Confirmed: Eternal Masters - June 10, 2016

[Dice_Box]

I would argue Conspiracy was a test set. A toe in the water. Now they are going balls deep and waiting.

[Crimhead]

A multiplayer limited format was experimental. And I'm not sure how successful it was. I have a sealed box I bought when it was new. Despite the Canadian dollar tanking, I'm unable to sell this for even what I paid.

But sticky new cards and reprints for Eternal into casual products was nothing neexor experimental. I see EMA as abandoning the idea of a biennial casual sealed set.

[Chatto]

It was just a short time ago that Wotc opened up FNM to all formats. Now we have eternal masters as a "test" for how much eternal can really be supported. We've also seen some fairly reasonable ban/unbans over the past couple years. All of this points my opinion towards this stance: wotc wants to support eternal, but from a distance so it doesn't upset the community. This em set is their boldest move yet and truly think they are testing the waters for making legacy more accessible.

I hope this is correct, and WotC/ Hasbro is really looking for a way to drop the RL. More support means more tournaments, something I (and the most of us) could appreciate.

[Lemnear]

I hope this is correct, and WotC/ Hasbro is really looking for a way to drop the RL. More support means more tournaments, something I (and the most of us) could appreciate.

Meh, more support means WotC meddling with the B&R list. Once WotC gets the idea of supporting Legacy and add it to their schedule expect Ponder/Brainstorm/SDT/S&T/LED/DarkRitual/Vial/etc. banned

[Dice_Box]

Meh, more support means WotC meddling with the B&R list. Once WotC gets the idea of supporting Legacy and add it to their schedule expect Ponder/Brainstorm/SDT/S&T/LED/DarkRitual/Vial/etc. banned

I am not sure that it would happen like that. Because Legacy has self policing cards that let the format regulate. Brainstorm would go, yes, maybe Counterballance as well but otherwise I do not think you need to go Nuclear on Legacy like they do no Modern. Force of Will, for all the colour warping it does, is the answer a format like Modern needs.

[Lemnear]

I am not sure that it would happen like that. Because Legacy has self policing cards that let the format regulate. Brainstorm would go, yes, maybe Counterballance as well but otherwise I do not think you need to go Nuclear on Legacy like they do no Modern. Force of Will, for all the colour warping it does, is the answer a format like Modern needs.

Because thats was exactly what happened during Vintage Apocalypse, the initial Modern banlist or the Gentlemens Agreement? "WotC" and "careful handling" is nothing to put in a single sentence.

[Crimhead]

I am not sure that it would happen like that. Because Legacy has self policing cards that let the format regulate.

I don't know much about Modern, but I've heard some theories that Twin was banned despite being a format police deck for the purpose of shaking up the format to promote sales and interest. Scary if true.

I'm not saying WotC would go completely ballistic in the banned list, but I do think we would likely see some questionable bans if they dedicayte resources towards marketing and profiting from Legacy. Hopefully we get the happy medium - the odd release like EMA to make a quick buck off the devotees, but no real push to market the format (beyond the inevitable hype such releases will engender).

[Mr. Safety]

I am not sure that it would happen like that. Because Legacy has self policing cards that let the format regulate. Brainstorm would go, yes, maybe Counterballance as well but otherwise I do not think you need to go Nuclear on Legacy like they do no Modern. Force of Will, for all the colour warping it does, is the answer a format like Modern needs.

This, this, this.

While I feel wotc will continue to go balls deep (I forgot about conspiracy) I don't think they will pull the trigger on a legacy pro tour. The pt is the single biggest reason for the rotating bans in modern imho. Its their standard+ format to replace extended. However, more legacy gp's in the future are definitely possible if the format gets a big boost like modern did with mm1.

[Lemnear]

This, this, this.

While I feel wotc will continue to go balls deep (I forgot about conspiracy) I don't think they will pull the trigger on a legacy pro tour. The pt is the single biggest reason for the rotating bans in modern imho. Its their standard+ format to replace extended. However, more legacy gp's in the future are definitely possible if the format gets a big boost like modern did with mm1.

We will see if the ban of Twin was an exception or the first sign of WotC introducing an artificial Rotation to their "Eternal Format".

[maharis]

To be clear, I think this is great for the format. For me specifically, because I've been buying in over the past few years, I basically have one set of everything -- I think Lightning Bolt and Gitaxian Probe are the only cards I know I have 8 of sleeved up for multi-deck use.

With extra sets of only a few cards I could build 2-3 reasonably competitive decks at a time instead of 1. So even if I don't want to sell my duals -- and I don't, because once that happens I'm never getting them back -- they can still be used in legacy events because I can lend "real" decks. I'm sure there are others in the same boat. $100 for a set of Wastelands, instead of a single one as it was at its peak, is way more palatable if you want to have extra staples on hand simply to boost your local scene. Getting Imperial Recruiter gives my set of Plateaux text.

I just don't see how they can put this set out there without a plan to expand access to all cards in the Legacy pool. The skyrocketing prices on RL staples was completely predictable. Honestly, there are a couple cards I'm surprised haven't been picked up en masse yet. They are very explicity releasing a set of spiky eternal staples -- this set is not for commander players (Despite their inclusion of it as an eternal format, they already have a product for those players, and this is not it.) Putting them out there but still restricting access to other key parts of those decks would be a PR nightmare if not an actual sales nightmare.

[Finn]

I think you guys are giving them too much credit for forward thinking. I bet they are just playing by ear at this point.

"Hey, I know. Let's make an eternal-only set!"
"Ooh, good one. All in favor..."

"AYE!"

"Great! Let's order lunch."

[H]

I don't know much about Modern, but I've heard some theories that Twin was banned despite being a format police deck for the purpose of shaking up the format to promote sales and interest. Scary if true.

We will see if the ban of Twin was an exception or the first sign of WotC introducing an artificial Rotation to their "Eternal Format".

The purpose of the Pro Tour is to drive the sale of sealed product. The Twin-dominated wouldn't have done that, nor showcased much except that Twin was a good deck and probably a go-to for most of the pro teams. It's really not scary to me, it's pretty obvious in my mind. Wizards is out to make money, plain and simple.

People were stupid and short-sighted to clamor so loudly for Modern Pro Tour, despite Wizards making it pretty clear that they felt it wasn't a good idea (by having zero). I don't think that they are after an artificial rotation, per se, more like out to sell product. If banning a few things does that, they'll do it.

I do wonder if they knew that Eldrazi would be as good as it was, sans Twin and Bloom. I'd almost like to think they did, but man, the FFL rarely gets things that right. Maybe they actually did this time. Now that is something crazy.

[Richard Cheese]

The purpose of the Pro Tour is to drive the sale of sealed product. The Twin-dominated wouldn't have done that, nor showcased much except that Twin was a good deck and probably a go-to for most of the pro teams. It's really not scary to me, it's pretty obvious in my mind. Wizards is out to make money, plain and simple.

People were stupid and short-sighted to clamor so loudly for Modern Pro Tour, despite Wizards making it pretty clear that they felt it wasn't a good idea (by having zero). I don't think that they are after an artificial rotation, per se, more like out to sell product. If banning a few things does that, they'll do it.

I do wonder if they knew that Eldrazi would be as good as it was, sans Twin and Bloom. I'd almost like to think they did, but man, the FFL rarely gets things that right. Maybe they actually did this time. Now that is something crazy.

To go full-on conspiracy theory, we know the "God Books" are a thing, right? How far in advance do those get passed around? Maybe CFB was testing those Eldrazi months ago, and came back to Wizards with a deck that's practically standard legal that could stomp on everything but Twin and Bloom...

Or maybe that's complete horseshit, because I actually have no idea how good Eldrazi is against Twin/Bloom.

[Admiral_Arzar]

To go full-on conspiracy theory, we know the "God Books" are a thing, right? How far in advance do those get passed around? Maybe CFB was testing those Eldrazi months ago, and came back to Wizards with a deck that's practically standard legal that could stomp on everything but Twin and Bloom...

Or maybe that's complete horseshit, because I actually have no idea how good Eldrazi is against Twin/Bloom.

Somebody did a test video or something recently, and apparently Eldrazi is pretty bad against Bloom. Not sure about Twin.

[Dice_Box]

Let's not make this a Modern conspiracy theory thread. There is one already, the Modern Ban List thread.

[HSCK]

I think you guys are giving them too much credit for forward thinking. I bet they are just playing by ear at this point.

"Hey, I know. Let's make an eternal-only set!"
"Ooh, good one. All in favor..."

"AYE!"

"Great! Let's order lunch."

Printing increasing amounts of money sounds great, why not do it?

[GundamGuy]

Printing increasing amounts of money sounds great, why not do it?

Expeditions say they are way ahead of you...

[Ellomdian]

A multiplayer limited format was experimental. And I'm not sure how successful it was. I have a sealed box I bought when it was new. Despite the Canadian dollar tanking, I'm unable to sell this for even what I paid.

Are you talking about Conspiracy product? Because if you paid retail, it's already trending up pretty dramatically. Dack and random Foils for stuff like Exploration are going to drive up the price. SCG has Packs and Boxes out of stock, and I PROMISE you it's not because they don't have any.

I'm not saying I would buy them from you right now, but I wouldn't just dump it on the first chump who asks about it either.

[Lemnear]

To go full-on conspiracy theory, we know the "God Books" are a thing, right? How far in advance do those get passed around? Maybe CFB was testing those Eldrazi months ago, and came back to Wizards with a deck that's practically standard legal that could stomp on everything but Twin and Bloom...

Or maybe that's complete horseshit, because I actually have no idea how good Eldrazi is against Twin/Bloom.

Given the lastest leaks from Kozilek/Wastes to the Innistrad set to the Eternal Master Box in circulation, we already know that Insider information to Judges & Vendors is still a thing screwing up players/shops without connections in terms of deckbuilding and the secondary market. There is no doubt that at least some Individuals within WotC have a very unhealthy Connection to people making shitloads of money with that I'll-Gotten knowledge and follow up buyouts.

There is also do doubt some people knew about the Twin and Bloom ban or why would they work on something like Eldrazi Stompy which is a dog to Twin/Bloom? Of course the ban was also done to drives Sales of the new set and creating an artificial Rotation of this particular "Eternal" format.

I don't believe in coincidence.

[Barook]

Given the lastest leaks from Kozilek/Wastes to the Innistrad set to the Eternal Master Box in circulation, we already know that Insider information to Judges & Vendors is still a thing screwing up players/shops without connections in terms of deckbuilding and the secondary market. There is no doubt that at least some Individuals within WotC have a very unhealthy Connection to people making shitloads of money with that I'll-Gotten knowledge and follow up buyouts.

There is also do doubt some people knew about the Twin and Bloom ban or why would they work on something like Eldrazi Stompy which is a dog to Twin/Bloom? Of course the ban was also done to drives Sales of the new set and creating an artificial Rotation of this particular "Eternal" format.

I don't believe in coincidence.

Team CFB probably had Godbook knowledge. But the Bloom ban was long overdue and thus, expected. Twin also wouldn't have been able to to jackshit about Eldrazi, considering the WB build already shat on it even before the OGW upgrades.

What I've gathered from the Twitter drama ensuing this week, corrupt members in the translation/distribution chain in Japan, China and Latin America seem to the main problem.