Subject: The Rath Cycle and you
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 11:59:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: Evan Gordon <given_to_madness@yahoo.com>
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

"The Rath Cycle and you"
By: Evan Gordon

[Commentary]
  With the release of Exodus just a few days away, and spoilers all
over the Net, I feel it necessary to comment on the new set (and on
the whole cycle).
  Having gone to the pre-release and playing the cards first hand,
there are some obviously "overpowered" cards (Pandemonium for
example). Never the less, the set happens to be very fun to play in
limited format.
  A day or two after the pre's a few friends and I came together to
discuss what we thought of the new set. As expected, none of us was
thrilled. There has been a continuing problem with the way Magic as a
whole has been played and been played up to be in the last few
expansions, we decided. When an environment such as the Rath Cycle
encourages players to play with less creative and more potentially
damaging strategies like "Cursed Sligh" or any Tradewind variant, it
is not only not good for the players, but also for the game itself.
  Before I get my head bitten off, let me explain. With cards like
Cursed Scroll and Tradewind Rider people tend to make decks that are
based around premises that take away from the overall creativity of
the game. Creativity, is one of the main parts of the game itself,
it's why most of us still play.
  When new cards come on to the scene both novice and veteran players
alike want a piece of the action, hoping that the new set will be
better than the last. I for one was surprised to learn of some on the
cards in Exodus, as well as Stronghold. Piece of Mind (an enchantment
for 1 white that lets you pay one white and discard a card to gain 3
life) is a prefect example of this. I would go as far as to say that
the card is broken, but it's my job to keep an open mind. Never the
less, obviously overpowered cards litter the tournament scene and
unfortunately have made it so that the only way to win is to
essentially burn your opponent to death, or to bore him to death.
  Having been a player since the initial release of the game, I can
honestly say that the game has become too commercial. I think this is
both good and bad. When Disney sponsors events like the Super Series,
more people are exposed to the game and will subsequently start
playing more. However, when a game or anything for that matter becomes
too commercial people tend to get sick of it sooner because all of the
possibilities are exhausted too soon.
  The Rath cycle is a perfect example of the outcome of
over-commercialism. The cards in it are too powerful, and this
actually hurts the game. Never the less, one can only hope that as a
whole Urza's Saga will be better and that the wizards R&D team will
come up with more well-balanced cards for future sets.

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