From: Nocthunder@aol.com [mailto:Nocthunder@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 10:22 PM

Subject: Deck Creation Rant - Irothtin

Elemental Heroes. Cyber Dragons. Armed Dragon. Even Ojama. All of them are recently popular deck types. Can you guess why? Because:

THEY WERE ALL ON TELEVISION!!!!

Too much lately, people have been trying to recreate Jaden's, Zane's, and others' decks. Frankly, I am sick of it. Basically, people see a deck on television succeed, and figure, "Wow, a great deck! I gotta try it!".

Well, this is drawing away from the appeal that made YGO fun in the first place. Being able to create your own original deck was amazing and fun. I hate to admit it, but I was drawn in to the E-Heroes too. I finally came to my senses and sold all of my expensive fusions, meaning Tempest, Flame Wingman, and even Shining Flare. All of them were long sought after. All of them won from booster packs. But, that is besides the point. Original decks are near impossible to find nowadays. Creating your own deck is FUN. Recreating another's deck may also be fun, but you don't get the old satisfaction of having a deck to call your own.

That is why my deck is not on television.

Now then: NETDECKING.

Netdecking, in my opinion, is perfectly acceptable. HOWEVER, I find it slightly dishonorable. The main reason is, you are still using someone else's deck. I originally netdecked my current deck. But, I made some major modifications, to make it my own. Whenever I show someone my deck, they always tell me to take out the same cards, and to put in the same cards. I never listen, mainly because that will make my deck no longer mine. Winged Kuriboh has absolutely no place in my Horus deck, yet it will never leave my deck. It has saved me on countless situations, and it holds a place in my deck no matter what.

Also, people like to complain to me, "But my decktype isn't used on TV!"

Maybe not, but it is overused in reality. Almost everyone I know has a Warrior or Spellcaster deck, all with the almost exact same cards. It sickens me. That is why I take lots of pleasure in defeating them in duels and matches. They all have the same "good" deck, and that allows just anyone to figure out one strategy to beat a certain decktype their friend has, and beat everyone with that decktype.

Face it, people: YGO is dying. Try to relight the old fire it once had, to keep it alive a bit longer. And the match: originality.

Contact me at Nocthunder@aol.com