I don't mind that they exist as an ancillary part of the game. I don't get the appeal, but I also don't get the appeal of tactical grid-based combat, so whatever.
To each their own man. I doubt they'll ever be such a part of my game that I'll feel the "need" to have a certain card that I need to keep collecting to get.
For me, it's just a fun what WILL I get this time? thing.
It's like when I first opened the monster manual and read about the wondrous monsters... What will the next one do?
That's why it doesn't bug me thast they're random... I don't NEED them to be un random, it's the randomness of them that appeals to me.
(Unlike the randomness of the minis that DIDN'T appeal to me, because I actually needed specific monsters.)
They feel like they are predatory and exploitive products, similar to gambling. They scratch a psychological itch in the human makeup that takes a repugnant person to attempt to profit from.
A tad melodramatic don't you think?
(I'm just unhappy they don't contain a stick of stale bubblegum.)
Is the content of the game session generated by those who are actually playing so boring that people have to tune in and out to check twitter?
It's kind of interesting- to people who aren't a part of the social media thing (mostly older generations) tweeting and texting while in the company of others is seen as rude, and beinf exclusive... Whereas studies have shown that to those that are involved, the feeling is more of an inclusive one.. IE- We're all sitting around playing D&D together, not just with the group at our table.
If it's not your thing- that's cool- but don't assume someone is bored just because they're tweeting or texting. They might be super excited and just sharing that excitement with others that can't be there.
I dunno - I just honestly don't get it. I don't know why you'd sell randomized boosters of something that's purportedly not collectible, and I don't see the benefit to a collectible deck for D&D, as opposed to a static one. I don't understand why I'd want several random assortments, why I'd need a lot of cards, or anything of that nature. I'm happy to give WotC my money for great products, but I want to get some benefit from these idiosyncratic business decisions, too.
Well yeah- I mean part of it is obviously to make money. That's what companies do.
But it's also because it's not a major part of the game, and not designed to coordinate with specific effects. It seems to be designed as just a fun add on, so they're randomized to create the effect I talked about to Kamikaze. Excitement of the unknown.
I think the target market is people like me.
Impulsive. If I'm at the store buying stuff, I'll probably toss in a pack or two- just for fun. I'll pull them out at the table in the same fashion. Randomly just to add a little bit of fun.
It's kind of like just tossing a few chips down on random numbers on the roulette table.
Some people like that- others like to play more controlled games.
