Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast #1229: Tarkir: Dragonstorm Set Design with Adam Prosak
Apr 4, 2025
Join Adam Prosak, the Lead Set Designer of Tarkir: Dragonstorm, as he dives into the creative challenges behind this dynamic set. He shares insights into balancing game mechanics with gameplay dynamics while celebrating the return to the beloved Tarkir setting. Adam discusses the innovative dragon mechanics, including the new 'buyout clauses' that enhance player accessibility. He also delves into the unique designs of clans like Abzan and Sultai, emphasizing how their deep narratives enrich the gameplay experience.
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Dragon Design Challenges
- Dragons are popular but costly, making them tricky to design around in Magic: The Gathering.
- "Buyout clauses," like Omen, let players use dragons even when drawn too early.
Omen's Evolution
- The Omen mechanic started as "Swoop," a more complex design with three modes.
- It was simplified to its current form for complexity reasons and to allow for stronger dragons.
Behold's Origin
- Behold was created because the reminder text for similar effects in the past was too long.
- The team wanted a shorter way to represent "point to a dragon."