I don't really think I'm ignoring the problems with the theory; I was completely honest when I said that looking into the Mad Prophet's paper was getting into crazy territory. As far as the "shrew" point goes, while yes, both definitions are true, I believe we have to think about who is writing them. I would assume that the Magic writers have read an extensive amount of literature (-and since they commonly draw inspiration from many authors and novels, I'd say that's true), so they would put more thought into their words- more meaning. Innistrad has elements of gothic horror, which stems from the Victorian Period in England. A few hundred years prior to Queen Victoria, Shakespeare wrote a famous play called, "The Taming of the Shrew." Into the 1800s, the word shrew was still being used commonly in British literature. Put into context with the quote, I couldn't doubt more highly that the meaning of the word they are using is a rodent.
You're talking like the flavor text writers always make sure to stuff as much depth and meaning into every bit of flavor text. Sometimes they just phone it in. Sometimes you get Gorilla Titan.
Yes, Gorilla titan is clearly the benchmark for current attention to detail in creative.
With the current quality of both planning and execution of the story, I am going to ignore the implied sarcasm, take the statement literally and wholeheartedly agree with you on this one.
Also, to be at least a bit on topic, I am going to agree with krishnath on Marit Lage and Emrakul being so vastly different in their behaviour to not be one and the same. There is just no reason whatsoever to believe Marit Lage is an eldrazi. Did she (is she a she?) try to devour Dominaria? (this is not a rhetorical question - was there ever any information on this?) Also, mechanics-wise, Marit Lage is black. That goes against the very basic premise of eldrazi being colorless.
Wall of Omens untapping via Intruder Alarm is a result of a triggered ability that is placed on the stack and possibly resolved only once the spell you are casting (in this case Chord of Calling) goes on the stack, that is, after selecting modes, targets and paying costs, so no, you can only tap a creature once towards the convoke.
The first Conspiracy was the only format where I managed to draft a beast of 4-color reanimator and smash face with it the whole evening, so yea, I am quite excited.
However... I don't want to be the naysayer here, but EMA and Conspiracy 2 happening so close to each other just doesn't feel right. Don't know why. Just feels like WotC are trying to grab as much cash as they can in the shortest time possible. As if the ship was sinking or something.
...Paranoia is a major irritation in one's posterior.
Whenever an ability is triggered, it goes on the stack (same as a spell being cast). Whenever there is any kind of spell or ability on the stack, all players (in APNAP order) get priority, so everybody is able to cast/activate stuff in response to any other stuff happening, regardless of when and how the original spell was cast or the ability triggered (unless the spell has split second or the ability is unmorphing of a permanent), so you basically have the possibility to cast stifle any time it might be relevant, no matter the step you are in.
My problem with a new bad is that we already have 3.
1. Bolas
2. Phyrexians
3. Eldrazi
And then you already have open threads with. 4'ish - Ashiok
5'ish - Raven Man
6'ish - The Veil
You know, I can actually see Ashiok being behind any sort of plane-wide outbreak of madness. And yet it did not occur to me as a possibility, nor have I seen it anywhere in the forums (might have missed it though, that wouldn't be anything unusual).
I get you, arm chair lawyers can be annoying. Look up "promissory estoppel". There does not need to be a written signed contract for a promise to be legally binding. If somebody makes a promise to encourage you to make a decision based on that promise, and they break that promise to your detriment, you can sue for your losses.
Let me tell you, American legal system is weird as hell.
Is it not the point of Rumor Mill to speculate? Right now, we don't have much concrete evidence to discuss, so speculation is all we have. Let the Emrakul and Marit Lage theorists have their fun, because six months from now the window will be gone. Just having to wait does not lead to any fun forum interactions.
Sure. I didn't mean that we should all just shut up. Just that we have (probably) mulled over all the currently available information. I, personally, am in the Marit Lage camp (based on my wishes, not that I find it very likely).
To add my two cents to the baseless speculations: Time Spiral block contained references to possibly everything players enjoyed in Dominaria storylines in the past, yet there wasn't a single Marit Lage reference. Could have left even prior to the Mending for all we know.
Also, I'd like to point out that Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge exiles cards from the top of libraries much as Ingesting Eldrazi do, and a recent question on Blogatog asked if legends seen in supplementary products can get cards in standard sets to which Maro replied "absolutely". This isn't to say that Jeleva's first card will get reprinted, but rather that Jeleva could get a new card in SOI or EMN.
I just want to point out that there are other cards that exile from the top of libraries: Lord of the Void, Oona, Queen of the Fae, Raven Guild Master, Circu, Dimir Lobotomist, Ashiok, Scalpelexis to name a few. It's just something UB tends to do sometimes. Trying to connect Jeleva and Eldrazi seems like grasping at straws. There is literally nothing to support either Emrakul or Marit Lage theory at the moment, just as there is nothing to really disprove them. We'll just have to wait.
The flavor text on Sanguinary Mage hints at cults worshiping "ancient and terrible forces." Jace is there investigating, and has found something terrible: "The clues have begun to reveal a truth I hesitate to accept." You mentioned that on Structural Distortion Nahiri is simply using her powers to obliterate the manor. But Pore Over the Pages seems to suggest there is something more going on, although it's all speculation at this point what a cryptolith is.
The issue with the flavor text on Sanguinary Mage is that is sounds like the Stromkirk have worshiped this "unspeakable" for some time now, but Emrakul can't be on Innistrad for longer than what, two years?
True.Maybe the best is to ban reversed list cards from legacy
It'd be better to just create a new format. Banning reserved list cards is just a silly idea.
But that, too, wouldn't really solve the card value problem. New format would mean even less love for legacy and, in turn, lower demand for RL cards, leading to decrease in value. For collectors, that would still feel unfair.
Wizards could easily just come up with a new Cthulhu-esque monster.
They can, but I think it'd be counterproductive and a waste of potential not to bring a character who's officially "MTG Cthulhu" to Lovecraft: The Plane.
I would love them to bring Marit Lage to Innistrad, it's just that I find it very unlikely.
I wanted to argue here that there might be enough players who recognize Marit Lage from Coldsnap cards, but only a few would actually be aware of the lore. But such an argument would be pointless, as those who are interested in the lore are the ones who know it and vice versa, so that shouldn't be an issue here.
No, the set does not change legality of the cards, just like other supplementary products-only cards (True-Name Nemesis, Shardless Agent) are not modern legal.
Let's face it: we will never see anything out of reserved list. Obviously, Wizards are not going to just take a card or two off he list, nor are they going to "make an exception, just this one time". And they are not getting rid of the reserved list, either. That would make them untrustworthy business partners - people have invested huge piles of money in cards on the list, being sure that supply is not going to increase, thus, in case demand doesn't decrease significantly, making a relatively safe investment. I would love to be able to afford playsets of duals, s well as some other cards, but making them more available in any way would seriously hurt WotC's credibility.
Question is, what's on the Reserved List that people would want, besides the Power Nine (which I don't think ANYONE is expecting to see back, Reserved List or no...Well, maybe Timetwister)? No, that's not rhetorical; I'm just not coming up with much offhand. (Except Scarwood Bandits, but I'm probably in a marked minority there.)
Candelabra of Tawnos for my High Tide, that's the first thing that comes to mind.
As much as it saddens me, it's highly unlikely that Marit Lage is a part of this. As others have already pointed out, it doesn't make sense to bring back a pre-revisionist "character". How many active players are going to relate to that? Wizards could easily just come up with a new Cthulhu-esque monster. But it would certainly be awesome to have the Avengers Gatewatch ride byakhees to the moon.
But I must admit, the theory is pretty compelling. I want to believe that Creative plans ahead and actually did give us a hint in Mad Prophet. I really do. But I can't, since they didn't really show a lot of forethought in last few months.
With the current quality of both planning and execution of the story, I am going to ignore the implied sarcasm, take the statement literally and wholeheartedly agree with you on this one.
Also, to be at least a bit on topic, I am going to agree with krishnath on Marit Lage and Emrakul being so vastly different in their behaviour to not be one and the same. There is just no reason whatsoever to believe Marit Lage is an eldrazi. Did she (is she a she?) try to devour Dominaria? (this is not a rhetorical question - was there ever any information on this?) Also, mechanics-wise, Marit Lage is black. That goes against the very basic premise of eldrazi being colorless.
EDIT: well, guess I was a little too late.
However... I don't want to be the naysayer here, but EMA and Conspiracy 2 happening so close to each other just doesn't feel right. Don't know why. Just feels like WotC are trying to grab as much cash as they can in the shortest time possible. As if the ship was sinking or something.
...Paranoia is a major irritation in one's posterior.
You know, I can actually see Ashiok being behind any sort of plane-wide outbreak of madness. And yet it did not occur to me as a possibility, nor have I seen it anywhere in the forums (might have missed it though, that wouldn't be anything unusual).
Let me tell you, American legal system is weird as hell.
Sure. I didn't mean that we should all just shut up. Just that we have (probably) mulled over all the currently available information. I, personally, am in the Marit Lage camp (based on my wishes, not that I find it very likely).
To add my two cents to the baseless speculations: Time Spiral block contained references to possibly everything players enjoyed in Dominaria storylines in the past, yet there wasn't a single Marit Lage reference. Could have left even prior to the Mending for all we know.
I just want to point out that there are other cards that exile from the top of libraries: Lord of the Void, Oona, Queen of the Fae, Raven Guild Master, Circu, Dimir Lobotomist, Ashiok, Scalpelexis to name a few. It's just something UB tends to do sometimes. Trying to connect Jeleva and Eldrazi seems like grasping at straws. There is literally nothing to support either Emrakul or Marit Lage theory at the moment, just as there is nothing to really disprove them. We'll just have to wait.
The issue with the flavor text on Sanguinary Mage is that is sounds like the Stromkirk have worshiped this "unspeakable" for some time now, but Emrakul can't be on Innistrad for longer than what, two years?
But that, too, wouldn't really solve the card value problem. New format would mean even less love for legacy and, in turn, lower demand for RL cards, leading to decrease in value. For collectors, that would still feel unfair.
I would love them to bring Marit Lage to Innistrad, it's just that I find it very unlikely.
I wanted to argue here that there might be enough players who recognize Marit Lage from Coldsnap cards, but only a few would actually be aware of the lore. But such an argument would be pointless, as those who are interested in the lore are the ones who know it and vice versa, so that shouldn't be an issue here.
No, the set does not change legality of the cards, just like other supplementary products-only cards (True-Name Nemesis, Shardless Agent) are not modern legal.
Candelabra of Tawnos for my High Tide, that's the first thing that comes to mind.
AvengersGatewatch ride byakhees to the moon.But I must admit, the theory is pretty compelling. I want to believe that Creative plans ahead and actually did give us a hint in Mad Prophet. I really do. But I can't, since they didn't really show a lot of forethought in last few months.