Magic and aCe Parallels

[BDS]

SPOILERS AHEAD: If you're not into 2120 yet, this post will give away some plot points. Stay back if you want to be surprised.

I've read in a couple of different places where Tom has mentioned that he viewed aCe as having a some similarities to Magic: the Gathering. I personally see quite a lot of that in the factions themselves.

If you're not familiar with Magic, there were five factions that represented different factions of magic: White (Life), Black (Death), Green (Nature), Blue (Sorcery), and Red (Chaos).

In the Ramparts, you've got your White faction. Clear good guys through and through, consort with angels, that sort of thing. In Murdok's Crusade, you've got the Black. Clear bad guys, dead minions, demons, etc. These two are the easiest comparisons to draw.

The Ravagers seem very much like the Blue faction. They're intellectually advanced and lean more towards good than evil. I can also see a connection between Primus and Green, with their much more savage feel and a connection to nature instead of technology.

We just seem to be missing a fifth faction to complete the circle, something analagous to the Magic's chaotic Red side.

The feuds even seem to set up according to Magic's traditional foils.

* Green (Primus) opposes Blue (Ravagers) and Black (Murdok - Murdok's reappearance brought around the return of Paganax, after all)
* Black (Murdok) opposes White (R.O.C.) and Green (Primus - see above)
* White (R.O.C.) opposes Black (Murdok) and Red ()
* Blue (Ravagers) opposes Red () and Green (Primus)
* Red () opposes White (R.O.C.) and Blue (Ravagers)

Now that I've rambled for this long, you're probably wondering what my point actually is. Well, I think that from reading through 2120, that Mr. Osk is setting us up to introduce a fifth faction to compete for the Essence in 2121 and fill that red void - the Judas Syndicate. After all, what's more chaotic than betrayal? They'd have a built-in reason to be hated by the Ravagers in Flatliner. Throw in a traitor from the R.O.C. and it would fit that Magic feud model perfectly.

Okay, I'm done with my idle lunch break speculation now. Anyone else see the same parallels here, or am I just way off base?

[nelson]

maybe rouser will be coming back to lead the new faction maybe?jmo

[Wildfire]

Interesting idea.. definately a possibility.

I wonder if, like some others, Mr. Osk sees Ventross as an evil guy, he could end up siding with the syndicate, that would certainly be enough to make a valid 5th faction, (especially with the addition of a new tag team)
Mind you, I hope this DOESNT happen, but it seems a possibility.


It could be equally likely the Godsend could start his own faction .. and to carry through with you MtG analogy, he would fit the "chaos" mode as well... and it would be easy for him to have new members, he could just recruit some 5th realm demons

[rockajabroney]

I can kinda see General Rankor being the Red (Chaos) by himself. After all, he betrayed not only the Ravager race but then also betrayed Murdok as well. Being the Judas Syndicate could be Rankor himself!?!? Who knows, perhaps he'll betray Paganax by 2121 and lead his own army against all factions?

[Knapik]

Good post!

I think it's a good thought that the Judas Syndicate will be the fifth group... Godsend's betrayal is imminent, but maybe not until late in 2121? And speaking of 2121... if there's going to be an end, how will it be determined... like the 2121 booklet couldn't very well give away the end, could it? It's supposed to tell us what's going on heading into 2121, right? Osk! I need answers!

[Dave]

Would it be shocking if Exodus betrays Aegis and the 5th realm and joins Godsend forming the 5th faction?

[Pete]

dave said:

Would it be shocking if Exodus betrays Aegis and the 5th realm and joins Godsend forming the 5th faction?

In a Vince Russo "Screw logic, I'm going to book a SWERVE~!" sense, yes.

[BDS]

I like the idea of Godsend joining the Judas Syndicate to bolster their strength if they become a fifth faction. He would fit in well (he's got to betray Murdok eventually, right?) and he and Avarice seem like a natural pairing to me.

[Tom]

Big Daddy Swank has made some interesting observations. The tribal idea that a character feeds off the power of others (ala Paganax) is also an influence from collectible card games.

Kris and me are fans of games like Magic and the aCe offered the opportunity to explore those game mechanic directions. I'm also a fan of VS system games.

I've said it a million times---aCe is all about experimentation, but it would be a mere parlor game without a solid foundation of great stories and writing.
And the Centra storylines against the Cosmic Battle backdrop offered the right themes for trying this. I didn't want to wait for that moment to pass and hence aCe was released right after New Beginining 2119.

So enjoy! I think game fans will look back at the aCe series as a very important part of COTG lore.