This deserved an entirely new topic: I'd like to offer a big round of thanks to everyone participating yesterday at Ktom's in lovely Elgin, IL... if the worst thing I can say (beside that Staton attended / defeated me) was that the pleasnt breeze was just a bit too brisk to allow games at the outdoor table... I don't know what I can complain about.

Ktom - Thanks for your gracious hosting... your encouragement of the community is what makes this a great game to play.

Adam - MMmmmm.... Salsa. And someone else had to both beat Josh _and_ have a winning record against him.

Kevin - Thanks for grabbing my plate for me, even if you were too lazy to go get a napkin while I was at it. I guess my request was non-specific.

Tony - It was good to meet you and an amazing game we had. Now all you need to do is break into the CoM and steal some Rare Kingdoms.

I cannot stress enough to the "players of the game" how great the people who play it are... and I'm not just patting us all on the back. This was an amazing event, even without a "tournament." The competition was good (though I'm wishing I'd had time to properly outfit my deck to deal with seasons. <Or just had a marker to write Raven on my "Mad King's Legacy.">), FFG allowed Ktom to purchase directly for it... and it's conceivable we will have a player run ranking system up before too long (Go go Gadget NYC Meta). Now all we need is corporate sponsorship for defining Standard and Vintage.

More to come.

Lots of fun this weekend for sure. Thanks to everyone who made it

Specific thanks to :

Luke - the Hoke to my Daisy

Andrew-Deck builder extraordinare

Sheik-Martell endboss

ktom-gracious host and all around nice guy

Katie/Staton-sammichs..mmmm

Probably more but I am at work and my boss is an a-hole so back to work.

Wanted to toch base on the great Gathering of the Clans we had over the weekend.

With folks coming in from Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and within Illinois (three metas, sortof), we had a great turnout. Games and laughs abounded and even a MIA Luke for awhile and a Pikachu (sp?) sighting! Overall the games proved interesting, especially considering there are some great players here in the Midwest who always provide a great challange.

My own shout-outs:

Ktom - Thanks for opening your home, making sure we were fed and watered while making sure we all didn't FUBAR the rules! You are a fantastic part of the community and a great friend.

Tony - New ChiTown Meta member and nice guy, you are going to start wrecking us and we'll be so proud! lol

Shives - If ever there was a Doran in this community it is you, always looking long term, plotting your plots and whipping us mercilesly when we deserve it most! Always a pleasure to get together. Now that we've gotten rid of the gawkers, maybe we can play some games in peace.

Luke - Despite having no voice you still managed to talk all day. Talk about dedication to being a friend to everyone!

Jesse - Shame on you for not being out of control, we expect more from you! Next time we're getting OUT OF CONTROL!

Sworn Brothers - Charlie and Wrecking Ball, you guys rule. 'Ball, I want another hug!!

Staton and Posse - Nice to have some young blood in the community (even the qwacking ones).

Thanks again to everyone for an awesome day and reminding me why I keep playing this game.

Sheik

Ktoms event was a blast! Everything went off without a hitch. There was enough food, a good breeze, and alot of people I hadn't seen in a long time to make everything worth while.

I want to thank ktom for holding the event at the expense of his house. Keven and Adam aka Sheik aka End boss grilled alot of tasty food.

I want to thank everybody who made the long drives to be there for the event. Shives, Luke, AY, and Jesse.

I'm not going to type up a tourny report. I will just say that my deck did especially well and I didn't lose a single match except to ktom and his equally aggressive and scary. My deck and ktoms deck played two games and my deck lost both of them. We came to the conclusion that it was because he had card draw and I did not.

I'm hoping there will be another event before I have to go off to school. I will sit here and hope that this event will take place at ktoms again, or Iowa. I will also hold out for Madison but from what I heard from complord that is unlikely.

I will be visiting staton next week and give him yet another chance to beat my deck. ~if only he had men with no king!

I'll give you another hug sheik, just give me some more of your meat on a stick!

Wrecking Ball said:

<insert = obligatory> "That's what she said." </insert>

(~Before the moderators get involved, Sheik brought kebabs to the cookout.)

When are you heading to school? No reason we couldn't have another "session" in June or July.

I will be leaving august 16th I believe. So it gives us plenty of time

Yeah, def thanks to ktom for hosting the event. I strangely felt less cramped than when I was AJ's. There was plenty of room! and plenty of food! All in all, the best event I've been to since the last ChiCon!

Lots of love to the Chicago Meta. I haven't met a nicer group of guys outside of Iowa. Plus, I really don't think that we would be playing, or even thinking about big events like this if it wasn't for Ktom. He's done ALOT to help in the transition between CCG and LCG. I think we will start seeing alot more of these in the future. ~I'm still waiting to see an Iowa Event with the mythical Nate Harman.

Thanks to everyone who showed up, including a guest appearance by AY! Thanks to the Shiek for reminding me that my deck really is a pile of jank.

Andrew, I'm totally going to pwn your deck on tuesday!

Staton said:

This is so true. I really doubt I would be back in the game if it wasn't for ktom, and I do have to add Lukes name in there as well. Ktom and Luke both have kept me updated on what is going on with the game and the community!

And Staton, you may hate playing my deck but its partly your fault its good. I polished it up by playing against you, John, and ktom!

Wrecking Ball said:

~ Well, 2 out of 3 anyway. ;-)