Generated on 10 Jul 2024
Based on 374 answers
Watermarks have long been a fascinating topic for Magic: The Gathering players, and Mark Rosewater, one of the most influential figures in the game's design history, has answered numerous questions about them over the years. Watermarks are the small, often subtle icons in the text box of a card, used to denote certain affiliations or characteristics. The fascination around watermarks touches on various aspects, from their origins and design philosophy to the controversies and rules that govern them. This article delves deep into everything Mark Rosewater has shared about watermarks.
Origins and Initial Uses
Watermarks first gained prominence in Ravnica: City of Guilds, where they were used to represent the ten guilds of Ravnica. This concept was warmly received and considered quite innovative for helping to convey factional identity within the set. As Mark indicated, he pushed hard for their inclusion, likely because they add to the cards' visual appeal and aid in player understanding of factional alignments.
Design Philosophy
Watermarks serve more than just a visual function; they are a tool to connect cards thematically. They help players see the connections between cards and understand group affiliations better. However, they are more than cosmetic, helping to reinforce the flavor, especially in faction-based sets like Scars of Mirrodin and various Ravnica sets.
Usage and Rules
Mark has often mentioned that the use of watermarks is carefully considered. The hallmark of watermarks has always been their role in aiding faction recognition without cluttering the card or confusing the players. This utility extends to sets where factions or groups play a significant role. However, watermarks can't have mechanical relevance in black-border Magic due to the rules that cards with the same name must be mechanically identical. As Mark explained: "Watermarks cannot be mechanically relevant because we have cards with the same name in which some versions have watermarks and some do not."
Supplemental Products and Reprints
Watermarks in reprints have been a topic of discussion. According to Mark, while reprinted cards in supplemental sets could have watermarks if the set theme demanded it, they generally don’t carry over watermarks outside their original context. This policy helps maintain consistency and avoids confusing the players who might not know the history or the significance of the watermark on a specific card. Interestingly, some sets like Masters 25 did feature reprinted cards with their original set's watermark, which was praised by fans.
Controversies and Criticisms
Players have at times been critical about the choices regarding watermarks, especially when a watermark appears inconsistent or is missing from cards that appear to belong to a specific faction. A notable example is the discrepancy in Tarkir where some cards that seemed to belong to a specific clan based on art, flavor, and mechanics were missing the corresponding watermarks. As Mark put it: "Intro packs do have their own print run, but we like all copies of cards from the same set to be identical."
Unique and Hypothetical Applications
Mark has often been asked about more whimsical uses of watermarks, such as creating a "Rosewatermark" or making watermarks mechanically relevant in silver-bordered or "Un-sets". While silver-bordered cards can care about watermarks because they look at the specific card in hand, this area remains unexplored in black-border, tournament-legal settings. One notable quote from Mark on this topic was: "Silver-bordered cards don’t have this restriction...so yes, silver-bordered cards could do ‘watermark matters’."
Trivia and Fun Facts
- One fan suggested using watermarks on cards like Marrow to create a "rose watermark". Mark humorously responded: “Now I have a new goal. : )”
- In Scars of Mirrodin block, Phyrexian watermarks were used to show the spread of Phyrexia over time. Mark explained: "The watermarks weren’t needed anymore to indicate who was who; the mechanics and frame treatments did it instead."
Evolution Over Time
The use of watermarks has evolved. Initially, they were rare and specific but have become more frequent, with Wizards of the Coast recognizing their utility and expanding their use cautiously. Mark has stated that while watermarks have become more frequent, they are still used judiciously to ensure they retain their impact and utility.
Future Prospects
While watermarks are here to stay, their future use is likely to be considered carefully. They might be limited to settings where they add significant value or faction-based sets where they help in visually distinguishing groups of cards. Mark has hinted that we could see watermark-based mechanics in special products like Un-sets, but they will remain off-limits for black-border sets due to the inherent rules of Magic.
Conclusion
Watermarks are a fascinating part of Magic: The Gathering's design, balancing style and substance. The guidance and insights provided by Mark Rosewater reveal a thoughtful approach to their use, ensuring they enhance the gameplay and lore without adding undue complexity. While some decisions regarding watermarks have sparked debate, the overall sentiment remains positive, reflecting their importance in the ever-evolving landscape of Magic.
Watermarks have long been a fascinating topic for Magic: The Gathering players, and Mark Rosewater, one of the most influential figures in the game's design history, has answered numerous questions about them over the years. Watermarks are the small, often subtle icons in the text box of a card, used to denote certain affiliations or characteristics. The fascination around watermarks touches on various aspects, from their origins and design philosophy to the controversies and rules that govern them. This article delves deep into everything Mark Rosewater has shared about watermarks.
Origins and Initial Uses
Watermarks first gained prominence in Ravnica: City of Guilds, where they were used to represent the ten guilds of Ravnica. This concept was warmly received and considered quite innovative for helping to convey factional identity within the set. As Mark indicated, he pushed hard for their inclusion, likely because they add to the cards' visual appeal and aid in player understanding of factional alignments.
Design Philosophy
Watermarks serve more than just a visual function; they are a tool to connect cards thematically. They help players see the connections between cards and understand group affiliations better. However, they are more than cosmetic, helping to reinforce the flavor, especially in faction-based sets like Scars of Mirrodin and various Ravnica sets.
Usage and Rules
Mark has often mentioned that the use of watermarks is carefully considered. The hallmark of watermarks has always been their role in aiding faction recognition without cluttering the card or confusing the players. This utility extends to sets where factions or groups play a significant role. However, watermarks can't have mechanical relevance in black-border Magic due to the rules that cards with the same name must be mechanically identical. As Mark explained: "Watermarks cannot be mechanically relevant because we have cards with the same name in which some versions have watermarks and some do not."
Supplemental Products and Reprints
Watermarks in reprints have been a topic of discussion. According to Mark, while reprinted cards in supplemental sets could have watermarks if the set theme demanded it, they generally don’t carry over watermarks outside their original context. This policy helps maintain consistency and avoids confusing the players who might not know the history or the significance of the watermark on a specific card. Interestingly, some sets like Masters 25 did feature reprinted cards with their original set's watermark, which was praised by fans.
Controversies and Criticisms
Players have at times been critical about the choices regarding watermarks, especially when a watermark appears inconsistent or is missing from cards that appear to belong to a specific faction. A notable example is the discrepancy in Tarkir where some cards that seemed to belong to a specific clan based on art, flavor, and mechanics were missing the corresponding watermarks. As Mark put it: "Intro packs do have their own print run, but we like all copies of cards from the same set to be identical."
Unique and Hypothetical Applications
Mark has often been asked about more whimsical uses of watermarks, such as creating a "Rosewatermark" or making watermarks mechanically relevant in silver-bordered or "Un-sets". While silver-bordered cards can care about watermarks because they look at the specific card in hand, this area remains unexplored in black-border, tournament-legal settings. One notable quote from Mark on this topic was: "Silver-bordered cards don’t have this restriction...so yes, silver-bordered cards could do ‘watermark matters’."
Trivia and Fun Facts
- One fan suggested using watermarks on cards like Marrow to create a "rose watermark". Mark humorously responded: “Now I have a new goal. : )”
- In Scars of Mirrodin block, Phyrexian watermarks were used to show the spread of Phyrexia over time. Mark explained: "The watermarks weren’t needed anymore to indicate who was who; the mechanics and frame treatments did it instead."
Evolution Over Time
The use of watermarks has evolved. Initially, they were rare and specific but have become more frequent, with Wizards of the Coast recognizing their utility and expanding their use cautiously. Mark has stated that while watermarks have become more frequent, they are still used judiciously to ensure they retain their impact and utility.
Future Prospects
While watermarks are here to stay, their future use is likely to be considered carefully. They might be limited to settings where they add significant value or faction-based sets where they help in visually distinguishing groups of cards. Mark has hinted that we could see watermark-based mechanics in special products like Un-sets, but they will remain off-limits for black-border sets due to the inherent rules of Magic.
Conclusion
Watermarks are a fascinating part of Magic: The Gathering's design, balancing style and substance. The guidance and insights provided by Mark Rosewater reveal a thoughtful approach to their use, ensuring they enhance the gameplay and lore without adding undue complexity. While some decisions regarding watermarks have sparked debate, the overall sentiment remains positive, reflecting their importance in the ever-evolving landscape of Magic.