nonlethal boardwipe against the cultists. I thought it was a nice way to show off his powers of illusion. The story also made you think Chandra was going to pop out of the blue to save the day!
While the story was good, I do have one question; why can't Jace just Planeswalk to the Eye? He said he could 'walk back to Sea Gate and he has been to the Eye.
While the story was good, I do have one question; why can't Jace just Planeswalk to the Eye? He said he could 'walk back to Sea Gate and he has been to the Eye.
I think its a matter of familiarity. He has spent more time at the Sea Gate Refuge than he did at the Eye of Ugin.
If he had spent a few days at the Eye then he could supposedly do it, but if I recall correctly he was there for maybe 30 minutes.
While the story was good, I do have one question; why can't Jace just Planeswalk to the Eye? He said he could 'walk back to Sea Gate and he has been to the Eye.
he knows Eye worse than he knows Sea Gate, perhaps?
While the story was good, I do have one question; why can't Jace just Planeswalk to the Eye? He said he could 'walk back to Sea Gate and he has been to the Eye.
He says he can only planeswalk to Sea Gate because of how familiar he is with it. Did he spend very long at the Eye?
While the story was good, I do have one question; why can't Jace just Planeswalk to the Eye? He said he could 'walk back to Sea Gate and he has been to the Eye.
The reason he didn't do it in the story was because of not wanting to leave Jori En behind. But, now that he doesn't have to worry about that he either will A. Go ahead and Planeswalk there now, or B. Not actually know where exactly the Eye of Ugin is to Planeswalk there. He knows how to get to Sea Gate since he's presumably been there a couple of times before, so I wouldn't be surprised if he actually can't get to the Eye of Ugin through Planeswalking since he's only been there once.
I liked how they emphasized on Gideon's flaw here, he's too focused on the immediate to see the big picture. While he was "smart" enough to figure out he needed Jace to solve the problem, his personality is still largely unchanged, he thinks merely fighting while Jace sits in the office researching can solve the problem.
I'm okay with Jace being pragmatic and resorting to having to modify minds - clearly being this close to Ulamog did a number on him. He now recognizes, no, now experienced the magnitude of the problem.
I think Jace will run into Ugin when he reaches the Eye. Jace still wasn't familiar enough (been there once only) to planeswalk there directly, but I'm sure the Spirit Dragon himself just planeswalked right into there.
While the story was good, I do have one question; why can't Jace just Planeswalk to the Eye? He said he could 'walk back to Sea Gate and he has been to the Eye.
Neowalkers aren't precise with the landings, as the others have said they have to be really familiar with the location. He's been to Sea Gate multiple times (including way back after he left Akoum after helping open the Eye). He's only been to the Eye once, and he was only there for a short time.
I'm curious how Gideon and the survivors are going to fight Ulamog if Titan's Presence is a thing. All he has to do is look at you and you get obliterated!
I also find it slightly karmic justice-y that Jori En first said she isn't sure she would have restraint to not alter Gideon's mind in Jace's place and then she got her own mind altered.
Perhaps. But I wonder if the Spark provides some protection to the distortion aura around the eldrazi titans similar to how Sorin's spark protected him when nearing Ugin's Tomb in KTK
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Wizards. listen. The Vorthos community will await the consequences of the Eldrazi Titans' deaths/sealing. We will keep the watch.
“The wind whispers, ‘come home,’ but I cannot.”
— Teferi
I liked this story a lot. It would have been interesting if Jace tried to get in Ulamog's head and got smacked down.
As for the Nissa speculation, I wonder if her connection being broken was all about luring her somehow. Like Ob knows what's happening with her, and is trying to get her to search for him so he can rip her spark out or some such plot device.
So it seems, for at least the BfZ storyline, they are going to be consistent in Jace's inability to directly battle the Eldrazi. Fine. I won't complain about that further. It appears he is going to strictly adhere to being the brains of the saviors. Good story. I find it humorous that he only altered Jori's mind enough to get to her to head back to the encampment but not enough to prevent her from eventually realizing what had happened. Nice, subtle and low key humor. Dare I say even a bit ironic based on her comments regarding Gideon?
Not only is the UR out, we have a summary of next week's episode.
When Sea Gate was overrun, Gideon helped Commander Vorik and his army evacuate to safety. Now Vorik's injuries threaten his life, and Gideon feels responsible for the survival of the commander's army. But with the Eldrazi swarms ceaselessly growing and spreading across the land, Gideon fears that, unless something changes, survival on Zendikar will soon become impossible.
I can't wait for what will happen when Ulamog attacks the camp, will Jori En be able to warn them in time? Will they have enough time to escape the floating rock? Also, Jace making illusion fire is quite great, its a very Jace way of escaping a situation.
It looks like in Zendikar the existence of the multiverse and planeswalking isn't so secret. The vampire that gave the seeds to Nissa knew about planeswalking, and it looks like Jori En knows too.
(Jori En to Jace)
"You could just . . . return. Right now. You're one of those."
What do the zendikari think about planeswalkers? Do they feel jelous, because they can escape? Do they admire them for helping them, even though they could just leave the plane?
Probably a bit of both. Some people are probably upset at the walkers who could leave for abandoning them when they need every fighter they can get and others are probably greatful for the ones like Nissa and Gideon being their to help fight. I can't imagine what's going to happen when they get the comparatively massive number that are going to show up. I mean, Planeswalkers are absurdly rare. Having as many as we're going to have in one place in this story is going to be an incredible event.
Loved this story, but it felt too short! Already can't wait for next week and to see what happens when Ulamog attacks Sea Gate.
Few thoughts:
1) This story is why I love Jace. He has such creative ways of being able to solve problems with his mind magic. Gideon's sural whipping method gets pretty old after a while, and so seeing Jace use his illusions is always fun. I also thought that Chandra was gonna pop out of nowhere.
2) I also think that Nissa is going to come face-to-face with Ob at some point. Something tells me that her contribution to this battle will be stopping Ob's hidden machinations.
3) ULAMOG! Definitely scary. I don't think it's his gaze that turns things to dust, just his very presence. If he makes it to Sea Gate those guys are screwed.
All in all I think that this was the best UR of the BFZ storyline so far. Where are Ugin, Sorin, Nahiri, and Kiora when you need them?? These guys needs to show up and FAST.
This was amazing. It also makes me want to start speculating on non-Ulamog legendaries.
If Jori En isn't Kiora, like some people are speculating, I think she will get a card along with Vorik.
A well-told story with solid characterization starring Jace, of all people. Many of the Jace-haters didn't think that was possible. go figure.
I like this one. It accentuates some of Jace's heroic qualities (even compares him to Gideon for a half second), and makes clever use of his mind magic powers. it reveals just how big a threat these guys are up against, as well as the fact that some Zendikari are actually embracing the destruction. (I actually created a similarly doomed world for the last MTG Great Designer search, where many of the denizens had seen a eldrazi-level world destroyer and basically resigned themselves to their fate. I like to think of myself as being ahead of my time :))
The Big U's presence certainly ups the ante a bit. I'm assuming we'll be focusing back on Gideon next.
This was amazing. It also makes me want to start speculating on non-Ulamog legendaries.
If Jori En isn't Kiora, like some people are speculating, I think she will get a card along with Vorik.
I could see a cycle of Legendary Allies, would be fun.
Drana and Kalitas both show up in flavor text, I would love to see new cards for them.
I also think Ashaya might get a stand alone card, though they could just do the token thing again.
I'm hoping for the characters in these stories to make it onto cards as well. Will be quite lame if it's all about the Planeswalkers, several of whom aren't even from Zendikar. I want this to be Vorik's art, but he lacks the short gray hair in his description:
I'm hoping for the characters in these stories to make it onto cards as well. Will be quite lame if it's all about the Planeswalkers, several of whom aren't even from Zendikar. I want this to be Vorik's art, but he lacks the short gray hair in his description:
Believe me I know. I don't like when cool Legendaries don't get cards. I understand they can't anticipate who we'll love, but I figure just make them all - or make more of them in supplemental products so we're not waiting too long after a set to get certain characters from it.
I wonder if settlements scatter rather than collect at one location, if Ulamog can be manipulated into taking another direction. I love the description of his presence. Finally he has appeared in the story once again!
I agree I love Jace's use of mind magic and tact to battle. I prefer that to Gideon's battle scenes.
Finally a good story. Gideon's stories were getting too repetitive, and Nissa was just plain boring. Jace is starting to become more and more interesting to me, not sure if it is because I'm somehow blue-aligned and I like the way he thinks or because every story that he is in feels original. If I would have to bet, I would say that it is last option. Even a character that does not wield mind magic such as Gideon can be made interesting if done properly. One good example from the top of my head is Lord Henry Baltimore, the monster hunter created by Mike Mignola. Every story he is in is basically a tale of him slicing and shooting stuff, and yet they feel different and original everytime because of the setting.
We lack a proper setting for Gideon and Nissa, they (the creative team) just don't know what to do with them and keep repeating the same formula of fighting eldrazis again and again, while Jace at least has different missions, tasks, and solve his problems in a variety of ways.
One critic that I have to the story is that I feel that the worshippers of Ulamog were just shoehorned there to show a little bit of Jace's capabilities as a mind mage and illusionist. It would have been a lot better if they took this UR to develop a little bit the relationship between Jace, Jori En and the worshippers (without we knowing that they are worshippers) and in the next UR get the big reveal, maybe with a little more development as in the way Jace fought them. I think it was just too rushed, which is funny, given that they have plenty of time and are developing the plot at glacial speed. I liked to see Ulamog though, even for a short time.
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Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
I think its a matter of familiarity. He has spent more time at the Sea Gate Refuge than he did at the Eye of Ugin.
If he had spent a few days at the Eye then he could supposedly do it, but if I recall correctly he was there for maybe 30 minutes.
He says he can only planeswalk to Sea Gate because of how familiar he is with it. Did he spend very long at the Eye?
The reason he didn't do it in the story was because of not wanting to leave Jori En behind. But, now that he doesn't have to worry about that he either will A. Go ahead and Planeswalk there now, or B. Not actually know where exactly the Eye of Ugin is to Planeswalk there. He knows how to get to Sea Gate since he's presumably been there a couple of times before, so I wouldn't be surprised if he actually can't get to the Eye of Ugin through Planeswalking since he's only been there once.
I'm okay with Jace being pragmatic and resorting to having to modify minds - clearly being this close to Ulamog did a number on him. He now recognizes, no, now experienced the magnitude of the problem.
I think Jace will run into Ugin when he reaches the Eye. Jace still wasn't familiar enough (been there once only) to planeswalk there directly, but I'm sure the Spirit Dragon himself just planeswalked right into there.
Also, Plot!
I'm curious as to what they'll find in the Eye.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
Also wonder where Nissa's gone.
RRRAshling, the PilgrimRRR
UUUThadda Adel, AcquisitorUUU
The Vorthos community will await the consequences of the Eldrazi Titans' deaths/sealing. We will keep the watch.
“The wind whispers, ‘come home,’ but I cannot.”
— Teferi
As for the Nissa speculation, I wonder if her connection being broken was all about luring her somehow. Like Ob knows what's happening with her, and is trying to get her to search for him so he can rip her spark out or some such plot device.
I can't wait for what will happen when Ulamog attacks the camp, will Jori En be able to warn them in time? Will they have enough time to escape the floating rock? Also, Jace making illusion fire is quite great, its a very Jace way of escaping a situation.
Foreshadowing, lol. Now that we know about the Gatewatch, it's becoming pretty clear they're building to it.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
Hmmmmm. What is this Gate Watch you speak of and where can I learn more?
Probably a bit of both. Some people are probably upset at the walkers who could leave for abandoning them when they need every fighter they can get and others are probably greatful for the ones like Nissa and Gideon being their to help fight. I can't imagine what's going to happen when they get the comparatively massive number that are going to show up. I mean, Planeswalkers are absurdly rare. Having as many as we're going to have in one place in this story is going to be an incredible event.
Few thoughts:
1) This story is why I love Jace. He has such creative ways of being able to solve problems with his mind magic. Gideon's sural whipping method gets pretty old after a while, and so seeing Jace use his illusions is always fun. I also thought that Chandra was gonna pop out of nowhere.
2) I also think that Nissa is going to come face-to-face with Ob at some point. Something tells me that her contribution to this battle will be stopping Ob's hidden machinations.
3) ULAMOG! Definitely scary. I don't think it's his gaze that turns things to dust, just his very presence. If he makes it to Sea Gate those guys are screwed.
All in all I think that this was the best UR of the BFZ storyline so far. Where are Ugin, Sorin, Nahiri, and Kiora when you need them?? These guys needs to show up and FAST.
If Jori En isn't Kiora, like some people are speculating, I think she will get a card along with Vorik.
I like this one. It accentuates some of Jace's heroic qualities (even compares him to Gideon for a half second), and makes clever use of his mind magic powers. it reveals just how big a threat these guys are up against, as well as the fact that some Zendikari are actually embracing the destruction. (I actually created a similarly doomed world for the last MTG Great Designer search, where many of the denizens had seen a eldrazi-level world destroyer and basically resigned themselves to their fate. I like to think of myself as being ahead of my time :))
The Big U's presence certainly ups the ante a bit. I'm assuming we'll be focusing back on Gideon next.
Click the pic for more info.
I could see a cycle of Legendary Allies, would be fun.
Drana and Kalitas both show up in flavor text, I would love to see new cards for them.
I also think Ashaya might get a stand alone card, though they could just do the token thing again.
Oath of the Gatewatch, the second set from this block. http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/the-rumor-mill/628399-sweat-name-confirmed-oath-of-the-gatewatch
I'm hoping for the characters in these stories to make it onto cards as well. Will be quite lame if it's all about the Planeswalkers, several of whom aren't even from Zendikar. I want this to be Vorik's art, but he lacks the short gray hair in his description:
Believe me I know. I don't like when cool Legendaries don't get cards. I understand they can't anticipate who we'll love, but I figure just make them all - or make more of them in supplemental products so we're not waiting too long after a set to get certain characters from it.
I wonder if settlements scatter rather than collect at one location, if Ulamog can be manipulated into taking another direction. I love the description of his presence. Finally he has appeared in the story once again!
I agree I love Jace's use of mind magic and tact to battle. I prefer that to Gideon's battle scenes.
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
We lack a proper setting for Gideon and Nissa, they (the creative team) just don't know what to do with them and keep repeating the same formula of fighting eldrazis again and again, while Jace at least has different missions, tasks, and solve his problems in a variety of ways.
One critic that I have to the story is that I feel that the worshippers of Ulamog were just shoehorned there to show a little bit of Jace's capabilities as a mind mage and illusionist. It would have been a lot better if they took this UR to develop a little bit the relationship between Jace, Jori En and the worshippers (without we knowing that they are worshippers) and in the next UR get the big reveal, maybe with a little more development as in the way Jace fought them. I think it was just too rushed, which is funny, given that they have plenty of time and are developing the plot at glacial speed. I liked to see Ulamog though, even for a short time.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).