Mechanic
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:
- Keyword abilities or often shortened to "keywords": 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.
- Miscellaneous mechanics: mechanics that are not clearly classified.
- Unreleased mechanics: mechanics that were considered, but never officially released.
- Obsolete or deprecated mechanics: mechanics that are no longer used.
Keywords abilities and keyword actions are closely related. Both represent a longer segment of rules text and may allow variable costs and effects. Because they have a specific rules meaning and are listed in the Comprehensive Rules, keywords of either type can be referenced from other cards. They differ in that keyword abilities are either characteristics of objects or are objects themselves, whereas keyword actions describe game-related actions.
For example, the keyword ability enchant, as in Enchant creature, states a restriction on the valid targets for an aura. The related keyword action attach describes the process of physically putting such an aura onto its target.
Ability words have no rules meaning, but exist to name and flavorfully link otherwise unnamed mechanics. Like flavor text, ability words are italicized. Because they have no rules meaning, and are not listed in the Comprehensive Rules, ability words are never referenced on other cards.[2]
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.[3][4][5]
Linear
R&D talks about things being “linear” in that they dictate other cards mechanically.[6][7] Colorless matters is very linear in that it dictates having cards to provide the colorless mana.[8]
- “Anti-linear” means the opposite. The more cards with the same mechanic you have, it gets worse. Examples are atogs, processors, delve and heroic.[9][10]
Modular
Modular design elements are not dependent on other design elements.[11][12][13]
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 21, 2002). "Finding a Good Mechanic". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 28, 2008). "Ability Word To Your Mother". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 29, 2013). "Where is Horsemanship on the Storm scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 12, 2015). "I am worried that C as a mana cost will end up being a parasitic thing". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 12, 2015). "It seems like people constantly misunderstand what counts as parasitic or not.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 10, 2015). "What is a linear mechanic?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 6, 2003). "Come Together". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 12, 2015). "How do you define something that is "parasitic" in its own set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 12, 2015). "Is there a word for the opposite of a Linear mechanic?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 03, 2016). "You have previously used the term "anti-linear"...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 18, 2016). "Do modular spells have more or less design space than normal spells?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 10, 2015). "For clarity, can you give an example of a modular mechanic?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 25, 2016). "Do you find it funny that modular is a linear mechanic?". Blogatog. 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 1, 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.
- Sam Stoddard (March 17, 2017). "What Makes a Good Mechanic". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.