Hi Mark, Is there an Article or Podcast about how exactly Richard Garfield came up with the ideas? Especially basic lands, one Land per turn rule or the idea of tapping things for use? I mostly like the idea of having 5 colors and the more colors you play the harder it is to cast the right cards on time, that is the perfect system of keeping people out of playing all the best cards in the same deck most of the time.

Here’s the podcast with Richard where I ask about decisions he made in Alpha:

https://media.wizards.com/2020/podcasts/magic/drivetowork737_richardgarfield_Y83uI3oO.mp3

Hello, I heard something interesting about MH3 where you retried EVERY mechanic to see what would work with a new context or be interesting. You (WoTC) revisited many of my favorite mechanics like grandeur but didn't for probably my favorite. That mechanic is absorb, and while it has only been keyworded on one card "Lymph Sliver" it did see a continuation on my favorite card of all "Valkmira, Protector's Shield" alongside what would only a few sets later become ward. I wanted to know if you could share any insights on the designs taken with absorb or any other of your favorite mechanics? Thank you very much for your time.

I designed Lymph Sliver and absorb. If I remember correctly, I was riffing off of a shield mechanic from the Star Wars TCG. (It was a trading card game design lead by Richard Garfield that I was on the initial design team for.)

Apologies if you've answered this but I couldn't find an official un-ruling: in a game of commander, can I use Richard Garfield, PhD's ability to play a card as a copy of another card already in my deck or does that violate the "must be legal in the format" rule on the grounds that a second copy of any card is not legal in commander? This is the same question as asking if, in ordinary constructed, his effect can duplicate a card that you already have four of in your deck.

He is not limited by deck construction rules. He can make a card into a copy of a card in your deck.

What's the next Richard Garfield set?

Nothing currently in progress. Richard is busy designing a lot of other cool games.

What was your favorite set to work with Richard Garfield on and any chance he'll be on a new set anytime soon?

I enjoy all the sets I get to work with Richard on. If I had to pick one, it was probably Tempest as it was the first set we worked on together and I was so excited to have him on my design team.

Hello Mark! For my birthday, is there any trivia you’d be willing to share about your personal magic card collection?

It’s scattered all around my house. I am one of a small handful of people to have all four Richard Garfield cards made to celebrate the birth of his children. Happy Birthday!

Whats the danger room?

Two offices back, Richard Garfield was given an office, but he just wanted to sit in The Pit, so he turned into a room we could playtest in or have meetings. It wasn’t officially in the system for meeting rooms, so only R&D would use it. He called it The Danger Room after the place the X-men practice using their powers. Each new office has had a Danger Room.

Have you guys ever tried a mechanic where you shuffle some kind of token or unwanted card into your opponent's library?

We did. Richard Garfield actually made it. It was called gunk. It’s just not particularly fun.

Any chance we see errata adding the doctor creature type to older creatures? Goblin Medic, Goblin Chirurgeon, Richard Garfield, Ph.D.?

I don’t think there are plans. Also, Richard is not a medical doctor. : )

The color pie was devised by Richard Garfield, but were you the first one to write about it?

I’m not sure if I was the first. I’m pretty sure I wrote about it the most. : )