Invite dropped in my inbox today. Need to wait for the actual download link. I assume with NDA will not be able to share much. Still be nice to give it a spin and form my own view. Be neat too to have a hand in any feedback re changes to the game.

SD

I kind of have issue with part of the NDA in that we give right to WOTC to remotely screw with our pc's. The price you pay to be in the Beta I guess but I'm still not very comfortable with it.

Data collection and listeners will happen anyways.
But you can check your pc and see if it's heating too much or doing stuff you don't like.

Download email received. Downloaded. Surprised it appears you get packs to unlock all cards. Did not get a chance to play as yet. On 64bit i3 processor with good memory and appears no issues with game running. Now to build a deck and try the game.

SD

You don't.
Starting pool is 72 boosters + 2 of each common and 1 of each uncommon.

Ah okay, not got around to opening them yet. Seems it’s 7 cards I think per pack. Assume also there is a max of 4 copies for each card, or can you exceed 4 of any type? I do believe there is no scarcity on type.

It would seem that 72 boosters gives a decent start at least, guess will find out when trying to build with the opened pool.

SD

8 cards, unlimited copies. It doesn't use Duels's system.

I assume that applies to deck construction, so any no of one type? It’s interesting as it becomes much more like paper magic in buying cards you already have and don’t necessarily need. From a digital perspective they would need some way to still give value to player for these. Trade for gold maybe as there would not be exchanges for non owned cards I imagine.

The usual crafting singles.
Still need to know exactly how they want to implement it tho.

Had a chance to play now. It seems a decent beta and on a comment from DJ it is offering boosters from Kaladesh, Amonkhet and HOD. There appear to be other modes but locked. A progress bar on rank fills on wins. Connectivity seemed okay. Nice to be playing Ixolan finally. It’s certainly got potential after first few matches. Will take some time to construct a decent deck but the typical template build with decent mana curve had some success. Competitive play decent and already some nice decks using the most of the new mechanic like explore. Already opened one earned booster over starter but not paid attention to cost. Will look to try and earn enough and buy some from other sets for variety. There are quests too similar to duels so gold earned there. Think most of the Duels crowd will take to it. SD

These aren't available, just advertised when you open that menu in a graphic.

Well I guess sign of what’s to come. Adding new sets is probably going to be the main thing so it’s closer to the standard pool. Mind you getting to grips with Ixalan and the various interactions with tribes and mechanics is enough I guess in these early beta stages. SD

Funnily enough the ‘unowned filter’ lists the cards from those earlier sets. I guess they are in the code, just waiting for the dev’s to turn on the tap in store. I assume they want to see what the feedback is based on the Ixalan pool. Talk about teasers though lol

SD

I guess the issue for me is that it turned out like Sealed. I wanted to netdeck one of DJ's to get playing but the packs I was given to open didn't give me the proper cards.

Yes and compared to Magic Duels It will be a far cry from being able to have all cards to build any deck. I realised though the collection and deck builder let you see what cards you have and which are in deck via lights on each card and also any card can have up to 4 copies so it’s probably double what it was previously to complete a set. Unlike paper and MTGO you can’t buy the cards you want necessarily so RNGesus plays as much a part what you can play as well as during the play. In theory too the meta should not be cracked quite so quickly. I have not had enough matches yet and whilst RW dinos May be an obvious favourite I have seen some diversity. As I understand it the Pro / stronger players will end up in their own group through ranking, the more casual of us should still be provided with enough of a win rate against similar strength players to keep it fun. Wizards private variety and keeps things fresh with new cards, planes and mechanics. SD

All I know is that it hasn't been such great fun for me. I can't imagine a new player with zero deck building experience coming in and enjoying it like I did with DOTP.

I’d agree. It’s not shaping up to be the nice intro to new Magic Players the original DOTP and later Magic Duels was. Fundamentally it’s the available card pool that makes it decent but that does come with a price. Paper has had intro decks for a while, DOTP was fixed price, Magic Duels went free to play but with reasonable time / cost effort to make it a good game for those who invest time. It’s early days with MtG Arena and agree jury is out still. I think the platforms it is available on will be key too, as will true cross platform collections. In Magic Duels iOS was main platform for me but the entire set collected (plus every extra) was all free grind. On PC I did spend to get a start but probably barely at 30% or less across all sets. Having full experience on iOS I am less inclined to spend again for same game on a different platform. Also as iOS is preference it is going to depend when it finally launches. I struggle to see their target audience as it won’t be Duels crowd and the serious MTGO players have collections MtG Arena can never match. They could have continued with Duels but just lifted rarity restrictions and added new modes. They didn’t though so time is going to tell if they got it right.

SD

Good analysis. Platforms and modes are going to make a difference to me. Console was my preferred and I always ended up just buying all the cards. PC was/is annoying for me to play but I still ended up enjoying 2015 because I could buy out all the cards and be play ready... plus chat and voice over were still there. Came Duels and as I ended up a couple of years behind before I got back into MTG the whole pool was out of my price range, on pc (so annoying) and chat function gone.
The game for me had been becoming less and less compelling/inviting.
Arena is make it or break it for me I fear.
I still smash a lot of face on ps3 in 2014 numerous times a week and have a playgroup that I can hit a couple times a week and get in 4ffa games in 2014 AND 2013 but even that is starting to loose flavor for me and I've been hoping Arena resurrects the idea of daily play and weekly get together.

zzz... bored. Wizards, give me the Arena beta key :-(

I feel you man... those bastards.... where is my key!