Regarding Urza (Potential spoilers)
Lore forum
Posted on Oct. 18, 2013, 5:41 p.m. by Aerokid
I'm currently partway through book 4 of the Urza books, and what keeps bothering me is how easy Urza keeps getting his ass kicked. The books have said multiple times that Urza is a being of pure energy and that his human appearance is a facade. If that is the case, how can things physically wound him? He isn't limited by the restrictions of flesh, so why would an injury stop or kill him? For example, when K'rrick fought Urza the second time, he was able to incapacitate Urza with a modified artifact bird that continually mauled Urza from the inside. If he can simply reshape himself elsewhere, why would a bird inside him change that?
Also the author really likes using the word "preternatural." It bugs me.
The issue I have is when Urza became a Walker, the author fanboyed over how awesome and powerful he was and how he could do whatever he wanted. Suddenly, getting mauled makes him unable to do anything at all. It's going backwards! Agh!
October 18, 2013 5:49 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #4
Well, would you rather read about him getting his ass kicked but overcoming the odds to beat his opponent, or being so OP he just automatically wrecks everyone in his immediate vicinity?
October 18, 2013 5:51 p.m.
Second one. Underdog comeback stories are really losing their entertainment value for me.
October 18, 2013 5:56 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #6
Well, if Urza's been an underdog throughout the entire series so far, can't say I blame you.
October 18, 2013 5:59 p.m.
it is real simple why urza kept losing he had a bad draw . blue decks of the time took beatings early then controlled their way to victory lol
October 18, 2013 6:40 p.m.
MisterRoach says... #8
The reason constantly mauling him worked is because Urza had to concentrate to maintain his flesh. So by doing so it would keep focus on that and thus keep him from doing g much of anything else. Yes, as a planeswalker he's powerful as all get go. But he still needs his physical body.
October 19, 2013 5:42 a.m.
Maybe just a bad author. My guess would be: lack of imagination for building a consistent and coherent story circling around an unimaginably powerful character. Often happens with bad DMs in D&D. Once their players are too powerful, many DMs have no idea how to continue the game.
I prefer to believe Urza's so powerful that remaining in human form is a necessity, even at the cost of suffering from physical wounds, 'cause his true energy self would be so radically powerful it would threaten the entire multiverse ;)
October 21, 2013 5:23 a.m.
Though, would threatening the entire multiverse really deter Urza from going to town on Phyrexia? It would be classic him to screw everything up, heh.
October 21, 2013 10:58 a.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #11
Wait until you read the Invasion cycle of books. See how much Urza has descended inro madness!
October 21, 2013 6:14 p.m.
Wait wait, he goes insane AGAIN?
I seriously don't think I'll be able to put up with his crap anymore.
October 22, 2013 12:41 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #13
Well, it's not like you're reading Tolkien here. I would say if you're going to read a book based in the world of M:tG, be prepared for some crappy writing. I read that one with Greensleaves in it when I was a kid. It was awful.
October 22, 2013 7:37 p.m.
MisterRoach says... #14
As far as the magic novels go it's hit and miss. Some are amazing and some just suck and you just chug your way through it. Still I'd say they are worth reading. Except the zendikar one. That was awful. Scars of mirrodin wasn't much better cause its the same author.
October 22, 2013 9:24 p.m.
Scars of Mirrodin was the worst waste of paper in history. The writing is almost as bad as in the bible. The original background stories of Phyrexia and Karn was so rich and inspiring, how this stupid author succeeded in failing so utterly is astounding. Even Wizards's "Planeswalker Guide to New Phyrexia" had superb story elements in it, but it was not used in the book at all. I wanted to read the Thran and the early books about Phyrexia but after reading Scars I swore never to touch a Mtg book ever again. :(
Seriously though the 3 old Ravnica books were really great! I wanted to start a D&D game in the world of Ravnica after reading it. It was that good ;)
October 22, 2013 10:17 p.m.
MisterRoach says... #16
The thran was amazing imo. But yeah don't let the craptastic scars book ruin the rest for you
October 22, 2013 10:42 p.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #17
I really enjoyed the ice age cycle with Jodah.
GoldGhost012 says... #2
Some authors like to have their characters appear weak in the beginning so that when they become stronger in the end, it can show character development.
Honestly, I have no idea. Maybe that author liked the idea of Urza, a Planeswalker who has almost unlimited power, getting his ass kicked in every fight. Plus Urza was known more for his brains than his brawn.
October 18, 2013 5:45 p.m.