by MagiMutt
For as long as I can remember, I have always had a fascination with Universal Studios monster
movies. From Dracula to the Phantom, from Frankenstein to The Creature from the Black Lagoon, there
was just something about these characters that I fell in love with.
Fast forward to 2006, after the “hiatus” of Magi-Nation when several notable of 2Is’ founding
members went on to release The Spoils. Somehow, I got involved in ideas of a promo set to be released
for the game and thus the first five characters came into fruition: High Priest Imhotep, Count Mau, Mr.
Talbot, Fr4nk31f573in'5 Majig, and Eucritta Melanolimnetes. Based on the Universal Monsters, these
cards had VERY minor input from myself, simply stating their source and offering names.
Having such a minuscule input into the cards, I decided to not have my name included in any
acknowledgements of these cards. A second set of characters was suggested, but the team had decided
to move on from the Universal Monsters idea by then. The Spoils went into hibernation. It is still played
in select groups and the community is still active.
Still, my ‘obsession’ continued and when Rich Werner opened commissions in 2019 for custom
artwork, I jumped at the chance. It started with a simple idea:
There are 13 regions in Magi-Nation Duel. There are at least 13 notable characters from Universal
Studios. How should they merge together. The first was easy: Dracula appeared in tombs, castles, and
the classic gothic scenery. He kept a coffin of dirt underground. The Magi based on Dracula would
naturally be from the Underneath.
Going by this logic, I presented Rich with the idea of Magi based on Universal Studios Monsters in the
following combinations:
Underneath-----Dracula
Arderial-----Phantom of the Opera
Naroom-----Frankenstein’s Monster (Adam)
Weave-----The Mummy
Orothe-----Creature from the Black Lagoon
Core-----Bride of Frankenstein
Paradwyn-----The Invisible Man
Cald-----Dr. Jeykll
Nar-----Mr. Hyde
Universal-----Van Helsing
d’Resh-----Scorpion King
Bograth-----Hunchback of Notre Dame
Kybar’s Teeth-----The Wolf Man
Alternates Universal-----Alucard
He seemed to like the idea of something different and started working on my ideas (while also finishing
up work for “Dungeon Party.”
While Widget had created suitable frames for the game, and I got an official artist to work on artwork, my
card idea needed...well, ideas. So, I turned to the fanbase and got input from several members of the
community.
Artimillies Strongbow, Zucriy Amsuna, nol_bricks, drakk2 and several others shared ideas that were
included in the final designs of the Universal Moonlands promo set. To be clear, while I had some general
ideas about what each Magi did, I had zero experience in keeping balance with my initial designs. They
were...passable at best. Most credit for the Powers and abilities of the characters comes from
community-based input.
I will, however, take full credit for the names and flavor text of these cards. I used several movies and other sources in naming characters. Between actors and writers, most of the cards came up relatively easy to name.
The eventual design for the Underneath Magi included my son’s idea for a Wolf/Bat creature. This would
be cropped out in the Magi card, to be included in a later card. The name I settled on was Bela Zaro.
Using the actors name (Bela Lugosi) and a vampire character from Ravenloft (Strahd von Zarovich), made
it simple.
Although sometimes the original idea didn’t QUITE convey what I wanted, Rich was able to take input
from me about the characters designs. Case in point: the Monster was suggested to be a “...big
lumbering oaf. "He lost his last fight with a Core Magi, but he's just too stubborn to admit it" (the
monsters mate is a core magi in this set).
Got it mostly right in one shot, but there’s nothing in this picture to suggest a mate. So we had a
conversation:
Me: Can you do more Lurch, less Hanna Barbara? Also, to tie into the Bride, he needs to be
holding a rose. She's already broken his heart, and the rose is what he remembers her by.
RW: Yeah. I am trying to keep the MND feel. I’ll give another pass.
Me: Rather be closer to the empty headed football player that just lost the head cheerleader to
the nerd.
And thus, Adam Carloff was created. Adam being a term usually suggesting the creature and Carloff
based on the actor's name (Boris Karloff).
I used quotes from the books or the movies for flavor text. Most are easy to follow, but one I screwed
up on. I used a movie quote that references the character but there’s zero context for it.
It also happened to happen on a card that has the most obscure way to name a character I’ve seen:
All of this to say that my first incursion into custom cards was kind of successful in that MY designs were
done, MY way, with help from several other people to show off something that could be used in the
game.
But HOW can they be used in games, you ask? Simple. I had custom cards made:
LEGALIZE: I am in no any shape or form affiliated with 2i or any company or person connected to 2i. I paid an artist (formerly of 2i) to create artwork for my personal designs for cards. I (with input from others) completed a set of characters that can be used within the rules of a particular card game. These cards are not legal in any way and are not officially recognized as part of the card game.
I have a limited supply of sets of these “Universal Moonlands” Magi. In fact, I have only 47 sets left.
They are available, through me, until I’m sold out. Each sealed set will run $10. You get all 13 Magi.
Want a set? Send me a message! (u/MagiMutt on the Magi Nation Discord!)