Ok, so all of you agree that mapping is not possible, but you still recommend against buying single boosters online. Evaders mentioned weighing, and I guess what Mikes said is always possible (because the boosters in a box aren't independent of each other (afaik), you can be sure that your chances on mythic/foil cards in the rest of the boosters drop if you already pulled multiple).
BUT: Would you expect big sellers to do stuff like that? Or do I only need to be cautious when buying from private persons or small businesses?
Edit: The advantage of buying single boosters is of course not only the price (as mentioned in my opening post), but also that you are more flexible in the amount you want.
after a longer pause from magic, I was recently thinking about getting some boosters again. When looking at booster and booster box prices, I noticed that single boosters are cheaper than booster boxes (that is, 36x single boosters cost less than 1x booster box). This seems really wierd to me, I would have rather expected it to be the other way round due to quantity discount (or at most be equal). This got me suspicous:
Is booster mapping still possible?
Can boosters be scanned for their contents in some other way? Maybe by weighing them or using a magnetic sensor to find foils or something like that?
Basically, are there any ways to get information about the (likely) contents of a booster?
Because that is the only way I can explain to myself how these prices make sense. And I really don't want to buy boosters unless I'm certain I'm not getting screwed.
Thanks for your help.
PS: I got the prices from magiccardmarket.eu. E.g. 1,89euro per Kaladesh booster (= 68euro for 36) vs. 75euro for a booster box.
Apart from what was said, no one in his right mind would ever cast his Murder or whatever while the ETB is still on the stack. Then you could just let the kill-spell resolve without casting your Essence Flux and he would never get his card back.
No idea why everyone looses his socks over this card in modern.
It is a 2/3 vanilla for 4 mana in modern.
Jeej....
And Dark Confidant is a vanilla 2/1 and Birds of Paradise is a vanilla 0/1?
He has a point. 4 mana, do-nothing until your next turn and in Lightning Bolt range isn't too great. Can't see this in Modern at all. But nice for EDH.
That was my point. The creatures I mentioned get bolted the turn you play them and do nothing yet are played.
Do they cost 4 mana? No, they cost the same or 1 mana more than Bolt. That is a huge difference. Plus, they are mono-colored.
No idea why everyone looses his socks over this card in modern.
It is a 2/3 vanilla for 4 mana in modern.
Jeej....
And Dark Confidant is a vanilla 2/1 and Birds of Paradise is a vanilla 0/1?
He has a point. 4 mana, do-nothing until your next turn and in Lightning Bolt range isn't too great. Can't see this in Modern at all. But nice for EDH.
Effects that "give a player control of an object" use the formulations "gain control of..." or "you control enchanted...". They don't include effects that put a permanent on the battlefield under a particular player's control, or effects, such as Gather Specimens, that change under whose control a permanent enters the battlefield.
Thanks a lot to you both.
Off topic, I noticed something wierd, probably a forum bug. When I quote you, it says that you wrote this:
800.4a When a player leaves the game, all objects (see rule 109) owned by that player leave the game and any effects which give that player control of any objects or players end. Then, if that player controlled any objects on the stack not represented by cards, those objects cease to exist. Then, if there are any objects still controlled by that player, those objects are exiled. This is not a state-based action. It happens as soon as the player leaves the game. If the player who left the game had priority at the time he or she left, priority passes to the next player in turn order who’s still in the game. Example: [...]
Example: Alex casts Bribery, which reads, “Search target opponent’s library for a creature card and put that card onto the battlefield under your control. Then that player shuffles his or her library,” targeting Bianca. Alex puts Serra Angel onto the battlefield from Bianca’s library. If Bianca leaves the game, Serra Angel also leaves the game. If, instead, Alex leaves the game, Serra Angel is exiled.
[...]
The example shows the part I am not sure about. Which effects qualify as "give a player control of an object"? In contrast, which effects lead to a player controlling an object he doesn't own, but isn't given control of by an effect? Bribery seems to fall in the second category (see rules example), but why is that the case? Why is there a difference between "You control X" / "Gain control of X" and "Put onto the battlefield under your control"? I would certainly read that as an effect "which gives me control of an object".
When I first saw Vehicles yesterday, I thought they were a huge flavor fail and wouldn't fit into Mtg at all. However, sleeping over it and seeing more cards of the set, it now seems very fitting to this particular world and its feel to me. I also like the execution a lot, especially the creatures profiting from crewing a vehicle. There is that dwarf legend which would certainly die when attacking and can be protected by riding a vehicle and the guy girl that grants haste when crewing.
On the other hand, I am still very sceptical about energy counters. Me (and my whole EDH playgroup) didn't like experience counters at all, because you can't interact with them after they were gained, and this seems pretty similar. Also it adds another resource to the game, making it even harder for new player to get started.
I'd say Fabricate is a really good, albeit very basic mechanic. Sadly, it will probably be limited-only and not be seen on constructed playable cards (see Cohort, Rally, Ingest, Support, etc).
Edit: Oh and I really like the Vehicle border. It looks gorgeous and (together with the P/T) clearly communicates "This may look like an artifact, but it's actually a creature (kinda).".
My group's version on Group Hug is more political than hug. It's about making deals and tactically breaking those deals. The catch is this: We custom made the one political deck and always play 4 player FFA with it. It's a blast since clone hug decks got boring af
That deck interests me as well. Would it be possible to share the decklist? Or, if you don't have the list on PC and don't want to type up the 100 cards, at least share the general strategy and some key/example cards?
As a non-native speaker, that really bothers me as well. I've got some problems with pronunciation already and when I listen to others who make such mistakes, I fear it will get even worse. Especially since I probably won't notice the majority of the mistakes and just take over the wrong pronunciation...
Misleading title much? Sounds like it would be in the set.
Luckily, I didn't get my hopes up high because I expected some troll (not saying that you are one).
Well, you can't expect a 7-10 mana card to read 'You win the game.', can you? I really don't get this 'But sometimes the opponent can still win after an Emrakul' talk.
Also, they get an extra turn compared to Mindslaver, true, but they don't get (or lose) any compared to the normal course of actions.
BUT: Would you expect big sellers to do stuff like that? Or do I only need to be cautious when buying from private persons or small businesses?
Edit: The advantage of buying single boosters is of course not only the price (as mentioned in my opening post), but also that you are more flexible in the amount you want.
after a longer pause from magic, I was recently thinking about getting some boosters again. When looking at booster and booster box prices, I noticed that single boosters are cheaper than booster boxes (that is, 36x single boosters cost less than 1x booster box). This seems really wierd to me, I would have rather expected it to be the other way round due to quantity discount (or at most be equal). This got me suspicous:
Is booster mapping still possible?
Can boosters be scanned for their contents in some other way? Maybe by weighing them or using a magnetic sensor to find foils or something like that?
Basically, are there any ways to get information about the (likely) contents of a booster?
Because that is the only way I can explain to myself how these prices make sense. And I really don't want to buy boosters unless I'm certain I'm not getting screwed.
Thanks for your help.
PS: I got the prices from magiccardmarket.eu. E.g. 1,89euro per Kaladesh booster (= 68euro for 36) vs. 75euro for a booster box.
Off topic, I noticed something wierd, probably a forum bug. When I quote you, it says that you wrote this: But I can't see it in your actual post...
EDIT: Ok, I got it, you edited your post between me loading this thread and pressing "Quote".
I got difficulties understanding Rule 800.4a: The example shows the part I am not sure about. Which effects qualify as "give a player control of an object"? In contrast, which effects lead to a player controlling an object he doesn't own, but isn't given control of by an effect?
Bribery seems to fall in the second category (see rules example), but why is that the case? Why is there a difference between "You control X" / "Gain control of X" and "Put onto the battlefield under your control"? I would certainly read that as an effect "which gives me control of an object".
Does this mean that cards bought under your control with Sepulchral Primordial or Oblivion Sower will also be exiled if you lose?
Thanks for your help and explaining the rules to me!
guygirl that grants haste when crewing.On the other hand, I am still very sceptical about energy counters. Me (and my whole EDH playgroup) didn't like experience counters at all, because you can't interact with them after they were gained, and this seems pretty similar. Also it adds another resource to the game, making it even harder for new player to get started.
I'd say Fabricate is a really good, albeit very basic mechanic. Sadly, it will probably be limited-only and not be seen on constructed playable cards (see Cohort, Rally, Ingest, Support, etc).
Edit: Oh and I really like the Vehicle border. It looks gorgeous and (together with the P/T) clearly communicates "This may look like an artifact, but it's actually a creature (kinda).".
Luckily, I didn't get my hopes up high because I expected some troll (not saying that you are one).
Also, they get an extra turn compared to Mindslaver, true, but they don't get (or lose) any compared to the normal course of actions.