I'm torn between being happy that I was mentioned in FtL two weeks in a row and being upset that one of Noel's favorite things about New Phyrexia is "a direct griefing vision".
Garruk, the Veil-Cursed 's color identity is green, as shown by his mana cost and lack of other color symbols in his text. He is allowed to be in that deck, last I checked, anyway. The fact that he becomes black afterward has no affect on deck building, as it is a mono green card at all times, except when the permanent itself flips transforms.
Also,
Yo Dawg, I heard you like lists, so we put lists in your lists so you can list while you list.
"But keep in mind when the internet dies with the electrical system in 2012, you can still play paper magic, while digital cards will have gone the way of the dodo. In the post apocalyptic world, magic cards will be our currency!" - Samot, explaining to someone the ramifications of switching to MTGO!
I'm both selfish and rational. I'm scheming, secretive and manipulative; I use knowledge as a tool for personal gain, and in turn obtaining more knowledge. At best, I am mysterious and stealthy; at worst, I am distrustful and opportunistic.
Actually his color identity is green black, here's the relevant rule;
903.4c The back face of a double-faced card (see rule 711) is included when determining a card's color identity.
Official Speaker of the Expanded Multiverse Project, Step into Dominia-Embrace the infinite Magic of the Planes. This -> is my favorite smiley, I will use it often and without reason. You have been warned. The Story of My LoveShow
Trolljuju wiped the sweat from his brow as he continued his slow trudge up the snowy mountain. The wind was strong and fiercely cold, but he pressed against it. Juju knew Beast Engine was somewhere at the peak, waiting for him. But this was not a matter of confronting the forces of nature themselves; that had been accomplished long before, and was now too easy to maintain the manly man's interest. Today, Beast Engine was here waiting for a friend.
Trolljuju's mind drifted from his appointment to thoughts of Beast Engine's manliness. The only man in history to punch the fossilized remains of a dinosaur back to life just to punch it to death again. The man who deflected bullets with his pectoral muscles during his daily assassination attempts. The man who cured cancer with a serum made from pure crystalized virility. The man who burst with vigor. Not just a man but a Man- the manliest of all men. A god of masculinity in physical form.
Trolljuju's heart fluttered at the memory of him and lightened his steps as he pressed on.
Suddenly, he was shaken from his reverie by a deep, powerful rumble in the mountain that shook him to his core. Instinctively, he threw himself to the ground just before the slope ahead of him exploded in a fiery wall of light and heat. So great was the force that the entire upper section of the mountain was vaproized. It scorched Juju's coat, then rose on the air to drift far away, a plume of white-hot ash. When Trolljuju lifted his head to see what was left behind, he beheld a wide, perfectly flat stone plateau, and in the distance he could see a muscular figure, his foot still held up from the kick. There was no doubt it was Beast Engine.
As soon as the ground beneath him cooled, Juju cast his heavy pack aside and ran. As the figure grew with closeness, he could see Beast Engine was nude, as was expected. The snow that fell near him turned to a thin wall of steam, looking to Trolljuju's eyes like a barrier. Engine was too strong, too manly to occupy the same space as the ordinary universe. He lived in a world all his own. But fortunately for Juju, it was only an illusion. He ran at full speed into Engine, who caught him with both arms and effortlessly twirled with him, resting with Juju dipped low to the ground in Engine's arms.
"Beast Engine, my love," Trolljuju breathed, sturck with awe at Engine's masculine beauty despite the familiarity of his face. Engine just smiled, radiating from every inch of him with incredible strength, yet gentle warmth. "It's been so long, Juju. I've missed you." "Forgive me. I lost contact with you while you were boxing with Death to win back and consume the soul of Theodore Roosevelt. But now I'm here..." Juju lifted one tentative hand to Engine's face, but he pulled away. "You know I cannot give you what you seek. Were we to make love, your body would be destroyed by the force." "I know, of course I would," Juju responded, tears in his eyes. "May I have, at least, one kiss?" "Very well. For you, my friend." Slowly, gingerly, they came closer. But the moment their lips met, a flood of unbridled manliness rushed into Trolljuju, body and soul, and every cell in his body exploded.
Beast Engine fell to his knees, and in his grief, he wept. The tears that fell from his face burned deep into the rock beneath him. But slowly, his sorrow turned to conviction.
He beat the crap out of Death once. He could do it again.
I too am slightly disturbed by the comment about the "direct griefing vision." I really don't think Wizards had this in mind. They don't set out to make cards that scream, "Play me if you want to lose all your friends." That's a bit dramatic, but the point is relevant. If you're cheating Blightsteel out into play (with obviously more ways to do this in non-standard formats), for instance, with the sole purpose of ending a game early and jumping up and down saying "I beat you all!" then I don't think Wizards is on your side of embracing the game. I'm a big proponent of decks being enjoyable for everyone involved. So is that really what New Phyrexia is about? Griefing opponents?
My understanding of griefing is pretty straight-forward: making your opponents dread playing against you. It's like playing Leyline of the Void in opening hand and then dropping a Helm of Obedience. It ends the game immediately. Sure, the cards interact really well with each other, but griefing is all about making your opponent unable to respond, unable to play, unable to enjoy any part of the game. That's not what Magic ought to be about.
Thrummingbird
is my favorite smiley, I will use it often and without reason. You have been warned.
