So ummmm... Anyone got an actual reference for WotC deciding not to reference the biblical plagues? Cause yeeeeaaahhhhh...... That was definitely the first plague. I mean I'm cool with it but there was stuff going around about them not doing exodus to avoid pissing people off.
Also to note that all the gods wanted to protect the plane, Bontu included so could be she is just easier for Blas to corrupt since Bolas is focused on black.
I wonder if we will get a story named after each chapter. The Hour of Devastation story archive is not up yet.
I love the intro. Please it does show Bolas was rushing when he took over Amonkhet and was there for a few days. I really hate him for making Hazoret kill the trail goers. Also interesting to see how Amonkhet did have trials system before.
So I was EXTREMELY disappointed it wasn't a Kaalia of the Vast story.
That said, I enjoyed it. Wizards has done a really good job over the past few months of building up Vraska to be a serious villain, maybe not on the Bolas level, but formidable nonetheless, and pretty much all without featuring her. First the attack on the Azorious, followed by Ral Zarek revealing she planeswalked to nowhere (which is theoretically impossible), and now with her finally making a true bold play on overtaking the Golgari using Mazirek.
Interesting turn of events, I like the army of horrors then zombies TBH. And it does indeed look the horrors are the former worthy from For Each of You, a Gift. The art of the token suggests this as well since you can see the bandages falls off around them and what looks like the Cartouches. (the video shows a close up of the token at ~10:20)
I also really shows the difference between Bolas world and Egyptian mythology world sides of Amonkhet.
I think Power Without Equal is meant to be the 3 missing gods.
Love the call back to Slave of Bolas with What's Yours is Now Mine.
Well I might still be only because of commander anthology but the only reason I find that hard to believe is because if getting two story's and this is really deep on this guy and also I don't see a second story for all the other commanders besides him.
Well I might still be only because of commander anthology but the only reason I find that hard to believe is because if getting two story's and this is really deep on this guy and also I don't see a second story for all the other commanders besides him.
So, Alison has confirmed the banner is Silumgar and the pot Therosi, but that Vraska hasn't met the story-circle yet.
Did she confirm the Pot as from Theros?
Yeah, on twitter.
That's awesome! Greek clay pots with oceanic designs were something I was hoping to see more in Theros artwork actually. I'd love the basics lands for Theros to have more detail on them, like these pots sitting out on a ledge or balcony, filled with flowers overlooking a Mediterranean-like sea for Islands, as an example. Theros basics were rather explicitly very… basic, despite the artists actually wanting to paint simple temples or architecture and being told not to do so. I think that was a mistake. Getting Grecian about the feel of Theros basics is something I want in the return - more detailing.
Huh. Do you know why they didn't want to include temples and such? Because from all "recent" basics, I think the Theros ones rank somewhere at the bottom, mostly because they're so bland.
Looking through his blog he guess that since they just had RtR they wanted more nature and no "city" lands to set them apart.
Man, I really hope Rhonas is going to do something in the story. Unfortunately he also strikes me as a god who would side with Bolas, while Hazoret and Oketra look like they might oppose him. Kefnet too, actually, considering he's the god of knowledge and has been lied to the whole time. This would mean that the reptilian gods would side with Bolas who is a dragon, while the mammalian and avian ones would oppose him. Nice dichotonomy, if true.
It will be interesting to see. Creative has said the Amonkhet gods are meant to be "good" since in magic past gods and religion haven't been see as very positive and a part of the evilness of Bolas was corrupting them.
If discovering her whole life was a lie when she found out Bolas was a tresspasser wasn't the moment that sparked Samut. And being locked in a coffin didnt do it. What sparks her? Speculate!
Coming face to face with Bolas and/or the death of Djeru.
Saying humans have trouble relating to non-humans isn't wizards making BS, its a part of psychological othering. By default humans will relate to what is the most familiar and like them and harder time relating to things unfamiliar and unlike them. Thats why we like mammals by default more then birds and we like birds more then bugs. Lindsay Ellis goes over how Hollywood does this with aliens and you can relate this what wizards been saying; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srul5Xd2kT4
All true yet this is Fantasy genre. The name of the game is Magic the Gathering, not Human Nature the Blandening. When you can start to predict what Wizards is going to do that isn't fantasy at all. That's formula, rote methodology. Might as well show up to a classical Shakesperian play and be put to sleep by its linear known plot line. I'm not supporting a SJ line at all. I just want it to be Fantasy, be different and exciting, not predictable.
So for now I'm pro-Bolas, hope he kills/imprisons/banishes the entire Gatewatch. Then I hope a planes-walking insectoid being devours Bolas and leaves and Wizards opens up the creative floodgates.
Let me be a little more clear, it is perfect valid for people to say they want more non-human walkers but saying Wizard are lying about how humans by default relate to humans better isn't. It been explored in other media and has a whole psychological definition for why people feel this way. Outside of Tolkien no popular fantasy media I can think off the top of my head isn't human-centered. So I what I encourage people to do is contact wizards and say politely that while they understand that the average magic player will like human character by default more, that there is a number player who would like to see more non-human walkers.
Also worth to note we gotten 2-3 non-humans walker as cards since the start of the gatewatch arc so they aren't being totally ignored;
BtZ-Ob, Nissa, Kiora
SoI- Tamayo, Nahiri, Sorin*, Arlinn*
Kaladesh- Dovin, Ajanin**, Nissa**
Amonkhet- Nissa**, Bolas
Ixalan***- Ajani**, Vraska
*If you count them as non-human.
**Nissa (and to a lesser extent Ajani) as a gatewatch members kinda shifts the numbers so you can not counter as much.
*** If that leaked booster art turns out to be true.
Saying humans have trouble relating to non-humans isn't wizards making BS, its a part of psychological othering. By default humans will relate to what is the most familiar and like them and harder time relating to things unfamiliar and unlike them. Thats why we like mammals by default more then birds and we like birds more then bugs. Lindsay Ellis goes over how Hollywood does this with aliens and you can relate this what wizards been saying; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srul5Xd2kT4
What if Vraska is the planeswalker Ajani is looking to recruit on Ixalan?
Vraska has clearly been to Kamigawa and Tarkir, the home plane of two confirmed members of the story-circle. Ajani's own knowledge of other planeswalkers is likely from the story-circle as well. Vraska's whole demeanor in the flashbacks makes me think she'd enjoy sitting and talking with the likes of Tamiyo and Narset.
Wait is that what we're doing on Ixalan? Following A bank on a recruiting run? I thought he was going to Dominaria for help. Wat?
Dominaria is the rendezvouz point. He's specifically going to look for allies against Bolas.
Hahaha! Oh man can you just imagine the look on Jace's face when/if Ajani showed up with Vraska in tow as an "Ally."
Bolas- Seems pretty powerful. Kinda weaker then his older card but easier to cast and still can hit pretty hard. I wonder if the new trend is we going to see key planeswalker with 4 abilities, like Garruk and Chandra got.
Bontu- Looks good and fair, at three mana and not uncapping next turn isn't that huge of a drawback. I really wonder what will go on with Bontu since the gods of Amonkhet are suppose to be "good" and all things point to Bontu being somewhat willing to Bolas.
Samut- Not one to complain but why did we need to get another RG walker? I figured being a speedster she'd maybe be RW (and to be fair with this card she could have been RW and fit better) if two colored and I totally excepted her to be Naya. And its not like we are out of them either with Arlinn and Domi still around, Sarkhan possible being seen again in those colors and Xenagos is still maybe alive in some form.
Ethan Fleischer said in his design article;
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/card-preview/five-trials-2017-04-04
I wonder if we will get a story named after each chapter. The Hour of Devastation story archive is not up yet.
Kaalia is from Alara, here is her "origins" story;
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/uncharted-realms/stonekiller-2012-08-06
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-story/stonekiller-part-2-2012-08-13
I also really shows the difference between Bolas world and Egyptian mythology world sides of Amonkhet.
I think Power Without Equal is meant to be the 3 missing gods.
Love the call back to Slave of Bolas with What's Yours is Now Mine.
Again, no? He got that one story and thats it, this next story is the first one for HoD.
No? HoD story starts this Wednesday.
Looking through his blog he guess that since they just had RtR they wanted more nature and no "city" lands to set them apart.
It will be interesting to see. Creative has said the Amonkhet gods are meant to be "good" since in magic past gods and religion haven't been see as very positive and a part of the evilness of Bolas was corrupting them.
Let me be a little more clear, it is perfect valid for people to say they want more non-human walkers but saying Wizard are lying about how humans by default relate to humans better isn't. It been explored in other media and has a whole psychological definition for why people feel this way. Outside of Tolkien no popular fantasy media I can think off the top of my head isn't human-centered. So I what I encourage people to do is contact wizards and say politely that while they understand that the average magic player will like human character by default more, that there is a number player who would like to see more non-human walkers.
Also worth to note we gotten 2-3 non-humans walker as cards since the start of the gatewatch arc so they aren't being totally ignored;
BtZ-Ob, Nissa, Kiora
SoI- Tamayo, Nahiri, Sorin*, Arlinn*
Kaladesh- Dovin, Ajanin**, Nissa**
Amonkhet- Nissa**, Bolas
Ixalan***- Ajani**, Vraska
*If you count them as non-human.
**Nissa (and to a lesser extent Ajani) as a gatewatch members kinda shifts the numbers so you can not counter as much.
*** If that leaked booster art turns out to be true.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srul5Xd2kT4
He'll be afraid, he'll be petrified....
^^^Clearly didn't read what the department does^^^
Bontu- Looks good and fair, at three mana and not uncapping next turn isn't that huge of a drawback. I really wonder what will go on with Bontu since the gods of Amonkhet are suppose to be "good" and all things point to Bontu being somewhat willing to Bolas.
Samut- Not one to complain but why did we need to get another RG walker? I figured being a speedster she'd maybe be RW (and to be fair with this card she could have been RW and fit better) if two colored and I totally excepted her to be Naya. And its not like we are out of them either with Arlinn and Domi still around, Sarkhan possible being seen again in those colors and Xenagos is still maybe alive in some form.