Subject: The dawn of an Extended New World Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 08:26:19 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Fatten To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com Good Morning Frank! I'd really like to see this thread (including the "supporting Extended" articles moved to the front page, because player recognition is really the most important factor in this discussion. I said it in February 1997. Ice Age is going away, but that's no reason to quit Magic. A lot of people are going to be feeling the same way as you do, a little annoyed by the fact that half their cards are not allowed in competitive play anymore. (nevermind that phrases like "competitive play" werent coined yet, I paraphrase) Magic is looking out for you, there is a new (it was) format called Extended. It keeps the Mox's out while letting you keep your Swords. I really think that a great many people will gravitate toward this format so they can keep playing their middle-aged cards, you should give it some thought. And it was so, Extended grew (into scant existance) and there was much rejoicing (yaaay). Here, a year and a half later, we again stand to lose 500 cards (or a few dozen, depending on how you look at it), and my prognosis is again: Support the Extended environment. Ask for tournaments in the extended environment, lobby WOTC, etc. Standard (with a big 'S') is a good environment, but I argue that it is more limited (little 'l') than Extended, and should not be the standard (little 's') tournament environment. Extended, in my opinion, is more 'home' to many more Magic players than Standard (big 'S') is. I would go so far as to say that the current Standard (big 'S') should be renamed "Leading Edge" or something else equally descriptive and marketable, and Extended become the new Standard. I say this because Magic is supposed to be a game of infinite possibilities. Having only 1000 cards to choose from in Standard is limiting. Having overly powerful cards in Classic also limits creativity. Extended is now (when MirViLite leaves) the format that best circumscribes the goal that most of us have in playing the game, mental competition in an arena of diverse possibilities. Support Extended! ----- Michael Fatten Have no fear of the professional. Fear the Amature, for the professional is predictable. ----Tzun Tsu, The Art of War _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com