.

The Match Rundown:

Me and Paul decided to run our decks into each other quickly. He ended up getting a Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker... and managed to drop it against me, blowing up my Manaforce Mace equipped to my Meglonoth. Luckily I had a second in hand, and managed to swing back into his planeswalker to murder it down and eventually take the game.

0-0

I ended up playing Kyle first round, and the only thing better then pwning one friend wicked bad when they drop a Nicol is managing to pwn another friend after having to mull to 4. But Kyle called it, saying I would probably still manage to win somehow. He dropped a couple of dudes that managed to take me down to 10 before I drew enough removal to take them out. Then I dropped Rafiq of the Many and swung throwing a Might of Alara my critters way. 16 damage in one hit and I took him out the next turn. The second match I ended up dropping a Wandering Goblins with my trusty Manaforce Mace. Kyle underestimated the goblins ability (and wasn't the only one) and ended up taking a bit too much damage from him.

1-0

The next round I played a kid named Chris. Game 1 I got mana boned, and he swung into me repeatedly with his Esperzoa. That game ended up quickly. Game 2 nearly ended in his favor as well, with him managing to swing into me with evasion critters and use Sludge Strider and Onyx Goblet to slowly wittle my life down. But some removal later and dropping my Sunseed Nurturer managed to offset my loss of life, and eventually I managed to overpower him with dudes. Game 3 was another close one, but swinging with a Mana Force Mace'd Sigiled Paladin and Wandering Goblins, with another underestimation on the goblins part won me the game.
2-0

I had actually gotten pretty tired at this point and forgotten to take down my opponents name for this match... and the next one. The first game I managed to win as my opponent decided to underestimate a Wandering Goblins once again... with my mythic Rafiq of the Many out... it was an easy one shot. And my next 2 games I would draw almost nothing but lands... giving him the match
2-1

After my mana boneage the last round I kind of wanted to drop this one. I could still top 8 though, not that it ended up mattering. More mana flood for me and an easy match win for my opponent.
2-2

In conclusion I really can't stand the random aspect of the game that is mana screw. It doesn't matter how brilliant a player you are you can still easily take it to the face just because of poor luck. It happened in Philly, and it happened again tonight. Oh well, it generally can't be helped... honestly anyways.

I am honestly kind of disappointed that I didn't get a Progenitus. While it is probably very Timmyish of me, I really want to build a deck around him... a 10/10 pro everything, that two shots people! I have an interesting idea for a deck I think, and hopefully I can get my hands on him.

Bleach had a pretty epic dialogue today
Ichigo: Take care of Inoue. If Inoue's Rikka can't shield her from my energy, shield her with your body.
Ishida: I would even if you hadn't asked.

Hehe, Ishida is such a cocky mother trucker.

Kyle gave me a copy of FF7 whoot :D

Life is pretty fricken wonderful, and only stands to get better at this point IMO

A mana boned Travy

I am thinking it's a sign that the freckles
In our eyes are mirror images and when
We kiss they're perfectly aligned
And I have to speculate that God himself
Did make us into corresponding shapes like
Puzzle pieces from the clay
True, it may seem like a stretch, but
Its thoughts like this that catch my troubled
Head when you're away when I am missing you to death
When you are out there on the road for
Several weeks of shows and when you scan
The radio, I hope this song will guide you home

They will see us waving from such great
Heights, 'come down now,' they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away,
'come down now,' but we'll stay...

I tried my best to leave this all on your
Machine but the persistent beat it sounded
Thin upon listening
That frankly will not fly. you will hear
The shrillest highs and lowest lows with
The windows down when this is guiding you home

On King of the Hill

2009-02-04T10:07:00.000-08:00

Ever since I was a kid I enjoyed the game king of the hill. Hold the high ground is the name of the game, and all throughout my life the things I have enjoyed most involved holding that high ground. The simplest thing to look at is my former love of MMORPGs. I picked classes that could sit there and take a ton of monsters/mobs/players, classes that could hold that high ground.
Travy, my Tibian Knight would grab up dragon lords and dragons, tank the damage and bring them down. My Warlock Travstopher on World of Warcraft, and my Paladin Travy, could aggro a dozen plus mobs of their own level or higher and take them down.
In Magic the Gathering I build decks to bring to the multiplayer table that absolutly have to be stopped or they will win. I build those decks with tanking multiple players in mind, and my favorite games are those games where everyone teams up to stop me and just can't bring me down.
That is part of my pride, these king of the hill scenarios. These one against the world scenarios.
I also pride myself in my general moral well doing. My going against the will of society in favor of doing what I think is right.
Unfortunatly I fear I have given up some of my moral high ground, taking a hit to my pride. But my pride still seems to be fully intact, unshaken in any way shape or form.
I suppose time will determine what damage, if any my pride has suffered.

A contemplative Travy

No one gets out of life alive.

On refrences and terrible drafting of win

2009-01-30T10:46:00.001-08:00

I finally read Orwell's essay, Shooting an Elephant and understand the reference in Meet Bill. It's pretty funny.

I ended up doing a draft last night/this morning. My first tournament since Morning Tide probably... and it went a lot better then expected. The first pack I opened ended up having Excommunicate in it, so I decided to draft something with white. Initially I thought the card was an instant, and once I realized it wasn't I was pretty disappointed. It still won me a couple of games though, I hear getting rid of blockers is pretty good. Then I was passed Realm Razer, which I ended up taking because I need him for another deck. I ended up going Red Green White... the decklist obviously follows. I lucked into a couple of big beasts, although someone else was in my colors as well so I didn't get as many as I wanted, but took mana ramp in the form of Obelisks regardless seeing how as the orignal plan was to abuse Realm Razer. And then my second pack I got Hellkite Overlord. I'm not going to lie, he was orignally just a rare draft for me. But I saw I had obelisks to fit his color and in the deck he went. The following is the end result:

Hellkite Overlord Ftw

//Creatures
2 Wild Nacatal
1 Bull Cerodon
1 Welkin Guide
2 Sanctum Gargoyle
3 Elvish Visionary
1 Naya Battlemage
1 Knight of the Skyward Eye
1 Wolly Thoctar
1 Realm Razer
1 Hellkite Overlord
//Spells
1 Excommunicate
1 Angelsong
2 Resounding Roar
1 Branching Bolt
//Artifacts
2 Obelisk of Grixis
2 Obelisk of Naya
//Lands
1 Naya Panorama
5 Plains
5 Mountain
6 Forest

Some of these cards like Angelsong, and Welkin guide are probably by no means picked in decks normally. But I figured they might help me out of a rough spot, and they did. Namely one of the last rounds I played I had my opponent down to 9, with him having the kill on me next turn. Luckily I had my trusty Thoctar out with Naya Battlemage out. A topdeck into the Welkin guide for 9 overhead damage and the match win was most excellent. I ended up going 3-1 and taking 2nd place.

I would go into more detail but this has been sitting on my computer for the last few days, and really can't remember my matchs all that well xD. The Draft was enjoyable because Kelly was there though, even though she got mana boned almost every game... too bad this week the naab is going to Comicon >:[

But with magic the gathering in mind, it looks like we are going to start doing casual friday MTG, and drafting thursday nights. It should be a good time! I have all ready worked my Hellkite Tyrant into his own little deck ^_^

Ah well

A magic playing again Travy

On Nyeh

2009-01-27T19:48:00.000-08:00

Well I am still pumped about this semester at BCC, my professors continue to be amazing. My English Professor especially is pretty nicer dicer, and makes me look forward to coming to class every day. Today's discussion started with a poem with an epic line, "The best lack all conviction, while the worst are all full of passionate intensity." We even had a discussion on prejudice against emos. How much more nicer dicer can it get?

Unfortunately my shitty car broke down today, making me quite the emo. I really can't stand life sometime, especially when I am correcting a problem a month with my car. How exactly am I supposed to save money.

Nyeh... at least there is a new House out... that will distract me for a while

An emo Travy

Oh, my life is changing everyday,

In every possible way.
And oh, my dreams, it's never quiet as it seems,
Never quiet as it seems.

I know I've felt like this before, but now I'm feeling it even more,
Because it came from you.
And then I open up and see the person falling here is me,
A different way to be.

Ah, la da ah...
La...

I want more impossible to ignore,
Impossible to ignore.
And they'll come true, impossible not to do,
Impossible not to do.

And now I tell you openly, you have my heart so don't hurt me.
You're what I couldn't find.
A totally amazing mind, so understanding and so kind;
You're everything to me.

Oh, my life,
Is changing every day,
In every possible way.

And oh, my dreams,
It's never quiet as it seems,
'Cause you're a dream to me,
Dream to me.

Ah, da, da da da, da, la...

On Tradition

2009-01-26T21:36:00.000-08:00

One thing that always seems to consistently leave me awestruck, and doesn't seem to ever change, is just how well the combination of lust and greed go together. I suppose all of the original sins combo well off of one another, but lust and greed strike me hard as a c-c-c-c-combo. They have been around for ever, with the exceptionally attractive leeching off of the exceptionally rich and vice versa, an almost symbiotic relationship.

I suppose I look at it as being shallow, money buying love that is. But on who's end really? Is it wrong of the terribly well endowed to ache for money? I mean I know I would love to happen into a ton of cash, but would I be willing to trade my body over to someone for their own pleasures in exchange for a comfortable lifestyle? I would really hope not. As a matter of fact I am pretty sure I wouldn't, not in most cases anyways...
Unfortunately if you tangle the second part of the equation I might just be tempted, as one also has to ask themselves could you resist someone who is infinitely attractive to you. While I seem to be able to easily manage avoiding pursuing the whole lust bit (Arguably because I am not that confident with my own looks and that probably helps), if some incredibly attractive chick wanted to pay me to sleep with her I don't know how well I could resist. A comfortable lifestyle + sex with someone I would be all lusty over? How amazing could that be.

Still, I try to keep to the mindset of money can't buy you love, what's sex without love, etc etc etc. Doesn't everyone in the end seek someone who is both physically attractive and mentally attractive as well? Honestly, I wouldn't date someone who I saw as unattractive regardless of their level of mental intellect, or how well we matched up. Does that make me a terrible person? Does that make me shallow? I think so, if an individual is unattractive to me it just isn't going to fly, so be it.
But everyone is shallow. It's another one to add to my list of laws on humanity. No matter what anyone says or does, in the end they would really like to be with someone they are physically attracted to in addition to their mental attraction. And for some people, the physical attraction is all they want, more then willingly sacrificing any chance of what I deem to be a real relationship. We are all shallow, just everyone has different tiers as to what they find attractive.

And speaking of character flaws, I really need to stop procrastinating, I still have English and psychology to do for tomorrow and I should all ready be going to bed. It can be helped according to some people, but I am quite content in my ability to procrastinate. Even without world of warcraft I still mindlessly browse the intrawebs....

A still procrastinating Travy

I'd never lie to you
Unless I had to I'll do what I got to
Unless I had to I'll do what I got to, the truth
Is you could slit my throat
And with my one last gasping breath
I'd apologize for bleeding on your shirt

Infinite Willow Elf Recurssion Combo

2009-01-25T20:24:00.000-08:00

Tiffzoring for mah blog for teh memories

This deck was inspired by a deck of mine I called Cycle of Delicious. The deck ran Riggers, and Willow Elves, and we convinced a member of my playgroup that it had a 17 card infinite willow elf recursion combo in it. Naturally we were kidding around, but in a group chat the other day, we threw together that 17 card combo, and created infinite willow elf recursion combo deck.

The combo

Part 1: Infinite Willow Elf Recursion.
Willow Elf
Ashnod's Altar
March of the Machines
Heartstone
Reito Lantern
Verdant Succession

First, you are going to need 2 willow elves, 1 in play and 1 in library (2). You will also need a Verdant Succession in play to insure that when a willow elf dies, you are able to get another one out of your library (3). In order to make sure you constantly have a willow elf in your library, Reito Lantern is necessary (4). A method of fueling Reito Lantern is via sacrificing Willow Elf to Ashnod's Altar for 2 mana (5). Unfortunately The Lantern's ability costs 3 to play, and the altar produces 2, so we needed to reduce the cost of the lantern's ability some how. And so, Heartstone was suggested (6). But the stone only works on creatures, and so we needed to somehow animate the lantern, thus we splashed blue for March of the Machines (7).

At this point, you have infinite willow elf recursion combo online. But in order for it to advance game state, we had to add some sort of win condition. Naturally throwing a second heartstone in there with a Squall Line could work, but where is the fun in a 7 card combo?

Part 2: Advancing the Gamestate
And so Fecundity was added so that everytime a Willow Elf got sent to the graveyard, we got to draw a card (8). The next step was adding more creatures to the deck to play with the combo. But unfortunately infinite colorless mana doesn't play green spells, and cool as Mycosynth lattice could have been, we didn't want to blow up peoples lands, that's just plain rude. And so, Aluren was added, ensuring that we could play anything we drew for free (9). 2x Child of Thorns was added so that we could pump our men an infinite amount of times (11). Tarpan was then added so that we could gain infinite life in the process (13). Concordant Crossroads was added to ensure all of our men could attack the turn they came into play (14). And finally 2x Loaming Shaman was added to ensure we wouldn't deck ourselves (16).

So we only managed a 16 card combo

Is that so wrong :<

Ah well, the final decklist:

Deck
Creatures 2 Child of Thorns 3 Joven's Ferrets 2 Loaming Shaman 4 Spore Frog 3 Tarpan 2 Tree Monkey 4 Willow Elf Enchantments 1 Aluren 1 Concordant Crossroads 2 Fecundity 3 March of the Machines 3 Verdant Succession	Artifacts 3 Ashnod's Altar 3 Heartstone 2 Reito Lantern Lands 16 Forest 6 Island

__________________

On Foodstuffs

2009-01-25T18:54:00.000-08:00

Ever since becoming a vegetarian my desire to eat meat has lessened more and more. At this point I have uncommitted myself from my diet, but still stick to it for the most part. Generally speaking I just don't have a desire to eat meat, now it is more of something to eat if there is nothing else on the menu. I find myself desiring boca burgers over regular burgers. Arguably a good thing...

And so long as I am thinking on food, oranges are pretty amazing. I had them for the first time earlier last year at a Japanese restaurant, and tasty as they may have been I didn't pursue oranges any further. I had some again at the Chinese buffet I went to a little while ago... and decided this time to actually pursue eating them further...

The artificial orange flavored thingy-ma-jigs I have eaten over the years couldn't begin to prepare me for just how tasty actual oranges are. Even orange juice which I love fails in comparison to eating an actual orange. With Kelly's help I learned how to peel them myself (I'm that much of a chump) and now eat one or two daily. I wonder if that is a bad thing...

Nyeh, I am still procrastinating, at this point I have been on the intrawebs for 3 hours doing nothing when I had planned on doing homework right away, god am I a bothersome individual sometimes.

On my list of weaknesses, my list of human traits, and sweet sweet victory

2009-01-21T18:38:00.000-08:00

It's about time I got a few things out there. First and foremost, Inauguration Day this year marks one of the first times I have ever been proud to be an American. There is something about Obama that I trust, and I think he is going to do great things for our country. I am adding an Obama poster to my list of posters to get, and hanging it right over my bed, maybe even with an American flag. That is just how much he inspires me. God Bless America

With that out of the way, I figured I would publisize a couple of lists, which of course are subject to change (seeing how as I actually can't remember all of them at the moment).

First and foremost, my list of traits that describe humanity,

People don't hate
Everyone gets off on something
People lie
Everyone deserves a couple of chances

and nextly, my own list of personal (positive) weaknesses. Hopefully not to be abused too often.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
MUNCHKIN CAT

As if I would devulge my intermost secrets to the intrawebs... silly people

LSD + Catterpiller?

A Munchkin cat loving Travy

On Scottish folds

2009-01-20T13:37:00.000-08:00

Scottish fold kittens are fricken adorable.

That said, today's classes weren't too bad. I am actually kind of excited. My English teacher is incredibly enthusiastic and optimistic, and my art teacher is pretty rawking too. So maybe last semester was just a glitch, not that I want to go to BU any less. At first I was pretty enthusiastic with going to BCC, thinking of myself as a college student. While I am a little hard on myself now about it, I Suppose it's still better then nothing.

Man... munchkin cat makes me want to cry tears of joy, I can't take my eyes off of it!

On hindsight

2009-01-19T10:20:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow marks my first day of the spring semester. I am sort of looking forward to it, and sort of not looking forward to it. On the plus side I have my Art and English courses tomorrow... but on the minus side I am really not expecting too much out of them, if they turn up anything like my courses from last semester. Still, it is kind of nostalgic... I suppose the idea of tomorrow kind of triggers high school memories. I mean, I will be there all day so I will need to pack a lunch, and it's an art course. Hopefully I can listen to my IPod and the wallflowers.
In hindsight, if I could go back to high school I would do a few things differently, one of which would definitely be putting effort into my grades so that I didn't find myself going to BCC now. I would have defiantly like to have gone to a better school where I might feel like I am actually learning. Unfortunately procrastination and lazy sauce got the best of me... so here I am. It can't be helped, hindsight is balls.

Similarly drinking while depressed is not a nicer dicer idea, and in hindsight is another thing I would have avoided the other evening. Spilling my heart, and a good portion of stupidity onto Kelly wasn't the best of ideas, but at least I am pretty positive at this point she knows most of my feelings concerning her. Since that point a few people have told me I've left the ball in her court. But the truth is, it's been there all along. And at least I didn't mess everything up.

I really want to get myself a copy of Guitar Hero world tour... if for no reason other than to get good at the drums. I can do vocals, play the guitar on hard/expert, and play bass on expert. But I feel like such an ass for making people watch me fumble through a song on easy or medium whilst failing at the drums. If I got a copy of the game myself, it's something I could fix on my own and feel like I'm not bringing other players down with me. I would also like to get up to expert on the guitar at some point, which probably requires a significantly larger amount of time invested then I have been.

I'm going to start playing Magic the gathering again, after all free time (minus homework) = Nicer Dicer and needs socializing!

A tired travy

(It starts with)
One thing / I don’t know why
It doesn’t even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind / I designed this rhyme
To explain in due time
All I know
time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down to the end of the day
The clock ticks life away
It’s so unreal
Didn’t look out below
Watch the time go right out the window
Trying to hold on / but didn’t even know
Wasted it all just to
Watch you go
I kept everything inside and even though I tried / it all fell apart
What it meant to me / will eventually / be a memory / of a time when I tried so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
I had to fall
To lose it all
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
One thing / I don’t know why
It doesn’t even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind / I designed this rhyme
To remind myself how
I tried so hard
In spite of the way you were mocking me
Acting like I was part of your property
Remembering all the times you fought with me
I’m surprised it got so (far)
Things aren’t the way they were before
You wouldn’t even recognize me anymore
Not that you knew me back then
But it all comes back to me
In the end
You kept everything inside and even though I tried / it all fell apart
What it meant to me / will eventually / be a memory / of a time when I tried so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn’t even matter
I had to fall
To lose it all
But in the end
It doesn’t even matter
I've put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
For all this
There’s only one thing you should know
I've put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
For all this
There’s only one thing you should know
I tried so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn’t even matter
I had to fall
To lose it all
But in the end
It doesn’t even matter

On left 4 dead and terrible people

2009-01-14T18:51:00.000-08:00

I feel I have experienced a good portion of the communities the internet has to offer. It all started when my family got its first computer back in the 9th grade. My friend Kyle showed me how to set up my own hotmail account (although I have actually had that account longer then I have had access to the intrawebs!). I was initially drawn into the world of MSN roleplaying after happening upon a chat room entitled The Midnight Manor. That was my first taste of an internet community, a small group of roleplayers I came to know and love. But after a while I decided to try my luck at an MMORPG, the dreaded Tibia.
Tibia was another small community, easily handled and easily enjoyed.
And this is where the tier system begins
The next tier for me was that of the XBox live community. While roleplaying communitys, and other small online community were easily tolerable with your occasional prick, the Xbox live experince is a little different. Name calling, general harassment, your occasional tough guy 10 year old, that kind of stuff. But still, pretty easily managed.
Following the Xbox Live tier comes the world of warcraft tier, easily the next level of prick. Plenty of harassment and all around douchebaggery exists in the World of Warcraft community, including people who religiously strongly dislike the opposite factions.
But by far the worst, and most amusing community I have happened upon is that of /b/ on 4chan. The only rule is there are no rules... and it is incredibly amusing, making me feel like more and more of a terrible person every time I log on. /b/ is defiantly the bully of the internet.

So I got to play Left 4 Dead, and it was pretty awesome. The internet hype was by all means justified, but unfortunately it doesn't have an incredible level of replay value. While it's great game play and everything, the campaigns are all so brief I look at them as running instance encounters on World of Warcraft. Sure there is some story there, but it's all strategy that you will get down with your fellow players. And while generally in something with a campaign I am okay with sticking to strategy because the story is backing it... L4D is just different. The levels are laid out with "boss" encounters in specific areas, so I imagine after a couple of times playing it there can't be too much excitement to the matter. The only way to switch it up is with newer players to the game who won't be used to the encounters, or in the versus mode. Both of which will probably get boring after a while.

I suppose replacing my car is a serious contender in things to do with my tax money, as driving in this weather is nigh impossible with my inability to see. It's fine if it isn't freezing out, but this +2 shenanigans is just no good. But then again, I really don't think I can resist the temptation to get myself some sort of Blackberry, or some other smart phone. While initially I planned on getting the BB storm, terrible reviews have made me reconsider... The Samsung Omnia looks pretty awesome, and I hear a 5.0 megapixel camera is nicer dicer.

Oh well

Vegeta ftw

Breathe out so I can breathe you in hold you in
And now I know you've always been out of your head, out of my head I sang
And I wonder when I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when she sang

On holy shizzle long time no update

2009-01-13T23:21:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I have updated this. To sum things up I started World of Warcraft, got addicted, and then managed to quit. World of Warcraft is a wonderful game, unfortunately there are people in this world that are just too easily hooked on MMORPGs, and I number among them.

Tibia was a long time issue for me, starting back in the 8th grade and probably costing me hundreds of dollars over the course of time I played it. But I found myself loved by the community, and loving the community. While in hindsight the game play was terrible, CIPSoft is a small company so you can only expect so much. It was the community and low system requirements that drove the game, and I imagine continues to drive the game. Eventually finding myself fed up with CIPsoft and the game itself, I broke open a seal of horrorz.

In case of Cipsoft screwup break seal

World of Warcraft was great at first, the few months I played, I played a horde side PVP server. I really enjoyed myself but managed to let the game go after a while. And life went back to normal, I managed to forget about MMOs for a while, and generally online gaming all together in favor of card and board games with my friends. But then my room mate moved out and I found myself low on cash. I also found myself being advanced on when I didn't quite feel ready for a relationship again. And so I took the chump's way out, and convinced myself I would become addicted to World of Warcraft. Once again in hind sight, a terrible idea.

Maybe I should have just learned to cut back on spending like a normal person. Maybe I should have taken a risk and tried another relationship. But I decided to fuel a terrible habit that I had by chance fallen out of. And so Travstopher of warlock was born. With Mitch's help I got into a casual guild, and managed to hit the level cap pretty quickly becoming exceptionaly good at my class. And as concieted as it may sound, with my help the guild gathered enough close friends and organized well enough to begin casual raiding. Around halloween issues arose between the guild leader of the time and myself over a roll I won on the Headless Horseman's mount.

So I left the guild, striking it out on my own waiting for the guild leader's apology. It came, but between my leaving of the guild and my subsequent return to the guild I found myself becoming even more and more attached to the game. Up until this point I all ready logged 4 or 5 hours on days when I worked 9 hour shifts and went to school for 3 hours, the days when I had to do only one or not at all were fully consumed by WoW. With the new content of Northrend to explore I put even more time in, sleeping only once every couple of days.
But to wrap up this rant, I realized how terrible my life had become. I had gone from a casual video gamer to one of those hardcore WoW players who's entire life schedule revolved around time spent on the game. I had given up exercising, cooking, and socializing. And the worst part is, I wasn't even into end game content yet, only gearing up.

And so I went cold turkey on WoW for new years, and got my life back on track. I have started exercising, cooking, and spending tons of time with friends. The next semester starts soon, and I think I may just start blogging agian.

Hopefully I will improve my english..

A reblogged Travy

How can I help it if I think youre funny when youre mad
Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad
Im the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral
Cant understand what I mean? you soon will
I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve
I have a history of losing my shirt

Shadowmoor: The sealed launch party

2008-05-04T14:36:00.001-07:00

I had hoped to go to the event with my friends today, but unfortunately everyone was doing other things. But I suppose that's okay, I probably would have been the ride, and not everyone can take 7 hours of sealed MTG. When I opened my packs, I wasn't really all that impressed with anything I got, didn't really feel any colors. Turns out I was wrong, I got pretty good packs. I figured I would end up facing down the common cycle of avatar enchantments, so I packed hate for those. Turns out I didn't need it, as I only faced one of the enchantments all day... still, the cards were useful. I ended up going green/white, with quite a few persist creatures along with cards to take -1/-1 counters off them when they come back. That would typically let me stall until I overwhelmed the opponent with Windbrisk Raptor, or my sheer numbers. Oh well, here is the run down.

The Deck
g/w sealed
Creatures
2 Nurturer Initiate
1 Rhys the Redeemed
1 Devoted Druid
3 Safehold Elite
1 Chainbreaker
1 Scuttlemutt
2 Kitchen Finks (yaa)
1 Farhaven Elf
1 Rosheen Meanderer
1 Raven's Run Dragoon
1 Woeleecher
1 Thornwatch Scarecrow
1 Windbrisk Raptor

Enchantments
1 Steel of the Godhead

Spells
1 Niveous Wisps
1 Strip Bare
1 Inquisitor's Snare
2 Aethertow

Lands
9 Plains
8 Forest

It occurs to me at this point that I didn't keep as good a track of this event as I have others, so unfortunately I really don't have the specifics outside of ending life totals and the sort. If I had to pick an MVP it would be Windbrisk Raptor, a 5/7 flier that gives your attackers life link is pretty much the nut. The combination of Kitchen Finks and Woeleecher also lead to a huge life gain bit. In the end, there wasn't a single match that didn't end with me at some point having 30+ life. One match even ended with me close to 80. Rhys didn't stick around long in any game. Mostly I dropped him as fodder for player's removal. With creature destruction and burn being so limited in this set, having someone burn out my Rhys and not have any solutions vs. my persist combos/ raptor was generally a good play. I did however get an active rhys in the semi finals, generating 32 tokens in the end, and swinging to push my life total into the 80s thanks to the raptor. Not that it mattered at that point, as we had 2 cards left in our decks xD

All in all it was enjoyable, and I walked away with 7 packs, 2 promo vexing shushers, and a deckbox. It was a good time.

Round 1 Vs Patrick
2-1
1-0 (2-1)

Round 2 Vs Kevin
2-0
2-0 (4-1)

Round 3 Vs Andrew
2-0
3-0 (6-1)

Round 4 Vs Todd
2-1
4-0 (8-2)

SemiFinals Round 5 Vs Todd
2-0
5-0 (10-2)

Finals Round 6 Vs Anthony
2-1
6-0 (12-3)

On old friends, awesome playlists, and nintendo

2008-04-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

Let me first say that it is becoming harder and harder to find Capri Sun boxes which haven’t cut their sugar. It brings to mind the fact that Cadbury Eggs cut down on their sizes last year as well. If anyone has some sort of tasty supplement for either, please let me know.

That said I ended up buying Mario Kart Wii today. What can I say, it’s Mario Kart. For the wii. Not much more to it. None the less, it is a game that is as enjoyable as ever. I have never played a Mario Kart that wasn’t enjoyable. Outside of a few more playable characters/maps, there isn’t that much more positive I can say on the game. As far as negatives go though, I feel they sort of nerfed battles. I always enjoyed the 1 vs. 1 vs. 1 vs. 1 aspect of the battles, just 4 players gunning for a win. Now CPUs get dragged into it and you are split into 2 teams. I don’t like it. But that is the only bit that I didn’t like.

Oh, the wii wheel is unnecessary, as is the case with most Wii Accessory’s.

I have also determined that the best ’environment’ play list for me is the following albums set to repeat shuffle:
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand - You could have it so much better
The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
Runrig- Heartland’
Runrig- Everything you see
The Killers- Sam’s town

It’s the best I’ve come up with anyways.

Last night on a routine trip to Denny’s, Mitch and myself ran into Paul. An aquantince of mine, friend of Mitch’s that moved down south for a while, and then moved back up here. It was enjoyable, we went back to his place and played Magic for a few hours. It was quite enjoyable. Shadowmoor becomes T2 legal, and releases this Friday. Apparently there is a release event for it at midnight on Thursday, I plan on going to it... regardless of the fact that means I will be getting 4 hours of sleep.
Anyways, we got to discussing DnD 4.0 last night at Pauls before leaving. Apparently they are going to be restricting some of the things you can do in the game. While Paul approaches it with disdain, I look at it as a step in the right direction. DnD can do something MMos, and TCGs can’t do. It can nerf shit hella easier.

I think I will make up a 4.0 dungeon.

My god, release party on sunday too! My schedule for MTG is looking
Sleep until 5~6 on Thursday. Midnight MTG, work 8:30-5:30. Crash, Work saturday, release events on sunday!
On a side note, I think I really don’t care about you anymore

An Eggman Travy

Eyes
Boring a way through me
Paralyse
Controlling completely
New
There is a fire in me
Fire that burns
Fire that burns

This fire is out of control
I’m going to burn this city
Burn this city
If this fire is out of control
Then i
I’m out of control
And i burn

Eyes
Burning a way to me
Overwhelm
Destroying so sweetly
New
There is a fire in me
Fire that burns
Fire that burns

This fire...

On Shadowmoor

2008-04-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite types of tournaments to attend are prerelease events. You get to play with cards before they actually "come out" and everyone is basically on an equal level. Being that I love Draft, I also love Sealed. You are given a pool of cards and told to do one of the things I feel I do best, build a deck. And it's enjoyable. It's probably the closest you can get to casual play in a competitive environment in my opinion. Not that Friday Night Magic isn't semi-casual, I just think that prereleases are a tad more fun.
And you meet people. Typically, you play people who are there for fun as well. Unfortunately I had one match that wasn't all that fun, just as a result of attitude. That was one of my least favorite aspects of the Grand Prix, was the cocky ass attitude some people had. But what are you going to do I suppose.
Mitch and I ended up being two-headed giant partners this time around. We ended up building him a Green/white deck that pretty much exploded in peoples faces, and I went with a red/black deck running removal and burn. My deck didn't do nearly as much as him.
In match 1, I managed to swing for 7 by turn 3. Mitchel showed me up by swinging for 20 something to end the game. It was hella tight.
Match 2 didn't go in our favor. Our opponent's decks exploded, ending the game in the first 10 minutes of the match. It was ridiculous. They were a fun enough pair though, and agreed to a casual rematch while we waited for everyone else to finish. It was another game of me playing semi-support for Mitch while he smashed their face in over and over again.
My most memorable play though occurred in Match 3, and it would have to be playing Giant baiting with the conspire, swinging in with 2 giants (which unfortunately got stopped) but then using Rite of Consumption to do 4 damage and grab 4 life, and copy the giant with Cemetery Puca. It was a good time (except for our opponents, Ben and Amber), but once again Mitch did most of the work in terms of damage. Not that having both of us swinging with Spirit Avatars was really helping Ben and Ams. Before the match we decided to split the packs regardless of the outcome anyways, so everyone walked away happy, and me and Mitchel walked away with 6th place.
I also walked away with 7th place (3-1) in the main flight I participated, drafting a black/red deck in that as well. Emberstrike Duo was my star player I think. Having 4 copies of him in my deck lead to me consistently drawing him in matchs. 1st turn Manaforge Cinder followed by a Duo, followed by another Duo followed by an Inkfathom Infiltrator happened in probably 5 of the games I played in. Then giving him Fists of the Demigod, well, that's just silly. First strike and Wither is incredibly OP. Having gotten a Demigod of Revenge that I could play in my deck helped even more. All in all, it was a pretty solid deck. The match I lost was a match to a g/w deck, that exploded in my face 2/2 games we played. I think I was dead by turn 5 each of those games, blast you Shield of the Oversoul!
But it was an awesome weekend.

A Satisfied Travy

On Dreams, Aspirations, and Redemption

2008-03-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on my lunch hour I went against my instincts and splurged on a PSP to play Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7. Final Fantasy 7 was the game that made me love Sony, as I was a big Final Fantasy 1 fan back in the day when the NES was bad ass. Ever since then I have bought most FF7 related products, and when Crisis Core came out I was torn between buying a PSP and not. After all, DoC was a bit of an upset, but I figured what’s the worst that could happen, there are a few other games I want to try out for the PSP anyways. Anyways, Sony has redeemed itself in my eyes. The controls aren’t terribly original and aren’t terribly difficult to learn, its more of pressing x and moving around, switching between heals and the sort.
The storyline itself is pretty interesting, although I could do without the whole Genisis copying bit, but it is interesting meeting Sephiroth’s friends, and getting a feel for Zack’s personality (I feel Last Order didn’t really do him much justice) and the graphics are pretty fricken awesome. All in all it is a pretty awesome game, and I suspect I will be buying a ps3 for Final Fantasy 13 when it hits shelves later this year.

Onto today though. It’s not often I leave the store when it comes to working. Doing the occasional transfer happens every now and again when I am dumb enough to drive my car to work. Today I was called up front and the sort to do the pack groceries bit when my manager informed me that one of the store owners, ( I can’t resist) Akel-sama (or mayhaps Akel-dono would be more appropriate), all right I will stick to Mr. Akel, needed help gathering a cart. The said cart was chained to a fence downtown, to prevent anyone from stealing it from the people who stole it, it was pretty interesting.
Anyways, along the way Mr. Akel and myself had a bit of a conversation, he got to know me. Interestingly enough, he had similar aspirations as I do, as far as pursing some sort of English degree. I suppose, I find it reassuring. I think that his feelings on the matter reassure me of my feelings on the matter, and I think it will force a tad more effort out of me as far as pursuing my college goals go. And I bet it will keep a smile on my face for a few days to come while working

Some days I really love my job

Grand Prix Philly

2008-03-24T21:39:00.000-07:00

It's been about a week since the Grand Prix in philly ended. It was fun, while it lasted. Day 1 was pretty amazing for me, except for the fact that my deck ended up getting stolen. But I suppose these things happen. The thing that hurts the most I suppose is the fact that not only were my hard earned cards in there, but also my friends. Anyways, after Day 1 I ended up touring Philly a bit, it was a good time and I have plans on uploading the pictures at a later date. Faeries was definitely the route to go. Anyways, my tournament report

Before the tournament I scurried around, buying up the last few cards I needed for my deck. Namely, 1x Vedelkan Shackles, 1x Force Spike, and 1x Riptide Laboratory. I decided in my faerie deck's build, I would run 2x Desert over 2x Mutavault in case of the mirror match, as well as 1x Time stop as I figured it could be useful. My sideboard was almost entirely geared into dredge hate, as I felt it was my only truly unfavorable matchup.

Main Deck

Creatures
4x Cloud Sprite
3x Mistbind Clique
3x Pestermite
4x Scion of Oona
4x Spellstutter Sprite
2x Vendilion Clique

Spells
4x Counterspell
3x Cryptic Command
4x Force Spike
4x Remand
1x Time Stop

Artifacts
2x Vedalken Shackles

Lands
2x Desert
18x Island
1x Mutavault
1x Riptide Laboratory

Sideboard
4x Leyline of the Void
3x Echoing Truth
2x Stivle
2x Hurkyl's Recall
4x Tormod's Crypt

0-0 (0-0)
Round 1 - Jeff w/ U/W 8-post
Game 1
He mulls down to a 6 card hand, which ends up only having 1 land. After a few round of beats on my side, he concedes.
1-0
Game 2
Between my Cloud Sprite, and his fetch + shock lands, he plummets from 20 to 13 pretty quick. He attempts to throw a Chalice of the void up for 2, but I remand it. He attempts to Condescend my Remand, and I force Spike it down. The next turn he tries it again, and it goes through. After that, he Decree of Justice's for 3 - 4/4 Angel tokens. I drop my Shackles and take one of them, and we trade men. After that he attempts to Wrath of God down the bored, which I counter with a Cryptic Command. He cycles another Decree for 11 1/1's, which he proceeds to swing into me with after I shackle his last angel token. I take 1 out with desert at end of combat, blocking another one with the angel, and letting the rest through; taking my first blood for the tournament of 10 damage. He then taps out for 2 Exaulted Angels, and I cryptic command down his men, dropping some more faeries, and swinging in for the win.

1-0 (2-0)
Round 2 Semion and R/b Goblins
Game 1
He drops down a Goblin Piledriver, and I proceed to literally counter down every other play he makes for the rest of the game, swinging over head of his piledriver for the win.
1-0

Game 2
This game goes more in his favor. And by more in his favor I mean he Cabal Therapies down most of my useful faeries, and rapes my hand of counterspells. Then using Earwig Squads (resolving 3 of them via prowl) destroys my deck of solutions. I am completely overwhelmed by his army
1-1

Game 3
The most interactive game. I counter down most of his therapies, as well as a few of his other spells. I resolve my Shackles. Rather than having me grab the piledriver he sacs it as well as his Skirk Prospector to play another spell. I shackles down his Earwig Squad, and end up keeping the rest of his board clean enough for me to swing with the Squad ftw.
2-1

2-0 (4-1)
Round 3 Spencer with Mono-Red Burn
Game 1/2/3
This is the game/match that would in my opinion, stop me from getting to Day 2 as a result of my own poor playing. One of my friends bought a burn deck of their own to the GP, and so in play testing a lot of the time it came to me out aggroing him, over countering down his burn. Not that I wouldn't counter down his burn when possible, but I would let the deck take more of an aggro course. And with this in mind the games would be pretty much, burn you / swing, take your turn. I swing back. I got so into the aggro aspect of the deck, that I forgot the more controlling aspect of the deck, and forget to desert down his Blinkmoth Land the turn it swings into me, the land netting the 3 damage overall needed to really win the one game I lost. But this match was pretty much burn/counter/aggro, with noting truly interesting going on in it. It ends 1-2 in his favor.

2-1 (5-3)
Round 4 Chris with G/w Spirit Stompy
Game 1
I quickly aggro him down with Cloud sprites, then manage to drop my land tapping Cliques several turns in a row, swinging in with them for an easy victory. It should be noted that I nearly set up a Riptide Laboratory/Mistbind Clique don't untap your lands anymore combo. Should I manage to rebuild the deck, I may consider running 2x Laboratory rather than the 1
1-0
Game 2
This Game I get completely overrun by Troll Ascetics with enchantments on them. Not fun at all. Well, it was still fun, but quite painful xD
1-1
Game 3
This game he manages to drop a Teeg, which nerfs my solution vs. a resolved Worship. I start using my Vendellion Clique + the Laboratory to search my deck for solutions at the end of each of his turns. I figure this game is probably done for me, though I manage to drop a shackles and tiff his teeg, working him down to 1 hp. To my surprise he makes the play error of attacking into me with an armadillo cloaked Troll, which I proceeded to blocking with his teeg, allowing me to bounce the worship to his hand and taking the win with fliers.
2-1

3-1 (7-4)
Round 5 Jon with G/b Rock
Game 1
My easiest matchup, and I must say I quite enjoyed playing with Jon, it was hella fun, and one of my only opponents to really make me feel like he wanted me to do well when the match was all said and done with. In anycase, game 1 basically went, me dropping faeries a plenty, and swinging overhead; countering down large threats and board wiping cards.
1-0
Game 2
Same game plan as the last game, and again with my victory.
2-0

4-1(9-4)

Round 6 Rich with R/b Goblins
Game 1
Let me say for the record, that even though goblins are winnable against, they are probably one of the toughest matchups for this deck, and at the same time, the most fun to lay against. Game 1 I keep a land with an Island, mutavault, desert, figuring I would draw into my second Island. I don't. And so my basic counterspells in hand are pretty much nerf'd. I don't put up much of a fight with my cloudsprite, and he overwhelms me with piledrivers
0-1
Game 2
This time around I have all the islands I need, not that he doesn't beat the heck out of me. I manage to counter down a good portion of his threats, and with a well timed Time-stop, manage to win the game.
1-1
Game 3
Another Game that ended in his favor, overwhelming me with a couple of resolved piledrivers, and me having no resolved shackles to deal with them. At this point I decided that if I ran the deck in another tournament, I would probably cut 2 sideboard cards for +2 Shackles.
1-2

4-2 (10-6)
Round 7 Andrew with R/g burn.
Game 1/2/3
This in my opinion is faerie's other unfavorable matchup. But unlike goblins, where it's a fun match either way, this match is no fun at all. Burn. It hurts, and really is just heart of the cards, either you have the aggro to get em down with the counters to back you up, or they have an overwhelming amount of burn. It really isn't all that fun of a match up. Scratch that, it isn't fun at all. The games end quick. This match ends up in my favor 2-1

5-2(12-7)
Round 8 Ben with U/g Tron.
Game 1
Ah yes, the match of absolute cakewalk. The match that in my playtestings, I just couldn't lose. Unfortunately I completely lost my heart of the cards in this match up, and had to mull down to 5 in every game. Game 1 ends in his favor, me not being able to counter down a mindslaver, which proceeds into locking me down.
0-1
Game 2
This time even after mulling down to 5, I manage to drop a ton of aggro. I still don't have enough counters though, but manage to stall him a couple of turns via my land tapping clique. Finally, the turn he would have gone off and taken the match win, I drop a time stop on his upkeep. A card of complete and total jank + awesomesauce, saving me for the second time this tourn.y
1-1
Game 3
A close game, but once again I have to mull down. It really was ridiculous, but I suppose these things happen. I still manage to get him down to 4 before he locks me down.
1-2
I feel it should be noted, for the record, that unless you are forced into a situation where I was, where you keep drawing no-land hands, there is no reason to lose a tron match-up.

5-3 (13-9)
Round 9 Hans with Enduring Ideal
Game 1
Although I really didn't have a reason for playing the final match, I figured maybe there would be a slight chance of a victory. I didn't expect an Enduring Ideal deck, and although I get him to 4, he gets the ideal off as I am a naab and counter some silly enchantment. The game ends in his favor
0-1
Game 2
He gets a junky hand of nothingness, and he ends up conceding this game
1-1
Game 3
The deck just can't keep pace with faeries, and I overwhelm him countering down bothersome spells.
2-1

I end 6-3 in the GP, place 222 out of 969 people. Of the matchs I lost, 2 were from poor luck (not drawing the lands I needed/mulling) and 1 was from dumb gameplay. The dumb gameplay part is a lesson learned, don't get ahead of yourself. If it wasn't for that, I am sure I would have made it into day 2. Of course at the end of Day 1, while trading, someone walked off with my deck when I wasn't looking, which really sucks as stated previously. But these things happen, Day 2 I spent trading and going about the city; managed to finish a few decks I have been working on, and all in all enjoyed my stay in Philly. I suppose better luck for me next time.

On last minute changes

2008-03-13T09:18:00.001-07:00

Ever have I loved straight up control in MTG. Tron is a great deck, control elements that finish with taking your opponents turn forever. But this week a Mono-blue faerie deck managed to place in a PTQ. And so, I have switched from Tron to Faeries. I'm more comfortable with the deck then I was tron anyways. So hopefully it will do well. With only one Auto-loss MU, and nothing else that gets to the point that it is difficult to deal with (outside of dredge ofc) it looks to be a bit more consistent than Tron. Of course part of me feels bad, as Tron is pretty amazing; and I have always loved playing my casual version of it. But it can't be helped, the fae rox my sox.

I renewed my WoW account the other day. I haven't had much time to play, mostly I figure that is something else I will work on after the GP this weekend. That and finalizing school preparations. Full-time work. Full-time College. One has to wonder just when they are going to get their gaming fix. But hey, it's something that has to be done, and I can't be sitting around on my behind forever gaming. Well I could, and hopefully a college degree with help with that a bit.

In any case, today I am going to make an attempt at finding some of the jank I need for decks to be built at the only local card shop that sells singles. I doubt they will have much, but we will find out eigh?

On New Blogs and Big Events

2008-03-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to make an attempt at maintaining a new blog here on Blogspot. It should be easy enough, I hope. I figure I will aim for a gaming oriented blog, with maybe a little extra thrown in-between. We will see how that works out.

As far as games go, I have always been more of a RP/Card Game kind of guy. I think most people play board games and video games as opposed to Card Games. Not to say that I don't spend a fair amount of time on Video Games myself (World of Warcraft and the Xbox namely), but Card games are just so much more mentally intensive. I fancy myself pretty good at what I do, I feel that in the last year or so I have really pushed myself to my limits as far as card gaming goes. This weekend will be the test for me I suppose.

Last year I had planned on attending the Grand Prix in Ohio, but unfortunately that got shoved away as a result of work. This year I plan on attending the Philadelphia Granx Prix, this weekend to be exact. I suppose at this point I should mention the card game I speak of is Magic the Gathering, a passion of mine since I was in Middle School (much to my parent's disapproval). The tournament format is Extended, which means the last few blocks are legal. I have ended up drafting together a U/G Tron deck, which I hope will work wonders for me. This tournament will mean a lot to me. If I make it to Day 2, not only does that mean I have paid for my trip there, but it also means that I really have come as far as I think I have, as that will give me an official "pro point" and a cash prize of course :>
And then naturally, if I don't make it, that means I either had rotten luck or really do need to kick it up a bit.

Playing in these tournaments is difficult for me, as a result of holding down a full time job and the sort. Come this fall it will be even more difficult as I will be going to school full time as well. So hopefully, through some way shape or form, I can do really well at this tournament, and qualify for the trip to the Hollywood Pro Tour. Of course if I don't, no hard feelings.

And on a final note, this is hillarious: http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-behave-on-an-internet-forum