Forecast

Unfavorable Mechanics

Why hasn't "reveal a card in hand" mechanics such as forecast gone over well? Are you allowed to use the attributes of the revealed cards as a cost (mana value, color) in non-digital?

It both isn’t much of a cost and it undoes hidden information which is important.

Colors Forecast Mana Value Mechanics Your Hand

Scarves Complaint Forecast

Which piece of clothing should we complain about next?

I think six months from now will be all about how we have too many scarves.

Forecast

Meld Mechanic Forecast

Where on the Storm Scale is melding at the moment?

Meld is a 5. I assume we’ll see it again.

Forecast Mechanics Meld Storm Scale

Tribal Support Forecast

How likely are we to dive into more tribal support in the future for tribes who don’t have a lot of support? Storm scale?

Likely. Typal themes are super popular.

Forecast Kindred / Typal Storm Scale

Forecast Ability Missed

Why were there never any weather related cards with the forecast ability? It seems like a flavor slam dunk.

Missed opportunity. : )

Flavor Forecast Humor

Legendary Griffin Forecast

Multi-color Legendary Griffin?

I assume it’ll happen one day.

Forecast Griffin

Ranking Forecast on Storm Scale

Hi Mark, Where is Forecast on the Storm Scale? It is a very underrated and unique mechanic that is my favorite Ravnica Guild mechanic. I also hope we can see it return in supplemental sets.

It’s an 8. It wasn’t that well received, it has a small viable design space, and it leads to repetitive game play.

Design Space Forecast Game Play Mechanics Storm Scale Two Color

Favorite Mechanics or Cards

I feel like a lot of people who say you’ve only done bad for the game don’t realize you’re probably behind some of their favorite mechanics or cards too. For a change of pace, can you list some beloved mechanics or cards you’re responsible for?

Here are the Magic mechanics I’ve had a hand in creating: Absorb, Addendum, Affinity, Aftermath, Aura Swap, Battle Cry, Bolster, Champion, Changeling, Cipher, Companion, Contraptions, Crew (Vehicles), Dash, Deathtouch, Delve, Dredge, Embalm, Energy, Entwine, Evoke, Exert, Exploit, Fabricate, Fateful Hour, Fateseal, Ferocious, Flashback, Flip, Forecast, Fortify, Frenzy, Gotcha, Graft, Gravestorm, Heroic, Hexproof, Host/Augment, Hybrid Mana, Imprint, Infect, Intimidate, Kicker, Landfall, Lifelink, Living Weapon, Madness, Manifest, Mentor, Modular, Monstrosity, Morbid, Morph, Multikicker, Mutate, Ninjitsu, Phyrexian Mana, Poisonous, Populate, Proliferate, Prowl, Raid, Rally, Reach, Recover, Reinforce, Retrace, Ripple, Shroud, Soulbond, Splice, Split Cards, Split Second, Suspend, Transfigure, Transform, Typecycling, Undying, Unearth, Vanishing and Wither.

Absorb Absorb Addendum Affinity Aftermath Aura Swap Battle Cry Battle Cry Bolster Champion Changeling Cipher Companion Contraptions Crew Dash Deathtouch Delve Dredge Dredge Embalm Entwine Evoke Exert Exploit Fabricate Fabricate Fateful hour Fateseal Ferocious Flashback Forecast Fortify Fortify Frenzy Graft Gravestorm Gravestorm Heroic Hexproof Hybrid Imprint Infect Intimidate Kicker Landfall Lifelink Lifelink Living Weapon Madness Mana Manifest Mechanics Mentor Modular Monstrosity Morbid Morph Morph Mutate Ninjitsu Phyrexian Poisonous Populate Proliferate Prowl Raid Rally Rally Recover Reinforce Retrace Ripple Shroud Soulbond Splice Split Cards Split Second Suspend Suspend Transfigure Transform Undying Unearth Unearth Vanishing Vanishing Vehicles Wither Your Hand

Preferred Mechanics

Hi Mark, what mechanic do you think is better, Forecast or Detain?

Detain. It’s simpler, has a larger vein of design and generally better gameplay.

Detain Forecast Game Play Mechanics

Guild Ability Design

What was the Guilds that you are directly responsible to design its abilities?

I designed Dredge, Forecast, Populate, and Cipher.

Cipher Dredge Forecast Populate Two Color

Cards in Hand Theme

Would it be possible, or likely, to have a set where "cards in hand matter" is one of the core themes? I know that the game is inherently dependent on those cards, but I want to know if I have a chance of seeing a set based around mechanics like Forecast, or the Lorwyn tribal lands, or the abilities on Bulwark or Cinder Seer.

Saviors of Kamigawa had a “hand size matters” theme.

Bulwark Cinder Seer Forecast Kindred / Typal Lands Lorwyn Mechanics Saviors of Kamigawa Your Hand

Un-sets to Black Border

Hey so what's an example of something from an unset that has migrated into black border, for those of us unfamiliar with past un-sets.

Full-art lands, creature tokens, split cards, the Meld mechanic, the Forecast mechanic, and the Pact cycle are the ones off the top of my head.

Art Black Black Border Creatures Forecast Lands Mechanics Meld Split Cards Tokens Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets

Forecast Mechanic Origin

I believe Forecast was based off the Infernal Spawn of Evil's ability, on the topic of Un->black border.

It was. Add it to the list.

Black Black Border Forecast Infernal Spawn of Evil Spawn

Ravnica Mechanics Trivia

Birthday Trivia (first time)! I'd love to hear some Ravnica mechanics trivia (either flavor, design, or function). Also, just wanna say how awesome your blog is!

The Azorius mechanic Forecast was inspired by the Unglued card Infernal Spawn of Evil.And thanks for the kind words.Happy Birthday!

Azorius (W/U) Birthday Flavor Forecast Infernal Spawn of Evil Mechanics Spawn Unglued

Hand Forecast Mechanic

Hand.

Forecast.

Forecast Your Hand

Ravnica's Success

Why do you think Ravnica was the best block when you had problems with so many mechanics (forecast, haunt, radiance, dredge, etc.)? Not that I disagree, but it's odd.

No block is perfect. The fact that Ravnica was so popular despite its flaws shows that it did a lot right.

Dredge Forecast Haunt Mechanics Radiance

Nephilim Storm Scale

Nephilim on the Storm Scale? They dodged RTR block, is the forecast dark?

Maro 8-Ball says “Outlook grim.”

Forecast Keyword Abilities Mark Rosewater Nephilim Storm Scale

Unhinged Inspires Cards

have any cards been inspired from the unhinged/unglued series of cards?

Yes, quite a few. Split cards, the forecast mechanic and Future Sight Pacts come to mind.

Forecast Future Sight Mechanics Split Cards Unglued Unhinged

Forecast vs Madness

Forecast or Madness?

Madness.

Forecast Madness

Forecast Limitations

Forecast has limited design space? I thought that it was more of a development issue, since *anything* repeatable is dangerous.

It was also dangerous developmentally. The design limitations come from the need for the forecast ability and the effect of the spell to interconnect. Interconnective design is usually limiting.

Design Space Forecast Limited