The reserve list

[browncoat]

Due to the recent Starcitygames articles, I thought it might be a good idea to talk about fixing the reserve list. I also realize this thread may be a bit pointless as I don't think many people here have the massive collections of money cards.

For those of you who have not read the articles:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

As someone who has played mtg for only 9 years I have fond it difficult to get into legacy. Most of the staples were printed before my time or are rares (I did not purchase much product in the beginning). Many legacy staples are now far beyond what I would consider paying. The reserve list is partially to blame as cards like tropical island cost almost as much as my standard deck for a single copy. Now Wizards is starting to change views on the list as they reprint phyrexian negator in Phyrexia vs. the Coalition.

I don't think that the from the vault sets are a good solution as the FtV: Exiled price change was absurd ($35 msrp, $90 to actually buy one). I think the duel decks could be the solution as reprints could be done slowly but then they need to include more as I don't want to purchase 4 of a duel deck to get a playset of a card. I do like the concept of a paper Masters Edition though.

I really don't have a problem with WOTC just scrapping the reserve list as I know they don't keep promises and don't expect my cards to hold any value. As someone who has played other Wizards games, I realize that their promises are meaningless. For example: Hecatomb. Hecatomb was a creative and fun horror themed tcg that Wizards released a few years back. It was really cool as the cards shape was far different, a pentagon with 4 of the sides being transparent. As the third set was being released wizards had two more sets planned for the year (including release dates postings and other prerelease planning). Then they canceled the game and you can purchase booster boxes for $20 (or less).

What do you guys think should be done with the reserve list?

[Disturbedone0777]

Well took me a minute to get through that article but well worth it. Honestly my opinion is that the restricted list should be removed unless Wizards signed a legal document stating that they would not print any of the cards from the list again. Then I wouldn't think it would be a good idea on their part as I'm sure legal action would be taken with some hard core collectors.

My personal opinion is that cards don't come back to reprint for a reason. Magic has to be new and fresh or players that have been around won't enjoy new sets nearly the same. I can remember the amount of complaints that I heard from the magic community in my neck of the woods when they leaked Day of Judgment about how it was just a reprint of wrath of god only weaker.

As someone that managed to get his hands on (3) copies of the latest vault of the exiled (the one with berserk in it) at the cost of only $55 a piece, I'm not really mad they went nuts in value. I'm going to be turning my remaining one over on Ebay unless I decide to run another local event and make it the prize. I still don't play the extended or legacy formats yet so I don't really understand how powerful the cards are that are not currently easy to attain.

Since I feel that magic is a game that should be considered a game before it is considered a collection I don't like the idea of the reserved list. I wanted to get into the extended and legacy formats eventually when I feel I know enough. Knowing that I might be blowing somewhere in the grounds of $300 just to get a suitable deck together doesn't make me want to play anymore. His idea of printing a master series of these cards like they do on MTGO definately got my vote. If they made a series of cards that were legal in the formats but not as rare as the older cards, I don't think that would hurt the value of the originals as much.

I still believing that magic should be a game don't like it when cards in standard ever get above about $10 for a single. A $10 card should be something game breaking, or something you can't live without. Having cards that are greatly efficient and playable go to the $50 and even $100 mark a piece is outrageous. We all have to remember that this is still just cardboard and ink that we are playing with. I bet for the $200 it would cost me to get a playset of Baneslayer Angels I could get a print shop to make me 100 illegal copies of it that are just as playable with my friends. And they might even look legitimate (Although if I did something like this for playing purposes I would make obvious distinctions, I don't wish to see someone try to sell or trade fake cards, especially not ones that I've made.)

I guess I can see the other point of view, but being a player I think like a player not a collector.

[Dark Wolf]

I agree with you both. My personal opinion is that the reserve list does nothing, and I agree with Alex when he said on the show that if the reserve list is hindering ideas or hindering the future development of the game, as it is a TCG and not a CCG (Collectible Card Game). The collector's part of the audience is relatively small, and in order to protect the future of Magic from not reaching its full potential they should get rid of it. Although Disturbed, it should be noted, if you want to play Extended, just wait a few years until the current sets are in Extended and you're set. Lol.

[browncoat]

(2010-03-04 15:38 PM)Dark Wolf Wrote:  I agree with you both. My personal opinion is that the reserve list does nothing, and I agree with Alex when he said on the show that if the reserve list is hindering ideas or hindering the future development of the game, as it is a TCG and not a CCG (Collectible Card Game). The collector's part of the audience is relatively small, and in order to protect the future of Magic from not reaching its full potential they should get rid of it. Although Disturbed, it should be noted, if you want to play Extended, just wait a few years until the current sets are in Extended and you're set. Lol.

Actually the way extended works is that the sets from the past seven years are legal. That is why decks like zoo can play steppe lynx, goblin guide and loam lion. The main barrier to extended now is getting tarmogoyf, umezawa's jitte and ravnica shocklands.

[browncoat]

Well Wizards now has released their plan here. They made it seem like they were going to reprint stuff but now no reprints after the current planned ones. Wizards staff don't like the list, most players don't like the list, and many vendors don't like the list. So why have they suddenly changed their minds? This is almost as schizophrenic as the switch between legends in core sets to planeswalkers.