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5 months ago ::
Dec 27, 2012 - 10:28PM
#51
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Date Joined:
Nov 18, 2004
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Yay, Haunt that doesn't go away! Automatic Spellbinder  s for all your cards!
Problem:
As many people on this forum have already done, they are picking up on the ability to "encode" things. But the keyword used is "Cipher," while the reminder text uses "encode." This seems an oversight at the least, but making it into print? Developers long ago realized that keywords you needed to refer back to should have words that can be "verbed" for action effects:
'I "imprint" that creature onto Duplicant  ,' 'I'm "haunting" Seize the Soul  onto your token,' etc.
As with Soulbond and its occassional "paired" (not "soulbonded") creatures, you will be hearing "encoding" but not "ciphering." Indeed, you could have simply made the keyword Encode and avoided this whole problem, but you do this to create extra entries into the glossary for reference. And as any book-keeper might tell you, any time you create excessive paperwork is BAD. This keyword is so bureaucratic.
I remember someone saying that they went with "paired" instead of "soulbonded" because of the possibility of using "pairs" outside of Soulbond. If that was true, I think the same applies here.
So the trick is then: Why not use the effective "fun" term? Even if they used "Pair" as the keyword term, it would allow the keyword to be more flexible, as it is already intricately related to the rules in Soulbond. They'd have to rewrite the rule (again) to make it so that "pair" has broader application, and not an association tied to Soulbond:
'702.93b A creature becomes “paired” with another as the result of a soulbond ability. Abilities may refer to a paired creature, the creature another creature is paired with, or whether a creature is paired. An “unpaired” creature is one that is not paired.'
The word "paired" and "unpaired" do not appear ANYWHERE outside of the Soulbond rules. It is unlikely, but possibly fanciful on their part, to think they might use "paired" elsewhere, even though "unpaired" is literally all other creatures that aren't paired [through Soulbond].
Note that they DID make the reference term for "imprint" ("imprinted") retroactive to "exiled" when they overhauled the "remove from the game" aspect of the game; this card is no different, as it "exiles" the card, and like imprint only the card exiled through its ability can be referenced. And no later than Scars block (cannot be THAT old!) did we get "imprint" back.
Encode (Then you may exile this spell card encoded on a creature you control. Whenever that creature deals damage to a player, its controller may cast a copy of the encoded card without paying its mana cost.)
Even if you had cards that "gave" spells Cipher to operate, the same application can be used with "Encode." I'm not quite sure a keyword that refuses to reference itself is particularly useful.
"Possibilities abound, too numerous to count."
"Innocent, unbiased observation is a myth." --- P.B. Medawar (1969)
"Ever since man first left his cave and met a stranger with a different language and a new way of looking at things, the human race has had a dream: to kill him, so we don't have to learn his language or his new way of looking at things." --- Zapp Brannigan (Beast With a Billion Backs)
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5 months ago ::
Dec 27, 2012 - 10:37PM
#52
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This is my favorite guild mechanic, but I do not like the name cipher. Spellbind would have been a good name. I also think using the term encoded in the reminder text is silly, and it does not have any rules significance.
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5 months ago ::
Dec 27, 2012 - 10:41PM
#53
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Date Joined:
Dec 27, 2012
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I didn't even read the "then". This sucks. I was even doing my best "Ha ha, you got it wrong, but I wont waste time sympathising" tone. You know the one I mean.
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5 months ago ::
Dec 27, 2012 - 10:42PM
#54
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Date Joined:
Jan 13, 2012
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Instant curiosity  
Instant
Draw a card
Encode
EDIT: wait, nevermind, it's part of the resolution of the spell. Cool. The above card would have to cost more in that case, but you'd never get 2-for-1'd that way.
The way this ability works, cheap spells with Cipher are more likely to be effects that don't add up that well; such as
Spy
Sorcery
Look at target player's hand.
Cipher
Quotes
Show
Okay, here is the clincher. I've been waiting to say this.
The "cam girl" this was inspired by was just a girl from a social networking website, Stickam. Her name was TinyTerror and she was just a regular girl who was on her webcam, totally unrelated to any type of adult content.
I hope you all feel really smart now. 
This is like someone coming into class with a bloody nose and everyone's like "Jeez what happened to you" and they're like "I ran into a wall" and everyone laughs at them for being an idiot but then at the end of the class they say "HAHA JUST KIDDING I PUNCHED MYSELF IN THE FACE!!!!!! TALK ABOUT OWNED HAHAHAHAHA"
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.
Sorin walked into the chamber where his newly wed bride, Vampy, awaited. A beam of moonlight illuminated his brilliant silver hair as he strode with confidence towards the bed. His shirtless body showcased his powerful abdominal muscles and he was wearing jeans with holes in the knees.
I wish more girls play magic cards...
Have you considered assassinating Kevin?
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5 months ago ::
Dec 27, 2012 - 11:11PM
#55
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Date Joined:
May 19, 2012
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Whoa, I like this mechanic. And it doesn't even mill!
Ha ha ha!
I know. This is awesome. I'm actually proud of them. Let's hope they don't mess this up like they did Haunt. From the preview it appears that they didn't.
On, another note, what is up with that art? I actually like Clint  Cearly  a lot of the time. And I like certain things about this art. The perspective, the content, and the bending of the image are all interesting - but one feels as though this is an unfinished piece. It just looks so computer. I don't know what to think, really. Part of me loves it, but part of me is unsettled by its video-game-esque appearance.
Pablo's threads are like a college philosophy class.
Except instead of lecturing, everyone's getting blotto.
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5 months ago ::
Dec 28, 2012 - 12:13AM
#56
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Date Joined:
Jun 14, 2006
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I like the concept of the artwork where the human is surrounded by a skeleton looking thing which seems to be giving him some kind of secret as he "decodes" the message. It could really use some better execution though because the art is pretty bad IMO.
I like the mechanic and I somewhat agree with those who are saying it stands out from the rest of the guild mechanics as being more exciting.
Don't be too smart to have fun
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5 months ago ::
Dec 28, 2012 - 12:31AM
#57
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Date Joined:
Sep 10, 2006
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Art is odd for people because it's fisheye lense
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5 months ago ::
Dec 28, 2012 - 12:39AM
#58
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Date Joined:
Jul 21, 2009
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The art isn't that great, but the card seems fun, and the mechanic is pretty cool.
My Sig
Show
Reality is but the sum total of all illusions.
Proud Hand of Karsus, now and forever
Mess with one Hand, mess with 'em all
I am Blue/Green
Take The Magic Dual Colour Test - Beta today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Personality Test Generator.
"just do what LM the lord of magical might does, and you'll be fine" - sfdragon, 10/12/09
My Ravnican Loyalties
Show
Board Snippets
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"I don't like X, they should remove it."
"I like X, they should keep it."
"They should replace X with Y."
"Anybody that likes X is dumb. Y is better."
"Why don't they include both X and Y."
"Yeah, everybody can be happy then!"
"But I don't like X, they should remove it."
"X really needs to be replaced with Y."
"But they can include both X and Y."
"But I don't like X, they need to remove it."
"Remove X, I don't like it."
Repeat.
Obstinance?
Until you've had an in-law tell you your choice of game was stupid, and just Warcraft on paper, and dumbed down for dumber players who can't handle a real RPG, you haven't lived.
You haven't lived.
Lady and gentlemen.... I present to you the Edition War without Contrition, the War of the Web, the Mighty Match-up!
We're using standard edition war rules. No posts of substance. Do not read the other person's posts with comprehension. Make frequent comparison to video games, MMOs, and CCGs. Use the words "fallacy" and "straw man", incorrectly and often. Passive aggressiveness gets you extra points and asking misleading and inflammatory questions is mandatory. If you're getting tired, just declare victory and leave the thread. Wait for the buzzer... and....
One, two, three, four, I declare Edition War
Five, six, seven eight, I use the web to 
Go!
D&D should not return to the days of blindfolding the DM and players. No tips on encounter power? No mention of expected party roles? No true meaning of level due to different level charts or tiered classes? Please, let's not sacrifice clear, helpful rules guidelines in favour of catering to the delicate sensibilities of the few who have problems with the ascetics of anything other than what they are familiar with.
Just a quick note on the MMORPG as an insult comparison...
MMORPGs, raking in money by the dumptruck full. Many options, tons of fans across many audiences, massive resources allocated to development.
TTRPGs, dying product. Squeaking out an existence that relys on low cost. Fans fit primarily into a few small demographics. R&D budgets small, often rushed to market and patched after deployment.
You're not really making much of an argument when you compare something to a MMORPG and assume people think that means bad. Lets face it, they make the money, have the audience and the budget. We here on this board are fans of TTRPGs but lets not try to pretend none of us play MMORPGs.
Adding options at the system level is good.
Adding options at the table level is hard.
Removing options at the system level is bad.
Removing options at the table level is easy.
This is not complicated.
Something like Tactical Shift is more magical than martial healing.
Telling someone to move over a few feet is magical now? :|
I weep for this generation.
Given the laziness and morbid obsesity amongst D&Ders, being able to convince someone to get on their feet, do some heavy exercise, and use their words to make them be healthier must seem magical.
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5 months ago ::
Dec 28, 2012 - 12:50AM
#59
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In the art it's like the skeleton is like AWW DUDE YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW and the guy's like OH TEE HEE NO WAY
haha
The way those colors pop off of each other and the strange proportions are very common with new school style tattoos. I'm pretty sure that's what inspired the artwork. 
I feel like this mechanic is going to be very annoying to play against. 
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5 months ago ::
Dec 28, 2012 - 1:18AM
#60
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Date Joined:
Sep 14, 2010
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Like the mechanic, should have been named encode, but I'm sure we'll live with that.
What's not immediately clear is what happens when the creature changes zones. Instinctively you would say the exiled effect ends, but it doesn't actually say so (in the reminder text at least). Secret dream: encode this on Szadek in EDH and win the game twice as quickly ;-)
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