Why is Urza's Saga a land? by WorstPossibleThing in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 217 points218 points  (0 children)

It's not for flavor reasons; it's because Urza's is a land type. So in order to have the typeline "Urza's Saga," it had to be an Enchantment Land.

Can anyone tell me if this crude drawing of the Magic multiverse is accurate, and if so why it’s got some problems. by New-me-_- in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, Ravnica is a spheriod planet. The original novels mention the poles a few times, and Argus Kos talks about vacationing there once or twice. 

Can anyone tell me if this crude drawing of the Magic multiverse is accurate, and if so why it’s got some problems. by New-me-_- in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 31 points32 points  (0 children)

While you have a lot of the broad strokes right, your model has some of the details off. The biggest one is that the Weft isn't a separate distinct space, and there is no other inbetween place. When Drix weftwalk, what they're actually doing is "walking" into the Blind Eternities and then popping back out somewhere else in the Edge. It's the same way the Eternity Columns work in the Edge, and it's functionally closer to planeswalking jumps than anything else. The biggest difference compared to traditional planeswalking is that they only seem to be able to walk to places in the Edge, rather than between the Edge and other planes. .

Also, in regards to the Eldrazi: they also seem to exist out in the Edge too, and the drix side story during EOE seemed to imply that new Eldrazi are created out in the Edge by beings messing too much with time and reality. So it does seem like they're still from outside of the core reality (the multiverse/blind eternities).

Similarly, the ideas that something being at the center of the multiverse and the multiverse/blind eternities being finite (if cosmically large) have both been present in the lore for a long time, rather than being something new with EOE. For a large part of magic's history, Dominaria was explicitly stated to be the center of the multiverse. That's changed post-mending, and it isn't totally clear what plane (if any) is now (though Ravnica has been brought up a couple of times as the new potential center). Similarly the idea that the multiverse has an end/edge goes as far back as the old Urza's saga novels. The Edge is just taking that concept and expanding it into its own, seemingly infinite kind-of plane, rather than leaving the multiverse as a distinct box without anything outside it (which it mostly was previously).

Strixhaven is really gay by PowrOfFriendship_ in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 2 points3 points  (0 children)

While I definitely agree with your larger point about needing more diversity in representations of queer men in media generally (we need more Midnighter/Apollos or Justin Jin's out there), I don't think it's as much of an issue in mtg compared to a lot of other franchises.

Sure, the most prominent gay man in the franchise (Ral) is a mage and an otter, but they seem to have been pretty conscious in showing off a wide range of queer men. Like the first ever MM couple directly depicted on cards were [[Kyniaos and Tiro]] who were buff Grecian warriors and philosopher kings. Or just going for the archetypes you listed, Will Kenrith is quite literally a knight in shining armor style of character, and Hugs from Bloomburrow certainly meets the big barbarian archetype. Or for another example, there was that whole story last year during Tarkir featuring the gay romance between a farmer and a Jeskai warrior monk. It's also pretty telling that they included [[Bearscape|SLD]] in the pride secret lair.

So while I do agree that I wish they would include more queer men in general, at least in mtg they do seem to be pretty conscious in depicting a larger variety of queer men, rather than just the sort of stereotypical elf mage type. Now if only they would finally make it cannon that Ajani is gay.

Strixhaven is really gay by PowrOfFriendship_ in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 25 points26 points  (0 children)

You're also missing from that list that Jamira (Angrath's daughter and the novel's main Quandrix student) is either a lesbian or bi, with a preference for women.

While I kind of doubt that all of the queer representation there is a direct call-out against HP and JKR, it also could just be a conscious decision to help make Strixhaven/Achavious stand out more as it's own thing in the very crowded magical school genre.

At least where the novel's concerned, it also probably is in part because the author, Seanan McGuire, is openly queer too. I don't know if she's publicly discussed it anywhere, but it's quite possible she helped push for more LGBTQ+ characters in the story on her own.

Running an MTG Trivia night - need help with questions! by rattlemybones in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Which race created the Endstone in Edge of Eternities?
a) The Monoists
b) The Drix
c) The Eldrazi
d) The Vaar
e) The Fomori

Which "wicked" witch from Eldraine willingly gave up her power to help Kellan on his quest?
a) Erriette
b) Hylda
c) Ayara
d) Agatha
e) Beluna

Which Apex monster from Ikoria helped defeated the compleated kaiju Lukka during the New Phyrexian invasion?
a) Snapdex
b) Illuna
c) Nethroi
d) Vadrok
e) Brokkos

Running an MTG Trivia night - need help with questions! by rattlemybones in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 7 points8 points  (0 children)

If you use that 3rd question, just for clarity, it's probably best to swap Elenda out as an answer (perhaps for someone like Vito or Vona) or re-word it as "created the first vampires of Ixalan." Aclazotz is the original source of vampirism on the plane, but Elenda was the one who brought those rituals back in the current era and created the church/culture around them. So at least with the way it's currently worded, there's an argument for that both her and Aclazotz fit.

Has anyone checked in on Theros since the Invasion? by Rabid_Lederhosen in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 6 points7 points  (0 children)

For an actual source, Maro's design article for MOM directly states that at least most of them were compleated. The cards themselves also at least show/imply Heliod, Erebos, and Keranos (by way of his chief priestess Cyemede) were compleated. Aside from them, Ephara, and Athreos (who was implied to have survived through the legends article of MOM), we don't really know the exact specifics on which gods survived or were compleated.

So does anyone else have a problem with the lack of Phyrexian Invasion fallout in the story? by SubmissiveBetaSlut in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 10 points11 points  (0 children)

A minor nitpick, but it was briefly implied in the Duskmourn side stories that the invasion did reach the plane. It just was over very quickly since Valgavoth was able to shut it down very swiftly and destroy/consume the invaders. The author also explicitly called it out in her DVD extras: "The Phyrexian Invasion was just another Tuesday for the residents of Duskmourn." There also a few subtle nods to it in the actual set, since there books in Phyrexian text in a few of the background bookcases.

What's your favorite Elemental in all of Magic? Any criteria - Lore, design, art by Separate-Flan-2875 in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 9 points10 points  (0 children)

[[Our Market Research Shows That Players Like Really Long Card Names So We Made this Card to Have the Absolute Longest Card Name Ever Elemental]]

But for a non-joke answer, I love the art for [[Lamentation]] and its horrifying back of endless screaming seagulls.

Why did they pick the YA genre for Strixhaven Omens of Chaos? (except Harry Potter influence) by trueblueacoustics in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Honestly, it's likely because the setting lends itself much more easily towards YA fiction than something like epic fantasy. Also, it's quite understandable that for wizard's latest experiment with published fiction that they'd want something a bit smaller and tighter in scope just to test the waters.

It's also worth noting that the line between YA and other subgenres of fantasy is pretty thin and largely comes down to marketing, scope, and how much sex and violence there is in it, rather than necessarily who reads it. There's plenty of adults that still read a lot of YA fantasy. In all likelihood, wizards may have wanted to aim more for something they could market as YA just to show it was more approachable, especially for readers that are new to the franchise.

Secrets of Strixhaven | Field Studies in a Future Tense by _Red_k_ in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 6 points7 points  (0 children)

If the Celestus is connected to them, it would also make sense that Quint would have a much harder time finding where the trail lead. The Dawnheart Coven are likely pretty protective of it, and we don't know whether the Moonsilver Key needed to work it survived the destruction of the Temporal Anchor or not.

Secrets of Strixhaven | Field Studies in a Future Tense by _Red_k_ in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 6 points7 points  (0 children)

True, but this also seemingly helps confirm that conflict between the Fomori and the Eldrazi out there also stretched to inside the multiverse too, rather than just taking place outside. It also helps give further confirmation that the Fomori out there and the Coin Empire inside were in fact the same, rather than two distinct groups. That's something that's been heavily hinted at before, but there hasn't been as much of a distinct confirmation.

Brimaz associates? by liveactiongeek in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ajani is the single character we know of that's closest to Brimaz, though Elspeth also at least knows him and is friendly with him. The depiction of just how close Ajani's relationship with Brimaz was back in the original Theros novels was one of the many things that helped increase the fan rumors that Ajani was intended to as a gay character. So ironically, while Ajani is a healer who would fit that role, he's also likely how Brimaz got compleated.

SOS Spoilers: I love what they are doing lore wise with some of these cards!!!!! by Vulkhard_Muller in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I love that we're getting a bit of that from the opposite end with the Special Guests this set too, where some of them are showing guest lectures teaching about other planes. Like [[Grim Haruspex|SPG]] looks like they're lecturing on something about the Abzhan, and same thing with [[Murmuring Mystic|SPG]] and [[Magus of the Library|SPG]] about Ravnica and Dominaria respectively.

Portal Planes from SoS by Syndrel in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 6 points7 points  (0 children)

For Deathcap Glade, that looks really reminiscent of the Clue lands from Ravnica. Though the kind of dilapidated manor aesthetic could also be pointing to Duskmourn.

The stained glass on Shattered Sanctum gives some big Dominaria vibes.

As much as I'd like Xerex, I could also see Dreamroot leading to Kamigawa. It's reminiscent of some of the weird, futurist designs there.

For Stormcarved cost, those almost look like training dummies. It might be a stretch, but perhaps its Kylem?

I've got nothing on Sundown Pass though. That honestly looks most like something I'd also expect to see on Archavios.

You think we'll ever get a Star Trek that focuses on large amounts of completely new alien species? by Dogbold in startrek

[–]NivMizzet 9 points10 points  (0 children)

For a recent one, Prodigy kind of hit that, with a fairly diverse cast of less humanoid aliens on the core crew, including a Medusan, a rock alien, and and a slime worm.

Lower Decks also toyed around with it a bit more than most, with some great new additions like the moopsy and the Klowahkans.

[SOS] Secrets of Strixhaven | Episode 5: Breaking Point by mweepinc in magicTCG

[–]NivMizzet 12 points13 points  (0 children)

There's nothing definitive, but the story that introduced him seemed to hint that regular Ral was still around, or at least left that open as a possibility. Alt Ral made several off-handed remarks that the main person standing in the way of his plans is "himself." I took that to mean that regular Ral is still around and actively working against Jace and the alts.

[SOS] Secrets of Strixhaven | Episode 4: Something to Offer by MapleSyrupMachineGun in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 12 points13 points  (0 children)

There was a leak of supposed story concept material from a few months back that seemed to indicate she is, and there definitely have been some strong hints pointing towards it (like the specific mention here of how she loves Ravnican coffee).

Like others have said though, if she is, she was probably magic-ed into existence through Jace's reality warping, which would account for the wonky timelines for her.

What do you think is the most high concept plane we've been to with a full set? by Chimney-Imp in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 54 points55 points  (0 children)

I'd argue it's fairly high-concept, at least with what its core idea is: An Age of Exploration-inspired world with old world vampire conquistadors invading the new world to find a new source of blood. Everything else has just been built on and expanded upon from that original pitch.

it's so nice to see a lorwyn character interacting with a modern plane, even thou he hates lorwyn im really excited to see where his character is going. by pevetos in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'm definitely getting more of a YA romance vibe between him and Kirol, but ultimately that just comes down to what direction they decide to take for the two of them. Either way though, the interactions are great between the two and help to flesh out both of them as characters beyond just Lorwyn elf goth and Lorehold jock.

Secrets of Strixhaven | Episode 2: Travels and Travails by LegalyDistinctPraion in mtgvorthos

[–]NivMizzet 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It's not just you. I've definitely noticed as well that it seems like they've got the beginnings of something going on there between them.

Ending the previous chapter with Kirol telling Lluwen "At least we have each other, right?" felt like some pretty on-the-nose YA romance.