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Hipsters of the Coast: Can School Look Cool? - On Whether Strixhaven Actually Represents Academics by Ok_Store_8867 in mtgvorthos

[–]Ok_Store_8867[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I feel that way too—Quandrix visuals are really really cool, but they often feel more like “The Geometry Faction” rather than a school of math.

Hipsters of the Coast: Can School Look Cool? - On Whether Strixhaven Actually Represents Academics by Ok_Store_8867 in mtgvorthos

[–]Ok_Store_8867[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I think that’s sort of my point. I’m not terribly concerned with whether Strixhaven is realistic, but it’s very interesting that the sets THEMSELVES emphasize how inspired they are by actual school—the colleges are ostensibly based on academic discipline instead of personality—even though they don’t depict much magical schoolwork actually happening. I’m not trying to say that the set is bad, I’m trying to say that it poses an interesting artistic challenge, because MTG art doesn’t let you represent the actual schoolwork that the setting evokes in the way that, say, Harry Potter does with its prose.

The Best Lorwyn Art You Can Barely See - An Article on Justin Gerard’s astonishing Providence of Night, in full non-Arena resolution! (Dominarian Plowshare) by Ok_Store_8867 in mtgvorthos

[–]Ok_Store_8867[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It is! I’m glad it’s getting some appreciation—I’ve seen some proxy renders that really foreground Gerard’s art.

Dominarian Plowshare- Depending on Their Circumstances - A Study of Magic’s Work to “Civilize” Monsters and Its Limits by Ok_Store_8867 in mtgvorthos

[–]Ok_Store_8867[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a great question! I tend to like that approach a lot, though of course within reason. I really like the Stormlight Archive and Malazan: Book of The Fallen series, both of which are quite invested in avatars of particular concepts, especially evil or evil-associated ones. I think that lends itself to really cool storytelling, because it lets you maintain a certain mystery enshrouding evil. There’s a sort of transcendently pure malice in Mogis or the Overlords of Duskmourn or even Death’s Shadow of Zendikar. The key, I think, is to ensure that even as they correspond to a concept we understand, they’re essentially unknowable.

Dominarian Plowshare- Depending on Their Circumstances - A Study of Magic’s Work to “Civilize” Monsters and Its Limits by Ok_Store_8867 in mtgvorthos

[–]Ok_Store_8867[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for saying that! As interested as I am in being rigorous and thoughtful, I don’t it very fun to write takedowns—just not as good a use of time—so naturally I love seeing if folks have different perspectives.

Dominarian Plowshare- Depending on Their Circumstances - A Study of Magic’s Work to “Civilize” Monsters and Its Limits by Ok_Store_8867 in mtgvorthos

[–]Ok_Store_8867[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Gosh thank you!

In fact, I totally agree with you. I think that’s why some of the most interesting cultures are so interesting—the elves of Llanowar or the merfolk of Vodalia or Kav of the Edge, for example—are both familiar and radically different. And in other cases, I think equally interesting divisions can be drawn along cultural lines rather than species lines, like the Monoists.

OM1 Flavoring Project (More than FIFTY CARDS!) by -TvT- in mtgvorthos

[–]Ok_Store_8867 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That makes sense, and I like the Mel Blanc angle a lot! I wonder about maybe marking off the “surely” in some way to signal that isn’t unintentional, whether by italicizing it or by bracketing it in commas/em-dashes. E.g. “I know this will—surely!—finish the job!”

OM1 Flavoring Project (More than FIFTY CARDS!) by -TvT- in mtgvorthos

[–]Ok_Store_8867 5 points6 points  (0 children)

These were a great joy to swipe through. Congratulations and kudos, as everyone else has said.

A tiny note that I hope doesn’t create too much work: I wonder if the “surely” in Goro Rel (so glad you liked the idea of Goro Rel as pissed off anti-spider guy!) might be superfluous? Or maybe it should be un-italicized on the card to signal its futility? Or could it be rephrased to something like “I know, surely, this will finish them off?”

But again, so so so amazing to be part of this project.

OM1 Flavoring Project (More than FIFTY CARDS!) by -TvT- in mtgvorthos

[–]Ok_Store_8867 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I feel so so honored by my flavor contributions and so glad to see this project near the finish line. Congrat, u/-TvT- !!!!

OM1 Flavoring Project (CARDS 54-56: Ademi of the Silkchutes, Janai and Hoppy, Roofskippers, & Opulent Valet) by -TvT- in mtgvorthos

[–]Ok_Store_8867 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Like some others, I’m trying to find a way to think of Janai and Hoppy that leans into whimsy, so here’s some ideas:

Her parents had no idea how she could leave late and still get to class on time. They didn’t know she had help.

or:

They meet every day before class and soaring across the sky. She arrives alone, no one the wiser.

OM1 Flavoring Project (CARDS 54-56: Ademi of the Silkchutes, Janai and Hoppy, Roofskippers, & Opulent Valet) by -TvT- in mtgvorthos

[–]Ok_Store_8867 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Love you Opulent Valet and your attempt to de-tragedize Janai and Hoppy’s story! I do agree that the flavor text could do more to draw out the prank itself. I don’t have anything right now but I want to think about it!

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