Personally, I think I'll be happy with whatever they come out with. I may or may not end up using it, but I'll definitely enjoy seeing what is coming up the pipeline.
Lets say I control a Boros Battleshaper enchanted with Madcap Skills. My opponent has two Ubul Sar Gatekeepers on the field. My attack step happens, and I force one of the two gatekeepers to block this turn. I don't make anything unable to attack or block. I swing with the Battleshaper. What happens next?
As far as I can see, there's two possibilities.
1) In order to satisfy as many requirements as possible, both creatures are required to block my Battleshaper, resulting in a terrible combat for my opponent.
2) Because the Battleshaper isn't affecting the other Gatekeeper, it can't be forced to block, so my opponent can either not block it or double block.
The situation came up at a prerelease I was at, and there were people arguing both interpretations. Eventually, the player decided to not force the situation, and swung with more than one dude, enabling a different block to still be legal, but I was curious what would have been the result. Similarly, would this apply to creatures such as Ember Beast?
I remember reading on Blogatog that it didn't too well
But I'm starting to think MaRo was maybe just talking about Morningtide
Shadowmoor/Eventide did better than Lorwyn/Morningtide, but still wasn't hugely popular, iirc. Some of that may have to do with association with Lorwyn, of course.
I really think they need to do a full three set block that's tribal themed. They have yet to stick through it without largely abandoning the theme for the third set, or at least majorly switching the focus (Scourge switching to Dragons/CMC, Shadowmoor jumping ship to hybrid, and Avacyn becoming about Humans and Angels (probably the most in line, though)).
What I want to know is whether WotC is potentially cutting into stores' profits and consequently preventing my LGS from offering store credit by obligating them to buy X product for prize support (which doesn't seem to be the case), or if I've been misinformed and it was the store manager's choice not to allow store credit as optional prize support (which is the usual custom at my LGS for similar events).
I know of at least one store locally to me that has previously gotten around that by handing out prize packs, then offering to buy prize packs off people with store credit. They still don't sell them until the actual street date, but they add them back into their inventory that way.
Are you aware Illusionist's Bracers doesn't do anything for Xiahou Dun himself? Since sacrificing is a cost of the ability, Xiahou is unequipped when Illusionist's Bracers checks to see if the ability triggers. Since it's no longer an ability of an equipped creature, Illusionist's Bracers gets bored and doesn't bother to copy it.
Anyways, the obvious one that nobody's mentioned yet, I find him great with Ghave, Guru of Spores. It's nice that it manages to not go infinite (at least not without other pieces), and acts as his own personal doubling season, while not being as high profile as that particular enchantment.
Orzhov Angels are now Boros Angels that defected the ranks, while in the past they used to be creations of the Orzhov.
But what bothers me the most is not the retcon but that Orzhov Angels lost their distinctive looks because of this.
...What distinctive look did they lose? I mean, it's based on two cards made several years apart, and the main difference I can find is one is bald and the other isn't. Both have ornate weaponry, elaborate armor, pale skin, and boob-windows. Heck, they have identical wings. So what distinctive look did they lose?
I've been brainstorming about Gorgons still existing on Ravnica and recently something came to mind.
Firstly, what do we actually know about Gorgons the creature type in general? We know that they are not mana constructs due to Vraska's planeswalker spark. We also know that they are mono-gendered and that no male gorgons exist. How do Gorgons reproduce without male counterparts? That was the question that ultimately led me to this line of thinking.
Gorgons are characterized typically by having reptilian qualities. What if these qualities also extend into reproduction? In nature, there are many species of reptile that are capable of reproducing through parthenogenesis, in which the mother is capable of birthing young without fertilization. Ludmilla of the Sisters of Stone Death was the only of the trio to survive, which gives us a living gorgon that could essentially create more. Note that in RtR block there are only about four cards which show or represent gorgons. They have by no means made a massive comeback, but rather still exist in a small way.
No idea if this is a viable theory or whatever, perhaps I missed some Magic Lore regarding Gorgons, but yeah, some food for thought I guess. May as well put the old animal sciences knowledge to use, right?
(More info on parthenogenesis here)
Edit: On the subject of Angels, they are mana constructs, and it is assumed that with the white mana on the plane that more were "born" over time. "Orzhov also had angels" is a point that has been brought up before too.
That's a really good theory. I always like injecting some science into this sort of thing. And character motivation wise, it makes sense too, since Ludmilla was always around her other sisters, so she may have started reproducing as a way of getting back her "family".
Furthermore, as far as Vampires go, we know they reproduce through conversion of humans. I could see it all getting started by some high ranking Orzhovian meeting up with Sorin/another vampire planeswalker (if one such exists), and making a deal so he gets to have the immortality but not lose corporeality. And now, it's just one of many services the Orzhov offer... for a price, of course.
That'll make anything we have unblockable and protect it to boot.
Oh, people missing the entire point of this thread. (Not this post, but the one directly above this.) Anyways, Cloak... Wrexial, The Risen Deep isn't always unblockable, and he likes to be.
Bob, please explain. It seems as though Doubling Season would allow Ral to charge back up rather quickly assuming you got a few extra turns. Using his +1 ability would actually add 2 loyalty counters. No?
Incorrect, unfortunately. It's a subtle distinction, but doubling season causes you to double the number of counters whenever an effect puts them on something. Adding counters to planeswalkers with their abilities is a cost, not an effect. Doubling season will double the number of counters Ral comes in with, but won't double it when he uses his +1.
So now we're assuming that they're playing U/B and not Mono B? Ok. I'm done. Nobody can discuss anything on here without trying to create some Magic X-mas hand. I'll wait for the RC's next announcement. Good job this time guys.
Yea, and I could play a Sudden Impact vs the Bargain player who just spent 3/4 of his life to draw cards. You don't win if Bargain resolves. That logic is wrong on so many levels. You still have to survive your own draws and be able to play whatever it is that you draw. Bargain being legal would be no worse than alot cards that are currently legal.
I don't really feel this needs further commentary, but I'll provide some regardless. The type of magical christmas land argument you're railing about is exactly what you've been providing.
In a typical game situation, drawing 20 cards more than your opponents will probably win you the game. In EDH, that doesn't even take up half your life total with Bargain. That's not getting into the particular win combinations, which is what your entire basis of argument for Tooth and Nail.
Yea, and I could play a Sudden Impact vs the Bargain player who just spent 3/4 of his life to draw cards. You don't win if Bargain resolves. That logic is wrong on so many levels. You still have to survive your own draws and be able to play whatever it is that you draw. Bargain being legal would be no worse than alot cards that are currently legal.
So the bargain player doesn't run a single counterspell in the 30-40 odd cards he drew? I mean, if you're assuming you've got a Sudden Impact, I think it's reasonable for the guy who drew three times as many cards as you did, might just have a pact or a force or any one of a number of other spells.
As far as I can see, there's two possibilities.
1) In order to satisfy as many requirements as possible, both creatures are required to block my Battleshaper, resulting in a terrible combat for my opponent.
2) Because the Battleshaper isn't affecting the other Gatekeeper, it can't be forced to block, so my opponent can either not block it or double block.
The situation came up at a prerelease I was at, and there were people arguing both interpretations. Eventually, the player decided to not force the situation, and swung with more than one dude, enabling a different block to still be legal, but I was curious what would have been the result. Similarly, would this apply to creatures such as Ember Beast?
Shadowmoor/Eventide did better than Lorwyn/Morningtide, but still wasn't hugely popular, iirc. Some of that may have to do with association with Lorwyn, of course.
I really think they need to do a full three set block that's tribal themed. They have yet to stick through it without largely abandoning the theme for the third set, or at least majorly switching the focus (Scourge switching to Dragons/CMC, Shadowmoor jumping ship to hybrid, and Avacyn becoming about Humans and Angels (probably the most in line, though)).
I know of at least one store locally to me that has previously gotten around that by handing out prize packs, then offering to buy prize packs off people with store credit. They still don't sell them until the actual street date, but they add them back into their inventory that way.
Are you aware Illusionist's Bracers doesn't do anything for Xiahou Dun himself? Since sacrificing is a cost of the ability, Xiahou is unequipped when Illusionist's Bracers checks to see if the ability triggers. Since it's no longer an ability of an equipped creature, Illusionist's Bracers gets bored and doesn't bother to copy it.
Anyways, the obvious one that nobody's mentioned yet, I find him great with Ghave, Guru of Spores. It's nice that it manages to not go infinite (at least not without other pieces), and acts as his own personal doubling season, while not being as high profile as that particular enchantment.
...What distinctive look did they lose? I mean, it's based on two cards made several years apart, and the main difference I can find is one is bald and the other isn't. Both have ornate weaponry, elaborate armor, pale skin, and boob-windows. Heck, they have identical wings. So what distinctive look did they lose?
http://www.wizards.com/magic/images/mtgcom/wallpapers/Wallpaper_AngelofDespair_1280x1024.jpg
http://media.wizards.com/images/magic/daily/wallpapers/DeathpactAngel_GTC_1920x1080_Wallpaper.jpg
That's a really good theory. I always like injecting some science into this sort of thing. And character motivation wise, it makes sense too, since Ludmilla was always around her other sisters, so she may have started reproducing as a way of getting back her "family".
Furthermore, as far as Vampires go, we know they reproduce through conversion of humans. I could see it all getting started by some high ranking Orzhovian meeting up with Sorin/another vampire planeswalker (if one such exists), and making a deal so he gets to have the immortality but not lose corporeality. And now, it's just one of many services the Orzhov offer... for a price, of course.
Oh, people missing the entire point of this thread. (Not this post, but the one directly above this.) Anyways, Cloak... Wrexial, The Risen Deep isn't always unblockable, and he likes to be.
Incorrect, unfortunately. It's a subtle distinction, but doubling season causes you to double the number of counters whenever an effect puts them on something. Adding counters to planeswalkers with their abilities is a cost, not an effect. Doubling season will double the number of counters Ral comes in with, but won't double it when he uses his +1.
I don't really feel this needs further commentary, but I'll provide some regardless. The type of magical christmas land argument you're railing about is exactly what you've been providing.
In a typical game situation, drawing 20 cards more than your opponents will probably win you the game. In EDH, that doesn't even take up half your life total with Bargain. That's not getting into the particular win combinations, which is what your entire basis of argument for Tooth and Nail.
Filigree Sages, since we might as well turn our mana into Myrs.
So the bargain player doesn't run a single counterspell in the 30-40 odd cards he drew? I mean, if you're assuming you've got a Sudden Impact, I think it's reasonable for the guy who drew three times as many cards as you did, might just have a pact or a force or any one of a number of other spells.
Fallowsage gives us another dude that likes to be tapped all day long.
Stonybrook schoolmaster gives you more wizards to sacrifice.