In the vast landscape of career changes, few stories are as intriguing as that of a television writer finding his calling in the world of game design. This is not a tale of a mid-life crisis, but rather a journey of passion, perseverance, and a touch of serendipity. Today, we delve into the early days of a Magic: The Gathering designer, a journey that began in the early 1990s and culminated in a decade-long adventure.
The Spark of Interest
The story begins in August 1993 a pivotal month in Magic history. The protagonist, a struggling television writer, found himself working part-time at a local game store named The Game Keeper. It was here that he first heard whispers of a new game called Magic: The Gathering. Intrigued by the varied descriptions, he tracked it down and was immediately hooked.
This newfound passion for Magic was not an isolated incident. The writer had a long-standing interest in game design inspired by his father and a seminar he attended at the GAMA Expo in Las Vegas. The scarcity of Magic information in the early days of the internet led him to frequent Usenet an online message board where enthusiasts discussed the game.
The First Steps into the Magic Universe
In December 1993 the first issue of The Duelist magazine was released. The writer, feeling that the magazine lacked content for advanced players, pitched the idea of a puzzle column inspired by chess puzzles. His idea was accepted, and his first puzzle was published in a small issue before the second official issue.
As the Los Angeles Magic scene grew, so did the writer’s involvement. He became an integral part of the community, attending tournaments and conventions, including Mana Fest in San Francisco, where he met Richard Garfield the creator of Magic: The Gathering.
The Transition to Full-Time Magic
The writer’s passion for Magic led him to attend Gen Con in Milwaukee. Here, he met Kathryn Haines the editor-in-chief of The Duelist and pitched several article ideas. His success as a writer for the magazine led to numerous freelancing jobs for Magic.
During a trip to Seattle, the writer met Mike Davis the vice president of R&D at Wizards of the Coast. Impressed by the writer’s enthusiasm and skills, Mike offered him a full-time position. The writer started working in October 1995 the same month that Bill Rose and William Jockusch joined the team.
The Road to Becoming Head Designer
The writer’s journey from a television writer to a Magic designer was not a straightforward one. He started as a developer, working on sets like Alliances and Mirage. However, his passion for design never wavered.
In a stroke of luck, Richard Garfield mentioned missing designing Magic cards. Seeing his opportunity, the writer proposed leading the first internal design team, with Richard as a member. His proposal was accepted, and he led the design of Tempest while Mike Elliott led Stronghold and Exodus.
The success of the Tempest block shifted the narrative, and the writer, along with Bill Rose and Mike Elliott became the core designers. The writer also played a pivotal role in hiring new team members, including Randy Buehler and Mike Donais.
This began a wave of hiring players off the Pro Tour to build a more robust team for development. The increase in R&D members allowed the creation of diverse design teams. Joel Mick became the Magic brand manager, Bill Rose became the head designer, and the writer became Bill’s right-hand man.
As we look back on this journey, it’s clear that the path to becoming a Magic designer is not always a straight one. It’s a tale of passion, perseverance, and a touch of serendipity. The writer’s story is a testament to the power of following one’s passion and seizing opportunities when they arise.
