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Post by Idea on Feb 20, 2023 3:00:04 GMT
Thank you for the win! I look forward to the feedback if it comes.
Ahah! The solution was right there all along. You simply had to trace back your steps, and go to that risen hill prior to the maze's entrance. The maze, however, seemed to grow in your attempt to escape it that way, and even looking upon a distant sight, all you saw a single straight line. Your eyes played tricks on you, and in the end, you needed to understand this magic to overcome it.
Days and nights, months and years, all collapsed into one stream flooding your thoughts as you connected to the history of this place. Nomadic peasants wearing rags and supporting themselves with canes, travelling through the land in search of a place to settle or a lord to serve. Carts transporting all manner of goods. You saw trees grow to many rings, before being cut down and homes erected in their place, only for those homes to be burned down in goblin raids. You saw people camping, adventurers like yourself. You saw one man with glowing marks on his body, in a maddened search for what he referred to as the scroll of the dragon ancestor. You saw him passing once more, no scroll in sight, but aged and wiser, ad a child in his arms. Pair passed through a third time, the old man's clothes torn and his body wounded, his dignified staff chipped and almost broken. Behind him was presumably that child from before, now old enough to be the man's apprentice. Your heard shouting from their pursuers, and witnesses as the old man stabbed his staff into the ground, and magic began to flood out like a mist, growing plants and illusions alike.
The man kneeled down in front of his apprentice, removing an old scroll from a satchel...
As you returned to your senses, you heard the answer for how to escape. Apparently, to display an act of true love would permit escape from the maze.
Good news was, most of your quest's group was reunited with you by now.
The bad news was, displaying an act of true love might be easier said than done.
So... what do you do?
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moweda
3/3 Beast
Posts: 164
Favorite Card: Psychic Vortex
Color Alignment: Blue, Black, Red
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Post by moweda on Feb 22, 2023 16:44:48 GMT
Take the Bullet  Instant  The next time this turn a spell or ability would force target opponent to sacrifice a creature, you sacrifice a creature instead. |
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Post by vizionarius on Feb 23, 2023 1:29:32 GMT
Martyrbound Ally   Creature - Human Ally  Flash Defender As long as ~ is blocking, it must be chosen as first in the order of blockers each combat. 0/4 Ruling: Whenever multiple creatures are declared as blockers of the same attacking creature, the attacking player must choose an order in which they will attempt to deal the blocked creature's combat damage. All creatures first in line must be assigned lethal damage before others in the defined order can be damaged. This creature changes this normal process by forcing the attacking player to always choose this creature as first in the order of blockers, allowing your weaker-defense creatures to survive blocking a larger creature while still dealing their damage to the attacker.
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Post by ZephyrPhantom on Feb 23, 2023 18:05:48 GMT
Enthralling Musical  Sorcery Gain control of target creature you don't control with mana value less than or equal to the mana value of target creature you control. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. "When all's said and done, the blushing two become a couple of one!"(It just has to be an "act" of true love, after all...)
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Post by Flo00 on Feb 23, 2023 20:51:13 GMT
I edited a judging for the last challenge. I tried not to step on the toes of Idea's continuation with the story but couldn't help but add some more madness to what I've set up. Entry: At first I thought about a love spell, but that wouldn't be true love, right? Kinship Summons  Sorcery  Each player chooses a creature they control, reveals cards from the top of their library until they reveal a creature that shares a creature type with the chosen creature, puts that card onto the battlefield, then shuffles. Not sure this helps, but I guess it's a start. |
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pernicious
8/8 Octopus
Posts: 431
Favorite Card: Mistmeadow Skulk
Favorite Set: Shadowmoor block
Color Alignment: Red
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Post by pernicious on Feb 25, 2023 19:18:35 GMT
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Post by Idea on Mar 2, 2023 10:52:59 GMT
I will be going over this tomorrow. If anyone would still like to get an entry in, now's your chance.
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Post by Idea on Mar 6, 2023 2:34:17 GMT
moweda{Spoiler} You continue travelling the maze, looking for insight or clues on how to show an act of true love, or perhaps an opportunity for an alternate escape. Then suddenly a viashino appears, tongue swinging from side to side like that bobbing mobster hat on its scaly head.
"This if for the boss." it declares, pressing his revolver's trigger while aiming at one of your companions. You jump in front of it, taking a bullet in your arm and the viashino runs away while cursing you. The paths of the maze begin to open before your eyes...I get the flavor you're going for here, but this is one of those one with nothing type of cards where it's not something you'd normally dream of playing because it's an active detriment to you. That isn't to say you can't make a card like this, but it definitely shouldn't be common,as this is not the kind of card you want too many around of and its more for the experimental combo player. {Spoiler}
You continue travelling the maze, looking for insight or clues on how to show an act of true love, or perhaps an opportunity for an alternate escape. Then suddenly a viashino appears, tongue swinging from side to side like that bobbing mobster hat on its scaly head.
"This if for the boss." it declares, pressing his revolver's trigger while aiming at you. Your ally suddenly jumps, saving your life in exchange for receiving a pretty nasty wound in their arm. The assailant ran away, and while you were in the process of starting first aid, the maze began to reveal the exit...
I love the concept here and it goes for an area of the game that really isn't address all that often, if ever. There's a lot of design space to explore in magic, and cards like this really show it. Outside of that, the card has some clever merits as a combat trick and portrays well its flavor. ZephyrPhantom{Spoiler}
Channeling your inner theater kid, you suddenly pull your companions and any nearby denizens of the maze into a huge dance dumber recounting your adventures, real and imaginary alike. Everyone is starting to have a lot of fun, but then you get to the part about the dragon, and vines suddenly appear, grabbing you by the feet and practically throw you out of the maze.
Hahahaha, I love the worpdlay there! The card itself is fun, well-balanced and flavorful I think, though it's a pretty standard red card otherwise so not much to comment on. Flo00{Spoiler}
With a magical scroll of your own, you summon one of your siblings. You explain the situation, and while they're kid of pissed at first, they eventually relent and you spend a pleasant afternoon of brotherly and/or sisterly love together. The maze accepts this technically qualifies, and releases you.
I must confess that I couldn't help myself thinking of the kithkin of Lorwyn as I read this card, but indeed it's another nice angle on the challenge here with explicitly non-romantic love.
pernicious{Spoiler} You travel through the maze, still unsure of how to solve your riddle, you come across a phyrexian praetor of all things. It seems perplexed, then suddenly teleports away before it even acknowledged you were there. Just what madness is Elesh Norn up to this time?Burnout sidegrade I see. At first I was skeptical of counter in red, but I did find a few examples so it works, and red is a pretty good color for feelings. Cards like this are generally situational and can often turn into bricks. I think balance is good though. winner {Spoiler} For an entry that is not only fun, flavorful and balanced, but also creative in how it explores an atypical part of the game, I am giving this win to vizionarius ! Second place goes to ZephyrPhantom for that witty approach.
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Post by vizionarius on Mar 6, 2023 19:48:34 GMT
Thanks for the win, Idea! Glad you liked the mechanic. The Ally type was also intended to tie in with the existing ones. I will post the continuation of the story within the next 24ish hours. |
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Post by Flo00 on Mar 7, 2023 21:21:43 GMT
Flo00I must confess that I couldn't help myself thinking of the kithkin of Lorwyn as I read this card, but indeed it's another nice angle on the challenge here with explicitly non-romantic love. Lorwyn is exactly what I had in mind  |
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Post by vizionarius on Mar 8, 2023 1:16:16 GMT
...the maze began to reveal the exit...
You seize the opportunity, and with the help of another party member, carry your friend out and escape the maze as quickly as you can. You won't be waiting around for the exit to disappear!
Having left the maze behind, you take some time to regain your calm and continue aiding your heroic friend who surely saved your life. Your mind goes back to the viashino mobster and the symbol on the brooch in his hat. It feels familiar but you can't quite place where you have seen it. Regardless, you have an injured friend to worry about, so it's best to get proper aid and get them to rest back in town...
Just as you start to see the peak of the town center's tower on your way back, you hear the galloping of horses behind you and look back to see a carriage approaching. The coachman, seeing that you have someone injured in your group, calls out to offer to help transport the injured and one other from your group to town for free. Since you have been the one watching over your injured friend and carrying them so far, it only makes sense that you would accompany them in the carriage. When you enter the carriage, you see that there is already a passenger there, wearing a much more elegant outfit than fitting the remote countryside you're in. You notice that one of his many rings has a symbol similar to the brooch from the viashino mobster. You take note, but say nothing.
Upon reaching town and getting your friend settled in the inn, you take a stroll through town waiting for the rest of your party to arrive. As you walk around, you start seeing the same symbol in a few unexpected locations, like crests in store-fronts, other brooches worn by unassuming townsfolk... what does this all mean? How are these things tied together? There must be some connection. You must come to the bottom of this... but how do you, without drawing attention to yourself?
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Post by Idea on Mar 8, 2023 11:30:39 GMT
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moweda
3/3 Beast
Posts: 164
Favorite Card: Psychic Vortex
Color Alignment: Blue, Black, Red
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Post by moweda on Mar 8, 2023 20:47:19 GMT
I try to infiltrate! Feigned Allegiance  Enchantment - Aura Enchant permanent you control Enchanted permanent has the watermark of your choice. |
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Post by Flo00 on Mar 8, 2023 22:26:21 GMT
 Followsneak Creature - Wolf Rogue Followsneak can’t be blocked as long as another creature is attacking. If anyone can get in, they can too.2/2 |
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Post by vizionarius on Mar 17, 2023 0:23:37 GMT
Bump for some more entries.
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Post by vizionarius on Mar 20, 2023 18:17:46 GMT
FeedbackIdea : You decide to head to the town library to see if you can find anything in the town paper and town records archives. You find a few interesting stories about a couple of siblings who were town heroes fifty years ago, another about an interesting contraption that was built in haste to solve an emergency, and some boring old town council minutes with the names of some prominent officials of bygone days listed as attendees. But you don't really see any reference to symbols or mention of any societies.
I think your card does a little too much, and it doesn't really feel all that cohesive. I like the idea of searching your library as a mechanical mirroring of the card's name, but the way to get the effects based on cards revealed feels a little forced/convoluted. Getting two 1/1s at 2-mana feels appropriate, but going through the hoops for having to search and reveal three cards, then shuffle, seems arbitrary and unneeded. Revealing an artifact with a specific ability type (also feels arbitrary) might be too strong, even if you lose it at end of turn (also, haste doesn't make sense for me in these colors). Revealing a bunch of spells to get a couple of clues is maybe the one that makes the most sense to me for this effect, but again, the search, reveal, then shuffle feels like too much to go through. Generally, unless really needed, I think it's best to avoid having to search and shuffle. Most of these effects don't require a library search. moweda : You go to one of the trinket stores to look around and see if you can find a brooch with the symbol on it among the pile of antiques that are in the back of the store. It doesn't take you long to find one that would fit perfectly with your cloak! To not seem too suspicious, you pick up a couple of other random items and head to check out. The store clerk doesn't even bat an eye and after you pay and leave, you pin the brooch to your cloak. Nobody seems to take notice as you walk around, and nobody treats you any differently. But you feel more special, like you are part of some greater whole!Love this for it's flavor, but I wish it did something more. As far as I know, nothing plays off of watermarks, so this basically just makes your creature modified. If it gained something based on that watermark, I think this would have been the winner. Something like "can't be blocked by creatures with the chosen watermark" or "hexproof from the chosen watermark" would have been neat. Flo00 : You think, "If these random common-folk can get in, then for sure a contest-winning, maze-escaping, troll-passing adventurer like myself can, too!" You notice a small group of people talking in the town square, one on them with a brooch with the symbol in their hat, and another with one on their bag. You inconspicuously walk over, pretending like you are just meandering about, looking at the various street-merchants' offerings. The group starts to walk toward one of the two town pubs, and you follow them slightly behind. When you enter, nothing seems out of the ordinary, but you do see the group you've been following head towards a back door. The one with the brooch on their bag knocks with a pretty simple rhythm that you can see from where you are. The door opens and the group is let in. You decide to just walk on up and repeat the rhythm of the knock. The door also opens for you and you are greeted with a smiling face, saying "Hi, welcome, come on in!" As you enter the room, you see a bunch of chairs set up in a circle, most of them occupied, with small groups of people chatting as they wait for something to start. You take the empty seat by the group you were following just as you hear the door lock...I really like this! fun name, and I enjoy the creature type combination. Great flavor, and works nicely with the grander Rogue theme. Solid, well-costed common that fits neatly into the story.
ResultThe winner is Flo00 with a clever common.
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Post by Idea on Mar 20, 2023 18:43:58 GMT
vizionarius about the artifact effect, I chose the one I could find that would let you get the biggest number of books or tome artifact cards.
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Post by Flo00 on Mar 23, 2023 20:49:13 GMT
After a while a big figure in a thick red cloak enters the room through another door and steps into the middle of the circle. Instantly all chatting stops and the room falls silent. The figure drops their hood and you are surprised to see its an ogre. They raise their arms in a friendly gesture while slowly turning around. "Welcome my friends! It is good to see all of you again!" They have a deep and warm voice. You think you caught a glimpse of something in their eyes. You are not sure if its a trace of malice or maybe just a burning passion for their cause, whatever cause it might be. Hopefully you'll soon find out.
They continue "Let us begin the offering!" Suddenly everyone looks at you.
What do you do?
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moweda
3/3 Beast
Posts: 164
Favorite Card: Psychic Vortex
Color Alignment: Blue, Black, Red
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Post by moweda on Mar 24, 2023 5:13:22 GMT
Remembering that some ogres like artifacts, I solemnly toss my most treasured possession on the fire. Cult Offering  Instant As an additional cost to cast ~, sacrifice an artifact of mana value X. You gain X life. Then, if three or more artifacts have entered your graveyard this turn, create a X/X black Demon God creature token with menace and indestructible. "Every donation brings us one step closer!" - Grom, ogre cult leader |
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Post by Idea on Mar 24, 2023 13:10:13 GMT
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Post by vizionarius on Mar 28, 2023 2:26:18 GMT
Ward of Protection Enchantment - Aura Flash Enchant creature you control : Enchanted creature gains protection from the color of your choice until end of turn. This effect doesn't remove ~. The pure at heart will not perish.
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Post by Flo00 on Apr 2, 2023 16:19:02 GMT
Waiting until Wednesday in the hopes for more entries. Yea, right, Wednesday... {moweda}The ogre smiles as he walks towards you and puts a hand on your shoulder. "Welcome to The Bond my brother!"
A good card for an artifact-themed sacrifice deck. It requires some setup and/or the right timing to go really off and give you a big creature. And if you are close to losing, this can backup as a life saver, even if you can't get the demon. It's a bit strange to have a non-legendary god. This way of course, you might get multiples of them on the board.
{Idea} As you make the person to your left stand up in front of you, the ogre suddenly bursts out in a laughter. "You can releave your mental hold from our brother. We didn't want to scare you. It's just tradition to us that the new initiates conduct the first step of the ritual."That's an interesting way of shifting a red mechanic into . Being an instant makes it able to remove an attacker or shift some static ability to your side. As the name suggests, you want to play this in a sacrifce deck to make the most of it. {vizionarius}After several moments of exchanging intense looks with each other, the ogre turns away from you. He seems slightly irritated and you are not sure he senses your protective ward. The ogre clears his throat and looks around in the circle of people: "Maybe someone else wants to commence the ritual today?"
A simple and effective card. I think its a bit too expensive for constructed but at a good spot for limited.
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moweda
3/3 Beast
Posts: 164
Favorite Card: Psychic Vortex
Color Alignment: Blue, Black, Red
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Post by moweda on Apr 8, 2023 5:56:20 GMT
Flo00 thanks for the win! The ogre thing was a great triggering detail. I will need a day or two to work up the next prompt.
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moweda
3/3 Beast
Posts: 164
Favorite Card: Psychic Vortex
Color Alignment: Blue, Black, Red
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Post by moweda on Apr 12, 2023 15:26:13 GMT
Feeling welcomed by the ogre’s cult but still unsure what their aim is, you continue to play along by participating in their hedonistic ceremony: dancing, chanting, imbibing strange substances, and witnessing various forms of physical passion. It is a dizzying, frightful, wonderful night of abandonment.
You awake some time later to find that the room is now empty. The chairs and cauldron have been knocked over, with some liquid remnants still smoldering on the floor. The symbol that drew you to the group initially has been painted in blood all over the walls and ceiling of the chamber. Most shockingly, the ogre cult leader’s corpse- or what remains of it- lies in the center of the room, his chest ripped open and his organs evidently devoured.
You recoil in horror and back towards the alley door. As you are about to turn the knob, you hear shouts and the sound of swords being unsheathed. “Death to the Bond!” You vaguely remember that the ogre used that name referring to the cult and quickly reconsider exiting.
You look around the room, hoping for some other means of escape. There is the door the ogre emerged from the previous evening and a small grated vent high up on one wall. Before you can decide what to do, a puff of shimmering smoke appears and out from the smoke fly seven faeries. One flies up to you, so close that you can feel the buffet of her wings on your cheek. “Chosen one! We have finally found you! Hurry you must teleport with us back to the Fae World. Only you can save us!” The other faeries buzz around, nodding and chattering in agreement.
The alley door thumps loudly as if someone is trying to smash it down. The shouts outside become louder and increase in number. You only have a moment to decide your next move.
What do you do?
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pernicious
8/8 Octopus
Posts: 431
Favorite Card: Mistmeadow Skulk
Favorite Set: Shadowmoor block
Color Alignment: Red
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Post by pernicious on Apr 12, 2023 18:15:22 GMT
Idea I'm not sure about it, but I'll change it anyway. Thank you. EDIT: After searching on scryfall, I've found the "It's no longer a creature" wording on Minimus Containment, so I'm sure about it now. Thank you again. |
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Post by Idea on Apr 13, 2023 10:24:41 GMT
Small note, wouldn't the wording be "it's no longer a creature" instead? |
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Post by Flo00 on Apr 13, 2023 17:51:44 GMT
 Abhorrent Appetite  Sorcery As an additional cost to cast Abhorrent Appetite, sacrifice any number of creatures. Target player draws a card for each creature sacrificed this way. Choose target creature. If a creature sacrificed this way had flying, put a flying counter on the chosen creature. Repeat this process for first strike, double strike, deathtouch, hexproof, indestructible, lifelink, menace, reach, trample, and vigilance. "Mmh, faerie meat!"As a side note, you can actually sacrifice the chosen creature. Won't get any counters but will draw a card. And yes, the card is too wordy to fit that flavor text. |
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Post by Idea on Apr 13, 2023 21:42:01 GMT
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moweda
3/3 Beast
Posts: 164
Favorite Card: Psychic Vortex
Color Alignment: Blue, Black, Red
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Post by moweda on Apr 21, 2023 15:08:08 GMT
Judging this weekend.
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moweda
3/3 Beast
Posts: 164
Favorite Card: Psychic Vortex
Color Alignment: Blue, Black, Red
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Post by moweda on Apr 27, 2023 16:19:33 GMT
Sorry for the delay. I have been busy this week and this contest has been slowing me down because I have to do more creative writing.  pernicious {Spoiler}Objectify
The alley door shatters from the mob's push. They rush into the room, armed and thirsty for blood! But the poor fools find only scattered furniture and leave as quickly as they came.
This is a card that makes me think my scryfall-fu is weak, because how has this card never been printed? Like 20+ years ago? It's a great blue card with versatility to hate on creatures or protect your own from destruction. I really like it!
Flo00 {Spoiler} Abhorrent Appetite
Feeling no shame, you devour the remaining entrails from the corpse. You find yourself growing more powerful as a result. You ready yourself for the assault, confident that you are now strong enough to defeat them all.
This is a very flavorful black card. The cost seems appropriate as a finisher. I am confused a bit by the card draw going to target player. It's hard to imagine an instance where I would give the cards to anyone but myself. I think you could eliminate a bit of text that way and get your flavor text on the card, cause it's great! Idea {Spoiler} The Fae Way Thinking quickly, you accept the faerie's offer of aid. You grasp hold of their wings and are whisked away to the Fae World!Really interesting and original card! The modular effects work well together and with the Faerie theme. I kind of wish this was a "Tribal Sorcery - Faerie" so that you could guarantee yourself at least one activation. Also, I'm not sure about the cost. I am inclined to say you could just make it  but that might be too pushed. looks awkward but maybe it's the right price? All three entries were strong and I'm having difficulty choosing between them. I will go with the card I had no quibbles with. The winner is: |
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