Weekly Art ChallengeClick through to see this week's art and the design requirements for your single card submission. Submit any time before the next challenge is posted. 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.
Trying a new thing. Maybe restricting the challenge to the weekend is a pointless limitation. Let's see what happens when we've got all week.
Design a card of any type with a converted mana cost of 3. Bonus points if it works particularly well in an format with a lot of token creatures, cantrips, and timing-matters cards.
Spikeball Slinger 2R
ReplyDeleteCreature - Goblin Warrior (U)
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, Spikeball Slinger deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
2/3
That's a crazy good upgrade of Blisterstick Shaman!
DeleteYou're right. I even searched for precedents, but failed to find that. (And It's even a card I knew).
DeleteAlso, original intention is it didn't trigger on itself. Adding "another". I wonder if it would be more fair (fun?) if pinging only creatures. Or better only players.
Sorry for all these double posts. I forgot to change my design. Now it doesn't kill creatures and damages each opponent, a la Guttersnipe.
DeleteSpikeball Slinger 2R
Creature - Goblin Warrior (U)
Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, Spikeball Slinger deals 1 damage to each opponent.
2/3
I really like this, although I suspect development would make it a 2/2, just because we don't seem to see too many 2R 2/3's with upside.
DeleteAgreed. That 3rd point of toughness costs a little simplicity of purpose and implies the card's just not good enough without it, but it is. It's actually significantly better than Guttersnipe, since you can make an all creature-deck. Indeed an all-goblin deck with Dragon Fodder, Goblin Rally and Siege-Gang Commander.
DeleteTiming matters bonus.
DeleteKarath Warslinger 1RR
ReplyDeleteCreature - Goblin Warrior (U)
Bloodthirst 1
R, T: Karath Warslinger deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player.
1/1
This is way over the power line with modern design philosophy. Even Prodigal Pyromancer is too good these days, and this is way better than that. This would be insanely depressing to play against.
DeleteSpikeshot Goblin was very strong back in the day, but that still got printed, was beatable, common, easier to cast, and in an environment with a ton of equipment (like common Bonesplitters/ uncommon Vulshok Battlegears) to grow it. It's certainly possible that this would more likely be a 2RR 1/2 or 1/3 these days, but cards like M15's Nightfire Giant say that repeatable removal at uncommon is certainly something they're still willing to print.
DeleteSpikeshot Goblin is exactly the kind of old school card they don't print these days. Certainly Mirrodin was long before NWO. Recent comparisons include Brimstone Mage and Bloodshot Trainee.
DeleteI was quite surprised to see Nightfire Giant, although I think this card is still significantly better since the Giant is a 5 cost "gold" card with an ability that costs 5 to activate. For what it is worth, I certainly wasn't happy to see them dipping their toe back into this space at uncommon.
In any event, you're certainly welcome to disagree either with modern design philosophy or with my interpretation of it!
This is likely a better card than the Giant but you do get a 5/4 attacker for your effective 3BR. 1RR as a cost means this is going to go to heavy red decks, less restrictive than gold cards but not by a huge amount.
DeleteIt all depends on the environment, I suppose. I would not want this in Theros, for example, with Bestow and a lot of common enchantments to boost a creature, but conditional repeatable removal seems fine as a concept (I personally disagree with their new trend to move pretty much all efficient removal spells to rare). I also understand the "on-board" complexity of creatures wanting to be lower but having a couple of cards like this per set at uncommon or higher seems fine to me, although I likely also wouldn't want this in a core set.
I could certainly see that at rare.
DeleteAgree with Wobbles. Having this kind of effect is very cumbersome (board complexity, oppressiveness of repeatable removal) to me even at uncommon, for little gain. Just power it up and make it rare. See Burning Anger in M15.
DeleteI'd like to see the original design just ping players, which I think would be a completely reasonable and exciting uncommon in an environment with Bloodthirst.
DeleteI could see this as a 3RR unc, a 2RR rare, or 1RR mythic. Being able to cast Shock without a card every turn is pretty great.
DeleteI could see it as a 1RR unc if it only hit players.
Burning Anger can (and should) hit for a lot more, but it also risks the standard 2:1 that most auras do. This card has no such risk and is indeed still a Prodigal Pyromancer even if you can't trigger its bloodthirst.
Timing matters bonus
DeleteCaveborn Pebbletosser 1RR
ReplyDeleteCreature - Goblin Soldier (U)
1R, T, Sacrifice an artifact: CARDNAME deals 2 damage to target creature or player.
T, Sacrifice a Mountain: Put two colorless artifact tokens named Pebble onto the battlefield.
2/2
Too busy?
Probably. I feel it would be more fun if it let players explore ways to "solve the puzzle", rather than providing immediately the solution. Second ability could be alone on an enchantment or similar and make a fine card by itself. And both cards could totally fit on Tesla!
DeleteFWIW, I like the design of this a lot (in a set where pebbles are a theme). I think it does need to be simplified a little, I'm not sure what combination is best.
Delete(Pizza: I think magic needs self-combo cards that synergise with other cards on theme as well as puzzle cards. I think this could be either, is there a good reason it needs to be a puzzle?)
Thematically, it makes no sense that Pebble Thrower can smash apart mountains to make his own pebbles. If you were that powerful, why would you waste time throwing rocks, much less pebbles?
DeleteMechanically, this card is unfocused. What if it just had…
1R, T, T, T, Sacrifice a Mountain: ~ deals 2 damage twice.
If both abilities made sense on their own, and combo'd with other cards, then pairing up synergistic abilities might be okay, but the default is very much don't-solve-puzzles-for-your-players and we need a strong reason to do the otherwise, not the other way around.
Caltrop Sling 3
ReplyDeleteArtifact- Equipment (U)
Equipped creature has "T: This creature deals 1 damage to target creature." and "Whenever you cast a spell, untap this creature."
Equip 2
Remember that Viridian Longbow was considered way overpowered, even for an uncommon. Compare to pinging equipment today (Wolfhunter's Quiver and Razor Boomerang for instance) and you'll see this is way undercosted. This probably needs Equip 6.
DeleteAgree to disagree on that. Certainly depends on the format.
DeleteI like it.
DeleteI'm not a developer, but (very) repeatable pinging probably would cost at least a bit more.
This basically kills 2 toughness creatures a fair share of times, and seldom also X/3s, especially in the considered environment.
DeleteNote that this kills 3 toughness creatures for 4 even without casting any spells because the equip cost is so cheap. That is why all the equipment that lets you ping stuff is so much better than it looks. For 6 mana, this kills 4 toughness things (again without casting any spells). This is a "once my opponent has it, I am probably locked out of the game and have no outs" card.
DeleteDid you play with Viridian Longbow?
Ah, right:
DeleteCaltrop Sling 3
Artifact- Equipment (U)
Equipped creature has "T: This creature deals 1 damage to target attacking or blocking creature." and "Whenever you cast a spell, untap this creature."
Equip 2
It's funny because Viridian Longbow would be great today, but was a pretty late pick in Mirrodin, because there was so much more equipment that was broken without any effort.
DeleteThis new version is much safer. Interesting that it can be used during your attack and your opponent's attack when you cast a slow spell, or twice during either when you cast an instant. In either case, the attacking/blocking restriction makes the absurdly low equip cost really quite fine, I think.
Cantrips bonus.
DeleteJust cantrip? I was going for the trifecta
DeleteTiming matters is legit here. Yes.
DeleteNot convinced tokens matter.
First Volley
ReplyDelete2R
Instant - Common
Any number of target creatures you control gain first strike.
Draw a card
~When he missed, Gragg regretted not packing a second rock.~
What I meant to say was...
DeleteFirst Volley
2R
Instant - Common
Creatures you control gain first strike until end of turn.
Draw a card
~When he missed, Gragg regretted not packing a second rock.~
Can this be "attacking creatures you control" instead? I don't think power level wise it is a problem otherwise, but I think the game where the defending player has this and the attacking player knows it are gonna be an awful lot of no fun.
DeleteBefore there's a Headlong Rush into changing this card, I'd give the original design a Bold Defense. Not to Ambush you or Incite War, but I don't think this kind of Coordinated Assault would be a unfun combat trick for a single block.
DeleteAll the cards you mention are much harder to make two for ones than this card. If you cast this for value, it is automatically a two for one. At common, that is pretty unusual these days. Look at poor Gravedigger.
DeleteCoordinated Assault is the closest, and that was an uncommon, and, at least as a limited player, one I wish they had made a little weaker. Still, unlike First Volley, it is easy to play around and make it a one for one by just attacking/blocking with one creature.
Weapon Surge was common, but only in the third set, so it was never really common.
Weapon Surge is hard to work into a natural sounding sentence, and I was trying to be Cleaver. Still, I think the design is fine. The issues you raise are ones for development who might push up the cost or rarity. But the effect itself isn't so brutal that players would Riot.
DeleteI think my comments certainly lean towards the development side overall.
DeleteDoes Timing-Matters apply when there's just a single best time to cast a spell?
DeleteI agree this effect could cost 2R without the cantrip, and that adjusting the cost/value would fall to Dev.
I searched for Ambush, which I didn't know. Sure Homelands has so many good single-word card names wasted on unexciting/out-of-color/bad designs: Headstone, Forget, Jinx, Renewal, Roots, Shrink, Prophecy, truce.
DeleteSpiked Projectile (C)
ReplyDelete3
Artifact
1, Sacrifice Spiked Projectile: Flip a coin. If you win, destroy target attacking or blocking creature.
we can make it an equipment:
Spiked Projectile (U)
3
Artifact - Equipment
Equipped creature gains “T, sacrifice Spiked Projectile: Flip a coin. If you win, destroy target attacking or blocking creature.”
Equip 0
I'm with you on flavor, but the chance that this just does nothing seems too high. Maybe it could be "1, T: Flip a coin. If you win, destroy target attacking or blocking creature and Spiked Projectile.
DeleteI prefer the first version or Wobbles's tweak. Wishing this card had First Volley's reminder text.
DeleteArtifact is definitely the best place for coin flips after red.
ahem. Flavor text.
DeleteHow about:
DeleteBag of Spikey Balls (U)
3
Artifact - Equipment
Equipped creature gains "T: ~ deals 1 damage to target creature or player. Flip a coin. If you lose, sacrifice ~."
Equip 1
Design is fine and the flavor is cool. There's a place in Magic for these kind of cards, but I personally dislike with passion cards that lead to the possible feel-bad moment when they do nothing. I like Wobbles tweak, or similar.
DeleteThis one's cool. Could probably cost less, but reqs.
DeleteHow about this:
DeleteSpiked Projectile (C)
3
Artifact
1, T: Flip a coin. If you win, destroy target attacking or blocking creature and sacrifice Spiked Projectile.
I imagine players deciding whether to block or not before flipping. Seems cool.
DeleteClarification on "timing-matters cards"?
ReplyDeleteYeah, that would be great! Also, I have a hard time imagining a modern set with a lot of cantriping at common, since they tend not to print automatic 2 for 1's at common very often anymore, and it is difficult for cantrips not to be 2 for 1's.
Delete"If you cast this during your turn" instants.
Delete"If this is the third spell cast this turn"
For a strict interpretation, a card that has an explicitly different effect depending on when you cast it. For a loose interpretation, you could count bloodthirst (because you usually cast it after combat) or Serra Avenger.
Definitely up for discussion.
Boiling Blood
ReplyDelete2R
Instant
Target creature attacks this turn if able. Draw a card.
"Goblins looked down on suicidal acts of bravery, but encouraged them in their leaders, especially enemy leaders."
I looked for different ways of looking at the picture, other than the sling-throwing, and one thing that struck me is that the goblin looked like he should have a horde behind him, but didn't :)
I like this one, though development will have to be careful there aren't too many combat tricks in the format or this card will be a giant trap.
DeleteI like this a lot. Simple, fair, conditionally useful.
DeleteYeah, this is an interesting effect that basically never sees play (Incite, Alluring Siren, etc) because it is so conditional. Tacking a cantrip on it might be just what it needs, and the added mana isn't a big deal because you can play it late game anyway. And hey, at worst it cycles for 3 mana, which isn't that bad.
DeleteThis is the amount of work I want to see on two for ones that also affect the board (I do not look fondly on the ridiculousness that was Invasion block where everything cantriped for value).
Is this a common?
It was in Weatherlight
DeleteCool, I didn't even notice this was a reprint! I don't think rarities from Weatherlight give much guidance though. That was even before they put Pestilence at common!
DeleteIrritating Goblin 1RR
ReplyDeleteCreature - Goblin
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, you may untap CARDNAME.
Tap: CARDNAME deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
1/1
"When wizards open their mouths, goblins load their slings."
I'm tempted to add a "When an opponent draws, CARDNAME deals 1 damage to that player", but I think that would add too much power. As is, it might me a bit too strong.
This is appropriately named! Like an entry above, I think this is far too much of an upgrade on Prodigal Pyromancer.
DeletePerhaps it only hits players and untaps when a creature enters the battlefield under their control, perhaps something like Lobber Crew?
A cost for the activated ability could also work here. Maybe Something like "1R Tap: Deal 1 damage to target creature or player".
DeleteAlthough to properly utilize this, it would require a sort of do nothing board state, which seems counter intuitive to the game itself. I was trying to shy away from Lobber Crew, but that may be the best balance for a pinger now.
So I can prevent your Pyromancer from nuking my board. All I have to do is never cast any spells? Meanwhile you just sit back and wait for me to screw myself one way or the other. I could be way off, but this doesn't sound fun to lose to.
DeleteHmm right, I feel they've recently shied away from creature-hitting pingers, because it actually leads to unfun gameplay.
DeleteGoing for the bonus-point trifecta here:
ReplyDeleteKher Marauder 2R
Creature- Goblin (Uncommon)
3/2
At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, untap a permanent you control with converted mana cost 0.
Changing cost to 1RG to better fit the text box and art.
DeleteThis is a bit too Melvin-y for me. Is it so bad to just untap a permanent you control?
DeleteNot every new player will now lands count, but this is uncommon and presumably for an expert set. I agree it's quite melvin-y, not that Melvin doesn't deserve some love. Definitely glad you added green, because this wasn't remotely mono-red.
DeletePartial points for tokens bonus, timing-matters bonus, and cantrips, in that order.
How do cantrips affect this card?
DeleteBy giving you more little spells to cast between your turn and your opponent's turn. I listed it last because of how very marginal that is.
DeleteSnipesphere Grid 1WW
ReplyDeleteEnchantment - (U)
When ~ enters the battlefield, name a creature on the battlefield.
Creatures with the chosen name can't attack you or a planeswalker your control.
----------------
This requires quite a stretch in looking at the art to think the spikey ball is going at the goblin and not the other way around, but I felt the design fit the rest of the challenge well enough I thought I'd submit it anyway. I'm sure the art could be cropped so you couldn't see the goblin had a sling!
I'm all for justified alternate perspectives on the art. Let's suppose this isn't a stretch, and the art clearly shows a spike flying away from us, at a charging goblin. How does that equate to him and creatures just like him not being able to attack us?
DeleteNote this template is weird because I don't think there is an existing card to model it off of, so it probably needs a new template. I will trust the idea is clear.
DeleteI'm picturing whenever one of those things gets close to your fancy new Snipesphere Grid you've installed it fires those caltropp-y things at it til it gets annoyed and leaves.
DeleteThis creative makes it sound a bit more like an artifact, but mechanically I think it white, but would probably be themed as something more magical than mechanical.
And it effects 1/1 goblins the same as 6/6 Dragons and 10/10 Horrors? The description I'm hearing sounds more like Desert.
DeleteI was picturing something more like a magical analogue of the beanbags riot control police use.
DeleteIn terms of templating, I'd go with:
DeleteSnipesphere Grid 1WW
Enchantment - (U)
When ~ enters the battlefield, choose a creature on the battlefield..
Creatures with the same name as the chosen creature can't attack you or a planeswalker your control.
It's a nifty little token hoser, although I'd agree that allowing it to stop anything is a bit of a flavor fail.
Yeah, I'll just say it meets some of the design requirements, but not the art. Then I can just theme it as a white magic barrier.
DeleteI do wish I could template it a non-hacky way that let you name creatures not in play. Like it would be nice to be able to say "Thundermaw Hellkite" or "Minotaur" before they were in play.
DeleteIt could always just hit a creature type, not a named creature. That would work, but probably need to cost more mana.
DeleteI thought of that, but that is way too strong, since it shuts down so many whole decks. Moat is not a fun card.
DeleteWhy can't it be templated like Cabal Therapy?
DeleteSnipesphere Grid 1WW
Enchantment - (U)
When ~ enters the battlefield, name a creature card.
Creatures with the chosen name can't attack you or a planeswalker your control.
That works, P.
DeleteTommy, note that the art and CMC are the only requirements, the other parameters are bonuses and less important.
P, that doesn't work. It can't name tokens!
DeleteFlowspike Slinger {3}{R}
ReplyDelete1/1 Goblin Shaman (unc)
T: CARDNAME deals damage to target c/p equal to the number of spells you've cast this turn.
"Each spike is armed with the magical energy left over from the wizards that duel around the slinger."
Should be comparable to if less consistent than Pyromancer in most formats, but really good with a lot of cantrips.
DeleteI do worry that it's too good in a Modern Storm deck, but maybe a 4cc 1/1 is enough to prevent that.
I like this a lot, though it doesn't have CMC 3 (I at least would rather cost things right than meet that requirment).
DeleteAlmost the same card:
Flowspike Slinger 2R
1/1 Goblin Shaman (unc)
~ ETBs tapped and doesn't untap during your untap step.
Whenever you cast a spell, untap ~.
T: CARDNAME deals one damage to target c/p.
--------------
Now it hits tokens too!
Hahaha. I forgot the only requirement of my own challenge! What a doof.
DeleteI might be able to justify mine at 3cc as a rare, but Tommy's is pretty darn good.
DeleteAlso going for all three #ambition #biteoffmorethanIcanchew
ReplyDeleteGoblin Facespiker 1BR
Creature - Goblin Warrior (R)
1BR, T, Sacrifice a creature: Goblin Facespiker deals damage to target player equal to the number of cards in his or her hand, then that player discards a card. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
1/1
Feedback appreciated as always.
I get where you are going with the challenge, but imagine you saw this in a vacuum, this card doesn't make sense. Especially the combination of hand counting and discard seems very discordant.
DeleteCan it be "[Cost] T, Sac a creature: Target player discards a card for each spell they cast this turn."?
I could totally see a spell that was Storm Seeker plus discard. Blightning isn't far off. But I agree it's just too much on this card.
DeleteRepeated Storm Seeking, even as expensive as this is, might be too much. Certainly it's conditional, but by matchup: it probably just wins when it untaps against a control deck.
Clear how this is better with tokens, and against a player using cantrips, but I can't give bonus points for timing-matters just because it's sorcery-speed.
Good points.
DeleteI like your suggestion Tommy, though I expect the activation cost would have to be rather high, as presumably getting a card every opponent's end step seems pretty good.
Actually, I don't know how good that it. Hm. Interesting.
Changing to "2BR, T, Sac a creature: Target player discards a card for each spell that player cast this turn."
Overstated David 2R
ReplyDeleteCreature-Orc Warrior (U)
Heroic--Whenever you cast a spell that targets CARDNAME, you may have CARDNAME deal 1 damage to target creature.
"Sometimes the little guy just picks on a littler guy."
2/2
Ha.
DeleteSweet.
Suicidal Defiance
ReplyDeleteInstant, 2R (uncommon)
Whenever a creature dies this turn, add {R} to your mana pool.
Draw a card.
Whoa, wait, this was last week's challenge? Looks like my RSS feed is confused >.<
DeleteReally interesting. Is it too hard to use since you have to spend the mana from creatures killed in combat at instant speed?
DeleteIt's a challenge, certainly. One or two other cards have presented similar challenges before - Radha, Heir to Keld springs to mind.
DeleteFixes include adding the Sakura-Tribe Springcaller rider (doesn't feel very red), adding the mana at the beginning of your next main phase (memory issues if things die on other players' turns), or binning the card (the solution development would most likely go for). But I think it's still got some interesting potential.
Radha requires you to spend the mana during your combat, but there are no external conditions to generating it. Suicidal Defiance has 'if's on both ends.
DeleteWhat about
Sorcery
Add {R} to your mana pool for each creature that died this turn?