Alright, color me surprised. I see no reason to disbelieve this. I owe 256k ten bucks if he's still around.
I do think it's overall better for the game in the long run, but didn't think they'd do something like this so suddenly. Looking forward to more details on the set~
You're a user of great integrity. This is something
I was starting to doubt with much of the aggression
shown on this thread.
I didn't bother to rebut your comment about the
"This Land is Your Land" post I quoted. I'm happy
to just wait and see.
My opinion remains in the mean time: Non-basic lands
can be "strictly better" than wastes.
I will post a video of me burning a MM15 Mox Opal if this <> ends up becoming the new colourless symbol and old cards like Sol Ring get new oracle text using it.
At least you didn't say "Foil" as some people quoted.
If Wastes would be a part of each block, how will WOTC change distribution of 20 basic lands?
3 of each, total 21 lands
or
4 of each, total 24 lands
or
3 od each non Wastes and 2 Wastes.
77 pages makes it hard to check if a specific point has been made, but...
If <> is a new kind of mana, that makes it considerably more awkward to put the mechanic in a set (OGW or any future set WotC might want to bring it back in). Colorless mana producers are everywhere; they're a natural part of every set, so if <> just means colorless, then there's already enough support to cast them in any format you might want to. But if <> is something different, then WotC would have to go out of their way to add enough <> produces to the set to support the cards, so that people can actually play them in limited and standard.
First we get three cards with <>, including (presumably) the face mythic monster of the set and the new basic. Then, after we have "debated" the meaning of <> to exhaustion and beyond, hey presto, we get an expedition, a known reprint, proving that <> is the colourless symbol.
If these leaks are accidental, then the coincidence is rather astounding.
First we get three cards with <>, including (presumably) the face mythic monster of the set and the new basic. Then, after we have "debated" the meaning of <> to exhaustion and beyond, hey presto, we get an expedition, a known reprint, proving that <> is the colourless symbol.
If these leaks are accidental, then the coincidence is rather astounding.
Kozilek is known to mess with people's heads. I hope all of this sets spoilers are this shady. Lol
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MTGSalvation; Where the whining is a time honored tradition, and enjoying the game is trolling.
Alright, million dollar question: how will they format the errata'd Mage-Ring Network?
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"It is better for all the world if, instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind. The principle that sustains compulsory vaccination is broad enough to cover cutting the Fallopian tubes... Three generations of imbeciles are enough."
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
I'm pretty sure there are some WotC people who have read MtgSalvation. Thinking that releasing Kozilek and Wastes mana will get people talking, WotC didn't know releasing the Titan would also bring about the mad rambling that consisted most of 77 pages.
I'm sure the good folks up there didn't expect the flames to be this big, and presumably release a gateful of water to quell the fire.
Alright, million dollar question: how will they format the errata'd Mage-Ring Network?
My three best guesses:
"Add X colorless mana to your mana pool."
"Add <> to your mana pool for each storage counter removed this way."
"Add an amount of <> to your mana pool equal to the number of storage counters removed this way."
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Thou shalt not have others of the same Legendary before me Thou shalt not frame images with the modern card face Thou shalt not change rules in vain Remember the Reserved List to keep it holy Honor thy Slivers and the symmetry of their abilities Thou shalt not kill mana burn Thou shalt not sacrifice depth for accessibility Thou shalt not steal combat damage from the stack Thou shalt tell a story through thy cards All must be one
So, was it Wizards themselves that spoiled these particular cards in this particular order to drum up some hype and discussion for the upcoming set? Or was did Kozilek himself distort minds and reality?
Btw, I am not surprised. This was by far the most likely theory. Glad we finally got confirmation though.
So it seems the <> = colorless is confirmed.
Now I wonder how WotC will justify doing this change in OGW rather than BfZ...
I'm fairly sure it was originally going to be something to make the third, large set of BfZ block feel distinct from the first two sets,
but it became a casualty of the new two-set blocks.
Rather unfortunate timing for one of the biggest rule changes ever, but what are you gonna do?
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
I didn't expect <> to equal colorless, but that certainly seems to be the case now.
That said, the following are now true:
-LGSs will need to be provided with quite a few Wastes cards in order to fulfill demand for Limited events, assuming <> costs are prevalent in OGW and beyond. It seems highly unlikely that the average drafter or sealed player will be able to find a significant amount of <>-generating mana sources in their card pools alone, which means that Wastes will need to be freely provided to make Limited function. Assuming <> isn't eldrazi-specific (and it seems as though it is NOT), LGSs stocking up on Wastes is the new normal.
-The actual card Wastes seems utterly unplayable in non-EDH Contructed. Other than the quality of being Basic, it's strictly inferior to literally any colorless-producing land in the history of the game. That's a bit bizarre.
-Previously, restricting a land like Gavony Township to only tapping for colorless was a strict downside. Now, this is no longer true. If <>-costing spells are pushed enough to see play in non-rotating formats, land bases will shift around to compensate. I still doubt Wastes will see play, but Painlands may find their way into Modern, and Filterlands certainly will be a lot more desirable.
-Given that most decks already incidentally had some lands generating colorless mana (Gavony, Mage-Ring, any Painland, etc.), WotC will need to get a bit creative to make <> costs actually matter. Kozilek, for example, doesn't strike me as being significantly restricted by the <> costs, since by the time a deck is prepared to generate ten mana, they've probably found some colorless sources. On the other hand, a weenie creature costing simply <> is tricky to cast on turn 1 in Standard, which could make it quite powerful.
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Formerly Angrypossum over at the now-defunct WotC forums.
I didn't expect <> to equal colorless, but that certainly seems to be the case now.
That said, the following are now true:
-LGSs will need to be provided with quite a few Wastes cards in order to fulfill demand for Limited events, assuming <> costs are prevalent in OGW and beyond. It seems highly unlikely that the average drafter or sealed player will be able to find a significant amount of <>-generating mana sources in their card pools alone, which means that Wastes will need to be freely provided to make Limited function. Assuming <> isn't eldrazi-specific (and it seems as though it is NOT), LGSs stocking up on Wastes is the new normal.
-The actual card Wastes seems utterly unplayable in non-EDH Contructed. Other than the quality of being Basic, it's strictly inferior to literally any colorless-producing land in the history of the game. That's a bit bizarre.
-Previously, restricting a land like Gavony Township to only tapping for colorless was a strict downside. Now, this is no longer true. If <>-costing spells are pushed enough to see play in non-rotating formats, land bases will shift around to compensate. I still doubt Wastes will see play, but Painlands may find their way into Modern, and Filterlands certainly will be a lot more desirable.
-Given that most decks already incidentally had some lands generating colorless mana (Gavony, Mage-Ring, any Painland, etc.), WotC will need to get a bit creative to make <> costs actually matter. Kozilek, for example, doesn't strike me as being significantly restricted by the <> costs, since by the time a deck is prepared to generate ten mana, they've probably found some colorless sources. On the other hand, a weenie creature costing simply <> is tricky to cast on turn 1 in Standard, which could make it quite powerful.
Likely, regular wastes with text will be made available for limited and the full arts will only be in packs. Possibly printing the full art wastes at both common and land slot will provide a larger supply of full art Wastes for those who need them.
Also can we get a <> mana symbol in forum editor now?
I didn't expect <> to equal colorless, but that certainly seems to be the case now.
That said, the following are now true:
-LGSs will need to be provided with quite a few Wastes cards in order to fulfill demand for Limited events, assuming <> costs are prevalent in OGW and beyond. It seems highly unlikely that the average drafter or sealed player will be able to find a significant amount of <>-generating mana sources in their card pools alone, which means that Wastes will need to be freely provided to make Limited function. Assuming <> isn't eldrazi-specific (and it seems as though it is NOT), LGSs stocking up on Wastes is the new normal.
-The actual card Wastes seems utterly unplayable in non-EDH Contructed. Other than the quality of being Basic, it's strictly inferior to literally any colorless-producing land in the history of the game. That's a bit bizarre.
-Previously, restricting a land like Gavony Township to only tapping for colorless was a strict downside. Now, this is no longer true. If <>-costing spells are pushed enough to see play in non-rotating formats, land bases will shift around to compensate. I still doubt Wastes will see play, but Painlands may find their way into Modern, and Filterlands certainly will be a lot more desirable.
-Given that most decks already incidentally had some lands generating colorless mana (Gavony, Mage-Ring, any Painland, etc.), WotC will need to get a bit creative to make <> costs actually matter. Kozilek, for example, doesn't strike me as being significantly restricted by the <> costs, since by the time a deck is prepared to generate ten mana, they've probably found some colorless sources. On the other hand, a weenie creature costing simply <> is tricky to cast on turn 1 in Standard, which could make it quite powerful.
This assumes they keep printing Wastes in the following sets, or print cards that cost <> outside Oath. They might just save <> costing cards for sets in which colorless matters like future Eldrazi sets. I also assume that the draft environment might have a "<> mana matters" theme which requires the purposeful drafting of Wastes/nonbasics in order to cast certain card/get certain effects, like Snow in Coldsnap or fixers in Shards/Ravnica. LGS's handing out Wastes would ruin the point of this, and this means Wastes don't need to be supplied by LGS's.
I'm sure we'll see one or two pushed <> cards for eternal play, but I doubt we'll see <> outside of this set, until we hit the next Eldrazi plane (Shadows over Innsmouth Innistrad).
Why would LGS need to provide Wastes? Are you assuming half the cards will have <> in their costs?
I really doubt so.
You need to hold your horses with those baseless assumptions.
Why you so mad? You're in a speculation thread. Even if the guy said "These are now true" it is clearly speculation... He even said "assuming <> costs are prevalent in OGW and beyond."
One reason LGS might need to provide wastes is that the set requires the option for consistent colorless production.
A second reason would be for supply and demand of wastes.
Neither of these reasons are "baseless", but they are speculative.
I didn't expect <> to equal colorless, but that certainly seems to be the case now.
That said, the following are now true:
-LGSs will need to be provided with quite a few Wastes cards in order to fulfill demand for Limited events, assuming <> costs are prevalent in OGW and beyond. It seems highly unlikely that the average drafter or sealed player will be able to find a significant amount of <>-generating mana sources in their card pools alone, which means that Wastes will need to be freely provided to make Limited function. Assuming <> isn't eldrazi-specific (and it seems as though it is NOT), LGSs stocking up on Wastes is the new normal.
-The actual card Wastes seems utterly unplayable in non-EDH Contructed. Other than the quality of being Basic, it's strictly inferior to literally any colorless-producing land in the history of the game. That's a bit bizarre.
-Previously, restricting a land like Gavony Township to only tapping for colorless was a strict downside. Now, this is no longer true. If <>-costing spells are pushed enough to see play in non-rotating formats, land bases will shift around to compensate. I still doubt Wastes will see play, but Painlands may find their way into Modern, and Filterlands certainly will be a lot more desirable.
-Given that most decks already incidentally had some lands generating colorless mana (Gavony, Mage-Ring, any Painland, etc.), WotC will need to get a bit creative to make <> costs actually matter. Kozilek, for example, doesn't strike me as being significantly restricted by the <> costs, since by the time a deck is prepared to generate ten mana, they've probably found some colorless sources. On the other hand, a weenie creature costing simply <> is tricky to cast on turn 1 in Standard, which could make it quite powerful.
This assumes they keep printing Wastes in the following sets, or print cards that cost <> outside Oath. They might just save <> costing cards for sets in which colorless matters like future Eldrazi sets. I also assume that the draft environment might have a "<> mana matters" theme which requires the purposeful drafting of Wastes/nonbasics in order to cast certain card/get certain effects, like Snow in Coldsnap or fixers in Shards/Ravnica. LGS's handing out Wastes would ruin the point of this, and this means Wastes don't need to be supplied by LGS's.
I'm sure we'll see one or two pushed <> cards for eternal play, but I doubt we'll see <> outside of this set, until we hit the next Eldrazi plane (Shadows over Innsmouth Innistrad).
<> being printed on Expeditions implies that the symbol will be the new normal way of generating colorless mana. It seems silly for such a massive change to be entirely cosmetic for non-Eldrazi sets. I'm currently assuming its more likely that <> symbols in costs will be present, if not necessarily widespread, in most sets going forward.
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Formerly Angrypossum over at the now-defunct WotC forums.
Rather unfortunate timing for one of the biggest rule changes ever, but what are you gonna do?
But it isn't a big rule change. That's why I never understood why people thought it was so crazy. It's basically just an aesthetic change to make colorless easier to differentiate from generic so that it's much cleaner to print cards with colorless costs like the new Kozilek (as opposed to having to write out "spend only colorless" or spend at least [N] colorless"). It changes absolutely nothing about how any older cards work, it only makes it more obvious how they interact with the new cards. Unless they randomly decide to errata a bunch of old cards to have <> in their cost, which I really don't see happening.
The change to the Legendary rule was a big rule change that actually affected the way you play the game. This does not do that. They even made the wastes in a way that specifically doesn't change the way stuff like domain and coalition victory work.
So it seems the <> = colorless is confirmed.
Now I wonder how WotC will justify doing this change in OGW rather than BfZ...
If they had introduced the <> symbol for cards that produced colorless mana in BFZ, people would have realized within the hour that this change would enable strictly colorless mana costs, thus spoiling the huge surprise of OGW before the first BFZ pack was opened. In order to keep colorless costs like on Kozilek, the Great Distortion a secret, they had to print colorless producing cards the old way in BFZ. Note that more than half of those cards are Scion token producers, so printing new Scion tokens with the new <> symbol basically fixes those cards on the spot. (Who reads those cards beyond "make X Scions" anyway?)
<> as a symbol for colorless mana will be a permanent change to the game. All cards that produce colorless mana will use it from now on.
As for <> in costs, my prediction is that it will show up roughly as often as hybrid mana. Around every third or forth block or so. I think it will neither be an evergreen mechanic, nor will it be restricted to reappearances of the Eldrazi. Now, this bit is just me speculating, but it would make the most sense. (Btw, the generic name of Wastes makes it possible to fit it into many different worlds. They just have to swap out the picture.)
Rather unfortunate timing for one of the biggest rule changes ever, but what are you gonna do?
But it isn't a big rule change. That's why I never understood why people thought it was so crazy. It's basically just an aesthetic change to make colorless easier to differentiate from generic so that it's much cleaner to print cards with colorless costs like the new Kozilek (as opposed to having to write out "spend only colorless" or spend at least [N] colorless"). It changes absolutely nothing about how any older cards work, it only makes it more obvious how they interact with the new cards. Unless they randomly decide to errata a bunch of old cards to have <> in their cost, which I really don't see happening.
The change to the Legendary rule was a big rule change that actually affected the way you play the game. This does not do that. They even made the wastes in a way that specifically doesn't change the way stuff like domain and coalition victory work.
I dont think anyone said it was a crazy idea to have such an overhaul errata at all, only that it didnt make sense in this context- they just printed oodles of colorless producing cards in BFZ, now they all need errata from blighted lands to eldrazi spawn tokens, and they'll be drafted alongside OGW on release. Were all BFZ cards secretly scratch-off mana symbols and we didnt notice? So assuming the expedition is real, which it likely is, it begs questions of what happened in this blocks development or if this set has some big flavor twist. Im for one happier with a clumsy templating flub and good mechanic than vice versa, but we'll have to hear from wizards what the story is
'spoiling a surprise' seems no reason. Why not swap the set mechanics? Why bother with surpise at all. Every set is spoiled before its released, that window only exists for a few months, the cards themselves last decades. It seems no reason to compromise the cards in BFX and errata them immediately, when the set was on course to be called homelands 2.0 and be maligned.
-The actual card Wastes seems utterly unplayable in non-EDH Contructed. Other than the quality of being Basic, it's strictly inferior to literally any colorless-producing land in the history of the game. That's a bit bizarre.
It is not strictly inferior to those lands at all. Have you ever heard of the Domain mechanic? Tribal Flames is the best-known Domain card.
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MTG finance guy- follow me on Twitter@RichArschmann or RichardArschmann on Reddit
-The actual card Wastes seems utterly unplayable in non-EDH Contructed. Other than the quality of being Basic, it's strictly inferior to literally any colorless-producing land in the history of the game. That's a bit bizarre.
It is not strictly inferior to those lands at all. Have you ever heard of the Domain mechanic? Tribal Flames is the best-known Domain card.
Wastes doesn't have a land type.
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Formerly Angrypossum over at the now-defunct WotC forums.
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You're a user of great integrity. This is something
I was starting to doubt with much of the aggression
shown on this thread.
I didn't bother to rebut your comment about the
"This Land is Your Land" post I quoted. I'm happy
to just wait and see.
My opinion remains in the mean time: Non-basic lands
can be "strictly better" than wastes.
At least you didn't say "Foil" as some people quoted.
3 of each, total 21 lands
or
4 of each, total 24 lands
or
3 od each non Wastes and 2 Wastes.
I'm just glad somebody picked up on it.
First we get three cards with <>, including (presumably) the face mythic monster of the set and the new basic. Then, after we have "debated" the meaning of <> to exhaustion and beyond, hey presto, we get an expedition, a known reprint, proving that <> is the colourless symbol.
If these leaks are accidental, then the coincidence is rather astounding.
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
Kozilek is known to mess with people's heads. I hope all of this sets spoilers are this shady. Lol
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
I'm sure the good folks up there didn't expect the flames to be this big, and presumably release a gateful of water to quell the fire.
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
My three best guesses:
"Add X colorless mana to your mana pool."
"Add <> to your mana pool for each storage counter removed this way."
"Add an amount of <> to your mana pool equal to the number of storage counters removed this way."
Thou shalt not frame images with the modern card face
Thou shalt not change rules in vain
Remember the Reserved List to keep it holy
Honor thy Slivers and the symmetry of their abilities
Thou shalt not kill mana burn
Thou shalt not sacrifice depth for accessibility
Thou shalt not steal combat damage from the stack
Thou shalt tell a story through thy cards
All must be one
Btw, I am not surprised. This was by far the most likely theory. Glad we finally got confirmation though.
Uril, the Miststalker RGW -- Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre C -- Vhati il-Dal BG -- Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer RW -- Animar, Soul of Elements URG
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker R -- Maga, Traitor to Mortals B -- Ghave, Guru of Spores BGW -- Sliver Hivelord WUBRG
T, Remove any number of storage counters from Mage-Ring Network: Add <> to your mana pool for each storage counter removed this way.
Wow, while typing this, I just noticed that Mage-Ring Network even uses storage counters, just like those lands! Coincidence? I think not!
Uril, the Miststalker RGW -- Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre C -- Vhati il-Dal BG -- Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer RW -- Animar, Soul of Elements URG
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker R -- Maga, Traitor to Mortals B -- Ghave, Guru of Spores BGW -- Sliver Hivelord WUBRG
Now I wonder how WotC will justify doing this change in OGW rather than BfZ...
I'm fairly sure it was originally going to be something to make the third, large set of BfZ block feel distinct from the first two sets,
but it became a casualty of the new two-set blocks.
Rather unfortunate timing for one of the biggest rule changes ever, but what are you gonna do?
Reprint Stasis!
Control needs more love.
EDH:
WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW
WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
That said, the following are now true:
-LGSs will need to be provided with quite a few Wastes cards in order to fulfill demand for Limited events, assuming <> costs are prevalent in OGW and beyond. It seems highly unlikely that the average drafter or sealed player will be able to find a significant amount of <>-generating mana sources in their card pools alone, which means that Wastes will need to be freely provided to make Limited function. Assuming <> isn't eldrazi-specific (and it seems as though it is NOT), LGSs stocking up on Wastes is the new normal.
-The actual card Wastes seems utterly unplayable in non-EDH Contructed. Other than the quality of being Basic, it's strictly inferior to literally any colorless-producing land in the history of the game. That's a bit bizarre.
-Previously, restricting a land like Gavony Township to only tapping for colorless was a strict downside. Now, this is no longer true. If <>-costing spells are pushed enough to see play in non-rotating formats, land bases will shift around to compensate. I still doubt Wastes will see play, but Painlands may find their way into Modern, and Filterlands certainly will be a lot more desirable.
-Given that most decks already incidentally had some lands generating colorless mana (Gavony, Mage-Ring, any Painland, etc.), WotC will need to get a bit creative to make <> costs actually matter. Kozilek, for example, doesn't strike me as being significantly restricted by the <> costs, since by the time a deck is prepared to generate ten mana, they've probably found some colorless sources. On the other hand, a weenie creature costing simply <> is tricky to cast on turn 1 in Standard, which could make it quite powerful.
Likely, regular wastes with text will be made available for limited and the full arts will only be in packs. Possibly printing the full art wastes at both common and land slot will provide a larger supply of full art Wastes for those who need them.
Also can we get a <> mana symbol in forum editor now?
I really doubt so.
You need to hold your horses with those baseless assumptions.
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
This assumes they keep printing Wastes in the following sets, or print cards that cost <> outside Oath. They might just save <> costing cards for sets in which colorless matters like future Eldrazi sets. I also assume that the draft environment might have a "<> mana matters" theme which requires the purposeful drafting of Wastes/nonbasics in order to cast certain card/get certain effects, like Snow in Coldsnap or fixers in Shards/Ravnica. LGS's handing out Wastes would ruin the point of this, and this means Wastes don't need to be supplied by LGS's.
I'm sure we'll see one or two pushed <> cards for eternal play, but I doubt we'll see <> outside of this set, until we hit the next Eldrazi plane (Shadows over
InnsmouthInnistrad).Why you so mad? You're in a speculation thread. Even if the guy said "These are now true" it is clearly speculation... He even said "assuming <> costs are prevalent in OGW and beyond."
One reason LGS might need to provide wastes is that the set requires the option for consistent colorless production.
A second reason would be for supply and demand of wastes.
Neither of these reasons are "baseless", but they are speculative.
<> being printed on Expeditions implies that the symbol will be the new normal way of generating colorless mana. It seems silly for such a massive change to be entirely cosmetic for non-Eldrazi sets. I'm currently assuming its more likely that <> symbols in costs will be present, if not necessarily widespread, in most sets going forward.
But it isn't a big rule change. That's why I never understood why people thought it was so crazy. It's basically just an aesthetic change to make colorless easier to differentiate from generic so that it's much cleaner to print cards with colorless costs like the new Kozilek (as opposed to having to write out "spend only colorless" or spend at least [N] colorless"). It changes absolutely nothing about how any older cards work, it only makes it more obvious how they interact with the new cards. Unless they randomly decide to errata a bunch of old cards to have <> in their cost, which I really don't see happening.
The change to the Legendary rule was a big rule change that actually affected the way you play the game. This does not do that. They even made the wastes in a way that specifically doesn't change the way stuff like domain and coalition victory work.
<> as a symbol for colorless mana will be a permanent change to the game. All cards that produce colorless mana will use it from now on.
As for <> in costs, my prediction is that it will show up roughly as often as hybrid mana. Around every third or forth block or so. I think it will neither be an evergreen mechanic, nor will it be restricted to reappearances of the Eldrazi. Now, this bit is just me speculating, but it would make the most sense. (Btw, the generic name of Wastes makes it possible to fit it into many different worlds. They just have to swap out the picture.)
Uril, the Miststalker RGW -- Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre C -- Vhati il-Dal BG -- Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer RW -- Animar, Soul of Elements URG
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker R -- Maga, Traitor to Mortals B -- Ghave, Guru of Spores BGW -- Sliver Hivelord WUBRG
I dont think anyone said it was a crazy idea to have such an overhaul errata at all, only that it didnt make sense in this context- they just printed oodles of colorless producing cards in BFZ, now they all need errata from blighted lands to eldrazi spawn tokens, and they'll be drafted alongside OGW on release. Were all BFZ cards secretly scratch-off mana symbols and we didnt notice? So assuming the expedition is real, which it likely is, it begs questions of what happened in this blocks development or if this set has some big flavor twist. Im for one happier with a clumsy templating flub and good mechanic than vice versa, but we'll have to hear from wizards what the story is
'spoiling a surprise' seems no reason. Why not swap the set mechanics? Why bother with surpise at all. Every set is spoiled before its released, that window only exists for a few months, the cards themselves last decades. It seems no reason to compromise the cards in BFX and errata them immediately, when the set was on course to be called homelands 2.0 and be maligned.
It is not strictly inferior to those lands at all. Have you ever heard of the Domain mechanic? Tribal Flames is the best-known Domain card.
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Wastes doesn't have a land type.