Backdrop Sets

Backdrop Sets in Consecutive Premieres

Hi, Mark!How do backdrop sets factor into back-to-back sets on the same plane? Would consecutive premier sets on a plane be more likely (less likely?) if one of those sets is a backdrop set?

We’re still figuring out backdrop sets. It couldn’t hurt is my current hunch.

Backdrop Sets Premier Sets

Combining Showcase and Backdrop Sets

Could a set be both a Showcase Set and a Backdrop Set? If characters from across the multiverse gather on Theros to do something not directly related to Theros's main mechanical identity, would it be both?

Theoretically.

Backdrop Sets Theros

Backdrop Set Impressions

I'm sure there's some backdrop sets planned that will have to be responded to before you can make too many long term plans about them, but has LCI's reception (and WAR's though that was a very unique set and a while ago now) compared to MKM's given you any insight about when backdrop sets work vs when they don't? Or did they succeed and fail on unrelated aspects?

I think it has a lot to do with individual choices more than global ones.

Backdrop Sets

Success of Backdrop Sets

Based on your previous answer about backdrop sets was War of the Spark not successful?

I said it and The Lost Caverns of Ixalan were successes.

Backdrop Sets Ixalan The Lost Caverns of Ixalan War of the Spark

Backdrop Sets Explanation

Why are backdrop sets a thing? If we are going to Ravnica and I don't get what I expect from Ravnica, im disappointmented. If the set does well, it still feels like a waste of Ravnica. Duskmourne seems similar where it could be a spooky house on any plane. Why are these sets so frequent now

So frequent? (War of the Spark, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, and Murders at Karlov Manor) We’ve done three, two of which (the last two) were successful.

Backdrop Sets Ixalan Murders at Karlov Manor The Lost Caverns of Ixalan War of the Spark

Return to Ravnica Timing

For purposes of how long until we return to a plane, does murders at Karlov Manor count as a Ravnica set?

Not in a traditional sense. It’s a backdrop set.

Backdrop Sets Murders at Karlov Manor Return to Ravnica

Aesthetics Over Mechanics

Just an observation, I think people care more about aesthetics than mechanics when thinking about things like connectivity or "feeling like" a plane/block/whatever. For my evidence, LCI and MKM were both backdrop sets with little mechanical connection to their planes, but LCI looked and thus felt like an Ixalan set, whereas the aesthetic of MKM turned off a lot of people because it didn't look like Ravnica.

The feedback I’ve been getting is more that the set had a concentration on theme and tone that players didn’t prefer, moreso than it didn’t feel like it was taking place on Ravnica.

Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets Ixalan Mechanics Murders at Karlov Manor Planes The Lost Caverns of Ixalan

Battle for Zendikar Feedback

Hi Mark, I wanted to ask you about Battle for Zendikar and how you have said that the concept of the set was a mistake because it wasn't about what the fans loved about Zendikar, and your thoughts about the relationship to current sets and how for example Murders at Karlov Manor isn't about what the fans loved about Ravncia (the guilds) does this make you rethink your feelings about BFZ in any way? Is it actually a set ahead of its time, or was something else wrong about it?

Backdrop sets are a newer thing, and we’re still working how best to make them. The problem with Battle of Zendikar wasn’t just that we deviated from what we had done last time, but what we offered wasn’t something the majority wanted. I do think we could use Zendikar as a backdrop for another theme.

Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets Battle for Zendikar Battles Murders at Karlov Manor Two Color Zendikar

New Plane Murder Mystery

I was wondering if we could ever see a backdrop set on a different plane than before? For example, a murder mystery on somewhere besides Ravnica or an underground set, not on Ixalan.

If Murders at Karlov Manor is popular, I could see us doing a murder mystery theme on a different plane.

Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets Ixalan Murders at Karlov Manor

Ravnica Spies Concept

The next time we return to ravnica as a non-backdrop set, could we have spies?

Spies as a concept or Spies as a creature type?

Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets Creatures Return to Ravnica

Tropes Versus Magic

Hi Mark, The Phyrexian invasion storyline was one of my favourites and all sets felt like they could blend into each other very nicely but when looking at Murders at Karlov Manor it almost feels self contained in the sense that flavour and mechanic wise I don’t ever see using the cards outside of limited. I definitely worry that with so many backdrop sets focusing on “tropes” they’ll begin to feel more like universes beyond than mainline Magic as they almost feel like Magic is parodying famous things as opposed to building its own style and story. Karlov manor is the first set I’ve looked at and had zero interest in which is unfortunate as I really love spoiler season and opening up new sets. 3 trope sets in one year with MKM, Thunder Junction and Duskmourn just seems very unexciting unless you’re a fan of the tropes in the first place.

Almost all Magic sets have some resonance. I don’t see why that keeps cards from being playable though.And you made Bloomburrow cry.

Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets Bloomburrow Flavor Invasion Limited Mechanics Murders at Karlov Manor Phyrexian Spoilers Story / Lore Universes Beyond

MKM Set Appreciation

I’m really liking how MKM is being handled as a Ravnica backdrop set. I feel you guys did a great job of setting expectations this time around. If going into spoiler season I was expecting a true multicolor set, I’d be disappointed with the multicolor presence. Instead, I’m pleasantly surprised. This was a great way to return to Ravnica. It feels like Ravnica, but it feels fresh. I love Ravnica, but it was beginning to feel stale during GRN/RNA. This makes me look forward to future backdrop sets.

Happy to hear that.

Appreciation Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets Guilds of Ravnica Murders at Karlov Manor Ravnica Allegiance Return to Ravnica Spoilers

Balancing Flavor

Hi Mark. How is the design team tackling the challenge of balancing trope resonance and established lore in background sets? I did feel LCI was a little light on the underworld tropes (too much Ixalan), whereas MKM is looking a little heavy on the murder mystery ones (too little Ravnica). That's not a major criticism, just a question about how to optimize flavor between those competing demands.

Backdrop sets are relatively new. We’re finding our feet.Also, the more we’ve already revisited a world, the more comfortable we are on focusing on other aspects.

Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets Flavor Ixalan Murders at Karlov Manor Story / Lore The Lost Caverns of Ixalan

Backdrop Set Possibility

If/when a year where every set is a backdrop set

If.

Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets If/When

Death Race Set Category

Would you say the Death Race Set is a Backdrop Set, an Event Set or neither?

It’s a new thing. I call it a travelogue set.

Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets

Ixalan Set Realignment

Re: Typal Ixalan.If it's unlikely Ixalan would go back to typal, would you say the underground set based on it was more of a "realignment set" rather than a "backdrop set"?I understand "backdrop set" is a relatively new term, but it does feel like it's being in completely different ways for Caverns and Murders:The latter using the old plane as a true backdrop which doesn't strip away the guilds from the plane at a mechanical level, and those guilds will still be fair game (and probably will still likely be the fulfilled expectation) for most other future Ravnica sets.But it seems like the opposite is true for Ixalan, where you're simply changing the mechanical identity entirely, with a shift in both mechanics and flavor/setting (quite literally adding a new world beneath the one we knew, which will likely be used again in future visits). Less using what was there before as a backdrop, and more using it as a chance to mostly re-landscape the view.

Ravnica and Ixalan are very different in that the former was a huge success as a world, both in flavor and mechanics, while the latter was not a success. The term “backdrop” is meant to be new mechanical theme, old world, but I agree how the world fared previously affects how we treat a backdrop set.

Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets Flavor Ixalan Kindred / Typal Mechanics Two Color

Backdrop Sets Influence

Would elements of backdrop sets like Lost Caverns become part of the mechanical identity of a plane for return sets?

They could.

Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets

Lost Caverns Success Evaluation

Would you consider Lost Caverns to be a success in terms of being the first backdrop set (or is it too early to tell?) It seems like the majority of content created and discussion online still revolves around the typal aspects that were present in original Ixalan rather than newer aspects like Craft or Cave

War of the Spark was the first “backdrop” set in the way we define it. I think the reason we use the world is because fans are fan of the world. The set is still built around the underground theme rather than the faction structure of the initial outing.

Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets Caves Craft Factions Ixalan Kindred / Typal War of the Spark War of the Spark

Antiquities Classification

Would it be fair to call Antiquities a "backdrop set" then, given it's similarities to The Brothers' War? Obviously "backdrop set" wasn't a term in the mid-90s but if you were to reclassify it using modern nomenclature the shoe seems to fit?

It doesn’t really fit how we use the concept of a “backdrop” set. Early sets are hard to classify because we treated worlds differently back then.

Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets Modern The Brothers' War The Brothers' War

Backdrop vs. Rebuild Sets

I heard Neon Dynasty wasn't confirmed to be on Kamigawa at the beginning (even though you wanted to.)Does it make NEO a backdrop set as well? If not, what makes a return set (such as THB, ZNR, DMU, BRO, ONE, and WOE) a "non-backdrop set"?

NEO is more a rebuild than a backdrop set. THB, ZNR, DMU, ONE, and WOE all keep the same mechanical core. BRO is the closest to a backdrop set in that Dominaria was more a setting than a mechanical core. The odd part is Brothers’ War mechanical core was copied from Antiquities which was set on Dominaria.

Backdrop Set Backdrop Sets Dominaria Dominaria United Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty The Brothers' War Theros Beyond Death Wilds of Eldraine Zendikar Rising