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4 years ago ::
Oct 30, 2009 - 10:32AM
#1
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This thread is for discussion of this week's Making Magic, which goes live Monday morning on magicthegathering.com.
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4 years ago ::
Nov 01, 2009 - 9:09PM
#2
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I just have one question about allies Why are they not called explorers? What possible reason is there to create a mechanic themed around a party of people in a set with themes of treasure hunting and danger and not call them explorers?
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4 years ago ::
Nov 01, 2009 - 9:16PM
#3
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Date Joined:
Jan 25, 2009
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Space issues. The creature type line is only so big, and almost all of the allies have three creature types: [Race] [Class] Ally. From a flavor perspective, I'm sure that creative would have prefered "adventurer" or "explorer", but there just wasn't enough room on the type line for it. (Look at Kazuul Warlord or Highland Berserker in particular.)
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4 years ago ::
Nov 01, 2009 - 9:53PM
#4
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Date Joined:
Dec 14, 2008
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Really, Landfall was Mark's eye's opening to mechanics that are both Linear and Modular? Was he just not aware of Cascade at all? Cascade works wonders both ways, either being a modular mechanic like it is in a Jund deck, or a devoted modular Cascade deck that more or less always starts chains that end in Blightning.
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4 years ago ::
Nov 01, 2009 - 10:26PM
#5
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Date Joined:
May 18, 2002
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Why are they not called explorers?
Because R&D wants to reuse the concept (possibly into annoying perpetuity), and flavor just doesn't matter as much as you think it does.
That, and it sneaks 'slivers' past everyone who got sick of them.
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4 years ago ::
Nov 02, 2009 - 1:24AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Sep 26, 2005
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Really, Landfall was Mark's eye's opening to mechanics that are both Linear and Modular?
Was he just not aware of Cascade at all? Cascade works wonders both ways, either being a modular mechanic like it is in a Jund deck, or a devoted modular Cascade deck that more or less always starts chains that end in Blightning.
Oh, it far predates CASCADE. Cascade is nothing. Cycling can be linear (in decks which center on it, using cycling triggers, taking advantage of some consequence of it, or using everyone's favorite cycling cost reducer to break the game) or modular (just random cards with cycling because it is useful). Or you know, any number of other mechanics - Dredge (Life from the Loam and Grave-Shell Scarab are both modular, whereas the rest are linear; Life from the Loam itself can actually function as both a modular card (the only dredge card in a deck) or as a linear card (in a dredge deck), as can other dredge cards such as Darkblast and the discard one) is another example. There are a number of such mechanics through the ages. I'm surprised he hasn't noticed it before.
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4 years ago ::
Nov 02, 2009 - 3:31AM
#7
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Date Joined:
Oct 11, 2004
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I love Allies! Powerful but not overpowered, great flavour, enough choice to build different styles of ally deck - I just hope there are more in Worldwake! And a reprint of Ancient Ziggurat next year would be welcome 
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4 years ago ::
Nov 02, 2009 - 7:18AM
#8
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Date Joined:
Mar 18, 2005
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"Here's my Goblin deck. What do other people's Goblin decks look like? How does mine measure up?" Awesome metaphor, MaRo.
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4 years ago ::
Nov 02, 2009 - 8:04AM
#9
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Date Joined:
Sep 29, 2009
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I like the Ally mechanic. Trying to make a deck work on the cheap, though, it's going to be really tough. I've been trying to make an Allies deck without the sac lands, but they're extremely slow at least for Zendikar standards.
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4 years ago ::
Nov 02, 2009 - 9:13AM
#10
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Date Joined:
Dec 14, 2008
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Oh, it far predates CASCADE. Cascade is nothing.
Cycling can be linear (in decks which center on it, using cycling triggers, taking advantage of some consequence of it, or using everyone's favorite cycling cost reducer to break the game) or modular (just random cards with cycling because it is useful). Or you know, any number of other mechanics - Dredge (Life from the Loam and Grave-Shell Scarab are both modular, whereas the rest are linear; Life from the Loam itself can actually function as both a modular card (the only dredge card in a deck) or as a linear card (in a dredge deck), as can other dredge cards such as Darkblast and the discard one) is another example.
There are a number of such mechanics through the ages. I'm surprised he hasn't noticed it before.
Oh there's no doubt linear and modular happen at the same time all the time, but it just seems odd that he would say that, a set after a really popular and splashy mechanic that is both. Also I think cycling itself is modular, but helped with a really linear card (Slide). Dredge is a good example of a both mechanic though.
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