^^^^ NOONONONONONONO. They need to do the opposite. They need to focus more on the block stories and a little less on the walkers.
I'm just being realistic. I also would prefer they went to the pre-Alara model, but WotC seems too much in love with their Planeswalker-centric promotions and it's worked too well for them commercially speaking for that to change. The general public has responded extremely well to the PW duel decks and the 'Duel of the Planeswalkers' game, and that's a sort of attention block novels have never been able to capture. It's no wonder these novels are getting the shaft nowadays and if they're only going to half-ass them and butcher the MTG setting like they did with ALA and ZEN, it's better that they cut them altogether.
I'm just being realistic. I also would prefer they went to the pre-Alara model, but WotC seems too much in love with their Planeswalker-centric promotions and it's worked too well for them commercially speaking for that to change. The general public has responded extremely well to the PW duel decks and the 'Duel of the Planeswalkers' game, and that's a sort of attention block novels have never been able to capture. It's no wonder these novels are getting the shaft nowadays and if they're only going to half-ass them and butcher the MTG setting like they did with ALA and ZEN, it's better that they cut them altogether.
yes but you also have to consider that block novels were stopped, as there was a surge in pushing other products like the planeswalker decks, and the video game, which also saw a surge in popularity. so who's to say that there wouldn't be a surge in block novel popularity too if they were better written and made available again. something that doesn't exist can't be popular.
If the novels were good, people would buy them. The planeswalker novels thus far have been enjoyable to read. The block novels... not so much (the Zendikar one was pretty much pointless - no story, no character development and no ending).
Its a bit sad though - Alara and Zendikar seemed like interesting worlds but the block novels didn`t really do them justice.
Zendikar was pointless because one novel isn't enough to set up a setting and then establish a plot, climax and ending. Zendiakr would have needed three books, plus website support, plus webcomics, and then some pw novel exposure. That wouldn't have been enough to make a dent in the potential flavor of Zendikar.
Zendikar was pointless because one novel isn't enough to set up a setting and then establish a plot, climax and ending. Zendiakr would have needed three books, plus website support, plus webcomics, and then some pw novel exposure. That wouldn't have been enough to make a dent in the potential flavor of Zendikar.
Zendikar is a flavor dead end though. To start with we have a world that can't be mapped or laid out, cultures are more or less dead because there isn't anything resembling safety where culture can actually thrive, and the big mystery leads to a bunch of eldritch abominations eating the plane. It's a dead end. As a setting for cards, it works, but for an actual story to be explored, there's no meat there. Just skin and bones.
Alara, on the other hand, needed three novels and at least one of those would just have to deal with aftermath.
Well I thought Zendikar could've had a much more exciting story. How each race and culture panics as the world comes to pieces. Some band together, (allies), and some don't. It could've made a crazy indiana jones adventure over three books. Planeswalkers could go there for years to pilfer its treasures.
But no. They don't. ☺☺☺☺ing wizards.
Alara is a whole other story. That is a bottomless well of flavor. They could have made for a five book set that featured the war from each side. Or three books, two sides per book. Or even three per book, like ravnica. They don't know how to use what they have.
They need a return to Dominaria to finally tell us where the story is going, and to finally set it on its way to its conclusion.
Zendikar was where Indiana Jones met Cthulu. That is literally what it was. Yet WOTC could have handled their macguffin better. It completely sucks that their was no deeper mystery to the roil or the Eldrazi or the Hedrons. They basically blatantly told us "Here is their prison, here is the side-effects the Eldrazi have on the world, here is the Eldrazi..."
I would have been interested if they made the story where the Walkers find out bits of information along the way as they learn more about the Hedrons, Eldrazi, and the Cultures. Instead they made Sorin Markov tell the audience much of it, cause hes super old.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Casual EDH
Rasputin Dreamweaver UWS
Darien, King of Kjeldor WS
Heidar, Rimewind Master US
Orim, Samite Healer WS
Memnarch US
Ive always been interested in the "story behind the game" if you like.
That's called "flavor", and Mark Rosewater hates it. Hence why it is gone from the game. It's just "new mechanic #238" and "design goal #143". Thats what the game has been reduced to, it's core mechanical components. Great for spikes, horrible for anyone else.
I agree with what others are saying, I can feel them really pushing the whole "this is war!" thing, and no one cares. You can't spend years ripping and tearing the flavor out of the game, and then expect us to get excited over your new lame attempt at it.
That's called "flavor", and Mark Rosewater hates it. Hence why it is gone from the game. It's just "new mechanic #238" and "design goal #143". Thats what the game has been reduced to, it's core mechanical components. Great for spikes, horrible for anyone else.
I agree with what others are saying, I can feel them really pushing the whole "this is war!" thing, and no one cares. You can't spend years ripping and tearing the flavor out of the game, and then expect us to get excited over your new lame attempt at it.
Magic is actually pretty flavor first. Zendikar was set based around adventuring, you can't deny that Phyrexia is a flavor based faction. And the core sets are overflowing with top down designs.
Plus Kamigawa with it's spirit war, and Ravnica with it's guilds... that was all Maro.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really don't see your point here. The design of magic has become more and more flavorful over the yeras, not less.
I usually just lurk in here, mostly out of curiosity, but I have to agree with the OP. The return of Phyrexia, at most, sparked a slight interest much like the Eldrazi and brief glimpse of happenings on Zendikar did for me. But now, just like then, I'm left asking: Why are these Planeswalkers being shoved down my throat, and why is the setting and scenario in every block just a side effect of them being there yet seemingly of no importance? It's crap.
I Feel like more would be better. The website is hard to follow, if they had more short stories like the Kamigawa Block that would really help. I followed Mirriodin as it happened and it really made a big difference. The book doesnt even come out until the story is over.
I Feel like more would be better. The website is hard to follow, if they had more short stories like the Kamigawa Block that would really help. I followed Mirriodin as it happened and it really made a big difference. The book doesnt even come out until the story is over.
They do have the stories on the mini-site, but that being said, that thing is an abomination of flash. It LOOKS fantastic, but it lags pretty much any computer I've ever tried to access it on.
They do have the stories on the mini-site, but that being said, that thing is an abomination of flash. It LOOKS fantastic, but it lags pretty much any computer I've ever tried to access it on.
Which pretty much is one of my complaints with these story related mini-sites of theirs, not every country has very fast internet connection.
LESS Flash EASIER ACCESS to the Contents.
What I would want though is for them to have a really dedicated site for the Storylines/Continuity etc. (not a wiki) where all the articles regarding flavor and the story would just be put without those irritating Flash things. If they do that maybe I can believe that they're actually giving more effort with making the Story elements more accessible.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Serra Stan - Angel Enthusiast - Garruk and Tyvar thirsty follower - Flavor and Art Enthusiast
They do have the stories on the mini-site, but that being said, that thing is an abomination of flash. It LOOKS fantastic, but it lags pretty much any computer I've ever tried to access it on.
Yeah, I've read all those. Its nice, but I would LOVE more. They just don't update it very often. BTW, I agree about the site, Its pretty, but wow it can lag.
I've been watching from a distance these past few months and it seems fairly clear here that Wizards was banking on the familiarity of the Phyrexians and the return to Mirrodin to do most of the heavy lifting in regards to the readers' "Care Meter".
However, that's assuming:
1) Most people enjoyed the Phyrexians as foes.
2) Most people enjoyed Mirrodin as a plane.
As a reader who falls into the first category (though not as foes), I must say that I have been very much concerned with the Phyrexian refugees and how they intend to carve out a home for themselves in their newfound hostile environment.
As for the state of the published novels, there's a lot of work that needs to be done there. Now, not all consumers will like all of the products, but when the prevailing theme here at Magic Storyline--a group who also frequents the main site--has been consistently negative, I wonder which consumers the publishers are targeting.
As a reader who falls into the first category (though not as foes), I must say that I have been very much concerned with the Phyrexian refugees and how they intend to carve out a home for themselves in their newfound hostile environment.
.
They aren't refugees from Phyrexia, they're mutated/compleated Mirrans.
They aren't refugees from Phyrexia, they're mutated/compleated Mirrans.
Indeed. And also...newfound hostile environment? Have you paid any attention at ALL?? This crop of Phyrexians has developed from a latent oil stain that was naturally able to grow upon THIS plane more so than any other given Mirrodin's metal nature, that was left here when it was still called ARGENTUM. Phyrexian monsters have existed on Mirrodin since it was first CALLED that, they were just always on the vaguest periphery and held back given Memnarch's control over the plane. With him gone, Phyrexians have greatly developed and overtaken various regions to the point they may completely spread and convert the plane into a lesser version of the world that spawned them. (And fyi, the "existing all along" thing is a bit of fanwankery, but come on, WotC were the ones who brought up the oil, it's not like it wasn't going through their minds as well!)
Also...while you didn't say so, YOU, Bracador, are clearly the apathetic one. Seriously, you're "very concerned" about PHYREXIANS? Are you mad? I know most modern characters introduced tend to lack luster, but just...WOW. Showing sympathy for mechanized magical evil that seeks to convert everything into nothing more than an extension of a Grand Evolution that works for no end other than to extinguish anything perceived as "weakness", regardless of spiritual dearth...you astonish me, Bracador, you truly astonish me.
About any "subpar" mechanics or cards: Context is king.
If I make a templating or grammar error, let me know.
The franchise MtG most resembles is Battlestar Galactica. Why? Its players exist in, at most, a dozen different models at any given point in time, with perhaps up to 3% variation, 5% if you're lucky.
(And fyi, the "existing all along" thing is a bit of fanwankery, but come on, WotC were the ones who brought up the oil, it's not like it wasn't going through their minds as well!)
Actually Mark Rosewater said in his latest interview almost those exact words.
Id imagine the next walker novel will be more focused on the plane and the events happening there due to the fact that one of the characters is Koth and that he happens to be fighting a war for survival of his whole world against one of the most evil things to ever exist. That and im pritty sure Vesner knows Karn is on Mirrodin so why look anywhere else?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
SonofaBith - Wizards was so excited about making the packaging for Modern Masters 2 recyclable, they decided to make most of the rares and all but 1 of the UC's recycle-bin ready too. Convenient!
Id imagine the next walker novel will be more focused on the plane and the events happening there due to the fact that one of the characters is Koth and that he happens to be fighting a war for survival of his whole world against one of the most evil things to ever exist.
If the next planeswalker novel is about Koth we might see a different angle on the Mirran war... or the aftermath.
Of course the next novel could easily be "Sorin eats a muffin".
That and im pritty sure Vesner knows Karn is on Mirrodin so why look anywhere else?
No one knows where Karn is. Karn intentionally obfuscated his departure after closing the Tolarian rift in order to make sure no one could track him down. Remember that Karn was the equavilant of a multiversal tourist. He went everywhere and did everything. While his plane is a good canidate for his hide out, there are hundreds of other planes he could be hanging low.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
yes but you also have to consider that block novels were stopped, as there was a surge in pushing other products like the planeswalker decks, and the video game, which also saw a surge in popularity. so who's to say that there wouldn't be a surge in block novel popularity too if they were better written and made available again. something that doesn't exist can't be popular.
Its a bit sad though - Alara and Zendikar seemed like interesting worlds but the block novels didn`t really do them justice.
Zendikar is a flavor dead end though. To start with we have a world that can't be mapped or laid out, cultures are more or less dead because there isn't anything resembling safety where culture can actually thrive, and the big mystery leads to a bunch of eldritch abominations eating the plane. It's a dead end. As a setting for cards, it works, but for an actual story to be explored, there's no meat there. Just skin and bones.
Alara, on the other hand, needed three novels and at least one of those would just have to deal with aftermath.
But no. They don't. ☺☺☺☺ing wizards.
Alara is a whole other story. That is a bottomless well of flavor. They could have made for a five book set that featured the war from each side. Or three books, two sides per book. Or even three per book, like ravnica. They don't know how to use what they have.
They need a return to Dominaria to finally tell us where the story is going, and to finally set it on its way to its conclusion.
I would have been interested if they made the story where the Walkers find out bits of information along the way as they learn more about the Hedrons, Eldrazi, and the Cultures. Instead they made Sorin Markov tell the audience much of it, cause hes super old.
Rasputin Dreamweaver UWS
Darien, King of Kjeldor WS
Heidar, Rimewind Master US
Orim, Samite Healer WS
Memnarch US
That's called "flavor", and Mark Rosewater hates it. Hence why it is gone from the game. It's just "new mechanic #238" and "design goal #143". Thats what the game has been reduced to, it's core mechanical components. Great for spikes, horrible for anyone else.
I agree with what others are saying, I can feel them really pushing the whole "this is war!" thing, and no one cares. You can't spend years ripping and tearing the flavor out of the game, and then expect us to get excited over your new lame attempt at it.
Magic is actually pretty flavor first. Zendikar was set based around adventuring, you can't deny that Phyrexia is a flavor based faction. And the core sets are overflowing with top down designs.
Plus Kamigawa with it's spirit war, and Ravnica with it's guilds... that was all Maro.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really don't see your point here. The design of magic has become more and more flavorful over the yeras, not less.
(Also known as Xenphire)
They do have the stories on the mini-site, but that being said, that thing is an abomination of flash. It LOOKS fantastic, but it lags pretty much any computer I've ever tried to access it on.
Which pretty much is one of my complaints with these story related mini-sites of theirs, not every country has very fast internet connection.
LESS Flash EASIER ACCESS to the Contents.
What I would want though is for them to have a really dedicated site for the Storylines/Continuity etc. (not a wiki) where all the articles regarding flavor and the story would just be put without those irritating Flash things. If they do that maybe I can believe that they're actually giving more effort with making the Story elements more accessible.
Serra Stan - Angel Enthusiast - Garruk and Tyvar thirsty follower - Flavor and Art Enthusiast
Yeah, I've read all those. Its nice, but I would LOVE more. They just don't update it very often. BTW, I agree about the site, Its pretty, but wow it can lag.
I wonder what it will be about. (sarcasm).
we will? News to me.
However, that's assuming:
1) Most people enjoyed the Phyrexians as foes.
2) Most people enjoyed Mirrodin as a plane.
As a reader who falls into the first category (though not as foes), I must say that I have been very much concerned with the Phyrexian refugees and how they intend to carve out a home for themselves in their newfound hostile environment.
As for the state of the published novels, there's a lot of work that needs to be done there. Now, not all consumers will like all of the products, but when the prevailing theme here at Magic Storyline--a group who also frequents the main site--has been consistently negative, I wonder which consumers the publishers are targeting.
They aren't refugees from Phyrexia, they're mutated/compleated Mirrans.
Indeed. And also...newfound hostile environment? Have you paid any attention at ALL?? This crop of Phyrexians has developed from a latent oil stain that was naturally able to grow upon THIS plane more so than any other given Mirrodin's metal nature, that was left here when it was still called ARGENTUM. Phyrexian monsters have existed on Mirrodin since it was first CALLED that, they were just always on the vaguest periphery and held back given Memnarch's control over the plane. With him gone, Phyrexians have greatly developed and overtaken various regions to the point they may completely spread and convert the plane into a lesser version of the world that spawned them. (And fyi, the "existing all along" thing is a bit of fanwankery, but come on, WotC were the ones who brought up the oil, it's not like it wasn't going through their minds as well!)
Also...while you didn't say so, YOU, Bracador, are clearly the apathetic one. Seriously, you're "very concerned" about PHYREXIANS? Are you mad? I know most modern characters introduced tend to lack luster, but just...WOW. Showing sympathy for mechanized magical evil that seeks to convert everything into nothing more than an extension of a Grand Evolution that works for no end other than to extinguish anything perceived as "weakness", regardless of spiritual dearth...you astonish me, Bracador, you truly astonish me.
About any "subpar" mechanics or cards: Context is king.
If I make a templating or grammar error, let me know.
The franchise MtG most resembles is Battlestar Galactica. Why? Its players exist in, at most, a dozen different models at any given point in time, with perhaps up to 3% variation, 5% if you're lucky.
Actually Mark Rosewater said in his latest interview almost those exact words.
GW Rhys the Redeemed EDH
RUGAnimar, Soul of Elements EDH
WBRAlesha, Who Smiles at Death EDH
If the next planeswalker novel is about Koth we might see a different angle on the Mirran war... or the aftermath.
Of course the next novel could easily be "Sorin eats a muffin".
No one knows where Karn is. Karn intentionally obfuscated his departure after closing the Tolarian rift in order to make sure no one could track him down. Remember that Karn was the equavilant of a multiversal tourist. He went everywhere and did everything. While his plane is a good canidate for his hide out, there are hundreds of other planes he could be hanging low.