Forgive me if this is a reiteration of previously released info, but I haven't seen it before and figure it warrants noting:
Each kit will consist of a maximum of 3 boxes of operational product, 2 boxes of prize/compensation product, and 2 boxes of side event product. My read of the message indicates that these are all boxes of Conflux. The matching boxes of Shards boosters (for operating the sealed and drafts, so 3 per kit for sealed and one more for drafts) are to be provided by organizers.
Upshot: More prize than last time! Drafting product! (Yes, we already knew it would be ALA-CON-CON.)
Finally, each kit comes with 400 lands. Assuming 17 basic land per deck with 36 players supported per kit, you need 612 lands per kit (and that's assuming a perfect distribution of colors played). So, my guess is if you plan on playing Bant, bring some unmarked Forests and Plains of your own.
Edit RE: Clarification: Just thought I should mention that each location can have multiple kits depending on organizer level, how many days they set up, etc. Our store is getting 2, for instance.
Edit RE: Land sufficiency: Fair enough. Though if I wasn't judging, I'd definitely bring a few just in case.
The amount of provided land is reasonable when you factor in the fact each player gets 5 from boosters. That makes it a clean 16 per player, and most players run 15 to 16 basics in ala limited, as there are some nice nonbasics I hear.
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Are all/most of the stores that did an Alara pre-release getting product, or is it back to the old model?
That's still an open question AFAIK, but it looks like they're not pulling it back from the stores that still wanted it. Our store hosted the regional PTO trying his best to do the "big" pre-re for Shards, and he may be coming back for Conflux, in which case our two kits may get mashed up with his product. If not, we've got enough for 72 players plus drafts/2HG.
I just called another store in the area (much smaller, no official FNM, etc), and it looks like they're getting a kit too, so there's nothing keeping them from growing their player base.
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Yay to bringing back drafts, but boourns to it not being CON-CON-CON. It really annoys me to have to pay a premium for old product boosters, and makes me far more reluctant to draft.
And 400 basics is not even close to enough, especially if the power tilts towards one or two colors in particular.
WotC continues to screw up a formerly-great event.
And if many players decide to play almost only Naya?
I think this was really bad organized...
I don't understand... So the sealed are how many from Alara and how many from Conflux?
Seeing that there are no more tournament decks (at least from what I read) its 3 Alara Boosters and 3 Conflux Boosters?
And more prizes? What prizes?
Here in Portugal, Devir sended a e-mail to a store:
The only prize they were going to give was the Promo card in the pre-release and the promo card and some boxes to go with the decks in the release (like they did in Shards of Alara)... :/
I think the rest of the countries should relax... Here in Portugal the prizes are never good... This edition having as only prize for the pre release the promo card must be only here :/
EDIT: Hope this changes :/
Thats mostly because since Devir has no competition whatsoever and the exclusivity to sell products here in Portugal and in Spain they can do whatever they want... from what I've heard in Spain they're also tired of complayning about prizes and conditions provided from Devir... I guess it'll never change.
<snip>
And 400 basics is not even close to enough, especially if the power tilts towards one or two colors in particular.
WotC continues to screw up a formerly-great event.
Yes, heaven forbid that stores should need to be responsible enough to have land on hand for any and all occasions. I mean seriously, expecting stores who want to run these types of events, to actually have the means to do so is just so irresponsible. It is as if they expect retailers to run this as a business and not a hobby. Geez, the nerve of Wizards!
And nevermind the improvements made since the Shards prerelease. The game is circling the drain guys. Time to bail out now while you can.
/rant off
Granted more land might be helpful, but I would not waste my time at a store that could not manage their own land supply. I would not be surprised if Alara Reborns sees an increase in the amount of land per kit. After all, this is still a work in progress. But no matter what improvements are made, some people will never by happy.
Thats mostly because since Devir has no competition whatsoever and the exclusivity to sell products here in Portugal and in Spain they can do whatever they want... from what I've heard in Spain they're also tired of complayning about prizes and conditions provided from Devir... I guess it'll never change.
quit complaing to the guys causing the problem... take it up with WOTC. if its fixable they will fix it... regardless of bad decisions Wizards has one of the best customer service experiences ive ever had the pleasure to deal with...
Its never taken more than 2 minutes on hold to reach someone on there 800 number.
As I already explained, we can assume tos that somehow don't have land besides that which is provided will have people turn in their booster lands. Organizers that are...organized will create land packs in advance I am sure. Also, confux encourages 5c and domain, so each land will be less played.
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Yay to bringing back drafts, but boourns to it not being CON-CON-CON. It really annoys me to have to pay a premium for old product boosters, and makes me far more reluctant to draft.
WotC continues to screw up a formerly-great event.
They always include cards from the main set in a block small set pre-release. It was always how they did things.
quit complaing to the guys causing the problem... take it up with WOTC. if its fixable they will fix it... regardless of bad decisions Wizards has one of the best customer service experiences ive ever had the pleasure to deal with...
Its never taken more than 2 minutes on hold to reach someone on there 800 number.
Been there, done that.
They have the legal rights to back them, and there's not much that the players can do, since its the only option we have to have sanctioned high-level play. Devir has done some ridiculous stuff in the past, like anoucing PTQ's with only one day notice, the blatant thievery in the prizes given to players and little (almost none) support to small stores and Gateway organizers.
I can't believe people are actually complaining about not getting enough land sent! Most stores don't WANT any more lands. Who the heck wants more basic lands?
As I already explained, we can assume tos that somehow don't have land besides that which is provided will have people turn in their booster lands. Organizers that are...organized will create land packs in advance I am sure. Also, confux encourages 5c and domain, so each land will be less played.
You know what they say about assumptions...
I'm sure there will be stores that don't have enough basics to go around. It is WotC's responsibility to make sure there is enough product in the distribution kits, including basic lands. After all, WotC is who decided to nuke tourney packs in the first place.
They always include cards from the main set in a block small set pre-release. It was always how they did things.
Not true. I have always been able to draft with three boosters of the newest set at prereleases (with the exception of SoA, obviously). At $1-2 above retail per pack, I'd better be getting new product. I already have my fill of SoA.
I can't believe people are actually complaining about not getting enough land sent! Most stores don't WANT any more lands. Who the heck wants more basic lands?
Well, the store that I play at would love to have more basic lands. We don't run very many constructed events, but we do hold at least 3 drafts a week. Each of those events can run between 2-4 pods so having more basic land would make it much easier for everyone. Before I left for winter break, there was a shortage of forests and swamps So my opinion is the more lands the merrier.
People ***** that SoA had no drafts. And rightfully so...
Then they bring Drafts back But you need to draft SoA with CON *Which is part of the block* and you people STILL *****... Keep it up... And watch them take it away again.
Personally I didn't think Alara's PR was perfect but I still had a great time playing at it. Now we've got some great improvements on that...whats not to love?
People ***** that SoA had no drafts. And rightfully so...
Then they bring Drafts back But you need to draft SoA with CON *Which is part of the block* and you people STILL *****... Keep it up... And watch them take it away again.
Again, it's that we're expected to pay $5-6 for that pack of SoA (drafts at my prereleases are $18). You may like to waste money, but I don't.
If I want to draft ALA-CON-CON, that's what all the post-prerelease drafts are for. That one old pack is the difference between my playing in 6 drafts or 0.
people drafting triple little set is useless, Id like to have some read on the formate, when it becomes SSC.... so SCC is fine by me, you people just ***** to much.
"Crovax Connections" does sound like a friendly corner store run by your local Ascendant Lord
I bet we have a case of Jon Finkel sleeping with the girl, then never calling her again and she going bat #%^% crazy and writing this article case closed.
First PTQ top 8 6/13/09(1st) Second PTQ top 8 10/7/09(5th) Second at national Qualifier 5/15/10
Third PTQ top 8 2/12/11 (2nd)
Second at Alberta 2011's
Fourth PTQ top 8 3/17/12(8th)
GP Vancouver 2012 (18th)
people drafting triple little set is useless, Id like to have some read on the formate, when it becomes SSC.... so SCC is fine by me, you people just ***** to much.
Well, each pack has 1 less card. I think we could be fine drafting triple small set. Future sight was fine, morningtide was fine.
people drafting triple little set is useless, Id like to have some read on the formate, when it becomes SSC.... so SCC is fine by me, you people just ***** to much.
You can draft SCC all you want...after the prerelease, where it isn't ridiculously expensive to do so.
people drafting triple little set is useless, Id like to have some read on the formate, when it becomes SSC.... so SCC is fine by me, you people just ***** to much.
Useless for what? It's more useful for getting cards from Conflux. It's more useful for giving players a chance to experience Conflux cards in action. It's more useful for giving players a different drafting experience than what they've been drafting for the past 4+ months.
In my mind triple small set draft at prereleases is definitely the way to go.
Each kit will consist of a maximum of 3 boxes of operational product, 2 boxes of prize/compensation product, and 2 boxes of side event product. My read of the message indicates that these are all boxes of Conflux. The matching boxes of Shards boosters (for operating the sealed and drafts, so 3 per kit for sealed and one more for drafts) are to be provided by organizers.
Upshot: More prize than last time! Drafting product! (Yes, we already knew it would be ALA-CON-CON.)
Finally, each kit comes with 400 lands. Assuming 17 basic land per deck with 36 players supported per kit, you need 612 lands per kit (and that's assuming a perfect distribution of colors played). So, my guess is if you plan on playing Bant, bring some unmarked Forests and Plains of your own.
Edit RE: Clarification: Just thought I should mention that each location can have multiple kits depending on organizer level, how many days they set up, etc. Our store is getting 2, for instance.
Edit RE: Land sufficiency: Fair enough. Though if I wasn't judging, I'd definitely bring a few just in case.
Cheers.
Former US Southwest Regional Coordinator
Favorite cards of all time:
Overall - Peacekeeper
Flavor text - Blazing Archon
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Same model, most of the stores are getting product.
L2 Judge & Store Owner
That's still an open question AFAIK, but it looks like they're not pulling it back from the stores that still wanted it. Our store hosted the regional PTO trying his best to do the "big" pre-re for Shards, and he may be coming back for Conflux, in which case our two kits may get mashed up with his product. If not, we've got enough for 72 players plus drafts/2HG.
I just called another store in the area (much smaller, no official FNM, etc), and it looks like they're getting a kit too, so there's nothing keeping them from growing their player base.
Former US Southwest Regional Coordinator
Favorite cards of all time:
Overall - Peacekeeper
Flavor text - Blazing Archon
And 400 basics is not even close to enough, especially if the power tilts towards one or two colors in particular.
WotC continues to screw up a formerly-great event.
Continues? They have done far better this time than Alara. I for one am very happy with the changes!
Yes, heaven forbid that stores should need to be responsible enough to have land on hand for any and all occasions. I mean seriously, expecting stores who want to run these types of events, to actually have the means to do so is just so irresponsible. It is as if they expect retailers to run this as a business and not a hobby. Geez, the nerve of Wizards!
And nevermind the improvements made since the Shards prerelease. The game is circling the drain guys. Time to bail out now while you can.
/rant off
Granted more land might be helpful, but I would not waste my time at a store that could not manage their own land supply. I would not be surprised if Alara Reborns sees an increase in the amount of land per kit. After all, this is still a work in progress. But no matter what improvements are made, some people will never by happy.
quit complaing to the guys causing the problem... take it up with WOTC. if its fixable they will fix it... regardless of bad decisions Wizards has one of the best customer service experiences ive ever had the pleasure to deal with...
Its never taken more than 2 minutes on hold to reach someone on there 800 number.
Yes i am the same guy who trades/sells on MOTL AND Wizards of the Coast and i trade on POJO.
Twitter
They always include cards from the main set in a block small set pre-release. It was always how they did things.
Been there, done that.
They have the legal rights to back them, and there's not much that the players can do, since its the only option we have to have sanctioned high-level play. Devir has done some ridiculous stuff in the past, like anoucing PTQ's with only one day notice, the blatant thievery in the prizes given to players and little (almost none) support to small stores and Gateway organizers.
Except when they did EVE-EVE-EVE.
You know what they say about assumptions...
I'm sure there will be stores that don't have enough basics to go around. It is WotC's responsibility to make sure there is enough product in the distribution kits, including basic lands. After all, WotC is who decided to nuke tourney packs in the first place.
Not true. I have always been able to draft with three boosters of the newest set at prereleases (with the exception of SoA, obviously). At $1-2 above retail per pack, I'd better be getting new product. I already have my fill of SoA.
Well, the store that I play at would love to have more basic lands. We don't run very many constructed events, but we do hold at least 3 drafts a week. Each of those events can run between 2-4 pods so having more basic land would make it much easier for everyone. Before I left for winter break, there was a shortage of forests and swamps So my opinion is the more lands the merrier.
People ***** that SoA had no drafts. And rightfully so...
Then they bring Drafts back But you need to draft SoA with CON *Which is part of the block* and you people STILL *****... Keep it up... And watch them take it away again.
Personally I didn't think Alara's PR was perfect but I still had a great time playing at it. Now we've got some great improvements on that...whats not to love?
Again, it's that we're expected to pay $5-6 for that pack of SoA (drafts at my prereleases are $18). You may like to waste money, but I don't.
If I want to draft ALA-CON-CON, that's what all the post-prerelease drafts are for. That one old pack is the difference between my playing in 6 drafts or 0.
First PTQ top 8 6/13/09(1st)
Second PTQ top 8 10/7/09(5th)
Second at national Qualifier 5/15/10
Third PTQ top 8 2/12/11 (2nd)
Second at Alberta 2011's
Fourth PTQ top 8 3/17/12(8th)
GP Vancouver 2012 (18th)
Well, each pack has 1 less card. I think we could be fine drafting triple small set. Future sight was fine, morningtide was fine.
The GJ way path to no lynching:
You can draft SCC all you want...after the prerelease, where it isn't ridiculously expensive to do so.
Useless for what? It's more useful for getting cards from Conflux. It's more useful for giving players a chance to experience Conflux cards in action. It's more useful for giving players a different drafting experience than what they've been drafting for the past 4+ months.
In my mind triple small set draft at prereleases is definitely the way to go.