Spoilers!

I know, I know, I'm terrible! (All five of you reading this agree!) But it's spoiler season and I love talking about spoilers. So here we go:

Burning-Tree Emissary: This card isn't a powerhouse, but it's one of my favorite cards spoiled so far. Not to denigrate "Meat and eggs--we eat!" but original Ravnica-era Gruul was tough to empathize with for the average Magic player.

FNM Oct 26 / RTR Game Day

I got to FNM late last Friday--got stuck at work late again. But I got off early enough to make Round 2, so Round 2 it was.

Sorry!

There was no update last week because I didn't get off work on Friday until after 8pm. You'll get double goodness this week, though, thanks to FNM + Game Day! (This is my first Game Day since Innistrad. I always forget Game Day.)

Exhaustion makes for poor Magic.

It's been a long week, and it culminated in me going 1-3 last night. Oof. It was not fun. Being tired, I've noticed, has a tendency to exacerbate my tendency to keep marginal hands (this might get there! also I don't feel like shuffling and presenting again!). Despite managing to get to 60 life one game (Trostani + Rhox Faithmender + Thragtusk and pals), I generally played pretty badly. "What do you mean I forgot to activate Garruk this turn?!"

FNM October 5, 2012

Sometimes you have to make do with what you have. FNM on release/rotation day is generally this time. I'm trying to remember what I played a year ago--I think it was a terrible version of Kuldotha Red (way worse without Goblin Guide, Bushwhacker and Ornithopter). Two years ago it was random rares slotted into the Myr of Mirrodin intro pack.  Tonight was a big step up from either of those decks! Granted, it was "Three-Color Rare Binder," but it didn't do too poorly.

Regarding guild allegiance.

I've been a big fan of Wizards' recent initiative to make Magic a more immersive experience, primarily via the diversification of the Prerelease experience. I thought the Dark Ascension prerelease gimmick (monster wars) was a great beginning, and the opening of the Helvault at Avacyn Restored was fantastic.
That said, I'm slightly underwhelmed by the Return to Ravnica event.