The PWP History: RPTQs

When RPTQs were first announced, I was not a fan. It took almost until the very end for me to see why they were created, and I must admit I was wrong to dislike. The biggest benefit of the RPTQ system was a way for people trying to chain multiple PT invites to keep it going without having to start from ground zero. It was slightly more difficult to get that chain started, but it was far easier than having to chase Pro Points at GPs and actually doing well at the PT. If it had been around in different parts of my career, I may have been able to take advantage of it a lot more. As it was, I still benefited quite a bit from the RPTQ system because I no longer had the time or desire to play a Magic event every weekend. The timing of the start just corresponded to one of my longer competitive "breaks" and it took a while to get back up to where I felt I belonged (see the upcoming PPTQ posts). I played in 6 RPTQs. I made the top 4 / top 8 needed for qualification to the PT in 3 of them.

RPTQ Hour of Devastation - June 2017

I did basically zero preperation for this Sealed RPTQ. I had done a bit of prep with the Austin Draft Camp when Amonkhet came out, but had done nothing between that and this event. I don't think HOU was legal yet. I lost early to Collin Rountree in a match that at least made it 100% certain to me that the student had become the master, though I had long suspected it. My deck was average at best and I was not familiar enough with the format to do anything beyond a middling 3-3 record. Collin at least made the top 8 and drafted his way to the top 4 and got the invite.

RPTQ Rivals of Ixalan

I wrote about the prep and this event quite a bit on this blog. See posts here, here, here, and here.

RPTQ Dominaria

I wrote about this briefly in this post. I had a very good sealed deck and drafted my seat pretty well to get the win I needed in the top 8 to qualify for back to back PTs. 

RPTQ 25th Anniversary

I have no idea why I never wrote about this. This is a good opportunity to correct that. Will Lowry and I initially wanted to team with Collin Rountree, but he ditched us to play with his less serious friends. This was understandable to a degree, but you also need to think about what happens if you actually win and have to test for a PT with your teammates. Anyway, this isn't the worst thing since we can actually find the one player in the state that is an upgrade and get Austin Bursavich to be our third. The Unified Standard was something I had wanted to try for the longest time since becoming a much better deck builder. It was clear from the start that every team would have mono-red because Hazoret and Chainwhirler etc. were too strong. I reluctantly ran back my PT Dominaria deck on the condition we could find a playable WB deck for Will to play (Austin was obviously going to play the Red deck). Somehow, someway we came up with one of our better creations over the last week or so of preparation. I don't think it was good outside the team unified format, but it was a beauty. I've never shared it before, but here it is:

4 Renegade Map

2 Fatal Push

4 Duress

4 Hidden Stock Pile

4 Anointer Priest

4 Treasure Map

4 Seal Away

4 History of Benalia

2 Gideon of the Trials

4 Anointed Procession

4 Karn, Scion of Urza

4 Plains

4 Swamp

4 Isolated Chapel

4 Evolving Wild

4 Shefet Dunes

Sideboard

4 Glint-Sleeve Siphoner

4 Kitesail Freebooter

4 Settle the Wreckage

3 Aethersphere Harvester

We went 5-2, with some close losses and maybe because Austin and Will bamboozled me into playing the worse version of the Red deck. I'd say our expected value from the event was probably well above how we performed, despite ending up in 10th place.

RPTQ Ravnica Allegience

I couldn't quite get to Bronze for the Guilds of Ravnica RPTQ, but then won a PPTQ for this as well as hitting Bronze after GP Denver. I once again wrote quite a bit about this event here, here, here, and here. 

RPTQ War of the Spark

I wrote three posts about this one, here, here, and here. This is still one of my favorite accomplishments.

End

That's all the RPTQs, and it doesn't look there there will be any more in the future. I had more than my share of success at them, and I will miss them. 

You won't believe these cards a legal in Middle School!

There are several cards legal in Middle School you might not think of at first glance at the legal sets. Besides many cards from the Portal expansions, there is a note that reads the following:

"Additional Sets and Cards Allowed

Tournaments hosted by Eternal Central also allow all cards from the following box sets and special releases which were printed during the era: Pro Tour Collector Set Inaugural Edition (May 1996), Anthologies (November 1998), Battle Royal Box Set (November 1999), Beatdown Box Set (December 2000), Deckmasters: Garfield vs. Finkel (September 2001), World Championship Decks 1997-2003. Finally, the following cards that were Book Promos from the era are also legal: Arena, Sewers of Estark, Nalathni Dragon, Giant Badger, and Windseeker Centaur (note: Mana Crypt is banned). Arena League and DCI Membership Promos from the era (Fireball, Counterspell, Disenchant, Incinerate basic lands, etc.) are also legal in Middle School."

Here are all the cards that this adds to the pool that aren't otherwise legal:

From Anthologies:

Combat Medic

Icatian Javelineers

Pendelhaven

Lady Orca

Goblin Grenade

Hymn to Tourach

From Beatdown:

Kird Ape

From Battle Royale:

none

From Garfield vs Finkel:

none

From PT 1 Collector Set:

Aeolipile

Ring of Renewal

Order of Leitbur

Order of the Ebon Hand

Hymn to Tourach

From World Championship Decks 1997-2003:

None

What to Know

These cards range from completely unplayable (Lady Orca) to potentially format defining (Hymn to Tourach). Keep them in mind when building your decks.

Additionally, Chronicles / Renaissance add a lot of cards you might not immediately think of. Same with Portal 1 2 and 3.