Subject: (Issue) MTG & Money
Date: Thu, 02 Jul 1998 07:56:27 -0400
From: Pierre DuPont <pete9116@iosphere.net>
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

Pierre DuPont  pete9116@iosphere.net

Having read several comments on this subject, I feel I should vent &
scream myself for a few paragraphs.8)

First: A)Wizards releases too many expansions a year.
                While this is true, and I wish they would only release
two, the fact is that Wizards no longer
    cares about the game as a whole.  They've alienated Type 1 players
by no longer supporting Classic,
     and all they are currently interested in in making more money.

        B)The Expansions are weak
                Let's face it, ever since Legends or Alliances, there
haven't been a lot of sets with
        "gotta play" cards.  Mirage had Hammer of Bogardan, Visions had
a few, Tempest had Cursed
        Scroll and Meditate. Stronghold had Pursuit of Knowledge, Exodus
has nothing so far.

                The point is, that Wizards should make more PLAYABLE
cards!! How many versions
        of Web can you get before you get sick? Frog Tongue, Spider
Climb, etc...
        The product has deteriorated to a point where you'll see what
cards are good, and just get those.
        Why buy a box to get 30 Grollubs?

        C)The booster distribution is poor

                A friend bought a box of Stronghold and got 3 Crovax the
Cursed, 2 Invasion Plans
                and 1 Pursuit. In my box, I got 2 Pursuits, 1 Mox
Diamond, but 3 of my packs had
                duplicate commons.

        D)Too many new abilities, not enough cool stuff.

                Every expansion recently has brought a new creature
ability or something. So what?
                Creatures are inherently weak, and a Wrath of God and
Tormod's Crypt will take care
                of them. Print Serra Angels, not Exalted Dragons

        E)WOTC is rolling in dough, and doesn't care about its
customers.

                This is plain truth.  All WOTC are interested in is
putting out the next expansion with
                Web v.4 and another Counterspell, without trying to make
powerful cards, or cards
                that are actually playable.  They have no reason to
change because they have
                what they want. Your money and their product.

    F)The Type II cycles suck

                Simply put, I'm going to be VERY happy to see Nekrataals
and Man-O-Wars go away,
            but with Mirage going out, some decks are just dead.  WOTC
should say. OK, anything
            currently in Print is Type II, and the harder stuff (Ice Age
back) is type I.  There's
            little point in trying to keep up if you get the rugged
pulled from under you every year
            and a half.

Anyway, that's my rant, e-mail me if you wish.