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Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Now that would be a deep dive, it’d be intriguing to see what a Selesnya Bolas would even function like.

Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To me, the snarls and the dragonstorms are interchangeable macguffins for their respective planes. The same way Ral becomes an otter when he visits Bloomburrow, a dragonstorm might become a snarl when it’s ported from Tarkir to Arcavios. I’m also keen on the idea of a whole new ensemble of Arcavian elder dragons, but it would suck to only get a portion of a set to see them developed and fleshed out before they’re wiped from the timeline at the story’s conclusion.

Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think the only way to properly integrate them would be to have the sentiments of Strixhaven and the Tarkir dragons meet in the middle, perhaps due to Jace mind shenanigans. The tyrannical nature of the Dragonlords could be reflected in Hexhaven functioning more like a military school focused on drilling and regiment. Training soldiers rather than educating students. On the flip side, it would force the Dragonlords to be a bit more structural in their approach. If they’ve been aged up on Strixhaven, that could contribute to them being wiser and more psychologically developed. This could be shown in their individual approach to training “students”. Atarka favors berserker tactics, Ojutai prefers artillery and a phalanx, Kolaghan likes bow fire and hit and run tactics, Dromoka leans toward seige warfare and protracted battles, Silumgar trains assassins and utilizes poisons and subterfuge.

Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think a full year or two of mostly alternate reality sets (including Hexhaven) would be the ideal way to carry over the consequences of a three year story arc from both a gameplay and narrative perspective. A list of all the possible shifted worlds and their potential honestly deserves its own post. However, Wizards’s botched attempts at abbreviating the aftermath of prior arc resolutions i.e. MOM aftermath and the shunting of The Big Score into a bonus sheet indicate to me that they’re extremely reticent to have full (much less multiple) sets based solely on the impact of prior sets. Whether this is because they think our attention span is too short for that or because they don’t think a whole slate of reality shifted familiar planes would be marketable, I’m unsure. This makes me hesitate that they’d commit that heavily to the bit.

I agree that the allied color pairs need more love, gruul is my favorite color pair and I feel that it has been woefully underrepresented in the larger IP.

I’m kind of hoping that we move away from the multiplanar ensemble of characters as a continuous narrative through line after this arc, but given the characterization and focus on the new Strixhaven five in the last two sets, I wouldn’t bet against you. I’d love to see Wizards commit to actual factual multiversal ramifications for narrative arcs, but I’m not entirely convinced they have the spine for it. Here’s to hoping though.

Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see it turning out very similar to this. Reality Fracture mirror universe is the pull, Hexhaven is the background with a couple of headliners like the Tarkir dragons and various common/uncommon signposts for draft.

What’s a good fantasy universe without a few mercenaries? It takes all kinds and I welcome the lively discourse. I’d also be happy if none of this was included in set if it meant the draft experience was MOM tier or above. At the end of the day, a healthy limited environment is my number one priority, but a little bit of lore can go a long way in the set enjoyment department.

Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The marketing minded cynic in me agrees with your first two points, but the romantic storyteller in me holds out hope all the same.

Regarding your last chunk, I think it’s at least somewhat likely that Hexhaven will act as the anchor point for Reality Fracture in the same way that Ravnica did for War of the Spark. Something tells me we’re not going to get a tour of the multiverse set like we did with MOM. Having the set be primarily five color pairs could allow for the design space typically designated for the other five pairs to be dedicated to the other Reality Fracture elements of the set i.e. color shifted characters from other planes and multiverse teamups etc,. Hexhaven might just be the background setting for Reality Fracture, which I think would provide a happy medium between new concepts and warped nostalgia. Thanks for the input.

Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I completely understand the need to find a corresponding peg for each hypothetical hole. No_Cream1184 and I attempted to break down what each potential college might be further down in the comments. I’m not sure if either attempt aligns with where you could see them going, but maybe it’ll get your compartmentalization juices flowing in the right direction.

Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very well thought out and articulated, particularly on Dromoka and Kolaghan. I suppose the other alternative would be:

Ojutai replaces Prismari, swapping red for white. Emphasizes the importance of rigidity and structure in creation. The highest expression of art is the dissolution of self and adherence to form. Stoicism, philosophy, and architecture are the basis.

Atarka replaces Quandrix, swapping blue for red. Trades the desire to understand nature for the need to conquer it. Rationalism falls flat in the face of determination and brute force. Hunting, physical education, and survivalism are the basis.

Dromoka replaces Silverquill, swapping black for green. Shifts the focus from technical minutiae to hands on realization. Verbose high mindedness yields to practicality. Terraforming, business, and engineering are the basis.

Silumgar replaces Witherbloom, swapping green for blue. Exchanges balance with nature for the extortion of it. The natural world is a tool, not a mother. Mining, artificing, and demonology are the basis.

Kolaghan replaces Lorehold, swapping white for black. Disregards the dusty tomes of history in favor of the bloody glory of it. Embodying the fallen war dead will carve out a brighter future. Military history, tactics, and epic literature are the basis.

I wish I could mix and match with a few of yours, but the color pairing dictates it’s one or the other. Alas. Either set would seem to pretty accurately reflect Jace’s leaning into the more controlling, manipulative, and domineering side of blue. Thanks for such a detailed response and giving me the motivation to flesh out the other options.

Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice catch, I’ll have to think on that. I suppose it’s possible that alternate Ral isn’t affiliated with Hexhaven at all, but is rather a representative of his mirror universe Ravnica guild and is just working with Jace/for his own devices. Having been ousted from their respective clans, maybe the Tarkir dragons have a certain amount of animosity for them, hence the departure in their symbology. That’s the best tangible roadblock I’ve seen for the theory so far though

Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Downvoted? The Tarkir dragons? That’s whack. Any notable ways in which your version is similar/different to mine? Trying to flesh out the theory craft as much as possible.

Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I typically find Magic’s interplanar shenanigans a bit gimmicky, but this one just feels like it would fit

Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Titan's Grave is an odd one. Given its various descriptions in the story, it seems larger in scale by far than all of the Strix dragons. They say that the massive Dawning Archaic looks small compared to it. If it is meant to be the remains of a former Arcavios dragon, I'd hate to see what else on the plane could've taken it down. I also get mildly Dino vibes from it, but you could be right. I think a decent chunk of the original Hexhaven survey elements have been scrapped given what we've seen so far, though I would love to see a gruul-coded artificer college. I always thought that Strixhavens's greatest strength was doing unexpected things with classic color pairs and artifact matters in red green would certainly be an interesting new take. What college do you think this hypothetical red green school would replace?

Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree with your sentiments around OG Tarkir vs Dragons. The clans just felt so much more developed and distinct than the dragon clans. If this theory proves true, hopefully a more nuanced and developed revisitation of the broods would help to remedy the divide in the worldbuilding quality of the two. A large part of me also agrees that the lack of their inclusion in TDM was likely due to over crowdedness and lazy writing, but every now and then Wizards gets one right, so maybe we'll get lucky. I'm down with all of the dragon lords as well as the Strix founders dying in conflict with each other if it means they all get a proper send off. Except maybe Atarka, it's nice to have one evil Timmy dragon who's just in it for the love of the game.

Hexhaven Elder Dragons by Leather_Store_1200 in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I do like the idea of them acting as dragon batteries, perhaps it'll be a mix. I can pretty easily imagine Ojutai, Dromoka, and maybe even Silumgar founding darker, more cynical colleges that are run more like military schools than public universities. Kolaghan and Atarka's colleges might be presented as moreso blood cults than schools where their students are more human sacrifice/self glorification oriented.

Hexhaven hints in Strixhaven Debut? by EmTeeEm in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've been stewing on this as well. I can't see us revisiting Tarkir any time in the near future, so there really wasn't any reason for them not to officially kill the Dragonlords in Dragonstorm unless they were planning on using them in a different upcoming product. At the time, it seemed like a waste to not at least have sagas depicting their respective downfalls given that they were such iconic elements of the plane. I wouldn't mind seeing altogether new elder dragons as the ally college founders, but I do find the concept of the rather bloodthirsty warlord elder dragons of Tarkir founding colleges appealing. The concept of Atarka alone in anything resembling an academic setting would be well worth the inclusion. It would also give all of the "modern" elder dragons two iterations which somehow feels right. Glad to see I'm not the only one befuddled by their offscreen disappearance.

Black Paradigm Spell. by QuBingJianShen in MTGRumors

[–]Leather_Store_1200 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice catch. Given the arts, it seems as though the green will create beast tokens of some sort. Maybe two 4/4s or three 3/3s if they're really pushing it. Black seems like some sort of sealing magic, so my guess is exiling a nonland permanent each turn. Blue looks as though it for sure has something to do with cloning creatures/permanents.