In this post, Mark Rosewater stated that there shall be no wedge-colored cards in Dragons of Tarkir, which is a ridiculous decision, in my mind. The promotional artwork for that set clearly shows clan banners, confirming that the clans still exist in that set, and each color of each clan is equally important to its identity, so it does not make sense for there to not be cards with all three of each clan's colors. I do hope that there shall be two-color cards, at least.
What does everyone else say about this? Why shall there not be any three-color cards in Dragons of Tarkir?
They've made it clear that the middle set of the block, a small set, acts as a hinge between the two sets. The first set has a wedge theme. The last set likely has little or no monocolor, and as a result, supporting such decks in limited will not be easy. Therefore, they decided to employ hybrid rather than multicolor in the middle block. It makes perfect sense, as long as what I've speculated in this post is true.
I'm not sure you can judge the decision ridiculous until the entire block has been revealed to you.
There are no clan banners in that image, the only thing from dragons we have. In the timeline of Dragons of Tarkir dragons never went extinct and therefore changed the way the humanoid tribes developed. It is not certain that the clans exist as they do in Khans. As for two color cards that is almost certain. It's been stated that they like to put two color uncommons that direct limited decks in each set.
We don't know how coherent the clans are when Dragons takes place, and even if they are fully formed, whether they were fully "gold" yet is not an assumption. Yasova's design seems to indicate that they're still in their primary colours but are starting to show signs of diversification.
I still do not understand why WotC cannot do an entire block with a wedge theme; if both Ravnica blocks kept their two-color theme throughout their entirety, and if the Alara block (mostly) kept its three-color theme throughout its entirety, why would it be so difficult to do the same with this block?
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“Those who would trade their freedoms for security will have neither.”-Benjamin Franklin
“When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”-Thomas Jefferson
“A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of its user.”-Theodore Roosevelt
“Patriotism means to stand by one's country; it does not mean to stand by one's president.”-Theodore Roosevelt
I feel compelled to point out that "There will be no wedges in Dragons of Tarkir" is a different statement to "There will be no wedge coloured Dragons".
We have already seen a wedge colour identity clan leader with the suggestion that the others will have a similar template, so it is not unreasonable to think that wedge based dragons may exist either in the second or third sets. The thing that Maro is referring to is that the set will not have a wedge colour focus.
I still do not understand why WotC cannot do an entire block with a wedge theme; if both Ravnica blocks kept their two-color theme throughout their entirety, and if the Alara block (mostly) kept its three-color theme throughout its entirety, why would it be so difficult to do the same with this block?
MaRo said somewhere (I think it was in Blogatog a couple months ago) that there isn't enough design space for a full tricolor block, and Alara block was apparently considered a failure because of this.
coriell1 asked: I think one of the depressing things about Khans not being a wedge block, similar to Theros not being Enchantmirrodin, is that the mere existence of a wedge set makes seeing a wedge block at any point in the near future an impossibility. Is there any hope for those with dashed expectations?
Let you in on a little bit of truth. The lesson of Shards of Alara block is there’s really not enough design space for an entire block of three-colored cards. You’ll notice that Shards of Alara block cheated by having Conflux have a strong five-color theme and Alara Reborn having the all-gold gimmick rely a lot more on two-color gold cards than three-colored.
The real reason you’re not going to see a wedge block in the future has nothing to do with the Khans of Tarkir block structure but on the fact that there just isn’t enough design space to really make a wedge block work.
There are all sorts of factors at play. Three-color design is tricky to start with. Having a wedge block pushes you heavily toward having factions of some kind which even more narrows the design space. And then, three-color designs lean heavily on having elements of monocolor design to help fill things out (with things like charms and extra effects to make sure the spell feels like all three colors). That space just gets chewed up quickly making it hard to make more three-color designs that feel unique.
There’s enough to make one really exciting large set and that’s what we’ve done. One of the things that drew us to wedge is the Khans of Tarkir block structure requires change so we wanted to do something that would be super exciting but would only fill the available space allowing us not to waste a theme that we could build a whole block around.
I use this blog to be bluntly honest with you all. Khans of Tarkir isn’t keeping you from getting a wedge block. Design space was keeping that from happening. Khans of Tarkir is allowing us to blow out the wedge theme in the most exciting way we can.
I'm not sure he's actually saying that there will be fully zero wedge-colored cards in Dragons. They could easily do a cycle or two of wedge-colored cards without the set being a "wedge set" in the same way Khans was, allowing them to tie the set together a little. It would be very easy for MaRo to read this question as "Will Dragons be a wedge set?" instead of "Will any card in Dragons be wedge-colored?", as it's a bit ambiguous.
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coriell1 asked: I think one of the depressing things about Khans not being a wedge block, similar to Theros not being Enchantmirrodin, is that the mere existence of a wedge set makes seeing a wedge block at any point in the near future an impossibility. Is there any hope for those with dashed expectations?
Let you in on a little bit of truth. The lesson of Shards of Alara block is there’s really not enough design space for an entire block of three-colored cards. You’ll notice that Shards of Alara block cheated by having Conflux have a strong five-color theme and Alara Reborn having the all-gold gimmick rely a lot more on two-color gold cards than three-colored.
The real reason you’re not going to see a wedge block in the future has nothing to do with the Khans of Tarkir block structure but on the fact that there just isn’t enough design space to really make a wedge block work.
There are all sorts of factors at play. Three-color design is tricky to start with. Having a wedge block pushes you heavily toward having factions of some kind which even more narrows the design space. And then, three-color designs lean heavily on having elements of monocolor design to help fill things out (with things like charms and extra effects to make sure the spell feels like all three colors). That space just gets chewed up quickly making it hard to make more three-color designs that feel unique.
There’s enough to make one really exciting large set and that’s what we’ve done. One of the things that drew us to wedge is the Khans of Tarkir block structure requires change so we wanted to do something that would be super exciting but would only fill the available space allowing us not to waste a theme that we could build a whole block around.
I use this blog to be bluntly honest with you all. Khans of Tarkir isn’t keeping you from getting a wedge block. Design space was keeping that from happening. Khans of Tarkir is allowing us to blow out the wedge theme in the most exciting way we can.
I may need to start another thread to specifically discuss that subject, since I find Rosewater's answer of "design space does not permit it" to be very difficult to believe. Does anyone else here believe that Rosewater was merely making up that reason as an excuse to disguise the fact that he simply does not wish to have an entire wedge-themed block?
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“Those who would trade their freedoms for security will have neither.”-Benjamin Franklin
“When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”-Thomas Jefferson
“A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of its user.”-Theodore Roosevelt
“Patriotism means to stand by one's country; it does not mean to stand by one's president.”-Theodore Roosevelt
coriell1 asked: I think one of the depressing things about Khans not being a wedge block, similar to Theros not being Enchantmirrodin, is that the mere existence of a wedge set makes seeing a wedge block at any point in the near future an impossibility. Is there any hope for those with dashed expectations?
Let you in on a little bit of truth. The lesson of Shards of Alara block is there’s really not enough design space for an entire block of three-colored cards. You’ll notice that Shards of Alara block cheated by having Conflux have a strong five-color theme and Alara Reborn having the all-gold gimmick rely a lot more on two-color gold cards than three-colored.
The real reason you’re not going to see a wedge block in the future has nothing to do with the Khans of Tarkir block structure but on the fact that there just isn’t enough design space to really make a wedge block work.
There are all sorts of factors at play. Three-color design is tricky to start with. Having a wedge block pushes you heavily toward having factions of some kind which even more narrows the design space. And then, three-color designs lean heavily on having elements of monocolor design to help fill things out (with things like charms and extra effects to make sure the spell feels like all three colors). That space just gets chewed up quickly making it hard to make more three-color designs that feel unique.
There’s enough to make one really exciting large set and that’s what we’ve done. One of the things that drew us to wedge is the Khans of Tarkir block structure requires change so we wanted to do something that would be super exciting but would only fill the available space allowing us not to waste a theme that we could build a whole block around.
I use this blog to be bluntly honest with you all. Khans of Tarkir isn’t keeping you from getting a wedge block. Design space was keeping that from happening. Khans of Tarkir is allowing us to blow out the wedge theme in the most exciting way we can.
I may need to start another thread to specifically discuss that subject, since I find Rosewater's answer of "design space does not permit it" to be very difficult to believe. Does anyone else here believe that Rosewater was merely making up that reason as an excuse to disguise the fact that he simply does not wish to have an entire wedge-themed block?
Magic R&D: Let's make a wedge block!
Maro: But I don't want to.
R&D: Fine, fine, you're the boss, no wedge block.
Do you really believe this is how much power and influence Maro wields? He "doesn't want to" and therefore they don't do it at all?
Magic R&D: Let's make a wedge block!
Maro: But I don't want to.
R&D: Fine, fine, you're the boss, no wedge block.
Do you really believe this is how much power and influence Maro wields? He "doesn't want to" and therefore they don't do it at all?
No, but I still cannot believe what he said in that post, especially without evidence. If someone, either Rosewater himself or a user here, can produce reliable and tangible evidence that there is insufficient design space for an entire three-colored block, then I shall believe his post, but not until then.
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“Those who would trade their freedoms for security will have neither.”-Benjamin Franklin
“When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”-Thomas Jefferson
“A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of its user.”-Theodore Roosevelt
“Patriotism means to stand by one's country; it does not mean to stand by one's president.”-Theodore Roosevelt
Considering how the Core Sets have been getting some few Multicolored cards (or at least pseudo-Multicolor Uncommons) and Theros (a mono-heavy block) had plenty of Multicolored love, I think that Multicolored as a whole is shifting into evergreen territory.
Thinking that way, I kinda agree with MaRo on the "design space" thing. Multicolor is kinda like Flying where it does haves a huge place in the game but once you put too much of it it kinda loses its purpose.
With that said, I'm a strong believer that Dragons will have, at the very least, some few enemy-colored cards. Wouldn't be surprised to see some Wedge build-around-me Uncommons or even a cycle of Wedge Rares/Mythics. MaRo himself said about the risks of not building up to expectations, and in Khans block people expect some wedges.
Magic R&D: Let's make a wedge block!
Maro: But I don't want to.
R&D: Fine, fine, you're the boss, no wedge block.
Do you really believe this is how much power and influence Maro wields? He "doesn't want to" and therefore they don't do it at all?
No, but I still cannot believe what he said in that post, especially without evidence. If someone, either Rosewater himself or a user here, can produce reliable and tangible evidence that there is insufficient design space for an entire three-colored block, then I shall believe his post, but not until then.
You're asking for tangible evidence on what's effectively the size of thought-space? Really?
Maro ALREADY explained some of the ideas on why 3-colored is difficult. Note here:
Three-color design is tricky to start with. Having a wedge block pushes you heavily toward having factions of some kind which even more narrows the design space. And then, three-color designs lean heavily on having elements of monocolor design to help fill things out (with things like charms and extra effects to make sure the spell feels like all three colors). That space just gets chewed up quickly making it hard to make more three-color designs that feel unique.
You can ask for more reasoning, sure, but trying to claim tangible reasoning on something like design space, as if the above is illegitimate, strikes me as really unreasonable.
Magic R&D: Let's make a wedge block!
Maro: But I don't want to.
R&D: Fine, fine, you're the boss, no wedge block.
Do you really believe this is how much power and influence Maro wields? He "doesn't want to" and therefore they don't do it at all?
No, but I still cannot believe what he said in that post, especially without evidence. If someone, either Rosewater himself or a user here, can produce reliable and tangible evidence that there is insufficient design space for an entire three-colored block, then I shall believe his post, but not until then.
What do you expect? How do one proves they couldn't design enough tri-colored cards for a block? It sounds unreasonable to me. What kind of "reliable and tangible evidence" can anyone give for that?
You can accuse the designers of lacking imagination or not trying hard enough. But I really don't see the point of essentially calling them straight-up liars hiding... what?
Or implying there's some nefarious desire of keeping us from having a wedge block because of... reasons?
Wizards print good rares, players complain about cash grab. They print underwhelming rares, players complain that the cards suck. They spoil the best cards first, players complain about the insane prices of preorders. They spoil the meh cards first, players complain that this is the worst set ever.
So. I think I understand now.
As far as these forums are concerned, WotC can never do anything good because:
Card that is new and probably good = "pushed"
Card that is new and probably bad = "EDH/casual fodder"
Card that is a reprint = "lazy"
Card that is a better version of an older card = "power creep"
Card that is a weaker version of an older card = "worthless"
Maybe the dragons will be Shard oriented.
Maybe we'll see the return of Chromium and the rest.
I mean it says Fate REFORGED so maybe they'll be changing the timelines of past history in the next sets?
I would love to see a usable Chromium, crystal-robo dragon is the best dragon.
Magic R&D: Let's make a wedge block!
Maro: But I don't want to.
R&D: Fine, fine, you're the boss, no wedge block.
Do you really believe this is how much power and influence Maro wields? He "doesn't want to" and therefore they don't do it at all?
No, but I still cannot believe what he said in that post, especially without evidence. If someone, either Rosewater himself or a user here, can produce reliable and tangible evidence that there is insufficient design space for an entire three-colored block, then I shall believe his post, but not until then.
I think that if you look at some of the three-colour cards in KTK, that already not all of them are what I'd call "good three colour designs".
Jeskai Ascendancy, in my opinion, is a good design. It combines the effects of caring about noncreature spells (blue and red) with mass creature pump (white) and looting (blue since it is draw before discard, but also kinda red) and the net result is something that feels novel and truly three coloured.
Siege Rhino is not (again, my opinion), a "good" three colour design. It is very "additive", combining an efficient creature (green) with trample (green) with lifeloss (black) and lifegain (white). This is not greater than the sum of its parts. Additionally, the "you loose life, I gain life" effect could be monoblack, so this creature could be BG. Or, actually, since black does occasionally get trample on some of its big beaters, I suppose it could even be monoblack if it was costed like Phyrexian Obliterator or something. Anyways, it is hard to see what is really white about this card, and what makes it feel truly three-coloured.
Mantis Rider is the same. Again, it is purely additive, flying(blue/white) + vigilance (white) + haste (red). And again, since white gets fliers, it could reasonably have been a WR creature without people lifting an eyebrow.
Ponyback Brigade - could probably be almost any colour (all colours can produce tokens apparently), but certainly it could have been mono red or mono white or red/white, so it certainly has no "need" to be black.
These--and this list does not attempt to be exhaustive--seem to indicate to me that they were already running short on good, interesting three-colour designs even in the first set.
They could go for more additive designs that end up being truly three-coloured like Savage Knuckleblade, but I do think Rosewater is correct in that it would quickly get old. In fact, some people were already complaining about such designs during spoiler season, that they didn't feel "unique". Another issue is that there is so much overlap between colours, so that even if you do make a card with ability "a" from colour "A" + ability "b" from colour "B" + ability "c" from colour "C", you may end up with a card that could have been two- or even one-coloured (like Siege Rhino).
All of this seem to point out that the amount of good, interesting, fresh-feeling, three-coloured cards are limited; or at least that R&D are struggling to find more. It may not be the "reliable and tangible evidence" that you requested, but I fear its the best I can do.
--
PS. I still think they could have made "additive" legendary wedge dragons that would have made many people happy even if some of them could have technically been printable in other colour combinations.
I'm kinda with DDJ on this- if they can do it with Alara, they can do it here,
especially if they drop the all-gold third set Alara had.
On top of that, KTK (the set) is *far* less Multicolored than either Alara or Ravnica-
a block of three similar sets wouldn't contain anywhere *near* as many gold cards as either.
It's not like *every* card in a Wedge Block would have to be three colors-
one and two-color cards work just fine
(and it would allow them a chance to flesh out the enemy pairs a little more,
as they are still lagging behind the allied pairs in numbers).
I agree with the person who asked that question- it's *completely* lame they couldn't do more.
And it isn't a matter of freaking design space, either,
as even I know there is WAY more design space in Wedges
than half a set
I guarantee you, if I were to design a wedge set,
more than one of the Khans would be a popular EDH general
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
Yeah, no, Alara block really isn't a good example to point to when trying to argue that three color blocks can be done. If you actually take time to analyze the 3-color cards in Alara block, you'll see that the vast majority of them are really just monocolored cards with two extra colors slapped on. (And that's fine as an isolated incident, but when your block is fill with cards like that, you're probably better off dropping the three-color theme of your block.) And most of the rest of the 3-color cards are of that lazy "additive design" style that JovianHomarid was talking about. If anything, Alara is evidence that 3-color blocks don't work.
What a lot of you are forgetting is that WotC can't just take every single wedge card design they've ever come up with, throw them into Khans block, and call it a day. A block needs structure and coherence, and there are the demands of limited formats to consider. That severely limits the designs WotC can stuff into a single block, so having a block theme that is already limiting on it's own doesn't help matters.
Does recognizing the fact that MtG's Head Designer is a better authority on what block themes are and are not practical than some angry nerd on the interwebs make me a MaRo apologist?
I don't think that because the third set is probably going to the least multi-color oriented of the 3, that a wedge colored dragon cycle is completely out of the picture. There have been at least a few times in the past that there may have been multi-color cards in an otherwise mono-color focused set.
Maybe the dragons will be Shard oriented.
Maybe we'll see the return of Chromium and the rest.
I mean it says Fate REFORGED so maybe they'll be changing the timelines of past history in the next sets?
I would love to see a usable Chromium, crystal-robo dragon is the best dragon.
Chromium is my favorite character so this is what I want more than anything, but I know it'll never happen. Wizards should have given all 5 of the elder dragons brand new cards in last year's EDH precons. The format is their namesake, after all.
Does recognizing the fact that MtG's Head Designer is a better authority on what block themes are and are not practical than some angry nerd on the interwebs make me a MaRo apologist?
You misunderstand.
I'm not saying MaRo is an idiot or he doesn't know his *****-
I'm saying he's probably feeding us some BS about this because we wouldn't like the real answer.
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
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What does everyone else say about this? Why shall there not be any three-color cards in Dragons of Tarkir?
Moved to Speculation - Wildfire393
“When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”-Thomas Jefferson
“A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of its user.”-Theodore Roosevelt
“Patriotism means to stand by one's country; it does not mean to stand by one's president.”-Theodore Roosevelt
I'm not sure you can judge the decision ridiculous until the entire block has been revealed to you.
There are no clan banners in that image, the only thing from dragons we have. In the timeline of Dragons of Tarkir dragons never went extinct and therefore changed the way the humanoid tribes developed. It is not certain that the clans exist as they do in Khans. As for two color cards that is almost certain. It's been stated that they like to put two color uncommons that direct limited decks in each set.
Playtesting | Karador, Ghost Chieftain | Narset, Enlightened Master | Ephara, God of the Polis
Established | Gahiji, Honored One | Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker | Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo | Rubinia Soulsinger
Retired | Medomai the Ageless | Diaochan, Artful Beauty
“When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”-Thomas Jefferson
“A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of its user.”-Theodore Roosevelt
“Patriotism means to stand by one's country; it does not mean to stand by one's president.”-Theodore Roosevelt
Playtesting | Karador, Ghost Chieftain | Narset, Enlightened Master | Ephara, God of the Polis
Established | Gahiji, Honored One | Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker | Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo | Rubinia Soulsinger
Retired | Medomai the Ageless | Diaochan, Artful Beauty
We have already seen a wedge colour identity clan leader with the suggestion that the others will have a similar template, so it is not unreasonable to think that wedge based dragons may exist either in the second or third sets. The thing that Maro is referring to is that the set will not have a wedge colour focus.
MaRo said somewhere (I think it was in Blogatog a couple months ago) that there isn't enough design space for a full tricolor block, and Alara block was apparently considered a failure because of this.
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
I may need to start another thread to specifically discuss that subject, since I find Rosewater's answer of "design space does not permit it" to be very difficult to believe. Does anyone else here believe that Rosewater was merely making up that reason as an excuse to disguise the fact that he simply does not wish to have an entire wedge-themed block?
“When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”-Thomas Jefferson
“A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of its user.”-Theodore Roosevelt
“Patriotism means to stand by one's country; it does not mean to stand by one's president.”-Theodore Roosevelt
Magic R&D: Let's make a wedge block!
Maro: But I don't want to.
R&D: Fine, fine, you're the boss, no wedge block.
Do you really believe this is how much power and influence Maro wields? He "doesn't want to" and therefore they don't do it at all?
No, but I still cannot believe what he said in that post, especially without evidence. If someone, either Rosewater himself or a user here, can produce reliable and tangible evidence that there is insufficient design space for an entire three-colored block, then I shall believe his post, but not until then.
“When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”-Thomas Jefferson
“A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of its user.”-Theodore Roosevelt
“Patriotism means to stand by one's country; it does not mean to stand by one's president.”-Theodore Roosevelt
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Thinking that way, I kinda agree with MaRo on the "design space" thing. Multicolor is kinda like Flying where it does haves a huge place in the game but once you put too much of it it kinda loses its purpose.
With that said, I'm a strong believer that Dragons will have, at the very least, some few enemy-colored cards. Wouldn't be surprised to see some Wedge build-around-me Uncommons or even a cycle of Wedge Rares/Mythics. MaRo himself said about the risks of not building up to expectations, and in Khans block people expect some wedges.
You're asking for tangible evidence on what's effectively the size of thought-space? Really?
Maro ALREADY explained some of the ideas on why 3-colored is difficult. Note here:
You can ask for more reasoning, sure, but trying to claim tangible reasoning on something like design space, as if the above is illegitimate, strikes me as really unreasonable.
What do you expect? How do one proves they couldn't design enough tri-colored cards for a block? It sounds unreasonable to me. What kind of "reliable and tangible evidence" can anyone give for that?
You can accuse the designers of lacking imagination or not trying hard enough. But I really don't see the point of essentially calling them straight-up liars hiding... what?
Or implying there's some nefarious desire of keeping us from having a wedge block because of... reasons?
maybe you can start make a custom Wedge block.
prove it to the people that Wedge block can be done.
Maybe we'll see the return of Chromium and the rest.
I mean it says Fate REFORGED so maybe they'll be changing the timelines of past history in the next sets?
I would love to see a usable Chromium, crystal-robo dragon is the best dragon.
BGGRock
Modern
BRGJund
BBGRock
I think that if you look at some of the three-colour cards in KTK, that already not all of them are what I'd call "good three colour designs".
Jeskai Ascendancy, in my opinion, is a good design. It combines the effects of caring about noncreature spells (blue and red) with mass creature pump (white) and looting (blue since it is draw before discard, but also kinda red) and the net result is something that feels novel and truly three coloured.
Siege Rhino is not (again, my opinion), a "good" three colour design. It is very "additive", combining an efficient creature (green) with trample (green) with lifeloss (black) and lifegain (white). This is not greater than the sum of its parts. Additionally, the "you loose life, I gain life" effect could be monoblack, so this creature could be BG. Or, actually, since black does occasionally get trample on some of its big beaters, I suppose it could even be monoblack if it was costed like Phyrexian Obliterator or something. Anyways, it is hard to see what is really white about this card, and what makes it feel truly three-coloured.
Mantis Rider is the same. Again, it is purely additive, flying(blue/white) + vigilance (white) + haste (red). And again, since white gets fliers, it could reasonably have been a WR creature without people lifting an eyebrow.
Snowhorn Rider - could be mono green.
Ponyback Brigade - could probably be almost any colour (all colours can produce tokens apparently), but certainly it could have been mono red or mono white or red/white, so it certainly has no "need" to be black.
Mardu Roughrider - could be mono red.
These--and this list does not attempt to be exhaustive--seem to indicate to me that they were already running short on good, interesting three-colour designs even in the first set.
They could go for more additive designs that end up being truly three-coloured like Savage Knuckleblade, but I do think Rosewater is correct in that it would quickly get old. In fact, some people were already complaining about such designs during spoiler season, that they didn't feel "unique". Another issue is that there is so much overlap between colours, so that even if you do make a card with ability "a" from colour "A" + ability "b" from colour "B" + ability "c" from colour "C", you may end up with a card that could have been two- or even one-coloured (like Siege Rhino).
All of this seem to point out that the amount of good, interesting, fresh-feeling, three-coloured cards are limited; or at least that R&D are struggling to find more. It may not be the "reliable and tangible evidence" that you requested, but I fear its the best I can do.
--
PS. I still think they could have made "additive" legendary wedge dragons that would have made many people happy even if some of them could have technically been printable in other colour combinations.
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
Wow, LOTS of MaRo apologists here!
I'm kinda with DDJ on this- if they can do it with Alara, they can do it here,
especially if they drop the all-gold third set Alara had.
On top of that, KTK (the set) is *far* less Multicolored than either Alara or Ravnica-
a block of three similar sets wouldn't contain anywhere *near* as many gold cards as either.
It's not like *every* card in a Wedge Block would have to be three colors-
one and two-color cards work just fine
(and it would allow them a chance to flesh out the enemy pairs a little more,
as they are still lagging behind the allied pairs in numbers).
I agree with the person who asked that question- it's *completely* lame they couldn't do more.
And it isn't a matter of freaking design space, either,
as even I know there is WAY more design space in Wedges
than half a set
I guarantee you, if I were to design a wedge set,
more than one of the Khans would be a popular EDH general
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
What a lot of you are forgetting is that WotC can't just take every single wedge card design they've ever come up with, throw them into Khans block, and call it a day. A block needs structure and coherence, and there are the demands of limited formats to consider. That severely limits the designs WotC can stuff into a single block, so having a block theme that is already limiting on it's own doesn't help matters.
Does recognizing the fact that MtG's Head Designer is a better authority on what block themes are and are not practical than some angry nerd on the interwebs make me a MaRo apologist?
Chromium is my favorite character so this is what I want more than anything, but I know it'll never happen. Wizards should have given all 5 of the elder dragons brand new cards in last year's EDH precons. The format is their namesake, after all.
Also no wedge dragons is extremely disappointing.
Trades
Pucatrade with me!
(Signature courtesy of Argetlam of Hakai Studios
You misunderstand.
I'm not saying MaRo is an idiot or he doesn't know his *****-
I'm saying he's probably feeding us some BS about this because we wouldn't like the real answer.
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