Post by Testset on Mar 4, 2014 17:45:09 GMT
Might as well start this section with an old column, since it was a hit last time...
For anyone who's not familiar with the term, a "Proxy" is a card in a deck that is supposed to represent and be treated as another card. I have heard different arguments and intentions for using these, some of which I like, others that trouble me.
Strong as my opinions are, I decided today to write an article regarding my thoughts on the matter. Feel free to respond or refute after reading.
1. "I am playtesting this deck, and will replace these once I'm sure that these will be in the final version."
Perfectly understandable. I've done that plenty. You don't want to trade or purchase cards only to put them back in your binder when you discover that a {Counterspell} is more useful than the expensive {Glimpse the Unthinkable} you originally filled that slot with. I have wasted plenty of hard-earned money on a few playsets that didn't make the cut.
2. "My {Jace, the Mind Sculptor}/{Lion's Eye Diamond}/{Tarmagoyf} is too valuable to actually shuffle in a deck."
Meh, okay. So long as you keep the original with you while playing to prove you own it. If I'm to simply take your word for it, you could also have a {Timetwister}, {Sapphire Mox}, and {Ancestral Recall}, for all I know. Personally, I love watching everyone salivate when I drop my JTMS in the middle of a match, but that's me.
3. "I'm trying to get one, but the store is sold out."
Depends on the player. I'll give my friend a pass, so long as the store isn't "sold out" for 3 months. Personally, I avoid running a deck until it's fully built, If it's John Doe at Friday Night Magic, I raise an eyebrow.
4. "I just have the one, but I want to run it in all my decks."
Come on, man. If you need to do that, just give all your decks the same sleeves and swap it into whatever you're running. Even if you did have 10 {Dark Confidants}, do you really need to run one in every single deck? A little variety adds to the fun of Magic.
5. "I don't have/don't want to spend the money on expensive cards."
This is the big one.
If you can't afford a ribeye steak, you won't be eating one. If you can't afford to fly to Hawaii, you don't get to go. If you can't afford a Ferarri, you're driving a sedan. Welcome to life. I have heard all the arguments including personal attacks regarding inequality and financial priorities.
This isn't a cheap hobby, and any new players to the game should be aware of this. If you choose to devote your resources to this instead of say, parties, dining, cars, or toys, then you have the right to do so. You earned that by sacrificing all the other things you could have bought with it. I worked part-time during high school and spent plenty of my earnings on cards. I passed up valuable time that could have been used playing, relaxing, studying, etc. I absolutely resent those who feel that they are entitled to the same benefits without putting in the effort.
I knew a player who wanted to run 4 {Baneslayer Angel}s in his deck (when they were $60 each), so he just wrote "Baneslayer" on some basic lands with a marker. Considering how hard I worked to earn my playset, I was offended.
You could argue that "life's not fair, deal with it." True, some people will live like this, and see nothing wrong with their behavior. Personally, I refuse to play with them. But this article is about ethics, and I believe this behavior is shameful. Maybe a few will read this and reconsider their views, maybe not.
In closing, proxies can be a useful tool, or even a temporary fix. I steadfastly believe that "temporary" is the keyword and they should NEVER be a permanent solution.
And please, if you do proxy, keep it clean and legible. Deciphering poorly handwritten stickynotes detracts from the game and kills the pace. Peace. ✌️
For anyone who's not familiar with the term, a "Proxy" is a card in a deck that is supposed to represent and be treated as another card. I have heard different arguments and intentions for using these, some of which I like, others that trouble me.
Strong as my opinions are, I decided today to write an article regarding my thoughts on the matter. Feel free to respond or refute after reading.
1. "I am playtesting this deck, and will replace these once I'm sure that these will be in the final version."
Perfectly understandable. I've done that plenty. You don't want to trade or purchase cards only to put them back in your binder when you discover that a {Counterspell} is more useful than the expensive {Glimpse the Unthinkable} you originally filled that slot with. I have wasted plenty of hard-earned money on a few playsets that didn't make the cut.
2. "My {Jace, the Mind Sculptor}/{Lion's Eye Diamond}/{Tarmagoyf} is too valuable to actually shuffle in a deck."
Meh, okay. So long as you keep the original with you while playing to prove you own it. If I'm to simply take your word for it, you could also have a {Timetwister}, {Sapphire Mox}, and {Ancestral Recall}, for all I know. Personally, I love watching everyone salivate when I drop my JTMS in the middle of a match, but that's me.
3. "I'm trying to get one, but the store is sold out."
Depends on the player. I'll give my friend a pass, so long as the store isn't "sold out" for 3 months. Personally, I avoid running a deck until it's fully built, If it's John Doe at Friday Night Magic, I raise an eyebrow.
4. "I just have the one, but I want to run it in all my decks."
Come on, man. If you need to do that, just give all your decks the same sleeves and swap it into whatever you're running. Even if you did have 10 {Dark Confidants}, do you really need to run one in every single deck? A little variety adds to the fun of Magic.
5. "I don't have/don't want to spend the money on expensive cards."
This is the big one.
If you can't afford a ribeye steak, you won't be eating one. If you can't afford to fly to Hawaii, you don't get to go. If you can't afford a Ferarri, you're driving a sedan. Welcome to life. I have heard all the arguments including personal attacks regarding inequality and financial priorities.
This isn't a cheap hobby, and any new players to the game should be aware of this. If you choose to devote your resources to this instead of say, parties, dining, cars, or toys, then you have the right to do so. You earned that by sacrificing all the other things you could have bought with it. I worked part-time during high school and spent plenty of my earnings on cards. I passed up valuable time that could have been used playing, relaxing, studying, etc. I absolutely resent those who feel that they are entitled to the same benefits without putting in the effort.
I knew a player who wanted to run 4 {Baneslayer Angel}s in his deck (when they were $60 each), so he just wrote "Baneslayer" on some basic lands with a marker. Considering how hard I worked to earn my playset, I was offended.
You could argue that "life's not fair, deal with it." True, some people will live like this, and see nothing wrong with their behavior. Personally, I refuse to play with them. But this article is about ethics, and I believe this behavior is shameful. Maybe a few will read this and reconsider their views, maybe not.
In closing, proxies can be a useful tool, or even a temporary fix. I steadfastly believe that "temporary" is the keyword and they should NEVER be a permanent solution.
And please, if you do proxy, keep it clean and legible. Deciphering poorly handwritten stickynotes detracts from the game and kills the pace. Peace. ✌️
