Subject: Sideboard
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 1997 05:48:58 -0500 (EST)
From: Puckfan31@aol.com
To: hahn@bway.net

Dear Mr Hahn,

 I would like to use your War College forum to discuss the enigmatic
sideboard. The 'board as I will call it is a pro magic players most versatile
tool to victory or "meta- game" strategy. A great player with great 'board
skills can have huge advantage over some scrub with a KDD (killer Dojo deck).

 Personaly I feel I 'board by the seat of my pants, I play then I throw in
cards I wish I would have seen game 1, then I throw cards in on game 3. Sure
I put a lot of time into finding the best cards to counter my decks "hosers".
and I can do my homework and watch deck trends too, but I often feel
overwhelmed with options. I ask you for your wisdom. Is there a method or are
great 'board skills genetic like "top-decking"?

 If I could have the Masters of the War College feedback on this subject I
would be most grateful. These are some of my many questions;

1) Do you build a deck, then make the board defensive vs other deck types?
Why not 15 COP's?

2) Do you make the 'board aggro vs certain decks? Or a combo of the best
cards?

3) Do you 'board cards straight in your main deck to cover the "meta-game"?
What!!!! you play with a COP red?!?!

4) Do you ' board vs deck archetypes or specific cards or both?

5) Is it wise to simply stregthen your deck with the 'board? "I'll add my 3rd
Wrath and my 4th disenchant."

6) What do you take out?!?! You tune your deck and now your expected to alter
the delicate color or mana ratios??!!!??

7) How much do you commit? "OH, your running Sligh... I was ready for you,
I'll 'board in 14 cards!  Game 2 I'll win for certain" I don't call that
ready.

8) Should there  be an exact system, or plan. "vs burn I remove my Pups and
add my Keepers"

I could go on and on with this line of questions. I think that 'boarding is
one of the most underated and seldom discussed topics in M;tg but I think It
can be one of the most important. Maybe the fact that there is no template,
as each matchup is so different from the next. I have seen many "newbies" who
will show up without 'boards at all. The sideboard is quite obviously a very
advanced game mechanic (and I thought "timing" was rough) and I leave it to
the War College to make simple sense of it all.

  Thanks in advance. I'm just glad that I get a full 5min to 'board I can use
every minute.

                                     PTLA come to

                                     daddy

                                    -Keith
$