It looks reasonably straightforward. Are there inobvious pitfalls?
Just follow the scoring rules in the OP of this thread and you'll be fine. If I can do it, I'm pretty sure anyone can.
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(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)
Sorry for missing my critiques for this past round. The past few days were unexpectedly miserable, and foruming just slipped off the list. I'm still intending to run next month's, if that's okay.
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Call me Fortuna, please. Ms. Imperatrix Mundi is the empress of the world.
Strictly speaking, not necessarily. If the card provides some way of generating mana by revealing it from your hand, for example, that would satisfy the challenge. In practice, casting the spell without spending mana is probably the way to go.
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Call me Fortuna, please. Ms. Imperatrix Mundi is the empress of the world.
So, uh, question. What are we supposed to do if a card doesn't meet the challenge? Two people submitted coloured but not multicoloured artifacts, and I didn't notice until now. Do I let this sort itself out in judging or disqualify them from the round or give them a points penalty or what?
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Call me Fortuna, please. Ms. Imperatrix Mundi is the empress of the world.
So, uh, question. What are we supposed to do if a card doesn't meet the challenge? Two people submitted coloured but not multicoloured artifacts, and I didn't notice until now. Do I let this sort itself out in judging or disqualify them from the round or give them a points penalty or what?
You let it sort itself out in judging! That's what I've always done, anyhow.
So, uh, question. What are we supposed to do if a card doesn't meet the challenge? Two people submitted coloured but not multicoloured artifacts, and I didn't notice until now. Do I let this sort itself out in judging or disqualify them from the round or give them a points penalty or what?
Do artifacts that are monocolored but have a multicolored color identity pass the challenge? Netn10's card for example.
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(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)
Thanks. That's what I figured, but I just wanted to make sure.
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(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)
Ramatsuji, With No Recollection1GU
Legendary Creature - Human Monk (M)
Trample
When Ramatsugi, With No Recollection attacks or blocks, put the top 3 cards of you library into your graveyard. Then if the total power of creature cards in your graveyard is greater than target opponents life total, you may have Ramatsugi's power and toughness become X/X until end of turn, where X is that opponents life total. "I was told I am Ramatsugi. Do you come to test me?"
3/3
Ramatsuji's AttendantGU
Creature - Moonfolk Monk (R)
Flying
At the beginning of your endstep, you may return any number of cards from your graveyard to the bottom of your library in a random order. If you do, put that many cards from the top of your library into your graveyard. "I watch him fight each day, exceeding each opponent with an art he himself has forgotten. I record these steps and strikes. For this honor, I gift him at dawn his true name."
2/2
Ramatsuji's Kasa2
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equip 1
Equipped creature has vigilance and "Whenever this creature loses power, put X +1/+1 counters on it, where X is the power lost." "What a simple headdress to hide such an elaborate scar. Do you not remember who inflicted it?"
—Hajimei, Ramatsuji's Attendant
I said I would give an explanation/response to my designs once the polls closed so as promised:
--- Research and Thought Process ---
When I approached the challenge of creating a disabled martial arts master, the first thing I did was research disabilities: What would be new or at least a more rarely used trope? Obviously a blind monk is overdone and missing a limb isn't too far out there. So I dug around.
Color blindness came to mind, but it didn't feel extreme/tragic. I also toyed with the idea of a warrior who was extremely frail, but fought with power mantra's auras. It was in this phase that the ability of the creature whose p/t changed from it's base stat to equal an opponents life total crossed my design table. It seemed like a really cool ability that would be perfect to tie to a mythic somehow so I went with it. However, I wasn't terribly satisfied with how the flavor was tying into the mechanics. I started with having it trigger on become enchanted until end of turn, but that made it seem like he was't really fragile at all. Eventually I drop the tie to auras all together, but that still left a hole in the flavor for me. I thought about a new direction: Memory loss.
The sudden and temporary gain of power fit that idea much better. I researched magic card history to verify the memory loss was strictly tied to milling, which it pretty much was, and went from there. Memory loss has many different forms, but as a warrior of some kind, in made sense that he would of been injured. I went ahead and designed the initial cards and flavor and was quite happy with them. Even chatted a bit with void_nothing because I was proud of my entry and how well I think they tied together.
However midway through the submission period it struck me that maybe my designs did't fit the challenge. It was quite clear in the rules that Flatline wanted a physical disability, something that would be more obviously impeding for a martial arts master and my card was focused on memory loss, something more mental. The challenge was trying to make a distinction here but Ramatsugi's design blurred the line here. Memory loss would be mental, but he had memory loss due to a physical trauma. So I researched disabilities further to see what qualified as a physical or mental disability.
What a found was the whole idea of distinguishing mental and physical disabilities was a misnomer: It wasn't medically done. In the case of memory loss, weather it was from a disease, developmental issues, or physical trauma it was all caused by something physical even if it affected the brain. Healthcare doesn't make the distinction, so neither would I.
My cards fit the challenge in my eyes. I did take a step to revise the flavor of my artifact card to clearly indicated that his memory loss was from some kind of physical injury for potential nay-sayers, but otherwise left it to the polls.
--- Ramatsugi's Backstory ---
Ramatsugi was a monk of the budoka who was extremely sensitive to the life from living creatures. His ability to nurture was profound, as was his ability to fight. Sensing the flow within living beings was an asset to his healing abilities as well, but when the kami wars erupted turned into a weapon. While kami didn't have the same flow that other creatures did, Ramatsugi was not always forced to fight kami. The other races of kamigawa, including other humans, would be his opponents at times. This is where he developed his technique: By sensing the nature and flow of his opponents life force, Ramatsugi would channel his own energies into a disharmony that directly opposed theirs. A single blow is all it took, and their flow would stop.
By the end of the kami war, Ramatsugi was tired. He had taken many lives in the name of the lives of the future, and made a vow to never do so again. His reputation had spread in-spite of this and many challengers and would-be students approached him. He rebuffed them all, as he was retired. He would only accept those who wish to study the nurturing/healing arts. Anyone who showed interest elsewhere was peacefully asked to leave. Even when provoked, Ramatsugi would not fight. Only evade. He left it to his adherents to lead them away.
One day, a prospective student named Hajimei appeared. A youthful moonfolk woman, she was an unusual candidate. Hajimei demonstrated a great skill and had obviously been taught well by some others. Still, learning his martial prowess was something he refused the teach. He had sensed her flow, and there was something ominous there. When she offered to stay as a student of his healing arts instead, Ramatsugi declined that as well telling her he found her sincerity lacking.
To this she responded with sorcery. Not only was she a martial master, but invoked dark arts as well. Catching Ramatsugi off guard, her spell put him in a momentary daze, and that was all she needed. She struck with a technique that he swear he had seen elsewhere before. He bled profusely from his skull. As he crumpled, Hajimei pull from her garb a strange tome and whispered "Now, my master, you'll teach me all I wish to know."
Ramatsugi remembers none of this. Each day, he wakes, greeted by his sole attendant Hajimei. "Good morning, master." She would say. "Do you remember your name?"
He did not. What he did remember was there was an opponent out there, someone he still had to fight. He needed to train.
----------------------
I have other card designs that came from this story and my research that I will share later. Hopefully this will give you a solid look into my design process.
Goronotsu, Sedentary KillerRWB
Legendary Creature - Human Samurai (M)
Defender, first strike, menace
As long as Goronotsu, Sedentary Killer is equipped, it can attack as though it didn't have defender and must be blocked if able. Outnumbered - Whenever two or more creatures block the same creature or a creature blocks two or more creatures, destroy up to one target creature or planeswalker. If a permanent is destroyed in this way, you gain life equal to its converted mana cost. "I can commit murder a dozen ways without rising from my seat - and don't even think about what I'm capable of when I have my cane."
2/3
Quaver, Goronotsu's Wakizashi2
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equipped creature gets +1/+0 and has deathtouch and "Whenever this creature deals damage to a planeswalker, destroy that planeswalker."
Equip 2 "Certain demise" - Engraving on Quaver's hilt
Goronotsu's TraineeW
Creature - Human Soldier (C)
Goronotsu's Trainee can block an additional creature.
Whenever Goronotsu's Trainee attacks or blocks, if you control an attacking or blocking Samurai, Goronotsu's Trainee gets +1/+0 until end of turn. They laughed at him once for accepting the tutelage of a crippled, daft old man. They laugh no longer.
1/1
Icarii, you clearly put a ton of work into your entry. Congratulations on your well-deserved win. I did promise you I'd explain my designs too, but my reasoning is considerably less detailed.
When I thought of disabled martial arts masters the first thing that came to mind was Zatoichi, the blind swordsman from many famous jidai-geki films. I certainly didn't want to rip off this beloved character wholesale, so I decided I'd take some of Ichi's personality traits and famous attributes and make a new character concept with them: An ancient and venerable Samurai, so worn by age and old injuries that he can barely stand, but whose blade arm is still the deadliest in the world.
Goronotsu is seemingly a contradiction in terms: The model of gentlemanly courtesy, a generous old eccentric who provides free training to poor students, and who seems reluctant to resort to violence - yet who is one of the most feared and ruthless ronin on Kamigawa, with perhaps thousands of kills to his name. His weapon, Quaver, is a cane sword, much like Zatoichi owns. It is a simple wakizashi with very little adornment, hidden in the grip of what appears to just be an old man's walking stick. It's said that no one but Goronotsu has ever gotten a good look at it, as when he needs to use it he is able to draw, strike, and sheathe faster than the eye can see.
Thanks for the back story on your design processes IcariiFA and void_nothing. They were both truly enjoyable to read. I think both of you did an excellent job with the challenge. Truth be told, I thought there were a lot of excellent designs across the board for the entire month.
It's interesting to me that IcariiFA interpreted the challenge as physical impairment only, as that was not my intention. But I can see now that I could've been clearer. My original version included alcoholism as an example of a "disability", but I figured that might not be appropriate. Also, the drunken master trope is something that people really enjoy, and I was afraid if I included it as an example people would just glom onto that. I'm glad my lack of clarity didn't prevent IcariiFA from taking the route that he did.
I hope everybody enjoyed the month. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. TBH, I had no intention of hosting Jan's CCL, but since nobody else was volunteering, I figured I'd give it a whirl. I had nothing prepared ahead of time, and pretty much made it all up as I went. If I ever host again I would try to write a little more in the theme area for each challenge in hopes of making it more entertaining. I'm curious if people found the quarter and semifinal rounds to be too redundant (they were the rounds that had you make a Ninja, Samurai or Monk, then make one of those three that you hadn't chosen in the previous round)? My reasoning behind those two challenges was: A) To make each round increasingly difficult. Trying to come up a creature with a new mechanic is difficult, trying to come up with two is even harder. B) It is realistic from a design stand point. If we ever do go back to Kamigawa, I assume we will see new abilities for Samurai and Ninja (and hopefully one for Monks too). Anyway, everybody should feel free to let me know what they thought. Good or bad.
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(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)
It's interesting to me that IcariiFA interpreted the challenge as physical impairment only, as that was not my intention.
Your challenge did mention you were looking for a physical obstacle or a physical impairment in separate instances. Hence my interpretation.
I hope everybody enjoyed the month. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. TBH, I had no intention of hosting Jan's CCL, but since nobody else was volunteering, I figured I'd give it a whirl. I had nothing prepared ahead of time, and pretty much made it all up as I went. If I ever host again I would try to write a little more in the theme area for each challenge in hopes of making it more entertaining. I'm curious if people found the quarter and semifinal rounds to be too redundant (they were the rounds that had you make a Ninja, Samurai or Monk, then make one of those three that you hadn't chosen in the previous round)? My reasoning behind those two challenges was: A) To make each round increasingly difficult. Trying to come up a creature with a new mechanic is difficult, trying to come up with two is even harder. B) It is realistic from a design stand point. If we ever do go back to Kamigawa, I assume we will see new abilities for Samurai and Ninja (and hopefully one for Monks too). Anyway, everybody should feel free to let me know what they thought. Good or bad.
I really enjoyed the theme of the month and the amount of participants and votes I think shows it was a great subject to base challenges off of. I totally understood why you would have the same challenge (nixing a players last round choice as an option) back-to-back like that and it is true that in the real design world you have to do things like that all the time. It did make my interest in the third round a bit muted. I wasn't as excited. Perhaps in pulling such a twist you added another twist/requirement that would of made that round feel more distinct. Regardless it went over well enough and overall the month was very well planned.
IcariiFA: I find this creature's body odd in size, in the context of its creature types.
What size would you expect a Sphinx Octopus Hellion to be?
I mean, it's an octopus so I kind of want it to have 8s in it, although two 4s is...pretty okay, as far as that goes. It just seemed like this is exactly the minimum size for a thing that's a member of three traditionally large tribes.
IcariiFA: I find this creature's body odd in size, in the context of its creature types.
What size would you expect a Sphinx Octopus Hellion to be?
I mean, it's an octopus so I kind of want it to have 8s in it, although two 4s is...pretty okay, as far as that goes. It just seemed like this is exactly the minimum size for a thing that's a member of three traditionally large tribes.
I mean, it's an octopus so I kind of want it to have 8s in it, although two 4s is...pretty okay, as far as that goes. It just seemed like this is exactly the minimum size for a thing that's a member of three traditionally large tribes.
It's no big deal, I just found the comment odd and wanted to understand your point of view better. As you noted, a 4/4 does add up to 8 and 8 is explicitly on the card as well. While it is on the smaller end of what a Sphinx or Hellion could be, there are both sphinxes and hellions that are smaller than a 4/4, which a 4/4 is a pretty standard size for both regardless.
Anyway not looking to change your scoring. Solidly in the top four with my Octopus-maned, Hellion-mouthed Sphinx thingy.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Actually. it makes perfect sense. You're just jealous because you didn't think of it.
If only we judged our own cards in contest, we would win every time.
You let it sort itself out in judging! That's what I've always done, anyhow.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Jealousy is jealous. And now for a statement generated by my cell phone:
The only thing is it takes me time to find out how to use the app for free speech and not the app for the most important part of the game.
It's like a crystal ball this phone.
No jealously here, dude. The fact that's what you interpreted from my comment speaks to your own issues.
Club Flamingo Wins: 1!
I said I would give an explanation/response to my designs once the polls closed so as promised:
--- Research and Thought Process ---
When I approached the challenge of creating a disabled martial arts master, the first thing I did was research disabilities: What would be new or at least a more rarely used trope? Obviously a blind monk is overdone and missing a limb isn't too far out there. So I dug around.
Color blindness came to mind, but it didn't feel extreme/tragic. I also toyed with the idea of a warrior who was extremely frail, but fought with power mantra's auras. It was in this phase that the ability of the creature whose p/t changed from it's base stat to equal an opponents life total crossed my design table. It seemed like a really cool ability that would be perfect to tie to a mythic somehow so I went with it. However, I wasn't terribly satisfied with how the flavor was tying into the mechanics. I started with having it trigger on become enchanted until end of turn, but that made it seem like he was't really fragile at all. Eventually I drop the tie to auras all together, but that still left a hole in the flavor for me. I thought about a new direction: Memory loss.
The sudden and temporary gain of power fit that idea much better. I researched magic card history to verify the memory loss was strictly tied to milling, which it pretty much was, and went from there. Memory loss has many different forms, but as a warrior of some kind, in made sense that he would of been injured. I went ahead and designed the initial cards and flavor and was quite happy with them. Even chatted a bit with void_nothing because I was proud of my entry and how well I think they tied together.
However midway through the submission period it struck me that maybe my designs did't fit the challenge. It was quite clear in the rules that Flatline wanted a physical disability, something that would be more obviously impeding for a martial arts master and my card was focused on memory loss, something more mental. The challenge was trying to make a distinction here but Ramatsugi's design blurred the line here. Memory loss would be mental, but he had memory loss due to a physical trauma. So I researched disabilities further to see what qualified as a physical or mental disability.
What a found was the whole idea of distinguishing mental and physical disabilities was a misnomer: It wasn't medically done. In the case of memory loss, weather it was from a disease, developmental issues, or physical trauma it was all caused by something physical even if it affected the brain. Healthcare doesn't make the distinction, so neither would I.
My cards fit the challenge in my eyes. I did take a step to revise the flavor of my artifact card to clearly indicated that his memory loss was from some kind of physical injury for potential nay-sayers, but otherwise left it to the polls.
--- Ramatsugi's Backstory ---
Ramatsugi was a monk of the budoka who was extremely sensitive to the life from living creatures. His ability to nurture was profound, as was his ability to fight. Sensing the flow within living beings was an asset to his healing abilities as well, but when the kami wars erupted turned into a weapon. While kami didn't have the same flow that other creatures did, Ramatsugi was not always forced to fight kami. The other races of kamigawa, including other humans, would be his opponents at times. This is where he developed his technique: By sensing the nature and flow of his opponents life force, Ramatsugi would channel his own energies into a disharmony that directly opposed theirs. A single blow is all it took, and their flow would stop.
By the end of the kami war, Ramatsugi was tired. He had taken many lives in the name of the lives of the future, and made a vow to never do so again. His reputation had spread in-spite of this and many challengers and would-be students approached him. He rebuffed them all, as he was retired. He would only accept those who wish to study the nurturing/healing arts. Anyone who showed interest elsewhere was peacefully asked to leave. Even when provoked, Ramatsugi would not fight. Only evade. He left it to his adherents to lead them away.
One day, a prospective student named Hajimei appeared. A youthful moonfolk woman, she was an unusual candidate. Hajimei demonstrated a great skill and had obviously been taught well by some others. Still, learning his martial prowess was something he refused the teach. He had sensed her flow, and there was something ominous there. When she offered to stay as a student of his healing arts instead, Ramatsugi declined that as well telling her he found her sincerity lacking.
To this she responded with sorcery. Not only was she a martial master, but invoked dark arts as well. Catching Ramatsugi off guard, her spell put him in a momentary daze, and that was all she needed. She struck with a technique that he swear he had seen elsewhere before. He bled profusely from his skull. As he crumpled, Hajimei pull from her garb a strange tome and whispered "Now, my master, you'll teach me all I wish to know."
Ramatsugi remembers none of this. Each day, he wakes, greeted by his sole attendant Hajimei. "Good morning, master." She would say. "Do you remember your name?"
He did not. What he did remember was there was an opponent out there, someone he still had to fight. He needed to train.
----------------------
I have other card designs that came from this story and my research that I will share later. Hopefully this will give you a solid look into my design process.
When I thought of disabled martial arts masters the first thing that came to mind was Zatoichi, the blind swordsman from many famous jidai-geki films. I certainly didn't want to rip off this beloved character wholesale, so I decided I'd take some of Ichi's personality traits and famous attributes and make a new character concept with them: An ancient and venerable Samurai, so worn by age and old injuries that he can barely stand, but whose blade arm is still the deadliest in the world.
Goronotsu is seemingly a contradiction in terms: The model of gentlemanly courtesy, a generous old eccentric who provides free training to poor students, and who seems reluctant to resort to violence - yet who is one of the most feared and ruthless ronin on Kamigawa, with perhaps thousands of kills to his name. His weapon, Quaver, is a cane sword, much like Zatoichi owns. It is a simple wakizashi with very little adornment, hidden in the grip of what appears to just be an old man's walking stick. It's said that no one but Goronotsu has ever gotten a good look at it, as when he needs to use it he is able to draw, strike, and sheathe faster than the eye can see.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
It's interesting to me that IcariiFA interpreted the challenge as physical impairment only, as that was not my intention. But I can see now that I could've been clearer. My original version included alcoholism as an example of a "disability", but I figured that might not be appropriate. Also, the drunken master trope is something that people really enjoy, and I was afraid if I included it as an example people would just glom onto that. I'm glad my lack of clarity didn't prevent IcariiFA from taking the route that he did.
I hope everybody enjoyed the month. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. TBH, I had no intention of hosting Jan's CCL, but since nobody else was volunteering, I figured I'd give it a whirl. I had nothing prepared ahead of time, and pretty much made it all up as I went. If I ever host again I would try to write a little more in the theme area for each challenge in hopes of making it more entertaining. I'm curious if people found the quarter and semifinal rounds to be too redundant (they were the rounds that had you make a Ninja, Samurai or Monk, then make one of those three that you hadn't chosen in the previous round)? My reasoning behind those two challenges was: A) To make each round increasingly difficult. Trying to come up a creature with a new mechanic is difficult, trying to come up with two is even harder. B) It is realistic from a design stand point. If we ever do go back to Kamigawa, I assume we will see new abilities for Samurai and Ninja (and hopefully one for Monks too). Anyway, everybody should feel free to let me know what they thought. Good or bad.
Your challenge did mention you were looking for a physical obstacle or a physical impairment in separate instances. Hence my interpretation.
I really enjoyed the theme of the month and the amount of participants and votes I think shows it was a great subject to base challenges off of. I totally understood why you would have the same challenge (nixing a players last round choice as an option) back-to-back like that and it is true that in the real design world you have to do things like that all the time. It did make my interest in the third round a bit muted. I wasn't as excited. Perhaps in pulling such a twist you added another twist/requirement that would of made that round feel more distinct. Regardless it went over well enough and overall the month was very well planned.
No, making up new types is okay.
What size would you expect a Sphinx Octopus Hellion to be?
When it comes to Magic's actual Octopodes, whether we get eights with them is... inconsistent. Lorthos, the Tidemaker is self-awarely 8-heavy, while the others are not: Giant Octopus and Godhunter Octopus have nothing eight-ish about them; Elder Deep-Fiend costs 8; and Sealock Monster can become an 8/8 if you want.
And there's already an eight on the card.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
It's no big deal, I just found the comment odd and wanted to understand your point of view better. As you noted, a 4/4 does add up to 8 and 8 is explicitly on the card as well. While it is on the smaller end of what a Sphinx or Hellion could be, there are both sphinxes and hellions that are smaller than a 4/4, which a 4/4 is a pretty standard size for both regardless.
Anyway not looking to change your scoring. Solidly in the top four with my Octopus-maned, Hellion-mouthed Sphinx thingy.
YOU'RE WRONG! It's no accident on Wizard's part that their combined power and toughness is 8/8.