Funny thing about people complaining about the art, Jace mentions that he tends to get a bit pudgy when he's not ballsdeep in a mystery and remembers to eat and sleep.
Kinda funny how they ended up doing another really slanted pairing from an ability perspective, considering Vraska straight up eats Jace as soon as she hits the table.
Wouldn't be the first time. Bolas blows up Ajani. Akroma is immune to 90% of the Demonic deck.
The Jace art looks terrible. He looks like Ada Wong or the bad guy from Casino Royale, but not the clever, mind-destroying badass we've come to know and love.
Vraska for the most part is nice, but that tentacle curling up into the border seems a bit... forced.
Also, DD arts should be combative. This is a battle (duel) after all, correct?
I love the set symbol, and it seems like they could make an interesting Gorgon deck for Vraska. Vraska also looks pretty cool in this.
I love almost all of Igor's art.
For what it's worth, the opposite of evergreen is "deciduous" so I suggest we start using that from now on to refer to shroud, banding, islandhome, etc.
I was like "Please let it be Mind Sculptor, please let it be Mind Sculptor...."
*looks* DAMN IT! Yeah yeah I know it got "reprinted" in FTV:20 but come on that FTV was a joke. Jace and Venser plus... a crapload of uncommons and commons.
Anyways I don't mind the art. Vraska art is gorgeous. I think the Jace art might actually look cooler in person in all it's foily glory. I like the pose.
Vraska is beautiful but it seems Igor was forced to paint Jace into an unflattering pose by the art direction of the whole piece. He doesn't look off because the art is bad, he looks off because his character design doesn't go well with such a mundane pose.
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I love the set symbol, and it seems like they could make an interesting Gorgon deck for Vraska.
I actually think the chances of it being a "gorgon deck" are pretty low. Most of the gorgons on Ravnica don't know what to make of her because she kinda weirds them out.
What you should probably expect in greater numbers are Assassins since that's her schtick. Maybe some Rogues as well.
Only thing that strikes me as odd about Jace is the fact that we're getting a good look at his face, with no hood. I expected a lot smoother/younger appearance from him. Expectations aside, I actually like this appearance. He looks less arrogant and more serious.
Also, I am almost 100% sold on this product simply because of Vraska. I like her original art, and am a bit disappointed with the new art, not because it's bad, but I was hoping for something more differentiated from her original art. I'll grant that slinking in the shadows and glaring at people is kind of her thing, so /shrug. Really looking forward to seeing her deck, but I'm also afraid it's going to be full of terrible and overpriced removal spells, like Assassin's Strike or Sip of Hemlock.
Vraska is beautiful but it seems Igor was forced to paint Jace into an unflattering pose by the art direction of the whole piece. He doesn't look off because the art is bad, he looks off because his character design doesn't go well with such a mundane pose.
Yeah, Vraska is a very odd choice as Jace's opponent. I know Gideon or Ral Zerek would have been other appropriate choices that wouldn't overlap her colors (Domri overlaps her colors, so I think he's a bad choice as a duel deck opponent).
Ral vs. Vraska would be downright stupid given that they'd released IZZET VS. GOLGARI just 2 Duel decks prior.
I do have to admit, I'm kind of sad that we aren't getting the Jace vs. Ral conflict that showed up in The Secretist, but I suppose WU vs. UR might not have been what they wanted to build.
So the fact that the artist posts here means we should censor ourselves and not criticize?
Yeah, speak only in positives or be reprimanded! :rolleyes::rolleyes:
I'll be very curious to see decklists, as the standard cards are less interesting to me than the modern/legacy reprints we may see. jace is pretty valuable already, so the deck is going to be a good deal like the Sorin one was.
It's extremely off-putting to have both planeswalkers staring at you. Well, actually, Vraska is the one staring at you, but somehow she manages to make it work better than Jace's "Oh, look at that thing over there" glance.
All that Jace mysticism and mystery seems to be missing in this reprint. He didn't used to be such a male Tamiyo, he used to be that Blue merc that ruthlessly shredded people's minds for information. Oh wait, we have Tezzeret for that now, don't we? This is what Blue is about now, is it? Playing politics? Being a stay-at-home bookworm? How the mighty have fallen.
Oh well, since he's with Ravnica for the long haul now, maybe we'll get a new Blue walker for the Core set. Who isn't Tamiyo.
All that Jace mysticism and mystery seems to be missing in this reprint. He didn't used to be such a male Tamiyo, he used to be that Blue merc that ruthlessly shredded people's minds for information.
He pretty much hated himself for what he did and would really rather just put that all behind him.
I mean, that's a major part of his character arc, the fact that he didn't like what it did to him.
I think the packaging is downright ugly and doesn't complement the art at all. Vraska looks excellent. Jace simply looks different. Older. He looks like a cross between Mads Mikkelsen and Brandon Routh in that art, and the lighting (and background) make him look more Azorious than we're used to.
Jace isn't in Theros....But he's going to be in yer faces again with a Duel Deck special~!!!!!!!!
UGH.
Yeahhhhhhhhhh, 4 Jaces in just over a year. RTR, Core, FTV 20, and now this. Can't say I'm happy about that. Well, at least next year I can look forward to Elspeth vs Xenagos....
I wish my 4/4s with haste and first strike that acted as Goblin Warchiefs were better and didn't die to instants and overshadowed all other 4 drops in the format. And that they had evasion too, and some way to dodge wrath effects.
He pretty much hated himself for what he did and would really rather just put that all behind him.
I mean, that's a major part of his character arc, the fact that he didn't like what it did to him.
Blue isn't really the caring, cuddly color, though. Blue mages are supposed to be analytical, detached, even emotionless, and probably only show emotion during times of heightened stress or excitement.
I'll tell you this - if he puts it all behind him, Jace won't be Jace anymore. He'll be some U/W Azorius politician, and that will be a great shame, because the thought of Jace in politics just makes me wish they'd blown him up or had him eaten by a Gruul giant or something.
Blue isn't really the caring, cuddly color, though. Blue mages are supposed to be analytical, detached, even emotionless, and probably only show emotion during times of heightened stress or excitement.
No, blue mages CAN be cold, analytical, and detached. It's specifically given as their worst traits on the color wheel. That doesn't preclude them from experiencing a fuller range of emotions and is in fact supposed to be their negative aspects.
I'll tell you this - if he puts it all behind him, Jace won't be Jace anymore. He'll be some U/W Azorius politician, and that will be a great shame, because the thought of Jace in politics just makes me wish they'd blown him up or had him eaten by a Gruul giant or something.
He's the living guildpact. He's pretty much the physical embodiment of the law.
Though it doesn't really cover whose law.
Yeah, people like Jace and Garruk shoul just not go around taking calm walks thru city streets, it's like having Superman driving a compact car to save the world, it just looks goofy cause they're designed for the epic, not the mundane.
Anyway, one card I really hope to get from this deck and would go really well with art of Vraska using the full extent of her stone gaze is Withering Boon. And going with her assassin theme without wasting it in useless modern commons: Assasin's Blade, Silent Assassin, Wei Assassins, Killer Bees and Dauthi Slayer would be awesome reprints to have.
As for Jace, he's WotC's favorite son so they may even print Force of Will for him. (And then allocate a very limited quantity to everyone but SCG :rolleyes:).
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I'm not a Jace hater by any means, but did we really need to do Jace again with how many other Planeswalkers are out there? Not to mention having recently left the setting of Ravnica. This product feels disappointingly redundant.
Wouldn't be the first time.
Bolas blows up Ajani.
Akroma is immune to 90% of the Demonic deck.
No, it means you should be professional and respectful, and not just complain about how bad you think it is.
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Vraska for the most part is nice, but that tentacle curling up into the border seems a bit... forced.
Also, DD arts should be combative. This is a battle (duel) after all, correct?
MuzzioU XenagosGR NahiriW GitrogGB MarathGRW MarchesaUBR JenaraGUW KarlovBW TazriWUBRG
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I still prefer the current Vraska art because it just screams "Dude, a gorgon planeswalker is about to destroy everything you've got there."
This one does too, except it also makes seductive winks at the player.
Art looks neat, good value cards as the foils, but Jace probably never had reason tof igth Vrashka.
How To Keep Your FOIL Cards From Curling: http://youtu.be/QTmubrS8VnI
The Best Deck Boxes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEwgLph_Pjk
The Best Binders: http://youtu.be/H5IauASYWjk
I love almost all of Igor's art.
But mother of god that Jace. e_e
Quotes:
Yes. Commons like cruel ultimatum chameleon collossus gilded lotus akroma's vengeance are uncommon.
You have to remember, most of the rares in the first 8 years of Magic that appeared in the winning decklists are reserved...
On Modern Masters 2:
Will be kept until 12/31/2013 to prove if Right or Wrong.Proven right 1/27/2013I actually think the chances of it being a "gorgon deck" are pretty low. Most of the gorgons on Ravnica don't know what to make of her because she kinda weirds them out.
What you should probably expect in greater numbers are Assassins since that's her schtick. Maybe some Rogues as well.
Also, I am almost 100% sold on this product simply because of Vraska. I like her original art, and am a bit disappointed with the new art, not because it's bad, but I was hoping for something more differentiated from her original art. I'll grant that slinking in the shadows and glaring at people is kind of her thing, so /shrug. Really looking forward to seeing her deck, but I'm also afraid it's going to be full of terrible and overpriced removal spells, like Assassin's Strike or Sip of Hemlock.
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Wouldn't be the first time we've run into this problem
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-47VZ-vWk224/T4IIXxp3yJI/AAAAAAAALko/2LB_bsoDDxk/s400/duels-of-the-planeswalkers-liliana-jace.jpg
Ral vs. Vraska would be downright stupid given that they'd released IZZET VS. GOLGARI just 2 Duel decks prior.
Yeah, speak only in positives or be reprimanded! :rolleyes::rolleyes:
I'll be very curious to see decklists, as the standard cards are less interesting to me than the modern/legacy reprints we may see. jace is pretty valuable already, so the deck is going to be a good deal like the Sorin one was.
How To Keep Your FOIL Cards From Curling: http://youtu.be/QTmubrS8VnI
The Best Deck Boxes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEwgLph_Pjk
The Best Binders: http://youtu.be/H5IauASYWjk
Yeah, I'm not fond of the Jace art either.... I'm rather happy Vraska made it in, though.
All that Jace mysticism and mystery seems to be missing in this reprint. He didn't used to be such a male Tamiyo, he used to be that Blue merc that ruthlessly shredded people's minds for information. Oh wait, we have Tezzeret for that now, don't we? This is what Blue is about now, is it? Playing politics? Being a stay-at-home bookworm? How the mighty have fallen.
Oh well, since he's with Ravnica for the long haul now, maybe we'll get a new Blue walker for the Core set. Who isn't Tamiyo.
He pretty much hated himself for what he did and would really rather just put that all behind him.
I mean, that's a major part of his character arc, the fact that he didn't like what it did to him.
UGH.
And the backing story just screams of REACHING, reminds me of that KOTH (R.I.P.) versus VENSER shenanigans.
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Yeahhhhhhhhhh, 4 Jaces in just over a year. RTR, Core, FTV 20, and now this. Can't say I'm happy about that. Well, at least next year I can look forward to Elspeth vs Xenagos....
I actually don't like that there's gonna be another golgari duel deck so soon after Izzet vs. Golgari.
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Blue isn't really the caring, cuddly color, though. Blue mages are supposed to be analytical, detached, even emotionless, and probably only show emotion during times of heightened stress or excitement.
I'll tell you this - if he puts it all behind him, Jace won't be Jace anymore. He'll be some U/W Azorius politician, and that will be a great shame, because the thought of Jace in politics just makes me wish they'd blown him up or had him eaten by a Gruul giant or something.
No, blue mages CAN be cold, analytical, and detached. It's specifically given as their worst traits on the color wheel. That doesn't preclude them from experiencing a fuller range of emotions and is in fact supposed to be their negative aspects.
He's the living guildpact. He's pretty much the physical embodiment of the law.
Though it doesn't really cover whose law.
Yeah, people like Jace and Garruk shoul just not go around taking calm walks thru city streets, it's like having Superman driving a compact car to save the world, it just looks goofy cause they're designed for the epic, not the mundane.
Anyway, one card I really hope to get from this deck and would go really well with art of Vraska using the full extent of her stone gaze is Withering Boon. And going with her assassin theme without wasting it in useless modern commons: Assasin's Blade, Silent Assassin, Wei Assassins, Killer Bees and Dauthi Slayer would be awesome reprints to have.
As for Jace, he's WotC's favorite son so they may even print Force of Will for him. (And then allocate a very limited quantity to everyone but SCG :rolleyes:).
(Also known as Xenphire)