You know, I find it very ironic that (around 15 years ago, time flies...) they created all the Mending story just to have a lore coherent way of printing Planeswalker as "lesser" beings, and we are now at the point where they have put on a card the most powerful of the old walkers without any lore justification...
You know, I find it very ironic that (around 15 years ago, time flies...) they created all the Mending story just to have a lore coherent way of printing Planeswalker as "lesser" beings, and we are now at the point where they have put on a card the most powerful of the old walkers without any lore justification...
Eh, what?
The Urza card is an absolute flavor win, the use of meld to really join his mortal form AND the stones like in the story is probably the best representation we could wish for, the card is strong as you would expect from Urza, and, last but not least, we already got a ****load of oldwalkers in the previous products (Freyalise, Windgrace, Szat, Serra), including Jeska last year, who was, hands down, by her unique nature the second most powerful non-elder dragon walker ever, second only to Urza...all being said that they represent a facet of the oldwalker's power.
So what is the problem and irony now? Where is the "without any lore justification" - when being included in the best possible set and best possible card representation?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
100% Vorthos Spike and Storyline Expert
Former Fact Prospector of the Greek Alliance.
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
I mean, I kind of get their thought process: the Mending was ultimately pointless given how planeswaker cards are just a facet of their power. Everything else is dead wrong though.
You know, I find it very ironic that (around 15 years ago, time flies...) they created all the Mending story just to have a lore coherent way of printing Planeswalker as "lesser" beings, and we are now at the point where they have put on a card the most powerful of the old walkers without any lore justification...
Eh, what?
The Urza card is an absolute flavor win, the use of meld to really join his mortal form AND the stones like in the story is probably the best representation we could wish for, the card is strong as you would expect from Urza, and, last but not least, we already got a ****load of oldwalkers in the previous products (Freyalise, Windgrace, Szat, Serra), including Jeska last year, who was, hands down, by her unique nature the second most powerful non-elder dragon walker ever, second only to Urza...all being said that they represent a facet of the oldwalker's power.
So what is the problem and irony now? Where is the "without any lore justification" - when being included in the best possible set and best possible card representation?
Nope, the "summoning" process of Urza is correct and very flavorful. What I meant is that the Mending was introduced in the lore as a way to finally be able to print PW cards... a lore justification that has now become not necessary anymore, since - as you said - they started printing oldwalkers cards without problems. The justification that what is on a card is 'just a facet' of their real power doesn't seem very convincing to me, more an 'excuse' to be able to printing oldwalkers cards... Something that, as Mullornis said, makes the Mending now unnecessarily to have PW cards.
Something that, as Mullornis said, makes the Mending now unnecessarily to have PW cards.
Where WotC ever said that the mending happened only because they could print PW cards? I was always under impression that this was just a fan theory. Also, do you realize that even without the planeswalker template, WotC already printed Planeswalkers characters in cards (Jeska, Jaya Ballard, Urza as blinded seer, etc.) without particular concern about power level problems?
It was a stated argument back then, but I don't feel it was ever the primary argument. Just like a "besides, this too" thing.
I mean, it was pretty overtly the reason. Oldwalkers could not be printed due to power level; the Mending was so that planeswalkers could be scaled down and be printed + relatable.
The justification that what is on a card is 'just a facet' of their real power doesn't seem very convincing to me, more an 'excuse' to be able to printing oldwalkers cards... Something that, as Mullornis said, makes the Mending now unnecessarily to have PW cards.
To me it's very very flavorfuly sound and fits in-- The only missing thing is the #WOTCStaff 's official nod.
It's flexible to portray even the old ones, and you can flavorly fit a facet of a walker in just one. Like seriously, for a tenured walker like Urza who likes to study and research, you think one card can fit his whole known ability set?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Serra Stan - Angel Enthusiast - Garruk and Tyvar thirsty follower - Flavor and Art Enthusiast
I mean, it was pretty overtly the reason. Oldwalkers could not be printed due to power level; the Mending was so that planeswalkers could be scaled down and be printed + relatable.
The main reason was always to make planeswalkers more relatable. Brand wanted to use them as the faces of MtG. Plus the whole "You are a planeswalker." spiel. It's a tad difficult to market godlike entities as relatable. Even superheroes these days have flaws in order to make them more relatable to audiences.
The power level concerns were never in the foreground. Although, yes, they were mentioned, but it was always treated as secondary. God-like entities printed as cards did have plenty of precedence, see the Myojin, Karona and the planeswalkers-as-creatures cameos.
Would be nice if they'd properly portray Planeswalker abilities and power levels in the stories, instead of making them out to be overpowered and the constant center of attention, source of all the solutions, and treating legitimate threats and planar overlords as pushovers. Bad writing. The Mending should have introduced shortcomings of these characters to make them relatable, but there's always this cheap desperation to oversell these characters with powerplay.
Legends;
Crucias, Titan of the Waves
Jarsyl, Dark Age Scion
Raddic, Tal Zealot
Richlau, Headmaster
Rusko, Clockmaker
Past Story spotlights;
Tawnos Endures
Penregon Besieged
Kayla's Kindling
Present Story Spotlight;
Piece It Together
Norn's Disassembly
By Elspeth's Command
Assemble the Team
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“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"
Just came here to report it. I logged into Arena after three days, opened an Alchemy pack and enjoyed a genuine suprise after so many years when I opened Jarsyl.
Good to see Rusko as well. I really hoped he'll get a card in the main set.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
100% Vorthos Spike and Storyline Expert
Former Fact Prospector of the Greek Alliance.
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
>>Banner by Spanglegluppet<<
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I asked Ethan Fleschier about the canoninity of Commander card flavor texts (as Iridian Maelstrom got my eyebrows raised...) and I quote his answer:
"Everything in the Commander set represents the current state of Dominaria / the story except for the Legends Retold cards."
I guess that applies to others as well...
Eh, what?
The Urza card is an absolute flavor win, the use of meld to really join his mortal form AND the stones like in the story is probably the best representation we could wish for, the card is strong as you would expect from Urza, and, last but not least, we already got a ****load of oldwalkers in the previous products (Freyalise, Windgrace, Szat, Serra), including Jeska last year, who was, hands down, by her unique nature the second most powerful non-elder dragon walker ever, second only to Urza...all being said that they represent a facet of the oldwalker's power.
So what is the problem and irony now? Where is the "without any lore justification" - when being included in the best possible set and best possible card representation?
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
Nope, the "summoning" process of Urza is correct and very flavorful. What I meant is that the Mending was introduced in the lore as a way to finally be able to print PW cards... a lore justification that has now become not necessary anymore, since - as you said - they started printing oldwalkers cards without problems. The justification that what is on a card is 'just a facet' of their real power doesn't seem very convincing to me, more an 'excuse' to be able to printing oldwalkers cards... Something that, as Mullornis said, makes the Mending now unnecessarily to have PW cards.
It was a stated argument back then, but I don't feel it was ever the primary argument. Just like a "besides, this too" thing.
To me it's very very flavorfuly sound and fits in-- The only missing thing is the #WOTCStaff 's official nod.
It's flexible to portray even the old ones, and you can flavorly fit a facet of a walker in just one. Like seriously, for a tenured walker like Urza who likes to study and research, you think one card can fit his whole known ability set?
The main reason was always to make planeswalkers more relatable. Brand wanted to use them as the faces of MtG. Plus the whole "You are a planeswalker." spiel. It's a tad difficult to market godlike entities as relatable. Even superheroes these days have flaws in order to make them more relatable to audiences.
The power level concerns were never in the foreground. Although, yes, they were mentioned, but it was always treated as secondary. God-like entities printed as cards did have plenty of precedence, see the Myojin, Karona and the planeswalkers-as-creatures cameos.
|| 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 ||
https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/mtg-arena/alchemy-the-brothers-war-card-image-gallery
Legends;
Crucias, Titan of the Waves
Jarsyl, Dark Age Scion
Raddic, Tal Zealot
Richlau, Headmaster
Rusko, Clockmaker
Past Story spotlights;
Tawnos Endures
Penregon Besieged
Kayla's Kindling
Present Story Spotlight;
Piece It Together
Norn's Disassembly
By Elspeth's Command
Assemble the Team
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
Good to see Rusko as well. I really hoped he'll get a card in the main set.
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)