The parts with the entity bring up interesting implications, though overall it felt far too much like the whisperings of the chainveil. Also considering the ending what is the possibility that Tacenda upon receiving the BogEntity planeswalked away ? And if she did that brings up the fact that obtaining an entity might actually cause/force your spark to ignite ? It seems to fit considering Davriel is wary of using the entity's power and is so bent on hiding his identity from fear of being followed...so Entity Bearers might all be multiversal.
Also with Tacenda possibly ascending it finally gives me the Bard planeswalker we've been missing
Tacenda becoming a planeswalker is what I got out of it too, I'm thinking she's mono-green since how nicely her and Davriel
personalities worked off each other and her believing in fate, although it seems like modern Innstrad has naive walkers everywhere.
I think there were a lot of good ideas in Ixalan, but the dinosaurs+pirates+vampires always felt to me like a bit of a stretch. I didn't like the Spanish-flavored white-aligned vampires to be honest, but I admit they were a clever twist, it's just that being South American of Spanish descent myself vampires are something I would never associate with our common culture, instead I would have made the conquistadors something more similar to the greedy and sanctimonious Orzhov and given them BW Angels and spirits with a nasty disposition, for me Spanish vampires feel as silly as Vikings with katanas.
The thing Ixalan isn't just Mesoamerican world, its "Age of Discovery" world (hence the pirates), with the Vampires and Pirates homeland having elements of Spain/France/Italy. In fact the invaders to the Mesoamerican area part of the world not being nothing based in Mesoamerican myth makes sense. Although they do blend somewhat nicely since Ixalan vampires have bat features and there is supposedly a bat god of darkness that draws on a few Mesoamerican myths, who made Elenda into a vampire.
In any case, what I do hope we never see again is a creature called "Chupacabra", whoever advised WOTC on this was clueless, the chupacabras, which actually means "goat sucker" by the way, is in no an established mythological creature in Mesoamerican or Latino culture at large. It's a stupid urban legend that started in Puerto Rico in the 90's and gained traction with Telemundo's (that bastion of serious journalism) reports on it and is treated as a total joke by most people except hillbillies and the tinfoil crowd who believe in alien cattle mutilation, they literally put an UFO conspiracy theory "cryptid" in Magic, little green men with laser guns would be just about as jarring as that.
-Shrug- as someone also latino I had no issues with the Chupacabras, what are urban legends but todays myths and fairy tales?
And talked about a little bit in custom cards set for a superhero set, vedalken could be seen as magics takes on aliens.
Menacing Devil (Uncommon) BR
Creature - Devil
2/2
Spectacle (B/R)(You may cast this spell for its spectacle cost if an opponent lost life this turn.)
Menace
You first thought was Bloodthirst and not Prowl? I thought of something like this for a Grixis faction and would play great with Radios play style.
The idea of you not being able to cast spell if you cast a Spectacle feels very Black/Red and Rakdos I hope it is the case.
Summary
-New novella Magic: Children of the Nameless by Brandon Sanderson
-It stars Tacenda a girl from Innistrad and will cross paths with new planeswalker Davriel.
- Sanderson was more interested in making his own story instead of furthering an already established character and was give Davriel who outside of broad strokes of character, was a blank slate for Sanderson to create. Seems like Davriel will appear some point in the main storyline.
-It will be free and be available to download tomorrow.
Well I guess this was our story treat that was promised for us for December. From the Wheel of Time I liked Sanderson and look forward to this story ^.^
I also think it is important to remember that for awhile creative had a year to world build each world and 6 months to make Kaladesh, Amonkhet and Ixalan. It is really unfair to compare something like Song of Ice and Fire in which Martin spent years developing his world for his story, where creative has 6 months to a year to make a world and story, as well as the art and being on design/development teams. And while Dominaria is big its had a huge number of sets to expand itself, as each world is retuned too more of it will be fleshed out more.
I don't think it's unfair at all with the way I'm doing it, because I brought up A Song of Ice and Fire not to compare quality, but as a counter example to the argument that a world that has a lot of cool but unrelated concepts is poor worldbuilding and incoherent. Ixalan was built in similar fashion, as was Dominaria, and those are two of the stronger examples of worldbuilding magic has put out.
I also think it is important to remember that for awhile creative had a year to world build each world and 6 months to make Kaladesh, Amonkhet and Ixalan. It is really unfair to compare something like Song of Ice and Fire in which Martin spent years developing his world for his story, where creative has 6 months to a year to make a world and story, as well as the art and being on design/development teams. And while Dominaria is big its had a huge number of sets to expand itself, as each world is retuned too more of it will be fleshed out more.
Ulgrotha is an unfortunate case, despite being the home of the Baron Sengir. That portal is all I know that could link it to the modern story, but I think the potential of things coming through the portal FROM Ulgrotha is much more interesting than going back TO Ulgrotha. Maro says that portal connects to an "unnamed plane" when it's more accurate to say that it connects to an "unknown plane," which could be a new plane or a plane we're already familiar with, it was left open-ended.
Since the mending all planar portals and ways to travel different planes (outside of being a planeswalker) stopped working, which is why the Planar Bridge is such a big deal.
Is it just me or is Maro making excuses for the more recent settings? ''Overall Amonkhet was a bit of a downer, but people LOVED the visuals''. ''Numerous people asked us to go to Amonkhet before Bolas went there.'' Also the plane got blown up and still gets a 5? ''Ixalan started good, but it's ratings went down over time, but not because players hated the world but because of gameplay''. And same for Kaladesh. ''I really expected Kaladesh to be liked, but it's in the bottom half of the worlds. But only because we messed up the power level.'' And it gets a 5?
And don't get me wrong, maybe Maro is correct in his assumptions. The point I am trying to make is that this seems incredibly unfair towards some other sets. Why is Kamigawa a failure on all fronts when you could make the argument that it released in a broken standard with affinity ruining everything and was intentionally overnerfed in powerlevel? Isn't that what he is saying for Kaladesh? ''Yeah, the world wasn't that liked, but I suspect it's because of powerlevel issues''. And again, maybe Maro is correct on everything and just has more data than me, but from the article alone it seems very biased and dishonest.
Well 1) with stuff like social media and interacting better with players means they have a lot more nuance when it comes to data so I'm guessing newer planes have more data on what was and wasn't liked and 2) all these scales going around are Maro option, so they going to be biased. Maro also isn't fully in charge of returning planes, creative, marketing and other teams in RnD have a say.
I could see Simic getting a nerfed version that one effect one thing, just your side and/or just +1/+1 counters.
Or a variant that only affects creatures, given that the biggest (evergreen) balancing problem with proliferate is using it to increase loyalty. Maybe a version where you choose to either add a counter to every creature with a counter on it OR double the counters on only one creature?
Proliferate is so broad I could see a number of mechanics built out of it but might be easier for design to balance. Double seems the kinda of thing Maro would be on board with as all.
Regatha/ Vyrn- I kinda hope we see these plane someday, simple because they are so bare it would be nice to have them fleshed out more.
I feel almost exactly the same way. Regatha and Vryn are gimmes for """""return""""" worlds (as much as a 1/10th segment of Magic Origins is anything to return to) - they both have identifiable flavor hooks and the storyline ties are there, and the non-return part is mechanical, which R&D has to make from scratch for every new world anyway. These are just new planes (which in general have to be considered a 0 on the Rabiah scale) with an easier job for Creative.
My thoughts as well and with the block-less set system they could even have more shallow mechanical hooks as well.
Also with the new stance of having stories not tied to sets, they could also world-build some without needing to find mechanical identity.
Kamigawa and Lowryn been this disliekd really saddens me :/
The setting and themes weren't the problem and they insist like it was the biggest reason. Kamigawa had to be a down powerlevel because of Mirrodin's sins aand Lowryn waas at a time wher the game was the least popular(don't know the reason tough). Their world din't had problem and were a long time ago. I bet they would be better received these days.
And yet we got people whining about how Kyrem wasn't hardcore enough and that having children on cards was gonna be the death of magic.
Also whats your source for Lowryn being release during an unpopular time?
Maro has said they tried to bring back proliferate back but is a little hard to balance at points since it can effect anything/anyone with every type of counter. I could see Simic getting a nerfed version that one effect one thing, just your side and/or just +1/+1 counters.
Yeah I remember how everyone was in love with the block when it first came out. If it wasn't for BtZ I'd even bet Zendikar would be a 1 as well.
My thoughts;
In general things are not set in stone, I have seen Maro change planes around depending how player have been reacting. Dominaria used to be a 4 because of the issue of finding an identity for it, but after finding its new identity as "History world" and how well people like Dominara (card set) its now a 1. This also Maro option based on design so creative may view things differnt and what plans they have for the storyline.
Alara- One of my favorite planes I'm sad to see it so high, but I think when we see a shard set again its gonna most likely be Alara. I also know the shards now one plane is less interesting than then apart but I think there are plenty of way the story could fix that.
Amonkhet- This forum have already talked to death about how we could return so its possible and it seems like it pretty well received.
Ixalan- I'm happy Ixalan is at a 4, I loved the world and I love tribal. And with how good Innistrad found balance in being "tribal sets" I think Ixalan issues could be fixed on a return.
New Phyrexia- From his comment I think we won't see a full return but somehow them invading another plane so its not pure New Phyrexia flavor. Makes me think Karn plan to blow them up will end up helping them somehow.
Regatha/ Vyrn- I kinda hope we see these plane someday, simple because they are so bare it would be nice to have them fleshed out more.
Theros/Tarkir- I will bet these are the next worlds we return to, they seem really popular and are in the right time period after Milk to return.
The blue pirates on Ixalan also considered knowledge treasure and would steal books and scrolls, memorize them and then destroy the original so only they would have that knowledge (as well as having the mind controlling and flying sirens as a blue race).
personalities worked off each other and her believing in fate, although it seems like modern Innstrad has naive walkers everywhere.
The thing Ixalan isn't just Mesoamerican world, its "Age of Discovery" world (hence the pirates), with the Vampires and Pirates homeland having elements of Spain/France/Italy. In fact the invaders to the Mesoamerican area part of the world not being nothing based in Mesoamerican myth makes sense. Although they do blend somewhat nicely since Ixalan vampires have bat features and there is supposedly a bat god of darkness that draws on a few Mesoamerican myths, who made Elenda into a vampire.
-Shrug- as someone also latino I had no issues with the Chupacabras, what are urban legends but todays myths and fairy tales?
And talked about a little bit in custom cards set for a superhero set, vedalken could be seen as magics takes on aliens.
You first thought was Bloodthirst and not Prowl? I thought of something like this for a Grixis faction and would play great with Radios play style.
The idea of you not being able to cast spell if you cast a Spectacle feels very Black/Red and Rakdos I hope it is the case.
https://twitter.com/wizards_magic/status/1072526365063286785
Summary
-New novella Magic: Children of the Nameless by Brandon Sanderson
-It stars Tacenda a girl from Innistrad and will cross paths with new planeswalker Davriel.
- Sanderson was more interested in making his own story instead of furthering an already established character and was give Davriel who outside of broad strokes of character, was a blank slate for Sanderson to create. Seems like Davriel will appear some point in the main storyline.
-It will be free and be available to download tomorrow.
Well I guess this was our story treat that was promised for us for December. From the Wheel of Time I liked Sanderson and look forward to this story ^.^
Ah I am sorry I mistook your intention with that.
Since the mending all planar portals and ways to travel different planes (outside of being a planeswalker) stopped working, which is why the Planar Bridge is such a big deal.
Well 1) with stuff like social media and interacting better with players means they have a lot more nuance when it comes to data so I'm guessing newer planes have more data on what was and wasn't liked and 2) all these scales going around are Maro option, so they going to be biased. Maro also isn't fully in charge of returning planes, creative, marketing and other teams in RnD have a say.
I think that is due to it wanting to be an enchantment set, which has some design issues.
Proliferate is so broad I could see a number of mechanics built out of it but might be easier for design to balance. Double seems the kinda of thing Maro would be on board with as all.
My thoughts as well and with the block-less set system they could even have more shallow mechanical hooks as well.
Also with the new stance of having stories not tied to sets, they could also world-build some without needing to find mechanical identity.
And yet we got people whining about how Kyrem wasn't hardcore enough and that having children on cards was gonna be the death of magic.
Also whats your source for Lowryn being release during an unpopular time?
My thoughts;
In general things are not set in stone, I have seen Maro change planes around depending how player have been reacting. Dominaria used to be a 4 because of the issue of finding an identity for it, but after finding its new identity as "History world" and how well people like Dominara (card set) its now a 1. This also Maro option based on design so creative may view things differnt and what plans they have for the storyline.
Alara- One of my favorite planes I'm sad to see it so high, but I think when we see a shard set again its gonna most likely be Alara. I also know the shards now one plane is less interesting than then apart but I think there are plenty of way the story could fix that.
Amonkhet- This forum have already talked to death about how we could return so its possible and it seems like it pretty well received.
Ixalan- I'm happy Ixalan is at a 4, I loved the world and I love tribal. And with how good Innistrad found balance in being "tribal sets" I think Ixalan issues could be fixed on a return.
New Phyrexia- From his comment I think we won't see a full return but somehow them invading another plane so its not pure New Phyrexia flavor. Makes me think Karn plan to blow them up will end up helping them somehow.
Regatha/ Vyrn- I kinda hope we see these plane someday, simple because they are so bare it would be nice to have them fleshed out more.
Theros/Tarkir- I will bet these are the next worlds we return to, they seem really popular and are in the right time period after Milk to return.
I wonder what the characteristic and iconic races could end up looking like on a Norse world.