Subject: Re: Ultra rares etc. Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1998 16:43:24 -0700 From: "Burke, Michael (C)" To: "'fkusumot@ix.netcom.com'" to Russ Bulmer and all Ultra-Rare Fans: In regards to ultra rares... Of Star Wars CCG fame and others... from a players point of view they are about the worst thing you can do to a CCG. Lets take a look at Magic (since this is a Magic board why not?) A typical pack contains 15 cards distributed 1-R, 3-U, and 11-C. With Urza's Saga having 350 cards 110 of each rarity and 20 lands (Buy starters, get all you like) you're looking at the following "collection" problems. 1 Rare/pack of 15 = .0666 compares to .33333 (110 of 330 cards in Urza's Saga) 3 Unc./pack of 15 = .20 compares to .33333 (110 of 330 cards in Urza's Saga, again) 11 Com/pk of 15 = .733 compares to .33333 (110 of 330 cards in Urza's Saga, again) Doing the math on the current sets gives you (with exacting distribution, Magic sets with even distribution??? Uhhh, yeah) the following things to look forward to. 110 rares = 3 boxes of boosters + buy 2 you are missing = for a complete set of rares you're out 3 boxes @ $70 (get the best deals you can find pardner!) + 5$ each for the missing ones. (Hope the ones you're missing are dregs!) so about $220 + tax for a set..... In theory. The reality of it (Personal experience talking here... Tempest to be exact) was this... Half a case, 5 Booster boxes netted me 5 cards shy of my set of rares... The rares were reasonable at $3.50 or so averaged over the 5.... I got the boxes cheap at $65 each so to get my beloved set of rares (much duplication involved on some) I was out roughly 350$...... This is with the current distribution of rares to uncommons to commons that Wizards chooses to hose us LOYAL buyers/collectors down with. If they even THOUGHT of adding Ultra-rares I would be buying near ZERO cards in the future. Advice to Wizards.... Don't even go there on the Ultra-Rares, and think VERY LONG AND HARD at your business practices where we players are concerned... We love the game, but when we feel as if we are constantly getting the shaft by the way you do business..... Well that's each players decision as to what to do about it. I've said enough... Make your own decision. Flames/Props/Comments welcome....... Horkian@AOL.Com Oh, by the way... anyone else notice that the US Preconstructed decks only have 2 rares in them???