GDS3 Discussions: Chris Mooney's Challenge 5 Submission

(These posts are being backdated for administrative purposes. They were not disclosed to nor published on this site prior to their publication on the mothership. You can read the judge commentary on Chris's submission on their official GDS page)




CONTESTANT COMMENTS

For this challenge, I chose a set that I knew well and gave me lots of material to work with. Guildpact gave me access to three incredibly resonant guilds and the entire plane of Ravnica, and had some of the largest untapped design space in its mechanics.

My implementation of haunt ditches the confusing, fiddly ETB and death triggers in favor of grokkable static abilities. Tormented Thrull helps combat the many walls in the format, and Dutiful Debtor uses spirit link technology to haunt either side of the battlefield. Basilica Recruit serves both haunt and the block's Aura theme.

My replicate cards show off the versatility of the mechanic. Lightning Round's alternate cost is brand new, and Shrink Warp is a unique shrink and bounce combo that uses replicate's multi-targeting as more than "expensive Strive."

Bloodthirst already had a great implementation, so I pushed a little further into effects appropriate for common and made size matter. Hexhide Boar's soft hexproof is much more interesting to play with and against.

Finally, the rest of my cards play into the set's other themes. Right of Way and Regulate both tap into the block's urban flavor and minor themes of Auras and multicolor, while the rest of the cards are representations of their guild's flavor.

Guildpact has a special place in my heart (I chose a Guildpact card as my avatar!) so I put a lot of love into this pack. I hope you will enjoy this trip back to Ravnica with me.

1) Island (basic)Basic Land — Island

2) Basilica Recruit (common)
1W
Creature — Human Soldier
2/2
CARDNAME has first strike as long as it's enchanted or haunted.
"They may be young, but I'm sure they'll rise to the task if given some responsibility, or perhaps . . .supervision."
—Czaric, Orzhov prelate

3) Right of Way (common)
1W
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature you control
When Right of Way enters the battlefield, tap up to X target creatures, where X is the number of enchantments you control.
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has vigilance.
"Citizens lacking the proper permits shall stand aside."

4) Regulate (common)
1U
Instant
Counter target spell unless its controller pays 1 plus an additional 2 if you control a multicolor permanent.
The guilds never cease to circumvent the Guildpact, but never hesitate to employ its power on others.

5) Shrink Warp (common)
1U
Instant
Replicate 2U (When you cast this spell, copy it for each time you paid its replicate cost. You may choose new targets for the copies.)
Target creature gets -2/-0 until end of turn. Then if its power is 0 or less, return it to its owner's hand.

6) Tormented Thrull (common)
1B
Creature — Thrull
2/2
Haunt (When this creature dies, exile it haunting target creature.)
CARDNAME and the creature it haunts can't block.
Each day of its life is racked with the wails of the dead. Each day of its death is spent reciting them.

7) Skab-Clan Slinger (common)
1R
Creature — Goblin Warrior
1/1
Bloodthirst 1 (If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.)
When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, it deals damage equal to its power to target player.
Fine as fodder, better as backup.

8) Hexhide Boar (common)
3G
Creature — Boar
3/2
Bloodthirst 1 (If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.)
Spells your opponents cast that target CARDNAME cost X more to cast, where X is its toughness.

9) Flagrant Challenger (common)
2RG
Creature — Human Warrior
4/2
CARDNAME can't be blocked unless all creatures able to block it do so.
"You city-dwellers think you're tough? Come on then, I'll take you all right here."

10) Goblin Prodigy (common)
UR
Creature — Goblin Wizard
2/1
T, Sacrifice CARDNAME: Exile the top two cards of your library. You may cast those cards this turn. (You must pay all costs and follow normal timing rules.)
Most goblins stop after their first idea. Only the truly gifted push through to the second.

11) Indemnity (common)
(w/b)(w/b)
Instant
CARDNAME deals damage to target creature equal to the amount of combat damage it dealt to you this turn. You gain that much life.
"You should have read the fine print. It wouldn't have helped, but at least you'd be prepared for what's about to happen."
—Czaric, Orzhov prelate

12) Dutiful Debtor (uncommon)
4W
Creature — Human Cleric
3/3
Haunt (When this creature dies, exile it haunting target creature.)
Whenever CARDNAME or the creature it haunts deals combat damage, you gain that much life.
After a lifetime of faithful service, she was rewarded with another.

13) Lightning Round (uncommon)
3R
Sorcery
Replicate — Exile two instant and/or sorcery cards from your graveyard. (When you cast this spell, copy it for each time you paid its replicate cost. You may choose new targets for the copies.)
CARDNAME deals 3 damage to target creature.
In Izzet classrooms, chaos is always cumulative.

14) Death Collector (uncommon)
1WB
Creature — Human Cleric
2/2
When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, return target creature card from a graveyard to the battlefield until CARDNAME leaves the battlefield. (Return that creature to the graveyard.)
"Looks like you've missed several payments since your departure. I'm sure we can reach an arrangement—with interest of course."

15) Street-tiller Sage (rare)
4RG
Creature — Giant Warrior Druid
7/4
Trample
Whenever CARDNAME attacks, discard your hand.
Whenever CARDNAME deals combat damage to a player, draw that many cards.
He storms the streets in a mindless rage, then meditates among the rubble.