I just printed some proxies...
General forum
Posted on July 21, 2015, 8:09 p.m. by Rodfjell
I just printed some proxies for the first time ever for my EDH decks and I'm wondering what's yall's opinions on proxies in EDH?
I only play with friends at the kitchen table and being that we're all college-aged no one's got money for Underground Seas and the like so I decided to print high quality proxies for us to use. Now nobody's decks are limited by their budget.
I rationalize it by knowing I can't buy an Underground Sea from Wizards - only the secondary market (ie. online or my LGS [which I've only been to three times in 2 years). So no one's getting screwed... BUT if everyone made proxies instead of buying real cards that'd kill them game.
So it's not a completely clean feeling I get from this. Opinions?
My opinion is that if it's among friends and everybody is ok with it, then yeah you're completely fine in playing with proxies. Now the problem comes when you, for example, go to a tournament or something to that effect with a proxy. But for table top games, go for it.
July 21, 2015 8:16 p.m.
I think it depends on your intentions. If you're just planning on using them in casual games between friends, or for testing purposes, its fine. But I would never bring them to an LGS. I was in your same position a few years ago, and I built an Oloro EDH with probably 20 proxies. Over time, I've since acquired almost all of those cards, including Underground Sea, Tundra, Mana Drain, Force of Will, etc. The only ones I have left are Imperial Seal and The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale. It definitely feels great ripping up a proxy and replacing it with a real card.
July 21, 2015 8:53 p.m.
CharlesMandore says... #7
I proxy every and all decks. I'm completely fine playing casually with them, but no tournament where you gain anything should accept them. They are the ultimate budget option to this game. Technically speaking it's illegal, but Wizards doesn't care enough to push the little guy around because maybe in the future they'll get his or her business. Just make sure you play with the right people.
July 21, 2015 9:08 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #8
Okay.... If you're going to proxy a card.... for play... with other people.... it's a good idea to at least match the art to the right card. Putting AOB art on Dagsson, whos is presumably your commander, helps.... not at all.
Paging Epochalyptik because it was great last time.
July 21, 2015 9:15 p.m.
Yeh you should probably like have the correct art on cards otherwise things are going to get super confusing.
I have no problems with proxies. Especially those that represemt cards that can only be bought on the secondary market.
July 21, 2015 9:20 p.m.
I proxy all my EDH stuff and parts of my Tiny Leaders. When it comes to standard and modern, I invest heavily into the game. There's no way I'll ever play EDH at the level I want if I'm limited by my financial situation. I have classes to pay, basic needs to cover, and obligations to meet. Whatever money I can come up with 100% goes to the entertainment industry (largely MtG and League of Legends).
When it comes to EDH, I'd much rather play against the very best my opponents can put together than the stuff they can scrounge together. It's especially problematic for my group as some members are still in high school while others have access to considerable amounts of cards and are much older. It's the only way we can level out the playing field. Asking 3/4ths of the group to nerf their decks for the sake of one or two people hardly seems fair.
I've put forth enough money towards Wizards to not feel guilty in the least about proxying for EDH games at a friend's house.
July 21, 2015 9:26 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #12
I'd say it's fine. As long as it doesn't completely supplant your patronization of the game. I totally agree that Underground Sea, etc. are impossible to buy from Wizards and that proxy play for such is completely fine. Have fun with your playgroup!
July 21, 2015 9:32 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #13
Technically, everything is impossible to buy from Wizards. Wizards doesn't sell product directly to players. Nor do they sell singles to anyone.
Subbing to see how this develops. I think I made my point clear in the last thread.
July 21, 2015 9:37 p.m.
The only time I bring proxies to my LGS is if I'm not playing that deck for the night but expect down time to play edh
That being said I always limit my self to proxies of cards I'm seriously considering or cards I've got coming in the mail
All depends on your play group really kitchen table it shouldnt matter at all but if you plan to bring it to a LGS even if its not for your event I wouldnt use proxies unless they are coming or if its like 1 or 2 proxies
and honestly if you shouldn't need to proxy lands you can just use like some tapped lands or if you can get your hands on them shocks
But kitchen table I don't think you should feel bad about it as long as youre having fun with your edh deck because for most edh players that's what it should be not how expensive the deck is
July 21, 2015 9:40 p.m.
CharlesMandore says... #15
I remember making this very thread some time ago. Some dude got really heated and I lead him on. It was great.
July 21, 2015 9:42 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #16
My favorite in the above thread was when some guy tried to tell me there's no rule against using fake cards. There is. It's the second rule in the book.
July 21, 2015 9:53 p.m.
fluffybunnypants, I put Venser, Shaper Savant's flavor text on him as well lol...
I play Magic with literally two people (my fiancee and her brother). That's it. I've got a group hug deck, a five-color deck and 5 mono-colored decks. So they know exactly who my commander is and what he does and he'll never change.
July 21, 2015 10:08 p.m.
I'm kinda on the fence about proxies. It comes down to why you have them for me, more than it does the fact that you have them. Like, I think proxies are fine if your testing something in your deck or if you just want to test your deck against another specific deck. Then I really don't feel like there is anything wrong with that.
However, if your just using proxies and have no intention of actually purchasing the real cards, then it's almost like your cheating. Sure, maybe you just play with friends and they don't care, but then it comes down to why would you ever buy another card? I mean, if your friends don't care about using fake cards, then the fact that some of your cards are real would be irrelevant. So why include any real cards at all. It would almost seem like an admission of guilt in a way. As if you feel bad that some of your cards are fake so paying for the others makes up for it. Besides, if it's about saving money because cards are expensive, then you'd pay even less if you proxy the whole deck so it wouldn't make sense not to do the whole thing if your going to do some.
Everyone would love to have access to literally every card ever made, but that's part of what makes magic what it is. The fact that so many people have to work with what they got is why so many different decks exist, because it promotes creativity and experimenting with different card combinations. Like I said, I'm not completely against proxies. They do have their uses. I just don't think you should build your deck with the intention of using fake cards and leaving them there as though the deck is complete.
July 21, 2015 10:17 p.m.
PepsiAddicted says... #20
1 proxy per edh deck is a good rule imo. because who can afford random things like The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale. if you allow any amount of proxies per deck it downgrades the value for those who worked hard to get their deck together.
if you only play with a very small group (as stated somewhere above) and never leave that circle its a different story. it wouldnt make sense to invest huge amounts in cards etc.
even if the card uses different artwork etc it should still be labeled as a proxy. in the title or w/e, or have an artwork thats obviously not a real mtg card (like the scg creature artworks).
xlaleclx says... #2
I don't play EDH but I support proxies in playtesting for constructed formats.
July 21, 2015 8:15 p.m.