Split feelings about this among the players in my LGS. In the past I've preferred to use regular foils over promos. For some folk things have changed now that there are 10 or more promos per set, meaning they are rarer and of course guaranteed to be first appearances of the cards.
Does the little date text on the card work for you or does it put you off ?
I'm incredibly picky when it comes to what versions of cards I'm willing to play with. If I'm going to play with a foil card, I want it to be an ordinary foil. Anything with an alternative foiling process like From the Vault cards or foil cards with watermarks like judge promos displeases me.
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I prefer to have a story to go with my foils. Also because i rarely trade for foils the ones that i have i want to look extra interesting and unique. For an example compare Grave Titan to its promo. The promo has, IMO, way better art and if the price is basically the same, which luckily it was, then why not right?
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Modern: RG Titanshift. A deck made of cards too stupid for EDH.
Retired: Lots. More than I feel you should suffer through or I should type out.
It is all personal preference. For example, I hate the Grave Titan promo art, while he person above me likes it a lot more. That's cool. I like both the original and promo art for Korlash. I love the Ink-Eyes promo art, but the Demigod or Revenge alternate art has given itself nicknames along the lines of "phallic monster" but in less flattering terms if that were possible.
I hate the FtV foiling process with a deep passion. They look like fake cards. The Modern frame, 8th edition through current process is so much better in my opinion than prior. They actually started localizing and highlighting the art in foils. Anything with flames, sparks, or other light sources/reflections are highlighted on cards. For example, the Promo Hypnotic Specter has glowing red eyes. The flames on Pyrohemia glow and crackle. In fact, that might have put into words what i love about foils, is when they actually add another level to the art.
There are some promotional foils that just disgust me. In Dissension, they gave out a foil Azorius Guildmage with this strange kind of sideways swipe highlight to the card for no reason. You can kind of see it in this example. Also, i can't recall what card or cards I saw the next example on, but I think they were JSS (Junior Super Serise) or something where there was a random fireworks explosion type effect? EDIT: Yes, some of the later JSS cards.
Again, it is all personal preference. To each their own. I just chose the ones I enjoy the most
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"Whatever style you wish to play, be it fast and frenzied or slow and tactical, the surest way to defeat your opponent consistently is by dominating him or her in the war of card advantage." - Brian Wiseman, April 1996
My opinion is that the art and process are much more important than the date. Actually, I think it is quite lame that promos now have the same art. It is understandable that they do not have the resources to make that many extra pictures, but it really does not even feel like anything special just to have the date there.
Given your question of which is better between two cards of the same art and one with the date, I am not really sure which I would say is better. Would probably pick the one without the date because the date does not add anything interesting, but I would not put forth significant effort to get a dateless version if the dated version was readily available. Which is more rare is quite irrelevant.
I a mostly go for the art I like best. Though it is cool to have some cards in their original foil( Looking at you Teferi) some promos just out class the original(Acidic Slime and Cultivate).
I am on the fence on FtV works. The foil process is kinda meh tp me, and you don't get the cool effect that regular foils have. Like comparing my FtV Gilded Lotus to my core set Lotus.
Being poor, my first rule is price. Example of Sheoldred, Whispering One promo being less than the non-foil original makes it more attractive to me. Though it's clearly not as pimp as the foil original.
Second is art. Some promo arts I like better than the original. I like the Polukranos, World Eater from the duel decks better then the original art, so I prefer it, and the costs are pretty similar.
Sometimes it's just availability. I have like 3 Dragon Broodmother promos that were given to me for nothing, so I use them without qualm.
Art's always the first priority for me. If a card's promo art is superior to the original - Greater Good is an example - I'll play it. Otherwise, I'd rather just stick to a nonfoil version.
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Alternate art is what draws me to promos. I love my Terese Nielsen Lotus Cobra.
Other than that, I feel no desire to go out and foil my decks. Foiling generally makes it difficult to see an opponent's board state across the table, so I never want to go overboard.
Honestly, I'm not too terribly partial in any direction. I enjoy having the occasional foil, but I only really like the ones I actually pull. I never bother buying foils except in the case of the Sun Titan promo that is cheaper and happens to have really awesome art. I am almost always on a budget though so for me, price matters above all.
When choosing foils, it is all about the art, followed closely by the price, followed thirdly by whether I need the card or if it is replacing a nonfoil version. Examples: Bought the promo Sheoldred because I needed it and it was cheaper than a regular version, but I hate the art. On the other side, a guy at my LGS has a promo version of Dragon Broodmother I will not trade for to replace my regular version (though I am slowly working on foiling the deck) because I hate the art.
I too also dislike the FTV foiling process. Besides how badly it warps cards, the foiling washes out the picture with shiny instead of enhancing the art.
It largely depends on art and availability for me. If I'm trying to buy a card and the store has the promo one but to get a regular foil I'd have to buy online, I'll usually just get the promo. I'd much rather play a Terese Nielsen Lotus Cobra, but I also prefer a Planar Chaos Harmonize. It all depends on the card.
Price and availability are also factors. If the local shop has a Duel Decks Garruk Wildspeaker, I'll take that over a Magic 2011 one that I'd have to order online.
I usually prefer pack foils over promos. I try to only run promos if I like the art or artist better, or if there is no other foil available. Also, I hate the FtV foiling process and only run them when there are no other foils available.
my first rule is price. Example of Sheoldred, Whispering One promo being less than the non-foil original makes it more attractive to me. Though it's clearly not as pimp as the foil original.
Second is art. Some promo arts I like better than the original. I like the Polukranos, World Eater from the duel decks better then the original art, so I prefer it, and the costs are pretty similar.
+1 to this.
I go with which one is cheaper. If they are close, then I go with which art I like better.
Best example for me: Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
I do not like the promo art at all, but its 1/2 the price of the pack foil. So I use the promo and don't worry about it.
Count me among the players who prefer alternate art over foil. There are some exceptions, though. I prefer the pack foil Glissa, the Traitor to the promo. The Greater Good promo isn't as good as the 9th edition artwork, but the foil 9th is twice as expensive as the promo... The FTV foils are a completely different beast.
Something I've noticed some players doing is making foil proxies by erasing the ink from a regular foil card and printing a new image on top. I have yet to see a proxy done this way that doesn't look unreadable or otherwise bad. I would recommend against it.
It mostly depends on availability, but art is also a factor if there is alternate artwork that I like more than the original. For example, the Sakura-Tribe ElderFNM art looks MUCH better than the normal artwork imo.
I could not care less. Whatever is the most affordable deal when I want a copy of a card is the art that I get.
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I feel like I am the only one that prefers to have non-foils in my deck. In fact, I try to make my decks look unintimidating by having cheap looking cards like white-bordered lands occasionally. Another reason I dont like using foils in my commander deck is that they bend and and cloud, and I don't want to have a giant stack of double sleeved cards, tried it and really didnt like it.
Does the little date text on the card work for you or does it put you off ?
Trap your friends in an endless game with this 23-card combo!
The art (and the shininess) are the biggest issue for me. The little date is immaterial.
But then, I actually like the FTV foiling, so what do I know?
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BRGKresh the BloodbraidedBRG, A box of lands and ideas.
Modern:
RG Titanshift. A deck made of cards too stupid for EDH.
Retired: Lots. More than I feel you should suffer through or I should type out.
I hate the FtV foiling process with a deep passion. They look like fake cards. The Modern frame, 8th edition through current process is so much better in my opinion than prior. They actually started localizing and highlighting the art in foils. Anything with flames, sparks, or other light sources/reflections are highlighted on cards. For example, the Promo Hypnotic Specter has glowing red eyes. The flames on Pyrohemia glow and crackle. In fact, that might have put into words what i love about foils, is when they actually add another level to the art.
There are some promotional foils that just disgust me. In Dissension, they gave out a foil Azorius Guildmage with this strange kind of sideways swipe highlight to the card for no reason. You can kind of see it in this example. Also, i can't recall what card or cards I saw the next example on, but I think they were JSS (Junior Super Serise) or something where there was a random fireworks explosion type effect? EDIT: Yes, some of the later JSS cards.
Again, it is all personal preference. To each their own. I just chose the ones I enjoy the most
Given your question of which is better between two cards of the same art and one with the date, I am not really sure which I would say is better. Would probably pick the one without the date because the date does not add anything interesting, but I would not put forth significant effort to get a dateless version if the dated version was readily available. Which is more rare is quite irrelevant.
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I am on the fence on FtV works. The foil process is kinda meh tp me, and you don't get the cool effect that regular foils have. Like comparing my FtV Gilded Lotus to my core set Lotus.
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Second is art. Some promo arts I like better than the original. I like the Polukranos, World Eater from the duel decks better then the original art, so I prefer it, and the costs are pretty similar.
Sometimes it's just availability. I have like 3 Dragon Broodmother promos that were given to me for nothing, so I use them without qualm.
Other than that, I feel no desire to go out and foil my decks. Foiling generally makes it difficult to see an opponent's board state across the table, so I never want to go overboard.
Marath, Will of the Wild Tokens!! / Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund Dragons! / Muzzio, Visionary Architect / Brago, King Eternal / Daretti, Scrap Savant / Narset, Enlightened Master / Alesha, Who Smiles at Death / Bruna, Light of Alabaster / Marchesa, the Black Rose / Iroas, God of Victory / Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury / Omnath, Locus of rage / Titania, Protector of Argoth / Kozilek, the Great Distortion
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Usually I'd prioritize it like:
Set Foils & Promos > FTV "Foils" > Non foils > White borders
I too also dislike the FTV foiling process. Besides how badly it warps cards, the foiling washes out the picture with shiny instead of enhancing the art.
The Mimeoplasm || Karador, Ghost Chieftain
Prossh, Skyraider of Kher || Vial Smasher/Tymna Group Slug
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief || Talrand, Sky Summoner
Yidris - Unblockable Saboteurs || Kiki-Jiki, ETB breaker
Kess, Dissident Mage
Price and availability are also factors. If the local shop has a Duel Decks Garruk Wildspeaker, I'll take that over a Magic 2011 one that I'd have to order online.
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UR Thermo-Thing RU
+1 to this.
I go with which one is cheaper. If they are close, then I go with which art I like better.
Best example for me: Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
I do not like the promo art at all, but its 1/2 the price of the pack foil. So I use the promo and don't worry about it.
Something I've noticed some players doing is making foil proxies by erasing the ink from a regular foil card and printing a new image on top. I have yet to see a proxy done this way that doesn't look unreadable or otherwise bad. I would recommend against it.
UGUPrime Speaker Seamonster RampUGU
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RRRFeldon's Lovely LadiesRRR
BGGRock
Modern
BRGJund
BBGRock
The old border art looks stunning in foil in those colours.