I'd play the hell out of a MTG RPG but the MMO aspect really ruins it for me. I'll reserve judgment but I don't have high hopes for it.
My thoughts precisely. The best MMO model is imo Path of Exile, where you get non-town locations for you and your party only and you can basically play the whole thing single if you so choose. And the only paid content is purely cosmetic. Too bad that the chances of this game being anywhere near that are slim at best...
I have little faith in any MMORPG managing to get off the ground thanks to WoW's iron grip on the genre.
But I guess if Warcraft is allowed to try its hand at TCGs with Hearthstone, it's only fair that Magic gets to try making an MMO.
That's so elitist and snobby, there are plenty of fantasy MMO's out there that have survived since WoW debuted and many others that have came along since. They may not be a popular as WoW no, but people do have other options than WOW for their fantasy based MMO needs. Heck is not Final Fantasy ARR getting its second content pack next week, and GW2 is still chugging along at 3+ years.
Granted neither have as large of a fanbase as WoW but seriously what OTHER MMO really does?
Imagine, some of the characters in-game might make it into the card game. If they go with dual storylines they could entice people to play both just to experience all the lore.
I have little faith in any MMORPG managing to get off the ground thanks to WoW's iron grip on the genre.
But I guess if Warcraft is allowed to try its hand at TCGs with Hearthstone, it's only fair that Magic gets to try making an MMO.
That's so elitist and snobby, there are plenty of fantasy MMO's out there that have survived since WoW debuted and many others that have came along since. They may not be a popular as WoW no, but people do have other options than WOW for their fantasy based MMO needs. Heck is not Final Fantasy ARR getting its second content pack next week, and GW2 is still chugging along at 3+ years.
Granted neither have as large of a fanbase as WoW but seriously what OTHER MMO really does?
Elitist? I was being cynical, bud, but thanks anyway for acting like you know me. I don't even play WoW; I'd love for it to die, because maybe then Blizzard would make another RTS Warcraft, but I'm not gonna hold my breath for that dream to come true.
Sure, plenty of MMOs are "still chugging along", but none are quite thriving the way WoW is. Plus, MMOs in general aren't the hot new craze they once were. Any new MMO is going to have an uphill battle to gain a foothold in the market, even an MMO with a big name on it like MtG.
I have little faith in any MMORPG managing to get off the ground thanks to WoW's iron grip on the genre.
But I guess if Warcraft is allowed to try its hand at TCGs with Hearthstone, it's only fair that Magic gets to try making an MMO.
That's so elitist and snobby, there are plenty of fantasy MMO's out there that have survived since WoW debuted and many others that have came along since. They may not be a popular as WoW no, but people do have other options than WOW for their fantasy based MMO needs. Heck is not Final Fantasy ARR getting its second content pack next week, and GW2 is still chugging along at 3+ years.
Granted neither have as large of a fanbase as WoW but seriously what OTHER MMO really does?
Elitist? I was being cynical, bud, but thanks anyway for acting like you know me. I don't even play WoW; I'd love for it to die, because maybe then Blizzard would make another RTS Warcraft, but I'm not gonna hold my breath for that dream to come true.
Sure, plenty of MMOs are "still chugging along", but none are quite thriving the way WoW is. Plus, MMOs in general aren't the hot new craze they once were. Any new MMO is going to have an uphill battle to gain a foothold in the market, even an MMO with a big name on it like MtG.
Well I apologize then. Its just that I've been on forums and their like and have listened to so many Wow fanboys that sound exactly like your first statement, and considering the SIZE of the WoW fanbase its easy to make assumptions.
I have little faith in any MMORPG managing to get off the ground thanks to WoW's iron grip on the genre.
But I guess if Warcraft is allowed to try its hand at TCGs with Hearthstone, it's only fair that Magic gets to try making an MMO.
That's so elitist and snobby, there are plenty of fantasy MMO's out there that have survived since WoW debuted and many others that have came along since. They may not be a popular as WoW no, but people do have other options than WOW for their fantasy based MMO needs. Heck is not Final Fantasy ARR getting its second content pack next week, and GW2 is still chugging along at 3+ years.
Granted neither have as large of a fanbase as WoW but seriously what OTHER MMO really does?
Elitist? I was being cynical, bud, but thanks anyway for acting like you know me. I don't even play WoW; I'd love for it to die, because maybe then Blizzard would make another RTS Warcraft, but I'm not gonna hold my breath for that dream to come true.
Sure, plenty of MMOs are "still chugging along", but none are quite thriving the way WoW is. Plus, MMOs in general aren't the hot new craze they once were. Any new MMO is going to have an uphill battle to gain a foothold in the market, even an MMO with a big name on it like MtG.
Well I apologize then. Its just that I've been on forums and their like and have listened to so many Wow fanboys that sound exactly like your first statement, and considering the SIZE of the WoW fanbase its easy to make assumptions.
Apology accepted. It's understandable how one could make that mistake, and I'm glad we could reach a civil understanding.
I wonder how big of a scale this MMO will have. Any one of the major planes we've visited could support an MMO all on its own, and I can think of at least eight that are major enough (I'm waiting to see Amonkhet's reception).
Ravnica
Innistrad
Zendikar
Dominaria
Kaladesh
Theros
Tarkir
Alara
Perhaps each plane gets its own server or servers, and when you walk from one plane to another you move to a new server? It would almost be like several individual games that you can play using the same avatar, with a consistent set of mechanics much like how the TCG has consistent rules between sets. Of course there could be aesthetic customization, like HUDs and loading screens styled after each plane and maybe even parts of planes.
Mana of course plays a role in casting spells, the idea being that you form mana bonds with the land around you which then automatically fill your mana pool over time. Magic spells are separated into a few basic categories:
Summoning - Creature spells which call beasts, soldiers, and other allies to your side. Summoned creatures each have HP, one to three special abilities, and maybe a few keywords like flying and haste. A particular summon spell can only generate so many creatures at once, and you can only use so many summon spells at a time. Enchantment - Magical effects that apply either to specific targets (Aura) or to your immediate vicinity (Field). This can include buffs and debuffs, healing for you and your allies, and even one-shot triggered effects. Sorcery - Single-shot spells that do their thing, then go poof. Fireballs, lightning bolts, team buffs, reanimation, the like. Artifice - Creates useful artifacts like additional mana sources, magical potions, equipment, and even artifact creatures like golems and gargoyles. Calling - Planeswalkers you've befriended can be called upon to aid you. This works similar to summoning, but instead you summon copies of friendly PWs. Players can create emblems for calling their PW and give them to other players. PW Emblems can normally be outfitted with up to three spells available to you; the called PW's AI uses these three spells much like a creature would their abilities. Calling only works if the PW in question isn't presently on the same map and server as you.
For gameplay balance and player sanity, players can only have up to five spells assigned to hotkeys at a given time. Seeing as there are five colors and five categories of spellcraft, this allows players some flexible mix-and-matching.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
It is a good thing they are branching out, but they picked one of the worst types of games to deal with and they are being a bit non-descript here. What kind of mmo is the first thing coming to mind. The genre is more like a template or multi-player framework over an existing game.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
I don't know how to react to this news. Magic has always been ripe for an RPG adaptation, but it being a F2P MMO instead of a full-price single player game gives me pause. There's also the question of how much the TCG elements of Magic will be incorporated, if at all. The Puzzle Quest spinoff kept some card game elements, but it also threw a lot out of the window.
Creating an MMO is mostly about managing your content creation. No matter what your game mechanics are, your biggest constraint is the space within which characters play, which boils down to art. Deciding how you divvy up that art is going to make or break an RPG where "You are a Planeswalker."
My expectation is that we'll see a large, generic fantasy world as the players home, probably Shandalar, with starting zones that correspond to the five colors of mana. For some number of levels while you learn the game's mechanics, you will *not* be a Planeswalker, but you will be a spellcaster with access to spells/abilities of your starting zone's color. At some point a major game event (probably involving Nicol Bolas) will trigger your Spark, sending you on your first Planeswalk to somewhere that is "known" for your mono-color identity.
Over time you will have opportunities to visit the other 4 color-focused planes, and after having done so you will be able to specialize in a second color. In turn, that will unlock access to end-game content that includes additional planes. You'll be given opportunities to switch your secondary color around sometimes, and eventually even add a third one.
Perhaps veering into speculation but: I think the term "MMORPG" has lost some of the precise meaning it once had. In that i mean, there used to be a clear difference between the MMORPGs (like EQ/WoW) and the ARPGs (like Diablo 2). The boundaries between the two have... muddied over the past 10 years as the traditional "server"/"realm"/"whatever" has become obsolete.
My point being, when I read "New MMORPG" my mind doesn't immediately jump to "WoW clone" like it did in 2011.
My expectation is that we'll see a large, generic fantasy world as the players home, probably Shandalar, with starting zones that correspond to the five colors of mana. For some number of levels while you learn the game's mechanics, you will *not* be a Planeswalker, but you will be a spellcaster with access to spells/abilities of your starting zone's color. At some point a major game event (probably involving Nicol Bolas) will trigger your Spark, sending you on your first Planeswalk to somewhere that is "known" for your mono-color identity.
This is one area where a Magic MMO can really distinguish itself. Do you get to choose your starting plane? How about customizing your race, gender, and physical traits? Clothing and equipment? Is there an event that triggers your spark to cap off some manner of prologue, or do you start out as a PW free to discover the game at your own pace? And yes, which plane do you start at?
In contrast to a lot of MMOs, I don't want players being shoehorned into specific classes here; every player will by definition be a mage, and their choice of spells should be entirely up to them. What I do want is customizable clothing and equipment. Each plane can have its own weapons, armor, accessories, and clothing to offer. Ravnica in particular offers exclusive stores for each guild (like a Boros Armory and an Izzet Lab) as well as neutral stores.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
Hasbro needs to realize, they aren't going to be able to create a franchise with Magic. They need to just focus on the card game and updating MTGO. I'm leaning 90% this will fail.
I'm not interested unless I can beat up this phantom dude and coerce him into making copies of ultra rare Ancestral Recalls and broken Contract from Belows
Well here is the million dollar question: Did they decide to push for an MMO because they think they can do what WoW and Pokemon have done with providing cross game bonuses, not thinking at all about the kind of game it should actually be, or did they genuinely think about the game first? I've got this haunting feeling that it is the first of the two.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
What I'm really hoping for out of this is some solid world building. There's so many planes I want to delve into, and judging by the reception from last week's "Pride of the Kraul" story, I'm not the only one. If wizards plays their cards right, and keeps their expectations realistic, they can have the best of both worlds here. For players of the TCG, they get to visit planes, away from the gatewatch and really explore the settings they've come to know and love. Wizards has repeatedly said that the majority of their player base's playing habits are cyclical. Having something that keeps their established players interested and invested even if the current block isn't for them could prove invaluable. On the flip side, the added accessibility of a F2P MMO will of course introduce droves of players to the worlds of MTG, and presumably move players onto the TCG.
I can't say I've personally played Cryptic's other games, but I have played Star Trek Online. Having never been invested in the setting, I will say that they did get the sense of exploration down quite nicely. If they can retain that feel and do it in a way that's true to magic and without draconian micro-transactions, I think this can be a real winner.
I played City of Heroes\Villains for many many years and it was really the only MMO I ever played, I loved that game. I have high hopes, possibly unfounded and strictly based off nostalgia, but high hopes nonetheless. It's been almost a decade since I was into MMOs and maybe this will give a reason to go back. I'll remain cautiously optimistic. Being able to travel to fully imagined planes as expansions would be really cool.
Modern: UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy: UWBMiracles
Edh: UUUThassa Control WWWHokori Stax GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy BBBGriselbrand French List RBGShattergang(Super Villians) RWGHazezon Flicker UBRMarchesa Aggro URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
I think a lot of people would have been a lot happier if they had announced an up to date MTGO replacement that let everyone keep their collections and had a mobile app instead...
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"Pop in, find a dragon, roast a dragon."
-Chandra Nalaar
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Hopefully, Hasbro lets Wizards keep the money and use it to fund Next to great success.
My thoughts precisely. The best MMO model is imo Path of Exile, where you get non-town locations for you and your party only and you can basically play the whole thing single if you so choose. And the only paid content is purely cosmetic. Too bad that the chances of this game being anywhere near that are slim at best...
I once how hard it will be for players to defeat the eldrazis in the MMO universe,
That's so elitist and snobby, there are plenty of fantasy MMO's out there that have survived since WoW debuted and many others that have came along since. They may not be a popular as WoW no, but people do have other options than WOW for their fantasy based MMO needs. Heck is not Final Fantasy ARR getting its second content pack next week, and GW2 is still chugging along at 3+ years.
Granted neither have as large of a fanbase as WoW but seriously what OTHER MMO really does?
once again wotc is several years too late. it'll flop, then they'll be reluctant to expand the ip again
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
Sure, plenty of MMOs are "still chugging along", but none are quite thriving the way WoW is. Plus, MMOs in general aren't the hot new craze they once were. Any new MMO is going to have an uphill battle to gain a foothold in the market, even an MMO with a big name on it like MtG.
Well I apologize then. Its just that I've been on forums and their like and have listened to so many Wow fanboys that sound exactly like your first statement, and considering the SIZE of the WoW fanbase its easy to make assumptions.
Ravnica
Innistrad
Zendikar
Dominaria
Kaladesh
Theros
Tarkir
Alara
Perhaps each plane gets its own server or servers, and when you walk from one plane to another you move to a new server? It would almost be like several individual games that you can play using the same avatar, with a consistent set of mechanics much like how the TCG has consistent rules between sets. Of course there could be aesthetic customization, like HUDs and loading screens styled after each plane and maybe even parts of planes.
Mana of course plays a role in casting spells, the idea being that you form mana bonds with the land around you which then automatically fill your mana pool over time. Magic spells are separated into a few basic categories:
Summoning - Creature spells which call beasts, soldiers, and other allies to your side. Summoned creatures each have HP, one to three special abilities, and maybe a few keywords like flying and haste. A particular summon spell can only generate so many creatures at once, and you can only use so many summon spells at a time.
Enchantment - Magical effects that apply either to specific targets (Aura) or to your immediate vicinity (Field). This can include buffs and debuffs, healing for you and your allies, and even one-shot triggered effects.
Sorcery - Single-shot spells that do their thing, then go poof. Fireballs, lightning bolts, team buffs, reanimation, the like.
Artifice - Creates useful artifacts like additional mana sources, magical potions, equipment, and even artifact creatures like golems and gargoyles.
Calling - Planeswalkers you've befriended can be called upon to aid you. This works similar to summoning, but instead you summon copies of friendly PWs. Players can create emblems for calling their PW and give them to other players. PW Emblems can normally be outfitted with up to three spells available to you; the called PW's AI uses these three spells much like a creature would their abilities. Calling only works if the PW in question isn't presently on the same map and server as you.
For gameplay balance and player sanity, players can only have up to five spells assigned to hotkeys at a given time. Seeing as there are five colors and five categories of spellcraft, this allows players some flexible mix-and-matching.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
My expectation is that we'll see a large, generic fantasy world as the players home, probably Shandalar, with starting zones that correspond to the five colors of mana. For some number of levels while you learn the game's mechanics, you will *not* be a Planeswalker, but you will be a spellcaster with access to spells/abilities of your starting zone's color. At some point a major game event (probably involving Nicol Bolas) will trigger your Spark, sending you on your first Planeswalk to somewhere that is "known" for your mono-color identity.
Over time you will have opportunities to visit the other 4 color-focused planes, and after having done so you will be able to specialize in a second color. In turn, that will unlock access to end-game content that includes additional planes. You'll be given opportunities to switch your secondary color around sometimes, and eventually even add a third one.
My point being, when I read "New MMORPG" my mind doesn't immediately jump to "WoW clone" like it did in 2011.
This is one area where a Magic MMO can really distinguish itself. Do you get to choose your starting plane? How about customizing your race, gender, and physical traits? Clothing and equipment? Is there an event that triggers your spark to cap off some manner of prologue, or do you start out as a PW free to discover the game at your own pace? And yes, which plane do you start at?
In contrast to a lot of MMOs, I don't want players being shoehorned into specific classes here; every player will by definition be a mage, and their choice of spells should be entirely up to them. What I do want is customizable clothing and equipment. Each plane can have its own weapons, armor, accessories, and clothing to offer. Ravnica in particular offers exclusive stores for each guild (like a Boros Armory and an Izzet Lab) as well as neutral stores.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
Man, I loved City of Heroes.
Club Flamingo Wins: 1!
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
What I'm really hoping for out of this is some solid world building. There's so many planes I want to delve into, and judging by the reception from last week's "Pride of the Kraul" story, I'm not the only one. If wizards plays their cards right, and keeps their expectations realistic, they can have the best of both worlds here. For players of the TCG, they get to visit planes, away from the gatewatch and really explore the settings they've come to know and love. Wizards has repeatedly said that the majority of their player base's playing habits are cyclical. Having something that keeps their established players interested and invested even if the current block isn't for them could prove invaluable. On the flip side, the added accessibility of a F2P MMO will of course introduce droves of players to the worlds of MTG, and presumably move players onto the TCG.
I can't say I've personally played Cryptic's other games, but I have played Star Trek Online. Having never been invested in the setting, I will say that they did get the sense of exploration down quite nicely. If they can retain that feel and do it in a way that's true to magic and without draconian micro-transactions, I think this can be a real winner.
...
Well, at least it'll have great character creation. The quality of every other aspect, however, is anyone's guess.
GGG [Primer] Omnath, Big Green Beatstick Machine GGG
Draft it Here!
UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy:
UWBMiracles
Edh:
UUUThassa Control
WWWHokori Stax
GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy
BBBGriselbrand French List
RBGShattergang(Super Villians)
RWGHazezon Flicker
UBRMarchesa Aggro
URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
-Chandra Nalaar