Blog 22: Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your Block Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

I am most proud of the confidence and fluidity in which I presented myself throughout my Block Presentation. The reason why is because I was usually not able to speak on my Project Topic without confusing people. However, I was able to execute such actions today.

(2) Questions to Consider

a. What assessment would you give yourself on your Block Presentation (self-assessment)?

I would give myself a P.

b. What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

I would give myself a P.

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

I was able to enjoy my senior project throughout and stay passionate about what I love. I never got discourage over the tedious work I needed to complete this senior year.

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would have you done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?

I would schedule more time to get to Pro Tour Qualifiers, other than that... everything this year was perfect.

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.

The Senior Project has been helpful in the sense that I know how to play Magic in a competitive sphere more successfully. The other beneficial aspects that were produced through my Senior Project Topic include an enhanced perspective of how to execute tasks successfully. As well as confidence in being able to complete long-term goals without getting discourage halfway through. Being able to do multiple things well instead of sacrificing the quality of one task to complete the other is no longer an issue. If anything, my Senior Project Topic has taught me how to have fun even when doing crucial and precise work. For example, setting a rubric for myself(similar to that of the rubrics used throughout this year) and managing my time better to complete tasks has brought back the positive side of something that could’ve been equally stressful. Last minute work versus scheduled out and planned progress.

Blog Post 21: Mentorship

Literal

Log provided
Mentor: Amit Patel, JS Anime

Interpretive

Information about the metagame,  the reason why it's important is because it influenced my best answer. The sideboard is the key to dealing with your metagame woes.

Applied

It's given me an overall better sense of what competitive Magic the Gathering really is. I came into this year having such a general sense of the term. However I have become enveloped by the  intricate and detailed methods in which one becomes a profession at the game. Therefore giving me a broader sense of my EQ.

Blog Post 20: Exit Interview

1) My essential question is: What is the best way to win a Magic: the Gathering Pro Tour?
My first answer is using the options available and bending that knowledge to your advantage.
My second answer is that your sideboard is the most important asset in winning a Magic the Gathering Pro Tour.

My third and final answer is that the best way to win a MtG Pro Tour is finding your playstyle.
My Best Answer is answer two  because it drastically increases your chances of winning in multiple matches by removing dead cards from your hand and replacing them with more effective ones depending on the matchup.

2) The process that i took to arrive at this answer involved several hours of playtesting different deck compositions online and determining which cards work best. I soon noticed that when playing against  meta decks, some cards in my main deck hadn’t any purpose. I often lost because of the dead cards in my hand. Which got me thinking about the importance of substituting those cards with more effective ones depending on the matchup. Each card was classified by what they did for me on the sideboard and by which matches they would be useful for. This process required that I look up information regarding my answer two and the statistics behind that.

3) I didn’t face many problems except not being able to go to qualifier tournaments. This was due to their distance from my home. Most of the qualifiers for standard in California had already passed and the closest ones were in Las Vegas or Albuquerque. However I was still able to get the testing information I needed online due to Cockatrice and Tournament Deck Stats that were provided.

4) Turtenwald, Owen. "Owen’s a Win – How Do You SideboardBy Owen Turtenwald  //  6 Apr, 2014." Channel Fireball. N.p., 6 Apr. 2014. Web. 07 Apr. 2014. <http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/owens-a-win-how-do-you-sideboard/>.

Wescoe, Craig. "Becoming a Better Magic Player: Seven Exercises by Craig Wescoe - Magic the Gathering TCG Article." Becoming a Better Magic Player: Seven Exercises by Craig Wescoe - Magic the Gathering TCG Article. N.p., 19 Apr. 2012. Web. 17 Jan. 2014. <http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=10422>.

The first sources gives me so much information on how to sideboard and pretty much answered any doubts I had about my answer two being the best answer. It provided scenarios that any player would need to consider when sideboarding properly. The second sources gives an overall solid rundown of the key points of what makes you a better magic player. If the points emphasized in the article are followed then an enhanced performance is the only thing that can become of it.

Blog 19: independent component 2

Literal
a) I Jamison Jackson affirm that I have completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work
b) Turtenwald, Owen. "Owen’s a Win – How Do You SideboardBy Owen Turtenwald  //  6 Apr, 2014." Channel Fireball. N.p., 6 Apr. 2014. Web. 07 Apr. 2014. <http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/owens-a-win-how-do-you-sideboard/>.
c) (provided)

Interpretive
a) the significant part of my component definitely had to be helping fellow magic players get better at what they're trying to improve on. Lending advice and pitching ideas for card combinations play styles and strategies even though it might not be for competitive play was still a vital aspect of the component. It helped me fulfill a role of teaching which of itself opens doors to knew opportunities to learn. (Evidence provided at the bottom of the independent component two log)

Applied
Independent component two helped me answer my Answer two which had to deal with building a sideboard and the thought processes involved. For example I spent a significant amount of time helping Lionel perfect his sideboard by pitching him ideas with the 4 General rules of sideboarding for my "ic2" at the same time. I acquired new knowledge from the input he gave back to me through my assistance to him. Lending me a new perspective on the matter.

Monthly Post: March

My RUG list is completed, I switched out my elvish mystics for syncopates. I love it.

Blog 18: Answer 3

EQ: What is the best way to win a Magic: the Gathering Pro Tour?

Answer 3: Finding your playstyle is essential to winning in Magic the Gathering

1)Playing your deck would become easier and second nature (Ex. You'd have an easier time of knowing what to do even against difficult matchups)

2)It would be fun. (Ex. If aggro was your playstyle, you'd have an easier time playing winning with that instead of forcing yourself to play a top tier control deck.)

3)You'd be less nervous in tournaments because your deck would become predictable and repeatable like a thesis for a science experiment. ( You'd be able to expect it to perform the same way every time you play the deck. Win the way it's supposed to, and lose to its faults.)


Moore, Ray. "Confronting, and Embracing, Your Play Style by Ray Moore - Magic the Gathering TCG Article." Confronting, and Embracing, Your Play Style by Ray Moore - Magic the Gathering TCG Article. N.p., 20 Mar. 2006. Web. 27 Sept. 2013. <http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=6463>.

Conclusion:
All in all it takes a Playstyle that you're comfortable with to minimize errors because you won't be second guessing your actions as often causing you to win more.

Blog 17: Fourth Interview Questions

1) What do you recommend for the sideboard?
2) what strategies do you implement when you practice?
3) What's the deal with the price jump of cards even when they're out of rotation?
4) Is three color alright to play right now?
5) What do you think drives the supply and demand of the cards?
6)when's the best time to buy
7) is it better to hold onto cards or just to sell them when you don't use them.
8) How do profession mtg players afford touring everywhere?
9) What's the most insane price that you've seen for a card
10) how do you think money affects viability in tournaments
11) why is there such an open gate for uniqueness and opportunity, but the meta is stuck?
12) Snapcaster is $40 why?
13) did melira pod get nerfed because of the drs ban?
14) is it intimidating going to events?
15) do I even stand a chance?
16) What influence does the pros have on the casuals
17) magic in general?
18) is jund monsters going to be a thing?
19) Why do people still play standard
20) why isn't modern more pronounced?