In the past few days on his blog, MaRo has been talking about his beef with walls and that it doesn't make sense for "Wall" to exist as a creature type. They aren't a "creature".
This got me thinking... walls clearly serve a purpose and a flavor, it's just the game currently doesn't let non-creature permanents have a power and toughness. Maybe contraptions can fit this flavor? Walls, trenches, barricades, towers - things that can be attacked (or in some cases, like a cannon, attack) and respond, but not a living, sentient thing. Contraption - Wall. Contraption - barricade. Contraption - tower. And you ASSEMBLE them rather than cast them.
The "wall problem" is just that walls aren't typically living beings, but in order to block, they have to be creatures in the game. Making a new card type that's basically a creature but isn't called that just adds new rules without enough of a gain to be worth it. They can still make defenders that are concepted as something else, like a guard or a chained-up monster, and have it work both in terms of game mechanics and flavor. Also note that while it bugs Mark Rosewater, most of R&D doesn't have a problem with Wall as a creature type and enough players are fans, so it's likely we'll see Walls as creatures for some time to come.
Personally I enjoy the wacky flavor that Walls bring to the game. Sure it doesn't make much sense from a flavor perspective but when someone Hero's Downfall my Wall of Frost I can't help but laugh.
Good job Wall of Frost, you were my a national hero. Gonna be parades and a holiday in your honor.
There is also the fact that walls were designed originally as 'summons' rather than 'creatures', the change in flavor by using the word 'creatures' resulted in that issue, which wasn't one when Garfield made the game.
Not quite. Creature was a game term from the beginning, but there was a distinction between "Summon spells" and "Creatures in play". A Summon spell that resolved became a creature. Walls were therefore always creatures, they just weren't printed with the word "creature" on their type lines until the 6th Edition rules change.
There really is no way to get around making walls creatures. For instance, if Wall of Shadows were no longer a creature, but still could block, then it would be increasingly hard to get rid of during game play. You couldn't use something like Lightning Bolt to kill it if it isn't a creature. Nobody wants to use Oblivion Ring to exile a pesky wall. Could you imagine having to name Wall of Shadows with Council's Judgment?
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All your base are belong to us!
RIP Batman guy. I hope somebody picks up the slack now that you are gone. Sick children need their Batman.
Me- Hey MaRo how come this 5lb Bird can hold a 30lb Warhammer?
MaRo- Well see, its a magical bird and the warhammer is also magical. So its ok.
Me- Oh ok. So a magical wall could reposition it self to defend me.
MaRo- Well...yeah....but thats weird.
Me- But a toucan fighting with a sledge hammer isn't?
MaRo- ((runs away))
The answer is sadly so simple that MaRo nor anyone on design has realized it yet. Restrict Wall to being an artifact creature only subtype. Just apply the most sensible creature type and then give it defender. Wall of Frost? How would it not make sense as an Elemental? Dazzling Ramparts? Soldiers should be patrolling said wall correct?
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WOut of the ground,I rise to grace...W BAfter the lights go out on you, after your worthless life is through. I will remember how you scream...B
The answer is sadly so simple that MaRo nor anyone on design has realized it yet. Restrict Wall to being an artifact creature only subtype. Just apply the most sensible creature type and then give it defender. Wall of Frost? How would it not make sense as an Elemental? Dazzling Ramparts? Soldiers should be patrolling said wall correct?
Someone actually suggested this to MaRo (you?) and he basically agrees.
I would like to see a new card type that worked as structures, some how... I like the idea of a tower, bridge or trench card. How they would be different from artifacts I have no idea.
Norn's Annex is a good example of how walls could look as a non-creature. It prevents multiple creatures from attacking (like I would expect from a wall IRL) but does not deal damage to creatures and does not take damage from a goblin with a sword. It is an artifact, so an actual, physical thing. Its effects stack with multiple instances of itself. I don't know why we don't have more of these.
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This got me thinking... walls clearly serve a purpose and a flavor, it's just the game currently doesn't let non-creature permanents have a power and toughness. Maybe contraptions can fit this flavor? Walls, trenches, barricades, towers - things that can be attacked (or in some cases, like a cannon, attack) and respond, but not a living, sentient thing. Contraption - Wall. Contraption - barricade. Contraption - tower. And you ASSEMBLE them rather than cast them.
AM I ON TO SOMETHING?!
Good job Wall of Frost, you were my a national hero. Gonna be parades and a holiday in your honor.
Not quite. Creature was a game term from the beginning, but there was a distinction between "Summon spells" and "Creatures in play". A Summon spell that resolved became a creature. Walls were therefore always creatures, they just weren't printed with the word "creature" on their type lines until the 6th Edition rules change.
RIP Batman guy. I hope somebody picks up the slack now that you are gone. Sick children need their Batman.
MaRo- Well see, its a magical bird and the warhammer is also magical. So its ok.
Me- Oh ok. So a magical wall could reposition it self to defend me.
MaRo- Well...yeah....but thats weird.
Me- But a toucan fighting with a sledge hammer isn't?
MaRo- ((runs away))
The answer is sadly so simple that MaRo nor anyone on design has realized it yet. Restrict Wall to being an artifact creature only subtype. Just apply the most sensible creature type and then give it defender. Wall of Frost? How would it not make sense as an Elemental? Dazzling Ramparts? Soldiers should be patrolling said wall correct?
BAfter the lights go out on you, after your worthless life is through. I will remember how you scream...B
Someone actually suggested this to MaRo (you?) and he basically agrees.