In this article I'd like to cover a few topics. 

1)I'd like to address Beth about knocking beginners

around and how that can be counter productive to the

growth of the game.

2) The current online meta game; and the over abuse of

creature decks.

3)Why Neville Longbottom sucks despite the article on

how good he is!

4) The state of HP and if there is anything we can

really do.

So first, Beth: while bringing out a nuclear weapon (a

really strong deck) against a beginners deck(maybe a

rock), can cause the new player to have a terrible

association with the game- think about this:

In Magic the Gathering new players continue to pursue

the game even though when they play a really good

player they are obliterated. Why? Because like any

decent strategy game- playing just for fun eventually

wears off, and the fun comes in learning and growing

with the game. It is true that beginners should have a

fun introduction to the game. But I also know many

beginners who love seeing crazy decks like the PCD

deck because it gives them something to strive to

beat. Or something they want to put together. At the

same time, even if new players were entering- there is

NOWHERE to play. Let me pose this to people. How far

would you have to drive to go to a TOURNAMENT? I'm not

talking about merely league play. Why a tournament?

Because that generates a need to actually buy the

good cards. And if people need certain cards the

values of sets go up and the interest in BUYING. If

wizards sees people buying their product- well then

the endorsement would follow. Without tournaments

though: why should one buy a card? You can simply play

online. Even in league is there a real drive to create

the equivalent of a high tide deck? No, you get

nothing if you win or lose. Yes, it's fun. But would I

pay that much money to have that kind of fun when I

could play chess for fun for free? I might as well

bring a garbage deck and not buy new cards. See

collectors just want a full set which doesn’t REALLY

increase the long-term value of the cards like how

magic cards increase or decrease based on playability.

The cards value is directly linked to tournament play.

We have to get WOTC to offer tournaments. If we lobby

or consistently take their time up - eventually we

will have an impact. But who honestly is investing

their time for that?

Now, one thing I noticed online, is that everyone is

playing creature decks. You know who you are. Yes, I'm

aware of the exceptions and I thank you for making the

game more interesting. If any of you have played me,

you'll know I veer from the typical decks and I have

quite a strange variety. Crusader even got to play

against my tourney deck today without knowing

it---(the one with giant squid :-). But I want to look

at why people are playing creature decks.

Creature decks have 3 things going for them.

1) Even if you don’t draw certain cards, you still have

tons of damage dealing entities: which means paths to

victory.

2)Very few lessons are needed for some powerful

creatures..(cough, cough, black bat).

3)Not as effective anti-creature cards vs. anti-spell

cards.

And if the defensive player doesn’t draw his or her

creature removal- then she or he is looking at a bleak

future.

However- my tournament deck is a defensive deck. And

it's record is 38-0. So think about that. Also if you

notice the unusual amount of creature decks like I do-

it's time to start meta gaming against them. Recently

I've been working on a wooden flute anti-creature

deck. I suggest other people start realizing that so

many decks are over played. The other over played deck

I see is the quid/ charm discard deck. If your deck

can handle both creature variants and quid charm you

have a good shot at going on a plus 8 or more streak.

But adding to my decks to beat I thought I might

include a cruddy version of the discard quid/charm

deck-

4 titillando

1 madam rolanda hooch

4 out of control

4 wand shop

4 letters from no one

4 ouch

4 bewtiched snowballs

4 stream of flames

4 purple firecrackers

3 borrowed wand

23 charms

1 Comet 2-60

1 nimbus 2000

Now also I'm aware of an article of some player who

claims that neville longbottom decks are UNBEATABLE.

Hardly possible.

First off neville longbottoms ability is to lower

damage to 8 a turn max. Ok lets even assume you have a

hospital dorm in play so 4 damage is the most that can

get through. Most of my decks don't even rely on more

then5 damage a turn so much as disrupting my opponents

strategy. IF two players are having a damage race

then- yes- neville can be good. But honestly I think

you need to try better decks to beat that neville

deck. Discard their hand with the deck above- will

they be able to play their healing spells then or even

retrieve them. Kill their lessons- will they be able to

play anything then. I mean come on. If all you’re going

for is mass damage against any good deck your going to

loose. Neville slows down a players start, and late

game only slows mass damage decks. That's not a lot of

decks- well maybe it is because the current meta game

is creature filled.  If you play Neville as a back up

character it is 2 actions ridiculous when you could be

dealing damage or setting up for ways to completely

lock your opponent down.

With that I'm going to leave it to you to respond. But

like I said before if you guys would like a decks to

beat section I'd love to get one up and running.

Voice your opinions!

-Seth Gimlan