Overall, I have to say I like Conflux. There aren't dozens of cards that are going to break any format, but there are some solid cards for constructed, a lot of great stuff for limited, and a ton of stuff for casual players. I think the set was really designed with the casual player in mind, and it's a nice to see them take this approach. I play limited, competitive, and casual, but I haven't lost sight of the fact that this is a game and it's meant ot be fun, and this set shows that neither has the design team.
I agree with your overall assessment of Conflux, as well as with your card evaluations in general. I like that this set is pretty balanced: most people can find something they like, and the designs are both interesting and fun. Even if there could be a touch more power.
(Although I think they're deliberately notching the power down after Lorwyn/Shadowmoor.)
I think you might be being a little harsh on the scepters, I don't think they're quite as bad as all that. It sounds a little like a personal vendetta :P.
Oh, and for some reason I had the same needing-to-scroll-text-doesn't-fit problem that some of the others had.
Flavour can be stretched to accomodate any attrocity in colour-bleeding, which is exactly what's happening here.
I agree that flavour can be used to accommodate almost anything. I don't agree that that's a problem here. I think there's a reasonably compelling reason to spread counters out of blue. It's a mechanic with reasonable diversity, design space, and actual game effect. There's a clear divide, at least in my mind, between the counters I'd expect to see creeping into white, and the counters I expect never to see outside of blue.
Mechanics I could see in White:
Taxing - Counter target spell unless it's controller pays X.
Lapse - Counter target spell. Put it back in their hand. It's coming back, you didn't get rid of it only delayed it.
Protection - Counter target spell that does something bad to you or your stuff.
Mechanics I don't expect:
Hard counters, at any cost: Counter target spell.
The varieties of counters listed above as possibly white all play fairly differently to a traditional blue hard counter. I actually feel the taxing ones feel least comfortable in white (mana tithe), and that the protection counters feel most natural (not all that different to giving your creature protection, thus countering a spell).
While the white mana requirement is an obstacle, it isn't too much of one. There exists cards like Endless Horizons that might as well make a Black/Red player scoop on the spot. White can deal with anything the other colours throw its way, but not the other way around. How's that being balanced?
I don't really feel Story Circle is grossly overpowered. It's strong, sure, but it's not op. And to say white can deal with anything other colours throw at it is a gross exaggeration.
This should be shared, but again in balance, and not be shared for the sake of being shared.
I don't feel that they're (counterspells) are being shared purely for the sake of. I think it's a well-calculated decision. They (in some forms) make sense in white more than any other non-blue colour. And I expect blue counters to always be more powerful than white ones, or at least much less restrictive.
It seems to me Conflux is full of solid cards. You're right there's probably not a huge number of constructed playables, but that's a pretty high bar anyway.
Even if nothing ends up making it into constructed (unlikely) there's a whole bunch of interesting cards to consider.
Limited looks like fun.
Design-wise I feel like, again, it's solid, but not spectacular. There's a fair amount of interesting stuff, but not very much that strikes me as particularly new. I agree there's filler, but every set needs filler, and I don't think there's too much here.
EDIT: I just noticed the optional avatar and thought of something to complement the banner. Here it is, but as I already submitted the banner, I'll understand if it won't be accepted.
True, but definitions can be changed. And mathematics is the only evidence or actual...thing... that gives the idea of multiple universes any credence.
I suppose it does lend some credence, at least some support to the speculation, but it is still just that, speculation.
If you're interested, there are some really good general audience books out there to make at least some of the ideas in this field a bit less opaque. I really liked Stephen Hawking's "The Universe in a Nutshell". It discusses space, time, the shape of the Universe and the possibility of multiple universes.
I'm of the opinion that there are multiple universes (-si?).
'Opinion' is rather a strange word choice, a bit like saying "I'm of the opinion that the moon is made of cheese", perhaps belief would be more appropriate.
We haven't discredited the idea that there could be. Maybe if we had a stronger telescope...
You're right, physicists have postulated the idea of multiple universes (forming the Multiverse), but, as far as I know, there's no evidence to suggest it other than some nice symmetry in the maths.
And even with the strongest imaginable telescope we couldn't see other universes, as, by definition, everything you could see with a telescope would be part of our universe anyway.
EDIT:
And another analogy to add to Warden's:
If you travel in one direction on the surface of the Earth, you can keep going in one direction forever. You'll never come to an edge. That doesn't mean that the Earth is infinitely big.
You could think of the Universe like this but with a 3D 'surface'. Trying too hard to actually picture this might give you a headache though...
It's pretty good, in my opinion anyway. You draw more gas and hit your land drops. And if it gets disenchanted you've got a reasonable amount of land already. The colour fixing with the ravnica dual could be interesting too.
Personally I'm heartened that (if this, and Unmake, are anything to go by) they're pushing white in more interesting ways. Just have to wait for the rest of the set now...
I don't believe that intervention in Zimbabwe could really help solve anything. The reason Mugabe is still in power is because he has still has a certain amount of respect among people for having helped to bring about independance. He was a freedom fighter and many people feel they still owe him a lot (despite the fact he's managed to turn one of the most prosperous African countries into one of the worst).
Any efforts that come from a perceived colonial perspective will be rejected by the Zimbabwean people, really the only presure that can be applied is that of the other local leaders, in particular Mbeki.
Personally, I think that although it's pretty unfashionable to be superstitious these days, it'll never really go away, it's a fundamental part of what makes us human.
There's a gray area between idle superstition (step on a crack, break your mother's back) and beliefs that are rooted in cultural or religious significance.
I think this a rather important point. In many places people who don't really believe per se perform rituals because it's tradition. Certainly here in Japan I know a lot of people don't necessarily believe, but will go to the shrines to pray for success (e.g. in exams).
I also think It helps you feel like you've done something to help, even if you ultimately know it's irrational. In a sort of risk-averse way, people do it because it can't hurt; I'd rather avaoid stepping on this crack than risk finding out my mother broke her back.
Finally, it's part of an innate fascination with patterns. People see patterns in everything, it is part of what has allowed us to achieve so much. But it also means we're prone to seeing patterns where there aren't any (Horseshoe Hermit linked the Gambler's fallacy).
Ultimately, I think that superstition will never go away, and if it does, it will take with it imagination and art, our ability to see patterns in the chaos.
been lurking back since, well, since mtgnews days I guess, and just never got round to joining.
Strangely, I'm probably playing less magic now than I have for a long time, as I've moved to Japan and am rather daunted by the prospect of fumbling my way through a game in mediocre Japanese. I guess I'm joining to stay in touch with the game and what's going on.
Anyway, it's nice to meet you all, see you around the forums.
I agree with your overall assessment of Conflux, as well as with your card evaluations in general. I like that this set is pretty balanced: most people can find something they like, and the designs are both interesting and fun. Even if there could be a touch more power.
(Although I think they're deliberately notching the power down after Lorwyn/Shadowmoor.)
I think you might be being a little harsh on the scepters, I don't think they're quite as bad as all that. It sounds a little like a personal vendetta :P.
Oh, and for some reason I had the same needing-to-scroll-text-doesn't-fit problem that some of the others had.
I agree that flavour can be used to accommodate almost anything. I don't agree that that's a problem here. I think there's a reasonably compelling reason to spread counters out of blue. It's a mechanic with reasonable diversity, design space, and actual game effect. There's a clear divide, at least in my mind, between the counters I'd expect to see creeping into white, and the counters I expect never to see outside of blue.
Mechanics I could see in White:
Taxing - Counter target spell unless it's controller pays X.
Lapse - Counter target spell. Put it back in their hand. It's coming back, you didn't get rid of it only delayed it.
Protection - Counter target spell that does something bad to you or your stuff.
Mechanics I don't expect:
Hard counters, at any cost: Counter target spell.
The varieties of counters listed above as possibly white all play fairly differently to a traditional blue hard counter. I actually feel the taxing ones feel least comfortable in white (mana tithe), and that the protection counters feel most natural (not all that different to giving your creature protection, thus countering a spell).
I don't really feel Story Circle is grossly overpowered. It's strong, sure, but it's not op. And to say white can deal with anything other colours throw at it is a gross exaggeration.
I don't feel that they're (counterspells) are being shared purely for the sake of. I think it's a well-calculated decision. They (in some forms) make sense in white more than any other non-blue colour. And I expect blue counters to always be more powerful than white ones, or at least much less restrictive.
Even if nothing ends up making it into constructed (unlikely) there's a whole bunch of interesting cards to consider.
Limited looks like fun.
Design-wise I feel like, again, it's solid, but not spectacular. There's a fair amount of interesting stuff, but not very much that strikes me as particularly new. I agree there's filler, but every set needs filler, and I don't think there's too much here.
EDIT: I just noticed the optional avatar and thought of something to complement the banner. Here it is, but as I already submitted the banner, I'll understand if it won't be accepted.
Avatar:
Hope it's to your taste.
Sorry, that was needlessly nit-picky, I understood what you meant.
I suppose it does lend some credence, at least some support to the speculation, but it is still just that, speculation.
If you're interested, there are some really good general audience books out there to make at least some of the ideas in this field a bit less opaque. I really liked Stephen Hawking's "The Universe in a Nutshell". It discusses space, time, the shape of the Universe and the possibility of multiple universes.
'Opinion' is rather a strange word choice, a bit like saying "I'm of the opinion that the moon is made of cheese", perhaps belief would be more appropriate.
You're right, physicists have postulated the idea of multiple universes (forming the Multiverse), but, as far as I know, there's no evidence to suggest it other than some nice symmetry in the maths.
And even with the strongest imaginable telescope we couldn't see other universes, as, by definition, everything you could see with a telescope would be part of our universe anyway.
EDIT:
And another analogy to add to Warden's:
If you travel in one direction on the surface of the Earth, you can keep going in one direction forever. You'll never come to an edge. That doesn't mean that the Earth is infinitely big.
You could think of the Universe like this but with a 3D 'surface'. Trying too hard to actually picture this might give you a headache though...
Personally I'm heartened that (if this, and Unmake, are anything to go by) they're pushing white in more interesting ways. Just have to wait for the rest of the set now...
Retrace looks to both fun and flexible, obviously depends on what cards actually have the mechanic though.
Any efforts that come from a perceived colonial perspective will be rejected by the Zimbabwean people, really the only presure that can be applied is that of the other local leaders, in particular Mbeki.
I think this a rather important point. In many places people who don't really believe per se perform rituals because it's tradition. Certainly here in Japan I know a lot of people don't necessarily believe, but will go to the shrines to pray for success (e.g. in exams).
I also think It helps you feel like you've done something to help, even if you ultimately know it's irrational. In a sort of risk-averse way, people do it because it can't hurt; I'd rather avaoid stepping on this crack than risk finding out my mother broke her back.
Finally, it's part of an innate fascination with patterns. People see patterns in everything, it is part of what has allowed us to achieve so much. But it also means we're prone to seeing patterns where there aren't any (Horseshoe Hermit linked the Gambler's fallacy).
Ultimately, I think that superstition will never go away, and if it does, it will take with it imagination and art, our ability to see patterns in the chaos.
been lurking back since, well, since mtgnews days I guess, and just never got round to joining.
Strangely, I'm probably playing less magic now than I have for a long time, as I've moved to Japan and am rather daunted by the prospect of fumbling my way through a game in mediocre Japanese. I guess I'm joining to stay in touch with the game and what's going on.
Anyway, it's nice to meet you all, see you around the forums.