If we look at top down possibilities I would say that if we are basicly limited by Norse Mythology, Ancient Egypt, East Asia (Japan/Korea and China together), prehistory, the Roman Empire, pirates and westerns. This is of course assuming the Europe in the Middleages is too common a theme and Arabian Nights has already been done.
With a Greek based set, the Roman Empire is probably out because of the overlap and pirates and western suffer from the fact that magic doesn't use guns (although i think it still possible).
Basicly all other ideas are not well known enough for a top down set or are too modern (I think a WWII magic set could in theory be made, but flavour would never allow it).
Of course many flavour from other sources, like Precolombian Meso-America, or India or Polynesian or whatever you can think of, could be used for bottom up blocks (like they did in Ravnica or Mirage).
There's 1,000 years difference between what Theros is inspired by and the Roman Empire. Please share with me where this "overlap" exists.
Wouldn't Daedalus rather be a land that tapped your legendary creature and made minotaur tokens? I really have a hard time picturing it as an artifact.
I don't know about a land, but there definitely has to be some "tapping" going on to make dem minotaur babies.
The name "Baleful Strix" seems generic enough that it could be incorporated just about anywhere, though the fact that it's a colored artifact remains a hurdle here. Unless it's a legend, planeswalker, race or tribe that's limited to a specific plane, I see no other reason why a menacing owl - with no mechanical ties to another block - couldn't be reprinted. That having been said, all this talk about artifice (and it being the domain of the gods) makes me wonder if people have forgotten Daedalus. I think what we really need (apart from the aforementioned Roman Time Machine) is a cow suit equipment that makes minotaur tokens.
Flossed, but someone was concerning themselves with that matter, right? Cause as stated "Soldier" creature type seems to cover anyone in a militaristic power structure from the grunts to the generals (which, in Troloro's case, he's a General).
Which is probably part of why the Lord creature type was shelved, it didn't add anything specifically to the "Lord" (All other 'Creature type' you control gets X), and usually the art, card name, and effect carried the flavor of 'guy in charge.'
I have no problem with Oloro being a soldier. My problem is with the notion that resource management is somehow the litmus test for being a great one.
It's important to remember the in Magic, creature types are typically broad. So yes, soldier means the guys on the ground. It also refers to the generals, and pretty much everybody in between. Look at Odric, Master Tactician for an example of someone who's obvious somewhere higher up in the command chain, but still of the creature type soldier. Heck, Anax and Cymede are soldiers, despite being King and Queen. So unless you're diagreeing with the creature types of every leader type who's been typed as a soldier, I'd have to say that yes, tactics can be important for the creature type.
It is a broad classification, and while strategy is certainly an essential aspect of war (I can't tell you how many times I practiced Battle Drill 1A), not every soldier concerns himself with resource management on a macro level. I knew many great soldiers when I was still serving, but I wouldn't say that the 'greatest' were disposed to sieges or wars of attrition.
You are Correct Rootbound Defenses, Glare of Heresy (which targets white permanents) and Sundering Growth (which targets Artifacts and Enchantments) do not target a fused instant spell. I agree with you.
However, I was mentioning the other spells they target. I know I'm speaking fast, but try to keep up.
If you are basing your entire strategy on 7 cards (revelation and far/away) I don't think you will be very effective.
Aetherling is a funny spell and people think that it is invincible which it damn near is. But in order for it to protect itself, it must leave the battlefield. For example you have no way of blocking an Advent of the wurm token without it dealing damage to you and/or your aetherling dying.
G/W aggro is not a burst deck where it simply run's out of steam and the game is over.
G/W is all about the mid game where your answer won't answer much.
I know you are trying to defend the deck you play and your build, however at the end of the day you have to ask yourself "Why am I boarding out a pro white card against a deck with white cards in it" It is because even your maindeck cards that are hozing G/W aren't good enough against it.
A G/W players board state is one of the easiest to get around. Sorry, its the truth.
I'm confused. Are you saying that you can't block with Aetherling, and then exile it before damage is dealt?
Try actually reading the link. The references to Strix are present in greek mythology.
Secondly, colored artifacts already exist in Theros. The only valid argument against him seeing print in Theros block is the issue of potential power level.
Try actually reading my comment. I have no problem with it being either Greek or Roman, but people need to stop conflating the two.
I don't get why people are saying the name won't fit, a strix is from Roman mythology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strix_%28mythology%29 I would love for this to be in modern, would go into my Grixis artifact deck.
Because we all know that Rome contributed a heck of a lot to Ancient Greece. Maybe what this block really needs is a Roman Time Machine artifact, so the Romans can properly go back in time ~1000 years to share their culture.
Flavor Issue: UB Artifact Creature really has no place in Theros. If it's a (non-God Weapon) artifact, it'd be under the domain of Purphoros.
Power Issue: This is a decktype in Eternal, the only reason to print it would be to move it into Modern, and if that was the plan they would do it in a core set where it wouldn't upset Standard for longer than a year.
I would love for the price on my little Strixy friend to go down, and for him to show up in Modern, but this is not the time nor place.
There are 10 more gods yet to be printed, including a UB one. Who's to say at this point what his purview is or isn't?
Everyone thinks of a soldier as someone who must fight, but the greatest soldiers know that fighting isn't the tool that decides victory, resources do. To sit and let your opponent expend their energies while you gather your energies is the greatest tactic of all.
That really depends on the definition of 'soldier.' If we're talking specifically about leadership and logistics, then I suppose that fits your criteria. If by 'soldier' you mean the man on the ground, then I have to disagree. His only objective in life is to do what he's told, or die trying. But hey, what do I know. I was only in the infantry for six years.
Thank you very much for taking the time to type that all up.
The instant vs sorcery card draw is definitely an issue I will have to address. Cyclonic Rift is also definitely going in my sideboard if not my main deck. I feel like I currently have too much spot removal as it is.
Great post!
@Flossed Beaver
I'm a bit worried about the life cost on Read the Bones, clearly superior to divination, but at what cost. I will probably have to feel my meta out.
@flushfire
The problem is I don't know my meta haha. I think I got over zealous with the removal because I see so much Mono G and RDW love recently (and they are budget) so maybe I expected too much. I will have to play and see.
Do you have any suggestions for what to put in place of Pharika's Cure?
I will also definitely grab a Jace, I thought he was a lot more expensive.
That's why I recommended Whip of Erebos. It's one of the only ways of mitigating life loss in those colors, and gets you extra mileage out of both ETB effects on creatures and devotion (if you decide to go that route, in which case Gray Merchant of Asphodel becomes another source of life gain and a win-con).
There's 1,000 years difference between what Theros is inspired by and the Roman Empire. Please share with me where this "overlap" exists.
Yup, the world is most definitely still flat. Keep up the good fight, brother.
Link?
I don't know about a land, but there definitely has to be some "tapping" going on to make dem minotaur babies.
You did that just to annoy me, didn't you?
Are you one of those people who still thinks that the earth is flat?
I have no problem with Oloro being a soldier. My problem is with the notion that resource management is somehow the litmus test for being a great one.
It is a broad classification, and while strategy is certainly an essential aspect of war (I can't tell you how many times I practiced Battle Drill 1A), not every soldier concerns himself with resource management on a macro level. I knew many great soldiers when I was still serving, but I wouldn't say that the 'greatest' were disposed to sieges or wars of attrition.
I don't mean to be an axehole, but you didn't finish your sentence.
I'm confused. Are you saying that you can't block with Aetherling, and then exile it before damage is dealt?
Try actually reading my comment. I have no problem with it being either Greek or Roman, but people need to stop conflating the two.
Because we all know that Rome contributed a heck of a lot to Ancient Greece. Maybe what this block really needs is a Roman Time Machine artifact, so the Romans can properly go back in time ~1000 years to share their culture.
There are 10 more gods yet to be printed, including a UB one. Who's to say at this point what his purview is or isn't?
That really depends on the definition of 'soldier.' If we're talking specifically about leadership and logistics, then I suppose that fits your criteria. If by 'soldier' you mean the man on the ground, then I have to disagree. His only objective in life is to do what he's told, or die trying. But hey, what do I know. I was only in the infantry for six years.
That's why I recommended Whip of Erebos. It's one of the only ways of mitigating life loss in those colors, and gets you extra mileage out of both ETB effects on creatures and devotion (if you decide to go that route, in which case Gray Merchant of Asphodel becomes another source of life gain and a win-con).