Cool Card Design of the Day8/5/2015 - If splice returns, it'll be splice onto sorcery/instant. But getting away from the arcane subtype wasn't the only problem with splice. Another deal-breaker is that adding an effect to a card (as opposed to simply triggering the effect) serves no purpose despite bearing a high cost to complexity. So for splice to return, the cards that use it will have to make the fact that we're adding this text to that spell relevant. Evermind is the only existing splice spell that does this. Here are all the other angles of attack I thought of.
Splice was originally created before NWO. It's weird enough that it might not belong at common in its simplest form. Sublimate and Unsettle Grave may be less dangerous than the other cards, but they remain radically complex compared to modern commons. So either we don't use splice at common at all, or we do basic splice effects that really don't care about the fact that we're grafting effects onto other cards.
Personally, I don't see splice ever coming back since the design space is so limited and the pay-off is more a threat to game variety than it is simple and fun. If you see other options for the keyword, please do share in the comments.
Those are some really interesting designs, as thought experiments, but I doubt they're actually worth the complexity and repetitive gameplay they promote.
ReplyDeleteEntirely accurate. Awesome to Melvins, and certain Jennies. But utterly not worth the complexity in any set I can imagine. Which is a great pity.
DeleteTanaka has also said Splice onto Instant/Sorcery doesn't work. One reason is overload, but there was a better reason. Anyone remember it?
ReplyDeleteWho's Tanaka?
DeleteAlternate universe Tabak in an anime spinoff of WotC.
DeleteThat needs to be a thing. Right now.
DeleteIf the splice effects have targets, it would require changing Supreme Verdict and other cards like it to make them more counterable.
DeleteHavelock: Bwahahahahahahaa!
DeleteI would love to bring splice back.
ReplyDeleteThinking about it, maybe we should consider two different variants of splice.
One which adds the text to the spell in a way that's usually impossible, but costed to be ok with replicate spells etc, likely NOT from a spell card held in hand. eg. a creature with "{T}: the next spell you cast has blah" where "blah" is either an effect like "untap target creature" or a rider like "can't be countered".
And the other, the "re-cast this spell when you cast another spell", but that doesn't try to add the text, eg. you cast it in the usual way and it says "if you cast another inst/sorc this turn, return this to your hand when it resolves". I like that more than master-style casting from graveyard because you need to manage your resources more, not just burn through them as fast as possible.
I find both #1 and #2 interesting, the second is probably a more viable mechanic but the first is more interesting to my melvin side :)
Option #2 is usually the same as "splice onto instant/sorcery", but sidesteps a lot of rules complexity. Obviously it has to be costed appropriately, more than if it didn't have the ability, but maybe not as much as splice spells. It depends how easy it is to cast inst/sorc each turn, most decks don't cast THAT many.
The tricky part about option #2 is wording it so that the spell can't be cast multiple times per turn. A delayed trigger on the return-to-hand effect is dangerous because the card may leave the graveyard.
DeleteSpliceback (If you cast another instant or sorcery this turn, exile this card as it resolves. Return it to your hand at the end of the turn.)
DeleteGood, although it doesn't allow for a separate cost.
DeleteI just want one splice onto to instant card in a supplimental set
ReplyDeleteRicochet
Instant
Copy this spell for each other permanent or player this spell could target. Those copies do not have this ability. Each copy targets a different one of those permanents and players.
Splice onto Instant RR
Funnily, this name is already by an Unglued card (Maro has expressed regret about this). That said, I like your idea a lot.
DeleteThat's cool, but isn't Radiate just massively simpler?
DeleteRadiate is just an awesome card. But because this splices, it's reusable. It's more like Ink-Treader Nephilim.
DeleteThat said, this is almost certainly simpler
Urza's Disco Ball 2R
Enchantment
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, you may pay RR. If you do, copy target spell for each other permanent or player that spell could target. Each copy targets a different one of those permanents and players.
Honestly, most of the splice onto spells cards would probably be more comprehensible as a triggered cycle. It also provides more natural answers to them, considering that splice cards are basically impossible to stop outside of discard.
Spell Glommer 2G
DeleteCreature - Ooze
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, you may pay GG. If you do, put an X/X green Ooze token onto the battlefield where X is equal to that spells converted mana cost.
3/3
Yup. Nice.
DeleteUrza's Disco Ball 4R
Enchantment
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell with a single target, copy it for each other permanent or player that spell could target. Each copy targets a different one of those permanents and players.
In the same category of "uses of splice that technically work but will never be printed":
ReplyDeleteArmourer
Creature - Human Soldier, {2}{W}, 1/1
This creature enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it and has first strike.
Splice onto creature {1}{W}