Trevor Holmes | Quiet Speculation https://www.quietspeculation.com Play More, Win More, Pay Less Thu, 09 Nov 2017 20:59:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.quietspeculation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/favicon.png Trevor Holmes | Quiet Speculation https://www.quietspeculation.com 32 32 Defining RPTQs: A Guide to Success https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/11/defining-rptqs-guide-success/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/11/defining-rptqs-guide-success/#comments Thu, 09 Nov 2017 20:59:21 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=16053 Regional PTQs for Pro Tour Rivals of Ixalan start next week, and the RPTQ format is Modern. For those of us who are competing (I’m not one of them, but I know a few), there are a few angles of attack that I wanted to discuss today. I'll also provide some general thoughts on the […]

The post Defining RPTQs: A Guide to Success first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/11/defining-rptqs-guide-success/feed/ 4
The Humans Arrive: Modern’s Next Big Thing https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/10/humans-arrive-moderns-next-big-thing/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/10/humans-arrive-moderns-next-big-thing/#comments Thu, 26 Oct 2017 18:11:21 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=15807 Humans is a thing, yo. I wish that period was a full stop. Pack it up, work here is done, go home and kiss the kids. Not because I don’t want to write the article or anything. Simply because those five words encapsulate the range of emotions I’m feeling as I look over the SCG […]

The post The Humans Arrive: Modern’s Next Big Thing first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/10/humans-arrive-moderns-next-big-thing/feed/ 11
What’s Winning, Why, and How to Beat It https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/10/whats-winning-why-how-beat-it/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/10/whats-winning-why-how-beat-it/#comments Thu, 19 Oct 2017 16:00:57 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=15764 The Star City Games Charlotte Open results are in, and there are numerous other Modern events on the horizon. In a few short months, we’ll have a Modern Pro Tour on our doorstep as well. Summer is over, fall is here, and Modern is back in the spotlight. It is time. This week, I’ll be […]

The post What’s Winning, Why, and How to Beat It first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/10/whats-winning-why-how-beat-it/feed/ 2
Two Forks: Embarking on a Video Journey https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/10/two-forks-embarking-video-journey/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/10/two-forks-embarking-video-journey/#comments Thu, 12 Oct 2017 17:28:01 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=15701 I’ve been toying around with the idea of getting back into video content, in part because I’ve found myself wanting to do similar things for other games I’ve been playing lately, like Star Wars: Destiny and, most recently, Legend of the Five Rings: The Card Game. Video content is a unique animal in requiring much […]

The post Two Forks: Embarking on a Video Journey first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/10/two-forks-embarking-video-journey/feed/ 2
Empire State of Mind: Remembering the Fun of Magic https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/10/modern-empire-state-mind-modern-magic-fun/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/10/modern-empire-state-mind-modern-magic-fun/#comments Wed, 04 Oct 2017 19:24:12 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=15579 Sometimes you don’t know what you need until it’s given to you. No, that’s not a 2017 Cinderella cover or anything, it’s just simple truth. Whether it’s a breath mint from a helpful friend or a simple check-yourself-before-you-wreck-yourself, this age-old adage repeats. As Magic players, we experience this phenomenon all too often, whether we notice […]

The post Empire State of Mind: Remembering the Fun of Magic first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/10/modern-empire-state-mind-modern-magic-fun/feed/ 2
Deep Dives: Understanding Death’s Shadow https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/09/deep-dives-understanding-deaths-shadow/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/09/deep-dives-understanding-deaths-shadow/#comments Thu, 28 Sep 2017 16:00:41 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=15513

This past week I found myself looking back at some of the first articles I wrote here at Nexus, for some reason or another, and discovered something interesting about my writing. No, it’s not that I love control, or have a tendency to play tempo-oriented decks, or really really like to talk about context in Magic, […]

The post Deep Dives: Understanding Death’s Shadow first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/09/deep-dives-understanding-deaths-shadow/feed/ 3
Ixalan Spoiler Wrap-Up and Looking Ahead https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/09/ixalan-spoiler-wrap-up-looking-ahead/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/09/ixalan-spoiler-wrap-up-looking-ahead/#comments Thu, 21 Sep 2017 17:01:38 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=15441 We’re back! Today, we’re looking at the rest of the spoiled cards for Ixalan, to see what could make an impact in Modern. Like I discussed last week, I’m choosing to approach these spoilers from the mindset of the best-case scenario, imagining what would have to happen to make them see play. As is often […]

The post Ixalan Spoiler Wrap-Up and Looking Ahead first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/09/ixalan-spoiler-wrap-up-looking-ahead/feed/ 5
Ixalan Spoilers: Part 1 https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/09/ixalan-spoilers-part-one/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/09/ixalan-spoilers-part-one/#comments Thu, 14 Sep 2017 19:07:27 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=15369 As much as I enjoy talking about the fringe aspects of Magic—perspective, identity, opportunity—I can’t ignore a new set on the horizon. Ixalan is here, bringing along Pirates, Dinosaurs, treasure, and things that turn into land. I don’t know what’s happening, which means I’ve been out of the loop for too long. That being said, […]

The post Ixalan Spoilers: Part 1 first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/09/ixalan-spoilers-part-one/feed/ 1
Timeless Lists: Reflections on Masterpieces in Deckbuilding https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/09/timeless-lists-reflections-masterpieces-deckbuilding/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/09/timeless-lists-reflections-masterpieces-deckbuilding/#comments Thu, 07 Sep 2017 18:25:14 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=15314 This week I wanted to do something a little bit different from my past couple articles. Leave it to me to propose a tonal shift to my article topics, and then immediately afterwards break from the mold to do something different. Still, a couple personal/opinion pieces in a row suggests a shift every now and […]

The post Timeless Lists: Reflections on Masterpieces in Deckbuilding first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/09/timeless-lists-reflections-masterpieces-deckbuilding/feed/ 4
Perspective: A Letter and Pro Tour Story https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/perspective-letter-pro-tour-story/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/perspective-letter-pro-tour-story/#comments Thu, 31 Aug 2017 18:51:06 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=15253 Last week, I wrote a very personal opinion piece titled “Getting Disillusioned – What Magic Is Missing”. In the article, I put forward my perspective on Modern Magic, how I feel playing the game, and what sort of experience I find myself craving that Magic hasn’t been able to provide for me recently. I received […]

The post Perspective: A Letter and Pro Tour Story first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/perspective-letter-pro-tour-story/feed/ 2
Getting Disillusioned – What Magic Is Missing https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/what-magic-modern-missing/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/what-magic-modern-missing/#comments Thu, 24 Aug 2017 17:27:54 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=15180

This one will be a little off the rails. A couple weeks ago, I highlighted an opportunity I saw for Wizards to do something risky but with the potential to change Modern forever. The feedback I received was… voluminous, and well appreciated, even though most everyone disagreed with me. Regardless, I learned something through the […]

The post Getting Disillusioned – What Magic Is Missing first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/what-magic-modern-missing/feed/ 26
A Format Overturned: Investigating the Dual GP Weekend https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/format-overturned-investigating-dual-gp-weekend/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/format-overturned-investigating-dual-gp-weekend/#comments Thu, 17 Aug 2017 16:30:05 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=15130 Whoa crazy crazy. After two weeks in the weeds discussing possible major changes to Wizards’ approach to Modern, it’s high time for nice, wholesome event analysis, and what a weekend for it. Two Grand Prix in Birmingham and São Paulo, a Modern Open and a Modern Classic in Richmond, not to mention two weeks of online […]

The post A Format Overturned: Investigating the Dual GP Weekend first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/format-overturned-investigating-dual-gp-weekend/feed/ 2
A Modern Proposal: Six Years Later https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/proposal-fix-banlist-tiering-rotation/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/proposal-fix-banlist-tiering-rotation/#comments Thu, 10 Aug 2017 19:41:50 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=15078

This week, I’m doubling down. Modern is returning to the Pro Tour, and with that, banned list discussion is certain to resurface. I’ve chosen to get out ahead of it; my article last week speculated on a potential opportunity for Wizards of the Coast to "solve" the banning problem once and for all. Unsurprisingly, this […]

The post A Modern Proposal: Six Years Later first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/proposal-fix-banlist-tiering-rotation/feed/ 17
The Bilbao Effect: The Chance to Change Modern Forever https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/bilbao-effect-chance-change-modern-forever/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/bilbao-effect-chance-change-modern-forever/#comments Thu, 03 Aug 2017 18:06:21 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=15025 Modern Magic’s history under the lights has been… complicated. As a format, it was born into fire in 2011 with Pro Tour Philadelphia, and since then, the format has bounced from darling to redheaded stepchild to orphan and back, faster than strobe lights at a Skrillex show. Bannings, Pro Tours, more bannings (as a result […]

The post The Bilbao Effect: The Chance to Change Modern Forever first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/08/bilbao-effect-chance-change-modern-forever/feed/ 17
Innovations in Modern: Decklists from SCG Atlanta https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/07/innovations-modern-decklists-from-scg-atlanta/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/07/innovations-modern-decklists-from-scg-atlanta/#comments Thu, 27 Jul 2017 16:00:06 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=14981 The SCG Modern Classic in Atlanta last Sunday signaled the end of Modern as we know it. Hour of Devastation is officially upon us, and with it, our reckoning has arrived. Armed with powerful new spells, creatures, and everything in between, the world’s best brought their collective knowledge to bear, shaking the foundations of our […]

The post Innovations in Modern: Decklists from SCG Atlanta first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/07/innovations-modern-decklists-from-scg-atlanta/feed/ 6
A Dramatic Set Review: Hour of Devastation and My Modern Wishlist https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/07/dramatic-set-review-hour-devastation-modern-wishlist/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/07/dramatic-set-review-hour-devastation-modern-wishlist/#comments Thu, 20 Jul 2017 18:55:56 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=14914 Today, I'm trying something different. Hour of Devastation released last Friday, but I haven’t had time to look at any spoilers, or read any discussion about new cards. As a result, we have an incredible opportunity to talk about the new set both before and after seeing every card surrounded by its context, in the […]

The post A Dramatic Set Review: Hour of Devastation and My Modern Wishlist first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/07/dramatic-set-review-hour-devastation-modern-wishlist/feed/ 3
Metagame Predictions Five Weeks Out – Gauging the Results https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/07/metagame-predictions-five-weeks-out-gauging-results/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/07/metagame-predictions-five-weeks-out-gauging-results/#comments Thu, 13 Jul 2017 18:17:02 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=14850

Five weeks ago, I made some bold predictions about where I thought Modern was headed for the summer of 2017. Fresh off SCG Baltimore, Modern was firmly in the grasp of Grixis Death’s Shadow, as the format was just beginning to warp around it. Today, we’ll look at those predictions to determine what I got […]

The post Metagame Predictions Five Weeks Out – Gauging the Results first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/07/metagame-predictions-five-weeks-out-gauging-results/feed/ 1
Four-Event Recap: Metagame Shifts https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/07/four-event-recap-metagame-shifts/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/07/four-event-recap-metagame-shifts/#respond Thu, 06 Jul 2017 17:19:41 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=14765 Modern tournament decklists are flooding in to the point where the phrase “too much of a good thing” is starting to come to mind. Nah, who am I kidding. I love this stuff. I hope you do too, because today we’re going to dive right in. I plan on recapping and analyzing high-level Magic tournament […]

The post Four-Event Recap: Metagame Shifts first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/07/four-event-recap-metagame-shifts/feed/ 0
The Summer of Fringe: Reactions to Shadow https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/06/the-summer-of-fringe/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/06/the-summer-of-fringe/#comments Thu, 29 Jun 2017 20:19:07 +0000 http://34.200.137.49/?p=14705 Modern is going through something of a shake-up right now. Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen the status quo turned on its head with the rise, and subsequent fall, of Grixis Death’s Shadow. For months before Grixis’ ascension, weekly results were the same bland mini-variation of Affinity, Dredge, and Eldrazi Tron. Death’s Shadow Jund […]

The post The Summer of Fringe: Reactions to Shadow first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/06/the-summer-of-fringe/feed/ 2
Know Your Enemy: Analyzing GP Vegas https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/06/know-your-enemy-analyzing-gp-vegas/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/06/know-your-enemy-analyzing-gp-vegas/#comments Tue, 27 Jun 2017 02:11:39 +0000 http://34.200.137.49/?p=14644 A week ago, if you asked anyone down on the street what the most dangerous deck in Modern was, two times out of ten you would get “Grixis Death’s Shadow” as your answer. The other eight would have no idea what you were talking about, and point you in the general direction of the nearest […]

The post Know Your Enemy: Analyzing GP Vegas first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

]]>
https://www.quietspeculation.com/2017/06/know-your-enemy-analyzing-gp-vegas/feed/ 3