Wizards of the Coast are always trying to improve their product line.  Hundreds of meetings regarding perfecting an already near perfect game, take place throughout the year .  The techniques of improvement are often unorthodox, to say the least.  We here at Gathering Magic have been privileged to get an sneak peak at this process.  The following is a look inside the WotC board room, where a meeting is in progress.

"Hello everyone, I am glad you could make it to our brainstorming session.  The purpose of today's exercise is simple, find ways we can expand our customer base.  Magic is a very niche product, to be sure, but back in 1995 everyone and their mother knew us.  We were Lord of the Rings crossed with Halo, and a touch of Texas Hold 'Em.  Times have changed, and our data shows the average age of our customers is only getting older, meaning fewer young people are getting started with us.  I know this troubles you all, so today we have two goals.  First, trying to identify the 'barriers of entrance' so to speak.  Second, to find solutions to these barriers in a way that helps WotC in the long-term.  Sound Good?  Let's get started, who has an idea to share?"

"I have many complaints, and I am very angry!  When Garruk goes to Friday Night Magic, or Release Party, or any big event, I'm very intimidated.  Garruk shows up and nobody sees me, and everyone already in groups talking and trading.  I want to smash groups and grab guys to tell them, 'Garruk here and want to be social too.  Listen to Garruk, he is good person!'  Also, all the rules make my head hurt, like really bad."

"That's surprising, I would have figured you for a real popular fellow.  Strange.....  Anyway, I would strongly refute anyone that claims complicated rules, and therefore level of difficulty, are holding our game back.  Look at World of Warcraft, or any modern video game.  The rules are so complex, entire volumes are created to store them, and there are still more guides within the games themselves.  People are smart, they will figure out any game worth playing.  There is something else at work here."

"Perhaps the poor children simply cannot afford this game we all hold so dear.  As champions of this just cause, is it not our duty to sacrifice our own well-being to benefit others?  For example, young Timmy is barely nine years old, how on Dominaria is he supposed to pay $15 for only a tiny allotment of this wonderful experience.  Barely enough to even play.  Thinking of this brings tears to my eyes, and fills my heart with sorrow.  If only I could help them all, every Timmy in every town.  Would free pre-cons be enough, or maybe free booster boxes?  Yes, that is my mission!"

"Settle down there lady, the point here isn't to find the quickest way to bankruptcy.  Our prices are more than fair.  Of course they are on the expensive side, but part of being a niche product is your ability to charge whatever you damn well please.  In fact, our research shows players view our game as more 'exclusive' thanks to our higher prices."

"Not that the industry is doing particularly well these days, but baseball cards have held their foothold in child's wallets for decades.  I'm assuming partially due to their relatively inexpensive nature.  After all, allowances can only be stretched so far.  WotC prides itself on producing a quality product, but much of the inflated value comes from what could be called the 'Hobby Store Price Hike'.  In addition, modern competitive decks tipping the scale at over $500 are ludicrous."

"Baseball cards cost $2 per pack because they are for idiots and weaklings.  If some new-comer wishes us to be cheaper, then to Hades with him, and all his ilk.  MTG is for the powerful, the intellectual, and those dedicated enough to earn it. Let all those who oppose this viewpoint be utterly destroyed in a roiling, seething pit of..."

"Okay, I'm gonna stop you right there.  I don't want Legal getting involved here.  Elspeth does make a few valid points.  Maybe the best thing to do would be to lower the prices of some of our beginner products, sort of as incentive to try them out.  Then, once players are hooked we can sell them packs at $4 each and they won't bat an eyelash."

"What about Garruk's problem!  None of you address it, but Garruk hate to be new guy in Magic.  How do I trade?  What deck do I play?  Why is everyone so cold at events I go to?  So many questions, none of you answer them.  Garruk is getting mad again!

"I empathize with your problem, you noble soul of the wood.  Getting a fresh start in our realm can be difficult and trying to even the bravest among us.  For the betterment of all our worlds, veteran players need to shepherd the new through what can only be described as a harrowing trial.  Duelists must believe in the greater good, in the success of these novice wizards.  For only with their triumph can we all truly celebrate."

"Ha.  Catering to fools only makes you one of them.  When a child must learn to swim, push them in the water.  If they drown, then they were never meant to be swimming in the first place.  The ignorant must learn, or be quickly subjugated.  To learn the value of a card or deck, that card or that match must be lost, and only then will a true lesson be learned.  Do not pity the ignorant, for they are here to serve us."

"Allow me to play moderator for one moment.  Both of you make a strong case, however there are flaws in you logic.  Elspeth, we must not treat these neophytes with velvet gloves, for they will learn too slowly and lose interest.  Yet, we must also not be too fierce Liliana, or we risk dwindling our fraternity even further.  WotC has done much to ensure MTG is accessible to beginners, like MTGO, Duel of the Planeswalkers on Xbox Live, and releasing playable Intro Packs in M11.  The war is far from over (PS3 and Mac users are still ignored), but the battle is going well."

"Well stated Jace, although I don't like your tone on the topic of some of our new releases.  So your point is that a sense of community between our existing customers and our potential customers is rare?  That would create problems in retail.  As far as re-pricing our products, and changing our rules, I doubt much will come of that.  But who knows?  I mean, whatever rings the cash register.  That will do it for our little get together, I'd like to thank you all for coming.  We've got some great ideas for Corporate, and I can't wait to convey them."