From www.magicthegathering.com
March 15, 2002
Q: "Ok, since Torment is now out and it has happened again, I wanted to ask why red has been getting cards that are out of it's flavor: cards like the red Hymn to Tourach (Skullscorch), the red Ray of Command (Temporary Insanity), the red Time Walk (Final Fortune) the red Counterspell (Mage's Contest) and other assorted cards that red mimics from the other colors."
-- Duane Serge, Erie, PA
A: From Mark Rosewater, R&D senior designer:
"One of the challenges of design is finding new areas to explore without breaking the definitions created for each color. Red, by the way, is probably the most misunderstood color in terms of its flavor. In each of your examples above, we found a way to explore a facet of red that mimics other colors' abilities. Skullscorch is one of the 'punisher' cards found in the Odyssey block. Punisher cards allow red to intimidate others into voluntarily doing something normally out of flavor. Basically, Skullscorch says, 'Unless you discard two cards, I'm going to punch you in the face.' What keeps these abilities red is that the red mage has no control over whether or not the new affect happens. This keeps within red's flavor of often being out of control.
"Temporary Insanity explores a facet from red's past. Red is the color of emotional outburst and spontaneity. Old cards like Disharmony played into red's ability to infuse creatures with a touch of abandon. Red can use its impulsive magic to sway others but only for a short duration (as opposed to blue which can steal things permanently). Final Fortune plays into red's recklessness. Red can get quick resources but at a great long term cost. Red thinks about the present never the future. Mage's Contest plays into red's gambling nature. Red has effects that involve bidding and randomness.
"In short, red as a color has the ability to dip into a lot of abilities. But in each case red does so recklessly with very little control."
