Subject: [ISSUE] A case for banning Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 13:57:13 -0700 From: "Geoff Fontaine" To: I have had many discussions with other Magic players over the state of standard play and the alleged power of the 'Tolarian Blue' deck. In every discussion, all have agreed that there is a need to ban a card in the standard enviroment, it is which card that should be the recipient of the ban that is under debate. A Level IV judge has suggested that Stroke of Genius be banned, as without it the Tolarian Blue deck loses its kill card, and therefore the deck would no longer be viable. Another IRC regular suggests that possibly removing Mind Over Matter from the mix will neuter not only this problem deck, but prevent a replacement silly combo deck from being viable should one of the other pieces be removed. I, as well as many others I have spoken with, believe the ban should fall on Tolarian Academy. Tolarian Academy, Legendary Land, tap, Add U to your mana pool for each artifact you control. This is the real problem in the standard enviroment now. Insanely fast mana production from blue, wow. Tolarian Blue can win first turn and usually does by turn three. Thanks to Tolarian Academy. True enough, if one of the other cards in question were banned, the Tolarian Blue deck as it is being developed now would not be the powerhouse it appears to be. Let us take a look at a few of the cards in question, shall we? Mind Over Matter: Removing MoM from standard play and the deck might still be possible with other untap effects, but it wouldn't be nearly as efficient. Other decks affected by removing MoM? None really, nothing tier one in tournament play anyway. Overall effect on the game of Magic would be little removing this card. Stroke of Genius: There is a strong case for banning this card, as it has been shown time and time again that silly combos that generate 'infinate' mana are lurking about in all tournament enviroments. Removing the Stroke from the card pool would not only remove Tolarian Blue from existing, but would also prevent the Stroke from being used in another, although most certainly less efficient deck than this, combo deck as the kill card. The overall effect on the game banning this card, large, as we wouldn't see the Stroke being used as either a kill card and/or as a replacement for Whispers of the Muse and/or Impulse for card drawing power. Time Spiral: I would say there is no case for banning this, at 6 casting cost, it's fairly costed, good Magic fun...well, that is if you couldn't realistically cast it on turn 2. Without the Tolarian Academy, a fun card to have around, with T'n A, castable turn turn, and a part of the problem deck. Overall effect on the game removing this card, well, less fun I suppose, as long as there isn't a fast way to cast this. Tolarian Academy: The strongest case for banning is against this little wonder, fast blue mana is sick in the current standard, or any other for that matter, enviroment. T'n A makes Tolarian Blue more than just another hopeful combo deck, that is: IF the MoM gets into play, IF I can draw this, IF only I had another source of blue mana to cast ______. Tolarian Blue is a deck that can resonably play many, many high casting cost spells to get the winning combo going without any worries. All thanks to Tolarian Academy. Get rid of T'n A, and the deck becomes nothing more than a very hopeful combo deck, that won't be able to utilize the high casting cost spells it is currently abusing. Even with the removal of any of the other cards that currently make up the Tolarian Blue deck, with T'n A in the card pool the high casting cost spells that are currently available become far more attractive to play and to create silly abusive combo decks with. Playing the higher casting cost spells that are more powerful should bring with them a certain risk of being stuck with these huge cards in your hand, unable to do anything. T'n A greatly reduces this risk. How about a Capsize lock on turn 2? Time Warp and Time Spiral are both very attractive in tournament play with T'n A in the mix. How do you feel about a recursive Time Warp deck? With T'n A in the mix, it isn't hard to construct and make viable. Hrmmm...draw/go with the power of fast mana production, let's get that disk recursion going even sooner, wow, the thought of that just makes my spine tingle. Or did I mean to say make my gums bleed? Whatever... Overall effect on the game by banning T'n A would be no Tolarian Blue, at least not a super effective one, and a diminished threat of seeing the super-powered, high casting cost blue cards coming into play far earlier than they should possibly be able to be played. The net result, a more diverse and enjoyable enviroment, not, "to play TU or to beat TU, that is the question..." I admit, there isn't a great argument between banning the Tolarian Academy over the Stroke of Genius due to the fact that with either of them available, one can still easily create silly combo decks that very effectively kill. Hell, ban them both for all I care. If only one was to go though, and if I could have a part of the process in the banning of a single card, the Tolarian Academy, I feel, has more room for abuse built into it. My main concern though is that something has to go, something should be done to ensure that the standard enviroment doesn't deteriorate into the 'those that play TU vs. those that can beat TU' enviroment. Something is wrong with the current standard enviroment, and it's name is Tolarian Blue. This deck, and decks like it, should not be viable, or even be able to be built, with the cards available in the standard card pool. For the most part, we all play this silly game because we enjoy it, it's just good fun. But decks like this take the challange and fun out of the game. Take that away and who is going to want to bother playing any longer? Please issue a ruling on T'n A, here, I can even help you with the wording: Tolarian Academy: This card does not exist. If you believe you are in possession of, or have even seen, this card, you are mistaken. Geoff Fontaine Soalo on EFnet IRC come visit the Wacky Co. at #mtgwacky Comments and slams, see my addy at the top of the page. I have had many discussions with other Magic players over the state of standard play and the alleged power of the 'Tolarian Blue' deck. In every discussion, all have agreed that there is a need to ban a card in the standard enviroment, it is which card that should be the recipient of the ban that is under debate. A Level IV judge has suggested that Stroke of Genius be banned, as without it the Tolarian Blue deck loses its kill card, and therefore the deck would no longer be viable. Another IRC regular suggests that possibly removing Mind Over Matter from the mix will neuter not only this problem deck, but prevent a replacement silly combo deck from being viable should one of the other pieces be removed. I, as well as many others I have spoken with, believe the ban should fall on Tolarian Academy. Tolarian Academy, Legendary Land, tap, Add U to your mana pool for each artifact you control. This is the real problem in the standard enviroment now. Insanely fast mana production from blue, wow. Tolarian Blue can win first turn and usually does by turn three. Thanks to Tolarian Academy. True enough, if one of the other cards in question were banned, the Tolarian Blue deck as it is being developed now would not be the powerhouse it appears to be. Let us take a look at a few of the cards in question, shall we? Mind Over Matter: Removing MoM from standard play and the deck might still be possible with other untap effects, but it wouldn't be nearly as efficient. Other decks affected by removing MoM? None really, nothing tier one in tournament play anyway. Overall effect on the game of Magic would be little removing this card. Stroke of Genius: There is a strong case for banning this card, as it has been shown time and time again that silly combos that generate 'infinate' mana are lurking about in all tournament enviroments. Removing the Stroke from the card pool would not only remove Tolarian Blue from existing, but would also prevent the Stroke from being used in another, although most certainly less efficient deck than this, combo deck as the kill card. The overall effect on the game banning this card, large, as we wouldn't see the Stroke being used as either a kill card and/or as a replacement for Whispers of the Muse and/or Impulse for card drawing power. Time Spiral: I would say there is no case for banning this, at 6 casting cost, it's fairly costed, good Magic fun...well, that is if you couldn't realistically cast it on turn 2. Without the Tolarian Academy, a fun card to have around, with T'n A, castable turn turn, and a part of the problem deck. Overall effect on the game removing this card, well, less fun I suppose, as long as there isn't a fast way to cast this. Tolarian Academy: The strongest case for banning is against this little wonder, fast blue mana is sick in the current standard, or any other for that matter, enviroment. T'n A makes Tolarian Blue more than just another hopeful combo deck, that is: IF the MoM gets into play, IF I can draw this, IF only I had another source of blue mana to cast ______. Tolarian Blue is a deck that can resonably play many, many high casting cost spells to get the winning combo going without any worries. All thanks to Tolarian Academy. Get rid of T'n A, and the deck becomes nothing more than a very hopeful combo deck, that won't be able to utilize the high casting cost spells it is currently abusing. Even with the removal of any of the other cards that currently make up the Tolarian Blue deck, with T'n A in the card pool the high casting cost spells that are currently available become far more attractive to play and to create silly abusive combo decks with. Playing the higher casting cost spells that are more powerful should bring with them a certain risk of being stuck with these huge cards in your hand, unable to do anything. T'n A greatly reduces this risk. How about a Capsize lock on turn 2? Time Warp and Time Spiral are both very attractive in tournament play with T'n A in the mix. How do you feel about a recursive Time Warp deck? With T'n A in the mix, it isn't hard to construct and make viable. Hrmmm...draw/go with the power of fast mana production, let's get that disk recursion going even sooner, wow, the thought of that just makes my spine tingle. Or did I mean to say make my gums bleed? Whatever... Overall effect on the game by banning T'n A would be no Tolarian Blue, at least not a super effective one, and a diminished threat of seeing the super-powered, high casting cost blue cards coming into play far earlier than they should possibly be able to be played. The net result, a more diverse and enjoyable enviroment, not, "to play TU or to beat TU, that is the question..." I admit, there isn't a great argument between banning the Tolarian Academy over the Stroke of Genius due to the fact that with either of them available, one can still easily create silly combo decks that very effectively kill. Hell, ban them both for all I care. If only one was to go though, and if I could have a part of the process in the banning of a single card, the Tolarian Academy, I feel, has more room for abuse built into it. My main concern though is that something has to go, something should be done to ensure that the standard enviroment doesn't deteriorate into the 'those that play TU vs. those that can beat TU' enviroment. Something is wrong with the current standard enviroment, and it's name is Tolarian Blue. This deck, and decks like it, should not be viable, or even be able to be built, with the cards available in the standard card pool. For the most part, we all play this silly game because we enjoy it, it's just good fun. But decks like this take the challange and fun out of the game. Take that away and who is going to want to bother playing any longer? Please issue a ruling on T'n A, here, I can even help you with the wording: Tolarian Academy: This card does not exist. If you believe you are in possession of, or have even seen, this card, you are mistaken. Geoff Fontaine Soalo on EFnet IRC come visit the Wacky Co. at #mtgwacky Comments and slams, see my addy at the top of the page.