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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).<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/75117277522/recently-you-talked-about-vanity-cards-what-is-a|title=What is a vanity card?|January 30, 2014}}</ref> ==History== Early ''Magic'' had a slew of vanity cards.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/171541298738/is-maro-the-only-reference-to-magic-staff-outside|title=Is Maro the only reference to ''Magic'' staff outside of silver border?|March 4, 2018}}</ref> [[R&D]] chose to stop doing them.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/94939772018/i-read-earleir-that-timbermare-was-a-vanity-card|title=what's a 'vanity' card?|August 16, 2014}}</ref> The vanity rules now prevent making vanity cards of Wizards employees.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/180356229608/would-a-nevinyrral-card-not-violate-the-rule|title=Would a Nevinyrral card not violate the rule against vanity cards?|November 21, 2018}}</ref> The concern is that vanity cards influence how people behind the scenes make choices about cards, and make ill will among the staff.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/172794732678/does-the-opposition-to-vanity-cards-extend-to|title=Does the opposition to vanity cards extend to silver-border? If so, why?|April 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/145488846848/what-is-the-reasoning-behind-the-no-vanity-cards|title=What is the reasoning behind the no vanity cards rule?|June 5, 2016}}</ref> Words from existing vanity cards are grandfathered in and thus can be reprinted.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/145431072178/if-vanity-cards-are-completely-no-longer-allowed|title=Is the Phelddagrif creature type doomed to never have another creature again?|June 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/118248913678/since-magic-doesnt-do-vanity-cards-anymore|title=Could Maro never be reprinted in a future set?|May 5, 2015}}</ref> Vanity cards differ from ''Easter Eggs'' due to the latter referencing ''Magic'' itself and not a person behind the scenes. Easter Eggs (both about ''Magic'' and about the outside world) are still allowable.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/28800833733/i-know-you-dont-do-vanity-cards-anymore-but-in|title=In ROE there was a card named Enatu Golem, which is an acronym for Mega Onulet.|August 05, 2012}}</ref> ===List of vanity cards=== *{{card|Adarkar Sentinel||ICE}}, {{card|Adarkar Unicorn||ICE}}, and {{card|Adarkar Wastes|Ice Age}} {{-}} named for [[Skaff Elias]]' friend Aditya Adarkar.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/dawn-magics-ice-age-2004-08-02|The Dawn of Magic's Ice Age|[[Skaff Elias]]|August 2, 2004}}</ref> *<c>Barry's Land</c>, named after [[Barry Reich]]. *{{card|Eladamri, Lord of Leaves|Tempest}} {{-}} named as a tribute to [[Michael G. Ryan]]'s mother Irma and his stepfather Dale.<ref name="Secrets">[[Mark Rosewater]], ''Top Ten secrets behind Tempest card names'', ''[[The Duelist]]'' #21 (January 1998), p. 19</ref> *{{card|Emmessi Tome|Tempest}} {{-}} named for [[Michael Elliott|Michael S. Elliott]]<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/53128311348/which-is-mike-elliots-vanity-card|title=Which is Mike Elliot's vanity card?|une 16, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Trivial Pursuit"/> (MSE), "Emmessi" is a shortened version of "Emm-ess-ee" *{{card|Erhnam Djinn|Arabian Nights}} {{-}} "Erhnam" is an anagram of "Herman," Richard Garfield's then brother-in-law<ref name="Words of Magic" /><ref name="Trivial Pursuit"/> *{{card|Feldon's Cane|Antiquities}} {{-}} originally named "Feldon's Ice Cone", which was an anagram for "[[Don Felice]] Cone".<ref name="Words of Magic" /> **{{card|Delif's Cone|Fallen Empires}} was a second attempt to make a cone for Don Felice.<ref name=":0">[http://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/media.wizards.com/2021/podcasts/magic/drivetowork858_vanitycards_Jsd77whf.mp3 Mark Rosewater (August 6, 2021), "Vanity Cards" ''Drive to Work.'']</ref><ref name="Words of Magic" /> *{{card|Ifh-Bíff Efreet|Arabian Nights}} {{-}} "Ifh-Bíff" was a childhood nickname for Richard Garfield's sister, Elizabeth. Elizabeth was married to "Herman"({{card|Erhnam Djinn}}).<ref name="Words of Magic">{{WebRef|url=http://www.allenvarney.com/av_mgcwords.html|title=Words of Magic|author=Allen Varney|date=1995}}</ref><ref name="Trivial Pursuit"/> *{{card|Jalum Tome|Antiquities}} {{-}} named for [[Joel Mick|Joel L. Mick]] (JLM), "Jalum" is a shortened version of "Jay-el-em."<ref name="Words of Magic"/><ref name="Trivial Pursuit"/> **{{card|Jalum Grifter|Unglued}}<ref>[[Mark Rosewater|Ma "Mark Rosewater" Ro]] (October 1998), ''Chickens and Cows and Clams, Oh My'', [[The Duelist]] #30</ref> *{{card|Jayemdae Tome|Alpha}} {{-}} named for [[Mike Davis|J. Michael Davis]]<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/bursting-flavor-2003-02-24|Bursting with Flavor|[[Mark Rosewater]]|February 24, 2003}}</ref><ref name="Trivial Pursuit">{{DailyRef|making-magic/trivial-pursuit-whats-in-a-name|Trivial Pursuit: What's in a Name?|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 9, 2023}}</ref> (JMD), "Jayemdae" is a shortened version of "Jay-emm-dee"<ref name="Words of Magic" /> *{{card|Joven||HML}}, {{card|Joven's Ferrets||HML}}, {{card|Joven's Tools|Homelands}} {{-}} reference to [[Kyle Namvar]], one of the designers of ''Homelands''. Joven was his nickname.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/top-8-and-half-tales-2014-11-24|Top 8 and a Half Tales|[[Mark Rosewater]]|November 24, 2014}}</ref> *{{card|Leshrac's Sigil|Ice Age}} {{-}} "Leshrac" is an anagram of "Charles", a reference to the middle name of early ''Magic'' [[playtest]]er [[Chris Page]].<ref name="Words of Magic" /> *{{card|Maro|Mirage}} {{-}} short for [[Mark Rosewater]]<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/theres-always-two-maro-2002-12-02|There's Always Two Maro|[[Mark Rosewater]]|December 2, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/140540976478/whats-a-vanity-creature|title=What's a vanity creature?|March 5, 2016}}</ref> **{{card|Adamaro, First to Desire|Saviors of Kamigawa}}<ref name="Accidental vanity cards">{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/63821503624/couldnt-you-team-up-with-doug-beyer-to-sneak-some|title=Couldn't you team up with Doug Beyer to sneak some vanity cards past everyone else?|October 12, 2013}}</ref> **{{card|Kagemaro, First to Suffer|Saviors of Kamigawa}} **{{card|Kiyomaro, First to Stand|Saviors of Kamigawa}} **{{card|Masumaro, First to Live|Saviors of Kamigawa}} **{{card|Soramaro, First to Dream|Saviors of Kamigawa}}<ref name="Accidental vanity cards" /> **{{card|Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer|Invasion}} **{{card|Multani, Maro-Sorcerer|Urza's Legacy}} **{{card|Maro's Gone Nuts|Mystery Booster|CMB1}} **{{card|Greensleeves, Maro-Sorcerer|Dominaria United Commander|DMC}} **{{card|Territorial Maro|Dominaria United}} *{{card|Mijae Djinn}} and {{card|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.<ref name="Words of Magic" /><ref name="Trivial Pursuit"/> *{{card|Mons's Goblin Raiders|Alpha}} {{-}} [[Mons Johnson]]<ref>{{DailyRef|daily-deck/mons-johnsons-goblin-raider-circus-2015-06-30|Mons Johnson's Goblin Raider Circus|[[Melissa DeTora]]|June 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/159799557253/mark-its-my-birthday-could-i-get-some-trivia-on|title=Could I get some trivia on my favorite creature type, Goblins!|April 20, 2017}}</ref> **{{card|Mons's Goblin Waiters|Unhinged}} **{{card|Pashalik Mons|Modern Horizons}}<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/185204468968/isnt-pashalik-mons-considered-a-vanity-card|title=Isn't "Pashalik Mons" considered a vanity card?|May 28, 2019}}</ref> **{{card|Rulik Mons, Warren Chief|Dominaria United}} *{{card|Nevinyrral's Disk|Alpha}} {{-}} is named after sci-fi author Larry Niven, of whom Richard Garfield was a fan.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Words of Magic" /> (Nevinyrral is Larry Niven backward). **{{card|Nevinyrral, Urborg Tyrant|Commander Legends}} *{{card|Richard Garfield, PhD|Unhinged}} {{-}} [[Richard Garfield]] **{{card|Phelddagrif|Alliances}}<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/18599108601/hey-mark-i-was-wondering-if-you-guys-were|title=Are you planning on coming out with any more phelddagrifs.?|March 2, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Trivial Pursuit"/> an anagram of "Garfield, PhD" **{{card|Questing Phelddagrif|Planeshift}} *{{card|Rysorian Badger|Homelands}} {{-}} named for editor Rhias Hall, who was also known at the time as "Auntie Badger"<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/duelist-companion-2010-08-17|The Duelist Companion|[[Monty Ashley]]|August 17, 2010}}</ref> *{{card|Telim Tor|Mirage}} {{-}} An anagram of designer Elliot Segal's nickname, "Mr. Toilet".<ref name=":0" /> *<c>Wyluli Wolf</c> {{-}} Wyluli is an anagram of Lily Wu, the maiden name of Richard Garfield's first wife<ref name="Words of Magic" /> *All [[Invitational Cards]] with the likeness of the professional player in the art<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/145432219823/when-you-say-vanity-cards-do-you-also-mean-cards|title=When you say vanity cards do you also mean cards like Avalanche Riders?|June 4, 2016}}</ref> ==Characters== *[[Arna Kennerüd]] {{-}} named after the future husband of [[Darla Kennerud]].<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/card-day-december-2008-2008-12-01|Card of the Day - December, 2008|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|December 1, 2008}}</ref> **{{card|Tura Kennerüd, Skyknight}} *[[Orim]] {{-}} originally concepted as a minor character, ''[[Weatherlight]]'' co-creator Mike Ryan named her "Oram" ([[Mark Rosewater|MaRo]] backwards) as a joke, but the team kept the name, changing the A to an I for readability.<ref>{{DailyRef|card-day-may-2007-2007-05-01|Card of the Day - May, 2007|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|May 1, 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017182417/https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/card-day-may-2007-2007-05-01|archivedate=October 17, 2021}}</ref> ==In the grey area== *<c>Selenia, Dark Angel</c> {{-}} named after [[Michael Ryan]]'s cat Selena, which itself was named after a character from a role-playing game Michael played in.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/how-trivial-legendary-creatures-2020-11-23|How Trivial|[[Mark Rosewater]]|November 23, 2020}}</ref> *<c>Timbermare</c> {{-}} Tribute to Mare Wakefield, wife of long-time ''Magic'' writer Jamie Wakefield, who was lost to cancer<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/29383001850/is-thundermare-a-vanity-card-or-an-easter-egg|title=Is Timbermare a vanity card or an easter egg?|August 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/94927332218/just-learned-that-timbermare-is-a-vanity-card-with|title=Just learned that Timbermare is a vanity card with a lovely story.|August 16, 2014}}</ref> *{{card|Presence of the Master|Legends}} {{-}} depicts [[Wikipedia:Albert Einstein|Albert Einstein]]<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/146731128153/so-vanity-cards-are-out-what-about-cards-based-on|title=What about cards based on historical people like Presence of the Master?|June 30, 2016}}</ref> *<c>Research // Development</c> {{-}} references [[R&D]]<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/158090514163/is-research-development-a-vanity-card|title=Is "Research // Development" a vanity card?|March 6, 2017}}</ref> *The employee dogs from ''[[Secret Lair Drop Series: Every Dog Has Its Day]]''.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/627010237165174784/can-you-confirm-or-deny-that-the-art-andor-names|title=Can you confirm or deny that the art and/or names in the new flavor texts are vanity cards for R&D's dogs?|August 20, 2020}}</ref> *{{Card|Elkin Bottle|Ice Age}} {{-}} is an anagram of [[Wikipedia:Klein bottle|Klein Bottle]], which in turn is named after [[Wikipedia:Felix Klein|Felix Klein]].<ref name="Trivial Pursuit"/> *{{Card|Bosium Strip|Weatherlight}} {{-}} is an anagram of [[Wikipedia:Möbius strip|Mobius strip]], which in turn is named after [[Wikipedia:August Ferdinand Möbius|August Ferdinand Möbius]].<ref name="Trivial Pursuit"/> *{{card|Ecstatic Beauty|Doctor Who}} {{-}} depicts [[Wikipedia:Vincent van Gogh|Vincent van Gogh]]. ==References== {{Reflist}} [[Category:Cards]]
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