I'm still on my sabbatical but despite not logging into MD lately the recent disbandment of Necrovion's last alliance and the possible closure of the land have caught my attention. I couldn't help but read more, on the forums and Dst's blog, about what transpired. And I wanted to weigh in on some of the statements I've seen. I don't want to call out anyone specifically, so I'll paraphrase some of the statements that have irritated me:

• "Alliances are just game mechanics. A land is so much more than that."
• "Just because you're following the rules doesn't make it right."

I'd like to try to illustrate the problem I have with these declarations.

The problem I have is this: rules are what make up a game. Yes, MagicDuel is more than a game. But it remains a game at some level. Therefore it's important to think clearly about what role rules and mechanics play.

Rules are not just an incomplete attempt to restrict bad behavior. Rules, like mechanics, are leverage points. Without something to act with or against there is no fun to be had; a game becomes too static or chaotic, in essence meaningless. Rules/mechanics are there to be used, they are tools for making fun. Player A enjoys seizing power by skill and subterfuge. Player B may prefer political process and communication with peers. Player C enjoys exploring the boundaries of the realm. Each of these players makes use of rules/mechanics to reach these goals. Player A investigates game mechanics to understand how to use illusions to control alliances. Player B builds a close group of trusted and likeminded individuals and gets them to vote her into a powerful position. Player C realizes that the best way into the inner scenes of a land is to gain citizenship within that land. Sometimes these goals are in conflict. That's okay. Since no one can actually be hurt by participating in MagicDuel, and since participation is an activity one choses to do, I see no issue with situations that lead to one player gaining something while another loses something. That is how the game is played.

I'll add: this does not mean the game is zero-sum. There is a lot to be gained in a struggle for control, or a battle of force. When this happens and we have the right mindset, great things happen. New ideas occur to us, we receive a greater call to action, we build skills as our creatures do battle, we make new friends as we recruit more allies to our cause…the possibilities are endless.

So dream not of the past, but of a better tomorrow. The sting may be bitter, but this is a golden opportunity for a more dynamic realm. The golden era is ahead, not behind. Don't cling to the past, but strive for excellence. Excelsior!