Subject: The new T2 Scene Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 10:53:22 -0400 From: "Mark R. Spano" To: MTG-STRATEGY-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM Being a regular reader on this list and a frequent contributer to The Dojo, I just wanted to add a few comments to this discussion. Many of you don't remember this, but back before the Mirage block was printed, Ice Age was legal in T2. During that period, Necro and CounterPost decks ran like crazy. People traded away anything they had to get ahold of the cards to build these powerhouse decks (similiar to now with Tradewind Riders and Cursed Scrolls = Necropotence and K. Outpost). One thing that people don't seem to remember though is that when this block (Ice Age / Alliances / Homelands) was getting ready to leave the T2 scene, people were saying the same things as they are now. "Magic will die", "This sucks", "I am going to quit" and thousands of other things, in a vain attempt to keep these cards legal. This change is needed in the T2 scene, weither you realize it or not. How often has it been that you have seen a new and original deck? Along time. Even CounterPhoenix and AwakenTrade has been around for a little while, just not refined. Why? Because there are only a select few Magic players that attempt to create their own decks, most people use Net Decks with just a few alterations. I am not saying that is bad, I am just saying that it creates a stagnant environment. Yes, it does suck when you have a few hundred (or thousand) cards that are now no longer T2 legal, but just as one person said before, if more people want to play extended or 1.5 over T2, beleive me the store owners will listen, and eventually so will Wotc. But as far as Urza's Saga pushing out the Mirage Block, it is needed to shake up the environment. How much fun is it when you know 95% of the cards in your opponent's deck by turn 3? To me, it isn't that much fun, maybe it is to you, but I like the surprise factor that magic entails. If you are a tournament player, and you attempt to use originality, then you understand what I am talking about. If you are a tournament player and you use Net Decks, you may not understand, but you will (most likely) still continue to follow the crowd and play net decks that have been altered to include US and not use the Mirage block. If you don't go to tournaments, then you dont' have to worry about it. When I first started playing, I used to play with 3 Demonic Tutors. "But that is illegal!" It isn't illegal if everyone you are playing with agrees to it. Remember, the rules are only for those people who are going to tournaments. For relaxed players at home, do what you want, it is more fun for you. :) Mark R. Spano -- The Sniper mark.spano@fiserv.com