Keep in mind that sets are made several years in advance. If some of these Cipher cards had been costed 1 less and had been put into a standard with a Caw-Blade or Delver type deck dominant (decks with a few cheap evasive creatures and heavy non-creature support), they would be terrifying. Cipher is the kind of mechanic that is REALLY hard to balance. It can very easily become overpowered. They decided to be careful, and so few of the cards are any good. Hands of Binding will see play, and I will at least test to see if Stolen Identity can be decent. Both Whispering Madness and Voidwalk seem like they could possibly find homes, even if it's not likely.
Not sure which block they started it. I'm guessing Mercadian Masques? Every block they print out now is "Researched & Developed" and play-tested in a span of approximately two (2) years.
The reason they spend this much time on every block (and set) is to avoid game-breaking, runaway power-levels of cards. WotC fears repeating "Urza's Block" -- with every set R&D + play-tested for only two (2) months, with the 3rd month of printing -- which is susceptible to immediate bannings (Tolarian Academy), stale metagame, etc.
EDIT: Disappointed with Cipher =[
I still love Dimir though =]
Plus, cipher can really screw up combat math for an opponent. Do they attack, knowing that you have a field full of ciphered-up creatures? It's either going to work well as a deterrent or not at all. How well it works at the prerelease is really going to depend on the pool of cards you get.
I think the initial costs for the spells are a little steep, but contrast that with Extort. Extort effects have to be paid for each time they are used. Cipher, apart from the initial cost for the spell, is free, and you already get value out of the spell. I think this is a deceptively powerful mechanic.
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and you are here to stay and burn with me.
Not sure which block they started it. I'm guessing Mercadian Masques? Every block they print out now is "Researched & Developed" and play-tested in a span of approximately two (2) years.
The reason they spend this much time on every block (and set) is to avoid game-breaking, runaway power-levels of cards. WotC fears repeating "Urza's Block" -- with every set R&D + play-tested for only two (2) months, with the 3rd month of printing -- which is susceptible to immediate bannings (Tolarian Academy), stale metagame, etc.
EDIT: Disappointed with Cipher =[
I still love Dimir though =]
Exactly, mtg.com article on mechanics said Cipher was one of later mechanics to be designed. This was was being developed around the time that Caw-Blade had to be banned. They would be wary of overpowering a mechanic that gave powerful tempo/card advantage effects when a creature dealt damage. They wouldn't want to make a whole guild of SFaF.
Exactly, mtg.com article on mechanics said Cipher was one of later mechanics to be designed. This was was being developed around the time that Caw-Blade had to be banned. They would be wary of overpowering a mechanic that gave powerful tempo/card advantage effects when a creature dealt damage. They wouldn't want to make a whole guild of SFaF.
It was Shards of Alara Block + M10 + Zendikar Block. The decks clashing for supremacy were somewhat varied: "Naya Lightsaber"
"5 Color Control"
"Jund"
"Bant Exalted"
"Titan Valakut"
"Titan Ramp"
"Jund Manlands"
"Baneslayer Junk"
"Esper Control"
etc.
There was this week, an article on DailyMTG addressing the issue of the spike in popularity (and disgust?) for a deck called "Caw-Blade". This article started with why WotC had delayed the banning of Memory Jar during Urza's Saga "Combo Winter". The article ended with the author's statement that Jace, the Mind Sculptor will not be banned in Standard.
Not sure if it was the same week or the next week. A major tournament crunched its numbers and posted its results. 70% of the playing field was dominated, if not the only deck being played, Caw-Blade.
I think I can understand why WotC is neurotically cautious with Cipher. Past Magic events are filled with numerous, if not infamous, streaks of broken cards and decks. That said, I'm still disappointed with Cipher, and feel (my opinion) that Dimir is potentially the weakest guild in GTC.
I'm still crossing my fingers and hope that Dimir is the dark horse for RtR block. I still love Dimir
EDIT: *I'm open to criticisms and corrections. If you find anything wrong, just post. Thanks.*
Not sure which block they started it. I'm guessing Mercadian Masques? Every block they print out now is "Researched & Developed" and play-tested in a span of approximately two (2) years.
The reason they spend this much time on every block (and set) is to avoid game-breaking, runaway power-levels of cards. WotC fears repeating "Urza's Block" -- with every set R&D + play-tested for only two (2) months, with the 3rd month of printing -- which is susceptible to immediate bannings (Tolarian Academy), stale metagame, etc.
EDIT: Disappointed with Cipher =[
I still love Dimir though =]
Signature courtesy of DarkNightCavalier, Heroes of the Plane Studios
Misbehavin':
*Still love ya TK-421 haha Respect! \m/
I think the initial costs for the spells are a little steep, but contrast that with Extort. Extort effects have to be paid for each time they are used. Cipher, apart from the initial cost for the spell, is free, and you already get value out of the spell. I think this is a deceptively powerful mechanic.
The world is on fire
and you are here to stay and burn with me.
Exactly, mtg.com article on mechanics said Cipher was one of later mechanics to be designed. This was was being developed around the time that Caw-Blade had to be banned. They would be wary of overpowering a mechanic that gave powerful tempo/card advantage effects when a creature dealt damage. They wouldn't want to make a whole guild of SFaF.
It was Shards of Alara Block + M10 + Zendikar Block. The decks clashing for supremacy were somewhat varied:
"Naya Lightsaber"
"5 Color Control"
"Jund"
"Bant Exalted"
"Titan Valakut"
"Titan Ramp"
"Jund Manlands"
"Baneslayer Junk"
"Esper Control"
etc.
Then came Scars of Mirrodin Block, bringing with it the continuation of the Sword artifacts cycle. (Sword of Feast and Famine, etc.) Not to mention Batterskull too.
There was this week, an article on DailyMTG addressing the issue of the spike in popularity (and disgust?) for a deck called "Caw-Blade". This article started with why WotC had delayed the banning of Memory Jar during Urza's Saga "Combo Winter". The article ended with the author's statement that Jace, the Mind Sculptor will not be banned in Standard.
Not sure if it was the same week or the next week. A major tournament crunched its numbers and posted its results. 70% of the playing field was dominated, if not the only deck being played, Caw-Blade.
BAM!
Jace, the Mind Sculptor and Stoneforge Mystic banned in Standard and Extended the following days. LOL
I think I can understand why WotC is neurotically cautious with Cipher. Past Magic events are filled with numerous, if not infamous, streaks of broken cards and decks. That said, I'm still disappointed with Cipher, and feel (my opinion) that Dimir is potentially the weakest guild in GTC.
I'm still crossing my fingers and hope that Dimir is the dark horse for RtR block. I still love Dimir
EDIT: *I'm open to criticisms and corrections. If you find anything wrong, just post. Thanks.*
Signature courtesy of DarkNightCavalier, Heroes of the Plane Studios
Misbehavin':
*Still love ya TK-421 haha Respect! \m/
and more mind funeral type mill cards
BTW, i'm also hoping that Dimir is the dark horse of RTR.
Thanks Argentleman;)
WB Teysa token aggroBW (retired)
MAKING (Onmath, Numot, maybe something in Esper)