Subject: making 6th the last. Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 18:44:57 -0200 From: jnobrega@sili.com.br (Jose Nobrega Netto) 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 rule books 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... Rules changes are never welcome in Magic. It's changing the game, sometimes beneficial, sometimes not. See, when a new rule comes, most of the time it's because a new expansion brought confusing cards, abilities or types. So, every 2 or 4 months all players must update their rules knowledge, resetting all pre learned timings, effects and previous card texts. And I must say, it's like learning a new game. Fours years ago, I knew all the rules. Two years ago, I still knew the same rules and played by them. Anyway, I gave up playing the game. If today I try to teach a new player Magic, and he goes to a tournament, he's screwed. Now, let me see what changes those 4 topics will make in the game. 1. No more interrupts. New players will agree with that, only 2 "spell speeds", sorceries and instants, but old ones have to review all they know about timings. And I believe we will have longer match ups in consequence also. When we try to LIFO a large batch, made from 4-8 effects, we spend something around 100 seconds. By the way, how will Interdicts work now? There's anyone who wants my Forbids? Not to talk about casting multiples Force Spikes and Mana Leaks is now a bad, bad move. And Power Sink? Players will be able to use their lands producing mana! 2. No more Damage Prevention Phase. Why there's such a thing as Damage Prevention Phase anyway? Where only mana sources and damage prevention spells can be used? It's useless stuff we don't need to. But I'm concerned how will WoTC fix this hole. Are all damage prevention cards be changed so they are played when damage is assigned? 3. No more Mana Pool. "Ops, sorry, I didn't played this counterspell, it just felt from my hands" When you tap lands, you have mana. Now what, a spell is first played than played? Where from hell will mana come from? Play it now, pay it later? Extinguishing mana pool is like having a bank account with no money on it. 4. Tapped artifacts will function normally. (A tapped Winter Orb will still be turned on and have its normal effect.) 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: -------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: jnobrega.vcf Part 1.2 Type: text/x-vcard Encoding: 7bit Description: Card for Julio Nobrega