The ruleset has been in place since the dawn of the format... That doesn't mean that the RC is responsible for the sudden rapid acceleration of growth within that format. I think you are forgetting what draws players to the format, and subsequently relating it to Brawl.
BRAWL
Rotates
Requires constant investment
Covers a fraction of a player's collection
Suffers from a significant lack of diversity and customization
Commander doesn't suffer from any of that. Which is important to consider, because WOTC has all but abandoned eternal playability from a design standpoint and, arguably, a printing standpoint. So when they instead, acknowledge something like Commander by strategically focusing on reprints and new designs, it is pretty silly to attribute the growing complexity, diversity, and customization that appeals to people - to the RC.
Additionally, the unification of the format under WoTC as Commander (instead of EDH) has birthed a standardized banned list. This induction of it as an official format has greatly extended its reach and taken it from a back room hobby store format to a format that covers a great deal of different player demographics.
Outside of the final notation about a banned list, what has the RC done to reach other players, particularly new ones? Nothing. It is all on the back of WoTC.
To say that the RC is why Commander has exploded... is pretty naive.
The reality is that Commander grew from the limitless application of the format and sure, that started before WOTC got involved. But the format really gained traction when people were given the opportunity to find more excitement in the format via things like spoiler seasons offering up new possibilities. This is a direct result of WOTC acknowledging the format and injecting cards that not only help bring modern design up to par with older and much more difficult cards to find, but also inject a ton of new possibility into the format which has greatly allowed for more customization.
Ultimately, the format has seen a natural progression, and you can argue that the RC made if possible for WOTC to pick up the format, but that isn't the same as making the format explode.
I also believe that the RC has reneged a lot of their traditional views on the format and as such, are kind of lost in their own format and how the format works these days.
I'm not calling this a 360 staple. But I do think this has appeal in a lot of lists, that are looking for a Boon-esque effect. I'm stoked to try it, and expect it to play well, but I understand the issues that small cubes have with making room. Cutting blue cards is painful, and I can't fault anyone for failing to find room.
I think the problem here is that most people come at these reviews from a perspective of Cube that is rooted in higher power levels which leads to maximizing efficiency across the board. The result is, feedback that doesn't really account for inclusion by intention - that is to say, including cards because they intentionally manipulate one, two, or more, dials that tune a Cube.
I have no doubt that some Cube out there could use something like this... but when considering the typical threshold used for these discussions, this card isn't impressive. For Cubes with lower power levels, this card might be nice. But once again, in an environment where people are popping out things like Liliana, Dreadhord General on turn 4, Sea Gate Restoration isn't cutting the mustard in my eyes, especially in big mana blue.
A very interesting take on the jumpstart idea! I'm leaning the other way, cherishing the Jumpstart-idea to get a non-constructed format without the need of drafting. I love drafting, but I seldom get many people together for Cube and there are some friends that don't know Magic well enough (yet :P) to enjoy draft. So I was on the lookout for a non-constructed format that does not require a real drafting process and deckbuilding and Jumpstart fits that role perfectly.
We sometimes just do sealed events with the Cube when we don't feel like drafting. Kind of the same principal as just getting packs and smashing them together. There is still a need to build a deck from your pool, which I guess JumpStart alleviates. However I think the traditional JumpStart model introduces balancing problems alongside the issue of themes not being as strong as they could be. Personally, what attracts me most to JumpStart is the flavor wins that come with it - and I would love to have a means to inject that into Cube, be it a traditional draft or a sealed event. Traditional JumpStart approach does not seem very sustainable long-term, at least to me.
But, I will be sharing my themed packs here once I get them all fleshed out, so players can borrow from them as they would like, I think they should also be fairly applicable to some players looking to stick with a traditional JS experience.
Building Samples
I will preface this with:
These packs are designed for my concept posted above. I wanted to center the theme around individual planeswalkers to fit in with our group playing Planechase. I have a lot of planning to do with them so they are not even remotely complete.
I am not particularly impressed with these kinds of cards so far. The idea of swapping land spaces for extra cards is awesome, and powerful in theory... but these lands are all just bad. In no world, would I want to pay 3 life for a single color land to enter the field untapped... ever. If it is a situation in which I need the land, I would rather just skip the modal card and run a land.
I think the spell side of this is solid, but not enough for me to consider making room in 540 or fewer in a Powered setting. Lots more impactful plays for this mana cost in those environments that I would rather stick with.
A pass for me since it's a 6 drop that doesn't do much otherwise as it hits the board.
It doesn’t need to attack prior, which I think can be pretty impactful. Not only does it work with the cards in the OP in a GR ramp deck, but it also caters to decks like Eureka and Sneak Attack pretty well. Even Dragonlord Atarka sees play still, and I think this card lends to a bit of degeneracy now and then while still having solid playability In more traditional ramping situations.
Seems kind of nuts, but perhaps that is just me. I like toys that can add to some Fastbond, Crucible of Worlds, Channel decks. I think I might try this guy out at 450-540.
I think rarity distribution in packs is kind of unreasonable if you want to achieve balance. It is easier to do when you have product control like WOTC, but some themes without bypassing rarity distribution - will be inherently weaker than others. Only way to offset that is to just not use the rarity distribution and instead, focus on flavor and feel. The rest can hopefully be balanced in draft.
Been thinking about this kind of setup for a bit now, and I have some thoughts to share.
What I like
Thematic decks
Consolidated Synergies (no need to hope something wheels back to you)
The ability for fringe archetypes to be exist and perform
What I dislike
Dodging the drafting element
Disconnected balance in favor of random pairings
Wonky non-synergy pairings
Personally, I have my 360 card Cube which functions as a core. From there, I have 2 modules containing 90 cards each that allow me to expand the number of players that can draft it, which bump the Cube size up to 450 and 540 as needed. I also have a 180 card module that introduces Commander/Multiplayer settings which also expands on existing archetypes while introducing others.
For me, a JumpStart set up is something I would ideally like to work with my core 360 card Cube if possible, and that is a problem I am working on solving from a design perspective. However, this might lead me to actually partaking in making an additional 360 card Cube that is unpowered and focuses more on core gameplay with lower complexity.
What my JumpStart Cube will likely look like
240 card Cube core
120 card JumpStart module(s)
Centered around multiplayer pods of 4
Players get 2 drafting packs from the core and 1 seeded JumpStart pack to center their draft around.
Additionally
I love playing modes like Planechase and Archenemy. This kind of setup really seems like a good way to center some game nights around the fantasy of Magic: the Gathering and breaking away from the common Cube drafts that we do without feeling like we skipping out on a fun limited sessioncompletely. I have already begun conceptualizing packs centered around various Planeswalkers and themes that do not traditionally exist in Cube. Opening a JumpStart pack with a Serra the Benevolent and a flying/angel theme and rolling with it through a drafting process seems super fun to me. A Calix, Destiny's Hand with some enchantress theme to draft into could be just the breath of fresh air that our Cube nights need while staving off goblins and elves!
BRAWL
- Rotates
- Requires constant investment
- Covers a fraction of a player's collection
- Suffers from a significant lack of diversity and customization
Commander doesn't suffer from any of that. Which is important to consider, because WOTC has all but abandoned eternal playability from a design standpoint and, arguably, a printing standpoint. So when they instead, acknowledge something like Commander by strategically focusing on reprints and new designs, it is pretty silly to attribute the growing complexity, diversity, and customization that appeals to people - to the RC.Additionally, the unification of the format under WoTC as Commander (instead of EDH) has birthed a standardized banned list. This induction of it as an official format has greatly extended its reach and taken it from a back room hobby store format to a format that covers a great deal of different player demographics.
Outside of the final notation about a banned list, what has the RC done to reach other players, particularly new ones? Nothing. It is all on the back of WoTC.
Because complexity is attractive and Brawl is insanely limited in every meteric - when compared to Commander...
The reality is that Commander grew from the limitless application of the format and sure, that started before WOTC got involved. But the format really gained traction when people were given the opportunity to find more excitement in the format via things like spoiler seasons offering up new possibilities. This is a direct result of WOTC acknowledging the format and injecting cards that not only help bring modern design up to par with older and much more difficult cards to find, but also inject a ton of new possibility into the format which has greatly allowed for more customization.
Ultimately, the format has seen a natural progression, and you can argue that the RC made if possible for WOTC to pick up the format, but that isn't the same as making the format explode.
I also believe that the RC has reneged a lot of their traditional views on the format and as such, are kind of lost in their own format and how the format works these days.
I think the problem here is that most people come at these reviews from a perspective of Cube that is rooted in higher power levels which leads to maximizing efficiency across the board. The result is, feedback that doesn't really account for inclusion by intention - that is to say, including cards because they intentionally manipulate one, two, or more, dials that tune a Cube.
I have no doubt that some Cube out there could use something like this... but when considering the typical threshold used for these discussions, this card isn't impressive. For Cubes with lower power levels, this card might be nice. But once again, in an environment where people are popping out things like Liliana, Dreadhord General on turn 4, Sea Gate Restoration isn't cutting the mustard in my eyes, especially in big mana blue.
We sometimes just do sealed events with the Cube when we don't feel like drafting. Kind of the same principal as just getting packs and smashing them together. There is still a need to build a deck from your pool, which I guess JumpStart alleviates. However I think the traditional JumpStart model introduces balancing problems alongside the issue of themes not being as strong as they could be. Personally, what attracts me most to JumpStart is the flavor wins that come with it - and I would love to have a means to inject that into Cube, be it a traditional draft or a sealed event. Traditional JumpStart approach does not seem very sustainable long-term, at least to me.
But, I will be sharing my themed packs here once I get them all fleshed out, so players can borrow from them as they would like, I think they should also be fairly applicable to some players looking to stick with a traditional JS experience.
Building Samples
I will preface this with:
These packs are designed for my concept posted above. I wanted to center the theme around individual planeswalkers to fit in with our group playing Planechase. I have a lot of planning to do with them so they are not even remotely complete.
The triggers do stack, yes.
I think the spell side of this is solid, but not enough for me to consider making room in 540 or fewer in a Powered setting. Lots more impactful plays for this mana cost in those environments that I would rather stick with.
It doesn’t need to attack prior, which I think can be pretty impactful. Not only does it work with the cards in the OP in a GR ramp deck, but it also caters to decks like Eureka and Sneak Attack pretty well. Even Dragonlord Atarka sees play still, and I think this card lends to a bit of degeneracy now and then while still having solid playability In more traditional ramping situations.
Seems kind of nuts, but perhaps that is just me. I like toys that can add to some Fastbond, Crucible of Worlds, Channel decks. I think I might try this guy out at 450-540.
What I like
- Thematic decks
- Consolidated Synergies (no need to hope something wheels back to you)
- The ability for fringe archetypes to be exist and perform
What I dislikePersonally, I have my 360 card Cube which functions as a core. From there, I have 2 modules containing 90 cards each that allow me to expand the number of players that can draft it, which bump the Cube size up to 450 and 540 as needed. I also have a 180 card module that introduces Commander/Multiplayer settings which also expands on existing archetypes while introducing others.
For me, a JumpStart set up is something I would ideally like to work with my core 360 card Cube if possible, and that is a problem I am working on solving from a design perspective. However, this might lead me to actually partaking in making an additional 360 card Cube that is unpowered and focuses more on core gameplay with lower complexity.
What my JumpStart Cube will likely look like
- 240 card Cube core
- 120 card JumpStart module(s)
- Centered around multiplayer pods of 4
Players get 2 drafting packs from the core and 1 seeded JumpStart pack to center their draft around.Additionally
I love playing modes like Planechase and Archenemy. This kind of setup really seems like a good way to center some game nights around the fantasy of Magic: the Gathering and breaking away from the common Cube drafts that we do without feeling like we skipping out on a fun limited sessioncompletely. I have already begun conceptualizing packs centered around various Planeswalkers and themes that do not traditionally exist in Cube. Opening a JumpStart pack with a Serra the Benevolent and a flying/angel theme and rolling with it through a drafting process seems super fun to me. A Calix, Destiny's Hand with some enchantress theme to draft into could be just the breath of fresh air that our Cube nights need while staving off goblins and elves!