Looks like Wizards commissioned new The Abyss artwork by Jason Engle. This was most likely made for MTGO Cube or some other not printed format as it is on the reserve list.
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Rhys the Redeemed
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Sen Triplets
The Mimeoplasm WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
For what it's worth, the opposite of evergreen is "deciduous" so I suggest we start using that from now on to refer to shroud, banding, islandhome, etc.
I feel like if it were ever revoked, the products wouldn't really trickle down to the hands of the Everyman nearly as much as some would believe. I live in a magic-dense area and there's very few people who got their hands on any Modern Masters - mostly the collectors with connections and deep pockets that sucked it all up as an investment.
Also, doing that would also be getting precariously close to the ruinous follies the sports card industry made in the '90's.
EDIT:
I just traded for an Italian Abyss recently after not owning one since my original english one in 1995.
Don't think it's not entirely possible to achieve - because it is, even on a modest budget.
It takes a few things, though - patience, dedication to a narrow set of goals and realization that the card(s) you want to obtain will need to be useful enough to stay in your collection when the deck it's in comes apart - or valuable enough to trade away after you've felt you've had it "long enough".
I've seen several people's documentation of their successful Pack to Power projects. I really enjoy the hunt - almost as much as reaping the benefits of the actual card's success in play.
Nothing says they can't revoke it. WotC said they wouldn't, but Hasbro (who now owns WotC) never said that. They're a business, and revoking that ridiculous list would be a great business decision. Thousands if not millions of players would rejoice. and like 37 people who feel they are "owed" for having old versions would complain.
I feel like with new art and new cardframes, they could justify that they aren't decreasing the value of these cards from a collectors perspective, but only from a playing perspective, and if Hasbro wanted to they could do this and use this statement as justification. But this discussion occurs everytime a new art or something related to a reserved list card comes out. Heck with it, I just say create functional reprints of the entire reserved list, and ban the old ones from play, making them collectors only items
I love how the guy being sucked into the abyss looks so nonchalant about it.
"Oh boy. The enemy is playing stax again. It's always us soldier tokens first."
I feel like with new art and new cardframes, they could justify that they aren't decreasing the value of these cards from a collectors perspective, but only from a playing perspective, and if Hasbro wanted to they could do this and use this statement as justification. But this discussion occurs everytime a new art or something related to a reserved list card comes out. Heck with it, I just say create functional reprints of the entire reserved list, and ban the old ones from play, making them collectors only items
Decreasing the value of these cards (perceived or otherwise) is one of the primary tenets of the idea of a reserved list.
That said, I prefer the old art. When magic first came out, much of the art was unique - and notable. Up until about Tempest, you could show me a card and I could probably name the artist by looking at their style. There was a weird vibe about most of it - not like that of much of the traditional fantasy art at the time. At some point, the creative team at Wizards decided to start homogenizing most of the art.
I chalk most of the homogenization up to the emergence of digital artwork. It streamlines the artist's workflow and makes it much easier to implement changes in the process. It lets the artist make more money faster. And wizards doesn't have ~ 700 paintings to decide what to do with every year.
1. Good Decks Play With Good Cards
2. Good Decks Have Good Plans
3. Good Decks Have Good Mana Bases
4. Good Decks Respect Their Opponents
5. Good Decks Have 75 Cards
6. Sometimes Even Good Decks Are Bad Choices
7. Sometimes Your 'Good Deck' Isn't
The art is proficient but why does he barely look concerned? You'd expect a look of horror/terror, not one of absolute boredom.
Mostly because Engle is the worst artist in the current crop. His art is painfully flat and uninteresting 99% of the time.
As for the homogenization of art: While I do agree that this has happened to a degree, its important for the brand image. Also, I can pretty much identify all of my favorite artists piece by piece, with no more difficulty than back in ice age and mirage. With the added benefit of less art that I consider awful
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Commander Decks G MGC WB Teysa Tokens BR Wortsnort UG 23.5-No Edric URG Noncombo Animar GUB Damia Stax WBR Alesha Hatebear Recursion WBR Daddy Tariel UBR [Je]love-a Your Deck GWU Almost Critterless Enchantress WUB Sydri+Artifacts=WUB WURG Glint-Eye Combo
I like the look on the soldiers face, it seems like he has given up hope and knew that eventually the abyss would just get him too. Although I do think this would be better conveyed if there were no silhouettes of people behind him.
Looks like Wizards commissioned new The Abyss artwork by Jason Engle. This was most likely made for MTGO Cube or some other not printed format as it is on the reserve list.
I already have a few of these proxied,
but it's nice to see in a larger size
Reprint Stasis!
Control needs more love.
EDH:
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Rhys the Redeemed
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Sen Triplets
The Mimeoplasm
WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW
WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
An art similar to this would much better represent Nether Void, in my opinion.
Or not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHRNSeuvzlM
Thanks to Rivenor for the signature and XenoNinja for the Avi!
Quotes:
I wish.
This art has been known for almost a year, it debuted in the powered holiday cube last year if memory serves.
Currently Playing:
Retired
Haha, I like you.
Quotes:
At this point I'm sure they wish they could.
That's the problem with public promises from a large company.
Generals meant to be drafted first in a single pack of 6 cards.
And here is the actual cube, meant to be drafted in 4 regular sized packs. (60 card decks)
Also, doing that would also be getting precariously close to the ruinous follies the sports card industry made in the '90's.
EDIT:
I just traded for an Italian Abyss recently after not owning one since my original english one in 1995.
Don't think it's not entirely possible to achieve - because it is, even on a modest budget.
It takes a few things, though - patience, dedication to a narrow set of goals and realization that the card(s) you want to obtain will need to be useful enough to stay in your collection when the deck it's in comes apart - or valuable enough to trade away after you've felt you've had it "long enough".
I've seen several people's documentation of their successful Pack to Power projects. I really enjoy the hunt - almost as much as reaping the benefits of the actual card's success in play.
I feel like with new art and new cardframes, they could justify that they aren't decreasing the value of these cards from a collectors perspective, but only from a playing perspective, and if Hasbro wanted to they could do this and use this statement as justification. But this discussion occurs everytime a new art or something related to a reserved list card comes out. Heck with it, I just say create functional reprints of the entire reserved list, and ban the old ones from play, making them collectors only items
"Oh boy. The enemy is playing stax again. It's always us soldier tokens first."
Decreasing the value of these cards (perceived or otherwise) is one of the primary tenets of the idea of a reserved list.
That said, I prefer the old art. When magic first came out, much of the art was unique - and notable. Up until about Tempest, you could show me a card and I could probably name the artist by looking at their style. There was a weird vibe about most of it - not like that of much of the traditional fantasy art at the time. At some point, the creative team at Wizards decided to start homogenizing most of the art.
I chalk most of the homogenization up to the emergence of digital artwork. It streamlines the artist's workflow and makes it much easier to implement changes in the process. It lets the artist make more money faster. And wizards doesn't have ~ 700 paintings to decide what to do with every year.
meat's Trade Corner
It'll be a bomb in limited, but it'll never see constructed play.
Hooooooooly ****.
Haha, what a rough day. Thanks for the laugh.
2. Good Decks Have Good Plans
3. Good Decks Have Good Mana Bases
4. Good Decks Respect Their Opponents
5. Good Decks Have 75 Cards
6. Sometimes Even Good Decks Are Bad Choices
7. Sometimes Your 'Good Deck' Isn't
~Metamorph
Mostly because Engle is the worst artist in the current crop. His art is painfully flat and uninteresting 99% of the time.
As for the homogenization of art: While I do agree that this has happened to a degree, its important for the brand image. Also, I can pretty much identify all of my favorite artists piece by piece, with no more difficulty than back in ice age and mirage. With the added benefit of less art that I consider awful
G MGC
WB Teysa Tokens
BR Wortsnort
UG 23.5-No Edric
URG Noncombo Animar
GUB Damia Stax
WBR Alesha Hatebear Recursion
WBR Daddy Tariel
UBR [Je]love-a Your Deck
GWU Almost Critterless Enchantress
WUB Sydri+Artifacts=WUB
WURG Glint-Eye Combo
@MTGClue - Haakon, Stromgald Scourge in the Moorland Haunt with the Hammer of Purphoros.