Wednesday, March 7, 2018

CCDD 030718 - Sriracha, Seeker of Balance

At this point, I've locked in my card types to each guild, at least for now. My Simic card had to be a creature, which is probably the easiest type to design for. I had a rare slot open, and I wanted something that would make a splash.




I was playing around with alternate win conditions, and I came up with this. I genuinely have no idea if this guy is terrible or insanely overpowered. Any time you draw seven cards, eyebrows will be raised, but wiping your own board in the process is a big drawback.

This could be, and maybe should be, an enchantment, something which I'll have to think about when it's time to do my second pass. It also might be mythic, which is fine, as I can use it for a wildcard slot for the rarity.

I do want to test this out as a commander. UG is historically dominating in Commander, and this guy would be a powerhouse in the format. Being able to cast him throughout the game might be just a bit too much.

9 comments:

  1. Uhhhh...think you meant “all other nonland permanents”, no? He’s currently shuffling himself away upon entering.

    I know the idea is that the second ability is “too easy” on its own, but the chaos of the first ability seems to run counter to the “seeker of balance” in his title. I think you may want to focus either on the second or the first ability.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was gonna make the same point as R Stetch. Right now, Sriracha (a rather *spicy* card, though still pleasant) is a four mana personal Timetwister that also wipes your board (though the best Timetwister decks are usually storm). To actually get to the alternate win con, you need to cheat Stetch into play without triggers its ETB. Still, that seems like an accident, so I'll assume it doesn't bounce itself and look at the alternate win con (though if it doesn't bounce itself, it's a four mana 4/4 that's a personal Timetwister, assuming you're not heavily reliant on nonland permanents).

    I think playing into Hedron Alignment/Barren Glory is neat design space, albeit a bit more dangerous when you're looking at a non-extreme number like four, particularly when Sriracha cleans out your graveyard for you. If you cast Sriracha, untap and cast four cards like token makers and cantrips, you can satisfy its requirements within one turn cycle. I like that it requires you to build an entire deck around it, but I'm least enamored of a personal timetwister stapled to to four mana 4/4.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is the problem I'm having. Aesthetically, it could limit the draw to 4 cards. That makes it much less potent, but I still have no idea if it's insanely broken or the jankiest of the jank.

      Delete
  3. This does look like it could be fun, but I don't think the win con is going to prove to be hard enough in testing. Making it a creature does make it much harder if you can't meet the requirements in a single turn. And if you end up having to cast a spell to protect him it could totally ruin your victory plans, which is neat. I would think twice about making it an enchantment.

    I am kind of confused about what about him is green. The "balance" reference and the specific number requirement screams white to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the balance between GY, battlefield, and hand plays heavily into Green's lifecycle and acceptance themes.

      Delete
  4. Riffing on this

    Paxunt, Twister Traveler 2UG
    Legendary Creature- Merfolk Shaman R
    As long as you have exactly four cards in hand, Paxunt can't be blocked.
    Whenever Paxunt deals combat damage to an opponent, put your hand on the bottom of your library and draw four cards.
    4/4

    Putting alternate win conditions on creatures feels weird, sense they are win conditions in themselves. I could see your combination on an Enchantment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is cool! Jenny that leans into Jenny/Spike, clear start and finish but also open-ended possibilities. I really like the not-shuffling for time, and the incentive to not necessarily empty your hand every turn. Thumbs up.

      Delete
  5. I think the Timetwister effect is way too dangerous. I'm imagining a Bant/UG deck that just rampant growths for days and follows it up with sweepers and Sriracha to refill and find your big ramp threats. Seems pretty busted.

    The effects feel sort of misaligned as well. I think you'd get a lot of aesthetic complains about the 4/4 for 4 that with 4 words in its name and type line that requires 4 cards to win the game... and draws 7? It's the same issue that Griselbrand had which MaRo has discussed several times.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm definitely playing this just as a four-mana draw four, with a tiny bonus that mostly just distracts my opponent.

      Delete