3 sets of ravnica what a load of crapp... they should have made 2 sets of dominaria and 2 of ravnica then. 3 sets is to much to be fun. They will have another dragonsmaze dissaster. Aside from the collectable lands there is not much on ravnica for me. Thank god dominaria will still be in standard for a year.
Considering there's a possibility that the third set is about the Bolas invasion, and they're actively hyping the set up in the video, I wouldn't be so quick to assume it will be anything like Dragon's Maze.
The fact that they actively stated that the Third set will be ON Ravnica but not about the Guilds, I would assume the same.
My assumption is that Guilds of Ravnica/Ravnica Allegiance will be "fall in Ravnica" while "milk" will be "winter in Ravnica, and also Bolas is wrecking it". The fall set having a fall aesthetic is just a happy coincidence, though it would be cute to have a "Christmas in Ravnica" vibe before everything starts falling apart.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
On average, Magic players are worse at new card evaluation than almost every other skill, except perhaps sideboarding.
3 sets of ravnica what a load of crapp... they should have made 2 sets of dominaria and 2 of ravnica then. 3 sets is to much to be fun. They will have another dragonsmaze dissaster. Aside from the collectable lands there is not much on ravnica for me. Thank god dominaria will still be in standard for a year.
Considering there's a possibility that the third set is about the Bolas invasion, and they're actively hyping the set up in the video, I wouldn't be so quick to assume it will be anything like Dragon's Maze.
The fact that they actively stated that the Third set will be ON Ravnica but not about the Guilds, I would assume the same.
I mean in terms of card quality and mechanics, not the absence of Guilds.
Given how monumentally pissed the enfranchised playerbase was at Battle for Zen losing the thematic focus of Zendikar proper? Breaking Ravnica seems like a colossally bad idea Wizards won't do.
We might get a plot based set where guilds don't matter, but I doubt guilds won't be a thing for Rav4.
Yeah seems unlikely there will be no guilds at all maybe the balance of power will be shifted between the guilds ie Azorious and Boros not being the dominate forces in politics. But if you are going to devote 3 sets to Ravnica you are not permanently crippling the plane ala Mirrodin.
Also I wouldn't blame the two women for the cringe fest I doubt it was there choice alone to stuff in so many bad puns.
Add me to the list salty that Dominaria can only get one Set while Ravnica gets 3 especially since we just moved away from multi blocks in time for the Plane with more sets then any other to get one while Ravnica gets 3 sets while planes that failed like Amonkhet and Ixalan got 2. Insult to Injury.
Please don't let those two women host another video again. Ever.
This. Dear lord why would they think someone this grating would be enjoyable to listen to? I just skipped to the WOTC people and moved on from them.
Glad to see we're going back and hopefully we get the shocklands...because it's going to be a huge misfire otherwise.
Well, they host a rather popular magic related channel on Youtube, which is likely why they were chosen, so... They seem to have different MTG related people host they different announcement videos, so it will likely be someone else next time.
Apparently Wizards got the idea that people really like unique buy-a-box promos. Could this actually be true? I thought I remember a recent Blogatog post saying that they'd heard us "loud and clear", which I assumed meant they'd gotten a lot of heat for it...
This. It was pretty clear from the reaction that people didn't like it. My assumption is that they ordered a certain number of them all at once so they already have them printed, and are just hoping we forget that we hate them.
The decision to have unique buy-a-box promos was likely made when the sets were finalized, which was a considerable amount of time ago. The cards had already been ordered by the time WotC knew that is was unpopular. Note that they only mentioned the next two booster products when it came to the promos. That means Battlebond and Core 2019. After that, we'll see.
I hope Ravnica won't get destroyed like the previous planes recently.
I can see a guild war between :
1) The gatewatch + 5 guilds.
2) Bolas and friends + the rest of the guilds.
The Izzet and Gruul are my favorite factions in the entirety of Magic along with the Temur and Mardu. The latter two no longer exist because of the storyline, so if they take my Ravnican guilds away as well, I will march on WotC headquarters with my fellow artificers, spellslingers, and warriors.
Also, worried they might kill Niv-Mizzet off. Bolas already has an affinity for using the creations of artificers and researchers for his designs. I could see him wanting to use Ral as a means to take control of the Izzet. That would mean a showdown with Sir Mizz-A-Lot himself. If this happens and they kill my favorite character in the entire Magic multiverse, forget marching...
Scorched...
...Earth.
That reminds me... I still need to get that custom playmat made where Niv-Mizzet is Cyclonic Rifting Bolas into oblivion. I sketched a preliminary example during Return to Ravnica block that I'll have to dig out of my vaults.
Bolas may be ancient, but Niv-Mizzet is the smartest dragon in existence. Personally, I would love to see Niv-Mizzet, Rakdos, Borborgymos, and Isperia team up and just wail on Bolas until he either flees or is turned to a bloody pulp. Bonus points if Maat'Selesnya wakes up and exiles him from the plane. Not to mention, Jace get a considerable power-upgrade at the end of Ixalan. I also doubt they'll leave Ravnica shattered at the end of this story arc as it is their single most popular plane (with Zendikar a close second)
I'm glad they came back to Ravnica but i was hoping for two sets. Why Dominaria couldn't get at least two sets
It was going to but then they switched up how they did blocks again and it sadly had to give up its second set to the core set.
They plan on using Yangling and Yanggu in the future, they just chose to introduce them in a stand alone product first. If popular (and from the planeswalkers themselves I am thinking they will be very popular with the commander crowd at least), they will do more similarly formed planeswalker products shaped around other cultures to add more ethnic variety among their humanoid planeswalkers. Prior to their introduction we had one (or technically two if you count Tamiyo) ethnically Asian planeswalker (Sarkhan Vol, who is Mongol). This is likely also the reason they gave Teferi a new spark, we need more ethnic diversity among the planeswalkers.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
It's also nice to see that the Bolas arc is going to end. The haters can move on and we'll probably get to the third big villain arc. And I think there is little doubt about what that villain will be.
Interesting: RNA is getting called "penultimate moment of the Gatewatch's story" rather than "penultimate moment of the Gatewatch's battle against Bolas". This seems to imply an end of the Gatewatch. While I have no preference here, there is going to be a lot of talk about this. Though it seems likely Bolas will be defeated (if not permanently, then at least his plans thwarted in a way that will send him off-stage to lick his wounds for a while), they could move on to a new post-Gatewatch vehicle of storytelling.
I personally think they have quite a lot of potential left in the group - especially now that it grows its ranks with additional meaningful members that can influence the group dynamic. Maybe it's just a matter of the original members following there own callings; Nissa has returned to Zendikar and somebody at some point has to tell the Living Guildpact to stay around during the rebuild of Ravnica after whatever Bolas does to the plane.
I won't mind seeing an Ixalan-like interlude taking away the focus from the group as a whoel after this arc, but I'm really much looking forward to seeing the conclusion of this arc as well. I feel this is an appropriate duration for it.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Planar Chaos was not a mistake neither was it random. You might want to look at it again.
[thread=239793][Game] Level Up - Creature[/thread]
Sure, Niv-Mizzet is smart, but he's also basically the embodiment of draconic narcissism. Also, as a non-Planeswalker, he likely has not often faced beings of equal power to himself. I'm pretty sure that Bolas is much stronger, as an Elder Dragon and as a once-Oldwalker. I'm also pretty sure he will be more prepared for the inevitable showdown, as it is basically happening on his schedule. He knocks down the doors and barges in. Sure, this is the guilds' home turf, but how many of them are actually expecting an interplanar threat to materialize out of nowhere? Niv isn't aware of Planeswalkers, correct? I don't see this ending well for the plane of Ravnica.
Part of me actually hopes we don't get shocklands this time. The only two times the shocks have been printed, outside of Expeditions, has been during the Ravnica blocks. As they say, twice is coincidence, thrice is a pattern. And I really don't want a precedent set that we only get shocklands when we visit Ravnica. Good color fixing is too important to keep it bound to specific planes. WotC needs to be able to reprint shocklands in any set that needs them, and they need to be able to give future Ravnica sets whatever dual lands will best serve the set, regardless of whether that's the shocks or not.
We'll probably get the shocklands anyway, but that won't keep me from somewhat hoping we get a different cycle instead.
Part of me actually hopes we don't get shocklands this time. The only two times the shocks have been printed, outside of Expeditions, has been during the Ravnica blocks. As they say, twice is coincidence, thrice is a pattern. And I really don't want a precedent set that we only get shocklands when we visit Ravnica. Good color fixing is too important to keep it bound to specific planes. WotC needs to be able to reprint shocklands in any set that needs them, and they need to be able to give future Ravnica sets whatever dual lands will best serve the set, regardless of whether that's the shocks or not.
We'll probably get the shocklands anyway, but that won't keep me from somewhat hoping we get a different cycle instead.
The issue is, overall, that Ravnica needs good fixing more than most planes. The closest we get would be Old Timeline Tarkir and Alara. And when it comes to top of the line color fixing the only thing really of equal measure to Shocks is, well, Fetches (and in the case of Ravnica, shocks are better).
Original Duallands are better than both, but those aren't happening. So unless they come up with an equal measure of fixing to use in their place, what would fit better than Shocks?
How much worse/better than the shocklands would duals that cipt unless you take 1 damage be, only they don't have basic land types? In a fetchless format, stronger than shocks, and gives you a stronger tool than shocks for color balance. Possibly still too strong for Standard.
Sure, Niv-Mizzet is smart, but he's also basically the embodiment of draconic narcissism. Also, as a non-Planeswalker, he likely has not often faced beings of equal power to himself. I'm pretty sure that Bolas is much stronger, as an Elder Dragon and as a once-Oldwalker. I'm also pretty sure he will be more prepared for the inevitable showdown, as it is basically happening on his schedule. He knocks down the doors and barges in. Sure, this is the guilds' home turf, but how many of them are actually expecting an interplanar threat to materialize out of nowhere? Niv isn't aware of Planeswalkers, correct? I don't see this ending well for the plane of Ravnica.
I still think Niv Mizzet not knowing about Walkers is dumb especially with us finding out Azor was and Oldwalker and Niv was around before the Guildpact when walkers were running roughshod over Ravnica. Hard to be the smartest dragon around and not figure that one out.
Still Niv is no match for Bolas in combat. Niv might be the third most powerful dragon alive but the gap from Bolas to Ugin to him is massive. He does have Home Court advantage but Bolas had more time to prep for this fight.
Ugh, 3 sets of Ravnica. 2 would have been plenty. Might as well call it Magic the Ravnicing. So which set is the Dragon's Maze analog?
I guess we have a shot at Shocklands. If they aren't there, it will be an epic fail on Wizards part. I like Ravnica but its time to go to some of the other planes, Alara, Lorwyn or new places.
I may have some interest in the Guild boxes when they come out if they have some of the good stuff from the previous Ravnica blocks. I get a feeling it will probably be the chaff from original Ravnica and RTR though.
The artwork and corny juvenile-ness of the Battlebond cards were a big turnoff. I want to play an adult oriented game, not some corn-ball Pokemon 3rd grade chaff.
Guess I'll see what shakes out. Maybe I'll be surprised.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Playing since 1994: Currently MAGS (HomeBrew),Standard & Pauper (Pioneer and Modern are degenerate trash formats)
STOP using "dude/bro" as a pejorative or insult. Grow up.
Margaret Thatcher: “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Martin Luther King Jr.: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Ugh, 3 sets of Ravnica. 2 would have been plenty. Might as well call it Magic the Ravnicing. So which set is the Dragon's Maze analog?
I guess we have a shot at Shocklands. If they aren't there, it will be an epic fail on Wizards part. I like Ravnica but its time to go to some of the other planes, Alara, Lorwyn or new places.
I may have some interest in the Guild boxes when they come out if they have some of the good stuff from the previous Ravnica blocks. I get a feeling it will probably be the chaff from original Ravnica and RTR though.
The artwork and corny juvenile-ness of the Battlebond cards were a big turnoff. I want to play an adult oriented game, not some corn-ball Pokemon 3rd grade chaff.
Guess I'll see what shakes out. Maybe I'll be surprised.
I'm biased, but I think Alara is long overdue, but it wasn't nearly as probable as Ravnica.
Interesting: RNA is getting called "penultimate moment of the Gatewatch's story" rather than "penultimate moment of the Gatewatch's battle against Bolas". This seems to imply an end of the Gatewatch. While I have no preference here, there is going to be a lot of talk about this. Though it seems likely Bolas will be defeated (if not permanently, then at least his plans thwarted in a way that will send him off-stage to lick his wounds for a while), they could move on to a new post-Gatewatch vehicle of storytelling.
I imagine they mean the end of the Gatewatch storyline - ie, maybe the Gatewatch will still be around but won't be the focus of the story, which will shift to a different ongoing plot (Presumably with the Eldrazi back in the box/destroyed and with Bolas defeated, the Gatewatch might go dormant and we could get a story about something other than trying to thwart a multiverse-spanning supervillain).
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
On average, Magic players are worse at new card evaluation than almost every other skill, except perhaps sideboarding.
Story wise, I would have liked to see Ajani in some other plane before Rav3. What, are we going to just have Ajani pop up in RNA/third set with some unknown walkers and join the assembled gatewatch members? I suppose Jace went searching for Ajani, but I doubt he'll show up empty-handed, and I can't think of a known Planeswalker other than Elspeth who would want to journey to Ravnica to fight Bolas. Koth is going to come back for the post-Gatewatch story centered around Karn v Phyrexia, Tamiyo won't be back until Inn3: the Awakening of Emmy, Samut was still helping defend Amonkhet post-Hekma, though she'd be the most likely to want in. There aren't that many walkers that Ajani would already know, that we have met, and who might have a reason to hate Bolas. Another set before Rav3 could have introduced some new Walker from an unknown plane that has already joined the Catwatch, and Ajani recruits another new Walker by the end of the story. Then, his reasoning for not helping on Dominaria is justified. As it is, I can't see him coming to Ravnica with any backup other than Jace.
Edit: just looked through the Planeswalkers, and the only other known character who could show up is Sarkhan. I'd actually be pretty into having him show up on the Gatewatch's side, but I didn't read Tarkir's story so I don't know if he's committed to defending that plane or something.
Ajani having a weird hanging plot thread is probably another of the ongoing casualties of the plot being attached to a card game with its own needs. They might just elide that bit and have him show up with an all-new 'walker on Ravnica. Or maybe we see Tybalt/Ashiok's surprise face turn?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
On average, Magic players are worse at new card evaluation than almost every other skill, except perhaps sideboarding.
Sure, Niv-Mizzet is smart, but he's also basically the embodiment of draconic narcissism. Also, as a non-Planeswalker, he likely has not often faced beings of equal power to himself. I'm pretty sure that Bolas is much stronger, as an Elder Dragon and as a once-Oldwalker. I'm also pretty sure he will be more prepared for the inevitable showdown, as it is basically happening on his schedule. He knocks down the doors and barges in. Sure, this is the guilds' home turf, but how many of them are actually expecting an interplanar threat to materialize out of nowhere? Niv isn't aware of Planeswalkers, correct? I don't see this ending well for the plane of Ravnica.
Yes, because he as never gone toe to toe with Lord Rakdos, the Angels of Boros and Orzhov, or Experiment Kraj... Not to mention countless other dragons, the Sphinxes of Azorius, the vampires and horrors of House Dimir, or even met an Oldwalker or two. He personally knows Azor and Maat'Selesnya, the former of which was a confirmed oldwalker.
Remember, Niv-Mizzet was powerful enough to be the original guildleader for the Izzet when the guildpact was made, and he has only grown in power in the intervening 10,000 years. He is also one of the most powerful telepaths, period. There is no way that he hasn't already gleaned that Bolas is coming from the various neo-walkers that have visited Ravnica, and have made plans and contingencies to give the Elder Dragon a warm welcome. Now, the question then becomes, has he allied with Bolas, or will he oppose the elder dragon. Personally I am hoping for the latter.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
I just noticed, in all three Ravnica blocks, both Selesnya and Golgari got their time in the spotlight in the first set, and the Orzhov and Gruul in the second. Weird.
So unless they come up with an equal measure of fixing to use in their place, what would fit better than Shocks?
Filterlands are pretty amazing in 2-color decks, with their quality dropping off exponentially as you add more colors, which seems perfect for Ravnica.
I get that, short-term, reprinting shocks now would be great, but long-term, it'd be best to disassociate shocklands from Ravnica a bit.
Niv doesn't know about the existence of walkers though.... I thought that was confirmed. Sure, he's gone toe to toe with various strong individuals on Ravnica. We have a story about post-Mending Bolas kicking the ever-living shyzah out of the eight gods of Amonkhet, in a weakened state, and then proceed to go all Thanos on the plane and kill of everyone over a certain age, then reshape the entire structure of the plane in his image. All while still reeling from having just lost godhood. The dude is so friggin powerful, and has since that date regained some of his power in the Alaran confluence. If he ends up being defeated, there better be a damn good plot explanation, more than "the plane let us make a really big fireball."
I can't imagine there's a version of the "giant ancient evil dragon goes to world whose most popular character is a giant ancient dragon" story that doesn't result in a giant ancient dragon fight. That's just leaving giant dragon fight value on the table.
edit: Yes, Niv-mizzet is the most popular Ravnica character. Niv-mizzet thinks so, and he's never wrong.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
On average, Magic players are worse at new card evaluation than almost every other skill, except perhaps sideboarding.
Original Ravnica block was so much fun to draft, return to ravnica was equally awesome. I have high hopes (and even higher expectations after dominaria). Little surprised we're getting 3 sets there given each set is supposed to be standalone now.
Wonder what multicolour goodies we'll get reprinted.
I can't imagine there's a version of the "giant ancient evil dragon goes to world whose most popular character is a giant ancient dragon" story that doesn't result in a giant ancient dragon fight. That's just leaving giant dragon fight value on the table.
edit: Yes, Niv-mizzet is the most popular Ravnica character. Niv-mizzet thinks so, and he's never wrong.
Yeah I don't see Wizards passing up something that obvious.
Original Ravnica block was so much fun to draft, return to ravnica was equally awesome. I have high hopes (and even higher expectations after dominaria). Little surprised we're getting 3 sets there given each set is supposed to be standalone now.
The three sets are standalone (as in, not drafted together and not mechanically connected), they just all take place in the same plane and form a longer story arc there. When the 3+1 model was announced it was explicitly said they might do multiple sets in a plane if it's warranted, that seemed at the time like a pretty clear nod to "we can still do Ravnica even though we know we can't cram 10 guilds into one set".
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
On average, Magic players are worse at new card evaluation than almost every other skill, except perhaps sideboarding.
The fact that they actively stated that the Third set will be ON Ravnica but not about the Guilds, I would assume the same.
I mean in terms of card quality and mechanics, not the absence of Guilds.
Yeah seems unlikely there will be no guilds at all maybe the balance of power will be shifted between the guilds ie Azorious and Boros not being the dominate forces in politics. But if you are going to devote 3 sets to Ravnica you are not permanently crippling the plane ala Mirrodin.
Also I wouldn't blame the two women for the cringe fest I doubt it was there choice alone to stuff in so many bad puns.
Add me to the list salty that Dominaria can only get one Set while Ravnica gets 3 especially since we just moved away from multi blocks in time for the Plane with more sets then any other to get one while Ravnica gets 3 sets while planes that failed like Amonkhet and Ixalan got 2. Insult to Injury.
Well, they host a rather popular magic related channel on Youtube, which is likely why they were chosen, so... They seem to have different MTG related people host they different announcement videos, so it will likely be someone else next time.
The decision to have unique buy-a-box promos was likely made when the sets were finalized, which was a considerable amount of time ago. The cards had already been ordered by the time WotC knew that is was unpopular. Note that they only mentioned the next two booster products when it came to the promos. That means Battlebond and Core 2019. After that, we'll see.
Bolas may be ancient, but Niv-Mizzet is the smartest dragon in existence. Personally, I would love to see Niv-Mizzet, Rakdos, Borborgymos, and Isperia team up and just wail on Bolas until he either flees or is turned to a bloody pulp. Bonus points if Maat'Selesnya wakes up and exiles him from the plane. Not to mention, Jace get a considerable power-upgrade at the end of Ixalan. I also doubt they'll leave Ravnica shattered at the end of this story arc as it is their single most popular plane (with Zendikar a close second)
They plan on using Yangling and Yanggu in the future, they just chose to introduce them in a stand alone product first. If popular (and from the planeswalkers themselves I am thinking they will be very popular with the commander crowd at least), they will do more similarly formed planeswalker products shaped around other cultures to add more ethnic variety among their humanoid planeswalkers. Prior to their introduction we had one (or technically two if you count Tamiyo) ethnically Asian planeswalker (Sarkhan Vol, who is Mongol). This is likely also the reason they gave Teferi a new spark, we need more ethnic diversity among the planeswalkers.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
Interesting: RNA is getting called "penultimate moment of the Gatewatch's story" rather than "penultimate moment of the Gatewatch's battle against Bolas". This seems to imply an end of the Gatewatch. While I have no preference here, there is going to be a lot of talk about this. Though it seems likely Bolas will be defeated (if not permanently, then at least his plans thwarted in a way that will send him off-stage to lick his wounds for a while), they could move on to a new post-Gatewatch vehicle of storytelling.
I personally think they have quite a lot of potential left in the group - especially now that it grows its ranks with additional meaningful members that can influence the group dynamic. Maybe it's just a matter of the original members following there own callings; Nissa has returned to Zendikar and somebody at some point has to tell the Living Guildpact to stay around during the rebuild of Ravnica after whatever Bolas does to the plane.
I won't mind seeing an Ixalan-like interlude taking away the focus from the group as a whoel after this arc, but I'm really much looking forward to seeing the conclusion of this arc as well. I feel this is an appropriate duration for it.
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
We'll probably get the shocklands anyway, but that won't keep me from somewhat hoping we get a different cycle instead.
Original Duallands are better than both, but those aren't happening. So unless they come up with an equal measure of fixing to use in their place, what would fit better than Shocks?
I still think Niv Mizzet not knowing about Walkers is dumb especially with us finding out Azor was and Oldwalker and Niv was around before the Guildpact when walkers were running roughshod over Ravnica. Hard to be the smartest dragon around and not figure that one out.
Still Niv is no match for Bolas in combat. Niv might be the third most powerful dragon alive but the gap from Bolas to Ugin to him is massive. He does have Home Court advantage but Bolas had more time to prep for this fight.
I guess we have a shot at Shocklands. If they aren't there, it will be an epic fail on Wizards part. I like Ravnica but its time to go to some of the other planes, Alara, Lorwyn or new places.
I may have some interest in the Guild boxes when they come out if they have some of the good stuff from the previous Ravnica blocks. I get a feeling it will probably be the chaff from original Ravnica and RTR though.
The artwork and corny juvenile-ness of the Battlebond cards were a big turnoff. I want to play an adult oriented game, not some corn-ball Pokemon 3rd grade chaff.
Guess I'll see what shakes out. Maybe I'll be surprised.
STOP using "dude/bro" as a pejorative or insult. Grow up.
Margaret Thatcher: “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Martin Luther King Jr.: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
I'm biased, but I think Alara is long overdue, but it wasn't nearly as probable as Ravnica.
I imagine they mean the end of the Gatewatch storyline - ie, maybe the Gatewatch will still be around but won't be the focus of the story, which will shift to a different ongoing plot (Presumably with the Eldrazi back in the box/destroyed and with Bolas defeated, the Gatewatch might go dormant and we could get a story about something other than trying to thwart a multiverse-spanning supervillain).
Edit: just looked through the Planeswalkers, and the only other known character who could show up is Sarkhan. I'd actually be pretty into having him show up on the Gatewatch's side, but I didn't read Tarkir's story so I don't know if he's committed to defending that plane or something.
Yes, because he as never gone toe to toe with Lord Rakdos, the Angels of Boros and Orzhov, or Experiment Kraj... Not to mention countless other dragons, the Sphinxes of Azorius, the vampires and horrors of House Dimir, or even met an Oldwalker or two. He personally knows Azor and Maat'Selesnya, the former of which was a confirmed oldwalker.
Remember, Niv-Mizzet was powerful enough to be the original guildleader for the Izzet when the guildpact was made, and he has only grown in power in the intervening 10,000 years. He is also one of the most powerful telepaths, period. There is no way that he hasn't already gleaned that Bolas is coming from the various neo-walkers that have visited Ravnica, and have made plans and contingencies to give the Elder Dragon a warm welcome. Now, the question then becomes, has he allied with Bolas, or will he oppose the elder dragon. Personally I am hoping for the latter.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
Filterlands are pretty amazing in 2-color decks, with their quality dropping off exponentially as you add more colors, which seems perfect for Ravnica.
I get that, short-term, reprinting shocks now would be great, but long-term, it'd be best to disassociate shocklands from Ravnica a bit.
edit: Yes, Niv-mizzet is the most popular Ravnica character. Niv-mizzet thinks so, and he's never wrong.
Wonder what multicolour goodies we'll get reprinted.
Yeah I don't see Wizards passing up something that obvious.
The three sets are standalone (as in, not drafted together and not mechanically connected), they just all take place in the same plane and form a longer story arc there. When the 3+1 model was announced it was explicitly said they might do multiple sets in a plane if it's warranted, that seemed at the time like a pretty clear nod to "we can still do Ravnica even though we know we can't cram 10 guilds into one set".
Great.
Thread | Draft