Rules baggage: Difference between revisions
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>Jerodast (did you read the source or just search for a phrase and call it a day? Section #4, which is explicitly about "rules baggage", uses Humility as its primary example. What is the effect of Humility?) |
(More concerned with the fact that the humility effect has returned more than enough; perhaps a change in the layers system made it work?) |
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*[[Deathtouch]] has rules baggage because it has some non-obvious interactions, such as changing the definition of [[lethal damage]] with [[trample]].<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/magic-2014-core-set-rules-preview-2013-05-23|''Magic Core Set 2014'' Rules Preview|[[Matt Tabak]]|May 23, 2013}}</ref> | *[[Deathtouch]] has rules baggage because it has some non-obvious interactions, such as changing the definition of [[lethal damage]] with [[trample]].<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/magic-2014-core-set-rules-preview-2013-05-23|''Magic Core Set 2014'' Rules Preview|[[Matt Tabak]]|May 23, 2013}}</ref> | ||
*[[Batching]] and [[predefined token]] terminology requires players to know definitions that aren't explicit on the card, although usually [[reminder text]] prevents this from being a problem. | *[[Batching]] and [[predefined token]] terminology requires players to know definitions that aren't explicit on the card, although usually [[reminder text]] prevents this from being a problem. | ||
*[[Banding]] and "loses all abilities" | *[[Banding]] and "loses all abilities" were considered by [[R&D]] to carry too much rules baggage to be worth bringing back to the game.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/baby-and-bathwater-2003-12-01|The Baby and the Bathwater|[[Mark Rosewater]]|December 1, 2003}}</ref> "Loses all abilities" was revisited later and returns occasionally, and banding got a rules revamp in ''[[Magic 2010]]'' for simplicity, though without much chance of returning. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 20:26, 4 April 2023
Rules baggage is a design term for when some aspect of a card requires remembering additional rules that aren't clear from its card type, aren't stated in its abilities, or are particularly complex or unusual.[1] Designers try to reduce this when possible, although sometimes it's simply the way a rule works.
Examples
- The Wall creature type was formerly unable to attack due to its subtype, but the defender ability was created to represent the mechanic instead. Similarly, the Legend creature type was replaced with the Legendary supertype to avoid having any creature types with rules baggage.[2]
- Mono, Poly and Continuous were artifact "subtypes" that dictated their use, and all of them could be "turned off" when tapped by an external source. This was quickly abandoned in the first few years as articulating what this meant in the rules was more trouble than having each card define its own usage.
- Adventures and Sagas inherently have additional behavior beyond what their card types usually do, but R&D considers them worth the rules baggage for what they bring to the game.[3] Sieges have a large amount of rules baggage, but resemble planeswalker combat enough to be acceptable.
- Deathtouch has rules baggage because it has some non-obvious interactions, such as changing the definition of lethal damage with trample.[4]
- Batching and predefined token terminology requires players to know definitions that aren't explicit on the card, although usually reminder text prevents this from being a problem.
- Banding and "loses all abilities" were considered by R&D to carry too much rules baggage to be worth bringing back to the game.[5] "Loses all abilities" was revisited later and returns occasionally, and banding got a rules revamp in Magic 2010 for simplicity, though without much chance of returning.
References
- ↑ Tim Willoughby (July 5, 2010). "Magic 2011 Prerelease Primer". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 4, 2004). "Change for the Better". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 19, 2022). "Storm Scale: Throne of Eldraine through Strixhaven, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (May 23, 2013). "Magic Core Set 2014 Rules Preview". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 1, 2003). "The Baby and the Bathwater". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.