Return to Alara Expectations
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on Dec. 12, 2019, 9:04 p.m. by ZendikariWol
I feel like I've yammered on all over this website about how I'm making a return to Alara set. I am. It's happening. Now I want to get a good idea of what some more enfranchised players (which the people on this site tend to be) would expect from a return to Alara.
What would you guys expect? What would you hope for? What would you dreadingly anticipate? What choices would you make for the set, in a perfect world?
Last_Laugh says... #3
I'd also like Wither in Grixis colors but this wasn't an Alara mechanic (just one that was standard legal at the same time iirc).
December 12, 2019 9:25 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #4
Last_Laugh, we may not be on the same page here. I'm making a new set with the vast majority of the cards and mechanics being made by me. That said, I like wither for Grixis and I think I want to use this set to push to make it evergreen (though even at evergreen it's not going to be used as often as, say, vigilance).
December 12, 2019 9:51 p.m.
Last_Laugh says... #5
I personally wouldn't want to play without actual mechanics. Created mechanics would have to be learned, there's no rulings to settle disagreements, and no previous examples of what NOT to do (see Bloodbraid Elf ). Just a personal perspective.
December 12, 2019 10:50 p.m. Edited.
ZendikariWol says... #6
I... think I’ll take my chances with custom mechanics. Hey- if they don’t play well, if they don’t work, live and learn. I’ll tweak it, make something better.
December 13, 2019 1:57 a.m.
It really depends on what you want the result of the Conflux to be. Is Alara still the same as before? What is the story in this new set? I am 100% for all new-mechanics, or old, or whatever the creator of the custom set decides. But I applaud new mechanics on a new take on a plane.
If you do make new mechanics, HMU to aid you in refining them.
December 13, 2019 3:56 a.m.
ZendikariWol says... #8
150%, Boza! Take a look, see if you have any tweaks.
Bant- Unity: “Whenever trigger, you may tap another untapped creature you control. If you do, effect.”
Esper- Etherium Counters: Permanents with an Etherium counter on them are artifacts in addition to their other types.
Grixis- Transpose: You may cast this card from your graveyard by exiling a creature card from your graveyard in addition to paying this spell’s other costs.
Jund- Predate: “Whenever this creature attacks, sacrifice a creature. When you do, effect.”
Naya- Soulbond
If you have questions about why something is flavorfully appropriate or why it’s mechanically interesting at all, feel free to ask.
December 13, 2019 12:01 p.m.
Honestly I'd like to see a mechanic that is similar to constellation but for artifacts.
December 13, 2019 4:01 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #10
That’s a cool thought, dbpunk. That said, one of the plot points I’m looking into is that some Esperites found a way to infuse (unwilling) creatures with etherium and use it to amplify the effects of Esper magics on them. So etherium counters seemed a neat inclusion.
December 13, 2019 4:05 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #11
I really appreciate the feedback, Funkydiscogod. I’ve got some counterpoints but I seriously do appreciate you taking the time to look through cards and type all that up.
To your first point, I’d lead you to Breya, Etherium Shaper , the artificer who found the secret of Carmot, a crystal naturally occurring on Jund which can be used to create more etherium. To your second, I’m impressed at your dedication to this search, and this is a flavor text I’d thus far overlooked. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. White/Black/Blue, however, would likely take little issue with “converting lesser life forms” by force.
To your third point, yes, I suppose there is quite a bit of support for that on Mirrodin. I really don’t think people tie it to Mirrodin, though. I think that if we went back and didn’t see anything that turns nonartifacts into artifacts, no one would really bat an eye, but in the end I don’t know. That’s for the community to decide.
Finally, as to your proposed mechanics... hmm. While I love treasure and other such tokens, I think that restricting it to one shard would probably produce a color issue- especially in limited. Your emerge suggestion is interesting but more akin to Kaladesh’s impassioned inventors than Esper’s methodical masterminds.
December 13, 2019 8:13 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #12
I do not have time at this moment to write a detailed post, but a return to Alara would likely be only a single set, since I am not certain if there is sufficient material, either mechanically or in the story, to justify a full block.
December 14, 2019 2:13 a.m.
ZendikariWol says... #13
I have enough story to justify a full block. Set 1 is essentially a reintroduction of the plane and set 2 tells its story.
December 14, 2019 2:33 a.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #14
Last_Laugh, it was actually Alara Reborn that was all multicolor.
December 17, 2019 9:56 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #15
Well, Funkydiscogod, as much as I don’t care for your tone, you’re probably right. The mirrors for this mechanic would be pretty shit. Any other ideas? I’m not a spike, I don’t work a lot with artifacts.
December 18, 2019 3:08 a.m.
Last_Laugh says... #16
It was the first set with colored artifacts... that was Esper's thing even if it wasn't a keyword Funky.
December 18, 2019 11:25 a.m.
ZendikariWol says... #17
It doesn't look like it, Funkydiscogod. For example, look at a few mechanics that weren't keyworded before:
"Ally ETB" from original Zendikar became Rally.
"power 5 or greater became Ferocious in Khans of Tarkir (and I doubt the reason it was keyworded is because of the 1 less power required!)
Also when Mark Rosewater said "In exploratory design, every mechanic has to be named." (Drive to Work, ep.552) "We need to refer to it, and we really want to convey the flavor we're going for."
Also, yes, the Esper mechanic was colored artifacts, but since it would be weird for 4/5 factions (or 3/5, or 2/5, etc.) to have a keyword where the other doesn't, I'd like to have a keyword.
Last_Laugh says... #2
For God's sake... just don't try an all multicolor set like Conflux.
I'd want to see Exalted, Esper colored Artifact Creatures, Hybrid Costs, and limited Cascade. I'd also like pre-Sundering (granted this is unimportant on your level, it's more lore from an actual set).
December 12, 2019 9:14 p.m.