I've been with the game since the beginning. The day Team Covenant dropped their video playing MC at Gencon 2019 for the first time with Evan Johnson (the spokesman/media guy at FFG at the time), I preordered the core box. There have been doomers almost from the start. The first massive leak (just before Sinister Motives was revealed) that revealed over a year's worth of content releases for the game caused a bit of a kerfuffle in the community because it listed a Spider-Ham pack, which a lot of people assumed couldn't possibly be a real hero pack in the game, which would make the entire leak a fake. Turned out not to be fake, and there was a very vocal group of people who were upset about the game including Spider-Ham at all. The general sense I got of their annoyance was that it made the game less serious. From the beginning people have declared that X thing isn't possible because it's never been done before. I think the first one that really came to my attention was with how we were never going to get a certain villain because it was already in the game as a nemesis minion (I want to say it was Taskmaster (EDIT: Now that I think about it, it was Loki. People were really upset about Thor having Loki as a nemesis because they assumed no nemesis could ever be a villain)). I always thought that was a weird take, but I remember people being really upset about that. Turned out to not only NOT be true, but we ended up with Nebula being basically every possible type of character in the game (hero, villain, minion, and ally). Spider-Woman blew people's minds because she's the first that broke the deckbuilding rules of the game, and the general assumption was that you couldn't mix aspects at all. Personally I've always just tried to take the game as it comes. I'm excited about every release because the mechanics are what draw me most. There are some characters that I gravitate toward more just because they are my favorite characters, but I could not have cared less about Venom when he was announced and now he's one of the very few semi-permanent decks I have. Meanwhile, I love Scarlet Witch as a character but haven't played her in a long time. I've never really paid much attention to who designed what. To be honest, at Con of Heroes I have to look up who designed what so that when the designers show up to talk with us, I ask the right person to sign the hero card for one they designed. That being said, I've noticed that every designer on the MC team so far has a hero that I love and others that I'm not wild about (I don't hate any of the heroes; the closest I've come to hating any of them is probably Ms. Marvel or Black Panther, and it's honestly more indifference than hate, since neither of them have ever really jived with me). People will find reasons to hate on any aspect of the game because it's not the way they think it should be. Hell, I'm a bit miffed that we didn't get Beast as a hero in the X-Men waves, but it's not a big deal and I'm not going to give up the game over it. I'm sad to see Caleb go, but I can't imagine he won't be invited back as a guest designer, and I'm sure he's happy to stretch into something else. Given how much fun I've had with some of Tony's designs (I love Deadpool and Angel), I'm not upset that he's moved into the lead spot. And I've never thought the game was dying, particularly now that they've gone from two designers to three. Companies typically don't throw more resources at a property they are looking at deep-sixing. Sorry to write a novel. This is my favorite game and I don't get to talk much about it because I've stepped back a lot from the online community around it, which has sadly seen an influx of negativity I just don't have time for. I'm glad to see new faces showing up, though! If you ever make it Con of Heroes, we should get in a game. I highly recommend attending if you can. It's a ton of fun, and definitely one of my favorite events of the year.
I want to thank you personally for taking the time to write out this response. I'm glad the video resonated with you and you could express this feelings genuinely. I'll organize my response based on the paragraphs you left. 1. The game just has that instant appeal to hook you. When I picked up the core box on a whim I was completely obsessed, which lead to me starting this channel a few months back. I can imagine the sort of response a hero like Spider-Ham would get when he was revealed, he does seem really goofy on first glance. For me, it just makes me excited for the possibility of more "unserious" but beloved characters in the future! 2. This was something I wanted to touch on in the video and I think you expressed it really well here. Marvel Champions IS what the game releases, and even though some people may think it strays too far from their internal vision does not change that fact. I am genuinely impressed with the new innovations they are still making today within that same design space. 3. Any and all content gets me excited so I totally get you. Having favorites makes total sense and I would be lying if I said there wasn't a couple I gravitated towards myself (Cyclops, She-Hulk, etc.) 4. I really think this is a healthy way to go about it. I (obviously) have never looked into those differences either because nothing has stood out as it being wildly... unplayable or different? Beast was a popular one and after catching up on X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97 I am right there with you. Always a possibility far in the future for sure, and it'd be a fun marketing push because I think he'd DEFINITELY be the first in the wave. 5. The resource comment is a good point and something I thought about as well. I am really looking forward to this new era for the game and all the fun designs and experiences to be had. 6. Once again, thank you so much for your comment. Speaking on Con of Heroes... I really am making plans to head out there as soon as I heard about it! Thanks so much for the invitation and I'd love to get a game in. (Venom and Cyke maybe?)
Well said, sir. I agree with 99% of what was said, but I'll fight you over Black Panther!! Jk ✌🏾😎 The Team Covenant streams were great but almost made me dislike the game because I could never match their math skills, and so things like Heroic(and even some villains in Expert) were too tough for me so I'd get discouraged. That said, I've since made my peace with my skill level and have way more fun now, leaning into having thematic games over mind-numbingly challenging math puzzles. I also have embraced the card collection aspect of the game, bringing me back to my collection days in the 90s. The game didn't die when Boggs left, and it won't die without Caleb, not to mention he'll still be down the hall, so I imagine he's gonna have some influence on the game, as they've said in multiple interviews that like all the staff has some input into the games, if nothing else, as playtesters.
Welcome to the community, gave you a sub! Marvel Champions will die without Caleb, like MTG died after Richard Garfield (Sarcasm). I think its good we are moving to three designers and its always good to bring in new people and fresh ideas, Im excited one of them worked on Groot, Rocket and Star Lord as Im of the opinion the Guardians wave had the most interesting hero designs (even if they sometimes missed on power level). I think the highs and lows in Fanchi's designs are more pronounced and Caleb's are more consistent but sometimes abit formulaic that said I like them both
Thanks so much for checking out my channel and sticking around. I'm really excited for these new ideas and also love those three Guardian heroes as well! I'm excited to see where the future takes the game.
@@thecharredgambit Yeah I think the game is evolving and its good to change the designers. My favourite hero is a Tony design (x-23) as is my least favourite (Deadpool) so I think he just makes more polarising designs than Caleb.
@@thomasmcintosh1452 That's something I can get behind, and totally understand where you're coming from. Cable gotta be one of my top heroes easily so another plus for Tony in my book!
I think it's actually awesome how chill is Marvel Champions community. The only major points of contention I can think of were Spider-Ham (who is one of my favorites and I'd love to see Gwenpool or even Goose Rider in the future), inclusion of the 'Pool aspect (again, hope for Gwenpool at some point) and the 'MC is dead' period. And I believe all of these were small potatoes in comparison with dramas plaguing other communities on the net. Most negativity I see comes from people disappointed their favorite hasn't been adapted yet, which is unavoidable. The recent video celebrating the 5th anniversary with the phrase: ' and we're only getting startied' and all the great products coming in 2025 are bound to phase negativity out even further.
Oh yeah, I wanted to avoid trying to make it "seem" like a serious problem because I know that in these online communities that negativity can definitely shine more than positivity. Those are really interesting past points of contention, and I don't blame people for the way they feel, only to possibly have more tact in the way they express it. I'm so excited for what the game has for the future, so many more fun stories to be told.
Boggs was my favorite designer and when he left it bumped me out but it’s not like the other designers don’t make good products. Tony made Deadpool and next evo, Caleb made so many great products, and even the new designers they put on, made great heroes! Yes I’m bummed that Caleb is leaving but he has one more wave and the game is left in good hands!
Completely agree and I'm so excited for the future. A really fun time for me since my first time being around for a first wave/cycle release and all the reveals that come with it!
@@urloonyending? I'd be surprised if we're at the halfway point of the games lifecycle. did people say the same thing when Boggs left? imo the character designs have gotten steadily better since then
I think sharing your experience with the game is valid. I’m excited to see so many new players and content creators joining the game and sharing their thoughts and experiences! There are people who have been here from the start, and their memories with the game are valid…but sometimes there can be cynicism too. Let’s all just love the game together! -Boomguy PS: thanks for the shoutout!
That's what it's all about. It's such a good product and I want to keep the discourse positive, even in these changing times. No problem! I thought it was a great interview and really hope people give it a watch!
Pointing out that the game has reached its half-life or is sunsetting, are not negative comments. Rather, those comments often come from seasoned FFG customers who have learned over the years how to read the tea leaves and know, form experience, how FFG operates. Pulling Caleb off this project is a HUGE deal. It's a sign that the game is NOT ramping up, but rather winding down. It isn't "negative" to point this out, it's simply an observation. You also need to understand that companies create "celebrations" as a cover when delivering bad news with the hope of preventing customer fallout. I can't think of any other time FFG has celebrated how long one of their LCG's has been around, this feels like a first. Most of their games last between 8-10 years and then abruptly end, with little to no fanfare, MC will be no different. I would love for MC to have a 30 year run like MTG, but that's just not how FFG operates.
I want to thank you for leaving this comment, and I don't necessarily disagree with what you posted here regarding certain comments. Of course a companies first instinct is to keep the customer happy, and dropping big news like a designer leaving is definitely not going to be a way to do that. Putting it in a celebratory article does lessen the impact which I agree with. I also agree Caleb leaving is a huge deal because he has a history of excellent work on the product. My problem is that replacing one designer with two is, by definition, putting more resources into the game. More designers doesn't necessarily equate to more output, but to say the game is "definitively" winding down, they would have just taken him off of the project with no replacement (in my opinion). However, your interpretation is something I have a struggle seeing and where we may have to agree to disagree. If you take literally everything that has been stated during their conferences, interviews, and press releases, nothing about the game seems to be suggesting a slowdown. This past summer they announced they were putting more resources in the game. SWU is the biggest money maker for FFG obviously, but Marvel Champions is still large enough to make a decent profit for them as well. I'm not telling you you're wrong, not in the slightest and I can understand how you come to these conclusions. I do not have the same history with the company nor do I try to pretend I understand what's going on from behind the scenes. But from many of the first hand accounts from even the designers on the team, I don't believe Marvel Champions will have any problem making it to 10 years or beyond. Saying something is "sunsetting" or at a "half-life" is not necessarily negative, I agree with you as well. A problem is many of those comments were also tied with remarks about the competency about the rest of the designers and their past work which gives it a negative feeling. Not to make a sweeping generalization for all of the comments like that, just from my experience of what I saw.
@thecharredgambit Thanks for the thoughtful reply. LOTR lasted about 10 years, now in reprint, and AH is going into year 9 and seems to be going strong. My hope is that MC has a nice long future ahead. The distinct advantage MC has over the previous two is the vast amount of preexisting material available to work with. Designers don't need to invent characters or story, which is both a blessing and a curse as they attempt to recreate iconic characters players already love. I am always sceptical about new designers, their familiarity with Marvel in particular, and the fact that we won't know the quality of their output for quite a long time. I'm friends with a beta testing team with close ties to Caleb, so I may get some insights sooner than others, so hopefully this new team will be promising.
Your cooking. Is easy to only remember the highs and lows and form opinions on those but I would say every designer has that instead of just 1 making all the good and 1 making all the bad. I would say Caleb even designed some of the more controversial heroes but people still loved his designs overall
It's totally fine to have certain designs that don't vibe with you, it's just really nonconstructive to make sweeping statements like that in my opinion. I love all aspects of this game, even the parts that I (personally) think are a bit rough around the edges.
You can always fix heroes with cards later, usually by adding traits. Adding a few more Gamma cards (as they did to Asgard) would help Hulk. We see now with the SHIELD release, you can go back an add new play styles.
As a Magic the Gathering fan, this online vitriol is normal and usually a minority opinion. FFG has never done anything as egregious as WOTC. Trust me! Love seeing how much this game has evolved over the years. Keep the positive vibes flowing!
I wouldn't be surprised if 80% of the player base doesn't go to the FFG site, participate in a Discord, or listen/watch content. They don't question if the game is sunsetting, because they just play what they find at the store every few months.
Marvel Champions is SUCH a huge game outside of the general content space, I completely agree with you on that. They're going to continue to enjoy it as long as its around, no different from I.
I'd be surprised if it was even 10% of the player base that visits external communities. the avg buyer of MC is probably the person who says "cyclops is kewl" and picks up his pack. it's a bit of an anomaly imo; the IP is super beloved and card gamers are pretty used to community engagement, but for some reasons there's no overlap of these for champions
![Ep. 16: Marvel Champions' Core Set Revisited [Shadow of the Cast]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NjSjKKQCO7I/mqdefault.jpg)
![Nick Fury's New Aspect Cards [Marvel Champions]](/img/1.gif)
I've been with the game since the beginning. The day Team Covenant dropped their video playing MC at Gencon 2019 for the first time with Evan Johnson (the spokesman/media guy at FFG at the time), I preordered the core box. There have been doomers almost from the start. The first massive leak (just before Sinister Motives was revealed) that revealed over a year's worth of content releases for the game caused a bit of a kerfuffle in the community because it listed a Spider-Ham pack, which a lot of people assumed couldn't possibly be a real hero pack in the game, which would make the entire leak a fake. Turned out not to be fake, and there was a very vocal group of people who were upset about the game including Spider-Ham at all. The general sense I got of their annoyance was that it made the game less serious.
From the beginning people have declared that X thing isn't possible because it's never been done before. I think the first one that really came to my attention was with how we were never going to get a certain villain because it was already in the game as a nemesis minion (I want to say it was Taskmaster (EDIT: Now that I think about it, it was Loki. People were really upset about Thor having Loki as a nemesis because they assumed no nemesis could ever be a villain)). I always thought that was a weird take, but I remember people being really upset about that. Turned out to not only NOT be true, but we ended up with Nebula being basically every possible type of character in the game (hero, villain, minion, and ally). Spider-Woman blew people's minds because she's the first that broke the deckbuilding rules of the game, and the general assumption was that you couldn't mix aspects at all.
Personally I've always just tried to take the game as it comes. I'm excited about every release because the mechanics are what draw me most. There are some characters that I gravitate toward more just because they are my favorite characters, but I could not have cared less about Venom when he was announced and now he's one of the very few semi-permanent decks I have. Meanwhile, I love Scarlet Witch as a character but haven't played her in a long time.
I've never really paid much attention to who designed what. To be honest, at Con of Heroes I have to look up who designed what so that when the designers show up to talk with us, I ask the right person to sign the hero card for one they designed. That being said, I've noticed that every designer on the MC team so far has a hero that I love and others that I'm not wild about (I don't hate any of the heroes; the closest I've come to hating any of them is probably Ms. Marvel or Black Panther, and it's honestly more indifference than hate, since neither of them have ever really jived with me). People will find reasons to hate on any aspect of the game because it's not the way they think it should be. Hell, I'm a bit miffed that we didn't get Beast as a hero in the X-Men waves, but it's not a big deal and I'm not going to give up the game over it.
I'm sad to see Caleb go, but I can't imagine he won't be invited back as a guest designer, and I'm sure he's happy to stretch into something else. Given how much fun I've had with some of Tony's designs (I love Deadpool and Angel), I'm not upset that he's moved into the lead spot. And I've never thought the game was dying, particularly now that they've gone from two designers to three. Companies typically don't throw more resources at a property they are looking at deep-sixing.
Sorry to write a novel. This is my favorite game and I don't get to talk much about it because I've stepped back a lot from the online community around it, which has sadly seen an influx of negativity I just don't have time for. I'm glad to see new faces showing up, though! If you ever make it Con of Heroes, we should get in a game. I highly recommend attending if you can. It's a ton of fun, and definitely one of my favorite events of the year.
I want to thank you personally for taking the time to write out this response. I'm glad the video resonated with you and you could express this feelings genuinely. I'll organize my response based on the paragraphs you left.
1. The game just has that instant appeal to hook you. When I picked up the core box on a whim I was completely obsessed, which lead to me starting this channel a few months back. I can imagine the sort of response a hero like Spider-Ham would get when he was revealed, he does seem really goofy on first glance. For me, it just makes me excited for the possibility of more "unserious" but beloved characters in the future!
2. This was something I wanted to touch on in the video and I think you expressed it really well here. Marvel Champions IS what the game releases, and even though some people may think it strays too far from their internal vision does not change that fact. I am genuinely impressed with the new innovations they are still making today within that same design space.
3. Any and all content gets me excited so I totally get you. Having favorites makes total sense and I would be lying if I said there wasn't a couple I gravitated towards myself (Cyclops, She-Hulk, etc.)
4. I really think this is a healthy way to go about it. I (obviously) have never looked into those differences either because nothing has stood out as it being wildly... unplayable or different? Beast was a popular one and after catching up on X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97 I am right there with you. Always a possibility far in the future for sure, and it'd be a fun marketing push because I think he'd DEFINITELY be the first in the wave.
5. The resource comment is a good point and something I thought about as well. I am really looking forward to this new era for the game and all the fun designs and experiences to be had.
6. Once again, thank you so much for your comment. Speaking on Con of Heroes... I really am making plans to head out there as soon as I heard about it! Thanks so much for the invitation and I'd love to get a game in. (Venom and Cyke maybe?)
Well said, sir. I agree with 99% of what was said, but I'll fight you over Black Panther!! Jk ✌🏾😎
The Team Covenant streams were great but almost made me dislike the game because I could never match their math skills, and so things like Heroic(and even some villains in Expert) were too tough for me so I'd get discouraged.
That said, I've since made my peace with my skill level and have way more fun now, leaning into having thematic games over mind-numbingly challenging math puzzles.
I also have embraced the card collection aspect of the game, bringing me back to my collection days in the 90s.
The game didn't die when Boggs left, and it won't die without Caleb, not to mention he'll still be down the hall, so I imagine he's gonna have some influence on the game, as they've said in multiple interviews that like all the staff has some input into the games, if nothing else, as playtesters.
Welcome to the community, gave you a sub! Marvel Champions will die without Caleb, like MTG died after Richard Garfield (Sarcasm). I think its good we are moving to three designers and its always good to bring in new people and fresh ideas, Im excited one of them worked on Groot, Rocket and Star Lord as Im of the opinion the Guardians wave had the most interesting hero designs (even if they sometimes missed on power level). I think the highs and lows in Fanchi's designs are more pronounced and Caleb's are more consistent but sometimes abit formulaic that said I like them both
Thanks so much for checking out my channel and sticking around. I'm really excited for these new ideas and also love those three Guardian heroes as well! I'm excited to see where the future takes the game.
@@thecharredgambit Yeah I think the game is evolving and its good to change the designers. My favourite hero is a Tony design (x-23) as is my least favourite (Deadpool) so I think he just makes more polarising designs than Caleb.
@@thomasmcintosh1452 That's something I can get behind, and totally understand where you're coming from. Cable gotta be one of my top heroes easily so another plus for Tony in my book!
I think it's actually awesome how chill is Marvel Champions community. The only major points of contention I can think of were Spider-Ham (who is one of my favorites and I'd love to see Gwenpool or even Goose Rider in the future), inclusion of the 'Pool aspect (again, hope for Gwenpool at some point) and the 'MC is dead' period. And I believe all of these were small potatoes in comparison with dramas plaguing other communities on the net.
Most negativity I see comes from people disappointed their favorite hasn't been adapted yet, which is unavoidable. The recent video celebrating the 5th anniversary with the phrase: ' and we're only getting startied' and all the great products coming in 2025 are bound to phase negativity out even further.
Oh yeah, I wanted to avoid trying to make it "seem" like a serious problem because I know that in these online communities that negativity can definitely shine more than positivity. Those are really interesting past points of contention, and I don't blame people for the way they feel, only to possibly have more tact in the way they express it.
I'm so excited for what the game has for the future, so many more fun stories to be told.
Boggs was my favorite designer and when he left it bumped me out but it’s not like the other designers don’t make good products. Tony made Deadpool and next evo, Caleb made so many great products, and even the new designers they put on, made great heroes! Yes I’m bummed that Caleb is leaving but he has one more wave and the game is left in good hands!
Completely agree and I'm so excited for the future. A really fun time for me since my first time being around for a first wave/cycle release and all the reveals that come with it!
I’d lean toward cooking. I agree that saying the game is over because Caleb is leaving isn’t correct.
I agree! (obviously LOL)
Over is a relative term. Ending, yes. Over? Not yet.
@@urloonyending? I'd be surprised if we're at the halfway point of the games lifecycle.
did people say the same thing when Boggs left? imo the character designs have gotten steadily better since then
I think sharing your experience with the game is valid. I’m excited to see so many new players and content creators joining the game and sharing their thoughts and experiences! There are people who have been here from the start, and their memories with the game are valid…but sometimes there can be cynicism too. Let’s all just love the game together!
-Boomguy
PS: thanks for the shoutout!
That's what it's all about. It's such a good product and I want to keep the discourse positive, even in these changing times.
No problem! I thought it was a great interview and really hope people give it a watch!
@ 🙏🏼
Pointing out that the game has reached its half-life or is sunsetting, are not negative comments. Rather, those comments often come from seasoned FFG customers who have learned over the years how to read the tea leaves and know, form experience, how FFG operates. Pulling Caleb off this project is a HUGE deal. It's a sign that the game is NOT ramping up, but rather winding down. It isn't "negative" to point this out, it's simply an observation. You also need to understand that companies create "celebrations" as a cover when delivering bad news with the hope of preventing customer fallout. I can't think of any other time FFG has celebrated how long one of their LCG's has been around, this feels like a first. Most of their games last between 8-10 years and then abruptly end, with little to no fanfare, MC will be no different. I would love for MC to have a 30 year run like MTG, but that's just not how FFG operates.
I want to thank you for leaving this comment, and I don't necessarily disagree with what you posted here regarding certain comments.
Of course a companies first instinct is to keep the customer happy, and dropping big news like a designer leaving is definitely not going to be a way to do that. Putting it in a celebratory article does lessen the impact which I agree with.
I also agree Caleb leaving is a huge deal because he has a history of excellent work on the product. My problem is that replacing one designer with two is, by definition, putting more resources into the game. More designers doesn't necessarily equate to more output, but to say the game is "definitively" winding down, they would have just taken him off of the project with no replacement (in my opinion).
However, your interpretation is something I have a struggle seeing and where we may have to agree to disagree. If you take literally everything that has been stated during their conferences, interviews, and press releases, nothing about the game seems to be suggesting a slowdown. This past summer they announced they were putting more resources in the game. SWU is the biggest money maker for FFG obviously, but Marvel Champions is still large enough to make a decent profit for them as well.
I'm not telling you you're wrong, not in the slightest and I can understand how you come to these conclusions. I do not have the same history with the company nor do I try to pretend I understand what's going on from behind the scenes. But from many of the first hand accounts from even the designers on the team, I don't believe Marvel Champions will have any problem making it to 10 years or beyond.
Saying something is "sunsetting" or at a "half-life" is not necessarily negative, I agree with you as well. A problem is many of those comments were also tied with remarks about the competency about the rest of the designers and their past work which gives it a negative feeling. Not to make a sweeping generalization for all of the comments like that, just from my experience of what I saw.
@thecharredgambit Thanks for the thoughtful reply. LOTR lasted about 10 years, now in reprint, and AH is going into year 9 and seems to be going strong. My hope is that MC has a nice long future ahead. The distinct advantage MC has over the previous two is the vast amount of preexisting material available to work with. Designers don't need to invent characters or story, which is both a blessing and a curse as they attempt to recreate iconic characters players already love. I am always sceptical about new designers, their familiarity with Marvel in particular, and the fact that we won't know the quality of their output for quite a long time. I'm friends with a beta testing team with close ties to Caleb, so I may get some insights sooner than others, so hopefully this new team will be promising.
Your cooking. Is easy to only remember the highs and lows and form opinions on those but I would say every designer has that instead of just 1 making all the good and 1 making all the bad. I would say Caleb even designed some of the more controversial heroes but people still loved his designs overall
It's totally fine to have certain designs that don't vibe with you, it's just really nonconstructive to make sweeping statements like that in my opinion.
I love all aspects of this game, even the parts that I (personally) think are a bit rough around the edges.
You can always fix heroes with cards later, usually by adding traits. Adding a few more Gamma cards (as they did to Asgard) would help Hulk. We see now with the SHIELD release, you can go back an add new play styles.
As a Magic the Gathering fan, this online vitriol is normal and usually a minority opinion. FFG has never done anything as egregious as WOTC. Trust me! Love seeing how much this game has evolved over the years. Keep the positive vibes flowing!
That's what it's all about! I'm really excited for the future the game has.
I wouldn't be surprised if 80% of the player base doesn't go to the FFG site, participate in a Discord, or listen/watch content. They don't question if the game is sunsetting, because they just play what they find at the store every few months.
Caleb said their online interactions between all those things, podcasts, RUclips, discord etc. is equal to roughly 5% of their overall sales.
Marvel Champions is SUCH a huge game outside of the general content space, I completely agree with you on that. They're going to continue to enjoy it as long as its around, no different from I.
I'd be surprised if it was even 10% of the player base that visits external communities. the avg buyer of MC is probably the person who says "cyclops is kewl" and picks up his pack.
it's a bit of an anomaly imo; the IP is super beloved and card gamers are pretty used to community engagement, but for some reasons there's no overlap of these for champions