And taking the top 2 spots are…

In the DCI ratings database, your rating for a game no longer shows up in rankings if you haven’t played that game within the past year. (You still have your rating, and if you later play in another game, you show back up in the rankings.)

Since Dreamblade is for almost all intents and purposes dead, very few people have played a game in the past year. So, Jessi and I are on top in the Massachusetts Dreamblade rankings.

Alas, I just got an email saying that I’m going to become inactive in a month in Dreamblade.

Random Life Update

Today I finally got a chance to check out the completely-redone Charlton Public Library. It’s quite impressive. One interesting note is that due to their snazzy new computer system (they finally have a web-based catalog), they no longer accepted my library card that I got when I was 8. The card has a little metal plate in it that they would stamp onto a due-date card somehow, back in the day. It feels like it’s some sort of rare collector’s item now or something.

Also today, I filled out my first Form 1500.

Bright and early tomorrow morning, my wife and I leave for Gen Con Indy.

Plans for the Dreamblade Championship (at Gen Con) firming up

Jessi is officially on the Dreamblade Championship invitation list with 1177 points and being ranked #321 in the world.

Wizards will in fact be flying me out there to judge, and will be paying for my half of our hotel room. I’ll be working on Thursday (Aug. 16) at the Last Chance Qualifiers, and Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 18–20) on the main event. I have Friday (Aug. 17) free to go see Gen Con. I’m not quite sure what to do that day, since there seem to be a bazillion things going on there.

Dreamblade Standings

After the ratings have been processed from our most recent Dreamblade event in Montreal, Jessi is ranked 2 out of 49 in the state, and ranked 284 out of 5659 in the world. And, she now officially has over 1000 points, which earns her an invite to the Dreamblade Championship.

The plan now is to try to convince Wizards to sponsor me as a judge there to help defray the cost of both of us going to Gen Con Indy.

The Dreamblade adventures continue

Last Sunday, Jessi and I went to Montreal for a Dreamblade 1k event. (There aren’t any more major Dreamblade events in the New England area.) Jessi did quite well, finishing 3rd, earning $100 (which covers part of the cost of the trip up there), and earning enough points to qualify for the Dreamblade $50,000 Championship.

The Championship is at Gen Con Indy in August. So, I guess now we need to figure out how we’re getting there, where we’re staying there, and I’m going to see if I can get sponsored to judge there. But even if I’m not, I think I’ll still go, since Gen Con should be fun regardless.

Dreamblade last weekend

We went to the Dreamblade 10k in Hartford this past weekend. I finally got a chance a judge some Dreamblade, and was the head judge of the side-event 1k on Sunday (which was really the only thing happening there on Sunday besides the top 8 playoff of the main 10k event).

An interesting side effect is that this weekend’s tournaments have put Jessi at 866 points, just shy of the 1000 needed to qualify for the 50k Championship at Gencon. So this weekend, after attending her sister’s graduation on Saturday in Maine, we’re seriously considering heading to Montreal on Sunday to participate in another 1k. (There aren’t any more significant Dreamblade events in the New England region.) She just needs to come in the top 16 (earning 150 points) to qualify, and usually 1k attendence isn’t much higher than that. Even coming in top 32 (earning 100 points) would probably allow her to qualify if we manage to travel to some local store tournaments in Connecticut.

If she does qualify, we may need to start planning for attending Gencon. (I’m pretty sure that if we go I can get accepted to judge at the 50k and/or other Wizards events, and Wizards may even be willing to fund some travel expenses.)

Upcoming Judging Schedule

I realized I never stated on here that I judged at Grand Prix Massachusetts, which was a lot of fun, and quite challenging, as the format was new to many players and many of the judges.

Coming up this weekend I have the Dreamblade Hartford 10K, which will be very nice as there have been no big Dreamblade events in the area. People with even a remote interest in a miniatures strategy game should learn the game, put together a warband, and come. There are cash prizes being given out to top 32, and booster pack prizes given to top 64, and I doubt we’ll break 100 players. I’ll be judging and Jessi will be playing. On Sunday, there will be a slightly smaller 1k event, which is Sealed Box, so you don’t even need to put together a warband ahead of time.

Also on Friday night, I have the Future Sight release event at Rising Phoenix Games.

Another big event coming up is that I’ve been selected to be the Head Judge of the Magic Southern New England Regional Championships. This event could quite possibly break 200 players, and it will certainly be the largest event I’ve head judged, but my tournament organizer thinks I’m up to the challenge and so do I. Plus, we’ll have a good staff (there’s plenty more to running an event of that size than just the head judge), so I think it’ll be a great experience for all involved.

And then in July, I’ve been accepted to be a judge at the Magic U.S. National Championship, which should also be a great time. I’ll probably bring Jessi along to play that weekend in the variety of side events (as well as spectate such wonders as the Game of the Year).

Judging Schedule

I’m continuing to run weekly FNM events at Rising Phoenix Games.

March 30 through April 1, I’m going to be judging at Grand Prix Massachusetts in Fitchburg. They’re actually putting me up in a hotel room while I’m there.

April 21, I’ll be judging at the Connecticut Future Sight Prerelease.

May 5 & 6, I’ll be judging at the University of Hartford Dreamblade 10K event. Also that weekend I’m supposed to run a Future Sight release event at Rising Phoenix Games, so I’m not sure how that’s going to work right now.

A lot of big, fun, exciting events coming up.