Hmmm I wonder if there will be no DFC cards in this big block?
I'd wager there wont be, and its because of the mess that they created.
A smashing success huh Maro?
Yes, as we know, Innistrad sold very poorly and was very badly received by the majority of the audience, and it's all thanks to double-faced cards.
Wait, no, none of those things are true.
Also, design was handed out on Avacyn Restored long before any double-faced cards saw the light of day. It is possible that AVR is meant to be different from Innistrad and thus lacks double-faced cards, but we don't really have a reason to think that. I wager on other explanations:
Wizards decided to make the Standard card pool bigger by having every other block end in a large set.
The number of cards in AVR is actually misquoted in the article. The same thing happened in Time Spiral, where some Wizards announcements included the cards in the Timeshifted sheet, and others didn't, creating confusion with the actual number of cards in the set.
Alternately, Wizards is going to have DFCs show up in packs alongside normal cards instead of having their own separate pseudo-rarity.
The DFC "mechanic" in AVR evolves into something deranged and totally unexpected.
The entirety of Avacyn Restored is double-faced.
Incidentally, AVR is going to be drafted together with Innistrad and on its own, so this isn't exactly like ROE. Dark Ascension might be drafted less, but it won't be drafted for just three months; as in the article for example, the format for the first Dark Ascension GP is going to be Innistrad sealed (Including Dark Ascension boosters, presumably) and Avacyn Restored draft. The fact that AVR is meant to be drafted alongside with Innistrad does mean that at the very least it has to include some supporting elements to work well with Morbid, Flashback and the other Innistrad and Dark Ascension mechanics, at which point it might as well have them in itself. It'll probably be drafted AVR-DKA-INN, which means that, unless there are flashback cards in Avacyn Restored, a lot of the cards in Innistrad will become extremely bad. I doubt that Burning Vengeance would exist if the last draft format it goes into has zero flashback cards pack 1, for example.
Also: Every third set has mechanics that only show up in the third set. How long have you people been playing Magic?
Which doesn't really change the main point. Even as promotional/fat pack art, one ought to expect Avacyn to be much more clearly shown, closer to the "camera," rather than hovering in the distance where you can barely make out her face beyond what makeup she's wearing.
Double check the announcement art for Innistrad.
Liliana is really distant from the camera, while she's clearly the main focus, there aren't a lot of details to be had.
Liliana was the face of Innistrad but the art didn't put her front, just in center.
Avacyn is decending upon the Villagers or what I can only expect to be Gavony. The sun is high and the clouds break around it following her decent. She is dressed in dark clothing with some modified equipment from her attire that has been described. Her skin is very pale. Very. Pale. A village woman has her hand clasped over her mouth looking up at Avacyn.
Maybe it's because she's copping a view directly up Avacyn's dress?
Man, I can not unsee that...
Incidentally, AVR is going to be drafted together with Innistrad and on its own, so this isn't exactly like ROE. Dark Ascension might be drafted less, but it won't be drafted for just three months; as in the article for example, the format for the first Dark Ascension GP is going to be Innistrad sealed (Including Dark Ascension boosters, presumably) and Avacyn Restored draft. The fact that AVR is meant to be drafted alongside with Innistrad does mean that at the very least it has to include some supporting elements to work well with Morbid, Flashback and the other Innistrad and Dark Ascension mechanics, at which point it might as well have them in itself. It'll probably be drafted AVR-DKA-INN, which means that, unless there are flashback cards in Avacyn Restored, a lot of the cards in Innistrad will become extremely bad. I doubt that Burning Vengeance would exist if the last draft format it goes into has zero flashback cards pack 1, for example.
Also: Every third set has mechanics that only show up in the third set. How long have you people been playing Magic?
Where do you see that it says that it will be drafted alongside ISD/DKA? IT says right in the announcement page that innistrad block CONSTRUCTED will be no different, however AVR will be drafted Entirely on it's own.
Also, How long have YOU been playing magic? I've been here since the beginning, and not every set in the entire 18 years has had mechanics in the third set which only were in the third set.
Only recently, with Rise, New Phyrexia and Alara Reborn have they had entirely unique mechanics in the third set.
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Also, How long have YOU been playing magic? I've been here since the beginning, and not every block in the entire 18 years has had mechanics in the third set which only were in the third set.
Cascade, Retrace, Chroma, Prowl, Reinforce, Kinship, more than I care to list from Future Sight, every Ravnica block keyword, Epic, Channel, Sweep, Sunburst, Scry, the list goes on...
HOPEFULLY, this means the third set will actually have hope and good stuff happening, not a doom-and-gloom apocalypse that Wizards seems to love so much.
And hey, if Avacyn is restored and stuff, then maybe the set will have more Angels than normal? And maybe they'll finally make some Angel tribal?? There's Kaalia, sure, but she also helps demons and dragons...demons have some tribal, while dragons have a fair amount. And that's just getting them out. Why aren't there any cards that support angels? There's even ANTI-Angel tribal, but no Angel tribal...what's up with that!?
Maybe the set will have a unique twist on double faced cards (if they keep 'em) And make things go from dark to light? Wizards looooooves corruption, just look at Scar of Mirrodin block for taking that way too far. So, how about something else for a change? There are several fallen angels, but where are the "redeemed" demons? WELL!?
But there's probably some lame twist. If the humans get worse in Dark Ascension, maybe Avacyn will want to smite them too? Avacyn being evil would be embarrassingly lame and predictable, so I hope that doesn't hope. Avacyn being Griselband would be so awful I'd send Wizards some hatemail, lol.
Oh, and Avacyn (if that is Avacyn) wearing black and having black make-up doesn't mean anything, really. Wearing black doesn't make you evil! Wearing dark make-up doesn't make you evil! Such horrible stereotypes.
Besides, if you think she looks like Lady Gaga...well, she's certainly eccentric, but she seems like a really nice and inspiring person.
Oh, and if you ask me, the people in the artwork look relieved.
Whether I prefer one or the other is negligible, but this set doesn't give the impression that it's going to take a turn for the better. Magic's overall aesthetic isn't subtle. Something seems off.
Edit:
Also, WWK cards were hard to come by for a number of reasons. Rise was not the only reason.
The set was weak and received poorly, especially compared to ZEN. The limited environment was REDBLACK and not very layered or fun.
Right now, we have a strong, popular base set that has a great limited environment. Wizards has learned from the pitfalls of the 'orphaned set' and will likely make sure DKA is a success.
Let's also not forget that WWK was underprinted. But Rise *was* a reason. And people will overvalue DKA based on this info out of fear. Perceived value becomes true value if enough people believe it. Hype and fear can go a long way in setting prices.
Cascade, Retrace, Chroma, Prowl, Reinforce, Kinship, more than I care to list from Future Sight, every Ravnica block keyword, Epic, Channel, Sweep, Sunburst, Scry, the list goes on...
granted you're right about this, I count the whole LMSE block as one mega block, and thus, Kinship and Chroma all were apart of the entirety Chroma was new for Eventide however.
The rest of those didn't see uniqueness to them, Ravnica block had Graft and Hellbent because it was a multiple separate thing, with each guild having to have a way to represent them, so i really dont see Rav block as uniqueness either for my argument.
Future Sight was an anomaly and likely will never happen again.
Sunburst, i'll give ya, as it was the last in the Mirrodin block and it had nothing to do with affinity.
But, the absolute uniqueness that Rise had over ZEN/WWK was exactly that, zero relevance to the rest of the block mechanic wise, where as the other sets you listed, still saw use of previous mechanics as far as the block was concerned.
I also hate the fact that every set since Rise has had basics in it, Granted i can see the point, but it's useless card space that COULD have been used furthering game mechanics. MBS AND NPH didn't need basics, but they decided to do them for flavor reasons. Rise only needed them for Draft (but that was still kinda pointless, as there are billions of basic lands everywhere.) I just wish they'd stop with printing basics in every goddamn set, as it steals card design and allows them to go, were lazy throw in 15 basics, so we dont have to design 15 more cards.
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Didn't Maro say something like "If you like the Cannibals, you'll love Dark Ascension"?
So if humans do do the obvious and go shimmy with Reaper From The Abyss et al., then what else than Avacyn turning up again and going all golden-calf on their asses?
Seems to me like she could be gearing up to one big ol' Planar Cleansing.
All I want to see is Mikaeus turning into a Black(/White) mythic legend in Dark Ascension, then getting the **** kicked out of him by Avacyn in art for something flavourful like Wrath of God in AVR.
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Why does every set have the be crafted like every other set? Why would anyone make the assumption that because it's a large set... That they will have the same amount of something as another set of similar size... This set could have 40 Double Faced Cards and we wont know until spoilers. I'm doubtful that they will just throw away the Innistrad Block Mechanic and stop printing them.
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granted you're right about this, I count the whole LMSE block as one mega block, and thus, Kinship and Chroma all were apart of the entirety Chroma was new for Eventide however.
The rest of those didn't see uniqueness to them, Ravnica block had Graft and Hellbent because it was a multiple separate thing, with each guild having to have a way to represent them, so i really dont see Rav block as uniqueness either for my argument.
Future Sight was an anomaly and likely will never happen again.
Sunburst, i'll give ya, as it was the last in the Mirrodin block and it had nothing to do with affinity.
But, the absolute uniqueness that Rise had over ZEN/WWK was exactly that, zero relevance to the rest of the block mechanic wise, where as the other sets you listed, still saw use of previous mechanics as far as the block was concerned.
That wasn't the original point. The original point is third sets always introduce new mechanics since at least Urza's Destiny. Apocalypse is probably the only exception and this becomes more pronounced in later sets due to R&D being more willing to keyword things and the introduction of ability words, but we have:
Urza's Destiny - Cycling from play
Prophecy - "Rhystic" cards
Apocalypse - "Syphon" cards (Phyrexian Rager et al)
Judgement - Wishes, incarnations
Scourge - Storm, landcycling
Fifth Dawn - Sunburst and Scry
Saviors of Kamigawa - Sweep, Channel and Epic
Dissenssion - Forecast, Graft, Hellbent
Coldsnap - Snow mana, ripple, surging spells
Future Sight - Several
Morningtide - Prowl, kinship, reinforce
Eventide - Chroma, Retrace
Alara Reborn - Cascade
New Phyrexia - Phyrexian Mana
There's still no suggestion that AVR doesn't have double-faced cards, though Aaron Forsythe has confirmed that it's not the all double-faced set (Rats!). I suppose I did misread the announcement though; that it's only meant to be played alongside Innistrad in block constructed and not limited does lend credence to the theory that it doesn't have double-faced cards or mechanics in common with Innistrad, although I still find that very odd when the set seems to follow on from the previous ones, instead of being something that just comes from left field entirely, like Rise of the Eldrazi. That it's a hedge against DFCs tanking or a way of limiting the number of DFCs is plausible, though.
I also hate the fact that every set since Rise has had basics in it, Granted i can see the point, but it's useless card space that COULD have been used furthering game mechanics. MBS AND NPH didn't need basics, but they decided to do them for flavor reasons. Rise only needed them for Draft (but that was still kinda pointless, as there are billions of basic lands everywhere.) I just wish they'd stop with printing basics in every goddamn set, as it steals card design and allows them to go, were lazy throw in 15 basics, so we dont have to design 15 more cards.
You do realise they can make the sheets bigger, right? There's no strictly defined size for sets, they can pretty much arbitrarily make more or less cards in each set. Those 15 basics aren't stealing space from real cards at all.
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On average, Magic players are worse at new card evaluation than almost every other skill, except perhaps sideboarding.
So apparently Avacyn was hiding on earth all the time under the name of Lady Gaga!! Cool!
And after all the blocks ending with the bad guys' victory, it will be nice for a change to see things getting back to normal on a plane. But I'm also sure that Wizards will leave many doors open in the story, just to be able to return to Innistrad in the (far) future.
You know...Wizards can leave any block open when the badguys lose. Villains are infamous for being able to come back to life no matter what, even if it makes no sense whatsoever. Even if they are wiped out ENTIRELY, there's still a way to bring them back.
Like, a drop of oil can turn an entire planetful of life into mutant cyborg abominations! What the hell guys.
And even if things get better, it doesn't necessarily mean that all the "Monsters" will be destroyed.
Why does every set have the be crafted like every other set? Why would anyone make the assumption that because it's a large set... That they will have the same amount of something as another set of similar size... This set could have 40 Double Faced Cards and we wont know until spoilers. I'm doubtful that they will just throw away the Innistrad Block Mechanic and stop printing them.
Because of the physical limitations of having to print cards on sheets.
Let's also not forget that WWK was underprinted. But Rise *was* a reason. And people will overvalue DKA based on this info out of fear. Perceived value becomes true value if enough people believe it. Hype and fear can go a long way in setting prices.
And that would be so fitting for horror-themed block to up its sales by means of hype and fear.
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hope the legend associated with her is as decent.
Yes, as we know, Innistrad sold very poorly and was very badly received by the majority of the audience, and it's all thanks to double-faced cards.
Wait, no, none of those things are true.
Also, design was handed out on Avacyn Restored long before any double-faced cards saw the light of day. It is possible that AVR is meant to be different from Innistrad and thus lacks double-faced cards, but we don't really have a reason to think that. I wager on other explanations:
Incidentally, AVR is going to be drafted together with Innistrad and on its own, so this isn't exactly like ROE. Dark Ascension might be drafted less, but it won't be drafted for just three months; as in the article for example, the format for the first Dark Ascension GP is going to be Innistrad sealed (Including Dark Ascension boosters, presumably) and Avacyn Restored draft. The fact that AVR is meant to be drafted alongside with Innistrad does mean that at the very least it has to include some supporting elements to work well with Morbid, Flashback and the other Innistrad and Dark Ascension mechanics, at which point it might as well have them in itself. It'll probably be drafted AVR-DKA-INN, which means that, unless there are flashback cards in Avacyn Restored, a lot of the cards in Innistrad will become extremely bad. I doubt that Burning Vengeance would exist if the last draft format it goes into has zero flashback cards pack 1, for example.
Also: Every third set has mechanics that only show up in the third set. How long have you people been playing Magic?
Double check the announcement art for Innistrad.
Liliana is really distant from the camera, while she's clearly the main focus, there aren't a lot of details to be had.
Liliana was the face of Innistrad but the art didn't put her front, just in center.
If there's a money mythic in DKA expect those to be hoarded by the millions.
Maybe it's because she's copping a view directly up Avacyn's dress?
Man, I can not unsee that...
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Where do you see that it says that it will be drafted alongside ISD/DKA? IT says right in the announcement page that innistrad block CONSTRUCTED will be no different, however AVR will be drafted Entirely on it's own.
Also, How long have YOU been playing magic? I've been here since the beginning, and not every set in the entire 18 years has had mechanics in the third set which only were in the third set.
Only recently, with Rise, New Phyrexia and Alara Reborn have they had entirely unique mechanics in the third set.
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Cascade, Retrace, Chroma, Prowl, Reinforce, Kinship, more than I care to list from Future Sight, every Ravnica block keyword, Epic, Channel, Sweep, Sunburst, Scry, the list goes on...
And hey, if Avacyn is restored and stuff, then maybe the set will have more Angels than normal? And maybe they'll finally make some Angel tribal?? There's Kaalia, sure, but she also helps demons and dragons...demons have some tribal, while dragons have a fair amount. And that's just getting them out. Why aren't there any cards that support angels? There's even ANTI-Angel tribal, but no Angel tribal...what's up with that!?
Maybe the set will have a unique twist on double faced cards (if they keep 'em) And make things go from dark to light? Wizards looooooves corruption, just look at Scar of Mirrodin block for taking that way too far. So, how about something else for a change? There are several fallen angels, but where are the "redeemed" demons? WELL!?
But there's probably some lame twist. If the humans get worse in Dark Ascension, maybe Avacyn will want to smite them too? Avacyn being evil would be embarrassingly lame and predictable, so I hope that doesn't hope. Avacyn being Griselband would be so awful I'd send Wizards some hatemail, lol.
Oh, and Avacyn (if that is Avacyn) wearing black and having black make-up doesn't mean anything, really. Wearing black doesn't make you evil! Wearing dark make-up doesn't make you evil! Such horrible stereotypes.
Besides, if you think she looks like Lady Gaga...well, she's certainly eccentric, but she seems like a really nice and inspiring person.
Oh, and if you ask me, the people in the artwork look relieved.
Whether I prefer one or the other is negligible, but this set doesn't give the impression that it's going to take a turn for the better. Magic's overall aesthetic isn't subtle. Something seems off.
Let's also not forget that WWK was underprinted. But Rise *was* a reason. And people will overvalue DKA based on this info out of fear. Perceived value becomes true value if enough people believe it. Hype and fear can go a long way in setting prices.
I'm in awe, but I think that they could have held off on the announcement until the last possible second.
So, DKA is the dark before the dawn? Avacyn's come back to clean house? Sounds great!
That would be the basic land cards (plus the land slots they allotted to some of the rare lands.)
They are not going to make a large set without basics.
granted you're right about this, I count the whole LMSE block as one mega block, and thus, Kinship and Chroma all were apart of the entirety Chroma was new for Eventide however.
The rest of those didn't see uniqueness to them, Ravnica block had Graft and Hellbent because it was a multiple separate thing, with each guild having to have a way to represent them, so i really dont see Rav block as uniqueness either for my argument.
Future Sight was an anomaly and likely will never happen again.
Sunburst, i'll give ya, as it was the last in the Mirrodin block and it had nothing to do with affinity.
But, the absolute uniqueness that Rise had over ZEN/WWK was exactly that, zero relevance to the rest of the block mechanic wise, where as the other sets you listed, still saw use of previous mechanics as far as the block was concerned.
I also hate the fact that every set since Rise has had basics in it, Granted i can see the point, but it's useless card space that COULD have been used furthering game mechanics. MBS AND NPH didn't need basics, but they decided to do them for flavor reasons. Rise only needed them for Draft (but that was still kinda pointless, as there are billions of basic lands everywhere.) I just wish they'd stop with printing basics in every goddamn set, as it steals card design and allows them to go, were lazy throw in 15 basics, so we dont have to design 15 more cards.
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So if humans do do the obvious and go shimmy with Reaper From The Abyss et al., then what else than Avacyn turning up again and going all golden-calf on their asses?
Seems to me like she could be gearing up to one big ol' Planar Cleansing.
All I want to see is Mikaeus turning into a Black(/White) mythic legend in Dark Ascension, then getting the **** kicked out of him by Avacyn in art for something flavourful like Wrath of God in AVR.
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There's a mirror of that peasant woman too. Weird.
That wasn't the original point. The original point is third sets always introduce new mechanics since at least Urza's Destiny. Apocalypse is probably the only exception and this becomes more pronounced in later sets due to R&D being more willing to keyword things and the introduction of ability words, but we have:
There's still no suggestion that AVR doesn't have double-faced cards, though Aaron Forsythe has confirmed that it's not the all double-faced set (Rats!). I suppose I did misread the announcement though; that it's only meant to be played alongside Innistrad in block constructed and not limited does lend credence to the theory that it doesn't have double-faced cards or mechanics in common with Innistrad, although I still find that very odd when the set seems to follow on from the previous ones, instead of being something that just comes from left field entirely, like Rise of the Eldrazi. That it's a hedge against DFCs tanking or a way of limiting the number of DFCs is plausible, though.
You do realise they can make the sheets bigger, right? There's no strictly defined size for sets, they can pretty much arbitrarily make more or less cards in each set. Those 15 basics aren't stealing space from real cards at all.
And after all the blocks ending with the bad guys' victory, it will be nice for a change to see things getting back to normal on a plane. But I'm also sure that Wizards will leave many doors open in the story, just to be able to return to Innistrad in the (far) future.
LE
Like, a drop of oil can turn an entire planetful of life into mutant cyborg abominations! What the hell guys.
And even if things get better, it doesn't necessarily mean that all the "Monsters" will be destroyed.
Because of the physical limitations of having to print cards on sheets.
And that would be so fitting for horror-themed block to up its sales by means of hype and fear.