Saint Traft likely in AVR

[Ain Soph Aur]

The game is just a collection of cards, of which some have depicted male angels. We might not see more of those in the future, given the current art policies, or it might change. I was disputing whether the fact that Gabriel Angelfire was originally a D&D character designated anything about his status as a card and as a character.

[Barinellos]

Originally Posted by Ain Soph Aur

The game is just a collection of cards, of which some have depicted male angels. We might not see more of those in the future, given the current art policies, or it might change. I was disputing whether the fact that Gabriel Angelfire was originally a D&D character designated anything about his status as a card and as a character.

From the pure design standpoint, in my opinion, yes.
Character design now, and character design then, as well as overall policies and conscious decisions towards depictions of characters have been tightened considerably.
Essentially, it boils down to the fact that he wasn't created with Magic in mind and if he had been, he likely wouldn't have been male, even back then.
But, at the end of the day, that's a supposition. I feel his origins are notable for disqualifying him from the conscious decision to design different gendered angels, regardless of if hey later gave him story significance after the fact.
If you disagree, I feel that it's just best for us to agree to disagree.

[Sigismond0]

If Malach of the Dawn doesn't count because he was color shifted, Serra Sphinx being color shifted means blue doesn't actually get sphinxes right? And the color shifted red goblin that has red fear means intimidate doesn't count?

Sure, I guess Gabriel can be discounted as well due to him not being desk GED for the game, but how do you intend to invalidate Melesse Spirit?

[RCarlysle]

I really hope there is a new Saint Traft card, and I hope he's got sideburns just like the concept art, and I also hope its an awesome card. Why? I want to make a deck around him and call it 'Mutton Chops'

[Syphon]

No St. Traft here. As I had already called it, it was an enchantment. This one is called Call to Serve

[Xaios]

Wow, that discussion sure raged on after I left.

I guess my position is that, even if Gabriel's origins were retconned into the storyline proper after he was created, he's still an official part of the Magic storyline, basically because Wizards says so. Would they design such a card now? No. But Word of God says he's a canon part of the story, so he is. That's how retconning works.

Again, agree to disagree.

Regarding Traft, I'm sad to see he didn't make it into the AVR storyline, but not surprised.