Vanity card

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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).[1]

History[edit]

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 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.[9]

List of vanity cards[edit]

  • <c set="ICE" number="" title="Adarkar Sentinel" artist="">Adarkar Sentinel</c>, <c set="ICE" number="" title="Adarkar Unicorn" artist="">Adarkar Unicorn</c>, and <c set="ICE" number="" title="Adarkar Wastes" artist="">Adarkar Wastes</c> (Ice Age) — named for Skaff Elias' friend Aditya Adarkar.[10]
  • <c>Barry's Land</c>, named after Barry Reich.
  • <c set="TMP" number="" title="Eladamri, Lord of Leaves" artist="">Eladamri, Lord of Leaves</c> (Tempest) — named as a tribute to Michael G. Ryan's mother Irma and his stepfather Dale.[11]
  • <c set="TMP" number="" title="Emmessi Tome" artist="">Emmessi Tome</c> (Tempest) — named for Michael S. Elliott[12][13] (MSE), "Emmessi" is a shortened version of "Emm-ess-ee"
  • <c set="ARN" number="" title="Erhnam Djinn" artist="">Erhnam Djinn</c> (Arabian Nights) — "Erhnam" is an anagram of "Herman," Richard Garfield's then brother-in-law[14][13]
  • <c set="ATQ" number="" title="Feldon's Cane" artist="">Feldon's Cane</c> (Antiquities) — originally named "Feldon's Ice Cone", which was an anagram for "Don Felice Cone".[14]
    • <c set="FEM" number="" title="Delif's Cone" artist="">Delif's Cone</c> (Fallen Empires) was a second attempt to make a cone for Don Felice.[15][14]
  • <c set="ARN" number="" title="Ifh-Bíff Efreet" artist="">Ifh-Bíff Efreet</c> (Arabian Nights) — "Ifh-Bíff" was a childhood nickname for Richard Garfield's sister, Elizabeth. Elizabeth was married to "Herman"(<c set="" number="" title="Erhnam Djinn" artist="">Erhnam Djinn</c>).[14][13]
  • <c set="ATQ" number="" title="Jalum Tome" artist="">Jalum Tome</c> (Antiquities) — named for Joel L. Mick (JLM), "Jalum" is a shortened version of "Jay-el-em."[14][13]
    • <c set="UGL" number="" title="Jalum Grifter" artist="">Jalum Grifter</c> (Unglued)[16]
  • <c set="LEA" number="" title="Jayemdae Tome" artist="">Jayemdae Tome</c> (Alpha) — named for J. Michael Davis[17][13] (JMD), "Jayemdae" is a shortened version of "Jay-emm-dee"[14]
  • <c set="HML" number="" title="Joven" artist="">Joven</c>, <c set="HML" number="" title="Joven's Ferrets" artist="">Joven's Ferrets</c>, <c set="HML" number="" title="Joven's Tools" artist="">Joven's Tools</c> (Homelands) — reference to Kyle Namvar, one of the designers of Homelands. Joven was his nickname.[18]
  • <c set="ICE" number="" title="Leshrac's Sigil" artist="">Leshrac's Sigil</c> (Ice Age) — "Leshrac" is an anagram of "Charles", a reference to the middle name of early Magic playtester Chris Page.[14]
  • <c set="MIR" number="" title="Maro" artist="">Maro</c> (Mirage) — short for Mark Rosewater[19][20]
    • <c set="SOK" number="" title="Adamaro, First to Desire" artist="">Adamaro, First to Desire</c> (Saviors of Kamigawa)[21]
    • <c set="SOK" number="" title="Kagemaro, First to Suffer" artist="">Kagemaro, First to Suffer</c> (Saviors of Kamigawa)
    • <c set="SOK" number="" title="Kiyomaro, First to Stand" artist="">Kiyomaro, First to Stand</c> (Saviors of Kamigawa)
    • <c set="SOK" number="" title="Masumaro, First to Live" artist="">Masumaro, First to Live</c> (Saviors of Kamigawa)
    • <c set="SOK" number="" title="Soramaro, First to Dream" artist="">Soramaro, First to Dream</c> (Saviors of Kamigawa)[21]
    • <c set="INV" number="" title="Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer" artist="">Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer</c> (Invasion)
    • <c set="ULG" number="" title="Multani, Maro-Sorcerer" artist="">Multani, Maro-Sorcerer</c> (Urza's Legacy)
    • <c set="CMB1" number="" title="Maro's Gone Nuts" artist="">Maro's Gone Nuts</c> (Mystery Booster)
    • <c set="DMC" number="" title="Greensleeves, Maro-Sorcerer" artist="">Greensleeves, Maro-Sorcerer</c> (Dominaria United Commander)
    • <c set="DMU" number="" title="Territorial Maro" artist="">Territorial Maro</c> (Dominaria United)
  • <c set="" number="" title="Mijae Djinn" artist="">Mijae Djinn</c> and <c set="" number="" title="Ydwen Efreet" artist="">Ydwen Efreet</c> — 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.[14][13]
  • <c set="LEA" number="" title="Mons's Goblin Raiders" artist="">Mons's Goblin Raiders</c> (Alpha) — Mons Johnson[22][23]
    • <c set="UNH" number="" title="Mons's Goblin Waiters" artist="">Mons's Goblin Waiters</c> (Unhinged)
    • <c set="MH1" number="" title="Pashalik Mons" artist="">Pashalik Mons</c> (Modern Horizons)[24]
    • <c set="DMU" number="" title="Rulik Mons, Warren Chief" artist="">Rulik Mons, Warren Chief</c> (Dominaria United)
  • <c set="LEA" number="" title="Nevinyrral's Disk" artist="">Nevinyrral's Disk</c> (Alpha) — is named after sci-fi author Larry Niven, of whom Richard Garfield was a fan.[15][14] (Nevinyrral is Larry Niven backward).
    • <c set="CMR" number="" title="Nevinyrral, Urborg Tyrant" artist="">Nevinyrral, Urborg Tyrant</c> (Commander Legends)
  • <c set="UNH" number="" title="Richard Garfield, PhD" artist="">Richard Garfield, PhD</c> (Unhinged) — Richard Garfield
    • <c set="ALL" number="" title="Phelddagrif" artist="">Phelddagrif</c> (Alliances)[25][13] an anagram of "Garfield, PhD"
    • <c set="PLS" number="" title="Questing Phelddagrif" artist="">Questing Phelddagrif</c> (Planeshift)
  • <c set="HML" number="" title="Rysorian Badger" artist="">Rysorian Badger</c> (Homelands) — named for editor Rhias Hall, who was also known at the time as "Auntie Badger"[26]
  • <c set="MIR" number="" title="Telim Tor" artist="">Telim Tor</c> (Mirage) — An anagram of designer Elliot Segal's nickname, "Mr. Toilet".[15]
  • <c>Wyluli Wolf</c> — Wyluli is an anagram of Lily Wu, the maiden name of Richard Garfield's first wife[14]
  • All Invitational Cards with the likeness of the professional player in the art[27]

Characters[edit]

  • Arna Kennerüd — named after the future husband of Darla Kennerud.[28]
    • <c set="" number="" title="Tura Kennerüd, Skyknight" artist="">Tura Kennerüd, Skyknight</c>
  • Orim — originally concepted as a minor character, Weatherlight co-creator Mike Ryan named her "Oram" (MaRo backwards) as a joke, but the team kept the name, changing the A to an I for readability.[29]

In the grey area[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 30, 2014). "What is a vanity card?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  2. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 4, 2018). "Is Maro the only reference to Magic staff outside of silver border?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  3. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 16, 2014). "what's a 'vanity' card?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  4. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 21, 2018). "Would a Nevinyrral card not violate the rule against vanity cards?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  5. ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 10, 2018). "Does the opposition to vanity cards extend to silver-border? If so, why?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  6. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2016). "What is the reasoning behind the no vanity cards rule?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  7. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 4, 2016). "Is the Phelddagrif creature type doomed to never have another creature again?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 5, 2015). "Could Maro never be reprinted in a future set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  9. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 05, 2012). "In ROE there was a card named Enatu Golem, which is an acronym for Mega Onulet.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  10. ↑ Skaff Elias (August 2, 2004). "The Dawn of Magic's Ice Age". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. ↑ Mark Rosewater, Top Ten secrets behind Tempest card names, The Duelist #21 (January 1998), p. 19
  12. ↑ Mark Rosewater (une 16, 2013). "Which is Mike Elliot's vanity card?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 Mark Rosewater (January 9, 2023). "Trivial Pursuit: What's in a Name?". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 14.9 Allen Varney (1995). "Words of Magic"
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Mark Rosewater (August 6, 2021), "Vanity Cards" Drive to Work.
  16. ↑ Ma "Mark Rosewater" Ro (October 1998), Chickens and Cows and Clams, Oh My, The Duelist #30
  17. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 24, 2003). "Bursting with Flavor". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  18. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 24, 2014). "Top 8 and a Half Tales". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  19. ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 2, 2002). "There's Always Two Maro". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  20. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 5, 2016). "What's a vanity creature?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Mark Rosewater (October 12, 2013). "Couldn't you team up with Doug Beyer to sneak some vanity cards past everyone else?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  22. ↑ Melissa DeTora (June 30, 2015). "Mons Johnson's Goblin Raider Circus". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  23. ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 20, 2017). "Could I get some trivia on my favorite creature type, Goblins!". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  24. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 28, 2019). "Isn't "Pashalik Mons" considered a vanity card?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  25. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 2, 2012). "Are you planning on coming out with any more phelddagrifs.?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  26. ↑ Monty Ashley (August 17, 2010). "The Duelist Companion". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  27. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 4, 2016). "When you say vanity cards do you also mean cards like Avalanche Riders?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  28. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (December 1, 2008). "Card of the Day - December, 2008". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  29. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May 1, 2007). "Card of the Day - May, 2007". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021.
  30. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 23, 2020). "How Trivial". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  31. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 13, 2012). "Is Timbermare a vanity card or an easter egg?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  32. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 16, 2014). "Just learned that Timbermare is a vanity card with a lovely story.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  33. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 30, 2016). "What about cards based on historical people like Presence of the Master?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  34. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 6, 2017). "Is "Research // Development" a vanity card?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  35. ↑ 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.
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