I designed a spell template for a Final Fantasy-inspired set which I call "leveled spells". Leveled spells were inspired by the Kicker mechanic as well as Level up creatures from Rise of the Eldrazi. Each leveled spell has two or three levels at which you can cast it, with each level having a different effect and mana cost. The first set features two-level spells, which want to go wide in a manner similar to Overload.
One of those spells wanted to be a panic effect, to give red something to do besides deal damage and pump power. Thing is, I realized that a red spell that says "Each creature target player controls can't block this turn" would be virtually identical to a blue spell that says "Each creature target player controls can't be blocked this turn", and could prove rather unfun. I experimented with a Seismic Stomp variant that only worked on creatures without flying, but the set already had several effects that hit nonfliers, plus the jump in cost wouldn't be very high thus making the first level feel pointless, so I wanted to try something different.
Menace gave me an idea: Since red already has a mechanic that prevents creatures from blocking alone, and has had creatures that can't attack or block alone in the past, what if it could prevent a creature from blocking alone at all for a single turn? If this effect were applied to multiple creatures, it couldn't stop them from blocking altogether, but would restrict the opponent's blocking choices.
Fear
Sorcery
L1 Target creature can't block alone this turn. R
L2 Each creature target player controls can't block alone this turn. 3R
In turn, this inspires me to try turning the effect into an action word I call Terrify. If such an effect were keyworded full time, the previous spell would look like this:
Terrify
Sorcery
L1 Terrify target creature. (That creature can't block alone this turn.)R
L2 Terrify each creature target player controls. 3R
I'm curious if this effect could work as a BR overlap similar to Menace and Haste. Black normally doesn't restrict blocking for a single turn, but it does grant menace, so perhaps it would be worth experimenting?
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
I like this. The second level at first glance seems to be akin to "creatures you control gain menace until end of turn," but it's slightly different, because defending player can still apply 1-to-1 blocks, as long as multiple creatures are blocking.
I think it actually works in black! What is scarier than black creatures - zombies, ghouls, demons, etc? Very flavorful to imagine defending creatures huddling together in fear as the ghouls roll in.
It's solid as is. It's an evasion building with something interesting to it, and it's ok if certain conditions make an evasion ability equal to unblockable sometimes.
Frighten would be a good name alternative to Terrify.
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MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
Fear is already a card.
Also,Terrify (as well as fear) sounds more black than it does red. Maybe Cowardice or something would fit the flavor better?
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MEMNARCH FOR PRESIDENT!!!
All cards I post are designed for custom sets...just saying
Don't hold so fast to your idea of what Magic and the Color Pie is or should be. Just because it was done in the past, but isn't done in the present doesn't mean it can't be done at all. Likewise, just because it wasn't done at all doesn't mean it can't be done.
Here's a tip: If you suggest changing a card...it's helpful to suggest HOW it should be changed.
Are you intending that two terrified creatures need to block the same creature?
1/24/2013: Other creatures assigned to attack alongside Ember Beast don’t have to attack the same player or planeswalker. Other creatures assigned to block alongside Ember Beast don’t have to block the same creature as Ember Beast.
The all creatures version is functionally just:
Target player can't block this turn unless he or she blocks with two or more creatures.
Yes, that's the intention. I suppose the L2 could just grant Menace to all your creatures, but that feels like a flavor cheat as the L2 effect is supposed to be an expanded version of the L1.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
Yes, that's the intention. I suppose the L2 could just grant Menace to all your creatures, but that feels like a flavor cheat as the L2 effect is supposed to be an expanded version of the L1.
The menace version and your version are only identical in 1v1. The menace version would be substantially stronger against 2 or more opponents.
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One of those spells wanted to be a panic effect, to give red something to do besides deal damage and pump power. Thing is, I realized that a red spell that says "Each creature target player controls can't block this turn" would be virtually identical to a blue spell that says "Each creature target player controls can't be blocked this turn", and could prove rather unfun. I experimented with a Seismic Stomp variant that only worked on creatures without flying, but the set already had several effects that hit nonfliers, plus the jump in cost wouldn't be very high thus making the first level feel pointless, so I wanted to try something different.
Menace gave me an idea: Since red already has a mechanic that prevents creatures from blocking alone, and has had creatures that can't attack or block alone in the past, what if it could prevent a creature from blocking alone at all for a single turn? If this effect were applied to multiple creatures, it couldn't stop them from blocking altogether, but would restrict the opponent's blocking choices.
Fear
Sorcery
L1 Target creature can't block alone this turn. R
L2 Each creature target player controls can't block alone this turn. 3R
In turn, this inspires me to try turning the effect into an action word I call Terrify. If such an effect were keyworded full time, the previous spell would look like this:
Terrify
Sorcery
L1 Terrify target creature. (That creature can't block alone this turn.) R
L2 Terrify each creature target player controls. 3R
I'm curious if this effect could work as a BR overlap similar to Menace and Haste. Black normally doesn't restrict blocking for a single turn, but it does grant menace, so perhaps it would be worth experimenting?
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
I think it actually works in black! What is scarier than black creatures - zombies, ghouls, demons, etc? Very flavorful to imagine defending creatures huddling together in fear as the ghouls roll in.
Fear of the Horde 2BB
Enchantment
Creatures your opponents control can't block alone.
or
Fright 1B
Enchantment
Whenever a creature an opponent controls blocks alone, that creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
Also,Terrify (as well as fear) sounds more black than it does red. Maybe Cowardice or something would fit the flavor better?
All cards I post are designed for custom sets...just saying
Don't hold so fast to your idea of what Magic and the Color Pie is or should be. Just because it was done in the past, but isn't done in the present doesn't mean it can't be done at all. Likewise, just because it wasn't done at all doesn't mean it can't be done.
Here's a tip: If you suggest changing a card...it's helpful to suggest HOW it should be changed.
1/24/2013: Other creatures assigned to attack alongside Ember Beast don’t have to attack the same player or planeswalker. Other creatures assigned to block alongside Ember Beast don’t have to block the same creature as Ember Beast.
The all creatures version is functionally just:
Target player can't block this turn unless he or she blocks with two or more creatures.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
The menace version and your version are only identical in 1v1. The menace version would be substantially stronger against 2 or more opponents.