I really don't like 'land play' when a straight replacement effect ("You may cast this for its Travel cost this turn instead of playing a land") seems to work just fine.
That reads too ambiguously for my tastes. I wanted the reminder text to make clear that you need a land-drop and that it's erased when you cast this. Your version is where I started, but I didn't feel the different situations answered themselves cleanly enough. Like, if I have Exploration out, and I cast a travel card, can I still play a land? It doesn't read clearly in a way that the greatest number of people will understand it.
Well yes.
If travelling replaces playing a land, and Exploration allows you to play two lands, and you've replaced one of those by travelling, why would you not be able to play a land?
I really don't like 'land play' when a straight replacement effect ("You may cast this for its Travel cost this turn instead of playing a land") seems to work just fine.
That reads too ambiguously for my tastes. I wanted the reminder text to make clear that you need a land-drop and that it's erased when you cast this. Your version is where I started, but I didn't feel the different situations answered themselves cleanly enough. Like, if I have Exploration out, and I cast a travel card, can I still play a land? It doesn't read clearly in a way that the greatest number of people will understand it.
Well yes.
If travelling replaces playing a land, and Exploration allows you to play two lands, and you've replaced one of those by travelling, why would you not be able to play a land?
Echo - Put a 1/1 red goblin creature token with haste onto the battlefield. (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, trigger this card's echo ability.)
Goblins have never heard of the concept of friends; but they understand the concept of smashing more things. 1 / 1
this isn't really much of a development. it's basically exactly what it was when Mown did it. I'd also say it's a little over the curve but they printed rakdos cackler so there are no longer rules. still, it's krenko's command for one less, but one of them has summoning sickness for an extra turn. I don't think one lost damage is really worth a whole discount. the flavor text is nice, but fairly stereotypically gobliny. which isn't a bad thing, it's just kinda been done. Mechanics: 14/25 Flavor: 16/25 Total: 30/50
Rooteater Sporeling Creature - Fungus Travel (You may use a land-play to cast this. If you do, cast it for its travel cost.) When Rooteater Sporeling dies, you may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped. "An appetite to dig too deep finds only a greater hunger." - Ulovian teachings 2/2
"Land play" is mildly defined in CR 302.2 and 302.3, but were this ability around, I'd want to define it more, and possibly even change the termnilogy to "land drop." I hyphenated it to give it a bit more notice and distinction.
damn it now I have to look up old posts.
okay so here's the thing. rock jockey is fine as a one-off. but rewarding you for not playing lands just encourages people to, like, not play lands. and then what do you cast your spells with? it puts you in an awkward position where you have to choose between getting the things you want now and being able to do what you want later. of course, this is fine in hyper-aggressive decks, which will play maybe two lands over the course of the game, but you don't see a lot of those running around these days, and decks that want to come out with four-drops don't want to skip land, it's no fun. for more of me saying why in pretty much the same way, check out my feedback from when Mown originally posted it. your specific card is a neat take, but as I discussed in a recent DFMM, keywords need to go wide, and this really needs cards like this that help you get your lands back to function. and even then, who's gonna skip a land drop for a 2/2? people who don't have any lands to drop is the only answer I've got. and those people aren't gonna have lands at the end either so the second ability won't matter. it's basically just a worse viridian emmisary . Mechanics: 10/25 Flavor: 16/25 Total: 26/50
Mutilarch can't block. Transcend – When Mutilarch dies, you get an emblem with "Creatures your opponents control get -1/-1."
Death writhes from within its mortal cage, howling to be loosed upon the world.
that seems way too good. like, yeah, he can't block, oh no, guess I'll have to lava axe you every turn until you give in and let me have a curse of death's hold you can't naturalize . I also, in general, don't like the proliferation of emblems. I feel like, since that technology started existing, YMtC has gone crazy for them, despite having no prior interest in "for the rest of the game" effects. like, I get the flavor, and this specific example is fine, and maybe you could do one rare cycle of Transcend cards and call it good, but there's really no room beyond that. if you'd said that was your intent, I'd be like "okay fine, do Epic." but I tend not to like splashpower keywords like Epic that much. it just feels like cheating. it doesn't really count as a keyword, it's just a cycle you made and attached a cool-sounding word to. flavor is good if a little generic. I really like the name. you should name everything that. Mechanics: 14/25 Flavor: 19/25 Total: 33/50
I changed CKY's thing, because I don't like ability words. And Rush butchered my keyword, so I feel entitled to do the same.
Rebirth (When you cast this spell, you may cast any number of cards in your graveyard that shares a name with it.)
Nightmare Revenant Creature - Wraith Rebirth Each opponent's hand size is reduced by 2. Your mind is a prison for your past. 2/1
Revenant apparently means recurring or coming back. You learn something new every day. I would explain the concept of the card like always, but I'm somewhat hoping that it speaks for itself, and I don't know that if I tell you everything.
I like this but I suspect that two 2/1s for 6 (, even) is underwhelming, and I doubt your opponent will have enough cards for it to matter then anyway, so this seems like an inoptimal place to display your keyword. then again, the specter of non-linear power growth in mana costs is gonna get you on any example. the problem here is that a 2/1 which reduces their hand size a bit isn't impressive on 3 either. obviously it can't be full-on top-of-the-curve stuff or it's nuts with the recursion, but I feel you undershot the power level a bit hard here. the flavor is good but I just want this to cost really bad. Mechanics: 17/25 Flavor: 21/25 Total: 38/50
I'll try a card using the most recent mechanic of that Mown fellow posting right above me... Made an ever-so-slight change to the rules text, so hopefully this is within the criteria. I am simply showing the same basic effect on another card type and modifying the timing a tad. So here is the card:
Curate of Confinement Creature - Human Cleric As Curate of Confinement enters the battlefield, name a creature. Creatures with the chosen name can't attack or block, and their activated abilities can't be activated. Omen : Look at target player's hand. (Exile this card from your hand for its omen cost. You may cast it from exile. Activate this ability only as a sorcery.)
Her word is law, and she is never silent. 2/2
I stand by everything I said about a need for a wording fix on Omen. also I didn't know Curate was a noun. huh. who knew? also on wording, that needs to be two separate abilities. see pithing needle . also should be "name a creature card". but enough wording. this isn't really much of a development from Mown's original (heck, it uses the same Omen ability.) but it's okay. mechanically, it's decent, although premoval is worse than removal because they don't have to spend the mana on the card, so you'd rather use it on a thing that's in play already anyway. flavor is fine, but the name is weird Mechanics: 16/25 Flavor: 15/25 Total: 31/50
"Sacrifice this permanent. Search your library for a basic TYPE card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library."
or
Mutate to TYPE COST (COST, Sacrifice this permanent: Search your library for a basic TYPE card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.)
Malevolent Mire - Creature - Horror If a creature you control would die, Mutate it into a Swamp instead. If you do, exile that creature instead of putting it into the graveyard. Ruthless and efficient. Ardoh lets nothing go to waste. 3/2
"Ardoh" being the name of the earth/nation/world/plane. This definition being entirely unconnected with the dozens of other cards I've designed with the name "Ardoh". Which are also entirely unconnected with each other. Also, I realize I haven't exactly designed a comprehensive rules.
not a huge fan. first of all, the original ability is just Transform-meets-Landcycling. except one of the big deals with landcycling was mana fixing, which Mutate can't do. also, flavorfully, how does my dude mutate into a swamp? feels like a waste of the word. also, transforming it into a keyword action is even weirder, since all it means is sacrifice the creature and rampant growth for the appropriate type. Malevolent Mire, for instance, would function exactly the same if it just had you search for a swamp whenever a creature dies. what's the difference? Mechanics: 13/25 Flavor: 18/25 Total: 31/50
Echo - Put a 1/1 red goblin creature token with haste onto the battlefield. (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, trigger this card's echo ability.)
Goblins have never heard of the concept of friends; but they understand the concept of smashing more things. 1 / 1
Mechanics this doesn't really feel like it expands on mown's implementation of the change to echo, which is my biggest concern with the design. It's also perhaps a little over-the-curve, but it's the kind of over-the-curve that is definitely potentially printable, so that's not a huge problem for me. The design itself is a lot more appealing, and it's quite a nifty little package for a common. 16/25 Flavour I've never been a huge fan of GOLBINS R DUMB flavour, but putting that aside I think it pulls it off fairly decently. 17/25 Overall 33/50
Rooteater Sporeling Creature - Fungus Travel (You may use a land-play to cast this. If you do, cast it for its travel cost.) When Rooteater Sporeling dies, you may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped. "An appetite to dig too deep finds only a greater hunger." - Ulovian teachings 2/2
"Land play" is mildly defined in CR 302.2 and 302.3, but were this ability around, I'd want to define it more, and possibly even change the termnilogy to "land drop." I hyphenated it to give it a bit more notice and distinction.
Mechanics I think this is an interesting mechanic, but perhaps this is the wrong direction to take it. in general, I'm only going to feel comfortable giving up a land drop for a 2/2 if I don't have a land to play, but at that point i've probably played out a lot of my hand, so the fact that it costs 0 doesn't really matter all that much. I think probably a better implementation of this would have been something like "if you cast it for its travel cost, effect", since that makes the cards feel more satisfying in topdeck mode, etc. Aside from that, the design is fine and has some nice simple self-synergy. 17/25 Flavour pretty groovy 19/25 Overall 36/50
Mutilarch can't block. Transcend – When Mutilarch dies, you get an emblem with "Creatures your opponents control get -1/-1."
Death writhes from within its mortal cage, howling to be loosed upon the world.
Mechanics I've got to echo Imi and razzy here and say I'm not really a fan of emblems, especially not on the scale that this card would suggest (a mechanic based around them). i can't really put my finger on it, but it just feels a little bit dumb to have effects that by design cannot be interacted with. (i guess that could change, but emblem-related cards would be incredibly weird unless they became commonplace) anyway this card also seems much too good, for reasons that have already been discussed. 10/25 Flavour neato name, slightly less neato (but still neato) flavour text. gud werk 21/25 Overall 31/50
in your graveyard that shares a name with it.)
Nightmare Revenant Creature - Wraith Rebirth Each opponent's hand size is reduced by 2. Your mind is a prison for your past. 2/1
Revenant apparently means recurring or coming back. You learn something new every day. I would explain the concept of the card like always, but I'm somewhat hoping that it speaks for itself, and I don't know that if I tell you everything.
Mechanics i like the mechanic a lot, but it feels a little underwhelming in power level because of the mana cost thing. (i know that wasn't your intention but there's no greater joy in life than punishing strangers on the internet for not including a specific string of five words in a fantasy fantasy card) having said that, the -hand size effect was a good choice for this mechanic, since it scales in a nice way. it's also very cool that it cuts off your opponent's hand entirely if you have four of them; I realise that would never realistically happen, but it nicely emphasises the recursion aspect oft he mechanic. 21/25 Flavour again, this is pretty groovy 21/25 Overall
I'll try a card using the most recent mechanic of that Mown fellow posting right above me... Made an ever-so-slight change to the rules text, so hopefully this is within the criteria. I am simply showing the same basic effect on another card type and modifying the timing a tad. So here is the card:
Curate of Confinement Creature - Human Cleric As Curate of Confinement enters the battlefield, name a creature. Creatures with the chosen name can't attack or block, and their activated abilities can't be activated. Omen : Look at target player's hand. (Exile this card from your hand for its omen cost. You may cast it from exile. Activate this ability only as a sorcery.)
Her word is law, and she is never silent. 2/2
Mechanics This feels like it fulfils the letter of the criteria but not really the spirit. It changes the mechanic very slightly, but if anything it makes it less flavourful, since Omen strongly suggests something coming to be prepared for, but with this you can just omen and immediately cast it. additionally, it's not exactly a strong development on the way the mechanic is implelented. It interacts more explicitly with the omen ability, but Mown's card still did so; it just didn't spell it out in the way that this does. the design itself is fine, but the criteria issues are what mainly let down my score. 12/25 Flavour pretty phat flavour text, but the name is more ordinary 19/25 Overall 31/50
Malevolent Mire - Creature - Horror If a creature you control would die, Mutate it into a Swamp instead. If you do, exile that creature instead of putting it into the graveyard. Ruthless and efficient. Ardoh lets nothing go to waste. 3/2
Mechanics i initially misread this mechanic and thought it could tutor for any type of card, but apparently it's just lands. I think it's a bit of a mistake to limit it like that - it doesn't really serve to differentiate the mechanic substantially enough from things like landcycling, or indeed terramorph, so it's not very exciting. that aside, the design is a nice example of black's style of mana-ramp, but the wording is a little awkward. 12/25 Flavour the name doesn't really sound like a creature, and there are some weird flavour issues with the mechanic itself. Mutating a creature into a swamp doesn't make much sense to begin with, and turning it into other basic land types is even more strange. otherwise the flavour is pretty fine (although I'm sick of Ardoh chump) 15/25 Overall 27/50
I feel the need to congratulate and commiserate with those we leave behind at this stage, catowner and Degauss clearly, but CKY who was pipped at the post even with a very impressive points total, and altimis who by his very presence clearly shaped the finals series. I would especially like to thank you altimis, for continuing to post entries despite not being able to make the finals after about round 4 - it clearly makes all the difference in the world in a contest setup like this.
CKY, I know you were impacted by the drop outs, and I have a special chance for you to exact your revenge on the last four. I would like you to determine the criteria for the final - a single card criteria fitting our theme if you wouldn't mind. If you'd prefer to decline, I'll provide the criteria. It's in your hands!
I think you guys overreacted to the power level of Mutilarch. The death trigger is far more restrictive than it seems, since unless you're playing some janky Bloodthrone Vampire combo deck, your opponent gets to dictate when the emblem comes into effect. In this respect, it's no different from a punisher card. A 5/2 that can't block is hardly a sizable threat, especially when Magma Spray and Oblivion Ring exist. I designed Mutilarch to be a splashy card that looks much more powerful on first glance than it actually is, thinking it would earn me brownie points... looks like I was too successful in this respect.
REVENGE CRITERIA: Design a keyword exclusive to planeswalkers, and post a design that showcases that keyword. Keyword abilities are allowed, but anything that isn't named on the card is out the window.
Think of how Neo couldn't beat the robots, but they kept him around anyways to defeat Agent Smith. Sure, the robots might not like having a Neo running rampant because instead of playing their favorite 4 drop fatty robot, they have to play a bunch of one mana Matrixs to contain him, but at least Neo keeps Agent Smith from reanimating an Iona on turn two.
I really enjoy imagining this from Kevin's perspective. Because in Kevin's world, Rosewater actually reads everything he types. Mark is sitting there right now, reading this, and thinking "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled. . ." Or some such. He chuckles low, then clicks on "The Best Of KEVINSET" and says "Yes, this'll do just fine. A busty lady with banding who deals direct damage to Zones!? Why this will be the star of my next set, and no one will ever believe you Kevin." Then he closes his Macbook, so his servant may move it out of the way, while another servant puts a Fetal Richard Garfield Clone lathered in Steak Sauce in front of him. Then Mark Feasts.
I mean, In KevinWorld, Mark is reading the very words I'm typing as well. Heck, in KevinWorld maybe I am Mark.
[In response to a thread about how hard grading is]
Upon reading this, I've found myself completely unable to operate in the world. I tried to decide what to eat for breakfast, and pondered the vast consequences of my choice. How do I balance my dietary needs against my desire to eat good-tasting food? Should I factor in how long it takes to prepare? Cereal is ready in moments, but bacon takes longer to cook.
Then there is the impact on other industries. Do people in the cereal industry deserve to be employed more than people in the bacon industry? Which industry should I support? I don't even have the data regarding HOW MUCH the cereal industry benefits from me eating a bowl of cereal, or how much the bacon industry benefits from me eating a side of bacon. How can I compare two qualities I can't even quantify?
And let's not forget the milk on the cereal. In addition to determining whether or not milk is healthy for me, how much that benefits the milk industry, and how much the people in the milk industry deserve my support, we have to factor in the fact that cows are put under brutal conditions in order to collect thier milk. Of course, the same goes for the pigs, and then they get killed. Of course, I really like bacon. So I need to come up with a scale that compares the value of cow happiness to pig happiness to my happiness. What trade-offs am I willing to make here? Does the fact that the pig gets put out of its misery count as a plus or a minus? Isn't bacon bad for me anyway?
Deciding what to eat for breakfast (or any meal) is impossible. Help me!
Anyway, you'd be surprised about Time Stop. When I first saw that card as a relatively new player I didn't see its full potential until I read the reminder text. Is it that unintuitive, though? Mine I mean. What is possibility? Is it possible for me to type these words with my tusks? No, because I don't have tusks. Although I am now tempted to go buy some - obviously not from poachers or whatever - and use them as typing apparatus. I could be the best secretary ever. "What's your words per minute sir?" "Well, only six, but I use these tusks to type them." "You're hired!" That was the interview. And is anyone else disappointed that "apparati" is not the plural form of apparatus? I just could strangle a dictionary, because "apparatuses" is a real word. I guess it sounds pretty cool. I'll call them my Apparatusks.
