First of all, the flavor was beyond just Asian or Japanese. It was a specifically Shinto-themed set, and that was fantastic for anyone who likes that aesthetic. I recognize that it may be part of why Kamigawa failed overall, but I think it was a really interesting choice that deserves more credit than it gets.
Second, the mechanics are rather unfairly maligned. Splice would have been good if it hadn't been so parasitic. Bushido and Ninjutsu are undoubtedly great mechancis. Flip cards paved the way for DFC, which have opened up some amazing design space. Even Offering has a lot of potential. Almost all of the inherently terrible mechanics, like Channel, Sweep and Epic, are weighted towards Saviors, which is, admittedly, a terrible set.
Third, many of the issues with Kamigawa's playability stems from it following original Mirrodin block, which was so overpowered that it drove away masses of players. Kamigawa was then followed by Original Ravnica, which is one of the best designed sets in MtG history. All of this meant that Kamigawa, stuck in the middle, was largely filled with underpowered cards that didn't see much play. If it had been in a different era of Magic, it would not have been quite so hated.
Finally, and perhaps the market research proves me wrong given Maro's assertion on the issue, I think that Legendary is an amazing theme for a block. It encourages hugely experimental card design to really fit the bill of "legendary" and I think that this is the most compelling reason of all as to why we will never return. You simply can't have that kind of complexity at common any more within MtG R&D. And since NWO has proven to be very successful for Hasbro, I doubt we'll see that change.
So between Clip Wings and the Inquisition mentioned in Arlinn's bio, it looks like we're getting another set with a white villain. Innistrad seems to me like the one plane where that shouldn't really happen, given Black's inherent advantage.
I think, at this point, they'd be better off returning to a series of unconnected short stories. At least those have potential. The Tazri story was fine. The Jori En story was not bad. Every story trying to convey the plot and the formation of the Gatewatch has been cringeworthy and terrible. I struggle to believe that what they're doing now draws anybody in.
Tasigur isn't in danger of being banned in regular Commander, right? I've been working on a deck for months (with the Prophet, of course). It has yet to even be playtested.
Birds has never, and will never, tap for C. Colorless mana does not have a color, and Birds of Paradise adds mana of any color.
Um, yes, it does (right now). Read the comments you quoted as they made it abundantly clear. If you don't play Commander or you don't know how, you should refrain from "correcting" people on it.
This is not about commander or not. It's about birds of paradise tapping for mana it can't based on the actual rules of the game. Birds of Paradise cannot generate colorless mana, never have been able to and never will. Rule 4 allowed a Birds of Paradise to generate 1 generic mana (if you tried to tap the birds for a color other than your commanders color identity).
In previous games of commander your birds of paradise could tap for 1 green mana, or 1 generic mana (if you tried to tap your birds to generate black mana in a mono green commander deck).
Since the Rule 4 removal, if you are a mono green commander player, your birds of paradise can now tap for black mana. If you somehow needed or wanted to have black mana.
Colorless and Generic mana are now two separate entities. And a Birds of Paradise has never been able to generate colorless mana.
Last example, you cannot use a Birds of Paradise to generate the C required to cast some of the Eldrazi spells which require colorless mana in Oath of the Gatewatch.
Please understand the rules of magic before trying to "correct" people on it.
C is now different than 1. Your birds in a green deck tapping for black prior to rule 4 removal would generate 1.
Say it with me everybody:
Nothing has ever been able to tap for generic mana. Nothing. Ever.
Generic mana is a cost, but has never been a produceable kind of mana. BoPs previously produced colorless mana if you attempted to produce something outside your color identity. Now they produce whatever color you choose.
There are no merfolk on Innistrad, just like there are no elves or goblins. U/G in Innistrad was mishmash - skaabs, spirits, and green things, although they had a very appetizing 'mill yourself into power' theme that got mostly ignored.
None that we know of.
I'm arguing that, in the same way they introduced merfolk to Ravnica, they'll do it on Innistrad to fit the Shadows over Innsmouth pastiche.
Actually, I am kind of surprised they didn't ban Sol Ring, since the general outcry was always about both it and Prophet. I don't think price is a determining factor in their bans, but it's always so arbitrary that I can't help but feel like it really is just whatever their personal playgroup experiences.
I figured the R/W equipment theme was because we're getting enemy-colored tribes this time around, and RW is going to be Cathars. This also opens up a UG creepy merfolk tribe, which fits nicely into the presumed Lovecraft theme.
You guys really can't complain about the CGI artwork. It makes the Eldrazi seem so alien. Like they don't belong anywhere in the Multiverse. It makes sense.
I'd give you this if they were contrasted with a more natural looking Zendikar alliance, but basically everything is done in the slick digital style. Honestly, I thought Khans block was a much worse offender than BFZ has been especially with cards like Jeskai Ascendancy.
I think it's a shame they decided to have Corrupted Crossroads only castable for spells with devoid when, "Spend this mana only on colorless spells" would have been so much more interesting.
Isn't that exactly what this would do? There's no mechanical change to giving colorless a symbol, just a cosmetic one. It also makes it smoother for if you wanted to, say, require that exactly two mana of a cost is paid with just colorless mana.
It's still a basic land with all the value that that entails. Can't be targeted by non-basic hate. Can be pulled out by basic tutors. Can be run in colorless EDH decks. And it's something that people have wanted for a long time, just as a cool thing to have. Eventually all design space will be explored.
First of all, the flavor was beyond just Asian or Japanese. It was a specifically Shinto-themed set, and that was fantastic for anyone who likes that aesthetic. I recognize that it may be part of why Kamigawa failed overall, but I think it was a really interesting choice that deserves more credit than it gets.
Second, the mechanics are rather unfairly maligned. Splice would have been good if it hadn't been so parasitic. Bushido and Ninjutsu are undoubtedly great mechancis. Flip cards paved the way for DFC, which have opened up some amazing design space. Even Offering has a lot of potential. Almost all of the inherently terrible mechanics, like Channel, Sweep and Epic, are weighted towards Saviors, which is, admittedly, a terrible set.
Third, many of the issues with Kamigawa's playability stems from it following original Mirrodin block, which was so overpowered that it drove away masses of players. Kamigawa was then followed by Original Ravnica, which is one of the best designed sets in MtG history. All of this meant that Kamigawa, stuck in the middle, was largely filled with underpowered cards that didn't see much play. If it had been in a different era of Magic, it would not have been quite so hated.
Finally, and perhaps the market research proves me wrong given Maro's assertion on the issue, I think that Legendary is an amazing theme for a block. It encourages hugely experimental card design to really fit the bill of "legendary" and I think that this is the most compelling reason of all as to why we will never return. You simply can't have that kind of complexity at common any more within MtG R&D. And since NWO has proven to be very successful for Hasbro, I doubt we'll see that change.
Say it with me everybody:
Nothing has ever been able to tap for generic mana. Nothing. Ever.
Generic mana is a cost, but has never been a produceable kind of mana. BoPs previously produced colorless mana if you attempted to produce something outside your color identity. Now they produce whatever color you choose.
At no point did they produce generic mana.
None that we know of.
I'm arguing that, in the same way they introduced merfolk to Ravnica, they'll do it on Innistrad to fit the Shadows over Innsmouth pastiche.
I'll probably ignore the change to mulliganning if my playgroup will let me, I'm not a fan of the scry rule.
Prophet didn't deserve this, but it seems that the EDH banlist is more based on public outcry than anything else, so it makes sense.
I'd give you this if they were contrasted with a more natural looking Zendikar alliance, but basically everything is done in the slick digital style. Honestly, I thought Khans block was a much worse offender than BFZ has been especially with cards like Jeskai Ascendancy.