Dies to Removal

Does anyone know how many times you can pass a deck back and forth to shuffle? If I ever saw someone doing fishy stuff to my deck, I'd riffle shuffle it and pass it back until he got tired of stacking it.

Technically you can't really pass it back and forth. You randomize your deck and present it to your opponent, who cuts or shuffles. After that, you aren't allowed to do it again. You are allowed to request that a Judge shuffle your deck rather than your opponent.

Good to know.

Until a few days ago, I was always of the mind that an opponent was more likely to stack his deck rather than mine. Now I'm a little wiser, but I don't want to jump wildly at things that just aren't there during a Comp REL. But knowing what I know now, I'll look at my opponent a little bit more closely during shuffles and follow my gut.

Does anyone know how many times you can pass a deck back and forth to shuffle? If I ever saw someone doing fishy stuff to my deck, I'd riffle shuffle it and pass it back until he got tired of stacking it.

Technically you can't really pass it back and forth. You randomize your deck and present it to your opponent, who cuts or shuffles. After that, you aren't allowed to do it again. You are allowed to request that a Judge shuffle your deck rather than your opponent.

Yeah, this is what I've never been able to find in the rules. I recall seeing pro tour matches where they shuffle and pass back and forth for 5 minutes, but maybe they're just spending lots of time with a single deck before the pass.

To be fair, when Cedric Philips was good, he was better then most everyone on this site. How many people here have played on the Pro Tour? Top 8'd GPs?

And also to be fair, the guy did talk out his ass a lot during the then-new RTR Standard, which was what started the anti-Cedric backlash, at least from the FoS. You were there, I was there, and so was a lot of people. But with that said, I do agree with you completely: the guy has some credentials.

I don't keep up with Magic as of late, but just in cast there was any doubt, anybody who shits on LSV is wrong.

The guy is one of the best both behind the mana and behind the mic.

Like I said, to each his own. I find him irritating (coupled with insightful) at best. But sure as hell don't want to get into fight with fanclub. There are people just as knowledgable as him that WotC can use.

Then again coverage is terrible without him and terrible with him. Won't change much with other people. Problem lies with WotC and their amateurism.

To be fair to WoTC, they do coverage a handful of times a year while SCG does coverage, what, almost every week? SCG has it down to a science

I was VERY impressed with how professional and smoothly they handled GP Orlando

WoTC could learn a lot from SCG

I do want to agree on that albeit I can't shake the sight of after time camera switches and SB tech without voice... I grew kinda alergic to the light blue tone of SCG but their coverage is just miles ahead.

On the other hand, we're talking about PT. I plan to invite more people for a PT weekend next time and I sincerely hope that WotC gets their shit together. I can stand commentators I don't like but the technical stuff should be without a hitch. That's what I want.

To be fair, when Cedric Philips was good, he was better then most everyone on this site. How many people here have played on the Pro Tour? Top 8'd GPs?

And also to be fair, the guy did talk out his ass a lot during the then-new RTR Standard, which was what started the anti-Cedric backlash, at least from the FoS. You were there, I was there, and so was a lot of people. But with that said, I do agree with you completely: the guy has some credentials.

No disagreement here. There was a lot of foot in mouth moments from Ceddy and I believe I was the one leading the flaming

To be fair, when Cedric Philips was good, he was better then most everyone on this site. How many people here have played on the Pro Tour? Top 8'd GPs?

And also to be fair, the guy did talk out his ass a lot during the then-new RTR Standard, which was what started the anti-Cedric backlash, at least from the FoS. You were there, I was there, and so was a lot of people. But with that said, I do agree with you completely: the guy has some credentials.

No disagreement here. There was a lot of foot in mouth moments from Ceddy and I believe I was the one leading the flaming

I remember that shit! The infamous Stonewright argument! Wasn't it Ari Lax or Ali Antrazi that supported your argument?

Ari Lax pointedly told him "it's the best card in the deck"

Yeah, he said it's a drop on turns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and on.

He also said he'd cut thundermaw before stonewright if I remember correctly.

I think that's right yeah. Ill always remember that finish, Ari used a deck FOS built.

Proud moment for you

Kate and Spam can laugh all they want, but you / FoS has broken standard twice in recent memory.

So essentially, the FoS has won a Pro Tour if we use 6 degrees of zemanjaski.

Lax wasn't playing one of our builds

It was our deck; I just played it a lot and had a lot if success with it - but that was absolutely a team deck.

I miss those days, James. I really do.

Boros Burn man... that was a deck...

Leave it in the past! Live in the now!

Yet I can't stop dreaming of Pyreheart and friends.

Rabble Burn, THAT was a deck.

In other news, despite Abzan being busted, this is one of the best formats I've ever played.

Most of the decks are very decision intensive, there's a lot of metagaming decisions to make, and there's a lot of combinations of cards that are fun and interesting to both play with and against.

Yeah, so far it's pretty great.

I enjoy the power level of a format where Jorubai Murklurker in an insane SB card.

Torn between Abzan, Kiblers deck, and hordeling outburst.

Playing Jeskai till I can make a decision.

Hordeling Outburst till the day I die.

That was a Bad Company ref, BTW

Got that

So essentially, the FoS has won a Pro Tour if we use 6 degrees of zemanjaski.

Kait, is that you?

Jamming Jeskai because I've had it built since day 0.

It's certainly the deck I enjoy the most, but I think one of the other 3 options gives me a better win%

So essentially, the FoS has won a Pro Tour if we use 6 degrees of zemanjaski.

Kait, is that you?

Yes.

I wouldn't classify 1x good GP finish as breaking the format (mono r with Pyreheart), though it was pretty dominant online. Boros Burn was a consistent tier 1-1.5 deck I guess.

James, don't sell yourself short (unless you're deliberately fishing for compliments). In the States, or at least Florida, I've talked to countless numbers of people familiar with you and your articles, referring to you as "James Fazzo-something." Regardless of your American, non-kangaroo moniker, you and your deck(s) have left an impression on the people I've interacted with. You've even helped people find DtR.

I've had people come and ask for pictures with me or to sign cards. It's bizzare. I'm just slightly less bad than average.

As long as you know that.

I'm a pretty good deck builder / strategist but awful player - I just haven't played long enough. My goal in 2015 is to improve my mechanical and limited play.

How about you just focus on not losing?

Love ya, James.

"James Fazzo-something."

I have yet heard anyone in real life pronounce it right.