Weekend Art ChallengeClick through to see this weekend's art and the design requirements for your single card submission, due Monday morning. Every submission warrants feedback, which I will try to provide, and which everyone is welcome to provide as well. You may use that feedback to revise your submission any number of times.
Go crazy.
Mind Swap 2UU
ReplyDeleteSorcery - Rare
Two target creatures controlled by a single player each lose all of their activated abilities and gain the other's.
I'm not really sure how to template it.
How about just making them outright copies of each others? Less fun-feeling, but eminently more templatable.
DeleteThis is really cool in theory, but in practice I think it's pretty tough to do much with. Could leave it as is for a Hive Mind style uber-Johnny card.
DeleteI'd need to see an example of how this might produce an interesting event in the real world, as my impression is to agree with Jules that this maybe does less than Magical Hack.
DeleteThat said, why did you want the creatures to be controlled by a single player? Looking at those old text altering cards, maybe it'd be a bit more exciting (if unprintable) as something like:
Mind Swap
2UU
Sorcery (R)
Exchange the full text of two target creatures, except each retains its name, power, and toughness.
I'm sure that's layer-hell, and referring to "the full text" isn't much better than referring to "the stack", but I think if those qualities could be resolved it would have some more obvious applications.
I like the idea, but I have no clue what happens if I cast this on Storm Crow and Tarmogoyf.
DeleteWell, the intent would be that Tarmogoyf would read:
DeleteTarmogoyf
1U
Creature - Bird
Flying
0/1
and Storm Crow would be:
Storm Crow
1G
Irrelevant Tarmogoyf text.
1/2
But yeah, what do I know, layer-hell.
As far as same controller, I didn't want swapping bodies to change loyalty between players. Limited to activated abilities to prevent exchanging things like flying and trample, which have more to do with a physical body than mind.
DeleteFor greater simplicity, let's try this:
Exchange the rules text and control of two target creatures.
Endangered Familiar 1G
ReplyDeleteCreature - Bird [R]
CARDNAME enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 Counter on it.
Whenever you draw a card, put a +1/+1 counter on CARDNAME
Remove a +1/+1 counter from CARDNAME: CARDNAME gets hexproof until end of turn.
"Dimwitted little thing pretends to be dead by breaking its own legs."
0/0
I'd like this better with base power and toughness since you never remove the last counter anyway. It's weird without flying, and not mono green with it.
DeleteThis... is an ex-parrot!
DeleteJules - I tried to do something top-down based on what looked to me like a dodo bird. They were flightless and stereotypically stupid, but the card could still serve a function in like, a bogles deck, where removing the last counter is an option (conceivably).
DeleteUgly Bird B
ReplyDeleteCreature - Bird (R)
At the beginning of each of your upkeeps, choose draw step, main phase, or combat phase. Skip each instance of the chosen step or phase this turn.
6: Target player gains control of CARDNAME.
0/1
That's awesome. Would it be too punishing if the chosen step/phase was locked in when it ETBed, so multiples could matter a little more?
DeleteAlso, it needs flying.
Does it need flying? I spent more time than I'd care to admit looking at the art trying to decide.
DeleteIt could be a 2/1 flier for B. I'm not sure if that is making the card too interesting.
DeleteAlso, thoughts on whether or not this might be a Demon Bird?
I like it as a 2/1 flier. You're right to be wary of the too interesting trap, but without that it may as well be an Akroan Horse setup since you'll never cast it and keep it.
DeleteI'd rather it just give itself to the opponent automatically. Unless you're playing it for 7 mana, it's not intuitive that it's going to take away one of your steps even if you activate it.
DeleteIf you're giving it to your opponent, I'd also make it bigger. As a 0/1, you're casting it, giving it to your opponent and effectively giving them moat. The bird will always just block if you attack with any creature, and unlike Akroan Horse, it's going to die.
I considered giving it automatically, but I don't feel it goes as well with the art. Also, I like the upside that Johnny can find a reason he wants to skip one of these steps himself.
DeleteTentative version:
Ugly Bird B
Creature - Bird (M)
Flying
CARDNAME can't block.
At the beginning of each of your upkeeps, choose draw step, main phase, or combat phase. Skip each instance of the chosen step or phase this turn.
6: Target player gains control of CARDNAME.
2/1
This last design is lovely.
DeleteAlso I find it hilarious that it comboes with Necropotence!
Actually, that kinda fits a design I have laying around...
ReplyDeleteElven Falconeer 2gg
Creature - Elf Shaman
{T}: Gain control of target creature with flying if its power is less than Elven Falconeer’s.
2/2
Given the art, I really want to throw in some blue in the cost... {1}{u}{g} or {2}{ug}{ug} maybe?
DeleteThis definitely wants to be {G}{U} multicolor rather than hybrid
DeleteDruid's Remorse 1G
ReplyDeleteSorcery (U)
As an additional cost to cast CARDNAME, sacrifice a creature.
Untap up to X lands, where X was that creature's converted mana cost.
Metamorphosis?
Deletehttp://magiccards.info/an/en/35.html
Forgot that existed! Hmm, maybe I'll try to come up with something a little bit less explored.
DeleteDubious Warlock GU
DeleteCreature-Elf Wizard (C)
Whenever a creature with greater power than CARDNAME enters the battlefield, untap CARDNAME.
2/3
I like it, but I'm not sure if it fits the art.
DeleteIt was actually top down from the art, the elf looked mighty unsure of that bird and I was trying to figure out how to convey that wariness. Whether any of that comes through in the final rules text is another matter...
DeleteArbor Familiar 1G
ReplyDeleteCreature - Bird (R)
Flying
Tap: Untap target land.
"They're very presence seems to bring energy to this place."
- Nissa Revane
0/1
Birds of Paradise has been grandfathered in, but I'm really not anxious to give green more random fliers.
DeleteFowl Familiar 2B
ReplyDeleteCreature- Bird Spirit (C)
Fowl Familiar can't block.
B, Pay 1 life: Return Fowl Familiar to its owner's hand.
3/1
That gives me an idea.
DeleteTimid Familiar U
Creature - Bird Spirit (U)
Flying
Whenever you cast a spell, return ~ to its owner's hand.
2/1
I'm not convinced the life payment makes this mono black. Chah's I like, though it seems a bit on the weak end. Does this become too good if we change it to only return for either creatures or noncreatures?
DeleteWell I missed that entirely. Well played. For the uninitiated: http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?printed=false&multiverseid=184625
DeleteAmbivalent Partners W
DeleteEnchantment- Aura (c)
Enchant a pair of creatures
Enchanted creatures cannot attack or block without the other.
Timid Familiar is sweet.
DeleteA top-down design of sorts...
ReplyDeleteJabbering Familiar 1UG
Creature- Bird (Rare)
2/1
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal a card at random from your hand. If it's a land, put it onto the battlefield tapped. If it's a spell, that spell costs 2 less to cast this turn.
I think we want the land to be untapped, otherwise it'll feel really bad when this hits a land and actually prevents you from casting your spells. Also, I assume this is supposed to fly?
DeleteYes and yes.
DeleteLuckless Summoner 1GG
ReplyDeleteCreature - Elf Druid (Rare)
XG, T: Search your library for a creature card with converted mana cost X or less and put it onto the battlefield. It enters the battlefield with a number of -1/-1 counters on it chosen at random between 0 and X.
1/1
I know most people have smartphones, but this still seems like kind of a pain to actually execute.
DeleteAs an online-only card, I love it. Do wonder if there should be some red in there.
DeleteAvatar of Bad Sportsmanship {1}{B}
ReplyDeleteCreature -- Bird Avatar (U)
Whenever a player complains about the game, you may put CARDNAME from your hand on the battlefield. If you do, they lose life equal to the amount of life they already lost this turn.
Flying
1/1
An Un-card, naturally.
This is awesome. I'm just a little perturbed that you so rarely want to hardcast it.
DeletePerturbed or disappointed?
DeletePerhaps some of each. It doesn't quite sit right with me for the card's default mode to feel so superfluous.
DeleteAs an Un-card, that may be vital to its Un-nature.
DeleteI'd rather see this on a spell than trying to shoehorn it onto a creature.
DeleteDwight, Veterinary Proctologist
ReplyDelete3WG
Legendary Creature - Elf Wizard (R)
All creatures able to block CARDNAME do so.
At the end of each combat, tap each creature that blocked or was blocked by CARDNAME. Those creatures don't untap during their controllers' next untap step.
2/2
The second ability has been in white before, but nowadays it's more blue. See Triton Tactics, Frost Breath, Sudden Storm, Hands of Binding, etc.
DeleteJules, you don't have to explain those sort of things to me. I went for White because it felt like the color that best emphasized the intersection of veterinary science and proctology. Blue incapacitates with ice magic, White incapacitates with rectal examinations.
DeleteThat's been my impression, I just find it easy to think things are in multiple colors based on older cards and Blinding Beam was just back in Modern Masters. The flavor certainly fits well here, I just didn't have as much issue with the doctor being blue for the science end rather than white for the healer. Regardless of what happens there, this card is pretty cool.
DeleteWell, if I were to take what I've presented a little more seriously, there is a good question regarding how various scientific and medical fields would be dispersed among the colors. Because we can't just assume that every scientific endeavor is Blue, can we? I feel like it just wouldn't be proper to print a monoblue geologist, just as much as it wouldn't be proper to print a monoblue geomancer.
DeleteBut anyway, ignoring my decision to aim for the ridiculous in response to this artwork, I imagine that a real-world attempt at this approximate design would be GU or even just U, where the Unicorn clause is replaced with something like Vortex Elemental's forced block ability.
White incapacitates with rectal examinations.
DeleteIn the context of Magic, yes, I think all scientists would be blue. If you were to map the color wheel onto real life or a setting where science were common, then yeah, they would spread across colors. Not sure is proctology would be white or black.
DeleteHilarious.
I see metaghost beat me to the hilarious profession gag, but I've had this design in my back pocket so here it is:
ReplyDeleteJainra, Master Taxidermist 4BB
Legendary Creature - Elf Wizard (R)
Whenever another creature dies, exile it. If you do, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of it, except it gains defender.
3/5
"Beautiful isn't it? Well, it's still an ugly looking thing. But the craftsmanship is superb, no?"
I"m guessing you want non-token creature?
DeleteI like it! Maybe:
DeleteJainra, Master Taxidermist 4BB
Legendary Creature - Elf Wizard (R)
Whenever another creature without defender dies, return it to the battlefield with defender.
3/5
Still has memory issues, but far fewer issues than trying to make lots of copied creature tokens
@Tommy: Yes, thank you.
Delete@Wobbles: I prefer the nontoken version because I feel the flavor reads much clearer. My thought is this would play out like Back from the Brink, where people would just use the card and remember which ones have been taxidermied.
You're exiling the cards anyhow, why make players remember what has and hasn't been taxidermied (and which of those are still alive) when you could just use the cards themselves?
DeleteGreat concept. Might need some more cost to use/maintain.
Second-Hand Familiar - BB
ReplyDeleteCreature - Bird - (Rare)
Flying
When Second-Hand Familiar enters the battlefield, an opponent gains control of it.
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may pay (4). If you do, an opponent gains control of Second-Hand Familiar. If you do not, tap Second-Hand Familiar and you lose 1 life.
0/1
Make it 1/1 just so the 1 life lines up with the creature's power?
DeleteHorrible Present BW
ReplyDeleteSorcery
Choose up to four copies of a card you own from outside the game, and reveal them. You may put one of those cards into target opponents hand, and the rest into his or her library. That player shuffles their library.
Flavor text:
Delete"You shouldn't have..."
Heh.
DeleteCould be mono-B.
I agree but went with the White / Black as its such a nice action (I got you a present!) with an evil intent (a present that I know you will hate)
DeleteDo we want this to be a gifts ungiven mirror, so the cards have different names? Or are we giving away four copies of Primal Visitation?
DeleteI really like this idea, but what makes me skeptical is that I don't think you can do any better (or worse) than shuffling three blank cards into your opponent's deck (and one into their hand).
DeleteThe only potential I can see for doing something better is something like Mindslaver.
I think you are missing the "fun" of this card, in that lets say your opponent is playing mono red. You search for four copies of the most powerful non-red card you own and let your opponent sit there in sadness knowing they cannot use it.
Deletehehehe
im evil... its a problem. :-P
See also Naughty // Nice.
DeleteAnd as for Tommy: Oh, you can do much worse than that. Off the top of my head, put One with Nothing or Phage the Untouchable into their library when you've got an Omen Machine out.
DeleteLots of clever and funny ideas, folks.
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone who helped comment and give feedback.
again a little late, but whatever
ReplyDeleteCursed Black Dodo, B
Enchantment Creature Bird
Bestow 1B
Enchanted Creature gets +0/+2
during your upkeep put a -1/-1 on CARDNAME or the creature enchanting it.
0/2