Flavor is Awesome

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Deco_y

20 March 2011

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This was supposed to be another flavor article based on the opening chapter of the Kawigama block: Champions of Kamigawa. As I began to go through the cards and search through the cards for the excellent flavor that exists in these cards, I had a very harsh realization fall upon me...

This flavor isn't inspiring.

Now I know what you're thinking. This is a pretty outlandish statement for those who love the block(and I admit there is a lot to love about it for certain people). They say I'm CRAZY like a guy who plays Haze Frog as his main win con. I'm delusional and have no idea what i'm talking about. But the above statement was my opinion only, and for only one reason: It means nothing to me.

Look, for those players who were playing magic back in 2004 when this block was released, I'm sure you have fond memories playing with these cards and have personal relationships with certain cards. For legacy and vintage players, you tried to fit various new cards into your strategies and for extended and standard, you spent hours upon hours trying to fit these cards into your decks. For other players, who joined magic later on and have since used them, they have had many of the described scenarios above. By using these cards and forging decks based around the cardboard blood these cards bleed, the relationship(or bond if you will) between player and flavor is born.

Flavor's place in Magic: The Gathering is best described by myself in these terms: Flavor exists to create an emotional and creative syncronization between the story of the block, the creature, artifact, or spell on the card, the card's abilities, and the player. The beauty of flavor is that each card's creative juices get every player's blood pumping to varying degrees.

Does hilarious flavor text usually gain a spot on your podium?

Or does the serious, soul searching flavor resonate more clearly?

What if it's just plain badass?

In the end we all perfer different. Variety is the spice of life and Magic apperently likes spicy food, as do those who play it.

This is why I am not fit, nor able, to effectively write anything based on Kamigawa's flavor. I'm simply not invested or attached to the block enough to do so to make an effective and engaging article, like my Zenikar piece. I would be doing the block, and it's many fans a disservice, as well as probably wasting my time. I instead, loyal readers, if I indeed do have any(which would be AWESOME), to reflect on what flavor means to you. Flavor can do many things. It can give you an unquenchable thirst to forge decks, buy the novels Wizards has let see the light of day, or go out onto Ebay or visit your local shop to buy a playset of a card that may completely suck, but has a special meaning to you.

This is why I am such a true fan of flavor. It can give me goosebumps, a chill up my spine, and tears of laughter. Sometimes all at once.

For all those reading this, go find that special card, expansion, or even block, and give yourself some goosebumps, some tears, and some smiles. I promise you won't regret it. For now, I will read the cards of Kamigawa, and who knows, the lost Kamigawa article may yet see the light of day.