If you’re an active Magic: The Gathering player, then you no doubt have been caught up in the controversy regarding the Commander Rules Committee’s decision to ban some key cards, including Dockside Extortionist and Jewled Lotus. While it goes without saying that the frustration stems from the lost investment in these cards, there is one point of disappointment that everyone appears to agree on whether you support the bans or not.

That’s the lack of transparency from the Commander Rules Committee.

Let’s pause here for a second. Let’s not visualize these well meaning individuals in a dark backroom brainstorming ways to upset players.

Instead, let’s propose a solution that fixes that actual problem players have with the process.

The Commander Rules Committee should publish it’s meeting minutes and bylaws for everyone to see. For the uninitiated, minutes are a recording of the committee discussion that takes place during the meeting and the bylaws are the rules that govern the committee.

How does this help?

If the committee had been publishing it’s minutes, then no one would have been blindsided by these changes. Everyone would have been able to see this train coming from a mile away.

Now, there is sentiment opposing any correspondence that leads players into making their own conclusions. That sentiment has proven empathetic but ineffective.

Put everything out in the open for everyone to see. And use that feedback to help you make the decisions that will best serve the players.

And while it’s likely few would read the minutes and bylaws (they seem to be ignored in every other instance we use them), it would go a long way to letting everyone know what’s happening before it’s too late.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments.

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