I think this is just them backfilling the catalog to more fully test the system. What better way to test unique card interactions than by including older sets.
God damnit this was my biggest concern
I was really excited for a new format, but I did not want it to include Kaladesh
I HATE ENERGY
They'd probably do similar to modern when they banned several cards when the format was first started just to make sure the format isn't dominated by Aetherworks marvel or Saheeli combo etc.
Maybe in the sense that BFZ was the begging of the 4-set Eldrazi themes block that ENDED with SOI and Eldritch Moon, LOL. Cutting off the first half of the story makes ZERO sense from a design and flavor perspective. IF this is to REALLY be the "post-modern" format, enjoy your $80 Liliana the Last Hopes...
I said this over in the other products thread, but they literally can't create modern or legacy with that game. MTGO already has some trouble with certain decks that combo off or do a lot of complex interactions at once. Arena would just fall over and die trying to deal with dredge or a super big stack of various triggers. I'm sure they may fix this later, but until that point I think that there's just a lot of old files sitting around leftover from development that may still need cleaning up.
Interesting how you reached this conclusion.
So far, we know that arena runs a rules engine, that allows new or old cards to be 'plug and play', quite different from mtgo where everything has to be coded as its own unique rules entity.
So from their description, it seems they've effectively future-proofed the engine to effortlessly run cards from alpha into the distant future.
And now they've implemented proper timings, priority on abilities/spells and stops on phases etc I see no reason why arena couldn't support modern.
Remember arena is currently (in its beta phase) just a tech demo for a powerful game engine and its the engine that we care about. What gave you the idea that the engine couldn't handle modern?
It's not the engine. The problem is our good old friend connection timeout. Don't take the statement I made as if it can never happen, just that right now it can't as of the beta. That and the system for acquiring cards means people that want to play modern are going to be loot box purchasing for ages before they get the library to do anything. I don't even think modern players like drafting or limited, so there is the added value tossed out the window.
those are all superficial details that can change on-the-fly over the course of a beta testing period. the main consideration is whether or not the engine and actual nuts n' bolts behind the frilly surface can handle formats like modern.
your comment was that the game "literally can't" run modern because of "complex interaction" so don't start backpedalling on economy or whatever.
Oh wait, you mean that part. Oh hell yes it can't run modern right now because of the number of interactions firing at once. Well, unless the UIX developers have some seriously hidden ninja skills in there. The part that threw me for a loop is you are talking engine like that even mattered. Also, I'm not backing out of anything. You're the one interpreting "literally can't" as in "never in eternity even if they did work on the game".
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Maybe in the sense that BFZ was the begging of the 4-set Eldrazi themes block that ENDED with SOI and Eldritch Moon, LOL. Cutting off the first half of the story makes ZERO sense from a design and flavor perspective. IF this is to REALLY be the "post-modern" format, enjoy your $80 Liliana the Last Hopes...
Who cares about story and flavour in a non-rotating format? What's the store in Modern? Legacy? Nothing, they end up containing too many sets, so it doesn't matter.
And uh, the format sucks because some cards will be expensive? In that case this whole game sucks But yeah, you are right, I'm snap buying Lily as soon as I see the announcement.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When I hit my 3000 post mark, I'm gone for good.
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
Maybe in the sense that BFZ was the begging of the 4-set Eldrazi themes block that ENDED with SOI and Eldritch Moon, LOL. Cutting off the first half of the story makes ZERO sense from a design and flavor perspective. IF this is to REALLY be the "post-modern" format, enjoy your $80 Liliana the Last Hopes...
By that Logic, Modern should have started after Tim Spiral, since it now randomly includes 4 blocks set before the Mending, a time period when Planeswalkers were totally different than they are now.
They'd probably do similar to modern when they banned several cards when the format was first started just to make sure the format isn't dominated by Aetherworks marvel or Saheeli combo etc.
Oh wait, you mean that part. Oh hell yes it can't run modern right now because of the number of interactions firing at once. Well, unless the UIX developers have some seriously hidden ninja skills in there. The part that threw me for a loop is you are talking engine like that even mattered. Also, I'm not backing out of anything. You're the one interpreting "literally can't" as in "never in eternity even if they did work on the game".
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
And uh, the format sucks because some cards will be expensive? In that case this whole game sucks But yeah, you are right, I'm snap buying Lily as soon as I see the announcement.
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
Doomsdayin'
By that Logic, Modern should have started after Tim Spiral, since it now randomly includes 4 blocks set before the Mending, a time period when Planeswalkers were totally different than they are now.