Morningtide: Battalion Review (Part 1 of 2)
A beginning, narrates Princess Irulan (Virginia Madsen) at the start of the epic 1994 motion picture Dune, is a very delicate time. This was true in the film as it can be in life, and that certainly applies to Magic: the Gathering. One can only wonder at all the directions that the game might have taken in those earliest days that might have derailed its success. On a smaller scope, we find a new beginning each year with the Autumn large set, kicking off a new block with new cards, new themes, and new mechanics- and sometimes even more.
Morningtide: Shamanism Review (Part 2 of 2)
Next up in our revisit of the world of Lorwyn is a look at the Treefolk and their Shaman. Those pesky Rogues from Going Rogue are back, though, and with Jimi to lead them there’ll be no end of trouble!
Morningtide: Shamanism Review (Part 1 of 2)
So where were we? Ahh, right, the story of Morningtide is the story of Mirrodin. And Onslaught. And Lorwyn. But in a nutshell, it’s about one thing: class. Before unveiling the main course, though, let’s set the table first.
Morningtide: Going Rogue Review (Part 2 of 2)
Jimi’s sleeved up and ready to go, assembling an army of Kithkin and Soliders from her Battalion deck. Against such a force, a little stealth and subterfuge can go a long way, as my Rogues are eager to prove. Will they get their chance?
Morningtide: Going Rogue Review (Part 1 of 2)
In many ways, the story of Morningtide is the story of…
…wait…
…you mean you’ve heard this story before? Well, it’s true that you have. And just as true that you haven’t. Not this way, anyway. We should explain…
Portal Second Age: Martial Law Review (Part 2 of 2)
It’s our final look at Portal Second Age, and I’m keen to go out on a high behind the mono-White Martial Law. Sam comes full circle, cracking into the first deck we reviewed, Green’s Nature’s Assault. Can military discipline hold the line, or will nature overrun the best-laid plans of men?
Portal Second Age: Martial Law Review (Part 1 of 2)
When it comes to storytelling, pacing is often as important as having sympathetic characters and a compelling plot. Sometimes it’s better to jump right into the tale; other times, you want to set the table before introducing the hero. Consider Star Wars- the classic first film. The movie opens with a thrilling pursuit as a Corellian corvette (the Tantive IV) is being chased by the Star Destroyer Devastator. In the first scenes of the film, we’re already introduced to the major villain (Darth Vader), as well as some of the more important secondary characters (Princess Leia, C-3PO, and R2D2). It actually isn’t until later in the film that we are introduced to Luke Skywalker, whose transformation from a simple moisture farmer to saviour of the galaxy forms the crux of the original classic trilogy.
Portal Second Age: Spellweaver Review (Part 2 of 2)
The Goblins of Caliman were the subject of the opening deck in our review of Portal Second Age, and they’re back now to serve as foil to the mono-Blue Spellweaver. Will they overrun the nation of the coast, or will Spellweaver sail to victory on the currents of the air?
Portal Second Age: Spellweaver Review (Part 1 of 2)
In our previous looks at the dredge mechanic, first introduced for the Golgari guild in Ravnica: City of Guilds, we noted that of the many strengths of the mechanic, one of its weaknesses was that a pilot had to balance the need to kick off the dredge engine with the need to develop their manabase, leading to a particular tension between the two critical objectives. This was more of a pervasive weakness in the preconstructed versions of the Golgari decks, since anyone running it in constructed had access to Life from the Loam, a card created specifically to bridge the gap between these two divergent necessities.
Portal Second Age: The Nightstalkers Review (Part 2 of 2)
With the Mountains and Forests now having been explored, it’s time for us to descend into the Swamps… to Dakmor! For therein lurks Tojira, the Swamp Queen, and her wicked minions, the Nightstalkers. Looking to defeat them is Sam, who’s wielding the mono-Blue Spellweaver. Can she survive the perils of the marsh?
Ertai's Lament 