Ixalan Map

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

Since first reading the J.R.R. Tolkien's Hobbit at a young and impressionable age, I have had a liking for any fantasy novel which supplied a map.  Tolkien's map of Middle-earth was referred to countless times as the book was read and re-read.  While some world-builder's may hold the opinion that this sort of thing detracts from the story or restricts the reader's imagination, I have always found that a little cartography improves one's vision.

Wizards of the Coast, although great map-makers on their Dungeons and Dragons side of the office wall, does not seem to approve of this on the Magic: the Gathering side.  It was indeed a surprise that with the next set, Ixalan, that they are doing a slow-roll preview with a map of Ixalan.  This perhaps was something the narrative team could not escape given the presence of Pirates, the search for treasure and a mythical lost city.

Although the full reveal of the Ixalan Map (linked right here) is another week or two out from being fully revealed, MTG Realm has come across an image posted by Jim on Tumblr.  More for our personal reference than you the reader - sorry to say, the full map and place names floated out from the Magic Story series are posted below.  It is my intention to update details as things progress.

Ixalan Map - Click to Embiggen

Ixalan has at least two large continents that are separated by the sea. Further north, travelers meet only unmelting ice.  For some reason, Planeswalkers can enter Ixalan, but can't leave.  

KNOWN LOCATIONS

Ixalan, the western continent which bears the same name as the plane. Covered in vast jungles and rivers. It is home to large dinosaurs, that some of the natives managed to domesticate, and numerous secrets hidden within the forests.

• THE SUN EMPIRE
• Sun Coast, the eastern coast.
• Pachatupa, capital city
• Tocatli, palace of Emperor Apatzec Intli III
• The Temple of the Burning Sun

Other Cities / Places

 • Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun
 • Lost Temple of Aclazotz, the bat-god
• Quetzatl
• Atzocan
• Pecatli
• Otopec
• Pachutupa
• Quetzatl

• STORMWRECK SEA
• Spitfire Bastion - a bastion created by Captain Ripley Vance in an active volcano (dang!)
• High and Dry - floating city base of the Brazen Coalition
  • "Useless Island" - Jace the Castaway lands here

• QUEEN'S BAY
• Miraldanor, the island stronghold of the Legion of Dusk
• Andanto, the first and strongest fort of the vampires
• Conquerer's Foothold
• Fort Leor
• Fort Dúrran

• JUNGLE REGION
Lost cities Ancient ruins from the Sun Empire's heyday can now be found, overgrown and half-buried, in the depths of the jungle.
• Incalaquiampa
• The Deeproot Tree

• MOUNTAIN REGION
• Lost Valley
• Orazca, the lost city of gold.
• Temple of Aclazotz
• Primal Wellspring, sacred springs infused with magical power.

• INNER SEA

Hidden coves hold pirate treasures stowed by captains long forgotten.
•Treasure Cove
• Azcanta
• Tonalixco
 • Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin

TORREZON
Torrezon is the name of the eastern continent. Ruled by an alliance between a powerful church and an iron-fisted monarch. 

Vampires dominate the continent after a series of wars with other realms. Refugees and exiles from the defeated nations fled to the sea and established the Brazen Coalition.
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Shadows Over Innistrad - MAP

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Happy Thursday evening MTG peeps,

Since that countdown went up on the mothersite, Magic: the Gathering fans have been waiting most anxiously as to what delicious html code was going to be loaded up and reveal something amazing.  Something to whet the appetites of rabid fans awaiting Shadows Over Innistrad.  We, along with (thousands?) many others waited, waited some more and then at 7:00 PM (EST), the world stopped spinning for about a minute - it did feel like an hour though as all of humanity held its collective breath . . .

Then this thing loaded, stalled as the online hoards hit F5 an untold million times . .

DAMMIT . . . load up ! !

Then this beautiful, wild and wonderful thing . . .

It's a MAP ! !

With the following locations . ..

• Stitcher’s Lab
• Manor
• Cathedral

Since only the Lab is unlocked …  here we go …

You approach a secretive, forsaken lab in the misty moors of Gavony. Villagers and townsfolk refuse to walk near it. Strange sounds and foul smells seep out from its boarded windows. Will you dare to enter?

DO WE … ? (what could go wrong?)

You step into the lab, and instantly the stench of rot and decay washes over you, seeping into every pore. The crackle and hum of electricity underscore piercing screams, and foul shadows stir in cages, watching you with too many eyes. You are drawn deeper into the lab, seeking to make sense of the horrors you see before you. The Stitcher’s Lab has opened! Explore its mysteries and unlock its secrets as clues to source of the madness on Innistrad are revealed throughout the weekend.

Kewl.

Shadows Over Innistrad card preview - 

Brain in a Jar

Artifact, Rare
1, T: Put a charge counter on Brain in a Jar, then you may cast an instant or sorcery card with converted mana cost equal to the number of charge counters on Brain in a Jar from your hand without paying its mana cost.
3, T: Remove X charge counters from Brain in a Jar: Scry X.

Great job Wizards - keep being awesome !

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MTG Locator Beta

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WoTC launched a new Retail Locator on January 26, 2009 which uses slick Google Map tech. Stores may be identified on the map by store types (such as Hobby, Premier or Mass market) and contact details are provided for each.


Users will be able to search by City, State/Province or Postal code, but now the new locator can accommodate International searches as well. One may refine the search to identify stores carrying the following product lines;

Magic: The Gathering Dungeons & Dragons Star Wars Miniatures & Roleplaying Games Axis & Allies Miniatures & Board Games

As important to users, the Locator will also provide searchable locations for the nearest Wizards Play Network locations offering:

Magic: The Gathering Events (such as Pre-Releases and Launch Parties, Friday Night Magic, Other Magic events ) as well as

Dungeons & Dragons Events (such as Delve Night, Worldwide D&D Game Day, and tther D&D events).

All this new tech is great but this site just painfully reminds me that I have to drive almost a full hour from Forks to Port Angeles (Washington) just to buy MTG cards at the Wal-Mart store OR drive / take the ferry to Seattle (a 3 hour trip) just to take in a Friday Night Magic event . . . wah.