How familiar with the history of the Standard format are you? From Odyssey through Mirrodin, Standard was generally a single deck spawned from each block's overpowered linear mechanic, plus two-three metagame decks that could stand up to it. There was no variance over time, no rogue decks were successful, and no "lost gems" turned up a year after a set was released to suddenly prove vital in the current metagame. People hated playing Standard.
While I completely agree with what you have said in your post, this part is a bit off. There were several weird (or rogue) decks that were good throughout those blocks, but they had a short life span (3-color Mirari's wake, Zombies or Squirrel-opposition to just name a few). There were "lost gems" too, like Ichorid (used much later), Patriarch's bidding (got used when the extended goblin decks took shape) or Battle of wits (Finkel managed a 3-0 streak at worlds almost a year later).
Again, sorry to nitpick, generally you're right there were the force-fed decks to beat and the occasional rogue design here and there.
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Again, sorry to nitpick, generally you're right there were the force-fed decks to beat and the occasional rogue design here and there.
No, it's appreciated; I did play a decent amount during that period (enough to be irritated at the flavor-of-the-year broken deck dominance, at least) but my memory is clearly not thorough enough to remember everything.
You're right that painting it as utterly monolithic is hyperbole; as you note, I mostly just want to contrast the situation then (when many people did indeed consider Standard the worst format and hate to play it) to now (when Standard is letting a thousand flowers bloom).
Just a question - will there be 4-set block play, or will there only be block play for each 2-set block? Oh, and will Sandard be TSP block, Lorwyn Block and Jelly block, or wil TSP rotate out when Jelly is released?
Just a question - will there be 4-set block play, or will there only be block play for each 2-set block? Oh, and will Sandard be TSP block, Lorwyn Block and Jelly block, or wil TSP rotate out when Jelly is released?
Yes for Constructed, no for Limited. LBC will feature all four sets; drafts will be L/L/M and J/J/D.
Rotation will, as it always has, function on a "year" basis rather than a strict block basis -- TSP will rotate when the Fall 2008 block comes out.
I actually see it as much more likely that they do a graveyard theme for Jelly Block - there were a few Delve cards in Future sight, and a decent number of Graveyard hosers exist in TSP block to keep things in check.
This makes me really, really sad. Like I've said before, i could spend serveral hundred blocks in the world of Lorwyn...Well, atleast what we've seen of it...
God, I sound like a conspiracy nut, but stay with me here...
If Lorwyn and Morningtide (Tricksy Hobbitsessss...) have nothing to do with Jelly and Donut (Street Wraith-and-Steamflogger Boss-fuelled steampunk), maybe the two worlds will clash in Rock/Paper/Scissors???
I wasn't around for Invasion block... How did those who lived through it feel about it? How would people feel about a possible Invasion 2.0 next year?
Well if Lorwyn's stuck in eternal summer, wouldn't it make sense for the second mini-block to be stuck in winter or something and not be all bright and shiny? Shadowfall seems to blatantly point to this. So maybe they'll be connected by being polar opposites while still sharing some subtle links.
Also when have two non-Odyssey/Onlaught blocks that came right after another shared that much in common?
Not only should this have its own thread, it should be stickied!
I disagree.
As much as I love R_E, I don't really like this thread. I mean, sure, the magazine said the blocks have nothing to do with each other. But it also said there were 300 cards in the set. Precision was not one of the magazine's strengths.
And MaRo's article about the two mini-blocks did say that there would be a greater-than-average number of links between the worlds.
It would be really stupid to visit two unique worlds with two unique themes and two totally unique sets of mechanics in one year.
It's the kind of thing only a company like WotC could think up.
guessing from most of the ideas so far of the next block and the idea of intertwined poler opposite worlds, jellydoenute could be a world with little natural light, with a tough bloody reality do to lorwyn's fertile fairytale theme,
And MaRo's article about the two mini-blocks did say that there would be a greater-than-average number of links between the worlds.
No, it didn't. It said that while the worlds could (emphasis mine) even be connected, they would be designed by different creative teams, to be completely distinct from one another.
What MaRo did say is that the two blocks are designed to play together well, but only as an ultimate expression of inter-block design -- two themes that complement rather than conflict with one another, "hooks" between the two themes (I'm sure we'll see Lorwyn's tribal races represented in the second block), and so on. It's confirmed that no mechanics are shared between the blocks, that they have completely distinct themes, and that their creative sides are designed by separate teams.
It would be really stupid to visit two unique worlds with two unique themes and two totally unique sets of mechanics in one year.
It's already been 100% confirmed that this is what they are doing, so... what's so stupid about it again, exactly?
As much as I love R_E, I don't really like this thread. I mean, sure, the magazine said the blocks have nothing to do with each other. But it also said there were 300 cards in the set. Precision was not one of the magazine's strengths.
Accuracy, my friend, accuracy. and they were actually pretty damn accurate, as they were only off by 1 card, which is 1/3% error.
guessing from most of the ideas so far of the next block and the idea of intertwined poler opposite worlds, jellydoenute could be a world with little natural light, with a tough bloody reality do to lorwyn's fertile fairytale theme,
Did you ever play Tales of Symphonia? I'm kind of hoping for something like its worlds Tethe'alla and Sylvarant; one feeds off the mana of the other, and their role eventually switches: the parasitic world (Lorwyn, Tethe'alla) is constantly prosperous and happy, while the victim world (Jelly and Sylverant) is always in a state of depletion and despair.
(in ToS, the two worlds wouldn't normally know of the existence of the other)
EDIT: considering the information thus far, though, my hopes and dreams will likely not be fulfilled.
I expect it will be like Odyssey and Onslaught blocks were connected: their setting was but their gameplay themes were not. This would fit if "Jelly" is the night block as far as the Lorwyn plane goes While "Lorwyn" was the day block.
a parasitic world could be possible.
but remember in the timespiral block how time had gone completely mad, what if the next block is the future lorwyn which has been shaped by the actions of lorwyn.
I doubt that. As far as we ought to be concerned, all the time and reality shenanigans should have been resolved with the Healing...and besides, another time-related catastrophe? As if we haven't had a WHOLE block devoted to it?
You know one of the worse things for magic is the division of financial classes of the people that buy these cards. You know that age old adage, "The rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer." With the introduction of the two block set you don't have to drop as much money to get a competitive block constructed deck with a two block system.
Yes I understand you will have to buy more cards to stay competitive in standard because of this. Yes I understand that you'll have to buy more cards overall for block constructed each year because of the two block system.
But did you know that a person new to magic can now enjoy a brief "Cheaper" introduction into magic for block constructed. While the serious standard player is now looking at a "More Expensive" introduction when getting into standard.
Also Maro (Mark Rosewater) hinted that there would also be a 4 block constructed event eventually but we could be looking at more block constructed events, I believe we'll see two block constructed events seperately and one giant block constructed event respectively, for a total of 3 events overall.
AND YES I UNDERSTAND THAT THE BIG 4 SET BLOCK WILL COST MORE TO CONSTRUCT THEN IT'S 3 BLOCK COUSINs.
But remember... physical magic is just now slowly beginning to show the initial signs of wane and this is a good way to grab those new players before the time of tempest (no I don't mean that old crusty block by the way). This is only my estimation. (Notice that there seems to be a mad dash to throw lots of good cards into Master's Edition because by the time the people that own physical magic realize they have been replaced with a better system it will be too late for them to petition enmass to stop the completion of every card ever printed to be put on MODO.)
That supposed future set that has Muraganda Petroglyphs and Imperiosaur in it? That would be cool...
While I completely agree with what you have said in your post, this part is a bit off. There were several weird (or rogue) decks that were good throughout those blocks, but they had a short life span (3-color Mirari's wake, Zombies or Squirrel-opposition to just name a few). There were "lost gems" too, like Ichorid (used much later), Patriarch's bidding (got used when the extended goblin decks took shape) or Battle of wits (Finkel managed a 3-0 streak at worlds almost a year later).
Again, sorry to nitpick, generally you're right there were the force-fed decks to beat and the occasional rogue design here and there.
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No, it's appreciated; I did play a decent amount during that period (enough to be irritated at the flavor-of-the-year broken deck dominance, at least) but my memory is clearly not thorough enough to remember everything.
You're right that painting it as utterly monolithic is hyperbole; as you note, I mostly just want to contrast the situation then (when many people did indeed consider Standard the worst format and hate to play it) to now (when Standard is letting a thousand flowers bloom).
Thanks to Avatar for the rockin' Sig and Avvy!
Yes for Constructed, no for Limited. LBC will feature all four sets; drafts will be L/L/M and J/J/D.
Rotation will, as it always has, function on a "year" basis rather than a strict block basis -- TSP will rotate when the Fall 2008 block comes out.
Thanks to Avatar for the rockin' Sig and Avvy!
EDH: WEight-and-a-half-tailsW
EDH: U/ Dralnu, Lich Lord B/
Extended:U/ Fish U/
If Lorwyn and Morningtide (Tricksy Hobbitsessss...) have nothing to do with Jelly and Donut (Street Wraith-and-Steamflogger Boss-fuelled steampunk), maybe the two worlds will clash in Rock/Paper/Scissors???
I wasn't around for Invasion block... How did those who lived through it feel about it? How would people feel about a possible Invasion 2.0 next year?
SZJ pic by Fishy!
Also when have two non-Odyssey/Onlaught blocks that came right after another shared that much in common?
:symw::symu: Merfolk
Definitely not an aggro player.
I am with you on that. I would love dinosaurs!
Because some of us have busy lives, and don't spend a lot of time here.
Not only should this have its own thread, it should be stickied!
Click here to play a game.
I disagree.
As much as I love R_E, I don't really like this thread. I mean, sure, the magazine said the blocks have nothing to do with each other. But it also said there were 300 cards in the set. Precision was not one of the magazine's strengths.
And MaRo's article about the two mini-blocks did say that there would be a greater-than-average number of links between the worlds.
It would be really stupid to visit two unique worlds with two unique themes and two totally unique sets of mechanics in one year.
It's the kind of thing only a company like WotC could think up.
But let's hope they have better sense than that.
Uhhh...Ravnica much?
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View my MTGS-era TFK articles here!
No, it didn't. It said that while the worlds could (emphasis mine) even be connected, they would be designed by different creative teams, to be completely distinct from one another.
What MaRo did say is that the two blocks are designed to play together well, but only as an ultimate expression of inter-block design -- two themes that complement rather than conflict with one another, "hooks" between the two themes (I'm sure we'll see Lorwyn's tribal races represented in the second block), and so on. It's confirmed that no mechanics are shared between the blocks, that they have completely distinct themes, and that their creative sides are designed by separate teams.
It's already been 100% confirmed that this is what they are doing, so... what's so stupid about it again, exactly?
Accuracy, my friend, accuracy. and they were actually pretty damn accurate, as they were only off by 1 card, which is 1/3% error.
Did you ever play Tales of Symphonia? I'm kind of hoping for something like its worlds Tethe'alla and Sylvarant; one feeds off the mana of the other, and their role eventually switches: the parasitic world (Lorwyn, Tethe'alla) is constantly prosperous and happy, while the victim world (Jelly and Sylverant) is always in a state of depletion and despair.
(in ToS, the two worlds wouldn't normally know of the existence of the other)
EDIT: considering the information thus far, though, my hopes and dreams will likely not be fulfilled.
This is a Shivan Ampersand
but remember in the timespiral block how time had gone completely mad, what if the next block is the future lorwyn which has been shaped by the actions of lorwyn.
Now that would be, shall we say, quite lame.
Yes I understand you will have to buy more cards to stay competitive in standard because of this. Yes I understand that you'll have to buy more cards overall for block constructed each year because of the two block system.
But did you know that a person new to magic can now enjoy a brief "Cheaper" introduction into magic for block constructed. While the serious standard player is now looking at a "More Expensive" introduction when getting into standard.
Also Maro (Mark Rosewater) hinted that there would also be a 4 block constructed event eventually but we could be looking at more block constructed events, I believe we'll see two block constructed events seperately and one giant block constructed event respectively, for a total of 3 events overall.
AND YES I UNDERSTAND THAT THE BIG 4 SET BLOCK WILL COST MORE TO CONSTRUCT THEN IT'S 3 BLOCK COUSINs.
But remember... physical magic is just now slowly beginning to show the initial signs of wane and this is a good way to grab those new players before the time of tempest (no I don't mean that old crusty block by the way). This is only my estimation. (Notice that there seems to be a mad dash to throw lots of good cards into Master's Edition because by the time the people that own physical magic realize they have been replaced with a better system it will be too late for them to petition enmass to stop the completion of every card ever printed to be put on MODO.)