G
Gumby Khan
Guest
Just got back from Nagoya and I wanted to let y'all know what I thought of the Grand Prix. On a scale of 1 thru 10, I would have to give it a (drum roll, please)...9! It would have been a 10, if my team didn't come in 121st out of 217 teams! I know this sounds like blasphemy on a website dedicated to the non-pro, casual play of Magic, but I really had a great time and want to share my experience with anyone who cares. I won't go into a typical James Wakefield trip report (loooong, but humorous) and try to keep it short.
First, it was a 3 man team format, first day sealed deck 7 rounds, cut the top 20 for day two (rochester draft). Top eight gets cash and top 2 also gets invites to PTNY. Entry fee: 9000Y (about $87.00) per team or about $30 per team member. Hotel: 5000Y/person/night (about $200.00 for me and wife for two nights).
Friday, drive all day and register. We get a cool T-shirt and Competitor badges. Scope out the local eateries and luckily find a Mc D on the corner. Check into hotel and start drinking and playing some Magic. Meet Taiwan players, trade cards and drink some more. Saturday morning, smash alarm clock at 0700 and wake up with a cold shower. Hit Mc D and get breakfast, except they don't serve breakfast, just burgers, fries, nuggets, etc. Meet Mike Long and like him, until he tells me his name.
Get to convention center and see the thousands of people milling about. Find our seats and wait for cards (2 starter MM and 4 booster MN) to build decks. Luckily we know some of the judges and they promised us english cards throughout the tourney. Build decks and play three rounds, we go 1-2. Get MORE cards and build decks! Lunch was in there somewhere, but I can't remember when. Play last four rounds and go 2-2, which kills our chances for top twenty. Meet up with our judge friend and find a near-by steakhouse. Eat, drank, and was merry until 2am. Sleep. Alarm went off and duly ignored for a full 30 minutes. Showered, packed, and checked out of hotel. Entered a side event and played a dice game sponsored by Hobby Japan. Dice game kicked a$$! For about $5 you get five rolls of three dice. Every roll got you something, but triples got you really cool prizes. We all played about $15 worth each and we walked away with two Nightmare watches, two Serra Angel backpacks, one Jester's Cap bookbag, 24 packs (yes, packs) of APAC lands (red, blue, and clear), about 40 single APAC lands, about 20 Vanguard cards, about 20 Lu-Bu promo cards (one of which was mis-stamped), and about 20 Nalanthi Dragon promo cards (in Japanese). Better than Vegas!
Bottom line - Great people, good times, and mucho cards! If you ever get a chance to go to one, I highly recommend it! You don't have to take my word for it, there is a link on the WOTC site that will give you another perspective. Sorry to take up so much space,
First, it was a 3 man team format, first day sealed deck 7 rounds, cut the top 20 for day two (rochester draft). Top eight gets cash and top 2 also gets invites to PTNY. Entry fee: 9000Y (about $87.00) per team or about $30 per team member. Hotel: 5000Y/person/night (about $200.00 for me and wife for two nights).
Friday, drive all day and register. We get a cool T-shirt and Competitor badges. Scope out the local eateries and luckily find a Mc D on the corner. Check into hotel and start drinking and playing some Magic. Meet Taiwan players, trade cards and drink some more. Saturday morning, smash alarm clock at 0700 and wake up with a cold shower. Hit Mc D and get breakfast, except they don't serve breakfast, just burgers, fries, nuggets, etc. Meet Mike Long and like him, until he tells me his name.
Get to convention center and see the thousands of people milling about. Find our seats and wait for cards (2 starter MM and 4 booster MN) to build decks. Luckily we know some of the judges and they promised us english cards throughout the tourney. Build decks and play three rounds, we go 1-2. Get MORE cards and build decks! Lunch was in there somewhere, but I can't remember when. Play last four rounds and go 2-2, which kills our chances for top twenty. Meet up with our judge friend and find a near-by steakhouse. Eat, drank, and was merry until 2am. Sleep. Alarm went off and duly ignored for a full 30 minutes. Showered, packed, and checked out of hotel. Entered a side event and played a dice game sponsored by Hobby Japan. Dice game kicked a$$! For about $5 you get five rolls of three dice. Every roll got you something, but triples got you really cool prizes. We all played about $15 worth each and we walked away with two Nightmare watches, two Serra Angel backpacks, one Jester's Cap bookbag, 24 packs (yes, packs) of APAC lands (red, blue, and clear), about 40 single APAC lands, about 20 Vanguard cards, about 20 Lu-Bu promo cards (one of which was mis-stamped), and about 20 Nalanthi Dragon promo cards (in Japanese). Better than Vegas! Bottom line - Great people, good times, and mucho cards!
If you ever get a chance to go to one, I highly recommend it! You don't have to take my word for it, there is a link on the WOTC site that will give you another perspective. Sorry to take up so much space,