I’ve been taking a break from Magic since the beginning of Caves of Ixalan for a number of reasons, but am wanting to check out Bloomburrow. Since part of the reason I stepped away was the Play Booster changeup for drafting, I was wondering how people are feeling about it. I’d be particularly interested in reading your thoughts on it if you were a hater that has ultimately come around to the change.
I was ambivalent to the play boosters change because it was just the culmination of what we had seen coming for years… increasing the cost of the game for us players.
‘Project booster fun’ was always about asking the question “how fast and far can we push the price-point up for boosters?” They threw a bunch of options out, tested the water, and ultimately decided enough players would pay the higher price-point for the same cost to print. Pure, unfettered greed.
Magic was already expensive enough as it is. I won’t be forking out for in-person drafts at the new price. Bootleg cards serve my playgroups needs at a fraction of the costs. Greedy WotC execs don’t respect players? We shouldn’t respect them.
Yeah, irl drafting is questionable now for me too. Looking around, the options seem to have increased by at least 25-50% since the last time I remember going to an FNM. Probably not going to be looking to shell out for that any time soon, which is a shame as I really miss in-person drafting.
How about Arena? Have you played with the new packs digitally at all?
Arena is even worse value in my opinion. At least with in-person drafts you get some money back in the cards you get (sell anything of value). I can’t justify paying the high cost they charge for *digital *drafts.
It’s a real shame too, I love drafting, but there’s no way I’m going to pay AU$20 for a single digital draft. I can’t believe anyone else does tbh.
Tbh, I’m more concerned about the play experience, but I get your hangups. Fwiw, I can say from personal experience that it is definitely possible to be completely f2p on arena (I have two accounts - one fully f2p and the other I haven’t put real money into in years). You won’t be drafting multiple times a day, but once a week is a reasonable expectation, plus maybe a few extra if you win enough gems back.
@ech @Fluid some of the 50% is that most places had kept prices flat for too long, the jump in pack prices from draft to play boosters came at the same time they needed to reset prices anyway.
That then gets conflated with drafts (and especially sealed) now be in ng a less good experience.
So the numbers are much worse, it still might be worth it, but I can’t see anyone doing the 4 drafts a week I did in my 20’s and I’m sad for today’s kids in that situation.