Survivor

Excitement for Duskmourn

Hi Mark! Guy who missed the Gen Con announcement here again. I just wanted to add to the chorus of people saying how excited they are for Duskmourn, specifically BECAUSE it's a more modern take on horror. I was worried I'd find it boring because Phyrexians, Eldrazi, and Innistrad have all done horror in MtG already. Instead we have neon lighting, puffy vests, static portals, possessed appliances, and a gang of plucky youngsters joining up with roving survivors. Neon Dynasty was the first setting to really prove that futuristic settings could be done and done well, while still feeling like it's in the multiverse we all know and love. I'm sure Duskmourn will adapt a more modern world just as well.

I can’t wait for you to see more of it.

Adapt Conflux Eldrazi Horror Innistrad Modern Phyrexian Survivor

Modern Horror and Magic

For what it’s worth, I actually think the biggest issue with Duskmourn isn’t the “modern” stuff, so much as Magic’s trend towards so many cards representing a genre trope, often literally by name. That said, it’s really exacerbated by the modern setting, which is unusual territory and thus feels like it’s there only to really ensure those tropes and references are as blunt as possible, rather than being a part of a cohesive world.A third factor that really makes this not gel for me is that modern horror relies on a threat that is anomalous and unique to be scary. Innistrad made a world full of Frankensteins and Draculas into a believable ecosystem, and I just don’t know that I can get there with a world full of Jasons, Freddys, Samaras, etc.All of this is to say, I would be a bit disappointed if this setting does poorly and the takeaway is just “no more tennis shoes.” I know there’s an audience for the tropey cards, but it feels like they’ve become so numerous and so blunt that it’s overshadowed the world building and left me far less curious and excited about new planes than I used to be. Generally, a magic plane with more modern technology and culture intrigues me, but when it’s just a vehicle for references I lose interest.

Please read the Planeswalkers Guide to Duskmorn:
Planeswalker’s Guide to DuskmournIt is very much a carefully thought out and crafted world.

Horror Innistrad Modern Planes Planeswalkers Survivor Vehicles

Feedback and Preferences for Duskmourn

to add to the feedback pile on duskmournthe concept and flavor of the plane are incredible. for me, I think it’s the coolest one since mirrodin.y I really like the horror-based technology, and the whole rich vein of horror it taps into. the ghostbuster-type equipment the survivors have feels a lot more jarring as an initial impression; they seem a bit more like something out of sci-fi than horror.I disliked the non-technological stuff, like the sneakers and gym rooms, at least for now. I think they’re a bit too much for my personal sensibility of what “fits” magic. That said, still very excited for duskmourn!

Thanks for the input.

Equipment Flavor Horror Mirrodin Survivor

Justice By Cookie

If or when: Sir Gynger, the Meal Ender, Mother of Cookies, the Sole Survivor of the Boiling Cauldron, the Last of Her Batch brings Garruk Wildspeaker to justice?

If she hasn’t already. : )

Batches Garruk Wildspeaker Humor If/When Survivor

Tazri Ally Type Absence

I will ask this for people who got ticked from thisWhy didn't “Tazri, Stalwart Survivor” have the “Ally” type since the two previous tazri's had the Ally type.

Only General Tazri was an Ally. Tazri, Beacon of Unity mentions “Ally” in its rules text, but she’s a Human Warrior.

Ally General Tazri Human Rules Survivor Tazri, Beacon of Unity Tazri, Stalwart Survivor Warrior

Jeff Probst's Color Identity

Hi Mark! Are you very familiar with the show Survivor? My partner was wondering what color identity Jeff Probst would be in his role as host of the show.A bit of an odd question, I realize, so no worries if you don't have an answer for it. Thanks!

Host duties lean towards white. Now time for a Jeff Probst Magic trivia question. What Magic TV event was Jeff Probst a host of? (Scroll down for the answer)

In 1997, the World Championship was covered on a show that aired on ESPN 2. The host of that show was a young Jeff Probst.

Birthday Color Identity Competitive Play Partner Pop Culture Survivor White

Defending Norin's Reputation

I just wanted to voice the opinion of myself and others that you didn’t blow it with Norin the Wary. He’s no coward, he’s a vigilant, rightfully wary survivor and we won’t let his good name be slandered. : )

: )

Coward Humor Norin the Wary Survivor

Error About Survivor Tokens

Re Survivors, isn't Varchild a brand-new card in Commander 2018 that makes Survivor tokens? The one from decades ago is on the reserve list so it can't be reprinted.

Oops. I missed that there was a new Varchild card. It does use Survivor creature tokens, but just as a callback to the original card.

Commander Creatures Reprints Survivor Tokens

Survivors Reprint Explanation

"If. Again it was one creature type on a creature token twenty six years ago." You keep saying this about survivors as though Varchild wasn't printed just a few years ago

We reprint Magic cards to give player’s access. That doesn’t change when it originated.

Creatures Reprints Survivor Tokens

Survivor Tribal Future

If or when: More survivor tribal/support

If. Again it was one creature type on a creature token twenty six years ago.

Creatures If/When Kindred / Typal Survivor Tokens

Survivors Creature Support

Survivors are a unique creature type made as a token for a card in Alliances twenty-six years ago. I wouldn’t call it supported in the way that Wizard or Rogue, or even Peasant, are. You forgot that Varchild takes survivors, making it a relevant creature type

I’m not saying the token creatures shouldn’t be Survivors. I was saying them existing doesn’t mean Survivor has to be treated on par with the creature types I mentioned.

Creatures Peasant Rogue Survivor Tokens

Eltruel Survivors Typeline

How come Eltruel Survivors are Peasants, not Survivors? I thought eponymous creature types were always included in the typeline?

Survivors are a unique creature type made as a token for a card in Alliances twenty-six years ago. I wouldn’t call it supported in the way that Wizard or Rogue, or even Peasant, are.

Creatures Peasant Rogue Survivor Tokens

Rally Mechanic Possibilities

Hello, Mark! I had been thinking: the Mirran Resistance could have been allies? or maybe the Renegades of Kaladesh? or even the survivors of Amonkhet? My question is: is it possible to have allies (and specially the rally mechanic) in other planes than Zendikar?

It is possible.

Ally Amonkhet Kaladesh Mechanics Planes Rally Rally Survivor Zendikar

Survivors’ Bond Color Choice

Survivors’ Bond looks very similar to cards we see in black quite often. Any reason it ended up in green this time?

We’ve just done it a lot in black and it’s something green can do.

Black Colors Green Survivors' Bond

Library Manipulation Effects

There do not seem to be a lot of repeatable effect that allow players to manipulate the top of their library using their hand in the way that Survivor of the Unseen does, but there are plenty of "looter" cards that allow you to manipulate the graveyard. Is one inherently more powerful than the other? Why are there not more effects like Survivors?

It’s not an effect we want to do repeatable as it doesn’t lead to particularly fun gameplay. The top of your library should be a mystery most of time. Remember Survivor of the Unseen has Cumulative Upkeep. It doesn’t stay around forever.

Cumulative Upkeep Game Play Survivor Survivor of the Unseen The Graveyard The Library Your Hand

Diverse Cultures in Sets

what I meant by "different and distinct cultures" was a series of factions that are clearly different people groups, and very much exist in different areas of the plane. like tarkir, they had monks on the mountain tops, warriors who charged across the plains, nomads, surviving in the frozen tundra, schemers, who plotted in jungles and swamps, and survivors, who marched across the deserts. these weren't just different factions, they were extremely different cultures existing on the same world.

I believe we’ll do that again but it will probably require some kind of factioning.

Factions Factions Monk Nomad Survivor Warrior

Pre-Mending Survivors

How many "Pre-Mending" Planeswalkers are still around? (that we know of)

Bolas, Karn, Sorin, Nahiri, Liliana, Ugin. I’ll probably missing a few.

Planeswalkers Survivors

Survivor Chicken Victory

Last night on the Survivor finale, Mark the Chicken made it to the end. He didn't win the game; but they didn't eat him. First time in all 32 seasons

That’s a victory for all chickens. For those unaware, one of the contestants, Neal Gottlieb, is the brother of Magic designer Mark Gottlieb.

Chicken Survivor

Core Set Survivor

The Core Set Survivor game ended because even Giant Spider rotated out. It was the *last* one to rotate out, which is why it won, but there are no other Alpha Cards that didn’t rotate out earlier, so the game ended.

People today are talking about “Creature Keyword Survivor”.

Alpha Creatures Giant Giant Spider Keywords Spider Survivor

Core Sets Future

If the survivor game only counts core sets, I don't know if we'll ever reach the conclusion.

A fair point. Magic’s a long way from ending so I’m not 100% we’ll never see core sets again although no time soon.

Reach Survivor