Who is Vorthos?

Is he a government-evading chess champion? Is he the guy with three Big Macs, two large fries, and a super-sized soda at Mc Donald's? The Spike who just missed Top 8 on tiebreakers? How about the trading-crazed “player” who didn't play in a single event at the past four Grand Prix events he attended?

The Setup

When Vorthos first appeared on the scene almost seven years ago, no one knew who exactly he was, but they had help. There was a player psychographic system that already categorized Magic players, a wonderful framework in which to put Vorthos. In fact, Matt Cavotta, the man who brought Vorthos to the world, did just that, and he related him to Timmy, Johnny, and Spike from the get-go.

A year later, Mark Rosewater (MaRo), the creator of that psychographic framework, took a shot at defining Vorthos. He realigned what it meant to be a Vorthos. No longer was he at odds with Timmy, Johnny, and Spike, but he was in league with them. You could be both without one taking from the other!

That wasn't enough, however, and a little while later, he broadened who Vorthos was. At some point after that article, this began to appear:

“Vorthos appreciates the game beyond the game.”

This is what some hold as the quintessential statement describing Vorthos. A bit vague—and I believe a bit misleading (more on that in a second)—but it is the scripture that has been handed down from Vorthos generation to Vorthos generation.

That's where we stood for many years, rather, until the recent cavalcade of Vorthosian content over the past year or so. Since then, we've had Mike Linnemann, MJ Scott, Issar Roon, John Beety, alterists galore, and Magic design columns and blogs. Unfortunately, out of all the great content that's been created, only Mike dove into what it was to be a Vorthos head first. He did so multiple times, but his deepest was “Who Vorthos Writes For.”

Since then, we've been content to trot along, acting as Vorthoses do, but never directly delving into definitions.

The Plan

If you're reading this, chances are you already know Vorthos loves the artwork and stories surrounding Magic. That's the general definition thrown around these days, though I strongly believe there are a number of players out there without any strong interest in art or story who call themselves Vorthoses. My goal today is to integrate these disparate players into who we view as Vorthos and bring us back to the all-important fleshing out MaRo gave us in “Melvin and Vorthos.”

Turning Back Around

Let's go back to that idea of Vorthos “appreciating the game beyond the game.”

I'm not entirely sure how this line became associated only with Vorthos. It's not hiding deep within the texts of early Vorthos articles on the mothership or written on the walls of a shrine on Shandalar. Somewhere along the way, it popped up like that annoying thread on your best shirt. It seems innocuous on the surface, but in actuality, it really needs to go.

It's not incorrect per se, but appreciating Magic is not relegated to only Vorthos. His arch-nemesis (not really) Melvin is right there beside him, happy that there is more beyond Magic than what takes place in a game.

Here's another MaRo quote. (One day, I'll make an article made solely from MaRo quotes. Seriously.)

Because Vorthos appreciates the game, so too does Melvin. They just appreciate the game for different reasons. While I love to hate on Melvin because it's fun getting his uptight panties in a bunch, I don't truly mean it. (Author's note: It is unconfirmed whether Melvin actually wears panties, much less if they are tight and “in a bunch.”) Vorthos and Melvin are inextricably linked, and both derive joy from Magic.

Who Is Vorthos?

So, why do we associate Vorthos with story and art?

That doesn't mean there aren't Vorthoses out there intrigued in other aspects of the game such as trading, judging, or coverage. I've met a number of Vorthosian folks who partake in all of these activities. Don't believe me? Take a look at Medina's Pack to Power series. Sure, there were some helpful tidbits along the way, but it's mainly about the whole—the journey.

The truth is everyone is a Vorthos to some degree. As MaRo said, “Many people fall somewhere in the middle, but to explain the scale [we] need to examine the ends.” Don't take these explanations and examples as clear-cut lines; they're more like guidelines anyway.

Even in areas of the game where one would think only Melvin lurks, Vorthos finds joy. Take judging as an example. The position is all about those pesky rules and enforcing them with an objective mind. Yet, many judges will tell you of experiences where just knowing the rules line-for-line wasn't enough. They needed to understand how the rules interacted, the game state, the situation between players' opinions, and their gut feelings and then apply all of that into a natural-feeling ruling. They love trying to find a viable solution (one Melvin will accept) that still feels intuitive and correct.

In the End

Now that we know Vorthos lies within every single one of us—kind of like that mystical force some old dude was talking about years ago—how do you find him when you want to meet others like yourself?

Vorthoses are difficult to spot at tournaments and other events. We don't exactly carry around large artist prints—though you can find us looking through boxes of those at an artist's table or booth—or Magic books and comics. An artist signing or alteration area is a surefire way to meet other art-enthused Vorthos, but that's about all we have.

Before speaking with someone, look for small hints. Does he have one of those old Pro Tour planeswalker deck boxes? Are his sleeves of a specific character or scene? Are there any particular accessories that can give you a hint? How about any cosplay costumes?

Once you do start up a conversation or game with someone, look for other indicators. Is the conversation on actually playing the game out and awesome games in the past or is the conversation all about the experiences he's had and the people he's met? Does his deck have a visible theme or does it run mechanically like a machine?

If you're feeling a bit ambitious—and want to save time—just ask. You'd be surprised at how many players out there associate with Vorthos.

This is the third major version of this article I've written, and I still haven't conveyed everything I want to say in a clear manner. Vorthos, by his very nature, is subjective and not wholly susceptible to following rules or a standard guideline. It's a tough nut to crack, and it's one I can't do alone, so I'm asking all of you to help out.

How would you define who Vorthos is? Please share your ideas and opinions with all of us in the comments below, in the GatheringMagic forums—or if 140 characters better suit your needs—or in a tweet to @bweisko and/or with the hash tag #Vorthos. Join us, and let your visceral side hold sway!