Hmmm... on the mechanical theme: could Zendikar perhaps be the land block? The logo looks very ancient, ancient peoples were defined very much by the land they lived on. Dunno, might be a possibility.
I know future sight isn't really that relevant anymore when speculating about future sets, but imagine a set that includes:
-the morph ability on lands, artifacts, maybe even instants (unmorphing doesn't use the stack, so the instants would be uncounterable! :D)
-Muraganda Petroglyphs (face-down creatures would be 4/4's!)
who knows...it's just speculation.
Morph would work for permanents, but not spells atm at least to my knowledge.
Actually, if I'm not mistaken, MaRo stated in a video that the theme for Live would be something entirely new, after talking about whether or not it was a good idea to have re-used multicolor for Shards. It was one of those "there's a big event going on so let's interview someone" videos - I'll try to go find it...
Thank you. This is what I was talking about, the theme for the block is something never done before.
Well it has been a while we have had an artifact block so i dont mind to see a decent artifact block comming again, it would also be pretty good after seeing 1.5 blocks of multicolor (shards and shadowmoor (although shadowmoor can also be seen as mono color))... so we get the text maro written: "artifact block without affinity" makes a lot of sense...
NO! The mechanical theme is something entirely new. This has been stated. So artifacts are out. A sub theme maybe, but since Shards just did that it's unlikely. Don't expect a true artifact block until Mirrodin rotates out of extended.
1) Esper would automatically be the best deck in Standard. When you have one artifact deck competing for a spot with 3-4 non-artifact decks in tier 1, creating an entire set revolving around artifacts would effectively kill 4 competitive decks. They won't do that.
2) Mirrodin is still in Extended, and the last thing they want to do is repeat their mistakes from that block in a relatively limited format. ONS rotates on the Zendikar release if I'm correct, just in time since Lorwyn doubled up the tribal theme. MIR will rotate out soon after, then I think we'll be ready for another artifact block.
1. I agree, I think Esper was designed to hold over artifact fans. I don't now how successful that was, but I would wager that was the point.
2. I wouldn't expect serious Artifact blocks until after, or right before mirrodin rotates out of extended. I think they want to run as little risk as possible of reinvigorating the degenerate nature of Mirrodin.
3. It has been stated that Zendikar's theme is something never been done before, so artifacts as a main block theme is out. A sub theme is possible but unlikely since they were a subtheme in the last block.
The more we've discussed it, the more I think threshold is going to be in the next block, along the lines of this general format:
Threshold <Number> - <Countable Object> - <Bonus>
The old threshold would yield:
Threshold 7 - Cards in Graveyard - <Bonus>
Just throwing out some ideas:
Threshold X - Creatures / Artifacts / Lands / Enchantments in Play - <Bonus>
They could mix it up and have it based on the number of these permanents you control, or perhaps your opponents control, although the former is in line with MaRo's own words.
I really like the idea of a card that says:
"Price of Hoarding" Enchantment RRRR
Threshold 7 - Artifacts you do not control
If Price of Hoarding has Threshold, you may choose to remove it from the game. If you do, Price of Hoarding deals damage to each opponent equal to the total sum of converted mana costs of artifacts each opponent controls.
They have toyed around with adding numbers I believe, or they wish they had. But counting other things isn't threshold, it would call for an entire overhaul of the rules of Threshold, witch I don't think they will do.
This is the most ridiculous thing i've read in weeks. Thank you for providing a good laugh!
I don't know why people keep writing posts as if they already know the set is going to revolve around pirates invading an aztec civilization thats battling dinosaurs. And they're all raiding tombs. Even the dinosaurs. And everyones poisoned. And indiana jones has to save em all by finding a secret serum guarded by witchdoctors and more dinosaurs.
It's just sheer comedy at this point.
I can't speak for everyone(or more appropriately won't) but I personally am having fun throwing out random things and seeing if we can get them to fit.
Anyone on the topic: IF the set has a flavor that allows for shamans or witch doctors perhaps we will get a new spell subtype and splice. Not exactly inovative but I guess most people would expect arcane to come back. The problem is this doesn't fic the fact that splices biggest problem is it was useless outside of it's own block, since arcane only exists in Kamigawa. Maybe if they actually start using instant and sorcery subtypes it would be more meaningful. Maybe they found away to do splice with out subtypes? IIRC something was said that splice only worked with subtypes(I don't know why I just remember that coming up at some point). I hope so, it was a good idea, with limited application.
That is a global templating change due to tribal spells, not a hint of future functionality.
I agree with Urzassedatives on this.
On topic, I know it has been said, but maybe a mixture of these cultures. I'm thinking tropical, jungles, and maybe a few desserts. I'm pretty sure it's a land matters block, since that would play nice with domain, and support multicolor possibly. Maybe fortifications will return.
I disagree. Now that we have the Tribal subtype, there are alot more things R&D can do with slivers, and theseguys hint at that pretty strongly. So, maybe not Sliver lands, but probably Sliver instants, Sliver enchantments, etc. It wouldn't be very hard at all, and diehard Sliver fans (like myself) would "eek!" like little school girls.
And if this set is about a very old jungle-type setting, then how would hives of large worm-like, hive-minded creatures be non-flavorful?
But how do those tribal sliver spells work since the tribal type is supposed to spells used by the race, and slivers don't cast spells last I checked. Also the whole thing about slivers is the hive mind, witch spells and enchantments don't fit with flavorfully. I never said they(normal slivers) wouldn't be flavorful in the set. I like slivers, and hope they come back but I want something cooler than what they did during ts block.
Revisiting Mirrodin would be hard since so little life is there at the end of the story. But what if we visit the(a) plane the populace was sent to? See what happens when they return home.
An Aztec/Inca themed set could work with Splice without Arcane. Instead of Arcane it would simply be Splice onto Ritual to indicate a spell that would be cast by an Aztec shaman or witch doctor or whatever they will call them.
Spirits cast arcane spells in Kamigawa. Seems reasonable that Shamans would cast Rituals in Zendikar.
This isn't surprising, it's substituting one subtype for another. Effectively the same thing.
I dunno about Mirrodin itself, but maybe this is the(a) planes (some of)the creatures were taken from originally, an d some great castrophe is happening cause all these guys came back or something. It could work and play into the whole Karn's cryptic line as he left in TS cycle. I doubt this though, but it could work.
I would not expect slivers so soon again. One of the things about slivers is each set taxes the design space more and more. The last time we had slivers who were basicly old slivers with twice the body, twice the effect, and twice the mana cost. If that's the best they can do leave them be for awhile. I like slivers but I don't want three sets of retreading the same design space.
No idea really
Next Asha?
I'd put money on it, if I had money.
The Izzet? I thin they might do steampunk based more of magitech though. I could see it.
Morph would work for permanents, but not spells atm at least to my knowledge.
Thank you. This is what I was talking about, the theme for the block is something never done before.
NO! The mechanical theme is something entirely new. This has been stated. So artifacts are out. A sub theme maybe, but since Shards just did that it's unlikely. Don't expect a true artifact block until Mirrodin rotates out of extended.
1. I agree, I think Esper was designed to hold over artifact fans. I don't now how successful that was, but I would wager that was the point.
2. I wouldn't expect serious Artifact blocks until after, or right before mirrodin rotates out of extended. I think they want to run as little risk as possible of reinvigorating the degenerate nature of Mirrodin.
3. It has been stated that Zendikar's theme is something never been done before, so artifacts as a main block theme is out. A sub theme is possible but unlikely since they were a subtheme in the last block.
They have toyed around with adding numbers I believe, or they wish they had. But counting other things isn't threshold, it would call for an entire overhaul of the rules of Threshold, witch I don't think they will do.
I can't speak for everyone(or more appropriately won't) but I personally am having fun throwing out random things and seeing if we can get them to fit.
Anyone on the topic: IF the set has a flavor that allows for shamans or witch doctors perhaps we will get a new spell subtype and splice. Not exactly inovative but I guess most people would expect arcane to come back. The problem is this doesn't fic the fact that splices biggest problem is it was useless outside of it's own block, since arcane only exists in Kamigawa. Maybe if they actually start using instant and sorcery subtypes it would be more meaningful. Maybe they found away to do splice with out subtypes? IIRC something was said that splice only worked with subtypes(I don't know why I just remember that coming up at some point). I hope so, it was a good idea, with limited application.
I agree with Urzassedatives on this.
On topic, I know it has been said, but maybe a mixture of these cultures. I'm thinking tropical, jungles, and maybe a few desserts. I'm pretty sure it's a land matters block, since that would play nice with domain, and support multicolor possibly. Maybe fortifications will return.
But how do those tribal sliver spells work since the tribal type is supposed to spells used by the race, and slivers don't cast spells last I checked. Also the whole thing about slivers is the hive mind, witch spells and enchantments don't fit with flavorfully. I never said they(normal slivers) wouldn't be flavorful in the set. I like slivers, and hope they come back but I want something cooler than what they did during ts block.
This isn't surprising, it's substituting one subtype for another. Effectively the same thing.
I dunno about Mirrodin itself, but maybe this is the(a) planes (some of)the creatures were taken from originally, an d some great castrophe is happening cause all these guys came back or something. It could work and play into the whole Karn's cryptic line as he left in TS cycle. I doubt this though, but it could work.