December 30, 1993
Ed. note: A Ruhk Egg is an Arabian Nights card. It's a 0/3 creature, casting cost 3R. The text box says "If Ruhk Egg goes to the graveyard, a Ruhk—a 4/4 red flying creature—comes into play on your side at the end of that turn. Use a counter to represent Ruhk. Ruhk is treated exactly like a normal creature except if it leaves play it is removed from the game entirely."
The post you've all been waiting for: The Official Policy On The Ruhk Egg.
It's definitely not what it's supposed to be. The intent of the card is to only make Ruhks if the card goes to the graveyard from play. Discarding itUnder most conditions, this difference is rather small. However, using the wording on the card, a really dull but rather effective "all Ruhk Egg" deck can be assembled, assuming you can somehow get your hands on that many Eggs.
If you're playing Arabian cards, please check with your opponent on how they play Eggs. Again, Wizards of the Coast and Richard Garfield strongly urge you to play it as if it said "...goes to the graveyard *from play*..." If your opponent plays it as written, and is not willing to change, then you might want to decline to play them, if you choose.
If you find out they're playing the card as written after you start, and especially if they're playing with lots, they are technically within their rights. I suggest you request to null the game. If you're playing for ante, the polite thing to do would be to let them keep it, and never play them again, but we'll understand if you take the card back.
Tournament organizers and league coordinators: Make sure to either declare how the Egg works or disallow it from play, if you're using Arabian Nights.
Yes, we're all very sorry the little thingy got loose, and we'll try not to do it again.
Dave "Snark" Howell
Cyberspace Liaison, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.