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By: JMatthew

The Gathering Begins:
Players converse, trade and prepare as they await the tournament.


Tony’s Next Attempt:



Tony made second in the 14 and under division in San Antonio.

Here he registers in Austin at Pat’s Games for his second attempt to win the free trip and save me some dough!

“The Austin Duel Masters Invitational”
The Place:
Pat’s Games
2310 Hancock Drive
Austin, Texas 78756

http://www.patsgames.com/

The Time:
Saturday, July 16th, 2005
The Weapon of My Choosing:
Water/Darkness/Nature Pure Control

Tony, Justin and I made our way to Austin the day before the Invitational as I didn’t want to have to make the trip from San Antonio and then risk not being able to find Pat’s Games in time for registration. With a little bit of guidance from my brother in law we where able to find the place quite easily and managed to be the one of the first groups of people to show up.

I love a game shop with creativity and Pat’s Games possess more creativity than Pablo Piccaso’s whole body. The main and original shop in is in small house slightly set back from the road. A couple of rooms are set aside for gaming and some for stock, however much of the place appears to be dedicated to the gamers. Before you even walk in you notice a table setting out on the porch – a fine consideration for gamers who might be sick of playing in the cramped quarters with to many sweating nerds. As you walk in you immediately notice a cool prize game machine with booster packs wrapped in dollar bills nearly dead set in front of you. To the left gaming table which is a work of art (in a gaming geeks eyes) – a table plastered with Magic: The Gathering cards formed into the image of a woman. To the right is a room with another gaming area – at the time I finally made it into there it was cram packed wall to wall with Magic: The Gathering players. However, where the heck are the Duel Masters players?

Beside the house is another building. Wait – not just a building – a small castle. Yep, that’s right – a castle. This is the new addition to Pat’s games. While the construction of the place was just wrapping up and white dust covered everything, the staff tells me they have plans to turn the place into a sort of bistro/video games arcade/card shop - if I understand correctly. Wow – almost makes me want to move to Austin just to hang out there. Heck, I could live in Pat’s. I’ve always wanted to live in a castle anyway.

By the time everyone arrives we’ve got around 20 people in each division. Even better turn out than we had in San Antonio! Would that make it even more of a challenge or did more inexperienced players simply turn out. Either way, the trading was hot. Within the hour before the first round I’d finished more trades than I normally would have been able to in two weeks down here in San Antonio!

Before I knew it the pairing for round one where up. How was the tourney to turn out for me? Let’s see!

About My Weapon of My Choice:
I’ll be the first to admit that there is a lot of this style deck going around. No matter what anyone says, though – playing one of the strongest decks in the format does not mean you are going to get a free pass. You still have to work at getting your wins…sometimes more so than other times.
Water/Darkness/Nature Pure Control
Cards: 49
4x Emeral
4x Corile
4x Aqua Hulcus
3x Illusionary Merfolk
2x Phantom Fish
2x Thrash Crawler (thanks to reading cecillbill’s advice)
4x Ghost Touch
4x Locomotiver
4x Horrid Worm
2x Lost Soul
4x Terror Pit
3x Pyrofighter Magnus
3x Rothus, the Traveler
4x Searing Wave

Ding! Ding! Round One!

Eggbert
Eggbert was a nice guy with a big smile and a slightly thick accent. I could tell this match was going to be one in which no matter who won no hard feelings would be evident.

His Deck: Water/Light/Fire

Multiple Aqua Hulcus and Magris, Vizer of Magnetism seem to hit the board. For the most part I am able to take them down though Eggbert gets through to one shield here and another there. The first two games go pretty much the same as I attempt to control the board – the first game successfully and the second not so successfully. This leads to a third game, which I go for broke and rush him. After a couple of games focusing on control, rush from a control deck can surprise the heck out of your opponent. True, it’s risky, but the risk can really pay off and it sure did this game.

Results: 2/1

Ding! Ding! Round Two!

Joshua
I first met Joshua at the San Antonio Invitationals. With what little we interacting we got along well and things hit it off here in Austin also. This time I was to play him, though.

His Deck: Water/Nature Liquid Beast

I’ve played against this style of deck on many occasions – heck I used to play this deck! Right at the beginning of this match I was confident that it was mine. Smack! Boom! Bash! Kabowee! I’m dead…

Uh – okay, I’ve got this next game, right? Joshua trounces me cleanly. I’m not even able to pick up one game off of him. This was one of the worst beating I’ve taken since playing Duel Masters.

Results: 0/2
 

Ding! Ding! Round Three!

Elizabeth
Elizabeth was obviously a new player to the game from the get go. Still, she had apparently won one match and so I wasn’t about to underestimate her.

Her Deck: Mono-Blue Block/Unblockables

As I said, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Elizabeth so I played everything safe to start with. I left her blockers on the field and only allowed her unblockables a chance to attack when I felt I needed another card in my hand. Pretty soon I had built up a sizable army – still, she had plenty of blockers. Over the next couple of turns I let loose with multiple Coriles and Rothus and thus weakening her defenses before my one and final assault. This assault was easily successful winning me the first game of the match.

The second game went over pretty much the same with me using the same tactics and ending up with the same results.

Results: 2/0

Ding! Ding! Round Four!



Benjamin
As I sat town and began talking to Benjamin I quickly found out that the entire table was full of his family – including mother and brother. Conspiracy? Let’s find out.

Her Deck: Water/Darkness/Fire Pure Control – Near Mirror Match

Yep – this was to be nearly a mirror match. As the first game really got started I truly began worry. Relatively early he is able to play out a Ill-Folk and start to put me behind. Barely keeping my head above water I am finally able to cast my own Ill-Folk and begin to balance the board. Another Ill-Folk seals his fate a as I draw more cards than he can handle. As I swing with a massive army that has drawn the attention of the players around us the only types of shield triggers is able to get off with are Proclamation of Death and such – not good considering I get to choose and this was to be my death blow.

The second game I gambled, yet again. Seeing as he was playing mirror he wouldn’t expect me to rush – and rush I did. Before he knew it he only had one shield left. Finally he began to fend me off a little, however this isn’t enough with his single shield in play.

Results: 2/0
 

Ding! Ding! Round Five!



David
I noticed David’s demeanor was rather suspicious early on into our pre-game greetings. He was acting borderline depressed as if he had been having such a hard time during the tournament – almost as if he hadn’t a single win. This was obviously not true if he was facing me in round five.

His Deck: Water/Nature/Light/Darkness Shield Trigger

Immediately I knew I had to be careful playing against this deck. I had rarely played against this style of deck, however had mentally prepared my tactics well in advanced. First, no early attacks – that would only mean free creature for him. So, I set up, ensure he is forced into top-decking and prepare my slow assault. You see, I wasn’t going to be a fool. I knew if I attacked he would likely get a few free creatures and then I would be focused to contend with a Holy Awe. So, one shield per a turn until I hit a creature (or my blockers where reduced to below one. This way, he was not able to attack with the single creature on his turn as I could block and I would be able to kill his creatures during the main phase of my turn. Slow and tedious this tactic surely was, however after three games it was successful enough to give me the match.

Results: 2/1


Ding! Ding! Round Six!



Jerry
Jerry seemed a little removed when I first sat across from him. Someone else commented on his shirt and hat (Magi-Nation World Champs 2002) which allowed me to toss in a comment and break the ice. Still, I was a little unnerved by his apparent “World Championships” status, even if it was in Magi-Nation. The skills from one game can often be translated into another. I shuffled and prepared for the worst.

His Deck: Mono-Water Control

Talk about harsh games! This first game Jerry manage to go off with 5th and 6th turn Ill-Folk. This left something like 8 cards in his hand. Fortunately, I had had gone first and thus was able to lay down my turn 7 mana and cast Lost Soul annihilating his entire hand instantly! This didn’t give me the game, though. Jerry had managed to drop a number of blockers that I could only take card of with Terror Pit or with the creative use of Rothus. This wasn’t going to be easy. Back and forth we went with neither of us gaining any ground. All to much later I look down at his deck and noticed only three cards left. At that moment I made the decision to hold all my removal cards to anything that could actually hurt me. If I could only hold out a few turns I would win. Sure enough he decked out! First game goes to me.

Second game went just are harshly, only this time I did not manage to go off with the powerful hand destruction I had during the first game. After yet another long game he managed to make his way through my defense. Everything was tied up.

We began shuffling and called the judge over to ask how much time was left. Time had been called and the match was over with a draw! It was hard to tell where this would leave us – still we wish each good luck at making it into the finals.

Results: 1/1 DRAW

Ding! Ding! Semi-Finals!

Yep! I made it to the top 4! Excellent – now, who is my opponent? Joshua from round two! Excellent, time for my revenge…10 minutes later I sit there stunned. Joshua had defeated me even more cleanly than the last time.


Finals!
While I did not a chance to watch the finals, Joshua ended up taking the tournament! Congratulations Joshua!

The 14 and under division…

The younger division ended about an hour earlier than the older division. As I mentioned at the beginning of this report this was Tony’s second attempt after making 2nd in San Antonio. How did it turn out – could he pull it off? And the winner of the younger bracket is….JOHNATHON – Joshua’s brother!

Ouch – where did that leave Tony? Second place, once again! Well, two second places is great consistency (better than most of us could hope for). Maybe third time will be a charm…

The decks…

Thanks to Pat’s Games I am able to include the 1st and 2nd place decks from both divisions – check them out!

Joshua C Bauer
1st place 15 +

2x Fighter Duel Fang
4x Barkwhip, the Smasher
4x Bronze-Arm Tribe
4x Torcon
3x Grow Winger
3x Natural Snare
4x Mana Nexus
2x Crystal Lancer
2x Crystal Paladin
4x Aqua Guard
4x Aqua Hulcus
2x Emeral
4x Aqua Surfer
4x Terror Pit
2x Corile

Aaron K Pieratt
2nd Place 15+

4x Magris, Vizer of Magnetism
4x Sarious
4x Miele
3x Craze Valkyrie, the Drastic
4x Holy Awe
2x Senatine Jade Tree
4x Corile
4x Emeral
4x Spiral Gate
3x Illusionary Merfolk
2x Energy Stream
2x Aqua Hulcus
1x Thrash Crawler

Jonathan Bauer
1st Place Under 15

4x Holy Awe
2x Hydro Hurricane
4x Marinomancer
4x Corile
1x Gran Gure
1x Siri Glory Elemental
4x Aeris Flight Elemenatal
4x Kenesill, The Explorer
4x Sarius Vizier of Suppression
2x Craze Valkyrie, The Drastic
2x Alcadies, Lord of Spirits
2x Rain of Arrows
1x Arcbine, the Astounding
2x Diamond Cutter
3x Mist Rias Sonic Guardian
3x Magris, Vizier of Magnetism
3x Screaming Sunburst
4x La Ura Giga, Sky Guardian

Tony Bishop
2nd Place Under 15

4x Fighter Dual Fang
4x Bronze Arm Tribe
4x Torcon
4x Natural Shire
4x Mana Nexus
2x Crystal Lancer
3x Crystal Paladin
4x Aqua Guard
4x Aqua Hulcus
4x Aqua Jolter
4x Terror Pit
4x Corile