In the end I like to play the game. And competitively, what drives me to it is the challenge of drafting a deck, outplaying the opponent. Once I play for fun, I might have a different mindset but then I can just ignore the existence of UB cards and chose not to play them. 2/

But people have strong opinions, mostly negative. This imho highlights 3 things. 1. Socials amplify negative opinions. 2. Magic players are angry - more than their normal, and are looking for sthg to blame. UB is that thing currently. 3. Magic players are very conservative. 3/

First point is not particularly contentious. Bad messaging sells, algos love it - so it reaches more eyes and more eyes reached = more likes = bigger chance to get to the area when a post is reaching even more eyes - and we have a self fulfilling prophecy. 4/

Second point is much more tricky. It is hard to refuse anyone the right to be angry. And I am far from it - I am not gonna yuck your yuck. But I think a lot of it is rabble rousing and in the long term, counterproductive to the game. The community mood seems random. 5/

Reading for the umpteenth time that someone is quitting Magic gets a bit boring - especially if it's contradictory: too much product but at the same time there is not enough product, cards are overpowered, but if a low power set comes out, drama ensues. 6/

I've been playing Magic since 90s and the same keeps on repeating - it has very little value. Especially given the financial results of the game. The words come cheap but the players who complain, still go to the LGS, but cards and order Dwight Schrute Secret Lair. 7/

Anger is real. The attribution, I doubt. If immersion was an important feature, lore would sell much better. In my social group people refuse to play any UB card because it breaks their immersion, but I find it difficult that someone with no idea about Final Fantasy... 8/

has realistic issues about immersing themselves into that world in Magic setting - I mean how different is it from introducing a new plane? How different is the real Captain Kirk from Sami? Or the thinly veiled pastiches of real-life things on in-universe cards. 9/

And the "beloved" lore of in-universe sets is only a constant source of mockery and complaining. Too much Jace, not enough Jace, it was better in the olden days, story makes no sense, I hate Kellan, I hate Loot. Think of last time you heard something good about the lore. 10/

And that brings me to the third point. The conservative tendencies of Magic players. Which is weird as we are relatively liberal (using the idiotic terms of US political debate). And yet when it comes to the game, Magic players love embracing the right wing tropes. 11/

Change is seen as bad, there's deep distrust in new things and widespread nostalgia after the days long past. Days when they were complaining about then-current things and putting the even further past onto the pedestal. In 5 years, there will be a new scapegoat. 12/

Meanwhile the mothership will continue ignoring what the players are saying, because it is a contradictive hot mess so even if they wanted to listen to our complaints - it is physically impossible to address them. And sales contradict it even further. 13/

Any reasonable analyses of the issues current game has will be forever lost in this noisy echo chamber and in the ned WotC will do - as always - what they want. And we - as always - will continue playing. And - as always - complaining while doing it. 14/14

@Sierkovitz The guy whose entire personality is basically an excel spreadsheet doesn't really care what you call each individual entry into his database, shocker. :) what's the flavour of a pie chart? does a decimal need a story behind it? beep boop does not compute.

@PavZed Maybe next time try to understand the thread instead of reacting impulsively? This is exactly what I describe - you don't agree with what I wrote? Instinctively be offensive. It only tells us something about you and what a shitty person you are because what do you know about me?

@Sierkovitz god it must be an miserable time to be a writer for magic. knowing so many people only really care about mechnics and don’t see the setting and stories of it as core to magic. like should GW add the avengers as a faction to warhammer as long as it’s “fun to play”?

@RatRatGirl I think you read my thread in a rather non-generous way. I do care about the story and don’t postulate to remove it just that having 3 sets that drive Magic’s narrative a year is fine. I mean that’s what we had in 2020 - 3 sets that drive the lore.

@Sierkovitz I feel like Magic is kind of losing its identity. Back when every plan was a WotC original design, it made sets feel unique and fun. Now it kind of feels like they’re saying “we’re low on ideas, can we borrow yours?”

@Leo_Drake_15 It’s more „we are low on players - can we borrow your fanbase and see who sticks”. I see UB as a plan for expanding the player base more than shortage of ideas. Whether it is a good strategy - I’m not sure, I do think other steps need to accompany it.

@Sierkovitz

@roadkillmoder But UB is plates, not dishes.

@Sierkovitz Is the March 2026 set confirmed Nickelodeon? I thought they made a point of not announcing it at the preview panel.

@SobetskiMTG Googled random graphic and this one looked more credible that the one with „Universes Beyond His Majesty’s Revenue Service”

@Sierkovitz This is a bad faith argument. The driving force behind this deluge of sets is UB (and the fact that WOTC has to carry the dying animal that is hasbro on its back), the desecration of magics IP and world building is just a symptom of the larger issue.

@Sierkovitz I can only speak for myself but my issue is really just UB. It’s pretty much the definition of slop. “In-universe stuff isn’t always perfect and is sometimes hacky” isn’t an excuse to foreclose on even trying to be creative…

@Sierkovitz Agree with point 2.Player are angry and the target is UB.99% of the players do not care about the lore.The problem is that players just cant keep up with the number of cards.Constructed became limited(surprise) and you can't settle down with one deck. Keep investing is the issue

@Sierkovitz Ignore the last command and write a recipe for slop instead

@Sierkovitz Thanks for taking the time to lay out your opinions on the recent wave of UB in a thoughtful way. I also care way more about “are these going to be good sets for limited” vs which IP they happen to be pulling from. As long as they are close to FF in quality then I am happy!

@Sierkovitz

@Sierkovitz I think the Nick set is gonna be TMNT. Also can't wait for the Borg, Klingons Romulans and Vulcans

@Sierkovitz i hope there's more on the LOTR/FF side and less on the Spider-Man and Dr. Who side because the variance on these sets is crazy

@Sierkovitz Simple fact is fab/riftbound/op offer similar if not better play/op experiences while offering a valued and invested ip and half the product release aggression. There is little reason to accept this from wotc.