The following post is one of a personal nature. None of the stores, people or places mentioned in the following contributed to the post that follows. I repeat this is my personal opinion! The post may also contain strong or inappropriate language. Viewer discretion is advised.
I remember when I was playing Standard back at the beginning of my College career. I remember all the extensive trips my playgroup made just to play in various tournaments because all the local shops could not or would not support local players. I remember making drives of an hour to and hour plus just to go 0-2 drop. Why did we make these trips you ask? The prize support and the ability to play in a format for prizes.
This past weekend, July 6th, War Torn Front had to cancel a Standard Invitational Series due to a lack of interest by the community. That is absolute bullshit in my humble opinion. War torn Front has been working to provide quality tournaments to the players that ask for it. Many players have often grumbled,complained and outright bitched about the lack of prize support at tournaments, the lack of tournaments in the area, and the lack of convenience of not having more local things. Yet, War Torn Front, Red Sky Comics, Kriers, and various other shops in the Central Valley have put their foot forward and tried to alleviate this problem. These places have consistently advertised and offered events that have amazing prize support to get players into their stores in order to play. Yet, the result is the same. Low turnouts to almost canceling events. Is it the fault of the stores for not trying harder? In my opinion, no. The real blame lies with the Standard players who talk the talk about playing the events but can not be bothered to walk the walk when it comes to events.
Before this degenerates into a hate filled argument about who is right, I will say this: Real life does trump Magic. If a serious event, like a family member passing, unexpected event occurs, or even personal responsibilities come up, they have priority. For those people who have to miss events because of this, I have no qualms. Shit happens, and you try to make the next one. My real ax to grind is those people who have no excuse not to show up to these events. i am talking about the players who whine and complain about not having events fire, yet sit on their asses at home when events like this fire. Do you know how these events are supposed to fire? By getting players to participate. You know what you are doing? being a complete retard and causing these events to fail. This seem a little too harsh to read? Well maybe it is because it does directly relate to you.
There are two common arguments I have heard when it comes to players and playing events, especially here in Manteca. The first is that it is simply too far out for them. The second is that the costs are too high. Both of these arguments are utter bullshit for the majority of the players who use them. Most dedicated players who come to play Standard events for good prizes do not mind the drive to a venue. I have seen Jason and Aaron Gulevich make treks from Milpitas to play here at War Torn Front's events despite the fact they have a store with half an hour driving distance. If anything, I give these players a lot of slack for showing up. these are the dedicated players. Instead, The shop is filled with people who live in Modesto, Tracy, and Stockton who can not be bothered to drive barely a half an hour to come to a tournament where the prize support is insane especially for a local shop. That though is what utterly disgusts me and makes me seethe hatred towards you Standard players who bitch.
In regards to the second point about costs, I wish to say the following: get over yourselves. Last weekend, a 13 year old kid scrounged up $25 to play at the War Torn Front Invitational. Yes, he does not have a job, or bills, or responsibilities to worry about. However, this does not change the fact he was willing to sell stuff from his binder and other cards all that so he could compete. Many players at War Torn Front have decks that harken in about $200-$300, yet you are telling me scraping up $25 to potentially earn $125 and a free draft of Modern masters is back breaking for you? I call utter bullshit on that remark. If nothing else, I see most players use this as an excuse to be lazy.
While I could write more about this subject, I think I am going to close up this post with a simple message to you Standard players. Your actions towards the War Torn Front Invitational, Red Sky's, Krier's, and other stores events is a clear message to them. It tell them, that you do not want them to host great events with great prize support. It tells them that you are content to bitching about tournaments with great payouts and never having them. It tells them you are content to pay $30-40 at a PTQ, scrub out at 0-2, come back to your local game store and bitch. Yet, when that same store offers prizes and tournaments that could offer more potential product and offer you a better chance of getting product, that you would rather sit on you ass and pass because it is not a PTQ or MaxPoint event. It truly is a shame that a format like Standard has the laziest, most self-entitled players in the Valley.
Your voice has been heard Standard Players. Local events from our game shops should not need to exist because you guys can not be bothered to show up. That fine. That is your personal opinion. Just remember, the next time you bitch about not having some amazing retarded prize support, or that the best Standard tournament is an hour out, that you had the opportunity to let something like that grow in your backyard.
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