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Magic: The Gathering/Gameplay Tropes: Difference between revisions
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** This was particularly bad early on when the company was still learning what worked well in the game and there was no set standard on how to phrase anything, but every set introduces new rules terms and longstanding parts of the game may have their names or the related rules changed if necessary. The concept of the "exile" zone, for example, has been in the game since the very first set, but did not receive its current name until 2009. (Exiling cards is a way of removing them from play that's more final than most methods. It used to be called "removed from the game" but was renamed, partly because so many design ideas wanted to interact with cards that had been exiled or be used while the card itself was exiled, so "removed from the game" seemed more and more inaccurate.)
** The general rule is to rely on the most recent printed text of a card to determine what it does, even if someone is playing with an older copy on which its abilities are phrased differently. Without that rule, for example, casting [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=3842 three versions] [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=14593 of exactly] [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=107278 the same card] would mean ''none of them'' could actually attack.<ref>This is because the first card prevents every creature type but Evil Eyes attacking. The second is a Horror, not an Evil Eye, so it can't attack. It says only cards called Evil Eye of Orms-By-Gore can attack (though it could potentially be read as saying only ''it'' can attack). The first card ''is'' called Evil Eye of Orms-By-Gore, so it can still attack. But wait! The third card says only "Eyes" can attack. The first isn't an Eye, it's an ''Evil'' Eye, and the third isn't an Evil Eye, it's an Eye. Therefore, ''none'' of the three can now attack.</ref>
** Subverted by the [[Lethal Joke Character|joke card]] [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=73967 R&D's Secret Lair], which explicitly bans using later printed text, errata or the rules to 'update' cards. It's, naturally, illegal in all competitive play, and rapidly makes friendly games very unfriendly.
* [[An Axe to Grind]]: As seen [http://magiccards.info/query?q=axe+t%3A%22equip%22&v=card&s=cname here]
* [[Animated Armor]]: The effect of [http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=220529 March of the Machines].
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* [[Army of the Ages]]: The basic premise of the game, with you as the summoner.
* [[Art Evolution]]:
** Due to both a preference for more detailed, elaborate art, and much more meticulous guidance given to the artists. When the company commissioned the art for the card [http://magiccards.info/al/en/23.html Lord of the Pit], they reportedly gave the artist a one-word instruction: "balrog". (This was years before the [[Lord of the Rings]] movies were made.) Under the circumstances, it came out pretty well, but today artists get multi-paragraph descriptions of what the image on the card should look like, generally designed taking into account both exactly what the card itself does and the flavor and description of the world of the current set. Nowadays comprehensive style guides and concept art are made for each set, or consecutive block of set that share the same setting: for example, the goblins of the current Scars of Mirrodin and Mirrodin Besieged block have a large round head with a sharp snout and long pointed ears.
** In addition, the cards' frames themselves have been updated. All frames have become less blocky and are no longer of an equal width all the way around, and the texturing used in each has been changed.
** Many cards have related illustrations: basic lands in the same set are usually cut from a wide panorama, and for example the most recent [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=205226 Holy Strength] and [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=205237 Unholy Strength] face each other vertically.
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** On the back of every ''Magic'' card that will ever be printed <ref>not counting the double-faced cards which were released starting in 2011</ref>, players will find the word "Deckmaster." The Deckmaster brand ceased to exist in the mid '90s, but because every card has to be indistinguishable from the back, Wizards has to keep printing it.
** The word ''Magic'' itself; on the back of the card, the word 'Magic' is (and always will be) blue, despite the fact that the official logo has been yellow for years.
** Many card abilities. When the game was new, colors were very ill-defined. Many cards were placed in colors based only on where the creature in question lives or what it does, even if its abilities as a card are completely different from most cards of that color, but cards like that remain in that color now just because of the earlier ones. Look at a list of cards from most sets and compare it to descriptions of the colors and you'll always find a few cards that don't fit the description, but they're there because they are similar or identical to really common or famous or powerful cards that were printed back when the company was still figuring this stuff out.
** The Gatherer text for [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Winter%20Orb Winter Orb] returned to it an old, old rule; in old editions of ''Magic'', any Artifact could be tapped to "switch off" its effects, a rule intended to emphasise their status as sorcerous machines.<ref>Or at least it did, until, in true Wizards fashion, the Oracle wording was changed to reflect more recent behavior for artifacts. Now Wnter Orb no longer shuts off when tapped.</ref>
* [[Artifact of Death]]: [http://magiccards.info/m11/en/208.html Jinxed Idol] is a good example. There are others.
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* [[Ditto Fighter]]: A standard ability for the Shapeshifter creature type.
* [[Early Installment Weirdness]]: ''Alpha'' and the first few expansions contained...
** ...some truly bizarre mechanics that either weren't followed up upon or were dropped early. Examples include [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=603 flipping cards over in the air], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=813 dividing creatures into two different groups that can't ever meet], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=980 subgames] and [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=1147 playing for ante].
** ...cards with effects which are now considered uncharacteristic of their color, such as [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=108812 blue direct damage] and [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Discussion.aspx?multiverseid=957 red damage prevention].
** ...issues with balance; cards tended to be either [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=692 insanely powerful] or [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=1345 extremely weak].
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* [[Expansion Pack]]: In a sense; each set is an expansion to the ever-widening game, though each block can be played independently as well.
* [[Fan Nickname]]: [[Lampshaded]]. [http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?name=Morphling Morphling] earned the nickname "Superman" for its high power level at the time. So when the designers made an enchantment that could give Morhpling's abilities to any of your creatures, they called it [http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=43581 Pemmin's Aura]--an [[Significant Anagram|anagram]] for "I am Superman."
* [[Fan-Speak]]: Magic players have created an extensive vocabulary of slang terms and technical jargon. [[Magic:
* [[Fastball Special]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=191094&type=card Stone Giant], among others, can be tapped to hurl a creature into the air to attack your opponent directly or block an enemy flyer. This is generally not a survivable experience for the creature.
* [[Field Power Effect]]: Various spells that boost and debuff creatures.
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** [http://magiccards.info/uh/en/41.html Learning the alphabet]
* [[Intentionally Awkward Title]]: The name of the game itself. You can either call it "Magic" (and risk confusion) or "Magic: The Gathering" (which is harder to say). The reason it's called "The Gathering" is because this was the planning name for the old ''Alpha/Beta/Unlimited'' sets. Richard had planned sequels named "Magic: Ice Age" (which was eventually released as ''Ice Age'' block) and "Magic: Menagerie" (which was released as ''Mirage'' block). However, the game was so popular that the company demanded an expansion pack much earlier than expected, resulting in ''Arabian Nights'' and, eventually, the "sets" we know and love today; however, the requirement that every card have identical back sides means that we're still stuck with "Magic: The Gathering" as the full name. ([[They Changed It, Now It Sucks|Not to mention a million angry fans would descend upon Wizards' offices in hordes if they ever changed it.]])
* [[Interface Screw]]: The preview of the [http://wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/396 Rise of the Eldrazi] set did this to your browser!
* [[Joke Character]]: Variation: each block typically contains at least one entirely awful card, deliberately put there just for the people who love to try and make it work. The game is such that they usually can.
* [[Junk Rare]]: There are a lot of these, usually [[They Plotted a Perfectly Good Waste|on purpose]]. Mark Rosewater, the head designer, wrote a lengthy [[Justified Trope|justification]] of the practice titled [http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/mr9 "Rare, but Well Done"], in which he discusses in great detail why this trope exists.
* [[A Kind of One]]: It was common in the game's early days for creatures to have unique creature types based on their names, leading to types like "Aladdin" or "Uncle Istvan". Most of them are now defunct, but a couple of these odd one-of types had the honor of later being upgraded into their own races: notably, Atog and Lhurgoyf. Some just stayed as one-ofs, like the solitary Brushwagg.
* [[Kingmaker Scenario]]: Frequently crops up in multiplayer games when [[Alice and Bob|Bob]]'s position is too weak to win the game, but strong enough to pick a side and swing the game in favor of either [[Alice and Bob|Alice]] or [[Alice and Bob|Carl]] at his whim.
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** Some cards really, really stretch the limit of readability with complicated one-off abilities. Like [http://magiccards.info/4e/en/243.html Tempest Efreet] and [http://magiccards.info/ia/en/296.html Ice Cauldron].
** The game rules themselves. The Comprehensive Rulebook is available for download from Wizards of the Coast in PDF form. The document is 185 pages long and grows a little with each new set released.
** The infamous Mindslaver card created a whole new section of the rulebook dictating how to handle taking control of your opponent's turn. To date only it and Sorin Markov uses said rules (and neither are very expensive cards).
* [[Lost in Translation]]:
** The Japanese version of Yawgmoth's Agenda was mistakenly translated as Yawgmoth's Day Planner.
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** [http://magiccards.info/ds/en/139.html Shield of Kaldra] is the big daddy, an indestructible shield that makes the bearer indestructible as well. Lesser shields and shield-wielders include [http://magiccards.info/arb/en/11.html Shield of the Righteous], [http://magiccards.info/som/en/136.html Accorder's Shield], [http://magiccards.info/mt/en/4.html Burrenton Shield-Bearers], [http://magiccards.info/di/en/12.html Haazda Shield Mate], and [http://magiccards.info/roe/en/46.html Stalwart Shield-Bearers].
** Inverted with [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=83730 Pariah's Shield], which magically draws all attacks to its bearer.
* [[Luck Manipulation Mechanic]]:
** [http://magiccards.info/mi/en/190.html Krark's Thumb] and [http://magiccards.info/ug/en/43.html Goblin Bookie], allow you to re-flip a coin if you lose the flip.
** Rearranging the top few cards of your library is a staple ability that appears most commonly on blue cards (like [http://magiccards.info/m10/en/69.html Sage Owl]). Related abilities include [http://magiccards.info/query?q=o%3Ascry&v=card&s=cname Scry], [http://magiccards.info/query?q=o%3Afateseal&v=card&s=cname Fateseal], and [http://magiccards.info/query?q=o%3Aclash+%28e%3Amt%2Fen+or+e%3Alw%2Fen%29&v=card&s=cname Clash].
* [[Luke Nounverber]]: A common naming convention.
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** [http://magiccards.info/rav/en/217.html Perplex]: if you want to keep your spell, you'll have to discard your hand...
** Effects that cause your opponents to sacrifice a creature (Or any permanent, really). One of them must die...make your choice.
** Played with in the card It That Betrays, which possesses an ability that forces your opponent to sacrifice two permanents whenever it attacks. While this is true of all Eldrazi, It That Betrays resurrects said permanents under your control. Now not only do they choose who they have to let go of, but also watch as it's reborn into your service.
** A number of schemes in Archenemy allow the villain to offer an opponent a choice between "you take a ''big'' effect" and "each of your allies takes a ''smaller'' effect.
** There are a few blue cards, such as [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=247186 Fact or Fiction] and [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=194971 Gifts Ungiven], that invert this to an extent--instead of forcing your opponent to choose what they want to lose, it forces them to choose which of a selection of cards they want you to gain.
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** Various creatures have effects if they're blocked, punishing the blocking player. Of note is [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=46080 Slith Strider], which has an ability that triggers when it's blocked, and one that triggers when it deals combat damage to a player.
** [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=194256 Ichorclaw Myr]: Take the attack and gain a [[Nonstandard Game Over|poison counter]] (possibly more if it gets buffed), sacrifice a low-toughness creature to absorb the attack, or have a big beastie suffer a sizable, permanent power/toughness loss.
** [http://magiccards.info/query?q=!Phyrexian+Obliterator Phyrexian Obliterator cruelly employs this trope]. While its earlier counterpart, Phyrexian Negator, actually encouraged the opponent to deal damage to it so that the controller would have to sacrifice something, Obliterator turns that around and makes it so that whoever's responsible for the damage has to sacrifice permanents. It can be a pain for your opponent to get rid of without causing its ability to go off. Oh--it's also an undercosted trampler, so they'll have to block it and/or destroy it, or it'll destroy them in 4 turns flat.
* [[Yeah! Shot]]: Used in [http://www.wizards.com/mtg/images/daily/events/ptdka12/sat_304.jpg a photo] from the official coverage of Day 3 of the Pro Tour: Dark Ascension tournament; it's a group shot of the Top 8 all in mid-jump.
* [[Your Mind Makes It Real]]: The entire point of the Illusion tribe of creatures. They can kill other creatures and deal damage to players and planeswalkers just like any other creature, but if they are targeted by ''[[Weaksauce Weakness|anything]]'', [[Puff of Logic|they die.]]
* [[Zerg Rush]]:
** As mentioned above, aggro decks, especially "weenie" decks. Most (in)famous are Goblins (the Little Red Men), White Weenie (soldiers, knights, and birds of prey), and the ''Mirrodin'' block's Ravager Affinity (a rapid-fire Game-Breaker-laden deck which can inflict sudden death very rapidly on a good opening hand).
** [http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/deck/636 Kuldotha Red]. Capable of (potentially) producing as many as seven creatures in turn one.
** Single-card examples include [http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=83292 Swarm of Rats], among others.
** Saproling decks are based around generating absurd amounts of 1/1 tokens with relative ease; a [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=89116 Doubling Season]/[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=174975 Mycoloth] combo and a sacrifice of five cratures will generate 40 1/1 tokens per round, each of which the player will gleefully sacrifice for a variety of benefits.
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[[Category:Gameplay Tropes]]
[[Category:Magic: The Gathering]]
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