"How do you come up with a theme for each set?
A bunch of ways. We have a theme every year. Right now there is three major themes. With Ravnica, the first set of me doing the vision for a set, it going be the fourth new theme that will very different then anything before. It will challenge everything you know about a set."
1) Three major themes? Is this a reference to the three themes of Kamigawa (Spirits, legends... what else?) or three themes over the recent sets? If so what were they? The way he talks about Ravnica having a fourth theme I imagine he means latter since I am sure any set would have more than one theme. But I cna't possibly think what current three themes he'd be talking about? Any ideas? It might helps us figure out what the "fourth" theme is
2) What does he mean about it being his first set doing "the vision for a set"? Surely he's been the lead before?
Seems like an odd choice if that's what he means. Itr would make sense to only cover Standard themes (which would exclude Tribes) or cover all the recently explored themes which would also include Graveyard and Multicolour
Hand Size matters is the most current theme. I would assume spiritcraft (spirit and arcane) and Legends were some other ones, but that wouldn't be this year only, would it?
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Yes, that's the problem - if the three most recent themes are those of Saviours - Spiritcraft, Legends, Handsize - it would imply that Ravnica would have only one theme. I mean, it's not impossible but all the other blocks always had more than one theme - even if they were in a supporting role.
I don't think that he is talking about the "themes" that have shown up in recent sets but rather themes that have always been in sets - why else would the introduction of a 4th theme "challenge everything we know about sets"? Invasion's multicoloredness, Odyssey's GY focus, Onslaught's Tribal, Mirrodin's Artifact, and Kamigawa's flavor theme did not change how we saw the game, but it seems that he is implying that Ravnica will more fundamentally change things.
I don't think that he is talking about the "themes" that have shown up in recent sets but rather themes that have always been in sets - why else would the introduction of a 4th theme "challenge everything we know about sets"? Invasion's multicoloredness, Odyssey's GY focus, Onslaught's Tribal, Mirrodin's Artifact, and Kamigawa's flavor theme did not change how we saw the game, but it seems that he is implying that Ravnica will more fundamentally change things.
That's what I fugured. But then it begs the question - "what are the three themes that have been present up till now". Presumably if they currently exist we should be able to name them.
I don't know how significant this is but also note that he says "challenge everything that you know about a set" rather than "the set". This seems to imply to me that it refers to out conception of all the previous sets and how they are structured. Something that is fundamental about how we percieve an arbitrary set of Magic will be changed. But i don't know what that might be - colour/permanent destributions have already been tinkered with in Torment, Legions and Mirrordin. The set sizes have also been tinkered with between Onslaught block and Mirrordin block. So what else is a fundamental aspect of set structure?
How do you come up with a theme for each set?
A bunch of ways. We have a theme every year. Right now there is three major themes. With Ravnica, the first set of me doing the vision for a set, it going be the fourth new theme that will very different then anything before. It will challenge everything you know about a set.
4th new theme. hmmm.... it will challenge everything we know about a set. this is weird.
I don't know how significant this is but also note that he says "challenge everything that you know about a set" rather than "the set". This seems to imply to me that it refers to out conception of all the previous sets and how they are structured. Something that is fundamental about how we percieve an arbitrary set of Magic will be changed. But i don't know what that might be - colour/permanent destributions have already been tinkered with in Torment, Legions and Mirrordin. The set sizes have also been tinkered with between Onslaught block and Mirrordin block. So what else is a fundamental aspect of set structure?
Err... Common, Uncommon and Rare Distribution?
*Scratches head
Maybe sub-sets within a set?
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One of the themes from Kamigawa was the relevance of spell types and their effects on other cards in the set. The fluency of this multistructured setting makes one wonder if this is going to be a continued theme for sets to come outside of Kamigawa.
They did touch on the concept of cards having no cost at all (Evermind) so maybe the fundamentals of playing with cards that have no fundamental cost could be the next theme.
'buster
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'buster
HR Analyst. Gamer. Activist | Fearless, and forthright | Aggro-control is a mindset. Elspeth and Jhoira rock my world.
Firgure the whole plane is covered in city, there's got to be some sort of way they can incorporate that into lands.
Plus, if speculation is correct on green being the antagonist color, it would be a cool excuse for more land interaction for the color that's not just more of the same.
Also, there is plenty of opportunity with all the housing the guilds are going to need There are 10 little dots on the Ravnica logo, they could represent a subtype of land or something
Firgure the whole plane is covered in city, there's got to be some sort of way they can incorporate that into lands.
Plus, if speculation is correct on green being the antagonist color, it would be a cool excuse for more land interaction for the color that's not just more of the same.
Also, there is plenty of opportunity with all the housing the guilds are going to need There are 10 little dots on the Ravnica logo, they could represent a subtype of land or something
peace.
As far as land types go, Locus was (IMO) a relatively unexplored area of design. I don't think they'll revisit it soon though. Some other ideas that haven't been used:
A subset of nonland permanents that can be played as lands. Example: A black spell that is a mediocre Dark Rit type spell but can also be played as a land that produces B, counting towards your one-land-per-turn, perhaps flipped or some other way to differentiate it from your actual nonland permanents.
More diverse man-lands.
More lands with nonmana abilities (I know they've said they are moving away from this but then they print Tomb of Urami ) to get around countermagic and mass destruction.
I was thinking since they did make some pretty decent lands in Saviours that it could be a template for a future design of a set; We've been hoping for a land-based set (moreso than Prophecy's Rhystic mechanic and it's land-based theme) so perhaps this is it. Look at that black land they have. An uncounterable creature-maker with a low cost. That screams abuse to me. It might even find a home in future Vintage decks too if the time is right.
'buster
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'buster
HR Analyst. Gamer. Activist | Fearless, and forthright | Aggro-control is a mindset. Elspeth and Jhoira rock my world.
I was thinking since they did make some pretty decent lands in Saviours that it could be a template for a future design of a set; We've been hoping for a land-based set (moreso than Prophecy's Rhystic mechanic and it's land-based theme) so perhaps this is it. Look at that black land they have. An uncounterable creature-maker with a low cost. That screams abuse to me. It might even find a home in future Vintage decks too if the time is right.
'buster
I agree, Saviors was one of the first sets with a bunch of GOOD lands since...Saga?
I love the legendary card drawer, I got it at the prere, its so cute.
As much as a land type thing screams 'lame' to me, it is possible.
Invasion started it, with 'the types of lands you have affect spell abilities' and the 'lairs' subtype.
Mirrodin showed that a land subtype 'locus' can be used effectively, and become popular. Also, the artifact lands....
Kamigawa included yet another type of dual land, and later, playable legendary lands....and many blue cards that allowed to bounce lands, and sweep cards.
The guild concept is certainly something I am looking forward to.
Maro is heading it, can't be another Masques, thats for sure.
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A subset of nonland permanents that can be played as lands. Example: A black spell that is a mediocre Dark Rit type spell but can also be played as a land that produces B, counting towards your one-land-per-turn, perhaps flipped or some other way to differentiate it from your actual nonland permanents.
An interesting concept for sure, though I am not 100% sure how comfortable WotC would be about stealing ideas from VS (and I mean I just don't know, not that they wouldn't) however a face down card = 2/2 creature so a different mechanic would have to be used to signify a spell that is being used as a land.
Kamigawa included yet another type of dual land, and later, playable legendary lands....and many blue cards that allowed to bounce lands, and sweep cards.
Actually, the Kamigawa dual lands were reprints of Tempest (i.e. Vec Townships).
Plus, with only 4 sweep cards, I really wonder why they'd bother printing the mechanic.
The thing about a theme a year leads me to think he's referring to the block themes, like invasion-domain, oddessey-graveyard, onslaught-tribal, mirrodin-artifacts, kamigawa-legends. The only thing that makes me unsure is the whole currently 3 themes thing(Unless 8th or 9th has some sort of theme). If this is the case though, i'm guessing the entirely new thing he's referring to is the guilds, since unlike the other themes i've mentioned which have always been a minor part in magic, guilds are something entirely new.
"How do you come up with a theme for each set?
A bunch of ways. We have a theme every year. Right now there is three major themes. With Ravnica, the first set of me doing the vision for a set, it going be the fourth new theme that will very different then anything before. It will challenge everything you know about a set."
1) Three major themes? Is this a reference to the three themes of Kamigawa (Spirits, legends... what else?) or three themes over the recent sets? If so what were they? The way he talks about Ravnica having a fourth theme I imagine he means latter since I am sure any set would have more than one theme. But I cna't possibly think what current three themes he'd be talking about? Any ideas? It might helps us figure out what the "fourth" theme is
2) What does he mean about it being his first set doing "the vision for a set"? Surely he's been the lead before?
I am also a DCI Level 1 Judge, if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask them in the Rulings forum.
"All the world's a stage
And each must play his part
and I a sad one."
That's what I fugured. But then it begs the question - "what are the three themes that have been present up till now". Presumably if they currently exist we should be able to name them.
or
land/mana, colors and spells (including creatures)?
-Multicolor
-Graveyard
-Tribal
-Artifacts
-Flavor
Ever weirder since the rumored theme of Ravnica (color combinations) is hardly new, since it has been exploited to an extent on Invasion.
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A bunch of ways. We have a theme every year. Right now there is three major themes. With Ravnica, the first set of me doing the vision for a set, it going be the fourth new theme that will very different then anything before. It will challenge everything you know about a set.
4th new theme. hmmm.... it will challenge everything we know about a set. this is weird.
Err... Common, Uncommon and Rare Distribution?
*Scratches head
Maybe sub-sets within a set?
(excluding 1996 World Champion )
EDH Decks (Total count: 90 and counting...)
'
Recently, yes. But we have been to other planes - Mercadia, Rabia, Serra's Realm etc..
They did touch on the concept of cards having no cost at all (Evermind) so maybe the fundamentals of playing with cards that have no fundamental cost could be the next theme.
'buster
HR Analyst. Gamer. Activist | Fearless, and forthright | Aggro-control is a mindset.
Elspeth and Jhoira rock my world.
Theme 1 - Creature Types (Tribal aka Onslaught)
Theme 2 - Artifact Types (Equipment aka Mirrodin)
Theme 3 - Spell Types (Arcane aka Kamigawa)
Ravnica Theme 4 - Land Types
Firgure the whole plane is covered in city, there's got to be some sort of way they can incorporate that into lands.
Plus, if speculation is correct on green being the antagonist color, it would be a cool excuse for more land interaction for the color that's not just more of the same.
Also, there is plenty of opportunity with all the housing the guilds are going to need There are 10 little dots on the Ravnica logo, they could represent a subtype of land or something
peace.
A subset of nonland permanents that can be played as lands. Example: A black spell that is a mediocre Dark Rit type spell but can also be played as a land that produces B, counting towards your one-land-per-turn, perhaps flipped or some other way to differentiate it from your actual nonland permanents.
More diverse man-lands.
More lands with nonmana abilities (I know they've said they are moving away from this but then they print Tomb of Urami ) to get around countermagic and mass destruction.
'buster
HR Analyst. Gamer. Activist | Fearless, and forthright | Aggro-control is a mindset.
Elspeth and Jhoira rock my world.
Invasion-
1. Multicolored
2. Domain (#of types of lands)
3. Kicker
ODY-
1. Madness
2. Threshold
ONS-
1. Tribal
2. Storm
3. Cycling
Mirrodin-
1. Artifact Count
2. Land Count (Affinity of Swamps, etc)
3. Entwine
4. New Type (Equipment)
5. Modular
6. Spellburst (again types of colors used)
Kamigawa-
1. Hand Size
2. Ninjitsu
3. New Spell Types (Arcane and Epic)
4. Splice
5. Scrye
If this new theme is Guild. I think we can safely assume that it will work pending on the different types of guild cards you have in play.
Example
Elvish Soldier
GW
Creature - Elf Soldier
Warrior Guild
If you control 3 or more Warrior Guild Creatures, ~this~ gets +2/+1.
2/3
Could be something like.
Goblin Liason
RW
Creature - Goblin
Spy Guild
If your opponent controls 2 or more creatures of the Town Guild, this creature is unblockable.
2/1
I'm thinking the guilds are like a class of people in a town. If there are 10 guilds, let's say.
1. Warrior Guild - the fighters
2. Spy Guild - the sneaky guys
3. Artisan Guild - the builders (provide mana maybe?)
4. Cult Guild - black magic guys.
5. Holy Guild - into healing
6. Educated Guild - card manipulation (blue guys)
7. Chaos Guild - the crazy people.
8. Town Guild - the resources guys (like Weathered Wayfarer)
9. ???
10. ???
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=519290
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I agree, Saviors was one of the first sets with a bunch of GOOD lands since...Saga?
I love the legendary card drawer, I got it at the prere, its so cute.
As much as a land type thing screams 'lame' to me, it is possible.
Invasion started it, with 'the types of lands you have affect spell abilities' and the 'lairs' subtype.
Mirrodin showed that a land subtype 'locus' can be used effectively, and become popular. Also, the artifact lands....
Kamigawa included yet another type of dual land, and later, playable legendary lands....and many blue cards that allowed to bounce lands, and sweep cards.
The guild concept is certainly something I am looking forward to.
Maro is heading it, can't be another Masques, thats for sure.
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An interesting concept for sure, though I am not 100% sure how comfortable WotC would be about stealing ideas from VS (and I mean I just don't know, not that they wouldn't) however a face down card = 2/2 creature so a different mechanic would have to be used to signify a spell that is being used as a land.
the lairs are the first officially-mentioned land subtype but the idea was used before with Visions lands a la Jungle Basin, Dormant Volcano, Everglades, Karoo, and Coral Atoll.
HR Analyst. Gamer. Activist | Fearless, and forthright | Aggro-control is a mindset.
Elspeth and Jhoira rock my world.
Actually, the Kamigawa dual lands were reprints of Tempest (i.e. Vec Townships).
Plus, with only 4 sweep cards, I really wonder why they'd bother printing the mechanic.
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