I think the idea is that people didn't expect to see sympathy from Bolas at all, so it was more than expected in the context of the sociopath we know Bolas to be.
I'll always maintain that Nahiri was justified. I'll never understand how someone wronged in every way, that directed inevitable suffering to a source that would deliver due justice is a villain. I'm glad she sent Emrakul to Innistrad. I would NEVER have risked my own home world, or basically surrendered my spark as an Oldwalker to remain shackled to a prison for unfathomable alien monsters threatening to consume everything. Nahiri did both. And she almost got imprisoned for eternity for it. She's done as an Oldwalker. Her best days are over. Most of her world is a desiccated husk in spite of all her sacrifices. Its people slaughtered. If she hadn't done what she did, Zendikar would have ended, as far as she knew. And a new unsuspecting plane would fall next. Sorin is lucky she didn't dodgeball his face with the Immortal Sun, toss Bolas in the mix and set off a Phyrexian Oil bath bomb in the ruins of Markov Manor's once-finest tub with Ulamog and Kozilek on RSVP. Screw that.
Speaking of Eldrazi. It's crazy to think how Bolas and Ugin go from fearful of arrows and sorcery to literally dealing with Eldrazi Titans one day. I wish we had a some sinister reason for their release other than "planeswalkers." Although I will say, I suspect Bolas is taking advantage of humans liking to work together for a common goal, allowing the Gatewatch and other PWs to amass, so he can trap them all on Ravnica. I wonder if his intention is to trap them there until they're all either slaughtered outright by Eternals or trapped long enough to die anyway. It's a good idea, getting rid of all your opponents in one swoop. Gather the opposition, seal them away.
I'm leaving this excerpt here and I would like someone to convince me that she was just a hapless victim.
"And what gives us the right?" Nahiri asked again. "Yes, fine, risk one world to save the others. If we can stop these Eldrazi, maybe…maybe that means we have to. But what gives us the right to choose which world must bear the burden?"
"What alternative is there?" asked Sorin. "Shall we take a referendum?"
"That is why I chose Zendikar," said Ugin quietly. "Because it does have a protector, someone who has already chosen to take its destiny into her hands. Someone who will do the right thing."
"And if I refuse?" asked Nahiri. "Will you 'convince' me by force?"
"No," said Ugin. "Because I also need your help."
In my alternate magic universe I wish I could live in, Nahiri would have been just been a mysterious legend rather than a woman who attempted to nuke millions of people cuz they happened to live on the same plane as someone who 'wronged' her.
Because millions weren't going to get nuked on another plane after Zendikar was finished getting thoroughly nuked? At least this way, she delivered justice to someone who didn't follow through with promises and responsibilities, on a plane that was a nightmare to begin with, no less. And spared what was left of her home. One way or another, the nuking was inevitable. Might as well use it to accomplish something.
How's the foiling? is it similar from FTV or similar to pack foils?
Same as last year. Similar to FTV, but I don't know if it's exactly the same. Definitely has distinct vertical lines in the reflective bits.
Unfortunately it blows out some of the highlight details in Nissa, but otherwise they all look incredible in person.
Congratulations! They look great. Can't wait to get my hands on Gideon and Jace. I do agree with you though, the FTV-like foiling is really disappointing, and I wish they had chosen a different Jace than Cunning Castaway for that art. Regardless, I hope to pick up those two guys when the hype settles a bit, but getting them signed seems like a good reason for you to have gotten them now, if you're a fan of signed cards. I'm not, but that's just me. Gaaahhhh must be patient.
I think the idea is that people didn't expect to see sympathy from Bolas at all, so it was more than expected in the context of the sociopath we know Bolas to be.
I'll always maintain that Nahiri was justified. I'll never understand how someone wronged in every way, that directed inevitable suffering to a source that would deliver due justice is a villain. I'm glad she sent Emrakul to Innistrad. I would NEVER have risked my own home world, or basically surrendered my spark as an Oldwalker to remain shackled to a prison for unfathomable alien monsters threatening to consume everything. Nahiri did both. And she almost got imprisoned for eternity for it. She's done as an Oldwalker. Her best days are over. Most of her world is a desiccated husk in spite of all her sacrifices. Its people slaughtered. If she hadn't done what she did, Zendikar would have ended, as far as she knew. And a new unsuspecting plane would fall next. Sorin is lucky she didn't dodgeball his face with the Immortal Sun, toss Bolas in the mix and set off a Phyrexian Oil bath bomb in the ruins of Markov Manor's once-finest tub with Ulamog and Kozilek on RSVP. Screw that.
Speaking of Eldrazi. It's crazy to think how Bolas and Ugin go from fearful of arrows and sorcery to literally dealing with Eldrazi Titans one day. I wish we had a some sinister reason for their release other than "planeswalkers." Although I will say, I suspect Bolas is taking advantage of humans liking to work together for a common goal, allowing the Gatewatch and other PWs to amass, so he can trap them all on Ravnica. I wonder if his intention is to trap them there until they're all either slaughtered outright by Eternals or trapped long enough to die anyway. It's a good idea, getting rid of all your opponents in one swoop. Gather the opposition, seal them away.
lol Bolas feels bad about Ugin because he has one less pawn in his game. One less pawn he grew to know well and who gave him many advantages while still around.
As for Nahiri. A plane was going to suffer with Eldrazi one or or another. Sorin willingly consigned that fate onto Zendikar by luring them there. Nahiri did the absolute most maintaining that prison, and risking her home world. All so Sorin wouldn't have to face the minuscule chance of risking his someday. Meanwhile, he returns and fortifies his with Avacyn. With the Eldrazi wreaking havoc, in part thanks to him sealing Nahiri away, and with a plane having to suffer under Eldrazi one way or another, why not Innistrad? Why Zendikar? Why a completely uninvolved plane? At least with Innistrad, Sorin suffers for his mistakes. Any other plane and it's pointless suffering. Zendikar gave enough.
I could see Shorecomber Crab in a core set in place of other commons, like Kraken Hatchling. Why not? It's cute and serves the same purpose for the most part.
If we're going by Oldwalkers, Windgrace Jund, Serra Bant, Feroz Izzet then perhaps Crucius is Esper? Then again, he didn't make the list in the recent PW articles. But that's the only Esper one I can imagine.
I love how rich, textured and enveloping this writing is. It's easy to be immersed and believe Tarkir to be a true world in the context of fantasy writing. I'd love to see this author write for Theros in the future. We get a sense of culture, history, distance, weather, elements, fatigue, reasoning, etc. It's not like other stories where characters seem to just teleport to where they belong, advance the plot because they must, and come face to face with gods, resorting to humor of all things. Whereas before the writing felt like Saturday morning cartoons, I'm pleased to see how grand and horrifying Atarka is as a dragonlord, the influence she and the dangers of the world have on the band of travelers, and the effort it takes to travel such a vast world. The plane doesn't feel small, the Legends in power aren't pushovers, there's actual dimension to everything here. If she can write dragonlords this well, I'm dying to see this author write Greek Theros gods.
Seems like the same objections as last year with "Tribal is so lame". C17 was the most purchased product of the Year. Can't we just wait and see?
Was it really? Not surprised though, the decks were pretty interesting. I felt the Wizard deck could have been better at introducing more Wizards from past lore, of which there are many, but I loved the Dragon and Vampire decks.
Drag 'em. Another reasonable voice, as everyone continues to debate their expectations.
How are you people still going at this? You are making a seriously wrong assumption in your arguments - that the first two events are related (they are clearly not). Person A talks oranges, person B promises you fruit. These events happen independently, in different contexts, only linked by the fact that the speakers share a workplace (but might be working on two very different projects at the time of uttering the statements - one procuring oranges, other bananas). Clearly, when person B brings you fruit, it's going to be bananas. He might not even know that you were discussing oranges with person A.
Not to be totally irrelevant, what about Tawnos for the artifact deck? I have always seen him as a rather unique URG artificer, but he might fit and is about as well-known as Feroz.
I am still hoping for Tevesh Szat as a sub-commander in the Esper deck, but I don't really like my chances.
-
Edited for typos, though I'm sure there are more.
Because the way this whole Commander season was handled. What we learned waiting an hour into a last minute M19 stream for three minutes of C18 was information we traditionally have on Announcement Day. Two Announcement Days didn't even bother. That's the reason everyone was hanging on to hints. The whole thing was just a string of feel-bad moments. Not our fault leaks happened last year.
You keep repeating the same argument ad nauseam, without providing anything of value. The spoiler season has not started yet, ergo, it has not been handled in any way yet. Instead of being glad for having some early information, you keep complaining about WotC letting us know anything at all. IIRC, there were times when no official info was available on supplementary products before reveal. Hell, first two commander products had practically no flavor, just few lines of copy stapled to the legends last minute. Just be glad that there is an actual chance for you to get your random tertiary character from a fifteen years old novel that almost no active players have read or whatever it is that you want.
I think you misunderstand Tiro's point. By this time over the last few years, we've had some tidbit from WotC regarding the upcoming commander sets. The info we got at the M19 stream was the kind of info we previously got on announcement day, and even then it was usually art of a face card, such as Teferi's reveal, or the Ur-Dragon art last year. And as we got closer we got more info, including a card before the official spoiler season started. People are feeling frustrated (and rightfully so) because WotC have given us next to nothing this year to build up hype for the yearly commander product, and what little we've gotten has been incidental at best.
Essentially. Incidental and conflicting. When the first reaction to more info is dread (RE: Serra?), eh.
I agree with Autumn that the decks will likely be very good, if not the best we've gotten now that color restrictions have been lifted. They may even meet a vast number of our expectations. But even relative to past protocol, not the best management. And I'm saying this as someone who is bursting at the seams to see Theros art.
Oranges are great, right? People who like oranges are in for a treat!
We'll be bringing you some fruit in a couple days.
Here are some bananas.
It's reasonable to think that two statements that could be simultaneously true coming from the same company are in fact related. That said, I'm not too broken up about it. We'll be seeing new cards pretty soon anyway. This also doesn't mean we won't still be getting oranges.
Drag 'em. Another reasonable voice, as everyone continues to debate their expectations.
How are you people still going at this? You are making a seriously wrong assumption in your arguments - that the first two events are related (they are clearly not). Person A talks oranges, person B promises you fruit. These events happen independently, in different contexts, only linked by the fact that the speakers share a workplace (but might be working on two very different projects at the time of uttering the statements - one procuring oranges, other bananas). Clearly, when person B brings you fruit, it's going to be bananas. He might not even know that you were discussing oranges with person A.
Not to be totally irrelevant, what about Tawnos for the artifact deck? I have always seen him as a rather unique URG artificer, but he might fit and is about as well-known as Feroz.
I am still hoping for Tevesh Szat as a sub-commander in the Esper deck, but I don't really like my chances.
-
Edited for typos, though I'm sure there are more.
Because the way this whole Commander season was handled. What we learned waiting an hour into a last minute M19 stream for three minutes of C18 was information we traditionally have on Announcement Day. Two Announcement Days didn't even bother. That's the reason everyone was hanging on to hints. The whole thing was just a string of feel-bad moments. Not our fault leaks happened last year.
Oranges are great, right? People who like oranges are in for a treat!
We'll be bringing you some fruit in a couple days.
Here are some bananas.
It's reasonable to think that two statements that could be simultaneously true coming from the same company are in fact related. That said, I'm not too broken up about it. We'll be seeing new cards pretty soon anyway. This also doesn't mean we won't still be getting oranges.
Drag 'em. Another reasonable voice, as everyone continues to debate their expectations.
Not printing Serra would be a huge middle finger to the playerbase and would piss a great many players off.
They made sure to show off the new church of Serra on Dominaria, made some new Serra themed cards in M19 and they even made a Serra themed Angel lord. They know people want Serra after the Nahiri Incident.
If they fail to deliver this year, wizards would lose a lot of trust and respect from the player base.
This and Kamigawa themed cards. I completely agree.
Actually, this article is the entire problem. Neo-Nazis? Really? Way to buy into propaganda. And the Trump reference about "locker room talk" - way to push your political agendas on a card game forum and assume your opinions are the status quo, and the only right way to think. That's why everyone is sick of liberals and SJWs. Arrogance and ignorance. No one gives a damn bro, we're here for card games. Get over yourselves and off your righteous soapbox.
I'll always maintain that Nahiri was justified. I'll never understand how someone wronged in every way, that directed inevitable suffering to a source that would deliver due justice is a villain. I'm glad she sent Emrakul to Innistrad. I would NEVER have risked my own home world, or basically surrendered my spark as an Oldwalker to remain shackled to a prison for unfathomable alien monsters threatening to consume everything. Nahiri did both. And she almost got imprisoned for eternity for it. She's done as an Oldwalker. Her best days are over. Most of her world is a desiccated husk in spite of all her sacrifices. Its people slaughtered. If she hadn't done what she did, Zendikar would have ended, as far as she knew. And a new unsuspecting plane would fall next. Sorin is lucky she didn't dodgeball his face with the Immortal Sun, toss Bolas in the mix and set off a Phyrexian Oil bath bomb in the ruins of Markov Manor's once-finest tub with Ulamog and Kozilek on RSVP. Screw that.
Speaking of Eldrazi. It's crazy to think how Bolas and Ugin go from fearful of arrows and sorcery to literally dealing with Eldrazi Titans one day. I wish we had a some sinister reason for their release other than "planeswalkers." Although I will say, I suspect Bolas is taking advantage of humans liking to work together for a common goal, allowing the Gatewatch and other PWs to amass, so he can trap them all on Ravnica. I wonder if his intention is to trap them there until they're all either slaughtered outright by Eternals or trapped long enough to die anyway. It's a good idea, getting rid of all your opponents in one swoop. Gather the opposition, seal them away.
As for Nahiri. A plane was going to suffer with Eldrazi one or or another. Sorin willingly consigned that fate onto Zendikar by luring them there. Nahiri did the absolute most maintaining that prison, and risking her home world. All so Sorin wouldn't have to face the minuscule chance of risking his someday. Meanwhile, he returns and fortifies his with Avacyn. With the Eldrazi wreaking havoc, in part thanks to him sealing Nahiri away, and with a plane having to suffer under Eldrazi one way or another, why not Innistrad? Why Zendikar? Why a completely uninvolved plane? At least with Innistrad, Sorin suffers for his mistakes. Any other plane and it's pointless suffering. Zendikar gave enough.
I'm surprised we never got a UW Jace thus far.
I agree with Autumn that the decks will likely be very good, if not the best we've gotten now that color restrictions have been lifted. They may even meet a vast number of our expectations. But even relative to past protocol, not the best management. And I'm saying this as someone who is bursting at the seams to see Theros art.