Magical Thoughts at Worlds Time
I will not be in Memphis this weekend. I considered going, but there were several strong reasons why not. I am going on a lot of non-MtG trips lately, and work needs me at this time of year. While I have the opportunity to draft several times a week, I've only taken that opportunity once and the set felt like it wasn't something I would particularly enjoy. On top of that there were two constructed formats, one of which (Extended) is miserable right now. In my opinion not dealing with Elves at all was a mistake. Yes, there are solutions and decks that beat it, as there always will be for all but the most extreme solutions, but I don't think I'm the only person who thought about having to deal with that deck and deciding to skip it - not that I probably wouldn't have anyway but that made it easy. The other problem was simply that the local team that did such good work for Worlds 2007 and Hollywood (and KL draft preperation) does not exist in that form any longer, and my presence would not have saved it.
On a similarly sad note, Neutral Ground is closing its doors at the end of the month. This will leave Manhattan without a place to game. I have nothing against Kings Games and Alex is great but that's an hour away. I remember the days of going out to King's Games, Queens or even New Jersey (I know!) and it was no fun having to do that, although the times were good once I got there. Without a substitute for Neutral Ground, New York's gaming community won't survive aside from the old school group. There is some work being done on possible solutions now that a new place wouldn't have to compete with Neutral Ground, and I hope for their success; certainly there is room for one viable place, and certainly there is not enough room for two.
On a similarly sad note, Neutral Ground is closing its doors at the end of the month. This will leave Manhattan without a place to game. I have nothing against Kings Games and Alex is great but that's an hour away. I remember the days of going out to King's Games, Queens or even New Jersey (I know!) and it was no fun having to do that, although the times were good once I got there. Without a substitute for Neutral Ground, New York's gaming community won't survive aside from the old school group. There is some work being done on possible solutions now that a new place wouldn't have to compete with Neutral Ground, and I hope for their success; certainly there is room for one viable place, and certainly there is not enough room for two.