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'''Tim''' is a nickname for the card <c>Prodigal Sorcerer</c>. The card got this nickname because it is a wizard that can damage objects on command, akin to the character Tim in the movie ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python_and_the_Holy_Grail Monty Python and the Holy Grail]'', and the art in later printings was changed to make the homage more direct. Tim is also now used as a verb to describe the action of dealing one damage.
{{For|the novel|The Prodigal Sorcerer}}
[[File:LEA Prodigal Sorcerer.jpg|thumb|right|250 px|{{card|Prodigal Sorcerer||LEA}} from ''[[Alpha]]''.]]
'''Prodigal Sorcerer''' is a blue 1/1 [[Human]] [[Wizard]] creature card with the [[activated ability]] "{{T}}: Prodigal Sorcerer deals 1 damage to any target". It is a very well-known card, first appearing in ''[[Alpha]]'' edition and inspiring several stories as well as the nickname '''Tim'''. However, it is no longer considered a good fit within the [[color pie]].


In its [[Alpha]] print, Prodigal Sorcerer's artist attribution is incorrect; on it, it reads that Douglas Schuler is the artist, but this is not the case - Douglas Shuler is the artist.
==History==
===Alpha===
The card was introduced in ''[[Alpha]]'', where its artist credit was incorrect, with [[Douglas Shuler]] misspelled as "Douglas Schuler". The card featured [[creature type]] [[Wizard]] (only) in ''Alpha''; but, in ''[[Time Spiral]]'', it gained the Human racial creature type to complement its class creature type.


Formerly merely a Wizard, in [[Time Spiral]], <card title="Prodigal Sorcerer">Prodigal Sorcerer|Time Spiral</card> was reprinted and its creature type was corrected to reflect the race and class system.
===Nickname and etymology===
===Nicknames===
The card is nicknamed "'''Tim'''", after the "Tim the Enchanter", a wizard portrayed by John Cleese in ''[[Wikipedia:Monty Python and the Holy Grail|Monty Python and the Holy Grail]]'' and who had a talent for fire-based magic and damaging things.
Tim has inspired other nicknames for cards:
*"Tim on a stick" {{-}} <c>Rod of Ruin</c>
*"Tim on a whim" {{-}} <c>Hermetic Study</c>
*"Tim on a ship" {{-}} <c>Pirate Ship</c>
*"Tim who can swim" {{-}} <c>Rootwater Hunter</c>


==Planar Chaos==
The nickname "Tim" has inspired nicknames for other [[Ping|pingers]], such as <c>Rod of Ruin</c> ("Tim on a stick"), <c>Hermetic Study</c> ("Tim on a whim"), <c>Pirate Ship</c> ("Tim on a ship"), <c>Rootwater Hunter</c> ("Tim who can swim", "swim Tim", or "fish Tim"), <c>Thornwind Faeries</c> ("flying Tim"), and <c>Zuran Spellcaster</c> ("Zim" or "icy Tim").
<c>Prodigal Pyromancer</c> introduced in [[Planar Chaos]] is a [[timeshifted]] version of the Prodigal Sorcerer. The card is more fitting in red and there was speculation at the time that it would be reprinted in a [[Core Set]] eventually. Such speculation is confirmed to be true, as Prodigal Pyromancer is reprinted in [[10th Edition]].


[[Category:Cards]][[Category:Magic slang]]
===Reprints===
Prodigal Sorcerer was reprinted in every [[Core Set]] up until ''[[Seventh Edition]]''.
 
===Time Spiral===
In ''[[Time Spiral]]'', it gained the [[Human]] [[race|racial creature type]] to complement its [[creature class]].
 
===Planar Chaos replacement===
Introduced in ''[[Planar Chaos]]'' as a red [[timeshifted]] version of Prodigal Sorcerer, <c>Prodigal Pyromancer</c>, nicknamed "Tom" for unknown reasons, other than "Tom" was the design file name,<ref>{{DailyRef|latest-developments/tom-shifted-2007-02-02|Tom-Shifted: Red Tim finally exists!|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|February 2, 2007}}</ref> was thought to be more appropriate given the understanding of the [[Color|color pie]] then.
 
Prodigal Pyromancer was later reprinted in ''[[Tenth Edition]]'', thus cementing [[R&D]]'s position on damage-dealing creatures in [[red]], not [[blue]]. It also featured in ''[[Magic 2010]]'' and ''[[Magic 2011]]''.
 
==Story appearances==
Prodigal Sorcerer represents a character archetype rather than a specific character. Nonetheless, it has inspired several works about inexperienced mages:
[[File:ProdigalSorcererHomelands.png|thumb|343x343px|Prodigal Sorcerer in the Homelands promo]]
*''[[The Prodigal Sorcerer]]'' (1995) by [[Mark Sumner]] features [[Alligarius Timni]] of the [[Institute of Arcane Study]], whose surname references the card's nickname and whose story matches its [[flavor text]]. A young Institute wizard named [[List of secondary characters/Dominaria|Kitrin]] also appears.
*The promo video for ''[[Homelands]]'' features a Prodigal Sorcerer as its main character.<ref>{{YouTubeRef|pwIPwi_FSVc|Wizards of the Coast "Homelands" Promo|channel=Philemon Vanderbeck|date=June 16, 2006}}</ref>
*A 1998 FAQ about "Dominia", the name originally used for [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]], states the Prodigal Sorcerors of [[Tamingazin]] were descendants of the [[School of the Unseen]], itself a descendant of the [[College of Lat-Nam]].<ref name="FAQ">[[Pete Venters]] (May 1998). "Dominian FAQ" ''[[The Duelist]]'' #25, p.34.</ref>
*"{{ArticleArchive|magic-story/prodigal-sorcerers-2016-05-25|The Prodigal Sorcerers}}" (2016) by [[Mark Price]] on {{Magic Story}} centers on [[List of secondary characters/Dominaria|Kellan Boldt]], a young wizard bound for the [[Tolarian Academy]] before a life-changing crisis under the mentorship of elder Academy graduate Enthril. The art layout implies each wizard is a different iteration of the Prodigal Sorcerer archetype, and Enthril's description with a silver beard and black-and-gold tunic matches the original card art.
 
These stories take place on [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]], except for the ''Homelands'' promo video, which presumably is set on [[Ulgrotha]].
 
==In-game references==
{{in-game
|cards=
*<c>Prodigal Sorcerer</c>
*<c>Prodigal Sorcerer Avatar</c>
}}
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
[[Category:Cards]]
[[Category:Magic slang]]

Latest revision as of 03:41, 6 February 2023

For the novel, see The Prodigal Sorcerer.
Prodigal Sorcerer from Alpha.

Prodigal Sorcerer is a blue 1/1 Human Wizard creature card with the activated ability "{T}: Prodigal Sorcerer deals 1 damage to any target". It is a very well-known card, first appearing in Alpha edition and inspiring several stories as well as the nickname Tim. However, it is no longer considered a good fit within the color pie.

History

Alpha

The card was introduced in Alpha, where its artist credit was incorrect, with Douglas Shuler misspelled as "Douglas Schuler". The card featured creature type Wizard (only) in Alpha; but, in Time Spiral, it gained the Human racial creature type to complement its class creature type.

Nickname and etymology

The card is nicknamed "Tim", after the "Tim the Enchanter", a wizard portrayed by John Cleese in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and who had a talent for fire-based magic and damaging things.

The nickname "Tim" has inspired nicknames for other pingers, such as Rod of Ruin ("Tim on a stick"), Hermetic Study ("Tim on a whim"), Pirate Ship ("Tim on a ship"), Rootwater Hunter ("Tim who can swim", "swim Tim", or "fish Tim"), Thornwind Faeries ("flying Tim"), and Zuran Spellcaster ("Zim" or "icy Tim").

Reprints

Prodigal Sorcerer was reprinted in every Core Set up until Seventh Edition.

Time Spiral

In Time Spiral, it gained the Human racial creature type to complement its creature class.

Planar Chaos replacement

Introduced in Planar Chaos as a red timeshifted version of Prodigal Sorcerer, Prodigal Pyromancer, nicknamed "Tom" for unknown reasons, other than "Tom" was the design file name,[1] was thought to be more appropriate given the understanding of the color pie then.

Prodigal Pyromancer was later reprinted in Tenth Edition, thus cementing R&D's position on damage-dealing creatures in red, not blue. It also featured in Magic 2010 and Magic 2011.

Story appearances

Prodigal Sorcerer represents a character archetype rather than a specific character. Nonetheless, it has inspired several works about inexperienced mages:

Prodigal Sorcerer in the Homelands promo

These stories take place on Dominaria, except for the Homelands promo video, which presumably is set on Ulgrotha.

In-game references

Represented in:

References

  1. ↑ Aaron Forsythe (February 2, 2007). "Tom-Shifted: Red Tim finally exists!". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Wizards of the Coast "Homelands" Promo (Video). Philemon Vanderbeck. YouTube (June 16, 2006).
  3. ↑ Pete Venters (May 1998). "Dominian FAQ" The Duelist #25, p.34.
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