Does anyone else think that Jace trapping Azor on Useless Island was foreshadowing? The Gatewatch could definitely trap Bolas on Ravnica, which I think would be hilarious if Bolas regains his ultraspark and then gets stuck. I do think Bolas's plan is to use Ral's Project Lightning Bug to track planeswalkers on Ravnica so he can merge their sparks into one to make him an oldwalker.
Does anyone else think that Jace trapping Azor on Useless Island was foreshadowing? The Gatewatch could definitely trap Bolas on Ravnica, which I think would be hilarious if Bolas regains his ultraspark and then gets stuck. I do think Bolas's plan is to use Ral's Project Lightning Bug to track planeswalkers on Ravnica so he can merge their sparks into one to make him an oldwalker.
No. Just no. Jace pulling some guildpact crap like he did on Azor and trapping Bolas would be an exceptionally lame ending.
Jace will steal the old walker spark from bolas, making hin a non walker dragon. For some reason 3 or 4 other new walkers will not have their sparks fused into the old walker spark. Ral, and Vraska will find a place in their guilds, Dovin will be arrested, Gideon will kill bolas with the black blade (fisish hin), liliana will stay in ravnica waiting for jace. yadayada
The art book mentions that Bolas is counting on the Gatewatch to show up....
Ah. If Bolas is indeed harvesting sparks, then what we're likely to get are Legendary creatures (i.e., non-walkers) of all the PWs. That WotC can do without screwing up balance, etc.
So the idea is:
1) Everyone arrives
2) Bolas steals everyone's sparks (and holds them somewhere)
3) Everyone attacks Bolas while he tries to make Oldspark.
4) Everyone defeats Bolas before he gets Spark, and everyone gets their Spark back. Niv-Mizzet gains Bolas's spark.
This makes a lot of sense. It also explains why Bolas didn't want to kill the Gatewatch on Amonkhet, and also perhaps why he needs the Eternal army: to handle de-powered PWs. The plan (from a WotC 'how will it all work' perspective) hinges on the fact that post-Mending PWs gain very little from their Sparks, except the power to planeswalk.
With all of the secrecy about the name of the set, War of the Spark isn't all that evocative. I was expecting something like Ruins of Ravnica or Bolas Triumphant or something.
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Does anyone else think that Jace trapping Azor on Useless Island was foreshadowing? The Gatewatch could definitely trap Bolas on Ravnica, which I think would be hilarious if Bolas regains his ultraspark and then gets stuck. I do think Bolas's plan is to use Ral's Project Lightning Bug to track planeswalkers on Ravnica so he can merge their sparks into one to make him an oldwalker.
No. Just no. Jace pulling some guildpact crap like he did on Azor and trapping Bolas would be an exceptionally lame ending.
They wouldn't need "guildpact crap", they could trap him on any plane with the Immortal Sun. Just gotta get Tezzeret and the Planar Bridge out of the way.
My guess is Bolas gets trapped on the Meditation Plane with the Immortal Sun. Possibly after betraying Tez and trying to steal his spark to make the All-Sp...OldSpark.
The art book mentions that Bolas is counting on the Gatewatch to show up....
Ah. If Bolas is indeed harvesting sparks, then what we're likely to get are Legendary creatures (i.e., non-walkers) of all the PWs. That WotC can do without screwing up balance, etc.
So the idea is:
1) Everyone arrives
2) Bolas steals everyone's sparks (and holds them somewhere)
3) Everyone attacks Bolas while he tries to make Oldspark.
4) Everyone defeats Bolas before he gets Spark, and everyone gets their Spark back. Niv-Mizzet gains Bolas's spark.
This makes a lot of sense. It also explains why Bolas didn't want to kill the Gatewatch on Amonkhet, and also perhaps why he needs the Eternal army: to handle de-powered PWs. The plan (from a WotC 'how will it all work' perspective) hinges on the fact that post-Mending PWs gain very little from their Sparks, except the power to planeswalk.
And then Ugin arrives with the Allspark and with the help of the artificers of Kaladesh and the dinosaurs from Ixilan, Grimlock, Dinobot Leader enters from stage left and says, "one shall stand, and one shall fall."
Fade out to black...
Nicol Bolas and Grimlock will return in Ravnica IV: Winter Edition.
Well a big hint from Karn in the dominaria story but how will the phyrexians come into rotation as villains it’s not like they finally figure out how to go between planes like yawgmoth did not they somehow get Tezzeret planar bridge
Well a big hint from Karn in the dominaria story but how will the phyrexians come into rotation as villains it’s not like they finally figure out how to go between planes like yawgmoth did not they somehow get Tezzeret planar bridge
I could see them getting the Planar Bridge, if Tezzeret survives. Tezzeret likes metal, and so does Phyrexia. Tezzeret could become the new Yawgmoth if Nicol dies. THat would be interesting. Also the beginning of the Scars of Kaladesh block and New New Phyrexia.
One thing about this possible new set name that sticks in my mind is the specific diction. It's Spark, not Sparks. Marketing and storyboarding should be very particular in how they choose words if indeed this is the set name.
To me, that means Bolas is after one spark in particular. Is is probably an old-walker spark, or something similar to it? Very likely.
Could Bolas be attempting to pop the sparks out of a bunch of new-walkers and fuse them into something larger? Perhaps. Although I am unsure if that is possible with how the Mending changed their nature. We'll see.
Alternately, Bolas is in possession of an object that contains the manifested essence of an old-walker. The Immortal Sun, Azor's spark, who just happens to have a very strong connection to Ravnica and the incredibly powerful system of gov't therein. Could cracking that object and breaking the new guildpact release enough energy for Bolas to absorb like the Maelstrom? Maybe... It's certainly less obvious than the "I'm going to steal their essences! (Insert evil laughter)" angle. The same things would be required: Jace present (and thereby the Gatewatch), a war between guilds, and protection (Eternals) while he did whatever he needed to do personally...
I guess we'll see. I, for one, hope for a more creative angle though I'm not betting on it.
My guess is that he's trying to get Ugin out of hiding to steal his spark. The M19 stories showed that Bolas gets pretty jealous and is maybe still upset that Ugin sparked before he did.
Could Bolas be attempting to pop the sparks out of a bunch of new-walkers and fuse them into something larger? Perhaps.
Kinda like when you take a bunch of fruit gummies and pop them into your mouth, chewing them into a mass of mixed fruit flavors?
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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.
I expect Liliana will show up as part of the Gatewatch per Bolas' instructions. It depends on how much control the contract gives him over her - it didn't give the demons she killed much, after all.
This is just the name of the next Transformers TCG product, right? /s
Seriously though, now that they are actively making both those IPs, I would think they would avoid titles that honestly could be easily mistaken for being from the other IP.
Like Friendship is Magic?
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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.
With all of the secrecy about the name of the set, War of the Spark isn't all that evocative. I was expecting something like Ruins of Ravnica or Bolas Triumphant or something.
There was never any "all of the secrecy about the name of the set".
Wizards simply reveals their future products in badges of a few sets at a time. This set was simply not part of the previous badge.
If I am mistaken you are most welcome to link to any page where you read about any secrecy regarding this set.
----
On topic:
I hope Bolas wins in a creative way that leaves the audience (us) impressed. I expect and fear it instead will be the end of Bolas and the good guys win which has been the norm these last 10 years since Rise of the Eldrazi.
I'm more interested of what Liliana is holding....is it just a random spell...or it has in hand an actual representation of a Planeswalker spark? And a spark of who in that case?
If one or more walkers are going to die in the next set, I'm guessing Kaya... for a couple of reasons.
1. The Spirit-Slaying Kaya would have a natural conflict with the necromantic powers of Lilliana (unless she hates ghosts but is fine with zombies?)
2. Spirit-slaying is kind of her thing and she's already slain two of the most important spirits (Ghost spirits, not Kamigawa spirits) in MtG lore. There's not really much left for her to do from a narrative perspective.
3. I'm surprised that a walker transitioned from a draft set into a standard set at all. Giving a semi-recognizable character one last card before killing them to create "real stakes" and enact "real change" through an upcoming war makes a certain kind of sense, however.
[quote from="user-12976315 »" url="/forums/magic-fundamentals/the-rumor-mill/803934-possible-name-of-the-upcoming-set?comment=98"]Giving a semi-recognizable character one last card before killing them to create "real stakes" and enact "real change" through an upcoming war makes a certain kind of sense, however.
That's why Jaya Ballard is going to die. They even didn't bother with giving her an oath card.
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Legendary: 1088 / 1208.
Planeswalkers: 182 / 226.
(16/03/2017)
Also, casual and semi-competitive Commander player \m/
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Deal with it.
No. Just no. Jace pulling some guildpact crap like he did on Azor and trapping Bolas would be an exceptionally lame ending.
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(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
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(U/R)(R/G)(G/U) STEALIN' WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUYIN'
The art book mentions that Bolas is counting on the Gatewatch to show up....
Ah. If Bolas is indeed harvesting sparks, then what we're likely to get are Legendary creatures (i.e., non-walkers) of all the PWs. That WotC can do without screwing up balance, etc.
So the idea is:
1) Everyone arrives
2) Bolas steals everyone's sparks (and holds them somewhere)
3) Everyone attacks Bolas while he tries to make Oldspark.
4) Everyone defeats Bolas before he gets Spark, and everyone gets their Spark back. Niv-Mizzet gains Bolas's spark.
This makes a lot of sense. It also explains why Bolas didn't want to kill the Gatewatch on Amonkhet, and also perhaps why he needs the Eternal army: to handle de-powered PWs. The plan (from a WotC 'how will it all work' perspective) hinges on the fact that post-Mending PWs gain very little from their Sparks, except the power to planeswalk.
My 720 Peasant Cube
They wouldn't need "guildpact crap", they could trap him on any plane with the Immortal Sun. Just gotta get Tezzeret and the Planar Bridge out of the way.
My guess is Bolas gets trapped on the Meditation Plane with the Immortal Sun. Possibly after betraying Tez and trying to steal his spark to make the All-Sp...OldSpark.
And then Ugin arrives with the Allspark and with the help of the artificers of Kaladesh and the dinosaurs from Ixilan, Grimlock, Dinobot Leader enters from stage left and says, "one shall stand, and one shall fall."
Fade out to black...
Nicol Bolas and Grimlock will return in Ravnica IV: Winter Edition.
...roll credits.
Thread | Draft
Well a big hint from Karn in the dominaria story but how will the phyrexians come into rotation as villains it’s not like they finally figure out how to go between planes like yawgmoth did not they somehow get Tezzeret planar bridge
I could see them getting the Planar Bridge, if Tezzeret survives. Tezzeret likes metal, and so does Phyrexia. Tezzeret could become the new Yawgmoth if Nicol dies. THat would be interesting. Also the beginning of the Scars of Kaladesh block and New New Phyrexia.
Deal with it.
To me, that means Bolas is after one spark in particular. Is is probably an old-walker spark, or something similar to it? Very likely.
Could Bolas be attempting to pop the sparks out of a bunch of new-walkers and fuse them into something larger? Perhaps. Although I am unsure if that is possible with how the Mending changed their nature. We'll see.
Alternately, Bolas is in possession of an object that contains the manifested essence of an old-walker. The Immortal Sun, Azor's spark, who just happens to have a very strong connection to Ravnica and the incredibly powerful system of gov't therein. Could cracking that object and breaking the new guildpact release enough energy for Bolas to absorb like the Maelstrom? Maybe... It's certainly less obvious than the "I'm going to steal their essences! (Insert evil laughter)" angle. The same things would be required: Jace present (and thereby the Gatewatch), a war between guilds, and protection (Eternals) while he did whatever he needed to do personally...
I guess we'll see. I, for one, hope for a more creative angle though I'm not betting on it.
Kinda like when you take a bunch of fruit gummies and pop them into your mouth, chewing them into a mass of mixed fruit flavors?
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.
Totally... Only these are something like the LSD gummy bears that Cheryl Tunt eats. Definitely "elevating" if you get my drift.
I'm not going to make any grandiose statements like it's the 'most' anything, but it's pretty evocative.
https://twitter.com/_SEV8/status/1086650821280976896
Thanks to DarkNightCavalier from Heroes of the Plane Studios for this sick Signature.
And if you look carefully Gideon is holding the black blade
I expect Liliana will show up as part of the Gatewatch per Bolas' instructions. It depends on how much control the contract gives him over her - it didn't give the demons she killed much, after all.
Like Friendship is Magic?
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.
There was never any "all of the secrecy about the name of the set".
Wizards simply reveals their future products in badges of a few sets at a time. This set was simply not part of the previous badge.
If I am mistaken you are most welcome to link to any page where you read about any secrecy regarding this set.
----
On topic:
I hope Bolas wins in a creative way that leaves the audience (us) impressed. I expect and fear it instead will be the end of Bolas and the good guys win which has been the norm these last 10 years since Rise of the Eldrazi.
If one or more walkers are going to die in the next set, I'm guessing Kaya... for a couple of reasons.
1. The Spirit-Slaying Kaya would have a natural conflict with the necromantic powers of Lilliana (unless she hates ghosts but is fine with zombies?)
2. Spirit-slaying is kind of her thing and she's already slain two of the most important spirits (Ghost spirits, not Kamigawa spirits) in MtG lore. There's not really much left for her to do from a narrative perspective.
3. I'm surprised that a walker transitioned from a draft set into a standard set at all. Giving a semi-recognizable character one last card before killing them to create "real stakes" and enact "real change" through an upcoming war makes a certain kind of sense, however.
That's why Jaya Ballard is going to die. They even didn't bother with giving her an oath card.
Legendary: 1088 / 1208.
Planeswalkers: 182 / 226.
(16/03/2017)
Also, casual and semi-competitive Commander player \m/