I'm kind of surprised the FTV series took this long to discontinue considering the number of complaints regarding the foiling process. With that said, I think the Signature Spellbooks is a cool idea for a replacement, and hopefully they turn out to be a hit.
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WUBRGMr. Bones' Wild RideGRBUW Trap your friends in an endless game with this 23-card combo!
Con
Only 9 cards.
Likely to have Jace thats NOT the mindsculpter in it.
Likely to be "Theamed" so less about awsome cards and more about what "fits with the theam" instead of "playable in eternal formats/EDH"
So, think they will give us plain vanilla Jace Beleran as the walker card (assuming there is at least and only one Planeswalker card included) or try to stick us with Architect of Thought?:)
It's gonna be like FTV and have one or three powerhouse cards and new art that will make the msrp of "$20" not a thing. Like a bunch of chaff, and then new art Omniscience and Cryptic Command to draw the hoarders.
I can see Omniscience in this and a bunch of chaff or a Jace Beleren PW card with new art and decent chaff. A lot of Jace's spells (not his PW cards) are cheap price-wise. What would make this sell is new art on all of the 9 cards and not just one or two. To make these appealing they need to look and feel exciting. A foil Jace's Erasure with that old art is boring. They should use a new art of him in a general direction erasing Vraska or Alhammaret or something.
Or just make them textless...<3
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"The essence of every world, every spell and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
If this just turns out to be a cheap set of solid but not particularly expensive cards I'll be happy. Some good commons and uncommons like Counterspell and Fact or Fiction along with some average Jace-specific cards Oath of Jace and Jace's Erasure would be fine to me, as long as the art and foiling process make the cards exciting to look at.
The Valentine's Mini Announcement stated "Each Signature Spellbook will contain one premium foil and eight cards that fit with the Planeswalker's identity."
If this just turns out to be a cheap set of solid but not particularly expensive cards I'll be happy. Some good commons and uncommons like Counterspell and Fact or Fiction along with some average Jace-specific cards Oath of Jace and Jace's Erasure would be fine to me, as long as the art and foiling process make the cards exciting to look at.
The Valentine's Mini Announcement stated "Each Signature Spellbook will contain one premium foil and eight cards that fit with the Planeswalker's identity."
Certainly only sounds like one foil card.
Well, they had the choice of improving the FTV foiling process and thus cost themselves some money, or they could just skip the entire thing and cost themselves less money. What this change also tells me is that Wizards is intending these new sets to get some actual play in decks and that they are not going to be the powerhouse collector items that the original FTV was. There's basically only one foil card in it, that foil is probably going to be an underwhelming version of the walker in question, and it's probably the reason they are doing a new version of Karn in the upcoming Return to Dominaria set. They aren't going to ever be able to do a Spellbook for Karn if the only walker card they have for him is a 70+ usd power house used in tron. They need some watered down version they can peddle with the rest of the cards so it doesn't exceed the MSRP too much.
Wizards is pushing towards trying to appeal to a younger generation now with every product they are releasing it seems.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
I honestly don;t understand all the hate for the FtV foiling process. I Have a FtV angels and a FtV transform and I absolutely LOVE the foils.
I think this can be a really cool product, hopefully it won't be as expensive as FtV was ( average price for those is 120$ in australia).
i'm just disappointed that they discontinued FtV before doing a FtV elves.
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Huey, Dewey and Louie are always dressed in RUG. it is CLEARLY going to be the wedges block Pioneer: WURFaerie fires BRGDragons ModernBGElves WRBurn UR Fires Turns URGift Storm UG Twiddle Storm
I actually like *some* of the foils on the series. But some feel over the top, like the Jitte one. The shine is not too much once sleeved.
Personally I liked the series, as it supplies cheap foils for my cube.
This new replacement is practically the same, but now centered towards a Planeswalker (the foil card probably). I’ts a good shift I guess, as they woudn’t run out of themes.
I hated the foils too, and I won´t miss these sets at all. They were fake collector´s items, a horrible reprint outlet, and they always seemed to promise better cards than they could deliver.
But the worst part about the sets was the diminishing card selection quality. I don´t understand why WotC keeps making a good product line, then gradually stops making a decent effort to make said products good, and then discontinue them when they don´t sell as well as they used to. Look at the first FTV sets, like Relics and Realms, and compare them to Lore and Annihilation. Look at the first five or six duel decks sets, which had lots of cool reprints and actually had well constructed decks and somewhat deep gameplay, and compare them to some of the latter ones where the matchup is lopsided or the decks just run past each other. Even the event decks used to be half decent, like the Kuldotha Red one (which had Goblin Guide and also could actually win some FNM matches) or the one with SFM, but then they turned completely embarrassing after a while. Why do they start skimpimg on product development when a product line has been out for a while, instead of delivering consistent quality?
Edit: Here´s some bonus half baseless, half off-topic speculation about the Signature Spellbook product: Did you notice in the new Duel Decks announcement, where they wouldn´t reveal the foil in the green deck? I think it looks like they are about to present some kind of new foil technique and/or art concept. Signature Spellbook is a special product that only has one single foil. I bet they are planning on doing something super special with that one card, like a new 3D or animated effect.
Seems they're cutting on LGS exclusive products. And I mean, it's the smart thing to do. Most stores aren't getting their old premiums from FTVs and such anymore now that online sales are omnipresent and the products had less valuable cards every year.
This product seems pretty bad, they could've at least made all the card foil and just used their latest set foiling process....No on gives a ***** about their horrible glossy looking "premium" foiling.
I really hope this isn't a $3 foil planeswalker and a bunch of crap commons, uncommons and 1 extra rare like Jace's mindseeker.
I'm going to be frank here: Every other TCG does foiling better than WoTC. This company just doesn't care enough to do anything and their new foiling process is more of a money saving operation than a quality improvement. If someone wants to see what a good foil looks like from WoTC look at the foils from before modern era. Also look at the foils from Force of Will or other Bushi-road titles.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
This product seems pretty bad, they could've at least made all the card foil and just used their latest set foiling process....No on gives a ***** about their horrible glossy looking "premium" foiling.
I really hope this isn't a $3 foil planeswalker and a bunch of crap commons, uncommons and 1 extra rare like Jace's mindseeker.
I'm going to be frank here: Every other TCG does foiling better than WoTC. This company just doesn't care enough to do anything and their new foiling process is more of a money saving operation than a quality improvement. If someone wants to see what a good foil looks like from WoTC look at the foils from before modern era. Also look at the foils from Force of Will or other Bushi-road titles.
I am continually shocked at how simple the foiling is with Magic (and I have been playing for 15 years). Games like Pokemon and Yugioh have a variety of really stunning foiling. Its a shame Magic is so incredibly basic.
I hated the foils too, and I won´t miss these sets at all. They were fake collector´s items, a horrible reprint outlet, and they always seemed to promise better cards than they could deliver.
But the worst part about the sets was the diminishing card selection quality. I don´t understand why WotC keeps making a good product line, then gradually stops making a decent effort to make said products good, and then discontinue them when they don´t sell as well as they used to. Look at the first FTV sets, like Relics and Realms, and compare them to Lore and Annihilation. Look at the first five or six duel decks sets, which had lots of cool reprints and actually had well constructed decks and somewhat deep gameplay, and compare them to some of the latter ones where the matchup is lopsided or the decks just run past each other. Even the event decks used to be half decent, like the Kuldotha Red one (which had Goblin Guide and also could actually win some FNM matches) or the one with SFM, but then they turned completely embarrassing after a while. Why do they start skimpimg on product development when a product line has been out for a while, instead of delivering consistent quality?
Edit: Here´s some bonus half baseless, half off-topic speculation about the Signature Spellbook product: Did you notice in the new Duel Decks announcement, where they wouldn´t reveal the foil in the green deck? I think it looks like they are about to present some kind of new foil technique and/or art concept. Signature Spellbook is a special product that only has one single foil. I bet they are planning on doing something super special with that one card, like a new 3D or animated effect.
I think that's selection bias showing.
Relics had chaff like Masticore, Jester's Cap, Ivory Tower, and Zuran Orb. Dragons had Draco, Dragon Whelp, Ebon Dragon, Shivan Dragon, Rith the Awakener, Thunder Dragon, and Two-Headed Dragon.
The quality was always a little hit or miss.
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Level 1 Judge
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
This product seems pretty bad, they could've at least made all the card foil and just used their latest set foiling process....No on gives a ***** about their horrible glossy looking "premium" foiling.
I really hope this isn't a $3 foil planeswalker and a bunch of crap commons, uncommons and 1 extra rare like Jace's mindseeker.
I'm going to be frank here: Every other TCG does foiling better than WoTC. This company just doesn't care enough to do anything and their new foiling process is more of a money saving operation than a quality improvement. If someone wants to see what a good foil looks like from WoTC look at the foils from before modern era. Also look at the foils from Force of Will or other Bushi-road titles.
I am continually shocked at how simple the foiling is with Magic (and I have been playing for 15 years). Games like Pokemon and Yugioh have a variety of really stunning foiling. Its a shame Magic is so incredibly basic.
I don't actually understand it either. I think the foiling they use is fine if it was used for commons, but there isn't enough to distinguish a foil mythic from a non-foil one. Even if the foiling is expensive and they can't go the more elaborate technique route, they always can do full art versions of the mythics and just use the same foiling they are already using.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
I'm hoping for either Jace, Vryn'z Prodigy or Jace Beleren since those are not only the most valuable Jace planeswalkers, they also work flavorfully as Jace "origin" cards. There"s also the pipe dream of JTMS but... I don't think that anyone should expect that.
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"Pop in, find a dragon, roast a dragon."
-Chandra Nalaar
I think we all know which Jace it would be if they include one since they aren't going to be doing flip walkers in these sets. I'm just sort of hoping the spells make up for the difference.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
I think we all know which Jace it would be if they include one since they aren't going to be doing flip walkers in these sets. I'm just sort of hoping the spells make up for the difference.
Well, Jace Beleren is $8 is just about every printing (book one aside). For a $19.99 product, that's a good start.
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Level 1 Judge
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
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I guess my collection of from the vaults is now complete.
(W/U)(B/R)GForm of Progenitus, Shape of a Scrubland
BRGJund Tokens with Prossh, the Magic Dragon Foil
URGAnimar, the RUG CleanerFoil
RRRFeldon of the Third Path 2.0 Foil
BG(B/G)Not Another Meren DeckFoil
UR(U/R)Mizzix, Y Control and X Burn Spells
(W/U)(B/R)GHarold Ramos - The 35 Foot Long Twinkie (In +1/+1 counters)
UB(U/B)Dragonlord Silumgar
Trap your friends in an endless game with this 23-card combo!
Let's see if this is a rebrand of the same product (with different presentation) or something new.
Pro Lower
MSRP
Con
Only 9 cards.
Likely to have Jace thats NOT the mindsculpter in it.
Likely to be "Theamed" so less about awsome cards and more about what "fits with the theam" instead of "playable in eternal formats/EDH"
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
Or just make them textless...<3
The Valentine's Mini Announcement stated "Each Signature Spellbook will contain one premium foil and eight cards that fit with the Planeswalker's identity."
Certainly only sounds like one foil card.
Well, they had the choice of improving the FTV foiling process and thus cost themselves some money, or they could just skip the entire thing and cost themselves less money. What this change also tells me is that Wizards is intending these new sets to get some actual play in decks and that they are not going to be the powerhouse collector items that the original FTV was. There's basically only one foil card in it, that foil is probably going to be an underwhelming version of the walker in question, and it's probably the reason they are doing a new version of Karn in the upcoming Return to Dominaria set. They aren't going to ever be able to do a Spellbook for Karn if the only walker card they have for him is a 70+ usd power house used in tron. They need some watered down version they can peddle with the rest of the cards so it doesn't exceed the MSRP too much.
Wizards is pushing towards trying to appeal to a younger generation now with every product they are releasing it seems.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
EDH DECKS
Currently under construction
MAGECRAFT STORM
-Veyran, Voice of Duality-
Protection from Degeneracy
Do not pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.
I think this can be a really cool product, hopefully it won't be as expensive as FtV was ( average price for those is 120$ in australia).
i'm just disappointed that they discontinued FtV before doing a FtV elves.
Pioneer: WURFaerie fires BRGDragons
ModernBGElves WRBurn UR Fires Turns URGift Storm UG Twiddle Storm
Personally I liked the series, as it supplies cheap foils for my cube.
This new replacement is practically the same, but now centered towards a Planeswalker (the foil card probably). I’ts a good shift I guess, as they woudn’t run out of themes.
But the worst part about the sets was the diminishing card selection quality. I don´t understand why WotC keeps making a good product line, then gradually stops making a decent effort to make said products good, and then discontinue them when they don´t sell as well as they used to. Look at the first FTV sets, like Relics and Realms, and compare them to Lore and Annihilation. Look at the first five or six duel decks sets, which had lots of cool reprints and actually had well constructed decks and somewhat deep gameplay, and compare them to some of the latter ones where the matchup is lopsided or the decks just run past each other. Even the event decks used to be half decent, like the Kuldotha Red one (which had Goblin Guide and also could actually win some FNM matches) or the one with SFM, but then they turned completely embarrassing after a while. Why do they start skimpimg on product development when a product line has been out for a while, instead of delivering consistent quality?
Edit: Here´s some bonus half baseless, half off-topic speculation about the Signature Spellbook product: Did you notice in the new Duel Decks announcement, where they wouldn´t reveal the foil in the green deck? I think it looks like they are about to present some kind of new foil technique and/or art concept. Signature Spellbook is a special product that only has one single foil. I bet they are planning on doing something super special with that one card, like a new 3D or animated effect.
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
Doomsdayin'
But the big no no no of these is how they foil them and they get the biggest curls I have ever seen.
So hopefully they will just foil the, the same way they foil regular old foil cards in all sets.
I'm going to be frank here: Every other TCG does foiling better than WoTC. This company just doesn't care enough to do anything and their new foiling process is more of a money saving operation than a quality improvement. If someone wants to see what a good foil looks like from WoTC look at the foils from before modern era. Also look at the foils from Force of Will or other Bushi-road titles.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
I am continually shocked at how simple the foiling is with Magic (and I have been playing for 15 years). Games like Pokemon and Yugioh have a variety of really stunning foiling. Its a shame Magic is so incredibly basic.
I think that's selection bias showing.
Relics had chaff like Masticore, Jester's Cap, Ivory Tower, and Zuran Orb. Dragons had Draco, Dragon Whelp, Ebon Dragon, Shivan Dragon, Rith the Awakener, Thunder Dragon, and Two-Headed Dragon.
The quality was always a little hit or miss.
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
I don't actually understand it either. I think the foiling they use is fine if it was used for commons, but there isn't enough to distinguish a foil mythic from a non-foil one. Even if the foiling is expensive and they can't go the more elaborate technique route, they always can do full art versions of the mythics and just use the same foiling they are already using.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
-Chandra Nalaar
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Well, Jace Beleren is $8 is just about every printing (book one aside). For a $19.99 product, that's a good start.
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."