So even the core sets will be "Large" sets of around 269 cards each. Which means when we are in full Large set deployment, Standard will have over 2000 cards to pick and chose from. That amounts to a 'free' large set worth of cards.
For example, the Scars to M13 Standard period amounted to 1743 cards total; and that period even had an extra large set in it already (Avacyn Restored). Hopefully that gives Standard the card space needed to deal with everything.
Remember a few years ago, when Maro said that they were going to reduce the number of cards in Standard? So much for that.
And that doesn't even take into account all of the supplemental sets being released now.
I'm really sad to see so many people dislike the art. That's going to discourage them from further experimentation.
I guess people really are so boring that they prefer yet another 3D rendered ripped bod to an interesting stylistic choice. It's like when you think Street Fighter is a cool game, until you realize everyone just plays Ryu, Ken, and stupid Akuma. No imagination.
Just because something is different, doesn't mean it's good.
The overall mural looks good, IMO. But it looks terrible when divided into individual cards.
The original card frames are more colorful and evoke an elemental feel into the framework. By comparison, the current frames look washed-out and sterile.
Really? You think this is more colorful and this is more washed out?
Absolutely, especially when you see the two cards next to each other IRL. The EM Balance looks like it was bleached.
Couple this with the vastly different art styles from each artist and you have the sense that you're looking at pages of a tome intended for the target spell caster.
The card art is not the subject here. The claim is that the frame evokes a fantasy setting or not. That's why I specifically chose printings with old and modern borders that had the same art for my examples, to remove the art from the comparison.
I'll definitely acknowledge that the art direction has shifted significantly over the years. It's not a sudden break as with the frames, and I'm not sure I'm willing to say that the older art necessarily does a better job of evoking a fantasy setting. What the shift has done, however, is homogenize the art styles more. Old cards had distinctive styles unique to each artist. It's much more difficult to tell new cards apart by their artist without reading the artist credit or being the kind of art fan that pays abnormal amounts of attention to the card art.
The original card frames are more colorful and evoke an elemental feel into the framework. By comparison, the current frames look washed-out and sterile.
I wish WotC would design a new frame with the best elements of both frames.
As someone who's been playing since '94, here's what I don't like about Magic today:
1) Planeswalkers. I have no problem with Planeswalkers as a concept. But seeing them as the face of EVERY new set is tedious and sucks the flavor out of most storylines.
2) The Modern/Frontier card face(s). The original card face evoked a fantasy-feel, especially Alpha/Beta. The current card face is bland and generic; it could be applied to almost any other card game out there. It needs a major overhaul.
3) Mythics. As I feared when mythics were first introduced, they've slowly become less about flavor and more about power.
4) Too many "premium" sets. I don't mind them once in a while, but we're getting close to over-saturation with the Masters sets, Anthology sets, From the Vaults, SDCC promos, etc.
5) Not enough support for Eternal formats. Particularly Vintage.
We want the flavor of mythic rare to be something that feels very special and unique. Generally speaking we expect that to mean cards like Planeswalkers, most legends, and epic-feeling creatures and spells. They will not just be a list of each set's most powerful tournament-level cards.
I will never understand why people think Wizards would ever make a set that had all playable and valuable cards. That's not what makes a good draft format, and it's not going to keep the game healthy. If you want to play a game with little to no long term value that reprints all it's money cards at low rarity so the little kids don't feel left out, go play Yugioh. Wizards has to balance playability, collectability, and their own business value and that's way more than any average player cares about. Almost all anyone wants here is money cards for nothing and it will never happen.
I, personally, am kinda tired of always having to pay for more for cards for constructed (due to rarity shifts) because of limited.
But that guy Double-O said it would happen... And he's always been 100% correct when you don't count the times he's been wrong. That's like 92% of the time. (Though there's only a 10% chance of that.)
http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/en/htsusa/-c35000000
Remember a few years ago, when Maro said that they were going to reduce the number of cards in Standard? So much for that.
And that doesn't even take into account all of the supplemental sets being released now.
Just because something is different, doesn't mean it's good.
The overall mural looks good, IMO. But it looks terrible when divided into individual cards.
Absolutely, especially when you see the two cards next to each other IRL. The EM Balance looks like it was bleached.
The original card frames are more colorful and evoke an elemental feel into the framework. By comparison, the current frames look washed-out and sterile.
I wish WotC would design a new frame with the best elements of both frames.
1) Planeswalkers. I have no problem with Planeswalkers as a concept. But seeing them as the face of EVERY new set is tedious and sucks the flavor out of most storylines.
2) The Modern/Frontier card face(s). The original card face evoked a fantasy-feel, especially Alpha/Beta. The current card face is bland and generic; it could be applied to almost any other card game out there. It needs a major overhaul.
3) Mythics. As I feared when mythics were first introduced, they've slowly become less about flavor and more about power.
4) Too many "premium" sets. I don't mind them once in a while, but we're getting close to over-saturation with the Masters sets, Anthology sets, From the Vaults, SDCC promos, etc.
5) Not enough support for Eternal formats. Particularly Vintage.
You sit on a throne of LIES!
What an awful set.
I, personally, am kinda tired of always having to pay for more for cards for constructed (due to rarity shifts) because of limited.
60% of the time, he's right every time.