I really hope this is the storyline...Bolas is running amuck and the gatewatch arrives and is defeated by bolas showing that they are not an all powerful force, but in his distraction Ashiok is able to rally the people to overthrow bolas; or remove the people's belief in his Godlike status so that we can see The Gatewatch fail, because it is bad story telling if they always win; Bolas be powerful in that he defeated that gatewatch, but not all powerful in that he did not obtain his actual objective (whatever that may have been); and give us a new and interesting Plane that is also set up for a return to block as it will be in a state of transformation of Bolas worship to whatever new gods that Ashiok can empower to save/balance the Plane.
I also think the Gatewatch failing here will likely happen. Them failing also allows them to go to the next plane, likely a return plane(crossing fingers for Theros) to try and get allies and support from other planeswalkers to fight Bolas and his schemes something that would make a lot more sense should they fail here.
I been wanting to make a Theros themed commander deck for a while and these guys look like they would be perfect for being the Commander. No idea how good such a thing will be, but they look to be fun.
Or deemed the risk of backfiring too great. It slipped out of Purphoros' hands the first time, after all.
He's not really portrayed as anything other than a highly impulsive, selfish ****** in Godsend. He's kind of Baral 0.1, except without even the remnants of something that could imply civic concern.
I never read Godsend or any of the E-books. However assuming he is meant to be a villian that doesn't strike me as a White thing. Yes, white=/= but white is about the good of the community, law, order, justice and all that jazz; all of which are the things he is god of in Theros, and more. I assume that as ruler of the Theros gods, he considers all of theros to be his community to protect, have law and order. He should have civic concerns. Pure selfishness is something I regard as a black trait, not a white trait.
Anyways I assume that they will explore more of Heliod as a character regardless of role he plays when ever they get back to Theros. All the legendaries from Theros do make me excited to return there.
I am thinking of making Kynaios and Tiro as my commander for a Theros, principally the city state of Meletis. Not sure how it will turn out though; but this has been an idea I have had in my head for a while.
I don't think Heliod is actually a villain. Considering Xenagos becoming an illegitimate god and causing a lot of damage and suffering on Theros, Elspeth killing Daxos (which was Xenagos confusing her, but still), Ashiok attacking Iretis and messing with Ephara's dreams, Dack stealing a gauntlet and Kiora stealing Dekella, you really can't blame Heliod for killing planes walkers. Especially when his information about them likely comes from Phenax.
Yea. I don't see Heliod as a badguy(a Jerk sure but not evil. He is after all the white only god). Plus considering he doesn't know much about Planeswalkers, he might have thought Elspeth would try and either take his place or become another god which would cause chaos like Xenagos did. Keep in mind Xenagos caused chaos by simply becoming a nyxborn.
Not to mention when Kruphex saw glimpses of Nicol Bolas and realized how powerful the elder dragon is that caused him to be-afraid. Considering that Kruphex would have likely told Heliod about Nicol Bolas. It makes some sense that he might have killed Elspeth.
Moreover there is this fun line from the wiki: It is implied that Heliod's personality, like most of the gods', changes in accordance to mortal beliefs.
So perhaps Heliod changes following more encounters with Planeswalkers. Would like to see more of the postive aspects of both Zeus in the Myths as well as the color white in Magic shown with Heliod.
Theros has so many legends that need cards IMO. Iris, Oracle of Ephara, Arixmethes, Adresteia (one of the Fates), Callaphe… list goes on!
Yet another reason why I want a return to Theros. Plus with Kynaios and Tiro I decided to start planning on constructing a Meltis/Theros themed deck, so more legendaries and fun things is nice.
Plus I think it would make perfect sense after Amonkhet. Where I suspect the Gatewatch will experience defeat for the first time at the hands of Nicol Bolas. Which would prompt them to visit planes to get allies to oppose him, and Elspeth is a perfect person to ally with. Ajani was there and Gidon* was born there so it would make perfect sense to start there first. Not to mention one could have in standard both Amonkhet and Theros Gods this way. Not to mention after 2 new worlds I would be suprised if there wasn't a return world up next.
*I want to know why does Gidon not call himself Kythion as Kythion is his actual name. Does he just not like Kythion?
I agree. I can't stand those random legends that have no lore or backstory or even associated planes. Like Anya (who would have been Feather, for example). That's really the absolute pits.
Same, I like characters from planes be they new characters or old characters to have some background. when I build commander decks I like having a theme to build from. Its not enough for them to be the powerful cards that are synergistic together if they don't have flavor synergy. So having a legend that has no background and no connection to any other lore doesn't work for me. Which is why I am pretty happy with this bunch of commander products.
Meanwhile, cards like Ravos are great. He has a lot of flavor, we know he's from Theros, and could have future story implications. Still not as perfect as a past character getting a card, but when it comes to introducing new legendaries for those who want to see entirely new faces in these products, I'm happy they delivered a card like Ravos who feels familiar than something like Anya who is "random, unknown plane, RW Angel with name because Legendary kbye." And cards like Ravos felt a lot more inspired than Kalemne as well, who despite being thematic and familiar just fell absolutely flat in every respect. She's a giant. Who fights for Iroas. Woooooow. Damn Commander 2015 was just awful in every sense frankly.
Yea, I am liking the Theros stuff here the most. They are also far more flavorful then Kalemne. Ravos in particular is interesting, here is a pyschopomp while conspiring behind his god's back. I like all the Theros characters so far.
Speaking of theros, Kynaios and Tiro are making me think of perhaps finally doing a Theros themed EDH deck that I been wanting to do.
If i was making Ludevic, I would have him in the grixis colors: blue, red, and black. They make far more sense for the mad scientist necro-alchemist that he is.
Ravos - I was hoping this card would be Mono-White. Anyway, another character which took me delightfully by surprise. Such elegant lore too - a young Orpheus trope! I adore this card and this set more and more. An oracle of Athreos no less. The artwork is brilliant, too. I actually almost confused him for Pavios, who was one of the gay lovers in Emonberry Red - I hope those characters each get a card (or a joint card) in Return to Theros as well, or at least a Sorcery like Cathartic Reunion for example, which references their story in the art and name/theme.
Something I noticed when I read at Ravos is that he might be a hook to help get Elspeth from the Underworld. After all he is trying to get his lover freed from the Underworld and we know Elspeth is there.
So, I don't know if you've read today's Story Column so far.
But, one thing that stuck out was that only Saskia and Tana didn't have their home plane mentioned. All the others have.
I'm suspecting it's from the plane we're going to after Amonkhet, and if Saskia is Balduvian...then the long-awaited Return to Dominaria?
Especially since Maro said it's from know planes. Either that or it's Valla or the other barbarian one, can't remember. But the guys who trashed Saskia's home might as well be Keldons, they're pretty famous for that sort of brutality.
Can't wait.
Yea I noticed that as well. I am personally thinking that Valla is where Saskia comes from and it has technically been seen before... in Planechase. The other location that might make sense is the plane of Kaldheim, again from Planechase.
Though I think with all the Theros stuff it might be a hint that the next return set would be Theros, but only WoTC knows.
That's interesting, I didn't even consider what plane she could be from... They did say that the front face cards are from "known" worlds, right?
I think they said that the characters would be new but their planes would not be. Of course, I am still not sure where she could be from. She feels like Valla would make the most sense, and we have seen Valla before principally in planechase, but I don't know really where she could be from. Any lore gurus who might have a better idea. .
Not as far as I'm aware. It's more a general mockup based on what we can decipher, though it's likely that she's a Soldier or Warrior, and I can dream that she'd be a barbarian.
I personally think she is either a warrior or a barbarian over Soldier.
I also think the Gatewatch failing here will likely happen. Them failing also allows them to go to the next plane, likely a return plane(crossing fingers for Theros) to try and get allies and support from other planeswalkers to fight Bolas and his schemes something that would make a lot more sense should they fail here.
The crocodile giant/god is like an allusion to the egyptian god Sobek; who also has the head of a crocodile.
I never read Godsend or any of the E-books. However assuming he is meant to be a villian that doesn't strike me as a White thing. Yes, white=/= but white is about the good of the community, law, order, justice and all that jazz; all of which are the things he is god of in Theros, and more. I assume that as ruler of the Theros gods, he considers all of theros to be his community to protect, have law and order. He should have civic concerns. Pure selfishness is something I regard as a black trait, not a white trait.
Anyways I assume that they will explore more of Heliod as a character regardless of role he plays when ever they get back to Theros. All the legendaries from Theros do make me excited to return there.
Yea. I don't see Heliod as a badguy(a Jerk sure but not evil. He is after all the white only god). Plus considering he doesn't know much about Planeswalkers, he might have thought Elspeth would try and either take his place or become another god which would cause chaos like Xenagos did. Keep in mind Xenagos caused chaos by simply becoming a nyxborn.
Not to mention when Kruphex saw glimpses of Nicol Bolas and realized how powerful the elder dragon is that caused him to be-afraid. Considering that Kruphex would have likely told Heliod about Nicol Bolas. It makes some sense that he might have killed Elspeth.
Moreover there is this fun line from the wiki: It is implied that Heliod's personality, like most of the gods', changes in accordance to mortal beliefs.
So perhaps Heliod changes following more encounters with Planeswalkers. Would like to see more of the postive aspects of both Zeus in the Myths as well as the color white in Magic shown with Heliod.
Yet another reason why I want a return to Theros. Plus with Kynaios and Tiro I decided to start planning on constructing a Meltis/Theros themed deck, so more legendaries and fun things is nice.
Plus I think it would make perfect sense after Amonkhet. Where I suspect the Gatewatch will experience defeat for the first time at the hands of Nicol Bolas. Which would prompt them to visit planes to get allies to oppose him, and Elspeth is a perfect person to ally with. Ajani was there and Gidon* was born there so it would make perfect sense to start there first. Not to mention one could have in standard both Amonkhet and Theros Gods this way. Not to mention after 2 new worlds I would be suprised if there wasn't a return world up next.
*I want to know why does Gidon not call himself Kythion as Kythion is his actual name. Does he just not like Kythion?
Same, I like characters from planes be they new characters or old characters to have some background. when I build commander decks I like having a theme to build from. Its not enough for them to be the powerful cards that are synergistic together if they don't have flavor synergy. So having a legend that has no background and no connection to any other lore doesn't work for me. Which is why I am pretty happy with this bunch of commander products.
Yea, I am liking the Theros stuff here the most. They are also far more flavorful then Kalemne. Ravos in particular is interesting, here is a pyschopomp while conspiring behind his god's back. I like all the Theros characters so far.
Speaking of theros, Kynaios and Tiro are making me think of perhaps finally doing a Theros themed EDH deck that I been wanting to do.
Something I noticed when I read at Ravos is that he might be a hook to help get Elspeth from the Underworld. After all he is trying to get his lover freed from the Underworld and we know Elspeth is there.
This is making me excited for a return to theros!
Yea I noticed that as well. I am personally thinking that Valla is where Saskia comes from and it has technically been seen before... in Planechase. The other location that might make sense is the plane of Kaldheim, again from Planechase.
Though I think with all the Theros stuff it might be a hint that the next return set would be Theros, but only WoTC knows.
I am a fan of theros so having plenty of cards set on Theros is great for me.
as for Ravos, I like him, not sure if he has a place in my orzhov deck though but I shall see.
I would be really suprised if Tymna is NOT from Theros.
I think they said that the characters would be new but their planes would not be. Of course, I am still not sure where she could be from. She feels like Valla would make the most sense, and we have seen Valla before principally in planechase, but I don't know really where she could be from. Any lore gurus who might have a better idea. .
I personally think she is either a warrior or a barbarian over Soldier.