This article is talking about all the different ways wotc will be telling magic stories which are online chapters, books, and comics.
Similarly, we have plans to tell stories in worlds our card sets aren't visiting. This means that we can revisit fan-favorite worlds in Magic Story just because we think people will enjoy it. It also means we can work closer with creative writers to choose and shape these stories without the constraints of what the card set is doing at the moment.
This seems really cool so we can get backstory for a world before the current block is on it. Im thinking, catching up with Elspeth or Koth, before we return to their planes in the cards.
And also Jay is now fact checking Wizards so hopefully their stuff will keep a much better continuity. Definitely my reason for creating this thread was for Jay. Congratulations!
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This is fantastic. I was just thinking recently about how much of a crime it is that Magic doesn't have any currently running comics to flesh out its planes and characters.
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"Pop in, find a dragon, roast a dragon."
-Chandra Nalaar
I love this if it means we can drop in on Theros and get some insight on Thassa, Elspeth, Ashiok and Dack. There are so many loose threads on Theros, and I imagine Gideon and Elspeth have the biggest stakes in the story, as well as Ajani, so ideally we can tackle some of the lesser story arcs before the return, so that a return can be more focused.
I should be clear that I'm an independent contractor, a lot like the Flavor Text team of writers. I’m not staff. Nothing I say should be taken as “Word of God” for canon purposes. Basically I make recommendations and annotations. If you saw my “Let’s Talk About” series on Tumblr, it’s kind of like that.
I am, essentially, looking for things that I would complain about - I am not writing stories.
It's still awesome to have a hand in something you're passionate about.
IDK how much you're able to convey about the stories, but if you can, I really hope *someone* will relay how upsetting it is to have Planeswalkers treated like royalty above planar overlords like gods, Avacyn, etc. It isn't just fine to have post-mending walkers lose their OP status, it's actually preferable and allows for better character arcs, development, adventure and story. But this idea of a lone PW leveling an entire city-state like Luneau? Planeswalkers should quake in fear at the mere prospect of a god or being like Avacyn. Or an entire continent of vampire mages ruled by powerful Queen. Or Saint Elenda. No matter how much diverse magic they've amassed, there should be no contest between a MORTAL, SIMPLE MAGE (even one that can traverse planes, which in itself is just traveling) and immortal ruling planar overlords controlling an entire dimension, on their own turf. Give me a break. Even creatures like Niv Mizzet shouldn't be something Planeswalkers want to tangle with. Many PWs have been alive what, 20 years? Some of these beings have ruled planes for eons. Nylea remembers the Nessian forest when its trees were saplings. Seriously, give me a break with all this nonsense of mortal mages these gods will outlive standing up to deities when any good story should have them fearing monarchs, let alone actual gods, head angels, alien titans, etc. Come on. Give them stakes. Make them real. Make things a challenge. Let's tag along for some adventure and watch them develop and grow. Making these characters OP isn't selling them to people.
I felt Kate Elliott did a great job with the story. She demonstrated the fear of humans, even human mages, facing even simple dragon broodlings, let alone Atarka herself. We need more of that, with real stakes and actual dimension. We even had two Legends fooling Bolas. Every plane we've seen has a Planeswalker. But not every plane has gods, or an Avacyn, or something unique to it like that. Stop degrading Legends in favor of making Planeswalkers Mary Sues.
I'm getting sick of complaining about this, so I'd like to see more Kate Elliott and whole HELL of a lot LESS of whatever that Viven Reid author (perish the memory of that name) was.
Still hella cool that you're contracting with Wizards to help make their stories better. Your articles are my absolute favorite. And they're the only way that I made sense of the Urza storyline and got the backstory I needed for the Ice Age. Mad props.
EDIT: @Tiro, I 100% agree. These planeswalkers that are the focus of the stories are simply way too overpowered or cliched. One of the reasons I like Nicol Bolas as a villain is because he's been the only villain/antagonist who's actually one-upped the Gatewatch and sent them packing with a significant loss. I will be significantly disenchanted with the MTG storyline if Nicol Bolas is summarily dealt with via "leylines! you're trapped/burned! lol". I personally think that he should win and receive his OG powers. Then he can go off and make his own planes and do whatever he was doing before he lost his powers. It would also open up new opportunities for villains to try and replicate Nicol Bolas' process and create additional plotlines; can't you see Ob Nixilis trying to do the same thing? That would be another compelling story.
I'm still furious that the ELDRAZI TITANS, giant 10/10 extra dimensional creatures that EAT planes and terrifying enough for the Old 'Walkers Ugin, Nahiri, and Sorin to TRAP because they couldn't kill them, were BURNED because Chandra, Nissa, and leylines. No. So much nope. And the new Vivien Reid story is so hollow. I felt like even I could take on a vampire after that. I suppose the story was simply a way to showcase the power of the Arkbow and add another potential protagonist to the anti-Nicol Bolas Avengers team. There aren't any stakes to some of these characters and they don't experience anything bad at all it sometimes feel like. Like, wouldn't everyone who dealt with Emrakul on Innistrad during the Shadows over Innistrad block have nightmares and terrible flashbacks consistently? Emrakul was able to get inside each of their heads and bring their fears to life. How are they NOT having hallucinations or questioning whether or not their reality is actually reality? Nevermind the whole "leylines! you're trapped Emrakul!" excuse that they repeated from the Oath of the Gatewatch block.
The Gatewatch powned f-ing Razaketh like it was nothing. This is an ARCHDEMON who can command the dead and with whom Nicol Bolas made a deal with. Nicol Bolas doesn't make deals with people or entities unless they're powerful enough to actually cause him some damage or significantly resist his plans in some form. And they simply trashed him in one simple article. Bleh.
In other news, the new Guilds of Ravnica short story is legit. I think I might be buying a copy of the new Lazav based solely on that story. But the most compelling part of the story was how real it was. I'm a young father. The stress and fear of not being able to feed your children is a legit worry that's in my head, even though I am able to provide for them. And the new author actually made that a part of the story I could feel.
This article is talking about all the different ways wotc will be telling magic stories which are online chapters, books, and comics.
This seems really cool so we can get backstory for a world before the current block is on it. Im thinking, catching up with Elspeth or Koth, before we return to their planes in the cards.
And also Jay is now fact checking Wizards so hopefully their stuff will keep a much better continuity. Definitely my reason for creating this thread was for Jay. Congratulations!
Follow me on instagram @TheMTGWord
I also appreciate the flexibility WotC Story team is showing to best tell Magic's stories.
-Chandra Nalaar
Also, congratulations Jay! This is awesome.
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
I should be clear that I'm an independent contractor, a lot like the Flavor Text team of writers. I’m not staff. Nothing I say should be taken as “Word of God” for canon purposes. Basically I make recommendations and annotations. If you saw my “Let’s Talk About” series on Tumblr, it’s kind of like that.
I am, essentially, looking for things that I would complain about - I am not writing stories.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
IDK how much you're able to convey about the stories, but if you can, I really hope *someone* will relay how upsetting it is to have Planeswalkers treated like royalty above planar overlords like gods, Avacyn, etc. It isn't just fine to have post-mending walkers lose their OP status, it's actually preferable and allows for better character arcs, development, adventure and story. But this idea of a lone PW leveling an entire city-state like Luneau? Planeswalkers should quake in fear at the mere prospect of a god or being like Avacyn. Or an entire continent of vampire mages ruled by powerful Queen. Or Saint Elenda. No matter how much diverse magic they've amassed, there should be no contest between a MORTAL, SIMPLE MAGE (even one that can traverse planes, which in itself is just traveling) and immortal ruling planar overlords controlling an entire dimension, on their own turf. Give me a break. Even creatures like Niv Mizzet shouldn't be something Planeswalkers want to tangle with. Many PWs have been alive what, 20 years? Some of these beings have ruled planes for eons. Nylea remembers the Nessian forest when its trees were saplings. Seriously, give me a break with all this nonsense of mortal mages these gods will outlive standing up to deities when any good story should have them fearing monarchs, let alone actual gods, head angels, alien titans, etc. Come on. Give them stakes. Make them real. Make things a challenge. Let's tag along for some adventure and watch them develop and grow. Making these characters OP isn't selling them to people.
I felt Kate Elliott did a great job with the story. She demonstrated the fear of humans, even human mages, facing even simple dragon broodlings, let alone Atarka herself. We need more of that, with real stakes and actual dimension. We even had two Legends fooling Bolas. Every plane we've seen has a Planeswalker. But not every plane has gods, or an Avacyn, or something unique to it like that. Stop degrading Legends in favor of making Planeswalkers Mary Sues.
I'm getting sick of complaining about this, so I'd like to see more Kate Elliott and whole HELL of a lot LESS of whatever that Viven Reid author (perish the memory of that name) was.
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
EDIT: @Tiro, I 100% agree. These planeswalkers that are the focus of the stories are simply way too overpowered or cliched. One of the reasons I like Nicol Bolas as a villain is because he's been the only villain/antagonist who's actually one-upped the Gatewatch and sent them packing with a significant loss. I will be significantly disenchanted with the MTG storyline if Nicol Bolas is summarily dealt with via "leylines! you're trapped/burned! lol". I personally think that he should win and receive his OG powers. Then he can go off and make his own planes and do whatever he was doing before he lost his powers. It would also open up new opportunities for villains to try and replicate Nicol Bolas' process and create additional plotlines; can't you see Ob Nixilis trying to do the same thing? That would be another compelling story.
I'm still furious that the ELDRAZI TITANS, giant 10/10 extra dimensional creatures that EAT planes and terrifying enough for the Old 'Walkers Ugin, Nahiri, and Sorin to TRAP because they couldn't kill them, were BURNED because Chandra, Nissa, and leylines. No. So much nope. And the new Vivien Reid story is so hollow. I felt like even I could take on a vampire after that. I suppose the story was simply a way to showcase the power of the Arkbow and add another potential protagonist to the anti-Nicol Bolas Avengers team. There aren't any stakes to some of these characters and they don't experience anything bad at all it sometimes feel like. Like, wouldn't everyone who dealt with Emrakul on Innistrad during the Shadows over Innistrad block have nightmares and terrible flashbacks consistently? Emrakul was able to get inside each of their heads and bring their fears to life. How are they NOT having hallucinations or questioning whether or not their reality is actually reality? Nevermind the whole "leylines! you're trapped Emrakul!" excuse that they repeated from the Oath of the Gatewatch block.
The Gatewatch powned f-ing Razaketh like it was nothing. This is an ARCHDEMON who can command the dead and with whom Nicol Bolas made a deal with. Nicol Bolas doesn't make deals with people or entities unless they're powerful enough to actually cause him some damage or significantly resist his plans in some form. And they simply trashed him in one simple article. Bleh.
In other news, the new Guilds of Ravnica short story is legit. I think I might be buying a copy of the new Lazav based solely on that story. But the most compelling part of the story was how real it was. I'm a young father. The stress and fear of not being able to feed your children is a legit worry that's in my head, even though I am able to provide for them. And the new author actually made that a part of the story I could feel.
UB Dralnu, Lich Lord
RBW [Primer]-Kaalia of the Vast
BUG [Primer]-Tasigur, the Golden Fang
GWU [Primer]-Arcades, the Strategist
WUB Primer-Aminatou, the Fateshifter
UBR Nicol Bolas, the Ravager