At first I was indifferent (it was a popular card back then), but after realizing the set and rarity, I can't help but be a bit disappointed that my chances of seeing a Reconnaissance in foil might have dropped rather significantly...
Why does this have to be uncommon? Has anyone outside of WotC ever thought this card was so back breaking that it needed a rarity shift? I've come to terms with 3 mana lightning bolts in today's garbage standard sets but Master's sets are supposed to be powered up. If Merfolk Looter was playable as a common in Exodus, I would surely hope it would be playable at that rarity in a set supposedly containing the best cards printed over the last 25 years.
Why can't they ever use any original art in this set?
This has been answered in basically every thread someone's asked it. Wizards didn't originally outright purchase the rights to art, so older art would require them to renegotiate use of the art to presumably buy out the rights entirely. While it's possible for them to do it, some artists (or their estates/family, in the case of deceased artists) would also have to come to an agreement on the price. It's possible Wizards wasn't able to come to agreements on some of them, or it's possible they didn't try.
Also, while that may not apply to Exodus cards (I don't personally know when the cutoff was), the Rootwater art is fairly cartoonish, and the 7th Edition art much better fits the modern aesthetic while still being relatively nostalgic over the M10+ art.
Why can't they ever use any original art in this set?
This has been answered in basically every thread someone's asked it. Wizards didn't originally outright purchase the rights to art, so older art would require them to renegotiate use of the art to presumably buy out the rights entirely. While it's possible for them to do it, some artists (or their estates/family, in the case of deceased artists) would also have to come to an agreement on the price. It's possible Wizards wasn't able to come to agreements on some of them, or it's possible they didn't try.
That is about pre-Mirage art, though.
The looter is from Exodus, so they should have the rights. Same goes for invigorate, dark ritual, giant growth and even counterspell.Yet they choose not to use the original arts. Or even arts that need a modern frame version.
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“I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them.” —Volrath
That is about pre-Mirage art, though.
The looter is from Exodus, so they should have the rights. Same goes for invigorate, dark ritual, giant growth and even counterspell.Yet they choose not to use the original arts.
Uhm, the original arts for Dark Ritual, Giant Growth, and Counterspell definitely predate Mirage. Maybe they were reused after Mirage, but that doesn't mean they're usable today. Perhaps those original pre-Mirage contracts established a reuse period (like a decade) that has since lapsed.
It is so incredibly correct to include this. Why is "loot" a word? 'Cause this guy. Definitely part of the history of the game, and if players have learned how good looting is since then, uncommon is just fine.
First printed in Exodus.
Number Crunch .:. Spreadsheet: Cards per Set
“I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them.”
—Volrath
Also, while that may not apply to Exodus cards (I don't personally know when the cutoff was), the Rootwater art is fairly cartoonish, and the 7th Edition art much better fits the modern aesthetic while still being relatively nostalgic over the M10+ art.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
That is about pre-Mirage art, though.
The looter is from Exodus, so they should have the rights. Same goes for invigorate, dark ritual, giant growth and even counterspell.Yet they choose not to use the original arts. Or even arts that need a modern frame version.
“I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them.”
—Volrath
Uhm, the original arts for Dark Ritual, Giant Growth, and Counterspell definitely predate Mirage. Maybe they were reused after Mirage, but that doesn't mean they're usable today. Perhaps those original pre-Mirage contracts established a reuse period (like a decade) that has since lapsed.
“I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them.”
—Volrath
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
this set is more iconic than iconic. good job marketing, way to **** that one up.