Tucked forth in an unassuming office building near Lake Washington lies the military headquarters ofMagic : The Gathering , the longest - running collectible bill plot in existence . For the first time , a collection of journalists was invite into the centre of Wizards Of The Coast to hash out the history ofMagic , as well as a small facial expression forward at the upcomingDuskmournandFoundationssets .
Set up like a individual convention , we were brought into the secured HQ and presented with three distinguishable panels . The first was a Q&A with a radical of significant conclusion - makers withinMagic . This included Mark Rosewater who has been with the caller for 30 years , Jackie Jones , Ken Troop , Mark Heggen , Aaron Forsythe , and Chris Kiritz . The second event was a discussion of theupcomingDuskmournset , with the senior art director Ovidio Cartagena and a Precon Commander coldcock breakdown . And in the end , a playtest of the newFoundationsset coming in November 2024 .
The People & Stories Behind Magic: The Gathering
A Collection Of Individual Journeys
As we entered the military headquarters of Wizards of the Coast , we were immediately confronted by a massive statue of a distaff Shivan Dragon , stop dead in time and surround by a assemblage of her dupe ’s ivory . Her name is Mitzy , and her presence loomed large inside the lobby as we checked in and received our visitant badges . ornament the walls around the stay - in expanse were shelves filled withDungeons & Dragonsplayer Christian Bible , awards , die , and recentMagic : The Gatheringbooster corner .
One matter that stood out to me were the signs announcing opened - play effect for employees to engross in , let in specific RPG & Commander diddle nights . A admonisher that bring and wreak can go very much mitt - in - hand when you ’re creating some of the most creative games on the satellite .
A new " Special Guest " card is coming to thaumaturgy : The gather , have a villainous design pass by the lead colossus creative person of Silent Hill .
Once inside the get together room , we were introduced to the " who ’s who " of multitude who have been molding the game ofMagicfor eld . This was a simple Q&A where we capture to listen to the stories of all these incredibly creative masses . In an introductory moment , when require " Why has Magic stand up the test of time ? " question designer Mark Rosewater simply said , " Magic is the greatest game ever made . "
After a little coax , he persist in " One of the most awe-inspiring things about Magic is that it allows each private player to make the game what they need it to be . If you want the biz to be very easy and build your deck around hob to meet with your friends , you could . If you want to contend at the very high potential level and act for millions of dollars , you could do that as well . It is a game of great deepness , a keep , breathing , ever - deepen thing . "
" thaumaturgy is the greatest game ever made . "
The presentation continued on with each individual panelist name how they came to link theMagicteam , and what shit it special to them . It was an laurels to seat and listen to so many hoi polloi dedicated to this 31 - year - old secret plan . They discussed what goes into bringing each band to living and how cards are make , playtested , and set .
They even discuss an insider chemical group called " The Council of Colors " where each appendage is in charge of their specific color . If a visiting card does n’t sense like it fits the Blue theme , that council member will utter up and begin a discussion . It was impressive how many little " chip " along the way of life of creating a individual sorcerous card there really are .
Duskmourn, Foundations, & Beyond
A Continuous Legacy For MTG
After the storytelling Q&A , we rapidly moved on to the newest upcomingMagic : The Gatheringset , Duskmourn . Led by Senior Art Director , Ovidio Cartagena and Executive Producer , Mike Turian . This discourse was basically a dry run for the PAX East panel they were schedule to do the next day . We went through the young card reveals and had some in - depth treatment with Ovidio and Senior Game decorator Emily Teng on how Duskmourn came to be thematically .
As a horror rooter myself , I was improbably impressed with the depths they make to make this new set sense like a right court to 80 ’s horror , with some mod - solar day creeps sprinkled throughout . Each bill and automobile mechanic shows a unlike side of shuddery , from concealed elements in the Lurking malevolent versions to the leap - panic attack - comparable effect of Manifest Dread . The whole set oozes paper and the recent occasional stories by authorMira Grantenhance the tale even more .
Magic : The Gathering ’s Duskmourn enlargement is already turning with its horror focus . It ’s also a sinewy set - here ’s the 10 best Duskmourn cards .
The future ofMagicis strong . In addition to this approaching September set , Wizards of the Coast has one more product line in memory for 2024 . Foundations is a beginner box to learn new player how to playMagic : The gather . The product come up with 10 theme Jumpstart packs , two game boards , reference cards , and an incredibly well - detailed tutorial for marque - unexampled musician .
We all gathered into chemical group of two and sit down to try out the beginner tutorial . I was lucky enough to partner up with TheGamer ’s Eric Switzer , who is much more of aDisney Lorcanaexpert . However , the step - by - step nature of Foundation ’s tutorial had him quickly trump me in our Cats vs. Vampires starter scrimmage . After a good numeral of tutorial - dictate daily round , Eric felt comfortable enough to continue on his own and pull out the winnings . This was a crushing gust to my ego , and I may never recover .
Foundations is understandably created with new player in mind , and I think it will be an incredibly successful way to bring in moreMagicfans to the fray . If you ’re a foresighted - clip player though , there ’s not much here for you except a assembling of canonical jumpstart decks .
Overall , if there is one affair I took aside from this whole mean solar day , it was an appreciation and deference for the secret plan itself . There have been times I ’ve cracked unresolved a pack only to quickly shuffle through it , disappoint I did n’t pull a mythological or a new squirrel for my Chatterfang pack of cards . However , that pack is n’t just 15 random throwaway cards , each one has a chronicle . Each placard was create , tested , change , tested again , and verify . It was discussed in the Council of Colors as to its viability in whatever set it was created for .
It then made its way to the nontextual matter department to encounter the perfect art , creative person , edge , and possible treatment . hundred of small meetings and discussions had to happen for this unmarried card to be created , approved , publish , pack , delivered , and opened by me . Every card is a thousand originative decision from a orotund group of consecrated people who authentically love the game , and I think Mark Rosewater was right , Magic : The Gatheringis the greatest plot ever made .
