As long as we finally get an answer to the "Riggers and Contraptions" conundrum that isn't "Goblins tap and bring out tokens of somekind", and there are not any Eldrazi, I will be happy.
Though it would be cool to get old skool slivers back in the running, or Modular, or a new cool artifact creature type.
So...riggers and contraptions anyone? Will we be...assembling decks?
Im leaning toward Atogs.
I came to M:tG after the time of Atogs, so I don't really know much about them. I just remember the Rigger card from Future Sight and it has vexed me ever since I first read it's crazed text.
I've been extremely outspoken on blogatog about my disappointment in the legendary werewolf they gave us. Apparently while asking for years for this card, we somehow weren't specific enough with what we wanted. I had issue with that statement because 1: I have been VERY particular about what I wanted in a legendary werewolf through blogatog and other outlets. And 2: if they can't look at unsolicited designs, how are we to effectively communicate what we specifically want? I directly asked MaRo to admit they dropped the ball with this, and to his credit, he did. He didn't have to do that, he didn't have to reply at all. 99% of other companies would have basically said f off. However badly they missed on this, I have to give them credit for owning it. And I can see how they might not have exactly known what we are looking for. You would think though, that with the majority of people who wanted this card want it for werewolf tribal in most likely commander, they would be more aware of some sort of tribal synergy, any pay off at all for playing werewolves. Maybe they just weren't aware of how big a disadvantage having to skip turns and rely on your opponents not playing anything or not playing too many things is to werewolves. If that is the oversight, then I can understand. A lot of people are getting the idea that we just 100% hate Ulrich. I've said before, when I look at this card and ignore its creature types, I see a very strong and powerful card. Not the right pick for every deck, but still strong. My disappointment is not with the strength of this individual card, but rather that we used the one space in a set for a legendary werewolf until who knows when, and that space was not used to its fullest potential
My main problem is the fact of the disconnect. Wizards knew that this was a highly requested card, but, they gave us something that really doesn't satisfy anyone. Commander players will still play Ruric or Xenagos. In standard it just doesn't do enough to make it at the moment. I satisfies no one. Now fans of WW will have to wait another couple years until we comeback to Innistrad to get a better WW legend. Its just bad publicity as a whole. It shows that Wizards isn't listening very well to the requests from the player base.
As many have said, it feels like a weaker Huntsmaster over an actual legendary werewolf. Honestly I would have preferred him having a more transform-centric effect. If I were building him I would have gone more like:
Ulrich Human: When Ulrich enters the battlefield under your control you may transform all werewolves that you control. Trample. 4/4. EDIT: Fixed "you control".
Ulrich Werewolf: Trample. Vigilance. Whenever a Werewolf transforms you may have it Fight target creature you do not control. 2 Colorless RG: You may have Werewolf Creatures you control ignore their transform trigger until your next End Step. 6/6.
Not perfect, or at all balanced, but at least it feels like our Alpha has some control over his pack. His cost and legendary status make me feel like him having control over transformation is perfectly acceptable since he can't be stacked. He comes out and you have a by-choice transform. While he is in pup form you get to have that Fight trigger that Wolves are perfect for, and he keeps his pack in line. He is the Uncontested Alpha after all!
Though it would be cool to get old skool slivers back in the running, or Modular, or a new cool artifact creature type.
What else matters?
Nah, I kid. I like the Hell idea. They could even have the Hell plane be connected to Phrexyian remnants.
I came to M:tG after the time of Atogs, so I don't really know much about them. I just remember the Rigger card from Future Sight and it has vexed me ever since I first read it's crazed text.
As many have said, it feels like a weaker Huntsmaster over an actual legendary werewolf. Honestly I would have preferred him having a more transform-centric effect. If I were building him I would have gone more like:
Ulrich Human: When Ulrich enters the battlefield under your control you may transform all werewolves that you control. Trample. 4/4. EDIT: Fixed "you control".
Ulrich Werewolf: Trample. Vigilance. Whenever a Werewolf transforms you may have it Fight target creature you do not control. 2 Colorless RG: You may have Werewolf Creatures you control ignore their transform trigger until your next End Step. 6/6.
Not perfect, or at all balanced, but at least it feels like our Alpha has some control over his pack. His cost and legendary status make me feel like him having control over transformation is perfectly acceptable since he can't be stacked. He comes out and you have a by-choice transform. While he is in pup form you get to have that Fight trigger that Wolves are perfect for, and he keeps his pack in line. He is the Uncontested Alpha after all!