Friday MTG Miscellany

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

Today we have a mish-mash variety of Magic: the Gathering related items for your scrolling here at MTG Realm.  Kicking off today is the Pro Tour Guilds of Ravnica in Atlanta, Georgia with a prize pool of $250,000 and the winner walking away with $50,000.  The format starts with booster draft and standard constructed following.  You may check out the coverage at this link.  

If you are heading out to your friendly local gaming store here in Central Ontario (and obviously other parts of Canada), do mind the weather / traffic - as it is heavily snowing right now.  If you find yourself in Barrie, Ontario, do drop over to OMG! Games tonight for Friday Night Magic for a chance to score an FNM promo card.

Now for some of the MTG Misc. via MTG Realm on Tumblr -

Dungeons & Dragons: Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica Dice (Fifth Edition) are releasing soon on November 20, 2018.  The container / tin  looks rather attractive and contains the following dice:

• 1 x D20
• 1 x D12
• 2 x D10s
• 1 x D8
• 4 x D6s
• 1 x D4
• 1 x Special Ravnica Guild die


Here is a closer look at the attractive, semi-translucent dice :

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MTG GORE ! :: Be Warned - A time long ago when card sleeves were not in use.

Magic: The Gathering commentator Marshall Sutcliffe had Pro Tour Historian Brian David-Marshall on his MTG Breakdown show back in the summer to show off an amazing piece of game history: video of a Magic tournament from Saturday, November 12, 1994 in the Ball Room at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.  Video linked right here.  One can see mullets, acid-wash jeans, and of course a large number of what is now rather rare and expensive cards.  The video was not only very entertaining but informative as well.

The ‘Gore’ starts around 16:45 with some riffle / bridge shuffles - THE GOLD - Marshall Sutcliffe‘s reaction … . considering that a Black Lotus may have fetched around $20 or $30 bucks back then (if that), now command a price of up to $8,000 (prices obviously very rough).

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Finally, for us, the amazing Magic: the Gathering card art that Wizards of the Coast commissions is almost as enjoyable as playing the game itself.  We were very happy to hear that Gallery 1988 in L.A. had a MTG group art exhibit, which feature numerous works.

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Art of Ravnica

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

As it Friday, we suggest you would be well served by getting out of the scorching heat and head to your local gaming store.  We are going to OMG! Games here in Barrie, Ontario this evening to see what exciting new decklists have been created with the release of the Magic: the Gathering Core Set 2019 the other week.  We also will bring along some very cool Ultra PRO random draw giveaways.

The big news yesterday evening was this announcement from publisher VIZ Media.

The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ravnica, scheduled for publication in January, 2019.  This is an art book that will explore the vast and vastly powerful, the City of Ravnica.  

James Wyatt, Magic creative writer at Wizards of the Coast partnered with VIZ Media have produced a number of lovely hardcover art books featuring the incredible images and lore of Magic: The Gathering.  Here is the list of previous 'The Art of Magic: The Gathering' publications -

• The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Zendikar (2016)

• The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Innistrad (2016)

• The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Kaladesh (2017)

• The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Amonkhet (2017)

• The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ixalan (2018)


• The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Dominaria (2018)

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Commander 2018 Spoilers

Happy Saturday MTG peeps,

Some news for Commander fans we need to update you on.  Similar to previous products, Commander 2018 is to have four pre-constructed theme decks, which features twelve premium foil commanders.   Each of the four decks will have 100-cards each which will have a blend of new cards as well as reprints to support each theme.  Each will have 10 token cards, a strategy insert and a rules reference guide.

There is no specific pattern of colours presented with this year’s Commander decks. The themes were revealed by Wizards of the Coast on the weekly Twitch channel on Friday :

Deck 1 :: Izzet (Blue / Red) :: Exquisite Inventions - Artifacts theme

Deck 2 :: Jund ( Black / Red / Green) :: Nature's Vengeance - Lands matter

Deck 3 :: Bant (White / Blue / Green) :: Adaptive Enchantment - Enchantments

Deck 4 :: Esper (White / Blue / Black) :: Subjective Reality - Top Card of your deck matters

Commander 2018 releases August 10, 2018 with previews officially starting on July 23, 2018. The following artwork has also been released:

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M19 Art Previews

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Happy Saturday MTG peeps,

On Friday, Wizards of the Coast had another treat for Magic: the Gathering players.  Specifically the Weekly MTG panel on Twitch with Blake Rasmussen (Content Manager), Paul Cheon (Game Designer), Bill Rose (VP R&D), and Charlie Cateeno (Director R&D) sat down to discuss a variety of relevant and interesting items.

Of note for us here at MTG Realm was some art previews for the upcoming Core Set 2019.  Here are the six very lovely (and intriguing) artworks now -

• ‘Generic Burn Spell’, artwork by Chris Rahn

• ’Satyr’, artwork by Sidharth Chaturvedi

• ‘Leonin’, artwork by Jakub Kasper

• ‘Nicol Bolas Spell’, artwork by Svetin Velinov

• ‘Cool Horse creature’, artwork by Alayna Danner

• ‘Tezzeret’, artwork by Josh Has

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MTG Ravnica Concept Arts

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

This is our second post today, following up on the previous coverage of the big ‘Announcement Day’ post earlier.  In this post, we wanted to keep separate the concept art provided to Magic: the Gathering fans during the video posted.  

Wizards of the Coast Senior Art Director, Dawn Murin, showed off some very lovely concept art for the upcoming sets of Guilds of Ravnica, and Ravnica Allegiance.  Please do check out the video for the brilliant commentary from above linked video.  She indicated that WotC was very cognizant of the familiarity that fans have for this setting, and that is was of importance to deliver upon those expectations, while tempering it with something new and exciting.

Autumn on Ravnica
These images are showing a changing of the foilage colour with the changing of the season to autumn, along with all that one would expect from this season.

There were also some costume updates for the Ravnican Guilds as is showcased below -

• Rakdos Performers

• Rakdos Mages

• Golgari Elf Warriors

• Golgari Shamans

• Gruul Motifs

• Gruul Warriors

• Dimir Spies

• Simic Biomancers

• Simic Supersoldiers 

Dominaria Playmats

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

As it is Friday, make certain you kick off your weekend right and get thee to a local gamery shoppe.  Friday Night Magic is kicking off locally here in Barrie, Ontario at OMG! Games, and we are looking very much forward to the return of FNM promo cards coinciding with the release of Magic: the Gathering's newest set, Dominaria.

Speaking of Dominaria, a very naughty gaming store in Denmark posted on their sales page, the Ultra PRO product line-up for Dominaria.  As always, these great deck protectors, deck boxes and playmats have amazing artwork.  Some of the images posted, have already been officially previewed by Wizards of the Coast, while others are proper spoilers.  The posted images are not high quality definition (likely scanned from a brochure / flyer), and we can't wait to see the high res ones.  

Jodah, Archmage Eternal

Karn, Scion of Urza

 

Demonlord Belzenlok

 

Squee, the Immortal

 

Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain

 

Teferi, Hero of Dominaria

FLYING CAT !

Also of note, the Game Day Champion playmat prize was revealed over the the Wizards MTG website, and it is gorgeous !

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Dominaria Trailer

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,
This, our third post for today we want to talk about the upcoming set, Dominaria, and quite specifically, the very cool trailer that was posted just a short while ago by Wizards of the Coast.

CAUTION : This video contains more than 100% of the recommended daily intake of AWESOMENESS.
 Here it is !

Wizards has put together yet another amazing set trailer.  We are very much pumped to immerse ourselves in the story and cards of this set.  For those Magic: the Gathering flavour fans out there, here is our (error-free?) transcript of the trailer -

How many times can you rebuild from Apocalypse?

On Dominaria, we've almost lost count.

As we celebrate a world reborn, darkness is growing.

Each day wasted, brings us closer to ruin.

I've been through this cycle, and I know.

This time, it will be different.

Together, we will crush this evil at its source, forever.

Dominaria cannot wait, and neither will we.

- KARN

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There are a lot of very interesting things to talk about in the trailer, but here are some bullet points for now, which has been tempered with today's story on the Wizards of the Coast MTG website :

• Karn - in a study with a globe of Dominara.  Sweet art, and it appears that this Planeswalker is prepared to go head to head against this next character.

• Belzenlok, King of Urborg, Demonlord.  Liliana needs to kill this demon and needs (what's left of) the Gatewatch to do this.  Karn looks to be a powerful ally with interests aligned in this endeavour.

• There is an image presented in the trailer of an individual being suited up in armor.  We suspect that this is Liliana's undead brother Josu being turned via a necromantic rite at the Vess manor house into a Lich now enslaved to Belzenlok.

• The unholy Cabal, with Belzenlok at its head appears to be pure evil in its dark ambition to control (or destroy) Dominaria.  

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Weatherlight Crew

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

When we had started playing Magic: the Gathering (in Lorwyn), the Plane of Dominaria was already in the rear view mirror, and for reasons which are perhaps inexcusable, we had not read any of the stories.  To this end, we are perhaps at a bit of a loss as we approach the upcoming set of Dominaria.  We are very much looking forward and are now starting to read about some of the fantastical characters in the old stories.

From the description / blurb on Amazon and Viz Media for The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Dominaria, it appears that the airship Weatherlight may feature -

Step aboard the legendary airship Weatherlight and explore Dominaria, an ancient world whose stories are known throughout the Multiverse. Dominaria has weathered one apocalypse after another and emerged into a time of rebirth and renewal.

It is likely a rather good place to start then, with the crew of the Weatherlight in order to begin an orientation of Dominaria, before it releases at the end of April, 2018.  The following is from the Wizards of the Coast article 'Meet the Weatherlight Crew' post linked here to help us prepare for the awesome new set.

Gerrard
Born to inherit the Legacy--a collection of artifacts destined to overthrow the evil forces of the multiverse--Gerrard has endured much hardship during his life. After years spent as a Master of Arms in Benalia, Gerrard has chosen to return to the Weatherlight to lead the rescue for his former captain and mentor, Sisay. 

Sisay

Sisay spent some years traveling with Gerrard in search of the Legacy, then years more on her own after his abrupt departure. Her kidnapping by Volrath was a calculated plan on evincar Volrath's part to draw Gerrard back into battle.

Mirri
Abandoned by her cat warrior kin when she was young, Mirri was raised alongside Gerrard for many years as they were both trained in the arts of war and magic. She is a skilled combatant and Gerrard's closest friend. Gerrard sought her out in Llanowar after he decided to return to the Weatherlight, and she eagerly rejoined him aboard the ship.

Crovax
Crovax was brought to the edge of his sanity by the forces of Volrath when Volrath had Crovax's noble family destroyed, leaving Crovax the sole survivor. Believing himself to be cursed, he eagerly joined the Weatherlight crew on their journey to Volrath's realm, hoping that there he might find salvation from his plight.

Tahngarth
Part of the proud race of Talruum minotaurs, Tahngarth served as first mate of the Weatherlight under Sisay's command. Impatient, gruff, and vain, Tahngarth now follows Gerrard, but he cannot hide his suspicion that Gerrard is not ready to be a leader.

Hanna
The daughter of the ancient wizard Barrin, Hanna was educated at the Argivian University where she learned much about the uses of artifacts. She brought her talents to the Weatherlight and began to develop a romantic relationship with Gerrard. That relationship ended abruptly when Gerrard left the ship years ago, but his return may have rekindled her interest in him. 

Ertai

Trained under Hanna's father Barrin, Ertai is an untested wizard of potentially great power, which is exactly how the arrogant young man thinks of himself. When Barrin elected not to join the Weatherlight crew, Ertai came in his place, leaving behind Tolaria and his mentor.

Karn

As part of Gerrard's Legacy, the silver golem Karn was charged with protecting the child Gerrard from harm. When he was tricked into killing an innocent man, Karn vowed never to take another life, no matter what the circumstances. He rejoins Gerrard on the Weatherlight after spending years deactivated.

Squee

Squee serves as goblin "cabin boy" aboard the Weatherlight. Sneakier and smarter than the average goblin, Squee's loyalty to Gerrard is shadowed by his much stronger loyalty to the abducted Sisay

Orim

Orim is skilled in numerous languages as well as the healing arts of the Samites, and she has served faithfully aboard the Weatherlight for many years. Highly spiritual, she believes that challenging Volrath is morally vital. 

Starke

After escaping Volrath, Starke was forced back into the evincar's service when Volrath took Starke's daughter prisoner. Since then, Starke has tried to ally himself with Sisay, betrayed Sisay to convince Volrath to let his daughter go, and has now pledged his services to Gerrard as the Weatherlight's guide to Volrath's realm. His duplicity has often been his undoing.

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