Weekend Art Challenge
Greetings, artisans! Click through to see this weekend's art and the design requirements for your single card submission, due Monday morning. Every submission warrants feedback, and everyone is encouraged to give feedback. You may use that feedback to revise your submission any number of times, though only the version rendered will be included in the review, if someone volunteers to render the cards.
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| Viktor Titov |
Choose one of the illustrations from
Planeswalkers Guide to Fate Reforged that hasn't been spoiled yet and design a card for it.
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| Volkan Baga |
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| James Ryman |
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| Slawomir Maniak |
We're expecting the entire spoiler to be released at 11 AM EST, just FYI.
ReplyDeleteToday?
DeleteBah!
In that case, submit a design for any of this art you haven't personally seen spoiled yet. Failing that, redesign one?
I was wondering what your judge criteria would be, since now that the set has been fully spoiled, submissions could be judged based on how they fit Reforged as a whole. And that seems like something to save until after we've had a chance to play with the set.
DeleteSame critera as last weekend. How good a design is it in the abstract? How appropriate does it appear to be for Fate Reforged, given what we do know about the set?
DeleteMardu Pyreblade 1RR
ReplyDeleteCreature - Human Warrior (R)
Double strike
Dash RR
2/2
Oof!
DeleteVery nice. Close enough to Mardu Scout that I wouldn't expect to see it in the actual set, but it totally fits otherwise.
DeleteAre you OK with this being strictly better than Viashino Sandstalker in three different ways?
The dash here is probably a bit too strong, but I like where you're going. I could totally see design handing this over.
DeleteDredging Ritual. 5G
ReplyDeleteSorcery
Delve
Search your library for two basic land cards and put them onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
I had basically the same idead the first time I looked the Volkan Baga art, but this design to me presents a contradiction, in the sense that you always want to ramp at the beginning of the game, but delve tells exactly the opposite, that is the spell becomes cheaper the longer the game goes.
DeleteI thought of that, which is why I made it fetch two lands and only have one colored mana; even in late game, G to fetch for two lands is interesting, and having 2-3 cards to dredge with on turn 4 is not very hard, and 3 cards on turn 3 is achievable. I don't think this would be an all-star anywhere, but it would be an interesting 22nd or 23rd card in Limited.
DeleteSwamp Ritualist 1G
ReplyDeleteCreature - Human Shaman (C)
When ~ enters the battlefield, you may put a card from your graveyard on top of your deck.
2/1
Let's try that with real templating:
DeleteSwamp Ritualist 1G
Creature - Human Shaman (C)
When ~ enters the battlefield, you may put target card from your graveyard on top of your library.
2/1
Very solid. Good job lining this up with the Sultai mill theme.
DeleteIt's too bad that you won't normally want to cast this on turn 2, but overall I think that's fine.
I normally hate that but I want you to be able to Manifest.
DeleteIn theory it could cost more and put something second from the top, but I like it better as-is. Potentially fun with fetchlands in constructed.
DeleteStand Apart W
ReplyDeleteJames Ryman
Instant (U)
Bolster 1. If you control exactly one creature, bolster 3 instead.
This is super swingy if you go one drop, this in a set with removal of this quality. I don't like getting attacked with a 5/4 on turn 2.
DeleteI'm also not quite getting the "if you control exactly one creature" in Abzan. I like the conditional upgrade, it would be great if it could be adjusted to not trigger until later in the game.
Infect decks have a new friend.
DeleteI'd argue that 1W, bolster 2 -> bolster 3 is a better place for this to be-- less swingy, and more exciting to curve out into.
DeleteGood points all around. Since they seem to be setting up some graveyard counting anyway, let's go for:
DeleteOvercome All Odds.
James Ryman
Sorcery (U)
Bolster 1. If the creature you bolstered still has the least toughness among creatures you control, return CARDNAME to its owner's hand.
Er, the comment was for a different design which didn't match the art. This one plays with Prowess.
DeleteThat's supposed to cost {W}.
DeleteMausoleum Sentry
ReplyDelete1WW
Creature - Human Soldier - Rare
Libraries and graveyards can't be the target of spells or abilities.
2/2
"My ancestors lie here. One day, I will join them, as will my children, and my children's children. I guard us all."
(James Ryman art)
I suppose libraries aren't ever really the targets of spells or abilities, so I'm thinking this should be "Players and graveyards."
DeleteHow about "Spells and abilities can't cause cards to leave graveyards"? I admit it's pretty far-out, but as far as I know it works within the rules. (Not so sure about the equivalent thing for libraries-- how would Commune with the Gods behave in that case?)
DeleteThe only time libraries are targets are with Circu, Dimir Lobotomist. Quite deliberately. They templated him that way to save space on the card, and they've resisted errataing him to target the player instead, probably because they prefer to avoid functional errata for the sake of tidying up very weird templating.
DeleteLpaulsen's suggestion works, I believe. It completely shuts down dredge as well as flashback, retrace, unearth and delve.
To stick a little closer to R Stech's proposal, I think it should say "Cards in graveyards can't be the target of spells or abilities". As nothing ever actually targets a whole graveyard anyway.
I'll give the last one a whack.
ReplyDeleteToxic Warfare 3B
Sorcery
Choose one
*Target creature gets -5/-5 until the end of turn.
*All creatures get -1/-1 until the end of turn.
^uncommon
DeleteI like the idea of a spell that's either a weak boardwipe or a weak spot removal spell. This seems like a really strong spot removal spell, though. -3/-3?
DeleteSeems like reasonable removal, at sorcery speed and uncommon. Compares unfavorably to Murder / Hero's Downfall in that regard, but the weaker color requirement and alternate mode make it attractive. I like how this plays into both the Abzan and the Sultai strategies (Mardu not so much, though I bet they'd still run it).
DeleteViktor Titov art (#1). Red/white (like green/white) is a combination that needs its own unique planeswalker character (and not just an Ajani variant.)
ReplyDeleteKarinji, Victory's Blood (mythic)
1RW
Planeswalker - Karinji
+2: Exile up to one target creature you control. Return it to the battlefield tapped and attacking at the beginning of your next combat step.
-1: Creatures that enter the battlefield under your control this turn gain indestructible and haste until end of turn.
-5: Untap all tapped creatures you control. They deal damage equal to their power to target player.
2
I love these abilities, but the fragility of Karinji is a bit of a bummer. She dies extremely often, even with a +2 ability. Also, her abilities are all really awful if you have few or no creatures. I'm not sure exactly what the fix is, but putting it out there.
DeleteI love the synergy between +2 (in second main phase of turn N) and -1 (in first main phase of turn N+1), if you really want to make something indestructible. It's a bit odd that you can cast a non-hasty creature in first main phase, then +2 Karinji on it, in order to get an effect similar to giving it haste. Probably fine, just a bit odd.
DeleteI'm also really impressed that all these abilities are very Mardu, and also every one fits better on a RW card than a mono-R or mono-W card.
DeleteLots of interesting stuff going on here for an aggressive PW. That said, I'm not convinced another Planeswalker fits in Fate Reforged. The block has two large sets and development tries to keep to 5-6 'walkers per block. Moreover, since FRF is supposed to lead to both Khans and Dragons, any planeswalker needs to represent some turning point in the timeline, or at least appear in a different form on each side.
DeleteAgreed, Jules, I think she would be a better fit for Khans. But I've seen the spoiler already, I loved the art, and I enjoy designing planeswalkers : )
DeleteMaking a few revisions here. Giving her an extra point of loyalty to handle fragility concerns, and upping the cost of her ultimate to compensate. +2 is now "target creature you own" to prevent the weirdness where you Act of Treason something and then +2 it to force it to attack you on your own turn. (This also gives it a bit more utility as a Brand/Homeward Path variant.) Also changing her name to sound a bit more Mardu and less like one of the legendary dragons.
Karinji Victory-Blood (mythic)
1RW
Planeswalker - Karinji
+2: Exile up to one target creature you own. Return it to the battlefield tapped and attacking at the beginning of your next combat step.
-1: Creatures that enter the battlefield under your control this turn gain indestructible and haste until end of turn.
-6: Untap all tapped creatures you control. They deal damage equal to their power to target player.
3
Disclaimer: I've seen the spoiler. This is not a card in the set. But I think it should be...
ReplyDeleteSilumgar's Malice 3B
Sorcery- Uncommon
Target opponent reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. Manifest that card. (To manifest a card, put it onto the battlefield face down as a 2/2 creature. Turn it face up any time for its mana cost if it's a creature card.)
[Slawomir Maniak art]
I'm not quite sure they do want to create states in which a player has under his (or her) control a facedown creature owned by another. Even if probably that's already possible with some shenaningans, I think it could not be advisable to have it all in one card. That said, apart from this negligible concern, I really really like this design, it feels very natural, elegant, funny and has the right mood.
DeleteI think most of the reason that we didn't get this is that they wanted the Manifested cards to have some mystery to them, but for this one they'll know exactly what it is.
Delete@Jules-- I agree, that was probably the reason. But I really liked how this let black do Nightveil Specter-y things.
DeleteYour comment made me think of this design:
Manifest Dreams 4UU
Sorcery (Rare)
Manifest the top three cards of target opponent's library.
Art by James Ryman
ReplyDeleteAhmad, the Stalwart 1WW (R)
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior 2/4
Vigilance
X(B/G), T, Sacrifice a creature: Bolster X. (Choose a creature with the least toughness among creature’s you control and put X +1/+1 counters on it.)
The first Khan of what would become the Abzan clan was a warrior prince, son of King Zan bin Hamad.
Assume the clans are in such a proto-state of being that they don't quite exist. The joke in this card, if you extrapolate from the flavor text, is that this first Khan's name is Ahmad bin Zan (aka Abzan).
This is interesting, though I'm not sure if it needs all the board complexity of its current activation timing. Another minor point: it should match the since colored, double hybrid costing of the rest of the cycle. Perhaps:
DeleteAhmad, the Stalwart 2W
Legendary Creature-Human Warrior (R)
Vigilance
Whenever ~ or another creature you control dies you may pay (bg)(bg). If you do, bolster X, where X is its toughness. (Choose a creature with the least toughness among creature’s you control and put X +1/+1 counters on it.)
2/3
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI need to come up with something else. All the legendary clan founders with Khans of Tarkir keywords are Human, and all the legendary clan founders with Dragons of Tarkir keywords are dragons. Bolster should not be on a human Khan. Plus, bolster isn't a black keyword. It only appears on White and Green cards. I need to go back to the drawing board.
DeleteArt James Ryman
DeleteAbzan Dragonslayer 1W (Rare)
Creature - Human Warrior 3/1
Each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it has protection from dragons.
“My dragon hunting techniques are gathered from the far corners of Tarkir by Abzan caravans.”
There seems to be too much clan in-fighting in the flavor of Fate Reforged. I want to make a design that clearly shows the clans are coalescing to fight dragons.
Oho, I hadn't spotted that bolster and dash were only on creatures of their dragon's colours. That's even more support (as if it were needed) for the theory that DTK will be two-colour themed in ally colours.
DeleteAll the keywords are just in allied colors. There are no Black cards with Bolster, no Red cards with Prowess, no Green cards with Delve, no White cards with Dash, and no Blue cards with Ferocious.
Deletejames ryman
ReplyDeleteAbzan Defender 2WW
Creature - human warior
uncommen
Whenever Abzan defender blocks, bolster 1
2/3
Very Abzan. I approve.
DeleteInteresting question: Do we want this to actually have defender (and maybe cost a mana less)? I could see arguments for both ways.
the argument for defender would be: "So players know what you are supposed to do with it". I personly don't like that idea. I was thinking making it 2/4 or even a 1/4 but I think the playes are for more interesting on a 2/3, so that there is more pressure on this card of what it can do
DeleteI think anything that says "Whenever ~ blocks" already gives players a pretty big hint what to do with it.
DeleteRight, is indeed to much
DeleteART: Viktor Titov (#1)
ReplyDeleteTwinslice Raider 1R
Creature - Human Warrior (U)
Double Strike
Whenever another creature you control enters the battlefield, CARDNAME gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
1/1
Works really nicely both with the warrior support cards and with token makers like Ponyback Brigade. A simple yet powerful role filler.
The Warren Instigator to Foundry Street Denizen's Goblin Lackey? I like it. Might want to be rare for Limited.
DeleteThis is too powerful for constructed as-is, but we'd have a lot more leeway with a three mana version which could still do plenty of work in casual and limited.
DeleteOn second thought, should be a rare for splashiness.
DeleteVersion 2:
DeleteART: Viktor Titov (#1)
Twinslice Raider 2R
Creature - Human Warrior (R)
Double Strike
Whenever another creature you control enters the battlefield, CARDNAME gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
1/2
Mardu Frontrunner 1RR
ReplyDeleteCreature -- Human Warrior (U)
Doublestrike
When Mardu Frontrunner enters the battlefield, it gains flying until end of turn.
Dash 2RW
2/2
(art by Viktor Titov)
I'm hesitating between 2RW and 3RW for the Dash cost. What do you think ?
5 mana gets you Stormbreath Dragon and Sarkhan, which both attack for 4 in the air and then some without requiring further investment. So I'd say 2RW is fine for the dash cost (or maybe 1RRW to line up with the original mana cost?).
DeleteThis feels rare to me. 2/2 double strike for 3 mana is already pushing it quite a bit, especially with the Runemarks running around at common.
Agreed with Ipaulsen. As for the Dash cost: if we had a cycle of monocolored cards with enemy multicolored ability costs, that might work, but as a lone card in FRF this feels really strange to me.
DeleteI'll do the renders.
ReplyDeleteHere's a hatebear based on James Ryman's lovely Abzan art.
Citadel Guardian 1W
Creature - Human Soldier Cleric (R)
Vigilance
Lands you control have indestructible.
2/2
I like this design in and of itself. Is there any particular reason it should go in FRF?
DeleteNah, it's pretty set-agnostic. It fits nicely into the Abzan, but with different art it could be from Bant or something.
DeleteI have read the full spoiler, but the only thing I remember about the first art is that the legend was called Alesha. All the FRF non-dragon legends are in the funky new hybrid-activation cycle, so I'll design a Mardu card for that.
ReplyDeleteAlesha, Who Smiles at Death
{R}{R}
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior (rare), 2/2
First strike
{1}{B/W}{B/W}: Return to the battlefield target creature card in your graveyard that died this turn.
Her leadership is fierce, exerting her clanmates to stare death in the face and overcome.
This is similar to the Adarkar Valkyrie ability. But doing it preemptively feels too white. Doing it in retrospect adds the slight tinge of black feeling required for the hybrid activation.
This is very cool, though WotC has been moving away from letting white reanimate big creatures. I wouldn't throw a fit over this hybrid cost, but I prefer the setup they actually went for.
DeleteAn unrelated minor note: the cycle is slightly tighter than you remembered: they're each only supposed to have a single colored mana in their costs.
DeleteI thought this would be okay for white because it's only getting back big things that died *this turn*, which I think white still gets to do at any size, a la Fate's Reward.
DeleteBut even if I wanted to avoid consulting the spoiler before designing this, I think I should perhaps have consulted it before submitting it - it's a bit boringly close to Wizards' design, and the differences probably aren't interesting because they weren't me deliberately changing the actual card, just parallel-designing something slightly similar.
Renders:
ReplyDeletehttp://imakethecard.tumblr.com/post/107960854833/mostly-not-my-designs
http://imakethecard.tumblr.com/post/107960956148/not-my-designs
Unfortunately, my attempt to get my card's second ability onto one line through long flavour text has failed. Template looks really ugly there.
Ah well.
Thanks, Sanctraphrax!
Delete