CCDD 08202019 - Scale Birds of Various Sizes

Let's move from squirrels to birds. Scale Birds are a cool creative concept, helping to convey the size of BIG things that only are ever seen on very small card arts. What would happen if we tried to capture that mechanically?

CCDD 08152019 - Hermit Squirrel

The Beacon of Creation podcast had a design challenge to create a card for the commander 2019 decks this past week. I had an idea to create a new Magus-like cycle, where instead of creatures embodying various classic non-creature cards, it was artifacts embodying classic creatures. For the Populate deck, I immediately went to Deranged Hermit as a possibility, but they just printed Deep Forest Hermit in Modern Horizons. Instead I came up with this:

CCDD 082918—Hobgoblin Warlord & Master Illusionist

Cool Card Design of the Day
Since yesterday's CCDD turned out not to be new, here are two. These both explore double-tribal.

But first, let's briefly explore some good and bad tribal designs.

CCDD 071118 - Half-Lords

Cool Card Design of the Day
During GDS3's first challenge, I came up with an idea for Imps that I ended up discarding because, after iterating, it didn't feel like it fit the tribe anymore. I still like the idea, though, so I figured I'd walk you all through my thought process so we could discuss whether the core idea of a "Half-Lord" is salvageable in some way.

Weekend Design Challenge 070618 - Evergreen Keyword Matters

Hey Artisans. Click through to see the requirements for this weekend's design challenge, due Monday morning. Every submission warrants feedback, so once you've got your great idea down, give some thoughtful critique to some of your peers. Revise your submission any number of times, and on Monday-ish, I'll review the most recent submission from each designer.

CCDD 061118 - Characteristic Anthems

Back before the GDS Bullet Train left the station, I had started an exploration of Form of enchantments exploring what they might look like separated from Red's history with the template. While working on that, I gave a lot of thought to both the Iconic and Characteristic races in Magic, and how they are captured mechanically.

CCDD 020618 - Lifecycle Aetherborn

Kaladesh's Aetherborn fascinated me, and while they got some limited tribal support in the block, there wasn't much that captured their unique lifecycle in the lore of the plane.

CCDD 101117—Lord of Vedalkis

For some reason I've had Tribal Lords on my mind. Can't figure out why for the life of me.

CCDD 061317—Chrysoaoramancer

Cool Card Design of the Day
6/13/2017 - I forget exactly how this design came about, but it was definitely intended to be a smaller, more limited Aether Adept. The result is more efficient early, better for tempo or aggro builds, but has lower potential to impact the late game.

CCDD 110716—Tempest Caller

Cool Card Design of the Day
11/7/2016 - Haste lord.

Weekend Art Challenge Review 090916 -- Ooze, the Boss (88grzes)

Weekend Art Challenge Review
Show me an Ooze Lord

Weekend Art Challenge 090916 -- Ooze, the Boss (88grzes)

Weekend Art Challenge
Greetings, Artisans! Go ahead and click through to see this weekend's art and the design requirements for your 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 if there's any ambiguity as to what your final submission is, I'll make my best guess when doing the renders.

CCDD 032316—Danish Prince

Cool Card Design of the Day
3/23/2016 - Another variation on the traditional tribal lord. With threshold-1 instead of scaling count-me.

Devin Low's 2007 article introducing the count-me spectrum is relevant to the recent discussion on tribal mechanics, particularly since it places 'mechanical link' one level above 'non-tribal.' I don't disagree with the spectrum at all; I merely question whether going higher on it is a better form of tribal (and not whether it's more tribal, which I'd say it is).

Not unlike the spoiled Stromkirk Mentor.

Weekend [Art] Challenge Review 020714—Lords A'Leapin

Weekend Art Challenge Review
Here's the challenge we're reviewing today. Note that blogger had some technical difficulties, partially inhibiting our usual back-and-forth.

M13 Show a Little Class

Since the primary subtheme of Magic 2013 is multicolor without gold cards, it makes sense to find some way to support or reward players for playing two color decks other than Bond cards. So we're replacing the standard gammut of race lords (Elvish Archdruid et al) with class lords that can benefit creatures of multiple colors.

CCDD 072811—Noble Revenant

Cool Card Design of the Day
7/28/2011 - One promising design well that remains substantially untapped is lords. I've made a few CCDD lords already and you can bet this won't be the last of them. What's brilliant about a creature lord is that if it's for a popular or well-supported tribe, Timmy's going to love it and if it's for a smaller tribe or a tribe that hasn't gotten much love recently, Johnny (or Vorthos) is going to love it. You're always going to have an audience.

Today's card is the lord of shades. It's also kind of a no-brainer once you've got the concept of shade lord in your head. I'd be amazed if I'm the first to design this guy. That said, he sure hasn't been printed... yet.

CCDD 041211—Aranax, Spider Queen

Cool Card Design of the Day
4/12/2011 - This one goes out to Mr. Jon Becker, my favorite Philly-based pro player, and fellow Magic spider enthusiast. And by enthusiast, I mean, Jon is far-and-away the most vocal proponent for spiders in Magic (possibly the only one, of such reknown).

CCDD 032311—Lady of the Forked Tongue

Cool Card Design of the Day
3/23/2011 - Who doesn't like a crazy snake lady? Apart from men, women and snakes, I mean. This is no Deranged Hermit or Thelonite Hermit, but on the other hand, it is a crazy snake lady.

CCDD 030811—Piscomancer

Cool Card Design of the Day
3/08/2011 - Everyone who hates tribal lords, raise your hand. No one? Yeah, that's what I thought. I saw this art (and actually attributed it) and I knew I had to make a a fish lord. This was my second stab at it.

CCDD 022611 — Master's Simulacrum and Master of Being

Cool Card Design of the Day
Every day, I design a new card and discuss it briefly. Sometimes I will examine new possibilities for colors or mechanics, sometimes I'll re-examine existing executions and sometimes I'll just design something I think is neat.