First: I have no personal interest in mapping and nobody should link or describe the process. We all agree it's not kosher.
However; I distinctly remember sets being mappable for years and years only up until relatively recently.
So it's not a new problem.
Can we compile a list of which sets were mappable, going from now all the way back to alpha? A simple 'yes' 'no' would suffice. This is a tricky subject so I want to make it clear (especially to mods) this isn't intended for nefarious purposes and if we keep the information simple, it wouldn't be able to be used as such anyway.
If memory serves, eldritch moon was mappable in some way, and going back a little further I think Theros was the last set I remember hearing about that was fully mappable. So pretty recent all things considered.
Certainly I can remember opening boxes with identical rares all the way up to Origins which is when I stopped buying crates.
This is mainly to settle a discussion on whether the drama surrounding m25 is justified. My stance is that it's always pretty much been a thing and whether you shout and wave your arms about and try to undermine the sales of a new set, it was probably going to be happening regardless. I don't think it's fair to consign a new set to some ideological dumpster fire because of the recent 'revelations' from Rudy at Alpha Investments. I think it's unfair and misleading to discount the fact that it's been happening all along.
[reserved space for list of sets]
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Modern: G Tron, Vannifar, Jund, Druid/Vizier combo, Humans, Eldrazi Stompy (Serum Powder), Amulet, Grishoalbrand, Breach Titan, Turns, Eternal Command, As Foretold Living End, Elves, Cheerios, RUG Scapeshift
I believe after RTR or Theros, WotC started to get more serious about making boxes less vulnerable to mapping. At least trying to make it to the point that mapping isn't profitable to do. Random is really hard. Also, there is the problem of making it feel random x as random as possible (random processes feel less random to people). I have seen people using software to predict what is the content of the booster with precision in Innistrad and RTR. I don't recall Theros as much.
Now about m25. People should understand about what is random first before freaking out over click-bait titles. Unless someone makes a detailed demonstration of precise prediction of the content of boxes, packs, and so on, I think we can just dismiss the case for mapping just because of such small sample size example. If the distribution is as random as possible, these type of occurrences would be normal (not frequent thou, but still possible).
It may be a case for bad distribution occurring in some samples, but that doesn't indicate it can be mapped for profit. Unless there is an easy way to track the content of the booster box or case, I don't see any reason for concern. If it's just mapping like RTR/Innistrad, the "only" problem would be buying loose boosters or tamped boxes from non-reputable sources. That's the case for any set since the dawn of MTG basically.
Even if it's easy mapping is real, it is a problem inherent in any physical card game anyway. Unless there is a dumb and easy mapping like opening a booster box to check the content of the entire case or just look at some code or something, I don't think the problem warrant the amount of the concern caused by the Internet. It's not a new problem and people should by now be aware of it and how to navigate it.
Dunno where exactly it was, it was rampant during RTR as well. I don't recall much in Theros, but I'd not doubt if it was still a problem there as well. Still this is not a new problem. With the cheaply made cards we get nowadays, I'd not be surprised if the printing companies they hire screw up the process. However, I'd like better proof and sample size than a click-bait video.
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However; I distinctly remember sets being mappable for years and years only up until relatively recently.
So it's not a new problem.
Can we compile a list of which sets were mappable, going from now all the way back to alpha? A simple 'yes' 'no' would suffice. This is a tricky subject so I want to make it clear (especially to mods) this isn't intended for nefarious purposes and if we keep the information simple, it wouldn't be able to be used as such anyway.
If memory serves, eldritch moon was mappable in some way, and going back a little further I think Theros was the last set I remember hearing about that was fully mappable. So pretty recent all things considered.
Certainly I can remember opening boxes with identical rares all the way up to Origins which is when I stopped buying crates.
This is mainly to settle a discussion on whether the drama surrounding m25 is justified. My stance is that it's always pretty much been a thing and whether you shout and wave your arms about and try to undermine the sales of a new set, it was probably going to be happening regardless. I don't think it's fair to consign a new set to some ideological dumpster fire because of the recent 'revelations' from Rudy at Alpha Investments. I think it's unfair and misleading to discount the fact that it's been happening all along.
[reserved space for list of sets]
Now about m25. People should understand about what is random first before freaking out over click-bait titles. Unless someone makes a detailed demonstration of precise prediction of the content of boxes, packs, and so on, I think we can just dismiss the case for mapping just because of such small sample size example. If the distribution is as random as possible, these type of occurrences would be normal (not frequent thou, but still possible).
It may be a case for bad distribution occurring in some samples, but that doesn't indicate it can be mapped for profit. Unless there is an easy way to track the content of the booster box or case, I don't see any reason for concern. If it's just mapping like RTR/Innistrad, the "only" problem would be buying loose boosters or tamped boxes from non-reputable sources. That's the case for any set since the dawn of MTG basically.
Even if it's easy mapping is real, it is a problem inherent in any physical card game anyway. Unless there is a dumb and easy mapping like opening a booster box to check the content of the entire case or just look at some code or something, I don't think the problem warrant the amount of the concern caused by the Internet. It's not a new problem and people should by now be aware of it and how to navigate it.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
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