Sound Off: How many of you will be playing Vintage online?

[dangerlinto]

I guess maybe an introduction as to why I'd ask:  For those who don't know me, I've been involved with Magic Online as a community leader for sometime.  I was one of the original invitees to the Magic Online community cup for my work bringing the Classic community together. And while I can't speak for everyone, we're pretty much stoked to see our format disappear in favour of Vintage.

I'd really like to get a sense of interest from people who are outside of the current community to gauge interest in helping supply everyone with as much information, helpful advice and strategies for making your way online into the eternal scene (specifically Vintage).   I am very interested in finding out how many people in the TMD community are looking forward to either joining MTGO just to play Vintage, or are on MTGO but will be buying into Vintage online as a result of the announcement, or only just started considering it. 

[Prospero]

I will not be joining the MTGO Vintage community.

While I appreciate what MTGO may accomplish for Vintage, and am excited to see it happen, it's not something that I particularly enjoy.  If I'm home, and I'm looking for something to do, then I'm probably going to read, write, or watch a movie.  If I was going to go play Magic, I would want to play with my cards and an opponent sitting directly across from me.  Regardless of the cost, I wouldn't want to 'invest' in the digital cards, as I already own physical copies of the cards that I need.  I wouldn't want to make the same purchase twice, as I've already sunk thousands of dollars into my ability to play Vintage, and paying more to do it in a different arena is an unnecessary cost.  The online interaction (or lack thereof) is not something that I would trade for the opponents I play, round after round, at an event.  

I would imagine that this is going to be an interesting dividing point, with many of the younger members of the community choosing to play both online and in person, and the older members choosing to play solely in person.

Either way, I hope that it's tremendously successful, as I believe that it's potentially a wonderful assist to actual Vintage tournaments for physical cards.

[mikekilljoy]

I pretty much agree with everything Nick said.

I personally do not have the time, energy, or money to play Magic Online or any Online game for that matter. Nor do I enjoy the concept of lsoing any real interactions that occur. I used to play on MTGO, but that was years ago, when I did have some false ambition of being a pro player.

Furthermore, with all the complicated rules and interactions Vintage has, I would be quite nervous to play such a game on a computer where "Misclicking" has been a problem for many people. Not to mention, taking every turn, while you are on a clock, will lead to many people not being able to play the decks they should be able to play in Vintage, leading to a metagame that will just be too different from real Vintage.

[quicksilvervii]

Snap call - no, but long term, not sure.

I enjoy playing with friends, having a reason to travel, and seeing everyone at events I attend.  I enjoy the game, but I enjoy having physical cards and personal relationships as part of the experience.  I have met some of my best friends through the game, and am not sure that I am willing to switch from physical to digital.

I think that MTGO vintage would be a huge boost for the community, if for no other reason then to get a little bit more interest in the format.  I read that classic is already really popular online, and hope that it translates over to Vintage.

If somehow this means more sanctioned Vintage (in paper form), I am all for it.

That being said, I do not want to invest in 1s and 0s, already having paid for the real cards in paper form.  Maybe one day if it becomes very cheap I will consider it, but I am happier investing some money into videogames (PC, namely) then into digital cardboard if I am playing anything online (and even then, I tend to play with people I know in real life).

I am hopeful for what the introduction of online Vintage can accomplish for the paper format, but not to replace it.

[dangerlinto]

Hey- great responses so far - rational, explanatory, and without prejudice.  Pretty much the quality I've come to expect from TMD members.

To be fair, I don't think anyone wants the digital medium to replace the paper one, from WoTC (obviously) down to the current members of the classic community.  If I could speak on the majority's behalf, I'd say even if many of us rarely, if ever, play with cardboard anymore, we probably remember it fondly.  I don't think you'll see any flag waving in that direction from anyone - certainly not me.

[Klep]

It's possible, but unlikely that I'll be joining in.  I don't like playing Magic online in the first place, and while getting to play Vintage more regularly would be appealing, I don't know that it's enough to get me to buy my collection a second time.  Now, if they somehow take action to make it no more expensive to construct a MODOVintage deck than a Standard deck, I may reconsider, but I doubt that's going to be the case.

[RichardD]

It's possible, but unlikely that I'll be joining in.  I don't like playing Magic online in the first place, and while getting to play Vintage more regularly would be appealing, I don't know that it's enough to get me to buy my collection a second time.  Now, if they somehow take action to make it no more expensive to construct a MODOVintage deck than a Standard deck, I may reconsider, but I doubt that's going to be the case.

Yeah, the thing that would bug me the most is the amount of money one has to pay for online single cards.
With Vintage cards I've been fortunate enough to have been able to buy most of them for less than 100 $ a piece or trade other cards for them.
Online this is not possible. Duals were always expensive as were other staples from older sets. Even sets that have actually been released on MODO around the same time as in real life now have cards that are way more expensive than their real equivalents.

Add to that the non-bonus of having almost the same time investment as a real life tournament, I don't think I'll be playing many MODO tournaments.

-RichardD

[jlim17]

Personally, I would not be rejoining MODO just because Vintage is now available. Although, I think it can be done with success. I imagine cost/perceived value will be the biggest hurdle, especially when we own the cards irl already. Preference to play live is another problem. However, I would say that people who are not on MODO for this reason will not join regardless of the formats offered, anyway. These are both factors for me, and with the limited time I have to play magic, I'd rather spend it with friends, my local community and real people.

Another thought, do any Vintage TO's out there think that having Vintage online will hurt their attendance? On one hand, people now don't need to leave their house to play vintage, make a long drive out, etc. On the other hand, this could result in an exponential growth in Vintage players worldwide. For collectors/players, if there is a big shift online for Vintage, what do you think the risk is on the value of your real vintage cards? I imagine WotC will proceed carefully to mitigate these concerns, but I'm just throwing the ideas out there for thoughts...

All that being said, some ideas for online Vintage (apologies if these already exist):

1) Make the cards cheap. Most of the cards can't be redeemed anyway, so perhaps have a Vintage release of completely unredeemable cards, that can only be played in Vintage events or open gaming. This way, you don't need to spend hundreds on the more expensive legacy/modern cards. If you can get a Vintage deck together for $100-$300, I think this range would be ideal in reaching a lot of people. Actually, if Vintage packs are created, I think that could make a great draft format too.

2) Offer prize support of high perceived value. A lot of the attraction to vintage is that when you win a tournament, you get a piece of power. Also, the perceived value of "Vintage packs" would be high to the players.

3) Start a series. Have a large annual tournament, like a World Series. Hold qualifiers, even multiple-slot GP style events. Give players a consistent and reliable place to play. You should be able to log on 24/7 and jump into a Vintage queue just like the other formats.

4) Get more Vintage support from Wizards, more news releases, articles, promotion, etc., even if its just targeted to online Vintage.

In contrast, instead of some of the above, what about allowing 10-15 proxies in some of the Vintage events to start off?

I hope this feedback was positive. Good luck!

[dangerlinto]

Yeah, the thing that would bug me the most is the amount of money one has to pay for online single cards.
With Vintage cards I've been fortunate enough to have been able to buy most of them for less than 100 $ a piece or trade other cards for them.
Online this is not possible. Duals were always expensive as were other staples from older sets. Even sets that have actually been released on MODO around the same time as in real life now have cards that are way more expensive than their real equivalents.

I'm loathe to do a lot of pontificating at this point, but am I to understand that you think the average online vintage staple is MORE expensive than in paper?  If so, PM me and I'll be happy to discuss that topic with you and point out some resources.

[Thecheese]

I used to play classic on mtgo. I enjoyed it'd I enjoyed the community. I stopped playing because at that time my laptop broke and I sold my collection to add To my down payment on a house.

A big reason I started vintage irl this year was from the positive experience I had plying classic on mtgo. I would like to start playing vintage on mtgo just for practice but putting money a second time for the cards I have is a big deterrent.

On a side note, force of will for over hundred each is not a place I want to be at if I want to rejoin modo

[mike_bergeron]

I'm very excited about this, and have been collecting online for years hoping this would happen.  I've been able to pick up most of the current decks and just waiting on P9 at this point. 

[Smmenen]

I will.  I own many cards as well.

[TheProfessor]

I am definitely interested in seeing the effects that this will have on the Vintage format.  Unfortunately, I will not be playing online (at least for the foreseeable future) because I do not want to re-invest in digital cards.  I already spent a decent chunk of my savings on Power and Vintage staples. 

Honestly, Cockatrice has been "decent" for playing online since there are no local Vintage tournaments, but mainly due to the fact that it is free.

[credmond]

If there was a lot of Vintage activity and Vintage tournaments happening online that would be an incentive for me to join in. I mean a lot of activity 24/7. Basically if I could jump in on a high level tournament at just about any day of the week then MTGO has something to offer that face-to-face magic doesn't.

[rpf5029]

After Wizards announced that the Power 9 would be coming to MTGO, I took a cursory glance at the game.  From what I could see, I could probably build most of any Vintage deck I would want to play for less than the price that it will cost for me to go and pick up my first Workshop (let alone the other three.)  There are some really bizarre outliers--such as Force of Will and Lion's Eye Diamond--but most of the stuff that's way up there in physical form now is a fraction of the cost on MTGO.  I'm very tempted by this -- almost tempted enough to go on a buying spree of Vintage staples.  I don't want to end up getting blown out by randomly skyrocketing online prices like I have in physical cardboard. 

That said, I have never played a game on MTGO, and I don't intend on playing much very soon.  I just might pick up some staples if I find some money laying around somewhere.

[Methuselahn]

I will not.  

Oh look, we found a workaround to our own self-imposed reserved list!  We can make more money and not even have to print cards!

Really dude?  Vintage isn't popular now because it's way to swingy, unbalanced, and luck based.  Also, total lack of support.  The format is on life support with a handful of crazy zealots (you and me) keeping it alive.  The format has to be fun to the masses and it just isn't there right now.  Beyond printing online reserved cards, what will they do to propagate Vintage?

I could go on a rant (wait, I think I'm on one right now  >.> ) about how reprinting paper moxen would stimulate IRL Vintage, causing 1993 cards to actually increase in value and how the reserved list is actually hurting collectability, but I wont.

I predict that the zealots will give wotc a bunch of money, recieve a bunch of digital cards, and then months later realize that the digital format is as dead as the 'real' one.

[shrewarmies]

I have never uninstalled my MTGO program or cancelled my accounts; that being said I have not logged on in over a year, maybe two. If Vintage were to become available online I am sure I can find my old passwords etc and begin to play online. I do not think that MTGO would supplant my playing of vintage with those cards that I do own, I have much more of a connection with those cards that I have worked for and can tell you how and when I got each of them. I also run tournaments down here in Australia and I care for every player that comes along and sits down for some games, I don't think I would find that online. These connections alone will have me remain as a paper gamer and would probably use MTGO as off time or practice for those tournaments I run.

[JACO]

I own most of the stuff for Legacy already (Forces, duals, fetches, LEDs) as well as a number of the Restricted Vintage cards, but I don't really like MTGO's terrible interface. You'd think for such a cash cow they could come up with a design team that doesn't suck such huge wang. Unless playing online gets noticeably better, I doubt I'll be playing much, especially if they continue to hold cards like Force of Will hostage for absolutely no reason (ie the number one reason no one plays Legacy online anymore).

[KrauserKrauser]

I am with the crowd that doesn't want to rebuy cards I already have in paper.  For non-redeemable digital cards I expect a much lower price than I am seeing for these cards online and will wait until that becomes a reality.  If the prices never come down, well, too bad I guess will miss out.

[Meddling Mike]

Yeah, the thing that would bug me the most is the amount of money one has to pay for online single cards.
With Vintage cards I've been fortunate enough to have been able to buy most of them for less than 100 $ a piece or trade other cards for them.
Online this is not possible. Duals were always expensive as were other staples from older sets. Even sets that have actually been released on MODO around the same time as in real life now have cards that are way more expensive than their real equivalents.

I'm loathe to do a lot of pontificating at this point, but am I to understand that you think the average online vintage staple is MORE expensive than in paper?  If so, PM me and I'll be happy to discuss that topic with you and point out some resources.

I guess I'd like to chime in on this. I get that the cards I own IRL are almost all more expensive than their MTGO counterparts, but I guess my issue with getting into playing Vintage on MTGO is still cost related. When I started playing Vintage there were tournaments with proxy allotments and IRL friends that loaned me cards to fill the gaps as needed. I was able to slowly build up my collection of Vintage staples and as this was before Legacy existed I managed to acquire duals and such without breaking the bank. Playing MTGO Vintage is sort of a different animal. None of my close friends have extensive MTGO collections that I'm aware of where they're just going to loan me a completed deck to play. The lack of proxies is also going to require that I have to have absolutely every card that I want to play. If I want to get on board with Vintage MTGO it's going to require a substantial initial cash investment right away. I suppose I could just not play Vintage MTGO for a while and slowly build up what I need, but who knows how long that will take? If it takes years will I still be interested in playing at that point? Vintage is slow to change, but it still changes, what if some of the cards I invest a substantial sum of money in now aren't good by the time I have the other cards to go with it? So, to answer your question, I'm not sure. I'll have to look at the cost to break into the format and probably go from there. I do like that this will expose a lot of new people to Vintage and hopefully generate more interest in the format.

[AmbivalentDuck]

I'm loathe to do a lot of pontificating at this point, but am I to understand that you think the average online vintage staple is MORE expensive than in paper?  If so, PM me and I'll be happy to discuss that topic with you and point out some resources.

Can you give us ballpark numbers for cost to build:
1) Dredge
2) MUD
3) Grixis Control
4) Burning Wish combo

[KrauserKrauser]

Prices taken from mtgotraders.  Price per card.  Power 9 prices not included.

1) Dredge

Bazaars - 5.53
City of Brass - 3.60
Undiscovered Paradise - 13.68
Dakmor Salvage - 0.15
Petrified Field - 3.66
Ichoird - 7.15
Bloodghast - 1.99
Bridge from Below - 3.84
Cabal Therapy - 0.35
Golgari Grave Troll - 0.40
Stinkweed Imp - 0.10
Golgari Thug - 0.25
Serum Powder - 0.23
Leyline of the Void - 0.24
Narcomoeba - 0.22
Unmask - 6.88

So for the basic durdle dredge deck would be ~$190

2) MUD

Workshop - 15.74
Lodestone Golem - 0.23
Sol Ring - 3.89
Mana Crypt - 9.67
Mana Vault - 7.40
Tangle Wire - 37.38
Chalice of the Void - 7.51
Phyrexian Metamorph - 1.61
Ancient Tomb - 3.48
Wasteland - 31.68
Strip Mine - 7.87
Crucible of Worlds - 5.82
Thorn of Amethyst - 1.50
Sphere of Resistance - 2.91
Phyrexian Revoker - 0.07
Tolarian Academy - 15.63
Mishra's Factory - 0.25
Mutavault - 19.29

So your average MUD deck will come in around $550 depending on sideboard cards.

3) URB Control

Force of Will - 102.42
Mana Drain - 18.98
Dark Confidant - 17.88
Snapcaster Mage - 6.56
Jace the Mindsculptor - 47.99
Volatic Key - 0.05
Time Vault - 3.17
Tinker - 0.97
Blightsteel Collossus - 5.50
Demonic Tutor - 7.24
Vampiric Tutor - 28.10
Yawgmoth's Will - 4.82
Mystical Tutor - 3.78
Flutterstorm - 25.23
Brainstorm - 1.88
Library of Alexandria - 10.11
Underground Sea - 22.61
Scalding Tarn - 10.50
Polluted Delta - 8.37
Volcanic Island - 16.06
Tolarian Academy - 15.63
Sol Ring - 3.89
Mana Crypt - 9.67

So your average UBR Control deck will run you ~$970 plus extra for sideboard and updates/changes.

4) Burning Wish Combo

Burning Wish - 12.44
LED - 82.93
Necropotence - 4.28
Yawgmoth's Bargain - 2.20
Demonic Consultation - 0.10
Windfall - 0.28
Memory Jar - 2.71
Wheel of Fortune - 1.74
Mind's Desire - 0.20
Dark Ritual - 0.15
Brainstorm - 1.88
Lotus Petal - 7.15
Chrome Mox - 3.31
Mox Opal - 18.77
Underground Sea - 22.61
Scalding Tarn - 10.50
Polluted Delta - 8.37
Volcanic Island - 16.06
Tolarian Academy - 15.63
Sol Ring - 3.89
Mana Crypt - 9.67
Demonic Tutor - 7.24
Vampiric Tutor - 28.10
Yawgmoth's Will - 4.82
Tinker - 0.97
Mana Vault - 7.40

So your average Burning Wish deck will run you ~$450 depending on sideboard and changes.

This changes if you add Oath.  The Oath package adds in another $54

Oath - 7.00
Forbidden Orchard - 1.29
Grislebrand - 10.09

[AmbivalentDuck]

So approximately the price of putting just the lands into a cardboard Vintage deck. Honestly, it sounds like a great deal except that cockatrice is free and it's half a grand sunk into what's essentially a video game subscription.

[credmond]

I was just thinking of this relationship . . .  The Vintage community has long suffered from a lack of interest on the part of WOTC. If the Vintage community participates in MTGO en masse then it encourages WOTC to take a strong active interest in the format.

The format as it is now is close to being a balanced format but with some notable problems. Creature decks have gotten a big push lately from cage and caverns and Dredge and Oath have been rightly throttled to give creature decks room to exist. However, MUD is a bit overpowered and combo a bit underrepresented and of course Big Blue could stand to get knocked down with stuff like caverns even more. But, really, a few strategic publishings in new sets could make it a broadly more balanced and popular format. Will a popular MTGO format get WOTC to care about Vintage so that we benefit as a community from a more managed format in terms of balance and playability?

Joining in MTGO makes us direct consumers of Vintage from Wizards. Even though it sucks to have to re-invest in cards we already own, doing so may be the best thing to do for the health and well-being of the format as a whole. We become a community that WOTC has to think about.

[Jenni]

Unfortunately, I will not be playing online.

due to budget reasons I have decided that I will only play magic either in paper or on MTGO, but not both - I don't have the money to justify buying a digital copy of a deck and the real one. That said, A big part of magic for me is the community - talking to people between rounds, chatting with my opponent, trading cards, which is something I never really got to do on MTGO. Similarly, I like to collect cards, and while a digital collection isn't something I'm inherently opposed to, the fact that someone other than myself (namely, WotC) controls that collection to an extent, and could cause me to lose it all with the press of a button(just about) is a problem for me.

For those who will think I'm just being paranoid, the relevant bit from the MTGO EULA:

9. Restrictions. The Game, Game Service, Software and any Game related products or services are made available solely for use by Accounts holders according to the terms of this License. Any use, reproduction or redistribution of the Game, Game Service, Software or Game related products or services (including without limitation, Digital Objects) not expressly authorized by this License is expressly prohibited and may result in severe civil and criminal penalties. You are strictly prohibited from engaging in, or assisting others to engage in, conduct that would damage or impair the property of Wizards including, without limitation, the following: (a) copying, distributing, transmitting, displaying, performing, framing, linking, hosting, caching, reproducing, publishing, licensing, or creating derivative works from any information, software, products or services obtained from the Game, Game Service or Software; (b) modifying, reverse engineering, disassembling or decompiling the Game, Game Service or Software except to the extent that this restriction is expressly prohibited by applicable law; (c) using intellectual property contained in the Game, Game Service or the Software to create derivates or to provide any other means through which others may play the Game such as through server emulators; (d) taking actions that impose an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on Wizards’ network infrastructure or that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair any of Wizards’ websites or other services; (e) interfering with any other party’s use and enjoyment of the Game, Game Service and/or Software (including cheating) and any Wizards’ websites or services; and (f) attempting to gain unauthorized access to third party Accounts, the Game, the Game Service or Software via any means.

Wizards does not recognize any purported transfers or sales of Digital Objects, event tickets or other virtual assets outside of the Software. Accordingly, you are strictly prohibited from selling, gifting (except as permitted herein) or exchanging Digital Objects, event tickets or other virtual Game items for currency or other value outside of the Game.

Moreover, Wizards does not recognize or sanction player created events in the Game Service and is not liable for any issues that may occur during such an event including, without limitation, entry requirements, match disputes and arbitration, or prize fulfillment.

IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER RIGHTS AND REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO WIZARDS, IF WIZARDS BELIEVES YOU HAVE, OR WILL ENGAGE IN ANY OF THE ABOVE CONDUCT IN THIS SECTION 9, IT MAY, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION AND WITHOUT NOTICE, TERMINATE YOUR ACCESS TO THE GAME AND GAME SERVICES, AND SUSPEND OR DEACTIVATE YOUR ACCOUNTS WITH NO LIABILITY TO IT RELATING THERETO.

(Capslock was theirs, not mine)

tl;dr: If they think you have or will break a rule, they can, without notice or liability, terminate your account.

I doubt they would do that without a good reason, but it's still not something I am comfortable agreeing too if I will be investing hundreds/thousands of dollars into a collection. At least the paper cards, once I acquire them, are mine, regardless of what WotC has to say about it.

[Norm4eva]

Unfortunately, I will not be playing online.

due to budget reasons I have decided that I will only play magic either in paper or on MTGO, but not both - I don't have the money to justify buying a digital copy of a deck and the real one. That said, A big part of magic for me is the community - talking to people between rounds, chatting with my opponent, trading cards, which is something I never really got to do on MTGO. Similarly, I like to collect cards, and while a digital collection isn't something I'm inherently opposed to, the fact that someone other than myself (namely, WotC) controls that collection to an extent, and could cause me to lose it all with the press of a button(just about) is a problem for me.

For those who will think I'm just being paranoid, the relevant bit from the MTGO EULA:

9. Restrictions. The Game, Game Service, Software and any Game related products or services are made available solely for use by Accounts holders according to the terms of this License. Any use, reproduction or redistribution of the Game, Game Service, Software or Game related products or services (including without limitation, Digital Objects) not expressly authorized by this License is expressly prohibited and may result in severe civil and criminal penalties. You are strictly prohibited from engaging in, or assisting others to engage in, conduct that would damage or impair the property of Wizards including, without limitation, the following: (a) copying, distributing, transmitting, displaying, performing, framing, linking, hosting, caching, reproducing, publishing, licensing, or creating derivative works from any information, software, products or services obtained from the Game, Game Service or Software; (b) modifying, reverse engineering, disassembling or decompiling the Game, Game Service or Software except to the extent that this restriction is expressly prohibited by applicable law; (c) using intellectual property contained in the Game, Game Service or the Software to create derivates or to provide any other means through which others may play the Game such as through server emulators; (d) taking actions that impose an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on Wizards’ network infrastructure or that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair any of Wizards’ websites or other services; (e) interfering with any other party’s use and enjoyment of the Game, Game Service and/or Software (including cheating) and any Wizards’ websites or services; and (f) attempting to gain unauthorized access to third party Accounts, the Game, the Game Service or Software via any means.

Wizards does not recognize any purported transfers or sales of Digital Objects, event tickets or other virtual assets outside of the Software. Accordingly, you are strictly prohibited from selling, gifting (except as permitted herein) or exchanging Digital Objects, event tickets or other virtual Game items for currency or other value outside of the Game.

Moreover, Wizards does not recognize or sanction player created events in the Game Service and is not liable for any issues that may occur during such an event including, without limitation, entry requirements, match disputes and arbitration, or prize fulfillment.

IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER RIGHTS AND REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO WIZARDS, IF WIZARDS BELIEVES YOU HAVE, OR WILL ENGAGE IN ANY OF THE ABOVE CONDUCT IN THIS SECTION 9, IT MAY, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION AND WITHOUT NOTICE, TERMINATE YOUR ACCESS TO THE GAME AND GAME SERVICES, AND SUSPEND OR DEACTIVATE YOUR ACCOUNTS WITH NO LIABILITY TO IT RELATING THERETO.

(Capslock was theirs, not mine)

tl;dr: If they think you have or will break a rule, they can, without notice or liability, terminate your account.

I doubt they would do that without a good reason, but it's still not something I am comfortable agreeing too if I will be investing hundreds/thousands of dollars into a collection. At least the paper cards, once I acquire them, are mine, regardless of what WotC has to say about it.

Especially if you're someone who runs a computer with any kind of emulation or virtualization on it, this is important.  Blizzard is a good example of an organization whose cheat detection software isn't smart enough to know the difference between someone who's actually botting vs. someone who's playing WoW wrapped in WINE (makes it run on Linux) and subsequently any amount of money you spent on your account can get tossed in the crapper at their discretion.  They say they try not to do this, but they don't have to apologize for screwing you over either.

I might sound like a twerp for saying this, but honestly, I kind of prefer Duel of the Planeswalkers.  It's nothing like Vintage, at all (unless you're Nicol Bolas, fucker), but it's interesting and CHEAPER lol.  Even for its timed priority passes and "Achievement Unlocked" rewards, it manages to be engaging and the AI has surprised me more than once - I actually sort of yelled at my computer.  "What do you MEAN you know how to kill my goblins in response to me cycling Gempalm Incinerator?!  LOL fuck you"

[FishyFellow]

Count me in!  I can't wait!  MTGO has many advantages for family schedules.  While I can't easily get away during the day on the weekend (not that there are more than a handful of Vintage tourneys a year in my area anyway), I can log onto MTGO anytime and play.  There's a great group of people currently playing Classic online and I look forward to any bump the P9 can provide for firing tourneys more consistently.  Count me as someone that didn't think playing online sounded appealing at all, but a friend convinced me to give it a try a few years ago and I absolutely love it.

[LotusHead]

I play magic online via MagicWorkStation MWS ,but would probably try to get involvied in actual Vintage online, except I have 0 MTGO cards online.

If I am someow faced with the barrier of entry that others face, to play Vintage, I don't know what I would/could do to "get there".

MTG has "phantom drafts" like cube where we get to play with the cards, but don't keep what we draft.

That's fine by me. Let us play VINTAGE ONLINE even with phantom cards worth nothing.

The format is awesome, and I would love to do it "official" via Wizards, but yes, real life tournies is where it's at.

[MaximumCDawg]

Vintage isn't popular now because it's way to swingy, unbalanced, and luck based.  Also, total lack of support.  The format is on life support with a handful of crazy zealots (you and me) keeping it alive.  The format has to be fun to the masses and it just isn't there right now.  Beyond printing online reserved cards, what will they do to propagate Vintage?

This is a misconception, and hopefully Vintage on MODO will blow it up. 

I won't be playing online because, without the social aspect of the game, it gets kinda boring for me.  Plus, I can't see spending real money for virtual cards.  If I wanna play a video game, I'll pay my $50.00 once and be done with it, thank you.  Still, I hope it catches on so that the public realizes that folks like Meth here are wrong.

[President Skroob]

Meth here are wrong.

Not even once.