This place has been heating up for the past month or so thanks to the new set and MJ's return to GatheringMagic. I'm here today to cool things down a bit. It's time for a breather, and what better way to accomplish that than to take a look back at some of the most influential Vorthos articles ever written?

I've scoured the planes, interviewed countless citizens, and dug up ancient texts all so that I could bring you the top ten Vorthos articles ever written. This isn't about popularity—that list would look much different—and it will almost certainly differ from your list. This is about spreading the word of Vorthos and trying to turn you on to an article or two you've never read. Finally, make sure to read to the bottom; there's an announcement waiting for you.

Let's get to it!

Snack Time with Vorthos by Matt Cavotta

Here's the article that started it all . . . the shot heard around the world . . . the seed of a revolution. The . . . all right; I'm done.

Seriously, though, without this article, there is a very good chance we would not have the collective identity we do today. I might still be here writing about story and art, but there would be no name to rally around and relate to. If Matt Cavotta hadn't written about what he saw as a new player psychographic, Mark Rosewater would never have attempted to classify Vorthos and Melvin. The world would hold less color, like a quasi-world stuck somewhere between Pleasantville and the rich-tasting world we have today.

Melvin and Vorthos by Mark Rosewater

Yes, I know I am cheating by putting both of these on the list. And yes, I did just link to this article in the last summary.

I am doing so because I cannot explain how crucial both of these articles were to Vorthos. Matt may have started the ball rolling and given players an identity, but MaRo is the one who brought Vorthos to the masses and gave us the definition most associate Vorthos with today. Without either of them, Vorthos would be a very different animal.

You Down with O-T-T by Doug Beyer (original idea by Matt Cavotta)

Okay, so the original was done by Matt in the very same article that started this list. Yep, that article was influential, man! While it's been done a number of times over the years, this is a great example because it breaks down what is going on before diving in.

So, what's so great about this concept? For starters, it's a fun little game you get to play as you read. I hesitate to stereotype all Vorthoses, but a heck of a lot of us like games. Oh, and it gives us a look into the process of how Wizards uses words and language. Honorary mention goes to this article by Adam Lee that just lays it all out for us.

Side note: There are a lot of articles I want to write at any given time, but an O-T-T article has always been on the list. While it's possible to do so from outside the walls of the Fortress of Soli . . . err, Wizards of the Coast, it wouldn't hold the same impact or contain as much “insider” knowledge.

Creative Ventures by Doug Beyer

This one probably won't make anyone's Top 10 lists, but there's a hidden importance I think a lot of people overlook.

Magic fans all over the world make money off the game without giving a cent back to Wizards of the Coast. Most of the time, it benefits Wizards (fan sites equal publicity); other times, it harms them (fan art equals copyright infringement). Not only did this article highlight many of our endeavors as fans, but it subtly legitimized them. It was never an official or legal announcement, but it was employees of WotC saying, “We think what you're doing is awesome, and though the company may not say anything, we as individuals are okay with it.” As a demographic that thrives off the game beyond the game, Vorthos made out better than a Harbor Bandit.

Re: Josh Brauer by Ryan Miller (special credit to Jenna Helland)

I think I've credited almost every writer in Creative. Maybe I should search out a Brady Dommermuth article solely to complete the circle. You can see the story released in its entirety here.

While there was certainly room for improvement—When is there not?—this method of storytelling was a huge hit among most Magic players I've talked to. It was a way beyond typical books and comics to dive deeper into a Magic world. I for one enjoyed seeing the planeswalkers and world-shakers sit on the fringe, making puppets of some, but letting the main characters drive the story. Not only that, but the “chaotic fiction” as Ryan described it showed Innistrad in a way other methods of storytelling might not have been able to accomplish.

Mage-Craft Cocktails by MJ Scott

MJ hasn't written a ton of Magic content on major websites, but what she has written couldn't have been done by anyone else. She's unique.

While there have been other articles covering content beyond the game over the years, this one was a deal-breaker for me. After reading this, I knew Vorthos wasn't attached to just story and art, as most believed. MJ took a topic almost no one would have imagined as Magic-related and mixed the two into a delicious brew that can still be tasted today. When I asked for recommendations on Twitter last week, multiple people sent me this article.

Just Another Dead Bonsai by Geordie Tait

Geordie's style is an acquired taste. He has a tendency toward length and often paints himself as a downtrodden individual. For all of that, he is incredibly talented. A recent tweet by Ferret—one of Magic's best writers if you have the time—might work for some of you in this case:

Geordie talks about flavor text in many of his articles, and rightly so; he's done it for a living for years. What makes this particular article so special is his weaving of life into the act of creating the art form he loves. For once, he's not analyzing and picking apart the lines on Magic cards, but showing what it's like for those who write them. It challenges us to create something that makes a difference.

Alpha Art: The Search Begins by Mike Linnemann

This is the second article that might surprise some people. Mike was a huge voice for Vorthos, but I imagine most would name another article of his as the crème de la crème. I disagree.

This unfinished mission of Mike's is important because it embodies the spirit of Vorthos. More than any other demographic, Vorthos relies on the community. We love art and story, but they are not as easy to find as a decklist or Pro Tour Top 8 list. Luckily, we enjoy sharing our passion with fellow Vorthoses. Had this project been completed, we all would have had an amazing resource on one of the game's original pieces of Vorthos content.

The Most Horrible Fates Of Magic by John Dale Beety

I always question myself when linking to authors from other sites. We are competitors after all. One I almost never question myself over is John. If there is a major Vorthos writer out there not affiliated with Wizards or GM, John is it.

This article falls in a similar vein as MJ's, but instead of taking something seemingly unrelated to Magic, it looks at something integral to almost every game of Magic: creature death. Wizards has gone back and forth over terms like “discard pile” and “graveyard” during the game's nineteen years. Recently, they changed a creature's movement between the “battlefield” and “graveyard” to “dying” in what I hope will be a final act. Yet, they've never truly dove into what it means for a creature to “die” in the game. John does so in this article, and he does it with a large helping of humor and flavor.

Dakkon Blackblade by Issar Roon

Quick, Trick question! Who wrote the very first article of Issar Roon? How about the third? If your answers were the same for both questions (not Issar Roon, smart-aleck!), you might want to double-check. I wrote the column for over two years, but the man who started it all was none other than Trick Jarrett, then-Content-Manager of GM.

Some people have read the Issar Roon stories and passed them off as fan fiction. You could classify it as such, but I would disagree. The fan-fiction element is merely the vehicle for the actual story embedded within: Magic's story. When Trick created the series, he did it with the intention of providing Magic's myriad stories while entertaining readers. When I took over the column—on the third article, in case you haven't checked yet—I made sure that idea drove my writing every week. Because of Trick's goal, I believe the column succeeded and spread Magic's stories to a much wider—and newer—audience.

Honorable Mentions:

These guys didn't make the top ten for various reasons, but they are still important enough that I feel they should be mentioned.

The Love Song of Night and Day by Jenny Scott

During my short stint as a flavor writer for Wizards of the Coast, this was the bar I set for myself. I submitted the usual one-liners and world-building texts, but in my heart, I wanted to create something that could live up to this legacy. You won't find any amazing poems when the set I worked on is released, but I like to believe that what I did produce was stronger because of this.

Magic TV Top 8: Favorite Artists by Tristan Shaun Gregson and LSV

While some Vorthoses have lampooned these two for being off the mark, I applaud them. The viewers' complaint? “They're wrong! CARDNAME is better.” Vorthos is subjective, no matter how you look at it, and while we often agree, we can have very different opinions at times. This video not only shares Vorthos ideas with those who might not normally come into contact with such content but shows how anyone, even the Spikiest Spike, can care about the art and story.

There you have it: ten influential articles that have shaped Vorthos over the past decade. Are there articles you think I missed? Do you disagree with any of those on my list? Say so in the comments or tweet at me on Twitter (@bweisko). Here's hoping the next decade provides twice as many worthy articles!

I have some sad news for you today. As of next week, I will no longer be writing for GatheringMagic. I've recently accepted a writing position at Fantasy Flight Games and am unable to do both. I will have a goodbye article at my usual time next week, and then I shall be silent. I'll still be around on Twitter and at Magic events, so don't be afraid to come up and say “hi” whenever you see me.

The past two and a half years have been amazing. I've learned so much as a writer and met some truly wonderful people in the Magic community. While I can't do so in person, please allow me to shake your hand and thank each and every one of you for reading my articles. Without an audience, I am just a man spouting words into the void. Thank you.

Finally, if you've ever wanted to write about Vorthos content or felt you had something to say on the topic, now's the time to do it. MJ isn't going anywhere, and GatheringMagic can always use new writers. Keep the Vorthos voice strong, and don't let the flavor fade!