Article from Wizards

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Notepad

Guest
From: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/aa81
Whether the beast designation means any more than that depends a lot on where Mirrodin goes. We should all keep our expectations realistic: Odyssey did not continue the color-fest of Invasion, and Onslaught largely abandoned graveyard tricks. Mirrodin will have its own identity. But I can't help but notice that Lone Wolf, Rhox, and Thorn Elemental all got into the basic set. Far be it from me to speculate (and as usual, I have no helpful inside information here), but sometimes the good people at Wizards do things for a reason. Let's wait and see where this goes.
Any gueses into what in the heck this means???

1) The creature them of Onslaught will not continue, and we will see a bevy of new types in this new world. This was a given even before this "hint."

2) The thing about the false trample has me clueless. I have no idea what to make of it, other than there will be tons of blocking in Mirrodin block. Lots of Walls, maybe? Lots of fat toughness critters?
 

Spiderman

Administrator
Staff member
Since the article is pretty much all opinion as Alongi doesn't have inside info, I'm not reading much into it at all.

1. This was pretty much a given as each block has its own characteristics that are rarely extended, especially in the next block.

2. Interesting thought here, but I think it's more to help the beginning players a little. Everyone likes big, fat creatures (not sure about Lone Wolf) and having the ability is better than it just being a Craw Wurm.
 
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>> Since the article is pretty much all opinion as Alongi doesn't have inside info, I'm not reading much into it at all.

I would tend to agree, but MTG.com usually gives hints when they do this type of silly stuff. Trust me, this does mean something.? :D
 

Spiderman

Administrator
Staff member
I'm not quite sure I understand you. If Alongi says that he didn't have inside info, how can this be a hint, despite being on MTG.com? I think it's just speculation on his part, that he was observant enough to notice a "trend" and hoping it might mean something, not necessarily that it does.
 
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orgg

Guest
Anthony Alongi doesn't know anything about future sets until three weeks before there release.

That gives him time for two preview articles.
 
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train

Guest
It's speculation...

"Alongi is on our watch list... We watch him pretend to be an insider..."
 
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Notepad

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Again, I would agree, but its from MTG.com. Alongi is being let know something, and its just enough to slip us a hint. It most certainly means something, and I'd be willing to place some sort of wager on it.

Of course, for now it just means trample is not in 8E, and the false trample is pretty strong.

However, there's also a hint undertone in there. My guess (though my wager) is that Mirrodin block will have a lot of walls or fat toughness dudes.
 

Spiderman

Administrator
Staff member
I haven't read mtg.com enough to know, but my impression is that Alongi just has a pretty big following from his days at the Dojo and after and mtg.com just "snatched" him up as a writer. I don't think that means he's "in the know" nor would he lie about that and say he has no inside info when he actually does, but I guess we'll see...
 
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There's a way he could give a hint with no inside info. The editor could have put it in. ;)

Or, he could have been told in his guidelines "Make sure to mention the false trample, which is gonna get cooler in time (but we ain't saying anything to you, Mr. Dojo Man)"

Then he writes and makes sure to throw us a similar bone as he was thrown.

This type of stuff happens all the time on MTG.com. Any little stupid bone-looking detail is most assuredly a bone. ;)

My bet is the latter was done, and that's how the hint is there.
 

Spiderman

Administrator
Staff member
Well, if you read mtg.com regularly, I'll take your word for it and wait and see. I just think you're reading too much into it :)
 
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train

Guest
All trample confused Magic players - right this way...

*smack!!!...*
 
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Thallid Ice Cream Man

Guest
Why does it matter that protection screws up trampling when there's no protection in the basic set?
It is a little confusing I agree. Thank you Urza's Saga rules.
But the real reason they keep it out IMO is that trample is a very strange word. Just look at it! Trample?? :rolleyes:

EDIT: Then again I once saw a kid use Land Tax and say he now had triple the lands...
 

Ferret

Moderator
Staff member
Originally posted by Spiderman
Here's an update on this; apparently the "false trample" is in 8th just because the real trample confuses new players:

Why isn't trample in 8th

See, a simple explaination :)
I am soooo sick of the dumbing down of Magic that began w/ the concept of Beginner, Advanced, and Expert sets. I remember reading my Revised rules book and getting everything - except Banding. That took a while. I remember getting advice on the game from friends. I remember having to THINK!

-Ferret

"It never ceases to amaze me how greed has changed this game that I love..."
 
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>> "It never ceases to amaze me how greed has changed this game that I love..."

True, true. Of course the fanboys will say "But every company needs to make money" true, but WotC is just stupid in their greed that makes puke decisions in the game.

And Spidey, I'd be willing to bet the false trample thing means more than dumbing down Magic. I'm sure it has to do with Mirrodin Block.
 

Spiderman

Administrator
Staff member
And Spidey, I'd be willing to bet the false trample thing means more than dumbing down Magic. I'm sure it has to do with Mirrodin Block.
We'll see... ;)

I actually tend to agree that trample has gotten slightly more complicated in 6th than before. Remember, we don't work for WOTC customer service and have no idea what kind of calls they're getting. If they're having to answer the same questions over and over about trampling, then it's probably too complicated for Beginner.
 
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Thallid Ice Cream Man

Guest
I attack with my island and my opponent doesn't block it. How many cards does he have to discard?:rolleyes:
 
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Notepad

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Thallid, that is SAD! Only because its true, though. This month I taught about 8 kids how to play Magic, and they all made the common mistakes...

I attack, so how many lands do I tap?
Blocking taps my creature, right?
I want to attack with my Lava Axe for five!
2B means two total, one is Black, right?

UHG!!!!!!

Yes, trample does confuse the hell out of them...
 
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train

Guest
Remember, we don't work for WOTC customer service and have no idea what kind of calls they're getting.
That would be the job right there!!!...

:D
 
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Nightstalkers

Guest
Example of what WotC has to put up with:

#1
7:52 AM
Ring, Ring...

WotC: Hello, this is WotC customer service.
Customer: Hello, I'd like a pepperoni pizza with the works.
WotC: Sir, this isn't dominoes pizza.
Customer: Well, I don't really give a BLEEM! Give me the food in your office, NOW!
WotC: ...
Customer: ...
WotC: *Click*

#2
11:08 AM
Ring, Ring...

WotC: Hello, this is WotC customer service. How may I help you?
Customer: I need advice quick, I just found a written on card in a card shop and the guy sold it to me for 50 cents.
WotC: Sir, we cannot tell you anything about...
Customer: it has Richard Garfields signiture and has his alternate text!
WotC: Sir, please calm down. We cannot help you with...
Customer: But its signed by Richard himself!
WotC: Sir, please listen to me, we cannot prove the authenticity...
Customer: if your not going to help me you should just say so and quit wasting my time.
WotC: Goodbye *click*

#3
4:26 PM
Ring, Ring...

WotC: Hello, WotC customer service. How may I help you?
Customer: I need help quick!
WotC: Please calm down sir, what seems to be the problem?
Customer: My friends all said I'm wrong, but I know I'm right.
WotC: What is the problem, sir?
Customer: Everyone keeps telling me I'm a cardboard crack dealer! I sell cards to kids that are addicted to this BLEEM game.
WotC: Sir, I cannot help you with this type of problem.
Customer: Your just saying that to keep me on the line... Your Bill Gates!
WotC: Please calm down sir, I am a representative of WotC, not Microsoft.
Customer: You can't get me Bill, I'll kill you first! *click*

As a ploy to eliminate prank, useless, and otherwise obscene calls to WotC,
the company has "suggested" to the players that they should contact the
"source" for their card needs.


12:01 AM
Ring, Ring...

Cemetery: Hello?
Customer: I've got this card that says I can play cards from my graveyard as though they're in my hand. Could you tell me if they count as the number of cards in my hand?
Cemetery: Is this a prank call?
Customer: No its not, I just want some help with this card game.
Cemetery: Thats it, you kids have been calling me two or three times a day for this card schick. Leave me alone!
Customer: Hmph! If your going to be that way, I'm sorry that I ever called the graveyard for card help. *click*
 
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