I think they have clarified that "Wizards of the Coast may print special versions of cards not meant for regular game play" means that they cannot make gold-bordered, alternate-backed or otherwise cosmetically changed cards without violating the reserved list/reprint policy.
Even if the cards were not tournament legal, a cube product would certainly be "meant for game play".
Another thing is that a major part of cubing is building and maintaining the cube. Finding out what cards you want to run, what pet cards to include, what draft archetypes to support etc. Buying a ready made cube would take all that out of it. So it would be a product for people who want to play with a cube, but does not want to build the cube. I'm pretty sure this is a very small segment, and WAY less than the people that would be interested in individual singles.
So I doubt that Wizards would ever make a paper cube. Perhaps they could make a cube-oriented product like "FTV:Cube staples" or something, but actually selling a whole 360-card cube seems unlikely IMO.
I see your point, but i do think (and could be wrong) that a sealed standalone product wouldn´t fall in the regular gameplay definition.
EDIT: But back on the topic at hand, I don't think a paper cube is coming. It'd be pretty great, but I think it's a little ways away. Considering what some people put in their cubes, I'd expect shocklands, fetchlands, lots of planeswalkers, etc. It'd be probably several hundred dollars to a thousand dollars if not more. Pauper cube would be cheaper to sell and more people might buy as a starting point, but an actual cube that people would want to buy, I just don't see it happening. Most of them would get pulled apart and sold or used as singles, so the intended goal of introducing cubing and getting people that want to build a cube to buy it would be difficult.
If it was made and it was relatively affordable and even had half the good stuff most people include in their cubes, it'd be printed in small quantities (Modern Masters, FTV, or Commander's Arsenal quantities) so as not to flood the market with a ton of fetches, shocks, and some other big legacy and modern staples.
Or, it could be gold bordered and contain all sorts of hyper-expensive cards, even Power. The Reserve List does not apply to non-tournament legal cards (although WotC would likely change the backs of the cards as well in line with past precedent on similar products such as the World Championship decks).
i do believe it would be gold bordered and different back, like champions of the world decks were.
I think sadysaneto is referring to this in regards to the product. Not sure about the Maro article...
Thanks! Strange..does Wizards normally make articles advertising 3rd party products? Also $90 is a hell of a lot for a glorified deck box. That's more than your typical FTV set, Commander's Arsenal, Modern Event Deck..even a booster box! And it doesn't even come with any cards! For that price it should come with an actual cube.
that´s my point.
ok, i might be really wrong, but why is wizards publishing a whole article about a 3dr party product?
I don't really care/know about old characters and "the lore" one bit, but even I can tell they don' goofed by not making this card Slobad. But hey, they can print serra angel every year for years, making players wonder who or what that character is; Boom we get the Serra walker in a precon. Old players and new ones rejoice in finally getting Serra...
Because Slobad wasn't really a planeswalker, he just borrowed a spark for a few seconds.
It was longer than a few seconds, and even that is more legitimate than "Hey here's a Mercadian Goblin 'Walker that likes artifacts for no apparent reason".
Not really, it was very very short.. Slobad was barely a walker. In addition, walkers need to be characters that can travel the planes. Slobad cannot. He fails as a planeswalker.
Sorry guys, but he probably won't be (and shouldn't be) getting a pw card.
it was longer than a few seconds. he was able to talk to karn and refused to be his apprentice. And i don´t know about not being able to planeswalk. little green dude brought everybody that has died back to life. everybody. i don´t think power level is a concern here.
If I remember correctly he never left the plane. A walker that never leaves fails as a walker.
I don't undertstand the irrational love for Slobad. I'm more surprised this many people read the Mirrodin novels.
its not irrational love.
its more of expecting a nod to some awesome piece of lore.
me, myself, i find slobads lore one of the most interesting/tragic/epic on mtgs history.
Because Slobad wasn't really a planeswalker, he just borrowed a spark for a few seconds.
It was longer than a few seconds, and even that is more legitimate than "Hey here's a Mercadian Goblin 'Walker that likes artifacts for no apparent reason".
Not really, it was very very short.. Slobad was barely a walker. In addition, walkers need to be characters that can travel the planes. Slobad cannot. He fails as a planeswalker.
Sorry guys, but he probably won't be (and shouldn't be) getting a pw card.
it was longer than a few seconds. he was able to talk to karn and refused to be his apprentice. And i don´t know about not being able to planeswalk. little green dude brought everybody that has died back to life. everybody. i don´t think power level is a concern here.
Because Slobad wasn't really a planeswalker, he just borrowed a spark for a few seconds.
It was longer than a few seconds, and even that is more legitimate than "Hey here's a Mercadian Goblin 'Walker that likes artifacts for no apparent reason".
is there any confirmation on him being mercadian? looks like from palliano to me :/
Personally I believe Slobad is better served as a "standard" legendary creature instead of a planeswalker, because let's face it he was a planeswalker for a shorter duration than 99.5% of all magic duels last.
Also everyone who is upset about this not being a nostalgic throwback, like Jaya: This is the most concentrated nostalgia we ever got in a product rivaled only by time spiral, and this time we got a bunch of oldwalkers. I honestly cannot understand how anyone blames wizards for not putting even more old characters into this.
while i do agree on the shortest duration ever, he did more in this little time than most of the others pws wandering around.
slobad has a terribly sad story, with an amazing yet bitter end. it was epic. he deserved to be a pw card.
Any idea what is it?
DOTP Expac?
I see your point, but i do think (and could be wrong) that a sealed standalone product wouldn´t fall in the regular gameplay definition.
i do believe it would be gold bordered and different back, like champions of the world decks were.
i think they could even change the frame.
that´s my point.
ok, i might be really wrong, but why is wizards publishing a whole article about a 3dr party product?
I mean, its kinda odd that wizards showcases a product for cube in the mothership.
also, maro´s last article.... I dunno....
a naturalize, on a stick, in commander.... is bad?
that it?
errr....
its not irrational love.
its more of expecting a nod to some awesome piece of lore.
me, myself, i find slobads lore one of the most interesting/tragic/epic on mtgs history.
it was longer than a few seconds. he was able to talk to karn and refused to be his apprentice. And i don´t know about not being able to planeswalk. little green dude brought everybody that has died back to life. everybody. i don´t think power level is a concern here.
is there any confirmation on him being mercadian? looks like from palliano to me :/
while i do agree on the shortest duration ever, he did more in this little time than most of the others pws wandering around.
slobad has a terribly sad story, with an amazing yet bitter end. it was epic. he deserved to be a pw card.
my two cents
no