Of all the planes Magic has visited in the 'main series' games - 8 have existed in only a single block or set (Not counting than those which have been destroyed - such as Rath) Three of which are pre-Modern.
I know a lot of people will want to say "Dominaria!" However, for the purposes of this poll, Dominaria has had more sets than any other, and this poll is for single-block (or single-set in Rabia's case) planes.
Personally - I'd like to see a return to Mercadia. Partially because it's a stones-throw away from Dominaria and because I liked the flavour almost as much as I liked Ravnica. Yeah - the set itself sucked because the power level was way too low and the mechanics were poor, but the plane itself was cool.
UPDATE: Added Ulgrotha. While most of the life on it had been wiped out, the plane itself had not been and a magical rift has been changing the plane in such a way that it was 'recovering' last we knew about it. Unlike Rath where the plane itself collapsed.
It was pointed out that Theros, Lorwyn and Alara were all in Origins and thus they did not meet the criteria I had set out. When I tried to edit the poll it competely screwed up so I deleted the poll - so I unfortunately had to reset it.
These are now the only 5 planes that have only existed in a single block or set. (Also Rath - but that was destroyed) This is not counting supplimental products like PlaneChase or Portal.
I still think Ulgrotha is superior to Innistrad, particularly now that its post-Eldrazi. That would be my vote if it were an option.
And Lorwyn was featured again recently in Origins.
By that metric, so was Alara (it was Gideon's first walk as Lorwyn was Nissa's)
I was under the impression Ulgrotha was destroyed? (I had forgotten the name of it - I called it 'Serra's Realm' in my first post). If I'm mistaken then I will add it to the poll.
EDIT: After doing some research I added Ulgrotha to the poll.
EDIT2: After deliberation, removing Alara, Theros and Lorwyin because they were in Origins. It's not much of a poll now though
Not something that should be done too often by WotC but I like when they draw on mythos that actually exist in our world. It creates a sort of "connection" between the game and my experiences in life.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely think WotC design should focus on creating new worlds and new mythos. But once in a while, when they ground a set in something that's already familiar, it makes the suspension of belief that much easier.
Aww, I had it multiple before but I had to delete that poll because it screwed up when I deleted the three out of origins. Oh well. There are only 5 options now (the original had 7, but I added one and deleted 3.)
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Well, if Origins counts to remove Alara etc, it should also count to include Vryn and Regatha (and Kaladesh, but this one we're visiting next block anyway) in the list.
I don't think Theros, Lorwyn, and Alara should have been removed for being mentioned in Origins. Origins was a core set, not a visit to that plane with a story line.
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Modern: Mono-Red Control, Lantern Control, Eldrazi Taxes, Skred Infect
Pauper: Affinity
EDH: Gaddock Teeg Kithkin Tribal, Meren
Legacy: 8 Rack, Omnitell (Both in progress)
Aww, I had it multiple before but I had to delete that poll because it screwed up when I deleted the three out of origins. Oh well. There are only 5 options now (the original had 7, but I added one and deleted 3.)
I'd love to know what happened after Baron Sengir took his army through the Dwarven Portal. It could have been an amazing Checkov's gun moment if he showed up on Innistrad with his vampire army to fight the eldrazi, but I knew they wouldn't do that.
I don't think Theros, Lorwyn, and Alara should have been removed for being mentioned in Origins. Origins was a core set, not a visit to that plane with a story line.
I can see either point. Yes I wasn't including core sets - but Origins WAS a visit to those planes with a story line and almost all new cards with only a few reprints. Origins is the origin stories of the 5 Gatewatch planeswalkers - where they came from and how they became to be planeswalkers and their 'first walk'. It absolutely did have a story and absolutely did visit those planes and every card in it came from one of those planes (http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-storyline/620933-origins-cards-by-plane)
In my Top 5 favorite MtG Planes, it was a fantastic world cluttered by poor mechanics. It needs some more love, a touch of paint, and some in-flavour Planeswalkers with Tamiyo taking center stage. It would give our resident Moonfolk Planeswalker some time to shine on stage in center light.
I don't think Alara, Theros, and Lorwyn should have been DQ'ed. Origins was 272 cards spread out over 10 different planes, with a good number of reprints. It focused on the Walkers, and furthered no other story other than that of the Gatewatch.
Still, we're already going back to Theros. They already left the sequel hook there with Ajani's mission to bring the gods down.
I can totally also see going back to Tarkir for a civil-war like scenario, where the clans finally get sick of the Elder Dragon's oppression and rise up- each feud being centralized around a color, with the "establishment" part of the clan taking the partner color, while the rebellious part taking the enemy color that was dropped for DTK. It'd be Dromoka WG vs. the Kin-Tree "necromancers" WB; Ojutai WU vs. truther monks UR; Silumgar UB vs. a Naga rebellion aided by the Rakshasha BG; Kolaghan BR vs. Warriors who want to reinstall the more honorable aspects of Mardu combat WR; and Atarka RG vs. shamanists leading a people tired of being considered food chain rungs UG. Can anyone think of a better excuse to reprint the enemy-color fetches?
I voted for Ulgrotha, though. The Homelands was really the first set that really, truly got you invested in the actual flavor and characters of the world. They had tried with Ice Age and Fallen Empires, but hadn't gone far enough, and they completely dropped the ball with Legends by making a bunch of gold colored cards that had you going "wait, why do I care about this guy?". Homelands was perfect from that standpoint, but of course, everyone remembers it for the bland, overpriced, underpowered cards, which isn't the sets fault so much as a sign of the times. Now that R&D has a much better grip on where they want the ideal power level of magic to be at, I'd love to see them get a do-over.
In my Top 5 favorite MtG Planes, it was a fantastic world cluttered by poor mechanics. It needs some more love, a touch of paint, and some in-flavour Planeswalkers with Tamiyo taking center stage. It would give our resident Moonfolk Planeswalker some time to shine on stage in center light.
Ah, an idle daydream of mine...
Actually, time has been quite kind to Kamigawa block, or at east the first two sets. There's a number of tournament level cards that came out of it, people keep asking for more ninja, and EDH means the legendary theme is finally doing its thing. I'd say that the main problems at this point is that some of the more interesting mechanics, like Offering, Sweep, and Epic, all had so few cards, Splice onto Arcane should have just been Splice onto ___ (so it would be somewhat less parasitic and able to be used in other sets), and Bushido, which a was well received mechanic that could have been evergreen, was given a name that tied it to the plane.
On topic, I voted for Rabiah. Yes, its based on real world myth, but enough time has passed in game that current era Rabiah could be devoid of any such references so long as you avoid Alexandria and Baghdad. Rabiah is a unique setting. While the desert world thing is going to come up in the future "Egyptian" set, Arabian mythology is very different and incredibly rich, and they can bring in pre-Arab myths as well, like Akkadian, Sumerian, etc.
Oh, and they could also play up a Dune subtheme, given that Arrakis is heavily based on Arabia, and the Freemen based on the Bedouin. Sandworms can be Sandwurms.
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Kamigawa. Snakes and weird spirits are always fun. Plus the ogres and oni, can't forget those. They've also got the coolest goblin design in the Multiverse.
I could see a Return to Tarkir where the Elder Dragons, in an attempt to save their hides from a Khanrising War, frame Sarkhan as the Most Dangerous Man in Tarkir - he's the one that destabilized the plane and made our return a necessity, he's the source of all your grief. Cut the snake's head off - kill Sarkhan. You just have to have a populace that's beaten down enough that they're simmering with impotent rage; then they'll buy anything you try selling them.
Lorewise, I found Theros to be an exercise in boredom. Narratively, I'd be into a return to Theros if Ajani found himself the center of a paradox - becoming a God to the Godless. A rallying point for the people that are opposed to the Gods that has Godhood thrust upon him by the magic of Theros. I would make embracing Red a part of Ajani's arc - taking the blind of rage the leonin, his followers, and forging into a weapon with which to lash out against the Gods and their followers. At the same time, I would start Elspeth on a path to embracing Green and Blue; Green in accepting that there are people on Theros that have legitimate reasons to love the Gods, Blue in finding a way to help the Godloving crowd defend themselves and their way of life from Ajani's people. Ultimately, I'd have it set up so that Ajani and Elspeth wind up going against one another.
I'd count the Origins ones here, it seems kind of odd to exclude them. I get the reasoning, but it seems akin to calling Kaladesh a "Return to Kaladesh" because it had some cards in Origins. It's not, at least to me.
Kamigawa gets my vote though either way. I love, love the flavor of it. Mechanically I can see the issues, I've had some hard time fitting in some of the cards for my Commander decks, but I want to represent Kamigawa just because I love the flavor there so much. I really, really hope that we can get a legitimate return to it someday, without turning it into a Phyrexian/Eldrazi nightmare. Have Bolas attack it for all I care.
Especially now that Tamiyo has been around, I think Kamigawa should be revisited. Storywise the set was golden (which is why it's one of my favorites), mechanically it was kinda buns, but that can be changed in a new set.
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Given the option Tarkir, rather enjoyed the first block and like to see how'd the clans would resurface. Otherwise Tarkir is #3 on my list of plane I wanna see again with Alara and Theros being #1 and #2.
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I'd like to see a return to Kamigawa, because I started somewhere in Mirrodin and Kamigawa was my first new world. So its kind of nostalgia.
I'd like to see a return to Ulgrotha just for a joke but I doubt they'd do it
kamigawa was the first plane when i was first introduced to MtG, but didn't start playing until Innistrad. Kamigawa made me think, ohh that looks cool.
First off, I really want to go back to post-apocalyptic Dominaria one last time. It's an important place, what with being the Nexus of the Multiverse and all. I think it should be formally destroyed and erased, so that we can see the ramifications throughout the multiverse.
Beyond that, I guarantee we'll be back to Kamigawa soon. It's a land of rich flavor, and I think R&D wants another crack at it. Sadly, they'll never go back to Ulgotha, since Innistrad was almost explicitly created to replace it.
So all that being said, let's go back to Rabiah!! There's so much un-mined flavor, and it could be a great vehicle for unbroken reprints. This is just the beginning of my storyline wants. I want to see the Gatewatch trip into a plane from Magic's past every once in a while. Let's say they have to chase Nicol Bolas to Rath for one block. That would be tight.
Beyond that, I guarantee we'll be back to Kamigawa soon. It's a land of rich flavor, and I think R&D wants another crack at it. Sadly, they'll never go back to Ulgotha, since Innistrad was almost explicitly created to replace it.
Don't hold your breath or put any money on it. MaRo is asked fairly regularly if they plan on going back to Kamigawa and the answer has always been some variant of we go back to popular planes. Kamigawa was one of our least popular worlds we have no plans on going back to it.
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I know a lot of people will want to say "Dominaria!" However, for the purposes of this poll, Dominaria has had more sets than any other, and this poll is for single-block (or single-set in Rabia's case) planes.
Personally - I'd like to see a return to Mercadia. Partially because it's a stones-throw away from Dominaria and because I liked the flavour almost as much as I liked Ravnica. Yeah - the set itself sucked because the power level was way too low and the mechanics were poor, but the plane itself was cool.
UPDATE: Added Ulgrotha. While most of the life on it had been wiped out, the plane itself had not been and a magical rift has been changing the plane in such a way that it was 'recovering' last we knew about it. Unlike Rath where the plane itself collapsed.
It was pointed out that Theros, Lorwyn and Alara were all in Origins and thus they did not meet the criteria I had set out. When I tried to edit the poll it competely screwed up so I deleted the poll - so I unfortunately had to reset it.
These are now the only 5 planes that have only existed in a single block or set. (Also Rath - but that was destroyed) This is not counting supplimental products like PlaneChase or Portal.
RGTron
UGInfect
URStorm
WUBRAd Nauseam
BRGrishoalbrand
URGScapeshift
WBGAbzan Company
WUBRGAmulet Titan
BRGLiving End
WGBogles
By that metric, so was Alara (it was Gideon's first walk as Lorwyn was Nissa's)
I was under the impression Ulgrotha was destroyed? (I had forgotten the name of it - I called it 'Serra's Realm' in my first post). If I'm mistaken then I will add it to the poll.
EDIT: After doing some research I added Ulgrotha to the poll.
EDIT2: After deliberation, removing Alara, Theros and Lorwyin because they were in Origins. It's not much of a poll now though
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely think WotC design should focus on creating new worlds and new mythos. But once in a while, when they ground a set in something that's already familiar, it makes the suspension of belief that much easier.
Can't pick more than one so Rabia it is.
Aww, I had it multiple before but I had to delete that poll because it screwed up when I deleted the three out of origins. Oh well. There are only 5 options now (the original had 7, but I added one and deleted 3.)
Modern: Mono-Red Control, Lantern Control, Eldrazi Taxes, Skred Infect
Pauper: Affinity
EDH: Gaddock Teeg Kithkin Tribal, Meren
Legacy: 8 Rack, Omnitell (Both in progress)
That's alright. I think I got my point across.
EDH: Grand Arbiter $tax, Freyalise Stompy, Mimeoplasm Death From the Grave
I can see either point. Yes I wasn't including core sets - but Origins WAS a visit to those planes with a story line and almost all new cards with only a few reprints. Origins is the origin stories of the 5 Gatewatch planeswalkers - where they came from and how they became to be planeswalkers and their 'first walk'. It absolutely did have a story and absolutely did visit those planes and every card in it came from one of those planes (http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-storyline/620933-origins-cards-by-plane)
Marath, Will of the Wild
Friendly Kess Twin Combo
Tatyova - Sir Bounce A Lot
Gonti's Luxury Pie
Prime (Eldrazi) Speaker Zegana (Retired)
In my Top 5 favorite MtG Planes, it was a fantastic world cluttered by poor mechanics. It needs some more love, a touch of paint, and some in-flavour Planeswalkers with Tamiyo taking center stage. It would give our resident Moonfolk Planeswalker some time to shine on stage in center light.
Ah, an idle daydream of mine...
Still, we're already going back to Theros. They already left the sequel hook there with Ajani's mission to bring the gods down.
I can totally also see going back to Tarkir for a civil-war like scenario, where the clans finally get sick of the Elder Dragon's oppression and rise up- each feud being centralized around a color, with the "establishment" part of the clan taking the partner color, while the rebellious part taking the enemy color that was dropped for DTK. It'd be Dromoka WG vs. the Kin-Tree "necromancers" WB; Ojutai WU vs. truther monks UR; Silumgar UB vs. a Naga rebellion aided by the Rakshasha BG; Kolaghan BR vs. Warriors who want to reinstall the more honorable aspects of Mardu combat WR; and Atarka RG vs. shamanists leading a people tired of being considered food chain rungs UG. Can anyone think of a better excuse to reprint the enemy-color fetches?
I voted for Ulgrotha, though. The Homelands was really the first set that really, truly got you invested in the actual flavor and characters of the world. They had tried with Ice Age and Fallen Empires, but hadn't gone far enough, and they completely dropped the ball with Legends by making a bunch of gold colored cards that had you going "wait, why do I care about this guy?". Homelands was perfect from that standpoint, but of course, everyone remembers it for the bland, overpriced, underpowered cards, which isn't the sets fault so much as a sign of the times. Now that R&D has a much better grip on where they want the ideal power level of magic to be at, I'd love to see them get a do-over.
Actually, time has been quite kind to Kamigawa block, or at east the first two sets. There's a number of tournament level cards that came out of it, people keep asking for more ninja, and EDH means the legendary theme is finally doing its thing. I'd say that the main problems at this point is that some of the more interesting mechanics, like Offering, Sweep, and Epic, all had so few cards, Splice onto Arcane should have just been Splice onto ___ (so it would be somewhat less parasitic and able to be used in other sets), and Bushido, which a was well received mechanic that could have been evergreen, was given a name that tied it to the plane.
On topic, I voted for Rabiah. Yes, its based on real world myth, but enough time has passed in game that current era Rabiah could be devoid of any such references so long as you avoid Alexandria and Baghdad. Rabiah is a unique setting. While the desert world thing is going to come up in the future "Egyptian" set, Arabian mythology is very different and incredibly rich, and they can bring in pre-Arab myths as well, like Akkadian, Sumerian, etc.
Oh, and they could also play up a Dune subtheme, given that Arrakis is heavily based on Arabia, and the Freemen based on the Bedouin. Sandworms can be Sandwurms.
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
I could see a Return to Tarkir where the Elder Dragons, in an attempt to save their hides from a Khanrising War, frame Sarkhan as the Most Dangerous Man in Tarkir - he's the one that destabilized the plane and made our return a necessity, he's the source of all your grief. Cut the snake's head off - kill Sarkhan. You just have to have a populace that's beaten down enough that they're simmering with impotent rage; then they'll buy anything you try selling them.
Lorewise, I found Theros to be an exercise in boredom. Narratively, I'd be into a return to Theros if Ajani found himself the center of a paradox - becoming a God to the Godless. A rallying point for the people that are opposed to the Gods that has Godhood thrust upon him by the magic of Theros. I would make embracing Red a part of Ajani's arc - taking the blind of rage the leonin, his followers, and forging into a weapon with which to lash out against the Gods and their followers. At the same time, I would start Elspeth on a path to embracing Green and Blue; Green in accepting that there are people on Theros that have legitimate reasons to love the Gods, Blue in finding a way to help the Godloving crowd defend themselves and their way of life from Ajani's people. Ultimately, I'd have it set up so that Ajani and Elspeth wind up going against one another.
Kamigawa gets my vote though either way. I love, love the flavor of it. Mechanically I can see the issues, I've had some hard time fitting in some of the cards for my Commander decks, but I want to represent Kamigawa just because I love the flavor there so much. I really, really hope that we can get a legitimate return to it someday, without turning it into a Phyrexian/Eldrazi nightmare. Have Bolas attack it for all I care.
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I'd like to see a return to Ulgrotha just for a joke but I doubt they'd do it
kamigawa was the first plane when i was first introduced to MtG, but didn't start playing until Innistrad. Kamigawa made me think, ohh that looks cool.
We really need to go back.
EDH
Roon of the Hidden Realms UGW
Modern
UW TronUW
Blocks Constructed
KamigawaU|Return to RavnicaUW|TherosUWG
Beyond that, I guarantee we'll be back to Kamigawa soon. It's a land of rich flavor, and I think R&D wants another crack at it. Sadly, they'll never go back to Ulgotha, since Innistrad was almost explicitly created to replace it.
So all that being said, let's go back to Rabiah!! There's so much un-mined flavor, and it could be a great vehicle for unbroken reprints. This is just the beginning of my storyline wants. I want to see the Gatewatch trip into a plane from Magic's past every once in a while. Let's say they have to chase Nicol Bolas to Rath for one block. That would be tight.
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Don't hold your breath or put any money on it. MaRo is asked fairly regularly if they plan on going back to Kamigawa and the answer has always been some variant of we go back to popular planes. Kamigawa was one of our least popular worlds we have no plans on going back to it.
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I Became insane with long Intervals of horrible Sanity
All Religion, my friend is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination and poetry.
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