For L2, specifically the Alezenim segment created and captained by void_nothing:
Encumbered AdventurerB
Creature — Elf Warrior [C]
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Encumbered Adventurer unless you pay B. When Madam Baigheli says, "Take everything", you take everything.
[2/2]
Timber Song1G
Enchantment [C]
Creatures you control get +1/+0 and have trample.
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Timber Song unless you pay G. "I cut down trees, I eat my lunch, I go to the lavatory."
Grizzly Trout4U
Creature — Bear Fish [C]
Hexproof
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Grizzly Trout unless you pay U. "What is it?" asked Biv, shivering.
"I dunno," said Berm, "But it dressed for the weather!"
[4/5]
Smoking Jackalope1R
Creature — Antelope Rabbit [U]
Flash
Haste
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Smoking Jackalope unless you pay R. Each jackalope is born in a bolt of lightning, and each disappears just as quickly.
[3/1]
Funky Cabbage Man2BG
Creature — Skunk Ape [U]
Funky Cabbage Man can't block.
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Funky Cabbage Man unless you pay BG
When Funky Cabbage Man dies, destroy target artifact, creature, or enchantment. "What's that smell?" asked Biv, gasping.
"I dunno," said Berm, "But it's got two legs and it's heading this way!"
[6/2]
Racketeering1B
Enchantment [U]
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Racketeering unless you pay B and/or 1B.
Whenever you pay Racketeering's B upkeep cost, each other player loses 1 life.
Whenever you pay Racketeering's 1B upkeep cost, you draw a card and you lose 1 life. Wherever you're going in Alezenim, the Grinning Junction Ferry Company will get you there. Your belongings are another matter.
Frontier Searcher4GG
Creature — Giant Scout [R]
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Frontier Searcher unless you pay GG.
Whenever you spend mana during your upkeep, you gain that much life. GG: Frontier Searcher gains indestructible until end of turn. GG: Frontier Searcher must be blocked this turn if able. There are always bigger trees to chop.
[8/4]
Stop Work2UU
Enchantment [R]
Players can't untap more than two permanents during their untap steps.
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Stop Work unless you pay UU Never argue with someone who buys magic ink by the barrel.
Baigheli Heiress2BBB
Creature — Demon [R]
Deathtouch, menace
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Baigheli Heiress unless you pay BBB
At the end of your upkeep, if Baigheli Heiress is on the battlefield, you may return to the battlefield target permanent card in your graveyard that was put there from the battlefield this upkeep. If that permanent is a creature, it gains haste until end of turn. Baigheli wares are guaranteed for life... and death.
[2/7]
Grazseyela Macdomhnall3UBRG
Legendary Creature — Elder Dragon [M]
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Grazseyela Macdomhnall unless you pay U, B, R, and/or G.
Whenever you pay Grazseyela's upkeep cost, scry 2 if U was spent to pay it, each other player discards a card if B was spent to pay it, exile the top two cards of your library and you may play those cards this turn if R was spent to pay it, and you create a 1/1 green Elf creature token for each other player if G was spent to pay it.
[7/7]
EDIT: Goofed around with Baigheli Heiress's ability a little bit. I don't even remember what the first version was, but it was confusing.
EDIT: Changed "opponent" to "other player" on Grazseyela Macdomhnall. Added "you" in front of "create".
I love it. Especially the Fearsome Critters. You've done the flavor proud.
Enchantments with this theme are particularly interesting; Smoking Jackalope is very compelling; and Frontier Searcher and Grazseyela herself are great fatties.
I love it. Especially the Fearsome Critters. You've done the flavor proud.
Enchantments with this theme are particularly interesting; Smoking Jackalope is very compelling; and Frontier Searcher and Grazseyela herself are great fatties.
Hey, thanks!
Again, all credit to you for the flavor inspiration.
As for Smoking Jackalope, I am assuming that there is going to be some kind of upkeep-specific mana producer in the set... so you can flash it out during your upkeep and then attack with it right away.
I love what you've done here, solid old timey upkeep costs with newer stats for power creep.
Grizzly Trout had me chuckling for a good 5 minutes. I still giggle a little when I read the name.
Funky Cabbage Man, dual colored Hungry Mist could stand to be a little stronger, why not just destroy permanent? Why exclude land and planeswalker?
Stop Work, I hate this card. Not because its too powerful or anything like that, but because it does something I fundamentally hate. Ignoring that its cool to see Stasis fused with Winter Orb, though the fact that it lets you untap enough mana to pay its cost gives pause.
Baigheli Heiress I know old cards had beginning and end of steps, but that hardly even existed back then. Currently both abilities trigger at the same time, if you really don't want it in the main phase then it can be a draw step trigger.
I'll admit that Baigheli Heiress has been the problem child of the bunch, here. What I'm trying to do with this card is create an ability that allows you to whiff on another upkeep payment as long as you pay the Heiress's. If her ability has additional applications, great, I consider that gravy.
But ultimately, I want you to be able to sink BBB into the Heiress and thereby not have to pay your Funky Cabbage Man upkeep, for example. She has the most punishing upkeep cost of the bunch but she lets another card get a free ride. If anybody can suggest the cleanest, most ideal way to do that, I'll be grateful. I've been struggling to nail it.
I also kind of hate what Stop Work does, but I could not in good conscience do a set of old-school upkeep cards and NOT do a callback to Stasis. I mean, even if it is more like Static Orb. I feel like I've given it what would be considered an appropriate cost for the Modern era, even if it's a design that gives Modern-era players the willies. I feel like it's easier to play around it than similar designs of the past.
I'll admit that Baigheli Heiress has been the problem child of the bunch, here. What I'm trying to do with this card is create an ability that allows you to whiff on another upkeep payment as long as you pay the Heiress's. If her ability has additional applications, great, I consider that gravy.
But ultimately, I want you to be able to sink BBB into the Heiress and thereby not have to pay your Funky Cabbage Man upkeep, for example. She has the most punishing upkeep cost of the bunch but she lets another card get a free ride. If anybody can suggest the cleanest, most ideal way to do that, I'll be grateful. I've been struggling to nail it.
It might be weird but it sounds like you want a trigger on her payment that counters an ability.
Shouldn't you just keyword Upkeep [cost] (At the beginning of your upkeep, pay [cost] or sacrifice this.)?
Drawbacks aren't fun. "Upkeep" costs like this, however, are quite interesting with regards to theft effects - see force of nature for example.
I could see doing a cycle of cool rares with an "upkeep" keyword as is; but it might be better to spin the keyword as an upside. Something like:
Reality Anchor [cost] (At the beginning of your upkeep, you may pay [cost]. If you do, then put a +1/+1 counter on this. Otherwise, return it to it's owner's hand.)
Mind you, Racketeering is a cool design. All the more reason to keyword this effect.
If your enjoyment of the game comes from experiencing big, cool creatures and huge, splashy effects... yeah, this sucks (except, come on, Grazseyela).
If your enjoyment of the game comes from figuring out puzzles and showing off your mastery of complex effects... hopefully I've given you something, here.
If your enjoyment of the game comes from winning a lot... don't worry, we'll make sure some of these are very strong.
Encumbered Adventurer B
Creature — Elf Warrior [C]
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Encumbered Adventurer unless you pay B.
When Madam Baigheli says, "Take everything", you take everything.
[2/2]
Timber Song 1G
Enchantment [C]
Creatures you control get +1/+0 and have trample.
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Timber Song unless you pay G.
"I cut down trees, I eat my lunch, I go to the lavatory."
Grizzly Trout 4U
Creature — Bear Fish [C]
Hexproof
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Grizzly Trout unless you pay U.
"What is it?" asked Biv, shivering.
"I dunno," said Berm, "But it dressed for the weather!"
[4/5]
Smoking Jackalope 1R
Creature — Antelope Rabbit [U]
Flash
Haste
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Smoking Jackalope unless you pay R.
Each jackalope is born in a bolt of lightning, and each disappears just as quickly.
[3/1]
Funky Cabbage Man 2BG
Creature — Skunk Ape [U]
Funky Cabbage Man can't block.
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Funky Cabbage Man unless you pay BG
When Funky Cabbage Man dies, destroy target artifact, creature, or enchantment.
"What's that smell?" asked Biv, gasping.
"I dunno," said Berm, "But it's got two legs and it's heading this way!"
[6/2]
Racketeering 1B
Enchantment [U]
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Racketeering unless you pay B and/or 1B.
Whenever you pay Racketeering's B upkeep cost, each other player loses 1 life.
Whenever you pay Racketeering's 1B upkeep cost, you draw a card and you lose 1 life.
Wherever you're going in Alezenim, the Grinning Junction Ferry Company will get you there. Your belongings are another matter.
Frontier Searcher 4GG
Creature — Giant Scout [R]
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Frontier Searcher unless you pay GG.
Whenever you spend mana during your upkeep, you gain that much life.
GG: Frontier Searcher gains indestructible until end of turn.
GG: Frontier Searcher must be blocked this turn if able.
There are always bigger trees to chop.
[8/4]
Stop Work 2UU
Enchantment [R]
Players can't untap more than two permanents during their untap steps.
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Stop Work unless you pay UU
Never argue with someone who buys magic ink by the barrel.
Baigheli Heiress 2BBB
Creature — Demon [R]
Deathtouch, menace
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Baigheli Heiress unless you pay BBB
At the end of your upkeep, if Baigheli Heiress is on the battlefield, you may return to the battlefield target permanent card in your graveyard that was put there from the battlefield this upkeep. If that permanent is a creature, it gains haste until end of turn.
Baigheli wares are guaranteed for life... and death.
[2/7]
Grazseyela Macdomhnall 3UBRG
Legendary Creature — Elder Dragon [M]
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Grazseyela Macdomhnall unless you pay U, B, R, and/or G.
Whenever you pay Grazseyela's upkeep cost, scry 2 if U was spent to pay it, each other player discards a card if B was spent to pay it, exile the top two cards of your library and you may play those cards this turn if R was spent to pay it, and you create a 1/1 green Elf creature token for each other player if G was spent to pay it.
[7/7]
EDIT: Goofed around with Baigheli Heiress's ability a little bit. I don't even remember what the first version was, but it was confusing.
EDIT: Changed "opponent" to "other player" on Grazseyela Macdomhnall. Added "you" in front of "create".
Enchantments with this theme are particularly interesting; Smoking Jackalope is very compelling; and Frontier Searcher and Grazseyela herself are great fatties.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Again, all credit to you for the flavor inspiration.
As for Smoking Jackalope, I am assuming that there is going to be some kind of upkeep-specific mana producer in the set... so you can flash it out during your upkeep and then attack with it right away.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Grizzly Trout had me chuckling for a good 5 minutes. I still giggle a little when I read the name.
Funky Cabbage Man, dual colored Hungry Mist could stand to be a little stronger, why not just destroy permanent? Why exclude land and planeswalker?
Stop Work, I hate this card. Not because its too powerful or anything like that, but because it does something I fundamentally hate. Ignoring that its cool to see Stasis fused with Winter Orb, though the fact that it lets you untap enough mana to pay its cost gives pause.
Baigheli Heiress I know old cards had beginning and end of steps, but that hardly even existed back then. Currently both abilities trigger at the same time, if you really don't want it in the main phase then it can be a draw step trigger.
But ultimately, I want you to be able to sink BBB into the Heiress and thereby not have to pay your Funky Cabbage Man upkeep, for example. She has the most punishing upkeep cost of the bunch but she lets another card get a free ride. If anybody can suggest the cleanest, most ideal way to do that, I'll be grateful. I've been struggling to nail it.
I also kind of hate what Stop Work does, but I could not in good conscience do a set of old-school upkeep cards and NOT do a callback to Stasis. I mean, even if it is more like Static Orb. I feel like I've given it what would be considered an appropriate cost for the Modern era, even if it's a design that gives Modern-era players the willies. I feel like it's easier to play around it than similar designs of the past.
Drawbacks aren't fun. "Upkeep" costs like this, however, are quite interesting with regards to theft effects - see force of nature for example.
I could see doing a cycle of cool rares with an "upkeep" keyword as is; but it might be better to spin the keyword as an upside. Something like:
Reality Anchor [cost] (At the beginning of your upkeep, you may pay [cost]. If you do, then put a +1/+1 counter on this. Otherwise, return it to it's owner's hand.)
Mind you, Racketeering is a cool design. All the more reason to keyword this effect.
That depends on what kind of player you are.
If your enjoyment of the game comes from experiencing big, cool creatures and huge, splashy effects... yeah, this sucks (except, come on, Grazseyela).
If your enjoyment of the game comes from figuring out puzzles and showing off your mastery of complex effects... hopefully I've given you something, here.
If your enjoyment of the game comes from winning a lot... don't worry, we'll make sure some of these are very strong.