@Jimz, no, his point isn't valid. When did a card's inferiority ever fix any of Wizards' actions about it? Air Elemental looks worse than Serra Angel. ... so what? Forget about deduction, of course - why does that give us any reason at all for believing WotC will take it out?
As I perhaps should have said explicitly, Air Elemental is the one card on that list guaranteed to come back. They want classic fantasy flavour? Air Elemental is the simplest one of all. I can't wait for the art+flavour text it gets this time.
I rather disagree. Do you really think it is that unthinkable for WotC to make an Air Elemental with a similar name, and an additional ability? "Air elemental" is hardly the only possible name for such a classic spirit of air. On the contrary, "air" is only the Western name for that classical element. In the Eastern flavor, it would be "wind" rather than "air". Note that they've never made a Wind Elemental. Note also that they've never made a card named, simply, Sylph (the classic Western "air elemental" in myth). I am pretty certain this is quite on purpose. As with Silence, I comfortably assert that WotC has an extensive "reserved name" file tucked away of names that are not allowed to be used without explicit permission, consisting of mostly common words that have yet to be used, or common combinations of words that are likewise unused, and are reserved for elegantly designed and "timeless" additions to the game.
As for "why does that give us any reason at all for believing WotC will take it out?" Quite simply, the color whose primary named-ability is flying should not have an inferior flagship uncommon flier than the color who instead has a secondary named-ability of flying, especially in a Core Set. Something as simple as 3UU for a 4/5 flier would be quite sufficient a replacement for Air Elemental, and moreover, it would be a nod to Mahamoti Djinn in terms of design paradigm. It would also have an impact on limited, as blue (rightfully) has the top-dog flier in terms of straight-up combat. If there is a triumvurate of 3CC fliers in the uncommon slot for limited, Serra Angel, Sengir Vampire and the aforementioned 4/5 flier, the latter wins in terms of raw stats, while the former two sacrifice raw stats for flexibility and/or tricks. This leads new players to believe that blue is king of the skies, whereas a Serra-is-the-dominant-3CC-uncommon-flier paradigm would lead to the (erroneous) conclusion amongst said players that white is supposed to be king of the skies.
Ergo, Air Elemental leaving makes more sense for a multitude of reasons, rather than sticking around for the lone reason that a spirit made of air must be named "air elemental" to retain a "classic" flavor when that simply is not the case.
I eliminated all of the setting-specific named critters (i.e. Samite Healer, etc) as they can easily be replaced with comparable or better critters with more generic names. The above, however, seem to me to be the most timeless, and sufficiently generic to warrant inclusion in a Core Set. The only reason I didn't include Air Elemental is because it is utterly outclassed by the once-again-uncommon Serra Angel, and thus is a prime candidate for replacement with a newer variant with some sort of ability comparable in power to Vigilance. Regeneration is the next most likely to see in M10, but I can easily see it replaced with Broken Fall or a similar, more potent variant.
serra angel is now an uncommon? what is that all about?
other than that is seems like it could work. smaller sets and core sets that offer new cards, stange but interesting...
Now, now. Serra Angel is BACK to being an uncommon, after being upgraded to a rare from uncommon so long ago.
No disrespect, but your extraordinarily shallow if you think every PTO is as bad as Grey Matter. I hope you realize that these changes completely cut the PTOs out of the pre-release scene, unless they are a store....
Looks for a reference to ANY store other than an explicit reference to Grey Matter. Sees none. Wonders why this comment was made, since there were no veiled references to prereleases in general in any way, shape, or form in the post being responded to.
Not really... I don't believe there are any cards that can change the color of mana symbols on a card. A "white mana symbol" is still the same thing as a :symw:.
No, but there are cards that can change the text of a card to say, "red mana symbols" or "black mana symbols", etc. Using the word "white" instead of a W in the text of Light from Within allows such tricks to occur. While limited, for some players that is the bee's knees.
Great with the Avatar. 9/9 (or 13/13) with lifelink for five mana for teh win. Even the 1/1 with lifelink, becomeing a 2/2 (or a Kitchen Finks as a 5/4) is sweet.
This is just speculation on what the card could be.....
If it did end up like this I would probable play it.
What? It is on the WotC page. It is a "preview pack", exactly as Demigod of Revenge had when Shadowmoor was looming a couple of months away. There are 14 other cards, with no text other than name and casting cost.
Just move your mouse of the image of the Overbeing, and her text appears (that doesn't work for any of the other cards, btw).
Anyone have guesses on the new name for Flamekin? Ghoulkin, Gravekin, and Ashkin don't come up in the orb. Something along the line of -kin is likely. Flamekin comes up as 0.
I'm thinking it's not going to be _____kin, but rather, flame_____ (or whatever_____). What the _____ is, however, is anyone's guess at this point.
ETA: If their flames are now out, aren't they mostly made of earth and stone?
If they are opposites, would they be made of ice, or water, or air? If the old flamekin were linked to the sun and day, would the new versions be linked to the moon and night?
I still think reactive planeswalker abilities are perfectly viable, using the following template:
When [trigger condition] occurs, you may [add/remove] [X] loyalty counters from [planeswalker]. If you do, [trigger effect occurs].
For example:
Taysir, the Pupil
Planeswalker - Taysir 2UU
When a spell is cast, you may remove 3 loyalty counters from Taysir. If you do, that spell is countered.
+1: Return target creature to its owner's hand.
-6: Each player shuffles their hand and graveyard in to his or her library, then draws 7 cards.
4 Loyalty
Lorwyn is one world, perpetually in daylight It is an entire plane in daylight, not just part of one world.
Shadowmoor is, IMHO, the SAME exact world, with the same physical landscapes, natural landmarks. However, it is a mirror version of it, transposed over Lorwyn, perpetually in eternal night. In fact, in my opinion the image on Dolmen Gate is looking at Lorywn through the gate viewed FROM the perspective of a Shadowmoor point of origin.
Except in Forced Fruition, where it is often forcing a draw of 14 cards instead of 7. Or delaying a spell until Forced Fruition is out, forcing a draw of 7 cards from a card played 3 turns previous.
I rather disagree. Do you really think it is that unthinkable for WotC to make an Air Elemental with a similar name, and an additional ability? "Air elemental" is hardly the only possible name for such a classic spirit of air. On the contrary, "air" is only the Western name for that classical element. In the Eastern flavor, it would be "wind" rather than "air". Note that they've never made a Wind Elemental. Note also that they've never made a card named, simply, Sylph (the classic Western "air elemental" in myth). I am pretty certain this is quite on purpose. As with Silence, I comfortably assert that WotC has an extensive "reserved name" file tucked away of names that are not allowed to be used without explicit permission, consisting of mostly common words that have yet to be used, or common combinations of words that are likewise unused, and are reserved for elegantly designed and "timeless" additions to the game.
As for "why does that give us any reason at all for believing WotC will take it out?" Quite simply, the color whose primary named-ability is flying should not have an inferior flagship uncommon flier than the color who instead has a secondary named-ability of flying, especially in a Core Set. Something as simple as 3UU for a 4/5 flier would be quite sufficient a replacement for Air Elemental, and moreover, it would be a nod to Mahamoti Djinn in terms of design paradigm. It would also have an impact on limited, as blue (rightfully) has the top-dog flier in terms of straight-up combat. If there is a triumvurate of 3CC fliers in the uncommon slot for limited, Serra Angel, Sengir Vampire and the aforementioned 4/5 flier, the latter wins in terms of raw stats, while the former two sacrifice raw stats for flexibility and/or tricks. This leads new players to believe that blue is king of the skies, whereas a Serra-is-the-dominant-3CC-uncommon-flier paradigm would lead to the (erroneous) conclusion amongst said players that white is supposed to be king of the skies.
Ergo, Air Elemental leaving makes more sense for a multitude of reasons, rather than sticking around for the lone reason that a spirit made of air must be named "air elemental" to retain a "classic" flavor when that simply is not the case.
Bog Wraith
Giant Growth
Giant Spider
Goblin King
Howling Mine
Nightmare
Rod of Ruin
Wrath of God
I eliminated all of the setting-specific named critters (i.e. Samite Healer, etc) as they can easily be replaced with comparable or better critters with more generic names. The above, however, seem to me to be the most timeless, and sufficiently generic to warrant inclusion in a Core Set. The only reason I didn't include Air Elemental is because it is utterly outclassed by the once-again-uncommon Serra Angel, and thus is a prime candidate for replacement with a newer variant with some sort of ability comparable in power to Vigilance. Regeneration is the next most likely to see in M10, but I can easily see it replaced with Broken Fall or a similar, more potent variant.
Now, now. Serra Angel is BACK to being an uncommon, after being upgraded to a rare from uncommon so long ago.
Looks for a reference to ANY store other than an explicit reference to Grey Matter. Sees none. Wonders why this comment was made, since there were no veiled references to prereleases in general in any way, shape, or form in the post being responded to.
No, but there are cards that can change the text of a card to say, "red mana symbols" or "black mana symbols", etc. Using the word "white" instead of a W in the text of Light from Within allows such tricks to occur. While limited, for some players that is the bee's knees.
What? It is on the WotC page. It is a "preview pack", exactly as Demigod of Revenge had when Shadowmoor was looming a couple of months away. There are 14 other cards, with no text other than name and casting cost.
Just move your mouse of the image of the Overbeing, and her text appears (that doesn't work for any of the other cards, btw).
I'm thinking it's not going to be _____kin, but rather, flame_____ (or whatever_____). What the _____ is, however, is anyone's guess at this point.
ETA: If their flames are now out, aren't they mostly made of earth and stone?
If they are opposites, would they be made of ice, or water, or air? If the old flamekin were linked to the sun and day, would the new versions be linked to the moon and night?
Cream of the Crop is so not a sleeper. I see it on at least half the lists for the top cards in the set.
Prickly Boggart
Mothdust Changeling
Reach of Branches
Taurean Mauler
Graceful Reprieve
Murmuring Bosk
Mutavault
Bitterblossom
Earwig Squad
Negate
Chameleon Colossus
Cream of the Crop
Reach of Branches
Shard Volley
Reveillark
When [trigger condition] occurs, you may [add/remove] [X] loyalty counters from [planeswalker]. If you do, [trigger effect occurs].
For example:
Taysir, the Pupil
Planeswalker - Taysir
2UU
When a spell is cast, you may remove 3 loyalty counters from Taysir. If you do, that spell is countered.
+1: Return target creature to its owner's hand.
-6: Each player shuffles their hand and graveyard in to his or her library, then draws 7 cards.
4 Loyalty
Lorwyn is one world, perpetually in daylight It is an entire plane in daylight, not just part of one world.
Shadowmoor is, IMHO, the SAME exact world, with the same physical landscapes, natural landmarks. However, it is a mirror version of it, transposed over Lorwyn, perpetually in eternal night. In fact, in my opinion the image on Dolmen Gate is looking at Lorywn through the gate viewed FROM the perspective of a Shadowmoor point of origin.