quote:

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Originally posted by phastings:
The number of cards that get pulled from packs, never see play, and get bulked for lack of playability, has steadily increased over the years. It seems clear WOTC continues to dumb down the game mechanics, error on side of under powered/unplayable cards, to avoid banning or over favor a particular strategy. Dont get me wrong, balance in the meta is important, but instead of putting lots of work into making a powerful AND balanced game, they tone everything down,and fragment the sets/blocks so nothing gets dominant.

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Might I suggest that the cards are not less playable when compared to others within their respective meta, but rather that the deckbuilders and players have become sharper in their approach.

I do recall when type 2 would tout five different decks that can all take down a tournament, but that was during Tempest block when most people couldn't read an article on why deck X is the best, nor could they playtest online and watch other players' videos of their deck's performances.

Between the internet's 'hive mind' approach toward the game, and the general experience of the game (18 years of history to reference when determining the quality of a card as opposed to just 4 or 5 years way back when) I don't think that Wizards has been making cards less interesting. I think players aren't as suckered into the 'Johnny' cards the way they used to be... at least not the competetive / pseudo-competetive players.

quote:

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Originally posted by MagicPatty:
Might I suggest that the cards are not less playable when compared to others within their respective meta, but rather that the deckbuilders and players have become sharper in their approach.

I do recall when type 2 would tout five different decks that can all take down a tournament, but that was during Tempest block when most people couldn't read an article on why deck X is the best, nor could they playtest online and watch other players' videos of their deck's performances.

Between the internet's 'hive mind' approach toward the game, and the general experience of the game (18 years of history to reference when determining the quality of a card as opposed to just 4 or 5 years way back when) I don't think that Wizards has been making cards less interesting. I think players aren't as suckered into the 'Johnny' cards the way they used to be... at least not the competetive / pseudo-competetive players.

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Originally posted by hilikuS:
Red ring is pretty good IMO.

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I like the Green one. My creature has Trample AND gets bigger?

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Originally posted by skizzikmonger:
So, I hear Rancor is pretty good

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Hell yeah!

~MM

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Originally posted by skizzikmonger:So, I hear Rancor is pretty good

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quote:

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Originally posted by Zeckk:
For christ's sake, people didn't even DRAFT core sets until M10. Are you next going to tell us that you were constantly drafting core sets back in the day?

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quote:

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Originally posted by daner:
Obviously, you're an idiot. I know a LOT of people who use to draft Beta and other really old core sets for ages. I mean....if nobody drafted core sets until M10 what the hell was going on over on MTGO? 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th....I guess those NEVER existed!

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No, they were busy drafting expansions. Yes, there are always a few people that would do core set drafts, but that was hardly a selling point. And you're missing the context of my post - the guy was complaining that M13 is a "flavorless, low value nothing set", despite the fact that less than half the cards are spoiled, as well as the fact that a LOT of people are looking favorably upon the spoiled legends cycle and partially because they add flavor to existing planes (innistrad, alara, ravnica forshadowing).

Now compare the recent core sets with 8th edition or 9th edition. Those sets were still from the mindset of having a collection of cards that needed to be in standard, but didn't necessarily fit within the flavor of a given block. Do you see how asinine Phastings statements are now? Core sets weren't even given draft testing until M10.

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Originally posted by WeedIan:
Why do they like printing mill cards so much now.. Ugh. 3 - artifact - X tap mill X.

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I like mill.. though this sounds bad. Then again, a 5/5 flyer for U is going to make my mill deck for sure

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Originally posted by WeedIan:
There were times when Millstone which milled 2 a turn at rare was a strong pick. X is just saying Draft me and just win games i'm not suppose to win.

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I miss the days of playing Millstone and opponents got nervous. Nowadays, a good Mill deck needs Haunting Echoes. (or multiple Curse of the Bloody Tome, that works too)

quote:

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Originally posted by skizzikmonger:
Venser's new best friend:
Thragtusk
4G
Creature-Beast
When Thragtusk enters the battlefield, you
gain 5 life.
When Thragtusk leaves play, put a 3/3
green Beast creature token onto the
battlefield.
5/3

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Astral Slide is in love, too.

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Originally posted by gcowhsu:
Mill while unplayable in constructed is a decent deck in Limited since you start with only 40-45 cards. Granted if you make that your strategy your opponent is just going to add 20 more lands to mess with you game 2. I have beaten people with mill using the jaces so it does happen.

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Adding 20 land to your deck to counter mill in limited is a very poor strategy.

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quote:

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Originally posted by junichi:
Adding 20 land to your deck to counter mill in limited is a very poor strategy.

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quote:

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Originally posted by guruswamp:
true but opening rancor in limited makes it easy for an idiot to win

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quote:

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Originally posted by skizzikmonger:
Liliana of the Dark Realms
2BB
Planeswalker - Liliana
+1: Search your library for a Swamp card, reveal it,
and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
-3: Target creature gets +X/+X or -X/-X until end of
turn, where X is the number of Swamps you control.
-6: You get an emblem with "Swamps you control
have 'T: Add BBBB to your mana pool.'"
3

Hoooooly ******* Moses!

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If only she actually did stuff. Cant protect herself the turn you play her, doesnt win the game if she goes off, and doesnt provide card advantage.

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Zac Hill:

Oh, and savvy readers will note that she doesn't just get basic Swamps.

Though I'm not sure how that could ever matter, really. There aren't any other kinds of Swamp legal in Standard, and I can't see Snow coming back any time soon (it's currently pretty warm up here in lovely Renton, WA, and we're not exactly hankering to give ourselves the chills).

I'm just pointing that out for completeness' sake. Due diligence. Do it right or don't do it at all, etc., etc. I would be remiss if I didn't.

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quote:

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Originally posted by thror:
If only she actually did stuff. Cant protect herself the turn you play her, doesnt win the game if she goes off, and doesnt provide card advantage.

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I can agree, then again, black is usually quite effective at removing threats.

I like the Lake of the Dead ability. This and a whole lot of Corrupt/Drain Life effects.

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quote:

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Originally posted by thror:
If only she actually did stuff. Cant protect herself the turn you play her, doesnt win the game if she goes off, and doesnt provide card advantage.

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