Friday, October 23, 2015

Weekend Art Challenge 102315—detkef

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.


Design a common or uncommon card for this art.

55 comments:

  1. Wirewood Raconteur
    1GG, Uncommon
    Whenever another elf creature enters the battlefield under your control, creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn
    1/2

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe the flavor of this would work better if it triggered when elves became untapped. I was going for something that showed that when elves came back from their adventures, the raconteur told stories that inspired everyone else.

      Delete
  2. Elven Shadowdancer 1G
    Creature - Elf Warrior

    3G: ~ becomes a 4/4 Beast with Trample until the end of the turn.

    2/2

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Worldwise Minstrel {1}{G}
    Creature — Elf Shaman [U]
    {T}: Add {G} to your mana pool. If you don't control the creature with the greatest power, add {G}{G} to your mana pool instead.
    1/1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not sure how I feel about a Green card rewarding you not having the creature with the biggest power. I also really don't like that this has power 1 itself.

      Delete
    2. The idea is that you use the extra mana to drop a bigger creature yourself, but I see your point.

      Delete
  5. Dreams of the Meek {1}{G}{W}

    Enchantment (uncommon)

    Tap X untapped creatures you control with power 1 or less: Until end of turn, ~ becomes an X/X Spirit enchantment creature. If all those creatures shared a creature type, prevent all damage that would be dealt to ~ this turn.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually, scrap the second sentence and make this just {2}{W}. It doesn't match the art much, but it would play better.

      Delete
    2. Ooh, I like the way this is what's happening in the art. I wonder if the same effect on a one-off would be simpler?

      Delete
    3. I agree with Jack that this as a Sorcery that makes an X/X on cast would be a much more playable card (whereas I would never play the one designed here)

      Delete
    4. Sorcery would be boring and make even less sense with the art; I'd rather makes this cheaper to be a plausible build-around instead.

      Delete
  6. Bard’s Tale {2}{GU}{GU}
    Enchantment (Uncommon)
    Bard’s Tale enters the battlefield with a verse counter on it for each creature you control.
    Whenever you cast a creature spell, put a verse counter on Bard’s Tale.
    {2}{GU}{GU}, Sacrifice Bard’s Tale: Draw a card for each verse counter on it.
    “Give your ears to the wondrous story of Mysen the Fool, who...”

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good art for a Fauna Shaman reprint, maybe.

    Taking the story in a slightly different direction:

    Storyteller's Boast 1R
    Enchantment- Aura (Uncommon)
    Enchant creature
    Enchanted creature gets +3/+3 and has menace.
    When enchanted creature blocks or gets blocked, sacrifice CARDNAME.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ...and then I realized that this is (basically) strictly worse than Madcap Skills. Which is not necessarily the worst place to be, but still.

      Here's a new version that's a little less aggro-focused (I think?) but will still add let you get in a few free attacks and/or an advantageous trade.

      Storyteller's Boast R
      Enchantment- Aura (Uncommon)
      Enchant creature
      Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and has menace.
      When enchanted creature is dealt damage, sacrifice CARDNAME.

      Delete
    2. Torn between "damage" and "combat damage". I generally consider it good practice not to make removal spells better than they already are, but limiting it to combat hurts the flavor a bit (especially with fight).

      Delete
  9. Savage Shadowcrafter 3G
    Creature - Elf Shaman (R)
    Whenever one or more creatures you control attack, exile any number of those creatures in a face down pile, shuffle that pile, then manifest those cards tapped and attacking. Turn them face up at the end of the declare blockers step. (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.)
    3/2

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So opponents don't know what they're blocking? Very cool! I'm not sure manifest tech is totally right for this scenario, but it's a neat potential use case.

      Delete
  10. Shadow Play 1WB (Uncommon)
    Instant
    Return target creature from your graveyard to the battlefield with a shadow counter on it. For as long as it has a shadow counter on it, it cannot attack or block.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seánce Mannequin? The story here seems appealing.

      Delete
    2. Appealing indeed! It's actually quite a bit better than the Seance effect, considering that creatures like Iona and Elesh Norn are popular reanimation targets already. I'm guessing this could be quite powerful in some Modern decks (e.g. Gifts Ungiven).

      Delete
  11. Aural history 1G
    Enchantment. (Unc)
    Creature spells you cast cost 1 less as long as another card with the same name is in your graveyard.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very elegant design. Aside from the flavor considerations, limiting this to creatures makes it easier to balance since you have to cast them *and* get them killed.

      Since this is next to worthless in Limited, I'd suggest making it rare. Also, it probably wouldn't break anything if you said "1 less for each card in your graveyard with the same name", which is more appealing to Johnny.

      Delete
  12. Tale Collector
    Sorcery
    1R
    Exile the top card of each player's library. You may cast those cards this turn.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Cast" versus "Play" is an interesting choice here. I bet there will be some situations where being able to play an opponent's land would be very relevant. (And it's flavorful mana fixing for Red!)

      Delete
    2. Good point. I went with "cast" because I wasn't sure, but "play" features on other similar cards, and that's more interesting, so lets go with that:

      Tale Collector
      Sorcery
      1R
      Exile the top card of each player's library. You may play those cards this turn.

      Delete
  13. Story Den
    Land (R)
    Tap an untapped creature your control, t: Choose one —
    • Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
    • Scry 1.
    • You gain 2 life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooh... Springleaf Drum land, and then some! I like the choices of effects. I have no idea how to evaluate the power level here, which is exciting and a little bit scary.

      Delete
  14. Woodland Sage 1G
    Creature - Elf Druid (u)
    T: Name a creature card. Reveal the top four cards of your library and put all of them with that name into your hand. Put the rest into your graveyard.
    1/1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The self-mill is strong with this one. I could easily imagine an environment where it's strong in Standard but practically useless in Limited. Otherwise, though, I love the concept. Very clean and resonant.

      Delete
    2. "The self-mill is strong with this one"- Darth Ipaulsen

      Delete
  15. Learn Their Tricks, {1}{G}
    Enchantment, uncommon
    As CARDNAME enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.
    Whenever a creature you control blocks or becomes blocked by a creature of the chosen type, it gets +2/+2 UEOT.

    I'm not actually sure if "hose your choice of one creature type" is the kind of card Wizards are interested in printing any more (cf Extinction, Engineered Plague), but it's where my mind went on seeing this card.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ack, I'm in a combo mood today and can only come up with rares:

    Elvish Storyteller 1G
    Creature - Elf Druid (R)
    Tap three untapped creatures you control: Draw a card.
    2/2

    or something about copying creatures (which is usually pretty confusing and therefore rare)... 2 mana clone effects are pretty rare.

    Boastful Channeler 1G
    Creature - Elf Druid (R)
    3U: CARDNAME becomes a copy of target of creature until end of turn.
    2/2

    ReplyDelete
  17. Shadow Puppet 1BG
    Instant
    Target creature gets +3/+3 and gains menace until end of turn. (It can't be blocked except by two or more creatures)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Shadow Puppet 1BG
    Instant
    Target creature gets +3/+3 and gains menace until end of turn. (It can't be blocked except by two or more creatures)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. don't quite get it.. I guess the creature you're playing it on is getting a Shadow (sock) puppet sprouting out of it? I just don't know if Menace flavorly means "two headed" anymore. Maybe double strike?

      Delete
    2. My submission used menace in the same way I assume it's being used here-- the creature becomes more "menacing" to the enemy, even though it's only a shadow.

      Delete
  19. Sylvan Illusionist {2}{G}
    Creature - Elf Rogue (Uncommon)
    Whenever ~ attacks, you may prevent all combat damage target creature would deal this turn.
    2/1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kind of wanted to call this card Sylvan "Illusionist" but that's probably too silly for a 'real' card

      Delete
  20. I'll render this week

    Worldstory Warden 2G
    Creature - Human Druid (C)
    1G, T: Reshape. (Choose a counter on a permanent or player. Remove that counter from it or put another of those counters on it.)
    1/2

    ReplyDelete
  21. Kindelfgarden teacher 1GG
    Creaure - Elf Mentor (rare)
    Whenever the power of an elf creature you control increases you may put a 0/1 elf token into play.
    1/2

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If I'm understanding this effect right, there are a lot of cards that go infinite with this.

      Delete
    2. Titania's Chosen, Ivy Lane Denizen, Elvish Vanguard... any others?

      Heedless One and the like wouldn't trigger this ability, at least not the way I think it would have to be worded to work with the rules (i.e. "whenever an effect increases the power of an elf creature you control...")

      Delete
    3. The infinite combos can be made harder by inserting "you may pay {1}. If you do". Which is probably sensible, as it still combos in a way to delight Jenny and Tammy alike, just not in a way that immediately renders the preceding game irrelevant.

      Delete
    4. Yes indeed. I should have put a clause.

      Delete
  22. Submission for Un-set

    Lost Boys Rainy Day-3U
    Enchantment-Uncommon
    Creatures cant attack you unless their controller can make you smile.( They only need to make you smile for each attack phase, not for each creature.)
    You only bemuse yourself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You make this clearer with a pre-existing turn based requirement. "Creatures can only attack you if you have smiled this turn."

      Delete
  23. Does anyone think "Bard" will ever be a creature type? It might be to late for MTG to do that, so we might be stuck with rogues that can sing and dance.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Frightful Tales R
    Sorcery - Common
    Target creature gains +2/+2 and Menace.

    "You wouldn't believe it if I told you."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Frightful Tales R
      Sorcery - Common
      Target creature gains +2/+2 and Menace until end of turn.

      "You wouldn't believe it if I told you."

      Delete