Posted on 18 November 2008 by Christopher E. Otwell
Email me at: otwellc@gmail.com
Facebook me at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=861710106
How would you go about unlearning what you have learned? Doing what must be undone.
| Standard: (After 10/3) | 10th, Lorwyn, Morningtide, Shadowmoor, Eventide, Shards of Alara |
| Extended: (After 10/3) | 8th, 9th, 10th, Onslaught, Legions, Scourge, Mirrodin, Darksteel, Fifth Dawn, Champions of Kamigawa, Betrayers of Kamigawa, Saviors of Kamigawa, Ravnica, Guildpact, Dissension, Cold Snap, Time Spiral, Planar Chaos, Future Sight, Lorwyn, Morningtide, Shadowmoor, Eventide, Shards of Alara |
| Vintage: | All magic sets (except Unglued and Unhinged) Banned and Restricted card lists |
| Legacy: | All magic sets (except Unglued and Unhinged) Banned card list |
| Sealed Deck |
|
| Booster Draft |
|
| Tribal Wars |
|
| Singleton |
|
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November 19th, 2008 at 12:58 am
It’s okay man, it might be hard to hear, but maybe you need to take a break for a couple of months. I know it’s hard to take a break from something that you love, but you might need to refresh your mind. You’ve also stated in other podcasts about your family issues. Outer distractions will often deter you from your magic state of mind even though it doesn’t seem like it. It’s okay take a break not for long, but for a little bit.
November 19th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Hey Chris,
I had this issue too coming into school (High School, not quite college), but the way I always get back on track by playing against friends, but laying out the cards you play and your opponent does the same. Then you and friend tell you what they think you should do and afterwards how to sideboard. Do this a couple dozen of times then move onto workstation/apprentice/MTGO then play with all those things in mind.
Probably the best part of Magic is friends… <–(I’m not gay)
November 19th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I’ve been feeling that way to an extent as well for a while, so it’s good to know I’m not alone. Things will turn around. It’s also frustrating that the standard format seems to be the same as last years standard and block. That makes me loose motivation, because I get bored. I like new decks, it’s more interesting. Thanks for all the pod casts you do, I always look forward to them.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Oh, and I also haven’t been doing as well at FNMs. In the late winter early spring I had a 10 first place win streak. Now I’m lucky if I top 8. It’s frustrating. And could you post your Kelpie deck? I’ve been trying to get that thing to work, and I just don’t think my build has what it takes.
November 19th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Chris, you mentioned that you have only been playing control for years now. Maybe it’s time to switch it up. My feelings are that if you want to be successful you have to play with all of the decks that you plan on running into for the meta, so that’d be all of the tier 1 decks and most of the tier 2 decks. This way you’ll actually understand them from the pilot’s point of view. You’ll truly understand what makes each deck tick and what each’s strengths and weaknesses are. While playtesting against expected decks is definitely a great method, I believe adding playtesting with decks is how you solidify an overall understanding of the metagame.
Maybe you’re currently doing this, but if not I think it’s worth a shot.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
It almost sounds like you don’t care. You care after the fact when you lose but not during the game???
Brain farts can be caused by poor nutrition, lack of sleep, outside stressors or distractions. Minimizing these obstacles should help.
I am 37 and I don’t even know if the above is possible for me. Can you put money issues, family issues aside long enough to focus? That is why I believe that it is easier for younger players to do well at magic, they don’t have as much clouding their minds and believe it is more important than it actually is. (And don’t respond to this if your 19 and tell me how hard it is for you, when you’re 29 you will look back and say damn I had it easy at 19)
You have it harder than I because I have never been good. You have the glory days to hold your standard up to. It is not that it is unachievable its just going to be more difficult than it was say 6 months ago or 5 years ago.
Best of luck to you though,
Senor Blue Hair
November 20th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I think everyone who posted here has made good points as to what could be the problem with your recent results. I would disagree with the idea that FNM’s should be an easy thing to win. There are definately players of all playskills but from my experience, the decks that finish well are mostly tier 1. I mean Kelpie? give your head a shake! suck up your pride and grab that Fae deck or whatever is strongest in your meta game. If you concentrate on playing the best possible cards instead of playing the best possible game with mediocre cards, your results will improve. An “Old” guy like you should have at least learned that by now
November 20th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Maybe your dream indicates a subconscious realization that the Kelpie deck you run is incomplete somehow. Perhaps you could hold out hope that Conflux will offer you the missing cards or maybe you can scrap the deck and play the Fae as the previous poster suggested. Good luck.
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:52 am
Chris,
Thanks for being so open and forthcoming, as always. I hope you work your way through the rut and find success as you are a huge boon to the Magic community.
You probably don’t want to hear this, but I almost think you are at your best as a podcaster when you’re facing adversity in life and/or magic. Adversity is something we can all relate to and you lay your feelings out there more honestly and more completely than any other person I know.
Keep fighting the good fight, things will work out. All you need is one solid day of limiting mistakes and maximizing luck. Control what you can control and don’t let the other stuff get to you.
November 26th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Strangely enough, I had the exact same experience when playing my friends in chess. (Where I would win, I suddenly had an incredibly long losing streak)
Play casually, find what you enjoy about the game and get your enthusiasm back. Not simply the desire to play, but how you might have taken the time to notice smaller things before. It’s alot easier to see ‘out of date’ patterns and follow those reactions.
November 27th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
The Kelpie deck was posted in the show notes for the States Podcast.
November 27th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Yes, Anthony –> I am definately going to switch it up.
December 1st, 2008 at 10:10 pm
quote from Tom: If you concentrate on playing the best possible cards instead of playing the best possible game with mediocre cards, your results will improve.
Actually, if you concentrate on your playing ability, your results improve in both cases, and not just with the superior cards. Albeit, the former isn’t as visable as is the later.