UNRESERVED
Legacy forum
Posted on Feb. 24, 2016, 8:28 a.m. by alanwescoat
The impending release of Eternal Masters is generating a lot of hype and excitement. Unfortunately, Wizards is sticking to its ludicrous policy regarding the Reserved List. That means that no matter what they reprint in Eternal Masters, players who cannot already play competitive Legacy or Vintage will not be so enabled by the set.
Still, people want to play Legacy. A lot of people want to play Legacy. Accordingly, it is time for players to take matters into their own hands.
You might note that E.D.H. is not a format invented by Wizards. It was made by avid M.T.G. players. It is not exactly even maintained by Wizards. Instead, it is maintained independently. However, Wizards supports the format with its Commander products.
So, it is time for us to make a reasonable format in light of an unreasonable policy. I propose UNRESERVED. UNRESERVED is much like Legacy, save that its initial banned list is the 571 cards on the Reserved list. If the card is on the Reserved List, it is banned. If it is not on the Reserved List, it is not banned. For now, that is the starting point.
Keep in mind also that shop owners are free to define whatever formats they want for F.N.M. If players in a local meta try out this format and decide they want to play it competitively, any given shop can do so.
There! I have just invented incentive for people to get ripped off for Eternal Masters at the ludicrous M.S.R.P. of $9.99 per pack, which is bound to be higher once the price-gouging jackasses in the supply chain get their hands on it.
There is a whole lot of room for decksmithing here.
Happy gaming!
ThePurpleTurtleBear says... #3
If you have such a problem with the distribution model of Magic, why not play something else? There are other alternatives and why would wizards change anything, they are making money hand over fist.
February 24, 2016 8:49 a.m.
Anyone can make a new format whenever they feel like it. The acid test is whether it's warranted and this translates to players. If a format addresses no concerns and is poorly regulated it's not popular. If a format addresses legitimate problems and is well regulated it becomes popular.
Pauper exists mainly due to access and budgetary reasons. That format was supported for a long time on MTGO.
No one is asking wizards to do anything. No one is asking you to do anything. Here is an idea for a format; take it or leave it. It's a private affair and totally voluntary. If you're interested, great. If not, move along.
February 24, 2016 8:52 a.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #5
Sounds kinda like a worse version of Modern... I'm not pleased with prices of cards that I need for Legacy, primarily the A/B/U/R dual lands, however the financial barrier of entry really needs to be viewed as an investment. Not being reprinted and being on the reserve list adds to the long term value of a card, as there are only X in circulation. This is the reason the reserve list was created, to protect card values for collectors. See Chronicles for reference.
I'm more than happy to save some cash to fork over for some Bayou, Scrubland, Savannah, Taiga, and the like, as I know my initial monetary investment is secure. In fact, I'm almost certain that with an increasing interest in Legacy, dual lands and other Reserve List staples will increase in cost. Spikes have already occurred with cards like Null Rod and City of Traitors.
Creating a 'Legacy Light' format to circumvent the financial barrier of entry is really a sacrilege to the true spirit of Legacy. Play Modern instead.
February 24, 2016 8:53 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #6
There are already two or three other threads on this exact topic, at least one of which you just posted in.
Go here.
ducttapedeckbox says... #2
A new format should not be created based on the barrier of entry. This has been suggested multiple times since the spoiling of EMA and the arguments lack legitimate reasoning for why a new format should be created.
I believe that Wizards picked up the Commander products because the format is vastly different from any other format. There is nothing that significantly differentiates "poor man's legacy" from actual legacy.
Now I haven't been playing long enough to know what kind of effect the creation of Modern had, but I can imagine that this new format wouldn't change much. This is a statsment without having done much researcg, but without reserved list cards, this new format would be Modern + a few new decks. I don't see much change there.
February 24, 2016 8:47 a.m.