Tavel’s Travels, 2001
Amazing Discoveries-
Tucson, AZ
By Marcello Bolivar
12/19/01
Storm clouds were brewing as Phil entered Amazing Discoveries in Tucson, Arizona. The store held many excited duelers eager to lock horns with the Creator. From within the crowd stepped forward two of Magi-Nation's most potent duelers. Within minutes Phil was sitting down to face off against Stephan Classen, while Taylor Harter patiently bided his time.
As Phil and Stephan prepared to duel, the excited group crowded around to witness the encounter. As the players pulled out their decks, their region preferences quickly became apparent: Phil was going to play his vaunted Naroom deck while Stephan had chosen to fly the Arderial banner.
As play began, Stephan revealed Delia as his leadoff Magi and swiftly brought out a torrent of Vellups. The formidable wall of creatures at the conclusion of his turn demonstrated why Delia is often affectionately dubbed "Lady Vellup."
Not to be outdone, Phil followed Stephan's solid opening round with his own flurry of creatures. The lovable Naroom Magi Evu arrayed a Furok, a Plith, a Balamant, and a Bwill before him. As the first round of play ended, both players seemed poised for a long struggle.
Stephan forcefully dispelled that notion by using Warrior Boots to pull in an Ayebaw. Under a Vellup and Ayebaw assault, Evu soon found himself without creatures to protect him from defeat.
Phil began his next round with his second Magi, Orwin, seeking to balance the scales. Delia soon found herself caving under a Naroom onslaught led by a cuddly Furok. The momentum shift was short-lived, however, as Stephan called in Sorreah to establish Arderial dominance over the arena of play. The next two rounds were an efficient display of Arderial power as Stephan pulled out the whole Xyx arsenal to defeat Orwin and Yaki in quick order. A gracious and deserving victor, Stephan found himself one of the elite owners of a Power of the Creators card.
Taylor Harter now stepped forward from the wings seeking to avenge a prior loss to Phil at Gen Con this past summer. It was fitting that Taylor chose the Core as his region, considering the Core's recent capture of the Great Library of Naroom.
Opening with Warrada, Taylor started out slowly by simply putting out a Chaos Jile. Phil however, wasted no time with Evu. After Evu's obligatory Vortex of Knowledge, he used Warrior Boots to bring in a Furok to defeat the Chaos Jile, then followed that up by bringing out an Eebit, a Plith, a Bwill, and a Balamant.
Seeing the opposing forces before him, Taylor sprung his trap. He wasted no time in turning Phil's Balamant and using essence of Naroom to take over his Plith, which then attacked Phil's Eebit. The dark powers of Core were not finished however, as Taylor then used Agram's Plaything to overcome the Bwill and dispatch Evu.
The game was fierce, as Taylor used Core's manipulative powers to repeatedly take control of Phil's gauntlet of creatures. Phil counterbalanced the Core's evil ways by transforming his remaining creatures into relentless energy-draining machines.
The game saw Magi after Magi fall to defeat. First Naroom's Evu fell, followed shortly by Warrada, the true power behind the current throne of Core. That left Agram to face Orwin once and future ruler of the Core versus the great Elder of Naroom. Weary from battle, Orwin fell at last to Agram's dark attack. Yaki came forward to carry the banner and vanquish Agram, but that reprieve was short-lived as Zet emerged to push the forces of evil to eventual victory.
Having avenged his earlier defeat, Taylor happily accepted his Power of the Creators card. With two of Magi-Nation's top-ranked players and two PotCs as newfound plunder, Arizona's duelers served notice that they are a force to be reckoned with in the World of Magi-Nation.
Phil Tavel's Creature Beat-Down Deck
Magi
1st Evu
2nd Orwin
3rd Yaki
Creatures
2 Balamant
2 Bwill
2 Eebits
1 Forest Hyren
2 Furok
1 Giant Carillion
1 Leaf Hyren
1 Plith
2 Pylofuf
2 Stagadan
2 Twee
2 Wasperine
2 Weebo
Relics
2 Energy Band
2 Rayje's Belt
2 Relic Stalkers
2 Robe of Vines
1 Tomorrow's Jewel
3 Warrior Boots
2 Water of Life
Spells
2 Bottomless Pit
1 Grow
2 Resonate
2 Shockwave
2 Tap Roots
2 Umm...No
1 Vortex of Knowledge
Stephan Classen's Arderial Deck
Magi
1st Delia
2nd Sorreah
3rd Ora
Creatures
2 Ayebaw
3 Elder Vellup
2 Lovian
3 Vellup
2 Xyx
2 Xyx Elder
3 Xyx Minor
Relics
1 Alaban Gloves
2 Rayje's Belt
2 Storm Rising
3 Warrior Boots
2 Water of Life
Spells
2 Beam of Light
2 Cataclysm
2 Lightning
3 Shockwave
1 Shooting Star
2 Sorreah's Dream
2 Thunderquake
Taylor Harter's Core Deck
Magi
1st Warrada
2nd Agram
3rd Zet
Creatures
1 Chaos Jile
2 Chaos Plith
3 Core Grag
1 Darkbreed Hyren
2 Koil
3 Shadow Vinoc
3 Wudge
Relics
2 Agram's Plaything
1 Essence of Naroom
2 Rayje's Band
2 Rayje's Belt
2 Rayje's Boots
3 Shadow Bones
2 Shadow Cloak
2 Tomorrow's Jewel
3 Warriors Boots
Spells
2 Blight
3 Corrupt
1 Dream Rift
3 Turn
1 Vaporize
Here was his full tour schedule and list of winners!
Finally, here are some of the surviving images from his journey!
By Marcello Bolivar
12/19/01
Storm clouds were brewing as Phil entered Amazing Discoveries in Tucson, Arizona. The store held many excited duelers eager to lock horns with the Creator. From within the crowd stepped forward two of Magi-Nation's most potent duelers. Within minutes Phil was sitting down to face off against Stephan Classen, while Taylor Harter patiently bided his time.
As Phil and Stephan prepared to duel, the excited group crowded around to witness the encounter. As the players pulled out their decks, their region preferences quickly became apparent: Phil was going to play his vaunted Naroom deck while Stephan had chosen to fly the Arderial banner.
As play began, Stephan revealed Delia as his leadoff Magi and swiftly brought out a torrent of Vellups. The formidable wall of creatures at the conclusion of his turn demonstrated why Delia is often affectionately dubbed "Lady Vellup."
Not to be outdone, Phil followed Stephan's solid opening round with his own flurry of creatures. The lovable Naroom Magi Evu arrayed a Furok, a Plith, a Balamant, and a Bwill before him. As the first round of play ended, both players seemed poised for a long struggle.
Stephan forcefully dispelled that notion by using Warrior Boots to pull in an Ayebaw. Under a Vellup and Ayebaw assault, Evu soon found himself without creatures to protect him from defeat.
Phil began his next round with his second Magi, Orwin, seeking to balance the scales. Delia soon found herself caving under a Naroom onslaught led by a cuddly Furok. The momentum shift was short-lived, however, as Stephan called in Sorreah to establish Arderial dominance over the arena of play. The next two rounds were an efficient display of Arderial power as Stephan pulled out the whole Xyx arsenal to defeat Orwin and Yaki in quick order. A gracious and deserving victor, Stephan found himself one of the elite owners of a Power of the Creators card.
Taylor Harter now stepped forward from the wings seeking to avenge a prior loss to Phil at Gen Con this past summer. It was fitting that Taylor chose the Core as his region, considering the Core's recent capture of the Great Library of Naroom.
Opening with Warrada, Taylor started out slowly by simply putting out a Chaos Jile. Phil however, wasted no time with Evu. After Evu's obligatory Vortex of Knowledge, he used Warrior Boots to bring in a Furok to defeat the Chaos Jile, then followed that up by bringing out an Eebit, a Plith, a Bwill, and a Balamant.
Seeing the opposing forces before him, Taylor sprung his trap. He wasted no time in turning Phil's Balamant and using essence of Naroom to take over his Plith, which then attacked Phil's Eebit. The dark powers of Core were not finished however, as Taylor then used Agram's Plaything to overcome the Bwill and dispatch Evu.
The game was fierce, as Taylor used Core's manipulative powers to repeatedly take control of Phil's gauntlet of creatures. Phil counterbalanced the Core's evil ways by transforming his remaining creatures into relentless energy-draining machines.
The game saw Magi after Magi fall to defeat. First Naroom's Evu fell, followed shortly by Warrada, the true power behind the current throne of Core. That left Agram to face Orwin once and future ruler of the Core versus the great Elder of Naroom. Weary from battle, Orwin fell at last to Agram's dark attack. Yaki came forward to carry the banner and vanquish Agram, but that reprieve was short-lived as Zet emerged to push the forces of evil to eventual victory.
Having avenged his earlier defeat, Taylor happily accepted his Power of the Creators card. With two of Magi-Nation's top-ranked players and two PotCs as newfound plunder, Arizona's duelers served notice that they are a force to be reckoned with in the World of Magi-Nation.
Phil Tavel's Creature Beat-Down Deck
Magi
1st Evu
2nd Orwin
3rd Yaki
Creatures
2 Balamant
2 Bwill
2 Eebits
1 Forest Hyren
2 Furok
1 Giant Carillion
1 Leaf Hyren
1 Plith
2 Pylofuf
2 Stagadan
2 Twee
2 Wasperine
2 Weebo
Relics
2 Energy Band
2 Rayje's Belt
2 Relic Stalkers
2 Robe of Vines
1 Tomorrow's Jewel
3 Warrior Boots
2 Water of Life
Spells
2 Bottomless Pit
1 Grow
2 Resonate
2 Shockwave
2 Tap Roots
2 Umm...No
1 Vortex of Knowledge
Stephan Classen's Arderial Deck
Magi
1st Delia
2nd Sorreah
3rd Ora
Creatures
2 Ayebaw
3 Elder Vellup
2 Lovian
3 Vellup
2 Xyx
2 Xyx Elder
3 Xyx Minor
Relics
1 Alaban Gloves
2 Rayje's Belt
2 Storm Rising
3 Warrior Boots
2 Water of Life
Spells
2 Beam of Light
2 Cataclysm
2 Lightning
3 Shockwave
1 Shooting Star
2 Sorreah's Dream
2 Thunderquake
Taylor Harter's Core Deck
Magi
1st Warrada
2nd Agram
3rd Zet
Creatures
1 Chaos Jile
2 Chaos Plith
3 Core Grag
1 Darkbreed Hyren
2 Koil
3 Shadow Vinoc
3 Wudge
Relics
2 Agram's Plaything
1 Essence of Naroom
2 Rayje's Band
2 Rayje's Belt
2 Rayje's Boots
3 Shadow Bones
2 Shadow Cloak
2 Tomorrow's Jewel
3 Warriors Boots
Spells
2 Blight
3 Corrupt
1 Dream Rift
3 Turn
1 Vaporize
Here was his full tour schedule and list of winners!
| Date | Location | City | Winner |
| Tues 11/6/2001 | Wizards of the Coast | Tukwila, WA | |
| Thurs 11/8/2001 | Beckmon's Cards | Twin Falls, ID | |
| Thurs 11/8/2001 | Mystic Comics | Logan UT | |
| Fri 11/9/2001 | Attactix | Aurora, CO | |
| Fri 11/9/2001 | CollectorMania | Parker, CO | |
| Sat 11/10/2001 | Wizards of the Coast | Broomfield, CO | |
| Mon 11/12/2001 | Reader's World | Springfield, IL | Dave Autzen |
| Tues 11/13/2001 | The Game Preserve | Indianapolis, IN | Travis McKinney |
| Michael Welling | |||
| Andrew Steckley | |||
| Wed 11/14/2001 | Be A Gamer | West Dundee, IL | Tim Kouba |
| Noel Meyer | |||
| Tues 11/20/2001 | Collectible Investments | Berkley, MI | Shane Reeves |
| Chris Staunton | |||
| Khris McKee | |||
| Tues 11/20/2001 | The Guardtower | Columbus, OH | |
| Sat 11/24/2001 | New World Manga | Livingston, NJ | Taylor Nummi |
| Joe Montalbano | |||
| Mon 11/26/2001 | Wizards of the Coast | Garden City, NY | |
| Tues 11/27/2001 | The Game Castle | Londonderry, NH | |
| Wed 11/28/2001 | Jumpgate | Portsmouth, NH | |
| Wed 11/28/2001 | The Knight's Quest | Gardner, MA | Vince Sosa |
| John White III | |||
| Jeremy Coulomb | |||
| Wed 11/28/2001 | Griffon Games | Greenfield, MA | Tim Adan |
| Colton MacLeay | |||
| Thurs 11/29/2001 | Sarge's Comics | London, CT | |
| Thurs 11/29/2001 | The Gamer's Realm | Windsor, NJ | |
| Fri 11/30/2001 | Dream Wizards | Rockville, MD | Graham Bannon |
| Fri 11/30/2001 | Wizards of the Coast | Hanover, MD | Nathaniel Wise |
| Tues 12/4/2001 | Dr. Bob's Game Shop | Huntsville, AL | |
| Wed 12/5/2001 | Ground Zero | Mobile, AL | |
| Thurs 12/6/2001 | The Strategy Center | Clermont, FL | Bob Hutchison |
| Jeff North | |||
| Jason Edgley | |||
| Thurs 12/13/2001 | Lone Star Comics | Hurst, TX | Jeffrey A. Sass |
| Justin McDonough | |||
| Sat 12/15/2001 | Amazing Discoveries | Tucson, AZ | Stephan Classen |
| Taylor Harter | |||
| Robert Davidson | |||
| Sat 12/15/2001 | Wizards of the Coast | Mesa, AZ | Tom Scott |
| Mon 12/17/2001 | DNA Cards and Comics | Pacifica, CA | CJ Vossen |
| Tim Gin | |||
| Simon Lai | |||
| John Peralta | |||
| March Johnson | |||
| Tues 12/18/2001 | Bizarro World | Davis, CA | Lazarus Agbowo Jr. |
| Jared Tholer | |||
| Shivam Bhatt | |||
| Wed 12/19/2001 | A-1 Comics | Roseville, CA | Denver Martin |
| Patrick Sander | |||
| Carey Cox | |||
| Matthew Momsen |
Finally, here are some of the surviving images from his journey!
 |
| Mesa, AZ |
 |
| Twin Falls, ID |
