Post by HvT on Mar 13, 2022 17:41:03 GMT
I'm beginning anew once more with my concept for a murder mystery set. I've fallen off the project several times before, because frankly I just don't have the time like I did years ago (adulting is hard). But here I am again having another go at it, most of the previous progress I had was lost with my previous computer, but I don't mind starting over with the few good ideas I had.
Between all the Innistrad sets and the upcoming noir/gangster themed set later this year, the novelty of a crime/mystery themed set has kind of lost its charm. So, I'm going to pay little attention to story, plot or world building. Instead, I want to focus more on the flavor and tropes, and have cards and mechanics that reflect it. The set could just as well take place on Innistrad as any other dark and gritty plane that hosts schemes and conspiracies. A lot of murder mystery flavor will probably pull from what's already been done on Innistrad, but not touch any of the gothic horror elements of the plane.
I think the only worthwhile custom mechanic I had for the set in was Feast, an ability for creatures that are either desperate or elitist who feed on their own deceased allies to make themselves stronger. The rest of the mechanics will be returning, why reinvent things when ideal flavorful mechanics already exist. But these abilities weren't chosen simply for flavor but because in theory they will work well together.
Investigate - Focused in
, obviously a classic pull from Innistrad, but what's a mystery without clues.
Exploit - Focused in
, I swear I was working this in before Innistrad included exploit. Hopefully, I bring something new into it by exploring exploit.
Revolt - Focused in, representing the disgruntled masses revolting against nobles who use them like resources and occasionally as snacks. Works well with clue tokens and the exploit mechanic.
Surveil - appearing in several colors but focused in
, so that color pair doesn't feel left out. It will replace scry in the set, it should improve card selection when combined with clues and will help fuel the Feast mechanic.
Feast - Focused in. Feast <cost> (<cost>, exile a creature card from your graveyard: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Feast only as a sorcery.) This feed nicely off of both the exploit and surveil mechanics.
And that's all I've got for now, I've redownloaded MSE and started playing around with it again. No promises I'll finish this attempt either. Preview of what I'm working with:
Good Cop
Creature - Human Soldier
Lifelink
Whenever you gain life, investigate. This ability triggers only once each turn. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with “
, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)
2/3
Revolt Bolt
Instant
Revolt Bolt deals 3 damage to any target.
Revolt — If a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn, Revolt Bolt deals 4 damage instead.
Revolt Piker
Creature - Human Warrior
Revolt Piker has first strike as long as it’s attacking.
Revolt — Revolt Piker enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter if a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn.
2/1
Leave No Stone Unturned
Instant
Surveil 3. Then return up to one creature or land card from your graveyard to your hand. (Look at the top three cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)
Frugal Forager
Creature - Troll Warlock
Menace
Feast (, exile a creature card from your graveyard: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Feast only as a sorcery.)
If a creature you control would feast, put twice as many +1/+1 counters on it instead.
3/3
Traitor In Our Midst
Sorcery
Choose up to two creatures controlled by the same opponent. Their owner may sacrifice one of them. Then gain control of each creature not sacrificed this way.
Between all the Innistrad sets and the upcoming noir/gangster themed set later this year, the novelty of a crime/mystery themed set has kind of lost its charm. So, I'm going to pay little attention to story, plot or world building. Instead, I want to focus more on the flavor and tropes, and have cards and mechanics that reflect it. The set could just as well take place on Innistrad as any other dark and gritty plane that hosts schemes and conspiracies. A lot of murder mystery flavor will probably pull from what's already been done on Innistrad, but not touch any of the gothic horror elements of the plane.
I think the only worthwhile custom mechanic I had for the set in was Feast, an ability for creatures that are either desperate or elitist who feed on their own deceased allies to make themselves stronger. The rest of the mechanics will be returning, why reinvent things when ideal flavorful mechanics already exist. But these abilities weren't chosen simply for flavor but because in theory they will work well together.
Investigate - Focused in
, obviously a classic pull from Innistrad, but what's a mystery without clues.Exploit - Focused in
, I swear I was working this in before Innistrad included exploit. Hopefully, I bring something new into it by exploring exploit.Revolt - Focused in
, representing the disgruntled masses revolting against nobles who use them like resources and occasionally as snacks. Works well with clue tokens and the exploit mechanic.Surveil - appearing in several colors but focused in
, so that color pair doesn't feel left out. It will replace scry in the set, it should improve card selection when combined with clues and will help fuel the Feast mechanic.Feast - Focused in
. Feast <cost> (<cost>, exile a creature card from your graveyard: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Feast only as a sorcery.) This feed nicely off of both the exploit and surveil mechanics.And that's all I've got for now, I've redownloaded MSE and started playing around with it again. No promises I'll finish this attempt either. Preview of what I'm working with:
Good Cop
Creature - Human Soldier
Lifelink
Whenever you gain life, investigate. This ability triggers only once each turn. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with “
, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)2/3
Revolt Bolt
Instant
Revolt Bolt deals 3 damage to any target.
Revolt — If a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn, Revolt Bolt deals 4 damage instead.
Revolt Piker
Creature - Human Warrior
Revolt Piker has first strike as long as it’s attacking.
Revolt — Revolt Piker enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter if a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn.
2/1
Leave No Stone Unturned
Instant
Surveil 3. Then return up to one creature or land card from your graveyard to your hand. (Look at the top three cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)
Frugal Forager
Creature - Troll Warlock
Menace
Feast
(, exile a creature card from your graveyard: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Feast only as a sorcery.)If a creature you control would feast, put twice as many +1/+1 counters on it instead.
3/3
Traitor In Our Midst
Sorcery
Choose up to two creatures controlled by the same opponent. Their owner may sacrifice one of them. Then gain control of each creature not sacrificed this way.
, exile a creature card from your graveyard: Put a +1/+1 counter on CARDNAME".
