Finding the path.

Religion, Language, and the cultural intersections that arise when the two meet. Plus books, foods, and games. All paths are interesting, as long as you're willing to explore.

[talinthas]

If you don't mind me asking - what're your thoughts on the recent Wizards news article about commander products in 2020? I know it's a format you care deeply about, and your rant on how they seem to ignore commander players as enfranchisement goes very much resonated with me. Any opinions yet other than, "we'll have to wait and see how it actually goes?"

I think that its simultaneously really cool and too many products. I love having five decks again, and i think the idea of commander decks as introductory is also really great, but a brand new draft with 71 legends and 20 card packs seems absurdly unnecessary. I fear burn out more than anything, and this is far along the path to burn out.

[tags5colors]

Family portrait of the Kenriths.

[vorthosjay]

https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/portrait-kenriths-2019-09-12

This is fantastic work, and holy crap I’m glad they commissioned this.

[markrosewater]

I find it interesting and slightly weird you would make Rumpelstiltskin (a slight less known fairy tale) a Legendary as opposed to Bigby, Beast or even Prince Charming, How did you choose which Fairy Tale characters become legendary?

That started as a character that we realized we could tweak to be Rumpelstiltskin-y. As a general rule, we did not make fairy tale tropes legendary.

[talinthas]

ok, but rumplestiltskin is one of the most famous fairy tales in the world. what the heck is a bigby.

[vorthosjay]

They’re talking about the Big Bad Wolf. His name is Bigby in Fables.

[talinthas]

and being in one random comic makes the character bigger than Rumplefuckingstiltskin?

[markrosewater]

I find it interesting and slightly weird you would make Rumpelstiltskin (a slight less known fairy tale) a Legendary as opposed to Bigby, Beast or even Prince Charming, How did you choose which Fairy Tale characters become legendary?

That started as a character that we realized we could tweak to be Rumpelstiltskin-y. As a general rule, we did not make fairy tale tropes legendary.

[talinthas]

ok, but rumplestiltskin is one of the most famous fairy tales in the world. what the heck is a bigby.

[chandranalaar]

i don't know what gen con is so im just gonna assume it stands for Geneva Convention

[talinthas]

hilariously, this is exactly what it means. the Lake Geneva Wargames Convention, later shortened to Geneva Convention and then to Gencon =)

[markrosewater]

Given that boosters sell better than decks, do you think WotC will ever make a booster product targeted specifically at Commander players?

Is that something you all (well, those of you that are Commander/Brawl players) would like?

[talinthas]

if we could get booster packs that had staples like Sakura Tribe Elder or vandalblast or cyclonic rift? absolutely.

[markrosewater]

I personally agree with you on the matter of the color identity rule, but I would like to know if you had already talked about this with the Commander Comitee. And as an additional question, if yes how did it go and if no is there a reason ?

I’ve talked with them and they respectfully disagree. I really want to move onto other topics. I’ve explained my beliefs and nothing really is going to change, so why don’t we talk about other Magic topics?

[talinthas]

folks, please stop badgering Mark about this.

[markrosewater]

Speaking of Camelot trope space, are things away from Camelot itself like Arthur's conquest of Rome or even pre-Arthur events related to Uther too esoteric? Having played the Pendragon role-playing campaign with some friends, my perspective on what's common knowledge is shot.

Research showed most people have no idea who the Green Knight is, so it’s not super deep.

[talinthas]

No green knight? I’m out.

[talinthas]

Hey there Shivam! Just was curious; with now our gal Saheeli up to 3 versions, do you have a favorite mechanically? And a favorite art of her (though that question can just be any of her associated cards)? Hope prerelease goes well for you!

first saheeli best saheeli

[markrosewater]

Hey Mark can you please pass my thanks and congratulations on to Chandra for all her work helping to provide the first photo of a black hole.

I will. : )

The telescope that filmed the black hole was named Chandra. Sadly, not named after our plucky pyromancer.

[talinthas]

A telescope named after the Moon instead of a planeswalker? my goodness!

[loreleywrites]

KRONCH (Source)

[wizardsmagic]

Yall gonna make me lose my kronch up in kronch up in kronch Yall gonna make me kronch all out

[talinthas]

Gonna take my Kronch to the old gruul road, gonna kronch till i can’t no more

[loreleywrites]

OINK OINK, BITCHES (Source)

[talinthas]

they actually fucking did it. i can’t believe it. RIP Ravnica, cause there’s no fucking way we got fibbles and feather and motherfucking chonker oinker over here if there was a chance for rav to return.

[talinthas]

I am so HYPED for Jund Lands Commander! Imma jam Omnath the Angriest Jelly Bean and the Frog God and it will be GLORIOUS!!

whoops, i forgot about this from last year, but yes! Windgrace ended up being a really great seed for a bunch of lands decks, and i think he’s gonna be a long time player.

[talinthas]

SHIVAM! MY FRIEND! FEATHER! PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, PARUN OF THE BOROS LEGION!

oh man. This is quite the card! An incredibly powerful and cheap general, and a rebirth of the Boros Heroic deck that i’ve been trying to make work for years. This is going to lead to a brand new archetype of boros deck, and i’m hella excited.

[markrosewater]

Mark, on the planeswalkers as commanders, could you guys suggest a rule change to the committee? the format was created when they didn't even exist. Lore wise it would make more sense. It would allow you to design better cards without using inelegant things like writing the rules on the cards. And it wouldn't shift the power level of the format. Planeswalkers are the face of the game and protagonist of the sets, I think it would be a nice move for the fans.

It’s not a Wizards thing. If the fans of Commander want that change, you need to communicate that desire to the Commander Rules Committee.

[talinthas]

Believe me, they have. Loudly. Over and Over. And an equal number have replied strongly for the status quo. Also Loudly. Also Over and Over.

[doctor-roman]

I’m sorry Josh, but this is probably the coldest take I’ve ever seen in my life

[grandwarlordradha]

[nissarevane]

[talinthas]

way to ignore context, folks. I asked folks what one thing they’d change about commander, Josh answered with this list. It’s never going to happen, and he’s not going to push to make it happen, but it was just a thought experiment of ‘if i could start from scratch’.

Relax.

[markrosewater]

What plane would you personally be most interested to revisit?

Probably Kaladesh.

[talinthas]

from your lips to, uh, your ears