Friday, February 14, 2014

Weekend [Art] Challenge 021414—Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

Weekend Art Challenge
Click through to see this weekend's design challenge. Your single, final submission is due by Monday morning. Every submission warrants feedback, which I will try to provide, and which everyone is encouraged to provide as well. You may use that feedback to revise your submission any number of times. If and only if you provide a direct link to art for your submission, and the artist's name, will I mock it up and include it in a follow-up review.


Design a card in the style of another designer. It can be any designer who has worked at Wizards, currently works at Wizards, or who has contributed to this site. Explain how your design reminds you of their style.

97 comments:

  1. Jousting Steed 2W
    Creature- Horse (Uncommon)
    2/2
    Mount for Knight (T: For as long as CARDNAME remains tapped, target Knight creature is mounted on CARDNAME and you may choose not to untap CARDNAME during your untap step.)
    The mounted creature gets +2/+2 and has first strike.


    Imitating HavelockV's "A Set in Four Cards" posts with top-down flavor and a "riding" mechanic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Most knights have first strike, so I'd suggest either removing "and has first strike" or giving Jousting Steed first strike.

      Delete
    2. It would probably also have first strike on its own if we base the logic of the mount mechanic on bestow.

      Delete
    3. "Different from bestow" was part of what I was going for, but you make good points. Changing to:

      Jousting Steed 2W
      Creature- Horse (Common)
      3/2
      Mount for Knight (T: For as long as CARDNAME remains tapped, target Knight creature is mounted on CARDNAME and you may choose not to untap CARDNAME during your untap step.)
      The mounted creature gets +3/+2.

      Delete
    4. Wait, the Knight is mounted? Ah, mounted on! Not mounted by the horse: http://denizenblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/man-carrying-horse.jpg

      Delete
    5. Good point-- the terminology for this mechanic could definitely be improved.

      Jousting Steed 2W
      Creature- Horse (Common)
      3/2
      Mount for Knight (T: For as long as CARDNAME remains tapped, target Knight creature rides CARDNAME and you may choose not to untap CARDNAME during your untap step.)
      CARDNAME's rider gets +3/+2.

      Art: http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/193/4/5/baliosfda_by_ladylyzar-d6d8a13.png

      Artist: ladylyzar

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    6. This is strong in a set with few knights, but reasonably so. Flavorwise, it's scary how bad-ass this horse is. I'd rather see a 2/2 for {2}{W} with the understanding there are a good bit of knights for it to target, personally.

      Delete
    7. Or Maybe 2/1 or 2/2 for {1}{W} (again, depending on as-Knight).

      Delete
    8. 2/1 for 1W sounds totally reasonable, and probably better (as you say) for a Knight-heavy set. But horses in Magic do tend to be somewhat bigger than one would expect, and the fact that removal can take out the mount (at instant speed no less) makes me think that it wouldn't be overpowered. 2/3 for 2W is another reasonable alternative, with precedent in Armored Warhorse.

      Delete
    9. Other colors might want more aggressive Mounts, so I'll go with 2/3 for 2W in this case. That way it's at least somewhat Limited playable, but mostly good in decks with Knights.

      Delete
  2. Thunder Lizard {4}{G}{G}
    Creature-Lizard Beast (unc)
    Trample
    When Thunder Lizard enters the battlefield, target creature gets +6/+4 and gains trample until end of turn.
    6/4

    is my attempt at a potentially-devastating fatty, ala Ken Nagle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally came up with three CCDDs while failing to make something Nagle enough.

      Delete
    2. I guess it would be 4RG, but otherwise neat.

      Delete
    3. I considered that. The Lizard type wants to be red, and the flavor doesn't not want to be red and neither does the ability. But apart from 'lizard' this could totally be mono-green. In a set with lots of dinosaurs, lizards need to be green as well as red (and black too).

      Delete
    4. It is weird that Alpha Tyrannax isn't a lizard, though.
      Imperiosaur and actually quite a few green creatures are lizards, though: http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?type=+[lizard]||subtype=+[lizard]

      http://hinxlinx.deviantart.com/art/The-Last-Roar-182252218

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    5. I think it is the assymetric stats boost that tis making me want it to be red and green. Green tends to give square stats.

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    6. I'm with fading shadows of a memory beloved. I could see this in mono green, but I think it'd be much more likely to be a 5/5 if it's not red.

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    7. Craw Wurm's legacy is dead.
      5/5

      Delete
    8. Hmm, I think making this a dino travels too far into Fleischer territory. Plus the ability is a tad too predictable.
      How about this?

      Sylvan Reckoner {4}{G}
      Creature-Dryad (unc)
      When Sylvan Reckoner enters the battlefield, destroy target noncreature permanent. Put an X/X green Elemental creature token onto the battlefield, where X is that permanent’s converted mana cost.
      1/1

      Delete
    9. This seems like it should exist already, which is probably a good sign if in fact it doesn't. (Isn't there a green spell that does this to artifacts and/or enchantments?) It feels very Commander-appropriate, too. I might argue for a higher casting cost and more fatty-ish stats on the original creature, though.

      Delete
    10. I think this ought to be just artifact or enchantment to avoid mostly putting 0/0s onto the battlefield. Could probably cost {3}{G} in that case. That said, straightforward as it may be I like Thunder Lizard a whole lot. (Disclaimer, my favorite cards in Scars of Mirrodin and Innistrad were Alpha Tyrranax and Villagers of Estwald)

      Delete
    11. R.I.P. Craw Wyrm. 1993-2009 loving mauler of faces.

      Delete
  3. I wanted to make an interesting Dave Guskin card that is a bit of a rattlesnake for multiplayer games.

    Sanctuarry of the wandering mind 2BU
    Enchantment - Uncommon
    Whenever a creature attacks you and is not blocked, that creature's controller chooses one: you draw a card or he discards a card.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it makes more sense to trigger on combat damage to you-- which would make this more obviously a "reverse-saboteur" effect. Otherwise, very cool.

      Delete
    2. That is true. The marginal bonus your opponents get when they damage you through trampling enemies is not worth the akward text. It would therefore be:

      Sanctuarry of the wandering mind 2BU
      Enchantment - Uncommon
      Whenever a creature deals combat damage to you, that creature's controller chooses one: you draw a card or he discards a card.

      Delete
    3. It's intentional that I can choose to discard a card even if my hand is empty?

      Delete
    4. I was thinking that yes, that would force your opponent to use their card before your turn, therefore you are sure you will not be interfered with on your turn. If this is a problem however and we want it to be a more powerful card for a discard deck it could become:

      Sanctuarry of the wandering mind 2BU
      Enchantment - Uncommon
      Whenever a creature deals combat damage to you, that creature's controller discards a card. If he cannot discard a card, you draw a card.

      Delete
    5. Malik Shah's Sanctuary
      by Raphael-Lacoste:
      http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs24/i/2008/006/1/7/Malik_Shah__s_Sanctuary_by_Raphael_Lacoste.jpg

      Delete
    6. If I were paying 4 for an enchantment that just does this, I'd be sad if my opponent discarded nothing.

      Delete
    7. Therefore it should cost less or be the other effect?

      Delete
    8. be the other effect
      or
      Whenever a creature deals combat damage to you, that creature's controller may discard a card. If he doesn't, you draw a card.

      Delete
    9. I like the second option a lot.

      Delete
    10. Yes that would be a better implementation. Sometimes the brain frazzles.

      Delete
  4. In the style of a Richard Garfield from 20 years ago. Cards don't have to be good, just flavorful! And who said anything about lands needing mana abilities!

    Highbranch Wood
    Land
    Tap when any flying creature is attacking you to make it lose flying ability until end of turn. Does not affect green creatures.

    (Rarity? You wish! It's 1993 and we're not publishing that information.)
    (old card frame)
    Art: http://i.imgur.com/LosrX3L.jpg
    Vincent van Gogh

    ReplyDelete
  5. Take one on the MaRo front:
    Perfect Specimen 2GU
    Creature-Shapeshifter
    You may have CARDNAME enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield, except it has "Whenever CARDNAME or another creature that shares a name with it enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on CARDNAME and each other creature that shares a name with it."
    0/0
    Copying, counters, some Johnny opportunities: MaRo to the core.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's probably most straightforward as a Shapeshifter but this could be an Ooze.

      Delete
    2. I've been having trouble finding any fitting art. If something comes to mind, please link it here.

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    3. Just choose any other creature in Magic and find really cool art of it. :-)

      Delete
    4. If nobody finds anything better I guess we'll go with this (focused on the middle vat) http://img.huyandex.com/FilesPics/huyandex/1882/001/184.jpg
      (art is from the Star Wars Galaxies TCG, there are no artist credits on the cards)

      Delete
    5. My original intent was to put it at rare, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it at mythic. That said, I wish mythics were held to a slightly higher standard of awesomeness than they are presently and this doesn't quite hit the mark I'm aiming for.

      Delete
  6. This card is based on a concept from Richard Garfield that MaRo incorporated into his planeswalker design.

    Purgatory's Gate - 5WB
    Legendary Structure
    Whenever a creature dies, exile it.
    Creatures you control get +1/+1 for each creature card exiled by CARDNAME.
    When CARDNAME is destroyed, return each creature card exiled by CARDNAME to their owner's graveyard.
    Integrity: 7

    Reminder text: A structure can be attacked and direct damage can be redirected to a structure like a planeswalker. Integrity is just like loyalty and is marked by counters/dice and when a structure's integrity is 0, it is "destroyed" via SBA. Otherwise, they generally have static effects.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ala Erik Lauer

    Deepshell Crab
    4UU
    Creature - Crab - Uncommon
    4/8
    "If the weight of a thousand seas cannot crush it, what hope has Purphoros's hammer?" -Thassa, God of the Sea

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not sure blue should be getting better vanilla creatures for the same cost than black (see Minotaur Abomination.)

      Delete
    2. I think that depends a lot on the environment. Surely a 4/6 is not the best vanilla creature that black could get for 4BB. Also note that Mr. Stetch has wisely made his design uncommon (versus the Minotaur Abomination's common), so I think this is fine, and Lauer would be very proud!

      Delete
    3. No, you're thinking of white.

      I think a reasonable definition for a "big butt" creature is power <= 4, toughness >= 6. Going by those numbers, here's the color distribution at all rarities:
      White: 28
      Blue: 13
      Black: 8
      Red: 9
      Green: 21

      If we define "big butt" like this crab, with power <= 4, toughness >= 8, also at all rarities:
      White: 3
      Blue: 1
      Black: 0
      Red: 1
      Green: 2

      Delete
    4. White is definitely king of big butts. What was I thinking?
      If we define big butt as toughness < power, I imagine blue will come in second (but not sure how test quickly).

      Delete
    5. Just use magiccards.info (where pow<tou is a valid query). Over all time, white is the king of big butts, but if you restrict (reasonably) to cards currently in standard, you will see that you were originally correct that blue is the buttking!

      Delete
  8. Holy shit this is a hard challenge

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ordrox Hill Siege-Beasts 1RRG (U)
    Creature - Beast
    Whenever CARDNAME enters the battlefield choose one -- CARDNAME gains haste and trample until end of turn or; up to two target creatures can't block this turn.
    4/4

    A la Zac Hill.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/192/1/2/frontline_assault_beast_by_davesrightmind-d56mx6j.jpg

      by Davesrightmind

      Delete
    2. What about this reminds you of Zac Hill?

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    3. Based on what I've seen of Zac his favourite cards are aggressive creatures. When he became a designer one of his goals was to help push those aggressive strategies up a tier so that they could compete with the more resilient and flexible spell based decks. Traditionally this was done via cost-reduction, however Zac's cards are built to offer either resiliency or flexibility while they attack for tons of damage. That drive toward flexibility and efficiency is what makes a card seem Zac Hill to me. For example Gravecrawler or Ghor-Clan Rampager.

      Delete
  10. I think I'm going to make a card based on original East Coast playtester, Skaff Elias. I'm using this article to get a handle on his design philosophy.

    http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/feature/223

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here's what I have so far. Another card from the Ice Age team for Alpha:

      Green Knight
      GG
      Summon Knight
      2/2
      Can block any creature. (It's blocks are never illegal.)
      Attacking does not cause Green Knight to tap.
      No ripple of waves or flutter of feathers escapes his notice as he patrols the woodland coastline.

      Delete
    2. http://www.originalmagicart.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/5_JeffMenges.jpg

      Artist Jeff A. Menges

      Delete
    3. This doesn't work within the rules. The legality of blocking is checked as a whole, not blocker by blocker. For example, how would you want this to interact with Tromokratis?

      Delete
    4. Good point-- but there were many cards from this era that didn't actually work within the rules. As long as Nich can come up with plausible behavior in the situations you describe, I'd say this is fine as a design.

      Delete
    5. Loving these retro cards.
      My only concern with this is that it breaks so hard from the [color] Knight pattern. (It also will die most any time it blocks)

      Delete
    6. If I wasn't designing a card from the beginning of the game, I'd agree about Green Knight not working within the rules. But think of how different the rules would be if cards like this needed to be fixed with the 6th Edition update. Remember, Clone used to not work, but the idea of it was clean enough that it still made Alpha and the rules were tackled to make it work. "This can block anything" is very simple. In a parallel universe, reach might have never happened with this mechanic in it's place. Anyway, I can't imagine trying to write this card using modern rules language.

      Skaff's influence is the way he thought about card environment. Cards are good or bad depending on the cards surrounding them. He seemed to like strong answers, cards that hosed narrow strategies, and the give and take that can come from that. This is a Knight that very much target's Blue's flying focus. Actually, I could see a mirror in Blue that blocks Green's forestwalkers.

      Delete
    7. I'm not worried about the rules, this ability is fine. I'm seeing this isn't like White Knight or Black Knight, and that's suspicious. I'm also saying it's a bit weak.

      I'm impressed with your inspiration/reasoning.

      Delete
    8. I can't argue with the difference between it and White/Black Knight. The sharp mechanical difference doesn't bug me. As for the power level, two things: 1.) These proto-cards weren't always very powerful, It doesn't need to be. 2.) It's less weak if you consider Aspect of Wolf, Gift of the Woods, Regeneration, and other cards that would exist with it.

      Delete
    9. ...Although, would first strike instead of vigilance help with your issues, Jay? Elvish Archers, Land Leeches, Hornet Cobra and Emerald Dragonfly are precedents for FS in Green during this timeframe.

      Delete
    10. "Green Knight can block creatures as if those creatures had no abilities."

      Delete
    11. I was trying to make a card that would also be printable today, but that's not inherent in the challenge, so I'm totally fine with your perspective of making a card that would have been printable back then.

      I do like first strike on Green Knight, though.

      Delete
  11. Donald X. Vaccarino

    Golden Treasury 6
    Artifact (U)
    t: Add 5 mana to your mana pool.
    "Money can buy many things, but it can't win wars." Colony Motto

    Art: ryan laukat http://www.gamesparadise.com.au/media/catalog/product/cache/5/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/g/o/gold_2.jpg

    cropped to the gold

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brian Kibler

      Solforged Awakening 1R
      Sorcery M
      Choose one: Put a 0/2 red Dragon Egg token onto the battlefield; or put five +1/+1 tokens onto target dragon and that creature gains flying.
      Shuffle Solforged Awakening into the top five cards of your library.

      Art: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ksr/assets/001/578/131/16b302f4ccbf2a735f81159ec0bc2c9f_large.jpg?1391047645 cropped to the egg

      Anyone have an artist for Solforged cards?

      Also, I'm having trouble deciding between a few of these, so help me out in the thread.

      Delete
    2. Klaus Teuber

      Sleven Thief 1(U/B)
      Creature- Sleven Rogue (U)
      After the last card of this pack has been picked, you may reveal Sleven Thief. If you do, trade Sleven Thief for a card at random from an opponent's draft picks.
      Sleven Thief cannot be blocked.
      2/1
      Art: Chris Bourassa
      http://www.ironrealms.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/250-wide/story/images/lizardman.jpg

      Not a Magic designer, but iconic

      Delete
    3. Donald X. Vaccarino

      Village Homecoming 1G
      Instant (C)
      Untap up to two basic lands.
      Draw a card.

      Art: Claus Stephan (Inaccurately attributed) http://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic363264.jpg crop to the art.

      Delete
    4. Reiner Knizia

      Strength of the Meek W
      Enchantment (R)
      At the beginning of your end step, put a +1/+1 token on the creature you control with the lowest power if you control two or more creatures.

      http://www.arthermitage.org/Hermann-Anton-Stilke/Joan-of-Arc-in-Battle.jpg
      Artist: Hermann Anton Stilke

      Delete
    5. Matt Leecock

      Pandemic 1BB
      Enchantment- Aura (C)
      At the beginning of your end step, put a -1/-1 counter on enchanted creature.
      When enchanted creature dies, put its -1/-1 counters on target creature.


      Each of these are cards or mechanics by the chosen designer for another game, adapted to Magic. Technically, only Donald X. has actually be a Magic designer of this list, although Kibler submitted invitational designs.

      I enjoyed making at least one for every rarity, and I'll probably add more as I think of them. I'll post my final submission by Sunday.

      Delete
    6. I personally like Solforged Awakening best, followed by Pandemic and then Golden Treasury.

      Delete
    7. Village Homecoming is totally broken, but that doesn't really surprise me in a design inspired by a Dominion card.

      Delete
    8. Village Homecoming is pretty broken as is. I wanted a "stormish" card, since that's the other major Dominion strategy (The first, and usual best, being the Big Money strategy I was going for with Golden Treasury) But maybe it works better as:

      Village Homecoming 2W
      Instant (C)
      Untap two target permanents.
      Draw a card.

      That'd be plenty broken in Theros block, and might work its way into some sort of big mana Modern deck, but it's less obviously exclusively a combo card like the original. That said, I liked how bad the original version was in Legacy/Vintage storm decks despite being obviously insane in the Modern genesis wave devotion deck. Cards that are only good in one very specific format, like slash panther, I find pretty clever.

      Delete
  12. Maro design:

    Big Mama's Mouse G
    Legendary Creature - Mouse (Mythic)
    5/5

    Because Maro apparently (according to Ken Nagle) always under costs his cards... :-P

    ReplyDelete
  13. I don't know the Wizards community, but someone is probably like this:

    Spell Magic Card Play It GGG2

    Sorcery (C)

    Flash

    Double Everything.

    Art: http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AMona_Lisa.jpg&h=0&w=0&sz=1&tbnid=juz4w55SAwTqeM&tbnh=276&tbnw=182&zoom=1&docid=pxouZBdmOimlMM&ei=lRYBU6CfHsrHqgGX0IGoAg&ved=0CAIQsCUoAA

    Artist Unknown

    ReplyDelete
  14. Brooding Stormcloud 1U
    Creature - Elemental (Rare)
    Flying
    Whenever ~ attacks, look at the top 3 cards of your library and exile one of them face down. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
    You may cast cards named Lightning Strike exiled with ~ as if they were in your hand.
    1/3

    Art: http://totmoartsstudio2.deviantart.com/art/THE-STORM-147271211

    Based on Mark Globus's style of cards that form a pair.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love it! A few comments:

      A) I want this to be a thing in draft, so I'd like this to be uncommon. The Johnny in me wants it to be common (like Advocate of the Beast, for example) but this is far too complicated for that.

      B) If this is going to be a thing in draft, it might be better if it nabbed a card a little worse than Lightning Strike, so that you could pick up more of them. Alternatively, it could call out several Lightning spells in the set (perhaps one common, one uncommon, and one rare?)

      Delete
    2. Could be "Whenever Brooding Stormcloud attacks, look at the top 3 cards of your library. You may cast cards named Lightning Strike among them without paying their mana cost. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order."

      Delete
    3. Keranos's Stormcloud 2U
      Creature - Elemental (Uncommon)
      Flying
      Whenever you scry, you may reveal the top card of your library. If that card is named Lightning Strike, Lightning Volley, or Riddle of Lightning, you may cast that card. (Pay mana as usual.)
      1/3

      Delete
    4. Tommy is completely right. And actually, my first instinct was an Uncommon with text like Jay's version, getting a weak Lightning spell, to form a Limited archetype. But with the first one I posted, I fell for the temptation of a bluff factor. Now I'm falling for the temptation to reference cards across the block, which we haven't seen before. It's also a natural fit into Theros block. It's actually not the best design but I'm going to succumb to this temptation. If it were a more sensible, simpler version, it should fetch weaker cards that are easier to pick up in draft like Lightning Talons and I should be making up names for weak Lightning cards like Lightning Jab.

      Delete
    5. Changing art to this:
      http://priteeboy.deviantart.com/art/Storm-front-30363071

      Delete
  15. Ken Nagle lead the design for New Phyrexia, but according to MR, they couldn't get the rules for his marquee mechanic to work. The set was intended to be a griefer's paradise.I suppose Ken may have been attempting something like this:

    Gitaxian Implantation XUU
    Instant (Unc)
    Target player exiles the top X cards of his or her library. Then that player shuffles X Compleation cards into his or her library.

    For the "Compleation Card", picture shuffling something similar to a poison counter into your deck...it can't be cast and leads to dead draws/hands.

    Illustration: http://www.wallsave.com/wallpapers/1920x1080/funny-human-pic/320758/funny-human-pic-gallery-fantasy-cyborg-and-relations-free-backgrounds-320758.jpg

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    Replies
    1. This is an awesome idea for what the lost mechanic might have been. Reminds me strongly of Curse cards in Dominion. I wonder if it might just play terribly, though.

      Delete
    2. Ah yes, Ken's griefer side is perhaps even more famous than his fatty side.

      Delete
    3. (There are logistical issues with making a bunch of Magic-backed Compleation cards, of course.)

      Delete
    4. Actually, Richard Garfield designed this mechanic at one point too, even going so far as to put together a gunslinging deck with these cards in it. http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/worlds08/garfield-v-forsythe

      Delete
    5. @Ipaulsen: Thank you, sir! I realized the similarity to Dominion's curse cards only after I'd put it down on paper. Oh well, didn't Duel masters do DF cards first?

      @Jay: There are ways to mitigate the logistical issues. Innistrad's Checklist cards come to mind. (Or using basic Swamps from outside the game?) My biggest concern would be solving the issue of mismatched card sleeves in sanctioned play...

      @Duncan: WOW how obscure. Great find! And I feel better about the design concept overall, since Saint Garfield liked it enough to try it.

      Delete