I wonder if this will be the Villain focused set that Magic: Origins was suppose to be. It would couple well with there goal of not focusing on the Gatewatch.
I've seen it firmly confirmed that Iconic Masters doesn't include RL cards. Can someone point to the same confirmation for Masters 25? Or is it just speculation at this point?
Oh its not like there going to start releasing all future sets as digital only, right?
I wouldn't mind this if they released the paper version 2-3 months after the digital. That way they can iron out any problems with a set (Nerfs/Buffs). There seem to be too many problems with sets these days and it would be nice to see them not suck.
Wait do you really think 2-3 months is some sort of time frame in which they could change a releasing set?
All it would mean is that limited and standard would be half solved before you got to the first pre-release.
It would allow them to change numbers before printing the product and what does it matter if they do solve standard before a prerelease? A prerelease isn't meant to be super competitive. Not to mention it won't be solved if they nerf/buff any cards before release. Do you think if Kaldesh was released online 3 months before its prerelease, that Copter would have been as powerful?
The lead time between R&D hand off and printed cards being sold in store is way more then 2-3 months. I doubt even reprint only products could be printed 2-3 months before going on sale.
The lead time is probably closer to 6-12months, with Design and Development work a good 2-3 years ahead of us.
last minute changes like you describe would also be the worst, because they could potentially be throwing the balance out in completely unexpected ways, changes don't happen in a vacuum there a consequences to even the smallest rebalancing.
Oh its not like there going to start releasing all future sets as digital only, right?
I wouldn't mind this if they released the paper version 2-3 months after the digital. That way they can iron out any problems with a set (Nerfs/Buffs). There seem to be too many problems with sets these days and it would be nice to see them not suck.
Wait do you really think 2-3 months is some sort of time frame in which they could change a releasing set?
All it would mean is that limited and standard would be half solved before you got to the first pre-release.
It also feels like a cheap way to do DFCs (mummies are basically werewolves that transform in the graveyard, I'll be interested to see if there is an creatures with that are significantly different when embalmed.
It's sort of interesting that they are finding all these different ways to do "Dual State" cards in the most grokable fashion.
I hoping we will see more of these sort of things were they are willing to splash for the extra Art for cards that change state. Imagine if we get Monstrosity pack with "monster" tokens"
Or a return of Level Up with tri sided cards.
Eventually we should be able to get a "meld creature that is created by embalming 3 separate cards, that then Levels up and Transforms back into its face sides.
You know what, this isn't what I expected but its pretty damn good.
I think there is a piece of the puzzle missing, I think there will be a bit of a "Discovering lost / hidden knowledge" theme, Think the Dragon words from Skyrim and this look and feel
makes sense. Bolas has ruled here for eons and has stored powerful invocations in the secret places.
I still want to see how good they look foiled. (that was a big part of what made the inventions work) but I think it is overall a more consistent look then the Expedition lands.
It also makes me think that this won't just be a novelty they use to do a vague premium treatment of powerful cards. We could see them do anything / take risks etc.
I mean the biggest conversation point before this was lands check, artefacts check, I guess its instants, sorceries then creatures next.
What about a cycle of Mono-colour or 3 Colour commanders that are literally P/T evergreen keyword. and this card can partner with any legendary creature.
The creatures might be a bit bland, but pick the right flavour / characters and they could be cool.
Again, it's basically a "free" drawn card - there would literary be NO reason not to take such a partner, even without strategy it's just another creature you can waste mana on.
Okay so add a rider to reduce starting hand size by 1. I get what your saying, but I don't choose my commander for "optimisation" reasons. It's more about flavour or doing fun things.
Yeah, I get that it can get out of hand pretty quickly. But's more about making fun and interesting options available.
It's not like it's hard to make broken / abusive commander decks already, Just because you can do something doesn't mean you have to.
What about a cycle of Mono-colour or 3 Colour commanders that are literally P/T evergreen keyword. and this card can partner with any legendary creature.
The creatures might be a bit bland, but pick the right flavour / characters and they could be cool.
2 Colour Decks with a strong Race / Class tribal structure would be cool. Particularly if they bring back partner. Logically each deck could have a 2 colour Partner and 2 x 1 Colour Partners. Combined
with this years commanders you would open up an impress number of new and interesting combinations.
Another interesting approach would be to move away from a colour balance approach to really Focus in on key areas that need something new. Lets say you
did as some are suggesting a mixed approach
1 x 5 Colour
1 x 3 Colour
2 x 2 Colour
1 x Colourless
I think it be interesting to see a bit of a red slant to the decks, as red is the weakest commander colour. So I would do UR (izzet Artificers) and RG (landfall), BWG (Amonket Theme (Just A Guess)), colourless (eldrazi) and 5 Colour (Dragons).
What's so off about ludevic he's a scientist who gains knowledge from other players bringing him body parts. The fact that Igor also gains knowledge doesn't bother him.
Yeah I can see how you make a more powerful version that also combined a reanimation effect. But this is still a good version of him
I don't really know, but I do know that have been slowly spending less and less and being less and less impressed.
I am a heart a casual player who top decks like a champ. I want to have 1 of every card, play a lot of limited and build a bunch of commander decks.
I just feel that they keep making ***** decisions that devalue the reason I play, Cube drafts should be nix or minimum tixs. I have no idea why they think
it should cost 10tix to enter with little or know prize support. I don't get why they introduced cube prize boosters and made them limited.
I can't just buy the latest commander decks I want, now I have to scour bots for all the cards.
I have no idea why MM, EM an VM aren't in regular rotation for drafting even if it was 1 week in 4 or as a flashback in the lead up to pre-releases.
Ultimately I feel that I no longer get value for money and it's all just a big crap shoot.
I honestly think they need to do more to separate the pros and grinders from the players that just want to play for fun (who still want a chance at getting boosters/prizes).
The lead time between R&D hand off and printed cards being sold in store is way more then 2-3 months. I doubt even reprint only products could be printed 2-3 months before going on sale.
The lead time is probably closer to 6-12months, with Design and Development work a good 2-3 years ahead of us.
last minute changes like you describe would also be the worst, because they could potentially be throwing the balance out in completely unexpected ways, changes don't happen in a vacuum there a consequences to even the smallest rebalancing.
Wait do you really think 2-3 months is some sort of time frame in which they could change a releasing set?
All it would mean is that limited and standard would be half solved before you got to the first pre-release.
It's sort of interesting that they are finding all these different ways to do "Dual State" cards in the most grokable fashion.
I hoping we will see more of these sort of things were they are willing to splash for the extra Art for cards that change state. Imagine if we get Monstrosity pack with "monster" tokens"
Or a return of Level Up with tri sided cards.
Eventually we should be able to get a "meld creature that is created by embalming 3 separate cards, that then Levels up and Transforms back into its face sides.
I think there is a piece of the puzzle missing, I think there will be a bit of a "Discovering lost / hidden knowledge" theme, Think the Dragon words from Skyrim and this look and feel
makes sense. Bolas has ruled here for eons and has stored powerful invocations in the secret places.
I still want to see how good they look foiled. (that was a big part of what made the inventions work) but I think it is overall a more consistent look then the Expedition lands.
It also makes me think that this won't just be a novelty they use to do a vague premium treatment of powerful cards. We could see them do anything / take risks etc.
I mean the biggest conversation point before this was lands check, artefacts check, I guess its instants, sorceries then creatures next.
Okay so add a rider to reduce starting hand size by 1. I get what your saying, but I don't choose my commander for "optimisation" reasons. It's more about flavour or doing fun things.
Yeah, I get that it can get out of hand pretty quickly. But's more about making fun and interesting options available.
It's not like it's hard to make broken / abusive commander decks already, Just because you can do something doesn't mean you have to.
The creatures might be a bit bland, but pick the right flavour / characters and they could be cool.
with this years commanders you would open up an impress number of new and interesting combinations.
Another interesting approach would be to move away from a colour balance approach to really Focus in on key areas that need something new. Lets say you
did as some are suggesting a mixed approach
1 x 5 Colour
1 x 3 Colour
2 x 2 Colour
1 x Colourless
I think it be interesting to see a bit of a red slant to the decks, as red is the weakest commander colour. So I would do UR (izzet Artificers) and RG (landfall), BWG (Amonket Theme (Just A Guess)), colourless (eldrazi) and 5 Colour (Dragons).
Yeah I can see how you make a more powerful version that also combined a reanimation effect. But this is still a good version of him
I am a heart a casual player who top decks like a champ. I want to have 1 of every card, play a lot of limited and build a bunch of commander decks.
I just feel that they keep making ***** decisions that devalue the reason I play, Cube drafts should be nix or minimum tixs. I have no idea why they think
it should cost 10tix to enter with little or know prize support. I don't get why they introduced cube prize boosters and made them limited.
I can't just buy the latest commander decks I want, now I have to scour bots for all the cards.
I have no idea why MM, EM an VM aren't in regular rotation for drafting even if it was 1 week in 4 or as a flashback in the lead up to pre-releases.
Ultimately I feel that I no longer get value for money and it's all just a big crap shoot.
I honestly think they need to do more to separate the pros and grinders from the players that just want to play for fun (who still want a chance at getting boosters/prizes).