Whether you like it or not, draft will always be a major factor in composition of any random-booster set. The only way to get something like steel overseer into more-than-normal-rare circulation is by printing in precons. Like how the market is about to be flooded with Bomat Couriers because they’re about to publish 2 precon decks that each pack a playset. That’s one ‘rare’ that will have a whole lot more supply really soon.
WOTC could, if they were smart, print sets in booster packs for drafting, AND in box sets so constructed players can get the cards they need.
Wizards really needs to rethink how they print a new set. Planeswalker Decks are not very good and should be scrapped. Booster packs cannot be the only way cards are printed. They are only good for Limited. There needs to be more for Constructed players. If it was me, this is how I would print each new set.
For Limited Players:
1. Booster Box (MSRP $100)
For Constructed Players:
1. Boxed set of 1x each Mythic Rare (MSRP $30)
2. Boxed set of 1x each Rare (MSRP $20)
3. 2 Challenger Decks (MSRP $30 each)
For Collectors:
1. Box set of 1x each card (MSRP $250)
Also, for each Standard set they could print 'Patch' packs of 8-10 cards that are either reprints or new cards to balance any issues in Standard.
In regards to Masters sets, I would make sure all cards in the set are only needed reprints for the major Constructed formats (Modern, Legacy, Commander). No cards would be printed at rarities other than their original print. They would be sold in truly randomized packs and would not balanced for Limited. Limited formats would be Standard only.
Wizards should also consider periodically reprinting an entire past Standard set for the purposes of paper flashback Limited.
I too hate the Gatewatch. But, then I hate Planeswalkers in general. I feel they should never have been created in the first place. That being said, the way they are telling their stories is absolutely horrible. They are using a series of short stories that are terribly written. What WotC should be doing is hiring known Sci-Fi/Fantasy writers to write full novels. I challenge WotC to do one block, just ONE block without the Gatewatch.
Just yesterday, I went to my first Aether Revolt draft. I didn't pull anything good with the three draft packs and had a really crappy deck and only won 2 games out of 4 rounds. As my consolation prize, I was handed a pack of Conspiracy 2. Then a second later, the guy asks me if I wanted a pack of Aether Revolt instead. I said yes and exchanged the packs. Well, I opened the pack of Aether Revolt and pulled a Platinum Angel. That was my first masterpiece.
This is only a problem if the reprinted card is standard legal. If they do something like make a dedicated slot for a historic reprint card for modern in each booster pack that isn't standard legal, they could get around this issue. In fact, that's one part that perplexes me on how they are handling reprints at the moment, because it is a much better strategy to increase the pack size by one and add a random modern card from a chosen historic set into each pack instead of creating a VPN only Modern masters. They have been printing too many different product lines over the last year and need to get people into buying whatever main product line they have going at the time, and they've repeatedly said that standard is that product line.
That would confuse newer players. Not to mention the feel bad of opening a cool card and not being able to play it in your Standard deck. What WotC needs to do is make Modern Masters sets for constructed purposes and not for drafting. Another idea I had was for WotC to put an in-demand card in more than one slot on the sheet. This way, the print run can stay the same, but it would double the number printed for that card.
There is a problem with that idea. It would force Planeswalkers to be Rare. And that would make Limited unbalanced. WotC designs new sets for Limited first and foremost.
One problem Wizards faces is that they design sets so far in advance, that if they notice a problematic card in Modern, it would be two years before an answer could arrive to fix the situation. There are really only two things they can do.
1) Print new cards in Modern Masters sets, bypassing Standard.
2) Print special 'patch' sets occasionally. These would be sets of 10-20 cards, some reprints, some new cards that also bypass Standard.
A product called 'Standard All-Stars', it released quarterly, at a MSRP of $19.99.
It contains:
. 8 Rare or Mythic Rare cards. 2 copies of 4 unique tournament cards chosen from a recent Pro Tour event.
. Booklet containing information on the lore and design/development of the included cards.
. Bio Cards for each artist of the included cards.
A little beside the point, but gold cards usually refers to gold bordered cards aka multi-colored cards. The cards in your picture are simply referred to as 'Rare' as that is the rarity the gold set symbol indicates.
I think that is too complicated. I would go with something like:
If you have a hand you don't like and wish to mulligan, you can put a card of your choice from your hand in your library and search for a basic land and put it in your hand. Then shuffle your library. You can take no further mulligans.
A GameStop that is too small could relocate into a larger space.
WOTC could, if they were smart, print sets in booster packs for drafting, AND in box sets so constructed players can get the cards they need.
Quite the contrary, more players would actually spend more money that Wizards directly profits from.
For Limited Players:
1. Booster Box (MSRP $100)
For Constructed Players:
1. Boxed set of 1x each Mythic Rare (MSRP $30)
2. Boxed set of 1x each Rare (MSRP $20)
3. 2 Challenger Decks (MSRP $30 each)
For Collectors:
1. Box set of 1x each card (MSRP $250)
Also, for each Standard set they could print 'Patch' packs of 8-10 cards that are either reprints or new cards to balance any issues in Standard.
In regards to Masters sets, I would make sure all cards in the set are only needed reprints for the major Constructed formats (Modern, Legacy, Commander). No cards would be printed at rarities other than their original print. They would be sold in truly randomized packs and would not balanced for Limited. Limited formats would be Standard only.
Wizards should also consider periodically reprinting an entire past Standard set for the purposes of paper flashback Limited.
http://news.toyark.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2017/02/WF2017-Prime-1-Studio-Display-043.jpg
That would confuse newer players. Not to mention the feel bad of opening a cool card and not being able to play it in your Standard deck. What WotC needs to do is make Modern Masters sets for constructed purposes and not for drafting. Another idea I had was for WotC to put an in-demand card in more than one slot on the sheet. This way, the print run can stay the same, but it would double the number printed for that card.
1) Print new cards in Modern Masters sets, bypassing Standard.
2) Print special 'patch' sets occasionally. These would be sets of 10-20 cards, some reprints, some new cards that also bypass Standard.
A product called 'Standard All-Stars', it released quarterly, at a MSRP of $19.99.
It contains:
. 8 Rare or Mythic Rare cards. 2 copies of 4 unique tournament cards chosen from a recent Pro Tour event.
. Booklet containing information on the lore and design/development of the included cards.
. Bio Cards for each artist of the included cards.
If you have a hand you don't like and wish to mulligan, you can put a card of your choice from your hand in your library and search for a basic land and put it in your hand. Then shuffle your library. You can take no further mulligans.