[muskiehunter99]

I think you've gone wrong somewhere to be stuck in Gold after playing all year and spending a decent amount of money. Weekly tournaments are difficult but shouldn't be completely out of reach, and dailies should absolutely be within your reach.

This my first full year playing PT so I don't have the past reference points that you do. I have put a lot of time in this year, but I am FTP and have: been in PeL multiple times; won multiple weekly tournaments; make PTCS in multiple categories each month; make PTMS; and hopefully will make PTWS (very much on the fringe right now).

Yes, I have taken advantage of twitch drops, some live speculation, I try to time packs somewhat, I try to anticipate missions (e.g., I was able to finish every PT Elite mission except for two as soon as they dropped, and also made a good amount of PT selling live duplicates that I held) and I play the max tournaments (both quick and daily/weekly) every day (not drafts though, which are even more advantageous for FTP). Many of these things take time and foresight, which is part of a simulation game.

Combinators aren't the problem - I have been using them as FTP since the beginning and outside of the Uber ones, they can be affordable, and with some good planning and usage, can actually benefit FTP players (especially when there are combi limits in place).