Do people forget how powerful Jace is when they bash blue in T2? Just because he's played at sorcery speed doesn't make him bad guys... Deprive, Spreading Seas, Sphinx of Jwar Isle, Mind Spring, and Flashfreeze are all solid cards in the tradition of blue card advantage, counterspells, disruption, and finishers.
Deprive is rarely maindecked and usually files a niche role in the SB. The whole bouncing your land is pretty backbreaking in a format where every land drop counts to your mid and late game spells.
Spreading Seas is pretty solid. 2 Mana is pretty good for neutralizing manlands and drawing you a card.
Sphinx of Jwar Isle...I'll give you that.
Mind Spring...Sorry but this card is mostly good in Standard right now because there isn't any other good from of big card draw like Tidings, Fact or Fiction or Careful Consideration.
Flashfreeze...Pretty good SB card, but Maindeckable? Maybe back in winter of 2010.
Understand, Dredge is not really a Magic: The Gathering deck. When a card is playable in it, it doesn't mean it's a tournament playable card. It means it's playable in whatever crazy fantasy world that Dredge operates in.
I enjoy the recent change to Extended and the change to Magic as a whole (excluding Mythics, and powerhouses like Baneslayer). Of course, I understand why Mythic rarity is implemented and why cards like Baneslayer and Jace are printed.
Simply put; they make money.
The change to Extended is also a strategy to make money. Wizards makes little to no money off of the secondary market, and cards the people already own. Cards in the last 4 years are easier to obtain for most players, especially newer players. Extended is now more like Standard+ which makes players feel like they get more use out of their cards which just rolled out of Standard. Extended prior to the change, was more akin to Legacy- instead of Standard+ which made it feel harder to be involved in.
I work full-time, and I'm still in college. The appeal of Magic to me is tabletop and local FNM tournaments. I believe that is the majority of Magic's audience. I don't have the time/money to invest into the previous Extended, and making that investment never appealed to me when I first got into Magic. Standard was played more frequently in my area and it was easier to get involved in.
The good thing about this move is that a player can say "hey, if I get into Standard now, I don't have to reach too far back to play Extended AND if I keep playing for a few years, I'll have tons of cards for Extended!"
This was my initial plan from the start: I got into Magic during Time Spiral and my plan was also to wait until Rav rotated out before I played Extended so that I wouldn't have to buy those blasted expensive lands. Wa-La! Now I don't have to wait as long.
As a strictly casual player who only worries about formats at FNM Standard events, I've never experienced the current 7-year Extended format. That being said, the problem with Wizard's decision to decrease the Extended card pool is the limited amount of time between when the public was informed (June 18) and when the change would take effect (July 1st). The value of cards and player's investments obviously change with what's playable in what formats and that effects everyone who plays and trades those cards. It is my hope that in whatever direction Magic moves, Wizards will not make players regret their investment.
As for the direction of actual gameplay, from what I know of the history of the Standard format, it seems like Wizard's moves away from successful, overplayed, deck types in new sets. It is my belief we won't see anything like Jund or Cascade for at least 4 years. I'm guessing the new Mirrodin block will have it's share of planeswalker hate and probably contain a counter of Remand-type playability. This game is constantly moving in new directions so I wouldn't worry about it's direction at any one time.
As a strictly casual player who only worries about formats at FNM Standard events, I've never experienced the current 7-year Extended format. That being said, the problem with Wizard's decision to decrease the Extended card pool is the limited amount of time between when the public was informed (June 18) and when the change would take effect (July 1st). The value of cards and player's investments obviously change with what's playable in what formats and that effects everyone who plays and trades those cards. It is my hope that in whatever direction Magic moves, Wizards will not make players regret their investment.
As for the direction of actual gameplay, from what I know of the history of the Standard format, it seems like Wizard's moves away from successful, overplayed, deck types in new sets. It is my belief we won't see anything like Jund or Cascade for at least 4 years. I'm guessing the new Mirrodin block will have it's share of planeswalker hate and probably contain a counter of Remand-type playability. This game is constantly moving in new directions so I wouldn't worry about it's direction at any one time.
Mid-range strategies have been prevalent since Lorwyn-Time Sprial Standard and have been dominating since Lorwyn-Alara Standard.
Wizards clearly favors games between permanent heavy decks lacking in instants and sorceries.
Understand, Dredge is not really a Magic: The Gathering deck. When a card is playable in it, it doesn't mean it's a tournament playable card. It means it's playable in whatever crazy fantasy world that Dredge operates in.
When are we just finally going to give up and stop taking hits from Wizards? It's clearer and clearer they don't care about us at all. They're really just trying to attract other players while assuming that all of us are just going to deal with it keep playing.
We need to create a list of grievances and someone needs to nail it to the main entrance door of Wizards of the Coast. The 95 Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Magic the Gathering... but we gotta work on the name, I don't like it.
Options for the thirty-page ultimatum:
The Eroding Coast: Why Wizards' Future Means Fewer Wizards
Mythic Blunder: How Wizards of the Coast is Damaging its Reputation
or, a lengthy, legalistic, but expressive title:
A Grievance on the part of these signed members of the Magic: The Gathering Community, addressed to Wizards of the Coast: Regarding a general complaint about the policy which emphasizes an abandonment of Wizards' longstanding gaming principles in favor of booster sales.
The chapters:
Chapter 1: We get it.
(Players understand that wizards needs to sell packs. Players understand that not every card is for them. Players understand there will always be the haves and the have-nots. This chapter shows that we are not naieve)
Chapter 2: We don't think you get us.
(This chapter covers the nature of the changing magic demographic, what the demographic changes will bring, how wizards threatens its long-term future if it abandons "classic" players)
Chapter 3: Our understanding of your policy
(Sell packs. Mythics sell packs, small set jank with hyper-rares sell packs, pushing limited sells packs, appeal to beginners sells packs, changes to extended sells packs [i will elaborate on that detail later], midrange wars sell packs)
Chapter 4: Our problem with Mythics
(Limited becomes a little less predictable, prices go up, they don't REALLY add flavor, because mythicness is about the card, not its rarity, the market is warped to the point that standard is more expensive than ever)
Chapter 5: Our problem with The Changes to Extended
(loss of value, unpredictability overall, rising prices of standard and extended staples)
Chapter 6: Our problem with over-fixing
(This is just my opinion, rarely stated, so it might not make it into the ultimatum, but it seems that wizards is emphasizing "toolbox" power a-la-jace, or simply efficient fat a-la-baneslayer angel, but is afraid to print anything remotely enabling of a new powerful archetype. I'm not asking for scullclamp, but i'm asking for shared discovery to be playable.)
Chapter 7: Our recommendations
(we need solutions if we're going to be taken seriously)
Private Mod Note
():
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You know you have played M:TG too much when you find yourself calling shotgun "in response" to your friends calling shotgun.
You know your friends have played M:TG too much when you get it.
@Forensicator: That's awesome and I'm totally for it. I suggest to add something about power creep and reserved list policy. Aside from content, if we're going to actually do this we need to do it quickly and somewhat professional. Using the structure of legislature would be a good place to start, imo. That way, are arguments will be organized and appear more official than just upset people rambling.
@Forensicator: That's awesome and I'm totally for it. I suggest to add something about power creep and reserved list policy. Aside from content, if we're going to actually do this we need to do it quickly and somewhat professional. Using the structure of legislature would be a good place to start, imo. That way, are arguments will be organized and appear more official than just upset people rambling.
Well, let's first make sure that we're more than just upset people rambling.
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():
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The Onmyouza Theatre, An unofficial international fanclub forum dedicated to the Japanese visual kei heavy metal band Onmyo-Za: http://www.onmyozatheatre.com
If you want to write a letter that actually has a chance to sway Wizards, you need to do one of two things:
- Have the support and signatures of more than 1% of the Magic playership. Since the playership was estimated at six million in 2003, you'll need about a hundred thousand signatures. Good luck with that.
- Have an argument fully backed by evidence; not just hypotheses but actual market research, showing trendlines that lead to a decrease in net profit. The problem here, is that I expect that if you actually do this research honestly, you'll find out that your premise is not supported by the evidence.
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Deprive is rarely maindecked and usually files a niche role in the SB. The whole bouncing your land is pretty backbreaking in a format where every land drop counts to your mid and late game spells.
Spreading Seas is pretty solid. 2 Mana is pretty good for neutralizing manlands and drawing you a card.
Sphinx of Jwar Isle...I'll give you that.
Mind Spring...Sorry but this card is mostly good in Standard right now because there isn't any other good from of big card draw like Tidings, Fact or Fiction or Careful Consideration.
Flashfreeze...Pretty good SB card, but Maindeckable? Maybe back in winter of 2010.
2 good maindeckable blue cards out of 5....:-/
Modern:
Something new every week
Legacy:
Something new everyweek
Simply put; they make money.
The change to Extended is also a strategy to make money. Wizards makes little to no money off of the secondary market, and cards the people already own. Cards in the last 4 years are easier to obtain for most players, especially newer players. Extended is now more like Standard+ which makes players feel like they get more use out of their cards which just rolled out of Standard. Extended prior to the change, was more akin to Legacy- instead of Standard+ which made it feel harder to be involved in.
I work full-time, and I'm still in college. The appeal of Magic to me is tabletop and local FNM tournaments. I believe that is the majority of Magic's audience. I don't have the time/money to invest into the previous Extended, and making that investment never appealed to me when I first got into Magic. Standard was played more frequently in my area and it was easier to get involved in.
The good thing about this move is that a player can say "hey, if I get into Standard now, I don't have to reach too far back to play Extended AND if I keep playing for a few years, I'll have tons of cards for Extended!"
This was my initial plan from the start: I got into Magic during Time Spiral and my plan was also to wait until Rav rotated out before I played Extended so that I wouldn't have to buy those blasted expensive lands. Wa-La! Now I don't have to wait as long.
PucaTrade Invite. Sign up and enjoy the first 500 points ($5) free!
As for the direction of actual gameplay, from what I know of the history of the Standard format, it seems like Wizard's moves away from successful, overplayed, deck types in new sets. It is my belief we won't see anything like Jund or Cascade for at least 4 years. I'm guessing the new Mirrodin block will have it's share of planeswalker hate and probably contain a counter of Remand-type playability. This game is constantly moving in new directions so I wouldn't worry about it's direction at any one time.
Mid-range strategies have been prevalent since Lorwyn-Time Sprial Standard and have been dominating since Lorwyn-Alara Standard.
Wizards clearly favors games between permanent heavy decks lacking in instants and sorceries.
Modern:
Something new every week
Legacy:
Something new everyweek
Options for the thirty-page ultimatum:
The Eroding Coast: Why Wizards' Future Means Fewer Wizards
Mythic Blunder: How Wizards of the Coast is Damaging its Reputation
or, a lengthy, legalistic, but expressive title:
A Grievance on the part of these signed members of the Magic: The Gathering Community, addressed to Wizards of the Coast: Regarding a general complaint about the policy which emphasizes an abandonment of Wizards' longstanding gaming principles in favor of booster sales.
The chapters:
Chapter 1: We get it.
(Players understand that wizards needs to sell packs. Players understand that not every card is for them. Players understand there will always be the haves and the have-nots. This chapter shows that we are not naieve)
Chapter 2: We don't think you get us.
(This chapter covers the nature of the changing magic demographic, what the demographic changes will bring, how wizards threatens its long-term future if it abandons "classic" players)
Chapter 3: Our understanding of your policy
(Sell packs. Mythics sell packs, small set jank with hyper-rares sell packs, pushing limited sells packs, appeal to beginners sells packs, changes to extended sells packs [i will elaborate on that detail later], midrange wars sell packs)
Chapter 4: Our problem with Mythics
(Limited becomes a little less predictable, prices go up, they don't REALLY add flavor, because mythicness is about the card, not its rarity, the market is warped to the point that standard is more expensive than ever)
Chapter 5: Our problem with The Changes to Extended
(loss of value, unpredictability overall, rising prices of standard and extended staples)
Chapter 6: Our problem with over-fixing
(This is just my opinion, rarely stated, so it might not make it into the ultimatum, but it seems that wizards is emphasizing "toolbox" power a-la-jace, or simply efficient fat a-la-baneslayer angel, but is afraid to print anything remotely enabling of a new powerful archetype. I'm not asking for scullclamp, but i'm asking for shared discovery to be playable.)
Chapter 7: Our recommendations
(we need solutions if we're going to be taken seriously)
You know your friends have played M:TG too much when you get it.
Thanks to Craven at Epic Graphics!
Well, let's first make sure that we're more than just upset people rambling.
http://www.onmyozatheatre.com
BelzDecks: Check out my current decks !
BelzCards: Look at all the neat cards I made up !
- Have the support and signatures of more than 1% of the Magic playership. Since the playership was estimated at six million in 2003, you'll need about a hundred thousand signatures. Good luck with that.
- Have an argument fully backed by evidence; not just hypotheses but actual market research, showing trendlines that lead to a decrease in net profit. The problem here, is that I expect that if you actually do this research honestly, you'll find out that your premise is not supported by the evidence.