WoTC forced to takeover popular Magic: The Gathering competition format after community tantrums over card bans involve 'credible physical assault'
The Magic: The Gathering Community has been in turmoil recently, but let's give you some context for those who are not familiar: The Commander Rules Committee is a group of MTG Players who, along with Wizards of the Coast preside over the Commander Format of competitive play. It's a popular ruleset and has a list of cards that are banned.
It's fascinating to look through the list as an outsider. The reasons for the bans range from the obvious "this thing is broken" justifications to lowering entry barriers. Take Time Walk for example: "removing Time Walk from the card pool was meant to combat the idea that Commander is an expensive and inaccessible form."
The controversial bans are the first to be implemented in the format since the year 2021. They are also, notably, some of the very first major rule decisions made following the death of Sheldon Menery on September 7, 2023, from throat cancer.
Dockside, Jeweled Lotus, Mana Crypt and Nadu, Winged Wisdom were the forbidden cards. This news seemed to make some players very unhappy. A FAQ posted after the bans provides some insight into what the complaints were, based on the issues the committee wanted to address.
The main anger seems directed at the cards perceived loss in value - a dent in people's wallets who try to earn money off these things yet expect to never suffer a loss - as well as frustrations toward a lack proper notice: "We had a watchlist," states the FAQ, "but it caused visible grief when things weren’t acted upon. It slowed our ability to respond when we saw a issue, and shifted losses to less enfranchised participants who were less aware. We got rid of it."
As is usually the case, some members of the community went too far. Logan/Seraph six, community admin on Discord, made the following announcement:
"In the last few days, we have seen some of most vile and reprehensible behavior from people who came into this community to harm. Never before have I witnessed such a disgraceful display of the worst types of humanity within the Commander community. Anyone who participated in the instigation should be ashamed for what they did."
Logan said that the threats included "credible threat of physical assaults at conventions, disseminations of personal information, death wishes, and blatant toxic."
This statement was made in conjunction with a similar tweet by Jim Lapage on Twitter, a committee member. Lapage writes: "Last Week I reached out Wizards of the Coast to ask for help. We collectively began working on transitioning all management responsibility of the format. I'll provide them with my roadmap and contacts to ensure a smooth transition.
Lapage continues, "I am devastated." This is not what I wanted but it's the only way to provide the care and attention the community deserves, as well as the safety the format leaders deserve.
Wizards of the Coast now handles the format, instead of a passionate group of community experts. This is not because of corporate meddling but because people who were upset about a trading card games couldn't help but threaten real humans over their cardboard depreciating.
It's not surprising that some people behave badly because anonymity and bitterness are a toxic combination. It's the reason we can never have nice things.
Logan says it best: "While Wizards of the Coast has many wonderful, passionate employees, some of whom I know and admire immensely, the company ultimately is a for-profit part of a larger, for-profit company."
"You'll never again have the opportunity to communicate one-on-one with a format decision maker. It's a given that the people who are going to be managing Commander will remain mostly anonymous, for their own safety. This is all because of the most toxic and horrible kinds of people who should have no place in our community."
Wizards of the Coast clarifies the situation in its statement:
"While the ownership of the format might change, members of Rules Committee and other community members will continue to be engaged, and the vision of a social format won't change. We have already had some preliminary discussions about what we want to achieve and we have some ideas that we will be rolling-out together in the coming months.
"For the moment, the safety and wellbeing of the Rules Committee is our priority. What happened in the past week is completely unacceptable. We can take on the responsibility of this format, and all that goes with it, by working together.
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