Greetings, artisans! Anastase here, bringing another guest WAC. 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.
Based on the work of Ipaulsen during his spotlight challenge, I came to wonder about the differentiation between generic ({1}) and colorless ({C}) mana. Therefore this week I suggest we dig in that design space!
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| art by zalas |
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| art by chris bjors |
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| art by emerald depths |
Choose one of these illustrations [A,B,C] and design a card that cares about the difference between colorless and generic mana. I would especially like to see some takes on {2}/{C} mana, if it does not deter from the aforementioned goal.
I would really appreciate it if you could justify your design, since discussion can be fruitful while we are exploring this design space.
Pitch Empty 2/C 2/C W
ReplyDeleteemerald depths
Instant (unc)
(2/C can be paid with 2 or C. Pitch Empty’s converted mana cost is 5.)
Exile target attacking creature.
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.
It’s easy to lose oneself in the void.
Art A:
ReplyDeleteGenericide 4B
Enchantment (R)
Spend only black mana to cast Genericide.
Players can’t spend mana to cast colored spells unless that mana shares a color with that spell.
So the first question you might ask is "Why isn't this just BBBBB?" and the answer is: cost increasers/reducers! Cards like Sphere of Resistance not only play well with Genericide's ability, but they are colorless themselves, and thus unaffected by the casting restrictions of Genericide, as are cards with C in their cost. (In a way, this spotlights the difference between C and generic mana by forcing them to work the same way via a global rules change.)
Knowing that "genericide" is a real word was my starting point for this challenge, so from there I chose black and the first art. I could also see this kind of effect it in white or blue. In no way do I pretend that my gut instinct on both mana cost and color must be something the Dev team would sign off on.
Your BBBBB justification seems only relevant to Eternal Melvins.
DeleteWell, I am an Eternal Melvin... >.>
DeleteIf anyone has a more appropriate art to suggest that screams colorless and is a creature, I would be glad to include it as an option!
ReplyDeleteHooray for second chances! Here's the first idea that came to mind, with a very simple way of caring about the difference between generic and colorless:
ReplyDeleteEldrazi Crypt 2
Artifact (Uncommon)
{1}, {T}: Add {C}{C} to your mana pool.
(second art)
Needs to be called Elrazi Signet, but otherwise...
DeleteA
ReplyDeleteArcher Squad 3G
Creature - Elf Archer (Uncommon)
Reach
When Archer Squad enters the battlefield, transform it if C was spent to cast it.
2/3
//
Soulless One
Creature-Shapeshifter
Soulless(This creature has no creature types)
4/4
It's doing a lot...maybe rare?
DeleteIt's doing a lot...maybe rare?
DeleteSoulless One is already a card name.
DeleteThis would be a really bad rare. Neither side is particularly cost efficient. Considering this is simpler than the base Werewolf mechanic, I'd keep it at uncommon.
I'd like to see /some/ relationship between the back side and the front side.
DeleteTransform doesn't appeal to me when the transformation happens essentially on ETB. You could make it a "may" ability to make it feel like a bonus if the stars line up, or simply make a card with an ETB +1/+1 counter if C was paid.
DeleteAs example:
DeleteArcher Squad 3G
Creature - Elf Archer (Uncommon)
Reach
When Archer Squad enters the battlefield, if C was spent to cast it you may put a +1/+1 counter on it and have it lose all creature types.
2/3
I'd also be interested in seeing a trigger other than cast/ETB.
DeleteAnd I love zefferal's proposed mechanic so much I want to name it and play with it. So I will.
A
ReplyDeleteArcher Squad 3G
Creature - Elf Archer (Uncommon)
Reach
When Archer Squad enters the battlefield, transform it if C was spent to cast it.
2/3
//
Soulless One
Creature-Shapeshifter
Soulless(This creature has no creature types)
4/4
Since there are so few entries, here's a creature:
ReplyDeleteCybear 2/C G
http://zoonoid.deviantart.com/art/cyber-bear-305153032
3/3 Bear (cmn)
(2/C can be paid with 2 or C. Cybear’s converted mana cost is 3.)
If it's not to late, here's my submission. Using art C.
ReplyDeleteKnowledge of the AEther-XUU
Sorcery- Mythic
Times X by the number of colorless mana spent to cast CARDNAME.
Target player draws X cards.
---------------------------------
The wording isn't perfect, but hopefully it gets the general idea if the card across. Which is what initial design is for. Also, might need another blue mana.
Frontline Fighter {1}{W}
ReplyDeletehttp://orig01.deviantart.net/8707/f/2010/361/8/b/cyber_knight_by_longai-d35nwtg.jpg
Creature - Human Soldier (cmn)
Obsolete (CARDNAME enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it if C was spent to cast it. It becomes an artifact in addition to its other types.)
2/2