I think its a good thing. If Wizards starts mass reprinting staples for everyone we will look alot like YuGiOh which is ******* sad. 10-25% across the board is still a big hit to those that do get reprinted. Modern Masters is good at what it does, it reprinted some staples and they are the cheapest versions of those cards out there. Without MM2 and MM1 prices would likely be ******* nuts. All im saying is small print runs are a hell of a lot better than just not getting them.
Modern Masters has been a great product but they cant do an unlimited print run like with a Standard set. Maybe if there arent as many staples in the set sure, maybe, but then we have a set with jank and a few chase mythics and buying the sealed product isnt worth it.
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Active Modern Decks
U Tron GW Bogles RG Loam UR Blue Breach RBU Grixis Goryo BRU Grixis Delver GBR Jund GBW Junk
I feel like it's good to not reprint items in mass quantity. No I don't like expensive cards and yes I like reprints but if we stop back there are some good things. It encourages people to make new decks and makes special sets like modern masters more fun. The biggest downside to no reprints is people take advantage of it like speculators and stores likr scg that control the market.
The best way to get people to make new decks is not to make the strictly best cards 100x times the price of the next best one. Especially with lands, i'm not going to play with a sub optimal mana base.
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Legacy
Death and Taxes Pauper
UB Teachings
Tortured Existence
Murasa Tron Modern
Pod (RIP)
Bloom(RIP)
Merfolk
This is pure PR BS and I hate to be that guy. Every casual and their great-grandmother could immediately understand that cards like Collected Company are bonkers.
They could work on balancing the value of the sets out, not changing staple rares into mythics would be a decent start. WotC are actively engaged in practices that will decrease the player base over time until only Standard/Limited is heavily supported. Give it three years and Modern will likely have gone the way of Legacy.
I don't know why people keeping citing the YGO example, you don't have to print Tarmogoyf in intro packs, event decks, standard sets, and promos - contrary to popular discourse not everything needs to be falsely dichotomized. They could quite easily have print runs that make it possible to bring cards like Snapcaster, Tarmogoyf, etc into a more moderate price range without tanking their value. Evening if the print run was for as long as a general Standard release it still wouldn't unreasonably affect prices for those cards, and the fact that people think halving the prices for something like some of the $50+ staples in the format is abjectly negative is absurd. Rather maintain the value of what I own > Make sure the format survives long term - stellar logic.
Any of the muppets that advocate protecting existing collections to the extreme and at the expense of players attempting to get into eternal formats will be the same people *****ing and whining when they can't find enough people to run a decent Modern tournament years down the line.
They could work on balancing the value of the sets out, not changing staple rares into mythics would be a decent start. WotC are actively engaged in practices that will decrease the player base over time until only Standard/Limited is heavily supported. Give it three years and Modern will likely have gone the way of Legacy.
I don't know why people keeping citing the YGO example, you don't have to print Tarmogoyf in intro packs, event decks, standard sets, and promos - contrary to popular discourse not everything needs to be falsely dichotomized. They could quite easily have print runs that make it possible to bring cards like Snapcaster, Tarmogoyf, etc into a more moderate price range without tanking their value. Evening if the print run was for as long as a general Standard release it still wouldn't unreasonably affect prices for those cards, and the fact that people think halving the prices for something like some of the $50+ staples in the format is abjectly negative is absurd. Rather maintain the value of what I own > Make sure the format survives long term - stellar logic.
Any of the muppets that advocate protecting existing collections to the extreme and at the expense of players attempting to get into eternal formats will be the same people *****ing and whining when they can't find enough people to run a decent Modern tournament years down the line.
Oh, this attitude again. Neat.
Pretending like all of these options are to somehow be against the players completely belies the complexity of the situation and all of the MANY parties and players involved.
It is you who are taking an overly dichotomous nature in the way you present their decisions. MM2 DECREASED price on all of the major staples for players who waited for the prices to drop. The nature of a non-rotating format based around older and out of print cards is that supply is always going to be outpaced by demand and new stock because there isn't any. Trying to balance this with the fact that magic has ALWAYS catered towards collectors as much as they have players and you start to see the amount of interested parties and why it's not as simple as just 'print more!!'. Print how much? How do you get the reprints to the players who need them? How many do you print? Who do you design the product for and is it just pure singles? How about all of the other cards that will be included NEXT to the rares that are the chase rares - because those will plummet in value. What about the challenges of including high powered reprints in Standard sets? Development issues, design space issues, story issues (Just jamming LOTV in SOI and IOK into BFZ makes absolutely no sense), etc.
People keep citing the YGO example because it's an example of how NOT to handle your valuable properties. There HAS to be a balance between value and accessibility and that balance is on a sliding scale that is different for all people.
They could work on balancing the value of the sets out, not changing staple rares into mythics would be a decent start. WotC are actively engaged in practices that will decrease the player base over time until only Standard/Limited is heavily supported. Give it three years and Modern will likely have gone the way of Legacy.
I don't know why people keeping citing the YGO example, you don't have to print Tarmogoyf in intro packs, event decks, standard sets, and promos - contrary to popular discourse not everything needs to be falsely dichotomized. They could quite easily have print runs that make it possible to bring cards like Snapcaster, Tarmogoyf, etc into a more moderate price range without tanking their value. Evening if the print run was for as long as a general Standard release it still wouldn't unreasonably affect prices for those cards, and the fact that people think halving the prices for something like some of the $50+ staples in the format is abjectly negative is absurd. Rather maintain the value of what I own > Make sure the format survives long term - stellar logic.
Any of the muppets that advocate protecting existing collections to the extreme and at the expense of players attempting to get into eternal formats will be the same people *****ing and whining when they can't find enough people to run a decent Modern tournament years down the line.
I'm assuming youre talking to me? If so I'm not advocating for the protection of my collection. I have two modern decks neither of which are tier 1 or 2 but play very well. Where people get stuck is on cards like tarmogoyf and Lotv that cost you a body part and a half. You don't need those cards to be successful. Yes they're good buy they're not by any means backbreaker just don't play decks that need them. Pick a non-hyped deck that is inexpensive and work your way through it. I started my dredge vine deck with the core and basics and bought the other parts as I was able to. Ive put less than $400 into the deck over three years and I can constantly beat decks that are well out of my price range. My point is that these cards that are absurdly expensive aren'the required to play modern. There is a price point the format and yes there are outliers in the deck prices but just pick a deck and work your way up. Yes cards need reprints but jamming them into standard which would really take a chunk out of their values is not the solution. Reprints in limited quantities are good. Personally I find success in magic. When I'm able to build a deck into something that is good from scratch or working my way towards the big expensive cards and forcing reprints in every corner of the game would make it a little less meaningful.
Value is good. But Dredgevine isn't supposed to be about value. It's supposed to be about V-8; 2000 pounds of nitro boosted war vegetables. The more velocity, the better.
Modern:
DredgeVine EDH:
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Anima Standard:
The trade-off for having better access is far more desirable. Having sets like MM with longer print runs and prices that aren't obscenely prohibitive isn't asking for much, WotC understands precisely what they're doing.
More desirable for whom? For you? Sure, I won't argue what you personally want or don't want. But let's start with 2 basic assumptions.
1. Magic's reprint policy is 100% controlled by WOTC
2. WOTC will always act in what it believes is its own best interest
So why is the current reprint policy likely in WOTC's best interest? Cache, that's why. If you exceed or even meet demand of a product in the present, you've diminished your ability to capitalize on that demand in the future. WOTC wants to keep the train moving forward, so this is what we get.
Hey all, does anyone have any ideas about the PTQ Promo Snapcaster Mage? Will it drop anytime soon? Will more come into circulation as time goes on or is $225 about the lowest it will ever get? I'm very into foiling decks, but I'm not about to drop $900 for a playset. Thanks!
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Check out some Magic Gameplay and Commentary videos here, including Modern Grixis, Jeskai, and Esper videos as well as some Standard and Drafts too: My YouTube Channel!
Hey all, does anyone have any ideas about the PTQ Promo Snapcaster Mage? Will it drop anytime soon? Will more come into circulation as time goes on or is $225 about the lowest it will ever get? I'm very into foiling decks, but I'm not about to drop $900 for a playset. Thanks!
You would probably be better served just getting ISD foils. They're cheaper anyway and you get to avoid that awful new art.
I had 2 separate people offer me the RPTQ Snapcaster Mage for $150, so I think you can get a better deal. There are a lot of players who play at these that are not into collecting, just playing for the most part.
Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
I had 2 separate people offer me the RPTQ Snapcaster Mage for $150, so I think you can get a better deal. There are a lot of players who play at these that are not into collecting, just playing for the most part.
I just picked up my foils for $50 a piece. Hopefully they won't tank shortly after!
And thanks for the replies on RPTQ Snappy Promos, I guess I can get a better deal if I end up going to some events. Unfortunately for me @cfusionpm, I actually love the new art haha.
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Check out some Magic Gameplay and Commentary videos here, including Modern Grixis, Jeskai, and Esper videos as well as some Standard and Drafts too: My YouTube Channel!
They could work on balancing the value of the sets out, not changing staple rares into mythics would be a decent start. WotC are actively engaged in practices that will decrease the player base over time until only Standard/Limited is heavily supported. Give it three years and Modern will likely have gone the way of Legacy.
I don't know why people keeping citing the YGO example, you don't have to print Tarmogoyf in intro packs, event decks, standard sets, and promos - contrary to popular discourse not everything needs to be falsely dichotomized. They could quite easily have print runs that make it possible to bring cards like Snapcaster, Tarmogoyf, etc into a more moderate price range without tanking their value. Evening if the print run was for as long as a general Standard release it still wouldn't unreasonably affect prices for those cards, and the fact that people think halving the prices for something like some of the $50+ staples in the format is abjectly negative is absurd. Rather maintain the value of what I own > Make sure the format survives long term - stellar logic.
Any of the muppets that advocate protecting existing collections to the extreme and at the expense of players attempting to get into eternal formats will be the same people *****ing and whining when they can't find enough people to run a decent Modern tournament years down the line.
Oh, this attitude again. Neat.
Pretending like all of these options are to somehow be against the players completely belies the complexity of the situation and all of the MANY parties and players involved.
It is you who are taking an overly dichotomous nature in the way you present their decisions. MM2 DECREASED price on all of the major staples for players who waited for the prices to drop. The nature of a non-rotating format based around older and out of print cards is that supply is always going to be outpaced by demand and new stock because their isn't any. Trying to balance this with the fact that magic has ALWAYS catered towards collectors as much as they have players and you start to see the amount of interested parties and why it's not as simple as just 'print more!!'. Print how much? How do you get the reprints to the players who need them? How many do you print? Who do you design the product for and is it just pure singles? How about all of the other cards that will be included NEXT to the rares that are the chase rares - because those will plummet in value. What about the challenges of including high powered reprints in Standard sets? Development issues, design space issues, story issues (Just jamming LOTV in SOI and IOK into BFZ makes absolutely no sense), etc.
People keep citing the YGO example because it's an example of how NOT to handle your valuable properties. There HAS to be a balance between value and accessibility and that balance is on a sliding scale that is different for all people.
Of course it's a sliding scale - and my argument is the scale is leaning too much towards practices that will eventually dilute the number of people playing modern rather than growing it, that simple.
They could work on balancing the value of the sets out, not changing staple rares into mythics would be a decent start. WotC are actively engaged in practices that will decrease the player base over time until only Standard/Limited is heavily supported. Give it three years and Modern will likely have gone the way of Legacy.
I don't know why people keeping citing the YGO example, you don't have to print Tarmogoyf in intro packs, event decks, standard sets, and promos - contrary to popular discourse not everything needs to be falsely dichotomized. They could quite easily have print runs that make it possible to bring cards like Snapcaster, Tarmogoyf, etc into a more moderate price range without tanking their value. Evening if the print run was for as long as a general Standard release it still wouldn't unreasonably affect prices for those cards, and the fact that people think halving the prices for something like some of the $50+ staples in the format is abjectly negative is absurd. Rather maintain the value of what I own > Make sure the format survives long term - stellar logic.
Any of the muppets that advocate protecting existing collections to the extreme and at the expense of players attempting to get into eternal formats will be the same people *****ing and whining when they can't find enough people to run a decent Modern tournament years down the line.
I'm assuming youre talking to me? If so I'm not advocating for the protection of my collection. I have two modern decks neither of which are tier 1 or 2 but play very well. Where people get stuck is on cards like tarmogoyf and Lotv that cost you a body part and a half. You don't need those cards to be successful. Yes they're good buy they're not by any means backbreaker just don't play decks that need them. Pick a non-hyped deck that is inexpensive and work your way through it. I started my dredge vine deck with the core and basics and bought the other parts as I was able to. Ive put less than $400 into the deck over three years and I can constantly beat decks that are well out of my price range. My point is that these cards that are absurdly expensive aren'the required to play modern. There is a price point the format and yes there are outliers in the deck prices but just pick a deck and work your way up. Yes cards need reprints but jamming them into standard which would really take a chunk out of their values is not the solution. Reprints in limited quantities are good. Personally I find success in magic. When I'm able to build a deck into something that is good from scratch or working my way towards the big expensive cards and forcing reprints in every corner of the game would make it a little less meaningful.
@ The bold - please let's not pretend that getting into modern and having a deck that's reasonable against more than a third of the field isn't a sizable investment. I fully agree that playing the absolute top tier staples like Goyf, Snapcaster, etc isn't necessary, but it would be disingenuous to suggest that to get a halfway reasonable modern deck isn't a moderately expensive exercise. Sure, you can put together a $150 brew, but playing at a relatively acceptable level does require a certain amount of cash. And I would argue that at the rate WotC are going that amount of cash is just going to steadily increase until people either stop playing or migrate to the flagship formats WotC prioritizes.
From a normative point of view, sure, "everyone chooses their hobby", "It's not WotC's responsibility to make sure it's easily affordable for everyone", "WotC's business model can't 100% be reconciled with satisfying the needs of everyone who wants to play modern", etc, etc, etc, ad nauseam. I accept all those arguments because they have logical and factual merit, no condescension or sarcasm, they honestly do, I concede that. At the same time they're also congruent with not sustaining modern as one of the popular formats. All I'm saying is you can't have those arguments co-exist with modern as a growing or sustainable format simultaneously, that's cognitive dissonance of the most laughable proportion.
I had 2 separate people offer me the RPTQ Snapcaster Mage for $150, so I think you can get a better deal. There are a lot of players who play at these that are not into collecting, just playing for the most part.
I just picked up my foils for $50 a piece. Hopefully they won't tank shortly after!
And thanks for the replies on RPTQ Snappy Promos, I guess I can get a better deal if I end up going to some events. Unfortunately for me @cfusionpm, I actually love the new art haha.
I guess it probably depends on where your location is. In California, there are lots of PPTQs, so many people qualify. I myself have gotten 2 Liliana of the Veil Promos from these events and have traded/sold both. I know players in my area that are just trying to get to the Pro Tour, so they need the extra funds that the card gives them to compete in more events, pay for travel, or pay for cards needed for a deck. The RPTQs I competed in had 50-80 people in San Diego if I remember correctly. They were both 6 rounds if that helps (for some reason, I can't remember the exact attendance).
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Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
But magic gets boring really quickly if you can't keep building new decks. Seems odd to NOT complain of overpriced items. I wouldn't mind seeing another lands from the vault set, with zendikar fetches, or horizon canopy, or even just grove again. Maybe celestial colonade. Throw in foil ghost quarter as part of the filler cards. I hate any land that starts going north of 50-ish
But magic gets boring really quickly if you can't keep building new decks. Seems odd to NOT complain of overpriced items. I wouldn't mind seeing another lands from the vault set, with zendikar fetches, or horizon canopy, or even just grove again. Maybe celestial colonade. Throw in foil ghost quarter as part of the filler cards. I hate any land that starts going north of 50-ish
That's a good idea, but it would need to be structured differently if it was even going to have a hope of actually helping people rather than just becoming another way for hoarders to stock up on product. IMO WotC isn't nearly being creative or imaginative enough with how they handle their product design and distribution.
If they were actually attempting to grow any given format there are a hundred ways they could do it without affecting current collectors' existing value. What if WotC made "Land Packs" you could order straight from a store and it would only get ordered when an individual requests it, and gets registered against your DCI number so you can only do it once. You could have a Golgari/Boros/etc set of all the guilds where you get 4 Fetch lands, 4 Shock lands and 4 Fast lands in those colors, and pay let's say $100 for a pack like that. They can even give them silver borders or something but make them legal for whatever formats they're allowed in normally.
That way if a new player wants to start playing he can spend $200 getting a functional and competitive mana base together for something like Jund, Abzan, or Jeskai instead of spending who knows how long merely to trade for his lands.
Perhaps not, yeah. But then if they did the KTK fetches in packs of 4/4/4 Fetches/Shocks/Fasts that you could get for maybe 60% of real value but only once it would help a lot of people get started.
Perhaps not, yeah. But then if they did the KTK fetches in packs of 4/4/4 Fetches/Shocks/Fasts that you could get for maybe 60% of real value but only once it would help a lot of people get started.
Wizards doesn't intend for people to get started with non-rotating formats. These formats literally exist so that people transitioning out of limited and standard can continue to play their cards and build equity into their collections. Thank you for ignoring everything else I said as well and just focusing on one tiny sentence. You're (and much of the magic community) still being ignorant to the MANY different complexities involving reprints and the way that WOTC controls their reprint equity (which they have to do if they are to be a sustainably profitable business).
Let's look at your direct to print idea - what does a printing like that (let alone the logistical nightmare of using DCIs to purchase something) do to LGS confidence or player confidence in the price of their cards? What you're not seeing is that it's not this one direct solution that would undermine player/LGS confidence, it's Wizards DIRECTLY competing in their own secondary market. ALL of this is about Wizards not wanting to interfere with the secondary market because of the potential confidence implications that dealing in the secondary market implies.
Perhaps not, yeah. But then if they did the KTK fetches in packs of 4/4/4 Fetches/Shocks/Fasts that you could get for maybe 60% of real value but only once it would help a lot of people get started.
Wizards doesn't intend for people to get started with non-rotating formats. These formats literally exist so that people transitioning out of limited and standard can continue to play their cards and build equity into their collections. Thank you for ignoring everything else I said as well and just focusing on one tiny sentence. You're (and much of the magic community) still being ignorant to the MANY different complexities involving reprints and the way that WOTC controls their reprint equity (which they have to do if they are to be a sustainably profitable business).
Let's look at your direct to print idea - what does a printing like that (let alone the logistical nightmare of using DCIs to purchase something) do to LGS confidence or player confidence in the price of their cards? What you're not seeing is that it's not this one direct solution that would undermine player/LGS confidence, it's Wizards DIRECTLY competing in their own secondary market. ALL of this is about Wizards not wanting to interfere with the secondary market because of the potential confidence implications that dealing in the secondary market implies.
I couldn't agree more. First off while I greatly enjoy outside the box thinking, using a DCI number would be disastrous. I've got at least 5 DCI numbers myself and it takes literally no work to set up more.
Having Wizards be both the sole supplier of cards and having a big hand in the secondary market.... Wow that would be a dangerous position to be in. The company I work for is in Oil and Gas. We sell equipment to midstream companies around the world. In fact, we've been asked many times to take up a midstream role and lease projects out. We have declined every time because we will not compete with those we sell equipment to. If Wizards directly impacts the secondary market by injecting cards (and taking money out), why be in that business? The consequences of such an action could easily turn the secondary market into a chaotic mess.
To Deadpresident: I understand you're saying you fear that card prices will eventually destroy modern as fewer people will play the format. I respectfully disagree with that assessment. Modern has been around or 5 years now and the last 18 months of it have been setting attendance records for several major tournaments. While that is not the sole indicator of health and viability of a format, it certainly seems that nobody has a problem finding a modern tournament if they go looking for one. If we see a marked downturn in attendance, we can revisit this topic.
^ Yup, non rotating formats help keep the game popular and build players collections, but at the top of WotC's list is limited and standard, their big moneymakers. They aren't going to do anything to increase accessibility to non rotating formats and potentially pull revenue away from formats that keep people opening packs other than the occasional premium product such as modern and eternal masters with low print runs and a handful of sought after cards at mythic rarity.
In regards to individual cards, get your Nahiri's now if you need them and don't have them. I predict she will be in the $40-50 range in the future if her presence in top 8 deck lists continues in line with what we are seeing so far based on MTGO results and the current SCG open.
This is pure PR BS and I hate to be that guy. Every casual and their great-grandmother could immediately understand that cards like Collected Company are bonkers.
I hate to be that guy but many people called company garbage when it was spoiled and the card costed $4 dollars for the first few months that it was in standard because literally no one played it.
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On mtgsalvation people don't want to discuss ideas, so I give people something else to discuss: my controversial opinions.
This is pure PR BS and I hate to be that guy. Every casual and their great-grandmother could immediately understand that cards like Collected Company are bonkers.
I hate to be that guy but many people called company garbage when it was spoiled and the card costed $4 dollars for the first few months that it was in standard because literally no one played it.
Definitely. I myself didn't think that the card was too good and/or was in decks I don't like to play (like Zoo/Burn), so I didn't want any. But a friend of mine said that it would see play, so I picked up 2 play sets at $10 a play set. ($2.50 per card)
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Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
Modern Masters has been a great product but they cant do an unlimited print run like with a Standard set. Maybe if there arent as many staples in the set sure, maybe, but then we have a set with jank and a few chase mythics and buying the sealed product isnt worth it.
U Tron
GW Bogles
RG Loam
UR Blue Breach
RBU Grixis Goryo
BRU Grixis Delver
GBR Jund
GBW Junk
Active Legacy Decks
BR Reanimator
The best way to get people to make new decks is not to make the strictly best cards 100x times the price of the next best one. Especially with lands, i'm not going to play with a sub optimal mana base.
Death and Taxes
Pauper
UB Teachings
Tortured Existence
Murasa Tron
Modern
Pod (RIP)
Bloom(RIP)
Merfolk
I don't know why people keeping citing the YGO example, you don't have to print Tarmogoyf in intro packs, event decks, standard sets, and promos - contrary to popular discourse not everything needs to be falsely dichotomized. They could quite easily have print runs that make it possible to bring cards like Snapcaster, Tarmogoyf, etc into a more moderate price range without tanking their value. Evening if the print run was for as long as a general Standard release it still wouldn't unreasonably affect prices for those cards, and the fact that people think halving the prices for something like some of the $50+ staples in the format is abjectly negative is absurd. Rather maintain the value of what I own > Make sure the format survives long term - stellar logic.
Any of the muppets that advocate protecting existing collections to the extreme and at the expense of players attempting to get into eternal formats will be the same people *****ing and whining when they can't find enough people to run a decent Modern tournament years down the line.
Oh, this attitude again. Neat.
Pretending like all of these options are to somehow be against the players completely belies the complexity of the situation and all of the MANY parties and players involved.
It is you who are taking an overly dichotomous nature in the way you present their decisions. MM2 DECREASED price on all of the major staples for players who waited for the prices to drop. The nature of a non-rotating format based around older and out of print cards is that supply is always going to be outpaced by demand and new stock because there isn't any. Trying to balance this with the fact that magic has ALWAYS catered towards collectors as much as they have players and you start to see the amount of interested parties and why it's not as simple as just 'print more!!'. Print how much? How do you get the reprints to the players who need them? How many do you print? Who do you design the product for and is it just pure singles? How about all of the other cards that will be included NEXT to the rares that are the chase rares - because those will plummet in value. What about the challenges of including high powered reprints in Standard sets? Development issues, design space issues, story issues (Just jamming LOTV in SOI and IOK into BFZ makes absolutely no sense), etc.
People keep citing the YGO example because it's an example of how NOT to handle your valuable properties. There HAS to be a balance between value and accessibility and that balance is on a sliding scale that is different for all people.
I'm assuming youre talking to me? If so I'm not advocating for the protection of my collection. I have two modern decks neither of which are tier 1 or 2 but play very well. Where people get stuck is on cards like tarmogoyf and Lotv that cost you a body part and a half. You don't need those cards to be successful. Yes they're good buy they're not by any means backbreaker just don't play decks that need them. Pick a non-hyped deck that is inexpensive and work your way through it. I started my dredge vine deck with the core and basics and bought the other parts as I was able to. Ive put less than $400 into the deck over three years and I can constantly beat decks that are well out of my price range. My point is that these cards that are absurdly expensive aren'the required to play modern. There is a price point the format and yes there are outliers in the deck prices but just pick a deck and work your way up. Yes cards need reprints but jamming them into standard which would really take a chunk out of their values is not the solution. Reprints in limited quantities are good. Personally I find success in magic. When I'm able to build a deck into something that is good from scratch or working my way towards the big expensive cards and forcing reprints in every corner of the game would make it a little less meaningful.
Modern:
DredgeVine
EDH:
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Anima
Standard:
1. Magic's reprint policy is 100% controlled by WOTC
2. WOTC will always act in what it believes is its own best interest
So why is the current reprint policy likely in WOTC's best interest? Cache, that's why. If you exceed or even meet demand of a product in the present, you've diminished your ability to capitalize on that demand in the future. WOTC wants to keep the train moving forward, so this is what we get.
I suggest that anybody who wants to talk about Modern card prices and reprint policies bookmark this link and read the article carefully and several times: http://www.mtggoldfish.com/articles/how-wizards-manages-its-savings-account
Standard: lol no
Modern: BG/x, UR/x, Burn, Merfolk, Zoo, Storm
Legacy: Shardless BUG, Delver (BUG, RUG, Grixis), Landstill, Depths Combo, Merfolk
Vintage: Dark Times, BUG Fish, Merfolk
EDH: Teysa, Orzhov Scion / Krenko, Mob Boss / Stonebrow, Krosan Hero
You would probably be better served just getting ISD foils. They're cheaper anyway and you get to avoid that awful new art.
UR ....... WUBR ........... WB ............. RGW ........ UBR ....... WUB .... BGU
Spells / Blink & Combo / Token Grind / Dino Tribal / Draw Cards / Zombies / Reanimate
Nahiri, the Harbinger is seeing camera time today. Get it before it goes up!
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)I just picked up my foils for $50 a piece. Hopefully they won't tank shortly after!
And thanks for the replies on RPTQ Snappy Promos, I guess I can get a better deal if I end up going to some events. Unfortunately for me @cfusionpm, I actually love the new art haha.
Of course it's a sliding scale - and my argument is the scale is leaning too much towards practices that will eventually dilute the number of people playing modern rather than growing it, that simple.
@ The bold - please let's not pretend that getting into modern and having a deck that's reasonable against more than a third of the field isn't a sizable investment. I fully agree that playing the absolute top tier staples like Goyf, Snapcaster, etc isn't necessary, but it would be disingenuous to suggest that to get a halfway reasonable modern deck isn't a moderately expensive exercise. Sure, you can put together a $150 brew, but playing at a relatively acceptable level does require a certain amount of cash. And I would argue that at the rate WotC are going that amount of cash is just going to steadily increase until people either stop playing or migrate to the flagship formats WotC prioritizes.
From a normative point of view, sure, "everyone chooses their hobby", "It's not WotC's responsibility to make sure it's easily affordable for everyone", "WotC's business model can't 100% be reconciled with satisfying the needs of everyone who wants to play modern", etc, etc, etc, ad nauseam. I accept all those arguments because they have logical and factual merit, no condescension or sarcasm, they honestly do, I concede that. At the same time they're also congruent with not sustaining modern as one of the popular formats. All I'm saying is you can't have those arguments co-exist with modern as a growing or sustainable format simultaneously, that's cognitive dissonance of the most laughable proportion.
I guess it probably depends on where your location is. In California, there are lots of PPTQs, so many people qualify. I myself have gotten 2 Liliana of the Veil Promos from these events and have traded/sold both. I know players in my area that are just trying to get to the Pro Tour, so they need the extra funds that the card gives them to compete in more events, pay for travel, or pay for cards needed for a deck. The RPTQs I competed in had 50-80 people in San Diego if I remember correctly. They were both 6 rounds if that helps (for some reason, I can't remember the exact attendance).
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)That's a good idea, but it would need to be structured differently if it was even going to have a hope of actually helping people rather than just becoming another way for hoarders to stock up on product. IMO WotC isn't nearly being creative or imaginative enough with how they handle their product design and distribution.
If they were actually attempting to grow any given format there are a hundred ways they could do it without affecting current collectors' existing value. What if WotC made "Land Packs" you could order straight from a store and it would only get ordered when an individual requests it, and gets registered against your DCI number so you can only do it once. You could have a Golgari/Boros/etc set of all the guilds where you get 4 Fetch lands, 4 Shock lands and 4 Fast lands in those colors, and pay let's say $100 for a pack like that. They can even give them silver borders or something but make them legal for whatever formats they're allowed in normally.
That way if a new player wants to start playing he can spend $200 getting a functional and competitive mana base together for something like Jund, Abzan, or Jeskai instead of spending who knows how long merely to trade for his lands.
Wizards doesn't intend for people to get started with non-rotating formats. These formats literally exist so that people transitioning out of limited and standard can continue to play their cards and build equity into their collections. Thank you for ignoring everything else I said as well and just focusing on one tiny sentence. You're (and much of the magic community) still being ignorant to the MANY different complexities involving reprints and the way that WOTC controls their reprint equity (which they have to do if they are to be a sustainably profitable business).
Let's look at your direct to print idea - what does a printing like that (let alone the logistical nightmare of using DCIs to purchase something) do to LGS confidence or player confidence in the price of their cards? What you're not seeing is that it's not this one direct solution that would undermine player/LGS confidence, it's Wizards DIRECTLY competing in their own secondary market. ALL of this is about Wizards not wanting to interfere with the secondary market because of the potential confidence implications that dealing in the secondary market implies.
I couldn't agree more. First off while I greatly enjoy outside the box thinking, using a DCI number would be disastrous. I've got at least 5 DCI numbers myself and it takes literally no work to set up more.
Having Wizards be both the sole supplier of cards and having a big hand in the secondary market.... Wow that would be a dangerous position to be in. The company I work for is in Oil and Gas. We sell equipment to midstream companies around the world. In fact, we've been asked many times to take up a midstream role and lease projects out. We have declined every time because we will not compete with those we sell equipment to. If Wizards directly impacts the secondary market by injecting cards (and taking money out), why be in that business? The consequences of such an action could easily turn the secondary market into a chaotic mess.
To Deadpresident: I understand you're saying you fear that card prices will eventually destroy modern as fewer people will play the format. I respectfully disagree with that assessment. Modern has been around or 5 years now and the last 18 months of it have been setting attendance records for several major tournaments. While that is not the sole indicator of health and viability of a format, it certainly seems that nobody has a problem finding a modern tournament if they go looking for one. If we see a marked downturn in attendance, we can revisit this topic.
In regards to individual cards, get your Nahiri's now if you need them and don't have them. I predict she will be in the $40-50 range in the future if her presence in top 8 deck lists continues in line with what we are seeing so far based on MTGO results and the current SCG open.
I hate to be that guy but many people called company garbage when it was spoiled and the card costed $4 dollars for the first few months that it was in standard because literally no one played it.
Decks I'm playing in Modern right now:
URB Grixis Reveler (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-grixis-reveler/)
UB Faeries (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/ub-fae-2/)
UW Azorious Control (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-ojutai-control-2/)
I'm almost willing to bet you that they will be in standard within the next year. Fetchlands are free money for wizards to put in a standard.
Decks I'm playing in Modern right now:
URB Grixis Reveler (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-grixis-reveler/)
UB Faeries (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/ub-fae-2/)
UW Azorious Control (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-ojutai-control-2/)
Definitely. I myself didn't think that the card was too good and/or was in decks I don't like to play (like Zoo/Burn), so I didn't want any. But a friend of mine said that it would see play, so I picked up 2 play sets at $10 a play set. ($2.50 per card)
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)apparently a foil Nahiri went for like $60 at the Face to Face Open yesterday
I'm gonna be honest. Nahiri is such a hot button right now that I would pick it up fast before the gp.
Decks I'm playing in Modern right now:
URB Grixis Reveler (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-grixis-reveler/)
UB Faeries (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/ub-fae-2/)
UW Azorious Control (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-ojutai-control-2/)
I forgot there was a modern GP coming up soon. I knew I should have bought her