The highest of fives to the card designer, illustrator, flavor text author and everyone responsible for Flubs, the Fool. Probably my all time favorite magic card, Vorthos and Melvin had a child! Please, if there is no lore written on Flubs, keep it that way. He is perfect this way.

High fives to be applied.

If a work of fiction features such complex in universe laws of reality that there is no way to satisfy both Mel and Vorthos at the same time (like perhaps each person has a verb and a noun that are metaphysicaly connected to them and can do anything at all that can be described as [verb]ing the [noun] even metaphorically. Such as the one who steals breath being able to imprison people magically because breath is associated with freedom) does that make it less likely to get a Universes Beyond?

Can you give me an example from an actual property?

Hi Mark. What are the biggest factors that prevent the next Un-set from being made? I know that the last Un-set wasn't as successful, but what could be different about the next Un-set that makes it more successful? I really want to see Melvin/Mel to complete the cycle, and I want to see more fun, wacky ideas!

The last Un-set, Unfinity, was the best selling Un-set of all time (and by a good margin). The challenge with making another one is the bar that a set has to compete against to be a new product has just gotten so high, especially with Universes Beyond products in the mix.

Will we ever see a consolidation of creature types? We have a few examples that encompass the same theme (devil/tiefling/imp for example) that seem to only hinder players trying to keep to a certain tribe.

It’s the age old conflict of Vorthos vs. Mel. Vorthos likes lots of variety, and Mel wants everything consolidated.

when does mel get a card, (I guess it might be hard to make that work but it would be cool)

If I get the chance to do a fifth Un-set, Mel will be in it

In case there is ever a fifth Un set, do you already have a design for a Mel card that you like?

I have some ideas.

Why is kirin a creature type but not giraffe? And if giraffe ever becomes a creature type, would questing beast get errata to be one?

What does and doesn’t qualify as a creature type is a tricky issue. Go too narrow and you miss some charm. Go too broad and you eliminate a lot of typal possibilities. It’s kind of Vorthos vs. Mel.

Where did the names Vorthos and Mel come from?

Matt Cavotta came up with the name for Vorthos in his “Savor the Flavor” column. I came up with the name Mel (originally Melvin, but shortened to make in non-gendered) in my “Making Magic” column.

Since there's three out of Spike/Timmy/Johnny, why are there only two for Vorthos/Melvin? Or are there supposed to be 5 for all the magic colors?

The first are psychographics. The second are aesthetic profiles. They are different things, so they exist in different number. Why are there three basic silverware, but just two types of spices (salt and pepper) in shakers on the table? : )

How useful do you feel the psychographics/aes-tho-graphics(?) are in the current day? Does it still make sense to design 'Timmy cards' or 'Mel cards'?

They are still very useful. Players are still psychologically motivated to play Magic, and as designers understanding that is key to making appropriate designs.Note Mel is an aesthetic profile and not a player psychographic.