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  • posted a message on D&D forgotten realm confirmed to get commander decks
    Even if Youtube and Social Media do not have direct influence to new players to not buy Intro Packs, it may tell established players who tell those new players not to buy Intro Packs either because they aren't competitive or hold no value. I get this aura from the Magic community that "buying intro packs are for losers".

    Why is it that nobody wants to play Magic by its regular rules, but everybody who plays the Pokemon TCG would play the game by its intended rules? I could probably think of some rules changes that would make the game way better, such changes adopted by games like Duel Masters, Cardfight Vanguard, and the Digimon TCG.

    Just think what could have been if WOTC kept the intro packs, included a code card that allowed you to bring that deck into Magic Arena.
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on D&D forgotten realm confirmed to get commander decks
    Quote from FlossedBeaver »
    I mean, if I’m going to bring new players into the game, I’m not going to sell them on junk they’ll realize has little value once they start doing their own research. The challenger decks are just fine for people without established collections. If they can’t stomach a $25 buy-in, perhaps it’s just as well they stay away from Magic altogether.


    So you are alienating them. Sorry you can't afford the Challenger Deck, here's a Pokemon Theme Deck or Yugioh Structure Deck for you to buy.

    Now tell me why, out of the precons released in 2021, that Commander deserves 2 more precons at the expense of 5 precons for regular magic? I don't need to explain why there should be 5 precons based on regular magic for the D&D set as opposed to 2 commander decks. Commander already has 11 options in the year, and they get released 4 times a year. Regular Magic precons only get released 2 times a year, and only get 9 options. Now you want those precons to be released once with 4 options, while Commander gets released 5 times in the year with 13 options? How is that fair?
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on D&D forgotten realm confirmed to get commander decks
    All I am saying is out of the four standard sets, one of them should have precons that focuses on regular rules. Just one. Is that so hard to ask? The more popular commander crowd can have the other 3 sets. I also read rumors that there isn't a core set for 2022 either, so when are new players get to have the choice of learning via the regular rules of magic? The Commmander Crowd would rather have 2 extra precon options from their already existing 11 choices at the expense of 5 precon options for regular rules magic players?

    If by chance in 2022, assuming there is no core set in 2022, and thus all set associated precons are commander decks, that a new player wants to play Magic, but the playgroup plays the regular rules, and there are no precons for that person to buy, then what? That player's only option is the $30 challenger decks, build a deck from scratch from random cards in booster packs?

    The best starter product needs to be constructed. It needs to focus on the regular rules. It needs to be under $15. It needs to give new players access to many different cards in the deck. This means multiple 4 ofs are out of the question. The deck has to be readily available. This means no chase cards in the deck. The deck must built so that the new player would want to improve on it, and thus, create deckbuilding confidence. Intro Packs never sold well because Youtubers and Social Media influence gives new players the impression that you are a loser for buying an Intro Pack.

    The set associated commander decks are constructed. They do not focus on the regular rules. They are not under $15. They do give new players access to many different cards, and then some. The decks may or may not be readily available. Not sure if the Commander decks are bad enough that a new player would want to make changes to it to make it better. I don't think these Commander Decks give new players any deckbuilding confidence, meaning that they'd rather buy more decks than making their own.

    WOTC also has a tendency to discontinue something rather than making it better.

    Quote from FlossedBeaver »
    Quote from ZasZ234 »
    What do you think?


    I think commander isn't any further afield, in terms of rules, than is limited (sealed /draft) from what's being described here as "regular." Beyond the unique aspect of a persistent, deck defining attribute, what really sets commander apart is the sheer breadth of cards available across the entirety of Magic's history - therein lies the true barrier of entry, and the reason why I find "format" here as a means of differentiation far more appropriate. Not something entirely worthy of a whole digression, I'm afraid.

    For better or for worse, this is the place people come to vent their frustrations about not getting a vey specific thing they wanted. I simply do my best to remind them that real happiness isn't having what you want, it's wanting what you have. Smile


    There are only one set of rules for any game. Anything else is a variant. What is the starting life for regular magic? 20 or 40 life? I would also argue that Sealed and Draft are variants. When people say they play Magic, what is the first thing that comes to mind? 60 card constructed.

    You are basically saying to screw the people who love to play paper 60 card casual, and either play Magic Arena, Play Commander, or play competitive. Way to alienate them. How can you be happy if something you hold dear is taken away. I was happy with being able to buy $15 cheap physical precon decks and play them against each other casually. WOTC has taken that option away.
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on D&D forgotten realm confirmed to get commander decks
    I'm saying that there are those people who still want to casually play MTG by its regular rules. What WOTC is doing is alienating them. At least in years where they have core sets, the core sets at least had Planeswalker Decks. This year, there isn't a core set. I would think that just because the D&D set takes the place of a Core Set, at least they would have Planeswalker Decks or any deck that focuses on the regular rules of Magic. But nope, it's Commander all the time every time. They have given people who want to learn via the regular rules no options. It's only one out the 4 sets per year. The other 3 still get Commander Decks. I doubt any of the Innistrad sets will come with Planeswalker Decks, so basically in 2021, assuming both Innistrad sets have 2 Commander Decks each, out of 17 precons, 13 of them are Commander Decks. Let's say for some reason WOTC makes lackluster Challenger Decks, and nobody buys them, and thus WOTC cancels the product line. We all know WOTC likes canceling product lines instead of making them better. This leaves Commander as the only precon options.

    WOTC has no faith in their game because nobody wants to play regular magic casually anymore. They said screw it, and now are selling commander, which is a format that isn't originally conceived by WOTC. They aren't even trying to keep casual regular magic alive anymore. As I said, they would rather discontinue a product rather than make the product better. In this case, they are discontinuing regular magic for casual players.

    Magic Youtubers also didn't help matters. I always collected the Theme Decks and Intro Packs and played them against each other. I liked them because they are playable out of the box and is cheap, and is fun in a casual setting. Most Youtubers are trying to steer new players away from these products because they aren't competitive enough for standard, or they don't have any value. New players listen to these people, don't buy them, WOTC sees they make no money from them, and now they are commander decks. The kinds of products they are steered towards are the more competitive precons or the Commander decks because Commander Decks have monetary value.

    I highly doubt Theme Decks weren't unpopular at the time because Youtube wasn't there for people to tell other people how much the decks sucked competitively, or how the cards hold no value. People bought them and played with them. Most Youtubers say that Intro Packs sucks with the expectation that every new player wants to play Standard, or that every new player wants to make their money back from all the cards they purchased. It's as if you don't belong to the group if you are playing with a deck that isn't competitive or are using cards that have no monetary value.

    There could be a chance that new players might look to be competitive or to have any purchase have monetary value, but youtube and social media influence sure doesn't help the casual, play with cheap crappy decks scene.

    There is also the snowball effect. By promoting more Commander, the less and less people would want to play regular MTG. At one point, saying "Want to Play Magic?", people would start thinking Commander. At this point now, we are still having to say EDH or Commander to let other people know you want to play Commander. Just like how when people say Football, in both Canada or US, they are mostly referring to the outdoor American rules that the NFL uses. We have to specifically say Canadian or Arena football to refer to the other rules. Who knows if new players want to play Commander or regular Magic. New Players will player Commander if there are no product options for regular Magic.
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on D&D forgotten realm confirmed to get commander decks
    Rules and format are not the same thing.

    Just from the starting at 40 life, Command Zone, is enough to say that Commander and regular magic have different rules, just like how Canadian, American and Indoor football have different rules.

    Every game has one set of rules. If there is a different way to play just because someone decided to rewrite the rules, then you have the modified rules, and the regular, original rules. I would argue that Vintage is the format with the original rules, but all of Vintage, Legacy, Modern, Standard all use the original rules. Commander does not. Unless WOTC specifically says that Magic the Gathering officially changes 20 starting life to 40 starting life, the addition of a Command Zone, and changing 60 card with 4 of max to 100 card singleton deck, Commander isn't the regular rules.

    The only difference between constructed and limited is the deck size. You still play 20 life, no command zone, no Commander.

    With Vintage, Legacy, Standard, Modern, and any limited format, you are basically playing the same game, and have the same interactions. The difference is the cards you are allowed to use. With Commander, you aren't even playing the same game anymore. To say otherwise is like saying Indoor, Canadian and American football are the same games, when it's not.

    If I say let's play Magic the Gathering, do people think Commander? Probably not.

    I said that out of the 4 standard sets per year, one of them should have your typical 60 card decks focused on the regular rules of Magic. I would also add that it should be the July set, or whatever set that replaces the Core Set. If a set is released in lieu of a Core Set, that set needs to have precons based on the regular rules of Magic, not Commander. You know, 20 life, 60 card decks with max 4 ofs. Challenger decks are not set associated precons. I am referring to set associated precons. Theme Decks, Intro Packs, Event Decks, Planeswalker Decks, Commander Decks from 2020 and later are set associated precons.

    All I am saying is this. WOTC has no confidence in their own game, much so they are getting new player to play a modified version of their own game, because nobody wants to play Magic how it was originally designed. I also don't like how WOTC is focusing too much on Commander. Now the majority of precons released per year are commander decks, giving no options for those who just want to play Magic the normal way.

    Commander is only going to get more popular for new players not because they like Commander, it is just that they have no choice.
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on D&D forgotten realm confirmed to get commander decks
    Quote from FlossedBeaver »
    Quote from signofzeta »
    Just wish that at least one of the 4 standard sets per year had precons that focused om 60 card regular rules Magic, not Commander. The only precons that do this in 2021 are the 4 Challenger decks, while in any other year with a core set, the precons would have been 5 planeswalker decks.


    I'm very confused. How do these two things not square for you?

    And what do you mean by 'regular rules'? As far as I know, all rules are regular rules.


    By your standards, 3 downs, goal posts in front of the end zone, 55 yard field, 20 yard end zones, 1 point if a punt of field goal miss ends up in the end zone, 1 yard buffer for line of scrimmage, 12 players per side, 1 foot in bounds is the regular rules for AMERICAN football, specifically the NFL. I mean, all rules are regular rules, right?

    Commander is not regular Magic. Commander is a game that just uses magic cards. Are Poker and Blackjack the same game just because they use the same deck of cards? No.

    The rules do not define what cards you can and cannot use, just how the game is played. If you think all rules are regular rules, you better re-read the rulebook.
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on D&D forgotten realm confirmed to get commander decks
    Just wish that at least one of the 4 standard sets per year had precons that focused om 60 card regular rules Magic, not Commander. The only precons that do this in 2021 are the 4 Challenger decks, while in any other year with a core set, the precons would have been 5 planeswalker decks.

    Much like how universes beyond tells us how WOTC has no confidence in creating their own stories, having the majority of precons be Commander precons shows that WOTC has no confidence in marketing the regular game to new and existing casual players.

    WOTC said that those who want to learn with regular rules can use the Core Set Planeswalker decks. How can they play regular rules if not every year is guaranteed to have a Core Set, and thus no 60 card regular rules precons?

    WOTC is basically alienating people who want to play 60 card casual by forcing new players into Commander, and thus less players who play 60 card casual, rather than letting New players choose. Mind as well overhaul the entire rulebook and make Commander the regular rules.

    I wouldn't be surprised if WOTC screws up the Commander precon product line in a few years, sees that nobody buys it because of the screw up, and cancels it, just like every canceled product line before it.

    Still mad that WOTC no longer makes sub $15 60 card regular rules precons anymore.
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on D&D forgotten realm confirmed to get commander decks
    Wotc said that core sets still have planeswalker decks for those who want to learn the game by playing the game by its regular rules. If that is the case, what is their product to buy if there isn't a core set in 2021?

    It seems to me that WOTC has zero confidence in selling a preconstructed product that focuses on Magic the Gathering, and not some other game that happens to use MTG cards.

    The majority of the precons need to be your 60 card regular Magic deck, not Commander. If WOTC says they changed the Planeswalker decks to Commander decks, because everybody else is playing Commander, it means they failed at selling the regular game to new players.
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on Release dates for every set in 2021
    All I want to know is, are we seeing this new shift in releases permanently, or are we going back to the typical January/February April/May July September/October release schedule like we have always seen?

    It seems to me WOTC always wants a standard set in July. When they started to release 4 standard sets a year, the summer set is always in July. Never seen it release in August. If this shift in release dates is permanent, I am thinking something like mid February, late May/early June, mid September, mid November, with rotation happening when there is a 4 month gap between sets. With September and November being 2 months apart, that is when they release their "2 set block" sets.

    I really want to know what is happening in 2022 so bad. I actually like their February May July October release, as it almost mimics Pokemon and Yugioh's February May August November release schedules.
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on Release dates for every set in 2021
    It really irks me when a Hipsters of the Coast article says that Crimson Vow is the "Winter 2022" set pushed ahead, when there is no proof that that is the case. The "there are still 4 sets in a rotation year" as proof doesn't prove that Crimson Vow is the "Winter 2022" set. Crimson Vow is the 2nd set in the rotation year, just like how Kaldheim and Theros Beyond Death were the 2nd set in the rotation year, not that Crimson Vow was supposed to be the "Winter 2022" set pushed ahead. To say it was such would mean there would be 3 sets in 2022 instead of the usual 4, but we don't know if there is going to be 4 sets, with Standard rotating in between 2nd and 3rd sets in the year. It just so happens that for the longest time, the Q1 Winter set and the 2nd set in the rotation year is one and the same, but we can't for sure say that just because it was true, that it is true for Crimson Vow.

    The only reason why we have 5 sets in 2021 is because WOTC wants to change when the sets rotate, without changing the number of sets in a rotation cycle. If they just wanted to change when the sets were released, they could have just released Midnight Hunt in November, and Crimson Vow in February, rather than cramming in a 5th set.
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on Release dates for every set in 2021
    I don't understand why WOTC couldn't have, y'know, released Midnight Hunt on October 2021, and Crimson Vow on January 2022. I read some comments on reddit that said that between the release gap between Fall and Winter is too long, and I don't buy that. They could have just released Midnight Hunt in October, and Crimson Vow in January, and there would have been a 3 month gap.

    If WOTC really wanted to release a standard set in November, they could've released D&D set in August, Midnight Hunt in November, and Crimson Vow in February, with the set after that released in May, and mimic the release schedules of Pokemon and Yugioh.

    I don't like this new release cycle. There should never ever be 3 sets within a span of 6 months.

    I also read that some people say that Crimson Vow is "supposed to be" the Winter 2022 set released a few months early, and then referencing the "There are still 4 standard sets per rotation year". This does not mean that Crimson Vow is the "Winter 2022" set, because we might get a Winter 2022 set, Spring 2022 set, Summer 2022 set, and Fall 2022 set, with rotation being pushed up to be in between Spring and Summer 2022 set. Maybe the slot where Core Sets would have been aren't the last set, but first set in the rotation?
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on Read this announcement at your own risk (it involves mtg)
    This is like that time I went on MTG card builder back in the early 2000's, and made cards for all the Doom and Heretic enemies.
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on [STX] Commands, Mystical Archive, and the first look at Commander 2021
    Quote from signofzeta »
    What? No school based on gym class?
    You want to give stereotypical Magic players nightmares? No


    Hey hey hey, I was one of those dweebs who got picked last in gym. When I grew older, I liked Gym Class because it was an extra recess of some sort. When I played sports, I had no idea what I was doing, or any of the fundamental mechanics on how to do sport things. It was only 10 years after graduating high school that I understood positioning and teamwork in sports. Before that, I just followed the ball. I'm one of those lames that get afraid of getting hit in the face by the ball, or getting hurt. Because of that, and still to this day, all I do is watch sports, not play them, and if I did, I'd be heaving because I am so out of shape.

    I remember when I played softball in gym class. My school separated the more athletically gifted kids from the non-athletically gifted. I was in the latter. I liked playing outfield, because the batters could never hit the ball, or if they did, they'd be ground balls that never went to the outfield, so all I did was sit there and do nothing but pick at the grass.

    So, does this mean that all who attend the colleges in strixhaven are all out of shape?
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on [STX] Commands, Mystical Archive, and the first look at Commander 2021
    What? No school based on gym class?
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
  • posted a message on Innistrad booster box leak Japanese
    Shouldn't the set boosters be standing up instead of laying flat? Just a thought.

    We can be sure that the release schedule of February, May, July, October will become December, April, July, September. Right?
    Posted in: The Rumor Mill
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