Hey, is Theros a starting plane yet? And is Journey into Nyx, assuming Theros is a start plane, available for spell choice? Because I saw another cool thing. If the second question is answered with a no, then a Theros character could get Bladetusk Boar anyway, since it was in M13. Right?
As far as I know, core sets since M10 are available to all. I would presume Bladetusk Boar could be had by any starting character who could cast it.
OK, DP, you have a huge point there. I'm just saying that HYPOTHETICALLY the RPG could have gone in the direction where if a card for your starting character is in a locked set that your character could use if it weren't locked, you wouldn't be able to buy it. In this hypothetical situation, a Theros character would be unable to have Bladetusk Boar simply because it's in Journey into Nyx. However, the RPG didn't go that way, proof being the Wind Drake theory I posted before. The whole "Ravnicans can get it and it wouldn't count as Dragon's Maze" thing. This is the same, just Bladetusk Boar, a Theros character, and Journey into Nyx.
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A scientist turned wizard.
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
As I stated when I answered your Wind Drake question, any set that's been printed in another legal set to your plane is fair game. Since Bladetusk Boar is available in a core set legal to the RPG, it's legal to purchase, regardless of what other sets it might have been printed in.
Hey, if a Ravnican character uses the Arcane Research trait, can he get a nonbasic land legal to the RPG? Like say, if Nobo Quid, my Ravnican character, wants Llanowar Reborn for his Graft deck, can he get it via Arcane Research?
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A scientist turned wizard.
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
Hm. I've been mulling over ideas for a character with a unique (see: Not used by WotC) concept for a character who will eventually become a planeswalker.
So far I've got a few ideas:
Ice mage
Boros mage-priest (most likely a minotaur)
Azorious lawmage
Innistrad Geistcaller
Master illusionist
Planeswalking RWG freedom-fighter/vigilante (Nacatl from Naya?)
I like the idea of an ice mage, but I can't seem to find many interesting ice-themed spells. Anyone care to suggest some flavorful frost/ice/blizzard/etc. spells I could go with?
Everything scares me... kitties scare me... squirrels scare me... corpses....corpses bring forth a pletora of confusing feeling which i prefer not to dwell on...:p
Honestly, for the ice mage, I would suggest starting off with a fairly basic deck and affinity of the color you're sure you'd be able to buy spells from Coldsnap the quickest, then rack up the gold to do so, and if it's ice, I'd suggest U. Plenty of spells having to do with ice in the Core Sets. Frozen Breath or Ice Cage or even Wall of Frost. All of those are ice-related and U. Oh, don't forget about the Frost Titan. When you get Archmage, of course.
And I'm gonna have to shoot down the 'master illusionist' idea. Until the satchel restrictions, I was, and when I get the gold, I will be again, the illusionist. On Dominaria, at least. Feel free to be one on any other planes.
Wait, don't you already have a Ravnica character? So why are you debating more unless you've thought of a plot to get them away from Ravnica?
I really like the Geistcaller thing. If/when Innistrad is availible, mind if I nick that idea? Unless you save it until then. I think smallcreation said you can start off with Innistrad spells, but you'd start on Dominaria. If you want to use that idea, you can even before Innistrad gets a subforum.
A Naya Nacatl, eh? Well, Dominaria already has a shapeshifting cat artificer from Esper, so that could be interesting. I honestly want to see that happen. I hope to see the interactions between Gear, the etherium-pawed cat shapeshifter brought to us by Fenris, and whatever you name the Nacatl, if you do make the Nacatl.
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A scientist turned wizard.
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
I do have a Ravnica character, but he's a fairly generic UB mind mage. We already had a badass UB mind mage in the previous incarnation of the game, so I feel as thought I'm treading on developed ground. I'm thinking I'll scrap him, keep his overall motivation and/or long-term goals (which will remain a secret for now) and remake a more interesting character.
The geistcaller is probably my favorite idea, so I'll likely end up going with that in the end. I'm a huge fan of necromancer-types, and summoning spirits instead of zombies/other rotting undead things is a more compelling theme to me.
I also like the Nacatl just because I like big smashy creatures. But character overrules spells in my mind. Making a well-developed, compelling Geistcaller character would be more fun to me than making a super-powerful stompy creature mage.
Everything scares me... kitties scare me... squirrels scare me... corpses....corpses bring forth a pletora of confusing feeling which i prefer not to dwell on...:p
Well, the way I see it, if the cat's a vigilante, he's quite devoted to justice, to the point of doing it himself. Sure, he's likely a stompy creature mage, but the backstory and personality are what really make the character. That's where imagination comes in. To make a good Nacatl character, all you really have to do is make a compelling backstory, an excuse for how he got where he got, and a good, fitting personality for what you want him to be like. Ultima is a blue mage, and my Dominarian character. He's talkative, somewhat loud, and likes to end the problem ASAP. Sounds as if he uses green, right? Then look at Nobo Quid, my Ravnican elf. He's calm, collected, mature, formal in as many ways as possible, but kind when the time calls for it. Sound blue, or white, even, or Azorius? Well, his next step is blue mana, because he's trying to join the Simic Combine, but he's a green mage at the moment. It's the personality that makes the characters, not the mana usage.
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A scientist turned wizard.
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
Heh. I was gonna post something snarky about being the current reigning champion of the Colosseum subforum, but it wouldn't be good form given than you're new (and also my ego doesn't need any more inflation).
I view it like this: any character concept can be compelling with a good backstory and characterization. But for me, not only does the character's backstory have to engage me, the character's abilities have to be interesting too. Giant smashy monsters, while fun to use and a perfectly fine character concept, aren't as interesting to me as conjuring up the vengeful (or not so vengeful) spirits of the dead.
It also gives such a character a built-in conflict to explore: Those spirits aren't like zombies. They're not mindless corpses and you're the puppetmaster controlling them. They are the essences of actual once-living people. Can you justify forcing back the spirits of the dead to do your bidding (no matter how well intentioned) if you're causing them misery or pain by forcing them into battle?
To be fair, I could just as easily make a character concept of a freedom fighting Nacatl just as interesting (summoning what you view as the very gods of nature to smash down the boundaries of "civilized" life and the injustices caused by it, only to slowly realize as you travel the multiverse than your so-called "gods" are simply mindless beasts on par with any other number of such creatures on other planes, rendering your entire belief system either severely shaken or shattered entirely (side note: There's a free character concept for someone to use if they want it )).
It's not just the character's backstory that has to immediately catch my interest. It's their theme and their abilities. And I'm more a fan of necromancy/spirit summoning as a concept than I am of huge rampaging monstrosities.
Everything scares me... kitties scare me... squirrels scare me... corpses....corpses bring forth a pletora of confusing feeling which i prefer not to dwell on...:p
Everyone has their own preferences. That's why paper / tabletop RPGs like this are so fun to me, and I'm sure I'm not the only one agreeing with that.
A geistcaller isn't out of the realm of possibility at the moment, though you'd be somewhat limited in growing your satchel with more geists until after spells from different planes are available for purchase. It really depends on how close you want to adhere to the "geist" theme - they're all subtype Spirits, so you could really use any spirit creature if you so wanted. If you did want to keep to the "geist" theme, there are a decent handful of blue and white geists to play with from Innistrad / Dark Ascension.
OK, now I see your point. You want to play in a style that interests you. Alright. You're the one making the character.
Now that you say that Nacatl backstory, I remember how those of Naya view the beasts as gods. Only one beast is a god on Alara in my view, though, and that's Progenitus. I really wish I hadn't already made 2 characters I like now. Now I have to wait for the next plane subforum. Preferably not Alara, actually.
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A scientist turned wizard.
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
If I go geistcaller, the majority of the actual spirit creatures would probably be the UW ones from Innistrad, with Drogskol Captain being the all star. Maybe splashing B for Orzhov stuff and/or Unburial Rites and Lingering Souls.
Everything scares me... kitties scare me... squirrels scare me... corpses....corpses bring forth a pletora of confusing feeling which i prefer not to dwell on...:p
Definitely good cards for a geistcaller. There were 2 innistrad cards. Battleground Geist and Gallows Warden that were U and Wrespectively, and gave +1/+0 and +0/+1 to other spirits respectively. Try those. And for a Ravnican U or W spirit, Vassal Soul is good.
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A scientist turned wizard.
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
Why Fettergeist? Sure, it's a 3/4 Flyer for 3, but...
Wait...
I see a strategy. 1 Fettergeist with tons of enchants on it, like vigilance, lifelink, +X/+X, so on. Works great in green-white-blue where you get green enchants making it huge, blue giving it hexproof, white vigilance and lifelink, overpowered stuff.
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A scientist turned wizard.
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
A 3/4 for three is pretty good in our format. It lives through Lightning Bolt and kills most creatures that are costed the same (a lot of green's 3/3 for three's, for instance). The only similar creature in blue (Illusionary Servant) has a huge drawback in an RPG that can create random targeted instants on the fly (Giant Growth, etc.).
Fettergeist isn't the type of creature you'd actively want to enchant anyways, at least at first. You want something with hexproof or some way to avoid being targeted; stats alone don't save it from removal spells. Hence why subpar cards like Gladecover Scout do so much work in voltron-style decks. Fettergeist is good as a value beater that can hold its own in a fight and deter the opponent from attacking.
There are enchantments to give hexproof, right? So play it, enchant it with hexproof or equip it with the Ring of Evos Isle, then start making it huge. And the Ring WILL make it huge, the other enchants just speed it up.
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A scientist turned wizard.
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
So I was wondering/pondering... Are spells actually going to affect the physical environment in this version (I sincerely hope they are, for the record)?
Like not only do I think something such as, for example, Obliterate should have an in battle effect, it should affect the place the player(s) are fighting and/or the entire area. If a player is battling an enemy in a castle, casting Obliterate would not only destroy all the opponent's artifacts, creatures, and lands, it would also likely bring the entire castle down around them.
If a player is fighting in a small-sized building, summoning Godsire would cause it to become significantly less building-like and a lot more like a pile of debris.
I personally think it would make for more tactical/3-dimensional gameplay. Want to cast your Inferno? Awesome. Just don't be surprised when you set a city block on fire and have to answer for it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the willing suspension of disbelief. But having all your spells only work in very limited situations and unable to affect anything except enemies and their resources makes it feel more like a static MMO world than a mostly free-form RPG.
Everything scares me... kitties scare me... squirrels scare me... corpses....corpses bring forth a pletora of confusing feeling which i prefer not to dwell on...:p
So it occurs to me, are characters allowed to draw mana/cast spells in non-combat situations?
For example: My character sees a small object on a high ledge that she cannot reach. Can she draw upon mana for a few minutes and summon a Thieving Magpie to retrieve it for her?
Also, are spells from 8ED-10E purchasable at the spell shop in Dominaria, or only TSP block/CSP?
As far as I know, core sets since M10 are available to all. I would presume Bladetusk Boar could be had by any starting character who could cast it.
MtG: RPG - Luu Sihner
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
MtG:RPG - Kai
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
So far I've got a few ideas:
Ice mage
Boros mage-priest (most likely a minotaur)
Azorious lawmage
Innistrad Geistcaller
Master illusionist
Planeswalking RWG freedom-fighter/vigilante (Nacatl from Naya?)
I like the idea of an ice mage, but I can't seem to find many interesting ice-themed spells. Anyone care to suggest some flavorful frost/ice/blizzard/etc. spells I could go with?
{Magic: The RPG}
And I'm gonna have to shoot down the 'master illusionist' idea. Until the satchel restrictions, I was, and when I get the gold, I will be again, the illusionist. On Dominaria, at least. Feel free to be one on any other planes.
Wait, don't you already have a Ravnica character? So why are you debating more unless you've thought of a plot to get them away from Ravnica?
I really like the Geistcaller thing. If/when Innistrad is availible, mind if I nick that idea? Unless you save it until then. I think smallcreation said you can start off with Innistrad spells, but you'd start on Dominaria. If you want to use that idea, you can even before Innistrad gets a subforum.
A Naya Nacatl, eh? Well, Dominaria already has a shapeshifting cat artificer from Esper, so that could be interesting. I honestly want to see that happen. I hope to see the interactions between Gear, the etherium-pawed cat shapeshifter brought to us by Fenris, and whatever you name the Nacatl, if you do make the Nacatl.
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
The geistcaller is probably my favorite idea, so I'll likely end up going with that in the end. I'm a huge fan of necromancer-types, and summoning spirits instead of zombies/other rotting undead things is a more compelling theme to me.
I also like the Nacatl just because I like big smashy creatures. But character overrules spells in my mind. Making a well-developed, compelling Geistcaller character would be more fun to me than making a super-powerful stompy creature mage.
{Magic: The RPG}
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
I view it like this: any character concept can be compelling with a good backstory and characterization. But for me, not only does the character's backstory have to engage me, the character's abilities have to be interesting too. Giant smashy monsters, while fun to use and a perfectly fine character concept, aren't as interesting to me as conjuring up the vengeful (or not so vengeful) spirits of the dead.
It also gives such a character a built-in conflict to explore: Those spirits aren't like zombies. They're not mindless corpses and you're the puppetmaster controlling them. They are the essences of actual once-living people. Can you justify forcing back the spirits of the dead to do your bidding (no matter how well intentioned) if you're causing them misery or pain by forcing them into battle?
To be fair, I could just as easily make a character concept of a freedom fighting Nacatl just as interesting (summoning what you view as the very gods of nature to smash down the boundaries of "civilized" life and the injustices caused by it, only to slowly realize as you travel the multiverse than your so-called "gods" are simply mindless beasts on par with any other number of such creatures on other planes, rendering your entire belief system either severely shaken or shattered entirely (side note: There's a free character concept for someone to use if they want it )).
It's not just the character's backstory that has to immediately catch my interest. It's their theme and their abilities. And I'm more a fan of necromancy/spirit summoning as a concept than I am of huge rampaging monstrosities.
{Magic: The RPG}
A geistcaller isn't out of the realm of possibility at the moment, though you'd be somewhat limited in growing your satchel with more geists until after spells from different planes are available for purchase. It really depends on how close you want to adhere to the "geist" theme - they're all subtype Spirits, so you could really use any spirit creature if you so wanted. If you did want to keep to the "geist" theme, there are a decent handful of blue and white geists to play with from Innistrad / Dark Ascension.
MtG:RPG - Kai
Now that you say that Nacatl backstory, I remember how those of Naya view the beasts as gods. Only one beast is a god on Alara in my view, though, and that's Progenitus. I really wish I hadn't already made 2 characters I like now. Now I have to wait for the next plane subforum. Preferably not Alara, actually.
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
{Magic: The RPG}
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
MtG:RPG - Kai
Wait...
I see a strategy. 1 Fettergeist with tons of enchants on it, like vigilance, lifelink, +X/+X, so on. Works great in green-white-blue where you get green enchants making it huge, blue giving it hexproof, white vigilance and lifelink, overpowered stuff.
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
MtG:RPG - Kai
EDIT: Wait, never mind, Exalted tends to need more creatures that have Exalted to give the boost.
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
Amusingly enough, it's a lot harder to get now as a starting satchel.
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
Put it this way. I had to fight it, and T4 I had a 6/6 that I couldn't easily deal with as a black mage.
MtG:RPG - Kai
Though the winds are cold, I fly on.
A learning eagle in a sky of knowledge.
The chilly academic of Ravenclaw.
-Pottermore
Guess what? That bear is an illusion INSIDE an illusion.
-Ultima, Dominarian illusionist, MTGRPG
Like not only do I think something such as, for example, Obliterate should have an in battle effect, it should affect the place the player(s) are fighting and/or the entire area. If a player is battling an enemy in a castle, casting Obliterate would not only destroy all the opponent's artifacts, creatures, and lands, it would also likely bring the entire castle down around them.
If a player is fighting in a small-sized building, summoning Godsire would cause it to become significantly less building-like and a lot more like a pile of debris.
I personally think it would make for more tactical/3-dimensional gameplay. Want to cast your Inferno? Awesome. Just don't be surprised when you set a city block on fire and have to answer for it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the willing suspension of disbelief. But having all your spells only work in very limited situations and unable to affect anything except enemies and their resources makes it feel more like a static MMO world than a mostly free-form RPG.
{Magic: The RPG}
For example: My character sees a small object on a high ledge that she cannot reach. Can she draw upon mana for a few minutes and summon a Thieving Magpie to retrieve it for her?
Also, are spells from 8ED-10E purchasable at the spell shop in Dominaria, or only TSP block/CSP?
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