That's an interesting point re Sportsmanship. I don't want to generalise or anything, but I found - particularly with 7th Sea CCG - that the mainland European players are very pleasant to play against even if, like me, you are terrible at the game and other players might more readily lose their patience with you.

As regards league play, I am generally in favour of it - it's no bad thing. My difficulty lies with the prize being related to the card base. Let's say that the Order players lose the vote and high elf fans don't get Tethys. Rationally, they may be aware that this will not dent the size of their card pool, and logically they may know that their faction's power level will be balanced regardless. Emotionally, however, they will feel cheated. It is less about relative power levels than about a sense of involvement, and I think raising these stakes has not been historically the wisest way to create such a sense of involvement.

Rakshasa said:

Exactly my point. I already feel annoyed and angered that only one of those cards will be created for the game. If that's not correct, and if FFG does intend to eventually include both cards, why not say so right from the start??

Rather than being a gimmick (which this is, make no mistake) that encourages participation, it's more of a gimmick that has annoyed or worried players who would like a chance to enjoy BOTH cards. It's stuff like this that make me dislike League Play, in general.

I'm not worried or annoyed, so i think thats a bit of an over generalization. I like having the league results have actual effects on the game.

Except when it means you may never get to play with the cool card they just danged in front of you? Not me. Just to clarify, Toqtamish, I didn't say that everyone felt like I do...though I will say that most of the W:I gamers in our group (not a ton but not too few, either) aren't keen on this type of League promotion.