Organization Phase
It's been a year since I attended my very first convention, which also happened to be the first time I attended a tournament for MECCG. Lots of things happened since then. By some twist of fate I found myself bearing the responsibility of running the tournament. I carry it pride as well as with a little bit of apprehension. This is not a responsibility to take lightly. My predecessors have done excellent work. And I was running out of time. So before the convention there were lots of emails here and there. Decisions here and there. Questions here and answers there. Gathering of supplies as well. Whoah, and this is just the org phase?

Let's get ready to muster!
Anyway after all that prep time came the day. February 16, 2002 in L.A., CA. we had 10 participants muster for the Middle Earth CCG event! Wooohoooooo!!! First we had eight, the magic number needed for us to award a gollum ring prize. Then we had nine. Uh oh, someone's getting a bye, unless we find another player. And yes with the Favor of the Valar we did! Someone was there all along, Skye Sandborgh stepped up to the plate to play the game and round up the number of participants to 10. And so there we were, Ten for the muster at OrcCon!

The 10 who came to play were: the father and son team of and staunch supporters of MECCG in the southwest, Anthony and Thomas Barrett. Our fellow fans and friends from the California bay area Gene Berry, Sean and his wife Skye Sandborgh, and ofcourse Dave Stegman. There two was sagely Michael Urban and another husband and wife team, Mike and Leslie Plew, whom we greatly welcome to the fold of MECCG community. And ofcourse me, Ben Canlas aka the Red Arrow.

Old friendships; New friendships
This was a very important event for us here in the west. It helps solidify the player base and the connection between strategicon regulars and the bay area group. There were four strategicon regulars, four from the San Francisco bay area group and two new players. We even had three people asking us about the sealed deck. We asked them to join but they didn't want to slow us down seeing we had already started. One of them was a chap from London by the name of Andrew. I never got his last name. The other was Larry Sawh, who contacted me later and will be glad to join in the coming MECCG events. The third was Brian Luba whom I got to play the year before. We missed the company of our friends from Arizona. James Gutt was supposed to join us but he needed to be in San Jose the next day and so had to skip the tournament. Ahhh there's a next time.

The format was hero/wizards alignment, constructed, one deck game. We started around 4:30 pm. (I was late, my deepest apologies to everyone.) and ended roughly around 9:30 or 10:00. Anyway we had to go through four rounds of fun and excitement as only MECCG can deliver. As usual we were there to play and compete but also to be helpful and friendly. MECCG players are a kind and helpful lot.

Let's hunt some Orcs
After four rounds of hunting orcs, mustering factions and discovering magical items, three emerged triumphant. The winners are: Gene Berry in first place and bagging the prized "gollum ring". Skye Sandborgh was in second, the lady who stepped up to help our number reach 10, and to think she was there at first just to be a spectator. And our friend Dave Stegman came in third.

Fresh Ideas
Gene and Dave had interesting decks. Gene was able to use winds of wrath to great effect as well as some sites in the Rivendell area. Dave Stegman had a deck centering around Amon Hen and wild horses. I didn't get most of the details but it was a very interesting deck, commented Anthony who had to play Dave in the last round. Skye had the classic Return of the King Deck. With all the cool combos that came with an Aragorn gondor deck. I had a chance against to stop it during the first round, since my deck was a part Return of the King and part hobbit deck. Aragorn bounced during our character draft. Any way, We were both at Edhellond with our wizard's company. It was my turn, Aragorn was in my hand as well as return of the king card. Then blunder of blunders... I must've been really confused caused for some reason I decided that Aragorn can come into play at Minas Tirith (Duh).... oooh I didn't play him... couldn't exactly not after I've already moved. I ended my turn hoping against hope, but then Skye played her Aragorn from her hand and the rest is history.

This event, we have been blessed to have new players come to the tournament and MECCG scene in general. It was nice to meet the husband and wife team of Mike and Leslie Plew whom I believe are hooked with this game. Meeting them through e-mails was nice meeting them was a lot better. To quote from James Gutt when we met last year, "it's good to put a face with a name". This couple both had matching "one rings" on their hands. Cool! Anthony Barrett was able to help them build a deck for the tournament a few days before the tournament. Their addition to the group is the missing piece we need for a new play group in SoCal. This is gonna be sweet!

Tokens of the past
Sean Sandborgh was there and proudly showed tokens of the past. Everyone had a glimpse of MECCG's past with ICE. He was wearing an MECCG shirt with the logo of the game in front and a large, burning lidless eye which is the game's signature cardback. Wow! He also had a replica of the "wizard ring" on his finger. And showed us folks a gold council of Lorien Coin. Cool! Very interesting especially for us late comers to the game and tournament scene (i.e. people who played the game after ICE lost the license). Incidentally Sean's old page (Guild of Forochel) was one of the pages I stumbled upon late 2000 that got me interested back to MECCG.

A very important figure also graced our tournament. Jeff Stolt, former ICE crown's guard for L.A. came by to say hello and gave us a bounty of boosters from the wizards and dragon's set. They were distributed among the participants after the event. This was the first time I met him. it's a shame I never got to play MECCG when he or Charles Bouldin were running the tournaments and ICE still had the license. Anthony said they usually had about 20 maybe even 25 participants and 2-3 events in a convention. WOW! And please hear this, if he finds the time to do it, and the time is right, and there is enough player demand, (hint, hint), he just might develop another scenario this time for the underdeeps. To those who don't know it, Jeff Stolt designed the 'Dragon's Hoard Scenario' which gave you a reason to go to Dragon Country. This time its going to be for the Underdeeps! Oooh this is gonna be sweet! Thanks Jeff and thanks in advance as well. (As of 2-22-02, I heard that he is already starting to write the scenario. Way to go Jeff!)

Some interesting notes: Just found out that Michael Urban was the guy who helped suggest to those Decipher guys the idea on how to name the Nazgul in their game. How more cool and sagely can that be? He got a box of LOTR TCG boosters for it, way to go Michael! But this guy is as camera shy as he is smart. Every time I pick up the camera or focus it where he and the others are, he will hide. I swear if he weren't that tall, I'd call him a hobbit. And that's saying a lot coming from me since i happen to be almost hobbit size myself. Anyway, Michael also introduced me to a new german non-collectible card game by Reiner Knizia. Who is Reiner Knizia? He is a famous german game designer who is also responsible for the newest Lord of the Rings board game. It was easy to learn and a fast game to play. It's got a good strategy side to it a hallmark of Knizia design, and definitely fun to play. Thanks for teaching the game Mike.

This is the first tournament I've ever coordinated. I am hardly qualified to do it. I was self appointed, self styled drum beater on the web for MECCG here in the west (visit my website www.oocities.org/redarrowsmark and you'll understand what I mean) but never a rules guru nor even a good MECCG player, just a fan. So I was a little hesitant at first and uncomfortable coordinating it. Yep, I found out how Frodo felt when he said "I will take the ring, though I do not know the way". But in the end, it was well worth it.

But this event wouldn't have happened if not for team effort, if you ask me. It's something that we should all be proud of. From Anthony doing the initial steps to secure a slot for the convention to Dave coordinating with his group and me to come to OrcCon. Even the things like Gene bringing his laptop with the CRF and his timer. That timer was very invaluable. And thanks especially to those in the background who gave their support to me and the tournament. Thanks Charles, Anthony, Dave, Chris, and James. Awwww shucks. I sound like I just I won an Oscar. lol.

After everyone was gone, I left the room where we had the tourney, checked in for the room at the Westin and went to get my stuff from the car. I found myself just sitting there tired and letting all the fun sink in. I had a big smile on my face. I felt we made a great step towards the right direction. I called the wife, ate a sandwich while in the car. Then went up to my room.

A chance meeting
While on the elevator I saw this man who looked just like the picture they have at the OrcCon website for the guest of honor. I never played D&D but loved the artwork that Larry Elmore made. Just before I got off the elevator I asked "Excuse me Sir, but aren't you Larry Elmore?" He said "yes, I am." I said, "Very pleased to meet you sir!" Can't remember if he said thank you or pleased to meet you too. but I got off the elevator smiling since I just met one of my favorite artists. Then there was this couple, who was also in the elevator with me, asked me "who is Larry Elmore? He must be somebody famous we don't know." I explained that Larry Elmore was a famous fantasy artist from D&D, and Dragonlance books etc... And they go "oh my!" The next day I got to his booth, kindly asked him to sign the MECCG cards that he did the artwork, I even got him to sign an old Inquest magazine I bought back in 1996 (early days of meccg) He remembers the interview but said he never got a copy. He was glad to see it! While holding the hobbit lore (gandalf making a  mark on the door of the Baggins' hobbit hole), he asked me if I had seen the Lord of the Rings film? I said yes and told him that scene in the movie reminded me of that card. He thought the film was great especially the interiors of the hobbit hole and the others... better than he could have pictured or imagined he said. That's a lot coming from him. I love this convention.

So after all the preparation during the organization phase, movement hazard phase. and site phase I'm ready to end this turn. But before I do. Let me invite you to the next tournament in May. You are invited to join MECCG at GAMEX 2002. See you there!

Aiming for the Mark,

Red Arrow