A different type of Ghostbusting. I hope Arlinn lives because she's been used well this story but it wouldn't shock me if she didn't survive the human victory. I could easily see r&d not wanting to have to continuously design flip walkers.
This concept of Sorin wounding Sigarda in one story and then realizing she’s exactly what humans always needed in the very next is awkward. Then again, we’re talking about the moron that gave up on his own critical creation knowing she could not be replicated, plunging his home world into irreparable peril for minimal benefit to enact a petty vendetta.
I actually really like that part of it. Let main characters make things worse! Especially when they're in line with the characters flaws (Sorin is irritable, selfish, petty, and usually unwilling to listen to other perspectives)! Payoffs are only satisfying when they're earned and Sorin learning the error of his ways is pretty much the best payoff in terms of plotting we've had in an MTG story in a looooong time.
I honestly think that the way Sorin has been written this visit to Innistraad might be the best magic plot I've ever read. It's not saying a ton but they used what we knew about him, set up stakes based in his history, and played with what we like and dislike about him as a character. It's great stuff from a plotting perspective even if the writing is uneven at times!
It just bugs me so much that the flavor on the actual cards is lying about the story they are claiming to tell. The cards are all >90% of players will ever learn about the story. I know it's silly because I really liked the story they've told for once it's just that most people won't realize what's actually going on with Sorin because he barely features in the flavor text.
Edit: Unless something changes this is decidely not what happens. Saying Arlinn interrupted proceedings on a card when it was the combo of Sorin and Sigarda is just so weird.
Today’s story was the first of the latest Innistrad stories (so far) to not have pacing issues.
The story was good though it didn’t seem to explain why Chandra ‘dressed to kill’ in a formal gown.
If she (as a +1 or small cadre) accompanied Sorin at the festivities in the barely hidden guise of ‘witnessing’ the occasion, then I could be convinced of the change in appearance.
But that’s not what happened, nor has it been explained why or how she got the dress.
If anything, she’s about to lead a bunch of human allies and soldiers into battle.
I mean, who does that IN HEELS??
That and the flavor text with Arlinn being the one to object to the wedding. Having the flavor not match the story is a weird way to avoid spoilers from having the set come out before the story.
I really enjoyed Sorin's parts of that story. Unlike some of the revisits we've had the previous trips really add to the story here. We know the depth of his ties to the plane and seeing him become emotional doesn't feel jarring like it could have. It feels earned here.
Yeah the Arlinn story was really solid (by the standards of an MTG story) but the Ritual wasn't because Crimson Vow was coming and we knew Olivia was going to interfere and it wasn't written in a particularly compelling or character driven way.
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I didn't realize that. Thanks for the correction!
I actually really like that part of it. Let main characters make things worse! Especially when they're in line with the characters flaws (Sorin is irritable, selfish, petty, and usually unwilling to listen to other perspectives)! Payoffs are only satisfying when they're earned and Sorin learning the error of his ways is pretty much the best payoff in terms of plotting we've had in an MTG story in a looooong time.
I honestly think that the way Sorin has been written this visit to Innistraad might be the best magic plot I've ever read. It's not saying a ton but they used what we knew about him, set up stakes based in his history, and played with what we like and dislike about him as a character. It's great stuff from a plotting perspective even if the writing is uneven at times!
It just bugs me so much that the flavor on the actual cards is lying about the story they are claiming to tell. The cards are all >90% of players will ever learn about the story. I know it's silly because I really liked the story they've told for once it's just that most people won't realize what's actually going on with Sorin because he barely features in the flavor text.
Edit: Unless something changes this is decidely not what happens. Saying Arlinn interrupted proceedings on a card when it was the combo of Sorin and Sigarda is just so weird.
That and the flavor text with Arlinn being the one to object to the wedding. Having the flavor not match the story is a weird way to avoid spoilers from having the set come out before the story.