My life's
finally slowed
down a bit
(relatively
speaking) and
I've starting to
hunker down and
work on MTG
stuff a bit
more. This is a
good thing,
because Magic
tends to be a
sense of
creative release
for me. It's
almost
therapeutic.
But, this
article isn't
being put before
you to discuss
me and my
personal life
issues. I wanted
to talk about
the
biggest subject
in our game: the
Pro Tour.
I'm fine with
the changes they
are making. I
know some people
have problems
with the
changes, but
that doesn't
really bother me
near as much as
other people.
I'm more
concerned about
the qualifier
situation.
After all, more
MTG players will
be involved with
the qualifier
portion of the
program than the
actual tour
itself.
For instance,
this past
weekend in
Dallas, we had
161 participants
in a Pro Tour
Qualifier. And
of that group,
only 1 single
person is going
to qualify for
the Pro Tour.
That's 8 long
rounds. There
were two players
that went 6-1-1
and missed the
cut to the top
8. That's
tough. It's
unfortunate. It
has to happen to
someone. But it
seems a bit
skewed for no
reason.
Why are we only
qualifying one
player for the
Tour? What
would we hurt by
qualifying more
than one
player? Is it
that simple?
Are there any
real costs that
cause issues for
WotC? There has
to be a reason,
right? Even the
PGA tour as a
qualifier school
tournament twice
a year that
qualifies
multiple people
for the tour.
Now, don't get
this twisted.
I'm not asking
for Wizards of
the Coast to
come along for
the ride and
front the bill
for a bunch of
extra airfares.
I'm just saying
we should hand
out a few more
invites. And
believe me, this
plan isn't
without merit.
Let's take a
look at some of
the positive
aspects to
qualifying extra
players.
There are people
that don't go to
qualifiers
currently,
because it's a
near statistical
impossibility
for them to
qualify. Well,
we all know that
not everyone can
win a seat.
Let's not get
silly. But, why
not offer seats
based on a
sliding scale.
It wouldn't have
to be drastic.
Just create a
system that
would allow an
event to
potentially
qualify up to
four players.
Based the number
of invites on
attendance. A
system similar
to the following
could work:
# of
players
# of invites
0 -
75
1
76 -
125
2
126
+
4
This would leave
the average PTQ
giving out at
least two
invites. That's
not unreal. The
players still
have something
to play out the
tournament for
as well, because
only the winner
will be getting
the airfare
package. That
would make
everyone excited
about PTQs
again. Believe
me, I've been in
the finals and
Top 4 several
times and it's
always a bit
frustrated to do
well for 7-9
rounds and have
one bad match
and your days
over with no
invite.
It's also a way
to promote the
game and The Pro
tour without
spending any
more money. You
are simply
adding a few
more names to
the invite
list. It costs
virtually
nothing. More
people get
invites, more
people are
excited, the Pro
Tour gets more
people to show
up.
I would think
that Pro Tour
players would be
excited by this
as well. The
reality is that
more players
would show up to
the event that
may have just
gotten lucky a
couple of times
and gotten in.
With more people
playing in a
Tour event, the
pros won't be
bumping heads
and often and
will have a much
better chance of
climbing the
standings.
Obviously, not
all of the
players would be
"lucky ducks."
And for that
matter, many of
them that
qualified may
not show up,
because they
can't afford the
trip. The only
thing WotC would
have to do is
prepare extra
seats and table
numbers for a
larger potential
number of
players. The
cost of that
isn't that bad
on the whole.
And for those of
you that don't
know, sometimes
when you set up
events with
large venues,
you can get a
small bit of a
kickback from
selling a bunch
of room sin your
room block.
This means
there's a slight
chance of WotC
making a few
more bucks off
of each event.
Sure, it's not a
lot of money
when you compare
the bottom line,
but it's still a
little more to
the bottom line.
But, while we're
on the subject,
there are a few
other ways for
money to be
generated. Just
the simple mass
of people at Pro
Tour generate
large amounts of
sales. Imagine
if we were able
to even increase
attendance at
the Pro tour by
20%. Some of
those extra
people will
likely bring
friends and/or
family along
with them.
Those are more
people that can
spend money.
You'll get more
people playing
in side events,
drafts, and the
Sunday PTQ.
That's all extra
money for WotC.
It might even
generate a few
more sales for
the artists at
the events.
The only
potential
downside is that
tournament
organizers of
the PTQs will
lose a few
bodies toward
the ends of a
qualifier
season, because
there would be a
few more players
qualified. But
honestly, that
would hopefully
be partially
offset by more
players
attending
because of
higher odds to
qualify. But
honestly, the
goodwill and
excitement these
events should
generate under
the new format
should be worth
the 12-16 bodies
a TO would
potentially be
missing late in
the season.
I've exchanged a
few e-mails with
different people
and I've
discussed this
subject at
length with a
few more. And
no one seems to
have a good
reason or
explanation as
to why each PTQ
only qualifies
one player. I'm
sure WotC has
some logic.
But, it might be
time for that
reasoning to be
revisited.
Magic is seeing
more players
than ever it
seems and many
PTQs (especially
constructed
ones) are seeing
some really
large numbers.
As it is now,
the only
positive I can
see is that the
winner of a PTQ
has a huge sense
of achievement
and
accomplishment.
And they damn
well should.
Some of them are
facing off
against the
largest fields
they've ever
been part of
outside of a
Grand Prix.
That really
means
something. It
can also do a
lot to raise
your self
respect and
confidence.
But, I don't
think that's
reduced any
under the system
I've proposed.
The winner will
still have
beaten a huge
field of players
to earn the
travel award.
It just leaves
the 2nd (and
potentially 3rd
and 4th) place
player with some
positive vibes.
It would also
add a little bit
of parody to the
qualifier
system. It's a
bit unfortunate
that the players
in a 50-65
person event are
playing for the
exact same
things that
players in a 120
person event are
playing for.
That just
doesn't seem
fair. In the
basic scheme of
things, I'm sure
it's fair.
Thing about
relative
finishes
though. Isn't
finishing 2nd in
a 120 person
event AT LEAST
as good as
winning a 60-70
person event?
I'm sure that's
debatable,
but those two
accomplishments
may not be as
different as
they seem at
first glance.
Again, I'm not
trying to revamp
the system. I'm
just trying to
help create a
better system
and create
discussion on
how to better
the qualifier
system while
strengthening
the Pro Tour.
This is such a
simple idea that
could have large
long term
effects. It
doesn't hurt the
system at all.
It creates more
excitement. And
it costs Wizards
of the Coast
nothing. At the
very least, they
should at least
give it a shot
for a year and
see how the
players react to
the new format.
Anyway, expect
to see more from
me in the near
future. I'll
try to stay off
the deep
thoughts and
rants and stay
more toward the
entertainment
aspects. And of
course,
I'll have a few
more decklists
for you from
time to time.
Until next time,
DeQuan
a.k.a. PowrDragn
PowrDragn at
Pojo dot com
