Date:    Sun, 4 Jun 2000 21:54:59 +0100
From:    Paul Barclay <paul@SECOND-HAND.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: [O] NetRep Reply 545

=======================================================================
NetRep Reply number 545 to the Magic: the Gathering List
=======================================================================
This reply covers the digests:
   MTG-L Digest - 29 May 2000 to 30 May 2000 (#2000-164)
   MTG-L Digest - 30 May 2000 to 31 May 2000 (#2000-165)
Older replies may be found at:
  http://www.second-hand.demon.co.uk           ftp://ftp.magic.asuka.net
  http://www.yavapaiopen.com               http://www.en.magic.asuka.net
  http://www.wizards.com/dci/judge/judgelistarchive.asp
(note the new Yavapai Open address)

** I'm going to China on business in two weeks, for three weeks. So, I
   won't be answering questions between the 18th of June and the 6th of
   July. After that, I'll be at the European Championships and the World
   Championships (although I'll have plenty of time between each to
   answer questions).

SHORT ANSWERS:
=======================================================================
** Coloured Artifacts won't ever be printed. Neither will colourless
   nonartifact spells.
** Complete in 15 words or less: "The playtesters are very..." (yes, I
   did fall asleep in the middle of the last Replies)
** There are Prophecy packs that are all-foil. This looks more like a
   marketing gimmick than a production error, as it would be very hard
   to make an error like that multiple times worldwide.
** Dingus Egg triggers whenever a land goes from play to the graveyard.
   This includes destruction, sacrifices etc (A Wildfire will cause both
   players to be dealt 8 damage).
** I'll check to see if the Rules Team want to correct the wording of
   Mirror Strike.
** The converted mana cost of an Avatar while it is on the stack is 8.

LONG ANSWERS:
=======================================================================

[Johan Sonck, asking about Goblins]
>I know this has been discussed recently, but I forgot the outcome.  Is
>a Soul Sculpted Goblin Hero considered a "Goblin"?  IOW, can it be
>sacrificed to a Goblin Grenade?

No. The Rules Team has ruled that only things with creature type
"Goblin" can be sacrificed to Goblin Grenade. Since the Goblin Hero is
no longer a creature, it no longer has creature type "Goblin", so can't
be sacrificed to pay the grenade's cost. Note that this is true even if
the creature (a token, for example) is named "Goblin".

-----
[Rob M, asking some Prophetic questions]
>Does the token from Dual Nature have a converted mana cost equal to
>the copied card's CMC, or is it zero?

The Mana Cost is equal to that of the creature. Yes, these are tokens
with non-zero mana costs.

>"* Rethink - Any X, Y or Z in that spell's mana cost is 'seen' at its
>full value, since that spell is on the Stack."
>
>But Avatars still cost 8, right?

That's correct. And a Whispers of the Muse will cost {1}, regardless of
Buyback.

>"* Wintermoon Mesa - You can't play the last ability without choosing two
>different target lands."
>
>Can Wintermoon Mesa itself be chosen as a target?

Yes. You choose targets before paying costs.

-----
[Jeff Jordan, asking about Prophecy issues]
>> * Dual Nature
(cunningly completely snipped)

Yes, Dual Nature can be very confusing with multiple copy cards. This
should be considered to be an exercise for the players involved.

>+++++
(attacking/blocking costs)
>(Note that *you* can't necessarily use Rhystic Cave to pay a War Tax,
>but your *opponent* can use it for a War Cadence, and you can't stop
>it.  The erratum did nothing to stop this.)

Actually, we're fine here, due to the rules for attacking and blocking.
If you declare an attack or block that becomes illegal, you must declare
a _different_ attack (one that hasn't yet been declared). So,
eventually, you'll get to a stage where you've declared and paid for a
legal attack or block.

>> 56. Avatar of Woe, 6BB, Creature - Avatar 6/5, Rare
>> If there are ten or more creature cards total in all graveyards,
>> Avatar of Woe costs 6 less to play.
>
>So, I announce this when I have no mana in my mana pool and there are
>nine dead creatures.  When we get to the paying-costs part, I
>sacrifice a tenth creature to Ashnod's Altar.  Do I pay BB or 6BB?

You pay 6BB. The decision whether you're paying the alternative costs or
not is made at the first step of announcement. So, you need to sacrifice
the creature before you announce the Avatar.

        Paul.
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