They will not ban anything. Even if they ban SFM, it's silly to think they will do a mail-in rebate for packs/anything for the SFM's in the event deck.
There are plenty of great cards in standard and there are plenty of small reasons that could be attributed to the PTQ attendance being low. From the interest to Legacy, to FNM really only being draft or standard, and even the standard portion of Star City Games events which may have skewed numbers and perception of reality of what's viable in standard.
While it's true the PTQ attendance for Magic Online reflects low participation compared to the max amount of players for a limited event on the same day, lets not forget the reality perceived based from non-MODO events also create a pattern of belief in players there really isn't any other deck choice.
Digital card prices, even if microscopic in comparison, are a factor too if you really want to push the notion of a seemingly stagnant environment. The last thing some wish to do is shell out hundreds of dollars for Jace, The Mindsculptors when most people who play MODO may be considered "spikes". On top of that, who wants "fake" Jaces? They certainly don't help having when you can't play them in your FNM deck.
There is also the slow emergence of the casual player over the past few years. Most people really hate being told "no" and at the same time being in control of their situation. For example in WoW there is a character class called a priest. The priest can cast a spell called "mindcontrol" on other players and also cast a spell called "fear", which causes other players to lose control of their characters and watch them run away in random directions. For a long time these two abilities were absolutely hated by the player base as there wasn't anything that could be done. The games creator, Blizzard, saw this and over time in several patches, they added in-game items and adjusted the spells effects to help deal with this loss of character control. My point being is Stoneforge Mystic is a double edged sword for WotC. On one side you have people who love to "cheat" something into their side of the table and bash-face, but at the same time the same person hates to feel "cheated" when they're in a difficult moment. WotC does their best to make sure the game doesn't fall into "winters" of decks. Creating a buffet for players to create decks from their favorite new cards isn't an easy task. Something is bound to irk someone.
People have their favorite colors. Some love playing blue, some love green, and some love to hate blue. You can't control what players will feel, but you can "herd" them into what they feel comfortable with. Players who play blue love it because they love the control they feel it gives them over their game. People who play green are in love with the idea of casting the ridiculous and yet "fair" aspect of the game: big fat monsters. These same people cross-sample with those who hate blue for no other reason but because they: 1) feel the color cheats too much. 2) think it's unfair to their way of playing the game. 3) are just fucking retarded. But that's just my opinion.
Magic is a fun game when it's not inundated with chicken little squawking at every turn. Not everyone is going to be happy, but that's okay. As a player WotC will listen to your concerns. The realistic ones. Is Jace too good for the format? No. Is Stoneforge too good for the format? No. They are both very very good. And borderline absurd at moments, but lets be realistic, so is spending hundreds of dollars on this game we love.
If you really think things need to be banned that's fine. Great! If you think Caw-Blade is the only deck to play, that's fine as well. I certainly won't point you in a direction where you'll see plenty of viable, cheaper, and just as competitive deck choices. The real world isn't all in black and white and neither is your in-game world.
Just be glad Sensei's Divining Top isn't in the format.
The thing is that it isn't just online PTQs. It's all PTQs. We went from having 250 person PTQs last year, to more like 60 person PTQs this year. If you don't think it's Caw's fault, then you are probably smoking some wacky-tobaccy. The average player may FNM with whatever, but they aren't doing anything else competitive right now. This is severely hurting TOs, and the bread and butter people who keep the Magic community running, even if the player base will survive it.
ReplyDeleteI don't like that deck anyways, maybe I'm not good enough to pilot It.beecher
ReplyDeleteMy point, I don't think was made clearly enough, was that it's a string of factors conglomerating with Caw-Blade being the icing on top. To say it's just Caw-Blade and not a thing else, while close to the truth, really isn't. Compound human reaction can be a scary thing, and magic players have extremities in reacting heavy handed.
ReplyDeleteI hate to throw the economy into the argument, or even card prices, but those are small factors as well. Even if people do have the money, the benefits out weigh the costs in their eyes when all a person hears is "yea, you have no other choices, but come out and play anyway!", they kind of get a sour taste in their mouths. The economy gives them a reason to stay at home or just EDH all night.
I don't belie the fact Caw-Blade or even its descendent "Twin-Blade" are the prevailing reason(s) people give for not playing, they'd rather complain, whine, & throw a fit till they get their way. But to simply throw everything on Caw-Blade seems to me rather blanketing. We had the same stagnation when it was all about Valakut some time back. Caw-Blade evolved and down the beast went. I hate to say it, but some magic players like to cry and when they don't get their way, they take their ball home.
I must be a little confused. Who exactly is the "bread and butter people" who keep the community going? We have the TO's on one hand, who is on the other if not the player base? I would assume THEY are the bread and butter of Magic. But hell, this pot smoking cracker is probably just out of touch with reality cuz I certainly have no clue now who keeps the community going. I mean, I thought Star City Games events were doing great. But that's another issue ain't it? Magic isn't going to die out in 3 months. It may suck for a while, but it's been through worse. Mercadian Masques Block anyone?
I certainly haven't been playing the entire time Caw-Blade has been a deck, so the grindy feel certainly isn't there for me. But I'd like to think I've been around long enough to know a dominate deck isn't the entire reason we're having 60 person PTQ's.
I will say this. The deck is boring to play against and to watch. And I loved Tog mirror matches! There's just something irritating about seeing someone shuffle 40 million times, jace-brainstorm for 50 seconds, think about attacking for 60 seconds, and seeing that happen on both sides of the match for 60 minutes I'm sure doesn't amuse judges. The last time we saw these types of shenanigans was when Sensei's Divining Top was around in block, standard, extended, and now from time to time legacy.