Post by mythwind on Sept 16, 2018 15:47:23 GMT
First of all, I want to specially thank fluffydeathbringer and @jéské Couriano, for their comments on my 1st thread (Slivers - Help me determine if these are broken...). I learned a lot with that post, and their comments have been welcomed.
Let me start with my goals when creating these cards. I play casual MTG with commander-like gameplay among friends. At some point, not being billionaires, we started printing proxys of cards we wanted to play. Getting tired of not seeing more printed material on my favorite tribe, Slivers, I decided to create them on MSE for fun. Before playtesting them with friends, I want to share them with this community as I have read some of the work performed here when learning to use MSE and I think you guys rock. Also it helps me give a more refined product experience with my friends.
The power level of my playgroup has varied a lot, but recently it has become more competitive, mainly infinite turns, infinite mana and other shenanigans have appeared. I am fully ok with that, support epic plays, though they used to appear in turn 8+ and recently with use of 4x black lotus, moxes, multiple locust lands etc…. they have moved to the early game. I think this drove me to press cards to a highest possible power level.
Our understanding or MTG rules is not perfect. There have been debates with some members as to why black knight is destroyed with wrath of gods even though it has protection from white and since most players started playing in the late 90s (~4th Edition) sometimes the update on stack resolution stall the game. For example, it took us time to understand the strength of Snapcaster Mage and the importance of properly stacking instant speed effects.
So with that in mind: I am not designing a full set, rarity of cards is not used to increase or refrain power level. I was playing with MSE frames and sometimes used Legendary card frame when there is not a special character (I also liked Enchantment Creature just for fun… though it may help removal)… I wanted to maintain power level as high as possible, but capture flavor of the Sliver Tribe, the interactions of my favorite cards and effects, while creating all color combinations (guilds, shards, wedges…) with their flavor. The cards are thought as a one of in a deck (some may probably be abused if they were multiple of) this will be interesting as I am sure the community may highlight this issue.
So here we go:
#1 - Sliver Queen is special, being the 1st 5 colored card and leader/mother of the tribe. it would be super cool to have her spark as a planeswalker when her tribe was near extinction… here is the card.
Sliver Queen, Edge of Extinction WUBRG
Legendary Creature — Sliver Queen :special:
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, create a 1/1 colorless Sliver creature token.
C: Sliver Queen, Edge of Extinction gains Hexproof and Indestructible until end of turn.
Whenever a sliver creature is put into your graveyard if your graveyard contains 7 or more Sliver cards, you may exile Sliver Queen, Edge of Extinction then return her to the battlefield transformed under her owner’s control. If you do, create five 1/1 colorless Sliver creature token.
7/7
---Other Side---
Sliver Queen, Swarm Ignited
+2 You get an emblem with “Slivers creatures you control get +1/+1.”
+1 Search your exile, library or graveyard for a Sliver card with converted mana cost three or less and put it into the battlefield. Shuffle your library.
- 12 Search your exile, library or graveyard for any number of Sliver creature cards and put them onto the battlefield. Shuffle your library.
The creature side has a way to defend so it is in the battlefield when there are 7 sliver cards in graveyard (the C cost is to make is hard on the manabase to activate). The change to the token generation mechanic actually eliminates the possibility of infinite Sliver tokens. (The usual way Sliver Queen is a finisher in Commander). You get five 1/1 tokens on transformation as you lose a 7/7 creature. The transformation is optional as I did not want to hurt gameplay if the other planeswalker card was already out.
As a planeswalker the ideas are Predatory Sliver as Emblem, a direct to battlefield tutor for 3 CMC slivers and the ultimate of Nissa Revane or Sarkhan Unbroken but for Slivers. The # of turns to ultimate seemed fair…
#2 - Next is a mature version of her as a planeswalker.
Sliver Queen, Evolved 3CWUBRG
Legendary Planeswalker — Sliver Queen :special:
Starting Loyalty: 5
+3: Search your library for a Sliver card with converted mana cost Y or less, put it onto the battlefield. Shuffle your library. Y is the number of loyalty counters on Sliver Queen, Evolved.
0: Gain control of target permanent. It becomes a Sliver creature with base power and toughness each equal to its converted mana cost, in addition to its other types.
-9: You get an emblem with “At the beginning of your end step, create X 1/1 colorless Sliver creature tokens, where X is one plus the number of Slivers you control.”-9:
I wanted a 9CMC super hard to cast card… the idea is to have game changing impact as soon as it arrives. Basically, in less than 4 turns win the game if not dealt with.
The ultimate is similar to that of Liliana of the Last Hope, but less turns to wait. The others are loosely based on Nicol Bolas Planeswalker (though I thought the Queen should recruit to the swarm) and the tutor with Tezzeret the Seeker (bring out the hive w/o minus).
#3 - Next is what would be the aggressive commander card
Sliver Hivemaster 7
Legendary Creature — Sliver :special:
Eminence — Whenever a Sliver enters the battlefield, if Sliver Hivemaster is in the command zone or on the battlefield, you may pay 3. If you do, search your exile, library or graveyard for a Sliver card, reveal that card, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your library.
3: Create a 1/1 colorless Sliver creature token with Champion a Sliver.
CWUBRG: Until your next turn, you may pay 0 rather than pay the mana cost for Sliver creature spells you cast.
4/4
The eminence was a Sliver Overlord version based on Inalla Archmage Ritualist. The CWUBRG is an activated Rooftop Storm (activating this can be a finisher with the right Slivers in hand to keep the machine going). The middle ability is the one I am aware is causing card problems… It is super wordy if you need to add the full token text… Possibly worth eliminating and changing CMC to a bit lower. The idea of it was for it to be defensive basically at instant speed replace a 1/1 token instead of losing a card sliver… and making interesting board states in case of a sweep.
#4 - Next is based on Reaper King, removing the lord part and putting it in dismember range, but making it alter the board when it arrived. I do not know if it should be reworded to “Whenever ~ or another Sliver enters the battlefield, …” I was initially thinking of traditional Sliver text.
Reaper Sliver 2/W2/U2/B2/R2/G
Legendary Artifact Creature — Sliver :rare:
(2/W can be paid with any two mana or with W. This card’s converted mana cost is 10.)
Sliver creatures you control have
“When this permanent enters the battlefield, you may destroy target permanent.”
The Sliver Queen rejoiced at the idea of the ancient Scarecrow King at harvest.
5/5
#5 - The next one is hard to judge, I initially thought of Sliver Hivelord moving it to a 3/3 or 2/2, but making the mana cost all be phyrexian… To accelerate when it can be played paying life… Trying to make it easier to remove… Then I saw Blightsteel Colossus appear as a finisher so I wanted to get a Triumph of the Hordes effect. So design started getting all over the place.
Phyrexian Sliver 5H/WH/UH/BH/RH/G
Legendary Creature — Sliver :rare:
(H/W can be paid with either W or 2 life. This card’s converted mana cost is 10.)
Sliver creatures you control have
“Indestructible, Infect”
The source, the line unbroken since the calamity that brought such monsters to our shores.
5/5
#6 - The next one I initially wanted a version Sliver Legion only on combat, making -x/-x when attacking and have the +x/+x when blocking. The -x/-x would be effective vs. indestructible but making this a combat thing still allowed Pyroclasm / lightning bolt to hit the swarm. I added reach and protection for colorless as the next things I wanted to make sure the swarm had. I think Trample should probably go as mentioned with the -x/-x it basically becomes supertrample.
Battalion Sliver WUBRG
Legendary Enchantment Creature — Sliver :rare:
Sliver creatures you control have
“Protection from colorless. Reach, Trample. Whenever this permanent becomes blocked by a creature, that creature gets -X/-X until end of turn. Whenever this permanent blocks a creature, it gains +X/+X until end of turn. Where X is the number of Sliver creatures you control.”
A power within the clicking, chittering swarm, still young, but growing more as time passes.
5/5
Let me start with my goals when creating these cards. I play casual MTG with commander-like gameplay among friends. At some point, not being billionaires, we started printing proxys of cards we wanted to play. Getting tired of not seeing more printed material on my favorite tribe, Slivers, I decided to create them on MSE for fun. Before playtesting them with friends, I want to share them with this community as I have read some of the work performed here when learning to use MSE and I think you guys rock. Also it helps me give a more refined product experience with my friends.
The power level of my playgroup has varied a lot, but recently it has become more competitive, mainly infinite turns, infinite mana and other shenanigans have appeared. I am fully ok with that, support epic plays, though they used to appear in turn 8+ and recently with use of 4x black lotus, moxes, multiple locust lands etc…. they have moved to the early game. I think this drove me to press cards to a highest possible power level.
Our understanding or MTG rules is not perfect. There have been debates with some members as to why black knight is destroyed with wrath of gods even though it has protection from white and since most players started playing in the late 90s (~4th Edition) sometimes the update on stack resolution stall the game. For example, it took us time to understand the strength of Snapcaster Mage and the importance of properly stacking instant speed effects.
So with that in mind: I am not designing a full set, rarity of cards is not used to increase or refrain power level. I was playing with MSE frames and sometimes used Legendary card frame when there is not a special character (I also liked Enchantment Creature just for fun… though it may help removal)… I wanted to maintain power level as high as possible, but capture flavor of the Sliver Tribe, the interactions of my favorite cards and effects, while creating all color combinations (guilds, shards, wedges…) with their flavor. The cards are thought as a one of in a deck (some may probably be abused if they were multiple of) this will be interesting as I am sure the community may highlight this issue.
So here we go:
#1 - Sliver Queen is special, being the 1st 5 colored card and leader/mother of the tribe. it would be super cool to have her spark as a planeswalker when her tribe was near extinction… here is the card.
Sliver Queen, Edge of Extinction WUBRG
Legendary Creature — Sliver Queen :special:
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, create a 1/1 colorless Sliver creature token.
C: Sliver Queen, Edge of Extinction gains Hexproof and Indestructible until end of turn.
Whenever a sliver creature is put into your graveyard if your graveyard contains 7 or more Sliver cards, you may exile Sliver Queen, Edge of Extinction then return her to the battlefield transformed under her owner’s control. If you do, create five 1/1 colorless Sliver creature token.
7/7
---Other Side---
Sliver Queen, Swarm Ignited
+2 You get an emblem with “Slivers creatures you control get +1/+1.”
+1 Search your exile, library or graveyard for a Sliver card with converted mana cost three or less and put it into the battlefield. Shuffle your library.
- 12 Search your exile, library or graveyard for any number of Sliver creature cards and put them onto the battlefield. Shuffle your library.
The creature side has a way to defend so it is in the battlefield when there are 7 sliver cards in graveyard (the C cost is to make is hard on the manabase to activate). The change to the token generation mechanic actually eliminates the possibility of infinite Sliver tokens. (The usual way Sliver Queen is a finisher in Commander). You get five 1/1 tokens on transformation as you lose a 7/7 creature. The transformation is optional as I did not want to hurt gameplay if the other planeswalker card was already out.
As a planeswalker the ideas are Predatory Sliver as Emblem, a direct to battlefield tutor for 3 CMC slivers and the ultimate of Nissa Revane or Sarkhan Unbroken but for Slivers. The # of turns to ultimate seemed fair…
#2 - Next is a mature version of her as a planeswalker.
Sliver Queen, Evolved 3CWUBRG
Legendary Planeswalker — Sliver Queen :special:
Starting Loyalty: 5
+3: Search your library for a Sliver card with converted mana cost Y or less, put it onto the battlefield. Shuffle your library. Y is the number of loyalty counters on Sliver Queen, Evolved.
0: Gain control of target permanent. It becomes a Sliver creature with base power and toughness each equal to its converted mana cost, in addition to its other types.
-9: You get an emblem with “At the beginning of your end step, create X 1/1 colorless Sliver creature tokens, where X is one plus the number of Slivers you control.”-9:
I wanted a 9CMC super hard to cast card… the idea is to have game changing impact as soon as it arrives. Basically, in less than 4 turns win the game if not dealt with.
The ultimate is similar to that of Liliana of the Last Hope, but less turns to wait. The others are loosely based on Nicol Bolas Planeswalker (though I thought the Queen should recruit to the swarm) and the tutor with Tezzeret the Seeker (bring out the hive w/o minus).
#3 - Next is what would be the aggressive commander card
Sliver Hivemaster 7
Legendary Creature — Sliver :special:
Eminence — Whenever a Sliver enters the battlefield, if Sliver Hivemaster is in the command zone or on the battlefield, you may pay 3. If you do, search your exile, library or graveyard for a Sliver card, reveal that card, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your library.
3: Create a 1/1 colorless Sliver creature token with Champion a Sliver.
CWUBRG: Until your next turn, you may pay 0 rather than pay the mana cost for Sliver creature spells you cast.
4/4
The eminence was a Sliver Overlord version based on Inalla Archmage Ritualist. The CWUBRG is an activated Rooftop Storm (activating this can be a finisher with the right Slivers in hand to keep the machine going). The middle ability is the one I am aware is causing card problems… It is super wordy if you need to add the full token text… Possibly worth eliminating and changing CMC to a bit lower. The idea of it was for it to be defensive basically at instant speed replace a 1/1 token instead of losing a card sliver… and making interesting board states in case of a sweep.
#4 - Next is based on Reaper King, removing the lord part and putting it in dismember range, but making it alter the board when it arrived. I do not know if it should be reworded to “Whenever ~ or another Sliver enters the battlefield, …” I was initially thinking of traditional Sliver text.
Reaper Sliver 2/W2/U2/B2/R2/G
Legendary Artifact Creature — Sliver :rare:
(2/W can be paid with any two mana or with W. This card’s converted mana cost is 10.)
Sliver creatures you control have
“When this permanent enters the battlefield, you may destroy target permanent.”
The Sliver Queen rejoiced at the idea of the ancient Scarecrow King at harvest.
5/5
#5 - The next one is hard to judge, I initially thought of Sliver Hivelord moving it to a 3/3 or 2/2, but making the mana cost all be phyrexian… To accelerate when it can be played paying life… Trying to make it easier to remove… Then I saw Blightsteel Colossus appear as a finisher so I wanted to get a Triumph of the Hordes effect. So design started getting all over the place.
Phyrexian Sliver 5H/WH/UH/BH/RH/G
Legendary Creature — Sliver :rare:
(H/W can be paid with either W or 2 life. This card’s converted mana cost is 10.)
Sliver creatures you control have
“Indestructible, Infect”
The source, the line unbroken since the calamity that brought such monsters to our shores.
5/5
#6 - The next one I initially wanted a version Sliver Legion only on combat, making -x/-x when attacking and have the +x/+x when blocking. The -x/-x would be effective vs. indestructible but making this a combat thing still allowed Pyroclasm / lightning bolt to hit the swarm. I added reach and protection for colorless as the next things I wanted to make sure the swarm had. I think Trample should probably go as mentioned with the -x/-x it basically becomes supertrample.
Battalion Sliver WUBRG
Legendary Enchantment Creature — Sliver :rare:
Sliver creatures you control have
“Protection from colorless. Reach, Trample. Whenever this permanent becomes blocked by a creature, that creature gets -X/-X until end of turn. Whenever this permanent blocks a creature, it gains +X/+X until end of turn. Where X is the number of Sliver creatures you control.”
A power within the clicking, chittering swarm, still young, but growing more as time passes.
5/5
