#6 MSRP

Magic players love MSRP.

They love MSRP because MSRP adds a tingle of excitement and a smidgen of flair to the game.

In this case, MSRP should not be confused with that "other" MSRP, the one dealing with pricing, the one found in small print on booster packs.

Although, indirectly, Magic players do love that kind of MSRP too, even if it seems weird. Because Magic players love the feeling of getting a deal and making smart buys, MSRP is a good measuring stick on just how great that deal was, how smart that buy was.


The MSRP of this post, instead deals with "May Suggest Role Playing" or some similar acronym breakdown.

This is not entirely out of left field for 2 main reasons.

First, Magic is a game designed by a company who currently is responsible for a variety of other games, including Dungeons and Dragons. Whether one likes it or not, a lot of games owe their development and success to Dungeons and Dragons. Even games that wouldn't ordinarily be lumped together in the "role play" or "fantasy" genre.

Take a game like Call of Duty or Street Fighter. It's really Dungeons and Dragons underneath it all. The various classes, leveling up with experience, map and terrain exploration, different stats for animations and durations of attacks and blocks, modified rolls on special moves.

So many see just a shooter or a fighting game, but really it's just coded pen, paper, dice and some imagination.

Magic is certainly not exempt. Magic is a make believe game. Magic players make believe that they are wizards casting spells, even though they really aren't wizards.

Which brings the second reason. While it might not help a Magic player if he believes or doesn't believe he is a wizard, it certainly doesn't hurt either. Part of Magic's excitement and flair is that players want to believe in the make believe.



MSRP or "May Suggest Role Playing" is something that doesn't take away from Magic. If a Magic player doesn't "make believe," nothing is lost. Magic is still a game grounded in math, game theory, rules, and all that other good stuff. MSRP is a suggestion, and if taken, can add a whole new dimension to the game.

As mentioned before, Magic players love great deals and smart buys. A little imagination offers a huge amount of entertainment and joy in return, a great deal, a smart buy. Because of that, Magic players love MSRP.