@neo_altoid i don't think the summer factor can be dismissed in tournament attendance in the north east. I have been part of the greater ny area competitive vintage scene on and off for 15+ years and summer is often slow for magic. Perhaps tdg can show a straight line decline in attendance for the past year, I cant say. I would also add that modern is a spectacular format right now, with a diverse metagame and high levels of support from wizards. I know several locals who have put their vintage decks aside to explore modern.

I have less of an issue with the format than others, but if you show up at any given 30-40 man event, you can easily run into dredge, outcome and shops in your first three rounds, and if you are on fair blue.dec, you may end up with three un-interactive rounds through no fault of your own, and i can see where that would be a turn off to burning a beautiful saturday in July at. Comic shop literally sweating it out for a mox and 100 credit for second place.

@brianpk80 that tom sawyer interview line was one of my all time bests

The problem with meddling mage is that you really need 2, unless you immediately follow up with a thalia or null rod.

@ChubbyRain I think the Tezz + Karn interaction 100% needs to be explored. I took a Jeskai deck with a single Karn to day 2 at SCG snd it had some big Day 1 moments, including stealing a game rd 7 vs Eldrazi by valuing out a 4/4 then two 5/5s. Karn does not need to be spilling 20/20s on the board to be good. Getting solid bodies by just playing moxen and the ability to selectively filter cards make him very playable. The relationship is too symbiotic not to try.

Nick, you could give out gift cards to Boston Market for first and I would show up to your event. That said, you want to maintain prestige and give prize support that brings the wide swath of players to our small corner of Long island, you need a middle ground. 100-120 per head with a cash prize should accomplish that with the NYSE brand behind it.

Already told the wife this was happening! See ya there!

I think diversity within pillars is the real crux of the issue for people. Shops has completely homogenized to Aggro Ravager Shops because it crushes other versions of shops, as well as shops colorless 1st cousin, Eldrazi. If you could reliably play Stax, Martello, Eldrazi and an Aggro-ish Shops deck in a 7+round event, there would be less complaints. The same goes for blue, though I do not see the same diversity issues. TO ME, outcome, oath, xerox, and BUG all win the game in different ways, even if they all generally play 4 force, 4 misstep, and some number of preordain (well maybe not outcome on preordain, but you hopefully get my point).

If the desire is to have brand new never before seen archtypes (pillars) in vintage, then that will not be accomplished via restriction, but via printing of brand new game changing mechanics, ala dredge.

The only way I am getting a Frazier signature on a Mox is if it is EITHER:

• Already graded and I am having him sign the outside of the plastic.
• So beat to hell it does not even matter.

@hierarchnoble isn't that the amazing thing with leagues? I swear I have seen more Oath and Dredge in my last 10 league matches than in the 30 before that.

I am no shops player, but the "best" version of the deck right now does not want to hold back cards to trigger a 5 mana genesis chamber. Maybe a different flavor of shops would use this, but I do not see it in aggro ravager shops.