Who has Mob -err.. DCI connections??

[Royal Ass.]

Since there are many people on this site who have a much better understanding and knowledge of Type One than most of the people at Wizards and the DCI, I was wondering how the DCI comes about in deciding which cards will get restricted.  However, my main question is whether or not DCI actually solicits members of this site (I’m thinking people like Smmenen who have written articles for Wizards) to give them insight as to what should be done when restriction roles around.

I’m curious as to what factors are taken into consideration when the DCI makes its decision.  Surely it doesn’t just browse through the latest restriction threads on TMD and read a few SCG articles the week before they make their final decision.  Or is this the way it is done?  So I ask, are there any members of TMD who are used as consultants by the DCI for restriction recommendations?  Do they employ anyone outside their ranks to fill them in on the ups and downs of the format?

Lastly, and this is a separate issue, but I was wondering what people would think about TMD making a collective official quarterly statement to Wizards on what we think would be the ideal restriction decisions for our formant, since the DCI is largely out of touch with what we do.  This might be an overly ambitious idea considering the current disagreement within our own site as to what the best restriction list should be, but it could be something to look into.  I’m not even sure how it would be done, but it seems there has got to be a better way then what is happening now.

Thoughts?

[Hi-Val]

The DCI is aware of TMD and reads it occasionally, but for the most part completely ignores it as far as policy goes. The only thing they really pay attention to is articles like the ones published on SCG. It means that the article has been reviewed and makes a sound case for or against, and those are far more valuable than "RESTRICT ESG" posts thrown around in the restriction threads. This is why I tell people who have a real problem with the restricted list to write an article about it; nobody ever does, probably because they can't put their words down coherently enough so that Ted will put it on SCG. Basically, if you can't argue why a card should be restricted, you won't be listened to.

The problem with releasing a quarterly statement is that there are too many conflicting opinions; it's better for the people who have real concerns to write articles instead. Again, if you can't write enough to fill an article about why a card should get the hammer, it shouldn't be restricted. Work with other people if you have to, but complaining about the restrictions on TMD and thinking that anyone with the power to change anything is listening is futile. If anything, use restriction discussion here to get a test-run of how your argument will be recieved and strengthen it for a real article. SCG is always eager for Issues articles.

[rozetta]

Lastly, and this is a separate issue, but I was wondering what people would think about TMD making a collective official quarterly statement to Wizards on what we think would be the ideal restriction decisions for our formant, since the DCI is largely out of touch with what we do.  This might be an overly ambitious idea considering the current disagreement within our own site as to what the best restriction list should be, but it could be something to look into.  I’m not even sure how it would be done, but it seems there has got to be a better way then what is happening now.

This sounds like a good idea on paper, but I fear it would not be as simple in reality. There are a few things that would hinder it:
- the fact that there doesn't ever seem to be a general consensus amongst members of this site on the B/R list
- the DCI seems to be this completely closed, faceless establishment. I'm sure that it would be nigh impossible to arrange such a quarterly statement system with them.
- WotC officially "doesn't really give a shit" about Vintage

However, I think the idea, on paper, is excellent and it would be nice to see such a thing.

[jpmeyer]

Since there are many people on this site who have a much better understanding and knowledge of Type One than most of the people at Wizards and the DCI, I was wondering how the DCI comes about in deciding which cards will get restricted.  However, my main question is whether or not DCI actually solicits members of this site (I’m thinking people like Smmenen who have written articles for Wizards) to give them insight as to what should be done when restriction roles around.

The DCI actually solicits lots of different people for their opinions on the formats, and I specifically mean formatS, not just Vintage.

I’m curious as to what factors are taken into consideration when the DCI makes its decision.  Surely it doesn’t just browse through the latest restriction threads on TMD and read a few SCG articles the week before they make their final decision.  Or is this the way it is done?  So I ask, are there any members of TMD who are used as consultants by the DCI for restriction recommendations?  Do they employ anyone outside their ranks to fill them in on the ups and downs of the format?

In general (again, I'm referring to every format), they tend to use articles and tourney results as data and then often use forum rantings to figure out the "pulse" of the format.

Lastly, and this is a separate issue, but I was wondering what people would think about TMD making a collective official quarterly statement to Wizards on what we think would be the ideal restriction decisions for our formant, since the DCI is largely out of touch with what we do.  This might be an overly ambitious idea considering the current disagreement within our own site as to what the best restriction list should be, but it could be something to look into.  I’m not even sure how it would be done, but it seems there has got to be a better way then what is happening now.

From what I've seen over the years, the only time that you'll ever get anything remotely close to a consensus is when (almost) nobody has a problem with the format.

[Royal Ass.]

The DCI actually solicits lots of different people for their opinions on the formats, and I specifically mean formatS, not just Vintage.

So do we know who is being solicited for Vintage, or is this like Top Secret information?

[FORCE-OF-WILL]

Please trust me when I say there are several people within the DCI who are now and have been paying close attention and asking for opinions.

That being said, I can't vouch that they will make the "CORRECT"  moves with the B/R list.

But they are listening and looking.