Subject: Simpler rules killing Magic? Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 22:12:01 +0100 From: Mats Linder To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com >I'm calling on players of Magic: the Gathering to save the game as we >know it. This is not just another "Magic is dying" message, this is >serious. The 6E edition rulebooks are going to the printing press and >I'm amazed at what is being done to the rules and the game. It is being >mangled beyond recognition! Here is a quick rundown of major rule >changes... Let's take a look at these rules that will murder Magic... >1. No more interrupts. Ok. Considering that counterspells will still exist, apparently they are redoing the timing system. Most people would welcome this, as they don't understand the timing for Interrupts. How exactly is this simplification bad? >2. No more Damage Prevention Phase. Well... so what? We'll have to use COP's and such in the attack, instead of in a completely unnecessary extra phase. >3. No more Mana Pool. This is somewhat confusing. I assume you haven't actually read the rulebook since you don't explain how this will work. Maybe they're just removing the concept "Mana Pool" and changing lands to say "Tap: gain one [foo] mana" or something. How else would it work? >4. Tapped artifacts will function normally. (A tapped Winter Orb will >still be turned on and have its normal effect.) Not only is this an extremely marginal change, but it's also for the better. Can someone explain the logic behind the rule that's now being removed? No, I thought so. Tapped artifacts should not be able to use effects with Tap in the cost, but that's all there should be to it. >6E is going to be Portals with instants! I truly think that these rules >changes will ruin the game. If you think so too, please get in contact >with WotC and tell them! You can contact them at: Wait wait wait... Take a deep breath and count to ten. These are all marginal changes (if the Mana Pool will work like I think). No need to cause a riot for something you apparently don't even know everything about yourself. The Customer Service will now be filled with ignorant people protesting against something they don't even know anything about for sure. Which means regular mails will drown. I'm sure we can keep a civil debate without this. As far as I can tell, all these changes are good for the game. David Linder