Cool Card Design of the Day2/4/2013 - What if Demonic Tutor were symmetrical?
Everyone gets to search, but since you spent the card you get your prize immediately.
Black isn't really known for sharing though, so let's find a way to make this more selfish.
When I read these two cards as I writing this post, I saw a glaring problem. I made the card go to the top of your library instead of your hand because otherwise Symmetrical Tutor's effect is clunky (with the draw) or favors your opponents (without), but it's probably not worth it.
Here's the simpler and cleaner Symmetrical Tutor. Yes, you're down a card in the deal, but you did get to cast Demonic Tutor and will get to use your card first. Maybe to Mind Twist them?
And here's the "simpler" Vampire's Secret. Note that the text is actually longer, despite the effect being more straightforward.
Which version do you prefer?
This is basically a one shot Maralen of the Mornsong, then?
ReplyDeleteI realize it functions slightly differently and there is precedence, but I preferred the execution as a creature personally and I don't feel it's very black as a symmetrical effect (even on Maralen). I think it'd make more sense as a 2 color card - probably white/black?
I like how this has both players tutor simultaneously, unlike Maralen. Maralen was too restrictive for my taste. It basically demanded that you only play her when you have a counterspell or a spell that grants indestructibility/hexproof in hand, because otherwise you would never get your turn to tutor.
ReplyDeleteI like the first one the most. It does a good job of taking an almost symmetrical effect and making it unfair with just a slight twist.
ReplyDeleteVampire's Secret feels less elegant to me. First of all, in most situations there isn't really a choice to not tutor, but the text sounds like it's about a choice.
Second of all, many symmetrical spells either A) do the same thing to both players (like Duskmantle Seer or Earthquake), or B) convert some kind of harm into some kind of good (like Vampiric Tutor or Grave Exchange). But Vampire's Secret tries to cram different styles of symmetry in a weird way. It starts out with both players doing the same action (tutoring). But then there is this step that only one of the players follows through on (allow opponent to drain life if you tutored).
I think you could make it feel more symmetrical by making it like this:
Unfair Tutor 1B
Sorcery
Each player searches his or her library for a card and reveals it. Opponents lose life equal to the converted mana cost of the card he or she revealed. You gain life equal to the converted mana cost of the card you revealed. Each player puts the card he or she revealed into his or her hand, then shuffles his or her library.
How about:
ReplyDeleteEach player may search his or her library for a card, put it into that player's hand, and shuffle his or her library. Each player who does this loses 3 life. You gain life equal to the total life lost in this way.
You pay 3 life and gain 3 back, amounting to the same thing as "You don't need to pay. Others players do." The wording is elegant, but the function of the card (losing 3 life and gaining 3 life again right away) feels weird to me.
DeleteWhat if it was a creature? The life loss could be converted into something other than life gain.
Demon of Costly Wishes 4BB
Creature - Demon
3/3
Flying
Each player may search his or her library for a card, put it into that player's hand, and shuffle his or her library. Each player who does this loses 2 life. Put +1/+1 counters on ~ equal to the total life lost in this way.
Neat. Long with the ETB text, but cool just the same.
Delete