Fortifications

Future Fortifications

Any plans to make a third Fortification?

Perhaps one day.

Fortifications

Fortifications Future

Now that we have a grand total of two fortifications, how do you feel about the future of the mechanic?

I’ll say what I always say when asked. It’s a very narrow design space. We make so few enchant lands, let alone ones with effects you’d want to move.

Design Space Enchant Fortifications Lands Mechanics

Future Fortifications

If or when: Making more Fortifications?
Also do you ever regret not naming the mechanic something that begins with 'E', so it lines up with Equip(ment) and Enchant(ment)?

If. We just don’t do a lot of enchant land effects, let alone ones you’d want to move.

Enchant Equip Fortifications If/When Lands Mechanics

Fortification Card Feedback

Real happy to see a fortification, if not a little dissapointed for it to just to be a one off only in a spin off product.

The problem with fortifications is we just don’t many enchant lands, let alone ones you would need to move between lands.

Enchant Fortifications Lands

Fortifications Power Level

Also super excited that fortifications returned, but was it made intentionally safe? 3 mana and 3 to fortify would have to be very good to be playable and I feel a +1/+1 counter and a junk every turn isn't super compelling and that's best case.

The Fallout cards were made to be relevant in Commander. Power level isn’t my area, so I can’t comment on how strong the card is.

Commander Fortifications Fortify Junk Mana Power Level

Happiness for Fortifications

Can I just say how happy I am to see that fortifications returned? I love when cool single-card ideas are used more.

I’m happy you’re happy.

Fortifications

Fortifications Praise

Hi Mark,Please give an epic high-five to the absolutely mad-lad who managed to bring back Fortifications for the Fallout set. Been waiting SO long for another one!

Will do.

Epic Fortifications

Fortifications in Sets

Would Fortifications have to be a large part of a set, or could we see one of two in a set with a larger artifact theme?

Other than something like a Modern Horizons, I don’t think we’d do just one or two.

Artifacts Fortifications Modern Horizons

Fortifications Requirement

Would you consider doing fortifications if the flavour of a set strongly called for them, or would there need to be a strong mechanical need as well?

There has to be a mechanical need.

Flavor Fortifications

Fortifications Interest

Hi Maro! I'm a big fan of Darksteel Garrison! Could I get an if/when on fortifications? As a big artifact player, I'd love to see this space explored more

Fortifications are an if. We just don’t do many enchant lands, let alone ones you would want to be able to move.

Artifacts Darksteel Darksteel Garrison Enchant Fortifications If/When Lands Mark Rosewater

Fortifications Return

If/When: The return of Fortifications?

If. Enchant land spells are already pretty infrequent, and ones you’d want to move are even less.

Enchant Fortifications If/When Lands Spells

Fortifications Future Possibility

I like fortifications, do you think there is a chance we could see them more in the future?

The biggest problem is design space. We just don’t do many enchant land cards.

Design Space Enchant Fortifications Lands

Genesis of Planeswalkers

I thought Planeswalkers grew out of an experiment of Richard's called Fortifications?

Not exactly. When we first made Planeswalkers, I borrowed an element Richard had used in making a new card type called Fortifications. The Fortifucatuobs didn’t inspire Planeswalkers.

Card Types Fortifications Planeswalkers

Relevance of Fortifications Frequency

For the question on how often you would move fortifications, it could vary depending on the effect. Like if it changed what type of mana the land tapped for or if it provided some particular benefit to the land and you wanted a better land to have it.

The question in design isn’t “can you make it occasionally relevant?” but rather “can you make it consistently relevant?” Yeah, mana burn matters situationally even once in a blue moon, but most games it was irrelevant.

Blue Fortifications Lands Mana

Fortifications Versus Aura

In the discussion of Fortifications vs. Aura, fortifications, like equipment, can be moved. The land you place it on at first may not be the one you want it on later, depending on the effect of the fortification. Auras generally stay where they are put.

How often would you move a fortification?

Auras Equipment Fortifications Lands

Debate Over Fortifications

The reason to not do fortifications (why not just make it an aura?) is a very mechanical minded one. This made sense when enchantments and artifacts were actually different, but with the colored artifact thing you said a few times that at this point the difference between the two types is largely about the flavor. If glass casket is fine, why not a fortification?

Because it’s extra rules and vocabulary for minimal gain.

Artifacts Auras Enchantments Flavor Fortifications Glass Casket Rules

Understanding Fortification

Are Fortifications hard to grok? I see them as a simple variation on an evergreen mechanic. Am I under estimating the complexity? I'd like to see more and now that artifacts can be colored....

The problem is why not just make them auras. How often does a land get destroyed?

Artifacts Auras Evergreen Fortifications Lands Mechanics

Fortifications in Supplemental Sets

I know Fortifications have a small chance of appearing in a set as a mechanic. What are the chances we see one or two in a supplemental set?

We don’t tend to do one or two-ofs of named nonevergreen mechanics in most sets. The only recent set to do something like that was Modern Horizons.

Fortifications Mechanics Modern Horizons

Lands Tapping with Extra Effects

Hey Maro, how big is the design space for Fortifications that grant lands extra effects when tapping for mana? Something like Wild Growth but with different effects than adding extra mana?

Not very big. It has to be something that’s small and relevant at the time you would want mana.

Design Space Fortifications Lands Mana Mark Rosewater Wild Growth

Trivia about Darksteel Garrison

Ah I forgot to ask for Birthday trivia yesterday! I would love to learn something new about Darksteel Garrison.

When making future-shifted cards for Future Sight, we tended to take existing mechanics and tweak them. Darksteel Garrison was us riffing off of equipment doing something similar that equipment couldn’t technically do. We’ve talked about putting fortifications in sets, but land aura effects are just so narrow, it’s hard to find enough designs to justify it.Happy Birthday!

Auras Birthday Darksteel Darksteel Garrison Equipment Fortifications Future Sight Lands Mechanics