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Post by Flo00 on Aug 6, 2023 0:06:38 GMT
{Idea} Better safe than sorry. You write a detailed description about the distribution of your few worldly possesions among the people who deserve it. Just as you finish, you hear your new "friend" enter the room. You fold the paper and hope there is still enough time left you to come up with a way to get this to the right people. The Elf approaches you: "I was looking for you. What did you write there?"Useful card in the right environnment. I wanted to compare it to The Ozolith and Resourceful Defense, then I realized that it can also enchant creatures you don't control. Kind of fiendish to Make a Will for an opponent's creature. I like how you add flexibility by distributing the counters rather than just putting them on a single one. {pernicious} Jump. Scream. Stab. Stab. STAB. Dead. Almost too easy. On second thought, maybe you could have had an interesting conversation about it. It seemed you both shared a lot of interests.A good modernization of Nekrataal. {vizionarius} The next time your elven "Friend" is busy fishing on the lake, you decide to set a fire in the basement. This unholy site must be cleansed of its taint. You flee though the forest trying not to leave a trail. Once you feel you put enough distance between you and that gruesome place, you turn around to see a column of smoke emerge from where you think the house stood.Very useful and diverse card. I'd definitely play this in some decks. I was amazed to find out that there are very few spells granting menace. I really like all three cards and your way of dealing with the situation. |
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pernicious
8/8 Octopus
Posts: 440
Favorite Card: Mistmeadow Skulk
Favorite Set: Shadowmoor block
Color Alignment: Red
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Post by pernicious on Aug 9, 2023 12:34:33 GMT
Thank you for the win, Flo00. The next prompt is... "After you have dealt with the would-be murderer, you shove his corpse in a barrel in the cellar. You were about to leave the house when you notice that the wind is picking up and that ominous black clouds crackling with lightning are quickly covering the sky. In a matter of minutes, a powerful storm begins in the area. You wait for a few hours for the storm to subside, but unfortunately it doesn't show any signs of stopping. Three days pass and you are still waiting inside the house. The ground floor has flooded from all the rainfall and several windows have been shattered by the strong winds. You are now resting with a slight fever in the guests' bedroom on the second floor, thank goodness you decided to move on this floor the provisions from the cellar before it got flooded. You peek from the boarded window of your room and a cold shiver runs down your spine as you see a group of torch-bearing masked figures approaching the house. They're somehow unhampered by the winds and the flood. What do you do?" |
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Post by Idea on Aug 10, 2023 22:00:30 GMT
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Post by Flo00 on Aug 14, 2023 2:13:49 GMT
Can I reuse my last entry?  Just kidding, here I go:  Grasp of the Ocean   Instant  Choose a creature you control or reveal a creature card from your hand. Return each creature with power less than that creature’s or card’s power to its owner’s hand. Also... Healing Herbs   Instant  Remove any number of counters from target creature you control, then destroy any number of Auras attached to it. You can ignore the second one if it is against the rules. |
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pernicious
8/8 Octopus
Posts: 440
Favorite Card: Mistmeadow Skulk
Favorite Set: Shadowmoor block
Color Alignment: Red
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Post by pernicious on Aug 19, 2023 12:03:20 GMT
Idea - You don't have much time. You exit the bedroom in a rush and you ready yourself as you hide behind a barrel near the staircase. The only way you see out of this predicament is to strike first. You silently wait in ambush, as you begin to hear footsteps coming from below... - Very nice. I'd only make it cost instead, given how creature-focused it is.
Flo00 - (I'll pick the first one) - You speak the true name of the ocean itself and after you beg it to grant you its aid, you see outside the flood rising even more as large tentacles, seeming like those of an enormous octopus, emerge from the waters and attack the masked figures. They try to hold back using what seems to be black magic, but eventually they are overwhelmed and pulled underwater by the ocean's avatar. Great, your spell managed to get rid of those guys...however it also made the flood's level rise almost to your floor's windows! With this much water, the entire house might get swept away! - That's an interesting mass return spell. I'd only make it a sorcery instead. I would have liked if it had some flavor text.
The winner is Idea!
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Post by Idea on Aug 31, 2023 10:36:21 GMT
Thank you for the win, pernicious ! You count the masked figures as they make their way inside the house. One, two, three, four... With the group split nearly half but still leaving the majority outside you jump out of the barrel and slam the door shut. The falling of the barrel and the door hitting the frame startles the mask figures, though it appears there is a miniscule delay between one of them and the rest. You push the barrel against the door with a foot and strike at one of the masked figures, only to find the tip of your blade deflected by some invisible force. Fortunately your 'friend' back in the other barrel had some useful tools. You pull out a dagger seemingly imbued with a number of green gemstones and cut through the enchantment, slicing off finger with a small ring from one of the masked figure. It falls with a heavy thud unlike that of flesh. You look to see some manner of brown object for a blink, and in the next blink you could only see a normal chopped finger dripping blood onto the floor and wearing a small ring with some web-like pattern around it.
Outside the remaining masked figures are trying to force their way in, hitting on a door with a stable repetitive rhythm. For now the door and the barrel in front of it are hanging out, but the sound from the hinges and the small gaps as the door moves ever so slightly forward like a subtle crescendo tell you you may not have long.
The masked figures around you strike, all except one that stays at the back. The one who's finger you sliced appears to have lost that protection that likely kept the wind and rain from them. You block their attacks with a sword, kick them, and while evading the other two (suffering only minor cuts) you aim straight for those ring fingers. The masked attacker whom you kicked stumbles back flailing, nearly falling down only to straighten as though the wind had pushed them to their feet. Only, the windows are closed, and so is the door.
Behind you, a window shatters. All you can afford is a glance to see one of the figures outside thrusted their arm right through the glass, seeming to entirely disregard the cuts, blood and glass shards carving into their limb. In fact, they kept pushing the arm against the broken window glass to widen the gap or perhaps try to reach something to open the window.
Taking advantage of your distraction, the two who's ring fingers you cut grab hold of you, while the remaining lifts their sword to cut you down. Meanwhile, the one that had stayed at the back runs further inside the house. As they do, the illusion is dispelled from the ones whose rings you removed, revealing that they were in fact not actual people but live-sized wooden dolls with nothing but crude drawings for a face. Their movements were almost alive, but the sensation and width of their human forms was gone, the illusion seemingly having been responsible for not simply a visual or auditory deception, but one capable of deceiving every sense and even responding quite realistically. For a moment you considered if these were the only dolls thus disguised... or how many there could be out there.
Still, the immediate situation was dire. You were being held by two, about to be struck by one, the ones outside were trying to slam down the door or break apart a window. The only one you weren't fairly certain was one of the dolls had run inside for an unknown purpose...
What do you do? |
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Post by Flo00 on Sept 4, 2023 6:53:10 GMT
Burst into Flame  Sorcery Target creature you control deals damage to each creature and each planeswalker equal to its power. This might also help a bit with the cold.Note that the creature damages itself as well. |
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Post by vizionarius on Sept 11, 2023 23:31:27 GMT
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Post by Idea on Sept 14, 2023 12:38:59 GMT
I intend to judge this one tomorrow. Any more entries are free to come until then!
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Post by Idea on Sept 15, 2023 12:38:06 GMT
Flo00{Spoiler} There's little choice left. Even though you struggle, you don't seem to be able to free yourself from the grasp of the dolls, and if you were overwhelmed with these numbers, what will you do when there's more of them? Plus you have no idea what that person ran in there for, but considering the previous owner of this mansion, it can't be anything good.
That's it. You're done for. There's no way you're making it out of this in one piece.
Might as well stop whatever evil deeds they are trying to do as you exit stage, and smell good while at it.
With a hidden contraption, a last resort enchanted pouch gets pressed. There is a brief clicking noise, and the world seem to draw breath before you feel the heat, the ringing of your ears, the pain on your skin, and figures being blasted away along with the whole mansion.
Far away from there, some time later, another traveler that had joined the quest for the Fountain of Youth was sitting in waiting at a tavern. They watched from a distance waiting for the time to depart, while the king received the news of the charred corpse of one of the other companions having been discovered in a mansion somewhere in the woods.Yeah, considering corpse explosion and other cards with this form of AOE effect, I think the price is fair, especially since a lot of the time it'll be equivalent to "as an additional cost, sacrifice a creature". {Spoiler} You a feat of willpower you manage to push the two dolls holding in front, letting them get cut by the one that was about ready to decapitate you and giving you a momentary chance to slip out of their grasp. Grasping at whatever straws you could, you grab onto one of the rings and slip it into your finger, causing the illusion to form around you. The illusion of this other person's form follows your movement, although janky since it was a spell designed for those wooden dolls and not a flesh and blood person. The dolls appear confused with your apparent transformation, having been giving orders to attack someone that was seemingly no longer there and the person who was now there had been one of their own. Still, even if they were slower to ""think"", there was no guarantee they wouldn't put two and two together in a matter of moments, and the problem of them, the ones breaking into the window, and whoever ran inside was still unresolved.
At least you earned yourself a moment to breathe.Coming off the heels of the previous contest I reviewed just now, this card seems pretty in line with mana value X control pricing for blue. The little bonus when used on equipment is small enough that it can practically be disregarded, making this essentially an Entrancing Melody. Winner {Spoiler}Both were excellent and extremely close entries, to the point where I considered a coin toss. In the end though, I think vizionarius 's entry has just that little dge in creativity that I do think puts it slightly ahead, so vizionarius is the winner.
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Post by vizionarius on Sept 15, 2023 17:51:43 GMT
Thanks for the win Idea!
You're not one to squander an opportunity, and make the best of the moment you've been given."Ah, fellas, what are you staring at? Boss said the guy went that way!"You point towards the direction of the cellar...They run off that way and you dash out the front door, storm and rain and floods be damned! You just escaped death, and you know death is not one to give up so easily!You're rushing through a forest path, getting covered in scrapes and mud, your heart pounding and lungs starting to give as you add distance to the cursed cottage by the lake. You suddenly get blinded by a giant flash of lightning, so bright you've never seen anything like it. Immediately, you are also deafened by the clap of thunder. Your strength has been sapped and you collapse into the mud. Your senses are shot, your energy is gone. Unexpectedly, the intense panic you've been feeling up till now starts to subside. You feel heavy rain drops beating down on you, yet find comfort in their constancy. You start to feel a strange calm come over you...What happens next? |
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Post by Idea on Sept 18, 2023 10:48:04 GMT
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pernicious
8/8 Octopus
Posts: 440
Favorite Card: Mistmeadow Skulk
Favorite Set: Shadowmoor block
Color Alignment: Red
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Post by pernicious on Sept 18, 2023 11:14:12 GMT
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Post by Flo00 on Sept 19, 2023 7:21:55 GMT
Final Nap  Sorcery Destroy target tapped creature. Its controller reveals their hand and you choose a card from it. They discard that card. “You’ve had enough troubles in this world. Just let it all go.” |
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Post by vizionarius on Oct 2, 2023 17:36:20 GMT
FeedbackIdea: As you are lying there, stunned and at peace, you hear a calm yet arrogant voice, reassuring you that they won't kill you, and they will wait until you are in a better situation to make the choice to follow them. It feels like an offer you truly can't refuse...I actually quite like this design, but I think a recurring 2 damage (with some large upsides if it doesn't kill) at 2 mana on a 2-mana card is a little strong. Also, it feels a little off in terms of the story situation, but I see that you wanted our hero to continue. pernicious: As you are lying there, coming to peace with this being your end, at least of the physical reality you've known so far, you suddenly feel like you are able to get up. You do so, and feel all too light. You look down, and see your body lying in the mud. Soaked, and lifeless. You feel pity toward it, but then realize... wait... you can think! You can feel! But are no longer bound by the body that has held you back and has been such a limitation. You are free!I really like the story path this opens up, and also as a card design, this feels well-costed and has a neat interaction with multiple copies of itself. Flo00: As you are lying there, you feel your senses leaving you. One final breath, and there you are, lying the the mud. Some forest vermin who seem unbothered by the storm come by and gnaw at your satchel, taking with them what little belongings you had left.This feels pretty strong at common, but it does need some specific board state to achieve, so it's not too strong. I really like this effect and the flavor of it. It makes the story's progression pretty definitive (in that it ends), and I think it would be nice to have some out or a way to continue it.
ResultThe winner is pernicious. The designs were all quite good, but in the end I chose based on story. I didn't quite want it to end, but I think having a fresh direction with a major change in the story would be fun.
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pernicious
8/8 Octopus
Posts: 440
Favorite Card: Mistmeadow Skulk
Favorite Set: Shadowmoor block
Color Alignment: Red
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Post by pernicious on Oct 2, 2023 18:12:19 GMT
Thank you for the win, vizionarius. Our adventurer sure had it rough in their journey, didn't they? I wonder what will await them next...
vizionarius I'm being rather busy as of late, I'd like to pass the prompt writing to the next runnerup. |
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Post by vizionarius on Oct 9, 2023 1:25:21 GMT
Ah, let's have Flo00 as runner-up. |
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Post by Flo00 on Oct 12, 2023 8:10:25 GMT
Now that you are a ghost, there are so many things you could do! Suddenly you remember that one dude that always bullied you a few years back. And one time he borrowed money from you and never returned it. And he even broke your watch while you where not looking. At least you're pretty sure it was him... Why do you remember all those things all of a sudden? This was years ago... Ah, there he is now! You don't even bother thinking about how you got into his house all of a sudden. There he sits at the table enjoying a meal with his wife and child. What an ugly child! Time for revenge... Wait, why is this so important to you all of a sudden? Something is not right about this... Oh, there are so many nasty things you could do to them!
What do you do?
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Post by Idea on Oct 12, 2023 22:07:47 GMT
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Post by vizionarius on Oct 18, 2023 22:46:13 GMT
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Post by Flo00 on Oct 26, 2023 0:43:50 GMT
Judging soon. Would like to see more entries on this. Sorry. Totally forgot about this. You didn't even try to resist. Shame on you! Both parents start screaming in horror as you posess their chld and make it float through the room. After some moments, the father gets angry and demands to know what the hell is going on here while his wife starts crying. Who's the bully now?Idea new and flavorful combination of control and reanimate. I like how this could potentially create some crazy combinations but depends on your opponent. vizionarius Odd symmetric effect. I can see this in a deck that spawns a bunch of small tokens. Idea wins. |
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Post by Idea on Nov 4, 2023 17:32:58 GMT
Thank you for the win Flo00 ! You can't help it, it's as though your emotions are simply too irregulated, like everything is at once hazy and clear. You start to laugh at the distress of your victims, no, the original wrongdoers! There's some weight, trying to pull you to some place below, where before you felt light. Then everything around you changes, and you're no longer there in the floating body of the debtor's child, but by a river stream watching a certain noble lady riding a horse. You recognize her as someone who had once called for aid during your childhood, saving your life. Given your station you had never been able to repay her kindness, but fortunately she seems to doing well for herself.
It is then you spot then, a group of ruffian visible from your vantage point, hiding in a bush with crude rusty weapons and a large bag. What nefarious deeds they might be preparing to do you're not sure of - but whatever it is the young lady does not seem to be aware of their presence...yet.
What do you do? |
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Post by Flo00 on Nov 7, 2023 13:15:36 GMT
Ravenous Ash  Creature - Treefolk Horror  When Ravenous Ash enters the battlefield, sacrifice another permanent. If the sacrificed permanent was • an artifact, draw a card. • a creature, put two +1/+1 counters on Ravenous Ash. • an enchantment, you gain 4 life. • a land, add . 3/3 |
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Post by Idea on Nov 18, 2023 11:38:20 GMT
Gonna give this one a bump!
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Post by Idea on Nov 25, 2023 1:21:59 GMT
I will be closing this one most likely tomorrow afternoon and otherwise the day after tomorrow. If anyone wants to make a last minute entry, feel free!
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Post by Idea on Nov 26, 2023 1:53:14 GMT
With a touch of your ghostly form, a curse is inflicted upon the bush. The lady barely manages to hold on to her horse as it panics seeing the bush suddenly transfigure into a blackened, burning creature, trapping the assailants-to-be inside it unable to escape its prison of spines and fire.
With the debt of gratitude repaid, you once more find yourself whisked elsewhere, never getting to see how the situation resolved in the end.
No further entries, unfortunately. Ravenous Ash The enchantment bit is weaker than the rest by a mile, but it could still conceivably be used. Overall the card feels pretty well-balanced and I wasn't able to find much in the way of examples to compare it with, but the effects seem to be about standard, with it's flexibility compensated by the sacrifice being mandatory, and I feel the stats could probably be both bumped by 1 but are otherwise fine. Winner if Flo00!
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Post by Flo00 on Nov 27, 2023 0:02:37 GMT
Just when you start wondering how long these random encounters will go on, there is a blinding flash. Everything seems to spin around for a while. Once you manage to gain your orientation back, you find yourself in some kind of cage made out of light. You hear a muffled voice say "I caught one! I really caught one!"
You turn in the direction of the voice to find a tall man in a lab coat and a pudgy man in a business suit glaring at you. The one in the business suit tells you with a big smile "Don't worry, poor soul, you won't be in there for long." With a wicked smile the other finishes "Because we will use your life force to fuel the Great Machine."
What do you do?
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Post by Idea on Nov 27, 2023 10:59:32 GMT
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Post by vizionarius on Jan 4, 2024 18:55:53 GMT
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Post by Flo00 on Jan 28, 2024 1:13:27 GMT
Thanks for the subtle ping vizionarius. Judging this on Monday. More entries are welcome. EDIT: Idea You slip into the machine and quickly find out why it is called 'The Great Machine': This thing is huge. You can't quite grasp what this is all for, but you are able to move some parts. Just as you turn your attention to the two men, the one in the suit asks "What happened? Where did it go?" The other scratches his head and mumbles "I don't know. The only way it could have gone was into the machine."Good tuned-down version of Animate Artifact to turn it into a vehicle. Also nice ot combine it with an optional control effect. I think the non-kicked version is restrictive enough with the spirit tribal that you could move a mana from the mana cost to the kicker cost. "Crew with Spirits 1" would sound cool. vizionarius As the two men shrink down before you, their surprised exclamations become squeaks while they get furrier and grow a tail. It only takes a few moments before two confused mice scurry through what seems to be a laboratory. Now that you prevented them from activating the machine, you can set your mind on getting out of this strange cage.Haha, great way of deaing with them. Didn't realize that my description would fit those two X) Pretty strong two-for-one removal. Since the copy triggers on cast, it can only be stifled, not countered; and fizzling the original by sacrificing the target doesn't remove the copy either. I like both entries, both for how they deal with the situation and their mechanics. I'll give the win to Idea because I like the direction of the story a little bit better. |
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