Being Mark Rosewater Alex Shvartsman Any player who reads The Sideboard on a regular basis is familiar with Mark Rosewater's ongoing "Question Mark" trivia contest. It tests a range of Magic-related knowledge and rewards participants for correct answers. If you aren't familiar with it, check it out here. Some of you might not know that his trivia shows go back many years. Even before Mr. Rosewater came to work for Wizards of the Coast, he regularly ran a live Magic trivia contest in California. Once with the company, he made Magic Trivia a regular part of Premier Events such as Pro Tour, Worlds or Continental Championships. If you plan to attend your first Pro Tour sometime soon, be sure to participate in the live contest! Personally, I have been a loyal fan for years. I've participated in many of these shows and even won at times. Recently I had an opportunity to get into Mark's shoes and run a trivia show myself. This opportunity came when I was asked to help do web coverage of the European Championship. Since Mr. Rosewater wasn't attending, someone else would have to run the contest. I got the job and spent a long time coming up with both contest rules and the questions. As far as the rules go, I did not change very much from the way Mr. Rosewater runs it. Before the show, hopeful players would need to create three person teams. Each team would fill out a written "test" and the three high-scoring teams would compete on the stage, while other players watched. Once the top three teams had been selected, I offered a choice of three categories to the top team. I then asked them questions from the category of their choice. Questions increased in difficulty and were worth from 1 to 5 points each. If a team was unable to answer a certain question correctly, the next team received a shot at it. An incorrect answer is always worth 1 point. Unlike shows like "Wheel of Fortune," a team always keeps control of their category even if they miss one question. Each team gets to work on the same number of categories in the end. One major change I did make was creating the "follow-up" questions. Every time a team answered a question, I would ask a follow-up question of the audience. The first person to answer that question correctly got a booster pack. This would keep everyone playing. The show was a definite success. With the help from Paul Barclay, I managed to run it smoothly, and draw a large crowd of spectators in the process. I found that the "written test" questions were way too easy - most teams got over 90% of them right. Oral questions varied in difficulty but were enjoyed by all. It was suggested by one of the players that I publish the questions on the Internet so that others could test their trivia knowledge, or perhaps use it to run similar contests at their local store. Without further ado, here are most of the questions I used at the European Championships. The answers follow on the bottom of this article. I hope you enjoy them. WRITTEN QUESTIONS: Name one creature for each power and toughness of 1/1, 2/2, 3/3... all the way to 12/12 (1 point each) Name one card for each color that gives creatures of that color a +1/+1 bonus (2 points) Note: one of these is not the same color as the creatures it benefits. Match the deck with its original designer: (3 points each) 1) Squirrel Prison 2) Turbo Land 3) Sligh 4) Godzilla 5) Draw-Go 6) Bugbind 7) ConTroll A) Olle Rade B) Alan Comer C) Mike Pustilnik D) Zvi Mowshowitz E) Jay Schneider F) Andrew Cuneo G) Brian Kowal List as many creatures that include a family relation in their card name (for example Cousin of Orgg and Grandfather Time would be such cards if it existed) (3 points each) Name as many Pro Tour winners from Europe as you can (hint: World Championships count as Pro Tours) (2 points each) Match these flavor texts with their cards: (1 point each) 1) If you do not look at it, it will go away 2) Starke knew the voice was Takara's, but the venom was Volrath's 3) It is futile to fight something you can see only in the corner of your eye 4) Man versus Nature is not a fair fight 5) It is not always clear who is the master and who is the servant 6) Hatred outlives the hateful 7) They certainly are. 8) Heel! 9) There is no rest for a Keldon 10) Does a stone mimic life, or did it once live? A) Search for Survivors B) Blinking Spirit C) Goblin Offensive D) Ray of Command E) Rancor F) Sliptide Serpent G) Price of Progress E) Soul Sculptor F) Indentured Djinn J) Vendetta List as many cards of type "Creature - Mercenary" as you can (1 point each) Answers Name one creature for each power and toughness of 1/1, 2/2, 3/3... all the way to 12/12 (1 point each). There are plenty more... these are just examples. 1/1 Mon's Goblin Raiders 2/2 Grey Ogre 3/3 Hill Giant 4/4 Hired Giant 5/5 Rhox 6/6 Argothian Wurm 7/7 Child of Gaea 8/8 Phyrexian Colossus 9/9 Endless Wurm 10/10 Leviathan, Skyshroud Behemoth 11/11 Polar Kraken 12/12 Phyrexian Dreadnought Name one card for each color that gives creatures of a color a +1/+1 bonus (2 points) White - Crusade Blue - Sunken City Red - Gauntlet of Might Black - Bad Moon Green - Kaysa Match the deck with its original designer: (3 points each) 1) Squirrel Prison Mike Pustilnik 2) Turbo Land Zvi Mowshowitz 3) Sligh Jay Schneider 4) Godzilla Alan Comer 5) Draw-Go Andew Cuneo 6) Bugbind Olle Rade 7) ConTroll Brian Kowal List as many creatures that include a family relation in their card name (for example Cousin of Orgg and Grandfather Time would be such cards if it existed) Mother of Runes Uncle Istvan Grandmother Sengir Sisters of the Flame Brothers of Fire Daughter of Autumn Child of Gaea Name as many Pro Tour winners from Europe as you can (hint: World Championships count as Pro Tours) (2 points each) Alexander Blumke Olle Rade Frank Adler Tommi Hovi Jakub Slemr Dirk Baberowski Kai Budde Sigurd Eskeland Match the card with its flavor text: 1) If you do not look at it, it will go away Blinking Spirit 2) Starke knew the voice was Takara's, but the venom was Volrath's Vendetta 3) It is futile to fight something you can see only in the corner of your eye Sliptide Serpent 4) Man versus Nature is not a fair fight Price of Progress 5) It is not always clear who is the master and who is the servant Indentured Djinn 6) Hatred outlives the hateful Rancor 7) They certainly are. Goblin Offensive 8) Heel! Ray of Command 9) There is no rest for a Keldon Search for Survivors 10) Does a stone mimic life, or did it once live? Soul Sculptor List as many cards of type "Creature - Mercenary" as you can (1 point each) 34 total Agent of Shauku Alley Grifters Bog Glider Bog Smugglers Cateran Brute Cateran Enforcer Cateran Kidnappers Cateran Overlord Cateran Persuader Cateran Slaver Death Charmer Highway Robber Mercenaries Misshapen Fiend Moggcatcher Molting Harpy Phyrexian Driver Phyrexian Prowler Pit Raptor Primeval Shambler Rampant Crawler Rathi Assassin Rathi Fiend Rathi Intimidator Rebel Informer Rogue Skycaptain Seahunter Silent Assassin Skulking Fugitive Soldier of Fortune Spineless Thug Spiteful Bully Strongarm Thug These are the questions I used in the actual contest: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS BY CATEGORY: GRAND PRIX MANIA (Questions about GP tournament circuit) 1) Where was the first Grand Prix ever to take place held? Follow up: Who won it? 2) What European player holds the honor of being the only one to date to win 3 Grand Prix tournaments? Follow up: Which 3 GPs did he win? 3) At almost 750 competitors, this was the largest GP ever held in Europe. Follow up: Who won it? 4) What is the only country to ever host a GP and place NONE of its citizens into the top 8? Follow up: Who won that event? 5) In the team GP circuit, name the only player to ever make it into top 4 without winning a match Follow up: At which tournament did this take place? OOPS, THEY DID IT AGAIN (About cards that have been reprinted) 1) This basic land was printed in more different sets than the other four Follow up: What Magic expansion was supposed to be the first one to be released, after the basic set? 2) This creature, part of Eskeland's winning PTNY deck, first appeared in Mirage under a different name Follow up: What was its name in Mirage? 3) Name of the gift set that features white bordered Mogg Fanatic and Hymn to Tourach Follow up: Name a misprint card from this set 4) A white enchantment reprinted in Mercadian Masques that was originally printed in Visions Follow up: Name another white card in Masques that was printed before 5) This promotional card went from being worth over $50 down to $5-10 after being re-released and included as a promotion with Duelist magazine. Follow up: Where was this card available originally? WHO SAID THAT?! (I read the quote. Players must determine which storyline character it is attributed to. The follow up question for this category is to name what card the quote hails from) 1) "No fair! Since when does a bug get to munch on me?" 2) "I'm too modest a wizard to reveal the full extend of my abilities" 3) "If there is such a thing as too much power, I have not discovered it" 4) "My favorite part of getting into the infantry, was getting out again" 5) "Urza, I've discovered more promising students than you and my husband have, combined. And I haven't lost a single one." WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (Questions about retired PT players) 1) He is the only player from outside of America or Europe to win a Pro Tour. Follow up: Which Pro Tour did he win? 2) Perhaps the most popular Magic Internet columnist of all time, he retired from playing Magic several months ago to spend more time playing Asheron's Call. Follow up: Name another popular online columnist who retired to play online RPGs 3) This player, once considered the best in the world, tried creating a "Magic Players Association". Follow up: What were his top tournament finishes? 4) Who was the top European finisher in the very first Pro Tour. Follow up: What place did he finish at? 5) What phrase cost Terry Borer several thousands of dollars at Pro Tour: Atlanta? WHERE NO CARD HAS GONE BEFORE (cards with strange abilities) 1) What card forces you to play an extra game of Magic? Follow up: What card was unbanned in type 1 at the same time as the card in question? 2) Name a non-ante card that allows a potential turn 1 win with no help from any other cards Follow up: What is the other significance of this card's name? 3) What card is played slightly differently in a tournament environment and casual play? 4) What card's function is to remove an ability only one creature possesses? Follow up: What creature is it, and what card allows creatures to gain this ability? 5) Name a black card capable of destroying a non-creature artifact? Follow up: Name the other one (there are only 2) MAGIC TEAMS 1) This recently formed European team is responsible for such decks as Trinity Green and Red Deck Wins 2000 Follow up: What team did Kai Budde belong to when he won Worlds last year? 2) This team boasts having been able to place at least one of its members into the top 8 of every Pro Tour since the team was formed. Follow up: Name 2 members of this team who live in Europe 3) This group was the very first international Internet-based team Follow up: Name its two French members 4) Perhaps the very first professional Magic team, it included such well-known Magic personas as Mark Justice and George Baxter Follow up: Who wrote this team's famous press-releases? 5) This once influential team included Brian Schneider and Dominic Crapuchettes. Follow up: What was Crapuchettes' top tournament finish? LEGENDS IN THEIR OWN MIND (Legendary cards that aren't quite so legendary) 1) This card was the first 'Legendary Artifact' and also considered by many the worst rare in its expansion set. Follow up: Name another Legendary Artifact 2) One of this creature's "special" abilities is regenerating Vampires. Follow up: Name a female dwarf related to this character 3) If you re-arrange the letters in this Legend's name, you will come up with "Mr.Toilet" Follow up: A card name that is an anagram for Gorillas in Alliances 4) This legend's ability is to remove Islandwalk Follow up: Name the only card capable of having Island of Wak-Wak-walk 5) This legend used to give +1/+1 to all Falcons. Under new Oracle wording it is a "much better card" as it gives +1/+1 to all Birds instead. Follow up: Name 3 Falcons MISPRINTS 1) Some Fallen Empires cards were printed with the card back from another game. What game was it? Follow up: Who designed it? 2) This popular uncommon was printed with the blue rare's artwork in the Spanish card set Follow up: Who drew the alternative artwork for the 6x9 version of this card 3) What two lands were misprinted in the Revised German edition, and in what way? 4) Name the only Magic set to feature a white-bordered English Serendib Efreet with correct artwork Follow up: What was this set's code name? 5) This popular card was supposed to cost 2G. WOTC never admitted accidentally dropping 2 from its casting cost. Follow up: In Chinese Urza's Saga edition, this enchantment cost 1W instead of W STRANGE CASTING COSTS (I name a casting cost, you name the card) 1) RR2X Follow up: Name the other card at this casting cost 2) 5 5 Follow up: Why did it cost 5 5 instead of 10? 3) GRWBU other than Sliver Queen Follow up: Who drew it? 4) 1RBU Follow up: Who was this legend, according to Magic novels? 5) WWW4 Follow up: What the heck does it do? WARNING, ANSWERS BELOW (follow up answers in parenthesis) GRAND PRIX MANIA ANSWERS 1) Amsterdam, 1996. (Won by Emmanuel Vernay) 2) Kai Budde (GP Barcelona, GP Vienna, GP Amsterdam) 3) GP Lisbon '00 (Bruno Caruso) 4) Canada, GP Toronto (Brian Kibler) 5) Mike Long (GP Nagoya) OOPS, THEY DID IT AGAIN ANSWERS 1) Mountain, it was printed in Arabian Nights. (Ice Age was supposed to be the first expansion but it ended up being delayed for various reasons) 2) Drake Hatchling (Azimaet Drake) 3) Anthologies (Several cards in it were misprinted including Mirri, Cat Warrior and Samite Healer) 4) Righteous Aura (Disenchant) 5) Nalathni Dragon (Dragon Con) WHO SAID THAT?! ANSWERS 1) Squee (Pincher Beetle) 2) Ertai (Abeyance) 3) Volrath (Dark Ritual) 4) Gerrard (Benalish Infantry) 5) Rayne (Rescue) WHERE ARE THEY NOW? ANSWERS 1) Tom Champheng (Worlds 96) 2) Jamie Wakefield (Alice Coggins) 3) Mark Justice (2nd Worlds 96, 2nd PT Paris) 4) Bernard Lestree (2nd, PTNY) 5) "Do you have any fast effects?" Borer did not realize that by saying this he passed priority to his opponent and was no longer able to cast an instant that would allow his creature to deal lethal damage that turn. He ended up losing this game. WHERE NO CARD HAS GONE BEFORE ANSWERS 1) Shahrazad (Time Vault) 2) Mana Clash (Originally one of the potential names for a little game currently known as Magic: The Gathering) 3) Ring of Ma'ruf. In tournament play you may only "go get" a card from your sideboard. In casual play, you can get any Magic card you own. 4) Great Wall. (It removes Plainswalk which only Righteous Avengers have. Aysen Highway gives all creatures Plainswalk). 5) Gate to Phyrexia and Phyrexian Tribute MAGIC TEAMS ANSWERS 1) European Alliance (CCC - Cologne Conjurers Circle) 2) Mogg Squad (Jakub Slemr and Sigurd Eskeland) 3) The Legion (Raphael Levy and Manuel Bevand) 4) PCL - Pacific Coast Legends (Mario Robaina) 5) Tongo Nation (Crapuchettes top finish: 2nd PTNY 97) LEGENDS IN THEIR OWN MIND ANSWERS 1) Sword of the Chosen (Predator, Flagship) 2) Baron Sengir (Irini Sengir, his adopted daughter) 3) Telim'Tor (Sol Grail) 4) Gosta Dirk (Illusionary Presence) 5) Zoraya The Falconer (Mesa Falcon, Defiant Falcon, Zephyr Falcon) MISPRINTS ANSWERS 1) Wyvern (Mike Fitzgerald, designer of WOTC's upcoming X-Men game) 2) Serra Angel with Time Elemental artwork (Rebecca Guay) 3) Wald (Forest) had artwork of Plains and Drudge Skeletons had an artwork from Swamp 4) Summer Magic (Edgar) 5) Rancor (Opal Caryatid) STRANGE CASTING COSTS ANSWERS 1) Flowstone Slide and Avalanche 2) Alladin's Lamp (Apparently when the card's layout was prepared, they did not have a template for "10" in the casting cost, and had to improvise) 3) 1996 World Champion Card (Christopher Rush) 4) Lord of Tresselhorn (Lim Dul the Necromancer as per "The Eternal Ice" by Jeff Grubb) 5) Elder Land Wurm (Trample, cant attack until assigned as a blocker 5/5)