Currently, it is after midnight and I am waiting on my teammate John Hall to get online to do some testing for the upcoming Golden Age Pro Circuit. As I was sitting here earlier I wondered: How many people test online? What are the benefits? What are the detriments? What other methods of testing are there? Is there one preferred method over another? That is what I am going to talk about today. We have gone over gauntlets, what to test, when to test, and everything in between, but we have never talked about the how. Hopefully today, you will see all the different methods there are for preparing for a premier level event.
I Need Your Help!
We are currently about two months away from the PC and I could really use your help. As you may or may not know, I am a member of Team Alternate Win Condition. One of the things that we pride ourselves on is having fun while trying to be competitive. Keeping in that vein, we developed a team shirt for Pro Circuit San Francisco. The shirt contained a Photoshopped Aqualad with Tim Batow’s head on it, as well as several other funny aspects. We are currently trying to design a new shirt for Pro Circuit Los Angeles. Unfortunately, we are stumped about what it should be, or what it should say (beyond TAWC, of course). I would love for all of you to send in your suggestions at piercedlawyer@yahoo.com. But there are some stipulations:
- No vulgarity
- No obscene words or gestures
- Must have “TAWC” or “Team Alternate Win Condition” somewhere on the shirt
Other than those stipulations, feel free to suggest whatever you like. Anything that is funny or a double entendre (I included that for Michael Barnes, since I am a noob and would only have understood “play on words”) is entirely appropriate and encouraged. We want our shirts to reflect our personality—being competitive, but maintaining a fun and friendly atmosphere while doing it. I look forward to seeing what you may have to suggest and will post the best in a future article!
What is Testing?
Often in my articles, as well as those of many others, you will see references to testing. The interesting thing is that I don’t think I have ever given a definition of testing. I assumed that most people knew what it meant, but truth be told, in my eyes, testing encompasses much more than just running one deck against another. Don’t get me wrong, that is a very big part of testing, but testing also refers to talking strategy, developing concepts, and even preparing psychologically for big events. There are different ways to go about this testing, and with the advent of the internet, it’s now more possible than ever to maintain a close-knit testing group over long distances. What follows is a breakdown of the pros and cons of the various testing options at a potential pro player’s disposal.
Online Testing
This is likely the most common type of testing for pro players. FTN, TDC, and even my team, TAWC, all employ online testing in one manner or another. FTN has members located across the country, TDC is trying to be the first team to employ a member in every state, and my team is split between Oklahoma and Florida. So, how do arguably three of the best professional teams in this game stay on the same page? They rely heavily on online resources.
Team Forums
I am unsure if every team uses a team forum, but I know for certain that TAWC and TDC do. I remember talking with Jason Hager on Day 2 of Pro Circuit San Francisco. He remarked to me he had a thirty-page document in his bag entitled, “Make Hager a Day 3 Man.” This made me laugh, as I consider him one of the best players in the game. Apparently, though, the magic of the document paid off—Jason indeed made Day 3, and sporting a TAWC t-shirt, no less.
Team forums can help you accomplish a lot. Most individuals who play this great game have jobs, significant others, and many responsibilities beyond having fun with super heroes. The team forums allow a player to post ideas and actually have a log of thought processes. I’d love to look at FTN’s or TDC’s forums and see how they developed decks like Ivy League or Mexican Hardware Store. My team’s forums are decidedly more boring, with Tim saying, “I’ve got an idea,” and the rest of the team going, “Tim, you are a genius.” When he called me a noob, I started to question his knowledge—at which point John Hall quickly reminded me that last time I didn’t listen to Tim, I missed Day 2.* I quickly fell back into line.
Also, having team forums means that you can communicate an idea while it is fresh in your mind. I am for certain a night owl, and being able to write down an idea and post it up to my teammates is a great idea. Gone are the Jerry Seinfeld days where you wake up at night, scribble down a joke, and have the maid throw away your notes.** Now, you can just fire up that computer, log in, and type away.
Lastly, team forums are important for discussing strategy and comparing results. It’s no surprise that on various Vs. System websites, you see groups of players come together, test, and share results with each other. The ability to maintain team members at different places in the country is a very valuable asset, because each local environment has something different to offer. The metagame and caliber of players is completely different in any given location. Not better or worse but different, and as such, Draft strategies and the like can be very helpful when trying to determine what will or won’t work at a Pro Circuit.
Draft Programs and Play Programs
You, as a player, need to: 1) Be able to get in testing time, even if it is online; and 2) Be able to confirm that your teammates/friends are on the same page with regard to how a deck plays. I know that may seem miniscule in the bigger picture, but some of the most innovative deck ideas had their birth in an online game.
I remember vividly back in the beginning of May when Jason Hager (Yes, I dropped his name twice; now he really owes me!) asked me if I wanted to test Silver Age. I said sure, and I was treated to what has since been confirmed as the birth of the Ivy League deck. It was in those five or six matches that Jason was able to determine if the deck was viable and what blatantly obvious changes could be addressed as they furthered the testing process.
Also, a big benefit of testing online is that the caliber of players available is generally greater than that of your local shop. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t good players at your shop, but if you can get someone like Jason, Vidi Wijaya, Michael Barnes, or any of the other analytical players to give you a pick-up game, you will definitely see the level of your game improve. We only get better if we continue to challenge ourselves, right?
Real Life Testing
Even with my gushing over online testing, the old-fashioned way is still the best. It gives you the feel for what it will be like at a Pro Circuit. You aren’t clicking buttons and ruing the awful draws a random computer program may have given you. By playing in real life, you gather important information on how the deck draws and can accurately predict whether time will be an issue for a deck. I imagine that was a real concern as the Ivy League deck was being developed.
Also, playing in real life is more practical. As I said, the Pro Circuit is not clicking on a computer, and while you may be error-free online, making those same decisions in a real game isn’t always that easy. Online there’s the comfort of being at home, sitting with your favorite drink, watching Smallville, Supernatural, or one of your own personal favorite shows. When playing at a local shop, you get a feel of what it would be like at a real Pro Circuit. You have individuals playing next to you, and you get to hear their reactions to their own games. It’s interesting to note that those instances can be very distracting at a Pro Circuit. I am talking about those times when two opponents get into a heated dispute over a rules question. These instances can throw you off your game. Invariably, you will find yourself listening, if not for curiosity, then in order to protect yourself from making a similar play that results in anger and frustration. These are the instances to which you need to acclimate yourself. I personally believe that if you can somehow play “in a bubble,” you are far better off. It allows you to be focused and appear as if you have a game plan from which nothing can throw you. In order to do this, you need to play around other players so that you can make sure you don’t get distracted easily.
Online Articles
This is the point at which I tell you that it’s beneficial to read articles detailing strategy and conceptual ideas online. In other words, read my articles! But seriously, there is a lot that can be gleamed from online articles that you may miss if you don’t spend time reading and analyzing what people have to say. When you start looking for articles to help you with your testing, I would recommend keeping in mind the audience that the author is trying to reach. For example, I don’t think I am telling members of FTN or TDC stuff they don’t know, but I have it on good authority they read my article for the color commentary! Instead, my articles are aimed at those individuals who are aspiring to get to the Pro Circuit and eventually become a competitive force there. If that happens to fit your needs and it’s what you want out of this great game, then I encourage you to read articles by both myself and other authors who tackle a similar subject. If not, I bear you no hard feelings, but invite you to stick around and watch me pick fun at many of the recognizable pros on the Pro Circuit!
Psychologically Prepared?
I mentioned earlier that in addition to being prepared with strategy, concepts, and deck testing, it is good to be psychologically prepared. What I mean by this is that you, as a player, need to be prepared for a 0-5 or a 5-0 day. There is no real way to “test” for this, but being able to keep your cool when you hit a losing streak or maintain your composure when you are notching up those wins is unbelievably important. My advice here is to attend PCQs and $10K events when available. These events keep you sharp, help you apply all the skills you learn as you playtest for the Pro Circuit, and give you that taste of pressure to perform. It is my hope that I can make the Columbus $10K to see how I have been doing with my own testing. Hopefully, I will see many of you there.
In the End
When all is said and done, you must determine which testing methods best fit your personality and needs. I hope that the analysis I provided will help you make those decisions and will, in return, positively impact your testing experience. Be sure to let me know at the next big event if it did, because when you beat me, I can at least say, “That’s my boy (or girl)!” Until next time, take care!
* This is in reference to my decision to go against my team and play a deck that I had not tested nearly as much.
** Ten points if you know which Seinfeld reference I am making!
Shane Wiggans, one of the nicest guys with a tattoo sleeve, has found (in addition to many other things) that Michael Barnes owes him an apology for calling him a “noob.” He is also a member of Team Alternate Win Condition. If you have any questions or comments for him, feel free to say hey at any event or email him at piercedlawyer@yahoo.com.