Friday Post Potpourri

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

Today, being Friday, MTG Realm brings to you another ad-hoc collection of updates for you the Magic the Gathering Player. Right off the hop, don't miss out on the opportunity to rub shoulders with like-minded geeks 'n' gamers of every variety at the Toronto Comic Con 2011 / Wizard World Convention this weekend March 18 / 19 /20. If you get any Magic-related pics from the show, eMail us and we'll post 'em. Make sure, if you have not, review this week's posts to ensure you've not missed anything -

• Japan in Crisis (Mar 17, 2011) and what MTG Mint Card is doing to help,
  
• CCG House Interview (Mar 16, 2011) we find Shane is a stand-up decent store owner and online retailer,
  
• Action Packed (Mar 15, 2011) images of Mirrodin Pure / New Phyrexia packaging, and
  
• Innistrad Announcement (Mar 14, 2011) a name and an art for the first set of the next block leaves us to speculate players may see vampires, werewolves and monsters in future games.

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Time now for some sweet Magic the Gathering wallpaper from the next set 'Acation' to refresh your stale electronic background . ..

Brutalizer Exarch Wallpaper
illustrated by Mark Zug

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Ravarshi from the forums pointed out that the staff being used by this toothy lil' munster appears similar to that of Chimeric Staff (an artifact / construct from Tenth Edition) - good call. Still just an art.
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Alloy Myr Wallpaper
illustrated by Matt Cavotta

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!! Cuteness Overload !! We can imagine Veruca Salt of Willy Wonka fame shouting 'Daddy, I want that Myr right NOW!'. Anywhoos - loads going on with the art - check out the multitude of colours - we're hoping for an Etched Champion / Myr hybrid here.
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Darksteel Relic (wallpaper)
illustrated by Daniel Ljunggren

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Flavour text from site :

It is said that once a trinket was created by a curious man of silver, come into the fullness of his powers and beginning to refine his craft. Though the least of his treasures it was among his most valued. Held close to his chest it had a centering influence on his thoughts, and in the eternal play of light around it and the whirring sound that followed he found a useful meditation. No more constant companion did he have. But in due course he faced another wielding powers like unto his, and in the exchange of terrible magic that followed it slipped by the wayside. There among the razorgrass it lay hidden for a time, ever whirring softly.

Another man of silver rose to prominence, though this one was much unlike the first. While fleeing from the forces he sent to level her home a frightened young leonine stumbled upon it, kicking it with her foot. No omen so unusual could be ignored. Taken in hand, it exerted a calming influence. Everything was going to be okay. The world was not going to end, not today – surely this ancient thing had endured worse. That girl would grow and become a brave warrior, and then a kha among her kind, ever certain in purpose and unyielding in courage. She would not break before a mere trinket would. In this way her clan became famous, and the trinket was handed down – mother to daughter, daughter to son, until its wielder was pulled from the world entirely and it dropped to the ground to roll into a hole. There it nestled in the earth for a time, ever whirring softly.

A dark blight now slips its coils about the shining world, and the hope and strength its erstwhile masters once cherished begins to wither. But now another has found it, another holds it, another hears the comfortable hum cradling their mind. Ages it has endured, and still it is untarnished, still the ring of light orbits close about it. The world has not ended yet, or the trinket would not be here. And in that its wielder can draw strength, inspired by a symbol, ever whirring softly.
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And finally - from Wizards - a minor update to the Comprehensive rules :

As of April 1, 2HG teams get poison counters as a team, rather than individually, and the number of poison counters required for you to lose in 2HG is bumped Effective April 1, the rules for poison counters in Two-Headed Giant games are changing. Players will no longer get poison counters individually. Rather, teams will get poison counters. In addition, a team loses the game when it has 15, not 10, poison counters. The Comprehensive Rules will be updated to reflect these changes.

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Friday MTG Potpourri

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

From the title of today's post, it appears that we are having another Magic the Gathering Friday Potpourri . . . we're thinking that this is becoming habit forming. Anywhoos - we have several new 'Action' wallpapers from the Mirrodin site as well as Friday Night Magic promo cards we're certain that players would love to game with. Let's go . . .

First up - FNM promos -

March, 2011 FNM promo

Wall of Omens, 1W
Creature - Wall
Rise of the Eldrazi Uncommon
Defender
When Wall of Omens enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Flavor Text: "I search for a vision of Zendikar that does not include the Eldrazi." - Expedition journal entry
0 / 4

April, 2011 FNM Promo

Artisan of Kozilek, 9
Creature - Eldrazi
ise of the Eldrazi Uncommon
When you cast Artisan of Kozilek, you may return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Annihilator 2 (Whenever this creature attacks, defending player sacrifices two permanents.)
10 / 9


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Next up -
We have several new Magic the Gathering wallpapers to pimp up your desktop background or mobile device. These image spoilers are all part of the next MTG set, code-named 'Action'. The final set name will be 'New Phyrexia' (very likely), or 'Mirrodin Pure' (not likely).

Argent Mutation Wallpaper

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"There is always a point in a father's life when he sees his child so far down a path that the potential to take another road is no longer a possibility. I wonder when my creator first looked at me with jubilation and regret, seeing me unable to become anything more than what I was. I think about that now, because I feel that way when I look upon my world." – Karn
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Sheoldred, Whispering One Wallpaper

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Sheoldred's request and thinly veiled threats echoed like thunder in my ears, even though she spoke in whispers and I had to lean in closer than was comfortable to hear these dreaded words. I knew this day would come – The Whispering One's knowledge of the goings-on inside and outside her domain is vast. I was foolish to believe I could escape her notice for long. . .


Chancellor of the Dross Wallpaper

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Jedrin: I write to you from a tree hollow somewhere in the Tangle. I'm hungry and tired, but I must write this and pray (to what gods, I wonder?) that you receive this. I'll cut to the chase: Rey-Goor is near death. The Phyrexians... they... But I should start from the beginning. All of Rey-Goor has been taut like a wire ready to snap, ever since the Gloom Coven disappeared. I know you must have felt it; perhaps that's why you volunteered for the duties that took you away from me. Backbiting and infighting reached fevered proportions not long after you left. Something had to give . . .

Caged Sun Wallpaper

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From the journal of Jian, Sylvok healer: I've seen so much pain, but that Auriok's still haunts me most. I don't even know his name. He was just one of many who arrived all at once - just a small part of a constant wave of dead and dying. When I reached his bedside, his breathing was shallow, his eyes wide and glassy, head tilted away from me. He had no apparent wounds, but in these days of Phyrexian poisons, I knew that meant little. "How are you feeling?" I asked. He just continued staring. I gently touched his shoulder. His face jerked towards me as he sat up, his body spasming in panic... He probably would have jumped to his feet and ran had he the strength . . .

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In other news,

MTG Mint Card is running yet another giveaway contest ending soon on March 14th.

This time, it is for a very lovely Mirrodin Besieged Fat Pack.

Click on over to their Facebook page and follow the instructions there.
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Mirrodin Lands

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Happy Wednesday MTG fans,

Here today on MTG Realm, we hope to delve into the environment of Mirrodin. Specifically, the colour-aligned lands of Mirrodin which provide the backdrop to this plane of existence - a little bit of flavour imbued with Magic the Gathering gaming is never a bad thing.
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Razor Fields

Plains arts illustrated by James Paick

Mirrodin's plains environment, characterized by low, rolling expanses covered in sharp metal "razorgrass", literally blades of grass jutting from the ground. Denizens of the plains (Leonins and Aurioks) harvest these blades to create weapons and tools.


Quicksilver Sea

Islands arts illustrated by Jung Park

The blue lands of Mirrodin are dominated by the Quicksilver Sea, an interconnected system of shallow seas made of an otherworldly liquid (not actual mercury). The Neuroks and Vedalken live in shining spires that rise up out of the Quicksilver Sea. The spires are structures made of quicksilver, raised up from the sea and made solid by Vedalken magic.


The Mephidross

Swamps arts illustrated by Lars Grant-West

Mirrodin's swamp environment, characterized by chimneys that vent necrogen gas. The swampland of Mirrodin, called the Mephidross or "The Dross," is a knee-deep sea of foul water covered over by a scum of black ichor. (The term Mephidross comes from combining the word "mephitic," meaning foul-smelling or noxious, with "dross," which is the scum that forms on the surface of molten metal.)


Oxidda Chain

Mountain arts illustrated by Tomasz Jedruszek

Mirrodin's vast "mountain" range made of enormous rusted iron structures. The red lands of the plane of Mirrodin are mountains of metal, mostly rusted iron. Scrap metal piled high, combined with structures of pipe and plate, form peaks. These places are inhabitated by Goblins, and other thermophiles.


The Tangle

Forest arts illustrated by Mark Tedin

Central to the green locations is the Tangle, an enormous, sprawling "forest" made of copper structures. The greenish tint the Tangle bears comes from verdigris (no, not the card Verdigris; it's the crust of copper sulfate or copper chloride that forms on copper after being exposed to air for long periods). The Tangle's inhabitants call this "the Molder".

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And finally, here in Canada we had our Thanksgiving holiday was way back on 11th October but our American cousins south of the border are having their turkey time in another two weeks time. MTG Mint Card is having a Thanksgiving Sale 7% Store Wide Discount from today until the 25th November. Just enter coupon "THANKSGIVING" during checkout.

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Happy Gaming everyone !

Zendikar Style

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In some late-breaking news, we now have mana cost and loyalty from the MTG FaceBook page for the new Chandra Planeswalker in Zendikar . . .

Chandra Ablaze, 4
Planeswalker - Chandra, MR
? : ?
? : ?
? : ?
Loyalty : 5

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Also of note is uncanny resemblance of the anticipated Zendikar environment to the upcomming film 'Avatar' due out in December, 2009. (side-note : this film looks epic and I need to see it!) Anywhoos, from some of the Avatar stills found on the internets, it almost looks like director James Cameron had a look at the 'Zendikar Style Guide' and 'A Planeswalker's Guide to Zendikar'.

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Also - catching up on some trademark actions by Wizards of the Coast to see what we can expect on the long ranger radar . . .

On August 13, 2009 a filing for DUEL DECKS : PHYREXIA VS. THE COALITION

On August 20, 2009, filings for Mirrodin Pure, Scars of Mirrodin, and New Phyrexia.

Le site de l'United States Patent and Trademark Office montre que la marque Duel Deck: Phyrexia vs. The Coalition a été déposée par Wizards of the Coast, nous indiquant le thème d'une prochaine extension qui fera suite - Other such products include Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins, Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra, Duel Decks: Divine vs Demonic et Duel Decks: Garruk vs. Liliana. Wizards of the Coast vient de déposer à l'United States Patent and Trademark Office trois nouvelles marques : Mirrodin Pure, Scars of Mirrodin et New Phyrexia.

Some background on Mirrodin and Phyrexia . . .

Far from Dominaria, in a distant corner of the Multiverse, lies Mirrodin, a plane made entirely of metal. Blades of golden grass in the Razor Fields chime in the wind. Huge misshapen boulders are magnetically suspended above the peaks of rusted iron mountains. Elsewhere, a wide sea of silvery liquid reflects the sky like a rippled mirror. On the horizon, four suns rise and set in strange orbits: white, blue, red, and a black sphere of void. It is here that Magic finds a unique story.

Phyrexia is an artificial plane of entirely mechanical "life" created by an ancient planeswalker. Little is known of this planeswalker, aside from the fact that he preferred to assume the form of a dragon. This world was not so different from Mirrodin until Yawgmoth arrived, brought there by the planeswalker Dyfed. Yawgmoth, with the remnants and descendants of the phthisis-inflicted Thran humans whom he "saved" through the process he referred to as "Phyresis" (essentially the replacement of weak mortality with artifice) came here when they were forced out of the Thran Empire as traitors. The ensuing war destroyed the nation of the Thran.