Beginnings and Origin

The concept of Planechase was inspired by a series of tournaments called Enchant World Tournaments, which were based on the World Enchantments from Legends. Mark explained that during these tournaments, a judge would call out an enchantment that affected all games at random times. This idea of a shared global effect eventually evolved into what we know today as Planechase. Rosewater shared, "Planechase was roughly inspired by a series of tournaments called Enchant World Tournaments based on the card sub type from Legends (now a supertype - World). You would play in the tournament and, at random times, the judge would call out an enchantment that affected all the games."

Design Philosophy and Challenges

Designing Planechase has always involved balancing chaos with enjoyable game mechanics. The concept of planeswalking during a game introduces a layer of unpredictability that many players find exciting. However, Rosewater acknowledged that it can be challenging to ensure this randomness doesn't overshadow the strategic gameplay. He mentioned Ethan Fleischer's playtesting approach, stating, "In general, we playtested with all of the plane cards mixed together in a single deck, including the new and the reprinted cards... If there was a particular plane that we wanted to find out more about we would cheat it to the top few cards of the planar deck."

An interesting complication in the design of Planechase includes rule interactions. For example, players often ask about how various cards interact with the planar die. Rosewater noted, "If a card just cares about a die being rolled, it will care about the planar die. If it specifically calls out what kind of die, it does not." This clarifies that while some cards can indeed interact with the planar die, others that reference specific die results will not.

Integration with Existing Formats

Another common question pertains to the integration of Planechase with other formats like Commander. Planechase has found a natural synergy with Commander, often enhancing multiplayer games by adding dynamic plane effects. Rosewater stated, "I love planechase, and I've been wanting another edition for a while, so the Commander decks have been appreciated."

The crossover does not stop at Commander. Inquiries about combining Planechase with formats like Archenemy have also been raised. Rosewater believes such combinations could work well, adding that there's no rule against it: "There is no rule forbidding that."

Potential for Future Releases

There has always been a buzz around the possibility of new Planechase products. Rosewater has often hinted at the potential return, suggesting it may be more a matter of "when" rather than "if." He's revealed that Planechase still holds a significant place in the hearts of many players, and its return is always a subject of great interest. In one of his responses, he optimistically noted, "I think more when than if," regarding the release of new Planechase content.

Wizards of the Coast has even tested the waters by including Planechase cards in products like the March of the Machine Commander decks and the Doctor Who Universes Beyond release. Rosewater said, "They were included more because it fit the flavor of the show, but any product with planechase cards doing well helps increase the chance of future planechase cards."

Challenges with Plane Naming

When Planechase first introduced many new planes, it hinted at future settings that Magic might explore. However, legal and practical constraints often prevent these planes from retaining their original names when they appear in expansion sets. For example, Arkhos became Theros, and Mongseng was re-envisioned as Tarkir. Rosewater explained, "In Future Sight we hinted at planes we would one day visit. Then in Planechase, we put some of those planes on cards. Arkhos was the Greek mythological inspired plane. Then when we made Theros, we learned we couldn’t use the name (as a product name - we name sets after the plane when we first visit it) so we changed it to Theros."

Nevertheless, the Planechase format remains a fertile ground for conceptualizing new worlds that may one day become full sets, keeping players excited about the possibilities.

Trivia and Interesting Facts

• Planechase hasn't been the only format to inspire design elements; contraptions were partly inspired by Planechase.
• Despite challenges, Planechase has consistently ranked high among supplemental products, often only slightly less popular than Commander.
• Planechase Anthology was a significant release that included reprints of planes from the first two Planechase sets, though it didn't introduce new content.

In conclusion, Planechase represents a unique intersection of chaos and structured gameplay that continues to captivate Magic players. Whether through its existing legacy or potential future releases, Rosewater's insights make it clear that Planechase remains an enduring and beloved part of the Magic: The Gathering universe.