Pokemon X & Y Release

Jack was extremely excited for the release of the new Pokémon game.

 

 

 He installed the poster in his bedroom in anticipation of the release event at Game Stop. We picked up Alexander and headed to the shop around 10:00 PM for a Midnight release.

 

 

This was Alexander's first Pokémon release event. It was Jack's third--actually he fell asleep before midnight during that last release event, but he made the one before that. This guy behind him was awesome--he was friendly and everything until we bad mouthed Zelda & then it was ON!

 

 

 

 

The line was amazing--really long. There was not a lot of cosplay, but a few people in Pokémon shirts and hats and things.

 

 

We had to wait in a giant line to pick up our voucher. It was not bad because the worlds most friendly Game Stop employee was giving out candy in line.

 

Once in the store the employees were great--the women behind the counter had painted her nails as poke balls.

 

 

Alexander considered buying a case when we got our Vouchers, but decided against it in the end.

 

 

we entered a raffle for the display materials--like the empty boxes that had been behind the counter. Not the greatest gifts, but a fun thing to do while killing time in line.

 

 

After we got our voucher for pick up we went around to the other side of the building & played some Magic. Jack beat me 2-1, my Jund deck is not so good & his Heroic deck is very good.

 

 

At midnight they let us into the shop to pick up our game--we were done by 12:30 PM.

 

 

People could not wait to start playing.

 

 

and as the boys loaded up for their first games the line at the shop was actually longer than when we had gone through it.

 

 

without a doubt this was the largest Pokémon release event I have been to and the Irvine Game Stop crew did a great job to make it easy, smooth, and memorable.

Actual Play Murder in Baldur’s Gate--D&D Encounters S15 S9

Worst Play Ever

You know those times when you make a play and everyone watching just starts laughing. I mean really laughing...Bent over, cannot talk?

 

And then they utter 'do you know what you just did'...and you have no idea and just stare at your cards like a mental patient?
 

I had one of those yesterday against Brian.

Brian of all people.

 

I was playing Rakdos Brian Killer and he had a blue white removal deck. As most of you know Brian is horrible at Magic so it does not really matter what I play, I will win. I had like three spells, three lands, and an Undead Minotaur to start the game--fine, I figured something big would come up and I would be fine.

 

 

Brian canceled my Undead Minotaur. Little did I realize that would be the last creature I would see...

 

I got Toil // Trouble. Twice. A little card advantage never hurts.

 

 

I got lands. Lots of lands.

 

I was in trouble & needed creatures. There are a lot of minotaurs in my deck so I thought I would be ok.

 

I got the Whip and laid it out.

 

 

I got Liliana.

 

He arrested her.

 

I was in trouble--last time this happened he was able to mill me. This time I found what I thought was my salvation--I had been holding a Nighthowler

 

 

waiting for a creature to come along so I could Bestow it, but when I drew my second one on like round 10, I thought it would be funny to lay out the first Nighthowler & then bestow the second one on top of him--which I did.

 

Clever right?

 

I imagine some of you already see what is coming...

 

Here comes the Tragedy. Which most of my friends, the store owner, and just about every Magic player in Costa Mesa found to be an almost Shakespearean example of Comedy...

 

In an effort to smash Brian in the face, I used the Whip to bring back my Undead Minotaur. This lead to the Nighthowler dropping to zero life because my Graveyard was empty...so basically my only attacker dies, going into my Graveyard.

 

Luckily we ruled that the bestowed Nighthowler dropped as a creature after the first Nighthowler died--so there was one creature in my graveyard, but I was still lame and screwed and being laughed at by my friends.

 

A lot.

 

And then I had to exile the Undead Minotaur.

 

And then Brian dropped Elspeth.

 

And then I was wrecked.

 

 

A horrible match in which I made my worst Magic mistake to date!

 

 

Murder in Baldur’s Gate--D&D Encounters S15 S9

Rain in Southern California is amazing--we all know about STORM WATCH and the absurdity of a little rain being treated as a natural disaster in an age of rapidly expanding natural disasters. But what is not so intuitive is that in Southern California a little rain actually does turn a 20 minute drive into a 45 minute battle with frustration--freeways just stop. For no reason. I mean in Minnesota people drive in the Snow without a huge issue--I know, I have seen it. In CA a little rain destroys everyone's commute. Forever.

And thus, because of this, last night we went to Mercenary Market in Costa Mesa rather than driving to Fullerton's Dice House for D&D Encounters.

Mercenary Market is a fairly new shop in the Southern California Gaming Store world, but they have a great staff & clearly are interested in growing the community of gaming for all the right reasons. The shop has a fantastic gaming area with a ton of space. The retail section feels like it is still maturing, there are things on racks but the focus just does not seem to be there yet--I have faith it will come.

The store had a great collection of people playing Magic and just hanging out--very friendly and accommodating. A really great space, though there were signs of concern:

One of the greatest advantages to MM is the amazing about of space in the shop.

Jack was pretty happy to be there--I think he missing the MtG community at Dice House.

But he was stoked to meet one of the greatest role players that has ever lived!

I was playing a Gnome Druid pre-gen. It needs a lot of work.

 

    

  

Jack had a massive crit 

The D&DNext crit rules are week, but the confirmed head shot did make it rather sweet

This week I plan to improve my druid & come more up to speed on the D&D Next combat rules--opp attacks, shifting, and parts of a turn are all things that I need a better understanding of before I play again.

Matt joins the Crew, Slivers Dominate, Two Head Giant Blow out

Another great week of Tuesday Morning with Magic at Much. My brother-in-law gave us some home grown pumpkins which of course were required to play some Theros!

Lisa made some amazing Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins.

which were served with some fantastic Peet's coffee.

 

Seventh graders need a note from their moms to drink coffee in our house...oh, well! more for me!

Alexander, Jack, Dylan, Andrew, and Matt all came this morning.

It was Matt's first time so he got to play my amazing Schwarming Sliver deck which continues to dominate.

First round was Jack vs. Andrew while Alexander got his deck fixed up.

Dylan was watching--he has not played the much Magic, but he is smart and picked it up quickly.

Once Alexander was ready with his deck, he battled my Sliver deck with Matt at the helm.

Matt crushed him in five turns.

I am still amazed that we are not seeing more Slivers at Friday Night Magic.

When that game was over, Andrew scooped against Jack so that Two Headed Giant could get started--the boys only have one hour before school starts.

While the boys were playing, Kate was going head to head with Matt with her white red deck that is still a mess--needs a lot of work.

As you can imagine, Slivers were victorious again. 

We put the leaves in the table to have more room for players, but it was still a little crowded. Next week I am not sure what we are going to do--maybe bring a table in from the other room--we shall see.

Hive Stirrings x 2 + blur sliver + predator sliver = trouble.

Everyone had a very good time.