Future Extended |
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Is Future Extended a format worth pursuing? This article tackles such a question. Read on, gentle Pauper! Future Extended is the name for the format that WILL be Extended when we reach the rotation in Fall 2008. This format includes 8th, 9th, and 10th Editions, and the following blocks: Mirrodin, Kamigawa, Ravnica, and Time Spiral. Future Extended is different enough from both Classic and Standard to warrant its own tourney. Without the aid of Mirage, Invasions, Odyssey, and Onslaught blocks, it would play quite a bit differently from Classic. However, it does enable a great deal more dech archetypes than Standard because of the added breadth and depth of the cardpool. Opponents of Future Extended say that we who clamor for the format are 'jumping the gun' and that there's no point in playing a format that won't really be legit for at least another year. However, I believe there's plenty of point in playing any format that will capture the hearts, minds, and attention of Paupers in our community. FutEx, as a format, is more accessible than Classic due to the newness and availability of the cards. There aren't as many 'money commons' in the FutEx cardpool as in Classic. It will shape up to have a more stable metagame and will be less succeptible to single dominant strategies due to the greater number of options available to deck designers. It will give those of us who fell in love with divisive blocks such as Mirrodin or Kamigawa the chance to play with some of our old favorites once again, in a format that may be more hospitable to them. (Kamigawa's cards are, by and large, eclipsed entirely by more powerful cards in Classic.) One negative is the impact of Mirrodin Block. Even upholding the PDC's bannings and restrictions for cards in that block (which we surely must do), Affinity strategies have tested very well in the format. It will be incumbent upon us, pilgrims and pioneers of the format, to figure out how to curb Affinity's influence before too many declare the format 'broken.' It can be done, but it will take innovators and innovation. Please post a comment relating your thoughts about Future Extended. Would you be willing to play the format, test decks, and compete in a tourney in that format? |
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Future Extended. Once in a while, the name springs up, suggested by one Pauper or another as a potential tournament-worthy format (though it would have to use the 'extended' filter and be on an honor system). There's even a regular Magic FutEx tourney going on right now in the PRE forums -- one that doesn't restrict itself to the common cardpool.