So Suudsu had a dream in which he was playing a grid-based game in which people competed for control of Ravnica as different guilds, gaining powers along the way. Now, that sounds cool, but it Suudsu made the game, it would probably suck, so I'm going to do it.
SIGNUPS ARE CLOSED THE GAME IS IN PROGRESS. PLEASE CHECK THE MOST RECENT PAGES FOR UP TO DATE INFO ON THE GAME. Spoiler:Show
Rules:
The game will take place on a 20x20 grid representing the Ravnican metropolis. This I will represent on pastebin, because the alignment of text on this forum isn't what I would hope. When the game begins, the city will be composed of neutral territory. Your goal is to conquer all of it.
Now, let's get down to the turn structure:
A turn begins every day at 5 pm Mountain time. If you can't post at least once a day, please don't enter this contest. If you have urgent business that prevents you from posting for a few days, you may appoint another user to be your substitute. If you miss a day, you will be treated as though you made no actions.
How turns go: During the day, (hopefully) everyone will send me a pm containing 2 things: 1: The location to which you would like to move: this is any location within 3 spaces of your location at the start of the day. Note that moving diagonally only counts as moving 1 space 2: The action you'd like to take. Every day, you may either move 2 additional spaces (for up to 5 total) or take an action. Every player has the "attack" action, which, unless otherwise specified will deal 4 damage to a random enemy within 5 units of you (once again, diagonally still only counts as 1 unit). When you use the attack action, you can specify target prioritization ("I'd rather hit the Orzhov guy than the boros guy if they're both in range") or specify that you'd rather not hit a certain enemy ("I'm teaming up with the Simic, don't hit them"). Depending on your guild, you'll have other options, but I'll get to that later. After all this has happened, all spaces within 2 units of you you will be converted into your guild's territory. If 2 players are trying to claim the same territory at the same time, it will revert to neutrality.
After I read your lovely PMs, I will list your actions, as well as change the map to reflect the new gamestate, and write everyone's health and mana pool, put all of this into a text file, put it on pastebin, and put the link here. Then, the day will end, and the next day will begin. At the beginning of the day, you will restore 1 mana for every 25 squares of territory you own, rounded down, and if you didn't take damage last turn, you will restore 1 point of life.
So, what's with this health and mana? Each player starts with 20 life and 10 mana. Whenever you take damage, your health goes down. Mana is depleted by using abilities. If your life is reduced to 0 or below, you die. You are eliminated from the game, and all of your territory becomes neutral.
So, what separates the guilds from each other? Each guild has a passive and 2 activated abilities, which you can spend your action to use.
The Dimir: Passive: Secrecy: you may make game-related commnunications with other players in private messages. In addition, the actions you take will not be told to other players. Active: Transmute: Cost: 1 mana Choose a guild. During your next turn, you may use activated abilities of the chosen guild. Mind control: Cost: 10 mana Choose another target player. You decide what movements and actions that player takes this turn. (If they cast hexproof or forecasted your mind control, mind control is still countered).
The Izzet: Passive: Static buildup: Whenever an ability with a mana cost (even one of zero) is used within 5 units of you, you restore 1 mana. Active: Overload: Cost: 5 mana Deals 4 damage to you, and 12 damage to every other guildmage within 5 units of you. Replicate: Cost: varies by ability Choose a player who activated an ability last turn. Pay its mana cost, then activate it. If you try to use this on a player who cast an ability too expensive for you to pay for, this does nothing.
The Orzhov: Passive: Haunt: when you die, each player that dealt damage to you loses a life per turn for the next 10 turns. This doesn't prevent regeneration. Active: Extort: Cost: 2 mana Each other player standing on your territory loses 2 life, and you gain life equal to the total life lost this way. Lifelink: Cost: 8 mana A regular attack, except that you gain life equal to the damage dealt.
The Simic: Passive: Vitality: you start with 2 extra life points. Active: Evolve: Cost: 5 mana During your next turn, you may move 2 additional spaces and your attacks deal 2 additional damage. Hexproof: Cost: 6 mana You can't be affected by all negative actions of other players this turn (including basic attacks). Does not prevent passives like haunt or community, or pacifism, unless you somehow manage to deal damage on the same turn that you cast hexproof.
The Selesnya: Passive: Community: when you die, you may restore all of another player's life points. Active: Commune with nature: cost: 5 mana You gain 6 life. Skip your next turn. Pacifism: Cost: 6 mana Prevent all damage that would be dealt this turn (to anyone by anyone).
Gruul: Passive: Trample: Your attacks will hit all players within range of you. Active: Bloodrush: Cost: 2X mana A regular attack, except it deals x additional damage. Bloodthirst: Cost: 1 mana A regular attack, except that if it hits, during your next turn, if you would deal damage to another player, you deal that much damage plus two to that player instead.
Rakdos: Passive: Hellbent: As long as you have 10 or less life, your attacks deal an additional point of damage. Active: Unleash: Cost: 2 mana A regular attack, except that all damage that would be dealt to and by you this turn is doubled. Cripple: Cost: 5 mana A regular attack, except if it hits, that player can't move from their current space next turn.
Boros: Passive: First strike: if one of your actions would kill an opponent, all actions that they take this turn and all actions that would affect them this turn are negated. This means that killing a player will negate the passives of the golgari and make you the sole target of the Orzhov passive. Active: Righteous Vengeance: Cost: 7 mana If damage would be dealt to you this turn, it's dealt to its source instead. Radiance: Cost: 3 mana A regular attack, except that if it hits, the player it hits can't use abilities with a mana cost next turn
Azorius: Passive: Mana tithe: if an activated ability with a mana cost would affect ~, even if its mana cost was 0, its controller loses 1 mana from their mana pool. If its controller can't pay the mana, the ability is countered. When activating an ability, a player may specify that they would rather not pay the extra mana for mana tithe. If they do and the ability affects you, then that ability is countered. Active: Forecast: Cost: 2 Name a player and an activated ability with a mana cost (even if it's 0). If that player activates that ability this turn, counter it. Detain: Cost: 8 Target player skips their next turn.
Golgari: Passive: Scavenge: whenever a player you dealt damage to this turn dies, you gain 4 life, your maximum life is increased by 4, and 1 bonus damage on your attacks. Active: Rot: Cost: 2 mana A regular attack, except that if it hits, the damaged unit takes 1 damage on their next turn. Regenerate: Cost: 8 mana If you would die this turn, instead you come back with 8 life.
So, this all sounds like a cool game, but how do you win? That's a tricky question, really. If you control all of the territory on Ravnica, or have killed all of your foes, you'll obviously be declared victorious, but hey, the guilds of Ravnica have been trying to do that for millenia without success. There's another option. If a group of guildmages, who, combined, control all of the territory, they may declare a truce and receive a "partial" victory. For example, if 3 guilds declare a truce, they'd control 1/3 of Ravnica, and be pretty happy with that, probably get a pat on the back from their guildmaster, but it wouldn't be like "OHMYGODIJUSTCONQUEREDRAVNICA". Still, it's an option.
COMMUNICATION: Given the nature of the game, you may chat with other players about it, even cooperate, form alliances temporary or permanent, or coordinate movements. However, there are some caveats: 1: You may only talk about the game ON THIS THREAD. No PMing your buddy and saying "lol I got this great idea let's surprise attack the Orzhov". The exception to this is if you are the Dimir, in which case you can communicate with anyone however you like and in secret. The Dimir can still post in thread if they want to. 2: Nothing you say on this thread is binding. You can lie about the moves you intend to make. Hell, you can lie about anything.
So, how do you join the game? Sign up by copy/pasting the statement below into a post. I'll start the game on Friday at 5pm mountain time, and you'll have until Saturday at 5 pm Mountain time to make your first move.
"I promise, under penalty of the shouting of obscenities at me over the internet and the exclusion from all cato's future contests, to post once every day for as long as I am entered into this contest. If I break this vow, it will be because I had something super important to do, and I will feel terrible about myself because of it."
Signups begin now. What are you waiting for?
Signups: Suudsu as House Dimir themoti as the Izzet League sage as the Orzhov Syndicate Morgotha as the Simic Combine Rubik as the Selesnya Conclave keeper as the Rakdos Cult isaic as the Azorius Senate
I don't have an egosig because I'd rather my ideas be judged on their merits than on mine.
What are catpoints? A way of measuring how much I love you. How do I get catpoints? 1: participate in my forum games/contests. 2: make awesome posts. 3: destroy Carthage. What can I do with catpoints? You can ask favors of me. I may or may not agree to your favor, depending on how big the favor is and how many catpoints you have. Who has how many catpoints? shadowchu: 100 Islands: 100 Niche: 50 mrindigo: 50 kips: 50 Rstnme: 25 Jman: 25 everyone else: 0 Keeperofmanynames: -100 Morgothra: -100
What are catpoints? A way of measuring how much I love you. How do I get catpoints? 1: participate in my forum games/contests. 2: make awesome posts. 3: destroy Carthage. What can I do with catpoints? You can ask favors of me. I may or may not agree to your favor, depending on how big the favor is and how many catpoints you have. Who has how many catpoints? shadowchu: 100 Islands: 100 Niche: 50 mrindigo: 50 kips: 50 Rstnme: 25 Jman: 25 everyone else: 0 Keeperofmanynames: -100 Morgothra: -100
"I promise, under penalty of the shouting of obscenities at me over the internet and the exclusion from all cato's future contests, to post once every day for as long as I am entered into this contest. If I break this vow, it will be because I had something super important to do, and I will feel terrible about myself because of it."
I don't care about my guild, I'll take whatever is left. If all positions are not filled, let me know and I'll choose.
Also, am I the only one that read the directions?
Susan Summerson from the Hell breaks loose Flavorful Voting Game http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/29076567/Hell_breaking_loose:_an_Avacyn_Restored_voting_game?pg=1
Susan Summerson also appeared in the Innistrad Mafia Game http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/28609371/Innistrad_Mafia?pg=1
Writer of Nally Bear from The Gathering Flavorful Voting Game: http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/28846821/The_Gathering:_M12_flavorful_voting_game?pg=1
Writer of Phyrex the Myr from Phyrexia Reborn: http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/27993097/Phyrexia_Reborn:_A_Flavorful_Voting_Game?pg=1
Writer of Tinker the Myr from Legacy of Karn: http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/26647005/Karns_Legacy_(A_flavorful_voting_game)
Writer of Crusader Tolkana, who has appeared in: Eldrazi Awaken: http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/24071149/Eldrazi_Awaken:_A_flavorful_voting_game?pg=1
Colors of Magic: http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/25352501/Colors_of_Magic:_a_flavor_game?pg=1
Writer of Isaic from Treasures of Zendikar http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75842/22819881/Treasures_of_Zendikar?post_id=402182877#402182877
"I promise, under penalty of the shouting of obscenities at me over the internet and the exclusion from all cato's future contests, to post once every day for as long as I am entered into this contest. If I break this vow, it will be because I had something super important to do, and I will feel terrible about myself because of it."
I don't care about my guild, I'll take whatever is left. If all positions are not filled, let me know and I'll choose.
Also, am I the only one that read the directions?
I guess...
I don't have an egosig because I'd rather my ideas be judged on their merits than on mine.
What are catpoints? A way of measuring how much I love you. How do I get catpoints? 1: participate in my forum games/contests. 2: make awesome posts. 3: destroy Carthage. What can I do with catpoints? You can ask favors of me. I may or may not agree to your favor, depending on how big the favor is and how many catpoints you have. Who has how many catpoints? shadowchu: 100 Islands: 100 Niche: 50 mrindigo: 50 kips: 50 Rstnme: 25 Jman: 25 everyone else: 0 Keeperofmanynames: -100 Morgothra: -100
I have a question - is skipping your turn really that bad? It seems like if I skip my turn than my enemies don't care and my allies wouldn't prefer that I wasn't in the game at all. It's like, there's not going to be a rule against wasting your turn by doing something stupid.
But whatever, I got loyalty.
"I promise, under penalty of the shouting of obscenities at me over the internet and the exclusion from all cato's future contests, to post once every day for as long as I am entered into this contest. If I break this vow, it will be because I had something super important to do, and I will feel terrible about myself because of it."
What are catpoints? A way of measuring how much I love you. How do I get catpoints? 1: participate in my forum games/contests. 2: make awesome posts. 3: destroy Carthage. What can I do with catpoints? You can ask favors of me. I may or may not agree to your favor, depending on how big the favor is and how many catpoints you have. Who has how many catpoints? shadowchu: 100 Islands: 100 Niche: 50 mrindigo: 50 kips: 50 Rstnme: 25 Jman: 25 everyone else: 0 Keeperofmanynames: -100 Morgothra: -100
OK I wasn't sure about how much hyperbole was included in that instruction. I will miss very few, if any, turns.
Fun exciting rules questions time: If Mind Control is countered, do you still lose your next turn? If Mind Control is blocked by Hexproof, do you still lose your next turn? For Haunt and Scavenge, if you take damage from multiple sources in the same turn, who killed you? If you are already Haunted and use Hexproof, will Hexproof prevent 1 damage? Willl Hexproof prevent you from being healed by Community? Does Hexproof interact with Pacifism? with Extort?
OK I wasn't sure about how much hyperbole was included in that instruction. I will miss very few, if any, turns.
Fun exciting rules questions time: If Mind Control is countered, do you still lose your next turn? If Mind Control is blocked by Hexproof, do you still lose your next turn? For Haunt and Scavenge, if you take damage from multiple sources in the same turn, who killed you? If you are already Haunted and use Hexproof, will Hexproof prevent 1 damage? Willl Hexproof prevent you from being healed by Community? Does Hexproof interact with Pacifism? with Extort?
Ok, I'm gonna go with these rulings:
I'm just going to rewrite mind control as "you choose target player, and choose how they move and what actions they take this turn." For haunt and scavenge, all players that dealt damage to that player on that turn will be counted as killing them, unless it involves a Boros player, because first strike. I'm going to say that hexproof won't affect community or haunt, since they're passives, and pacifism won't affect you because you aren't dealing damage on the same turn you use hexproof, but it will affect the damage that another player would deal to you this turn, and it will counter extort.
Thanks for the questions, I'll update the rules.
I don't have an egosig because I'd rather my ideas be judged on their merits than on mine.
What are catpoints? A way of measuring how much I love you. How do I get catpoints? 1: participate in my forum games/contests. 2: make awesome posts. 3: destroy Carthage. What can I do with catpoints? You can ask favors of me. I may or may not agree to your favor, depending on how big the favor is and how many catpoints you have. Who has how many catpoints? shadowchu: 100 Islands: 100 Niche: 50 mrindigo: 50 kips: 50 Rstnme: 25 Jman: 25 everyone else: 0 Keeperofmanynames: -100 Morgothra: -100
