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- Harbinger
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Member for 15 years, 7 months, and 8 days
Last active Sat, Oct, 16 2021 12:58:45
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Jan 1, 20213
lookingupanddown posted a message on [TSR] Lotus Bloom release promo— Good Morning Magic previewWhile we're enjoying the daily Kaldheim leaks (poor lost print sheet), and waiting for the rest of the set, here's something a bit more.... forward in time. Or backwards. Look, these time rifts are confusing. Have a promo Lotus Bloom using the old promo Lotus Bloom art.Posted in: The Rumor Mill
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Feb 8, 20174
Blydden posted a message on February MCC Round 1 - "Recruitment"All done!Posted in: Monthly Contests Archive
Design -Quote from Flatline »Hot-Wire Rebel
Creature — Human Pilot (R)
Flash
When Hot-Wire Rebel enters the battlefield, untap target vehicle you control. That vehicle becomes an artifact creature as long as you control Hot-Wire Rebel.
"Keys? Who needs those?"
1/4
(1.5/3) Appeal: This is definitely not a Timmy card; this creature is simply too small for his immediate tastes. As for Johnny and Spike, especially Johnny, this card has some exciting possibilities. This creature is a one-man crew for Consulate Dreadnought at instant speed, and that is likely only one of the possible possibilities. Spike likes the instant speed creature that comes with a sort of Siege Modification/Aerial Modification as well.
(3/3) Elegance: Elegantly engineered!
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Unfortunately, I find that this does not possess enough white mechanically. In the place of white, I believe that red might be a better second color here along with blue. This card is just fine as a Rare, as it is mechanically a step up from the Uncommon modifications.
(3/3) Balance: Despite the bending of colors, this card is fine as-is balance-wise.
It is difficult to imagine a format, sanctioned or otherwise, where a card such as this would not play just fine. As long as said format includes Vehicles, of course.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: There have been plenty of effects that untap nonland permanents in blue and white before, but there is still plenty of design space being explored with this card.
(2/3) Flavor: This card's name is fine, and this card's flavor text is good, but without red, which is a more rebellious (less righteous) color than white, this card's overall flavor ends up being somewhat off for me as a Vorthos.
Polish -
(1.5/3) Quality: Both instances of the word "vehicle" in the rules text need to be capitalized (minus one point). Also, the word 'for' should be in between the words "creature" and "as" (minus half a point).
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 19.5/25
Final thought: I learned today that 'hotwire', 'hot wire', and 'hot-wire' are all apparently correct ways to spell the term, for the record!
Design -Quote from Folza »Weldfast Saboteur 1B
Creature - Aetherborn Artificer Rogue (R)
Menace
Sacrifice a noncreature artifact: Destroy target noncreature artifact. Activate this ability only once each turn.
"When you only have so long to live, what is there left to lose? Risk it all."
2/2
(1/3) Appeal: Tammy is bored by a small creature such as this, despite the upsides.
Jenny could perhaps use this to build some kind of sacrifice engine, but it is not the best for that job.
Spike likes this card, though while it is efficient, the uses for this card are relatively narrow. The environment for this card would have to provide small artifacts worth sacrificing and large artifacts that are destroying, both of which could be somewhat uncertain. Thankfully, we are at least in Kaladesh.
(2.5/3) Elegance: 'Activate this ability once per turn' is a phrase of rules text that is less elegant than, say, a simply elegant tap, yet the elegance on display here is almost perfect otherwise.
Development -
(1/3) Viability: Everything about this card is black except for the fact that it can destroy noncreature artifacts. This is one of the few effects that black cannot have, no matter how much life could be paid. I daresay that the very rules of the game would be bent just because of this effect being introduced into this color.
On the bright side, it is still the appropriate rarity for a hate bear with upside, which is Rare.
(2/3) Balance: Aside from the second ability being completely out of color (and able to activate at instant speed during each player's turn), this card is otherwise an inoffensive 2/2 menacer for two mana in black at a rarity of Rare. Simply put, a nonviable card can still be somewhat balanced.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Believe it or not, there is actually at least one black card with a similar effect. It is a very old and very narrow enchantment card called Gate to Phyrexia from Antiquities.
(2/3) Flavor: This card name is fine, and this flavor text is fine, but the mechanics of this card (regardless of a lack of viability) feel rather separated from this card's flavor. As a Vorthos, I cannot say that this card has synchronized flavor as a result.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Perfect!
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 18/25
Final thought: Notably, the type line in Magic Set Editor 2 does not quite fit 'Creature — Aetherborn Artificer Rogue' without having to shrink the font.
Design -Quote from Harbinger »Critical Creator 1UB
Creature - Human Artificer (R)
B,t, Pay 1 life: Create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token.
U, Sacrifice an artifact: Draw a card.
"If it isn't perfect then it isn't good enough." — Tirno Isarta
1/2
(1.5/3) Appeal: Tammy is rather bored by this card.
Jenny likes this sacrifice engine that also generates card advantage. It could perhaps fuel something with a greater purpose.
Spike really likes this card, since it is significantly above the curve compared to the current power level of Standard. It may even be Modern playable. It also takes skill to know when it is alright to pay life, and skill to know which artifacts to sacrifice when and for what reasons.
(3/3) Elegance: No significant inelegances here.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: The colors of choice, blue and black, are correct for this card that generates card advantage and pays life to create tokens.
The chosen rarity of Rare is also appropriate a potent card advantage engine such as this as well.
(0.5/3) Balance: Simply put, this card can generate so much card advantage (at instant speed) that it would be soul crushing to not have an answer to in a game of Magic, especially in Limited, despite being two colors. Tokens are simply too plentiful in the majority of sets these days for that to not be the case. Getting suffocated by card disadvantage is especially not fun in a casual game, either.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: Not much in the way of new ground has been tread here. There are tons of cards that create tokens, although paying life to create them is somewhat unexplored. However, the second ability basically turns every artifact into a clue token, and investigate was just in the large set of the previous block, Shadows over Innistrad.
(1/3) Flavor: This card name is really rather bland. By comparison, the flavor text is nicer, although I have no idea whatsoever as to who "Tirno Isarta" is. It makes sense for a creator to create a servo, and an inference can be made about them sacrificing their own 'imperfect' creations. However, this card's flavor is overall out for sync for me as a Vorthos.
Polish -
(0.5/3) Quality: There is a space missing in between the comma before the tap symbol and the actual tap symbol on the first line (minus half a point).
In regards to grammar, the flavor text is also missing a comma in between "perfect" and "then" (minus half a point). There should be no space in between the long dash and the name of the person being quoted (minus half a point). Finally, the long dash plus the name of the person being quoted should be on its own line, underneath the quotation (minus half a point).
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 14.5/25
Final thoughts: My apologies, but I felt the need to actually be rather critical of this card. Best of luck next month, Harbinger!
Design -Quote from mirrodin71 »Marvelous Shaper 2WU
Creature - Human Artificer (R)
Revolt — At the beginning of your end step, if a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn, create a token thats a copy of target nontoken artifact, sacrifice that token at the beginning of next end step.
1/3
(1/3) Appeal: Basically, Tammy is uninterested in such a small card. Spike is also uninterested in this card due to how slow it is to get going in a meaningful way.
Jenny likes such a card for the variety of interactions that can come from copying a different artifact every turn if need be. It may just present a certain puzzle that other cards like Saheeli's Artistry or Mechanized Production do not necessarily present.
(0.5/3) Elegance: There are not just one, but two memory issues with this card. First, it is an end step trigger that cares about events that happened during the previous phases. The second, and even worse, memory issue is that there is a second end step trigger that cares about the previous trigger.
Also, creating a token clone of a nontoken is inherently inelegant, at least in my experience.
At least the card only has the one line of rules text.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: This card is definitely not blue due the fact that revolt is in black, green, and white, yet not blue or red. Yet, the card's effect is definitely not white; it is only maybe white at all because of the revolt. As a result, this card is off-color.
At least it is indeed at the appropriate rarity of Rare.
(1/3) Balance: First off, the power and toughness of this card would be bad on a 2-drop, especially on a multicolored one. So, the effect in this case needs to be very good, and the weird thing is that it likely is not but could potentially be the crux of some kind of degenerate combo that I have yet to think of. Either way, it is difficult to play even in Limited since it, by design, can only target nontoken artifacts, plus needing ways to consistently trigger revolt. However, if all of the stars do align consistently enough, say in a Constructed format, it can become very degenerate very quickly since the effect would likely be very difficult to deal with every turn without an answer card.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: There have been cards that copy artifacts before, but it is still a relatively unexplored design space.
(0.5/3) Flavor: No flavor text.
The card name is a little bland (Marvelous is a nice word, yet Shaper is not particularly Kaladeshi), the card does not feel at all white flavor-wise regardless of the revolt, the card does not feel at all blue because of the revolt, and the card overall feels inharmonious for me as a Vorthos as a result.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: The first contraction in the line of rules text, "thats", is missing an apostrophe (minus half a point).
The line of rules text should have been split up into two sentences like so: '...a copy of target nontoken artifact. Sacrifice that token at the beginning of next end step.' (minus half a point).
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 13/25
Design -Quote from P E »Ovalchase Tinkerer 2WR
Creature - Dwarf Pilot Artificer [U]
Whenever Ovalchase Tinkerer crews a Vehicle, you get EE (two energy counters).
EE: put a +1/+1 counter on target vehicule.
It just needed a little more power
3/2
(1/3) Appeal: This card is a little small for Timmy, not so small as to be insignificant but it is not exactly one of the big vehicles that he prefers in comparison to the smaller pilots.
Johnny might have a use for this sort of card, maybe. It reliably accrues both energy and +1/+1 counters. Surely it can form some kind of engine (since you can untap it and crew yet another vehicle or even the same vehicle all over again).
Spike definitely likes this card for red-white Vehicles, although the energy is meaningless to them in a vehicle deck, and energy decks do not typically run Vehicles (at least that I know of).
(3/3) Elegance: Minus the quality errors, there are no inelegances presented with this card that meaningfully impact gameplay.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: This card is entirely in-color, since the Vehicle archetype for Kaladesh is red-white.
Uncommon is also the correct rarity for such a simplistic card.
Another problem is that it is energy and crewing are both parasitic mechanics that are mechanically restricted to the Kaladesh block. Intertwining two parasitic mechanics together in the way that has been presented here has majorly hurt this card's overall viability.
(3/3) Balance: Conveniently, three power has ended up being the standard for a card being good at crewing Vehicles. It also continuously accrues energy (as long as you have a Vehicle) and continuously builds up a Vehicle's power and toughness. This card certainly has merit, but the two toughness prevents it from being overbearing, allowing it to be easily answered with most cheap removal. The card being multicolored is also good for this card's balance as well.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Giving noncreature permanents +1/+1 counters, especially Vehicles, has been done before (see Earthen Arms, Lifecraft Awakening, Untethered Express, et cetera). However, no creature so far has gained energy from crewing a vehicle as of yet, so that is indeed unique.
(1.5/3) Flavor: The card name here is great, but the flavor text leaves quite a bit to be desired in comparison. Also, these card's effects are a little bland flavorfully, leaving me as a Vorthos feeling disconnected in regards to this card's attempt flavor.
Polish -
(0/3) Quality: The cardname "Ovalchase Tinker" should be bolded (minus half a point). The colored mana symbols are in the wrong order (the mana cost should be templated as 2RW in this case, minus half a point).
The left parenthesis for this card's reminder text is not italicized (minus half a point).
The word "put" should be capitalized (minus half a point). The word "vehicule" is not only misspelled, yet also needs to be capitalized (minus one point).
A period at the end of the sentence of flavor text is also missing (minus half a point).
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(1/2) Subchallenges: Subchallenge 2 met!
Total: 15.5/25
Design -Quote from Raptorchan »Empty Hero 1RR
Creature - Human Warrior (U)
Trample
When Empty Hero enters the battlefield, each player sacrifices an artifact. Empty Hero enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it, where X is the number of artifacts sacrificed this way.
"All I feel is rage."
2/2
(1/3) Appeal: Tammy likes this card somewhat for its potential for become really big with the potential for a really big effect. It is really good in multiplayer, especially with the current metagame of Commander as well.
Jenny does not really have anything worth doing with this card. The payoff is simply not there for her.
Spike finds this card to be far too narrow. Not every deck runs artifacts, and sacrificing your own servo or clue token just puts you behind more often than not and is not worth the extra +1/+1 counter as a result. Maybe it can trigger revolt reliably enough, although this card is not worth building around.
(3/3) Elegance: This card does not possess any significant inelegances. (See Quality, though.)
Development -
(3/3) Viability: This card is definitely red with artifact destruction. Thankfully, red is secondary in trample.
This card is also definitely Uncommon with a simple enough enters the battlefield effect and an evergreen keyword.
(2.5/3) Balance: First off, this card is likely very good in multiplayer, but not really anywhere else. Otherwise, this card is barely playable in Limited. Playable, but often not particularly great for being an Uncommon with a specific mana cost.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: The enters the battlefield effect of this card is not particularly new but it is not particularly old either.
(0/3) Flavor: No offense, but this card is empty of flavor. Nothing about this card is Kaladeshi. This card name is bland, the flavor text is uninteresting, and the mechanics have this card have nothing to do with either flavor component, unfortunately.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: The major quality problem with this card is that the first word of the second line of rules text, "when", makes this card quite a bit weaker than it should be. For the sake of timing, the correct word in this case is 'as': 'As Empty Hero enters the battlefield, each player...'
Currently, Empty Hero will never get any +1/+1 counters as a result of its own artifact destruction, despite the intent.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 17/25
Design -Quote from TheRealStinkyJoeTerry »Renegade Engineer 2WU
Creature - Vedalken Artificer [Rare]
Revolt-When Renegade Engineer enters the battlefield, if a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn, destroy target artifact.
Xt: Exile target artifact card from a graveyard with converted mana cost X. Create a token that is copy of that card.
"The Consulate will regret it ever took what is mine... two can play at this game." - Clandon Rahr, Renegade Engineer
2/3
(2/3) Appeal: Timmy is disinterested in this small card.
Simply put, Johnny is appealed to by this card's concept because of the ability to create interesting combos with it from graveyards.
Spike likes the versatility of this card, as it can destroy artifacts, create artifacts, and even hate on the graveyards of opponents if need be.
(1.5/3) Elegance: This card feels as though it should be two completely different cards, rather than one card amalgamated together. (Also, see Quality.)
Development -
(1.5/3) Viability: Mechanically, this card cannot be blue due the fact that revolt is in black, green, and white, yet not blue or red. Also, neither white nor blue can destroy a target artifact so simply.
Regardless, this card is at the correct rarity of Rare.
(1/3) Balance: First off, reanimating copies of cards at the cost of exiling them (presumably indefinitely) is a very interesting idea.
However, artifact removal in these colors without a meaningful condition to meet hurts this card's balance as well as the possible degeneracy that the second ability involves. This card simply does too much as one single card.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: There have been cards that copy artifacts before, but it is still a relatively unexplored design space.
(1.5/3) Flavor: This card name is really nice and straightforward (and not actually taken!)
By comparison, the flavor text does not read well, and I have no idea whatsoever as to who 'Clandon Rahr' actually is. There is definitely a crucially intact flavor connection here, but it still seems frayed and scattered to me as a Vorthos.
Polish -
(0/3) Quality: The word revolt of the revolt ability needs to be italicized (minus half a point). Not only should the dash between the word revolt and the first word of the ability should be a long dash '—', there should also be spaces on either side of the dash (minus half a point).
There should be a comma and a space in between the mana symbol and the tap symbol (minus half a point). Also, on the second sentence of this line of rules text, "that is" should be replaced with 'that's a' (Magic rules text prefers contractions, minus half a point).
There should be no space in between the dash, which should be a long dash '—', and the name of the person being quoted (minus half a point). Finally, the long dash plus the name of the person being quoted should be on its own line, underneath the quotation (minus half a point).
There are enough quality mistakes on this card to actually constitute an inelegance.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 13.5/25
Final thought: Maybe this card could have just returned artifacts from the graveyard to the battlefield, despite the recursion. After changing the race to dwarf or human from vedalken, and fixing up the revolt to be less of a color pie break, and this concept may have actually been able to exist as a solely white card in-color.
Design -Quote from willows »Visionary Biomimic 2G
Creature — Elf Artificer (U)
Whenever an artifact creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature if you control another creature with greater power or toughness than it.
3/2
(1.5/3) Appeal: Timmy really had no cards to be truly appealed by during the course of this round, so it seems.
Johnny can definitely do something with an effect like this, maybe something to do with Electrostatic Pummeler, maybe something to do with something else.
Spike loves an aggressively statted body for three mana with very potent in-color interactions. (See Balance.)
(2/3) Elegance: In the Kaladesh block, there are multiple effects that have artifacts become creatures without them entering the battlefield (vehicles, Tezzeret's Touch, et cetera). Hence, a ruling is required that seems unintuitive initially.
Also, a somewhat odd evolve mechanic by itself as a one-of on its own is inelegant, since it affects your entire board unintuitively.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Doubtlessly, this card is both correctly Green and correctly Uncommon.
However, to be perfectly honest, introducing what really seems like it should be a set mechanic (see Adaptive Snapjaw, et cetera) as a one-of does hurt this card's viability.
(2/3) Balance: First off, this card is really good with servos and thopters, as they will enter the battlefield as 2/2s instead of 1/1s thanks to this card by its lonesome. Other than that, this card is otherwise very fair. So, it fits nicely with fabricate.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Evolve is already a set mechanic, but this card does take it in a bit of a different direction by inverting it and applying it to artifact creatures in particular.
(1.5/3) Flavor: I like the name of this card just fine, and it does what it does relatively flavorfully. A line of flavor text or two to help tie all of it together would have been nice, though.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Perfect!
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 18.5/25
Final thoughts: This card should have been GU to reflect the extraplanar Simic guild that it was clearly somehow inspired by, you know.
In all honesty, replacing the line of rules text with "Artifact creatures you control enter the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on them." would have been able to lead to a better card overall, at least in my opinion.
Flatline — 19.5
willows — 18.5
Folza — 18
Raptorchan — 17
P E — 15.5
Harbinger — 14.5
TheRealStinkyJoeTerry — 13.5
mirrodin71 — 13
If your username has been bolded here, congratulations are in order — you have qualified for Round 2 of the February MCC! Best of luck!
If your username has not been bolded here, there is always next month. Thank you for participating; best of luck next month! -
Jan 26, 20171
Pseudofate posted a message on R/x AggroPosted in: Standard ArchivesQuote from Harbinger »
Just curious what role Collective Defiance plays in your matchups? Is it typically just a removal spell or is the hand refresh worth it?
4 toughness is a big deal in the format (something that unfortunately makes Regent somewhat sub par) To me Defiance is a Char with a to the face Bolt tacked on. Further testing throughout the week will confirm or disprove it's viability. -
Jan 11, 20174
Buffsam89 posted a message on Removal of Ban Lists?Posted in: Commander Rules Discussion ForumQuote from Carthage »Quote from LouCypher »Quote from Carthage »Quote from LouCypher »Because not everyone has the luxury of a set playgroup. I really don't want to wander onto random tables where Coalition Victory, or twelve-hours-Sharazad games are a thing. If you want to play non-banlist EDH; talk to your group about it. Please...don't try to make everyone follow that scary thought.
I play non-set playgroup edh games primarily.
I want the ban list gone.
Why?
Because house rules are impossible for the large constantly changing group of players that I play with.
It happens frequently that people talk about deck power level before matches, that's something we can easily deal with.
It goes over much worse if someone tries to include banned cards. There's even the ban list posted on the wall.
And yet it's still easier to make house unbans as it is to make house bans. If I walk into a new store with my deck and get told 2/3 cards from it are banned, that's a major feelbad right from the getgo. Having a basic guideline applying everywhere helps. And if you really want to run banned cards, make a second deck, or a few easy swapouts, so you can play your banned card if the people on the table agree with it beforehand.
Arguing that it's easier is not a point in favor, because in reality it's still impossible for a store type playgroup to allow for specific unbans. The inertia you have to overcome is absurd.
Why are you implying that no banlist = everyone suddenly has their own unique ban list? That's not what I'm envisioning at all.
I'm envisioning people showing up with decks, talking about the strength of their decks beforehand, and then coming to a conclusion on how to proceed before the game starts, something that usually takes less than a minute( "strong decks this time?" type conversations ).
The ban list, as it stands, does not prevent bad games. It does not prevent strong decks. It does not prevent absurd cards that appear fair but aren't. It doesn't do anything in my view except arbitrarily limit deck building space. It is a useless artifact of the past that should be discarded.
I'd just like to point out that you created a thread about Avenger of Zendikar being banworthy, yet here you are, stating no banlist is the way to go.
Anywho, this would take just a minute? So, discussing 10,000+ cards and an infinite amount of interactions takes just a minute, I guess.
You know what takes less than a minute? Looking at the ban list, picking a card on said ban list, and then asking your group "Hey, would you guys be cool if I ran X?". 2 answers, yes or no. It may lead to others asking similar questions, which will take a little more time, but much less time than what you are suggesting groups do.
BTW, "Strong Decks" is even more subjective than what people describe as "fun". -
Aug 24, 201621
Havrekjex posted a message on Will there be a Conspiracy 2 Buy a Box Promo?See, when you make a thread named "Conspiracy 2 Buy a Box Promo", people will assume that the first post contains information about that promo, and then they will get annoyed when they open the thread and it`s just a question about it. I am currently annoyed.Posted in: The Rumor Mill -
May 27, 20161
WizardMN posted a message on Mazriek and GisaNo, because you only have 1 trigger (Mazirek's). Gisa's ability is an activated ability so it is put onto the stack and then costs are paid. Then, when costs are paid, it triggers Mazirek, but Gisa's ability is already on the stack waiting to resolve. Mazirek's ability will go on the stack above Gisa's and will resolved before you get the new Zombies.Posted in: Magic Rulings Archives -
Oct 29, 2014
19
Xcric posted a message on Daretti, Scrap SavantWhy the **** wasn't this slobad?Posted in: The Rumor Mill -
Oct 15, 2014
2
LordOwlingtonIII posted a message on Guy opens Alpha Black Lotus and Tropical IslandWho even cares? Guy with more money than sense opens super expensive sealed item and gets more valuable items inside?Posted in: Magic General
Ugh. -
May 16, 20143
Mr.C posted a message on [New Info] Warlords of Khanar - Potential Fall 2014 ExpansionPosted in: The Rumor MillQuote from Faust2391Quote from TK-421So that article notes both KhansofTarkir.com and DragonsofTarkir.com redirect to WotC's main page. So I decided to try it and sure enough WarlordsofKhanar.com directs there too. Whether that means something is for us to decide.
It's up for us to decide?! In that case, I want the next three expansions to be:
Equestria
Roaming Discord
Elements of Harmony
Do it Hasbro. No one will sue. You own both.
I wish they'd do it so that I could have an excuse to quit - To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
2
I haven't posted on here in close to a year but congratulations I logged in to tell you that Alpha Investments is wrong.
1
1: Bolas didn't create Amonkhet: This was a huge surprise for me and seems honestly far more intriguing.
2: The Gods look like they had their minds wiped: This makes it seem as if the Gods weren't the creation of Bolas either and makes one wonder if they had previously attempted to stand against Bolas and failed (Since there are 5 now rather than 8.)
3: I don't think that there is any connection to the 8 gods being a reference to Bolas's CMC. I mean no offense when I say this but it's taking two completely unrelated things and trying to connect them. (Also there is no Bolas in this set as the PW formula and Maro confirmation is that it's 3 PW in this set and 2 in the next.)
4: The edit to the story: Some people were certainly very passionate about the change being made and speculate that this is censorship. To me this seemed as if they had just adjusted the dialogue for clarification as the subject matter still very much exists.
I don't subscribe to the idea that WotC is 'sitting on the fence.' about representation considering card characters such as the Kings of Meletis and Alesha who Smiles at Death for sexual orientation and gender and I doubt they'll stop there. Many complaints have already been voiced that there isn't a lot of depth to the Gatewatch and that the stories up til now have been lackluster. Rushing romances without character building before-hand in an effort to make token references for the sake of inclusivity seems like a bad idea.
Taking the time to make meaningful characters who are not two dimensional and have a reason to actually fill the roles that you want would be better. (Not just story-wise but for inclusivity as well.)
5: Nissa's color change: I sincerely hope that this isn't a temporary change. One could argue that her ability to communicate with the plane is a form of telepathy (mind magic) as it is. Her desire to better understand and seek guidance while accepting the world for what it is makes perfect sense. She's been a solitary figure almost her entire life and it makes sense that now after a while of being around others that she starts to change and adapt (represented by a second color.) I wouldn't mind seeing secondary colors for other planeswalkers provided that they can come up with the justification for it.
6: Jace feels useless here: While we've seen Jace show up on Innistrad and do some poking around, he feels as if he's the weakest link in the Gatewatch with very little to contribute in comparison to his comrades. Also with being the Living Guildpact I'd like to see what has happened on Ravnica since he must have been gone at least months between both the stories of Kaladesh block and now Amonkhet.
1
1
Bolas knows that a threat is upcoming that he has to deal with. Bolas, not being one to get his own hands dirty when others will do and also one to love long-term schemes, creates an artificial plane from which he can grow and train an army that is willing to fight and die for him.
We know that Tezzeret stole the Planar Bridge from Kaladesh and took it to Amonkhet for Bolas.
Now, why would someone who can already planeswalk need or want an object that already does something that he can do? Simple, to transport others such as an army that he has been cultivating for many years.
I am willing to bet that Nicol Bolas is actually going to be dealing with another enemy (I'm hoping Phyrexians.) that poses a real threat to the multiverse and the Gatewatch interferes without knowing all the details and makes things worse for everyone.
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It was a placeholder in my regard but thanks
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Creature - Treefolk Shaman
Defender
WG,t: Target creature you control gets +0/+X until end of turn where X is it's toughness.
0/3
Next - Rishkar, Peema Renegade
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