Not sure what I think at this point. There seems to be alot of excitement in here, but on the other hand this thread is about 2 months old--- so for a thread thats been going that long Id expect there to be much more positive posts after that much time has passed if this product was really going to take off.
At this point, Im betting its initial release will be one of hit and miss depending on the area. New players may enjoy it as a way to pick up some lands and extra commons and maybe uncommons along with their boosters.
People that have been around will have to decide between picking one of these up, or just buying more packs. Because of that, I see these probably selling at first as a novelty. Then, realizing that experience doesnt really accurately prepare you for limited at all or offer the random elements that limited (or even a regular pack war) offers, these people will probably start going back to just buying more boosters instead of investing in more lands and commons.
A few may stick with these, but if theyre also picked up by big box chains, I can see these things sitting on shelves for a really long time.
Its an interesting concept, but it just doesnt seem to have the ummpf factor that will make it a real success, though to be fair, we dont know what the precon side of these things will look like. If they carry some of the better commons/uncommons it will make a big difference on how well these do. If there are only 2 possible semi-random decks it will hurt (it will be almost the same play experience every game you play). So Im definately keeping my mind open, but so far my verdict is novelty that will sell well in some stores, sit on shelves forever at others--- and probably wont see a huge amount of demand shortly after it hits.
While I'll probably not be using it, I think it's a fine idea. Limited was quite intimidating for me when I was beginning, and this is a great way to ease oneself into it.
I sort of like the idea. My only problem isthat I can get a draft for the same price and have a lot more game time.
Where can you draft for $5 and keep all your cards? Sounds like a bargain to me!
Please let me know as well. Here you are getting 2 boosters, most places sell these at around $4-$5 a piece, as well as 2 semi random 20 card decks, for $10. That is 70 cards for $10, or 7 cards for $1, or about $.14 per card.
And yes some of these I am sure are land, but still you are garanteed at least 1 booster pack worth of stuff. And to be honest I would much rather buy 1 of these, and get the extra cards, instead of 2 booster packs for almost the same price.
Anyone invested in these yet? I'm curious what sort of cards make up the semi-random decks.
I've gotten a couple free, and they're basically just full of reasonable limited commons with one uncommon. I haven't paid close attention to the contents, but I know I saw Chasm Drake, Skywinder Drake and Belltower Sphinx in one blue one. Since they come with so few cards, one uncommon and no rares, they're irrelevant once the game is over.
Bought one of these with my buddy after draft and they are fun to kill some time with. All 4 "mini packs" had solid cards and were fun to play.
When you open up the package there are 2 boxes inside. In each box is 2 packs of different colors, a booster, and the rules etc. Each pack has 5 cards of the color and 5 lands. I got jaces buddy for my rare and my friend got Chandra the lucky sob.
Only gripe I have about it is that in the mini rules for how to play it says nothing about milling. I asked around an no one had a definitive answer on if you keep playing with no cards (as you only play with 25) or if you can be milled.
Yes, because these decks are totally going to be sold on the strength of some absurdly valuable powerhouse cards contained within. These things are completely comparable to the SFM event deck in their target market.
you do realize that the sfm event deck contents was decided months before SOM was released? wizards in their ffl didnt even come up eith caw blade! people, dont act like wizards is a money hungry monster, as long as they continue to make magic we should not hate on them!
The idea was cool when I thought the 20 card decks were all spells. As is I bought 2 and got the exact same pack both times as far as the semi random cards go. 4 Commons 1 Uncommon and 5 Lands for each of 2 colors plus a pack was just not really worth it if you ask me.
I hope they try this again and I hope they do a better job next time. I'd like to see closer to 20 spells so that the player has more choices. More than 1 Uncommon would be nice.
Yeah these are absolutely pointless if your store prize supports booster pack wars. (Which mine does) Two boosters is like 8.48 with tax at my place, so I just grab two of those and toss some land in. Poorly executed for sure.
Please let me know as well. Here you are getting 2 boosters, most places sell these at around $4-$5 a piece, as well as 2 semi random 20 card decks, for $10. That is 70 cards for $10, or 7 cards for $1, or about $.14 per card.
And yes some of these I am sure are land, but still you are garanteed at least 1 booster pack worth of stuff. And to be honest I would much rather buy 1 of these, and get the extra cards, instead of 2 booster packs for almost the same price.
For $5 more I can get into a draft at any of my local stores with $5 of it going into the prize pool. 3 packs for the same rate minus all of those bulk cards added on to the actual drafting and playing makes this item just something for newer players.
One of my local stores also have budget drafts every Tuesday for $10 with a $1 going into the prize pool from each person. I have no idea where you would have to pay $5 for a booster in standard.
I for one am appalled that a company would market its merchandise in diverse ways in an attempt to make a profit. This is a blatant cash cow; it's almost as though Wizards is trying to make more money.
But what really bothers me is that there are less-informed players than myself who might purchase this product. We've got to be careful; people could accidentally have fun!
The sarcasm is utterly stupid and does not constitute a valid arguement. this product is jut uneeded. There is no real market for it at all. Even among noobs. Its just gimmicky and stupid.
Whats everyone is so angry about is that this product is an insult to our intelligence. Price of booster + $2 for some crappy chode were never goin to use again? Do they really think any informed person is going to buy this? It yet another semi-lie/attempt to hoodwink. Those "event deck" that claimed to be "FNM competative" outside of the box is a bunch of crap. They never were. I have never been to any FNMs or stores where they could stand up. And wizards know they will not stand up, uness they are somehow forgeting about meta-shifts among other things.
And to all of you saying "Well this will be great for introducing people into limited"...
Huh? don't pack wars already do that, and why do we aways need to get some silly bridge? I feel like I a talking to Zeno here...
Well we need a bridge to format X, weel make Y. But we need a bridge to Y from Z, and so on and so on.
This is beyond bad. What will Wizards not make into a format/product to sell? Pack wars make into a format? Now people are going to be buying $10 nothing and having essentially a 50/50 gambling event for all of M12.
For those of you who don't know while this was originally a fun idea of buying 3 packs and making quick deck out of it for fun fighting each other, in a silly match. Also means you had money to burn before or even, after, or even in between some kind of tournament. However as time went on pack wars degenerated into a way of ripping people off. Older players would target less experienced players into a pack war/ante type game. You each buy 3 packs you each made a deck and you have one match and the winner of that match gets to keep all of the cards. Another version is both players have unlimited mana, can play only one spell a turn, each person buys one pack, but still one person walks away with the total contents of both packs. Wizards needs to not print garbage like this and focus on duel decks, and other reprint decks.
Exactly. What really tunrs people away more is jackass player that take avantage of noobs.
I wish I would have read all the way to this page before today.
I picked one up at Target and frankly my opinion is negative even as a teaching tool. I am currently teaching a forth player and I'm trying to figure out a time to teach a fifth. These decks are just random commons and some uncommons that have no synergy and no strategy to tie them together.
If you have a new player that is hurting for cash then raid the commons bin at your LGS or split a Toolkit. As for these, skip them.
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There's no proof she's being chased
by ninja squirrels either. - Dr. Wilson
Hasbro is a for-profit company. They're legally bound to maximize profits for the company's shareholders. Printing more actual sets would bloat the card pool and be too expensive to develop anyways, but printing more and more specialty products keeps people buying year-round with very few additional costs relative to blocks and core sets.
Exactly!
If you already have cards, you don't NEED TO BUY this... Unless you just have to try out all the new stuff they put on the shelf.
For a newbie, this provides a little direction to try out. Basically this is a Deck Builder's Toolkit Lite version. They should do this for every set and scrap intro decks all together.
Mu opinion is that the real value is in the card selection. That it provides a common set of cards to build from... Like a baby newbie "Cube" format. The thing I see missing at FNM is teaching PLAY separate from BUILDING. Playing from a series of prebuilt, balanced decks would be interesting.
You know what other product was good limited introduction? the tournament pack which also doubled as a way to put lands out there for noobs and was overall better buy for the beginner that say 4 boosters. Oh wizz why did you kill it? you had something good all you needed was a little more repackaging.
Tournament packs were a non booster SKU, but they were still "sealed" first run product. They also only did them for one set in the block, it was inconsistent. Statistics-wise, they would have had to set up the run to pack the boxes... Booster packs aren't RANDOM, they are EVEN (mostly). They lay cards out on the sheet in the rough order they want them in packs. That's why packs seem to cluster cards that like each other. They get more mileage tossing extra boosters in rather than tournament packs. Basically Fat Packs are the Tournament pack... And the lands are packed separate to sell if you want!
A band i shot a few weeks ago was learning to play with these before the show. Each of the decks has 5 colors? They seemee cobfused as ****. Had to step in a few times
OK kids
Here's what you might get in the Booster Battle Packs:
they contain the two attached deck boxes (probably so they pack better)
How to play insert
Booster Battle Pack insert
2 Magic 2012 boosters
2 "twenty card" decks (see below)
The "twenty card decks" are really 4 selections from the "semi-random" bundles below:
Each is 5 basic lands, 4 commons, and 1 uncommon in one color.
White A:
Pride Guardian
Armored Warhorse
Siege Mastodon
Divine Favor
Serra Angel
5 plains
Green B:
Sacred Wolf
Giant Spider
Greater Basilisk
Trollhide
Lure
5 forests
Thanks, Internet kids for posting your contents.
This is TEN different selections, probably rotating in some fashion like the deck builder's toolkit. That's not enough cards, there should be one more set of 10 cards to round out the 110 cards on a sheet... so some color has one more pack?
See kids, if you don't want to BUY the booster battle pack you can just raid your vast selection of cards and build your own...and just add boosters.
I purchase my Magic stuff mainly at Walmart and other Big Box stores. Since booster packs are 4 bucks each there, I would much rather buy this product than 2 boosters. The extra 2 dollars is worth it to me for the extra cards and ease of use. Instead of having to grab land or other filler cards from a collection it is all right here in box.
I also found it very useful in explaining fundamentals of sealed play to a new player, and at a price point he was comfortable with. We each chipped in 5 bucks and had a fun time. Obviously this isn't targeting the tournament/experienced players, and the level of depth to this product isn't astounding, but I think this seems like an excellent and much-needed ancillary product that fills a void that has been existing for some time.
I'd also like to note that they seem to be selling very well in my area (Philadelphia Area), as the last few times I have looked for them they were either out of stock or there were only a few left on the rack.
These decks are just random commons and some uncommons that have no synergy and no strategy to tie them together.
With respect, I must disagree. There are some obvious synergies in the card picks, look at the full list below. Evasive creatures in Black with bloodthirst, White Griffins, etc. I'm not saying they're world-beaters, but some thought went into the picks.
So I grabbed one of these from kmart yesterday to play with my girlfriend. I got red green lure/volcanic dragon. She got white blue serra angel/azure mage. I added manic vandal, manalith, llanowar elves, gorehorn minotaurs, and druidic satchel. She added a second chasm drake, second frost breath, ice cage, mind control, and angelic destiny... She also got a stormfront pegasus, but thought it was "too weak." She was actually right. We did best of five and she won 3 in a row. Mind control strikes again. She got destiny once and it was simply a beating. We didn't disclose our colors or picks to make it a surprise before we played, but she asked this when viewing her pack: "Is a red rarity symbol good?"
All in all, it was very fun. She is relatively new, and I think these are perfect for teaching new players about many different aspects of this great game.
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My favorite flavor text: Time of Heroes
Feel free to tell me yours!
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RGGruul Aggro
WSoul Sisters
WBTokens
BUGRRestore Balance
BMono-Black Infect
EDH:
RGWMayael, the Anima
GWURoon of the Hidden Realm
BDrana, Kalastria Bloodchief
At this point, Im betting its initial release will be one of hit and miss depending on the area. New players may enjoy it as a way to pick up some lands and extra commons and maybe uncommons along with their boosters.
People that have been around will have to decide between picking one of these up, or just buying more packs. Because of that, I see these probably selling at first as a novelty. Then, realizing that experience doesnt really accurately prepare you for limited at all or offer the random elements that limited (or even a regular pack war) offers, these people will probably start going back to just buying more boosters instead of investing in more lands and commons.
A few may stick with these, but if theyre also picked up by big box chains, I can see these things sitting on shelves for a really long time.
Its an interesting concept, but it just doesnt seem to have the ummpf factor that will make it a real success, though to be fair, we dont know what the precon side of these things will look like. If they carry some of the better commons/uncommons it will make a big difference on how well these do. If there are only 2 possible semi-random decks it will hurt (it will be almost the same play experience every game you play). So Im definately keeping my mind open, but so far my verdict is novelty that will sell well in some stores, sit on shelves forever at others--- and probably wont see a huge amount of demand shortly after it hits.
Please let me know as well. Here you are getting 2 boosters, most places sell these at around $4-$5 a piece, as well as 2 semi random 20 card decks, for $10. That is 70 cards for $10, or 7 cards for $1, or about $.14 per card.
And yes some of these I am sure are land, but still you are garanteed at least 1 booster pack worth of stuff. And to be honest I would much rather buy 1 of these, and get the extra cards, instead of 2 booster packs for almost the same price.
I've gotten a couple free, and they're basically just full of reasonable limited commons with one uncommon. I haven't paid close attention to the contents, but I know I saw Chasm Drake, Skywinder Drake and Belltower Sphinx in one blue one. Since they come with so few cards, one uncommon and no rares, they're irrelevant once the game is over.
But it's semi-random
When you open up the package there are 2 boxes inside. In each box is 2 packs of different colors, a booster, and the rules etc. Each pack has 5 cards of the color and 5 lands. I got jaces buddy for my rare and my friend got Chandra the lucky sob.
Only gripe I have about it is that in the mini rules for how to play it says nothing about milling. I asked around an no one had a definitive answer on if you keep playing with no cards (as you only play with 25) or if you can be milled.
you do realize that the sfm event deck contents was decided months before SOM was released? wizards in their ffl didnt even come up eith caw blade! people, dont act like wizards is a money hungry monster, as long as they continue to make magic we should not hate on them!
At my store they're like 3.90 each.. so this thing is almost worth it just based on the booster packs.
BYargle and Friends:EDH
WURShu Yun, One Punch Man:EDH
A lie is a lie if everyone believes it. The truth is the truth if no one does.
I hope they try this again and I hope they do a better job next time. I'd like to see closer to 20 spells so that the player has more choices. More than 1 Uncommon would be nice.
For $5 more I can get into a draft at any of my local stores with $5 of it going into the prize pool. 3 packs for the same rate minus all of those bulk cards added on to the actual drafting and playing makes this item just something for newer players.
One of my local stores also have budget drafts every Tuesday for $10 with a $1 going into the prize pool from each person. I have no idea where you would have to pay $5 for a booster in standard.
Whats everyone is so angry about is that this product is an insult to our intelligence. Price of booster + $2 for some crappy chode were never goin to use again? Do they really think any informed person is going to buy this? It yet another semi-lie/attempt to hoodwink. Those "event deck" that claimed to be "FNM competative" outside of the box is a bunch of crap. They never were. I have never been to any FNMs or stores where they could stand up. And wizards know they will not stand up, uness they are somehow forgeting about meta-shifts among other things.
And to all of you saying "Well this will be great for introducing people into limited"...
Huh? don't pack wars already do that, and why do we aways need to get some silly bridge? I feel like I a talking to Zeno here...
Well we need a bridge to format X, weel make Y. But we need a bridge to Y from Z, and so on and so on.
Exactly. What really tunrs people away more is jackass player that take avantage of noobs.
WURDelver
[/MANA]MANA]R[/MANA]GTron
WDeath and Taxes
WSoul Sisters
RWG Pod Combo
URSplinter Twin
URStorm
RBurn
I picked one up at Target and frankly my opinion is negative even as a teaching tool. I am currently teaching a forth player and I'm trying to figure out a time to teach a fifth. These decks are just random commons and some uncommons that have no synergy and no strategy to tie them together.
If you have a new player that is hurting for cash then raid the commons bin at your LGS or split a Toolkit. As for these, skip them.
There's no proof she's being chased
by ninja squirrels either. - Dr. Wilson
Not from what I've seen. They are a bit brighter, but that's natural. They don't seem any lighter, glossier, or more terrible...
Exactly!
If you already have cards, you don't NEED TO BUY this... Unless you just have to try out all the new stuff they put on the shelf.
For a newbie, this provides a little direction to try out. Basically this is a Deck Builder's Toolkit Lite version. They should do this for every set and scrap intro decks all together.
Mu opinion is that the real value is in the card selection. That it provides a common set of cards to build from... Like a baby newbie "Cube" format. The thing I see missing at FNM is teaching PLAY separate from BUILDING. Playing from a series of prebuilt, balanced decks would be interesting.
Tournament packs were a non booster SKU, but they were still "sealed" first run product. They also only did them for one set in the block, it was inconsistent. Statistics-wise, they would have had to set up the run to pack the boxes... Booster packs aren't RANDOM, they are EVEN (mostly). They lay cards out on the sheet in the rough order they want them in packs. That's why packs seem to cluster cards that like each other. They get more mileage tossing extra boosters in rather than tournament packs. Basically Fat Packs are the Tournament pack... And the lands are packed separate to sell if you want!
Posts merged.
EDH:
Niv-Mizzet
Legacy:
The Rack
Modern
Venser, the Sojourner Control
Here's what you might get in the Booster Battle Packs:
they contain the two attached deck boxes (probably so they pack better)
How to play insert
Booster Battle Pack insert
2 Magic 2012 boosters
2 "twenty card" decks (see below)
The "twenty card decks" are really 4 selections from the "semi-random" bundles below:
Each is 5 basic lands, 4 commons, and 1 uncommon in one color.
White A:
Pride Guardian
Armored Warhorse
Siege Mastodon
Divine Favor
Serra Angel
5 plains
White B:
Griffin Rider
Griffin Sentinel
Angel's Mercy
Peregrine Griffin
Roc Egg
5 plains
Blue A:
Coral Merfolk
Aether Adept
Amphin Cutthroat
Jace's Erasure
Belltower Sphinx
5 islands
Blue B:
Skywinder Drake
Chasm Drake
Cancel
Frost Breath
Azure Mage
5 islands
Black A:
Zombie Goliath
Sorin's Thirst
Disentomb
Mind Rot
Sengir Vampire
5 swamps
Black B:
Tormented Soul
Duskhunter Bat
Bloodrage Vampire
Taste of Blood
Vampire Outcasts
5 swamps
Red A:
Fiery Hellhound
Firebreathing
Goblin Tunneler
Chandra's Outrage
Volcanic Dragon
5 mountains
Red B:
Goblin Fireslinger
Blood Ogre
Shock
Lava Axe
Stormblood Beserker.
5 mountains
Green A:
Gladecover Scout
Garruk's Companion
Stampeding Rhino
Plummet
Overrun
5 forests
Green B:
Sacred Wolf
Giant Spider
Greater Basilisk
Trollhide
Lure
5 forests
Thanks, Internet kids for posting your contents.
This is TEN different selections, probably rotating in some fashion like the deck builder's toolkit. That's not enough cards, there should be one more set of 10 cards to round out the 110 cards on a sheet... so some color has one more pack?
See kids, if you don't want to BUY the booster battle pack you can just raid your vast selection of cards and build your own...and just add boosters.
I also found it very useful in explaining fundamentals of sealed play to a new player, and at a price point he was comfortable with. We each chipped in 5 bucks and had a fun time. Obviously this isn't targeting the tournament/experienced players, and the level of depth to this product isn't astounding, but I think this seems like an excellent and much-needed ancillary product that fills a void that has been existing for some time.
I'd also like to note that they seem to be selling very well in my area (Philadelphia Area), as the last few times I have looked for them they were either out of stock or there were only a few left on the rack.
With respect, I must disagree. There are some obvious synergies in the card picks, look at the full list below. Evasive creatures in Black with bloodthirst, White Griffins, etc. I'm not saying they're world-beaters, but some thought went into the picks.
All in all, it was very fun. She is relatively new, and I think these are perfect for teaching new players about many different aspects of this great game.
Feel free to tell me yours!