MTG Tumblr Friday

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

Wishing all a very happy fun-fill weekend.  Loads of Magic: the Gathering events to take note of as we head on in to our two-day respite.  Kicking thingys off is of course Friday Night Magic at our local gaming store, OMG! Games here in Barrie, Ontario.  We'll be taking along a personalised version of a mono-black human 'weenie' build that Tomaharu Saito (yeah, we're definitely fans here) and hopefully will have some positive results to yatter about next week.  Out today as well is the very next DD product, Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora so we might be heading to OMG! Games a titch early to be certain to have a copy waiting for us on the shelf.  There will be the opportunity to watch (or attend in person) for MTG fans, the big SCG Open event in Baltimore this weekend.

WotC staffer Doug Beyer had an interesting feature article up on the mothersite today on the upcoming 'core set' Magic Origins.  There was a bit of a glitch when the article got promoted shortly after 11 EST this morning but is up now.  It seems that WotC still cannot get their shizzle straight some times, even with a simple article post.

Anywhoos, we should get on with the title of today's post - a quick review of what's been happening on MTG Realm on Tumblr where our following continues to grow at an exceptional rate.
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Photoset February 27, 2015 29 notes

Magic: the Gathering - DD: E vs. K

Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora is out TODAY !

The knight Planeswalker Elspeth Tirel sees herself as the protector of the Multiverse. She has pledged her sword and shield to all who suffer, and she summons forth impressive armies to assist her. The merfolk Planeswalker Kiora calls upon the creatures of the deepest oceans to fight at her side. She is the master of the world beneath the waves, her true power only now beginning to surface. How will these Planeswalkers measure up when they meet in battle?

Six cards receive new artwork: Elspeth, Sun’s Champion, Kiora, the Crashing Wave, Mother of Runes, Temple of the False God, Explore and Decree of Justice.


MRSP is about $20.

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Photoset February 27, 2015 102 notes

Magic: the Gathering - ‘Shops

Great photo-shops from Let’s Collect (Brazil) imagining what how some MTG characters may be spending their free time / retirement from standard.

Brimaz, King of Oreskos (Born of the Gods Mythic Rate), illustrated by Peter Mohrbacher - Beach Bum.


Tasigur's Cruelty (Fate Reforged Common), illustrated by Chris Rahn - always wanted to be a hair stylist.
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Photoset February 27, 2015 17 notes

Magic: the Gathering - FNM Promo Updates

Yesterday on the mothersite, we were provided with some upcoming Friday Night Magic Promo cards to be had an your local gamery shoppe.

Suspension Field
March FNM Promo, illustrated by Seb McKinnon
Khans of Tarkir Uncommon, illustrated by Seb McKinnon

Abzan Beastmaster
May FNM Promo, illustrated by Scott Murphy
Fate Reforged Uncommon, illustrated by Winona Nelson

For reference, here are recent promos -

2014 Friday Night Magic Promos
1/14: Warleader’s Helix
2/14: Elvish Mystic
3/14: Banisher Priest
4/14: Encroaching Wastes
5/14: Tormented Hero
6/14: Dissolve
7/14: Magma Spray
8/14: Bile Blight
9/14: Banishing Light
10/14 Fanatic of Xenagos
11/14 Brain Maggot
12/14 Stoke the Flames

2015 Friday Night Magic Promos
1/15: Frenzied Goblin
2/15: Disdainful Stroke [26]
3/15: Hordeling Outburst

4/15: Suspension Field
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Photoset February 26, 2015 782 notes

Magic the Gathering - Wood Worked

Some very incredibly lovely pieces from Pedro Cruss ( dshss ) from Portugal.

Wooden EDH Deckbox
Light wooden box with a compartment for up to 9 D20 dice and a 4 lines abacus (intended for two players). 

Magic The Gathering Themed Box

Wooden box with a theme. Inspiration taken from the illustrations of "Twilight Shepperd", "Damnation" and "Wrath of God" which are copyright of Wizards of the Coast.  Fits about 120 cards in pro-fits and regular sleeves
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Photoset February 25, 2015 130 notes

Magic: the Gathering - Time Warp

Interesting art on a Regional PTQ Top 16 playmat from Ultra PRO surfaced on the interwebz.  


Closely resembling Jesakai Ascendancy in the ‘old’ timeline before Sarkhan mucked about with it, the new art still shows the Jeskai warrior monks - Humans, Djinni, and Aven, but it seems the the Efreet have disappeared (likely due to their affinity for fire) to be supplanted by the (cold-loving) legendary dragonlord Ojutai.
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Photoset February 24, 2015 307 notes

Gaming - Dice p0rn ! !

a-MAZE-ing - Whether you’ve got a thingy for Star Trek’s Borg Cube, or really liked The Maze Runner (book, not the movie), or just like a good maze, you gotta check this out - 

Single path goes through the maze from the “1” side to the “6” side passing through each of the numbers in order.

Dimensions
IN: 1.181 w x 1.181 d x 1.181 h
CM: 3 w x 3 d x 3 h


by Chuck Stover (ceramicwombat)
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Wednesday MTG Miscellany

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

It being Wednesday today, you can pop over to the mothersite and check out some of the impresseive high-resolution digital artwork from recent Magic: the Gathering sets (linky over here).  Today's offering is Yasova Dragonclaw.

Here is a quick round-up of recent loads - 

• Yasova Dragonclaw, (Fate Reforged) 02/25/15, By Winona Nelson
• Ojutai, Soul of Winter, (Fate Reforged) 02/18/15, By Chase Stone
• Mastery of the Unseen, (Fate Reforged) 02/11/15, By Daniel Ljunggren
• Tasigur, the Golden Fang, (Fate Reforged) 02/04/15, By Chris Rahn

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We also suggest you catch up with the lore / storyline in today's Uncharted Realms article, this time by Kim Kreines who had been a WotC Associate Editor but now (last fall) has moved over to the Creative Design Team.  This is Kim's third Uncharted Realms story and we like her writing.

A Tarkir of Dragons
Posted in Uncharted Realms on February 25, 2015 

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Anywhoos, 
We've taken an interest in some of the incredible artwork presented in the Uncharted Realms story.  Some we have seen before in print but we have to wonder whether these lovely pieces below may seen printing as card art in the next set, Dragons of Tarkir -

 illustrated by Jaime Jones - This certainly looks like the legendary black / red dragon 'Kologhan, the Storm's Fury' from Fate Reforged.

  illustrated by Steve Prescott - Showing what appears to be a number of 'Atarka, World Render' brood looking for a quick bite.

illustrated by Franz Vohwinkel - the reference in the story is that this may be vials of Dragonfire shared by Kologhan with the Mardu.

illustrated by Jason Rainville - Apparently with the rise of the dragons, Clan Khans have been supplanted by 'Dragonlords', and the time-shifted Zurgo Helmsmasher has become Zurgo Bellstriker.

illustrated by David Gaillet - Sarkhan seeks Narset only to find that the former Jeskai Clan has expelled her as a heretic.  In this reality, Taigam had not defected to the Sultai but remains with the 'Jeskai' as a master.

Loving the regular installments of Uncharted Realms and very much appreciate that Wizards has provided these sneak-peak illustrations.
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Tarkir Dragonfury

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Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

Soon here at MTG Realm, we'll be diving into Magic: the Gathering spoiler season again with the upcoming Dragons of Tarkir set with our very first previews are expected 6th March during the PAX East MTG Panel in Boston.  Today on the mothersite, we are treated with an early look at the Dragons of Tarkir Prerelease Event Activity called 'Tarkir Dragonfury'.

One particular job we do not envy is creating these Prerelease activities.  Wizards has been doing a damn fine job and one of the biggest improvements we'll note is the use of the 'Prerelease Pack' which we, other players, and event organisers at your local gaming store just love.  Some of the Prerelease activities have been hit and miss however.  A hit according to many was the Avacyn Restored 'Helvault', while a miss may have been Dragon's Maze 'Implicit Maze'.

WotC staffer Gavin's article today touched on the Dragons of Tarkir Prerelease Activity - 'Tarkir Dragonfury'.  Quite briefly, twice during the Prerelease event, you may take the D20 'Spindown™' representing your 'breath weapon' to knock down a number of pieces on the board pictured below.  Scores are totaled and prizes awarded (while supplies last) which are alternate art cards.  Here is what each point total can win:

• 3 points—Basic land
• 9 points—Basic land and Common
• 12 points—Basic Land, Common, and uncommon
• 18 points—Basic Land, Common, Uncommon, and Rare 

We love us some alternate art cards, and are certainly head over heels seeing just how awesome these dice look.  Our 13-year old self is looking forward to knocking down those board pieces, but since we've moved a few decades beyond that age, the activity seems a bit lame / gimicky.  

Our opinion may change during the Prerelease Event and as with all things, we'll be going in unbiased and with an open mind.

. . . mmm - those dice . . . 
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Bottle Gnomes

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

Another great weekend for Magic: the Gathering fans either attending or watching event coverage for Grand Prix Memphis (Standard format) and Grand Prix Vancouver (Modern format).  Here at MTG Realm, we had an unusual 'MTG-free' weekend ice-fishing and an enhanced understanding of what cold means.  Anywhoos - let's tottle on off to today's article and forget about our frozen digits.  

If you've endured all the maddening bugs of MTGO and have not rage-quit yet, they've announced a variety of strategies to address this on the mothersite which includes new resources, bug blog, and what not.  They've announced an upcoming new Magic: the Gathering Online (MTGO) product release - Tempest Remastered, somewhat similar to the online-only Vintage Masters set WotC had released a while back.  If you have a boat-load of nostalgia for Tempest, Stronghold, and Exodus, the Team has taken all 621 cards from these sets and whittled down a list that will lend itself well to limited play.  Speaking of limited, the set will be available online from just the 6th to 27th of May, 2015.

Here's the 4.1.1. - Tempest Remastered is a 269-card set, containing 101 commons, 80 uncommons, 53 rares, 15 mythic rares, and 20 basic lands from the Tempest, Stronghold, and Exodus sets. Tempest Remastered will be available in booster pack form, with each booster retailing for $3.99. Each pack will contain the following:

• 10 commons

• 3 uncommons

• 1 rare or mythic rare

• 1 basic land


Each pack has a chance at a premium card replacing one of the common slots, with the same odds as other Magic booster packs.

Although the indication is that there will be no new arts, the mothersite also provided a preview art for Bottle Gnomes (one of the very first cards we collected), which brings us to the title of today's post.  We wanted to do a spotlight on this card which we've got a bit of nostalgia for.

Tempest uncommon, illustrated by Kaja Foglio
Flavor Text:  "I am reminded of the fable of the silver egg. Its owner cracks it open to see what jewels it holds, only to discover a simple yellow yolk."
—Karn, silver golem

Mirrodin uncommon, illustrated by Ben Thompson
Flavor Text:  "Reinforcements . . . or refreshments?"

Out of the 7 Gnome creature types in MTG, only one was a 'lifelike' creature with the remaining being all artifact creatures.  Storywise, gnomes are typically constructs of artificers, dwarves, wizards, what-not.  Today we're only focusing on Bottle Gnomes, depicted as not very menacing mechanical automatons having a clear vessel filled with blue-coloured serum or lymph liquid.  This liquid is beleived to have been developed by Memnarch and sought-after by Vedalken and Neurok for its mind-expanding qualities.

Bottle Gnome Gold, by ThomasGereg on Deviantart

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Saturday Miscellaneous

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Happy Saturday MTG peeeps,

Today we want to catch up with a bunch of Magic: the Gathering miscellaneous goodness and we're getting straight to it now.

First up - Our Local Gaming Store
OMG! Games, here is Barrie, Ontario is presenting another fun-filled weekend for MTG fans.  Today (Saturday) at about noon-thirty, they are holding a Two-Headed Commander tournament.  You and a friend can enter your team for just 10 bucks ($5 per person) and enjoy hours of this awesome Commander variant format.  Tomorrow (Sunday), OMG! Games is holding the Grand Prix Trial Toronto at noon.  Format is modern with a $20 entry.  First prize is $300 cash ($400 store credit) with additional prizes paid out to 8th place.

OMG! Games and Collectibles
130 Bell Farm Rd
Barrie, Ontario
store@omggames.ca
(705) 721-GAME (4263)

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We now want to turn our attention to what's been happening on MTG Realm on Tumblr which is enjoying ever-increasing popularity with over 9,200 followers now. 

Photoset

February 20, 2015

569 notes

 

 

Magic: the Gathering - Board Game
Hasbro had on display at the recent Toy Fair 2015 (New York City 14th - 17th February), the Wizards of the Coast 'Arena of the Planeswalkers' board game.  Good images posted by Board Game Geek showing Gideon, Jace, Liliana, Chandra and Nissa with their ‘squads’.
http://mtg-realm.blogspot.ca/2015/02/arena-of-planeswalkers.html
The game is expected to see a limited release in June at select retailers and widely available in August for approximately $30.  In the box, you will find the following:
• six modular board pieces,
• four plastic terrain pieces,
• three plastic glyphs,
• two temple ruins,
• five painted Planeswalker mini figures,
• 30 squad mini figures,
• one 20-sided die,
• eight combat dice,
• 30 damage counters,
• 60 spell cards,
• 10 Squad stat cards, and
• five Planeswalker cards.

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Photoset

February 19, 2015

204 notes

 

 

Magic: the Gathering - Mini
Some very impressive miniature work by Amon Chakai (Massimiliano Amon Richiero) who had used the MTG card Life // Death, Apocalypse Uncommon - illustrated by Anthony S. Waters and Edward P. Beard, Jr. to bring to illustrate the card’s conflict.  Posted to Cool or Not Mini.

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Photoset

February 17, 2015

218 notes

Gaming Accessory - BCW Gaming DECK LOCKER

• Holds over 80 sleeved standard gaming cards
• Durable textured exterior
• Microfiber faux-suede interior
• Flip-open panels with strong magnetic closure
• Removable dice tray with independent access

The BCW Deck Locker is built to last and will not let you down. The durable construction will keep your cards safe from damage and make sure your deck is ready for the next round. Any card game works great in the BCW Deck Locker including Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, YuGiOh, and Star Wars just to name a few. The BCW Deck Locker is a hearty option for storing and transporting your collectible gaming cards with dice and tokens. It is sure to impress and intimidate your weaker opponents.

http://www.bcwsupplies.com/cat/deck-case-locker-black

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Photoset

February 16, 2015

67 notes

Magic: the Gathering - Elspeth vs. Kiora
Ultra • PRO deckboxes and Playmat to pimp yo game.

 

http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/products/card-set-archive/duel-decks-elspeth-vs-kiora
http://www.ultrapro.com/division.php?d=g
The knight Planeswalker Elspeth Tirel sees herself as the protector of the Multiverse. She has pledged her sword and shield to all who suffer, and she summons forth impressive armies to assist her. The merfolk Planeswalker Kiora calls upon the creatures of the deepest oceans to fight at her side. She is the master of the world beneath the waves, her true power only now beginning to surface.
How will these Planeswalkers measure up when they meet in battle?
Set Name: Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora
Number of Cards: Two 60-card decks
Includes: Two deck boxes
Two creature tokens
Strategy insert
Magic ™ rules reference card
Languages: English, Japanese
Official Three-Letter Code: EVK
Twitter Hashtag: #MTGEVK
Deck Design and Development: Chris Millar and Sam Stoddard
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Sarkhan Unbroken

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

Some very delicious news out for all you Magic: the Gathering spoiler nutters out there - quite possibly all ado with the next set - Dragons of Tarkir.  Have a seat and let's go -

Yesterday on the Penny Arcade news posts, we were all treated to this year's pins available to collect at PAX East (Boston, 6th to 8th March 2015).  There has been for a while now at the PAX events, a Magic: the Gathering pin to collect from Wizards of the Coast booth or event.  No big whoop but when the pin image was posted 19 hours ago by PAX 'Gabe', he had also provided a name 'Sarkhan, Unbroken' along with this image . . .

Well doesn't that look a bit familiar . . .
Yep - from the last MTG trailer put out by WotC -

That trailer shows the same 'Ugin the Spiritdragon coloured' trail in Sarkhan's hair as well as that ever-so-cool flaming first.

In today's Magic Arcana post by WotC staffer Blake, he had provided a bunch of details for MTG fans attending PAX East as well as the same pin image - but - no intriguing name.

Some in the MTG fan community speculate that we will see the return of Sarkhan in the next set.  We really don't doubt this - the big question is, as a Planeswalker, a Legendary creature card (his Planeswalker spark consumed in that time travel business), or just perhaps a spell ?

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DD: Elspeth vs. Kiora

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Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

We hope every here in Ontario had a great Family Day and our American cousins to the south had a great President's Day.  For today's Magic: the Gathering post to MTG Realm, we want to take a step back to our earlier post on the leaked decklists for Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora.  Well, it does indeed all look correct with the official post to the mothersite yesterday.  As we now have the confirmation, let's yatter a bit more about this Duel Deck.  -

Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora is the 15th set in the Duel Decks series. It will be released in just over a week from now on February 27, 2015 for a suggested retail price of $20.

The product 'flavour' -

The knight Planeswalker Elspeth Tirel sees herself as the protector of the Multiverse. She has pledged her sword and shield to all who suffer, and she summons forth impressive armies to assist her. The merfolk Planeswalker Kiora calls upon the creatures of the deepest oceans to fight at her side. She is the master of the world beneath the waves, her true power only now beginning to surface. How will these Planeswalkers measure up when they meet in battle?

Six cards receive new artwork: 
• Elspeth, Sun's Champion, 
• Kiora, the Crashing Wave, 
• Temple of the False God,
• Decree of Justice.
• Mother of Runes, and
• Explore.

The art for Icatian Javelineers first appeared on a Gateway promo and the art for Accumulated Knowledge was first used for Duels of the Planeswalkers.

Elspeth Rares: 
• Elspeth, Sun's Champion (foil), 
• Captain of the Watch, 
• Decree of Justice, 
• Dictate of Heliod, 
• Gustcloak Savior, and 
• Precinct Captain

Kiora Rares:
• Kiora, the Crashing Wave (foil, new art), 
• Inkwell Leviathan, 
• Plasm Capture, 
• Scourge of Fleets, 
• Simic Sky Swallower, and 

• Whelming Wave.

If you are planning on picking up this product, we suggest you also give some consideration to picking up the very awesome / cool Ultra • PRO playmat and deckboxes.

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FTV : Angels

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

Here in Ontario, it's Family Day, which for us included a breakfast at Cora's, some movies, and a bunch of Magic: the Gathering games.  Lovely.

Aywhoos, Some exciting news over on the mothersite - this announcement -

From the Vault: Angels

Appearing in the skies above the fiercest battles, Angels are known throughout the Multiverse for their awesome power and terrible fury. This limited-edition box set contains fifteen Magic: The Gathering cards featuring a host of the most formidable winged warriors to ever grace the game.

Content and Details

• Fifteen premium foil cards, including five with new art.
 
•  An exclusive Spindown™ life counter.

•   A collector's guide.
 
•  Each card has been printed using a foil process unique to the From the Vault series.
 
•  From the Vault: Angels will be available worldwide in English only, and will have an extremely limited print run.
 
•  All cards are black bordered and tournament legal. This means that these cards are legal for use in any tournaments where the original printings are still legal.

Product Concept and Development: Gavin Verhey and Jeremy Jarvis, with contributions from Mark Purvis

Release Date: August 21, 2015

MSRP: $34.99 

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Some pretty slick art previewed as well.  So, if you don't know, From the Vault is a series of box sets, released on an annual basis in late August. Each box set contains 15 tournament-legal, black-bordered, holographic foil cards with a common theme. Some of these cards feature novel alternate artwork.

Previous From the Vaults sets.

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