MTG Salvation

"Spaghetti" and "Meatballs" is likely a holdover from when the sets were a block. They're not necessarily connected anymore.

As for the basics I just assumed they were planar portals.

Also: where's the love for Mister Lostspoons? Am I the only one who wants a card for him? Anyone else and the forum would be up in arms demanding a card. Or at least a bit in the story. I hope he finds his spoons.

So, I just got around to reading the most recent story, and my take away from it was, that Liliana's character development is constantly hamstrung by the fact Wizards seems intent that she has to be the mono-black representative of the Gatewatch. Granted, I'm enjoying Gideon's quasi-existential crisis going on. Him realizing that he may not be powerful enough to accomplish his goals is actually really good way to take the character.

Also, I'm going to miss the Dominaria plane-bound characters when we leave. Raff is such a lovable brat.

It is but also they don't seem to dig deep into the Color for Gatewatch members. They just focus on the surface characteristics of each Color. Jace is physically weak, has poor people skills (introvert) and tends to overthink things. Chandra doesn't think at all, loves freedom and is emotionally driven. Nissa is both a Green and Elf stereotype as a nature loving hippie. Gideon is the Boy Scout trope of Captain America or Superman turned up to Eleven. Always fight fair, Always do the right thing...or in DnD Parlance. Lawful Stupid Paladin. So its not Lili exclusive.

I think the biggest issue is Lili really does not have a motivation to join a group that is main goal is protecting other Planes or stopping Bolas. Bolas did Lili a favor after all in giving her immortality and yeah he is about to screw her on that deal but prior to this screwing she has no motivation to be Anti-Bolas. And as for Protecting other Planes sure that could happen if the threat is big enough ie look at Sorin or Bolas. Sorin helps take care of the Eldrazi cause they are threat to his Plane. Bolas lets Teferi and Friends go and stuffs Lesherac in a rift cause protecting the Multiverse is good for him. Ergo Lili lacks a motivation to care and help at all outside of stopping Emrakul from destroying Innistrad. You can make a Black Aligned Character who would join a Hero Team but Lili simply lacks a good reason to care about the actual mission statement of the Gatewatch: Protect All Planes and Stop Bolas. Hence why she is just been using them to cross Demons off the list. It also doesn't help her motivations are shallow....Selling your soul for eternal youth is pretty weak. Especially when plenty of characters from Dominaria and Innistrad have found ways to do it without losing their souls. Basically, the finally settled on the simplest reason to get Lili on the Gatewatch, give her a reason to hate Nicol Bolas. Evil is after all not one big happy family.

I do like Gideon's new approach to things. I'm actually beginning to believe we'll see a w/b Gideon in the future at this rate. Of course I'm sure something angelic and "goodly" will set him back on the boyscout's path at some point, unfortunately. I get the feeling we may see Liliana's involvement in the gatewatch come to an end soon. Vraska was certainly getting set up to take her place it felt like.

Gideon will be on the clock...will he strike down Bolas before the Blackblade corrupts him.

Quote from Lumovanis »

I do like Gideon's new approach to things. I'm actually beginning to believe we'll see a w/b Gideon in the future at this rate. Of course I'm sure something angelic and "goodly" will set him back on the boyscout's path at some point, unfortunately. I get the feeling we may see Liliana's involvement in the gatewatch come to an end soon. Vraska was certainly getting set up to take her place it felt like.

Well, I know what I'll be thankful for this Christmas.

Seriously though, as pointed out by AUTUMNTWILIGHT Liliana never clicked with the Gatewatch. She's really too self-motivated to be a member of any group long-term. I'm not really sure how long she'll even be with Bolas for. Actually scratch that, I know exactly how long she's going to be with him. As long as it takes to find a work around for her current contract.

Really you see I don't think Jace's Plan with Vraska is going to smoothly. I think Vraska probably dies for Jace Angst, maybe Lili snaps and kills her. What amazes me actually is Bolas (to our knowledge) never sent anyone to check on Vraska Story? She apparently turned Azor and a bunch of others into Gold Statues seems Bolas could have an Agent walk over to Ixalan and look around to see any evidence of such amazing feats.

Quote from AUTUMNTWILIGHT »

What amazes me actually is Bolas (to our knowledge) never sent anyone to check on Vraska Story? She apparently turned Azor and a bunch of others into Gold Statues seems Bolas could have an Agent walk over to Ixalan and look around to see any evidence of such amazing feats.

He could but why? He isn't paranoid he's arrogant. He is given no reason to believe the memories he read are false. Also it hardly seems like an 'amazing feat', more par for the course.

Quote from AUTUMNTWILIGHT »

Really you see I don't think Jace's Plan with Vraska is going to smoothly. I think Vraska probably dies for Jace Angst, maybe Lili snaps and kills her. What amazes me actually is Bolas (to our knowledge) never sent anyone to check on Vraska Story? She apparently turned Azor and a bunch of others into Gold Statues seems Bolas could have an Agent walk over to Ixalan and look around to see any evidence of such amazing feats.

They pointed out in the memory that Vraska did the gold trick cuz she had a boost from the immortal sun. Also Bolas is arrogant and has no reason at all to think Vraska would betray him.

Quote from 5colors »

Quote from AUTUMNTWILIGHT »

Really you see I don't think Jace's Plan with Vraska is going to smoothly. I think Vraska probably dies for Jace Angst, maybe Lili snaps and kills her. What amazes me actually is Bolas (to our knowledge) never sent anyone to check on Vraska Story? She apparently turned Azor and a bunch of others into Gold Statues seems Bolas could have an Agent walk over to Ixalan and look around to see any evidence of such amazing feats.

They pointed out in the memory that Vraska did the gold trick cuz she had a boost from the immortal sun. Also Bolas is arrogant and has no reason at all to think Vraska would betray him.

Or even beyond whether she would betray him, I doubt he thinks that she could hide it from him if she did betray him. I doubt he would look super close for outside tinkering in her mind after seeing that her thoughts showed what he wanted.

The way Gideon is speaking and thinking is really starting to lean w/b. The art for Gideon Blackblade will probably be pretty baller. Of all the characters who needed a reality check, Gideon was one who really needed to be knocked off his Captain America pedestal. Jace got his moment to change too on Ixalan. The good thing about Gideon in this story is that his behavior change is normal and not too on the nose.

So Tomorrow Teferi Returns...I feel a mix of apprehension and joy.

Quote from AUTUMNTWILIGHT »

So Tomorrow Teferi Returns...I feel a mix of apprehension and joy.

As much as I am excited for more story, hell will have no fury like AUTUMNTWILIGHT's scorn if Teferi is not done right
If worse comes to worst, still another half dozen stories to go afterward

Quote from Kman »

Quote from AUTUMNTWILIGHT »

So Tomorrow Teferi Returns...I feel a mix of apprehension and joy.

As much as I am excited for more story, hell will have no fury like AUTUMNTWILIGHT's scorn if Teferi is not done right
If worse comes to worst, still another half dozen stories to go afterward

Eh problem is I don't really view Belzenlok as major threat and certainly not a threat that requires a team of Teferi, Karn and Jaya plus The Gatewatch and Weatherlight 2.0 to take out.
And we know Bolas is closing this one out with another win. So I cannot really get hyped for an amazing fight to pick up the slack for bad characterization.

It would be cool if the cabal rebuilt some old phyrexian artifacts or war machines or got a hold of some old phyrexian magic or technology. That would probably give enough reason to have all those members fight them. Probably won't happen though

Quote from Dom4419 »

It would be cool if the cabal rebuilt some old phyrexian artifacts or war machines or got a hold of some old phyrexian magic or technology. That would probably give enough reason to have all those members fight them. Probably won't happen though

Well we still don't know what exactly is happening in Yavimaya, where Chandra's chapter is likely to take place. Considering the dormant/reclaimed Phyrexian relicts there, we could see some connection.

Aside from history, what makes the current Weatherlight special? Aside from being a flying airship with history of course. But I mean it's just a means of transportaton now right? It's not dropping powerstone charged nukes from the cargo bay or sporting Ghituling guns or whatever?

I wouldn’t be surprised if we see squee raining down hellfire from a gun on the Weatherlight, but they don’t really need that if they have Jaya and Chandra raining down hellfire. Tiana also might be capable of building bombs.

Never underestimate the importance of Air Power. The Weatherlight is basically a C-130 in a medieval battle. It’s like the Dragons in Game of Thrones.

Now, we know that Bezelnok can fly and he has specters and vampires, but the good guys also have Angels on their side. The wildcard in all this is Darigaz.

New story is up;
https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-story/return-dominaria-episode-six-2018-04-18

-I really like Teferi and Niambi together and dang Niambi is looking good for 50's. Favorite moment though is him having Tiana take Niambi.

-So after losing his spark it seems like Teferi has been slowly aging and is physically in his 50's

-I am loving Liliana finding finding out she isn't the oldest person in the room, first Jhoira and Jodah and now Teferi

-From what I read about Teferi I like that he learned how old walkers used to **** up things massively. Shows how he's gotten more white since he now thinks about the grand scheme/order of things somewhat.

-So Jhoira somehow got Teferi's spark? Hope thats explained.

For a newer player I liked this introduction to Teferi and so far like that he's gonna be a main character now.

That ending. Wat.

I liked seeing Teferi again.

But that ending. Wat.

Am i the only one bothered by the fact that Urza used ghosts? It feels like they added that so the Jacetus Leaque wouldn't be as useless as Ann Frank's drumkit in this story.

Great read though. Teferi and his daughter are a great duo. I hope they explain Teferi's spark in a powerstone soon..

Quote from Volrath »

Am i the only one bothered by the fact that Urza used ghosts? It feels like they added that so the Jacetus Leaque wouldn't be as useless as Ann Frank's drumkit in this story.

I'm still surprised people use Jacetus League, figured that horse had finally died.

Quote from 5colors »

Quote from Volrath »

Am i the only one bothered by the fact that Urza used ghosts? It feels like they added that so the Jacetus Leaque wouldn't be as useless as Ann Frank's drumkit in this story.

I'm still surprised people use Jacetus League, figured that horse had finally died.

It will never go away as long as the MTG story is basicly a saturday morning cartoon.

Spark or not, Teferi looks powerful enough to take on all of the gatewatch together. Messing with time is just too strong.

I liked him, and Niambi, but I didnt like the puzzle. It felt like filler and there are a few issues with the plot.

What is it that Urza made that would allow Teferi to being Zalfir back? A massive powerstone? He cant have made it after Zalfir was phased out. There was no time. He couldnt have made it before because Teferi took him by surprise when he phased Zalfir out. Also the puzzle was designed for Teferi? Again what's in there? And spirits? Are you telling me that someone of Teferi's caliber doesnt have the power/brains to search the place for any summonings that might be lurking but Lily can just see them?

The problem with writing mastermind characters is that the machinations are only up to the caliber of the writer/writing team. A lot of times I feel like this falls flat with bolas, and Urza designing something specifically to thwart teferi rings hollow as well. Hiding something from phyrexia was a much more plausible excuse and offer d plenty of explanation. Also, considering phyrexian focus on the material side of living beings the use of incorporeal beings seems justified here too.

I was hopeful if they wouldn't magic hand wave jhoira acquiring the spark and it looks like they magic handwaved acquiring the spark. Does she also have access to the other sparks used to seal the rifts? She did make a comment in one of the stories about defending dominaria because she can't leave didn't she? (May be misrembering a conversation on these forums instead). Maybe set up for something. Jhoira with Jeska's spark? That would be legit.