It wouldn't be all that new after. Right now we have similar setup in Kamigawa - kami fight mortals but both sides have creatures and spells of each of five colors. Even in Invasion block all colors fought Phyrexians.
The theme is always the same if you look at it from appropriate distance. It's just that while non-black colors can always be good or evil, black has little space to be anything but murderous, treacherous, self-serving, not-caring, sadistic and whatnot :evil:. But maybe when you're not all of it at the same time...
Ravnica looks interesting enough so far like any other new block or expansion. I say, just more of weird mechanics and more of that beautiful art which keeps to scale new heights anyway.
My reasoning:
1)It seems to be an artifact on display in a museum type exhibit- could be either sentinel, Jade Idol or the Scythe.
2)The focus appears to be on the scythe- although this is probably a matter of cropping but it seem like the focus is more drawn to the scythe, with its intracacies and although fairly imposing, fairly bland creature carrying it.
3) The shape of the scythe is reminiscent of that on the original scythe, although thise may be due to a lack of room for creativity with scythes.
Stephen
It's possible that it could be purging scythe, I suppose. The image however doesn't focus on the scythe. It focuses mostly on the creature. Why do I say this? Because: 1) the creature is in the center of the frame 2) The creature is the one lit by the light from the ceiling, not the scythe. If the focus was the scythe, they'd put more light on it.
The main thing that's confusing me is the tilt. I see no reson for the tilt at all...
And the Scythe isn't really "purging" anything...the original picture for Purging Scythe (card tags are our friends) shows a really scary scythe, with its wielder almost looking afraid of it. In this one, the wielder is way too confident, and the picture, like it was said, focuses too much on him.
But, if it was going to be a scythe...Is Scythe of the Wretched too complicated for a core set?
I think people are confusing the issue by thinking that creatures are a certain colour, and that dictates their intentions and actions. No... creatures have intentions and actions, and that makes them a certain colour.
For example, someone fights for honour, protection of their local town, and they believe in justice and equality. They are represented in Magic as a white creature (probably soldier or knight).
Some people seem to think that a creature (or person in Magic) is born into a certain colour, or they wear a certain colour of clothing, and that determines their actions and motives. That's like saying a person is born green, which makes them start collecting mana from trees, plants, and nature, or become really big and lumbering and start crashing through the forest protecting the woods from blue or black coloured invaders.
White is white because it's good, and black is black because it's evil. White can't be evil, otherwise it wouldn't be white. Ertai wasn't black until he became twisted and warped, for example.
You're right up until the last paragraph. Nobody is disputing anything except "White = Good, Black = Evil". It has been debated to no end whether black can be good or not. Fortunately, the arguement for an evil white is much much easier to make. White is the colour of order and therefore (in an appropriately extreme environment) oppression. White has strict rules and regulations that can range from "Do not kill" to "Do not wear odd socks on Tuesday" and still be treated with the same respect. This is a good society?
The Church of Tal in The Dark was white, and it rounded up wizards because it believed them to be evil. The Order in Odyssey went around destroying stuff in the name of their new civilisation. Konda kidnapped a Kami (hey, an alliteration) to ensure order within his kingdom. I don't know about you, but these don't seem to me to be terribly good things to do, and they were all done by White characters. And characters who remained white afterwards, mind.
Wizards has said repeatedly that White is not the colour of Good, and Black is not the colour of Evil. Why do people insist upon ignoring this?
Pic #1: In Heretic , the second Kamigawa book, didn't O-Kagachi smash a bunch of Samurai, Moths, Horses, et cetera together with the end result being hideous new spirit things? Maybe that's what it is, though it is very oni Looking. With all those limbs and weapons maybe it has double-strike. The energy objects look like human hearts to me.
Pic #2: Jade Statue, Sentinel, Animate Artifact...Whatever it is it looks cool.
Yawgmoth Demon will probably be dipicted with flying now so I do not think it's that any more, but I do hope for new art because I hate ol' spaghetti strands from AQ.
Pic #3: I think it looks more like an enchantment than a creature, but the focus does seem to be mainly on the lead flyer so I'm probably wrong.
I usually am when it comes to speculating.
I think all of the art looks great.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Attack one beating chicken of 4 cards, then erase 3 minus from your battleax. Never in your main phase will you do a 4 cards risen, but McDonald of 2 to the punish-bin. Again, beat softly to the end.
However, Jade Statue isn't such a bad little card. A friend of mine plays a ridiculous deck that uses Jade Statues, Maze of Iths, and other "classic" cards... it's fun as hell to play against (even though it wins quite a bit).
I would be pretty impressed if Jade Statue finally made it's way back in.
And as for White being the bad guy...
As Rosewater has explained in the past, white can have "black-like" attributes. White can stand for oppressive politics and wanting to "control things for the good of the order"...
Albeit "unintentional," white definitely can take on black characteristics. It would be cool to see white represented as the oppressors in the next block.
Just 2 cents.
Quote from rancored_elf »
SOK - Probably another legendary demon spirit. Really bored of this block (I have been since Champions was announced.) I don't like the art... yuck.
9th - Jade Statue was an uncommon in Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited (the 3 sets is was printed in). It wasn't ever on the reserved list, so is therefore reprintable. I think this artwork looks like it could be a jade statue, so that's a reasonable guess. The weapon, armour, and the creature itself make me think of a black creature, though. Serpent Warrior type thing. If it IS Jade Statue, it will be reprinted as a rare, just like Clone, Ernham, Ruhk Egg, and all the other reprints which didn't see play in a single deck, ever.
RAV - Please oh please let Magic be good again, when Ravnica comes out!?! Please let them put at least 30 playable cards in the set, and please let's never speak of soulshift or arcane as long as we live. This artwork looks good, fairly fantasy-like, and also a bit political... as the whole "city-guild" thing seems to be pointing us. I hope it's interesting, with a strong set of cards to build decks from.
As for white "being the bad colour", no. If white was evil, it would be black. What makes a creature white? The colour of its armour? The fact that it's currently standing on a plains? No, by its intentions, desires, and actions. If a creature is evil, malicious, hateful, and spiteful, it's black. Even if it has a blue sheild or red boots. The suggestion that white could be the evil colour is as silly as saying that maybe blue will be the random, hasty, unpredictable colour. No.
The theme is always the same if you look at it from appropriate distance. It's just that while non-black colors can always be good or evil, black has little space to be anything but murderous, treacherous, self-serving, not-caring, sadistic and whatnot :evil:. But maybe when you're not all of it at the same time...
Ravnica looks interesting enough so far like any other new block or expansion. I say, just more of weird mechanics and more of that beautiful art which keeps to scale new heights anyway.
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It's possible that it could be purging scythe, I suppose. The image however doesn't focus on the scythe. It focuses mostly on the creature. Why do I say this? Because: 1) the creature is in the center of the frame 2) The creature is the one lit by the light from the ceiling, not the scythe. If the focus was the scythe, they'd put more light on it.
The main thing that's confusing me is the tilt. I see no reson for the tilt at all...
But, if it was going to be a scythe...Is Scythe of the Wretched too complicated for a core set?
You're right up until the last paragraph. Nobody is disputing anything except "White = Good, Black = Evil". It has been debated to no end whether black can be good or not. Fortunately, the arguement for an evil white is much much easier to make. White is the colour of order and therefore (in an appropriately extreme environment) oppression. White has strict rules and regulations that can range from "Do not kill" to "Do not wear odd socks on Tuesday" and still be treated with the same respect. This is a good society?
The Church of Tal in The Dark was white, and it rounded up wizards because it believed them to be evil. The Order in Odyssey went around destroying stuff in the name of their new civilisation. Konda kidnapped a Kami (hey, an alliteration) to ensure order within his kingdom. I don't know about you, but these don't seem to me to be terribly good things to do, and they were all done by White characters. And characters who remained white afterwards, mind.
Wizards has said repeatedly that White is not the colour of Good, and Black is not the colour of Evil. Why do people insist upon ignoring this?
Instant
Target spell or permanent's tone becomes playful.
Pic #2: Jade Statue, Sentinel, Animate Artifact...Whatever it is it looks cool.
Yawgmoth Demon will probably be dipicted with flying now so I do not think it's that any more, but I do hope for new art because I hate ol' spaghetti strands from AQ.
Pic #3: I think it looks more like an enchantment than a creature, but the focus does seem to be mainly on the lead flyer so I'm probably wrong.
I usually am when it comes to speculating.
I think all of the art looks great.
However, Jade Statue isn't such a bad little card. A friend of mine plays a ridiculous deck that uses Jade Statues, Maze of Iths, and other "classic" cards... it's fun as hell to play against (even though it wins quite a bit).
I would be pretty impressed if Jade Statue finally made it's way back in.
And as for White being the bad guy...
As Rosewater has explained in the past, white can have "black-like" attributes. White can stand for oppressive politics and wanting to "control things for the good of the order"...
Albeit "unintentional," white definitely can take on black characteristics. It would be cool to see white represented as the oppressors in the next block.
Just 2 cents.
Asparaguy0
Librarian and Control Freak
"A Plague on All Your Houses!" - Thespian's Stage Pox