So every once in a while, usually while driving long distances, the idea of putting together a list like this comes together and I need to scratch the itch to put it out there!
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Top 8 Ricotravels things, when not playing magic:
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Top 8 Ricotravels things, when not playing magic:
1) “Oooh, a new variation on a deck I’m
dying to play…MUST get these cards to remain on top of the meta”
No matter how many times I tell myself this
isn’t going to happen, I end up spending far more money on cards in the big
gaps when I don’t get to play any games in paper than when I’m actively
playing. Chasing the dragon….
2) “If I had more time, I wonder how far I
could push my MTG playing ability”
I think about this a lot, I see competitive
players repeating great performances at tournaments and often wonder if I have
the mental focus and endurance to process everything that goes on in a high
level match for hours on end. I come from a background of competitive sports
and a profession that requires relentless mental precision at times.
3) “I wish I could be tutored in playing
high level MTG”
This is something I wish I could do, even
if it’s just to gain a better appreciation of what goes through the mindset of
players better than me. You don’t get better without tangible feedback, and
there’s a reason super-teams practice together.
4) “Hearthstone is so much more convenient
to pick up and get matches in, I want to hit legend”
This really is just an extension of 2, with
a pinch of 1. I genuinely believe the games I’ve logged playing HS have given
me an insight into value plays, tempo, playing around certain cards, that have
sharpened my understanding of MTG. HS often comes across as the “harmless”
(read, free and less time intensive) alternative to MTG when I’m frustrated I
can’t get out to play at FNM or events. Legend seems like something that seems
out of reach, only as a matter of time…and maybe specific card resources. (I do
appreciate that there’s more to it than that!)
5) “I’ve always wanted this card, it would
fit PERFECTLY in my [never really sees play] EDH deck”
This mind-itch is the bain of my wallet’s existence.
No, this card isn’t going to change my EDH deck drastically. Yes, my “EDH deck”
(collection of expensive and individually awesome cards that don’t see the
light of day) is a money pit.
6) “Think of all the things I could do with
the cash if I sold out of my currently spiking cards”
This is logic battle I have with myself all
the time. I never buy more than 4 of a card, because on principle, I want to
only ever buy cards with the intention of playing them. I wrote an article
earlier about the absurdities of card prices in modern spiking as they do. I
completely get the logic behind selling high and buying low. I also appreciate
that what I do by not selling my spiking cards could amount to micro-hoarding
(buying and then the cards never seeing play). As a rule, I don’t generally
sell cards, I don’t want to lose the internal reward for buying cheap, by
having to pay top dollar later to play with said cards. We all have different
definitions of value, this is one of mine. That said…blood moons are worth how
much these days?!
7) “I wish I was more involved in my HMSVU
community, I personally feel very invested in it, wish I could do more”
Every single time I listen to the cast, I wish
there was more I could do to become more involved. As an original fan of a
cast, I do feel like work and life has pushed me a bit further away from the
SVU recently that I’d like to be. Aside from actively tweeting and chatting
with SVU members and the cast, I do feel a bit like I’m looking on from the outside
these days. One day I’d really like to make it to a bigger event, with no time
restrictions and just plain hang out.
8) “I would NEVER spend that much on a
card” (see 1 and 5)
