PROPHECIES OF CHRIST (Spoiler thread)

[Red Dragon Thorn]

Alexander the "Great" is really boring with unity greeks.

Not really, Greeks are super solid and Alexander is an instasplash in every defense without it

[Kor]

Alexander the "Great" is really boring with unity greeks.

Not really, Greeks are super solid and Alexander is an instasplash in every defense without it

I agree, although there is always the in-between ‘if you control another greek’. 

[Bobbert]

Alexander the "Great" is really boring with unity greeks.

Not really, Greeks are super solid and Alexander is an instasplash in every defense without it

I agree, although there is always the in-between ‘if you control another greek’.

Then you just splash it with PoZ in most decks.

Honestly with that powerful of an ability, I think this is the most warranted Unity we've seen yet, with the exception of ANB.

[Watchman]

@Watchman, AtG will need to be in battle for Greeks to have first strike. Since he bands, and can be banded too, the benefit will apply to all banded Greeks (assuming unity).

Thematically, I get that the FS grant works only in battle, which I like, but since there is only one other evil Greek that bands to another evil Greek (Winged Leopard) it didn't make much sense to me for his FS grant ability to be very effective for other Greeks without AtG being TC (unless, of course, there will be more Greek banding in the upcoming sets).  BTW, this FS grant would also apply to Greek heretics. Was this intended, or maybe FS could just be reserved for Greek warriors?  Just a thought. 

Good catch that he also grants FS to good Greeks. If there’s room I’ll add “evil”. If there’s not, in the rare event that he blocks vs a good Greek the the FS will cancel out.

 

[Bobbert]

Man, now I'm wondering if we could ever finagle a Gilgamesh card into the game... We probably have enough characters that need a reprint (or a first print) that we won't get quite that deep into the extrabiblical barrel for a while yet.

TFW Rider can't even use a Chariot because the one in his brigade specifies Philistine. 

[Kor]

But please, for God and the love of His Son,

I don’t think that is an appropriate comment for discussing a card reprint.

[Isildur]

Wait what exactly does the curse side of Flying Scroll do?

"Give this card to a player to take and play a dual icon or multicolor card."

You can read this two ways. You're giving "this card" to a player so they can "take" Flying Scroll or you can read it as you give the card to a player and you can "take" a card in play.

I feel like this line of the special ability needs to be more clear... It's hard to tell if "take" is a keyword or just part of the sentence structure.

Maybe we can start bolding keywords like other CCGs?

[RedemptionAggie]

Wait what exactly does the curse side of Flying Scroll do?

"Give this card to a player to take and play a dual icon or multicolor card."

You can read this two ways. You're giving "this card" to a player so they can "take" Flying Scroll or you can read it as you give the card to a player and you can "take" a card in play.

I feel like this line of the special ability needs to be more clear... It's hard to tell if "take" is a keyword or just part of the sentence structure.

Maybe we can start bolding keywords like other CCGs?

Give is the basically opposite of take, so the first interpretation has a player trying to take a card they control, which is impossible. And I'm not sure any of that sentence overrides the default of cards being read from the controller's perspective, so it's not the receiving player taking.

I actually think the problem here isn't "take", it's "and play" being in the middle of the ability and not the end, like Caleb (take a City and play it). But the ability doesn't fit the card with "and play it".

[Isildur]

Give is the basically opposite of take, so the first interpretation has a player trying to take a card they control, which is impossible. And I'm not sure any of that sentence overrides the default of cards being read from the controller's perspective, so it's not the receiving player taking.

I actually think the problem here isn't "take", it's "and play" being in the middle of the ability and not the end, like Caleb (take a City and play it). But the ability doesn't fit the card with "and play it".

OHHHH! You're right. I understand what it does now. In my original post, I didn't understand that the whole sentence was one ability, I thought it was two separate abilities in the same sentence.

I originally read... "You're giving "this card" to a player so they can "take" Flying Scroll and you may play a dual icon or multicolor card from hand." (That's the play as that happened in my head)

Yeah either flipping the wording to be like Caleb or even just putting a comma after "player" would make the ability much clearer.

I remember this happened last year with another card. I'm all for having concise wording but there is a point where things become too concise and things can become vague if not specified.

[Gabe]

I wonder if a Throne deck will still open with Auto > Sam > King Saul > Abbey > David if you get this guy out pre-game?

Spoiler (hover to show)

Back on topic, what is the reasoning for making False Dreams Brown and gray rather than Pale green and gray?

False prophets are gray and rebellious Israelites are brown. What is the reason to give it pale green?

[Watchman]

Spoiler (hover to show)

With the “matching brigade” unity qualifier, verifying this means you can have other multi brigade ECs so long as at least one of those brigades on each EC match either evil gold or crimson?

[Gabe]

With the “matching brigade” unity qualifier, verifying this mean you can have other multi brigade ECs so long as at least one of those brigades on each EC match either evil gold or crimson?

That's my understanding. As long as all of your ECs have either crimson or gold it works. Some can be crimson and some can be gold.

I think our team has discussed that and came to the same consensus but I'll wait for someone else to verify that.

[RedemptionAggie]

With the “matching brigade” unity qualifier, verifying this mean you can have other multi brigade ECs so long as at least one of those brigades on each EC match either evil gold or crimson?

That's my understanding. As long as all of your ECs have either crimson or gold it works. Some can be crimson and some can be gold.

I think our team has discussed that and came to the same consensus but I'll wait for someone else to verify that.

Within Unity, I'm pretty sure matching brigade means each member of the group has to match each other member of the group - so if The Outcasts is converted to a Hero, it could work without either Crimson or Gold ECs. We might want to revisit that.

[Bobbert]

I wonder if a Throne deck will still open with Auto > Sam > King Saul > Abbey > David if you get this guy out pre-game?

Spoiler (hover to show)

Eh, probably. Deck discard is a good psychological deterrent, but any discarded cards may as well just be at the bottom of your deck for all intents and purposes until you deck out. Though that deck does get to 0 pretty consistently, it's still worth it nine times out of ten.

I do look forward to playing this with Birthing Pains, though, to punish both playing only one character per turn and playing lots of heroes.

[dermo4christ]

I wonder if a Throne deck will still open with Auto > Sam > King Saul > Abbey > David if you get this guy out pre-game?

Spoiler (hover to show)

Back on topic, what is the reasoning for making False Dreams Brown and gray rather than Pale green and gray?

False prophets are gray and rebellious Israelites are brown. What is the reason to give it pale green?

Throne decks against this guy???  New name....Dethroned! LOL!

[Kor]

SPOILER LIST (all cards subject to change)

Moses, Friend of God
The Emmaus Road
400 Years of Silence
Manna
Jonah's Anger
Lost Soul (Orphans)

Fake Spoilers
Persian Archers
Persian Conquerors
Numerous as the Stars
Potiphar’s Wife
False Dreams
Lion’s Den
Negev Lions
Kinsman Redeemer
Alexander the Great
Covenant of Eden
The Outcasts
Flying Scroll

Since the original post hasn't been updated in 2 weeks, I made a list of the cards spoiled in that time.  Not sure if I missed any.

[Gabe]

Kor, thanks for providing that updated list! Having that list makes it easier to remember what we've shown and what we haven't so we can bring you new previews... like these two cards!

Along with this preview I'd like to mention that we are testing the idea of having "STAR" abilities activate not only from the opening hand but anytime the "STAR" card is drawn by game rule (aka, not searched, taken or drawn by special ability).

To help show how the entire Old Testament points to the coming Messiah, one thing we've done in this set is focused on the role of prophet, priest and king (Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of all 3 offices). One of our very first previews was God's prototype prophet - Moses, Friend of God. Here's God's prototype priest.

Spoiler (hover to show)

And to go with him, a versatile card that might be a welcome addition to multiple types of decks.

Spoiler (hover to show)

[Kevinthedude]

*playable Teal cards*

YES

Along with this preview I'd like to mention that we are testing the idea of having "STAR" abilities activate not only from the opening hand but anytime the "STAR" card is drawn by game rule (aka, not searched, taken or drawn by special ability).

Even more yes! This version of the mechanic has me significantly more excited for several reasons, especially that it creates a small tradeoff for playing hyper speed and that it encourages new deck varieties by providing a payoff for shuffling certain cards back into your deck. Very happy to see this as a potential change!

[Bobbert]

I like how on both Aaron and Moses the star ability feels more in line with the office of priest/prophet, while their hero ability feels more in line with the character themselves (fitting more into an Exodus deck, in this case).

[Reth]

Hm... while I like seeing Redemption evolve and increase I fear another new mechanic will make it even more complex and maybe unrulable.

In addition not having star cards will bring another major drawback for players as it was the case when reserve has been introduced back then (which was IMHO not the case with e.g. to the cloud symbol). BTW: Shouldn't the cloud idea also get future support in having more additional cards using that mechanic?

[Ironisaac]

BTW: Shouldn't the cloud idea also get future support in having more additional cards using that mechanic?

  More cloud please!

[Master Q]

I like the sneaky way the art escapes the box with the trumpet.

Very much in agreement with the star idea rework. It would go a long way to make those abilities feel less like "luck of the opening draw" and more like "you're rewarded for drawing into them naturally". Now I won't necessarily feel cheated if I don't happen to draw any opening hand.

[Gabe]

Hm... while I like seeing Redemption evolve and increase I fear another new mechanic will make it even more complex and maybe unrulable.

We're being very careful with the abilities we use for the "STAR" mechanic and vetting it well. Additionally we're starting off with mostly simple abilities that we will expand on in phase 2 and again over the following 2 sets that will use it. I don't think there's much of a chance it will be too complex or "unrulable".

In addition not having star cards will bring another major drawback for players as it was the case when reserve has been introduced back then (which was IMHO not the case with e.g. to the cloud symbol).

The new mechanic is supposed to motivate you to get the new cards. If not having it is a drawback then we've done something right. There really isn't a reason to produce a new set if players don't need or want the cards.

BTW: Shouldn't the cloud idea also get future support in having more additional cards using that mechanic?

The "Cloud" mechanic in Cloud of Witnesses was only ever intended to be used for that set, with the idea that we may toss a few cloud icons on cards in the future (but only Heroes mentioned in Hebrews 11, either directly or indirectly or the rare Hebrews 11 Enhancement). For example, I believe you've seen a cloud icon on Moses, Friend of God.

[Kevinthedude]

Hm... while I like seeing Redemption evolve and increase I fear another new mechanic will make it even more complex and maybe unrulable.

Card games have to make new mechanics to keep the game interesting and fun. Redemption especially has limited design space without adding new mechanics due to the lack of something like the mana system MtG has. One of the benefits of set rotation is that while you're constantly adding new mechanics to the game, you're also removing some as well so new players only have to learn current mechanics and can learn the rest when they branch out into older formats.

[Red Dragon Thorn]

BTW: Shouldn't the cloud idea also get future support in having more additional cards using that mechanic?

  More cloud please!

More cloud?

Okay!

Spoiler (hover to show)