Vanilla Magic

We've been sorting through our pile of Ravnica Allegiance cards, and just like every new release, it brings with it its own set of challenges to stay on top of. Especially in the run-up to release day... there's popularity spikes, foil price speculation, and a whole swathe of deck-lists being thrown around. It occupies your thoughts right?

But with so much of the mundane work being store and business related, we often like to take the time to dive into the creative processes behind this awesome game - and if you haven't guessed by our social media posts we really LOVE the artwork that underpins our hobby! When you see the set of cards in its entirety and you take the time to look at it as a complete work of art, you tend to notice similarities with the design, the ebb and flow of art direction, and the general themes that run through each one; including, but certainly not limited to, flavour text and colour palettes. 

One such cycle of cards in Ravnica Allegiance (as in many other sets), is the five creatures that don't have any special rules of effects. These are colloquially known as a "vanilla" card and these creatures show up in each section of the colour pie. We have Prowling Caracal from White, Coral Commando diving in from Blue, Catacomb Crocodile skulking in Black, Feral Maaka raging Red and representing the Green corner, Axebane Beast.

As players, we tend to overlook these cards. They aren't really good for anything unless their mana cost is particularly good for their power/toughness - but from a game design point of view they are useful filler cards and can sometimes see some casual fringe play in tribal decks or be a good on-curve card for your sealed deck. 

For us here at RGHQ, we see them as tiny windows into the background, history and story of the plane they're born into. The flavour text is usually longer and more colourful. Some of those pieces of text are often quotes from named characters offering us an insight into the workings of these individuals, sometimes characters from previous sets many years ago get a mention, sharing knowledge that they're still alive and kicking somewhere on the plane.

Sometimes the text is even comical and satirical, while other segments can be philosophical or poetic. They are phrases that help to immerse our minds and embed us into the world we're hastily slinging our spells in. So, if you care to, take a moment to slow down the next time you're frantically shuffling through your newly cracked booster, past all the 'jank', to get to the rare treat at the back. Absorb some of the feel, flavour and imagery that leads up to that climax. You never know, it may be a lot more enjoyable!

- Rogue