[Free Podcast] So Many Insane Plays # 42: Dragons of Tarkir Set Review

[thecrav]

Personally I like the set review podcasts the most, even if the verdict is that it's all unplayable dreck.

After listening to this episode and recording a set review for my own podcast, I've found that the sets full of crap are a lot of fun to review because the casters are forced to brew up something new to make the cards good enough to possibly (but probably not) see play.

[Islandswamp]

I really enjoy this podcast. I haven't gotten to finish it yet, but that will change soon.

FYI, I've been listening to this cast longer than I've been playing Vintage, that should tell you all something. 

[MTGFan]

Great podcast as usual, guys.

The one thing in this one that I really liked was the critical assessment of Wizards of the Coast development / marketing model viz a viz Steve's commentary (being "pre-Internet" in their set design and promotion and how that affects card creation for Eternal formats). That's kind of an aspect of the game that goes under-served by most writers or podcast promoters: the conjecture regarding the internal workings of Wizards and how they approach the design of the game itself. I also listen to Mark Rosewater's "Drive to Work" podcast which goes in-depth on these matters, but it is primarily from the perspective of the Wizards design team, as he is obviously one of the lead designers there. There is a real dearth of commentary on the game design and marketing itself from people outside of the organization, and it was interesting to hear Steve's take on that aspect of Magic.

[omg_sharks!]

Love the free vintage podcast.  Love the fact that folks (like me) with only a handful of posts are actively giving feedback here and all over TMD of late.  I like that the vintage community is growing.  Also, i acknowledge that podcasts like this and (the other one) Serious Vintage are a point of entry for a lot of folks.  I appreciate the contribution and see it as a labor of love by the casters, demonstrating your dedication to the community as a whole.  So thanks for that!  That said, i think we can all agree this set is mostly drek, at best it adds a couple cards to fringe strategies.  I think the analysis of why this set is mostly drek is valuable for sure, but i am not sure that much was added in the podcast that was not already covered in detail by the hivemind in the forums here on TMD.  Though, Smendos deadpan analysis of Rending Volley kinda had me in stitches.  Well played, sir, i see what you did there, 93/94, that was awesome!  I dig the idea of analyzing Gitaxian Probe in the future.  I'd also like to hear your take on Dark Confidant vs. Nights Whisper.  I'd love to hear your take on fringe decklists too and why they are fringe, things like Mono Black Control or Goblins,  what kind of weapons and advantages they have, why is it not a potent tier 1 strategy.  Muse about what future printings would bring these fringe strategies into Tier 1 or 1.5, what are they missing?  Thanks again for the great podcast!  Cheers!