Beginnings and Origins

The origins of hornet-themed cards in Magic: The Gathering go back to Unyaro Bees and Bee Sting, but Hornet Queen and Hornet Sting are standout examples that have prompted significant feedback from both players and designers. Mark Rosewater has been particularly vocal about his feelings towards these cards, often citing them in discussions about preserving the integrity of the color pie.

Hornet Queen

Hornet Queen is a green card that generates flying, deathtouch insect tokens, a combination of abilities that sparked controversy for its color pie violation. Rosewater often notes that while green is allowed to have insects and token generation, it isn't supposed to have efficient fliers, making Hornet Queen a color pie break.

• Green should rarely get fliers, and when it does, they should align closely with the color's philosophy.
• Hornet Queen’s efficiency in generating flying tokens contradicts green's normal weakness in dealing with flying creatures on offense.

The card's repeated reprints, particularly in Commander decks, have furthered the debate. Rosewater has pointed out that Hornet Queen should ideally be a black or green/black card rather than green. Despite the color pie concerns, the card continues to be popular among players, which is a key reason for its frequent reprints.

Hornet Sting

Hornet Sting, a green direct damage spell, has been another source of contention. This card allows green, a color that traditionally doesn’t get direct damage spells, to deal one damage to any target.

"I tried really hard to stop the original printing [of Hornet Sting] and failed. And then it saw tournament play," Rosewater lamented, highlighting his disdain for the card. Hornet Sting challenges the foundational Magic philosophy that each color should have clear strengths and weaknesses.

From a design perspective, Rosewater believes that cards should explicitly reinforce a color's identity by either doing something well or not at all. Hornet Sting, by offering a green direct damage spell, muddles this philosophy. He argues that if green needs to deal direct damage, it should do so through creatures or other in-flavor abilities, such as fighting mechanics.

Design Philosophy and Controversies

The discussions around Hornet Queen and Hornet Sting resonate with broader debates about color pie philosophy in Magic. The color pie dictates that each color has inherent strengths and weaknesses, which contribute to the overall balance and uniqueness of the game.

Mark Rosewater advocates firmly for preserving the color pie to maintain the game's integrity. He’s critical of any design that would compromise the distinctive roles each color plays. For Morgan Rosewater, cards such as Hornet Sting and Hornet Queen serve as prime examples of design decisions that risk long-term harm to the game’s structure.

One of the most notable quotes from Rosewater regarding this philosophy is: "The color pie is the backbone of the game. If we don't respect it, little by little we weaken Magic, eventually collapsing it."

Color Pie Breaks and Fixes

Rosewater acknowledges that some bleed between colors can happen, but he is adamant that breaks should be avoided. For instance, he is more willing to accept Hornet Queen had it been a multicolor card involving black rather than a pure green card, which aligns with black's color pie identity of flying and deathtouch.

Here are some insights from Rosewater on ways to better align hornet-themed cards with the color pie:

• Hornet Queen in White: Instead of having deathtouch, a white-themed hornet or insect would emphasize other keywords suitable to white.
• Green/Black Hornet Queen: Mixing green’s token generation with black’s flying and deathtouch abilities could harmonize the card better within the color pie.
• Token Generation and Mechanic Alignment: Cards should reflect tokens and abilities that are mechanically consistent with the color generating them.

Trivia and Miscellaneous Insights

Beyond the card mechanics and color pie philosophy, Rosewater has shared some amusing and anecdotal insights over the years:

• Despite his disdain for Hornet Sting, Rosewater frequently autographs it for fans, noting that he's signed more copies of Hornet Sting than many other cards.
• "Hornets should not return." - Rosewater, when asked about reprints and future designs of hornet-themed cards.
• He humorously remarked on the hypothetical situation where he would have to permit daily inclusions of hornet cards or bananas to remain in a future Magic set, highlighting his notoriety for disliking these design elements.

Community and Evolution

The debate over hornet-themed cards illustrates larger trends and evolving thought within Magic design. While players often express a desire for unique, flavorful abilities that may stretch the color pie, designers maintain a careful balance between creativity and maintaining the foundational rules of the game.

Rosewater's ongoing dialogue with the community about these cards exemplifies the dynamic between player feedback and design philosophy. Despite controversies, the conversations continue to shape Magic as both a game and a shared experience among its fans and creators.