Commander 2019-a perfect beginning
With the introduction of the Commander 2019 precon decks, I feel like there is something different going on with Wizards of the Coast.
I have been playing EDH for about a year. I am fairly new to the format, and I am not too proud to say that Brawl is the reason for my interest. But after my Brawl summer fling, I was ready to settle down and get into a long term relationship with a more mature format. Commander was there for me.
So like all newbies, I began to sift through the mountain of precon decks that were available. Some were interesting, but most were not particularly ready to play out of the box. I would have to supplement each deck significantly, and in some cases, purchase up to 40 cards to make the deck function well. Basically, it was a non-starter.
Standard Sets The Stage
Then in 2018, WOTC came out with the Challenger Decks. As a Standard player, I was pleasantly surprised at the out-of-the-box playability of the decks. Hazoret Aggro, Vehicle Rush, Second Sun Control, and Counter Surge each had almost all of the cards you needed to play the game.
I will not comment on the 2019 Challenger Decks.
While any preconstructed deck is inherently made for new players, WOTC learned something from the Challenger Deck experiment.
If you want more than just new players to buy your products, you have to make the products worth buying to both the new player and the seasoned professional.
Enter Commander 2019
It is apparent that the lessons from the 2018 Challenger Decks were applied directly to the Commander 2019 decks. And here is where I need to pause and give you my reaction to the decks as both a seasoned Modern/Standard player and as a new EDH player.
I couldn't get the money out of my wallet fast enough.
I held no Commander staple cards, no fully built decks, and no reason to pursue a paper deck in this format. I play almost entirely online. Very rarely do I find myself at a local game store on a Friday night. I'm usually sitting with my wife watching the Hallmark channel or talking about my feelings in order to connect with her on an emotional level. #marriedlife
As the previews were released, I felt empowered by every card that was included. Each deck had something unique and something eternal. They were chock full of reprinted staples. They had commanders that did stuff that hadn't been done before.
But what I absolutely understood after a year of looking for a preconstructed deck to throw my money at, was that I could play these decks as is and have a fantastic time. I could upgrade the decks easily....with cards that I probably had sitting in my closet. And I could look into my stockpile of 4 decks and join in on the conversation.
I looked up my local game store's calendar. They play Commander on Friday nights, and I'll be there at least a couple of Friday's every month.
My wife said it was okay and that we could make up for the lost time by discussing Jacob's emotional journey through the Twilight Sagas on Saturday.
The endnote is this:
If you are new to EDH/Commander and are looking to jump into the game for a relatively low cost, Commander 2019 seems like a great place to do it.
I am not ashamed to say how excited I am to receive my decks, and I am not ashamed of the tears I shed when Jacob realizes that the love of his life is going to marry his natural enemy. #TeamJacob
The Next Step
Okay WOTC, I hope you're listening. I would very much like preconstructed Modern decks. Modern has well established metagame decks. Be bold, box up a complete dredge deck and sell it to me. Put a $39.95 Titan Shift deck on my LGS's shelf. Reprint every card that costs over $100 until the price drops to almost nothing. I'm fine with that. And the reason I'm fine with it is because this game was meant to be played by everyone. The game shouldn't be determined by the deck price, it should be determined by skill.
Maybe that's a little too excessive, but you get my point. We will all pay for preconstructed decks as long as they are powerful enough to be relevant TODAY.
And before my finance friends show up at my house with torches and pitchforks, I just want to say that you don't have to reprint every expensive card, but consider hitting a few that will moderately shock your customer base.
DADDY NEEDS A PLAYSET OF SCALDING TARNS!
I have been playing EDH for about a year. I am fairly new to the format, and I am not too proud to say that Brawl is the reason for my interest. But after my Brawl summer fling, I was ready to settle down and get into a long term relationship with a more mature format. Commander was there for me.
So like all newbies, I began to sift through the mountain of precon decks that were available. Some were interesting, but most were not particularly ready to play out of the box. I would have to supplement each deck significantly, and in some cases, purchase up to 40 cards to make the deck function well. Basically, it was a non-starter.
Standard Sets The Stage
Then in 2018, WOTC came out with the Challenger Decks. As a Standard player, I was pleasantly surprised at the out-of-the-box playability of the decks. Hazoret Aggro, Vehicle Rush, Second Sun Control, and Counter Surge each had almost all of the cards you needed to play the game.
I will not comment on the 2019 Challenger Decks.
While any preconstructed deck is inherently made for new players, WOTC learned something from the Challenger Deck experiment.
If you want more than just new players to buy your products, you have to make the products worth buying to both the new player and the seasoned professional.
Enter Commander 2019
It is apparent that the lessons from the 2018 Challenger Decks were applied directly to the Commander 2019 decks. And here is where I need to pause and give you my reaction to the decks as both a seasoned Modern/Standard player and as a new EDH player.
I couldn't get the money out of my wallet fast enough.
I held no Commander staple cards, no fully built decks, and no reason to pursue a paper deck in this format. I play almost entirely online. Very rarely do I find myself at a local game store on a Friday night. I'm usually sitting with my wife watching the Hallmark channel or talking about my feelings in order to connect with her on an emotional level. #marriedlife
As the previews were released, I felt empowered by every card that was included. Each deck had something unique and something eternal. They were chock full of reprinted staples. They had commanders that did stuff that hadn't been done before.
But what I absolutely understood after a year of looking for a preconstructed deck to throw my money at, was that I could play these decks as is and have a fantastic time. I could upgrade the decks easily....with cards that I probably had sitting in my closet. And I could look into my stockpile of 4 decks and join in on the conversation.
I looked up my local game store's calendar. They play Commander on Friday nights, and I'll be there at least a couple of Friday's every month.
My wife said it was okay and that we could make up for the lost time by discussing Jacob's emotional journey through the Twilight Sagas on Saturday.
The endnote is this:
If you are new to EDH/Commander and are looking to jump into the game for a relatively low cost, Commander 2019 seems like a great place to do it.
I am not ashamed to say how excited I am to receive my decks, and I am not ashamed of the tears I shed when Jacob realizes that the love of his life is going to marry his natural enemy. #TeamJacob
The Next Step
Okay WOTC, I hope you're listening. I would very much like preconstructed Modern decks. Modern has well established metagame decks. Be bold, box up a complete dredge deck and sell it to me. Put a $39.95 Titan Shift deck on my LGS's shelf. Reprint every card that costs over $100 until the price drops to almost nothing. I'm fine with that. And the reason I'm fine with it is because this game was meant to be played by everyone. The game shouldn't be determined by the deck price, it should be determined by skill.
Maybe that's a little too excessive, but you get my point. We will all pay for preconstructed decks as long as they are powerful enough to be relevant TODAY.
And before my finance friends show up at my house with torches and pitchforks, I just want to say that you don't have to reprint every expensive card, but consider hitting a few that will moderately shock your customer base.
DADDY NEEDS A PLAYSET OF SCALDING TARNS!
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