It is a well-known adage that the exceptions prove the rule. Magic 2010 will be making several new rules, so let us observe the practical effects of the new combat system. Combat will still work much like it used to:
- – Except if you have a combat trick
- – Except if its damage prevention
- – Except if their creature has deathtouch
- – Except if you have an Unsummon
- – Except if their creature has shroud
- – Except if you’re not double-blocking
- – Except if you’re blocking with Marsh Flitter
- – Except that card is rotating out
- – Except if you play Extended
- – Except Marsh Flitter is bad there
- – Except there might be a good combo deck in the offing
- – Except you probably won’t make it
- – Except you’ll pilot it and win the Pro Tour
- – Except… except it was all a dream
- – Except there’s still a Wizard of Oz
- – Except he was just a con man
- – Except he was never convicted due to police misconduct
- – Except that’s not how the law works here in Ravnica
- – Except you live in the Azorius section where it does work that way
- – Except for members of the Dimir guild
- – Except there are no members of the Dimir guild
- – Except everyone knows they’re everywhere
- – Except they all just pretend to not notice
- – Except for Wall of Denial
I also noticed that most teams were much better-equipped than we were in the bomb department. 
olks, I have a special treat to announce today. But first, a little background. Those of you that play Magic Online know two things: Magic Online is a terrific product; and it doesn’t always work as well as we’d like. We believe that, like the economy, Magic Online is fundamentally strong. Sure, it’s had hiccups. Sure, it’s had ups and downs. But at the core is an incredible play experience that brings together players from all over the world from a variety of backgrounds, and lets them duel as though they are sitting in the same room. We decided we wanted to thank the players that have stuck with us through the tough times, and now have a front row seat for V3, the most stable Magic Online platform ever. Now that we’ve worked out the kinks, I think we can all look back with a sense of humor and have a laugh. 
Justin Ziran – Justin was the Brand Manager and Community Liaison, and as such, knew the feelings of the Magic Online community better than anyone. I have always been impressed with Justin’s ability to create just the right tone with players, and to strike a balance between the needs of the community and the needs of the company. I really don’t know what we would do without him.
Devin Low – An all-star Magic Designer. Devin is the kind of guy who instinctively knows what players want, even if they don’t quite realize it themselves. With his finger on the pulse of the Magic community, he is utterly irreplaceable. 
Jenna Helland – Jenna is a flavor guru, but more importantly, Jenna was the lead designer for the User Interface for Magic Online V3. As such, she was uniquely qualified to recreate the classic look and feel of the Magic Online experience. We wanted the cards themselves to reflect the intuitive familiarity of online play. 
