First Pick:
Patreon-exclusive Google Hangout this Sunday the 13th - 10PM ET
Next episode - Tuesday, November 22nd - 11PM ET
@GrindersCastMTG - Rudy, Tannon, Brad Carpenter (Rudy’s housing me)
Peregrine Drake emergency banned in Pauper
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-online/pauper-banned-list-change-2016-11-03
Kentroversy
http://www.jeffhoogland.com/2016/11/magic-the-savaging/
http://www.gatheringmagic.com/andrewjessup-11072016-opening-a-dialogue-on-ethics/
http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/the-cheating-isnt-the-only-problem/
Gather the Townsfolk:
Amonkhet Art Book Cover Debut
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/announcing-art-magic-gathering-amonkhet-2016-11-02
MaRo looking for ‘concepts’ for 2-color commanders
Going Infinite: https://twitter.com/chasandres/status/795993719476457473
Hearthstone allowed all their players to choose a player at the world championship and gave out packs when they won. Couldn't MTGO do this?
Splash Damage
http://www.cascadegames.com/star-wars.html
Seahawks player has MTG collection stolen, offering reward for return:
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/5c3jhu/seahawks_player_cassius_marsh_offering_a_reward/
https://twitter.com/KingCash_7191/status/796439132583051264
The Finisher
As you may or may not be aware, the United States elected a new commander in chief last night. Polls show that the country has never been more divided, and that includes America’s 8 million or so Magic players. So when President Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the Unites States in January, what is the number one issue you’d like to see him address to reunite the red, white, and blue… and black and green?
First Pick:
2017 SCG Tour and In-Store Programs Update
http://www.starcitygames.com/article/33954_2017-SCG-Tour-And-In-Store-Programs-Update.html
Tales of Adventure taking Eternal back
https://www.facebook.com/talesofadventurecomics/posts/677292539105117
Drama at Eternal Weekend? (cheating in Legacy, weird feelings on Vintage winner?)
Gather the Townfolk:
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/5albj2/documentation_of_rules_violationsquestionable/
Kent Ketter and Cardhoarder part ways:
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/5aez6z/team_cardhoarder_and_kent_ketter_part_ways/
C16 Spoilers - Ash Barrens, Magus of the Will
Pass The Salt
So many stories of "everyone thought this was a terrible idea, and look how right it was" from @maro254, but this..? http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/152532083823/just-wanted-to-say-as-someone-with-the-ocd-desire#notes
Going Infinite
The MTG Bracket: what will be voted the “top” Magic card of all time? https://twitter.com/MTG_Bracket/status/793384591407153152
The Finisher
Last night, Las Vegas nail salon owner (KWEE WIN) Qui Nguyen won the World Series of Poker. Tonight, the Cubs and Indians battled in game 7 of the World Series of baseball. Hundreds of millions of fans watched them live on television, but they pale in comparison to the World Magic Cup in 3 weeks. But let’s say, for the sake of argument, on the off chance that poker and baseball get more viewers than Magic: The Gathering, what broadcast hints could MTG pick up from their sports brethren?
First Pick:
Commander 2016 Exclusive Preview
Commander 2016 Previews
Slide #1 - Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis | Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice | Cruel Entertainment
Slide #2 - Deepglow Skate | Selfless Squire
Kent Ketter thing
Oliver Tiu thing - Reuben
https://twitter.com/HeleneBergeot/status/790292045461991424
http://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/gppro16/statement-regarding-round-15-disqualification
Pass The Salt
All basic lands extended art:
https://twitter.com/misterorange/status/790941192326377472
Poll:
https://twitter.com/misterorange/status/791325861215604736
Frame makes a diff (from Proxy Guy):
https://twitter.com/TheProxyGuy/status/791331412683161601
Going Infinite
All decks published at the start of PT:
https://twitter.com/misterorange/status/791276852543455232
Splash Damage
Howard Lyon’s daughter in Top 20 of the Voice.
The Finisher
Next Monday is Halloween, the best holiday on the calendar. Kids get to play dress-up, adults get to drink while playing dressup, and for one day a year we all decide to ignore the “don’t take candy from strangers” rule because screw it. Halloween is also the one time a year American popular culture really celebrates black’s section of the color pie, so in that vein what is the scariest story you know?
First Pick:
Commander 2016 Preview next week
Pro Tour
http://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/ptkld
New e-sports style top 8 format, e-sports style trophy
Standard Rotation Update: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/revisiting-standard-rotation-2016-10-19
Not a good idea?: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CvLDJ5-UMAA9_xv.jpg:large
You Make the Cube voting - Pro Tour Cube by Eric Klug
Eternal Extravaganza 5 recap, Eternal Weekend preview
Gather the Townsfolk
State of Organized Play
The Real Lifestyle of the Professional Magic Player: http://sperlinggrove.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-lifestyle-of-professional-magic.html
Desperate Ravings
Enter the Battlefield (Walk the Planes endeavor)
Going Infinite
Penny Dreadful format: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/33860_Penny-Dreadful.html
Splash Damage
http://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/blog/20324471/introducing-heroic-tavern-brawl-10-17-2016
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/583w4v/good_job_wotc_youre_not_as_greedy_as_blizzard/
The Finisher
Sharpen your knives and set out a Basic Campfire, because Blizzard has announced that they will be releasing the World of Warcraft Official Cookbook, available by preorder now… but only to those who have preregistered for BlizzCon 2016 later this month. But we know good eats when we see them, so if you were to make your own gaming-themed foodstuff what would you put on the menu?
First Pick:
Smuggler’s Copter - 146 in Top 64, all T8, all T16
Do Week One Results Matter? / Looter Scooter https://www.mtggoldfish.com/articles/do-week-one-results-actually-matter
Chandra not shining bright
Initial announcement regarding Treasure Chests: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-digital/announcing-treasure-chests-2016-09-29
Response from Goatbots: https://www.goatbots.com/
Response from Cardhoarder: https://www.cardhoarder.com/content/the-mtgo-economy-it-s-about-trust-215
Wizards update to Treasure Chests: http://magic.wizards.com/en/MTGO/articles/archive/magic-online/treasure-chest-information-2016-10-03
Gather the Townsfolk
Corbin Hosler wrote -- Randy Buehler - Bringing the Magic to Us: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/bringing-magic-us-randy-buehler-story-2016-10-03
https://twitter.com/i/moments/783066338931646464
Going Infinite
Energy in the future - http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/151167064283/hi-mark-im-curious-about-rds-stance-on#notes
Splash Damage
TwitchCon - Kenji Subs, future for MTG Streamers?
The Finisher
Tonight is the first and, thankfully, only Vice Presidential debate. We’re only about a month away from Voting Day, but there is still time to announce your candidacy, so if you were to run for the highest office in the land, what would your tagline be?
First Pick:
Kaladesh Prerelease
Gather the Townsfolk
Banned and Restricted list: No changes
Desperate Ravings Pile Shuffling added to Magic Tournament Rules: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/magic-tournament-rules-release-notes-2016-09-26
Going Infinite
New format: http://www.hareruyamtg.com/jp/pages/format_frontier.aspx
Splash Damage
California fake signature bill: https://graphicpolicy.com/2016/09/28/california-has-made-getting-and-selling-autographs-and-limited-edition-items-more-confusing-and-labor-intensive/
http://geekandsundry.com/alpha-information-reveals-new-shows-and-the-return-of-favorite-series/ --video
https://wilwheaton.tumblr.com/post/151065514229/so-um-new-tabletop-season-is-on-this-new-alpha
The Rise and Rise of Tabletop Gaming: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/25/board-games-back-tabletop-gaming-boom-pandemic-flash-point
(could apply to Magic, and people wanting to physically be close to one another)
The Finisher
This week, combination Bond-villain-and-technology-Jesus Elon Musk announced this week that he wants to send One Million people to Mars with his SpaceX program. And to further nerdify this story, he wants to name the Mars-bound spaceship the “Heart of Gold,” in a reference to Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. And since vehicles also just came out in Kaladesh, what do you think the Magic Mics spacecraft should be named?
First Pick:
Masterchef finale: spend like 30 seconds on this, it ends right before we start
Official previews from Kaladesh
Fuckin’ Masterpieces doe!
Captured by the Consulate (and all of the story watermarked cards)
Dovin Baan
Aether Hub
Aethersquall Ancient (Sky Whales!)
Brazen Scourge (Gremlin Ram-Gang)
Cathartic Reunion (Erin’s Bazaar reprint!)
Glint-Nest Crane
Scrapheap Scrounger
Oviya Pashiri, Sage Lifecrafter
Segue to...
The Red Zone:
Final spoiler card discussion: Impeccable Timing (new card with Ajani on it)
Gather the Townsfolk
Ladies Night / LGS loses it. Classic “A Florida Man…” https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/52rprg/round_two_for_treasure_coast_magic/
(original no longer available)
Part I: http://i.imgur.com/FdXf8co.jpg
Screenshots Part II; the internet never forgets: http://imgur.com/jcqFxvy
Helene is on the case: https://twitter.com/helenebergeot/status/776122236021317632
Desperate Ravings
https://twitter.com/CCalcano/status/775934839551852544
Helene response: https://twitter.com/HeleneBergeot/status/776119811738771457
...Which led to “Pros versus Other Pros” controversy on Twitter:
BBD: https://twitter.com/BraunDuinIt/status/776146528671035393
Sperling: https://twitter.com/mtg_law_etc/status/776136028956467200
Brad: https://twitter.com/fffreakmtg/status/776111616211427328
Cedric: https://twitter.com/CedricAPhillips/status/776125432311799808
Rietzl/Reid: https://twitter.com/paulrietzl/status/776141419366854656
Going Infinite
No max hand size?:
http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/150249814313/do-you-think-magic-may-ever-do-away-with-maximum
The Finisher
The author Roald Dahl, who wrote such famous books as James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, has his 100th birthday this month and to help commemorate the Oxford English Dictionary is adding six new entries and updating four phrases to celebrate Dahl’s life and career. One update is for the word, and Kaladesh creature type, “Gremlin,” in respect to Dahl’s novel “The Gremlins” that turned the word from a slang term for something going wrong into the mythical creatures we know and love. So assuming there are no gremlins in our stream between now and the end of the show, tell the the folks at home a phrase you’d like to have updated when the world celebrates your 100th birthday.
First Pick:
Sept 18th - Next Google Hangout
Evan going to Essen Spiel in October - Oct 12th show will not happen
Magic Mics Water Bottles
Reuben as Leovold of Trest in “Voice of All: Leovold’s Dossiers”: https://twitter.com/gendoukeshi/status/772188030954311680
Our Official Preview - Angel of Invention
Pass the Salt
Ashiok is not Aetherborn, and thus will not be appearing in Kaladesh Block.
Gather the Townsfolk
LSV doing coverage for the next year or so
http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/entering-the-coverage-bracket/
The Red Zone:
Hideous World Champ trophy
http://media.wizards.com/2016/images/daily/OP20160901_trophy.png
http://nickfairdesign.com/project28.html - From Designer
The Finisher
This past week the giant panda was removed from the endangered species list. Following decades of work by conservationists, the official status of the much-loved animal has been changed from "endangered" to "vulnerable" because of a population rebound in China. Now, I'm a big fan of bears in all formats because 2/2s for 2 are just value... but I'm wondering: what is the best news for Magic players relating from the giant panda's recent recovery?
First Pick:
Sept 4th - Token Art Description!
Evan going to Essen Spiel in October - Oct 12th show will not happen
Water Bottles Fri or Tuesday - free to all $20+ Patrons
Congrats on Erin’s Pro Point! GP Indianapolis
MTG Announcement Day
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/announcement-day-2016-08-31
Artwork for Chandra, Torch of Defiance revealed
https://twitter.com/Cathaoir1/status/771012033609396224
Saheeli’s Artistry
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4zpzfp/kld_saheelis_artistry/
Desperate Ravings
Ali Aintrazi Drama - Erin takes
Gather the Townsfolk
Eternal Weekend playmats - Rishadan Port for Legacy, Jace the Mind Sculptor for Vintage
https://twitter.com/misterorange/status/770239366673362944
The Red Zone:
GP Atlanta Playmats
http://gpatlanta.starcitygames.com/
Splash Damage
Feminist Reid Duke
https://twitter.com/jephlewis/status/769217062052962305
The Finisher
During this past week, hundreds of YouTube channels had their monetization options revoked thanks to having “not advertiser friendly” content. And among those channels… is mine, the MisterOrange channel on YouTube, the non-Patreon one! Something we said last week got flagged. So, as a result, Magic Mics is going to stop getting money from the world’s largest video media site. That’s right: we’re losing all of those zero dollars we get from YouTube. Even though they say it’s to keep things Rated G, there are many saying that it’s more about the offending videos opinions of specific people or products. So since we’re definitely getting this video flagged for this Finisher, and there’s lots of Magic YouTube content creators out there these days, what would you suggest to some of those folks do to avoid our fate?
First Pick:
Magic Mics Water Bottle on it’s way!
Conspiracy 2
Kaya foil art different from regular printing 222/221 set #.
Garbage Fire
Stunt Double - Flash Clone!
Throne of the High City - Legacy Playable?
Surprising Reprints:
Birds of Paradise
Berserk
Show and Tell
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/articles/conspiracy-can-be-our-salvation-if-we-let-it
Gather the Townsfolk
http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/149228247373/i-have-to-say-conspiracy-2-looks-amazing-but
http://badatcommander.tumblr.com/post/149242922474/how-much-do-fetches-thin-your-deck
10,000 Games simulated - But, on average, by turn 20, the deck with fetches has seen one more spell than the deck that hasn’t.
First Pirate in 17 years!
Desperate Ravings
Draft League
Blast from the Past
The Finisher
This week has been a great one for science. The internet, which was first launched by Sir Tim Berners-Lee on August 23, 1991, celebrated its 25th birthday this week by posting pictures of cats, insulting strangers, and sharing their 7 favorite movies featuring talking babies. Not to be outdone, researchers have confirmed that they have found a rocky planet quite similar to Earth a mere 4 light years away and have named it Proxima B. Now, I’m not a science scientist, but that’s going to be a tough seven days to top. So what could science do next week to best this week’s triumphs?
First Pick:
Conspiracy: Take The Crown Previews
Becoming “The Monarch”
New Mechanic - Melee & Secret Agenda
Pass the Salt
Paying for content
The Finisher
Well, the Rio Olympics is nearly over and they were dirtier than ever. And this time around, instead of performance enhancing drugs, the dirtiness came from Rio de Janeiro being a filthy disgusting place! Oh, and also the performance enhancing drugs. The International Olympic Committee has their hands full with this crap, so we’re lucky we don’t have to deal with the Duelists Convocation International breathing down our necks for that… But if we did, what should be on the Magic: The Gathering banned substances list?
First Pick:
Pro Tour
Winner - Lucas Blohon - B/W Control
LSV third Top 8 in a row!
Hall of Famer - Owen Turtenwald & Yuuya Watanabe; Mark Herberholz a distant 3rd.
Owen Turtenwald - Player of the Year & National Champion by making Top 8 over Seth Manfield.
Kaya, Ghost Assassin
http://wizardsmagic.tumblr.com/post/148459722916/if-you-read-yesterdays-magic-story-laid-to-rest
Gather the Townsfolk
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4we7wb/randy_buehler_retires_from_coverage/
Organized Play Announcement: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/pro-tour-eldritch-moon-organized-play-announcement-2016-08-02
Team Series - “Soft Launch” for $50k; Full Launch for 2017 - 2018.
Platinum players will receive a $500 appearance fee for the first six Grand Prix main events that the player competes in in the current season (currently, Platinum players receive a $250 appearance fee for each Grand Prix main event that the player competes in).
Platinum players will no longer receive hotel accommodations for each Pro Tour during the 2017–18 season.
No PES
Desperate Ravings
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/vault-lore-2016-08-01?
The Red Zone
https://twitter.com/bmkibler/status/761653531648458752
Cut Draft from PT
Splash Damage
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4wrghs/hearthstone_developers_making_mtg_rd_look_like/
The Finisher
Sunday 10PM ET - Patreon Hangout
Magic players rejoice! Because Wizards of the Coast is better at something than Blizzard! The Hearthstone expansion One Night In Karazhan came out recently, and Hearthstone players immediately took to the internet to complain about the set that many claim adds nothing to the Standard environment, gives no meaningful tools to the class that needs it most, and also makes Limited more of a crapshoot based on the printed rarities. But Magic has had its own Homelands and Prophecies and Saviors of Kamigawas that equally pooped the bed, so what advice would you give to Hearthstone from you as a seasoned Magic player?
First Pick:
The Magic Story: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-story/promised-end-2016-07-27
PT Sydney Changes: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/new-pro-tour-rules-announced-for-pt-eldritch-moon/
Gather the Townsfolk
Magic coverage changes http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/organized-play/inside-coverage-team-2016-07-21
Tokens “Created” again
http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/148004010748/can-you-talk-about-the-changed-wording-create-a
Desperate Ravings
Ryan Yee’s Expedition Misty Rainforest first ever vertical playmat
https://twitter.com/Artofryanyee/status/757632254050959361
Original 1996 World Champion
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210145807308851&set=gm.595720713923044&type=3&theater
Head to Head: Old Sets
https://twitter.com/maro254/status/756850451903975424
Reuben: Urza’s Legacy over Arabian Nights
Erin: Tempest over Ice Age
Evan: Legends over Urza’s Saga
Pass the Salt
WotC’s New Social Media Policy: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/wizards-and-transparency-social-media-2016-07-22
https://twitter.com/misterorange/status/756553568878993409
Splash Damage
Christoper Rush tribute: https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4ut4i8/christopher_rush_tribute_easter_egg_in_world_of/
The Finisher
Last year, DotA 2 set a record for the biggest ever ESports prize pool at more than 18 million dollars for their biggest annual tournament, ‘The International,’ and this year the team-based gaming event has already surpassed that mark for the 2016 edition that will be taking place in August in Seattle with two weeks to spare. The International 6 is now, officially, the most lucrative ESports competition ever, but hey, Magic is a top 5 ESports brand too… at least in its own mind. So if you were a member of Hasbro marketing, how would you spin Magic: The Gathering prize pools to look just as impressive as their ESports counterparts?
http://www.theverge.com/2016/7/26/12266152/dota-2-the-international-6-prize-pool-record
First Pick:
No Ban List Updates
SDCC Promos
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/san-diego-comic-con-2016-magic-promos-2016-07-19
Hall of Fame
My ballot:
Yuuya Watanabe
Owen Turtenwald
Mark Herberholz
Eligibility for HoF
Going Infinite
http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/147423093203/what-set-after-alara-block-are-you-least-proud-of
Hasbro Second Quarter Earnings: "Shadows is off to a strong start" & 2016 expected to be "8th straight year of revenue growth"
Gather the Townsfolk
http://blog.mtgprice.com/2016/07/18/first-look-tcgplayer-adds-buylisting/
Blast from the Past:
https://twitter.com/the_stybs/status/755825174319071232
The Finisher:
StarCityGames.com writer and Elves afficionado Ross Merriam will appear on this Friday’s episode of the hit trivia game show Jeopardy. Ross Hunneds is only the latest in a long line of Magic pros on reality tv, such as Dave Williams on this season’s Master Chef and Adam Esegalian on American Idol. So which Magic personality would you like to see paired up with a reality tv show next?
First Pick:
EMN Full Set Released
Hall of Fame 2016 - Yuuya, Owen - shoe-ins
Pokemon GO / Going Infinite
Going Infinite
From Patron Adrian Camilleri - https://twitter.com/OrdMandrell/status/753280290966175744
What would a Magic AR game look like?
Gather the Townsfolk
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4rwtb7/tcgplayer_official_announcement_our_response_to/
“Market Price” on TCGPlayer
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4sb0k6/jesper_myrfors_told_me_the_blue_mark_on_the/
Blue mark on the back is NOT a mistake
Vintage Cube thoughts from Maxime
Splash Damage:
http://www.dragonmag.com/5.0/#!/article/106375/102161027
D&D Innistrad Supplement
The Finisher:
Pokemon GO took the world by storm this week, with over 20 million active users in the first week alone. It’s safe to say that Nintendo hasn’t been hotter in recent memory, but from a Magic perspective we can’t help but be a little wistful at what could have been had Wizards of the Coast jumped on the AR bandwagon a little earlier. How do you think we could have gotten Magic in on Augmented Reality?
First Pick:
Gisa & Geralf (tie-in to https://twitter.com/maximevalentin3/status/749406035513835521/photo/1)
Eldrazi Evolution
Harmless Offering
Decimator of the Provinces
Collected Brutality
Ishkanah, Grafwidow
Liliana, the Last Hope & Oath of Liliana
Deploy the Gatewatch
Cryptbreaker
Grim Flayer
Chaos Reveler
Spell Queller
Noose Constrictor
Dark Salvation
Tamiyo
Gather the Townsfolk
Team Cardhoarder: https://www.cardhoarder.com/team
http://blog.mtgprice.com/2016/07/05/the-definitive-pucatrade-inflationary-pressures-how-to-fix-them/
Red Zone:
“The Man Behind The Buyouts” - http://blog.mtgprice.com/2016/07/05/an-interview-with-the-man-behind-the-buyouts/
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4rm2x6/advice_for_a_new_and_wealthy_player/
https://twitter.com/CraigBerryMTG/status/750894383717810180
The Finisher:
This week, Wizards of the Coast showcased the Fblthp of the next generation, the adorable yet terrifying kitten on Harmless Offering. We know that the tabby on the art deserves its own name, so if you had your own Eldrazi-laced kitty cat what would you name it?
First Pick:
Exclusive Spoiler - Tree of Perdition
SLIDE #1 - MELD
Hanweir Battlements & Hanweir Garrison = Hanweir, the Writhing Township
Gisela, the Broken Blade & Bruna, the Fading Light = Brisela, Voice of Nightmares
Via Maxime - our own Mishra’s Photoshop - ERUBEN
SLIDE #2 - EMERGE & ESCALATE
Emerge - Wretched Gryff
Escalate - Borrowed Malevolence & Blessed Alliance
SLIDE #3 - DELVER COMPLETED
Delver of Secrets & Insectile Aberration - Innistrad
Aberrant Research & Perfected Form - Shadows over Innistrad
Docent of Perfection & Final Iteration - Eldritch Moon
SLIDE #4 - THALIA & IDENTITY THIEF
Sigarda, Host of Herons protects from original Emrakul abilities
Sigarda, Heron’s Grace protects from new Emrakul abilities
Gather the Townsfolk
Can’t look at Sideboards during Mindslaver effects anymore - even Wishes don’t work.
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4pplrm/rules_update_controlling_another_player_and/
When Emrakul, the Promised End and Coax from the Blind Eternities were previewed earlier this week, it inspired a lot of discussion about a little-known corner of the tournament rules. Quoting from Section 3.15, Sideboard:
"During a game, players may look at their own sideboard and the sideboard of any players they currently control. The sideboard must remain clearly distinguishable from other cards."
As of Eldritch Moon, this rule is changing. Simply put, you can now never see an opponent's sideboard, even if you control that opponent. The exact language of the rule is being finalized.
The philosophy of the old rule makes sense: You can look at your sideboard. I control you, so I can see whatever you can see. Ergo, I can see your sideboard. But this has huge ramifications at every level of tournament play. It brings up questions of informational access, lengthy note-taking delays, the timing of strategic concessions, team dynamics, even the physical interactions between players.
If you force a player you're controlling to cast a "Wish," you can't have them access any cards in their sideboard. If you make them cast Death Wish, the same rule applies: no cards, even at random sight unseen.
I'm sorry it took the cards' public unveiling to really bring this issue to light, but I'm happy with the result. Now Emrakul can go be the monster she was meant to be.
This rule will be in effect for Magic Online play after the Eldritch Moon release. In addition, I believe (but don't quote me on this one) that there will be better functionality to support looking at your own sideboard.
Not being able to look at their sideboard even for wishes? Feels like not being able to look at their deck when using fetches.
From Matt Tabak:
“There are many reasonable arguments that you should be able to look at an opponent's sideboard while having them cast a Wish. I just wanted to note that that alternative was discussed, considered, but ultimately not passed. We feel this is a corner case interaction, and opted for the overall cleaner rule. MTGO also played a role here. So, if you're decrying the change for that reason, I get you. But don't lose sight of the larger gain. If you feel the larger gain sucks and isn't a gain at all, well, that's cool too.”
Desperate Ravings:
Expensive Visa needed for #PTEMN?
https://twitter.com/efropoker/status/747974055471386624
https://twitter.com/mechalink/status/747975005200392196
“Friends going to PT Sydney, check your emails! Apparently we need a special visa to enter Australia as a result of going there for the PT. According to them the process can take several weeks.” --Christian Calcano
Early reports:
$175 Cost
Takes weeks to get
Going Infinite:
Should Pauper Be a GP format?
https://twitter.com/ChannelFireball/status/746718574962741249
The Finisher:
This week, Mark Rosewater got his twitter account hacked by a porn spambot. Luckily it was a pretty tame one, happily for the Magic community, but it does make me wonder: what would you expect to be tweeted from the real life Robo Rosewater spambot?
First Pick:
Emrakul Rises: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-story/emrakul-rises
Emrakul, the Promised End: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/access-magic-eldritch-moon-episode-1-2016-06-20
Emrakul “Secret”
Hanweir, the Writhing Township: https://twitter.com/ZiggyDStarcraft/status/745409689957982209
Coax From the Blind Eternities: http://mythicspoiler.com/emn/cards/coaxfromtheblindeternities.html
Liliana v. Emrakul poster: https://i.imgur.com/v3QV9MC.jpg
The Red Zone:
Don’t Ban Miracles: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/dont-ban-miracles/
Ban Miracles: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/ban-miracles/
Blast from the Past
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4oy3z5/lets_all_take_a_moment_to_remember_that_five/
Jace & Stoneforge Mystic Banned
The Finisher:
Well this week we finally got the big reveal of the “big bad” in Eldritch Moon and we were all suuuuper surprised to find that it is, in fact, Emrakul. And we were all really just verrrrrry shocked by that. Noooo ideaaaa at allllll that it was gonna be Emrakul… Alright we all kinda knew it was coming. While it is a cool reveal, it was really kinda obvious. So what’s another obvious reveal you expect to come to Magic in the near future?
First Pick:
Orlando Tragedy, community response
SCG, CoolStuff Inc. WotC responds to tragedy in Orlando: https://www.facebook.com/StarCityGames/posts/10153645888357918?pnref=story
http://www.coolstuffgames.com/orlandounited/
Gather the Townsfolk:
MTG Goldfish has Deck Search http://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck_searches/new
Craig Wescoe offering private coaching: https://www.facebook.com/craig.wescoe?fref=ts
Jeff Hoogland quits MTGO: http://www.jeffhoogland.com/2016/06/farewell-to-mtgo/
Desperate Ravings:
Access Magic: Eldritch Moon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ-TQCKuPFA
#TeamNahiri v. #TeamSorin http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-story/stone-and-blood-2016-06-15
The Red Zone:
Ban Miracles:
http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/ban-miracles/
Going Infinite
Sleep In Specials at Constructed GPs.
Just like Playmats before it.
Limited GPs still provide a service - prereg’ing your pool for you. This doesn’t fall from the sky. HOWEVER - You should still have the free option of showing up an hour before hand to register and build.
Professional Event Services hosted GP Columbus w free online deck reg - yet Sleep In Special still cost $20. This $20 is absurd.
Platinum Pros & Hall of Famers don’t have to pay for Sleep-In-Specials because WotC says so. Now it’s time for WotC, and the pro community, to help stand up for everyone else.
#FreeSiS
https://twitter.com/_DavidOchoa/status/740280665623531522 - Ochoa talking to PES
https://twitter.com/2Plowshares/status/741515761286402049 - Having to purchase due to flight
https://twitter.com/SamuelHBlack/status/741513853259939840 - as someone who gets it free, wotc needs to step in
https://twitter.com/TJCollectibles/status/741652732549947393 - weird reply by TJ Collectibles; condescending tone
The Finisher:
For those of you who regularly watch first person shooters you already know what the Counterstrike: Global Offensive ESL Cologne Major event was, but for those of you that don’t it was a major shooty-shooty-bang-bang tournament that happened last weekend in France. And it’s relevant for us robe-and-wizard-hat poker folks because instead of using double elimination or round robin play, it used Swiss with a cut to top 8,, which is the first time a major non-turn-based ESport used Swiss pairings. So now that CS:GO has started borrowing ideas from Magic, what tidbit would you like to see MTG borrow from the big boys in ESports?
First Pick:
http://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/gpcos16
Seth Manfield = robot from the future
What’s the Play? http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/luis-scott-vargas/whats-the-play-the-looter-problem/
What’s the Play, part two?
http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/lsvs-play-the-looter-problem/
Gather the Townsfolk
Mono-Blue Prison: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/mono-blue-prison-deck-guide/
The Red Zone
Should Survival of the Fittest be unbanned in Legacy?
Blast from the Past
http://magic.wizards.com/node/1027736
Splash Damage
http://www.dicetowernews.com/court-rules-that-mechanics-in-a-game-are-unable-to-be-copyrighted/27325
The Finisher:
Six days ago, RoboRosewater created perhaps the greatest name of any Magic card ever created: Niv-Mizzet, Vampire Cops. With the Magic movie fast approaching, and the Magic Creative Universe needing more content, give me your pitch for the next episode of Niv-Mizzet, Vampire Cops.
First Pick:
https://twitter.com/HeleneBergeot/status/738142195836846080
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vJCcTx5Kf8Q_JPdrpQG4tLqFAN621QzWCFq7rGsxbwk/pubhtml 2015 - 2016 Season
Fabrizio’s response to being DQ’ed at Manchester: https://www.facebook.com/FAB.FTW?fref=ts
Team EUreka responding to the initial DQ: https://twitter.com/JoelLarsson1991/status/737333439142236164/photo/1
Team EUreka kicking him off team: http://htl.li/OfzH300H0gK
Gather the Townsfolk
EMA full spoiler: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/card-image-gallery/eternal-masters
The Red Zone
Legacy Gauntlet: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-digital/legacy-gauntlet-2016-06-01
“Dredge would not be good for the Legacy Gauntlet.” --Reuben
“Disrespectfully disagree.” --Erin and Evan
Going Infinite
https://twitter.com/misterorange/status/738080359464771584
The Finisher:
Yesterday, Warner Brothers issued a DCMA takedown of a few videos, including a few clips from the classic artificial intelligence film Blade Runner, from the streaming site Vimeo. The problem is one of the clips that they were asked to take down wasn’t from the movie at all; instead it was from a neural network encoding project that was attempting to reconstruct the movie from disassembled data. So in other words: Warner has just DCMA’d an artificial reconstruction of a film about AI being indistinguishable from humans, because it couldn’t distinguish between AI and humans. We all know the singularity is coming and it’s only a matter of time before RoboRosewater wins its first Pro Tour, so what do you expect to be the next step on the way towards our inevitable robot overlords?
Source: http://www.vox.com/2016/6/1/11787262/blade-runner-neural-network-encoding
First Pick:
Our EMA preview: Giant Solifuge!
EMA Previews Start
No Enemy Fetches
No Basalt Monolith
No Blightsteel Colossus
Gather the Townsfolk
Modern Weekend
The Red Zone
1-sentence summary: from now on, all Professional REL booster drafts with DFCs will follow the procedure used at Pro Tour Shadows over Innistrad of pre-sleeving the cards before the draft, during which drafters are not allowed to remove the cards from the sleeves.
Going Infinite
How Learning to Play Magic Changed My Life: http://uproxx.com/life/learn-to-play-magic-the-gathering/
Splash Damage
Awful Changes to Twitter: https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexkantrowitz/twitter-effectively-makes-tweets-longer-with-handful-of-new?bftw&utm_term=.ojPY3lgarp#.hqJKPx5MDp
1 Year Anniversary
The Finisher:
Today is the Mark Rosewater’s 49th birthday… but much more importantly, this show marks the the near 1-year anniversary of Magic Mics! That’s right, our premier episode premiered on May 28, 2015, and in it we: discussed spoilers for the next set, the differences between Magic and Hearthstone, an upcoming Masters set release, and Erin’s love of Dredge. So as you can see, we’ve changed a lot in the last 362 days! What do you anticipate the biggest change will be between now and our 2nd anniversary show?
First Pick:
PATREON MAGNETS AND STICKERS ARE HERE!
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/announcement-day-2016-05-16
http://magic.wizards.com/en/content/kaladesh-information
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/ramp-approval-2016-05-16
http://magic.wizards.com/en/content/commander-2016-edition-information
http://magic.wizards.com/en/content/planechase-anthology-information
http://magic.wizards.com/en/content/duel-decks-nissa-vs-ob-nixilis-info
http://www.gatheringmagic.com/alexullman-news-051316-new-legacy-festival-coming-to-magic-online/
Releasing with Conspiracy—Take the Crown, Magic players will be able to pick up a new Draft Pack in North American mass-market stores. The Draft Pack features three Booster Packs of the new Magic multiplayer Draft set, Conspiracy—Take the Crown. Pick one up on your way to your Conspiracy draft and get ready to start plotting against your fellow drafters. Look for Draft Packs in mass-market stores starting August 26 with an MSRP of $11.99.
Desperate Ravings
MTGO Champs: Coverage, no-shows, etc.
11 Inexpensive Ways to Improve Magic Coverage
http://www.mtggoldfish.com/articles/11-inexpensive-ways-to-improve-magic-coverage
Gather the Townsfolk
‘Opponents are People, Too.’ https://asymphonyofsnores.wordpress.com/2016/05/17/opponents-are-people-too/
The Red Zone
SAFE WORD: BAEWATCH
Panel on women in Magic, hosted by Magic the Amateuring,, Morgan Wentworth, and April King
Confessions of a Twitch Moderator
Splash Damage
http://www.dailydot.com/esports/poker-hearthstone-pros/
The Finisher:
Of all of the announcements made this week, we still do not have the Eldritch Moon set symbol, which is made weirder by the fact that we now have both Kaladesh and Aether Revolt’s set symbol. So what is your prediction for the set symbol for the next Magic expansion?
First Pick:
“Is Reddit more helpful or more harmful?”
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4il9bw/bdm_and_randy_bhueler_have_to_go/
Desperate Ravings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmaPfNHV8IY - Helene explains Platinum changes
“The way that people are looking at the Pro Club and the appearance fees is more like a status.”
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4itqyz/helene_bergeot_explains_the_attempted_platinum/
Gather the Townsfolk
MTG on the British Isles is suffering
Update on Sabina Browne/RMC but also bad news for English MTG, by Joseph Dunlap
Scotland in a bad spot
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4iox4e/local_magic_in_a_bad_spot/
Splash Damage
LoL scandal! Renegades, Impulse, Dragon Knights out, selling NA LCS & NACS spots
https://www.facebook.com/DOTesports/videos/553642611482076/
Hashtag Sponsorships in ESports
https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/730385726685257728
Going Infinite
Evan pontificates - “Magic Digital Next”
Friday the 13th FNM - no Triskadekaphobia promo
The Finisher:
Last weekend at Grand Prix New York, defending Magic World Champion and current leader for Player of the Year Seth Manfield added “Four-Time” Grand Prix champion to his list of accomplishments. One of the most entertaining matches of the tournament was the hashtag MTGDad mirror between Seth and then undefeated Mike Sigrist in round 12. So what other mirror matches would you most like to see in Magic’s future?
First Pick:
DQ’s at Milwaukee,
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4hbwrp/why_was_charles_porges_dqd_from_scg_milwaukee/
https://twitter.com/misterorange/status/727589583312048129
“Salt your own fries” level
Desperate Ravings
Community Super League - http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-digital/announcing-community-super-league-2016-04-20
Innistrad Complete Block Constructed
Vintage Super League -
Decklists - http://magic.wizards.com/en/MTGO/articles/archive/magic-online/vintage-super-league-season-5-decklists
11 archetypes!
Reid Duke Storm
Kai Budde Stax
Paul Rietzl White Weenie
Gather the Townsfolk
Puca Points Economy: https://pucatrade.com/blog/2016/PucaPoints
Magic Is a Team Sport: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/32850_Magic-Is-A-Team-Sport.html
The Red Zone
http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/143662137778/reprints-question-b-so-much-more-bs-mtg#notes
Splash Damage
David Williams on MasterChef
The Finisher:
“The calligraphy of combat is written with the strokes of sudden blood.” That is the flavor text for Monastery Swiftspear, and this week it was one of a few dozen sentences chosen as some of the Worst Examples of Literature of 2016 in something called the Lyttle Lytton Contest. So my well-read and wordy co-hosts, what’s the worst flavor text you can make for an already existing card?
