Speak for yourself. Obvious inclusions like the Primordials, Omniscience, Enter the Infinite, etc. are boring.
True enough, the primordials scream for auto-include in EDH decks. As long as players have EDH decks they will try to put them in somewhere. U can imagine the rush when EDH players try to get them during prerelease and try them out in EDH (for EDH, newly-released sets are legal on prerelease day).
Though yes, as a Standard player also (in fact more Standard than EDH), I would not want to see them in my packs.
Back to topic, most players are angry, upset or disappointed everytime they opened a primordial. Many felt it is a waste of box space. They are barely $0.50 card now in my area.
Sylvan Primordial is like a more restricted Primeval Titan + non-persisting Woodfall Primus in one. Technically it is the more expensive among the primordials (though at that level it does not really matter).
For EDH players, they won't mind more primordials.
I do have to say that people who trade in LGS also affects the store sales of booster packs and other items indirectly.
Once I went to a LGS of mine, and did not see anyone there, I stayed for a mere 15min and I went home.
With people actually trading/hogging up space at the LGS will make me stay and play drafts/events and also buy packs/drinks/cards/sleeves etc.
I think that in a way will be beneficial, in an indirect manner. =)
Crowd attracts crowd. Very true in this sense. That is why businesses should not be thinking about turning away crowds (where possible) but think about how to crowd-control effectively.
I like the fact that my local game store is a 5 minute walk from my apartment, and also the fact that the players there are generally pretty weak so I can come in first in drafts and get good rares. There's also great trading there. The owners are pretty friendly as well, and there's a good atmosphere there.
The main thing I dislike is that there are no chairs. The tables are pretty high off the ground and you have to stand up for the whole event, which gets tiring when there are a lot of rounds. It's also kind of a drawback that the player base isn't that good, since it's bad practice for more challenging events. I also wish drafts were 4 rounds instead of 3, and the store didn't split into pods to play, since that means less rare selection at the end.
Why no chairs? Because of lack of space in the LGS or because the tables are so high off that it is hard to find suitable chairs?
My LGS used to be devoted exclusively to Magic (which was what I liked about the store), but now there's a considerable chunk of space rented to someone else for another card game, so right now a quarter of the store is taken up by a counter peddling wares totally foreign to me. I know it's purely for business reasons but something just doesn't sit right with me - it's just me, I guess.
In this current day and age, Magic stores need to diversify in some non-Magic way or they can't really sustain. That is the unfortunate (but so telling) truth. Yes that new card game is more for kids, I think. Just hope these kids will also learn to play Magic in future.
I patronise the same LGS as SourJaM and izzetmage (less often now as I am often not free on weekends), so just some 2-cents from me below (I post in my local MtG-related forum more than Salvation so granted very few posts from me, just to quantify):
@izzetmage
The LGS is already doing the players a great service by allowing us to conduct trades inside the shop. They can simply break the culture and disallow such things. It is a business after all and they have to take care of the bottomline.
Yes they have many avenues (different products, holding FNMs and others) to generate revenue but that does not mean they can 'afford to lose on the T2 rare front'. T2 is popular so T2 rare (and mythic) sales should be pretty substantial if not making up a lion's share of the revenue.
If anybody want to battle for sales, they can just bring their stuff with them and do not exactly need lockers. Besides, there are only so many lockers they can install in the premises so how many people can book the lockers?
SourJaM has mentioned on why the store can't really break change. To add another view, how would you feel if someone buys a $4 card from you but can only give you a $50 note? Wouldn't you wish for a moment that he has exact change or smaller 'big notes'? I know I often wish for that, so generally I ask for it and I also prepare exact change as best as possible when I buy cards. I feel the abovementioned situation is a bigger hassle than having to prepare for small notes before doing trades, but granted, not everybody thinks likewise.
@ketchakik
To me, the singles selection in my LGS is large enough but I do not know much about overseas LGS so I cannot really compare from there.
@SourJaM
Sorry to (sorta) hijack like that, but I just feel I need to provide some input on this. Anyway...
Actually I find nothing wrong with the white walls (yes a bit plain but not a big issue; I don't look at the walls while playing) or the cheap tables and chairs but I guess an image overhaul is always welcome. Hope to see great end-results after this one month or so. You can do it.:)
Back to points asked in the OP:
2) Pretty large singles selection available (even for the older cards)
Quite cosy environment to play MtG
3) Can get pretty packed on weekends (wish there was another unit nearby to knock off the walls and expand)
My 3 English boxes (made in USA) as below. Boxes 1 and 2 are from the same case.
(Rare/mythic // DFC // foil)
Box 1:
LEFT (top to bottom)
Mentor of the Meek // Village Ironsmith
Witchbane Orb // Tormented Pariah
Rooftop Storm // Mayor of Avabruck
Moldgraf Monstrosity // Kruin Outlaw
Back from the Brink // Grizzled Outcasts
Nevermore // Village Ironsmith
Stromkirk Noble // Instigator Gang
Heretic’s Punishment //Ulvenwald Mystics Tree of Redemption // Tormented Pariah // Orchard Spirit
Charmbreaker Devils // Village Ironsmith
Creeping Renaissance // Villagers of Estwald
Creepy Doll // Tormented Pariah
MIDDLE (top to bottom)
Snapcaster Mage // Villagers of Estwald // Travel Preparations Reaper from the Abyss // Ulvenwald Mystics // Wreath of Geists
Sulfur Falls // Grizzled Outcasts
Stensia Bloodhall // Thraben Sentry // Creepy Doll
Laboratory Maniac // Hanweir Watchkeep Olivia Voldaren // Gatstaf Shepherd
Bloodgift Demon // Grizzled Outcasts Past in Flames // Villagers of Estwald
Endless Ranks of the Dead // Reckless Waif
Splinterfright // Delver of Secrets
Angel of Flight Alabaster // Hanweir Watchkeep // Vampiric Fury
Hinterland Harbor // Gatstaf Shepherd
I have joined MTG Salvation for a few months, but strangely has not been able to post...until I just discovered that I could. So this is the first thread I (should) post.
I have been playing MTG for about 18 months, mostly play casual but also play tournaments from time to time (format is mainly Standard constructed with a few EDH decks, will indicate in signature if time allows me to do so). Basically I like games requiring challenge of my mind, I actually also play board games.
I like this forum (despite being unable to post for months...:frown:) for all the discussion about cards, decks, prices and such, and I believe I shall enjoy my stay here.
True enough, the primordials scream for auto-include in EDH decks. As long as players have EDH decks they will try to put them in somewhere. U can imagine the rush when EDH players try to get them during prerelease and try them out in EDH (for EDH, newly-released sets are legal on prerelease day).
Though yes, as a Standard player also (in fact more Standard than EDH), I would not want to see them in my packs.
Sylvan Primordial is like a more restricted Primeval Titan + non-persisting Woodfall Primus in one. Technically it is the more expensive among the primordials (though at that level it does not really matter).
For EDH players, they won't mind more primordials.
Crowd attracts crowd. Very true in this sense. That is why businesses should not be thinking about turning away crowds (where possible) but think about how to crowd-control effectively.
Why no chairs? Because of lack of space in the LGS or because the tables are so high off that it is hard to find suitable chairs?
In this current day and age, Magic stores need to diversify in some non-Magic way or they can't really sustain. That is the unfortunate (but so telling) truth. Yes that new card game is more for kids, I think. Just hope these kids will also learn to play Magic in future.
@izzetmage
The LGS is already doing the players a great service by allowing us to conduct trades inside the shop. They can simply break the culture and disallow such things. It is a business after all and they have to take care of the bottomline.
Yes they have many avenues (different products, holding FNMs and others) to generate revenue but that does not mean they can 'afford to lose on the T2 rare front'. T2 is popular so T2 rare (and mythic) sales should be pretty substantial if not making up a lion's share of the revenue.
If anybody want to battle for sales, they can just bring their stuff with them and do not exactly need lockers. Besides, there are only so many lockers they can install in the premises so how many people can book the lockers?
SourJaM has mentioned on why the store can't really break change. To add another view, how would you feel if someone buys a $4 card from you but can only give you a $50 note? Wouldn't you wish for a moment that he has exact change or smaller 'big notes'? I know I often wish for that, so generally I ask for it and I also prepare exact change as best as possible when I buy cards. I feel the abovementioned situation is a bigger hassle than having to prepare for small notes before doing trades, but granted, not everybody thinks likewise.
@ketchakik
To me, the singles selection in my LGS is large enough but I do not know much about overseas LGS so I cannot really compare from there.
@SourJaM
Sorry to (sorta) hijack like that, but I just feel I need to provide some input on this. Anyway...
Actually I find nothing wrong with the white walls (yes a bit plain but not a big issue; I don't look at the walls while playing) or the cheap tables and chairs but I guess an image overhaul is always welcome. Hope to see great end-results after this one month or so. You can do it.:)
Back to points asked in the OP:
2) Pretty large singles selection available (even for the older cards)
Quite cosy environment to play MtG
3) Can get pretty packed on weekends (wish there was another unit nearby to knock off the walls and expand)
(Rare/mythic // DFC // foil)
Box 1:
LEFT (top to bottom)
Mentor of the Meek // Village Ironsmith
Witchbane Orb // Tormented Pariah
Rooftop Storm // Mayor of Avabruck
Moldgraf Monstrosity // Kruin Outlaw
Back from the Brink // Grizzled Outcasts
Nevermore // Village Ironsmith
Stromkirk Noble // Instigator Gang
Heretic’s Punishment //Ulvenwald Mystics
Tree of Redemption // Tormented Pariah // Orchard Spirit
Charmbreaker Devils // Village Ironsmith
Creeping Renaissance // Villagers of Estwald
Creepy Doll // Tormented Pariah
MIDDLE (top to bottom)
Snapcaster Mage // Villagers of Estwald // Travel Preparations
Reaper from the Abyss // Ulvenwald Mystics // Wreath of Geists
Sulfur Falls // Grizzled Outcasts
Stensia Bloodhall // Thraben Sentry // Creepy Doll
Laboratory Maniac // Hanweir Watchkeep
Olivia Voldaren // Gatstaf Shepherd
Bloodgift Demon // Grizzled Outcasts
Past in Flames // Villagers of Estwald
Endless Ranks of the Dead // Reckless Waif
Splinterfright // Delver of Secrets
Angel of Flight Alabaster // Hanweir Watchkeep // Vampiric Fury
Hinterland Harbor // Gatstaf Shepherd
RIGHT (top to bottom)
Woodland Cemetery // Delver of Secrets
Curse of Stalked Prey // Reckless Waif
Gutter Grime // Civilized Scholar
Elite Inquisitor // Screeching Bat
Clifftop Retreat // Tormented Pariah
Runechanter’s Pike // Garruk Relentless // Mulch
Geist-Honored Monk // Cloistered Youth
Curse of Death’s Hold // Delver of Secrets (foil)
Dearly Departed // Thraben Sentry // Rage Thrower
Skaab Ruinator // Civilized Scholar
Sulfur Falls // Delver of Secrets
Parallel Lives // Thraben Sentry
Box 2:
LEFT (top to bottom)
Rooftop Storm // Village Ironsmith // Scourge of Geier Reach
Liliana of the Veil // Villagers of Estwald
Moorland Haunt // Grizzled Outcasts
Divine Reckoning // Instigator Gang // Tree of Redemption
Mentor of the Meek // Reckless Waif
Hinterland Harbor // Villagers of Estwald
Angel of Flight Alabaster // Village Ironsmith
Woodland Cemetery // Daybreak Ranger
Dearly Departed // Delver of Secrets
Devil’s Play // Bloodline Keeper
Balefire Dragon // Gatstaf Shepherd // Bloodcrazed Nenoate
Geist-Honored Monk // Village Ironsmith
MIDDLE (top to bottom)
Cackling Counterpart // Civilized Scholar
Parallel Lives // Delver of Secrets
Back from the Brink // Cloistered Youth
Past in Flames // Tormented Pariah
Mirror-Mad Phantasm // Hanweir Watchkeep
Manor Gargoyle // Delver of Secrets // Darkthicket Wolf
Charmbreaker Devils // Cloistered Youth // Murder of Crows
Snapcaster Mage // Grizzled Outcasts
Nevermore // Civilized Scholar
Bloodgift Demon // Grizzled Outcasts (foil)
Sever the Bloodlines // Grizzled Outcasts
Splinterfright // Screeching Bat
RIGHT (top to bottom)
Endless Ranks of the Dead // Tormented Pariah // Cobbled Wings
Laboratory Maniac // Ulvenwald Mystics
Gutter Grime // Thraben Sentry
Witchbane Orb // Gatstaf Shepherd
Clifftop Retreat // Village Ironsmith
Skirsdag High Priest // Thraben Sentry
Unbreathing Horde // Tormented Pariah
Kessig Wolf Run // Screeching Bat
Elder of Laurels // Ulvenwald Mystics // Chapel Geist
Geist of Saint Traft // Thraben Sentry
Parallel Lives // Villagers of Estwald
Stensia Bloodhall // Tormented Pariah
Box 3
LEFT (top to bottom)
Witchbane Orb // Grizzled Outcasts // Cackling Counterpart
Reaper of the Abyss // Screeching Bat // Dream Twist
Skirsdag High Priest // Daybreak Ranger
Gutter Frime // Villagers of Estwald
Heartless Summoning // Civilized Scholar
Isolated Chapel // Bloodline Keeper
Stromkirk Noble // Thraben Sentry
Sulfur Falls // Delver of Secrets
Curse of Death’s Hold // Reckless Waif // Traveller’s Amulet
Kessig Cagebreakers // Ludevic’s Test Subject
Witchbane Orb // Village Ironsmith
Army of the Damned // Villagers of Estwald
MIDDLE (top to bottom)
Devil’s Play // Tormented Pariah // Rolling Temblor
Runechanter’s Pike // Thraben Sentry
Back from the Brink // Village Ironsmith
Olivia Voldaren // Delver of Secrets // Ranger’s Guile
Past in Flames // Cloistered Youth
Angel of Flight Alabaster // Grizzled Outcasts
Moorland Haunt // Garruk Relentless (foil)
Champion of the Parish // Gatstaf Shepherd
Bloodgift Demon // Screeching Bat
Stensia Bloodhall // Grizzled Outcasts
Skaab Ruinator // Delver of Secrets
Sturmgeist // Thraben Sentry
RIGHT (top to bottom)
Blasphemous Act // Reckless Waif
Snapcaster Mage // Instigator Gang
Nephalia Drownyard // Hanweir Watchkeep
Rooftop Storm // Ulvenwald Mystics
Gavony Township // Thraben Sentry
Moldgraf Monstrosity // Tormented Pariah
Creepy Doll // Hanweir Watchkeep
Kessig Wolf Run // Village Ironsmith // Curse of the Bloody Tome
Tree of Redemption // Villagers of Estwald // Paraselene
Geist-Honored Monk // Tormented Pariah
Stony Silence // Civilized Scholar
Undead Alchemist // Cloistered Youth
I have been playing MTG for about 18 months, mostly play casual but also play tournaments from time to time (format is mainly Standard constructed with a few EDH decks, will indicate in signature if time allows me to do so). Basically I like games requiring challenge of my mind, I actually also play board games.
I like this forum (despite being unable to post for months...:frown:) for all the discussion about cards, decks, prices and such, and I believe I shall enjoy my stay here.