Ovinomancer

Ovinomancer Origins

I don't think there's ever been a magic related thing so specifically marketed to me as the old border printing of Ovenize in Dominaria Remastered. I'd love to know how that came to be. Ovinomancer is my favorite card ever. My actual question: can you please give super high fives to everyone involved in making this happen?

Sure. A little Ovinomancer trivia. The card was inspired by many of R&D playing Warcraft 2 on the LAN at Wizards. Warcraft 2 specifically has a creature that turns other creatures into sheep. Bill (Rose) loved doing that so he made a card that did it.

Birthday Card Printing Creatures Dominaria High Fives Ovinomancer Sheep

Ovinomancer Origins

Today is my birthday! I'd love to know if you have any trivia about my favorite forgotten creature, ovinomancer. I loved ovinize and makes me think there might be some more to know!!!

Back in the day, a lot of Magic R&D played Warcraft. We had a LAN at work, and it was a popular late night activity. One of the spells in Warcraft let you turn creatures into sheep, and Bill Rose loved using the spell. So much so, that he made a Magic card that turned creatures into sheep. I was not interested in playing Warcraft, so instead, I used my time talking to the receptionist who sat by the LAN. (We were testing the waters of opening game stores and we had one at work to test it and that’s where the LAN was.) Her name was Lora. This year we celebrate our 23rd anniversary. : )

Bill Rose Birthday Creatures Game Stores Humor Ovinize Ovinomancer Sheep Spells

Video Game Design Influence

Hi Mark! IT'S FINALLY MY BIRTHDAY!! Can I get some trivia on how any video game has influenced or inspired one of your designs? My name is Mario, so preference for any Mario trivia, but anything works - a character, a philosophy, a puzzle, or even magic online if you have nothing else. Thanks!

The card Ovinomancer from Visions was inspired by a lot of polymorphing R&D members did in original Warcraft.Happy Birthday!

Birthday Magic Online Ovinomancer Visions

Sheep Trivia Birthday Wish

Howdy Mark! It's finally my birthday! May I please have some trivia on my favorite Sheep, Nyx Fleece Ram? Or on the sheep creature type in general. Thanks for answering so many questions!

The card Ovinomancer was inspired by late night video game playing that most of R&D used to do in a tournament center we had in the offices. I wasn’t interested in playing, so I used to hang out and talk to the receptionist. This last weekend, we just celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. Happy Birthday!

Birthday Creatures Nyx Ovinomancer Sheep

Video Game Inspirations

Hi Mark, was any MtG card, design or mechanic influenced by video games? (independently from MTGO and fuels of the planeswalker of course)

Ovinomancer was inspired by a polymorph spell in a video game.

Magic Online Mechanics Ovinomancer Planeswalkers Polymorph

Creature Activation Humor

"I'll just activate my Ovinomancer," Tom said sheepishly.

: )

Activate Ovinomancer

Insomnia Reading Advice

If I can't sleep, will reading Blogatog help?

One Ovinomancer. Two Ovinomancers. Three Ovinomancers. I’m trying.

Ovinomancer

Ovinomancer's Origins

Do you know who designed Ovinomancer? I really want to thank whoever made it. Its awesome.

It was designed by myself and Bill Rose. The card was inspired by a spell in the video game Warcraft (the precursor to World of Warcraft).

Bill Rose Ovinomancer

Visions, 7th Edition Contributions

Is there anything I can credit you for doing in Visions or 7th Edition?

Cards I remember designing (or co-designing) in Visions: (note this is a long time ago so my memory might be faulty) Anvil of Bogardan Brood of Cockroaches Chronatog City of Solitude Eye of Singularity Helm of Awakening Juju Bubble Necrosavant Ovinomancer Quirion Ranger Rainbow Efreet Relentless Assault Rowen Squandered Resources Suq'Ata Assassin Talruum Champion Triangle of War Cards I remember making (or co-making) in Seventh Edition: (once again my memory is not perfect) Arcane Laboratory Archivist Coat of Arms Compost Confiscate Delusions of Mediocrity Elvish Lyrist Elvish Piper Engineered Plague Evacuation Fervor Grafted Skullcap Gravedigger Hibernation Lightning Blast Maro Mawcor Might of Oaks Nature’s Revolt Opportunity Opposition Persecute Pygmy Pyrosaur Reclaim Relentless Assault Revenant Rolling Stones Rowen Seeker of Skybreak Seismic Assault Serra’s Embrace Shock Spellbook Sudden Impact Telepathy Temporal Adept Thieving Magpie Tolarian Winds Yavimaya Enchantress

Anvil of Bogardan Arcane Laboratory Archivist Assassin Brood of Cockroaches Champion Chronatog City of Solitude Coat of Arms Delusions of Mediocrity Efreets Elvish Lyrist Elvish Piper Engineered Plague Eye Eye of Singularity Fervor Grafted Skullcap Gravedigger Helm of Awakening Juju Bubble Lightning Blast Mark Rosewater Mawcor Might of Oaks Necrosavant Ovinomancer Pygmy Pyrosaur Quirion Ranger Rainbow Efreet Ranger Relentless Assault Revenant Revolt Rolling Stones Rowen Seeker of Skybreak Seismic Assault Seventh Edition Spellbook Squandered Resources Sudden Impact Suq'Ata Assassin Talruum Champion Temporal Adept Thieving Magpie Tolarian Winds Triangle of War Visions Yavimaya Enchantress