I posted much earlier in this thread about how Random discard isn't quite as unfun unless you're the target of the spell/effect. The person playing the quoted "unfun" card is obviously enjoying playing the spell otherwise they would chose somethign else to play. Random discard is just good, esepcaily in tournaments. Spikes like this card. And, as pointed out, Spikes are the people who play cards like Hymn to Tourach and Hypnotic Specter, and generally only play them in tournaments, as these are very tournament worthy cards. But, Spikes tend to push certain deck themes into Casual Play, and casual players argue too much about "that's a tournament deck" or "that's GOOD black discard, not group-black-discard" and so-forth.
Casual players try to seperate the fields of playable cards and wish for certain cards to never be made because they will never use them. Tournament viable cards generally are what they wish not to be printed. As fun as these new Maro's are, maybe one or two can be deemed worthy enough for Tournament play (the Red and Black) while the others will find themselves at home in many Casual decks as powerful Threats.
If you don't know where you lie as far as a player, then stop to think about your play group. Seperate your players in your group by Tournament and Casual players, then step back and look and see the type of decks they play or the type of cards they generally play and trade for. These small clues will point out how you build your decks and which cards you consider good, and why you consider them good. Experienced tournament players will look over spoilers for the tournament viable cards only, not caring one bit for any type of Casual play because they don't see the use in it. Watch out for these Power-Gamers, as they tend to crash any style of Group game. Explain to your Tournament players what kind of guidelines they must follow if they wish to join your Casual circuit, otherwise you're always going to have rough edges with those players and the decks/cards they play, as they may seem too over-powered for the level of play that your group wants. These reasons lead to too many players complaining to WotC to "ban" or "restrict" Good tournament cards because too many Casual players slip into those Standard FNM tournies and complain, let alone if they step into Type 1 or Extended. There is a certain powerlevel difference between Tournament and Casual players, so understand this and understand that mechanics and decks will be built around these two groups of people.
Now, for Hippie, the classic random discard creature, his return is not going to seem strange. WotC has always gone against their word, mostly to trick players to cause excitement. "Oh! They said they weren't going to print Random Discard anymore, but Hippie's returning!" This is an incredible scheme to sell product, especially a core set of lower-powered rares that most players generally do not want to buy. But, if they include a powerful card they said "probably wouldn't be reprinted", then they gain the gratitude of players who once barred them because they won't make the cards they like. By making both sides happy, the ones for cards like counterspell, and the ones against counterspell, then they just managed to make both sides happy and stifle the arguements. They've done in 3 times now, that I know, and it keeps working: (1) They pushed the "Resevered List" and mentioned Clone, then magically clone disappeared from the list and was reprinted in Onslaught (and now a legendary clone in Saviors). (2) Chrome Mox is a 0-casting artifact that excels you on turn 1, of which is a card that is "cheaper than the mana it produces"... it's been made, but was told that cards like it weren't going to printed. And now, (3), Hypnotic Specter, another article written by Rosewater himself, like the previous 2, on how R&D "dislikes and probably won't do this or that" right before they go off and do it. Incredible marketing strategy that as worked for over three years, and will continue. Just consider Rosewater's articles to be Forshadowing Articles about cards being made or mechanics being reprinted that he said R&D was rejecting.
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"In response to your Brainstorm, I use Vedalken Orrery to play Chains of Mephistopheles as an instant."
-- Duncan McGregor, DCI L3 Judge, while playing his "judgebreaker" deck in an IRL EDH game
Just for the record, having a person make you randomly discard a card is as unfair to them as them getting to chose what card they discard when you make them just discard a card, and also random discard isn't anymore fun then having a spell countered or creature destroyed. Anytime something happens to a player that's a disadvantage it's unfun. The whole argument of "random discard is unfun" is really weak.
I find it VERY hard to believe that that angel is not Serra Angel, as she has been confirmed a place in base sets by an old article in mtg.com. I also find it very hard to believe that the artist would get the filename wrong on one yet right on the other, as both cards have been here since alpha and both are as iconic to their colours as one can get. While I can't say with absolute certainty that hippie is back (I'm not WotC afterall), I've been convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is back.
Now if only WotC would reprint chittering/ravenous rats as well in 9th, i'd be very happy camper packing MBA XD.
*.Banner and Avatar by Your's Truly.*
Casual players try to seperate the fields of playable cards and wish for certain cards to never be made because they will never use them. Tournament viable cards generally are what they wish not to be printed. As fun as these new Maro's are, maybe one or two can be deemed worthy enough for Tournament play (the Red and Black) while the others will find themselves at home in many Casual decks as powerful Threats.
If you don't know where you lie as far as a player, then stop to think about your play group. Seperate your players in your group by Tournament and Casual players, then step back and look and see the type of decks they play or the type of cards they generally play and trade for. These small clues will point out how you build your decks and which cards you consider good, and why you consider them good. Experienced tournament players will look over spoilers for the tournament viable cards only, not caring one bit for any type of Casual play because they don't see the use in it. Watch out for these Power-Gamers, as they tend to crash any style of Group game. Explain to your Tournament players what kind of guidelines they must follow if they wish to join your Casual circuit, otherwise you're always going to have rough edges with those players and the decks/cards they play, as they may seem too over-powered for the level of play that your group wants. These reasons lead to too many players complaining to WotC to "ban" or "restrict" Good tournament cards because too many Casual players slip into those Standard FNM tournies and complain, let alone if they step into Type 1 or Extended. There is a certain powerlevel difference between Tournament and Casual players, so understand this and understand that mechanics and decks will be built around these two groups of people.
Now, for Hippie, the classic random discard creature, his return is not going to seem strange. WotC has always gone against their word, mostly to trick players to cause excitement. "Oh! They said they weren't going to print Random Discard anymore, but Hippie's returning!" This is an incredible scheme to sell product, especially a core set of lower-powered rares that most players generally do not want to buy. But, if they include a powerful card they said "probably wouldn't be reprinted", then they gain the gratitude of players who once barred them because they won't make the cards they like. By making both sides happy, the ones for cards like counterspell, and the ones against counterspell, then they just managed to make both sides happy and stifle the arguements. They've done in 3 times now, that I know, and it keeps working: (1) They pushed the "Resevered List" and mentioned Clone, then magically clone disappeared from the list and was reprinted in Onslaught (and now a legendary clone in Saviors). (2) Chrome Mox is a 0-casting artifact that excels you on turn 1, of which is a card that is "cheaper than the mana it produces"... it's been made, but was told that cards like it weren't going to printed. And now, (3), Hypnotic Specter, another article written by Rosewater himself, like the previous 2, on how R&D "dislikes and probably won't do this or that" right before they go off and do it. Incredible marketing strategy that as worked for over three years, and will continue. Just consider Rosewater's articles to be Forshadowing Articles about cards being made or mechanics being reprinted that he said R&D was rejecting.
-- Duncan McGregor, DCI L3 Judge, while playing his "judgebreaker" deck in an IRL EDH game
(Also known as Xenphire)
Not a chance. Dark Ritual is what BROKE Hyppie.
https://twitch.tv/annorax10 (classic retro speedruns & occasional MTGO/MTGA screwaround streams)
https://twitch.tv/SwiftorCasino (yes, my team and I run live dealer games for the baldman using his channel points as chips)
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=532795
http://www.gregstaples.co.uk/images/Hypnotic_Specter.jpg
is hypnotic specter, then what art does this angel belong?
http://www.gregstaples.co.uk/images/Serra_Angel.jpg
I find it VERY hard to believe that that angel is not Serra Angel, as she has been confirmed a place in base sets by an old article in mtg.com. I also find it very hard to believe that the artist would get the filename wrong on one yet right on the other, as both cards have been here since alpha and both are as iconic to their colours as one can get. While I can't say with absolute certainty that hippie is back (I'm not WotC afterall), I've been convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is back.
Now if only WotC would reprint chittering/ravenous rats as well in 9th, i'd be very happy camper packing MBA XD.
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http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=145850