Wizards Employees

Appreciating Hard Work

Hey mark, I haven’t played magic in a few years but I still follow you. I know you get a lot of flack from the community being an outward facing wotc employee. And I was definitely one of those people that gave you a hard time. We appreciate all the hard work you put in.

That’s nice to hear.

Employee Wizards Employees

Explaining Rare Polls

What does "won the rare poll" mean?

To get a sense of how good the rares and mythic rares are, we do a poll among Wizards employees, where they note how much they like the designs.

Employee Mythic Rares Rare Poll Rares Wizards Employees

Phyrexia Arc Feedback

Hi Mark. I’m wondering if WOTC has heard some of the criticisms of the Phyrexia arc from trans and disabled fans. I honestly don’t know how prevalent the critique is but I’m surprised there hasn’t been at least a comment from WOTC staff about it. I have always loved how open WOTC seems to be to discussions of representation so I was very surprised when I felt two minority communities I am a part of never even got a “we weren’t thinking about it” or “we were aware but made these creative choices anyway.” Things as small as Kaya’s natural hairstyle rightly get while articles, but this gets nothing, and I’m wondering if you can tell us why.Ableism is often treated as the odd one out of the oppressions, as an afterthought. Did that happen here, or is there a rationale I missed? As someone with a surgically modified body of my own I was looking forward to my Xantcha to see myself in.

I haven’t heard the criticisms. Can you spell them out for me, as I do very much want to hear them?

Wizards Employees Wizards of the Coast Xantcha

Requesting Digital Art

I know it's not your area, but I have no idea who to ask that is responsible for sending digital card art to Scryfall, so I just keep asking WotC employees. The last 2 years of Heroes of the Realm cards don't have digital art, and it really shows. Every single card before that is digital and looks great. Can you ask whoever does that to send them the files please?

I can ask.

Art Employee Wizards Employees

Stan Lee Card Rules

In theory, Would a Stan Lee card violate Wotc's vanity rules?

The vanity rules are about making cards about Wizards employees.

Employee Rules Wizards Employees

Internal Card Database Tool

Do wizards employees have a special internal card library tool? Something like scryfall or gatherer to use when cross referencing existing cards when making new ones. Does it include cards currently in development or unreleased cards that have been decided to be printed? Bonus q: if no such tool exists, do you guys use gatherer, scryfall, or something else?

We have an internal card database we call Drake.

Card Printing Drake Employee The Library Wizards Employees

Arena Devs Communication

Hi Mark, are there any Arena devs that are willing to answer questions like you? If so what is the best way to contact them, thanks in advance!

I don’t know of any other Wizards employee answering questions on a regular schedule.

Employee Magic Arena Wizards Employees

Heroes of the Realm Reprints

Is it possible for old Heroes of the Realm cards to get into a bonus sheet for Secret Lairs? Like they would still have the Heroes card back. I understand that Heroes of the Realm is for WoTC employees, but I feel as if there is a call for some prints available to the public at this point.

I never say never, but I’ll call it highly, highly unlikely.

Bonus Sheets Card Backs Card Printing Employee Reprints Secret Lairs Wizards Employees

Tribal vs Typal

If something like Bitterblossom was to be reprinted would it still say “tribal” or be updated to say “typal”?

The word “typal” isn’t being used to replace the card type Tribal but the use of the word “tribal” to mean “cares about one or more creature types”. And again, this an internal vocabulary change for R&D. It’s not being reflected on cards, as we don’t use that vocabulary in rules text. It will appear only in articles, podcasts, and blog posts by Wizards employees (mostly me).

Bitterblossom Card Printing Card Types Creatures Employee Kindred / Typal Reprints Rules Wizards Employees

WotC Employees as Wizards

If you work at Wizards of the Coast, does that make you (and the rest of the employees) Wizards?

It does. : )

Employee Humor Wizards Employees Wizards of the Coast

Wizards Employees Playing Pro

Are people who work at wotc allowed to play in big events like the pro tour?

No. We can play in weekly FNM events as long as we make it known we’re Wizards employees.

Competitive Play Employee Wizards Employees Wizards of the Coast

Minotaur Trivia

Hey Mark, yesterday was my birthday! For my my sacred rite of birthday trivia, I'd like to ask for some little-known trivia on Minotaurs, my favorite creature type.Happy New Year!!!

In the early days, the Hurloon Minotaur was considered the unofficial Wizards mascot. We made jean jackets of Nightmare to sell to the public, but only Wizards employees could get one with a Hurloon Minotaur. I still have mine.Happy Birthday!

Birthday Creatures Employee Hurloon Minotaur Minotaur Nightmare Wizards Employees

Post Malone Card Fact

I thought vanity cards were ruled out from new products - why is there an actual Post Malone card in the upcoming Secret Lair ?

The vanity rule is specifically for Wizards employees, as it can make people internally make poor decisions.

Employee Rules Secret Lairs Vanity Cards Vanity Cards Wizards Employees

Phyrexian Sleeper Joke

Hi Mark,Are there any concerns that any of WotC staff might be Phyrexian Sleeper Agents? Has anyone offered you any delicious Oil recently?

Someone did leave oil-filled donuts on the free table…

Humor Phyrexian Wizards Employees

Community Designs View

Hey mark! Is there any reason besides IP that wotc staff cant look at community designs?

It’s legal reasons, not IP reasons.

Wizards Employees

Improvement of Fetchlands

Knowing what you know now, if you could talk to the WOTC staff back when fetchlands were first created, what changes would you recommend making, if any?

I simply wouldn’t have made them. I think Magic would be better off overall if they were never part of the game. Same for the original dual lands. I think the game would be improved if there was more of a cost stretching into extra colors.

Colors Dual Lands Lands Wizards Employees

Player Engagement with Midnight Hunt

Mark, I really like how the cards in Midnight Hunt are making players curious about what is happening in Innistrad, and I really like that no WotC staff is revealing anything but simply recommending us to read the story! This brings us closer to the planes and I hope this continues in the next sets! :)

Happy to hear that.

Innistrad Planes Story / Lore Wizards Employees

Interviewing Mark's Wife

I think you have missed one very important person in doing interviews of past Wizards employees, and you might want to put her on the list, since hopefully she is the single most important person you have ever interacted with, and without her, who knows where you would be in life. We want to hear from your wife :)

While my wife has had a huge influence, she prefers to do it out of the limelight. I wouldn’t hold out hope.

Employee Wizards Employees

Connecting with D&D WotC Staff

Are you aware of any tumblr/blog we could talk to someone at WotC involved with D&D as you are with mtg?

I am not. Anyone else know of resources?

Blogatog / Tumblr Dungeons & Dragons Wizards Employees Wizards of the Coast

Appreciation for Developer Blogs

As someone who is too broke to really play magic right now I have to say its wonderful following your blog and being excited to experience the game again in the future. Thank you for the work that you and the wotc staff do

Thanks for being here.

Appreciation Wizards Employees