Why I am breaking up with Magic
General forum
Posted on April 17, 2014, 2:47 p.m. by SnowCoveredRevenge
After almost 7 years I am leaving Magic. This could be temporary until I finish college or this could be permanent but I would like to rant a little about this, you can read on if you like.
First, Magic is no longer... well... Magical. As a fifteen year old the very first time I had saw magic the gathering I had just finished reading the Hobbit and I was mesmerized by the art and flavor text of the Lorwyn-Shadowmoor Block and the very new spoilers of Shards of Alara. There was a freshness, something I had never experienced. There was a mysteriousness. Anymore I find myself not even looking at the art of cards. I cannot tell you how many times I have literally not even noticed the art of cards I play with frequency. I have found myself and people around me no longer caring about about "coolness" what does that mean? well spoiler season is the best example. You see the knew mythic rare that does something other than "Tap: you win the game" and everyone says "OH it is crap its crap it sucks!" or "It is a fine card but too slow for constructed" why is this an issue to me? because magic is supposed to be an adventure and all of these people are using cheat codes and game guides in my mind. They are essetially violating the spirit of the game. I enjoy opening a johnny rare and trying to break it. for example Prophetic Flamespeaker + Madcap Skills /Thunderous Might how about that? sounds fun maybe not the best standard combo but it is fun and that is the point for me. Constructed magic has drained all discovery from the game and quantified all possibilities and created the most efficient killing machines.
Secondly. GOOD GOD IS THIS GAME EXPENSIVE. I am sorry I get the whole argument of "Any hobby is expensive" yeah that is true but I am a poor college student and I do not want to have to spend $10-$20 for the chase rare/mythic on average. I cannot keep up with that kind of cost. As a result of this I have to use sub-optimal cards or turn to rogue decks. Now let us go over a rogue deck. I am not talking about constructing a deck that has all of the parts it needs except chase rare X or planeswalker Y, I mean decks that do something silly that is under the radar. such as UG Infect in NPH-Standard as a way to combat UW Stoneblade and RG Valakut. I am not a netdecker by trade and whole heatedly refuse to chase the latest top deck so I am not usually hunting the greatest mythic ever but when general utility spells such as Bile Blight cost $2 to $3 bucks at the LGS It is damn hard to be able to afford anything but the scraps.
Third, I do not get to play as often as I used to. So I feel like even the money I get to spend is a waste. between fall 2010 and summer 2013 I got to go to every FNM most Tuesday Night Magics and almost every Sunday Afternoon Magic. So I had a ton of exposure and got to play a lot, but now as I am working and have to study plus take care of my daughter. I find myself having less and less time for a card game even though I truly do love it. For instance I have been to TWO only TWO FNMs in the last four months. and one of those was only because I exclusively asked off so I could go to the Born of the Gods Prerelease at midnight. I have turned to MTGO but that isn't a good proxy when you enjoy haggling for trades and interacting with all your friends at FNM which directly segways into my next point.
Fourth, Magic is a business for everyone now. EVERYONE stops during trades to check their phones for card values. everyone is trying to turn a profit on every trade and there are quite a few times I have seen someone stop a trade where both sides are getting mythics, planeswalkers and chase rares, simply because they cannot completely equalize. I understand if there is $10 in difference but when you are going down to a single dollar in value and cancelling a trade. You quite simply put are a DOUCHE. One of my very best friends will not trade with someone unless he gets enough to replace what he gave up and still profit, also this guy will charge someone for approaching him for trades by asking more and/or giving up less if he did not solicit them. Essentially magic has become a stock market and that has made trading a miserable experience for someone searching for silly cards that do wacky things. And if you do not have a phone that can access Starcitygames or TrollandToad at a moments notice. you are quite literally at the mercy of the person you are trading which again leads to the next point.
Fifth, Magic players are assholes. I have seen new players walk into stores and be mocked for not knowing the rules. A friend had his son cheated by a man at the store who frequented Pro Tours, He cheated the kid out of a win, when confronted by a judge and his dad the man got all butthurt and screamed and yelled and refused to leave the store until the police were called. That kid never played at FNM again because a grown man could not handle being beaten by a ten year old and his RDW Goblins that he had to throw a fit. People have traded massively expensive rares from casual/kitchen table players who either don't care or don't know about the value of cards, by offering them dollar cards they want and then justifying it with the argument of "he got what he wanted and I got what i wanted" yeah well you wanted profit and he wanted a couple playsets of cards that his group didn't have way to be a tool. I understand that this is a lot of generalizations but I am limited to my exposure to my own local meta and this is what I see on a weekly basis when I got to my LGS.
Finally, I have been looking for deeper and more in depth games. I have recently got into Pathfinder and Legend of Five Rings. Not only are these games cheaper but I find the play and experience of these games to be more rewarding. Pathfinder has a higher entry point but it is cheaper in the long run as far as I can tell because all I do not have are the fancy papyrus charterer sheets and a personalized mini. Also the experience of imagining a story unfold around me and a group of friends as we laugh and joke around a table is amazing as opposed to the experience of a person sitting across from you staring at their hand and constantly shuffling and litteraly calling a judge to ask you to be quiet as it is disrupting his game. I was making the standard issue small talk about, "What ya think about Spoiler X" or "Have you ever seen this card" "What ya think about card Y and card Z they make a fun combo huh?" Legend of Five Rings is quite literally what magic is not, It has so much fan support and incentives to play. As magic cancelled MPR and no longer gives out gateway promos. L5R has special promos for buying packs. you have a rewards program for almost everything in this game. Hell compare the starter decks of the two games. Magic: Crappy 60 card deck with tons of filler and maybe just maybe a good rare. two backs of the set. and comes in a cardboard box that is garbage and wasteful. L5R; 80 card deck that is competitive out of the box, with no filler every card is good. 3 booster packs of the latest set. Also this all comes in a neat small tin that displays your clan and has magnificent art.
Overall. Magic is no longer fun and I am done with competitive magic any sense except the prereleases and the kitchen table games with my friends. I am moving on to new games and I do not know if I am coming back.
Goodbye and Good Ridance
trentfaris242 says... #4
I hate to be "that guy", but ... umadbro. In all seriousness, this "letter" is teaming with anger from something that clearly JUST happened in this person's life. There's no reason you couldn't have waiting a few days to cool off from whatever it is that made you mad before you wrote this.
April 17, 2014 3:10 p.m.
InconspicuousPotato says... #6
Dude, it's fine to quit magic, but you don't need to go online and type an essay full of rage. You basically just called everyone assholes in 5 different ways. And did that even help you? This was so incredibly unnecessary. This is the kind of thing you type out, then delete to help get your anger out. You didn't need to tell everyone that they are assholes and tell them they take the fun out of the game.
April 17, 2014 3:21 p.m.
Servo_Token says... #7
Agreed with the potato, the people that you are talking about aren't on this site (well... for the most part...).
This was pretty much the opposite of how you should quit Magic. Now we all think that you're a posh stuck up pansyboy. Nice way to leave a last impression.
April 17, 2014 3:23 p.m.
AnagonLordofSnakes says... #8
No one cares. You just wasted an hour of your life typing something that will only invoke ridicule on you if people even feel like wasting their time reading it (which I didn't)
April 17, 2014 3:32 p.m.
Question: Do you actually own the Lili's from the Rack deck on your profile? And if so, can I get them off you since you're quitting Magic?
April 17, 2014 3:39 p.m.
Now fellas, no need to gang up on him like that. If anything that proves his points more.
I'm sorry you can no longer enjoy what is truly a great game, and I encourage you not to sell your collection. Everybody I know who has has later regretted it.
April 17, 2014 3:45 p.m.
Unforgivn_II says... #11
I agree with Jp3ngu1nb0y, don't sell your cards. From the tone of this essay I can tell that you're trying to justify your decision to yourself. Your brain knows you should quit, but your emotions tell you otherwise. In the future you'll look back with nostalgia, and wish you could play again, even a little. How long that will take is a mystery to me, but it will happen. At the very least, your money cards will continue to appreciate in value
April 17, 2014 3:53 p.m.
You know, Magic is a LOT more fun when you stop caring about Standard and only play Modern/Legacy and Draft. Standard sucks to be honest. It's a blackhole of money that rotates every year. Instead of playing the top 8 decks that are way to expensive, I play whatever I have fun playing. It's more rewarding to me when I beat someone with a home brewed deck and when I lose to top tier decks I could care less. I gave up competitive standard 2 years ago, invested in Modern and Legacy and now I'm way ahead of everyone who is trying to get into the format. Anyways, keep your crap, put it in the closet and we will see you in 5 years. Everyone needs a break from Magic once in awhile.
April 17, 2014 3:59 p.m.
I'm going to agree with the above, DO NOT SELL OUT. save them for prosperity or when the time comes something special, like a car or what not... Just in case you decide to come back.
Moving on, magic has always been a business since the first price guide was printed about 19-20 years ago. Trades have been going on like the one you mentioned since then. It's just what it is and happens in every hobby that is collectible. I used to trade baseball cards before mtg came out and it was the same. People will always want to get the most value they can for what they have, it is simple human nature. Now, this doesn't mean there aren't people who are fair traders and go $ to $ and give up a little more or less to get what they want or to be nice. but prices are always checked and everyone is aware of the situation. But at the end of the day, expect this attitude when it comes to something with perceived value. Magic has always been expensive and will continue to be expensive. I remember when duals where 20$, but they weren't the most expensive cards around, but still chase rares in the core set....
Power levels, another issue that's been going on for years. Accept it. But don't listen to anyone but yourself, if a card is good in your eyes, but sucks in theirs, oh well, it doesn't mean anything, except you like it and they don't and that's ok.
I'm hoping to give you a vantage point from a historical p.o.v., the stuff you're complaining about has been here since day 1 and will continue till the end of time, regardless of the collectible hobby, because humans are human. That is the problem.
Do what you feel is best and enjoy yourself. But remember magic will be here for you...
I know, I left the game for 15 years....
April 17, 2014 4:12 p.m.
Man, the first few people commenting on here sound like the people you're trying to get away from. Ill just 2nd the point of not getting rid of your collection, I started at the end of tempest and played up to Nemesis then sold my collection for $100 and today it'd easily be worth well over $2,000. Good luck in school and hopefully you can make it back around to mtg someday :)
April 17, 2014 4:24 p.m.
In all seriousness, DON'T trade or sell me your Lili's, and DON'T sell them to anyone else either. Take a break, get away from the game for a while, and then come back when you're ready.
I'm sorry to hear about your negative experiences. One thing I would suggest is maybe trying to find a different shop. It seems like you've had a lot of bad experiences there, and it may have clouded your judgment. Some of the things you mentioned will happen anywhere, but I also know that I've been going to 3 different shops for a while now and have never experienced some of those things personally.
I always check card prices before trades, but that's more to make sure the trades are fair than it is to try to rip somebody off. In general, I've found most of the people I've traded with to be very reasonable and fair in their dealings. Another important point to remember is that certain cards have sentimental value to some people, and they don't want to part with them unless they feel like they're "winning" the trade.
Basically, throw your cards in the back of the closet somewhere, take a break from the game, and when you're ready in a few months come back, but maybe to a different shop. And in the mean time, all your value cards are continuing to appreciate in value. Its a win-win.
April 17, 2014 4:25 p.m.
trentfaris242 says... #16
I don't quite understand how people are defending his wild rant on the internet. He displays the attitude in 1 post that he claims he's leaving to get away from. I agree with Potato. He basically just called everyone an ass because he can't control his temper.
April 17, 2014 4:32 p.m.
"mimimi, mean people!"
Breaking news: People are stupid. That's why I stay away from social networks and comment sections. Humanity is full with dumb fucks and it wont get any better. The only thing one can do, is to find some tolerable humans and spit on the rest.
Also, the part about you not even looking at the art and thinking to competitive is entirely your own fault.
April 17, 2014 4:58 p.m.
InconspicuousPotato says... #19
@TexasDice Do you mind if I put the quote "Humanity is full with dumb fucks and it wont get any better. The only thing one can do, is to find some tolerable humans and spit on the rest." on my profile page? I actually totally agree with that.
April 17, 2014 5:22 p.m.
No problem InconspicuousPotato. I don't claim any copyrights to my bitter worldview.
April 17, 2014 5:24 p.m.
SnowCoveredRevenge says... #22
I would like to set some stuff straight. I am pretty tired and worn out of the attitude this game has given me. I am part of the problem, I am one who is doing something I no longer love but do not have the heart to leave it. I am in a bad relationship with magic. And if some of you would read there is a disclaimer at the very top that says "read on if you want to" You don't have to I don't feel like I am entitled to something and I know you have no reason to care. I am not asking you to. I wanted to vent my feelings on to the forum to get it out. It is a cathartic release to more or less unload my feelings onto a faceless entity.
I am not trading anything i currently have. It is all going into a shoe box and being placed at the bottom of my safe.
I am not angry in fact I am calm and collected
I am not calling everyone an asshole. these are my experiences with my local area, (Southwest Missouri) there is also a disclaimer for that as well.
This is not something that exploded out of me after one bad tourney. this has been brewing for several months
April 17, 2014 5:36 p.m.
InconspicuousPotato says... #23
You wanted to unload your feelings --- get that --- but I really don't feel like the forum was the best place to. That's all I was trying to say.
April 17, 2014 5:39 p.m.
SnowCoveredRevenge says... #24
Where is a better place? The didn't have a I'm Done Forum lol
April 17, 2014 5:44 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #25
I think this is a fine place to drop this essay on why he's bouncing. I mean, that's what this place is for, right? If you don't like his view on mtg currently, that's fine. No need to call him a pansy or whatever. He said it was personal and you should've probably just left it there as opposed to criticizing it and proving him correct on point number five. Everyone has tipping points and frustrations with whatever and, frankly, compared to some of the crap I've seen here, that was very calm.
L5R is cool shit, I used to play back in the day and a friend of mine currently does art for the company that publishes it.
April 17, 2014 5:53 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #26
SnowCoveredRevenge, in a lot of these arguments, I agree with you. When I first started playing the game, I had fun making crazy decks that won out of nowhere, but I know why players like us are leaving the game.
WotC is not catering to Johnny players anymore.
Idk why, but I don't know any combos in standard that excite me to play it. In fact, I did some looking around, and OLD STANDARD COMBOS excite me more than current standard. I'm talking about Epic Experiment decks, Blood artist, Human reanimator, etc. Plainly put, we're not getting strong enough combo cards and WIZARDS OF THE COAST IS KILLING OUR PASSION FOR THE GAME. SERIOUSLY. JUST MAKE SOME COMBO CARDS THAT CAN'T BE ANSWERED SO EASILY.
I understand that theyre afraid to make a game shattering combo card and have to ban it, but theyre basically become broken-phobic and not making any good combo cards. at all.
April 17, 2014 6:33 p.m.
@MagicalHacker: I'm not exactly sure what kind of combos you're looking for, but there are lots available in standard. 2xKiora's Follower +Illusionist's Bracers = infinite mana. There are several combos with Boros Reckoner that give infinite life. There are all kinds of shenanigans you can pull with Angel of Serenity . There are plenty of combo pieces out there.
April 17, 2014 6:42 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #28
Infinite life means very little nowadays. As does infinite mana because you need a fourth piece to do something with it.
Are there any combos in standard that can deal infinite damage or do infinite mill/draw? Even then, it doesnt even have to be infinite, are there any that mill 60 or deal 20 damage? Epic experiment had worldfire to utilize, and blood artist had killing wave, but i just don't see any combos that can even remotely stand a chance to my friends' competitive netdecks.
April 17, 2014 6:50 p.m.
Dalektable says... #29
On a subject related to something you stated in this rant, how is L5R compared to magic? I love fantasy games of all sorts and L5R is something i have heard about and might like to try. Opinions?
April 17, 2014 6:54 p.m.
I have a friend who runs an absolutely ridiculous R/W/U/G deck that uses that infinite mana ability to do all sorts of shenanigans. He can draw his whole deck with Sphinx's Revelation , infinite monstrosity a Polukranos, World Eater to clear to field, burn you out with Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius , pretty much whatever he wants to do. And with all the mana fixing available and cards like Sylvan Caryatid his deck is easily workable. He routinely goes 3-1 or 4-0 at FNM. Combos are out there. You just aren't trying hard enough.
April 17, 2014 6:55 p.m.
MagicalHacker I think that that is simply a result of this standard format being a little bit more stale than most, with 55% being like two decks, and 85% being only four. That said, I can't really complain, as I was hoping for Mono B to come back just as much as the next guy.
April 17, 2014 6:58 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #32
L5R is a little more complicated from what I remember. There's a similar resource system: holdings producse Gold which you use to play personalities (samurai, couriers, etc. You either win via military victory (destroying your opponent's provinces), by getting your honor to 40 or by getting your opponent's honor to -19. The phases are fairly similar with a Straighten phase, an Event phase, an Action phase, Attack phase and Dynasty phase. Straighten is basically Untap, Event phase lets you turn over face down Dynasty cards, combined with the Action phase, they basically make up a main phase and Attack is... well, declaring attackers. You however play with two 40 card decks... a Dynasty deck and a Fate deck.
I found it entertaining for sure.
April 17, 2014 7:07 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #33
My friends all play control and midrange, and the only combo deck thats four colors ive seen work was human reanimator simply because you were able to put so many cards into your graveyard that you don't need all four colors.
I can't imagine infinite mana decks working against my friends decks with counterspells and board wipes galore.
April 17, 2014 7:09 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #34
Oh, also, it's bowing and straightening in L5R, not tapping and untapping for the lolz!
April 17, 2014 7:11 p.m.
Dalektable says... #35
fluffybunnypants Interesting. In researching about it and the rules it certainly seemed complicated, but fun none the less. If what he says is true, I might pick up a starter deck for L5R and get some friends to as well. I'm always looking for new games to play!
April 17, 2014 7:12 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #36
Dalektable: it can get a little contrived and confusing at times. From my experience back in the day, games can really, really drag, but it can also be good fun.
April 17, 2014 7:17 p.m.
NotSoLuckyLydia says... #37
I could sum all this up as "Problems EDH, limited, and casual players literally never have."
April 17, 2014 7:58 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #39
My issue with EDH is that I am fully congnizant of what kind of money I would choose to invest into my EDH deck (if I could only manage to build just one), so I am choosing to invest and trade up into Legacy instead.
April 17, 2014 8:12 p.m.
Arorsthrar says... #40
First off:
Riddance*
Second, I agree with everything you say.
Thirdly, I agree Magic is extremely expensive, but I enjoy the thinking part of Magic almost as much as the creative, deck-building part. I just like that even two people with "efficient killing machines" still have such a heavy influence in the games just by the way they play the game. SCG Dallas showed me some of that stuff, such as how a young kid managed to bluff a pro into not swinging for lethal. Also, I was blown away about how a commenter said that you could +1/-1 Frostburn Weird 4 times to kill it, removing the target for a Warleader's Helix to prevent the gain for life. Its things like that that make playing these killing machines fun.
As with the financial aspects, I completely agree.
April 17, 2014 10:54 p.m.
SnowCoveredRevenge says... #41
L5R is my new card game and a lot of the confusing contrived and convoluted parts of the game have been trimmed with the latest Core Set.
I am glad the last few of you understand that this is my personal manifesto not calling out everyone. I agree fully that WOTC has taken away the fun of the game, The last card I remember looking at and saying wow I really want to break it. was Waste Not and THE PEOPLE created that.
April 17, 2014 11:30 p.m.
Hey man, I really understand how you feel. What helped me out was well...moving on to a different format. It's taken me almost three months, and I'm still not done with a certain modern deck, and heck, it's just been trading up that's got me there.
Now I understand some might not have the patience for that, or in your case time in general but even keeping up with some kitchen table games every once in a while might be nice.
And on that note, please, focus on what you need to do in life. Magic is a game after all, right? One that can take up way too many resources at that. Good luck in college!
April 18, 2014 2:27 a.m.
SnowCoveredRevenge says... #43
I still plan on playing kitchen table and prereleases essentially because it is fun still and new and fresh. My LGS has about 15 of the regulars go to the prerelease and about 20 of the local EDH/Kitchen Table players show up. so there are still plenty of goofy shenanigans.
April 18, 2014 11:14 a.m.
You don't have to break up with Magic, get into EDH, cheaper that standard... in the long run. The competitive nature of the game drives the prices of the good cards too much, so play casual MTG.
April 18, 2014 12:56 p.m.
SnowCoveredRevenge says... #45
My casual format of choice is a spin on EDH, Two versions 60 card deck legacy legal with a commander. or EDH allowing four ofs using a combined banned list of EDH and Legacy. It is a lot faster than EDH and allows for more consistent strategies
April 18, 2014 1:09 p.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #46
OHMYGOSH TexasDice!! I also would like your grace to use that quote as it is perfectly fitting for earth right now.
April 18, 2014 7:50 p.m.
JexInfinite says... #47
Ok, this rant is literally just 'The problems with standard.'
In Modern, you can get creative. REALLY creative, that's what Modern is for. EDH is great fun, and it's super casual, so I doubt people will rage. I don't play standard because it's more expensive than Modern. Expenses accumulate, especially spending $300+ every year. I'd rather spend $700 and be done. Play the modern deck forever.
Standard is where people get butthurt, because their netdeck lost to creativity. In modern, netdecking doesn't really work, and people have to think about their decks. Sure, some people are serious, but modern has a lot more intelligent players who learn from their losses and change their decks accordingly.
April 19, 2014 5:21 a.m.
KrosanTusker says... #48
MagicalHacker if there was a competitive infinite damage combo in standard, someone would figure it out before the Pro Tour of that set's release, and then people would netdeck it. "Good combo cards" don't "cater for Johnny," they cater for Spike. Is Splinter Twin
(using a Modern example because, as you say, there isn't one in Standard) a Johnny deck?
I'm sorry, we can't win this one!
April 19, 2014 7:22 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #49
Okay, let me rephrase. I'm a johnny and a spike, and I see no deck in standard that lets me be both at the same time.
April 19, 2014 1:35 p.m.
KrosanTusker says... #50
I guess that's a hard thing to do, but still possible. If Conley Woods can have success with 5-colour control, there are clearly some ways to innovate and still win.
...just maybe not with infinite damage :(
Servo_Token says... #2
Alright, see you in 3-5 years.
April 17, 2014 3:05 p.m.