Duplicity

Memory Jar Inspiration

Was the design for Memory Jar inspired by Duplicity? To me, it seems like Memory Jar is "the same" as Duplicity, with the knobs tweaked in a minor way (all players instead of just you; timing is activated/immediate, instead of a choice on your upkeep; removing the EOT discard clause). Was the power level discrepancy from these small changes surprising?

Yes, I designed both. Memory Jar was me redoing Duplicity.

Discard Duplicity Memory Jar Power Level

Design Misjudgments

So if the most notorious "mistakes" are cards which were significantly more powerful than design anticipated (such as oko), what are some of your most memorable examples of the opposite? Meaning cards you or the design/balancing team were worried was going to potentially be too powerful, but turned out to actually be underpowered in competitive play?

In Tempest, I made a card called Duplicity that I was so proud of. And nobody played it.

Blogatog / Tumblr Competitive Play Duplicity Power Level Tempest

Pre-Release Favorite Flop

What was your favorite card before release that turned out to be not good?

I really liked Duplicity in Tempest and it turned out to be horrible.

Duplicity Tempest

Unexpected Card Reception

Name a card that you designed thinking it would be cool and fun. But ended up not being thought that way at all by the public.

I thought Duplicity from Tempest was the coolest thing ever and it landed with the biggest thud you’ve ever seen.

Duplicity Tempest

Duplicity in Commander

I thought you'd might like to know that Duplicity goes straight into my self-mill commander deck.

I’m happy someone plays it. Not my finest design.

Commander Duplicity Mill

Fond Forgettable Design

What is your ugliest baby (a design that you loved, but was objectively, shall we say, not your best work)?

I was very proud of Duplicity when Tempest came out. In interviews, I said it was one of my favorite cards. It obviously has gone on to be a forgotten card.

Duplicity Tempest

Pre-WotC Designs

Ah, I was confused. I thought in your Maro podcast that you said Maro was one of three cards you designed before you came to WotC (the other two being Scragnoth and Duplicity).

I did design Maro before I came to Wizards. I just designed it after the other two.

Drive to Work Duplicity Mark Rosewater Scragnoth Wizards of the Coast

First Card Designed

What is the first card you designed that made it into a set?

Either Scragnoth or Duplicity (both in Tempest). I made both long before I came to Wizards.

Duplicity Scragnoth Tempest

Oldest Designs

How old was your oldest design that saw print? I.e you said Ambassador Oak from Morning tide was created for Tempest

Scragnoth and Duplicity were both designed before I came to Wizards. Now that I think if it, Maro was also pre-Wizards.

Ambassador Oak Card Printing Duplicity Mark Rosewater Scragnoth Tempest

Love for Duplicity

I just wanted to let you know that there is someone out there who loves the card Duplicity. Me. Anytime you design awesome noncreature cards, I am aboard.

If you could see the interviews for Tempest, I kept naming that card as one of my favorites. It turned out to be super weak and very few people played it. I do love the basic concept.

Duplicity Non-creatures Tempest

Personal Favorites

Is there anything you enjoy that players don't seem to? A card or mechanic that you loved but wasn't latched onto?

When Tempest came out, I was so proud of a card called Duplicity. If you look at interviews with me at the time, I keep hyping it. The card was a big a dud as they came and no one but me ever liked it. (OKay, I’m sure someone else liked it but we were a small minority.)

Duplicity Mechanics Tempest

Unexpected Card Popularity

have you ever created a card that you thought "wow this will be So popular" but then was really unpopular (as in didn't see much play)?

All the time. For example, if many years ago you saw interviews with me for Tempest, my first lead design, I kept hyping Duplicity. I was sure that card was going to be a big hit and it flopped big time. (It turned out to be way weaker than I thought.)

Duplicity Tempest

Underappreciated Card Design

What is your favorite card, that you designed, that never really saw the appreciation it deserved?

I had such high hopes for the card Duplicity in Tempest but it just wasn’t good enough to jump through the hoops.

Appreciation Duplicity Mark's Favorites Mark's Favorites Tempest