Time Spiral Block may not have been a hit, and yes it was pretty weird and complicated, but it is the most brilliant block in my opinion. The attention to detail and love for Magic's history and lore and flavor is off the charts. I hope one day Wizards makes another set like this.
+namelessfire I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to a differnt topic as well, and one we clearly see Wizards learning a lesson on when it comes to future sets they would/are producing. Another CFB video (forget which) tagged this as a "thinking mans" format, i.e. not as simple (cruel re:filthy casual) we get today. But..you point out exactly why. TS Block was complex and interesting and the interactions took rules knowledge and critical thinking and..and if you were good at the game it was great. If you were new? "Um, clearly this game isn't for me I think I'll spend my money/time elsewhere, instead of being utterly crushed by people who know the rulebook by heart". Which is why Magic is where it is today, why they had the big design overhaul. And why, perhaps, people are considering the new set sorta boring? (and maybe it is, no idea). A set like Time spiral is great for the hardcore audience..but it sucks for the casual, and the casual is what you need to expand and build for if you don't want your product stagnating. Which makes me think. Yes, I adore seeing this set drafted, by people good at it..but I wouldn't spend the cost of 8 or 9 wasted drafts to try and learn it myself, being stomped and having no real answer for it besides "Please continue to get stomped until you learn better newb" That's B.S. IMO. So yah, great format..but I'm not sad they don't make-em like this anymore either.
+BladedEdge123 Precisely. On top of that, the vast majority of Magic players (and thus the majority of Magic's audience) are casual players. That might seem counterintuitive to most people reading this comment or anyone who has discussed Magic on the Internet before. One look at /r/magicTCG shows lots of discussion on Standard, making decks better for FNM, breaking into Modern, etc. But the fact is that such communities are the vocal minority. Most casual players don't care enough about the game to read about spoilers, to watch coverage, to watch pros draft online, to participate in FNM, or to even talk about Magic in general on forums. To them, it's just a card game that they occasionally get together with their buddies to play.
Nr4747 Actually, they're holding flashback drafts every week this year on MODO for each set in Modern (or, at least, each set until the year ends), with a new draft format each week. They'll be revisiting triple Time Spiral from May 4 to May 11. Then they'll do TSP-TSP-PLC the next week, and then TSP-PLC-FUT the next.
I played Flying Men in vintage too. Back then it was the only 1/1 blue flyer, which was a good way to get Ninja of Deep Hours into play while still having blue for Force of Will. And then you could just keep your AEther vial on one and play around your Standstill. Now you have Judge's Familiar which is just better. Fish was cool.
Why would you say Word of Seizing isn't good when you just gave a score of 3.5 - 4 out of 5 for a worse version (Turn Against from Battle for Zendikar)?? Just the context of triple TSP?
Time Spiral Block may not have been a hit, and yes it was pretty weird and complicated, but it is the most brilliant block in my opinion. The attention to detail and love for Magic's history and lore and flavor is off the charts. I hope one day Wizards makes another set like this.
+namelessfire I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to a differnt topic as well, and one we clearly see Wizards learning a lesson on when it comes to future sets they would/are producing.
Another CFB video (forget which) tagged this as a "thinking mans" format, i.e. not as simple (cruel re:filthy casual) we get today.
But..you point out exactly why. TS Block was complex and interesting and the interactions took rules knowledge and critical thinking and..and if you were good at the game it was great. If you were new? "Um, clearly this game isn't for me I think I'll spend my money/time elsewhere, instead of being utterly crushed by people who know the rulebook by heart".
Which is why Magic is where it is today, why they had the big design overhaul. And why, perhaps, people are considering the new set sorta boring? (and maybe it is, no idea). A set like Time spiral is great for the hardcore audience..but it sucks for the casual, and the casual is what you need to expand and build for if you don't want your product stagnating.
Which makes me think. Yes, I adore seeing this set drafted, by people good at it..but I wouldn't spend the cost of 8 or 9 wasted drafts to try and learn it myself, being stomped and having no real answer for it besides "Please continue to get stomped until you learn better newb" That's B.S. IMO.
So yah, great format..but I'm not sad they don't make-em like this anymore either.
+BladedEdge123 Precisely. On top of that, the vast majority of Magic players (and thus the majority of Magic's audience) are casual players. That might seem counterintuitive to most people reading this comment or anyone who has discussed Magic on the Internet before. One look at /r/magicTCG shows lots of discussion on Standard, making decks better for FNM, breaking into Modern, etc. But the fact is that such communities are the vocal minority. Most casual players don't care enough about the game to read about spoilers, to watch coverage, to watch pros draft online, to participate in FNM, or to even talk about Magic in general on forums. To them, it's just a card game that they occasionally get together with their buddies to play.
+namelessfire Drafting the entire block (1 set each) must be a wild ride that I would totally approve of (and throw money at on MTGO).
Nr4747 Actually, they're holding flashback drafts every week this year on MODO for each set in Modern (or, at least, each set until the year ends), with a new draft format each week. They'll be revisiting triple Time Spiral from May 4 to May 11. Then they'll do TSP-TSP-PLC the next week, and then TSP-PLC-FUT the next.
TheWhiteWolf1337
Ah, cool, I'll keep an eye out for that, thanks for the info !
Hooray! I cheered when you took Mirari. I'm really happy to see that card put to its paces, since I didn't play when it was in standard.
5:14 I'm so happy LSV chose this card. So much more interesting than the commons
what a sick draft! excited for the matches
"leads me to being mabey black, blue red, I really like that color combination in this set, and every set" lol
love these retro drafts
I played Flying Men in vintage too. Back then it was the only 1/1 blue flyer, which was a good way to get Ninja of Deep Hours into play while still having blue for Force of Will. And then you could just keep your AEther vial on one and play around your Standstill. Now you have Judge's Familiar which is just better.
Fish was cool.
+Jason Rohr They still kick some ass in Shandalar
I loved Time Spiral, one of the most crazy fun formats to draft imo. I'm looking forward to seeing a main phase Haunting Hymn get copied with Mirari!
+cat calliope Update: BUT BUT BUT MY PHTHISIS MIRARI DREAM :,(
yes. LSV + timespiral
This deck has so many sweet cards.
Love the draft format. But pretty much all drafts with LSV are a hit !
You couldn't resist the Mirari. Who are you, Kamahl?
This was my favorite Standard format, but I don't think I ever drafted it.
How are people drafting this!? I'm on Magic Online right now and there's no Time Spiral draft but I keep seeing these videos getting posted.
Man I miss Timespiral... was so great I quit after it... ok work made it harder to keep up too
Ovinomancer is the actual best card. Ever. Litrally.
Why would you say Word of Seizing isn't good when you just gave a score of 3.5 - 4 out of 5 for a worse version (Turn Against from Battle for Zendikar)?? Just the context of triple TSP?
Lightning Access