There is one reason: Rarity and limited play. If for limited balance they decide that they want the G, exalted mana dork to be at common or uncommon rarity they would create a new one. We've seen similar shifts in cards before with the new core structure.
Well, M13 is probably going to have Llanowar Elves in the set, and if they don't print Noble, birds will also be in.
I know that is 'technically' a reason, but they can allow for fixing by printing Expanse or Wilds in core, and some sort of artifact mana or rampant growth variant. Loads of options, and I can't see RnD saying "We can reprint this popular legacy/modern staple or make a new guy that isn't as good to make CORE SET LIMITED play better".
Just sayin'.
Zac Hill promised this core was spicy and different, I'm sure it will be.
Why does it matter though, really?
We already have Nicol Bolas Planeswalker in the set.
Enemy and friendly color stuff isn't the most important thing in the world, and 'preserving' that is infinitely less important than reprinting a popular card that is used in legacy and modern.
Do you think RtR is going to bend the color pie? Yes.
The original RAV did.
That's the nature of gold sets.
No, it didn't. The original RAV had enemy colors and friendly colors.
A green card that interacts with U and W is being based off white's allies, which doesn't make sense unless you know Noble Hierarch is supposed to be a card within the Bant shard.
No, it didn't. The original RAV had enemy colors and friendly colors.
Yes, but allied and enemy color combinations didn't feel like allied and enemy combinations. All combinations were equally valid.
A green card that interacts with U and W is being based off white's allies, which doesn't make sense unless you know Noble Hierarch is supposed to be a card within the Bant shard.
Good thing we have that card named "Overlord of Grixis" in this set, right?
End of line: you cannot bend the color pie if its torn to pieces.
How is "making the idea of enemy colors not as big a deal in a set evoking a previous set where enemy colors was not a big deal" tearing the color pie to pieces?
If they weren't obviously pushing alara flavor, noble would be a square peg in a round hole.
But they are pushing alara flavor, so noble magically fits.
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Well, with the new black Legend referencing Grixis in his very name, there is little doubt that they are embracing the shards in this core set. Hierarch is 99.9% confirmed in my mind now.
1. My money is on that they are simply using a couple Alara-flavored cards to cash in on nostalgia/universe-building, but the core set will still be predominantly neutrally flavored. Do you prefer that, or do you prefer mentioning places they will probably never visit like Kalonia, Uthuun or Vaasgoth? Expect to see places like that in this core set as well.
2. @urzassedatives: I stand by my Tarmogoyf statement.
3. I'm usually not wrong about these things so we'll see.
I'm pretty pleased with the idea that they might start re-using old planes as settings for a core set. Would breathe a nice bit of fresh air into the standard environment (you start to get tired of a plane after the second set generally IMO). How cool would it be to randomly return to Kamigawa, Zendikar or Ulgrotha etc just for a quick 1-set "peek" in the middle of the season?
I know its speculation, but considering all we've heard lately about "realizing our planes are a resource we have to conserve/re-use sparingly" I think this makes sense, and it would certainly be exciting to me.
I'm pretty pleased with the idea that they might start re-using old planes as settings for a core set. Would breathe a nice bit of fresh air into the standard environment (you start to get tired of a plane after the second set generally IMO). How cool would it be to randomly return to Kamigawa, Zendikar or Ulgrotha etc just for a quick 1-set "peek" in the middle of the season?
I know its speculation, but considering all we've heard lately about "realizing our planes are a resource we have to conserve/re-use sparingly" I think this makes sense, and it would certainly be exciting to me.
The funny thing is that core sets used to "reuse" old planes obligatorily since all cards had to be reprints. Also, I think they have already threw Ulgrothaphiles a bone with Barony Vampire and the flavor text on Elixir of Immortality. I'm inclined to agree that they may do this more often now.
I don't like the idea of exalted outside of Bant colors. Well, I could see it in red, but black? Exalted flavor works for me like this: I'm brave and honorable and whenever I attack alone, the more guys in my team are brave and honorable the stronger I'm gonna be. I could see it work in red since it's a combat mechanic so that aspect fits red. But black? Black isn't really a combat color and black creatures usually don't rely on team boosts. I don't see exalted as a loner mechanic since it gets stronger with each additional exalted creature. It's true that only one creature gets the bonus but you need a bigger team for a bigger effect.
Giving black exalted was a very bad design decision imo.
Still glad that exalted is back since it's one of my favorite keyword abilities though I really hope that we'll see it on bant colored cards as well.
Based on the fact that after Alara's reunification there was a lot of "bleeding" from the Shards that led to a uniquely characterized flavor, I'm not surprised to see non-Bant colored cards receiving Exalted. From a slightly different standpoint, he could have Exalted because he is the Overlord of Grixis, and is thus worshipped (And/or feared).
and right now they are failing to show exalted flavor in black. a demon that helps other creatures? really?
No, not really. Do you understand the mechanics of Exalted? It helps one single creature. Non-plural. And what was one of blacks mechanics in Avacyn Restored?
Attacking alone.
Not only is it in the right colour, it's also synergistic.
For flavor arguments, a demon would in fact help a sole creature/person to do it's bidding. That's kind of their nature. Keeps the demon safe, and puts someone else in harms way.
Pfft, their nature usually wants straight out sacrifice. And if I were a demon that would want to put something in harms way, I would at the very least want to Brion Stoutarm the creature at the guy. Not go, "Hey dude. Yeah you dude! You da Man!! Go get 'em!!!"
EDIT: I'll admit though that I'm starting to feel that exalted on a demon worshipping lackey starts to make some sense. My inner Vorthos is still getting annoyed by this demon though.
Enzee
And what was one of blacks mechanics in Avacyn Restored?
Attacking alone.
No it was about being the only creature on your side.
Also exalted dosen't work well with loners since most exalted cards are going to be creatures.To get the most out of Demonic Taskmaster invloves dipping into two colors which is ok,three colors which isn't to bad or four colors which isnt happening.
One creature vs an army loses every single time.
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WOut of the ground,I rise to grace...W BAfter the lights go out on you, after your worthless life is through. I will remember how you scream...B
This is the problem I have with the mechanic. Outside of white, it never really made a lot of sense, at least not with the name it had. The green and blue portions of Bant felt very white-ish anyway; the shard was all about white and the traits from its allied colors that made it into the shard were designed to overlap with white's stuff. But normally, green doesn't care for teamwork - community, sure, but a community themed around nature, not around the sort of divine blessings "Exalted" brings to mind. And blue...blue isn't much for fighting, except in recent blocks, where apparently it is all about big brawly guys.
Black doesn't really care about teamwork or helping power up one guy, unless you want to flavor it as some sort of demon worship-type thing. And that does not sound like something I'd describe as "exalted."
I can't see red getting any of the mechanic because it really doesn't want to hold back its guys - when red wants to attack, it wants to attack.
So yeah, the flavor seems pretty off here, but I guess they can make it work.
I too, am very very bothered by this.
It doesn't make sense, unless maybe if it said, when he attacks loose one life or something. a Price for Power thing.. but
Exalted is Prideful and Orderly. It is NOT a Black mechanic in any way.
.
Giving black exalted was a very bad design decision imo.
Still glad that exalted is back since it's one of my favorite keyword abilities though I really hope that we'll see it on bant colored cards as well.
No, not really. Do you understand the mechanics of Exalted? It helps one single creature. Non-plural. And what was one of blacks mechanics in Avacyn Restored?
Attacking alone.
Not only is it in the right colour, it's also synergistic.
I dont understand why is everyone bending Exalted towards one of black's mechanics in Avacyn Restored?
Avacyn Restored's mechanics is concerned about being the only creature on its controller's battlefield, NOT the only attacking creature. There is a difference! Exalted isnt going to work with only 1 creature on your battlefield. It works better when there are a few 'supporting' exalted creatures.
Gaining +1/+1 whenever 1 creature attacks isnt worth the risk of wasting your only combat phrase.
Also, if exalted is going to be in black. Why will they print Noble Hierarch which supports W, U and G?
I hope WoTC will print useful Bant exalted creatures.. The ALA batch of exalted creatures isnt that "user-friendly"..
Oh, I thought he was talking about playing a spell that is countering a spell with counters on it as it comes into play, but I see you guys were just discussing whether he was flashing a creature with flash in order to flash a flashback or just flashing a creature with flash but not needing flash in order to flashback a spell without flash.
I believe the reasoning behind Exalted in Black is the idea of worshipping (remember, as stated by MaRo, religion is the strongest tie between Black and White)
So basically, you either have the demon that gets stronger when supported by its worshippers or you have the worshippers that will fight harder for their idol(s).
Personally, I always thought Exalted felt more WB than WUG, it embodies both White's sense of community and Black's sense of individualism. I wished it would be the Orzhov's mechanic, but it is a less likely now that it appears in M13.
You flavor wonks are weird. Exalted makes perfect sense as a black mechanic - "YOU. SCRUBS. WORSHIP MY ASS AND WATCH WHILE I ATTACK. HAHAHA UNLIMITED POWERRRRRRR." Black Exalted is flavored as one creature selfishly using power from your other creatures to make itself better at their expense.
Haven't you realized by now any color can justify anything at all on flavor grounds? :\
You flavor wonks are weird. Exalted makes perfect sense as a black mechanic - "YOU. SCRUBS. WORSHIP MY ASS AND WATCH WHILE I ATTACK. HAHAHA UNLIMITED POWERRRRRRR." Black Exalted is flavored as one creature selfishly using power from your other creatures to make itself better at their expense.
I can see where the demon worshipping thing works, but how is this at their expense? Sacrifice is at their expense. Making them weaker is at their expense. Tapping the other creatures is at their expense. Helping my boss out while being able to lay back and defend the base still feels too much like teamwork to me (Heck, dividing work based on different people's strengths feels a lot like something you'd do in one of those teamwork exercise programs).
"Hey, you. Don't attack so I can attack stronger. Mwa ha ha ha ha."
Seriously? Preventing one of your teammates from getting drafted to Afghanistan sure sounds selfish alright.
But whatever. You can bend the flavor to justify it all you can, but I think it's easier for me just to see that wizards can bend their own rules a little and have black act as a team every once in a blue moon.
I believe the reasoning behind Exalted in Black is the idea of worshipping (remember, as stated by MaRo, religion is the strongest tie between Black and White)
So basically, you either have the demon that gets stronger when supported by its worshippers or you have the worshippers that will fight harder for their idol(s).
Personally, I always thought Exalted felt more WB than WUG, it embodies both White's sense of community and Black's sense of individualism. I wished it would be the Orzhov's mechanic, but it is a less likely now that it appears in M13.
I have to agree, I remember jumping back into Magic during Alara Reborn and asking where were the White/Black creatures with Exalted.
You flavor wonks are weird. Exalted makes perfect sense as a black mechanic - "YOU. SCRUBS. WORSHIP MY ASS AND WATCH WHILE I ATTACK. HAHAHA UNLIMITED POWERRRRRRR." Black Exalted is flavored as one creature selfishly using power from your other creatures to make itself better at their expense.
Haven't you realized by now any color can justify anything at all on flavor grounds? :\
Hahaha, you right! Wizards will always find some way to justify anything, and if they can't, someone will for them.
Exalted is the perfect mechanic for a core set. In a way it is straight-forward (like Bloodthirst) and we will likely get some powerful new combinations in colors we are unaccustomed to seeing the mechanic in.
Win-win.
Well, M13 is probably going to have Llanowar Elves in the set, and if they don't print Noble, birds will also be in.
I know that is 'technically' a reason, but they can allow for fixing by printing Expanse or Wilds in core, and some sort of artifact mana or rampant growth variant. Loads of options, and I can't see RnD saying "We can reprint this popular legacy/modern staple or make a new guy that isn't as good to make CORE SET LIMITED play better".
Just sayin'.
Zac Hill promised this core was spicy and different, I'm sure it will be.
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No, it didn't. The original RAV had enemy colors and friendly colors.
A green card that interacts with U and W is being based off white's allies, which doesn't make sense unless you know Noble Hierarch is supposed to be a card within the Bant shard.
Nicol Bolas is fine. Now ask yourself if you'd put Nacatl Hunt-Pride or Mirran Crusader in a core set.
End of line: you cannot bend the color pie if its torn to pieces.
I hope I open a Tarmogoyf.
EDIT: So sorry for autocarding Tarmo.
Yes, but allied and enemy color combinations didn't feel like allied and enemy combinations. All combinations were equally valid.
Good thing we have that card named "Overlord of Grixis" in this set, right?
Neither are modern/legacy staples.
How is "making the idea of enemy colors not as big a deal in a set evoking a previous set where enemy colors was not a big deal" tearing the color pie to pieces?
If they weren't obviously pushing alara flavor, noble would be a square peg in a round hole.
But they are pushing alara flavor, so noble magically fits.
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2. @urzassedatives: I stand by my Tarmogoyf statement.
3. I'm usually not wrong about these things so we'll see.
I know its speculation, but considering all we've heard lately about "realizing our planes are a resource we have to conserve/re-use sparingly" I think this makes sense, and it would certainly be exciting to me.
The funny thing is that core sets used to "reuse" old planes obligatorily since all cards had to be reprints. Also, I think they have already threw Ulgrothaphiles a bone with Barony Vampire and the flavor text on Elixir of Immortality. I'm inclined to agree that they may do this more often now.
Based on the fact that after Alara's reunification there was a lot of "bleeding" from the Shards that led to a uniquely characterized flavor, I'm not surprised to see non-Bant colored cards receiving Exalted. From a slightly different standpoint, he could have Exalted because he is the Overlord of Grixis, and is thus worshipped (And/or feared).
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No, not really. Do you understand the mechanics of Exalted? It helps one single creature. Non-plural. And what was one of blacks mechanics in Avacyn Restored?
Attacking alone.
Not only is it in the right colour, it's also synergistic.
Pfft, their nature usually wants straight out sacrifice. And if I were a demon that would want to put something in harms way, I would at the very least want to Brion Stoutarm the creature at the guy. Not go, "Hey dude. Yeah you dude! You da Man!! Go get 'em!!!"
EDIT: I'll admit though that I'm starting to feel that exalted on a demon worshipping lackey starts to make some sense. My inner Vorthos is still getting annoyed by this demon though.
No it was about being the only creature on your side.
Also exalted dosen't work well with loners since most exalted cards are going to be creatures.To get the most out of Demonic Taskmaster invloves dipping into two colors which is ok,three colors which isn't to bad or four colors which isnt happening.
One creature vs an army loses every single time.
BAfter the lights go out on you, after your worthless life is through. I will remember how you scream...B
I too, am very very bothered by this.
It doesn't make sense, unless maybe if it said, when he attacks loose one life or something. a Price for Power thing.. but
Exalted is Prideful and Orderly. It is NOT a Black mechanic in any way.
This does not bode well.
It is a VERY bad design.
I dont understand why is everyone bending Exalted towards one of black's mechanics in Avacyn Restored?
Avacyn Restored's mechanics is concerned about being the only creature on its controller's battlefield, NOT the only attacking creature. There is a difference! Exalted isnt going to work with only 1 creature on your battlefield. It works better when there are a few 'supporting' exalted creatures.
Gaining +1/+1 whenever 1 creature attacks isnt worth the risk of wasting your only combat phrase.
Also, if exalted is going to be in black. Why will they print Noble Hierarch which supports W, U and G?
I hope WoTC will print useful Bant exalted creatures.. The ALA batch of exalted creatures isnt that "user-friendly"..
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So basically, you either have the demon that gets stronger when supported by its worshippers or you have the worshippers that will fight harder for their idol(s).
Personally, I always thought Exalted felt more WB than WUG, it embodies both White's sense of community and Black's sense of individualism. I wished it would be the Orzhov's mechanic, but it is a less likely now that it appears in M13.
Haven't you realized by now any color can justify anything at all on flavor grounds? :\
I can see where the demon worshipping thing works, but how is this at their expense? Sacrifice is at their expense. Making them weaker is at their expense. Tapping the other creatures is at their expense. Helping my boss out while being able to lay back and defend the base still feels too much like teamwork to me (Heck, dividing work based on different people's strengths feels a lot like something you'd do in one of those teamwork exercise programs).
Seriously? Preventing one of your teammates from getting drafted to Afghanistan sure sounds selfish alright.
But whatever. You can bend the flavor to justify it all you can, but I think it's easier for me just to see that wizards can bend their own rules a little and have black act as a team every once in a blue moon.
Loner is like, "Uh, guys, anyone? It sucks that I have no friends"
So basically black exalted and loner are related. A black creature with exalted will lose exalted and become a loner.
I have to agree, I remember jumping back into Magic during Alara Reborn and asking where were the White/Black creatures with Exalted.
Hahaha, you right! Wizards will always find some way to justify anything, and if they can't, someone will for them.
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Win-win.
Now what about those M10 lands... and Gideon... ?
I think Gideon will make a re-appearance in Return to Ravnica, as I believe that he is currently in the plane fluff-wise. I may be wrong though.
I expect reprints of Chandra, the Firebrand, Garruk, Primal Hunter, Jace, Memory Adept, and Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker. And I expect an Ajani 3.0 and a Liliana 3.0 to finish out the 3.0s of the Lorwyn Five.
Heroes and Villains Comics and Games
Watch "The Giant Sharkgate Chronicles"
Watch "Eating Made Easy"