[RAV] some tidbits about mechanics

[rancored_elf]

From the same source as the Lizardman yesterday, and Convolute last week. He's reliable, and supercoolsexyfunsmart! (Can't hurt to butter up someone who's getting info for you, right?)

Originally Posted by anon

Ya for sure, no problem. I won't talk to (edited out to protect the original source) until tomorrow but he talked about the mecanics before. Each guild has a mecanic that is keyworded, so there are four. I think he said the green and white guilds mecanic is called "provoke" but that can't be right since all the keywords are brand new for the set. The black and green guild mecanic is already known its on the spoiler on that 4/4, but I dont know the name of it! The red and white one spreads an effect over all creatures sharing a color with the target. I don't know the black and blue mecanic but I know it has one. Also, the way he said, each keyword can appear on guild cards (gold, bleed, guild mana) but ALSO on mono spells. Example the red and white mecanic could show up on mono red spells and mono white spells, not just red/white gold spells, red/white guildmana spells, ect. What that says to me is basically the whole set is focussed on guilds very strongly, even many of the mono spells are tied in with the guild they're from in some way. There are themes too that run through a guild's cards (different from the keyword mecanic) like the black and blue guild loves to destroy ppls librarys in any way it can. They're like mind assassins if you will. Last, I remember a red and white creature, not the name but it's 2/1 soldier for WR who taps to make a creature unable to block or attack. I'll be seeing (edited out to protect the original source) tomorrow so I'll see what I can get. Remember PLEEEEESE never tell anyone where you got this!!

Drool... I'm not sure which part about this I like best! The idea of themes, and how the guilds are so unified within themselves, the flavour is just oozing and my mind races. I'm anxious for more cards but at the same time I'm basking in the deliciousness of the flavour potential here. It's been TOO LONG since we got a set like this, it's making me crave to get involved, read the book for the first time since the weatherlight story ended. Whoever is new to the team for this block, you're doing a hell of a job and mixing things up for the better!

I'm excited how RAV is going to work with 9th. Got your painlands and kird apes yet? How about those Flashfires and Boiling Seas to mess with guild decks people make? It seems 9th's list was chosen in part to augment RAV's triumphant arrival.

Name? -
Creature - Human Soldier
: Target creature can't attack or block this turn.
2/1

Nice! I'll add that to the partial spoiler. Looks uncommon to me but he didn't say so I'll leave that part blank.

[urzassedatives]

That is one SICK limited card.
Good for early unanswered attacks, good to stop a threat, let a threat through.

And the idea of that spider's ability
(If you would draw a card, you may instead put the top card of your library into your graveyard and return this card to your hand)
as a mechanic...is NICE.

I don't get the thing about provoke though...

[Moss_Elemental]

This set gets more and more interesting every day. We may not know everything about this set yet, but I am definitely buying a booster box!

Oh yeah, that soldier is a must-have!

[Masked_Rider]

So...Mono white cards will have either of the mechanics with both that of the white/green guild and the white/red guild.

Any chance that a singular mono white card of having both mechanics on it? Possibly in the 3rd set of the block? Could be interesting design space.

[rancored_elf]

Originally Posted by Masked_Rider

So...Mono white cards will have either of the mechanics with both that of the white/green guild and the white/red guild.

Any chance that a singular mono white card of having both mechanics on it? Possibly in the 3rd set of the block? Could be interesting design space.

Yeah, interesting thoughts. I don't think a mono coloured card could have the keyword from two guilds on it, but that would be interesting... maybe if this setting lasted two blocks, they could play with that design space later. I'd love that

Still, your point about a white card having either the w/r guild keyword OR the w/g guild keyword on it is interesting. Totally adds flavour. Take two men, both human, both living in the same area of the city, both working day jobs as stone-layers. But after work, they belong to different guilds, and have completely different lives. (ie: a different guild affiliation - different keyword). Sweeeeeeet.

Can you tell I'm a bit excited? :smile2:

[i_am_a_badman]

Originally Posted by urzassedatives

That is one SICK limited card.
Good for early unanswered attacks, good to stop a threat, let a threat through.

And the idea of that spider's ability
(If you would draw a card, you may instead put the top card of your library into your graveyard and return this card to your hand)
as a mechanic...is NICE.

I don't get the thing about provoke though...

maybe the sources spoiler or what ever is in a different langauge? does ravinca ship out in russia also?

[urzassedatives]

Originally Posted by i_am_a_badman

maybe the sources spoiler or what ever is in a different langauge? does ravinca ship out in russia also?

No, I think they were just confused. The real name is probably a word that looks kinda like Provoke.

[i_am_a_badman]

Originally Posted by urzassedatives

No, I think they were just confused. The real name is probably a word that looks kinda like Provoke.

they could be translating the cards or something. this guy never said what langauge the spoiler he has is in.

[EvilDuck]

Wait, so has the 4/3/3 thing been confirmed?

[Squall]

Looks pretty good. Imagine if it spread over two blocks ODY/ONS style but was like INV/ODY.

Good times indeed ahead. Thanks r_e and thanks source for takign a risk!!

[herohammer]

Am I the only one skeptical of this set? It seems like we may be expecting too much from this set. The W/R card is cool, but having mechanics tied to guilds seems rather narrow from a desighn space perspective, rather like some other recent mechanics, like bushido(samurai only) or splice(you must play with arcane cards for it to be effective). I will, however, reserve my judjement of the set till we have the complete spoiler.
BTW-The 4/3/3 thing will make block rely odd until all three sets have been released. Everyone will play the same 1 or 2 color combos/decks. Maybe I am too used to Kamigawa block play that has a large number of viable and semi-viable decks.

[Kultcher]

The flavor of the U/B guild "mind assassins" is cool. Maybe we'll finally have a competitve mill deck? The B/G mechanic seems insanely good... so good that I think something might be off on it (or all its cards will be too expensive to be playable).

The R/W guy seems great and has a great flavor that's just what we might expect from that guild. He'll be a high pick in limited for sure and may even see constructed play.

I think that Ravnica feels very exciting because it's like we're getting 4 totally new colors. Like, we're used to green winning with fat guys and red winning with little guys and burn spells. Ravnica might open up completely new paths to victory, or at least provide some interesting variations.

[Hydrokinesis]

GOGO Ravnica!!!!!

Great stuff to see R_E, and many thanks to this anonymous source!

I love the idea of mechanics specific for different guilds, all of them sound very exciting and original to a certain degree, which is always good.

Yay! More cards!!!!!!

[Toastysoul]

I'm looking forward to seeing all of the mechanics...THanks!!!

[rancored_elf]

Originally Posted by herohammer

having mechanics tied to guilds seems rather narrow from a desighn space perspective

Well first strike isn't too narrow (it's been around from the beginning and will always be playable, useful, and broad) even though it appears mostly in 2 colours. Likewise, guild keywords, which appear only in 2 colours, won't necessarily be narrow just for that reason. Spiritcraft is narrow because spirits aren't exactly the most common creature type. Arcane splicing - same reason. Bushido isn't narrow, I don't know where you get that. It appeared in all 5 colours on many different creature types... and except for it's flavour (oriental) it could be used in the future.

Take a look at haste. You see it on red creatures and occasionally maybe the odd black or green creature. Nobody says they think it's useless or weak as an ability. So I think guild keywords, which appear in 2 colours, aren't going to be narrow automatically. They might end up being narrow, but not because they appear in 2 colours.