I am all in favor of split pro tours, although I would have liked to see something like 1 constructed, 1 limited, 1 split, and 1 worlds. All in all, I like this a lot. I always liked how VS, and now the World of Warcraft card game, had split pro level events, and I loved Nationals for that reason too. It really tests you in multiple ways.
As for the locations, I'm extremely happy with them. Japan is on there, and Honolulu makes me ecstatic to qualify for that Pro Tour. It's great to see some announcements that I can agree with and I'm glad they listed everything so far in advance.
You have NO IDEA how happy this makes me. With all of the saddening information that has been coming up recently, I'm glad that the Pro Tour schedule has been figured out and announced. It lets me know that there is a future in Magic (not that I thought that Magic was going under, but even I was having a tough time tow the company line recently.)
Also, with Honolulu and Austin PT's, it will give me two legitimate chances to get sponsored for a PT next year as a judge!! : ). They just need to announce a GP in my hometown next year to make the announcements even better!! (Go Stillers.)
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I like the idea of split-format Pro Tours. They should be more skill testing than ever for PT players. I am thankful that there will be an Extended PTQ Season for Honolulu, and did I read correctly that the PTQ format going into Austin is STANDARD?!!?
Wow.
I just want to see three words on next year's Grand Prix schedule now......Grand Prix: Baltimore.
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Don't read anything LaPille. Your brain will thank you later. ----> VICTORY!
wow this is great news. im pumped for teh extended and standard Qualifying seasons now, as i dont ned to leave north america! also i love playing extended and standard(not so much block) so heres no me winning an austin PTQ. also i love the new pro tour format. the nationalish feel of it makes it awsome. great day for mtg'ers
"Crovax Connections" does sound like a friendly corner store run by your local Ascendant Lord
I bet we have a case of Jon Finkel sleeping with the girl, then never calling her again and she going bat #%^% crazy and writing this article case closed.
First PTQ top 8 6/13/09(1st) Second PTQ top 8 10/7/09(5th) Second at national Qualifier 5/15/10
Third PTQ top 8 2/12/11 (2nd)
Second at Alberta 2011's
Fourth PTQ top 8 3/17/12(8th)
GP Vancouver 2012 (18th)
I don't know why everyone is excited. All this means is that there is now a much smaller population of Magic players, predominantly already on the Pro Tour, who are realistically capable of winning a PT.
In the past, you could specialize in just one format and try to go for the big upset, especially in Limited.
Now, there are only all-around players at the highest level. The time commitment to stay sharp in at least 2 formats is significant.
Again, I don't understand the excitement. The vast majority of amateur players who had a slim chance of ever winning a Pro Tour just had that chance reduced to zero. This is a marketing move to try to develop the Tiger Woods or Roger Federer of Magic. The dominant winner that transcends the game and builds excitement. Of course, trying to develop that all star (with the sole purpose of selling more product) comes at the expense of the fringe PT player.
While this is certainly a new change for the PT, I don't know if I can say that I would be a huge fan of all three PTs being split. While it certainly adds variety to the PT, I would rather see 1 constructed, 1 limited, and 1 split.
It seems like the split format would fit into GPs much better than the PTs, but I still look forward to seeing how these new PTs play out.
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Limited Pro Tours are more skill-testing, but Constructed Pro Tours are more exciting and reward preparation more heavily. Making every Pro Tour a combination of both? That's an interesting idea. This may somewhat hurt amateur players trying their hands on the Pro Tour, though. We aren't usually as good as the pros are when it comes to Limited play.
Whilst I'm trying to break into the Pro-Tour, and not that good with limited, I approve of these changes 100%. Guess I now have a reason to begin seriously improving my limited skills then.
Also, Pro-Tour Austin and Pro-Tour Honolulu = win.
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EDH UUU Azami, Lady of Scrolls RRR Diaochan, Artful Beauty UR(U/R) Tibor, Lumia, & Melek (WIP)
I don't have any hard numbers on this, but I'm targeted more often than a black guy driving a beat-up sedan with a broken tail-light and no license plate, and Cy's well aware of that.
I really hope that the standard qualifiers aren't a misprint - I hate the fact that standard is limited to FNM (which I don't play in) and regionals/nationals (of which there are relatively few). Block is always a less interesting format than standard (if anyone can think of an exception to this rule, please let me know.) Oh wait, I can think of one which would have been good: Rav. Oh, except they released Coldsnap and screwed that one up. Way to go...
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...the pinnacle of military deployment approaches the formless. If it is formless, then even the deepest spy cannot discern it or the wise make plans against it.
-- Sun Tzu, The Art Of War
The most recent Block format is far, far more interesting than the current Standard format, which is completely and utterly warped by Magus of the Moon.
This year's block is probably the healthiest overall format I've seen in years, which really has me looking forward to next year's Standard.
I think that the split PT thing is pretty cool. I'm fine with it because it is a Draft/Constructed split, and not Sealed. I really, really dislike the Sealed format on the whole, and I honestly think that it should be abolished. It is far too luck dependent.
I'm actually kind of disappointed by this. I do agree with Gavin in saying that there should have been 1 constructed, 1 limited and 1 split, but at the same time doesn't Nats just accomplish that? I realize that they have to appeal to what the majority of players want but the fact that "some casual players feel the limited pro tours are decadent" kind of pisses me off. I honestly don't give a **** how the casual players feel about the pro tour, and the fact that WoTC does seems very greedy on their part. It's called the pro tour for a reason, and even if they wanted to appeal to the casual players they still have a majority of constructed events with only 1 all-limited event. The worst part about it is that the non draft formats are block, standard and extended. Don't get me wrong, I like those formats, I just think it would be cool for them to hold at least 1 unique pro tour a year. Mark my words, Pro Tour season 2009 is going to be the blandest season yet. Everyone get ready for 4 nationals and 1 super nationals.
EDIT: Also, I don't think this is the right time for them to be taking such radical risks like this considering their current financial situation. This bad idea could have waited a couple years.
EDIT2: Perhaps I'm being a little harsh, but I don't see how this will help at all. If anything, the format specific pros/players will lose interest or fall off the pro tour circuit.
I think this is at least an interesting idea, and am willing to wait to see how it plays out. PTQ winners will probably get the shaft at the PT much like Regionals qualified people tend to do at Nats. But, most pros who are worth following tend to be good at both, Look at Wafo-Tapa. More drafting is never a bad thing, and encouraging people to draft to prepare for the PT seems like a great way to move product, with out cutting quality or more PTS and what not.
I honestly don't give a **** how the casual players feel about the pro tour, and the fact that WoTC does seems very greedy on their part.
You know the NFL has to give a **** about its audience, because they like having the money to keep going. If anything MTGO is not nearly as influenced by spectators as actual professional sports, and its quite a luxury to have anything approaching that kind of attitude.
EDIT2: Perhaps I'm being a little harsh, but I don't see how this will help at all. If anything, the format specific pros/players will lose interest or fall off the pro tour circuit.
So the backlog of more rounded and widely skilled players can get in? Sounds good to me.
awesome change crappy reasoning.... We are doing this to suck up to our casual players who dont read the coverage. Of course this might be a misunderstanding over who is "casual"
I don't think this will piss off that many pros... I mean, are you really telling me that they didn't talk with any of them before, for impressions and the like? Do you really suppose they love doing risky moves just for the pleasure of turning down an ever growing player base? They've got a lot of different player profiles to make happy, and they're trying to do their best... also, Devin Low a while ago posted a poll regarding greater changes... if we wanted them now for the greater good in the future, or not, and he also talked about the 6th rule update and the 8th new card frames who also made players angry, but turned out well. We still have to see one new style PT, I say let's wait, and see what happens.
Most of all, why no one mentioned yet that Worlds will be in... Rome?
So no PT in europe.. Maybe we will get the majority of GPs then. Berlin, london, birmingham or warsaw would be good.
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Original quote byTacosnape "All ideas that give me knowledge without any effort involved on my part are good ideas. Chop chop, my dear fellow."
DCI L2 Judge GP:Madrid 2010 45th GP:Amsterdam 2011 74th GP:London 2013 67th Bazaar of Moxen 2013 32nd
Why are most Pro Tours in the US? Two out of four in USA? Why not one in Amsterdam instead of Austin?
It's cheaper to hold a PT in the US with the weak economy and the weak dollar. It'll cost a lot more to send send their staff and all the set up to Europe.
Besides, Worlds is considered a PT, and that's in Rome this year.
I like these changes. They make Limited almost as important as Constructed again, while still allowing PTs in the three major Constructed formats. Good solution imo.
You really just need to embrace the rage. I keep a small colony of hamsters next to my computer and every time I lose a match to mana screw I throw one against the wall.
The most recent Block format is far, far more interesting than the current Standard format, which is completely and utterly warped by Magus of the Moon.
This year's block is probably the healthiest overall format I've seen in years, which really has me looking forward to next year's Standard.
If you say so.
I like the changes, and I am pretty excited about Austin, considering it has Standard as the PTQ format and Extended as the Constructed format for the PT, AND it's actually located in the US, so I could possibly maybe feasibly go.
This change is awful IMO. I love constructed pro tours that showcase what can be thought up by pro's However, Now you take the constructed masters hard work and even though he may have the best deck for the format he has to worry about Joe Sixpack openening something broken and knocking him out of contention. Overall, It will be an idea casual players will like because they will never have to deal with it and the pro's will end up disliking. Stupid Wizards just can't get anything right of late.
ASIDE: The team format for worlds is insane. I have spoke to many players since the format was released and it is 100% that were this a ptq format we would go to every one within 6 hours probably. The most fun ever had playing magic was turn team PTQ's and GP's and the hope that this may one day come back in a new innovative format excites me. Granted, Wizards will probably never do it because it would be to enjoyable.
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I am all in favor of split pro tours, although I would have liked to see something like 1 constructed, 1 limited, 1 split, and 1 worlds. All in all, I like this a lot. I always liked how VS, and now the World of Warcraft card game, had split pro level events, and I loved Nationals for that reason too. It really tests you in multiple ways.
As for the locations, I'm extremely happy with them. Japan is on there, and Honolulu makes me ecstatic to qualify for that Pro Tour. It's great to see some announcements that I can agree with and I'm glad they listed everything so far in advance.
Also, with Honolulu and Austin PT's, it will give me two legitimate chances to get sponsored for a PT next year as a judge!! : ). They just need to announce a GP in my hometown next year to make the announcements even better!! (Go Stillers.)
Wow.
I just want to see three words on next year's Grand Prix schedule now......Grand Prix: Baltimore.
Some people just love Jace a little too much
First PTQ top 8 6/13/09(1st)
Second PTQ top 8 10/7/09(5th)
Second at national Qualifier 5/15/10
Third PTQ top 8 2/12/11 (2nd)
Second at Alberta 2011's
Fourth PTQ top 8 3/17/12(8th)
GP Vancouver 2012 (18th)
In the past, you could specialize in just one format and try to go for the big upset, especially in Limited.
Now, there are only all-around players at the highest level. The time commitment to stay sharp in at least 2 formats is significant.
Again, I don't understand the excitement. The vast majority of amateur players who had a slim chance of ever winning a Pro Tour just had that chance reduced to zero. This is a marketing move to try to develop the Tiger Woods or Roger Federer of Magic. The dominant winner that transcends the game and builds excitement. Of course, trying to develop that all star (with the sole purpose of selling more product) comes at the expense of the fringe PT player.
While this is certainly a new change for the PT, I don't know if I can say that I would be a huge fan of all three PTs being split. While it certainly adds variety to the PT, I would rather see 1 constructed, 1 limited, and 1 split.
It seems like the split format would fit into GPs much better than the PTs, but I still look forward to seeing how these new PTs play out.
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Limited Pro Tours are more skill-testing, but Constructed Pro Tours are more exciting and reward preparation more heavily. Making every Pro Tour a combination of both? That's an interesting idea. This may somewhat hurt amateur players trying their hands on the Pro Tour, though. We aren't usually as good as the pros are when it comes to Limited play.
Overall, though, I like these changes.
EDH:
UBGThe MimeoplasmUBG
Also, Pro-Tour Austin and Pro-Tour Honolulu = win.
UUU Azami, Lady of Scrolls
RRR Diaochan, Artful Beauty
UR(U/R) Tibor, Lumia, & Melek (WIP)
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As much as I would love to go to a PT, I hate/am terrible at limited.
:/
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-- Sun Tzu, The Art Of War
This year's block is probably the healthiest overall format I've seen in years, which really has me looking forward to next year's Standard.
I think that the split PT thing is pretty cool. I'm fine with it because it is a Draft/Constructed split, and not Sealed. I really, really dislike the Sealed format on the whole, and I honestly think that it should be abolished. It is far too luck dependent.
unfortunately it's in oct... i'll have graduated and got a real job elsewhere by that point
austin's a lot of fun for anyone coming--live music capital and all that
My Trades
Far out, man
EDIT: Also, I don't think this is the right time for them to be taking such radical risks like this considering their current financial situation. This bad idea could have waited a couple years.
EDIT2: Perhaps I'm being a little harsh, but I don't see how this will help at all. If anything, the format specific pros/players will lose interest or fall off the pro tour circuit.
techoverrated.i wish we had a 4th, but right now with the idiots at wotc i am just happy we will have PT's next year.
I like the split formats, but I wish the Qualifying seasons were split as well.
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GEpic Druids-Casual
Cheap T2 Staples
You know the NFL has to give a **** about its audience, because they like having the money to keep going. If anything MTGO is not nearly as influenced by spectators as actual professional sports, and its quite a luxury to have anything approaching that kind of attitude.
So the backlog of more rounded and widely skilled players can get in? Sounds good to me.
Yes i am the same guy who trades/sells on MOTL AND Wizards of the Coast and i trade on POJO.
Most of all, why no one mentioned yet that Worlds will be in... Rome?
DCI L2 Judge
GP:Madrid 2010 45th
GP:Amsterdam 2011 74th
GP:London 2013 67th
Bazaar of Moxen 2013 32nd
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It's cheaper to hold a PT in the US with the weak economy and the weak dollar. It'll cost a lot more to send send their staff and all the set up to Europe.
Besides, Worlds is considered a PT, and that's in Rome this year.
If you say so.
I like the changes, and I am pretty excited about Austin, considering it has Standard as the PTQ format and Extended as the Constructed format for the PT, AND it's actually located in the US, so I could possibly maybe feasibly go.
ASIDE: The team format for worlds is insane. I have spoke to many players since the format was released and it is 100% that were this a ptq format we would go to every one within 6 hours probably. The most fun ever had playing magic was turn team PTQ's and GP's and the hope that this may one day come back in a new innovative format excites me. Granted, Wizards will probably never do it because it would be to enjoyable.