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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Dungeons and Dragons - Ravnica

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

Although it has been years since we have played Dungeons & Dragons, we do credit our love of Magic: the Gathering as coming from such seeds in our youth.  Wizards of the Coast teams for both Magic: the Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons literally work in the same hallowed building so it comes as a welcomed result that there has been a good degree of brand cross-over.  The latest such project is this very next DnD Guide to be released next month - details and blurb here -

Dungeons & Dragons Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica / D&D/Magic: The Gathering Adventure Book and Campaign Setting Hardcover – November 20, 2018
by Wizards RPG Team 

In Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica, the world's most popular roleplaying game meets the world's most popular trading card game. Released to coincide with the Magic set Guilds of Ravnica, it's the perfect blend of story from the creators of Magic: The Gathering, wrapped around the rules, monsters, and magic of fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons.

Details from the Amazon listing linked here.

In Chapter one, races detailed in the Guide include Centaur, Elf, Goblin, Human, Loxodon, Minotaur, Simic Hybrid and Vedalken with sub-classes of Cleric and Druid.  Chapter two provides backgrounds on the Guilds of Ravnica along with what it takes to be a member of a Guild.  Dungeon Masters are provided assistance in creating adventures in Chapter 4.

Some common complaints we have read from fans of the game is that there is a preference for more details, whether it may be a character stats (Charisma, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Strength and Wisdom), stats on a Monster (everyone loves thumbing through a Fiend Folio), or more information to move a party through a campaign.


Obviously this is a simple supplementary product to be used as a guide, but our limited and unexperienced opinion is that Wizards of the Coast would be well served in developing a Magic: the Gathering themed publication more heavily invested in the world of Dungeons and Dragons while addressing the fan community's wish list.

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MTG Creature Spotlight - Azra

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

It is not every day (set) in which Magic: the Gathering players are presented with a new creature type by Wizards of the Coast.  With the release of the newest stand-alone set, Battlebond, there are now just under 240 creatures in total, which includes Changelings and Mistform Ultimus, which are every creature type.  So what new creature has been created with the introduction of the new Multiverse Plane of Existence called Kylem ?

Let us meet the 'Azra'.  If you are familiar with the other popular Wizards of the Coast brand, Dungeons & Dragons, then you might be familiar with a creature race known as the Tiefling.  These humanoid creatures resulting from a human and demon bloodline.  

There is an excellent video on the Forgotten Realms Wiki linked right here.

Azra Oddsmaker | Art by: Josh Hass

Unlike the Tiefling, the Azra have no tails.  The Azra are native on Kylem and do have a distant demonic ancestry.  In Magic: the Gathering, the Azra are found in the mana colours of Black and Red.  Theses creatures have one or more sets of differing shaped horns on their heads and unlike humans, their skin may be blue, purple or other darker colours.   The males of the species may also have horn like appendages on their chins.

According to yesterday's article, 'The World of Battlebond' on the Magic: the Gathering site, Magic Creative Team game designer Alison Luhrs has the following to say about the Azra ::

Wealth, taste, and trickery are the azra's primary interests. They flock to Valor's Reach for the competition on the field and off—lightening the purses of other attendees is just as exciting as watching a match. The azra love anything gold and shiny and aren't afraid to show off their wealth. Thus, most azra become merchants, though others seeking quick coin might turn to a life of crime as rogues, assassins, or mercenaries.

Blaring Captain | Art by: Grzegorz Rutkowski

Battlebond is the first-ever Two-Headed Giant-focused Magic booster set. It will be released on June 8, 2018. Battlebond is the Innovation Product for 2018, and is designed to be drafted.

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MTG News 7-28

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

As it is Friday, do drop by your local store and get some Magic: the Gathering gaming in for Friday Night Magic.  We will be at OMG Games here in Barrie, Ontario this evening to do battle for glory and prizes.  If you are unable to get out (work, vacation, whatever), you could still fill your boots with Pro Tour Hour of Devastation coverage provided you have a connection to the internets.

For today's post to MTG Realm, we need to cover off a number of Magic: the Gathering spoilers / previews and news items, so strap yourself in for the ride -

First up - HASCON MTG spoilers -

Magic: The Gathering cards, inspired by other Hasbro series - featuring the following cards -

• Sword of Dungeons and Dragons

• Grimlock Dinobot Leader


• Nerf War

Grimlock had us locked in with Dinosaurs and Vehicles

Next - Commander 2017
We can expect official Wizards of the Coast previews sometime during the week of August 14th, 2017 as to which of the 4 Tribes will be featured.  For now however, we have previews from Ultra PRO.

Great looking graphics and smart design promises to rock your favourite game format with these playmats, deck boxes, and card protector sleeves.

Lastly - UNSTABLE 
Unstable is the third Magic: The Gathering booster-based set to be used outside of legal Magic tournaments. It will be released on December 8, 2017 as a standalone fun-set. This is the third of the silver bordered Un-sets and is designed to be drafted.  Updated with MaRo’s to post to Blogatog.

The Factions we can expect from this highly anticipated casual set - 

• Order of the Widget (White/Blue)
• Agents of S.N.E.A.K. (Blue/Black)
• Legion of Dastardly Doom (Black/Red)
• Goblin Explosioneers (Red/Green)

• Crossbreed Labs (Green/White)

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Magic Miscellaneous 7-05

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

There are a number of Magic: the Gathering news-worthy items to cover off for today's post, so we will want to get straight to business on the following :

• Commander 2017 Spoiler
• Dungeons & Dragons - Plane Shift Amonkhet
• 2017 Gift Pack
• Magic Story - 'Favor'
• Hour of Devastation Planeswalker Decklists

Commander 2017 Spoiler
Very unusual spoiler.  Posted to EB Games, a product offering for one of the Commander 2017 products, which we know from Wizards of the Coast is to be a total of four Commander decks with tribal themes.  A number of unfortunate spoilers earlier pretty much confirms a Dragon tribal product.  Today's slip from EB Games indicates a Gree / White 'Cat' tribal decklist.  Names 'Feline Ferocity', the face card is as follows - 

Arahnbo, Roar of the Wild, 3GW
Legendary Creature - Cat Avatar, Mythic Rare
Eminence - At the beginning of combat on your turn, if Arahnbo, Roar of the Wild is in the command zone or on the battlefield, another target Cat you control gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
Whenever another Cat you control attacks, you may pay (1)(G)(W). If you do, it gains trample and gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is its power.
5/5

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Dungeons & Dragons - Plane Shift Amonkhet
James Wyatt leads the way through the Trials of the five gods with a set of rules to bring your Dungeons & Dragons adventures to life in Amonkhet, including new races, new monsters, new backgrounds, and cleric domains for each of the five gods.  The game mechanics in this supplement are usable in your D&D campaign but are not fully tempered by playtests and design iterations. For these reasons, material in this supplement is not legal in D&D Organized Play events.

Contents of this supplement -
• The World of Amonkhet
• Races of Amonkhet
• Trials of the Five Gods
• An Amonkhet Bestiary
• Appendix: Planeswalkers and the Multiverse

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2017 Gift Pack
Releasing October 20, 2017.  Originally released during Return to Ravnica as the Holiday Gift Box, with subsequent annual releases, this product name was simplified to 'Gift Box'.  Wizards of the Coast started with four boosters, moved to five and are now at three with this year's 'Gift Pack'.  Here are some details -

Contents:
• 5 premium basic lands by artist Mark Poole (known as the "Shooting Star Lands")
• 2 premium creature cards (Metalwork Colossus and Kari Zev, Skyship Raider)
• 3 booster packs (Ixalan, Hour of Devastation, Amonkhet)
• Spindown life counter
• Exclusive mini-poster (Featuring art from Hour of Devastation)
Languages Available: English
MSRP: $19.99 *Applies to U.S. Only

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Magic Story - 'Favor'
Do make tracks on over to the Wizards of the Coast site and read Michael Yichao continuation of the Hour of Devastation story, linked right here.  We are not even prepared to talk about this just yet - perhaps tomorrow.

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Hour of Devastation Planeswalker Decklists
Pop on over to the Mothersite linked right here.  Releasing on July 14, 2017, the Hour of Devastation Planeswalker Decks familiarize players who are interested in Magic with basic strategy as well as the setting, characters, and themes of the latest set. Each deck comes with a premium foil Planeswalker card that is likely to appeal to newer and veteran players.  Each of these have a total of five unique cards which are considered to be part of the Hour of Devastation set.

Two Planeswalker Decks to choose from 
• Nicol Bolas, the Deceiver (Blue / Black / Red)
• Nissa, Genesis Mage (Blue / Green)

Contents: 
• 1 Ready-to-play 60-card deck, featuring a foil premium Planeswalker card
• 2 Hour of Devastation booster packs
• 1 Strategy insert

• 1 Magic learn-to-play guide

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Plane Shift: Kaladesh

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

Today's post to MTG Realm is not quite focused on Magic: the Gathering but certainly does touch upon it.  If you enjoy playing games other than MTG (yes, these do exist), and do enjoy the fantasy tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), then you would likely be very pleased to hear that James Wyatt at Wizards of the Coast has the very next installment of Plane Shift, a Magic: The Gathering theme for which to supplement your D&D campaign.

Previous Plane Shift installments may be found at these links :

• Plane Shift Zendikar - A tumultuous plane of wild mana, unstable weather, and floating terrain.

• Plane Shift Innistrad - A world where humanity is terrorized by vampires, werewolves, zombies, and ghouls.

Today's publication, Plane Shift: Kaladesh, provides very good content on;
• The World of Kaladesh
• Races of Kaladesh
• A Kaladesh Bestiary
The world of Kaladesh promises to provide background for a campaign full of opportunity.  Whether your group of adventurers become entangled in the civil strife (Rebels and Consulate), or being chased by aether-hungry gremlins (should not have picked that pack up), this supplement provides a wonderful palette to paint a unique and enjoyable adventure. 

If you are not a D&D gamer, but perhaps does enjoy learning the background / storyline of Magic: the Gathering (Vorthos!) Planes of Existence, we would still encourage you to read this very excellent presentation of the environment of these Planes.
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Plane Shift - Zendikar

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

Today's post to MTG Realm is not only about our fav game, Magic: the Gathering but also Dungeons & Dragons and a rather interesting post today on the Wizards of the Coast mothersite. 

We last played D&D back in highschool (a very, very long time ago) and had not dipped back in since then.  This, however did not detract from our appreciation of what a wonderfully engaging game this is, painted against the backdrop of a richly-detailed fantasy world.  This sounds not too unlike a particular TCG we currently play, doesn't it?  So, it stands to reason that Wizards of the Coast, the company at the center of Magic: the Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and Avalon Hill may have some of its game environments share a small measure of similitude.

Posted today is a supplement which Dungeons & Dragons players may adapt to their tabletop adventrues.  Pop on over to this linky, even if you are striclty an MTG gamer to discover how a MTG Plane of Existence may bleed into another game format with Plane Shift - Zendikar.

Zendikar is a world rife with adventure opportunities. Bold heroes, covetous treasure hunters, and sages seeking long-forgotten lore can all fnd numerous ruins to explore, mysteries to uncover, and villains and monsters to slay.  Contents of this supplement are broken out into -

• The World of Zendikar
• Races of Zendikar
• A Zendikar Bestiary


From a storyline / vorthos point, we are most decidedly interested in going through ever page.  Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc.. The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997.

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