Cool Card Design of the Day9/29/2016 - Countermagic week continues.
"How much is that spell worth to you?"
If we both choose 0, the spell is countered and no one draws.
If you cast this on me and choose 1 while I choose 0, my spell is countered, but I draw a card. If you choose 2 (and I choose 0 or 1), I get two cards.
If you cast this on me and choose 0, while I choose 1, my spell resolves, but you draw a card. If I choose 2 (and you choose 0 or 1), you get two cards.
But if we both choose 1, the spell is countered and I draw a card.
So I imagine the most common choices are 1 or 2 for you and 1 or 0 for me, depending on the relevance of the spell. Which, as with all good guessing games, gives a norm for players to deviate from and bluff around.
Needs a "controlled by an opponent" clause (otherwise you could counter your own spell to draw your entire deck).
ReplyDeleteConsidering that you can actually deck your opponent with this, what happens when this spell is cast in a game with two math majors? Does it become a battle of who can come up with the highest number that he or she can explain the meaning of to a judge?
Good call.
DeleteLet's replace "choose any number" with "choose 0, 1, or 2" to solve both those problems.
Might still need "controlled by an opponent" unless being both players means you can only choose one number.
Don't I just choose the biggest number I can and deck my opponent? I woudl restrict the number to 0-2 I think.
ReplyDeleteThat was my objection! But I think it can be fixed just by saying "up to".
DeleteOTOH, I feel like a simpler restriction on the options might make the card easier to use.
Or maybe, have the choice be something physical like "secretly choose any number of cards from the top of your deck" (winner puts them into hand) or "choose a card from your hand face-down" (winner casts it) etc.
Agreed.
Delete"Up to" is a clever solution too. Cleaner. (In theory…)
You and target spell’s controller secretly choose 0, 1, or 2, then reveal your choice. If that player chose a higher number, you draw that many cards. Otherwise, counter that spell and he or she draws as many cards as you chose.
Delete-or-
Choose target spell controlled by an opponent. You and that secretly choose numbers, then reveal them. If that player chose a higher number, you draw up to that many cards. Otherwise, counter that spell and he or she draws up to as many cards as you chose.
I like the elegance of the unrestricted version, but unfortunately I think it's broken by another situation:
DeleteSay I am on 3 life, you cast Lightning Bolt on me, and I use this counter. What numbers should we name? If we're both tapped out so we can't make use of instants, it seems we each want to have the higher integer, which isn't a great game.
Good point.
DeletePunisher Counterspell XU
ReplyDeleteInstant C
Counter target spell unless any opponent has you draw X cards.
At what X does the card get interesting? Three? At the end of the day it's still a punisher spell
DeleteThis is good.
DeleteThis looks crazy, but it's really not:
DeleteAt 1U, it just cycles.
At 2U, it's Divination or Cancel as your opp prefers.
At 3U, it's mostly a hard counter, which is fair for four mana.
And it's so simple! (X makes it probly not common though)
Uncanny Decision UU
ReplyDeleteInstant
Target spell's controller chooses one:
• Counter that spell.
• You draw cards equal to that spell's mana worth.
Nearly:
DeleteUU
instant
Counter target spell with CMC 3+.
Punisher Counterspell UU
DeleteInstant C
Counter target spell unless any opponent has you draw two cards.
Poor Choices UB
DeleteInstant
Target spell's controller chooses two—
• Counter that spell.
• He or she sacrifices a creature.
• You draw cards equal to that spells CMC.
Love the concept of "opp chooses 2".
DeleteFilling out the cycle - these are costed pretty aggressively, but the punisher mechanic could? maybe be fun.
DeleteGrowing Choice {1}{G}{W}
Sorcery (u)
Target opponent chooses two —
• Create a 3/3 white and green Centaur creature token.
• Create two 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens.
• Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
Rugged Choice {R}{G}
Sorcery (u)
Target opponent chooses two —
• ~ deals damage to each player equal to the number of nonbasic lands he or she controls.
• Put four +1/+1 counters on target land. It becomes a creature with haste until end of turn.
• Search your library for a basic land, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library.
Radical Choice {B}{R}
Sorcery (u)
Target opponent chooses two —
• Each player sacrifices two permanents.
• Creatures get +2/+0 and haste until end of turn.
• That player discards two cards.
Patient Choice {1}{W}{U}
Instant (u)
Target opponent chooses two —
• Creatures you control gain lifelink until end of turn.
• Put target nonland permanent on top of its owner’s library.
• Creatures have base power 1/1 until end of turn.
I misread your explanation and something like this came to mind..
ReplyDeleteWizard's Bluff {U}{U}
Instant
Choose target spell an opponent controls.
You and that opponent each secretly choose a number from 1 to 4.
If your number is smaller than your opponent's, you draw that many cards.
If your number is larger than your opponent's, counter the spell.
or the more powerful version:
Wizard's Claim {2}{U}{U}
Instant
Choose target spell an opponent controls.
You and that opponent each secretly choose a number from 1 to 4.
If your number is EQUAL TO OR SMALLER THAN your opponent's, you draw that many cards.
If your number is EQUAL TO OR LARGER THAN your opponent's, counter the spell.
alternative wordings, both still potentially confusing
"If your opponent did not choose a smaller/larger number"
"Unless your opponent chose a smaller/larger number"
Cool stuff.
Delete