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Magic: The Gathering

2015-01-26T18:48:44Z

Lifebaka: Undid revision 644284472 by 64.83.206.178 (talk); should definitely be capitalized

{{italic title}}

{{Infobox card game
| title = ''Magic: the Gathering''
| italic title = yes
| image_link = ]
| image_caption = ''Magic: The Gathering'''s card back design
| designer = ]
| publisher = ]
| players = 2 or more
| ages = 13 and up
| random_chance = Some (order of cards drawn, various card abilities)
| website = {{URL |1=http://magic.wizards.com/}}
| bggid = 463
}}
'''''Magic: The Gathering''''' ('''''MTG'''''; also known as '''''Magic''''') is a ] created by ].

First published in 1993 by ], ''Magic'' was the first trading card game produced and it continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players {{As of|2011|lc=yes}}.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/21471.html
| title = 'Magic' Doubled Since 2008
| accessdate = November 10, 2011
| author = ICv2
| date = November 9, 2011
| quote = For the more than 12 million players around the world
}} Note that the "twelve million" figure given here is used by Hasbro; while through their subsidiary Wizards of the Coast they would be in the best position to know through tournament registrations and card sales, they also have an interest in presenting an optimistic estimate to the public.</ref><ref name="UofW">
{{Citation
| last =Kotha
| first =Suresh
| title =Wizards of the Coast
| date = 1998-10-19
| url=http://faculty.bschool.washington.edu/skotha/website/cases%20pdf/Wizards%20of%20the%20coast%201.4.pdf
| accessdate=2013-08-11
}}</ref><ref name="WILLIAMS">
{{Citation
| last =Williams
| first =J. Patrick
| title =Gaming as Culture: Essays on Reality, Identity and Experience in Fantasy Games
| date = 2007-05-02
| url=http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/home/patrick.williams/PDFs/Williams%20-%20CSGs.pdf
| accessdate=2013-08-11
}}</ref><ref name="Magic: The Gathering Fact Sheet">{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/company/downloads/Magic_Fact_Sheet_Aug09.pdf |title=Magic: The Gathering Fact Sheet |year = 2009 | accessdate=June 10, 2013 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast}}</ref><ref name="MILLER">{{Citation
|last=Miller
|first=John Jackson
|title=Scrye Collectible Card Game Checklist & Price Guide
|year=2001
|pages=520
|postscript=.}}</ref><ref name="Magic: The Gathering Fact Sheet"/><ref name="Milliken">{{Citation
|last=Milliken
|first=Matthew E.
|title=Product News
|newspaper=InQuest, The Ultimate Guide to Collectible Card Games
|year=1995
|pages=42
|postscript=.}}</ref><ref name="Magic: The Gathering Fact Sheet"/><ref name="Lang">
{{Citation
| last =Lang
| first =Eric
| title =Design Decisions and Concepts in Licensed Collectible Card Games
| date = 2008-01-27
| url=http://www.electronicbookreview.com/thread/firstperson/adaptable
| accessdate=2014-11-22
}}</ref><ref name="Kaufeld">{{Citation
|last=Kaufeld
|first=John
|title=Trading Card Games For Dummies
|year=2006
|pages=350
|postscript=.}}</ref> ''Magic'' can be played by two or more players each using a deck of 60+ printed cards or a deck of virtual cards through the ]-based '']'' or ].


Each game represents a battle between ] known as "planeswalkers", who employ spells, artifacts, and creatures depicted on individual ''Magic'' cards to defeat their opponents. Although the original concept of the game drew heavily from the motifs of traditional ] ]s such as '']'', the gameplay of ''Magic'' bears little similarity to ] adventure games, while having substantially more cards and more complex rules than many other card games.

An ] and a community of ] has developed, as has a ] for ''Magic'' cards. ''Magic'' cards can be valuable due to their rarity and utility in gameplay. Often the prices of a single card can be anywhere from a few cents to a few hundred dollars, and in some instances thousands of dollars.

==History==
] was a doctoral candidate at ] when he first started to design the game. During his free time he worked with local volunteer playtesters to help refine the game. He had been brought on as an adjunct professor at ] in 1991 when ] (then ] of ] games company) first met with Garfield to discuss Garfield's new game '']''. Adkison saw the game as very promising, but decided that Wizards of the Coast lacked the resources to produce it at that point. He did like Garfield's ideas and mentioned that he was looking for a portable game that could be played in the downtime that frequently occurs at ]s. Garfield returned and presented the general outline of the concept of a trading card game. Adkison immediately saw the potential of this idea and agreed to produce it.<ref name="adkonmtg">{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/41a | title = In The Beginning | accessdate = August 5, 2009 | last = Adkison | first = Peter | authorlink = Peter Adkison | publisher = ] | date = June 1, 2009}}</ref> ''Magic: The Gathering'' underwent a general release on August 5, 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/productarticle.aspx?x=mtg_tcg_abu_productinfo |title=Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited Editions |year = 2008 | accessdate=April 18, 2009 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast}}</ref>

While the game was simply called ''Magic'' through most of playtesting, when the game had to be officially named a lawyer informed them that ''Magic'' was too generic to be trademarked. ''Mana Clash'' was instead chosen to be the name used in the first solicitation of the game, however, everybody involved with the game continued to refer to it as ''Magic''. After further consultation with the lawyer, it was decided to rename the game ''Magic: The Gathering'', thus enabling the name to be trademarked.<ref name = "25things">{{cite web| title = 25 Random Things about Magic | last = Rosewater | first = Mark | authorlink = Mark Rosewater | publisher = ] | date = February 16, 2009 | accessdate = August 5, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/mm/26}}</ref>

A ] was granted to Wizards of the Coast in 1997 for "a novel method of game play and game components that in one embodiment are in the form of trading cards" that includes claims covering games whose rules include many of ''Magic'''s elements in combination, including concepts such as changing orientation of a game component to indicate use (referred to in the ''Magic'' and '']'' rules as "tapping") and constructing a deck by selecting cards from a larger pool.<ref>{{cite patent|US|5662332}}</ref> The patent has aroused criticism from some observers, who believe some of its claims to be invalid.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/1998-01-09/519374/ | title = The Year in Gaming | accessdate = August 27, 2014 | last = Varney | first = Allen | publisher = ] | date = Jan 9, 1998 }}</ref> In 2003, the patent was an element of a larger legal dispute between Wizards of the Coast and ], regarding trade secrets related to Nintendo's '']''. The legal action was settled out of court, and its terms were not disclosed.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20031229005065/en/Pokemon-USA-Wizards-Coast-Resolve-Dispute | title = Pokemon USA, Inc. and Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Resolve Dispute | accessdate = September 21, 2007
| publisher = ] | date = December 29, 2003 }}</ref>

''Magic'' was an immediate success for Wizards of the Coast. Early on they were even reluctant to advertise the game because they were unable to keep pace with existing demand.<ref name="tps-syracuse">{{Cite news|first=Charley |last=Hannagan |coauthors= |title=Magic Playing Cards Conjure Up Big Business – The Cards Turn Player Into Sorcerers Who Cast Spells And Control Creatures |work=The Post-Standard (Syracuse) |page=A1 |date=March 31, 1994 |accessdate=10 August 2009}}</ref> Initially ''Magic'' attracted many '']'' players,<ref name="tps-syracuse"/> but the following included all types of other people as well.<ref name = "npn94">{{Cite news|first=Glenn |last=Gaslin |coauthors= |title=Magic: The Gathering |work=Newport News |page=G1 |date=October 23, 1994 |accessdate=August 10, 2009}}</ref> The success of the game quickly led to the creation of similar games by other companies as well as Wizards of the Coast themselves. Companion Games produced the ] (the first science fiction trading card game), which allowed players to pay for and design their own promotional cards, while ] created the '']'' game, which eventually included five editions in six languages, plus twelve expansion sets. Wizards of the Coast produced '']'' (now called ''Vampire: The Eternal Struggle''), a game about modern-day vampires. Other similar games included trading card games based on '']'' and '']''.<ref name = "npn94"/>

The success of the initial edition prompted a reissue later in 1993, along with expansions to the game. '']'' was released as the first ] in December 1993. New expansions and revisions of the base game ("Core Sets") have since been released on a regular basis, amounting to four releases a year. By the end of 1994, the game had printed over a billion cards.<ref name="CHALK">
{{Citation
| last =Chalk
| first =Titus
| title =20 Years Of Magic: The Gathering, A Game That Changed The World
| date = 2013-07-31
| url=http://sabotagetimes.com/life/20-years-of-magic-the-gathering-a-game-that-changed-the-world/
| accessdate=2013-08-11
}}</ref> Until the release of '']'' in 1996 expansions were released on an irregular basis. Beginning in 2009 one revision of the core set and three expansions are released every year. While the essence of the game has always stayed the same, the rules of ''Magic'' have undergone three major revisions with the release of the '']'' in 1994, ] in 1999, and '']'' in July 2009.<ref name="rules2010">{{cite web| title = ''Magic 2010'' Rules Chages | publisher = ] | date = June 10, 2009 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/42a}}</ref> With the release of the '']'' in 2003, ''Magic'' also received a major visual redesign.

In 1996, Wizards of the Coast established the "]",<ref name="PTHoF">{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/feature/268 | title = The ''Magic'' Pro Tour Hall of Fame | accessdate = September 30, 2006 | last = Galvin | first = Chris | publisher = ] | date = June 6, 2005}}</ref> a circuit of tournaments where players can compete for sizeable cash prizes over the course of a single weekend-long tournament. In 2009 the top prize at a single tournament was ]40,000.<ref name="prize">{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=protour/default/prizes | title = 2009 Pro Tour Prize Structures | year = 2009 | accessdate = April 18, 2009 | publisher = ]}}</ref> Sanctioned through ], the tournaments added an element of prestige to the game by virtue of the cash payouts and media coverage from within the community. For a brief period of time, ] televised the tournaments.<ref name="ESPN2">{{cite web| url = http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/neglect-and-reversion/ | title = Neglect and Reversion | year = 2009 | accessdate = August 12, 2013 | publisher = The Hardball Times}}</ref>

While unofficial methods of online play existed previously,<ref group="note">Notably, the ] program. See ].</ref> '']'' ("MTGO" or "Modo"), an official online version of the game, was released in 2002. A new, updated version of ''Magic Online'' was released in April 2008.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic Online III Launch Blog | publisher = ] | date = April 16, 2008 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Article.aspx?x=magic/magiconline/iiilaunchblog0408}}</ref>

In January 2014, ] announced a franchise film deal with ] for ''Magic: The Gathering'', saying that they wanted "to launch a massive franchise on the scale of '']'' and '']''." ] is serving as writer and producer for the project.<ref>Kit, Borys. (January 13, 2014). . Hollywood Reporter. Accessed on January 14, 2014.</ref> In June 2014, Fox hired screenwriter ] to write the script for the film.<ref>{{cite news|title=‘Game Of Thrones’ Scribe Bryan Cogman Takes On ‘Magic The Gathering’ For Fox|url=http://www.deadline.com/2014/06/game-of-thrones-scribe-bryan-cogman-takes-on-magic-the-gathering-for-fox/|accessdate=18 June 2014|publisher=deadline.com|date=12 June 2014}}</ref>

==Reception==
Some consider the game to be very addictive,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magic-league.com/article/376/confessions_of_an_mtgo_addict.html |title=Confessions of an MTGO Addict – Magic: the Gathering article |publisher=Magic-league.com |date= |accessdate=January 8, 2012}}</ref> and refer to the game as "cardboard crack".<ref name="usatoday">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2004-06-20-magic_x.htm |title=Magic the Gathering casts its spell |author=Slavin, Barbara |publisher=USA Today |date=June 20, 2004 |accessdate=January 8, 2012 }}</ref> Some players have spent large amounts of money acquiring cards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/misc/1950_I_Wont_Lose_My_Second_Wife_Quitting_Magic.html |title=I Won't Lose My Second Wife: Quitting Magic, by Jason Alam – a Magic: the Gathering Miscellaneous Article |publisher=Starcitygames.com |date=September 18, 2001 |accessdate=January 8, 2012}}</ref>

A 2004 article in '']'' suggested that playing ''Magic'' might help improve the social and mental skills of some of the players. The article interviewed players' parents who believe that the game, similar to sports, teaches children how to more gracefully win and lose. ''Magic'' also contains a great amount of strategy and vocabulary that children may not be exposed to on a regular basis. Parents also claimed that playing ''Magic'' helped keep their children out of trouble, such as using illegal drugs or joining criminal gangs.<ref name="usatoday"/> In addition, until 2007, some of the better players had opportunities to compete for a small number of scholarships.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/events/mss |title=Magic Scholarship Series : Daily MTG : Magic: The Gathering |publisher=Wizards.com |date= |accessdate=June 22, 2010}}</ref>

==Awards==
* 1994: ] winner<ref name = "wotcawards">{{cite web| title = Awards | publisher = ] | year = 2006 | accessdate = August 5, 2009 | url = http://ww2.wizards.com/Company/Awards/default.aspx}}</ref>
* 1994: ] for ''Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Board game of 1993'' and ''Best Graphic Presentation of a Board game of 1993''<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1993 | title=Origins Award Winners (1993)| publisher=Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design| accessdate=April 18, 2009 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080507063628/http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1993 |archivedate = May 7, 2008}}</ref>
* 1994: Origins Award for the '']'' expansion as ''Best Game Accessory''<ref name = "wotcawards"/>
* 1995: ] special award for new game mechanics<ref>{{cite web| title = Preisträger | publisher = Friedhelm Merz Verlag | accessdate = March 26, 2012 | url = http://www.deutscherspielepreis.de/p060.php4 | language = German}}</ref>
* 1995: Italian Gaming Society ''Gioco dell'Anno'' award winner<ref name = "wotcawards"/>
* 1996: ] award for "Best New Game Concept and Genre Introduced in France"<ref name = "wotcawards"/>
* 1997: '']'' Fan Award for Best CCG Expansion for the '']'' expansion<ref name = "wotcawards"/>
* 1998: Origins Award for the ] expansion as ''Collectible Card Game Expansion of the Year''<ref name="1998 Origins Awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1998/list-of-winners| title=Origins Award Winners (1998)| publisher=Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design| accessdate=November 1, 2007 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071031072248/http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1998/list-of-winners |archivedate = October 31, 2007}}</ref>
* 1999: Inducted alongside Richard Garfield into the ]<ref name="1998 Origins Awards"/>
* 2003: ] selected ''Magic'' for its ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesmagazine-online.com/gameslinks/hallofame.html| title=GAMES Hall of Fame| publisher=''GAMES'' Magazine| accessdate=April 9, 2010}}</ref>
* 2005: Origins Award for the ] expansion as ''Collectible Card Game Expansion of the Year''<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/2005 | title=Origins Award Winners (2005)| publisher=Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design| accessdate=March 26, 2012 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080516075856/http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/2005 |archivedate = May 7, 2008}}</ref>
* 2009: Origins Award for the ] expansion as ''Collectible Card Game Expansion of the Year''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://critical-hits.com/2009/06/27/origins-awards-2009| title=Origins Awards 2009| last = Chalker | first = Dave | publisher=critical-hits.com| accessdate=June 14, 2010}}</ref>
* 2012: Origins Award for the ] expansion as ''Collectible Card Game Expansion of the Year''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gama.org/OriginsAwards/tabid/2720/Default.aspx| title=The 38th Annual Origins Awards Winners|publisher=The Game Manufacturers Association| accessdate=June 16, 2012}}</ref>

In addition several individuals including ] and ] won personal awards for their contributions to ''Magic''.<ref name = "wotcawards"/>

==Gameplay==
{{Main|Magic: The Gathering rules}}

In a game of ''Magic'', two or more players are engaged in a battle as powerful wizards called "planeswalkers". A player starts the game with twenty "life points" and loses when he or she is reduced to zero. Players lose life when they are dealt "damage" by being attacked with summoned creatures or when spells or other cards cause them to lose life directly. A player can also lose if he or she must draw from an empty deck (called the "library" during the game). In addition, some cards specify other ways to win or lose the game.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules | pages = 7–8 | publisher = ] | date = July 11, 2009 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20090708.pdf}}</ref>

Some cards have effects that override normal game rules. Garfield has stated that two major influences in his creation of ''Magic: the Gathering'' were the games '']'',<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=OjIYWtqWxtAC&pg=PA191&lpg=PA191&dq=%22most+influential+ancestor+is+a+game+for+which+I+have+no+end+of+respect%22&source=bl&ots=AFI080YYUT&sig=v4BmK1lg_ARIK2SqkuOarOJIjGQ&hl=en&ei=unJYTPycKtHUngfTrtCtCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22most%20influential%20ancestor%20is%20a%20game%20for%20which%20I%20have%20no%20end%20of%20respect%22&f=false|title=Game design workshop: a playcentric approach to creating innovative games|publisher=Books.google.com |date= |accessdate=January 8, 2012}}</ref> which first used the concept that normal rules could sometimes be overridden, and '']''. The "Golden Rules of ''Magic''" state that "Whenever a card's text directly contradicts the rules, the card takes precedence."<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules | pages = 5–6 | publisher = ] |date = July 11, 2009 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url =http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20090708.pdf}}</ref> This allows Wizards of the Coast great flexibility in creating cards, but can cause problems when attempting to reconcile a card with the rules (or two cards with each other). The ''Comprehensive Rules'', a detailed rulebook, exists to clarify these conflicts.<ref name="rulebook">{{cite web| url =http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Article.aspx?x=magic/rules | title = Magic: The Gathering Rules | publisher = ] | date = February 1, 2009 | accessdate = September 24, 2009}} This website contains a link to the most up-to-date version of the Comprehensive Rules.</ref>

Players begin the game by shuffling their decks and then drawing seven cards.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules | page = 7 | publisher = ] | date = July 11, 2009 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20090708.pdf}}</ref> Players draw one card at the beginning of each of their turns, except the first player on their first turn. Players alternate turns consisting of several phases. Most cards can only be played during the main phase of the player's own turn. The player whose turn it is always has the first chance to play cards. At the end of a player's turn, if that player has more than seven cards in hand, the player discards until their hand contains seven cards. The contents of other players' decks and hands are not usually known to players.

The two basic kinds of cards in ''Magic'' are "spells" and "lands". Lands provide "]", or magical energy, which is used as magical fuel when the player attempts to cast spells. Players may only play one land per turn. More powerful spells cost more mana, so as the game progresses more mana becomes available, and the quantity and relative power of the spells played tends to increase. Some spells also require the payment of additional resources, such as cards in play or life points. Spells come in several varieties: "sorceries" and "instants" have a single, one-time effect before they go to the "graveyard" (discard pile); "enchantments" and "artifacts" are "permanents" that remain in play after being cast to provide a lasting magical effect; "creature" spells (also a type of permanent) summon creatures that can attack and damage an opponent. The set ''Lorwyn'' introduced the new "planeswalker" card type, which represent powerful allies who fight with their own magic abilities depending on their loyalty to the player who summoned them. Spells can be of more than one type.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules | pages = 35–40 | publisher = ] | date = July 11, 2009 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20090708.pdf}}</ref>

===Deck construction===
{{See also|Magic: The Gathering deck types}}

Each player needs a deck to play a game of ''Magic''. In most ], decks are required to be a minimum of sixty cards, with no upper limit.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules | page = 5 | publisher = ] | date = July 11, 2009 | accessdate = May 4, 2010| url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20090708.pdf}}</ref> Players may use no more than four copies of any named card, with the exception of "basic lands", which act as a standard resource in ''Magic'', and some specific cards that state otherwise.<ref>{{cite web|title=Standard Format Deck Construction|url=http://www.mtgoacademy.com/deckbuilding-rules-and-banned-restricted-lists/|publisher=mtgoacademy|accessdate=25 July 2013}}</ref> In "]" tournament formats, where a small number of cards are opened for play from booster packs or tournament packs, a minimum deck size of forty cards is used. Depending on the type of play, some cards have been "restricted" (the card is limited to a single copy per deck) or "banned" (the card is no longer legal for tournament play).<ref name="TournamentRules">{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Tournament Rules | publisher = ] | date = July 1, 2009 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/dci/downloads/MTG_MTR_1Jul09_EN.pdf}}</ref> These limitations are usually for balance of power reasons, but have been occasionally made because of gameplay mechanics.<ref>{{cite web| title = Crafting a Vintage | publisher = ] | date = July 26, 2009 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | last = LaPille | first = Tom | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/ld/44}}</ref>

Deck building requires a lot of strategy as players must choose among thousands of cards which they want to play. This requires players to evaluate the power of their cards, as well as the possible synergies between them, and their possible interactions with the cards they expect to play against (this "metagame" can vary in different locations or time periods).<ref>{{cite web| title = A Beginners Guide to Magic the Gathering | publisher = Kim E Lumbard | year = 2003 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~kel/MTG/}}</ref> The choice of cards is usually narrowed by the player deciding which colors they want to include in the deck. This decision is a key part of creating a deck. In general, reducing the number of colors used increases the consistency of play and the ] of drawing the lands needed to cast one's spells, at the expense of restricting the range of tactics available to the player.<ref>{{cite web|title=Magic The Gathering Tips|url=http://www.oshkoshmagic.com/magic/index.php/2011/04/05/choosing-colors-for-your-magic-the-gathering-deck/|publisher=oshkoshmagic|accessdate=25 July 2013}}</ref>

====Psychographic profiles====
Despite all the different cards and ways to put decks together based on those, players can be divided into three "psychographic profiles", or reasons and methods of playing, with blends being quite common.<ref name=narcissist>{{cite web | title=Johnny/Spike/Timmy: Psychography of a Narcissist | url=http://www.mtgbrodeals.com/2013/03/13/johnnyspiketimmy-psychography-of-a-narcissist/ | author=Dr. Jeebus | date=March 13, 2013 | accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref> ] originally came up with these as a way of defining the personalities of players.<ref name=TJSshards>{{cite web | title=Timmy, Johnny and Spike weigh in on Shards | url=http://www.gatheringmagic.com/timmy-johnny-and-spike-weigh-in-on-shards/ | author=Trick Jarrett | date=June 4, 2008 | publisher=CoolStuffInc.com LLC | accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name=TRAITS>{{cite web | title=Timmy, Johnny, and Spike Revisited | url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/mr220b | author=Mark Rosewater | date=March 20, 2006 | publisher=Wizards of the Coast | accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name=BLOGATOGtraits>{{cite web | title=Blogatog | url=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/34474458675/i-know-you-hold-that-the-only-real-psychographics-are | author=Mark Rosewater | date=October 28, 2012 | publisher=Mark Rosewater | accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
*'''Timmy''': Timmy is the player who wants to experience the game for what it is, not necessarily just to win, often playing with big creatures and spells in a straightforward style.<ref name=TJSshards/> As a result, many Timmies are considered to be young and inexperienced, but this isn't necessarily true.<ref name=4E>{{cite web | title=Running 4E for Your Magic Buddies: Timmy, Johnny, Spike, Vorthos, and Melvin | url=https://tsuyoshikentsu.wordpress.com/2010/05/27/running-4e-for-your-magic-buddies-timmy-johnny-spike-vorthos-and-melvin/ | date=May 27, 2010 | accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
*'''Johnny''': Johnny is the player who enjoys the interactions between the cards.<ref name=TJSshards/> His deck is often an expression of himself, and deckbuilding is often more important than the actual gameplay.<ref name=4E/>
*'''Spike''': Spike is the player who wants to win no matter what.<ref name=TJSshards/> He tends to play to prove how good he is at ''Magic''<ref name=4E/> and is generally the most competitive of the three.<ref name=TJSshards/>

In addition, there are two "card appreciators" who can be classified as psychographic profiles: Vorthos and Melvin.<ref name=vorthos-melvin>{{cite web | title=Vorthos-Melvin Blend: Planeswalkers | url=http://www.gatheringmagic.com/devonrule-053112-vorthos-melvin-blend-planeswalkers/ | author=Devon Rule | date=May 31, 2012 | publisher=CoolStuffInc.com LLC | accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref> These two aren't exclusive of each other, in fact, they're simply the extreme ends of a similar spectrum to the Timmy/Johnny/Spike one above.<ref name=4E/><ref name=commandercast>{{cite web | title=Command // Conquer Editorial – Appreciation for Man and Melvin | url=http://www.commandercast.com/cac01 | author=William | date=October 7, 2013 | publisher=Commandercast | accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref> Vorthos is the person (not necessarily player) who enjoys the story surrounding the cards, and will often pick apart the art and flavor.<ref name=vorthos-melvin/> Melvin, on the other hand, enjoys the mechanics of the cards and how they operate.<ref name=TRAITS/><ref name=commandercast/>

===Colors of ''Magic''===
]
Most spells come in one of five colors.<ref>An article on the consideration of "purple" for the set '']'' is at .</ref> The colors can be seen on the back of the cards, in a ]al design, called the "Color Wheel" or "Color Pie". Clockwise from the top, they are: white, blue, black, red, and green, respectively abbreviated WUBRG (often pronounced "woo-berg" by players and designers). ("U" for "blue" comes from the fact that the mana symbols were typeset by their initials, and "B" was used for black. These same letter codes were used when Wizards released official card lists.)<ref>{{cite web|last=Howell|first=Dave|title=Collector's Card Checklist|url=http://howell.seattle.wa.us/games/MtG/MtGCardCodes.html|accessdate=2 October 2012}}</ref> To play a spell of a given color, at least one mana of that color is required. This mana is normally generated by a basic land: plains for white, island for blue, swamp for black, mountain for red, and forest for green. The balances and distinctions among the five colors form one of the defining aspects of the game. Each color has strengths and weaknesses based on the "style" of magic it represents.<ref name="marocolor">A series of articles written by ] describing each color in depth (as well as multicolor cards, artifact or colorless cards, and color-hybrid cards) can be found at the game's official site at : , , , , , , and .</ref>

* '''White''' is the color of order, equality, righteousness, healing, law, community, peace, absolutism/totalitarianism, and light. White's strengths are a roster of small creatures that are strong collectively; protecting those creatures with enchantments; gaining life; preventing damage to creatures or players; imposing restrictions on players; reducing the capabilities of opposing creatures, and powerful spells that "equalize" the playing field by destroying all cards of a given type. White creatures are known for their "]" from various other colors or even types of card, rendering them nearly impervious to harm from those things. Numerous white creatures also have "]", "]", and "]". White's weaknesses include a focus on creatures, its unwillingness to simply kill creatures outright (instead hobbling them with restrictions that can be undone), and the fact that many of its most powerful spells affect all players equally—including the casting player.<ref name="marocolor"/>{{Verify source|date=November 2014}}
* '''Blue''' is the color of intellect, reason, illusion, logic, knowledge, manipulation, and trickery, as well as the classical elements of ] and ]. Blue's cards are best at letting a player draw additional cards; permanently taking control of an opponent's cards; returning cards to their owner's hand; making cards go directly from a player's deck to their graveyard; and countering spells, causing them to be discarded and the mana used to pay them wasted. Blue's creatures tend to be weaker than creatures of other colors, but commonly have abilities and traits which make them difficult to damage or block, particularly "]" and to a lesser extent "]" or "]". Blue's weaknesses include having trouble permanently dealing with spells that have already been played, the reactive nature of most of its spells, and a small (and expensive) roster of creatures.<ref name="marocolor"/>{{Verify source|date=November 2014}}
* '''Black''' is the color of power, ambition, greed, death, illness, corruption, selfishness, amorality, and sacrifice; it is not necessarily ], though many of its cards refer directly or indirectly to this concept. Black cards are best at destroying creatures, forcing players to discard cards from their hand, making players lose life, and returning creatures from the players' graveyards. Furthermore, because Black seeks to win at all costs, it has limited access to many abilities or effects that are normally available only to one of the other colors; but these abilities often require large sacrifices of life totals, creatures, cards in hand, cards in library, and other difficult-to-replace resources. Black is known for having creatures with the ability "]", making them difficult to block. Lesser black abilities include "]" and "]".<ref name="marocolor"/>{{Verify source|date=November 2014}} Black's main weaknesses are an almost complete inability to deal with enchantments and artifacts, its tendency to hurt itself almost as badly as it hurts the opponent, and difficulties in removing other Black creatures.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/cotd/0706
| title = Card of the Day — July, 2006
| publisher = ]
| accessdate = September 30, 2006
| date = July 27, 2006
| quote = Black removal spells like Terror or Dark Banishing that could take out large-sized creatures historically had the drawback of not being able to affect other black creatures, and sometimes not artifact creatures either. Since then this drawback has been tweaked in many ways that no longer limit the cards to just non-black or non-artifact.}}</ref>
* '''Red''' is the color of freedom, chaos, passion, creativity, impulse, fury, warfare, ], ], and the non-living geological aspects of ].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/askwizards/0206#1
| title = Ask Wizards
| accessdate = September 26, 2006
| author = Brady Dommermuth
| publisher = ]
| date = February 1, 2006
| quote = The particular issue of red's connection to earth and stone has another aspect as well, though. Red has and will continue to have earth/stone-themed cards. But green wants to be connected to earth as well, in the soil sense. So red gives up a few of its 'earth' cards for green's sake.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}
}}
</ref> Red's strengths include destroying opposing lands and artifacts, sacrificing permanent resources for temporary but great power, and playing spells that deal "direct damage" to creatures or players, usually via applications of fire. Red has a wide array of creatures, but with the exception of extremely powerful dragons, most are fast and weak, or with low toughness, rendering them easier to destroy. Some of Red's cards can turn against or hurt their owner in return for being more powerful for their cost. Red also shares the trickery theme with Blue and can temporarily steal opponents' creatures or divert spells, although generally not permanently. Many of Red's most famous creatures have the "]" trait, which lets them attack and use many abilities as soon as they enter the battlefield. The ability to raise a creature's power temporarily is also common among Red's creatures. Red's weaknesses include its inability to destroy enchantments, the self-destructive nature of many of its spells, and the way in which it trades early-game speed at the cost of late-game staying power. Red also has the vast majority of cards that involve random chance.<ref name="marocolor"/>{{Verify source|date=November 2014}}
* '''Green''' is the color of life, nature, reality, evolution/adaptability, ecology, interdependence, instinct, and indulgence. Green's strengths are on the battlefield, usually winning through combat with creatures, of which it has a broad menagerie. These tend to be strong for their cost and have abilities that make them more survivable like ] and ]. Green creatures also often have "]", an ability which allows them to deal attack damage to an opponent if blocked by a weaker creature. Many Green spells bolster its creatures' power, either permanently or temporarily. Green spells often focus on growth, such as regaining life points, amassing large quantities of green mana, and getting land cards faster, thus allowing the player more resources and the capacity to get strong creatures on the battlefield faster. Green's weakness is an inability to defend against indirect attacks. It has few cards that allow it to counterattack against the hand, library, or graveyard; Green also has few defenses against creatures that bypass its own powerful creatures when attacking, via abilities like ] or ]. However, some Green cards can be reliable as a counter against ] creatures and spells. <ref name="marocolor"/>{{Verify source|date=November 2014}}

The colors adjacent to each other on the pentagon are "allied" and often have similar, complementary abilities. For example, Blue has a relatively large number of flying creatures, as do White and Black, which are next to it. The two non-adjacent colors to a particular color are "enemy" colors, and are thematically opposed. For instance, Red tends to be very aggressive, while White and Blue are often more defensive in nature. The Research and Development (R&D) team at Wizards of the Coast aims to balance power and abilities among the five colors by using the "Color Pie" to differentiate the strengths and weaknesses of each.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/mr85
| title = The Value of Pie
| accessdate = September 30, 2006
| publisher = ]
| author = Mark Rosewater
| authorlink = Mark Rosewater
| date = August 18, 2003}}</ref> This guideline lays out the capabilities, themes, and mechanics of each color and allows for every color to have its own distinct attributes and gameplay. The Color Pie is used to ensure new cards are thematically in the correct color and do not infringe on the territory of other colors.
* '''Multi-color''' cards were introduced in the '']'' set and typically use a gold frame to distinguish them from mono-color cards. These cards require mana from two or more different colors to be played and count as belonging to each of the colors used to play them. Multi-color cards typically combine the philosophy and mechanics of all the colors used in the spell's cost, and tend to be proportionally more powerful compared to single-color or hybrid cards, as requiring multiple colors of mana makes them harder to cast. More recently, two-color "hybrid" cards were introduced in the '']'' set, and appeared extensively throughout the '']'' and '']'' sets. Hybrid cards are distinguished by a ] frame with those two colors, and can be paid with either of the card's colors; for instance, a card with two hybrid-red/white icons can be cast using two red mana, two white mana, or one of each. Several sets have made multi-colored cards a theme, such as both Ravnica sets and Shards of Alara. Core sets do not typically include multi-color cards in them, although the Core 2013 set was the first to do so.
* '''Colorless''' cards belong to no color, and most often appear in the form of ] and ]. Unlike the five colors, Colorless cards do not have a specific personality or style of play. Sometimes, colorless cards will imitate the mechanics of a particular color, though in a less-efficient manner than a similar colored card. Often colorless cards are linked to one or more colors via their abilities, through story references, or through flavor text on the cards themselves. With the '']'' expansion, however, colorless cards that are neither artifacts nor lands have been introduced for the first time in larger quantities.

===Luck vs. skill===
''Magic'', like many other games, combines chance and skill. One frequent complaint about the game involves the notion that there is too much luck involved, especially concerning possessing too many or too few lands.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic Jargon | publisher = ] | last = Knutson | first = Ted | date = September 9, 2006 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/academy/9}}</ref> Early in the game especially, too many or too few lands could ruin a player's chance at victory without the player having made a mistake. This in-game statistical variance can be minimized by proper deck construction, as an appropriate land count can reduce mana problems. The standard land count in most 60-card decks ranges from 19 to 26. In '']'', the land count is automatically adjusted to 40% of the total deck size. The use of special spells or lands and the relative costs of the main spells within the deck can substantially increase or decrease the number of lands required. Other cards can minimize the player's dependence on Lands for mana.<ref>{{cite web| title = Mmmmmmmmmana...Five Rules For Avoiding Mana-Screw | publisher = starcitygames.com | last = Moldenhauer-Salazar | first = Jay | date = March 23, 2000 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/article/890.html}}</ref>

A "]" rule was later introduced into the game, first informally in casual play and then in the official game rules. The modern "Paris mulligan" allows players to shuffle an unsatisfactory opening hand back into the deck at the start of the game, draw a new hand with one fewer card, and repeat until satisfied. In multiplayer, a player may take one mulligan without penalty, while subsequent mulligans will still cost one card (a rule known as "Partial Paris mulligan").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/mr112b |title=Starting Over |accessdate=February 11, 2007 |last=Rosewater |first=Mark |authorlink=Mark Rosewater | publisher = ] | date=February 23, 2004}}</ref> The original mulligan allowed a player a single redraw of seven new cards if that player's initial hand contained seven or zero lands. A variation of this rule called a "forced mulligan" is still used in some casual play circles and in multiplayer formats on ''Magic Online'', and allows a single "free" redraw of seven new cards if a player's initial hand contains seven, six, one or zero lands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/bs58 |title=Nephilim Are Prismatastic! |accessdate=February 11, 2007 | publisher = ] | last=Smith |first=Bennie |date=April 27, 2006}} This article explains this mulligan rule in the Prismatic format, where it is called a "big deck" mulligan. The rule was added to all multiplayer ''Magic Online'' later, as explained in this .</ref>

Confessing his love for games combining both luck and skill, ''Magic'' creator Richard Garfield admitted its influence in his design of ''Magic''. In addressing the complaint about luck influencing a game, Dr. Garfield points out that new and casual players tend to appreciate luck as a leveling field, in which a random effect increases their chances of winning. Meanwhile, a player with higher skills appreciates a game with less chance, as the higher degree of control increases their chances of winning. According to Dr. Garfield, ''Magic'' has and would likely continue decreasing its degree of luck as the game matured.<ref name="Garfieldcruise">{{cite video
| people = Garfield, Richard
|authorlink=Richard Garfield
| year = 2012
| title = Magic TV: Extra – Dr. Richard Garfield on “Luck Versus Skill” (Magic Cruise 2012)
| url = http://www.channelfireball.com/home/magic-tv-extra-dr-richard-garfield-on-luck-versus-skill-magic-cruise-2012/
| format = Video
| medium = Lecture
| trans_title =
| publisher = www.channelfireball.com
| location = Seattle to Alaska cruise
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = July 14, 2012
| time = July 10, 2012
| id =
| isbn =
| oclc =
| quote =
| ref =
}}</ref> The "Mulligan rule", as well as card design, past vs. present, are good examples of this trend. He feels that this is a universal trend for maturing games. Dr. Garfield explained using chess as an example, that unlike modern chess, in predecessors, players would use dice to determine which chess piece to move.<ref name="Garfieldcruise" />

===Gambling===
The original set of rules prescribed that all games were to be played for ]. Garfield was partly inspired by the game of ] and wanted folks to play with the cards rather than collect them.<ref name="OWENS">{{Citation
| last =Owens
| first =Thomas S.
| title =Inside Collectible Card Games
| year =1996
| pages =142
| postscript =.
}}</ref> For Magic, each player removed a card at random from the deck they wished to play with and the two cards would be set aside as the ante. At the end of the match, the winner would take and keep both cards.<ref name="orgrb">{{cite web| title = The Original Magic Rulebook | publisher = ] | date = December 25, 2004 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/jc20}}</ref> Early sets included a few cards with rules designed to interact with this ] aspect, allowing replacements of cards up for ante, adding more cards to the ante, or even permanently trading cards in play (such as {{mtgcard|Demonic Attorney}}, which required an opponent to ante another card or forfeit the match). The cards came with the instruction that they should be removed from the deck in a game that was not being played for ante.

The ante concept became controversial because many regions had restrictions on ]. The rule was later made optional because of these restrictions and because of players' reluctance to possibly lose a card that they owned.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules | page = 45 | publisher = ] | date = July 11, 2009 | accessdate = April 9, 2010 | url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20090708.pdf}}</ref> The gambling rule is forbidden at sanctioned events and is now mostly a relic of the past, though it still sees occasional usage in friendly games as well as the "five color" format.<ref>{{cite web| title = 5-Color Magic | publisher = 5-color.com | date = | accessdate = April 9, 2010 | url = http://www.5-color.com}}</ref> The last card to mention ante was printed in the 1995 expansion set '']''.

===Variant rules===
{{Main|Magic: The Gathering formats}}

While the primary method of ''Magic'' play is one-on-one using standard deck construction rules, there are many alternative formats for playing the game. The most popular alternatives describe ways of playing with more than two players (with teams or free-for-all) or change the rules about how decks can be built.

==Organized play==
], ] competed for an invitation to a professional tournament in ], ].]]
{{Main|DCI (Wizards of the Coast)|l1=The DCI}}

''Magic'' ]s regularly occur in gaming stores and other venues. Larger tournaments with hundreds of competitors from around the globe sponsored by Wizards of the Coast are arranged many times every year, with substantial cash prizes for the top finishers.<ref name="prize" /> A number of websites report on tournament news, give complete lists for the most currently popular decks, and feature articles on current issues of debate about the game. ], which is owned and operated by ], is the organizing body for sanctioned ''Magic'' events. The two major categories of tournament play are "Constructed" and "Limited".

===Constructed===
In "]" tournaments, each player arrives with a pre-built deck, which must have a minimum of sixty cards and follow other deck construction rules. The deck may also have up to a fifteen card ], which allows players to modify their deck: following the first game of each match, each player is permitted to replace any number of cards in his or her deck with any number of cards from his or her sideboard. The original deck configuration is restored before the start of the next match. Normally the first player to win two games is the winner of the match.<ref name="TournamentRules"/>

Different formats of Constructed ''Magic'' exist, each allowing different cards. The DCI maintains a "Banned and Restricted List" for each format; players may not use banned cards at all, and restricted cards are limited to one copy per deck.<ref name="TournamentRules"/> The DCI bans cards that it determines are damaging the health of a format; it seeks to use this remedy as infrequently as possible, and only a handful of cards have been banned in recent years. Currently, the only format with a Restricted List is Vintage.
* '''Block Constructed''' formats are defined by the cycle of three sets of cards in a given block. For example, the ''Ravnica'' block format consists of '']'', '']'', and '']''. Only cards that were printed in one of the sets in the appropriate block can be used in these formats.<ref name="TournamentRules"/>
* '''Standard''', formerly known as Type 2, contains the current block, the last completed block, and the most recent core set (except in the intervening months between the core set release in summer and rotation in October, wherein the most recent core set and previous core set are both Standard legal). The Standard card pool undergoes a "rotation" each year in October, when the first set of the next block is released. Currently the Standard card pool consists of the '']'' block, the '']'' block, and '']''.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=judge/resources/sfrstandard | title = Standard Format Deck Construction| accessdate = October 3, 2013 | publisher = Wizards | author = unknown | date = September 27, 2013}}</ref>

* '''Extended''' was a format where all ''Magic'' blocks and core sets issued during the last four years are legal.<ref group = "note">Prior to July 15, 2010, Extended format was different in the fact that Extended was the past seven years were legal instead of four.</ref> As in Standard, the pool rotates once a year in October.<ref group = "note">Prior to March 1, 2008, Extended format rotation system was different and more complicated: three Magic blocks rotated out every three years.</ref> On October 8, 2013, this format was retired and is no longer an official format.<ref>. Wizards.com (2013-07-22). Retrieved on 2013-11-11.</ref>
* '''Modern''' is a format that was first played at the Magic Online 2011 Community Cup, a response to players' desire for a non-rotating format that is more accessible to newer players. This format was originally championed by Gavin Verhey and the “Overextended” community, with Wizards of the Coast inducting Modern as a legal format on August 12, 2011, and saw its first paper magic play at Pro Tour Philadelphia 2011.<ref>. Wizards.com (2011-08-12). Retrieved on 2013-07-24.</ref> Modern consists of every block and core set using the modern card frame since the release of ] to the present, including ] and Timeshifted cards from ]. Cards that were not printed in one of these sets, such as Planechase or Commander series cards, are not legal in Modern, even if they have the modern card frame.
* '''Legacy''' is considered an "Eternal" format because the card pool never rotates. This means that all the sets that are currently legal will continue to be legal and any new tournament-legal cards will automatically be included in the legal card pool upon their release.<ref name="TournamentRules"/>
* '''Vintage''', previously known as Type 1, is also an Eternal format. The only banned cards in Vintage are cards using the "]" mechanic and a few other cards that the DCI considers inappropriate for competitive Magic. Because of the expense in acquiring the scarce old cards to play competitive Vintage, many Vintage tournaments permit players to ] a certain number of cards.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/article/7614.html | title = Money, Proxies, and the Must-Have List — A Case for Vintage | accessdate = September 30, 2006 | publisher = Starcitygames | author = Avi Flamholz | date = July 13, 2004 | quote = More and more, the larger U.S. Vintage tournaments are unsanctioned and allow growing numbers of proxies (usually five to ten, sometimes unlimited). In fact, I would be hard pressed to find a sanctioned Type 1 tournament (A.K.A. proxy-free) in the last year or so that drew more than thirty people (other than major conventions like GenCon).}}</ref>
* '''Commander''', previously known as Elder Dragon Highlander, is a primarily casual format, but can be played competitively. In this format each player constructs a 100 singleton deck that has a legendary creature that acts as a commander. The deck construction is limited to the colors that are represented by the chosen commander. This legendary creature is kept in a special "commander zone" and may be cast at any time you can afford to cast the creature.
* '''Pauper''', played primarily on ], is an eternal format in which only cards printed at the "common" rarity can be played with. It was developed to allow players new to Magic: The Gathering Online to play a constructed format with minimal investment, as common cards tend to be very inexpensive. A small number of cards are banned in Pauper, primarily those that enable ]. Apart from the handful of banned cards, any card may be played as long as it was printed at common rarity in a set that was released on Magic: The Gathering Online. For example, the card {{mtgcard|Hymn to Tourach}} cannot be played in Magic: The Gathering Online Pauper decks, because although it was printed as a common card in the ] expansion set, it was released digitally only as an uncommon card in the ] set. Pauper is not an official format outside of Magic: The Gathering Online, therefore the banned list and allowable sets may vary when Pauper tournaments are played in real-life settings.

===Limited===
In "]" tournaments, players construct decks using ] plus any additional basic lands of their choice. The decks in Limited tournaments must be a minimum of forty cards. All unused cards function as the sideboard, which, as in "Constructed" formats, can be freely exchanged between games of a match, as long as the deck continues to adhere to the forty card minimum. The rule that a player may use only four copies of any given card does not apply.<ref name="TournamentRules"/>
* '''Sealed Deck''' tournaments give each player six 15-card booster packs from which to build his or her deck.
* '''Booster Draft''' is usually played with eight players. The players are seated around a table and each player is given three booster packs. Each player opens a pack, selects a card from it, and passes the remaining cards to the next player. Each player then selects one of the remaining cards from the pack he or she just received, and passes the remaining cards again. This continues until all of the cards are depleted. Players pass left for the first and third packs, and right for the second. Players then build decks out of any of the cards that they selected during the drafting. Talking, signaling, and showing cards is forbidden during the drafting process, except for double faced cards from the ''Innistrad'' block, which cannot be hidden as each side of the physical card has a spell printed on it.
] won the right for this card to feature his design and likeness.]]

===Tournament structure===
The DCI maintains a set of rules for being able to sanction tournaments, as well as runs its own circuit. Some hobby shops offer "Gateway" tournaments as a "casual" entrance to structured play.<ref name="gateway">{{cite web| title = Gateway | publisher = ] | year = 2008 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=events/magic/gateway}}</ref> The same shops often offer "]" tournaments as a stepping-stone to more competitive play.<ref name="fnm">{{cite web| title = Friday Night Magic | publisher = ] |date = June 2009| accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=events/magic/fnm&dcmp=ILC-MTGNTOP}}</ref>

The DCI runs the ] as a series of major tournaments to attract interest. The right to compete in a Pro Tour has to be earned by either winning a Pro Tour Qualifier Tournament or being successful in a previous tournament on a similar level. A Pro Tour is usually structured into two days of individual competition played in the ]. On the final day, the top eight players compete with each other in an elimination format to select the winner.<ref name="pt">{{cite web| title = Pro Tour | publisher = ] | year = 2009 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=mtgcom/events/protour}}</ref>

At the end of the competition in a Pro Tour, players are awarded ] depending on their finishing place. If the player finishes high enough, they will also be awarded prize money.<ref name="pt"/> Frequent winners of these events have made names for themselves in the ''Magic'' community, such as ], ] and ]. As a promotional tool, the DCI launched the ] in 2005 to honor selected players.<ref name="PTHoF" />

At the end of the year the ] is held. The World Championship functions like a Pro Tour, except that competitors have to present their skill in three different formats (usually Standard, booster draft and a second constructed format) rather than one. Another difference is that invitation to the World Championship can be gained not through Pro Tour Qualifiers, but via the national championship of a country. Most countries send their top four players of the tournament as representatives, though nations with minor ''Magic'' playing communities may send just one player. There are also other means to be invited to the tournament. The World Championship also has a team-based competition, where the national teams compete with each other.<ref name="worlds2009">{{cite web| title = 2009 Magic: The Gathering Worlds Championships | publisher = ] | year = 2009 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=events/magic/worlds}}</ref>

At the beginning of the World Championship, new members are inducted into the Hall of Fame. The tournament also concludes the current season of tournament play and at the end of the event, the player who earned the most Pro Points during the year is awarded the title "]". The player who earned the most Pro Points and did not compete in any previous season is awarded the title "]".<ref name="worlds2009"/>

Invitation to a Pro Tour, Pro Points and prize money can also be earned in lesser tournaments called ] that are open to the general public and are held more frequently throughout the year.<ref name="gp">{{cite web| title = Grand Prix | publisher = ] | year = 2009 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=grandprix/welcome}}</ref> Grand Prix events are usually the largest ''Magic'' tournaments, sometimes drawing more than 1,000 players. The largest ''Magic'' tournament ever held was Grand Prix: Las Vegas in June 2013 with a total of 4,500 players.<ref>{{cite web| title = Oliver is the Modern Master in Las Vegas | publisher = ] | date = June 23, 2013 | accessdate = July 9, 2013 | url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gpveg13/welcome}}</ref>

==Product and marketing==
{{See also|List of Magic: The Gathering sets}}

''Magic: The Gathering'' cards are produced in much the same way as normal ]s. Each ''Magic'' card, approximately 63 x 88 mm in size (2.5 by 3.5 inches), has a face which displays the card's name and rules text as well as an illustration appropriate to the card's concept. 13,920 unique cards have been produced for the game {{As of|2014|03|lc=yes}},<ref name="Gatherer">{{cite web| url = http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&cmc=+%3E=%5b0%5d | title = Gatherer | accessdate = March 6, 2014 | publisher = ]}}, the official ''Magic'' card database.</ref>
many of them with variant editions, artwork, or layouts, and 600–1000 new ones are added each year. The first ''Magic'' cards were printed exclusively in ], but current sets are also printed in ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/782 | title = Magic in Korean | accessdate = October 25, 2011 | publisher = ] | date = July 23, 2011}} shows the return to 11 languages as of the late release of ''Magic 2011'' in Korean.</ref>

The overwhelming majority of ''Magic'' cards are issued and marketed in the form of sets, of which there are currently two types, the Core Set and the themed expansion sets. Under Wizards of the Coast's current production and marketing scheme, a new set is released quarterly. Various products are released with each set to appeal to different segments of the ''Magic'' playing community:
* The majority of cards are sold in ], which contain fifteen cards normally divided into four rarities, which can be differentiated by the color of the expansion symbol.<ref group="note">For cards released prior to '']'', rarities must be checked against an external cardlist or database, as all expansion symbols were black.</ref> A fifteen-card Booster Pack will typically contain one rare (gold), three uncommons (silver), ten commons (black), and one basic land (colored black, as Commons). Sets prior to ''Shards of Alara'' contained eleven commons instead of a basic land.
''Shards of Alara'' also debuted mythic rares (red-orange), which replace one in eight rare cards on average. There are also premium versions of every card with holographic foil, randomly inserted into some boosters in place of a common, which replace about one in seventy cards.
* Four to five Intro Packs are released with each set. An Intro Pack is a pre-constructed deck aimed at newcomers that highlights one of the set's mechanical themes. It comes with two booster packs from that set, a rulebook, and a fixed selection of cards, including one foil rare.
* Each set from '']'' to '']'' has also featured two Event Decks, which are preconstructed decks designed as an introduction to tournament play. Starting from'' ]'', each set features only one Event Deck.
* Previously cards were also sold in Tournament Packs typically containing three rares, ten uncommons, thirty-two commons, and thirty basic lands.<ref group="note">"Typically" is used due to a change in card distribution in '']'' which allows premium cards of any rarity to replace Common cards instead of cards of their own rarity. See for more information.</ref> Tournament Packs were discontinued after ''Shards of Alara''.

The Core Set started to be released annually (previously biennially) in July 2009 coinciding with the name format change from ] to '']''. This shift also introduced new, never before printed cards into the core set, something that previously had never been done.<ref name="Recapturing the Magic with Magic 2010">{{cite web |url=http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/27a |title=Recapturing the Magic with Magic 2010 |author=Aaron Forsythe |date=February 23, 2009 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |accessdate= October 28, 2011 }}</ref> The current Core Set, '']'', was released on July 18, 2014.

The expansion sets are released in a three-set block starting in October, typically with a large initial set (that gives its name to the block) and then two smaller follow-ups at three-month intervals. These sets consist almost exclusively of newly designed cards. Contrasted with the wide-ranging Core Set, each expansion is focused around a subset of mechanics and ties into a set storyline. Expansions also dedicate several cards to a handful of particular, often newly introduced, game mechanics which do not appear in other sets.

In addition to the quarterly set releases, ''Magic'' cards are released in other products as well, such as the recent '']'' and '']'' spin-off games. These combine reprinted ''Magic'' cards with new, oversize cards with new functionality. ''Magic'' cards are also printed specifically for collectors, such as the ''From the Vault'' and ''Premium Deck Series'' sets, which contain exclusively premium foil cards.

In 2003, starting with the '']'' Core Set, the game went through its biggest visual change since its creation—a new card frame layout was developed to allow more rules text and larger art on the cards, while reducing the thick, colored border to a minimum.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/feature/121 | title = Card Face Redesign FAQ | accessdate = September 30, 2006 | date = January 20, 2003 | publisher = ]}}</ref> The new frame design aimed to improve contrast and readability using black type instead of the previous white, a new font, and partitioned areas for the name, card type, and power and toughness.

For the first few years of its production, ''Magic: The Gathering'' featured a small number of cards with names or artwork with ]ic or ]ist themes, in 1995 the company elected to remove such references from the game. In 2002, believing that the depiction of demons was becoming less controversial and that the game had established itself sufficiently, Wizards of the Coast reversed this policy and resumed printing cards with "demon" in their names.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/mr131 | title = Where Have All The Demons Gone Today | last = Rosewater | first = Mark | authorlink = Mark Rosewater | publisher = ] | date = July 5, 2004 | accessdate = April 18, 2009}}</ref>

===Spin-offs===
''Magic: The Gathering'' video games, comics, and books have been produced under licensing or directly by ]. While comics and books have mostly been supplements to develop a background story for the game, several video games have been produced which lean in varying degree on the original game. For the first computer games ] had sold licenses to ] and ] roughly at the same time. While MicroProse's '']'' received favorable reviews, Acclaim's ''Magic: The Gathering: BattleMage'' was mostly dismissed with negative reaction.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Dennis |last=Lynch |coauthors= |title=Two companies offer The Gathering, but only one is spellbinding |work=Chicago Tribune |page=8 |date=March 20, 1997 |accessdate=August 10, 2009}}</ref>

With '']'', Wizards developed and released a computer version of the game themselves that allows players to compete online against other players using the original ''Magic'' cards and rules. The latest computer implementation of ''Magic'' is '']'' which was developed by ] and released for the ] in June 2009. The game was ported to ] in June of the next year. Six months after the PC release of ''Duels of the Planeswalkers'', the game was ported to the ] platform. The game was the most-played ] title for two weeks after its release.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.gamerbytes.com/2009/07/magic_the_gathering_sells_1700.php | title = XBLA: Magic: The Gathering Sells 170,000 in 5 Weeks | publisher = ] | first = Ryan | last = Langley | date = July 23, 2009 | accessdate = August 10, 2009 }}</ref>

In September 2011, ] and ] accorded to make a 4-issue mini-series about Magic: The Gathering<ref>{{cite web| url = http://idwpublishing.com/news/article/1938 | title = Hasbro, Inc., and IDW Publishing to launch Magic: The Gathering Comic Books | date = September 1, 2011 | accessdate= May 2, 2012 | publisher = ] }}</ref> with a new story but heavily based on MTG elements and with a new Planeswalker called ''Dack Fayden'', which story is mainly developed in the planes of Ravnica and Innistrad. The ongoing series started in February 2012.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=11304 | title = Preview: Magic: The Gathering #1 | date = February 1, 2012 | accessdate= May 2, 2012 | publisher = ] }}</ref>

===Unlicensed parodies===
In 1998, PGI Limited created '']'', which was a parody of ''Magic: The Gathering''. Wizards of the Coast, which owned the rights to ''Magic: The Gathering'', took active steps to hinder the distribution of the game and successfully shut out PGI Limited from attending GenCon in July 1998.<ref>Havic The Bothering? Sun, August 2, 1998 20:15:53, e-mail from a Peter Gray of PGI Limited posted on Wizards of the Cost Website, http://oracle.wizards.com/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind9808a&L=spellfire-l&D=1&O=D&P=9286</ref> In an attempt to avoid breaching ] and ]'s patent, each ] of ''Havic'' had printed on the back side, "This is a Parody", and on the bottom of the rule card was printed, "''Do not have each player'': construct their own library of predetermined number of game components by examining and selecting game components from reservoir of game components or you may infringe on U.S. Patent No. 5,662,332 to Garfield."<ref>Havic: The Bothering Skool Daze by Peter L. Gray, Sist-Airs, Vinyl Vineshtein Cards, 60 Pages, Published 1998, 1st Edition, starter decks rule card printed by PGI Limited, 30 Shorhaven Rd., Norwalk, CT 06855, ISBN 0966700503</ref>

==Secondary market==
] version of the ] card (here, signed by the artist) is usually considered to be the most valuable non-promotional ''Magic'' card ever printed, aside from misprinted cards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://most-expensive.net/magic-gathering-card |title=
Most Expensive Magic: The Gathering Card |author= |date=March 17, 2008 |work=Most Expensive Journal |publisher= |accessdate=December 6, 2009}}</ref>]]

There is an active secondary market in individual cards among players and game shops. Many physical and online stores sell single cards or "playsets" of four of a card. Common cards rarely sell for more than a few cents and are usually sold in bulk. Uncommon cards and weak rare cards typically sell from 10¢ up to $1. The most expensive cards in ] tournament play are usually priced at $35 to $50, although many commonly played cards in the modern and legacy formats sell for $60 to $180. Foil versions of rare and mythic rare cards are typically priced at about twice as much as the regular versions. Some of the more sought after rare and mythic rare cards can have foil versions that cost up to three or four times more than the non foil versions.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}

A few of the oldest cards, due to smaller printings and limited distribution, are highly valued and extremely rare. This is in part due to the "Reserve List", a list of cards from the sets ''Alpha'' to '']'' (1994–1999) that Wizards has promised never to reprint.<ref>{{cite web| title = Official Reprint Policy | year = 2002 | accessdate = April 18, 2009 | publisher = ] | url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=magic/products/ReprintPolicy}}</ref>
The most expensive card that was in regular print (as opposed to being a promotional or special printing) is ''Black Lotus''. In 2013, a "Pristine 9.5 grade" Beckett Grading Services graded Alpha Black Lotus was bought by an anonymous buyer, for a record $27,302.<ref>http://kotaku.com/rare-magic-card-sells-for-27-000-1468597823</ref>

The secondary market started with comic book stores, and hobby shops displaying and selling cards, with the cards' values determined somewhat arbitrarily by the employees of the store. With the expansion of the internet, prices of cards were determined by the amount of tournament deck lists a given card would appear in. If a card was played in a tournament more frequently, the cost of the card would be higher (in addition to the market availability of the card).<ref>http://www.jstor.org.esf.idm.oclc.org/stable/pdfplus/3217179.pdf?&acceptTC=true&jpdConfirm=true</ref> When eBay, Amazon, and other large online markets started to gain popularity, the Magic secondary market evolved substantially. Buying and selling Magic cards online became a source of income for people who learned how to manipulate the market.<ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/2687095</ref> Today, the secondary market is so large and complex, it has become an area of study for consumer research,<ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/117554</ref> and some people make a career out of market manipulation, creating mathematical models to analyze the growth of cards' worth, and predict the market value of both individual cards, and entire sets of cards.<ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/3217179</ref><ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/383430</ref>

As of late 2013, Wizards of the Coast has expressed concern over the increasing number of ] cards in the secondary market.<ref>http://www.starcitygames.com/article/27693_Counterfeit-Cards.html</ref> Wizards of the Coast has since made an effort to counteract the rise of counterfeits by introducing a new holofoil stamp on all rare and mythic rare cards as of ].<ref>http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/281</ref>

==Artwork==
{{See also|List of Magic: The Gathering artists}}
Each card has an illustration to represent the flavor of the card, often reflecting the setting of the expansion for which it was designed. Much of ''Magic''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s early artwork was commissioned with little specific direction or concern for visual cohesion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/askwizards/0107 |title=Ask Wizards |accessdate=April 21, 2007 |last=Jarvis |first=Jeremy | publisher = ] | date=January 1, 2007 |quote=In the ‘old days’, art descriptions were vague suggestions of images... Neither continuity nor the idea of worldbuilding (creating distinctive and unique worlds and settings) would become issues until some time later.}}</ref> One infamous example was the printing of the creature Whippoorwill without the "flying" ability even though its art showed a bird in flight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/rb98 |title=Flight of Fancy |accessdate=April 21, 2007 |last=Buehler |first=Randy | authorlink = Randy Buehler | publisher = ] | date= November 21, 2003}}</ref> The art direction team later decided to impose a few constraints so that the artistic vision more closely aligned with the design and development of the cards. Each block of cards now has its own ] with sketches and descriptions of the various races and places featured in the setting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/mc3 |title=The Magic Style Guide |accessdate=April 21, 2007 | publisher = ] |last=Cavotta |first=Matt |date=September 7, 2005}}</ref>

A few early sets experimented with alternate art for cards. However, Wizards came to believe that this impeded easy recognition of a card and that having multiple versions caused confusion when identifying a card at a glance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/askwizards/0602 |title=Ask Wizards |accessdate=February 15, 2007 |last=Chase |first=Elaine |date=June 17, 2002 | publisher = ] |quote=While we don't like to completely rule anything out, there currently are not any plans to repeat the alternate art within a set model. The main reason is that most players recognize cards through the artwork.}}</ref> Consequently, alternate art is now only used sparingly and mostly for promotional cards.<ref group="note">A notable exception are Basic Land cards, but those are easily identifiable due to the oversized mana symbol in their text boxes.</ref> When older cards are reprinted in new sets, however, Wizards of the Coast has guaranteed that they will be printed with new art to make the older cards more collectible.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/mr121 |title=Collecting My Thoughts |accessdate=June 30, 2006 |last=Rosewater |first=Mark |authorlink=Mark Rosewater | publisher = ] | date= April 26, 2004}}</ref>

Starting in 1995, the copyright on all artwork commissioned is transferred to Wizards of the Coast once a contract is signed. However, the artist is allowed to sell the original piece and printed reproductions of it, and for established and prolific ''Magic'' artists, this can be a lucrative source of revenue.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}

As ''Magic'' has expanded across the globe, its artwork has had to change for its international audience. Artwork has been edited or given alternate art to comply with the governmental standards. For example, the portrayal of skeletons and most undead in artwork was prohibited by the ] until 2008.<ref>{{cite web| title = Chinese Skeleton | publisher = ] | date = March 13, 2002 | accessdate = April 18, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/arcana/50}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Alternate Chinese Art in Ravnica Part 1 | publisher = ] | date = November 14, 2005 | accessdate = April 18, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/arcana/948}}</ref>

==Storyline==
{{Main|Magic: The Gathering storylines}}
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2014}}
The way ''Magic'' storylines are conceived and deployed has changed considerably over the years. The main premise of ''Magic'' is that countless possible worlds (planes) exist in the ], and only unique and rare beings called Planeswalkers are capable of traversing the Multiverse. This allows the game to frequently change worlds so as to renew its mechanical inspiration, while maintaining planeswalkers as recurrent, common elements across worlds. An intricate storyline underlies the cards released in each expansion and is shown in the art and ] of the cards, as well as in novels and anthologies published by ] (and formerly by ]). Important storyline characters, objects and locations often appear as cards in ''Magic'' sets, usually as "Legendary" creatures, artifacts, and lands, or as "Planeswalker" cards.

The original Magic: The Gathering Limited Edition has no overarching storyline, and the cards only have unconnected bits of lore and trivia to give the cards some individual depth. In the early expansion sets until '']'' there is usually no real story arc either. Instead some of these sets are inspired from mythologies of various earthen cultures. This is most apparent in ], that takes some of the ] characters and makes them into ''Magic'' cards. Norse mythological influences can be seen worked into ] and African influences into ]. However, not all of the early sets can be linked as directly to earth mythology. ] touches on an independent storyline about two warring brothers, Urza and Mishra. ] is the exception in that period. For this set a convoluted back story was first conceived and the cards in the set were designed afterwards to fit the storyline.

Beginning with the '']'' expansion there was a shift in the way ''Magic'' storylines were used. For the blocks from '']'' through '']'' the story was laid out in a character-centric way, following the events around a ship, the Weatherlight, and its crew. With help of the planeswalking capabilities of the Weaterlight the protagonists travel through the multiverse to fight Yawgmoth and his army of Phyrexians. Other parts of the storyline in these years include Urza's preparation against the Phyrexian invasion on Dominaria and his creation of the golem Karn. '']'' through '']'' are an unconnected storyline set 100 years later on the Dominarian continent of Otaria, where multiple factions battle for control of the Mirari, a powerful magical artifact left by Karn.

After '']'' ''Magic'' storylines have mostly panned away from Dominiaria. New planes were created to set the scene for new storylines. In contrast to the previous character-centric storylines these storylines are a means to give the players a feel for the world they are entering. The first of these worlds was ], an artificial, metallic plane created by Karn, watched over and ruled by an animated Mirari; ] followed, a Japanese-themed plane set in the time of a great war between spirits and mortals; and then ], a completely urbanised plane headed by ten guilds, at a time when their pact is falling apart and they're on the verge of all-out war. For the ] block the story returned to Dominaria, albeit in a devastated apocalyptic state. The following blocks again took place on new planes: ], inspired by Celtic mythology, which shifts from a utopic and bucolic paradise to a shadowy and creepy land of darkness; and ], a world split into five magically and culturally distinct "shards" but later reunited.

After Alara ''Magic'' visited the ], a world used as a prison to entrap a race of interplanar parasitic monsters called the Eldrazi, which were inspired by the ]'s ].<ref name="eldrazi">{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Article.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/riseoftheeldrazi/flavor1 |title=And Carnage Shall Follow |publisher=] |accessdate=March 29, 2010}}</ref> However, beginning with ''Zendikar'' the world-centric storytelling was complemented by an overlying story layer. Planeswalker cards had been introduced in ''Lorwyn'' and these Planeswalker characters were used to give the overarching storyline a sense of continuity, despite the constant change of setting. For example the planeswalker ] is a protagonist in the Zendikar storyline as well as in the generally unconnected ] storyline. The block following Zendikar, '']'', revisited the plane of Mirrodin, where the Mirran natives battled against an invading Phyrexian corruption unwittilingly left by Karn (again interconnecting various storylines).<ref name="scars">{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/409 |title=Announcing Scars of Mirrodin |publisher=] |accessdate=March 29, 2010}}</ref> To further integrate the storyline into the gameplay, certain events for the second set, '']'', encouraged players to affiliate themselves with either the Mirran or Phyrexian faction. The storyline then proceeded to ], a Gothic ] plane where humanity struggles to survive against werewolves, vampires, zombies, and spirits after the disappearance of their angelic guardian. The '']'' block tells of ]'s investigation in ] of Niv-Mizzet's machinations during the struggle between the ten guilds for power after the dissolution of the Guildpact. This culminates in each guild picking a champion to run the ].<ref name="Dragon's Maze Player's Guide">Dragon's Maze Player's Guide</ref> The most recent '']'' block was inspired by classical Greek themes especially the epic struggle of heroes against monsters. Its story is about a planeswalker, Xenagos, who aspires for godhood. Xenagos briefly achieves that goal, but is shortly thereafter slain by the planeswalkers Ajani and Elspeth.

===Major characters===
The expansive multiverse naturally has quite a few characters; however, only a few play key roles in the story as a whole. Most of these are Planeswalkers, but a handful of others are also significant.

*'''Ajani Goldmane''' A white Planeswalker from Naya, Ajani is the only one of the "Lorwyn Five" (the first five Planeswalkers to be put on cards) to not be a human; instead, he's a leonin.<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://puremtgo.com/articles/brief-history-planeswalkers-competitive-magic |title=A Brief History of Planewalkers in Competitive Magic |author=Rex Dart |accessdate=3 February 2014}}</ref> He's been to Lorwyn and Theros in addition to his home plane of the Naya shard of ]. The first of the Lorwyn Five to have a multicolored version, he went into red magic while pursuing his brother's killer, and later into green when he got involved in the conflict on the plane of Theros.<ref name="Ajani">{{cite web|title=Ajani Vengeant|url=https://www.wizards.com/Magic/Multiverse/planeswalkers.aspx?x=mtg/multiverse/planeswalkers/ajani|accessdate=3 February 2014}}</ref>

*'''Chandra Nalaar''': A red Planeswalker hailing from an unknown plane, Chandra epitomizes the passion and explosiveness of red mages. She's one of the Lorwyn Five, and has shown up in the planes of Zendikar and Lorwyn.<ref name="Chandra">{{cite web|url=http://roxiecards.com/planeswalker-profile-chandra-nalaar/ |title=Planeswalker Profile: Chandra Nalaar |author=Wil Blanks |accessdate=3 February 2014}}</ref>

*'''Garruk Wildspeaker''': The green member of the Lorwyn Five, Garruk, like many green mages, believes that one should live like a predator in order to revere nature.<ref>Core Set 2013 Learn to Play Guide</ref> He's been to ], where he became cursed by Liliana, and Lorwyn. He is the only planeswalker to feature a Dual-Sided version and the second to go into multicolored when the effect of his curse allowed him to use black.<ref name="Garruk">{{cite web|title=Garruk Wildspeaker|url=https://www.wizards.com/Magic/Multiverse/planeswalkers.aspx?x=mtg/multiverse/planeswalkers/garruk|accessdate=3 February 2014}}</ref>

*'''Jace Beleren''': The blue Lorwyn Five Planeswalker from an unknown homeland, Jace has visited a variety of planes, including ], ], and ]. While in his adopted home of Ravnica, he helped the dragon Niv-Mizzet and human (unknowingly a planeswalker) Ral Zarek solve the ].<ref name="Dragon's Maze Player's Guide"/>

*'''Karn''': As of 2014 the only colorless Planeswalker, Karn is the golem created by Urza to go back in time and fight the Phyrexians. Long after the ], he creates his own metallic plane, calling it Argentum (although the guardian he created for it renamed it ]).<ref name=Karn>{{cite web|title=Karn Liberated|url=http://www.wizards.com/magic/multiverse/planeswalkers.aspx?x=mtg/multiverse/planeswalkers/karn|accessdate=4 February 2014}}</ref>

*'''Liliana Vess''': The black-aligned necromancer of the Lorwyn Five, Liliana is very ambitious and cunning.<ref name="Lilana">{{cite web|title=Liliana Vess|url=https://www.wizards.com/Magic/Multiverse/planeswalkers.aspx?x=mtg/multiverse/planeswalkers/liliana|accessdate=3 February 2014}}</ref> She shows up in ], ] and Alara.

*'''Mishra''': One of the most powerful ] artificers, Mishra fought his brother Urza over the powerful artifacts and abundant resources in Argoth. Mishra ends up teaming up with Phyrexia, but still loses.<ref name=Brothers>{{cite web|title=''Urza's Saga'' Backstory|url=http://www.wizards.com/magic/expert/urzas_saga/uz_backstory.asp| accessdate=4 February 2014}}</ref>

*'''Nicol Bolas''': A ] dragon who's the only tricolored Planeswalker so far, Nicol Bolas is an extremely intelligent and evil dragon who tries to take over the shards of ].<ref name=Bolas>{{cite web|title=Nicol Bolas|url=https://www.wizards.com/Magic/Multiverse/planeswalkers.aspx?x=mtg/multiverse/planeswalkers/nicolbolas|accessdate=5 February 2014}}</ref>

*'''Urza''': A ] artificer who, in the midst of the war against his brother Mishra, ascended as a Planeswalker. After his victory, he seeks out those who allied with Mishra, namely, the Phyrexians.<ref name=Brothers/>

*'''Yawgmoth''': Also known as 'The Father of the Machines', a crazed scientist who, whilst never appearing as a card himself, featured as a major antagonist in the history and lore of the game, he is responsible for the proliferation and creation of Phyrexia as it is known today. His life supposedly comes to an end at the completion of the Invasion block, but his machinations and 'descendants' still have an impact on the unfolding history of the plane of ] as seen in the Scars of Mirrodin block.<ref name=Yawgmoth>{{cite web|title=Yawgmoth of Dominaria|url=http://www.phyrexia.com/continuity/Yawgmoth.shtml|accessdate=19 December 2014}}</ref>

==Academic research==
There are several examples of academic, peer-reviewed research concerning different aspects of ''Magic: The Gathering''. One example examined how players use their imaginations when playing. This research studied hobby players and showed how players sought to create and participate in an epic fantasy narrative.<ref>Martin, Brett A. S. (2004), , ''Journal of Consumer Research'', 31 (June), 136-149.</ref> Another example used online auctions for Magic cards to test revenue outcomes for various auction types.<ref>Lucking-Reiley, D. (1999), , ''American Economic Review'', Vol. 89, No. 5, 1063-1080.</ref> A final example uses probability to examine Magic card-collecting strategies.<ref>Bosch, R.A. (2000), , ''College Mathematics Journal'', Vol. 31, No. 1, 15-21.</ref> Using a specific set of cards in a specialized manner has shown ''Magic: The Gathering'' to be ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toothycat.net/~hologram/Turing/index.html|title=Magic: the Gathering is Turing Complete|accessdate=January 9, 2013}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
*In the ] episode ''Cock Magic,'' (Season 19 Episode 8),<ref></ref> ] wins a tournament style game of ''Magic: The Gathering''.

*Typing in "the gathering" in Starcraft grants you unlimited energy.<ref></ref>

*In the show ], a terrorist died and went to "heaven" for his "70 virgins" and it was a cloud of geeky looking teenage boys, playing on computers. The one with the pointy wizards hat looked up at the terrorist and asked if he wanted to play Magic: The Gathering.<ref></ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group="note"|30em}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book
| last = Baldwin & Waters
| title = The Art of Magic: A fantasy of world building and the art of the Rath Cycle
| location = Renton, WA
| publisher = Wizards of the Coast
| year = 1998
| isbn = 0-7869-1178-6
}}
* {{Cite book
| last = Flores
| first = Michael J.
| title = Deckade - 10 Years of Decks, Thoughts and Theory
| location = New York, NY
| publisher = top8magic.com
| year = 2006
| isbn = 0-9778395-0-8
}}
* {{Cite book
| last = Moursund
| first = Beth
| title = The Complete Encyclopedia of Magic: The Gathering
| location = New York, NY
| publisher = Thunder's Mouth Press
| year = 2002
| isbn = 1-56025-443-2
}}

==External links==

{{Commons}}
{{wikibooks}}
* {{Official website |1=http://magic.wizards.com/}}
*

{{MTG navbox|game}}
{{Hasbro}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}

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{{Link GA|de}}

Talk:Zoë Quinn

2015-01-26T17:45:07Z

Lifebaka: /* Gamergate */ I don't think that gutting the paragraph is the answer to BLP concerns

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== ] ==

In its entirety:

<blockquote>Caution should be applied when identifying individuals who are discussed primarily in terms of a single event. When the name of a private individual has not been widely disseminated or has been intentionally concealed, such as in certain court cases or occupations, it is often preferable to omit it, especially when doing so does not result in a significant loss of context. When deciding whether to include a name, its publication in secondary sources other than news media, such as scholarly journals or the work of recognized experts, should be afforded greater weight than the brief appearance of names in news stories. Consider whether the inclusion of names of living private individuals who are not directly involved in an article's topic adds significant value.

The presumption in favor of privacy is strong in the case of family members of articles' subjects and other loosely involved, otherwise low-profile persons. The names of any immediate, ex, or significant family members or any significant relationship of the subject of a BLP may be part of an article, if reliably sourced, subject to editorial discretion that such information is relevant to a reader's complete understanding of the subject. However, names of family members who are not also notable public figures must be removed from an article if they are not properly sourced.</blockquote>

Which part of this policy calls for deleting the name of the living person who set this kerfuffle in motion?

His name hasn't been intentionally concealed. His name appears in The Globe and Mail. He's certainly "directly involved in the article's topic" and his name's absence deprives the article of necessary context. I'm aware of norms that argue for the omission of names of alleged victims of sexual assault, and they might well be coextensive with ]. But the names of alleged perpetrators of such harassment? Confirmed in The Globe and Mail? Really? ] (]) 19:56, 2 September 2014 (UTC)

:He intentionally concealed his name when he posted. Removing the name doesn't change the context. His name only appears as brief mentions in blogs and news media.] (]) 19:59, 2 September 2014 (UTC)
:: {{tq|He's certainly "directly involved in the article's topic" and his name's absence deprives the article of necessary context.}} Of what context? All the relevant context is that he was Zoe Quinn's boyfriend. Also, we concealed Zoe Quinn's real name, because it appeared in few to no RS so it wasn't encylopedic to state, and given that she used a fake name anywho, we should respect that. We should also err on the side of caution on including real people's names. I have not seen his name plastered in article titles, only revealing his connection as her 'ex boyfriend' and that's all the relevant context that is needed. The specific bit you're looking for in BLPNAME is {{tq|Caution should be applied when identifying individuals who are discussed primarily in terms of a single event. When the name of a private individual has not been widely disseminated or has been intentionally concealed, such as in certain court cases or occupations, it is often preferable to omit it...}} We should keep it omitted due to privacy concerns for the individual at hand. ] (]) 20:06, 2 September 2014 (UTC)
:::I disagree, but it seems consensus is in the other direction. So be it.
:::You may have noticed, I redacted it above on the talk page, too.
:::Now, what on earth is wrong with this direct quotation, attributed to the Guardian "According to ], Quinn has "had to pack up and move in with friends, after online campaign of hatred against her." It's a reliable source and it's not an opinion piece. ] (]) 20:23, 2 September 2014 (UTC)
::::IT's of no encyclopaedic value. ] states {{TQ|Ask yourself whether the source is reliable; whether the material is being presented as true; and whether, even if true, it is relevant to a disinterested article about the subject.}} It may be worthwhile in an article called ] but it's not revelant to a disinterested article about ].] (]) 20:29, 2 September 2014 (UTC)
:::::I'm beginning to understand why newbies are feeling ] here. I'm feeling bitten and I'm no newby. There's a pervasive sense ] in the hair-trigger edits going on around here and, believe it or not, I'm usually a BLP warrior on the exclusionary side of the debate. That a major newspaper has reported that the subject of a BLP has felt the need to move because of harassment is not gossip. It's a significant, factual development that would figure in any biography, wiki or published on old style paper. ] (]) 20:43, 2 September 2014 (UTC)
::::: SPACKlick, I agree with you on the name, it should be omitted, but I'm not seeing the proof that omitting the mention that she was driven from her home in a section entitled 'harassment' would be beneficial. ] (]) 20:50, 2 September 2014 (UTC)
::::::Sorry if we've been a little zealous David in DC. WRT to the name, it simply violates BLP. WRT to the Guardian quote, I'm not convinced on the house move, but after you ] added it, I reverted it and now we discuss it. This is how editing is meant to work. I've queried whether it's relevant to a disinterested article on the subject. What does it add for the reader?] (]) 20:54, 2 September 2014 (UTC)
::::::The real issue here is that the whole "harassment" section is probably going to need to become a "controversy" section. It really depends on how long this section is going to be; ] has risen to the point of notability and actually has more articles than Zoe Quinn harassment does at this point (at least on Google News, though lord knows that's a rough estimate at best, as a lot of stuff involved in this aren't really great sources; there are lots of RSs, but a lot of sources are biased or have conflicts of interest, which is making sourcing things a lot more dicey). Also, a lot of the heat she has drawn is less harassment and more criticism, which complicates matters further, and even worse are the accusations that she is playing the victim (and there are numerous accusations of exactly this, re: the harassment and claims of misogyny). Her leaving her home is ''potentially'' noteworthy, but it depends on how ''much'' we end up including in the article. ] (]) 09:20, 6 September 2014 (UTC)

:The boyfriend's name seems important to try to understand this story. It ''does'' appear in several news sources, for example (I ''hope'' that merely citing reliable sources on a discussion page isn't enough to get me revdelled, but nowadays, who knows?). The most important reason to include it is to facilitate further research by readers and editors. I should explain by that, what I mean is, there are two kinds of media: one, like The Associated Press, whose purpose in life is to waste your time giving you bland generalizations loaded down with their particular spin that you can't follow up on to understand, and the other, like the sources I cite here, which make a real effort to give you the actual lay of the land. Some elites on Misplaced Pages recently seem to have sworn allegiance to the former media approach, but many of us readers do not agree. And having the name to search with is one of the quickest ways there is to pick out the real articles from the time-wasters to try to figure out what (if anything) is at the bottom of all this. It may seem cruel to associate the boyfriend's name with all this, but it's just as "cruel" to associate Quinn; bottom line though is that when something becomes big news there's no holding it back and it's not our job to try. And any protection as a "family member" would be misplaced; he is an independent participant in the story.

:Where we ''can'' be extra sensitive by BLP is to actually read that primary source of his cited in the Globe and Mail (I'm not even going to dare to try right now, but it does belong as a source in the article). In it, he has an update where he asks people not to harass Quinn, and makes other conciliatory statements, and mentioning these surely would not be a bad thing for either of the original parties to this pea-under-the-mattresses. I think that both parties, but especially Quinn, being the subject of the article, deserve to be heard in their own words - I always believe in letting the subject have his/her say. One of her primary references is .

:I'll add that I still have ''no idea'' how obscure blog posts ever got turned into a cause for harassment or news coverage; the incomprehensibility of it is precisely why I want Misplaced Pages to cover it in detail. We don't understand how cyberbullying or popularity on the Web really works, I think, and this is data. We need freedom to navigate -- ''beginning'' with the most basic brass tacks like naming the parties -- in order to hope to do any service to that here. ] (]) 03:38, 21 September 2014 (UTC)
::I disengaged for a while. Life is too short. I'm gratified to see that, in my absence, the consensus has shifted and that the edit I advocated in this thread has been reinserted. Thank you. ] (]) 18:42, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
:: I've also been disengaged and find the re-insert of the name a problem still. WNT you say {{TQ|The boyfriend's name seems important to try to understand this story.}} I have one question to counter that. If instead of the actual name it said "David Spindler" what difference would that make to the reader?
:: The ex boyfriend is not a public figure. There is no mention of him on the internet at all which isn't linked to the gamergate controversy, he's not a public figure so naming him rather than merely referring to him as "the ex boyfriend" and similar is a direct violation of the sections of WP:BLP quoted above.
:::Yes, he is a (limited) public figure at this point and no, it's not a violation of BLP. He has been named and his actions have been widely discussed in mainstream reliable sources as reveals — there are literally hundreds of reliably-sourced news articles discussing Gjoni's role in launching this whole debacle. He has voluntarily given on the subject. Given the significance of the allegations and insinuations in Quinn's life, it would be irresponsible for us to republish Gjoni's allegations in an essentially-anonymous fashion. It's a simple matter of source accountability. Eron Gjoni voluntarily and widely publicly posted a name-and-shame drama blog about his ex-lover — he can hardly claim any expectation of privacy when the consequences of his actions become international news.
:::I agree that we should not delve extensively into his life, but a brief mention of the name of the person who touched off the firestorm which engulfed Zoe Quinn's life is entirely encyclopedic. ] (]) 09:49, 14 November 2014 (UTC)
::::Many apologies, i've discovered from your link the reason I haven't been finding sources is my notes have his surname spelt wrong. There's much more coverage out there than I had found. In the words of our law courts, objection withdrawn. That being said, the blog was published anonymously so there was an expectation of some level of privacy. It is the wide and particularly voluntary publication of his name that justifies this inclusion.] (]) 10:08, 14 November 2014 (UTC)
:::::Yes, I fully agree that if they had not become a key part of a several-months-running international news story, neither his name nor his allegations would be encyclopedic. Unfortunately for all involved, we're now kinda stuck. Thanks for taking a second look. ] (]) 10:11, 14 November 2014 (UTC)

==FYCs==
Having read far more than I would like about the whole imbroglio it seems surprising that this article does not cover the dispute with and allegations by the FYCs.

All the best: ''] ]'', 11:59, 18 October 2014 (UTC). 

==Games==
It would be good to include some of the video games Quinn has developed. All the best: ''] ]'', 01:10, 12 November 2014 (UTC). 

==Gamergate==
We now have a pretty extensive article on Gamergate. I've added a "main" template and trimmed back the Gamergate section. It could probably benefit from even heavier trimming. --] 03:19, 1 January 2015 (UTC)
:Obviously, I'm not going to be able to do much about this pretty soon, but this is literally the most noteworthy thing that has happened involving Zoe Quinn and two paragraphs seems like the minimum amount necessary. Not to mention that if you are going to mention GamerGate and harassment then you should definitely give people some inkling in this article what it is about. The current highly sanitized version of this is bad enough, but making it to where it is basically saying "Some naughty people were really mean to Zoe. You should feel really sorry for her. It is so hard to be a woman," is just making a mockery of Misplaced Pages.--] ] ] 08:38, 26 January 2015 (UTC)
:: The extensive ] article goes into detail about the series of false and sometimes maliciously false accusations that formed the basis for the character assassination and other attacks against Quinn and others. The detail you've added is redundant and, for a biography, rather too much. To be sure, it's a major event, but Quinn was just part of it and not an instigator at that. The malicious attacks are on Gamergate, not those targeted. That's why I've now removed that large addition. --] 16:41, 26 January 2015 (UTC)
:::It's a summary of ], of course it's redundant. You've trimmed away so much detail, however, that it barely says anything and certainly doesn't provide an accurate summary. If you're worried about repeating attacks against Quinn here (perfectly reasonable), it shouldn't be too difficult to remove that information without gutting the rest of the paragraph. Such as by replacing the second sentence of the longer version with something like: {{tq|i=y|Shortly after the game was released in August 2014, Eron Gjoni, Quinn's ex-boyfriend, published a blog post attacking Quinn.}} ]] 17:42, 26 January 2015 (UTC)

Tato

2015-01-26T04:25:03Z

Lifebaka: some minor cleanup/copyediting

{{about|a Lombard king|the ]ri|Jaume Morales Moltó}}
{{no footnotes|date=September 2012}}
'''Tato''' (died 510) was an early 6th century king of the ]. He was the son of ] and a king of the ].

According to ], the Lombards were subject and paid tribute to the ] during his reign. In 508, he fought with King ] of the Heruli, who was slain. This was a devastating blow to the Heruli and augmented the power of the Lombards. According to ], the war started because Tato's daughter Rumetrada murdered Rodulf's brother.

Tato was murdered by his nephew ] in 510.

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*'']''
*'']'' by Paul the Deacon
*''Zur Geschichte der Langobarden'' by Dr. Ludwig Schmidt (Leipzig, 1885)
{{refend}}

==External links==
*
*History of the Lombards." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010.

{{s-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef|before = ]}}
{{s-ttl|title = ]|years =  – 510}}
{{s-aft|after = ]}}
{{end}}

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Tato
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = King of the Lombards
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 510
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
]
]
]
]
]
]

{{Europe-royal-stub}}

Alex Trochut

2015-01-26T04:15:22Z

Lifebaka: rm a lot of apparently aggrandizing language, some cleanup and copyediting

'''Alex Trochut''' (born in ], 1981) is a ] graphic designer, illustrator, and typographer.

== Biography ==

Trochut studied Graphic Design at ] Art School in ], and started working as a freelance graphic designer in 2007.

He received a Certificate of Excellence from the ] in 2005.<ref name="Designify">{{citeweb|url=http://designify.me/inspiration/creative-focus-alex-trochut/|title=Creative Focus: Alex Trochut's Passion in Typography and Illustration|publisher=Designify|accessdate=2015-01-25}}</ref> Trochut's clients include ], ], ], ], ], and ], among others.<ref name="Jackywinter">{{citeweb|url=http://jackywinter.com/artists/alex-trochut/|title=Alex Trochut|publisher=The Jacky Winter Group|accessdate=2015-01-25}}</ref>

In 2011 he published "More is More," a book designed by Dani Navarro.<ref name="Binary">{{citeweb|url=http://www.binary-prints.com/about/|title=About|publisher=Binary Prints|accessdate=2015-01-25}}</ref>

In 2012 he patented a technique called "Binary Prints," in which two completely separate images could be shown on one surface.<ref name="Binary"/>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{Persondata
| NAME = Trochut, Alex
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Spanish artist
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1981
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
]
]
]
]
]
]

{{graphic-designer-stub}}
{{Spain-artist-stub}}

Draft:Gamergate (harassment campaign)

2015-01-26T03:55:24Z

Lifebaka: /* top */ add two oxford commas to improve clarity and for consistency (oxford comma usage appears common in this draft)

{{Redirect|GamerGate|the type of ant|Gamergate|the online video game store|GamersGate}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}


The '''Gamergate controversy''', centering on a debate about ], came to public attention in August 2014 as a result of ] and ] attacks targeting a number of women in the video game industry, including game developers ] and ], cultural critic ], and others. These attacks, which were often performed under the #gamergate ] or by people connected to it, ranged from online harassment and death threats to threats of terrorist attacks, and were frequently coordinated and promoted within subforums of social media platforms such as ] and ].

Early users of the term "gamergate" sought to define certain media coverage—praise of certain games developed by women and criticism of sexism within the video game industry—as an ] scandal analogous to ]. Most commentators have dismissed these claims as either false, trivial, unrelated to ethics, or conspiracy theories. The Gamergate hashtag and a variety of online discussion forums became the center of many waves of actions ranging from critiques to online and offline harassment to direct threats, now referred to as the Gamergate movement.

Gamergate is widely viewed as a manifestation of a ] that is resisting the diversification of ], the recognition of ], ] of video game ], and the impact of these things on ] ].

==History==
] was the original target of the harassment campaign.]]
In February 2013, independent game developer ] released '']'', an ] ] through the depressionquest.com website. Though the game was met positively by critics, a backlash developed among some gamers who believed that the game received an undue amount of attention in comparison to its quality, especially after a planned ] distribution platform release. Quinn began to receive ] over the game upon its release and criticism from some parts of the Steam user community, receiving enough harassment to cause her to change her phone number. This elicited further outrage from others and by September 2014, Quinn had been the target of eighteen months of increasing harassment which had created "an ambient hum of menace in her life, albeit one that she has mostly been able to ignore."<ref name=dot /><ref name="new yorker" /><ref name="pcgamerdq"/><ref name=csmonitor /><ref name="TelegraphDec3"/><ref name="KernelMag"/>

Shortly after the release of Depression Quest on ] in August 2014, Quinn's former boyfriend Eron Gjoni wrote a blog post, described by '']'' as a "rambling online essay",<ref name="nytimes usu threat" /> containing a series of allegations, among which was that Quinn had an affair with ] journalist Nathan Grayson.<ref name=WaPo /> This led to false allegations from Quinn's detractors that the relationship had resulted in Grayson publishing a positive review of the game.<ref name=goldman /><ref name=WaPo /><ref name=KotakuRefuted /><ref name=TeleStuart/><ref name=NYMag/><ref name="newyorker2" /><ref name=canadacom/> Kotaku's editor-in-chief Stephen Totilo affirmed the existence of a relationship, but clarified that Grayson had not written anything about Quinn after the relationship had commenced and had never reviewed her games, though he did acknowledge a piece written before the two began their relationship.<ref name=KotakuRefuted /><ref name="pcmag about gg"/> A number of commentators in and outside the gaming industry denounced the attack on Quinn as ] and unfounded.<ref name=dot /><ref name=DBMarcotte /><ref name=BostonGlobe />

{{Quote box | width=30% | align=left| quote="Next time she shows up at a conference we... give her a crippling injury that's never going to fully heal... a good solid injury to the knees. I'd say a brain damage, but we don't want to make it so she ends up too retarded to fear us." |source=A threat against Zoe Quinn, as reported by '']''.<ref name="new yorker" /> }}
As a result of these allegations, Quinn and her family were subjected to a virulent harassment campaign<ref name=dot /><ref name=WaPo /><ref name=DBMarcotte /> including ], threats of rape, hacks of her ], ], and ] accounts,<ref name=csmonitor /> and death threats. She began staying with friends out of fear that she would be tracked to her home.<ref name="new yorker" /><ref name=WaPo /><ref name="telegraph"/> Quinn told the BBC, "Before had a name, it was nothing but trying to get me to kill myself, trying to get people to hurt me, going after my family. There is no mention of ethics in journalism at all outside of making the same accusation everybody makes towards any successful woman; that clearly she got to where she is because she had sex with someone."<ref name="BBCQuinnInterview"/> Quinn told ''The New Yorker'' that she feels sympathy for her attackers because they have "deep-seeded loathing in themselves."<ref name="new yorker" /> In an interview with ]'s '']'', she said she regards her Gamergate detractors as becoming increasingly irrelevant in the industry due to the democratization of game-making tools,<ref name=Ronan /> but nonetheless noted later in an interview with the BBC that, "I used to go to game events and feel like I was going home... Now it's just like... are any of the people I'm currently in the room with ones that said they wanted to beat me to death?"<ref name=BBCQuinnInterview />

Others were targeted by similar harassment, doxing, and death threats under the Gamergate umbrella. Those who came to Quinn's defense were targeted and labeled by their opponents with the pejorative "]" or "SJW" for short.<ref name=NPR /> Among those singled out was fellow video game developer ].<ref name=VergeFish /> Fish was hacked and ] after he defended Quinn and referred to those attacking and harassing her as "ball-less manboobs" and "essentially rapists", which '']'' said "were fairly common statements from the combative" Fish. The attack exposed documents relating to his company, Polytron, as well as many of his personal details.<ref name=BI/><ref name=FishPaste/><ref name=DailyFish/> As a result, Fish sold Polytron and left the gaming industry.<ref name=csmonitor/><ref name="gs fish" />

===Gamergate hashtag===
] is credited as coining the Gamergate ].]]
Within social media, the ] Gamergate ] was first used by actor ] in a tweet with links to two videos critical of Quinn, shortly after he retweeted a statement from a feminist blogger who had readjusted her stance to be critical of Quinn.<ref name=CathyYoung /> The tag was then used to discuss the allegations against Quinn and Grayson and other concerns with gaming journalism,<ref name=Ars /> alongside coordinated discussions on ]s and forums like ] and Reddit.<ref name=Vox /><ref name=Forbes /> Because these discussions often featured attacks, misogynistic harassment of Quinn and others, and doxing, and the planning and coordination of such activities, some websites blocked users, removed posts, and created rules to prevent the discussion of such activities relating to the controversy.<ref name=dot /><ref name=Forbes /> In particular, 8chan became a central hub of activity for some Gamergate supporters following 4chan's clamping down on any Gamergate-related activities.<ref name="wapost 8chan"/> One ] commentator had a video critical of Quinn removed following a ].<ref name=Forbes /> Such incidents led to a ] that brought more attention to Gjoni's accusations.<ref name=Forbes /> By September 24, 2014, over 1 million Twitter messages incorporating the Gamergate hashtag had been sent,<ref name="metro what is gg" /> while a '']'' and ] study found more than 2 million Twitter messages between September and October 2014 with many coming from newly created accounts.<ref name="Newsweek Brandwatch"/> As of October 2014, it was estimated that there were at least 10,000 internet users supporting Gamergate based on readership numbers on the dedicated Gamergate ] "KotakuInAction".<ref name="columbia journalism review" />

===Subsequent harassment===

] faced death threats after releasing a new '']'' video.]]
The harassment expanded to include renewed threats against ], after a new episode in her series ("Women as Background, Pt. 2") was released shortly thereafter. Sarkeesian received death threats, including her home address,<ref name="BusinessWeekSarkessian" /> that compelled her to temporarily leave her home.<ref name=BBC /><ref name="TheStar" /><ref name="TorontoExclusive" /> At the ] in Portland, Oregon, she said, in regard to the accusations that high-profile women were making up the threats against them, that "One of the most radical things you can do is to actually believe women when they talk about their experiences," and that "The perpetrators do not see themselves as perpetrators at all... They see themselves as noble warriors."<ref name=VergeXOXO /> Sarkeesian canceled a speaking appearance at ] after the school received three anonymous threats, the second of which claimed affiliation with Gamergate.<ref name="SLT ALberty101614" /> The initial threat included allusions to the ], a 1989 mass shooting motivated by anti-feminism. Though Sarkeesian had spoken at events that had received similar threats, she cancelled after requesting additional security measures but wrote "because of Utah's open-carry laws, police wouldn't do firearm searches."<ref name="nytimes usu threat" /><ref name=AnitaUSUCNN /><ref name=AnitaUSUBBC /><ref name=AnitaUSUGuardian /> ''The New York Times'' referred to the threat as "the most noxious example of a weeks long campaign to discredit or intimidate outspoken critics of the male-dominated gaming industry and its culture."<ref name="nytimes usu threat" /> The ] is actively investigating the threat to attack Sarkeesian at USU,<ref name=HJFBI/> as well as documenting police investigations related to activities related to the #gamergate hashtag.<ref name="newsweek FBI"/> In an interview on ], Sarkeesian said she believes women are being targeted because they are "challenging the status quo of gaming as a male-dominated space."<ref name=Colbert />

In mid-October, indie game developer ], who had mocked Gamergate, saw her home address and other identifying information posted on 8chan. Wu then became the target of rape and death threats on Twitter and elsewhere, which Wu and a number of sources have attributed to Gamergate supporters. After contacting police, Wu fled home with her husband, but said she would not allow the threats to intimidate her into silence.<ref name="nytimes usu threat" /><ref name=WuBoston /><ref name=WuGuardian /><ref name=WuVenture /> Wu later offered a personal reward for any information leading to a conviction for those involved in her harassment, and set up a legal fund to help any other game developers that have been harassed online.<ref name="wu reward"/>

After actress and gamer ] made a blog post noting her concerns over Gamergate and how she has avoided discussing it due to fear of the backlash, her address was posted in the comments section. Actor ] and former NFL player ] also posted criticisms of Gamergate, with Kluwe's being noted for its use of creative insults, but neither was doxed.<ref name="wapost felicia day" /><ref name=DayGuardian /><ref name=DayTime /><ref name=DayCNN /> This contrast between targeting a woman over two men was cited by ] as evidence of there being misogynistic intent behind the harassment.<ref name=ColbertVerge /><ref name=WaPoColbert />

Various supporters, some of whom requested to remain anonymous, have also been harassed for supporting Gamergate, and one said after he reported threats to police he was instructed to leave his home.<ref name=Tsukayama /> '']''{{'}}s ] tweeted that he had received a syringe in the mail, but was not concerned,<ref name=CathyYoung /><ref name=TC2 /> and ] personality Steven "boogie2988" Williams also remarked that a comment on one of his videos included his address and a threat to his wife's life.<ref name=Diver /><ref name=Codd /> A fan petition to the organizers of the ] in Australia is requesting the event to cancel Adam Baldwin's appearances due to his involvement with the Gamergate controversy.<ref name="smh baldwin supernova"/> The BBC reported "that misogynist abuse - and vitriolic messages in general - is not limited to either 'side' of the argument," noting that Allum Bokhari, a writer for TechCrunch, said a trolling group was "working to provoke both sides against each other".<ref name="bbc gg condemned"/>

There has been considerable debate on the concept of self-policing and on what responsibility, if any, supporters of Gamergate share when the hashtag is used for harassment. In an interview with NPR's '']'', voice actress ] called on the gaming community to improve the self-policing of its small and vicious fringe, and said there are still race and gender barriers within the industry.<ref name="Marketplace"/> One concern is that ] intending to stir up conflict are responsible for many of the threats attributed to Gamergate.<ref name=Tsukayama /><ref name=Diver /><ref name="bbc gg condemned"/> Writing for '']'', Todd VanDerWerff wrote that the Gamergate supporters' "actually interesting concerns" were being "warped and drowned out by an army of trolls spewing bile, often at women."<ref name=Vox />

Harassment related to Gamergate continued several months after the onset of the controversy. Two critics of the Gamergate movement have been targets of attempted "]" - hoaxed reports to emergency services intended to provoke a ] team response at the target's home. ''The Guardian'' reported that both swatting attempts were coordinated through the "baphomet" subforum of 8chan.<ref name="ars swatting" /><ref name="guardian swatting" /><ref name="wapost 8chan" />

==Political views==
Observers have generally described Gamergate as a ] against efforts to diversify the traditionally-male video gaming community, particularly targeting outspoken women, citing things such as the movement's frequent harassment of female figures in the gaming industry and its overt hostility toward people involved in social criticism and analysis of video games.<ref name=BBC /><ref name="firstthings"/> The news website '']'' stated that the movement was less interested in criticizing ethical issues with major game publishers than with opposition to social criticism and analysis of video games and harassment of notable women in the community.<ref name=VoxLose/> In '']'', Nathaniel Givens concurs that the movement is fundamentally based around cultural warfare, though he characterizes it as a reaction to hostile and aggressive social justice movement.<ref name="firstthings"/>

Gamergate has frequently been described as involving anti-feminist ideologies. Some supporters have denied this label, but acknowledge that there are misogynistic voices within it.<ref name=Tsukayama /><ref name=Diver /> <ref name="right wing" /><ref name=Vice /><ref name=NYMag/><ref name=vergestop /> Commentators have otherwise been divided over its political characterization. Jon Stone, in '']'', called it "a swelling of vicious right-wing sentiment" and compared it to the ].<ref name="right wing" /> ], writing for '']'', described Gamergate supporters as leaning left-libertarian, but said that it has been supported by right wing voices.<ref name=CathyYoung /> Commentators such as Jon Stone, ], Ryan Cooper, and Erik Kain have said that the controversy is being "exploited" by these right-wing voices and by conservative pundits who had little interest in video games or video game ethics beforehand.<ref name=Forbes/><ref name="right wing" /><ref name="MetalEater2" /><ref name="Ryan Cooper Week" />

===Gamer identity===
{{see also|Gamer}}
The idea of a gamer identity emerged in the early years of the video game industry and gained widespread recognition with the rise of the internet. The emergence of the industry also gave rise to numerous publications specializing in the coverage of video games and catering for the interests of a predominantly young male audience. Such publications were seen by industry leaders as a means of promotion for their products rather than sources for honest critical discussion and there was recurring criticism of the close relationship between gaming journalists and major gaming companies.<ref name=GuardianKS /><ref name=Kubas-Meyer /> The growing popularity of games among casual consumers, due to more accessible technologies such as the Nintendo ] and ]s, expanded the audience for the industry to include many who did not fit the mold of the traditional hardcore gamer. As games also came to be seen as an art form rather than a product, games which featured meaningful artistic and cultural themes grew in popularity. This increasing perception of games as art prompted gaming publications to move towards ] of the games. ], which allows developers to release titles without publisher interference, has made these games more common.<ref name=Vox /><ref name=LATimes /><ref name=Time /><ref name=VoxConfuse /><ref name=MetalEater1 />

The growth of the gaming audience also brought in many female gamers, which resulted in a diversification of the male-oriented gamer identity; a 2014 annual survey by the ] showed that there was nearly an equal number of women playing video games (48%) compared to men, the largest proportion from prior years.<ref name="gamesindustry women" /> This new audience began to question some assumptions and ] that were historically used by game developers. Critics became increasingly interested in discussing issues of ] and identity in video games.<ref name=Vox /><ref name=Time /> One prominent feminist critic of the representation of women in gaming is ], whose '']'' project is devoted to criticism of female stereotypes in games. Her initial Kickstarter to raise funds for the series and her subsequent videos have all been met with hostile commentary and harassment from some gamers, who view her discourse as threatening. Further incidents, such as those concerning Jennifer Hepler, raised concerns about ].<ref name=Vox /><ref name=Time /><ref name=PolygonFBI /> Prior to August 2014, concerns about escalating harassment prompted the ] to provide support groups for harassed developers, and to begin discussions with the United States ] to help investigate online harassment of game developers.<ref name=PolygonFBI />

In late August 2014, shortly following the initial accusations towards Quinn, nearly a dozen gaming sites within a day published ]s which argued for 'the end of the gamer identity',<ref name="slate" /><ref name="ErikKain" /> citing the growing diversity of gaming and the mainstreaming of the medium, while those associated with Gamergate were stated to be a reactionary force against these changes.<ref name="Plunkett" /><ref name="Johnston" /> Some of these articles and essays were heavily critical of sexism within gamer culture. One of these, a Leigh Alexander column in the game developer ] '']'' titled "'Gamers' don't have to be your audience. 'Gamers' are over." argued that, "Developers and writers alike want games about more things, and games by more people. We will get this, because we're creating culture now."<ref name="NYTimesIntelBoycott" /><ref name="Gamasutra" /> Responding to such articles, David Auerbach of '']'' accused the games press of attacking their own readers, arguing that video game journalists risk obsolescence as audiences turn to commentators and amateur journalists.<ref name="slate" /> Other concerns about the divide between gaming journalists and gamers were raised by '']''{{'}}s Keith Stuart and ''Forbes.com'' contributor Erik Kain.<ref name="GuardianKS" /><ref name="ErikKain" />

===Misogyny and antifeminism===
{{see also|Sexism in video gaming}}

A number of commentators have argued that the Gamergate hashtag had the potential to raise important issues in gaming journalism, but that the wave of misogynistic harassment and abuse associated with the hashtag had ], making it impossible to separate honest criticism from sexist trolling.<ref name=WaPo /><ref name=goldman /><ref name=Vox /> The hashtag has also been associated with criticism of feminism and so-called "Social Justice Warriors." According to Sarah Kaplan of ''The Washington Post'', "sexism in gaming is a long-documented, much-debated but seemingly intractable problem," and became the crux of the Gamergate controversy.<ref name=WaPo /> Writing in '']'', Ryan Cooper called the harassment campaign "an online form of terrorism" intended to reverse a trend in gaming culture toward increasing acceptance of women, and stated that social media platforms need to tighten their policies and protections against threats and abuse.<ref name=TheWeek /> Speaking on ], academic Cindy Tekobbe said the harassment campaign was intended to "drive women out of public spaces" and intimidate them into silence.<ref name=IPR /> Jaime Weinman writing in '']'' said, "hether it was supposed to be or not, GamerGate is largely about women."<ref name=Macleans />

Issues like sexism and misogyny had been identified as problems in the video game industry and community prior to the events of Gamergate.<ref name="gdc misogyny 2012"/> Wu stated in a November 2014 interview with '']'' that the game industry "has been a boys’ club for 30 years", describing that the common portrayal of women as "sex symbols and ]" in video games has led to the players taking the same attitudes.<ref name="develop harassment"/> Brendan Sinclair writing for ] stated that though the events of the Gamergate controversy were "reprehensible and saddening", the situation "has made abundantly clear is that this industry has some profound issues in the way it treats women".<ref name="gibiz silver lining"/> Quinn said the campaign had "roped well-meaning people who cared about ethics and transparency into a pre-existing hate mob",<ref name="ViceQuinn" /> and urged industry publishers and developers to condemn the hashtag.<ref name="bbc gg condemned"/> She further asked those Gamergate supporters who had any earnest discussion about ethics to move away from the "Gamergate" tag.<ref name="bbc gg condemned"/> Alex Goldman from '']'' wrote that the movement's involvement in harassment had caused it to lose mainstream credibility, and urged its supporters, "Come up with some other means of self-identification" (other than gamers) as a way of distancing themselves from their worst representatives.<ref name=goldman /> The Washington Post described Gamergate supporters as saying that they and other Gamergate supporters are making efforts to reject harassment and quickly report threatening or hateful comments to help keep the conversation respectful.<ref name=Tsukayama />

Many commentators have said that the harassment associated with the movement tapped into this existing well of deep-seated misogyny, and that it was merely brought to the fore by the anonymity of the Internet. Regarding the false allegations against Quinn, ] in an article for '']'' accused the video game world of being "thick with misogynists who are aching to swarm" and hate on any random woman held up for them to hate, no matter what the pretext", relating the attacks to harassment sent to a woman who negatively reviewed a '']'' cover and to a community manager of the '']'' game because she drew a feminine ], and virtual rapes committed against women's player avatars in '']'' and '']''.<ref name="DBMarcotte" /> In March 2014, game designer ] wrote a blog post commenting on the "latent racism, homophobia and misogyny" that existed within the online gaming community.<ref name="NYTSuellentrop"/> It is believed this itself is tied to the anonymous, male-dominated nature of the Internet; Astra Taylor of '']'' documented harassment against women from online communities in April 2014, in which the harassment was played off by the male posters as if it was just "harmless locker room talk".<ref name="mj april2014"/> Developer ] considered that the Internet's instant accessibility of social media allows for people to express of-the-moment opinions without thinking about their consequences, leading to a "whole Pandora’s Box" of both good and bad issues that society must consider in terms of freedom of speech.<ref name="develop harassment"/>

Targets of Gamergate supporters have overwhelmingly been women, even in situations where both men and women have both been doing things that would otherwise draw their ire. Writing in '']'', Simon Parkin said the attacks on Quinn, which the male journalist who was also falsely accused largely escaped, revealed them as "a pretense to make further harassment of women in the industry permissible".<ref name="new yorker" /> In an opinion piece for ''The New York Times'', Chris Suellentrop noted that a colleague was the centre of a petition to have her fired for criticizing the portrayal of women in '']'', despite many male critics (including himself) raising similar concerns, but not facing similar reprisals.<ref name=NYTSuellentrop />

In ''Der Bund'', Jan Rothenberger wrote that a majority of gamers were distancing themselves from the hate campaigns, and that some supporters were seeking a new banner due to Gamergate being indelibly associated with such campaigns.<ref name="Bund"/> In ''First Things'', Nathaniel Givens said regardless of their actions, supporters were "painted as vicious thugs" and now the term was "toxic".<ref name="firstthings"/>

==Debate over ethics allegations==

Many Gamergate supporters contend that their movement is about ethical concerns revolving around the close relationships between journalists and developers, reviewers acknowledging social issues, and private conversations occurring between journalists.<ref name="KernelMag"/><ref name="columbia journalism review"/><ref name="Guardian 2015-01-11"/> The accusations behind these concerns have been largely rejected by media critics and commentators as ill-founded and poorly supported, with the overwhelming majority of commentators saying that reporting on social issues in reviews is not an ethical issue.<ref name="columbia journalism review"/><ref name=VoxLose /><ref name=Ambinder/><ref name=GGBackfiresWeek/> Writing in '']'', Leigh Alexander, editor-at-large of '']'', described the campaign's ethics concerns as deeply sincere but based on ], saying that there is nothing unethical about journalists being acquainted with those they cover and that meaningful reporting requires journalists to develop professional relationships with sources.<ref name=Time /> Writing in ''Vox'', Todd VanDerWerff said "Every single question of journalistic ethics Gamergate has brought up has either been debunked or dealt with."<ref name=VoxLose /> Dr. Kathleen Bartzen Culver, a professor and media ethics expert at the ], wrote that while Gamergate supporters claimed to be interested in journalism ethics, their "misogynistic and threatening" behavior belied this claim: "Much of the conversation — if I can even call it that — has been a toxic sludge of rumor, invective and gender bias. The irony comes from people who claim to be challenging the ethics of game journalists through patently unethical behavior."<ref name=UWiscCulver/>

Gamergate's demands have often been hard to quantify, but numerous journalists who have attempted to do so have come to the conclusion that, rather than relating to ethics, they are an attempt to suppress views which Gamergate supporters disagree with as part of a long-running culture war. '']''{{'}}s Chris Plante wrote that under the guise of ethics concerns, Gamergate supporters repeatedly criticized him for writing reviews that discussed social criticisms of mainstream video games.<ref name=VergeDead/> '']'' writer Chris Ip said "many criticisms of press coverage by people who identify with Gamergate (...) have been debunked" and concluded that "at core, the movement is a classic culture war."<ref name="columbia journalism review" /> Alyssa Rosenberg of ''The Washington Post''' said that some of the movement's ostensible ethics concerns about video game reviews are actually rooted in Gamergate supporters' belief that video games are appliances rather than art and should be reviewed based on feature checklists rather than traditional artistic criteria. <ref name=WaPoRosenberg /> Chris Suellentrop of ''The New York Times'' brought up the desire of Gamergate to shift focus away from innovative uses of the gaming medium. He criticized the movement's apparent belief that increased coverage and praise of artistic games like ''Gone Home'' would negatively affect big mainstream games such as '']''.<ref name=NYTSuellentrop/> ''Newsweek''/Brandwatch performed an analysis of about 25% of two million Twitter messages with the Gamergate tag from September 1, 2014 onward, and suggested from the results that "contrary to its stated goal, GamerGate spends more time tweeting negatively at game developers than at game journalists".<ref name="Newsweek Brandwatch"/>

Similarly, the movement has been criticized for focusing primarily on women, especially female developers, and for ignoring many large-scale journalistic ethics issues. Alex Goldman of NPR's ] criticized Gamergate for targeting female indie developers rather than ], and said the movement's claims of unethical behavior by Quinn and Sarkeesian were unfounded.<ref name=goldman /> In ''Wired'', Laura Hudson found it telling that Gamergate supporters concentrated on impoverished independent creators and critics, and nearly exclusively women, rather than the large game companies whose work they enjoyed.<ref name=WiredHudson /> ''Vox'' writer Todd VanDerWerff highlighted an essay written by game developer David Hill, who said that corruption, ], and excessive ] existed in the gaming industry, but that Gamergate was not addressing those issues. <ref name=VoxConfuse /> Adi Robertson, of ''The Verge'', noted the long-standing ethical issues gaming journalism has dealt with, but that most Gamergate supporters didn't seem interested in "addressing problems that don't directly relate to feminist criticism or the tiny indie games scene."<ref name=VergeDay/>

In mid-September 2014, ] of '']'' published leaked discussions from a mailing list for gaming journalists called GameJournoPros, which included discussion of Gamergate events. Yiannopoulos and Gamergate supporters saw the mailing list as evidence of collusion between journalists.<ref name=Tsukayama /><ref name=EscapistDDos /><ref name=GGJargon /> The list's founder acknowledged suggesting that journalists write an open letter of support repudiating harassment linked to Gamergate, but said other members of the list had rejected his suggestion and helped him understand why his idea was inappropriate.<ref name=EscapistDDos /><ref name=GJPresponse /><ref name=FudgeResponse/> Most commentators that evaluated the list did not consider it as a form of collusion, but rather a standard practice across most professions to have an informal venue to discuss matters relating to their profession.<ref name="columbia journalism review"/><ref name="Ryan Cooper Week" /><ref name=EscapistDDos /><ref name=westmanjournal/> Following the leak, the mailing list was closed.<ref name=FudgeResponse/>

Some Gamergate supporters alleged that the ] (DiGRA), a non-profit group that coordinates academic research on video games, was working with journalists to advance a feminist agenda. '']'' described the argument as a conspiracy theory.<ref name="inside higher ed digra"/> The Executive Board of DiGRA has publicly condemned the targeting of DiGRA research coordinated by Gamergate as harassment and bullying.<ref name=digra_exec /> Prof. Mia Consalvo, president of DiGRA, said that the effort to discredit its members' research demonstrates hostility to feminism and a failure to understand academic research.<ref name="inside higher ed digra"/>

==Gamergate organization==
Following the accusations against Quinn, proponents of Gamergate began to use the "KotakuInAction" subreddit and boards on 8chan to discuss and organize activism using the hashtag. Because of its anonymous membership, lack of organization and leaderless nature, sources widely differ as to the goals or mission of Gamergate. With no single person or group able to speak for Gamergate, defining it has been difficult.<ref name=NYMag /> As the threats expanded to encompass Sarkeesian, Wu, and Day, international media focused on Gamergate's violent, misogynistic element and its inability to present any coherent message. Writing in '']'' in the wake of those incidents, Bob Stuart summed up the hashtag's troubles, saying "GamerGate has since swelled into an unwieldy movement with no apparent leaders, mission statement, or aims beyond calling out 'social justice warriors'. ... When members of the games industry are being driven from their houses and jobs, threatened, or abused, it makes GamerGate’s claim that it is engaged in an ethical campaign appear laughable."<ref name=TeleStuart />

Jesse Singal, writing for '']'' based on a post he made to Reddit, stated that he had spoken to several Gamergate supporters to try to understand their concerns, but found conflicting ideals and incoherent messages. Singal observed that despite being told by supporters that Gamergate was not about misogyny, he saw movement supporters making a constant series of attacks on Quinn, Sarkeesian, and other women.<ref name="NYMag" /> The '']'s'' Chris Ip said any legitimate message from Gamergate supporters regarding ethics in journalism was being lost in the noise created by harassment, sexism, and misogyny. With anyone able to tweet under the hashtag and no single person willing or able to represent the hashtag and take responsibility for its actions, Ip said it is not possible for journalists to neatly separate abusers from those seeking reasonable debate.<ref name="columbia journalism review" /> Singal was critical of the movement's lack of organization and leadership commenting on their "refus to appoint a leader or write up a platform".<ref name="NYMag" />

] research fellow ] argued that Gamergate's failure to connect with a broader audience and the "train wreck" of a debate it generated is a function of its origins in ] subculture, which he said values anonymity, promotes chaotic discourse and fosters a hostile, vituperative atmosphere within its own sphere. Noting that those rules are "radically different" from most other cultures, he said the result was that "when the Chan culture touches other cultures of discourse there will be fundamental misunderstandings about the very nature of what a discourse is supposed to be."<ref name=Sandberg/>

Ryan Cooper of '']'' highlighted an analysis written by writer Jon Stone, citing: " readjusts and reinvents itself in response to attempts to disarm and disperse its noxiousness, subsuming disaffected voices in an act of continual regeneration, cycling through targets, pretexts, manifestoes and moralisms..."<ref name="Ryan Cooper Week" /> Christopher Grant, editor-in-chief of ''Polygon'', said that Gamergate has remained an amorphous and leaderless movement consisting solely of the hashtag so that the harassment can be conducted without any culpability.<ref name="OTMGrant" /> Grant said that meant that "ultimately Gamergate will be defined—I think has been defined—by some of its basest elements."<ref name="columbia journalism review" />

Although coverage has generally described Gamergate supporters as predominantly male, commentators such as Allum Bokhari and Cathy Young have said that some are female.<ref name=CathyYoung /><ref name=TC2 />

===Activities===
====The Fine Young Capitalists====
{{main|The Fine Young Capitalists}}

Early in the controversy, Gamergate supporters focused on supporting a self described ] group called The Fine Young Capitalists, who had a dispute with Zoe Quinn over a ] they organised. They began receiving financial backing for their project from Gamergate supporters, particularly those from ]'s board /v/. <ref name="Forbes" /><ref name="APGN" /> The backers raised over {{USD|17000}} for the campaign.<ref name="Forbes" /><ref name="Vice" /><ref name="TheIndependent" />

====Operation Disrespectful Nod====

Gamergate supporters were critical of articles that spoke of the "death of the gamer identity" such as Leigh Alexander's piece in Gamasutra. In response, supporters organized "Operation Disrespectful Nod," an e-mail campaign to advertisers demanding that they drop several involved publications. After receiving complaints from Gamergate supporters, Intel withdrew an ad campaign from Gamasutra in October, though it later apologized for appearing to take sides in the controversy <ref name="GIBizIntel" /><ref name="VergeIntelStatement" /> and resumed advertising on Gamasutra in mid-November.<ref name="Intel_Telegraph" />

====Operation Baby Seal====
In mid-October 2014, Sam Biddle, an editor for the ] affiliate '']'', made a series of derisive tweets that stated "Ultimately #GamerGate is reaffirming what we’ve known to be true for decades: nerds should be constantly shamed and degraded into submission" and to "Bring Back Bullying."<ref name="cjr gawker"/> This led to ] temporarily pulling advertising from Gawker and ] requesting that Gawker remove their logo from the advertiser section of the Gawker website and condemned any type of bullying.<ref name=waposuccess /><ref name=TelegraphDyson /><ref name=biadobe /> Adobe later clarified that it had never been a Gawker advertiser and explicitly disowned Gamergate. <ref name=biadobe /><ref name=AdobeClarify/><ref name=vergeadobe /><ref name=arsadobe /> Gawker reported losing thousands of dollars as a result<ref name=biadobe /><ref name=MaxRead /> Biddle later stated that the tweets were jokes, but ultimately apologized for their content.<ref name="adobe recode"/><ref name=waposuccess /> Commenting on the actions of Intel and Adobe and the public response, trade publication '']'' warned advertisers that responding to Gamergate was a "]", and that brands "not responding are in better shape than those who have".<ref name=Adage/> The ] commented that, while the tweets were likely jokes, "it’s no secret that Gawker is the bully of the internet."<ref name="cjr gawker"/>

] affiliate ''Kotaku'' was at the center of the initial allegations that started Gamergate. Gamergate supporters initiated "Operation Baby Seal" in late October, renewing focus upon Gawker. The name is based on a '']'' webcomic created shortly after the onset of the controversy.<ref name="boingboing chanculture" /> This campaign aimed at removing ]'s ] and ]'s Associates advertising platforms from Gawker by mass-reporting apparent violations of the ad agencies' ] in Gawker's published content. ''Vox''{{'}}s VanDerWerff identified that while efforts to convince advertisers to pull ads is not new in the history of journalism, this new tactic of targeting the ad providers is on a grander scale and has the potential, if successful, to financially harm Gawker. He said that the with the campaign Gamergate seemed less interested in exposing ethical lapses, and more concerned with shuttering sites it doesn't agree with.<ref name="op baby seal vox"/>

Other actions by Gamergate supporters have been the practice of using ]s that remove advertisements to attempt to divert advertising revenue from specific websites while still using those sites for information. This practice attracted criticism from Jason Koebler, writing for ''Motherboard'', who argued that it was a violation of copyright laws. <ref name=copyvio/>

====#NotYourShield====
Many Gamergate supporters have taken issue with the widespread description of their movement as misogynistic, saying that the press’s focus on misogyny served mainly to "deflect criticism of the increasingly leftist orientation of indie games".<ref name=WaPo /> To respond to this criticism, a second Twitter hashtag, #NotYourShield, began to be used, with the intention of showing that women and other minorities in the gaming community were also critical of Quinn and Sarkeesian.<ref name=WaPo /><ref name="telegraph" /><ref name=LeMonde />

Quinn released a series of logs from chat rooms and discussion boards on 4chan, which she said showed that Gamergate was manufactured by 4chan users and largely pushed by sockpuppets.<ref name=Ars /><ref name=DailyDot /> Following Quinn's release of chat and discussion logs she got from 4chan, ''Ars Technica'' and ''The Daily Dot'' said that these logs showed that the #NotYourShield hashtag was manufactured on 4chan and that many of those posting under #NotYourShield were ] accounts impersonating women and minorities.<ref name=Ars /><ref name=DailyDot /> Quinn said that in light of Gamergate's exclusive targeting of women or those who stood up for women, "#notyourshield was solely designed to, ironically, be a shield for this campaign once people started calling it misogynistic."<ref name=Escapist4chan /> Members of 4chan have said that some information has been taken out of context or misrepresented.<ref name=LeMonde /><ref name=Escapist4chan /> Arthur Chu says the hashtag was an attempt to weaponize white male guilt and keep allies from supporting the people being attacked by Gamergate.<ref name="Chu2014" />

==Industry response==
The harassment against Quinn, Sarkeesian, Wu and others have led many industry professionals to speak out against Gamergate, condemning the attacks it has spawned as damaging for the video gaming community. Independent game developer Andreas Zecher wrote an open letter calling upon the community to take a public stand against the attacks, which attracted the signatures of more than two thousand professionals within the gaming industry.<ref name=BBC /><ref name=LATimes /> The large and varied response to the letter was considered by many in the industry to be a sign that the people involved in the harassment attacks were not representative and comprised a vocal minority of the overall industry population.<ref name=NPR /> Writing for ''The Guardian'', Jenn Frank described the tactics used in the harassment campaign, and the climate of fear it generated through its attacks on women and their allies. Frank concluded that this alienating abusive environment would harm not only women, but the industry as a whole. Frank subsequently received harassment on a false pretext related to disclosure in this article, and left games journalism.<ref name="slate" /><ref name=Vox /><ref name=GuardianJF /> Games designer Damion Schubert said Gamergate was "an unprecedented catastrof**k" and that silencing critiques of games harms games developers by depriving them of feedback.<ref name="EscapistSubertInterview"/>

The ] (ESA) issued a statement condemning the series of harassment, stating "There is no place in the video game community—or our society—for personal attacks and threats."<ref name="wapost esa" /> At ] 2014, ] president and co-founder ] denounced recent harassment, blaming "a small group of people have been doing really awful things" and "tarnishing our reputation" as gamers. He called on attendees to treat each other with kindness and demonstrate to the world that the community rejects harassment. His statements have been widely interpreted as referring to Gamergate.<ref name=CNet /><ref name=joystiqblizzcon /><ref name=MCVUK /><ref name=PCGamerMM /> When asked about the controversy ] CEO ] called harassment and bullying "completely unacceptable", but that there isn't "one statement or one position on it, or one answer to whatever this very broadly-defined #GamerGate really means".<ref name="sony response" /><ref name="venture sony" /> Developer ] stated that the industry needs to "adopt a level of professionalism and diversity commensurate with other industries", and recognizing some of the issues surrounding Gamergate existed within the industry; Molyneux pointed to the large amount of support Valve's ] received after being sent a death threat from a developer who was condemned widely and quickly by the community, but found the lack of similar prompt action in the case of the harassment of female figures in Gamergate disturbing.<Ref name="develop harassment"/> The Swedish Games Industry issued a statement denouncing the harassment and sexism from Gamergate supporters.<ref name="GuardianQvist" />

] itself was criticised for its inability to respond quickly and prevent harassment over the service. Brianna Wu, shortly after becoming a target of harassment, stated that Twitter facilitated harassment by the ease with which anyone could make a new account even after having an earlier account blocked for harassment, and she challenged the service to improve the speed of responsiveness to complaints.<ref name="businessweek wu twitter"/> Robinson Meyer of '']'' said Gamergate is an "identity crisis" for Twitter, as by not dealing with harassing users as ] has, the platform is failing to protect victims and losing readers.<ref name="atlantic twitter"/> In November 2014, Twitter announced a collaboration with the non-profit group Women, Action & the Media (WAM), in which those who believed they have been harassed over Twitter can report harassment to a tool monitored by WAM members, who would forward affirmed issues to Twitter within 24 hours. The move, while in the wake of the Gamergate harassment, was due to general issues of the harassment of women on the Internet, and the data will be studied for further discussion.<ref name="wsj twitter wam"/><ref name="wam release">{{cite web |url=http://www.womenactionmedia.org/cms/assets/uploads/2014/11/Twitterprojectpressrelease-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=To combat the harassment of women online, Women, Action & the Media (WAM!) announces a new partnership with Twitter |author= |work=womenactionmedia.org |date=November 6, 2014 |accessdate=January 25, 2015 }}</ref> In January 2015, Quinn and Alex Lifschitz created the Crash Override Network, a private group of experts to help support and counsel those that have been harassed online, including as a result of Gamergate, and to work with law authorities and social media sites in response to such threats.<ref name="CSM 2015-01-20"/><ref name="Verge 2015-01-17" />

Some news sites have adopted new policies in response to the controversy. '']'' now requires its writers to disclose contributions via ], while '']'' prohibits its staff from supporting any game developers through the website, except where it is required in order to access materials for review.<ref name=Forbes /><ref name=KotakuAboutGamerGate /> '']'' adopted stricter ethical standards policies for all of their subsidiaries, including '']'' and '']''. '']'' updated its ethics policies after ] developer ] pointed out his connections with ''Destructoid'' staff.<ref name=CinemaBlendEscapist />

Many news outlets have identified Gamergate as a major slight on the industry during 2014.<ref name="flop" /> Several commented that while not part of the Gamergate intended goals, the reactions and responses to Gamergate have caused the industry to review the situation with how women and minorities are handled and treated within the video game industry, and to make changes to better support these groups.<ref name="wapo 3 women" /><ref name="Slate GG2014" /><ref name="nightline"/> Intel, following its accidental involvement in Gamergate, has pledged more than $300 million to help support a "Diversity in Technology" program with numerous industry partners including the IGDA, aimed at removing discrimination against women and minorities in the industry by 2020; Intel CEO Brian Krzanich stated in announcing the program that "it's not good enough to say we value diversity, and then have our industry not fully represent."<ref name="Polygon Intel"/><ref name="NYTimes Intel" />

{{Portal bar|Internet|Video games|Journalism|Feminism}}

==References==
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<ref name=Kubas-Meyer>{{cite news|last1=Kubas-Meyer|first1=Alec|title=Death of ‘Gamer’ Identity: How Hardcore Trolls Pwned Themselves|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/17/death-of-gamer-identity-how-hardcore-trolls-pwned-themselves.html|accessdate=September 22, 2014|publisher=]|date=September 17, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=Ars>{{Cite web | url = http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/09/new-chat-logs-show-how-4chan-users-pushed-gamergate-into-the-national-spotlight/ | title = Chat logs show how 4chan users created #GamerGate controversy | publisher = ] | date = September 9, 2014 | accessdate = September 14, 2014 | first = Casey | last = Johnson }}</ref>
<ref name=Vox>{{cite web|last1=VanDerWerff |first1=Todd|title=#GamerGate: Here's why everybody in the video game world is fighting|url=http://www.vox.com/2014/9/6/6111065/gamergate-explained-everybody-fighting|publisher=Vox|accessdate=December 19, 2014|date=October 13, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=Time>{{cite web| url=http://time.com/3274247/video-game-culture-war/| title=Sexism, Lies, and Video Games: The Culture War Nobody Is Winning| last=Alexander|first=Leigh| work=]| date=September 5, 2014| accessdate=September 7, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=LATimes>{{cite web| url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/games/gamergate-related-controversy-reveals-ugly-side-of-gaming-community/| title=Hero Complex: Gamergate-related controversy reveals ugly side of gaming community| last=Martens|first=Todd| work=]| date=September 6, 2014| accessdate=September 7, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=BBC>{{cite web| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-29028236| title=Gamers take a stand against misogyny after death threats| last=Rawlinson|first=Kevin| work=]| date=September 2, 2014| accessdate=September 7, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=DailyDot>{{cite web| url=http://www.dailydot.com/geek/zoe-quinn-outs-4chan-behind-gamergate/| title=Zoe Quinn claims 4chan was behind GamerGate the whole time| last=Romano|first=Aja| work=]| date=September 6, 2014| accessdate=September 7, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="gs fish">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/articles/phil-fish-selling-rights-to-fez-after-being-hacked/1100-6421882/ | title = Phil Fish Selling Rights to Fez After Being Hacked | publisher = ] | date= August 23, 2014 | accessdate = September 6, 2014 | first = Emanuel | last = Maiberg }}</ref>
<ref name=GuardianKS>{{cite web | url = http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/03/gamergate-corruption-games-anita-sarkeesian-zoe-quinn | title = Gamergate: the community is eating itself but there should be room for all | first = Keith | last = Stuart | date = September 3, 2014 | accessdate = September 14, 2014 | work = ]}}</ref>
<ref name=GuardianJF>{{cite web| url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/01/how-to-attack-a-woman-who-works-in-video-games| title=How to attack a woman who works in video gaming| first=Jenn| last=Frank| work=]| date=September 1, 2014| accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="EscapistSubertInterview">{{cite interview|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/gamergate-interviews/12390-Damion-Schubert-GamerGate-Interview|title="Damion Schubert" GamerGate Interview|last=Schubert|first=Damion|interviewer=|date=October 10, 2014|work=]|accessdate=December 21, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="telegraph">{{cite web | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11082629/Gamergate-Misogyny-death-threats-and-a-mob-of-angry-trolls-Inside-the-dark-world-of-video-games.html | title = Misogyny, death threats and a mob of trolls: Inside the dark world of video games with Zoe Quinn — target of #GamerGate | first = Radhika | last = Sanghani | date = September 10, 2014 | accessdate = September 14, 2014 | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name=KotakuRefuted>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/in-recent-days-ive-been-asked-several-times-about-a-pos-1624707346|title=In recent days I've been asked several times|first=Stephen|last=Totilo|publisher=]|date=August 20, 2014|accessdate=September 10, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="slate">{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/bitwise/2014/09/gamergate_explodes_gaming_journalists_declare_the_gamers_are_over_but_they.html|title=Gaming Journalism Is Over|last=Auerbach|first=David|publisher=]|date=September 9, 2014|accessdate=September 14, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="TheStar">{{cite web | url = http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2012/07/10/gamer_campaign_against_anita_sarkeesian_catches_toronto_feminist_in_crossfire.html | publisher = TheStar.com | title = Gamer campaign against Anita Sarkeesian catches Toronto feminist in crossfire | first = Katherine | last = Fernandez-Blance | date = July 10, 2012 |accessdate=September 10, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="TorontoExclusive">{{cite web | url = http://www.torontostandard.com/technology/exclusive-anita-sarkeesian-responds-to-beat-up-game-online-harassment-and-stephanie-guthries-death-threats | publisher = Toronto Standard | title = EXCLUSIVE: Anita Sarkeesian Responds to Beat Up Game, Online Harassment, and Death Threats on Stephanie Guthrie | first = Sheena | last = Lyonnais | date = July 10, 2012 |accessdate=September 10, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=APGN>{{cite interview|subject=The Fine Young Capitalists|subjectlink=The Fine Young Capitalists|url=http://apgnation.com/archives/2014/09/09/6977/truth-gaming-interview-fine-young-capitalists|title=#GamerGate: An Interview with The Fine Young Capitalists| interviewer=Nicole Seraphita | work=APGNation|accessdate=September 16, 2014|date=September 9, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=PolygonFBI>{{Cite web | url =http://www.polygon.com/2014/9/4/6105185/fbi-game-developer-harassment | title = FBI working with game developer association to combat online harassment | first = Brian | last = Crecente | date = September 4, 2014 | accessdate = September 15, 2014 | publisher = ] }}</ref>
<ref name=VoxConfuse>{{Cite web | url = http://www.vox.com/xpress/2014/9/15/6149965/gamergate-explained-short | title = The confusion around #GamerGate explained, in three short paragraphs | publisher = ] | date = September 15, 2014 | accessdate = September 15, 2014 | first = Todd | last = VanDerWerff }}</ref>
<ref name=VergeXOXO>{{cite web|last=Newton|first=Casey|url=http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/13/6145169/anita-sarkeesian-shares-the-most-radical-thing-you-can-do-to-support|title=Anita Sarkeesian shares the most radical thing you can do to support women online|date=September 13, 2014|work=]|accessdate=September 15, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=MetalEater1>{{cite web|url=http://metaleater.com/video-games/feature/gamers-live-an-in-depth-analysis-of-gamergate|title=Gamers Live: An In-Depth Analysis of GamerGate |first=Liana |last=Kerzner |work=MetalEater.com |date=September 12, 2014|accessdate=September 15, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="gamesindustry women">{{Cite web | url = http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-04-24-women-increasing-representation-among-us-gamers-esa | title = Women increasing representation among US gamers - ESA | publisher = ] | date = April 24, 2014 | accessdate = January 8, 2015 | first = Brendan | last = Sinclair }}</ref>
<ref name=goldman>{{cite news|url=http://www.onthemedia.org/story/my-attempt-write-about-gamergate/|title=My Attempt To Write About "Gamergate"|first=Alex | last = Goldman|work=]|accessdate=September 15, 2014|date=September 5, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=Vice>{{cite news|last1=Ringo|first1=Allegra|title=Meet the Female Gamer Mascot Born of Anti-Feminist Internet Drama|url=http://www.vice.com/read/meet-the-female-gamer-mascot-created-by-anti-feminists-828|accessdate=September 16, 2014|publisher='']''|date=August 28, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=ViceQuinn>{{cite web| url=http://www.vice.com/read/we-talked-to-zoe-quinn-about-whats-next-for-the-gaming-world-999| title=Zoe Quinn Told Us What Being Targeted By Every Troll In The World Feels Like| first=Mike| last=Pearl| work=]| date=September 12, 2014| accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=Plunkett>{{cite news|last1=Plunkett|first1=Luke|title=We Might Be Witnessing The 'Death of An Identity'|url=http://kotaku.com/we-might-be-witnessing-the-death-of-an-identity-1628203079|accessdate=September 22, 2014|publisher=]|date=August 28, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=Gamasutra>{{cite news|last1=Alexander|first1=Leigh|title='Gamers' don't have to be your audience. 'Gamers' are over.|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/224400/Gamers_dont_have_to_be_your_audience_Gamers_are_over.php|accessdate=September 22, 2014|publisher=]|date=August 28, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=Johnston>{{cite news|last1=Johnston|first1=Casey|title=The death of the "gamers" and the women who "killed" them|url=http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/08/the-death-of-the-gamers-and-the-women-who-killed-them/|accessdate=September 22, 2014|publisher=]|date=August 28, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=ErikKain>{{cite news|last1=Kain|first1=Erik|title=The Gamer Is Dead: Long Live The Gamer|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/09/01/the-gamer-is-dead-long-live-the-gamer/|accessdate=September 22, 2014|publisher=]|date=September 1, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=LeMonde>{{cite news| url=http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2014/09/15/derriere-le-gamersgate-un-groupe-antifeministe_4485191_4408996.html| last=Audureau|first=William| title=Derrière le #GamerGate, une nébuleuse antiféministe| accessdate=September 26, 2014| publisher=]| date=September 15, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Marketplace">{{cite interview|url=http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/questions-raised-over-bullying-gaming-community|title=Questions raised over bullying in the gaming community|last=Hale|first=Jennifer|interviewer=Noel King|date=September 10, 2014|work=]|accessdate=September 22, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="ars swatting">{{cite web | url = http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/01/8chan-tries-swatting-gamergate-critic-sends-cops-to-an-old-address/ | title = 8chan user offers to “swat” GamerGate critic, cops sent to an old address | first = Nathan | last = Mattise | date = January 4, 2015 | accessdate = January 13, 2015 | publisher = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="guardian swatting">{{cite web | url = http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/13/gamergate-hits-new-low-with-attempts-to-send-swat-teams-to-critics | title = Gamergate hits new low with attempts to send Swat teams to critics | work = ] | date= January 13, 2015 | accessdate = January 13, 2015 | first = Alex | last = Hern }}</ref>
<ref name=TheIndependent>{{cite web | title= Zoe Quinn and the orchestrated campaign of harassment from some 'gamers' | last=Mendelsohn|first=Tom| publisher=] | date= September 5, 2014 | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/zoe-quinn-and-the-orchestrated-campaign-of-harassment-from-some-gamers-9715427.html|accessdate=September 10, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=TC2>{{cite web | url=http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/25/gamergate-an-issue-with-2-sides/ | title=#GamerGate – An Issue With Two Sides | last=Bokhari|first=Allum| publisher=] | accessdate= September 27, 2014|date=September 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=MetalEater2>{{cite web|url=http://metaleater.com/video-games/feature/the-darker-side-of-gamergate|title=The Darker Side of GamerGate|last=Kerzner|first=Liana|work=MetalEater.com|date=September 29, 2014|accessdate=September 30, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=TheWeek>{{cite web|last=Cooper|first=Ryan|url=http://theweek.com/article/index/267333/how-to-stop-misogynists-from-terrorizing-the-world-of-gamers|title=How to stop misogynists from terrorizing the world of gamers|work=]|date=September 2, 2014|accessdate=October 1, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=IPR>{{cite web|last1=Kieffer|first1=Ben|last2=Woodbury|first2=Emily|url=http://iowapublicradio.org/post/engaging-gamergate-there-fear-going-it-woman|title=Engaging in #GamerGate: "There is that fear going into it, as a woman"|publisher=]|date=September 30, 2014|accessdate=October 1, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=VergeFish>{{Cite web | url = http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/27/4563738/fez-ii-abruptly-canceled-after-developer-phil-fish-explodes-in-rage | title = 'Fez II' abruptly canceled after developer Phil Fish explodes in rage on Twitter | first = Sean | last = Hollister | publisher = ] | date = August 27, 2014 | accessdate = September 19, 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name=FishPaste>{{cite news|last1=Vorel|first1=Jim|title=Fez Creator Phil Fish and Polytron Corporation Hacked, Doxxed|url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/08/fez-creator-phil-fish-and-polytron-corporation-hac-1.html|accessdate=October 2, 2014|publisher=]|date=August 22, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=DailyFish>{{cite news|last1=Romano|first1=Aja|title=4chan hacks and doxes Zoe Quinn's biggest supporter|url=http://www.dailydot.com/geek/4chan-hacks-phil-fish-over-his-defense-of-zoe-quinn/|accessdate=October 2, 2014|publisher=]|date=August 22, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=NPR>{{Cite web | url = http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/09/24/349835297/-gamergate-controversy-fuels-debate-on-women-and-video-games | title = #Gamergate Controversy Fuels Debate On Women And Video Games | first = Nate | last = Rott | date = September 24, 2014 | accessdate = September 25, 2014 | publisher = ] | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name=DBMarcotte>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/22/gaming-misogyny-gets-infinite-lives-zoe-quinn-virtual-rape-and-sexism.html|title=Gaming Misogyny Gets Infinite Lives: Zoe Quinn, Virtual Rape, and Sexism|work=]|last=Marcotte|first=Amanda|date=August 22, 2014|accessdate=October 2, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="NYTimesIntelBoycott">{{cite web | url = http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/02/intel-pulls-ads-from-site-after-gamergate-boycott/ | title = Intel Pulls Ads from Site After ‘Gamergate’ Boycott | first = Nick |last = Wingfield | date = October 2, 2014 | accessdate= October 2, 2014 | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="GIBizIntel">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-10-03-game-devs-urge-you-to-write-intel-in-response-to-gamergate | title = Game devs urge you to write Intel in response to #GamerGate | first = James | last= Brightman | date = October 3, 2014 | accessdate =October 3, 2014 | publisher = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="VergeIntelStatement">{{cite web | url = http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/3/6906025/intel-issues-apology-after-backlash-from-gamergate-opponents | title = Intel issues apology after backlash from #GamerGate opponents | publisher = ] | date =October 3, 2014 | accessdate = October 3, 2014 | first = Kwame | last = Opam }}</ref>
<ref name=vergestop>{{cite web|last=Sottek|first=T.C.|url=http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/8/6919179/stop-supporting-gamergate|title=Stop supporting Gamergate|date=October 8, 2014|work=]|accessdate=October 9, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Ryan Cooper Week">{{cite web | url = http://theweek.com/article/index/269377/intels-awful-capitulation-to-gamergates-sexist-thugs | title = Intel's awful capitulation to #gamergate's sexist thugs | first = Ryan | last = Cooper | date = October 7, 2014 | accessdate = October 9, 2014 | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="nytimes usu threat">{{cite news | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/16/technology/gamergate-women-video-game-threats-anita-sarkeesian.html | title = Feminist Critics of Video Games Facing Threats in ‘GamerGate’ Campaign | first = Nick | last = Wingfield | date = October 15, 2014 | accessdate = October 24, 2014 | work =] }}</ref>
<ref name="metro what is gg">{{cite news | url = http://metro.co.uk/2014/10/15/gamergate-what-is-it-and-why-are-gamers-so-angry-4907102/ | title = GamerGate – what is it, and why are gamers so angry? | first = Rob | last = Waugh | date = October 15, 2014 | accessdate = October 24, 2014 | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="columbia journalism review">{{Cite web | url = http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/gamergate.php | title = How do we know what we know about #Gamergate? | work = ] | date = October 23, 2014 | accessdate = October 24, 2014 | first = Chris | last = Ip }}</ref>
<ref name="AnitaUSUCNN">{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/15/tech/utah-anita-sarkeesian-threat/index.html|title=Anita Sarkeesian cancels Utah State speech after threat — CNN.com|last1=Ahmed|first1=Saeed|first2=Tony|last2=Marco|date=October 15, 2014|work=]|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=AnitaUSUBBC>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-29626809|title=BBC News — Feminist video-games talk cancelled after massacre threat|work=]|last=Kelion|first=Leo|date=October 15, 2014|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=AnitaUSUGuardian>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/15/anita-sarkeesian-feminist-games-critic-cancels-talk|title=Feminist games critic cancels talk after terror threat|first=Alex|last=Hern|work=]|date=October 15, 2014|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=HJFBI>{{cite news |last=Opsahl |first=Kevin |url=http://news.hjnews.com/allaccess/usu-awaits-fbi-report-on-sarkeesian-death-threat/article_87f4d88c-8332-11e4-80f4-5f738c57bca5.html |title=USU awaits FBI report on Sarkeesian death threat |work=] |location=Logan, Utah |date=December 13, 2014 |accessdate=January 5, 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="wapost felicia day">{{cite news | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/10/24/gamergate-targets-felicia-day-after-she-expresses-fear-of-being-targeted/ | title = Gamergate targets Felicia Day after she expresses fear of being targeted | work = ] | date = October 24, 2014 | accessdate = October 24, 2014 | first = Soraya Nadia | last = McDonald }}</ref>
<ref name="pcmag about gg">{{cite web | url = http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2470723,00.asp | title = Everything You Never Wanted to Know About GamerGate | first = Chandra | last = Steele | date = October 21, 2014 | accessdate = October 24, 2014 | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name=WuBoston>{{cite news|last=Caesar |first=Chris |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/10/11/video-game-developer-twitter-rape-death-threats-forced-from-home/FjC4cjeqwEDxWFeeVpyWSP/story.html|title=Video Game Developer: Twitter Rape, Death Threats Forced Me From Home|work=]|publisher=]|date=October 11, 2014|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=WuVenture>{{cite web|last=Grubb|first=Jeff|url=http://venturebeat.com/2014/10/10/game-developer-brianna-wu-leaves-home-after-receiving-death-threats-for-speaking-out-in-support-of-women/|title=Game developer Brianna Wu leaves home after receiving death threats for speaking out in support of women|work=]|accessdate=October 25, 2014|date=October 10, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=WuGuardian>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/17/brianna-wu-gamergate-human-cost|title=Brianna Wu and the human cost of Gamergate: 'every woman I know in the industry is scared'|first=Keith|last=Stuart|work=]|accessdate=October 25, 2014|date=October 11, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=DayGuardian>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/23/felicia-days-public-details-online-gamergate|title=Felicia Day's public details put online after she described Gamergate fears|first=Alex|last=Hern|work=]|accessdate=October 25, 2014|date=October 23, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=DayTime>{{cite web|url=http://time.com/3535619/felicia-day-writes-about-gamergate-gets-information-hacked/|title=Felicia Day Writes About #GamerGate, Gets Information Hacked|first=Eliana|last=Dockterman|work=]|date=October 23, 2014|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=DayCNN>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/23/living/felicia-day-gamergate/|title=Actress harassed online over #Gamergate|last=Griggs|first=Brandon|date=October 24, 2014|work=]|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="cjr gawker">{{cite web |url=http://www.cjr.org/the_kicker/gawker_bullying.php |title=Gawker: The internet bully |last=Grieco |first=Sarah |work=] |date=October 24, 2014 |accessdate=January 12, 2015 }}</ref>
<ref name=waposuccess>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/10/20/inside-gamergates-successful-attack-on-the-media/|title=Inside Gamergate’s (successful) attack on the media|work=]|last=Dewey|first=Caitlin|date=October 20, 2014|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=Adage>{{cite web| url=http://adage.com/article/digital/gamergate-puts-advertisers-a-bad-spot/295555/| title=How Brands Should React to Gamergate: Don't| first=Alex| last=Kantrowitz| work=]| date=October 24, 2014| accessdate=November 10, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="boingboing chanculture">{{Cite web | url = http://boingboing.net/2014/12/31/how-imageboard-culture-shaped.html | title = How imageboard culture shaped Gamergate | first = Jay | last = Allen | date = December 31, 2014 | accessdate = January 13, 2015 | publisher = ] }}</ref>
<ref name=TelegraphDyson>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/11289690/Dyson-rejects-Gamergate-returns-advertising-to-Gawker.html|title=Dyson rejects Gamergate, returns advertising to Gawker|last=Douglas|first=Ian|work=]|date=December 12, 2014|accessdate=December 12, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=vergeadobe>{{cite web|url=http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/21/7030613/adobe-asks-gawker-to-remove-logo-after-gamergate-complaints|title=Adobe's symbolic pro-Gamergate gesture frustrates victims|last=Robertson|first=Adi|date=October 21, 2014|work=]|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=arsadobe>{{cite web|url=http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/10/after-gamergate-tweet-adobe-distances-itself-from-gawker-bullying/|title=After #GamerGate tweet, Adobe distances itself from Gawker "bullying" [Updated]|work=]|last=Machkovech|first=Sam|date=October 21, 2014|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=biadobe>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/adobe-pulls-gawker-sponsorship-2014-10|title=Adobe Pulls Gawker Sponsorship After A Writer Tweeted A Joke About Bullying In The Gaming Industry|date=October 22, 2014|work=]|last=Levy|first=Karyne|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=BostonGlobe>{{cite web|last=Singal|first=Jesse|url=http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2014/09/20/gaming-summer-rage/VNMeHYTc5ZKoBixYHzi1JL/story.html|title=Gaming's summer of rage|work=]|date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="NYMag">{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/10/gamergate-should-stop-lying-to-itself.html|title=Gamergate Should Stop Lying to Itself|last=Singal|first=Jesse|date=October 20, 2014|work=]|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=TeleStuart>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/11180510/gamergate-misogynist-felicia-day-zoe-quinn-brianna-wu.html|title=#GamerGate: the misogynist movement blighting the video games industry — Telegraph|last=Stuart|first=Bob|date=October 24, 2014|work=]|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=Ambinder>{{cite web|url=http://theweek.com/article/index/270543/gamergate-might-be-gaming-sexisms-waterloo|title=Gamergate might be gaming sexism's Waterloo|last=Ambinder|first=Marc|work=]|date=October 24, 2014|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="wapost esa">{{cite news| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/10/15/the-game-industrys-top-trade-group-just-spoke-out-against-gamergate/ | title = The game industry’s top trade group just spoke out against Gamergate | first = Hayley | last = Tsukayama | date = October 15, 2014 | accessdate = October 24, 2014 | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name=NYTSuellentrop>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/26/opinion/sunday/the-disheartening-gamergate-campaign.html|title=Can Video Games Survive? The Disheartening GamerGate Campaign|last=Suellentrop|first=Chris|date=October 26, 2014|work=]|accessdate=October 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="right wing">{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/13/gamergate-right-wing-no-neutral-stance|title=Gamergate's vicious right-wing swell means there can be no neutral stance|last=Stone|first=Jon|date=October 13, 2014|work=]|accessdate=October 26, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=Ronan>{{cite interview|url=http://www.msnbc.com/ronan-farrow-daily/watch/exclusive--woman-who-sparked-gamergate-345327171549|title=Exclusive: Woman who sparked Gamergate|last=Quinn|first=Zoe|interviewer=Ronan Farrow|program=]|publisher=]|date=October 20, 2014|accessdate=October 26, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="OTMGrant">{{cite news|url=http://www.onthemedia.org/story/codemning-gamergate/|title=Condemning #GamerGate|last=Garfield|first=Bob|authorlink=Bob Garfield|date=October 20, 2014|work=]|date=October 24, 2014|accessdate=October 27, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Sandberg">{{cite web |url=http://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/2014/12/limiting-the-damage-from-cultures-in-collision/ |title=Limiting the damage from cultures in collision |last=Sandberg |first=Anders |authorlink=Anders Sandberg |work=Practical Ethics |publisher=] |date=December 4, 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="adobe recode">{{cite web|url=http://recode.net/2014/10/22/adobe-distances-self-from-gawker-after-writers-gamergate-tweet/|title=Adobe Distances Itself From Gawker After Writer’s Gamergate Tweet|work=Re/code|date=October 22, 2014|last=Johnson|first=Eric|accessdate=October 27, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=GJPresponse>{{cite news|last1=Orland|first1=Kyle|title=Addressing allegations of "collusion" among gaming journalists|url=http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/09/addressing-allegations-of-collusion-among-gaming-journalists/|work=]|date=September 18, 2014|accessdate=October 28, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=EscapistDDos>{{cite news|last1=Kain|first1=Erik|title=The Escapist #GamerGate Forums Brought Down In DDoS Attack|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/09/20/the-escapist-forums-brought-down-in-ddos-attack/|accessdate=October 28, 2014|publisher=]|date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=CathyYoung>{{cite news|first=Cathy|last=Young|authorlink=Cathy Young|title=GamerGate: Part I: Sex, Lies, and Gender Games|url=http://reason.com/archives/2014/10/12/gamergate-part-i-sex-lies-and-gender-gam|accessdate=October 28, 2014|work=]|date=October 12, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=Tsukayama>{{cite news|last1=Tsukayama|first1=Hayley|title=How some Gamergate supporters say the controversy could stop "in one week"|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/10/24/how-some-gamergate-supporters-say-the-controversy-could-stop-in-one-week/|accessdate=October 28, 2014|work=]|date=October 24, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="firstthings">{{cite journal|last1=Givens|first1=Nathaniel|title=Gamergate at the Beginning of 2015|journal=]|date=January 2, 2015|url=http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2015/01/gamergate-at-the-beginning-of-2015|accessdate=January 5, 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=Codd>{{cite news|last1=Codd|first1=Matthew|title=Gamergate supporter receives death threats|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/games/62442166/gamergate-supporter-receives-death-threats.html|accessdate=October 28, 2014|publisher=]|date=October 15, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=Diver>{{cite news|last1=Diver|first1=Mike|title=GamerGate Hate Affects Both Sides, So How About We End It?|url=http://www.vice.com/read/gamergate-hate-affects-both-sides-so-how-about-we-end-it|accessdate=October 28, 2014|publisher=]|date=October 20, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="Newsweek Brandwatch">{{cite web | url = http://www.newsweek.com/gamergate-about-media-ethics-or-harassing-women-harassment-data-show-279736 | title =Is GamerGate About Media Ethics or Harassing Women? Harassment, the Data Shows | first = Taylor | last= Wofford | date = October 25, 2014 | accessdate = October 28, 2014 | work =] }}</ref>
<ref name=AdobeClarify>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.adobe.com/conversations/2014/10/when-anti-bullying-efforts-backfire.html|title=When anti-bullying efforts backfire|publisher=]|date=October 28, 2014|accessdate=October 28, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=GGJargon>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Eric|title=Understanding the Jargon of Gamergate|url=http://recode.net/2014/10/10/understanding-the-jargon-of-gamergate/|accessdate=October 28, 2014|publisher=Re/code|date=October 10, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=FudgeResponse>{{cite news|last1=Fudge|first1=James|title=Editorial: The Truth About GamerGate and GameJournoPros|url=http://www.gamepolitics.com/2014/10/15/editorial-truth-about-gamergate-and-gamejournpros#.VE7UMRaJnct|accessdate=October 28, 2014|publisher=Game Politics|date=October 15, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=copyvio>{{cite web|url=http://motherboard.vice.com/read/dear-gamergate-please-stop-stealing-our-shit|title=Dear GamerGate: Please Stop Stealing Our Shit |last=Koebler|first=Jason|date=October 29, 2014|work=Motherboard|publisher=]|accessdate=October 30, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="bbc gg condemned">{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-29821050 | title = Zoe Quinn: GamerGate must be condemned | first = Dave | last = Lee | date = October 30, 2014 | accessdate = October 30, 2014 | publisher = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="op baby seal vox">{{Cite web |url = http://www.vox.com/2014/10/30/7130683/gamergate-gawker-destroy | title = #GamerGate's scary plan to wipe Gawker Media from the face of the Earth | publisher = ] | date = October 30, 2014 | accessdate = October 30, 2014 | first = Todd | last = VanDerWerff }}</ref>
<ref name=BBCQuinnInterview>{{cite interview|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-29821050|title=BBC News — Zoe Quinn: GamerGate must be condemned|work=]|accessdate=October 31, 2014|date=October 29, 2014|last=Quinn|first=Zoe|interviewer=Dave Lee}}</ref>
<ref name=VergeDay>{{cite web|url=http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/23/7047647/felicia-day-response-shows-why-good-gamergate-is-still-hurting-people|title=Gamergate can't stop being about harassment|last=Robertson|first=Adi|date=October 23, 2014|work=]|accessdate=October 31, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-29642313|title=BBC News — Twitter and the poisoning of online debate|work=]|date=October 16, 2014|last=Cellan-Jones|first=Rory|accessdate=October 31, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=VoxLose>{{cite web|url=http://www.vox.com/2014/10/23/7044593/gamergate|title=#GamerGate has won a few battles. It will lose the war. - Vox|date=October 23, 2014|work=Vox|last=VanDerWerff|first=Todd|accessdate=October 31, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=WiredHudson>{{cite web|url=http://www.wired.com/2014/10/the-secret-about-gamergate-is-that-it-cant-stop-progress/|title=Gamergate Goons Can Scream All They Want, But They Can't Stop Progress — WIRED|work=WIRED|date=October 21, 2014|last=Hudson|first=Laura|accessdate=October 31, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=WaPoRosenberg>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2014/10/29/gamergate-reopens-the-debate-over-video-games-as-art/|title=Gamergate reopens the debate over video games as art|work=]|date=October 29, 2014|last=Rosenberg|first=Alyssa|accessdate=October 31, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=Colbert>{{cite web|url=http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/video-playlists/j0zpbx/the-colbert-report-11015-highlights/wr7hqq|title=The Colbert Report 11015 Highlights — Video Clips — The Colbert Report — Comedy Central|publisher=]|work=]|date=October 29, 2014|accessdate=October 31, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=CinemaBlendEscapist>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Escapist-Destructoid-Update-Their-Policies-Ethics-Light-GamerGate-67219.html|title=The Escapist, Destructoid Update Their Policies, Ethic In Light of #GamerGate|first=William|last=Usher|publisher=CinemaBlend|date=September 15, 2014|accessdate=September 16, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="businessweek wu twitter">{{cite web | url = http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-14/a-no-gamergate-target-wants-twitter-to-make-harrassment-harder | title = A #GamerGate Target Wants Twitter to Make Harassment Harder | first = Joshua | last = Brustein | date = October 14, 2014 | accessdate = November 5, 2014 | work = ]}}</ref>
<ref name="atlantic twitter">{{cite web | url = http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/10/the-existential-crisis-of-public-life-online/382017/ | title = The Existential Crisis of Public Life Online | first = Robinson | last = Meyer | date = October 30, 2014 | accessdate = November 5, 2014 | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="mj april2014">{{Cite web | url = http://www.motherjones.com/media/2014/04/open-internet-closed-to-women | title = How the Cult of Internet Openness Enables Misogyny | first = Astra | last = Taylor | date = April 10, 2014 | accessdate = November 5, 2014 | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="Guardian 2015-01-11">{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Helen |authorlink=Helen Lewis (journalist) |url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/11/gamergate-a-brief-history-of-a-computer-age-war |title=Gamergate: a brief history of a computer-age war |work=] |date=January 11, 2015 |accessdate=January 19, 2015 }}</ref>
<ref name="gdc misogyny 2012">{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-21-misogyny-racism-and-homophobia-where-do-video-games-stand | title = Misogyny, racism and homophobia: where do video games stand? | first = Robert | last = Purchase | date = March 21, 2014 | accessdate = November 5, 2014 | publisher = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="wu reward">{{Cite web | url= http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-11-03-wu-offers-usd11k-for-harassment-conviction | title = Wu offers $11K for harassment conviction | first = Rachel | last= Weber | date = November 3, 2014 | accessdate = November 5, 2014 | publisher = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="SLT ALberty101614">{{cite news|url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58529300-78/sarkeesian-threats-usu-austin.html.csp|title=Feminist media critic calls for boycott of Utah campuses | publisher=The Salt Lake Tribune | last=Alberty|first=Erin|date=October 16, 2014|work=]|accessdate=November 2, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="wsj twitter wam">{{Cite web | url = http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/11/07/new-online-tool-lets-twitter-users-report-harassment/ | title = New Online Tool Lets Twitter Users Report Harassment | first = Brian | last = Fitzgerald | date = November 7, 2014 | accessdate = November 7, 2014 | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="CSM 2015-01-20">{{cite news |last=Mendoza |first=Jessica |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Tech-Culture/2015/0120/Online-harassment-targets-strike-back-against-abusers.-Will-it-work |title=Online harassment targets strike back against abusers. Will it work? |work=] |date=January 20, 2015 |accessdate=January 21, 2015 }}</ref>
<ref name="Verge 2015-01-17">{{Cite web | url = http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/17/7628567/crash-override | title = Crash Override wants to help survivors of Gamergate and other online abuse | publisher = ] | date = January 17, 2015 | accessdate = January 17, 2015 | first = T.C. | last = Sottek }}</ref>
<ref name=VergeDead>{{cite web | url = http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/30/7131931/gamergate-is-dead Gamergate is dead | title = Gamergate is Dead | first = Chris | last = Plante | publisher = ] | date = October 30, 2014 | accessdate = November 7, 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name=CNet>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/blizzard-on-online-harassment-its-tarnishing-our-reputation-as-gamers/|title=Blizzard on online harassment: It's tarnishing our reputation as gamers|last=Sherr|first=Ian|publisher=]|date=November 7, 2014|accessdate=November 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name=joystiqblizzcon>{{cite web|url=http://i.wow.joystiq.com/2014/11/07/blizzcon-opening-ceremony-liveblog/|title=BlizzCon Opening Ceremony liveblog|last=Ziebart|first=Alex|publisher=]|date=November 7, 2014|accessdate=November 7, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="develop harassment">{{cite web | url = http://www.develop-online.net/analysis/games-developers-must-fight-internet-abuse-together/0199849 | title = Games developers must fight internet abuse together | first = James | last= Batchelor | date = November 10, 2014 | accessdate = November 10, 2014 | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="inside higher ed digra">{{cite web | url = https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/11/11/gamergate-supporters-attack-digital-games-research-association | title = #Gamergate and Games Research | first = Carl | last = Straumsheim | date= November 11, 2014 | accessdate = November 11, 2014 | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name=MaxRead>{{cite web|url=http://gawker.com/how-we-got-rolled-by-the-dishonest-fascists-of-gamergat-1649496579|title=How We Got Rolled by the Dishonest Fascists of Gamergate|last=Read|first=Max|work=]|date=October 22, 2014|accessdate=November 12, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=GGBackfiresWeek>{{cite web|url=http://theweek.com/article/index/270115/gamergate-has-backfired-spectacularly-on-its-nincompoop-perpetrators|title=Gamergate has backfired spectacularly on its nincompoop perpetrators|last=Cooper|first=Ryan|work=]|date=October 17, 2014|accessdate=November 18, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="UWiscCulver">{{cite web |url=http://ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/2015/01/03/a-magical-putter-and-the-year-in-media-ethics/ |title=A Magical Putter and the Year in Media Ethics |last=Culver |first=Kathleen Bartzen |work=Center for Journalism Ethics |publisher=] |date=January 3, 2015 }}</ref>
<ref name=ColbertVerge>{{cite web|url=http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/30/7130191/stephen-colbert-takes-on-gamergate-with-anita-sarkeesian|title=Stephen Colbert takes on Gamergate with Anita Sarkeesian|last=McCormick|first=Rich|work=]|date=October 30, 2014|accessdate=November 18, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=WaPoColbert>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/10/30/how-media-critic-anita-sarkeesian-turned-stephen-colbert-into-a-feminist/|title=How media critic Anita Sarkeesian turned Stephen Colbert into a feminist|last=McDonald|first=Soraya Nadia|work=]|date=October 30, 2014|accessdate=November 18, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=MCVUK>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/morhaime-uses-blizzcon-speech-to-rally-against-gamergate/0141129|title=Morhaime uses Blizzcon speech to rally against GamerGate|last=Parfitt|first=Ben|work=]|date=November 10, 2014|accessdate=November 18, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=PCGamerMM>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/blizzard-ceo-on-gamergate-they-are-tarnishing-our-reputations-as-gamers/|title=Blizzard CEO on GamerGate: "They are tarnishing our reputations as gamers"|last=Wilde|first=Tyler|work=]|date=November 6, 2014|accessdate=November 18, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="sony response">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-11-17-sonys-layden-harassment-completely-unacceptable | title = Sony's Layden: Harassment "completely unacceptable" | first = James | last= Brightman | date = November 17, 2014 | accessdate = November 17, 2014 | publisher = ] }}</ref><ref name="venture sony">{{cite interview | url = http://venturebeat.com/2014/11/17/sonys-north-american-playstation-chief-on-ps4s-dominance-1-year-anniversary-and-gamergate-interview/ | title = Sony’s North American PlayStation chief on PS4’s dominance, 1-year anniversary, and GamerGate (interview)| first = Shawn | last = Layden | date = November 17, 2014 | accessdate = November 18, 2014 | work=]}}</ref>
<ref name="Intel_Telegraph">{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/11231892/Intel-reinstates-advertising-on-Gamasutra-after-Gamergate-campaign.html|title=Intel reinstates advertising on Gamasutra after 'Gamergate' campaign|first=Ian|last=Douglas|work=]|date=November 14, 2014|accessdate=November 18, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=digra_exec>{{cite web|url=http://www.digra.org/digra-and-gamergate/|title=DiGRA and "Gamergate" news release on DiGRA website|date=November 5, 2014|accessdate=November 18, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=csmonitor>{{cite web|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Tech-Culture/2014/1125/Gamergate-and-the-new-horde-of-digital-saboteurs|title=Gamergate and the new horde of digital saboteurs|last=Eördögh|first=Fruzsina|work=]|date=November 25, 2014|accessdate=November 25, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="BusinessWeekSarkessian">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-11-26/anita-sarkeesian-battles-sexism-in-games-gamergate-harassment|title=The Gaming Industry's Greatest Adversary Is Just Getting Started|last=Kolhatkar|first=Sheelah|work=]|publisher=]|date=November 26, 2014|accessdate=November 26, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="gibiz silver lining">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-12-15-gamergates-silver-lining | title = GamerGate's silver lining | first = Brendan | last = Sinclair | date = December 15, 2014 | accessdate= December 18, 2014 | publisher = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="westmanjournal">{{cite news |last=Wasilka |first=Jordan |url=http://www.westmanjournal.com/opinion/columnists/gamergate-righteous-riot-or-misogynist-movement-1.1585480 |title=GamerGate - righteous riot or misogynist movement? |work=] |location=Brandon, Manitoba |date=November 13, 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name=pcgamerdq>{{cite web|last=Savage|first=Phil|title=New batch of Steam Greenlight approvals contains Depression Quest, Tangiers and X-Plane 10|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/new-batch-of-steam-greenlight-approvals-contains-depression-quest-tangiers-and-x-plane-10/|work=]||date=January 7, 2014|accessdate=December 19, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="newsweek FBI">{{cite web | url = http://www.newsweek.com/fbi-has-file-gamergate-293441 | title = The FBI Has a File on Gamergate | first= Taylor | last= Wofford | date = December 19, 2014 | accessdate = December 19, 2014 | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name=Macleans>{{cite web |url=http://www.macleans.ca/society/technology/gamergate-how-a-gamer-fight-turned-into-an-all-out-culture-war/ |title=How a gamer fight turned into an all-out culture war |work=] |date=December 8, 2014 |last=Weinman |first=Jamie |accessdate= December 20, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=KotakuAboutGamerGate>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/about-gamergate-1630707501|title=About GamerGate|last=Totilo|first=Stephen|date=September 5, 2014|work=]|accessdate=October 27, 2014}}</ref>


<ref name="Chu2014">{{cite news|url=http://www.salon.com/2014/11/23/from_stuff_white_people_like_to_notyourshield_how_irony_is_killing_activism/|title=From Stuff White People Like to #NotYourShield: How irony is killing activism|last=Chu|first=Arthur|authorlink=Arthur Chu|date=November 23, 2014|work=]|accessdate=December 20, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="GuardianQvist">{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/dec/19/gamergate-swedish-gaming-companies-tackle-sexism-in-video-games|title=Gamergate: Swedish gaming companies tackle sexism in video games |last=Qvist|first=Bella|date=December 18, 2014|work=]|accessdate=December 20, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="flop">{{cite news|last=Cheng|first=Roger|url=http://www.cnet.com/au/pictures/techs-biggest-flops-and-gaffes-in-2014-pictures/9/|title=Tech's biggest flops and gaffes in 2014 (pictures)|date=November 26, 2014|work=]|accessdate=December 20, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="KernelMag">{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Aja|title=The battle of Gamergate and the future of video games|url=http://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/11195/battle-of-gamergate-2014/|work=]|date=December 21, 2014|accessdate=December 22, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="TelegraphDec3">{{cite web|last=Stuart|first=Keith|title=Zoe Quinn: 'All Gamergate has done is ruin people's lives'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/03/zoe-quinn-gamergate-interview|work=]|date=December 3, 2014|accessdate=December 23, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Bund">{{cite web |url= http://www.derbund.ch/digital/social-media/Der-Gesinnungskrieg-der-Gamer-/story/31132860|title=Der Gesinnungskrieg der Gamer |trans-title=The Gamer's Attitude War|last=Rothenberger |first=Jan|date=October 10, 2014 |publisher= ] |accessdate= January 6, 2015}}</ref>
<ref name="wapo 3 women">{{cite web | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2014/12/31/janay-rice-anita-sarkeesian-and-jackie-three-women-who-made-us-get-mad-in-2014/ | title = Janay Rice, Anita Sarkeesian, and ‘Jackie’: Three women who made us get mad in 2014 | first = Joann | last = Weiner | date = December 31, 2014 | accessdate= January 6, 2015 | work = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="Slate GG2014">{{cite web | url = http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/gaming/features/2014/video_game_club_2014/gamergate_and_the_year_in_video_gaming_2014.html | title = Entry 8: Gamergate is the most expansive real-world ARG in video game history. | first = Jenn | last = Frank | publisher = ] | date = January 5, 2015 | accessdate = January 6, 2015 }}</ref>
<ref name="nightline">{{cite web | url = http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/jumping-gamergate-turns-fearing-life/story?id=28230901&singlePage=true | title = When Jumping into Gamergate Turns into Fearing For Your Life | first1 = Juju | last1 = Chang | first2 = Katie | last2= Yu | publisher = ] | date = January 14, 2015 | accessdate = January 14, 2015 }}</ref>
<ref name="Polygon Intel">{{cite web | url = http://www.polygon.com/2015/1/6/7506021/intel-300m-diversity-investment-support-women-minorities-gamergate | title = Intel pledges $300M investment to bolster women, minority workforce in wake of GamerGate | first = Michael | last = McWhertor | date = January 6, 2015 | accessdate = January 6, 2015 | publisher = ] }}</ref>
<ref name="NYTimes Intel">{{cite news |last=Wingfield |first=Nick |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/07/technology/intel-budgets-300-million-for-diversity.html |title=Intel Budgets $300 Million for Diversity |work=] |date=January 6, 2015 |accessdate=January 7, 2015 }}</ref>
<ref name="canadacom">{{cite news |last=O'Rourke |first=Patrick |url=http://www.canada.com/life/GamerGate+nothing+with+ethics+journalism/10295501/story.html |title=GamerGate has nothing to do with ethics in journalism |work=Canada.com |publisher=] |date=October 23, 2014 |accessdate=January 23, 2015 }}</ref>
<ref name="smh baldwin supernova">{{cite web | url = http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/about-town/fans-divided-over-adam-baldwins-supanova-gigs-in-perth-and-sydney-20150124-12x9ad.html | title = Fans divided over Adam Baldwin's Supanova gigs in Perth and Sydney | first = Candice | last = Barnes | date = January 24, 2015 | accessdate = January 24, 2015 | work = ] }}</ref>





































}}

Werchter

2015-01-26T03:42:06Z

Lifebaka: some copyediting, add a barebones infobox, add some population data, add section for references

{{refimprove|date=August 2007}}
{{Infobox Belgium settlement
|name=Werchter
|nis=24094
|municipality=]
|population=3443
|population_as_of=1 January, 2013
|population_ref=<ref name="Population">{{cite web|url=http://www.rotselaar.be/Index.aspx?SGREF=3974|title=Bevolkingscijfers|publisher=The Municipality of Rotselaar|accessdate=2015-01-25|language=Dutch}}</ref>
|lat_deg=50
|lat_min=58
|lon_deg=4
|lon_min=42}}
'''Werchter''' is a small ] in ] which has been part of the municipality of ] since 1 January 1977. It is the site of ] and the birthplace of painter ]. The origin of the Werchter's name is unknown, but is thought to be related to water.<ref name="History">{{cite web
|url=http://www.rotselaar.be/Index.aspx?SGREF=3955
|title=Geschiedenis
|publisher=The Municipality of Rotselaar
|accessdate=2007-07-05
|language=Dutch
}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{coord|50|58|N|4|42|E|region:BE_type:city|display=title}}

]

{{FlemishBrabant-geo-stub}}

Misplaced Pages:Deletion review/Log/2015 January 24

2015-01-26T01:37:21Z

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<noinclude>{{Deletion review log header}}</noinclude>
===]===


====]====
:{{DRV links|Template:Infobox Cambridge college|xfd_page=Misplaced Pages:Templates for discussion/Log/2014 November 29|article=}}
Poor, non-admin closure which does not address the issues raised in the discussion and appears to merely count "votes". Closer has refused my request to rectify this. Should perhaps have been re-listed. {{unsigned|2=12:34, January 24, 2015‎|1=Pigsonthewing}}
*'''Endorse''' was a reasonable non-admin close. There was literally no support for this merger and real objections to the merger were raised (differences between Hall and College, what to name it). I don't see how else this could have been closed. It was listed for a long time already, so I don't see relist as an option. ] (]) 14:46, 24 January 2015 (UTC)
*'''Endorse''' I frown upon NACs in general, but in this case it was a reasonable judegment of the consensus of the discussion. ] (]) 15:03, 24 January 2015 (UTC)
*'''Endorse''' A closing rationale is generally intended to explain how the closer weighted the !votes – there is no need to comment on the underlying issues. In this case I think the closer handled things perfectly well. As for relisting, the only contribution to the discussion this year asked for someone to close the discussion. ] (]) 16:54, 24 January 2015 (UTC)
*'''Endorse''' I think the closer got the decision right. I don't see the need to re-open this. Canuck89 ] 05:54, January 25, 2015 (UTC)

Magic: The Gathering

2014-04-08T01:08:33Z

Lifebaka: /* Constructed */ remove failed verification template; that information is absolutely in that source; minor fix

{{External links|date=March 2014}}

{{Infobox game
| name= ''Magic: the Gathering''
| italic title= yes
| image_link= ]
| image_caption = ''Magic: The Gathering'''s card back design | designer= ]
| publisher= ]
| players= 2 or more
| ages= 13 and up
| random_chance= Some (order of cards drawn, various card abilities)
| bggid=463
}}
'''''Magic: The Gathering''''' ('''''MTG'''''; also known as '''''Magic''''') is a ] created by ] and first published in 1993 by ]. ''Magic'' was the first trading card game produced and it continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players {{As of|2011|lc=yes}}.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/21471.html
| title = 'Magic' Doubled Since 2008
| accessdate = November 10, 2011
| author = ICv2
| date = November 9, 2011
| quote = For the more than 12 million players around the world
}} Note that the "twelve million" figure given here is used by Hasbro; while through their subsidiary Wizards of the Coast they would be in the best position to know through tournament registrations and card sales, they also have an interest in presenting an optimistic estimate to the public.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-10000/first-modern-trading-card-game/ |title=First modern trading card game |year = 2013 | accessdate=July 16, 2013 |publisher=Guinness World Records}}</ref><ref name="UofW">
{{Citation
| last =Kotha
| first =Suresh
| title =Wizards of the Coast
| date = 1998-10-19
| url=http://faculty.bschool.washington.edu/skotha/website/cases%20pdf/Wizards%20of%20the%20coast%201.4.pdf
| accessdate=2013-08-11
}}</ref><ref name="WILLIAMS">
{{Citation
| last =Williams
| first =J. Patrick
| title =Gaming as Culture: Essays on Reality, Identity and Experience in Fantasy Games
| date = 2007-05-02
| url=http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/home/patrick.williams/PDFs/Williams%20-%20CSGs.pdf
| accessdate=2013-08-11
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/company/downloads/Magic_Fact_Sheet_Aug09.pdf |title=Magic: The Gathering Fact Sheet |year = 2009 | accessdate=June 10, 2013 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast}}</ref> ''Magic'' can be played by two or more players each using a deck of printed cards or a deck of virtual cards through the ]-based '']'' or ]


Each game represents a battle between mighty ], known as "planeswalkers", who employ spells, artifacts, and creatures depicted on individual ''Magic'' cards to defeat their opponents. Although the original concept of the game drew heavily from the motifs of traditional ] ]s such as '']'', the gameplay of ''Magic'' bears little similarity to ] adventure games, while having substantially more cards and more complex rules than many other card games.

An ] and a community of ] has developed, as has a ] for ''Magic'' cards. ''Magic'' cards can be valuable due to their rarity and utility in gameplay. Often the prices of a single card can be anywhere from a few cents to thousands of dollars.

==History==
] was a doctoral candidate at ] when he first started to design the game. During his free time he worked with local volunteer playtesters to help refine the game. He had been brought on as an adjunct professor at ] in 1991 when ] (then ] of ] games company) first met with Garfield to discuss Garfield's new game '']''. Adkison saw the game as very promising, but decided that Wizards of the Coast lacked the resources to produce it at that point. He did like Garfield's ideas and mentioned that he was looking for a portable game that could be played in the downtime that frequently occurs at ]s. Garfield returned and presented the general outline of the concept of a trading card game. Adkison immediately saw the potential of this idea and agreed to produce it.<ref name="adkonmtg">{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/41a | title = In The Beginning | accessdate = August 5, 2009 | last = Adkison | first = Peter | authorlink = Peter Adkison | publisher = ] | date = June 1, 2009}}</ref> ''Magic: The Gathering'' underwent a general release on August 5, 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/productarticle.aspx?x=mtg_tcg_abu_productinfo |title=Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited Editions |year = 2008 | accessdate=April 18, 2009 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast}}</ref>

While the game was simply called ''Magic'' through most of playtesting, when the game had to be officially named a lawyer informed them that ''Magic'' was too generic to be trademarked. ''Mana Clash'' was instead chosen to be the name used in the first solicitation of the game. Still, everybody involved with the game continued to refer to it as ''Magic''. After further consultation with the lawyer it was decided to rename the game to ''Magic: The Gathering'', thus enabling the name to be trademarked.<ref name = "25things">{{cite web| title = 25 Random Things about Magic | last = Rosewater | first = Mark | authorlink = Mark Rosewater | publisher = ] | date = February 16, 2009 | accessdate = August 5, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/mm/26}}</ref>

A ] was granted to Wizards of the Coast in 1997 for "a novel method of game play and game components that in one embodiment are in the form of trading cards" that includes claims covering games whose rules include many of ''Magic'''s elements in combination, including concepts such as changing orientation of a game component to indicate use (referred to in the ''Magic'' and '']'' rules as "tapping") and constructing a deck by selecting cards from a larger pool.<ref>{{cite patent|US|5662332}}</ref> The patent has aroused criticism from some observers, who believe some of its claims to be invalid.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/vol17/issue18/screens.gaming.html | title = The Year in Gaming | accessdate = June 3, 2007 | last = Varney | first = Allen | publisher = ] | date = May 3, 2006 }}</ref> In 2003, the patent was an element of a larger legal dispute between Wizards of the Coast and ], regarding trade secrets related to Nintendo's '']''. The legal action was settled out of court, and its terms were not disclosed.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20031229005065/en/Pokemon-USA-Wizards-Coast-Resolve-Dispute | title = Pokemon USA, Inc. and Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Resolve Dispute | accessdate = September 21, 2007
| publisher = ] | date = December 29, 2003 }}</ref>

''Magic'' was an immediate success for Wizards of the Coast. Early on they were even reluctant to advertise the game because they were unable to keep pace with existing demand.<ref name="tps-syracuse">{{Cite news|first=Charley |last=Hannagan |coauthors= |title=Magic Playing Cards Conjure Up Big Business – The Cards Turn Player Into Sorcerers Who Cast Spells And Control Creatures |work=The Post-Standard (Syracuse) |page=A1 |date=March 31, 1994 |accessdate=10 August 2009}}</ref> Initially ''Magic'' attracted many '']'' players,<ref name="tps-syracuse"/> but the following included all types of other people as well.<ref name = "npn94">{{Cite news|first=Glenn |last=Gaslin |coauthors= |title=Magic: The Gathering |work=Newport News |page=G1 |date=October 23, 1994 |accessdate=August 10, 2009}}</ref> The success of the game quickly led to the creation of similar games by other companies as well as Wizards of the Coast themselves. Companion Games produced the Galactic Empires CCG (the first Science Fiction Collectible Card Game, coming out immediately after the release of Magic: the Gathering), which allowed players to pay for and design their own promotional cards, while ] created the '']'' game, which eventually included five editions in six languages, plus twelve expansion sets. Wizards of the Coast produced '']'' (now called ''Vampire: The Eternal Struggle''), a game about modern-day vampires. Other similar games included trading card games based on '']'' and '']''.<ref name = "npn94"/>

The success of the initial edition prompted a reissue later in 1993, along with expansions to the game. '']'' was released as the first ] in December 1993. New expansions and revisions of the base game ("Core Sets") have since been released on a regular basis, amounting to four releases a year. By the end of 1994, the game had printed over a billion cards.<ref name="CHALK">
{{Citation
| last =Chalk
| first =Titus
| title =20 Years Of Magic: The Gathering, A Game That Changed The World
| date = 2013-07-31
| url=http://sabotagetimes.com/life/20-years-of-magic-the-gathering-a-game-that-changed-the-world/
| accessdate=2013-08-11
}}</ref> Until the release of '']'' in 1996 expansions were released on an irregular basis. Beginning in 2009 one revision of the core set and three expansions are released every year. While the essence of the game has always stayed the same, the rules of ''Magic'' have undergone three major revisions with the release of the '']'' in 1994, ] in 1999, and '']'' in July 2009.<ref name="rules2010">{{cite web| title = ''Magic 2010'' Rules Chages | publisher = ] | date = June 10, 2009 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/42a}}</ref> With the release of the '']'' in 2003, ''Magic'' also received a major visual redesign.

In 1996, Wizards of the Coast established the "]",<ref name="PTHoF">{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/feature/268 | title = The ''Magic'' Pro Tour Hall of Fame | accessdate = September 30, 2006 | last = Galvin | first = Chris | publisher = ] | date = June 6, 2005}}</ref> a circuit of tournaments where players can compete for sizeable cash prizes over the course of a single weekend-long tournament. In 2009 the top prize at a single tournament was ]40,000.<ref name="prize">{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=protour/default/prizes | title = 2009 Pro Tour Prize Structures | year = 2009 | accessdate = April 18, 2009 | publisher = ]}}</ref> Sanctioned through ], the tournaments added an element of prestige to the game by virtue of the cash payouts and media coverage from within the community. For a brief period of time, ] televised the tournaments.<ref name="ESPN2">{{cite web| url = http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/neglect-and-reversion/ | title = Neglect and Reversion | year = 2009 | accessdate = August 12, 2013 | publisher = The Hardball Times}}</ref>

While unofficial methods of online play existed previously,<ref group="note">Notably, the ] program. See ].</ref> '']'' ("MTGO" or "Modo"), an official online version of the game, was released in 2002. A new, updated version of ''Magic Online'' was released in April 2008.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic Online III Launch Blog | publisher = ] | date = April 16, 2008 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Article.aspx?x=magic/magiconline/iiilaunchblog0408}}</ref>

In January 2014, ] announced a franchise film deal with ] for ''Magic: The Gathering'', saying that they wanted "to launch a massive franchise on the scale of ] and ]." ] is serving as writer and producer for the project.<ref>Kit, Borys. (January 13, 2014). . Hollywood Reporter. Accessed on January 14, 2014.</ref>

==Reception==
Some consider the game to be very addictive,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magic-league.com/article/376/confessions_of_an_mtgo_addict.html |title=Confessions of an MTGO Addict – Magic: the Gathering article |publisher=Magic-league.com |date= |accessdate=January 8, 2012}}</ref> and refer to the game as "cardboard crack".<ref name="usatoday">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2004-06-20-magic_x.htm |title=Magic the Gathering casts its spell |author=Slavin, Barbara |publisher=USA Today |date=June 20, 2004 |accessdate=January 8, 2012 }}</ref> Some players have spent large amounts of money acquiring cards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/misc/1950_I_Wont_Lose_My_Second_Wife_Quitting_Magic.html |title=I Won't Lose My Second Wife: Quitting Magic, by Jason Alam – a Magic: the Gathering Miscellaneous Article |publisher=Starcitygames.com |date=September 18, 2001 |accessdate=January 8, 2012}}</ref>

A 2004 article in ''USA Today'' suggested that playing ''Magic'' might help improve the social and mental skills of some of the players. The article interviewed players' parents who believe that the game, similar to sports, teaches children how to more gracefully win and lose. ''Magic'' also contains a great amount of strategy and vocabulary that children may not be exposed to on a regular basis. Parents also claimed that playing ''Magic'' helped keep their children out of trouble, such as using illegal drugs or joining criminal gangs.<ref name="usatoday"/> In addition, until 2007, some of the better players had opportunities to compete for a small number of scholarships.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/events/mss |title=Magic Scholarship Series : Daily MTG : Magic: The Gathering |publisher=Wizards.com |date= |accessdate=June 22, 2010}}</ref>

==Awards==
* 1994: ] winner<ref name = "wotcawards">{{cite web| title = Awards | publisher = ] | year = 2006 | accessdate = August 5, 2009 | url = http://ww2.wizards.com/Company/Awards/default.aspx}}</ref>
* 1994: ] for ''Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Board game of 1993'' and ''Best Graphic Presentation of a Board game of 1993''<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1993 | title=Origins Award Winners (1993)| publisher=Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design| accessdate=April 18, 2009 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080507063628/http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1993 |archivedate = May 7, 2008}}</ref>
* 1994: Origins Award for the '']'' expansion as ''Best Game Accessory''<ref name = "wotcawards"/>
* 1995: ] special award for new game mechanics<ref>{{cite web| title = Preisträger | publisher = Friedhelm Merz Verlag | accessdate = March 26, 2012 | url = http://www.deutscherspielepreis.de/p060.php4 | language = German}}</ref>
* 1995: Italian Gaming Society ''Gioco dell'Anno'' award winner<ref name = "wotcawards"/>
* 1996: ] award for "Best New Game Concept and Genre Introduced in France"<ref name = "wotcawards"/>
* 1997: '']'' Fan Award for Best CCG Expansion for the '']'' expansion<ref name = "wotcawards"/>
* 1998: Origins Award for the ] expansion as ''Collectible Card Game Expansion of the Year''<ref name="1998 Origins Awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1998/list-of-winners| title=Origins Award Winners (1998)| publisher=Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design| accessdate=November 1, 2007 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071031072248/http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1998/list-of-winners |archivedate = October 31, 2007}}</ref>
* 1999: Inducted alongside Richard Garfield into the ]<ref name="1998 Origins Awards"/>
* 2003: ] selected ''Magic'' for its ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesmagazine-online.com/gameslinks/hallofame.html| title=GAMES Hall of Fame| publisher=''GAMES'' Magazine| accessdate=April 9, 2010}}</ref>
* 2005: Origins Award for the ] expansion as ''Collectible Card Game Expansion of the Year''<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/2005 | title=Origins Award Winners (2005)| publisher=Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design| accessdate=March 26, 2012 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080516075856/http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/2005 |archivedate = May 7, 2008}}</ref>
* 2009: Origins Award for the ] expansion as ''Collectible Card Game Expansion of the Year''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://critical-hits.com/2009/06/27/origins-awards-2009| title=Origins Awards 2009| last = Chalker | first = Dave | publisher=critical-hits.com| accessdate=June 14, 2010}}</ref>
* 2012: Origins Award for the ] expansion as ''Collectible Card Game Expansion of the Year''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gama.org/OriginsAwards/tabid/2720/Default.aspx| title=The 38th Annual Origins Awards Winners|publisher=The Game Manufacturers Association| accessdate=June 16, 2012}}</ref>

In addition several individuals including ] and ] won personal awards for their contributions to ''Magic''.<ref name = "wotcawards"/>

==Gameplay==
{{Main|Magic: The Gathering rules}}

In a game of ''Magic'', two or more players are engaged in a battle as powerful wizards called "planeswalkers". A player starts the game with twenty "life points" and loses when he or she is reduced to zero. Players lose life when they are dealt "damage" by being attacked with summoned creatures or when spells or other cards cause them to lose life directly. A player can also lose if he or she must draw from an empty deck (called the "library" during the game), or if they have acquired 10 "poison counters". In addition, some cards specify other ways to win or lose the game.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules | pages = 7–8 | publisher = ] | date = July 11, 2009 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20090708.pdf}}</ref>

Some cards have effects that override normal game rules. Garfield has stated that two major influences in his creation of ''Magic: the Gathering'' were the games '']'',<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=OjIYWtqWxtAC&pg=PA191&lpg=PA191&dq=%22most+influential+ancestor+is+a+game+for+which+I+have+no+end+of+respect%22&source=bl&ots=AFI080YYUT&sig=v4BmK1lg_ARIK2SqkuOarOJIjGQ&hl=en&ei=unJYTPycKtHUngfTrtCtCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22most%20influential%20ancestor%20is%20a%20game%20for%20which%20I%20have%20no%20end%20of%20respect%22&f=false|title=Game design workshop: a playcentric approach to creating innovative games|publisher=Books.google.com |date= |accessdate=January 8, 2012}}</ref> which first used the concept that normal rules could sometimes be overridden, and '']''. The "Golden Rules of ''Magic''" state that "Whenever a card's text directly contradicts the rules, the card takes precedence."<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules | pages = 5–6 | publisher = ] |date = July 11, 2009 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url =http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20090708.pdf}}</ref> This allows Wizards of the Coast great flexibility in creating cards, but can cause problems when attempting to reconcile a card with the rules (or two cards with each other). The ''Comprehensive Rules'', a detailed rulebook, exists to clarify these conflicts.<ref name="rulebook">{{cite web| url =http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Article.aspx?x=magic/rules | title = Magic: The Gathering Rules | publisher = ] | date = February 1, 2009 | accessdate = September 24, 2009}} This website contains a link to the most up-to-date version of the Comprehensive Rules.</ref>

Players begin the game by shuffling their decks and then drawing seven cards.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules | page = 7 | publisher = ] | date = July 11, 2009 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20090708.pdf}}</ref> Players draw one card at the beginning of each of their turns, except the first player on their first turn. Players alternate turns consisting of several phases. Most cards can only be played during the main phase of the player's own turn. The player whose turn it is always has the first chance to play cards. At the end of a player's turn, if that player has more than seven cards in hand, the player discards until their hand contains seven cards. The contents of other players' decks and hands are not usually known to players.

The two basic kinds of cards in ''Magic'' are "spells" and "lands". Lands provide "]", or magical energy, which is used as magical fuel when the player attempts to cast spells. Players may only play one land per turn. More powerful spells cost more mana, so as the game progresses more mana becomes available, and the quantity and relative power of the spells played tends to increase. Some spells also require the payment of additional resources, such as cards in play or life points. Spells come in several varieties: "sorceries" and "instants" have a single, one-time effect before they go to the "graveyard" (discard pile); "enchantments" and "artifacts" are "permanents" that remain in play after being cast to provide a lasting magical effect; "creature" spells (also a type of permanent) summon creatures that can attack and damage an opponent. The set ''Lorwyn'' introduced the new "planeswalker" card type, which represent powerful allies who fight with their own magic abilities depending on their loyalty to the player who summoned them. Spells can be of more than one type.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules | pages = 35–40 | publisher = ] | date = July 11, 2009 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20090708.pdf}}</ref>

===Deck construction===
{{See also|Magic: The Gathering deck types}}

Each player needs a deck to play a game of ''Magic''. In most ], decks are required to be a minimum of sixty cards, with no upper limit.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules | page = 5 | publisher = ] | date = July 11, 2009 | accessdate = May 4, 2010| url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20090708.pdf}}</ref> Players may use no more than four copies of any named card, with the exception of "basic lands", which act as a standard resource in ''Magic''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Standard Format Deck Construction|url=http://www.mtgoacademy.com/deckbuilding-rules-and-banned-restricted-lists/|publisher=mtgoacademy|accessdate=25 July 2013}}</ref> In "]" tournament formats, where a small number of cards are opened for play from booster packs or tournament packs, a minimum deck size of forty cards is used. Depending on the type of play, some cards have been "restricted" (the card is limited to a single copy per deck) or "banned" (the card is no longer legal for tournament play).<ref name="TournamentRules">{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Tournament Rules | publisher = ] | date = July 1, 2009 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/dci/downloads/MTG_MTR_1Jul09_EN.pdf}}</ref> These limitations are usually for balance of power reasons, but have been occasionally made because of gameplay mechanics.<ref>{{cite web| title = Crafting a Vintage | publisher = ] | date = July 26, 2009 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | last = LaPille | first = Tom | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/ld/44}}</ref>

Deck building requires a lot of strategy as players must choose among thousands of cards which they want to play. This requires players to evaluate the power of their cards, as well as the possible synergies between them, and their possible interactions with the cards they expect to play against (this "metagame" can vary in different locations or time periods).<ref>{{cite web| title = A Beginners Guide to Magic the Gathering | publisher = Kim E Lumbard | year = 2003 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~kel/MTG/}}</ref> The choice of cards is usually narrowed by the player deciding which colors they want to include in the deck. This decision is a key part of creating a deck. In general, reducing the number of colors used increases the consistency of play and the ] of drawing the lands needed to cast one's spells, at the expense of restricting the range of tactics available to the player.<ref>{{cite web|title=Magic The Gathering Tips|url=http://www.oshkoshmagic.com/magic/index.php/2011/04/05/choosing-colors-for-your-magic-the-gathering-deck/|publisher=oshkoshmagic|accessdate=25 July 2013}}</ref>

===Colors of ''Magic''===
]
Most spells come in one of five colors.<ref>An article on the consideration of "purple" for the set '']'' is at .</ref> The colors can be seen on the back of the cards, in a ]al design, called the "Color Wheel" or "Color Pie". Clockwise from the top, they are: white, blue, black, red, and green, respectively abbreviated WUBRG (often pronounced "woo-berg" by players and designers). ("U" for "blue" comes from the fact that the mana symbols were typeset by their initials, and "B" was used for black. These same letter codes were used when Wizards released official card lists;<ref>{{cite web|last=Howell|first=Dave|title=Collector's Card Checklist|url=http://howell.seattle.wa.us/games/MtG/MtGCardCodes.html|accessdate=2 October 2012}}</ref> also see .) To play a spell of a given color, at least one mana of that color is required. This mana is normally generated by a basic land: plains for white, island for blue, swamp for black, mountain for red, and forest for green. The balances and distinctions among the five colors form one of the defining aspects of the game. Each color has strengths and weaknesses based on the "style" of magic it represents.<ref>A series of articles written by ] describing each color in depth (as well as multicolor cards, artifact or colorless cards, and color-hybrid cards) can be found at the game's official site at : , , , , , , and .</ref>

* '''White''' is the color of order, equality, righteousness, healing, law, community, peace, absolutism/totalitarianism, and light. White's strengths are a roster of small creatures that are strong collectively; protecting those creatures with enchantments; gaining life; preventing damage to creatures or players; imposing restrictions on players; reducing the capabilities of opposing creatures, and powerful spells that "equalize" the playing field by destroying all cards of a given type. White creatures are known for their "]" from various other colors or even types of card, rendering them nearly impervious to harm from those things. Numerous white creatures also have "]", "]", and "]". White's weaknesses include a focus on creatures, its unwillingness to simply kill creatures outright (instead hobbling them with restrictions that can be undone), and the fact that many of its most powerful spells affect all players equally—including the casting player.
* '''Blue''' is the color of intellect, reason, illusion, logic, knowledge, manipulation, and trickery, as well as the classical elements of ] and ]. Blue's cards are best at letting a player draw additional cards; permanently taking control of an opponent's cards; returning cards to their owner's hand; making cards go directly from a player's deck to their graveyard; and countering spells, causing them to be discarded and the mana used to pay them wasted. Blue's creatures tend to be weaker than creatures of other colors, but commonly have abilities and traits which make them difficult to damage or block, particularly "]" and to a lesser extent "]" or "]". Blue's weaknesses include having trouble permanently dealing with spells that have already been played, the reactive nature of most of its spells, and a small (and expensive) roster of creatures.
* '''Black''' is the color of power, ambition, greed, death, illness, corruption, selfishness, amorality, and sacrifice; it is not necessarily ], though many of its cards refer directly or indirectly to this concept. Black cards are best at destroying creatures, forcing players to discard cards from their hand, making players lose life, and returning creatures from the players' graveyards. Furthermore, because Black seeks to win at all costs, it has limited access to many abilities or effects that are normally available only to one of the other colors; but these abilities often require large sacrifices of life totals, creatures, cards in hand, cards in library, and other difficult-to-replace resources. Black is known for having creatures with the ability "]", making them difficult to block. Lesser black abilities include "]" and "]". Black's main weaknesses are an almost complete inability to deal with enchantments and artifacts, its tendency to hurt itself almost as badly as it hurts the opponent, and difficulties in removing other Black creatures.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/cotd/0706
| title = Card of the Day — July, 2006
| publisher = ]
| accessdate = September 30, 2006
| date = July 27, 2006
| quote = Black removal spells like Terror or Dark Banishing that could take out large-sized creatures historically had the drawback of not being able to affect other black creatures, and sometimes not artifact creatures either. Since then this drawback has been tweaked in many ways that no longer limit the cards to just non-black or non-artifact.}}</ref>
* '''Red''' is the color of freedom, chaos, passion, creativity, impulse, fury, warfare, ], ], and the non-living geological aspects of ].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/askwizards/0206#1
| title = Ask Wizards
| accessdate = September 26, 2006
| author = Brady Dommermuth
| publisher = ]
| date = February 1, 2006
| quote = The particular issue of red's connection to earth and stone has another aspect as well, though. Red has and will continue to have earth/stone-themed cards. But green wants to be connected to earth as well, in the soil sense. So red gives up a few of its 'earth' cards for green's sake.
}}
</ref> Red's strengths include destroying opposing lands and artifacts, sacrificing permanent resources for temporary but great power, and playing spells that deal "direct damage" to creatures or players, usually via applications of fire. Red has a wide array of creatures, but with the exception of extremely powerful dragons, most are fast and weak, or with low toughness, rendering them easier to destroy. Some of Red's cards can turn against or hurt their owner in return for being more powerful for their cost. Red also shares the trickery theme with Blue and can temporarily steal opponents' creatures or divert spells, although generally not permanently. Many of Red's most famous creatures have the "]" trait, which lets them attack and use many abilities as soon as they enter the battlefield. The ability to raise a creature's power temporarily is also common among Red's creatures. Red's weaknesses include its inability to destroy enchantments, the self-destructive nature of many of its spells, and the way in which it trades early-game speed at the cost of late-game staying power. Red also has the vast majority of cards that involve random chance.
* '''Green''' is the color of life, nature, reality, evolution/adaptability, ecology, interdependence, instinct, and indulgence. Green's strengths are on the battlefield, usually winning through combat with creatures, of which it has a broad menagerie. These tend to be strong for their cost and have abilities that make them more survivable like ] and ]. Green creatures also often have "]", an ability which allows them to deal attack damage to an opponent if blocked by a weaker creature. Many Green spells bolster its creatures' power, either permanently or temporarily. Green spells often focus on growth, such as regaining life points and getting lands faster, thus allowing the player more resources and the capacity to get strong creatures on the battlefield faster. Green's weakness is an inability to defend against indirect attacks. It has few cards that allow it to counterattack against the hand, library, or graveyard; Green also has few defenses against creatures that bypass its own powerful creatures when attacking, via abilities like ], ], or ].

The colors adjacent to each other on the pentagon are "allied" and often have similar, complementary abilities. For example, Blue has a relatively large number of flying creatures, as do White and Black, which are next to it. The two non-adjacent colors to a particular color are "enemy" colors, and are thematically opposed. For instance, Red tends to be very aggressive, while White and Blue are often more defensive in nature. The Research and Development (R&D) team at Wizards of the Coast aims to balance power and abilities among the five colors by using the "Color Pie" to differentiate the strengths and weaknesses of each.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/mr85
| title = The Value of Pie
| accessdate = September 30, 2006
| publisher = ]
| author = Mark Rosewater
| authorlink = Mark Rosewater
| date = August 18, 2003}}</ref> This guideline lays out the capabilities, themes, and mechanics of each color and allows for every color to have its own distinct attributes and gameplay. The Color Pie is used to ensure new cards are thematically in the correct color and do not infringe on the territory of other colors.
* '''Multi-color''' cards were introduced in the '']'' set and typically use a gold frame to distinguish them from mono-color cards. These cards require mana from two or more different colors to be played and count as belonging to each of the colors used to play them. Multi-color cards typically combine the philosophy and mechanics of all the colors used in the spell's cost, and tend to be proportionally more powerful compared to single-color or hybrid cards, as requiring multiple colors of mana makes them harder to cast. More recently, two-color "hybrid" cards were introduced in the '']'' set, and appeared extensively throughout the '']'' and '']'' sets. Hybrid cards are distinguished by a ] frame with those two colors, and can be paid with either of the card's colors; for instance, a card with two hybrid-red/white icons can be cast using two red mana, two white mana, or one of each. Several sets have made multi-colored cards a theme, such as both Ravnica sets and Shards of Alara. Core sets do not typically include multi-color cards in them, although the Core 2013 set was the first to do so.
* '''Colorless''' cards belong to no color, and most often appear in the form of ] and ]. Unlike the five colors, Colorless cards do not have a specific personality or style of play. Sometimes, colorless cards will imitate the mechanics of a particular color, though in a less-efficient manner than a similar colored card. Often colorless cards are linked to one or more colors via their abilities, through story references, or through flavor text on the cards themselves. With the '']'' expansion, however, colorless cards that are neither artifacts nor lands have been introduced for the first time in larger quantities.

===Luck vs. skill===
''Magic'', like many other games, combines chance and skill. One frequent complaint about the game involves the notion that there is too much luck involved, especially concerning possessing too many or too few lands.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic Jargon | publisher = ] | last = Knutson | first = Ted | date = September 9, 2006 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/academy/9}}</ref> Early in the game especially, too many or too few lands could ruin a player's chance at victory without the player having made a mistake. This in-game statistical variance can be minimized by proper deck construction, as an appropriate land count can reduce mana problems. The standard land count in most 60-card decks ranges from 19 to 26. In '']'', the land count is automatically adjusted to 40% of the total deck size. The use of special spells or lands and the relative costs of the main spells within the deck can substantially increase or decrease the number of lands required. Other cards can minimize the player's dependence on Lands for mana.<ref>{{cite web| title = Mmmmmmmmmana...Five Rules For Avoiding Mana-Screw | publisher = starcitygames.com | last = Moldenhauer-Salazar | first = Jay | date = March 23, 2000 | accessdate = July 24, 2009 | url = http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/article/890.html}}</ref>

A "]" rule was later introduced into the game, first informally in casual play and then in the official game rules. The modern "Paris mulligan" allows players to shuffle an unsatisfactory opening hand back into the deck at the start of the game, draw a new hand with one fewer card, and repeat until satisfied. In multiplayer, a player may take one mulligan without penalty, while subsequent mulligans will still cost one card (a rule known as "Partial Paris mulligan").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/mr112b |title=Starting Over |accessdate=February 11, 2007 |last=Rosewater |first=Mark |authorlink=Mark Rosewater | publisher = ] | date=February 23, 2004}}</ref> The original mulligan allowed a player a single redraw of seven new cards if that player's initial hand contained seven or zero lands. A variation of this rule called a "forced mulligan" is still used in some casual play circles and in multiplayer formats on ''Magic Online'', and allows a single "free" redraw of seven new cards if a player's initial hand contains seven, six, one or zero lands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/bs58 |title=Nephilim Are Prismatastic! |accessdate=February 11, 2007 | publisher = ] | last=Smith |first=Bennie |date=April 27, 2006}} This article explains this mulligan rule in the Prismatic format, where it is called a "big deck" mulligan. The rule was added to all multiplayer ''Magic Online'' later, as explained in this .</ref>

Confessing his love for games combining both luck and skill, "Magic" creator Richard Garfield admitted its influence in his design of "Magic". In addressing the complaint about luck influencing a game, Dr. Garfield points out that new and casual players tend to appreciate luck as a leveling field, in which a random effect increases their chances of winning. Meanwhile, a player with higher skills appreciates a game with less chance, as the higher degree of control increases their chances of winning. According to Dr. Garfield, "Magic" has and would likely continue decreasing its degree of luck as the game matured.<ref name="Garfieldcruise">{{cite video
| people = Garfield, Richard
|authorlink=Richard Garfield
| year = 2012
| title = Magic TV: Extra – Dr. Richard Garfield on “Luck Versus Skill” (Magic Cruise 2012)
| url = http://www.channelfireball.com/home/magic-tv-extra-dr-richard-garfield-on-luck-versus-skill-magic-cruise-2012/
| format = Video
| medium = Lecture
| language = English
| trans_title =
| publisher = www.channelfireball.com
| location = Seattle to Alaska cruise
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = July 14, 2012
| time = July 10, 2012
| id =
| isbn =
| oclc =
| quote =
| ref =
}}</ref> The "Mulligan rule", as well as card design, past vs. present, are good examples of this trend. He feels that this is a universal trend for maturing games. Dr. Garfield explained using chess as an example, that unlike modern chess, in predecessors, players would use dice to determine which chess piece to move.<ref name="Garfieldcruise" />

===Gambling===
The original set of rules prescribed that all games were to be played for ]. Each player would remove a card at random from the deck they wished to play with and the two cards would be set aside. At the end of the match, the winner would take and keep both cards.<ref name="orgrb">{{cite web| title = The Original Magic Rulebook | publisher = ] | date = December 25, 2004 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/jc20}}</ref> Early sets included a few cards with rules designed to interact with this ] aspect, allowing replacements of cards up for ante, adding more cards to the ante, or even permanently trading cards in play (such as {{mtgcard|Demonic Attorney}}, which required an opponent to ante another card or forfeit the match). The cards came with the instruction that they should be removed from the deck in a game that was not being played for ante.

The ante concept became controversial because many regions had restrictions on ]. The rule was later made optional because of these restrictions and because of players' reluctance to possibly lose a card that they owned.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules | page = 45 | publisher = ] | date = July 11, 2009 | accessdate = April 9, 2010 | url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20090708.pdf}}</ref> The gambling rule is forbidden at sanctioned events and is now mostly a relic of the past, though it still sees occasional usage in friendly games as well as the "five color" format.<ref>{{cite web| title = 5-Color Magic | publisher = 5-color.com | date = | accessdate = April 9, 2010 | url = http://www.5-color.com}}</ref> The last card to mention ante was printed in the 1995 expansion set '']''.

===Variant rules===
{{Main|Magic: The Gathering formats}}

While the primary method of ''Magic'' play is one-on-one using standard deck construction rules, there are many alternative formats for playing the game. The most popular alternatives describe ways of playing with more than two players (with teams or free-for-all) or change the rules about how decks can be built.

==Organized play==
], ] competed for an invitation to a professional tournament in ], ].]]
{{Main|DCI (Wizards of the Coast)|l1=The DCI}}

''Magic'' ]s regularly occur in gaming stores and other venues. Larger tournaments with hundreds of competitors from around the globe sponsored by Wizards of the Coast are arranged many times every year, with substantial cash prizes for the top finishers.<ref name="prize" /> A number of websites report on tournament news, give complete lists for the most currently popular decks, and feature articles on current issues of debate about the game. ], which is owned and operated by ], is the organizing body for sanctioned ''Magic'' events. The two major categories of tournament play are "Constructed" and "Limited".

===Constructed===
In "]" tournaments, each player arrives with a pre-built deck, which must have a minimum of sixty cards and follow other deck construction rules. The deck may also have a fifteen card ], which allows players to modify their deck: following the first game of each match, each player is permitted to replace any number of cards in his or her deck with an equal number of cards from his or her sideboard. The original deck configuration is restored before the start of the next match. Normally the first player to win two games is the winner of the match.<ref name="TournamentRules"/>

Different formats of Constructed ''Magic'' exist, each allowing different cards. The DCI maintains a "Banned and Restricted List" for each format; players may not use banned cards at all, and restricted cards are limited to one copy per deck.<ref name="TournamentRules"/> The DCI bans cards that it determines are damaging the health of a format; it seeks to use this remedy as infrequently as possible, and only a handful of cards have been banned in recent years. Currently, the only format with a Restricted List is Vintage.
* '''Block Constructed''' formats are defined by the cycle of three sets of cards in a given block. For example, the ''Ravnica'' block format consists of '']'', '']'', and '']''. Only cards that were printed in one of the sets in the appropriate block can be used in these formats.<ref name="TournamentRules"/>
* '''Standard''', formerly known as Type 2, contains the current block, the last completed block, and the most recent core set (except in the intervening months between the core set release in summer and rotation in October, wherein the most recent core set and previous core set are both Standard legal). The Standard card pool undergoes a "rotation" each year in October, when the first set of the next block is released. Currently the Standard card pool consists of the '']'' block, the '']'' block, and '']''.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=judge/resources/sfrstandard | title = Standard Format Deck Construction| accessdate = October 3, 2013 | publisher = Wizards | author = unknown | date = September 27, 2013}}</ref>

* '''Extended''' was a format where all ''Magic'' blocks and core sets issued during the last four years are legal.<ref group = "note">Prior to July 15, 2010, Extended format was different in the fact that Extended was the past seven years were legal instead of four.</ref> As in Standard, the pool rotates once a year in October.<ref group = "note">Prior to March 1, 2008, Extended format rotation system was different and more complicated: three Magic blocks rotated out every three years.</ref> On October 8, 2013, this format was retired and is no longer an official format.<ref>. Wizards.com (2013-07-22). Retrieved on 2013-11-11.</ref>
* '''Modern''' is a format that was first played at the Magic Online 2011 Community Cup, a response to players' desire for a non-rotating format that is more accessible to newer players. This format was originally championed by Gavin Verhey and the “Overextended” community, with Wizards of the Coast inducting Modern as a legal format on August 12, 2011, and saw its first paper magic play at Pro Tour Philadelphia 2011.<ref>. Wizards.com (2011-08-12). Retrieved on 2013-07-24.</ref> Modern consists of every block and core set using the modern card frame since the release of ] to the present, including ] and Timeshifted cards from ]. Cards that were not printed in one of these sets, such as Planechase or Commander series cards, are not legal in Modern, even if they have the modern card frame.
* '''Legacy''' is considered an "Eternal" format because the card pool never rotates. This means that all the sets that are currently legal will continue to be legal and any new tournament-legal cards will automatically be included in the legal card pool upon their release.<ref name="TournamentRules"/>
* '''Vintage''', previously known as Type 1, is also an Eternal format. The only banned cards in Vintage are cards using the "]" mechanic and a few other cards that the DCI considers inappropriate for competitive Magic. Because of the expense in acquiring the scarce old cards to play competitive Vintage, many Vintage tournaments permit players to ] a certain number of cards.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/article/7614.html | title = Money, Proxies, and the Must-Have List — A Case for Vintage | accessdate = September 30, 2006 | publisher = Starcitygames | author = Avi Flamholz | date = July 13, 2004 | quote = More and more, the larger U.S. Vintage tournaments are unsanctioned and allow growing numbers of proxies (usually five to ten, sometimes unlimited). In fact, I would be hard pressed to find a sanctioned Type 1 tournament (A.K.A. proxy-free) in the last year or so that drew more than thirty people (other than major conventions like GenCon).}}</ref>
* '''Commander''', previously known as Elder Dragon Highlander, is a primarily casual format, but can be played competitively. In this format each player constructs a 100 singleton deck that has a legendary creature that acts as a commander. The deck construction is limited to the colors that are represented by the chosen commander. This legendary creature is kept in a special "commander zone" and may be cast at any time you can afford to cast the creature.

===Limited===
In "]" tournaments, players construct decks using ] plus any additional basic lands of their choice. The decks in Limited tournaments must be a minimum of forty cards. All unused cards function as the sideboard. In contrast to "Constructed" tournaments, the player is not restricted to exchange cards on a one-for-one basis when sideboarding, so long as the player adheres to the forty card minimum. The rule that a player may use only four copies of any given card does not apply.<ref name="TournamentRules"/>
* '''Sealed Deck''' tournaments give each player six 15-card booster packs from which to build his or her deck.
* '''Booster Draft''' is usually played with eight players. The players are seated around a table and each player is given three booster packs. Each player opens a pack, selects a card from it, and passes the remaining cards to the next player. Each player then selects one of the remaining cards from the pack he or she just received, and passes the remaining cards again. This continues until all of the cards are depleted. Players pass left for the first and third packs, and right for the second. Players then build decks out of any of the cards that they selected during the drafting. Talking, signaling, and showing cards is forbidden during the drafting process, except for double faced cards from the ''Innistrad'' block, which cannot be hidden as each side of the physical card has a spell printed on it.
] won the right for this card to feature his design and likeness.]]

===Tournament structure===
The DCI maintains a set of rules for being able to sanction tournaments, as well as runs its own circuit. Some hobby shops offer "Gateway" tournaments as a "casual" entrance to structured play.<ref name="gateway">{{cite web| title = Gateway | publisher = ] | year = 2008 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=events/magic/gateway}}</ref> The same shops often offer "]" tournaments as a stepping-stone to more competitive play.<ref name="fnm">{{cite web| title = Friday Night Magic | publisher = ] |date = June 2009| accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=events/magic/fnm&dcmp=ILC-MTGNTOP}}</ref>

The DCI runs the ] as a series of major tournaments to attract interest. The right to compete in a Pro Tour has to be earned by either winning a Pro Tour Qualifier Tournament or being successful in a previous tournament on a similar level. A Pro Tour is usually structured into two days of individual competition played in the ]. On the final day, the top eight players compete with each other in an elimination format to select the winner.<ref name="pt">{{cite web| title = Pro Tour | publisher = ] | year = 2009 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=mtgcom/events/protour}}</ref>

At the end of the competition in a Pro Tour, players are awarded ] depending on their finishing place. If the player finishes high enough, they will also be awarded prize money.<ref name="pt"/> Frequent winners of these events have made names for themselves in the ''Magic'' community, such as ], ] and ]. As a promotional tool, the DCI launched the ] in 2005 to honor selected players.<ref name="PTHoF" />

At the end of the year the ] is held. The World Championship functions like a Pro Tour, except that competitors have to present their skill in three different formats (usually Standard, booster draft and a second constructed format) rather than one. Another difference is that invitation to the World Championship can be gained not through Pro Tour Qualifiers, but via the national championship of a country. Most countries send their top four players of the tournament as representatives, though nations with minor ''Magic'' playing communities may send just one player. There are also other means to be invited to the tournament. The World Championship also has a team-based competition, where the national teams compete with each other.<ref name="worlds2009">{{cite web| title = 2009 Magic: The Gathering Worlds Championships | publisher = ] | year = 2009 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=events/magic/worlds}}</ref>

At the beginning of the World Championship, new members are inducted into the Hall of Fame. The tournament also concludes the current season of tournament play and at the end of the event, the player who earned the most Pro Points during the year is awarded the title "]". The player who earned the most Pro Points and did not compete in any previous season is awarded the title "]".<ref name="worlds2009"/>

Invitation to a Pro Tour, Pro Points and prize money can also be earned in lesser tournaments called ] that are open to the general public and are held more frequently throughout the year.<ref name="gp">{{cite web| title = Grand Prix | publisher = ] | year = 2009 | accessdate = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=grandprix/welcome}}</ref> Grand Prix events are usually the largest ''Magic'' tournaments, sometimes drawing more than 1,000 players. The largest ''Magic'' tournament ever held was Grand Prix: Las Vegas in June 2013 with a total of 4,500 players. <ref>{{cite web| title = Oliver is the Modern Master in Las Vegas | publisher = ] | date = June 23, 2013 | accessdate = July 9, 2013 | url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gpveg13/welcome}}</ref>

==Product and marketing==
{{See also|List of Magic: The Gathering sets}}

''Magic: The Gathering'' cards are produced in much the same way as normal ]s. Each ''Magic'' card, approximately 63 x 88 mm in size (2,5 by 3,5 inches), has a face which displays the card's name and rules text as well as an illustration appropriate to the card's concept. 13,920 unique cards have been produced for the game {{As of|2014|03|lc=yes}},<ref name="Gatherer">{{cite web| url = http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&cmc=+%3E=%5b0%5d | title = Gatherer | accessdate = March 6, 2014 | publisher = ]}}, the official ''Magic'' card database.</ref>
many of them with variant editions, artwork, or layouts, and 600–1000 new ones are added each year. The first ''Magic'' cards were printed exclusively in ], but current sets are also printed in ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/782 | title = Magic in Korean | accessdate = October 25, 2011 | publisher = ] | date = July 23, 2011}} shows the return to 11 languages as of the late release of ''Magic 2011'' in Korean.</ref>

The overwhelming majority of ''Magic'' cards are issued and marketed in the form of sets, of which there are currently two types, the Core Set and the themed expansion sets. Under Wizards of the Coast's current production and marketing scheme, a new set is released quarterly. Various products are released with each set to appeal to different segments of the ''Magic'' playing community:
* The majority of cards are sold in ], which contain fifteen cards normally divided into four rarities, which can be differentiated by the color of the expansion symbol.<ref group="note">For cards released prior to '']'', rarities must be checked against an external cardlist or database, as all expansion symbols were black.</ref> A fifteen-card Booster Pack will typically contain one rare (gold), three uncommons (silver), ten commons (black), and one basic land (colored black, as Commons). Sets prior to ''Shards of Alara'' contained eleven commons instead of a basic land.
''Shards of Alara'' also debuted mythic rares (red-orange), which replace one in eight rare cards on average. There are also premium versions of every card with holographic foil, randomly inserted into some boosters in place of a common, which replace about one in seventy cards.
* Four to five Intro Packs are released with each set. An Intro Pack is a pre-constructed deck aimed at newcomers that highlights one of the set's mechanical themes. It comes with two booster packs from that set, a rulebook, and a fixed selection of cards, including one foil rare.
* Each set from '']'' to '']'' has also featured two Event Decks, which are preconstructed decks designed as an introduction to tournament play. Starting from'' ]'', each set features only one Event Deck.
* Previously cards were also sold in Tournament Packs typically containing three rares, ten uncommons, thirty-two commons, and thirty basic lands.<ref group="note">"Typically" is used due to a change in card distribution in '']'' which allows premium cards of any rarity to replace Common cards instead of cards of their own rarity. See for more information.</ref> Tournament Packs were discontinued after ''Shards of Alara''.

The Core Set started to be released annually (previously biennially) in July 2009 coinciding with the name format change from ] to '']''. This shift also introduced new, never before printed cards into the core set, something that previously had never been done.<ref name="Recapturing the Magic with Magic 2010">{{cite web |url=http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/27a |title=Recapturing the Magic with Magic 2010 |author=Aaron Forsythe |date=February 23, 2009 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |accessdate= October 28, 2011 }}</ref> The current Core Set, '']'', was released on July 19, 2013.

The expansion sets are released in a three-set block starting in October, typically with a large initial set (that gives its name to the block) and then two smaller follow-ups at three-month intervals. These sets consist almost exclusively of newly designed cards. Contrasted with the wide-ranging Core Set, each expansion is focused around a subset of mechanics and ties into a set storyline. Expansions also dedicate several cards to a handful of particular, often newly introduced, game mechanics which do not appear in other sets.

In addition to the quarterly set releases, ''Magic'' cards are released in other products as well, such as the recent '']'' and '']'' spin-off games. These combine reprinted ''Magic'' cards with new, oversize cards with new functionality. ''Magic'' cards are also printed specifically for collectors, such as the ''From the Vault'' and ''Premium Deck Series'' sets, which contain exclusively premium foil cards.

In 2003, starting with the '']'' Core Set, the game went through its biggest visual change since its creation—a new card frame layout was developed to allow more rules text and larger art on the cards, while reducing the thick, colored border to a minimum.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/feature/121 | title = Card Face Redesign FAQ | accessdate = September 30, 2006 | date = January 20, 2003 | publisher = ]}}</ref> The new frame design aimed to improve contrast and readability using black type instead of the previous white, a new font, and partitioned areas for the name, card type, and power and toughness.

For the first few years of its production, ''Magic: The Gathering'' featured a small number of cards with names or artwork with ]ic or ]ist themes, in 1995 the company elected to remove such references from the game. In 2002, believing that the depiction of demons was becoming less controversial and that the game had established itself sufficiently, Wizards of the Coast reversed this policy and resumed printing cards with "demon" in their names.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/mr131 | title = Where Have All The Demons Gone Today | last = Rosewater | first = Mark | authorlink = Mark Rosewater | publisher = ] | date = July 5, 2004 | accessdate = April 18, 2009}}</ref>

===Spin-offs===
''Magic: The Gathering'' video games, comics, and books have been produced under licensing or directly by ]. While comics and books have mostly been supplements to develop a background story for the game, several video games have been produced which lean in varying degree on the original game. For the first computer games ] had sold licenses to ] and ] roughly at the same time. While MicroProse's '']'' received favorable reviews, Acclaim's ''Magic: The Gathering: BattleMage'' was mostly dismissed with negative reaction.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Dennis |last=Lynch |coauthors= |title=Two companies offer The Gathering, but only one is spellbinding |work=Chicago Tribune |page=8 |date=March 20, 1997 |accessdate=August 10, 2009}}</ref>

With '']'', Wizards developed and released a computer version of the game themselves that allows players to compete online against other players using the original ''Magic'' cards and rules. The latest computer implementation of ''Magic'' is '']'' which was developed by ] and released for the ] in June 2009. The game was ported to ] in June of the next year. Six months after the PC release of ''Duels of the Planeswalkers'', the game was ported to the ] platform. The game was the most-played ] title for two weeks after its release.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.gamerbytes.com/2009/07/magic_the_gathering_sells_1700.php | title = XBLA: Magic: The Gathering Sells 170,000 in 5 Weeks | publisher = ] | first = Ryan | last = Langley | date = July 23, 2009 | accessdate = August 10, 2009 }}</ref>

In September 2011, ] and ] accorded to make a 4-issue mini-series about Magic: The Gathering<ref>{{cite web| url = http://idwpublishing.com/news/article/1938 | title = Hasbro, Inc., and IDW Publishing to launch Magic: The Gathering Comic Books | date = September 1, 2011 | accessdate= May 2, 2012 | publisher = ] }}</ref> with a new story but heavily based on MTG elements and with a new Planeswalker called ''Dack Fayden'', which story is mainly developed in the planes of Ravnica and Innistrad. The ongoing series started in February 2012.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=11304 | title = Preview: Magic: The Gathering #1 | date = February 1, 2012 | accessdate= May 2, 2012 | publisher = ] }}</ref>

===Knock-offs===
In 1998 PGI Limited created '']'', which was a parody of ''Magic: The Gathering''. Wizards of the Coast, which owned the rights to ''Magic: The Gathering'', took active steps to hinder the distribution of the game and successfully shut out PGI Limited from attending GenCon in July 1998.<ref>Havic The Bothering? Sun, August 2, 1998 20:15:53, e-mail from a Peter Gray of PGI Limited posted on Wizards of the Cost Website, http://oracle.wizards.com/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind9808a&L=spellfire-l&D=1&O=D&P=9286</ref> In an attempt to avoid breaching ] and ]'s patent, each ] of ''Havic'' had printed on the back side, "This is a Parody", and on the bottom of the rule card was printed, "''Do not have each player'': construct their own library of predetermined number of game components by examining and selecting game components from reservoir of game components or you may infringe on U.S. Patent No. 5,662,332 to Garfield."<ref>Havic: The Bothering Skool Daze by Peter L. Gray, Sist-Airs, Vinyl Vineshtein Cards, 60 Pages, Published 1998, 1st Edition, starter decks rule card printed by PGI Limited, 30 Shorhaven Rd., Norwalk, CT 06855, ISBN 0966700503</ref>

==Secondary market==
] version of the ] card (here, signed by the artist) is usually considered to be the most valuable non-promotional ''Magic'' card ever printed, aside from misprinted cards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://most-expensive.net/magic-gathering-card |title=
Most Expensive Magic: The Gathering Card |author= |date=March 17, 2008 |work=Most Expensive Journal |publisher= |accessdate=December 6, 2009}}</ref>]]

There is an active secondary market in individual cards among players and game shops. Many physical and online stores sell single cards or "playsets" of four of a card. Common cards rarely sell for more than a few cents and are usually sold in bulk. Uncommon cards and weak rare cards typically sell from 10 cents up to US$1. The most expensive cards in ] tournament play are usually priced at $35 to $50, although a few have sold for $60 to $100. Foil versions of rare and mythic rare cards are typically priced at about twice as much as the regular versions. Some of the more sought after rare and mythic rare cards can have foil versions that cost up to three or four times more than the non foil versions.

A few of the oldest cards, due to smaller printings and limited distribution, are highly valued and extremely rare. This is in part due to the "Reserve List", a list of cards from the sets ''Alpha'' to '']'' (1994–1999) that Wizards has promised never to reprint.<ref>{{cite web| title = Official Reprint Policy | year = 2002 | accessdate = April 18, 2009 | publisher = ] | url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=magic/products/ReprintPolicy}}</ref>
The most expensive card that was in regular print (as opposed to being a promotional or special printing) is {{mtgcard|Black Lotus}}. In 2005, a "Pristine 10 grade" Beckett Grading Services graded Beta Black Lotus was bought by Darren Adams, owner of West Coast Sports Cards & Gaming Distributors in Federal Way, Washington, for a record $20,000.<ref>Beckett Magic The Gathering Magazine, Issue 3, December 2005/January 2006, pg. 10, "Sold! $20,000!"</ref> A small number of cards of similar age, rarity, and playability – such so-called "]" — routinely reach prices of several hundreds to thousands depending on the set.

The secondary market started with comic book stores, and hobby shops displaying and selling cards, with the cards' values determined somewhat arbitrarily by the employees of the store. With the expansion of the internet, prices of cards were determined by the amount of tournament deck lists a given card would appear in. If a card was played in a tournament more frequently, the cost of the card would be higher (in addition to the market availability of the card). <ref>http://www.jstor.org.esf.idm.oclc.org/stable/pdfplus/3217179.pdf?&acceptTC=true&jpdConfirm=true</ref> When eBay, Amazon, and other large online markets started to gain popularity, the Magic secondary market evolved substantially. Buying and selling Magic cards online became a source of income for people who learned how to manipulate the market.<ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/2687095</ref> Today, the secondary market is so large and complex, it has become an area of study for consumer research, <ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/117554</ref> and some people make a career out of market manipulation, creating mathematical models to analyze the growth of cards' worth, and predict the market value of both individual cards, and entire sets of cards. <ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/3217179</ref> <ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/383430</ref>

As of late 2013, Wizards of the Coast has expressed concern over the increasing number of ] cards in the secondary market.<ref>http://www.starcitygames.com/article/27693_Counterfeit-Cards.html</ref> Wizards of the Coast has since made an effort to counteract the rise of counterfeits by introducing a new holofoil stamp on all rare and mythic rare cards as of ].<ref>http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/281</ref>

==Artwork==
{{See also|List of Magic: The Gathering artists}}
Each card has an illustration to represent the flavor of the card, often reflecting the setting of the expansion for which it was designed. Much of ''Magic''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s early artwork was commissioned with little specific direction or concern for visual cohesion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/askwizards/0107 |title=Ask Wizards |accessdate=April 21, 2007 |last=Jarvis |first=Jeremy | publisher = ] | date=January 1, 2007 |quote=In the ‘old days’, art descriptions were vague suggestions of images... Neither continuity nor the idea of worldbuilding (creating distinctive and unique worlds and settings) would become issues until some time later.}}</ref> One infamous example was the printing of the creature Whippoorwill without the "flying" ability even though its art showed a bird in flight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/rb98 |title=Flight of Fancy |accessdate=April 21, 2007 |last=Buehler |first=Randy | authorlink = Randy Buehler | publisher = ] | date= November 21, 2003}}</ref> The art direction team later decided to impose a few constraints so that the artistic vision more closely aligned with the design and development of the cards. Each block of cards now has its own ] with sketches and descriptions of the various races and places featured in the setting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/mc3 |title=The Magic Style Guide |accessdate=April 21, 2007 | publisher = ] |last=Cavotta |first=Matt |date=September 7, 2005}}</ref>

A few early sets experimented with alternate art for cards. However, Wizards came to believe that this impeded easy recognition of a card and that having multiple versions caused confusion when identifying a card at a glance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/askwizards/0602 |title=Ask Wizards |accessdate=February 15, 2007 |last=Chase |first=Elaine |date=June 17, 2002 | publisher = ] |quote=While we don't like to completely rule anything out, there currently are not any plans to repeat the alternate art within a set model. The main reason is that most players recognize cards through the artwork.}}</ref> Consequently, alternate art is now only used sparingly and mostly for promotional cards.<ref group="note">A notable exception are Basic Land cards, but those are easily identifiable due to the oversized mana symbol in their text boxes.</ref> When older cards are reprinted in new sets, however, Wizards of the Coast has guaranteed that they will be printed with new art to make the older cards more collectible.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/mr121 |title=Collecting My Thoughts |accessdate=June 30, 2006 |last=Rosewater |first=Mark |authorlink=Mark Rosewater | publisher = ] | date= April 26, 2004}}</ref>

Starting in 1995, the copyright on all artwork commissioned is transferred to Wizards of the Coast once a contract is signed. However, the artist is allowed to sell the original piece and printed reproductions of it, and for established and prolific ''Magic'' artists, this can be a lucrative source of revenue.

As ''Magic'' has expanded across the globe, its artwork has had to change for its international audience. Artwork has been edited or given alternate art to comply with the governmental standards. For example, the portrayal of skeletons and most undead in artwork was prohibited by the ] until 2008.<ref>{{cite web| title = Chinese Skeleton | publisher = ] | date = March 13, 2002 | accessdate = April 18, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/arcana/50}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Alternate Chinese Art in Ravnica Part 1 | publisher = ] | date = November 14, 2005 | accessdate = April 18, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/arcana/948}}</ref>

==Storyline==
{{Main|Magic: The Gathering storylines}}

The main premise of ''Magic'' is that countless possible worlds (planes) exist in the ], and only unique and rare beings called Planeswalkers are capable of traversing the Multiverse, without the help of the "Skyship" known as Weatherlight. This allows the game to frequently change worlds so as to renew its mechanical inspiration, while maintaining planeswalkers as recurrent, common elements across worlds.

An intricate storyline underlies the cards released in each expansion and is shown in the art and ] of the cards, as well as in novels and anthologies published by ] (and formerly by ]). Important storyline characters, objects and locations often appear as cards in ''Magic'' sets, usually as "Legendary" creatures, artifacts, and lands, or as "Planeswalker" cards.

The expansion sets from '']'' through '']'' (with the exception of '']'') revolve around the plane of ] and are a roughly chronological timeline of that plane's history (with the exception of the '']'' block). Major recurring characters include the planeswalker ] and his brother ]. The sets from '']'' through '']'' particularly follow the story about the crew of the ''Weatherlight'' who fight against Yawgmoth and his army of Phyrexians, along with Urza's preparation against the Phyrexian invasion on Dominaria and his creation of the golem Karn. '']'' through '']'' are an unconnected storyline set 100 years later on the continent of Otaria, where multiple factions battle for control of the Mirari, a powerful magical artifact left by Karn.

After '']'', ''Magic'' ventured out of Dominaria into the new planes of ], a metallic artificial plane created by Karn watched over and ruled by an animated Mirari; ], a Japanese-themed plane set in the time of a great war between spirits and mortals; and ], a completely urbanised plane headed by ten guilds, at a time when their pact is falling apart and they're on the verge of all-out war. It then returned to Dominaria, in a devastated apocalyptic state, for the '']'' block, but left it again upon the block's conclusion.

The following blocks took place on a series of new planes: ], inspired by Celtic mythology, which shifts from a utopic and bucolic paradise to a shadowy and creepy land of darkness; ], a world split into five magically and culturally distinct "shards" but later reunited; and ], a world used as a prison to entrap a race of interplanar parasitic monsters called the Eldrazi.<ref name="eldrazi">{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Article.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/riseoftheeldrazi/flavor1 |title=And Carnage Shall Follow |publisher=] |accessdate=March 29, 2010}}</ref>

'']'' revisited the plane of Mirrodin, where the Mirran natives battled against an invading Phyrexian corruption unwittilingly left by Karn (again interconnecting various storylines).<ref name="scars">{{cite web|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/409 |title=Announcing Scars of Mirrodin |publisher=] |accessdate=March 29, 2010}}</ref> To further integrate the storyline into the gameplay, certain events for the second set, '']'', encouraged players to affiliate themselves with either the Mirran or Phyrexian faction. The storyline then proceeded to ], a ] plane where humanity struggles to survive against werewolves, vampires, zombies, and spirits after the disappearance of their angelic guardian.

The '']'' block tells of planeswalker ]'s investigation in ] of Niv-Mizzet's machinations, leader of the Izzet League, a guild of alchemists, mad scientists, and engineers, during the struggle between the ten guilds for power after the dissolution of the Guildpact. It all culminates in each guild picking a champion to run the ].<ref>Dragon's Maze Player's Guide</ref>

The '']'' block, released in September 2013 after the Magic 2014 Core Set, was inspired by classical Greek themes such as heroes and mythology.

===Major characters===
The expansive multiverse naturally has quite a few characters; however, only a few play key roles in the story. Most are Planeswalkers, but there's a small handful that can't travel from their home plane.


*'''Ajani Goldmane''' A white Planeswalker from Naya, Ajani is the only one of the "Lorwyn Five" (The first five Planeswalkers to be put on cards) to not be a human; instead, he's a leonin.<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://puremtgo.com/articles/brief-history-planeswalkers-competitive-magic |title=A Brief History of Planewalkers in Competitive Magic |author=Rex Dart |accessdate=3 February 2014}}</ref> He's been to Lorwyn in addition to his home plane of the Naya shard of ]. The only one of the Lorwyn Five to have a multicolored version ({{mtgcard|Ajani Vengeant}}), he went into red magic while pursuing the identity of his brother's killer.<ref name="Ajani">{{cite web|title=Ajani Vengeant|url=https://www.wizards.com/Magic/Multiverse/planeswalkers.aspx?x=mtg/multiverse/planeswalkers/ajani|accessdate=3 February 2014}}</ref>

*'''Chandra Nalaar''': A red Planeswalker hailing from an unknown plane, Chandra epitomizes the passion and explosiveness of red mages. She's one of the Lorwyn Five, and has shown up in the planes of Zendikar and Lorwyn.<ref name="Chandra">{{cite web|url=http://roxiecards.com/planeswalker-profile-chandra-nalaar/ |title=Planeswalker Profile: Chandra Nalaar |author=Wil Blanks |accessdate=3 February 2014}}</ref>

*'''Garruk Wildspeaker''': The green member of the Lorwyn Five, Garruk, like many green mages, believes that one should live like a predator in order to revere nature.<ref>Core Set 2013 Learn to Play Guide</ref> He's been to ], where he became cursed by Liliana, and Lorwyn.<ref name="Garruk">{{cite web|title=Garruk Wildspeaker|url=https://www.wizards.com/Magic/Multiverse/planeswalkers.aspx?x=mtg/multiverse/planeswalkers/garruk|accessdate=3 February 2014}}</ref>

*'''Jace Beleren''': The blue Lorwyn Five Planeswalker from an unknown homeland, Jace has visited a variety of planes, including ], ], and ]. While in his adopted home of Ravnica, he helped the dragon Niv-Mizzet and human Ral Zarek solve the ].<ref>Dragon's Maze Player's Guide</ref>

*'''Karn''': As of yet the only colorless Planeswalker, Karn is the golem created by Urza to go back in time and fight the Phyrexians. Long after the ], he creates his own metallic plane, calling it Argentum (although the guardian he created for it renamed it ]).<ref name=Karn>{{cite web|title=Karn Liberated|url=http://www.wizards.com/magic/multiverse/planeswalkers.aspx?x=mtg/multiverse/planeswalkers/karn|accessdate=4 February 2014}}</ref>

*'''Liliana Vess''': The black-aligned necromancer of the Lorwyn Five, Liliana is very ambitious and cunning.<ref name="Lilana">{{cite web|title=Liliana Vess|url=https://www.wizards.com/Magic/Multiverse/planeswalkers.aspx?x=mtg/multiverse/planeswalkers/liliana|accessdate=3 February 2014}}</ref> She shows up in ], ] and Alara.

*'''Mishra''': One of the most powerful ] artificers, Mishra fought his brother Urza over the powerful artifacts and abundant resources in Argoth. Mishra ends up teaming up with Phyrexia, but still loses.<ref name=Brothers>{{cite web|title=''Urza's Saga'' Backstory|url=http://www.wizards.com/magic/expert/urzas_saga/uz_backstory.asp| accessdate=4 February 2014}}</ref>

*'''Nicol Bolas''': A ] dragon who's the only tricolored Planeswalker so far, Nicol Bolas is an extremely intelligent and evil dragon who tries to take over the shards of ].<ref name=Bolas>{{cite web|title=Nicol Bolas|url=https://www.wizards.com/Magic/Multiverse/planeswalkers.aspx?x=mtg/multiverse/planeswalkers/nicolbolas|accessdate=5 February 2014}}</ref>

*'''Urza''': A ] artificer who, in the midst of the war against his brother Mishra, ascended as a Planeswalker. After his victory, he seeks out those who allied with Mishra, namely, the Phyrexians.<ref name=Brothers/>

==Academic research on ''Magic: The Gathering''==
There are several examples of academic, peer-reviewed research concerning different aspects of ''Magic: The Gathering''. One example examined how players use their imaginations when playing. This research studied hobby players and showed how players sought to create and participate in an epic fantasy narrative.<ref>Martin, Brett A. S. (2004), , ''Journal of Consumer Research'', 31 (June), 136-149.</ref> Another example used online auctions for Magic cards to test revenue outcomes for various auction types.<ref>Lucking-Reiley, D. (1999), , ''American Economic Review'', Vol. 89, No. 5, 1063-1080.</ref> A final example uses probability to examine Magic card-collecting strategies.<ref>Bosch, R.A. (2000), , ''College Mathematics Journal'', Vol. 31, No. 1, 15-21.</ref>

''Magic: The Gathering'' has been shown to be ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toothycat.net/~hologram/Turing/index.html|title=Magic: the Gathering is Turing Complete|accessdate=January 9, 2013}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group="note"|30em}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book
| last = Baldwin & Waters
| title = The Art of Magic: A fantasy of world building and the art of the Rath Cycle
| location = Renton, WA
| publisher = Wizards of the Coast
| year = 1998
| isbn = 0-7869-1178-6
}}
* {{Cite book
| last = Flores
| first = Michael J.
| title = Deckade - 10 Years of Decks, Thoughts and Theory
| location = New York, NY
| publisher = top8magic.com
| year = 2006
| isbn = 0-9778395-0-8
}}
* {{Cite book
| last = Moursund
| first = Beth
| title = The Complete Encyclopedia of Magic: The Gathering
| location = New York, NY
| publisher = Thunder's Mouth Press
| year = 2002
| isbn = 1-56025-443-2
}}

==External links==

{{Commons}}
{{wikibooks}}
* Official site for ''Magic: The Gathering''

{{MTG navbox|game}}
{{Hasbro}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}

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== Tap: Max´s Game ==

Where is this movie?
http://cs.wikipedia.org/TAP:_Maxova_hra — Preceding ] comment added by ] (]) 13:08, 12 April 2013 (UTC) 

== 13+ age? ==

Anyone know why Magic is supposed to be for ages 13 and up? I'm thinking just how complex it is could be kinda difficult for younger players.--] ] 17:51, 6 April 2010 (UTC)

:I recall that somebody taught me the basics when Alpha came out. I think I was 8 or 10 at the time, and I understood every aspect of the game (the five colors, card types, how tap meant rotate). By the way, I have mild autism and maybe that's a factor in this (I've tried to teach at least 3 other people with no success) ] (]) 18:52, 6 April 2010 (UTC)

::Technically it's what the wrapper says, but that's obviously not the explanation. Actually as far as I know Wizards knows that many kids under 13 play Magic and is very happy with that. The "13+" comes from the depiction of monstrosities, especially in black and some mild nudity, again especially in black. Just like the movies you may not advertise this for the broad audience as suitable for all ages, but if your parents will let their ten-year old watch an 13+ movie at home respectively let him/her play Magic at the kitchen table, because they think he/she is mature enough, then there is no problem. ] (]) 20:52, 6 April 2010 (UTC)

:Yep, thought Black was a contributing factor in the 13+ thing. Black illustrations can get pretty gruesome looking. Plus, the game is pretty dang complex - and the rules change often.--] ] 20:03, 7 April 2010 (UTC)
personnally, in addition to the above, i think it's also because Wizards didn't think everyone under thirteen would be able to play well, but you get that at mostt ages so I think it's moot... besides, i was tought by a ten year old. ] (]) 18:33, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

I think the 13+ came up around the same time MTG was being criticized for printing things like 'demons' and just being a game concerning magic in general. Also you do things like kill elves etc. —Preceding ] comment added by ] (]) 13:43, 24 May 2010 (UTC) 
::Does anyone have a source for the age restriction? A lot of people try to change it to 12, adding a link to a source may finally stop this.--] (]) 13:49, 21 September 2010 (UTC)
:::It says so on any booster pack you can get your hands on. Shouldn't that be enough? Actually I don't think Wizards mentions it anywhere on their website, but if you really, really want to be sure try and take a real good look at the lower right corner of the booster box. ] (]) 06:24, 22 September 2010 (UTC)
::Ah, i see. The older booster packs i still have don't mention this, seems like a later addition to the cover? A pity nothing is mentioned about this on the mtg site. Thanks for clearing this out anyway!--] (]) 18:25, 22 September 2010 (UTC)
::Um, doesn't this information seem a little subjective, variable, and unencyclopedic, not to mention almost unsourcable? Conversation here http://en.wikipedia.org/Category_talk:Collectible_card_games#Infoboxes ] (]) 11:43, 25 July 2011 (UTC)

:::Given that age recommendations are often printed right there on the box, that would be objective and sourceable. Someone changed the infobox age range to "6+" today - a backs that up to some extent, although the page says both "Suitable for ages 6+" and "Manufacturer recommended age: 3 years and up" (I guess the latter is just "physical cards are not safe for very small children"). Could someone who has one handy take a look at the back of a card box? --] (]) 10:24, 19 September 2012 (UTC)
::::Actually, scratch that, the Amazon image very clearly says "Age 13+" in the top right corner of the box, so I've no idea where they're getting their numbers. Also the IP who changed it to 6+ went on to change their edit to 6000+ and rename the game to the "Gathering of poo", so never mind. --] (]) 10:26, 19 September 2012 (UTC)

== Skills required: ] ==

This is a little strange for an infobox's contents. I'm not fully experienced in wiki matters but is this common and acceptable? It certainly doesn't read in an encyclopedic way. And (edit) I forgot to mention that the person adding it didn't bother to check if it directed to the literary or colloquial term. ] (]) 01:38, 28 May 2010 (UTC)

:I haven't played it, but I hang around enough people that play it that they sometimes forget I don't play. I don't see how the game requires any more common sense than any other. Actually, since the unabridged official rules book is over 200 pages or something like that, I'd say that it involves as much rules-lawyering as any RPG. And since it's a competative game, not a cooperative one, common sense would probably be ignored. I'll remove it, but since this isn't on my watchlist, I'm not gonna enforce that removal. ] (]) 01:47, 28 May 2010 (UTC)

::I play the game a lot and while I don't really agree to the rules-lawyering aspect, common sense certainly does not distinguish Magic from other games. Considering that the rules of the game and not those of reality determine what you can do, "common sense" might actually be detrimental to the successful playing of the game. ] (]) 22:09, 1 June 2010 (UTC)

Since someone readded this, I'll just add my voice to the consensus that it doesn't belong. "Common sense" is already an ill-defined term, and I don't really see what of "common sense" wouldn't be covered by "logic" anyway. I also pretty much agree with the other concerns that other editors have raised here. ] (]) 01:26, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

== Invalid references ==

Some ref links are dead or changed: 45, 16, 17 --] (]) 16:18, 5 June 2010 (UTC)

== MTG has Cards From 1991 ==

I have Cards From Before Alpha and Their dated 1991.
I Know the Official Release Was in '93 but i think becaause there are multipule pre-alpha cards that it should be changed from 1993 to 1991. —Preceding ] comment added by ] (] • ]) 20:54, 9 July 2010 (UTC) 

:Where would these come from? Playtest cards don't really count. Also Magic cards show their copyright only since late 1994, so how would you know, that your cards are from 1991? ] (]) 06:21, 12 July 2010 (UTC)

:When they first introduced "Flying", They had a card called "Bog Imp". I couldent find one from 1991, But i have one right here. Bog imp 1/1 costs one black and one colourless with no flavour text. The only one i could find on the internet was one from 1994. —Preceding ] comment added by ] (] • ]) 18:51, 14 July 2010 (UTC) 
::The card you mention is actually from ], Summer 94. "Flying was first introduced" with the introduction of the game, August 93... ] (]) 06:26, 22 September 2010 (UTC)
In addition to all the reasons that have already been given why what Conkern says can't be true, cards didn't have copyright dates printed on them until 4th Edtion. ] (]) 09:34, 2 November 2011 (UTC)

== Game inspired by a baseball game? ==
I could have sworn that in the early days of this game, either in the rulebook or in an interview with Garfield, he said that the game was inspired by a card game he played that centered around baseball. I was never sure if he meant he played a game like MtG but centered around baseball or if he played a game with baseball cards with baseball stats to play a game. Never knowing quite what he meant fixed this fact in my head for all these years. Anyone else remember this? Anyone know what game he was talking about? Also, I think any game that inspired Magic, certainly deserves inclusion. —Preceding ] comment added by ] (]) 23:34, 25 October 2010 (UTC) 
:I don't think I ever heard of it and I have read quite a lot about this game. On the other hand it's quite obvious that Richard took some inspiration from trading cards. I mean it's no coincidence that these cards are called "Trading Cards" and Magic is a "Trading Card Game". But then Richard -as far as I know- is a bit of a scholar of games, so inspiration comes from all sort of games, but it's a too simplifying to just say "this comes from that and this from that game". Do you have any clue where this statement comes from? Maybe an early Duelist? The rulebook it is most definitely not, though. ] (]) 06:23, 26 October 2010 (UTC)
::Richard Garfield's main inspiration for Magic was the game ], first published in 1977. Richard is quoted from various sources that he appreciated Encounters ability to use cards for "game-changing effects". You can use the references in the article for his quotes, or you can just google Richard Garfield and cosmic encounter, as he's listed in several online articles and blogs talking about Encounters influence in his designs at many conventions and game design symposiums. The baseball game that's circling in your head is probably the reference to an early ] that is mentioned in that article.--] (]) 19:58, 2 February 2011 (UTC)

Random surfer - Yay, I can contribute to explaining what you are talking about. Drafting cards from booster packs was inspired by a baseball game (can't remember the name of it). In the baseball game you started the game by putting a random selection of cards on the table and taking turns picking players (cards). Since the playtesters knew the cards would be distributed in booster packs they made this work quicker by having each player open a booster pack and picking the cards at the same time. This is the reason drafting is called drafting; after the sports term. Can not remember where I've read this, so no source, sorry, but I suspect it was some article on magicthegathering.com. —Preceding ] comment added by ] (]) 00:22, 6 February 2011 (UTC) 

== recent "mana curve" addition ==

I wonder if this , has real encyclopedical value. The subject seems noteworthy, but is written like a player guide, not like something you would expect in an encyclopedia. Also, the sources given (playing experience etc.) are in fact a violation of ]. What does everybody think about this?--] (]) 10:55, 1 November 2010 (UTC)

:Agree, it could be interesting, but not as currently written. - ] (]) 14:13, 1 November 2010 (UTC)

::Even if rewritten to have encyclopedic value, I don't think this belongs in the main article. It's way to detailed. Maybe could be used somewhere else, though. ] (]) 16:02, 1 November 2010 (UTC)
:::So, will we remove this part? Unless someane rewrites it and adds proper sources?--] (]) 18:01, 1 November 2010 (UTC)

::::Yes, I think it is appropriate to remove it. For easier future reference the removed passage was "Another aspect that a player must consider when constructing their deck is the mana curve.The mana curve is the distribution of mana costs from low to high within the deck. This is achieved by checking the converted mana costs of all the cards when choosing what creatures and spells are going to be used in the deck. In most cases, the lower the mana cost the faster the deck can swarm the field and gain control of the game flow. When the mana cost is higher, the opposite is true, the speed of the game tends to be slower as the player tries to build up the amount of usable mana to play the higher cost spells. Overall, a balance of low and high cost creatures is the ideal situation so that a player can have the defense they need with the low cost creatures while building up the amount of mana available to use the high cost creature or spells to overrun their opponent. The best way to check the mana curve of a deck is to take all the cards that the player wishes to use and lay them out by cost, going from left to right, low cost to high cost. A majority of spells should fall between the 0-3 cost range and branch out slowly into the 4-5+ mana cost range. This will ensure an even spread of mana usage throughout the game and keep the player in better standings to always be able to play a creature or spell when needed." ] (]) 10:57, 2 November 2010 (UTC)

== History ==

At the history section i read: "Richard Garfield, the creator of the game, was a professor at Whitman College in 1993.", while the end of the very same paragraph reads: ''after two years of development Magic: The Gathering underwent a general release on 5 August 1993''. Which makes me think about the source for that two year period? Is that two year period wrong, or the ''professor'' section, or doesn't the line about garfield being a professor matter at all?--] (]) 21:35, 6 February 2011 (UTC)

:It says this, too: "He worked in his spare time with local volunteer playtesters to help refine the game during the 1993 school year." In my opinion that should sufficiently clear, actually I don't really get what you find displeasing about this paragraph. Anyway I guess I can dig up a source for the two-year-period if you distrust that statement. ] (]) 15:31, 7 February 2011 (UTC)
:::Well, shouldn't that date be 1991 then? If he was developing the game for 2 years? So, what i'm saying is, shouldn't the history paragraph be starting with "Development of Magic: The Gathering started in 1991"?--] (]) 17:07, 7 February 2011 (UTC)
::::Ah, I see. Yeah, I guess chronological order makes sense. Although you might want to use just 'Magic' as product name. The 'The Gathering' part was added much later. The name of the game actually was Mana Clash at that point if I recall correctly. ] (]) 07:39, 8 February 2011 (UTC)
:Is there any good source with information about the early days of magic? Cause right now the first sentence: ''Richard Garfield, the creator of the game, was a professor at Whitman College in 1993. In his spare time he worked with local volunteer playtesters to help refine the game during the 1993 school year.'' reads like a step got skipped. Where did "the game" come from? I removed the two year-devolopment part, but it seems like there should be some more information to be inserted at the very beginning of this section.--] (]) 20:04, 4 July 2011 (UTC)
:: I am utterly certain that at some point in the early 1990s, he posted to one of the rec.games.design newsgroups (rec.games.design.board?) about having developed the game and wondering what to do with it. The reason I remember it is that I went 'A game where you lose cards forever to someone because they play a card you've never heard of? Nah, it'll never sell' to myself. Obviously, I was wrong about that, but the only problem with proving my memory about the post is that I cannot find it in any online archive. ] (]) 00:37, 3 August 2011 (UTC)

== Gameplay summary unclear ==

The section about gameplay is unclear to me:
* Do the players know the cards on their opponent's hand?
* Do the players know the cards in their opponent's deck?
* Every player starts with a hand of seven cards. How were these seven cards chosen - randomly from the player's deck or deliberately?
* How does the game proceed - do players take turns? Take turns doing what?
* As game progresses, how does a player get new cards or discard cards? Do they always have seven cards on hand?
] (]) 13:33, 30 August 2011 (UTC)
:I see the problem. I'll try to add some more about basics such as these later today. To avoid article bloat, I'll also trim the subsection explaining the colors, which doesn't need to be as large as it is. Cheers. ]] 13:54, 30 August 2011 (UTC)

::. It could use tweaking and better integration, and perhaps some explicit references to pages in the rules, but that covers those points. Is there anything else you think should be included? ]] 17:11, 30 August 2011 (UTC)

:::This is a lot better now, thanks! Still a few questions:
:::* I assume the initial 7 cards are drawn randomly from the player's own deck, right?
:::* The player whose turn it is plays the first card, right?
:::* "Playing a card" means following the instructions written on the card, and then discarding the card, is that correct?
:::* What if someone has fewer than 7 cards on hand? Do they draw a new card at that point?
:::Thanks again, ] (]) 16:17, 31 August 2011 (UTC)

::::Responses:
::::*Yes. I tried to make that clear by stating that players shuffle their decks before playing. Should I add something more explicit?
::::*The current player (i.e. player whose turn it is) at least gets the chance to play things first. I've tried to make this more explicit , but it feels awkward without going into it a bit deeper.
::::*This is covered in the third paragraph already. Some cards do what they say, then are discarded, while others stay in play, depending on card type.
::::*If a player has less than seven cards in hand, nothing special happens. They don't get to draw until they are back at seven or anything else. They just have fewer cards in hand (which may or may not be a good thing). I'm not sure if it's worth mentioning a lack of something.
::::I'm not going to be able to include the whole ruleset in the summary, or even enough that a player could learn off of it. Magic's rules are a bit too long to reasonably cover here. Cheers. ]] 20:59, 31 August 2011 (UTC)

== Demonic themes subsection ==

I think this sub-section (if it stays it should be part of the Product and marketing section, not artwork), fails ] and ], the only reference is Mark Rosewater's article on the subject. This was never a significant media controversy (comparable to the D&D demonic controversy of the 70's), as far as I'm aware that would warrant inclusion in the main article. Browsing the category I don't see any appropriate sub-article that this should be merged into. Perhaps a single sentence in the marketing section noting the disappearance of demons (retaining the ref of course) would be appropriate. ] ] 01:30, 1 September 2011 (UTC)

== Page reads like an advertisement ==

As of Nov. 13th, 2011 this page reads like a product advertisement. Before retiring I was an educator and a long time ago one of my students played this game to the point of obsession. On one occasion I tried playing the game at a shop but that was the only time. Nevertheless I did learn a great deal about the game from that student who I will call P. "Lane" S. Walker or PW for short.

Despite being impoverished PW was constantly buying more cards even though he already owned several hundred of them. Apparently most of his best cards had expired somehow and he always needed to buy new ones. Besides buying a small package of cards every few days he was also saving up to buy an entire set for about $200. His old stock, even if never used, had almost no value so he generally had to pay cash for the new ones.

He tried to explain the rules but to me but they were illogical. Consider the text on the wiki page, ""Whenever a card's text directly contradicts the rules, the card takes precedence"...The Comprehensive Rules, a detailed rulebook, exists to clarify these conflicts."

This is contradictory, if the card text takes precedent over the "rules" then whatever the "Comprehensive Rules" contain is irrelevant because they are still rules.

There are also cases where the text on the card is unclear or ambiguous or just wrong. For example, consider the text on the Brown Ouphe which PW showed to me, "Counter target artifact ability requiring and activation cost. Play this ability as an interrupt." Which ability is "this ability"? In English it must be the ability referred to in the first sentence. The passage isn't even ambiguous but anyone who tries to play it that way will be in for a fight because everyone else "knows" it is the Ouphe's ability. Note that in the real world the card text rarely takes precedence.

The one and only time I played the game it cost about $20 to buy a deck and some booster packs. That seemed a lot for cards that would soon expire so I stopped there. More than anything else this game is about continuously extracting money from its players.] (]) 18:35, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

:So you don't like the game. The article is peer-reviewed and (mostly) neutral, though. But because it doesn't reflect you negative feelings towards the game it reads like an advertisment to you. If you point to parts that you think are in conflict with ] these parts will of course discussed and changed if the consensus is they are indeed POV. Right now your comment reads like a flame towards the game with no intent to improve the article, though. Regarding your more specific observations they are portrayed in a way that is misleading and in part just wrong. There are lots of old cards with enormous value for example. Also the rules work fine, no matter whether they seem illogical to you. ] (]) 19:38, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

Your comment does not address the main criticism of the game -- that a good number of players spend a large number of money acquiring cards and that they seem to purchase these cards often. Perhaps this situation is true of all collectable games, but it certainly does seem to be a flaw of m:tg - Preceding ] comment added by ] (]) 03:34, 14 May 2012 (UTC) 

:You do realize that "customers buy too much of it" is a "flaw" that ''every single product''' would like to have? If anything, adding that "criticism" would be like adding advertising! "This game is too addictive, people keep buying it." ] (]) 04:06, 14 May 2012 (UTC)

No, compared to other games, card games, and board games, m:tg, is different in having so many cards for sale. If I play Munchkin, Dominion, or Carcassonne, I don't need to buy any more cards or pieces to keep successfully playing the game for weeks, months, even years. But I have yet to meet a m:tg player who was satisfied with her deck for more than six months. There are many many games that are much cheaper to play than m:tg. Are they better than m:tg? Personal preference if you like tag, baseball, Ticket to Ride, or Yinsh better than m:tg; but, all those games, in my experience are cheaper to play. - Preceding ] comment added by ] (]) 04:46, 14 May 2012 (UTC) 

:If you're talking about "cost of the hobby," sure, Magic has some expense, but like everything else there's a range. There are baseball fans who buy a glove, ball, & bat once and invest ~60 dollars lifetime. Then there are ones who buy season tickets and jerseys and other merchandise, and they can spend thousands of dollars. Ticket to Ride is a one-time purchase, sure, but you can buy new maps, get your America / Europe / Germany / Asia / etc. versions of the game - because it was successful, the company wants to sell more. Even something seemingly cheap like chess has fancy carved piece boards you can buy for hundreds of dollars, or professional coaching for thousands of dollars. Then there's hobbies like sailboat racing whose cost is merely "thousands of dollars a year" if you join a club and pay dues, and "hundreds of thousands of dollars" if you actually want to own and maintain your own boat. Is that a "criticism" of sailboat racing? I would propose it is not. ''Even if'' Magic was super-expensive, that's simply a fact, not a criticism. And there are plenty of people / kids on a budget who buy 50-100 dollars worth of cards and stop there. ] (]) 18:19, 20 May 2012 (UTC)

I agree that the page is missing this common criticism. I read this page, in order to research this information, and I was surprised to find it completely missing. I am not surprised to see this discussion in the Talk section, and I hope that the MTG page will be more than a list of selling points. ] (]) 01:47, 14 December 2012 (UTC)

== nominating, Category:Magic The Gathering cards at CFD ==

{{tmbox
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| type = delete
| text = The related ''']''' has been nominated for '''deletion, merging, or renaming]''' You are encouraged to join the ''']''' on the ] page. 
}}
==File:Magic the gathering-card back.jpg Nominated for speedy Deletion==

{|
|-
| ]
| 
An image used in this article, ], has been nominated for speedy deletion for the following reason: ''Misplaced Pages files with no non-free use rationale as of 3 December 2011''

;What should I do?
''Don't panic''; you should have time to contest the deletion (although please review ] before doing so). The best way to contest this form of deletion is by posting on the image talk page.
* If the image is ] then you may need to provide a ]
* If the image isn't freely licensed and there is no fair use rationale, then it cannot be uploaded or used.
* If the image has already been deleted you may want to try ]

''This notification is provided by a Bot'' --] (]) 10:09, 3 December 2011 (UTC)
|}

== "Going Infinite" ==

"Going infinite" is a term, whose origins are unknown, that has been adapted by the Magic community to describe a particular lifestyle some Magic players live. "Going infinite" can be correlated to "Free-rolling", a commonly used poker term, in that the player has stopped putting their own money into the game and completely strived off of their play skills and tournament success to continue playing. For example: A player enters a tournament that originally cost them 500 dollars for all expenses, granted you have to start with some sort of bank roll, or funds, to begin this "infinite" lifestyle. After finishing the tournament, said player walks out with 1000 dollars, netting a profit of 500. The player then uses the 500 in winning to enter another tournament and continue to prosper off of successful tournament winnings. Magic: The Gathering has allowed very successful and skilled players to continue an "infinite" lifestyle with the establishment of Pro Players Club, set up at the Pro Tour London in 2005. The Pro Players Club awards these players with benefits, such as appearance fees, all expenses paid traveling and hotel stays, along with the opportunity to achieve a higher Pro Level status as the year of play progresses. The Pro Players Club goes up to level 8, where one gets all airfare and hotel stay paid for, along with up to 500 dollars for each appearance at weekly tournaments. One can accumulate upwards of ~50,000 in expenses and tournament appearance earnings throughout the year. The tide symbol is used as an approximate because airfare and hotel stays fluctuate all the time.

Few players are skilled enough to achieve the ability of "going infinite" because the credentials seem almost unattainable. Getting to level 8 is a milestone to say the least. Yuuya Watanabe is far and away the most consistent player in the game right now. He continues to be at the top of the standings in Pro Level play and is also the defending Player of the Year. Other players, such as Brian Kibler, Luis-Scott Vargas, Paulo Vito Damo de Rosa, and Jon Finkel are also some of the top players and the game and have seen level 8 before. Every Magic player that plays on the Pro level strives to become a level 8, and most will stop at nothing to do it. — Preceding ] comment added by ] (] • ]) 22:52, 14 April 2013 (UTC) 

== "First" trading card game ==

Using the publisher as a source for this fact is probably a bad idea, but a quick google search for "first trading card game" provided to guinness world records links, note they use the word modern or patent . I think these would be better sources, but cannot access them at this time and think that "modern" or "patenet" are important to the discussion. ] (]) 17:58, 16 July 2013 (UTC)

== "Color Pie" or "Pentagon of Colors" ==

So, there have been recent modifications in the Colors section changing the term 'Pentagon of Colors' to 'Color Pie'. Both of these terms are correct, however the image that we are currently using depicts the 'Pentagon of Colors'. If people insist on using the 'Color Pie' terminology, then can someone provide a free image to use, otherwise I will (again) revert the recent change. Sincerely, Akjar13 (]]]) 12:22, 23 July 2013 (UTC)
:I don't see any problem in talking about a "Color Pie" (if that's the most commonly used term for it) and just captioning the image with explanatory prose ("The five colors of Magic. Those adjacent to one another are "allied" and often have similar, complementary abilities."). --] (]) 12:38, 23 July 2013 (UTC)

:I agree with McGeddon. Nothing about the picture suggests the need for removal. But at the same time, nothing about the picture declares that it is a pentagon or a pie. Just recaption it. On a side note, both the pentagon and color pie should receive mentions as both have been used in the past by Magic's parent company. ] (]) 18:38, 23 July 2013 (UTC)

== Notable Cards ==

How are notable cards decided? Yea, there's some really good and unusual cards in that section of each expansion, but what's the criteria?] (]) 19:03, 17 December 2013 (UTC)
: I would simply say that it is notable if it has a source noting it as such. Like if you have a website page devoted to talking about a certain card. Then it can be cited. Any notable card is eligible for deletion right now without being cited. Also these citations must be from a secondary source (meaning not from Wizards of the Coast). ] (]) 19:23, 17 December 2013 (UTC)
::It's generally a tricky question. To understand a forest, it helps to talk about some specific trees in it, but which ones? I agree that secondary sources are ideally the best, although that is potentially still "too easy" a criterion. ] (]) 23:13, 18 December 2013 (UTC)

== Uses outside the game ==

I was watching the Mini Minotaur video and saw a parody Magic card, so I put it on this page. It was quickly reverted due to the fact that it's just a quick glimpse, but shouldn't that still be mentioned? Tobuscus is pretty well known, after all. (I'm not mad, just curious) ] (]) 19:54, 18 December 2013 (UTC)

:It's still way too minor. There are entire Magic "celebs" like Brian Kibler who spend ''all'' their Internet time talking about Magic rather than some of it and Magic The Gathering fansites that aren't currently mentioned because there isn't enough room in the article. And for incidental mention, well, Day9, a StarCraft streamer, spent a few entire episodes talking about going to a Magic tourney, and even got a special invitation to a larger tournament from WotC, and that's merely spending "some" time on Magic! Never mind references that surely happened in the 1990s that have since been forgotten... a quick glimpse is nothing. It'd have to be somebody literally on the scale of Barack Obama to have a mere passing reference made by them be relevant enough to be mentioned in this article. ] (]) 23:13, 18 December 2013 (UTC)

::The Wizards guys were also super stoked when they found out, that Peter Parker plays M:tG. Seriously, he has an Invasion poster in the Spider Man poster on the wall movie from 2002. (https://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/askwizards/0908) In the end most of these things are just random bits of trivia, though... ] (]) 21:41, 19 December 2013 (UTC)

:::Alright then, thanks (pretty cool bit about Spider-Man by the way)] (]) 14:48, 20 December 2013 (UTC)

== Template:Mtgcard ==
] creates an external link. Was there a discussion somewhere why to use it even though it goes against the standard way external links are dealt with (=removed)? See ]. I can see its usefullness (helps the reader to see the card immediately etc.) but the same could be said about many other external links, especially pictures. (] so why not include links to picture into the text of an article ;-) ] (]) 22:23, 15 March 2014 (UTC)
:I'm not aware of any discussion, but the fact that the <nowiki>{{mtgcard}}</nowiki> template even exists is probably a sign that it was agreed to do it. My question now is, how does one link to ''Black Lotus'' on Gatherer count as too many? ] :D ] ^_^ ] 21:10, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

:The main reason we don't actually use many card images is that they're all copyrighted. So we have to claim fair use on every single use of every single image, and that's a major obstacle. So replacing each instance of the template with an image is not a reasonable solution. It might be better to double check each template transclusion to make sure it's really necessary, because I bet we could get by without most of the times its used. ]] 01:02, 8 April 2014 (UTC)

== Psychographic profiles ==

Are there any reliable third-party sources talking about Johnny and friends? All I can find are either not reliable enough or from Wizards, but they're a pretty important part of the game and should be added in. ] :D ] ^_^ ] 23:01, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

User talk:Lifebaka

2014-04-07T19:09:49Z

Lifebaka: /* closedrv.js */ woo, made some changes to the script

User:Lifebaka/closedrv

2014-04-07T19:08:23Z

Lifebaka: adding a bit of documentation

When using this script, please only edit the section for the DRV you are currently closing. If you edit a larger section, such as for the whole date, the .split and .join commands will match in multiple places and cause some weirdness.

There's a test version of this script at ] for testing purposes. Please test any changes there before bringing them onto the live script page. It's set to show the "close" tab on ], so feel free to make any changes necessary to that page for testing.

User:Lifebaka/closedrv.js

2014-04-07T19:04:49Z

Lifebaka: add in some changes from User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js; feel free to revert if things are broken

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//to use this code, simply add importScript('User:Lifebaka/closedrv.js'); to your monobook.js page
//feel free to copy and change this code as necessary (using your own copy, please); any modifications I have made from the source are public domain

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t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
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function autodrv_add_drv_tabs()
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addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs);

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T19:02:56Z

Lifebaka: let's test this one as well, so I can do both things

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result2()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
t.value = t.value.split(/==== *\[/).join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[');
t.value = t.value.split(/\] *====/).join(']|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
}

function autodrv_add_drv_tabs2()
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// Only add for pages with the right string somewhere in the title
if ((document.title.indexOf("Editing User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing") != -1) && (document.title.indexOf("(section)") != -1))
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addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs2);

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:59:58Z

Lifebaka: okay, need to only match whitespace

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result2()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
t.value = t.value.split(/==== *\[/).join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
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function autodrv_add_drv_tabs2()
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addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs2);

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:52:12Z

Lifebaka: maybe it doesn't like me defining a rexexp there? let's move it

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result2()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
t.value = t.value.split(/====*\[/).join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
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t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
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function autodrv_add_drv_tabs2()
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addPortletLink('p-cactions', 'javascript:autodrv_result2()', "close");
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addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs2);

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:50:11Z

Lifebaka: let's see if it works better when I don't double dip on my javascript titles here

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result2()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
var startregex = new RegExp("====*\[");
t.value = t.value.split(startregex).join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
}

function autodrv_add_drv_tabs2()
{
// Only add for pages with the right string somewhere in the title
if ((document.title.indexOf("Editing User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing") != -1) && (document.title.indexOf("(section)") != -1))
{
addPortletLink('p-cactions', 'javascript:autodrv_result2()', "close");
}
}

addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs2);

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:49:14Z

Lifebaka: I think that semicolon needs to not be there

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
var startregex = new RegExp("====*\[");
t.value = t.value.split(startregex).join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
}

function autodrv_add_drv_tabs()
{
// Only add for pages with the right string somewhere in the title
if ((document.title.indexOf("Editing User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing") != -1) && (document.title.indexOf("(section)") != -1))
{
addPortletLink('p-cactions', 'javascript:autodrv_result()', "close");
}
}

addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs);

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:48:12Z

Lifebaka: okay, made some fixes; sure would be easier if I actually knew what I was doing

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?");
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
var startregex = new RegExp("====*\[");
t.value = t.value.split(startregex).join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
}

function autodrv_add_drv_tabs()
{
// Only add for pages with the right string somewhere in the title
if ((document.title.indexOf("Editing User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing") != -1) && (document.title.indexOf("(section)") != -1))
{
addPortletLink('p-cactions', 'javascript:autodrv_result()', "close");
}
}

addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs);

User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing

2014-04-07T18:46:13Z

Lifebaka: /* 31 March 2014 */ add some spaces so I can test things right

===]===

==== ]====
:{{DRV links|<PAGE NAME>|xfd_page=<XFD PAGE NAME>|article=}}
<REASON>

==== ]====
:{{DRV links|<PAGE NAME2>|xfd_page=<XFD PAGE NAME2>|article=}}
<REASON2>

====]====
:{{DRV links|<PAGE NAME3>|xfd_page=<XFD PAGE NAME3>|article=}}
<REASON3>

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:45:49Z

Lifebaka: OF COURSE I FORGET THE SEMICOLON I M SMURT

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
var startregex = new RegExp(====*\[);
t.value = t.value.split(startregex).join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
}

function autodrv_add_drv_tabs()
{
// Only add for pages with the right string somewhere in the title
if ((document.title.indexOf("Editing User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing") != -1) && (document.title.indexOf("(section)") != -1))
{
addPortletLink('p-cactions', 'javascript:autodrv_result()', "close");
}
}

addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs);

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:45:01Z

Lifebaka: need to make sure there can be any number of those, so it don't bork

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
var startregex = new RegExp(====*\[)
t.value = t.value.split(startregex).join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
}

function autodrv_add_drv_tabs()
{
// Only add for pages with the right string somewhere in the title
if ((document.title.indexOf("Editing User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing") != -1) && (document.title.indexOf("(section)") != -1))
{
addPortletLink('p-cactions', 'javascript:autodrv_result()', "close");
}
}

addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs);

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:43:48Z

Lifebaka: trying regular expressions some more! wooooooo

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
var startregex = new RegExp(====\[)
t.value = t.value.split(startregex).join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
}

function autodrv_add_drv_tabs()
{
// Only add for pages with the right string somewhere in the title
if ((document.title.indexOf("Editing User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing") != -1) && (document.title.indexOf("(section)") != -1))
{
addPortletLink('p-cactions', 'javascript:autodrv_result()', "close");
}
}

addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs);

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:36:37Z

Lifebaka: trying to get this unbroken

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
t.value = t.value.split('===='+*+'[[').join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
}

function autodrv_add_drv_tabs()
{
// Only add for pages with the right string somewhere in the title
if ((document.title.indexOf("Editing User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing") != -1) && (document.title.indexOf("(section)") != -1))
{
addPortletLink('p-cactions', 'javascript:autodrv_result()', "close");
}
}

addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs);

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:36:06Z

Lifebaka: wooooo

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
t.value = t.value.split('===='+*+'[[').join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
}

function autodrv_add_drv_tabs()
{
// Only add for pages with the right string somewhere in the title
if ((document.title.indexOf("Editing User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing") != -1) && (document.title.indexOf("(section)") != -1))
{
addPortletLink('p-cactions', 'javascript:autodrv_result()', "close");
}
}

addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs);

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:35:05Z

Lifebaka: woo regular expressions woo; hope this doesn't break things

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
t.value = t.value.split('===='++'[[').join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
}

function autodrv_add_drv_tabs()
{
// Only add for pages with the right string somewhere in the title
if ((document.title.indexOf("Editing User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing") != -1) && (document.title.indexOf("(section)") != -1))
{
addPortletLink('p-cactions', 'javascript:autodrv_result()', "close");
}
}

addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs);

User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing

2014-04-07T18:29:28Z

Lifebaka: /* 31 March 2014 */ don't need the actual text, can just use these silly things

===]===

====]====
:{{DRV links|<PAGE NAME>|xfd_page=<XFD PAGE NAME>|article=}}
<REASON>

====]====
:{{DRV links|<PAGE NAME2>|xfd_page=<XFD PAGE NAME2>|article=}}
<REASON2>

====]====
:{{DRV links|<PAGE NAME3>|xfd_page=<XFD PAGE NAME3>|article=}}
<REASON3>

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:26:33Z

Lifebaka: test this operation instead

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
t.value = t.value.split('===='+'[[').join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
}

function autodrv_add_drv_tabs()
{
// Only add for pages with the right string somewhere in the title
if ((document.title.indexOf("Editing User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing") != -1) && (document.title.indexOf("(section)") != -1))
{
addPortletLink('p-cactions', 'javascript:autodrv_result()', "close");
}
}

addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs);

User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing

2014-04-07T18:25:22Z

Lifebaka: more testing

===]===

====]====
:{{DRV links|Paul McDonald (musician)|xfd_page=Misplaced Pages:Articles for deletion/Paul McDonald (musician)|article=}}
This article was redirected on the basis that it could only be sourced with ''"mentions in TV guides and gossip magazines"'', and that it fails ] due to none of McDonald's albums selling more than 10,000 copies. I understand the closing administrator, Phantomsteve's decision to redirect the article based on the discussion that took place. However, unfortunately, a few important points seem to have gone unnoticed by the voters. Firstly, the article when it was redirected, was sourced with more than just "TV guides and gossip magazines" - '']'', '']'', '']'', and ] were all being used, and all of them provided significant coverage. A very quick Google search of my own yielded results from '']'' and ]. I have no doubt that I could find countless more professional, independent sources if I took the time. Secondly, there's nothing in ] saying that an artist has to sell a certain number of albums in order to be notable. In fact, an artist doesn't even have to meet every single criteria in those guidelines in order to have an article. The main thing, I believe, is that he or she meets criteria #1, which is basically the same as the ]. As I mentioned above, McDonald meets this criteria several times over. However, he also meets criteria #2, #4, #9, #10, #12, and possibly #6. I've discussed the matter with Phantomsteve, who agreed with my reasoning and told me to open a discussion about it here.

====]====
:{{DRV links|<PAGE NAME>|xfd_page=<XFD PAGE NAME>|article=}}
<REASON>

====]====
:{{DRV links|<PAGE NAME2>|xfd_page=<XFD PAGE NAME2>|article=}}
<REASON2>

====]====
:{{DRV links|<PAGE NAME3>|xfd_page=<XFD PAGE NAME3>|article=}}
<REASON3>

User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing

2014-04-07T18:23:52Z

Lifebaka: add some more stuff for testing

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:22:08Z

Lifebaka: change which pages this works on, start making operative changes to the code to see if stuff'll work right

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
t.value = t.value.split('====*[[').join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
}

function autodrv_add_drv_tabs()
{
// Only add for pages with the right string somewhere in the title
if ((document.title.indexOf("Editing User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing") != -1) && (document.title.indexOf("(section)") != -1))
{
addPortletLink('p-cactions', 'javascript:autodrv_result()', "close");
}
}

addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs);

User:Lifebaka/monobook.js

2014-04-07T18:20:40Z

Lifebaka: doing some testing, so add my test script

importScript('User:Ais523/adminrights.js');
importScript('User:Lifebaka/closeafd.js');
importScript('User:Lifebaka/closedrv.js');
importScript('User:Lifebaka/purge.js');
importScript('User:Lifebaka/welcome.js');
importScript('User:Mr.Z-man/hideClosedAFD.js');
importScript('User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js')

User:Lifebaka/closedrv/test.js

2014-04-07T18:19:31Z

Lifebaka: copy text from User:Lifebaka/closedrv.js, change comments to reflect that this the the test version

//this helps automate DRV closing by adding a 'close' tab to DRV debates when editing sections
//written by ], modified from ] written by ]
//this code is for testing changes to ] without making changes to the actual live javascript
//please do not import this code unless you are using it for testing purposes, as it is not guaranteed to work properly

function autodrv_result()
{
var close = prompt("Result of debate?")
var f = document.editform, t = f.wpTextbox1;
t.value = t.value.split('====[[').join('{{subst:' + 'drt|1=[[');
t.value = t.value.split(']]====').join(']]|2=' + close + '}}');
if (t.value.length > 0)
t.value += '\n';
t.value += "{{subst:" + "drb" + "}}";
f.wpSummary.value += "closing: " + close;
}

function autodrv_add_drv_tabs()
{
// Only add for pages with the right string somewhere in the title
if ((document.title.indexOf("Editing Misplaced Pages:Deletion review/Log/") != -1) && (document.title.indexOf("(section)") != -1))
{
addPortletLink('p-cactions', 'javascript:autodrv_result()', "close");
}
}

addOnloadHook(autodrv_add_drv_tabs);

User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/closedrv testing

2014-04-07T18:16:25Z

Lifebaka: copied some text from Misplaced Pages:Deletion review/Log/2014 March 31 for testing; removed signatures and all comments and link to admin's user page 'cuz I don't need them

User:Lifebaka/Sandbox

2014-04-07T18:14:34Z

Lifebaka: new section for testing; add some stuff to the note at the head of the page just in case something breaks and I'm not around

This is my ]. Please ignore any template-like boxes you see and this page. If this page is showing up in any categories, please feel free to make any edits necessary to remove it.

={{tl|at}} and {{tl|ab}} collapsable=
Modeled after {{tl|drt}} and {{tl|drb}}

{| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: left; border: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em;"
|-
! style="background-color: #F3F9FF; font-weight:normal; text-align:left;" |
* '''{{SUBPAGENAME}}''' – The result was {{#if: | '''{{#switch: {{{1}}} | d = delete. | k = keep. | nc = no consensus to delete, default to keep. | m = merge. | r = redirect. | {{{1}}} }}'''}} {{#if: | {{{2}}} }} – --] (] - ]) 19:22, 22 July 2008 (UTC) 
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | ''The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. '''Please do not modify it.''' Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a ]). No further edits should be made to this page.''
|-
| style="border: solid 1px silver; padding: 8px; background-color: white;" |


==Sandbox==
*]
*]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | ''The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. '''Please do not modify it.''' Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a ]). No further edits should be made to this page. 
|}

={{tl|newdelrev}} work=
]
]

====]====

False

=DYK template work=
]

====]====

* ...{{Lorem}} —-  Self nom on {{FULLDATE|type=long}}.

=General Testing=

]

{{/Mature content|image=718smiley.svg|size=200px|caption=This is an image.|thumb=yes|align=right}}

]: {{/Pass1|text1=blah|text2=also blah}}

]: {{/Pass2|text2=test}}

=Other general sandbox-y things=

]

]
{{#ifexist:User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/Existence testing|Exists: {{/Existence testing}}|Does not exist!}}

]
{{#ifexist:User:Lifebaka/Sandbox/Existence testing2|Exists!|Does not exist!}}

{{Mbox
| type = speedy
| style = background: {{{bgcolor|#eef}}};
| image = none
| text = '''The speedy deletion of this page is contested.''' {{#if:{{#ifexist:{{TALKPAGENAME}}/Hangon|1|{{{1|{{{reason|}}}}}}}}| <big>'''Reason:''' {{#ifexist:{{TALKPAGENAME}}/Hangon|{{{{TALKPAGENAME}}/Hangon}}|{{{1|{{{reason|}}}}}}}}</big> |The person placing this notice intends to dispute the speedy deletion of this article on '''{{#ifeq:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{TALKPAGENAME}}|this talk page|this page's ]}}''', and requests that this page not be deleted in the meantime.}}
Note that this request is not binding, and the page may still be deleted if the page unquestionably meets the speedy deletion criteria, or if the {{#if:{{{1|}}}|given explanation is unacceptable|promised explanation is not provided very soon}}. This template should not be removed from a page still marked with a speedy deletion template.

{{#ifexist:{{TALKPAGENAME}}/Hangon| |<center>Note to page author: you have not edited the {{#ifeq:{{NAMESPACE}}|{{ns:0}}|article }}{{#ifeq:{{NAMESPACE}}|{{ns:File}}|file }}talk page yet. ''''''. If you have left a message at the talkpage but this message is still showing up, try ''''''.</center>}}
}}

{{#ifexist:{{TALKPAGENAME}}/Hangon|{{{{TALKPAGENAME}}/Hangon}}|''''''.}}

=Preload testing=

]

] ] ] ] ]
:{{/Preload testing 6}}
:{{/Preload testing 7}}

=Banned user email alert=
]
{{/Banned user email alert}}

=] testing=
]
{{/closedrv testing}}

User:Lifebaka

2014-04-07T18:09:59Z

Lifebaka: yeah, I'm not an admin right now

__NOTOC__
{{userpage}}
{{User unified login|Lifebaka|background=#FFFFF3|border=#FFC9C9}}
{{User:Lifebaka/Header/All}}

I have an alternate account, for the purposes of testing various things, named ].

{{Userboxtop|This user's userboxen:}}
{{User:Lifebaka/Userboxen/Talk to me|link=phred}}

{{user en}}
{{user fr-1}}
{{User t|3|c}}
{{Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Magic: The Gathering/Userbox}}
{{Userboxbottom}}

==Subpages==
*] - Contains sandbox-y things.
*] - Userboxen I have created or modified.
*<s>{{]}} - A substitute for {{tl|DRVNote}} which links directly to log pages.</s> Functionality now in {{tl|DRVNote}}.
*] and ] - For ].
*{{]}}, {{]}}, and {{]}} - Display colored symbols and text.
*<s>{{]}} - To invite people to join ].</s> Instead use {{]}}.
*] - A copy of ] to import.
*] - A modification of the above to close DRVs.
*] - Adds a purge tab at the top of each page.
*] - Add a welcome tab to the top of talk pages.
*{{]}} - Writing a short welcome template without tons of policy links.

{{User:Lifebaka/Dashboard}}

Misplaced Pages:Articles for deletion/Donetsk People's Republic

2014-04-07T18:07:53Z

Lifebaka: stick a keep in here, 'cuz arguments for deletion seem like editorial concerns; also a bit too early to really look at WP:N yet

===]===
{{REMOVE THIS TEMPLATE WHEN CLOSING THIS AfD|S}}

==== ] ====

]

:{{la|Donetsk People's Republic}} – (<includeonly>]</includeonly><noinclude>]</noinclude>{{int:dot-separator}} )
:({{Find sources|Donetsk People's Republic}})
This article is as silly as it is misleading. Today, a small group of violent protesters have proclaimed this "Republic". It is not proclaimed by any official authorities, and it happened today. Misplaced Pages is ], and an article of this kind is very much premature. There are already a number of articles on the current crisis between Ukraine and Russia, and this would fit better in any of them. Contrary to other unrecognized state, this so-called Republic has not been proclaimed by any relevant authority. I'd say it takes more than 100 activists deciding to "proclaim a republic" for Misplaced Pages to do an article on it. This is an encyclopedia, not a news service. Right now Misplaced Pages is being used by the same activists to try to make the so called "republic" appear to be something more than it is. That is not] ] (]) 14:16, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

'''Keep''' Keep article about the important new possibly emerging country – that is as populous as Ireland, among others – that has been declared by pretty much the same way as the new government in Kiev or as the new government of the U.S. in 1776. Will we delete the pages for Ukraine or the United States of America, too? Secession simply works like that. It's likely that the independence of the new country cannot be easily attacked by the Maidan regime because the Kremlin would probably quickly send forces if the safety of the separatists were threatened, so it's not reasonable to make a bet that this republic will quickly go away. The people who want to delete the article are clearly doing so with a skewed propagandist purpose and they want prevent others from seeing that millions of people in the Donetsk region doesn't really like the new self-appointed government in Kiev. It's not a task for Misplaced Pages to selectively suppress the information in this way. --] (]) 17:14, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

'''Keep''' keep article until the events are clarified. Whether or not it is recognized by any other country is irrelevant. There are other articles for Transdniestria, South Ossetia, Republic of Crimea, so why not this one as well? So we could keep the article, unless the event are proven to be a hoax. ] (]) 14:20, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

:::*'''Speedy Keep'''. Our task as armchair historians, is not to criticise or analyze geo-political situations. I will remind you that multiple pages exist on contentious topics, many of which a majority of people contest the veracity of (the ] for example, which has been debunked still operates as a page). We need to overcome our biases and operate under the wikipedia guidelines which allow for and encourage any pages which represent the reality of the world around us. I believe all other points for keeping the page have been brought up by the prior comments. ] (]) 15:02, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

:::There is one huge difference. In all the cases you mention (Transdniestria, South Ossetia, Republic of Crimea), local authorities have proclaimed the independence. That's not the case in Donetsk, it's only been "proclaimed" by a small number of activists, not by any relevant political body. If some friends and I suddenly decided to proclaim a "republic" of our own, it wouldn't be relevant for Misplaced Pages either.] (]) 14:25, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

::::Not true; The assembly (taken by protesters, just like in the case of Maidan protesters who overtook Ukraine government) proclaimed independence. Many similarities to the case of Kosovo, and Crimea also. Referendum follows. ] (]) 14:40, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

::::: Please do not mix facts with fakes! Please list local authorities which were "proclaimed the independence"? --] (]) 15:05, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:::::: Look at the BBC news, it has a full report - just like Maidan protesters who overtook government of Ukraine (by disposing, illegally, president) - protesters took local assembly. In that country, thugs seem to rule all over the place. But, thugs or not, they are both notable for wikipedia purposes (as are terrorists etc), and their UNRECOGNISED state should not be deleted, as it is a fact of life (like Mafia is, or Maidan overtake of Ukraine) ] (]) 15:18, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:::Since events developed very fast regarding the Crimea Crisis, I think that we should keep this article until the authorities declare (or not) independence. Reliable sources appear to say that this is real, and could result in another potential conflict with Russia. But by the way, there is an article for the ]. Would you like to delete that article too?] (]) 14:30, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

:*'''Speedy keep''' Clearly, this is not just a random act, but a decison with far reaching consequences. The declaration of independence is the same as in the case of ], i.e. without referendum, and a new, completely unrecognized so far, entity has been formed. Referendum has been called (same as in Crimea - but in Kosovo even referendum was not called, despite of what Obama misleadingly said), and development is relevant. It is also reported by BBC . ] (]) 14:28, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::*'''Speedy keep''' As per what Membrane-biologist said above. I have nothing to add to his words. --] (]) 14:31, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

:::Right, so I see the people using Misplaced Pages for propaganda purposes have found their way here. Expected. But if we ignore your propaganda talk about "misleading Obama" and "Kosovo" and instead focus on the facts? Once again, Kosovo, Crimea and many other areas have had their independence declared by '''local authorities'''. That is not the case here. The only people who have "declared" this republic is a small group of protesters. And nobody is saying we should not report it. We should, in the relevant article on the situation in Ukraine. We should '''not''' let Misplaced Pages be used as a propaganda tool to make a fictional "republic" seem more than it is.] (]) 14:33, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

::::"We should '''not''' let Misplaced Pages be used as a propaganda tool to make a fictional "republic" seem more than it is." Who are you to decide what is propaganda and what is not? Is the statement: "Russia is a great nation." propaganda? This republic, whatever it is, official/non-official, real/fictional should not be interpreted as simply a piece of Russian Agitprop. Political views do not play into the ground level fact! The fact is that these men have control of the government. They have proclaimed a republic and asked for Russian troops. The deletion of the article should only occur if this massive statement of willpower and force would have no regional or international consequences. It should only be deleted if it is meaningless and has no relevance nor pertains to reality. However uncomfortable the reality may be, this event has happened and we need to record it into the annals of history!] (]) 15:10, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::::: No, they definitely do not have control of the governement. All they have control of is the building in which the parliament meets. The governement is not a building and the actual members of the government are not under control of the group that has done this declaration. This article is factually false in several different ways. --] (]) 16:51, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

:*'''Speedy keep''' A "silly" article? Even the rationale for deletion doesn't exist at all. ] (]) 14:35, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

:*'''Keep'''. The Donetsk People's Republic had been proclaimed by a group of activists. Therefore it is a unrecognized entity, like there have been many before. It is not important if we like it (I don't). ](]) 14:36, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

::Quite true, it's not important if we like it or not. It's important if it is correct or not. You say there "have been many before". Could you link to them, please? I don't know of a single entity proclaimed by a small group of activists and within the borders of an indenpendent country. Which other entities do you mean?] (]) 14:42, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

:*'''Keep''' ]] 14:42, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
*'''Delete''' - Not a real declaration of independence, just a small group of separatists with no authority. South Ossetia had a functioning government to declare, as did Crimea or other instances. At the moment, this is just a coup / sit-in in a government building, not a true unrecognized state in the making. I say wait until recognition comes from at least one entity. --''']''' (]) 14:46, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::They have as much authority as Maidan protesters, who violently overtook Kiev. There is no difference whatsoever. BBC is reporting this as a far reaching news. ] (]) 14:50, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::: Let me remind you, that after Maidan protesters were killed by forces and only after that Ukrainian Parliament made decisions against President, not proclaimed independence! And protesters was not the only one who made those decisions! Ukrainian Parliament working as authorized assembly. So there is a huge difference of situations and you just mixed facts with fake! --] (]) 15:15, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

::: There was no 'violent overaking' in Kiev, measures were passed by parliament - are you saying the entirety of parliament was illegitimate? In this case, they declared every elected official dismissed and did so with no authority. Get your facts straight. --''']''' (]) 14:56, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:::: You mean by MPs like this . Seems legit, just like the Maidan snipers that fired in the mass. Overthrow of Ukraine president was NOT legal, and he is still legally a president of Ukraine - the current protesters in Donetsk are as legitimate as violent MPs who ILLEGALLY took rule, in breach of EU-Ukraine deal. ] (]) 15:18, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::::: Please keep your conspiracy theory rhetoric off of this AfD request.--''']''' (]) 15:24, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:::::: I provided arguments, not empty rhetoric. Look at the video clip, and claim that it is not violence, if you can! Conspiracy or not (possible false flag operation has been reported by intercept telephone calls that were ADMITTED as authentic), there is no argument against the fact that Maidan protests lead to overthrow of legitimate president in breach of EU-Ukraine agreement. So, Ukraine "revolution" is legitimate as much so as the one in Donetsk - and both should be reported here according to facts, not censored (or shot down, if that is more to your taste!) ] (]) 15:34, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

*'''Speedy delete'''. So every time about 50 guys get together to declare a republic of their own, we should create a wiki article? Not even Russia recognizes this and it is not even 5 hours since they declared it. Misplaced Pages is not a news site and it is not meant to use twisted wording like i.e. "the new administration", which his just harebrained crap. The Donetsk City Council and Donetsk Regional Parliament are still the legal entities in the region and administrative offices still follow their orders. IF in a week or so this Republic still exists and has established truly some semblance of authority there needs to be an article, but as it is now it is just hyping a few peoples declaration, which are not supported by any facts on the ground. ] (]) 14:46, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:::What about ], should we delete this article too?] (]) 16:53, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::There is no speedy delete - the article is in voting for deletion already (but there is speedy keep though, in the case of nonsense proposals for deletion).

*'''Keep''', but re-evaluate in two weeks. It's clearly too soon to say what will come of this, but deleting it is as premature as keeping it for the same reason. Let's give this article some time to accumulate, and it if doesn't work out in the longer term we can revisit this nomination. ] (]) 14:57, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
*'''Comment''': We need to have an article on Donetsk protests, so this would be a good candidate to redirect to ''']''' to cover all the events since Yanukovych fled. As for an article on this "people's republic" by itself, its not even notable yet by micronation standards, but it is notable as a part of all the Donetsk protests. 100 people breaking into a government building on a Sunday and declaring independence does not make a nation.--''']''' • ]] 15:00, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::In the World was many states and republics, and most of the short-lived republics was destroyed, for ex. the ] and his 6 days. The Mura Republic was also unable "state." Nevertheless, there was such a state. So keep this article. ]] 15:02, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::*I'm not against keeping the content, but let's recognize its just some separatists who broke into a building and declared independence, just like ] did last month.--''']''' • ]] 15:09, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::: Some separatists that represent more than 90% of the population? ] (]) 15:14, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:::*This page is not a forum for insipid propaganda on either side.--''']''' • ]] 15:24, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:::: '''Comment''' I agree the content is good, possibly rename the article 'Donetsk declaration on independence' or something similar? ] comes to mind. Until it's recognized by someone or has some sort of authority even in the city, it's just words and not a state structure.--''']''' (]) 15:27, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
*'''Delete'''. There are many good reasons stated above, I don't want to repeat them all, but as long as you want wikipedia to be reliable encyclopedia, which contains verified and trustworthy information, you must not create articles about some "subjects", that were self proclaimed by group of individuals with no recognition whatsoever. ] (]) 15:10, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::: Proclamation of independence IS verifiable, verified and notable (reported by BBC) - so you are wrong. ] (]) 15:29, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::"90% of population support it"? Says who? Please provide ]. According to the ]: "". IP 213.27.190.94 seems to be lying... So I suggest we do not take his vote into account. — ''']''' • ] 15:20, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:::I believe you responded to wrong message, anyway, given that most of the votes for keeping this article comes from unregistered or newly created accounts, I hope that nobody is actually going to take them seriously. It's sad that wikipedia is now being used as a tool of Russian propaganda. I have nothing against having these information here, but on proper pages. Should the Donetsk Republic ever be established and recognized by trustworthy authorities, there would be a reason to have an article about it, but its mere existence is not just doubtful, it's also too fresh to be a part of reliable encyclopedia. This belongs to wikinews maybe, but not wikipedia. ] (]) 15:27, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::::This is plainly false - most votes for keep are NOT from new accounts. Besides, AfD is not a VOTE, but the wegiht of arguments is what counts. Also, I am sure there will be many more discussion points in the next 7 days. ] (]) 15:41, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

* '''Keep''', for now it is valid since there was a proclamation of independence and given that more than 90% of population support it. If it fails, the article can always be renamed to failed republic proposition.] (]) 15:12, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
*'''Delete'''. Not a real political entity. Proclaimed by a group of protesters, the so-called republic have no defined borders, administration, and does not exercise any real authority.--]] 15:16, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:: What is "real political entity"? In controversial cases, like Palestine, Crimea, Northern Cyprus, Kosovo, Taiwan, Somaliland etc. - we precisely have limited or no recognition. Misplaced Pages should NOT decide what is real state or not, but use well established notability criteria. BBC and all other news services are reporting this as a new (unrecognized) state, that leads to potentially very serious developments. That is whats relevant for existence of this article. ] (]) 15:29, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:::You are absolutely correct, wikipedia shouldn't decide on this. It's an encyclopedia that should contain verified information. Any self-proclaimed (by few individuals) Republic that is old just few hours can't be easily verified nor trustworthy and doesn't belong here. Once it's clear what is going on there, then it would be unlikely criticized by so many people. Post this on wikinews, not here. ] (]) 15:35, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::::The same was said on the day of the creation of the Crimean Republic Page and yet look now: with time there comes an appreciation for the fact that history can take certain turns and pursue certain avenues which do not appeal to our personal viewpoints. I implore the people still deciding to set aside their anti-Putin bias and consider what the impact of deleting this article will be if this entity comes into existence? I say wait before hastily erasing a piece of historical narrative. In a week's time it should be decided upon, not now when events are still too fresh. ] (]) 15:50, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
'''Delete''' this Article is a part of propaganda only. Misplaced Pages is not for any propaganda. --] (]) 15:21, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:Funny you should ram your ill-formed opinion to the front of the page. Let us define propaganda as per ]: "Propaganda is a form of communication aimed towards influencing the attitude of a population toward some cause or position." The article does not influence anybody. All it states is the objective events that took place in Donetsk. Literally nothing else! If there is a part which is propaganda then talk about it on the talk page before deleting it with the assent of others. The article does not claim that the Republic is a real entity! All it says is that it has been proclaimed. The article does not lend legitimacy it simply chronicles events occuring in Donetsk for future generations to be able to read back on. ] (]) 15:38, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

*'''Delete''' - I'm usually all for including information on self-declared ''de facto'' states, but this isn't a ''de facto'' state -- it's literally 100-200 rioters holed up inside a couple of government offices under police siege. It exercises no real control. -] (]) 15:30, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:: I agree that 'de facto' should be the bare minimum line to draw for article creation. Right now they have de facto control of the floor of a building.--''']''' (]) 15:31, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
::According wikipedia policies, verifiability and notability are the main criteria. We are not to decide who has de facto control - outside references are all that count. BBC news reported about the new self-proclaimed republic; that is what counts here - sources. And they clearly make this new state both notable and verifiable. ] (]) 15:38, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
'''Comment''' I would just like to concur with the sentiment that votes from single purpose accounts and IPs should not be taken into consideration, or at least less so than actual editors on here who work with this content. --''']''' (]) 15:31, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

'''Comment''' There is obvious bias of some Ukrainian voters here, who even go so far to misrepresent people who give here arguments for keep, that are at this point a clear majority. AfD is NOT a Vote, which is what many users here seem to forget. ] (]) 15:50, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:Note: This debate has been included in the ]. ] (]) 15:32, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:Note: This debate has been included in the ]. ] (]) 15:32, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:Note: This debate has been included in the ]. ] (]) 15:32, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

Militants are available around the building of the Council Donetsk Oblast: this '''serious situation.''' () ]] 15:49, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

*'''Delete''' - Nonsense, otherwise every second occupied house in Europe can get it's unrecognized state article. For news please use Wikinews. Misplaced Pages is not a live ticker. --] (]) 16:02, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

* '''Keep'''. '''Rename''' to something more appropriate (e.g. '''Donetsk crisis'''). ] (]) 16:09, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

*'''Delete''' No such entity exists. A group of parliament squatters have no power to declare anything, let alone a republic. This is a joke. Misplaced Pages should not be abused for propaganda or information warfare. An article about the event of the seizure of the parliament should be substituted, in which this declaration can be mentioned. --] (]) 16:14, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

*'''Keep''' for now, consider a merge later on once we have a decent idea of how much impact this will have/is having. Coverage is significant, and the potential for growth is considerable. — ] (]) 16:17, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

*'''Rename''' to ]. The declaration is the newsworthy event that warrants coverage, as is reflected in the body of the article itself. ] (]) 16:18, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
Name would be misleading. Its not Donetsk that has declared independence, but rather a group of parliameent occupiers. That is a very important difference. --] (]) 16:21, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
:::I don't think it would be misleading; the name just implies a declaration of independence on behalf of Donetsk, it doesn't imply the level of support received by the declaration. Granted, it's obviously important to clarify who declared independence in the opening paragraph of the article. ] (]) 16:41, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

*'''Speedy keep''' - The argument that ] gives (not being recognized) is not valid, as ] is not recognized by a single country in the world and it has its own article and several articles related to it. So, no double POV-driven double standards or cheap demagogy, we are not talking about a squat...--]]KID 16:22, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

*'''Speedy delete''' - This thing does not exist, so does not deserve an article about it. ] (]) 16:25, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

*'''Keep''' Let's wait before the situation becomes clear. --] (]) 16:35, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

*'''Speedy keep''' - Independence has been declared and it's notable with far reaching consequences, so this is a real thing. It may or may not last long, but we have many articles about short-lived unrecognized states here and this one is no different. ] {'']/]''} 16:43, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

*'''Speedy keep''' - all independent states are notable objects worth of historical study, regardless of their perceived illegitimacy or size.] (])

*'''Keep''' It is not relevant if it is legitimate or not. As long as the event is real, I agree to keep the article. Misplaced Pages has an article about the ], that states that it's unclear what happened. ] (]) 16:51, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

*'''Keep for now''' With the current propaganda support from Russian news agencies, it is borderline notable for now. Might become very notable depending on developments. Wait a few weeks before afd-ing, at least. ] (]) 17:05, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

*'''Comment''' Once again, it might be notable ''if'' even a local authority had proclaimed it. Or ''if'' it would have any de facto control. Or ''if'' it would have any recognition. It has none of that. This is quite simply a small group of people occupying a building (a building! not a town) and saying they are a republic. The event is notable, and should be covered, but having a country-like article and calling it by this name is clearly out of touch with reality. Once again, a small group of people occupy a building, with no recognition and no control. That's all. ] (]) 17:29, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
** In case it's relevant at all, look at the infobox for ]. It says it was declared in 1916 (during the ]), but wasn't actually recognised until much later. The Easter Rising itself was a failed revolution and the people that rose up "lost" (many of the leaders were executed). So let's imagine... if Ireland had remained British since then until now, then would we have taken this declaration of independence seriously, or would we have dismissed it as "just a bunch of rebels occupying the post office", and would we have deleted the ] article for such a reason? My point here is that the significance of the event depends in part on history yet to be written. Maybe this is just a ], or maybe this is the start of a years-long process of political upturning much as in Ireland a century ago. I don't think we can tell at this point. ] (]) 17:37, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
*'''Speedily delete as a nonsense''', promotes crime against Ukrainian statehood. ] (]) 17:50, 7 April 2014 (UTC)
*As Thue and others have said, there's a decent likelihood that there'll be enough coverage to ] having an article on this. But it's really too early to say one way or another, and probably will be for several weeks at least. In the meantime, most of the arguments in favor of deletion don't really strike me as being arguments against the ''existence'' of this content, but as arguments against this ''presentation'' of this content. Which would be a reason to edit/move/merge/etc. the article, rather than to delete it, none of which require this AFD. (And which this AFD would probably actively interfere with.) '''Keep''' for now, and even if this turns out to be nothing it'll probably want to stay as a redirect to another relevant page. ]] 18:07, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

User talk:RoySmith

2014-04-07T17:05:37Z

Lifebaka: /* RE: closedrv.js */ new section

{{archives|auto=yes|search=yes}}
==]==
Hello! You recently closed ] as "redirect to MyRatePlan.com". I was tidying up and merging, and I couldn't find the usual talk page notification of the AfD and closure, either on at Talk:Logan Abbott or at Talk:MyRatePlan.com. Was this an oversight, or is there usually not a talk page record when the result is redirect? Thanks! --] (]) 05:56, 3 February 2014 (UTC)
: Hmmm, I'm going with oversight. I've gone ahead and patched it up with the OldAfD template which was missing. I assume that is the result you were seeking? Thanks for catching the problem. -- ] ] 06:15, 3 February 2014 (UTC)
:: Yes, thanks. Some people at the AfD were concerned about the possibility that someone might try to re-expand the redirect page into a full article. So I thought the history of redirection via AfD should be documented. Now it is! --] (]) 15:42, 3 February 2014 (UTC)

== The Mighty Don't Kneel ==

I don't think your reasoning behind the "no consensus" ruling on this AfD is correct. Of all the comments, not all mentioned the condition of the article and one commented that English coverage was absent - which does in fact go to notability. This would indicate that a rescue of the article is impossible. I think the clean up template has been there for months and there has been no reaction. Suggest you re-visit this decision now and ignore the references to the condition of the article. Thanks. ] (]) 21:59, 3 February 2014 (UTC)
: Thank you for your note. I looked at it again. This was a close call, but I'm satisfied with the result. At some point in the future, if the references to prove notability haven't appeared, it can always come back to AfD for another discussion. -- ] ] 22:30, 3 February 2014 (UTC)
:: But they haven't appeared for months prior to this nomination and I don't think they are going to show up in the future unless something happens and we can't CBALL here. I'm sorry, but I don't think you've got this right as you've focused on the article condition as indicated in your decision. ] (]) 22:42, 3 February 2014 (UTC)

Rubbish decision. Clearly not notable. Did you even look at the sources? Arguments against deletion were weak and proven so in comments. There was no substantive objection to the arguments put supporting deletion. Is there a minimum time limit to re-submitting this for deletion? That is, can I re-nominate it straight away or do I have to wait a certain period of time? ] (]) 02:21, 4 February 2014 (UTC)

: Hi. Thank you for your additional note and feedback :-) The applicable policy on re-submitting this can be found at ], specifically, ''users should allow a reasonable amount of time to pass before nominating the same page for deletion again''. I'm afraid I cannot offer any guidance on what ''a reasonable amount of time'' would be. -- ] ] 02:38, 4 February 2014 (UTC)

== Derek McGee ==

Hi, RoySmith. I was looking over old AfDs, and I saw that you closed ] as Merge. I was a bit surprised, as there was a clear consensus to delete, and I see no relevant information to merge into ]. Was it your intention to suggest that a character list be created in the main article? Honestly, I still don't think there's any worthwhile information to merge, and my web searches didn't turn up any indication that this is a main character. At best, this looks like a redirect. ] (]) 23:11, 3 February 2014 (UTC)
: I suggested Merge, because it was mentioned by one of the participants in the AfD. I'm not familiar with the subject matter. If there really is nothing worth merging, then I guess a plain redirect would be appropriate. If you like, I can update the AfD closure to indicate that. -- ] ] 02:07, 4 February 2014 (UTC)
:: Thanks for expanding on the close. I don't mean to be a bother, but I was initially a bit confused. ] (]) 06:01, 4 February 2014 (UTC)
::: Not a bother. I'm glad you asked, and in the future, I will try and provide greater clarity the first time. -- ] ] 12:56, 4 February 2014 (UTC)

== ] ==

Given there was little challenge of the evidence that League 1 is fully professional (only debate about it referenced previous AFD which seemed to also say League 1 was fully professional, the evidence I provided was not discussed, and the decision to delete was subject to future determination of professionality), and not one shred of evidence was provided showing that the leagues were not fully professional, then I really don't understand the basis of your decision. If it really is delete, can you expand your discussion and provide an explanation of your decision. Thanks, ] (]) 02:20, 4 February 2014 (UTC)
:This one was not complicated. I saw 5 people (including the proposer) putting forth cogent deletion arguments based on policy, and only one person (you) arguing to keep. -- ] ] 02:26, 4 February 2014 (UTC)
::I'm not sure what numbers have to do with it; consensus is not based on a tally of votes, but on reasonable, logical, policy-based arguments. The issue comes down to whether Chinese League 1 is fully professional. While evidence was provided that suggests League 1 is professional, no evidence was provided to the contrary. Evidence it was professional was arbitrarily dismissed, and the counter evidence provided was a pointer to a "consensus" that did not actually exist. However, if you've made up your mind, please explain the basis for your decision in the closing statement, which will assist in focussing the deletion review. Thanks, ] (]) 02:42, 5 February 2014 (UTC)
:::I have already explained my reasoning. I understand that you do not agree, but in this case, I think the consensus was clear. If you believe my close was in error and deletion review is appropriate (]), that is, of course, your right. -- ] ] 04:08, 5 February 2014 (UTC)
::::I don't understand your comment "I have already explained my reasoning". Your closing statement consisted of the words "The result was delete.". There is no explanation there. Please provide one. ] (]) 03:24, 6 February 2014 (UTC)
:::::No response? You say that you've already explained your reasoning. Where was this explanation that I can't find? ] (]) 21:20, 9 February 2014 (UTC)
::::::The explanation is above, ''I saw 5 people (including the proposer) putting forth cogent deletion arguments based on policy, and only one person (you) arguing to keep.'' I am sorry the decision did not go the way you wanted, but in my mind, this was about as clear a consensus as it gets. My job when closing an AfD is not to evaluate the article. That's the job of the editors who participated in the discussion. Your fellow editors were the people you needed to sway with your arguments, and you apparently failed to do that. My job is to summarize the discussion, determine if the participants in the discussion came to a consensus, and if so, carry it out. If you believe my actions here were in error, please take this to deletion review; continuing the discussion here seems pointless -- ] ] 21:34, 9 February 2014 (UTC)

== AfD on Marques Brownlee ==

I'm unclear as to how you determined "keep" on ]. Per ], the discussion should have centered on the applicable notability rules. I wouldn't have nominated the article for deletion if I thought the article had merit. Please explain. ] (]) 00:25, 10 February 2014 (UTC)
:Thank you for your note. Please see ]. -- ] ] 02:38, 10 February 2014 (UTC)
::This just closed 7 days ago, it should be sent to deletion review instead of repeating another deletion discussion. ] (]) 02:56, 10 February 2014 (UTC)

==About Work Stress Claims==
Hello! I wanted to create wiki Page for Work Stress Claims but it is showing already deleted and if wanna create then contact with you. Can you please help me regarding this. ] (]) 06:23, 14 February 2014 (UTC)

==Heads up==
One of your AfD closes has appeared at ] and I see nobody has told you.—] ]/] 14:18, 15 February 2014 (UTC)
: ''Sigh''. -- ] ] 14:25, 15 February 2014 (UTC)

== Upcoming Saturday events - March 1: Harlem History Editathon and March 8: NYU Law Editathon ==

{|style="{{divstylesiaaa}}{{border-radius|8px}}"
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!colspan=2 style="font-size:150%; padding: .4em;"|Upcoming Saturday events - March 1: ] and March 8: ]
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| style="padding-left: .6em;" |
]

You are invited to join upcoming Misplaced Pages "Editathons", where both experienced and new Misplaced Pages editors will collaboratively improve articles on a selected theme, on the following two Saturdays in March:

*Saturday March 1: '''] (])''', focusing on Harlem history, landmarks and biographies
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== Pogroms - AfD ==

Hi Roy, thanks for closing the AfD at list of events named Pogrom earlier. Personally I don't agree with the merge decision, but I am willing to support it in order to move forward - as they say, the best compromise is when all parties are the least unhappy, and this may be it.

Having said that, the nom at the AfD has begun attacking the merged content at ], adding numerous tags and removing the list criteria, among others.

Please could you keep an eye on ] for a few days to make sure this doesn't spiral downhill too fast? ] (]) 15:31, 18 February 2014 (UTC)

: I'll watch it. I realize nobody actually suggested merge in the entire bizarre <s>debate</s> brawl, but, as you say, it seemed like the best compromise. -- ] ] 15:36, 18 February 2014 (UTC)

::Thanks. The nom and his buddy are using a "no consensus" argument - ie ignoring its previous existence as a standalone article. Such an argument undermines the whole concept of the merge. ] (]) 16:38, 18 February 2014 (UTC)

==Constitution Party of Alabama==

I've nominated this for ]. Closing an AFD is not an invitation to ignore the entire discussion and many thought-out responses and substitute your own opinion, and there is no possible reading of the discussion that would suggest a consensus for anything like your desired solution. ] (]) 02:45, 19 February 2014 (UTC)

What authority do YOU have to close the AfD discussion and decide, all by yourself, on merging the articles? I agree with ] that there was NO clear consensus. Many of the individual state pages have plenty of their own unique references that would be out of place on a merged page.] (]) 13:34, 19 February 2014 (UTC)

===another view===
An excellent, clear, well-reasoned close, and a model for what to do in similar situations. (some problem analogous to this tends to arise every month or so, and I will be used your arguments.) I don't even think you needed to say you were using IAR--you were deciding what was appropriate in a close: deciding on the basis of the informed comments, rather than vote counting. ''']''' (]) 09:29, 19 February 2014 (UTC)
:Thanks; I appreciate the vote of confidence! -- ] ] 13:03, 19 February 2014 (UTC)

== Question for you ==

You were on the admin list so I have a question I hope you can help with. Recently, I have had users making up false claims about my account, and have been disruptive in article. I have actually gotten random Reverts on article edits just because of this, and not because there was an ACTUAL reason to revert the article. Take for example, a recent article I edited was reverted, and the edit summary was basically "I accuse you of being a troll" or whatever. So then they just remove the content from the article. Currently, a user is spreading these lies further on his talk page and I believe this may become a much more frustrating issue if something is not done.

So I was wondering what my options are in regards to this? Do I talk to someone, fill out a form, you, etc? ] (]) 02:06, 20 February 2014 (UTC)
:Block ], because he is a sockpuppet of ], a disruptive editor. <s>]|]</s> 05:06, 20 February 2014 (UTC)

Sorry, I don't play this game. -- ] ] 13:23, 20 February 2014 (UTC)

== Your closure of ] ==

Thank you for closing this AfD. However, you seem to have missed the nine other articles under consideration in the same discussion. Cheers. ] (]) 05:28, 21 February 2014 (UTC)
:Done -- ] ] 05:37, 21 February 2014 (UTC)

Hi Roy, re: this closure, the relevant football season restarts tonight and I'm going to check to see if any of these players get starts, if they do will you have no prejudice to me restoring the articles and adding sources? - ] (] / ]) 07:56, 21 February 2014 (UTC)

:I only closed the AfD; my opinion about what happens in the future has no more weight than any other editor. That being said, the general rule is that it is OK to recreate a deleted article if the reasons it was deleted are no longer valid. Keep in mind that if somebody objects, you will need to supply policy-based arguments to support your action. -- ] ] 14:21, 21 February 2014 (UTC)

==Disambiguation link notification for February 21==

Hi. Thank you for your recent edits. Misplaced Pages appreciates your help. We noticed though that when you edited ], you added a link pointing to the disambiguation page ] (] | ]). Such links are almost always unintended, since a disambiguation page is merely a list of "Did you mean..." article titles. Read the ]{{*}} Join us at the ].

It's OK to remove this message. Also, to stop receiving these messages, follow these ]. Thanks, ] (]) 09:07, 21 February 2014 (UTC)

== List of film accents considered the worst ==
: ]
Regarding ], I changed my vote to delete and pinged a few others just a couple of hours ago. (A couple of them followed suit based on my initial argument.) Could you wait to see if they would change their mind or not? ] (] | ]) (]) 15:04, 22 February 2014 (UTC)
:First, they're not votes (if they were, the delete camp would have won, since they had greater numbers). Second, ] is a violation of Misplaced Pages policy. -- ] ] 15:08, 22 February 2014 (UTC)
::Votes, arguments, same thing here. :) No, canvassing only applies to uninvolved editors. I can ping editors who were already involved with the AfD. ] (] | ]) (]) 15:11, 22 February 2014 (UTC)
You're joking, right? In other words, nothing is listcruft anymore. This is the problem with Misplaced Pages. The people who create these lists spend lots of time editing here and thus invest lots of time advocating for them. I edit sporadically and only started because I was coming across a lot of poor quality articles and this kind of garbage. How does one appeal this decision?--] (]) 17:28, 22 February 2014 (UTC)
:::{{tps}} I was one of the "keepers". For the record, and as I've now stated on the article talk page, I don't think Erik's new arguments support ''deletion''. They certainly might support changing the focus of the article and retitling it, but those are editorial processes, not cause to delete a bunch of legitimate content. For my own part, I think the close was well-considered, and I hope we can leave this AfD behind, and move back to collaborative editing. --] (]) 17:31, 22 February 2014 (UTC)
::::Oh please. The keep arguments were ludicrous. You would need to have some kind of statistical model for aggregating data to establish that an accent in a film is "considered the worst." Just because such and such critic who writes for the ''Chicago Tribune'' hated ''Apocalypse Now'' doesn't make it one of the "movies considered the worst."--] (]) 17:46, 22 February 2014 (UTC)
I'll wait for RoySmith to respond, but I'd like to put this up for a deletion review. Enough with these "keep" arguments that basically say "Misplaced Pages exists to give lonely people with a computer something to do." NO. IT. DOESN'T.--] (]) 18:24, 22 February 2014 (UTC)
:Well, no one can stop you from filing for Delrev, but it's not the best use of anyone's time. The close was reasonable, but more to the point, Erik's suggestions on the article talk page have provided a constructive way to move forward to improve (and probably retitle) the article. A much better use of editorial energy. And, Atlantictire, calling the considered arguments of multiple editors "ludicrous" and denigrating them as "lonely people with a computer" is truly, truly, not the best way to go. --] (]) 18:41, 22 February 2014 (UTC)
::Let's get real. A lot of this "editorial energy" is gladly lavished on treating Misplaced Pages as a venue for time wasting and socializing. Maybe "multiple editors" deserve to have their efforts come under closer scrutiny. If someone wants to make a listcruf page to have an excuse to waste time on here it may seem harmless.. until links to their pages creep into pages with actual content.--] (]) 18:59, 22 February 2014 (UTC)

== ] ==

Notability can exist for any reason. It doesn't require career accomplishment. Being a young up and coming Kennedy with aspirations for politics, and other various things, can be notable. It's determined by the existence of sources, as described in ]. It is unclear why you ignored the sources (and Keep votes) and instead voiced a personal opinion about "lack of accomplishments" as reason for deletion. Misplaced Pages is not just for accomplished people. -- ]] 17:48, 22 February 2014 (UTC)
*Do you doubt he meets ]? If you have a problem with the article giving what you consider too much coverage about something else, then discuss it on the talk page and edit it through normal methods. That's not a valid reason to delete an article. Ample coverage about him out there, and his activities. They have a video on Today that list the events he has been to, and list detailed facts about him. Various other coverage of him has already been mentioned. Plenty out there. ] 00:37, 23 February 2014 (UTC)
**Sigh. I see my mistake here was not just writing "Delete" and letting it go at that, because that's the consensus I saw from the arguments people put forth. -- ] ] 00:41, 23 February 2014 (UTC)
***The people saying delete did not deny he got coverage to pass ], only complained saying he wouldn't be getting it if not for his famous family? Consensus isn't a vote count nor just a glance over a few arguments. Kindly look at the sources provided, and whether or not they pass GNG or not. ] 00:54, 23 February 2014 (UTC)
The thing with these epic multi-AfD cases is one has to start reviewing past discussions taking into account emerging consensus over time. Looking at AfD #2 for example: Coffee closed it delete, but after , he changed position saying "those sources (which I ruled out in my closing) do in fact establish notability outside of him being related to JFK." The core of it is that most of the Delete votes are premised on the essay ] ("only notable as a Kennedy"). While the essay is often viewed as a guideline, it is not because there is no consensus for that, and probably shouldn't trump the guidelines when there is debate over INHERITs application. -- ]] 18:21, 23 February 2014 (UTC)

==Deletion review for ]==
An editor has asked for a ] of ]. Because you closed the deletion discussion for this page, speedily deleted it, or otherwise were interested in the page, you might want to participate in the deletion review.  ] 19:28, 23 February 2014 (UTC)

==Deletion review for ]==
An editor has asked for a ] of ]. Because you closed the deletion discussion for this page, speedily deleted it, or otherwise were interested in the page, you might want to participate in the deletion review.  ] (]) 03:33, 23 February 2014 (UTC)

==]==

You closed the debate with the comments that ''The key issue here seems to be that WP:FPL does not list the league Mejía played ''. However, I don't understand that, because no one argued the league was fully pro. The argument to keep was he met ] because of extensive media coverage over the last decade, such as . There was little challenge to these sources. And there are may more, such as . Which isn't surprising given he's played for 15 years on one of the top teams in Central America, in a country where Football is the top sport. The issue about ] was simply a note that one can't claim that there's consensus about the team not being professional, because it's not mentioned (and has never been discussed) at ]. ] (]) 17:49, 23 February 2014 (UTC)
: No need to quote the sources here; I read them when I closed the AfD (as best as I could, via Google's robo-translate). I am sorry this did not go your way, but you were the only person arguing for keep and your arguments did not persuade. -- ] ] 18:35, 23 February 2014 (UTC)
:: Why then did you closing statement not address this, but instead addressed an issue that no one raised? ] (]) 21:02, 23 February 2014 (UTC)
:::Thanks for adding. I just noticed. ] (]) 00:42, 19 March 2014 (UTC)

== Good call... ==

.... I was obviously the strongest advocate for deletion but consensus wasn't with me (or, more accurately, others believed it was created in good faith and deserved a chance). They're not wrong and it probably does so ignoring a "technical" failure to meet guidelines is sensible. Keep up the good work! ]] 02:05, 24 February 2014 (UTC)
:Thank you. It's nice to know my efforts are appreciated. -- ] ] 03:39, 24 February 2014 (UTC)

== concerning your user page deletion review essay ==

At ] you say "I can't help thinking that if all the time and effort people put into arguing process could be redirected to collaboratively editing articles, we'd have this encyclopedia written by now." Well, if you followed the notability guidelines designed to prevent pointless arguments, and didn't go around deleting things you shouldn't, we wouldn't be having all the arguments to begin with. And having things you delete go to deletion review does not mean you are doing your job properly, but in fact quite the opposite. ] 06:14, 25 February 2014 (UTC)

== ] closure ==

Roy, I must say I'm surprised you closed the "Hummingbird Heartbeat" discussion as keep. None of the "keep" voters were (correctly) following WP:NSONGS, as there is little information from reliable sources on the song available that isn't from album reviews. WP:NSONGS states that there needs to be in-depth information from multiple reliable sources (not counting album reviews) to have its own article. There was definitely more weight for redirect. {{ping|Gongshow}} made a solid in-depth case for why it fails notability. With this in mind, why was it declared as keep? ] (]) 14:37, 26 February 2014 (UTC)
:Sigh. I know it's not a vote, but I count 7 keep, 4 redirect/delete (I am discounting the comments struck out by {{ping|DoRD}} as anonymous sockpuppetry). The keep arguments were reasonable and policy-based. This one really wasn't hard. I am sorry this did not go the way you wanted, but the time to argue was during the AfD, and your arguments there apparently failed to convince your fellow editors to come over to your point of view. -- ] ] 14:55, 26 February 2014 (UTC)
::It just doesn't make sense since weight/strength of arguments is more important than number of votes. Believe me, I did make backed-up arguments during the debate, including an excerpt from WP:NSONGS. {{ping|Lankiveil}}, {{ping|Adabow}}, and Gongshow all also cited WP:NSONGS for reasons to delete or redirect. The "keep" decision really should be reassessed, as WP:NSONGS can't just be ignored. Also, the "keep" votes were not as well supported as the "delete/redirect" ones. Plus, one of the "keep" voters didn't even provide a reason to keep the article. ] (]) 15:02, 26 February 2014 (UTC)
:::For what it's worth, I would have liked if at least one of the keep !voters (or, indeed, the closing admin) could have taken a second to address my or ]'s concerns. That said, while I believe the keep arguments to be in conflict with ], I don't think the end result would be overturned at ] anyway. At this point, the better course of action IMO is to clarify the guideline itself through the talkpage. ]] 18:47, 26 February 2014 (UTC)
::::Correct me if I'm wrong, Gongshow, but are you saying we should define WP:NSONGS and gain consensus through the talk page rather than another AfD, and that if deleted it would not be overturned? ] (]) 19:00, 26 February 2014 (UTC)
:::::I suggest changing NSONGS to make the wording clearer so it's more easily enforceable going forward. I've started a topic ]. ]] 19:41, 26 February 2014 (UTC)

== ] ==

Greetings,
I would like to thank you for your recommendations but can you please re-explain to me the ways you suggested to improve the article? I apologize but i somehow failed to understand this part well enough: ''"..find the most significant watershed events, and use those events as bright-line demarcations between articles. Then write a series of articles, culling material from 2012–13 Egyptian protests, Egyptian Revolution of 2013, etc"''
If you noticed, the ] is now an exclusively timeline article and there is also a proposal of moving it to ]. This article on the other hand, has a different structure because there are sections like "International reactions", "Solidarity protests", "Characteristics" and perhaps many other things to come that are not present in the protests article. If you can suggest ways to make this article a better one, i would be really grateful. Regards. ] (]) 06:36, 2 March 2014 (UTC)
: I wish I had a good answer for you. I know very little about the topic at hand. My suggestion was based simply at looking at the several articles, observing that they appeared to overlap in various ways, and suggesting a possible way to organizing things better. History tends to be chronological, so I thought perhaps this would be a good way to organize this material. -- ] ] 20:43, 2 March 2014 (UTC)

== Procedural question - "Centenary of Military Aviation 2014 Air Show" incubated ==

Hi, thanks for your assessment of ]. Now that the article is in draftspace, is it ok to work on it to address the concerns raised by the editors that supported deletion? I think that the editor who created the article is relatively new and may need some help thru this process. Thanks & regards, ] (]) 11:32, 3 March 2014 (UTC)
: Yes, that's exactly the idea; people should work collaboratively on drafts while they are in the draft namespace. Eventually, if the article meets standards (and there's no guarantee of that), it can get moved back into the main article space. You can find a description of the draft process at ]. -- ] ] 13:20, 3 March 2014 (UTC)
== Reference Errors on 3 March ==

] Hello, I'm ]. I have '''automatically detected''' that an edit performed by you may have introduced errors in referencing. {{#ifeq:1|1|It is|They are}} as follows:
*On the ] page, caused a ] (] {{!}} ]). ( | )
Please check this page and fix the errors highlighted. If you think this is a ], you can .
Thanks, ] (]) 00:49, 4 March 2014 (UTC)

==Deletion review for ]==
An editor has asked for a ] of ]. Because you closed the deletion discussion for this page, speedily deleted it, or otherwise were interested in the page, you might want to participate in the deletion review. 

==Would you have time to look at what is happening with the conspiracy theory article and if you see fit issue a 24-hour block and warning?==
Hi Admin. Roy Smith. I noticed you closed the Jennifer Hornyak AfD , one I participated in; and I appreciated your level-headed approach on that. So when I was looking for an admin. to take a look at what is happening at ], I thought of you.

There's a new, nearly single-purpose user, Csp0316, who has become active there. This article has been created over several years with source citations to the heavy hitters on the subject of CT. With the exception of two minor contributions, my main involvement was reorganizing existing info and adding a lot of subheadings.

Csp0316 has expressed his displeasure with the thesis of the article and has focused his anger on me, the consistent voice for the stable version of it. He is determined to re-do it according to his own liking. If you read the last few paragraphs of ], you'll get the flavor of where he is headed with this.

The reason I think this needs admin. action, a 24-hour block for starters or at least as strongly worded warning, is that (1) now ''Csp0316 has blanked a fairly significant chunk of text sourced to one of the main authors in the field''. (2) A second concern is that editor Csp0316 is adding material that is not in any universe ]. My concern is that if this m.o. persists--blanking the sourced info and adding his own contributions based on OR or extremely shaky sourcing--in pretty short order there's going to be a new, different article replacing the stable version. (S.o. other than I would need to restore the blanked material as well.)

This article is a magnet for conspiracy theorists of many stripes, obviously. Contrary to new editor Csp0316's assertion, I'm not a CT basher. I just think RS and weight rules s/b followed, and I see them being jettisoned here. IMO the sources establish that CT is a seasoned term of art in English-speaking cultures, but Csp0316 isn't buying that.

Thanks for your time. ] (]) 05:38, 4 March 2014 (UTC)

: Hi {{ping|Paavo273}}, thanks for your note. I took a quick look at the article, and {{ping|Csp0316}}'s contribution history. On the surface, I don't see anything that really throws up any red flags. It looks to me like this new editor discussed the proposed changes to the articles he or she has modified for a significant amount of time before going ahead and implementing them. It seems to me, this is more of a content dispute than anything else, which doesn't require third-party admin assistance to resolve. -- ] ] 15:01, 4 March 2014 (UTC)

== Could You Close a Photo Deletion Discussion ? ==

:It seems that you are an Admin who sometimes closes discussions on Deletion Requests. Could you please look at this involved discussion concerning a photo deletion request, and determine if we can now close that discussion (link of discussion is below)? It has been about 7 days since ]'s request.
:https://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Files_for_deletion/2014_March_1#Terrific_Street
:Do we have enough of a consensus to close that discussion and remove the Delete Tags from those 2 photos and change their status to Keep? If so, would you be willing to close that discussion and fix the tags?] (]) 00:17, 8 March 2014 (UTC)

:: Hi, and thanks for your note. I looked at the discussion. I'm afraid I'm not an expert on copyright issues, and it look like that's a critical part of this discussion. So, I'm going to decline on this one and leave it for somebody who is better versed in copyrights as they apply to media. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. -- ] ] 01:20, 8 March 2014 (UTC)

== ] ==

On your user page you state, "I can't help thinking that if all the time and effort people put into arguing process could be redirected to collaboratively editing articles, we'd have this encyclopedia written by now."  I saw this AfD earlier today and saw that there was a consensus position that addressed all of the viewpoints.  And I stated in my !vote, "there is no benefit to having the article locked up in deletespace."  Yet an hour later you have put this article in deletespace.  Was I incorrect in saying that there is no benefit to having the article in deletespace?  Returning to your user page comment, if you want people to collaboratively edit articles without going through process, doesn't draftspace do just that?  ] (]) 17:02, 9 March 2014 (UTC)
: Fair enough, I've move the last revision to ]. -- ] ] 17:15, 9 March 2014 (UTC)
:*Thanks, I will review the draft.  ] (]) 17:29, 9 March 2014 (UTC)

== Jews and Communism ==

I disagree with the way you closed the AfD for Jews and Communism as "no consensus". The final vote was 22 to delete, 1 to merge/delete, 1 to merge, and 1 to redirect (total 25 votes) against 14 to keep. Furthermore your observattion that no one would claim the topic is not notable is wrong. As I argued in the AfD, while the role of Jewish people in various Communist parties have been written about, no comprehensive book or article about the connection between Jews and Communism has ever been written (and I provided a source for that comment.) I would appreciate therefore if you would review your decision. ] (]) 17:32, 13 March 2014 (UTC)
: Hi TFD, thanks for your note. Yes, I'm aware of the numbers. Please note that this is not a vote (see ]). I carefully read all of the arguments and came to the conclusion that there was no clear consensus here. -- ] ] 23:15, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

==Deletion review for ]==
An editor has asked for a ] of ]. Because you closed the deletion discussion for this page, speedily deleted it, or otherwise were interested in the page, you might want to participate in the deletion review.  ] (]) 05:59, 14 March 2014 (UTC)

==Miroslav Keresteš==
Hi RoySmith. Can you undelete please article about Slovak footballer Miroslav Keresteš, who is currently playing for Czech side FC Zbrojovka Brno. He made his professional debut for FC Zbrojovka Brno on 24 February 2014 against AC Sparta Prague, . Thank you. BR. IQual (talk) 08:44, 16 March 2014 (UTC)
: Done. See ]. -- ] ] 15:30, 16 March 2014 (UTC)

== Please do userfy ==

You said you would be happy to userfy Ethiopian line of succession, would you mind doing it for me? Thanks very much, ] /]/ 18:16, 23 March 2014 (UTC)
: Done. Moved to ]. Feel free to work on there. -- ] ] 18:28, 23 March 2014 (UTC)

== ] ==

Per your comment at the AfD discussion, I have copy edited the article's Hyderabad section so that it does not contain verbatim or close paraphrasing of text at . It's unclear if information at the external link was copied from Misplaced Pages or vice-versa, but to be on the safe side, I copy edited the article. ]] 21:58, 23 March 2014 (UTC)

== Double AfD closure! ==

Hi RoySmith: Check this out: ]. ]] 03:46, 26 March 2014 (UTC)
:Wow. That's special. I close these things with a script, so I'm going to guess it registered two mouse clicks instead of one and just went off the deep end. I'll try to fix that up. Thanks for pointing it out. -- ] ] 03:48, 26 March 2014 (UTC)
::An interesting script error that occurred there! Thanks for fixing the matter. Cheers, ]] 03:54, 26 March 2014 (UTC)

==]==
{{See also|User:Dsimic/RESTful API Modeling Language}}

I am not seeing a consensus for Delete. Would you consider adding your opinion to the discussion and reopening? Also, if you don't think it's independently notably, why not merge/ redirect to ] (REST) where it is discussed? ] (]) 18:34, 2 April 2014 (UTC)
:I've updated ] with some more comments. I hope that addresses your concerns. -- ] ] 19:08, 2 April 2014 (UTC)
::I believe the REST article already covers the RESTful API subject to some extent. It seems that you have cast a super-vote instead of expressing your opinion in the discussion. You comments show that you have made an assessment of sources and determined that coverage is not substantial. I and others in the discussion came to a different conclusion. I don't think your closure is appropriate. ] (]) 23:20, 2 April 2014 (UTC)
:::I'm not sure what objective you are seeking. You suggested I should have closed it as merge into ]. I updated my closing comments to make it clear that anybody could do that if they wanted. What else are you looking for? -- ] ] 23:53, 2 April 2014 (UTC)
::::I suggested you cast a supervote and asserted your opinion based on your reading of the sources. I stated that I didn't see a consensus for delete. I suggested you convert your statement into a comment in the discussion and leave it for someone else to close. I also suggested that a merge would be reasonable since content covering the subject is already noted in a "parent" article. In your additional closing comment you said you would make the deleted article available upon request, which is certainly helpful, but that does not enable me to carryout a merger. Doing so would also violate editing policies on crediting editor work. I would be fine with a protected redirect (which would allow access to the material). A redirect would be helpful anyway. But I don't think deletion is appropriate or a proper reading of the discussion. ] (]) 01:07, 3 April 2014 (UTC)
::::I am looking for a proper close based on policy that provides readers with the information they may be looking for. This is helpful in this instance and in other cases where this discussion might provide a basis for a better outcome in future. ] (]) 01:10, 3 April 2014 (UTC)
: Well, I just went back and analyzed the AfD again. I know it looks, on the surface, like everybody is saying Keep, but most of those keeps were from ]s, and I discounted them entirely. When you throw out all that sockpuppetry, all that's really left on the keep side is two comments, from you and {{user|Dsimic}}. I am sorry this didn't go the way you wanted, but as I look at the arguments presented by the (non-sock) people who participated, I still believe I made the right decision here. -- ] ] 01:53, 3 April 2014 (UTC)
:: No worries, it's not that everything is lost by deleting an article{{snd}} as we know, nothing is actually erased and there's always take two. Anyway, it looked a bit suspicious with all those "keep it!" from ]s; it's pretty much Ok to "fight" for an article, but the efforts should be channeled toward making the article better or finding more sources, not toward bringing more artificial "keep it" votes.
:: Any chances, please, for emailing me a copy of the article's last version? I'll go through it again once I have more time and try to find more references, reevaluate its notability etc. I have the email feature enabled for my account. — ] (] | ]) 02:27, 3 April 2014 (UTC)
: I have moved the most recent version to ] -- ] ] 03:00, 3 April 2014 (UTC)
:: Thank you very much! I'll have another look at it. — ] (] | ]) 03:07, 3 April 2014 (UTC)

Hello Roy, it looks like that you don't have any idea what is this article about, when proposing it for removal. But this is ok, keep you very-very useful activity. Misplaced Pages needs you! ;) — Preceding ] comment added by ] (]) 09:23, 7 April 2014 (UTC) 

== Typography ==

Hey Roy. Thanks for sharing the ]. Can I ask what operating system you're using? We just updated English Misplaced Pages with a local fix, which we think should solve some issues for users on Windows 7 and XP in particular. ] • ] 00:50, 5 April 2014 (UTC)
: Mac OSX 10.7.5. -- ] ] 00:54, 5 April 2014 (UTC)
::Thanks! ] • ] 01:43, 5 April 2014 (UTC)

== RE: closedrv.js ==

Hey, just giving you a heads up that I left you a reply over at ]. It's been the better part of a month, so I wasn't sure you'd still be checking for answers there. ]] 17:05, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

User talk:Lifebaka

2014-04-07T17:03:49Z

Lifebaka: /* closedrv.js */ I think I figured out what happened; also: wow it still works wow

User talk:Lifebaka

2014-04-07T16:52:30Z

Lifebaka: /* closedrv.js */ huh, who knew that people use my stuff

User talk:Lifebaka

2011-12-05T17:58:18Z

Lifebaka: /* Ultimate Challenge MMA */ forgot to link title, for ease of use

{{User:Lifebaka/Talk header}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|archiveheader = {{User:Lifebaka/Talk header/Archive}}
|maxarchivesize = 250K
|counter = 7
|minthreadstoarchive = 4
|algo = old(7d)
|archive = User talk:Lifebaka/Archive %(counter)d
}}

== New Page Patrol survey ==

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:Timestampt for Miszabot. ]] 14:14, 26 October 2011 (UTC)

== Archiving at RFPP ==

Hello Lifebaka. I happened to see about reordering your sentences to make archiving happen. From a perusal of ] I think it is sufficient that a request contain the string '''{{rfpp|''' anywhere in the text. So the script would do the right thing even if you didn't reorder the closing statements. Thanks, ] (]) 05:15, 13 November 2011 (UTC)
:Ah. I guess I'll not worry about it, then. Thanks for the heads up. ]] 05:17, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

== ] ==

Hi Lifebaka. Thank you for assessing the consensus at ]. Best, ] (]) 20:16, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

== ] ==

Hello, we haven't talked or interacted on the same pages before, however, there is a page you voted for deletion a few years back, and I believe that it was a mistake to delete it. I saw the reason you deleted him, however, I must disagree with you. By looking at the criteria at the fighters section of ], he clearly meets the criteria to keep him, which is -

*Subject of multiple independent articles/documentaries--articles should be from national or international media, not just local coverage or press releases from organizations

*Fought for the highest title of a top tier MMA organization

*Fought at least three (3) fights for top tier MMA organizations

Paul Jenkins has fought for four notable organisations, which are ], ], ] and ]. Here is the criteria these organisations meet through MMANOT -

*Subject of multiple independent articles/documentaries--articles should be from national or international media, not just local coverage.

*Promotes a large number of events annually--the more fights it has sanctioned, the more notable.

*Has actively been in business for several years - the longer the organization has been around, the more notable.

*Large number of well-known and highly ranked fighters.

He has also fought many, many notable fighters within his 95 MMA fights, and there are many articles that talks about him and his fights, which covers ]. He has also won the Cage Rage World Middleweight Championship and the Cage Rage World Welterweight Championship. It is because of all this that I ask of you to please reinstall the page that already existed before it was deleted. I would of created a whole new page for him, though it would take ages to do and at least with the fight record, it would be easier to just have the old page back, and just update that. Please take all this into consideration before reply, and I hope we can agree that the page can be reinstated soon. ] (]) 18:02, 27 November 2011 (UTC)
:The page was deleted through the ], so all you have to do is request that it be restored. I'm going to assume that you're doing that here, and will be restoring it momentarily. You'll have to excuse me for not responding to the rest of your comment, as I am not terribly knowledgeable or interested in MMA myself and am not qualified to make such judgments; I was merely acting in my capacity as an admin to perform a requested action. Since the page has been deleted for several years, it will need some work after restoration, even if only to bring it in line with current template usage and the like. Cheers. ]] 19:17, 27 November 2011 (UTC)

*Thank you very much, I can see why you requested it deletion from the way it is displayed, but I will update it so it matches all other MMA fighter's Wiki pages, thus making it tidier, and add in the links to back it up in any future deletion proposals. That is fine, I understand where you come from, and not to worry, I will get on with it right away. ] (]) 20:27, 27 November 2011 (UTC)

== Undelete request ==

Hi, Lifebaks! I would like to restore my previously deleted userpage, ] The page was stamped as: ''20:27, 6 March 2011 Lifebaka (talk | contribs) deleted "User:SteveStrummer/Sandbox4" ‎ (U1: User request to delete page in own userspace).'' If it's possible, and at your own convenience, would you undelete it for me please? ] (]) 05:57, 1 December 2011 (UTC)
:Done. Cheers. ]] 06:16, 1 December 2011 (UTC)
::TYVM! ] (]) 06:30, 1 December 2011 (UTC)

== ] ==

Hello again, I have come to ask if you could undelete UCMMA. It is a notable organisation, there are many articles on them, they have a TV deal with ], which is the biggest sporting channel in the UK, and they have very notable fighters compete for them. Even the page was a bit of a mess before it was deleted, I took the liberty of putting it in my sandbox, and have edited and updated it since. Here is the link for you here - http://en.wikipedia.org/User:BigzMMA/sandbox if you feel that it is still missing some things please let me know what it is and I can verify and add that to it. Again I hope we can come to the agreement that the page can be returned on Misplaced Pages, just like how we agreed to get ] back on here, where I was able to update the page and it now looks a lot better and it has more references to prove what he has done. Thank You. ] (]) 17:29, 5 December 2011 (UTC)
:I've given your sandbox a quick glance, and I don't see that much has changed since ]. I assume I'm missing something, so could you break it down for me?
:This case isn't like the one with Jenkins, above, because of the processes involved. ] assumes that all deletions made through it are non-controversial; that is, that no one objects. So, if someone objects to a proposed deletion after-the-fact, this means that the deletion was not actually non-controversial, and we therefore restore. Deletion discussions, like ], don't work this way. They are a section of the community getting together to decide the fate of an article, rather than just one nominator and one admin. It is not in my power, as a single user, to overturn what the community has decided unless it's pretty obvious that the community's reasoning no longer applies, and a brief glance seems to indicate it does, which is why I could use an explicit rundown of what's changed.
:I also notice that the content between the old, deleted article and your new draft is very similar. Did you copy and paste the article before it was deleted? If so, I'll need to do a little bit of admin-y magic to stick the old history underneath your draft, to avoid copyright concerns. But don't worry, I don't plan on deleting your sandbox. Cheers. ]] 17:57, 5 December 2011 (UTC)

User talk:Lifebaka

2011-12-05T17:57:53Z

Lifebaka: /* Ultimate Challenge MMA */ response based on brief glance, will look over in more depth later

{{User:Lifebaka/Talk header}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
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== New Page Patrol survey ==

{| style="background-color: #dfeff3; border: 4px solid #bddff2; width:100%" cellpadding="5"
| ]
<big>'''New page patrol – ''Survey Invitation'''''</big>
----
Hello {{PAGENAME}}! The ] is currently developing new tools to make new page patrolling much easier. Whether you have patrolled many pages or only a few, we now need to know about your experience. The survey takes only 6 minutes, and the information you provide will not be shared with third parties other than to assist us in analyzing the results of the survey; the WMF will not use the information to identify you.
*If this invitation also appears on other accounts you may have, please complete the survey once only.
*If this has been sent to you in error and you have never patrolled new pages, please ignore it.
'''Please click to take part.''' 
Many thanks in advance for providing this essential feedback.
----
You are receiving this invitation because you have patrolled new pages. For more information, please see ]
|}
:Timestampt for Miszabot. ]] 14:14, 26 October 2011 (UTC)

== Archiving at RFPP ==

Hello Lifebaka. I happened to see about reordering your sentences to make archiving happen. From a perusal of ] I think it is sufficient that a request contain the string '''{{rfpp|''' anywhere in the text. So the script would do the right thing even if you didn't reorder the closing statements. Thanks, ] (]) 05:15, 13 November 2011 (UTC)
:Ah. I guess I'll not worry about it, then. Thanks for the heads up. ]] 05:17, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

== ] ==

Hi Lifebaka. Thank you for assessing the consensus at ]. Best, ] (]) 20:16, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

== ] ==

Hello, we haven't talked or interacted on the same pages before, however, there is a page you voted for deletion a few years back, and I believe that it was a mistake to delete it. I saw the reason you deleted him, however, I must disagree with you. By looking at the criteria at the fighters section of ], he clearly meets the criteria to keep him, which is -

*Subject of multiple independent articles/documentaries--articles should be from national or international media, not just local coverage or press releases from organizations

*Fought for the highest title of a top tier MMA organization

*Fought at least three (3) fights for top tier MMA organizations

Paul Jenkins has fought for four notable organisations, which are ], ], ] and ]. Here is the criteria these organisations meet through MMANOT -

*Subject of multiple independent articles/documentaries--articles should be from national or international media, not just local coverage.

*Promotes a large number of events annually--the more fights it has sanctioned, the more notable.

*Has actively been in business for several years - the longer the organization has been around, the more notable.

*Large number of well-known and highly ranked fighters.

He has also fought many, many notable fighters within his 95 MMA fights, and there are many articles that talks about him and his fights, which covers ]. He has also won the Cage Rage World Middleweight Championship and the Cage Rage World Welterweight Championship. It is because of all this that I ask of you to please reinstall the page that already existed before it was deleted. I would of created a whole new page for him, though it would take ages to do and at least with the fight record, it would be easier to just have the old page back, and just update that. Please take all this into consideration before reply, and I hope we can agree that the page can be reinstated soon. ] (]) 18:02, 27 November 2011 (UTC)
:The page was deleted through the ], so all you have to do is request that it be restored. I'm going to assume that you're doing that here, and will be restoring it momentarily. You'll have to excuse me for not responding to the rest of your comment, as I am not terribly knowledgeable or interested in MMA myself and am not qualified to make such judgments; I was merely acting in my capacity as an admin to perform a requested action. Since the page has been deleted for several years, it will need some work after restoration, even if only to bring it in line with current template usage and the like. Cheers. ]] 19:17, 27 November 2011 (UTC)

*Thank you very much, I can see why you requested it deletion from the way it is displayed, but I will update it so it matches all other MMA fighter's Wiki pages, thus making it tidier, and add in the links to back it up in any future deletion proposals. That is fine, I understand where you come from, and not to worry, I will get on with it right away. ] (]) 20:27, 27 November 2011 (UTC)

== Undelete request ==

Hi, Lifebaks! I would like to restore my previously deleted userpage, ] The page was stamped as: ''20:27, 6 March 2011 Lifebaka (talk | contribs) deleted "User:SteveStrummer/Sandbox4" ‎ (U1: User request to delete page in own userspace).'' If it's possible, and at your own convenience, would you undelete it for me please? ] (]) 05:57, 1 December 2011 (UTC)
:Done. Cheers. ]] 06:16, 1 December 2011 (UTC)
::TYVM! ] (]) 06:30, 1 December 2011 (UTC)

==Ultimate Challenge MMA==

Hello again, I have come to ask if you could undelete UCMMA. It is a notable organisation, there are many articles on them, they have a TV deal with ], which is the biggest sporting channel in the UK, and they have very notable fighters compete for them. Even the page was a bit of a mess before it was deleted, I took the liberty of putting it in my sandbox, and have edited and updated it since. Here is the link for you here - http://en.wikipedia.org/User:BigzMMA/sandbox if you feel that it is still missing some things please let me know what it is and I can verify and add that to it. Again I hope we can come to the agreement that the page can be returned on Misplaced Pages, just like how we agreed to get ] back on here, where I was able to update the page and it now looks a lot better and it has more references to prove what he has done. Thank You. ] (]) 17:29, 5 December 2011 (UTC)
:I've given your sandbox a quick glance, and I don't see that much has changed since ]. I assume I'm missing something, so could you break it down for me?
:This case isn't like the one with Jenkins, above, because of the processes involved. ] assumes that all deletions made through it are non-controversial; that is, that no one objects. So, if someone objects to a proposed deletion after-the-fact, this means that the deletion was not actually non-controversial, and we therefore restore. Deletion discussions, like ], don't work this way. They are a section of the community getting together to decide the fate of an article, rather than just one nominator and one admin. It is not in my power, as a single user, to overturn what the community has decided unless it's pretty obvious that the community's reasoning no longer applies, and a brief glance seems to indicate it does, which is why I could use an explicit rundown of what's changed.
:I also notice that the content between the old, deleted article and your new draft is very similar. Did you copy and paste the article before it was deleted? If so, I'll need to do a little bit of admin-y magic to stick the old history underneath your draft, to avoid copyright concerns. But don't worry, I don't plan on deleting your sandbox. Cheers. ]] 17:57, 5 December 2011 (UTC)

.onion

2011-12-03T05:03:13Z

Lifebaka: /* Examples of .onion sites */ InspecTor / ExcludeNodes generator is working just fine now

{{external links|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox Top level domain|
name=.onion|
background=#ADFF2F|
image= |
introduced=2004|
type=Pseudo-domain-style host suffix|
status=Not in root, but used by Tor clients, servers, and proxies|
registry=]|
sponsor=|
intendeduse=To designate a hidden service reachable via Tor|
actualuse=Used by Tor users for services in which both provider and user is anonymous and difficult to trace|
restrictions=Addresses are "registered" automatically by Tor client when a hidden service is set up|
structure=Names are opaque strings such as '''jv6g2ucbhrjcnwgi.onion''', generated from public keys|
document=|
disputepolicy=N/A|
website=
}}

'''.onion''' is a ] host suffix (similar in concept to such endings as ] and ] used in earlier times) designating an ] reachable via the ] network. Such addresses are not actual DNS names, and the .onion TLD is not in the ], but with the appropriate proxy software installed, Internet programs such as ]s can access sites with .onion addresses by sending the request through the network of Tor servers. The purpose of using such a system is to make both the information provider and the person accessing the information more difficult to trace, whether by one another, by an intermediate network host, or by an outsider.

Addresses in the .onion pseudo-TLD are opaque, non-mnemonic, 16-character alpha-semi-numeric hashes which are automatically generated based on a ] when a ] is configured. These 16-character hashes can be made up of any letter of the alphabet, and decimal digits beginning with 2 and ending with 7, thus representing an 80-bit number in ].

The "onion" name refers to ], the technique used by Tor to achieve a degree of ].

== WWW to .onion proxies ==

Proxies into the TOR network allow accessing dynamically routed services from non-TOR browsers.

=== tor2web ===
Allows access using a non-TOR browser by changing the domain suffix ''.onion'' of any hidden service host to ''.tor2web.org''. The protocol prefix ''http://'' can also be changed into ''https://'' to use an encrypted connection to the tor2web proxy server in order to provide additional privacy.

For example ''<nowiki>http://eqt5g4fuenphqinx.onion/</nowiki>'' would become ''<nowiki>https://eqt5g4fuenphqinx.tor2web.org/</nowiki>''.

Using a proxy server of this kind decreases the level of security in comparison to using Tor by having it installed on the computer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tor2web.org/|title=tor2web.org: visit anonymous websites|accessdate=2009-09-16|language=English}}</ref>

== .exit ==
'''.exit''' is a ] used by ] users to indicate on the fly to the Tor software the preferred ] that should be used while connecting to a service such as a ], without having to edit the configuration file for Tor (''torrc'')

The syntax used with this domain is ''hostname'' + ''.exitnode'' + ''.exit'', so that a user wanting to connect to <nowiki>http://www.torproject.org/</nowiki> through node ''tor26'' would have to enter the URL ''<nowiki>http://www.torproject.org.tor26.exit</nowiki>''.

Example uses for this include accessing a site available only to addresses of a certain country or checking if a certain node is working.

Users can also type ''exitnode.exit'' alone to access the IP address of ''exitnode''

== Examples of .onion sites ==
(Tor is required to access the sites)

* , one long-standing introductory hub to the web of onions

* , tab-keeping on glitchy or spurious exit nodes

* , free hidden web hosting with PHP and MySQL. During October 2011, hacktivist collective Anonymous downed the servers of Freedom Hosting as part of OpDarknet, a campaign against child pornography.<ref>"#OpDarknet Major Release and Timeline," Oct. 15, 2011, http://pastebin.com/T1LHnzEW</ref> ] stated in media releases that Freedom Hosting had refused to remove such sites as "Lolita City" and "Hard Candy," which it found to contain 100 GB of child porn. Anonymous released 1500 user names from these sites and invited the FBI and Interpol to follow up.<ref>"Anonymous Back in Action: Targets Child Porn Web Sites, Releases User Names," International Business Times, Oct. 23, 2011. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/235991/20111023/anonymous-hacking-group-targets-child-porn-web-sites-releases-user-names-lolita-city-child-pornograp.htm</ref>
* , small library of books in PDF and other common formats
* , an anon-post board
* , publicly browseable, image upload
* , StatusNet on tor (twitter-like clone).

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== See also ==
* ]

==External links==
*
*

{{GTLD}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:ONION}}
]
]
{{Compu-domain-stub}}

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Template talk:Afd top

2011-12-02T00:20:28Z

Lifebaka: /* Linking to talk page */ don't think that explanation works, but still happy to see the edit not happen; can't subst: that sort of parser; split out into own section

{{archives}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|maxarchivesize = 70K
|counter = 1
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|archive = Template talk:Afd top/Archive %(counter)d
}}

== Parameter ==

I think we could add a parameter to this template. For example:
<nowiki>{{subst:at}} '''Delete''' ~~~~</nowiki>
would be replaced with:
<nowiki>{{subst:at|delete}} ~~~~</nowiki>

In my opinion, it looks nicer in the instructions as well as making it easier to enter. It is also more intuitive as the parameter is usually part of the sentence generated by the template, and there's usually no reason to have it split off. It's also substed anyway, and thus will have no long-term impact on the size of deletion pages. Comments? ] 04:43, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

: I seem to have missed the initial comment at the far top in 2005. Sorry about that - although the version that I wrote makes it an optional parameter. --] 05:05, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

My tests on ] don't show any problems, and given the nature on how the parameter is implemented, I don't forsee any problems with the bots. Is there any objection before I commit the change? --] 06:43, 30 September 2007 (UTC)

=== Parameter added ===

I have added an optional parameter, which should ease closing debates considerably. Note the "optional" part, meaning that the template can still be used in the old manner, and should not break bots. The way it works is simple:

*<tt>{{tlsp|Afd top}}</tt> gives "The result was ". The old way; add text behind the template.
*<tt>{{tlsp|Afd top|d}}</tt> gives "The result was '''Delete.''' "
*<tt>{{tlsp|Afd top|k}}</tt> gives "The result was '''Keep.''' "
*<tt>{{tlsp|Afd top|m}}</tt> gives "The result was '''Merge.''' "
*<tt>{{tlsp|Afd top|nc}}</tt> gives "The result was '''No consensus.''' "
*<tt>{{tlsp|Afd top|r}}</tt> gives "The result was '''Redirect.''' "
*<tt>{{tlsp|Afd top|any text.}}</tt> gives "The result was '''any text.''' "

Using any option, rationales can always be added after the template. More options could be added. — ] • ] • 14:22, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

: I almost reverted this myself when it was added yesterday. Parameters added with no documentation explaining them are worse than useless - they are actively confusing and contribute to ]. Now that you've added an explanation, we can at least begin to debate the merits of the change. (But until the documentation is added to the template page itself and not merely here, it's still a not fully functional process.) ] ] 14:45, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

::The documentation can always be fixed. I first want to probe administators' input. There is a ] guiding admins to this talk page. If it meets with approval, I'll add to the documentation. — ] • ] • 14:59, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

:::I added some instructions, as there were none - even to explain the basic function of the template. ] ] ~ ] 15:01, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

::::Thanks. I moved it to ] to minimize the toll of editing the documentation, as the template seems highly transcluded throughout all the AfD archives. — ] • ] • 15:19, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

::I see y'all beat me to it! I reverted ]'s update because it wasn't putting out clean code in the absence of a <code><nowiki>{{{1}}}</nowiki></code> variable, which I was worried might cause problems for the bots or existing scripts. (My explanation on his talk is ], his response on my talk is ].) I've since updated the template so that clean wikicode is output whether you specify a parameter value or not, so hopefully all should be well!

::I've also gone ahead and let ] know about this discussion so he can make sure there are no problems with ]. --]-]] 15:42, 27 February 2008 (UTC)
:::Oh, just to clarify in case anyone is wondering, the addition of the blank "|" in the switch function is just to ensure that nothing, not even apostrophes, are output when someone opts not to fill in a value. --]-]] 15:48, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

::::That is why I put the extra space in <nowiki>{{{1| }}}</nowiki>. Now the free text option doesn't seem to work. — ] • ] • 15:55, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

:::::Ah. Well, the goal was to eliminate errant wikimarkup--is it possible to just remove the bold formatting from around the <nowiki>{{{1}}}</nowiki> parameter and instruct users to fill it in as normal? After all, I can't imagine that someone using that option would necessarily want their entire statement bolded. --]-]] 15:59, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

::::::It's not ment to put entire rationales in there, just non-standard results (ie. '''Speedy deleted'''). The default space seems to clear out any undefined garbage just fine. I'm not seeing any stray apostrophes in any of my tests. — ] • ] • 16:05, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

:::::::I get stray apostrophes in the wikicode (see of ), but given that Oleg has mentioned that , I suppose we can live with it. My concern was just trying to keep it as clean as possible in case any automated processes or scripts got tripped up by the errant formatting. If they don't mind, then I don't mind. --]-]] 16:13, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

::::::OK, I see it in ''one'' case; when an empty parameter is passed. Though logically, it should not happen (I don't know where the apostrophe comes from). But one should pass an empty parameter anyway. Hold on a minute... it's because it passes six apostrophes. OK, that should be fixed now. — ] • ] • 16:16, 27 February 2008 (UTC)
:::::::Well, the idea of accounting for no parameter is to make the changeover transparent for users who would still close discussions the old way, without using the parameters. I was worried that, on the off-chance that Mathbot tripped up on the apostrophes (incidentally, they're ; that's simply due to the fact that that entire line is the default argument when one of the predefined items is not passed), ] would suddenly start reporting massive backlogs as the bot failed to count closed discussions. But the operator says it's probably okay, so I think it's probably okay.

:::::::Although...I did come up with a fix :) --]-]] 16:29, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

(deindent) Actually, your fix makes no difference (see my test in your sandbox using your template. But as long as one doesn't pass an ''empty'' parameter, as opposed to ''no'' parameter, there shouldn't be a problem. A definitive fix would probable using #if: in the default parameter. — ] • ] • 16:39, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

:Ah, I see now; I misunderstood what you meant when you said "empty parameter" then. In that case, I think we're safe--I can't imagine that anyone would pass an empty parameter, and we're covered in the event that they pass ''no'' parameter (which is what I was focusing on). So I'm satisfied.

:And on that note, it's well past my bedtime. Thanks for taking the time to explain this! --]-]] 16:48, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

===break===
You all need to keep working on this. The template is almost always used via substition but that's not been an absolute rule. Right now, the template brings in a lot of extraneous and confusing wikicode when not substituted. That needs to either be suppressed or the parameter needs to be backed out. ] ] 18:48, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

:Yikes! I see what you mean. — ] • ] • 19:54, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

:Well, it should work either way now, even though there is some visible code in edit mode when substituted. That should't be a problem though. — ] • ] • 20:18, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

::OK, I'm getting worried now... how to make sure the code is not exposed (using subst:) while also making the parser works when the template is not substituted? — ] • ] • 20:29, 27 February 2008 (UTC)
I should note that the parameters break the various AFD closure scripts. --]] 03:31, 28 February 2008 (UTC)
:Well, we actually had it worked out so that it could be used either with the new parameters or in exactly the same manner as before, down to producing the exact same wikicode output (assuming that it was substituted per ]). Unless closure scripts were not substituting the template, then, they should have been okay with that solution. Since we've changed it to account for the instances when it is not substituted, however, they're probably choking on the parser code they're being passed.

:Since it seems we need to do a little more troubleshooting, I'm going to go ahead and copy the existing version to ] (a test version myself and Edokter have been working on) before reverting back to the pre-parameter version. My gut tells me there is a solution to all of this, but this will restore the status quo until we get this figured out. --]-]] 04:09, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

Nice one. So who wants to go through and fix where this new template has vomited wikicode everywhere and stopped my bot from working. I'm not running it anymore until either you decide to stick with what works, or come up with a parameter version that actually does. ] ] 19:14, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

:I'll be glad to take a crack at it later, although I think calling us "tards" in your edit summary is a bit harsh. The fact that this template was being edited was brought up on ANI, and if you look at the discussion above you'll note we spent hours trying to perfect it (and succeeding) so it specifically ''wouldn't'' vomit wiki-code. I'm sorry your bot choked on it, but we had no way of knowing that we should inform you (although I'm glad to see that you've since added a note about that to the page).

:A new version is being tested at ]--feel free to drop by and lend a hand! --]-]] 01:55, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

::I've fixed all of the discussions your bot noted. Please let me know if I missed any. --]-]] 02:10, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

===Riiiiight...===

Before we do anything, it's time to have a '''fundamental''' discussion about '''who''' this template is designed for... instead of '''what'''. Thats right. I find it quite astonishing that some template cannot be improved for those who actually '''use''' it because it might break some script or bot. I for one am not willing to accept that.

So far, Jonny and I are more then willing to accomodate for scripts and bots, as far as coding permits it. However, let's not forget why this template is here in the first place: for the benefit of the closing admins. So when someone comes along yelling '''''', excuse me for being a bit annoyed.

What is your bot doing anyway? And what exactly needs "fixing"? Or anyone else's for that matter. It can't be the actual closing; only admins can do that. So it has to be collecting data afterwards. If those bots have to extract a result, there must be a better way of doing so instead of reading the raw output, and I'm sure it can be coded in trivially using a meta flag. ''Anything'' better then looking for raw output, because that '''seriously''' hampers this template's evolution. — ] • ] • 22:04, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

== Proposal ==

See {{tl|mfd top}}. When you are viewing a closed MfD discussion page itself, it looks just like a closed AfD. However, when you view a closed MfD transcluded in the log, the includeonly kicks in and it collapses like a closed DRV. I think this would be a good idea for closed AfDs, since it would aid navigation by reducing the vertical length of an AfD log. How does this idea sound? -- ] ] ] ] &spades; 17:09, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
:Seems perfectly reasonable to me. ]] 17:16, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
:Be BOLD about it. :-) ] (]) 17:21, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
::I've started to work on it at ]. -- ] ] ] ] &spades; 17:25, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
::{{done}} – I've tested it on ] and it works. -- ] ] ] ] &spades; 17:49, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
Hrm. Actually seeing it in practice, I wonder if it's really quite ''done''. It looks fine on the individual nomination pages, but on the log page it's coming across as being somewhat unfinished. When expanded, you get a box in a box in a box sort of look, rather than a seamless single box like at MfD. Also, we might want to rethink how the template is set up .. since the usual result is placed ''outside'' the template, you don't get the result showing in the collapsed version, either. Thoughts on how to address either/both of these concerns? ]] 20:46, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
:On the template itself, that is easy to do. However, it requires a {{{1}}} parameter, so we have to bug Mr.Z-man to modify his script. -- ] ] ] ] &spades; 20:51, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
:As for the "seamless single box," if you would look closely, it's the same at MfD. Both use {{tl|collapse top}}, so any problems with it would arise from that template. So far, however, I do not see any problems with it. You might have perceived a difference because the AfD color is lighter, making the borders more visible. But yes, we do need to fix the result. Since that will radically change how people use the template (now a parameter will be included), everyone will need to be notified, and Mr.Z-man's script needs to be updated. -- ] ] ] ] &spades; 20:56, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
::(ec)It'd also mean modifying the behavior of AfD closers (like myself) who are very used to {{tltts|Afd top}} '''result'''. I don't use scripts/tools and pretty much do it all by hand so I'd have to reprogram my brain as well. What about the formatting that I mentioned (the nested boxes)? I haven't really dug into the code to see what's causing it .. I probably should, instead of just whining about it .. ]] 20:59, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
::Uhm, mostly nevermind. You answered me in the edit conflict. I wonder if there is a more elegant way to handle the nested boxes? Or would it just be more trouble than it is worth? ]] 21:01, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
:::And now I realize the answer to my second question : the {{tl|collapse top}} functionality would have to be added into {{tl|Afd top}} itself, rather than calling it via a transcluded template. I don't think it'd be ''too'' hard but again I wonder, is it worth it? ]] 21:04, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
::::Hm? {{tl|collapse top}} is already in {{tl|afd top}}. -- ] ] ] ] &spades; 21:05, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
:::::No, I mean the functionality itself .. basically code the formatting into {{tl|afd top}} rather than transcluding it via {{tl|collapse top}}, so that only a single <nowiki><div></nowiki> exists. ]] 21:08, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
::::::Well, {{tl|mfd top}} has been working perfectly fine without any complaints; I don't see why the nested boxes present a problem. -- ] ] ] ] &spades; 21:10, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
:::::::It's purely asthetic, which is why I'm not ''too'' concerned about it. Just wondering whether it was woth the consideration. :) ]] 21:10, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
::::::::I wonder if the makers of {{tl|collapse top}} have considered it then. -- ] ] ] ] &spades; 21:13, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
One problem with this is that you can't navigate to a particular discussion by clicking its entry on the the log's table of contents if the discussion is collapsed. This needs to be fixed. Also, there needs to be an "expand all/collapse all" button on the log page if possible. All in all this is not a bad idea but these glitches need to be hashed out first. Until then, one can use Mr. Z man's ] script. --] (]) 12:56, 30 July 2009 (UTC)
:Why would going to a section be necessary? Each AfD has its own subpage. -- ] ] ] ] &spades; 22:10, 30 July 2009 (UTC)
::Convenience, most likely. Adding a line above everything else that reads something like <code><nowiki></nowiki></code> should work to address the section linking issue (though <code><nowiki>{{PAGENAME}}</nowiki></code> might need to be used instead, I don't recall). Cheers. ]] 04:08, 31 July 2009 (UTC)
:::{{done}} - I used <code><nowiki></nowiki></code>. -- ] ] ] ] &spades; 20:53, 31 July 2009 (UTC)

This is completely redundant. A mechanism for collapsing closed discussions, for those looking at the per-day pages, has been here for ''years''. It's the <source enclose=none lang="css">class="xfd-closed"</source> style applied to the <source enclose=none lang="css"><div></source> surrounding all closed discussions. Please use it rather than reinventing this particular wheel by adding lots more HTML to the template that is redundant to a mechanism that already existed. ] (]) 18:35, 4 August 2009 (UTC)
*What else do I need to do other than revert the changes to this template to roll back to the way we used to do it? ] ] 14:03, 23 August 2009 (UTC)
**Okay, I just rolled back since no-one answered, based on the discussion at ]. ] ] 09:47, 4 September 2009 (UTC)

== Deletion review notification in closing header ==

Could we not have the archive header show when a deletion review has been requested? Most participants in a recently closed discussion I'm sure would be most appreciative of such a heads-up. __] (]) 18:38, 7 July 2010 (UTC)

== Prod? ==

The following discussion is an archived debate of the '''proposed deletion''' of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page. :) ''']''' '']'' ] ] 08:36, 14 July 2010 (UTC)

== CSS class metadata ==

There is ] that closed AfDs aren't visible in PDF versions of the pages. From my tests, it seems it's because the CSS class <code>metadata</code> is added by this template. What exactly is the purpose of this class here? The explanation at ] indicates, that it shouldn't have any effect on non-article pages, which is clearly not the case. <tt>].]]</tt> 16:49, 7 May 2011 (UTC)
:This is probably better addressed to ] or something. The problem is that the class is apparently mishandled by the PDF generator. ] (]) 18:14, 11 May 2011 (UTC)
::So what is its purpose here? <tt>].]]</tt> 22:57, 11 May 2011 (UTC)
:::I'm not sure, but it's been around since the template was first created, and we have scripts that depend on its presence, and it's present in other xfd top templates as well. Plus removing this doesn't help existing pages at all since the template is substituted and not transcluded. It's much better to fix whatever that's causing the PDF generator to break rather than do a prospective-only hack that will introduce its own incompatibilities. ] (]) 06:58, 13 May 2011 (UTC)

== Linking to talk page ==

The wording of this template, and more, is criticised at . Can we apply some magic to make the words "the article's talk page" automatically linked to the relevant page, if not deleted? Or, failing that, add a hat-note link to the help page describing what a talk page is?

We should probably also add a switch so that a reference to "the article's talk page" does not appear, if the result was delete. ] (Pigsonthewing); ]; ] 11:17, 26 November 2011 (UTC)

:I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if such magic were feasible—this template is used without parameters, and the name of the afd subpage it's substed onto won't necessarily match the relevant article. Two other possibilities:
:*Replace it with a pointer to the closer's user talk page. It should be technically possible to get this into the template, but it runs the risk of pointing our hypothetical newbie at the talk page of a long-retired user.
:*Remove the suggestion to discuss on the article's talk page entirely. If someone tries that for a deleted article, it will almost always just get deleted ], and in any case, it'll be poorly-watched and nobody will have the opportunity to help him out. If, on the other hand, someone tries to make remarks for a kept article at Deletion Review (even the wrong place, inserted into the top of the instructions or whatever), someone will be able to set him straight.
:Either way, while the recently-added link to ] is clearly well-intentioned, I'm not sure whether giving this class of newbie a link to someplace other than where he can directly edit to get help is any better than just leaving it unlinked. ] (]) 14:10, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

== "Expensive" parsers ==
Ed, re , why would "expensive" parser functions even matter in archives which pull so few views? ] (]) 22:04, 1 December 2011 (UTC)

:Views are not the determining factor, re-caching is. Each time anything on, or related to, the archive page is changed, the page has to be rebuild which causes the 'expensive' hit. And if over time those parser functions build up in the archive, we have a problem. — ] (]) — 23:58, 1 December 2011 (UTC)
::I'm not sure. I don't believe the server would actively update the parser and rebuild the page except when someone requests the page, and I don't see us ever having enough users surfing old AfDs at once for it to be a real problem. Regardless, I don't believe that the edit was necessary and would rather not see it repeated, for the sake of keeping the template as simple as possible. And no, we can't simply subst: the parser to make life easier, because the existence of an article's talk page might change some time after an AfD is closed. Cheers. ]] 00:20, 2 December 2011 (UTC)

User talk:Lifebaka

2011-12-01T06:16:02Z

Lifebaka: /* Undelete request */ done

{{User:Lifebaka/Talk header}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|archiveheader = {{User:Lifebaka/Talk header/Archive}}
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== Preventing Edit War ==

I don't know exactly what to do to prevent another "edit war" on the "Gilgamesh in the Outback" page, as well as the Heroes in Hell pages. No matter how neutral the edits are, Hullabaloo Wolfowitz insists on reverting every single one, reinserting the "originally published" wording and changing the page to reflect the inaccurate information regarding the history of "Gilgamesh" to infer that the story was NOT written for the Heroes in Hell series. Any suggestions? No one wants to just give up and let him vandalize the pages to read the way he wishes reality was, but I, for one, am tired of being accused of every WP "crime" in recorded history in the edit comments.] (]) 07:03, 11 October 2011 (UTC)

== Please review these blocks ==

There was a ] in MediaWiki 1.18 that caused blocks made via the API to have talk page access disabled when it should have been enabled. This also affected scripts such as ]. Please review the following blocks to make sure that you really intended talk page access to be disabled, and reblock if necessary.
# {{user-multi|User=John low iq|t|bl|bu}} by ] at 2011-10-05T04:02:12Z, expires infinity: <nowiki>]</nowiki>
# {{user-multi|User=Wikipediancabal|t|bl|bu}} by ] at 2011-10-07T16:05:45Z, expires infinity: <nowiki></nowiki>
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to post at ]. Thanks! ]] 02:07, 14 October 2011 (UTC)

== H.Wolfowitz vandalizing another Janet Morris page/obvious retaliation ==

This is the edit history for the last couple of hours of editing by Hullaballoo Wolfowitz of The Sacred Band of Stepsons page. This page has stood unmolested since the Spring of 2010 and now Mr. Wolfowitz is trying to dismantle it since he was overruled in vandalizing the Gilgamesh in the Outback page. Is there some speedy process to have him blocked from vandalizing any more of Ms. Morris' pages?] (]) 21:08, 17 October 2011 (UTC)

(→Evolution of the fictional Sacred Band of Stepsons: dubious, subjective, inadequately sourced) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 20:32, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (15,861 bytes) (→History, myth, and philosophy meet fantasy: or/subjective/synthesis, unsourced) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 20:31, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (16,353 bytes) (→The ancient viewpoint: OR/subjective/synthesis, unsourced) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 20:30, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (17,325 bytes) (→Evolution of the fictional Sacred Band of Stepsons: ce) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 20:29, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (17,452 bytes) (→Evolution of the fictional Sacred Band of Stepsons: fix typo) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 20:01, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (17,453 bytes) (→Reception: add review) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 19:56, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (17,190 bytes) (→Lovers and brothers and friends: pair-bonded characters driving the fiction: more obviously promotional text) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 19:55, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (18,383 bytes) (nfcc violation, multiple nonfree images without image-relevant discussion in text) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 19:52, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (18,461 bytes) (→Evolution of the fictional Sacred Band of Stepsons: wretchedly excessive promotional text) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 14:46, 17 October 2011‎ Orangemike (talk | contribs)‎ (20,081 bytes) (it's a copyright violation; we don't continue a copyright violation while some nebulous process is taking place) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 22:22, 16 October 2011‎ Marcus Qwertyus (talk | contribs)‎ (20,174 bytes) (Let this go through the process first.) (undo)

Please see if there is an emergency procedure to stop this vandalism as soon as possible. — Preceding ] comment added by ] (] • ]) 21:15, 17 October 2011 (UTC) 

I do beg your pardon. I have received notice that what the editor is doing is not considered "vandalism" and I was not aware that such radical edits within a very short period of time would not be considered vandalism, especially when there had no major edits in approximately one and one-half years. Exactly what procedure does WP consider "appropriate" in an instance where there is a heated history of edit-warring involving an editor who then begins to edit another unrelated page about another series by the same author? Please note that I do not have 7 years of experience and 43,000 edits under my belt and I will need some help to file a dispute properly. Thank you.] (]) 22:03, 17 October 2011 (UTC)

:I've watchlisted the article, but at a glance it seems that Hullaballoo's initial edits were fine. The minor edit warring occurring after them was not. Unfortunately, it looks increasingly unlikely that anything I or others do is likely to resolve the disputes around Morris's work, short of indefinitely blocking one whole side of the dispute (or both). Of course, blocking one side would be de facto determining who is right and who is wrong, so we're not going to do that on the basis of the edits themselves. This isn't to say that other factors can't lead to blocks, of course.
:Now, I see Drmies has already warned you about this, but accusations of vandalism are taken extremely seriously here, especially when you are accusing someone of vandalism when they haven't committed it. This is not acceptable. Nor are repeated assertions that a user has a conflict of interest regarding certain subjects, as Urban Terrorist has asserted Hullaballoo has and Hullaballoo has asserted you and others have. Nor is long-term, slow edit warring, as has occurred on ], ], and ]. I'm not sure how to resolve these issues, because my initial inclination is to simply indefinitely block ''all'' of you. In the short term, however, I'm fully prepared to reprotect the articles as soon as I see any more edit warring, by any party, for any reason. None of you are using the talk pages except for side attacks to try to "win" the dispute, and this isn't helping the encyclopedia. ]] 15:17, 19 October 2011 (UTC)

::From what I can see, Hullaballoo is a side of one. He also holds a grudge. I noticed that he was showing up on pages that I'd edited, so I did some thinking. Then I looked at his . I compared some of the pages where I had noticed him popping up after I had made an edit against pages he had edited. Consider ] where he , this is the and he has . My suspicion is that he has been monitoring my Contributions page, and following me around. Mind you, it is a suspicion only, I can't prove anything. ] (]) 01:44, 20 October 2011 (UTC)

== A barnstar for you! ==

{| style="background-color: #fdffe7; border: 1px solid #fceb92;"
|rowspan="2" style="vertical-align: middle; padding: 5px;" | ]
|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 3px 3px 0 3px; height: 1.5em;" | '''The Admin's Barnstar'''
|-
|style="vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px;" | here ] (]) 21:44, 18 October 2011 (UTC)
|}

== New Page Patrol survey ==

{| style="background-color: #dfeff3; border: 4px solid #bddff2; width:100%" cellpadding="5"
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<big>'''New page patrol – ''Survey Invitation'''''</big>
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Hello {{PAGENAME}}! The ] is currently developing new tools to make new page patrolling much easier. Whether you have patrolled many pages or only a few, we now need to know about your experience. The survey takes only 6 minutes, and the information you provide will not be shared with third parties other than to assist us in analyzing the results of the survey; the WMF will not use the information to identify you.
*If this invitation also appears on other accounts you may have, please complete the survey once only.
*If this has been sent to you in error and you have never patrolled new pages, please ignore it.
'''Please click to take part.''' 
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:Timestampt for Miszabot. ]] 14:14, 26 October 2011 (UTC)

== Archiving at RFPP ==

Hello Lifebaka. I happened to see about reordering your sentences to make archiving happen. From a perusal of ] I think it is sufficient that a request contain the string '''{{rfpp|''' anywhere in the text. So the script would do the right thing even if you didn't reorder the closing statements. Thanks, ] (]) 05:15, 13 November 2011 (UTC)
:Ah. I guess I'll not worry about it, then. Thanks for the heads up. ]] 05:17, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

== ] ==

Hi Lifebaka. Thank you for assessing the consensus at ]. Best, ] (]) 20:16, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

==]==

Hello, we haven't talked or interacted on the same pages before, however, there is a page you voted for deletion a few years back, and I believe that it was a mistake to delete it. I saw the reason you deleted him, however, I must disagree with you. By looking at the criteria at the fighters section of ], he clearly meets the criteria to keep him, which is -

*Subject of multiple independent articles/documentaries--articles should be from national or international media, not just local coverage or press releases from organizations

*Fought for the highest title of a top tier MMA organization

*Fought at least three (3) fights for top tier MMA organizations

Paul Jenkins has fought for four notable organisations, which are ], ], ] and ]. Here is the criteria these organisations meet through MMANOT -

*Subject of multiple independent articles/documentaries--articles should be from national or international media, not just local coverage.

*Promotes a large number of events annually--the more fights it has sanctioned, the more notable.

*Has actively been in business for several years - the longer the organization has been around, the more notable.

*Large number of well-known and highly ranked fighters.

He has also fought many, many notable fighters within his 95 MMA fights, and there are many articles that talks about him and his fights, which covers ]. He has also won the Cage Rage World Middleweight Championship and the Cage Rage World Welterweight Championship. It is because of all this that I ask of you to please reinstall the page that already existed before it was deleted. I would of created a whole new page for him, though it would take ages to do and at least with the fight record, it would be easier to just have the old page back, and just update that. Please take all this into consideration before reply, and I hope we can agree that the page can be reinstated soon. ] (]) 18:02, 27 November 2011 (UTC)
:The page was deleted through the ], so all you have to do is request that it be restored. I'm going to assume that you're doing that here, and will be restoring it momentarily. You'll have to excuse me for not responding to the rest of your comment, as I am not terribly knowledgeable or interested in MMA myself and am not qualified to make such judgments; I was merely acting in my capacity as an admin to perform a requested action. Since the page has been deleted for several years, it will need some work after restoration, even if only to bring it in line with current template usage and the like. Cheers. ]] 19:17, 27 November 2011 (UTC)

*Thank you very much, I can see why you requested it deletion from the way it is displayed, but I will update it so it matches all other MMA fighter's Wiki pages, thus making it tidier, and add in the links to back it up in any future deletion proposals. That is fine, I understand where you come from, and not to worry, I will get on with it right away. ] (]) 20:27, 27 November 2011 (UTC)

==Undelete request==
Hi, Lifebaks! I would like to restore my previously deleted userpage, ] The page was stamped as: ''20:27, 6 March 2011 Lifebaka (talk | contribs) deleted "User:SteveStrummer/Sandbox4" ‎ (U1: User request to delete page in own userspace).'' If it's possible, and at your own convenience, would you undelete it for me please? ] (]) 05:57, 1 December 2011 (UTC)
:Done. Cheers. ]] 06:16, 1 December 2011 (UTC)

User:SteveStrummer/Contributions

2011-12-01T06:15:49Z

Lifebaka: per request at my talk page, I've restored this; not sure what you want here, so simply blank for now

Misplaced Pages:Deletion review/Log/2011 November 29

2011-11-28T04:17:00Z

Lifebaka: create log page

User talk:Lifebaka

2011-11-27T19:17:15Z

Lifebaka: /* Paul Jenkins (fighter) */ PROD contested, so I'll restore

{{User:Lifebaka/Talk header}}
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== Preventing Edit War ==

I don't know exactly what to do to prevent another "edit war" on the "Gilgamesh in the Outback" page, as well as the Heroes in Hell pages. No matter how neutral the edits are, Hullabaloo Wolfowitz insists on reverting every single one, reinserting the "originally published" wording and changing the page to reflect the inaccurate information regarding the history of "Gilgamesh" to infer that the story was NOT written for the Heroes in Hell series. Any suggestions? No one wants to just give up and let him vandalize the pages to read the way he wishes reality was, but I, for one, am tired of being accused of every WP "crime" in recorded history in the edit comments.] (]) 07:03, 11 October 2011 (UTC)

== Please review these blocks ==

There was a ] in MediaWiki 1.18 that caused blocks made via the API to have talk page access disabled when it should have been enabled. This also affected scripts such as ]. Please review the following blocks to make sure that you really intended talk page access to be disabled, and reblock if necessary.
# {{user-multi|User=John low iq|t|bl|bu}} by ] at 2011-10-05T04:02:12Z, expires infinity: <nowiki>]</nowiki>
# {{user-multi|User=Wikipediancabal|t|bl|bu}} by ] at 2011-10-07T16:05:45Z, expires infinity: <nowiki></nowiki>
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to post at ]. Thanks! ]] 02:07, 14 October 2011 (UTC)

== H.Wolfowitz vandalizing another Janet Morris page/obvious retaliation ==

This is the edit history for the last couple of hours of editing by Hullaballoo Wolfowitz of The Sacred Band of Stepsons page. This page has stood unmolested since the Spring of 2010 and now Mr. Wolfowitz is trying to dismantle it since he was overruled in vandalizing the Gilgamesh in the Outback page. Is there some speedy process to have him blocked from vandalizing any more of Ms. Morris' pages?] (]) 21:08, 17 October 2011 (UTC)

(→Evolution of the fictional Sacred Band of Stepsons: dubious, subjective, inadequately sourced) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 20:32, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (15,861 bytes) (→History, myth, and philosophy meet fantasy: or/subjective/synthesis, unsourced) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 20:31, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (16,353 bytes) (→The ancient viewpoint: OR/subjective/synthesis, unsourced) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 20:30, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (17,325 bytes) (→Evolution of the fictional Sacred Band of Stepsons: ce) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 20:29, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (17,452 bytes) (→Evolution of the fictional Sacred Band of Stepsons: fix typo) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 20:01, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (17,453 bytes) (→Reception: add review) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 19:56, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (17,190 bytes) (→Lovers and brothers and friends: pair-bonded characters driving the fiction: more obviously promotional text) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 19:55, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (18,383 bytes) (nfcc violation, multiple nonfree images without image-relevant discussion in text) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 19:52, 17 October 2011‎ Hullaballoo Wolfowitz (talk | contribs)‎ (18,461 bytes) (→Evolution of the fictional Sacred Band of Stepsons: wretchedly excessive promotional text) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 14:46, 17 October 2011‎ Orangemike (talk | contribs)‎ (20,081 bytes) (it's a copyright violation; we don't continue a copyright violation while some nebulous process is taking place) (undo)
# (cur | prev) 22:22, 16 October 2011‎ Marcus Qwertyus (talk | contribs)‎ (20,174 bytes) (Let this go through the process first.) (undo)

Please see if there is an emergency procedure to stop this vandalism as soon as possible. — Preceding ] comment added by ] (] • ]) 21:15, 17 October 2011 (UTC) 

I do beg your pardon. I have received notice that what the editor is doing is not considered "vandalism" and I was not aware that such radical edits within a very short period of time would not be considered vandalism, especially when there had no major edits in approximately one and one-half years. Exactly what procedure does WP consider "appropriate" in an instance where there is a heated history of edit-warring involving an editor who then begins to edit another unrelated page about another series by the same author? Please note that I do not have 7 years of experience and 43,000 edits under my belt and I will need some help to file a dispute properly. Thank you.] (]) 22:03, 17 October 2011 (UTC)

:I've watchlisted the article, but at a glance it seems that Hullaballoo's initial edits were fine. The minor edit warring occurring after them was not. Unfortunately, it looks increasingly unlikely that anything I or others do is likely to resolve the disputes around Morris's work, short of indefinitely blocking one whole side of the dispute (or both). Of course, blocking one side would be de facto determining who is right and who is wrong, so we're not going to do that on the basis of the edits themselves. This isn't to say that other factors can't lead to blocks, of course.
:Now, I see Drmies has already warned you about this, but accusations of vandalism are taken extremely seriously here, especially when you are accusing someone of vandalism when they haven't committed it. This is not acceptable. Nor are repeated assertions that a user has a conflict of interest regarding certain subjects, as Urban Terrorist has asserted Hullaballoo has and Hullaballoo has asserted you and others have. Nor is long-term, slow edit warring, as has occurred on ], ], and ]. I'm not sure how to resolve these issues, because my initial inclination is to simply indefinitely block ''all'' of you. In the short term, however, I'm fully prepared to reprotect the articles as soon as I see any more edit warring, by any party, for any reason. None of you are using the talk pages except for side attacks to try to "win" the dispute, and this isn't helping the encyclopedia. ]] 15:17, 19 October 2011 (UTC)

::From what I can see, Hullaballoo is a side of one. He also holds a grudge. I noticed that he was showing up on pages that I'd edited, so I did some thinking. Then I looked at his . I compared some of the pages where I had noticed him popping up after I had made an edit against pages he had edited. Consider ] where he , this is the and he has . My suspicion is that he has been monitoring my Contributions page, and following me around. Mind you, it is a suspicion only, I can't prove anything. ] (]) 01:44, 20 October 2011 (UTC)

== A barnstar for you! ==

{| style="background-color: #fdffe7; border: 1px solid #fceb92;"
|rowspan="2" style="vertical-align: middle; padding: 5px;" | ]
|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 3px 3px 0 3px; height: 1.5em;" | '''The Admin's Barnstar'''
|-
|style="vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px;" | here ] (]) 21:44, 18 October 2011 (UTC)
|}

== New Page Patrol survey ==

{| style="background-color: #dfeff3; border: 4px solid #bddff2; width:100%" cellpadding="5"
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<big>'''New page patrol – ''Survey Invitation'''''</big>
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Hello {{PAGENAME}}! The ] is currently developing new tools to make new page patrolling much easier. Whether you have patrolled many pages or only a few, we now need to know about your experience. The survey takes only 6 minutes, and the information you provide will not be shared with third parties other than to assist us in analyzing the results of the survey; the WMF will not use the information to identify you.
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:Timestampt for Miszabot. ]] 14:14, 26 October 2011 (UTC)

== Archiving at RFPP ==

Hello Lifebaka. I happened to see about reordering your sentences to make archiving happen. From a perusal of ] I think it is sufficient that a request contain the string '''{{rfpp|''' anywhere in the text. So the script would do the right thing even if you didn't reorder the closing statements. Thanks, ] (]) 05:15, 13 November 2011 (UTC)
:Ah. I guess I'll not worry about it, then. Thanks for the heads up. ]] 05:17, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

== ] ==

Hi Lifebaka. Thank you for assessing the consensus at ]. Best, ] (]) 20:16, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

==]==

Hello, we haven't talked or interacted on the same pages before, however, there is a page you voted for deletion a few years back, and I believe that it was a mistake to delete it. I saw the reason you deleted him, however, I must disagree with you. By looking at the criteria at the fighters section of ], he clearly meets the criteria to keep him, which is -

*Subject of multiple independent articles/documentaries--articles should be from national or international media, not just local coverage or press releases from organizations

*Fought for the highest title of a top tier MMA organization

*Fought at least three (3) fights for top tier MMA organizations

Paul Jenkins has fought for four notable organisations, which are ], ], ] and ]. Here is the criteria these organisations meet through MMANOT -

*Subject of multiple independent articles/documentaries--articles should be from national or international media, not just local coverage.

*Promotes a large number of events annually--the more fights it has sanctioned, the more notable.

*Has actively been in business for several years - the longer the organization has been around, the more notable.

*Large number of well-known and highly ranked fighters.

He has also fought many, many notable fighters within his 95 MMA fights, and there are many articles that talks about him and his fights, which covers ]. He has also won the Cage Rage World Middleweight Championship and the Cage Rage World Welterweight Championship. It is because of all this that I ask of you to please reinstall the page that already existed before it was deleted. I would of created a whole new page for him, though it would take ages to do and at least with the fight record, it would be easier to just have the old page back, and just update that. Please take all this into consideration before reply, and I hope we can agree that the page can be reinstated soon. ] (]) 18:02, 27 November 2011 (UTC)
:The page was deleted through the ], so all you have to do is request that it be restored. I'm going to assume that you're doing that here, and will be restoring it momentarily. You'll have to excuse me for not responding to the rest of your comment, as I am not terribly knowledgeable or interested in MMA myself and am not qualified to make such judgments; I was merely acting in my capacity as an admin to perform a requested action. Since the page has been deleted for several years, it will need some work after restoration, even if only to bring it in line with current template usage and the like. Cheers. ]] 19:17, 27 November 2011 (UTC)

User:NuclearWarfare/ACE2011

2011-11-26T22:48:39Z

Lifebaka: /* Currently Running */ correcting a typo in Hersfold's bit

{{NOINDEX}}
{{ACE2011}}
===Criteria===
Well not exactly, because I'm lazy, but you can probably deduce them from here.

;On Editing
{{quote|1=Articles should be based on reliable, third-party, published sources with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy.|2=]}}

;On Administration
{{quote|1=JzG was actually a role model for me when I started here, because he had a real knack for seeing through bullshit and grasping the essence of a dispute...I can think of a number of other admins who used to work that way - that is, WP:CIV doesn't mean you have to endlessly tolerate obvious bullshit. Those people are all completely burnt out, if they're still here at all. And they've been replaced by people who are equally high-handed, but without the saving grace of underlying clue - the worst of both worlds. At some point, "the community" made a decision that rudeness was a greater threat to the project than blatantly partisan, agenda-driven, or batshit-crazy editors. Honestly, if you're capable of staying superficially civil (emphasis on "superficially"), avoiding edit-warring, and avoiding sockpuppetry, you can basically stay here indefinitely pushing whatever nonsensical, pernicious crap you choose. The end result is that we constantly hemorrhage good editors when they burn out, but the real bad apples stay with us forever.|2=], 04:33, 18 November 2010 (UTC)}}

{{quote|1=My primary criticism of the committee is that it is generally so focused on our conduct policies that it ends up leaving the actual encyclopedia behind. This is a direct consequence of the committee's refusal to adjudicate content disputes combined with the lack of any other available form of binding content dispute resolution. The model in use seems to be that if we keep editors in line with our conduct policies, the content will fall into place. '''This is absolutely not the case.''' The idea seems to be based on the entirely false notion that editors with conduct issues and those who advocate inappropriate content on Misplaced Pages are the same people. Absolutely not so. Misplaced Pages has many editors highly devoted to neutrality and verifiability who, alas, are also prone to behavioural lapses (often during the course of their attempts to improve or maintain the encyclopedia's neutrality or verifiability), and many highly civil POV pushers.

The effect of this conduct-only focus of arbitration is to sanction editors advocating neutrality as harshly, nearly as harshly, or even more harshly than POV-pushers. As an example: two editors enter a long-term edit war over a matter. The one seeking push a POV is exceedingly civil, while the other, who seeks to enforce neutrality and verifiability, lashes out with four-letter words from time to time. In an arbitration case, who will be sanctioned more harshly? That's right: the second, because he violated our conduct policies more. That this is completely wrong and that an editor who compromises the integrity of our articles should always receive more severe sanctions than one who violates conduct policies while seeking to uphold content policies is abundantly clear for both practical and principled reasons, but this is not how our ArbCom is set up. Even in the case that both editors in the dispute are about equally civil and both receive similar sanctions, we have still sanctioned an editor trying to enforce our content policies. Such a person is likely to be discouraged from advocating neutrality in contentious areas in the future when they see that POV-pushers and neutrality advocates are treated exactly the same by the committee (indeed, they're likely to say "screw this" and leave the project completely).|2=]'s ]}}

{{quote|1=Misplaced Pages is singularly ill-adapted to deal with nationalist troublemaking. Overmuch of the mentality of the Arbitration Committee, who will not rule on content, has filtered down to the administrative corps. Living-persons issues apart, most admins are too scared to block for POV pushing, even though neutrality is supposed to be our most important principle. Nor are such blocks readily endorsed, no matter how justified, largely because the majority of those expressing an opinion are not familiar with the subject matter, and either cannot or will not properly check the issues concerned. As a result, admins are unable to deal with pure POV-pushing, and can only address the other symptoms of the nationalist disease. Typically the nationalist troll does, in fact, infringe user conduct rules, but this cannot be universally relied upon. Even if he does, the nationalist cannot be relied upon to violate the user conduct regulations to the extent that he can be removed permanently.|2=]'s ].}}

;On Governance
{{quote|1=I've always believed that the WMF need to grow a pair and enforce a governance model on Misplaced Pages. If the American Revolution had been conducted by RFC, the Continental Congress would still be bickering over what color the flag should be and Thomas Jefferson would have been blocked for incivility to King George.|2=], 00:27, 18 November 2010 (UTC)}}

;On Biographies of Living Persons
{{quote|1=Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the living people about whom we write. There is a deadline for them: it is the moment that Google puts our article about them in their top-5 results. That is something that was never contemplated at the time that Misplaced Pages was created. We must be responsive to changes in circumstances; this is about as big a change as can be. This is part of Misplaced Pages maturing and becoming a responsible citizen of the information world; when we were small and unnoticed, we had almost no impact on the life of an article subject. Now, what is published in our pages can (and sometimes does) cause long-lasting harm. Why do you think Google now crawls our articles incessantly to ensure it reflects the most current version of a page? We are no longer a little upstart in a distant corner of the Internet: we are now a top-10 website whose words, whether they should be or not, are taken as relatively accurate if not entirely authoritative. Not a day goes by that someone being interviewed on radio or television isn't confronted with a question that starts "I looked up your Misplaced Pages entry and it says..." The failure of individuals to recognise this collective responsibility to get things right about real people does more to harm the reputation and credibility of this project than any other error that is made.|2=], 03:02, 21 June 2010 (UTC)}}

{{quote|1=Clearly could have been handled with less dramah, but the deletions did have a sound basis in policy. Let's not get so carried away with "procedure" that we miss the big picture here - the community needs to have a way to deal with articles of this type that doesn't involve deciding its ].|2=], 16:50, 21 January 2010 (UTC)}}

===My votes===
====Currently Running====
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! User
! class="unsortable" width=10% | Statement & Questions
! Rights<ref>I imagine the OTRS part of this, at the very least, is incomplete. Assistance in filling in out would be much appreciated.</ref>
! Edits<ref>Reflects edits only from the account that the user is running with</ref>
! Since
! class="unsortable" | Preliminary notes
! Opinion<ref>I may end up voting differently from this if I decide to tactically support seven candidates. So far, it looks unlikely that I will like seven candidates enough to support them.</ref>
{{/row|C=AGK|R=A,CU,OS|E=30,521|S=2006-02-27|T=I notice that Elonka has expressed some doubts with regards to his article writing, which I have not investigated in great depth. Nonetheless, I think this is a more minor concern that it otherwise might be. To me, article writing is a proxy for "does this user understand what it is like for a standard, policy-abiding editor who happens to get caught up in an editing dispute". My reading of AGK's writing is that he does understand. He may not have the most experience in disputes or article writing or be the most active, but that is OK. The rest of his answers seem quite reasonable, and in-line with what I mostly believe. As such, I am happy to support.|V=+}}
{{/row|C=Coren|R=A,CU,OS,Arb|E=16,556|S=2003-05-27|T=A hard decision. On the one hand, I feel that he hasn't , but on the other, he is fairly inactive (other guides say out of touch; I don't know if I would go that far, but it's still a concern). He seems to be focusing on very meta-issues these days. That's fine, but some of the primary responsibilities of the Arbitration Committee are to resolve disputes and hear appeals—I'm not sure how much quality work he has put into either in his previous term. Abstaning for now; might come back and change my mind one way or another.|V=A}}
{{/row|C=Courcelles|R=A,CU,OS|E=206,036|S=2006-09-17|T=Hasn't answered all my questions yet, but I was pretty sure that I was going to support him regardless. Right idea on BLP and administration (see A1 and A3 to my core questions). Answer to general question #7 is nice to see; I hope he will have to time to work on that during his tenure. Some minor concerns (Answer to Rschen7754's Q4 seems a bit too idealized to actually work in practice, for example), but overall, he seems to be a fine candidate.|V=+}}
{{/row|C=DeltaQuad|R=ex-A,OTRS|E=15,984|S=2007-11-07|T= has a short summary of issues that I knew about but was not involved with. I share many of his concerns, but perhaps not to the same extent—I believe that DeltaQuad has learned somewhat from the matter.I also have several additional concerns. It is not clear to me that DeltaQuad truly has a grasp on the problems with BLPs (my core A2), has a good understanding on the problems with serious editing disputes that reach ArbCom (by the time it reaches ArbCom, it has gone beyond "review the sources") (my core A3, A4), or has an understanding of why we ''ethically'' need strong policies for BLP as well as medicine, despite our disclaimers (my additional A2). I believe that understanding the underlying nature of the disputes that come before ArbCom is very important for any potential Arbitrator. I don't see that DeltaQuad has that understanding, and so must oppose.|V=-}}
{{/row|C=Eluchil404|R=A|E=10,768|S=2006-03-02|T=Haven't heard of him much, and he seems fairly inactive. Looking over his answers to my questions though, one thing that immediately jumped out at me was his reply to my core Q3, where he seems to take an excessively lenient approach to POV pushers; this was echoed elsewhere in his guide. Perhaps one reason for this is that he seems to be more of a wikignome than anything else, which I think can be an issue for resolving disputes. On the other hand, I am glad to see that he seems to place great weight in making sure that decisions are swift, which is important, and as one voice among fifteen, his leniency might not be the end of the world The candidate field is not especially strong this year, so I am putting my vote down as neutral instead of weak oppose.|V=A}}
{{/row|C=Geni|R=A,OTRS|E=27,643|S=2004-03-30|T=] and ] both summarize some of the pre-2009 issues fairly well. I can't see any evidence of change since then from Geni's contributions, and the answers to the questions are either not well-thought out or are so short as to be completely useless.|V=-}}
{{/row|C=Hersfold|R=A,CU,OS,ex-Arb|E=33,277|S=2006-12-21|T=I'm concerned that he might not entirely understand the root causes of disputes. The answers to my core questions 2&3 were not that spectacular—he seemed to recognize that there was somewhat of an issue with disruptive editors but did not entirely understand how a lone disruptive editor, let alone multiple of them, could make editing hell for a neutral, policy-abiding editor (like me, of course). The answer to my optional question 2 was also very dissappointing (if you read this Hersfold, I advise you to drop ] a line at some point). But in general, I have found Hersfold to be a fairly reasonable editor and administrator, and think he would do an OK job.|V=+}}
{{/row|C=Hot_Stop|R=None|E=831|S=2011-04-11|T=There is something to be said for having "outsiders" and non-administrators on the Committee. My expectation though is that they are experienced editors.|V=-}}
{{/row|C=Jclemens|R=A,OTRS,CU,OS,Arb,|E=32,210|S=2006-08-24|T=His lone vote regarding Orangemarlin on the currently open ''Abortion'' case is ridiculous, as a number of other guides have mentioned. The time that that case took to even get a proposed decision up is something else. I was involved with the case, so what should have happened appears obvious to me, but it really should have taken two or three weeks tops, not six or eight. See also ]'s concern about his "lame duck" comment and ]'s comments on general harshness ().Other times, I have seen Jclemens' edits and thought to myself "this is focusing far too much on the letter of the rules as opposed to the spirit of the policy"; these include and . Was also not impressed by .|V=-}}
{{/row|C=Kirill_Lokshin|R=A,CU,OS,Arb|E=70,451|S=2005-06-08|T=Kirill might be a good Arbitrator when it comes to analyzing cases and coming up with a fair decision. To be honest, I can't really remember all too well. But I have heard that such is the case from multiple Arbitrators who served with Kirill, so I shall take their word for it.Nonetheless, there is no way I feel comfortable supporting. Readers of this guide might be familiar with the ArbCom mailing list leaks this past summer. I am not going to post these or link to them; however, it should not be difficult for interested readers to find them. Reading through the emails there, I found that he was far too quick to jump to conclusions and more interested in dealing with wiki-political issues than actual tangible harms.As a tangent to that last point, I remember that Kirill was a key member in getting ] off the ground. That isn't a good thing, in my book.|V=-}}
{{/row|C=Kww|R=A,OTRS(?)|E=55,932|S=2007-01-09|T=Starting off with "BLP is overused as an excuse" as the primary policy statement in his opening statement isn't exactly my cup of tea. But the answers to the non-BLP questions seem pretty good, if a little abbreviated. His answer to my first question was atrocious, but his very un-diplomatic answer to Q3 hit the essentials. He's done decent work at ] in my recollection. Leaning weak support, but I think I will cast a neutral vote.|V=A}}
{{/row|C=Panyd|R=A,OTRS|E=9,044|S=2007-10-13|T=I seem to be agreeing with Wizardman quite a lot on this one, so I am going to quote him here:
{{quote|1=Seems reasonable, but I see a couple gaps of multiple months without editing. Statement and answers to questions are great, and I understand why there's sporadic activity, though I do wonder how active the user may be on arbcom. Wavering due to lack of dispute resolution experience}}
I was somewhat disappointed with the answer to my core question 3. There are certainly quite a number of editors who are clearly a net negative to the project, and if it is difficult for an editor to identify who those editors are, it will make life on ArbCom extremely difficult. That and SandyGeorgia's concerns are enough to tip me over to oppose. Extensive content writing or dispute resolution experience might change my mind if she ran again in the future.|V=-}}
{{/row|C=NWA.Rep|R=None|E=4,289|S=2006-02-12|T=Perhaps it's because I am part of the establishment, but somehow I don't have much faith in candidates with four thousand edits coming back after three years and promising a "revolution". Seeing how his definition of "admin abuse" seems to consist of "The user prevented me from adding 'producer noted for her large, natural breasts' instead of just 'producer'", I don't really think this is the kind of editor we need on ArbCom.|V=-}}
{{/row|C=SilkTork|R=A|E=51,864|S=2006-01-12|T=SilkTork has always struck me as a reasonable editor, both in the more bureaucratic areas of Misplaced Pages (AFD, DRV), and the few times I have run across him in articlespace. I am worried that he might not be the most active Arbitrator, as he is taking his sweet time with the questions. But his answers are quite good on the whole. Will vote to support.|V=+}}
{{/row|C=Risker|R=A,OTRS,CU,OS,Arb|E=18,805|S=2005-12-27|T=Risker is the member of the Arbitration Committee I have had pleasure of speaking to the most these past few years (mostly off-wiki). She has been a fairly decent one, I think, but so much has happened during her three year term that I need to take a further step back to evaluate it all.William M. Connolley brings up , which was a disaster, but the part of that draft that I thought to be the worst (individual editors) was largely not her doing.Overall, I think that she did a fair job during her three year term. I have disagreed with her quite a bit, and probably will do so many a time if she is elected again, but I think she will do a fair job if she were elected again. Come to think about it, you can basically take my rationale for Roger below and copy it in this cell; it applies just as well.|V=+}}
{{/row|C=Roger_Davies|R=A,CU,OS,Arb|E=29,341|S=2005-09-17|T=Can't really make up my mind. There is a lot that's happened during Roger's term, both good and bad. Overall, I think he balances out to "could have been worse". He seems to have some ideas for reform, which would be interesting to see be played out over the next two years—not too many other editors have put up anything about that.I got an email that says he was a mass plagiarist. If someone wants to check on that, I would be interested to read about it, but until I see proof, I am not inclined to take it into consideration.Roger has been on the Committee for three full years now. I think it would be nice to see new blood on the Committee. I don't feel entirely comfortable supporting, but I think I shall anyway. I think that I would have preferred that he let his term expire and then run again in December 2012. But there is not a great field this year and I think Roger would do an OK job, so I shall support..|V=+}}
{{/row|C=Worm_That_Turned|R=A,OTRS|E=8,905|S=2008-07-13|T=A relatively new administrator (] July 2011), I'm not sure if Worm is ready for ArbCom yet. His candidacy reminds me quite a lot of another newly appointed administrator's candidacy last year. I think there is a clear difference between the two, but I am struggling to articulate it. His answers to the questions were mostly reasonable-ish though, so I don't entirely feel the need to oppose. I am leaning weak support, but I think my final vote shall end up being a neutral one.|V=A}}
|}

====Withdrawn====
This was the way my comments stood at the time the candidate withdrew.
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! User/Talk/Contribs
! class="unsortable" width=10% | Statement & Questions
! Rights
! Edits
! Since
! class="unsortable" | My thoughts
! Intended vote
{{/row|C=Maxim|R=A,B|E=30,592|S=2007-02-10|T=—|V=?}}
|}

===Notes===
*Positions
**Arb=Current ]
**ex-Arb=Former Arbitrator
**OTRS=Have access to ] for purposes other than checkuser or oversight
*Admin-level-or-higher rights
**A=]
**B=]
**CU=] (requires identification to WMF)
**OS=] (requires identification to WMF)
**S=] (requires identification to WMF, no other non en:wp rights will be shown)
*"None" refers to no admin-level-or-high rights

{{reflist}}

==See also==
*]

]

Misplaced Pages:Deletion review/Log/2011 November 26

2011-11-25T16:46:12Z

Lifebaka: create log page

Template:Db-u1

2011-11-22T08:48:38Z

Lifebaka: remove linebreak after </includeonly>; it'd show when the template is used, otherwise

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|2=Note that in some cases such pages may need to be retained for administrative purposes. Before deleting, administrators are advised to check the contribution history of such pages to be sure they are not deleting a user talk page that has been moved
|self=yes
|summary=User request to delete pages in own userspace
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|Please use the <tt>rationale</tt> parameter to explain why this user talk page should be deleted. (E.g., <tt>{{db-u1|rationale= }}</tt>.) Thanks!

Per the ], user ''talk'' pages are generally not deleted, barring legal threats or other grievous violations that have to be removed for legal reasons. In addition, nonpublic personal information and potentially libellous information posted to your talk page may be removed by making a ].

Users who have left Misplaced Pages may be added to ].


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