Dark Maltos

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Dark Maltos's Dueling Dome
Golden Age of Dueling
December 28, 2006

I’m on a roll with articles this week aren’t I? Lets keep the momentum going before I run out of ideas.

My last couple of articles have been met with a positive response considering the short space of time that they’ve been up, and it warms me up all inside. I’ve also already had a few

“Yeah, love what your saying. Believe it too. Love originality n’ all that, mad about it, can’t get enough. Anyway, can you rate n’ fix my CCCCC deck since it aint cutting cookies as well as it used to, I’ve tried everything. Copying the SJC winner , copying the winner of my local, and even copying the restricted list, but nothing’s worked, im just crap at copying…., thanks in advance”

I hate when they say thanks in advance, it’s like a cunning ploy that makes you look like a tosser if you don’t reply. It’s presumptuous if anything. Anyway, I bumped those guys off right way.

My other replies were far more intriguing. I got a few flames, I got a few applauses but I thought it was great. I love responses where people take the time to listen and think about what I say, and aren’t after a quick deck fix or a chance for the deck to be put up on the site forever.

I’m never doing that again, once you start you’ll never stop. It’s like a downward spiral where eventually that’s all you ever do as you get a reputation for it. Still, it’s a nice way to get replies.

Just to clear things up for those that it may concern, im not Emo, I’m not angry , and I’m not depressed or arrogant. Im just British. Lol.

Anyway, the GOLDEN Age of Dueling. That’s a bit of a push isn’t it? Well no, not really.

Ever since the last ban list the game has without a shadow of a doubt made leaps and bounds out of the rut it got stuck in after the Regressive format, things aren’t exactly perfect, but I think they’re as good as they’ll ever be.

With every format previously there has been public outcries about the complete state that the meta is in. We’ve had it with Chaos Sorcerer, Return from the Different Dimension , DD Assailant and at one point even Scapegoat. The thing is, as a culture, we like to moan. That’s not just a generalisation either, the whole of the Western world just loves to moan. (Ok, maybe it’s a HUGE generalisation, but you know what I mean.) When it’s not about the neighbours it’s about the neighbour’s neighbours, and when it’s not about them its about their cat. Basically we in the western world, instead of getting on with things, tend to focus our negativity on one thing that really just gets under our skin. When we’re finally pushed to removing that focal point we have to find another to direct our rage to. We’ve all witnessed this firsthand every format with the advent of cards that were previously so regular. I’d say the Cyber Stein is the latest victim of this.

Besides that guy, this format has been pretty quiet in terms of the whining we’re all accustomed to mid format. Unbelievably we’re STILL lucking for that perfect CC deck 3 months in. That’s unprecedented in the entire game’s history. Its never took us this long before. That’s a good thing, actually it’s a great thing.

Monarchs ! You all cry. They’re pretty well used. Yeah, but all those running monarchs are just being a bit lazy if they want that to be their CC deck. Monarchs are pretty cool , they’re fairly decent, but they’re not over powered now are they? No on really minds facing Monarchs anymore. They aren’t exactly un-defeat able.

The only people who moan about Monarchs ruining the game these days are the little s##t -stirrers that got us all riled up last format, essentially the people that aren’t very good. I mean sure, they had a good point back then, and the format before, but now….not so much. Monarchs can be a bitch, but only on occasion are they the main reason for your defeat.

Asides from Monarchs , there hasn’t really been anything else ”dominant” this format. A lot of cool things have popped up, which is fantastic and the meta is more diverse than it’s been in a LONG time. This is why we’re in the “Golden” Age of dueling. Things are balanced, essentially the CC and originality tribes are at peace now, and we can play what we want to with a fair amount of success.

One of the best ever quotes on Smashing Ground I found was a while ago. Someone said something like

“ Lose the smashing ground, it’s a bit simple, swap it for an enemy controller”

Or something to that effect. I smiled and thought to myself “They’re learning “ . It had nothing to do with me most likely, and quite a few people probably completely dismissed that statement anyway, but I was happy because it was a small personal victory. People were thinking now , and that’s when I k new we were on the road to recovery.

This change has been brought about by one card in particular - Ring of Destruction. If this card gets banned next format I’ll cry. Ring has defined this meta and fixed it from its otherwise irreparable ways. For whatever reason, it has sped up the momentum of the game, re designed how certain cards are viewed and has all in all brought that balance back to this unstable game of ours. It’s powerful indeed in contrast to the other cards we used these days, and some may think I’m talking out of my backside but I’ve been saying all along that we need powerful cards to bring balance to the game. Ring is the perfect example of this. It’s keeps cards in line that would otherwise be over used, as well as opening a window of opportunity for other cards to make an appearance again. It’s gorgeous, just gorgeous. Right now, playing this game is just fantastic.

I just thought I’d tell you all this to give you something to think about, as it’s all set to change within the coming months. The 2nd Regressive format is knocking at our door and we’ve got no choice to answer it because the prize we get for opening it is just too good to resist , even if it means taking a GIANT step back.

The Gadgets will bring about the end of the peace for us as they will bring back everything of the Regressive format that was locked away. The trap heavy 1~4~1’s, Smashing Ground Frenzy’s, and a general feeling of being overwhelmed except more so than when it was just the normal regressive format. The 2nd one will be all the more terrible as we’ll have the presence of the Gadgets breathing down our decks. We’ll just de-volve. I can’t really say anything else, just give you fair warning, it’s happening, and it’s coming whether we like it or not, I just thought I’d make you realise. It’s going to be like WW2 except less romantic.

Have a good one guys, there may be few good one’s left after this. I’m not miserable about that though, I relish a challenge.

Toddyhole@aol.com