-I'll give you a task, and each leaguer has 3.5 days to submit a card. (We have a deadline, so try to adhere to this.)
- Then, the round closes, and each of you will have 1.5 days to post a Top 3 and reviews (And I shall do my best to have the next round up every 5 days.)
- Each 1st place earns you 3 points, 2nd place earns 2 points and 3rd place earns 1 point
- Additionaly, each player who posts a review for at least half the cards gains 1 point. Anyone who submits a T3 within deadline also receives a point.
- At the end of the third round, we go to a Top 8, where each session becomes a 1 vs. 1 (or not, it can sometimes be a 1 vs. 1 vs. 1 battle royale ) elimination, until we have our champion.
- If you don't post a round, you're on probation. If you don't post again, I'm sorry, but you're out.
- We have a "No Review Penalty" which means that if you don't post a T3, you are on probation, just as if you didn't post a card. If you didn't have time to post your T3 in time, PM it to me and I'll remove the probation, no extra charge!
- We'll have 2 teams. Each team will review the other team's cards. After 3 rounds, we will have a T4 for each team (team A 1st will face Team B 4th, team B 1st will face team A 4th, and so on).
- Some rounds I will vary the teams and scoring policies. I'll do my best to inform everyone what those changes entail.
The CCL is among the more fun games on the MtGSalvation forums due to its inherent aspect of interactivity among the Leaguers (that’s you). We actively critique each other’s card designs at the end of each round, putting a more personal interest into our cards and generally making us all better designers. Typically, we build worlds more complete than many games, as each round builds on the designs and ideas of previous rounds in the month. The CCL allows for Leaguers to plumb the depths of creativity, as the point schedule aspect allows for three full rounds without fear of elimination.
Schedule
The CCL will run six rounds, each lasting five days.
Rounds 1, 2 & 3 will be free-for-alls with each leaguer fighting for the most points during critiques. At the beginning of each of these rounds. The host will divide the league members evenly into two teams and each team will be assigned their design challenge. At the challenge deadline, the round will elapse into the critique section (see Critiques below). Once the critique section ends, the host will tally points and post the next round. Team rosters are likely to change between rounds; the new rosters will be included in the initial posting for the next round.
Each round will last [U]five[/U] days: 3.5 to finalize designs, 1.5 for critiques.
The schedule will usually operate according to US Easter time zone (GMT -5) We will stick to this schedule as closely as possible, adjusting as necessary.
Challenge Rounds
At the start of each round, the host will post the challenge for the round. This may be, at the host’s discretion, a single challenge for all leaguers, a list for each leaguer to choose from, challenges assigned to each leaguer, or other challenge variation.
Each Leaguer will post his/her entry by the deadline, 3.5 days after the round is posted.
Critique Rounds
At the end of each challenge round, the host, or an individual the host designates, will officially close the round and open the forum for critiques. After this point, modifying the post containing your entry for the round will incur penalties (see Penalties section).
Each Leaguer will thoroughly critique at least 50% of the entries given by the leaguers on the other team.
In addition to the critiques, each Leaguer generates his/her list of the Top 3 entries for the round. The Top 3 listings are the chief source of points within the CCL and are therefore required to complete. Even if critiques are not completed, Top 3’s must be listed to avoid penalties (see Penalties for penalty schedule). Regardless of the cards actually critiqued by a given Leaguer, Top 3’s can be drawn from any valid entry of the round. Submitting Top 3’s grants one point.
A valid critique does not need to be lengthy. A few constructive sentences will do as long as they are meaningful. Neither “Hated it,” “Too expensive,” nor “Bahhrokken!!!” are valid critiques.
Example: The following card is submitted by Fitzgerald:
A few decent critics:
from Tiberius: Templating issue with “nonpermanent card,” it's confusing and should just read “instant or sorcery card.” And the cost seems steep: I’m giving up a mana, a card, and immediate access to the card I looked for. Creative, but not bad.
from Wilhelmina: I hate the name. Also the shuffle part should be right after removing the tutored card instead of on a separate line. Seems powerful as an instant, play it on the opponents turn and you get basically a free draw, but you get to pick it.
from Beauregard: A bit complicated for uncommon. It doesn’t go to microtext on a render (sans flavor text) but it still isn’t all that intuitive.
Valid Entry Constitution
A valid entry in a given round cleanly delivers all required components of the challenge. The CCL is based around card design, so each challenge will direct Leaguers to design one or more cards, but other components may be given according to the judge’s discretion. Historically, these non-card components have included such things as keyword mechanic designs, story pieces, and various ideas for the judge to incorporate into later rounds. Include only what is described by the challenge requirements, as superfluous items may sway judgings unfairly and will incur penalties.
It is customary to include card renders in entries. This is not required. Some Leaguers may not have access to render design software and therefore will not be penalized for posting an entry without a render. However, it must be understood that a proper render is easier to judge/critique as it is more pleasing to the eye, more memorable and allows for Leaguers to judge the card by its wordiness, a very important aspect of a card’s design. Common rendering software used include Magic Set Editor (free program, the standard that most amateur designers use), PhotoShop (not free), and GIMP (free PhotoShop knockoff).
Scoring
The bulk of available points will be derived from Top 3 listings, as is League custom. Within each Top 3 listing, the choice for 1st place will be awarded 3 points, the choice for 2nd place will receive 2 points, and the choice for 3rd place will receive 1 point. It is common for Leaguers to post an Honorable Mention or two along with their T3 listings. Honorable Mentions are not awarded points. Posting T3s [U]is required[/U] and awards one point for completion of the requirements. There are penalties for failure to post T3s (see Penalties section).
Critiques are an optional aspect of the CCL, therefore no penalties are given for failure to complete critiques. Any Leaguer completing critiques for at least 50% of the other team's entries will receive 1 bonus point. An additional point will be awarded if a Leaguer critiques all valid entries in the round.
As noted in the section on Valid Entry Constitution, entries are encouraged to contain proper card renders. Some Leaguers may not have access to render design software and will not be penalized for posting an entry without a render.
Penalties
Failure to post Top 3s as required during the Critique section of any round will put a Leaguer on probation. While on probation, failure to post an Top 3 in [U]any[/U] later round will disqualify that Leaguer for the remainder of the month.
Once a Round elapses into its critique section, any Leaguer modifying their entry after any leaguer has posted a critique, will be [U]disqualified[/U] for the round.
Failure to post an entry within the Challenge round will put a Leaguer on probation. While on probation, failure to post an entry in [U]any[/U] later round will disqualify that Leaguer for the remainder of the month.
Making Magic by Mark Rosewater, current head of Magic Design at Wizards of the Coast. Making Magic is a weekly article detailing the trials, tribulations and achievements of Magic R&D in riveting prose.
Magiccards.info is the database mtgsalvation draws upon when you use the [card] tag. The advanced search functionality is useful for searching all cards officially printed by WotC.
Gatherer is the database maintained officially by WotC. It has slightly different functionality than magiccards.info, but the differences are too numerable to list here. (Someone should write an article about that)
Your other Leaguers are fantastic resources. We, more than the players of other games on this forum, are a community, as can be seen by the dialogue of any CCL thread.
Question, consult with, challenge and encourage each other at every opportunity.
Credits
Round 1 Posted - August 3 Round 1 Critiques - August 6
Round 2 Posted - August 9 Round 2 Critiques - August 13
Round 3 Posted - August 16 Round 3 Critiques - August 19
Round 4 Posted - August 24 Round 4 Critiques - August 27
Round 5 Posted - August 30 Round 5 Critiques - September 2
Round 6 Posted - September 4
Round 6 Critiques - September 8
Welcome!
It's been a long, long road. There have been many difficulties and delays, but now the final clash is at hand!
Maokun and Tiwlight Kiwi have worked hd to create a full army for their avatar-general in the form of EDH decks. Not only that, my twisted mind had them making no less than six different brand new cards for their deck, each with a different type and CMC, just for variety's sake.
Crimson-Tail, Kitsune Captain :2mana::symw::symr:
Legendary Creature - Fox Knight Samurai
Bushido 2, double strike, haste
Whenever Crimson-Tail, Kitsune Captain deals combat damage, target creature you control gets +X/+X until the beginning of the end step where X is Crimson-Tail's power.
1/3
"Rage is a valuable trait in the hands who can control it and harness its power" -Teachings of Eight-and-a-half-Tails
The new cards: Fields of Nobility
Tribal Land - Fox [R]
Fields of Nobility enters tapped into the battlefield. T:AddW to your mana pool. WW,T: Until the beginning of your end step, Fields of Nobility becomes a white 0/3 spirit fox creature with "The next time a source of your choice would deal damage this turn, that damage is dealt to Fields of Nobility instead."
Incite FuryR
Sorcery [c]
Incite Fury deals 2 damage to target creature. That creature blocks this turn if able.
Ardent Spark :symrw::symrw:
Instant [u]
Ardent Spark deals 2 damage to target attacking ot blocking creature. Ardent Spark deals 1 additional damage to that creature or to its controller for every R spent to pay for it. You gain 1 life for each W spent to pay for Ardent Spark.
Courageous March1RW
Enchantment [R]
Red creatures you control get +1/0+ and gain haste.
White creatures you control get +0/+1 and gain vigilance.
Kami of Enmity2RW
Creature - Spirit [R]
Flying RR,T: Target creature attacks this turn. (Ignore any effect that would prevent that creature from attacking.) WW,Q; Target creature blocks target attacking creature with other controller. (Ignore any effect that would prevent that creature from blocking.)
2/2
Godo's Banner5
Legendary Artifact - Equipment [MR]
Unequipped creatures get -1/-1
Equipped creatures get +1/+1
Equip- 1
DISCLAIMER: This is my first time building an EDH deck, so yeah, it will most overlook most of the needs of a real EDH deck that would be noticed if I played the format, nor I know how many creatures/removal/mana sources are appropiate. As a matter of fact I've never played singleton or any similar. I also started in Kamigawa, and I've always played standard, so my current card pool knowledge doesn't go beyond extended.
Simic Scrying1UG
Enchantment
Whenever an opponent draws a card, he or she reveals it. If it's a land card, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. If it's a creature card, you may put a land from your hand onto the battlefield. Each new region brings new ecosystems to study. Each new lifeform brings new understandings of its ecosystem.
Mirrored Cytocloak2U
Enchantment - Aura
Enchant Creature
Whenever enchanted creature uses an activated ability, copy that ability. You may choose new targets for the copy. "The danger of inflicting blindness on random bystanders has been deemed an acceptable risk." - Simic research notes
Kasir Eol, Master Cytoshaper2UG
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard
Graft 3 2UG: Choose a creature with a +1/+1 counter on it. Target creature becomes a copy of that creature until the beginning of the end step. "The best way to verify the success of an experiment is to duplicate it."
0/0
Resource Reclaimation3GU
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a counter is removed from a permanent you control, you may return that permanent to its owner's hand.
Whenever a permanent leaves the battlefield, if it had any counters on it, you may put that many counters of the same type on another permanent you control that shares a type with that permanent.
Biomancer's Tools 2:symgu::symgu:
Tribal Artifact - Mutant (R)
Whenever a creature comes onto the battlefield, you may put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Creatures you control have graft.
Remove a +1/+1 counter from a creature you control: Activated abilities of that creature cost 1 less to play this turn. If this would make an ability cost 0 or less mana to play, it costs 1, plus any nonmana costs.
Battlegraft1G
Instant (C)
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. It gets +1/+1 until the beginning of the end step for each +1/+1 counter on it. "When exposed to certain kinds of magic, cytoplasm genus #253c demonstrates exponential growth." - Simic research notes
Landcall1UG
Sorcery (U)
Search target player's library for a land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then that player shuffles his or her library. As their world's caretakers, the druid-sages of Alleron believe all the land belongs to them, no matter who happens to be using it at the time.
PlaxhordeXG
Creature - Ooze Mutant (U)
Graft X
Whenever a +1/+1 counter is removed from Plaxhorde, you may pay 1. If you do, choose one - Target creature gets +2/+2 until the beginning of the end step; or you gain 2 life; or add GG to your mana pool.
0/0
Simic Laboratory
Land (R)
Simic Laboratory enters the battlefield tapped. T: Add U to your mana pool.
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield, you may pay 4U. If you do, Simic Laboratory becomes a copy of that creature. (It's no longer a land.)
Asrama, maybe you should explain that our task was to create 6 cards with different types and different mana costs? Otherwise it seems like we randomly came with some cards.
I'm calling it right now- worst rare in the set. Even good limited players will find better bombs at common and uncommon no sweat. Worst. Episode. Ever.
I really do predict this to be our worst rare in set award winner. I'd be happier opening a jar of eyeballs, so I think anything worse is highly unlikely. This card wont just have zero constructed potential, but not be significantly better than a mass of ghouls in a draft.
I voted for twilight kiwi, because a lot of Maokun's card's didn't do it for me. Ardent Spark and Courageous March felt like worse versions of Lightning Helix and Glory of Warfare (I know the second one really isn't exactly a worse version, it just really feels that way to me.) And Kami of Emnity seems needlessly complicated to me. I think it would have been better if you stuck with the normal wording: "if able". And Fields of Nobility is worded wrong, though in an odd way. The way it is now, the damage redirection ability has no time when it triggers, I think.
Also, if I may point it out, the proper wording is still "until end of turn." The wording only changed for triggered abilities that used to say "at end of turn..." so now they say a time at the end of turn, the beginning of the next end step. I made the same mistake for the first few weeks after M10 myself.
As for some comments on Twilight's cards (which I feel are pretty necessary after all the comments I made on Maokun's), Resource Reclamation is a card I would hate to play against, and love to play with but only to be a jerk like I would with Doubling Season, I think that's a small problem. I think Biomancer's tools would have been better if it dropped one ability, but I'm not sure which one of the top two adds less to the design. Battlegraft gets an A+ from me, because its a good card that really plays of another really well, Battle Growth. Landcall makes me feel like I've seen its ability discussed in monogreen in a wizards article lately, but I can't remember where, so I might be mistaken (anyone know?). I also liked Simic Laboratory, I'd play with it.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I'll bet you wish you had a non-unglued/unhinged card that shared your first name.
I voted for twilight kiwi, because a lot of Maokun's card's didn't do it for me. Ardent Spark and Courageous March felt like worse versions of Lightning Helix and Glory of Warfare (I know the second one really isn't exactly a worse version, it just really feels that way to me.) And Kami of Emnity seems needlessly complicated to me. I think it would have been better if you stuck with the normal wording: "if able". And Fields of Nobility is worded wrong, though in an odd way. The way it is now, the damage redirection ability has no time when it triggers, I think.
Ardent Spark is indeed inferior to helix, but you'll surely agree that helix is the top of bar for this kind of spells at that rarity. Spark then, offers a bit more flexibility to make up for it. It can kill X/4 creatures or divide the damage with opponent. In hindsight I should've made it 2 life for each W, otherwise is too unattractive for monowhite. Fields of Nobility's wording is directly extracted from Opal-Eye, Konda's Joyimbo, so I'm sure it's allright, though in hindsight again, maybe I should've costed the activation just W. Finally, you must not compare Courageous March to Glory of Warfare, but to Glorious Anthem
Also, if I may point it out, the proper wording is still "until end of turn." The wording only changed for triggered abilities that used to say "at end of turn..." so now they say a time at the end of turn, the beginning of the next end step. I made the same mistake for the first few weeks after M10 myself.
Ah, yes. I've been confused about this for a while, thanks for the clearification.
I'm calling it right now- worst rare in the set. Even good limited players will find better bombs at common and uncommon no sweat. Worst. Episode. Ever.
I really do predict this to be our worst rare in set award winner. I'd be happier opening a jar of eyeballs, so I think anything worse is highly unlikely. This card wont just have zero constructed potential, but not be significantly better than a mass of ghouls in a draft.
Fields of Nobility's wording is directly extracted from Opal-Eye, Konda's Joyimbo, so I'm sure it's allright, though in hindsight again, maybe I should've costed the activation just W.
I think the difference is that opal-eye taps to activate the ability, the ability your land gains needs an activation cost itself.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I'll bet you wish you had a non-unglued/unhinged card that shared your first name.
I'm calling it right now- worst rare in the set. Even good limited players will find better bombs at common and uncommon no sweat. Worst. Episode. Ever.
I really do predict this to be our worst rare in set award winner. I'd be happier opening a jar of eyeballs, so I think anything worse is highly unlikely. This card wont just have zero constructed potential, but not be significantly better than a mass of ghouls in a draft.
I'm calling it right now- worst rare in the set. Even good limited players will find better bombs at common and uncommon no sweat. Worst. Episode. Ever.
I really do predict this to be our worst rare in set award winner. I'd be happier opening a jar of eyeballs, so I think anything worse is highly unlikely. This card wont just have zero constructed potential, but not be significantly better than a mass of ghouls in a draft.
Well, It's been a while, and it looks like we have a winner.
The winner of August 2009 CCL is Twilight Kiwi!
Thanks for all the players who participated this month.
I'll edit in my critiques for each contastant's entry in a bit.
Edit:
Maokun:
Fields of Nobility - Interesting card, but like KoolKoal said, there are some issues with the wording. I think it's a question of whether or not players would be willing to have a land come into play tapped for a one time quasy Holy Day option attached to it. It might be a fun addition to casual decks, but it will never be amazing. Compare this to Kor Haven.
Incite Fury - Very cute. Sinse it only targets creatures, I think it's well within the curve to be an instant. Being a sorcery really brings down it's value in my eyes, and lowers it's powers on the multiplayer table.
Ardent Spark - It's a nice change from Moonhold, but like KK said, it feels like a worse version of Lightning Helix. I much rather see this do more, even (and maybe especialy) if it means upping the cost to do it.
Courageous March - While both parts make sense in white and red, this type of card has been done to the death, and frankly is quite boring.
Kami of Enmity - If I got it right, you can use the second ability to make a tapped creature without flying block a flying creature that's attacking a different player than it's controller. That's just plain weird. I think the word "if able" should be one both abilities. Other than that, it really feels a bit underwhelming to be a rare card.
Godo's Banner - Your best card out of the bunch, no competition. It's powerful, flavourful, and makes people want to build around it. It's also very fitting for mythic.
The deck - Well, you did as expected and made the ultimate red white aggro deck, which works great with your avatar. I would have liked to see more of an equipment theme, what with Godo's Banner and Godo himself, I was surprise to see only four equipments in the deck. Adding some more (Oathkeeper, Takeno's Daisho could have worked well, among others) as well as cards like Stonehewer Giant to search them, would have been a nice touch.
Twilight Kiwi:
Resource Reclaimation - It works great with your Avatar, and in fact with any graft creature, but I don't really care for cards that build their own decks. This card screams "Put me in a deck with lots and lots of graft creatures!" and I just don't find that very interesting. I'd rather see more subtlety.
Biomancer's Tools - Very nice and very interesting. Adding graft to each creature makes the game more interesting and the second ability works well with your avatar without being too blunt. I do feel like it would be more fitting as a multicolor card than a hybrid, having creatures come into play with counters on them is pretty non blue, and the second ability is more blue than green.
Battlegraft - This is an amazing card. For it's simplisity, it offers an amazing range of effects, and works well enough even if you don't have a counter bearing creature to target. Nice work.
Landcall - Simple and clean, but I really think it could have been a common just as well. That's not saying that it's a bad card, but I think it's a basic and not game wrapping so there are no issues with multiple copies popping up in limited.
Plaxhorde - Really nice twist to the counter mechanic, but being such a complcated card, I think it should have been rare, and also could be more powerful. havive each effect at three, (3 life, +3/+3 and GGG) would have been better.
Simic Laboratory - Very cute. I could see this being printed in Zendikar (although under a different name).
The deck - Your general had a lot more abilities to synergize with than Maokun's, and as one could anticipate, you did the best to make the ultimate graft creature deck. pretty standard, but it works.
I'm calling it right now- worst rare in the set. Even good limited players will find better bombs at common and uncommon no sweat. Worst. Episode. Ever.
I really do predict this to be our worst rare in set award winner. I'd be happier opening a jar of eyeballs, so I think anything worse is highly unlikely. This card wont just have zero constructed potential, but not be significantly better than a mass of ghouls in a draft.
-I'll give you a task, and each leaguer has 3.5 days to submit a card. (We have a deadline, so try to adhere to this.)
- Then, the round closes, and each of you will have 1.5 days to post a Top 3 and reviews (And I shall do my best to have the next round up every 5 days.)
- Each 1st place earns you 3 points, 2nd place earns 2 points and 3rd place earns 1 point
- Additionaly, each player who posts a review for at least half the cards gains 1 point. Anyone who submits a T3 within deadline also receives a point.
- At the end of the third round, we go to a Top 8, where each session becomes a 1 vs. 1 (or not, it can sometimes be a 1 vs. 1 vs. 1 battle royale ) elimination, until we have our champion.
- If you don't post a round, you're on probation. If you don't post again, I'm sorry, but you're out.
- We have a "No Review Penalty" which means that if you don't post a T3, you are on probation, just as if you didn't post a card. If you didn't have time to post your T3 in time, PM it to me and I'll remove the probation, no extra charge!
- We'll have 2 teams. Each team will review the other team's cards. After 3 rounds, we will have a T4 for each team (team A 1st will face Team B 4th, team B 1st will face team A 4th, and so on).
- Some rounds I will vary the teams and scoring policies. I'll do my best to inform everyone what those changes entail.
The Long Version:
The following card is submitted by Fitzgerald:
from Tiberius: Templating issue with “nonpermanent card,” it's confusing and should just read “instant or sorcery card.” And the cost seems steep: I’m giving up a mana, a card, and immediate access to the card I looked for. Creative, but not bad.
from Wilhelmina: I hate the name. Also the shuffle part should be right after removing the tutored card instead of on a separate line. Seems powerful as an instant, play it on the opponents turn and you get basically a free draw, but you get to pick it.
from Beauregard: A bit complicated for uncommon. It doesn’t go to microtext on a render (sans flavor text) but it still isn’t all that intuitive.
Round 1 Posted - August 3
Round 1 Critiques - August 6
Round 2 Posted - August 9
Round 2 Critiques - August 13
Round 3 Posted - August 16
Round 3 Critiques - August 19
Round 4 Posted - August 24
Round 4 Critiques - August 27
Round 5 Posted - August 30
Round 5 Critiques - September 2
Round 6 Posted - September 4
Round 6 Critiques - September 8
Welcome!
It's been a long, long road. There have been many difficulties and delays, but now the final clash is at hand!
Maokun and Tiwlight Kiwi have worked hd to create a full army for their avatar-general in the form of EDH decks. Not only that, my twisted mind had them making no less than six different brand new cards for their deck, each with a different type and CMC, just for variety's sake.
Here is what Maokun came up with:
Good luck to both. Now people, vote!
Host, December 2015: A Winter Wonderland? - R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL April 2014: A Game of Fate - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinal|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL December 2012: Spy Games - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL November 2010: The Perfect Crime - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL August 2009: A Commander's Journey: Signups|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
I've got tons of art from the web. Want art for a render? PM me! Want to create your own collection? Start here!
I'll change to OP a bit to make it more clear.
Host, December 2015: A Winter Wonderland? - R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL April 2014: A Game of Fate - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinal|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL December 2012: Spy Games - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL November 2010: The Perfect Crime - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL August 2009: A Commander's Journey: Signups|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
I've got tons of art from the web. Want art for a render? PM me! Want to create your own collection? Start here!
Also, if I may point it out, the proper wording is still "until end of turn." The wording only changed for triggered abilities that used to say "at end of turn..." so now they say a time at the end of turn, the beginning of the next end step. I made the same mistake for the first few weeks after M10 myself.
As for some comments on Twilight's cards (which I feel are pretty necessary after all the comments I made on Maokun's), Resource Reclamation is a card I would hate to play against, and love to play with but only to be a jerk like I would with Doubling Season, I think that's a small problem. I think Biomancer's tools would have been better if it dropped one ability, but I'm not sure which one of the top two adds less to the design. Battlegraft gets an A+ from me, because its a good card that really plays of another really well, Battle Growth. Landcall makes me feel like I've seen its ability discussed in monogreen in a wizards article lately, but I can't remember where, so I might be mistaken (anyone know?). I also liked Simic Laboratory, I'd play with it.
Ardent Spark is indeed inferior to helix, but you'll surely agree that helix is the top of bar for this kind of spells at that rarity. Spark then, offers a bit more flexibility to make up for it. It can kill X/4 creatures or divide the damage with opponent. In hindsight I should've made it 2 life for each W, otherwise is too unattractive for monowhite. Fields of Nobility's wording is directly extracted from Opal-Eye, Konda's Joyimbo, so I'm sure it's allright, though in hindsight again, maybe I should've costed the activation just W. Finally, you must not compare Courageous March to Glory of Warfare, but to Glorious Anthem
Ah, yes. I've been confused about this for a while, thanks for the clearification.
KK, thanks for the vote and critiques! Anyone else, critiques would be welcome and appreciated, and I'm sure my opponent feels the same.
My First (And Probably Only) MCC Perfect Score: December 09 (Round One)
Why, of course I need as much help as possible having you as opponent. I couldn't risk voting for you without knowing if you would vote for yourself
I'm going to keep this running for one more day, then post my own vote and critiques and announce a winner.
In the meanwhile, I encourage everyone to post their opinions on the cards.
Host, December 2015: A Winter Wonderland? - R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL April 2014: A Game of Fate - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinal|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL December 2012: Spy Games - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL November 2010: The Perfect Crime - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL August 2009: A Commander's Journey: Signups|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
I've got tons of art from the web. Want art for a render? PM me! Want to create your own collection? Start here!
The winner of August 2009 CCL is Twilight Kiwi!
Thanks for all the players who participated this month.
I'll edit in my critiques for each contastant's entry in a bit.
Edit:
Maokun:
Fields of Nobility - Interesting card, but like KoolKoal said, there are some issues with the wording. I think it's a question of whether or not players would be willing to have a land come into play tapped for a one time quasy Holy Day option attached to it. It might be a fun addition to casual decks, but it will never be amazing. Compare this to Kor Haven.
Incite Fury - Very cute. Sinse it only targets creatures, I think it's well within the curve to be an instant. Being a sorcery really brings down it's value in my eyes, and lowers it's powers on the multiplayer table.
Ardent Spark - It's a nice change from Moonhold, but like KK said, it feels like a worse version of Lightning Helix. I much rather see this do more, even (and maybe especialy) if it means upping the cost to do it.
Courageous March - While both parts make sense in white and red, this type of card has been done to the death, and frankly is quite boring.
Kami of Enmity - If I got it right, you can use the second ability to make a tapped creature without flying block a flying creature that's attacking a different player than it's controller. That's just plain weird. I think the word "if able" should be one both abilities. Other than that, it really feels a bit underwhelming to be a rare card.
Godo's Banner - Your best card out of the bunch, no competition. It's powerful, flavourful, and makes people want to build around it. It's also very fitting for mythic.
The deck - Well, you did as expected and made the ultimate red white aggro deck, which works great with your avatar. I would have liked to see more of an equipment theme, what with Godo's Banner and Godo himself, I was surprise to see only four equipments in the deck. Adding some more (Oathkeeper, Takeno's Daisho could have worked well, among others) as well as cards like Stonehewer Giant to search them, would have been a nice touch.
Twilight Kiwi:
Resource Reclaimation - It works great with your Avatar, and in fact with any graft creature, but I don't really care for cards that build their own decks. This card screams "Put me in a deck with lots and lots of graft creatures!" and I just don't find that very interesting. I'd rather see more subtlety.
Biomancer's Tools - Very nice and very interesting. Adding graft to each creature makes the game more interesting and the second ability works well with your avatar without being too blunt. I do feel like it would be more fitting as a multicolor card than a hybrid, having creatures come into play with counters on them is pretty non blue, and the second ability is more blue than green.
Battlegraft - This is an amazing card. For it's simplisity, it offers an amazing range of effects, and works well enough even if you don't have a counter bearing creature to target. Nice work.
Landcall - Simple and clean, but I really think it could have been a common just as well. That's not saying that it's a bad card, but I think it's a basic and not game wrapping so there are no issues with multiple copies popping up in limited.
Plaxhorde - Really nice twist to the counter mechanic, but being such a complcated card, I think it should have been rare, and also could be more powerful. havive each effect at three, (3 life, +3/+3 and GGG) would have been better.
Simic Laboratory - Very cute. I could see this being printed in Zendikar (although under a different name).
The deck - Your general had a lot more abilities to synergize with than Maokun's, and as one could anticipate, you did the best to make the ultimate graft creature deck. pretty standard, but it works.
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My First (And Probably Only) MCC Perfect Score: December 09 (Round One)