Colleagues

Blog Readership Among Colleagues

How many of your colleagues read your blog?

Many read it some of the time. I doubt very many read all of it.

Colleagues Colleagues

B&R Announcement Request

I understand you're not related to B&R Announcement, but you're the one who kindly hear us. Could you gently ask your colleagues if we could get something better than the timid "No Changes" from Monday? It would be very appreciated if we could know their thoughts about the formats, because there's a consensus going on that Pioneer and Modern really needed changes.

The note that B&R announcements should have an article explaining why even when nothing gets changed has been passed along to the relevant people.

Colleagues Colleagues Modern Pioneer

Segovia Naming Origin

I had a coworker whose last name is Segovia. He is 6.5 ft tall and weighed easily over 200lb. Any insight or trivia on how Segovia* got its name?*The plane, my coworker probably got it from his father

Here’s the story. Segovian Leviathan was in Legends. Everything about the name and art (see the wee whales) implies it’s a giant creature, but it’s only a 3/3. Players would joke about this, so the creative team came up with an answer. There was a world Segovia (based off the name) where everything is much smaller. That’s why this giant creature is 3/3.

Art Birthday Blogatog / Tumblr Colleagues Creatures Giant Humor Legendary Creatures Leviathan Segovian Leviathan Story / Lore Whale

2023 Design Pride

Hi Mark, just wanted to say that I think you and your colleagues are doing a great job at making a fun game that offers something for everyone. There are some things I like more and some things I like less but I always manage to find something that really speaks to me. What I particularly appreciate is that there always seems to be these thematic through-lines between sets that make it possible to deck build with a specific "vibe" in mind even if the cards are set on different planes. Really looking forward to seeing what you have been working on. Thanks.

I’m very proud of the designs of 2023. There’s a lot of cool stuff coming your way.

Colleagues Colleagues Planes

Variances of Accent in Pronunciation

I saw your reply about Garruk, Garrick and Eric. The point I was making is in different accents different words can rhyme or not. E.g The American English and Welsh English pronunciations of due sound alike but English English or Australian English pronunciations sound different. That doesn’t make any of them wrong, just as when an Italian or Spanish colleague says my name to me it sounds different to how I say it but they’re not *wrong*.

I use rhymes as it seems to be the way most people understand the pronunciation, but I agree that pronunciations of the same word can vary greatly from region to region. When people ask about how something is pronounced, I’m saying how we pronounce it at Wizards. We pronouce Garruk as if it was written as Garrick and not Garook. In pronunciation terms, the U is a “short u” and not a “long u”. That said, yes, there is a lot of variance in practical use based on the native language and location of the speaker.

Australia Colleagues English United States

Defining Sally's Role

So... Is Sally like a co-worker? Assistant? Intern? Outside contractor? Or maybe more like a guest co-host?

If I had to give Sally a role, I guess I’d go with sidekick.

Colleagues Guest

Appreciating Kaldheim Set

Hi Mark, I just wanted to say thank you and your colleagues for this set, I have never been as excited for spoiler season. I can’t wait to see the Dwarves of Kaldhiem!

You’re welcome.

Appreciation Colleagues Dwarf Kaldheim Spoilers

Inspiring a New Player

Happy birthday Mark! I started learning around khaladesh. I wasn't enjoying a certain other card game as much and my new coworker friend told me how magic is managed differently and for the better. Your transparency and excitement for magic blew me away, and I've been playing ever since.

Happy to hear that. : )

Beginners Birthday Colleagues Humor

R&D Listens to DtW?

Hi Mark, do any of your R&D colleagues regularly listen to DtW?

I know some have listened to individual episodes.

Colleagues Colleagues Drive to Work Game Design

Workplace Nicknames

Do your colleagues call you Maro in the workplace or are you Mark to them?

More often Mark, but occasionally Maro.

Colleagues Colleagues Mark Rosewater

Remote Consultant Dynamics

I have heard that WotC has 'Remote Consultants' working on magic. Which teams can benefit from remote co-workers? Are there still certain aspects of magic that require everyone physically in the same room? Has current communication technology overcome the need to have magic designers in the same room/office?

It works best for teams where each person has their own work they’re responsible for. That’s not how designs tend to happen. Also, a lot of team interaction happens outside of meetings.

Colleagues Wizards of the Coast

Coworkers on Blogatog

What do your coworkers think of Blogatog?

Many of them read it (well, some of it, there’s a lot).

Colleagues

Commander's Social Aspect

"I was told Commander was so much fun, but I just sat around without much to do, trying to convince people not to kill me. : )" Hi Mark! You are absolutely entitled to your own opinion but it sounds like you're implying that people don't actually like commander or that it's overrated. Lots of people do enjoy multiplayer & its okay that we have different tastes! What might be "sitting around trying to convince people not to attack" for you might be "having fun chatting with friends" for others

Commander is very popular and I and my coworkers work hard to make cards applicable for the format.As for the post, I was making a joke for the long-time Blogatog readers. I often say that Commander just isn’t my personal cup of tea as it’s very political and I personally am not a big fan of politics in Magic. So, for the first time in a long while I play Commander and because of my deck and draws, the only thing I got to do was be political. : )

Colleagues Commander Commander Humor Question Marks

Extra Turns Episode Deck

On topic of “Extra Turns” episode: can you provide a little bit of information on the deck you've played (was it your own brew or did you ask someone's help, can we see the deck list somewhere etc.)

The deck was given to me by Jimmy and Josh. One of their coworkers made it.

Colleagues

Tales from the Pit

I laughed loudly at the latest Tales from the Pit, then had to explain the joke to my colleagues, then had to further explain Magic to them, show the Lhurgoyf card, then show the Saffi card, show the commercial, and then show the Tales from the Pit again. I got a mild chuckle from them, but it was worth it.

Glad I helped expose some coworkers to Magic. : )

Colleagues Colleagues Colleagues Humor Lhurgoyf Tales from the Pit The Pit

Gaming Group Encounter

Hey Mark! Something really exciting happened today. I was talking about gaming and DTW, and a coworker of mine said she and her husband are in a gaming group with David Pettey and Don Felice! I couldn't believe it, and then she said she'd have to invite me to one of their meet ups! I'm absolutely gobsmacked. Do you have any recommendations for questions I might not think to ask them if I actually get to meet them?

Both of them should have lots of cool stories they can tell you.

Colleagues Drive to Work Gobsmacked

Joyful Work

The work of you and your coworkers brings so much joy.

: )

Colleagues

Internal Pranking Frequency

How often do you get an ask and just shake your head knowing its a coworker trying to mess with you? I have a feeling that that sort of thing is kind of common.

It’s not. Normally when they mess with me they’re very transparent about it.

Colleagues

Impactful Role Gratitude

Was reflecting on what an ENORMOUS impact Magic has had on my life, and realizing that you started your current role when I started playing-ish, and you have therefore had a large role in this big part of my life and joy, and seriously, thanks so much.

Hearing about the positive impact of my (and my fellow colleagues’) work means a lot.

Colleagues Colleagues

European Design Team

Hello Mark. Big time fan of your work, its very inspiring and i use your design lessons when writing music. Anyway my question: Is There any chance that wizard Will create a european designteam? Been making cards and sets since i started but my nationality stops my Dreams of ever being a coworker of yours.

The problem we run into is making Magic is a very collaborative effort and that requires us all working in the same work space. All the sets interact with one another and have to stay out of each other’s way, so it’s very hard to just offload designs to a team at a different location.

Colleagues Europe Making Magic Pop Culture