Thank so many of you for watching the panel live today! Wow, what a rush to be able to talk about this stuff. Naturally, I've spent the past hour doing nothing but reading thoughts about Commander Legends! So here's a thread of notes and thoughts that may be helpful:
#wotcstaff
#wotcstaff
60 CARDS FOR COMMANDER DRAFT DECK SIZE
We tried a LOT of different numbers for this. Here is why 60:
-First and foremost, 60 played great
-You still have tons of variety, since you've never played the deck before.
-It lets you find the cards you're excited about.
We tried a LOT of different numbers for this. Here is why 60:
-First and foremost, 60 played great
-You still have tons of variety, since you've never played the deck before.
-It lets you find the cards you're excited about.
-Draft is smaller than normal constructed, therefore Commander draft is smaller than commander
-You would need to buy more packs to play. For example, draft 5 packs. And as a set with a draft focus, we wanted to keep it accessible.
-You would need to buy more packs to play. For example, draft 5 packs. And as a set with a draft focus, we wanted to keep it accessible.
-Similarly, if drafting 5 packs, you'd need a HUGE set to ensure you don't end up with tons of dupes. (And drafting takes FOREVER.)
-60 is an important number because people KNOW the ratios. How many lands go into an 80 or 70 card deck? Most people have no idea. 60 they know. :)
-60 is an important number because people KNOW the ratios. How many lands go into an 80 or 70 card deck? Most people have no idea. 60 they know. :)
When you do play the set finally, I really do assure you that it feels a lot like Commander and there's a ton of variety - and given nobody has ever played their deck before, often it even feels fresher than a regular commander game!
DECKBUILDING ALLOWS FOR DUPLICATES
We tried this both ways as well. Reasons for doing it are:
-First of all, this doesn't happen very often with 3-packs and 20 cards given our set size. So I wouldn't expect your opponent to slam down 3 Command Towers or anything.
We tried this both ways as well. Reasons for doing it are:
-First of all, this doesn't happen very often with 3-packs and 20 cards given our set size. So I wouldn't expect your opponent to slam down 3 Command Towers or anything.
-When drafting, it's a big mental tax on an already complicated format to keep in mind the off-chance you might grab an illegal duplicate. It is SUCH a feel bad to spend a pick on a card and then get to deckbuilding and discover you were a fool.
-It allows Prismatic Piper to work if you fail to draft any legends without additional rules or text.
-Normal draft lets you break the 4-of rule, so there is precedent there.
-We made the set bigger to accommodate for this, so there are more commons than usual for example.
-Normal draft lets you break the 4-of rule, so there is precedent there.
-We made the set bigger to accommodate for this, so there are more commons than usual for example.
ON PARTNER
Yes, partners are powerful. Really powerful. And so we spent probably the most time on this aspect of the set than anything. Some notes:
-While every partner has a home, some are definitely more intended for Limited than others.
Yes, partners are powerful. Really powerful. And so we spent probably the most time on this aspect of the set than anything. Some notes:
-While every partner has a home, some are definitely more intended for Limited than others.
-We playtested them a LOT. We not only brought in external folks to work on them, but we played them tons. And not just in Limited, but lots in constructed too. We even brought some of the game balance and play design folks to look at them. A TON of care was put in here.
-We literally pushed the set back so we could have more time to keep testing these.
-A big mantra was, "Let's not make more Thrassios or Vial Smashers". :)
-A big mantra was, "Let's not make more Thrassios or Vial Smashers". :)
-Is it possible some combination will end up incredibly powerful? Yes. We are human! Us and the RC will keep an eye on them. But we tried to err on the side of caution here. We are hyperaware of the huge impacts the originals had, in both traditional commander and competitive.
-Partner is truly KEY to making the draft environment work. "Partner with" wouldn't do that here. (Fun fact too: Partner was in this set before you even ever saw Battlebond!)
ON SENGIR
Just some individual notes on him:
-The two +1/+1 counters is a throwback to the old Baron's +2/+2 counters.
-As I just spent several Tweets discussing, partner is VERY powerful. Kresh is the 6th most popular Jund Commander on EDHREC, and this has partner plus flying!
Just some individual notes on him:
-The two +1/+1 counters is a throwback to the old Baron's +2/+2 counters.
-As I just spent several Tweets discussing, partner is VERY powerful. Kresh is the 6th most popular Jund Commander on EDHREC, and this has partner plus flying!
-There is not a Vampire theme in this set, which is why it specifically does not call out Vampires. it does, however, play well in a Vampire deck, which often has lots of small creatures dying!
-@JulesRobins designed this card, so I'll let him answer any specific design questions
-@JulesRobins designed this card, so I'll let him answer any specific design questions
DRAFT BOOSTER PRICING
As a reminder, we don't do MSRP anymore. I literally cannot share anything specific. I will repeat, however, what I said on panel: We expect Commander Legends draft boosters to be more expensive than a normal booster, but not as expensive as Masters product.
As a reminder, we don't do MSRP anymore. I literally cannot share anything specific. I will repeat, however, what I said on panel: We expect Commander Legends draft boosters to be more expensive than a normal booster, but not as expensive as Masters product.
ON FETCHLANDS
Yes, you are correct, we didn't answer that question that was in the chat. It's because I don't have anything to say about them at this time, and I didn't feel like just saying that would be particularly useful, but yes of course I saw all of your comments. :)
Yes, you are correct, we didn't answer that question that was in the chat. It's because I don't have anything to say about them at this time, and I didn't feel like just saying that would be particularly useful, but yes of course I saw all of your comments. :)
PRISMATIC PIPER FOR PAUPER COMMANDER VARIANT
-This sounds like a lot of fun!
-It has the S rarity because it is special. It acts like a common, but is always available in draft. We'll talk about what this means for Pauper, but given lands have rarity L and are pauper legal... :)
-This sounds like a lot of fun!
-It has the S rarity because it is special. It acts like a common, but is always available in draft. We'll talk about what this means for Pauper, but given lands have rarity L and are pauper legal... :)
ETCHED FOILS
-As said on panel, these appear in every Collector Booster and also occasionally in draft boosters.
-If you open one, you can play it! Adds fun variety to the draft that comes up now and then.
-Watch my new video on my Good Morning Magic YouTube channel to see one!
-As said on panel, these appear in every Collector Booster and also occasionally in draft boosters.
-If you open one, you can play it! Adds fun variety to the draft that comes up now and then.
-Watch my new video on my Good Morning Magic YouTube channel to see one!
COLLECTOR BOOSTERS
-We did them here because Commander players love blinging their decks and cool versions of cards, so it made a ton of sense to have a place you could easily get these treatments!
-Extended art staples are not all JUST for Commander. (Eyes up. Legacy players!)
-We did them here because Commander players love blinging their decks and cool versions of cards, so it made a ton of sense to have a place you could easily get these treatments!
-Extended art staples are not all JUST for Commander. (Eyes up. Legacy players!)
SET BOOSTERS
-No, Commander Legends does not have a set booster since it really is meant to be drafted more than anything. I'm glad you all are excited about the Zendikar Rising ones though!
-No, Commander Legends does not have a set booster since it really is meant to be drafted more than anything. I'm glad you all are excited about the Zendikar Rising ones though!
ENEMY BATTLEBOND CROWDLANDS
-Just these 5 are in the set, as I said at the end of the panel.
-Fun fact: these were the first 5 cards I ever put into the set once it was greenlit, before Battlebond even came out.
-Just these 5 are in the set, as I said at the end of the panel.
-Fun fact: these were the first 5 cards I ever put into the set once it was greenlit, before Battlebond even came out.
-Imagine knowing you were making these from literally the first moment people saw the others and fielding questions about them constantly and people being "please finally make the other 5" This whole time. Ah, such is my job. :)
Finally, on a non-question note, I want to say: big thanks to the HUGE team who brought Commander Legends to life. (Especially @shawnmain, @EthanFleischer & @RobertJSchuster who were at the very start!) The set wouldn't be possible without literally hundreds of people's effort!
OKAY. That is a lot all at once, I'll keep reading through comments now as I'm sure there are tons. Feel free to reply with other questions, and hopefully this is helpful! I AM SO EXCITED TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COMMANDER LEGENDS NOW!!!
#wotcstaff
#wotcstaff
Immediately realized I wanted to share one more thing that's been a popular ask. Since so many of you want to know...
SET SIZE
The MAIN set (not including the 32 reprint legends, though those can appear in draft boosters) contains:
361 cards total (no basic lands!)
165 new cards
SET SIZE
The MAIN set (not including the 32 reprint legends, though those can appear in draft boosters) contains:
361 cards total (no basic lands!)
165 new cards
