Wall of Stone

Walls as Non-creatures

As I understand it, You believe Walls should be Walls not creatures.With the way the mechanics are set in the game, would this require a separate destroy/control mechanic? Or should it be recognized they're either any artifact or a construct?I agree they're not rightly classed as a creature, after all, "Wall of Stone" would be depending on the flavor could be seen Artifact (Great Wall of China or Hadrian's Wall) Creature (Wall of Flesh).But classifying them all as a creature seemed a bit over simplifying

You were misunderstanding me. Creatures with defender would get different flavor. We might make the occasional artifact with the flavor of a wall that says something like “All attacking creatures get -1/-0.”

Artifacts Attacking China Construct Creatures Defender Destroy Flavor Great Wall Mechanics Non-creatures Wall Wall of Stone

Walls as Artifacts

For flavor reasons, most Walls want to be Artifacts. For both flavor and gameplay reasons, most of them want to be colored. Does colored Artifacts now being evergreen means most of Walls are going to be Artifacts starting now?

It depends on their flavor. I hope walls that are clearly constructed objects (I.e., Wall of Stone) are.

Artifacts Constructed Evergreen Flavor Game Play Wall Wall of Stone

Wall Creature Concept

I always thought of walls as the Yokai spirits from Japan mythology that took the form of walls and were sentient and/or sapient. Also from what I can tell neither the Hekama or Sea Gate were sentient, which would disqualify them as creatures.

Wall of Stone isn’t all the sentient either. : )

Creatures Gates Japan Sea Gate Spirit Wall Wall of Stone

Walls as Artifacts

Shouldn't walls be artifacts instead of creatures?

I have never been a proponent of walls as creatures. I like a little more sentience in my creatures than Wall of Stone. : )

Artifacts Creatures Wall Wall of Stone

Wall Creature Type

I just taught a person to play Magic. We are currently opening some new packs together and handed me an Archer's Parapet and asked why "Wall" was a creature type.

Exactly. I’m okay with something like Living Wall, but Wall of Stone - come on!

Archer Creatures Living Wall Parapet Wall Wall of Stone

Core Set Wall Preference

Which would you rather see in a core set: Wall of Stone or Great Wall?

Wall of Stone easily wins that match-up.

Great Wall Wall Wall of Stone

Akroan Horse Query

Doesn't Akroan Horse have the same problem as Wall of Stone? The horse itself is just a piece of wood, so by your standards it should be a noncreature artifact. Of course, mechanically it works much better as a creature.

If all walls were artifacts, I would feel a little better as they are often constructs by nature.

Akroan Horse Artifacts Construct Horse Non-creatures Wall Wall of Stone

Nature of Walls

I've always viewed walls as semisentient (or at least "living") creatures that are similar to trees or plants. Like a combination of a plant and an enchantment. which makes sense because they don't attack, but they block

That might work if we made sentient walls and not things like Wall of Stone (which is what we try to do nowadays).

Creatures Enchantments Plant Wall Wall of Stone

Walls Flavor Debate

I saw you mentioned there's a debate about walls and flavorfulness, can you explain the debate slightly?

Wall of Stone is not a creature. It’s a structure made out of stone. You can’t summon it or tell it to block.

Creatures Wall Wall of Stone

Opinions on Walls

Am I to assume you dislike walls because many seem like an artifact (just a wall,) or an enchantment (art of wall of faith)? I feel like there's some room for military-fortified walls to still seem like appropriate creature cards. Think battle ramparts, where there are clearly soldiers occupying the wall. Walls also seem a fine way to include block additional/any number effects in limited.

My issue with walls is that they are not sentient. A Wall of Stone is not a creature. I’m fine with walls that are actually alive.

Art Artifacts Battles Creatures Enchantments Limited Soldier Wall Wall of Faith Wall of Stone

Wall Card Concept

You've said that you dislike creatures that are walls. In your ideal concept, what should a card called "Wall of Stone" do? Be a fortification?

Probably an artifact that limits attacking in some way.

Artifacts Attacking Creatures Wall Wall of Stone

Wall of Stone's Color

Why is Wall of Stone red?

Because it has red mana in its mana cost. Should Wall of Stone be red in my opinion? No. I don’t like super defensive red cards. Why was it red? Because red is the color of the element of earth and Richard tended to make most of Alpha top down.

Alpha Colors Mana Red Top Down Wall Wall of Stone

Creature Definition

How do you define Magic's use of the word 'creature'? Dictionary definitions range from 'things that move' to an 'involuntary pet'.

I bet none of those definitions make sense with a wall of stone.

Creatures Wall Wall of Stone

Opinion on Walls

It makes me sad to see you hating on walls :(. As someone who was amazed as a child by the 'Living Wall' in his revised deck (and yes like almost everyone we thought it could block all the enemy creatures at once!). I think you can still throw in a wall or two out there, but you have to make it feel like a WALL. Make it like a 0/10 and able to block any number of creatures. Or immune to combat damage (It's so big you cant just smash it with your sword). Also - Legendary Wall anyone? :)

It’s not that I don’t like walls. I just don’t think they make any sense as creatures. Creatures are supposed to be sentient living things. Wall of Stone? That’s an artifact not a creature. I’m in the minority on this opinion though which is why we still have walls.

Artifacts Creatures Living Wall Wall Wall of Stone