Magic: The Gathering fans push volunteers out with alleged threats of violence
"Alleged threats over banned cards in Commander, Magic: The Gathering’s most popular mode of play, have driven its governing body to relinquish control of the format. Going forward, publisher Wizards of the Coast will itself be wholly responsible for Commander, which had previously been managed by the five-member, all-volunteer Commander Rules Committee. The announcement was made Monday in separate statements by the Commander Rules Committee and Wizards of the Coast."
“As a result of the threats last week against RC members, it has become impossible for us to continue operating as an independent entity,” the Commander RC said in a statement published to X. “Given that, we have asked WotC to assume responsibility for Commander and they will be making decisions and announcements going forward.”
So being heavy into EDH (which is the nerdy way of saying commander format) I have thoughts on this, as well as unfounded conspiracy theories.
For those not in the know, just a few days ago the rules committee that makes up the 5 member volunteer body that runs the official rules for commander format announced, after several years of having no bans, 4 cards that were to be banned from the format immediately. One of them everyone knew was going to be banned because it was broken, and one had long been on the list as being 'watched' that people thought might get a ban one day or another, but the other two are some of the most powerful cards in the format and some of the most expensive cards in the format, one of which was made solely for commander.
Now, while I don't think these specific cards needed a ban and I enjoy playing with very powerful cards, it's why I play EDH where this is the only place I can play those cards, I do agree that the format is healthier having them gone, but disagree with the rip the bandaid off method of a ban out of nowhere. Lots of people paid a lot of money for these cards and they suddenly became worthless, which is why so many people were upset. Obviously people shouldn't be doing death threats, but it's the internet.
Here's my conspiracy theory. The Rules Committee has said that they told Wizards of the Coast about these upcoming bans more than a year ago. And during that year, WotC has put out many sets using these exact cards as the top end chase cards to get people to buy those sets. In fact they just had their big secret lair "convention in a box" where people could spend several hundreds of dollars to receive a special box of cards and other prizes from the most recent mtg convention, in which special printings of these very cards were the prize. There were people opening their prize boxes and getting these cards on the same day they were banned.
My conspiracy level 1 brain says that, knowing these cards were going to be banned, WotC pushed these cards hard to sell as many of them as they could before they became worthless.
Conspiracy level 2 says they pushed these cards hella hard knowing that the banning would be an even more feelsbad moment and push the community against the RC, giving WotC a chance to take over the format and appear the good guy. (spoiler: they are in no way the good guy)
And after making millions on these cards pushing them right before the ban, only for their value to crash post banning, just wait to watch those prices jump up HIGHER THAN EVER once WotC announces their unbanning.