I actuallymention in the clarifications that the iconic creatures are Angel, Sphinx etc etc
I'm pretty solid on the fact that our card had to be one of the iconic types on the list, but I was wondering if the card was supposed to be a "poster child" for that creature type (as glurman called it above). For instance, wizard is an iconic blue creature type, but Academy Researchers isn't an iconic card like Snapcaster Mage is (at least IMO). I've been working under the assumption that we don't need to make an iconic card, but only use one of the iconic creature types on the list. Is this correct? Your original challenge says to "make a rare iconic creature", so I can understand why some people interpreted the challenge as "make Snapcaster Mage", which is seems that more than just glurman did. I just want to make sure I am judging the challenge correctly before posting my crits.
BTW, thanks to all that responded.
Edit: I'm pretty sure that I've been interpreting the challenge correctly the whole time, and actually already wrote my crits, but with several people interpreting it differently, I want to make sure I'm not crazy.
(22 Total) - October 2014; December 2014; January 2015; April 2015; June 2015; August 2015; September 2015; November 2015; December 2015(T); January 2016; March 2016(T); April 2016; June 2016; October 2016; December 2016(T); February 2017; April 2017; December 2017; November 2018(T); January 2019; April 2019; June 2019
(8 Total) - May 2015; May 2016; June 2016; August 2016; October 2016; December 2016; October 2017; May 2019
(7 Total) - September 2015; October 2015; January 2016; March 2016; April 2016; July 2016(T); March 2019(T)
Iconic in this reference only means it has to be an Angel, Sphinx, Demon, Dragon or Hydra.
Um... what now? If the creature type was part of the requirements, why was it not mentioned in the main challenge? I didn't see the clarification that mentioned it until well after the deadline, and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. I interpreted the challenge as a rare card that has an ability that's iconic. Is Doran, the Siege Tower not iconic? how about Godsire? Morphling? Verdant Force? Sliver Queen? Juzám Djinn? Ball Lightning? I could go on...
Mostly I'm annoyed that a main requirement was hidden in the clarifications. I ignored it in my critique, and I do not intend to change it. I encourage others to do the same.
Iconic is a design term in mtg, just like the characteristic types. (Human, Merfolk, Vampire/Zombie, Golbin, Elf)
I included it in the clarifications from the start, I'm sorry if you feel that isn't sufficient.
EDIT: I would never include a challenge that asked for a "Iconic" card in the non-mtg design sense as that is a highly subjective term that doesn't make for a good design challenge. Its like me simply asking you to make a "cool" card.
Iconic is a design term in mtg, just like the characteristic types. (Human, Merfolk, Vampire/Zombie, Golbin, Elf)
I included it in the clarifications from the start, I'm sorry if you feel that isn't sufficient.
EDIT: I would never include a challenge that asked for a "Iconic" card in the non-mtg design sense as that is a highly subjective term that doesn't make for a good design challenge. Its like me simply asking you to make a "cool" card.
Is there an outside list of iconic creatures? Probably not, since it changes from block to block. Gods were iconic in Theros, Elementals were iconic in Lorwyn. Vampires were iconic for half of magic. Were there sphinxes in Tarkir? No, but that doesn't mean blue didn't have iconic creatures in Khans.
This is an arbitrary limitation, which should have been part of the main challenge if you felt they were integral to it.
I'm with Asrama in having not interpreted the clarifications. I went with Ele!phant Knight considering Knight as an iconic creature type for white, and I don't feel I stretched the meaning of "iconic" by going with knight (my submission was not without its problem, though, the race choice didn't help and my keyword was myriad). I will not consider the creature type limitation for my critiques, mainly because I didn't quite get it and many others fell through that crack.
Iconic is a design term in mtg, just like the characteristic types. (Human, Merfolk, Vampire/Zombie, Golbin, Elf)
I included it in the clarifications from the start, I'm sorry if you feel that isn't sufficient.
EDIT: I would never include a challenge that asked for a "Iconic" card in the non-mtg design sense as that is a highly subjective term that doesn't make for a good design challenge. Its like me simply asking you to make a "cool" card.
Is there an outside list of iconic creatures? Probably not, since it changes from block to block.
No it doesn't. The icons for each color have always been the same since Hydra's where finalized as green's iconics. Its true not all iconics are used on every plane but that isn't relevant.
Gods were iconic in Theros, Elementals were iconic in Lorwyn. Vampires were iconic for half of magic. Were there sphinxes in Tarkir? No, but that doesn't mean blue didn't have iconic creatures in Khans.
This is basically all incorrect, again Iconic is a specific design term for the most recognizable rare creature for each color in all of magic. Gods and elementals where in each color, Vampires are too small and not as popular or large as Demons, Sphinxes (or dragons/angels) not being in Khans doesn't make them not the most iconic rare creatures for those associated colors.
Again the details of the requirements where detailed in the clarifications section. I thank you for the feedback that the design term iconic maybe should of been explained elsewhere. But really the clarifications spoiler is there exactly to clear up this situation.
No it doesn't. The icons for each color have always been the same since Hydra's where finalized as green's iconics. Its true not all iconics are used on every plane but that isn't relevant.
I actually think it's really relevant. It goes to show that the term "iconic" is fluid. Please remeber that before Sphinxes, Djins and Leviathans were considered the blue iconic creature type. Green went a long time with only Beast as an iconic creature type. Tomorrow Wizards might decide that dragons should appear in all colors and change the red iconic creature type to phoenixes. who knows.
This is basically all incorrect, again Iconic is a specific design term for the most recognizable rare creature for each color in all of magic. Gods and elementals where in each color, Vampires are too small and not as popular or large as Demons, Sphinxes (or dragons/angels) not being in Khans doesn't make them not the most iconic rare creatures for those associated colors.
Again the details of the requirements where detailed in the clarifications section. I thank you for the feedback that the design term iconic maybe should of been explained elsewhere. But really the clarifications spoiler is there exactly to clear up this situation.
I'd like to see a source for that definition, if you can find it. Regardless, that doesn't matter much, because that was not the challenge. The challenge was: "Create a rare, iconic creature with a single ability that's approximately 4 lines or less. It can also include 0-1 evergreen keywords." not "Create a rare creature of an iconic creature type of its color..."
If a black angel or a blue dragon would be fine for your challenge (and nothing say they don't) please don't tell me that the color matters in the decision of what is or isn't iconic.
Probably you find the information about iconic creature types on Maro's blog. I agree that "iconic" does not necessarily mean "of the iconic creature type", though.
By the way, for the purpose of round two, is it acceptable to -
(i)Change creature type(s) mentioned in the text? (e.g. create goblin tokens instead of soldier tokens)
(ii)Change basic land type(s) mentioned in the text? (e.g. affect islands instead of forests)
(iii)Remove Tribal card type? (because it is basically no longer used)
In Magic design, it's well established that each color has two race creature types that define the essence of that color, one of which is called "iconic" and it's usually at rare/mythic with big creatures, the other is called "characteristic" and it's usually at common/uncommon with small creatures. The only exception is black that has two characteristic races.
List of iconic races
White: Angel
Blue: Sphinx
Black: Demon
Red: Dragon
Green: Hydra
List of characteristic races:
White: the only one that is not 100% established, most (myself included) consider this to be Human
Blue: Merfolk
Black: Vampire, Zombie
Red: Goblin
Green: Elf
All of this is very well established in Magic design, Maro talked about this multiple times, and the word "iconic" used in a Magic design context only has the above meaning instead of its ordinary English one. What some of you probably think of as "iconic" is actually "splashy", and I think the confusion comes from here, but those are completely different words in Magic design, with clearly different meaning. Iconic and characteristic races do NOT change and they're not supposed to. They are NOT in flux. The green iconic has changed in the past because what they were trying didn't work out (Wurm, Treefolk), but now they say Hydras are working and they're keeping that. Maybe one day they'll define explicitly what is supposed to be the white characteristic race, but that's the only change you might expect to all of the above. I'll edit this post asap with link to official sources about all of this, so that you don't have to believe me.
EDIT - from Maro's blog this this this about some of them not always showing up (Sphinxes not being in Tarkir doesn't change the fact that Sphinx is the blue iconic race) this about Hydras (also see comments) this this this and this about white's characteristic race this, this, this and this about not confusing the two terms "iconic" and "characteristic" this this in response to someone potentially having the same confusion that showed up here
Also, the following from the Blogatog FAQ:
Why is green’s iconic hydras? Why not ________ (green creature type you like)?
We tried numerous creatures as green iconic over the years (treefolk, wurms, various types of beast, etc.) but none of them were anywhere as popular as hydras have become.
Aren’t hydras red?
Richard Garfield put the first one in red because it was connected to stone. Those in the next few years followed Garfield’s lead. While looking for green’s iconic nothing worked in green so we started looking for things we could move. Hydras are beasts which constantly grow - that felt pretty green. We moved them over and it worked, so we’re sticking with it.
There's even more if you look for it, but I hope this is enough.
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016 DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for: "Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index.Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
My biggest problem was that the main requirement was an iconic creature, not a creature of an iconic type. I don't think the term "iconic creature" is hard to define. I don't think the term "cool creature" is hard to define. I'm upset that there appearantly a major requirement that I was not aware of (and I wasn't the only one) that was hidden away. I have, I think, stated enough reasons why it didn't make sense to me to even consider creature type as having anything to do with making an iconic rare.
Edit: Oh, and thanks for the reading material, BTW. I'm sure it took some time to curate.
It's quite ironic that the theme of this month is to correct common mistakes designers make, and the first round managed to uncover an additional one unintentionally. I am not a person that has read anything on Magic card design (or MTG in general), so like others, I was totally unaware of this alternative definition for the term iconic in MTG. I was able to glean the challenge anyway, but I can totally understand why others might have missed the idea. Doombringer set out to educate, and it looks like he has.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
(22 Total) - October 2014; December 2014; January 2015; April 2015; June 2015; August 2015; September 2015; November 2015; December 2015(T); January 2016; March 2016(T); April 2016; June 2016; October 2016; December 2016(T); February 2017; April 2017; December 2017; November 2018(T); January 2019; April 2019; June 2019
(8 Total) - May 2015; May 2016; June 2016; August 2016; October 2016; December 2016; October 2017; May 2019
(7 Total) - September 2015; October 2015; January 2016; March 2016; April 2016; July 2016(T); March 2019(T)
For the record, "iconic creature" and "creature with an iconic creature type" are synonymous (while "iconic creature" and "cool creature" are not), at least to me, so I automatically interpreted the challenge in the right way. Doombringer may have instinctually assumed everyone knew that (I probably would have too as host) without any rational thought that someone might not know. I'm not putting the blame on him in any way, just thinking about what could have happened. Well, at least everyone learned something out of this: those who didn't know about what the word "iconic" means in Magic design learned that, and those who already knew learned to not give anything for granted.
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016 DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for: "Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index.Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
Probably you find the information about iconic creature types on Maro's blog. I agree that "iconic" does not necessarily mean "of the iconic creature type", though.
By the way, for the purpose of round two, is it acceptable to -
(i)Change creature type(s) mentioned in the text? (e.g. create goblin tokens instead of soldier tokens)
(ii)Change basic land type(s) mentioned in the text? (e.g. affect islands instead of forests)
(iii)Remove Tribal card type? (because it is basically no longer used)
Overall - You’ve mentioned that you are not a Johnny, and it shows. I can see the struggle you have in coming up with a synergy to win against an over-powered opponent. But I feel that being a good designer means that sometimes you can’t design just for your strength, and need to challenge yourself. It took me all of four seconds to come up with three modern-legal two card combos that would defeat Gleemax, and I thought a three card “I win the game” combo is something that should not be hard to come up with. You’ve made some bad design choices for the sole reason of getting the cards to combo together, where you should have tried to see the interactions that come more naturally, and build up on those.
This is one of the most spot-on critiques I ever got. What you say is 100% correct, this was a very difficult challenge to me, definitely the most difficult this month. Many thanks for this critique and the awesome story you created this month! Also, congratulations to Ink-Treader for the win!
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016 DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for: "Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index.Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
I'm pretty solid on the fact that our card had to be one of the iconic types on the list, but I was wondering if the card was supposed to be a "poster child" for that creature type (as glurman called it above). For instance, wizard is an iconic blue creature type, but Academy Researchers isn't an iconic card like Snapcaster Mage is (at least IMO). I've been working under the assumption that we don't need to make an iconic card, but only use one of the iconic creature types on the list. Is this correct? Your original challenge says to "make a rare iconic creature", so I can understand why some people interpreted the challenge as "make Snapcaster Mage", which is seems that more than just glurman did. I just want to make sure I am judging the challenge correctly before posting my crits.
BTW, thanks to all that responded.
Edit: I'm pretty sure that I've been interpreting the challenge correctly the whole time, and actually already wrote my crits, but with several people interpreting it differently, I want to make sure I'm not crazy.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Feel free to join in on round 2, If you provide critiques to 6 players in round 1 before the 11th I'll even give you marks for that.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Um... what now? If the creature type was part of the requirements, why was it not mentioned in the main challenge? I didn't see the clarification that mentioned it until well after the deadline, and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. I interpreted the challenge as a rare card that has an ability that's iconic. Is Doran, the Siege Tower not iconic? how about Godsire? Morphling? Verdant Force? Sliver Queen? Juzám Djinn? Ball Lightning? I could go on...
Mostly I'm annoyed that a main requirement was hidden in the clarifications. I ignored it in my critique, and I do not intend to change it. I encourage others to do the same.
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 included it in the clarifications from the start, I'm sorry if you feel that isn't sufficient.
EDIT: I would never include a challenge that asked for a "Iconic" card in the non-mtg design sense as that is a highly subjective term that doesn't make for a good design challenge. Its like me simply asking you to make a "cool" card.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Is there an outside list of iconic creatures? Probably not, since it changes from block to block. Gods were iconic in Theros, Elementals were iconic in Lorwyn. Vampires were iconic for half of magic. Were there sphinxes in Tarkir? No, but that doesn't mean blue didn't have iconic creatures in Khans.
This is an arbitrary limitation, which should have been part of the main challenge if you felt they were integral to it.
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!
Sorry any odd typing. I'm on my phone.
No it doesn't. The icons for each color have always been the same since Hydra's where finalized as green's iconics. Its true not all iconics are used on every plane but that isn't relevant.
This is basically all incorrect, again Iconic is a specific design term for the most recognizable rare creature for each color in all of magic. Gods and elementals where in each color, Vampires are too small and not as popular or large as Demons, Sphinxes (or dragons/angels) not being in Khans doesn't make them not the most iconic rare creatures for those associated colors.
Again the details of the requirements where detailed in the clarifications section. I thank you for the feedback that the design term iconic maybe should of been explained elsewhere. But really the clarifications spoiler is there exactly to clear up this situation.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
I actually think it's really relevant. It goes to show that the term "iconic" is fluid. Please remeber that before Sphinxes, Djins and Leviathans were considered the blue iconic creature type. Green went a long time with only Beast as an iconic creature type. Tomorrow Wizards might decide that dragons should appear in all colors and change the red iconic creature type to phoenixes. who knows.
I'd like to see a source for that definition, if you can find it. Regardless, that doesn't matter much, because that was not the challenge. The challenge was: "Create a rare, iconic creature with a single ability that's approximately 4 lines or less. It can also include 0-1 evergreen keywords." not "Create a rare creature of an iconic creature type of its color..."
If a black angel or a blue dragon would be fine for your challenge (and nothing say they don't) please don't tell me that the color matters in the decision of what is or isn't iconic.
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!
By the way, for the purpose of round two, is it acceptable to -
(i)Change creature type(s) mentioned in the text? (e.g. create goblin tokens instead of soldier tokens)
(ii)Change basic land type(s) mentioned in the text? (e.g. affect islands instead of forests)
(iii)Remove Tribal card type? (because it is basically no longer used)
List of iconic races
White: Angel
Blue: Sphinx
Black: Demon
Red: Dragon
Green: Hydra
List of characteristic races:
White: the only one that is not 100% established, most (myself included) consider this to be Human
Blue: Merfolk
Black: Vampire, Zombie
Red: Goblin
Green: Elf
All of this is very well established in Magic design, Maro talked about this multiple times, and the word "iconic" used in a Magic design context only has the above meaning instead of its ordinary English one. What some of you probably think of as "iconic" is actually "splashy", and I think the confusion comes from here, but those are completely different words in Magic design, with clearly different meaning. Iconic and characteristic races do NOT change and they're not supposed to. They are NOT in flux. The green iconic has changed in the past because what they were trying didn't work out (Wurm, Treefolk), but now they say Hydras are working and they're keeping that. Maybe one day they'll define explicitly what is supposed to be the white characteristic race, but that's the only change you might expect to all of the above. I'll edit this post asap with link to official sources about all of this, so that you don't have to believe me.
EDIT - from Maro's blog
this
this
this about some of them not always showing up (Sphinxes not being in Tarkir doesn't change the fact that Sphinx is the blue iconic race)
this about Hydras (also see comments)
this
this
this and this about white's characteristic race
this, this, this and this about not confusing the two terms "iconic" and "characteristic"
this
this in response to someone potentially having the same confusion that showed up here
Also, the following from the Blogatog FAQ:
There's even more if you look for it, but I hope this is enough.
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here)
CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016
DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for:
"Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index. Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
Edit: Oh, and thanks for the reading material, BTW. I'm sure it took some time to curate.
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!
oh, awesome! gonna do it tonight. appreciated!
The research was the only relatively hard thing. Tumblr is a real pain to search. I had to resort using google with a restriction on site.
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here)
CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016
DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for:
"Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index. Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
Changing creature type is fine but not size.
Basic land is fine to change.
Tribal can be changed but not removed.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
I don't understand the bolded part. It's effect does scale according to each opponent. Unless you meant something else/I missunderstood.
Expect the ending to be posted soon.
Edit: Ending is here.
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!
This is one of the most spot-on critiques I ever got. What you say is 100% correct, this was a very difficult challenge to me, definitely the most difficult this month. Many thanks for this critique and the awesome story you created this month! Also, congratulations to Ink-Treader for the win!
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here)
CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016
DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for:
"Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index. Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
Choose one of these judge of creation:
Make Strionic Resonator shine!
You can not grasp the true form of Ashiok's attack!
Thought of the Month:
I gave up from trying to require the 'i' on my name: SolesticIo
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD