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by Da Sarge Magic 1998 Hope everyone had a nice holiday. This article will be divided into two parts. The first part will be my views on things and the other part will be on questions you have written to me about but for some reason or another I could not get an answer back to you.
There I was, fresh back from the holidays. Had a great Christmas and New Year's too. When I came back and looked at the web, I realized one thing... WOTC HAS LOST THERE MINDS AGAIN. Ahh, that felt good. I say that because while I was on the Wizard's web page, I looked at the 1998 preview and guess what I saw? Three new sets coming out. Well, four really. It seems that WotC, in it's infinite wisdom, has decided to release a Portal's II set. Excuse me, Portal's II?? WHAT THE HELL DO WE NEED ANOTHER PORTAL'S SET FOR? The first Portal's set sucked to begin with. Someone please explain this foolish act to me. What the heck are you going to put in another Portal's set? Plus, and here's the kicker, they are also going to release PRE-CONSTRUCTED DECKS for Magic. Why on earth do you need pre-constructed decks for a set that is designed for new players to learn how to play? Are you (WotC) saying that if I wanted to learn how to play Magic, and I was going to buy Portal's II (God Forbid), I just can't buy a pack or starter(?) box of Portal's II and learn. Oh, I get it. If I buy a Pre-Constructed box of Portal's II, it's even easier to learn how to play Magic. Excuse me, did I miss something while I was on leave from the army? What, I'm gone for two weeks and WotC goes nuts. Well, that's not fair, WotC was nuts to begin with. Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't a new player buy a starter deck from any stand-alone set (Oh say...Tempest. Lord knows they have enough reprints in it) and play it? Oh yea, I forgot. Portals were designed to help the new player with game play and game flow -- what they can't learn that from the sets that are out now. Too complicated I guess. This is what kills me about WotC. Portal's II is designed for two things. Money, of course, is the first one. The second is that WotC seems to think that the average "Joe" can't understand a game that they say anyone can play. Portal's II -- what a waste of time, money and resources. You can't even use Portal's II in any of the Arena Leagues. Hey WotC, instead of wasting time with Portal's II, why not come out with a brand new set that has no re-prints in it. Want to waste money? Buy Portal's II. Speaking of new releases, three out of the next four quarters will bring us new sets for a total of four new editions to Magic. Well three actually, one of the four will be (HA HA HA) Portal's II. Two of the sets (Stronghold and Exodus) will be expansions. But the third (Urza'a Saga) will be a stand alone set as far as I know. Gee, I wonder how many COP's and boomerangs I'll get in that set? No, what bothers me about the sets being released (other then the numerous reprints I know I will get) are the pre-constructed decks. What is the deal with the pre-constructed decks anyway? I have a problem with these types of decks. The reason is this. When Tempest came out with these deck, each deck had in them certain cards that you might not get if you bought a box of Tempest. For example, there was one Overrun in each of those Green pre-constructed decks. Yet in the box of Tempest I bought, I think I might have gotten one. See where I'm going with this? I was really upset that I spent that much money to buy a box of Tempest, but I could get a better deal card for card with a pre-constructed deck. Yea, yea I know you're going to say "But what about all the lands you get in the deck?" Fair enough, but what about all the other reprints (COP's, etc) you get in a box of Tempest? Once again, all WotC is concerned about is how much money they will make. The player, once again, gets the short end of the deal. This type of thinking is getting old really quick. Why are pre-constructed decks offered at all? All they really do is almost force the player to buy one to play in the arena league? And don't give me that "if you have the cards you don't have to buy the decks to play in the arena league" That's bull and you know it. Take the box of Tempest I bought -- if I don't get an overrun and I want to play in the league. I have to buy an overrun. What's cheaper, the pre-constructed deck or the overrun. And by how much? Now tell me what's the better buy? And that's if you only have to buy one card. Now granted the new player has a ready made deck (hold on, shouldn't the new player be buying Portals II??). But if you're going to do that, at least make sure that the cards you put in those decks are all in the sets you sell to a guy who buys a box. In fact the pre-constructed decks for Stronghold (due out in March) will contain cards from both Tempest and Stronghold. If you are going to sell pre-constructed decks, why include Tempest? Or for that matter, how about Exodus? They are due out in June, and their pre-constructed decks will include cards from Exodus, Stronghold and Tempest. Why? Just what the heck is going on? I defy anyone to tell me that WotC isn't just out for our money. I'm not hot on the idea of pre-constructed decks. It just gives WotC a chance to put cards in there that you might not get in your box. This means that if it's a good card you have to go out and buy it, or if you are lucky, trade for it. Plus, if you're going to have pre-constructed decks, why include other sets? Why buy a pre-constructed deck when half or two-thirds of it might be made up of cards you already have? Bottom line is this: Buyer Beware. WotC has grown very large on our money. Nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is when you start to take advantage of it and then stat to roll out weak products. Don't get me wrong, each set that they (WotC) have produced has had it's share of great cards. But ever since Fallen Empires and beyond, there are more weak cards than strong playable cards. What's worse is that WotC keeps producing weak sets and we keep buying them. Why should WotC change if we keep buying them? WotC will kill the game unless someone there wakes up. Maybe we should give them a wake-up call.
This next portion will involve questions from people who have writen me but I cannot answer for one reason or another. No names or e-mail addresses will be used. Also, in the future if you have questions you want me to answer in my articles I will be glad to answer them. If your letter is good enough and you don't mind, the editors of this e-zine said they would put them in another section of this site. Now the questions:
Statement: You do need reprints of cards (COP's, Counterspell, etc) in stand-alone sets A: BULL. No you don't. If these reprint cards are so important why not just make those cards like COP's, Boomerangs and Disenchants allowed in any tournament regardless of the set they were released. If you do this then you never have to reprint them again.
Q: Why don't you write about those people who disagree with you? A: I do. I answer every letter that is sent to me. At times I can't reply to certain ones because the answer I get back is the address is unknown. From now on those that disagree with me I will answer in this fashion.
Statement: Your articles degrade Beyond Dominia and should not be featured. A: I'm sorry you feel that way. I had always thought that it was all right to express your opinions as long as you don't harm anyone. I tell it like I think I see it. If you don't like my articles don't read them.
Q: Why are you called Controversial when your not? A: I think it depends on who you ask and how you feel about the article that month. What you may think is controversial this month may not be how you feel next month. Like wise, another person may feel I'm controversial the months you don't. I feel that the reason people think that I'm controversial is that there are not many of us that speak out against WOTC and DCI. I am lucky enough to have this kind of forum
Every month if I get some good questions or I can't answer thru e-mail this will be how I will answer these questions. If you don't like the answers I will try and explain in a more open way.
Dem'd My Views and I'm.......
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