I seem to always find lots and lots of discourse about block sets. Two sides of the same argument every time.
Side 1 says something like:"I hate all these random sets, I miss block sets."
To which, Side 2 says; "Well block sets never sold as well at the end, players attention span's are better suited for one and done blocks."
My problem with this response is that it essentially ignores the initial statement. Rather than clarifying what they mean, they assume and answer.
Personally, I miss block sets, but ONLY from a story perspective.
Basically, do sets exactly the same as you're doing now. Draft is better now than blocks were, standard with Foundations sounds fantastic. The only thing I'd like to see is a set of setup, and a set of payoff.
MKM was a set based on a murder mystery with the big twist ending basically included in the release, as an example. It could've benefitted from a real, but delayed, payoff. Set up the consequences for each suspect, then reveal and give different consequences that were hinted at in other ways. Bam. Improved.
The last time we visited New Phyrexia, it was a block, I remember ubiquitous speculation over how the story would wrap up. There were factions events at local game stores, branded posters and packs for the factions at play, etc. I had a friend get the New Phyrexian emblem tattooed on themselves. The story felt *Important* and so much less divorced from magic than it does today.
Usually, in my experience, when someone asks for blocks, they're asking for the story to matter. There are lots of mechanically interesting card games out there, and mechanics are only part of what makes magic, magic!
All I would ask is that writers get the opportunity to do setups and payoffs with magic's evolving story with multiple sers, and that story related sets have *some* play synergies. They don't need to share mechanical themes just to share story themes, but it would be a nice little florish if they had mechanical synchronisets,
Hell, a REALLY good idea (in my opinion) would be to do these sets in a different order than the old method. Modern fantasy novels swap POV characters and follow different stories. Why not set up multiple stories in a row, then start to alternate resolving an older, established plot line, and then starting a new one or swapping to another established one. This really gives players time to get interested and speculate (and making the story FEEL present will likely also boost novels and comics numbers, etc., if you need a monetary reasoning.)
What do you think Mark?

We already do a lot of what you’re asking. Each Magic “year” does have a larger connected story, often with different POV characters.

Hi. Happy Fourth of July. Was the original idea for the foundations set from the digital team? I am imagining a scenario where digital asked for a baseline of cards that would be “always available “ for players on arena.

No, it came from tabletop R&D.

Suppose a card in Foundations is too strong and ends up being banned in Standard. Do you really plan to keep printing it for up to 5 years? Or do you have some capability to swap out the banned card for future printings within the 5 years?

The plan is to not change the product. You’re pitching hypotheticals. We’ll see how we adapt if it happens.

Is Foundations considered part of the Jumpstart line?

No.

Hi Mark! Hope your preparations for Independence Day are going swell!One of the things I'm worried about regarding MTG Foundations is that it may have too strong of an effect on the design of future sets (e.g. the strength of 3-mana Green creatures will be restricted due to Llanowar Elves) and that the power level of certain cards might be too large to the point where cards will overstay their welcome (e.g. the reason why 2WW board wipes without downsides have not been printed for a decade). There's also the worry that it might get tiresome to see the same cards for 5 years, as there's only some times you can see Omniscience cheated out that it becomes tiresome.With all these concerns in mind, how pushed is MTG Foundations in terms of power level i.e. is it intended to include staple cards that will define the meta for 5 years or just provide a baseline from which design to work off of?

A lot of time was spent on Foundation. And the knowledge that it was going to be in Standard for a while was well known.

If the first Foundations set will be legal until 2029, is the current plan for the second Foundations set to release in 2029?

2029 means “at least until 2029”. We could extend it. We have to see how everything plays out.

On the note of Foundations, while it is obviously primarily for Standard Constructed, is playing draft and/or Sealed with it going to be supported/possible?

It is made to be drafted.

New stuff is always cool, but classic Magic gameplay really captures my heart. Core and Jumpstart sets have been my favourites in the past, so I'm very excited for Foundations, especially draft/cubing it.

A lot of people have spent a lot of time on it, so I think you’re going to enjoy it.

Why not reveal foundations when you talked about future releases over the next few years?

It just raised questions that would pull focus.

Hi Mark! Are you able to reveal if the 5 planeswalkers in Foundations are a mix of reprints and new cards, all new cards, or all reprints?

It’s too early to talk about what cards are in Foundations (beyond what was shown at the preview panel).