MTG LORE - An Analysis of Urza vs. Jace from Magic: The Gathering
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- čas přidán 16. 09. 2015
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Simple characters are boring. That’s why I love the complexity of many Magic: The Gathering characters. Many possible meanings can be found when we analyze the characters and their relationship to other elements within the text.
Today, I am going to analyze the characters of Urza and Jace Beleren using a method known as compare and contrast, in order to better understand their deeper meaning and significance.
Remember that when we compare and contrast, we do not do so for the purposes of just making a list of similarities and differences. That would be pointless. We examine their similarities and differences with the intent of gaining new insight into these elements, in this case Jace and Urza, an insight that we might not be able to see when looking at each character in isolation.
Let’s start with a brief overview. Urza vs. Jace - What is the deeper meaning behind two of the most prominent planeswalkers of Magic: The Gathering?
Urza was a master artificer and planeswalker originally from the plane of Dominaria, famous for the conflicts that he headed. Before becoming a planeswalker, he engaged in a lifelong war against his younger brother Mishra, a war so devastating that it was known by all of Dominaria as the Brothers’ War, and whose conclusion was so violent and devastating it shook the very core of the plane of Dominaria itself, changing its axis and thrusting the entire land into an Ice Age, an act so momentous that it even had an effect upon other nearby planes that interacted with Dominaria’s pull.
This was, amazingly, all while Urza was still a simple mortal. After the end of the Brother’s War, from which Mishra perished and Urza ascended as a god-like planeswalker, Urza devoted the next thousand years to combating the Phyrexian Empire, who had been responsible for corrupting his brother Mishra and who planned to invade Dominaria.
Jace Beleren is a blue mage who specializes in illusions and has an innate gift for telepathy. Jace has often been the pawn of other, more powerful forces: as a child, his mentor, the Sphynx Alhammaret deceived and exploited Jace throughout much of his service, and ultimately wiped most of Jace’s memory of himself. On Ravnica, the Infinite Consortium and Tezzeret forced Jace down a path that ultimately led him to being manipulated by none other than Nicol Bolas. Due to these manipulations Jace inadvertently freed the Eldrazi from their prison on Zendikar, threatening all of the multiverse.
So what do these two characters have to do with each other? In the storyline, Urza and Jace never met, they existed hundreds if not thousands of years a part from one another, and their conflicts, at least so far, do not even overlap.
The link I see between them is that both are arguably the most prominent planeswalker of their respective era, each serving as a figurehead for the game itself. Today, it is reasonable to say that Jace is the face of Magic, and yesteryear, it was Urza. Heck, the proprietary font that's been used from Magic 2015 onward is called Beleren, so named after Jace.
So if these characters represent the larger game and its players, then by comparing and contrasting them, what might we learn about ourselves?
Interestingly, when analyzed in relation to one another, it can be interpreted that Urza, despite his character’s age, actually represents the turmoil and conflict that is typical of our teenage years, while Jace, despite his character's young age, actual embodies the conflicts of adulthood: namely those of compromise and complacency.
Now, this is my own interpretation of the characters, and I do want to stress it is just that: my own. It is not the deeper meaning behind these characters, but one possible meaning of many. I will do my best to elaborate and explain my interpretation and point to where in the text I draw my inferences and conclusions from.
Let’s begin with active vs. reactive.
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I find it funny that Jace can control the actions of others, but most of the pivotal moments in his life are spent being controlled by others.
He is a blue mage specialized in illusion and irony.
+GrandDracolich that's so ironic
it's almost as if it's part of him being part of the CONTROL...
Jace : I control the multiverse
Bolas : Welcome my plainswalker, hold my beer
8:38 “What is Jace’s desire?”
A cup of coffee and, like, an hour of peace and quiet
It is the villain that makes the hero popular. Urza had Yawgmoth - however he failed to destroy the Phyrexians and now Karn is leading Urza's fight against the Phyrexians. While Jace works at the "DMV" and his greatest enemy are papercuts.
Urza became part of Karn when the Legacy weapon was used. Karn fights Urza's battles because Urza is Karn.
@@DaDunge except Karn is mentally stable
@@God-ch8lq Yes because Karn has lived for a lot longer than Urza thus is a bigger part of him, also Gerard is as much a part of Karn as Urza is an he's essentially an anti Urza.
I do not trust Karn to fight Phyrexia, considering how much of a fuckup he is. "Oh, let's drop this probe onto Dominaria! Oh wow, it turned into an evil, wish-granting, mentally-corrupting monkey's paw? How in the world did that happen? Oh well, guess I better pick it up and turn it into _the core of my plane's overseer."_
I kind of miss the epic multiverse shattering conflicts of Urza and pre-Time Spiral Magic.
So...You're saying that Jace feels Blue a lot of the time? :P
Badum-psh
+VAB0L0 Always trying to have control, that fellow.
I hate you. But goddammit do I respect you.
NoTalentHackJob not if Jace was a chick you wouldn't lol.
Jace just doesn't mean anything to me.. Nor does he represent magic for me.. It's funny and I am always wondering when someone says something like that about Jace :D
This was the most original, informative and entertaining video about Magic I've ever seen
At least Jace is true to blue magic; in that he is reactive.
While Urza is all but green
+Umba I disagree. In the novels, Jace's way of reacting to things is so impulsive that it's more reminiscent of Izzet than monoblue. And his desire to keep the peace going, the guildpact intact and to follow Gideon to Zendikar "because it's the right thing to do" clearly show a white side of him.
+Liber Khaos I agree
+Liber Khaos So what you're saying is... Jace is Jeskai. Jacekai!
Dan Kearney
That's kind of what I said but not really at the same time. Because I like Jeskai, but I don't like Jace =P
Being the Guildpact on Ravnica: "You're pulled in ten different directions all the time." Ten. One for each guild. I'm used to little opportunities like that being bypassed when stories are written, and I appreciate it.
As much as I love Magic, the character of Urza and the events of the Weatherlight Saga are wasted on the franchise. All the literature related to the war against Phyrexia is some of the best fantasy work I've seen and I wish it wasn't so obscure, especially now that the Weatherlight's legacy is so far away from the spotlight that people need to dig in order to find details on it.
100% agree
well said
Yes, I agree. Current lore does not reach the Weatherlight and Brother's War stuff.
Very elaborate analysis, as always. As Nicol Bolas stated about Jace:
"A supremely powerful mind, incapable of perceiving how he could rule all."
a year ago or so, i wrote a hater comment and now, i just can't get enough of your videos. Sorry. And you're awesome. I'm happy there are more academic inclinations in the mtg community from the likes of you, and yeah, awesome video. Should also be noted that this is a great way to dissect characters from your own stories.
Honestly i feel that Jace seriously desires a deep connection with at least someone. But because of everyone's constant manipulation at some point he just gave up and is trying to find what he can in his hard and reactive life. Eventually his life becomes doing everything he can to try to gain the connections and trust that he can. Hence, his job as the Ravnica Guildpact. He wants everyone's connection to him as well as keeping his life peaceful and happy. I feel like just because he can fight and he has all these special abilities, doesn't mean he has to fight all the time. I think that in itself makes him pretty interesting and complex.
an interesting video, although I do feel the need to point out that Urza's major driving point was to "fight Phyrexia" not save dominaria. while he thought they were one in the same, his actions always caused such terrible repercussions that even his best friend, Barrin, often thought the main difference between Urza and Yawgmoth was Yawgmorh had a 3000 year head start.
I think the problem with the "Origins Five" (sans Liliana) is that they have tried really hard to make them embody the philosophy of their respective color, which turns them into one-dimensional characters. Having them go through changes would mean bleeding their cards into other color combinations (like Ajani, Sarkhan, Garruk), and perhaps Wizards thinks that's a no-no for these "face-of-the-game" characters. They're essentially mascots for each of the five colors.
+Obdu Shaer That's clearly what Wizards thinks, but I think they just need to hire better writers.
Gideon isn't one dimensional, his actions are defined by the death of his friends.
TheSwordsman100 he's Still one dimensional
Gideon = tough nice guy
Nissa= hippie
Chandra= teenager
Jayce= Smart and cool guy
Liliana = Edgy
And thats all his personality it's really sad to see the potential of the stories being developed by plain and simple characters
Nice video, but I have 2 observations:
-First, Jace's memories of his past weren't erased by Alhamaret, Jace erased them while Alhamaret was on his mind, thus vulnerable to his own telepathy (He "sacrified" his own memories in order to defeat Alhamaret)
-Second, While I think your comparative analysis is pretty accurate there is a major factor you should take into consideration, Urza was the "First Planeswalker" magic ever had so he was the embodiment of practically all the magic this world had to offer and was a complete character if you would like, on the other hand Jace is a "Blue Mage" and he represents or showcase the blue portion of the color pie in terms of LORE (Emotions and behavior) and GAMEPLAY (power and abilities restricted to the blue mana)
I do not disagree with you on the portrayal of their characters, but I would take it one step farther. The main difference, action and reaction, is a reflection on Wizards' change in lore. During Urza's time, his actions as well as the actions of the allies and enemies he made along the way, drove the story line. Sets like Urza's Saga and The Weatherlight only prove that story was still a focus even if it was not a top-down set. The adventures built upon each other, culminating into a final curtain call named Time Spiral. This was Wizards' reset. The story is too complicated for a new person. Look at Wedge's lore videos where he stresses watching the previous videos first. How could one jump into Magic and fall in love with the story if it has years of history on it? The answer (besides looking at comic books): block-focused story lines that constantly change main characters. The new planeswalkers can't guide every story. It's easier to have Elspeth suddenly knighted as Heliod's champion. It's easier to have Jace stumble upon Niv Mizzet's machinations. It's easier to have Sarkhan fall through Ugin's magic to inadvertently save all the dragons. He was trying to clear the voices, not save his beloved race. He was not trying to become the Guildpact. She was not trying to save the plane. The characters have some motive at times, but I'm not sure Jace's inaction is uniquely his. Granted, Liliana is actively pursuing her goals, as are Kiora, Nissa, and even Gideon. Reaction is not inherent in neo-planeswalkers, but I think that is the defining reason Jace is like that. Urza was once the star of the show, and it was all about his decisions like any good story. Now, even though Jace is usually seen as the figurehead, it's not solely his show. In an effort to spread the focus, that may mean characters are more reactive because it is very easy to have protagonists solve a problem in motion rather than actively pursue a personal goal.
I love the work and detail you put in this. After a long day of classes, I did not mind sitting to listen to one more lecture about character analysis.
Love this. Do more of this. Obviously a professor of literature as the analysis was deep and informative.
I have been watching your videos for about 3 months and would like to say that today I finally subscribed, you are by far my favorite you-tuber. You are knowledgeable, concise, and very down to earth. I would like to say thank you for providing such a wide array of viewing material related to magic. Never change Professor!
I just like that they have coffee on ravnica... I want ravnica brand coffee.. I bet it tastes... magical. *rimshot*
Lol dude that was the stupidest pun I've ever heard. but at the same time, it was so satisfying *^*. I love dry jokes so much
Even on Dominaria they did have coffee... it's mentioned briefly in the Brothers' war book
Nice
It's probably grown by the Golgari though. Just saying
@@condenihilit1572 you don't wanna know what the golgari use to grow their coffee
As for the other guilds:
Dimir: poisoned coffee
Azorius: too much coffee (they're magical lawyers, after all)
Rakdos: laced coffee with party drugs
Izzet: meth
Boros: plain old coffee
Simic: the coffee is alive and
screaming
Gruul: foraging coffee beans from bushes
Selesnia: organic, farm grown coffee
Orzhov: extorted coffee from azorius
Professor, I gotta say the depth and support behind your analysis was just so well thought out and presented, it was very refreshing to see a lore video done in such a well thought-out manner. I'd love to see more of these videos, even if they aren't about magic! Keep up the great work!
Wow the way you manage to talk about this topic is so amazing. This is probably one of the best videos you've ever made Professor!
Thank you for all your work!!
This is one of my favorite videos you have posted, Professor. I've been out of college for a bit now, but this analysis brought back memories of 'unpacking' content in english courses. I really like MTG and don't know a whole lot about the lore. Because of a video like this, I can enjoy the flavor of this rich game with the same full satisfaction I would feel after I would analyze a book or work very deeply. Please post more like these every now and again, your POV is wonderful!
Congrats on your over 5500 patreon achievement! You create fantastic content full of insight and flavour.
You are one of my favourite content creators on youtube. and the best MTG creator.
I'm so happy you have dedicated yourself to your craft.
We are all looking forward to every video you create, and your backlog of content is delightfully rich.
I really enjoy how you have delved into your expertise and produced something that is both refreshing and inspiring to magic enthusiasts in all walks of life. Credit where credit is due, very well done Professor.
I hope you do more videos like this because I enjoyed it so very much. Your analysis is so entertaining, I could listen to these for hours.
This was freaking fantastic. I liked that you went over the topic a couple times. Repeating keeps it in your mind, and it's sort of like a lesson.
I like this format! Please continue, you are amazing. I would like more compare and contrast videos.
This video has an interesting point. Urza represented youth and impulse, while Jace represented age and commitment. What if Wizards did this as a parallel to the players who started early in the 90's as kids or teenagers, who are now adults with responsibilities? Maybe that is why Magic has such a devoted fan base?
good interpretation lol
Love the video, and I'd be delighted to be graced with some more lore videos from the professor! I'm trying to read more MTG lore, but some of the older and more interesting paperbacks are so hard to find.
Jace is just an uber realistic character. He represents a lot of young adults who are struggling to find purpose in a society they can not directly control.
It may have already been addressed in the comments but THIS is what I love about your channel. So much more than just pack openings which account for much of the content on other channels. In-depth product reviews, in-depth deck building ideas and strategies, and the occasional fun, but informative content like this one or the reading of your short stories. Please keep it up and never stop. I look forward to your video submissions each week! Thanks!
I love your videos tolarian! I look forward to every other day when you post and check everyday! I took your advice and bought the right sleeves and deck box! I also watch every add on your videos to help support!! Thanks for helping me get back into magic,
The raven caller
Very cool to see you combining your passion for MTG and your passion for literary analysis! We don't see these types of things too often in this community. Thanks for the video!
I really like how you synthesize your academic skills with your love for the game, professor. This is some of the most interesting content on CZcams as a result of the juxtaposition of extremely intelligent analysis with a game the most people (unfortunately) don't take seriously. Keep it up!
All I got out of this was "Coffee."
they should do a urza vs mishra dual deck
Lol, that would be amusing.
Urza the 36 dollar card vs Mishra the 92 cent card.
I have some news for you friend
@@lilacpilot3437 They would come up with new cards for the decks, if they were to do urza vs mishra
Hey Professor, just thought I'd say thanks for the content. I am seldom disappointed by your hard work and effort and truly appreciate the time you put into your passion. Thank you for what you do, and, on behalf of all of us, keep it up!
I really like how you brought your profession into this video. Despite not reading an of the lore, I found this very interestong. Nice job.
Whoops, sorry for the horrible spelling.
Man, this was a really nice change of pace. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a video that begins with "MTG LORE".
With WotC stepping up their story with BfZ it sure is nice to have someone looking at the entire of range of the story.
Keep making these, professor! This is my jam!
Amazing video! I love this content. Thanks for an interesting, unique, and absolutely entertaining look at these two characters.
When I started watching Tolarian Community College I did not expect to find a wonderful video using a very great example of writing exercises. I am very glad my friend recommended your videos to me.
This was truly a different perspective and I enjoyed it very much. I would love more content like this!
This may be one of my favorite videos that you have made. I really hope we get to see some more literary criticism applied to magic lore.
2 min in, and Professor, I want more! You are such an interesting dude, and the Magic Universe is made all the more interesting through your telling :D
I love this kind of video! PLEASE MORE MORE MORE! Stories are what really keep me into games like this. Great vid keep it up.
OMG, this was indeed a class and it was awesome!!
Please, professor, do more vids like this featuring literary methods.
so wait, if jace is suppose to be an adult, then does that make the eldrazi like his child that he walked out on? so he meets this girl and they have a crazy time, then these shrieking horrors appear and he leaves, later on he goes back to confront his responsibilities with the girl he had a crazy time with in the first place.
yes
Wonderful video, great interpretation. I'm looking forward to more such content! Sadly, I lack the deep knowledge of Magic's story needed to make such a sophisticated analysis (as for now), making this very piece of work much more interesting and insightful for me. Thanks Professor! :)
I loved this video. It was very well done and I would love to hear more about the lore of the planeswalkers. Please keep up with the amazing quality of your work and I look forward to hearing more ^^ Thank you for all that you do.
I absolutely love this video! It has really helped me learn more below-the-surface knowledge of both characters. It even taught me more about my own personality. I had previously related mostly to Sarkhan, but now I can see myself as Jace. I am not sure if it is just my getting older (I recently turned 13) or if I have always been this way, but I find myself more content now. I am not ambitious, and do not tend to go out of my way to please myself, but instead do the same for others. I leave myself in the same position in order to help another person move forward, often without my own control or knowledge. Thank you very much professor, for helping me to recognize myself and my personality.
Great analysis Professor. I like your meticulousness and insight. Keep up the great work!
Love, love, loveddd this video professor! Fantastic work
One of the best of your outstanding videos. Thank you, Professor!
This type of video is fun to watch. I hope you do more analysis of other bits from magic lore
Thanks professor had to leave school due to my own choices. This analysis of lore has helped me stay sharp of my literature skills. Please do this more often.
Thought provoking analysis Prof. I think you beautifully captured both characters, and as much as i disdain Jace, the fact that he was picked on, and it kinda ended up making him almost an emotionally damaged person ( ofc the memory wipe didn't help) it makes me feel bad for him in a way. Urza is a classic, he just has so much flavor, and his story is so amazingly fleshed out with all the conflict, loss, and sacrifice. I really hope you can do a compare and contrast between my two favorite characters in magic. Kamahl , and Gideon.
That was deep. One might almost think you're a real professor! Joking aside though, please do more videos like this. Probably the best MTG lore video I've ever seen.
Informative, well phrased and thoughtout. 10/10, will watch again.
great vid! would love to see more
Great video! I love the analysis of my favorite game's lore!
I'm new to Magic, and I've never heard of Urza; but this was a really interesting video! It's nice to see how character's personality and card effects support one another.
Videos like this are why I love this channel. Anyone can talk deck tech. The Professor is the only one I know of that enjoys the lore aspect of the game, and makes it both interesting and compelling. His students (both RL and Internet) are pretty lucky!
Super interesting. Thanks prof! I'd love to see one about Venser in the future. It always gave me the fuzzies when he teleported his heart into karn (not literally I know) and I'd like to learn more.
Hey prof! I'd love for you to do more of these kinds of videos for us Vorthos out there. Thanks for all you do!
Can I subscribe again? I love everything you put out Prof but this takes the cake. When I first read the words "Tolarian Community College", this is what I imagined. All of your videos are informational, but this one felt downright educational. Bravo sir.
That's a good video Prof! Playing the game is fun but learning about the myth you're playing inside is maybe more important. Please do more!
That was absolutely awesome , I never even thought of comparing Jace and Urza like that O:
I love this lore video so much. Please make it a series!!!
great job and keep up the awesome work.
This is AWESOME!
More lore analysis in the future please ^_^
Thanks Professor for this amazing video! Please do more like this one!
Thanks for the great vid! Being 30 years old was very funny and interesting to see the parallels you have shown
This is why this channel is the best!
In response to 8:42 , Jace actually has clearly defined motives, but they change as he grows as a person. That's what makes Jace such a dynamic character.
Originally, Jace was a selfish recluse. He made his living on Ravnica through blackmail and was quite content. However, Jace was always curious about knowledge and power which led him through several of the conflicts in the multiverse.
After several storylines, Jace became of a world bigger than himself and now seeks to find redemption. He's taken on the responsibility of being the guildpact and dedicated himself to saving Garruk. The second one is most important. Jace would never risk his life for anyone in the past.
Jace's personality has also changed. In the past, Jace was nauseatingly arrogant, but now he's quite humble. Jace's story is one of growth and redemption.
Wow, SUPERB analysis. Very entertaining!
I really like English lessons like this, so when I see an MTG version it makes my week that much better.
What's crazy is I've brought up exactly what you've said before, and was told I'm "looking too deep into it". THANK YOU for validating me.
What a fantastic video Professor!
Regardless of anything at all, it's refreshing to see a youtube video that _isn't_ just making a list
Great Video! I'd like to see a couple of other characters analyzed that deeply!
This is great. Totally reinvented the way I look at both characters.
Please make more videos like this. I love Magic The Gathering lore!
Great insight into the characters, Prof!
wow, loved this video!!! pls, do more of these, prof.!
Absolutely brilliant, professor! Thanks!
That was outstandingly insightful and educating, even more then about magic lore alone. I would consider myself privileged to take one of your courses in English literature would I be living in the US! Well done.
Very interesting...would love to see more like these!
I love your lore vids, wish you were able to do more of them
As a brand new magic player I must say I really enjoy these analytical lore videos. Its nice to learn of characters like urza. Before this video my only knowledge of urza was the urza lands.
Great video. It got me considering the correlation between the two characters and the times in Magic's history during which each was the figurehead. Maybe their personal ages aren't as relevant as the level of Magic's maturity at the time they were developed.
Jace has lost almost every significant fight he has ever had with another Planeswalker, especially when it comes to actual physical/magical conflict.
Urza is five billion times more diverse in ability than Jace, and spent thousands of years perfection weapons, magical and otherwise.
One could even say the main characters in Magic's lore grew up alongside the game's designers and creators.
Your the man Professor! Have a nice day!
so, urza's rage against the machine?
I really love this kind of content. made me reflect on myself now as an adult. I still have a bit of raging flame from my youth hopefully it get fully extinguish by life's events
brilliant video, professor!
The best example of why this channel is awesome!
That was really cool.
I wonder if the characters' personality is also influenced by how the general idea on how a person should behave have changed.
Dear Professor,I started playing Magic about nine months ago and I have been doing so sporadically and in a casual level. Browsing through CZcams I discovered Tolarian Community College about six months ago, and I admit that its content is what drove me more towards the game of Magic. You have a unique way to present and analyze deck strategies in all mtg formats, one that ignites a true spark within your viewers to strive for improvement of their magic playing skills. Your reviews and advice on various mtg related products is more than helpful and the humorous approach in many of your videos gives away a sense of bliss. In addition, you possess a gift for teaching and inspiring, doing so in a an original and captivating way. For me and I believe many others out there, you are an inspiration, not just in terms of magic play, but also in terms of doing what you enjoy and being so creative about it, at a point where you channel your love for it to others who watch your artful creations.In conclusion, I just want to thank you for the things you have offered to your viewers and admirers like me and the devotion you show to creating quality videos that entertain and teach.Also, I would like to apologize for all the mistakes I made in terms of using the English language, but I am afraid that was inevitable since English is not my mother tongue.
I would love to see an updated version of those video with the new information we have about Jace in the more recent sets.