Who's Who in the V:TES Community

Vital Statistics:

Name:
Year of Birth:
Occupation:
Other Games Played:

Number of Cards owned:
Number of Decks ready to play:
Play in:

Richard Garfield
1963
Game Designer
TCGs, Board games, Computer games, regular
card games, parlor games, role playing games.
Probably others that don't come to mind.
Many
0
Seattle, USA

Q1: How (and when) did you begin your career as a VTES-player? Who introduced you to the game? Where did you play originally?
I began playing during the process of design. I played at Wizards of the Coast.

Q2: Which of the Sets and Expansions to VTES is your favorite, and why is it your top choice?
I haven't followed VTES for a while, so I would have to vote on the original set - since I know it best. I am certain better sets have come out since, but my ignorance is complete.

Q3: What is your favorite deck to play, and why?
I always like to be playing what other people aren't playing. So rather than seeing successful deck types and either imitating or improving on them I like to begin in a fresh new area. All else being equal I will tend toward wacky cards (Game of Malkav) and political decks.

Q4: If you could add something to the game, what would it be?
Since I am not caught up, I can't tell what I would add.

Q5: What do you do to help promote the game / why are you in this list of people?
I designed the original game. I am sure it has come a long way since original design, but being my second TCG it has a special place in my heart. Maintaining TCGs is a full time job though, and so my attention to many of my designs (Netrunner and Battletech) fell by the wayside in maintaining Magic and designing new games (and starting a family!)
It is worth note though that my design of V:TES was specifically intended to use what I learned from Magic and improve upon it - and there are many places in the design where I believe I succeeded in that goal. An example of that was the multiplayer game experience. Another was getting rid of land, thus giving players more room in their deck for cards that are cool.

Q6: What is your favorite deck style for casual play / tournament play?
I have never played tournaments. For casual play - as mentioned above - I like to play the unexpected whatever that may be. All else being equal I like political decks, which I find a lot of fun to play. Especially with other political decks or political dabblers in the game.

Q7: Is there a difference between your casual play and tournament play?
I haven't played tournaments. My guess is that I would approach them similarly though - merely spending more time practicing and honing my deck for tournaments.

Back to the index of Who's Who in V:TES.

Q1: How (and when) did you begin your career as a VTES-player? Who introduced you to the game? Where did you play originally? I began playing during the process of design. I played at Wizards of the Coast.	Q2: Which of the Sets and Expansions to VTES is your favorite, and why is it your top choice? I haven't followed VTES for a while, so I would have to vote on the original set - since I know it best. I am certain better sets have come out since, but my ignorance is complete.
Q3: What is your favorite deck to play, and why? I always like to be playing what other people aren't playing. So rather than seeing successful deck types and either imitating or improving on them I like to begin in a fresh new area. All else being equal I will tend toward wacky cards (Game of Malkav) and political decks.	Q4: If you could add something to the game, what would it be? Since I am not caught up, I can't tell what I would add.
Q5: What do you do to help promote the game / why are you in this list of people? I designed the original game. I am sure it has come a long way since original design, but being my second TCG it has a special place in my heart. Maintaining TCGs is a full time job though, and so my attention to many of my designs (Netrunner and Battletech) fell by the wayside in maintaining Magic and designing new games (and starting a family!) It is worth note though that my design of V:TES was specifically intended to use what I learned from Magic and improve upon it - and there are many places in the design where I believe I succeeded in that goal. An example of that was the multiplayer game experience. Another was getting rid of land, thus giving players more room in their deck for cards that are cool.	Q6: What is your favorite deck style for casual play / tournament play? I have never played tournaments. For casual play - as mentioned above - I like to play the unexpected whatever that may be. All else being equal I like political decks, which I find a lot of fun to play. Especially with other political decks or political dabblers in the game.
Q7: Is there a difference between your casual play and tournament play? I haven't played tournaments. My guess is that I would approach them similarly though - merely spending more time practicing and honing my deck for tournaments.