MS: Breaking points
Lore forum
Posted on Jan. 18, 2017, 12:10 p.m. by AgentGreen
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-story/breaking-points-2017-01-18
(Link inserted in case URL tag fails me...again)
In today's story; things are looking up for the good guys as the blockade has fallen, while both the Renegades and the Gatewatch split their forces to hit Tezzeret and the weakening Consulate defenders on multiple fronts to take down Tezzy's master plan
The target area is a small thermal exhaust port, right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system.
Wait a second...
January 18, 2017 1:05 p.m.
RicketyEng says... #4
There were a few points where I thought, "I wonder what Baan is getting up to now?" Yep, doing exactly what he ought to I guess. I like to imagine that someone armed with a well-outlined logical argument could convince him to turn on Tezzeret. He would not be willing to turn on the Consulate, but if the argument was made about how Tezzeret building a planar bridge is a bad idea then maybe he could be convinced. Dovin could probably even come up with a plan that specifically targets Tezzeret and the bridge while also attempting to diffuse the conflict between the Consulate and the Renegades.
In other news, "instead of arming a thopter with a specialized weapon, let's arm it with a human nuclear warhead!"
I also really like the picture of Nissa, Ajani, and Pia.
January 18, 2017 1:06 p.m.
AgentGreen says... #5
RicketyEng I'm thinking about making that my new desktop wallpaper.
Now here's a question. Is Gideon hoping that his hireomancy will shield himself and Chandra from the nuclear explosion that she is about to create? Also, where do you think Dovin f***ed off to after he was done screwing around
January 18, 2017 1:54 p.m.
RicketyEng says... #6
Wrt Gideon, that's kind of what I was wondering too. I don't think he (or necessarily Chandra for that matter) understands how big a nuclear reaction can explode. He might just be intending to protect her from the inevitable crash landing.
January 18, 2017 2:34 p.m.
PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #7
So I liked the story, but my GOD that was awful writing.
January 18, 2017 5:31 p.m.
I also think Dovin could be convinced of Tezzeret's evil with a well worded argument, too bad no one there is really capable of that. I really hope that Chandra and Gideon both survive this story... the character development that both of them got in MS:Burn was just so amazing and I would hate to see them die.
On another note, Tezz vs. Lili is going to be an amazing fight, just hope Dovin doesn't screw it up again.
January 18, 2017 6:02 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #9
It seems that the plan is proceeding very well, except for Baan's sabotage of the aether disruptor, so it seems that Chandra will be making a noble sacrifice to destroy the planar bridge, except that I highly doubt that anyone of actual importance to the story shall actually die, since WotC seems to be very averse to that idea.
January 18, 2017 6:55 p.m.
PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #10
DemonDragonJ: I think Elspeth Tirel might object.
January 18, 2017 7:43 p.m.
PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #11
Not that I disagree that Chandra won't die here. Just, you know. Had to get that in there.
January 18, 2017 7:44 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #12
PhotogenicParasympathetic, yes, I forgot about her, and Venser, as well, but I saw a thread on another forum saying that, since the Gatwatch formed, it has had numerous victories but no major losses, which is making the story boring and lacking in excitement and tension. I agree with that idea, and really hope that the story writers at WotC will not continue to use this formula forever, and actually have the Gatewatch suffer a major loss at some point in the future.
January 18, 2017 8:22 p.m.
DemonDragonJ: If Amonkhet is any indication, the Gatewatch will lose. There's no way that a merry band of 6 misfits are going to take on Lord...I mean Nicol Bolas. Perhaps, if Razaketh lurks there, Bolas could send him against the group.
January 18, 2017 10:15 p.m.
AgentGreen says... #14
DemonDragonJ The Gatewatch in major conflicts; their record isn't steller at 1-0-1. Remember; Emrakul wasn't defeated, she sealed herself in Innistrad's moon. The Gatewatch; even with Lili using the full power of the Chain Veil, were pretty much dead to rights, and only because Emrakul mindslaved Tamiyo did she seal herself.
January 18, 2017 11:08 p.m.
So I'm going to advance a (possibly) unpopular opinion here, but here me out... I don't want to see any of the Gatewatch die any time soon. That doesn't mean I don't want to see them lose (I do, and if somehow Bolas doesn't wipe the floor with them I'll be pissed), but I think there are more creative ways to reflect their losses than death.
I'm not averse to the death of characters I love (one of my students just pointed out to me that nearly every book I've taught them in the past four years has involved at least one death), but I am averse to killing characters to prove a point as a writer. I'm afraid that a Gatewatch death at this point in the story would be just that: WotC shouting at us "See, look, we're not afraid to kill our characters!"
January 18, 2017 11:49 p.m.
PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #16
saj0219: Agreed. That kind of style of killing characters for the sake of killing characters is why Game of Thrones just doesn't do it for me. GRRM spends too much time building up side plots that never go anywhere because he kills off the characters involved, and it just makes it impossible to care about anything.
January 19, 2017 3:07 a.m.
Exactly. Almost universally, deaths in Game of Thrones make me roll my eyes. It's not just that I lose interest in caring about characters, but I also feel that needless character death often is a tool for covering up sloppy storytelling.
January 19, 2017 6:30 a.m.
RicketyEng says... #18
I don't know anything about Game of Thrones, but I do agree that death is too permanent and there are plenty of other ways to lose. I'm pretty sure Wizards has said that we will see members come and go. The events leading up to a member of the Gatewatch deciding to leave or being forced out could make for great story telling. That would be a loss in the sense that the team couldn't overcome the differences between its members.
The Gatewatch has already started struggling with determining its mandate and how to avoid overstepping. I foresee the opportunity for a moral loss at some point when the line gets crossed.
January 19, 2017 9:39 a.m.
AgentGreen says... #19
RicketyEng It may be that within these disagreements and distrust; Ajani will likely step up and help mentor them. I believe Ajani has been a walker long before any of them (except Lili) had their sparks ignite.
January 19, 2017 10:31 a.m.
RicketyEng says... #20
Ajani is the leader and mentor that the team has been lacking up to this point.
Dovin would never join the Gatewatch, but I hope they can find some way of reconciling. However, the bridge has been burned. I think it would be neat if the Gatewatch could contract Dovin sometimes to help them when they need to put a plan in motion. Unfortunately their plans usually have a time constraint which would not allow for tracking down Baan and convincing him to help.
January 19, 2017 10:52 a.m.
AgentGreen: And Ajani looks to be the wisest of the group.
January 19, 2017 1:56 p.m.
Homura_Akemi says... #22
Ajani's addition will certainly be interesting, as the leadership problems between Gideon and Jace alone have already come up. Hopefully Ajani is just their undisputed leader figure.
I can't wait for Liliana to fight Tezzeret! He is so going to die!
Also, I hope Chandra and Gideon being that close together and having this experience will not ruin the speculated Chandra-Nissa romantic relationship. "Any hope is better than none. Always." -Nahiri
MindAblaze says... #2
link
January 18, 2017 12:47 p.m.