Alright before we get into argument about how broken or week it is lets just find out does this work in the rules, once we find a way it works we can try to balance it.
~ 2UU
Instant
Return target non-land permanent to its owners hand. If ~ was played from the graveyard instead counter target spell.
Flashback 1UU
~ 3B
Instant
Destroy target non-black creature. If ~ was played from the graveyard instead remove target card in a graveyard from the game..
Flashback B
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Break, O Earth.
Dry up, O Sea.
Burn out, O Sun.
Grant us power Earthly Leaders and Gatekeepers of Hell.
Guide us Makers of the Underworld.
I don't know if it can work with different targets, but it can work with the same target for both plays. For example:
Bulk Up1G
Instant (U)
Target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn. If CARDNAME was played for its flashback cost, instead put three +1/+1 counters on that creature.
Flashback 3G
Spell Split1UU
Instant (R)
Copy target instant or sorcery spell. You may choose new targets for the copy. If CARDNAME was played for its flashback cost, instead counter that spell.
Flashback 2UU
Why wouldn't it work? A spell knows how it was played before it chooses targets, and a condition can allow you to choose targets that were not available previously. See the hybrid splash cards for reference Repel Intruders, Torrent of Souls, etc...
As for the cards themselves, Everything seems well costed, balanced, and flavorful except one thing. Cancel is the new standard for a counterspell, and I would be wary of making a card that flashbacks for Cancel at the same price. Make it 2UU?
The standard flashback to counter a spell costs 5UU actually Fervent Denial. That may be because it counters a spell twice. I'd be comfortable at 4UU but it basically outclasses Denial then.
Also, the wording would have to be "Counter up to one target spell instead if CARDNAME was played with its Flashback cost." or something similar to make it an up to effect ... I think
~ 1:symu::symu:
Instant
Return target non-land permanent to its owners hand. If ~ was played from the graveyard instead counter target spell.
Flashback 2:symu::symu:
Is this any better, still borked, or even worse then before?
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Break, O Earth.
Dry up, O Sea.
Burn out, O Sun.
Grant us power Earthly Leaders and Gatekeepers of Hell.
Guide us Makers of the Underworld.
That mana costign is good, and would see play. But it isn't broken. It's good.
I think the black card needs a more expensive mana cost. A better-than-Swords to Plowshares for free in dredge decks worries me.
Why wouldn't it work? A spell knows how it was played before it chooses targets, and a condition can allow you to choose targets that were not available previously. See the hybrid splash cards for reference Repel Intruders, Torrent of Souls, etc...
That is just it though. The hybrid cards like Repel Intruders and Torrent of Souls do not know how they are played. With Repel you can target a creature spell whether or not you actually spend U to play it. With Torrent you can target a creature card whether or not you actually spend B to play it.
A spell with kicker like Dwarven Landslide knows that the additional cost is going to be payed because of rule 502.21d.
If part of a spell’s ability has its effect only if a kicker cost was paid, and that part of the ability includes any targets, the spell’s controller chooses those targets only if he or she declared the intention to pay that kicker cost. Otherwise, the spell is played as if it did not have those targets. See rule 409.1d.
Now I guess this might be covered in rule 409.1d, but flashback otherwise has no corresponding rule like kicker does for choosing targets.
If the spell or ability targets one or more targets only if an alternative, additional, or special cost (such as a buyback or kicker cost) is paid for it, or if a particular mode is chosen for it, its controller chooses those targets only if he or she announced the intention to pay that cost or chose that mode. Otherwise, the spell or ability is played as though it did not have those targets.
Without changing and adding new rules though, I know that it would work if it targets the same object both times the spell is played.
409.1c mentions "if an alternative ... cost is paid for it ... its controller chooses those targets"
Flashback is an alternative cost to play a spell. See rule 502.22a
Then see rule 409.1b for actually choosing the alternative cost.
Then see rule 409.1c for using conditional targets.
Then see rule 409.1d for choosing targets, which follows the normal rules for choosing targets, and we are back on track for normal spells.
Thus it works.
The only functional difference is that cards like Sins of the Past won't get the conditional target.
It would take only a very minor tweak of rule 409.1c to make the original wording work, adding "or if a replacement effect applies. ... will only need to choose those targets ... if that replacement effect applies." then it works without a hitch. Its not like we don't see similar effects already (see the Moyojin, if it was played from you hand).
The best example of this, I think, is Grave Scrabbler, although you could also make the condition "If CARDNAME was played from a graveyard" for some extra functionality.
Batterang mk.I :1mana::symu::symu:
Instant
Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand. If CARDNAME's flashback cost was paid, instead counter target spell.
Flashback :2mana::symu::symu:
Batterang mk.II :1mana::symu::symu:
Instant
Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand. If CARDNAME was played from a graveyard, instead counter target spell.
Flashback :2mana::symu::symu:
An interesting thing would be to use a larger flashback cost as a kind of kicker effect, a la Grave Scrabbler and madness.
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Do I Contradict Myself? Very Well Then I Contradict Myself.
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~ 2UU
Instant
Return target non-land permanent to its owners hand. If ~ was played from the graveyard instead counter target spell.
Flashback 1UU
~ 3B
Instant
Destroy target non-black creature. If ~ was played from the graveyard instead remove target card in a graveyard from the game..
Flashback B
Dry up, O Sea.
Burn out, O Sun.
Grant us power Earthly Leaders and Gatekeepers of Hell.
Guide us Makers of the Underworld.
Bulk Up 1G
Instant (U)
Target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn. If CARDNAME was played for its flashback cost, instead put three +1/+1 counters on that creature.
Flashback 3G
Spell Split 1UU
Instant (R)
Copy target instant or sorcery spell. You may choose new targets for the copy. If CARDNAME was played for its flashback cost, instead counter that spell.
Flashback 2UU
As for the cards themselves, Everything seems well costed, balanced, and flavorful except one thing. Cancel is the new standard for a counterspell, and I would be wary of making a card that flashbacks for Cancel at the same price. Make it 2UU?
Also, the wording would have to be "Counter up to one target spell instead if CARDNAME was played with its Flashback cost." or something similar to make it an up to effect ... I think
Instant
Return target non-land permanent to its owners hand. If ~ was played from the graveyard instead counter target spell.
Flashback 2:symu::symu:
Is this any better, still borked, or even worse then before?
Dry up, O Sea.
Burn out, O Sun.
Grant us power Earthly Leaders and Gatekeepers of Hell.
Guide us Makers of the Underworld.
I think the black card needs a more expensive mana cost. A better-than-Swords to Plowshares for free in dredge decks worries me.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=504072
That is just it though. The hybrid cards like Repel Intruders and Torrent of Souls do not know how they are played. With Repel you can target a creature spell whether or not you actually spend U to play it. With Torrent you can target a creature card whether or not you actually spend B to play it.
A spell with kicker like Dwarven Landslide knows that the additional cost is going to be payed because of rule 502.21d.
Now I guess this might be covered in rule 409.1d, but flashback otherwise has no corresponding rule like kicker does for choosing targets.
Without changing and adding new rules though, I know that it would work if it targets the same object both times the spell is played.
Consider the wording "If ~ was played by its flashback cost, target X and do Y instead."
Which you pointed out is from rule 409.1c
(you wrote 409.1c, but its actually 409.1c, link: http://yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#R409.1c)
409.1c mentions "if an alternative ... cost is paid for it ... its controller chooses those targets"
Flashback is an alternative cost to play a spell. See rule 502.22a
Then see rule 409.1b for actually choosing the alternative cost.
Then see rule 409.1c for using conditional targets.
Then see rule 409.1d for choosing targets, which follows the normal rules for choosing targets, and we are back on track for normal spells.
Thus it works.
The only functional difference is that cards like Sins of the Past won't get the conditional target.
It would take only a very minor tweak of rule 409.1c to make the original wording work, adding "or if a replacement effect applies. ... will only need to choose those targets ... if that replacement effect applies." then it works without a hitch. Its not like we don't see similar effects already (see the Moyojin, if it was played from you hand).
Batterang mk.I :1mana::symu::symu:
Instant
Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand. If CARDNAME's flashback cost was paid, instead counter target spell.
Flashback :2mana::symu::symu:
Batterang mk.II :1mana::symu::symu:
Instant
Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand. If CARDNAME was played from a graveyard, instead counter target spell.
Flashback :2mana::symu::symu:
An interesting thing would be to use a larger flashback cost as a kind of kicker effect, a la Grave Scrabbler and madness.
Very Well Then I Contradict Myself.