[FUR] Vision Design, Pt IX: Archetypes

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    Welcome back to TwistedSpoon Studio! Last week in our series on FUR, the custom Magic set dedicated to the beast folk of the plane of Urbestia, we discussed top-down tropes that would establish the flavor of the plane. This week, I want to come at it from the other angle-- starting from the bottom level with the mechanics, let's take another pass at the archetypes and draft structure.


Mechanics

    One of the challenges of designing a set is hitting the right level of complexity. Early on in a design, too much complexity can obscure underlying problems. For this reason, the New Year take on FUR seeks to simplify. We're keeping the same mechanics, but we're cutting back on colors-- outside of cycles, each mechanic will only appear in one or two colors:

  • White: Vibrant
  • Blue: Crafting
  • Black: Treasure
  • Red: Crafting
  • Green: Vibrant

    With Vibrant as a diversity mechanic, it makes sense in White as the color of community, and Green as the color of acceptance. Crafting fits blue like a glove-- self-improvement through technology-- while it represents self-expression in Red. Black collects Treasure and hoards them to satisfy Black's "me-first" philosophy.

 

Archetypes

    To build up the archetypes, let's ask ourselves: Why play these colors together? What does each color need to support each game plan?

  • White/Blue: Re-use Vibrant and Crafting ETB-effects for value by returning creatures to your hand. (ETB Tempo)

    • Needs ways to return creatures to hand; Vibrant tempo effects, cheap crafting, early-to-midgame evasion

  • Blue/Black: Exploit artifacts-matter effects to control the board. (Artifact Control)

    • Artifact ETB/"Artifact-fall" effects that affect the board, artifact recursion, late game evasion

  • Black/Red: Sacrifice artifacts for value and to push damage through. (Sacrifice Control)

    • Artifact fodder, sacrifice outlets, sacrifice triggers, mid-to-late game evasion

  • Red/Green: Use efficient Red creatures to pressure the opponent early, and efficient Green green creatures to close in the midgame. (Stompy Midrange)

    • cheap crafting, evasive midgame creatures, combat tricks, burn

  • Green/White: Get Vibrant online early and outnumber the opponent with efficient creatures. (Vibrant Aggro)

    • Color fixing, vibrant triggers, Vibrant effects that make tokens/buff team

  • White/Black: Recur Treasures to accrue incremental value by casting vibrant spells and splashing for finishers.

    • Artifact recursion, Vibrant effects that affect the board, vibrant triggers that generate value

  • Blue/Red: Couple equipment-matters effects with hasty creatures and small flyers. (Equipment Tempo)

    • Equipped-creatures-matter effects, counterspells, burn, early-to-mid game evasion

  • Black/Green: Use Treasures to ramp into expensive green creatures and/or splash defensive spells. (5c Ramp)

    • Ramp, large vibrant payload, hand attack to protect key pieces, card selection

  • Red/White: Play low-to-the-ground threats before accumulating equipment onto an evasive finisher. (Equipment Aggro)

    • Cheap threats, cheap crafting, early game evasion, combat tricks

  • Green/Blue: Recur ETB effects to stall your opponents until you can deploy and recur bigger ETB effects to close the game. (ETB Ramp)

    • Big etb effects, ways to return creatures to hand, board disruption, ramp

    My hope is that thinking about the set this way will help to inform decisions about the set skeleton. A blank set skeleton is an intimidating thing, and it can be difficult to keep track of the structure you're trying to create when it's only in your head.

 

Archetyped Up

    That's all we have this week. Which draft archetypes appeal to you? what are your favorite draft archetypes from other sets? Let us know below, or over on r/CustomMagic.

    Next week is the Handoff doc and the end of Vision Design. Design will go on hold for a bit, but worry not-- the Creative engines will be kicking in to coast us through the playtesting push. If you're interested in playtesting, you can reach me directly on Reddit by sending a message to u/DefyKnowing. More details coming Monday! Until then, check out last week's top-down flavor approach to the set here, or an in-depth analysis of Innistrad: Crimson Vow here.


Also, heads up! Next week, thee won't be a Monday Musing. That's because we're releasing a very special announcement. Keep an eye out!



See you soon!

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