Apparently casual players do like them. As usual they chase the casual player, and as usual it will be a disaster they will go back on in a few months. Casual players may like promos of tokens, but they are still too busy playing sodding EDH and will NOT play competitive MTG in preference. When will WOTC get this through their thick, thick heads? Yes, there are casual players out there, but like the bottom of the ocean these players are out of reach- the experience they want playing MTG can never be offered in a formal environment, even FNM. If they print good promos like S. Visions and PTE then attendance at FNM goes up, but the extra bums on seats are competitive players. I will bet you the cash value of the foil double sided token promo that this will be reversed, but of course that is fifty pence.
They could easily reach the casual players if they made the promo sol ring or divining top.
Most EDH players don't care about double sided tokens.
Lets say you have two of these on the battlefield
Angel1 uses its exert ability, targeting a creature an opponent controls.
In response, Angel2 targets Angel1 with the ability to flicker it until the next endstep.
Is the opponents creature exiled for good? Is this another oblivion ring loophole?
Meh, I'm not really interested in buying a box full of draft chaff. I count 5 cards that I care about. The decks themselves don't seem to be that well constructed either. Like what is the Nissa deck even trying to ramp into? Greater sandwurm? I guess there is a single copy of rampaging baloths, why didn't it stick to theme with the other two decks and put in primeval titan? How are these three decks even suppose to hope to fight the archenemy cards? The scheme cards don't even need the deck it comes with, just the scheme cards themselves will run over the three gatewatch decks.
Looks like mediocre value, boring reprint selection, and poor game design.
Am I the only one who feels like someone should get fired over this? MaRo keeps talking about how the job is so hard, yards yadda. Like other people don't have jobs that are hard? Maybe it's time to change a few people.
If Maro is whining his job is hard perhaps he needs a demotion. WotC is actually a niche company which has been purchased by a monster that likely has no idea (or care) for how the company functions except requiring that they increase revenue.
The entire direction of design and balance is a travesty and with the mistakes around the cat ban it's impossible to deduce that they fully understand the error of their ways.
It feels like WotC needs a new director who can compartmentalize design from story from balance. There's too much interplay, and they need to get back to the way they've made the game for so many years prior to BfZ. Merchandise, Licencing, and product sales all get better when you make a solid game.
The question is what will make them realize they need to completely reverse the new design course?
I don't think Maro was complaining his job was hard, but rather defending the development team.
The design team is doing a fine job right now. It's the development team that is making mistakes left and right. WotC needs to give some competitive wages to incite platinum pro players to come join their development team. Clearly the staff they have now doesn't have what it takes to balance a healthy standard format. I can't remember the last time the format felt healthy. Maybe during FRF? Even then Siege Rhino had dominance.
They could easily reach the casual players if they made the promo sol ring or divining top.
Most EDH players don't care about double sided tokens.
But the creature hasn't left the battlefield yet. The angel leaves the battlefield first.
Angel1 uses its exert ability, targeting a creature an opponent controls.
In response, Angel2 targets Angel1 with the ability to flicker it until the next endstep.
Is the opponents creature exiled for good? Is this another oblivion ring loophole?
Looks like mediocre value, boring reprint selection, and poor game design.
I don't think Maro was complaining his job was hard, but rather defending the development team.
The design team is doing a fine job right now. It's the development team that is making mistakes left and right. WotC needs to give some competitive wages to incite platinum pro players to come join their development team. Clearly the staff they have now doesn't have what it takes to balance a healthy standard format. I can't remember the last time the format felt healthy. Maybe during FRF? Even then Siege Rhino had dominance.
Hopefully they'll complete the cycle in hour of devastation.