Erik Lauer

Color Shift Explanation

So last week, iirc, you mentioned that today's making magic article explains why energy moved from temur into jeskai. But the article makes no mention of the color shift. Can you explain why it had to move colors?

I believe I said my podcast with Erik Lauer on the topic talks about it. That goes up this Friday. But maybe I misspoke and said my article.I’ll give you the short version. The set had to divvy up the core themes and Eldrazi worked better in green/blue/red as it wanted to have more ramping elements and wanted green more. Energy went into blue/red/white because it had more of an aggro component and played better in those colors.

Boros (R/W) Colors Drive to Work Eldrazi Erik Lauer Green Izzet (U/R) Jeskai (U/R/W) Making Magic Red Simic (G/U) Temur (R/U/G) White

Eldrazi Spawn vs Scions

Do you know why the MH3 design team used Eldrazi spawn instead of scions?

Erik Lauer and I specifically talk about it on my podcast (coming up). Basically, 0/1 had less utility outside the mana production and thus caused less problems.

Drive to Work Eldrazi Erik Lauer Mana Modern Horizons 3 Scion Spawn

Energy in Jeskai

Is there a reason why MH3 seems to focus Energy in Jeskai when it was more Temur in Kaladesh? It's cool, but I was hoping to see more Green Energy cards.

I recorded a podcast with Erik Lauer on the vision design of Modern Horizons III and we touch upon that exact issue.

Drive to Work Energy Cards Erik Lauer Green Jeskai (U/R/W) Kaladesh Modern Horizons Modern Horizons 3 Temur (R/U/G) Vision Design

Upcoming Sets Leadership

Hello Mark,A few weeks ago you announced who led the Set design of Outlaws of Thunder Junction (Dave humpherys) and Bloomburrow (lan Duke).Do you know, and can you tell us who led the Set design for other upcoming sets please? (The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, Murder at Karlov Manor, Duskmourn and, if you know, Modern Horizon 3) :)

Lost Caverns of IxalanVision Design - MeSet Design - Jules RobinsMurders at Karlov ManorVision Design - Me & Mark GottliebSet Design - Mark Gottlieb & Andrew BrownDuskmourn: House of HorrorVision Design - Annie SardelisSet Design - Jules RobinsModern Horizon 3Vision Design - Erik LauerSet Design - Michael Majors

Bloomburrow Dave Humpherys Duskmourn: House of Horror Erik Lauer Horror Ixalan Modern Murders at Karlov Manor Outlaws of Thunder Junction Set Design The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Vision Design

Elspeth's Design Story

It's my birthday. For my birthday trivia could you tell me if there was any interesting design stories about my favorite card, Elspeth Sun's Champion?

Elspeth, Sun’s Champion (at least the version that saw print) was designed by Erik Lauer in Theros development. Elspeth was going to die in the story, so Erik wanted to make a memorable Elspeth card. Apparently, no one told him our long range pans for the character, because she wasn’t going to stay “dead”.Happy Birthday!

Birthday Card Printing Champion Erik Lauer Story / Lore Theros

Phyrexians as Protagonists

If or when: a set where the Phyrexians are the protagonists?

If ever the Phyrexians were the protagonist, it’s Phyrexia: All Will Be One. 🐿️ - Fun fact: Erik Lauer believes the protagonist of Jaws is the shark.

Erik Lauer If/When Phyrexia: All Will Be One Phyrexian Shark

Dog Trivia

It's my Birthday. However, my dog passed away today at 15 years old. So, can I please request your best Dog trivia? Thank you.

I put a cycle of Dogs in Odyssey as a favor for Randy Buehler. (Wild Mongrel being the most famous.) He did it for his friend Erik Lauer. Happy Birthday and so sorry about your dog.

Appreciation Birthday Cycles Dog Erik Lauer Odyssey Wild Mongrel

Erik Lauer's New Role?

Does Erik Lauer have a new role?

No. He’s just trying his hand at a vision design to better understand the process.

Erik Lauer Vision Design Your Hand

Enlist Origin

I have a question about Enlist. Did Enlist get designed as a re-approached/more accessible/understandable banding? It really feels like it did to me, especially with the return to Dominaria and all the nostalgia surrounding it.

Enlist was inspired by banding. A week from Friday, I interview Ian Duke (and Erik Lauer) on my podcast, and he talks about how he made enlist.

Banding Dominaria Drive to Work Enlist Erik Lauer

Player Feedback on Game Sets

Regarding the person having doubts that strixhaven was fun to play. I was in a similar place with Kaldheim, during preview it left me cold. But when playing it, it was so much fun and I had so much "aha" moments. Also in Throne of eldrain, I was like "mono colored theme set? I'm out!" but now it's my favorite. I don't want to critique the person, just let them know that it is a normal phenomenon to not get a set or design until you play it. :)

It’s my job to theory craft design and even I have to playtest to really understand how a set works. EDIT: To address an issue in the comments. I’ve been in R&D for over twenty-five years. I have worked with hundreds of different people on various design (and development) teams. Some of them, like Erik Lauer, are truly brilliant at theory-crafting. Even they have to playtest to truly understand how elements actually function in gameplay. There is no such thing as design where you never test the product you’re designing.

Craft Erik Lauer Game Play Kaldheim Playtesting Spoilers

R&D Team Photo Fun

Who are the people in the "Another Day of R&D Productivity Lost" photo? How do they feel about this recurring series?

R&D likes it. Tom LaPille asks the question. Then Mark Globus answers. Then Ken Troop answers. And finally Erik Lauer gives the final line. It’s a decently old picture. Only Ken and Erik are still at Wizards.

Erik Lauer Game Design Tom LaPille

Adamant & Hybrid Mana

Did the four cmc hybrids ever have adamant at any point? It seems like adamant is playing in the same area as the Lorwyn/Shadowmoor hybrid space with mono-color.

They never did. That cycle was added by Erik Lauer in late set design.

Adamant Colors Erik Lauer Hybrid Lorwyn Mana Value Monocolor Shadowmoor

Eldraine Design Team

Hi Mark, who were on the set design team for Eldraine?

I don’t know them all off the top of my head. Mark Gottlieb was the set lead for most of set design. Erik Lauer came in at the end because Mark was needed to lead another team. Andrew Brown was the main play designer on the set design team. I’ll have to ask about the rest.

Erik Lauer

Standard Set Involvement

Other than you, which members of R&D work on the most Standard sets? (Who has the lowest value on the R&D Storm Scale?)

Probably Erik Lauer. He has his hands in every Standard legal set.

Erik Lauer Game Design Keyword Abilities Premier Sets Premier Sets Standard Storm Scale

Anafenza and Reyhan Trivia

Late birthday trivia, please tell me something about either Anafenza or Reyhan 😄

Erik Lauer was influenced in Anafenza’s design by a quote about her character write up.Happy Birthday!

Birthday Erik Lauer

T-Shirt Symbolism

I'm watching your talk with Erik Lauer and noticed that your T shirts depict Bolas horns and the Izzet symbol. Is that a foreshadowing for WAR?

We both just like dragons. : )

Dragon Erik Lauer Izzet (U/R)

Design Leadership

Who are the heads of vision / set / play design? I know you and Erik Lauer were the heads of design / development in the past but right now I don't know. I either missed or the heads weren't announced directly.

I lead vision design, Erik leads set design, and Ian Duke leads play design.

Erik Lauer Play Design

Inside R & D Fate

I know you're not in charge of it but whatever happened to Inside R & D?

I’m not sure. I did record two half hour interviews with different R&D members as a pilot for a new show idea I had (tentatively called “R&D Tales”). They were streamed on Black Friday on the Magic Twitch channel. One was with Erik Lauer and the other Andrew Veen. Both were about Guilds of Ravnica design. Did any of you see it?

Black Channel Erik Lauer Game Design Guilds of Ravnica Pilot Two Color

Dominaria Design Props

Could you please high five those responsible for Thallids and Saprolings in Dominaria?

Will do. I think that person is Erik Lauer.

Dominaria Erik Lauer High Fives Saprolings

Great Designer Search Test

Hey Mark. Just want to say I thought your stage three test for the Great Designer Search was amazing. Brilliantly concieved test that creates a very constrained space but where the candidates can still be wildly creative. Love it! Best

The test was created by Erik Lauer. I thought it did exactly what we wanted. A lot of people who have ‘t tried it don’t realize how hard it is to do.

Erik Lauer Search