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[Santiako]

This gal is obviously on the random.dec

This is apparently the Dragons timeline version of Ankle Shanker.

 

[kirblar]

Esper/Wedge partner commanders have to be coming sooner rather than latter.

 

[SigmasonicX]

This guy is obviously on the random.dec

This is another character from the online stories.

 

[Infinite Stars]

This gal is obviously on the random.dec

This is apparently the Dragons timeline version of Ankle Shanker.

They did it!

Still upset that Ankle Smasher never was-legendary, considering it being one Goblin, but his DTK counterpart being-legendary is great.

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

honestly could be a good aggro commander.

 

[divisionbyzorro]

So if you have two Partner commanders, the rest of your deck is only 98 cards I guess.

 

[Toxi]

RED-GREEN-WHITE-BLUE (RGWU) "ALTRUISM"

Red loves its friends. Green understands the power of symbiosis. White believes in community above all else. Blue values knowledge, and believes that it should be shared freely. Black sees selfishness as a virtue and believes that altruism only encourages weakness.

The pilot of this deck wants everyone at the table to have a good time and is eager to see what everyone's deck can do. That's why it's going to help everyone out with mana, cards, and some tokens here and there. Of course, some people are suspicious of gifts, so this deck must contain a few things to make attacking its pilot difficult.

Ewwwwww.

 

[The Technomancer]

This is the most I'vd seen my MTG group text light up all year. People are excited

 

[pelicansurf]

Man, if only the RW commander had 2 power instead of 3. Would've been a nice Alesha bomb.

 

[Yeef]

Haven't seen anyone here mention this yet: Wizards is doing two pilot programs this holiday season that basically bring MTGO Treasure chests to real-life Standard events and Booster Box purchases.

http://wpn.wizards.com/en/article/sign-standard-showdown-holiday-buy-box

 

[bigkrev]

Haven't seen anyone here mention this yet: Wizards is doing two pilot programs this holiday season that basically bring MTGO Treasure chests to real-life Standard events and Booster Box purchases.

http://wpn.wizards.com/en/article/sign-standard-showdown-holiday-buy-box

This is worrying. Are the numbers really that bad? Is Magic dying?

 

[divisionbyzorro]

This is worrying. Are the numbers really that bad? Is Magic dying?

So I am basically the embodiment of their recent explosive growth and then stagnation:

• I started playing Magic for the first time thanks to Duels of Planeswalkers.
• The first Pro Tour I watched was PT Honolulu (Dark Ascension).
• The first draft I ever did was DII.
• I played the shit out of the game for the next few years, plateauing in Theros block.
• The last set I drafted in paper was DTK/DTK/FRF.
• The last set I drafted online (not counting MTGO cube drafts or the MTGO beta) was OGW.

I'm very typical of the average Magic player, as I understand it. Most of us get heavy into it for a few years before deciding to move on - in part or in full. In my case, it's because my life situation changed and I no longer had a playgroup, and Magic's online offerings are really bad (especially when compared to RL Magic). But I have enough fond memories of the game and enough of an attachment to it that I haven't disappeared. I still get on GAF to chat about it. I still watch every Pro Tour. I still listen to Magic podcasts (though they are slightly lower priority than before). In other words, I'm ripe to be lured back in. They just have to find the right thing to do it.

Except there is no product that's going to make that happen - for me at least. Magic is all about the people, in my eyes. You either find a group of people that make Magic great, or you don't

 

[Yeef]

This is worrying. Are the numbers really that bad? Is Magic dying?

I can't speak for the larger trends, but anecdotally, we've been doing much better with constructed since Kaladesh launched. In this area, constructed isn't really a thing; it's all limited. If you head an hour in any direction, the opposite is true.

But, since Kaladesh hit we've been filling out Standard events and this Game Day was our biggest yet.

Sales wise, Kaladesh is slightly outpacing BFZ for us.

 

[charlequin]

This is another character from the online stories.

Really amused at the individual short story deep cuts they're getting into here. I kind of expect to see Taigam (also from Khans) here, and to see Hal and Alena pop up in C17.

Ewwwwww.

I get the irritation, but is there a more obvious theme of the type they mention here that covers WURG?

This is worrying. Are the numbers really that bad? Is Magic dying?

man don't like COMPLETELY panic here or anything

Every time there's some old program that they get rid of and everyone gets real mad and says they're cheap and they'll never do anything that replaces it? This is one of those replacements. They want to goose Standard attendance (since it's their bread and butter) and encourage holiday sales (since for a retail entertainment product, Magic has a bizarrely weak December) and they reason (probably correctly) that semi-randomized prizes are more likely to encourage people than pre-announced single promo cards.

 

[Hero]

I think Magic is still healthy and profitable but the rate of growth has probably slowed down since the m10/Zen/Inn/RTR explosion. It gets harder and harder to excite players and there is an ever-increasing number of things for people to invest their time and/or money into.

 

[Santiako]

New dude.

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

No trample 10 on a nonartifact looks weird.

I get the irritation, but is there a more obvious theme of the type they mention here that covers WURG?

What happens when you add red to Bant, the honor based nation becomes traveling nomads that are essentially a huge standing marching army

 

[Santiako]

They put this in their products page:

people are already trying to decipher them:

Saskia the Unyielding - BRGW
Legendary Creature - Human Berserker
Vigilance, Haste
When Saskia the Unyielding enters the battlefield, target a player.
Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, it deals that much damage to the targeted player.

5/4, maybe 3/4.

 

[red13th]

from Reddit

that would be really cool and I'd buy that deck because of gay kings.

 

[blindrocket]

Because they don't design for Modern, they can always ban stuff later if they need to, and players as a whole are noticeably more whiny than is really constructive about format balance?

I mean the Creative team writing the Weatherlight Saga after they yanked it from Rosewater were sub-incompetent tier so this doesn't particularly surprise me any extra?

Are you typing a question mark in stead of a period on purpose?

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

Breya sounds a bit disappointing supposedly makes an 0/1 and can tap sac artifacts to deal damage -4/-4 something or gain life.
I expected much more she's just a utility commander if that's that's it. You get one activation for free and otherwise a bad sac outlet with upside.

 

[Wulfric]

This is worrying. Are the numbers really that bad? Is Magic dying?

Not in southern Wisconsin it isn't. We will have had two GPs, two SCG Opens, and Pro Tour BFZ within just one year. Kaladesh brought standard back, but I attribute this to local preferences. Draft and modern have become more popular as our play groups have gotten older.

I think this promo (along with the new League) is just a way to help attract people to standard. Standard FNM has become a bit difficult to fire as of late (8-12 people on average. It used to be in the 40+ range during Theros block).

 

[Santiako]

Breya sounds a bit disappointing supposedly makes an 0/1 and can tap sac artifacts to deal damage -4/-4 something or gain life.
I expected much more she's just a utility commander if that's that's it. You get one activation for free and otherwise a bad sac outlet with upside.

It's all fours looks like (gain 4 life, deal 4 damage, -4/-4), so I'm guessing she's a 4/4 and makes 4 0/1 tokens.

 

[alternade]

from Reddit



that would be really cool and I'd buy that deck because of gay kings.

Wait......this would be so awesome if true

 

[charlequin]

No trample 10 on a nonartifact looks weird.

What happens when you add red to Bant, the honor based nation becomes traveling nomads that are essentially a huge standing marching army

Where's the blue in that? WBRG is already the army/attacking theme in this set.

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

How will commander damage work with partners?

It's all fours looks like (gain 4 life, deal 4 damage, -4/-4), so I'm guessing she's a 4/4 and makes 4 0/1 tokens.

4 0/1s would change the math considerably. Would make her very good.

Where's the blue in that? WBRG is already the army/attacking theme in this set.

Where's the blue in bant anyway. But to answer it, the general, the informants, scouts, engineers,... Black is the least conformable colour with an army

 

[blindrocket]

I mean, I think it's fair to say that Wizards isn't managing Modern as well as they could be, all things considered, but I'm not quite sure that they want to. I mean, my biggest issue is still that Wizards tries to set up these rules to guide the format but they seem to half ass the rules implementation. They say they don't want cheap/free spells in Modern, while we have Kamikazoo running effectively a 48 card deck because of the number of "free" cycling effects it has. They say that they don't want fast mana(and have banned every good ritual), but they continue to allow SSG. They've said they don't want any decks winning before turn 4 if they can't be interacted with, but Infect is at the point where it's getting consistent enough turn 2/3 kills even with removal by the opponent. They've said that they don't want too strong of card selection in Modern(Hence why Dig is banned), but Ancient Stirrings is a 1-Mana mini-dig for Eldrazi.

I mean if the goal is to make Modern be accessible from both Standard and more "balanced" then Legacy, then you'd think they'd at least try to keep the rules they've made somewhat intact, but they feel more like generic guidelines.

Granted, the Modern Meta is becoming somewhat cyclical, but the issue seems to be less " Which archetype is good" and more "What deck are people cutting sideboard hate for". Between Dredge and Affinity you've got anywhere from 4-8 sideboard slots taken up permanently. Granted, some of the anti-Dredge stuff stops other cards, but Affinity hate cards don't really do much in other matchups. These cards can be such a game changer that your win chance goes up drastically if you can open with them to the point where some view mulling for them to be crucial to victory.

I mean, is Modern bad right now? No, but it could be better.

I agree with you so much.

 

[IrrelevantAlex]

I typed out steel of the godhand on accident instead of godhead so this became a thing.
Edit: totally dumb fake card: http://i.imgur.com/Z41EPKn.jpg
1 million hours in mspaint.

 

[SigmasonicX]

How will commander damage work with partners?

Each Commander is considered separately for commander damage. So if you deal 20 damage with one, you still have to deal 21 damage with the other.

I typed out steel of the godhand on accident instead of godhead so this became a thing.

1 million hours in mspaint.

As a heads up, even with obviously fake art, it's generally not considered good to post fake cards during spoiler season.

 

[Firemind]

They put this in their products page:

No dragons ffs

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

Thanks, that's annoying. What's the flavour behind partner?

 

[Lucario]

only gay kings can make up for the lack of dragon commanders

 

[SigmasonicX]

Thanks, that's annoying. What's the flavour behind partner?

They're willing to work together? Seems pretty clear to me. The fact that even otherwise friendly previous commanders don't have it is odd flavorwise, but time traveling keywords are generally best avoided.

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

They're willing to work together? Seems pretty clear to me. The fact that even otherwise friendly previous commanders don't have it is odd flavorwise, but time traveling keywords are generally best avoided.

You'd think so but then Silas Ren and a goblin that literally throws shit at random are included.

 

[Firemind]

They're willing to work together? Seems pretty clear to me. The fact that even otherwise friendly previous commanders don't have it is odd flavorwise, but time traveling keywords are generally best avoided.

Partner on Kraum doesn't really make sense though. I mean, they already have a partner!

 

[The Technomancer]

I do find it funny that the actual couple is apparently represented by one card and not a set of partner cards

 

[El Topo]

I do find it funny that the actual couple is apparently represented by one card and not a set of partner cards

Otherwise you could partner them with others.

 

[Ashodin]

honestly could be a good aggro commander.

An amazing duel commander. It's damage on every cast.

 

[Firemind]

An amazing duel commander. It's damage on every cast.

Fireblast does 10 damage LOL

 

[Infinite Stars]

The Therosian Kings will be all of my jam. It's worth noting that this is another ruling couple card, similar to Anax and Cymede. I'm curious what the inspiration for them is, because Anax/Cymede clearly draw from Leonidas/Gorgo( just look at the art/colour combinations, it totally fits).

If I had to venture a guess(Two male lovers whose death was celebrated and have become a monument), maybe they're based partially on Patroklus and Achilles? Both heroes of legend who have statues/art all over Greece/the world.

 

[blindrocket]

Cardhoarder response on Kent Ketter

https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/5978lr/regarding_kent_ketter_and_scgmke/

 

[HK-47]

Who would anyone make giant monuments of the kings to celebrate their deaths because they couldnt war anymore? Thats fucking stupid, who would believe that dumb story?

 

[blindrocket]

An amazing duel commander. It's damage on every cast.

Definitely. And Life totals start at 20 now.

 

[Joe Molotov]

Who would anyone make giant monuments of the kings to celebrate their deaths because they couldnt war anymore? Thats fucking stupid, who would believe that dumb story?

They didn't even make them a momument that doesn't die to Doom Blade, so they must not have cared very much.

 

[HK-47]

Ewwwwww.

This is probably the worst thing ever. That really translates to "drag the game out until everyone decides to murder you."

 

[Angry Grimace]

I really wish I felt excited about the game these days.

 

[Crocodile]

I don't play much commander but these products tend to excite me because it s chance for WOTC to make some sweet cards without having to worry about breaking Standard or some other shit. So spoilers are off to a good start. It also seems we will get a good helping of dual lands in these decks per Ethan's article. Extra shocks into circulation for every deck (especially if there is a Domain sub-theme in the decks)?

The marketing does seem to suggest every new legendary card is going to be foil though. Fuck that shit if true

 

[Infinite Stars]

Who would anyone make giant monuments of the kings to celebrate their deaths because they couldnt war anymore? Thats fucking stupid, who would believe that dumb story?

Well, actually, in the Ancient Greek Tradition there's a concept known as Kleos. It's basically Honor/glory as told by men that grants heroes "immortality", in so much as their story will continue to be told for all time. Achilles constantly mentions it in the Illiad as he struggles back and forth with his rage. To have a monument built to both you and your lover, both of you equally strong warriors, would be one of the ultimate pinnacles of Kleos.

The Civilians could have built the monuments as reminders of their great kleos as heroes, but had the story be changed by the idea of persuasion. Remember, Theros is fundamentally changeable by the idea of belief(See Xenagos, Helios, etc according to Kruphix) to the point where the story just needed enough belief and it became viewed as fact. I'd assume the text on the card is from an omniscient point of view, hence why we even know why the popular belief is wrong.

In case if It wasn't obvious, I'm a bit obsessed with Theros as a plane.

 

[SigmasonicX]

Extra shocks into circulation for every deck (especially if there is a Domain sub-theme in the decks)?

I doubt it. These are explicitly dual lands that they don't plan to print in Standard, and they wouldn't want Modern players buying the decks just for them.

 

[red13th]

Ox
Haste 4/2
end of each player's turn if no creature attacked put a fury counter on Ox and it deals damage equal to number of counters to that player.