The Pro Circuit has yet to begin, but already there has been a revelation that created ripples of excitement across the room. For the last few months, players have been speculating about what was to happen with regards to Pro Circuit New Orleans, as well as potential new venues following the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. Organized Play Manager Scott Elliot provided the answers to these important questions in his opening speech.
Scott rocks the microphone in his own inimitable way at each and every Pro Circuit, but the players found themselves rocked just that little bit harder upon his announcement that the Pro Circuit to follow PC Atlanta in March will be Pro Circuit San Francisco in June. As someone who is currently considering becoming an illegal immigrant simply due to the beautiful weather that California gets in November, I personally was plenty excited, and some whoops from the assembled crowd seemed to suggest that the venue was a popular choice.
Elliot was slowrolling the big news, though. The format for the Constructed portion of Pro Circuit San Francisco will be Silver Age Constructed. What is Silver Age? Some might suggest that it is like a slightly less gaudy version of Golden Age that looks a little classier when worn with a classic suit. These people actually wouldn't be far from the truth. Keeper Of The Secret Silver Age Information Mr. Justin Gary is the UDE staffer on site who Scott generously decreed to be the person to ask about the new format. As a daring reporter with quick reflexes, I was able to pin him down before he scurried away from the throng of players who were keen to get the new info.
Silver Age is a Constructed format spanning both Marvel and DC, but only the most recent eight sets. At the point it debuts in San Francisco, with the Infinite Crisis set being legal, this will be every set in Vs. System but the two Origins sets. As each new set becomes tournament legal, one will rotate out of Silver Age. This now brings the total number of formats for the Pro Circuit to four: Golden Age, Silver Age, Marvel Modern, and DC Modern. Conveniently enough, there are four Pro Circuits per year. These clever people at UDE. It's almost as if they planned it.