I don't know where else this might be fitting to post so I've settled on this one since it seems appropriate.
I'm in the process of trying to make a character based on my fav colors in magic. The ranking goes Rakdos, Dimir, and Grixis.
Trouble is that these colors don't exactly have the best reputation in Magic. Most of the characters and cards are usually messed up, evil, or both. I'm trying really hard to find a brighter side that I can take this towards. Preferably Rakdos though since I find the combination interesting enough to work with. Please help.
Are you explicitly asking for characters from those guilds/plane? Because if you mean to refer to the color combinations, all but Grixis isn't as common and makes it quite confusing considering the context of the storyline page.
That being said, you can look at the 'positive' aspects of black, red, and blue and just put them together. Maybe you've got a passionate artist (R) whose artwork is concerned not with the ideals of the populous or traditional methods, but by the desire to challenge and potentially offend them to express the artist's sense of independence (B).
Spiritual enlightment is Green. Blue/Black are however more associated with "material" knowledge and philosophy. I dare say Daria is a good example of Blue/Black gone right.
I'm not so much asking for specific characters as much as I need examples of how a "hero" in those colors might act like. Because as I said before, most of the trouble I have had has been because these colors are not herioc in the usual sense. They're usually the enemy (even though I know it's possible in the other colors, it doesn't happen very often). Grixis has been by far the most challenging since it screams evil, or maybe that's just me.
I'm also kicking around the idea of a Mono Black hero, something like selfishly unselfish or what not.
I'm not so much asking for specific characters as much as I need examples of how a "hero" in those colors might act like. Because as I said before, most of the trouble I have had has been because these colors are not herioc in the usual sense. They're usually the enemy (even though I know it's possible in the other colors, it doesn't happen very often). Grixis has been by far the most challenging since it screams evil, or maybe that's just me.
I'm also kicking around the idea of a Mono Black hero, something like selfishly unselfish or what not.
A mono-black hero shouldn't actually be that hard. They are selfish of course but nothing is stopping them from actually helping others. They just have to profit from doing that in some way.
I'm not so much asking for specific characters as much as I need examples of how a "hero" in those colors might act like. Because as I said before, most of the trouble I have had has been because these colors are not herioc in the usual sense. They're usually the enemy (even though I know it's possible in the other colors, it doesn't happen very often). Grixis has been by far the most challenging since it screams evil, or maybe that's just me.
I'm also kicking around the idea of a Mono Black hero, something like selfishly unselfish or what not.
Grixis doesn't scream "evil" if you know what to look for. Blue at it's best is reasonable and progressive, Black at it's best is morally relativistic, self-assured and honest, Red at it's best is empathetic, loyal and loving.
A rakdos hero I imagine could be someone who wants control over themselves. An example would be a revolutionary who wants a say in the government of his nation and stirs others to rebel against them with protests. Acquiring power is a black goal while acquiring freedom is a red one, and this character combines both. Similarly, using a group of subordinates is a black means while using people's emotions to rally them to your cause is a red means. For a grixis hero, just add in blue goals/means: someone the freedom to pursue knowledge that could threaten the existing order appeals to the public's emotions to inspire a rebellion and seize the knowledge being kept from them by the established order. This scenario would essentially be a grixis hero fighting an azorius government.
1. B/R: He/She was born into slavery and had to see firsthand what it's like to have no freedoms. As he/she grew, he/she knew that he/she needed to escape his/her prison. He/She seeks freedom for his/her friends and family, and will do anything in his/her power to get it. (Think: Revolutionary/Freedom Fighter)
2. U/B: This character has seen the problems in his/her city since the beginning. The overpowering government feeds the people lies, and they hungering masses eat it all up as quickly as they can. This character will need to use all the cunning he/she has learned to get people to acknowledge their situation. (Think: Thief/A Cunning Individual)
3. U/B/R: This character's world is probably dystopian. He/She was born into the majority of those who are in poverty and are suffering. There is a world where people are rich, happy, fat off the work of the lower class, and he/she is in that lower class. Nobody believes that there's any way to come out of this, but this character will use all the knowledge and power he/she has built up in the slums to usurp those who reign from above. He/She will find a way to save those he wishes to protect.
See? Not too bad. This biggest thing is that you have a direct desire from black, which will show ambition. Naturally, ambition has to mean you don't have something already, so putting your character in a place of need works best. If you're adding red, you add emotion behind it, a driving force that burns brightly. In 1, the character willing to do anything to save his/her fellow slaves. That's a point of "love". In the third, there's the dystopian society, which helps add in the blue, as these people will need to fend for themselves, and if one gets the know-how of how to help, then you're good. For 2, it's a little more difficult to add in the desire to help others, which is why I offered "Thief" as a choice. The only desire is for gain. (Though, Dack Fayden is U/R, but he's a pretty neat guy, so maybe your character is "less neat"? Idk.)
I am quite happy that I can see Grixis in a new light, I just just love everything that the colors provide in it.
So from what I gathered it seems like a Grixis character would be one who would use whatever he has at his/her disposal for their own ends (not necessarily evil ones). From what I see I can do a Trickster or wanderer type of character. Not heartless but not a bleeding heart either, also not so morally rigid either. Definitely intelligent. He wanders around, "helping" people out probably out of sheer boredom. Maybe unseat a tyrannical king just to watch an empire fall. Or stop a group of bandits simply because it would be fun, and likewise stealing from a theif.
This wandering character could also have a goal of changing the world for the better because they feel (red) and/or have calculated (blue) that the current social system is broken and for their sake (or the sake of their friends) they'll break the old system. Doing stuff for the lulz is more red than black, I guess it depends on where the character's focus falls.
Their opponents in this could be the white/green establishment who won't change because tradition or law says that the way things are is the way they should be.
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“Tell me who you walk with, and I'll tell you who you are.” Esmeralda Santiago Art is life itself.
Grixis has been by far the most challenging since it screams evil, or maybe that's just me.
Marchesa, the Black Rose isn't evil. Ruthless and pragmatic, sure, but all indications are that her work is of incredible value of Palliano.
Rakdos is pretty easy. The demon Rakdos wasn't particularly evil, he just wanted to party. In the original Ravnica trilogy he saves the entire plane from Kraj. Sure his parties are ridiculously hardcore but Rakdos himself is mostly just oblivious to the atrocities committed by his guild. There was even some Uncharted Realms during RTR from the point of view of two Rakdos worshipers who were decent people.
The positive aspects of these point towards an intelligent individual who is highly motivated in their pursuits and does not allow things like morality or other societal pressures to stop them. To be honest, this combination of colors instantly springs to mind the though of terrorists or revolutionaries, who, while inspiring to those they fight for, are horrifying to everyone else.
Grixis has been by far the most challenging since it screams evil, or maybe that's just me.
Marchesa, the Black Rose isn't evil. Ruthless and pragmatic, sure, but all indications are that her work is of incredible value of Palliano.
Rakdos is pretty easy. The demon Rakdos wasn't particularly evil, he just wanted to party. In the original Ravnica trilogy he saves the entire plane from Kraj. Sure his parties are ridiculously hardcore but Rakdos himself is mostly just oblivious to the atrocities committed by his guild. There was even some Uncharted Realms during RTR from the point of view of two Rakdos worshipers who were decent people.
Umm I don't remember the exact details, but Rakdos was being controlled by Izolda/Lyzolda at the time and I'm pretty sure Kraj attacked Rakdos first and Rakdos just reacted. Rakdos is the the apex of the negative aspect of BR.
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“There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen by God. You were chosen by a pathetic little man who can't seem to grow a full mustache"
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
So would you think that Huey Freeman from the Boondocks is Grixis? I'm just trying to find a character to compare it too.
The other thing I thought about was a slave who was so badly oppressed, never knowing the taste of freedom or individual power. Finally it reaches a breaking point and the spark awakens. Finally tasting freedom, this person searches for a way to increase their own power so that they are never put in the same position again. This of course leads to said person traveling from plane to plane, searching for a way to increase that power (usually involving wresting it from some tyrant). Also helping those who were in the same position this person was in. However, in the process they struggle to avoid becoming that which he hates.
On a side note, the methods he employs for obtaining what he wants/helping others usually makes staying on the plane a bad idea (either people don't take kindly to it or something).
Grixis has been by far the most challenging since it screams evil, or maybe that's just me.
Marchesa, the Black Rose isn't evil. Ruthless and pragmatic, sure, but all indications are that her work is of incredible value of Palliano.
Rakdos is pretty easy. The demon Rakdos wasn't particularly evil, he just wanted to party. In the original Ravnica trilogy he saves the entire plane from Kraj. Sure his parties are ridiculously hardcore but Rakdos himself is mostly just oblivious to the atrocities committed by his guild. There was even some Uncharted Realms during RTR from the point of view of two Rakdos worshipers who were decent people.
But Paliano itself is a demonstration of aristocracy gone dramatically wrong, as seen in Betrayal, and King Brago's own brand of ruthlessness.
I'm not so much asking for specific characters as much as I need examples of how a "hero" in those colors might act like. Because as I said before, most of the trouble I have had has been because these colors are not herioc in the usual sense. They're usually the enemy (even though I know it's possible in the other colors, it doesn't happen very often). Grixis has been by far the most challenging since it screams evil, or maybe that's just me.
I'm also kicking around the idea of a Mono Black hero, something like selfishly unselfish or what not.
Grixis doesn't scream "evil" if you know what to look for. Blue at it's best is reasonable and progressive, Black at it's best is morally relativistic, self-assured and honest, Red at it's best is empathetic, loyal and loving.
What about someone who wants to grow in power by wresting it from the tyrants, while at the same time having those under said tyrants being indebted to him.
Perhaps adding red and blue will make the character more erratic. Since Grixis is a hellish world, he/she may be about survival against all odds. I imagine because of the red, there is less plotting and more on-the-fly thinking.
Lack of WG can indicate a strong sense of individualism. The character can work with others (the blue sees rational benefit) but if there are disagreements, he/she can leave without looking back. Maybe very pragmatic (lack of W idealism). Can also indicate not strong physically (no WG 'healthiness', Grixis is a nasty place), makes up for it with cunning and a strong mind.
I would think that a heroic character in Grixis colours would be intelligent (U), passionate (R), and pragmatic (B). I don't think a traditional hero would fit, but many anti-heroes would. They wouldn't be an environmentalist hero; if they care about nature at all, it will be as a tool to accomplish something and would have no inherent value. They might fight for society or social order, but with probably one or both of these qualifications:
1. "What's in it for me?" The heroic mercenary type, or the one that equates their own survival with the survival of the community.
2. "No room for me there." The social outcast hero, who lives in a self-imposed kind of exile because he is willing to break any social contract or any law to protect the society he knows he can't be part of. Note: To be truly Grixis, the character shouldn't be angsty about it; they don't want to be part of the society they protect, and prefer to live on the fringe.
The best examples I can think of outside Magic would be the more sympathetic portrayals of Lex Luthor (more anti-villain than hero), and the less sympathetic portrayals of Batman. The Punisher might also qualify, though he lacks the passion of red, but has it's taste for vengeance.
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A polite player might call my card choices "interesting." At my budget, "interesting" is the only option.
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I'm in the process of trying to make a character based on my fav colors in magic. The ranking goes Rakdos, Dimir, and Grixis.
Trouble is that these colors don't exactly have the best reputation in Magic. Most of the characters and cards are usually messed up, evil, or both. I'm trying really hard to find a brighter side that I can take this towards. Preferably Rakdos though since I find the combination interesting enough to work with. Please help.
Several Rakdos in the Uncharted Realms are also relatively reasonable.
But most of all there's Tetsuo Umezawa, who is Blue/Black/Red and a decent human being, as well as the main protagonist in his story.
That being said, you can look at the 'positive' aspects of black, red, and blue and just put them together. Maybe you've got a passionate artist (R) whose artwork is concerned not with the ideals of the populous or traditional methods, but by the desire to challenge and potentially offend them to express the artist's sense of independence (B).
I'm also kicking around the idea of a Mono Black hero, something like selfishly unselfish or what not.
A mono-black hero shouldn't actually be that hard. They are selfish of course but nothing is stopping them from actually helping others. They just have to profit from doing that in some way.
Grixis doesn't scream "evil" if you know what to look for. Blue at it's best is reasonable and progressive, Black at it's best is morally relativistic, self-assured and honest, Red at it's best is empathetic, loyal and loving.
Do as you will with that.
1. B/R: He/She was born into slavery and had to see firsthand what it's like to have no freedoms. As he/she grew, he/she knew that he/she needed to escape his/her prison. He/She seeks freedom for his/her friends and family, and will do anything in his/her power to get it. (Think: Revolutionary/Freedom Fighter)
2. U/B: This character has seen the problems in his/her city since the beginning. The overpowering government feeds the people lies, and they hungering masses eat it all up as quickly as they can. This character will need to use all the cunning he/she has learned to get people to acknowledge their situation. (Think: Thief/A Cunning Individual)
3. U/B/R: This character's world is probably dystopian. He/She was born into the majority of those who are in poverty and are suffering. There is a world where people are rich, happy, fat off the work of the lower class, and he/she is in that lower class. Nobody believes that there's any way to come out of this, but this character will use all the knowledge and power he/she has built up in the slums to usurp those who reign from above. He/She will find a way to save those he wishes to protect.
See? Not too bad. This biggest thing is that you have a direct desire from black, which will show ambition. Naturally, ambition has to mean you don't have something already, so putting your character in a place of need works best. If you're adding red, you add emotion behind it, a driving force that burns brightly. In 1, the character willing to do anything to save his/her fellow slaves. That's a point of "love". In the third, there's the dystopian society, which helps add in the blue, as these people will need to fend for themselves, and if one gets the know-how of how to help, then you're good. For 2, it's a little more difficult to add in the desire to help others, which is why I offered "Thief" as a choice. The only desire is for gain. (Though, Dack Fayden is U/R, but he's a pretty neat guy, so maybe your character is "less neat"? Idk.)
So from what I gathered it seems like a Grixis character would be one who would use whatever he has at his/her disposal for their own ends (not necessarily evil ones). From what I see I can do a Trickster or wanderer type of character. Not heartless but not a bleeding heart either, also not so morally rigid either. Definitely intelligent. He wanders around, "helping" people out probably out of sheer boredom. Maybe unseat a tyrannical king just to watch an empire fall. Or stop a group of bandits simply because it would be fun, and likewise stealing from a theif.
Their opponents in this could be the white/green establishment who won't change because tradition or law says that the way things are is the way they should be.
Art is life itself.
Marchesa, the Black Rose isn't evil. Ruthless and pragmatic, sure, but all indications are that her work is of incredible value of Palliano.
Rakdos is pretty easy. The demon Rakdos wasn't particularly evil, he just wanted to party. In the original Ravnica trilogy he saves the entire plane from Kraj. Sure his parties are ridiculously hardcore but Rakdos himself is mostly just oblivious to the atrocities committed by his guild. There was even some Uncharted Realms during RTR from the point of view of two Rakdos worshipers who were decent people.
Black - Power.
Red - Freedom.
The positive aspects of these point towards an intelligent individual who is highly motivated in their pursuits and does not allow things like morality or other societal pressures to stop them. To be honest, this combination of colors instantly springs to mind the though of terrorists or revolutionaries, who, while inspiring to those they fight for, are horrifying to everyone else.
Umm I don't remember the exact details, but Rakdos was being controlled by Izolda/Lyzolda at the time and I'm pretty sure Kraj attacked Rakdos first and Rakdos just reacted. Rakdos is the the apex of the negative aspect of BR.
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
The other thing I thought about was a slave who was so badly oppressed, never knowing the taste of freedom or individual power. Finally it reaches a breaking point and the spark awakens. Finally tasting freedom, this person searches for a way to increase their own power so that they are never put in the same position again. This of course leads to said person traveling from plane to plane, searching for a way to increase that power (usually involving wresting it from some tyrant). Also helping those who were in the same position this person was in. However, in the process they struggle to avoid becoming that which he hates.
On a side note, the methods he employs for obtaining what he wants/helping others usually makes staying on the plane a bad idea (either people don't take kindly to it or something).
But Paliano itself is a demonstration of aristocracy gone dramatically wrong, as seen in Betrayal, and King Brago's own brand of ruthlessness.
Sounds like Jeff Winger from Community.
Blue: Logic
Black: Power, with the personal challenge of not abusing that power or harming others in the pursuit of excess power
Red: Creativity
That's how he looked at Madara's mana lines, which also happen to be his three colors.
Lack of WG can indicate a strong sense of individualism. The character can work with others (the blue sees rational benefit) but if there are disagreements, he/she can leave without looking back. Maybe very pragmatic (lack of W idealism). Can also indicate not strong physically (no WG 'healthiness', Grixis is a nasty place), makes up for it with cunning and a strong mind.
1. "What's in it for me?" The heroic mercenary type, or the one that equates their own survival with the survival of the community.
2. "No room for me there." The social outcast hero, who lives in a self-imposed kind of exile because he is willing to break any social contract or any law to protect the society he knows he can't be part of. Note: To be truly Grixis, the character shouldn't be angsty about it; they don't want to be part of the society they protect, and prefer to live on the fringe.
The best examples I can think of outside Magic would be the more sympathetic portrayals of Lex Luthor (more anti-villain than hero), and the less sympathetic portrayals of Batman. The Punisher might also qualify, though he lacks the passion of red, but has it's taste for vengeance.