Magic: The Gathering
Classification of Magic Cards // Complex Search Queries
Introduction
This project explores the possible classification and cataloguing variable for Magic: The Gathering trading cards. Currently, there are an estimated 25-thousand unique cards printed over the game's 30-year history.
When taking into consideration all of the specific reprints (such as alternate art editions, foil printings, etc.), the number of individual cards is closer to 90-thousand .
If this is imagined through the lens of a standard library collection of printed books, unique Magic cards would be analogous to a specific book publication.
Reprinted magic cards would then correspond to that specific book's 25th anniversary edition, for example. While the content of these variant books is identical, certain factors have changed between printings.
For example, a 25th anniversary edition of A Tale of Two Cities would likely have a cover variant, an added introduction by another writer or contributor, supplementary illustrations or essay questions if it was treated as a learning tool, etc.
While the text of the books is the same, and their placement in this fictitious library would likely (though not certainly) place them in a similar physical space, a complex search query to locate these items would be exceptionally different depending on the qualities that the searcher used as noteworthy in their query.
This analogy is certainly not perfect, particularly when we begin to question if two books count as the same book, but when it comes to Magic cards, the effects of the individual cards are the most-prominent as it is the effects that dictate gameplay. An original printing and a deluxe Mystical Archive variant printing of the same card has no effect on gameplay. However, it does has a tremendous effect of classification and searching.
From a gameplay perspective, these are functionally the exact same card:
Demonic Tutor (LEA) 1993 vs. Demonic Tutor (STA) 2021
This project does not care about gameplay. The intention is to outline core attribute components of cards, illustrate how they change over time, and then compare the two most-popular Magic card index searches for how they handle complex search queries.
Card Attributes
Sylvan Library (LEG)
The following card sample illustrates the various attributes of magic cards that denote classification variables. The card art, one of the most recognizable features of Magic cards, is not technically a searchable or indexed quality, though there may one day be OCR technology that facilitates this sort of index.
1) Card Name: Sylvan Library
2) Casting Cost: 1G
3) Card Type Line: Enchantment
4) Set Symbol: Legends (LEG)
5) Printing Year: 1994
6) Illustrator: Harold McNeill
7) Card Frame: Original Black Border
8) Card Border: Green
Sylvan Library (DMR)
1) Card Name: Sylvan Library
2) Casting Cost: 1G
3) Card Type Line: Enchantment
4) Set Symbol: Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
5) Printing Year: 2023 (Now Includes Copyright)
6) Illustrator: Mark Poole
7) Card Frame: Extended Art
8) Card Border: Borderless
9) Holofoil Security Stamp: ✓ (2015 - Present)
10) Collector Number: 441
Side by side comparison of similar and changing attributes
This particular card has 19 variant printings between the years of 1994 and 2023. Some of these are digital-only; others include language variations from Magic's early years where foreign language cards were treated as separate print runs.
Notice that the majority of attributes are unchanging as it is functionally the same card separated by almost 30 years. The attributes that do change, such as Card Frame, Art, or Set Symbol (which denotes Year) are stylistic representations influenced by a changing industry. Modern technology allows for much more detailed digital paintings when compared to analog-painted art of the 90s.
Interestingly, the textbox of Sylvan Library does change over time. Grammar and conciseness allows for a more streamlined flowchart of operations. The effects are the exact same, however, the 2023 version streamlines the language involved.
These changes, and the attributes themselves, influence how these objects are classified in online indexes.
Simple Search
Gatherer simple search menu
From the perspective of information retrieval, there are two main databases used to access Magic: The Gathering cards. Gatherer , the official Wizards of the Coast index search, and Scryfall , an unoffical fan content web search permitted under Wizards of the Coast fan content policy. Both search indexes employ basic and advanced search options, and have their own internal controlled vocabulary systems for advanced search queries.
Scryfall simple search menu
As an aside, within the Magic community, Scryfall is the preferred resource from a searcher usability perspective. On the surface level, their simple search systems are quite similar to each other, and to traditional library-based information retrieval systems.
Advanced Search
The advanced search system for Gatherer employs Boolean operators for each searchable attribute.
Additionally, some of the search modifiers are not physically represented on the cards themselves, such as Community Rating, but would be treated as metadata for card searching.
Adding specific narrower searching qualities applies the limiters to the Search Criteria on the right-hand side.
The following limiters apply some of the aforementioned card attributes for the 1993 printing of Sylvan Library.
The specificity of our search leads to exactly 4 results. Removing half the limiters for a Gatherer search for just Green Enchantments offers 635 results.
Also to note, the right-hand column of symbols is a hyperlinked image repository of set symbols, which link a set-specific printing of the result.
Scryfall's search is similarly constructed, though offers a broader scope of searchable attributes. The Games modifier near the bottom allows the searcher to navigate paper-only or digital-only publications.
Similar Boolean operator filters apply as expected.
The second page of advanced search fills out the rest of available limiters.
An interesting option here is the Prices section which searches the secondary market of card prices.
Since both search engines have index available to search, the results are the same. The only difference is the presentation of information.
Complex Search Queries
Complex search queries are generally replaced by the advanced search page. Searchers can employ large search strings if they so choose, however, they must first understand the controlled vocabulary present in each database.
Gatherer's controlled vocabulary and searcher help tips offers a general overview of simple and advanced searching, however, Scryfall presents and exceptionally complex set of keywords and expressions that searchers can use to filter magic cards.
Mana Costs notation shown on Scryfall
The Mana Costs image, shown above, is one of the twenty-seven search reference resources that allow the searcher more granularity over their search queries. The advanced search option applies this standard notation automatically when selecting limiters, but the Scryfall syntax page outlines the steps a searcher could take if they wanted to perform a specific search manually.
Contemporary Complications
Magic is a game with continually-evolving mechanics and possibilities. Each of these presents further complications for classification, catalgouing, and searching. The following illustrates some examples of gameplay decisions that complicate searching.
Split cards double the text on the front of a card to make two spells. A search system must be able to recognize each "half" as a unique effect, while also treating the "single card" as a collective object.
Flip cards (left) and double-faced cards (right) similarly double the available set of searchable information. Double-faced cards treat the back of the card, which is typically the stock Magic image, as a new card.
Textless cards (left), Full-Art cards (center), and the joke-release of Full-Text cards (right) tread into absurdity as they visually remove some of the key attributes necessary for searching.
Upcoming Invasion of Zendikar battle card
Finally, in the process of creating this assignment, an upcoming Magic set will release a new Card Type to the game (here seen as Battle) that will force both Gatherer and Scryfall to update their advanced search systems to include this option for searching in the future.
Battles are also dual-faced, with varying effects on the back on the card.
Future updates will similarly force information retrieval systems to accommodate new innovations in products.
