Mechanic: Difference between revisions
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===Linear=== | ===Linear=== | ||
[[R&D]] talks about things being “linear” in that they dictate other cards mechanically. [[Colorless|Colorless matters]] is very linear in that it dictates having cards to provide the [[mana|colorless mana]].<ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/135071350843/ok-so-parasitic-is-a-definition-that-works-for|title=How do you define something that is "parasitic" in its own set?|tumblr-title=Blogatog|date=December 12, 2015}}</ref> | [[R&D]] talks about things being “linear” in that they dictate other cards mechanically. [[Colorless|Colorless matters]] is very linear in that it dictates having cards to provide the [[mana|colorless mana]].<ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/135071350843/ok-so-parasitic-is-a-definition-that-works-for|title=How do you define something that is "parasitic" in its own set?|tumblr-title=Blogatog|date=December 12, 2015}}</ref> | ||
*“Anti-linear” means the opposite. The more cards with the same mechanic you have, it gets worse. Examples are atogs, processors, delve and heroic.<ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/135079298363/is-there-a-word-for-the-opposite-of-a-linear|title=Is there a word for the opposite of a Linear mechanic?|tumblr-title=Blogatog|date=December 12, 2015}}</ref> <ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/136565564978/you-have-previously-used-the-term-anti-linear-to|title=You have previously used the term "anti-linear"...|tumblr-title=Blogatog|date=January 03, 2016}}</ref> | |||
===Modular=== | ===Modular=== | ||
Modular design elements are not dependent on other design elements. | Modular design elements are not dependent on other design elements. | ||
Revision as of 07:12, 4 January 2016
A mechanic is a card ability that can be used on multiple cards. The word mechanic has no meaning in the Comprehensive Rules, it's merely a design concept. [1]
Categories
Mechanics can be categorized as:
- Keywords or "keyword abilities": words attached to rules text, that represent an ability that is constant. They come with reminder text, except if they are evergreen.
- Keyword actions: verbs that have a special rules meaning. Sometimes reminder text summarizes their meanings.
- Ability words are words that group cards that have a common functionality and do not imply any particular rules.
- Mechanics that are not clearly classified
- Mechanics that were considered, but never officially released
- Obsolete or deprecated mechanics
Parasitic
A mechanic is considered parasitic when it only interacts with other things in a particular set rather than the rest of Magic. Examples are horsemanship and splice [2] [3] [4]
Linear
R&D talks about things being “linear” in that they dictate other cards mechanically. Colorless matters is very linear in that it dictates having cards to provide the colorless mana.[5]
- “Anti-linear” means the opposite. The more cards with the same mechanic you have, it gets worse. Examples are atogs, processors, delve and heroic.[6] [7]
Modular
Modular design elements are not dependent on other design elements.
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 21, 2002). "Finding a Good Mechanic". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Error on call to {{WebRef}}: Parameters url and title must be specifiedMark Rosewater (December 29, 2013). "". Tumblr.
- ↑ Error on call to {{WebRef}}: Parameters url and title must be specifiedMark Rosewater (December 12, 2015). "". Tumblr.
- ↑ Error on call to {{WebRef}}: Parameters url and title must be specifiedMark Rosewater (December 12, 2015). "". Tumblr.
- ↑ Error on call to {{WebRef}}: Parameters url and title must be specifiedMark Rosewater (December 12, 2015). "". Tumblr.
- ↑ Error on call to {{WebRef}}: Parameters url and title must be specifiedMark Rosewater (December 12, 2015). "". Tumblr.
- ↑ Error on call to {{WebRef}}: Parameters url and title must be specifiedMark Rosewater (January 03, 2016). "". Tumblr.
External links
- Randy Buehler (March 29, 2002). "The "Almost" Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Mark Rosewater (June 18, 2007). "Keyword Play". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Brady Dommermuth (June 01, 2009). "Mechanically Inclined". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Mark Rosewater (February 7, 2011). "Fight Club, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Mark Rosewater (February 14, 2011). "Fight Club, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.