Shoyu and Ujou have a discussion about the possibility of creating an older fan format for players to play their older cards/sets.
Shoyu: What do you think about alternative formats in Weiss, ones that enable players to play older sets? Aside of those of the block construction and Standard, the official other formats.
Ujou: So, do you mean something like an “old-time” format? A format where you play sets from a certain time frame.
Shoyu: Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.
Ujou: I think such a conception can exist. But the problem lies more so in the fact that it’s more likely than not to be a fan-based format. It could be more popular for players who enjoy the older series, but as an overall format, it might not dwell too well amongst the community.
Shoyu: Aside from a time frame, do you think there may be other restrictions that need to be implemented?
Ujou: I don’t think restrictions may be necessary for say. It’s a bit of a touchy subject.
Shoyu: Well, the thing is sets aren’t released equally as per year. Some sets are genuinely weaker than other sets on release. I think a common issue for such a fan-made format might be that the game will probably just fall back into one of those set-powered meta periods.
Ujou: Maybe. A restriction on sets may be beneficial to push for a higher variety of sets. But at the same time, this is more of a community decision, right?
Shoyu: Well, yes, at the end of the day it is the community that decides how things are run. If you set a format to a specific period, would people not simply be inclined to just play strictly what was the best in that meta?
Ujou: That is true. I know the goal is to be able to play some of the older sets in a healthier environment, but it is quite difficult to determine what exactly is the best route of action to take. I think restrictions may be needed in the end, but I’m not fully sure how exactly to implement them.
Shoyu: I agree as well. The question does end up being how exactly do you decide what restrictions should be running around. Should we also uphold the current or past ban-list during that period of time?
Ujou: I think we should follow the old ban-list. Ban-lists are a bit of a finicky mess. Sets should adhere to the following ban-list after that period of time rather than the current one during that year. For example, during the meta of Railgun, the restrictions that came in that limited the power of the deck should be implemented during the same time frame of which that deck was at its full power.
Shoyu: Okay, so we’re considering a format in which decks are played from a certain time frame, say from 2012-2013. The ban-list that follows will be the one following after 2013.
Ujou: Yes, I think that’s fine. I think there are a few more details that might need to be tweaked. But at the end of the day, it’s really the community rules that decide how things should run. The ultimate goal is for everyone to able to use their older decks and sets in a more healthy environment and enjoy.