In this week's 'Lessons Learned' article, Mark Rosewater reflects on his role as a lead vision designer for Magic: The Gathering sets, specifically focusing on The Lost Caverns of Ixalan and Murders at Karlov Manor. Rosewater acknowledges that his biggest flaw in The Lost Caverns of Ixalan was being too focused on a particular theme, 'color matters', rather than finding the best execution of what the environment needed. He admits that he was more interested in using the theme than in finding the best fit for the set's needs. This led to a shift in the set's focus from colors to card types, and ultimately, the removal of the 'color matters' theme. Rosewater also discusses the importance of settings in Magic expansions, drawing a parallel to the need for plots in stories. He highlights the challenges of creating a compelling environment and the importance of resonance with the audience. Rosewater concludes by emphasizing the importance of learning from past choices and the need to recognize when a focus is leading to unintended consequences.
