That's a very valid point that the intentionally released short print variations of today are a different animal from the variations of yesteryear.
I agree with what you say, but that does leave an issue as I see it - and one I don't have an answer to. It centers on how the "Add all missing cards in this set to wantlist" behaves. Take the scenario where I want to start collecting a vintage set of which I own none of the cards.
Card no |
Name |
Note2 |
1 |
Rick Vaughn |
|
2(a) |
Jake Taylor |
VAR: Chief Wahoo logo |
2(b) |
Jake Taylor |
VAR: Cleveland C logo |
3 |
Roger Dorn |
|
There isn't a convenient way to generate my wants with any of the options. Selecting "Add all missing cards in this set to wantlist (without ERR/VAR)" gives me a want list of 1 & 3. Selecting "Add all missing cards in this set to wantlist" give me a wantlist of 1, 2a, 2b, and 3. Unless I manually go through an pick and choose each, I don't know of a way to get to a wantlist that gives me enough for a complete set.
That reminds me of another "issue": Set completion metrics. In the above set, if I have cards 1, 2a, and 2b (missing #3), this set shows as complete even if I have 3 on my wantlist. The variants should probably be treated as a "if you have one or more of these, count it as one".
Case breakers commonly refer to a product's "Master Set". Are we in need of a similar concept where two numbers get shown for set completeness?
sandyrusty wrote:
But for the older sets (before this became the latest trend) when we are talking about variations on the same #'d card of the same player, the VAR needs to be on all cards of this # and explained in the Note 2 field. A good example of these is the 1991 Fleer set that has cards with different stat lines on some of the backs. Neither can be said to be the BASE card. This is as per the guidelines cnangle quoted above "...include an explanation in all VAR Notes, e.g., for card xxxa put “VAR” in Note and “VAR: Blue background” in Note2, and for card xxxb put “VAR” in Note and “VAR: Green background” in Note2."