Curious about Stances on Proxies
The Kitchen Table forum
Posted on July 21, 2020, 10:36 a.m. by bellum_pax
Hey, I was getting kinda curious about how proxies work, and what people's general vibe is on them. If people wouldn't mind filling out this survey, I'd really appreciate it! It's only a few questions, and if you have any questions feel free to ask. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7ZSGR28
Balaam__ I copied the link into the address bar and got the survey up no problem.
Also as a general statement I am pro-proxy because mtg is way overpriced a lot of the time. Especially (for EDH/Commander) if you already own a copy of the card.
July 21, 2020 10:55 a.m.
Maybe I did something wrong. I’ll try again. I’d like to weigh in on this issue so I hope it comes up.
July 21, 2020 noon
It worked; I was using the iPhone’s horrendous ‘look up’ function. When I copied it into the search bar it came up.
July 21, 2020 12:07 p.m.
It’s easy. If you’re running an 8rack deck and you’re short a Swamp, just take a spare Black Lotus lying around and use a sharpie to write a big “S” on it. If you’re feeling artistic, you can even try doodling a little tiny skull on it. Now you’re good—-so long as your playgroup accepts proxies.
July 21, 2020 3:10 p.m.
Omniscience_is_life says... #8
took the quiz: interested to hear the results/the data you've collected once enough people have taken it
July 21, 2020 3:15 p.m.
Your survey has some methodology issues that interfere with its usefulness as a data collection tool. Namely most of the questions presume you are willing to proxy and/ presume you are willing to significantly violate copyright laws.
Your second question needs a “I would not proxy” option. Your third question needs a “I would not proxy” option and a “I would not pay for proxies” option. Your fifth question needs a “I would not proxy” option.
July 21, 2020 7:21 p.m.
defamagraphy1 says... #10
I guess it really depends on the card and how needed it is.
I'd say no to proxying a card to make a deck busted. Gotta pay to play or use what you've got.
General rule I've seen players use:
If it's an older more expensive card you already own, but don't wish to play in your deck, a proxy is fine. As long as you own it.
July 22, 2020 12:03 p.m.
Looking at the average prices on pet-cards in a singleton format now, I hope proxies become more & more acceptable. That's one great thing about playing online so far - no one can really tell the difference.
July 22, 2020 3:31 p.m.
defamagraphy1 says... #12
Eh. This is where I'll argue with that.
Players are paying for the cards while others are proxying them for free.
What next? Scry 40 cards and put one into your hand on every draw step?
For the sake of eternal formats ( No, I do not mean the "anything can work" commander format ) I've seen a proxy 5 tourney for Vintage just to bring in players. That makes sense
But for Commander, either pay for a mana crypt or be happy that you have a sol ring.
Period.
July 22, 2020 3:41 p.m.
Omniscience_is_life says... #13
defamagraphy1, comparing scrying 40 before your draw step to proxying cards... makes no sense. Pure logical fallacy, there.
TL;DR
Also, ending an opinionated statement with "period" isn't very fair, as it's just that: an opinion. If your playgroup is fine with you writing "time walk" on your swamp and playing it, that's cool. More power to you. And if they aren't ok with you saying one of your mountains is actually a forest because you don't have enough of them... ok, that's their veto. If your friend has a shockland that you need for your deck, but you won't trade for it because you have a proxied version, that's a dick move. If you just started playing two days ago and have zero Cancels, you could probably proxy one without too much trouble. Just... be respectful and be fine if your friends don't want you to run a Taiga if you don't have one. But on the other hand, if your buddy has no Rupture Spire and wants to proxy one, you could probably survive letting them do it.
July 22, 2020 4:43 p.m.
defamagraphy1 says... #14
I guess you missed some statements above.
If you proxy a card that you don't have or needed at the moment at a casual game, sure.
If you own an expensive card you don't want to play in a deck to keep its value, sure.
But, if you're continually playing a card without trading or purchasing, that's an entirely different matter.
If you walk into a tournament at a local game store with a proxy then yeah, that's a dick move.
I was replying to the above statement "That's the great part about playing online so far, no one can really tell" If I spend a grand on a card, and someone duped a card and I can't tell the difference it's flat out cheating. Although I didn't think proxies for playing online were a thing.
July 23, 2020 7:08 a.m.
Proxies on webcam are definitely a thing & it's great. Playing & playtesting with parity is great. Worrying about butthurt whales is not great... All that being said, I still end up owning everything I proxy, but I'm also not going to crusade for WoTC, Hasbro, & tertiary markets to lock players out of the game.
July 23, 2020 7:54 p.m.
TypicalTimmy I can agree on that. There also feels like a difference between doing this for cEDH purposes vs players that are trying to at least make for more viable jank decks that they are reasonably cutting the budget on & reasonable budget has shifted quite a bit over the years. I mean my Taiga was once $4.00 card at Shinders. If your intent is just to have good games & most the cards in your deck are real, then I say: go nuts.
July 23, 2020 9:59 p.m.
Personally, I feel that sanctioned events should not allow proxies at all. Mostly because it is unfair to all the players that don't proxy and buy or trade for what they need. Either you get the cards to compete against players who did get the cards to compete, or you don't compete. It makes it hard for us to get into high dollar formats but the alternate punishes anyone who paid/traded and plays by the rules.
On the other hand, for casual play, i think it's up to the playgroup. My playgroup does not allow proxies and I don't use them. But I personally don't have a problem with them. As long as it's not a playset of forces or moxen, who cares really? I like alternate art and frame styles so like to see them on the table.
Balaam__ says... #2
Tried looking this up and it didn’t exist.
July 21, 2020 10:46 a.m.