Less than a week to go for our NYSE Qualifier event.

Come on out and earn your entry into one of the biggest Vintage events of the Summer!

Please make note that if you intend to play with proxies/playtest cards for this event, then review the particular proxy/playtest card requirements as defined by the NYSE Proxy/Playtest Card Guidelines.

See you Saturday!

Come on out and get some last minute testing prior to our NYSE Qualifier on Saturday (5/25) and the upcoming SCG Con Power 9 Series event in two weeks (6/7)!

@rawpk

I used to run Ravenous Trap in my list, but eventually decided to switchover to just Leyline of the Void. How do you sideboard for the matchup?

A lot of dredge lists in my area are pitch dredge lists, so sometimes my Ravenous Traps would be plucked out of my hand with Cabal Therapy before I could use them and/or get countered with Force of Will, so I decided to make the switch.

I haven't played Survival since WAR became legal, but Deputy of Detention had been an all-star when I ran it.

Regarding the Bant versions of survival, I found myself regularly outpaced by Paradoxical Outcome decks. Sure you could go 'full throttle' and jam out vengevines, but if you do not get it done in one swing, then they could combo off and it'll be over. Additionally, a lot of lists are bringing in Grafdigger's Cage to prevent this move, so you're already playing a slower, more methodical plan in this case.

Switching to the hatebear strategy (Thalia, Gaddock Teeg, etc) would work more consistently than the 'full throttle' plan, but without any interaction on their turn (aka countermagic), it felt very vulnerable to Karakas and Balance.

@TheManAdrian

Have you considered finding space for Force of Will?

Deputy of Detention has always felt like a good replacement for Fairgrounds Warden, and a solid answer to anything (especially since you cut black).

If you expect a lot of Shops, then consider 2-3 Energy Flux in the sideboard and some number of Nature's Claim.

I find 2 Stony Silence and 1 Kataki, War's Wage should suffice in the main against shops. You can consider putting the 3rd one in the sideboard.

Alternate Worlds is planning their monthly vintage event for May.

Here are the details:
Date: May 24th, 2019
Format: Vintage, unlimited proxy/playtest cards
Location: 10854 York Rd, Cockeysville, MD 21030
Time: 7PM
Cost: $10
Prize Pool: 2.5 standard legal packs (or the equivalent in store credit) per person. Rewards based on record and attendance.

Duration: 3 Rounds.

Please let the store know at altworldstore@comcast.net if you have any questions.

Link to the Facebook event is below:
https://www.facebook.com/events/557510311422524/?event_time_id=570416690131886

*Also, make note that on the following day, 5/25, we are holding an NYSE Qualifier.

More information on this is located on our separate TMD event information with the link provided below for convenience:
http://themanadrain.com/topic/2545/05-25-2019-hunt-valley-md-alternate-worlds-nyse-open-vi-qualifier-max-15-proxy-playtest-cards

Make note that Alternate Worlds' regularly scheduled monthly vintage event will be held the day before, so come early and get some last minute testing in beforehand. Details on this event will be in a separate post.

Additionally, this event is also two weeks away from the advertised SCG Con Power 9 series event held in Roanoke, VA, so it will be a great opportunity to get some additional practice for that event as well!

7 players came out this past Friday to experiment with War of the Spark cards and the London mulligan.

The London mulligan produced mixed reviews, and several War of the Spark cards made an immediate impact.

Thanks again to all those that came out.

May's vintage event will coincide with an NYSE Qualifier that same weekend, so keep yourself posted on more details to follow.

The NYSE Open is one of the most lucrative and illustrious tournaments for the Vintage community.

Held in New York each time, this tournament typically takes place during the summer months and brings people from many surrounding states.

Every year, the NYSE Open produces one of the most generous payouts on this side of the world, giving away multiple pieces of power and several Vintage format staples as prizes to top finishers!

However, there are only so many spots available for this event.

How would you like to secure your spot to such a lucrative tournament?

Alternate Worlds is hosting a NYSE Qualifier for the NYSE VI Open in July on May 25th.

Here are the details in a convenient format:
Date: May 25th, 2019
Format: Vintage, maximum 15 proxies allowed.
-Proxy guidelines will follow the NYSE guidelines and is detailed below.
Duration: Swiss rounds based on attendance with cut to Top 4 or 8 as required.
Location: Alternate Worlds - 10854 York Rd, Cockeysville, MD 21030
Time: 10:30AM Registration, 11AM Start
Cost: $30
Head Judge: Ben Pollin
Prizes:
-Entry into the NYSE for the winner.
-Store credit based on attendance and awarded to top finishers.

Proxy Guidelines (as per NYSE Open VI Rules):
"Most everyone on these forums knows what a proxy is. A proxy, for the N.Y.S.E. Open, will be defined as the following:
A Magic: the Gathering card with the full name, card type (instant, sorcery, land, artifact, creature, enchantment, planeswalker), full mana cost and text clearly displayed. This can be done in one of two ways:

1. Using a Sharpie, not pen or pencil, to fill in the required text on a card where it can clearly be read. Revised lands are excellent for this, new commons and uncommons aren't usually, as they're darker, and far tougher to read.

2. Using acetone to remove certain text from a card that's close to the intended proxy (i.e. Lotus Bloom, with certain words removed to proxy a Black Lotus, Ancestral Visions with certain words removed to proxy an Ancestral Recall).
   Take pride in your proxies! Your opponents should know at all times what your proxies are.

Using 15 Swamps to make your proxies is a bad idea, as it's going to create confusion. If you're proxying Moxen, please use a land from each appropriate color to make a proxy for each according Mox (i.e., your Mox Sapphire is on an Island, your Mox Jet is on a Swamp, your Mox Pearl is on a Plains, etc.).
Please use your best judgment when creating your proxies; we know what will and what won't be easily recognizable.

Your opponents should not ever be at a disadvantage because you don't own the cards. There is nothing wrong with using proxies as you slowly pick up the cards that you need to play Vintage, but please consider your opponents while you're making them, as we're out to make this an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. One of my favorite aspects of the Vintage community is that we look out for each other, whether it's constant vigilance to counter potential thievery, or the day to day stuff that mostly goes unnoticed. Let's all do what we can to make this event as special as we can for our fellow aficionados of Magic's greatest format.

If you're worried that your proxies may not pass muster, please speak to the head judge of the event before the event starts. Leave enough time to create new proxies, if necessary.

Using paper printouts of card faces and gluing them to cards is not acceptable! This alters the thickness of the cards, making the cards marked for all intents and purposes. Please don't do this, as the judges will be instructed to consider these as marked cards, and enforce punishment according to DCI Competitive REL event regulations!"

Link to the NYSE Qualifier Facebook event is below:
https://www.facebook.com/events/428373611296914/

Link to the NYSE VI Open Event is below:
https://www.facebook.com/events/407307236507086/

Please let the store know at altworldstore@comcast.net if you have any questions.

Alternate Worlds is planning their monthly vintage event for April.

Here are the details:
Date: April 26th, 2019
Format: Vintage, unlimited proxy/playtest cards
Location: 10854 York Rd, Cockeysville, MD 21030
Time: 7PM
Cost: $10
Prize Pool: 2.5 standard legal packs (or the equivalent in store credit) per person. Rewards based on record and attendance.

Duration: 3 Rounds.

Please let the store know at altworldstore@comcast.net if you have any questions.

Link to the Facebook event is below:
https://www.facebook.com/events/557510311422524/?event_time_id=570416683465220

Additional Notes:
(1) I would like to advocate for testing out the imminent London mulligan rule at this event.

(2) If some are interested in testing cards to be released in the upcoming set (in this case, War of the Spark [WAR]), then feel welcome.

Several attendees traveled many hours to attend this weekend packed with vintage magic.

Without their support and the support of the vintage community, this event would not have been possible.

I know several circumstances prevented a few players from coming, but alas, the beat goes onward.

9 players came out for the event.

Without further ado, here are the top 8 decklists:

1st - Marc Frias

1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
4 Hollow One
4 Vengevine
1 Birds of Paradise
1 Noble Hierarch
1 Wonder
1 Deputy of Detention
2 Lavinia, Azorius Renegade
2 Leovold, Emissary of Trest
3 Basking Rootwalla
2 Elvish Spirit Guide
1 Spell Queller
1 Chart a Course
1 Deep Analysis
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Gitaxian Probe
4 Survival of the Fittest
2 Stony Silence
1 Sylvan Library
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
3 Force of Will
4 Bazaar of Baghdad
2 Misty Rainforest
3 Windswept Heath
2 Savannah
2 Tropical Island
1 Tundra
1 Bayou
1 Forest
1 Island
1 Plains

-Sideboard-
2 Nature’s Claim
4 Leyline of the Void
3 Containment Priest
1 Wispmare
1 Kataki, War’s Wage
1 Phantasmal Image
1 Stony Silence
2 Energy Flux

2nd - Matt Mercer

1 Polluted Delta
1 Flooded Strand
1 Scalding Tarn
4 Forbidden Orchard
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Tropical Island
1 Tundra
1 Underground Sea
1 Island
1 Mana Vault
1 Lotus Petal
3 Mox Opal
2 Sensei’s Divining Top
1 Show and Tell
1 Brainstorm
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Tendrils of Agony
4 Oath of Druids
4 Force of Will
4 Preordain
1 Time Walk
1 Timetwister
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Repeal
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Ancestral Recall
4 Paradoxical Outcome
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Emerald
1 Black Lotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Thoughtseize
1 Griselbrand
1 Monastery Mentor
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite

-Sideboard-
3 Defense Grid
3 Rest in Peace
2 Flusterstorm
3 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Blazing Archon
2 Mystic Remora
1 Island

3rd - Eric Debrosky

4 Force of Will
4 Dack Fayden
4 Preordain
4 Mental Misstep
3 Spell Pierce
3 Snapcaster Mage
3 Young Pyromancer
2 Lightning Bolt
2 Pyroblast
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Gitaxian Probe
1 Brainstorm
1 Ponder
1 Treasure Cruise
1 Dig Through Time
1 Time Walk
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Ruby
4 Volcanic Island
2 Tropical Island
3 Misty Rainforest
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Island
1 Mountain
1 Strip Mine
1 Wasteland

-Sideboard-
4 Nature’s Claim
1 Forest
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Pyroblast
1 Lightning Bolt
3 Ravenous Trap
2 Grafdigger’s Cage
1 Null Rod
1 Surgical Extraction

4th - Cody Simpson

1 Monastery Mentor
1 Blightsteel Colossus
2 Lavinia, Azorius Renegade
1 Time Vault
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Opal
1 Lotus Petal
1 Lion's Eye Diamond
1 Memory Jar
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mana Vault
1 Sol Ring
1 Grim Monolith
1 Voltaic Key
4 Paradoxical Outcome
4 Force of Will
1 Gitaxian Probe
1 Ponder
1 Brainstorm
1 Chain of Vapor
1 Tinker
1 Mind's Desire
1 Brain Freeze
1 Time Walk
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Timetwister
2 Duress
2 Cabal Ritual
3 Dark Ritual
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Dark Petition
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Yawgmoth's Bargain
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Island
1 Swamp
2 Underground Sea
1 Tundra
4 Polluted Delta

-Sideboard-
4 Tormod's Crypt
3 Defense Grid
3 Hurkyls Recall
1 Echoing Truth
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Sadistic Sacrament
1 Thoughtseize
1 Karakas

5th - Stephen Harvey

4 Snapcaster Mage
3 Young Pyromancer
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Gitaxian Probe
3 Lightning Bolt
4 Mental Misstep
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Ponder
4 Preordain
2 Pyroblast
1 Spell Pierce
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Time Walk
3 Dack Fayden
4 Force of Will
1 Gush
1 Dig Through Time
1 Treasure Cruise
2 Island
3 Misty Rainforest
1 Mountain
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Strip Mine
2 Tropical Island
3 Volcanic Island
1 Wasteland
1 Wooded Foothills

-Sideboard-
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Nature's Claim
2 Pithing Needle
2 Pyroblast
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Null Rod
1 Pyroclasm
2 Ravenous Trap
1 Forest

6th - Christian Griffin

1 Flooded Strand
2 Island
1 Karakas
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Tundra
2 Underground Sea
2 Lavinia, Azorius Renegade
1 Monastery Mentor
1 Sai, Master Thopterist
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Dig Through Time
1 Flusterstorm
4 Force of Will
1 Gitaxian Probe
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Mind's Desire
1 Night’s Whisper
4 Paradoxical Outcome
1 Ponder
3 Preordain
2 Repeal
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Timetwister
1 Time Walk
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Black Lotus
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mana Vault
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
3 Mox Opal
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Sol Ring
2 Sensei’s Divining Top

-Sideboard-
1 Island
1 Containment Priest
1 Balance
2 Flusterstorm
1 Fragmentize
3 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Karn, Scion of Urza
1 Mystic Remora
2 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Tormod’s Crypt

7th - Troy Sands

1 Plains
2 Plateau
2 Arid Mesa
5 Mountain
4 City of Traitors
4 Ancient Tomb
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Lotus Petal
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Null Rod
4 Manamorphose
4 Stony Silence
4 Blood Moon
4 Legion Warboss
2 Fiery Confluence
2 Light up the Stage
2 Hazoret the Fervent
4 Magus of the Moon
4 Goblin Rabblemaster

-Sideboard-
4 Containment Priest
4 Rest in Peace
1 Fiery Confluence
4 Eidolon of Rhetoric
2 Ensnaring Bridge

8th - Zac Cudd

2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Monastery Mentor
1 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Standstill
1 Null Rod
1 Crucible of Worlds
3 Swords to Plowshares
2 Flusterstorm
3 Mental Misstep
2 Mindbreak Trap
1 Gitaxian Probe
3 Mana Drain
4 Force of Will
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Misdirection
1 Brainstorm
1 Treasure Cruise
1 Dig through Time
1 Ponder
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Strip Mine
3 Wasteland
3 Flooded Strand
3 Scalding Tarn
4 Mishra's Factory
3 Tundra
2 Island
1 Faerie Conclave

-Sideboard-
1 Supreme Verdict
2 Energy Flux
2 Containment Priest
2 Rest in Peace
2 Disenchant
1 Damping Field
1 Null Rod
1 Moat
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Karakas
1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale

Thanks again to everyone that came out.

Stay tuned for our next event!