[duado]

When they say “Constructed” is expensive because you have to acquire the cards ahead of time... why don’t tournaments allow you to play with cards where you’ve just scribbled with Sharpie whatever card you want it to act as?

[praptak]

Because the whole system exists to make people spend money on the cards.

[ThePadawan]

I would assume because the tournaments are sponsored by (or at least tolerated by) the copyright holders of the cards.

[zokier]

Those would be called "proxy" cards in mtg, and they are occasionally used in casual play.

https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Proxy

But of course the whole concept of MTG is collectible card game, buying and owning cards is core part of it

[maxsilver]

Because copyright?

It's like saying, "why do movie theaters pay so much for films? Why don't they just download the film from a BitTorrent like everyone else?"

[duado]

Copyright? There’s no copyright infringement in writing “Black Lotus” on an actual genuine Magic card. That will never stick.

[maxsilver]

I don't mean "copyright" as in, Wizards would literally sue you for writing "Black Lotus" on a card.

I mean "copyright" as in the act of paying for the game you are playing, rather than reproducing it yourself.

For another example, what stops you from playing Monopoly by just writing "Boardwalk" and "Park Place" on a piece of paper, and drawing up your own fake money and cards? Nothing really, but generally it's considered a good idea to pay for games people make, as a way to reward them for making the game.