Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast - podcast cover

Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast

Mark Rosewater•magic.wizards.com
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Games
Join Magic: The Gathering Head Designer Mark Rosewater as he shares stories, insights, and more while driving to work. Listen and learn more about how Magic is made!
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Episodes

#1252: Why We Name Mechanics

In this podcast, I answer a question from my blog about how we decide when to name and not name mechanics.

Jun 20, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1252

#1251: History of Typal Themes

I recently wrote a three-part article about the history of typal themes in Magic . This is my podcast on the topic.

Jun 20, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1251

#1250: Exodus

In this podcast, I talk all about Exodus (the third expansion of the Tempest block).

Jun 13, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1250

#1249: Stronghold

In this podcast, I talk all about Stronghold (the second expansion of the Tempest block).

Jun 13, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1249

#1248: Futureproofing

In this podcast, I talk about a concept called futureproofing where we design mechanics to better enable us to use them in the future.

Jun 06, 2025•40 min•Ep. 1248

#1247: FINAL FANTASY with Gavin Verhey

In this podcast, I sit down with the lead designer of Magic: The Gathering ®—FINAL FANTASY™ to talk about the set's design.

Jun 06, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1247

#1245: Test Decks

This podcast talks about a tool we use to playtest new mechanics.

May 30, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1245

#1244: Formats I Made

Someone on my blog asked me if I ever designed any Magic formats. It turns out that I have, so I spent a podcast episode talking about them.

May 23, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1244

#1243: Vision Design Issues

In this episode, I walk through many of the design issues that occur during vision design.

May 23, 2025•36 min•Ep. 1243

#1242: Repeats and Tweaks

In this podcast, I talk about times we decided to reuse mechanics and times we chose to tweak mechanics into something new.

May 16, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1242

#1241: Making Mechanics

Inspired by this year's "Nuts & Bolts" column, I walk through how mechanics are created.

May 16, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1241

#1240: Communications

In this episode, I walk through the history of Magic and talk about how communicating with players has changed over the years.

May 09, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1240

#1239: Top 20 Worst Mechanics, Part 3

This podcast is part three of three on my series about the 20 worst mechanics of all time, based on my talk at last year's MagicCon: Las Vegas .

May 09, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1239

#1238: Top 20 Worst Mechanics, Part 2

This podcast is part two of three on my series about the 20 worst mechanics of all time, based on my talk at last year's MagicCon: Las Vegas .

May 02, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1238

#1237: Top 20 Worst Mechanics, Part 1

This podcast is part one of three on my series about the 20 worst mechanics of all time, based on my talk at last year's MagicCon: Las Vegas .

May 02, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1237

#1236: Mel

This is part two of a two-part series on the aesthetic profiles. This time, I talk about Mel, the player who aesthetically appreciates mechanics.

Apr 25, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1236

#1235: Bigger than the Box

When Richard Garfield first made Magic , he liked to say it was "a game bigger than the box." In this episode, I walk through what exactly that phrase means and the challenges of making a game that accomplishes this.

Apr 25, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1235

#1234: Vorthos

This podcast is part one of a two-part series on the aesthetic profiles. Up first, I talk all about Vorthos, the player who aesthetically appreciates flavor.

Apr 18, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1234

#1233: Arc Planning

In this podcast, I talk about the team that figures out what in-Multiverse Magic sets we'll be doing in the future.

Apr 18, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1233

#1232: Spike

This podcast is part three of a three-part series walking through the three psychographics. Today, I explore the psychological analysis of Spike.

Apr 11, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1232

#1230: Johnny and Jenny

This podcast is part two of a three-part series walking through the three psychographics. Today, I explore the psychological analysis of Johnny and Jenny.

Apr 04, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1230

#1228: Timmy and Tammy

This episode is part one of a three-part series walking through the three psychographics. I start today with exploring the psychological analysis of Timmy and Tammy.

Mar 28, 2025•36 min•Ep. 1228

#1227: Tarkir: Dragonstorm Vision Design

In this episode, I walk through the vision design for Tarkir: Dragonstorm and talk about the evolution of the Dragon subtype and clan mechanics.

Mar 28, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1227

#1226: Replies with Rachel and Sarah

Many years ago, I would drive my eldest daughter to school, and occasionally, we did a segment called "Replies with Rachel" where the two of us would answer questions. I then did another segment with my youngest daughter Sarah called "Small Talk with Sarah" when I drove her to camp. Today, for the first time, I have both my daughters and all three of us answer your questions. I will note the audio quality for this podcast isn't my best, but I hope the content makes up for it.

Mar 21, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1226

#1225: Interrupts in Limited Edition (Alpha)

Magic 's very first set had a card type that no longer exists called interrupts. In this episode, I walk through all the cards of this card type in Limited Edition (Alpha) .

Mar 21, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1225
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