One of the problems many of us face is looking beyond the immediate and seeing consequences.  Living in a country driven upon a fuel economy one may simply ignore soaring gas prices and let such trends continue.  But if for one day everyone in America refused to drive, I predict a drop in fuel prices would follow.  But then again we must ask ourselves if high gas prices is really a bad thing.  Many of you may be outraged by such a STUPID question, annoyed by the mentioned, or simply irritated.  If anyone agrees with such a statement you are "OBVIOUSLY DUMB"!  But I am forced here to ponder if such a remark should bring turmoil and if agreeing is dumb.  High gas prices results in individuals driving less, wasting fewer resources, and consequently aiding in some form of control for whatever degree global warming has taken.  I question if this high tax on gas is simply the beginning of pollution taxation?  No matter were we stand on this issue or how much time we give of it, the fact of the matter is that 20 cent difference in a gallon of gas can and does dictate the way we view the world and how we participate in it.  Much as in yu-gi-oh the possibility to draw two cards at the cost of a D-Hero has lead players to actually take D/E Hero's to the top tables despite all the turmoil about how bad they are.  All it takes to change the outcome of an event is one second, one card, and some momentum. 

 

I can't help but sit back and wonder were the metagame is going.  The current cookie cutter has become a deformed monarch deck, utilizing Destiny Draw for a plus one off of a Malicious effect.  Malicious then it's tributed either for Metamorphosis or a Monarch that puts the player up more cards of advantage.  Despite this decks proven success, it is competing almost as proficiently against  Theerasak Poonsombat (one of the greatest Yu-Gi-Oh players of all time) brilliantly deciphered metagame altering walking OTK.  Upon his first Shonen Jump top 8 with his brilliant deck he obtained a Crush Card Virus.  Then a short few weeks later he makes top 16 with the same deck, altered with a Crush Card Virus. 

 

Theerasak Poonsombat

 

Monsters

 

3 Card Trooper

3 Destiny Hero — Malicious

3 Cyber Dragon

1 Sangan

1 Destiny Hero — Disk Commander

1 Destiny Hero — Fear Monger

1 Jinzo

2 Destiny Hero — Dasher

1 Dark Magician of Chaos

2 Snipe Hunter

1 Elemental Hero Stratos

 

Spells

 

2 Brain Control

3 Destiny Draw

1 Giant Trunade

2 Metamorphosis

1 Mystical Space Typhoon

1 Scapegoat

1 Limiter Removal

1 Heavy Storm

1 Reinforcement of the Army

1 Premature Burial

1 Pot of Avarice

1 Snatch Steal

 

Traps

 

1 Ring of Destruction

1 Torrential Tribute

1 Call of the Haunted

1 Crush Card Virus

1 Mirror Force

 

Side Deck

 

2 Royal Decree

2 Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell

2 Threatening Roar

1 Confiscation

1 Nobleman of Crossout

1 Smashing Ground

2 D.D. Designator

2 Twister

1 Morphing Jar

1 Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomo

 

 

Two consecutive top place showings has lead to multiple net-decking incidences and a new two time shonen jump champ.  The way of the metagame is once again in the hands of the fortunate.  Looking over this deck (and Shane Scurry's slightly altered version piloted to a win) we are playing triples of almost every playable Duelist pack Ultra Rare along with a Shonen Jump Championship prize card.  As expected, those who have won high rankings in the past Jumps have spread the love around and given their prize cards off to other teammates or simply sold them off for 1500 or so dollars.  Thus we have repeat, three peat, etc. champs who continue to place themselves and their teammates into the winning circle.  

 

Yu-Gi-Oh has become a high stakes breeders game.  Win one jump and almost secure another for doing so.  Win one jump and be able to fly to all the others and win again.  It really does not matter who wins a jump if most of the top finishing finalist all play for a successful team like Overdose, because one win almost guarantees the teams future success.  To walk away from an event with three prize cards should be wrong.  We can not bad mouth the successful or rub their victories off on luck.  The guys who win know how to play.  We have to figure a way to play against the metagame.  If the top 8 is any indication of what will be played, we know monarch and D-Hero will.  I ask the general public how we are suppose to compete with this a nationals?  Upon looking over the top 8 decks from the UK nationals we see a huge diversity of high ranking decks.  Monarch variations out numbering well crafted burn, beatdown, and earth aggro variants.  I find it interesting a gadget deck utilizing triple Royal Decree placed second in the event.  But how do we compete in an event full of Crush Card Virus?  Do we run the triple Pulling the Rug, Magic Jammer, Banisher of the Radiance, highly aggressive beat the opponents face in for playing D-Hero's deck?  Let us not forget, Demise OTK is still a threat.  Thus we can adequately prepare for all the expensive decks and lose to a cheap mans OTK.  This nationals even is shaping up to be full of high octane thrills, weird tech, and a lot of disappointment.  I'd love nothing more than placing in the top 4.  But the odds of this happening are already stacked against me and other successful duelist.  What do we do?  Even if we play like masters, we lose to one of the 10000 monarch decks lucky top-decking or string of multiple effects.  If we play monarch do we run 17 tribute's to make up for the lack of being able to capitalize on advantage?  Then we risk horrible opening draws and falling down at the hands of three limited Card Troopers and double Destiny Draw?  I am asking you, what is the way to go to win nationals?  How do I or anyone not fortunate enough to have all the money in the world play and expect to make a decent showing?  Is this ever growing trend of separating the rich and poor good or bad?  Do we nod our heads in agreement and simply accept the soring price to participate or do we refuse to acknowledge the restriction of power cards.  If two classes continue to be formed, how long will the elites reign until the lowly peasant rises only to start the circle over again?  This current metagame is make it or break it, and BLS, CED, etc. did far less to hurting originality than 1500 dollar prize cards.  Maybe a restriction on the use of prize cards is in order.  Maybe I'm just dumb and don't see the alternative view.  In either case, national competitors from around the nation need some help.

 

As always, I can be contacted at Tebezu@gmail.com if you need help, advice, want to trade Gem beast/Destiny Draw/Card Trooper/etc.

 

Forest Thomer

p.s. - I am interested in receiving emails from anyone who has programming skills associated with communication distribution/video gaming. I need techies who know anything about Linux Mac Windows grid, people who, could help make some contribution in the advancement of video gaming.

p.p.s. - I am also interested in hearing opinions from the sites viewers about complains of current video gaming experiences and what their opinion on the perfect game is.