|
|
Post by ameisenmeister on May 29, 2019 17:36:50 GMT
It's judging time!
{melono}
The flavor seems fine but there is something about it that is basically a red light for me when it comes to mechanics: A mechanic should by almost all means not require another keyword mechanic to work. Even if you consider scry evergreen there are still the issues that, first, one function of mechanics is to make things easier to understand. If you add another keyword onto a keyword's rules text, you're just adding another layer of complexity. Second, having a mechanic require another mechanic to work is a form of a very strict A-B design. You need one specific thing (A) in order to make your mechanic (B) work. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as long as A is easy enough to do. To make your version of Skim, you would not only have to have scry and surveil in your set to avoid confusion, but you'd need a whole lot of it. So much that your set's mechanic will seem to be scry instead of skim.
{sdfkjgh}
Ehm, how is your mechanic not completely broken? I kind of understand the flavor but can you see the problem when playing with it? I decide to keep my starting hand, you decide to keep. I start the game with a mountain, tap the mountain, exile the top six cards of my library and play a 3/2, a 3/3 and draw a card. Go.
I'm pretty sure you see that is isn't going to work in a fair and balanced way because my library size is basically irrelevant unless you happen to play a mill deck that is able to survive long enough against my first turn 4/4s.
{loadingreadywalk}
So you found a way to make morph even more complex. Your mechanic looks interesting but I'm pretty sure it doesn't work with the rules, not even considering other issues. A face down creature doesn't have any abilities, as far as I know. Morph being an exeption. But even if it works within the rules, how are players supposed to keep apart face up creatures and face down creatures, that have been revealed? Let's say you play a True-Name Enforcer and use it's activated ability to turn it face down. Now you can reveal it to make it do it's thing and the card sits revealed (aka face up) on the battlefield. But because you never really turned it face up, you now have a 2/2 colorless face down creature that looks like a green 4/4. This will be confusing as hell. I also don't really understand what the word skim has to do with your mechanic, but as I'm not a native English speaker I might just miss something.
{somerandomtom}
I understand the flavor and can see some potential in your mechanic, however, there are some flaws in it. First, your mechanic allows you to cast the revealed cards, but what happens if you don't have the necessary colors of mana? As you can only cast the revealed cards, you will never be able to play lands from your opponent's library. So unless you're playing a five-color deck, your mechanic is very dependant on the deck your opponent is playing, which is not a good spot to be in. Second, the mechanic is hard to balance. You could add „You may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast that spell.“ to avoid this. But then the mechanic would still be very powerful and hard to balance. Even Skim 1 would be either like „draw a card“ or, if you hit a land, do nothing. From all the mechanics I reviewed this round by now, your's is the first that I could almost see working but there are still some problems.
{Daij_Djan} Interesting idea. Kind of like polymorph but a bit tamer. These kinds of effects are tricky because they can lead to repetitive gameplay where you just find the same card in each game because you just have this one card that fulfills the requirement. I see, however, that you anticipated this problem and designed cards that make this play style unattractive by giving you a bonus that encourages playing a lot of cards of that type. The Disciple and the Necromancer are pretty good. The design space seems big but probably isn't. You can't safely just slap Skim for a <foo> on any card for the aforementioned reasons and also because it's usually a better version of draw a card which makes it quite powerful and a bit tricky to balance.</foo>
{Tesagk} Two big no-nos for me here. First, your mechanic requires another mechanic to even do anything. So your set must have a considerable amount of Srcying; it's possible, but also likely to steal your mechanic's spotlight. Second, your mechanic is dependent on your opponent's deck. Unless you purposefully cram your deck with Eager Constructs to lure your opponent into scrying, your opponent might just simply don't have any cards with scry, making your mechanic worthless.
{And the winner is...}
Daij_Djan! Followed by somerandomtom.
Thank you all for participating! |
|
|
|
Post by Daij_Djan on May 31, 2019 0:45:59 GMT
Big thanks for the win - and I agree with the mentioned issues of the mechanic 
Your next challenge is.. backflip!
|
|
|
|
Post by sdfkjgh on May 31, 2019 9:33:34 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Flo00 on May 31, 2019 9:55:54 GMT
Thought Snatcher   Creature - Human Rogue  Backflip (Whenever this creature isn’t blocked, you may remove it from combat.)When Thought Snatcher backflips, defending player discards a card. 2/2 War Howler   Creature - Beast  Backflip (Whenever this creature isn’t blocked, you may remove it from combat.)When War Howler backflips for the first time each turn, untap all creatures that attacked this turn and after this combat phase, there is an additional combat phase. Unprincipled Murderer  Creature - Human Assassine  Deathtouch Backflip (Whenever this creature isn’t blocked, you may remove it from combat.)When Unprincipled Murderer backflips, defending player loses 4 life. 1/3 Tender of the Peaceful  Creature - Cleric Backflip (Whenever this creature isn’t blocked, you may remove it from combat.)Whenever a creature you control backflips, untap it and you gain 1 life. 1/2 Stunt Sparkler  Creature - Faerie Flying Backflip (Whenever this creature isn’t blocked, you may remove it from combat.)Whenever a creature you control backflips, scry 1. Swarm-Composed Drake   Creature - Insect Drake Backflip (Whenever this creature isn’t blocked, you may remove it from combat.)Flying, trample Whenever Swarm-Composed Drake backflips, create a token that’s a copy of Swarm-Composed Drake. Note: Backflip triggers in the declare blockers step on attacking creatures that did'n get a blocker assigned to them. |
|
Sanfonier of the Night
7/7 Elemental
Posts: 399
Favorite Card: The Prismatic Bridge
Favorite Set: War of the Spark
Color Alignment: White, Blue, Black, Red, Green, Colorless
|
Post by Sanfonier of the Night on May 31, 2019 17:15:46 GMT
Just a simple, turn face down, effect. It is quite similar to other effects I adimit.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Mapi on May 31, 2019 17:47:46 GMT
Backflip (When this card is put into a graveyard from the stack, you may return it to your hand instead. If you do, discard a card at random.)
Just putting up my idea for now. Unless I'm wrong, this should trigger in two situations:
1) The spell is countered.
2) It's an instant or sorcery and it resolved without being exiled/returned to hand/manifested/eaten.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tesagk on May 31, 2019 19:50:52 GMT
Going for the obvious: Backflip [cost] (Return this permanent back to your hand if you pay the backflip cost.)
Obviously will play nicely with ETB effects and adds a defensive layer of evasiveness when trying to stop a creature from dying due to a spell, ability, or even the possibility of damage (yes, you could feasibly block and then backflip.)     |
|
|
|
Post by sdfkjgh on May 31, 2019 21:20:28 GMT
I wonder if you all would've chosen morph variants had I not posted mine first.
|
|
|
|
Post by Flo00 on Jun 1, 2019 1:52:02 GMT
sdfkjgh I never look at the other people's entires before making my own. So definitely no.
|
|
|
|
Post by somerandomtom on Jun 1, 2019 9:08:56 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Jartis on Jun 3, 2019 5:53:45 GMT
Backflip <cost> ( <Cost>: Return this creature to your hand. Activate this ability only if this creature is in combat.) Nimble Aerialist Creature - Goblin Rogue Whenever Nimble Aerialist attacks, it gains flying until end of turn. Backflip ( : Return this creature to your hand. Activate this ability only if this creature is in combat.) 2/2 Obscuring Acrobat Creature - Human Rogue Backflip ( : Return this creature to your hand. Activate this ability only if this creature is in combat.) Whenever Obscuring Acrobat backflips, you may put a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. 1/1 Distracting Dancer Creature - Human Rogue Backflip ( : Return this creature to your hand. Activate this ability only if this creature is in combat.) Whenever Distracting Dancer backflips, other attacking creatures you control may assign their combat damage as though they weren’t blocked this turn. 4/4 |
|
|
|
Post by Boogymanjunior on Jun 3, 2019 15:31:20 GMT
And here are my ideas. Backflip made me think of some acrobatic, artistic stuff so I went with it.
Hope you like it!
|
|
|
|
Post by loadingreadywalk on Jun 5, 2019 6:13:28 GMT
Backflip - You may have this creature assign combat damage as though it weren't blocked. If you do, that creature 'backflipped'. It's not removed from combat, so it will still take combat damage from anything that blocked it.
|
|
Sanfonier of the Night
7/7 Elemental
Posts: 399
Favorite Card: The Prismatic Bridge
Favorite Set: War of the Spark
Color Alignment: White, Blue, Black, Red, Green, Colorless
|
Post by Sanfonier of the Night on Jun 5, 2019 17:49:42 GMT
Backflip - You may have this creature assign combat damage as though it weren't blocked. If you do, that creature 'backflipped'. It's not removed from combat, so it will still take combat damage from anything that blocked it.
Sugoi! Finally supertrample for blue! |
|
|
|
Post by Daij_Djan on Jun 10, 2019 22:11:42 GMT
This challenge will be judged after I'm done with the Poor Man's Edition. So get your final entries/edits in |
|
Sanfonier of the Night
7/7 Elemental
Posts: 399
Favorite Card: The Prismatic Bridge
Favorite Set: War of the Spark
Color Alignment: White, Blue, Black, Red, Green, Colorless
|
Post by Sanfonier of the Night on Jun 25, 2019 16:09:18 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by gateways7 on Jun 25, 2019 17:46:58 GMT
Well, since no judging has happened yet, I'll sneak in there. Mechanic stolen from my post on Misc. Card Designs just now. Infiltrator's Insight Sorcery Draw two cards. Backflip (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: You may cast this spell without paying its mana cost.)Information is much more valuable than a thrown punch.Touch of Nature Sorcery Search your library for a land card and put it into your hand. If you paid the backflip cost to cast this spell, put it onto the battlefield instead. Then shuffle your library. Backflip (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: You may cast this spell without paying its mana cost.)Strike of Decay Sorcery Target creature gets -3/-3 until the end of turn. If you paid the backflip cost to cast this spell, destroy it instead. Backflip (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: You may cast this spell without paying its mana cost.)"Brutish strength can be useful, but a well-placed attack can do so much more."Inhibit Instant Counter target spell. Backflip (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: You may cast this spell without paying its mana cost.)Decree of the Warmongers Sorcery Destroy all creatures. Backflip (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: You may cast this spell without paying its mana cost.)Temporal Twister  Sorcery  Take an extra turn after this one. Exile Temporal Twister. Backflip (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: You may cast this spell without paying its mana cost.) |
|
|
|
Post by ameisenmeister on Jun 25, 2019 19:33:06 GMT
I'll take my chance and post something too. Have fun with it!
|
|
|
|
Post by Daij_Djan on Jun 26, 2019 8:52:42 GMT
Sorry about that - I actually wanted to just announce a winner here after doing so for the other contest last week when I was busy - but then simply forgot to return to this thread. But considering this brought two more entries, the delay was at least worth it, I guess xD
I'll finally finish this week's CotW poll now and then get on to this contests judging tomorrow - so get your final entries in everyone |
|
|
|
Post by Tesagk on Jun 27, 2019 22:29:16 GMT
Sorry about that - I actually wanted to just announce a winner here after doing so for the other contest last week when I was busy - but then simply forgot to return to this thread. But considering this brought two more entries, the delay was at least worth it, I guess xD
I'll finally finish this week's CotW poll now and then get on to this contests judging tomorrow - so get your final entries in everyone Bloop bloop. |
|
|
|
Post by Daij_Djan on Jun 28, 2019 11:06:13 GMT
Don't worry, I actually began on time for once - I just needed two sessions to finish  One advantage of the previous delay is me having at least some time to write down some comments on the mechanics themselves. So here we (finally) go! | @sdfkjgh: | The concept of this mechanic definitely fits its name well, but I'm a bit sad the creatures' normal stats and abilities basically never matter unless you do not use Backflip at all. So maybe rather than flipping back instantly, do so at the beginning of the next end step instead? | | 0 | | @Flo00: | I've actually pondered about a similar mechanic in the past already for quite some time – which depending on your point of view might be a good or a bad thing for you The one issue I see with keywording the old trading in combat damage for an effect style is you advance the game to its conclusion when using it – which might lead to some unpleasant games where you're opponent will never be able to beat you but won't really lose unless you finally have pity and start beating them up again. Also, even if I otherwise don't really wanted to comment on the individual designs, half of your creatures misssing their power and toughness kind of irked me xD | | 0 | | @Sanfonier of the Night: | A simple mechanic for sure, but that's not an issue for me. I think I'd have preferred to see this used more (maybe exclusively?) on noncreature permanents because I think that's where it really shines. | | 0 | | @Lady Mapi: | You are not wrong indeed I just don't think I really like the way the mechanic is worded right now. Basically, the mechanic could just have been worded starting with „Then ...“ just like Cipher and sound much cleaner this way – sure you lose some of the countering/exiling/similar interactions, but I personally don't think those really are worth the clunky wording. | | 0 | | @Tesagk: | Again, the name really fits the mechanic well here. But I think I'd actually prefer this mechanic unkeyworded simply to not see all the board stalls it could potantially create in Limited.. Wording nitpick: You don't need the „any time you could cast an instant“ clause as that's flat out true for activated non-loyalty abilities of permanents unless stated otherwise anyway. | | 0 | | @somerandomtom: | Keywording this kind of effect basically has the same potential issues the previous one has – Limited board stalls. You do seem to have costed your ability a bit safer in that regard though, so it might not be that much of an issue. Also to nitpick on one individual card for once, Lovable Cat's ETB buff not really being useful when backflipping feels rather weird. | | 0 | | @Jartis: | Looking at your individual cards, I'm not sure whether you really want your mechanic to work while blocking as well – because it technically currently does even though it does neither really fits its colors nor fits two of your tree examples? Right now it also has the issue of „infinite blocking“, so getting rid of it would really help avoiding this as well. | | 0 | | @Boogymanjunior: | As much as I like the concept, this mechanic actually don't work within the rules of the game as it is right now. When you return your card to your hand, a hidden zone, you then won't be able to tell whether you discarded the same card afterwards or not. You could basically only ask for a card with the same name, but this would make it more clunky. If paper Magic wouldn't be an issue however, this would be great. | | 0 | | @loadingreadywalk: | Considering I'm actually using it as my own pet evergreen, I'm obviously a very big fan of the Lone Wolf ability – and while our flavor approaches are obviously completely different, I do like your take as well. I just don't think white and blue really need this kind of evasion – they have many other alternatives already. Then again, red and green have received new evasion abilities these past few years as well, so I might be too critical here. | | 0 | | @gateways7: | This is.. quite cool, seriously. Balancing it might be a bit troublesome (as returning a 1/1 and a 10/10 is not really on the same scale) but other than that I really like the flavor as well as the gameplay. Trading in all damage for an effect/spell is something I was rather wary of while looking at Flo00's approach – but as your take isn't as repetative, I don't think it's that much of an issue here. | | 0 | | @ameisenmeister: | And we finish the contest with an Un-mechanic – this is something I clearly would have not expected  Still, I quite like this mechanic for an Un-Set, no doubt – even if I'd probably remove the exile clause. I do get the flavor, but I think the gameplay would be better without it. |
And that's it! Wow, eleven entries and quite some cool ones as well. However, there can be only one winner.. Congratz, gateways7! I really enjoyed your approach due to its flavor as well as its gameplay potential. Runner-up goes to ameisenmeister for an Un-Set mechanic that made me laugh while still sounding fun to play |
|
|
|
Post by Tesagk on Jun 28, 2019 12:45:29 GMT
| @Tesagk : | Again, the name really fits the mechanic well here. But I think I'd actually prefer this mechanic unkeyworded simply to not see all the board stalls it could potantially create in Limited.. Wording nitpick: You don't need the „any time you could cast an instant“ clause as that's flat out true for activated non-loyalty abilities of permanents unless stated otherwise anyway. |
That's... true, it isn't needed. Ah well, I thought it would be a fun mechanic, not sure what board stalls would be happening.  |
|
|
|
Post by gateways7 on Jun 29, 2019 0:34:31 GMT
Thanks for the win! For your next challenge, make a card with a mechanic named Unity. I'm looking for flavor, creativity, elegance, and power level. Good luck!
|
|
|
|
Post by Tesagk on Jun 29, 2019 13:03:55 GMT
Unity - If you control at least one of each <creature type/perm color>, <creature type/perm color>, <creature type/perm color>, then <effect>
Landsworn Knight Creature - Elf Knight Druid Vigilance, trample Unity - If you control at least one other Elf, one other Knight, and one other Druid creature, ~ gets +3/+3. 3/3 Archmaestro of the Citadel Creature - Human Wizard Advisor Creatures you control with power 4 or greater get +1/+1 and gain trample. Unity - If you control at least one other Blue permanent, one other Red permanent, and one other Green permanent, when ~ enters the battlefield, draw two cards. 2/4 Conflict of Certainty Instant Destroy target creature, each player creates a 1/1 white Human Warrior creature token. Unity - If you control at least one White permanent, one Green permanent, and one Black permanent, you may cast ~ for instead, and target creature's controller does not create a 1/1 white Human Warrior creature token. Treatise of Parvallor Legendary Enchantment Creatures you control get +1/+1 and creature cards in your hand gain flash. Unity - If you control at least one White permanent, one Blue permanent, and one Black permanent, creatures you control get +2/+2 and gain indestructible.
|
|
kebelqwa
0/0 Germ
Enlisting the service of local cryptomancers
Posts: 36
|
Post by kebelqwa on Jun 29, 2019 14:35:47 GMT
Unity (Whenever a creature that shares a creature type with CARDNAME dies, you may have CARDNAME gain all of that creature's activated abilities until end of turn.)
|
|
|
|
Post by Tesagk on Jun 29, 2019 16:03:16 GMT
Would it still fit ability word syntax if I modified it like so: Unity - If you control at least one of each <creature type/perm color>, <creature type/perm color>, <creature type/perm color>
Or would that not work since it would be too different across cards?
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Mapi on Jun 29, 2019 16:18:30 GMT
Unity (When this creature enters the battlefield, it joins the Worldmind.)Selesnyan Dryad - Creature - Dryad Unity (When this creature enters the battlefield, it joins the Worldmind.)Selesnyan Dryad has +2/+0 as long as there are three or more creatures in the Worldmind. 1/3 Worldsong Singer - Creature - Elf Druid Unity (When this creature enters the battlefield, it joins the Worldmind.)Whenever a creature joins the Worldmind, you may return a permanent card from your graveyard to your hand. "Mat'Selesnya forgets nothing."2/2 Striding Temple - Creature - Elemental Trample, unity (When this creature enters the battlefield, it joins the Worldmind.)Striding Temple's power and toughness are equal to the number of creatures in the Worldmind. Whenever a creature joins the Worldmind, put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control. */* The Mythic is probably a Trostani. I dunno. |
|
Sanfonier of the Night
7/7 Elemental
Posts: 399
Favorite Card: The Prismatic Bridge
Favorite Set: War of the Spark
Color Alignment: White, Blue, Black, Red, Green, Colorless
|
Post by Sanfonier of the Night on Jul 1, 2019 0:37:19 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Jartis on Jul 1, 2019 3:13:46 GMT
Unity (Whenever a spell or ability targets this card, if it wasn't a copy, copy that spell or ability. You must choose new targets for the copy.)Haazda Captain Creature - Human Soldier Unity (Whenever a spell or ability targets this card, if it wasn't a copy, copy that spell or ability. You must choose new targets for the copy.)3/3 Selesnya Herd Leader Creature - Elephant Cleric When Selesnya Herd Leader enters the battlefield, gain 2 life for each creature you control with Unity. Unity (Whenever a spell or ability targets this card, if it wasn't a copy, copy that spell or ability. You must choose new targets for the copy.)3/5 Frienddagrif Creature - Phelddagrif Flying Unity (Whenever a spell or ability targets this card, if it wasn't a copy, copy that spell or ability. You must choose new targets for the copy.): Other creatures you control gain Unity until end of turn. Target opponent creates a 1/1 green Hippo creature token, gains 2 life, and may draw a card. 4/4 |
|
|
|
Post by ameisenmeister on Jul 2, 2019 15:09:23 GMT
United, a status similar to the City's Blessing from Rivals of Ixalan, is granted by the keyword Unity as soon as you control a permanent of each color. Just like with Spirit of Resistance, you don't need five different permanents, there just have to be all five colors represented among the permanents you control. Here are my example cards:
Just like with the City's Blessing, there are certain cards that activate the mechanic quite easily. If used in a set, one would obviously have to be careful about how easy it is to turn on Unity. Unlike the City's Blessing, my version of Unity pushes a certain type of deck - five color decks - while still remaining open enough to allow for variation.
|
|
One advantage of the previous delay is me having at least some time to write down some comments on the mechanics themselves. So here we (finally) go!
Still, I quite like this mechanic for an Un-Set, no doubt – even if I'd probably remove the exile clause. I do get the flavor, but I think the gameplay would be better without it.
