Hello everyone, and welcome to my latest contest. Ages and ages and ages ago (almost exactly three years ago) my first experimentations with contest-holding ended. It was a borrowed concept of a ten-man struggle, where each member represented a different Ravnica guild. The contest was popular and had a reasonable success, and since I'm bored I'd like to attempt one of those soulless reboots of old franchises. As the premise suggests, the contest will take part on the plane of Ravnica, with participants fighting as different guilds. It will be simply cardmaking in nature: I tell you the criteria, and you give me cards. I'll grade them, eliminate someone, then continue until only the winner remains. If you're interested, say "IN" and submit an audition card. Audition criteria: Make a legendary creature that represents your character. It must be a humanoid in both colours of the guild of your choice. You may submit two cards if you wish so, but from two different guilds. One player per guild will be chosen.
The peace that reigns over Ravnica is a fragile one: though nominally allied for the common good, the guilds scheme and negotiate amongst them to come ahead of each other. Whenever there is the occasion, they won't hesitate to backstab and fight in order to acquire resources, strongholds and any kind of advantage they can get. Today's cause of contention is the Ozek District. The Ozek District is a relatively small neighbourhood located at the intersection of two main commerce routes. Not only it is a vital centre for business in the area, it is also home to several key factories. It is very lucrative in tolls, taxes and revenue, making it very coveted as well as strategically important. Currently, the Boros control the District, as they have for the past ten years, with relative impartiality. However, this power has started to wane. Ujanak, the commander of the Boros garrison, has been accused of wrongdoing, and, though the Legion officially denies all charges, he has been asked to step down. The merchants fear that their interests cannot be safeguarded, as thieves move in the now leaderless district and chaos begins to spread. Though the guilds obviously disagree on the future of the area, they know that now is the time to act. For BorosShow
The district has been in our hands for long and it is somewhat of a crown jewel, as well as extremely profitable. We must retain possession at all costs: make a creature card for the new leader of the garrison and a noncreature card to protect the area and your soldiers, both in your guild's colours.
The spread of anarchy and the volatile situation in the district are cause for concern. Though it would be nice to control it, we must aid the Boros to prevent escalation and war; besides, helping them now might forge an alliance later... Make a creature card and a non creature card to bolster your allies, both in your guild's colours.
This couldn't be a better occasion to gain control of the district: with the hold of the Boros loosening, it is the best chance there's been in years to crush them and seize it for our own. Make a creature card a noncreature card to undermine your enemies, both in your guild's colours.
The situation in the Ozek District has reached critical levels. Though the consensus is that the Boros should retain control, Gruul and Rakdos rioters have caused great damage to the area and paralysed commerce for days. More troops have been moved in the District to control it and prevent further problems, almost in the same number as the mercenaries and warriors that are, at the same time, being transported in the area to seize it. The fighting has raged for days, with the pro-Boros soldiers narrowly keeping control of the District. Now, the rioters are forced into hiding, with their enemies in hot pursuit. Though all the guilds nominally call for an end to violence in the area, several support the agitators and secretly try to help them, while other guilds are organising to stomp out stragglers. For the pro-BorosShow
The rioters are entrenched and weakened, and now it is time to remove them once and for all. Make a creature card and a noncreature card to deal with hiding enemies and clear the area of all opposition, in both of your guild colours.
Though beaten for now, the rioters have been hard to tame and, with a little help, they might even turn the tide. Make a creature card and a noncreature card to help weakened allies and change the fate of a losing battle, in both of your guild colours.
While the situation in the Ozek District has been more or less pacified, the conflict is beginning to escalate elsewhere in Ravnica. Among the rubble, Selesnya's Grand Rallier has been found dead: he was a high ranking official and the leader of the guild's forces in that sector, and his death has sent the saprolings under his command in a fighting frenzy. The Conclave has officially condemned the violence, but it is obvious to everyone that nothing is being done to stop it. Selesnya forces are free to go berserk and overrun entire districts. The devastated areas are then reclaimed by the Conclave, nominally until the fighting ends, but in reality they are being turned into Selesnya strongholds. Other guilds, following their example, have started storming through Ravnica. Chaos spreads as war threatens to engulf the plane. If you want to try to stop the violenceShow
The chaos is growing exponentially as more and more guilds abandon the pretence of neutrality for open hostility. They must be stopped, but more deaths of officials may cause even more violence. Make a creature card and a noncreature card that stop your enemies without harming them, in both of your guild's colours.
The Selesnya have had the correct idea, and their rampage provides the perfect excuse to go on the warpath. However, as opposition is strong, it is vital to act before an eventual treaty might make attacking more complicated. Make a creature card and a noncreature card that conquer and defeat extremely quickly, in both of your guild's colours.
Despite the Selensya's rampage and the many opportunists who used this as an excuse to stir up riots and invade districts, the other guilds have been very efficient in stopping the violence. Though not united, each of the guild's individual efforts to pacify the situation has prevented the spread of chaos and isolated the trouble in a few pockets. A major blow to the rioters was the explosive death of Isapron, an Izzet weird, who, while leading an army of his similars, caused the destruction of a entire neighbourhood, obliterating more allies than foes and forcing the agitators to fall back and regroup. Although a precarious peace has been installed, the rioters are already on the warpath again. Despite setbacks, they attempt to cause more disorder, and the other guilds are considering more coordinated actions to stop them. Reluctantly, each guild realises that they need to ally to reach their goals. Joint criteriaShow
This round you'll have to cooperate and make cards together. You'll be divided in two teams which will be:
Boros, Dimir, Orzhov and Azorius versus Golgari, Gruul, Rakdos and Simic
Each team will provide one creature and three noncreature spells. These three spells can be either defensive in nature (protecting the team's creature by the enemies' attacks) or aggressive (attacking the enemy creature). It is up to you to decide how many slots you give to defensive or aggressive, as well as which player makes which card. The cards will have to be in both colours of that player's guild. An important factor in my grading will be mechanical interactions between the two sets of cards: the two creatures will square off against each other as if they were in an actual game of Magic, aided or hindered by the other spells. For example, if one team makes a white creature and the other a spell that kills specifically white creatures, the second team will have better marks; thus, it is fundamental to try to anticipate what the other team is going to do, and act accordingly. For this reason, I suggest you keep your cards secret and PM them to me, as well as discussing your strategy in separate threads or by PM. Grades will be done by team. The lowest scoring player of the losing team will be eliminated, regardless of overall ranking. The highest scoring player of the winning team will receive an Amulet. I don't want to throw too much information out at once, but it is something worth having, trust me.
Despite the best efforts of many guildmages and warriors, order has been restored in most districts. The rioters have been beaten back or forced to surrender, and entire neighbourhoods have been leveled to clear any resistance and destroy their last refuges. The final blow was the death of Raze-Rend, a powerful Gruul warrior who was, alone, holding back huge amounts of personnel and resources: when it was finally cornered and defeated, enough troops were available for different missions that peace was installed, though precariously, on most of Ravnica. The guilds that supported the rioters understand that this battle is lost, and they need a facade of cooperation for now. At the same time, even among the victors small squabbles and mistrust start to build up, and everyone is aware of how fragile the alliances are. Very little is enough to precipitate new conflicts and chaos. If you want to stir up troubleShow
Just because it isn't acceptable to wage open warfare doesn't mean that we can't create chaos to further our goals; we just have to be more subtle about it. Make a creature card and a noncreature card; they can be in any colour except for your guild's, but they still must feel as being from your guild.
The past few battles have been very tiring, but we have made some conquests. Either by evicting the rioters or by feigning allegiance to the Guildpact, some strongholds have changed hands. Consider the following card: Conquered FortressShow
Conquered Fortress Land , [COST]: Add to your mana pool. [ABILITY] [STATIC ABILITY] [DRAWBACK]
Fill in all the red parts as you please, and make a card to protect your new land. The colour identities must be in your guild's colours, though not necessarily both.
As strongholds change hands and the scheming continues, the situation is rapidly precipitating again. A large Izzet factory of some sort (no one was ever sure of what it actually produced), seized by the Azorius and occupying a prime strategic position in the Malka Riverside, is now threatening to blow up. Arl, the Azorius official in charge of the plant, was killed in an accidental explosion, and his men have little idea on how to handle the machinery. If neglected, the plant might explode and cause untold devastation in the area; it should be taken care of by someone, but the guilds, as usually, disagree on who that someone should be. Though they all have different plans, negotiations are beginning in order to find a suitable solution... CriteriaShow
The factory should be in the most suitable hands: ours. Make a card that takes something that belongs to you or something that you need, in either or both of your guild's colours. However, we need the complicity of others in order to avoid problems...
The Malka Riverside is turning into a new Ozek District. After the most likely candidate for taking control of the plant, Doctor Zlovol of the Simic, was killed in mysterious circumstances, the factory was seized by Orzhov and Golgari forces with the complicity of other guilds. Not everyone is happy about how things turned out, though. The Izzet have been protesting vehemently against the occupation, and are supported by the Simic, who hope to have access to their exclusive laboratories, and the Azorius, who contest the lawfulness of the takeover. Riots have started in the district, as Orzhov and Golgari struggle to keep control. The guilds are openly fighting again, using this as an excuse to settle scores, avenge grudges, and conquer territory. BorosShow
The Azorius have not forgiven how the Boros have supported the Orzhov takeover. Protesting that it was a forced choice did nothing to calm their ire, and the Senate is now moving in full force to ensure that lawfulness is restored in the Malka Riverside. They have deemed the Boros unfit for this duty, and conflict is unavoidable. Azorius Forces
2 X Azorius Lawkeeper Creature - Human Soldier When CARDNAME attacks, you may tap target creature. "There's nothing more lawful than an immobilised foe." 2/1
Mystic Restrainer Creature - Human Cleric : Put a restraint counter on target creature. Whenever a creature with a restraint counter on it would untap, its controller removes a restraint counter from it instead. The very soul of the Azorius forces, they eliminate without killing. 2/2
Protector of the Meek Creature - Giant Soldier Prevent all damage that would be dealt to all creatures with power 2 or less. : Target spell or ability that targets a creature with power 2 or less targets CARDNAME instead if able. Too bashful for the Boros and too gentle for the Gruul, he found a home in Prahv, where he could protect his beloved little friends. 5/5
Selesnya has been supporting the Izzet claim, but it was dismayed to find that the Golgari rot-growers found their way to the plant anyway. In this temporary, uneasy coalition they were given the task to stop the Dimir from supplying more troops and allowing entry in the area of enemy forces. Selesnya Forces
2 X Selesnya Germinator Creature - Elf Druid When CARDNAME dies, put two 1/1 green Saproling tokens onto the battlefield. "How can you kill that which draws strength from the endless power of life?" The Conclave 2/2
Stampede Instigator Creature - Elf Druid , Tap an untapped creature you control: Creatures you control get +1/+1. "You can't control a stampede, nor you can direct it, anymore other than starting it." 3/2
Equenaut Strike Force Creature - Human Knight Convoke, flash, flying When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, return target creature you control to its owner's hand. At the end of turn, return CARDNAME to its owner's hand. They hit the enemy vanguard, annoying them and keeping them busy until the saproling tide arrives to take possession. 4/4
The Izzet are furious about the takeover and are trying at all costs to regain their plant. Though the factory has been divided between two guilds and is being guarded by others, they have assembled enough forces and have enough support to lead an attack on the current owners. Izzet Forces
2 X Izzet Alchemist Creature - Human Wizard Sacrifice CARDNAME: Copy target spell with converted mana cost 3 or less. The Izzet don't employ professional troops, but their skilled alchemists don't make them regret it at all. 2/2
Jam of Weirds Sorcery Replicate Put a 2/2 blue Weird creature token into the battlefield. Then, if you control five or more Weirds, Weirds you control get +1/+1 and haste. The Izzet often assess problems in terms of how many weirds they have to throw at it to make it go away.
Draconic Overseer Creature - Dragon Flying Skip your draw step. At the beginning of your upkeep, discard your hand, then draw two cards. Some researchers are motivated by the eagerness of making discoveries, others because their funding is about to run out. Izzet researchers are motivated because a dragon might eat them if they fail. 4/4
The Simic were ready to share control of the plant with the Izzet, but the Orzhov takeover hindered their plans. As the Izzet openly challenge Orzhov and Golgari domination, the Simic follow them to wage war. Simic Forces
2 X SimicSower Creature - Human Druid Mutant Graft 1 When CARDNAME dies, double all counters on target creature. Not all Simic are researchers and eggheads; some cultivate and tend to their superiors' creations, and often even volunteer to be test subjects. 1/0
Cytoplasm Weaver Creature - Human Wizard Mutant , : Tap up to X target creatures, where X is the number of +1/+1 counters on CARDNAME. : Until end of turn, when target creature you control dies, move all counters on that creature onto CARDNAME. "Cytoplasm is one part glue, one part healing gel, one part copying fluid, and all parts awesome!" 3/3
Slimeslinger Creature - Elf Wizard Mutant Graft 1 , Remove a +1/+1 counter from a creature you control: Counter target spell, activated ability or triggered ability. Just the thought of getting the ooze all over them makes the enemy mages think twice about casting spells. 1/1
To be honest, the Gruul don't really care who owns the plant: they just tagged along because they heard that there was war to be had. If they can reduce another neighbourhood to rubble, then that's just gravy, and the Rakdos have had the misfortune of finding themselves on the wrong path. Gruul Forces
2 X Gruul Basher Creature - Goblin Warrior When CARDNAME attacks, it gets +2/+0 and trample until the end of turn. "WHROOAAAAGGG!" Gruul war chant, nursery rhyme, death threat, greeting, curse and small talk initiator. 2/1
Stomper Shaman Creature - Centaur Shaman Trample When CARDNAME deals combat damage to a player, you may pay . If you do, destroy target nonbasic land. "I used to be an acolyte for the Selensya, but destruction magic is simpler... and more fun." 3/2
Rockcrasher Creature - Wurm Haste When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, it deals damage to each player equal to twice the number of nonbasic lands that player controls. Each player may choose to have it deal that much damage to each creature he or she controls instead. Entire districts have been felled as it thrashed about. Even the mighty Nekac Tower was toppled by is rampage. 5/5
Free For All
Round 8
The Malka Riverside is a war zone. The joint assault on the plant became a chaotic skirmish as alliances faltered on both sides and secret agendas were revealed. The Azorius force, the most organised amongst the attackers, was brilliantly subdued by the Boros, and the Golgari prevented the intrusion of the Izzet on their side of the factory. The Simic had a bit more success but were also stopped, and the Selesnya were expertly contained, but the failure of the Rakdos to stop the Gruul caused them to go on a rampage that devastated the district. The plant lies in ruins, the Golgari leader in the area, Vanetta, has been killed, and the guilds are bickering and blaming the incident on each other. They strike each other in retaliation, as conflicts arise and Ravnica is plunged into a war for supremacy. War!Show
WIth the plant ruined, and the Gruul on a rampage, the situation is as chaotic as ever. The uneasy alliances that allowed the factory to be taken have clearly not worked, we are better off acting on our own: we must strike our enemies and look out for ourselves!
Lysandra, Grand Librarian Legendary Creature - Human Advisor Your opponents can't cast spells with converted mana cost X, where X is the number of cards in your hand. Forecast - : Draw a card. 2/3
She watches over the place with all the laws and stuff, which I think is destroyed now after the events of the book or something, but you didn't say when our legends had to exist.
It's ironic because her name is greek for liberate :3
Doctor Zlovol Legendary Creature - Vedalken Wizard Whenever a creature blocks or becomes blocked by ~, put a liquid counter on that creature. Creatures with liquid counters on them are 2/2 green and blue ooze creatures. (This effect doesn't end if ~ leaves the battlefield) , T: Draw a card for each blue or green creature on the battlefield. Journal Entry 276B: Serum causes subject's molecular structure to become...unstable. Searching for solutions. 1/3
So many guilds to choose from... I think that I'll actually take a stab at something other than my top two ( and )
Ghost Council Magistrate Legendary Creature - Spirit Archon When ~ enters or leaves the battlefield, each opponent loses 1 life. You gain life equal to life lost this way. : Exile ~. Return it under its owner’s control at the beginning of the next end step. 3/3
Orzhova Arbiter Legendary Creature - Avatar At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a permanent: Each opponent sacrifices a permanent that shares a type with the sacrificed permanent. Whenever a permanent is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, that permanent's controller loses 1 life. 4/2
"Do not concern yourself with my origin, my race, or my ancestry. Seek my record in the pits, and then make your wager." --Arcanis the Omnipotent
I'm both selfish and rational. I'm scheming, secretive and manipulative; I use knowledge as a tool for personal gain, and in turn obtaining more knowledge. At best, I am mysterious and stealthy; at worst, I am distrustful and opportunistic.
Before they banned the format out of existence, I was a proud supporter of Modern.
I'm both selfish and rational. I'm scheming, secretive and manipulative; I use knowledge as a tool for personal gain, and in turn obtaining more knowledge. At best, I am mysterious and stealthy; at worst, I am distrustful and opportunistic.
Before they banned the format out of existence, I was a proud supporter of Modern.
Avander the Prisoner Legendary Creature – Human Horror Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, draw a card. 5/5 “Soon you will know the torment of my chains” – Avander to Szadek
-Built with the hypothetical backstory that before the Guildpact, Szadek was not the undesputed lord of the Dimir guild. Having tricked Avander into a trap, locking him away for all time, and effectively erasing him from the minds of the other guild leaders was, in fact, the greatest of Szadek's secrets. With the fall of the Guildpact (or some other calamity), the power sealing Avander away has failed and the roiling incarnate of darkness is free to stalk the world and reclaim his guild.
Daggermaw, the Merciless Legendary Creature - Viashino Berserker Damage cannot be prevented. Hellbent – Creatures you control have Double Strike. 4/4 “You’re so sweet. My friends and I could just eat you up!”
-Originally from the Bloodscale tribe of Viashino, this particularly aggressive lizard wove his way into the Rakdos guild and drew the favor of its lord’s servant, Lyzolda. While the pair’s machinations don’t seem to conflict, there’s rumor amongst the cult that Daggermaw has eyes further up the chain of command, and there’s really only one path to promotion under the demon Rakdos......
You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is "never get involved in an thread with GM_Champion" - but only slightly less well-known is this: "Never go in against AzureShade when card design is on the line!
Altair, Dimir Agent Legendary Creature - Human Rogue Altair, Dimir Agent is unblockable When Altair deals combat damage to a player, that player puts the top four cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard. For each nonland permanent card put into a graveyard this way, that player sacrifices a permanent that shares a type with it. 1/3
Lyra, Conclave Lifesower Legendary Creature - Human Shaman Hexproof At the beginning of your upkeep, put a 1/1 green saporling creature token onto the battlefield for each point of life you have more than your starting life total. : Gain 1 life for each creature token you control 1/3
(For those of you who have frequented Flavor and Storylines and seen these characters before, even in YMTC form... this is a stab at what they might have looked like at the outset of GWI rather than the middle of GWIII)
"Enjoy your screams, Sarpadia - they will soon be muffled beneath snow and ice." THE COALITION WAR GAME -Phyrexian Praetor Round 1: (4-1-2, 1 kill) Round 2: (16-8-2, 4 kills) Round 3: (18-9-2, 1 kill) Round 4: (22-10-0, 2 kills) Round 5: (56-16-3, 9 kills) Round 6: (8-7-1) [current round]
, 
and 
)
: Gain 1 life for each creature token you control