Nationals are back replacing the WMCQs. Standard is the official format for Nationals. The world teams are back to 3 people and 2 of them come from the Nationals.
Local GPTs are no more, but the Friday ones onsite still exist.
Really impressed with this set, lot's of new cards that are really fun for EDH, some nice reprints, and the draft format looks insanely fun and improved on from CNS1. Huge win from me look forward to drafting this set a ton.
The sexiness of that satyr token kind of disturbs me. I guess Theros having more masculine fanservice is appropriate for the Greek theme, after all.
From what I know of the mythology (or remember for that matter) satyrs enticed women with looks (as well as other methods depending on the source) in order to mate with them, this is seen in Greek and Roman mythologies and is most likely the reasoning WOTC has the art a bit sexied up.
On topic, I love the art for this set, but the tokens seem a bit off compared to the rest of the set art, I really hope we get a Nyxian frame for each color in the other sets because dang those are beautiful on the tokens.
Did anyone try organizing the collection by function instead of by set/color/etc? I mean like ramp/burn/countermagic/small creatures/big creatures/utility dorks/etc.? I'm thinking of trying it, or perhaps something less radical like fist by color, then by function or something like that.
I thought about this, and I do this for Modern staples in a binder, but for all other cards not in a binder it would be too difficult to remember the index of cards imho.
I organize all my c/u cards in 4 to 5 column boxes by collector number with each box containing a set (e.g. ISD,DKA,AVR,M13), it is a royal pain the first go round, but it is really easy to maintain and it doesn't take up that much room if you only keep a playset of each.
Never thought about the sleeving of playsets though, I may just adopt that thanks.
I've enjoyed reading this thread, it's been an interesting read so far (even with some apparent stubbornness to have an actual discussion).
The best way I think of it is with an analogy. If your only interest is in putting nails into wood the generally percieved best tool is a hammer, if you use screwdriver it would be inefficient, but you could still accomplish the task. In comparing fire elemental and thundermaw hellkite(ignoring rarities), they are different tools to different people it just takes the right perspective sometimes.
Sorry if I make no sense at all here, just thought I'd deposit my 2 cents.
Do people expect these to be difficult to obtain for MSRP? I can see a lot of shops raising the price by 5-10 considering the value of many of these cards.
Can't wait to see the alternate art.
They'll start higher at comic shops and online retailers gouging a bit and then big box retailers get it and the price will be back to sanity...
Finally, you have misunderstood how this policy works at Regular REL. It's almost exactly how it was before - your opponent can not make you miss a trigger or not let you get it if you don't announce it exactly when you should. You just have to remember it at some stage and, provided it's not ages later and too disruptive, it will happen, just like before. The only change is that now you don't have to try and remember all your opponents' triggers as well as yours.
The kind of competitive play you describe does not get introduced to Regular REL by this change.
Then why even make the change in the first place, I'll admit my description is extreme, but what is the harm in making both players track triggers at Regular REL? (It's a lot easier than backtracking in some cases)
I just don't get the whole reasoning as to why they are making this change, when it just can overcomplicate the entry level tourney scene.
Sigh, I fear bringing this rules change to FNM will punish me for "being a nice guy that dislikes illegal gamestates". If a card says it does something, it should do it. Otherwise make the trigger optional (a may effect). I also think we don't have a judge around here which may make this a headache. Why distinguish between triggers and regular rules? I have to remind my opponent to draw a card, subtract the correct life total but if i forget an evolve trigger I am screwed? Sounds inconsequential. Also, I have to admit it sounds overly complicated and I haven't completly understood the trigger rules as I only played FNM and casual up to now. It also feels out of place for FNM where next to nobody even knows how to shuffle correctly.
This, a thousand times this. FNM and the like are supposed to be a casual and educational form of magic for the community and an entry point for beginners where the focus is on having fun and not on rules lawyering. I fully understand the trigger rules as a PTQ scrub but I like fnm level games to be a non-competitive environment where I can sit down and not have to worry about every little rule that I or my opponent can 'game'. This is by far a mistake and I feel that if this is the goal just make any and all beneficial triggers may effects.
Also I find it funny that they assume that every FNM has a certified judge, most I ever go to only have a rules adviser at best.
For the other trigger clarifications I find it nice, but I still think it's funny that it's a pure judgement call on whether some situations are considered cheating.
@Vita - <3 the TokTok, and the background idea of the Waterspout Weavers life counter
Finished 2 in one night. Finally had time to finish an alter for my wife that I've had cut since March and then decided to see how fast I could do a goblin token (2 hours, 9pm-11pm, from start to finish quite proud of that!).
Speed Goblin
Sorin's Vampire
Sorin's Vampire (washout)
On a side note looking back at my previous tokens I've noticed a huge step up in my quality I love noticeable progress.
It doesn't look like I have a good handle on how to get my pictures on here as well as some of the other posters. The size in the spoilers is much smaller and it seemed like it was incredibly inefficient to do. If anyone has any advice on how to do that better I would appreciate it.
looks amazing, to get bigger pictures post them to an external site (blog, deviantart, etc.) and then link the image here and make sure you link the full image not the thumbnail.
It's been awhile, but some new tokens from M13 appeared on my doorstep, and I couldn't resist. Apologies for the terrible picture of the goblin (I swear it was better when I took it, so I did terrible photo editing :D), but it looked insanely great when done and I recommend any and all 3d alterists try their hand at it as it is both fun and beautiful.
@Tanis - Looks good, couple things to try, make sure to use really sharp fresh blades (especially on foils) to avoid the riffiling on the edges (using clay tools to flatten the edges has helped me a ton here) otherwise it seems very very clean and beautiful for an early attempt. (Also make sure to put pics in Spoiler tags)
Local GPTs are no more, but the Friday ones onsite still exist.
Sunday GP PTQs are back
Link: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/return-nationals-and-changes-grand-prix-2017-02-09
Had to vote Khans, Theros and Battle were disappointing in mechanics and flavor.
From what I know of the mythology (or remember for that matter) satyrs enticed women with looks (as well as other methods depending on the source) in order to mate with them, this is seen in Greek and Roman mythologies and is most likely the reasoning WOTC has the art a bit sexied up.
On topic, I love the art for this set, but the tokens seem a bit off compared to the rest of the set art, I really hope we get a Nyxian frame for each color in the other sets because dang those are beautiful on the tokens.
I thought about this, and I do this for Modern staples in a binder, but for all other cards not in a binder it would be too difficult to remember the index of cards imho.
Never thought about the sleeving of playsets though, I may just adopt that thanks.
The best way I think of it is with an analogy. If your only interest is in putting nails into wood the generally percieved best tool is a hammer, if you use screwdriver it would be inefficient, but you could still accomplish the task. In comparing fire elemental and thundermaw hellkite(ignoring rarities), they are different tools to different people it just takes the right perspective sometimes.
Sorry if I make no sense at all here, just thought I'd deposit my 2 cents.
They'll start higher at comic shops and online retailers gouging a bit and then big box retailers get it and the price will be back to sanity...
Then why even make the change in the first place, I'll admit my description is extreme, but what is the harm in making both players track triggers at Regular REL? (It's a lot easier than backtracking in some cases)
I just don't get the whole reasoning as to why they are making this change, when it just can overcomplicate the entry level tourney scene.
This, a thousand times this. FNM and the like are supposed to be a casual and educational form of magic for the community and an entry point for beginners where the focus is on having fun and not on rules lawyering. I fully understand the trigger rules as a PTQ scrub but I like fnm level games to be a non-competitive environment where I can sit down and not have to worry about every little rule that I or my opponent can 'game'. This is by far a mistake and I feel that if this is the goal just make any and all beneficial triggers may effects.
Also I find it funny that they assume that every FNM has a certified judge, most I ever go to only have a rules adviser at best.
For the other trigger clarifications I find it nice, but I still think it's funny that it's a pure judgement call on whether some situations are considered cheating.
Finished 2 in one night. Finally had time to finish an alter for my wife that I've had cut since March and then decided to see how fast I could do a goblin token (2 hours, 9pm-11pm, from start to finish quite proud of that!).
Speed Goblin
Sorin's Vampire
Sorin's Vampire (washout)
On a side note looking back at my previous tokens I've noticed a huge step up in my quality
Drake Token:
Goblin Token
Goblin Token (washout)