I don't understand the part about the Mana difference, but I do agree that a complete rethink of how things are supposed to work is important.

1. Do we want players that have a $100 budget to play the game? If so, what is their experience?

2. Do we want players to buy and level up cards to higher levels? If so, should we be shoving them down to a league each season where they can't play those same cards?

3. Do we want casual players or only die-hard gamers? If we want casual/average players (a much bigger universe), then we need to focus on what they would need to feel its FUN and profitable.

4. Do we want to encourage people to play only the meta cards, thus requiring a new set to always be purchased or are we ok with people owning any of the cards and playing them daily. One way creates a simple and predicable set of cards to buy/play, the other way would create a diverse and expansive gameplay with many different players experiencing the game.

5. Do we want to continue to create new modes of gameplay so that old cards can be used, or should we just make the rules such that every year we all sell our old cards and buy new ones? If we want that, how would such a concept work and who would we sell them to?

Thanks for the post Bronk, happy to see you discussing what we are supposed to be. I think its true that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, and in fact I would say that is clear throughout the community. Many people feel things should work one way, yet others feel the exact opposite.

Until we have a clear and defined understanding of how things are supposed to work, then gamers, collectors, and just normal ordinary folks are going to find disappointment if their needs aren't met.

I love the game and feel that there's a ton of things they do right as well, but definitely there are some things that can be better to create a more dynamic environment.