The Player's voice

I understand what Frank Karsten wrote as Wizard's position and agree that they are making a huge mistake with this move. They really need to know what the player's think about it. I am happy to see that Raph and Ant have made this forum for people to comment. I have met BDM and he seems like a nice guy, but he did a horrible job trying to spin this in a positive light. Whether you candy coat crap or not, it is still crap!

I hope that I can do whatever is in my power to make a change. I have been an avid player for over 10 years and have attended hundred of ptq's in one form or another. As an average player I am already considering selling off my collection and working more on other endeavors. WOTC had better step up fast if they expect to keep Magic going for the long term!

My 2 cents,

gwdearing

Hello all. I am a semi competitive player from the true Northern California region. (I am 20 miles south of Oregon and have to drive 5 hours to San Jose or 6 hours to Portland for PTQ's) I have been dreaming of playing on the PT since I played my first FNM 6 years ago. For the past couple years I have gotten more and more excited by all of new frills of the PT lifestyle. It seemed like every year there was some new better part of the tour and it was always exclamated by the promise that there was even more new stuff coming in the future. I believe that cutting a PT is a big step backward from everything that WotC is trying to build. I offer my full support on this as miniscule as it may be.

Michaelj

I think this forum was a great idea. As MichaelJ, im a semipro player too, and i think WoTC staff doesnt count with player (the most important) opinion to plan the PT year calendar.

Congratulations to the creator of this initiative and LONG LIVE MAGIC!

I'm just here to put in my bit of support. I played in my first PTQs last year, but I've been playing the game since 4th Edition, and I follow the pro circuit avidly. My goal coming into this year was going to be to qualify for a PT, but finding out I wouldn't be able to make KL or (probably) Hollywood, and knowing that there is only one more PT before Worlds hits, I must admit that my enthusiasm for the game has been dampened recently. I remember reading BDM's article in which he slid the announcments about WotC's program changes, and I just felt very uneasy about the whole thing. The approach seemed to have a "Well, let's mention this in passing, try to put some positive spin on it, then just leave it as it is" air about it, which to me indicated that they expected negative reactions but wanted to mitigate the issue in the public view.

At any rate, I'm really glad to see that players across the world now have an "official" place to get together to discuss recent changes, our relationship with Wizards, and anything else that may arise in the near or distant future. I also like that it gives players of all levels (from those who have never played in a PTQ to old lvl6 mages) a chance to interact and discuss important issues surrounding the game.


-Alex Giffen

Great Idea. I love to watch the tour and see the "superstars" and how they play, I would like to say that this was a huge bombshell to drop without discussing this with the players. This forum was made to support that cause so I support it.

I am really glad that the magic community is coming together in a sort of call to arms, every player has moments in their playing days that will stick around as memories forever. I like so many of you enjoy the competitive magic scene and spend hours every week testing all kinds of decks from the ones that won recent ptqs or crazy concoctions I dreamt up while at work. I was at one time lucky enough to make some amatuer prize money at GP chicago 3man sealed with rochester day 2. It was really a thrilling sensation, and now i am sad that so many amatuers will not get to feel that rush. We squeaked in to Day 2 no byes 6-2 it was so much fun. Magic has since axed team limited, which I quite enjoyed instead of playing against my friends I got to play with them, and now they have cut the amatuer prizes. I don't think there is anyway I can justify making the 15 hr drive to GP: Philly. I mean I know I would have a great time, but I also know that the chance to take home a prize if I do well is the reason I compete. I don't expect to win a bunch of cash, but just maybe by the skin of my teeth I could feel that thrill again.

I'm here to support the players voice in WOTC affairs. I feel that if this game is going to stick around, its going to take more than a few people to make large scale decisions that affect the magic community as a whole.

Im 17 and im an average player, i got into magic about 3 years ago when i was playing a game of Yu-Gi-Oh (yes im still ashamed of it =P) and saw someone play a game of magic and thought it was a very interesting game.
I found it such a great concept that it wasn't always the best cards win (like with Yu-Gi-Oh) and the fact that alot of skill is needed to be good, not just luck.
my appetite for magic was made even more great when I played my first FNM and managed 4th place with a B/W deck and it felt good to get prizes for doing well(ish).
I am in full support of this site and everything it is trying to do and 100% hope that wizards will acknowledge what we, the players, both pro and casual alike want from the game.

Dane Christoffersen

I played in my first pro tour last season (Valencia) won a decent amount of money and qualified for Kuala Lumpur (from Valencia top 50) and Hollywood (Ranking).

There is a GP in my country this season and I was planning to visit all the European Grand Prix circuit.

I was hopeful of perhaps making level 3 this year and believed I hada real shot at it. However, with the appearance fee cut and 1 less pro-tour i need to make this new level 5 for it to be worth it and with 1 less pro tour it just does not seem worth it.

I am no longer going to Kuala Lumpur and Hollywood is 50:50.

I really believed I had a shot at turning pro, but thanks to these changes I won't risk the prize money. I will still play in PTQs at the moment but it is getting harded to justify the cost of getting 4 of all the key cards. Especially when they will be releasing 4 sets this year.

I know Wizards is money grabbing, but the pro tour was where they gave something back. The future of the whole tour seems in doubt to me unless Hasbro shares rise.

Not only is the idea a great one, but the way that it is being gone about is awesome as well!

I love the fact that this is a non-threatening, "play nice" kind of thing. We all love the game, and when I heard about a players union i almost did a double-take. When you hear the word union, especially in America, you think blacklisting, strikes, etc. and I was very happy to note that this was not the case.

excellent job everyone!

I hope this works!!

Matt McCormick
level 1/2 Mage (PTQ player)

I support Levy and the network he created to keep the Circuit alive. After all I've been involved on the smaller scale and in raising Legacy when I returned and learned about the Pro Circuit. Then when I learned about Evan Erwin, and with that wanted to get my name out there to prove to everyone who shunned me in the past that I could do it like all of those people who've made it big in one form or the other.

Been lurking, and I'm finally taking the leap into supporting the movement. As a sometime PTQer, I'm upset at the current state of the PT, so anything I can do to help (limited as it may be...) is at the disposal of the MTGPU.

Hi all

Just thought I'd add my voice of support to this organisation and those who have set it up.

My story is quite similar to several others already posted, but I figured the more such stories the better.

I'm from the UK, and I started playing a few years ago (Kamigawa block), and started playing PTQs soon after.
I mostly play limited nowadays. Having a baby daughter means I have don't have enough time to keep up with constructed as I once did!
(I went to 5 PTQs for KL. )

Losing a limited ProTour (and more importantly PTQ season) hurt a lot! On the otherhand, getting a flights paid for, instead of cash was a boost... not that I've won a PTQ yet!

For a long time my goal was to play on the Pro tour, and my dream was to be a Pro ("play the game see the world").

Now with two fewer PTQ seasons than we once had, and the cuts in beneifts at the higher levels, both my goal and dream have lost a lot hope!

Anyway, hope you guys can make a difference!

IkomaAze wrote:Hi all

Just thought I'd add my voice of support to this organisation and those who have set it up.

My story is quite similar to several others already posted, but I figured the more such stories the better.

I'm from the UK, and I started playing a few years ago (Kamigawa block), and started playing PTQs soon after.
I mostly play limited nowadays. Having a baby daughter means I have don't have enough time to keep up with constructed as I once did!
(I went to 5 PTQs for KL. )

Losing a limited ProTour (and more importantly PTQ season) hurt a lot! On the otherhand, getting a flights paid for, instead of cash was a boost... not that I've won a PTQ yet!

For a long time my goal was to play on the Pro tour, and my dream was to be a Pro ("play the game see the world").

Now with two fewer PTQ seasons than we once had, and the cuts in beneifts at the higher levels, both my goal and dream have lost a lot hope!

Anyway, hope you guys can make a difference!

Heya dude, glad you could make it to the forums.

Don't worry I've still got your Chinese Avatar of Woe's and will be at the next Pre-Release!


The UK is a very had place to become Pro at Magic, so less possibilities for players will mean less interest.

First of all, let me just say great job to levy and everyone else for putting this together, i think its a great idea and good luck with the union.

I've been playing for a few years now (since about invasion) and unfortunately i had to watch magic die regionally a few years back where i used to live. I'd hate to see that happen on a larger scale and i don't think it has to and don't think it will.

As for the changes, now that i have moved back to Canada and gotten back into magic to see these changes was a bit upsetting. I have friends back home who did get the chance to play PT (personally i never have) and were always glad for the chance to travel, see the world , meet people and just have a fun weekend playing magic. I mean isn't that what its all about really, sure the money is also a bit of an incentive but i know alot of people who would be happy just making enough to cover the trip and coming back with empty pockets just to have the experience of playing a pro tour.

Anyways keep up the good work!