Generated on 10 Jul 2024
Based on 286 answers
Beebles have made quite an impact on the Magic: The Gathering community, both for their whimsical nature and for the curious, ongoing discussions about their potential return or exclusion from various sets. This article explores Beebles in detail, as Mark Rosewater (often affectionately called “MaRo”), a long-time advocate and designer for the game, has illuminated their history, quirks, and obstacles over time.
Origins and Early Appearances
Beebles first appeared thanks to artist Jeff Miracola, who drew them on the cover of The Duelist, featuring Squee fighting off these small pink creatures. Rosewater found them fascinating and decided to insert them into Urza’s Legacy. As he managed the creative duties during that time, he placed Beebles on a few cards. However, after only a couple of cards, the brand team stopped further inclusion, deeming them "too silly" for the main sets. Consequently, Beebles found a home in Un-sets, which are known for their humorous and whimsical nature.
Character and Appeal
Rosewater loves Beebles for their lighthearted and jovial nature. He acknowledges that they add a lighter tone to the game: “They make me smile,” he has said. According to Rosewater, Beebles have a unique charm largely due to their “joie de vivre.” Their design exudes a sense of fun and whimsy, which is part of what makes them endearing to a segment of the Magic fanbase.
The Struggle for Inclusion in Black Border Sets
One of the major recurring themes in Rosewater’s responses is his ongoing effort to bring Beebles into black border sets, which are the core, canonical Magic sets as opposed to the silver-bordered Un-sets. Despite his enthusiasm, he often cites internal pushback on this front, attributing it to Beebles being perceived as "too silly" for the more serious tone of main Magic sets. He has compared Beebles to Squirrels, another fan-favorite creature type that took years to return to black border sets.
In multiple responses, Rosewater has expressed frustration with this exclusion, noting that, "I honestly don’t understand why [they are excluded] as we do things equally silly these days."
He even created a humorous "Beeble scale" to rank how likely various elements are to return to Magic sets, with Beebles being a default 10—meaning they are considered very unlikely to return due to being "too silly." However, he remains optimistic and continues to advocate within the R&D team for their inclusion.
Fun Facts and Trivia
- The first Beeble appeared on the cover of The Duelist.
- Beebles often have abilities that make them unblockable under certain conditions, adding a quirky strategic element to their gameplay.
- One amusing suggestion from a fan joked about a Beeble Planeswalker named Venser with a storm ability—a combination Rosewater rated as a "10" on the Beeble scale for unlikelihood but found humor in the notion.
- Rosewater has humorously suggested creating various Beeble-themed cards with names like "Justin Beeble" and "To Beeble Or Not To Beeble," highlighting the potential for puns and wordplay.
- In Unfinity, Beebles were depicted overrunning a space theme park together with Gremlins, Rats, and Squirrels, underlying their playful and invasive nature.
Behind-the-Scenes Struggles and Advocacy
Rosewater’s advocacy for Beebles is well-documented. Despite frequent rejection from the creative team, he has not wavered in his efforts to bring them back. He has even won minor successes in the form of getting Beebles into Un-sets and continues to advocate for them in main sets. In a nod to the persistent community interest, he has noted that player feedback and love for quirky creature types like Beebles and Squirrels keep these debates alive.
Potential Future of Beebles
Asked frequently whether Beebles will ever return to black border sets, Rosewater often responds with a hopeful "Maybe," indicating his ongoing efforts behind the scenes. Recently, there have been hints that with enough internal advocacy and community support, Beebles might just find their way back into more serious Magic sets.
For now, fans of Beebles can continue to enjoy their mischievous antics in Un-sets and other supplemental products while holding onto hope that these lovable creatures might one day reenter the main Magic universe.
Whether or not Beebles ever make a full return to Magic’s premier sets, the ongoing discussions, community support, and Rosewater’s unwavering advocacy ensure they will remain a memorable part of Magic’s rich and varied history.
Beebles have made quite an impact on the Magic: The Gathering community, both for their whimsical nature and for the curious, ongoing discussions about their potential return or exclusion from various sets. This article explores Beebles in detail, as Mark Rosewater (often affectionately called “MaRo”), a long-time advocate and designer for the game, has illuminated their history, quirks, and obstacles over time.
Origins and Early Appearances
Beebles first appeared thanks to artist Jeff Miracola, who drew them on the cover of The Duelist, featuring Squee fighting off these small pink creatures. Rosewater found them fascinating and decided to insert them into Urza’s Legacy. As he managed the creative duties during that time, he placed Beebles on a few cards. However, after only a couple of cards, the brand team stopped further inclusion, deeming them "too silly" for the main sets. Consequently, Beebles found a home in Un-sets, which are known for their humorous and whimsical nature.
Character and Appeal
Rosewater loves Beebles for their lighthearted and jovial nature. He acknowledges that they add a lighter tone to the game: “They make me smile,” he has said. According to Rosewater, Beebles have a unique charm largely due to their “joie de vivre.” Their design exudes a sense of fun and whimsy, which is part of what makes them endearing to a segment of the Magic fanbase.
The Struggle for Inclusion in Black Border Sets
One of the major recurring themes in Rosewater’s responses is his ongoing effort to bring Beebles into black border sets, which are the core, canonical Magic sets as opposed to the silver-bordered Un-sets. Despite his enthusiasm, he often cites internal pushback on this front, attributing it to Beebles being perceived as "too silly" for the more serious tone of main Magic sets. He has compared Beebles to Squirrels, another fan-favorite creature type that took years to return to black border sets.
In multiple responses, Rosewater has expressed frustration with this exclusion, noting that, "I honestly don’t understand why [they are excluded] as we do things equally silly these days."
He even created a humorous "Beeble scale" to rank how likely various elements are to return to Magic sets, with Beebles being a default 10—meaning they are considered very unlikely to return due to being "too silly." However, he remains optimistic and continues to advocate within the R&D team for their inclusion.
Fun Facts and Trivia
- The first Beeble appeared on the cover of The Duelist.
- Beebles often have abilities that make them unblockable under certain conditions, adding a quirky strategic element to their gameplay.
- One amusing suggestion from a fan joked about a Beeble Planeswalker named Venser with a storm ability—a combination Rosewater rated as a "10" on the Beeble scale for unlikelihood but found humor in the notion.
- Rosewater has humorously suggested creating various Beeble-themed cards with names like "Justin Beeble" and "To Beeble Or Not To Beeble," highlighting the potential for puns and wordplay.
- In Unfinity, Beebles were depicted overrunning a space theme park together with Gremlins, Rats, and Squirrels, underlying their playful and invasive nature.
Behind-the-Scenes Struggles and Advocacy
Rosewater’s advocacy for Beebles is well-documented. Despite frequent rejection from the creative team, he has not wavered in his efforts to bring them back. He has even won minor successes in the form of getting Beebles into Un-sets and continues to advocate for them in main sets. In a nod to the persistent community interest, he has noted that player feedback and love for quirky creature types like Beebles and Squirrels keep these debates alive.
Potential Future of Beebles
Asked frequently whether Beebles will ever return to black border sets, Rosewater often responds with a hopeful "Maybe," indicating his ongoing efforts behind the scenes. Recently, there have been hints that with enough internal advocacy and community support, Beebles might just find their way back into more serious Magic sets.
For now, fans of Beebles can continue to enjoy their mischievous antics in Un-sets and other supplemental products while holding onto hope that these lovable creatures might one day reenter the main Magic universe.
Whether or not Beebles ever make a full return to Magic’s premier sets, the ongoing discussions, community support, and Rosewater’s unwavering advocacy ensure they will remain a memorable part of Magic’s rich and varied history.