I find all these complaints about new Teysa a bit farfetched.
Comparing her to Deathpact and Obzedat cmc. You seem to forget that she is a basic Rare, not a Mythic Rare. I find it totally acceptable for her cmc to be as high as it is. Also, it's Orzhov, they like things of higher value/cost.
Another thing about her cmc. With new Lili's emblem and Crypt Ghasts all around, it's not that hard to cast her.
It's Orzhov. If you're playing Orzhov, let's face it: you'll have some life play cards. Whether they're removal or plainly Extort. Orzhov is meant to draw out games. It's WB control with some W and some B aggro.
Vigilance and Pro Creatures. These are very flavorful abilities. Teysa is always on the look-out for details and loopholes. Her diplomacy and influences gives her access everywhere. Gameplay wise, she's a game-ender with a few swings all by herself. You can also equip/enchant her to be hexproof and stronger.
Last ability. So what if you have to take damage? You're playing Orzhov!! As I said, you should have some life play cards ready. Plus you kill the creature and give yourself more board advantage! It's also a WB spirit token. More fuel for original Teysa. It makes your opponents think twice about attacking you.
4/4. This definitely is a jump from 2/3. She's harder to kill, but she's target-able by Smite the Monstrous. But hey, there's still Undying Evil to bring her back if you keep a B open.
Vorel kinda seems like an underdog, which is probably what they want him to come off as. I can totally see him in use for a Vorosh EDH deck. Him, Szadek, and Coprsejack are gonna be buddy-buddy. Not to mention that if you swing and able to use Vorosh's ability, with at least Corpsejack and Vorel out, he can become a 30/30 in one turn for 5cc. Surely by the time you cast Vorosh, you'd have enough for a 1drop counter spell.
True so far he doesn't seem like a big player on his own. He needs quite a few supplement cards to get the ball rolling.
Master is gonna be a fun player. Get him to hit, then drop a Sparkmage Apprentice or some other pinger. But hey, if anyone plays Fateful Hour decks, there they go.
Ral, like many people said, makes me want to build a Krark's Thumb deck.
Deputy is another Whitemane Lion, though you can't have it bounce itself.
I will also say I love the Fuse mechanic. I was a bit upset to be told that I couldn't cast both spells on a split card. Now we can! Truly going to enjoy it. Really hope there's quite a few of these actually. I really really enjoy split cards. Also, it's a wonderful throwback since Splits were featured in original Rav too!
Storywise, in Uncharted, we've seen Zegana get into the Wilds Initiative with the other three green guilds. And now we've seen a lil Izzet fella help out the Gruul champions during the race. Which was kinda foreshadowed by another Uncharted story of a Gruul being fascinated with the nearby Izzet location and thus the art of Clans Defiance.
Issues with the Guildmasters running the race follows as such.
Obzedat: "What was that?" "Which way?" "I say this way." "No, this way." "What was that?" "Is someone there?" "Hide!" "Run!" etc.
Niv-Mizzet: Sits, figures things out, flies to the next part, breaks the gates too small for him.
Rakdos: Flies around and causes mayhem.
Aurelia: Charges through without thinking, will stop and assist anyone in trouble or other acts of criminal-intent.
Isperia: Sits, figures things out, decrees laws and ordinances to limit the other contenders, flies/walks to the next part with assistants, debating ways through gates too small for her.
Laza: No one of public society knows him.
Jarad: Would go through all the piping instead.
Borborygmos: Destroys all the buildings.
Trostani: Trying to convert people, checking on plants, worrying about Mat'Selesnya.
Zegana: Diplomatically converse with people, strides to the next location, talks about plants and alterations with appropriate vendors/business-persons.
So I've been working on a Magic fanfic in a Greek Myth based plane since August.
Two mechanics I've came up with for it are Intoxicate Cost and Instinct [snip]
This isn't the place for custom card creation, and you are aware that wizards isn't going to use your mechanics.
-B
If they don't tie-up the Guildless and Feather in this block, then hopefully in the much speculated "re-return to Rav".
If any one was to be for the Gateless, it would be Gideon. But he's pretty much under the thumb of Aurelia.
Dom is just a guy about Gruul things.
Vraska is about personal vengeance.
Lastly Ral is an Izzet loyalist.
I guess it was too much to hope for mono-colored legends to represent guildless facets. Like Yeva and Krenko. At least they got more of a spotlight than last time. I feel like the biggest flavor they got were on Lionheart Maverick and Caregiver. Then again those where the two I had that impacted me on the idea of the Guildless.
Nah man, you got the wrong person. I do remember glancing at that article but the article was vague because it presented statements like this
"In the ensuing battle Razia was killed, along with countless Boros angels"
but then presented the following statement which was still fairly vague
"As the Parhelion returned back through the Schism, without a crew, it headed directly for the Azorius guildhall."
I take it that all angels were slaughtered hence no crew for the Parhelion
Because the angels ABOARD were slaughtered. Apparently the ones Feather sought out were somewhere far far away like Niv when he disappeared. And I am inferring that Aurelia was one of those angels. Probably where she got her hands-on attitude/mentality.
Pegasi are in White, not green. Unicorns are in both white and green, but not Pegasi.
Fun fact, the plural of Cyclops is Cyclopes.
... Why the heck did you put Dragons into white?! Those are overwhelmingly red.
In Greek Mythology, they were wild horses, so it's likely to see them in green. As well as from the only story I actually know of with a dragon in Greek Mythology, it was one part of the protectors of a Goddess's sacred apple tree. The other part were the three daughters of Atlas.
Also, not all dragons are the Western idea of fire-breathing dracos. Plus it would be nice to have a return of white dragons. The most recent white dragon from a block was back in Kamigawa.
And I can't believe I left out Cerberus and phoenix!!
You know, it takes a real Boros to tell Boros angels apart. They're all made from Razia, and only have the slightest of alterations from each other. Much like how Brock can tell which Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny is from where.
But I'm gonna go ahead and guess that it was indeed Aurelia, going off of that there are two "possible" Niv arts. (People have been debating that they aren't Niv since he's apparently larger than the art appears.)
Bit upset that people are hating on Teysa. She does have story purpose. Just because someone hasn't/doesn't appear in the novella, doesn't mean they are completely fanservice or spot-filling.
Behind the Black Sun (this week's Uncharted Realms article) mentions her and that she needs to find the correct route. Also that she is the Grand Envoy of the Council, it makes quite a lot of sense for her to be the champion. And if the Maze does indeed grant supreme rule of the guilds, it is Teysa's best interest to run the maze herself and no one else. She is a political mastermind, she can rally people from all the guilds and the guildless, she knows people and can recite the fine print. Her ambition was to make it as high as she could in a man's-world that is the Syndicate. Remember, there have been only a couple of matriarchs in the Ghost Council. Plus, she has more fashion sense than anyone else in the guild.
He would acomplish the same shapeshifting into New-Dimir-agent mcgee I mean he could even just go as himself , no one even knows he is the leader of the Dimir or until this point that the 10th guild existed.
I'd just like to say that everyone knew that House Dimir was actually real when Agrus Kos arrested Szadek. People in the streets were running around exclaiming that the Seles won't entirely crazy. Before we came to Rav, the Dimir were a boogie-man story because it was so long ago when Szadek did his move to power and was sentenced to a hidden prison in the depths of the undercity.
Aside from that who knows how Laz actually works? He's a puppeteer like Szadek, but he's as mysterious as Niv.
Comparing her to Deathpact and Obzedat cmc. You seem to forget that she is a basic Rare, not a Mythic Rare. I find it totally acceptable for her cmc to be as high as it is. Also, it's Orzhov, they like things of higher value/cost.
Another thing about her cmc. With new Lili's emblem and Crypt Ghasts all around, it's not that hard to cast her.
It's Orzhov. If you're playing Orzhov, let's face it: you'll have some life play cards. Whether they're removal or plainly Extort. Orzhov is meant to draw out games. It's WB control with some W and some B aggro.
Vigilance and Pro Creatures. These are very flavorful abilities. Teysa is always on the look-out for details and loopholes. Her diplomacy and influences gives her access everywhere. Gameplay wise, she's a game-ender with a few swings all by herself. You can also equip/enchant her to be hexproof and stronger.
Last ability. So what if you have to take damage? You're playing Orzhov!! As I said, you should have some life play cards ready. Plus you kill the creature and give yourself more board advantage! It's also a WB spirit token. More fuel for original Teysa. It makes your opponents think twice about attacking you.
4/4. This definitely is a jump from 2/3. She's harder to kill, but she's target-able by Smite the Monstrous. But hey, there's still Undying Evil to bring her back if you keep a B open.
True so far he doesn't seem like a big player on his own. He needs quite a few supplement cards to get the ball rolling.
Master is gonna be a fun player. Get him to hit, then drop a Sparkmage Apprentice or some other pinger. But hey, if anyone plays Fateful Hour decks, there they go.
Mask of Avacyn can fix the hexproof issue on either.
And lastly Advent. It's nice to have a 4drop wurm gen at instant.
Melek seems buddies with Magus of the Future in my opinion. In standard you already have Arcane Melee and Goblin Electromancer and Nivix Guildmage. The chance to copy Increasing Confusion. Those are only the ones of Izzet colors too.
Ral, like many people said, makes me want to build a Krark's Thumb deck.
Deputy is another Whitemane Lion, though you can't have it bounce itself.
I will also say I love the Fuse mechanic. I was a bit upset to be told that I couldn't cast both spells on a split card. Now we can! Truly going to enjoy it. Really hope there's quite a few of these actually. I really really enjoy split cards. Also, it's a wonderful throwback since Splits were featured in original Rav too!
The only allies I've really seen the cards give, was the Warmind Infantry and Spark Trooper.
Storywise, in Uncharted, we've seen Zegana get into the Wilds Initiative with the other three green guilds. And now we've seen a lil Izzet fella help out the Gruul champions during the race. Which was kinda foreshadowed by another Uncharted story of a Gruul being fascinated with the nearby Izzet location and thus the art of Clans Defiance.
Novel-story-wise, I have no clue.
Obzedat: "What was that?" "Which way?" "I say this way." "No, this way." "What was that?" "Is someone there?" "Hide!" "Run!" etc.
Niv-Mizzet: Sits, figures things out, flies to the next part, breaks the gates too small for him.
Rakdos: Flies around and causes mayhem.
Aurelia: Charges through without thinking, will stop and assist anyone in trouble or other acts of criminal-intent.
Isperia: Sits, figures things out, decrees laws and ordinances to limit the other contenders, flies/walks to the next part with assistants, debating ways through gates too small for her.
Laza: No one of public society knows him.
Jarad: Would go through all the piping instead.
Borborygmos: Destroys all the buildings.
Trostani: Trying to convert people, checking on plants, worrying about Mat'Selesnya.
Zegana: Diplomatically converse with people, strides to the next location, talks about plants and alterations with appropriate vendors/business-persons.
Two mechanics I've came up with for it are Intoxicate Cost and Instinct
[snip]
This isn't the place for custom card creation, and you are aware that wizards isn't going to use your mechanics.
-B
If any one was to be for the Gateless, it would be Gideon. But he's pretty much under the thumb of Aurelia.
Dom is just a guy about Gruul things.
Vraska is about personal vengeance.
Lastly Ral is an Izzet loyalist.
I guess it was too much to hope for mono-colored legends to represent guildless facets. Like Yeva and Krenko. At least they got more of a spotlight than last time. I feel like the biggest flavor they got were on Lionheart Maverick and Caregiver. Then again those where the two I had that impacted me on the idea of the Guildless.
Trust me, you weren't the only one.
Because the angels ABOARD were slaughtered. Apparently the ones Feather sought out were somewhere far far away like Niv when he disappeared. And I am inferring that Aurelia was one of those angels. Probably where she got her hands-on attitude/mentality.
In Greek Mythology, they were wild horses, so it's likely to see them in green. As well as from the only story I actually know of with a dragon in Greek Mythology, it was one part of the protectors of a Goddess's sacred apple tree. The other part were the three daughters of Atlas.
Also, not all dragons are the Western idea of fire-breathing dracos. Plus it would be nice to have a return of white dragons. The most recent white dragon from a block was back in Kamigawa.
And I can't believe I left out Cerberus and phoenix!!
But I'm gonna go ahead and guess that it was indeed Aurelia, going off of that there are two "possible" Niv arts. (People have been debating that they aren't Niv since he's apparently larger than the art appears.)
Anyways, totally.
Behind the Black Sun (this week's Uncharted Realms article) mentions her and that she needs to find the correct route. Also that she is the Grand Envoy of the Council, it makes quite a lot of sense for her to be the champion. And if the Maze does indeed grant supreme rule of the guilds, it is Teysa's best interest to run the maze herself and no one else. She is a political mastermind, she can rally people from all the guilds and the guildless, she knows people and can recite the fine print. Her ambition was to make it as high as she could in a man's-world that is the Syndicate. Remember, there have been only a couple of matriarchs in the Ghost Council. Plus, she has more fashion sense than anyone else in the guild.
I would be a bit disappointed if Angels were actually in this block.
But I'm hoping for quite the common askings.
Green: Dryads, Humans, Centaurs, Satyrs, Birds, Winged-Horses,
Red: Humans, Minotaurs, Satyrs, Griffins, Heroes, Cyclops,
Black: Humans, Furies, Gorgons,
Blue: Merfolk, Sirens, Sphinx, Humans, Muse-esque, Birds, Heroes,
White: Dragon, Humans, Birds, Heroes, Winged-Horses,
I'd just like to say that everyone knew that House Dimir was actually real when Agrus Kos arrested Szadek. People in the streets were running around exclaiming that the Seles won't entirely crazy. Before we came to Rav, the Dimir were a boogie-man story because it was so long ago when Szadek did his move to power and was sentenced to a hidden prison in the depths of the undercity.
Aside from that who knows how Laz actually works? He's a puppeteer like Szadek, but he's as mysterious as Niv.