As I understand it (and please correct me if I'm wrong), MaRo has a decent grasp on everything throughout the development. Some story ideas are pitched early, some are edited, some are added, some are deleted (and then the changes to the cards, the art, the mechanics, etc.), and so he may have a grasp on the story, but I suspect keeping track of what ended up as the final version (as he also has a hand/grasp/idea of the future sets) is what leads to these "blunders" when he answers story questions.
I enjoyed the amount of Lore we received here, even if it did feel a bit rushed. However, more story (I think) is better than less. They won't add more chapters, so we'll get more information in some episodes.
Overall, I'm liking it as my weekly Magic fix. As I've said elsewhere, some of us are comparing Magic's story to genres and types that it is not trying to be. It's not epic storytelling. It's not a novelization. It's not a film. It's a serialized plot to augment the card game. And I think Wizards has generally figured it out and is on the right track.
My only big thought is: Why hasn't anyone tried to blame demons for this? I would have thought Thalia, Rem, or Traft would have asked, "What are the demons up to?" Sadly, they are completely missing from the equation. I don't need us to see demons (there is not enough space for them), but a reference to them or a character assuming demons are up to something seems like a possible conclusion. Again, not a big deal.
I find this a satisfactory read. I like Sorin's cocoon from which he can see but not escape. Since he is a neo-walker, he does need sustenance, though, correct? If he does not feed eventually, he will whither and die. This suggests to me that he will be freed in the coming blocks. Perhaps he can lure others to him in the meantime.
Nahiri's skill set is terrifying, but she also had time to create her cryptoliths and reshape the leylines. She would not be as disastrous when first arriving on a plane, I'd think. She could, theoretically, take up on some plane, create a Fortress of Solitude and redirect leylines, and have a safe spot for herself I guess.
I would love to see Nahiri and Koth team up and see what they could do together. Maybe our Planeswalkers will eventually be able to create a plane like the 'walkers of old were able to do.
I was surprised to see some minor contradictions between the Magic Story episodes and the Artbook already.
Sorin, Jace, and Tamiyo go back to the Drownyard Temple after Avacyn is killed. This does not match what the Magic Story episode gave us. I wonder if any other small details were changed. I'd be curious to see the deadlines for the text of the Artbook and the individual Magic Story articles. Again, Creative's storytelling on the cards, Artbook, flavor text, various non-story articles, and Magic Story is much more cohesive than in the past. I think their new direction is working well for the, but I'm curious how they manage to coordinate everything (it seems like a large task that spans over nine months for each set, but each block would be longer to plan the story and execute it).
I had not even realized Arlinn was missing from the Artbook.
I do wish the Artbook had a page to summarize "The Story thus Far" and include a plot-synopsis of Zendikar (and so for Kaladesh, they'd shorten the Zendikar section to also include Innistrad).
I apologize for being slightly off-topic, but to continue with the Roil: Was Zendikar's floating landmasses tied with the Roil and the Eldrazi as well, or is that normal due to Zendikar's unique mana? I suspect the suspended landmasses did not plummet to the earth once the Eldrazi were killed, but I didn't know if the Roil was supposed to have gone away.
And I, too, caught the mole mistake. They are still tentacle-ly, though.
I'm hoping we get a Nathaniel Hawthorne effect in that the first part of the story (Shadows over Innistrad) sets the stage, so that when things finally start to happen (in Eldritch Moon in this case), all the pieces will fit together nicely. Our build-up is broad and wide. Now the threads need to start coming together. Overall, I'm still pleased with Creative's development on this front compared to the disparate stories and clunky pacing in Battle for Zendikar and Oath of the Gatewatch. Positive directions!
Nahiri having been trapped in the Helvault does solve some problems.
Otherwise, for Eldritch Moon, we have plenty of characters and plot-threads to follow:
Liliana, the Chain-Veil, and Master Dierk
Our two trackers Halana and Alena and along with Arlinn Kord from the first chapter (if that is followed up at all)
Olivia's vampire army against the angels, and the potential inclusion of any other vampire lord/sire
Bruna and Gisela now with Avacyn gone, and Sigarda's valiant attempts to withstand them
Odric, Thalia, and the Order of Saint Traft
Gisa and Geralf's rivalry
I think Creative has done a nice job so far of setting up the story. However, with only 12 episodes/chapters per set, I wonder if two stories per set need to have multiple characters (like the final chapter of Oath) so we can put everything in perspective.
To the Serra's realm story: I suspect it deals more with destroying angels than anything as far as Jace is concerned; "unsummoning" perhaps, which is similar enough to the "unmaking" Sorin will undertake.
I would find it interesting if one of the iron-bound scrolls was Bolas's cataclysmic battle with the Leviathan Planeswalker. This would be a nice link to post-Mending but also our current cast of characters.
I enjoy seeing the variety in spellcasting. I suspect the spells Tamiyo cast are inspired by stories, but I don't think Jace would be able to cast them just by reading her scrolls--or has she "enchanted" each story? I suspect this is just the way her personal spellcasting works. I bowed out for the Kamigawa block: how do the soratami normally cast spells?
The epistolary form we saw Geralf and Gisa in from the first Innistrad (the knife story) was a good choice here. I laughed a couple times, which was unexpected when I first opened the episode to read. This was well-handled. Further, as others have noted, it was a great way to re-introduce Odric (and Grete, yes? Grete existed in the first Innistrad, I think) and provide backstory on the Temple.
Chronologically, this seems to have happened before Jace arrived at the Temple (clearly, since Gisa mentions meeting Nahiri to build it). Also, I suspect Gisa was being held somewhere for a bit before being transported--unless this story takes place directly after the first Innistrad block.
I would have liked to see dates (with the moon phases) on the letters, as we saw with their first letters to get a concept of time (and the moon).
As a side note: I definitely played up the Liliana/Geralf moment in my Innistrad fan-fiction linked in my signature. The ending is no longer canon, but check it out and comment if you'd like!
However, overall, those thoughts are minor to the overall enjoyable episode.
As we move forward, I hope we start seeing the threads revisited: Avacyn's other angels, the tracker pair from the first story, Arlinn, etc. We have many plot threads, but I hope we can revisit and tie these into the overarching story without detriment to the pacing.
I see no problem with Nahiri's personality. Not only is Sorin selfish and shows no remorse (as many have noted), but she also has a new-found confidence after defending an entire world on her own and strengthening the lock on the Eye. Her response is fine, I think.
I suppose being locked in the Helvault seems likely, but I hope there is another option. At the end of the flashback where she shot into the air, I thought perhaps she'd cocoon herself in Innistrad's moon and cause some havoc or be an eye watching over Sorin for the next time the prison on Zendikar wavered. That could account for Sorin noting that she went "silent," but I'm not so sure.
I know Liliana's Indignation suggests that Lili is not actually involved, I'm curious to see how she plays into Eldrich Moon--we have the art piece with her in it, and unless the next set is another demon-hunting plot-thread, perhaps we will get a Liliana card (but I think if she goes demon-hunting, we won't see a new card for her until the next block).
Regardless, her involvement will be curious. She has stated that she doesn't want to upset Sorin, so I'm curious to see who aligns with who. Once Jace regains his mind and decides to look after Sorin again, will Liliana just let him go and she can fade into the shadows again? Her inclusion here is rather peculiar. I know its Innistrad and she fits as a character, but the plot doesn't really seem to need her...
I, too, would be interested in seeing Emrakul drift away from Innistrad. Nahiri is the harbinger, calling Emrakul with the mana channeled from the crypoliths (creating a Mox Beacon of sorts--which was used in the pre-revisionist Planeswalker War to call Planeswalkers to Corondor on Dominaria). Also, the plane swarms with angels and demons made of mana--a tasty treat for Emrakul.
With Avacyn destroyed--as well, potentially, as the magical protections of "faith" magic--Nahiri has made the plane more prone to Emrakul's madness and devastation.
However, I'd like to see the direction the story takes with Liliana, as well as potentially utilizing Arlinn, and the showdown between Nahiri and Sorin. Jace and Taimyo should still have some screentime, too. The demons are generally absent, and we have the angel sisters and werewolves to deal with, too. I would be interested to see the crypolith network disassembled, the character interactions, and Emrakul meandering away once the plane no longer emanates mana for her to consume. We can then end with whatever conclusion that strengthens the Gatewatch's power or understanding of the problem, and move onward with identifying the conflict for the next block.
As I understand it (and please correct me if I'm wrong), MaRo has a decent grasp on everything throughout the development. Some story ideas are pitched early, some are edited, some are added, some are deleted (and then the changes to the cards, the art, the mechanics, etc.), and so he may have a grasp on the story, but I suspect keeping track of what ended up as the final version (as he also has a hand/grasp/idea of the future sets) is what leads to these "blunders" when he answers story questions.
Overall, I'm liking it as my weekly Magic fix. As I've said elsewhere, some of us are comparing Magic's story to genres and types that it is not trying to be. It's not epic storytelling. It's not a novelization. It's not a film. It's a serialized plot to augment the card game. And I think Wizards has generally figured it out and is on the right track.
My only big thought is: Why hasn't anyone tried to blame demons for this? I would have thought Thalia, Rem, or Traft would have asked, "What are the demons up to?" Sadly, they are completely missing from the equation. I don't need us to see demons (there is not enough space for them), but a reference to them or a character assuming demons are up to something seems like a possible conclusion. Again, not a big deal.
I'll keep on reading each week.
Nahiri's skill set is terrifying, but she also had time to create her cryptoliths and reshape the leylines. She would not be as disastrous when first arriving on a plane, I'd think. She could, theoretically, take up on some plane, create a Fortress of Solitude and redirect leylines, and have a safe spot for herself I guess.
I would love to see Nahiri and Koth team up and see what they could do together. Maybe our Planeswalkers will eventually be able to create a plane like the 'walkers of old were able to do.
Sorin, Jace, and Tamiyo go back to the Drownyard Temple after Avacyn is killed. This does not match what the Magic Story episode gave us. I wonder if any other small details were changed. I'd be curious to see the deadlines for the text of the Artbook and the individual Magic Story articles. Again, Creative's storytelling on the cards, Artbook, flavor text, various non-story articles, and Magic Story is much more cohesive than in the past. I think their new direction is working well for the, but I'm curious how they manage to coordinate everything (it seems like a large task that spans over nine months for each set, but each block would be longer to plan the story and execute it).
I had not even realized Arlinn was missing from the Artbook.
I do wish the Artbook had a page to summarize "The Story thus Far" and include a plot-synopsis of Zendikar (and so for Kaladesh, they'd shorten the Zendikar section to also include Innistrad).
And I, too, caught the mole mistake. They are still tentacle-ly, though.
Otherwise, for Eldritch Moon, we have plenty of characters and plot-threads to follow:
I think Creative has done a nice job so far of setting up the story. However, with only 12 episodes/chapters per set, I wonder if two stories per set need to have multiple characters (like the final chapter of Oath) so we can put everything in perspective.
I would find it interesting if one of the iron-bound scrolls was Bolas's cataclysmic battle with the Leviathan Planeswalker. This would be a nice link to post-Mending but also our current cast of characters.
I enjoy seeing the variety in spellcasting. I suspect the spells Tamiyo cast are inspired by stories, but I don't think Jace would be able to cast them just by reading her scrolls--or has she "enchanted" each story? I suspect this is just the way her personal spellcasting works. I bowed out for the Kamigawa block: how do the soratami normally cast spells?
Chronologically, this seems to have happened before Jace arrived at the Temple (clearly, since Gisa mentions meeting Nahiri to build it). Also, I suspect Gisa was being held somewhere for a bit before being transported--unless this story takes place directly after the first Innistrad block.
I would have liked to see dates (with the moon phases) on the letters, as we saw with their first letters to get a concept of time (and the moon).
As a side note: I definitely played up the Liliana/Geralf moment in my Innistrad fan-fiction linked in my signature. The ending is no longer canon, but check it out and comment if you'd like!
However, overall, those thoughts are minor to the overall enjoyable episode.
We'll see where we're headed!
I suppose being locked in the Helvault seems likely, but I hope there is another option. At the end of the flashback where she shot into the air, I thought perhaps she'd cocoon herself in Innistrad's moon and cause some havoc or be an eye watching over Sorin for the next time the prison on Zendikar wavered. That could account for Sorin noting that she went "silent," but I'm not so sure.
I await the next episode.
Regardless, her involvement will be curious. She has stated that she doesn't want to upset Sorin, so I'm curious to see who aligns with who. Once Jace regains his mind and decides to look after Sorin again, will Liliana just let him go and she can fade into the shadows again? Her inclusion here is rather peculiar. I know its Innistrad and she fits as a character, but the plot doesn't really seem to need her...
With Avacyn destroyed--as well, potentially, as the magical protections of "faith" magic--Nahiri has made the plane more prone to Emrakul's madness and devastation.
However, I'd like to see the direction the story takes with Liliana, as well as potentially utilizing Arlinn, and the showdown between Nahiri and Sorin. Jace and Taimyo should still have some screentime, too. The demons are generally absent, and we have the angel sisters and werewolves to deal with, too. I would be interested to see the crypolith network disassembled, the character interactions, and Emrakul meandering away once the plane no longer emanates mana for her to consume. We can then end with whatever conclusion that strengthens the Gatewatch's power or understanding of the problem, and move onward with identifying the conflict for the next block.
Of course, Emrakul is in her astral form, so she can be hanging just outside Innistrad.