your right. We all have to learn our lesson from the SOI block "mystery", were the clues of Emrakul were so forced and obvious, that WotC were basically calling all of us stupid. From now on the Marit Lage people need to understand that this game isn't made for people who are smart, and enjoy an actual mystery; it's made for everyone, including people with no imagination, creativity, or intelligence. So yes, they pretty much confirmed Nicol Bolas with the artwork and reintroducing the archenemy product. After reading the state of design though, it seems even Maro admits the Emrakul innistrad thing was a mistake, interesting.
You are very preceptive noticing those clues in the artwork and archenemy deck. I bet WotC is very upset you already figured out that mystery that is plainly stated in the text as well.
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Planar Chaos was not a mistake neither was it random. You might want to look at it again.
[thread=239793][Game] Level Up - Creature[/thread]
I actually suspect that Bolas will be the first failure for the gatewatch. I guess they go to Amonkhet to deal with one of Lilianas demons and then get into conflict with Bolas himself one way or the other. I also guess that they will be beaten pretty thoroughly and will have to flee the plane, which sets up a larger conflict for the future. Just my two cents on this.
Oh and I can't even describe how happy I am about an Egypt block. Was actually kind of disappointed when Kaladesh was announced because of that rumor floating around.
Really excited for this. Definitely a setting I've been waiting to see. Potentially getting new god cards is awesome. Seeing Bolas again will be great, he is long overdue for a new card.
Shame he already has UB in his color identity, something about this set feels like Ashiok would be right at home for a new card too.
Look, I'm still pissed about the Eldrazi in Eldricth Moon, because it was to friggin' early (and MaRo even admitted as much in his recent column, to much Eldrazi to soon), but we *know* Bolas is in Amonkhet from the get go. If it was the other way around and a god was impersonating Bolas, you better believe there will be an uproar.
I think that's why they flat out told us this time. I have a feeling they would have left it a mystery, but didn't want another uproar like what happened with Emrakul.
Shame he already has UB in his color identity, something about this set feels like Ashiok would be right at home for a new card too.
We're overdue for a UB planeswalker (Unless Baan turns out to be UB) so I wouldn't count it out. Remember that tri-colour planeswalkers are far too 'niche' to count for colour balance (That fact is the only reason we got Tamiyo - in a Standard where we already had GU and WU planeswalkers no less!)
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Rose tint my world, keep me safe from my trouble and pain.
1. Desert
Ancient Egypt was basically a green noodle around the river Nile, flanked by vast desert on both sides. Desert reprint is possible, though I hope there would be new lands with the Desert type. Oasis reprint is probably out, as Wizards don't really do damage prevention of this kind any longer.
2. Land of the Living and Land of the Dead
The eastern and western bank of Nile had very different for the Egyptians. East, where the Sun rises, was the land of the living, while west, where it sets, was the land of the dead. All pyramids and other tombs are on the western side, while the temples are on the eastern side.
The announcement has mentioned desert and oases, but I wonder whether there will be a river corresponding to Nile. Nile was not just a river -- it was THE river, the most important thing in Egypt.
3. Pyramids
Everyone knows that there are pyramids in Egypt. Now, if you look at the original Pyramids card, it shows pyramids as they appear in our time -- ancient and stripped of their shiny outer cover. The "pyramids" shown in the announcement picture are actually only superficially similar (they have windows!). They seem more like buildings in the style than true pyramids. True pyramids would be tombs, probably lands. I could imagine first set introducing several pyramids, then the current pharaoh dies and HOU will have HIS pyramid.
Pyramids bear to mind traps, curses, mummies and treasures, but I don't think the set would concentrate too much on the grave-robbing aspect of pyramids.
4. Afterlife
Afterlife was a big part of the Egyptian mythology (I want Ammit as a card -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammit), but having Bolas involved means there will probably be a nasty twist. I have a feeling that the Amonkhet afterlife will all be about greed -- that all the treasures given to the dead in their tombs will belong to Bolas and the dead will be reduced to mummy guardians that curse and kill those who would dare to steal from him.
5. Stargate
Lots of Egyptian info in popular culture is probably thanks to Stargate, and the basic plot (a being from another world who controls the primitive natives like a god) is also similar. I wouldn't be surprised if there was an actual stargate-like device: something that Bolas could use to transport his troops to other planes. This might tie in with the teleportation device Rashmi is building on Kaladesh.
The idea of transporting people and things between planes was ubiquitous in older Magic -- Weatherlight, for example, Phyrexian portals, and all those artificial planes like Mirrodin getting their inhabitants, but it has been completely abandoned after the Mending; planeswalkers now can only travel by themselves, and their friends like Lavinia are doomed to stay on their home plane forever. And it seems like they can't take any object bigger than what they could carry on their person. But perhaps Mending didn't make mundane interplanar travel impossible, it just changed the rules so they have to be figured out again. Rashmi and Saheeli might figure them out -- and Bolas might then steal the device and bring it to Amonkhet; this might be how others will be alerted to this plane.
6. African wildlife -- the monster Ammit I've mentioned before is a combination of three man-eating animals the Egyptians knew: lion, crocodile and hippo. All three are likely to appear. Camels, as well. I'd expect some normal cats as well -- Egyptian worship of cats is well-known and IIRC, housecats we have today actually come from that region.
Animals we associate with Egypt are most likely those that appear as heads of their gods, so ibises, falcons, cows, jackals...
I think that's why they flat out told us this time. I have a feeling they would have left it a mystery, but didn't want another uproar like what happened with Emrakul.
I very much doubt it. With Innistrad, the mystery was the draw. Something weird was going on and nobody knew the cause. With Amonkhet, Nicol Bolas is the draw. He will be right up in your face the moment you set foot on the plane since everyone worships him. There's no mystery to that, so they should be up-front about his presence to catch the attention of everyone who likes him as a villain.
They revealed these sets too early. So many people asked for an Egyptian top-down block, and showing it before even starting Kaladesh previews is a mistake in my opinion. What would have changed if they had scheduled the Announcement day a month from now?
Yeah, looks like no one cares about Kaladesh anymore. Amonkhet catched all attention.
That's why Bolas >>> Gatewatch.
[quote from="krishnath »" url="http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/the-rumor-mill/753868-spring-and-summer-set-amonkhet-and-hour-of?comment=126"]We're overdue for a UB planeswalker (Unless Baan turns out to be UB) so I wouldn't count it out. Remember that tri-colour planeswalkers are far too 'niche' to count for colour balance (That fact is the only reason we got Tamiyo - in a Standard where we already had GU and WU planeswalkers no less!)
Yeah, was either hoping for Tezzeret to come back in Kaladesh or Revolt, but am totally cool with Dovin ending up UB if that happens.
But the possibility of seeing Ashiok again is too good to be true for me, so I kinda hope we do end up having it return in Amonkhet. Feels way way too fitting there to me for some reason.
I know that Wotc uses only three letter abbreviations for their sets, but man, I really wish that instead of AKH they went with ANKH.
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Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
But oh my that rumor also mentioned a rarity even rarer than "mythic" call "epic"
Just to throw some unnecessary gasoline on that fire, from Rosewater's "State of Design 2016" column:
Zendikar Expeditions excited a lot of players
We tried something new in Battle for Zendikar block with having older cards in new form show up at a rarity higher than mythic rare. The vast majority of you were quite excited by them.
Absolutely love it whenever we go to a new world. It means Wizards would not take a rehash of a revisited world and built on it. It means something built from scratch, and when you do, you put more TLC into it.
Look, I'm still pissed about the Eldrazi in Eldricth Moon, because it was to friggin' early (and MaRo even admitted as much in his recent column, to much Eldrazi to soon), but we *know* Bolas is in Amonkhet from the get go. If it was the other way around and a god was impersonating Bolas, you better believe there will be an uproar.
I think that's why they flat out told us this time. I have a feeling they would have left it a mystery, but didn't want another uproar like what happened with Emrakul.
They had finished the styleguide for Amonkhet way before the Eldritch Moon mystery was revealed. There was no time to restyle the whole architecture of the world to include Bolas' horns.
Just to throw some unnecessary gasoline on that fire, from Rosewater's "State of Design 2016" column:
Zendikar Expeditions excited a lot of players
We tried something new in Battle for Zendikar block with having older cards in new form show up at a rarity higher than mythic rare. The vast majority of you were quite excited by them.
He's talking about the Expedition lands. And yes, people were excited for them - because they were lands that were uber needed for eternal formats. I hope they don't take away from this that they can print any card in that slot - the only reason people cared is because they were lands. And the only reason players didn't get ANGRY is because they weren't Standard legal and thus only the eternal format players really cared.
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():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Rose tint my world, keep me safe from my trouble and pain.
A set of egypt would be great to put in some "treasures" from these old temples.
Put in some nice artifacts.
Very good place to put in some mox opal and a bunch of other artifacts to "bury them".
If its me, they could put Expediction like reprints in every set as ultra-mega rare. Its just extra for the people that truly enjoy the pimp.
For any other players, its like putting money in the booster packs.
your right. We all have to learn our lesson from the SOI block "mystery", were the clues of Emrakul were so forced and obvious, that WotC were basically calling all of us stupid. From now on the Marit Lage people need to understand that this game isn't made for people who are smart, and enjoy an actual mystery; it's made for everyone, including people with no imagination, creativity, or intelligence. So yes, they pretty much confirmed Nicol Bolas with the artwork and reintroducing the archenemy product. After reading the state of design though, it seems even Maro admits the Emrakul innistrad thing was a mistake, interesting.
You are very preceptive noticing those clues in the artwork and archenemy deck. I bet WotC is very upset you already figured out that mystery that is plainly stated in the text as well.
oh you mean the text that was uploaded after the pictures were spoiled, which was after the post I put on here. Try to keep up with the smart people here genius. Your trolling skills are still mediocre at best
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(LouCypher):
Flame warning - LouCypher
Just to throw some unnecessary gasoline on that fire, from Rosewater's "State of Design 2016" column:
Zendikar Expeditions excited a lot of players
We tried something new in Battle for Zendikar block with having older cards in new form show up at a rarity higher than mythic rare. The vast majority of you were quite excited by them.
He's talking about the Expedition lands. And yes, people were excited for them - because they were lands that were uber needed for eternal formats. I hope they don't take away from this that they can print any card in that slot - the only reason people cared is because they were lands. And the only reason players didn't get ANGRY is because they weren't Standard legal and thus only the eternal format players really cared.
If they do something like the BFZ expeditions in Amonkhet, I expect them to do it with high power artifacts but use the same rules as with the lands (not legal in standard, but legal where they are otherwise legal). And in that case I fully expect any non-reserved list Mox among them.
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():
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It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
You are very preceptive noticing those clues in the artwork and archenemy deck. I bet WotC is very upset you already figured out that mystery that is plainly stated in the text as well.
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
Factions: Sleeping
Remnants: Valheim
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Legends: The Elder Dragons
Read up on Red Flags & NWO
I actually suspect that Bolas will be the first failure for the gatewatch. I guess they go to Amonkhet to deal with one of Lilianas demons and then get into conflict with Bolas himself one way or the other. I also guess that they will be beaten pretty thoroughly and will have to flee the plane, which sets up a larger conflict for the future. Just my two cents on this.
Oh and I can't even describe how happy I am about an Egypt block. Was actually kind of disappointed when Kaladesh was announced because of that rumor floating around.
Shame he already has UB in his color identity, something about this set feels like Ashiok would be right at home for a new card too.
UBBreya's Toybox (Competitive, Combo)WR
RGodzilla, King of the MonstersG
-Retired Decks-
UBLazav, Dimir Mastermind (Competitive, UB Voltron/Control)UB
"Knowledge is such a burden. Release it. Release all your fears to me."
—Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
I think that's why they flat out told us this time. I have a feeling they would have left it a mystery, but didn't want another uproar like what happened with Emrakul.
We're overdue for a UB planeswalker (Unless Baan turns out to be UB) so I wouldn't count it out. Remember that tri-colour planeswalkers are far too 'niche' to count for colour balance (That fact is the only reason we got Tamiyo - in a Standard where we already had GU and WU planeswalkers no less!)
1. Desert
Ancient Egypt was basically a green noodle around the river Nile, flanked by vast desert on both sides. Desert reprint is possible, though I hope there would be new lands with the Desert type. Oasis reprint is probably out, as Wizards don't really do damage prevention of this kind any longer.
2. Land of the Living and Land of the Dead
The eastern and western bank of Nile had very different for the Egyptians. East, where the Sun rises, was the land of the living, while west, where it sets, was the land of the dead. All pyramids and other tombs are on the western side, while the temples are on the eastern side.
The announcement has mentioned desert and oases, but I wonder whether there will be a river corresponding to Nile. Nile was not just a river -- it was THE river, the most important thing in Egypt.
3. Pyramids
Everyone knows that there are pyramids in Egypt. Now, if you look at the original Pyramids card, it shows pyramids as they appear in our time -- ancient and stripped of their shiny outer cover. The "pyramids" shown in the announcement picture are actually only superficially similar (they have windows!). They seem more like buildings in the style than true pyramids. True pyramids would be tombs, probably lands. I could imagine first set introducing several pyramids, then the current pharaoh dies and HOU will have HIS pyramid.
Pyramids bear to mind traps, curses, mummies and treasures, but I don't think the set would concentrate too much on the grave-robbing aspect of pyramids.
4. Afterlife
Afterlife was a big part of the Egyptian mythology (I want Ammit as a card -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammit), but having Bolas involved means there will probably be a nasty twist. I have a feeling that the Amonkhet afterlife will all be about greed -- that all the treasures given to the dead in their tombs will belong to Bolas and the dead will be reduced to mummy guardians that curse and kill those who would dare to steal from him.
5. Stargate
Lots of Egyptian info in popular culture is probably thanks to Stargate, and the basic plot (a being from another world who controls the primitive natives like a god) is also similar. I wouldn't be surprised if there was an actual stargate-like device: something that Bolas could use to transport his troops to other planes. This might tie in with the teleportation device Rashmi is building on Kaladesh.
The idea of transporting people and things between planes was ubiquitous in older Magic -- Weatherlight, for example, Phyrexian portals, and all those artificial planes like Mirrodin getting their inhabitants, but it has been completely abandoned after the Mending; planeswalkers now can only travel by themselves, and their friends like Lavinia are doomed to stay on their home plane forever. And it seems like they can't take any object bigger than what they could carry on their person. But perhaps Mending didn't make mundane interplanar travel impossible, it just changed the rules so they have to be figured out again. Rashmi and Saheeli might figure them out -- and Bolas might then steal the device and bring it to Amonkhet; this might be how others will be alerted to this plane.
6. African wildlife -- the monster Ammit I've mentioned before is a combination of three man-eating animals the Egyptians knew: lion, crocodile and hippo. All three are likely to appear. Camels, as well. I'd expect some normal cats as well -- Egyptian worship of cats is well-known and IIRC, housecats we have today actually come from that region.
Animals we associate with Egypt are most likely those that appear as heads of their gods, so ibises, falcons, cows, jackals...
Yeah, looks like no one cares about Kaladesh anymore. Amonkhet catched all attention.
That's why Bolas >>> Gatewatch.
Yeah, was either hoping for Tezzeret to come back in Kaladesh or Revolt, but am totally cool with Dovin ending up UB if that happens.
But the possibility of seeing Ashiok again is too good to be true for me, so I kinda hope we do end up having it return in Amonkhet. Feels way way too fitting there to me for some reason.
UBBreya's Toybox (Competitive, Combo)WR
RGodzilla, King of the MonstersG
-Retired Decks-
UBLazav, Dimir Mastermind (Competitive, UB Voltron/Control)UB
"Knowledge is such a burden. Release it. Release all your fears to me."
—Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
I wanna see some serious Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders pose
And lastly, Walk like an Egyptian
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
Just to throw some unnecessary gasoline on that fire, from Rosewater's "State of Design 2016" column:
Thanks to DNC from Heroes of the Plane Studios for the sig
Check my Pauper Cube!
Marath, Will of the Wild
Friendly Kess Twin Combo
Tatyova - Sir Bounce A Lot
Gonti's Luxury Pie
Prime (Eldrazi) Speaker Zegana (Retired)
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
They had finished the styleguide for Amonkhet way before the Eldritch Moon mystery was revealed. There was no time to restyle the whole architecture of the world to include Bolas' horns.
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
Doomsdayin'
He's talking about the Expedition lands. And yes, people were excited for them - because they were lands that were uber needed for eternal formats. I hope they don't take away from this that they can print any card in that slot - the only reason people cared is because they were lands. And the only reason players didn't get ANGRY is because they weren't Standard legal and thus only the eternal format players really cared.
A set of egypt would be great to put in some "treasures" from these old temples.
Put in some nice artifacts.
Very good place to put in some mox opal and a bunch of other artifacts to "bury them".
If its me, they could put Expediction like reprints in every set as ultra-mega rare. Its just extra for the people that truly enjoy the pimp.
For any other players, its like putting money in the booster packs.
WUBRG#BlackLotusMatterWUBRG
👮👮👮 #BlueLivesMatter 👮👮👮
Yes, from the darkest deepth of my black heart !
WUBRG#BlackLotusMatterWUBRG
👮👮👮 #BlueLivesMatter 👮👮👮
If they do something like the BFZ expeditions in Amonkhet, I expect them to do it with high power artifacts but use the same rules as with the lands (not legal in standard, but legal where they are otherwise legal). And in that case I fully expect any non-reserved list Mox among them.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.