From the Vault: Power

[Butch1977]

Ok hear me out on this one before everyone starts hacking away at my karma. I know that WoTC has swore that they would never reprint the power 9 as to not devalue the cards, but at this point in the longevity of the game, would a FTV: Power 9 series REALLY devalue the originals? I don't think so. I mean the most of the new generation will never know what it's like to see a Lotus in real life much less touch one (I still remember my first time, it was amazing). I just really don't think a modern limited production like FTV would effect any of the old prices, and would bring some nostalgia back for the younger crowd. Thought and opinions please.

[Agrus Kos, Enforcer of Truth]

Originally, they allowed reprints of the cards on the reserved list in promotional products but they closed that loop hole. Wizards has repeatedly stated they would NEVER reprint ANY of the cards on the reserve list in paper form.

[Brawler_1337]

They're on the Reserved List. They couldn't reprint the Power 9 even if they wanted to.

[Butch1977]

Of course they won't reprint. I know that. I'm just asking for personal opinions. Not what WoTC says about it. I mean if it was up to Wizards we wouldn't have this app right now. Just an opinionated discussion

[Brawler_1337]

Honestly, reprinting the Power 9 in paper form would reduce the values on the originals. It might reduce the price by only a small fraction, as the originals are still the originals, but they would still drop. It's simple supply and demand: If they got reprinted, total demand would remain the same, but supply would increase on the new ones, thereby reducing the relative demand for the originals, ergo, the price drops.

[Agrus Kos, Enforcer of Truth]

My opinion...there are plenty of things that aren't on the reserved list that haven't crashed. Wizards knows how to balance between supplying the cards we need and maintaining value for collectors, so why do we need the Reserved List? It is solely a hindrance and will destroy Vintage and Legacy.

[ApexPredator]

Can you imagine how high the secondary market would drive the price up.

[Agrus Kos, Enforcer of Truth]

Honestly, reprinting the Power 9 in paper form would reduce the values on the originals. It might reduce the price by only a small fraction, as the originals are still the originals, but they would still drop. It's simple supply and demand: If they got reprinted, total demand would remain the same, but supply would increase on the new ones, thereby reducing the relative demand for the originals, ergo, the price drops.

It might knock a little bit off but they would retain 90-95% of their value, just as {Dark Confidant} and {Tarmagoyf} did when Modern Masters came out. As long as they kept it to a limited run, it would have almost no affect on the price of the originals.

[Butch1977]

Honestly, reprinting the Power 9 in paper form would reduce the values on the originals. It might reduce the price by only a small fraction, as the originals are still the originals, but they would still drop. It's simple supply and demand: If they got reprinted, total demand would remain the same, but supply would increase on the new ones, thereby reducing the relative demand for the originals, ergo, the price drops.

I tend to disagree with this only as a collector standpoint not player, and this is why. Baseball card companies have done this in the past with reprints of rookie year and banner year cards of certain players. There was no effect on the orginals and the reprints were simply known as reprints. The Power 9 is still the power 9 so legally they would fall under the same rules as the originals. These very few particular cards are collector pieces at this point, not playable cards. And collectors are not going to say "well I have a lotus now! My collection is complete!"

[rarehuntertay]

Stupid reserve list.
How much would SCG price gouge this?

[socraticirony]

Personally, I believe part of this issue has to do with the reason the Reserve List was established. Power levels aside, the List serves to separate the casual to semi-competitive players from the committed devotees. To obtain all of the Power 9 for example requires you to put Magic high on your priority list, financially and mentally. This lets an event like a Vintage tourney or convention cater to the needs of these people, an acknowledgment of their effort. To reprint the Power 9, while us economically challenged people would love the chance to play with {Black Lotus}, allows anybody into this level of Magic's social structure for $59.99 (or whatever they'd charge) where they may or may not fit in. The originals are still originals, but when everyone has one, they're still not quite as special. And there may be some serious resentment towards this from the 1995 Alpha veterans.

[ihasfrozen]

Personally, I believe part of this issue has to do with the reason the Reserve List was established. Power levels aside, the List serves to separate the casual to semi-competitive players from the committed devotees. To obtain all of the Power 9 for example requires you to put Magic high on your priority list, financially and mentally. This lets an event like a Vintage tourney or convention cater to the needs of these people, an acknowledgment of their effort. To reprint the Power 9, while us economically challenged people would love the chance to play with {Black Lotus}, allows anybody into this level of Magic's social structure for $59.99 (or whatever they'd charge) where they may or may not fit in. The originals are still originals, but when everyone has one, they're still not quite as special. And there may be some serious resentment towards this from the 1995 Alpha veterans.

They would be happy, it means there could be more than 2 "big" vintage tournaments in the world each year to play in. Besides, the originals (especially alpha/beta, but even unlimited to some extent) wouldn't really take a hit in price, they are ~20 year old collectibles at this point, and the new frame/art that would come with the reprints wouldn't be as desirable as the original in collector's eyes, who are actually a relevant group for demand/price of original power (especially alpha/beta).

Just reprinting power would still make vintage akin to legacy in terms of price though, you still need duals/fetches/tutors, and there are non-power staples ({Mishra's Workshop}, {Bazaar of Baghdad}, {Library of Alexandria}, {Mana Drain}, etc.) that would go even higher in price/scarcity if demand increased the way a power reprint theoretically would. A reprint of power would have to be accompanied with a reprint of extremely hard to find cards from Arabian Nights, Legends, and Antiquities to do the most good for the format, otherwise the meta would warp around strategies that use non-power staples (Dredge, Stax/MUD/Workshop, The Perfect Storm, etc.) and those that don't (fish, delver, other creature decks).

[ihasfrozen]

So bottom line, it would be a good thing for the collectors if the reprinted the power 9.

And in that alternate foiling,..  I'm drooling already...

Pretty much, it at least wouldn't harm the value of the originals.

I would love to get a modern-frame Lotus with the art from magic online.