This weekend's challenge was inspired by wobbles. This is a slightly complicated one, so here goes.
You're going to pick a member of the Tempest-era Weatherlight crew (listed below), and do a remix card, with the following rules:
- Same art
- Same cardname
- Use a modern design approach
- Bonus points if the card is mechanically relevant to the original set it appeared in (listed parenthetically after the cardname)
- Moving to new or additional colors is completely OK, but we're not reconcepting the character's themselves, just their card design.
- I'll allow draft-guiding uncommon legends in the spirit of Dominaria.
- My magic lore knowledge is mostly the bullet points from that era, so if you're relying on esoteric points from the novels to explain a mechanic, please let me know that ahead of time.
- I'm listing Weatherlight Crew, as well as villains and ancillary support staff. Go nuts.
So, in order of original card appearance, we have:
- Tempest Block
- Orim, Samite Healer
- Commander Greven il-Vec
- Starke of Rath
- Eladamri, Lord of Leaves
- Selenia, Dark Angel
- Vhati il-Dal
- Crovax the Cursed
- Sliver Queen
- Ertai, Wizard Adept
- Mirri, Cat Warrior
- Urza's Saga Block
- Karn, Silver Golem
- Multani, Maro-Sorcerer
- Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
- Mercadian Masques Block
- Squee, Goblin Nabob
- Volrath the Fallen
- Predator, Flagship
- Invasion Block
- Captain Sisay
- Hanna, Ship's Navigator
- Tahngarth, Talruum Hero
- Skyship Weatherlight
- Gerrard Capashen
That's it. Good luck, have fun, and I'll see you all Monday.
NOTE: Many of these cards have been printed with multiple artwork. If you want me to render a specific version of the art, let me know.
ReplyDeleteSliver Queen
ReplyDeleteWUBRG
Legendary Creature - Sliver
When this enters the battlefield and after your draw step, for each Sliver you control, create a 1/1 colorless Sliver creature token.
As long as Sliver Queen is on the battlefield, it has all activated abilities of all Sliver creature cards in your graveyard.
5/5
(Tried out Saga templating instead of "each upkeep" effect. Wasn't sure whether to have her double your number of slivers or non-token slivers, but went with the stronger option for simplicity's sake.)
Gerrard Capashen 2W
ReplyDeleteLegendary Creature - Human Soldier (r)
Vigilance
If a spell targets a creature, ~ must be one of those creatures.
T: ~ gains indestructible until end of turn.
3/3
Leading men love the spotlight.
Modified flagbearer tech. He could be a Human Flagbearer, but without MSE I don't know if that fits with Legendary in the typeline.
I really like it, the wording on the flagbearer ability is very elegant. It is a little awkward that you can't use removal while you have Gerrard in play. Is that the intention, or would it work better if it said "if a spell an opponent controls"?
DeleteI think the trick to that is to use Cast Out or Prey Upon etc. if you need removal for opposing creatures, but "opponent" is totally a possible tweak.
DeleteAny objections to this being mono-white?
The {T} ability looks weird to me here. Could it be a mana cost instead? I'd rather be attacking with my 3/3! A mana ability also leads to more shields down moments, especially if you're trying to curve out.
DeleteI would absolutely like a mana payment with the (3:Tap this, it gains indestructible) effect, but going with T: + Vigilance felt like it better limited it to once per two turns/a cleaner card. Definitely open to more creative triggers for the indestructibility, though.
DeleteMultani, Maro-Sorcerer 4GU
ReplyDeleteLegendary Creature - Elemental (R)
Whenever a player draws a card, you may put a +1/+1 counter on Multani, Maro-Sorcerer.
Each card in each player's hand has cycling 2.
3/3
So, I wanted to keep Multani's original mechanic of getting stronger the more cards are in each players' hand, but I wanted players to have more control over the outcome (Multani is now guaranteed to grow).
The second ability is to tie it in with the cycling mechanic in Urza's block, and it just so happens to synergize really well with the first ability. I'm basing the wording off of Homing Sliver.
I like that my opponent also gets to cycle, will make for interesting gameplay. Also, keeping it in bolt range makes it not too strong.
DeleteActually NOT a big fan of giving the opponent cycling. I kind of like working on opponent's draws as well as your own, it feels like a Managorger Hydra type card. But Personally I just think it's kind of lame to let your opponent cycle their stuff. I get that there's supposed to bet he tensin of them growing Multani, but I think the utility is too big and giving symmetrical abilities that you have to go "hmmm.. do I want my opponent to be able to cycle?" Are not my favorite thing. I think the core idea of him growing when any player draws is very cool though. I just don't think the tension is particularly necessary here to convey anything.
DeleteI see your point, and there are a number of other ways to get players to draw cards. One other thing to consider, though, is that I originally designed this with commander in mind. I thought it would be an interesting way to have a semi group hug style deck to keep a multiplayer game going smoothly while at the same time growing huge super quickly.
DeleteWhy I think the get a counter when anyone draws thing is cool is because you don't have to do anything to make it work, everybody just draws a card every turn at least once by default. It's a cool kind of twist on the Managorger/Taurean Mauler type effect in actual play as most times people aren't going to stop casting their spells just because of them, meaning at least one counter a turn, and those are notable for being quite effective in commander, without additional help.
DeleteI guess it's fine if you intended for this to be group hug-ish. As I said, I just don't love that the ability makes you have to second guess if you want to cast it, but I suppose the play patterns for casual commander would be different than normal.
Squee, Goblin Nabob-R
ReplyDeleteLegendary Creature-Goblin
1/1
Undying
G, remove a +1/+1 counter from CARDNAME: Create a 1/1 green insect creature token
G, sacrifice an insect creature token: You gain 2 life
I'm not too familiar with Squee. What's his connection to insects?
Delete(Undying certainly fits what I know about Squee!)
Squee is said to love to eat bugs.
DeleteNot sure if this conveys the eating of bugs. If people have a better idea, please let me know.
DeleteI see this with, say, Viscera Seer giving Jund decks a Thopter Foundry equivalent, but while the potential is there to get out of hand, it's probably more good than harm.
DeleteThis is a good power level for a (rare) one-drop Legend and a concise version of that story, but I'm not sure it needs to be a one-drop (even if it is splashy).
Yeah I could see it going up to a 2 or 3 drop, but I would feel kind of sad to have a 1/1 at that level and making Squee a 2/2 that become a 3/3 might be too strong.
DeleteNot sure if Buyback is really compatible with modern design due to its repetitive gameplay. But since Ertai was already in the realm of repetitive lockdown, here's a version that at least uses the set mechanics.
ReplyDeleteErtai, Wizard Adept {2}{U}
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Instant and sorcery cards in your hand have Buyback {4}.
If an instant or sorcery card would be put into your graveyard from anywhere, exile it instead.
1/1
What do other folks think? Is a design like this acceptable in modern Magic on rare occasion?
As of Khans block at least, you can do effective buyback, and I would say that's within the realm of modern design. The difference is on a card by card basis. As a major feature in a set, the reptituceness is exacerbated. But on a single legend that's meant to evoke that feeling for the guy that likes it, it's fine I think.
DeleteSo it would probably be better if the Buyback was 2UU. That way it doesn't go infinite with Seething Song right way...might need a life, discard or sacrifice cost too.
DeleteIt already doesn't go infinite with Seething Song. You'd be paying 7 mana to get 5.
DeleteIs this too close to soulfire grandmaster?
DeleteOops rkhon, not sure what I was thinking there. Is it busted with any other rituals? I guess Early Harvest gets nuts with 8 appropriate lands out.
DeleteAnd thanks Enzio! What buyback did Khans have? (Dash?)
Just saw your post Doug. I guess Soulfire Grandmaster might be what Enzio meant by effective buyback in Khans. I didn't think of that card. Might be too close. I know there's a tiny amount of Buyback matters stuff which makes them differ in a miniscule way.
DeleteLove dash as a mechanic. Same reason I like unearth, haste and fun with etb.
DeleteSoulfire Grandmaster is what I meant, yeah.
DeleteAlso a big fan of dash (and also unearth). Neither here not there but yeah.
It's not a big deal if they are similar imo. People wish she was legendary anyway, though more for lifelink spells thing. That was her marquee mechanic.
Orim, Ship's Medic {1}{W}{W}
ReplyDeleteCreature - Human Cleric (R)
Lifelink
When ~ enters the battlefield, exile any number of creatures with power 3 or less from your graveyard.
Whenever you gain life, return a creature card exiled by Orim to the battlefield.
Tempest doesn't have much of a mechanical hook that'd work with Orim. might make a version that cares about historic, but the flavor doesn't make much sense with noncreatures, and legendary is probably too limiting. I like power 3 or less due to the new Weatherlight's crew cost.
P/T 2/3
DeleteAlso also if I have a choice, I'd like the vanguard card art of Orim if you do renders.
DeleteWith the ETB effect, it took me a minute to get the flavor. But I LOVE the idea that those creatures are waiting to get healed by Orim. That's awesome.
DeleteI think the flavor might be a bit more transparent with something like this instead of the ETB:
Whenever another creature you control dies, you may exile it with Orim instead.
On the other hand, I'm not sure how to break the loop there...
I like the etb trigger for conveying it because how it actually works when you play the card is most people would tuck the exiled cards under Orim, in a way literally under her care.
DeleteYours is another execution as well. You can tie to a mana cost or tap and I think it'd be fine. I'm interested in hearing which execution people prefer. I like my initial one a little more because I think it's more efficient to play with, but I'm not totally against something like an onboard Faith's Reward type ability with a mana cost to stop it being too easy to repeat over and over.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteVersion based on Moonfolklore's suggestion.
DeleteOrim, Ship's Medic {1}{W}{W}
Legendary Creature - Human Cleric
Lifelink
Whenever another nontoken creature you control with power 3 or less dies, you may exile it.
{2}{W}{W}: Return a creature exiled by ~ to the battlefield under your control. Activate this ability only if you gained life this turn.
2/3
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteOrim, Ship's Medic {1}{W}{W}
DeleteLegendary Creature - Human Cleric
Lifelink
Whenever another nontoken creature you control with power 3 or less dies, you may exile it.
Whenever you gain life, you may pay {2}{W}{W}. If you do, return a creature exiled by ~ to the battlefield under your control.
2/3
Wow, how the heck did I miss card name had to be same. I'm not sure I like this overall idea in that case. The Samite name is pretty heavily tied to prevent damage even though I greatly dislike that effect.
DeleteDecided to go with it anyway, I think the flavor is quite good and preventing damage is not a very common mechanic nowadays anyway. Two versions, I would still like to hear if people prefer an etb trigger or as an onboard ability.
DeleteOrim, Samite Healer {1}{W}{W}
Legendary Creature - Human Cleric
Lifelink
When ~ enters the battlefield, exile any number of creature cards from your graveyard with power 3 or less.
Whenever you gain life, you may put a creature card exiled with Orim onto the battlefield under your control.
2/3
Orim, Samite Healer {1}{W}{W}
Legendary Creature - Human Cleric
Lifelink
Whenever a nontoken creature you control with power 3 or less dies, you may exile that card.
Whenever you gain life, you may pay {2}{W}{W}. If you do, put a creature card exiled with Orim onto the battlefield.
2/3
Submission 1:
ReplyDeleteOrim, Samite Healer 1WW
Creature Human Cleric
W T: target player gains three life
U T: target creature gets +0/+3
1/3
------------
a similar card with blue to reflect the Cho-Arrim water magic she learnt. given the on board trick a mana cost and now does toughness not damage prevention (this feels more intuative as to how it affects the board but no as clean for the flavour).
It is interesting that a lot of the legends are some slight tweaking away from being acceptable today and I love starkes design so am doing an update as a extra
bonus:
Starke of Rath 1RR
Legendary Creature- Human Rouge
T: deal three damage to any target, target opponent gains control off Starke of Rath
3 T: destroy target artifact, target opponent gains control off Starke of Rath
6 T: destroy target land, target opponent gains control off Starke of Rath
2/2
(lets try my experimental templating)
Starke of Rath 1RR
Legendary Creature- Human Rouge
[0, 3, 6]T: [deal three damage to any target, destroy target artifact, destroy target land], target opponent gains control off Starke of Rath
2/2
How about "When ~ becomes tapped, unless it was attacking, target opponent gains control of it."
DeleteAlso, pretty sure he's a rapscallion and not makeup. Watch that wandering "u" in "rogue"!
Hanna, Ship's Navigator 3WU
ReplyDeleteLegendary Creature - Human Artificer
When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, search your library for an artifact card, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it.
T: Target noncreature artifact you control gains indestructible until end of turn.
Vhati il-Dal (rare? Uncommon?)
ReplyDelete2BG
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior
Whenever a creature with greater power or toughness than CARDNAME dies, put two +1/+1 counters on CARDNAME.
1/1
^the only thing I know about this guy is that he shoots his commander off the Weatherlight.
**meant mana cost to be 1BG but it doesn't matter too much.
DeleteI also considered something like:
Whenever CARDNAME attacks, CARDNAME deals damage equal to its power to target creature an opponent controls and target creature you control.
^ or generally some ability that can kill a thing you control and/or an opponents. But I think it is a little more cluttered.
This could totally be an uncommon. Could be pushed to BG/1BG without any trouble as far as I could tell. Neat pick for the flavor, though!
DeleteTrying to get this comment to work has been a nightmare. Sorry if I ended up posting this 100 times, I'm just getting the run-around whenever I try to post.
ReplyDeleteKarn, Silver Golem
4 colorless
Legendary Creature - Golem Shaman
Defender
Land cards in your hand have artifact creature cycling 3.
4/4
"I shall make them in the image of the Father"
I don't know if he was a planeswalker yet, but the idea is to make it feel like he is powerful enough to create a whole new world if only he had the materials. Admittedly, the art doesn't work for this concept, but that art doesn't sell the idea of him being a pacifist either. It's pretty close to the crappy planeswalker art trap - no verb.
Multani, Maro Sorceror
4GG
Legendary Creature - Treefolk Elemental
Treefolk and Dryads you control gain vigilance and if they have defender, they may attack as though they didn't.
2GG, T: Put a bark counter on target nongreen creature. That creature loses all abilities and becomes an X/X green Treefolk with defender, where X is its CMC, for as long as it has a bark counter.
3/7
Don't know if "nongreen" is the right clause there, this is clearly a flavor-first design and I just didn't want it to be Lignify on a stick.
Hanna, Ship's Navigator
1GWU
Legendary Planeswalker - Hanna
+1: Return target artifact, creature or land card from your graveyard to your hand.
-1: Draw a card. You may play an additional land this turn.
-X: Add X mana in any combination of colors. Use this mana only to cast artifact or enchantment spells. X is the current number of loyalty counters on Hanna.
3
She studies the past, she explores, and she sacrifices herself to get the Holy Grail. Hanna was definitely the nerdy one, so I hope this reads as nerd/navigator/hero, which should be the point of the character. Doesn't feel like a stretch to add green to a character called out as a navigator.
Tahngarth, Talruum Hero
Delete2RRR
Legendary Creature - Minotaur Soldier
First strike
Creatures you control have haste.
Instant spells you cast cost 1 less for each attacking creature you control.
4/4
"First mate and first to the fray, his quick mind for tactics saved the Weatherlight time and again."
Old Tahngarth had vigilance and T: fight, which meant he was a bruiser who would just keep beating up kids until you won. New Tahngarth is more of a leader, a real Riker-style away-mission leader, who whips the crew into action and sees them to safety, if only by the skin of their teeth.
I had a little trouble with the casting cost, but after seeing Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch, Minotaur Aggressor, and Skyship Stalker, I think it's good. It's pushing it, but it's good. I think it'd be cool at 2RRU, too.
Gerard Capashen
2WW
Legendary Creature - Human Rogue
~ gets +1/+1 for each white creature card in your graveyard.
When ~ is equipped, he gains first strike, vigilance, and prowess.
1/1
"He is the final link in the chain of bloodlines, the summit of the greatest project Urza ever undertook and heir to the second greatest."
His first ability shows him as the product of magic eugenics. The second is him becoming the Chosen One. Hopefully he's equipped with something legendary and the creatures in the graveyard somehow read as ancestors - I could have gotten real specific about what counts as an ancestor or what things would trigger his equipped ability, but I wanted to make his abilities evocative without being too narrow. I think they read okay.
Captain Sisay
Delete1GW
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate
Protection from instants, sorceries and enchantments
When you cast a historic spell, put a +1/+1 counter on ~.
2/1
"The Sisay line was a powerful branch of the Bloodline Project, and one that by its very nature resisted further experimentation."
Looking to represent her weird bloodline that makes her completely immune to magic and to represent her achieving her goals of gathering a crew and getting stuff.
She could also be reduced to just pro enchantments and made uncommon easily.
Selenia, Dark Angel
Delete3BW
Legendary Creature - Angel
Flash, flying, haunt
The creature Selenia haunts is black, a Vampire in addition to its other types, and has “At the beginning of your upkeep, take 2 damage and put a -1/-1 counter on this creature.” and “Sacrifice a creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.”
4/4
That's as close as I could get with the fewest number of words possible. I don't think it's a good card, unfortunately. She gets flash because she's a guardian angel and the haunt is kinda, sorta the curse that got Crovax, or Mirri in the alternate (better) timeline.
Cute, but I don't think this is even playable in EDH.
NEEDS MORE GERARD
DeleteGerard Capashen
WWWW
Legendary Creature - Human Rogue
Gerard Capashen gets +1/+1 for each white mana symbol in the casting costs of cards in your graveyard.
At the beginning of combat, for each artifact you control, Gerard Capashen gains your choice of flying, first strike, lifelink, vigilance, or prowess.
1/1
"His blood flows with the magic of generations, his strength flows with the gathering of antiquities."
My other Gerard didn't feel too magical. This one feels a lot more like a magic-blooded adventurer. He's also a lot more fun, with all the choices you get to make each combat. And he works better with my Sisay!
Predator, Flagship (Rare)
ReplyDelete6
Legendary Artifact -- Vehicle
Flying, Deathtouch
Crew: 4
Sacrifice a goblin: ~ is a creature until the end of the turn.
6/5
So looking at the set mechanics for Nemesis, fading didn't feel right at all, but I thought the crew mechanic was interesting way to play with the alternative casting costs that were part of the set.
DeleteGerrard Capashen 2WR
ReplyDeleteLegendary Creature - Human Soldier
4/4
Whenever ~ attacks, you may have target artifact with flying gain indestructible UEOT.
Whenever ~ attacks, you may have it deal X damage to target creature or player where X is the number of artifacts you control with different names.
This isn't ideal, but I wanted to try to get some reference to the actual quest here. This may be a bit much, I'd rather see it spread out over many cards, but I wanted to make sure the theme came through. The idea is that the first works ability well with vehicles or other "ship" artifacts, and the second represents collecting the legacy.
I considered including legendary creatures in the legacy, but it seemed too complicated.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWhat about:
DeleteVehicles crewed by ~ gain indestructible UET.
Whenever ~ or a vehicle he crews attacks, ~ deals X damage ...
Simpler than having two attack triggers, I think, while still retaining the feel of him being an awesome captain.
I think you keyed on something really cool here, tying the legacy into Gerrard's design. I think a more elegant execution would be +X/+0 (or +X/+X, maybe?) for each artifact you control when attacking, or doing something for having thresholds of artifact amounts. If you 1 or more, if you have 2 or more, if you have 3 or more. It might even be cool to be an alt win con, letting you win the game if he deals damage if you have enough artifacts.
DeleteI'll stick with Gerrard as my submission, but I couldn't help think of other ideas too.
DeleteSquee, Goblin Nabob 1R
Legendary Creature - Goblin
1/1
Whenever ~ dies, if you didn't sacrifice it, you may return it to your hand and draw a card.
Trying to play on the "keep coming back" thing, but also the "learn from it" thing.
Wow, do I love this challenge. I can't stop designing to it.
ReplyDeleteI'll just post one for now:
Skyship Weatherlight (Rare)
6
Legendary Artifact - Vehicle
1/1
Flying, vigilance
Crew 6
Domain -- For each basic land type among lands you control, Skyship Weatherlight gets +1/+1, costs 1 less to cast, and costs one fewer total power to crew.
So at WUBRG, it's a 1 drop Crew 1 6/6? That seems like a strong payoff and I'm sure a good incentive to a lot of players, but personally I wish the hoop was a little easier and the payoff a little smaller.
DeleteMaybe if it cost 5 and didn't have the cost reduction, only the +1/+1 and the crew reduction?
DeleteLooking back, I actually meant to cost the initial post at 7 rather than 6, but I think costing it at a solid 5 is better anyway.
DeleteAnother one:
ReplyDeleteStarke of Rath
3BR
Legendary Creature -- Human Rogue
2/2
When ~ enters the battlefield, target opponent gains control of him.
You must attack with at least one other creature each combat if able.
At the beginning of your end step, sacrifice another tapped creature you control. If you do, target opponent gains control of Starke.
Hell, here's a bunch. Check them out if you're interested.
Deletehttps://imgur.com/a/2NeUpDB
And I'll do Starke as my submission!
DeleteEladamri, The Uniter
ReplyDeleteGW
Legendary Creature - Elf
When ~ enters the battlefield, choose two creature types.
Other creatures you control get +1/+1 if they are one or both of the chosen types.
2/2