Ask Wizards - Unban Lin Sivvi?
March 1, 2005
Q: "Given the new legend rule, do you plan to 'unban' Lin Sivvi from Masques Block?"
--Alex Rodgers
New Zealand
A: From Aaron Forsythe, Magic R&D:
Hi Alex, thanks for writing. Not only is that a stupid question, but also you're dead wrong.
You see, Alex, no one gives a shit about Masques Block Constructed, because frankly, it hasn't been relevant in about five years. I mean, how pathetic of a human being would someone have to be to even still be pondering this format.
With that said, R&D gave a considerable amount of thought, and expended a significant amount of resources (if I had to guess, I'd say at least 500-1500 man hours), to consider the unbanning of Lin-Sivvi in Masques block. But then after I banned every card in standard that was even loosely associated with the affinity mechanic, I got to thinking - this is the real way to go. After analyzing volumes of anecdotal evidence and spending several hours alone in a room with a Magic 8-ball, I am prepared to make the following changes to the Banned & Restricted list for Masques Block Constructed:
- Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero is still banned. Forever.
- Defiant Falcon is banned
- Defiant Vanguard is banned
- Fresh Volunteers is banned
- Jhovall Queen is banned
- Lawbringer is banned
- Lightbringer is banned
- Ramosian Lieutenant is banned
- Ramosian Sergeant is banned
- Rebel Informer is banned
- Sword Dancer is banned
- Whipcorder is banned
- Reverent Mantra is banned
- Plains is banned
Eleven Rebels, Reverent Mantra, and basic Plains - you may see it as overkill, but to us it was a necessity.
Even without Lin-Sivvi, Was Masques block that bad? Was the format actually not diverse enough, and not solvable enough? Looked at purely analytically, the format probably wasn't that bad. And after all, banning cards is bad, right? As I said back in December, "We like to avoid having to solve problems by banning cards, as that leads to a culture of fear." Banning a card has historically only been something that is done when a card is truly degenerate, like Yawgmoth's Bargain, Replenish, Tolarian Academy, and Ancient Den. So believe me when I say we only ban cards when absolutely necessary.
So maybe on paper, Masques block sans Lin-Sivvi wasn't that bad. But Magic is not a series of balanced equations, spreadsheets of Top 8 results and data of card frequencies. Magic is a game played by human beings that want to have fun. And you see, I couldn't take seeing another email in my inbox about some disgruntled gamer, still fed up with the degenerate Masques Block Constructed format, telling me he has decided to quit Magic. In fact, I recently bought a handgun and I was ready to take my own life.
So, I decided I had to alter the reality of the format, but I also had to let the world know without a doubt that I “slew the dragon” as it were. God damn it, look at me. I can't even make a pun with referencing dragons, wizardry, magic missiles, or some other shit like that.
I walked out of the room with the Magic 8-ball planning to ban just the eleven Rebels, Reverent Mantra, and Plains, but some vigilant playtesting suggested that such a move may have been a mistake. With Rebels out of the way, the much-maligned Mercenary tribe would be free to roam the open fields of Masques block as the new dominant deck. We're working on possible changes to keep Mercenaries in check as well.
Like I said, we really try not to solve all our problems with bannings, so in the future, we're going to give a lot more thought into card design to make sure we aren't making another Skullclamp. The last thing I want is for ANY format to be not fun. By the way, our card of the day is Umezawa's Jitte, straight from Betrayers of Kamigawa! Try it in booster draft sometime, and I'm sure you'll find it quite balanced.
I really, really, really hope you all enjoy Masques Block Constructed from now on.
Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!
Related Stories