Well I think it looks cool

[Matt]

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/arcana/541

[Grand Inquisitor]

Not that I'm really into that stuff, but this story/plot seems to have so much flavor compared with other expansion sets.

[Bram]

Wow.

That DOES look kinda kickass. Is it me, or do I detect a hint of oriental flavor?

[Dr. Sylvan]

That DOES look kinda kickass. Is it me, or do I detect a hint of oriental flavor?

Noted: Dutchies have a gift for understatement.

This has the potential to be cool. Especially the broken possibilities of the Ninja Pirate Robot Bear.

[Kowal]

Rebecca Guay is commissioned to paint in these oriental sets.

Creature type - Ninja will be a reality, she says.

[Triple_S]

That stuff looks johnny bad ass.

[Ric_Flair]

What a great switch in style.  I am impressed.  And the names sound so cool.  KA-mi-GA WA.  Kick ass.

[rvs]

That sounds like YU gi OH

[Smmenen]

I don't give a flying fuck what aesthetic the set has as long as

1) its been HEAVILY fucking tested.  No More Mirrodin or Odyssey Block mistakes please - no more Mindslaver, Psychatog, or Ravager, Thanks.

2) Wizards stops making insane synergies that carry over into every format.  A healthy level of synergy is good - but constructing our own deck is going too far.

In other words, I want another Invasion.

Steve

[Bram]

In other words, I want another Invasion.

That's what the French have been saying for 60 odd years now

I don't give a flying fuck what aesthetic the set has as long as

Honestly? I mean, I know you care most about wehat the cards in it do, but favor must have SOME meaning to you. I'd seriously not play a good card from a new set if the theme woud be, say, Steve Martin movies.

[MuzzonoAmi]

I think it would look better with the old cardface, since the machines are going awway for the time being. I agree that it shouldn't be as absurdly synergistic as Odyssey and Mirrodin. I'd love to see another set as awesome as Tempest, though.

As for the asthetics, I like what I see - and  knowing that Rebecca Guay is going to be working on it is even better.

[CrazyCarl]

Rebecca Guay is commissioned to paint in these oriental sets.

Creature type - Ninja will be a reality, she says.

FUCK YEAH!!!!!!!!

[Eastman]

In other words, I want another Invasion.

That's what the French have been saying for 60 odd years now

AWESOME>

[The Atog Lord]

Does this remind anyone else of Legend of the Five Rings? I played that game some years ago -- it was a lot of fun, actually. This set, with the flavor and the presence of snake-people, reminded me of that. (I hope I can honor-win while fogging in this block)

[Samite Healer]

L5R was and still is an awesome game.  It is unfortunate that I've spent most of my gaming time on only Magic, because I would probably be pretty good at it.  It definitely reminds me of that game.

[Magi]

I think it would look better with the old cardface, since the machines are going awway for the time being. I agree that it shouldn't be as absurdly synergistic as Odyssey and Mirrodin. I'd love to see another set as awesome as Tempest, though.

As for the asthetics, I like what I see - and  knowing that Rebecca Guay is going to be working on it is even better.

Totally agree on the old cardface. If we won't be seeing any of this "neo-metallic" theme they should seriuosly think about going back to the old cardfaces...would suit this block soo much more.

[Hi-Val]

Facts:

1.    Ninjas are mammals.
2.    Ninjas fight ALL the time.
3.    The purpose of the ninja is to flip out and kill people.

If Ninjas are ever printed, expect lots of realultimatepower.net quotes. LOTS of them. It's simple, because ninjas are totally cool. A ninja would totally uppercut a Psychatog as soon as it ate its graveyard just because it was smiling. Ninjas are that cool.

I thought that Wizards said something about not using real-life references like they did in Arabian Nights for future sets. Have they changed their mind or is this just a different case altogether? It somehow feels as if they are courting the older YuGiOh crowd with anime-style art, but I can't knock something that would bring NINJAS into the game.

[Dr. Sylvan]

I think the public swayed their no-Arabian-Nights stance with the huge uproar asking for real-world flavor text. So nonspecific intimations of Japanese culture would be completely legal, no problemo.

Plus, Japanese culture is like an infinte, bottomless pit of bling for any product line that sells exclusively to America's geek population. Probably related to the Asian-girl fetish of the nation (I don't know if the Frenchies, let alone the real Europeans, are into that).

And Ninjas are totally fucking sweet, which might be part of the above blingpit thing.

[Matt]

Oh, it's definitely part of the blingpit.

[Mykeatog]

After reading the contents of this thread, and reviewing this new set..

I will never think ninjas are cool again.

[Matt]

One down, one thousand, five hundred, fifty-five to go!

[Jacob Orlove]

Artistically, it looks more like a real blend then just a japanese derivative, but those names are ridiculously japanese.

This looks like it has a lot more potential than some concepts, but since it's Wizards, I'm not getting my hopes up.

[stijndon]

Well, it says April 8 on the date. That's a week after April the first.

Not that that matters. I'm just looking for a reason to not believe this. It seems so implausible to me, making an entire block that's dedicated to a single culture (or well, cluster of cultures... Will you see the difference between the Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Indonesian robes?)

But for when it would turn out to actually be true... Then I move for the next block to be:

• "Saviours of Holland."
• "Champion of the Netherlands."
• "The Dutch Dangeresque."
[/list:u]

It would feature the return of Kaervek as an evil villain, trying to close down all of our coffeshops because he's the only one who wants to smoke torches. And Morefling would be reprinted, of course. And you know what the heroes of the set would put on their fries? Mayonaise! Liters of it! They would practically soak the shit in it!

[Dr. Sylvan]

There is a flavor problem with this "Dutch Block" (besides the fact that he and Tiree have been lost, according to Red Leader): Your mortal enemies are the French. Limited would be very boring if it wasn't based on attacking at all!

[stijndon]

Introducing the creaturetype "creature - diplomat," enabling you to tirelessly bore your opponents untill France Surrenders. Hilarity ensues. Duke sucks.

[Zherbus]

I think it would look better with the old cardface, since the machines are going awway for the time being. I agree that it shouldn't be as absurdly synergistic as Odyssey and Mirrodin. I'd love to see another set as awesome as Tempest, though.

As for the asthetics, I like what I see - and  knowing that Rebecca Guay is going to be working on it is even better.

Totally agree on the old cardface. If we won't be seeing any of this "neo-metallic" theme they should seriuosly think about going back to the old cardfaces...would suit this block soo much more.

It's my belief that each block should have it's own border.

[BurningIce]

I just don't like sets sharing the same name.  I like each set to have it's own distinct name.  I didn't like Urza's block for that reason and I'm not going to like this one.  It's too easy to confuse which one is which.