No, not a "separate" storyline as it take place in different worlds but in the same timeline or storyline of the main events, but an all-new storyline which means : A reboot.
That... isn't what a "reboot" means at all. A reboot would imply an all-new continuity. Just like Marvel movies don't "reboot" the Cinematic Universe every time they shift to Ant-Man from Captain Marvel, instead just focusing in a different story in the same universe, this wouldn't be a "reboot" as much as it would be a new story focusing on different characters in the same universe.
Is this going to tell the same story from the card game? No, and that's a good thing. The card game storyline is much bigger than what one could fit into a 20 or even 50 minute episode, and trying to cram in 10+ years of story in such a short timespan always disappoints both old-timers (because the story would lose a lot of the nuance and details that made it interesting in the first place) and newcomers (which would have to "learn" 10+ years of story in a very short timespan). This isn't new, every major expanded universe does this, from the aforementioned Marvel to Star Wars.
They literally said that they will use the same main characters like Jace and Bolas with an all-new storyline. So that means that this series is setted in a near past with totally irrelevants events for the main story until War (so ultraboring and useless spin-off fillers) or, more likely, that they're just going to tell us a completely different story with Jace, Bolas, and so on. Since they just imprisoned Bolas with the premise that was locked forever, you aren't going to say that they just gaves us with such nonchalance the giant spoiler that they will use Bolas again despite we know they can't? Anyway, forgot that this game is actually called "Retcon : the Gathering", if WotC loves to rewrite their own history already in paper magic, you'll see amount of inconsistency fiesta that they'll do here.
It's likely to be events parallel to the paper Magic plotline. It might well be in the "past", or it could be "current" with a given set - but it will almost certainly not be "current" for long, as paper Magic progresses the timeline much too rapidly.
The thing you call "useless spin-off fillers" would be very interesting to a lot of people and is one of the more likely candidates. What's happening on Theros, Alara, Ixalan during the timeline of the sets for Amonkhet or Ixalan? The events that we see represented in paper sets aren't the only interesting events on the planes.
I also think you're reading too much into one line. The article says they could use iconic Planeswalkers, and give Bolas as an example. They don't say Bolas will definitely be used; they don't even say that the Russo brothers brought up Bolas - that could just be the author of the article naming a planeswalker he knows. Hell, even if it's accurate and they do mean "use Bolas" and they do mean in the present, that could just mean something like "this powerful artifact was created by Nicol Bolas a hundred years ago before the dragon was sealed away".
well at least I'll get to find out what my ability was when I flip.
Good luck all. Tubba is probably town, vaimes has a good chance of being scum, there's probably 2-3 scum on my wagon, I think there's a 70% chance of there being an SK.
My dream for this game: we end up with a combination of house and/or alignment wins that results in every player individually winning.
IDeally but is that even possible?
I would be a little surprised if it's not possible. I'm sure it's difficult, though.
Observation: people arguing about house conditions, uncertain of alliances even within a theoretically unified group (is my housemate scum? this person is probably town, but are they against my faction?) etc is playing out very appropriately to the theme of the game. I love it.
Also since I’m obviously a Lannister, I’m gonna come out and say that our other buddy has an ability to handpick the king. And that will complete our wincon (one person as king for three days OR two people from our group on the throne).
We were going to pick Kami since he’s the only one with a throne-locked ability, but I’m less enthusiastic about that now. And it certainly isn’t gonna impede our wincon if buddy #3 ascends to the throne instead of Kami.
I could be misreading, but I'm pretty sure that said ability is already locked in as targeting me, and besides I doubt that that ability can self-target. I believe that if you go through with this we will not win tonight, and risk not winning at all.
Also for the record: said third buddy should be considered town, because Mafia having an ability to select the Throne would be weird/OP.
As for prioritization of wincons: it's absolutely a personal choice and I don't think anyone is doing it wrong. If someone disagrees with me, that's fine for them. Speaking for myself: yeah it's a mafia game, but I could play basics anytime I wanted. I prefer FTQs, specialties, etc. because of the weird and unique mechanics, so I prioritize those aspects of the game.
Regarding deadline: Vaimes, if you just switch your votes, X=Y is also at K-1.
I hereby announce my claim to the Iron Throne. I shall be a fair and just ruler, and will weigh the advice of the citizens and lords in shaping the policy of the land.
@Thousand: One of my first posts declared my desire for the throne. I've been fine with Vaimes holding it, and haven't pushed for it since, for ~reasons~.
I don't expect the claim to do much for people - it wouldn't do much for me if I saw someone else claim it - but claiming is the right thing to do.
And, obviously, I intended to achieve one of my house win conditions tonight if I survive.
Full disclosure: I consider the house win conditions to be the primary win condition in this game, and the normal Mafia alignments to be secondary. That said, my house win conditions are not contrary to the town; should I survive and achieve my main win condition, I do want to go "completionist" and try to get my "normal" win condition too (though that's less likely with this many town dead).
I might as well claim since someone could hammer me at any time, unless Vaimes reconsiders.
I'm Cersei Lannister. My house is Lannister. I have the passive ability to support myself for the throne. I have a secret ability (I don't know what it is) that unlocks if I get the throne.
My hypothesis is from my own ability and the Renly and Stannis flips. I hypothesize that characters from the books that have the most direct claims to the Iron Throne would all have the "you can support yourself" ability. E.g. if we have Joffrey, perhaps Robb, probably Daenerys, I would not be surprised to see that. So far those have also had the "secret unlock ability" so that is also likely to be shared.
The thing you call "useless spin-off fillers" would be very interesting to a lot of people and is one of the more likely candidates. What's happening on Theros, Alara, Ixalan during the timeline of the sets for Amonkhet or Ixalan? The events that we see represented in paper sets aren't the only interesting events on the planes.
I also think you're reading too much into one line. The article says they could use iconic Planeswalkers, and give Bolas as an example. They don't say Bolas will definitely be used; they don't even say that the Russo brothers brought up Bolas - that could just be the author of the article naming a planeswalker he knows. Hell, even if it's accurate and they do mean "use Bolas" and they do mean in the present, that could just mean something like "this powerful artifact was created by Nicol Bolas a hundred years ago before the dragon was sealed away".
Hunger, lngr, rhand and tom have all been questionable.
Good luck all. Tubba is probably town, vaimes has a good chance of being scum, there's probably 2-3 scum on my wagon, I think there's a 70% chance of there being an SK.
Observation: people arguing about house conditions, uncertain of alliances even within a theoretically unified group (is my housemate scum? this person is probably town, but are they against my faction?) etc is playing out very appropriately to the theme of the game. I love it.
Also for the record: said third buddy should be considered town, because Mafia having an ability to select the Throne would be weird/OP.
As for prioritization of wincons: it's absolutely a personal choice and I don't think anyone is doing it wrong. If someone disagrees with me, that's fine for them. Speaking for myself: yeah it's a mafia game, but I could play basics anytime I wanted. I prefer FTQs, specialties, etc. because of the weird and unique mechanics, so I prioritize those aspects of the game.
Regarding deadline: Vaimes, if you just switch your votes, X=Y is also at K-1.
I don't expect the claim to do much for people - it wouldn't do much for me if I saw someone else claim it - but claiming is the right thing to do.
Full disclosure: I consider the house win conditions to be the primary win condition in this game, and the normal Mafia alignments to be secondary. That said, my house win conditions are not contrary to the town; should I survive and achieve my main win condition, I do want to go "completionist" and try to get my "normal" win condition too (though that's less likely with this many town dead).
I'm Cersei Lannister. My house is Lannister. I have the passive ability to support myself for the throne. I have a secret ability (I don't know what it is) that unlocks if I get the throne.
My hypothesis is from my own ability and the Renly and Stannis flips. I hypothesize that characters from the books that have the most direct claims to the Iron Throne would all have the "you can support yourself" ability. E.g. if we have Joffrey, perhaps Robb, probably Daenerys, I would not be surprised to see that. So far those have also had the "secret unlock ability" so that is also likely to be shared.