Playing with a Theme

We all play this game for a number of reasons. I’m sure that you have all read the player “types” as put forward by Mark Rosewater – Spike, Timmy, and Johnny. I’d like to share some thoughts on my take on fun decks – setting the player to thinking like a Planeswalker.

Sit back and picture yourself as a Planeswalker. Think of who you are. What makes you tick? What planes have you visited? What mana to you tap into? What spells do you know?

Let me share with you my first attempt at this. Let me introduce you to the Planeswalker, “Vedos the Corrupt”. This was the first persona that I developed back in early 1998. Vedos was a Planeswalker of some potential, but limited experience and ability. This meant that whilst he had great powers to tap mana sources, he lacked the resources to utilise this mana fully.

Ok you say, but what does this have to do with deck design? Let me show you. I purposely set limits on cards that Vedos could and could not cast. As he could tap into black, blue and red mana, he was able to use counter magic, burn and creature destruction from those colours. He coouldnt use the best though.

Lightning Bolt was out. Instead he had to make do with Lunge and Parch. Card advantage was secured through such powerhouses as Casting of Bones, Lim-Dûl’s Vault and somewhat surprisingly Impulse. Creatures included Bone Dancer, Lim-Dûl’s High Guard plus the ever reliable and surprising Mundungu. Other powerhouses were Shadow Guildmage, Nekrataal and Coffin Queen.

One other restriction: Vedos did not have access to legendary creatures – he wasn’t that good.

Why am I boring you with all of this. Simply to illustrate how a theme can be built on and expanded to evolve into something pretty amazing. If you look at some of the cards listed here, would notice that they are included in one of my current fun decks – Crosis. thats right campers, Vedos the Corrupt is still about, although he has improved the past 11 years.

I’d like to hear if any of you have done similar things with a deck you have built. Please write and share your thoughts.