The end of the month signals the final chapter of yet another Card Creation League. I hope you have all enjoyed my challenges this month, as I can personally say that it's been a real privilege to host a game contest as prestigious as the CCL. Now there's only one thing left to do.
The two remaining finalists of the January CCL are Talore and KHANanaphone. My congratulations to both of you for reaching this far in the competition. But now it's time for the final challenge. This time the general public will decide who is the better card designer - and they're the harshest critics of all. So when you're ready, let's get down to business and design some killer cards!
MAKING MAGIC There Can Only Be One Mark Rosewater Monday, February 1, 2010
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ And then there was two.
Welcome to the final episode of the Amazing Designer Search!
One month ago, Wizard of the Coast’s online search for a Magic design intern made its long-awaited return. Thousands of candidates applied for the position, but only the twenty-six finest designers made it to the first round. These remaining applicants were subjected to a series of difficult tasks to test their design skills. I myself tested their knowledge of the three psychographic profiles (and a player type). Magic developer Tom LaPille presented four distinct challenges in the form of a Multiverse comments log. Magic writer Mike Flores assessed their ability to design cards for and against a famous deck. Pro Tour winner Jacob Van Lunen asked the candidates to design for the budget-minded player, while combo specialist Noel deCordova gave them the task of creating cards with Johnny-friendly elements. Finally Creative Designer Doug Beyer presented a trio of assignments that necessitated familiarity with top-down design.
Baby, I'm Amazed By You
To be honest, I was a little worried when I launched the Amazing Designer Search. I thought to myself - how will we ever top the first Designer Search? That season of Magic programming had set such a high benchmark that it would be very difficult for future seasons to top it. All my self-doubt evaporated, however, when I witnessed how well this year’s finalists have tackled the design challenges. There has been creative ingenuity. There has been utter brilliance. There has been unexpected drama. (Okay, maybe not that last one). From a host’s perspective, I am confident that the entertainment value of the Amazing Designer Search has equalled, if not surpassed, the Great Designer Search’s.
In reaching the final stage of this competition I must offer my congratulations to KHANanaphone and Talore. You must be incredibly gifted individuals (or extremely lucky) to have risen above the thousands of aspiring designers. Based on your outstanding card designs this month, I would have been more than happy to take on two design interns. Sadly Aaron Forsythe (my boss) told me I could only hire one. Who that person will be, then, will be wholly dependent on the quality of your submissions in this final challenge.
The trials and tribulations you have faced this month are a reasonable representation of the challenges R&D encounter on a daily basis. For example, when we design a new set, we make sure that there are cards that appeal to each of the three psychographic profiles. This is what we did in the first challenge. As you might have noticed, the structure of the Amazing Designer Search has been specially designed to reflect the reality of a Magic designer. If hired as R&D intern, you would be expected to employ these same skills to handle design-related tasks.
Are You Game?
For this last challenge, I thought we'll do something that doesn’t have practical applications. Something fun and light-hearted. Who here likes games? (fanfare) How about puzzles? (fanfare). Magic puzzles? (less enthusiastic response). Come on, I wrote an entire book of these! (silence). Hmm, tough crowd. Reminds me of my Comedy Club days.
The diehard Magic puzzle-loving crowd would know where I’m coming from. My thanks to both of you (drum beat). Regular readers of my column would know that I’m a big fan of games and puzzles. I first worked for Wizards of the Coast as a puzzle columnist. Back then Wizards of the Coast produced The Duelist, a now-defunct Magic magazine that covered strategies, tournament coverage, and other features you now see at magicthegathering.com. After a fortunate encounter with Steve Bishop (then head of the Duelists’ Convocation) at a gaming convention, I found myself devising Magic puzzles for the Duelist. I even released Magic: The Puzzling, a book made up entirely of these puzzles. Two years ago, I shared my obsession with my friends and family when I made games and puzzles the theme of my 10th wedding anniversary.
As you may have realised by now, I LOVE games. And I love puzzles. I also love designing cards. For this final challenge, let’s put the two and two together.
Let's Finish This
Talore. KHANanaphone. The finish line is close now. This final test is all that stands between you and your chance to work at the R&D offices. Think of the fame and fortune that you will inherit as the Amazing Designer Search winner. Pretty girls, getting to play Magic during working hours, seeing the cards from next year’s sets. You would have it all. (You would also have me as your boss but that's how life goes. You win some, you lose some).
For the last time, I wish both of you the best of luck.
Join me next week when I explain why the follow-up set to Unhinged never saw the light of day (Hint: It was called Unclothed).
Until then, may you never encounter an unsolvable puzzle.
You have walked over to two strangers playing a game of Magic and their cards are all laid out on the table. One player is clearly winning, the other player appears to be losing. Taking over the role of the losing player, you have 1 card in hand. This card can be anything of your creation. The color and mana cost of this card will be restricted by the land available from your side of the battlefield. You can use any remaining mana to activate abilities of permanents you control.
The scenario is that you’re playing against Eldrazi Green. Your opponent has an Eldrazi Monument and swings with his 4/4 flying, indestructible Great Sable Stag. You’re on 2. You have one Misty Rainforest and four Gargoyle Castles, though you have plenty of Forests and Islands in your library. Your aim is to design a card that allows you to survive this turn.
This one will be fun. Each player chooses a converted mana cost between 3 and 7, picks one color (white, blue, black, red, green), and selects any creature type (a list updated toConflux can be found here. All done? Now the other player has to create a creature card with your chosen criteria. This creature must have the chosen converted mana cost, the selected color must be one of its colors (so if someone chose blue, a green/blue card is allowed), and the selected creature type must be one of its creature types.
From time to time, I like to devise my own games. I call this one Design Squares. How does it work? I often describe it as a cross between tic-tac-toe and bingo. You will each be provided with the same ‘design square’, a ‘card’ with a 3x3 grid. Each of the nine spaces will have a different card feature written on it. Here’s an example of a design square (imagine there are lines going horizontally and vertically between the characteristics, forming a grid):
a. Targets a permanent b. Mythic rare c. CMC of 4 mana d. Uses hybrid mana e. Instant f. Blue g. Uncommon h. Has flavor text i. Name starts with an A word
I assume you’re familiar with how a game of tic-tac-toe is won –a straight line through three spaces either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. If every possible line was drawn on this grid, there would be eight lines. Each line would have 3 card features. It is up to you to choose one line and create a card based on that line’s features. For instance, if you selected the vertical line through Column 3 (c, f, i), you would have to design a blue card with a converted mana cost of 4 and a name that starts with an A word (e.g. Aether). Certain lines may be easier or more difficult to design a card from, so choose carefully. You should exploit your strengths and be mindful of your weaknesses when you select a line.
Ready to play? Here’s your design square.
a. Has more than 20 letters in its name b. Planeswalker c. Multicolored d. Noncreature artifact e. Has the word ‘enchantment’ in its rules text f. CMC of 7 g. Rare h. Has no mana cost i. Enchantment - Aura
If you guys can submit your cards before the end of next week, that'll be great. When both of you are happy with your cards, I'll put up the poll. May the best designer win.
I'm a holder. (Seeing Korpiklaani today, that trumps cardmaking!)
My challenge for KHANanaphone is a Green, CMC3, Pirate. (I'm seeing Swashbuckle at the aforementioned concertm and green is my favorite colour.) Have fun!
Tangleblossom Pollen :xmana::symwg:
Instant [C]
Prevent the next X damage that would be dealt to any number of target creatures and/or players, divided as you choose. You gain life equal to the damage prevented this way.
Explanation: You stop the combat damage, gain some buffer life, draw a land or some other relevant card on your turn, and on theirs the Stag dies to Eldrazi, thus ending the pro-blue screw and probably putting the balls in your court.
Steamglider Phoenix2UR
Creature - Phoenix [R]
Flying, Haste, Shroud.
At end of turn, return ~ to it's owners hand.
When a creature is returned to your hand from the battlefield, you may return ~ from your graveyard to your hand.
4/3 "Durn birds, hidin' in the steam and jumpin' out at 'ye. Can't never kill 'em before they get a grunt or five." -Grashnak, Steamflogger Boss
Multicoloured, CMC7, Enchantment - Aura Blastvein Infusion4GWB
Enchantment - Aura [R]
Enchant Creature
Enchanted creature gets +3/+0 and gains Trample and Deathtouch.
When enchanted creature is put into a graveyard, destroy all creatures. Then, you may put a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield and attach ~ to it. (~ goes to the graveyard if you don't.) "This is no mere spell; it is a gift from our gods. It culls the weak; sends the loyal to the beyond, and brings a new harbinger of their will. It is our final judgement; and the world is guilty." -Erlash, Herald of Doom
Continental MistXGG
Enchantment (R)
Flash
Vanishing X
Prevent all combat damage.
(Hey look, I actually made fog)
Shipwrecked Buccaneer2G
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
Reach T: ~ deals 1 damage to target creature with flying. Tap that creature. At least he can shoot, because he sure can't steer.
1/3
(He has a gun and is shooting at birds. Because he's marooned. Or something.)
7cmc multicolor aura (Oddly chose the same thing. Wanted a challenge that was do-able).
Force of Conscience5WB
Enchantment (R)
Enchant Creature
When ~ enters the battlefield, put a 5/5 black Demon creature token with flying and haste and a 5/5 white Angel creature token with flying and lifelink into play. Exile them when ~ leaves play.
Sorry I'm going slow, but I seem to just be blanking in terms of ideas lately.
Jau, you have a discrepancy in the first challenge. The text says that the player is on two life, but the 'stat block' claims you are at 3 life. Which is it? (And seriously, fog.)
The end of the month signals the final chapter of yet another Card Creation League. I hope you have all enjoyed my challenges this month, as I can personally say that it's been a real privilege to host a game contest as prestigious as the CCL. Now there's only one thing left to do.
The two remaining finalists of the January CCL are Talore and KHANanaphone. My congratulations to both of you for reaching this far in the competition. But now it's time for the final challenge. This time the general public will decide who is the better card designer - and they're the harshest critics of all. So when you're ready, let's get down to business and design some killer cards!
There Can Only Be One
Mark Rosewater
Monday, February 1, 2010
Mark Rosewater Archive
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
And then there was two.
Welcome to the final episode of the Amazing Designer Search!
One month ago, Wizard of the Coast’s online search for a Magic design intern made its long-awaited return. Thousands of candidates applied for the position, but only the twenty-six finest designers made it to the first round. These remaining applicants were subjected to a series of difficult tasks to test their design skills. I myself tested their knowledge of the three psychographic profiles (and a player type). Magic developer Tom LaPille presented four distinct challenges in the form of a Multiverse comments log. Magic writer Mike Flores assessed their ability to design cards for and against a famous deck. Pro Tour winner Jacob Van Lunen asked the candidates to design for the budget-minded player, while combo specialist Noel deCordova gave them the task of creating cards with Johnny-friendly elements. Finally Creative Designer Doug Beyer presented a trio of assignments that necessitated familiarity with top-down design.
Baby, I'm Amazed By You
To be honest, I was a little worried when I launched the Amazing Designer Search. I thought to myself - how will we ever top the first Designer Search? That season of Magic programming had set such a high benchmark that it would be very difficult for future seasons to top it. All my self-doubt evaporated, however, when I witnessed how well this year’s finalists have tackled the design challenges. There has been creative ingenuity. There has been utter brilliance. There has been unexpected drama. (Okay, maybe not that last one). From a host’s perspective, I am confident that the entertainment value of the Amazing Designer Search has equalled, if not surpassed, the Great Designer Search’s.
In reaching the final stage of this competition I must offer my congratulations to KHANanaphone and Talore. You must be incredibly gifted individuals (or extremely lucky) to have risen above the thousands of aspiring designers. Based on your outstanding card designs this month, I would have been more than happy to take on two design interns. Sadly Aaron Forsythe (my boss) told me I could only hire one. Who that person will be, then, will be wholly dependent on the quality of your submissions in this final challenge.
The trials and tribulations you have faced this month are a reasonable representation of the challenges R&D encounter on a daily basis. For example, when we design a new set, we make sure that there are cards that appeal to each of the three psychographic profiles. This is what we did in the first challenge. As you might have noticed, the structure of the Amazing Designer Search has been specially designed to reflect the reality of a Magic designer. If hired as R&D intern, you would be expected to employ these same skills to handle design-related tasks.
Are You Game?
For this last challenge, I thought we'll do something that doesn’t have practical applications. Something fun and light-hearted. Who here likes games? (fanfare) How about puzzles? (fanfare). Magic puzzles? (less enthusiastic response). Come on, I wrote an entire book of these! (silence). Hmm, tough crowd. Reminds me of my Comedy Club days.
The diehard Magic puzzle-loving crowd would know where I’m coming from. My thanks to both of you (drum beat). Regular readers of my column would know that I’m a big fan of games and puzzles. I first worked for Wizards of the Coast as a puzzle columnist. Back then Wizards of the Coast produced The Duelist, a now-defunct Magic magazine that covered strategies, tournament coverage, and other features you now see at magicthegathering.com. After a fortunate encounter with Steve Bishop (then head of the Duelists’ Convocation) at a gaming convention, I found myself devising Magic puzzles for the Duelist. I even released Magic: The Puzzling, a book made up entirely of these puzzles. Two years ago, I shared my obsession with my friends and family when I made games and puzzles the theme of my 10th wedding anniversary.
As you may have realised by now, I LOVE games. And I love puzzles. I also love designing cards. For this final challenge, let’s put the two and two together.
Let's Finish This
Talore. KHANanaphone. The finish line is close now. This final test is all that stands between you and your chance to work at the R&D offices. Think of the fame and fortune that you will inherit as the Amazing Designer Search winner. Pretty girls, getting to play Magic during working hours, seeing the cards from next year’s sets. You would have it all. (You would also have me as your boss but that's how life goes. You win some, you lose some).
For the last time, I wish both of you the best of luck.
Join me next week when I explain why the follow-up set to Unhinged never saw the light of day (Hint: It was called Unclothed).
Until then, may you never encounter an unsolvable puzzle.
The scenario is that you’re playing against Eldrazi Green. Your opponent has an Eldrazi Monument and swings with his 4/4 flying, indestructible Great Sable Stag. You’re on 2. You have one Misty Rainforest and four Gargoyle Castles, though you have plenty of Forests and Islands in your library. Your aim is to design a card that allows you to survive this turn.
Opponent’s Resources:
Life: 20
Battlefield:
• Great Sable Stag (attacking, 4/4)
• Eldrazi Monument
• Forests (tapped)
Your Resources:
Life: 2
Battlefield:
• Misty Rainforest
• 4 Gargoyle Castle
Hand:
• Your card
a. Targets a permanent b. Mythic rare c. CMC of 4 mana
d. Uses hybrid mana e. Instant f. Blue
g. Uncommon h. Has flavor text i. Name starts with an A word
I assume you’re familiar with how a game of tic-tac-toe is won –a straight line through three spaces either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. If every possible line was drawn on this grid, there would be eight lines. Each line would have 3 card features. It is up to you to choose one line and create a card based on that line’s features. For instance, if you selected the vertical line through Column 3 (c, f, i), you would have to design a blue card with a converted mana cost of 4 and a name that starts with an A word (e.g. Aether). Certain lines may be easier or more difficult to design a card from, so choose carefully. You should exploit your strengths and be mindful of your weaknesses when you select a line.
Ready to play? Here’s your design square.
a. Has more than 20 letters in its name b. Planeswalker c. Multicolored
d. Noncreature artifact e. Has the word ‘enchantment’ in its rules text f. CMC of 7
g. Rare h. Has no mana cost i. Enchantment - Aura
My challenge for KHANanaphone is a Green, CMC3, Pirate. (I'm seeing Swashbuckle at the aforementioned concertm and green is my favorite colour.) Have fun!
Tangleblossom Pollen :xmana::symwg:
Instant [C]
Prevent the next X damage that would be dealt to any number of target creatures and/or players, divided as you choose. You gain life equal to the damage prevented this way.
Explanation: You stop the combat damage, gain some buffer life, draw a land or some other relevant card on your turn, and on theirs the Stag dies to Eldrazi, thus ending the pro-blue screw and probably putting the balls in your court.
Steamglider Phoenix 2UR
Creature - Phoenix [R]
Flying, Haste, Shroud.
At end of turn, return ~ to it's owners hand.
When a creature is returned to your hand from the battlefield, you may return ~ from your graveyard to your hand.
4/3
"Durn birds, hidin' in the steam and jumpin' out at 'ye. Can't never kill 'em before they get a grunt or five." -Grashnak, Steamflogger Boss
Blastvein Infusion 4GWB
Enchantment - Aura [R]
Enchant Creature
Enchanted creature gets +3/+0 and gains Trample and Deathtouch.
When enchanted creature is put into a graveyard, destroy all creatures. Then, you may put a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield and attach ~ to it. (~ goes to the graveyard if you don't.)
"This is no mere spell; it is a gift from our gods. It culls the weak; sends the loyal to the beyond, and brings a new harbinger of their will. It is our final judgement; and the world is guilty." -Erlash, Herald of Doom
4, Blue, Phoenix
Enchantment (R)
Flash
Vanishing X
Prevent all combat damage.
(Hey look, I actually made fog)
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
Reach
T: ~ deals 1 damage to target creature with flying. Tap that creature.
At least he can shoot, because he sure can't steer.
1/3
(He has a gun and is shooting at birds. Because he's marooned. Or something.)
Force of Conscience 5WB
Enchantment (R)
Enchant Creature
When ~ enters the battlefield, put a 5/5 black Demon creature token with flying and haste and a 5/5 white Angel creature token with flying and lifelink into play. Exile them when ~ leaves play.
Sorry I'm going slow, but I seem to just be blanking in terms of ideas lately.