Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
What is Ideal Magic?
Ideal Magic is the perfect Magic: The Gathering experience—a carefully curated format that features only the best mechanics from Magic’s history while completely removing the problematic ones. This is Magic as it was meant to be: pure, balanced, and focused on interactive gameplay.
How is Ideal Magic different from regular Magic?
Best mechanics only: Features beloved mechanics like Kicker, Cycling, Flashback, Adventure, Landfall, and Sagas while completely banning Storm, Dredge, Companion, Day/Night, and other format-warping mechanics. Board-first gameplay: Emphasizes interactive, visible game states with low bookkeeping and no hidden tracking. Perfect balance: Community-curated card pool ensures optimal gameplay without oppressive strategies. Pure MTG experience: Classic Magic foundations with modern paper-friendly design.
Is Ideal Magic really free?
Yes! The format rules and guidelines are completely free. You only pay for actual Magic cards from your preferred vendor, or optionally:
- Paper and ink for printing proxies for playtesting
- Optional premium materials (special cardstock, sleeves)
- Professional printing services for proxy cards
When will cards be available?
Ideal Magic is a format and philosophy rather than new cards. The community is currently curating the perfect card pool from Magic’s existing history, featuring only the best and most balanced cards with our approved mechanics. Join our Discord to participate in the curation process and help build the ultimate Magic experience.
Gameplay Questions
How long does a typical game take?
- Casual games: 20-30 minutes
- Competitive games: 30-45 minutes
- Best-of-three matches: 45-60 minutes
Game length is optimized by removing slow, grindy mechanics while keeping interactive gameplay.
How many players can play?
Ideal Magic supports:
- 2 players (primary competitive format)
- 3-4 players (multiplayer variant rules)
- 6-8 players (team-based formats)
Most formats are designed for 2-player competitive play.
What age group is Ideal Magic designed for?
- Core audience: Ages 13 and up
- Simplified rules: Can be adapted for ages 10+
- Strategic depth: Appeals to adults and competitive players
- Learning curve: Comparable to classic trading card games
Do I need to memorize all the rules before playing?
No! Start with our Quick Start Guide which covers basic gameplay. The Comprehensive Rules are available for reference during games.
Can I play online or digitally?
Ideal Magic can be played on any platform that supports Magic: The Gathering, as it uses existing Magic cards. Our community maintains lists of legal cards for online platforms like Magic Online, Arena (when applicable), and Cockatrice. However, our focus is on optimizing the physical tabletop experience.
Printing and Cards
What do I need to start printing proxies for playtesting?
Essential items:
- Color printer (inkjet or laser)
- Heavy cardstock (280-330 GSM recommended)
- Cutting tools (paper cutter, craft knife, or scissors)
- Card sleeves for protection
See our Proxy Printing Guide for detailed instructions.
How much does it cost to print proxy cards for playtesting?
Estimated costs (60-card deck proxies):
- Budget proxies: $15-25 including paper and ink
- Premium proxies: $25-40 with high-quality materials
- Professional proxy printing: $40-80 depending on quantity and options
What printer should I buy?
Popular recommendations:
- Budget: Canon PIXMA TS9520 or HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e
- Mid-range: Epson EcoTank ET-2850 or Brother HL-L3290CDW
- Premium: Canon PIXMA Pro-200 or Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850
See our Recommended Printers guide for detailed comparisons.
What paper works best for proxy cards?
Recommended specifications:
- Weight: 300-310 GSM (ideal balance)
- Finish: Matte (reduces glare, good for gameplay)
- Brands: Neenah, Hammermill, Georgia-Pacific
Check our Cardstock Guide for comprehensive paper recommendations.
Can I print proxies at a local print shop?
Yes! Many local print shops can produce high-quality proxy cards:
- Bring proxy PDF files optimized for commercial printing
- Specify paper requirements (300 GSM cardstock)
- Request cutting services for professional edges
- Compare costs with home printing for your quantity
How durable are printed proxy cards?
With proper materials and care:
- Unsleeved: 50-100 games before visible wear
- Sleeved: 200+ games with minimal wear
- Premium materials: Nearly commercial durability
Durability depends on cardstock quality, printing method, and handling.
Can I sell printed proxy cards?
Personal use: Print proxies freely for personal playtesting and casual play Commercial use: Not recommended - always direct players to purchase official Magic cards Tournament use: Check with tournament organizers about proxy policies Community events: Proxies encouraged for local playtesting groups
Community and Development
How can I contribute to the format?
Format Curation: Join discussions on Discord
Balance Analysis: Help analyze format health and card interactions Playtesting: Test format changes and provide feedback
Documentation: Help improve guides and rules Website: Contribute to the
Hugo website on GitHub
See our Contributing Guide for complete details.
How are format decisions made?
- Community Discussion: Ideas discussed openly on Discord
- Proposal Phase: Formal proposals created for card legality changes
- Community Vote: Democratic voting process for format direction
- Implementation: Changes made based on community consensus
- Testing: Community playtesting validates format changes
Can I suggest cards for inclusion or exclusion?
Absolutely! Card legality suggestions are welcome through:
- Discord discussions in format channels
- Formal proposals for significant card changes
- Community polls for gauging format health
- Playtesting sessions for validation
Who owns the intellectual property?
- Format Rules: Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 license
- Documentation: Apache License 2.0
- Community contributions: Contributors retain attribution rights
- Magic Cards: Wizards of the Coast owns all Magic: The Gathering intellectual property
How do you prevent power creep in the format?
- Community curation: All card inclusions reviewed by community
- Playtesting requirements: Extensive testing before format changes
- Balance philosophy: Fun and interaction prioritized over raw power
- Regular review: Periodic evaluation of format health
- Democratic process: Community can vote to ban or unban cards
Technical Questions
What file formats are available for proxies?
Proxy resources:
- Legal card lists: Text files for various platforms (MTGO, Cockatrice, etc.)
- Proxy templates: High-resolution templates for custom proxy creation
- Deck lists: Optimized decklists featuring legal cards
Platform formats:
- MTGO files: Deck files for Magic Online
- Cockatrice XML: Files for free online Magic play
- Text lists: Simple card lists for any platform
What about proxy printing quality?
Proxy resources are provided at 300 DPI minimum resolution, ensuring professional print quality at standard card size (63mm × 88mm) for playtesting purposes.
Can I modify proxy templates?
Under Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0:
- Personal modifications: Freely allowed for personal playtesting
- Custom variants: Encouraged for house rules and testing
- Sharing requirements: Modified versions must use same license
- Attribution: Credit original creators
How do I report format issues or problems?
Format balance issues: Discuss on Discord or GitHub Proxy printing problems: Community troubleshooting on Discord Website issues: Report on GitHub Issues Rule clarifications: Ask in Discord rules channel
Is there a mobile app?
Currently no official mobile app exists. The project focuses on:
- Physical gameplay as primary experience
- Web-based resources for rules and format information
- Community tools may be developed by volunteers
- Digital platforms support existing Magic tools (MTGO, Cockatrice, etc.)
Troubleshooting
My printer won’t feed cardstock properly
Common solutions:
- Use manual feed tray instead of main tray
- Reduce batch size to 5-10 sheets maximum
- Check paper thickness settings in printer driver
- Clean paper pickup rollers if feeding inconsistently
- Try different cardstock if problems persist
Cards are printing too small/large
Resolution steps:
- Check scaling settings: Set to “Actual Size” or 100%
- Verify paper size: Match document and printer settings
- Measure test print: Standard cards should be 63mm × 88mm
- Adjust printer settings: Fine-tune scaling if needed
Colors don’t match the digital files
Color matching tips:
- Calibrate your monitor for accurate color reference
- Use printer color profiles specific to your paper
- Print color swatches to test accuracy
- Adjust printer color settings based on results
Where can I get help with specific issues?
Discord community: Real-time help from experienced community members GitHub Issues: Technical problems with files or website Printing channel: Dedicated support for printing questions Rules channel: Gameplay and rule clarification questions
Getting Started
I’m completely new. What should I do first?
Recommended path:
- Read the Quick Start Guide to learn the format rules
- Join our Discord server for community support
- Get legal card lists from our format resources
- Build decks using only legal cards and approved mechanics
- Find local players or introduce friends to the format
What’s the minimum I need to get started?
Basic requirements:
- Format rules: Free download from our website
- Legal cards: Purchase Magic cards or print proxies for testing
- Basic deck: 60-card deck using only legal cards and approved mechanics
- Opponents: Friends or local gaming community
How do I find other players?
Finding players:
- Discord server: Connect with global community
- Local game stores: Ask about Ideal Magic interest
- Gaming meetups: Introduce the game to existing groups
- Online forums: Board game and Magic communities
- Social media: Share your interest and find local players
Still have questions? Join our Discord community where experienced players and developers are happy to help with any questions not covered here.