I believe Laddinfance is referring to area where the Geek Chic tables are on display in the hotel lobby.  It is really great if you can reserve one of these wonderful tables for evening gaming. It is located near the restaurant in the hotel during Origins.

There is something else you can do to make it more interesting.  Recently, someone I taught was upset because he did not have the number of expansion that I did.  So I made a book using only spells from the base set.  That was pretty challenging, no rust, no acid balls, no iron golems.  Made the next few games a real eyeopener. 

I think I have finally decided on my go to opening.  Turn 1(19mana) quick cast Mohktari (8 mana) and tree bond to it.  Full cast the gargoyle (11 mana). This gives me 10 mana on turn 2 and a lot of options depending on the position and level of aggression of my opponent. 

I put a lot of thought into including Togorah, Forest Sentinel, Guardian Angel, or Gargoyle to protect the bonded tree.  I have to agree that Togorah is too slow, the guardian Angel and Gargoyle are both viable choices.  My 'buddy' of choice have become either Cervere, The Forest Shadow or Galador, Protector of Straywood.
My thought is if someone puts that much effort into destroying my tree, the druid's barkskin and one of those creatures will give me the advantage.
If I have the enchanter's ring and the druids Leaf ring equipped the casting and reveal cost of that cantrip is equal to its upkeep.
From the conversation so far, it seems my premise would be true.  cast and forget the tree.  If they concentrate on the tree, buddy up and press the advantage and go for a short game.  If they allow it to live, focus on the longer game of controlling the board.

     I recently watched an arcane duel youtube, in which the johkari BM opened with a rush with double hurl boulder.  After pondering how I would react to this opening with my druid, I came to the sad conclusion that there is no way to protect my tree from this aggressive move. Also came to the realization that this was not limited to just the Johkari, though other mages would first have to cast a fd  cheetah speed to get into range.  Any mage could open this way, some examples would be the force master double force hammer or warlock double fireball.
     I could wall in the tree to block line of sight but that would either leave me on the wrong side of the wall and the target, or walled in with my tree, giving free reign of the arena to my opponent.
     I could cast a fd reverse attack or block on myself, but that leaves my tree exposed.  In conclusion I believe that if the opposing mage is determined to destroy my tree, I have no choice.  But, he would have spent about 16 mana and two whole turns to destroy my one action and 7 or 8 mana conjuration.  I think the druid still comes out ok.
     How would you handle an opponent that moves one and casts two FD enchantments, or runs two and casts a ring or fd enchantment on turn two?  Assuming that on turn one you cast the druids leaf ring and bonded to your tree of choice? 

I know that Origins is the prerelease for Battlegrounds Domination, but is there any chance to see maybe a prototype of Academy?

I have pre-ordered MW Domination and I am planning to play the hell out of it.  Origins is the only time that I get to play against opponents that I have not taught the game to.  Hope to see you there!

in General discussion there was a conversation about using Togorah in the druid opening.  This is what I came up with, please comment.
 
[spellbook]
[spellbookheader]
[spellbookname]Legendary Forest[/spellbookname]
[mage]Druid[/mage]
[/spellbookheader]
[spells]
[spellclass]Attack[/spellclass]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKA01]2 x  Surging Wave[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWA02]1 x  Force Hammer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNA01]4 x  Acid Ball[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1a08]1 x  Geyser[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Conjuration[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1j22]2 x  Tanglevine[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNJ10]1 x  Stranglevine[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j15]1 x  Mohktari, Great Tree of Life[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNJ12]1 x  Vine Tree[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNJ03]1 x  Etherian Lifetree[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNW01]2 x  Bloodspine Wall[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1j11]1 x  Idol of Pestilence[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKJ01]1 x  Enchanter's Wardstone[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1w04]1 x  Wall of Thorns[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNJ02]1 x  Corrosive Orchid[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Creature[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNC18]1 x  Togorah, Forest Sentinel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1c07]1 x  Cervere, The Forest Shadow[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKC03]1 x  Galador, Protector of Straywood[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC06]1 x  Kralathor, The Devourer[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC21]2 x  Thornlasher[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC20]2 x  Vine Snapper[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNC10]2 x  Raptor Vine[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Enchantment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=DNE01]1 x  Barkskin[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE06]1 x  Lion Savagery[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e13]1 x  Eagle Wings[/mwcard]
[mwcard=FWE03]1 x  Falcon Precision[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE04]2 x  Brace Yourself[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e01]2 x  Bear Strength[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e10]1 x  Decoy[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e05]1 x  Cheetah Speed[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE07]2 x  Rust[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e36]3 x  Rhino Hide[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e31]1 x  Poisoned Blood[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX2FFE03]1 x  Arcane Corruption[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e29]1 x  Nullify[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1e32]1 x  Regrowth[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Equipment[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1q09]1 x  Enchanter's Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ04]1 x  Druid's Leaf Ring[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ09]1 x  Wand of Healing[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNQ08]1 x  Vinewhip Staff[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1q02]1 x  Bearskin[/mwcard]
[mwcard=MWSTX1CKQ06]1 x  Eagleclaw Boots[/mwcard]
[spellclass]Incantation[/spellclass]
[mwcard=mw1i28]1 x  Teleport[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i07]3 x  Dissolve[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i06]2 x  Dispel[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNI04]1 x  Renewing Rain[/mwcard]
[mwcard=DNI02]2 x  Burst of Thorns[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i25]2 x  Shift Enchantment[/mwcard]
[mwcard=mw1i23]3 x  Rouse the Beast[/mwcard]
[/spells]
[cost]Total cost: 120 pts[/cost]
[/spellbook]