I don't think they need to retcon a return though, they did hint at dissent in the ranks of the dragonlords, and remnants of the old clans still existing, so I think a return would be open conflict between the dragonlords and a resurgence of the clans.
Particularly if they specify that the dragonstorms only happen while Ugin is physically present on the plane, so if he's gone the storms stop, no more new Dragons, and the clans see the opportunity to strike.
I favor this theory. Abzan Heretics and Temur Elementalists are the most obvious examples of the enemy colors still lingering. Ojutai's hinted to have rebellion, but it isn't as emphasized as with Dromoka and Atarka. Silumgar and Kolaghan are a little harder to identify; the lack of white in Kolaghan lead to the hordes being less organized and armored, but there doesn't seem to be any dissent brewing within the ranks like with the Abzan, Temur, and possibly Jeskai. Silumgar doesn't seem far removed from Sultai; mostly the lack of green just means reduced Naga presence within the brood. Maybe there's a greater focus on artificial toxins than natural? As for Ojutai, I could see there being a secret monastery of monks keeping the old Jeskai ways alive, including the practice of bloodfire, soulfire, and mistfire.
But of course this has nothing to do with Ixalan. Dinosaurs and Pirates ahoy, matey!
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MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
There`s just one thing on my mind about Ixalan. I really hope that they make it possible to play UG Merfolk as an actual fish archetype deck, a proper tempo deck, and not just make it a regular slow aggro or midrange deck. I want low curve spells and disruptive elements on legs. Unsummon and Blossoming Defense makes me cautiously optimistic, and the 1UU legend looks great, now please give me enough cheap, synergistic creatures and some kind of Cursecatcher variant. It doesn`t have to be devastatingly good or anything, I`ll play it as long as it`s decent and actually feels like a fish deck.
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When I hit my 3000 post mark, I'm gone for good.
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
I don't think they need to retcon a return though, they did hint at dissent in the ranks of the dragonlords, and remnants of the old clans still existing, so I think a return would be open conflict between the dragonlords and a resurgence of the clans.
Particularly if they specify that the dragonstorms only happen while Ugin is physically present on the plane, so if he's gone the storms stop, no more new Dragons, and the clans see the opportunity to strike.
I favor this theory. Abzan Heretics and Temur Elementalists are the most obvious examples of the enemy colors still lingering. Ojutai's hinted to have rebellion, but it isn't as emphasized as with Dromoka and Atarka. Silumgar and Kolaghan are a little harder to identify; the lack of white in Kolaghan lead to the hordes being less organized and armored, but there doesn't seem to be any dissent brewing within the ranks like with the Abzan, Temur, and possibly Jeskai. Silumgar doesn't seem far removed from Sultai; mostly the lack of green just means reduced Naga presence within the brood. Maybe there's a greater focus on artificial toxins than natural? As for Ojutai, I could see there being a secret monastery of monks keeping the old Jeskai ways alive, including the practice of bloodfire, soulfire, and mistfire.
But of course this has nothing to do with Ixalan. Dinosaurs and Pirates ahoy, matey!
I always got the feeling that Sidisi was planning something. I don't think it would be out of rebellion like Dromoka, Atarka, or Ojutai, but more of a power play if the Sultai tried to resurface.
For the sake of accuracy, THEROPODS were most likely feathered, the Paleo community is still out for deliberation on other families, still, looks great! I just hope Vraska gets a great card as well.
Speaking as a fairly informed amateur, the presence of pycnofibers on pterosaurs, the sister-group of dinosaurs, seems to me suggestive (though not quite dispositive) of the presence of proto-feathers in the last common ancestor of all dinosaurs. Structures resembling primitive feathers have also been found in several ornithischians, further backing up this hypothesis. More than likely, feathers were reduced in larger animals without much need for them, much as we see in humans, elephants, rhinos, hippos, and cetaceans today, but I find it likely that fur-like feathers were quite common among dinosaurs.
"Next week, we will be distributing trackable game pieces to stores, fans, volunteers, and some well-known community folk that will travel the world alongside Magic fans. As game pieces travel, the distances they travel will influence the release of preview cards and could actually influence how the story of Ixalan plays out."
Oh good, it's Scars of Mirrodin all over again...I assure you this campaign won't have any influence on the story whatsoever, considering the general parts of the story should already be finalized (and relevant cards printed) by now.
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Lapsed DCI Rules Advisor - Retired from playing but still hanging around
There could be open-ended side stories, kinda like how some games have a main story that plays out a specific way and sidequests that can play out different ways. For example, see Zelda games like Majora's Mask and Skyward Sword, which have multiple-choice sidequests like the Kafei-Anju quest in MM or Cawlin's letter to Karane in SS.
So, Ixalan has four major tribes to speak of: Dinosaurs, Pirates, Merfolk, and...Vampires? Merfolk I can understand as companions to Pirates, and we're accepting Dinosaurs and Pirates coexisting, but I'll be interested in seeing how Vampires fit into the whole picture. My guess is they did that to interact with Kaladesh's Aetherborn Vampires. And for "Vampirate" puns.
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
XLN is already being printed, there's no doubt about that. Rivals, however, may not have already been printed, but it's almost surely been finalized and no changes to the cards can be made.
Perhaps this makes a difference going into Dominaria, but I highly doubt it. Changes to the story have a far greater impact on the cards themselves than minor changes like number changes (eg mana cost, P/T, etc.) where story changes may have changes to the art, which are done well in advance of finalizing the set, and could change the overall flavor of the card, which could mean entirely reworking the card. This seems like a pure gimmick a la Mirrodin Pure.
However, speaking of Mirrodin Pure, I hope if we ever go back to Mirrodin, that we get Mirrodin Pure in some way. That would be pretty awesome imo.
There could be open-ended side stories, kinda like how some games have a main story that plays out a specific way and sidequests that can play out different ways.
Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. They could leave the stories and/or fates of some minor or side characters in the story open-ended (and, if they choose to do so at all, only portray them on cards before the point of diversion).
I think, assuming they've planned it out properly, it'll be fairly easy to have us influence the storyline. The catch is that we can't influence the cards in the set. So what they'd have to do is have the story spotlights focus on leading up to the battle over the city, with the main characters pursuing something else in the background. They get that or fail to get it, and planeswalk away, letting them have a set continuation to work off of for dominaria/future sets. But they leave the question of who won the battle for the big city open until the conclusion of the geocaching stuff, which will likely give them enough lead time to write the final stories based on that. That way, we still influence things, but not in a way they have to worry about until they start planning a return.
XLN is already being printed, there's no doubt about that. Rivals, however, may not have already been printed, but it's almost surely been finalized and no changes to the cards can be made.
Perhaps this makes a difference going into Dominaria, but I highly doubt it. Changes to the story have a far greater impact on the cards themselves than minor changes like number changes (eg mana cost, P/T, etc.) where story changes may have changes to the art, which are done well in advance of finalizing the set, and could change the overall flavor of the card, which could mean entirely reworking the card. This seems like a pure gimmick a la Mirrodin Pure.
However, speaking of Mirrodin Pure, I hope if we ever go back to Mirrodin, that we get Mirrodin Pure in some way. That would be pretty awesome imo.
IIRC, everyone in the story, including the guy who created the place, has written Mirrodin off as lost. The corruption is too deep to save it, short of "resetting" it to factory zero or something.
What are chances they reprint the enemy fetchlands in Ixalan or Rivals Of Ixalan.
Ixalan? Zero. We've seen the rare sheet and it has allied checklands.
Rivals? Very, very low. Enemy fetchlands with allied cycling lands in the same standard would be a disaster. The very soonest we could possibly see enemy fetches is probably fall 2018 when Amonkhet rotates out. Enemy checklands are much more likely in Rivals.
Is anyone else upset that Talk like a pirate day will happen just before the Ixalan Prerelease?
Upset? They arghhhhh!
Sorry, could not resist.
Seriously, pirate themes are great.
But whatever interest I have in the set will dissipate somewhat when the block, as ever, becomes all about planeswalkers, story, digital art that looks the same, good critters and rubbish answers.
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People with belligerent signatures are trying to compensate for something....
Is anyone else upset that Talk like a pirate day will happen just before the Ixalan Prerelease?
Upset? They arghhhhh!
Sorry, could not resist.
Seriously, pirate themes are great.
But whatever interest I have in the set will dissipate somewhat when the block, as ever, becomes all about planeswalkers, story, digital art that looks the same, good critters and rubbish answers.
LOL this is the earliest I think I have ever seen someone be disappointed with a set lololol
Is anyone else upset that Talk like a pirate day will happen just before the Ixalan Prerelease?
Upset? They arghhhhh!
Sorry, could not resist.
Seriously, pirate themes are great.
But whatever interest I have in the set will dissipate somewhat when the block, as ever, becomes all about planeswalkers, story, digital art that looks the same, good critters and rubbish answers.
From what we know of Ixalan so far (mostly from the leaks), planeswalkers will be more of a secondary role in the Ixalan story, and there are plenty of strong answers (Scuttle the Wreckage, River's Rebuke, Ashes of the Abhorrent, Vraska's Contempt, and those are only the rares/mythics. Uncommons typically have been the realm of the best removal).
The creatures seem relatively underwhelming, and the art seems pretty novel and unique.
Of course, no matter how much Wizards tries to make players happy, some are going to whine for the sake of whining.
I would like some art in the more esoteric styles of the early game- things that look like pictures- think Foglios - not on all cards- just some. In other words less homogeneity- as if there is no one person directing all the art in the same direction. I have not really seen anything on the spoilers to indicate that they are going to do either. It is very subjective, each to their own, I can't see them letting a Stasis through the net.
I agree the creatures look weaker than normal and Ashes of the Abhorrent is a very interesting card, but looking at the other cards listed- sweepers costing six, targeted removal costing 4 is exactly the type of design that has left them with Standard bans and is the very definition of "weak answers". Strong answers for single creature removal cost one or two- diabolic edict, swords, bolts, innocent blood, terror, path, fatal push, condemn, oust, runed halo etc. If it can hit nearly every permanent then three or is fair enough maybe- cast out, O ring. The term "weak" is relative, so I will redefine my original comments numerically- for weak answers I mean counterspells and hand destruction that cost more than two, targeted removal for creatures more than two, and sweepers costing more than four. If they want to avoid standard bans they need to print more "unfun" removal and prevention (hate) cards.
I should also say that I am expecting to be disappointed, not that I am. The last sets have had Cast Out, Fatal Push and a 3 cc sweeper (albiet with a significant drawback), so its hard to say if the pendulum is swinging. I can't see 1 cc discard or strong counterspells happening. I doubt they have had time to react to the negative feedback about answers/threats yet.
But this all means that the answers are strong to balance the strong threats. Weaken the threat, lessen the need for strong answers. Print Merc Masq 2.0///
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Wanted -Zombie Foils and older expensive Zombie stuff. High Priority- Beta Z Master/ Int. Collector's Edition.
I would like some art in the more esoteric styles of the early game- things that look like pictures- think Foglios - not on all cards- just some. In other words less homogeneity- as if there is no one person directing all the art in the same direction. I have not really seen anything on the spoilers to indicate that they are going to do either. It is very subjective, each to their own, I can't see them letting a Stasis through the net.
I agree the creatures look weaker than normal and Ashes of the Abhorrent is a very interesting card, but looking at the other cards listed- sweepers costing six, targeted removal costing 4 is exactly the type of design that has left them with Standard bans and is the very definition of "weak answers". Strong answers for single creature removal cost one or two- diabolic edict, swords, bolts, innocent blood, terror, path, fatal push, condemn, oust, runed halo etc. If it can hit nearly every permanent then three or is fair enough maybe- cast out, O ring. The term "weak" is relative, so I will redefine my original comments numerically- for weak answers I mean counterspells and hand destruction that cost more than two, targeted removal for creatures more than two, and sweepers costing more than four. If they want to avoid standard bans they need to print more "unfun" removal and prevention (hate) cards.
I should also say that I am expecting to be disappointed, not that I am. The last sets have had Cast Out, Fatal Push and a 3 cc sweeper (albiet with a significant drawback), so its hard to say if the pendulum is swinging. I can't see 1 cc discard or strong counterspells happening. I doubt they have had time to react to the negative feedback about answers/threats yet.
I agree with you about the art direction - I would love a few of those kinds of cards thrown into the mix. I really enjoyed the aspect of magic that was artists creating their own work for the card. However, they've changed that formula now and they give pretty restrictive parameters for what the art must depict. You've probably seen the articles that talk about the art for cards and the messages that were provided to the commissioned artist.
They're trying to create a unified brand. The reason they don't want multiple different art styles in one set is because it becomes harder to communicate the identity of the set (or on a larger scale, MTG as a whole). It is the same reason that Lexus, Porsche, Ford, BMW, etc. have the same styling cues on call their vehicles regardless purpose or segment. Porsche wants you to immediately recognize the car as a Porsche, whether it's an SUV or a supercar. With Magic art, Wizards wants people to know that it is specifically a Magic card and even more so that it BELONGS in this block/set/etc.
It's a branding issue that they create these restrictions. It pulls back on the artist expression but they're okay with that
XLN is already being printed, there's no doubt about that. Rivals, however, may not have already been printed, but it's almost surely been finalized and no changes to the cards can be made.
Earlier this summer, I spoke with a distributor who confirmed that they get sets farther ahead of release than I previously thought. I said, "I know that by the time we know the name of a set, it's too late to change anything," and he corrected me by saying "By the time you know the codename, it's too late to change anything." He's already seen printed Dominaria cards. Even if they were only proofs (he didn't specify), Rivals of Ixalan has already been sent to the printer.
XLN is already being printed, there's no doubt about that. Rivals, however, may not have already been printed, but it's almost surely been finalized and no changes to the cards can be made.
Earlier this summer, I spoke with a distributor who confirmed that they get sets farther ahead of release than I previously thought. I said, "I know that by the time we know the name of a set, it's too late to change anything," and he corrected me by saying "By the time you know the codename, it's too late to change anything." He's already seen printed Dominaria cards. Even if they were only proofs (he didn't specify), Rivals of Ixalan has already been sent to the printer.
Changes can still be made for Dominaria is my understanding. However, conceptually the set is just about done. The art is all finished, the story is all finished, and what they want to tell and show us is finalized. What they can do is change minor things like mana cost and small details like P/T and does X damage or whatever. I'm sure there are proofs and other test things, but I don't believe the set itself has been finalized. I remember reading I think Maro mentioning like around 6 months, maybe a little more, before set's release is the last chance to make changes. But I'm sure at least 90% of Dominaria is set in stone right about now, or I should say at least 90% of the set won't see any more changes.
They're trying to create a unified brand. The reason they don't want multiple different art styles in one set is because it becomes harder to communicate the identity of the set (or on a larger scale, MTG as a whole). With Magic art, Wizards wants people to know that it is specifically a Magic card and even more so that it BELONGS in this block/set/etc.
Having art direction on a set isn't about branding, although you're right that it has to do with communicating the identity of a set. Magic is failry unique as a card game in the way that each new block builds a new world, and each set tells its own story. Building a cohesive world and telling a consistent story requires direction. It's the same as having art direction on a video game, animated series, or graphic novel (or really any form of illustrated storytelling). It's about making sure the art on the cards is identifiable as a part of the world and story of the set in question. It has nothing to do with making sure people know it's Magic (there's plenty else that lets them do this without sacrificing the integrity of their artists).
There are very few modern day magic artists, whose artworks are distinctive. Seb McKinnon is one for exception that comes to my mind. But most artworks are interchangeable 3d models, they look like copy paste and lack the heart and uniqueness, that makes great art for me. I'm talking Rebecca Guay, Carl Critchlow, Terese Nielsen, Adam Rex or Rob Alexander.
The crappy soulless art style is my biggest complain with MtG's current state.
This is just insulting to every one of the artists that works on the game, including the ones you listed. If you think any of the art is interchangeable or copy/pasted, you need to pay more attention. The artists that work on Magic do consistently good work, and saying it lacks heart or uniqueness is spitting in the face of people very passionate about the work they do. The only thing soulless in this equation is you.
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I favor this theory. Abzan Heretics and Temur Elementalists are the most obvious examples of the enemy colors still lingering. Ojutai's hinted to have rebellion, but it isn't as emphasized as with Dromoka and Atarka. Silumgar and Kolaghan are a little harder to identify; the lack of white in Kolaghan lead to the hordes being less organized and armored, but there doesn't seem to be any dissent brewing within the ranks like with the Abzan, Temur, and possibly Jeskai. Silumgar doesn't seem far removed from Sultai; mostly the lack of green just means reduced Naga presence within the brood. Maybe there's a greater focus on artificial toxins than natural? As for Ojutai, I could see there being a secret monastery of monks keeping the old Jeskai ways alive, including the practice of bloodfire, soulfire, and mistfire.
But of course this has nothing to do with Ixalan. Dinosaurs and Pirates ahoy, matey!
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
Doomsdayin'
I always got the feeling that Sidisi was planning something. I don't think it would be out of rebellion like Dromoka, Atarka, or Ojutai, but more of a power play if the Sultai tried to resurface.
Speaking as a fairly informed amateur, the presence of pycnofibers on pterosaurs, the sister-group of dinosaurs, seems to me suggestive (though not quite dispositive) of the presence of proto-feathers in the last common ancestor of all dinosaurs. Structures resembling primitive feathers have also been found in several ornithischians, further backing up this hypothesis. More than likely, feathers were reduced in larger animals without much need for them, much as we see in humans, elephants, rhinos, hippos, and cetaceans today, but I find it likely that fur-like feathers were quite common among dinosaurs.
RWU
GUB
WBR
URG
BGW
"Next week, we will be distributing trackable game pieces to stores, fans, volunteers, and some well-known community folk that will travel the world alongside Magic fans. As game pieces travel, the distances they travel will influence the release of preview cards and could actually influence how the story of Ixalan plays out."
Oh good, it's Scars of Mirrodin all over again...I assure you this campaign won't have any influence on the story whatsoever, considering the general parts of the story should already be finalized (and relevant cards printed) by now.
So, Ixalan has four major tribes to speak of: Dinosaurs, Pirates, Merfolk, and...Vampires? Merfolk I can understand as companions to Pirates, and we're accepting Dinosaurs and Pirates coexisting, but I'll be interested in seeing how Vampires fit into the whole picture. My guess is they did that to interact with Kaladesh's Aetherborn Vampires. And for "Vampirate" puns.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
Perhaps this makes a difference going into Dominaria, but I highly doubt it. Changes to the story have a far greater impact on the cards themselves than minor changes like number changes (eg mana cost, P/T, etc.) where story changes may have changes to the art, which are done well in advance of finalizing the set, and could change the overall flavor of the card, which could mean entirely reworking the card. This seems like a pure gimmick a la Mirrodin Pure.
However, speaking of Mirrodin Pure, I hope if we ever go back to Mirrodin, that we get Mirrodin Pure in some way. That would be pretty awesome imo.
Is anyone else upset that Talk like a pirate day will happen just before the Ixalan Prerelease?
Selling some cards I don't want.
Generally less than tcg mid.
IIRC, everyone in the story, including the guy who created the place, has written Mirrodin off as lost. The corruption is too deep to save it, short of "resetting" it to factory zero or something.
Ixalan? Zero. We've seen the rare sheet and it has allied checklands.
Rivals? Very, very low. Enemy fetchlands with allied cycling lands in the same standard would be a disaster. The very soonest we could possibly see enemy fetches is probably fall 2018 when Amonkhet rotates out. Enemy checklands are much more likely in Rivals.
0%. We already know XLN's land cycle via leaks and Rivals is a small set, so it won't be getting a rare land cycle.
Upset? They arghhhhh!
Sorry, could not resist.
Seriously, pirate themes are great.
But whatever interest I have in the set will dissipate somewhat when the block, as ever, becomes all about planeswalkers, story, digital art that looks the same, good critters and rubbish answers.
LOL this is the earliest I think I have ever seen someone be disappointed with a set lololol
From what we know of Ixalan so far (mostly from the leaks), planeswalkers will be more of a secondary role in the Ixalan story, and there are plenty of strong answers (Scuttle the Wreckage, River's Rebuke, Ashes of the Abhorrent, Vraska's Contempt, and those are only the rares/mythics. Uncommons typically have been the realm of the best removal).
The creatures seem relatively underwhelming, and the art seems pretty novel and unique.
Of course, no matter how much Wizards tries to make players happy, some are going to whine for the sake of whining.
I agree the creatures look weaker than normal and Ashes of the Abhorrent is a very interesting card, but looking at the other cards listed- sweepers costing six, targeted removal costing 4 is exactly the type of design that has left them with Standard bans and is the very definition of "weak answers". Strong answers for single creature removal cost one or two- diabolic edict, swords, bolts, innocent blood, terror, path, fatal push, condemn, oust, runed halo etc. If it can hit nearly every permanent then three or is fair enough maybe- cast out, O ring. The term "weak" is relative, so I will redefine my original comments numerically- for weak answers I mean counterspells and hand destruction that cost more than two, targeted removal for creatures more than two, and sweepers costing more than four. If they want to avoid standard bans they need to print more "unfun" removal and prevention (hate) cards.
I should also say that I am expecting to be disappointed, not that I am. The last sets have had Cast Out, Fatal Push and a 3 cc sweeper (albiet with a significant drawback), so its hard to say if the pendulum is swinging. I can't see 1 cc discard or strong counterspells happening. I doubt they have had time to react to the negative feedback about answers/threats yet.
Essence Scatter is strong. Countervailing Winds is groovy.
But this all means that the answers are strong to balance the strong threats. Weaken the threat, lessen the need for strong answers. Print Merc Masq 2.0///
Selling some cards I don't want.
Generally less than tcg mid.
I agree with you about the art direction - I would love a few of those kinds of cards thrown into the mix. I really enjoyed the aspect of magic that was artists creating their own work for the card. However, they've changed that formula now and they give pretty restrictive parameters for what the art must depict. You've probably seen the articles that talk about the art for cards and the messages that were provided to the commissioned artist.
They're trying to create a unified brand. The reason they don't want multiple different art styles in one set is because it becomes harder to communicate the identity of the set (or on a larger scale, MTG as a whole). It is the same reason that Lexus, Porsche, Ford, BMW, etc. have the same styling cues on call their vehicles regardless purpose or segment. Porsche wants you to immediately recognize the car as a Porsche, whether it's an SUV or a supercar. With Magic art, Wizards wants people to know that it is specifically a Magic card and even more so that it BELONGS in this block/set/etc.
It's a branding issue that they create these restrictions. It pulls back on the artist expression but they're okay with that
Earlier this summer, I spoke with a distributor who confirmed that they get sets farther ahead of release than I previously thought. I said, "I know that by the time we know the name of a set, it's too late to change anything," and he corrected me by saying "By the time you know the codename, it's too late to change anything." He's already seen printed Dominaria cards. Even if they were only proofs (he didn't specify), Rivals of Ixalan has already been sent to the printer.
Changes can still be made for Dominaria is my understanding. However, conceptually the set is just about done. The art is all finished, the story is all finished, and what they want to tell and show us is finalized. What they can do is change minor things like mana cost and small details like P/T and does X damage or whatever. I'm sure there are proofs and other test things, but I don't believe the set itself has been finalized. I remember reading I think Maro mentioning like around 6 months, maybe a little more, before set's release is the last chance to make changes. But I'm sure at least 90% of Dominaria is set in stone right about now, or I should say at least 90% of the set won't see any more changes.
This is just insulting to every one of the artists that works on the game, including the ones you listed. If you think any of the art is interchangeable or copy/pasted, you need to pay more attention. The artists that work on Magic do consistently good work, and saying it lacks heart or uniqueness is spitting in the face of people very passionate about the work they do. The only thing soulless in this equation is you.