For episode 16, Geoff (@ThallidTosser on Twitter) and Nat Moes (@GrandpaBelcher) renconvene with Josh Chapple (@joshchapple) to go over the sights and sounds and tastes of GenCon (It’s usually best to downplay the smells at any large conglomeration of Magic the Gathering players and sundry nerds).
Here’s the timestamped table of contents for your listening ease and enjoyment:
Podcast (seriousvintage): Download (Duration: 1:03:00 — 28.9MB)
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0:00:21 – The Vintage Metagame at GenCon
0:12:26 – Deck Discussions
0:37:14 – Other Fun Times at GenCon
0:49:57 – Eating Around Town in Indianapolis
1:02:30 – Outro
Total runtime – 1:02:59
The Vintage Metagame at GenCon
Geoff and I both played Vintage on Friday and Saturday, hoping to win an uncut sheet of Antiquities or Urza’s Saga. Both of us did fairly well. I made top 16 both days and was only knocked from the top eight in the last rounds. Geoff tried out a novel deck based on the combination of Thespian’s Stage and Dark Depths and finished with a positive record both days. We talk a little about both of our lists, how things went, and what we thought about the metagame in the podcast. The decklists follow for your reference:
RUG Pyromancer, by Nat Moes
Deep Blue, by Geoff Moes
The other Top 8 lists from Saturday’s 40-person event are up on Eternal Central here, including the Four-Color Humans list form Steven Stierman, which we talk about quite a bit for its novelty and Steven’s positive attitude toward Vintage.
The lists from Friday’s 80-person event were, tragically, lost by the tournament organizer. Filed in the circular folder, if you will. Brian DeMars and Nat did some additional analysis on the remaining lists at Star City and Legit MTG, respectively.
The Rest of GenCon
Everything else at GenCon can pretty much be summarized by this image, compliments of Jerry Yang and Jordi Amat Puig:
As has been shown time and time again, the best parts of GenCon include not playing, talking about, or interacting with Magic cards at all. Trying other games and eating delicious food are important as well. But, sappy as it sounds, the best part of GenCon is always hanging out and spending time with friends.
So, from left to right: Saturday’s winner, Jordi Amat Puig; Erik Butler, our Episode 9 guest (yes, the sound quality is bad for that one, sorry); Jason Jaco (way in the back left), who helps the wheels turn at EC; Kevin Cron (behind Erik), co-host of So Many Insane Plays; our own Geoff Moes; Twaun P. Pwnertown, Esq. (bespectacled in the back); Silly Sam Krohlow, holding a glass as usual; Lord of All Cats, Jimmy “To the Hilt” McCarthy; me, stony-faced as always; J.R. Goldmanbergstein, once better known as Ophidian Guy or Bomberman Guy; Gilberto Rivera, who killed two opponents in response to dying with Leyline of Anticipation on Saturday; Mitesh “Mith” Rao, who was Show and Telling style all weekend; and the actual worst Vintage Magic player in the world, Jerry Yang (in the back).
Those who were at GenCon but didn’t make the picture were missed: Matt Hazard, James King (who, thank goodness, had connections to get us a hotel), C.J. Moritz, Ryan Seeley, and Mike Solymossy. We also missed plenty of unnamed dudesweats who couldn’t make it to GenCon this year, though the one everyone mentioned was Mark Trogdon.
We met plenty of awesome people all weekend, playing Vintage, in the halls, even when we were out at dinner. That was great too. GenCon is awesome; the Vintage community is great.
Conclusion
If you’re not doing your group photos as GIFs from now on, you’re clearly doing it wrong.
But really, if you have any questions about the lists or comments about GenCon, or if you met us or ate somewhere we mentioned in Episode 14 let us know on Twitter, or email seriousvintagepodcast@gmail.com.
Lastly, we have some Midwest Vintage events coming up: September 28 in Columbus, October 5 in Kalamazoo, and October 13 in Sandusky, Ohio. Check those out leading up to Vintage Champs in November, and earn some Vintage Achievements!