One of the playtest cards from Gavin’s unknown event was a card that referenced the MOM legendary team up cards; and he said that the card didn’t really work within the rules. Although that is technically true, I find it hard to believe it could not be easily worked into the rules. Obviously it is clearly understood from the average player POV, but from a rules perspective, why couldn’t there just be a section in the rules that lists all the cards that are legal options? That already exists for Apocalypse Chime, City in a Bottle, and Golgothian Sylex; and I would argue they are far less intuitive or easy to remember when it comes to what cards they apply to. This isn’t me demanding that Gavin’s card be made legal, more so it’s me asking: why can’t cards like that get made? Cards/mechanics that reference a small and intuitive list of cards, with the comprehensive rules having a formal definition for that list?

It comes down to how much stress does it put on the system and is it worth that stress? We believe the answer is no, because it’s a lot of stress for minimal pay off. That’s why acorn/silver-border cards exist. There are things that are practically easy to use, but are onerous on the rules system. Those cards should exist because they’re fun, but we can do so without causing problems with the larger rules structure.

I would say that Apocalypse Chime, City in a Bottle and Golgothian Sylex were the first cards that used the concept of "batching". However, their batch is explicitly defined in the comprehensive rules (CR), and would be a little long to fit in reminder text. Would you ever make another "intuitive" batch where it can be roughly described in reminder text, but you might have to consult the CR in order to know 100% whether something is part of the batch?

Yes, if the batch was generally intuitive enough that players could guess at 99% of it.

Can I ask for a return of the City in a Bottle philosophy for MH3?

Only acorn cards can mechanically care about an expansion symbol which is what basically needs to happen to have this type of effect.

Hey Mark! Are City in a Bottle/Golgothian Sylex/Apocalypse Chime effects still black border, or have they moved to silver border like World-Bottling Kit? If they are black border will we ever see this effect again?

Black border can no longer mechanically reference expansion symbols.

Do you know the original thought process behind cards like City in a Bottle? And why they abandoned the idea so soon?

Cards like City in a Bottle were made in a time when black border cared about individual cards for qualities (what silver border does now). Because we want all cards with the same name to work the same, black border moved away from working that way.

Now that expansion hosing cards like City in a Bottle don't care anymore about the expansion symbol, what are the chances of a similar effect coming back? (even in a supplemental product like Conspiracy)

Black border can’t mechanically care about expansion symbols. Unhinged had two cards (Status Symbol and Home-Bottling Kit) that did.

What were you guys thinking when you decided to make city in a bottle?

I believe Richard was thinking, “Maybe players won’t like this expansion so just in case…”

to the best of your knowledge has a mtg mechanic ever been inspired buy a tvshow/comic/movie

The card City in a Bottle was inspired by a Sandman comic. Actually, I believe the entire Arabian Nights expansion was inspired by that comic.

Why is City In A Bottle in Vintage Masters?

I believe they were trying to get cards on Magic Online that see some Vintage play. I believe that card is a sideboard card against decks running Bazaar of Baghdad.

FYI: The Gatherer ruling on City in a Bottle is now outdated by the functional errata. Please pass along to your Gatherer admin. (Also, *that* was your reason for bringing back functional errata? Really? Boo.)

It’s functional errata but only so it works in tournaments like every other card in the game. It’s important that all cards with the same name work the same in black-bordered Magic. Now in silver-bordered Magic, not so much.