Vanity card
A Magic: The Gathering vanity card is a card where some creative element references someone who works on the game (or sometimes someone close to someone who works on the game).[1] Early Magic had a slew of vanity cards.[2] R&D chose to stop doing them.[3] The vanity rules now prevent making vanity cards of Wizards employees.[4] The concern is that vanity cards influence how people behind the scenes make choices about cards, and make ill will among the staff.[5][6] Words from existing vanity cards are grandfathered in and thus can be reprinted.[7][8] Vanity cards differ from Easter Eggs because the latter reference Magic itself and not a person behind the scenes. Easter Eggs (both about Magic and about the outside world) are still allowable.[9]
List of vanity cards
- Adarkar Sentinel, Adarkar Unicorn and Adarkar Wastes (Ice Age) were named for Skaff Elias' friend Aditya Adarkar.[10]
- Barry's Land, named after Barry Reich.
- Eladamri, Lord of Leaves (Tempest) was named as a tribute to Michael G. Ryan's mother Irma and his stepfather Dale.[11]
- Emmessi Tome (Tempest) (Michael S. Elliott) [12]
- Erhnam Djinn (Arabian Nights) ("Erhnam" is an anagram of "Herman," Richard Garfield's then brother-in-law) [13]
- Feldon's Cane (Antiquities) (originally named "Feldon's Ice Cone", which was an anagram for "Don Felice Cone")[13]
- Ifh-Bíff Efreet (Arabian Nights) ("Ifh-Bíff" was a childhood nickname for Richard Garfield's sister, Elizabeth) [13]
- Jalum Tome (Antiquities) (Joel L. Mick)
- Jayemdae Tome (Alpha) (J. Michael Davis) [15]
- Joven (Homelands), Joven's Ferrets (Homelands), Joven's Tools (Homelands). A reference to Kyle Namvar, one of the designers of Homelands. Joven was his nickname.[16]
- Leshrac's Sigil (Ice Age) ("Leshrac" is an anagram of "Charles", a reference to the middle name of early Magic playtester Chris Page.)[13]
- Maro (Mirage) (Mark Rosewater) [17][18]
- Adamaro, First to Desire (Saviors of Kamigawa) [19]
- Kagemaro, First to Suffer (Saviors of Kamigawa)
- Kiyomaro, First to Stand (Saviors of Kamigawa)
- Masumaro, First to Live (Saviors of Kamigawa)
- Soramaro, First to Dream (Saviors of Kamigawa) [19]
- Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer (Invasion)
- Multani, Maro-Sorcerer (Urza's Legacy)
- Maro's Gone Nuts (Mystery Booster)
- Mijae Djinn and Ydwen Efreet (Mijae and Ydwen are anagrams of "Jamie" and "Wendy," two of Richard Garfield's best friends who got married while he was designing the set. He was the best man.)[13]
- Mons's Goblin Raiders (Alpha) (Mons Johnson) [20][21]
- Richard Garfield, PhD (Unhinged) (Richard Garfield)
- Rysorian Badger (Homelands) (named for editor Rhias Hall, who was also known at the time as "Auntie Badger") [24]
- Wyluli Wolf: (Wyluli is an anagram of Lily Wu, the maiden name of Richard Garfield's first wife) [13]
- All Invitational Cards (with the likeness of the professional player in the art) [25]
Characters
- Arna Kennerüd, named after the future husband of Darla Kennerud.[26]
In the grey area
- Selenia, Dark Angel — named after Michael Ryan's cat Selena, which itself was named after a character from a role-playing game Michael played in.[27]
- Timbermare (Tribute to Mare Wakefield, wife of long-time Magic writer Jamie Wakefield, who was lost to cancer)[28][29]
- Presence of the Master (Legends) (Albert Einstein) [30]
- Research // Development (R&D) [31]
- The employee dogs from Secret Lair Drop Series: Every Dog Has Its Day.[32]
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 30, 2014). "What is a vanity card?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 04, 2018). "Is Maro the only reference to Magic staff outside of silver border?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 16, 2014). "what's a "vanity" card?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 21, 2018). "Would a Nevinyrral card not violate the rule against vanity cards?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 10, 2018). "Does the opposition to vanity cards extend to silver-border? If so, why?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 05, 2016). "What is the reasoning behind the no vanity cards rule?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 04, 2016). "Is the Phelddagrif creature type doomed to never have another creature again?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 05, 2015). "Could Maro never be reprinted in a future set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 05, 2012). "In ROE there was a card named Enatu Golem, which is an acronym for Mega Onulet.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Skaff Elias (August 2, 2004). "The Dawn of Magic's Ice Age". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater, Top Ten secrets behind Tempest card names, The Duelist #21 (January 1998), p. 19
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (une 16, 2013). "Which is Mike Elliot's vanity card?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b c d e f Words of Magic
- ↑ Ma "Mark Rosewater" Ro (October 1998), Chickens and Cows and Clams, Oh My, The Duelist #30
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 24, 2003). "Bursting with Flavor". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 24, 2014). "Top 8 and a Half Tales". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 02, 2002). "There's Always Two Maro". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 05, 2016). "What's a vanity creature?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (October 12, 2013). "Couldn't you team up with Doug Beyer to sneak some vanity cards past everyone else?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Melissa DeTora (June 30, 2015). "Mons Johnson's Goblin Raider Circus". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 20, 2017). "Could I get some trivia on my favorite creature type, Goblins!". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 28, 2019). "Isn't "Pashalik Mons" considered a vanity card?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 02, 2012). "Are you planning on coming out with any more phelddagrifs.?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Monty Ashley (August 17, 2010). "The Duelist Companion". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 04, 2016). "When you say vanity cards do you also mean cards like Avalanche Riders?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (December 1, 2008). "Card of the Day - December, 2008". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 23, 2020). "How Trivial". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 13, 2012). "Is Timbermare a vanity card or an easter egg?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 16, 2014). "Just learned that Timbermare is a vanity card with a lovely story.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 30, 2016). "What about cards based on historical people like Presence of the Master?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 06, 2017). "Is "Research // Development" a vanity card?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 20, 2020). "Can you confirm or deny that the art and/or names in the new flavor texts are vanity cards for R&D's dogs?". Blogatog. Tumblr.