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

[reanjr]

My guess is that they are worried that it might draw players into RPGs from the much more lucrative CCG market.

 

[thedungeondelver]

They did. It's called "3rd Edition".

"Oooh, boost my power strike feat by stacking with my metamagi..."Zzzzz...

 

[Piratecat]

They did. It's called "3rd Edition".

"Oooh, boost my power strike feat by stacking with my metamagi..."Zzzzz...

I always wonder. Considering all the alternatives there are, why spend time at a messageboard for an edition you don't like?

In any case, no hijacking into edition wars, please.

 

[mattcolville]

I worked at WotC for 6 months just before and after the release of 3E. I was part of the Last Unicorn Games team that got bought and then spit out shortly thereafter.

The reason WotC did not do a M:TG setting is because of how their internal organization works. The head of RPG R&D is not above the head of CCG R&D. In order to get a cross-brand product like that out, both guys need to approve it. And that didn't happen because each department wanted to see the product optimized to promote *their* brand. CCG R&D wanted to see a CCG-like RPG and RPG R&D wanted to see D&D with M:TG names on the monsters and places.

There was an astonishing amount of crap like that going on.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

There was an astonishing amount of crap like that going on.

A lot of corporate America is like that, unfortunately. My company has a bizarre territoriality between departments, despite the fact that they're designed to rely upon one another.

In any case, I think WotC would be well-advised to spit out a world book, a monster book and a player's book (with spells, races, classes, PrCs) shortly before the shift to 4E, along with a super-deluxe Art of Magic artbook.

 

[adwyn]

As purely idle speculation, I've always wondered if there has been a conscious effort at WoTC to keep the two properties seperate in case one gets sold off and the other doesn't.

But if their corporate beauracracy worked like most of corporate America we'd be seeing Gurps MtG first.

 

[frankthedm]

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.

Don't forget the All Creatures Die spells and effects. And those summonings are actually callings, so the players would actually be dying and sticking around to be animated.

And am I the only one who imagines when a Legenday Creature is summoned in two place, the poor being is torn apart in a torrent of blood & flesh?

 

[Asmo]

And am I the only one who imagines when a Legenday Creature is summoned in two place, the poor being is torn apart in a torrent of blood & flesh?

Legendary creatures, artefacts, etc are so powerful that when they encounter each other both are destroyed.

Asmo

 

[pawsplay]

I imagine it's because the setting for MtG isn't conducive to a conventional roleplaying game. You would have to do something Amber-like... in any case, it would take a lot of development and would never sell as well as the cards themselves.

 

[Mechnomancer]

If planes-walkers are so powerful, do you think a super-hero game could be used instead a D&D type game? M&M, HERO, etc.