Cool Card Design of the Day5/18/2012 - As I was reading Zac Hill's article today, it occurred to me that Brimstone Volley reduced the cost of five damage from 5 mana (from say, Beacon of Destruction) to 3 and that Thunderous Wrath reduces it 1. My mind compulsively completes patterns, so naturally I wondered about a card that reduces it to -1.
I failed to design such a card, exactly, but this is interesting too:
For a moment I started templating it as if Invert were a keyword but this seems like a one-of-EVER mechanic so that was just ridiculous. What appeals to me most about this card probably isn't obvious (I can't tell): This card establishes a fair exchange rate of RR for 3 damage and vice-versa; paying the card allows you to take either side of that exchange.
The final clause is clunky, but was necessary to prevent the card from becoming the new Dark Ritual. I'm not sure the final result is worth printing in any set, but the idea amused me and I hope it amuses a few of you too.
EDIT: Bass helped me realize I'd put the incomplete card up. I'd forgotten the "deals 3 to you" part. That's fixed now and that bit of thinking also made me think this is basically a split card:
For a moment I started templating it as if Invert were a keyword but this seems like a one-of-EVER mechanic so that was just ridiculous. What appeals to me most about this card probably isn't obvious (I can't tell): This card establishes a fair exchange rate of RR for 3 damage and vice-versa; paying the card allows you to take either side of that exchange.The final clause is clunky, but was necessary to prevent the card from becoming the new Dark Ritual. I'm not sure the final result is worth printing in any set, but the idea amused me and I hope it amuses a few of you too.
EDIT: Bass helped me realize I'd put the incomplete card up. I'd forgotten the "deals 3 to you" part. That's fixed now and that bit of thinking also made me think this is basically a split card:
Why not make it; "Choose one — Deal 3 damage OR Add RRRR to your mana pool."?
ReplyDeleteAw crap, I forgot the part about it dealing 3 damage to you. My bad. Re-uploading now.
DeleteWould Bolt Inverted sadly need "Bolt Inverted is red"?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely an interesting card. Also (with some tweaking) could be an interesting submission to Havelock's challenge.
I think Wizards has solved the "this card is this color" issue by putting a little colored dot next to the card type (see double faced cards).
DeleteHm, interesting idea. How about "Deal 3 damage to target creature or player. You may add another RR to your mana pool instead of paying its mana cost if ~ targets you."?
ReplyDeleteThe last clause could be a keyword ability, although I agree it normally shouldn't be :) Although yeah, that probably does need the "if you have RR in your mana pool" rider.
Or even, "Deal 3 damage to target player. That players adds RRRR to his or her mana pool."
DeleteSimpler to read, but perhaps an even weirder card.
I do want to translate it not as a split card with the mountain-casting restriction, but as a RR Bolt with "If ~ deals damage to you this way, add RRRR to your mana pool". I agree that doesn't make the inversion as obvious though, sadly.
ReplyDeletePerhaps there's material there for an article: cards which have a great concept, but that concept gets so obscured by the templating that it's not worth it. (I'm reminded of Evershrike, which I didn't realise was "You can enchant this from your graveyard" until I read a dailymtg article mentioning its templating. There are numerous other examples.)