tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post5453477568422388724..comments2024-03-11T02:32:15.295-04:00Comments on Goblin Artisans: Spotlight Challenge 3 Initial Review—Devin E. GreenUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-37041808063269479752016-02-22T18:36:49.091-05:002016-02-22T18:36:49.091-05:00Hey it's fine, activity was low for the second...Hey it's fine, activity was low for the second week, so I mostly did my own thing. This week people showed up to make up for it.Devin E. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216945116878064817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-8230875574123699622016-02-22T12:07:45.148-05:002016-02-22T12:07:45.148-05:00For some reason, I was thinking this was only due ...For some reason, I was thinking this was only due today.<br /><br />I'll review it today or tomorrow.<br /><br />Sorry about that, folks.Jay Treathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09428861685923241850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-53898744851502130272016-02-20T23:58:38.676-05:002016-02-20T23:58:38.676-05:00Ooh, I like the evasive one. It can even use the s...Ooh, I like the evasive one. It can even use the squidly art.Jenesishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356037137564501914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-77377935394920361832016-02-20T22:52:09.749-05:002016-02-20T22:52:09.749-05:00Other potential abilities for a common blue symbio...Other potential abilities for a common blue symbiote:<br /><br />Illusory Symbiote 2U<br />Symbiosis 2<br />when CARDNAME becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it.<br />3/3<br /><br />Evasive Symbiote U<br />Symbiosis 1<br />Creatures with power greater than CARDNAME's power can't block it<br />1/1Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12542336969579468290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-16050213264307082682016-02-20T17:05:23.649-05:002016-02-20T17:05:23.649-05:00Seems good if it costs a lot. Like 4UU or somethin...Seems good if it costs a lot. Like 4UU or something, so if you leave up all the mana to use it at least there's a tempo cost.<br /><br />Would not want two of these repeatedly blinking each other.Jenesishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356037137564501914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-56062246983268583712016-02-20T10:48:41.100-05:002016-02-20T10:48:41.100-05:00I wonder if it becomes common if we make returning...I wonder if it becomes common if we make returning the creature the point of it instead of a synergistic side-effect?<br /><br />Blue Guy 1U<br />Creature - Merfolk Mutant<br />Symbiosis 2<br />1U: Return CARDNAME'S symbiont to the battlefield.<br />2/1Devin E. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216945116878064817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-66294066006491342242016-02-20T03:17:44.658-05:002016-02-20T03:17:44.658-05:00I considered proposing a Darting Merfolk-esque des...I considered proposing a Darting Merfolk-esque design, but that's definitely uncommon because it involves an on-board trick that can put a creature onto the battlefield midcombat :/Jenesishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356037137564501914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-21464099873061999582016-02-20T00:15:33.807-05:002016-02-20T00:15:33.807-05:00What about something like this:
Chambered Fanshar...What about something like this:<br /><br />Chambered Fanshark 1U (Common)<br />Creature - Mutant Merfolk<br />Symbiosis 2 (As this enters the battlefield, you may exile another nontoken creature you control as a symbiont until this card leaves the battlefield. If you do, this creature enters the battlefield with two additional +1/+1 counters on it.)<br />1U, Return Chambered Fanshark’s symbiont to the battlefield: Draw a card.<br />2/1Devin E. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216945116878064817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-59937681861943159682016-02-19T01:49:39.408-05:002016-02-19T01:49:39.408-05:00Ambush Plasm: Shouldn't this be an Ooze?
Bioc...Ambush Plasm: Shouldn't this be an Ooze?<br /><br />Biocolossus: Nix one L in its name, and the second ability can't be a trigger. Try Sage of Fables wording: "Each symbiont of CARDNAME enters the battlefield with three additional +1/+1 counters on it." By definition a card has to be in the exile zone to be considered a symbiont, so the "from exile" text isn't necessary.<br /><br />Cephaloweft: I'm not thrilled that I see a Spikey tempo dude first and a symbiotic creature second. If you want two uncommons, I'd rather have the Hill Giant that cares about what color your symbionts are.<br /><br />Stalker Bush: It's a neat card, but I'm not sure it fits the challenge. I'm not sure you even need it for the challenge, anyway; there's no two-drop symbiosis 2 creature in the set that you can get excited about curving into. I'd rather see another mono-blue common (perhaps with a mechanic that makes it feel like blue and green are using synthesis in different ways).Jenesishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356037137564501914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-10308487618692523582016-02-18T19:35:48.582-05:002016-02-18T19:35:48.582-05:00New images: https://imgur.com/a/H8nJmNew images: https://imgur.com/a/H8nJmDevin E. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216945116878064817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-19204277692707342362016-02-18T19:30:11.001-05:002016-02-18T19:30:11.001-05:00SC01 - Stalker Bush (Common) G
Creature - Mutant P...SC01 - Stalker Bush (Common) G<br />Creature - Mutant Plant<br />When Stalker Bush leaves the battlefield, choose one —<br />• Put a +1/+1 counter onto target creature you control.<br />• Gain 2 life.<br />1/1<br /><br />SC02 - Root Guardian (Common) 2GG<br />Creature - Mutant Treefolk<br />Symbiosis 2 (As this enters the battlefield, you may exile another nontoken creature you control as symbiont until this card leaves the battlefield. If you do, this creature enters the battlefield with two additional +1/+1 counters on it.)<br />Reach<br />2/4<br /><br />SU01 - Cephaloweft (Uncommon) 1UG<br />Creature - Mutant Squid<br />Symbiosis 2 (As this enters the battlefield, you may exile another nontoken creature you control as symbiont until this card leaves the battlefield. If you do, this creature enters the battlefield with two additional +1/+1 counters on it.)<br />When Cephaloweft enters the battlefield, you may return target creature to it’s owner’s hand.<br />2/2<br /><br />SU02 - Ambush Plasm (Uncommon) 1UU<br />Symbiosis 1 (As this enters the battlefield, you may exile another nontoken creature you control until this leaves the battlefield. If you do, this creature enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it.)<br />Flash<br />2/2<br /><br />SR01 <br /><br />Cnidarian Mimic (Rare) 2UG<br />Creature - Mutant Coral<br />You may have Cnidarian Mimic enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield except it gains symbiosis 4. (As this enters the battlefield, you may exile another nontoken creature you control until this leaves the battlefield. If you do, the exiled creature is a symbiont and this creature enters the battlefield with four additional +1/+1 counters on it.)<br />0/0<br /><br />SM01 <br /><br />Biocollossus (Mythic) 5GG<br />Trample, haste<br />Symbiosis 3, symbiosis 3<br />Whenever a creature exiled through symbiosis by Biocollossus returns to the battlefield from exile, it returns with three additional +1/+1 counters on it.<br />4/4Devin E. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216945116878064817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-45308552925916388592016-02-18T19:07:11.965-05:002016-02-18T19:07:11.965-05:00I think what helped was that he pinned it to the t...I think what helped was that he pinned it to the top of the page. Zeno Ragehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03364010535833286615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-43024239368065849282016-02-18T18:10:03.838-05:002016-02-18T18:10:03.838-05:00@Jay: I'm not sure when you want this to be do...@Jay: I'm not sure when you want this to be done, but given the surge helpful notes, I'm going to submit again, but in case you've already started writing about this, you just consider this to be a continuation of the conversation.<br /><br />Also, one thing that I really struggled with here was trying to build a robust submission using only cards with the mechanic. I strongly suspect that is why Stalker Bush never seems right, because it really should be:<br /><br />Stalker Bush G<br />Creature - Mutant Plant<br />Whenever CARDNAME leaves the battlefield, [EFFECT].<br />1/1<br /><br />Anyway, I'll update the image gallery, but I'll keep the originals in there in case you need them.Devin E. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216945116878064817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-75805951287373481762016-02-18T12:23:26.468-05:002016-02-18T12:23:26.468-05:00Symbiosis is a great mechanic, Ambush Plasm is the...Symbiosis is a great mechanic, Ambush Plasm is the best of the bunch to me. Easy to understand, and you can keep discovering new uses for it.<br /><br />I don't like the mixed messages on Stalker Bush. If this were my first exposure to the mechanic, I would think that the two abilities have to work together, but they don't. I think the first ability alone as a regular leaves-the-battlefield ability would be a fine support card in its own right, without needing Symbiosis itself:<br />G<br />When this leaves the battlefield [put a +1/+1 counter on target creature] OR [Gain 2 life].<br />1/1<br /><br />I liked the vanilla treefolk you had before as a common showcase of the mechanic (2GG Reach, Symbiosis 2, 2/4). The treefolk is a good blocker when you're behind (at which point you probably can't afford to exile another creature with the ability), and a good way to press your advantage when you're ahead as a 4/6. In general, cards that have value on Defense without symbioting and on offense when you use the ability are a win for me-- It reminds me a lot of Unleash in that way. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12542336969579468290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-88529814363006725452016-02-18T07:12:17.718-05:002016-02-18T07:12:17.718-05:00Oh yeah, I'm starting to really like this.
I ...Oh yeah, I'm starting to really like this.<br /><br />I agree, if you're going to refer to key off the exiled creature, you need a shorter text. For the cards which care which cards they exile, they can maybe just say "As long as it exiled a blue creature"[1].<br /><br />Stalker Bush is confusing me a bit though, it probably needs (a) change to a different keyword that has a verb form (b) make up a verb for symbiosis (c) cut that card, or tweak it so it doesn't mention being symbiotised directly (which shouldn't take away from the rest of the mechanic).<br /><br />The fact there's so many different interesting options for this is very good. Even the vanilla and french vanilla cards not listed are interesting to me.<br /><br />[1] Or maybe "as long as a blue creature is exiled with ~". I'm not sure of the exact wording but I know there's one used on existing cards.Jack (cartesiandaemon)https://www.blogger.com/profile/08258267965242039995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-21161006247918243202016-02-17T16:00:43.447-05:002016-02-17T16:00:43.447-05:00I like it. I added a phrase to the ability (which ...I like it. I added a phrase to the ability (which is already a little bit long) to make that clear a la monstrous.<br /><br />Also, fixed the templating.Devin E. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216945116878064817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-8474561493267424282016-02-17T14:27:36.067-05:002016-02-17T14:27:36.067-05:00"Becomes a symbiont" for the exiled crea..."Becomes a symbiont" for the exiled creature?<br /><br />Templating note - Symbiosis is an ETB replacement ability, so in the text block it should be above everything except flash.Jenesishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356037137564501914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-50253495456388082402016-02-17T05:47:20.973-05:002016-02-17T05:47:20.973-05:00Very good all around! The cards all take the mecha...Very good all around! The cards all take the mechanic and does interesting and fresh things with it. You also beautifully crafted and described the environment that you had, so well done! <br /><br />Don't forget there is nothing wrong with a simple "vanilla" creature to showcase and introduce your mechanic. Zeno Ragehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03364010535833286615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-74457320038945188142016-02-14T12:44:44.104-05:002016-02-14T12:44:44.104-05:00Design skeleton:
SC01 - A reward for dedicated Sy...Design skeleton:<br /><br />SC01 - A reward for dedicated Symbiosis players that's still fringe-playable outside of the deck. <br /><br />Stalker Bush (Common) G<br />Creature - Mutant Plant<br />When Stalker Bush exiled through symbiosis, put an additional +1/+1 counter onto the creature exiling it.<br />Symbiosis 3 (As this enters the battlefield, you may exile another nontoken creature you control until this leaves the battlefield. If you do, this creature enters the battlefield with three additional +1/+1 counters on it.)<br />1/1<br /><br />Note: With synthesis, the phrase "when Stalker Bush is synthesized" was very clear, but there is no equivalent with Symbiosis. Is this templating too weird? Is there a better template?<br /><br />SC02 - Another basic card that supports a specific archetype, while still being perfectly playable in any blue deck. One note, this card has a really nice flavor interaction with other Symbiosis creatures, since it forcibly de-adapts them. Second note, creatures with enters the battlefield effects are very satisfying to synthesize, this set would include a Coiling Oracle.<br /><br />Cephaloweft (Common) 3U<br />Creature - Mutant Squid<br />Symbiosis 2 (As this enters the battlefield, you may exile another nontoken creature you control until this leaves the battlefield. If you do, this creature enters the battlefield with two additional +1/+1 counters on it.)<br />When Cephaloweft enters the battlefield, you may return target creature to it’s owner’s hand.<br />1/1<br /><br />SU01 - A simple, clean design which hammers home the flavor of Symbiosis being an adaptation to a harsh environment, this creature literally saves something from death.<br /><br />Ambush Plasm (Uncommon) 1UU<br />Symbiosis 1 (As this enters the battlefield, you may exile another nontoken creature you control until this leaves the battlefield. If you do, this creature enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it.)<br />Flash<br />2/2<br /><br />SU02 - Another way of valuing Symbiotic creatures, this time you care about what you absorb.<br /><br />Luminescent Vitaspore (Uncommon) 2UG<br />Creature - Mutant Fungus<br />Symbiosis 2 (As this enters the battlefield, you may exile another nontoken creature you control until this leaves the battlefield. If you do, this creature enters the battlefield with two additional +1/+1 counters on it.)<br />Luminescent Vitaspore has flying as long as it synthesized a blue creature.<br />Luminescent Vitaspore has vigilance as long as it synthesized a green creature.<br />3/3<br /><br />SR01 <br /><br />Cnidarian Mimic (Rare) 2UG<br />Creature - Mutant Coral<br />You may have Cnidarian Mimic enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield except it gains symbiosis 4. (As this enters the battlefield, you may exile another nontoken creature you control until this leaves the battlefield. If you do, this creature enters the battlefield with four additional +1/+1 counters on it.)<br />0/0<br /><br />SM01 <br /><br />Biocollossus (Mythic) 5GG<br />Trample, haste<br />Symbiosis 3, symbiosis 3<br />Whenever a creature exiled through symbiosis by Biocollossus returns to the battlefield from exile, it returns with three additional +1/+1 counters on it.<br />4/4Devin E. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216945116878064817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-38368040464632197732016-02-14T12:44:35.898-05:002016-02-14T12:44:35.898-05:00- Symbiosis -
'On Galena the AEtherstorms can...- Symbiosis -<br /><br />'On Galena the AEtherstorms can rapidly change an entire environment from desert to dense jungle in a few nights, or from saltwater lake to freshwater hot-spring. To survive in such a chaotic ecosystem, the flora and fauna must adapt much faster than would normally result from evolution. <br /><br />In one fascinating case, the animals and plants of Galena's Valley Basin have been observed to combine in a process I call symbiosis. Once the two organisms are working together, the resulting symbiote is hardier and more likely to survive. Over many generations, in a cunning subversion of the natural order of things elsewhere, some organisms' entire survival strategy depends upon being an ideal choice for symbiosis from a larger organism.'<br /> - From the journal of Mawrth Vallis, Explorer of Galena, Fourth Seat of the Interplanar Academy of Natural Philosophy<br /><br />Symbiosis is a keyword mechanic existing primarily in Blue and Green. It reads:<br /><br />Symbiosis N (As this enters the battlefield, you may exile another nontoken creature you control until this leaves the battlefield. If you do, this creature enters the battlefield with N additional +1/+1 counter(s) on it.)<br /><br />Image Gallery<br />http://imgur.com/a/9R0A5Devin E. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216945116878064817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-84108290046862854062016-02-13T21:18:12.107-05:002016-02-13T21:18:12.107-05:00I'm actually still designing cards for both me...I'm actually still designing cards for both mechanics. Any additional thoughts would be really appreciated.<br /><br />I'll be putting my final submission up tomorrow at Noon EST, where you'll have one last chance to comment, suggest, critique, and high-five myself and each other.Devin E. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216945116878064817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-86910002774343301282016-02-12T23:56:30.682-05:002016-02-12T23:56:30.682-05:00I assume you decided to go with synthesis? If you ...I assume you decided to go with synthesis? If you have, I believe that you could expand it into more colors than blue and green. Zeno Ragehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03364010535833286615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-55922805615848417882016-02-11T15:30:36.231-05:002016-02-11T15:30:36.231-05:00@Taresivon: I love that design! Flickering is my f...@Taresivon: I love that design! Flickering is my favorite thing to do in magic, so you've hit my sweet-spot. Still, that has to be a rare. We don't want flicker + unearth to be a common interaction, because that would require printing multiple cards to support it. If it's not supported, it shouldn't be able to come up very often, otherwise it will be even more confusing.Devin E. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216945116878064817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-89676207209324987942016-02-11T15:26:31.268-05:002016-02-11T15:26:31.268-05:00Agreed, but I don't think not liking the flavo...Agreed, but I don't think not liking the flavor I proposed is a reason not to pursue a mechanic, especially since Synthesis has the most obvious and linear design as a almost completely new thing.<br /><br />The important thing about the Simic story was Synthesis being non-invasive, biological, adaptation technology. Unlike Devour, the goal isn't to show the ferocity of nature, but to add a small magico-sci-fi element to the biology of otherwise normal creatures, a guided evolution through sciencey-magic!<br /><br />The reason I'm saying we're hung up is because people were critiquing the way I thought of to make that happen, but not the actual flavor of the mechanic. Again, I agree that all critiques are welcome, but I don't want to get hung up on the extra work I did in worldbuilding that I could have just skipped.Devin E. Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216945116878064817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479847193762153273.post-20464355263227894332016-02-10T23:34:16.688-05:002016-02-10T23:34:16.688-05:00Flavor is part of the challenge. So I feel like es...Flavor is part of the challenge. So I feel like establishing something will help the challenge and the cards. Zeno Ragehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03364010535833286615noreply@blogger.com