Okay, I guess it's just one of those things that's not for me.
Upon further reflection, though, I do prefer the idea of putting one of the webcomics in the fatpack instead of the "novel insert", especially if you can complete a story arc with the comic. That way the new players getting the fatpack feel like they are getting a proper introduction to the story.
I still want know if there will be a fall publication, and if so, what it will be.
So, does this mean we get a Planeswalker's Guide to Zendikar, or are we just going to do without an MTG publication for a few months?
By the way, I really don't see the point of Path of the Planeswalker. They really expect people to pay money for something they can get (and likely already have gotten) for free (in nifty glow-in-the-dark version no less) on the internet? It's like they heard that people are losing money due to piracy, and then, wanting a piece of that delicious pie, decided to pirate themselves. I just don't get it.:facepalm:
Now that's awkward - we are supposidly the "nothing else but normal people who can walk the planes", yet still we are, by that theory, your everyday mortals and still it takes a grizzly bear ten fully successful attacks to kill us?I mean have you ever tried to go and offer yourself to an aggresive attacking grizzly? Cause I tell you that one time is gonna be more than enough to make you depart this world.
My theory is that the artifacts some planeswalkers use to focus their spellcasting (known colloquially as "decks") also create a sort of "soul-shield" around their owner that, while tied to their physical life-force, allows them to sustain far greater damage than they would normally be able to.
As much as I like new innovation, some part of me longs for the days when magic was simple. So now each player is going to have 2 decks to play from? Is anyone else reminded of L5R? I'm glad this isn't something that WotC decided to just throw into actual magic like they did with Planeswalkers (even though they turned out well, thank heaven).
Magic was never simple. Every three months they release 200-300 more intricacies to the game (not counting special products like this).
I've always wondered why they never tried another single-player experience. It wouldn't be THAT hard to program AI for a narrow set of out of print cards, like Mirage Block or something.
As I understand it, the real difficulty lies in creating an AI that occasionally makes mistakes.
Every real player makes the occasional suboptimal play. Playing against an AI that doesn't would be difficult to the point of being unfun.
They wanted Venser and Radha on the cards, but they didn't have a way to represent them as planeswalkers, so they did the best they could with what they had.
@Jazzman:Ajani was not always a PW he only realized his powers after his brother died.
That doesn't mean he didn't have his powers. The only unique power the planeswalkers have is the ability to planeswalk, which they already said is difficult. Besides, willing yourself into a parallel universe isn't the sort of thing most people would think to try.
If by "Ajani was not always a PW" you mean that there was a time when he had not yet planeswalked, then you are correct. However, the death of his brother did not transform him into a fundamentally different type of being.
So why would a pre brother's death Ajani merit a fundamentally different card type than after-brother's-death Ajani?
I think the two artworks are too similar to be alternate artwork or different cards.
Also, I think the chances of it being a legendary creature are very slim. They used to be able to do this because the "spark" made you into a superbeing after some major crisis. Now, it does not make you into a superbeing, so there is no need for a major crisis.
It also means that a character like Ajani is a planeswalker from birth. If they printed planeswalkers as non-planeswalker permanents, there is no rule for determining which storylines could get the planeswalker versions, and which couldn't.
Why is a scar something that just comes and goes with an interpretation? And the markings are different, these people are physically different.
I think it's more likely that the same artist did both versions. He submitted the Wallpaper Ajani art first. Creative looked it over and sent it back, requesting that he add a scar and make a few other changes.
Later, the guy making the wallpaper grabbed the wrong Ajani art by mistake.
Interesting fact: this is the second wallpaper with an Ajani-related error.
Upon further reflection, though, I do prefer the idea of putting one of the webcomics in the fatpack instead of the "novel insert", especially if you can complete a story arc with the comic. That way the new players getting the fatpack feel like they are getting a proper introduction to the story.
I still want know if there will be a fall publication, and if so, what it will be.
By the way, I really don't see the point of Path of the Planeswalker. They really expect people to pay money for something they can get (and likely already have gotten) for free (in nifty glow-in-the-dark version no less) on the internet? It's like they heard that people are losing money due to piracy, and then, wanting a piece of that delicious pie, decided to pirate themselves. I just don't get it.:facepalm:
My theory is that the artifacts some planeswalkers use to focus their spellcasting (known colloquially as "decks") also create a sort of "soul-shield" around their owner that, while tied to their physical life-force, allows them to sustain far greater damage than they would normally be able to.
Magic was never simple. Every three months they release 200-300 more intricacies to the game (not counting special products like this).
As I understand it, the real difficulty lies in creating an AI that occasionally makes mistakes.
Every real player makes the occasional suboptimal play. Playing against an AI that doesn't would be difficult to the point of being unfun.
I doubt very much that this would happen, as each shard contains one enemy color combination.
A mini-domain type mechanic, however . . .
They didn't accept the Wallpaper art. They gave it back to the artist for revision. The revised artwork is what found its way to these forums.
More likely than not, the reason this version of Ajani found its way onto the wallpaper was one of these:
1) they grabbed the wrong artwork by mistake
2) the finished artwork was off site (maybe with UltraPro) and they needed a quick substitute.
Because he was a major character and they wanted him on a card, even if it wasn't a direct representation of him.
So, Venser's card represents him not just after he realized his powers, but after he's achieved a good bit of proficiency at it.
They also predate the finalization of the planeswalker card type.
Kinda like how Ashnod's Battle Gear predates the equipment card type.
They wanted Venser and Radha on the cards, but they didn't have a way to represent them as planeswalkers, so they did the best they could with what they had.
What I meant was, "Why would Ajani be represented by a Planeswalker card in one set, and a Legendary Creature in another?"
That doesn't mean he didn't have his powers. The only unique power the planeswalkers have is the ability to planeswalk, which they already said is difficult. Besides, willing yourself into a parallel universe isn't the sort of thing most people would think to try.
If by "Ajani was not always a PW" you mean that there was a time when he had not yet planeswalked, then you are correct. However, the death of his brother did not transform him into a fundamentally different type of being.
So why would a pre brother's death Ajani merit a fundamentally different card type than after-brother's-death Ajani?
Also, I think the chances of it being a legendary creature are very slim. They used to be able to do this because the "spark" made you into a superbeing after some major crisis. Now, it does not make you into a superbeing, so there is no need for a major crisis.
It also means that a character like Ajani is a planeswalker from birth. If they printed planeswalkers as non-planeswalker permanents, there is no rule for determining which storylines could get the planeswalker versions, and which couldn't.
I think it's more likely that the same artist did both versions. He submitted the Wallpaper Ajani art first. Creative looked it over and sent it back, requesting that he add a scar and make a few other changes.
Later, the guy making the wallpaper grabbed the wrong Ajani art by mistake.
Interesting fact: this is the second wallpaper with an Ajani-related error.