Does EDHREC create feedback loops that limit deck diversity?
Does EDHREC create feedback loops that limit deck diversity?
Like many others I use EDHREC for card ideas when building decks. This got me thinking - does it essentially reinforce itself?
Often times I pick many of recommended cards that others have chosen with a given commander - which in turn reinforces those cards as synergistic cards for that particular commander. Note: I build using moxfield (which I believe is used as a data source for EDHREC). More recently I've been using scryfall as an additional resource for deckbuliding, and I was really surprised how many cards that work well with a particular commander / archetype are not listed on EDHREC.
Don't get me wrong, I still think EDHREC is a wonderful tool, but now I wonder if it's essentially narrowing down the cards that people consider when building EDH decks due to it's reinforcement loops.
Thoughts?
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I think it definitely homogenizes deckbuilding, but I also think a lot of the folks who use EDHREC are also folks who would be more likely to be looking at existing primers or decklists anyway, at least to start with. EDHREC just makes it easier and more convenient. But the folks who are really interested in brewing/trying new things still are doing those things, and if the decks or combos they come up with are popular enough, they will get integrated into the EDHREC stats in their own time (and move from innovation to homogenization in their turn).