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Regular REL » Post: God Packs

God Packs

April 28, 2014 07:02:22 AM

Kim Warren
Judge (Uncertified)

United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa

God Packs

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/1481

Today's Arcana appears to suggest that the God boosters may not be limited to prerelease packs (otherwise there is no sense posting something starting with ‘The next Journey into Nyx booster pack you open may be filled…’). It also suggests that WotC is at least happy with judges/TOs deciding to let the player keep the booster but give them a different one to play with!

April 28, 2014 08:04:37 AM

Scott Marshall
Forum Moderator
Judge (Level 4 (Judge Foundry)), Hall of Fame

USA - Southwest

God Packs

As I mentioned in the Comp REL forum thread (that this thread duplicates), I'll close this while we wait for an official answer from Wizards.

April 28, 2014 10:53:56 AM

Scott Marshall
Forum Moderator
Judge (Level 4 (Judge Foundry)), Hall of Fame

USA - Southwest

God Packs

The decision to replace the “God pack” with a regular booster is entirely up to the TO.

It is very strongly recommended that, as Head Judges, we discuss this topic with our TO in advance. Help them understand the various factors, how players see things, etc. This should help each TO make their own decisions; keep in mind that, should the TO find it prohibitive to replace product, then the lucky(?) player gets to use his or her Pantheon.

Wizards of the Coast will be replacing these packs with a regular pack for any events where they are the TO (e.g., Pro Tours), or where they prepare product (e.g., drafts for day two of some GPs). That's not a statement on what should happen, it's just the decision that Wizards has made. I think it can inform the decisions for other TOs - obviously, Wizards feels this is better for the event - but it should never be presented to any TO as “you must do it this way!”

Personally, I would always replace the Pantheon, and let the player keep their “bonus”. I was undecided at first, then some quick logic convinced me: at the very least (in a 2-color Sealed build) you will have three Gods in your colors. It's common for even experienceed players to splash a 3rd color in Sealed, and that means you'll have at least SIX Gods you can build around - more if you opened any in your other packs. And, Gods forbid (heh - see what I did there?!) you open and build with TWO of these Pantheons!

For a friendly, Regular REL store event, it may be fun to let the player build with that pack. When it's something more Competitive (GPTs, PTQs), then I think the player community would greatly prefer replacement.

If you, as Head Judge of an upcoming event, discuss all of that with your TO, then you've done your part to allow the TO to make the best decision for them - and that's the end of our part in this.

d:^D