Quote from Elvish SniperAre people just trusting WoTC to somehow keep this under control?
I believe Wizards is 100% looking out for their best interest and has been since 1993. The reason the game works is because when we buy a $4 booster pack we get some game pieces, but also a little lottery ticket. That lottery ticket usually pays off poorly, but sometimes we get something good or at least something we say "That was a good $4." The reason people pay as much as they do for the game is because the experience PLUS the perceived value of the purchase is worth it. So... if I knew that my $4 booster would score me nothing of value because there was no way to discern authenticity, I'd ~maybe~ pay $1 for it. If the consumers' willingness to pay drops because of this the prices need to drop to sell packs. If the prices drop, the profits drop. If that happens MtG dies.
"But Wizards is a profit hungry monster and if they just weren't so greedy and abolished the Reserve List then it would balance itself out." The reason the game is good is because the investors are happy and fund the R&D departments well. The marketing guys do well too. The company seems to be financially healthy and that's partially because they have the capital to expand and risk. So, them being "greedy" kicks ass for the idiots like me here who make a living wage but can't single-handedly afford to bankroll a creative team to make my hobbies a reality. So, thank you for being greedy I guess. "But the Reserve List." Yeah, that sort of sucks but that was a promise made to people a long time ago because even back before some of you could walk the company valued the COLLECTIBLE part of the CCG. They got that in order for people to pay a lot of money for useless paper they needed people to feel safe in its value. So, the Reserve list sucks in a lot of ways but not one person here has ever been negatively effected by it. None of the cards you own went down because of it and "I can't afford it" isn't negative - it's a non-gain. Not being able to afford an Underground Sea in your Legacy deck doesn't hurt you, it just keeps you from gaining competitive edge over other people who are playing a completely voluntary game.
Okay, so where am I going with this? I do trust Wizards to keep this under control more than anyone because they have a lot more riding on this than almost anyone else out there (I can't think of anyone that beats them on that). They have bigger resources that any of us too. If the game folds it will suck for us, I can guarantee you that's the last thing they want. Remember: When you are happy with them you spend more money, play more games, and spend more money.
EDIT: I want a Bean Feast.
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On the "plus side", there's a mantra that's oft-repeated around these parts: "Small set, unpopular, hardly opened", also "Third set syndrome". I've used them myself from time to time to explain why this card or that card from Future Sight or Worldwake or Eventide is suddenly sixteen squillion dollars. JOU is shaping up to be another unpopular set, that will have a small printing. Its draft season will even be cut short due to Conspiracy. It might not be a bad thing to pick up anything that you can while it's still cheap - who knows what sort of enablers will be printed 5 years down the line that will transform some cards from zeros to heroes?
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Seems OK. I'll usually ask for a binder as a throw-in if I'm trading for (or buying) a ton of cards from one person, but you really only need one or two of these kinds (I prefer 3-ring for collection housing) for trading. Bottom line is, if the binder isn't doing you any good, trade it for cards that will. It's not like the binder will appreciate in value or anything
(Yes, I know that some binders are actually valuable collector's items. This isn't one of them).
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G
Enchantment Creature - Elf 1/1
Constellation - add G to your mana pool.
Seems pretty similar to Lotus Cobra.
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There are also people like me who view selling as a huge hassle. Sure, I *could* sell a whole bunch of cards, and maybe pay off an outstanding debt or something, but first I have to sort through them, figure out what I can part with and what's just sitting in a box waiting for a deck, educate myself on the best way to sell them, then actually list them somewhere. No thanks, I already have a job. Let them sit in the box - eventually there will be a deck for them, no matter how bad they are, right? Laziness is definitely a factor.
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That's great! Congrats on the new job.
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Foil Verdant Catacombs is over a hundred, easy. I found one on eBay for $125, TCGPlayer has one for $133, and the bigger stores will charge more. If you're patient, you can probably find it for $112 - but the point is, OP can get more than $112 for his. And since it's foil, it'll keep value through a reprint.
Pile A, until Pile B adds a few more cards.
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I just picked up a pair of foil Vraskas (one DD, one pack foil) for $7 total. Nonfoil pack Vraskas should be a buck or two - the market is flooded, and the duel deck art is pretty cool.
Jace will probably stabilize around ten, since there's still Standard demand for him, and you have to sink at least 20 into the duel deck if you're buying it just for Jace (and then those people buying it just for Jace turn around and sell Vraska for a couple bucks to recoup some of their investment, leading to the Great Vraska Flood of '14).
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David and Anthony Palumbo (Serra Ascendant, Contagion Clasp) will also be there. I may or may not be there - still up in the air.
I would be happier with two Thoughtseizes. Chandra is going to go down. 'Seize will go down, but then go up - it's proven tech. I don't think that its previous astronomical price will recover (and that's a good thing, for the Modern format), but it will rise after Theros goes out of print.
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Dammit you kids, get off my lawn. No set with a modern border is old.
OK, now that's out of the way, color me completely unsurprised about Urborg TOY. It's an amazing effect, and works so well with Cabal Coffers, another EDH all-star.
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Are you going to GP Philly?
The reason that I ask is, that's the only reason that I can think of to need a Chandra Pyromaster now if you don't play Standard (the artist, Winona Nelson, will be there).
Chandra will either be reprinted in M15 (likely), or not. If she is, the supply will double and the price will go down. If she isn't, then you can pick her up at rotation when Standard players drop her. She's not played much in Modern. Thoughtseize is a nice card, but it will continue to be opened for another few months while Theros is drafted. Mistcutter is a couple bucks, and Unraveler is bulk. I'd still keep the foil Stormbreath - as a shiny dragon, it won't really lose value. I like the immediate future on foil dragon better.
That said, Thoughtseize is clearly a very good card that it played in multiple formats. Don't delay getting yours for too long, but you can put it off a few months at least. If you do want to pick up the hot standard stuff, you shouldn't be the one making throw-ins. The other party should toss in a few rares for your consideration.