I'm hoping Narset's not dead. She was my favorite of the khans. The most fleshed out character wise to me. I don't really care whether her spark ignites or not but I'd be disappointed if that's all of what Narset's story has to offer.
I thought that the flavor in Zurgo's card about giving him strengh when he defeats a foe is that he gains experience as a fighter instead of him been a vampire orc.
After having read Narset's Uncharted Realms and then this past week's story, I was not under the impression that she was bound for planeswalker status. I understand I may have missed a note made by Mark or someone, but the stories themselves do not heavily hint, in my opinion, of her having a spark.
That aside, I agree that the story felt rushed. However, overall, I do appreciate Jennifer's entries. I think the story suffered purely for lack of space. and placing that aside, I also felt Sarkhan's (who has begun being referred to as Vol in this piece more so than we have heard in the past to my recollection) attachment to her was also unrealistic. We also have been told that the Eldrazi have been freed for two years. Of course, perhaps Tarkir takes place before that two-year time-stamp, but since we were not told so, I would assume it has been that long. Now, for him to not talk with anyone for two years is rather shocking, so either the two-year note in the Planeswalker Update article was in error, or, indeed, Tarkir takes place sooner after the release of the Titans.
Regardless, I like the general direction of Uncharted Realms now (perhaps they need to re-name the column now that we are visiting it to find the charted continuity). The story will clip along, we'll get more counts of character interaction, but most likely less character development between characters, mostly due to the limited word count and rotating author set-up.
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I thought that the flavor in Zurgo's card about giving him strengh when he defeats a foe is that he gains experience as a fighter instead of him been a vampire orc.
I read it more as a sort of "He's just such a bloodthirsty bugger that killing an enemy gets him all hyped up" sort of thing. He seems like more of a 'bloodlust makes him stronger' kind of character than a 'disciplined warrior who learns something from every fight' kind of character.
I actually found Sarkhan's reaction to Narset pretty realistic, just not adequately fleshed out. He's been enslaved by Bolas since before the events on Zendikar, and I doubt being an elder dragon's personal lackey gives you much time for meaningful personal interaction. Narset probably *is* the first person he's really spoken to in at least two years, and certainly the first to treat him kindly.
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I actually found Sarkhan's reaction to Narset pretty realistic, just not adequately fleshed out. He's been enslaved by Bolas since before the events on Zendikar, and I doubt being an elder dragon's personal lackey gives you much time for meaningful personal interaction. Narset probably *is* the first person he's really spoken to in at least two years, and certainly the first to treat him kindly.
in fairness, he was never much of a social butterfly even before he joined up on Team Bolas. Basically everyone he met on Jund was handled sort of poorly.
Guys, Narset isn't going to become a Plansewalker because she's dead. Deal with it. Proof.
Maro kills people with his love.
And since when does Maro have a say in creative?
Also this is hardly proof. Maro never lies, but as long as he does not explicitly state something you have you take what he says with a table spoon full of salt.
I mean, I'm not advocating Narset being a planeswalker/alive, but just because Maro says something in a vague manner does not make it 100% confirmed fact either.
I wouldn't be surprised if Narset's planeswalker spark ignited at that point. The story was pretty vague about her exact fate, by saying her body crumpled. There could also be an alternate present after the events of Fate Reforged, so we might see a different version of Narset in Dragons of Tarkir, maybe a mono-colored one like Yasova. It would be kind of funny to see Sarkhan's reaction to new Narset who doesn't recognize him but to whom he feels indebted. Alternatively, Narset Planeswalker might planeswalk to the new timeline. That could make an awesome love triangle.
With the whole debate about Zurgo's intentions, he can certainly justify his course of action, since Sarkhan did murder his clansmates, albeit inadvertently. Perhaps we tend to see Zurgo as evil because Sarkhan is actually saving the world this time, we've known Sarkhan for much longer, and we've seen the cruel side of Zurgo. So if all three of them sat down for a chat Zurgo might decide that it would be better for the Mardu if he let Sarkhan go. Or perhaps not, since that would mean the present Mardu would be no more.
It is hard to characterize the personalities of these characters because they are often written by different people. Narset has certainly been very boring so far, but that does make sense given that she has been stuck in a monastery for many years. I'm sure she will be much more interesting once she starts planeswalking. Plus the power of her ability in EDH makes me think that she would make a good planeswalker (maybe an emblem that says 'At the beginning of your upkeep exile the top four cards of your library. You may play any nonland cards without paying their costs until end of turn.').
If Narset does become a planeswalker, I do not expect that her card shall appear in this block, or at least not in Dragons of Tarkir, since Mark Rosewater has stated that the third set shall not have any tri-colored cards, which she is. I also say that there is no way that she shall lose any colors if she becomes a planeswalker, because no legendary creature who has become a planeswalker has ever lost any colors: Karn remained colorless, Bolas remained red/black/blue, and Venser actually gained a color. All three of Narset's colors are equally important to her identity, just as all three of Bolas' colors are equally important to his identity, so, if Narset becomes a planeswalker, I believe that she shall be this game's next three-colored planeswalker.
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Can I chime in to say that we won't see narset become a planeswalker, at least in this block?
This is because Mark said that there won't be wedge cards in Dragons of Tarkir, the only set where she could appear as a card, and even if they could have her planeswalker version be mono/bi color it would feel strange for a character introduced as the leader of a tricolor faction.
It's also true that MaRo "hinted" at her becoming a planeswalker, so I will say that maybe she will return as a surprise planeswalker somewhere in the future.
Since history will, likely, be changing, it doesn't seem unreasonable for her drop a color in the altered timeline. She could pretty easily be UW going forward.
All three of Narset's colors are equally important to her identity, just as all three of Bolas' colors are equally important to his identity, so, if Narset becomes a planeswalker, I believe that she shall be this game's next three-colored planeswalker.
Unless it is alternate timeline Narset where she never developed 3 colors as part of her identity.
That's as likely as any of this too.
If she does become a planeswalker, I think it's equally likely that it could be her original incarnation with three colors or a version of her in the new timeline with one or two. If the former, there could be a variety of explanations - she 'walked away before Sarkhan changed the timeline and wasn't affected by the change, having a spark somehow protected her from the effect, her spark ignited at the same moment history changed and she "walked" to the new timeline, etc. If the latter, it could be done to highlight the changes in the two worlds - in one she was a three-colored creature, in another a one/two-colored planeswalker. I honestly hope it's the first, though. They've already spent this time introducing us to her current incarnation, it seems like a waste to replace her with someone else by the same name if she's going to be an ongoing character.
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If Narset does become a planeswalker, I do not expect that her card shall appear in this block, or at least not in Dragons of Tarkir, since Mark Rosewater has stated that the third set shall not have any tri-colored cards, which she is. I also say that there is no way that she shall lose any colors if she becomes a planeswalker, because no legendary creature who has become a planeswalker has ever lost any colors: Karn remained colorless, Bolas remained red/black/blue, and Venser actually gained a color. All three of Narset's colors are equally important to her identity, just as all three of Bolas' colors are equally important to his identity, so, if Narset becomes a planeswalker, I believe that she shall be this game's next three-colored planeswalker.
Actually I think he confirmed a planeswalker 3 coloured card as an exception, though I've lost the post.
Maro doesn't consider hybrid mana cards as multicolor so there might be a chance still though I dont think it will happen.
It is a long running joke that every character Maro loves is killed by creative right after Maro says it, and even if he doesn't have say in creative he is the go to magic spokesmen and all these decisions where made months if not years ago so we can generally trust him when he tells us something.
If the former, there could be a variety of explanations - she 'walked away before Sarkhan changed the timeline and wasn't affected by the change, having a spark somehow protected her from the effect, her spark ignited at the same moment history changed and she "walked" to the new timeline, etc.
That makes no sense at all. Timelines and planeswalking don't work like that.
It was somewhere on his Tumblr account; I cannot find the link now, but numerous users have quoted it in various threads in this forum, so I am certain that someone shall provide a link to it, at some point.
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“Those who would trade their freedoms for security will have neither.”-Benjamin Franklin
“When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”-Thomas Jefferson
“A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of its user.”-Theodore Roosevelt
“Patriotism means to stand by one's country; it does not mean to stand by one's president.”-Theodore Roosevelt
It would be humorous if Narset did become a planewalker and planeswalked away from Zurgo. I think at that point Zurgo would throw his hands in the air, say screw it, and go home. Having two planeswalkers ignite and walk away in his presence might just unnerve him.
Maro doesn't consider hybrid mana cards as multicolor so there might be a chance still though I dont think it will happen.
It is a long running joke that every character Maro loves is killed by creative right after Maro says it, and even if he doesn't have say in creative he is the go to magic spokesmen and all these decisions where made months if not years ago so we can generally trust him when he tells us something.
But he didn't tell us anything. He said Narset was his favourite and that he's sorry. He never explicitly stated she's dead.
I mean, I think she's likely dead, but still, it's no proof at all.
It was somewhere on his Tumblr account; I cannot find the link now, but numerous users have quoted it in various threads in this forum, so I am certain that someone shall provide a link to it, at some point.
The only thing I can remember was him saying that only Khans is a wedge set, but the block is not a wedge block. This means little, except that wedge cards won't be numerous in the later sets, but they may be there. So yeah, unless there's a quote I missed where he explicitly stated there won't be wedge cards, I kind of expect at least some to pop up later, even though they're not the focus.
It was somewhere on his Tumblr account; I cannot find the link now, but numerous users have quoted it in various threads in this forum, so I am certain that someone shall provide a link to it, at some point.
The only thing I can remember was him saying that only Khans is a wedge set, but the block is not a wedge block. This means little, except that wedge cards won't be numerous in the later sets, but they may be there. So yeah, unless there's a quote I missed where he explicitly stated there won't be wedge cards, I kind of expect at least some to pop up later, even though they're not the focus.
I actually found Sarkhan's relationship with Narset very cool. No one will believe Sarkhan that there is a magic dragon voice inside his brain, until he met Narset. She realizes something is wrong in his brain, since he talks about Ugin and other top secret information regarding the Eldrazi.
Narset is the first person after Sarkhan's ascension to listen to and understand the dragon mage. He gets extremely mad after Zurgo kills his only friend/ally (Tezzeret does not count, neither does Ugin at this point in the story).
If the former, there could be a variety of explanations - she 'walked away before Sarkhan changed the timeline and wasn't affected by the change, having a spark somehow protected her from the effect, her spark ignited at the same moment history changed and she "walked" to the new timeline, etc.
That makes no sense at all. Timelines and planeswalking don't work like that.
To be fair, how much precedent is there for the altering of timelines and how planeswalking interacts with said alteration? The only other example of time shenanigans I can think of off the top of my head is Time Spiral Block, which I wasn't around for. But if I understand correctly, and please correct me if I'm wrong, Time Spiral ended with the Mending, right? Which completely changed the whole of the multiverse forever, including the specifics of sparks and planeswalkers? So isn't it conceivable that some of the rules involving time travel, or at least time travel's effects on, and interactions with, a spark have changed because of the Mending?
To be fair, how much precedent is there for the altering of timelines and how planeswalking interacts with said alteration? The only other example of time shenanigans I can think of off the top of my head is Time Spiral Block, which I wasn't around for. But if I understand correctly, and please correct me if I'm wrong, Time Spiral ended with the Mending, right? Which completely changed the whole of the multiverse forever, including the specifics of sparks and planeswalkers? So isn't it conceivable that some of the rules involving time travel, or at least time travel's effects on, and interactions with, a spark have changed because of the Mending?
Not really, because this is all a matter of causality. If you change the past, you change the present unless specific steps are taken, and anyone not directly involved the alteration should be altered and oblivious to the change. Sarkhan and Ugin are the only ones likely to walk away from this knowing what has happened. Everyone else is caught in the timeline and the multiverse, most assuredly, all runs on a shared timeline. Time isn't a local phenomenon.
The fact that [Narset] died and did not ascend suggests that the vague "greater destiny" she had was just as likely to play a part in Ugin's return.
There's nothing to say that she actually died. You have to bear in mind the so-called 'unreliable narrator'. In this case it's from Sarkhan's point of view. Sure, he sees her attacked in 'a gush of blood'. She begins 'to sink, a cut flower'. Nothing about that, however, states that the wound is mortal.
Later, when Sarkhan looks at her it is from his point of view that we see 'the crumpled body of Narset', his assumption that she is dead. She may have collapsed unconscious, but he's automatically assuming she has died. She may not have. There isn't enough information to go on.
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That aside, I agree that the story felt rushed. However, overall, I do appreciate Jennifer's entries. I think the story suffered purely for lack of space. and placing that aside, I also felt Sarkhan's (who has begun being referred to as Vol in this piece more so than we have heard in the past to my recollection) attachment to her was also unrealistic. We also have been told that the Eldrazi have been freed for two years. Of course, perhaps Tarkir takes place before that two-year time-stamp, but since we were not told so, I would assume it has been that long. Now, for him to not talk with anyone for two years is rather shocking, so either the two-year note in the Planeswalker Update article was in error, or, indeed, Tarkir takes place sooner after the release of the Titans.
Regardless, I like the general direction of Uncharted Realms now (perhaps they need to re-name the column now that we are visiting it to find the charted continuity). The story will clip along, we'll get more counts of character interaction, but most likely less character development between characters, mostly due to the limited word count and rotating author set-up.
I read it more as a sort of "He's just such a bloodthirsty bugger that killing an enemy gets him all hyped up" sort of thing. He seems like more of a 'bloodlust makes him stronger' kind of character than a 'disciplined warrior who learns something from every fight' kind of character.
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And since when does Maro have a say in creative?
Also this is hardly proof. Maro never lies, but as long as he does not explicitly state something you have you take what he says with a table spoon full of salt.
I mean, I'm not advocating Narset being a planeswalker/alive, but just because Maro says something in a vague manner does not make it 100% confirmed fact either.
With the whole debate about Zurgo's intentions, he can certainly justify his course of action, since Sarkhan did murder his clansmates, albeit inadvertently. Perhaps we tend to see Zurgo as evil because Sarkhan is actually saving the world this time, we've known Sarkhan for much longer, and we've seen the cruel side of Zurgo. So if all three of them sat down for a chat Zurgo might decide that it would be better for the Mardu if he let Sarkhan go. Or perhaps not, since that would mean the present Mardu would be no more.
It is hard to characterize the personalities of these characters because they are often written by different people. Narset has certainly been very boring so far, but that does make sense given that she has been stuck in a monastery for many years. I'm sure she will be much more interesting once she starts planeswalking. Plus the power of her ability in EDH makes me think that she would make a good planeswalker (maybe an emblem that says 'At the beginning of your upkeep exile the top four cards of your library. You may play any nonland cards without paying their costs until end of turn.').
“When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”-Thomas Jefferson
“A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of its user.”-Theodore Roosevelt
“Patriotism means to stand by one's country; it does not mean to stand by one's president.”-Theodore Roosevelt
Since history will, likely, be changing, it doesn't seem unreasonable for her drop a color in the altered timeline. She could pretty easily be UW going forward.
UR Blue-Red Control
Modern:
UBR Grixis Control
UWR Jeskai Control
Just out of curiosity, where has he said that?
That's as likely as any of this too.
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Karn, Father of Machines
Yawgmoth, Father of Machines
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Leshrac the Nightwalker
Jeska, the Thrice-Touched
Elspeth Returned
Crucius the Mad
Taysir the Infinite
Urza's Head (Unglued!)
Actually I think he confirmed a planeswalker 3 coloured card as an exception, though I've lost the post.
It is a long running joke that every character Maro loves is killed by creative right after Maro says it, and even if he doesn't have say in creative he is the go to magic spokesmen and all these decisions where made months if not years ago so we can generally trust him when he tells us something.
It was somewhere on his Tumblr account; I cannot find the link now, but numerous users have quoted it in various threads in this forum, so I am certain that someone shall provide a link to it, at some point.
“When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”-Thomas Jefferson
“A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of its user.”-Theodore Roosevelt
“Patriotism means to stand by one's country; it does not mean to stand by one's president.”-Theodore Roosevelt
But he didn't tell us anything. He said Narset was his favourite and that he's sorry. He never explicitly stated she's dead.
I mean, I think she's likely dead, but still, it's no proof at all.
The only thing I can remember was him saying that only Khans is a wedge set, but the block is not a wedge block. This means little, except that wedge cards won't be numerous in the later sets, but they may be there. So yeah, unless there's a quote I missed where he explicitly stated there won't be wedge cards, I kind of expect at least some to pop up later, even though they're not the focus.
No wedges in DTK. See also: here and here.
All I needed was to google:
Narset is the first person after Sarkhan's ascension to listen to and understand the dragon mage. He gets extremely mad after Zurgo kills his only friend/ally (Tezzeret does not count, neither does Ugin at this point in the story).
To be fair, how much precedent is there for the altering of timelines and how planeswalking interacts with said alteration? The only other example of time shenanigans I can think of off the top of my head is Time Spiral Block, which I wasn't around for. But if I understand correctly, and please correct me if I'm wrong, Time Spiral ended with the Mending, right? Which completely changed the whole of the multiverse forever, including the specifics of sparks and planeswalkers? So isn't it conceivable that some of the rules involving time travel, or at least time travel's effects on, and interactions with, a spark have changed because of the Mending?
Not really, because this is all a matter of causality. If you change the past, you change the present unless specific steps are taken, and anyone not directly involved the alteration should be altered and oblivious to the change. Sarkhan and Ugin are the only ones likely to walk away from this knowing what has happened. Everyone else is caught in the timeline and the multiverse, most assuredly, all runs on a shared timeline. Time isn't a local phenomenon.
There's nothing to say that she actually died. You have to bear in mind the so-called 'unreliable narrator'. In this case it's from Sarkhan's point of view. Sure, he sees her attacked in 'a gush of blood'. She begins 'to sink, a cut flower'. Nothing about that, however, states that the wound is mortal.
Later, when Sarkhan looks at her it is from his point of view that we see 'the crumpled body of Narset', his assumption that she is dead. She may have collapsed unconscious, but he's automatically assuming she has died. She may not have. There isn't enough information to go on.