Set Design: Unanswered Question #5

Today's question is again about the high-tech world of Ekkremes. Most recent sets feature struggles between different factions. It seems quite likely that one main faction in this world will be the technocrats: the people who are building all these awesome artifacts that we're in the process of designing. But what is the other faction? (Or factions?) Keep in mind that we must avoid repeating the Mirran vs. Phyrexian war. Also, note that flavor can get nailed down after we've worked out the actual mechanics: finding a rival "mechanical heart" is what we want, not just brainstorming the flavor of another faction.

So, readers, how can we characterize a faction that works against the machine faction?

CCDD 031313—Desert Warlord

Cool Card Design of the Day
3/13/2013 - Some wish for power. They are weak. Some are born with power. They are fools. True power is taken. You cannot be given power, for it is the act of taking that is power.

CCDD 031213—Jury-Rig

Cool Card Design of the Day
3/12/2013 - The idea of having various parts cards that may or may not be in your actual deck but can be combined to build something larger is the newest exciting idea for Ekkremes. I definitely want to explore that, but first I have to share a set of cards that offer a more traditional approach to basically the same end.

Weekend Art Challenge Review 030813—Goddess Mechanic

Weekend Art Challenge Review
Here's the challenge we're reviewing today.

Set Design: Unanswered Question #4

Today's question is back in Frontier, our wild west world. Many of our pitches for Frontier have suggested the gameplay theme of Battlecruiser Magic. However, we don't yet know which sorts of mechanics will make this work best. We also need to avoid designing Rise of the Eldrazi 2, which makes the resemblance of gold counters to Eldrazi spawn undesirable. So tell us, readers: how can we find a fresh new take on Battlecruiser Magic for Frontier?

"What we're building, no one knows!"

This is how I feel about attempts to make Steamflogger Boss work:

Weekend Art Challenge 030813—GoddessMechanic

Weekend Art Challenge
Click through to see this weekend's art by GoddessMechanic and the design requirements for your card submission, due Monday morning. Remember that you may ask for feedback by mid-day Sunday and redesign your submission once after you get it.