Cool Card Design of the Day8/27/2013 - Dark Path looks like a Sylvan Scrying that you can upgrade to a Diabolic Tutor. But really, it's a Diabolic Tutor that you can cast for less when all you want is some land. The difference? Intention. (Which is worth nothing in a printed product, because most or all of your audience will never hear your intention.)
I also made a version that's not strictly better than Sylvan Scrying and helps identify the card as inherently black. Preference?
Speaking of intention, I'm pretty sure the goal of Bestow was never to reinvent Licids, but to make 'Manifest' work. The result holds more in common with Living Weapon than the Licids, but regardless of the intention, players will make their own connections.
ReplyDeleteI like the first version better because a don't feel anything black about the effect without kicker. additionally, it should be worded with an "instead" after the "if ~ was kicked," to alleviate confusion and make it more clear what the card does.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to avoid strictly better, why not cost it at GG and make the kicker 1B? Or 1G and get a basic.
ReplyDeleteI'm not concerned with making a strictly better Scrying, but I know some are. I think getting a basic land is the best way to nerf Dark Path, if it's needed.
DeleteI don't understand what you mean by the difference being intention.
ReplyDeleteIf it means player perception, I can understand.
I intended to make a Diabolic Tutor that you could cast for less when all you wanted is a land. I don't expect many players to see Dark Path that way, because it looks like a Sylvan Scrying you can upgrade to a Diabolic Tutor. Or more precisely, that comparison is more natural since the card's natural state is Scrying.
DeleteInteresting. Makes me wonder how this mechanic would go over:
DeleteUnderpay [cost] (You may cast this for [cost] instead of its mana cost.)
If CARDNAME was underpaid, [weaker effect].
It is almost exactly kicker but reads a lot worse.
BG Dark Path
ReplyDeleteSearch your library for a nonland card and three land cards. If you do, shuffle your library and place those cards on top of your library in random order.
"once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny."
Guh. That looks awesome in the Dark Confidant + Wants lots of land but not many high CMC cards deck, and pretty much nowhere else.
DeleteIt's a clever design but very Spikey, and probably belongs in some other pairing (RG maybe).
Delete