Uthden Troll

Birthday Trivia Request

I invoke the right of birthday trivia! (Also congrats on 20 years as head designer) Can you tell me anything about the card "grey ogres"? Failing that, how about trivia on orcs and/or ogres in magic in general?

Grey Ogre has an interesting distinction. It’s a card in Alpha with three other cards that are “strictly better”: Granite Gargoyle, Sedge Troll, and Uthden Troll.Happy Birthday!

Appreciation Birthday Gargoyle Granite Gargoyle Head Designer Ogre Orc Power Level Rat Sedge Troll Troll Uthden Troll

Card Design Evolution

I may be misremembering, but it seems like in Magic's earlier days, there was a tendency not to print a card that was a strictly better version of another card in the same set. Lately, this happens pretty routinely, especially with removal (e.g., Price of Fame >> Deadly Visit in GRN). Has there been a philosophical shift on this and what were the reasons for the change? I get the need to limit premium removal in limited, but it seems like a deeper philosophical change.

Alpha Common: Grey Ogre 2R 2/2 Uncommon: Uthden Troll 2R 2/2 R: Regenerate Rare: Grey Gargoyle 2R 2/2 Flying R: +0/+1 ueot
&
Sedge Troll 2R 2/2 +1/+1 if swamp, B: Regenerate

Alpha Card Printing Deadly Visit Flying Gargoyle Limited Ogre Power Level Price of Fame Rares Regenerate Sedge Troll Troll Uncommons Uthden Troll

Rarity vs. Power

"Rarity isn’t really about power." Your words. My response: Baneslayer Angel. Rarity has been more and more about power since the day Mythic Rare was invented.

I think you need to take a look at Alpha. Common - Grey Ogre 2R 2/2 Uncommon - Uthden Troll 2R 2/2 R: Regenerate Rare - Sedge Troll 2R 2/2 +1/+1 if you control a swamp, B: Regenerate Common - Hill Giant 3R 3/3 Uncommon - Roc of Kher Ridges 3R 3/3 Flying Common - Mons’s Goblin Raiders R 1/1 Uncommon - Goblin Baloon Brigade R 1/1 R: Gains flying The reality is that we’ve gotten a lot better over the years of not defining power by rarity. Yes, there are exceptions but you won’t see a modern set that has four strictly betters based on rarity in one color like I listed above.

Alpha Angel Baneslayer Angel Colors Flying Giant Goblin Hill Giant Modern Mythic Rares Ogre Rarity Regenerate Roc of Kher Ridges Sedge Troll Troll Uncommons Uthden Troll

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