However, as I suspected, I am not a fan of the card game tournament format where you bring any mage spellbook and can face off against any mage spellbook. In my view this adds too much variability to the tournament path a player faces and tends to create more 'general' spellbook designs since a player must contend with an increasing option of opponent mages to counter. For example, by this time next year there will be 4 new mages that a spellbook design must potentially counter. I will continue this point in the Tournament Forum when I have the time.
I have to respectfully disagree with you. While you are right about it pushing more towards general spellbook designs, in my experience, it doesnt push them towards generic spellbook designs. Ive played my share of Ccg and tcg tournaments and for whatever the current ban lists havent had at yet is all you will see. Sure you might see a spike in a certain mages with certain card releases but currently there is really only one mage that doesnt stand a chance. This currently leave 7 viable options all with there own unique playstyles along with what ever build that person believes will work for them.