I've been playing Gaea's Blessing in casual for a while, and it's pretty solid as a utility card. It prevents decking (really helpful in casual, as decking is a frequent combo win method), recurs spells rather effectively (Gaea's Blessing for 2 Pernicious Deeds and a Gaea's Blessing makes opponents cry), and if all else fails, essentially cycles for two mana. I've also hosed a few graveyard combo decks with it to boot. Even outside combo decks, I find it quite effective as a long game control piece to improve the value of my draws, as well. The deck I currently run it in is a slow control deck that runs base green, searches a lot of land out of the deck, and uses Blessing for recursion to make sure the few kill conditions never get killed permanently. In really long games, it can be ridiculous, as the total lack of land in the library and Gaea's Blessing basically keeps shuffling business spells back into the library so I always draw something obscene.
I don't know if it's tournament viable anymore, as recursion has gotten better over the years, but I'm sure its return will bring a smile to the face of many casual players.
I'd like to note that the You Decide thing with the legends bracket couldn't possibly have decided whether or not Akroma is in the set, since that bracket was done last February, and they make sets far enough in advance that Time Spiral should have been finalized far before the polling ended.
Akroma would have to have been in the set far before the poll was run.
Wow. Come on, vote Fanatic. I wasn't aware that was even up for reprint, as it's so insanely good. Besides, I wanna see Fanatic and Incinerate in Standard.
I think it's an elegant, awesome core set card that they're not going to print just yet. I think Recollect is going in 10th for sure. Eternal Witness was so absurdly powerful I think they'll wanna have a significant amount of time with it absent before they bring it back.
I would like some more, though. I keep running out. Practically all my green casual play decks run a playset, so I'm constantly trying to pick up more. Considering I have 18 at this point, it's getting harder to grab them as I've pretty much cleaned out everyone I know...thank god it's uncommon. I'd go insane if it was rare.
The thing about Incinerate that amazes me is that I was under the impression that it's too good to reprint. How are they going to compensate for such a powerful card in the environment? Maybe lower the power level of the other burn from the set? Even more importantly, will we get a Jaya Ballard quote in the flavor text?
I voted for Earthquake, as I prefer a reset button to green direct damage.
Personally, I don't think they'll do it...in tournament legal Magic. However, I would practically bet money on them doing it in the next Un set. It's just too great of a gimmick to pass up.
There seems to be more discussion on what they'd ban instead of what they might unban. There are quite a few cards on the list, especially for Vintage and Legacy, that could probably be removed at this point.
Personally I think Phasing will be relegated to the sands of time, never to return. It's just too complex. Try templating Phasing reminder text that would fit on the card. Hell, try templing Phasing reminder text that fits in a paragraph. Personally, I consider the likelihood of Phasing in Snap to be the same as Wizards announcing the grand return of Bands with Other.
Personally, I do expect to get an old keyword, however. Ravnica block doesn't appear to have any old keywords, and the same is true with Kamigawa and Mirrodin block. It just seems time for another returning keyword. My personal hope is for Buyback, which has a lot of interesting design space with colored activations, especially off-color activations on the heels of the multicolor Ravnica block.
Personally, I make it a point to avoid letting my opponent make mistakes that they aren't allowed to make.
For instance, if someone plays a creature and they have a Soul Warden in play, I make sure they gain the life. Not because I want them to gain it, but because it's a required action of the game. If they DON'T gain it, that's technically cheating, even though it's not beneficial to them not to gain it. However, if they have an Auriok Champion instead, I expect them to remember to gain life when they play a creature, at least by the next couple spells or when they end the turn. It's not a mandatory action there, and if they forget, too bad for them, and I won't mention it.
I do not, under my own knowledge, let my opponent break the rules, even if breaking the rules is in my favor. I have occasionally done so through incorrect understanding of the rules at times, but I don't intentionally do it. I think there are enough opportunities for my opponent or myself to make mistakes in the choices we make in gameplay, and that those should determine the outcome of the game, not a rules mistake.
Hey, it's another card in my pack that someone might want. I don't want it, but if someone does, then it's more trade fodder. I'm always looking for trade fodder.
Actually, I'd say that a few mechanics are going to stay through the whole block. The hybrids are probably going to remain throughout, and the emphasis on gold cards will also remain, meaning that the block will remain unified in theme. However, the individual guild mechanics, like convoke, transmute, etc. should probably be confined to the set that they're in.
I am a weird breed of Timmy. I love huge splashy effects, especially overcosted ones, and figuring out ways to make them playable. I'm the type of person who builds a deck around Phyrexian Dreadnought for the sheer pleasure of attacking someone with a 20/12 trampling hasted untargetable.
I don't know if it's tournament viable anymore, as recursion has gotten better over the years, but I'm sure its return will bring a smile to the face of many casual players.
Akroma would have to have been in the set far before the poll was run.
I would like some more, though. I keep running out. Practically all my green casual play decks run a playset, so I'm constantly trying to pick up more. Considering I have 18 at this point, it's getting harder to grab them as I've pretty much cleaned out everyone I know...thank god it's uncommon. I'd go insane if it was rare.
I voted for Earthquake, as I prefer a reset button to green direct damage.
Personally, I do expect to get an old keyword, however. Ravnica block doesn't appear to have any old keywords, and the same is true with Kamigawa and Mirrodin block. It just seems time for another returning keyword. My personal hope is for Buyback, which has a lot of interesting design space with colored activations, especially off-color activations on the heels of the multicolor Ravnica block.
For instance, if someone plays a creature and they have a Soul Warden in play, I make sure they gain the life. Not because I want them to gain it, but because it's a required action of the game. If they DON'T gain it, that's technically cheating, even though it's not beneficial to them not to gain it. However, if they have an Auriok Champion instead, I expect them to remember to gain life when they play a creature, at least by the next couple spells or when they end the turn. It's not a mandatory action there, and if they forget, too bad for them, and I won't mention it.
I do not, under my own knowledge, let my opponent break the rules, even if breaking the rules is in my favor. I have occasionally done so through incorrect understanding of the rules at times, but I don't intentionally do it. I think there are enough opportunities for my opponent or myself to make mistakes in the choices we make in gameplay, and that those should determine the outcome of the game, not a rules mistake.