Back on the Ground
The background info you've always wanted
Aaron
Forsythe · Latest
Developments
Friday, September 15, 2006
 irstly, let me inform you that, due to popular request, I
am to leave WotC the second I finish writing this article. Mark
Rosewater will be taking over this column in addition to the two
columns He is currently writing. Mark has asked me to let you know
He feels "honored to have been assigned the task" and intends to use
it exclusively to write about cards He has designed Himself because
He is convinced that He is "simply the best".
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Black isn't beautiful:
The background
you didn't like. |
Back to the Backgrounds
Now let's get to the thing I really wanted to inform you about:
The latest development of the artifact card background. After we had
changed the Artifact background for the fourth time late last year,
there have again been complaints. Many found it hard to distinguish
between cards bearing the new artifact background and black cards.
We may have to admit that one of the reason for this blunder may be
that we never even bothered to look at the new backgrounds. A
trainee was assigned the task to make the backgrounds a bit more
discernible and, well, it seems he messed up big time. While we are
currently suing the trainee in question, we feel that we need to
point out to you that this is not WotC's fault. Now, of course,
there's little use in complaining, and so we have been busy coming
up with a new background that ends this travesty once and for all.
And we have succeeded. We have made a few subtle changes that add up
to a magnificent new style that, as Mark Rosewater put it when He
announced the change to the rest of the staff, "my twins like".
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Cyan to the eyes:
The new
background.
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Spock, get the Cyanificator
As you can see in this image, the new background has a touch of
cyan added to make sure it cannot be confused with any of the other
backgrounds. A poll of 3 random Magic players has led to the result
that only one out of 3 players considers it "hard to discern from
the blue background" and "ugly as hell". That sure is a quota we can
live with.
The good news is that we will start using the new background as
soon as possible. The bad news is that due to your new scheduling,
we are not able to change the layout for the next two sets,
codenamed "Father" and "Son", as they're already in printing. Thus,
"Holy Ghost" will be the first set to feature the new layout.
To make sure that no further confusion arises, all artifacts
bearing other layout than the current one will be banned from
tournament play as soon as "Holy Ghost" hits the shelves. Some of
you may consider this decision a bit "over the top", but rest
assured that we have only your best interest in mind.
Grip 'em, Flip 'em, Strip 'em
Luckily, these bannings won't matter all that much in a near
future, when the next block after "Holy Trinity" comes out, because
all older cards will be rendered illegal when the new card back will
be introduced - along with the new logo for Magic: the Gathering:
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Better get used to it: the new
logo
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Yes, that's right. No more "Deckmaster". The new design will be
much more compatible with the front layout you have all come to
love. I cannot show you the new card backs yet, but I can assure you
they're sweeeet. The holographic effect is second to none, and, as
Mark put it, "they'll keep buying anyway".
That's it from me. Next week, Mark will explain the motivation
behind the decision to change the publishing schedule to one set per
month.
Last Week's Poll
| Do you take part
in this poll? |
| Yes |
8265 |
55.7% |
| No |
6577 |
44.3% |
| Total |
14842 |
100.0% |
It's great to see that more than half of you understood this
question! Keep it up!
This Week's Poll
| Do you think
Mark Rosewater should become CEO of Wizards of the
Coast? |
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Aaron may no longer be reached at latestdevelopments@wizards.com. | 
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