Alacaw / MesoAmerican Call (Closed)
Ever since Theros block, I have wanted a mesoamerican block, and Ixalan is the probably the closest chance we've got to that happening for the next few years. So, in anticipation, let's organize and make some cards, a big set if we could manage. If this goes well, I will update what is needed as we solve and develop problems.
I have a few baselines after having thought about it.
First, I want to avoid some of the cliches some people I have talked to immediately gravitated to. No sun dragon (Well maybe a myth of one), no invading white people or cheesy plagues, no pointless moss covered ruins, and no big focuses on sacrifices will be welcome in my envisionment of Ixalan (feel free to make them on your own if you want though).
Second, I want five abilities, keyword or otherwise, and I would like to keep them flavorfully fitting shards, even though i do not want this to be a multicolor matters set. There will simply be several cards in shard colors that share an ability. The only one I am currently attached to, is Oppress, which would be the esper keyword. See the cards below.
Third is the story. In my view, Ixalan would have a circular map, with a lake in the middle that let out a few rivers. Close to the lake would be dense jungle and the big city Kelixalan (Kul-Iix-ah-lawn). The jungle is filled with cats and snakes and whatever else we want. Further, there are deciduous forests darted with villages. There are a race of giants, Leopard people(like Jedit Ojanen or Wild Nacatl), humans and maybe elves or some other humanoid race. The idea I had, thought this is not strict, would be that the people of Ixalan are failing to push off the forces of nature and they declare war on the world for their own survival(perhaps specifically the giants and beasts).
So, whoever read through all this, what I want us to do first is gather up a bunch of Card worthy art that we can use for what we want, I want more specific details of the plane, and I want keywords or general abilities for the other 4 shards. Feel free to post any thoughts regarding these, or a card if you're inspired. I will try to look through everyone's cards who posts on this and will drop a favorite if I see stuff I like.
Esper--Oppress
Naya--Ravenous???
Bant--???I'm really bad with bant???
Grixis--Suspend Matters??? (Throwback to Ancestrals and the Mayan Doomsday we all wish would have kept 2005 from happening)
Jund--???Something that feels Black???
I have a few baselines after having thought about it.
First, I want to avoid some of the cliches some people I have talked to immediately gravitated to. No sun dragon (Well maybe a myth of one), no invading white people or cheesy plagues, no pointless moss covered ruins, and no big focuses on sacrifices will be welcome in my envisionment of Ixalan (feel free to make them on your own if you want though).
Second, I want five abilities, keyword or otherwise, and I would like to keep them flavorfully fitting shards, even though i do not want this to be a multicolor matters set. There will simply be several cards in shard colors that share an ability. The only one I am currently attached to, is Oppress, which would be the esper keyword. See the cards below.
Third is the story. In my view, Ixalan would have a circular map, with a lake in the middle that let out a few rivers. Close to the lake would be dense jungle and the big city Kelixalan (Kul-Iix-ah-lawn). The jungle is filled with cats and snakes and whatever else we want. Further, there are deciduous forests darted with villages. There are a race of giants, Leopard people(like Jedit Ojanen or Wild Nacatl), humans and maybe elves or some other humanoid race. The idea I had, thought this is not strict, would be that the people of Ixalan are failing to push off the forces of nature and they declare war on the world for their own survival(perhaps specifically the giants and beasts).
So, whoever read through all this, what I want us to do first is gather up a bunch of Card worthy art that we can use for what we want, I want more specific details of the plane, and I want keywords or general abilities for the other 4 shards. Feel free to post any thoughts regarding these, or a card if you're inspired. I will try to look through everyone's cards who posts on this and will drop a favorite if I see stuff I like.
Esper--Oppress
Naya--Ravenous???
Bant--???I'm really bad with bant???
Grixis--Suspend Matters??? (Throwback to Ancestrals and the Mayan Doomsday we all wish would have kept 2005 from happening)
Jund--???Something that feels Black???
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
"oh no, what are we going to do about that hydra?"
"we'll just use the same strategy that we used against every other hydra."
Remember this is past culture as shown in these cards. This isn't recent Modern culture in general. We can remove the term "slave" from Amonkhet, but not the historical significance.
As for the artwork, I agree it's hard to find. In addition we don't enjoy the art style, but that's more for the community to decide. Unless you have a lot of art sources, likely nobody will join in on this.
http://hilaz.deviantart.com/art/Aztec-Panther-Warrior-681658023
http://hazzard65.deviantart.com/art/Aztec-Cove-2-177169180
http://maquenda.deviantart.com/art/Sun-Warrior-443531787
http://kamikazuh.deviantart.com/art/The-Frightful-Specter-597825461
http://kamikazuh.deviantart.com/art/Jaguar-Warriors-345814084
This is best demonstrated in the Amonkhet set and WotC reducing the amount of printed cards that show things such as slavery or racial profiling.
...they did have rituals. That is one thing you can't get rid of. The Aztecs and Mayans were not savages at all (they had quite a nice civilization after all), but the truth is that they did have a religion, and at least for the Aztecs, that meant occasionally having to sacrifice people for your religion. Now, don't tell me religion can't be referenced in MTG, just look at Innistrad and tell me Avacyn's religion isn't based off of Christianity, for example, and even though I am an atheist, even I can't argue that when making something based off of or referencing a point in history, it is best to include the people's religions, no matter how different they may be.
Point is, at least include some gods and at least a little bit of sacrifice.
May I ask you clarify the last sentence, I have difficulties when it comes to language cues?
That's fine, then. You really only need 1-2 cards that actually depict sacrifice.
Also, is Quetzalcoatl fine?
Edit: Wait, they are relevant thematically? Definitely making tons of these cutsies later.
That and these awesome art pieces.
Thank you so much, now we have some new card ideas!
They're also called Amphipteres.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiptere
2--Something like
is a no in my books, but I like Drakes as much as the next guy so maybe having them there could be neat. More subtle though, like
I could get behind, probably falling in Bant shard. Thoughts? and other ideas?
Check out this majestic and divine beast. Truly beats anything Yugioh has to offer in terms of beauty! XD
Vs. Yugioh (Divine Beasts and other Lords)
Edit: Accidentally forgot to favorite the thread for reminders of messages, which is why I posted out of order.
Edit: I'll be making cards tomorrow as I'm just checking in before we go to sleep. *Chillin listening to music*
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/templeguard-ampithere
It also strongly supports a control theme, but benefits all archetypes