I was trying to figure out why the symbol for Phyrexia is what it is. And it's been that way since at least Urza's block. It's a simple, yet memorable symbol. And the way it's used, it's also somewhat intimidating.
Then I remembered something from math. There's a certain Greek letter that looks almost identical. I forget how it's used, but that doesn't really matter.
The name of this letter? "Phi". Very subtle and well executed, WotC. Well done.
What else was a subtle brilliance in Magic that you've seen over your time playing?
Mental Misstep Hysteria sweeps the nation! Legacy format to never be the same! Wizards releases new card made of space-age polymers and Tang, infused with the DNA of Ramses II, Alexander the Great, and Joe Montana! Every Legacy deck to begin “4 Mental Misstep and 56 other, less exciting cards” forever more!
It gets better. Phi is used for the Golden Ratio - the ratio of the long side of a rectangle to the short side that's inherently aesthetically pleasing. It's a number that's found everywhere in nature.
What's Phyrexia about? Oh, right: imposing their ideal of perfection on everyone and everything.
I personally love the detail that went into Kicker. The recent IPA queues on MTGO reminded me: colorless kicker makes effects bigger, but colored kicker adds something new to the spell/permanent. Also, colored kicker always have the appropriate Coalition symbol in there somewhere - it's often subtle, but it's there.
Maybe this reality is actually an alternate reality of a reality in which New Phyrexia was the joke expansion and Mirrodin Pure was the obvious expansion, except our reality is the Time Shifted reality which is opposite of that other reality which is that actual reality.
One more time with vigor.. what was I thinking downloading IE9??
Teia, that's a pretty cool easter egg. See them All
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Out of the blackness and stench of the engulfing swamp emerged a shimmering figure. Only the splattered armor and ichor-stained sword hinted at the unfathomable evil the knight had just laid waste.
I think, and I could be totally wrong here, that Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind has what he does in his flavor text. I think it comes out to something like "When Z (that being Niv Mizzet) is turned 90 degrees draw a card and when you draw a card target gets 1 damage".I have also read that, when turned 90 degrees, it reads Niv Mizzet
Seriously, though, M:TG history is filled with this. Early examples include the Stuffy Doll, Ron Spencer hiding his friends' names in all of his art, Onulets = Soul Net, etc.
Maybe this reality is actually an alternate reality of a reality in which New Phyrexia was the joke expansion and Mirrodin Pure was the obvious expansion, except our reality is the Time Shifted reality which is opposite of that other reality which is that actual reality.
About any "subpar" mechanics or cards: Context is king.
If I make a templating or grammar error, let me know.
The franchise MtG most resembles is Battlestar Galactica. Why? Its players exist in, at most, a dozen different models at any given point in time, with perhaps up to 3% variation, 5% if you're lucky.
The best subtlety is unintentional subtlety, like in Uktabi Orangutan, Clergy en-Vec, or straight-up borderline rough, like in Ekundu Cyclops. MY favorite types of MTG subtlety...
This is why i love magic so much...it's a awesome and clever game!!!
Keep these coming guys
I dont have any in mind to share atm, so ill just post Phi
ΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦ
φ
Ally colored symbols from the Coalition Relic are incorporated into the arts for the Planeshift battlemages.
Likewise, enemy colored symbols are incorporated into the arts for the Apocalypse volver cycle.
Lightning Bolt was last reprinted in Anthologies. It hadn't been Standard legal in a looooooooong time, because it was 'too strong', so when it was reprinted, people were happy. And, the flavor text is "The sparkmage shrieked, calling on the rage of the storms of his youth. To his surprise, the sky responded with a fierce energy he'd never thought to see again."
The spell itself, Lightning Bolt, is the 'rage of the storms of his youth', and the 'fierce energy he'd never thought to see again', since it's been gone a long time.
Reassembling Skeleton's is funny, because every time you bring it back, it's the same CARD, technically, but it's a different game object. So, even though you're seeing the same 'bones', it's not the same 'skeleton'.
Lightning Bolt was last reprinted in Anthologies. It hadn't been Standard legal in a looooooooong time, because it was 'too strong', so when it was reprinted, people were happy. And, the flavor text is "The sparkmage shrieked, calling on the rage of the storms of his youth. To his surprise, the sky responded with a fierce energy he'd never thought to see again."
The spell itself, Lightning Bolt, is the 'rage of the storms of his youth', and the 'fierce energy he'd never thought to see again', since it's been gone a long time.
Reassembling Skeleton's is funny, because every time you bring it back, it's the same CARD, technically, but it's a different game object. So, even though you're seeing the same 'bones', it's not the same 'skeleton'.
i'm going to skip right over the part where an individual actually made those (rather excellent) connections just from scanning commons in a core set.
excellent work.
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Modern: G Tron, Vannifar, Jund, Druid/Vizier combo, Humans, Eldrazi Stompy (Serum Powder), Amulet, Grishoalbrand, Breach Titan, Turns, Eternal Command, As Foretold Living End, Elves, Cheerios, RUG Scapeshift
I have it on good authority that the Phyrexians are going to win. However, Venser is then going to teleport the whole of New Phyrexia inside the Zendikar Hedrons, leaving the Phyrexians and Eldrazi trapped in an eternal struggle of the mechanics that nobody likes.
The next set will feature both infect and annihilator, and be called Maro'sWetDreamia. It will also feature a new Jace, to ensure that it sells well.
Then I remembered something from math. There's a certain Greek letter that looks almost identical. I forget how it's used, but that doesn't really matter.
The name of this letter? "Phi". Very subtle and well executed, WotC. Well done.
What else was a subtle brilliance in Magic that you've seen over your time playing?
^^Thanks dantcg!
What's Phyrexia about? Oh, right: imposing their ideal of perfection on everyone and everything.
I personally love the detail that went into Kicker. The recent IPA queues on MTGO reminded me: colorless kicker makes effects bigger, but colored kicker adds something new to the spell/permanent. Also, colored kicker always have the appropriate Coalition symbol in there somewhere - it's often subtle, but it's there.
Level 1 Judge. I tweet. Member of clan <Limited>. The Dunning-Kruger effect.
Teia, that's a pretty cool easter egg. See them All
How is any of this related to prog rock?
RRR Buy some of my art! Prints! RRR
TEH NUGGETZ
Seriously, though, M:TG history is filled with this. Early examples include the Stuffy Doll, Ron Spencer hiding his friends' names in all of his art, Onulets = Soul Net, etc.
B Can you solve The Enigma Puzzle ?
MY MIND HAS BEEN BLOWN!
I can't really think of any subtly...except for maybe all the Planeswalker armors, like Void and whatnot.
:symw::symg::symu:Turbo Fog:symu::symg::symw:
Legacy:
Dredge
:symg::symw::symr:Enchantress:symr::symw::symg:
:symg:Combo Elves:symg:
:symr:Burn:symr:
Modern:
:symr::symu:PiF Storm:symu::symr:
EDH
:symr:Norin the Wary:symr:
:symg::symu:Experiment Kraj:symu::symg:
:symu::symb:Wrexial, the Risen Deep:symb::symu:
:symw::symg::symr::symb::symu:Cromat: Mazes End:symu::symb::symr::symg::symw:
Warp World Primer!
They're similar, but not identical symbols.
Level 1 Judge. I tweet. Member of clan <Limited>. The Dunning-Kruger effect.
More commonly though, phi is the symbol used for flux in physics.
About any "subpar" mechanics or cards: Context is king.
If I make a templating or grammar error, let me know.
The franchise MtG most resembles is Battlestar Galactica. Why? Its players exist in, at most, a dozen different models at any given point in time, with perhaps up to 3% variation, 5% if you're lucky.
Keep these coming guys
I dont have any in mind to share atm, so ill just post Phi
ΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦ
φ
Δε φοβάμαι τίποτα...
Είμαι Άνεργος.
Grimstringer on Cockatrice, add me if you wanna
Likewise, enemy colored symbols are incorporated into the arts for the Apocalypse volver cycle.
Selling
-Legacy-
Merfolk
Zoo
Burn
Reanimator
:0mana:Karn, Silver Golem:0mana:
:symw::symr:Jor Kadeen:symr::symw:
I don't get it.
Lightning Bolt was last reprinted in Anthologies. It hadn't been Standard legal in a looooooooong time, because it was 'too strong', so when it was reprinted, people were happy. And, the flavor text is "The sparkmage shrieked, calling on the rage of the storms of his youth. To his surprise, the sky responded with a fierce energy he'd never thought to see again."
The spell itself, Lightning Bolt, is the 'rage of the storms of his youth', and the 'fierce energy he'd never thought to see again', since it's been gone a long time.
Reassembling Skeleton's is funny, because every time you bring it back, it's the same CARD, technically, but it's a different game object. So, even though you're seeing the same 'bones', it's not the same 'skeleton'.
The latest Comprehensive Rules are also good, and can be found here.
i'm going to skip right over the part where an individual actually made those (rather excellent) connections just from scanning commons in a core set.
excellent work.
Either that or Phyrexia is full of bike messengers.
Yeah I noticed that when Scars came out here, too. I had never noticed the bike poles until then
And Myr Sire is Jesus.