lordcharles01

[lordcharles01]

So, since there's a lot of comments I'll keep things concise in one reblog. Thanks for the answer Mark, it's unfortunate to hear that the sci-fi forward angle was very intentional.

To the person calling me conspiratorial, I have a job in data analytics. I literally look at cause and effect for a living. Seeing as we see UB products routinely justified by the once admitted mistake of Arabian Nights, I can't say that I find it unreasonable to find that this taking a sci-fi first angle will be used to bludgeon future detractors of other products.

To the people saying that if I see spaceships and robots and think UB and not magic, I say why not use constructs? Why very specifically "spacecraft" as opposed to something more unique. D&D has space ships but they're called "Spelljammers" and they largely have a distinct feel separate from conventional spaceships. Construct is conventionally magical in nature, robot is conventionally sci-fi. There is a choice in language here that is uninventive at best and at worst was intentionally chosen to break from magic.

The Star Trek reference is getting some attention so I'll clarify that with limited space, Trek was the easiest encapsulation of what I was going for. In truth, the setting has this overall generic sci-fi design and people are kinda solidifying the point i was intending to make. There's at least 3 other comments saying "it's not Star Trek, it's more like XYZ instead" which shows that yes, this does in fact feel more generic sci-fi and not a uniquely fantasy take on a space opera. When announced, my hope was more in the line of the Weatherlight and, since we're in the business of specific examples, less from HALO. The planeswalker's guide features ships with art by Viko Menezes and Sergey Glushakov have a lot of shared lines with a Covenant Intrusion Corvette and a Covenant Heavy Corvette respectively.

And to the person who wants to bring up Discworld. It starts as a sincere parody of fantasy, and definitely has science as a part of it. Core to the world is that magic is always very much a thing but also that fantasy and sci-fi are cousins. It's the words you use to describe them that truly make them unique. To quote Thor: "Your ancestors called it magic, but you call it science. I come from a land where they are one and the same." Combine this with Prattchet's own words "It doesn't stop being magic just because you know how it works" and you have the exact reason why this doesn't gel with me. Annotations by Tezzeret call for a translation into a familiar lexicon because how out of universe this is. He is literally a fantasy character transplanted into a Sci-Fi world.

As someone who dislikes UB but had accepted your "don't like it don't play with it" mentality, Edge of Eternities has me concerned. The addition of spacecraft and proliferation of robots feels more like an attempt to blur the line and bring proper sci-fi into MTG for future UB product than an attempt to ask how Magic the Gathering would do sci-fi concepts. Any chance we could see more MTG influence in our spacecrafts and less star trek (or something more uniquely MTG than spacecraft as a whole?)

This is 100% us doing a Magic version of space opera.

[lordcharles01]

Came across this cross posted to reddit and needed to put my thoughts to text in the hopes it would just help settle my mind.

Presenting this as a yes/no question is a trap out the gate, but if i have to pick one then the answer is an overwhelming Yes. Games work better if people know the pieces. The game is more accessible if people know the pieces. For all the complaints of "gatekeeping" I hear for me not wanting to play with Universes Beyond cards, the biggest barrier to entry is at this point people not being able to keep up with the number of products released along with the increasing complexity of products never even mind the price of product.

To elaborate on that point, we'll hop back in time to 2011-2012 with the Innistrad block. By the time that block had finished we had across 3 sets added a total of 7 new mechanics: Fateful Hour, Fight (evergreen), Miracle, Morbid, Soulbond, Transform, and Undying. Murders of Karlof Manor introduces 4 by itself (Disguise, Cloak, Collect Evidence, and Suspect) and stands alongside of Rivals of Ixalan's 4 (Maps, Craft, Descend, Discover) and Wilds of Eldraine's 3 (Roles, Bargain and celebration) for a total of 11 new mechanics on 3 worlds that we have been to before. There were more NEW mechanics in these return visits than there were returning mechanics. But that's not enough. Each of these sets had 4 commander decks. Murders has a $80 "Clue Edition" boxed set with unique cards. Rivals had unique Jurassic Park cards. Dr. WHO released 4 unique commander decks with 4 more new mechanics (Doctor's Companion, Paradox, Time Travel, Face a Villainous Choice)

Discovery happening through play should be interactions between cards. It should not be that cards exist. It's one thing to realize that you can combo flatline with circle of flame to kill all attackers. Conversely, it sucks to realize you lost the game because your opponent played flatline, a card printed in a set that "may not have been for you" so you didn't know it existed but are now reminded that it sure as heck exists in the same game as the one you're playing so being privy to the potential of the card being played would have been nice.

Richard's original vision. That's the shield being used? Richard's original vision included ante as well. Richard's original vision included several banned cards. Richard's original vision held that the max value for any one card, barring special prints, be $20. I on one hand understand you are limited in what you can say and that you do this as you can. That said, you could have said nothing as opposed to the grotesque and malicious justification here for pushing more product.

I just want to say 8 main products a year has been the normal number for Magic for ~15 years. The main difference is the size of the products. A decade ago preconstructed decks of reprints were the norm and now it's mostly all booster products. Even the standalone commander precons have as many new cards as small sets of the past. IMO it's less number of products and more cards we have to think about. We get over twice as many new cards a year vs just 4 years ago and that stress the system IMO.

Richard Garfield’s original vision for Magic was that players wouldn’t know all the cards. He liked the idea that it was through play that you would learn of cards’ existence.

To accomplish this, in the early days Wizards didn’t give any information about the cards. There weren’t published card lists, the cards didn’t have rarity symbols or collector numbering, and Wizards purposefully didn’t release deck lists from events.

The Internet, as we now know it today, showed up soon after Magic’s release, and there wasn’t really a way to hide information, so Wizards starting doing all the things it originally didn’t. We had a public database, and rarity symbols and collector information, and deck lists were shared.

As the years went by, we started making more cards per year, partially because there was a lot of demand for more cards, and partially because Wizards built up an infrastructure to be able to do so.

What this all means is current Magic is coming back around to Richard’s original vision. We make enough cards now that it’s hard, without a lot of effort, to know what all the cards are, so players do get to experience new cards from playing with other people.

Which brings up an interesting point. Is Magic a better game if the audience knows all the cards? Or is there something to the importance of discovery happening through play? How important was Richard’s original vision?

I’m curious to hear your thoughts.

[lordcharles01]

I saw this last night and it’s been eating at me so I just need to vent into the void. This is going to be a long one folks, so just move along. I’m not a fan of this decision (making UB). I just see nothing long-term that comes good for the original content of the game, but have thus far had the mentality that what comes now going forward doesn’t ruin what I loved before. This statement kinda hurts that. People are pouring out love for the IP created, they love it and want more of it. Then here comes the head of R&D, with a statement that discounts the unique plethora of worlds that get years of dedication for development and now I’m left confused. I’m wondering if your position has genuinely changed from when you were upset at people calling the Gatewatch the Jacetice League and discounting the lore or if you’re just towing the line. Either way, yes I know you didn’t say word-for-word that it should just be Zeus hopping in a Ford Mustang with his homies King Tut, his two pet squirrels, and Gingy from Shrek wielding Hiro Nakamura’s sword but it really does feel like that’s what it boils down to. Your example removed the lore reason we give these things a pass, because we’ve grown to love these as a part of the same multiverse. In the world created, these things reference our world but are not a part of our world.

The people upset are in part the same ones that have been told time and time again now that “this product is not for you.” These are your players who look at 15 dollar card packs and 100 commander collections who just have been told to stay in their lane. Pulling pop culture into the game is a huge change and one that is vastly different from the first few expansions very early on playing around with Aladdin, Frankenstein’s Monster, and Cao Cao (coy comment about the infinite defense of color pie inconsistency early one goes here.) I wouldn’t have thought these cards would be in the game had they been new ideas from within the last 15 years or so, but evidently they could be. These are people who look at how the game’s design is fundamentally changing and now feel like they’ve been pushed out of the game, a community and a place many of them helped make. The kicker is that when someone says that they feel the game isn’t for them anymore and they’ve “sold out” it can’t just be a moment of reflection or apologizing that they don’t feel welcome here. There’s a comparatively grievous amount of wording used to say “If you sell out, you will be back and you will be sorry.” Now that previous line is more for a laugh, just imagine any scene you’ve seen of this with the mob going on about how someone’s gonna regret this and reframe it for MTG and slap the laugh track in. That said, here is the link for anyone wanting to see the post, maro is genuinely well worded and as previously mentioned this last component of “you’ll be back” is more for having a laugh because off track humor is apparently how i process information now. https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/644406078412587008/hey-mark-following-the-walking-dead-secret-lair-i

For the people happy about this, I'm happy for them. Seriously if this is a product you like, I’m glad you like it. It’s definitely not for me though, and since I’m not the one to dictate how you have fun or play the game this is where I feel like I should walk away. It was a fun ride and I can only offer my thanks for the years of enjoyment, but this is my stop. I know that after that rant anything will seem insincere but this game solidified friendships that exist beyond the confines of said game and for that I’ll always be grateful. For those who stick around, and those who join, I hope that this game brings as much joy to your faces and love in your hearts as it did mine. Godspeed.

There's a Cardboard Crack comic that you've probably seen by now, depicting an imaginary future of Magic where players are casting Kylo Ren and Elsa against Iron Man, Whopper and Travis Scott. A lot of UB criticism is trying to communicate that we do not want that comic to become reality, and your "just let people enjoy playing Gandalf, it's not hurting anything" response makes it look like you don't see that comic as a bad thing which Magic should avoid.

As someone whose job it is to picture future nightmare scenarios, I’ll be honest, it’s pretty tame versus other things that could happen. Let’s ignore the combinatorics of it happening when 95+% of the cards are Magic IP, and look at the core of the issue. Right now a Greek-style God, a mummy, two Squirrels and an animated gingerbread cookie with a ninja sword can jump into a car and attack. How far away is that from another IP or two mixed in? Magic, at its core, is about a multiverse of vastly different flavors mixing together. So no, I don’t see it as much of a “bad thing” as you do.

[lordcharles01]

I feel the tertiary alternative would be to not try to make commander cards balanced for draft... because the commander set is somehow still designed for draft. Missed opportunity for making use of the set booster to just get people good playable cards instead of making sure we still keep digging through a pack of 15 cards to find the 3 playable ones... in a set... built for draft... marketed toward commander players...

Hi Mark, I just want to say that it hurts a little to see old characters getting a card in Commander Legends as uncommon limited filler card. I would rather wait some years more to see a version I could actually play as commander than having for example a new Radiant sitting around my commander zone as decor. It is even worse for characters getting the first representation in the game this way.

Part of making a set like Commander Legends work is having uncommon legendary creatures. If we made all of those new and none old characters, I’d be getting letters about how we’re making all the fan favorites hard to get. We do make new cards for characters that already have cards, so just because they’re getting an uncommon now doesn’t mean they’ll never get a rare/mythic rare later.

[lordcharles01]

Just two things and while I know you don’t get the final say it’s mostly just to air concerns. First, people do not have faith in the company reprinting product. This was lost long ago with the fetchlands and the idea of these being thought of by the company as in-demand cards just brings to mind Double Masters which had a 4 times the normal price tag so we know what reprints are about.

The next one is more of a personal note and one people are harping on less so I’ll just say it for me. Again, the anger in this is not directed at you Mark, but just venting into the world. Forever now, I am cursed to know that even through the moral posturing of banning cards that are insensitive (don’t skewer me yet for that phrasing I’ve a slight elaboration at the end) Negan was printed in 2020. Negan is at best a sexual extortionist, at worst a rapist, and argument can be made for these things to be the same. (Cue the individual stating that he’s not like this in the comics. While they are correct, this is clearly not the comic book version of the character.) The end result is after deciding to start cleaning house in an attempt to make MTG a more welcoming place by removing cards from tournament play and the gatherer that no longer fit the company’s values, after the debacle that was stirred up by triumph of ferocity almost a decade ago, in 2020 Negan is without further context than “Walking Dead” added to the game as a unique game-piece and fully legal anywhere except standard. What this does for me when I take a step back is realize that the banning of insensitive cards is nothing more than a stunt to try and put the company in good faith of people. The cards aren’t actively being printed and it does the company no harm to ban them and never print them again. That said, full stop on that morality crap the moment we can make some bank with a crossover promotion. No quandary with that 40 dollars, that’s some hot money there I tell you what. If it feels like I was leading up to something bigger with this rant, I’m sorry this is the pinnacle of the argument. It makes all the actions and statements feel shallow and like it’s a way for the company to stand tall and pat itself on the back while providing a product that lacks any context and just has new cards from a franchise half the player base won’t know, which all together is why I use the verbiage from earlier.

As a sort of post script, I feel it’s in my better interest to clarify that this is not me saying those cards should be added back into the game, this is me saying that the Television version of Negan should not be added to MTG. I don’t feel The Walking Dead as a brand is the type of content that should cross over into MTG anymore than I feel something like “Game of Thrones” should. Hell, I’m not even saying a character like Negan can’t exist in media, but I sure the hell don’t think a card game where teens are the target demographic is where you put said character. This product is just... it’s not thought out on any level.

I just want to express my opinion that this secret lair is a very very dangerous slope to go down. Have you guys not learned from Nalthni Dragon/Nexus of fate? Also these are essentially being printed directly to the reserved list since WOTC won’t own the licensing forever, which is something stated wouldn’t happen.

While the Secret Lair is the one chance to get the Walking Dead versions of these cards, we have the ability to print the Magic versions of these cards in future products. So, let’s say Negan becomes a popular Commander, we can print the Magic version (same card mechanically, but with a Magic name and art) in any number of future products. This is not a case of us being unable to make more of a popularly played card.

[lordcharles01]

1. Yes. Sparingly but yes they can be on theme and fun. 2) You nailed it with the Godzilla cards, but silver border is fine too. Also maybe not using R rated content as a source. I know that’ll upset the Game of Thrones fans but... yeah let’s keep PG13 the maximum.

I’ve been getting a lot of feedback today. I’d like to ask the following two questions:

1) Would you like to see Magic have cards with other IPs on them, yes or no?

2) If, yes, how would you like us to do them?

[lordcharles01]

I typically just found myself wanting the card the art was actually from, and would rather them be excluded if that means we can save material and offer a product at a lower price point.

Hey Mark, I was looking through some random Magic Cards today and it reminded me how much I loved the art inserts from Modern Horizons! Do you think that could make a comeback? Maybe as an extra Buy-a-Box promo? Like you get your Buy-a-Box promo, and A pack of art inserts? Either way I'd think it'd be cool to go back to them.

If enough people like something, we are more likely to bring it back. Did you all like the art cards in Modern Horizons?

[lordcharles01]

Thanks for responding and being cordial about it! If anything said seemed like it was meant as a be-all-end-all on anything that is certainly not the case, what was posted was more along the lines of one half of a conversation. The only thing that I would say is a misinterpretation is the Vistani portrayal in relation to the ethnic slur, though it is helped by a sentence that was supposed to be incorporated into the tldr that I appeared to have dropped. The intention was to effectively say that, the slur is bad, but people like the image in pop culture that comes to mind and that I wish they could be separate things but ultimately know they can’t be separate.

As for the orcs and drow in Ebberon and Wildemount, I love that portrayal too. I probably should’ve expanded upon this more, but I believe that adding to the existing culture is more beneficial than a retroactive removal. Allow the lore to “catch up” as it were, and build from it.Introducing into the forgotten realms a clan of orcs that maintain their structure but seek greater knowledge would be welcomed with open arms by me. Again, we won’t know how this sort of thing is being handled until the future rolls around, but if i made it seem like I feel any of the changes are inherently bad that was also not the case.

As for the last thing, of course we need to take people into account, as you said it’s heartless to not do so. I feel at this point the conversation shifts from being just D&D related to society at large however and it’s one I’m not properly read up on to make any decisive conclusion on my own at this time. That conversation being what is and is not acceptable in fiction, and where we draw the line between our shared reality and fiction. Again, that stuff is way over my head right now, but I feel like that’s ultimately where this is headed.

D&D Diversity Ramblings

I guess I’ll open this by saying if I upset anybody with anything, that’s definitely not the intention. More intended to just be a ramble into the void on my thoughts about some of what was posted recently. (that probably sounds more ominous than it is, as overall I agree with the sentiment.)

So dropping the one big thing I’ll argue against, is the change to orcs and drow across the board. Naturally time will tell on if any of this is relevant but I like these two as they are. I like that there are versions of orcs that are just brutal combat driven religious fanatics, and I like there are versions that have all the complexity that one otherwise expects from a Shakespearean play. Similarly with drow, they range from just another variety of elf to a matriarchal society living underground with a deeps seeded hatred of the world above with undying dedication to their god Lolth. As a DM i feel both of these things have their place. There’s a lot to be said for having an enemy in your toolbox that needs no reason to be a terror on the roads during travel, and one that can be built with ranks, a hierarchy and be played strategically.

When it comes to drow, that’s actually one I’m kinda confused about. Drow society has been fleshed out significantly over the years with many characters of differing alignments coming from that species so that leaves me with a bit of confusion. I know there is an argument that has basis in these races being caricatures and stereotypes of real world people and because of that these need to change and that’s a very valid point. I also think it’s worth considering what changes have been made over the years, and when we can look at fantasy creatures as something of make believe. It’s not a be-all-end-all person x is right and person y is wrong, it’s a conversation.

The racial bonus controversy is one I overall don’t get. I’ve always felt this is just a component of the game and that it provides additional incentive to try another race out as opposed to just having it be a flavored meat sack I wear. Plus D&D is usually less, this one’s the black one, this is the white one, this one is in-between, and more like different species.  I’ll reserve judgement for my thoughts on how it’s done, if it’s good or bad until this is released. I will just say i hope it’s something to add mechanically as a background as opposed to outright replacement. being able to say that a character has their hill dwarf stats and studied at a far away arcane sanctum to master the arts and gets a +2 to intelligence in addition strikes me as far more interesting than something to just saying pick a stat to get +2 in and pick a stat to get +1 in. I can already do that by talking to the dm without dropping 50 bucks on your newest rule book, thank-you. Side note to not bitch about something, can we all just be happy for the briefest of moments that it sounds like we’re finally getting something akin to Xanathar’s guide 2.0? We need more of that, like a lot more of that.

Going down the list otherwise, fixing insensitive language is a yup, like… I’m not sure how one argues that. If ya do then… well you’re kinda an asshole. The whole Vistani thing is kinda a meh to me… I won’t argue against the change, if it’s upsetting to people then yeah, let’s make it better. I kinda wanna see the changes they’re hinting at before I drop anything on if I like the new material better than the old, as far as a gameplay and fictional culture goes. I think what a lot of people won’t get is the term gypsy is a slur when referring to Romani people specifically, and not just the general aesthetic that comes to mind of someone who has had to watch the Disney version of Hunchback of Notre Dame one too many times. (The fact the text editor recognizes the slur and not the proper nationality I feel is proof of the disconnect. Seriously, can i go on a minor disconnected tangent about how Romani is suggested to be Romaine. I’m talking about people from a specific country and the editor wants me to talk about salad. This fucker is also insistent that that shit be capitalized, like that one type of salad component is very very important. Piss off text editor, I like iceberg better!!!)

So um… yeah if you stuck through that till the end, um… thanks for giving me a read. I don’t normally like posting things like this because it’s way too easy to give the wrong impression or for the tone to be off when reading as opposed to as-intended during writing. I like conversation so if i upset anyone feel free to uh… well strike up the conversation on the topic. I’m fairly certain most of us want the same thing, we just have different ideas of how to get there, and really this is just an idiot rambling… like an idiot.

TLDR: I think orcs and drow are in a good place currently with multiple interpretations across different worlds being able to be more in depth and ���human” characters as well as having a more brutal version for DM’s to pull from in the arsenal and outright removal of either of these is less beneficial overall. I think racial bonuses should be added on to and not replaced outright, but we’ll see how that goes before bitching like a whining child again. I want a term that gets the pop-culture aesthetic that gypsy conjures without the racial connotation. It’s good that we’re bringing on proper support from within communities when accuracy is desired. I’m an idiot rambling on the internet like he actually matters for anything, and regardless a fuck ton of people in metric quantity will still be pissed at me for one reason or another, and I thank you for reading this massive fucking wall of text.

[lordcharles01]

I mean... if we’re being perfectly fair, it’s drawn to cannon. The one time he was allowed to actually be fully naked it was all dick and no ass.

hey if anyone tells you art goal is something serious remember i learned how to draw like actual western comics art style just to shove batman into high heels and titty window

[lordcharles01]

D&D Diversity Ramblings

I guess I'll open this by saying if I upset anybody with anything, that’s definitely not the intention. More intended to just be a ramble into the void on my thoughts about some of what was posted recently. (that probably sounds more ominous than it is, as overall I agree with the sentiment.)

So dropping the one big thing I’ll argue against, is the change to orcs and drow across the board. Naturally time will tell on if any of this is relevant but I like these two as they are. I like that there are versions of orcs that are just brutal combat driven religious fanatics, and I like there are versions that have all the complexity that one otherwise expects from a Shakespearean play. Similarly with drow, they range from just another variety of elf to a matriarchal society living underground with a deeps seeded hatred of the world above with undying dedication to their god Lolth. As a DM i feel both of these things have their place. There’s a lot to be said for having an enemy in your toolbox that needs no reason to be a terror on the roads during travel, and one that can be built with ranks, a hierarchy and be played strategically.

When it comes to drow, that’s actually one I’m kinda confused about. Drow society has been fleshed out significantly over the years with many characters of differing alignments coming from that species so that leaves me with a bit of confusion. I know there is an argument that has basis in these races being caricatures and stereotypes of real world people and because of that these need to change and that’s a very valid point. I also think it’s worth considering what changes have been made over the years, and when we can look at fantasy creatures as something of make believe. It’s not a be-all-end-all person x is right and person y is wrong, it’s a conversation.

The racial bonus controversy is one I overall don’t get. I’ve always felt this is just a component of the game and that it provides additional incentive to try another race out as opposed to just having it be a flavored meat sack I wear. Plus D&D is usually less, this one’s the black one, this is the white one, this one is in-between, and more like different species.  I’ll reserve judgement for my thoughts on how it’s done, if it’s good or bad until this is released. I will just say i hope it’s something to add mechanically as a background as opposed to outright replacement. being able to say that a character has their hill dwarf stats and studied at a far away arcane sanctum to master the arts and gets a +2 to intelligence in addition strikes me as far more interesting than something to just saying pick a stat to get +2 in and pick a stat to get +1 in. I can already do that by talking to the dm without dropping 50 bucks on your newest rule book, thank-you. Side note to not bitch about something, can we all just be happy for the briefest of moments that it sounds like we’re finally getting something akin to Xanathar’s guide 2.0? We need more of that, like a lot more of that.

Going down the list otherwise, fixing insensitive language is a yup, like... I’m not sure how one argues that. If ya do then... well you’re kinda an asshole. The whole Vistani thing is kinda a meh to me... I won’t argue against the change, if it’s upsetting to people then yeah, let’s make it better. I kinda wanna see the changes they’re hinting at before I drop anything on if I like the new material better than the old, as far as a gameplay and fictional culture goes. I think what a lot of people won’t get is the term gypsy is a slur when referring to Romani people specifically, and not just the general aesthetic that comes to mind of someone who has had to watch the Disney version of Hunchback of Notre Dame one too many times. (The fact the text editor recognizes the slur and not the proper nationality I feel is proof of the disconnect. Seriously, can i go on a minor disconnected tangent about how Romani is suggested to be Romaine. I’m talking about people from a specific country and the editor wants me to talk about salad. This fucker is also insistent that that shit be capitalized, like that one type of salad component is very very important. Piss off text editor, I like iceberg better!!!)

So um... yeah if you stuck through that till the end, um... thanks for giving me a read. I don’t normally like posting things like this because it’s way too easy to give the wrong impression or for the tone to be off when reading as opposed to as-intended during writing. I like conversation so if i upset anyone feel free to uh... well strike up the conversation on the topic. I’m fairly certain most of us want the same thing, we just have different ideas of how to get there, and really this is just an idiot rambling... like an idiot.

TLDR: I think orcs and drow are in a good place currently with multiple interpretations across different worlds being able to be more in depth and “human” characters as well as having a more brutal version for DM’s to pull from in the arsenal and outright removal of either of these is less beneficial overall. I think racial bonuses should be added on to and not replaced outright, but we’ll see how that goes before bitching like a whining child again. I want a term that gets the pop-culture aesthetic that gypsy conjures without the racial connotation. It’s good that we’re bringing on proper support from within communities when accuracy is desired. I’m an idiot rambling on the internet like he actually matters for anything, and regardless a fuck ton of people in metric quantity will still be pissed at me for one reason or another, and I thank you for reading this massive fucking wall of text.

[lordcharles01]

I’m honestly waiting for the request to get covers built for the backs so that he can use them to play his lute like a violin to be honest lol.

Jerodin, a bard, in our campaign: *gets a pair of gorgeous scimitars he can dual wield*

Me: Hm, that’s neat.

Me, today, like two sessions after this happens: …he could totally learn to do sexy tricks and dance with these. HOW DID THIS THOUGHT NOT OCCUR TO ME SOONER.

[lordcharles01]

Honestly I feel it would come down to how the art direction is handled. A more Mirrodin Besieged type of art style would help with the feel, and add a dark and dirty grunge as opposed to much of the more recent artworks.Also ensuring that magic could still be at the forefront of how things work in a manner of say, mana not just being leylines and it being actual rivers of a magical fuel that each function differently (representing the 5 colors) A lack of mages similar to kaladesh would be a positive, and perspective should be at ground level to keep structures looking imposing and impressive. As far as alien creatures go, between phyrexians, eldrazi, and slivers, I feel we have plenty of things to work with.

Do you think we will ever see a full on Sci-Fi themed set? And if we did would it be likely to only be an un-set, due to it deviating from the traditional fantasy setting that Magic runs on? I think the closest things we've had that I can think of I guess are the Kaladesh and Phyrexian themed worlds. Or do you think that it is just too risky for alienating (pun intended) the general (fantasy-themed) player base? Just curious.

I guess this is a fine question. How science fiction-y should we get?

[lordcharles01]

Dog has opened the floodgates, the great creature type update of 2020 has begun! Naga becomes snake, Wolf becomes dog, Angel becomes Human Bird, Pegasus to Horse Bird, Merfolk to Fish, dinosaur will be bird, Phoenix to Elemental Bird, Centaur becomes Human Horse, and Nephilim... will not be legendary. We don’t make erratas very often. Bird makes out good, I have helped much. I am very smart.

If there is no difference between a lion and a relatively small or domesticated cat, why then do you differentiate from Wolf and Dog? I understand that there are things that care about the wolf type, but i would have thought they would gain dog in addition to wolf. Can you explain the thought process here?

A lion is referred to as a cat. A wolf is never referred to as a dog.

[lordcharles01]

Unpopular opinion, the mass errata was a mistake and new cards with planeswalker interaction in conjunction with reprints featuring errata would have been a massively better solution when used in tandem. It would have added the new cards as well as keeping things up-to-date so a print of the most recent text would have always been available. Also new verbiage so that i don’t have to keep explaining to newer players that “any target” doesn’t actually mean any target. Yes, the vehicle does have toughness printed on it but no, it’s not actually included in any target until i crew it... Same thing for the god... Same thing for the creature that I bestowed onto another... No, any target does not let you target a specific piece of the mutate stack... Yes, Vial Smasher can still hit planeswalkers...

MaRo, as a cube curator, may I ask you consider reprinting some errata'd cards, especially those that deal damage to "any target"? I know Volcanic Hammer isn't the most desired card out there, but maybe a Planeswalker deck can get it as a reprint?

I’ll pass the request along.

[lordcharles01]

I think it’s great as-is. If we’re swapping the titles as some suggest then i wouldn’t bother with it as the fun of it is seeing Godzilla’s name in that big bold text on a card. If it has to be an afterthought, then I wouldn’t bother.

How has the secondary name bar worked out so far? I hope we see it again, either with other franchises or in-house themes. It has a lot of potential for crazy promo cards.

I’m curious with all your thoughts on it. The example is the Godzilla series cards.

[lordcharles01]

Keep nagas separate, I found this change while fun unnecessary and entertaining this thought is a slap in the face to the people asking for a Nephilim errata. “Hound to become dog” gets “I like it, we did it!” “Naga into snake“ in the first outing I’ve seen on here gets “What do you guys think?” “Nephilims become Legendary” gets “not gonna happen, we don’t do erratas.”

knowing that you were a fellow dog advocate, and knowing that you receive the full brunt of every pedantic complaint this community has, what do you expect to be the next pervasive creature type errata request? is snake v. naga the new hound v. dog?

Thoughts on Naga as a creature type?

[lordcharles01]

Accept it, yes. Like it, not really.

Any chance that we get a werewolf commander in any supplemental set?

Would you accept a one-sided one?