But they would have to reprint stuff like mutavault, BoP, char, rune snag, ***/Damnation (I don't really care which) O-ring, the good Kamahl (the green one), hyppie, Jeska (that would be nice), and what the hell Silvos.
Aren't you just listing cards that you'd like to see, as opposed to things that would make sense in a smaller Core Set possibly full of better cards?
Mutavault won't be in a Core Set, and I would curse at a kitten for every Jeska I pulled.
Which kinda begs the question: why does the core set exist anymore?
The $20,000 question, for sure. Still, it's not really a difficult answer, if you ask me:
- The Core Set can still be used as an "introductory" or "simpler" set. In other words, no change from its current incarnations as "newbie friendly (tm)".
- The Core Set can gain more interesting reprints. For example, 11th edition could very well include the Planeswalker card type, but at mythic rarity so that it doesn't fall into the hands of newer players, which is pretty much what WotC would say about the card type in general, as well as their more-complex-than-desired rules supports. The same argument can be said for multicolored cards, which have been arguably long overdue for the core set. Pernicious Deed as a rare reprint would be awesome for the Core Set, don't you think? Same with other oldies that are good but not broken (Fires of Yavimaya, Meddling Mage, Glimpse the Unthinkable, and so on).
- Lastly, what else would they print during the summer months without resorting to larger or miniature blocks as in the current Standard environment? I don't see them taking the summer off, let alone doing "nothing but UN". On the other hand, there's a good possibility they could be sweet-talked into "Meanwhile, back on THIS plane..." type sets. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say people wouldn't mind going back to Ravnica for another multi-color set, even if it's a one-time larger set. :> Creative could even go for the "here's what happens when Planeswalker X visits Plane Y." They're all possibilities.
The $20,000 question, for sure. Still, it's not really a difficult answer, if you ask me:
- The Core Set can still be used as an "introductory" or "simpler" set. In other words, no change from its current incarnations as "newbie friendly (tm)".
- The Core Set can gain more interesting reprints. For example, 11th edition could very well include the Planeswalker card type, but at mythic rarity so that it doesn't fall into the hands of newer players, which is pretty much what WotC would say about the card type in general, as well as their more-complex-than-desired rules supports. The same argument can be said for multicolored cards, which have been arguably long overdue for the core set. Pernicious Deed as a rare reprint would be awesome for the Core Set, don't you think? Same with other oldies that are good but not broken (Fires of Yavimaya, Meddling Mage, Glimpse the Unthinkable, and so on).
- Lastly, what else would they print during the summer months without resorting to larger or miniature blocks as in the current Standard environment? I don't see them taking the summer off, let alone doing "nothing but UN". On the other hand, there's a good possibility they could be sweet-talked into "Meanwhile, back on THIS plane..." type sets. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say people wouldn't mind going back to Ravnica for another multi-color set, even if it's a one-time larger set. :> Creative could even go for the "here's what happens when Planeswalker X visits Plane Y." They're all possibilities.
1. simple core: hasn't worked. no matter how simple, new players just don't get their hands on the stuff.
A bomb common will show up ALOT more and can make someones deck very very powerful.
Imagine getting 6 O rings!
Shards still has 101 or so commons. That's not far off from other big sets at all. The smaller sets seem in line with older sets in terms of number of commons as well.
In terms of number of commons in limited, it seems it won't change too much.
I know this is weird and off topic, but I can't wait to see the tokens in ALA or 11th.
On topic, I'm a little glad for smaller sets because it'll make drafting sweeter if they do remove jank. If they don't remove much jank, then nothing will really change for 11th, and Wizards will get *****ed at if they print too much jank in ALA.
It is a tricky line though. Either wizards makes power creep, or they print jank. Maybe if we all shut up they could kill power creep more effectively. I think they listen to us a lot more than we give them credit for.
This change hopefully signifies a new attitude towards the Core Set by Wizards, and this attitude change hopefully means that we can see gold cards in 11th.
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They call me Hadoken 'cause I'm down-right fierce.
I don't know if I like gold cards quite yet... It is possible to go through a whole rotation and not see one... Don't know if it's actually been done, but it is possible. Not only that, if they only print 1 or 2 cycles which is already 10 or 20 cards, then we have half of a theme going on, and that's a little retarded. They aren't that hard to understand, though, and I'm hoping they kick core set up a notch so that it's something to actually look forward too.
@ WOTC: Set the color pie right and fix white and blue. and stop filling it with jank! I know you're watching, and not just because I'm super paranoid. Make the next core set really count, because the fate of it is the same direction magic goes.
I guess I'm a little gunshy about the health of the game, vs. the health of the company. They've almost always been linked, but I've seldom 'seen' the attempt to get us to buy more packs more boldly stated and built into pack strategy. A smaller base set doesn't have to be more or less 'played' than what we have now; instead of 50? playables from 383 in the current set, we could have 20/224. Or 80/224, or the same ratios of great cards/good cards/johnny toys/drek as we have now.
My general instinct is that the base set will also have ultra-rares. While not being the best 'utility' cards, I think they will be chased cards. The plant for vintage(every set has one card--at least--that R&D pushes until they think it will qualify) will almost always be ultra; very few ultras will be drek, leaving 'drek' rares to clog up the regular rare slot. So while some of the basic rares will be nice, the rest will be worse. Net effect? you buy more boxes/packs of a smaller set to get what you need/want. The promise to make 'utility rares' more common depends on your concept of utility; all the r/g lands are cheap, compared to a 'tarmogoyf' or 'urza's rage', when they're hot. So while you might have no more 400$ manabases, decks won't be any cheaper when built from the singles market. Example: a base set with the set of 10 painlands at 'basic rare', with 5 $$$, powerful, fun cards from say, a small set that didn't sell in huge numbers (Weatherlight?) at 'ultra rare'. Would sell like hotcakes, because (if carefully chosen) the demand for the ultras will far outstrip supply. The painlands wouldn't get any cheaper; the prices would simply spike for the 'ultra' reprints needed to run this deck or that deck. Deck-destroying sideboard cards would also be a good choice for 'ultras'--imagine a common answer at 5 mana, a basic rare answer at 3, and an ultra at 1 converted mana cost--and it's better to boot.
Long story short: If you want to be competitive in standard, expect to be spending more under this model, not less, despite smaller sets.
This change hopefully signifies a new attitude towards the Core Set by Wizards, and this attitude change hopefully means that we can see gold cards in 11th.
i even want hybrids in there, and legends being included in core is a step towards that direction of gold in core
I guess I'm a little gunshy about the health of the game, vs. the health of the company. They've almost always been linked, but I've seldom 'seen' the attempt to get us to buy more packs more boldly stated and built into pack strategy. A smaller base set doesn't have to be more or less 'played' than what we have now; instead of 50? playables from 383 in the current set, we could have 20/224. Or 80/224, or the same ratios of great cards/good cards/johnny toys/drek as we have now.
My general instinct is that the base set will also have ultra-rares. While not being the best 'utility' cards, I think they will be chased cards. The plant for vintage(every set has one card--at least--that R&D pushes until they think it will qualify) will almost always be ultra; very few ultras will be drek, leaving 'drek' rares to clog up the regular rare slot. So while some of the basic rares will be nice, the rest will be worse. Net effect? you buy more boxes/packs of a smaller set to get what you need/want. The promise to make 'utility rares' more common depends on your concept of utility; all the r/g lands are cheap, compared to a 'tarmogoyf' or 'urza's rage', when they're hot. So while you might have no more 400$ manabases, decks won't be any cheaper when built from the singles market. Example: a base set with the set of 10 painlands at 'basic rare', with 5 $$$, powerful, fun cards from say, a small set that didn't sell in huge numbers (Weatherlight?) at 'ultra rare'. Would sell like hotcakes, because (if carefully chosen) the demand for the ultras will far outstrip supply. The painlands wouldn't get any cheaper; the prices would simply spike for the 'ultra' reprints needed to run this deck or that deck. Deck-destroying sideboard cards would also be a good choice for 'ultras'--imagine a common answer at 5 mana, a basic rare answer at 3, and an ultra at 1 converted mana cost--and it's better to boot.
Long story short: If you want to be competitive in standard, expect to be spending more under this model, not less, despite smaller sets.
I dont quite understand where you are coming from in this given that the numbers for a large set work out to the same rarity as a 10th edition rare, I dont see a price spike as huge as you are thinking. I saw it said somewhere in the other thread on Alara, it will be more like a 30-60% increase, and that is only if they put really playable cards there. From what I hear MaRo saying that will not necessarily be the case. Yes the new Planeswalker will be at the higher rarity, but I have been of the opinion that Garruk and his ilk have been over hyped from the start. I find myself siding them out EVERY second game I play, with any deck they are in. The effect being that I have simply cut the thought of a PW from any deck building as I dont feel they strengthen the decks I was trying to play them in at all. In fact I feel that cards like them weaken the overall deck. And yes I do have a set of them, no I didnt get them as singles, and yes I still win without playing them.
I can see that some people may not feel they can win with out some of these Ultra rare cards, but to them I say you want the card 20% further markup for this jank that I dont want to use anyway, and only because you came asking for it directly.
To be ever so slightly more on topic, what do people predict the break down for a 229+basics Core would be? 75/75/79. 70/70/89, or the same as Alara? Of course the rares, if they do promote any of them could be 15+55 or 60...
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Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Saftey, deserve neither Liberty nor Saftey.
-Most likely Benjamin Franklin
I know this is weird and off topic, but I can't wait to see the tokens in ALA or 11th.
On topic, I'm a little glad for smaller sets because it'll make drafting sweeter if they do remove jank. If they don't remove much jank, then nothing will really change for 11th, and Wizards will get *****ed at if they print too much jank in ALA.
It is a tricky line though. Either wizards makes power creep, or they print jank. Maybe if we all shut up they could kill power creep more effectively. I think they listen to us a lot more than we give them credit for.
i do not think creep is a function of us speaking, but rather them knowing that tribal is not as easily flavorful. if they want to get players playing tribal, after the spoiler comes out and everyone figures out how to build the archdecks, well, powercreep is the answer.
if they do a theme that's more famed, like god, and still attack with powercreep, then i'll be happy.
When they do 11th edition, I'm fairly certain we'll see each type of card in the same or similar percentages that we currently see them in 10th. You'll still have your junk skilltester commons, just less of them. Same with build-around-me-rares and utility (sideboard or color-hoser) uncommons and commons. While the intended purpose of 11th might not be the same as 10th (getting new people to start playing the game), the effect of who buys it will be similar if not exactly the same, since new players need to get staple cards and not everyone knows to (or wants to) buy singles.
Basically, if you were happy with 50% of 10th, you'll probably be happy with 50% of 11th. If you were only happy with 10%, I'd guess that will be true again. All of the different types of players and their reasons for playing will still need to be addressed. Some people can be happy those cards exist for those other types of players and some people only care about the cards they want to play, but I'm sure everyone will get something from it just like they've done in the past.
Regarding Char and Mutavault in the next core set: I would like to think Char would show up just because it is such a flavorful and powerful red burn card, but I wonder now that they've printed Flame Javelin; would they put two 3 cost-4 damage red spells in standard together? Mutavault I would assume is too much like a Changeling to see inclusion, as that's pretty much a block mechanic as it goes... But since it isn't keyworded it's fair game. Personally I hate Mutavault, and all colorless cards that are so good they end up being in every deck, so I hope it's out, but I guess we'll see...
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Forever known, whenever said, ancient rhyme, forgotten dead.
Regarding Char and Mutavault in the next core set: I would like to think Char would show up just because it is such a flavorful and powerful red burn card, but I wonder now that they've printed Flame Javelin; would they put two 3 cost-4 damage red spells in standard together? Mutavault I would assume is too much like a Changeling to see inclusion, as that's pretty much a block mechanic as it goes... But since it isn't keyworded it's fair game. Personally I hate Mutavault, and all colorless cards that are so good they end up being in every deck, so I hope it's out, but I guess we'll see...
char is interesting in that it can be splashed everywhere with the right complement of lands.
flame javelin is the same, at 4, 5 and even 6 mana.
all in all, its not unreasonable if they cost this much to play with - running lands that can get you A LOT of red mana, or getting to cast it only on turn three in a pure green mana romp deck.
all in all, both cards are fair, even if they go into the same standard environ together
After thinking for a while, I decide to disagree with the small size of Core Set. As a set that is filled ONLY with reprints, it is just fair for it to be bigger than the new big sets starting from Alara, thus sizing on 280-300 or so. If anything, don't just make the size smaller than usual, fix the rarity ratio too; I'm never ever fond of the 1:1:1 ratio, especially when there are a million cards to collect. Plus, the opinion that the smaller the set size the better the card quality must also hold here; seeing Craw Wurm, Enormous Baloth, Spined Wurm and Grizzly Bears all in one color is an eyesore.
Well look at it this way, now that they don't see core sets as being quite as much of "intro" sets, we could see more advanced concepts and mechanics. Not quite "timeshifted" complex, but gold cards and some beefy Legends for sure. A smaller set also gives us possibility of less filler like Fishliver Oil.
I've been curious for a while now as to how exactly the intention of "few cards in standard" and printing about 2/3 per set that they usually will affect the new Extended policy. Didn't they mention that one reason they changed the rotation was because looking at it caused a fairly consistent specific range of a cardpool that they wanted? One that they said was between where people felt "there were too many/few cards to see interesting decks". So now, how will that pan out?
Additionally, I have to agree on the frustration at how this change does harshly affect draft (in reference to the land being put in packs change) but this isn't really the thread to go into it too much more behind that.
And yes, I really hope that if they are dropping the coreset so low (after complaints of just never having enough room to fit what they wanted in the core) that they had better find a focus for it and stick to it. If the focus is to provide a consistent cardpool for tournament players, then provide that and stop printing trash 1W 2/2 type vanillas or certain red random one mana sorceries we all love to hate. If they want to focus on a basic style set for extremely casual and new players, then go for it there and give us some distinction. Don't try to do both with 2/3 of the cardpool and expect good sales.
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New Rules come out for 1999 6th Edition... "THEY'RE TURNING MAGIC INTO PORTAL! THE GAME IS RUINED! EVERYONE PETITION AND GET THEM TO CHANGE IT BACK!"
New Rules come out for 2010 Edition... "THEY'RE TURNING MAGIC INTO YU-GI-OH! THE GAME IS RUINED! EVERYONE PETITION AND GET THEM TO CHANGE IT BACK!"
New Rules come out for *Reserved for something in 2020* "THEY'RE TURNING MAGIC INTO *currently "simple" game by the more "skilled" players*! THE GAME IS..." etc.
I don't get why they're strinking the core set. It's not really going to save Wizards much money since the set is comprised of cards that have already been designed. It looks like more cards will be cut and less card will be able to be brought back to make things interesting...
While most people use whatever set to teach new players, I have always tried to use the core sets or the simpler sets(Coldsnap). It is easier if they only have to learn words like haste, trample, and flying, during their first game and don't have to understand things like cycling. So I like the core set for that. But beyond that I don't really use anything from them. You get some BoPs, some Wraths, and your playset of commons from them, and then never think about the set again.
I think we will always need a core set, I just really wish they were a lot more important then they are now. Oh, and they should all be black bordered. White bordered cards are nothing but eyesores.
I predict that 11th will fail me by being white bordered. It will also be better than 8th, 9th, and 10th combined. And will probably have 10 reprinted legends to fill out the mythic rarity.
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I am probably the only person in the world that collects Tarnished Citadels. Not because I like the card, but because I don't want someone to get his hands on one and then attemp to actually play the damned thing.
I'm actually sorta disappointed with the idea of cutting the size of the Core Set, mainly because I think that that means they're going to be filtering out alot of jank; I personally feel that jank, really does have it's place, especially in Limited. I mean, who doesn't take joy in scooping the last good card from a booster, and then passing along a bunch of Fishliver Oil-esque cards?
Not to mention, less cards, equals less slots for the "essential" effects in the set. I mean, if they didn't have room for stuff like Stone Rain and the like, what are they going to have to cut for a 249-card set?
When they printed 10th I believe they stated that there was no more White bordered core sets
Balls. I always liked the whole "Expert sets black-bordered, Core sets white-bordered" dealy.
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MTGS: Where criticism of staff is a bannable offense.
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And I'm not changing it. I'm not gonna be browbeated by a moderator, simply because you don't like the fact that I'm bringing to light that the staff suspends half-decent posters, while allowing trolls to run rampant.
Well, you've still got about fourteen hours before you're infracted for noncompliance. Talk to whomever you want.
I predict that 11th will fail me by being white bordered.
We already have common/black borders (almost everything now), uncommon/silver borders (Un-sets) and rare/gold borders(reprints not legal in tournaments). So maybe 11th will have mythic/red borders.
I've been curious for a while now as to how exactly the intention of "few cards in standard" and printing about 2/3 per set that they usually will affect the new Extended policy. Didn't they mention that one reason they changed the rotation was because looking at it caused a fairly consistent specific range of a cardpool that they wanted? One that they said was between where people felt "there were too many/few cards to see interesting decks". So now, how will that pan out?
Additionally, I have to agree on the frustration at how this change does harshly affect draft (in reference to the land being put in packs change) but this isn't really the thread to go into it too much more behind that.
And yes, I really hope that if they are dropping the coreset so low (after complaints of just never having enough room to fit what they wanted in the core) that they had better find a focus for it and stick to it. If the focus is to provide a consistent cardpool for tournament players, then provide that and stop printing trash 1W 2/2 type vanillas or certain red random one mana sorceries we all love to hate. If they want to focus on a basic style set for extremely casual and new players, then go for it there and give us some distinction. Don't try to do both with 2/3 of the cardpool and expect good sales.
i'd bet you we're gonna see more 4 sets a year with a 4 set mega block or a pair of 2 set mini blocks for a long time
A bomb common will show up ALOT more and can make someones deck very very powerful.
Imagine getting 6 O rings!
well look at shadomoor.
Random noob 1: hey look i drafted 4 (enter enchant here) i passed kitchen finks cause i thought it sucked.
oh look my ravens run dragoon is a 5/5 flying indestructible that is incredibly easy to get every draft.... hmmmm....
the bomb commons for draft are already here. shadowmoor has tons.
not to mention an infinite combo with 3 commons in the set... lawlz 0_o
Aren't you just listing cards that you'd like to see, as opposed to things that would make sense in a smaller Core Set possibly full of better cards?
Mutavault won't be in a Core Set, and I would curse at a kitten for every Jeska I pulled.
- The Core Set can still be used as an "introductory" or "simpler" set. In other words, no change from its current incarnations as "newbie friendly (tm)".
- The Core Set can gain more interesting reprints. For example, 11th edition could very well include the Planeswalker card type, but at mythic rarity so that it doesn't fall into the hands of newer players, which is pretty much what WotC would say about the card type in general, as well as their more-complex-than-desired rules supports. The same argument can be said for multicolored cards, which have been arguably long overdue for the core set. Pernicious Deed as a rare reprint would be awesome for the Core Set, don't you think? Same with other oldies that are good but not broken (Fires of Yavimaya, Meddling Mage, Glimpse the Unthinkable, and so on).
- Lastly, what else would they print during the summer months without resorting to larger or miniature blocks as in the current Standard environment? I don't see them taking the summer off, let alone doing "nothing but UN". On the other hand, there's a good possibility they could be sweet-talked into "Meanwhile, back on THIS plane..." type sets. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say people wouldn't mind going back to Ravnica for another multi-color set, even if it's a one-time larger set. :> Creative could even go for the "here's what happens when Planeswalker X visits Plane Y." They're all possibilities.
Past Ruminations
Links are broken, will fix in near future.
- Kaladesh
- Zendikar
- Rise of the Eldrazi
- Alara Reborn
- Innistrad <- Personal Favorite
- Dark Ascension
- Avacyn Restored
- Theros
- Return to Ravnica
- Tarkir
1. simple core: hasn't worked. no matter how simple, new players just don't get their hands on the stuff.
2. true. very true
3. 4 set blocks. the next big thing in mtg.
Shards still has 101 or so commons. That's not far off from other big sets at all. The smaller sets seem in line with older sets in terms of number of commons as well.
In terms of number of commons in limited, it seems it won't change too much.
On topic, I'm a little glad for smaller sets because it'll make drafting sweeter if they do remove jank. If they don't remove much jank, then nothing will really change for 11th, and Wizards will get *****ed at if they print too much jank in ALA.
It is a tricky line though. Either wizards makes power creep, or they print jank. Maybe if we all shut up they could kill power creep more effectively. I think they listen to us a lot more than we give them credit for.
Playing:
EDH:
BGSkullbriarBG
GWURafiqGWU
WUBSharuumWUB
UBRMishraUBR
RRRRDWRRR
RGWerewolvesRG
BBBMonoblack ControlBBB
WWWHumansWWW
UBHeartless DemonsUB
RWUSunforgerRWU
UWLuminarch Ascension ControlUW
@ WOTC: Set the color pie right and fix white and blue. and stop filling it with jank! I know you're watching, and not just because I'm super paranoid. Make the next core set really count, because the fate of it is the same direction magic goes.
Playing:
EDH:
BGSkullbriarBG
GWURafiqGWU
WUBSharuumWUB
UBRMishraUBR
RRRRDWRRR
RGWerewolvesRG
BBBMonoblack ControlBBB
WWWHumansWWW
UBHeartless DemonsUB
RWUSunforgerRWU
UWLuminarch Ascension ControlUW
My general instinct is that the base set will also have ultra-rares. While not being the best 'utility' cards, I think they will be chased cards. The plant for vintage(every set has one card--at least--that R&D pushes until they think it will qualify) will almost always be ultra; very few ultras will be drek, leaving 'drek' rares to clog up the regular rare slot. So while some of the basic rares will be nice, the rest will be worse. Net effect? you buy more boxes/packs of a smaller set to get what you need/want. The promise to make 'utility rares' more common depends on your concept of utility; all the r/g lands are cheap, compared to a 'tarmogoyf' or 'urza's rage', when they're hot. So while you might have no more 400$ manabases, decks won't be any cheaper when built from the singles market. Example: a base set with the set of 10 painlands at 'basic rare', with 5 $$$, powerful, fun cards from say, a small set that didn't sell in huge numbers (Weatherlight?) at 'ultra rare'. Would sell like hotcakes, because (if carefully chosen) the demand for the ultras will far outstrip supply. The painlands wouldn't get any cheaper; the prices would simply spike for the 'ultra' reprints needed to run this deck or that deck. Deck-destroying sideboard cards would also be a good choice for 'ultras'--imagine a common answer at 5 mana, a basic rare answer at 3, and an ultra at 1 converted mana cost--and it's better to boot.
Long story short: If you want to be competitive in standard, expect to be spending more under this model, not less, despite smaller sets.
Playing:
EDH:
BGSkullbriarBG
GWURafiqGWU
WUBSharuumWUB
UBRMishraUBR
RRRRDWRRR
RGWerewolvesRG
BBBMonoblack ControlBBB
WWWHumansWWW
UBHeartless DemonsUB
RWUSunforgerRWU
UWLuminarch Ascension ControlUW
i even want hybrids in there, and legends being included in core is a step towards that direction of gold in core
I dont quite understand where you are coming from in this given that the numbers for a large set work out to the same rarity as a 10th edition rare, I dont see a price spike as huge as you are thinking. I saw it said somewhere in the other thread on Alara, it will be more like a 30-60% increase, and that is only if they put really playable cards there. From what I hear MaRo saying that will not necessarily be the case. Yes the new Planeswalker will be at the higher rarity, but I have been of the opinion that Garruk and his ilk have been over hyped from the start. I find myself siding them out EVERY second game I play, with any deck they are in. The effect being that I have simply cut the thought of a PW from any deck building as I dont feel they strengthen the decks I was trying to play them in at all. In fact I feel that cards like them weaken the overall deck. And yes I do have a set of them, no I didnt get them as singles, and yes I still win without playing them.
I can see that some people may not feel they can win with out some of these Ultra rare cards, but to them I say you want the card 20% further markup for this jank that I dont want to use anyway, and only because you came asking for it directly.
To be ever so slightly more on topic, what do people predict the break down for a 229+basics Core would be? 75/75/79. 70/70/89, or the same as Alara? Of course the rares, if they do promote any of them could be 15+55 or 60...
-Most likely Benjamin Franklin
i do not think creep is a function of us speaking, but rather them knowing that tribal is not as easily flavorful. if they want to get players playing tribal, after the spoiler comes out and everyone figures out how to build the archdecks, well, powercreep is the answer.
if they do a theme that's more famed, like god, and still attack with powercreep, then i'll be happy.
i won't hold my breath for that, though
Basically, if you were happy with 50% of 10th, you'll probably be happy with 50% of 11th. If you were only happy with 10%, I'd guess that will be true again. All of the different types of players and their reasons for playing will still need to be addressed. Some people can be happy those cards exist for those other types of players and some people only care about the cards they want to play, but I'm sure everyone will get something from it just like they've done in the past.
Regarding Char and Mutavault in the next core set: I would like to think Char would show up just because it is such a flavorful and powerful red burn card, but I wonder now that they've printed Flame Javelin; would they put two 3 cost-4 damage red spells in standard together? Mutavault I would assume is too much like a Changeling to see inclusion, as that's pretty much a block mechanic as it goes... But since it isn't keyworded it's fair game. Personally I hate Mutavault, and all colorless cards that are so good they end up being in every deck, so I hope it's out, but I guess we'll see...
char is interesting in that it can be splashed everywhere with the right complement of lands.
flame javelin is the same, at 4, 5 and even 6 mana.
all in all, its not unreasonable if they cost this much to play with - running lands that can get you A LOT of red mana, or getting to cast it only on turn three in a pure green mana romp deck.
all in all, both cards are fair, even if they go into the same standard environ together
After thinking for a while, I decide to disagree with the small size of Core Set. As a set that is filled ONLY with reprints, it is just fair for it to be bigger than the new big sets starting from Alara, thus sizing on 280-300 or so. If anything, don't just make the size smaller than usual, fix the rarity ratio too; I'm never ever fond of the 1:1:1 ratio, especially when there are a million cards to collect. Plus, the opinion that the smaller the set size the better the card quality must also hold here; seeing Craw Wurm, Enormous Baloth, Spined Wurm and Grizzly Bears all in one color is an eyesore.
Additionally, I have to agree on the frustration at how this change does harshly affect draft (in reference to the land being put in packs change) but this isn't really the thread to go into it too much more behind that.
And yes, I really hope that if they are dropping the coreset so low (after complaints of just never having enough room to fit what they wanted in the core) that they had better find a focus for it and stick to it. If the focus is to provide a consistent cardpool for tournament players, then provide that and stop printing trash 1W 2/2 type vanillas or certain red random one mana sorceries we all love to hate. If they want to focus on a basic style set for extremely casual and new players, then go for it there and give us some distinction. Don't try to do both with 2/3 of the cardpool and expect good sales.
I think we will always need a core set, I just really wish they were a lot more important then they are now. Oh, and they should all be black bordered. White bordered cards are nothing but eyesores.
I predict that 11th will fail me by being white bordered. It will also be better than 8th, 9th, and 10th combined. And will probably have 10 reprinted legends to fill out the mythic rarity.
When they printed 10th I believe they stated that there was no more White bordered core sets
Not to mention, less cards, equals less slots for the "essential" effects in the set. I mean, if they didn't have room for stuff like Stone Rain and the like, what are they going to have to cut for a 249-card set?
Balls. I always liked the whole "Expert sets black-bordered, Core sets white-bordered" dealy.
We already have common/black borders (almost everything now), uncommon/silver borders (Un-sets) and rare/gold borders(reprints not legal in tournaments). So maybe 11th will have mythic/red borders.
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
i'd bet you we're gonna see more 4 sets a year with a 4 set mega block or a pair of 2 set mini blocks for a long time
You (edit).
Flame Infraction.
well look at shadomoor.
Random noob 1: hey look i drafted 4 (enter enchant here) i passed kitchen finks cause i thought it sucked.
oh look my ravens run dragoon is a 5/5 flying indestructible that is incredibly easy to get every draft.... hmmmm....
the bomb commons for draft are already here. shadowmoor has tons.
not to mention an infinite combo with 3 commons in the set... lawlz 0_o
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=113277