tournament prep and play

I finished Day 1 with a 5 win, 1 loss record. That record was good for 4th overall, and an invite to the Day 2 tournament. In short, I felt the decks people would bring to the tournament would not include consistent answers to monsters, and I was correct.

You can view Day 1's stream here, and Day 2's stream here.

There were a few extra curricular factors worth mentioning. Number one, it was very hot in the convention hall. I guess Canada does not have the same A/C needs that we do, but for whatever reason, that heat was not going away. Our party ended up detaching from the tables as soon as our match was over, and standing at a far wall where it was better vented. This also gave us a chance to eat and drink, which is a factor in tournaments that can be easy to overlook. Advice: pack snacks and don't ignore nutrition to the best of your ability. It could be an advantage you have over your opponent.

Another factor on the day was the sheer size and energy at Anime North. There were thousands of people, and the hype level for several other nearby events was high. If you watch the stream, you can hear just how loud it was in the room, and that was probably the quieter part of the convention.

This was my first major Final Fantasy TCG tournament, and my second time making cuts in a TCG. If you are inexperienced in major tournaments, the first thing to do is trust yourself. The game does not change, and while the competition level is higher, it's just like any other time playing. If you cannot get out of that head space, then it will come with experience. Know your deck, stick to your lines of play, and try to have as much fun as possible.

I came into Day 1 like a Monster, ready to activate. Unfortunately for me, I came into Day 2 like a backup, and entered play dull. My goal was to make Day 2, and that goal was accomplished, but I ran out of gas to go further.

Your brain is a muscle. When your legs get tired, you feel fatigue or pain, and your body forces you to adjust. When your brain gets tired, if you don't pay close attention, you may not even notice. Keeping yourself mentally sharp during a long tournament is its own skill, and I bring my 3DS and chat with friends about low-intensity stuff in between matches. It really helps me in a profound way to leave the field of play, for one reason or another, and return when new pairings are announced. Finding what works for you can help you stay sharp and play your best game.