it's not that people are enamored with bolas either - he too, as the story developed, became another cliche. and it's not that astonishing.
It's actually the exact opposite. Speaking as someone who used to HATE Bolas (and it's difficult to emphasize just how badly I hated him as a character, to the extent that I stopped buying cards and playing in sets where was being featured), over the last two years Bolas has evolved from a boring, cliche (and to me, insufferable) supervillain into a layered and psychologically interesting character who, while still absolutely evil, now feels at least understandable and even human in his wickedness. Like, I can even relate to his motivations now (though I obviously condemn his actions).
Bolas went from being my absolute most hated character in all of Magic to being one of my all-time favorites. And that's specifically BECAUSE the story fleshed him out and developed him in a way that I did not expect, and dared to make his evil understandable and grounded in universal, human fears.
Bolas is evil through and through. And he does enjoy in hamming it up when he can, for the sheer, semi-self-aware fun of doing so. But his actual heart and soul are sick, fearful, and tortured things.
Like Yawgmoth, Bolas is full of jealousies, insecurities, and resentments embodied by a former loved one. Yawgmoth called the problem "Rebbec." Bolas called it "Ugin." Each had a goal of proving himself dominant over his object of obsession. In the end, each reached too far, and each dared too much.
Kind of baffling that supposedly omnipotent/omniscient super villain is not a cliche. Bolas was a very flat villain prior to M19 or so. Evil for evils sake is about as cliche as you can get.
Kind of baffling that supposedly omnipotent/omniscient super villain is not a cliche. Bolas was a very flat villain prior to M19 or so. Evil for evils sake is about as cliche as you can get.
Here.
While Hour of Devastation was the turning point that made Bolas truly scary for me for the first time, M19 was where they finally showed us what made him tick, and what made him so sick inside. It made him, if not sympathetic, then human and at least understandable.
I now contend that Bolas ended up as a great fantasy villain. But that wasn't the case until quite recently.
Honestly prior to Hour of Devastation the only time Bolas actually did anything of note was probably Alara. And that's... what, over a decade ago at this point, at least. Prior to Alara he's mostly a background guy or honestly coming off as more cowardly than truly intimidating.
And I would agree. Prior to this arc in general Bolas was pretty bland.
Honestly prior to Hour of Devastation the only time Bolas actually did anything of note was probably Alara. And that's... what, over a decade ago at this point, at least. Prior to Alara he's mostly a background guy or honestly coming off as more cowardly than truly intimidating.
And I would agree. Prior to this arc in general Bolas was pretty bland.
Just one question, since people are talking about Bolas. I've read a story somewhere about a battle that happened on an island where Tezerret drained Bolas of energy, but it turns out that Bolas that Tezz drained was a fake and the real Bolas was unharmed. Is that story canon?
Honestly prior to Hour of Devastation the only time Bolas actually did anything of note was probably Alara. And that's... what, over a decade ago at this point, at least. Prior to Alara he's mostly a background guy or honestly coming off as more cowardly than truly intimidating.
And I would agree. Prior to this arc in general Bolas was pretty bland.
Just one question, since people are talking about Bolas. I've read a story somewhere about a battle that happened on an island where Tezerret drained Bolas of energy, but it turns out that Bolas that Tezz drained was a fake and the real Bolas was unharmed. Is that story canon?
If it is Test of Metal i belive it got retconned because of some aspects of the story that conflicted with other story material, but most think the book is a good read tho.
To Liliana's surprise, the cost of betraying Bolas did not fall on her... and to Gideons surprise, it also didn't fall on him. It fell on STUFFY DOLL! The most memorable character in the entire game!
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
To Liliana's surprise, the cost of betraying Bolas did not fall on her... and to Gideons surprise, it also didn't fall on him. It fell on STUFFY DOLL! The most memorable character in the entire game!
Ajani: See, this is why I switched to GW. Monowhiteplaneswalkers have a disturbingly high mortality rate, and I already cut it close once. Liliana: That sounds a little selfish, don't you think?
Ajani: It's called survival instinct.
Liliana: What's the difference?
Ajani: Instinct would have told me not to make deals with demons.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
It's actually the exact opposite. Speaking as someone who used to HATE Bolas (and it's difficult to emphasize just how badly I hated him as a character, to the extent that I stopped buying cards and playing in sets where was being featured), over the last two years Bolas has evolved from a boring, cliche (and to me, insufferable) supervillain into a layered and psychologically interesting character who, while still absolutely evil, now feels at least understandable and even human in his wickedness. Like, I can even relate to his motivations now (though I obviously condemn his actions).
Bolas went from being my absolute most hated character in all of Magic to being one of my all-time favorites. And that's specifically BECAUSE the story fleshed him out and developed him in a way that I did not expect, and dared to make his evil understandable and grounded in universal, human fears.
Bolas is evil through and through. And he does enjoy in hamming it up when he can, for the sheer, semi-self-aware fun of doing so. But his actual heart and soul are sick, fearful, and tortured things.
Like Yawgmoth, Bolas is full of jealousies, insecurities, and resentments embodied by a former loved one. Yawgmoth called the problem "Rebbec." Bolas called it "Ugin." Each had a goal of proving himself dominant over his object of obsession. In the end, each reached too far, and each dared too much.
Here.
While Hour of Devastation was the turning point that made Bolas truly scary for me for the first time, M19 was where they finally showed us what made him tick, and what made him so sick inside. It made him, if not sympathetic, then human and at least understandable.
I now contend that Bolas ended up as a great fantasy villain. But that wasn't the case until quite recently.
And I would agree. Prior to this arc in general Bolas was pretty bland.
Actually It was expected for Bolas to end up that way in the end especially with Ugin status hinting it.
Just one question, since people are talking about Bolas. I've read a story somewhere about a battle that happened on an island where Tezerret drained Bolas of energy, but it turns out that Bolas that Tezz drained was a fake and the real Bolas was unharmed. Is that story canon?
Nexus MTG News // Nexus - Magic Art Gallery // MTG Dual Land Color Ratios Analyzer // MTG Card Drawing Odds Calculator
Want to play a UW control deck in modern, but don't have jace or snaps?
Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread
If it is Test of Metal i belive it got retconned because of some aspects of the story that conflicted with other story material, but most think the book is a good read tho.
Nexus MTG News // Nexus - Magic Art Gallery // MTG Dual Land Color Ratios Analyzer // MTG Card Drawing Odds Calculator
Want to play a UW control deck in modern, but don't have jace or snaps?
Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Eh, it's been through worse.
Liliana: That sounds a little selfish, don't you think?
Ajani: It's called survival instinct.
Liliana: What's the difference?
Ajani: Instinct would have told me not to make deals with demons.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
The white guy always dies first?
Nah, Venser was blue.
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Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.