Subject: an article Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 17:01:40 EDT From: Warbean2 To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com The Future of Magic Well now, Stronghold has been released for a month, marking the 14th or so expansion for Magic. And that has got me thinking, "what is the future of magic?" Can WotC just jeep churning out new expansions to keep the game fresh? Will there be enough new new rules to keep the game exciting? I am not talking about now or next month, but perhaps 2-3 years from now, will Magic be the same? Clearly, players won't have enough money to keep up with everything, and there are few solutions to the problem. If WotC delays the release of new cards, players will complain, but if it keeps making expansions at the rate it is now, Magic's future is clearly in doubt. I can just imagine it now "8th Edition" is all the rage, while Ertai's Story is being called another Stronghold only with the new Invisibility rule. It is the staleness that games get that make them collapse. Many people are already surprised that Magic has lasted this long, but it is at a crossroads now. Either WotC must try something completely new and original, such as alternate ways to win, or Magic will be doomed to go the way of the Pogs. Solutions? I hate to say it, but the number of expansions MUST be curtailed! I think it would be ideal for a new basic set to be released once every 18 months, while a new expansion be released every 10 months. Of course, set sizes will be bigger, and each new expansion must have a twist. The rules of magic must also be clarified! With WotC errataing, ruling, reversing, restricting and banning every month, it is next to impossible to keep up. The delayed set releases will mean WotC gets to look over the cards very carefully in any set, and make sure there are no loopholes. Decks like Mesacraft or Fruity Pebbles are completely unacceptable, and ruin the game of magic. A nice, easy to read rulebook should be included in every deck, (no more cheesy stories!) while restrictions/bannings should occur but once a year. So in conclusion, is Magic going to die soon? Of course not, it is enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. Let me just say that the future of magic is unclear, and WotC should think more about the future of magic, then anything else. Comments welcome, warbean2Aol.com Warren Ko