Weekend Art ChallengeClick through to see this weekend's art and the design requirements for your card submission, due Monday morning. Every submission warrants feedback, which I will try to provide, and which everyone is welcome to provide as well.
If you choose, you may use that feedback to revise your submission any number of times. I will post and review the most recent submission from each designer some time on Monday, life permitting. To help ensure I recreate your design accurately, please use CARDNAME instead of ~ and don't use the {} symbol images in your submissions.
This weekend's art is by MihaiRadu. Your card must be a common blue instant for Magic 2014. The art had been intended for a white card, but Development replaced that and killed a blue card at the last minute. Your card can't bump against Cancel, Unsummon, Divination, or Hydrosurge. Bonus points if it's particularly helpful against a board full of Slivers.
I'll tell you right now it's going to be quite difficult to complete all of these objectives and match the art. I strongly suggest focusing on the hard restrictions and working from there. If the optional bonus happens to line up great, otherwise, don't worry about it. It's more important that you submit something valid, then giving up trying to find something perfect.
Non Sliver:
ReplyDeleteSpherical Shielding - 1U
Instant (C)
You gain shroud until end of turn.
Draw a card.
Sliver
Stasis Spheres - 3UU
Instant (C)
Choose target player. Creatures that player controls do not untap during that player's next untap step.
Shielding is clean and reasonable.
DeleteSpheres feels a bit too sideways for a core set common.
I assume you meant hexproof instead of shroud right? Otherwise neat.
DeleteNon Sliver:
ReplyDeleteDenying Shield - U
Instant (C)
Target creature you control gets +0/+2 and gains hexproof until end of turn.
Sliver:
Unreality Bubble - 1UU
Instant (C)
Exile target creature. At the beginning of the next end step, return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner's control.
Turn to Mist with a blue twist. Given various recent precedents (Shadowmoor; Venser/Argent Sphinx in SOM; blue flicker theme in AVR; Voidwalk/Aetherling in RTR) I felt this was okay to bleed into M14 at common.
Unreality Bubble doesn't need to return the creature tapped as it happens in the end step, however I really like how this can turn off one of the static abilities of the slivers and mess with the players combat math.
DeleteAlthough I guess it can tap Voice of Resurgence without giving them a token, soo..
DeleteYup, that's what I was going for. Slivers are based on swarming and teamwork, so removing one from the equation can do a lot of damage to the Sliver player's whole board.
DeleteThe etbt can be relevant if you hit an attacker, so it won't get "psuedo vigilance" and be able to block your counter-strike next turn.
Ironically, I think established players might have more trouble with the ETBT, since it's so unusual for this effect.
DeleteAether Bubble
ReplyDeleteU
Instant
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to or dealt by target creature this turn.
Blue really needs a card with "bubble" in the name. This is a blue effect that has appeared on at least one common card (Gaseous Form) and a bunch of uncommons. Feedback welcome and appreciated.
On second thought, I prefer this design:
DeleteDumbfound
U
Instant
Target creature loses all abilities until end of turn. Draw a card.
Not sure whether the cantrip makes this overpowered or not. This effect has shown up several times at uncommon and once at common, always with P/T setting effects. Hopefully removing those effects puts it in unambiguous common territory.
The P/T setting is actually there because without it, creatures whose P/T is defined entirely by their abilities (such as Pack Rat) can't figure out how big they're supposed to be. If anything, removing that ability should warrant a rarity bump.
DeleteI've actually delved into the mechanics of such an ability quite a bit, and the rule do support it. but the way it works is so complex that wizards couldn't really print a card like it. what happens is the creature with power/toughness defining abilities will have those set to 0 but only on the text box. whats in the P/T line remains unchanged. so if you have a creature like Tarmogoyf it would be 0/1. this is from the rules of Yixlid Jailer.
DeleteI like Aether Bubble.
DeleteAnd by "I like it," I mean I designed the same thing but with hexproof tacked on. Yours is cleaner.
DeleteImpelling Defense (common)
ReplyDeleteU
Instant
Put a 0/2 blue Wall creature token with defender onto the battlefield.
Draw a card.
I can't help feeling that this is *very* good compared to Elvish Visionary, especially at instant speed. Maybe should cost {1}{U}?
DeleteA 0/2 defender is way, way worse than a 1/1. I felt that warranted losing the point of mana, even with flash.
DeleteI like the impetus.
DeleteWhy 0/2? Is it important that it's just big enough to block 1/1s? I'd rather see a 0/1 or something bigger.
Also, players would wonder why this is an instant and not a creature with flash.
Both fair questions. I like the idea of a cheap defensive spell for U, though a stronger defense does make more sense. What about:
DeleteImpelling Defense (common)
U
Instant
Put a 0/7 blue Wall creature token with defender onto the battlefield. Exile it at the beginning of the end step.
Draw a card.
I like the wording now as it as this but with the wall so big now I kinda wonder if we need the cantrip to make this playable as a one drop.
DeleteI also believe that unless the set asks for tokens for its own twisted, perverted, yet awesome reasons (I'm looking at you RTR) I prefer using flash to put creatures in play. I could resume your card to: U, target creature gets -7/-0 until end of turn, draw a card, in a less NWO way.
DeleteI love the idea of an instant one-time defender. I agree this design could still be focused better.
DeleteHow? Blue shouldn't be killing things with combat tricks (giving the wall power feels off.) Adding additional things the wall does (like bounce things it blocks) feels too complex for common. Creating more walls is an interesting idea, but then it's hardly a cheap spell anymore (and honestly, a purely defensive trick that doesn't gain tempo feels like it should be cheap.)
DeleteI disagree that this should be a creature with flash. Summoning a creature really quickly has flavor that's less resonant than a wizard generating a defensive barrier in a pinch.
Why does this spell do two things?
DeleteIt's a cantrip so that you don't lose card advantage over the fact that the wall immediately dies.
DeleteI could remove the cantrip effect and it'd be printable as a bad card a la Defensive Stance. (Heck, the art could be a Defensive Stance reprint.) But, hey, can you fault me for not wanting to submit really bad cards?
I could fault you for not wanting to make weak cards, but I think you're right: Impelling Defense would be too much worse than Fog as it just prevents a single creature's attack. Cantrip seems better than the obvious alternatives given the art.
DeleteStasis Capture UU
ReplyDeleteinstant
Tap target creature and each creature that shares a type with it.
i )Bubbles welled up from each of the tendrils. They were as thin as silk, but strong as steel. (i
would probably require the flames to be blue-shifted or something. implying that the tendrils and the sphere are one spell.
I tried to get whole you-don't-control thing into my version but it doesn't make a difference often enough to justify the added words. Stasis Capture's better.
Deleteyou're right it's probably more NWO friendly to only hit your opponents with this. (which is especially important for a core set common.)
Delete"Tap target creature and each creature you don't control that shares a type with it."
Alternatively:
ReplyDeleteStasis Sphere - UU
Instant
Remove target attacking or blocking creature from combat.
I like the design, but "remove from combat" seems to be a white (or sometimes red) effect.
DeleteIs it clear to new players what removing a creature from combat means exactly?
DeleteTurn Aside U
ReplyDeleteInstant
Counter target spell that targets a permanent you control.
Sliver:
Turn Aside 2 (WIth added protection from random old sliver abilities?) U
Instant
Counter target spell or activated ability that targets a permanent you control.
Although looking at the spoilers there don't seem to be any slivers that grant activated abilities, so perhaps:
Turn around 3U
Instant
Creatures your opponents control lose all abilities until end of turn.
However this is really an uncommon..
Agreed. Turn Aside is the best of this bunch.
DeleteSince you didn't mention specifically that this was a reprint, are you aware this card already exists?
Deletehttp://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=194303
Yeah yeah that was the idea, the art even looks similar.
DeleteHow amazing would it have been, if he had recreated the card's rules text, cost and name without knowing/remembering it existed?
DeleteWhich one do you prefer?
ReplyDeleteForcefield Evocation 3U
Instant - Common
Until end of turn if a creature would deal 2 damage or more to you, it deals one damage to you instead.
[i]It blunts even the strongest of assaults[/i]
or:
Forcefield Enwrapture 2U
Instant
Target creature loses all creature types and abilities, becomes 0/2 and all damage that would be dealt to it is prevented until end of turn.
[i]In a forcefield no one can hear you scream. They can still see you though.[/i]
or:
Entrap Attackers 2UU
Instant
Tapped creatures do not untap on their controller's next untap phase.
[i]Error 404: the flavor text you are looking for does not exist any more[/i]
or:
Pyropapsis 1U
Instant
Target creature gains protection from red until end of turn.
[i]Flames are to be quenched.[/i]
hmmm... aren't all those cards white? (the middle one could also be blue but...)
DeleteI like the first and last best for a core set common. The first does feel pretty white, but with this flavor you could argue the bleed. White also tends to be the only color granting protection, but it feels pretty perfect for the blue vs red elemental conflict.
DeleteThough that justification also results in Pyroblast.
DeleteIf we dropped the damage prevention then Forcefield Entrapment is mechanically sound for this challenge, though the name and abilities don't align as much as you might want.
DeleteThe first one is a recall to an old alpha rare I loved, too: forcefield. http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=159755
DeleteIt does feel a bit out of color pie to me too, but in core sets they do tend to stretch for flavor reasons (if we take M2010 as a baseline for example we had a green ice cage effect)
The second one is trying to capture the idea that you trap the creature in a bubble, and it cannot interact any more. It helps against slivers therefore by turning of one static ability, but it is not a NWO common unfortunately. If there was a cleaner/easier way to do it, I would love a common like that.
For the third one, I prefer Ben Nassau's wording, as seen in the following post.
Then Pyropapsis could be in a circle of enemy color hosers, to keep the format in check. Giving a creature protection from one color is not that broken if it is only until end of turn, and blue gets to do it at a higher cost than white this way.
By the way Jay, coming up with images and challenges so often is getting me impressed. I rarely manage to find pictures matching my designs. I like the idea of imposing limitations on us, but deciding what those limitations are is already a tough thing by itself.
Thanks, Fading. I'm hoping that the practice I get as I do more of them offsets that increased difficulty of finding a unique challenge that remains hard but doable.
DeleteMaybe forcefield could use -N/+N?
That last card is so bad that if I opened it in a booster pack, I would be led to conclude that Development had an irrational hatred of blue for some reason. Printing an entire cycle of sideboard-only color hosers at common doesn't sound like a very fun Draft environment.
DeleteMy favorite of the four is actually Forcefield Enwrapture. "Target creature becomes a Fog Bank" fits in with blue's transforming flavor and has a decent amount of play value. The losing creature types doesn't make a lot of sense in a vacuum, though.
Man, designing to fit the art is HARD.
ReplyDeleteDrench
2UU
Instant (C)
Attacking creatures don't untap during their controller's next untap step.
“Pesky water mage! You think some bubbles can stop me? Just wait til I dry myself off.”
I had this idea, walked away from the computer, refreshed, and fading had put it up already. Parallel design is inevitable with restrictions this tight.
Feedback welcome. If someone can think of a better name - something with water and bubbles and something - it'd be highly appreciated.
Fascinating: The addition of "attacking" makes the feel so much more right to me. It's less flexible, but its purpose is so much clearer.
DeleteWith Sleep being 2UU, I feel like this should be costed lower. 3U? 1UU?
DeleteI have to agree with Jay. I really like this wording, even though it is less flexible. However it is also has a less flavorful name (that creative would probably fix). The best cost would probably 1UU if we wanted a something that compares favorably with sleep, but I am not sure we want that...
DeleteThe name does need work.
DeleteI could see 3U or 1UU. Depends on how splashable you want Drench to be.
How about Deluge of Bubbles? I think I prefer 3U then.
DeleteFinal submission:
DeleteBubble Trap
3U
Instant (C)
Attacking creatures don't untap during their controller's next untap step.
“Pesky water mage! You think some bubbles can stop me? Just wait til I dry myself off.”
I kind of like the art for a Dispel reprint. But I want something vaguely original as well:
ReplyDeleteSphere of Greater Sanctuary 2U
Instant (C)
All creatures target player controls get -3/+3 until the end of turn.
The art makes me tempted to throw hexproof in there but I think that might be pushing the boundaries of core set common a touch too much. Thoughts?
This does certainly help against slivers. I was trying to do something like this, but I had my spell counting cards in hand or things on the battlefield and forgetting that I could just set fixed numbers. I therefore did not make such a card.
DeleteIf possible, do not throw shroud or hexproof in there.
I would totally print that at common in an expert set. The one hesitation I have in a core set is the amount of math players will often have to do to figure out how this affects the board.
DeleteIsolate 3U
ReplyDeleteInstant (C)
Target creature loses all abilities and gets protection from red until end of turn.
As discussed elsewhere, anything that strips abilities needs to set P/T for */* creatures. Neat otherwise (though I wonder if it should still get to do combat).
DeleteHow about
DeleteIsolate 3U
Instant (C)
Remove target creature from combat and counter all spells and abilities targetting it.
?
Not submitting this instead but it feels like it fits the picture without that "tacky" pro red cop-out?
Removing a creature from combat may not be ideal for a core set common in NWO, but if it is, or if we found perfect reminder text for it, I would love this rules text for this name. Not sure if it's white or blue.
DeleteHere's the idea that hasn't been claimed by anyone else yet:
ReplyDeleteFool Me Once 1U
Instant (cmn)
Counter target spell if it shares a name with a permanent its caster controls or a card in that player’s graveyard.
That's definitely pushing NWO boundaries for core set common, but I love the concept, and how it subtly hates on Slivers.
It's also not a perfect fit for the art, sadly.
DeleteThe challenge said not to bump against Cancel or Negate. Isn't three common counters in one set a bit much?
DeleteCancel's on the list but Negate isn't.
DeleteRepudiate 2U
ReplyDeleteInstant (Common)
Exile target creature spell.
the complexities of exiling a spell without countering it are probably not NWO friendly for a core set. imagine explaining to a new player that after they spent all that mana and work to cast emrukul you can remove it before it hits with Repudiate, even though it says "can't be countered"
DeleteNote the wording on Dissipate:
Deletehttp://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=292758
Time Out (Common)
ReplyDelete1U
Instant
Return target spell to its owner’s hand. (That spell will not resolve.)
Players can’t cast spells with the same name as that spell this turn.
“Let’s take a moment to breathe. For you, it’ll be your last.”
Not many spells split the effect into two lines like this, unless it's a cantrip. But the reminder text is vital and looks weird at the end.
This is a under used version of counterspell, so the urge may be to move it to Uncommon, but the concept is simple, and it's not extremely powerful, so I feel good that it is common.
Nice!
DeleteMy only complaint is that it should cost more, as where it is now feels powerful enough for uncommon, but that's more of a development issue. Cool though!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI took a top-down approach to making this a blue card and treated the character in the art as Teferi. Since Teferi is associated with time and phasing I aimed for mechanics and flavor could reflect that as a core-set common.
DeleteStalling for Time 1U
Untap up to two target attacking creature.
"Teferi knew the slivers would eventually evolve a way to break through but that was unimportant. The Thunian defenses were ready."
- - -
Room to Think 3U
Creatures can't attack you this turn unless their controller has more cards in hand than you.
Draw a card.
- - -
Æther Bubble 2U
Return each attacking creature to its owner's hand unless its controller pays 1 for each attacker.
"Teferi raised a portal around himself in the form of a shield and knew the brutes couldn't resist smashing it."
Yeah it's bumping up against Unsummon but I feel like Ætherize is a good fit against sliver hordes. Since Ætherize is uncommon I tried to redo it at common without making it strictly worse.
Stalling for Time might read to new players like it also removes those attackers from combat, which it doesn't.
DeleteRoom to Think could be really good in a Limited control deck. I like it best of these, though I do wonder if it's mono-blue.
Aether Bubble would be a pretty sweet uncommon, but at common it'll punish players who don't know to play around it pretty hard, and that'll be the new players who are already nervous about attacking.
Disinterest U
ReplyDeleteTarget creature loses all creature types and gains hexproof until end of turn.
I have an odd feeling this wouldn't fly under NWO common these days. I think it'd be a bit nonobvious to new players that this is an anti-sliver card. Common tribal hate these days tends to show the names of the tribe(s) it hates on the card itself.
DeleteI disagree with Evan. I believe this non-stating of hate against Slivers falls within the "discovery" bucket of Magic: The Gathering. Innistrad had a tribal component that was more pronounced than this Core Set. I like to think this is an answer not just for Slivers, but for anything that might refer to a creature type, like a Goblin. In fact, if creature lords return, this would interact with them as well.
DeleteThis design is a winner to me since hexproof is the mechanic that makes most sense for the card's art, and the creature type impact clearly affects Slivers. It has a good name! But can the name be even better than the amount of greatness it already is? It feels like it has a printable name that conveys the concept, but it also feels like it's "almost there" to amazing.
I think new players would appreciate it's use against Sliver's but when I was wondering whether to do for this myself, I couldn't get past the fact that turn to frog was uncommon. The other issue, and one I had to weigh up myself is whether adding hexproof hides the fact you could use against opponents too well, which is another tough call.
DeleteI don't get the flavor here. What's causing the target to lose its creature types? What does that mean in the game world?
DeleteIs this card playable? Even as a sideboard against Slivers?
I designed this card without looking at the comments. It's interesting that I came up with the same name as another submission and the same mechanic as yet another, different submission.
ReplyDeleteTime Out U (Common)
Instant
Exile target creature. Return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.
A "time out" IRL only last a short amount of time, just like the effect. And how "time outs" work IRL, mechanically, is isolating you away from the normal, everyday routine.
This works against a board of Slivers attacking you since you can impact every Sliver when you exile just one of them. A clever solution while the concept of the card's flavor is meant for one of your own creatures.
Intervene U
ReplyDeleteInstant
Counter target spell that targets a creature.
Admittedly, a #reprint. I tried to figure out an excuse for something Stifle-y to be common, but it just isn't excusable in NWO. Intervene is a really cute spell that can play both sides of the field. Not exceptional against slivers, but on the plus side, it could potentially come really in handy against Bant Hexproof. It is also more-different from Cancel than the average 1U-mana counterspell, which can be a plus on its own.
Hoping to get in under the wire. I didn't have time to think of a sliver-hating mechanic, but here's a variant on some of the proposed counterspells:
ReplyDeleteBubble of Protection: Red 2U
Instant (c)
Counter target spell that targets a creature you control. If that spell was red, return CARDNAME to its owner's hand.