Saturday, November 4, 2017

Basic Lands: Khans block



As we aim to build the best possible 'basic lands box', we are doing a retroview of the basics since I came back to Magic. Our goal is to pick one or two from each set and then see if we can build a good draft box of basics (3-4 of each basic land). Previously done:


The Lands

Plains Plains Plains Plains

Mountain Mountain Mountain Mountain

Swamp Swamp Swamp Swamp

Island Island Island Island

Forest Forest Forest Forest

I've never noticed that each clan has one basic land of their own color! For example, the Sultai are rocking these three with their vaguely Angor Wat-ish ruins.

Forest Island Swamp

where Jeskai have the following remote monasteries
Island Mountain Plains


That's actually pretty slick! Each artist was assigned to a particular clan (Noah Bradley did Mardu etc.) Interesting how each clan got two of its 'emphasis' color. So there are two plains for Abzan, two islands for Jeskai etc. Very cool!

Highlights

There's a lot of good stuff in here but also a lot that's a little too  'khans specific'. I'm glad that the Abzan are desert wanderers but I don't want giant sand dunes in my plains. 

Image result for island Florian de Gesincourt


I don't really care if Florian de Gesincourt does a bunch of digital work/touchups, that's fan-freaking tastic.


Image result for island adam paquette
This does rather shamelessly violate the rule of "Gosh, I want it to look like the land-type it's supposed to represent" but damn, that's a really cool piece. I love the focal point of the palace with the waterfalls rushing around it. Some really cool detail with the terraced slops as well. Just very neat.

My Wife's Favorite

Image result for sam burley plains

In what may become a recurring theme, Elisabeth picked the one with the brightest colors and fewest skulls.

If I had to pick a swamp...

Image result for swamp adam paquette

Credit where credit is due: this is actually looks like a swamp yet isn't just a pastiche of blacks and grays.

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