That's a possibility. However, in that game only some optional/variable costs are not paid immediately; you still must pay the converted mana cost of the spell up front as that does not vary.

There are several examples to the contrary as well. For example, you pay both costs up front when entwining a spell. You pay all costs up front when playing something like Soul Burn or Consume Spirit.

It'll be interesting to see what UDE has to say about this.

no... the mana cost, or what the cost of the spell is, is also paid at the end....

a lot of players tend to tap their mana, then play their spell from their hand... and with that comes a problem.

if they tap, the mana is in their pool, and must be used. if they looked at the card incorrectly, the cost of the spell they wish to play may not be correct and they will need to take the spell back into their hand. the mana is still in the pool at this time, and unless they use it, will cause burn.

in casual play, the opponent may allow you to just untap and go back one step, but in Regional play, the opponent will force you to use it or perform the burn.

more experienced players usually play the spell to the field, then pay for it afterwards. if they find they haven't the correct mana, they will return the spell to the hand.

i believe Entwine also works like Kicker, where you decide to pay for it when you pay for the cost of the card...

all of the examples you state, are determined prior to paying for the spell. you must have the card on the field to prove the spell has the mechanic, then determine how much and what the costs are... don't see how that is different...

I'm reading section 409 of the comprehensive rulebook right now ("Playing Spells and Activated Abilities"). You are correct on this.

I think I'm starting to see where Alex was coming from.

Here's the link for anyone interested:

http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprul...ules020104.doc

i am so relieved... (no sarcasm intended)...

we are all striving to play this game the way it is intended. i am not intending to argue, but just shine a little light as to how things may work...

it appears Locke (now an official VS NetRep) has confirmed that this is the way things are...

it isn't the easiest thing to actually understand, and then have to understand why, but when it sinks in, it makes the judges duties awfully easy to perform and the game runs more fluently...

welcome to the club, Zaxx, see you in the trenches... :cool: