Episode 250 - GenCon Over the Years

With full spoilers, a prelease, and several high profile Pioneer events behind us, this week we look at and discuss the Lost Cavers of Ixalan. What cards do we think are prices well? Which are priced poorly? Is there enough "juice" on the Enchanting Tales sheet to keep people opening this set for a while?

With Caverns of Ixalan set to release shortly, we look back at our Wilds of Eldraine card assessment to see how discerning an eye we cast at the set. Were we right, were we wrong? Are we out of touch, or is it truly the children?

As our fifth year as a podcast draws to a close, we continue our process of self reflection and growth. This episode we look back at four picks, each, and discuss what they represent to us: winners and losers alike, there's always a lesson to be learned.

As we wrap up fifth year doing the podcast, we take a look back and both this year and years prior to starting the podcast. What were we like then? What's changed? Do we even still enjoy the game anymore? What's up with Standard? Why you should, or shouldn't, own an LGS. It's been a wild wild and here's to another 5! https://infinite.tcgplayer.com/article/Everything-We-Know-About-MTG-s-LOTR-Tales-of-Middle-earth-Holiday-Release/365c9187-a0b3-4229-a465-e510f14d4164/

As has become tradition, we review the rest of the 2023 and 2024 product slate as provide to us by WotC. This time, though, we know where a number of Universes Beyond sets are and how many times we're returning to Ravnica. Will the LGS thrive because of some of the new draft environments or top down trope based design? Are "tent pole" Universes Beyond sets good for vendors? Find out this week! https://cardgamebase.com/upcoming-mtg-sets-2023/ https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/351450643950600199/1161522100192940092/en_OsI9fF58WE.png?ex=65389ac0&is=652625c0&hm=f58a4883d51851e43331570748208cfe69c4728606f250beebce32d9fec06850&

The draft boosters, they are a changin'! This week WotC announced the end of Set and Draft boosters and their replacement product, collation, and reasoning. We pivoted last minute to discuss this as it will have immediate impact with the release of Murders at Karlov Mansion at all levels. Be you player, vendor, LGSs, or collector, this announcement as something for you! https://cardboardbythenumbers.com/2023/10/17/the-numbers-that-killed-draft-boosters/ https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/mtg-arena/play-boosters-on-mtg-arena

Over the course of the last 18 to 24 months, we've heard rumblings of what can be termed as the "Whale Bail" as larger LGS customers start to speak out against WotC's printing policies with their wallets. So as we have been steadfastly collecting stories of customers, what we began to see bubble up was that LGS's started to tell the same stories about customers starting to speak out and being left with illiquid sealed product. We discuss what can firmly be called the, "Whale Bail" and breaking down a host of information, stories, and industry articles (linked below). https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgfinance/comments/14zh3jg/on_price_value_scarcity_and_reprints/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgfinance/comments/14yv24v/lessons_ive_learned_the_wins_and_losses/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgfinance/comments/14z1kzc/wotc_has_clearly_run_out_of_reprint_equity_what/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgfinance/comments/155inie/using_a_card_game_as_serious_investment_vehicle https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgfinance/comments/15asr7e/lgss_left_holding_the_bag_for_cmm/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgfinance/comments/15bcn13/whale_bail/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgfinance/comments/16cfv00/just_opened_an_lgs_here_arethe_numbers/ https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/55253/troll-toad-backs-off-magic-the-gathering

MagicCon Vegas 2023 saw a number of announcements; from Doctor Who spoilers to upcoming Universes Beyond and even the next Standard Play announcement. And it's this announcement that we're doing to discuss this week as it has the opportunity to immediately impact the LGS level of the competitive Magic ecosystem. So we break down a number of LGS issues and concerns about Standard play and once again, supporting competitive Standard. Standard Announcement: https://magic.gg/news/the-next-steps-in-revitalizing-standard-play

MagicCon Vegas 2023 is in the books, Worlds has been won, and the first $100 thousand sealed event compete. But what was it actually like at the event? How was everything structured and what was the feeling? We break down MagicCon Vegas 2023 from a logistics standpoint so you didn't have to be there! Come join us as we crack open the seedy underbelly of Vegas.

With the heat from "LOR" dissipated, and WOE taking center stage, we go back this week to look at our picks for our most overhyped card, underhyped card, and that Goldilox one right in the middle. We pull apart our reasoning, the price points, where we think we went right or wrong, and just generally hang our heads.