Rule Change: The "Planeswalker Uniqueness Rule" and the "Legend Rule"
Two rule changes introduced with the Magic 2014 core set impact how cards in the Born of the Gods set function.
Under the previous rules, if there were two or more legendary permanents with the same name on the battlefield or two or more planeswalkers that share a subtype (such as "Jace") on the battlefield, they would all be put into their owners' graveyards as a state-based action. These rules have changed. The new rules are as follows:
704.5j If a player controls two or more planeswalkers that share a planeswalker type, that player chooses one of them, and the rest are put into their owners' graveyards. This is called the "planeswalker uniqueness rule."
704.5k If a player controls two or more legendary permanents with the same name, that player chooses one of them, and the rest are put into their owners' graveyards. This is called the "legend rule."
What do you think? Looks like Planeswalkers and Legends got their power boosted...
"Two rule changes introduced with the Magic 2014 core set impact how cards in the Born of the Gods set function."
In other words, this is how it's been since July. But because the set contains some legendary stuff, and a planeswalker, and the block now contains both a planeswalker and a legendary Xenagos, they keep reminding people about it.
Everyone knows that good luck and good game are such insincere terms that any man who does not connect his right hook with the offender's jaw on the very utterance of such a phrase is no man I would consider as such.
The thing I dislike most about these rules changes were that they didn't do them to make the game better in regards to the rules or to make Legends/Planeswalkers rules make more sense. They simply did it so that they could push the block design they wanted. Theros doesn't work unless you fundamentally change specific basic rules to make them work. Those being the Legend rules. It wasn't because two of them killing each other didn't make sense - it was because Theros can't work as designed with those in effect. That bothers me because there is no telling what else they'll change just to make something they want to do work (rather then it being something that makes the overall game better).
The thing I dislike most about these rules changes were that they didn't do them to make the game better in regards to the rules or to make Legends/Planeswalkers rules make more sense. They simply did it so that they could push the block design they wanted. Theros doesn't work unless you fundamentally change specific basic rules to make them work. Those being the Legend rules. It wasn't because two of them killing each other didn't make sense - it was because Theros can't work as designed with those in effect. That bothers me because there is no telling what else they'll change just to make something they want to do work (rather then it being something that makes the overall game better).
Er... Theros does work even with the old legend rules? (Not that I like the new legend rules either)
The thing I dislike most about these rules changes were that they didn't do them to make the game better in regards to the rules or to make Legends/Planeswalkers rules make more sense.
If R&D is to be believed, this isn't true. This change was, apparently in the works before Theros design even began.
I wouldn't call natural having a same guy in two place at the same time. It leads to better gameplay surely, but the flavor fail is big.
It's not as though the flavor of dying because you've seen your twin made much sense either.
Flavorwise, the original rule made the most sense (if a legendary creature is out, no one can play another copy of it until that one is gone), but was horrible for gameplay.
Flavorwise, the original rule made the most sense (if a legendary creature is out, no one can play another copy of it until that one is gone), but was horrible for gameplay.
Yup. For flavor, they got it right with that one.
For gameplay, the new rule is a significant improvement. You know longer have legacy sideboards including Karakas for the sake of destroying opposing Karakas, or Jace Beleran for the purpose of killing an opposing Mind Sculptor. Obviously, it boosted the power level of things like Gaea's Cradle, but it hasn't lead to any substantial degenerate plays/decks.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Currently playing:
Standard: I, for one, welcome our new rhinoceros overlords
Modern: Pod's dead, Bob's back.
Legacy: Lands, Deathblade, Death and Taxes, Elves, MUD
Retired Legacy: Merfolk, Goblins, Jund, Delver, Reanimator
I wouldn't call natural having a same guy in two place at the same time. It leads to better gameplay surely, but the flavor fail is big.
This 100%. What even makes Legendary/Planeswalkers unique if they can be everwhere anytime now? Maybe not as much Legendarys, but Planeswalker uniqueness rule really bothers me.
Can't be in 2 places at once? MTG isn't based off reality, its sure Fantasy-ish....where all sorts of rules of physics and other sciences are just disregarded.
People really need to stop using reality as a basis for what can and cannot (or should/should not) be done in Magic.
As for someone claiming Theros would be just as good with the old legend rule; hardly. Someone casts a Thassa, then it dies when the opponent casts one. I'm quite sure that WOTC didn't want to print all these Legendary cards just so they all die to another copy of it.
The most "flavorful" way to do it would be, when someone played a new copy of a Legendary, the older copy goes away. Why? Because clearly the creature is switching sides. Makes for terrible gameplay, though.
The thing I dislike most about these rules changes were that they didn't do them to make the game better in regards to the rules or to make Legends/Planeswalkers rules make more sense. They simply did it so that they could push the block design they wanted. Theros doesn't work unless you fundamentally change specific basic rules to make them work. Those being the Legend rules. It wasn't because two of them killing each other didn't make sense - it was because Theros can't work as designed with those in effect. That bothers me because there is no telling what else they'll change just to make something they want to do work (rather then it being something that makes the overall game better).
They've done it before. Kamigawa came with a Legend Rule change as well, and you could argue that there is no way the set could work under the old one (when you have a Legend out, nobody else could play a copy, or it would go away and yours would stay).
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Retrodrome!
Hoi, hoi, u embleer hrair
M'saion ulé hraka vair.
I wouldn't call natural having a same guy in two place at the same time. It leads to better gameplay surely, but the flavor fail is big.
You're really going to argue about flavor? The old way before the most recent change was flavorful? Ha.
Rafiq: Hi, I'm Rafiq of the Many. I'm here to serve you.
Clone: Hi, I'm a clone. I'm going to pretend to be you, Rafiq.
<Rafiq commits suicide>
<Clone commits suicide>
Seems reasonable. I just look at it now as we're summoning copies of each creature, but can't maintain control of two identical creatures (non-legendary creatures are obviously just two very similar guys, not actually the same guy twice). This helps explain having out Venser, Shaper Savant and Venser, the Sojourner out (although doesn't explain the new version of PWer uniqueness) - one is a copied creature, the other is the PWer coming to assist. The best way to do it, flavorfully, is the original way (I believe it's how it was originally), where a legend being in play prevented another copy from being played. That was terrible for gameplay, though. The second was also terrible for gameplay. While it provided counters to things like Jitte (who cares - it's banned in Modern) and Geist, those cards aren't exactly wrecking the game and clones were obviously not intended to be "destroy a legendary creature" cards. Legendary shouldn't have been that much of a weakness, as if blue needed more strengths.
Flavor: 1st > (significantly) 3rd > 2nd
Gameplay: 3rd > (by quite a bit) 2nd > (by a ton) 1st
Clearly the newest version is the all around best.
Rule Change: The "Planeswalker Uniqueness Rule" and the "Legend Rule"
Two rule changes introduced with the Magic 2014 core set impact how cards in the Born of the Gods set function.
Under the previous rules, if there were two or more legendary permanents with the same name on the battlefield or two or more planeswalkers that share a subtype (such as "Jace") on the battlefield, they would all be put into their owners' graveyards as a state-based action. These rules have changed. The new rules are as follows:
704.5j If a player controls two or more planeswalkers that share a planeswalker type, that player chooses one of them, and the rest are put into their owners' graveyards. This is called the "planeswalker uniqueness rule."
704.5k If a player controls two or more legendary permanents with the same name, that player chooses one of them, and the rest are put into their owners' graveyards. This is called the "legend rule."
What do you think? Looks like Planeswalkers and Legends got their power boosted...
In other words, this is how it's been since July. But because the set contains some legendary stuff, and a planeswalker, and the block now contains both a planeswalker and a legendary Xenagos, they keep reminding people about it.
----
Lightning Bolts don't kill creatures. State-based actions kill creatures.
- To my youngest sister when she was 6.
Apparently they're not new rules so much as they're new to me.
But yay post x 69.
now ruined by this post
How To Keep Your FOIL Cards From Curling: http://youtu.be/QTmubrS8VnI
The Best Deck Boxes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEwgLph_Pjk
The Best Binders: http://youtu.be/H5IauASYWjk
I think they're stupid, but I haven't run into an instance where it broke anything.
Of course, I thought it was going to get a lot of cards banned in legacy.
Er... Theros does work even with the old legend rules? (Not that I like the new legend rules either)
I wouldn't call natural having a same guy in two place at the same time. It leads to better gameplay surely, but the flavor fail is big.
It's not as though the flavor of dying because you've seen your twin made much sense either.
Flavorwise, the original rule made the most sense (if a legendary creature is out, no one can play another copy of it until that one is gone), but was horrible for gameplay.
Yup. For flavor, they got it right with that one.
For gameplay, the new rule is a significant improvement. You know longer have legacy sideboards including Karakas for the sake of destroying opposing Karakas, or Jace Beleran for the purpose of killing an opposing Mind Sculptor. Obviously, it boosted the power level of things like Gaea's Cradle, but it hasn't lead to any substantial degenerate plays/decks.
Standard: I, for one, welcome our new rhinoceros overlords
Modern: Pod's dead, Bob's back.
Legacy: Lands, Deathblade, Death and Taxes, Elves, MUD
Retired Legacy: Merfolk, Goblins, Jund, Delver, Reanimator
This 100%. What even makes Legendary/Planeswalkers unique if they can be everwhere anytime now? Maybe not as much Legendarys, but Planeswalker uniqueness rule really bothers me.
BUG Reanimator
BWG Nic-Fit
BGR Punishing Nic-Fit
I like the rule for EDH. It makes Generals a lot easier to use.
B Lover Since '09 ~
Standard:
meh.
Modern:
Urzatron GR
Vintage:
Contol-Slaver UBR
EDH:
Drana B
Jhoira UR
Savra BG
Turned into:
Adun Oakenshield BGR
Sharuum BUW
Turned into:
Memnarch U
KiKi-Jiki R
Turned into:
Godo R
Turned into:
Aurelia RW
The Mimeoplasm UBG
Rasputin Dreamweaver UW
Turned into:
Geist of Saint Traft -French 1v1 UW
Nekusar UBR
People really need to stop using reality as a basis for what can and cannot (or should/should not) be done in Magic.
As for someone claiming Theros would be just as good with the old legend rule; hardly. Someone casts a Thassa, then it dies when the opponent casts one. I'm quite sure that WOTC didn't want to print all these Legendary cards just so they all die to another copy of it.
WBG Karador GBW
R Daretti R
RG Omnath GR
WRG Modern Burn GRW
WB Modern Tokens BW
DCI Rules Advisor as of 5/18/2015
They've done it before. Kamigawa came with a Legend Rule change as well, and you could argue that there is no way the set could work under the old one (when you have a Legend out, nobody else could play a copy, or it would go away and yours would stay).
Hoi, hoi, u embleer hrair
M'saion ulé hraka vair.
You're really going to argue about flavor? The old way before the most recent change was flavorful? Ha.
Rafiq: Hi, I'm Rafiq of the Many. I'm here to serve you.
Clone: Hi, I'm a clone. I'm going to pretend to be you, Rafiq.
<Rafiq commits suicide>
<Clone commits suicide>
Seems reasonable. I just look at it now as we're summoning copies of each creature, but can't maintain control of two identical creatures (non-legendary creatures are obviously just two very similar guys, not actually the same guy twice). This helps explain having out Venser, Shaper Savant and Venser, the Sojourner out (although doesn't explain the new version of PWer uniqueness) - one is a copied creature, the other is the PWer coming to assist. The best way to do it, flavorfully, is the original way (I believe it's how it was originally), where a legend being in play prevented another copy from being played. That was terrible for gameplay, though. The second was also terrible for gameplay. While it provided counters to things like Jitte (who cares - it's banned in Modern) and Geist, those cards aren't exactly wrecking the game and clones were obviously not intended to be "destroy a legendary creature" cards. Legendary shouldn't have been that much of a weakness, as if blue needed more strengths.
Flavor: 1st > (significantly) 3rd > 2nd
Gameplay: 3rd > (by quite a bit) 2nd > (by a ton) 1st
Clearly the newest version is the all around best.
That clones could be used to kill legends was a bug in the game but people got comfortable with it and starting viewing it as a feature
I am very happy with the change