Cactus Game Design Message Boards
Open Forum => Off-Topic => Topic started by: Prof Underwood on February 06, 2012, 03:43:49 AM
-
I was just talking with Chronic Apathy, and the idea came up about favorite Redemption memories. As I thought about it, I have had a lot but I wanted to record my top 10. What are your top memories?
1 - Winning TEAMS at the 2010 TN state tournament with my seven year old daughter, Alecia Underwood, as my teammate. The key play was when our opponent's played Authority of Christ (non-promo) to wipe out all of our defense in play, and it was actually my daughter who noticed that she had "Unsuccessful" active in her artifact pile and therefore negated AoC, and saved the game.
2 - Finishing 4th at Nats 2011 in T1-2p completely due to some great draws with a speed deck against tough opponents. This was after my defense-heavy deck flamed out to Roy Cruz's "A New Beginning".
3 - There was the time I won T1-mp at MW Regionals several years back after playing SoG+NJ with 3 LSs already and then realized that there weren't 2 available LSs on the table. The other players, (Matt Archibald, Jonathan Greeson, someone else) wouldn't let me take it back and the game ended up getting to being tied up with everyone at 4 LSs for a couple times around the table and several great blocks. Then I finally broke through for #5.
4 - The 2008 Nats in Columbus when I helped with the Brad Coverdale - Gretal Long proposal. I remember talking with Brad about it ahead of time, and taking a bunch of pictures. It was a really sweet time, and I was honored to be a part of it.
5 - T1-2p at 2007 Nats in KC, which was my first. I remember making it up to the top table and around the #6 spot. Along the way I was able to beat Ben Arp, before losing to Kevin Shride and Jonathan Alstad causing me to drop down at the end. It was my first time playing the "big names" of Redemption and meeting so many of you who I now consider friends. It was also when I first saw the amazing generosity of the big winner that year, Gabe Isbell.
6 - Going undefeated at the 1st annual Redemption for Micah tournament, by teaming up with my student Brian Jones for both the TEAMS event and the 2-on-2 basketball tournament, and also taking 1st in the T1-mp event. But even better was the generosity of the entire Redemption community that amazingly was able to raise $800 to help support the Archibald family's future medical expenses for their young son.
7 - Getting to meet Tim Harmon (YMT) and his playgroup in Florida over spring break 2010, and playing in a local down there. I was using a solid Red offense (including Buckler) back before it got the great cards it has now. Surprisingly I was able to win the tourney by defeating the defensive specialist, Josh Kopp in the final round. He was depending on red sites, because "no one used Red".
8 - Winning 1st place in ROOT in Jan 2011 after playing Jonathan Greeson, Daniel Husinga, and Alex Olijar successively.
9 - Playing T2-2p at MW Regionals a few years ago simply because it was opposite Sealed or something, and surprisingly placing in the event. My final round was against Kirk Dennison, who is WAY better than I am in that event. But he had the worst possible draw, which prevented him from pulling off his combo deck, and I was able to escape with the victory.
10 - Playing at the bottom table in the final round of T1-mp at 2008 Nats in Colombus against my nemesis that year, Jonathan Pequinot. We had traded wins all year long with very different approaches to the event. He played speed, and I was trying to organize MASK that year. Yet despite success all year long, we both ended up at the bottom table for the last round of that Nats. I was able to sneak out a win as he had to use his last defensive stop preventing the person to my right (a Kampke kid) from getting to 5 LSs right before my final turn.
-
Brian Cooper. Carrots. Bus full of nuns. 'Nuff said.
-
(in no particular order)
1. Watching MJB, CountFount, and Sauce play at the T2-Only 2011
2. Pulling off COMBO COMBO COMBO COMBO ETHIOPIA!!!! against Rob's daughters in TEAMS at Nats 2010. Revenge for him making a rule against my combo.
3. The fourth year of Warriors booster, when I blocked Justin with Zeresh and Haman's Plot, and on the next turn, Nathan blocks him with Zeresh and Haman's Plot
4. Watching my friend rip a plot in booster draft, not realizing it was a battle challenge
5. Suiciding to convert my opponent's defense in booster with I am Patience, and then RDT plays Paul's Girdle, Chains, and Cage every time, undoing my conversion of The False Prophet.
6. Taking second in TEAMS at 2011 Nats.
7. Various Perkins Runs
8. First meeting of the SQF at the T2-Only 2011
9. Winning T1-2P at Iowa State in...2007? Played Tim, who muttered about how he wanted somebody to beat Gabe (who was unknown), and then proceeded to beat Gabe the next game. It was my first big tournament win.
10. Beating Marin Miller FTW at MN State 2011, forcing him to put a butterfly tattoo on his forehead for the remainder of the day.
-
9. Seeing lp wear a Tebow jersey at Nats 2012
If you have a time machine please share 0.o
-
1.) Playing vs MJB, Tracer Burnout, and one other person I can't remember at the T2 Only 2010 (Final round of t2 multi).
2.) Losing vs John Earley, my only loss, at 2010 NC Regionals, because I used Burial to block myself.
3.) Playing vs CountFount and MJB at the T2 only 2011
4.) Playing vs CountFount and Pat Wester at the T2 only 2011
5.) Beating Tim Maly in my first T2 game ever (T2 only, 2009)
6.) Beating Gabe 3 times in a row with his own deck. Back when I was pretty bad. The deck he was using before those games was like 27-1, too.
7.) Perkins
8.) Going 14-1 vs Westy in the last two years
9.) Nats 2011 as a whole, I guess.
10.) Watching Westy throw away 1st place in Teams at nats 2011.
Honorable Mention: Beating Gabe 5-0 at a local so a 9 year old girl placed instead of him.
Honorable Mention: Super Booster at nats 2011.
Honorable Mention: Taking second in the SOL (would have been first if I didn't lose to Gabe in my final game of the season, 5-0 in like 3 turns).
Of the top 5, 80% are from the T2 only. Hmm. Also, I'm disappointed Westy didn't list COMBO COMBO COMBO COMBO COMBO AFRICA
-
No order.
-Nats 2010
-Nats 2011
-Seeing the difference between the two in my skill level/friends.
-Being told by Jonathon Greeson that I had learned Redemption faster than anyone else he'd seen. (Still haven't beaten him...)
-Leading three playgroups, and watching a fourth grow under one of my former players, Luke A.
-Listening to the Elders (and other old folk) tell stories about the Redemption of yesteryear at Nats 2011
-
**This space reserved for the Year, Month, Day, Hour, Minute, and second that I finally beat Jonathan Greeson in a game of Type 1 Redemption**
-
**This space reserved for the Year, Month, Day, Hour, Minute, and second that I finally beat Jonathan Greeson in a game of Type 1 Redemption**
In other news, I just borrowed Westy's time machine, and this post was never edited. By anyone. Ever. Greeson eventually transcends the game and merges with Rob Anderson and Gabe Isbell, forming the most powerful CCG player ever. The rest of us look on, relived that we can now hope for 1st place.
-
Opening a booster pack at Creation Fest in the mid 90s and having David Easterling tell me that Frog Demons is a very good card.
Getting email from Rob Anderson that he liked my Card Organizer and Deck Builder and wanted to put it on the site and give me some Redemption credit. I was about 10 or 11. I fantasized about some day getting that great Goliath card.
Getting that great Goliath card.
Teaching some of the people at my Boy Scout camp how to play one summer. At least one person even got his own cards after that.
Playing against my dad with 200+ card monstrosities, because we had so many cool cards we wanted to use them all! Who would ever use New Jerusalem, how could you ever get that at the same time as Son of God?
Competing in "worst deck" competitions, where we would build terrible decks (with some restrictions) and then give them to our opponents to play.
A Booster Draft at some old NE Regionals. Someone attacks with Pharaoh's Daughter, and gets name-on-name playing Helping Pharaoh's Daughter. In the same tournament, someone uses Ahimelech to repel Jephthah.
In Pittsburgh, the great Priests booster pack opening party. All of Mike Berkenpas' orders came in and we spent the evening opening and trading, barely playing, just having a good time.
Also in Pittsburgh, being on Mike B's playtesting team and getting to see what Priests, G&H Decks, and tins would be like early. It was crazy to me, that I would be in the loop at all. And I even got to suggest some cards - I'm pretty sure I suggested the original incarnation of Complainers and Zelophehad's Sin, at least. I hope I had nothing to do with Uzzah.
At the final, high-stakes game of Nationals 2008, having the following battle: Attack Sarah, Daniel H blocks Leviathan, I play Buying Grain, I win the battle.
Also at Nationals 2008, beating Josh Kopp's defense-heavy deck, in a great rematch from my dreadful performance at SE Regionals. Yeah Journey to Egypt!
After winning T1 2-player at Nationals 2008, seeing Tim Maly's disbelief at Sarah and Shoes of Peace being in a winning deck.
After the Nationals event, hearing top players discuss Gold Shield, a card of my design, and how it could do crazy things.
Late last year, teaching my wonderful girlfriend how to play and seeing her win events at each of the two tournaments she's been to - a sealed Teams event and Booster Draft!
-
1. Playing a 7-player T1 MP game in Medford in 2008 (Arp, STAMP, TJ, NWJonathan, Jake, Jonathan Prince, 777Godspeed). Epic.
2. Playing a T2 2P game with 777Godspeed in the pool area of the Atlantis hotel in Reno while the boys swam.
3. Watching how much fun players had using new TexP cards in the impromptu Type NW at CA Nats 2009.
4. MN Nats 2005 - so many good memories and seeing my boyhood city of Hastings.
5. Playing a post-tournament T2 MP pick-up game with TJ, NWJosh, and Arp.
6. Playing a post-tournament T2 MP pick-up game with TJ, NWJosh, and Arp.
7. Playing a post-tournament T2 MP pick-up game with TJ, NWJosh, and Arp.
8. Playing a post-tournament T2 MP pick-up game with TJ, NWJosh, and Arp.
9. Playing a post-tournament T2 MP pick-up game with TJ, NWJosh, and Arp.
10. Content that during my lifetime I got to witness the moment when demons became unredeemable. ;)
-
1. Meeting Wild Bill Voigt when he and Nathan (then a 10-year old little pipsqueak who managed to humble my brothers and I) came to Fortress Alstad for the first time. No one has been more instrumental in my development as a player than Bill.
2. Nats 2011, where I managed to net two seconds and a first in the three categories I played, along with getting to hang out with people from all over the country and help show them why MN>every other state. ;)
3. First Nationals tournament (New Orleans, 2004) on a road trip with my dad and brothers, and managing to place 3rd in T1-2P and 2nd in T2 multi.
4. March 17, 2007: The first day (to my knowledge) that a deck completely devoid of Heroes won an official Redemption tournament. The rest of the Heroless of the North's ride in the 2007 Season, up until its pinnacle of getting second at NC Regionals, follows along with that.
5. Becoming a playtester/elder, and seeing some of my card ideas become actual cards.
6. Perkins.
7. Road trip to Iowa for 2011 NC Regionals, swept the T2 events, roundabouts, and Perkins
8. First T2 only I played in. Managing to take first in T2-MP, and completing my conversion from a primarily T1 player to a primarily T2 player.
9. Second T2 only I played in. Did terribly in both categories, but that's just how much fun the T2 only is.
10. Everything else that I can't specifically think of, in my past ~10 years of playing Redemption competitively in tournaments; the people I've met, the places I've been, and the late night Perkins runs.
-
In no order
- Beating a former Nat's winner
- Opening a txp pack with both promo Brass Serpent and AOCP
- Redeeming doubt after playing GoYS to have both a good and evil dominant in my land of redemption
-
And Very little of mine will be redemption based. ;)
1: Placing 15th (Give or take) with Heroless at nationals in 2008.
2: My game with Rebecca Bryant, Marti Wormuth, and Her friend who's name I forgot (feel free to tell me it) at teams 2008. You know its fun when the table next to you is laughing at your shenanigans.
3: All the games that were not redemption at Nationals 2008. (If Michael H. sees this EDGE OUT!)
4: Hanging out with Orangebus at NY nationals making a copy of "Walking on Mary's Face"
5: During nationals in NY (I think that was 2007?) playing against schaef's odd soldier of God and Seeker of the lost deck.
6: Honestly I could keep going but I will stop. I enjoy all the tournaments I go to because I am friends with most players there. Thank you all for being a great community.
-
1. Nats 2011. It was great to be able to chat with people face to face after talking with them for a year on boards.
2. T2 only 2009. My first T2 only, first T2 deck, and first and only T2 win (in the 6+ round tournament).
3. Perkins
4. Wild Bill's Summer Sunday School. It got me into Redemption and I've never stopped playing.
5. Summer 2008. I realized that I needed to move my defense towards pale green Assyrians, not Frog Demons Promo and Thorn in the Flesh.
999,999,999. My first Redemption Minicamp tournament. A girl stalled me and I could have won had I known that there was a rule against stalling. I cried. It was the worst thing a then 6-year-old could go through.
-
No real order, some are obviously more memorable than others.
1. Meeting the Alstads. I would have probably quit the game if it wasn't for them, they are very dear friends to me.
2. All of the type 2 onlys
3. Count Fount and Emjaybee in general
4. Round'abouts
6. Late night perkins runs
7. My first Regional tournament
8. All Nationals, though 2007, 2010, and 2011 were the most memorable
9. Megabus to Ohio Nationals
7. Meeting Tyler Stevens and Chris Fachman and talking strategy with them at nats 2011
8. Playing with John Nesfeder in TEAMS for a couple of years
9. Drawing Son of God off of Proud Pharisee last year at nats
10. Hanging out with the m, nameless, and the rest of the mn playgroup.
11.Learning first hand that artifact pile's in the land of redemption are not okay.
-
My favorite memory is when I gathered the nerve to admit a large theft of then brand new Priests packs to Bill Voigt, and was completely forgiven of it. That was such a huge weight off my shoulders.
My next favorite memory, though it has little to do with Redemption itself, is when I got Martin, Nathan, and Josh over to my house for an overnight video/card game bonanza. THAT was a good time.
Honestly, I don't have a lot of fond memories of games, because it isn't really the game that I love, but rather the community that I have come to know through it.
-
AIR RAID
Running through the church at (2007? 8?) SE Regionals with @Colin yelling Zelda music at the top of our lungs.
Sleeping in a tent out behind Schaef's Church with @Josh, @Colin and @Bryn.
Realizing Schaef wasn't the bane of the light while playing Cutthroat Caverns.
The time Schaef tried to ban @Colin and failed, then accidentally the whole state of TN.
Chasing @Kirk around the church at top-speed with my shoe. Do you know where the petting zoo is?
Taking 3rd at my first Nationals using a deck I had thrown together the night before, which would later become Stonewall.
Playing my first T2 tournament, having never played T2 before that day, with a deck @Kirk borrowed me, and winning 1st place if the last game had ended in regulation.
Bad scrabble.
-
IA States, Buy 2 Warriors Packs, Michael is in One CoTH is in the other.
My First Time Opening a Whole Box of Packs.
Nats 07, Halo, Cowboy Hat Guy, Getting 3rd in type A
-
1) Going to Life Church for the first time to play in a Redemption tour.
2) Building my first deck (red/white & ?) 1-2 record
3) Beating Marcus,Neeka & Terry in Booster
4) Losing to those guys from Arkansas,but loving every minute of it.
5) Hoping CJ was wide awake so I could win (he wasn't).
6) At one time having every single card in the sets,promos
7) Trading some cards for the 70/70 Jesus Christ card
8- reserved
9) reserved
10) reserved
-
Hands down being involved in the Sealed Deck game at Nats in Pittsburgh when Rob Anderson got caught cheating.
(Sort of.)
-
11.Learning first hand that artifact pile's in the land of redemption are not okay.
Hands down being involved in the Sealed Deck game at Nats in Pittsburgh when Rob Anderson got caught cheating.
I want to hear the stories behind these.
-
Some RLK, during last years nats in type 2 multi, activates RBD in his land of Redemption. I look for his artifact pile, see nothing, and play Mayhem.
-
11.Learning first hand that artifact pile's in the land of redemption are not okay.
Hands down being involved in the Sealed Deck game at Nats in Pittsburgh when Rob Anderson got caught cheating.
I want to hear the stories behind these.
To be fair, it wasn't IN his Land of Redemption apart from other artifacts in his artifact pile, he just happened to have his Artifact pile in a non-standard location, where most of us (at least in MN) would have our LoR be.
As to the Rob cheating story, I wasn't there, but I believe one of the deckcheckers slipped a NJ Promo in his Sealed deck.
-
Much to my surprise, I still have the web page I posted at the time up online:
http://ddicerc.tripod.com/id34.htm#_ (http://ddicerc.tripod.com/id34.htm#_)
That was back in the day when Redemption New Jersey was, well, Redemption New Jersey.
-
Wonderful. I love it. RNJ has inspired more than a few of our antics.
-
I have the honor of making the dumbest move in Redemption history! ;D
It was Redemption SE Regionals 2008. I was playing in T1 Multiplayer. I was blocking with Fallen Warrior, and I have an Ashdod on the board. I play Joseph's Brother's Scheme (this is where I first heard the phrase Jo-Bro's-Scheme!) and take an opponent's Faithful Servant promo. I play Sword of Punishment from my hand on the Faithful Servant and killed my evil character. :) That was quite an accomplishment.
-
Meeting the love of my life at eleven years old, though I had no clue at the time.
Almost getting proposed to by a complete stranger at the same tournament where I met the love of my life.
Shaving the love of my life's head at Nationals 2007.
Having the realization that he is the love of my life at the Type 2 Only of 2010 and deciding I will never shave his head again.
Staying up all night at almost every tournament I've been to since then with the love of my life.
Spending five days of bliss with the love of my life at Nationals 2011.
Am I just a little thankful for Redemption? Yeah, maybe. ;)
~Britta
-
All nighters with RTSmaniac making decks, playing, taking apart, making, playing repeat and so on
All nighters with Roger and RTSmaniac with cards on the game for type 2 multi
Roadtrips to tourneys with RTSmaniac
Nats with the whole GA crew
Nats with E-Large
Meeting Nathan/Papa Voigt
The TN guys
My first nats, NY, and ranking 3rd in t2 2p. 2nd in t2mp and 7th in bdraft
Ranking third in type 1!!!!! 2p at boston with a turtle
Having my turtle remade by Wester and it getting 3rd the next nats
Rob's house for NC state
Me saying a comment not meant for Rob to hear, and Clift telling Rob then giving me "props" for saying it...
Wrestling at GA states/SE regionals
Every Nationals, especially ranking in them
Finally beating E-large at nats
Meeting Gabe, Ben x2, Jordan/Justin, Bany, Prof U, Mitch, all my Redemption boys
Roy Cruz
Thanks for all the memories guys.
-
Minnesota State (2010?). My first tournament, I got GoyS and the ideas that caused my deck (and my username)
Thanks
-
In no particular order:
- Watching my father host a tournament before there were standardized Redemption tournaments. He had a tiny little trophy engraved for the thing and Rob sent some big Redemption posters.
- Learning how to play one afternoon in the dorms and teaching 10 other guys by that evening.
- Hosting my first tournament at Manhattan Christian College
- Going to my first Nationals in KC and taking some kids from my youth group (one of whom won a multiplayer category)
- Staying up all night with John Nesfeder creating Type 2 decks to play in the Type 2 Nationals since there was only 1 other person playing that category.
- My first trip to Rochester, MN for a Bany-backed Nationals event.
- Going to the KC area (Lee's Summit, Gladstone, Platt City, etc...) for many a tournament
- Hosting many a tourny in Emporia and having lots of friends from other playgroups come
- And of course, making friends with so many great people over the years. :)
-
I've had a lot of good memories (and it's because of topics like this I wish I had a better memory) But the ones I can think of right now:
1) Playing massively multiplayer type 1 games (10+ people) they were so ridiculous that the winners were (by in large) determined by whoever's turn it was when the dominants ran out.
2) Playing my first Nationals Game at Ohio Nationals (2008) against Gabe. I lost (my defense didn't come in right), but I impressed him with some of my plays and him remembering the game at the Minnesota Nationals (2011)
3) Opening a bunch of boosters at Nationals (from UPCs) and pulling a Michael (Kings) and a kid that was watching me open them mentioning he wanted one. Since I had several Michaels already gave my new one to him.
4) The entirety of the T2 at 2011 Nationals. I did fairly badly, but I probably had more fun than I can remember at a tournament. I played a deck I love playing (it was Angels, Demons and Magicians). I was so out of it after that day that I couldn't even think straight (except a combo I was working on involving Gates of Samaria).
5) After the T2 (yes, the night I couldn't think straight) Andrew and I made our teams decks that we got fourth in teams (having never played the category before and reading the rules the night before).
6) The moment when I realized I became my playgroups foremost rules expert.
7) Every game I have ever played with my friend Trenton.
8) At every Nationals meeting people who I see online all the time so I can finally put a face to online names.
9) Making friends that I would never have had if it weren't for this game.
10) Learning tons about the Bible.
11) This spot is saved for when I become T2 2P Nationals champion.
12) This place is saved for when I become a redemption playtester and/or card designer.
13 - ∞) I'm sure there are tons more that I can't remember at the moment and hopefully many that haven't happened yet, but fortunately there are enough numbers to put them all in.
-
0. Seeing redemption sold for the first time at an Ichthus Music Festival and not thinking much of it. Kinda wish I had started from the beginning
1. Learning to play redemption with Jonathan Greeson during the 2003/2004 years.
2. Me and Jon driving 3 and 1/2 hours to play at our first tournament ever in Ohio and then meeting someone who lived in my SAME TOWN at that tournament.
3. winning my first T1-2 Player tournament with a defenseless site lock out (before they changed the ruling on Every Mans Sword)
4. Seeing "A New Beginning" for the first time.....
5. Winning my first state/Regional categories
6. HOSTING my first state.
Nats Memories
2007 - KC Nats and watching my false peace deck get destroyed at the final table by a SitC deck. I was in awe as it comboed off against me. Sucked to lose but it was so much fun to watch.
2007- KC Nats - The "Kiss"
2008 - Nats in Columbus- the Proposal
2010 - Nats in Boston where I placed 4th in t2-2player, 4th in T2-MP and 5th in T2-MP...Always a bridesmaid and never a bride....
2010 - Eating a king beef Roast Beef Sandwich @ a local boston dive. it was divine....
-
1) Winning 8 games in a row at my play group against the man who taught the game to me
2) Being able to meet the players from the east coast of FL, since I am from the west coast
3) Beating one east coaster 5 to 1
4) Nearly beating delarosajon, but decked out and ran out of cards in hand. His 12F Giant and Goliath killed my Genesis offense.
-
1. Rob's ability to troll every game of Booster Draft that has Brandan, Eric W., and me drafting together.
2. The T2MP game Justin, Kirk, and I played over AIM. 3 hours later, I was using charts.
3. All 6 of us CA T2 players being paired against one another in the first round at CA Nats 2009.
4. Winning 2011 RNRS for Booster, considering I spent the season blind.
5. That one time I beat Kurt in T2 because he drew no characters the entire game. Asked him if he now knew how we feel.
-
1. My first Tournament when I was so nervous that I woke up a 5 am and could not eat breakfast. And then proceeded to lose all my games.
2. My next Tournament when I won one game and thought that I might place.
3. Christmas buying 2 AW packs and opening one of then and getting a Revealer Ls and giving the other 1 to The M and he gets a Michael.
4. When I won my first category. T1 multi at a District.
5. In all the TXP packs I have gotten, getting 3 Grapes and Mayhem.
6. Winning my second category. 1 multi at Regionals last year.
7. Getting third at Nats T2 multi last year
8. Winning T2 and T1 multi and getting second in T12p. In the same tournament.
9. When I won T2 multi in #8, beating 2 Nats champs in the category.
10. Finally beating Martin and Nathan in Teams.
-
10. Finally beating Martin and Nathan in Teams.
You're welcome. :D
-
Ah...so many memories, so little space to write. Actually, so little, I had to split it up because it was too long. Oh well.
In somewhat of a chronological order...
1) Meeting Rob and one of the artists from the first set (or prophets) at Atlanta Fest and spending $60 of my allotted $80 for the weekend for food and whatnot on Redemption cards. Then after Atlanta Fest was over, one of the guys at the booth gave me his deck (which was a lot bigger than it should've been). That really helped kickstart me playing.
2) Meeting Martin Burkholder at the next Atlanta Fest and becoming best buds with him for several years as we went to tourneys together across the country.
3) Going to my first Nats in 1999 and met a bunch of people. Don't remember too much else.
4) Nats 2000, I played Sealed Deck and got both Red Dragons (Warriors was out). Lost 1st round and it was single elimination. Vowed to never play Sealed again in a major tournament. Here I am playing T1-MP(?). (http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll203/xerosplash/218054_516169350547_22608133_30007312_1730_n.jpg)
5) Nats 2001, Swiss Style! Hooray! Also, I used my T1-2p Solid Blue w/ stand alone ECs that had gone something like 120-5 in every other game I played. I went 5-5 or somewhere around there. I was not happy.
-
6) 2001-2002, I had created one of the great "break the game" decks. Attack, make a side battle with my own Pharisees, play a bunch of gray stuff, play Idle Gossip to side battle two of my Gold guys, play a bunch of gold stuff, play Highway and return all the enhancements (including grays) to my hand, go back to Pharisees battling, rinse and repeat. Did pretty decent, but this was the year I decided, hey, it would work better if I had more chances to draw the cards I need; let's play T2! So, I modified it to be a T2 deck and placed 3rd at Nats. The T2 onslaught begins....
7a) Nats 2003, Green/Brown T2 deck. I went 6-1 (or 7-1) and took first! Hooray! Also, Kyle Hostutler showed me his T1 deck. I thought it was just alright. He was like, "Alright?! This is gonna win." I was like, "Sure..." He won.
7b) Pants...I lost them. Fun times were had by all. Except for the part where my wallet was in them and I had to fly out the next day with no license. Oh, wait, that trip to the police station was fun too. :D
8 ) Nats 2004...Hmm...LA...we drove...I placed 3rd...don't remember what I played...fun was had by all? I think this picture was from there. (http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll203/xerosplash/ericVSron.jpg) In that case, I played Green/Black with lots of Provisions. I just like this picture because notice my side of the table...and then look at Ron's....now look back at mine...and then look at Ron's. Fun times indeed.
9) East Central Regionals 2005, I was trying to sleep on the hard gym floor at Darcy's church, but my mind was racing. Thinking about strategies, different cards, etc... Suddenly, I come up with an amazing idea! What if I play a Red deck that puts either FBTN characters or Ethiopian Treasurers (or Mentor to band to ET) under Ambush? They will have no idea what's coming...either FTBN big haus or Authority of Christ! It was amazing. Took it to nats and placed 3rd with it. Still, my favorite deck of all-time.
10) Nats 2006, Ross Lang dominated T2. I took 2nd and my homie-g Mr. Hiatus took 3rd. Better luck next year Tyler... Oh, this was also the year that Tyler and I woke up late. As in the tournament started 5 min after we woke up. Nothing like waking up, throwing on deodorant, and running half a mile with 30 pounds of cards on your back!
11) Nats 2007, honestly, I remember less about this than my first nats. Maybe because for the first time in 5 years that I did not place in T2 2p. However, did get 3rd in T2 multi, so I guess I'm still ok.
12) Nats 2008, the beginning of the end? First full year as a full-time teacher. New teacher orientation was during Nats and there was no way I could miss it. Sad day...
13) Nats 2009, sunny Cali. (http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll203/xerosplash/6572_1196178870938_1422460609_546931_5856348_n.jpg) Fun times, as always, and this was a tournament of many firsts. First time I spent any extended time in Cali (stopped at LAX on my way back from Thailand), first time I had ever seen a wild coyote (saw it when I went outside of the church one night, just chillin' in the parking lot), and first time Tyler beat me in a Nats (see his post). Also, first nats that I attended and did not place in any T2 category. Sad day indeed...
It's been a long and crazy journey and I have not officially quit playing. I've just had a little hiatus including getting married, not having a full-time job, and playing too much WoW (I have quit that, however).
Here are some honorable mentions for favorite memories in a not chronological order whatsoever:
-Southeast Regionals 2003 (http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll203/xerosplash/345_47088381304_744261304_1087914_9336_n.jpg)
-Crazy Ariases
-Pegrams
-Raul!!
-Drew Pegram doing donuts in his El Camino in my church parking lot with my brother in the back
-Several hour phone calls with Martin Burkholder, playing Redemption over the phone (before AIM or RTS)
-Doug drawing Martin's and my names into Book of Life. Thanks Doug!
-Playtesting and seeing certain cards come to life and somehow missing the overpoweredness of others.
-The almighty Buckler!
-Multiple Atlanta Fests and playing Redemption instead of watching concerts.
-Helping David Easterling run the Redemption booths at several festivals (Creation East and some others I don't remember)
-Crazy Clift and his crazy deck ideas...
-Crazy Clift having a good deck idea in Sin in the Camp
-Crazy Clift playing Sin in the Camp so much that he lost because we built our decks to counter Sin in the Camp
-Driving/Flying all over the country playing an awesome game and meeting awesome people!
Eric "don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years" Largent
-
10) Nats 2006, Ross Lang dominated T2. I took 2nd and my homie-g Mr. Hiatus took 3rd. Better luck next year Tyler... Oh, this was also the year that Tyler and I woke up late. As in the tournament started 5 min after we woke up. Nothing like waking up, throwing on deodorant, and running half a mile with 30 pounds of cards on your back![/quote
Hahahaha, how did I forget this. Getting a not too happy call from Mr. Bany and us running from our hotel to the tournament. 13) Nats 2009, sunny Cali. Fun times, as always, and this was a tournament of many firsts. First time I spent any extended time in Cali (stopped at LAX on my way back from Thailand), first time I had ever seen a wild coyote (saw it when I went outside of the church one night, just chillin' in the parking lot), and first time Tyler beat me in a Nats (see his post). Also, first nats that I attended and did not place in any T2 category. Sad day indeed...
We didn't play at CA, you either got 4th or 5th place I thought. I won in our "game" at KC. It wasn't really a game, it was us talking, joking around, and saying our bad luck at the tournament. Probably one of my most fun games ever played because we just were attacking each other but just joking around the whole time, probably making fun of Clift.
Ah the Ariases.
-
- The Beginnings - Making my deck 7 cards larger every time I opened another Lost Soul because bigger decks are better. Until I learned from Kyle Hostutler at Creation 2004 after a thorough beating that smaller decks are better.
- 2006 Nats: Welcome to the Club - Meeting many for the first time face to face and staying up all night playing Settlers/Attacktix/etc on the top floor of Hofstra dorms amidst Mountain Dew addicts and lots of laughter with Josh Kopp, Ben Arp, Matt Sinclair, and Andrew Wester. Waking up late the next morning and arriving late for T1 multi.
- 2007 Nats: "Am I the only one playing defense here?" - A ridiculous finish to a great T2 multi event with Nathan Voigt plodding in for his 7th as time expired to break a 6-6-6-6 tie in a game where I played 37 out of 41 evil cards in my deck (including all my Plots), leading to the destruction of 17 of his heroes - not enough to stop his Peter he drew. Nathan took 1st and I dropped to 4th. Also going 5-1 to place 3rd in T2 2p with my first break the game combo deck.
- 2007 SE Regionals: "Which way is the petting zoo?" - with Daniel Huisinga and flip flop chasing. Playing a T2 multi game with Tyler Stevens, Josh Stanley, and Clift Crysel where Clift was the only player NOT playing Chemoshes. To make matters worse - he was playing an Elders offense. (Spoiler alert: Clift didn't get anywhere that game).
- 2008 Nats: "Oohh, bad scrabble" - with Daniel, Colin Boydale, and Ben Arp, staying up almost the entire night on the last day and passing out on the floor at 6 am or so only to be woken by vacuums from cleaning staff. Placing 4th in T1 2p using my Zebulun/Judas deck and winning teams for the 2nd straight year with Ben.
- 2009 Nats: "Half, half, half" - with Ben. Ben realized he could make a deck with 20 copies of the newly released Gates of Hell and 20 2-liners in the deck. Going 5-1 to place 3rd in T2 2p with my 2nd break the game combo deck and my Agur deck (3 games apiece). Also pulling off my T1 version of my 1st T2 break the game combo deck in T1 2p against 2 opponents to the dismay of my opponents who didn't think combos were a threat in T1.
- 2010 Nats: "Are you sure there is nothing I can do?" - Pulling off my 3rd break the game combo deck on turn 1 in T2 2p against next day T1 2p champ Jonathan Greeson. This was his first T2 season and it was fun to break him in. Also pulling off the combo within the first 4 turns of my other 5 games en route to my third 3rd place finish in 4 tries. Very blessed to be able to place at all having made a critical mistake against James Roepke (2nd place) that lost me the game.
- Break the Game Time - Spending hours at Steak and Shake and Borders with Jon Pequinot brainstorming how to make even better break the game decks.
- Redemption as a Ministry - Living with Travis Brown and learning from his example how Redemption can be used as a ministry tool and being able to serve alongside him in sharing the love of Jesus through Redemption to people in need of salvation.
- Others Blessing Me - Playing in tournaments across 14 states (living in 6 of them): NY, NJ, MD, VA, GA, FL, AR, MO, TN, OH, KY, WI, MN, and CA and being able to meet all sorts of tremendous brothers and sisters in Christ. I have been incredibly blessed by the hospitality of many who have housed me and shown me such generosity. I would like to give a shout out to the following individuals who have shown me incredible kindness over the years (in no particular order): Reyzen, Sean Wenzel, Ginger DiMaggio, Travis Brown, Mark Underwood, Craig Fountain, Ken Locklin, Bill Voigt, Matt Brinkman, Gabe Isbell, John Earley, Clift Crysel.