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?
