This story was too short and nothing really happened. The most interesting part for me was Nissa's comment about not liking the elemental she could summon. I would have liked to see that done just to see what would have appeared.
This story was too short and nothing really happened. The most interesting part for me was Nissa's comment about not liking the elemental she could summon. I would have liked to see that done just to see what would have appeared.
I feel like they do a great job delivering the story/lore/flavour via the cards these days, but these stories are...lacking. I've read most of the old novels and it was always the reason I got the fat pack. Weren't all homeruns but there were some true gems (*cough Kami cough gawa cough*)...
I mention this because it makes me wonder just what it is that I liked so much more about the old lore. Is it talent? Because it's not necessarily post-mending hate: I LOVED agents of artifice. I wish they had kept way more elements from that novel (I mean, they did in a sense, but they should reference and build on those events more than they do now imo.)
Either way, I feel like the ideas we're presented with aren't bad in and on themselves. I think it's just the way it's presented in these short stories. I've seen a lot of people mention pacing and the like. Honestly, the descriptions people give on these forums based on what they read in the art book and the things I see and read on the cards is often better than these stories (in my own experience), and it pains me to say it because I'm sure people put a lot of effort into these =/
An interesting note is that with the art book details I keep being told on here, this is the third week in a row that I've suspected they overhauled the story at the last minute likely to the detriment.
Olivia survived Nahiri and Sorin's little war, last week felt like they crushed two stories together, and now I find that they may have cut an entire story where the Gatewatch has to confront Emrakul's influence over an entire town.
1) The art book never said Olivia died. That was someone who had posted a mix of true and false information.
2) If what I posted sounded like the Gatewatch was fighting a town is not my intension or the way the art book seems to tell it. The town was mostly abandoned, very obliviously corrupted and Chandra setting fire seemingly wasn't to fight but rather her being overwhelmed emotional at what they where seeing.
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“There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen by God. You were chosen by a pathetic little man who can't seem to grow a full mustache"
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
Eh, I don't think this week's story or last week's are as bad as some people are saying. Neither of them are great, by any means, but they're far from the worst writing I've seen in Magic Stories. They are a little underwhelming, especially since they're supposed to be showing key moments in the story, but they're still leagues and bounds better than any of the Nissa stories from Battle for Zendikar or most of the Gatewatch stories from Oath.
I guess maybe I just have low expectations. Still, I do feel like this block has been a huge improvement over the last one, in terms of both the overarching plot and the writing quality of individual stories.
I never said the writing was bad. We have certainly hadworse quality of writing withing the past few months. The problem is, it's jarringly short. It blasted through the action at record speed. It's not quality we're talking about here, it's quantity.
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"You say 'learn from history,' but that does not mean 'learn the same bull***** the people in history learned alongside phrenology and alchemy.'" - The Blinking Spirit
I think they probably saw our negative reaction to all the huge amounts of eldrazi fighting in BfZ block and totally overreacted and went, "okay we can only show the absolute bare minimum of them fighting the eldrazi now," which isn't necessarily a bad thing, since we are pretty burned out of eldrazi fighting, but they should've replaced it with something, not just cut it all out. maybe replaced it with existential dread from the main characters as some have already suggested
This story was too short and nothing really happened. The most interesting part for me was Nissa's comment about not liking the elemental she could summon. I would have liked to see that done just to see what would have appeared.
This story was too short and nothing really happened. The most interesting part for me was Nissa's comment about not liking the elemental she could summon. I would have liked to see that done just to see what would have appeared.
Considering just green elementals I'd be with her in not wanting one. Between Bloodbriar, Splinterfright or Vorstclaw she's not likely to get a good one. Soul of the Harvest seems peaceful enough though.
I don't see the difference between fighting with zombies and fighting with weird elementals. And why did the leylines try to kill Nissa?
Not sure I get the first point. I don't think anyone was objecting to the concept of fighting with the elementals on their side, Nissa didn't want to deal with the elementals. If someone else was capable of calling them up it might not have been an issue (though I imagine it still would have been), but since Nissa herself has to do that it's kind of harder to deal with.
I don't see the difference between fighting with zombies and fighting with weird elementals. And why did the leylines try to kill Nissa?
The leylines tried to kill Nissa because of Emrakul: the Eldrazi's corruption has seeped into the very land itself. Same reason why Nissa didn't want to call up any Elementals; an Eldrazified Elemental would most likely not be of any help here.
As an FYI, Kelly Digges mentioned on Twitter this is the last week of EMN stories.
uh what? the whole story's gonna be resolved this week?
That was my reaction.
if it does, i hope it will be a satisfying conclusion, not an abrupt one.
the next questions that popped in my mind are, are they gonna build up on Kaladesh for the next few months? or will the writers take a break to polish their stories? is Ob Nixilis enjoying bacon now?
if it does, i hope it will be a satisfying conclusion, not an abrupt one.
the next questions that popped in my mind are, are they gonna build up on Kaladesh for the next few months? or will the writers take a break to polish their stories? is Ob Nixilis enjoying bacon now?
The only times we don't get new stories is over the Christmas holiday.
More than likely we'll be getting a few weeks of Conspiracy 2 before Kaladesh.
if it does, i hope it will be a satisfying conclusion, not an abrupt one.
the next questions that popped in my mind are, are they gonna build up on Kaladesh for the next few months? or will the writers take a break to polish their stories? is Ob Nixilis enjoying bacon now?
The only times we don't get new stories is over the Christmas holiday.
More than likely we'll be getting a few weeks of Conspiracy 2 before Kaladesh.
if it does, i hope it will be a satisfying conclusion, not an abrupt one.
Haha. You're funny.
This is shocking. I knew creative still had some issues with pacing, but this is unprecedented. Are they really going to squeeze the climax and falling action into the same 7000 word article? Not even Oath was that poorly executed.
On the bright side, if this is true, it means after next Wednesday, I can start pretending SoI block never happened.
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"You say 'learn from history,' but that does not mean 'learn the same bull***** the people in history learned alongside phrenology and alchemy.'" - The Blinking Spirit
Once again, a lot of buildup, and then letdown at the best part. This week's 3000 word story was a new low for SOI/EMN, which was already doing so well. Now we're rushing to the end?
Then again, Emrakul is only being trapped, so it could work I suppose?
if it does, i hope it will be a satisfying conclusion, not an abrupt one.
the next questions that popped in my mind are, are they gonna build up on Kaladesh for the next few months? or will the writers take a break to polish their stories? is Ob Nixilis enjoying bacon now?
The only times we don't get new stories is over the Christmas holiday.
More than likely we'll be getting a few weeks of Conspiracy 2 before Kaladesh.
ah right. conspiracy is around the corner.
As well as FtV: Lore, which might give us a few one off stories.
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“There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen by God. You were chosen by a pathetic little man who can't seem to grow a full mustache"
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
I'm excited to be done reading about Eldrazi. Not to be confused with me being excited that the story is being stuffed into a spam can. Definitely not satisfied with this kind of pacing. What a huge slap in Emrakul's nasty face.
There are definitely some significant pacing issues in Eldritch Moon, not to mention that the Sorin/Nahiri plot and the Gatewatch plot feel almost entirely disconnected. It seems that they think it took too long to get to the point in Oath of the Gatewatch? But I thought OGW was fairly well paced, as was SOI. EMN seems rushed, and BFZ felt like it stretched everything out then crammed retaking Sea Gate into a single article.
I'm hoping they find the right balance in Kaladesh.
There are definitely some significant pacing issues in Eldritch Moon, not to mention that the Sorin/Nahiri plot and the Gatewatch plot feel almost entirely disconnected. It seems that they think it took too long to get to the point in Oath of the Gatewatch? But I thought OGW was fairly well paced, as was SOI. EMN seems rushed, and BFZ felt like it stretched everything out then crammed retaking Sea Gate into a single article.
I'm hoping they find the right balance in Kaladesh.
I think everything ending as a big coincidence is far worse than the pacing.
A Bloodbriar probably.
Or an Essence of the Wild, if you want to go back to Innistrad before Emrakul brought down the property values for everyone.
I mention this because it makes me wonder just what it is that I liked so much more about the old lore. Is it talent? Because it's not necessarily post-mending hate: I LOVED agents of artifice. I wish they had kept way more elements from that novel (I mean, they did in a sense, but they should reference and build on those events more than they do now imo.)
Either way, I feel like the ideas we're presented with aren't bad in and on themselves. I think it's just the way it's presented in these short stories. I've seen a lot of people mention pacing and the like. Honestly, the descriptions people give on these forums based on what they read in the art book and the things I see and read on the cards is often better than these stories (in my own experience), and it pains me to say it because I'm sure people put a lot of effort into these =/
Affinity
UW Control
Commander
Sidisi, Undead Vizier
Purphoros, God of the Forge
Dragonlord Ojutai
Gishath, Sun's Avatar
The Ur-Dragon
1) The art book never said Olivia died. That was someone who had posted a mix of true and false information.
2) If what I posted sounded like the Gatewatch was fighting a town is not my intension or the way the art book seems to tell it. The town was mostly abandoned, very obliviously corrupted and Chandra setting fire seemingly wasn't to fight but rather her being overwhelmed emotional at what they where seeing.
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
I never said the writing was bad. We have certainly had worse quality of writing withing the past few months. The problem is, it's jarringly short. It blasted through the action at record speed. It's not quality we're talking about here, it's quantity.
"You say 'learn from history,' but that does not mean 'learn the same bull***** the people in history learned alongside phrenology and alchemy.'" - The Blinking Spirit
But that's an avatar, not an elemental.
Considering just green elementals I'd be with her in not wanting one. Between Bloodbriar, Splinterfright or Vorstclaw she's not likely to get a good one. Soul of the Harvest seems peaceful enough though.
RGTron
UGInfect
URStorm
WUBRAd Nauseam
BRGrishoalbrand
URGScapeshift
WBGAbzan Company
WUBRGAmulet Titan
BRGLiving End
WGBogles
Not sure I get the first point. I don't think anyone was objecting to the concept of fighting with the elementals on their side, Nissa didn't want to deal with the elementals. If someone else was capable of calling them up it might not have been an issue (though I imagine it still would have been), but since Nissa herself has to do that it's kind of harder to deal with.
The leylines tried to kill Nissa because of Emrakul: the Eldrazi's corruption has seeped into the very land itself. Same reason why Nissa didn't want to call up any Elementals; an Eldrazified Elemental would most likely not be of any help here.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
uh what? the whole story's gonna be resolved this week?
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
if it does, i hope it will be a satisfying conclusion, not an abrupt one.
the next questions that popped in my mind are, are they gonna build up on Kaladesh for the next few months? or will the writers take a break to polish their stories? is Ob Nixilis enjoying bacon now?
More than likely we'll be getting a few weeks of Conspiracy 2 before Kaladesh.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
ah right. conspiracy is around the corner.
Haha. You're funny.
This is shocking. I knew creative still had some issues with pacing, but this is unprecedented. Are they really going to squeeze the climax and falling action into the same 7000 word article? Not even Oath was that poorly executed.
On the bright side, if this is true, it means after next Wednesday, I can start pretending SoI block never happened.
"You say 'learn from history,' but that does not mean 'learn the same bull***** the people in history learned alongside phrenology and alchemy.'" - The Blinking Spirit
The Eldrazi were really treated like *****...
I fear for Phyrexia and Nicol Bolas now
Then again, Emrakul is only being trapped, so it could work I suppose?
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
As well as FtV: Lore, which might give us a few one off stories.
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
But yeah, this is... fast. I expected at LEAST two more stories. Liliana hasn't even sworn her oath yet.
I'm hoping they find the right balance in Kaladesh.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
I think everything ending as a big coincidence is far worse than the pacing.