Today's story definetly did not live up to the hype, maybe Liliana is just boring idk, her brother being the lich was supposed to be some amazing surprise but was like "meh", or maybe i'm just that annoying who knows.
Also i thought it was really cool how Liliana described Nissa leaving in a "rage" state and Chandra wnet out to "find herself" it seems to me like everyone is changing exepct Liliana, even Gideon now understands that he's being used by Liliana so he is using her as well.
First, it's a good choice to start with the short scene with the non-Gatewatch characters pursuing their own objectives, before going to the Gatewatch story. Setting things up for when the two groups of characters eventually join together. That whole scene of raising the Weatherlight established so much Dominarian connectivity so efficiently, without sacrificing readability or characterization. That's what a good writer can do.
Second, nice clean character-driven motivations for getting Chandra and Nissa out of the story and leaving Gideon and Liliana together. Of all the story elements that we'd been told before, the Gideon-Liliana team-up was the one that I was most dubious about, but they've established their motivations quite believably. Both are positioned to develop naturally through this story, Gideon learning more humility and forebearance, Liliana (hopefully) learning to better appreciate people beyond what she can use them for. Liliana she also might expand her self-definition beyond just an appetite for power and freedom, coming to more fully see how her origin and past shape her identity.
I love the Cabal as classic Black villains, with their intensity of personal devotion to Belzenlok, obsession with death, and world-conquering ambitions. Reminds me a bit of old Phyrexia in miniature, which is a good call-back. And it sets up an interesting Black vs. Black conflict between Liliana and the Cabal, showing two sides of one of the most typically under-nuanced colors.
More generally, I absolutely love that Dominaria is being defined as the plane of Big History, and that this story is about a conflict over history. Notice that a huge part of Belzenlok's ideology is a deliberate attack on history: replacing the truth about historical reality with self-aggrandizing lies. It's very 1984/Stalinesque. The heroes are going to defeat him by leveraging their collective knowledge of history, as Jhoira is doing physically by salvaging the Weatherlight and as Liliana is going to do psychologically by coming to terms with her own heritage.
I know it's early, but I'm already beginning to believe that this is exactly the Magic story that I've been wanting for a decade.
The story was fine. The landscapes were described nicely (ala Amonkhetan in similarity) and it's not supposed to be a shock that the lich is Liliana's brother. This story-writing is very direct and the Gatewatch "losing" two members gives way to Teferi, Karn and Jaya to step back into the light. I have only started playing Magic during Innistrad Block and know nothing about Dominaria, so I thought this was one of the best stories I've read in years.
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"The essence of every world, every spell and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
I feel like Gideon losing his surral and Blackblade being mentioned as slaying an elder dragon is setting up for Gideon to become the wielder of Blackblade after they kill Belzenlok. Blackblade apparently harms the user even through gloves / gauntlets, but that’s something Gideon can probably mitigate.
I feel like Gideon losing his surral and Blackblade being mentioned as slaying an elder dragon is setting up for Gideon to become the wielded of Blackblade after they kill Belzenlok. Blackblade apparently harms the user even through gloves / gauntlets, but that’s something Gideon can probably mitigate.
B/W Gideon in the next Dominaria set, confirmed. The Cabal will worship him as the wielder of the Blackblade.
Gideon of the Blackblade
2BW
Blah blah blah.
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"The essence of every world, every spell and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nissa pulls a Jon Snow and ends her watch as a gatewatch member which is why she isn't in the story this time. I'm guessing her leaving is the first story spotlight card, since it shows her breaking her oath.
Makes perfect sense. In the same time, they state that Chandra will be aiming to bring her back.
Makes me wonder if we will get a set or two before Ravnica 3 to get Nissa back, unless they are leaving her out until after the current Bolas arc.
I think I'm going to wait a few stories in before I decide if I like the writing, I normally try to get a few chapters in before I decide how I feel about an author. So far though I'm enjoying. Out of the origins 5 I liked Liliana the best (Chandra and Jace have grown on me) due to her (imo) more compelling back story, with what she did her brother, making a deal with the demons and the raven man and I'm really interested to see how her storyline of this will end.
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“There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen by God. You were chosen by a pathetic little man who can't seem to grow a full mustache"
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
While the rapid introductions were quite jarring, I am much happy to read Martha's spin on telling the story. It reads much better and imho the descriptions of scenes and character emotions were handled better.
Nissa felt slightly out of character for me. Survival is a STRONG green trait. Granted community is too, but tucking tail and running shouldn't be that foreign to a green aligned character. I feel like 2-3 more lines of dialogue would have made for a smoother transition to her leaving.
I get Chandra leaving, I don't get it being so abrupt. Interestingly Chandra and Nissa seem like they are mostly emerged unscathed. The two men took the most brutal beating of the bunch by far. A line or two about nissa having lacerations on her arms from the vines or maybe even some heavy breathing from Chandra or something to clue us into a physically taxing event would have been nice. This felt like their arrival to kaladesh or Amonkhet honestly.
Gideon losing his sural is welcome. Cheers to the blackblade call out above, as I would love to see him pick up the mantle.
All in all I did really like it, and it was a satisfying read. My only concern is that the story is tackling a hefty load of plot development for a bloated cast... and the amount of stories has me worried the whole experience is going to feel rushed and at times disjointed. granted the stories may be of varying length, so I'll withhold final judgment on that for now.
Over the next year, we have similarly world-class authors lined up. The first will bring you a never-before-heard story of the Multiverse's foundational past, followed soon after by a truly epic tale spun out in a longer series of episodes.
I wonder if the sets after the Core Set 2019 will match this pre-historic timeline.
I enjoyed reading that a great deal. Jaceka was good, but overall, this is a whole other level compared to the Ixalan story. This feels like a paperback fantasy that I would happily take out of the library and waste a weekend reading.
Neither was I. And I think they were not meant to be. On the other hand...Phyrexians employed REALLY big ships...
Hm ... researching ... according to the wiki the Weatherlight is supposed to be about 100 meters long. If we guess that the ship is at least a few ship lenghts away from the portals on Distorting Wake, the size in the trailer does even seem to be consistent with that past depiction.
First of all, a MAP! I'd make a playmat out of it.
And I like the new writing style. The end about Josu was a little rushed, but Liliana's part was done right, where she returned to her familiar ground with sorrow she hated to admit, and you could feel the longing of her heart for the better past which she tried to deny. This is perhaps our rare chance where black vs black bring out the better side of Liliana, so she could grow beyond merely power/freedom hungry. The description of the town was perfect for Liliana's reminiscence.
I'm sure Chandra is going back to study with Jaya... I mean, Mother Luti.
I think Nissa's depiction here is correct. She has always been very pure with her emotions, and her ties to Amonkhet clearly made her even more upset that she couldn't defeat Bolas... especially when her supposed comrade ran from the battle. She is also part of the nurturing side of green where she would prefer having one repaired world than several safe but broken ones.
Gideon's intent to stay with Liliana might've something to do with Jace not being there and Gideon has always been a little needy for compatriots. I dig the theory where he would pick up the black blade as a weapon against Bolas, good for character growth, like Gutz in Berserk with his dark armor.
Cabal, like all politicians, sought to modify history for themselves, and I appreciate how the entire set will be history-focused; reborn of Weatherlight and crew, returning home, and villain trying to erase history.
Madara is NOT a part of Jamuraa, but an island west of it. (This is a friggin' RETCON)
It could still be considered an island off the coast of Jamuraa. The location didn't really matter, and there's only one directional reference for it in a single anthology story.
Madara is NOT a part of Jamuraa, but an island west of it. (This is a friggin' RETCON)
It could still be considered an island off the coast of Jamuraa. The location didn't really matter, and there's only one directional reference for it in a single anthology story.
Where can I find what Ethan Fleischer said?
Anyway, upon looking at the spoilers - from Vorthosian point of view, Urza's Ruinous Blast pic is messed up.
The Sylex Blast was what caused Urza's spark to ignite. He was an old man, well to his sixties, and looked like this: Retaliation. But here he is depicted in the very appearance he preferred 4500 years after, during the Invasion, complete with the white hair, goatee, big yellow clasp and violet cloak. But yet, there is the Golgothian Sylex hovering left, and the original, three-pronged staff from Saga period on the right, not the latter, simpler one. So it is weird and wrong mix of two different time periods...
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100% Vorthos Spike and Storyline Expert
Former Fact Prospector of the Greek Alliance.
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
Madara is NOT a part of Jamuraa, but an island west of it. (This is a friggin' RETCON)
It could still be considered an island off the coast of Jamuraa. The location didn't really matter, and there's only one directional reference for it in a single anthology story.
Where can I find what Ethan Fleischer said?
Anyway, upon looking at the spoilers - from Vorthosian point of view, Urza's Ruinous Blast pic is messed up.
The Sylex Blast was what caused Urza's spark to ignite. He was an old man, well to his sixties, and looked like this: Retaliation. But here he is depicted in the very appearance he preferred 4500 years after, during the Invasion, complete with the white hair, goatee, big yellow clasp and violet cloak. But yet, there is the Golgothian Sylex hovering left, and the original, three-pronged staff from Saga period on the right, not the latter, simpler one. So it is weird and wrong mix of two different time periods...
You should bring that up to Maro honestly.
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"The essence of every world, every spell and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
I liked the story quite a bit. I figured Josu would show up in the story again, since this is Liliana's chance for major character development, but I didn't expect him to be under Belzenlok's thrall. Clearly Belzenlok is going to use him as leverage to keep Liliana from killing him.
Nissa breaking her Oath is unsurprising to me, given everything (and it's also unsurprising that she'd retreat to Zendikar), but I wonder what will happen with Chandra. Maybe she went to Regatha, and maybe that's where they'll finally confirm/deny if Mother Luti really is Jaya, since the latter will show up in the story.
Today's story definetly did not live up to the hype, maybe Liliana is just boring idk, her brother being the lich was supposed to be some amazing surprise but was like "meh", or maybe i'm just that annoying who knows.
I'll be honest in saying that I didn't expect you to love this story, regardless of whatever it was.
Also i thought it was really cool how Liliana described Nissa leaving in a "rage" state and Chandra wnet out to "find herself" it seems to me like everyone is changing exepct Liliana, even Gideon now understands that he's being used by Liliana so he is using her as well.
Art student, EDH lover and a strong believer that Delver has the best design in all of MTG.
First, it's a good choice to start with the short scene with the non-Gatewatch characters pursuing their own objectives, before going to the Gatewatch story. Setting things up for when the two groups of characters eventually join together. That whole scene of raising the Weatherlight established so much Dominarian connectivity so efficiently, without sacrificing readability or characterization. That's what a good writer can do.
Second, nice clean character-driven motivations for getting Chandra and Nissa out of the story and leaving Gideon and Liliana together. Of all the story elements that we'd been told before, the Gideon-Liliana team-up was the one that I was most dubious about, but they've established their motivations quite believably. Both are positioned to develop naturally through this story, Gideon learning more humility and forebearance, Liliana (hopefully) learning to better appreciate people beyond what she can use them for. Liliana she also might expand her self-definition beyond just an appetite for power and freedom, coming to more fully see how her origin and past shape her identity.
I love the Cabal as classic Black villains, with their intensity of personal devotion to Belzenlok, obsession with death, and world-conquering ambitions. Reminds me a bit of old Phyrexia in miniature, which is a good call-back. And it sets up an interesting Black vs. Black conflict between Liliana and the Cabal, showing two sides of one of the most typically under-nuanced colors.
More generally, I absolutely love that Dominaria is being defined as the plane of Big History, and that this story is about a conflict over history. Notice that a huge part of Belzenlok's ideology is a deliberate attack on history: replacing the truth about historical reality with self-aggrandizing lies. It's very 1984/Stalinesque. The heroes are going to defeat him by leveraging their collective knowledge of history, as Jhoira is doing physically by salvaging the Weatherlight and as Liliana is going to do psychologically by coming to terms with her own heritage.
I know it's early, but I'm already beginning to believe that this is exactly the Magic story that I've been wanting for a decade.
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
B/W Gideon in the next Dominaria set, confirmed. The Cabal will worship him as the wielder of the Blackblade.
Gideon of the Blackblade
2BW
Blah blah blah.
Affinity
UW Control
Commander
Sidisi, Undead Vizier
Purphoros, God of the Forge
Dragonlord Ojutai
Gishath, Sun's Avatar
The Ur-Dragon
I'm curious to see how they handle Liliana's needed emotional growth.
Modern: Storm
Legacy: ANT
Makes me wonder if we will get a set or two before Ravnica 3 to get Nissa back, unless they are leaving her out until after the current Bolas arc.
I think I'm going to wait a few stories in before I decide if I like the writing, I normally try to get a few chapters in before I decide how I feel about an author. So far though I'm enjoying. Out of the origins 5 I liked Liliana the best (Chandra and Jace have grown on me) due to her (imo) more compelling back story, with what she did her brother, making a deal with the demons and the raven man and I'm really interested to see how her storyline of this will end.
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
Nissa felt slightly out of character for me. Survival is a STRONG green trait. Granted community is too, but tucking tail and running shouldn't be that foreign to a green aligned character. I feel like 2-3 more lines of dialogue would have made for a smoother transition to her leaving.
I get Chandra leaving, I don't get it being so abrupt. Interestingly Chandra and Nissa seem like they are mostly emerged unscathed. The two men took the most brutal beating of the bunch by far. A line or two about nissa having lacerations on her arms from the vines or maybe even some heavy breathing from Chandra or something to clue us into a physically taxing event would have been nice. This felt like their arrival to kaladesh or Amonkhet honestly.
Gideon losing his sural is welcome. Cheers to the blackblade call out above, as I would love to see him pick up the mantle.
All in all I did really like it, and it was a satisfying read. My only concern is that the story is tackling a hefty load of plot development for a bloated cast... and the amount of stories has me worried the whole experience is going to feel rushed and at times disjointed. granted the stories may be of varying length, so I'll withhold final judgment on that for now.
I wonder if the sets after the Core Set 2019 will match this pre-historic timeline.
Commander: WUBRG Superfriends, GW Rhys Tokens, WUBRG Scion of the Ur-Dragon
Kitchen Table (now that's real Magic): WUBRG Domain, GU Biovisionary, UB Korlash Grandeur, UW Merfolk Mill
Damn, my mental image of Otaria was wrong. I have to check with the wiki to see where my errors were coming from.
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
Factions: Sleeping
Remnants: Valheim
Legendary Journey: Heroes & Planeswalkers
Saga: Shards of Rabiah
Legends: The Elder Dragons
Read up on Red Flags & NWO
Neither was I. And I think they were not meant to be. On the other hand...Phyrexians employed REALLY big ships...
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
And I like the new writing style. The end about Josu was a little rushed, but Liliana's part was done right, where she returned to her familiar ground with sorrow she hated to admit, and you could feel the longing of her heart for the better past which she tried to deny. This is perhaps our rare chance where black vs black bring out the better side of Liliana, so she could grow beyond merely power/freedom hungry. The description of the town was perfect for Liliana's reminiscence.
I'm sure Chandra is going back to study with Jaya... I mean, Mother Luti.
I think Nissa's depiction here is correct. She has always been very pure with her emotions, and her ties to Amonkhet clearly made her even more upset that she couldn't defeat Bolas... especially when her supposed comrade ran from the battle. She is also part of the nurturing side of green where she would prefer having one repaired world than several safe but broken ones.
Gideon's intent to stay with Liliana might've something to do with Jace not being there and Gideon has always been a little needy for compatriots. I dig the theory where he would pick up the black blade as a weapon against Bolas, good for character growth, like Gutz in Berserk with his dark armor.
Cabal, like all politicians, sought to modify history for themselves, and I appreciate how the entire set will be history-focused; reborn of Weatherlight and crew, returning home, and villain trying to erase history.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
It could still be considered an island off the coast of Jamuraa. The location didn't really matter, and there's only one directional reference for it in a single anthology story.
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
Where can I find what Ethan Fleischer said?
Anyway, upon looking at the spoilers - from Vorthosian point of view, Urza's Ruinous Blast pic is messed up.
The Sylex Blast was what caused Urza's spark to ignite. He was an old man, well to his sixties, and looked like this: Retaliation. But here he is depicted in the very appearance he preferred 4500 years after, during the Invasion, complete with the white hair, goatee, big yellow clasp and violet cloak. But yet, there is the Golgothian Sylex hovering left, and the original, three-pronged staff from Saga period on the right, not the latter, simpler one. So it is weird and wrong mix of two different time periods...
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
You should bring that up to Maro honestly.
Nissa breaking her Oath is unsurprising to me, given everything (and it's also unsurprising that she'd retreat to Zendikar), but I wonder what will happen with Chandra. Maybe she went to Regatha, and maybe that's where they'll finally confirm/deny if Mother Luti really is Jaya, since the latter will show up in the story.
I'll be honest in saying that I didn't expect you to love this story, regardless of whatever it was.
Okay, some geography guru can help me with some lands? From where come Ru-Nora, Sardnia, Denawa, Walassa and Umber?