Subject: Green Exodus Rant Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 07:55:03 -0400 From: "Jamie & Mare" To: Well, its been a depressing weekend. Exodus is such a green disappontment, that, well, how do I put this? I CAN believe it because WOTC has no clue whatsoever. I CAN believe it because its clear that Green is Wizards trash can color. No Buyback? Talk about insulting.... Lets see, green never got phasing, never got shadow, never got flyers, has one flanker, never got any buyback worth having, has no good way to deal with creatures, etc etc etc. I'd like to say I'm enraged by Exodus but I'm not. I feel like a guy that has just gotten the crap kicked out of him by a gang of thugs for 17 hours, and then some random bystander throws a kick at me. Who cares right? Its just one more hit. Whatever. Its not that some of the creatures aren't good - but the fact that WOTC refuses to address the fact that in game of war, combat, and strategy - viable creature removal of some kind is needed for all the colors. Or else its a dumb game. What I find amazing is the fact that WOTC can spend so much money on the pro tour, and on advertising, and on a lot of cool stuff to promote the game - but I don't feel they put much effort into PLAYTESTING. I mean, I know they hire playtesters, but I get the feeling that they either don't listen to them, or some of thier playtesters don't have a clue what they are doing? What is the problem? This favoritism of blue has just got to stop. For those of you who think I'm wacked and should just play another color - let me see if I can clear things up.... Are you a Blue mage? Do you like to have control? Do you like permisison and lock decks, and being able to have a hand full of cards, and the satisfaction that comes with knowing that you can handle everything that your opponent tries to play? Well - now you're playing burn. Thats right. You HAVE to play burn. You won't get much satisfaction out of bolt, bolt, fireblast, fireblast, but that doesn't matter. You can no longer play control. You have to just bolt your opponent dead with the finesse of a ten year old. Now, how enjoyable is the game to you? Do you enjoy Burn? Do you like seeing how quickly you can kill your opponent? Do you like casting a 2/1 creature on the first turn, and forcing your opponent to deal with it? And when they do - you ball lightning them, because they had to tap out? Do you like to press the offense, and see how long it takes for them to start thinking they just might survive.... and then you bolt, bolt, fireblast them dead. Is that your style? Is that how you enjoy playing the game? Do you like to serve? I said - DO YOU LIKE TO SERVE MISTER!!! Well - you're playing blue now. You must sit on your hands for the first four turns, occasionally manipulating your library and shuffling it, and then when you get to six land, you have to start whispering. Your beatdown consists of one rainbow effreet. Serve with that. How much fun are these two players going to have - playing the best game ever made? As a Green mage - I feel like WOTC has played a cruel trick on me. I want to play the best game ever made - but I'm not allowed to play it the way I want to. I'm the frustrated burn player forced to play counters. Or the frustrated control player forced to play burn. I CAN play the game. But I don't quite enjoy it nearly as much as other people. I feel like its recess, and all the kids run outside to play. The teacher hands everyone a ball to play, and they immediatly start up games of kickball, dodge ball, baseball and football. But she hands me (and all the other green mages) a soccer ball. Thats only half filled with air. And its dirty. But thats o.k. - because its just for today. Sure the ball doesn't kick very well, and me and the other green mages can't use our hands when we play, and the ball doesn't kick very far, - but it's o.k. Then recess comes again in the afternoon - and all the other kids get the same balls back again, and we get half filled soccer balls. What the???? And this goes on for a few days and then I finally ask the teacher.... "Why is it that the other kids get to have fully pumped up balls to play with and get to use their hands?" And the teaher pats my head and promises that soon, the soccer balls will be filled with air. Tomorrow. Or the next day. Or the next. And some day - we'll get some balls that allow us to play with our hands NOT tied behind our backs. And this goes on for a Week. Then a Month Then a Year. Forever. Welcome to the Hell that it means to be a Green mage. Later Jamie C. Wakefield King of the Fatties Just wants to quit the game.