lol. Your assuming I actually have the hierarchy mapped out somewhere! Althought Master Chief Biomancer sounds better than the "Grand Biomancing Poo Bah" I was going to go with.
Perfect originality is overrated and often ugly. The best and most beautiful cards I've ever seen were clearly inspired by something else.
Cards are not entirely unlike living organisms in this regard. All the good ones are a result of long evolution; the 'original' ones are either monocellular or mutant aberrations.
Graveborn are strictly better than Zombies. I mean, look at that wicked beard . You try growing that when your dead. And I know aging fellows who are suffering from Male Pattern Baldness, who would kill for a Mop like Ribsy's over there.
only Fenix outranks me... i will have to arrange an "accident" in the lab for him....
Undercity Vermin Creature - Insect Rat Mutant Swarm (this creature enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each creature on the battlefield with the same name as it). "The Golgari call for an army. The writhing masses of the undercity will answer that call." -- Alarron, Crossguild Master 1/1
EDIT = greatly edited; changed keyword; was just way too golgari-ish before; think this ability looks a liitle more simic-y (or at least much more green than black this time) -- Swarm grants counters instead of just Relentless Rats style boost while on the battlefield; as a swarm surges, its individual members swell permanently
Undercity Vermin Creature - Insect Rat Grave Return (whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control from your graveyard, it enters the battlfield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it; multiple instances of Grave Return stack) "Reconstitution of decaying DNA is proving to be most eye-opening. And the undercity swarms with more than enough vermin to fuel my research." -- Alarron, Crossguild Master 1/1
i wholly aknowledge that Grave Return is more golgari-y than simic-y.... but, entering with +1/+1 counters (and caring about +1/+1 counters in general) is a very simic-y thing... -- and i'm largely relying on my charcater's cross-guild powers (remembering that he was originally of House Dimir and mastered black mana before trying his hand in green) -- his first test with new mana was adding green to his blue, Simic, and is now adding green to his black, Golgari -- ////]
the "grunt" requirement is intended to be met by the disposabilty of insects//rats in the undercity and the fact that this is the most basic Grave Return design -- similar to how Extort works on Syndic of Tithes : relatively cheap; to stack a lot of Extort effects for each spell but otherwise vanilla
Grave Return would of course be printed on a legendary creature with the ability to reanimate creatures
-- Grave Return is of course useless by itself -- only functions if you're comboing with reanimantion decks or Undying // Persist // Unearth; or Bloodghast effects
only Fenix outranks me... i will have to arrange an "accident" in the lab for him....
Only if I don't get to him first.
Plaxiform Grunt Creature – Germ Ooze Warrior When Plaxiform Grunt attacks, it gets +1/+1 for each other attacking Ooze. Synthalize – :X:, Sacrifice Plaxiform Grunt: X target creatures become a copy of Plaxiform Grunt until end of turn. Fluid formalution at its finest. - Selker, Simic Biospeciest. 1/1
Synthalize is an ability that comes with a cost and generally makes one creature a copy of another until end of turn. Examples include:
Silly green creature Trample Synthalize - , Sacrifice ~: Target creature becomes a copy of ~ until end of turn. 3/2
Weird blue creature Flash Sacrifice ~ at the next end step Synthalize - , Sacrifice ~: Target creature becomes a copy of ~ until end of turn. 1/4
Creatures that have Synthalize tend to have combat related abilities or abilities that trigger when dealing damage to creature or a player. This helps ensure the controlling player will get the creature into a desirable situation for a least one turn by making another creature in that situation a copy of the Synthalized creature. In the card example above, Synthalize is shown in one of its more dangerous forms, being able to target more than one creature. Luckily, the way combat works, you'd have to Synthalize Plaxiform Grunt before combat to ensure its bonus trigger occurs.
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!
Sporoclast Sentry Creature - Human Fungus Knight First strike Sporify (Whenever this blocks or becomes blocked, you may put a -1/-1 counter on it. If you do, put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token onto the battlefield) “The phrase ‘army of one’ should soon have a new meaning for the Selesnyans.” Solan, Simic sporografter 2/2
-1/-1 counters aren't really a Simic thing, but that's only because they've never existed together, I'm sure the Simic of Negative Ravnica would have no problem manipulating them.
NEXT ROUND: The Simic Lab Masters have come to their various team members with an order to fill. One of the Guilds has requested some splicing and cloning on a massive scale. They want the Simic to present them with what they are capable of creating. Your prototype must fulfill all these requirements:
1) It must have a new keyword that is SIMIC-Y, but the card doesn't have to be. 2) It must splice together any two species, but they can be any two you choose. 3) The prototype is to be a soldier, a mass produced GRUNT, flavor and function wise. Interpret how you wish.
All the eyes of the Council are on you for this one. Present your proof of concepts with pride! Note that there will be an "Ultimate" winner this round. The Council will choose the best one for mass production. Good luck!
OOC - This brings me back a few months. Some of you might recognize this.
I presented my new spell to the board, and they were pleased with my results. I too, was pleased with my results. Somebody too, was pleased with my results, I only wish I knew that before I took a short cut home.
A small child met me in the alley, weeping. I knelt down to her level, "What's wrong child?"
"Does this smell like Cholorform to you," she asked putting a rag up to my face.
I woke up, in my bed, startled but surprised. Realizing what had just happened, I quickly searched my body for any scars. Any sign of missing organs. None, good; maybe? What was happening?
"There won't be any scars, we didn't take any of your possesions, internal organs are numbered among your possessions. However, we have been eyeing your work as of late."
I stared in the corner of my room, but I couldn't quite see anyone in the shadows, but I knew someone was there. A man, by the sound of it.
"Who are you?"
"My name is not important, it's the guild that requires the attention. And the guild in question. I'm sure you are already aware. We need something, and we think you are capable of processing our demands."
"I don't know if I feel entirely cocmfortable working with the Dimir?"
"Oh, you feel more comroftable denying the Dimir?"
"No! That's not what I meant!"
"Don't worry, you won't be. We already sent a request to your leaders about a necessary amendment to our forces. Indirectly of course, funny how willing the Boros are to bolster their strength. Needless to say, those designs will be intercepted before it reaches the Boros witch Aurelia."
"What exactly is happening?"
A figure came forwards from the shadows, it was the little girl. Possessed? No, that was Orzhov... what would Dimir do? Shapechangers, of course!
"We need your work. Something crafty, something new. It needs to be able to further our plans. That is all basic information that comes with every order. The details are unnecessary, but we have some subjects for you as you desire. I ask for no questions, only answers. Are my terms acceptable to you?"
"It's dangerous for me if they're not. What choice do I have?"
"Well, you always have a choice. We just weight the propers choices as necessary. You will have a fresh supply of subjects waiting for you in your lab. You may only use those subjects and whatever magic you need. The magic we can learn with time, the subjects are what we have an innumerable supply of. That is your task. Sleep well."
With that, the little girl vanished into the air. Nervous, and strangely calmed, I tried to sleep. I was anxious, excited, eager at my newest task. As dangerous as it was meddling in the affairs of the Dimir, if I did well. Some amnesty might be in order.
The next day, I found that everyone had gotten some "gifts" at the lab, and our leaders conspired a challenge. Everyone was to use their gift, and create something new. The best entry would win a prize. It's funny how they left out the exact details, but I knew what was actually happening; and I was eager to begin.
My gift consisted of a long dead body, and metal of a curious workmanship. I first started with some tests on the metal. It proved to conduct magic, and was an unrecognizable alloy. A type of metal I have never seen before; that meant that the chances were that it wasn't even native to Ravnica. Fascinating!
I investigated the body next. It was dead for over seven days and was starting to stink, if I could smell. The first though that came to my mind was to use the metal to animate the human. It would be an awkward task, but it was a starting point.
I began to shape the metal into molds of strategic body parts. Shin guards, arm guards, chest plate, helmet. The idea then occured, that if I animated the body with the metal, I was solely making a fleshy golem. That has been done numerous times. I needed something more. I continued automatizing my subject until the idea hit me, animate the body and link the mind to the metal. By pairing the two, I create a human that is quite intune with inanimate things; or a golem with a human heart. Either way, my heart raced. I finsihed "building" my creation, and sat it down into a chair.
Sat it down was probably the wrong word to use there, as it fell over and flopped onto the floor when I turned my back. I placed it back on the chair, and laid it's head on the table to keep it balanced in the mean time. I sat down at the other end of the table, excited for what I was about to do. I pointed at the subject and floated my animation magic slowly into the mind of it and the metal surrounding it. When the spark ignited, I was at first confused, there was two? Interesting.
The subject sat upright at once, and took in it's new surrounding. It looked at me, and then at itself, it was figuring things out. In some strange way, the metal was exploring it's human housing, and the human was exploring the metal's soul. The growth was intriguing to watch.
I started some simple tests, like speech, memory, calculations, it was functioning normally. If normally is correct for a prototype. Better than expected seems more accurate.
"I grow tired of these games."
"Games? These aren't games, it's a breakthrough!"
"I grow tired of this breakthrough. I wish to leave."
"I would prefer if you don't. I haven't completed my assessment."
"If I leave you cannot complete your assessment?"
"Correct."
"Then your assessment is incomplete. My logic is infallible. I am leaving, now."
He stood up, and tried the door. It was locked. The new creationg looked at me, I shook my head; I didn't know the door was locked. He turned back to the door and touched it with his arm. He stepped back and slowly the door began to shake, rattle, and it unlocked itself. It swung open allowing my subject to leave. I jumped up to go after him, but the door closed quickly on it's own.
I tried the door, but it was locked again, and the lock was not unlocking.
"Please?" I said in desperation and the lock clicked, and the door opened allowing me into the hall. This automaton can transfer it's magic? Being a human means it has a bond with the aether that it can manipulate. Being metal means it can bond with other inanimate objects. Incredible! Regardless of how my superiors enjoy this new creation, I certainly was going to explore it some more.
Liven Automaton -- Artifact Creature - Human Construct (R) [Dimir] Artifacts, enchantments, and lands with +1/+1 counters on them have Animate (As long as this card has a +1/+1 counter on it, it's a 0/0 Artifact Creature in addition to it's other types. Artifact creatures with +1/+1 counters already on the battlefield become 0/0.) , : Put a +1/+1 counter on target permanent.
"Eyes and ears everywhere, is an understatement." -Aurelia, to Gideon- 2 / 2
Official archnemesis of magicpablo666 Host of Reactionary Previous Episodes:Show
Good call on my last entry. Totally didn't even catch that I worded the token's ability wrong. Maybe I'll post that artifact on the main board for comments. I liked how it worked in my head, but it was so clunky when creating it. That's why I backed off and made the recruit.
The specimen detailed below should satisfy the requirement of the Rakdos. However, in the highly unlikely event the guild is dissatisfied, the specimen is equally marketable to the Gruul, the Golgari and has ample use within the Combine as well. Here's my submission:
Mimeatog Creature - Gorgon Atog Soldier
Deathtouch Sow (Whenever this creature comes under a players control or damages a player, that player gets an emblem with "At the begining of your upkeep put an 0/1 green ooze creature token on the battlefield. The token has Evolve." A player may only have one emblem with "At the begining of your upkeep put an 0/1 green ooze creature token on the battlefield. The token has Evolve." Sacrifice a token creature: Mimeatog gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
"The decision to make the specimen a habitat for the ooze became necessary upon observing the combat skills of the specimen. This has since become the standard on many of our more dangerous prototypes."
1/4
I've always wanted to mix mixed mana symbols!
Edit: Grrr, I can't decide on how the mechanic should work. I changed it from "Sacrifce this creature: Gain 1 life" to Evolve because it felt too Selesnya with the life gain and mechanic name. I feel like evolve might be too powerful given that the mechanic could activate for the controlling player. I'm debating on whether it should just trigger every upkeep and put a token on both sides. Then I think I'd have to lower the Mimeatog's sac ability because it could get out of hand pretty quick and I don't want to raise the mana cost.
Edit 2: Ok, I think I figured it out. I lowered the power and added emblems, this makes it most likely you'll only have a 3/6 on turn 4. I think the emblems work with the flavor a lot more, but it is a bit wordy. I checked the comp rules and I don't think anything prevents multiple instances of emblems from triggering, so I added the one emblem only qualifier. Below is the original:
Mimeatog Creature - Gorgon Atog Soldier
Deathtouch Sow (Whenever this creature deals damage to a player place an 0/1 green ooze creature token on the battlefield under the damaged player's control. The token has Evolve.) Sacrifice a token creature: Mimeatog gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
"The decision to make the specimen a habitat for the ooze became necessary upon observing the combat skills of the specimen. This has since become the standard on many of our more dangerous prototypes."
3/4
Break the Card: A great contest run by Dilleux_Lepaire in the Cards and Combo's forums!
Support the Card: An homage to Break the Card I run on the You Make the Card forums!
@ Dudibus- I wanted to write something for last round, but ive been pretty busy lately. Hopefully I will get some time to actually submit something this round (with a journal entry). There are so many entries in this contest. How long does it take you to grade? It took me forever to grade like 5 submissions in my contest so I feel for you.
--Dudibus = have been having a lot of fun with this contest --has been inspiring very interesting design ideas --thanks a lot for hosting and for feedback
Yeah this has been an awesome contest! JournalSpoiler:Show
Day 1 So they want mass production do they.... what breeds quickly? Fungus, rats, goblins, ooze. All so cliche. To prove myself to the council I must make something truly amazing. More research is required. Day 25 The unstable essence of that Phoenix was a stroke of genius, but how to harness it? Everytime the lab assistants get near it with the instruments it flares up and rebirths. The loss of twelve assistants is unacceptable, especially with no results. And I still do not know what to splice it with... Day 37 Stasis! A stroke of ge[scorch marks obscure some words] -rly died getting close enough to cast the spell on it, but now I have a self-contained reb[burn mark] -oenix. Its almost worth keeping as an energy source. Now to sample its material. Day 39 These blasted burns... they impede my work, yet I owe them (and the medic) my inspiration. I finally found that my burns required treatment so I sought out the biomancer on level 12. When he saw the burn marks he asked if I was in District 8 during the attack? Apparently a trio of hellions burst through the surface and trashed the entire distict. Some suspect the Gruul of calling them, but the lack of raiding parties leads me to suspect the Izzet's experimentation of raising the crusts temperature there. Anyways our discussion of hellions led us to discuss their unigue biology. Due to the deep subterrain environs they call home, no one has truly managed to study them. However the correlation between tectonic activity and hellion attacks seems to imply a coorelation between extreme heat and hellion breeding/activity. And then it hit me.... but how to capture a specimen? Day 50 After hiring a Gruul shaman to enter a deep Rakdos mine to call one of the beasts, we have finally managed to trap one. It is a vicious predator, the peak of its food chain. Keeping it restrained has required some potent Izzet frostmancy. I am nearly overbudget, but I am sure that this will be the piece de resistance. Now that I have collected my thoughts, I go to the lab...
Blazing Hellionix Creature - Hellion Phoenix Flying, Haste Funeral Pyre (When this creature dies, it deals damage equal to its power to target creature. At the beginning of the next end step, return it to the battlefield.) When ~ enters the battlefield, if it died this turn, put a token copy of it onto the battlefield. The explosive quality of its rebirth cycle, causes it to split and regenerate. 4/4
, 
: Put a +1/+1 counter on target permanent.
