However, I went to fnm this past friday. I don't have a lot of standard cards so I threw a UB mill control deck together (I like the mill mechanic). I wasn't sure the level of competition so i wasn't going at it that hard. I only got to play 2 matches (i had a by because someone joined late).

This is what I took away from that fnm. If you want to win at standard then all you need is a lot of money.

First deck i played was reanimator. Not super complex but he had a strategy and was fun to play against. Went 1-1 and I managed to mill him down to 5 with a huge Mind Grind, but still hit a pack of lands and Aurelia and Gisela swung into me for the kill. Fun overall though.

Second match (the guy that won the whole thing)
Literally had nothing but money cards from standard, counter-spells, and shocklands.

I'll admit my deck wasn't good. But this guy beat everyone senseless with a constant stream of bonfires, geists, snaps, sphynx's revelation, restoration angel, and some terminus.

While playing I asked the guy about his deck. It was a 5 color deck... with all the money cards from standard.

I've been thinking about trying out more fnm because I don't get to play as often as a i like. My question is, are most fnm like this? I want to be competitive, but I like to be creative and have decks that do more than just... I cast 30$ this turn and I'll be casting 60$ this turn.

quote:

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Originally posted by mcelraca:
I'm usually just a casual player, I like edh and will make 60s when i find fun combos

However, I went to fnm this past friday. I don't have a lot of standard cards so I threw a UB mill control deck together (I like the mill mechanic). I wasn't sure the level of competition so i wasn't going at it that hard. I only got to play 2 matches (i had a by because someone joined late).

This is what I took away from that fnm. If you want to win at standard then all you need is a lot of money.

First deck i played was reanimator. Not super complex but he had a strategy and was fun to play against. Went 1-1 and I managed to mill him down to 5 with a huge Mind Grind, but still hit a pack of lands and Aurelia and Gisela swung into me for the kill. Fun overall though.

Second match (the guy that won the whole thing)
Literally had nothing but money cards from standard, counter-spells, and shocklands.

I'll admit my deck wasn't good. But this guy beat everyone senseless with a constant stream of bonfires, geists, snaps, sphynx's revelation, restoration angel, and some terminus.

While playing I asked the guy about his deck. It was a 5 color deck... with all the money cards from standard.

I've been thinking about trying out more fnm because I don't get to play as often as a i like. My question is, are most fnm like this? I want to be competitive, but I like to be creative and have decks that do more than just... I cast 30$ this turn and I'll be casting 60$ this turn.

I don't want to sound bitter, the guy that ran the deck was fun to talk to and overall it was a fun night. However, getting spanked but dollar bills will get old fast.

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Prices in cards change fast, what is $15 this week could be back to $5 next.

You do sound bitter.

there are always going to be people that bring the best thing they can to fnm. it happens. dont whine when your mill deck loses to 'expensive cards'.

__________________
"He fights you not because you have wronged him, but because you are there."

[16:17] <@BrassMan> what do you need new tech for?
[16:18] <@BrassMan> gush is unrestricted

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Originally posted by thror:
pay to play in a tournament, with prizes.
prizes and ranking encourage competition.
competition encourages people to play good cards/decks.
good cards become sought after -> expensive.
complain when beaten by expensive cards.

there are always going to be people that bring the best thing they can to fnm. it happens. dont whine when your mill deck loses to 'expensive cards'.

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but all this is common sense!!!....

quote:

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Originally posted by thror:
pay to play in a tournament, with prizes.
prizes and ranking encourage competition.
competition encourages people to play good cards/decks.
good cards become sought after -> expensive.
complain when beaten by expensive cards.

there are always going to be people that bring the best thing they can to fnm. it happens. dont whine when your mill deck loses to 'expensive cards'.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Mr.C:
Sanity Grinding won me FNMs during LRW-SHM standard.

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sure, i wont say you 'cant win without the best $1,000 deck'. ive won fnms with pyromancer's swath. but if you know your deck is a pile of poop, dont complain when it doesnt beat a real deck.

__________________
"He fights you not because you have wronged him, but because you are there."

[16:17] <@BrassMan> what do you need new tech for?
[16:18] <@BrassMan> gush is unrestricted

quote:

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Originally posted by mcelraca:
This is what I took away from that fnm. If you want to win at standard then all you need is a lot of money.

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quote:

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Originally posted by daner:

Boros sucks dude. I'll say it again...Boros is a trap. If you have half a brain and choose to block early and often you will win the late game Orzhov vs. Boros.

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Good god you're dense.

Timmy is not synonymous with bad. That's like saying a Saxophone sounds orange. It's mixing labels. Boros may be either strong or weak in limited (I'll let you butt heads with others who care about which is the case). But its place as a "timmy" guild has literally, absolutely, nothing to do with that. All of the guilds have something for Timmy, because playing each guilded color pair leads you to play a very unique style of game, and thus a new experience (which is what the Timmy psychographic caters to). Dimir and Simic are the most Johnny, as they allow you to build and sculpt creatures as you choose.

Also, last I checked I'm pretty sure standard is really diverse right now...? I don't really remember reading much repetition among Top 8 decks in the last Top Decks article, even.

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Originally posted by Bugger:
Good god you're dense.

Timmy is not synonymous with bad. That's like saying a Saxophone sounds orange. It's mixing labels. Boros may be either strong or weak in limited (I'll let you butt heads with others who care about which is the case). But its place as a "timmy" guild has literally, absolutely, nothing to do with that. All of the guilds have something for Timmy, because playing each guilded color pair leads you to play a very unique style of game, and thus a new experience (which is what the Timmy psychographic caters to). Dimir and Simic are the most Johnny, as they allow you to build and sculpt creatures as you choose.

Also, last I checked I'm pretty sure standard is really diverse right now...? I don't really remember reading much repetition among Top 8 decks in the last Top Decks article, even.

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And you are like herpes.....just can't get rid of you.

Sorry I didn't get the proper Magic terminology there Grammar Nazi Nancy.

We've discussed, we've moved on, or do you want to continue to bitch about timmy, jimmy and whoevers?

I wasn't expecting my deck to win. I was visiting home and went to a fnm with a friend, something I usually don't do and had to make the deck shortly before I went.

Let me rephrase my question so that I don't get flamed anymore.

What are common expectations at fnm? In your experiences do people usually roll in with expensive decks? (I don't really need an answer, as from what has already been posted most people are indeed out for blood)

I'd also I'd like to reiterate, I wasn't mad that I lost. I was disappointed at what won, it just didn't seem thought intensive.

Also Thror, I'm looking at you, you should give mill some more respect, it can be fun

EDIT:

quote:

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Originally posted by thror:
sure, i wont say you 'cant win without the best $1,000 deck'. ive won fnms with pyromancer's swath. but if you know your deck is a pile of poop, dont complain when it doesnt beat a real deck.

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His cards were good, but stacking a deck with 5 colors to get all the powerful cards doesn't seem like a real deck. There wasn't a lot of synergy just rolling me with every card draw.

EDIT2:

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Originally posted by mcelraca:
What are common expectations at fnm? In your experiences do people usually roll in with expensive decks? (I don't really need an answer, as from what has already been posted most people are indeed out for blood)

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That's all dependant on who goes to your local FNM. I'm sure there are lots of places where it's just a bunch of guys looking ot have a good time...and I'm sure there are just as many places that have people who think they'll be playing on the Pro Tour shortly who just want to kick your teeth in for fun.

quote:

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Originally posted by WeedIan:
Who else from MOTL can i follow on twitter other than Stu?

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I still can't figure out twitter. Sheesh. All I can do is follow everyone. Ick.

__________________
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I offer 3rd party trading services. Email if interested.

quote:

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Originally posted by daner:
And you are like herpes.....just can't get rid of you.

Sorry I didn't get the proper Magic terminology there Grammar Nazi Nancy.

We've discussed, we've moved on, or do you want to continue to bitch about timmy, jimmy and whoevers?

Sorry, I apologize, I was wrong with the "Timmy" label, and you RE right. Is that what your fishing for?

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God forbid I try to help you not sound like a blithering moron with no idea what you're talking about, but then most of your posts do a good job of conveying that impression anyways.

quote:

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Originally posted by mcelraca:
What are common expectations at fnm? In your experiences do people usually roll in with expensive decks? (I don't really need an answer, as from what has already been posted most people are indeed out for blood)

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FWIW, I got what you were saying. It's one of the main reasons I rarely bother with standard anymore, since the investment to have a "good" deck far exceeds how much time I can spare to actually play. I no longer have the luxury of traveling to major events, so the investment seems poor from the limited amount of use the deck would get.

I don't get why some people pour all of the cash that they do into those decks either. You almost never get back what you put into a top tier standard deck through prize support at local events. When I used to play constructed FNMs with some regularity, I was also doing PTQs and GPs, so the investment was typically worth it in my mind.

Granted, I now pump plenty of money into my various EDH decks and see no return on that at all. I do it just because I like to play fun decks that happen to be well tuned. So, I guess I can see it from that perspective. If you have the cash to spare, why not play the best deck you can? Over the course of a standard cycle, it's probably cheaper than going out drinking every Friday night.

__________________
Wisconsin - smells like dairy air!

quote:

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Originally posted by daner:
Bill Postlethwait just took down the SCG Edison Open with 0, that's right, ZERO cards from GTC in his 75 card list. Good to know WOTC really knew how to shake up an already stale meta! .....pffffftttttttttttttttttttttttt

Dear god Gatecrash is the worst.

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But other people changed their decklists for GTC cards and that allowed a non-GTC decklist to win....so GTC does have an effect.

quote:

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Originally posted by Bugger:
God forbid I try to help you not sound like a blithering moron with no idea what you're talking about, but then most of your posts do a good job of conveying that impression anyways.

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OH NOSE! I ARE IDIOT. Too bad nobody other than Jaz will probably ever like you. BC you constantly have to be the smug, sad, unhappy little man that shows through in all of your posts.

I'll bet anyone one hug I'll get a rebuttle to this....

quote:

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Originally posted by choco man:

As for the not having a "$500 decklist for FNM" goes, Saito's new R/G build is cool. And the straight Red aggro builds are super-cheap.

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quote:

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Originally posted by iccarus:
FWIW, I got what you were saying. It's one of the main reasons I rarely bother with standard anymore, since the investment to have a "good" deck far exceeds how much time I can spare to actually play. I no longer have the luxury of traveling to major events, so the investment seems poor from the limited amount of use the deck would get.

I don't get why some people pour all of the cash that they do into those decks either. You almost never get back what you put into a top tier standard deck through prize support at local events. When I used to play constructed FNMs with some regularity, I was also doing PTQs and GPs, so the investment was typically worth it in my mind.

Granted, I now pump plenty of money into my various EDH decks and see no return on that at all. I do it just because I like to play fun decks that happen to be well tuned. So, I guess I can see it from that perspective. If you have the cash to spare, why not play the best deck you can? Over the course of a standard cycle, it's probably cheaper than going out drinking every Friday night.

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Depends on the store, I've been to FNM's that gave out 3 boxes worth to Top8 with 9 entry...

quote:

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Originally posted by AlmostGrown:
Please, somebody talk me out of buying a box (or 2) of Russian 9th Edition

Also: I'm on twitter as well, @tirelesstribe. twitter.com/tirelesstribe

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quote:

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Originally posted by Mr.C:
How much? I was thinking of buying one too.

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~80-90

quote:

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Originally posted by Lord Crovax:
~80-90

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quote:

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Originally posted by Mr.C:
I would, I think. Granted, I want to get a russian 9th set and I like cracking packs, so it's a dangerous combination lol.

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quote:

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Originally posted by daner:
Well, that deck DOES have like 8 rare lands or something? It's pretty cheap minus the 4xStomping Ground, 4xBoros Reckoner, and 4xHellrider. I do believe the next highest card vauled in that deck is like $2 max! It's probably the only deck that can win and is under $100 to build.

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I haven't played/kept up with MTG since SCG Dallas in Nov 2012 and could build the R/G for ~$30-40. So my statement definitely assumes someone doesn't have to buy&build a deck from scratch.