Motivation - Reflections of Costa Mesa

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

Necromancer

New Member
So, after another a harrowing SJC weekend, this time at Costa Mesa, Lazaro Bellido won using a Dark Armed Dragon deck.
In fact, apart from a few 6 Samurai builds, 2 or three Opression Gadgets & a rogue Burn deck, nearly every other deck was a Dark Turbo/DAD variant.
Even DDT decks are now splashing Dark Armed Dragons & the focus is shifting away from an "Explosion" win to a DAD OTK win.
In the top 32 decks, we counted 72 Dark Armed Dragons. Now this card is going for $400USD each on e-bay, which means thats over $30,000 right there. God only knows how many DAD's were in that room. Suffice to say, that it now costs 2.5-3K to build a "competitive" deck.
This game really is going to the wealthy dogs.

The financial aspect doesn't bother me in comparison to how short these actual matches were.
In nearly all instances, each duel barely lasted 2 turns & Metagame writers had a very hard time commenting on gameplay & matches beyond one paragraph, often resorting to duelist backgrounds & profiles to keep their readers happy.
This is indeed a sad state of affairs.

I like my duels to be challenging and/or at least getting the chance to prove how good my deck/skills are. In the current format, many are finding this difficult. Its pointless to side-deck against these decks, when you may not have a chance to use it, or even play a card.
People will say "if you play casually/for fun, why bother?" Fact is, that for many, "competition" does not end at the tournament table & they have to prove their dominance at local games & over YVD/MSN too. If it takes a "competitive" deck to do this, they will use it.

Which leads people, like myself asking "why do people play?" what fun is there in winning a match in 2 minutes flat? If you look at the Metagame decks, they are all roughly the same, DAD with a DDT engine or DDT with a DAD splashed. The difference is subtle, but a case in point.
Who would use any deck to win? I know that I wouldn't.
Do people find endless rounds of mirror matches fun? Personally, I would find that boring.

So, we have on many forums now, the "great divide" that was evident in many previous formats & even moreso in this one. Those who say "the only reason you are complaining, is that you don't have 3X Dark Armed Dragons like me" (that "argument" is getting old & stale by now) vs those who say "geez Konami/UDE really screwed up biggtime with this & are only out for the megabucks".
A lot of people are either quitting, or giving this game a miss for the next 6 months, purely on principle, those who stay will either suck it up & run DAD decks, or just duel casually.
Many will not be "dictated" to & I honestly say that I cannot blame them.

I started playing this game because it was fun, running my Fiend Deck & thinking that one day, themed decks would actually stand a chance, more support will come out for them that could not be abused outside a themed deck. I live(d) in hope. I survived on hope.
There comes a time though when hope & patience wears incredibly thin & no matter how much you love the game, its time to say "enough is enough".
I am not quitting any time soon, but this has become yet another "nail in the coffin" for this game & others like me who live in delusion, thinking it will change for the better.

Last format, we had an inkling of it, when Monarchs, Burn, 6 Samurai, Destiny Heroes, Crystal Beasts, Gadgets, Zombies & any well built Tier 1.5 deck was in contention. Now, we have just taken a huge leap back into the past, with a Format reminiscent of Cyber Stein.
If they do decide to ban/restrict Dark Armed Dragon, it won't be until September now & we are only one week into the new Format.
Maybe this will mean that there's time for others to manage to find ways to beat this deck consistently but that will mean that DAD will only be replaced by another cookie, until people find a way to beat that. It would be good if we had a ban list every 3 months, but from the looks of it, Konami/UDE also want the time to drain every last possible cent from PTDN first.
Is it really a good investment to pay the price of a used car on 40 pieces of cardboard that will only be good for 6 months?
I'll let you decide.

Reference:
http://www.metagame.com/yugioh.aspx?tabid=33&ArticleId=9427
 
Last edited:
Soon people will find the work-around for DAD (or it will go down to one, or even banned like Cyber-stein was after that SJC fiasco). Were you around when everyone was griping about Demise? Well, this guy is a little beefier and a whole lot easier to get out, but his effect isn't quite as good (sure cheeper cost, especially when used with RFtDD), but we found ways around Demise, we can do it to DAD as well. Prohibition and Divine Wrath have made a comeback. While we wait for the Ban, we can build for it (and the Samurai decks). Then you know that you will beat 75% of the decks out there.
 
I agree, it'll be interesting to see the tactics. there is always Skill Drain and a simple Solemn/Horn, or a Disappear/D.D. Crow to keep the graveyard count inaccessible.

I've also seen/heard some nasty stuff about Magical Exposion OTK, and thought it would be running amok at the SJC, but no dice.
 
Dillie-O said:
I agree, it'll be interesting to see the tactics. there is always Skill Drain and a simple Solemn/Horn, or a Disappear/D.D. Crow to keep the graveyard count inaccessible.

I've also seen/heard some nasty stuff about Magical Explosion OTK, and thought it would be running amok at the SJC, but no dice.
Click to expand...


I still think it's a big threat, myself, people have just yet to find the "perfect" build that stays consistant most of the time, plus we lack a promo card Arms Hole, and the new equip "premature from the RFP pile" that comes here in the US from the Dark Monarch structure, which make the deck much more solid in Japan, from what I hear. Arms hole can search out Premature and that card at the "cost" of not being able to normal summon for that turn, and then abuse the heck out of Disk Commander/DMoC/Cyber Valley. It's still just a lot of talk right now, but with as much of a showing as DDT had at Costa Mesa, and how most Magical Explosion decks when built right will side into DDT, I think it's still very legitimate.


With that said, I did let out a huge sigh, after all the Dark Armed Dragon decks seem to be dominating everything. Unless it's reprinted very shortly in some other set, the sheer fact that it's a Secret Rare means I'll never be seeing the card, especially when it takes such big team sponsorship to even buy them, it seems. It doesn't even look like Royal Oppression, Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror, and the like are slowing them down. I really wonder if Allure of Darkness now wasn't a bad idea on UDE's part for just how much it speeds up everything. The whole secret rare fiasco is just ridiculous too, and really does make it a rich-person's game as long as it exists.

I know there's some good players out there that can't afford many of these cards. I'm still trying to even pick up Destiny Draws, and Maliciouses, and even need Plasmas, let alone Allures and DADs. It's disheartening, for sure. I'm glad that I'm decent enough that I can take some cheap decks to a top Regionals finish, but that's a completely different ballgame than a SJC and especially Nationals. I'm actually hoping the rumor about Nationals being one day of Sealed play and one day of Constructed play is true. It would be a pretty big equalizer in skill out there.
 
You folks are going to think me absolutely nutty for saying this but.....with a good many of the decks focusing on monster effects and special summoning, I'm tempted to put back together my "Superman + Negation" deck.

Last Warrior From Another Planet would be a lot of fun wouldn't it? Even Jowgen the Spiritualist + Heart of Clear Water is sounding pretty darn fun right now isn't it?

We had an old player come back to our local tournaments recently. He had to throw a deck together quickly. He choose Gandi-Pants. With all the cards that players are going through on one turn it tended to be resonably effective as well. Morphing Jar #2 against Six Samuri was intersting.
 
I gotta admit, Im not happy about DAD right about now. This is far and away different than not having a Cyber Dragon back in the days. At least you could plunk down 150 and get a set. Now, you cant even do that to get ONE Dark Armed Dragon, and with it being a Secret Rare, the odds of pulling it randomly are astronomical (okay, obviously there are a LOT of people with the card, so someones pulling them, but still!!!).
 
masterwoo doesn't get to guess this one, he likely knows but...

What caused about 5% of the players at Costa Mesa a game loss during round 1 or 2?

The answer here tomorrow....guesses?
 
Not checking whether or not the opponent has exactly 3 Dark Monsters in their graveyards, or more likely, PUTTING the third one in there for them, I should say?
 
Over 50 players, right at 5%, recieved a first or second round game loss for illegal deck sheet or illegal deck.

In addition, another 65 deck sheets had to be addressed for unreadability, lack of number beside a card listed, or for clarification of an abbreviation. That makes a total of over 10% of deck sheets, aprox. 115, that needed to be addressed by the judges during rounds 1 and 2 before deck checks could start. There were even 3 deck sheets without names on them.

People...please....PLEASE! Take time the night before a premier event to prepare! Write you deck sheet out the night before, double check it, have a friend check it, then make two more copies. Put one copy in your wallet / purse so that you have it should you need reference to de-side deck, put another copy in your binder should you lose the first!

Recieving a round 1 game loss for something that could have easily been avoided is a really crappy way to start a tournament, it also is likely to leave you with a poor mindset that could effect your play for the next couple of rounds causing you to possiblly lose more games.

I don't want to issue round people a game loss, YOU don't want to GET a game loss....so do the preperation!
 
John Danker said:
People...please....PLEASE! Take time the night before a premier event to prepare! Write you deck sheet out the night before, double check it, have a friend check it, then make two more copies. Put one copy in your wallet / purse so that you have it should you need reference to de-side deck, put another copy in your binder should you lose the first!
Click to expand...

With as many players that have access to computers, you have to wonder why anyone even handwrites a list anymore? I know that we have accepted list that are not transcribed on a Official UDE Deck List Worksheet, so unless this becomes forbidden to do in the future (or presently forbidden. Dont have access to view the policy at the moment), I would say that for clarity sake, it is much easier to printout a Deck List (especially if you use that fine program from, what is it called again.... lol, "Dillie-O Deck Studio") that is legible as well as once you've made a copy of it, its much easier to duplicate, than to re-write it again by hand.

I always print a second copy so I can keep track of my Deck and stress to my Son he do the same when he plays. Its such a small thing that saves many players from a Tournament ending Game/Match Loss.
 
do forgive if this seems short-sighted, but as far as dealing with the DADTurbo phoenom indicate what a counter strategy is?


counter-fairies.

or any of the following:

how to deal with allure/d-draw = dark bribe/solemn/magic jammer/spell shield
how to deal with dh-disc/dmoc = d.d. crow/disappear/transmigration prophecy/hero's rule 2 (something i hope to start tech'ing soon)/monster reborn
how to deal with DAD = divine wrath/bottomless/torrential/skill drain/book of moon/crystal beasts or for a more technical aspect: transmigration prophecy/d.d. crow/burial from a different dimension or even easier: waboku/curse of anubis/zero gravity/scapegoats.
rota/Gold Sarcophagus = drastic drop off/trap dustshoot/transmigration break

<rant>
[spoil] personally, i see no difference now than over 1 year ago when cyber dragon was all the rage.
i'm only now getting my mits on stray copies of them. sometimes it's as easy as a waboku to stall for a turn, brain control and lightning vortex for a turn around.

maybe i sound bitter, but those who complain are just lazy. there is an overall trend that a lot of people use and have a high success rate with. fine. are you going to break into their houses and steal their cards? will you endlessly whine to konami/ude to do something? or will you build a deck with cards people overlooked and slam it in their face when they summon DAD and offer you their hand, and you wave it off as if they normal summoned skull servant?

if people are gonna just netdeck/cc each other, that's fine. build a "rogue" deck. use mind crush if they rota=> stratos => dasher. they'll have no idea what they're in for
[/spoil]
</rant>

in my mind, dark armed is the modern equivalent of chimeratech. future fusion => chimeratech, overload fusion. whatever. you just have to stop, assess and look for a way around it.
 
oh, also. that's just silly.
why would you go to a premiere event without a bag full of supplies.
granted, i haven't/don't go to official events too often, but in my bag of tricks is usually:

1. food/snack item: sammich/bag o' chips
2. drink: water
3. writing utensil
4. paper
5. extra deck sleeves
6. 3 copies of deck list printed via deck studio.
7. token/dice

and an assortment of the following a la carte items:
- calculator
- extra decks
- emergency cash for emergency food
- entertainment (for when i get my @$$ handed to me and there's still 38 mins left in round)

even if you don't have or know of deck studio, why would you wait until the day of to write your decklist.
chances are, you've been planning on going to this event for a while, and have playtested your deck so you're pretty set on it. why not do it within the safety of your home as opposed to having to do it there, fanning out your cards where any number of shifty people might do no good?
 
That's just it 1Cup....why take the chance? There are people paying hundreds of dollars to fly into town for an SJC, taking off work, lost wages, test playing until all hours, great prizes on the line.....and they write their deck sheet down in 5 min. right before the tournament, don't have anyone check it, then quickly turn it in without so much as jotting down their side deck on a seperate piece of paper?

Can anyone say risk management?
 
I came 4th in battle city 2 (in the uk, i don't know if you guys heard about it) but i lost in the semi's to a dad deck, but i didnt have anything at all to stop it. i'm running magical explosion at the moment, so i'm kinda hoping i can just win before the deck builds up pace. and even if i was just using perfect circle or something like that there are loads of counters that can be sided/mained:
d.d crow
transmigration
black horn of heaven (personal favorite)
book of moon
etc
 
The last large event I went to, after the Head Judge told everyone what they needed to make sure they had ready. One kid, looked like he was around 15 or 16, turned around at the table I was sitting at and said: "What's a decklist?" I don't even know how he got assigned a seat at that table.

Truth of the matter is, I don't think these kids even know there's preparation involved for these events. This game is playtime for them, and even thought that's as it should be, they don't realize that at a major event, their going to be asked of more then they would be asked at their local comic shop. Even the guys that fly in, don't realize what their getting into. It's important enough to shell out some bucks for, but then, that's the end of it for them. They don't recognize the need for anything else. And the majority of online forums, don't mention that either. At least not often enough.
 
but isn't that just silly?

from what i can tell, the most events go like this:

1. player arrives at the event arena.
2. player pays registration fee and enters name into system
2b. TO or other official hands player a decklist sheet and directs them to where they can find writing utencils with instructions to completely and correctly write down the contents of the deck they intend to use.

~~ some time later ~~

3. seating arrangements are posted for players' decklists to be collected by staff.
4. 1st round pairings are posted and random deckchecks begin


to not know what a decklist is means one of a few things:
1. you're here with someone else and they did the paperwork
2. your memory isn't sharp enough to zero in on an unusual word that you heard earlier in the day
3. you're just silly for not being prepared to keep your deck in order main and side.
 
ugh, i'm so forgetful these days.

yeah, DJ has a point. ygo is supposed to be fun. and i agree. it's why i build dumb decks that only work 40% of the time. and personally, i think that is the way it SHOULD be.


but that gets thrown out the window when you:
A. participate in an event to see who is the best duelist/has the strongest deck
B. travel to a different city to participate in said event.
3. give personal resources to participate: work time, registration fee, a weekend

not to take myself too seriously, but events are serious business.
it's an opportunity to see what the major winning/stronger themes are, a chance to thicken up that trade binder, duel people you've never seen before and see unheard of deck strategies.
 
This is IMO of what the next banlist changes should be.

Banned
Dark Armed Dragon
Monster Reborn
Dimension Fusion
Emissary of Hades, Gors (OCG)

1x per deck
Call of the Haunted
Return from the Different Dimension
Escape from the Dark Dimension
Different Dimension Revival (OCG)
Darklord Zerato
Caius the Shadow Monarch

2x per deck
Allure of Darkness

That should fix the Costa Mesa
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top