Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “Design”
Magic: the Gathering is a game that takes place in countless settings and themes. The game has regularly explored settings involving body horror and gothic horror to name a few, and some of that art has been quite divisive. One thing that Magic always does well is its art, though, and when it comes to horror, terror, and disgust, the …
The unveiling of new set mechanics is always my favorite part of spoiler season, since their quality has a huge impact on how we perceive that expansion. The new rules need enough flavor and novelty value to turn heads, but also to be balanced, and offer interesting play patterns that can hold up over the next 2-3 years of Standard. …
We’re in the midst of Duskmourn: House of Horrors preview season and it releases later this month, on September 27th . The set contains lots of really cool mechanics, but the one that has caught my eye the most is “Manifest Dread.” In this article, I’ll break down how the mechanic works and how I think it’ll perform in the …
Static effects that stay in effect for the remainder of the game are pretty rare in Magic. But one such card has been revealed in the early preview for Duskmourn: House of Horrors. If Screaming Nemesis is dealt damage it deals that much damage to any other target and your opponent can’t gain life for the rest of the game. …
Doctor Who holds a very special place in my heart. I love the show and have watched it since I was about 14 — so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this adventure into Universes Beyond. And since this is such a special occasion, I’m going to deviate from my usual spike-content to enjoy the exciting, flavorful design …
It seems to be that as time goes on, Magic becomes harder and harder to decipher. Complexity creep on cards is one thing, but what about the complexity of game pieces? Kristen sits down to talk about accessibility in Magic. For many of us, Magic’s artwork is a big draw. Without the stunning vistas, fierce warriors and heroic (or villainous) …
Tales of Middle-earth proved how well Magic can adapt itself to capture the identity of other blockbuster media products through its design. As with the Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks last year, Wizards of the Coast bet a lot on their ability to draw in new and returning players from among fans of the source material. It’s a confident move; Magic …
With March of the Machine and its Aftermath now both revealed, 2023 looks very much like the end of an era for Magic’s Planeswalkers. Many were casualties of the struggle against Phyrexia, including some who lost their spark and were demoted to mere legendary creatures. But even the survivors can tell their role in the multiverse has changed. In fact, …
As Magic players, most of us primarily care about how the game actually plays. However, so much more goes into a set than the cards themselves — from worldbuilding to characters and the places they intersect. Often, these qualities outside of gameplay are called flavor, and they help sets taste different, even if they are similar in some ways to what has …
Magic is designed today with Commander right at the forefront, alongside Limited and other constructed formats, which means the game is partially balanced around free-for-all multiplayer. That’s quite a recent change relative to the game’s history, and Wizards of the Coast is still in somewhat early days when it comes to creating new multiplayer-focused mechanics. The Initiative, Goad, Myriad and …
