Cool Card Design of the Day7/16/2015 - I designed Primeval Force to join the ranks of cards that are reminiscent of Force of Nature, but strictly or generally better. Specifically, I wanted to include an upkeep payment that felt more like an upside than a downside.
It grows when you pay, and the more it grows the more you pay, but if you can't pay, it doesn't die or kill you, it just occupies itself until you can pay. While it can be Murdered, it can't be targeted the same turn you pay, preventing some feel-bad there.
I found the below art while looking for the above and it just begged for a different design:
Note that you'll really never counter an opponent's spell with this, but a form of hexproof with a shields-down moment is pretty relevant on a 4/4 for four. And the real fun comes when you start targeting it with your own abilities.
Ancient Force bothers me because it makes a false promise to the player. It claims to enlarge itself by countering your opponent's removal spell, but (as you point out) this will never actually happen.
ReplyDeletePrimeval Force was a bit confusing when I first read it since it doesn't have any +1/+1 counters to begin with. Instead, how about something like this:
ReplyDeletePrimeval Force
2G (rare)
~ enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may pay G for each +1/+1 counter on ~. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it gains Hexproof until EoT. Otherwise, tap ~
2/2
That was one my biggest concern for that design. Thanks for the feedback, DB.
Delete