Those collector packs/boxes were the worst. I got one for the buy-a-box promo and never bought another. My friend and also my nephew, who have no business spending that amount of money on a pack, got suckered by those big time. Wizards are grifting hard there.- Terrible product overload targeting whales (like the Collector Boxes)
- The worst MTG books ever
It's the Zodiac year of the Rat, every single gacha game i've been playing has some sort of new Ratgirl for the new year, there are enough people who celebrate the lunar new year that it's a fine idea for a product. I have zero issue with this
It's the Zodiac year of the Rat, every single gacha game i've been playing has some sort of new Ratgirl for the new year, there are enough people who celebrate the lunar new year that it's a fine idea for a product. I have zero issue with this
This was always going to be in January, even if Secret Lair was a bomb of epic porportions that no one bought. They aren't using slush art for these, so they have to commission the art months ahead of release, probably longer than normal because I believe all 4 of these artists are new to Magic. Lunar New Year is the end of January, so while you technically could release this in June or something, it's kind of missing the point if you don't hit JanuaryI guess, but it just feels like Wizards' typical strategy of hitting on new marketing idea and then immediately just milking the hell out of it with diminishing returns until everyone hates it. People like Masterpieces, so every set has Masterpieces. People like Planeswalkers, so now every pack has a Planeswalker. People liked Collector Boxes so now every set has Collector Boxes. Secret Lair was popular so now there's a new one every month.
No thank you, LGSs got to gouge people on FTV. Secret Lair's distribution method still positions the game stores to have the best ability to capitalize on the sets while also allowing the hardcore player not to be screwed in any way. The first set of lairs have done incredibly well value-wise: if you bought 10 sets as any game store should've, you made a nice profit already, and it's only been a few months. The fact that stores are likely the only places besides the uber rich that bought more than 1 set actually really favors them. Any store claiming they're going out of business because Wizards sold a product to consumers, while ALSO selling it to them, that has appreciated 50% in 2 months is flat out in denial.I'd be fine if Secret Lair was available only in LGSes. Rather, WOTC is pushing the limit of what can be done while bypassing normal distributors. It kinda sucks to be honest.
Secret Lair's distribution method for one thing is extremely wasteful. Compare the FTV packaging that housed 15 cards usually to the secret lair packaging that has as little as 3 cards inside.No thank you, LGSs got to gouge people on FTV. Secret Lair's distribution method still positions the game stores to have the best ability to capitalize on the sets while also allowing the hardcore player not to be screwed in any way. The first set of lairs have done incredibly well value-wise: if you bought 10 sets as any game store should've, you made a nice profit already, and it's only been a few months. The fact that stores are likely the only places besides the uber rich that bought more than 1 set actually really favors them. Any store claiming they're going out of business because Wizards sold a product to consumers, while ALSO selling it to them, that has appreciated 50% in 2 months is flat out in denial.
Jenn Ravenna has done some art before, notably The Eldest Reborn.This was always going to be in January, even if Secret Lair was a bomb of epic porportions that no one bought. They aren't using slush art for these, so they have to commission the art months ahead of release, probably longer than normal because I believe all 4 of these artists are new to Magic. Lunar New Year is the end of January, so while you technically could release this in June or something, it's kind of missing the point if you don't hit January
I mean, it also got adopted because it is legitimately a really fun format.2019 really was a terrible year, wasn't it?
- The introduction of Pioneer as an online only format but got adopted by the community because Standard and Modern were in such a bad spot.
Am I forgetting something?
The packaging on the secret lairs is WAY less wasteful than FTV. FTV is just throwaway plastic and cardboard trash, the secret lair boxes are actually nice deck boxes. Nobody is chucking those things. Again, the stores are the ones MOST poised to take advantage of the highly limited nature of these products. Look at the prices online for the last secret lair set, they've appreciated VERY well for being a fucking month old. Stores are maxing out the purchases, not individuals.Secret Lair's distribution method for one thing is extremely wasteful. Compare the FTV packaging that housed 15 cards usually to the secret lair packaging that has as little as 3 cards inside.
The issue with leaving LGS by the wayside is that outside of Kitchentable magic based around friend groups that's where people go to play EDH, to find other magic players and wotc over the last years has just been abandoning them. And these stores already operate on tiny margins.
If the smaller LGS in my city closed down I'd play a 10th of the paper magic I play and not buy 1-2 packs from the store every time I go there.
Some LGS were prize gouging but that was also kind of the intent for these products, a cash subsidy from wotc to stores. The MSRP on FTVs was extremely below the value of the cards included most of the time.
//Creatures (19):
4 Tithe Taker
4 Orzhov Enforcer
3 Knight of the Ebon Legion
2 Vampire of the Dire Moon
3 Shepherd of the Flock
3 Kunoros, Hound of Athreos
//Non-creature Spells (7):
3 Doom Foretold
2 Heliod's Intervention
2 Treacherous Blessing
//Lands (24):
4 Godless Shrine
10 Plains
10 Swamp
Hydra's Growth is awesome. I love dropping it on Incubation Druid turn 3, personally,
I think that'll be 4, but perhaps more importantly, I think this means we have another shot at a new Colossal Dreadmaw!Assuming Ikoria gets another Vivien how many have been printed in the last ~2 years? 4?
As a 25 year veteran, I try to stay quiet in person because I have super strong feelings about Arena and they aren't the majority in the community right now (though they are slowly becoming that way I think). But my belief is that Arena is awful, and I am tired of hearing about it, and I am tired of its effect on magic (except for learners). So I basically dont talk about or encourage it and am hoping its just becoming a distant testing ground for paper despite WOTCs best efforts. Paper magic is just more fun than digital magic - and its not even close. And the digital structure of play and the different game that Arena is, and the economy are all fucked and it isnt even close to fun for me.My favourite pre-release was canceled this time so I bought a sealed on Arena. Three losses within 20 minutes and I'm out. I feel just plain abused by this perversion of Magic.
Also I'm even more certain that whales are rerolling their sealed decks because there's no way a constructed level enchantment synergy deck is at 0-2.
Haha, I am always amazed when someone can say what I am trying to say but much more concisely. Thats what it boils down to - feelings after the event in question.JustinBailey I keep getting suckered by Arena but you're100% right. Every time I go play paper Magic I have a great time. On Arena I'm rarely happy after playing, even if I win a lot. The only unreservedly good thing about Arena is figuring out a new deck. The vagaries of chance are just too much on an anonymous game client, with no social element to assure you everyone has their ups and downs.
I need to find a pioneer paper tournament.