MTG - Commander Tournament - ComicReaders Downtown - Sunday, December 2, 2012

[ChadBoudreau]

Commander Tournament *Magic: The Gathering*

DESCRIPTION
Commander is a variant within Magic: The Gathering. It can be played in multiplayer or 1-on-1, but the tournament will be a multiplayer tournament. If you are not familiar with the format but wish to take part in the tournament, you can read about the format at http://mtgcommander.net/rules.php.

ComicReaders Downtown is offering as a prize Commander's Arsenal, a very limited product from Wizards of the Coast, makers of Magic: The Gathering. You can learn more about this item at http://sales.starcitygames.com//category.php?cat=5247.

Players will be divided randomly into groups of 4 - 5 players (depending on the number of registrants). Points are awarded to players based on the Achievements they obtain during the course of the game. (The list of Achievements is posted below.) ComicReaders Downtown will randomly pick approximately half the Achievements to be used on the game day. Those Achievements will be picked just prior to the event. Point values for the Achievements will vary. Those point values will not be shared with players until the day of the event.

A ComicReaders Downtown staff member will be on-hand to monitor the games.

The prize: Commander's Arsenal will be opened by ComicReaders Downtown staff and all players will get to choose an item from the product. Top player gets first pick, second place player gets second pick, etc. In case of a tie for points, ComicReaders Downtown staff will randomly pick the selection order for those players. Depending on the number players, not all players may get an item from Commander's Arsenal. The product does, however, support approximately 30 players.

Please note that if you play a deck that allows you to "combo off" in four turns or less you will be disqualified and will be ineligible for prizes.

ComicReaders Downtown has never run an event of this sort before so we reserve the right to modify the event description at any point leading up to the game day. Any changes made will be posted on this forum and our Facebook page.

DATE & TIME
Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 12:00.

ACHIEVEMENTS
ComicReaders Downtown will randomly pick approximately half of these listed Achievements to be used on the game day. Those Achievements will be picked just prior to the event. Point values for the Achievements will vary. Those point values will not be shared with players until the day of the event.

These first two Achievements WILL be in play...
- Be the first player eliminated from the table
- Be the last player remaining

The remaining Achievements for the event will be chosen randomly from the following...
Note: Unless otherwise specified, each achievement can only be achieved once per player
- Redirect any portion of non combat damage directed at you to another opponent
- Have the lowest life total under 10 when the first player is defeated
- Cast your general from your command zone for the 10th time in a single game
- If the game finishes with the same number of players that it started with, each player is rewarded 1 point
- Finish a game without playing your Commander
- Win a game without playing your Commander
- Win with 1 life remaining
- Win the game without casting a non-creature spell
- Win the game with no permanents in play under your control
- Save an opponent from taking lethal damage
- Give another player an extra turn
- Give control of a creature you own to another player
- Gain control of a permanent you own from another player
- Control two creatures whose total power is exactly 21
- Control creature cards with total power exceeding 100
- Control at least 40 different non-token permanents at one time
- Control a creature with 10 permanents attached to it
- Control 3+ Planeswalkers at the same time
- Control 15 or more non-basic lands
- Control 7 or more basic lands
- Control a creature 10+ +1/+1 counters on them
- Control 10 or more token creatures
- Survive after being attacked for potentially lethal damage 3 different times
- Resolve your Commander 5 times in a single game
- Play a vanilla creature
- Play your Commander from somewhere other than your Command Zone
- First player to control 5+ Legendary Creatures
- First player to copy a spell or permanent of an opponent
- First player to have fewer than ten cards in his or her library
- First player to destroy another player's creature
- Simultaneously control 5 permanents with 5 consecutive converted mana costs
- Simultaneously control 5 permanents of the same colour with 5 consecutive converted mana costs
- Deal 6 or more damage to yourself in 1 turn
- Deal 300 or more damage in a single turn
- Deal 50 or more points of combat damage in a single turn
- Defeat all remaining players at the same time (yourself included)
- Defeat each other player with commander damage
- Defeat a player who hasn't dealt you any damage or destroyed any of your permanents (Cannot be earned before Turn 7).
- Defeat 2 or more opponents in one turn
- Defeat seven creatures in combat with a single creature you control
- Defeat an opponent with a spell or permanent they own
- Defeat an opponent while you have 5 life remaining
- Defeat an opponent from 40 health to 0 in one combat phase
- Defeat an opponent with a 1/1 creature
- Defeat an opponent during another opponent's turn
- Have 5 or more non-token creatures come under your control in a single turn
- Put an opponent at 1 life
- Resolve 3 or more difference non-land permanents of three different types in the same turn. Awarded to an individual player only once during the game, but can be achieved by multiple players. Note: Resolving a spell that is any combination of permanent types will count as one or the other, not both. Example – Enigma Sphinx is an Artifact Creature; you must choose whether it will count for your Artifact or your Creature for this award.
- Resolve the third spell that starts with a third consecutive letter, one additional point to the player(s) that continues the chain. Example: Player A plays Storm Herd, Player B casts Terminate then Unsummon, then Player C casts Venser, then Player B casts Withered Wretch, Player B receives 2 points, and Player C receives 1 point.
- Resolve the third spell whose mana cost is the third number in a row, one additional point to the player(s) that continues the chain. Example: Player A plays Mogg Fanatic (CMC 1) then Vexing Shusher (CMC 2) then Player B resolves Volcanic Fallout (CMC 3) Player B would receive 1 point. If Player C then casts Chameleon Colossus (CMC 4), Player C would receive 1 point as well.

LOCATION
Venue Information: Click Here

COST
FREE!

EVENT ORGANIZER
Chad Boudreau

EVENT ATTENDANCE LIMITS
Seating for this event is limited so pre-registration is required. Contact the store at 779-0900 or email readers2@sasktel.net to register. DO NOT POST ON THIS FORUM TO REGISTER.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Pre-registration is required. Contact the store at 779-0900 or email readers2@sasktel.net to register. DO NOT POST ON THIS FORUM TO REGISTER.

[ChadBoudreau]

Based on feedback from players that have signed up for the event, ComicReaders Downtown is changing the prize format.

Instead of Commander's Arsenal going to the top player of the day, the product will be opened and all players get to choose something from the product.

The description of the event has been updated to reflect this change:
"The prize: Commander's Arsenal will be opened by ComicReaders Downtown staff and all players will get to choose an item from the product. Top player gets first pick, second place player gets second pick, etc. In case of a tie for points, ComicReaders Downtown staff will randomly pick the selection order for those players. Depending on the number players, not all players may get an item from Commander's Arsenal. The product does, however, support approximately 30 players."

[Blake]

I was initially all doom and gloom about the prospects of a Commander tournament especially after I found out that there was no entry fee and the prize was effectively $250 ($175 at your prices). This new prize structure and achievement point system are excellent solutions to making a casual format competitive and fun at the same time.

If you were seeking it, you now have my approval.

I do have a few questions:
1) Do I have to choose my deck before or after seeing the achievements list that will be in effect?
2) Can I earn a single achievement multiple times?
3) How are degenerate combo decks being policed? Jason mentioned something but it was not concrete.

[ChadBoudreau]

I was initially all doom and gloom about the prospects of a Commander tournament especially after I found out that there was no entry fee and the prize was effectively $250 ($175 at your prices). This new prize structure and achievement point system are excellent solutions to making a casual format competitive and fun at the same time.

If you were seeking it, you now have my approval.

I do have a few questions:
1) Do I have to choose my deck before or after seeing the achievements list that will be in effect?
2) Can I earn a single achievement multiple times?
3) How are degenerate combo decks being policed? Jason mentioned something but it was not concrete.

1. Before, please. The achievements are being chosen a few minutes before we open at 12pm. We're not allowing time for deck building.

2. Yes, I don't see why not.

3. I'll let Jason or Lareina respond. I'm not sure what they had in mind. It did not come up in our planning meetings.

[ChadBoudreau]

This new prize structure and achievement point system are excellent solutions to making a casual format competitive and fun at the same time.

Thank you, Blake.

We made the change based on feedback from some of our regular Commander players. The feedback was appreciated, and I agree that the changes should make for a fun event.

[Jason Morton]

For question 1 you will have to have your deck chosen before the achievements that will be used will be revealed. For question 3, we have put a provision in which should curb that. If someone "combos off" on or before the fourth turn will be disqualified and ineligible for prizes (Chad, could you word that right and put it in the original message, thanks). Hope that helps.

Jason

[ChadBoudreau]

I've added the following to the event description: "Please note that if you play a deck that allows you to "combo off" in four turns or less you will be disqualified and will be ineligible for prizes."

Does that address the concern?

[Blake]

The bottom of this post contains a short list of "Socially Discouraged Cards" if you felt the need to extend the ban list, which Jason, Stardust, and I were discussing after the tournament on Sunday.
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/21014577/EDH_Format_Staples_*NEW*

I've copied this list here to note that I disagree with the following entries
Mindslaver
Sorin Markov
Magister Sphinx
Time Stretch

The rest is land destruction, making opponents discard their hands, and Iona, all of which I think we can do without.
Identity Crisis
Myojin of Night's Reach
Obliterate
Iona, Shield of Emeria
Decree of Annihilation
Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur

I personally also don't play with Insurrection simply because you just win the game with it, and I don't find that fun. Though some would argue you only win when there's a clogged board which is also not fun. Also, when I was a Commander noob, I was super happy to draw an Insurrection for the win, now I'd rather win without it. However, I don't really want to deprive someone of that potential win so they can figure out on their own that fun for everyone is the true goal for commander.

The problem with expanding on the commander ban list is that you can take that last paragraph and put pretty well any powerful card in there. Policing a casual format has it's problems because everyone's interpretation of fun is different, even within the realm of Magic.

[Blake]

Also, Zergs Guide is a pretty good read if you're new to Commander.

http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/18884586/Zergs_EDH_Deckbuilding_Guide

[ChadBoudreau]

The continued feedback is appreciated. Overall, I'm pleased with the turnout and how the tournament unfolded, but, yes, we also have something to learn from the experience, too. Cheers.