I think the reason Innistrad didn't feel as derivative is the fact that most of the references were already things that have been bandied about in pop culture, and in Magic. Olivia Voldaren wasn't too blatant not because she was a female, but because the concept of a big important vampire is not singular to Dracula, nor new to Magic. I would never have known she was based on Dracula. Was Baron Sengir based on Dracula too? Or Sorin? They're not any less Dracula-like than Olivia. The only way to say "THIS IS DRACULA" would be to make card called "Count Devulac" or something. In reality, all of them play on a cultural trope largely derived from Dracula (much more than the larger vampire mythos). In a way it's SO derivative that it's not derivative anymore.
It's only when you get really specific that it starts to feel problematic. Civilized Scholar/Homicidal Brute demonstrates this. That could only come from Jekyll and Hyde, or from the Incredible Hulk, which is a direct reference to Jekyll and Hyde.
For these reasons, things like Merlin and Knights of Camelot won't feel all that weird, since we've seen LOTS of cards on that model. We would be fools to not acknowledge the cultural importance of Merlin on existing cards. Heck, our entire western concept of wizards uses Merlin as a base. So their Merlin will actually just feel like yet another legendary wizard. Likewise, our entire concept of the glorious knight comes straight from Arthurian legend. It's not like actual European knights were anything like that. They were basically just drunks who could do as they pleased. Baird, Steward of Argive, Knight of Glory, Knight Exemplar, and Silverblade Paladin are already Arthur references whether they knew it or not. Heck, Innistrad even had a Holy Grail card.
Similarly, we've seen plenty of witches, so the Snow White witch whose art we've seen will really just feel like another when all is said and done. But not the candy house: that's far too specific.
Regardless, these one to one parities are kinda grating.
Eugh... Being unwilling to make obscure references because they are obscure is not a good sign. Sure, you have to make sure to resonate with your larger audience, but part of the point of delving into something like European fairytales is just that: delving. You get into some weird interesting stuff pretty fast, and that's what's cool about it.
You've got to hit some familiar spots when you're doing something like this: part of the appeal is that these stories are part of a shared cultural inheritance, and in fact some have numerous global parallels. But if they're just doing Snow White and Sleeping Beauty and such, Disney actually did do it better. (All cynicism aside, there's never been and never will be another movie like Snow White. It's stunning.)
Hopefully they had more chutzpah with the fairytales than with Arthurian stuff. There's more to do with fairtales anyway. Arthur stuff is fine and all, but fairytales just smack you in the face with how weird they are.
I lately noticed that Stirring Address likely takes place on Eldraine. Wizards likes to do that sort of thing. It's possible the queen they're referring to is Queen Marchesa, but she's not super into justice and the background doesn't suggest Fiora. I can't really think of another queen they'd be referring to, but I'm not big into the story. Just a thought.
Does anybody think Wizards will take this opportunity to complete the Swords of X and Y cycle? It’s a good a place as any.
Or maybe two more of the series, saving the last one for later. The set looks like it has an equipment theme to it, so it makes sense.
Maro has confirmed that the Sword of X and Y series will not be completed in standard sets because they want them to be stronger than they allow for standard sets.
Modern Horizons was labeled MH1 if I'm not mistaken, which means they are planning an MH2. We can all but guarantee at least one sword there. And if there's only one, it means they are putting the other two in MH3. I couldn't see it going any other way unless they kill Modern Horizons. We already know where and when to expect swords of X and Y, and it would be strange to see them anywhere else.
The only mythic from the set who is female is Serra, who fans have been asking for, and is a female angel, long established in lore.
Why do so many people think that she was an angel? She wasn't an angel. Serra was a human planeswalker. She was known to create angels. The main feature for angels are wings. She has no wings in her art. In some planes she was/is seen as a goddess and she was able to create her own artificial plane, Serra's Realm.
Rowan shouldn't be "King Arthur" for one reason: planeswalkers should NOT have political power on one specific plane unless they are going to stay there as a permanent fixture. Jace being the living guildpact always really annoyed me. If she is going to be King Arthur, she's gotta stay in Camelot.
Honestly, I don't really like the exact parallels thing. If they are going to make King Macar, the Gold-Cursed, I'd rather they just do like Arabian Nights and make actual King Midas as with Sindbad and Aladdin. Obviously they won't do that. I'm fine with referencing the source material, but I don't really want to see King Melthur who pulls the sword Spallibur from a magic stump, and has a wizard named Korlin, and cavaliers of the round countertop. It's all a bit generic brand.
The site is not closing. Somebody bought it. mtgnexus exists too now.
And Seb McKinnon saved MTG art from a world of singular mediocrity. That's a bit of an exaggeration, but the sentiment is true. Every time one of his images comes out, it is stunning. There is nobody else like that in Magic right now (which is more the fault of the art direction than anything).
I see a rather murderous Goldilocks in there. Also... Kasmina is/was a knight?
The known Planeswalker is Rowan (and presumably Will) Kenrith, from Battlebond.
Compare this piece of Eldraine art:
To her existing card art (pay particular attention to her sword):
That could be Rowan, but both she and the woman in the new art are pretty generic looking, so that's not really confirmation.
Scratch that: the swords are the same, which means that it is almost certainly her.
I hope all clamoring for a visit to a Viking world are prepared for Marvel's Thor: the Set that will result. I am all for it, personally. A new fairytale block is also to my tastes.
I hope you're wrong about that. The Marvel interpretation is fine, but it's a very specific interpretation that leaves a lot out.
I'd be happy if this turned out to be a fairytale block.
Why are people saying Lorwyn? Faeries are all over the multiverse, almost as much as elves and goblins.
I wanna see Kaldheim too, but it's definitely coming. We must only wait.
Seeing the name, I instantly thought it seemed Arthurian.
Actually, a proper high fantasy setting with all the classic European tropes hasn't been done in a while. I can't think of a plane that is just Western European fantasy (though most of them have some noticeable influence from there). Giving it a zoomed in focus to a single kingdom/city/political struggle could help to alleviate some of the generic-ness that comes as baggage with the territory.
It's only when you get really specific that it starts to feel problematic. Civilized Scholar/Homicidal Brute demonstrates this. That could only come from Jekyll and Hyde, or from the Incredible Hulk, which is a direct reference to Jekyll and Hyde.
For these reasons, things like Merlin and Knights of Camelot won't feel all that weird, since we've seen LOTS of cards on that model. We would be fools to not acknowledge the cultural importance of Merlin on existing cards. Heck, our entire western concept of wizards uses Merlin as a base. So their Merlin will actually just feel like yet another legendary wizard. Likewise, our entire concept of the glorious knight comes straight from Arthurian legend. It's not like actual European knights were anything like that. They were basically just drunks who could do as they pleased. Baird, Steward of Argive, Knight of Glory, Knight Exemplar, and Silverblade Paladin are already Arthur references whether they knew it or not. Heck, Innistrad even had a Holy Grail card.
Similarly, we've seen plenty of witches, so the Snow White witch whose art we've seen will really just feel like another when all is said and done. But not the candy house: that's far too specific.
Regardless, these one to one parities are kinda grating.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
You've got to hit some familiar spots when you're doing something like this: part of the appeal is that these stories are part of a shared cultural inheritance, and in fact some have numerous global parallels. But if they're just doing Snow White and Sleeping Beauty and such, Disney actually did do it better. (All cynicism aside, there's never been and never will be another movie like Snow White. It's stunning.)
Hopefully they had more chutzpah with the fairytales than with Arthurian stuff. There's more to do with fairtales anyway. Arthur stuff is fine and all, but fairytales just smack you in the face with how weird they are.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
Modern Horizons was labeled MH1 if I'm not mistaken, which means they are planning an MH2. We can all but guarantee at least one sword there. And if there's only one, it means they are putting the other two in MH3. I couldn't see it going any other way unless they kill Modern Horizons. We already know where and when to expect swords of X and Y, and it would be strange to see them anywhere else.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
Honestly, I don't really like the exact parallels thing. If they are going to make King Macar, the Gold-Cursed, I'd rather they just do like Arabian Nights and make actual King Midas as with Sindbad and Aladdin. Obviously they won't do that. I'm fine with referencing the source material, but I don't really want to see King Melthur who pulls the sword Spallibur from a magic stump, and has a wizard named Korlin, and cavaliers of the round countertop. It's all a bit generic brand.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
The site is not closing. Somebody bought it. mtgnexus exists too now.
And Seb McKinnon saved MTG art from a world of singular mediocrity. That's a bit of an exaggeration, but the sentiment is true. Every time one of his images comes out, it is stunning. There is nobody else like that in Magic right now (which is more the fault of the art direction than anything).
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
Looks like people are rehashing the same dumb argument again. Good job guys. Never gets old. Anytime I see the letters SJW, I just scroll on by.
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Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
That could be Rowan, but both she and the woman in the new art are pretty generic looking, so that's not really confirmation.Scratch that: the swords are the same, which means that it is almost certainly her.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
I hope you're wrong about that. The Marvel interpretation is fine, but it's a very specific interpretation that leaves a lot out.
I'd be happy if this turned out to be a fairytale block.
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Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
I wanna see Kaldheim too, but it's definitely coming. We must only wait.
Seeing the name, I instantly thought it seemed Arthurian.
Actually, a proper high fantasy setting with all the classic European tropes hasn't been done in a while. I can't think of a plane that is just Western European fantasy (though most of them have some noticeable influence from there). Giving it a zoomed in focus to a single kingdom/city/political struggle could help to alleviate some of the generic-ness that comes as baggage with the territory.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.