Adding to the discussion about simplifying combat math, I tend not to play cards like Burrowguard Mentor ("power and toughness are each equal to the number of creatures you control") because they often end up dying after combat when my other creatures die. Have you ever considered making a similar card but with "CARDNAME'S power and toughness are each equal to the greatest number of creatures you have controlled this turn."? That would make things a little easier on my already over-taxed brain.

I think the more likely version of that would be an activated ability that gets the boost until end of turn. A static ability that has built in memory needs can also cause issues.

Is Fireglass Mentor the start of a precedent to use "second main phase" instead of "postcombat main phase"?

It is.

As an aside from that one question about whether prowess is still tertiary in white: Monastery Mentor being reprinted into standard as recently as MOM is a really good indicator that prowess is still in white's color pie, isn't it? I am assuming that reprints into standard still follow the same mechanical color pie that brand new cards have to.

Prowess is still tertiary in white, and yes reprints into Standard care about color pie appropriateness.

Not sure if you knew this, but my mentor Dr. Charles Pellegrino's scientific research inspired Michael Crichton to write the Jurassic Park novel. Dr. Crichton credited him in the book. Seeing "Scientist" as a type reminds me of him, and as a scientist myself, I hope there will be more of them, including Oceanographers, Meteorologists, Geologists, etc. Even magical worlds must feature science.

Scientist is now a creature type we can use in the appropriate sets.

"Mentor is not a good fit for blue. Blue's +1/+1 counter interaction is usually outside of combat."To me, Mentor doesn't feel much different from Thrummingbird's Proliferate trigger on combat damage, or Guild Thief applying a counter to itself. Mentor is so telegraphed, it doesn't feel truly IN combat like a combat trick normally would.If it's not because of whether or not blue has combat tricks, what about Mentor is truly a break?

It’s not a break, but it’s a stretch.

Hi Mark,I loved seeing the previews for Wilds of Eldraine last week. As a commander player I am curious as to why there wasn’t an adventure themed commander deck for this set. I had hoped after Gorion, Wise Mentor was released there would be new support for it in this set. Will I be pleased when Wilds come out or should I temper my expectations?

Let’s talk when we get closer to its release.

Why was Monetary Mentor reprinted instead of color shifted into red and/or blue. Aren't those the token spam/noncreature/convoke colors in MOM?

Because the output is more of a white effect than a blue or red one.

March of the Machine is the most excited I've been for a set since Unfinity! I love the return of Convoke for the heroes. Are you free to share any other preexisting mechanics that were considered to represent Teamwork?

We had a long list, but I don’t remember much of them off the top of my head. Soulbond, Mentor, and Training were there.

In the past you’ve created cards that make tokens with the same name as actual cards (i.e. Llanowar Elves from Llanowar Mentor). Why do Awaken the Woods and Staff of Titania not make Dryad Arbors?

We tend to do that when we’re purposefully playing flavorfully into the nostalgia of the older card.

Can I request you make a card with both Mentor and Training and call it Middle Management?

: )