Previous Kicker spells simply weren't 'priced' appropriately for this, let alone it would enormously limit how powerful the new "kicked" effects could get; unless the cost is something silly anyway (WUBRG, f'instance) it's probably too strong.
I'm pulling for the Kicker version of Astral Slide and Rift Whatever-it-is (the red one) - "Whenever you / an opponent / a player kick a spell..." triggers.
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The earth-creature shows intelligence, turning our box over to expose the soft, fleshy underbelly.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
Rules Lawyer: Emphasis on the lawyer. Finds loop holes in the rules to get an unfair advantage.
Regretfully, in any level of competitive Magic, there is no such thing as this creature. You can't gain "unfair advantage" from the rules. If you know the rules, and your opponent doesn't, that's a perfectly fair advantage.
Sounds to me like this is awfully close to the often-discussed "is FNM a casual setting, or a competitive setting?", and the answer is, "Uh, maybe". You seem to prefer / want it casual; your opponents want it competitive. Therefore, problems ensue.
(The Casual Vs. Competitive arguement is why I stopped going to FNMs. It's not unique to you or your store, and a search of old threads will reveal many discussions about it.)
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The earth-creature shows intelligence, turning our box over to expose the soft, fleshy underbelly.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
...this will be useless and unplayabable out of std. At least they could have reprinted mutilate (oh wait.. probably they WILL, but they call it "emasculate" so every playset of mutilates around will be useless, but magic players will be very very happy to get a new black sweeper! :mad:).
Uh, EDH. Casual. These formats wish to introduce themselves.
Very arguably, Extended.
Functional reprints are very often well-loved. Why would this uniquely not be true of Wrath of God?
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The earth-creature shows intelligence, turning our box over to expose the soft, fleshy underbelly.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
Casual play, or serious style? (I note the "Legacy-ish" combined with... ...strange initial choices of countermeasures.)
Casually -
K-Grip is pretty good (but not flawless); Null Rod is good. The Jester's Cap is a good choice, as is Cranial Extraction or Thought Hemmorage. Lobotomy is also along the same lines. Meddling Mage, Null Chamber, Nullstone Gargoyle, or (if it's a temporary thing) Conjurer's Ban.
Heh. Nix. I never thought of that until now.
Even more casually, either March of the Machines or Titiania's Song makes short work of those 0-cost artifacts.
Seriously -
Pithing Needle. Most serious decks that fear Crypt-ing also have some ability to bait-and-switch or play around the Crypt, too. If your deck is "Well, if they play Tormod's Crypt, I'll lose", it better also be, "...but if they don't, I win."
...and if you don't like Crypt, you'll hate the Relic of Progenitus.
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The earth-creature shows intelligence, turning our box over to expose the soft, fleshy underbelly.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
...that don't add up to a hill of beans to your customers.
I order from StarCityGames, and only StarCityGames, hundreds of dollars every 4-6 months. Why? Because once, I skimped on shipping, and my order didn't arrive.
I posted here, cautioning others, and within 48 hrs my problem was directly addressed, and the card(s) were sent (or resent, whichever) to me.
It might have cost them some in shipping, or even, I guess, $ 250+ in cards, if the 'first shipment' did disappear in the mail or what-have-you.
But in exchange, I don't buy from anywhere else (online, that is), and when anyone else asks my opinion, I say that Star City Games is 100% a stand-up website that ships you your product.
Customers That Love You > Baneslayer Angels? I dunno. Maybe.
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The earth-creature shows intelligence, turning our box over to expose the soft, fleshy underbelly.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
[If your boss doesn't like classical art, those are probably NSFW... ...but I'd be surprised. Er, mostly.]
Now, I'm not trying to say we shouldn't leave our past behind us; sure. But it's also got a long, long history in Western art; and let's face it, here - the female form (and the male form) is beautiful.
And attractive to the eye. As demonstrated by the fact that there's a reasonably steady stream of new people.
I don't think Magic is guilty of some advertising crime, and more than any other organization or sales pitch. And a whole lot less than some.
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The earth-creature shows intelligence, turning our box over to expose the soft, fleshy underbelly.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
For Casual players, there's a fave of my from Ravnica - Nightmare Void. Take a look at their hand, discard a card of choice. If they have more, hey, it has Dredge, so you can do it again next turn.
It's not for-sure, but it's cheap (in $$), from a moderately-recent set, reuseable, and uncommon.
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The earth-creature shows intelligence, turning our box over to expose the soft, fleshy underbelly.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
Q: In an Alara block draft, can I switch up the cards in my graveyard so my Dregscape Zombie is on top of my yard, even other cards have since been put there above it?
A: The last time cards cared about graveyard order was before Urza's block. So in any format that only allows cards from that block and later (Extended, Standard, and any limited or Block format from Urza block or later), you can change up the order of your graveyard as much as you want now.
I've been meaning to ask this. What about Fossil Find? Doesn't it 'care about graveyard order', what with giving you the ability to re-arrange it?
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The earth-creature shows intelligence, turning our box over to expose the soft, fleshy underbelly.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
...this is an issue for them as designers of a game... but, ideally, Blue-Red does operate in a 'combo-like' way.
Pardon my trimming.
I think that's the key, actually. Red is - nowadays - the "combo color" - fast mana, big-booms, Dragonstorm-style "going off". And I think they're very cautious not to combine that in dangerous ways with Blue's drawing / filtering / etc.
I mean, it doesn't take a lot of thinking to realize that both blue and red would make "combo" cards. The both love non-permanents (look at the Izzet).
The problem is making non-permanents "interactive". Which I think is why a lot of red-blue cards are "punisher", or "flip a coin" related - the other player gets involved in what's going on.
I think shapeshifters - that are small, unblockable, and blue on your turn, and large and red on the other guy's turn (or quick and red, and small and blue) are one option, or permanents (meaning enchantments, mostly, but creatures too) that trigger effects when you play instants / sorceries.
I also think the color combo lends itself to "build around me" cards. Eye of the Storm really feels pretty red-blue to me - Blue builds the deck, while Red just wants to watch it all go boom in the end...
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The earth-creature shows intelligence, turning our box over to expose the soft, fleshy underbelly.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
The Urza block and Mirrodin block are excellent examples of what would happen if Wizards just made a ridiculous amount of powerful cards to appease the players who want good stuff to play with.
Power creep destroys games.
...and fixes them, if they're broken by being too weak.
Ravnica was power creep up from Kamigawa. Invasion was power creep up from Masques.
And a lot of very interesting - casual and tournament - cards came from Urza's and Mirroden. And Alara Reborn (another 'power creep' set).
Power creep is not inherently bad. Power creep that isn't carefully monitored is bad. Power should creep - up and down - over time. Just not over - or below - a certain level.
...except rarely, to show it can.
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The earth-creature shows intelligence, turning our box over to expose the soft, fleshy underbelly.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
The Sky is falling! Disaster and destruction! The dead rising from their graves! Dogs and cats, living together!
I don't forsee that. Well, maybe the dogs and cats.
Remember, this is essentially just a "variant format", with some [O]fficial support. There being EDH hasn't damaged - and has arguably helped - "normal" Magic. This is all-upside.
Correct.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
So do all the Volvers. Like, too much so.
Previous Kicker spells simply weren't 'priced' appropriately for this, let alone it would enormously limit how powerful the new "kicked" effects could get; unless the cost is something silly anyway (WUBRG, f'instance) it's probably too strong.
I'm pulling for the Kicker version of Astral Slide and Rift Whatever-it-is (the red one) - "Whenever you / an opponent / a player kick a spell..." triggers.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
Uhm, what...?
Regretfully, in any level of competitive Magic, there is no such thing as this creature. You can't gain "unfair advantage" from the rules. If you know the rules, and your opponent doesn't, that's a perfectly fair advantage.
Sounds to me like this is awfully close to the often-discussed "is FNM a casual setting, or a competitive setting?", and the answer is, "Uh, maybe". You seem to prefer / want it casual; your opponents want it competitive. Therefore, problems ensue.
(The Casual Vs. Competitive arguement is why I stopped going to FNMs. It's not unique to you or your store, and a search of old threads will reveal many discussions about it.)
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
Uh, EDH. Casual. These formats wish to introduce themselves.
Very arguably, Extended.
Functional reprints are very often well-loved. Why would this uniquely not be true of Wrath of God?
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
Casually -
K-Grip is pretty good (but not flawless); Null Rod is good. The Jester's Cap is a good choice, as is Cranial Extraction or Thought Hemmorage. Lobotomy is also along the same lines. Meddling Mage, Null Chamber, Nullstone Gargoyle, or (if it's a temporary thing) Conjurer's Ban.
Heh. Nix. I never thought of that until now.
Even more casually, either March of the Machines or Titiania's Song makes short work of those 0-cost artifacts.
Seriously -
Pithing Needle. Most serious decks that fear Crypt-ing also have some ability to bait-and-switch or play around the Crypt, too. If your deck is "Well, if they play Tormod's Crypt, I'll lose", it better also be, "...but if they don't, I win."
...and if you don't like Crypt, you'll hate the Relic of Progenitus.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
...that don't add up to a hill of beans to your customers.
I order from StarCityGames, and only StarCityGames, hundreds of dollars every 4-6 months. Why? Because once, I skimped on shipping, and my order didn't arrive.
I posted here, cautioning others, and within 48 hrs my problem was directly addressed, and the card(s) were sent (or resent, whichever) to me.
It might have cost them some in shipping, or even, I guess, $ 250+ in cards, if the 'first shipment' did disappear in the mail or what-have-you.
But in exchange, I don't buy from anywhere else (online, that is), and when anyone else asks my opinion, I say that Star City Games is 100% a stand-up website that ships you your product.
Customers That Love You > Baneslayer Angels? I dunno. Maybe.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
[If your boss doesn't like classical art, those are probably NSFW... ...but I'd be surprised. Er, mostly.]
Now, I'm not trying to say we shouldn't leave our past behind us; sure. But it's also got a long, long history in Western art; and let's face it, here - the female form (and the male form) is beautiful.
And attractive to the eye. As demonstrated by the fact that there's a reasonably steady stream of new people.
I don't think Magic is guilty of some advertising crime, and more than any other organization or sales pitch. And a whole lot less than some.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
Anyone remember Snow White, from Rav / Time Spiral standard?
Ow, ow ow. Ouch. Now it has a solid win-condition...
...er, albeit, somewhat late.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
It's not for-sure, but it's cheap (in $$), from a moderately-recent set, reuseable, and uncommon.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
I've been meaning to ask this. What about Fossil Find? Doesn't it 'care about graveyard order', what with giving you the ability to re-arrange it?
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
Pardon my trimming.
I think that's the key, actually. Red is - nowadays - the "combo color" - fast mana, big-booms, Dragonstorm-style "going off". And I think they're very cautious not to combine that in dangerous ways with Blue's drawing / filtering / etc.
I mean, it doesn't take a lot of thinking to realize that both blue and red would make "combo" cards. The both love non-permanents (look at the Izzet).
The problem is making non-permanents "interactive". Which I think is why a lot of red-blue cards are "punisher", or "flip a coin" related - the other player gets involved in what's going on.
I think shapeshifters - that are small, unblockable, and blue on your turn, and large and red on the other guy's turn (or quick and red, and small and blue) are one option, or permanents (meaning enchantments, mostly, but creatures too) that trigger effects when you play instants / sorceries.
I also think the color combo lends itself to "build around me" cards. Eye of the Storm really feels pretty red-blue to me - Blue builds the deck, while Red just wants to watch it all go boom in the end...
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
...and fixes them, if they're broken by being too weak.
Ravnica was power creep up from Kamigawa. Invasion was power creep up from Masques.
And a lot of very interesting - casual and tournament - cards came from Urza's and Mirroden. And Alara Reborn (another 'power creep' set).
Power creep is not inherently bad. Power creep that isn't carefully monitored is bad. Power should creep - up and down - over time. Just not over - or below - a certain level.
...except rarely, to show it can.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
I'm not going to argue that point - beyond saying the same thing could be said about every other colour.
Green also likes to fix problems.
On a more relevant, less debatable note - these come out after M10. There may well be some M10 Rares in there.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
No more than everyone else when it's their section of the sky that's falling.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!
I don't forsee that. Well, maybe the dogs and cats.
Remember, this is essentially just a "variant format", with some [O]fficial support. There being EDH hasn't damaged - and has arguably helped - "normal" Magic. This is all-upside.
Azerbaijan is strong in the Google-Fu. He is my hero!