A top-down Viking/Norse block calls for elves, not plant elementals.
Do you have anything to support this, aside from devotion to source material? Elves, according the norse myth, are simply supernatural entities whose modern appearance has more to do with Tolkien's legacy than with actual mythology. A top-down set can still have elves: the humans refer to the creatures as being "elfin" or "elfs", while the actual creature typing is elemental, or plant elemental, or spirit.
Plants that devour insects and even bigger things exist in warmer areas of the world. Northern Europe isn't one of the warmer areas of the world.
As for elves; An elf (plural: elves) is a type of supernatural being in Germanic mythology and folklore.[1] Reconstructing the early concept of an elf depends almost entirely on texts in Old English or relating to Norse mythology.[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf
Aside from Norse block being the most appropriate top-down setting for Elves, what kind of plant would be adapted as an elemental? You're not going to see vines in a snowy wilderness full of Vikings and Dwarves. The most notable type of plant you'll see are pine trees. We'd get pine tree elementals, except they'd more likely be pine treefolk.
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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.
Nah, you'd have to make exceptions given that this is fantasy and we're talking about a supernatural creature that can be altered to fit whatever your block needs. I'd just pick a cool-looking plant and go from there. Maybe work in some fungus and roots to differentiate them from being treefolk. More Multani-esque, except fitting within the niche of green's low to the ground creature for the block. Dwarves could be more creatures of metal, stone and fire to match the elves' primal aesthetic.
Nah, you'd have to make exceptions given that this is fantasy and we're talking about a supernatural creature that can be altered to fit whatever your block needs. I'd just pick a cool-looking plant and go from there. Maybe work in some fungus and roots to differentiate them from being treefolk. More Multani-esque, except fitting within the niche of green's low to the ground creature for the block. Dwarves could be more creatures of metal, stone and fire to match the elves' primal aesthetic.
You are certainly right that WotC work along those lines (too much), but personally Im certain that the average mtg consumer would have liked it better if the connect between mtg and history/folklore/facts was quite much stronger.
Why? I can just go read up on the folklore if I want the same old. I'd rather have it given a spin that retains the familiar without vomiting up more of the same pixie drek from the countless other planes we've visited. Instead of quirky humans, I think these older races should be utterly alien in appearance and uncomfortably similar to humanity in terms of culture, variations on personification of the Id.
As for the hammer idea, it should probably be be 2RRW
tap 1RW destroy target permanent
it feels more like a destroy effect than straight up burn.
It would have to be destroy target non-land permanent. Wizards would not print a repeatable land killer in this day and age.
Otherwise, I agree with you.
It would have to be destroy target non-land permanent. Wizards would not print a repeatable land killer in this day and age.
Otherwise, I agree with you.
Why not? Are they too afraid that players will whine and complain about such an effect being "unfair" or "unfun?" As long as the ability has a sufficiently high mana cost, I see no reason why there could not be repeatable land destruction.
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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
Hammer of Storms 5
Legendary Artifact
Hammer of Storms deals 3 damage to target creature or player
I think something like this will indeed show up, but it will probably somehow exile and return itself to showcase it returning to Thor after use. What about:
Hammer of Storms 5
Legendary Artifact [mythic]
At the beginning of your upkeep, if Hammer of Storms is exiled and you control a legendary creature, return Hammer of Storms to your hand.
Hammer of Storms deals 5 damage to target creature.
A top-down Viking/Norse block calls for elves, not plant elementals.
Do you have anything to support this, aside from devotion to source material? Elves, according the norse myth, are simply supernatural entities whose modern appearance has more to do with Tolkien's legacy than with actual mythology. A top-down set can still have elves: the humans refer to the creatures as being "elfin" or "elfs", while the actual creature typing is elemental, or plant elemental, or spirit. Or, taking inspiration from the akki, give the elves a more elemental, less flesh and blood appearance, and keep the typing "elf."
Because Elves are the green characteristic race (and one of the most popular tribes overall) and should be present in every block unless the setting is particularly inadequate for them. So far in modern blocks that meant only "Asian", "Greek" and "Gothic Horror" (Kamigawa, Tarkir, Theros, Innistrad) settings had no elves.
They would not be absurd in a Nordic plane, therefore they should be present. The same for goblins.
While we are discussing a card based off Mjolnir, here is my conception of such a card:
Hammer of Storms
Casting Cost: 5
Legendary artifact - equipment
Equipped creature gets +3/+0 and has "T: this creature deals 3 damage to target creature or player." Equip cost:3
How is that? It makes sense to me that a creature needs to wield the hammer for its full potential to be realized.
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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 like a Norse/Viking set would probably be more marketable than a Pre-Columbian or Aztec set, which has been floated around at my local tourney. It has more cultural staying power than a Pre-Columbian or Aztec set, because of the Thor comic books and movies. Mythical creatures specific to Norse mythology are more recognizable. After reading some of the Sagas of Icelanders, the old stories are just cool and epic.
I'm still holding out for something based in ancient and modern mythology of Mesoamerica. But they could have an entire skeleton shaman category based on the ancient and modern fascination with skeletons in Central America.
Because Elves are the green characteristic race (and one of the most popular tribes overall) and should be present in every block unless the setting is particularly inadequate for them. So far in modern blocks that meant only "Asian", "Greek" and "Gothic Horror" (Kamigawa, Tarkir, Theros, Innistrad) settings had no elves.
They would not be absurd in a Nordic plane, therefore they should be present. The same for goblins.
Well, like I said in the post I quoted, there's no reason to throw out more of the same as we had in the past. I think a more bestial race of elves, like the ones from Wirewood would be more appropriate for a "rugged" Viking based set. Ditto for goblins. However, if you look at the modern fantasy genre, elves are mostly a thing of the past: A Song of Ice and Fire, Malazan Book of the Fallen, Sanderson's various series, none of these feature elves, goblins, or other "characteristic" races and are still at the top of the genre. I excluded Abercrombie because his books are fairly grounded, except for the Shanka and devils.
I would argue that snakefolk of some sort, and werewolves, would work fine as the characteristic races for green (or black, or both) and red respectively. Meanwhile, amphin could work for blue and ravenlike aven for white. In Norse mythology, there's Jormungdr, a sea serpent from whom the amphin can trace their lineage. Nidhogg, said to gnaw at the roots of the World Tree could be the progenitor for the snakefolk. Fenrir could likewise be the sire to the werewolf race. Huginn and Muninn, ravens that carry information to Odin, serve as inspiration for raven aven. Some refer to Odin as the "raven god," so Odin himself could also be used to justify the presence of aven as the white characteristic race. Trolls can serve for green's characteristic race, being inspired by the Jotunn, whom, are tied to nature.
So there is precedence for snakefolk, werewolves, amphin, aven, and trolls as the characteristic races for each color in a Viking/Norse inspired block.
I think this set might need some card that depicts a chariot pulled by cats. Because Freyja riding one of those is just super awesome. Perhaps an Archon or Knight? Or maybe a bestow creature? Or maybe just a Freyja expy with her chariot?
They'll need to involve Runes somehow, either as artifacts or as enchantments. Runestones could easily be mana rocks with extra flair.
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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.
Not only are norse deities killable, almost all of them are killed in the foretelling of Ragnarok. Baldr is also killed, way before Ragnarok, but returns after Hel is destroyed during Ragnarok. Likewise warriors killed in battle end up in Valhall, an afterlife with feasting and figthing, but will return to the final conflict during Ragnarok. So both death and ressurection are known themes in norse mythology. I think that makes for better fantasy stories than eternal, unchangable deities. A Ragnarok-inspired "final battle" would be an exciting subject for the second set IMO.
With regards to elementals. The fire giants and frost giants are probably better labeled as elementals (in terms of MTG creature types) rather than giants. While the jotnir are giants or trolls, though if Jötun Grunt is any indication, they'll be giants.
Like Theros, Giants in Norse world will likely appear in all colors given their significance to Norse mythology. Frost Giants and Fire Giants would certainly be notable archetypes to represent, but there exist other types of giant or jotun in Norse mythology as well, including those associated with the sea or wind.
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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.
How would Jormungandur (or a creature inspired by him) be represented in such a block? He is supposedly so massive that he can encircle the entire mortal world, but I doubt that a creature such as that could exist in this game. Perhaps he would be a legendary stormtide leviathan with higher power and toughness?
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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
You mean the Giant snake lying asleep at the base of the great tree?
Supposedly poisonous, and massive.
maybe a mountainwalk varient on stormtide.
That is Niidhog at the base of Yggdrasil (the tree), gnawing at the roots. He tends to get more dragon-like interpretations.
Jormungandur is the world serpent that encircles the mortal world. It seems he and Thor kill each other at Ragnorok and he seems to be represented more as a truly impossibly huge sea serpent, and the basis for reality of the mortal realm.
I'd probably have Jormungandur as a legendary man-land of some sort, that does something truly epic when it 'leaves the battlefield' and is resistant to removal in some way to make that difficult, such as being indestructible.
Niidhog I'd probably have as an ability on Yggdrasil, where the opponent can pay a mana cost on Yggdrasil to summon a Niidhog token for a turn, probably a 5/5 legendary black dragon creature token with deathtouch. Then have Yggdrasil suitably hax that it needs that Niidhog ability as a nerf.
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As for elves; An elf (plural: elves) is a type of supernatural being in Germanic mythology and folklore.[1] Reconstructing the early concept of an elf depends almost entirely on texts in Old English or relating to Norse mythology.[2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf
Use wikipedia =)
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.
It would have to be destroy target non-land permanent. Wizards would not print a repeatable land killer in this day and age.
Otherwise, I agree with you.
Why not? Are they too afraid that players will whine and complain about such an effect being "unfair" or "unfun?" As long as the ability has a sufficiently high mana cost, I see no reason why there could not be repeatable land destruction.
“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 think something like this will indeed show up, but it will probably somehow exile and return itself to showcase it returning to Thor after use. What about:
Hammer of Storms 5
Legendary Artifact [mythic]
At the beginning of your upkeep, if Hammer of Storms is exiled and you control a legendary creature, return Hammer of Storms to your hand.
Hammer of Storms deals 5 damage to target creature.
Because Elves are the green characteristic race (and one of the most popular tribes overall) and should be present in every block unless the setting is particularly inadequate for them. So far in modern blocks that meant only "Asian", "Greek" and "Gothic Horror" (Kamigawa, Tarkir, Theros, Innistrad) settings had no elves.
They would not be absurd in a Nordic plane, therefore they should be present. The same for goblins.
Casting Cost: 5
Legendary artifact - equipment
Equipped creature gets +3/+0 and has "T: this creature deals 3 damage to target creature or player."
Equip cost: 3
“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 still holding out for something based in ancient and modern mythology of Mesoamerica. But they could have an entire skeleton shaman category based on the ancient and modern fascination with skeletons in Central America.
Well, like I said in the post I quoted, there's no reason to throw out more of the same as we had in the past. I think a more bestial race of elves, like the ones from Wirewood would be more appropriate for a "rugged" Viking based set. Ditto for goblins. However, if you look at the modern fantasy genre, elves are mostly a thing of the past: A Song of Ice and Fire, Malazan Book of the Fallen, Sanderson's various series, none of these feature elves, goblins, or other "characteristic" races and are still at the top of the genre. I excluded Abercrombie because his books are fairly grounded, except for the Shanka and devils.
I would argue that snakefolk of some sort, and werewolves, would work fine as the characteristic races for green (or black, or both) and red respectively. Meanwhile, amphin could work for blue and ravenlike aven for white. In Norse mythology, there's Jormungdr, a sea serpent from whom the amphin can trace their lineage. Nidhogg, said to gnaw at the roots of the World Tree could be the progenitor for the snakefolk. Fenrir could likewise be the sire to the werewolf race. Huginn and Muninn, ravens that carry information to Odin, serve as inspiration for raven aven. Some refer to Odin as the "raven god," so Odin himself could also be used to justify the presence of aven as the white characteristic race. Trolls can serve for green's characteristic race, being inspired by the Jotunn, whom, are tied to nature.
So there is precedence for snakefolk, werewolves, amphin, aven, and trolls as the characteristic races for each color in a Viking/Norse inspired block.
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.
RDW
Zoo
CoCo Elves
With regards to elementals. The fire giants and frost giants are probably better labeled as elementals (in terms of MTG creature types) rather than giants. While the jotnir are giants or trolls, though if Jötun Grunt is any indication, they'll be giants.
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.
“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
Supposedly poisonous, and massive.
maybe a mountainwalk varient on stormtide.
My Decks:
All my Decks are budget
EDH:GRWHazezon TamarGRW, RKazuul, Tyrant of the CliffsR, BMikaeus, the UnhallowedB, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GRXenagos, God of RevelsGR, BGPharika, God of AfflictionBG
Standard:BMono Black Control(devotion)B- retired
Casual:UWHeroicUW, UGWall tribalUG, BPhylactery LichB
Modern:UBAbyssal PersecutorUB, WKnight TribalW
That is Niidhog at the base of Yggdrasil (the tree), gnawing at the roots. He tends to get more dragon-like interpretations.
Jormungandur is the world serpent that encircles the mortal world. It seems he and Thor kill each other at Ragnorok and he seems to be represented more as a truly impossibly huge sea serpent, and the basis for reality of the mortal realm.
I'd probably have Jormungandur as a legendary man-land of some sort, that does something truly epic when it 'leaves the battlefield' and is resistant to removal in some way to make that difficult, such as being indestructible.
Niidhog I'd probably have as an ability on Yggdrasil, where the opponent can pay a mana cost on Yggdrasil to summon a Niidhog token for a turn, probably a 5/5 legendary black dragon creature token with deathtouch. Then have Yggdrasil suitably hax that it needs that Niidhog ability as a nerf.