WOTC is hesitant to make functional game errata to existing cards. Unless it is an obvious error (Walking Atlas missing its Artifact type), they don't want the headache of maintaining lots of functional changes.
They've stated that the Grand Creature Type Update was probably a mistake.
Getting a story prompt isn't the same as writing the novel
Nothing in the creative process is truly unique, there are plenty of ideas to build upon.
Personally, I put together Temmet UW tokens. It isn't particularly strong, there isn't a lot of a creature token support in those colors that isn't "go wide" ... but I pulled together a win today.
Multiple copies of Angel of Sanctions to keep board control, swinging with a Desolation Twin clone. It was a lot of fun.
MTG Collection Builder - I know its a website, but it is very easy to use and developer is keen to update pretty frequently.
I email and he replies instantly.
MTG works with the variance in mind, I think we'd have a different deck building design if lands weren't limited this way.
Anything that cheats lands/mana and reduces costs is very useful in MTG.
One option is Heartstone-style, get one extra per turn - done.
Another option I like is actually the Decipher's Lord of the Rings CCG. In a setup where more the Fellowship (good side) uses, the Shadow side gets that many resources. I don't know if MTG can work that way, but it's a fun setup.
Play Magic Duels - its no longer being updated but it is free.
Absolutely go into your Local Gaming Store (LGS) and see what they play. There are likely players there that would teach you. You can even get free 30-card starter decks from the store.
There is certainly a market for non-English cards. I'd see what your store has for trade-in value or trades with local players.
I don't know if http://mtgcollectionbuilder.com/ has everything you want, but I find it easy to use and track what I don't have. The table view works great.
Edit: Maybe you can "Mass Quantity" add all commons/uncommons/rares and add your Mythics one by one, if you want to avoid adding specific Mythics cards, etc.
We haven't really seen how their one large set will work in this new model - we only got Core sets and Coldsnap. I'm hopefully they will make some good choices, only moving to 2 or 3 sets where needed. Maybe they will save it for Return to Return to Ravnica
Booster mapping is no longer really possible, they've added enough randomness in the packs that would require huge amount of boxes.
Weighing for foils is still something brought up - I don't know anyone that has been called out on it, but the proof is in the scales. I would be careful about single boosters and just get the sealed box.
They haven't announced another Gift Box, I'm assuming this is replacement.
I liked the old boxes - I put all the bulk cards and assembled decks per set/block and it was easy to find. Also looks good on a shelf.
Going back to labels and white cardboard boxes then.
New player to the deck - how do I handle Grixis Delver? I can sit behind a Bridge until they get Kolaghan's Command. Tasigar is immune to Fatal Push. He plays large amount of counters and card draw. Damnation slows them down but they can easily just Bolt-Snap-Bolt. Hope to get a quick Relic otherwise.
Magic is MONEY and will suck you in. Spending money for cardboard? Don't do it!
In all seriousness, I buy a booster everytime and have fun drafting and making decks. I like having physical cards, so I don't pay into MTGO. But Magic Duels is a fun free-to-play that's still cool to get that Magic fix.
I use a suitcase as well for my EDH decks, the Kakapopop U1. There's the REP-1 case as well that's fairly similar.
I haven't seen anything bigger that's as portable. For a binder, paper and pen, etc, you may be getting into a roller suitcase territory.
Take out some low impact cards like Drana's Emissary, Ajani's Pridemate, Pontiff of Blight, Triskelion (unless there's a combo I'm not seeing?), Counterspell, Dromar's Charm, Sun Droplet. You're playing a pretty controlling game with board wipes and removal, so maybe more lower end creatures need to go. At least that's where I would start - figure out through several games what isn't useful to winning and remove them.
They've stated that the Grand Creature Type Update was probably a mistake.
http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/163697454263/rd-seems-pretty-adamant-in-not-making-functional
Nothing in the creative process is truly unique, there are plenty of ideas to build upon.
Personally, I put together Temmet UW tokens. It isn't particularly strong, there isn't a lot of a creature token support in those colors that isn't "go wide" ... but I pulled together a win today.
Multiple copies of Angel of Sanctions to keep board control, swinging with a Desolation Twin clone. It was a lot of fun.
I email and he replies instantly.
Anything that cheats lands/mana and reduces costs is very useful in MTG.
One option is Heartstone-style, get one extra per turn - done.
Another option I like is actually the Decipher's Lord of the Rings CCG. In a setup where more the Fellowship (good side) uses, the Shadow side gets that many resources. I don't know if MTG can work that way, but it's a fun setup.
Absolutely go into your Local Gaming Store (LGS) and see what they play. There are likely players there that would teach you. You can even get free 30-card starter decks from the store.
There is certainly a market for non-English cards. I'd see what your store has for trade-in value or trades with local players.
Edit: Maybe you can "Mass Quantity" add all commons/uncommons/rares and add your Mythics one by one, if you want to avoid adding specific Mythics cards, etc.
Weighing for foils is still something brought up - I don't know anyone that has been called out on it, but the proof is in the scales. I would be careful about single boosters and just get the sealed box.
I liked the old boxes - I put all the bulk cards and assembled decks per set/block and it was easy to find. Also looks good on a shelf.
Going back to labels and white cardboard boxes then.
In all seriousness, I buy a booster everytime and have fun drafting and making decks. I like having physical cards, so I don't pay into MTGO. But Magic Duels is a fun free-to-play that's still cool to get that Magic fix.
I haven't seen anything bigger that's as portable. For a binder, paper and pen, etc, you may be getting into a roller suitcase territory.