Click through to see this weekend's design challenge. Your single, final submission is due by Monday morning. Every submission warrants feedback, which I will try to provide, and which everyone is encouraged to provide as well. You may use that feedback to revise your submission any number of times. If and only if you provide a direct link to art for your submission, and the artist's name, will I mock it up and include it in a follow-up review.
Design a lord that doesn't give +1/+1 to its tribe. Bonus points if how it acts as a lord for that tribe is novel. Bonus points if it's highly thematic to the tribe. Bonus points if it's a smaller tribe with little or no tribal support.
Altakan Regent (R)
ReplyDelete2WW
Creature - Griffin
Flying
Griffin creatures you control have double strike.
2/3
Zuberi made a friend!
DeleteElegant
DeleteNoggle Prankleader 1 {R/U} {R/U} {R/U}
ReplyDeleteCreature - Noggle (Rare)
Return two Noggles you control and a creature you don't control to their owner's hand: Each player draws two cards and discards a card at random.
2/3
"The favorite toy of the noggle is reality"
OR:
Noggle Prankleader 1 {R/U} {R/U} {R/U}
Creature - Noggle (Rare)
Return two Noggles you control to their owner's hand: You may cast an instant spell from your hand without paying its mana cost.
2/3
"The favorite toy of the Noggles is your brain"
Which do you prefer?
There are four Noggles in all of Magic at this point. Is this really a creature type that a Lord makes sense for?
DeleteI like the basic concept of this Lord design a lot, though (especially the second version, which seems cleaner). What about using a different tribe-- Vedalken maybe?
I did offer bonus points for smaller tribes. People who love noggles will love this.
DeleteThe first one is noggle-liciously wacky, but probably too much so.
Note that just "Return two Noggles to your hand: Smirk" is pretty decent.
The first one has too much going on and the second is really dangerous to print, but I like the basic idea. What about:
Delete"Return two Noggles you control to their owners' hands: Copy target instant or sorcery spell you control, you may choose new targets for the copy."?
I think you have nailed it Jules.
DeleteNoggle Prankleader 1 {R/U} {R/U} {R/U}
Creature - Noggle (Rare)
Return two Noggles you control to their owner's hand: Copy target instant or sorcery spell you control, you may choose new targets for the copy.
2/3
"The favorite toy of the Noggles is your reality"
Argh! I cannot find any Noggle images. Also, do not try to search for werehorses one the net.
DeleteUniter of Man (R)
ReplyDelete1WW
Creature - Human Soldier
Human cards you own that aren't on the battlefield, Human spells you control, and Human permanents you control are white.
You may spend white mana as though it were mana of any color. You may spend this mana only to cast Human spells.
3/3
I suppose it should read: "... mana of any color. If you do, you may spend this mana only to cast Human spells"
DeleteSweet idea; Humans do have a lot of tribal support already, but five-color Humans don't. I'd suggest costing this at 2W so it can be cast in a four- or five- color deck. Also, is the first ability really necessary? It might make the card sound a little racist to some readers.
DeleteI like the reference, but I feel uncomfortable with a card that equates humanity with being white. What if it made them all colors or colorless instead?
DeleteThanks for the feedback. :) Flavor was the only thing that dictated the first ability.. that and Celestial Dawn. The flavor was of a leader who was charismatic or persuasive enough to get all of the humans to unite for the greater good... a man who could instill a sense of righteousness even in the most selfish of people. Mechanically, no I don't think the first ability is needed, but I felt it told the story of converting all of humanity to a shared goal (vs phyrexians in Invasion block for example), as an explanation for why this guy does what he does. Flavoring it as a different color (filling them with rage for red or corrupting them all into black) might be more "obvious" if I wanted to keep it.
DeleteThoughts?
I think all you really need is something like "You may spend white mana to cast Human creature spells as if it were mana of any color." It gets across the same sense of shared purpose in a much less overbearing way.
DeletePerhaps:
DeleteHumans are all colors in all zones.
You may spend mana as mana of any color to cast Human spells.
Uniter of Purpose (R)
Delete3W
Creature - Human Soldier
Human cards are all colors in all zones.
You may spend mana as mana of any color to cast Human spells.
Other White creatures you control get +1/+1 and have lifelink.
3/3
Art: http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110925193149/mk_/images/a/ae/Raiden_MK9_ending2.PNG
credit: Netherrealm Games, Mortal Kombat 9.
Searching for art is hard. Hopefully Raiden from mortal kombat does a decent job of showing what I meant. I thought more about the color changing, and felt that I wanted to keep it, but I should make it relevant somehow. Now, there could be a cycle, Uniter of Fury, Uniter of strength for green, etc.
Sphinx of Hidden Mysteries 1UU
ReplyDeleteCreature- Sphinx (Rare)
2/5
Defender, flying
2UU, Discard a Sphinx creature card: Choose one-- Counter target spell; or draw two cards; or return target permanent to its owner's hand.
The activated ability is pretty sweet.
DeleteDoes this have defender just so it can be undercosted?
Sphinxes traditionally have rather large bodies with high toughness in particular, and I wanted a lord that didn't cost too much and could hold the fort until you could cast your other Sphinxes. Defender fits with Sphinxes in flavor terms, too.
DeleteArt: http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/259/6/f/sphinx_of_the_ancients_by_archlimit-d4a0z60.jpg
DeleteArtist: ArchLimit
No other sphinxes in Magic have defender. Given that his ability doesn't kick until you've got mana to spare, why bend the design to make it cheap? Holding the fort isn't this card's job. Magic has other cards for that.
DeleteHere's my reasoning: Every Sphinx in existence costs 4 or more mana, and most of them cost 6+. That makes tribal difficult to do, because the creatures come out very slowly. With most large-creature tribes, the solution would be to print something like Stinkdrinker Daredevil or Ragemonger that reduces casting costs. But Sphinxes are blue and are naturally suited to a controlling style of play. So, what if there was a lord that enabled a Sphinx tribal deck to play like a control deck? Sphinx of Hidden Mysteries does that, but to make the gameplay work correctly it has to come out early.
DeleteYou're right, though-- there are plenty of control cards out there already, and no other Sphinxes with defender exist. What I made this a small Human instead, and called it Sphinx's Acolyte or something?
I'm amused by the possibility of:
DeleteRiddlebreaker UR
Creature - Goblin Rogue
Sphinx spells and spells with X in their mana costs cost 2 less to cast.
1/1
Making it not a Sphinx helps. If helping sphinx decks start earlier or stabilize is the goal, focus on that instead of the current activated ability that's expensive and more about controlling the board after stabilization.
DeleteOK, a few different ideas here:
DeleteSphinx's Acolyte 1U
Creature- Human Spellshaper (Rare)
1/1
1UU, T, Discard a Sphinx creature card: [same ability as Sphinx above]
Stasis Sphinx 2UU
Creature- Sphinx (Rare)
3/3
Flying
At the beginning of your end step, if you cast a Sphinx creature spell this turn, each player skips his or her next untap step.
Inscrutable Sphinx 1UU
Creature- Sphinx (Rare)
2/3
Flying
U, Discard a Sphinx creature card from your hand: CARDNAME becomes a copy of that creature until end of turn.
Dominion Sphinx 2UU
Creature- Sphinx (Rare)
3/3
Flying
1U, Exile a Sphinx creature card from your hand: Target player exiles a card from his or her hand.
You may cast cards exiled with Dominion Sphinx.
3 feels like the Ur-Dragon and 4 feels black.
Delete2 might prove unfun, but I like it anyhow.
1 is pretty interesting.
Can it be return target nonland permanent? I don't think Wizard's has printed a bounce spell intended to hit lands in a long time. Lost in the Mist is expensive enough and reactive enough that bouncing a land isn't a big deal. Dinrova Horror is the most recent card like this, but it's modeled after Recoil which is old.
DeleteGood points, thanks! For now I'll go with:
DeleteSphinx's Acolyte 1U
Creature- Human Spellshaper (Rare)
1/1
1UU, T, Discard a Sphinx creature card: Choose one-- counter target spell; or draw two cards; or put target creature on top of its owner's library.
But it's going to be hard to find good art for this, and I'd like to find a way to make Dominion Sphinx work-- it really gets at the feeling of "lord for Sphinx cards in your hand" that I was going for. How about:
Dominion Sphinx 2UU
Creature- Sphinx (Rare)
3/3
Flying
U, Exile a Sphinx creature card from your hand: Exile the top card of target opponent's library.
You may cast cards exiled with Dominion Sphinx.
It would be interesting to see an ability that starts like:
DeleteU, Exile a card from your hand face down. Your opponent guesses Sphinx or not Sphinx. If the opponent guesses ~
Awesome. Chah made the exact suggestion I was thinking of last night.
DeleteHmm... fascinating. What about:
DeleteU: Exile a card from your hand face down. An opponent guesses Sphinx or not Sphinx. If the opponent guessed incorrectly, you may reveal that card and cast it without paying its mana cost.
Seems like it would play well. It's really weird how this uses the tribal aspect-- basically your opponent just has to believe that you have awesome Sphinxes in your deck. That seems like a very Sphinx-like way to do tribal, actually.
Barkshield Dryad
ReplyDelete1G
Creature - Dryad Shaman (R)
2/1
Each land is a Forest in addition to its other land types.
Sacrifice a Forest: Regenerate each creature you control.
...how is this a lord?! I'm intrigued.
DeleteMany Dryads have or reference Forestwalk (11/27) and they are generally in need of some protection, as large swaths of these plant people are easily wiped out by Seismic Shudder or worse: Pyroclasm
DeleteWhen Jay requests an esoteric approach to lordliness, I oblige.
I'm seeing 10 of 27 dryads benefiting from opponent's with forests.
DeleteEsoteric is good (for this challenge) (or at least fine).
There are 42 creatures in total that have or reference Forestwalk, so I'm not persuaded that this is really a Lord (as opposed to merely synergistic). After all, there's nothing about this card that actually makes the Dryad creature type matter. Change "each creature" to "each Dryad creature" and I'm sold, though.
DeleteYou could argue that it's tribe isn't Dryads so much as Creatures With Forestwalk. But Ipaulsen has a point.
DeleteWell, part of my approach here was that since Dryads are a rather negligible tribe (in the sense that there isn't any good reason to build a deck around them, partly because they are so redundant), designing a "lord" for them should ideally serve a broader function within the game.
DeleteFrankly, probably not the best tribe for this challenge.
Can you make one ability reward Dryads directly and the other more broadly applicable?
DeleteDryad Rootbinder
DeleteGG
Creature - Dryad Shaman (R)
2/1
Dryad creatures you control have "T: Target land is a Forest instead of any other type until end of turn."
At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are 20 or more Forest cards on the battlefield, you win the game.
Now it has a Dryad-specific ability with marginal Legacy-utility as a way to disable troublesome lands and/or color-screw the opposition. Also, an alternative win condition that would probably get this card quickly banned from EDH.
Sadly, easily searchable Dryad art is really awful. A bunch of absurdly sexualized trees cupping their barky breasts.
Potential art:
Deletehttp://digital-art-gallery.com/oid/74/1039x800_13164_Kyria_2d_fantasy_tree_dryad_forest_creature_picture_image_digital_art.jpg
by Joanna Wolska
Nice find, Pasteur. Appreciate it!
DeleteJust a friendly reminder: Only submissions with an artist's name and a direct link to an image file will get mocked up on Monday.
ReplyDeletejoke submission:
ReplyDelete{W} Enchantment
As long as an opponent controls a Bird, Cat creatures you control have flying.
As long as an opponent controls a Rat, Cat creatures you control have lifelink.
As long as an opponent controls a Snake, Cat creatures you control have first strike.
As long as an opponent controls a Hound, Cat creatures you control have defender.
I love it. Lol'd at "defender."
DeleteMy favorite part—because I didn't plan it—is these are all white abilities. (Although, I'm now unsure how flying replaced reach, even though I like that.)
DeleteRambling Goatherd WW
ReplyDeleteCreature - Kithkin Druid
W: Target Goat you control gains protection from the color of your choice until end of turn.
W, sacrifice a Goat: Put a +1/+1 counter on target non-goat creature.
1/2
All six of the non-Eldrazi Goat creatures in Magic are red, so you might not want to make this so heavily white (there are only two white cards that make Goats, after all). Other than that, though, I like the design a lot-- very resonant.
DeleteAwesome.
DeleteI like how these are honorable goats: unwilling to benefit from their comrades' sacrifice.
Goats are noble, majestic creatures. Capras is the very model of a modern noble genera. Although, if I'm being honest, I was actually thinking "It would be weird if she fed her goats to her other goats."
DeleteYeah, but you're not gonna build a goat deck and be trying to decide between Battering Craghorn and Springjack Shepherd/Springjack Pasture. 100% of Goat Decks result from someone reading one of those two cards and going "WHAT? YES?!"
DeleteAlso, I found some art? It's a sketch from the Lorwyn design book, but it's really close to the image I had in mind and I'm pretty sure I've never seen it before so I'm including it!
https://www.wizards.com/magic/images/mtgcom/arcana1000/1458_springjacksketch.jpg
By Larry MacDougal
Patron of Sojourns WR
ReplyDeleteCreature - Human Nomad (r)
Exile a Nomad creature you control, discard a card: Return the exiled Nomad to the battlefield at the beginning of your next main phase. When you do, draw a card.
2/2
This is so perfect-- exactly what a Nomad would do. I'd be inclined to make the Nomad-exiling clause part of the ability rather than part of the cost, but that's a minor thing and could go either way.
DeleteThe flickering is spot on, but I'm not sure why the card draw is a reward on a card in the two colors that do the least card drawing. (Yes, I see the red looting connection, but it still doesn't feel right to me.)
DeleteMaybe something like:
First strike
Other Nomads you control have first strike.
Whenever CARDNAME or another Nomad you control deals damage, you may exile it. If you do, return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.
(that version can make for some pretty annoying blocking, so maybe:)
Whenever CARDNAME or another Nomad you control becomes blocked, you may pay {1}. If you do, it deals damage equal to its power to each creature blocking it, then exile it until end of combat.
But the nomad goes on a trip, trading your trash for something new!
DeleteExcellent! Nomads!
DeleteRokholm Volley Captain {2}{W}
ReplyDeleteCreature—Dwarf
Vigilance
{1}{R}, Tap X untapped Dwarves you control: Rokholm Volley Captain deals X damage to target attacking or blocking creature.
2/2
Is this uncommon? I'm generally a big fan of off-color activations as an alternative to multicolor, but I think this is the wrong place given that you really want it to get to the Dwarf players, not whoever could use another derpy white 3-drop.
DeleteIt's uncommon. Would appear in a set with Dwarves in both red and white.
DeleteSuppose I could ditch vigilance and make it mono-red.
DeleteOoh! I like how this is white with off-colour red. Really works for me.
DeleteActually, this feels more like a mono-white card than a mono-red card. Lots of small guys working together + only damaging dudes in combat is totally white.
DeleteGloblobber GG
ReplyDeleteCreature-Ooze (R)
CARDNAME enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it.
Whenever CARDNAME or another Ooze you control dies, put a +1/+1 counter on each Ooze you control.
0/0
Art: http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s118/Hopsypeti/green_slime_hopsy.jpg
by Hopsy
This doesn't lob globs? I might expect an Ooze-y Stone Giant.
DeletePoint taken, let's change the name to "Goopscoop."
DeleteThis is weird. I like it though.
DeleteI'd suggest making the base stats 2/2 and dropping the first ability, unless there's a compelling reason to do otherwise.
DeleteThat was my original thought, but given that this is likely to end up with more counters on it I think the added ease of tracking its power and toughness will more than make up for the added difficulty of initial parsing. The same logic that applied to Scourge of Skola Vale.
DeleteGuildmaster of the Silent Hand 1UB
ReplyDeleteLegendary Creature - Assassin
Hexproof
CARDNAME is unblockable
3: Put a bounty counter on target permanent. Only an opponent may play this ability.
Assassins you control have: "T: destroy target creature with a bounty counter on it"
1/3
so basically in a 1v1 game this guy is just a 1/3 unblockable hexproof. not bad.
in multiplayer, other players work through him to hire him and his team of assassins.
ART: http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/31500000/Connor-the-post-apocalyptic-assassin-the-dark-assassins-31501803-1280-1024.jpg
Artist is Omega90
DeleteThis is fun in multiplayer, but doesn't make much sense to players who only play 1 on 1 as is. Generally useful would be nice. This is imperfect, but my first thought was:
DeleteWhenever a non-Assassin creature becomes tapped any player may pay {3} and tap an untapped Assassin you control. If a player does, destroy that creature.
Also maybe change his name to master of the Silent Hands?
DeleteI'll leave it up to you Jay which you think sounds cooler / has more pop.
Jules: This was something i thought would be great in a multiplayer product like commander.
DeleteIf this guy is my commander, I like the fact that in order for my minions to do their dirty work, is to have one of my opponents pay to put a bounty out on one of my other opponents guys. This puts me (the assassin) in an interesting spot.
i could kill the target, gaining praise from my employer but potentially the wrath of my target's owner.
i could decide not to kill the target, gaining praise from the targets owner but attract the wrath of the other player who "purchased" a bounty.
Kavek, Silent Hand Guildmaster 1UB
DeleteLegendary Creature - Assassin
Hexproof
CARDNAME is unblockable
3: Put a bounty counter on target creature. Only an opponent may play this ability.
Assassins you control have: "T: destroy target tapped creature with a bounty counter on it"
1/3
ART: http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/31500000/Connor-the-post-apocalyptic-assassin-the-dark-assassins-31501803-1280-1024.jpg
Artist: Omega90
I'm honestly not sure why this has either hexproof or unblockability, but it definitely doesn't need both. That'll just lead to miserable voltron play that makes Uril the Miststalker look like fun.
DeleteGreat point. That is not the purpose of this guy.
DeleteKavek, Silent Hand Guildmaster 1UB
Legendary Creature - Assassin
Hexproof
3: Put a bounty counter on target creature. Only an opponent may play this ability.
Assassins you control have: "T: destroy target tapped creature with a bounty counter on it"
1/3
ART: http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/31500000/Connor-the-post-apocalyptic-assassin-the-dark-assassins-31501803-1280-1024.jpg
Artist: Omega90
Really glad you broke up the hexproof+unblockable combo. No card should have both, especially if it's not about building an unstoppable monster. I do wonder if unblockable makes more sense than hexproof to keep.
DeleteI really like this as a multiplayer card. I kind of liked the fact that I could upgrade a Royal Assassin with it (before you added "tapped") but A that guy doesn't need an upgrade, and B that might be too big a jump for all your ETB Assassins. Then again, only opponents decide what can be killed—I love that part.
I wanted to do Oozes, but Jules beat me to it, so:
ReplyDeleteImperial Council GWU
Creature - Human Advisor (R)
2, Tap an untapped Advisor you control: Choose one — Target creature gains hexproof until end of turn; or target creature can’t attack this turn unless its controller pays 2; or target player draws a card.
Abilities of Imperial Council cost 2 less to activate if they target an Emperor or a permanent controlled by an Emperor.
2/2
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110626091843/l5r/images/b/b4/Shogun%27s_Peace.jpg
April Lee
(yes, I did shamelessly steal L5R art for this)
Whoa... that Emperor clause is novel and thematic, all right. How often will it be relevant? And will players think it lets them protect or imprison Mutavaults in 1v1 matches?
DeleteI understand the complexity is in flavor for an advisor, but I think there are too many things going on here. A single ability with two modes would probably be adequate.
Delete@Ipaulsen: It's referring to the 3 vs. 3 multiplayer format: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Article.aspx?x=magic/rules/emperor
DeleteThe Emperor clause is cute, but the first ability is so thematic and fun, I think the card would be better if it just featured that.
DeleteLess gimmicky, less complicated version:
DeleteImperial Council 1WU
Creature - Human Advisor (R)
W, Tap an untapped Advisor you control: Target creature can’t attack target player or a planeswalker he or she controls this turn.
U, Tap an untapped Advisor you control: Target player draws a card.
2/2
The hexproof seemed to be the least on-theme ability, so I dropped it as well as the third color (green actually being the color tied for the lowest number of Advisors, beating out red if you discount pre-Modern ones). The phrase "target player" in the first ability is admittedly a little odd-looking, but the card is designed to be printed in a multiplayer-focused supplemental product like Commander or my hypothetical Emperor.
"Target creature can't attack this turn"?
DeleteAnother attempt:
ReplyDeleteMaster Sage 2W
Creature- Kithkin Advisor (Rare)
1/3
Whenever CARDNAME or another Advisor creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may draw a card.
Ah, Jenesis beat me to it. I'll probably abandon this in favor of fixing my Sphinx design.
DeleteJust for clarity, there is no rule in this challenge that multiple designers can't submit for the same tribe.
DeleteStoneforge Idealist
ReplyDelete1W
Creature - Kor Artificer
Equipment spells you cast 1 less for each Kor creature you control.
Equipment you control have "0: Attach this equipment to target Kor creature you control."
1/2
Heh. Kor sure do love stuff.
DeleteUnlimited, free, instant moving of equipment is probably crazy powerful. Just "Equip 0" could be fairly huge without the instant speed bonus.
Well, it's only unlimited if you're moving it to a Kor. It's Leonin Shikari + Puresteel Paladin - ability to use it on non-Kor creatures. Dunno if that's still too good?
DeleteI think I'd keep the same reduction on both parts of the Equipment so I'd have the second ability read "Equip costs on Equipment you control cost 1 less to activate for each Kor creature you control."
DeleteAlternatively, how about;
Whenever an Equipment enters the battlefield under your control, you may attach it to target Kor creature you control.
Whenever a Kor creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may attach target Equipment you control to it.
This might be safer?
Safer, yes, and a lot less exciting.
DeleteIteration 2:
Stoneforge Idealist
1W
Creature - Kor Artificer
Equipment spells you cast and equip costs you pay cost 1 less for each Kor creature you control.
You may activate equip abilities that target Kor creatures any time you could cast an instant.
1/2
http://i.imgur.com/mKTxss2.png
DeleteArt: Alex Horley
Blacksail Captain 1UU
ReplyDeleteCreature – Human Pirate (Rare)
Other Pirate creatures you control have intimidate and "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player puts that many cards from the top of his or her library into his or her graveyard."
2/2
Why do pirates mill?
DeleteMy first thought was "Why are pirates not finding buried treasure when they dig (read:mill) for it?"
DeleteIs there a way you could make it feel like they are stealing something from the player? The obvious answer would be Coastal Piracy, but I think you're just shy of a really resonant design here.
How about dropping the intimidate and it gives each Pirate "Stolen Goods" when they connect? (Or a Nightveil Specter?) Dropping the intimidate might balance out the power increase.
DeleteHere's my tweak:
DeleteBlacksail Captain 1UU
Creature – Human Pirate (Rare)
Other Pirate creatures you control have intimidate.
3U: Target opponent with at least three unblocked pirates attacking them exiles cards from the top of his or her library until he or she exiles a nonland card. Until end of turn, you may cast that card without paying its mana cost.
2/2
Lifeshifter
ReplyDelete1UU
http://bonegoddess.deviantart.com/art/Shapeshifter-342518961 (art by bonegoddess)
Creature - Shapeshifter Lord - Rare
Other Shapeshifters and you control have Changeling and "U: This creature's power and toughness are equal to target creature's power and toughness until end of turn."
2/2
You can drop the Changeling keyword and just have it be "other Shapeshifter creatures you control have all creature types" since changeling is something they have even when they're not on the battlefield (unless that's what you want, in which case it should be, "Other Shapeshifter creatures you own have changeling.") I like the P/T copy though.
DeleteThematically, it's a bit odd that this lord makes shapeshifters shapeshiftier. Especially the ones that already have changeling. It's also awkward that Clone doesn't benefit because it's not a shapeshifter while it's breathing.
DeleteTefyan Rampager
ReplyDelete3RG
Creature - Boar (R)
Tefyan Rampager and other Boar creatures you control have trample.
Whenever a Boar you control dies, you gain life equal to its toughness.
4/4
The wild boars of the Tefyan wilds are the most dangerous of the native animals—and also the most delicious.
Art by Hamsterfly (http://hamsterfly.deviantart.com/art/Boar-109376802). Feel free to flatten the image so that the whole boar fits.
Feedback appreciated.
PIG KING! I really like this.
DeleteWhoops. Repeated "wild" in the flavortext. Officially changing it to "Tefyan jungle".
DeleteWe're eating them, right? The Rampager cooks dead pigs for us?
DeleteThis art wants haste too. Except for that, not sure why this isn't mono-green.
Whenever one dies, it makes for a sumptuous stew.
DeleteIt's RG because boars are historically red and green (though more green, hence why it feels more green). Presumably the set this is in has both red and green boars - which is my excuse for every card I design. xP I'd like to keep it RG.
Does haste serve this card better than trample?
Ideally, such an ability would work well in conjunction with the opponent spending resources on killing your creatures, letting you reap the benefits of the life gain ability. Trample discourages the opponent from blocking, but haste gives the opponent fewer windows to play removal spells. It's your call; I think either one is passable.
DeleteCould the first ability just say "Boar creatures you control have trample"? It feels extremely odd that a type-changing effect on the Rampager turns off the second ability but not the first.
I think I'm fine with trample here.
DeleteI'm going with the "CARDNAME and other" template because that's supposed to be easier to understand as opposed to "Boars you have", because people question if the card itself gets it (Slivers are the only exception). Another way could be "Trample. Other Boars..."
To be honest, I'm not too worried about type-changing effects. But there is an argument to have:
Tefyan Rampager
3RG
Creature - Boar (R)
Trample
Other Boar creatures you control have trample.
Whenever a Boar you control dies, you gain life equal to its toughness.
4/4
The wild boars of Tefya are the most dangerous of the native animals—and the most delicious.
Any preference y'all? I'm fine with either of those texts (still keeping trample). Note that with the second card, the flavortext is shortened to let the card look better. I'm okay with that trade.
Nyx, the Pantheon of Dreams
ReplyDeleteLegendary Enchantment Land
(Nyx isn't a spell.)
The “legend rule” doesn’t apply to Gods you control.
T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast enchantment spells.
So a "pantheon" can have more than one of the same God in it?!
DeleteWhat? Why?
DeleteBecause all their manifestations are coming from Nyx, not just the one you can summon.
DeleteCerebral Professor [WU]
ReplyDeleteLegendary Creature – Human Mutant Advisor
You may look at cards in your opponents' hands. (You may do this any time.)
4WU, T: Search target player's library for a Mutant creature card, reveal it, and put it onto the battlefield under your control. That player shuffles his or her library.
0/3
Magnetic Terrorist [4WB]
Legendary Creature – Human Mutant
Flying, protection from artifacts
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice all non-Mutant creatures you control then you may destroy target permanent with converted mana cost X or less, where X is the number of creatures you control.
4/5
I thought a cool 'tribal lord' might be one that encouraged you not to play into tribal at all.
ReplyDeleteMomir Vig, Reculsive Geneticist [1UG]
Legendary Creature – Elf Wizard
Hexproof
At the beginning of your upkeep, if no creature types are shared amongst creatures you control, draw a card for each creature you control.
2/2
Very nice. I'd suggest considering a different reward (e.g. +1/+1), though, since this guy is pretty powerful even if he's on his own (2/2 for 3, draw a card each turn).
DeleteImmediately resonates as reclusive scientist furiously studying the diversity of life.
DeleteIt would be a really, really fun challenge to build an EDH deck around this guy.
DeleteIpaulsen – the cost is just wrong. He should probably cost 4 or 5.
DeleteDevin – Thanks, I actually do kinda want to build a deck around him.
Weird that it turns off completely when you have a single duplicate:
Delete"Draw a card for each creature you control that shares no types with another creature you control"?
Also, yes, X cards is absurd. Would cost 7 at least.
DeleteI think the whole "no duplicates at all" is what makes it fun. It's supposed to be a build-a-round; "how many creatures can you get out?" As for his CMC, I'm open to any cost.
DeleteA picture for a mock-up: http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs43/f/2009/166/4/6/MtG_Online__Momir_Vig_by_chriss2d.jpg
DeleteMaster of Camouflage [2UB]
ReplyDeleteCreature – Human Ninja
Whenever a creature you control attacks, turn it face down. At the end of the declare blockers step or if that creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, turn it face up.
1(U/B): Return target attacking Ninja creature to its owner's hand.
2/2
This contest has clearly sparked my imagination.
In case it's not clear; the face-down creatures are 2/2 colorless creatures with no types, but 99.9% of the time that will never come up. The idea of it is that your opponent blocks your creatures at random. And bear in mind that the bound effect allows you to bounce an attacking Ninja then, if it has Ninjutsu, you can immediately replace your unblocked attacker with it.
DeleteYou aren't allowed to shuffle your face-down permanents. See CR 707.6. "You must ensure at all times that your face-down spells and permanents can be easily differentiated from each other."
DeleteReally?! CURSE YOU RULES!!!!!
Delete"Blocking creatures are assigned randomly"?
DeleteNO! CHANGE THE RULES FOR ME!
DeleteI'm with Bass on this one. As long as they're 2/2 typeless ability-less creatures, on the battlefield, the rules should be changed to allow shuffling. It doesn't invalidate any currently-printed cards, so it's something they could slide in with the M15 rules update with really very little harm done.
DeleteSo any time I control multiple morphs and you try to play an effect that affects some but not all of them, I get to shuffle around my board to "make it random" -- and I'm strategically penalized if I fail to do so?
DeletePersonally, I'm in favor of game rules that DON'T encourage players to train themselves to carefully track the positions of moving face-down objects. Let's leave the sleight of hand to magic of the stage variety.
Guru of Poisons [1GB]
ReplyDeleteCreature – Human Assassin
Assassin creatures you control deal damage to players in the form of poison counters.
3/2
I like your character submissions, but in terms of cards I expect to see someday this is by far my favorite.
DeleteThanks. I thought it was a pretty elegant assassin lord.
DeleteYeah.
DeleteMono-black?
It could go either way.
DeleteA picture by Adam Hughes: http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121231200360/marvel_dc/images/9/9b/Rose_and_Thorn_Vol_1_5_Textless.jpg
DeleteThis may be my favourite:
ReplyDeleteSteambreaker Boss [4R]
Creature – Goblin Rigger
As long as you control no assembled Contraptions, Rigger creatures you control have “T: Add X to your mana pool, where X is this creature’s power.”
“Stop the clock! Ring the bell! Change of plans; we’ll cast a spell!”
2/3
LOL
DeleteYou know it's true because it rhymes.
Deletehttp://daily-steampunk.com/steampunk-blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Ravensdale-Orc-Gunner.jpg
DeleteOr this one...
ReplyDeleteThe Great and Powerful Wizard [2RWU]
Legendary Creature – Illusion Wizard
Cat creatures you control get +2/+2.
Construct creatures you control have "T: Add RR to your mana pool."
Scarecrow creatures you control have "U, T: Draw a card."
3/3
Yeah. This one.
Nine submissions?
DeleteI'm very submissive.
DeleteBut we are limmited to one in the oppening thread :(
DeleteOF THIS, I WAS NOT AWARE OR HAD FORGOTTEN. I won't ever do it again. Until the next time.
DeleteThis thread gets really cluttered and hard to follow really quickly, which is why the one-submission-per-designer rule exists. If you really want to come up with many ideas, I would make your own blogpost somewhere else and link to it here rather than spamming this thread. Thanks : )
DeleteI love this card. Such simple but flavorful ways to represent each gift!
DeleteThe cat bonus could be +2/+0 and first strike. To me that feels more like the creature won combat through courage (rather than just being big-bodied).
Oz would be an interesting set. Surely one or more amateur sets have been located in Oz.
Delete@Evan,
DeleteIdeas like Bass's can inspire other people trying to come up with their own lords. It's totally up to Jay to decide, but people are here for discussion and ideas and my guess is that it shouldn't be a problem as long as he doesn't have to mock up or comment on all of them.
Chah – the reason it's +2/+2 is evident if you search for "courage" in gatherer... ;)
DeletePicture for mock-up : http://trinitycomicshop.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Wonderful-Wizard-of-Oz-4-Marvel-Trinity-Comics-Review.jpg
DeleteKing Chungus Mungus 2UBB
ReplyDeleteLegendary Creature - Horror
Creatures your opponents control get -1/-0 for each other Horror you control.
Opponents with less creatures than untapped horrors you control can not attack you.
2/7 MR
DeleteArt by Dylan Pirepont --- http://www.wallpaperup.com/uploads/wallpapers/2013/02/02/32707/d1490fa6834e62b1eb874d00b8b4873e.jpg
DeleteI'd get rid of the second ability. The first already deters attacks and blocks. The first ability is really cool.
DeleteThe 2nd ability is supposed to be about creatures saying "I ain't going in, there's like five horrors over there" But I guess I'd change it to "Creatures with power less than the number of horrors you control" but Maybe that'd be a bit too strong w/ the 1st ability. I really want to get the "Intimidation" factor of horrors across without just putting intimidate on them.
DeleteBass' point is that the abilities are redundant. Both represent how scared the opposition is, thematically. And mechanically, a player whose creatures are all -3/-0 probably doesn't have any relevant attacks anyhow. Also, not blocking is more 'afraid' than not attacking (even when the horrors are tapped).
DeleteHoneyden Bees (Uncommon)
ReplyDelete2W
Creature - Insect
2/2
Flying
At the beginning of your end step, put a +1/+1 counter on each Bear creature you control.
Some bears guard a golden treasure.
Here's a resonant lord to create some cross color synergy for a Core Set. Since Bears usually appear in Green and at common as one or two cards at the most, I don't think the power level of giving all your bears counters a turn would be too disruptive to limited. At the same time it's exciting enough to make players try.
I'm looking for art, but haven't found anything yet.
How about:
Deletehttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hca3iVO8rqc/TnKb4VpHgtI/AAAAAAAAAEo/jFmHFL_0xq0/s1600/winnie-the-pooh_1235598c%255B1%255D.jpg
@lpaulsen:Exactly. The trope seems to only be represented as children's cartoons.
DeleteHere's the best I've found (even though the hive is in a tree rather than a cave, and the bees are so small).
http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/black-bear-and-the-bee-tree-lawrence-welegala.jpg
Artist: Lawrence Welegala
Kalam, Master of the Claw
ReplyDelete{3}{B}{B}{B}
Legendary Creature - Human Assassin
Rare
2/2
Other assassin creatures you control has
"Morbid — At the beginning of each end step, if a creature died this turn, destroy target creature an opponent control."
http://slaine69.deviantart.com/art/kalam-mekhar-76460488
art by slaine69
Very cool. Compare to Scarblade Elite.
Deleteis this just the "make your guys reaper of the abyss?"
DeleteThat's a lot of killing. Except for Masataka, who never gets to kill anything...
DeleteI don't understand the irony... I'n just trying to have fun likeeveryone else...
DeleteIf I do something wrong please tell it...
I think Jay meant "Except for Kalam, who never gets to kill anything", since he needs an assassin for his ability to have effect, and he's unlikely to turn on Morbid on his own, as a vanilla 2/2. It's not a problem, but it is something that could have a solution.
Delete:D
DeleteWith my poor english I understood something completely different...
Well the solution could be to take out the "others" so he can get the morbid too...
It may seem "too easy", but it might be a good idea to give Kalam an ability that lets you trigger Morbid. Something like:
DeleteKalam, Master of the Claw
3BBB
Legendary Creature - Human Assassin (R)
2/2
1B, T: Destroy target creature with power less than CARDNAME's.
Other Assassin creatures you control have "Morbid — If a creature died this turn, destroy target creature an opponent controls."
Alternatively, you could just improve the physical presence of Kalam. A 2/2 for 3BBB is not especially enticing.
In the beginning I was thinking about a 3/3 then I went to 2/2 cause I thought it was too high...
DeleteI like the idea to give Kalam an ability that trigger Morbid... I'd think about something like
1{B} {T}: Destroy target creature with converted mana cost less than {X} where {X} is the number of assassin creatures you control.
what you think?
Harbringer of Doom 3
ReplyDeleteCreature- Eldrazi Drone (R)
Annihilator 1
Non-drone Eldrazi spells cost you 3 less to cast.
0/5
http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs20/f/2007/315/6/5/Silver_Surfer__redesign_by_artofant.jpg
by matelandia
"Non-drone Eldrazi" can't be worth it.
DeleteSure it can. (A more or less equivalent alternative is "colorless Eldrazi spells" as seen on Eye of Ugin.) But if this is going to be a Drone, let's make it a Drone, with a colored mana cost and probably no Annihilator.
DeleteAgree with Jay.
DeleteNoradin, Herald of the Maw 3
Legendary Creature- Eldrazi Drone (R)
Annihilator 1
Colorless Eldrazi spells cost you 4 less to cast.
0/6
Frightening, compelling, and I imagine, perfectly costed.
DeleteHow many decks are realistically going to have 6 power worth of blockers on turn 4? I'm more concerned with the repeatable Stone Rain than I am with any clause relating to casting Eldrazi.
DeleteBrush Harvester [1GG]
ReplyDeletecreature- Elf Shaman [R]
Sacrifice a Brushwagg: You gain life equal to the sacrificed creature's toughness. Then, put a 2/2 green cat creature token onto the battlefield.
3/3
Only the best tribe: check
ow, my brain
Deleteif you remove the brush from the bushwagg you just get the wag. that is assuming that the brushwagg in the picture is not actually just the bush and the brushwagg is eating a cat.
DeleteLord of Webs [2GG]
ReplyDeleteCreature - Spider [R]
Reach
Creatures with Reach you control assign combat damage equal to their toughness rather than their power.
2/4
The unholy offspring of Giant Spider and a certain Treefolk...
Art: http://www.deviantart.com/art/Giant-Spider-203619226
DeleteArtist: Mark Tarrisse
Nice. Welcome.
DeleteDoes "with Reach" really justify itself?
Welcome! I like the concept of a 'reach lord' but I'm not sure the Doran ability is a good fit for the card. What about:
DeleteCreatures you control with reach can't be blocked except by creatures with reach or flying.
I think the Doran ability works pretty good for a spider lord (there are only 2 spiders in existence with lower toughness than power as far as I know).
DeleteMaybe it would be better to make it: "Spider creatures you control assign combat damage equal to their toughness rather than their power." I just thought the reach clause gave it a broader use.
If you want it extra spidery, how about:
Lord of Webs [3GG]
Creature - Spider [R]
Reach
Spider creatures you control assign combat damage equal to their toughness rather than their power.
Whenever a creature with flying dies, you may draw a card.
2/4
Tacked a mana on there for the extra ability.
I still like the first version better though for its simplicity and stats closer to the original Giant Spider.
I prefer the "Spider creatures" version over the "with reach" version mainly because there isn't a proper Spider lord yet. (Arachnus Spinner is more a combo with its Aura than with other Spiders.)
DeleteThe death trigger is a nice touch. Nom nom!
I was thinking about doing an ooze lord, but Jules got there first. So here's to the unsung heroes of black limited, the shades.
ReplyDeleteShadowmancer
Creature - Human Shaman (Rare)
Whenever an ability of a shade creature you control is activated, if it isn't a mana ability, copy that ability. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Incidentally, when I was searching gatherer for the original ability I was planning, I found Nirkana Revenant, which I suppose is a de facto shade lord.
Image to follow.
also, a 2/2 for 1BB.
DeleteDo any shades have targeted activated abilities? Mana abilities?
DeleteNot generally, but they might get them, and the rule needs to anticipate that possibility.
DeleteArt: http://www.deviantart.com/art/Dark-Lena-347863614 by BobKehl
Is this what your trying to do?
DeleteShade creatures you control have "B: This creature gets +2/+2 until the end of turn."
Pretty much
DeleteIs this pushing too hard at 2BB:
You may cast shade creatures from your graveyard.
Shade creatures you control have "B: +2/+2 ueot"
Is anyone else having trouble posting replies to comments?
ReplyDeleteEdit: Fixed, obviously.
DeleteEverytime I hit reply, my browser window shoots to the top. It's a huge pain. Didn't used to be this way.
DeleteMystic Poacher BB
ReplyDeleteCreature -- Human U
Sacrifice a unicorn: Target creature you control gains death-touch and “All creatures able to block this creature do so” until end of turn.
2/1
Not sure if this quite counts as a lord but it certainly works best in a deck with multiple unicorns.
Wow, that's... dark. I'm pretty sure this wants to cost BG, though, since unicorns are mostly in green (and so are both of the abilities that sacrificing one grants).
DeleteMy thought on this was that the creature you sacrificed would usually be green (At least modern unicorns) and so it could grant abilities from greens part of the colour pie.
DeleteFomori Corpse-Beetle 1BB
ReplyDeleteCreature - Insect (R)
Whenever another nontoken permanent is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, put a black 1/1 Insect creature token onto the battlefield.
Sacrifice three insects: Return CARDNAME from your graveyard to the battlefield.
3/3
lord of the nameless [UU]
ReplyDeleteCreature- Human
Creatures you control without creature types are 4/4 creatures.
Morph U
2/2
http://akreon.deviantart.com/art/King-of-the-Desert-203827276
Here's my take:
ReplyDeleteDracomorpher R
Creature - Goblin Shaman (Rare)
Dragon creatures you control have haste.
Non-Dragon creatures you control have “Sacrifice this creature: Add X mana of any one color to your mana pool, where X is this creature’s converted mana cost. Spend this mana only to cast Dragon spells.”
1/1
The idea is this Dragon "lord" helps your Dragon by making them quicker: they have haste and also cost less, via a tributesque ability (I was inspired by Offering). I wanted to have the template more similar to the Offering one, but I found this template is more streamlined, and functionally equal.
art by alexander exorcist: http://alexanderexorcist.deviantart.com/art/Goblin-Warlock-270323711
Feedback appreciated