Deck Name: Gate of Babylon
Name: Voltaire Abaya (thunderv11@yahoo.com)
Location: A World of Books, San Leandro, CA
Date: 23-02-03

Deck:

Tribute Monsters(1):
Jinzo

Non-Tribute Monsters(17):
Cyber Jar
Witch of the Black Forest
3x Magician of Faith
2x Wall of Illusion
Banisher of the Light
2x Man-Eater Bug
2x White Magical Hat
2x Dark Elf
Jirai Gumo
Invader of the Throne
Kiseitai

Magic(16):
Monster Reborn
Pot of Greed
Dark Hole
Raigeki
Change of Heart
Swords of Revealing Light
Heavy Storm
Giant Trunade
Premature Burial
Messenger of Peace
Axe of Despair
Card Destruction
2x Cold Wave
Delinquent Duo
The Forceful Sentry

Traps(6): 
Imperial Order
Mirror Force
Ceasefire
Magic Jammer
Solemn Judgment
Robbin' Goblin

Total Cards: 40

Side Deck(10):
2x Spear Cretin, 2x The Shallow Grave, 2x Soul Release,
Gravity Bind, Mystical Elf, Spirit of the Harp, Waboku

Hello everybody! (Hi, Dr.Nick!) ;;^_^
Anyway, I present to you, another deck. This week's menu:
Gate of Babylon. I did preliminary testing last week,
but it didn't fare too well, so I re-worked it a lot. As
you should be able to see, I play Cold Wave. The main thing
I'm testing here is just that. Neither player can play or
set magic or trap cards till the next turn. Stipulation is
it HAS to be played at the beginning of Main Phase 1. Let's
start...

A World of Books- Advanced Bracket
$6 to enter
Prize: ???

Pre-Tournament Notes:
As you can see, it's not my usual venue for torunament play.
This week, I went down to San Leandro to play at A World of
Books. Big ups to Serf for telling me how to get there, ;)
I was kinda out of it, being too excited that I was going to
meet some really good players, so I didn't even remember
what kind of a deck I brought... ;p

Round 1: Voltaire vs. Bruce(Wind Beatdown?)
        Hmm... being new here, I have to be careful since I
don't exactly know the skills of the players here. Bruce,
after dueling, gave me a sense of a solid duelist, with a
mastery of most of the basics, but probably lacking in hands
against me. But then again, he played Girochins, so I'm not
sure. 
        First duel, he came out repeatedly with Girochins.
Three, I believe, though I Solemn'd one. (Read: For NO reason.)
Brought me down to a low 4000. I remember I had an Invader
face-down. Then I set a Magician. He played the third and 
attacked(thank goodness) the magician. I Invader'd his
girochin(Note: At this point in the tournament, I didn't
know they changed the ruling on Invader...***) and tributed
invader for Jinzo. Attack for 4100. Next move, he summons
Megacyber and takes a 500 chunk off of my lps. I don't
remember much else, but I remember winning.
        Second duel, it's much worse. His Gravity bind stops
me for a few turns, and he amasses a 5-monster field, with me
at a measly 2. Mine are a face-down magician and a face-up 
defense wall of illusion. When I finally draw it, I play Jinzo
and take out one of his Harpies' Brothers. (I only deal 100
damage 'cause of Rising Air Current) But then, next turn,
he takes Jinzo out with Summoned Skull. A few more turns,
another skull. But he still can't attack with Gravity Bind
out. I then, later, invader*** a skull, use it to take both out,
and I have Jinzo back. Then, Heavy Storm. Doesn't last very long
after that.

***NOTE: They changed the ruling of Invader BACK from being
a permanent Change of Heart to having to switch monsters
with the opponent. Also, if it is taken out by Trap Hole,
for example, its effect does NOT work. Check Edo's Expert
Rulings Page: http://www.stormpages.com/edhrzic/Yugioh.htm

Round 2: Voltaire vs. Steffon/ZeenO(??? Deck)
        One of the factors of dueling is surprise, and another
is intimidation. I've heard of ZeenO before. (14th West Coast,
anybody?) Well, anyway, I know this is going to be uphill.
        First duel is when I find about Invader's ruling. Damn,
is that a bad time for it. He starts with some Giant Soldiers.
He Trap Hole'd my invader, negating its effect. I did eventually
get some monsters on the field. Cyber Jar got my Banisher of the
Light out, for example. Took 7 cards out of the game from each
player. But, this round, he kicks me arse...
        2nd round goes a bit faster. He starts with a face-down 
monster. I Dark Hole it, and attack with White Magical Hat and
Axe. Next turn, he plays Change of Heart, attacks with that and
witch, and then Heavy Storms my Axe away. For the remainder of
the duel, I do some weird and stupid things, like playing
Dark Elf in defense mode. After he takes them out, I do something
even dumber: I play a monster in attack mode. Trap Hole. Game over.

Tournament Highlights: 
-I got to meet Serf and Bandit Keif, and I got their autographs!
-Saw Micheal Lee from D&R there. What a coincidence.
-Got to play ZeenO

Cons:
-Meh, no rares in my Tourney Pack. 

           -Voltaire Abaya
           -Email: Thunderv@yahoo.com
           -Note: I wonder what kind of deck I should try next...