Economics + Mastery Pass: A game with two currencies but has 4 currencies which is becoming too many
World of Tanks is a game of WAY TOO MANY currencies. I hope you dont add to the numerous count. Specifically MTGA has 4 currently: gold, gems, booster packs and random uncommon/rare/mythic rewards. World of Tanks has at least 10+ currencies.
What makes the mastery pass too convoluted is how many currencies you are earning back as the 3400 gem payment. Rather WotC should strip it down and make a pass that has a clear outcome. Comparing Siege’s season pass: Its a guarantee you earn the content upfront (as its released throughout the year while Ubisoft earns a discrete yearly revenue from the sale of the season pass). Meaning I could take 6 months off of playing Siege and still have the same rewards. If you tried to not play MTGA for 6 months, your mastery pass purchases would be wasted.
MTGA’s mastery pass is only an expense with little upside.
Specifically I'm happy to consult for Wizards or you can dedicate existing staff to re-examine the economics. Why should I spend 2200 gems on a pass that only 12/19 booster packs I'm remotely interested in. If I drafted more, that would be 0/19 booster packs. That’s the core question I ask each time I see a presale for a set (worst value) and the mastery pass alone feels like a loss of gems if you evaluate the cosmetics and booster packs at 0.
There are smart people working for WotC but they don’t seem to be in charge of MTGA economics. Not when the confidence in Magic is at a low and your best phrasing is that customers are “price sensitive”… Give a reason for people to spend cash for the mastery pass. Give a compelling reason for Magic players to use MTGA. (I cannot in good faith tell my friends to play on MTGA, even if they play Magic).