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  • posted a message on Magic Story Articles Discussion: SOI & EMN [No Spoilers]
    Quote from Ramenth »
    As others have said, it was a very good story. The feeling I got was less "The Eldrazi have a purpose" though, and more that the Eldrazi had a purpose. I think they were something else before they were the Eldrazi, and something or someone twisted them. Some of the feelings I was getting from what Emeriakul was saying made it sound like that was the first time she'd been coherent in a very long time.

    I'm actually wondering if the ultimate revelation will be something more like the thing that broke the Eldrazi is also the origin of the Planeswalker Spark. If anything, I was reminded of what happened in Kamigawa with That Which Was Taken. A central part of the Eldrazi seemed to be missing from what she was saying, and it broke them.

    It's telling also that the Eldrazi are all about filling an infinite Void and yet never being able to. The last time we saw that theme come up it was the Rifts in Time Spiral, and the only way to fill it was with a Spark.

    Quote from Shadowlord »

    Now I know that the whole Karona meeting Yawgmoth thing has been retconned but I found these to be quite simillar, especially considering Tamiyo's ironbound scroll was (most likely) the one about Serra's Realm and Emrakul rewrote it, chaning it.


    Wasn't that the one she used to Bind Emrakul? I assumed the Iron-Bound one was based on the Apocalypse Chime.



    Gee, I wonder who that could've been.

    I mean, they'd have to be really really old. Like, say, 20,000 years ish. And totally capable of dealing with interplanar monstrosities like the eldrazi or demonic leviathans. And know about their existence while they were imprisoned. And somehow figure out how to release them even though he had no part in their prison's creation. And perhaps even go and kill one of the imprisoners, who happened to be the strongest among them. And is totally good at manipulating and corrupting things.

    I can't think of anyone like that. Anyone else?
    Posted in: Magic Storyline
  • posted a message on Official New Phyrexia fluff
    Quote from Ramenth »
    In general Wizards operates on Comics canon: Things are true until someone decides it'd be more interesting if they werent, but they might be true again later if subsequent writers disagree.


    So you're saying there's still hope for a Greensleeves Planeswalker card?

    Posted in: Magic Storyline
  • posted a message on Gideon Compelling Character or Shallow Eye Candy?
    I think there's far more to Gideon than meets the eye. I think he tends to put up a stoic (read: boring) front, because being a charismatic leader was what got his friends all toasted by Erebos, something he's clearly not over if his thoughts during OGW and today's story count for anything. He prefers a more subtle route. I think its certainly something that can be explored, but they haven't gotten to it yet.

    Not every person needs to be an overly complex character. There's plenty of people in real life that are simple minded- not that they're stupid, but their motivations are pretty cut and dry. Chandra's such a person- she's sarcastic, stubborn, and her answer to every problem has always been "Fire Logic". Some people are just like that.

    Keep in mind that the Shadows over Innistrad story was not Gideons. Nor was it Chandra's or Nissa's. They were along for the ride as members of the Gatewatch, and fulfilled their utilitarian roles, but the plot didn't demand them beyond any of that. The focus was Jace and Liliana as the primary protaganists, Sorin as a deuteragonist in his battle with Nahiri, with Tamiyo the main supporting character. Those were the ones that got the focus and the characterization.

    Kaladesh is next, and if you read the previews at the back of the Innistrad art book, the Gatewatch will be there. Obviously this is going to be Chandra's story- she's coming home, a fully grown Planeswalker, and about to run into some demons from her past. Ideally, she's going to run into a problem that she just won't be able to burn away, but one that she'll have to solve on her own.

    They dropped the ball with Nissa in Zendikar, taking away her most compelling characteristics (her racism, mostly), turning her into a strict nature hippy. Unfortunately, there wasn't time to really give anything back on Innistrad, nor will there be in Kaladesh (although druid elf being freaked out by mechanical wonderland makes for amusing thought). Ultiamtely, I think we'll have to wait to really get a chance to flesh out Nissa again.

    All in all, we're getting what amounts to a chapter in a book once per week (for free, so I'm assuming the writing budget isn't top class here), and each set has about 12 weeks to cover all the bases, using a myriad of authors. Its understandable that somethings just don't pan out in the narration.
    Posted in: Magic Storyline
  • posted a message on Magic Story Articles Discussion: SOI & EMN [No Spoilers]
    Quote from Jenrik »

    Jace won the chess match against Emrakul. Yet Emeria also demonstrated that he could lose if she willed it. But as long as they played on an even plane, his mind defeated hers.


    I think Emrakul let herself lose (like she let herself be imprisoned). The chess game wasn't so much a challenge as it was a way to drive a point home to Jace just how very out of his league he is.

    Posted in: Magic Storyline
  • posted a message on Magic Story Articles Discussion: SOI & EMN [No Spoilers]
    Quote from Quannage »
    By the way...this line was awesome.

    Enough doom talk. More how-we-win-this talk, please. I'm gonna go burn things.


    Chandra just leaped up a few spots on my favorite Planeswalker list.

    other quotes I found enjoyable:

    Manipulated correctly, friends were like better zombies.


    But now I wonder...just what exactly was that scroll that Tamiyo used and Emrakul corrupted?


    Chandra's blunt simplicity makes her one of my faves too. It reminds me of the flavor text where Gideon asks what her plan is, and she snaps "Are you serious?!"

    I can't wait for Kaladesh, and her being forced to face her past.

    Posted in: Magic Storyline
  • posted a message on Magic Story Articles Discussion: SOI & EMN [No Spoilers]
    Quote from NguyenTranLoc »
    The Gatewatch more or less failing and Emrakul basicly imprisoning herself was the plot twist I didn't know I was waiting for.

    I liked the hint to Emrakul's bigger purpose in the multiverse (something the other titans were completely lacking) and that the projection of her consciousness Jace encountered was so polite. She creepy and other wordly, just like she's supposed to be.

    Liliana's oath was underwhelming. I wish we'd gotten to see the other walkers arguing about accepting her.

    Over all I enjoyed reading today's story. I hope we still get one or two fallout chapters for Innistrad.


    Sorry, but wrong. Like 5oolors said, we got a glimpse of it with Ulamog.

    And Ugin was VERY VERY VERY pissed that the Gatewatch destroyed the other two titans. Just... the ramifications of doing so haven't been felt yet.
    Posted in: Magic Storyline
  • posted a message on Magic Story Articles Discussion: SOI & EMN [No Spoilers]
    ONe other thing- what does this mean about Nahiri? Emrakul seems to figure things out pretty easily, so she probably knew about Innistrad, the Helvault, and the moon connection. If she can so easily take over Tamiyo, alter one of her forbidden scrolls, and make her read it because she wants to be cocooned in the moon... what's to say she didn't immediately take control of Nahiri the moment she got back on Zendikar and make her summon Emrakul to Innistrad?

    Also, a look at how each block has ended as far as good/bad endings

    Shadows over Innistrad: Mostly bad ending. Emrakul is imprisoned- but it turns out it's what she wanted, and will likely mean worse things in the distant future.

    Battle for Zendikar: Mostly Good Ending. Ulamog and Kozilek are dead, although that might have worse consequences later on. Zendikar can be salvaged, although it's going to take a very long time.

    Tarkir: Mostly Good Ending? Tarkir's under far worse circumstances for most people, but Ugin's alive and awake, which seems like a positive.

    Theros: Bad ending. Elspeth kills Xenagos, is promptly killed by Heliod because Heliod's a jackass.

    Return to Ravnica: Good ending. Jace is the Guildpact and stability's restored.

    Innistrad: Good ending (at the time). Avacyn's Restored, and evil's on the run. Griselbrand's dead.

    Scars of Mirrodin: Really really really really really really really bad ending. New Phyrexia says it all

    Zendikar: Bad ending. The Eldrazi are released, and running rampant.

    Shards of Alara: Ambiguous. The plane is reunited, although quite painfully. Nicol Bolas gets everything he wants.

    Lorwyn: Good ending. Oona's dead, and the plane's magic is stabilized.

    Time Spiral: Good ending. A lot of planeswalkers are dead, the remaining are weakened, but hey, the multiverse didn't blow up. Also, now we can have PW cards!

    So, in reality, Wizards seems to be doing about 50/50 between good and bad endings.
    Posted in: Magic Storyline
  • posted a message on Magic Story Articles Discussion: SOI & EMN [No Spoilers]
    You gain control of target opponent during that player's next turn. After that turn, that player takes an extra turn.

    That extra turn begins now. Tick, tock, Gatewatch.
    Posted in: Magic Storyline
  • posted a message on EMN booster box opening - 5 mythics including Tamiyo
    A guy at my LGS got SIXTEEN mythics in his box.

    We all hate him.

    I got six in mine. Best was getting Tamiyo and Gisela in the same pack.
    Posted in: Magic General
  • posted a message on What Bookcase/shelving/storage do you use for card storage?
    Commons make excellent wallpaper.
    Posted in: Magic General
  • posted a message on Craziest price spike I have seen
    Quote from mondu_the_fat »
    Look closely at the price.

    666. For a demonic card (well, fiendish)

    A value that doesn't match the "all time high", which was updated TODAY.

    Someone's having fun.


    So you're saying Satan plays for ante?
    Posted in: Magic General
  • posted a message on Where to start collecting
    Some of ya'll dreaming big.

    I have the entire Ice Age and Homelands set (totally cheap), because those were my two favorite sets back in 1995 when I was playing the first time.

    As far as the current sets go, I can't say this is the gospel truth, but I'd say I'm probably at least 80-90% with all current standard sets and the Tarkir block. I took advantage of the Jace price dive, so I know I have all the flipwalkers, so there's not an Origins rare I don't have off the top of my head.

    My big one is that I'd love to be able to collect every single basic land art from the major sets. I have a superstition about playing different land images in my decks- this way you're actually drawing mana from different lands.
    Posted in: Magic General
  • posted a message on Does Tamiyo Reflect Sailor Moon?
    If Tamiyo's Sailor Moon, does that make Sorin Tuxedo Mask?

    Have at it, fanfiction writers!

    In all seriousness though, I think the OP actually answered his own question in an inadvertant way. It's not that Tamiyo is like Sailor Moon- its that both are taking inspiration from the same element of Japanese mythology- the concept of the moon princess. I think it'd be the same as wondering if Innistrad is like D&D's Ravenloft- yeah, there's similarities, but both are drawn from the same Eastern European horror mythos.
    Posted in: Magic Storyline
  • posted a message on Craziest price spike I have seen
    LMAO. Please be true.

    If it is, that means the value of my Homelands complete set just doubled.


    (Its not true Frown )
    Posted in: Magic General
  • posted a message on Where to start collecting
    So after about an hour of going 10-key on the promo pricelist (which is significantly more fun than playing against Jeskai Ascendancy), I've added it all up. Included are the oversize promos, Judge promos, FNM promos, Release, Game Day, Holiday, buy a box, magazine, guru, book, ultra pro puzzle pieces, full arts, and the like. International promos are included only if they were exclusively international (Ie, not available in the US) Not included are prerelease promo cards, because I already included foils in the price list, and IMO the date stamp isn't enough of a change to merit treating it as an entirely different cad.

    One other thing- ABU Games actually had Splended Genesis listed for $9,999.99 (with zero in stock). This is not included in the totals. Cards like the 1996 World Champion are also not included.

    Also remembered the Coldsnap theme deck IA/AL reprints, and Vanguard.

    So...

    COLDSNAP REPRINTS $31.58
    VANGUARD $301.34
    PROMOS $30,210.60


    Which means our final TOTALS

    Every card in every set + promos (Non-foil, unless foil-exclusive): $295,970.73

    Every card in every set + promos (Foil, unless non-foil exclusive): $363,280.20

    Every card in every set + promos printed in both foil & nonfoil: $381,896.46


    So to the OP... good thing you consider yourself dedicated, because you're going to freaking need to be to do this. And rich. Dirty, filthy, stinking rich.

    Posted in: Magic General
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