I think 10 per block is too much, but 2 per set is too little. There is surely more than 2 themes and mechanics in the set, and I think that by having 4, which is a good number, can cover most themes and mechanics of the set. Now that they have taken away the "this is the first product for new players to buy" tag from the intro pack, they should have just went back to theme decks. I'd rather have more deck choices with different themes than have a planeswalker and support cards shoehorned in, and thus taking some focus away from the set's themes and mechanics. I'm thinking 4 or 5 for large sets and 2 or 3 for small sets. That's what they should have done. Ideally, I would have gone 4 for both large and small sets, for my personal tastes, but 4-2, 4-3, or 5-3 is good too. 2-2 is not enough to cover all themes and mechanics of the set, and these decks should give players a feel for the set.
Well, I think this is no longer the product which does this job.
I would say the Deckbuilder's Toolkit covers the set overview part or simply opening booster packs. Which makes much most sense to sell a self-explanatory product or one product which gives you a broad overview over all mechanics with a single purchase.
The game introduction part was missing and that is what the intro packs failed to do and the planeswalker decks want to fix.
But I would say that we will never see a preconstructed theme deck again, which focuses on introducing block mechanics. Those times are long gone... And it didn't really make much sense when you think about it.
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I think 10 per block is too much, but 2 per set is too little. There is surely more than 2 themes and mechanics in the set, and I think that by having 4, which is a good number, can cover most themes and mechanics of the set. Now that they have taken away the "this is the first product for new players to buy" tag from the intro pack, they should have just went back to theme decks. I'd rather have more deck choices with different themes than have a planeswalker and support cards shoehorned in, and thus taking some focus away from the set's themes and mechanics. I'm thinking 4 or 5 for large sets and 2 or 3 for small sets. That's what they should have done. Ideally, I would have gone 4 for both large and small sets, for my personal tastes, but 4-2, 4-3, or 5-3 is good too. 2-2 is not enough to cover all themes and mechanics of the set, and these decks should give players a feel for the set.
Well, I think this is no longer the product which does this job.
I would say the Deckbuilder's Toolkit covers the set overview part or simply opening booster packs. Which makes much most sense to sell a self-explanatory product or one product which gives you a broad overview over all mechanics with a single purchase.
The game introduction part was missing and that is what the intro packs failed to do and the planeswalker decks want to fix.
But I would say that we will never see a preconstructed theme deck again, which focuses on introducing block mechanics. Those times are long gone... And it didn't really make much sense when you think about it.
The only way to get a feel for the set is to play the cards from the set. I can buy a couple boosters and look at the cards, but I still haven't gotten a feel of how the set plays like. The problem with that is that buying boosters or a deck builder's tool kit isn't necessarily ready to play, not to mention that the deckbuilder's toolkit does not focus on the set specifically. There is also the historical aspect of it. I can easily have a feel of how Kamigawa block plays because I own all 12 theme decks. 20 years from now, there is no way to get a feel of how Kaladesh plays, because there isn't a preconstructed product that focuses on the set's themes and mechanics, and I think WOTC is going in the wrong direction. 20 years from now, I can't simply go into a time machine and go 20 years into the past just to see how Kaladesh block plays like, because by then, everybody would be playing the new stuff. The idea of introducing the players to the game is Magic Duels and the sample decks. The set associated precons should focus on the set's themes and mechanics, and should be made for people who already know the basics of the game, and is trying to explore the different set specific themes and mechanics. The intro pack should have just included a code card that unlocks the deck on Magic Duels, that's what should have happened.
I pretty much try to buy every single intro pack and theme deck, and there were some times, Lorwyn/Shadowmoor, Alara Block, and some of Zendikar block where I didn't even buy those precons, and as a result now, I would never know how those blocks played like. I could say that right now, I am not into the game, as I haven't played it for a few years now, but I still buy the intro pack because if I do decide to play it again, I can get a feel of the sets today, a few years from now, without having to hunt down and come up with deck ideas on what makes a good deck that would give someone a feel for the set, when WOTC probably has the best judgment on what deck is a good deck to give players the feel for the set.
I think theme decks are absolutely unnecessary to get a feeling of a set. Six booster is usually the way to go. We also life in a time where is is no problem to generate a virtual draft pools etc.
I can see that this is sad news for you, but I would not say that Wizard takes a wrong direction here.
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I think theme decks are absolutely unnecessary to get a feeling of a set. Six booster is usually the way to go. We also life in a time where is is no problem to generate a virtual draft pools etc.
I can see that this is sad news for you, but I would not say that Wizard takes a wrong direction here.
I nor anyone won't be able to get a feel for the set if they bought something like a bundle, which is 10 boosters + players guide and all that stuff because it isn't guaranteed that anyone can make multiple decks that each focus on a specific them that makes the set what it is. As I said, you have to play it to have a feel for the set, and just looking at the cards just doesn't cut it.
I'm going to take Shadows over Innistrad. The 5 intro packs are themed around spirits, investigate, Vampires + madness, some aggro crap that has nothing to do with angels, and delirium. Just by buying a fat pack, there is no way to reconstruct all 5 of these intro packs. You'd get a general feel for the set, but you don't get a feel for specific themes and mechanics in the set.
The point I am making is, to get a feel for specific themes and mechanics of the set, the product must be preconstructed. I guess you might be saying to play draft or sealed, and that is a way someone can get a feel for the set, but the problem is that draft and sealed is a consumable format, that is, you play it once, you can't play it again, provided you buy new boosters again. Even if you built a sealed deck from 6 boosters, only WOTC knows what players should experience when they want to give players the feel of a specific theme in a set.
Speaking of draft, virtual or not, where is anyone going to find 7 other people to do Kaladesh draft in 2040? If Kaladesh came with at least 4 precons, each with its own specific themes and mechanics that make Kaladesh what it is, then by the time it is 2040, anyone can go back to get a feel of Kaladesh as it was 24 years ago. If I bought only Odyssey boosters, all I would see is random cards, but I can get a feel of Odyssey's Flashback and Threshold if I bought all 4 theme decks.
I can probably compare this to the Pokemon TCG theme decks. Each set usually comes with 2 theme decks, and each set has 100 to 200 cards, around that range. I also collect Pokemon TCG theme decks, and I can tell you, there is absolutely no difference between a specific theme deck from one set, and a specific theme deck from another set, to the point that other than the ultra rare and higher cards, set within the same time period are pretty much the same. The cards sure are different, but the feel of 2 different Pokemon TCG sets are the same, and this is true with the theme decks. I think with too much focus on the planeswalkers, and not the set itself, in which I am guessing since I haven't played with a planeswalker deck yet, it will exactly be what I feel with the Pokemon TCG theme decks, each one not being unique, and the only difference is the energy types it contains, much like what makes Planeswalker decks different would be the colors it contains, so Metalcraft, Eldritch Onslaught, Izzet Ingenuity, and Manipulative Monstrosities all have completely different themes, despite them all containing Blue and Red cards. I feel that with these 4 intro packs, I have a different mindset when I use them, while for any of the Pokemon TCG theme decks, I have the same mindset. Find ways to get out one of 5 rare Pokemon cards out, and win with them, and have the other 4 rare pokemon cards on standby. I have a hard time believing that there is going to be 4 Blue Red Planeswalker decks that would have different feels even if they were tied to different sets. Like Pokemon TCG, bring planeswalker out, win. That is what I think is going to happen with the planeswalker deck, and it is going to be like that for every planeswalker deck. If WOTC is going in the route where every planeswalker deck plays in such a way where you bring out planeswalker, much like in Pokemon TCG theme decks, where you bring out your holofoil ace card, then WOTC is going in the wrong direction.
I nor anyone won't be able to get a feel for the set if they bought something like a bundle, which is 10 boosters + players guide and all that stuff because it isn't guaranteed that anyone can make multiple decks that each focus on a specific them that makes the set what it is. As I said, you have to play it to have a feel for the set, and just looking at the cards just doesn't cut it.
The part highlighted is not true. I can. Just because you can't, that does not make it true for everyone.
The point I am making is, to get a feel for specific themes and mechanics of the set, the product must be preconstructed.
And this is the point I refuse. This is necessary for you and people who think like you. It isn't necessary for me and people who think like me.
As I said, this is sad news for you and I mean this genuinely. However I don't think that Wizard makes a mistake when heading into this direction, because I simply don't feel like you.
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Drop your knees to the floor
Hands to the sky
Give a round of applause
For the great Miss Y!
I nor anyone won't be able to get a feel for the set if they bought something like a bundle, which is 10 boosters + players guide and all that stuff because it isn't guaranteed that anyone can make multiple decks that each focus on a specific them that makes the set what it is. As I said, you have to play it to have a feel for the set, and just looking at the cards just doesn't cut it.
The part highlighted is not true. I can. Just because you can't, that does not make it true for everyone.
The point I am making is, to get a feel for specific themes and mechanics of the set, the product must be preconstructed.
And this is the point I refuse. This is necessary for you and people who think like you. It isn't necessary for me and people who think like me.
As I said, this is sad news for you and I mean this genuinely. However I don't think that Wizard makes a mistake when heading into this direction, because I simply don't feel like you.
I could buy all 5 intro packs and be ready to play, or I could waste time, "waste" being a subjective term, trying to build 5 decks from scratch that best exemplify what the set is all about, especially when I have no knowledge on how the set was made. The most important part about this is getting the feel for specific themes and mechanics of the set at a time when the set is long out of print. I could buy the set of intro packs per set during a time when I don't feel like playing MTG. That is what I am doing now. When I look back 20 years from now, I can easily get a feel for specific themes and mechanics of the sets that I have missed, or get that nostalgic feeling without spending time building 5 decks just to play a few games only to put the cards back in storage. Ain't nobody got time for that.
With only 6 boosters, I just don't get how you can get a feel for madness, investigate, and delirum, especially when mechanic based intro packs are designed to expose players to the mechanic multiple times per game, while you probably get exposure to one of these mechanics once or twice per game.
The difference between me and you? In a situation 20 years from now when we both want to get a feel for Shadows over Innistrad again, the time it takes you to construct 5 decks that best exemplify the set, I would have gotten 2 games in. With Kaladesh, it is different as it would be out of my control.
Because I collect theme decks and intro packs, I can get a feel of at least for me, 15 years worth of sets without spending time coming up with decks that would best exemplify the set.
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Well, I think this is no longer the product which does this job.
I would say the Deckbuilder's Toolkit covers the set overview part or simply opening booster packs. Which makes much most sense to sell a self-explanatory product or one product which gives you a broad overview over all mechanics with a single purchase.
The game introduction part was missing and that is what the intro packs failed to do and the planeswalker decks want to fix.
But I would say that we will never see a preconstructed theme deck again, which focuses on introducing block mechanics. Those times are long gone... And it didn't really make much sense when you think about it.
Hands to the sky
Give a round of applause
For the great Miss Y!
The only way to get a feel for the set is to play the cards from the set. I can buy a couple boosters and look at the cards, but I still haven't gotten a feel of how the set plays like. The problem with that is that buying boosters or a deck builder's tool kit isn't necessarily ready to play, not to mention that the deckbuilder's toolkit does not focus on the set specifically. There is also the historical aspect of it. I can easily have a feel of how Kamigawa block plays because I own all 12 theme decks. 20 years from now, there is no way to get a feel of how Kaladesh plays, because there isn't a preconstructed product that focuses on the set's themes and mechanics, and I think WOTC is going in the wrong direction. 20 years from now, I can't simply go into a time machine and go 20 years into the past just to see how Kaladesh block plays like, because by then, everybody would be playing the new stuff. The idea of introducing the players to the game is Magic Duels and the sample decks. The set associated precons should focus on the set's themes and mechanics, and should be made for people who already know the basics of the game, and is trying to explore the different set specific themes and mechanics. The intro pack should have just included a code card that unlocks the deck on Magic Duels, that's what should have happened.
I pretty much try to buy every single intro pack and theme deck, and there were some times, Lorwyn/Shadowmoor, Alara Block, and some of Zendikar block where I didn't even buy those precons, and as a result now, I would never know how those blocks played like. I could say that right now, I am not into the game, as I haven't played it for a few years now, but I still buy the intro pack because if I do decide to play it again, I can get a feel of the sets today, a few years from now, without having to hunt down and come up with deck ideas on what makes a good deck that would give someone a feel for the set, when WOTC probably has the best judgment on what deck is a good deck to give players the feel for the set.
I can see that this is sad news for you, but I would not say that Wizard takes a wrong direction here.
Hands to the sky
Give a round of applause
For the great Miss Y!
I nor anyone won't be able to get a feel for the set if they bought something like a bundle, which is 10 boosters + players guide and all that stuff because it isn't guaranteed that anyone can make multiple decks that each focus on a specific them that makes the set what it is. As I said, you have to play it to have a feel for the set, and just looking at the cards just doesn't cut it.
I'm going to take Shadows over Innistrad. The 5 intro packs are themed around spirits, investigate, Vampires + madness, some aggro crap that has nothing to do with angels, and delirium. Just by buying a fat pack, there is no way to reconstruct all 5 of these intro packs. You'd get a general feel for the set, but you don't get a feel for specific themes and mechanics in the set.
The point I am making is, to get a feel for specific themes and mechanics of the set, the product must be preconstructed. I guess you might be saying to play draft or sealed, and that is a way someone can get a feel for the set, but the problem is that draft and sealed is a consumable format, that is, you play it once, you can't play it again, provided you buy new boosters again. Even if you built a sealed deck from 6 boosters, only WOTC knows what players should experience when they want to give players the feel of a specific theme in a set.
Speaking of draft, virtual or not, where is anyone going to find 7 other people to do Kaladesh draft in 2040? If Kaladesh came with at least 4 precons, each with its own specific themes and mechanics that make Kaladesh what it is, then by the time it is 2040, anyone can go back to get a feel of Kaladesh as it was 24 years ago. If I bought only Odyssey boosters, all I would see is random cards, but I can get a feel of Odyssey's Flashback and Threshold if I bought all 4 theme decks.
I can probably compare this to the Pokemon TCG theme decks. Each set usually comes with 2 theme decks, and each set has 100 to 200 cards, around that range. I also collect Pokemon TCG theme decks, and I can tell you, there is absolutely no difference between a specific theme deck from one set, and a specific theme deck from another set, to the point that other than the ultra rare and higher cards, set within the same time period are pretty much the same. The cards sure are different, but the feel of 2 different Pokemon TCG sets are the same, and this is true with the theme decks. I think with too much focus on the planeswalkers, and not the set itself, in which I am guessing since I haven't played with a planeswalker deck yet, it will exactly be what I feel with the Pokemon TCG theme decks, each one not being unique, and the only difference is the energy types it contains, much like what makes Planeswalker decks different would be the colors it contains, so Metalcraft, Eldritch Onslaught, Izzet Ingenuity, and Manipulative Monstrosities all have completely different themes, despite them all containing Blue and Red cards. I feel that with these 4 intro packs, I have a different mindset when I use them, while for any of the Pokemon TCG theme decks, I have the same mindset. Find ways to get out one of 5 rare Pokemon cards out, and win with them, and have the other 4 rare pokemon cards on standby. I have a hard time believing that there is going to be 4 Blue Red Planeswalker decks that would have different feels even if they were tied to different sets. Like Pokemon TCG, bring planeswalker out, win. That is what I think is going to happen with the planeswalker deck, and it is going to be like that for every planeswalker deck. If WOTC is going in the route where every planeswalker deck plays in such a way where you bring out planeswalker, much like in Pokemon TCG theme decks, where you bring out your holofoil ace card, then WOTC is going in the wrong direction.
And this is the point I refuse. This is necessary for you and people who think like you. It isn't necessary for me and people who think like me.
As I said, this is sad news for you and I mean this genuinely. However I don't think that Wizard makes a mistake when heading into this direction, because I simply don't feel like you.
Hands to the sky
Give a round of applause
For the great Miss Y!
I could buy all 5 intro packs and be ready to play, or I could waste time, "waste" being a subjective term, trying to build 5 decks from scratch that best exemplify what the set is all about, especially when I have no knowledge on how the set was made. The most important part about this is getting the feel for specific themes and mechanics of the set at a time when the set is long out of print. I could buy the set of intro packs per set during a time when I don't feel like playing MTG. That is what I am doing now. When I look back 20 years from now, I can easily get a feel for specific themes and mechanics of the sets that I have missed, or get that nostalgic feeling without spending time building 5 decks just to play a few games only to put the cards back in storage. Ain't nobody got time for that.
With only 6 boosters, I just don't get how you can get a feel for madness, investigate, and delirum, especially when mechanic based intro packs are designed to expose players to the mechanic multiple times per game, while you probably get exposure to one of these mechanics once or twice per game.
The difference between me and you? In a situation 20 years from now when we both want to get a feel for Shadows over Innistrad again, the time it takes you to construct 5 decks that best exemplify the set, I would have gotten 2 games in. With Kaladesh, it is different as it would be out of my control.
Because I collect theme decks and intro packs, I can get a feel of at least for me, 15 years worth of sets without spending time coming up with decks that would best exemplify the set.