#rules changes

This blog is semi-crossover friendly !

I’ve not watched or read any anime/manga in such a long time. So I’m going to be selective in crossovers. If I don’t know your series you roleplay from, I’m sorry there’s a high chance I will not follow back. I will soft block so that you aren’t waiting for me to follow back.

I am a multiship blog !

Ok, let’s see… I’m going to take this chronologically so that I don’t miss anything. I won’t talk about new set mechanics, but I will try to mention any major mechanics that became evergreen.

Mirrodin block introduced equipment, which are printed in almost every set these days.

Kamigawa block introduced the vigilance keyword and the first major change to the legend rule in many years. The legend rule was changed again a few more times before it settled into its current iteration where the legend rule only applies to each player individually. New copies of legendary permanents can be cast, but only one can be kept at a time.

Ravnica block introduced hybrid mana.

Time Spiral block introduced a ton of new keyword abilities, many of which would go on to become evergreen, such as flash, lifelink, deathtouch, shroud, etc.

Lorwyn introduced the Planeswalker card type with all of its associated rules. Planeswalker rules would be modified for Ixalan to make them legendary and Dominaria will get rid of planeswalker redirection as a concept.

Magic 2010 brought with it the largest rules change since Sixth Edition. The major changed it brought were as follows:

Terminology changes: The “in-play” zone became the battlefield, the “removed from the game” zone became the exile zone and “remove from the game” as an action became exile, spells started to be cast rather than played again and activated abilities started to be activated rather than played, the “end-of-turn step” became the end step and “at end of  turn” triggers became “at the beginning of the end step” triggers.

Mana pool changes: Mana burn was removed as a concept, and the mana pool emptied as each step and phase ended rather than at the end of each phase.

Combat damage changes: Combat damage no longer uses the stack. Instead, combat damage is dealt immediately after it’s assigned. To still allow for counterplay with regards to this, combat damage can no longer be assigned freely among the creatures blocking or blocked by a creature. Instead, there is now a damage assignment order chosen for those creatures when blockers are declared and the first creature in the order must be assigned lethal damage before any damage can be assigned to the next creature in line, etc.

Deathtouch and lifelink became static abilities that modify the effects of damage rather than triggered abilities.

Innistrad block introduced double-faced cards and checklist cards to represent them in decks.

Oath of the Gatewatch introduced the new colorless mana symbol, as well as some cards with a specific colorless cost.

Kaladesh block introduced vehicles and the energy mechanic.

There are a few more deep changes to the rules for this set than previous sets, which is likely the result of Amonkhet being the first set that the new Rules Manager, Eli Shiffrin, has really had time to work on tweaking the rules for. 

That said, the changes aren’t that big, it’s just that you’re hearing about more of them because I’m both answering more questions where I’m not entirely sure of the answer and double checking those answers with Eli. 

Rule 38.2 (Situations Subject to Coach’s Challenge):

A coach’s challenge now will be permitted to take down a penalty for puck out of play. This only will apply to delay of game penalties when the puck is determined to have deflected off a player, stick, glass or boards, and not on a judgment call on how the puck left the defensive zone (e.g., batted pucks or if the puck was shot out from the defensive zone). In the event of a failed challenge, another two-minute minor penalty will be assessed (in addition to the existing delay of game penalty).

Rule 63.8 (Line Change Following Dislodged Net):

There will be an adjustment to Rule 63.8 so that the defensive team cannot make a line change in the event its goaltender accidentally dislodges the net (old language applied just to skater).

Rule 76.4 (Face-Off Procedure – Centers):

Following an icing, the offensive center also now will receive one warning (same as the defensive player) for a face-off violation.

Rule 75.3 (Unsportsmanlike Conduct – Player Sitting on Boards):

Decentralization Low Upkeep. +100% city maintenance costs from distance to Capital. +50% city maintenance costs from number of cities. +1 Happiness from Granary, Aqueduct, Lighthouse, Harbor, Forge, Library, Market, and Courthouse.

Mercantilism Medium Upkeep. +1 free Specialist per City. -1 Gold, +1 Science, and +1 Espionage per Specialist. -1 Trade Routes per City. No foreign Trade Routes, except with Vassals. Foreign Corporations have no effect. +10% Food in all Cities.

Free Market Medium Upkeep. -25% Maintenance for Corporations. +10% Gold in all Cities. +1 Trade Routes per City. -2 Happiness from Customs House, Market, Grocer, Bank, Wall Street, and Corporation Headquarters. -2 Health from Harbor, Airport, Factory, and Industrial Park.

State Property Low Upkeep. No Maintenance Costs from distance to Capital. Corporations have no effect. +10% Production in all Cities. -8 Happiness in 6 largest cities. -2 Health from Barracks, Drydock, Forge, and Factory. Communism no longer requires Liberalism.