The Structures of Prosperity [Abzan MTG Color Philosophy]
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- Опубліковано 20 сер 2024
- Here we have the first Wedge in the MTG Color Philosophy Series Slicing the Pie, with the Wedge of Abzan. This color combination within Magic the Gathering is a popular wedge and I can see why. As I broke down the color theory that builds this combination I began to see a very interesting case in MTG color Philosphy. So join me as I build up a framework and breakdown some ideals in this latest episode where we explain the color pie in terms that everyone can enjoy.
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Learn more about the colors featured in this video:
White - ua-cam.com/video/Kgj4Vb-Bc1g/v-deo.html
Green - ua-cam.com/video/Wa4unbtsBtE/v-deo.html
Black - ua-cam.com/video/PAlr1_ReQq8/v-deo.html
Abzan: everyone is equal. Some people are more equal than others.
Whenever Black gets paired with a communal color like White or Green, just remember that Black can still care for others by seeing them as extensions of the self. _My_ family. _My_ guild. "You attacked me by attacking those I love."
Thank you!
@@loneoutsider8004my brain read this as an extension of the comment so I read “You attacked me by attacking those I love. Thank you!” And if that isn’t a terrifying thing to hear I don’t know what is.
@@dittmar104 you've lost me there😐
@@dittmar104 terrifying indeed
Damn that's a good take.
Thinking about the Roman connection you made, I'm reminded of the way that Rome didn't just spread their culture, but adopted the religions of the conquered nations by bringing them into the Roman pantheon. This helped them assimilate the locals into the Roman empire.
This makes sense in Abzan, as the culture (community + tradition) of white/green can be expanded upon by the pragmatism and power-seeking nature of black.
Abzan: “The wedge of peace.”
Also Abzan: The undisputed king of removal spells.
Well yeah, you'll always have peace if you simply remove anyone who isn't peaceful. As Frodo Baggins puts it, "you've been officially labelled a disturber of the peace"
Can't have peace without power.
Can't have prosperity without others' famine.
Life, the world, is a zero-sum game; there are winners, there are losers.
One need to get rid of peacebreakers to introduce peace, ain’t?
Cmon... Esper has the throne in this matter...
@@shadowsun4055 only if you consider counter-spells removal. Abzan has things like Abrupt Decay, Maelstrom Pulse and so on. Golgari, Orzhov and Mono White all have some of the best spot removal in the game, and this is them all together.
Dicetry: Let's make it positive.
Also Dicetry: Philosophy of Conquerors.
Lol positive for them I guess. That said the conquerer side is the sort of obvious part that people expect from that combo so I covered it. Then moved on to other ideals that are more truly positive
@@DiceTry I think Mardu might be the more "conqueror" type wedge. Abzan feels more neutral. "I only care about my group, but I'm not going to outright antagonize others if I don't have to."
Wow! This was a DEEP discussion on this color philosophy. Abzan seems like a very complex color grouping. It's like...Selesnya thinks it has it all figured out, but then adding black to the mix opens up even more possibilities! It complicates things for Selesnya, but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Black just shows that YOU CAN benefit from this harmony that green and white has created, an that you can bring those teachings to others. That last one though; "Inner Peace through Structured Self" is a very interesting angle to look at it. It's a side of black that looks more inward for self-satisfaction than outward.
In a strange way, the relationship between black and selesnya is almost like this: selesnya curbs black's ambitions so that it's not so destructive or toxic and black pushes selesnya to look beyond the single circle they have created. It creates ambition through acceptance.
Great breakdown as always!
I see it the other way around: strong individuals creates strong societies.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
I have a player that made an Abzan Circle of Spores Druid that follows Zuggtmoy. His ambition is to bring about connection and peace through the total Fungal colonization of the world. He's not necessarily militant about it, but will opportunisticly parasitize the weak. "Fret not. Everything dies. Your addition to the collective was inevitable."
So basically:
Pros: Inner peace, structure and self-actualization, as well as a full understanding of life and death.
Cons: Ultra-nationalism and colonialism.
This combo can pan out in a number of different ways. Really interesting.
@@elnantuko Shoe fash.
@John Ross nothing wrong with nationalism as long as it doesn’t go to the extreme. Same with Socialism if it goes extreme it becomes Communism. Both philosophies have dangerous potential. So don’t act like you are on a pedestal.
@@BattleBrotherCasten Nationalism is an inherently bad thing.
>Cons: Ultra-nationalism and colonialism
Based, its not a bug, its a feature. Based Abzan.
So what you're saying is that there isn't any cons?
I think out of all the color combinations this is the one that resonates with me the most. Structure, order and routine in my life give me inner peace. It's one of the reasons I'm so heavily into fitness. Waking up early to complete a physical routine that betters and also challenges myself allows me to progress through the rest of the day with a since of calmness that I wouldn't have if I skipped said workout. Even some of the downsides of this combination are linked to me as well. Without blue and red there's a resistance to change within this color combination that's rather obvious. Quick and sudden changes will catch someone like myself completely off guard, and I'll have a hard time adapting. Sometimes it seems like everyone around me can easily embrace the chaos around then while I maintain a stoic exterior while slowly dying internally.
At the end of the 3 color series you could do a "One non-MTG character for each shard/wedge" video (or videos) I really loved those segments and think they help us to connect with the concept, great video by the way
That's a cool idea I like that. I'll keep that in mind for surr
Abzan has one of my favourite takes on Black, White & Green's dirty little secret.
It's astounding how indepth MTG is.
So hyped for jeskai.
I think one way to look at Abzan is this. You take White and Green's focus on community with Black and Green's focus on death and the other worldly, and you get finding community with the dead and otherworldly.
Alternatively, you can see focus on Black and White's focus on using the law for one's advantage and White and Green's focus on community, and you get someone who manipulates the community for their own interests.
Just found this video, and as a lover of abzan, I’ve always felt if I had to boil its identity down to one word, it’s family. The idea of green whites community but it’s you because black means you have your own vested interest in this community, green blacks identity of survival with whites identity of structure. In addition white and black has redemption and corruption as two ways to look at its combined themes, while green is very much the concept of acceptance, and many state that you are meant to accept peoples faults if you are family, and while I don’t quite agree with the philosophy of that, I do think it all fits together.
Tl;dr abzan is family
I very much agree with you, thank you.
Dom Toretto has entered the chat
now i need a abzan Dom vehicle commander @@BradenASDF
Another way an Abzan society could be expressed is that they are a community of individuals.
Each person brings their own unique strengths and weaknesses to the table, and it is the community that allows that person to reach that full potential by fostering each member's growth into their idealized self. No one is ever truly alone, as they have their comerades beside them who know their struggles, and can help shoulder their burdens.
Lets bow to our rhino riding treefolk overlords!
Great vid, btw
The truest form of Abzan!
First vid I just now found by you! Excellent work! I am listening to the DUNE soundtrack while watching and its a big elevation!
So do you think Abzan has the right idea! Is there a version of Abzan philosophy you could see yourself following?
Do Sultai 🤤
I think I idolise the inner peace through structure of the self. Be very hard to get to that point seeing as the colours I got on the mtg test was izzet
I mean I think there is always a version of ourselves we want to be but it can be hard to go against our nature. I wish I had more white in my personality but I struggle with doing things for others.
DiceTry honestly same. I was hoping for Jeskai but hey, creativity is still nice even if you keep it to yourself. Which actually makes a lot of sense with me now that I’ve just laid it out like that
This was a really great video! I think i can understand why Abzan is so beloved now, since it's a color combination that can balance a focus of the self and others pretty well.
I’m so glad I found this channel
Loving this series!
Thank you! Its been interesting doing Wedges so far but I am now looking forward to the rest of them.
I have an abzan deck based on the lore and it is surprisingly powerful. It was first ever commander deck that I custom built
Yeah very cool, your picture at 9:37 is how I see the color pie alter, with blue being on the right of order, and red being on the left of chaos. Also very fun to look at the sub-dominant pairs of a triad as sort of like the "honor guard". Like Selesnya is the core, but then also present is Golgari and Orzhov in some capacity. And perhaps Ikoria and even Guilds/Allegiance shows us that there can be a case where the sub-dominant pair can be exalted. A Golgari+White peace, or Orzhov+green over nature.
We can definitely look to the missing colors as a balanced interpretation. So Izzet of Red Blue is almost two colors in balance in the most extreme sense, very similar to Black White.
I feel like the balance through structure a lot like the samurai bushido, meditate, respect the order and your superiors
Yeah totally. I think that's a valid comparison to make.
True. Samurai were very traditional after all, not interested in improving much. After all, the introduction of firearms into Japanese warfare didn’t go well for them because of their inability to adapt, indicating a lack of blue. A samurai also had to sacrifice their own individual emotions to become slaves of their lords, setting their own emotions aside as they had to put their lords will above what they wanted. Because they are bound by duty, seems like a lack of red.
After a long stressfull day, the calm collected vibe of this video was great
Perfect! Nothing like some great art and some discussion on color philosophy.
The abzan worshipped the dead..the spirit's of the dead..and came to them for advice.. sometimes the dead woukd help more after there death..
Abzan is the color of survival
An example of this is the Khan leader is the past where dragons are dead..Anna . In the future where dragons rule. The abzan are not abzan no more..nut ruled under dromoko, and he did not like anyone worshipping the dead even the spirit of the last kin tree anna there was some who still did against the dragonlord wishes.. so the clan became white green
And abzan core color or white. Since. Of the mechanics of 1/1 counters and outlast and bolster
There was alot of kin tree spirits
I haven’t seen the whole video but I’m so exited to see Abzan!
Wow. This video is so cool. This is the first wedge video released. However as I go through it now, I am about halfway through. I already went through Sultai and Jeskai. Later I can do Temur and Mardu. In the middle I have black. This black is paired with the enemy color of white. It is tricky to put together. They have a big difference in black being individual and white being communal. I tend to think of the greedy ruthless order of the Orizhov guild of Ravnica. The Tarkir videos show another side. The two wedges to have both colors are Abzan and Mardu. Both are tribal in nature. I can see how tribal can work as a mix. One cares only for thier narrow social group. It is bigger than the black caring for the self. Yet it is smaller than the white people caring for everybody regardless of group. When I think of a tribal people, I think of the Republicans in my courntry of the United States. I am not a fan, but I will try not to rant too much about them here. It is funny that the pictures of the Abzan khan included elephants. Elephants are the mascots of the party. Is that a coincidence? Maybe. I am not sure. Republans only care about Americans. More specifically they only care about the elites in America. Once I think of it, the Orizhov guild on Ravnica are actually really similar to Republicans as well. Republicans claim to be all Christian, and they may even have thier own churches. However this isn't like a regular religion where they have charity to the poor and taboos against greed and gluttony. Instead the Republicans are really into capitalism. The big companies have an oppressive rule over the poor. They drain out the money making the rich richer and the poor poorer. Yeah it is not pretty. It is a mix of following personal goals at the expense of others plus a tight oppressive rule. The rule of corperations is not put in check by the actual US government. The other pair of opposites is golgari colors of green and black. Green is about life, while black is about death. They go together to form a circle of life. Abzan mixes both pairs together. The allied colors are white and green. This is Selesnya. This guild is relativly peceful and exceptiong. The black comes in. It creates a cruelty and oppression against those outside the group. My favorite part of this video is the one that shows a whole world view. It brings a whole new level of advanced color philosophy. I am trying to come up with similar models for other wedges. It fascinates me. Abzan has a wider view of the world complete with spiritual realms. Green is the middle world of the mundane and the earth. Black is the underworld of the dark and dead. White is the upper world of the light and heavin. The unity in tribalism is most like Orzhov. The tribalism is very much an Orizhov thing. There is a little green added. It forsm unity. The tribe is like and ecosystem. Oneness with the cycle is most like Golgari. Golgari is good at dealing with the cycle of life and death. White is added in. There is a new spiritual realms. There is a divine heavenly realm. Inner peace through structured self is most like Selsnya. I don't think of Selesnya as balanced. I just think of it as being on the side of acceptence, nature and community. One is grounded in structure to keep the tribe together. One has firm daily rituals. Yet there is some black. One is pleased with personal accomplishments throughout the day.
I just have to say, I really love these videos! They are so well done and quite interesting to listen to.
Thank you I appreciate the kind words. I do love making color philosophy videos and am just happy people enjoy them
I would love to see how people of these shards, wedges and dualities would interact with each other.
Like Abzan and Mardu. Could those two coexist? Would one fall under the other? Or would they try to destroy each other?
In this combination Green and White dominate but I can see a scenario where Black and White or Black and Green dominate. It's interesting to see how a trio could work in three ways or even four if you could somehow get them to work in perfect harmony with neither 5th dominating. I wonder how they work......
great video and waiting for sultai
I dont know why but this speaks so much to me.
I tried Izzet, in particular firkaag and while it was good it just didn't click for me when i made my deck into an artifact tokenator, then i tried Grixis which was supposed to be izzet but better but i found myself stumbling with combos and while it was good and i will work on it, something about the frodo precon i bought just goes ham, there's a tranquility with Abzan and its strategies while it does not outright brute force something with red or outmaneuver somethign with blue, definitely has those options. I like how adding green (the color of nature/growth) adds to the contrasting colors of black (death) and white (life) and in return gives it unparalleled removal of things that may get in its way. Also as if on theme while it can overpower it enemies i like how Abzan can be strong when it is slow, methodical even in its approach to creep up onto domination.
I'm starting to reconsider my stance on Abzan. Mainly because I don't really subscribe to its philosophy that much. But overall the video was fantastic as it did a wonderful job explaining what the combo is all about.
You really outdid yourself this time, DiceTry! I can't wait to see how the next video is going to turn out, regardless of topic.
Abzan the color that made the nightmare of Seige rhino.
In other words, "This is the Way."
FIRST. Great video dicetry
Nice! You are the champion!
Amazing stuff. Very insightful and on point!!
Green is no stranger to natural hierarchies. White ultimately believes that the community is more important than the individual. Black is all about competition and self determination. So what would happen if Selesnya was forced into extreme competition with another group? What natural hierarchies would emerge to preserve the community?
I really really love your series!! do you have a background in philosophy you seem very knowledgeable. I always had an issus with the Abzan (in Tarkir at least) idk why but I think they are too contradictory in their philosophy but I feel like I understand them better now
Hey thanks a bunch I'm just glad you enjoyed it. As for your question, no I don't have an academic background in philosophy, it's just something I think a lot about and writing is always something I've done. So it all kinda just worked out and turned into great UA-cam content
@@DiceTry well I can't say much than keep it up! you're content is awesome and makes me think about philosophy in a way that is not painful and academic. also the quality of your video is great!
and thanks for including pics of my boi nethroï in the video!
This video has brought out all the weirdos. With the other videos people will have generic criticisms of the varying life philosophies, but in this particular comment section half of the comments are "OMG NATZEES!!! LOL!!!" without recognizing that each perspective is equally as blindsided.
I think the internet gives a voice to unpopular opinions. See how White Mana is seen as more villainous online than Black Mana. :D White Mana can be villainous, but considering that it is the color of Society, most humans who live in society should be understanding of it. :D
Weridly even while it lack my fave 2 colors i really like this wedge.
I can understand that. I personally don't like playing the colors within Bant all that much but I do like it as a philosophy
@@DiceTry Weridly enough , I have reversed situation. While i decently enjoy playing all colors my prefrences lie within abzan, but when it comes to philosophy, izzet is my favorite.
I AM ABZAN! :)
I think two characters that display Abzan real well are Vex, Laura Bailey's character in campaign 1 of Critical Role, and Caduceus Clay, Taliesin Jaffie's 2nd character in campaign 2 of Critical Role.
Vex grew up with her twin brother in a society that shunned them and treated them cruelly, so she had to get by through her own abilities; we also see this in how fixated she is on the party finances. However, after finding Vox Machina in adulthood, she finally found the community that accepted her for who she was, and because of it, acted something like the party mom. Finally, of all the members of VM, Vex is arguably the kindest of the bunch, having grown up with the childhood she had, she is always the first to lend a helping hand to a random passers-by (eg, when VM is in Hell and she takes it upon herself to rescue two Aasimar slave children).
Caduceus, being a Grave Domain Cleric, very much embodies your mindset of Oneness with the Cycle. He believes death is just another natural part of the journey that is life, and not one to be overlooked.
Beneath the skin, we are already one.
Calm down, Elesh Norn...
Abzan really juat feels like a species battle for survival.
You have order in your own species and want to structure your surrounding to best achieve your species survival.
But even in your goal of survival you are willing to sacrifice a big part of the species (having lots of children) to achieve greatness and evolution for few (greens big monsters).
I was upset because the opening was a little unflattering but the longer this video goes the more true it seems.
That's the thing with a lot of color philosophies with black in them. There will always be a version that takes selfish actions that aren't good for everyone but at the same time actions taken for the self can be a really positive thing.
Wait. Is America just Abzan? It seems like the idealized vision of America reflects the idealized vision of Abzan, while the pessimistic view of Abzan mimics the pessimistic view of America.
Idealized view: America is a place where people who join and contribute to a fair and equal society can be accepted, and we work to protect our own and their prosperity.
Pessimistic view: America is a Xenophobic war engine who only takes outsiders in as second class citizens. Taking resources and territory without hesitation.
Abzan feels like specifically my home of the southern states, and i agree bad side of the us as a whole. Jeskai feels more like the idealized good side the US tries to go for.
@@okamiv5 since when is blue an American ideal?
to strive for a more prefect union. its the attempt to find the best method of governance, taking what works as best it can, at least that's how i always interpreted the founding fathers philosophy.
@@okamiv5 you know, that’s a fair point
To add to this thread, I also see an idealized America as, coincidentally yet fittingly, Jeskai. Red and Blue bring the freedom to live how you please and learn what you want, and White brings the responsibility to avoid using your personal lifestyle or your obtained knowledge as an excuse to cause harm to others.
To me, I see the modern US as having fallen into the trappings of Abzan’s tribalism, regardless of what political side you join. Too many people have views of “you will either join my extreme ideals or be treated as less than human”. And that honestly pains me. I thought “civilized” society was supposed to be beyond that mindset.
I'm a classicist and I kept thinking this sounds like the Romans to me too.
No wonder I love Nethroi so much.
At its worst, Abzan is a wedge that exerts its power over many in service of only a few, while forcing what it deems "natural" onto that populace, leading to suffering of the masses, regardless of reason *or* the feelings of others. I find myself at odds with this color combination quite often. Yet finding harmony within oneself is important, as what good are you to everyone around you if you don't take care of yourself?
This along with Jund are great examples of the combos bringing out the worst in each other.
Hype
Abzan = Anprim Brought to you by Tribe Elder Ooga Booga
You are forgetting about decay in your discussion of black.
I'm thinking of China
I love wedges and i am still kinda upset they got retconed... OG tarkir forever!(especialu since wedges are most under repesented color combo ,well after 4 color but thats wholeother story)
Commenting for the algorithm.
As is tradijtion
So... Basically "Capricorn, the Color Philosophy."
Guys, how is this wedge tactically?
Im more of a esper myself, but fun i suppose
After taking that quiz, i have to say how disappointing it is that there arent better options for such tests out there.
Mardu!
All I can hear is:
"We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us."
Resistance is futile.
Abzan is India
The colour of pyramid scheme
Abzan is the real face of civilization that we see on planet earth Currently. The belief in tradition and order,(White and Greens presence) where there is collective good for its citizens. however this is only possible by each individual bettering themselves first(presence of black) and lurking in the background is great inequity. the inescapable harsh reality that there will always be someone with less, because without red or blue (compassion and innovation), there is no room for taking care of the weak, or creating things that help humanity unless there is profit to be made…this is the way things should be and always have been according to Abzan. Humanity might be better if we adopted a more Bant or even Jeskai mentality.
I cant help but disagree, Abzan seems a lot more "class collaborationist" towards those in its tribe, towards foreigners sure, those not inside its ingroup just fucking die, but they werent properly integrated into its society in the first place. If you're part of the ingroup though it appears to be "to each according to his ability, to each according to his need". Sure it doesnt believe in outright equality, but it appears to care for its weak and its sick simply because they are part of its tribe.
Oh come on, don't be melodramatic about it.
@@loneoutsider8004 I’d hardly call it melodramatic, really I’m just applying a materialist lens to how we view the color pie through Tarkir.
Abzan is the color that isn't overtly racist, but prone to do racist shit.
Underrated comment.
Edgy Selesnya
This "enemies" and "allies" colors seem arbitrary.
What do you mean?
I wouldn't say that they are arbitrary. Sure they can all come together to make philosophies but their agreement and disagreement on certain things is actually a pivotal part of the color pie. Their positioning is no accident. I do plan on discussing the primary colors a bit more in the future as they are an important basis
@@gunjfur8633 They could be in different positions. For example, white is about control, which is directly opposite to green, which is about letting be.
@@poluicionador
Green is about the natural order, White is more about order/law, Blue is the one about control
@@gunjfur8633 Natural order means to not interfere with the natural order of things.
Order/law is control.
I thought blue is about wisdom and optimisation, wich is perfectly capable within the natural order of things.
I think the first half of this video was just uncritically describing fascist philosophy. All the way down to glorifying the roman empire.
When I speak in the manner I do with the philosophies it's because I'm speaking from that combinations point of views and this is what they would think and say about themselves but as you see in the next point I make other cases as well
@@DiceTry I recognize that you are trying to present each color from their perspective. I'm not accusing you of sympathies, or even your community or anything. I just think that it's important to temper philosophy with more concrete disciplines and examples whenever possible. So presenting a philosophy that is almost identical to how fascists would describe and justify themselves without pointing out abzan's simularities with the IRL counterparts will make people more susceptible to their propaganda.
Having the real world counterpart of abzan be Rome, and focusing more on how they made a prosperous capital than the fact they raped and pillaged all across the mediteranean and northern europe seems odd.
I think I would've been fine with the video if you spent a little bit of time talking about things from the perspective of those conquerored by abzan, or those living in the ghettos that probably exist. There is some great philosophy that you could bring up there too. Mentioning pedagogy of the oppressed, and how being oppressed can actually make people more susceptible to the ideology of the powerful could be super interesting and relevant to your viewers. I think that most people watching this video have things they have internalized from the society that they live in that don't benefit them, something they would, probably, be even more susceptible to if they had lived in abzan.
Anyway, sorry for the big wall of text. I appreciate you responding, and I mean you no ill will :). I like your videos, especially the blue black green one., and I'm excited for your temur video.
Very well said thank you for your response. With only brief explanations some nuance can be lost and I do agree with you. Personally I'm more of a socialist leaning into anarchism so I by no means align with abzan's view of things by any means. I will keep what you said in mind for the future and I appreciate thoughtful replies critiques of my work
@@DiceTry I'm so happy to hear that comrade! Enjoy your sunday!
@@robertlarsen8953 Oh brother. You imply that he is propagandizing, and your comments are nothing but demands for propaganda. It's not enough to not like the color. You demand that no one should like the color, or even be neutral to it. Your methods will only win you enemies, when people realize how manipulative you are being.
All I heard was blah blah blah peace death I tap 4 for siege rhino 🦏.