To continue down the road less traveled, this week we'll be looking at uncommon keywords.
Main challenge: Design a card with one of the following keywords:
Reinforce
Aura Swap
Transfigure
Fortify
Assemble (see clarifications)
Subchallenge 1: Your card has a converted mana cost of 3 or less. Subchallenge 2: Your card is, without a doubt, from a plane that isn't Dominaria
"Assemble" must be used in the context of "assemble a contraption"; see Steamflogger Boss. What assembling a contraption means is up to you.
A card with no mana cost has a converted mana cost of 0.
Player Deadline: 23:59 EDT, 12 November 2014
Judge Deadline: 23:59 EDT, 15 November 2014
Design (X/10) – This reflects the work put into the initial concept of the card. Creativity – How original or innovative is the card? Does it present an old idea with a new twist? Does it employ an entirely new mechanic? Elegance – Is the concept easily understood at a glance? Does the design just 'click' with the flavor? Potential – Will different player demographics (Spike/Johnny/Timmy) find a use for this card? Does it stand out as a card to build a deck around?
Development (X/10) – This reflects the execution of the idea, fleshing it into a playable card. Viability – How well does this card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it at the appropriate rarity? Balance – Does the card's cost match its power? How balanced are its interactions with other cards? Can it be played in constructed, limited, or multiplayer without breaking any of those formats? Creative Writing – Does the name sound like it fits on a card? Does the flavor text feel natural and professional? Does the combination of name, flavor text, and card concept make Vorthos spout poetry?
Polish – This reflects the finishing touches made to the card, polishing it to an end product that could see print. Challenge (X/2) – One point awarded per satisfied challenge condition. Quality (X/3) – Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
Give artists credit for any renders. Also, make sure to post a text version even if you do a rendered version.
Use up to date wordings like "dies" or "enters the battlefield"
Spelling and grammar count!
Always format your cards like this:
CARDNAME 3BRG
Creature — Bear {R}
Trample
CARDNAME'S rules text goes here.
Don't forget to use appropriate line breaks! Flavor text should be in italics!
2/2
Brackets
admirableadmiral
Jimmy Groove
Ninja Caterpie
Sagharri
Marco
Design (8/10)
Creativity – It's unprecedented.
Elegance – It comes across alright, even if the concept isn't superb.
Potential – Johnny and Spike see something.
Development (4/10)
Viability – The colors and rarity are correct.
Balance – This is absolutely unbeatable in draft. For every 3GG you spend, you get two +1/+1 counters at instant speed, and it can't be countered at all. The removal side is slightly relevant, but pales in comparison to the sheer power of the reinforce engine. Plus, I don't like how the card plays out like a split card, with one side having buyback that can be paid at a later time.
Creative Writing – Flavor text is nothing special.
Polish
Challenge (1/2) –
Quality (2.5/3) – It should be "Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature" in the reminder text.
Total: 15.5/25
Design (10/10)
Creativity – It's new and neat.
Elegance – Comes across well.
Potential – Johnny likes this, and spike does to a lesser extent.
Development (4/10)
Viability – Nothing's out of place here.
Balance – This card feels exceedingly weak. At the cost of five mana, the soulmorpher, and another creature, all you get to do is put a 2 drop from your deck onto the battlefield and have each player lose 2 life. Just from a mana efficiency standpoint, spending three mana to tutor up a 2 drop and then play it for the fourth and fifth mana would be mediocre, but the additional cost of having to sacrifice a creature renders this card completely unplayable in every format. The 2 damage to each player is barely worth considering here.
Creative Writing – I like the flavor text.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) –
Quality (2.75/3) – It should be "Life is much more easily made..." in the flavor text.
Total: 18.75/25
Design (7/10)
Creativity – Transfigure on noncreatures is new.
Elegance – It's a little strange, but it works out alright.
Potential – This is definitely johnny, but spike would play it if the deck required it.
Development (6/10)
Viability – Black and green feels like a better fit thematically, and mechanically I don't see much reason for this to be blue.
Balance – The graveyard flicker effect could probably cost two mana, but other than that the card looks fine to me.
Creative Writing – This really needed some flavor text to tie together why the Dimir would care about corpses, and you didn't deliver.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) –
Quality (2.5/3) – It should be "Return those cards"
Total: 17.5/25
Design (7/10)
Creativity – These two effects have never been together before, but they're definitely not new.
Elegance – It's as clean as could be.
Potential – It's solid and efficient, so anyone could find use in it.
Development (5/10)
Viability – +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters should never be on cards in the same set, or even worse on the same card. Other than that this is fine. I'd probably make it an uncommon due to power level, however.
Balance – It's strong and versatile, but doesn't break too many rules.
Creative Writing – It's a shame you didn't put any flavor text in here. The name and the mechanics help, however.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) –
Quality (3/3) – With so little text, it's hard to go wrong here.
Growing Pains1R
Instant (R)
Growing Pains deals damage to target creature or player equal to the number of +1/+1 counters on target creature you control. Exile Growing Pains.
Reinforce 2 - 2G(2G, discard this card: Put 2 +1/+1 counters on target creature you control.) 1G: Return Growing Pains from your graveyard to your hand. The quickest way to end the pain of growing older is to inflict it on others.
Mephidross Soulmorpher2
Artifact Creature - Construct (R)
Transfigure - 2B, Sacrifice a creature.
When Mephidross Soulmorpher dies, each player loses 2 life. "Life is much easier made than Vorinclex would have us believe."
- Sheoldred, Whispering One
1/1
U, T, Pay 2 life: Nim Rigger assembles a quality 2
contraption. (Choose a non-contraption artifact you
control. Search your library for an artifact card with
converted mana cost 2 or less and exile it. The
chosen artifact gains all abilities of the artifact exiled
this way and becomes a contraption in addition to its
other types.)
Maralen’s DecreeBB
Instant (Common)
Put two -1/-1 counters on target creature.
Reinforce 2—2G(2G, Discard this card: Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature.)
First a summary of my judging principles I explained last round, then clarifications on this round, then my judge card, and finally the judgings themselves. I'll be following this layout in future rounds too.
Design/development: I mentally divide points equally among subsections, assign them, then add them up.
Challenges: what counts is always the letter of the law.
Quality: half a point deducted for any error in wording, spelling, or grammar; a whole point for particularly serious errors.
No complaints unless I got something objectively wrong.
I must have scared anyone off of trying to make contraptions work! That was not my intent...
A reminder to all those that choose to use "assemble": keep in mind that who assembles the contraption must be a creature, NOT a player! The sentence "If a Rigger you control would assemble a Contraption, it assemble two Contraptions instead" (see Steamflogger Boss and notice my emphasis) makes it very clear that the Rigger assembles the Contraption, as "a Rigger" is the subject, and Rigger is a creature type, so it must be a creature and not a player.
I'm bringing this up because it's a logical consequence of the wording on Steamflogger Boss and if you have a player doing the action instead of a creature, that's not coherent with the text of the Boss, so either your card or the Boss wouldn't work, depending on how the rules are rewritten.
I'm going to heavily consider this in my judgings, so I've told you all in advance. You're all warned!
In addition to what bravelion said: Contraption is an artifact subtype, like for example equipment.
You can find that in the rules. That's part of what makes contraptions so hard to make.
Yes, there's also that, thanks for pointing it out. I thought everyone already knew that, but I guess reminding doesn't hurt. I take this opportunity to remind everyone that Fortification is an artifact subtype too.
Some references from the Comprehensive Rules (emphasis mine):
205.3g Artifacts have their own unique set of subtypes; these subtypes are called artifact types. The artifact types are Contraption, Equipment (see rule 301.5), and Fortification (see rule 301.6).
205.3m Creatures and tribals share their lists of subtypes; these subtypes are called creature types.
The creature types are [...] Rigger [...].
301.6. Some artifacts have the subtype “Fortification.” A Fortification can be attached to a land. It can’t legally be attached to an object that isn’t a land. Fortification’s analog to the equip keyword ability is the fortify keyword ability. Rules 301.5a–e [Those that define terminology, state when an Equipment can or can't equip a creature, and talk about control of the Equipment] apply to Fortifications in relation to lands just as they apply to Equipment in relation to creatures, with one clarification relating to rule 301.5c: a Fortification that’s also a creature (not a land) can’t fortify a land. (See rule 702.66, “Fortify.”)
702.66. Fortify
702.66a Fortify is an activated ability of Fortification cards. “Fortify [cost]” means “[Cost]: Attach this Fortification to target land you control. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.”
702.66b For more information about Fortifications, see rule 301, “Artifacts.”
702.66c If a Fortification has multiple instances of fortify, any of its fortify abilities may be used.
Fire from Within4R
Enchantment (U)
Whenever a creature you control is reinforced, Fire from Within deals 2 damage to target creature or player. (Do this only if Fire from Within is on the battlefield.)
Reinforce 1—1R(1R, Discard this card: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.) The fire draws its strength from within you.
Dragonclaw Stronghold2
Artifact - Fortification (U)
When Dragonclaw Stronghold enters the battlefield, choose a card type.
Fortified land has "T: add one mana of any colour to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast a spell of the chosen type, and that spell can't be countered. If it's a creature spell, it gains haste until end of turn"
Fortify 1
Design (7/10) Creativity – It reminds me very much of Cavern of Souls, but there are enough differences (fortification vs land, "card type" vs "creature type", and this gives haste while the Cavern does not). Elegance – A little bit wordy, but very clear. Potential – Timmy doesn't care. Johnny may do something by using the mana to give haste to a creature that's part of his combo or something like that. Spike may be interested in both haste and uncounterability.
Development (8/10) Viability – Cavern of Souls is rare. This can turn any land into a Cavern of Souls, so maybe this should have been rare too. Balance – All good here. Creative Writing – I quickly rechecked the Planeswalker's Guide to Tarkir and I don't think the Temur have strongholds. Other than this very minor thing, all good here. No room for flavor text.
Polish Challenge (2/2) – Both met. "Dragonclaw" tells me this is from Tarkir. Quality (1/3) – The first ability shouldn't be a triggered ability and it should say "As" instead of "When", as all choices on etb are worded (see the aforementioned Cavern of Souls and many other existing cards, the most recent one of which is Obelisk of Urd, half a point deducted). Also, "add" after the colon should be capitalized (half a point deducted), "colour" should be "color" (both spellings are acceptable in real life, but in Magic rules text the right spelling is without the "u", half a point deducted), a period is missing after "until end of turn" (half a point deducted).
Fortified land is a 0/5 white Wall creature with defender. It's still a land.
When fortified land dies, target opponent skips his or her next combat step.
Fortify 4
"The defenses will hold off the approaching Nayan monsters for now. But every night the thunder of their footsteps draws closer." - Diary of Sangrell Par
Design (6/10) Creativity – This is just a Zendikon turned into a fortification. Never done before as an artifact, but surely uninspired. Elegance – All good here. Potential – Timmy and Spike don't care. Johnny may use the trigger to his advantage.
Development (7/10) Viability – All good here. Balance – I don't see this played in either limited or constructed. Six mana to animate a land giving it high toughness but not even a single point of power looks like it's just too much, and the triggered ability practically never triggers (how often do you see a land destroyed or sacrificed these days?). If I wanted a land that doubles as a creature, I'd certainly look at all existing manlands before this. Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish Challenge (2/2) – Both met. "Etherium" in the name and "Nayan" in flavor text tell me this is from post-Conflux Alara. Quality (2.5/3) – "dies" is only for creatures, on noncreature permanents it should be "is put into a graveyard from the battlefield". Here, "dies" is good but only because the land is necessarily animated when that happens, as the card itself turns the land into a creature (see the aforementioned Zendikon as an example, no points deducted). In the flavor text, attribution should be on a separate line (half a point deducted).
Brimaz' Escort1W
Creature - Cat Knight (U)
Vigilance
Reinforce 2 - 2W (2W, discard this card: Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature you control.)
If the creature Reinforced by Brimaz' Escort is legendary it gains protection from the color of your choice until end of turn. Ever vigilant, the greatest honor they can ask for is to die in service to Oreskos.
1/2
Design (8.5/10) Creativity – Never before an ability has referred to the reinforced creature. Elegance – All good here. Very nice touch in giving the bonus only to legendary creatures: a very good mechanical representation of Brimaz himself being protected by his own escort. It's not easy to communicate flavor through rules text like this. Potential – Timmy doesn't care. Both reinforce and most of all the protection granting ability may interest Johnny and Spike. Spike would like this much more with flash, though.
Development (8.5/10) Viability – All good here. Every effect is perfectly within the color pie and the costs look right. Balance – Surely playable in limited. In constructed it would have been a lot better with flash to protect a valuable creature from removal. You have to have a legendary creature in your deck to get full value out of this, and that's not always true. I think this can also be very useful in Commander to push through or protect your commander. Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish Challenge (2/2) – Both met. The mention of Brimaz tells me this is from Theros. Quality (1/3) – Even though the name ends in "z", there should be an "s" in the Saxon genitive anyway, as it's a proper name (see Rakdos's Return, half a point deducted). "Reinforced" shouldn't be capitalized (see all cards that say "If this spell was kicked" and similar, also see my judge card for an example, half a point deducted). A comma is missing after "is legendary" (half a point deducted). Reminder text should be in italics (half a point deducted). Finally, the third ability as it is now doesn't look right, I think it should be a triggered ability saying "When a legendary creature is reinforced by CARDNAME", but as I have no precedent to compare this with, I'll deduct no points for this.
Wormfeeder1BB
Creature - Zombie Cleric (R)
Transfigure 1BB
Deathtouch
You may play other creature cards from your graveyard as long as they are between two cards named Wormfeeder in your graveyard.
3/1
Design (8/10) Creativity – Nothing like this has surely been done before (so full points here), but mainly because it can't be done at all now without a change in R&D policy (see Viability). Elegance – All looks good here. Potential – Timmy and Spike don't care at all, while Johnny is very excited.
Development (4.5/10) Viability – No cards in modern era are allowed to care about graveyard order. Also, deathtouch on a creature with high power and low toughness looks odd. Balance – Surely playable in limited. I don't see this in constructed, as there you have to jump through way too many hoops to recast a creature from your graveyard and get full value out of this. Creative Writing – Name is fine. No flavor text. There may have been room for it, depending on the presence of reminder text for transfigure. MSE tells me that without reminder text, there would have been room. With it, there is not.
Polish Challenge (1/2) – Subchallenge 1 met. Subchallenge 2 NOT met, as nothing in this card tells me it's not from Dominaria. Put in other words, even if I'm not sure where this card is from, it could be from Dominaria, thus failing the subchallenge. Quality (3/3) – All good. It's alright to use "play" instead of "cast" here, but only because Dryad Arbor exists. (I just wanted to make that explicit here, no points deducted).
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.)
Parinati the Everchanging2GUB
Legendary Enchantment Creature - Shapeshifter (R)
Bestow 2G(If you cast this card for its bestow cost, it’s an Aura spell with enchant creature. It becomes a creature again if it’s not attached to a creature.)
Enchanted Creature gets +2/+2 and has “Transfigure B”.
Transfigure B(B, Sacrifice this creature: Search your library for a creature card with the same converted mana cost as this creature and put that card onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library. Transfigure only as a sorcery.)
Aura swap 2U(2U: Exchange this Aura with an Aura card in your hand.)
2/2
Parinati is a mysterious being on the plane of Jagsara*.
Worshipped by the cultists of the swampy rainforest as the godess of reincarnation, as they believe all life in the jungle has at some point gone through Parinati.
Their practices are an oxymoron to the other inhabitants of the plane, as they try to escape death by reincarnation.
*I combined the word for "reincarnation" "Samsara" and the Prefix "Jag" for "pertaining the world" of the Sanskrit language to form a made-up word for a reincarnation world inspired by hinduism.
The card would most likely show up in a commander product after the Jagsara set, which could have Transfigure as one of its major themes.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
Phyrexian Harvester1
Artifact - Fortification (U)
Fortified land has "T, Sacrifice this land: Add 2 to your mana pool."
Fortify 2(2: Attach to target land you control. Fortify only as a sorcery. This card enters the battlefield unattached and stays on the battlefield if the land leaves.) Even Mirrodin itself falls to Phyrexian progress.
Mirror-Wall Labratory3
Artifact - Fortification (U)
Fortified land has shroud.
Whenever an ability of fortified land is activated, you may copy that ability. If you do, you may choose new targets for the copy.
Fortify 2(2: Attach to target land you control. Fortify only as a sorcery. This card enters the battlefield unattached and stays on the battlefield if the land leaves.)
Wormfeeder1BB
Creature - Zombie Cleric (R)
Transfigure 1BB
Deathtouch
You may play other creature cards from your graveyard as long as they are between two cards named Wormfeeder in your graveyard.
3/1
Praetor's Conditioning1B
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant creature
Whenever enchanted creature attacks or blocks, its controller gets a poison counter.
Aura swap 3UU(3UU: Exchange this Aura with an Aura card in your hand.)
When Praetor's Conditioning leaves the battlefield, gain control of enchanted creature.
1:Choose a basic land type. Fortified land becomes the chosen type in addition to its other types until your next upkeep.
3: Until end of turn, fortified land becomes a 3/3 green Elemental creature that's still a land with "This land gets +1/+1 for each other land of the same type you control."
Warpskin ShamblerBB
Creature - Zombie (U)
Transfigure B
When you transfigure a creature from Warpskin Shambler, that creature gains haste. Sacrifice it at end of turn. "This one's tissue has interesting necromantic properties. Incorporating it into my skaabs increases their speed and reflexes threefold... at least, until their sinews snap like rubber bands. Needs more testing." -Sticher Geralf
2/2
Brimaz' Escort1W
Creature - Cat Knight (U)
Vigilance
Reinforce 2 - 2W (2W, discard this card: Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature you control.)
If the creature Reinforced by Brimaz' Escort is legendary it gains protection from the color of your choice until end of turn. Ever vigilant, the greatest honor they can ask for is to die in service to Oreskos.
1/2
Fortified land is a 0/5 white Wall creature with defender. It's still a land.
When fortified land dies, target opponent skips his or her next combat step.
Fortify 4
"The defenses will hold off the approaching Nayan monsters for now. But every night the thunder of their footsteps draws closer." - Diary of Sangrell Par
Private Mod Note
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DCI L3 Judge; Regional Coordinator, British Isles & South Africa
I run a Tumblr for Magic-related statistics, graphs, and quizzes. Come check it out!
Blessed ShellW
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Flash
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1.
Aura Swap 3W(3W: Exchange this Aura with an Aura card in your hand.) There is nothing more dangerous than an unknown blessing.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The true measure of all heroes is not what they achieve, but who they inspire." —Triumph of Gerrard
Design:
Creativity – An interesting take on transfigure.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – It's a Johnny card.
8/10.
Development:
Viability – For commons and uncommons, they would add the reminder text for keyword abilities.
Balance – My biggest gripe is that you have to sacrifice the creature. Personally, I would rather keep it in play, unless I'm running Mortal Combat.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
8/10
Polish:
Challenges – Both met
Quality – “Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.”
4/5
Total: 20/25
Design:
Creativity – It's Illusionist's Bracers for lands.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – Johnny and Spike would play with this.
8/10.
Development:
Viability – So far, they haven't switched back from hexproof to shroud. Also, I think this should be rare. Finally, since Illusionist's Bracers doesn't copy mana abilities, neither should this.
Balance – It should copy mana abilities because of cards like Boros Garrison and Saltcrusted Steppe. You can make an insane amount of mana.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
6/10
Polish:
Challenges – The name is too generic for my tastes, so I can see this being in Dominaria.
Quality – No problems here.
4/5
Total: 18/25
Design:
Creativity – I'm surprised they didn't make an Aura like that for the second Mirrodin block, minus the Aura swap.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – Johnny may use it, as would Spike.
9/10.
Development:
Viability – No problems here.
Balance – This one's good.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
10/10
Polish:
Challenges – Both met.
Quality – No problems here.
5/5
Total: 24/25
Design:
Creativity – Interesting concept.
Elegance – Honestly, this has too much going on.
Potential – Johnny might use it.
7/10.
Development:
Viability – Since it's rare, they might not add the reminder text for all the keyword abilities. Also, chances are, they wouldn't put Aura swap on a creature, so it's more likely to be “As long as CARDNAME is an Aura, it has Aura swap M.”
Balance – I think the transfigure cost should cost more than one black mana, especially since you can get a five mana creature with it by itself.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
7/10
Polish:
Challenges – CMC is greater than 3.
Quality – “Legendary Enchantment Creature – Shapeshifter” may be too long to fit in that space. Also, I don't think Transfigure B would not be in quotes. And finally, the second Transfigure B should be before the “Enchanted creature” phrase.
2/5
Total: 16/25
Entry Design (5/10)] –
Creativity – Fortifications are a difficult space in which to design. There's honestly not that much design space; there certainly isn't nearly the amount of design space for Fortifications as there is for Equipment. Granted mana abilities and abilities that affect a land's mana abilities are predictable design space, but they haven't been done before in real Magic, of course, since we only have one example. I wouldn't have thought of sacrificing the land for a cost, though, so that's novel.
Elegance – It's not exactly inelegant, but I can't say it ties together to a grokkable whole for me, either.
Potential – I don't see any of the psychographics as being particularly fond of this effect except, maybe, a super Johnny trying to build around something like Titania, Protector of Argoth.
Development (5/10) –
Viability – Sure, seems like something artifacts could do at uncommon.
Balance – Honestly, this just seems like a terrible card at the costs you've given it, but you can't make the equip any cheaper without allowing someone to give up all of their lands for a temporary boost of mana, sooo I guess it's okay? Uncommons are certainly allowed to be bad.
Creative Writing – "Phyrexian Harvester" sounds way more like a creature name than the name of a fortification. Also, "Mirrodin" already fell to Phyrexian progress, so much so that it's now New Phyrexia and no longer Mirrodin at all.
Polish (5/5) –
Challenge (2/2) – Good on both counts.
Quality (3/3) – Alright.
Total: 15/25
Entry Design (9/10)] –
Creativity – Hey yeah, that's a fun twist on Transfigure. Nice and thoughtful. I like it.
Elegance – There are a lot of moving parts to make this work, but that's okay on a Mythic. It's not particularly elegant, but it does make sense.
Potential – Timmy and Johnny would definitely get a kick out of this, and Spike would probably love this in a Hatebear deck, since you don't even really need to search out Hydras with it.
Development (7/10) –
Viability – This fits well into green's slice of the pie, and it's a fun effect for a Mythic Rare.
Balance – It's probably alright. I doubt there are any Hydras that are going to cause this to break. The real power is being able to search your toolbox of 2 CMC creatures.
Creative Writing – I get where you're coming from with the Elspeth quote, but it just seems a little off to me. The name is generic but appropriate.
Polish (2/5) –
Challenge (1/2) – Is there anything that says this couldn't be from Dominaria?
Quality (1/3) – "~ ETBs with X +1/+1 counters on it." The replacement effect is difficult to word. I'm not 100% sure how I would do it, but you don't have it quite right. "Hydras entering the battlefield as a result of CARDNAME's triggered ability ETB with a +1/+1 counter on them for each +1/+1 counter on ~ when it was sacrificed to activate it's transfigure ability," perhaps?
Total: 18/25
Entry Design (2/10)] –
Creativity – That's certainly an innovate way to handle contraptions.
Elegance – I had to read this multiple times to understand it. It's not particularly elegant or easy to understand. It's a huge wall of text.
Potential – Johnny would love this. Spike might like it. Timmy would probably hate it.
Development (2/10) –
Viability – Why are you giving blue a 2/2 for 2 CMC with an upside? Otherwise I suppose this fits pretty well in blue. I can't imagine your version of "assemble" happening at lower rarities, though. It's incredibly complex, and searching is time-intensive.
Balance – I don't think this is inherently broken in terms of power level, though I don't believe the game rules handle it very well.
Creative Writing – This does not tell a very exciting story.
Polish (3/5) –
Challenge (2/2) – Yup.
Quality (1/3) – There are words missing from your reminder text. Also, there's a reason that gaining abilities is generally limited to activated abilities.
Total: 7/25
Entry Design (6/10)] –
Creativity – I like the concept of a Forification manland. That's fun, and it's a neat thing to do with Fortifications to help expand their design space some.
Elegance – I dislike that one of the abilities lasts until your upkeep and the other lasts until your endstep. That's highly displeasing. I also don't understand why the land becomes green. The distinction seems unnecessary.
Potential – Spike tends to like the versatility of manlands, I think, but I'm not sure he'd love this. I think Timmy would enjoy a moment where he got to make this as big as possible, but I don't know if the card itself would excite him otherwise. Johnny wouldn't love it.
Development (4/10) –
Viability – The effects are accessible by both lands and artifacts.
Balance – This probably isn't overpowered, especially when you consider the mana investment needed to cast, attach, and animate it.
Creative Writing – The name seems very lazy. I don't understand why a Fortress could shift land types, or why it could transform into an Elemental. There's a huge flavor disconnect here for me.
Polish (3/5) –
Challenge (2/2) – Alright.
Quality (1/3) – The intent here is clear, but you've made several wording errors. "1: Fortified land gains the basic land type of your choice until end of turn in addition to its other types." "...becomes a 3/3 green Elemental creature with 'This creature gets +1/+1 for each land you control that shares a land type with it.' It's still a land."
To continue down the road less traveled, this week we'll be looking at uncommon keywords.
Main challenge: Design a card with one of the following keywords:
Subchallenge 1: Your card has a converted mana cost of 3 or less.
Subchallenge 2: Your card is, without a doubt, from a plane that isn't Dominaria
A card with no mana cost has a converted mana cost of 0.
Player Deadline: 23:59 EDT, 12 November 2014
Judge Deadline: 23:59 EDT, 15 November 2014
Creativity – How original or innovative is the card? Does it present an old idea with a new twist? Does it employ an entirely new mechanic?
Elegance – Is the concept easily understood at a glance? Does the design just 'click' with the flavor?
Potential – Will different player demographics (Spike/Johnny/Timmy) find a use for this card? Does it stand out as a card to build a deck around?
Development (X/10) – This reflects the execution of the idea, fleshing it into a playable card.
Viability – How well does this card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it at the appropriate rarity?
Balance – Does the card's cost match its power? How balanced are its interactions with other cards? Can it be played in constructed, limited, or multiplayer without breaking any of those formats?
Creative Writing – Does the name sound like it fits on a card? Does the flavor text feel natural and professional? Does the combination of name, flavor text, and card concept make Vorthos spout poetry?
Polish – This reflects the finishing touches made to the card, polishing it to an end product that could see print.
Challenge (X/2) – One point awarded per satisfied challenge condition.
Quality (X/3) – Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
Total: X/25
For a full FAQ please see the MCC Discussion Thread but a few general tips:
Give artists credit for any renders. Also, make sure to post a text version even if you do a rendered version.
Use up to date wordings like "dies" or "enters the battlefield"
Spelling and grammar count!
CARDNAME 3BRG
Creature — Bear {R}
Trample
CARDNAME'S rules text goes here.
Don't forget to use appropriate line breaks!
Flavor text should be in italics!
2/2
Brackets
admirableadmiral
Jimmy Groove
Ninja Caterpie
Sagharri
Marco
Moss_Elemental
GG Crono
TacticalCelebrant
Palanthas
doomfish
Link
Ogonomancy
hopefulhawkeye
Vertain
Tesco(black)lotus
bravelion83
Triumvirate
Savia
NVRBLND
aftermarketradio
Top two from each bracket advance. Good luck.
Creativity – It's unprecedented.
Elegance – It comes across alright, even if the concept isn't superb.
Potential – Johnny and Spike see something.
Development (4/10)
Viability – The colors and rarity are correct.
Balance – This is absolutely unbeatable in draft. For every 3GG you spend, you get two +1/+1 counters at instant speed, and it can't be countered at all. The removal side is slightly relevant, but pales in comparison to the sheer power of the reinforce engine. Plus, I don't like how the card plays out like a split card, with one side having buyback that can be paid at a later time.
Creative Writing – Flavor text is nothing special.
Polish
Challenge (1/2) –
Quality (2.5/3) – It should be "Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature" in the reminder text.
Total: 15.5/25
Creativity – It's new and neat.
Elegance – Comes across well.
Potential – Johnny likes this, and spike does to a lesser extent.
Development (4/10)
Viability – Nothing's out of place here.
Balance – This card feels exceedingly weak. At the cost of five mana, the soulmorpher, and another creature, all you get to do is put a 2 drop from your deck onto the battlefield and have each player lose 2 life. Just from a mana efficiency standpoint, spending three mana to tutor up a 2 drop and then play it for the fourth and fifth mana would be mediocre, but the additional cost of having to sacrifice a creature renders this card completely unplayable in every format. The 2 damage to each player is barely worth considering here.
Creative Writing – I like the flavor text.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) –
Quality (2.75/3) – It should be "Life is much more easily made..." in the flavor text.
Total: 18.75/25
Creativity – Transfigure on noncreatures is new.
Elegance – It's a little strange, but it works out alright.
Potential – This is definitely johnny, but spike would play it if the deck required it.
Development (6/10)
Viability – Black and green feels like a better fit thematically, and mechanically I don't see much reason for this to be blue.
Balance – The graveyard flicker effect could probably cost two mana, but other than that the card looks fine to me.
Creative Writing – This really needed some flavor text to tie together why the Dimir would care about corpses, and you didn't deliver.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) –
Quality (2.5/3) – It should be "Return those cards"
Total: 17.5/25
Creativity – These two effects have never been together before, but they're definitely not new.
Elegance – It's as clean as could be.
Potential – It's solid and efficient, so anyone could find use in it.
Development (5/10)
Viability – +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters should never be on cards in the same set, or even worse on the same card. Other than that this is fine. I'd probably make it an uncommon due to power level, however.
Balance – It's strong and versatile, but doesn't break too many rules.
Creative Writing – It's a shame you didn't put any flavor text in here. The name and the mechanics help, however.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) –
Quality (3/3) – With so little text, it's hard to go wrong here.
Total: 17/25
Instant (R)
Growing Pains deals damage to target creature or player equal to the number of +1/+1 counters on target creature you control. Exile Growing Pains.
Reinforce 2 - 2G (2G, discard this card: Put 2 +1/+1 counters on target creature you control.)
1G: Return Growing Pains from your graveyard to your hand.
The quickest way to end the pain of growing older is to inflict it on others.
Artifact Creature - Construct (R)
Transfigure - 2B, Sacrifice a creature.
When Mephidross Soulmorpher dies, each player loses 2 life.
"Life is much easier made than Vorinclex would have us believe."
- Sheoldred, Whispering One
1/1
You got 99 attackers but I'm blocking with 1.
The Winner is Judge | 7
This Winner is Also Judge | 6
Club Flamingo | Lots
Creature - Vedalken Rigger (R)
U, T, Pay 2 life: Nim Rigger assembles a quality 2
contraption. (Choose a non-contraption artifact you
control. Search your library for an artifact card with
converted mana cost 2 or less and exile it. The
chosen artifact gains all abilities of the artifact exiled
this way and becomes a contraption in addition to its
other types.)
2/2
Instant (Common)
Put two -1/-1 counters on target creature.
Reinforce 2—2G (2G, Discard this card: Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature.)
First a summary of my judging principles I explained last round, then clarifications on this round, then my judge card, and finally the judgings themselves. I'll be following this layout in future rounds too.
Design/development: I mentally divide points equally among subsections, assign them, then add them up.
Challenges: what counts is always the letter of the law.
Quality: half a point deducted for any error in wording, spelling, or grammar; a whole point for particularly serious errors.
No complaints unless I got something objectively wrong.
I must have scared anyone off of trying to make contraptions work! That was not my intent...
A reminder to all those that choose to use "assemble": keep in mind that who assembles the contraption must be a creature, NOT a player! The sentence "If a Rigger you control would assemble a Contraption, it assemble two Contraptions instead" (see Steamflogger Boss and notice my emphasis) makes it very clear that the Rigger assembles the Contraption, as "a Rigger" is the subject, and Rigger is a creature type, so it must be a creature and not a player.
I'm bringing this up because it's a logical consequence of the wording on Steamflogger Boss and if you have a player doing the action instead of a creature, that's not coherent with the text of the Boss, so either your card or the Boss wouldn't work, depending on how the rules are rewritten.
I'm going to heavily consider this in my judgings, so I've told you all in advance. You're all warned!
Yes, there's also that, thanks for pointing it out. I thought everyone already knew that, but I guess reminding doesn't hurt. I take this opportunity to remind everyone that Fortification is an artifact subtype too.
Some references from the Comprehensive Rules (emphasis mine):
205.3g Artifacts have their own unique set of subtypes; these subtypes are called artifact types. The artifact types are Contraption, Equipment (see rule 301.5), and Fortification (see rule 301.6).
205.3m Creatures and tribals share their lists of subtypes; these subtypes are called creature types.
The creature types are [...] Rigger [...].
301.6. Some artifacts have the subtype “Fortification.” A Fortification can be attached to a land. It can’t legally be attached to an object that isn’t a land. Fortification’s analog to the equip keyword ability is the fortify keyword ability. Rules 301.5a–e [Those that define terminology, state when an Equipment can or can't equip a creature, and talk about control of the Equipment] apply to Fortifications in relation to lands just as they apply to Equipment in relation to creatures, with one clarification relating to rule 301.5c: a Fortification that’s also a creature (not a land) can’t fortify a land. (See rule 702.66, “Fortify.”)
702.66. Fortify
702.66a Fortify is an activated ability of Fortification cards. “Fortify [cost]” means “[Cost]: Attach this Fortification to target land you control. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.”
702.66b For more information about Fortifications, see rule 301, “Artifacts.”
702.66c If a Fortification has multiple instances of fortify, any of its fortify abilities may be used.
Fire from Within 4R
Enchantment (U)
Whenever a creature you control is reinforced, Fire from Within deals 2 damage to target creature or player. (Do this only if Fire from Within is on the battlefield.)
Reinforce 1—1R (1R, Discard this card: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.)
The fire draws its strength from within you.
Design (7/10)
Creativity – It reminds me very much of Cavern of Souls, but there are enough differences (fortification vs land, "card type" vs "creature type", and this gives haste while the Cavern does not).
Elegance – A little bit wordy, but very clear.
Potential – Timmy doesn't care. Johnny may do something by using the mana to give haste to a creature that's part of his combo or something like that. Spike may be interested in both haste and uncounterability.
Development (8/10)
Viability – Cavern of Souls is rare. This can turn any land into a Cavern of Souls, so maybe this should have been rare too.
Balance – All good here.
Creative Writing – I quickly rechecked the Planeswalker's Guide to Tarkir and I don't think the Temur have strongholds. Other than this very minor thing, all good here. No room for flavor text.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Both met. "Dragonclaw" tells me this is from Tarkir.
Quality (1/3) – The first ability shouldn't be a triggered ability and it should say "As" instead of "When", as all choices on etb are worded (see the aforementioned Cavern of Souls and many other existing cards, the most recent one of which is Obelisk of Urd, half a point deducted). Also, "add" after the colon should be capitalized (half a point deducted), "colour" should be "color" (both spellings are acceptable in real life, but in Magic rules text the right spelling is without the "u", half a point deducted), a period is missing after "until end of turn" (half a point deducted).
Total: 18/25
Design (6/10)
Creativity – This is just a Zendikon turned into a fortification. Never done before as an artifact, but surely uninspired.
Elegance – All good here.
Potential – Timmy and Spike don't care. Johnny may use the trigger to his advantage.
Development (7/10)
Viability – All good here.
Balance – I don't see this played in either limited or constructed. Six mana to animate a land giving it high toughness but not even a single point of power looks like it's just too much, and the triggered ability practically never triggers (how often do you see a land destroyed or sacrificed these days?). If I wanted a land that doubles as a creature, I'd certainly look at all existing manlands before this.
Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Both met. "Etherium" in the name and "Nayan" in flavor text tell me this is from post-Conflux Alara.
Quality (2.5/3) – "dies" is only for creatures, on noncreature permanents it should be "is put into a graveyard from the battlefield". Here, "dies" is good but only because the land is necessarily animated when that happens, as the card itself turns the land into a creature (see the aforementioned Zendikon as an example, no points deducted). In the flavor text, attribution should be on a separate line (half a point deducted).
Total: 17.5/25
Design (8.5/10)
Creativity – Never before an ability has referred to the reinforced creature.
Elegance – All good here. Very nice touch in giving the bonus only to legendary creatures: a very good mechanical representation of Brimaz himself being protected by his own escort. It's not easy to communicate flavor through rules text like this.
Potential – Timmy doesn't care. Both reinforce and most of all the protection granting ability may interest Johnny and Spike. Spike would like this much more with flash, though.
Development (8.5/10)
Viability – All good here. Every effect is perfectly within the color pie and the costs look right.
Balance – Surely playable in limited. In constructed it would have been a lot better with flash to protect a valuable creature from removal. You have to have a legendary creature in your deck to get full value out of this, and that's not always true. I think this can also be very useful in Commander to push through or protect your commander.
Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Both met. The mention of Brimaz tells me this is from Theros.
Quality (1/3) – Even though the name ends in "z", there should be an "s" in the Saxon genitive anyway, as it's a proper name (see Rakdos's Return, half a point deducted). "Reinforced" shouldn't be capitalized (see all cards that say "If this spell was kicked" and similar, also see my judge card for an example, half a point deducted). A comma is missing after "is legendary" (half a point deducted). Reminder text should be in italics (half a point deducted). Finally, the third ability as it is now doesn't look right, I think it should be a triggered ability saying "When a legendary creature is reinforced by CARDNAME", but as I have no precedent to compare this with, I'll deduct no points for this.
Total: 20/25
Design (8/10)
Creativity – Nothing like this has surely been done before (so full points here), but mainly because it can't be done at all now without a change in R&D policy (see Viability).
Elegance – All looks good here.
Potential – Timmy and Spike don't care at all, while Johnny is very excited.
Development (4.5/10)
Viability – No cards in modern era are allowed to care about graveyard order. Also, deathtouch on a creature with high power and low toughness looks odd.
Balance – Surely playable in limited. I don't see this in constructed, as there you have to jump through way too many hoops to recast a creature from your graveyard and get full value out of this.
Creative Writing – Name is fine. No flavor text. There may have been room for it, depending on the presence of reminder text for transfigure. MSE tells me that without reminder text, there would have been room. With it, there is not.
Polish
Challenge (1/2) – Subchallenge 1 met. Subchallenge 2 NOT met, as nothing in this card tells me it's not from Dominaria. Put in other words, even if I'm not sure where this card is from, it could be from Dominaria, thus failing the subchallenge.
Quality (3/3) – All good. It's alright to use "play" instead of "cast" here, but only because Dryad Arbor exists. (I just wanted to make that explicit here, no points deducted).
Total: 16.5/25
Trivmvirate: 18
Savia: 17.5
NVRBLND: 20
aftermarketradio: 16.5
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.)
Legendary Enchantment Creature - Shapeshifter (R)
Bestow 2G (If you cast this card for its bestow cost, it’s an Aura spell with enchant creature. It becomes a creature again if it’s not attached to a creature.)
Enchanted Creature gets +2/+2 and has “Transfigure B”.
Transfigure B (B, Sacrifice this creature: Search your library for a creature card with the same converted mana cost as this creature and put that card onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library. Transfigure only as a sorcery.)
Aura swap 2U (2U: Exchange this Aura with an Aura card in your hand.)
2/2
Worshipped by the cultists of the swampy rainforest as the godess of reincarnation, as they believe all life in the jungle has at some point gone through Parinati.
Their practices are an oxymoron to the other inhabitants of the plane, as they try to escape death by reincarnation.
*I combined the word for "reincarnation" "Samsara" and the Prefix "Jag" for "pertaining the world" of the Sanskrit language to form a made-up word for a reincarnation world inspired by hinduism.
The card would most likely show up in a commander product after the Jagsara set, which could have Transfigure as one of its major themes.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
Artifact - Fortification (U)
Fortified land has "T, Sacrifice this land: Add 2 to your mana pool."
Fortify 2 (2: Attach to target land you control. Fortify only as a sorcery. This card enters the battlefield unattached and stays on the battlefield if the land leaves.)
Even Mirrodin itself falls to Phyrexian progress.
Artifact - Fortification (U)
Fortified land has shroud.
Whenever an ability of fortified land is activated, you may copy that ability. If you do, you may choose new targets for the copy.
Fortify 2 (2: Attach to target land you control. Fortify only as a sorcery. This card enters the battlefield unattached and stays on the battlefield if the land leaves.)
Creature - Zombie Cleric (R)
Transfigure 1BB
Deathtouch
You may play other creature cards from your graveyard as long as they are between two cards named Wormfeeder in your graveyard.
3/1
Memento Mori, if the nineth lion ate the sun.
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant creature
Whenever enchanted creature attacks or blocks, its controller gets a poison counter.
Aura swap 3UU (3UU: Exchange this Aura with an Aura card in your hand.)
When Praetor's Conditioning leaves the battlefield, gain control of enchanted creature.
- My Full Mirrodin Cube (draft it here)
- My One-Drop Cube (draft it here)
MCC Winner Nov ‘14 & Nov ‘15
Artifact - Fortification [Rare]
1:Choose a basic land type. Fortified land becomes the chosen type in addition to its other types until your next upkeep.
3: Until end of turn, fortified land becomes a 3/3 green Elemental creature that's still a land with "This land gets +1/+1 for each other land of the same type you control."
Fortify 2
Creature - Zombie (U)
Transfigure B
When you transfigure a creature from Warpskin Shambler, that creature gains haste. Sacrifice it at end of turn.
"This one's tissue has interesting necromantic properties. Incorporating it into my skaabs increases their speed and reflexes threefold... at least, until their sinews snap like rubber bands. Needs more testing." -Sticher Geralf
2/2
Creature - Cat Knight (U)
Vigilance
Reinforce 2 - 2W (2W, discard this card: Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature you control.)
If the creature Reinforced by Brimaz' Escort is legendary it gains protection from the color of your choice until end of turn.
Ever vigilant, the greatest honor they can ask for is to die in service to Oreskos.
1/2
Signature by DarkNightCavalier at Heroes of the Plane Studios
Artifact - Fortification (R)
Fortified land is a 0/5 white Wall creature with defender. It's still a land.
When fortified land dies, target opponent skips his or her next combat step.
Fortify 4
"The defenses will hold off the approaching Nayan monsters for now. But every night the thunder of their footsteps draws closer." - Diary of Sangrell Par
I run a Tumblr for Magic-related statistics, graphs, and quizzes. Come check it out!
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Flash
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1.
Aura Swap 3W (3W: Exchange this Aura with an Aura card in your hand.)
There is nothing more dangerous than an unknown blessing.
Creativity – An interesting take on transfigure.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – It's a Johnny card.
8/10.
Development:
Viability – For commons and uncommons, they would add the reminder text for keyword abilities.
Balance – My biggest gripe is that you have to sacrifice the creature. Personally, I would rather keep it in play, unless I'm running Mortal Combat.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
8/10
Polish:
Challenges – Both met
Quality – “Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.”
4/5
Total: 20/25
Creativity – It's Illusionist's Bracers for lands.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – Johnny and Spike would play with this.
8/10.
Development:
Viability – So far, they haven't switched back from hexproof to shroud. Also, I think this should be rare. Finally, since Illusionist's Bracers doesn't copy mana abilities, neither should this.
Balance – It should copy mana abilities because of cards like Boros Garrison and Saltcrusted Steppe. You can make an insane amount of mana.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
6/10
Polish:
Challenges – The name is too generic for my tastes, so I can see this being in Dominaria.
Quality – No problems here.
4/5
Total: 18/25
Creativity – I'm surprised they didn't make an Aura like that for the second Mirrodin block, minus the Aura swap.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – Johnny may use it, as would Spike.
9/10.
Development:
Viability – No problems here.
Balance – This one's good.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
10/10
Polish:
Challenges – Both met.
Quality – No problems here.
5/5
Total: 24/25
Creativity – Interesting concept.
Elegance – Honestly, this has too much going on.
Potential – Johnny might use it.
7/10.
Development:
Viability – Since it's rare, they might not add the reminder text for all the keyword abilities. Also, chances are, they wouldn't put Aura swap on a creature, so it's more likely to be “As long as CARDNAME is an Aura, it has Aura swap M.”
Balance – I think the transfigure cost should cost more than one black mana, especially since you can get a five mana creature with it by itself.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
7/10
Polish:
Challenges – CMC is greater than 3.
Quality – “Legendary Enchantment Creature – Shapeshifter” may be too long to fit in that space. Also, I don't think Transfigure B would not be in quotes. And finally, the second Transfigure B should be before the “Enchanted creature” phrase.
2/5
Total: 16/25
TacticalCelebrant: 18
Palanthas: 24
doomfish: 16
As always, no complaints, and the numbers aren't final until the deadline.
Entry
Design (5/10)] –
Creativity – Fortifications are a difficult space in which to design. There's honestly not that much design space; there certainly isn't nearly the amount of design space for Fortifications as there is for Equipment. Granted mana abilities and abilities that affect a land's mana abilities are predictable design space, but they haven't been done before in real Magic, of course, since we only have one example. I wouldn't have thought of sacrificing the land for a cost, though, so that's novel.
Elegance – It's not exactly inelegant, but I can't say it ties together to a grokkable whole for me, either.
Potential – I don't see any of the psychographics as being particularly fond of this effect except, maybe, a super Johnny trying to build around something like Titania, Protector of Argoth.
Development (5/10) –
Viability – Sure, seems like something artifacts could do at uncommon.
Balance – Honestly, this just seems like a terrible card at the costs you've given it, but you can't make the equip any cheaper without allowing someone to give up all of their lands for a temporary boost of mana, sooo I guess it's okay? Uncommons are certainly allowed to be bad.
Creative Writing – "Phyrexian Harvester" sounds way more like a creature name than the name of a fortification. Also, "Mirrodin" already fell to Phyrexian progress, so much so that it's now New Phyrexia and no longer Mirrodin at all.
Polish (5/5) –
Challenge (2/2) – Good on both counts.
Quality (3/3) – Alright.
Total: 15/25
Entry
Design (9/10)] –
Creativity – Hey yeah, that's a fun twist on Transfigure. Nice and thoughtful. I like it.
Elegance – There are a lot of moving parts to make this work, but that's okay on a Mythic. It's not particularly elegant, but it does make sense.
Potential – Timmy and Johnny would definitely get a kick out of this, and Spike would probably love this in a Hatebear deck, since you don't even really need to search out Hydras with it.
Development (7/10) –
Viability – This fits well into green's slice of the pie, and it's a fun effect for a Mythic Rare.
Balance – It's probably alright. I doubt there are any Hydras that are going to cause this to break. The real power is being able to search your toolbox of 2 CMC creatures.
Creative Writing – I get where you're coming from with the Elspeth quote, but it just seems a little off to me. The name is generic but appropriate.
Polish (2/5) –
Challenge (1/2) – Is there anything that says this couldn't be from Dominaria?
Quality (1/3) – "~ ETBs with X +1/+1 counters on it." The replacement effect is difficult to word. I'm not 100% sure how I would do it, but you don't have it quite right. "Hydras entering the battlefield as a result of CARDNAME's triggered ability ETB with a +1/+1 counter on them for each +1/+1 counter on ~ when it was sacrificed to activate it's transfigure ability," perhaps?
Total: 18/25
Entry
Design (2/10)] –
Creativity – That's certainly an innovate way to handle contraptions.
Elegance – I had to read this multiple times to understand it. It's not particularly elegant or easy to understand. It's a huge wall of text.
Potential – Johnny would love this. Spike might like it. Timmy would probably hate it.
Development (2/10) –
Viability – Why are you giving blue a 2/2 for 2 CMC with an upside? Otherwise I suppose this fits pretty well in blue. I can't imagine your version of "assemble" happening at lower rarities, though. It's incredibly complex, and searching is time-intensive.
Balance – I don't think this is inherently broken in terms of power level, though I don't believe the game rules handle it very well.
Creative Writing – This does not tell a very exciting story.
Polish (3/5) –
Challenge (2/2) – Yup.
Quality (1/3) – There are words missing from your reminder text. Also, there's a reason that gaining abilities is generally limited to activated abilities.
Total: 7/25
Entry
Design (6/10)] –
Creativity – I like the concept of a Forification manland. That's fun, and it's a neat thing to do with Fortifications to help expand their design space some.
Elegance – I dislike that one of the abilities lasts until your upkeep and the other lasts until your endstep. That's highly displeasing. I also don't understand why the land becomes green. The distinction seems unnecessary.
Potential – Spike tends to like the versatility of manlands, I think, but I'm not sure he'd love this. I think Timmy would enjoy a moment where he got to make this as big as possible, but I don't know if the card itself would excite him otherwise. Johnny wouldn't love it.
Development (4/10) –
Viability – The effects are accessible by both lands and artifacts.
Balance – This probably isn't overpowered, especially when you consider the mana investment needed to cast, attach, and animate it.
Creative Writing – The name seems very lazy. I don't understand why a Fortress could shift land types, or why it could transform into an Elemental. There's a huge flavor disconnect here for me.
Polish (3/5) –
Challenge (2/2) – Alright.
Quality (1/3) – The intent here is clear, but you've made several wording errors. "1: Fortified land gains the basic land type of your choice until end of turn in addition to its other types." "...becomes a 3/3 green Elemental creature with 'This creature gets +1/+1 for each land you control that shares a land type with it.' It's still a land."
Total= 13
Ogonomancy: 15
hopefulhawkeye: 18
Vertain: 7
Tesco(black)lotus: 13