Friday, November 21, 2014

Weekend Art Challenge 112114—TheFirstAngel

Weekend Art Challenge
Greetings, artisans! Click through to see this weekend's art and the design requirements for your single card submission, due Monday morning. Every submission warrants feedback, and everyone is encouraged to give feedback. You may use that feedback to revise your submission any number of times, though only the version rendered will be included in the review, if someone volunteers to render the cards.


Design a card using an existing mechanic that isn't evergreen. For additional challenge, justify this art in green or blue.

51 comments:

  1. Stand Alone
    5UUU
    Sorcery - Mythic Rare
    Choose target creature. Return all other creatures to their owner's hands.
    Rebound

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting design. If they printed this, it would almost certainly not target. See Duneblast.

      Delete
    2. This is cool, but may be a bit splashier than we really want for Commander. Cyclonic Rift has caused some issues and while this doesn't punish noncreature permanents, anyone without one is told to just not bother with their next turn. That's fine if it's killing them 1-on-1 though. Perhaps we can reach some middle ground:

      Rise Above 2U
      Sorcery (R)
      Choose one creature and tap the rest. They don't untap during their controllers' next untap step.
      Rebound

      Delete
    3. Granted rebound was implemented without much flavor it's first go round. There's nothing mechanically wrong with your card. It just feels like they had a hole to fill and it had to have rebound on it.

      Delete
  2. Ragnarok Battle-Maiden 1W
    Creature - Human Warrior (U)
    Fateful hour — At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have 5 or less life, you may return Ragnarok Battle-Maiden from your graveyard to the battlefield.
    2/1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice touch that this dies so easily so you get to chump block a lot and feel like the ability is pulling its weight.

      Delete
    2. Fateful hour is a classic example of a mechanic that seems a lot cooler than it is in practice. I don't think it will come back, because it was such a flop, but seeing designs like this always makes me excited for it.

      Delete
  3. Defender of the Barrens 1WG
    Creature-Human Warrior (U)
    Morph--All creatures a chosen opponent controls are attacking (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. You may turn it face up any time its morph condition is met.)
    When CARDNAME is turned face up, untap it. It gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
    3/3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trap morphs are a common idea, and I like it, but I fear this is going to lead to a format where people always play their creature before combat, which just makes things less interesting because there aren't combat tricks or threat of flipping morphs etc.

      For these reasons, I suggest making it something like "three or more creatures are attacking you" which I think is also a bit more grokkable.

      Delete
  4. What would Scavenge look like on a planeswalker?

    Gazu, Survivor of Jund (mythic)
    2BRG
    Planeswalker - Gazu
    0: Exile target creature card from your graveyard. CARDNAME gains loyalty equal to that card's power.
    -X: Put an X/1 black, red, and green Elemental creature token onto the battlefield. It has trample, haste, and lifelink.
    -X: Each player loses X life.
    4

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good concept. Two X abilities feels awkward, somehow. I really want at least one that I can minus without having to do as much math.

      Delete
  5. Lone Warrior 2U
    Creature - Human Warrior (U)
    Phasing
    CARDNAME can't be blocked
    When CARDNAME enters the battlefield or phases in, target creature gets -3/-0 until your next turn.
    3/1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm bothered by the fact that, since this thing is unblockable, the -3/-0 has no synergy with this thing attacking, which seems like a real shame on a 3/1.

      Delete
    2. Alternative: When ~ enters the battlefield or phases in, target creature phases out.

      Delete
    3. The -3/-0 lasts until your next turn - it's supposed to help you race to offset the phasing drawback.

      Delete
    4. WOTC really tries to avoid the "until your next turn" template because it creates so many memory issues. It is on two cards in standard, and both are Mythics.

      Delete
    5. Good points Tommy. Here's a simplified design, focusing on the stronger part of the card.

      Lone Warrior 1U
      Creature - Human Warrior (U)
      When CARDNAME enters the battlefield or phases in, target creature can't be blocked until end of turn.
      2/1

      Delete
  6. Stoneforge Swordsmen 1W
    Creature - Kor Soldier (U)

    When ~ enters the battlefield, you may attach target equipment you control to it.

    Unearth 3WW

    2/2

    In Grixis, Unearth represented necromancy, using the dead in service. Here it represents such strong devotion to the cause that the soldiers give their dying moment to one last charge.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Krieg Runemaster (RAR) 1GG
    Creature - Human Warrior 3/3
    Deathtouch
    Whenever a creature dealt damage by Krieg Runemaster this turn dies, if it doesn't have provoke, put a +1/+1 counter on Krieg Runemaster and it gains provoke. (When it attacks, you may have target creature defending player controls untap and block it if able. This effect lasts indefinitely.)

    I'd like this to just have the Sengir Vampire ability permanently, (like Predator Ooze does) because it tells the story of the warrior picking through her enemies on the battlefield one by one and getting stonger all the while. Also, this version that limits the effect is pretty awkward.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Know what, I'm going to use the other Predator Ooze counter making effect (along with some Spirit of the Night tech).

      Krieg Runemaster (RAR) 1GG
      Creature - Human Warrior 2/2
      Provoke (Reminder text.)
      Whenever Krieg Runemaster attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
      Krieg Runemaster has deathtouch as long as it's attacking.

      Delete
    2. Predator Ooze with provoke is a cool concept, but I think this is too strong. Is deathtouch necessary? Making players work a little (with say an aura) before getting their gigantic murder machine seems okay.

      Delete
    3. "Making players work a little (with say an aura) before getting their gigantic murder machine" isn't a thing WotC seems interested in doing anymore. Siege Rhino would be cleaner without trample. Savage Knuckleblade doesn't need three abilities. But WotC seems to like giving players effcient removal and killer attackers.

      Delete
  8. Timely Avenger 2WW
    Creature - Human Soldier (R)
    Miracle W (You may cast this card for its miracle cost when you draw it if it's the first card you drew this turn.)
    Timely Avenger can block any number of creatures.
    3/5
    Just when all hope was lost.

    Pretty sure this works. Feedback appreciated as always.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think vigilance is better than "can block any number of creatures" because it lets you swing and make progress towards winning the game while defending yourself. Otherwise, Miracle is an awesome choice.

      Delete
    2. This design seems to want Flash more than Miracle to me. Something that blocks really well doesn't have very good stickiness/synergy with something that you almost always have to play during your draw step.

      Delete
    3. I messed around with this sort of thing back when they first spoiled Miracle, like a sort of "savior" creature you really wanted to top deck when you were losing the game. The problem was that Terminus was spoiled shortly after and sort of stole away that emotional space xD Your design is cool though.

      Delete
    4. Yeah, Terminus does sorta invalidate this, but I think it's interesting enough.

      In my head, I want this to be the thing you draw when you're facing down a horde you don't know how to beat. That's why I have block any number instead of vigilance. Vigilance lets you deal damage if you can maybe get past the opposing army, but block any number is the thing that guarantees you'll live another day.

      Delete
  9. Destroyer of kingdoms 2GG
    Creature - Human Warrior (R)
    Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
    Lands you control have exalted.
    3/3
    “This land is not yours to rule. Nor anyone’s.”

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Assuming you play four lands then this, this is basically a 5/5 haste for 4 (from the five exalted triggers) with an enormous upside. I think that is a bit too much, and you don't have to work for it like with Sublime Archangel.

      I suppose you could argue this isn't too much different than Wolfir Siliverheart, so probably 5 mana is the right price if you want this effect. It will be a gigantic pain on MTGO.

      Delete
    2. You're probably right, I didn't think it through. I thought that with exalted, Destroyer of kingdoms not having any kind of evasion was a big drawback, which is why I undercosted it. But you can have another creature with evasion gain the exalted bonus, so it's not that much of a problem, I guess.

      So, new version :

      Destroyer of kingdoms 3GG
      Creature - Human Warrior (R)
      Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
      Lands you control have exalted.
      3/3
      “This land is not yours to rule. Nor anyone’s.”

      Delete
  10. Death-Eating Warrior B
    Creature - Human Warrior (Rare)
    Death-Eating Warrior can’t block.
    Morbid — If a creature died this turn, you may cast Death-Eating Warrior from your graveyard.
    2/1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blood-Soaked Champion certainly suggests this should be fine.

      Delete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The challenge requires a non-evergreen "mechanic", not a keyword...

    One of my favorites is twobrid:

    Wasteland Recon {2/W}{2/W}
    Sorcery
    Put X 1/1 white soldier creature tokens into the battlefield, where X is the amount of mana spent to cast CARDNAME.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yikes! This is a strictly better than Captain's Call with no color requirement, and that's only when you cast it for {4}. Fix it at two 1/1s, though, and I'm sold on this as a very solid common design.

      Delete
    2. People will wonder if you can pay 4 with only Plains? I'm fairly good at rules, and I'm 90% sure you can, but I wouldn't be shocked if you can't, and I bet newer players will not be so clear on the issue.

      Also, I think it is strange to have a two-brid card that rewards playing it off color instead of on color.

      Delete
    3. Good points all around. How about:

      Wasteland sentry. {2/W}{2/W}
      Uncommon
      Creature - human soldier
      When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, you gain 1 life for each W spent to cast it.
      2/4
      "I laugh at pillarfield oxen!"

      Delete
    4. On second thought, cut the toughness: 2/3

      Delete
  13. Abzan Survivor 1W
    Creature- Human Warrior (U)
    1{b/g}: Regenerate Abzan Survivor. When it regenerates this way, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
    2/1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Abzan Survivor 1W
      Creature- Human Warrior (C)
      1{b/g}{b/g}: Regenerate Abzan Survivor. When it regenerates this way, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
      2/2

      Delete
  14. Using an updated template of the Nightmare mechanic from Torment/Judgment:

    Hero of the Ruins 2WW

    Creature - Human Warrior (Rare/Mythic)

    When Hero of the Ruins enters the battlefield, exile all other creatures you control until Hero of the Ruins leaves the battlefield.

    First Strike

    4/4

    ReplyDelete
  15. Commander supliment offering:

    Yawgmoth, Father of Machines
    (B!)(B!)(B!)
    Enchantment creature- God
    Mythic
    Unless a player has 5 or more poison counters, CARDNAME isn't a creature.
    All creatures have infect.
    (B!): regenerate target creature.
    5/5

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I forgot the legendary tag :/

      Delete
    2. Just spit balling throwbacks, obviously it doesn't match the art...

      Delete
    3. "Devotion to Phyrexia" (mana) is so thematically cool that I'm surprised you didn't go that route.

      Regeneration doesn't work on creatures that die to -1/-1 counters, so the regeneration ability on this feels really weird.

      Delete
    4. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    5. I'm not in love with the card and it doesn't match the artwork. It was just a spur of the moment inspiration.

      Infect limits the usefulness of the regen by design. Damage from creatures is always lethal, but non creature damage and destroy effects are still affected.

      Delete
  16. Rimeblade Scholar 2U
    Creature - Human Wizard (U)
    Battle Cry (Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.)
    Whenever Rimeblade Scholar becomes blocked, you may draw two card.
    1/3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is very clever but I can't imagine this as monoblue. Maybe UW?

      Delete