So why didn't WotC release a setting based on Magic the Gathering?

[Gundark]

I was always curious about this. Since MtG has and is such a big seller for WotC why wouldn't they capitalize on it and make the MtG setting for D&D? Anyone have any theories? Know a friend of a friend who knows?

 

[BlueBlackRed]

Because it would have turned off too many people from the game.

But then again, they released Eberron and people still play the game...

 

[Garnfellow]

I was always curious about this. Since MtG has and is such a big seller for WotC why wouldn't they capitalize on it and make the MtG setting for D&D? Anyone have any theories? Know a friend of a friend who knows?

My understanding is that, after WotC purchased TSR, they had a design team doing preliminary work on a Dominaria (sp?) setting, but the efforts were abandoned. I think there were a couple of things going on: WotC wanted to focus energy on 3e, and I think brand managers were concerned about brand dillution or pollution -- a product that would anger or confuse fans of both games, and please neither.

 

[Eridanis]

It's all about branding. There was a article recently on magicthegathering.com the mentioned that although both properties contain fantasy tropes, they don't want to dilute the two brands my intermixing them.

You, me, and hundreds or thousands might think it's fun, but they don't want to take the risk. Michael Morris did a ffine take on a Magic-themed fantasy world some time back (DUSK), and hat's probab

 

[Knight Otu]

and I think brand managers were concerned about brand dillution or pollution -- a product that would anger or confuse fans of both games, and please neither.

That, and apparently the MtG team was violently against the idea.

There's also the issue of planeswalkers, who are highly powerful mages (so powerful that they can't be normal Magic cards at their full power). If in the RPG the players would be planeswalkers, they'd need to be epic (higher than 20th level/effective level). If the players aren't planeswalkers, they might get summoned into a duel between planeswalkers. Also, not everyone can be a planeswalker - there needs to be some kind of "spark" that needs awakening.
That said, there seems to be a step away from the "near-omnipotent" planeswalker idea, and the newest storyline Time Spiral does screw with planeswalkers as well (

Spoiler

Planeswalking becomes harder for them, and a few planeswalkers, among them Teferi, sacrifice their sparks to save the world. Actually, only Teferi is confirmed, but it seems likely that others will, too.

)

 

[Wolv0rine]

Eh, they can't be that high level.. I mean, Planeswalkers only have 20 life points.

 

[Piratecat]

My understanding is that, after WotC purchased TSR, they had a design team doing preliminary work on a Dominaria (sp?) setting, but the efforts were abandoned.

If memory serves, the team included Tim Beach, Teuwynn Woodruff and Wolf Baur.

 

[NexH]

Eh, they can't be that high level.. I mean, Planeswalkers only have 20 life points.

Which is twice as much as this: http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=108920#

 

[Knight Otu]

Which is twice as much as this: http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=108920#

"There is always a bigger fish."

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Because there *is* a higher power in the universe?