Magic: The Gathering

[Malacite]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

So, Izzet finally gets the card it's been dreaming of after Ravnica rotates out for the 2nd time lol. I'm a little shocked they're even printing such a good card though to be honest.





There will be many table flips over this.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Born of the Gods had Satyr Firedancer. And the one White aggro-enabling card in the entire block as an under(mana)costed Mythic . . .

Theros block was terrible in general TBH. And I'm not even complaining about the Devotion decks like freaking everyone else (I love Devotion as a mechanic).

[Icemage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

I still don't understand what you're saying here. "Well, at least Dewey will only be in Standard as long as the Core Sets, even though they aren't being made again after Blood block"?

It makes for a simpler purchasing decision for new players.

If a new player wants to buy cards six months ago, they had several choices:

(a) Wait and buy Core M2014
(b) Buy Theros
(c) Buy Born of the Gods
(d) Buy Journey to Nyx
(e) Buy something from Return to Ravnica block.

Return to Ravnica would obviously be a bad pick. No matter which one of the others they picked, they have no preferential options under the current rotation system, as all four sets rotate out together in fall 2015, except that M2014 would be playable for the least amount of time, yet probably have the cards they are most likely to need to build their collection long-term.

Faced with the same decision next year, a new player will have a similar set of choices, except that Louie and Core set will stay in rotation for 6 more months than Khans and Dewey will, so M2015 becomes a "safer" pick, and easier to recommend to a new player. And then in 2016, the decision becomes super-easy, as you'd always recommend to a new player to favor the newest sets (unless the cards themselves are terrible like Born of the Gods).


Icemage

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

I'm speaking more from the viewpoint of a new player just getting into the game; right now with core sets, they pretty much have to pick up the current core set to make anything playable in Standard constructed, but those cards rotate out faster than anything besides 3rd sets in a block.

I still don't understand what you're saying here. "Well, at least Dewey will only be in Standard as long as the Core Sets, even though they aren't being made again after Blood block"?

I can understand that. Still, it's not all awful; while cards from 1st main sets will rotate out faster, it also means that really obnoxious stuff rotates out faster, too.

So basically you're in favor of faster rotations out of principle here. While I can understand that, this particular logic feels like it'd also throw the baby out with the bathwater. Which, granted, I suppose describes every Standard rotation ever.

[Icemage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

You missed the memo where Core sets are being done away with completely, then. (Maro has further confirmed that this will not dumb down the complexity of future sets, while giving them more leeway to reprint whatever they feel like.)

I'm speaking more from the viewpoint of a new player just getting into the game; right now with core sets, they pretty much have to pick up the current core set to make anything playable in Standard constructed, but those cards rotate out faster than anything besides 3rd sets in a block. Granted, a lot of those cards can be acquired for much less because the vast majority are reprints, but that comes with problems of its own if you actually need any of the new rares in the set (see: Mutavault).

Also, I care less about a card being able to "assert itself in Standard" so much as being a good use of my money. 18 months instead of 24 ensures that I only get 3/4 the chronological value of any card from a Fall set (and, strictly speaking, 5/7 the value from a Winter set)--and I'll reiterate, I do not expect the prices of such cards to go even anywhere but up any time remotely soon.

I can understand that. Still, it's not all awful; while cards from 1st main sets will rotate out faster, it also means that really obnoxious stuff rotates out faster, too. Unless you play Modern/Legacy/Vintage where such cards never rotate out, but if that's the case what difference does it make when they rotate out of Standard?

I think that as long as there are a (slightly) larger number of overall reprints in the new sets than previously, it'll cushion the blow for new players while keeping the game still playable for established players.


Icemage

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

I'm not sure I agree. Core sets have only been usable for ~15 months, so this is actually more helpful for newbies than veterans. I also think 18 months is "long enough" for cards to assert themselves in Standard.

You missed the memo where Core sets are being done away with completely, then. (Maro has further confirmed that this will not dumb down the complexity of future sets, while giving them more leeway to reprint whatever they feel like.)

Also, I care less about a card being able to "assert itself in Standard" so much as being a good use of my money. 18 months instead of 24 ensures that I only get 3/4 the chronological value of any card from a Fall set (and, strictly speaking, 5/7 the value from a Winter set)--and I'll reiterate, I do not expect the prices of such cards to go even anywhere but up any time remotely soon.

[Malacite]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

It also means no more random nonsensical reprints/jank like Slilvers coming back out of the blue for no reason. And I love me some slivers but seeing them in M14 and M15 was just a big "huh?!" for me.

[Icemage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

My take from this: this will improve specifically the game of Standard format Magic substantially on several different fronts, while exacerbating the main reasons that keep me from playing.

Blocks are only usable for 3/4 as long, starting with the "block" consisting of Khans and Dewey. Furthermore, assuming my previous statement about the improved gameplay to be true, then Magic's already absurd popularity growth in recent years will only skyrocket even faster, making it financially even more ludicrously inaccessible from the sheer demand.

I'm not sure I agree. Core sets have only been usable for ~15 months, so this is actually more helpful for newbies than veterans. I also think 18 months is "long enough" for cards to assert themselves in Standard.

It does have some other effects though; main sets are going to have to have more typical utility because there's no Core set to anchor the mainstays like direct damage, counterspells, creature removal, etc. There's a risk of the sets becoming too watered down as a result (see: Mercadian Masques block for a good example of this).


Icemage

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Major, major changes afoot in Standard tournament block rotation and set release.

Metamorphosis | MAGIC: THE GATHERING

My take from this: this will improve specifically the game of Standard format Magic substantially on several different fronts, while exacerbating the main reasons that keep me from playing.

Blocks are only usable for 3/4 as long, starting with the "block" consisting of Khans and Dewey. Furthermore, assuming my previous statement about the improved gameplay to be true, then Magic's already absurd popularity growth in recent years will only skyrocket even faster, making it financially even more ludicrously inaccessible from the sheer demand.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

I'm not sure how to feel about this. On the one hand, Lorwyn and Shadowmoor were a ton of fun. On the other hand, this feels a lot like they just took Standard and shook vigorously while hoping for the best. It could go either way really.

I'll miss the core sets serving as yearly milestones, I kind of liked that.

[Malacite]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Beat me to it damn it I was about to post that as I just finished reading it on FB.


Great changes, though with 2 rotations a year that's going to make Standard more expensive to compete in.

[Icemage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Major, major changes afoot in Standard tournament block rotation and set release.

Metamorphosis | MAGIC: THE GATHERING

After 2015, MTG Core sets will no longer be released.
At the same time, all new set blocks will be 2 sets instead of 3, and Standard will switch to a 18 month rotation before blocks rotate out.

This is what will comprise Standard tournament format, moving forward:




Icemage

[cidbahamut]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

I'm not really sure how you'd go about making an affordable constructed environment.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

You know perhaps even more than I do how dumb of a card it is.

At any rate, to say that they design around even Standard would be stretching it a bit. They seem to have a tunnel vision focus on limited these days (which, as the runaway success of Conspiracy highlights, will only get magnified in the coming years), and I'm not even remotely a good enough drafter to judge that particular format. (Theros Sealed, on the other hand, was an open book of Green, with maybe some Blue and/or Black.) Fact of the matter remains that I doubt WotC's ability to make an enjoyable Constructed format lately, much less an affordable one.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

I don't understand why that bothers you. Their entire design strategy is geared around Standard. For the stuff they had last year they clearly thought Goblin Bombardment was a bad fit, but the upcoming sets will be ok with it running around.