Familiarity with Set Inspiration

Do you think that a player feeling like a set is just "Magic does X" is primarily a familiarity with source material thing?

It’s part of it. When you know the source material, it’s just more obvious where we’re borrowing things.

Potential Return to Ravnica

Can I get a maybe for returning to Ravnica in the next 5 years?

Maybe. : )

Humor Return to Ravnica

Suggestion for Universes Beyond

Just FYI my wife (the one who once called you "the Taylor Swift of game design") is requesting a "Court of Thorns and Roses" Universes Beyond. She says lots of women would play. I'm just the messenger!

I’ll pass it along. It’s the first time I’ve been compared to Taylor Swift. : )

Game Design Humor Universes Beyond

Complexities of Mechanical Design

'New cards or mechanics. Basically, new Magic mechanical design. Have fun doing it (Magic design is fun), but I can’t see it.' I wouldn't dare try it. It's just clarification for future requests like a Mardu-partner-with vampire pairing or a card called 'Mock Exam' for the upcoming Strixhaven set.

That stuff is fine.

Mechanics Vampires

Sharing Design on Tumblr

If we want to try our hand at Magic design and share it on tumblr, is there a way we can make sure you don't accidentally see it? Like, maybe tagging it with a tag that you have blocked? I also don't want to get you in trouble because of my hobbies.

If you’re not posting it to my asks, it’s unlikely I’ll see it.

Blogatog / Tumblr Your Hand

Understanding DFC Card Rules

Can the rules handle a DFC that both can be cast on either side AND transforms between them?

The Transformers cards did something like that. The rules need to be tweaked to do both cleanly.

Dual Faced Cards Rules

Hot Soup Card Subtype

If it was made today, would Hot Soup have the Food subtype?

Probably.

Food Subtypes Hot Soup

SDCC Experience

How's SDCC going?

It’s going well. I’m excited for my talk/Q&A later today. I’ve been able to see a bunch of great panels.

Conventions

Unique Setting Identity

What makes a setting/plane feel like its own thing, not just "Magic does X"?

It’s very subjective. Bloomburrow is as much “Magic does X” as Murders at Karlov Manor or Outlaws of Thunder Junction, but it feels different to a lot of players.

Bloomburrow Murders at Karlov Manor Outlaws of Thunder Junction

Difference Between Material Types

What’s the difference between unsolicited material and hypotheticals like the red-exile draw that were originally asked here before making its way into the game? I’m asking in good faith, playing around with hypotheticals is fun but I don’t want to get you in trouble.

Asking to take an existing thing and swap color or card type is fine.

Card Types Colors

Donald Duck Flight Potential

If Donald Duck was a card, would he have flying?

Unlikely. People don’t think of him as flying.

Flying

Theros Discontent and Block Structure

There are a number of sets I didn't enjoy, but original Theros was by far the worst, purely because it killed my interest in the game for a full year. There's a lot to miss about blocks, but those who advocate for returning to block structure need to imagine being stuck with their least favorite recent settings, set themes, and mechanics for a whole year.

I’m sorry Theros wasn’t to your liking.Yes, the block model created numerous off ramps for players to leave the game (at least for a while if not forever).

Mechanics Theros

Dissecting Design Mistakes

Have you dissected all of the card designs you consider to be mistakes? I love the insights we get when you've gone in-depth on why something is a mistake and how it impacts the player.

I’ve written articles and recorded podcasts about mistakes I’ve made. It’s usually at a level higher than individual card design.

Full Art Lands' Return

Hi Mark,Why did it take so long for full-art lands to make a comeback after original zendikar? What changed to make you want to do them for almost every set now?

A change in philosophy in how we wanted to use them.

Art Lands Zendikar

Term for Paw Print Modals

Is there an R&D term we can use to refer to the paw print modal cards?

We don’t currently have term for it, at least that I know of.

Card Printing Game Design

Simic Cards' Copy Mechanism

I've noticed a lot of simic cards that copy enemy permanents recently, but I was curious about how that works pie-wise, since blue copies permanents all on its own while green rarely has that effect for even their own stuff, but it seems to be a pretty big thing for green+blue recently

Green is allowed to copy its own permanents, but it doesn’t do it a lot.

Blue Green Permanents Simic (G/U)

Potential for UB Multiplayer Set

Do you think there's potential for a UB set to be designed for a multiplayer limited environment if the right property comes along?

There is potential.

Commander Limited

Werewolves on Different Planes

If you did werewolves on a different plane, do you think they’d still be TDFCs, or would you do them different? And if they were TDFCs, do you think their Transformation condition would be the same or different?

I think we’d probably make Werewolves on another plane singled-faced.

Planes Werewolves

Inquiry into Bloomburrow

I went to prerelease this weekend and greatly enjoyed the new set.

What I want to know is: Was Bloomburrow part of an elaborate scheme on your part to get Squirrels back in Standard?

No comment.

Bloomburrow Prerelease Sealed Format Squirrels Standard

Timing of SDCC Talk

What time is your SDCC talk today?

It’s 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm in Room 24ABC.

Conventions