I really don't like being negative on these sorts of things. It doesn't lend itself to a good environment for discussion, and it's easy to fall into negativity echo chambers, but my first feeling here is that this is going to suck. It's a massive change to both limited and overall card distribution, and none of it for the better, in my eyes.
My biggest problem is the overall limited changes, and while they say they are working hard to keep it in line with current limited, I just don't see how they can. Limited's biggest asset is that all players have (mostly) the same playing field. In draft, you can't buy your way into a good deck, you have to find it. Luck played a factor, but it was pretty minor overall. Now, between the list spot and the 2 wildcards, that luck factor will be exacerbated by quite a bit, adding about 13~16 extra rares in a pod by my math, and not evenly distributed, either. That's going to be bad for limited, imo.
Second problem is of course cost. Draft is already pricey, but making the boosters as expensive as set boosters is pushing it too far. Personally I already haven't drafted in paper for a long time due to that, and I'm concerned this will push me out entirely.
Draft is arguably the primary reason I play Magic, and if these changes are as problematic as I think they will be, I'm concerned I'm not going to have a reason to play Magic at all anymore, and that sucks. Here's hoping I'm wrong.
This is exactly how I feel. I second all of what you said and now I feel like the only thing I can do anymore is try to grind Arena drafts and hope to net positive on it with the rewards.
I really don't like being negative on these sorts of things. It doesn't lend itself to a good environment for discussion, and it's easy to fall into negativity echo chambers, but my first feeling here is that this is going to suck. It's a massive change to both limited and overall card distribution, and none of it for the better, in my eyes.
My biggest problem is the overall limited changes, and while they say they are working hard to keep it in line with current limited, I just don't see how they can. Limited's biggest asset is that all players have (mostly) the same playing field. In draft, you can't buy your way into a good deck, you have to find it. Luck played a factor, but it was pretty minor overall. Now, between the list spot and the 2 wildcards, that luck factor will be exacerbated by quite a bit, adding about
13~16 extra rares in a pod by my math, and not evenly distributed, either. That's going to be bad for limited, imo.Second problem is of course cost. Draft is already pricey, but making the boosters as expensive as set boosters is pushing it too far. Personally I already haven't drafted in paper for a long time due to that, and I'm concerned this will push me out entirely.
Draft is arguably the primary reason I play Magic, and if these changes are as problematic as I think they will be, I'm concerned I'm not going to have a reason to play Magic at all anymore, and that sucks. Here's hoping I'm wrong.
*Math is hard
This is exactly how I feel. I second all of what you said and now I feel like the only thing I can do anymore is try to grind Arena drafts and hope to net positive on it with the rewards.