Line #53 Webcomic/TalesFromThePit


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tumblr_lkddzoM2Lu1qjqvxa_3215.png]]
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3	''Tales from the Pit'' is a PhotoComic written by ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' head designer Mark "[=MaRo=]" Rosewater, giving a humorous behind-the-scenes look at life amongst ''Magic'''s creators. ("The Pit" is the name of the part of the office where the R&D team works.) The comics are created by adding captions and SpeechBubbles to photographs and stylizing them with an [[UsefulNotes/IOSGames iPhone app]] so that they look like panels from a ComicBook.
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5	The full archive, along with Mark's responses to reader questions about ''Magic'', can be found [[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/ here]] on his Website/{{Tumblr}} page; for just the comics, use [[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/tagged/Tales_from_the_Pit this link]] instead.
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7	!! ''Tales from the Pit'' contains examples of:
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9	* TheAnnotatedEdition: "[[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/11993290182 Annotated version of yesterday's comic]]"
10	* ArchEnemy: As always, the eternal ArchNemesis of the Head Designer is the devious Rules Manager (along with the copier machine).
11	* ArsonMurderAndAdmiration: [[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/5867433154 MaRo reads his email]]
12	* BigNo: In [[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/26978724157/tales-from-the-pit-313 #313]] when missing Creator/JossWhedon's talk at San Diego Comic-Con.
13	* CassandraTruth: In [[http://tumblr.com/xfd3z0v07q this strip]], Mark reads a rumor site and realizes that one of the speculating fans has guessed exactly what they're doing in the next set, but nobody believes it.
14	* ComicallyMissingThePoint:
15	** "[[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/14121225421 What impresses the Muggles]]"
16	--->'''Mark:''' I'm the head designer for one of the largest and best-selling games in the world. I write a weekly column read by almost 100,000 people. As quoted on my Website/{{Wikipedia}} page, I am "One of the most influential game designers working today."
17	--->'''{{Muggle}}''': ''You have a Website/{{Wikipedia}} page?!''
18	** Mark misses the point in "[[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/17658608134/tales-from-the-pit-208 The Talk]]".
19	* CompanionCube:
20	** The copier.
21	---> '''Mark:''' ''(To copier)'' So we meet again, my nemesis. Today I shall make copies.
22	---> '''Copier:''' Not only am I out of toner. My toner register is broken as well. [[EvilLaugh Bwah, ha, ha!]]
23	** There's an entire subplot devoted to the (mis)adventures of the third floor vending machine.
24	* ConspiracyTheorist: [[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/5336116675 Believes New Phyrexia is a hoax.]]
25	* EliminatedFromTheRace: Giant Growth is eliminated from "Core Set Survivor" thusly.
26	* EvilLaugh:
27	** The copier. See CompanionCube.
28	** Matt Tabak (the nefarious Rules Manager) in [[http://tumblr.com/xfd27qs4os his first appearance]].
29	* ExpospeakGag: Provided by Joey, the Littlest Magic Player.
30	-->'''Joey:''' Mom, can I watch the holiday movie about the monoblack spirit tribal deck that sideboards into a white/blue Donate deck?
31	-->'''Mom:''' It's called ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'', dear.
32	* {{Leprechaun}}: Aisling Leprechaun, the only Leprechaun card in the game, has made an appearance on appropriate occasions, like St. Patrick's Day.
33	* MistakenForPedophile: After getting made fun of for [[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/22120707426/tales-from-the-pit-261 this comic]], Maro took part in some SelfDeprecation with [[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/22192085017/tales-from-the-pit-262 this one]].
34	* MundaneUtility: In [[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/80064490478/tales-from-the-pit-728 comic #728]], Jace takes up therapy. He uses his [[LaserGuidedAmnesia memory-sculpting powers]] to instantly erase patients' traumatic memories.
35	* MyFutureSelfAndMe:
36	** [[http://tumblr.com/xfd2gp3v9q With Karn.]]
37	** [[http://tumblr.com/xfd2x3vlvd And again with Juggernaut.]]
38	* OneSteveLimit: {{Lampshaded}}. When someone shouts for "Mark!", [[http://tumblr.com/xfd2lr0q8y four different people respond]]. "There are a lot of Marks making ''Magic''."
39	* PhotoComic
40	* PortalToThePast: {{Conversed}}, causing another lost day of R&D productivity as the Pit enters a heated discussion about the best way to make money using a TimeMachine that can only go back exactly 24 hours.
41	* PrankCall: [[TheChessmaster Nicol Bolas]] is apparently notorious for these.
42	-->'''Bolas:''' Is your refrigerator running? Of course not. I had it disabled.
43	* {{Pun}}: Ubiquitous. There are multiple {{Running Gag}}s dedicated to punnery, including Niv-Mizzet, Dracomedian and Xenagos, Satyrist.
44	* RunningGag: "Another day of ''Magic'' R&D Productivity Lost" was the first. Many more would follow.
45	* ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem: [[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/5808236243 The hidden danger of playing the lead designer of a set.]]
46	* ScyllaAndCharybdis: [[http://tumblr.com/xfd2sgah1t R&D Rule #8: You Can't Win]]. When Mark designs [[PowerEqualsRarity powerful rare cards that see tournament play]], he gets angry emails about how expensive it is to play in tournaments. When the rare and mythic cards are too ''weak'' to see tournament play, he gets angry emails complaining about {{Junk Rare}}s.
47	* SelfDeprecation
48	* ShoutOut: [[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/13592943012 Quoting]] ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}''.
49	* SpeechBubbles: Obviously.
50	* StealthPun: Nicol Bolas's sister, Penny Bolas.
51	* TheTalk: {{Subverted}} in [[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/17658608134/tales-from-the-pit-208 this strip]].
52	-->'''Mark:''' You're eight, Adam. That means it's time for me to tell you about the birds and the bees. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Birds are a good choice for small white and blue fliers. Bees, on the other hand, are used to falsely justify direct damage in green.]]
53	-->'''Adam:''' Why is Mommy sadly shaking her head?
54	* ThatCameOutWrong: "[[http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/5870518187/is-socially-progressive-a-black-trait If you don’t understand that I’m talking about Magic’s color pie, this reads poorly.]]"
55	* UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny: WhoWouldWin is a common topic of conversation in the Pit, apparently. Matchups include Franchise/{{Robocop}} vs. The Franchise/{{Terminator}}, Franchise/{{Transformers}} vs. Franchise/MyLittlePony, and Franchise/StarWars vs. Literature/TheLordOfTheRings. [[invoked]]
56	* VillainTeamUp: [[http://tumblr.com/ZrlFax863NGZ The Rules Manager and the copier team up to defeat MaRo!]] Their evil plan: make duplicate copies of the relevant rules to prevent Mark's new mechanic from seeing print!

Context Webcomic / TalesFromThePit