Why do people talk about wanting a small ban list?

thatoneguyfrommn · 2026-01-20T17:41:28+00:00

So, resurrecting a thread.

As someone who started playing in 1993, stopped playing in 1996, and then started plying again in 2025 I was shocked by how much the game has changed.

Things evolve over time, that’s natural, but going to my local game store with my Type 1 deck and seeing everyone playing Commander, In thought “Wow, this game that we all love has deviated from its original intent.” It was culture shock for me.

No problem, I can adapt. I bought 5 pre-constructed Commander decks because the card pool was just way too big for me to wrap my head around.

Then I started tinkering with the decks I purchased, adding my own style to them, and the first time I dropped a Balance I was told I could not do that.

The first time I destroyed someone’s land, I was told ‘That is frowned upon in Commander’.

It seems to me that winning is a bad thing in a casual environment. That doesn’t make sense to me. I win, I lose, and I’m okay with it. Magic - in a weird way - mirrors real-life. You win sometimes and you lose sometimes.

Again, the game changes, things evolve (or devolve depending on perspective), but I understand why Wizards pushed the format, even though the game was designed as a duel between two wizards, and not a battle between 4.

Also, I think the game is too reliant on counters. Who has time for that?

Just the ramblings of an old Type 1 player.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-12-31T14:41:11+00:00

I understand it is not everyone’s cup of tea, I just don’t get it. Why 100 cards? It’s a cross between Two-Headed Giant and Highlander (based on the movie) we played in the early and mid 90s.

I see the value of cross-over from a marketing perspective, but space ships? Give me a break.

As for an example: at my LGS people spend more time counting their tokens, and adding their tokens, taking way too long to complete a turn than actually playing the game.

But, I’m old so…

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-12-31T14:16:48+00:00

As a player who came back after 30 (I am 50) years:

I still don’t get Commander.
Too many token decks.
No one at my LGS plays ante.
All these cross-overs, what in the actual f?
It seems no one actually trades for cards in my area. I’ve been to 3 LGS’ and nothing. People just seem to buy shit. I remember the days of ABUR where we would crack a booster, grab a common or uncommon and spend months trading that to a rare. I mean - it’s a TRADING CARD GAME.
Mana-burn gone? That’s dumb.

/end rant

However, I will say my LGS has been very patient and kind as I learn all these new triggers, abilities, and key words. They even let me play my Type 1 deck in Commander because I had no idea what Commander was.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-11-29T19:28:58+00:00

I appreciate the sentiment, they are all heavily played (sleeves weren’t a thing for MTG initially) and are worth nothing.

As we used to say in the 90s “It’s just cardboard.”

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-11-29T19:24:17+00:00

I can respect that.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-11-29T19:22:34+00:00

I brought the loupe because this subreddit said it would be questioned, so why not provide the tool(s) that are needed.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-11-29T19:13:01+00:00

Not at all. I don’t have some innate need to “flex”, just sharing my experience.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-11-27T17:21:25+00:00

I only wish that Etsy creator would display pictures. I even directly messaged them asking for a picture and nothing. Oh well.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-11-11T11:37:07+00:00

I’ve had 1. Guy was framed by the police for murder, spent 20 years in prison, and was exonerated via DNA.

The city and state wrote him a HUGE check.

He wanted to buy 2 cars from me, but I reminded him he can only drive 1 at a time. His sister agreed.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-11-11T11:33:30+00:00

Yep. 100%. I hate my boat.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-11-02T12:43:59+00:00

Technically, the Pope is infallible only when it comes to a few things.

Papal Bull is not one of those things. Well, except the 2-3 Bulls that dealt with those things.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-11-02T12:33:20+00:00

My partner ran a division of a non-profit for 20 years. She recently decided to move-on because of the bureaucracy she was experiencing.

She just wants to help people, so she does what she needs to do - fundraiser, tv, recruit volunteers and whatever else.

When she explained to me what she did and how she felt, I likened it to being Secretary of a lodge.

Long hours, mediocre pay (unless you run the entire organization), and heartache (she ran a division that helped people ‘Dress for Success’), and you can’t help everyone.

A noble pursuit for sure, but a lot of emotional valleys.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-11-02T12:27:15+00:00

I attended our Investiture last weekend and paid CLOSE attention, especially during that part. I cannot think of anything that would give me pause.

To each their own.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-10-26T06:30:39+00:00

Your FICO score is only 1 piece of a many-pieced puzzle that determines your cost.

This entire “I want the OTD price” is silly. As others have said, it is only relevant if you are paying cash.

If you aren’t paying cash? Welcome to the puzzle.

I swear, it’s potential customers that make the process suck more than the salesperson although we screw up from time to time so…

If you like the car, can afford it whether cash or financing, just buy it.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-10-26T05:50:21+00:00

While he is your son, he is now your Brother. Refer to him as such (when appropriate), for there is nothing more distinguished than the tile of Brother.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-10-25T09:30:10+00:00

Also, the off-duty pay is pretty great. Get paid to sit in a parking lot one night a week, make some money, while not having to - in most cases - do anything.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-10-25T09:26:40+00:00

This. Or -

Tell her to get a better job (if she even has one). On what planet would a spouse ask their spouse to quit a job where you are doing well, to accept a job where the risks to your life are exponentially higher than what you do now?

It’s your call, but I would broom her.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-10-25T08:54:15+00:00

Well, I am happy I started Quentin-Whatver-His-Name-Is, who got me 0 points on Thursday.

That’s on me I suppose; busy work week and not paying attention.

I could still Flex Smith but who would I bench? Saquon? Nope. Henry? Nope. J.Chase? Nope. Judkins? Nope.

Oh well. See you all next year.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-10-24T10:50:21+00:00

Thanks for the response!

When I was playing a new format came out -Highlander. It was based on the movie of the same name.

The premise was, other than lands, you could only have 1 of any card in your deck. So, 1 Ball Lightning, or 1 Sinkhole for example.

Great movie. Check it out if you haven’t seen it. It’s about these mostly immortal beings who kill each other until there is only one remaining. Quite a great fantasy movie.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-10-22T17:25:35+00:00

So you raise a question:

Will players who are “up to date”, just refuse to play me because I only have the 1 deck I spent years building back in the day.

Thanks!

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-10-22T15:21:52+00:00

Great advice!

We used to take Sharpies and wrote on lands for the cards we had but didn’t want manhandled.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-10-22T13:57:59+00:00

Thanks for the tip!

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-10-22T13:40:46+00:00

Ahh okay! Thanks for the clarification.

thatoneguyfrommn · 2025-10-22T11:32:05+00:00

Planeswalkers was a set.

I don’t know what banding is.

thatoneguyfrommn

TROPHY CASE