POLL: Should existing dupes be automatically converted to runes when the new system is introduced?

Steeme

Yes (I have some dupes but happy for a fresh start for all)

The fair solution, then, is to allow people who have previously converted cards to trade in those runes for whatever new currency is introduced.  You can apply a tax to that if you like to make people who hoarded cards "feel good".  This way, everyone gets to convert into the new system, fair and square.

EDHdad

@Ohboy- where I take issue is the use of words like "abuse" to describe what should be a fairly normal and mundane process of receiving a specific card to play a children's card game.  Which sounds more like "abuse":

A) The possibility of receiving a specific card after playing the game for hundreds (or thousands) of hours and/or spending hundreds (or thousands) of dollars?

  Devising a trading card game where it is not possible for anyone to obtain a specific card of their choice, even after playing for hundreds (or thousands) of hours and spending hundreds (or thousands) of dollars?

Ohboy

Yes (I have tons of dupes but still believe in a fresh start)

@EDHdad

That's a pretty obvious strawman don't you think? I'm talking about abusing the rules. You're inferring abuse in another context. 

If you like word play, may I suggest we also discuss "entitlement". 

EDHdad

That's fine, but "entitlement" is as incorrect as "abuse".  These aren't people who want something for nothing just for showing up.  They're people who have invested time and dollars and effort into the game who want something specific for their efforts.

Again, going back to Mark Rosewater- people do not have to play your game.  You have a successful game when people want to play it.  There shouldn't be this weird adversarial relationship between the people who produce the product and the people who want to consume the product. 

If you're looking for words to toss around, "enabling" might be appropriate.  As long as people are willing to rush to the company's defense, no matter how abysmal the drop rate or how puny the prize payout, or how little benefit one receives for dropping $50 / $100 / $500, some suit is going to look at that and say "see if they'll accept less".  And then the enablers can come on this board and try to shame people for being "abusive" or "entitled" or for not "supporting the game". 

Phase

No (I've been saving dupes specifically for this new system and any auto-conversion would be a terrible idea)

@steeme has the right idea. If you haven't spent your runes already, you ought to be able to convert them to the new resource(s). If you've already bought and spent the runes however, you are not out of luck or anything since now you have more deck slots and higher-level planeswalkers to show for it.

With standard rotations now a thing in the future (who knows how often- every 6 months? Every year?), over the long term what happens on the day the new system launches will be a blip in the history of the game. The big picture is still pretty optimistic if some sort of card crafting is actually coming.

Ohboy

Yes (I have tons of dupes but still believe in a fresh start)

Weird adversarial relationship? 

When it comes to price fixing, it's always adversarial. Only time it's not is when the company is either leaving consumer surplus on the table, or the customer is over valuing a product. But the underlying sentiment is always adversarial. You want to sell as high as possible and buy as low as possible. It's the basis of all trade. 

As for enabling, where were you with this concept when the entire community was enabling the devs in making the Big Mistake for almost a year? 

You cannot quote Mark out of context. He's talking about game design, not economics. More people would buy/play Mtg if each pack contained 3 rares instead. Clearly that's not happening for what I hope are obvious reasons. The same reasons why drop rates in mtgpq are the way they are. 

Look, we can argue all day about what's good for the game. But we'll never see eye to eye because you're advocating solely from a player point of view. Lots of things will make this game a lot more fun for a while. For example, mythic rewards galore last year. I won't even try to deny it was more fun when mythics were handed out like candy. But you saw what had to happen.  Eventually the chickens will be back to roost. To us it's a game we play. When we grow bored, we move on to the next game. For them, it's their job. I empathize with that position, and that's why we'll always disagree. 

I've explained on several occasions how games like these fix their prices. You can't tell them your way works better when they know for a fact (analysis from thousands of apps and games) that the best approach they can take is this one approach that makes no sense to you. 

All the documentaries and criticism of skinner box games will change nothing because they're not addressing the main point. These price models just work for apps. 

So instead of spending all this time protesting for changes that will not come, we should be looking for actual win-win solutions. You're right, it doesn't always have to look adversarial. But if you insist on knocking your head against the wall, your head will feel the wall is out to get you. 

jetnoctis

Yes (I've been converting all along, this is only fair)

Whatever the dupe solution is, can a part of it be to crush our unwanted mythics too? I'm sick of Depala appearing at the top of every deck creation screen and I would feed many others to the crusher, including: Yahenni... World Breaker... Torrential Gearhulk... Inverter of Truth... Aetherwind Basker... Kambal... the list goes on and on!

Sarahschmara

No (I've been converting throughout but if people have been hoarding, they should benefit)

jetnoctis said:

Whatever the dupe solution is, can a part of it be to crush our unwanted mythics too? I'm sick of Depala appearing at the top of every deck creation screen and I would feed many others to the crusher, including: Yahenni... World Breaker... Torrential Gearhulk... Inverter of Truth... Aetherwind Basker... Kambal... the list goes on and on!

World Breaker?!? Heresy! You'll get thrown in a volcano for saying such things

jetnoctis

Yes (I've been converting all along, this is only fair)

Sarahschmara said:

jetnoctis said:

Whatever the dupe solution is, can a part of it be to crush our unwanted mythics too? I'm sick of Depala appearing at the top of every deck creation screen and I would feed many others to the crusher, including: Yahenni... World Breaker... Torrential Gearhulk... Inverter of Truth... Aetherwind Basker... Kambal... the list goes on and on!

World Breaker?!? Heresy! You'll get thrown in a volcano for saying such things

Shhh... Just don't let the others hear you 

Mainloop25

No (I have a few dupes and want to benefit)

Is it really "gaming the system" to correctly predict a change in the way they were going to handle the conversion of duplicates and prepare accordingly? 

Sarahschmara

No (I've been converting throughout but if people have been hoarding, they should benefit)

Mainloop25 said:

Is it really "gaming the system" to correctly predict a change in the way they were going to handle the conversion of duplicates and prepare accordingly? 

I *think* being able to accurately predict the future and set oneself up for success is a fundamental hallmark of an objectively good card-flopper.

Froggy

No (I've been saving dupes specifically for this new system and any auto-conversion would be a terrible idea)

I think the dupe system should be optional. Meaning, you can choose if you want to get runes, crystals (both types), or specific cards. Each would have its own currency rate and of course runes being the cheapest. In that way everyone can benefit in their own way. As in, you go to a store front to cash in your dupes for things you actually need.