The swamps are definitely the best art wise. Plains still has pretty meh feel about them. I like some islands and mountains. And forest only has 1 good looking one imo. The right column has all of the best art.
They are supposed to be special so they can't print them all the time. Instead, we get really solid looking basics... sorta like what basics are supposed to be.
8 out of 10 = Expectations met and slightly exceeded.
It's funny. I still remember seeing the Mirage lands for the first time and thinking, oh my god these are amazing! You would think that Wizards couldn't keep outdoing themselves, but I find myself still in awe with every new set.
They are supposed to be special so they can't print them all the time. Instead, we get really solid looking basics... sorta like what basics are supposed to be.
8 out of 10 = Expectations met and slightly exceeded.
All the new lands look promising-to-great; I wonder who the artists are.
2nd swamp and 2nd mountain are outstanding.
The new forests and islands look very promising, but I want to see them close up in better lighting.
The new plains aren't as eye-catching as some of the others, but they both address a problem that plains have historically struggled with. Plains usually lack contrast, due to the subject, and they sometimes have less-saturated colors than I'd like, which adds up to give a lot of plains an "indistinct dusty smudge" look, especially at arm's length. It also tends to make a lot of plains very same-y looking.
Both of the new plains have deeper colors than plains often have, and they both find ways to introduce more contrast to the image, which breaks them up and makes them "pop" a bit better.
It's funny. I still remember seeing the Mirage lands for the first time and thinking, oh my god these are amazing! You would think that Wizards couldn't keep outdoing themselves, but I find myself still in awe with every new set.
To be fair, the Mirage lands are pretty awesome too, even by today's standards. Gotta love zebras.
I am probably every color-combination it is possible to be, though it's really hard to figure out what it would mean to be 4-colored....it doesn't seem logical to be 4-colored without being 5-colored.
These are pretty.
I'm glad they kept my favorite Plains and Island (#1 and 2 respectively),
but the others are really nice.
And the swamps are really great, as many have already stated.
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Rhys the Redeemed
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Sen Triplets
The Mimeoplasm WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
love the 3rd mountain. It's a reprint for sure, but that small ledge with explorers facing the large valley with the birds flying through the clouds give an impression of 'immenseness'.
Also, I've always been fan of the first plains with the setting sun.
Basic lands can't really be judged by anything else than their art, and those are awesome.
Not sure if I would call it a missed opportunity. Wizards knows how to sell packs and the draw for Full Art land is HUGE and they want to savor it. Give it another 2 or 3 years and you will see it again. If they pump to much out, the value will drop.
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Sad... They only reprint other M/X basics, never older ones from older sets... gotta wait longer for the specific ones i want.
Not gonna take away from the 2nd swamp, 2nd mountain and last forest though.
They look, from this picture, to be pretty nice.
Heres hoping.
EDIT:
Upon closer inspection, that second swamp is quite stunning, gotta get a foil to see how nice it really is.
Big thanks to Rivenor for the sig!!
But yeah...that second swamp....awesome sauce.:nod:
They are supposed to be special so they can't print them all the time. Instead, we get really solid looking basics... sorta like what basics are supposed to be.
8 out of 10 = Expectations met and slightly exceeded.
WUBRGPauper Battle BoxWUBRG ... and why I am not a fan of Wayne Reynolds' Illustrations.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?p=10650708#post10650708
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A comic about the world's most addictive game, Magic: The Gathering.
Still, kind of weak for the anniversary.
2nd swamp and 2nd mountain are outstanding.
The new forests and islands look very promising, but I want to see them close up in better lighting.
The new plains aren't as eye-catching as some of the others, but they both address a problem that plains have historically struggled with. Plains usually lack contrast, due to the subject, and they sometimes have less-saturated colors than I'd like, which adds up to give a lot of plains an "indistinct dusty smudge" look, especially at arm's length. It also tends to make a lot of plains very same-y looking.
Both of the new plains have deeper colors than plains often have, and they both find ways to introduce more contrast to the image, which breaks them up and makes them "pop" a bit better.
To be fair, the Mirage lands are pretty awesome too, even by today's standards. Gotta love zebras.
Meanwhile, in the Modern Masters thread:
RRLONG AGO, THE FOUR COLORS LIVED IN HARMONYRR
RRBUT EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN THE FIRE NATION ATTACKED RR
20th Anniversary New Gurus? o.O
That would be excessive but epic!
People need to read this fanfiction, though:
www.hpmor.com
I am probably every color-combination it is possible to be, though it's really hard to figure out what it would mean to be 4-colored....it doesn't seem logical to be 4-colored without being 5-colored.
I don't always post about Rafiq of the Many, but when I do, I cardlink to the original artwork, and not the supplementary product version.
"I trust myself to do my duty, even unto death. It's what comes after that I'm afraid of."
"Just fight without fear. Your soul is protected by the hand of Avacyn and will never submit to evil."
I'm glad they kept my favorite Plains and Island (#1 and 2 respectively),
but the others are really nice.
And the swamps are really great, as many have already stated.
Reprint Stasis!
Control needs more love.
EDH:
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Rhys the Redeemed
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Sen Triplets
The Mimeoplasm
WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW
WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
Also, I've always been fan of the first plains with the setting sun.
Basic lands can't really be judged by anything else than their art, and those are awesome.
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
Not sure if I would call it a missed opportunity. Wizards knows how to sell packs and the draw for Full Art land is HUGE and they want to savor it. Give it another 2 or 3 years and you will see it again. If they pump to much out, the value will drop.
Cyriss07