Generated on 10 Jul 2024
Based on 400 answers
Beasts have had a long and interesting journey in Magic: The Gathering, evolving both in terms of design philosophy and player perception over time. This article delves into Mark Rosewater's myriad comments and insights about Beasts, shedding light on their beginnings, interesting stories, and their evolution within the game.
Beginnings and Early Use
The creature type “Beast” was introduced to act as a catch-all term for large, often green, creatures that didn’t fit anywhere else. According to Mark, “The Beast subtype came about because we decided we wanted to consolidate creature types a bit and it became the go-to for big green creatures that didn’t have an existing creature type that made sense.”
Flexibility and Catch-All Nature
One consistent theme in Mark’s discussion of Beasts is their role as a flexible, catch-all creature type. Beasts serve as a generalized category for wild or monstrous creatures that don’t neatly fit into more specific creature types like Elks, Boars, or specific fantasy creatures like Hydras. On this note, Mark said, "Beast is a catch-all creature type that catches creatures that fit a certain category, but don’t have their own creature type."
Catch-All Creature Types Comparison
Mark has often compared Beasts to other broad categories like Constructs and Horrors. The idea is that certain creature types need to encompass a wide array of designs to maintain versatility in world-building and gameplay. For instance, Constructs in Magic fulfill a similar role for artifact creatures, just as Beasts do for organic creatures. As Mark explained, “Construct is like Beast. We use it as a catch-all when there’s not a more specific creature type available.”
Design Philosophy and Color Pie Breaks
One of the most recurring topics about Beasts is their involvement in infamous color pie breaks. ‘Beast Within’ is a card that has sparked significant debate due to its ability to destroy any permanent, an effect not typically within green’s capabilities. Mark is critical of this design, saying, “Beast Within is a color pie break,” emphasizing that green should not have such versatile removal.
Retrospectives and Adjustments
Mark has acknowledged the lasting impact of cards like ‘Beast Within’ and has discussed potential adjustments and lessons learned from these design choices. “If Beast Within had only targeted noncreatures, it would have been okay,” Mark noted, indicating that removal should align more with green's traditional strengths and weaknesses.
Trivia and Fun Facts
Beast as a creature type has often been involved in humorous and trivia-filled discussions. For example, when discussing catch-all creatures types, Mark humorously remarked, "I like to think of Vizzerdrix as a mutated bunny but technically it is a Rabbit Beast."
Another memorable moment involving Beasts was around the card 'Krosan Beast.’ This card is particularly interesting due to its lycanthrope status—a creature that transforms from a Squirrel into a Beast. This dual nature led to some confusion, clarified by Mark when he said, “Krosan Beast in the art is not a squirrel.”
Influence in Sets
Beasts have appeared in nearly every set, often tailored to the specific world or theme of the set. For example, Ikoria, a set known for its monsters, grappled with the idea of using Beast as the primary creature type for green creatures. Mark noted, “We actually talked a bit about whether or not Beast was going to be the creature type centered in green. The worry was it was a little too vague,” but ultimately, it fit well with the theme of the set.
Player Requests and Future Prospects
Throughout the years, players have requested more Beast tribal synergies and legendary Beasts. Mark has acknowledged these requests but also emphasized the need to balance the love given to various creature types. He said, “Beast tribal is on the table for the future. Catchall actually makes for mechanically good tribes.”
Resonance and Evolution
“Resonance is very powerful and popular,” as Mark has stated multiple times. The idea of Beasts remains popular due to its flexibility and its nostalgic value for many long-time players. Over the years, Beasts have evolved to include more specific animal types, aligning with Magic's shift towards giving each animal their own creature type such as Raccoons, Capybaras, and Llamas.
Conclusion
In summary, Beasts have played a significant role in the evolution of Magic: The Gathering, from their origins as a broad, catch-all term to their present-day form. They have been a point of contention in design philosophy, highlighted by color pie debates around cards like 'Beast Within.’ Despite these controversies, Beasts remain a beloved and quintessential part of the game, continuously evolving with each new set. Whether as part of tribal themes, as iconic creatures in fantasy settings, or as subjects of humorous and interesting trivia, Beasts are integral to the rich tapestry that is Magic: The Gathering.
Beasts have had a long and interesting journey in Magic: The Gathering, evolving both in terms of design philosophy and player perception over time. This article delves into Mark Rosewater's myriad comments and insights about Beasts, shedding light on their beginnings, interesting stories, and their evolution within the game.
Beginnings and Early Use
The creature type “Beast” was introduced to act as a catch-all term for large, often green, creatures that didn’t fit anywhere else. According to Mark, “The Beast subtype came about because we decided we wanted to consolidate creature types a bit and it became the go-to for big green creatures that didn’t have an existing creature type that made sense.”
Flexibility and Catch-All Nature
One consistent theme in Mark’s discussion of Beasts is their role as a flexible, catch-all creature type. Beasts serve as a generalized category for wild or monstrous creatures that don’t neatly fit into more specific creature types like Elks, Boars, or specific fantasy creatures like Hydras. On this note, Mark said, "Beast is a catch-all creature type that catches creatures that fit a certain category, but don’t have their own creature type."
Catch-All Creature Types Comparison
Mark has often compared Beasts to other broad categories like Constructs and Horrors. The idea is that certain creature types need to encompass a wide array of designs to maintain versatility in world-building and gameplay. For instance, Constructs in Magic fulfill a similar role for artifact creatures, just as Beasts do for organic creatures. As Mark explained, “Construct is like Beast. We use it as a catch-all when there’s not a more specific creature type available.”
Design Philosophy and Color Pie Breaks
One of the most recurring topics about Beasts is their involvement in infamous color pie breaks. ‘Beast Within’ is a card that has sparked significant debate due to its ability to destroy any permanent, an effect not typically within green’s capabilities. Mark is critical of this design, saying, “Beast Within is a color pie break,” emphasizing that green should not have such versatile removal.
Retrospectives and Adjustments
Mark has acknowledged the lasting impact of cards like ‘Beast Within’ and has discussed potential adjustments and lessons learned from these design choices. “If Beast Within had only targeted noncreatures, it would have been okay,” Mark noted, indicating that removal should align more with green's traditional strengths and weaknesses.
Trivia and Fun Facts
Beast as a creature type has often been involved in humorous and trivia-filled discussions. For example, when discussing catch-all creatures types, Mark humorously remarked, "I like to think of Vizzerdrix as a mutated bunny but technically it is a Rabbit Beast."
Another memorable moment involving Beasts was around the card 'Krosan Beast.’ This card is particularly interesting due to its lycanthrope status—a creature that transforms from a Squirrel into a Beast. This dual nature led to some confusion, clarified by Mark when he said, “Krosan Beast in the art is not a squirrel.”
Influence in Sets
Beasts have appeared in nearly every set, often tailored to the specific world or theme of the set. For example, Ikoria, a set known for its monsters, grappled with the idea of using Beast as the primary creature type for green creatures. Mark noted, “We actually talked a bit about whether or not Beast was going to be the creature type centered in green. The worry was it was a little too vague,” but ultimately, it fit well with the theme of the set.
Player Requests and Future Prospects
Throughout the years, players have requested more Beast tribal synergies and legendary Beasts. Mark has acknowledged these requests but also emphasized the need to balance the love given to various creature types. He said, “Beast tribal is on the table for the future. Catchall actually makes for mechanically good tribes.”
Resonance and Evolution
“Resonance is very powerful and popular,” as Mark has stated multiple times. The idea of Beasts remains popular due to its flexibility and its nostalgic value for many long-time players. Over the years, Beasts have evolved to include more specific animal types, aligning with Magic's shift towards giving each animal their own creature type such as Raccoons, Capybaras, and Llamas.
Conclusion
In summary, Beasts have played a significant role in the evolution of Magic: The Gathering, from their origins as a broad, catch-all term to their present-day form. They have been a point of contention in design philosophy, highlighted by color pie debates around cards like 'Beast Within.’ Despite these controversies, Beasts remain a beloved and quintessential part of the game, continuously evolving with each new set. Whether as part of tribal themes, as iconic creatures in fantasy settings, or as subjects of humorous and interesting trivia, Beasts are integral to the rich tapestry that is Magic: The Gathering.