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Mofox's Journey

Mofox’s journey from Newbie to the
UK National Tournament - Part 5
March 6, 2006

Christmas of 2005 brought with it a whole new selection of cards for my collection.  Master Collection 2 and a Rocket Warrior Collectors Tin plus some more boosters greatly increased my collection and added some powerful cards like Breaker the Magical Warrior.  As my collection grew I was able to make better and better decks.  However I was using something else to make my best decks.

Apprentice was a software package that I had downloaded via the Pojo site in September 2005.  I never really used it at first and didn’t really realise its potential.  It was only while I was looking up certain cards that I realised what it could potentially be used for.  I was using Apprentice to find card effects, searching via the deck editor. I could find out what different card’s effects were and search for cards that I wanted to add to my real-life collection.  It was at this time that I started to create decks using the program.  It turned out to be a great way to increase my ability at deck building.  By using this package I had access to an unlimited card pool containing every single card in the game.  I had gotten access to a super virtual card pool, and I was no longer constrained by my limited real life collection on what decks I could make.  I started to go wild making deck after deck after deck.  Posting the odd one on Pojo that I thought would be interesting but mainly keeping them to myself.

It was at the beginning of 2006 that something clicked.  I was lurking a lot on the Duel Request Lounge watching people ask for duels via YVD (another duelling software package that is very very good) and also via messenger packages like MSN, Yahoo and AOL.  However it was an article I had read about online duelling that gave me the idea that I currently use today.  The article was talking about the many methods of duelling online including messenger programs.  One negative about using messenger programs was that people could be cheating and manipulating their cards while playing.  I had a vision of the cheating player picking up his deck flicking through his cards to find the right one at that time and wow drawing it next turn.  The thing that was bothering me was that I would probably be duelling while in work.  The problem with this is that I couldn’t really bring my deck into work and spread it across my desk while I duelled like I had seen in my vision of the cheating player.  I needed something else.  This is where I linked the Apprentice program with Messenger programs.  I could initiate a solitaire game on Apprentice and use that as my deck while I duelled online.  No need to have cards all over my desk.  I felt like I had cracked my problem.  In my excitement I decided to go search for someone to duel.  I didn’t want just anybody though I wanted someone who would guide me through the game.  Someone who could teach me those advanced techniques that you can’t learn from reading the rulebook.  I needed a Mr Myagi style Yu-Gi-Oh! Sensei.

I went onto the Duel Request Lounge and posted this message:

Hi,

I'm looking to break my duelling virginity. I have YVD, Apprentice, AIM and MSN but have no experience in duelling with any of these methods. The person duelling me would need to have some patience and also time to show me how to play.

I understand about deck building and have constructed a deck using the current advanced format banned/restricted list Oct 2005. I have read the rules and understand them so I do understand how a duel works (in theory at least).

If anyone out there is interested in introducing somebody to the game then please PM me with a convenient time to have a duel and let me know which method you prefer.

I live in the UK so obviously time differences will come into the equation. I can duel online during the following times:

Monday-Friday 12pm-1pm and 4pm-5pm GMT (6am-7am and 10am-11am Central US time)
Sunday 4pm-8pm GMT (10am-2pm Central US time)

Anyone out there want to help me?

I got my first reply within two hours.  The thread ended up dying away after about 4-5 days with about 5 replies offering to help.  The responses where all positive, one was a bit tongue in cheek but it wasn’t nasty in any way.

I started chatting to one of the people who replied the next day on MSN and he was a really nice guy with an enthusiasm for the game that I really liked.  He decided to take me under his wing.  Things were looking up and looked like soon I would eventually have my very first duel.

To those newbies who want to use the Duel Request Lounge, it is a great way to find someone to duel.  Here are some of my tips to make sure you find the right person to duel:

• Explain who you are and give a brief description of your duelling ability, it helps to attract the right kind of duellist.

• List the methods by which you can duel.  Any instant messengers you use or if you have Apprentice or YVD.  Remember AOL, MSN and Yahoo instant messengers are all free to sign up to so it might be worthwhile getting them to open up your options.

• Say whether you are playing Traditional or Advanced.

• List the times you are most likely available and like I did describe them in relevant time zones.

• Don’t just list all your messenger addresses straight away, just for privacy reasons, if someone replies then arrange through private messages.  It will stop those sometimes immature people who will add you to their contacts and then abuse you for no reason.

If you don’t get any replies straight away don’t panic, read the rules in the section and adhere to the time limits for bumping your thread.  I hope you get to meet some people who will help you get into the game.  Next article will be about my very first duel!!

My email address is mofox9@hotmail.co.uk email me for any help or advice or even your opinions on my articles.  I would love to hear your opinions and if you have any suggestions to improve them then let me know.  I will reply to all emails that are sent to me.  Remember newbies no questions are stupid questions.

Until next time fellow duellists!