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Post by E- RIDER on Aug 9, 2004 21:34:21 GMT -5
 Above is the set logo for the first of three expansion sets in the upcoming block.
Champions of Kamigawa releases October 1st 2004, prerelease date September 18th-19th. 306 cards.
Betrayers of Kamigawa releases February 4th 2005, projected prerelease date January 22nd-23rd. 165 cards.
Saviors of Kamigawa releases June 3rd, 2005 projected prerelease date May 21st-22nd. 165 cards.
The Kamigawa block's setting and storyline is based on Japanese culture, lore, and religion. The word "Kamigawa" itself means "spirit river". Kamigawa is a planet far from Mirrodin and Dominaria. According to Creative Director Brady Dommermuth, the short version of the storyline is "Shinto gone horribly wrong". Shinto is the Japanese belief that everything in the world, be it a deceased relative, a holy place, or a rock, has a god-like "kami" within. On Kamigawa, peace has survived over thousands of years because the inhabitants worshipped the "Way of the Kami". But kami start manifesting themselves in strange ways and turning on the humans and creatures of the physical world.
Creatures of type "spirit" will be plentiful throughout the three Kamigawa sets. There will be a mechanic to differentiate kami from creatures of the physical world. The first image is a spirit as it will appear on a card (taken from a booster box). The second image is a spirit taken from conceptual artwork. Long flowing robes, hair, and facial features give the artwork a very Japanese feel... also notice the orbiting objects around the creature's head. This is seen in much of the artwork from the new set.  MORE INFO BELOW |
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Post by E- RIDER on Aug 9, 2004 21:46:59 GMT -5
The first book in the block is called "Outlaw" and was written by Scott McGough. It will be released in September. The synopsis follows.
THE WAR WITH THE SPIRIT WORLD HAS BEGUN
In a world of mysticism and honor, a war is brewing. Spirits launch attacks against humans as, in the shadows, a terror lurks just beyond sight.
Michiko, daughter of the warlord Konda, must brave the dangers outside her father's fortress to consult holy monks and the orochi, snake folk with a strong connection to the spirit world. Yet when Michiko meets Umezawa, a thief and black magic user, she realizes that to stop the war that is about to sweep the land, she may have to make alliances with her enemies. And the most dangerous foes may be her friends.
According to Dommermuth, the main character Umezawa, the "thief and black magic user", is related in some way to the character from the Legends set, Tetsuo Umezawa.
Tetsuo Umezawa - UBR
Creature - Legend (R)
Tetsuo Umezawa can't be the target of enchant creature spells.
UBBR, T: Destroy target tapped or blocking creature.
3/3
Tetsuo was the "Champion" in the Legends II book. The new Umezawa is thought to share similarities with the old one, and is perhaps his descendant. CLICK TO VIEW COVER PICTURE forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28460The book synopsis mentions the "orochi" whose full name is the Orochibito, a race of snakefolk. They are closely entwined with the spirit world and are fierce warriors. These green creatures are quite common through the Kamigawa block. They are described by Art Director Jeremy Cranford as "beautiful but deadly". Both the male and female Orochibito can be fighters, and prefer to use shortswords and longbows as weapons. They have two legs and four arms, with three fingers on each foot and hand. Perhaps the Orochibito are a sign of the triumphant return of poison counters! Below is the concept artwork for snakefolk as well as the Orochibito pictured on a John Avon piece found on a German gaming magazine's advertisement NEW ARTWORK\PICTURE - CLICK BELOW forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28379 |
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Post by E- RIDER on Aug 9, 2004 21:50:47 GMT -5
There will be many other interesting creature types in the set. Unicorns are back, and there is at least one Angel and one Dragon. Humans, Spirits, and Legends will feature prominently. In fact, Cranford said there will be several Legends paying homage to Legends of the past through name, flavor, or ability.
Black has a race of ratfolk called "nezumi". Red has the "akki" which are Japanese-style goblins with a twist. White's new race is the foxfolk, or "kitsune". Blue gets the moonfolk, or "tsukibito", who fly among the clouds without wings, have long ears, and have symbols on their foreheads that change with their expressions. Aside from the snakefolk, green also gets a race of rabbitfolk. Unfortunately for us elf enthusiasts, green's staple creature type is taking a one-block holiday because elves don't fit into traditional Japanese mythology. A Magic Online glitch leaked the presence of a creature type called "zubera".
"Oni" is the Kamigawa term for demon. This is the Oni concept artwork and an Oni pictured on the Avon piece. ONI PICTURE - forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28376NEW ILLUSTRATION \ PICTURE OF ONI forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28377 |
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Post by E- RIDER on Aug 9, 2004 22:11:13 GMT -5
variety of weapons including knives, swords, sai, fans, bows, and spears are known to be used on Kamigawa. We have no confirmation on this, but it is believed that the new card type Equipment will continue to be used to represent weapons, armor, and items.
Cranford apparently didn't realize how many current Magic artists wanted to do the Japanese-inspired genre. Matt Cavotta, rk post, John Avon, Christopher Moeller, Ron Spencer, Chris Rush, and Mark Tedin all apparently embraced the new style and contributed. Rebecca Guay has confirmed that she was commissioned to paint several arts for the Kamigawa block as well. There will also be many new artists who specialize in Japanese fantasy art. KAMIGAWA ART - FLAME SOMETHING.. forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28487The Champions of Kamigawa set symbol can be seen on the outside of the boxes in the product display images posted in the Rumor Mill. It is a stylized Shinto "torii gate" (see second picture). These gates are prevalent at the entrance to Shinto shrines and represent the gateway between the physical and spiritual realms. The last picture is believed to be the official set symbol. NEW PICTURE - torii gate forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28496NEW - official set symbol.... forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28497The artwork for all twenty basic lands (four of each basic land type) can be seen below. Each collage will be cut up into four pieces for the cards. Ignore the leaves on the right side of the plains image - these pictures were taken from a convention display with bamboo plants nearby! PLAINS forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28494ISLANDS forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28492SWAMPS forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28495MOUNTAINS forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28493FOREST forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28491On the Avon piece mentioned above is another hint about the land of Kamigawa. A faint but majestic castle with tall spires rises above the battlefield. forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28488The set has very few "strict reprints" (cards like Stone Rain, Disenchant, Terror, etc). It has many "functionally identical reprints" which are cards with the same costs, color, stats, and abilities of old cards, but with new names. It also has a lot of "tweaked versions" which are cards that resemble old cards but have been adjusted in some way (name, stats, power level, etc). One partially known card is an instant that deals three damage for one red mana. It is NOT a reprint of Lightning Bolt. Speculation has it targeting a player only, but that's all we've got right now. The playtest card is shown below. forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28461 |
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Post by E- RIDER on Aug 9, 2004 22:16:10 GMT -5
Below are a number of other images taken from product display pictures posted in the Rumor Mill. The first is a moonfolk, or "tsukibito" - blue in color with symbols on its forehead. The close-up of the preconstructed decks shows that there are four - monowhite, monogreen, monored, and green/black forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28503forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28490forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28500forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28501forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28502forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28505The John Avon piece which was found in an advertisement in a German magazine (not yet released to the public) shows a colorful and powerful battle sequence between several of the new creature types on Kamigawa. A Japanese-style dragon, an oni (demon), moonfolk, snakefolk, and many other types are visible. A mage with bolts of energy stands ready. Archers fire rounds of arrows at opposing forces. A looming creature in the background prepares to do battle. Perhaps this is the black "Spirit of Famine" which supposedly has orbiting energy objects around it (like all kami). When spirits die, their orbiting energy objects disappear. Or maybe this huge creature is the white "Light Battle God" which apparently has multiple heads and is capable of pumping out small flying creatures to do its bidding. In any case, it's gigantic forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28486 |
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Post by E- RIDER on Aug 9, 2004 22:19:50 GMT -5
As a bonus, here is the newly discovered cover picture of the second book in the Kamigama series, also written by McGough, titled "Heretic". Underneath is the cropped and enlarged Betrayers of Kamigawa set logo forums.mtgnews.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28499WE WILL NOW BEGIN ADDING CARDS TO OUR SPOILER LIST AS THEY BECOME AVAILABE |
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