Neon and magic? Not the first coupling I would think of when prompted with the challenge to find an iconic duo. Yet Wizards dared to bring the neon strokes into the high-fantasy world of the Magic the Gathering multiverse.
Without knowing much about the official story of the set or the lore of the realm of Kamigawa, we’ll have a look at how the set design establishes a world whose premise seems to be a contradiction.
Neon Dynasty supports manyfold themes and mechanics. Looking through the cards of the set, one can construct a picture of a convoluted city space, lively and exciting. Modified Cyborgs are busily paving their way through the crowd, passing honourable Kami, shying away from frowning ronin samurai. Sneaky ninjas scurry over the roofs, watching, as ignorant mechas stomp through the crowd startling spirits, while catching admiring glances of mechanics. Meanwhile cackle fills the air, as stories are being told. Stories of old, sagas of adventures long past, but also stories of persuasion of the dealers selling and praising their useful tools, some of which might get up all of a sudden and leave the market on their own, as they become aware of their artificialty. Many such packed streets stretched along wide alleys between skyscrapers. Only once in a while, one finds a shrine in the shadows of the towers around it and gets to catch some breath in a moment of calm.
A glance at the art and the themes suggested by the set, evokes a cyberpunk-esque atmosphere and sketches an image of a melting pot. The set does a great job at depicting a society diverse in culture, occupation and status. More importantly, it shows a society, that on some occasions seems to be deeply divided while in other instances manages to strike a sensitive balance.
Kamigawa Neon Dynasty tells a story of transition. It presents us players with a plane of rich history and with societal institutions that encourage to respect, worship even, the old traditions. This society, originally based on the connection with nature and the emphasis on spirituality, now finds itself confronted with the emergence of technology.
The worldbuilding of Neon Dynasty poses a question that sounds too familiar to the ears of us real-world-dwellers. The modern age has begun. Will society be able to create a synthesis of our identity, our traditions and the great new opportunities brought forth by technology? Will the forces clinging to the past, feeling their existence under threat, be successful in suffocating any chance of change to their beloved reality? Or, the other way around, will society fully succumb to the promises of greatness delivered by progress, and end up compleated – a perfect mechanic entity that has lost its soul and any sense of identity?
The inhabitants of the world seem to be struggling with this question, either by an uprising in Eganjo, or by enduring the surrounding changes and uncertainty, just like Boseju, or by attempting to change reality itself with the help of the newest technology. The dichotomy of naturalist tradition and technological advancement can even be found in the standard lands of the set. Each colour has one depicting mystical, calm and natural landscapes and another that highlights industrialized city architecture.
Yet, despite the design posing this question of tradition or progress, the world of Kamigawa itself might have already found the answer.
The artwork across the whole set masterfully depicts a cyberpunk-world in a high-fantasy setting by synergy. The neon from the set’s appropriate name and its futuristic influences does not come from street signs and billboard ads: rather the distinct glow stems from mystical and magical sources.
In the art of Satoru Umezewa it’s spirits that provide the neon light, while in Satsuki’s card it’s her spell. In “Dept to the Kami”, the neon comes from the Kami’s natural glow. The neon signs do exist. They are in the background, providing a colourful and atmospheric backdrop for the important pieces of art that masterfully combine cyberpunk imagery with fantastic subjects.
With a worldbuilding so intricate, lively and thematically consistent across multiple different dimensions, the stage is set for dozens of intriguing little stories elaborating on the question of decline of tradition, emergence of modern technology and the over all societal change that is caused by it.
Such stories, the set seems to promise, indeed are provided for. There are mighty dragons apparently vanishing from the sky. There seem to be socio-political tensions going on, with rebels and a wandering emperor. A moonfolk manages to shape reality with the advanced technology at his disposal. There definitely is room for a great number of interesting stories, and certainly the Neon Dynasty in Kamigawa is the perfect stage for the mainstory of an alien race seeking to perfect all living beings through technology.
Lessons for worldbuilding:
- Make the world revolve around the theme of your story. This brings consistency and serves as a nourishing ground for your side-stories.
- All aspects of your would should support the theme: aesthetics, characters and mechanics.
Title image by: Anna Pavleeva
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