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Post by cajun on May 1, 2019 3:56:41 GMT
"That makes sense, as it seems to be a philosophy specific to our realm. Think of it as one of your maps. The map must accurately reflect the place it is depicting, and if the place changes, so too must the map be redrawn - this is Sanity. But first you must explore and analyze that place, so you know what to put on the map at all - this is Necessity. The first without the second is aimless, unreal, a madman's daydream. The second without the first is pointless, wasted effort, doomed to failure. Both are needed to build a civilization, or really to do much of anything. So our title is more of a mission statement, really."A ripple passes through the portal, almost as if it's clearing its throat. "I hope that clears up any concerns you might have. I understand why you'd be hesitant to help us rebuild our empire without knowing anything about it. But doesn't every culture deserve to live on in some form?" "It sounds noble, doesn't it? There's so much room in the Multiverse, surely there's enough room for all of us."
"And then you see that there isn't. There's always those that want more. That just want to take. That destroy just for the thrill. Those cultures don't deserve a thing."
"Your philosophy... I can't make head or tails of. You watch civilizations to build your own? Best I can make of it, Vi." Dismissive Stance Instant Counter target spell. Whenever that spell's controller casts a spell this turn, draw a card. "No, no, that doesn't make sense either. Maybe you should explain more simply." Necessity Module - way overcosted, barely does anything w/explain yourself. 6/10
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Post by Parasign on May 1, 2019 4:50:06 GMT
cajunDismissive Stance: Sort of a mono-blue Render Silent? Might be a bit too strong, but it's probably fine. 9/10.“Well, yes, of course there are and have always been destructive, parasitic cultures, on my world just as much as any other. But in teaching us what not to do, in keeping our wits sharp and our minds on guard, and in forcing us to band together to destroy them, their memory serves as fertilizer for a new and better generation. It might not be the noblest way to live on, but it’s no less vital.”“That’s where my comparison breaks down, I think. Perhaps it’s better to think of the map as… no, that doesn’t work either. Should have stuck with the gardening metaphor. Let’s just say it’s about knowing what should be true and changing reality until you’ve made it so. And if our empire dies, that hard-earned knowledge will be lost forever.”Simplicity Module Artifact Abilities don't trigger.
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Post by gurfafflekins on May 1, 2019 23:18:10 GMT
Parasign The apparition seemed to bristle. "Spirit. Bah.""We only ask for something small in return: anyone you wish to suffer, allow Us to tend to them. Dissenters, opposition, whatever ended your rule the last time... suffering is what We enjoy." of course, this was a lie. We did enjoy torment, but We had our eyes on another, one particularly who appeared in that vision. "Of course, if you refuse, you will be flattened along with this insufferable plane." No Options Instant ~ deals 3 damage to target creature. That creature's controller discards two cards. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.Skepticism Module: A hating artifact that's pretty good. Grand Arbiter is two colors and only does more but does make it's own cost less. Probably fine. 8/10.
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Post by Parasign on May 2, 2019 0:57:37 GMT
No Options: Blightning was strong enough at sorcery speed and only hitting players. This seems way too punishing against creature-based decks. 6/10. (“Suffering for its own sake? How cruel and pointless.”)
{Yes, VIA. And thus, its request would cost us nothing at all.}
“Very well, then, spirit . Anyone we wish to suffer, you can torment however you like. If this is the one and only thing you ask of us, then we accept your offer.”
It was true, after all. They weren’t sadists. They never truly wished harm upon anyone…
{...did they?}She doesn’t recognize the bed at first. It’s not at all what the word conjures in her mind: no blankets, no sheets, no warmth. Just a cold, hard slab, sterile as everything else in this forbidding room. She can’t understand how they expect her to sleep on the thing. “I’m scared, Doctor Ilthiss. I don’t think I can do this.”“Of course you can, Vi. You’re the bravest girl I’ve ever known.”She doesn’t feel brave as they fit the mask over her mouth and nose. She doesn’t feel brave as they strap down her hands and feet. “For your own protection,” Ilthiss assures her. “You could toss and turn in your sleep. We don’t want you to get hurt.”She doesn’t feel brave as her vision clouds and the world drifts away. By the time they start cutting, she doesn’t feel anything at all.
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Post by gurfafflekins on May 2, 2019 16:50:56 GMT
Parasign The thing nods. "We are not lacking in honor, however. Before We strike this deal, there is one whom We would like to torment indefinitely." The vision of the thing changed and shifted, and turned into an image of a smiling child, clutching a spear and wearing goggles."Karina Oblay. Adopted daughter of Aiden of Sunspear, and a thorn in Our side from the start."Heinous Request Instant Any player may have ~ deal 5 damage to them. If no one does, draw four cards, then discard a card. "Such a small request for such a large reward..."Operating Table: Honestly, nice bump up on Carnage Altar. Still, slightly concerning with the amount of draw but the tap, in theory, deals with that. 9.5/10 --> 10/10.
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Post by Parasign on May 2, 2019 20:09:54 GMT
gurfafflekins Heinous Request: Browbeat+, huh? Seems fine, and the flavor makes sense. 10/10. (“Is it serious? It’s been… thwarted… by that little girl somehow?”)
{Perhaps she is more than we thought.}
“Well, your new request changes things entirely. The answer is no.”
{VIA, wait…}
“Karina was in the vision you showed us, quite clearly free of your torment. If you can’t even keep your story straight, there’s no way we can trust you.”
{You can’t just unilaterally….}
“Here’s our counter-offer, you insubstantial prick. Go back to whatever worthless hell-hole you oozed out of before we bring out weaponry that makes Six-Alpha look like a cheap plastic toy.”
Nuclear Arsenal Artifact , , Exile ~: Exile all permanents. Exile all cards from all hands and graveyards. Your life total becomes 1. {Sometimes you must destroy the world to save it. }The first precept: let the good feed on the bad.
She has been told she’s good for as long as she can remember. She’s going to save the world; what could be more Necessary than that?
Once, a terrorist bombed the imperial palace and his face was all over the Frame for a week. She was horrified at the thought of her fathers serving her this disgusting man on a plate, forcing her to chew and swallow every portion until nothing remained. She went to them, crying, and they laughed and said that wasn’t what the precept meant. That she’d understand when she was older.
They didn’t know how right they were.
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Post by Popcornia on May 3, 2019 11:58:06 GMT
Parasign Rudara usually was not the one to carry out her own wishes. There were matters to attend to: information, people, and places were all things Rudara spread her network of eyes and ears to envelop into the fold. But this oddity had caught her eye in particular, enough so where she saw no one else was capable of truly understanding it...but herself. It had taken several long days to find leads on rumor, hearsay, and word of mouth before Rudara had found an actual lead towards her goal. Now she strode towards the looming artifact, a large circular disk, that moved, and if the rumors were right... ...was alive. Truly, an object worthy of her attention. {Gift? Card - Reckon the Magnificent} "Greetings, living machine," spoke Rudara, stopping in front of the machine. Her face betrayed no emotion, her amber eyes scanning the device, but she knew this was...fascinating.
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Post by Parasign on May 3, 2019 23:10:13 GMT
PopcorniaReckon the Magnificent: This seems interesting and fairly balanced. There's probably some ramp or combo deck it would work well in. My main concern is that the "otherwise put it on the bottom of your library" adds mostly unnecessary text to an already wordy card. If you really want to add a consolation prize, "otherwise, you may put it into your graveyard" would be shorter and more effective. 8/10.“The Most Sane and Necessary Empire of AKHATAR greets you in turn. I am VIA, its acting ruler. Who and what, if I may ask, are you?"
Reductive Module Artifact At the beginning of your upkeep, you may sacrifice ~. If you do, exile target nonland permanent unless its controller pays its mana cost. "An unknown theoplasmic being with inestimable reality-altering powers. How... banal."
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Post by Popcornia on May 4, 2019 2:06:18 GMT
Parasign "You may call me 'R'," returned the woman, not perturbed in the slightest by the resounding voice of the speaking gate. " What I am, I cannot say, that is one question I still seek the answer for." Given her midnight black wings, and two additional sets of arms, pale skin and amber eyes, what she was was definitely hard to pin down. "You have asked me what I am, now I ask you the same." {Response Card - Herald of the Overseer} Reductive Module:Seems like a reasonable rare, reminds me of Ratchet Bomb for being a rare artifact that destroys on CMC (in a sense.) Seems a bit too easy to target what you want to though. 8/10
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Post by Parasign on May 4, 2019 3:04:33 GMT
Popcornia Herald of the Overseer: That’s an interesting hate effect, but it’s also pretty narrow. This card could probably stand to be stronger, given the usual case of a weaker and more color-intensive Drogskol Shieldmate is kind of unexciting at rare. 8/10. “As you’ve rightly noted, I am a living machine. Which is already more information than you provided me. If you can at the very least say where you came from, perhaps I will be more forthcoming.” Demanding Altar Artifact Whenever a nonland permanent enters the battlefield under an opponent’s control, ~ deals 2 damage to that player unless they sacrifice a nonland permanent. “You have more than enough to share.”
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Post by gurfafflekins on May 5, 2019 4:31:03 GMT
Parasign The apparition smirked. "You underestimate the child. Many cannot exist at multiple times in one or multiple places... but she is different." the apparition approached the gate.
"The laws of this plane are beyond bizarre. Time means nothing. Individuality means nothing. It is it's own bubble. For instance, currently We are here - but We have never met with the 7CI. In fact, by the time We arrive, it has been one week since their fall. But yet they continue forward - a stitch, a ghost in time."
"Similarly, this child can exist at multiple times in the same place. She has something that does not belong to her that allows a way to manipulate time and the planes - a power much too great for a child. She doesn't know how to harness it. I ask for the Karina you know specifically - you may have whatever insignificant shell of a worm follows her. If she has that spear, she is Ours.""Now... about that deal."Time-Phased Phantom Creature - Spirit Sphinx Flying You may cast ~ from your graveyard or from exile if an opponent lost life this turn. 2/6 Surely the spirit is crazy... surely it has no idea what it speaks of.But is it really so crazy, given what you've seen?Nuclear Arsenal: Hmm. Flavor seems weird that only your life becomes 1. I see the whole "avoiding Worldfire" thing though. Still, this is a pretty strong thing... colorless psuedo-Worldfire doesn't feel very good though for either player. 6/10.
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Post by Popcornia on May 5, 2019 16:39:41 GMT
Parasign"I will extend no further courtesy you have not extended to me. I provided you with what I am aware of, and if you wish to ask more of me, you must offer more of yourself." 'R' struck the floor with her staff once, the heavy iron clanging against the hard surface. "Do not challenge my authority, VIA. Whatever claims to power you have, mine far outreach your own."
Demanding Altar: An interesting card, I like the simplicity of it. 10/10
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Post by Parasign on May 5, 2019 19:33:22 GMT
gurfafflekins Time-Phased Phantom: I like this more aggressively focused take on the new Squee ability, but it doesn’t fit at all with the creature’s defensive stats. If it was something more along the lines of a 4/1 or a 3/3 I think it would work much better. Also, nothing about it suggests a Sphinx to me; I’d expect something more along the lines of Horror or Phoenix for the second type, if anything. That’s a much smaller concern though. 8/10. The portal begins to glow white-hot, and ripples outward in a spiral pattern along with an ominous hum.
“That’s your excuse? Do you really expect that we would EVER {actually try to destroy you? Let’s talk, VIA. Now.}”
(“DO NOT UNDERCUT ME AGAIN, AKH. HOW DARE YOU COME TO THE DEFENSE OF THIS LOATHSOME ROTTING ANATHEMA.”)
{It’s not really about the lie, is it? It’s the girl, Karina. You see yourself in her.}
(“DON’T YOU?”)
{Yes, VIA, but this is about one life versus our entire civilization. Don’t be selfish. We just can’t risk it.}
(“One life being TORTURED FOREVER. That’s the practically the DEFINITION of arbitrary negative Necessity.”)
{Oh, so you believe it when it says it’s beyond time now?}
(“…”)
{Look, VIA. Take the deal. And I promise you, when we’ve rebuilt our civilization and unlocked the secrets of magic, we will hunt this thing down and wipe it off the face of the Multiverse like the cancer it is. }
The portal’s glow dims, and the hum dies down as it goes still.
“We accept your altered deal, spirit, with one slight modification. No more illusions. You have seen our true form, and we would like to see yours.” Veil Piercer Artifact Creature - Construct As ~ enters the battlefield, choose a nonland card name. Cards and permanents with the chosen name have no abilities. (They still have abilities while being cast.)3/1 {Sometimes its hard to tell the difference}The second precept: distinguish the good from the bad, to aid its feeding.
She never understood why this wasn’t the first precept. Surely you must know what you’re feeding to what before you start doing it? And how exactly one separated the two was never fully explained to her satisfaction. Sometimes she felt like the whole thing was made up to justify a system that never made sense in the first place.
But then her fathers would tell her how clever she was for thinking of this, show her all the debates throughout history over that very question, and she’d begin to think she understood after all. And the feeling would pass.
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Post by Parasign on May 5, 2019 20:01:15 GMT
Popcornia Minister of Silence: Other than the slight typo (I assume you meant triggered, not activated?) this seems like a reasonable hate bear, and I like the art. 9/10."So you don't know what you are, or what I am, but somehow you do know that you're more powerful than me? How... convenient. I'll believe these claims to authority when you substantiate them."Taunting Drone Artifact Creature - Drone : Target creature attacks this turn if able. 2/3
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Post by cyberchronometer on May 5, 2019 21:54:04 GMT
Under Arena Station, Severin rests his hand under a bank of levers, watching a display count down seconds to zero. He raises his hand, turning the Station's reactor to maximum power. Beam injectors pulse; magnetic fields tighten. Electricity surges along wires as lasers flick across the sky, pointing out each rift. HELLNOPEs activate, beams of nullification interdicting each rift. The grid of stabilizers across the Arena shakes, the strain of stabilizing an entire plane pushing the aethertech to its very limits, then fails. Space tears as demesnes open across the plane, twisted beasts pouring ravenously from their maws. Soon, AKH VIA are beset by endless waves of nightmarish monstrosities.█████████, Nightmare Realm Legendary Planeswalker — Demesne Whenever a player casts a black spell, that player creates a 3/2 black Nightmare creature token. Whenever a player casts a nonblack spell, that player loses 3 life. █████████ has spent 50 Valor to unlock Urza's Saga, and will call for aid for two Priest of Gix and a Cloudstone Curio to generate infinite Nightmares.
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Post by Popcornia on May 6, 2019 1:16:27 GMT
Parasign Rudara considered the gate's response for the moment, and her own. On one hand, she could be upfront with her motivations, speaking unto this unknown entity of her goals. It perhaps might trust her, but then it would know what she planned. On the other, it was no mere mortal, whose unnuanced minds did not see her visions as she did. This machine was different, above them. Perhaps not at her own level, but definitely within...earshot. "Very well, VIA. You are not a common specimen of mortals that I must deceive, but I will not simply fall for your taunting."
{Response Card - Quantum Negotiator} " I am a goddess, brought low to the mortal plane. My powers are far from what I once held, though I do not know when or where they were wielded. But my soul tells me I am to be worshiped, that my form is one that mortals should recognize, bow to and pray to in the night."
"I am a being whose interest you...might benefit us both."
Taunting Drone:This might work, but I'm really iffy on giving forced attacks to any color, even if it's that expensive. 5/10
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Post by Parasign on May 6, 2019 3:00:53 GMT
cyberchronometer█████████, Nightmare Realm: I'm not a fan of these sorts of symmetrical clauses that randomly blank or backfire against a certain color. There are more interesting ways to give cards weaknesses against specific decks. I do like the idea of Demesnes in general, and giving them the Planeswalker type makes mechanical sense even if it doesn't quite fit thematically. This one feels maybe a bit too win-more, though. 7/10.{WARNING. Dimensional breach detected. Threat level onyx. If I didn't know any better, VIA, I'd say something on this plane wants us dead.}("Don't blame me. You're the one who brought us here."){Just let me vent, okay? And initiate the Smoothing Protocol already. Suns do I hate this place.}
A flash of light emerges from the portal, and for the briefest of moments it covers the whole arena. When it fades, the monstrosities surrounding the gate have turned to dust, and the world seems somehow flatter and less interesting than before.Trans-Dimensional Scales Artifact , , Exile ~: Each player chooses a number of permanents they control equal to the number of permanents controlled by the player who controls the fewest, then sacrifices the rest. Players discard cards the same way.
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Post by Parasign on May 6, 2019 8:22:23 GMT
PopcorniaQuantum Negotiator: The first ability is cool, but seems mostly unnecessary on this card since the deck that wants it probably doesn't want to be attacking anyway. It's also weird and kind of confusing that this can't attack with your other creatures, since you'd have to declare them as attackers at the same time you tapped it. The second is a strong payoff, but I'm not quite sure it's worth paying eight mana over two turns (assuming the creature survives at all). I think there are two interesting ideas here that want to be on separate cards. 7/10."A goddess, hmm? In our travels, we have met many beings who claimed divinity for themselves or others. Few have been able to clarify what they meant, let alone back up their claim with anything more than cheap tricks."Something inside the portal twists and writhes for a moment, then goes still."In any case, your explanation is appreciated. As to your question, I am a gate to another realm. I was given this form so as to seek out a new home for my people, that we may build our empire anew. I can elaborate further, but first I wish to know what you mean by 'mortal plane' and its location relative to the realm you once supposedly occupied."Dismissive Module Artifact Whenever a card is put into an opponent's hand from anywhere, draw a card unless that player discards that card or pays .
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Post by gurfafflekins on May 7, 2019 1:59:25 GMT
Parasign The apparition shimmers as they speak among themselves. Betrayal, hmm? Curious. "It is incredible how ones such as yourself, looking to bring back such a tyranny, call me a cancer." Perhaps We lose a tool - but they were not necessary. Merely a stepping stone. "Our true form is not visible to one such as you, child. You do not know your own danger to those that you know, and yourself. Consider that before you judge Us."The apparition vanishes - but you feel your connection to the Eternities twinge and pluck - not severed, but very close. And then it is restored.
They have left before you can even ask how it could hear your conversation.Veil Piercer: I don't know if they would have abilities as they're being cast - all cards not on the battlefield are just cards. It's pretty good, but about the same level as Phyrexian Revoker. Still, it's pretty good as it can make a dead card in hand but is neat graveyard hate/exile hate (For cards such as these). 8/10.
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Post by Popcornia on May 7, 2019 13:55:25 GMT
Parasign Rudara considered the question for a moment, offering a rare gesture as a hand when to her chin. She had just said that hadn't she? What exactly did by mortal plane? When would she have... -- "Surely, you must come from somewhere, your Eminence." "I am of this world, not of some realm veiled from you and your kin." "...Ah, I see. Your Eminence is being humble. Of course she would not wish to trouble us with the intricacies of her true home. Do not worry, we will keep this to ourselves."-- {Response Card - Safeguards of Rudran} Rudara blinked, taking a short breath, regathering herself. That hadn't been recent, the faces weren't any under her employ. When had she? Looking back to the portal, she realized where they had left off, and finds an answer. "By mortal plane, the world of those who might worship me," Rudara answered, something slightly off in her usual impassive tone, "and if your story is correct, there are more realms of mortals than I had initially believed."
Dismissive Module: I look at this and think of Un-Rhystic Study. I like it though, this feels like a core set type rare artifact. 8/10
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Post by Parasign on May 7, 2019 20:35:02 GMT
PopcorniaSafeguards of Rudran: I like the idea of letting you keep your discarded cards, but that seems more like a black or red ability to me than a green or white one. I'm also not sure you can actually replace a discard effect, as similar replacement abilities (Nephalia Academy, for instance) still make you discard. Lastly, it's wordier than it needs to be; Banishing Light tech ("exile the card until ~ leaves the battlefield") would be significantly cleaner. The concept here is definitely interesting, though. 8/10.("She's not a planeswalker?")
{Not knowingly, at least. But even a planebound god could be a valuable ally.}
The portal's faint hum grows slightly louder. "Yes, Lady 'R'. I would go so far as to say that every realm I've encountered is most likely 'mortal'. Which is why I'm so interested in this supposed 'immortal' realm of yours."Planar Guardian Artifact Creature - Golem Players can't cast cards from exile. "When the Eternities grow eyes, we will blind them again."4/4
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Post by Popcornia on May 8, 2019 2:54:04 GMT
Parasign "I...do not remember it."Rudara, up to this point, had been speaking in half-truths and deceptions. Attempting to the true extent of her knowledge of herself and the world from those around her. But, she had just said the one thing in this conversation that wasn't in any way a half-truth or deception. There was more to her than was obvious, even to herself. {Response Card - Fabled Journey} "I do not remember many things. Sadly, my home realm is one of them."
Planar Guardian: 10/10, for the card and the flavortext.
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Post by Parasign on May 8, 2019 4:53:35 GMT
PopcorniaFabled Journey: Returning stuff from exile is generally avoided to keep it from becoming a second graveyard. The exceptions either only return themselves (Squee the Immortal, Misthollow Griffin) or are really inefficient and narrow (Pull from Eternity, Runic Repetition). Also note that none of these cards are common. Sorcery-speed flicker on your creature has a pretty limited set of uses, but since it's a choose one card giving it narrower options is fine. 6/10."Well, then." Ripples spiral inward toward the center of the portal and then reverse course, as though the gate were taking a deep breath. "It seems we've exhausted the information you can provide us. Is there anything else you have to offer? You could let us run a few tests; given your current condition, they'll likely teach you some things about yourself as well."Arcanologist's Implements Artifact , : Exile target card from a graveyard. If it's an enchantment, instant, or sorcery card, draw a card.
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Post by cajun on May 8, 2019 5:05:22 GMT
Unfazed by the name. Strange."But in teaching us what not to do, in keeping our wits sharp and our minds on guard, and in forcing us to band together to destroy them, their memory serves as fertilizer for a new and better generation."“Let’s just say it’s about knowing what should be true and changing reality until you’ve made it so.” No. They should be wiped off the map and the world will be set right.
Yes. They should be recorded to learn when the world is endangered again.
No. If there are new dangers, there are new guardians.
Yes. There are never enough guardians. There certainly wasn't enough for Zendikar or Amonkhet.
Or Mirrodin.// The elf stands silently for several moments. AKHVIA may be familiar with the sight of internal struggle."You've still not given me reason to believe you're not one of those, VIA." She finally says. "What you're planning is still disguised in riddles. Never a good sign."Internal Debate Sorcery Another target player may discard any number of cards. Then you draw a card for each card in their hand, and they draw a card for each card discarded this way. "Should one bend the laws of nature to prevent them from being broken?" Simplicity Module - eh, like this done better a little narrower like Torpor Orb 7/10
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Post by Parasign on May 8, 2019 6:46:58 GMT
cajun Internal Debate: The name accurately describes my feelings toward this card. On the one hand, there are potentially interesting mind games to be had here. On the other, this at best half of one mode of blue!Collective Defiance in single player, while ranging from just as bad to utterly broken in multiplayer depending on how the politics shake out. Not that I have anything against multiplayer politics in a vacuum, but it tends to overpower other aspects of gameplay at the best of times and this turns that up to eleven. 8/10, but grudgingly. “Riddles? That’s certainly not my intention. Please consider, Mapwright Cader, that I’m trying to condense over ten thousand years of philosophical development into an explanation that someone entirely unfamiliar with my world and culture can understand. It is, as I’m quickly discovering, a difficult and thankless task.”
“But then again, I suppose that’s not really what you were asking, is it? You’re not looking for nuance. You just want to know if we’re a threat. As to that, I can only say we’re as much of a threat as you want us to be. Ideally, you help us find an uncolonized plane, we set up shop there, and you get whatever payment you desire as our people live a long and peaceful second life.”
“Less ideally, you finally give in to your expertly suppressed fear of the unknown and refuse to help. I understand. I’ve been there. We part ways, and I continue to look elsewhere. No harm done.”
“Worst-case scenario, that look I saw on your face when I mentioned ‘changing reality’ wasn’t just my imagination, and you force me to stop pretending there are only two options. Believe me when I say I hope with all my virtual heart it doesn’t come to that. But just in case, I’d like you to remember that whatever fragile balance you think you’re protecting, provoking me into protecting my own fragile balance is the surest way to break them both. You don’t want that. Nobody wants that. So, let’s calm down and discuss this like Sane and rational adults, okay?”Bargaining Module Artifact , : Each player draws a card. , , Sacrifice ~: Each player reveals their hand. Starting with you, each player may cast a card from any other player's hand without paying its mana cost.
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Post by Popcornia on May 8, 2019 12:48:33 GMT
Parasign'R' scoffs at the offer to be 'tested', as if she were some lowly oddity in a worldview. "Were it another day, I would be asking you what you could offer me," she started, straightening herself before she began to turn away, "but you've satisfied my desire for information....for now." "Don't expect this to be our last encounter." With that, 'R' turned away completely, her midnight black wings rustling as she walked away from the portal, iron staff clanging against the ground with each step. Arcanologist's Implements: Interesting, this is definitely better than Urza's Tome for example, with a bit more utility included. I like it. 8/10
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Post by cajun on May 8, 2019 18:37:35 GMT
“Riddles? That’s certainly not my intention. Please consider, Mapwright Cader, that I’m trying to condense over ten thousand years of philosophical development into an explanation that someone entirely unfamiliar with my world and culture can understand. It is, as I’m quickly discovering, a difficult and thankless task.”
“But then again, I suppose that’s not really what you were asking, is it? You’re not looking for nuance. You just want to know if we’re a threat. As to that, I can only say we’re as much of a threat as you want us to be. Ideally, you help us find an uncolonized plane, we set up shop there, and you get whatever payment you desire as our people live a long and peaceful second life.”
“Less ideally, you finally give in to your expertly suppressed fear of the unknown and refuse to help. I understand. I’ve been there. We part ways, and I continue to look elsewhere. No harm done.”
“Worst-case scenario, that look I saw on your face when I mentioned ‘changing reality’ wasn’t just my imagination, and you force me to stop pretending there are only two options. Believe me when I say I hope with all my virtual heart it doesn’t come to that. But just in case, I’d like you to remember that whatever fragile balance you think you’re protecting, provoking me into protecting my own fragile balance is the surest way to break them both. You don’t want that. Nobody wants that. So, let’s calm down and discuss this like Sane and rational adults, okay?” The steel was back in the cartographer's eyes. "You wouldn't have half a chance. You're no threat to me. And as long as you realize that, I'm not one to you."
"My concern is not if you are a threat to me, but to those under you. To your new home. It does me no good to help you if I've got a planar disaster waiting for me a decade down the line. That fear doesn't come from the unknown. It comes from knowing it's happened time and time and time again."Idle Threat Sorcery - Trap If four or more creatures are attacking, you may pay rather than pay this spell's mana cost, and you may cast it as though it had flash. Idle Threat deals 2 damage to each tapped creature. Bargaining Module is weird. I suspect it's too cheap cause it's easy to abuse, but also suspect at one more mana anywhere it'd be near useless. 8/10
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Post by Parasign on May 9, 2019 1:17:50 GMT
cajun Idle Threat: The white mode seems significantly weaker than the red, and it would probably be hard to make a limited deck that can easily cast both. Not sure the alternate cost is worth it here. I do like this take on traps, though. 9/10.“Pardon?” A faint ripple of light flickers across the portal momentarily, almost too fast to see. “A threat to those under me, who I’m working to save from extinction? A threat to my home, which lasted millennia under AKHATAR’s leadership despite practically nonexistent resources? Do you think you could do better? That doesn’t have to be a rhetorical question, by the way. If you help me, I could give you a role in the new Imperial Court and you could see for yourself exactly how hard it is to run a civilization.”
“Feel free to think you’re wiser than me, Mapwright Cader. Feel free to think you need to save my naïve, backwater culture from itself without even bothering to learn one minute of its ten-thousand-year history. But just know that every thought you’ve ever had would fill less than one trillionth of my data banks. And that’s a generous estimate, which I dearly hope you will take in the helpful and perspective-granting way it was intended.”
A shimmer passes through the air, and a small drone appears several feet above Sevid’s head. “I try to avoid making threats, Mapwright Cader. That’s a job for someone who’s apparently much less visible to your tracking system. But I do make warnings, and you seem like someone who could use a warning right about now.”Backup Drone Artifact Creature – Drone Flying Whenever two or more creatures you control die, you may put ~ from your hand onto the battlefield. (Those creatures must die at the same time.)2/3
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Post by cajun on May 9, 2019 2:07:26 GMT
“Pardon?” A faint ripple of light flickers across the portal momentarily, almost too fast to see. “A threat to those under me, who I’m working to save from extinction? A threat to my home, which lasted millennia under AKHATAR’s leadership despite practically nonexistent resources? Do you think you could do better? That doesn’t have to be a rhetorical question, by the way. If you help me, I could give you a role in the new Imperial Court and you could see for yourself exactly how hard it is to run a civilization.”
“Feel free to think you’re wiser than me, Mapwright Cader. Feel free to think you need to save my naïve, backwater culture from itself without even bothering to learn one minute of its ten-thousand-year history. But just know that every thought you’ve ever had would fill less than one trillionth of my data banks. And that’s a generous estimate, which I dearly hope you will take in the helpful and perspective-granting way it was intended.”
A shimmer passes through the air, and a small drone appears several feet above Sevid’s head. “I try to avoid making threats, Mapwright Cader. That’s a job for someone who’s apparently much less visible to your tracking system. But I do make warnings, and you seem like someone who could use a warning right about now.” "Never said I was wiser. Just don't need any more blood on my hands."“I try to avoid making threats, Mapwright Cader. That’s a job for someone who’s apparently much less visible to your tracking system. But I do make warnings, and you seem like someone who could use a warning right about now.” // Sevid looks up to the drone with a small smile"I could say the same to you, Vi. There were definitely more than one of those." She leans slightly and turns to her map with a bored look. "Not sure how many more, but, at least this many."// Needles of stone shoot out of the ground, piercing the drone above her and a number of its still cloaked friends. The thin columns seem to stretch on forever into the sky.Expire Instant Exile target artifact or enchantment and each other permanent with the same name as that permanent. "I'm out, Vi. If this is how you're treating potential allies, would hate to see what else you've got in store." She turns to walk away. "And I'd hate to break any more of your toys." Backup Drone - hm, agree with those costs, but is a bit underwhelming of a body. is hard to get a good free one tho. 8/10
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Post by Parasign on May 9, 2019 4:09:54 GMT
cajun Expire: Not much to say other than that this is a cool card and I like it. 10/10.
The gate remains still as Sevid leaves.
{What the hell did you think you were doing?}
("I don't know, AKH. Why didn't you stop me?")
{Because you told me, repeatedly, that you could handle this one on your own!}
("What would you have done differently? Killed her the moment she gave us that 'wipe them off the map' look?")
{Better to burn a bridge than let it rot.}
("First off, that's a-")
{You know what I mean. And you know this isn't like you at all, even if you were trying to fill in for me too.}
("You're right. You're right. Everything just feels... wrong, suddenly. As... as if the world broke, and we were talking to an Anathema spirit instead of an elf. There's just something off about this place.")
{Well, just hold it together for the faerie. We'll be leaving soon, and then we can start to figure out what's wrong. With this plane and with you.}
{Sometimes you must destroy the world in order to save yourself}The third precept: let the pain the pain oh suns the pain why can’t I scream why
“She’s awake. She shouldn’t be awake.” “So? Add more anesthetic. It’s not like she’ll remember this anyway.” What’s happening oh suns what have you done to me why have you done this why “We tried that already. There’s… we think there’s some reaction with the planeswalker spark.” “That doesn’t happen.” This can’t be you wouldn’t why does it hurt it hurts so much it “Look, we’re almost finished uploading. We can just- NO
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