What do you mean by "less resonant?" Do you mean that Norse mythology is not as well-known to western audiences as is Greek mythology?
Well, we can't forget that basic modern Magic (and a lot of current fantasy) draws heavily from Greek Mythology, as well as from Tolkien. What makes Theros so resonant is the lack of the Tolkien flavor (elves mostly), so the Greek stuff shines even brighter. But for a Norse Mythology block we'd be leaving both Tolkien and Greek fantasy behind.
What I'm basically saying is that Fantasy stuff these days is half Tolkien, half Greek mythology. Because of the lack of both of these, a potential Valla would have to work harder to establish a basic connection to the player than Theros has done.
Love love LOVE the gender-neutral thing Ashiok has. Shkle looks really cool, although I don't think there's room for shklim in future blocks however. No real room for character development.
What is Alara like now? Deliciously mixed up and AWESOME.
Imagine taking five different delicious ice cream flavors, then mixing them together so every bite has more than one flavor in it, but you can still taste the original flavors.
Just the idea of each shards members using stuff from other shards is sooooo cool. Just look at the following and you'll believe me.
If I had to guess, I'd say Golgari, some Boros, and some Simic. Why?
Golgari feed the poor, and accept anyone who wants to join.
The police officers and investigators, i.e. the "municipal" Boros, are probably well loved for keeping order in Ravnica.
Since the Simic are the doctors of the plane, they probably help a lot of the guildless anyway and probably offer membership.
Golgari and Simic are definitely the good guys this time around, at least in terms of entire guilds. (The Azorious and Selesnya champions are the protagonists of the book.)
What Mrplaque and a few others are forgetting here is very important:
ONLY THE OFFICIAL MAGICAL TEN THOUSAND YEAR OLD GUILDPACT IS GONE
The guilds still exist and still are roughly the same. They've signed a new, paper only guildpact in to keep the peace. BUT they don't have the same power as they did before Dissension. For example, the Boros Legion has had to redesign themselves as a private police mercenary force because they no longer have the authority to police the plane anymore. In a similar way the Golgari farmers, Izzet technicians, Orzhov bankers, Azorius lawmakers, Simic doctors, and Rakdos miners will still be performing their duties.
You know.. I hate that this thing doesn't have a name. Hardly ever are Legendary Creatures just a creature with Legendary slapped on it. Hate to use a WoW reference but all "rare" mobs had a name didn't they? They didn't just say "wolf" or "bear" or "spider". I mean I still love the guy and will make him my general, but that kinda loses him points.
I hope they don't keep doing that. Making a legend just because is kinda lame.
That's why I'll be calling him Dos Equis when he joins the RUG Trifecta of Riku, Intet, and Animar.
If I had to order those three into magnitude of threats it'd be:
1: Bolas due to the fact that he's out and about with agents around the multiverse keeping other potential threats down and maximizing growth of anyone that could become a likely pawn. Not to mention his countless milennia of experiences.
2: The Phyrexians due to the fact that they are essentially leaderless from my understanding. The praetors are squabbling amongst themselves on New Phyrexia and if they ever become unified under a single leader and developed planar portal technology which I think that they will then they'll become much more dangerous. (Not to mention Karn said that there are more phyrexians out there or something along those lines.)
3: The Eldrazi due to the fact that at this point they are only relegated to Zendikar these mindless (as far as I know) alien like annihilators aren't much of a threat unless you're going on a vacation to Zendikar.
Agree with Phyrexians at number 2, however, the Phyrexians we've seen on New Phyrexia are the most powerful that exist. On no other plane where Karn has traveled has there been an extremely abundant source of mana plus a people that already are half metal.
Any other Phyrexians out there are probably small, and a good chance that they closely resemble the originals. (Also a good chance they adapted local style i.e. Grixis type or Innistrad type.)
These people are so funny... A deck built around Leveler would classify as a "rogue" deck... Leveler refers to the mechanic from Rise of the Eldrazi. Probably uses mana accel and some of the white levelers, along with the time walk dude.
1. Pronunciation problems. I look at it and I see Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.
2. Familiarity. No matter how "nice" and "original" and "correct" that name may be, nobody would use it. Despite Latin being a dead language, it has inspired/broken into nearly all of the European languages. We still use Latin for scientific labeling. Terra or Earth is typically the one we use because it's familiar.
3. Most planes/planets would call themselves "Earth" in their language. If our planet/plane was forced to interact with other planes/planets, it would be better to use an important but out of mainstream use language to name ourselves instead of one that would confuse everybody.
Well, we can't forget that basic modern Magic (and a lot of current fantasy) draws heavily from Greek Mythology, as well as from Tolkien. What makes Theros so resonant is the lack of the Tolkien flavor (elves mostly), so the Greek stuff shines even brighter. But for a Norse Mythology block we'd be leaving both Tolkien and Greek fantasy behind.
What I'm basically saying is that Fantasy stuff these days is half Tolkien, half Greek mythology. Because of the lack of both of these, a potential Valla would have to work harder to establish a basic connection to the player than Theros has done.
Do you want a full recap on what happened in the Alara block, including after Alara Reborn?
Also, are you new to Magic? You seem to be asking several questions that are usually covered around where a person first starts playing.
Imagine taking five different delicious ice cream flavors, then mixing them together so every bite has more than one flavor in it, but you can still taste the original flavors.
Just the idea of each shards members using stuff from other shards is sooooo cool. Just look at the following and you'll believe me.
Shardless Agent
Etherium-Horn Sorcerer
Filigree Angel
Etherium Abomination
Deathbringer Thoctar
Rhox Brute
Vithian Renegades
Pale Recluse
Vectis Dominator
Skyclaw Thrash
Sages of the Anima
And almost any black card with exalted.
The broad strokes of color combining is what made me love Alara Reborn sooo much.
If I had to guess, I'd say Golgari, some Boros, and some Simic. Why?
Golgari feed the poor, and accept anyone who wants to join.
The police officers and investigators, i.e. the "municipal" Boros, are probably well loved for keeping order in Ravnica.
Since the Simic are the doctors of the plane, they probably help a lot of the guildless anyway and probably offer membership.
Golgari and Simic are definitely the good guys this time around, at least in terms of entire guilds. (The Azorious and Selesnya champions are the protagonists of the book.)
Krenko will also be very nice in my goblin deck... now just where I put it...
ONLY THE OFFICIAL MAGICAL TEN THOUSAND YEAR OLD GUILDPACT IS GONE
The guilds still exist and still are roughly the same. They've signed a new, paper only guildpact in to keep the peace. BUT they don't have the same power as they did before Dissension. For example, the Boros Legion has had to redesign themselves as a private police mercenary force because they no longer have the authority to police the plane anymore. In a similar way the Golgari farmers, Izzet technicians, Orzhov bankers, Azorius lawmakers, Simic doctors, and Rakdos miners will still be performing their duties.
That's why I'll be calling him Dos Equis when he joins the RUG Trifecta of Riku, Intet, and Animar.
Agree with Phyrexians at number 2, however, the Phyrexians we've seen on New Phyrexia are the most powerful that exist. On no other plane where Karn has traveled has there been an extremely abundant source of mana plus a people that already are half metal.
Any other Phyrexians out there are probably small, and a good chance that they closely resemble the originals. (Also a good chance they adapted local style i.e. Grixis type or Innistrad type.)
The first picture of Ajani standing in the sunlight has D. Alexander Gregory's style as well.
Maybe he got a cycle of PWs to draw and they haven't used Lili and Ajani until now? Or more likely he was commissioned to draw the other two.
1. Pronunciation problems. I look at it and I see Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.
2. Familiarity. No matter how "nice" and "original" and "correct" that name may be, nobody would use it. Despite Latin being a dead language, it has inspired/broken into nearly all of the European languages. We still use Latin for scientific labeling. Terra or Earth is typically the one we use because it's familiar.
3. Most planes/planets would call themselves "Earth" in their language. If our planet/plane was forced to interact with other planes/planets, it would be better to use an important but out of mainstream use language to name ourselves instead of one that would confuse everybody.
Maybe an increase of roses in Innistrad art? Can't be a bad thing.