How To Make Collector Booster Packs Worth It | A Magic: The Gathering Critique
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- Опубликовано: 13 май 2022
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I absolutely love everything you suggested in this video. Have u sent these suggestions directly to wotc? Or someone at wotc? Like gavin?
you've got an editing hiccup at 13:25, btw
Thanks Professor, truly an analysis from somebody who really loves the game!
Sadly the truth lies in the cynical fact that WOTC doesn’t love the game, they love money (sighs).
They do not want to sell more packs per sets, they want to print the same amount cards spread in more sets, charging more for each, knowing scarcity would do the rest despite quality!
@@corymachlan6177 WOTC are watching all of the content on "Tolarian Community College", that is for shure. But they are not allways listening to the advice given. wonder why, there are many really smart moves that WOTC could have made, meeting the needs of the community and still keeping the profits up for their stockholders.
I believe that we should use a different term than "luxury" and "premium" when referring to magic products. Whenever you make a purchase of something traditionally labeled as a "luxury" or "premium" purchase, that almost always implies that you're paying for a guarantee of a higher quality product or experience.
WOTC is peddling a cardboard loot box / gacha game at this point - there's literally nothing "premium" about their pack-cracking gambling experience.
At this point, this monetization is right up there with Pay to win mobile games without actually paying to win.
@@blaze556922 except when u leave ur deck in your pants pocket and put it in the wash XD
honestly? that would be MORE acceptable IMO, but as it is instead of pay-to-win, it's...... pay...for.... pay Wizards money!!!!
I mean the game has always been pay to win and its always been kind've awful.
But seriously the whole way theyre handling the monetization right now is just horrible.
@@blaze556922 considering the immense powercreep *cough, Ragovan cough* you really can't play with most cards for life if you have any intention of winning.
pay to style? pay to curl??
I bought my first collector booster at a con because it seemed perfect to celebrate a special occasion. I looked through the cards and thought they were counterfeit, the ink and foil quality was so bad.
That's where you're wrong - most counterfeits are better quality than the real deal
Turns out they were
It was a con alright 😂
Its even worse more recently. This last set, new capenna collector boxes are such shit quality. The ink is so dark on the land foils that swamps forests and islands can be impossible to distinguish
With all respect buying cards at a con is begging to be scammed 😭
"Make the ENTIRE SET available in the showcase frame"
YES YES YES YES THANK YOU FOR SAYING IT PROF. My pet deck is Grist Insect tribal. As a result, I often end up picking up new insects printed in each set. Insects are one of those creature types that often have a couple show up in every set, but are almost never an explicit "feature" of the set or plane. As such, they often don't get the showcase treatment. New Capenna had one insect, only available in regular art. Neon Dynasty had 4 insects, 2 that were good enough to make it in the deck, but only one in a showcase treatment. I'd be much more inclined to buy any insect card, even if I know it won't make it in the deck, if I could get a showcase variant of that card.
Unfortunately, I think expecting WotC to shell out for that much new art per set, when people already buy the crappy pringle packs that are current collectors boosters, is a pipe dream. Its capitalism 101. Why would they spend more capital when people are already buying the product in record numbers?
The theoretical payoff would be that pack sales would increase. That said, I’m not ENTIRELY sure that would happen.
Your vision for a collerctor booster is so good that kinda hurts knowing it will never happen!
I 100% agree that collector's should include The List ESPECIALLY if they get that showcase treatment. Sensei's Divining Top in Kamigawa showcase art would have been super pretty and worth seeking for collectors and players who want a foiled out deck.
How do they already not have this!?!?! I was under the assumption they were in all packs! Jesus…
wowwww. I would kind of hate this because I would actually spend money on this game again hahah
Yeah most premium services company's offer ALWAYS offer everything that the lower tiers had. Stupid greedy wizards
I was thinking that it was unrealistic to expect new art of the list cards. But what I do think would be good enough (and easily doable) is a guaranteed card from the list in foil.
Pfft, at these prices they should include a card from the RESERVED list.
i think new capenna has the start of the right idea with the showcase rafiq. they should make more of those per set and make them appear more frequently in collectors boosters
It’s too bad it’s not in collectors boosters just set and you can’t get a guilded foil of it
You're right, Prof! As far as COLLECTOR-ing goes, the collector booster just doesn't have enough collectability! Filling collector boosters with showcases may encourage me to finally purchase a collector pack, because as of right now I just can't justify the cost to benefit.
Also, finger wag of shame for your 13:30 editing skip. I caught it, I expect the finest QUALITY! 🤪 great job, Prof!
I'll also add, instead of a chunk of commons, give us the full art foil lands! Thats what many people want for their decks. The kamigawa collector packs only coming with 1 full art foil lands was a shame. But I can't say I ever bought any collector packs lol
I'd rather have a dozen full art foil lands over a dozen jank commons anyways. I'll actually use the lands.
You don’t understand supply and demand. If we take what you said and load the packs with those lands, then the overall value of them goes down. If they go down, then at that point, you can just buy the singles and avoid needing to buy Collector Boxes.
@@Invictus-Solaris your comment somehow makes 0 sense. He's literally saying to replace commons, which can be bought with spare change, with the unique lands. Supply and demand has nothing to do with those slots as the commons are abundant and mostly undesired. Where as many players I know, including myself, hold onto foil lands for fun.
@@CyniSchism96 Thanks Joshua I agree completely. And both basic lands and commons should both be pennies, I don't know anyone who shells out cash for basic lands, fancy art or not. And I don't think the land slot is the main driver for people buying collector packs so this should not impact the demand for those packs if there is an abundance of foil basics
@@CyniSchism96 Supply and demand is absolutely a factor. Full art lands used to be special and they aren't anymore. Theros had 2 foil full art lands in their $25 packs and the lands plummeted to .50 each at launch.
If Wizards wants to justify the price to the customer in their mind they need to have better than .50 full art lands, and the Kamigawa lands are still a couple bucks each in foil. It makes a huge difference.
In summary, one full art land per pack at $2.00 value is better than two full art lands at .50 value. as far as Wizards is concerned because Wizards is concerned with them selling off shelves. You as a player would rather have four .50 cent lands for 2.00; and so would I, but I am going to see less value in buying the packs which makes me less likely to purchase them.
If everyone got 7 full art foil basics in every collector booster peple would start giving them away, and it would make half the booster value-less AND ruin what's left of the illusion of reprint equity in wizards pockets when it comes to adding full art lands to a product.
In general, I like the idea of a „high value booster“. I’m sick of messing around with tens of thousands of cards. So general concept: Okay.
But the lottery factor is just to high. If I buy a 20 € booster, there have to be good cards in it.
Absolutely! If the "draft packs" were lottery tickets and whatever high value option cut the lottery Aspect out (at least partly), that'd be an acceptable level of extortion.
I extremely dislike pulling Commander Foil Extended Art mythics, usually worth less than $1 in the fancy last Showcase Foil slot of a Collector's booster pack.
There's even a way to fix these - have showcase frame versions of the commander deck cards in those slots! A showcase frame version of the face commanders is something a lot of people want, and would be a really exciting pull / a desirable collector's item!
I am a commander player and I fully agree with you
People wanted cards to be cheap and worthless so this is what you get
Or a gilt frame uncommon.....
@@ozmond exactly. People want cards to play, but also want their cards to be expensive. All cards can’t be expensive and easily obtainable. That’s not how supply and demand works lol.
I always thought Collector Boosters should be 100% rares. 10 rares in varying kinds (regular/foil/showcase/showcase foil); 4 mythics in varying kinds; 1 commander (or other non-booster pack) rare; 1 The List rare.
I think personally the only Collector booster I ever imagined myself buying was the Ikoria ones because of the Godzilla cards. They where an awesome addition and made some of my commander decks a bit extra special!
I was thinking of getting a new capenna booster at my LGS and I bought a mana drain for 15 bucks more instead.
Think about that.
Gross! Counterspell is cheaper and doesn't have the bs power creep.
@@bodaciouschad lol my friend that is some ancient power creep
@@lambdaman256
*looks at an Alpha Black Lotus*
“Fucking power creep wtf Wizards”
@@bodaciouschad It's fun when new players pretend to be old players.
@@bodaciouschad power creep? Mana drain is like 25 years old lmao
It says "collector" right on it. That's how you know it's a great collectible.
They really should just remove "collector" and add "whale"
The unopened boxes are worth more than the cards inside.
Pretty much. Never buy a product that claims to be a collectible from the start.
The list has improved with new Capenna quite a bit to my understanding, 75 cards possible with most of them being rares and mythics, you can see it's impact on cards like twilight prophet and mikaeus, the unhallowed, they also made new art with the showcase style for Rafiq.
I like the idea of making every card in the pack a premium card in some way. Making them draftable doesn't sound very appealing to me personally. However, what if WotC gave stores an amount of collector packs to use as prize support, so you could get 1 collector pack instead of 3 or 4 regular oaks when you top your FNM?
You're right on the money as usual professor. I bought a collector's boosters of New Capenna . And most the the cards are inedible pringles. At least they got the guilded foils not to fold like a lawn chair.
If you check the box, it says that the gilded foils were made at the Japan factory.
@@truecrios Why can they get it right in Japan and not in the States ?
Can only think it comes down to what qualifies as quality control within each territory/country. I live in South Africa, so the majority of our products come from the Belgium factory and we have almost no foil curling or quality issues. However, some of our products only get imported from the States, like the majority of the original collector boosters, and our LGS's definitely notice the almost immediate difference in quality.
Thanks for that feedback. I think ill look for those boxes from those regions instead of going for the ones here. Im in the States
Not even a minute in the video and I'm going for the heartburn medicine. Is wizards trying to buy the coast?
They're trying to get their product stolen more often lmao
“How can WotC can fix this price issue”. That phrase assumes that WotC wants to fix it and is willing to, two things that will never happen. Only way to fix this abuse is stop buying the product until they realize that we the customers, have the control and not them.
Wont make a difference. Rudy and his army of whales will buy
I have. Haven't bought magic stuff in 2 years or so now due to issues like this and some of their other recent decisions.
Its not Wiz bro its Hasbro's greedy ass.
Great job, Professor. I've grown to really hate collector boosters. I've purchased a few in recent months from my local store on a whim and literally got less than $5 of value after paying $24/pack. Feels so bad! Wizards needs to do more to ensure that kind of crap doesn't happen to their customers.
Whenever I feel the urge to buy one, I watch an opening video and then my interest in buying one myself quickly diminishes because 9 out of 10 packs I would've been sad to have payed for
I bought a MH2 booster as a birthday present for myself (it was even discounted) and womp womp- opened maybe 1 card worth 2$. Spending 40 to get...pretty much nothing playable felt terrible.
@@billdoetsch then you just felt for the bait, opening boosters is like gambling. We try to fool ourselves about the 'fun' to open one but the disappointment stick around way longer tbh.
"Hoping to get lucky" is what they are selling. They're literally manufacturing these things to hit the gambling dopamine pathways, which requires some packs to be duds (see intermittent reinforcement). Their target demographic is people predisposed to gambling addiction.
Yes that is how every tcg works yes.
Your lootbox isn't not a lootbox just because it's wrapped in foil.
Or people who just like gambling. Don't get me wrong, there isn't nearly enough warnings on M:tG to imply they aren't hoping to tap into the "market" of gambling addicts, but if Gacha games have taught me anything, I would much rather there be much fewer cards in a set if every rare or mythic was actually something special and unique. I only need one copy of a 5 star, and even if it's not the one I wanted it's still a valuable addition because one day I might have a use for that specific pull.
(although, I also think M:tG as a game might be improved if it used the rarity system from Magic: Duels, 1 copy per mythic, 2 copies/rare, 3 copies/uncommon, 4 copies/common. Card design alone would probably improve, if cause the game to be more "swingy").
This is why we call it cardboard crack after all. The problem is they don't even try to fix quality issues with collector's boosters which is why I don't touch them. I would rather get a set booster for my dopamine hit. Still a bit of a con but at a much easier to swallow price point.
@@marekvincibr5884 It's not how tcg's are meant to work at all. Packs are meant to provide cards to play a game. Designing "premium products" costing hundreds of dollars for shiny cardboard with no production value at all is designed purely to target whales with gambling addiction and absolutely no one else. I love magic and make a lot more money than the average person, I would have a premium product from a game I love. But it's not me they're targeting here.
A collector booster draft would never fire at my LGS. At over $30 (CAD) per pack that would be over $100 for an event! Not many can afford to drop that much on just an event. I agree with your initial thought though, I don't like collector boosters. My biggest gripe with them (outside the price and contents) is how they destroyed the foil market. Before they were a thing you could crack a draft booster and pull a foil common/uncommon and actually be happy with the pull. Back in Ravnica Allegiance league one of my weekly packs had a foil Skewer the Critics and it was awesome because I was able to sell it for $15! Meanwhile the non foil was only $0.25 so it was more than affordable for a playset. That doesn't happen anymore because every common/uncommon foil are worthless because the collector boosters just litter the market with them.
Which is exactly why the Professor's solution will also fail. It will just make the new special versions worth nothing even further devaluing the collector booster instead of enhancing it. Rarity and demand are what create value not spending more to create something.
Conversely, the fact that collectors' boosters are filled with worthless commons and uncommons makes the experience a lot less special... You're basically paying for one lottery card, plus a bunch of filler that doesn't need to be there.
Entire sets of showcase art would be wild to see. I'd actually drop big money on that for a set I was particularly passionate about. Imagine going over to somebody's house, and they have framed up a full set of showcase cards for some particularly beloved Magic set. Now THAT is a showpiece.
While im not a fan of most of the extended art cards, I love how the text box excludes reminder and flavor text. Makes the card look a lot cleaner!
I really love the idea of the Collector's boxes containing ONLY showcases and special arts, that with better quality would make them have a lot more sense and you would separate game pieces for everyone in the normal draft and set boosters. I do purchase one collector booster each set because I am a fan of Illustrations and shiny stuff, but right now I was thinking of not buying more of them this year because of fatigue..... Just started playing with my New Capenna commander deck, went to the pre release too.... and now just got 3 sets spoiled already? and with those prices? Was wondering if I will skip them altogether except for singles.... but as I am weak and love limited, I will probably only go to the pre release events.
Good points, I like the idea of alternate art cards only found in collector boosters. Cracking a pack only to come out with 1/5 the value of what you paid for is a gut punch.
I recently got back into paper magic for Kamigawa. I got a couple collectors boosters and a draft box. I legitimately thought I opened the collectors wrong when the cards were already pringled. Thanks for shedding light on the quality issues at WotC - I hope they watch your videos too, every suggestion was a homerun for me. Thanks for the content!
masterpieces were one of my most favorite and hype things I ever experienced opening packs for magic. I'll never forget the day I bought a single pack at my lgs, pulled an expedition, sold it to the store, bought one other pack and some cards, and pulled a second expedition. it would be amazing to have something like that again!!
As a store owner, I'm going to have cut down on the number of draft booster boxes I order since players would rather gamble on the set boosters for "good cards." WotC is competing against itself, and collector boosters are aimed for a few with the willingness to spend on them, so those are also lightly ordered.
I would love love love the inside scoop on running a cardshop. I actually tried opening once in highschool just order cards at cost for my playgroup and got denied because I didn't have a real physical store. I still never understand why they cost so much and what the stores upsell them as
"Collector booster packs are kinda broken, and not even serving their intended purpose."
I suspect their intended purpose is to make WoTC lots of money by selling an item for as much money for as little product as they think they can get away with. Sounds like they are serving their intended purpose just fine.
I meant from a consumer standpoint, in terms of what we get.
@@TolarianCommunityCollege Oh I understand what you meant 100%. My (granted, sarcastic/abstracted) point was that I'm not sure they really care that much, as long as people buy them in their current form, WotC will continue to push as far as they can get away with.
@@TolarianCommunityCollege we get fleeced- just as WOTC intended.
@@bodaciouschad If you truly believe you are getting fleeced, don't buy it. If you buy it anyway, that's entirely on you. No one is forcing you do buy anything.
@@michaelrudolph7003 I buy only singles for 0.05$ each at the local great escape. The most a piece of cardboard is worth to me is 3$. The most I'd pay for a pack is 3$.
All good ideas! I would love to the see them running. Although don't agree fully on drafting collector booster, I think 1-2 CB at a draft box would be very fun (w/o increasing draft price).
Hey Prof, really appreciate you putting this video together. I stopped buying collector boosters packs a couple sets ago because of these very reasons. The print quality was crap and the feel bads were high. I really hope WotC keeps tabs on you and reads all of these comments. As someone who loves Magic and has more disposable income now, I’d definitely be back to buying collector boosters if they shifted them to align with what your describing. When a foil card curls so bad it puffs the sleeve it’s in then you need to gut check your quality. Keep the amazing content coming!
@Tolarian Community College thank you for helping us spend our money more wisely on WotC cards and packs. It's extremely frustrating to spend money on packs while feeling excited to see what surprises await me, just to find some crappy quality and lame cards. I appreciate you!!
My fiance and I were so excited to get the Double Masters sets this year. He was a Magic player years ago (2006-2015) and got me into it this past year. He has been so angry with the "pringling" of foils, low-quality printing, and price. WotC needs to consider that many Magic players are regular people who can't or won't shell out hundreds of dollars for bad quality cards. Or maybe they don't, as their bottom line seems to be fine. Maybe it's just me, but New Capenna seemed to be especially bad as far as pringling and warping other cards.
Professor - I'm just now getting into MTG and I'm teaching my 2 older kids to play. I'm very thankful for the time and effort you've put into this channel as it's been a big help to me!
Most times i agree with you. This time as well. I would like to see a timeshifted card in every booster as well. Just something old, can be a common, but to have a way to complete old sets you collect. A retro frame nameless one? Yes please
I think my biggest issue with collectors boosters and the "booster fun" plan in general is it's really pushing the idea that this isn't a fun game, it's gambling aimed at 13 year olds. Even with the claim that "Not every MTG product is for everyone", the age rating makes no distinction. And with products increasingly being described with gambling terms, I have real concern that WotC pushing the boundaries with things like double master's collector boosters is going to step so far over the line that something is going to give.
Some people may recall how politicians began looking into the gambling of loot boxes in video games after EA's disaster with Battlefront 2 some years back, I can only wonder if MTG wasn't so niche, if it would have the same reaction if the gambling aspect was as well known.
My biggest problem with booster packs and every set these days, is that there is just to much Commander only cards in it.
Well their in the billion dollar profit club now the government likely taxes the heck out of wotc, for making luxury collectables and probably not much tax write offs with all that non recyclable materials used but I don't know truely. Magic has always been a game of chance though, even back to alpha edition. Where a kid can get a 5$ pack and hope to crack some cool card, but because it's cool not because of it's lottery value. See kids aren't likely price checking cards their cracking open at the same time while as adults we seek financial value confirmation on cards often it seems
Wow. What an exceptionally perfect vid. Really, no sarcasm, it's really put the dots on all the problems I personally have with these types of product AND what might possibly be done about it to fix the idea behind them. You want more comments or ideas on the topic, but I'm afraid I'm at a loss for words here. You've nailed it. Nailed it so that if this were Nosferatu's coffin, he'd not get out again. Ever.
Thank you prof! Many understand this already, but it needs to be said, and having you say it really makes a diff as the herald of the players. Thank you!
Honestly, it feels like WoTC is showing their hand to be more of a casino when they make moves like this. The nature of packs has always been tied to gambling but at least with draft boosters there was a draft game associated. This feels like such an egregious overstep that it reminds me of Star Wars: Battlefront II where it was clear that EA was just seeing how much they could get away with their gambling boxes (although this is in some ways worse since real world value is tied to these gambling packs) This not only makes WoTC look increadibly greedy and uncaring for their customer base but also casts a negative light onto the entire hobby of trading card games in my view. Maybe this feeling is an over-reaction but I get so tired by desicions like these.
Sometimes an overreaction might be necessary. I see what the Professor is doing here as speaking up for those who aren't even aware of the collector's boosters lack of value, instead of merely convincing them. I think almost everyone would agree that they should be better, but many wouldn't know WHY that is. (In which case it wouldn't really be an overreaction, but I digress.) Having a reaction is better than none, otherwise WoTC will just keep shrugging their shoulders and keep pumping out low quality products.
Just wait till separate counties start to fine or even threat to ban WotC for these practices which in this case could be picked under gambling.
The first collector booster I bought was from Strixhaven. I opened them and was like: "Omg these cards are so cool", pulled a few good cantrips from mystical archive. Set after set the collectos booster get more and more the same as a Draft or Set booster, with sometimes even lower value than Set Boosters.
I really like this video because you're finding a balance between being business oriented and finding customer value all while be very solution focused. I hope wotc is listening because this is about as reasonable as it gets.
I agree with most of your points here because I only really buy collectors boosters (I'm not really interested in playing the game anymore) and I end up with like 10 good cards per box and a bunch of junk. No bueno.
I feel like your ideas are awesome and it would push me to buy Collector Boosters myself. I don't see the value in them myself but I do collect a lot of the unique art and borderless stuff. I just tend to buy singles as you usually suggest. If the Collector Boosters had more unique things I would definitely be trying my luck more often!
I like the new boxes! More sustainable, wayyyy less cardboard for the same price 😊😊😊
I have been saving up to buy a lot of Double Masters, but seeing that price per collector pack, I may just pass completely.
Use that money to buy all the borderless foils from this set that you want
Buying boosters that are that expensive will allow Wizards to continue pushing the prices up and the quality/quantity down.
Please buy what you want in singles and don’t support the scam!
@@jonlangthorne7924 If I buy singles I support the people opening the pack. You can't buy the product and boycott the product at the same time.
@@ruecianbeoulve7770 There is a balance, stores crack product to sell expensive singles and make a profit in that way. It’s players cracking box after box after box that causes the profits to climb higher each time.
@@jonlangthorne7924 All money put into the system increases sales. Stores won't crack boxes to sell singles, or will do it less if it's less profitable. If everyone only buys singles and suddenly the singles prices will be so high stores will just crack the sealed product they can't sell to this illusion of a boycott and sell the singles. WOTC got paid soon as they shipped it out to the distributor your store stocked it from.
There's definitely a balance, but it all funnels back into making wizards see profit in what they did.
Sad truth is we just have to be loud on the internet and in set reviews to WOTC because the people in the ivory tower don't hear the conversations in your LGS, and they don't know whether the kitchen table magic players are predominately buying up the set, or if Rudy and his patrons are burying them in time capsules. We all want some of what Wizards is offering, so we're all likely to give them some money; even when we're upset about it in some way (Commander Legend's terrible Collector Boosters had quality akin to Dead on Arrival HD TVs and not only did we all still buy them, they're the most expensive and desired on the secondary market), and that's why we complain online so much.
Thank goodness we have the good Professor doing work for the people.
I agree HEAVILY with all of your points except for maybe the last one. It almost feels like you’ve been reading all of my surveys I send WotC lol. Good video and I hope they listen.
I think your logic is sound and on point. Especially in the case of the premium product.
Never spent money on a collector booster and probably never will. I already don't buy any boosters to crack, just to play sealed or draft. I take your advice to heart 😁
Same. I buy Draft boosters because set boosters are more expensive over here (12 vs 18 in my currency). I tried two-three set boosters and I ended with cheap mythics that had zero value both in game and on card market.
I've honestly never bought a collector booster. They didn't seem worth it when they first debuted, and the value proposition has been seeming worse and worse ever since.
Recently got back into magic and legit considered maybe getting a collector booster for kamigawa but after knowing that the best I'll be getting is just extra shinnies, buying the bulk draft pre release packs is a way better idea
When they first came out I bought one for shits and giggles and then had a serious shock at the checkout line when I saw the price. Wasn't even close to worth it for me
I tried a few, not happy. Not enough value for the cost. Went to set booster boxes and they paid for 75% of themselves and I made commander decks out of it.
I just started with midnight hunt.I bought 2,along with a lot of other Magic products I didn't need.Muktuple color,set,and draft boosters. About 20 or so prerelease kits,8 commander bundles(all of which suck except the AFR deacon precons).I've determined Magic is a sinkhole.Best advice,be patient,by singles,and trade.Dont chase cards likee me😳 I have over 6000 cards, and he collector boosters all sucked.My best cards came from AFR gift bundle(with collector booster),midnight hunt gift bundle,and prerelease kits. My packs and purchased boxes were busy tbh.
Tell that to Commander Legends full art foils.
Thank you Professor for further confirming my getting out of Magic about a decade ago was the right call
I’ve never once directly purchased a collector booster. The only time I’ve ever opened them were in gift bundles and I’ve honestly never been impressed. I think you came up with a great idea though and appreciate your positivity and enthusiasm while explaining it!
Drafting collector's boosters would be amazing. I feel it could definitely give a boost to draft and sealed attendance at local game stores which has suffered since the pandemic. Also draft boosters having little to no value has hindered players from wanting to draft as well so that would be a fantastic solution.
Remember the double master VIP that were over $100 and had a bunch of lands?
and as Rudy said, they were STILL underpriced...
@@sawdatstyle Rudy is one of the people responsible for this shitshow in the first place.
Loved the second point, special arts should be the focus. And loved the idea of reimagine cards for different sets, like the inventions.
Myself and a couple of the buddies I talk and play magic with Every-Day always talk about the types of printing.
I really dislike Common's in fancy printings.. Even on the fence with un common's.
-I hate getting excited about a card, that will never make it in any of my commander decks.
-I would assume it would cost them less, if they just printed commons and uncommon's in one single print. Then add Crazy Prints to Mythics!!
Good video, as always, Prof.
The best way to discontinue this greed is to not buy them!
Problem is there is always someone who will buy them. I never liked collector boosters, even when they first launched, so I have never bought a single pack of them. Problem is at my LGS there are 3 whales that come in and clean house day one.
no best way is to report them to the FTC and other authorities asking to have them looked into. Not buying product does nothing, However indictments from the federal government sure will.
So you have us who wonder how we can improve the game. Products and marketing..... Then I go to Walmart and watch a dude steal 3 collectors packs off the shelf like it's nothing
No I didn’t ….. lol
Guy stole 3 collectors packs and still somehow got ripped off 😂
@@brunopintaric8997 upside down Risk vs Reward
Only 3? Slow day.
The guy at Walmart isn’t stealing them from Wizards of the coast or Walmart directly. They have already been paid for by MJ holdings and they are the group taking a loss in this equation as Walmart only pays for what’s tang through the till. Around here it is all locked up in security devices and they font’s carry any of the higher end products because of thieves….
Definitely agree with all of this. The last time I bought a premium set was when VIP came out. I was super disappointed with what I got out of it. I never found myself wanting to buy any of the collector boosters after that. If they can step up their game and make these cards actually unique compared to the other sets. I would probably be a bit more willing to spend my money on it.
Currently the only collector ever Made that fix my needs in therms of collectiong, is the MH2 collector. The old frame and Expecially the old frame foil had a very hi-level attraction to me. Moreover, the fact that I would find something that is not possible to find in the normal packs, It was something that make this product very unique. Hope that this is a good start to implement a new concept of collector booster that will be in line with the new prices!!
I think this is just going to drive up the already thriving community of proxy cards. On the other hand, I do like the additional opportunities to the artists to have prominent cards, regardless of a couple of lazy art designs, there have been a plethora of really cool art.
we started using proxies this year cause there is no way my friend or I are spending 100$+ for Lands ect.
@@simplyyunak3189 I've lowered the threshold on what I would proxy. I used to only proxy $10+ cards and mostly cards I already own. Now I proxy basic lands from Secret Lair because that is highway robbery.
The only way Collector Boosters will ever be "worth it" for me is if they cost less than $50 and is a carefully selected pack of foils with alternate art that you would get like something with From the Vault. Anything else is just a glorified booster pack that means absolutely nothing.
Thanks for all that you do professor. I got back into magic last year after a long hiatus (I quit while going to university, money was tight at the time). I came back so excited because strix Haven had the mystical archives cards and that made me excited to get back into paper magic. Totally reminded me of when I first started playing magic during zendikar and the hidden treasures they had there.
Now that these price increases are happening I've actually been priced out yet again. But not only that, no cards are special anymore, and if they are, they're ridiculously priced and hardly accessible.
I will continue supporting my local game stores and buying/trading singles.
I'm also a teacher trying to start a magic club at my school, and luckily these kids are fine playing with bulk rares I've got donated, but telling them about buying singles versus buying packs is hilarious, because buying singles just makes sense, even to children.
Also Wizard making Double Feature, "premium" products with the same cards but in black&white and called it a day as 'new product'
Nothing will change. Remember, they're making record profits so high that they're way ahead of their benchmark projected needed value by years. People will keep buying and WotC will continue this practice because it works, even though it shouldn't.
yep just buy singles
Keep in mind everyone, for the price of four double master collector packs. You can buy a printer, ink, and paper (and a nice meal) and make a couple proxied decks, those containing any card you want from that set.
as long as you own at lest one actual copy fine by me
They won't look nice though, and if I wanted something cheaper but functional I could just go for draft boosters, or better, singles from draft boosters.
The proxy argument doesn't work for premium collectors versions of products.
Yes it does, for even cheaper, you can get nail polish remover and some different printing products and make your favorite card shiny. Just takes a few extra minutes.
@@tylernolod4681 I've made proxies this way, it's not just a few minutes and it's not going to look as good as a real card.
@@ruecianbeoulve7770 I agree. A better point to contend would be that a prospective collector booster buyer has the alternative of commissioning custom art alterations of standard versions of some desired cards from the set. If bling is desired, what can be anymore flashy than a unique, artful rendition which no one else has?
I love the idea of using the special frame for a given set on all of the cards in collector booster packs. I usually scoff at the idea of purchasing a collector booster pack. However, if there was a way to get cards in the frame I love, I'm all for it!
I pulled a sensei's divining top out of a new capenna set booster. So when they say "have to find a right place to put it" is the best pr response tbh. They could make the entire list of a commander legends be edh staples if they wanted to.
The only problem with increasing their size is that exponentially ramps up costs requiring a redesign to the current boxes.
I think my current problem with collector boosters is that even though you can make your money back cracking a box any single pack can be filled with less than a $1 of cards. I don't know how they fix that problem but I'd like to see them improve the pack opening experience for opening a single pack
2XM VIP were about $100 for 33 cards (12 were land). That’s about 5.26 a card.
If 2X2 collector boxes are $228 for 60 cards then it’s a steal at $3.80 a card!
You are so right Brian! I totally agree with your suggestions.
I like your thoughts. More showcase on point w ikoria and eldraine would be good. W double masters though these are replacing the vip boosters so at least they're cheaper and w less bulk
I got a feeling that The Professor doesn't like Collector Boosters
I would be happy to pay so much more money for better card quality. I literally only by non-foils of new cards. What a sad pathetic state of quality control this company has cultivated. *sigh*
Love all of your ideas for the changes. It would also mean that showcase commands an actual value since they are only in Collectors Boosters and would therefore not be printed into oblivion. Its always fun to look up a card and find the showcase is worth less than the normal version....yeah fun, lets go with that term...
I really appreciated the Ikoria Collectors packs. There was always beautiful artwork, and I tried to collect all of the Alt art foils for the Mutate cards, and also tried to collect all of the Godzilla ones.
It's honestly closer to what I first thought they were, before having bought any 😳💀🥲
Pharmaceuticals often list their side effects at the end of television commercials but YT ad reads for pharmaceuticals never seem to include the side effects. Keeps can lead to ED and other sexual side effects, depression and or anxiety, testicle pain, tenderness in the breasts and a host of other issues. A video about the ethics of collectors boosters shilling for pharmaceuticals is a weird place to be
This has to be one of the weirdest whataboutisms I've seen. My guy he's not selling the product to you directly. You still have to go to the site which lists all those side effects. It's a simple ad read. This such a weird, moon brain take.
@@davidmcc9141 I guess, I just see it as someone criticizing the marketing strategies of big business for a card game from some self imposed moral high ground while simultaneously doing marketing for big pharma while conveniently leaving out the myriad possible negative side effects. Everyone sees shit differently, that's what's great about talking with other people
I already refuse to buy standard set collectors, it's just burning money in my mind. They absolutely destroyed the secondary market for standard so your investments hold even less value which has always been an issue in standard but collectors magnified it to a ridiculous level. At least with most standard cards being dirt cheap I think it actually cheaper to play standard then popper.
This is a game first and foremost. The secondary market for standard SHOULD be cheap and accessible, since that's people's on ramp to the game.
If you want investments, get a mutual index fund. It will out perform magic cards, and you can liquidate it without having to try and sell on an online marketplace.
@@Osk570 I'm just saying your cards should be at least close to the value of a pack. No one wants to hit lottery cards to break even. If it's game first and foremost and secondary market doesn't matter get rid of the reserve list and release full sets to be purchased like an expansion and not packs
@@zackcampbell1346 typical mtg player
I like these ideas! I mean, it doesn't make me want to buy collector boosters any more than the current ones, but it'd make them actually special. As someone who's visually impaired, I prefer normal, non-foil magic cards for readability. I'd prefer to see draft boosters return to normal (so no fancy frames, reduced chance at foils, etc.), then have set boosters trim out all the chaff from "the list" and replace it with the showcase fancy cards, then make collector boosters where you're guaranteed these fancy cards and their foil counterparts.
I was disappointed when I got a gilded foil Rigo, Streetwise Mentor in a set booster prize pack only to find out it isn't worth much. Not that I expected it to be, but you'd think a foil card with a gilded border would be worth something for being so special.
I could see myself potentially purchase a pack at 2-3 times the base value for alternate art (lands in particular are a collectible for me) on occasion for the experience, but not at $50. I think the extended pack to make it draftable while also having extra room for some prize pool/chase/wow factor would help with the appeal of the pack. I agree though that the quality should be at least as good as the normal product at minimum. For me, the Neon Dynasty ones had enough appeal with the special art lands garaunteed to convince me to try one. Maybe instead of the photoshop filter treatment, they could have the art in a different stage of completion? They could experiment with some being early drafts or partial completions or maybe early sketches or offerings that didn't make the final cut. Collector to me says unique- so whether that is in the associated art, card layout or something else (as long as it isnt poorer quality) I think it could be a viable avenue to try and see what clicks. An example for New Capena for example could have been say a full art land with one half full art and fully glitzed out and the other half either as a sketch or the location under construction or in a blueprint type style. Collector seems like a great place to be creative and experimental. You could have the cards in it have a theme appropriate but still recognizable change to the mana symbols for example. Using New Capena again for example just putting gilding around the edges of the symbols at the top of the card would be a simple but interesting bit that combined with some other non standard card face treatment (ie alternate art or some such) could be appealing to the collector market and other player bases besides. I think Mirrodin had 5 colored moons- swapping some icon like that for mana symbols could be really exciting especially on some some grand more cosmic threat type of creature or effect.
It's kind of ironic how collector boosters have made collecting so much less attractive by introducing a myriad of variants
Admitting you are selling to be collected is the downfall of all collectibles 😂😂😂 look at history the only thing holding magic cards up is the game as that fails the cards fall into oblivion
wizards being so money hungry has been really frustrating for me getting into magic, as my experiences in pokemon and even yugioh were different. it’s been really discouraging to continue playing, as the game is cool but wizards keeps doing things that i don’t like
All excellent solutions. Even if they just solve the quality issue I might not feel as much like I am burning my money if I buy a collector's booster although I would love all showcase art and list cards as an additional value. Not invested in the draft aspect since I am not a draft fan in general but I can see how that would appeal to others.
I agree I mostly play commander now and being able to fully pimp out my zombie deck with full art/showcase would be awesome. I still love my old school foiled but those full art/showcase just speak to me.
Preach.
Thank you for telling it like it is and being the voice of the community
I've been buying proxies in custom frame treatments, it bee awesome to get a yuriko in the ninja frame or Edgar in a fang frame in a set themed list collectors slot
One of my favorite collector boosters is Zendikar Rising, mainly for the box toppers expeditions and the chance to get foil expeditions, so I can totally see the point in making collector boosters more COLLECTIBLE. I also enjoy the dracula series in crimson vow, i only wish that the cards were just generally better since there is not much use of a great art on a card that you are rarely if ever gonna play.
something simple that would be amazing for creating a floor to the value would be a slot with a guaranteed rare land from the set. the vast majority of rare lands see play at least in Standard, and many of them make their way to eternal formats as well.
Double masters VIP quality was pretty darn good. Everything has held up and no curl. The only problem was the shady advertising on the box where you couldn’t get two full size mythics hence the draft packs compensation offer
Have cards unique only to the collector packs, something you can only get from those packs such as in Neon Dynasty with the Devouring Chaos neon inked cards, but perhaps expand on that idea to include that treatment to more cards and not just lottery hits.
I not only enjoy playing but I also run a Comicbook and collectables shop. Cult Fiction Comics in Chichester, PA. So I buy these sets, put whatever I think I could use in my deck, then sell the rest at face value or put them in our bulk box.
Your ideas would really make collectors boosters much much better. I've only bought collectors boosters once and that was to try and pull a space Godzilla. I think that was a great way to do other ips on magic cards btw. I wish that's how universes beyond worked :(
I like the idea of collectors boosters containing all showcase cards. Getting a bunch of chaff cards in them has always made them feel underwhelming.
Quality control is by far the biggest issue in my experience, though, so I'm glad you spoke on that as well. The collectors booster boxes I've opened have been absolutely notorious for cards that are: pringled right out of the pack, off-center, have roller lines and/or moisture dots on the card surface, dulled inking, surface scratches, etc. In some cases, I've opened cards that are straight-up damaged (torn or bent). This atrocious quality control was the final straw that got me to stop buying boxes.
I firmly believe we would have had another round of $100 "VIP" packs if the community hadn't been rather vocal about that price point being far too high last time. Thank you for continuing to be a voice for the average person just trying to enjoy the game as a hobby without breaking the bank!
Just want to say you have a lot of great ideas about this! And as much as I hate the price of collectors boosters, I would totally draft them once.
Goddamn Prof, those are some great ideas. I would totally have shelled out to get Eldraine on the showcase art style, those were beautiful.
Here's hoping Wizards picks up your idea, because I stopped buying them collectors for exactly the reasons you listed. It ends up feeling like giving away money for nothing, because with a little bad luck you can end up with nothing BUT jank in a box.
I think the Prof is pretty on point with these ideas on how to improve collector packs. thumbs up dude!
Draftable collector boosters!!! Such a great idea. Imagine this in a prerelease envrio. Playing with new cards in all the fancy versions… 😍. Talk about memorable and treasuring the cards going forward. Make set boosters draftable as well!!!
I love your suggestions!
I’ve bought a few and always gotten absolute crap. I love your ideas. Drafts and better hits would definitely make them very appealing.