I definitely think we'll get a Creature - Bat Demon before the block is over, that's exactly what the camazotz *was* in Aztec mythology. There are all sorts of fun little tidbits like that for people who have studied Mesoamerican history (Anthropology minor over here!)
... And doing anything "for unclear reasons" is very Bolas-esque >_>
That's *awesome*! I've been wondering about that for a long, long time. However, I think you'd get more of a response if this was in the Magic Storyline forum.
The recently spoiled card Ixalan's Binding made me think. It's clearly supposed to represent the way planeswalker's can't leave Ixalan, but imo doesn't do a very good job. Is there a better way to do that? Well, how about this?
Permanents can't leave the battlefield. (Cards can't move from the battlefield to any other zone, including exile and a player's graveyard, hand, or library. Permanent spells can still be countered.)
I have no idea if this works under the rules ... at all. Thoughts?
Honestly? I'm gonna have to completely disagree. Avacyn's death was legitimately heartbreaking for me, and every time I cast Anguished Unmaking I wept manly tears. My only wish is that Sorin would have broken his stoic facade during the fight with Nahiri and referred to Avacyn as his daughter. SOI block was the highlight of Magic's storytelling so far, though the actual quality of the writing itself of course peaked during Kaladesh (Chris L'Etoile's "Release" is pure poetry).
Hazoret killed the sandwurms that almost killed the Gatewatch after they arrived to Amonkhet.
Rhonas fought the Scorpion God and lost. Oketra and Kefnet fought the Scorpion God and lost.
I didn't forget about those fights, I just don't think they're very good examples. Just swinging your ax-staff or shooting an arrow is hardly a demonstration of godly might. IIRC, the two fights I listed are the only ones we see them casting spells.
Ehhhh, we never really saw the Amonkhetu gods really *do* much of anything. The battles between Hazoret and the Scorpion God and Hazoret and Bontu are the only times we see them in action, and I was disappointed by how mundane they were. Remember how Thassa swept the floor with Kiora? Now *that* was a god fight.
Well, I don't think Time Spiral took place all *that* long ago by Magic standards. t's only been, what, eighty or so years? It's entirely possible for Radha to still be alive if Wizards wants her to be. Jhoira and Teferi certainly are, through their stockpile of slow-time water. Jodah most likely is, considering he's the Archmage Eternal (and it's about time he got a card). Squee too, since he's completely immortal.
Depending on whether the time/plane/future-shifted legends are meant to be taken literally, any or all of them might still be kicking. I personally think it'd be both hilarious and funny to have old characters who died thousands of years ago suddenly be given a second chance at life. I don't recall any of them being involved in the story, but I think there's a lot of potential there. What would happen when the two versions of Akroma meet? How would Crovax, Ascendant Hero react when he learns his alternate self was responsible for Dominaria's destruction evincar of Rath? If Mishra, Artificer Prodigy finds out what happened to him before, would he abandon his research or think he can avoid the fate that already befell him? Plus, it's implied Chandra has heard legends of Jaya's exploits - imagine how awesome it would be to see them team up!
Great story this week! I was fairly meh on Samut, but I'm definitely warming to her. I loved the description of her first walk, and her confusion on seeing the night sky for the first time and having no idea what was happening.
My own headcanon is that it's not really planeswalking that takes time and effort, it's doing it *safely*. Carefully searching the Blind Eternities for your proper destination is obviously preferable, but in a pinch you can just throw yourself blindly (pun intended) without caring where you land. This is how Jace will end up on Ixalan, a plane we have no indication he's ever visited before. As for Sorin, the reason he can't walk out from a wall is the same reason no one ever has to worry about appearing in the middle of a wall (again, by my headcanon).
I must admit I am somewhat baffled by the reactions to todays story. It served no purpose? Isn't the purpose of a story to entertain, to make you think and/or feel? I don't see why a story has to advance a plot, if it is otherwise interesting to read. What has reading Magic stories become to? Some sort of weird competition? We have to advance in plot as fast as possible? What?
Personally, this story was a highlight for me. I am not one to bash the gatewatch, because I can understand WotC's decision, but man is it strange to feel much more sorry for a character I met for 5 lines than someone who's been plastered over every second Magic merchandise article. This story accomplished more for me than the entirety of the Zendikar arc. Speaking of which, as I said during the Zendikar stories, this kind of story really was missing from Return to Zendikar: A broad overview of short snippets over what the entire world is going through. You can think of the gatewatch what you want, but the conflict of Zendikar was supposed to be planewide, but yet we only followed the same 4 offworld protagonists and 3 native supporting characters.
I am glad they have taken the conflict to where it belongs: To the people of Naktamun. The gatewatch really is just an excuse to visit this world after all.
Couldn't agree more. Amonkhet is the story of the people of Naktamun. The Gatewatch has no real stake here, to them it's just one more world. To the natives, this is everything they've ever believed perverted and turned against them, the end of the world in the most personal way possible. We needed to see it from their eyes.
Then again, I also like stories where everyone dies at the end so maybe that's just me.
Extremely well-written story today, looking forward to crying more when Hazoret and Oketra die. Throughout all of this, though, I keep thinking: why is Bolas doing this? What's the point? He has his army of Eternals, what does he gain from destroying the city in the most agonizing, traumatic way possible? He could easily swoop in, collect his zombies, and swoop back out without killing anyone. I really hope it's not just "because he's evil". In one of the recent former stories he muses to himself that destruction is wasteful and that he prefers to manipulate when he can. He's supposed to be a long-term chessmaster, there's no reason to throw away pieces just because you don't need them anymore. They could still be useful in the future some day.
Personally, I've always seen Gideon as RW. During the first battle of Sea Gate he was incredibly reckless and just charged in without a plan, causing mass loss of life. He's very passionate about protecting the people he cares about and acts on his gut. Mechanically, I could easily see him start doing some Reflect Damage effects, redirecting damage to attacking creatures and the like, and he's already goaded creatures before.
I actually have a fanwalker who sparked this way, when she started going into labor. The child came with her and she was forced to give birth by herself, on Grixis. And because her son couldn't 'walk with her and she wasn't willing to abandon him, they were both stuck there.
... And doing anything "for unclear reasons" is very Bolas-esque >_>
Permanents can't leave the battlefield. (Cards can't move from the battlefield to any other zone, including exile and a player's graveyard, hand, or library. Permanent spells can still be countered.)
I have no idea if this works under the rules ... at all. Thoughts?
I didn't forget about those fights, I just don't think they're very good examples. Just swinging your ax-staff or shooting an arrow is hardly a demonstration of godly might. IIRC, the two fights I listed are the only ones we see them casting spells.
Depending on whether the time/plane/future-shifted legends are meant to be taken literally, any or all of them might still be kicking. I personally think it'd be both hilarious and funny to have old characters who died thousands of years ago suddenly be given a second chance at life. I don't recall any of them being involved in the story, but I think there's a lot of potential there. What would happen when the two versions of Akroma meet? How would Crovax, Ascendant Hero react when he learns his alternate self was responsible for Dominaria's destruction evincar of Rath? If Mishra, Artificer Prodigy finds out what happened to him before, would he abandon his research or think he can avoid the fate that already befell him? Plus, it's implied Chandra has heard legends of Jaya's exploits - imagine how awesome it would be to see them team up!
Couldn't agree more. Amonkhet is the story of the people of Naktamun. The Gatewatch has no real stake here, to them it's just one more world. To the natives, this is everything they've ever believed perverted and turned against them, the end of the world in the most personal way possible. We needed to see it from their eyes.
Then again, I also like stories where everyone dies at the end so maybe that's just me.