Promo legality
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008I have been asked multiple times what exactly determines promo legality. Rather than answer each question singly I decided to make a post out of it.
Promo legality is determined mainly by the question “Does a adequate number of players have a chance to get hold of this particular card”? In general it is 30 days after I feel this question can be answered with a yes.
Example #1: Ice Elemental is part of the new OP Kit that is going out to stores and clubs now. It seems reasonable to me, that starting January 1st (or 2nd) people can start holding tournaments with it. Hence it becomes legal on February 1st.
Example #2: Gethseme also is part of the new OP Kit, but there have been a few preview copies that were given out at KoHIT. Now this doesn’t make for an “adequate number of players”, but in this special case Gethseme has been around before, so every player has a chance (however small) to get a copy of the Tooth & Claw edition of the card and play it in tournaments. Therefore legality is December 7th (30 days after KoHIT).
Example #3: Heat Metal is one of 2nd batch of the exclusive Ordo Phoenicis Ascendentis promo cards. They are coming out every half year - but one month “shifted”. The first ones came out July 31st, this batch officially is distributed January 31st. Add 30 days and you have a legality of March 1st (yeah, I know).
Example #4: Cei is going to be part of the package when you purchase one of the Winter Campaign T-Shirts at those events. While technically it starts being available January 10th (Miami didn’t have T-Shirts), I decided to compromise and make it legal after it the last Winter Campaign Event is over - hence March 1st.
I hope this gives you an idea of how promo legality is determined - taking into account availability on both sides of the pond.
With this I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and some restful days. PHOENIX Interactive will officially be closed till January 2nd and I will use the time for family and maybe the odd programming chore.




