This is my December,
this is my snow-covered home.
This is my December,
this is me alone.
(...)
This is my December,
these are my snow-covered trees.
This is me pretending
this is all I need.
-Linkin Park, My December
We continue our exploration of mana symbols looking at something common in this period of the year (at least here in the northern hemisphere): snow. Have you ever seen a snowbow?
Main challenge: design a card with a snow mana symbol in its mana cost or rules text. Please see clarifications.
Subchallenge 1: The card has ONLY snow mana symbols in both its mana cost and text box. Please see clarifications.
Subchallenge 2: The card is NOT an artifact. Please see clarifications.
To make the snow symbol, you can use [mana]S[/mana].
EDIT: Adding further clarification from the discussion thread:
After re-reading the clarifications, I just wanted to ask here, does my card meet the first subchallange?
"Satisfying this challenge implies that your card will be colorless and its color identity will be colorless too." is what has me questioning it.
I've got to second this question; my card uses the rules text commonly applied in these types of cards: "CARDNAME is COLOR." Does rules text setting the colour mean we don't complete subchalenge 1 even though we actually meet said subchallenge?
Both your cards pass subchallenge 1 just fine. The bit about color identity didn't take into account color indicators because I just honestly forgot about them. I thought it was a clarification, but it seems to have brought more confusion instead. Sorry about that.
By the way, the only case a text like "CARDNAME is COLOR" is on cards nowadays is if they are colorless (see Ghostfire, it still has that clause in its Oracle text). If that text would give a color to a card that normally has none, that card should have a color indicator instead. There's been a discussion a few days ago on Matt Tabak's tumblr about color indicators, see this post and then this other post.
A consequence of this is the following. Say, for example, that you have a card with a colorless mana cost that says "CARDNAME is white". That card should NOT say that in the rules text. It should have a white color indicator and NOT say anything about that in its rules text. I bring this up for two reasons: first, making it clear that color indicators do NOT count for any challenge, neither the main challenge nor subchallenge 1. Second, because I'm going to consider that in the "Quality" section of my judgings, and as organizer I advise other judges to do the same.
Also, I take this opportunity to remind everyone that S is only a cost and it's NOT a type of mana that you can add to your mana pool. See rule 107.4h in the Comprehensive Rules:
107.4h The snow mana symbol {S} represents one generic mana in a cost. This generic mana can be paid with one mana of any type produced by a snow permanent (see rule 205.4f). Effects that reduce the amount of generic mana you pay don’t affect {S} costs. (There is no such thing as “snow mana”; “snow” is not a type of mana.)
About the main challenge:
Your card can include any other mana symbols in its mana cost or rules text, as long as there is at least one snow mana symbol in either of them.
About subchallenge 1:
Satisfying this challenge implies that your card will be colorless and its color identity will be colorless too (EDIT: unless it has a color indicator). Your card will also only be castable using mana from snow sources.
What follows are examples of cards that DO pass this challenge:
• A card that costs S with no mana symbols in its text box.
• A card that costs SS with an activated ability that costs S.
• A card that costs SSS with a triggered ability that requires the payment of S.
• A card that costs SS with an activated ability that costs T. (It has T in the text box, which is a non-snow symbol, but is not a MANA symbol, so it's fine.)
• A card that costs S with an activated ability that costs S, T. (See above.)
• A card that costs S with an activated ability that costs S, N. (N is also not a mana symbol, so it's fine. To make the untap symbol, use [mana]N[/mana].)
The following examples would NOT pass this challenge:
• A card that costs SS with an activated ability that costs 1. (It has a non-snow mana symbol in its text box.)
• A card that costs SSS with a triggered ability that requires the payment of B. (It has a non-snow mana symbol in its text box.)
• A card that costs SSS with a triggered ability that requires the payment of 2. (It has a non-snow mana symbol in its text box.)
• A card that costs 1S, regardless of what's in the text box. (It has a non-snow mana symbol in its mana cost.)
About subchallenge 2:
Even if your card has also other types, it won't pass this challenge as long as it is an artifact. For extra clarity, an artifact creature will NOT pass this challenge.
As I said prevoiusly, I'm adopting a fixed schedule this month: each round lasts exactly a week, with designs being due on each friday afternoon and judgings being due on the following tuesday afternoon, so that new rounds will be posted that same tuesday night. I'll adjust the deadline times to be more comfortable to me as I live in Europe, but I'll also convert them to EST as usual.
Design deadline: Friday, December 19th at 17:59 EST (23:59 in central Europe)
Judge deadline: Tuesday, December 23th at 17:59 EST (23:59 in central Europe)
If everything runs smoothly, round 4 will be posted Tuesday, December 23th in the evening (or early night in Europe).
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.
Total: X/25
BRACKETS
Link didn't post a card, so we're back to our usual four 1 vs 1 pairings. The winner of each of them will be determined by the sum of the scores given by the two judges. The four winners will pass to the final round.
Judge: bravelion83
8buffalo vs. Cardz5000
admirableadmiral vs. riliss
Judge: Moss_Elemental
AliasBot vs. Flatline
8buffalo vs. Cardz5000
Judge: IcariiFA
Ninja Caterpie vs. northprophet
admirableadmiral vs. riliss
Judge: Antny223
AliasBot vs. Flatline
Ninja Caterpie vs. northprophet
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.)
Frigid Dynamo
Snow Land [R] S, t: Untap another target Snow permanent. "Who knew a single crystal of pure ice could hold such magnificent power?"
—Zur the Enchanter
PermafrostSS
Snow Enchantment - Aura {U}
Enchant land.
Enchanted land is Snow in addition to its other types and has "Whenever you cast a spell or activate an ability with S in the cost, draw a card." Even in the dead of winter, life finds a way to blossom.
Snowdown Protector2S
Snow Creature - Elemental (R)
Whenever you play a Snow card, put a +1/+1 counter on Snowdown Protector. SS: Move a +1/+1 counter from Snowdown Protector to target Snow creature you control. In a world frozen by cold, even the ice has a mind of its own.
2/2
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
If you're having creature problems I feel bad for you son
You got 99 attackers but I'm blocking with 1.
The Winner is Judge | 7
This Winner is Also Judge | 6
Club Flamingo | Lots
RimecraftingSS
Instant (U)
Target snow land becomes a 3/3 Elemental creature with flash freeze and “When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, destroy it” in addition to its other types. (This effect lasts indefinitely. When a creature is dealt damage by a source with flash freeze, tap it. That creature doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.) Even the glaciers bend to Heidar's will.
Frozen in TimeSSSS
Snow Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant creature
When Frozen in Time enters the battlefield, tap enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step. Snowfall - Whenever another snow permanent enters the battlefield under your control, you may return Frozen in Time to its owner's hand.
(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)
Nyx AuroraGGG
Snow Enchantment (R)
Hexproof Constellation - Whenever Nyx Aurora or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay S. If you do, put an ice counter on target land. (S can be paid with one mana from a snow permanent.)
Lands with ice counters on them are snow and have “Whenever you tap this land for mana, add 1 to your mana pool.” Such a chilling display can only be the work of the gods.
Frozen SoulbinderSSS
Creature - Avatar {U}
{Blue color indicator}
Flying S, T: Untap X target snow permanents, where X is the number of colors among permanents you control. The Guilds were learning to fear the icy chill of the Ingheta.
1/3
I don't know if there's a proper way to format the colour indicator; if there is, let me know and I'll update the post.
Bitter ChillSS
⚫ Instant (C) (Bitter Chill is black. S can be paid with one mana from a snow permanent.)
Spend only black mana to cast Bitter Chill.
Put three -1/-1 counters on target nonsnow creature. Death by freezing can be made far more painful than freezing to death.
While there isn't any precedent for or against this on non-flip cards, I feel like this reminder text for color would show up if common cards were ever printed with a color indicator now that card color is no longer part of rules text.
The round is closed and brackets have been posted in the OP.
Judgings are final.
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.
PermafrostSS
Snow Enchantment - Aura {U}
Enchant land.
Enchanted land is Snow in addition to its other types and has "Whenever you cast a spell or activate an ability with S in the cost, draw a card." Even in the dead of winter, life finds a way to blossom.
Design (8.5/10) Creativity – No existing card cares about a mana symbol in both the mana cost of a spell and the activation cost of an ability. While modifying land types is nothing new, that's more than enough to get a high score here. Elegance – Very clear and easily understandable. Potential – Timmy doesn't care. Both Johnny and Spike are interested in the draw triggered ability: Johnny to find combo pieces, and Spike to get card advantage.
Development (8.5/10) Viability – I feel this is a good fit as an ability all colors can have. After all, all colors have both snow lands and cantrips. I could see this as a rare, as it's very strong in multiples, letting you draw multiples card out of every snow spell you cast, but that's the only concern I have here. Balance – Other than being very strong in multiples, as I just explained above, I don't see any particularly dangerous interaction here. Surely playable in limited in any deck with enough snow spells, which shouldn't be difficult to put together in an hypothetical snow block. I don't know about constructed, probably it's not playable there unless as part of some card advantage engine. Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish Challenge (2/2) – Both met. Quality (1.5/3) – There should not be a period after "Enchant land" as it's a keyword (half a point deducted). The word "snow" in "Enchanted land is Snow" should not be capitalized (see Scrying Sheets, half a point deducted). "in the cost" should be "in its mana cost" for spells (see Frontline Medic and Rage Extractor for example) or "in its activation cost" for activated abilities (see the Oracle text of Artifact Possession, Haunting Wind, Imprison, and Powerleech), so the wording should be "Whenever you cast a spell with S in its mana cost or activate an ability with S in its activation cost, draw a card" (half a point deducted).
Bitter ChillSS
⚫ Instant (C) (Bitter Chill is black. S can be paid with one mana from a snow permanent.)
Spend only black mana to cast Bitter Chill.
Put three -1/-1 counters on target nonsnow creature. Death by freezing can be made far more painful than freezing to death.
Design (8/10) Creativity – I can't remember anything like this already existing. Elegance – All good here. Potential – Timmy and Johnny don't care. This is a pure Spike card, as most good removal is.
Development (9/10) Viability – How to have a card that effectively costs black mana without having any black mana symbols in the cost. Very clever. This also lets you use an effect that clearly belongs only in black on a card with a colorless cost. About rarity, this fits in a very long tradition of -X/-X cards in black at common, see Disfigure, Last Gasp, and Grasp of Darkness (unfortunately today we must have Lash of the Whip and Throttle, but I digress), so no problems here. Balance – As I just remembered, today this would unfortunately probably cost more mana, especially as it's a common, but I agree more with your costing. Very playable in limited, it's a very high pick that heavily pushes you towards black. I can see this making an appearance in constructed too, especially in a world of bad and scarce removal like we have today. Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish Challenge (2/2) – Both met. Quality (3/3) – All good here. I too can see the reminder text for the color indicator on a common, so no points deducted for that.
Frigid Dynamo
Snow Land [R] S, t: Untap another target Snow permanent. "Who knew a single crystal of pure ice could hold such magnificent power?"
—Zur the Enchanter
Design (6.5/10) Creativity – While this exact effect has never been done before, snow lands with activated abilities requiring snow mana are nothing new (see Scrying Sheets and Mouth of Ronom). Elegance – All good here. Potential – This is mostly a Johnny card, he's very excited and he's eagerly looking for ways to break that ability. Timmy doesn't care. Spike may use this, but only as a way to give pseudo-vigilance to a creature.
Development (7/10) Viability – It can feel strange to give black and red a way to untap permanents. It also violates the unwritten rule of modern design that all lands have to add mana or fetch you lands that add mana. I understand that this would have forced you to not meet subchallenge 1, as you would have had to add "T: Add 1 to your mana pool.", which contains 1, but it would have been much better here. Sometimes it's better to ignore one of the challenges to have a better card overall, and I feel this may have been the case. Rarity is fine, given the easy combo potential. Balance – Very high combo potential, I wouldn't be surprised to see this in a constructed combo deck, even if that's the only place I can see this in constructed. It may be playable in limited for the pseudo-vigilance. Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish Challenge (2/2) – Both met. This is not what I thought of as I wrote subchallenge 1, but it satisfies the letter of the law with no problem, so it's fine. It was meant to force you to be creative with the mana cost, but you bypassed the problem by having no mana cost at all. Very clever. Quality (2.5/3) – The word "snow" in "target Snow permanent" should not be capitalized (see Heidar, Rimewind Master, Rimefeather Owl, Skred, and other cards too, also the reminder text for snow mana itself, half a point deducted).
RimecraftingSS
Instant (U)
Target snow land becomes a 3/3 Elemental creature with flash freeze and “When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, destroy it” in addition to its other types. (This effect lasts indefinitely. When a creature is dealt damage by a source with flash freeze, tap it. That creature doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.) Even the glaciers bend to Heidar's will.
Design (5/10) Creativity – Flash freeze is nothing else but Wall of Frost's ability that triggers on damage instead of blocking, and that's already been done on Mercurial Kite. Animating lands is also a well known ability (even if I think it's never been done calling out a snow land specifically), and so it is the "Illusion" ability. The mix of abilities has never been done before, but each single part of it has. Elegance – I had to read it a couple of times to get it, but indeed that's the cleanest way to write an effect like this. I don't like the name "flash freeze" containing the word "flash", it makes it look like they are similar or linked abilities, while that's not true. At least "flashback" is a compound word. Potential – Timmy doesn't care. Johnny may try to do something with it. Spike would have liked this much more without the "Illusion" drawback.
Development (6.5/10) Viability – Animating lands can be in all colors (see Worldwake, with both its manlands and the Zendikons in all colors). Instead, I have a lot of trouble seeing flash freeze and the "Illusion" ability in any color other than blue. Maybe flash freeze can be in white too (see Kor Hookmaster), but it makes no sense in black, red, or green. Rarity can be fine, even if I see this leaning towards rare. Balance – Two mana can be fine to animate a land and make it a 3/3, that's what Treetop Village does. They both have an added bonus too (here flash freeze and on the Village trample), but the Village has no drawback on activation, so maybe the "Illusion" ability wasn't necessary after all. It can be playable in limited, but I can't see this in constructed. Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish Challenge (2/2) – Both met. Quality (2/3) – Today, this would have the "base PT" wording (see Ensoul Artifact, half a point deducted). Also, "in addition to its other types" should come before the granted abilities (see Dismiss into Dream, half a point deducted). Putting it all together, this should have said the following (with the same reminder text):
Target snow land is an Elemental creature with base power and toughness 3/3 in addition to its other types and has flash freeze and "When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, destroy it."
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.)
Design:
Creativity – There are cards that let you get more mana when you tap a land for mana.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – Johnny and Spike would play with it. Timmy might use it to make a big spell.
8/10.
Development:
Viability – No problems here.
Balance – It should definitely have a higher mana cost, since you would not put ice counters on an opponent's lands.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
9/10
Polish:
Challenges – Non-snow mana.
Quality – No problems here.
4/5
Total: 21/25
Design:
Creativity – So many Claustrophobia variants. At least this is colourless.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – Johnny can use it.
8/10.
Development:
Viability – No problems here.
Balance – Instead a triggered ability, I think it should have been an activated ability. Other than that, I think it's okay.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
9/10
Polish:
Challenges – Both met.
Quality – No problems here.
5/5
Total: 22/25
Design:
Creativity – Since there are no cards with S in its mana cost, it's original.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – Johnny and Spike like it.
8/10.
Development:
Viability – I think it should be rare.
Balance – This should cost more than just two mana, since there are activated abilities that just cost S. That means you get a card for just one mana.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
7/10
Polish:
Challenges – Both met
Quality – It should be like this:
Enchant land
Enchanted land is snow and has "Whenever you cast a spell with S in its mana cost or activate an ability with S in its activation cost, draw a card."
Snow is not a card type, it's a supertype, like legendary.
3/5
Total: 18/25
Design:
Creativity – This is original.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – It's a Spike card.
8/10.
Development:
Viability – No problems here.
Balance – It's not perfect, but I think this could be printed.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
9/10
Polish:
Challenges – Both met.
Quality – No problems here.
5/5
Total: 22/25
As always, no complaints and it's not final until the deadline has passed.
This is pretty much final baring some outrageous error.
Snowdown Protector2S
Snow Creature - Elemental (R)
Whenever you play a Snow card, put a +1/+1 counter on Snowdown Protector. SS: Move a +1/+1 counter from Snowdown Protector to target Snow creature you control. In a world frozen by cold, even the ice has a mind of its own.
2/2
Design (9.5/10)
Creativity – It's the first snow creature to implement its love for snow in this way, and the combination of abilities is original.
Elegance – Fits the bill here overall.
Potential – Timmy likes that this gets big rather quick. Johnny might find a fun use for the counters, especially since they can be moved. Spike Likes the power level. It's very affinity-like for snow with the abuse of snow lands.
Development (7/10)
Viability – I feel like this might be better off with a green color identifier. Otherwise it feels neutral enough to be snow mana bound.
Balance – In an environment with snow lands and other cards this is quite pushed. As stated before, this reads as snow affinity and would likely be a tournament staple of snow, especially with the lack of color commitments. Too good.
Creative Writing – Fits well.
Polish – (4.5/5)
Challenge (1/2) – Sub Challenge 1 not met.
Quality (2.5/3) – Snow should be lower case in the rules text.
Total: 20/25
Frozen SoulbinderSSS
Creature - Avatar {U}
{Blue color indicator}
Flying S, T: Untap X target snow permanents, where X is the number of colors among permanents you control. The Guilds were learning to fear the icy chill of the Ingheta.
1/3
Design (5.5/10)
Creativity – A snow card that cares about colored permanents this way is new.
Elegance – This card has kinks in both it's mechanics and flavor that throw off the elegance and leave me with a stink eye. I'll explain flavor details in other sections, but mechanically it's very strange to have a creature cost snow mana exclusively and not be snow itself. It seems like a poor way to avoid it being unable to untap itself as written when a better choice would of been to make it a snow creature that untaps "Other" snow permanents.
Potential – Timmy doesn't like it. Johnny loves untap effects to begin with and the color clause ads an intersting problem to solve (and abuse.) Spike would probably shy away from a card that doesn't stand up so well on its own.
Development (7/10)
Viability – This checks out in color, and balance wise feels like an uncommon. However, it is very unusual for an avatar to be an uncommon.
Balance – Power level wise this feels on point, though the lack of being a snow creature while caring about snow and costing snow weakens its potential synergy it a way I don't like.
Creative Writing – The name is generic enough to be anywhere were there is cold, but the flavor texts throws me off. Between the care of multiple colors and the reference to guilds I'm left wondering is the setting Ravnica only to be confused further by the reference to Ingheta, a place I can find no reference to. What it amounts to is, I don't really have a clue about this flavor wise. That's not good.
Frigid Dynamo
Snow Land [R] S, t: Untap another target Snow permanent. "Who knew a single crystal of pure ice could hold such magnificent power?"
—Zur the Enchanter
Design (5/10)
Creativity – The abilities are pretty generic overall, though snow hasn't done it on a land.
Elegance – The flavor is quite off for a land. This reads like it should of been an artifact, which was against the challenge.
Potential – Timmy doesn't like a land that can't make mana. Spike doesn't either, but will still find it useful to have an untap on the land. Johnny likes how this can be incorperated into any tricky little deck he wants. Plus untapping is really their thing.
Development (6/10)
Viability – Lands need to produce mana. This does not. I get you were trying to fit the card into this challenge, but perhaps this was the wrong design to go with. If it did produce mana I could see this being rare. As is, maybe it'd be an uncommon instead.
Balance – It's a very powerful and cheap effect for a land to have, especially since snow lands can be worked into many deck types. Dangerous, even with the lack of mana production.
Creative Writing – The Zur refrence is appreciated, but a dynamo usually references an artifact and what Zur says supports this card as an artifact.
Polish – (4.5)
Challenge (2/2) – If fits even if it should of been an artifact instead.
Quality (2.5/3) – Snow should be lower case in the rules text.
Total: 15.5/25
RimecraftingSS
Instant (U)
Target snow land becomes a 3/3 Elemental creature with flash freeze and “When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, destroy it” in addition to its other types. (This effect lasts indefinitely. When a creature is dealt damage by a source with flash freeze, tap it. That creature doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.) Even the glaciers bend to Heidar's will.
Design (5.5/10)
Creativity – Well, you made a keyword of a very traditionally icy mechanic and showcased on an instant that makes snow ele lands. It feels different because of that.
Elegance – The concept here makes sense, the rules text however is clunky and off.
Potential – Timmy and Johnny arn't big on this and while it has some appeal to Spike, probably isn't effecient enough outside of limited combat tricks/efficient bodies.
Development (8/10)
Viability – I'd think this fits together without color attachments and the like if it weren't for flash fleeze. Make it blue. It is complex enough for an uncommon.
Balance – It'd be stuck in limited land which is fine. Not overly impressive, but reasonable.
Creative Writing – Straightforward and works overall.
Polish (4/5)
Challenge (2/2) – Fine here.
Quality (2/3) – The "in addition to its other types" clause should be before you talk of it's abilities, which contributes to why this feels clunky.
Design (X/10) – Creativity – Not sure I like combining constellation with snow permanents like this. The idea of offering lands a boost like this is neat. Elegance – Flavour is somewhat lost on me. Took a couple of reads to really get to grips with what the card was trying to do. Potential – I'm skeptical that there's a build for this but if there is Johnny will be the one looking for it. Timmy and Spike will just use Heartbeat of Spring of something.
Development (X/10) – Viability – Works for green and at this rarity. Balance – I don't see the need for hexproof, this isn't the sort of enchantment that players shouldn't be allowed to deal with. Creative Writing – I sort of like the flavour text and name but I still don't fully get this card.
Design (X/10) – Creativity – Snowfall looks like a nice mechanic idea. Otherwise the rest of card is fairly simple. Elegance – The flavour is clear and the card looks straightforward and natural. Potential – Likely limited all star. May see some constructed play given the colour neutrality.
Development (X/10) – Viability – A traditionally blue card like this might need to a little costly to justify the effect becoming colourless. Rarity is fine. Balance – Seems about right. Creative Writing – The flavour is clear enough to merit the lack of flavour text. The name isn't what I would have chosen though.
Design (X/10) – Creativity – Using colours to decide what to untap is new. Elegance – I get what it does and theme's make some sense. Potential – Johnny will find an infinite combo, Spike might even get some good play off it.
Development (X/10) – Viability – This card is blue in name only, and is probably unfair in nonblue decks as it'll cheaply and easily untap permanents, especially since snow lands are a thing. Multiple untapping on a stick probably makes this card rare. Balance – I have my concerns, but it's probably just abour narrow enough to prevent being too broken. Creative Writing – Nice name, nice flavour text.
As I announced in the discussion thread, I'll post my judgments of Antny223's bracket here. I'll stress that his original judgings got lost somewhere along the way and that he'll fix them as soon as he can. The scores that count are his, but as he let me know who advances via pm (the same players that would have advanced in my version, by the way), I've already posted round 4 with that knowledge. I'm posting my judgings as I had done them anyway and I feel it's better to give more feedback about the cards rather than letting them go to waste. Obviously, I'm going to omit the scores I gave, because, again, those that count are Antny223's and posting mine too would create nothing but confusion and would distract from my intent here, which is only to provide additional feedback on the cards.
Nyx AuroraGGG
Snow Enchantment (R)
Hexproof Constellation - Whenever Nyx Aurora or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay S. If you do, put an ice counter on target land. (S can be paid with one mana from a snow permanent.)
Lands with ice counters on them are snow and have “Whenever you tap this land for mana, add 1 to your mana pool.” Such a chilling display can only be the work of the gods.
Design Creativity – Somewhat reminiscent of Rimefeather Owl's last two abilities (and other cards involving ice counters), but very original nonetheless. Elegance – Way too wordy to be understandable at a glance, but clear enough once you take the time to read it all. Admittedly, the wording has to be like that and there's no standard way to make it shorter. Potential – Timmy is interested in this just as he is about any card that lets him ramp into his big monsters. Johnny likes the challenge this gives him: how do I take advantage of a lot of extra snow mana? Spike doesn't care.
Development Viability – Perfect both in color and rarity. I can't see any problems here. Balance – It's kind of like a Fertile Ground for all your lands, but needs more enchantments to work. Keeping that into account, three mana feels like it can be the right cost. It could probably have been just 2G though, especially since you need a lot of enchantments to get enough value out of this. I can't see myself playing this in limited, and neither in constructed unless I'm playing either some sort of weird combo deck or a deck with both a very high mana curve (so it needs all that extra mana) and enough enchantments. Those are very rare circumstances. Creative Writing – It feels somewhat strange to have snow on Theros, but other than that the flavor would be fine here. The problem is that there shouldn't be any flavor text at all on this card, because there's no room for it, and MSE confirms this.
Polish Challenge – Subchallenge 1 NOT met, as G and 1 are not snow mana symbols. Subchallenge 2 met. Quality – Reminder text should be in italics (this is a serious mistake as it's very evident, very easy to correct and there's a big difference between rules text and reminder text so they should never get confused, one point deducted). There should be the reminder text (in addition to the mana the land produces.) after the ramp ability, (see Crypt Ghast and other cards, half a point deducted).
Frozen in TimeSSSS
Snow Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant creature
When Frozen in Time enters the battlefield, tap enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step. Snowfall - Whenever another snow permanent enters the battlefield under your control, you may return Frozen in Time to its owner's hand.
Design Creativity – Keeping permanents tapped is a usual place to go with flavor about cold and snow. Snowfall is the real new part of the card, but after landfall and constellation it doesn't shine for originality. Elegance – A bit wordy, but clear enough. Potential – Timmy doesn't care. Johnny could try to do something with the snowfall ability, but probably not much. Spike is very interested as he sees pseudo-removal that can be moved to another creature, should a more dangerous creature enter the battlefield.
Development Viability – This effect is supposed to be blue. There's been some bleed in white (Plumes of Peace, which is also blue) and green (Entangling Vines, which is considered a mistake by some, including me). I don't feel very good giving an effect like this to any color. Rarity looks fine. Balance – An enhanced Claustrophobia that can be cast by any color but costs one mana more. It feels like a balanced cost, if not a little too low. Surely playable in limited. Only playable in constructed if you play a snow deck and you desperately need some extra removal, regardless of its quality. Creative Writing – Name is good. No room for flavor text.
Polish Challenge – Both met. Quality – All good here.
Snowdown Protector2S
Snow Creature - Elemental (R)
Whenever you play a Snow card, put a +1/+1 counter on Snowdown Protector. SS: Move a +1/+1 counter from Snowdown Protector to target Snow creature you control. In a world frozen by cold, even the ice has a mind of its own.
2/2
Design Creativity – I can't remember anything like this already existing. There have been cards that move +1/+1 counters, but not interacting with snow like this. Elegance – The only problem in ease of understanding can be "play a snow card". Maybe not everyone realizes that both casting a snow spell and playing a snow land count. Other than that, everything's fine. Potential – Timmy may be interested in a creature that can become very large if you just play enough snow spells or lands. Johnny thinks about ways to exploit the counter moving ability. Spike particularly appreciates that this triggers on snow lands too, but is not excited to have to play a snow deck (that means having potentially serious limitations in deckbuilding) to get full value out of this.
Development Viability – It makes sense to have a snow creature playable by any color that grows with any other snow card you play. Rarity is fine, this can't certainly be any less than a rare. Balance – Both costs looks balanced enough. Maybe this could have costed one mana more and still be playable. Very playable in limited. Only playable in constructed if you're playing a snow deck, but it's very good there. Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish Challenge – Subchallenge 1 NOT met, as 2 is not a snow mana symbol. Subchallenge 2 met. Quality – "Snow" as a supertype in rules text should not be capitalized (see Ohran Yeti and other cards, half a point deducted).
Frozen SoulbinderSSS
Creature - Avatar {U}
{Blue color indicator}
Flying S, T: Untap X target snow permanents, where X is the number of colors among permanents you control. The Guilds were learning to fear the icy chill of the Ingheta.
1/3
Design Creativity – A colorless card with an effect that cares about how many colors you play. Very original. Elegance – All good here. Potential – Timmy doesn't care. Johnny is very excited by this card, because of both the untap part and the challenge of maximizing the effect via deckbuilding and gameplay. Spike may be interested in untapping snow lands, but nothing more than that.
Development Viability – This must be evalued as a colorless card, even if it's blue, because it can be cast with any color of mana (it's sort of the opposite of Ghostfire). I'm not sure I like to bleed untap out of blue, but at least this is limited by the number of colors you play and by requiring the snow supertype. I think this could have been better as a rare, as Bloom Tender is. Balance – Costs look right. Having to play the most colors possible with a colorless card is a hidden additional cost, and that's a very good example of lenticular design, which is always hard to do right. Surely playable in limited, but I don't see this in constructed. Creative Writing – It feels a little strange to see snow on Ravnica. Also, I don't know what the Ingheta is (Google didn't help either), but I guess it would be explained in the hypothetical set this comes from.
Polish Challenge – Both met. Quality – The word "Guilds" in the flavor text should not be capitalized (half a point 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.)
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December MCC - Round 3
"Snowbow"
This is my December,
this is my snow-covered home.
This is my December,
this is me alone.
(...)
This is my December,
these are my snow-covered trees.
This is me pretending
this is all I need.
-Linkin Park, My December
We continue our exploration of mana symbols looking at something common in this period of the year (at least here in the northern hemisphere): snow. Have you ever seen a snowbow?
Main challenge: design a card with a snow mana symbol in its mana cost or rules text. Please see clarifications.
Subchallenge 1: The card has ONLY snow mana symbols in both its mana cost and text box. Please see clarifications.
Subchallenge 2: The card is NOT an artifact. Please see clarifications.
To make the snow symbol, you can use [mana]S[/mana].
EDIT: Adding further clarification from the discussion thread:
About the main challenge:
Your card can include any other mana symbols in its mana cost or rules text, as long as there is at least one snow mana symbol in either of them.
About subchallenge 1:
Satisfying this challenge implies that your card will be colorless and its color identity will be colorless too (EDIT: unless it has a color indicator). Your card will also only be castable using mana from snow sources.
What follows are examples of cards that DO pass this challenge:
• A card that costs S with no mana symbols in its text box.
• A card that costs SS with an activated ability that costs S.
• A card that costs SSS with a triggered ability that requires the payment of S.
• A card that costs SS with an activated ability that costs T. (It has T in the text box, which is a non-snow symbol, but is not a MANA symbol, so it's fine.)
• A card that costs S with an activated ability that costs S, T. (See above.)
• A card that costs S with an activated ability that costs S, N. (N is also not a mana symbol, so it's fine. To make the untap symbol, use [mana]N[/mana].)
The following examples would NOT pass this challenge:
• A card that costs SS with an activated ability that costs 1. (It has a non-snow mana symbol in its text box.)
• A card that costs SSS with a triggered ability that requires the payment of B. (It has a non-snow mana symbol in its text box.)
• A card that costs SSS with a triggered ability that requires the payment of 2. (It has a non-snow mana symbol in its text box.)
• A card that costs 1S, regardless of what's in the text box. (It has a non-snow mana symbol in its mana cost.)
About subchallenge 2:
Even if your card has also other types, it won't pass this challenge as long as it is an artifact. For extra clarity, an artifact creature will NOT pass this challenge.
As I said prevoiusly, I'm adopting a fixed schedule this month: each round lasts exactly a week, with designs being due on each friday afternoon and judgings being due on the following tuesday afternoon, so that new rounds will be posted that same tuesday night. I'll adjust the deadline times to be more comfortable to me as I live in Europe, but I'll also convert them to EST as usual.
Design deadline: Friday, December 19th at 17:59 EST (23:59 in central Europe)
Judge deadline: Tuesday, December 23th at 17:59 EST (23:59 in central Europe)
If everything runs smoothly, round 4 will be posted Tuesday, December 23th in the evening (or early night in Europe).
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
BRACKETS
Link didn't post a card, so we're back to our usual four 1 vs 1 pairings. The winner of each of them will be determined by the sum of the scores given by the two judges. The four winners will pass to the final round.
Judge: bravelion83
8buffalo vs. Cardz5000
admirableadmiral vs. riliss
Judge: Moss_Elemental
AliasBot vs. Flatline
8buffalo vs. Cardz5000
Judge: IcariiFA
Ninja Caterpie vs. northprophet
admirableadmiral vs. riliss
Judge: Antny223
AliasBot vs. Flatline
Ninja Caterpie vs. northprophet
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.)
Snow Land [R]
S, t: Untap another target Snow permanent.
"Who knew a single crystal of pure ice could hold such magnificent power?"
—Zur the Enchanter
Snow Enchantment - Aura {U}
Enchant land.
Enchanted land is Snow in addition to its other types and has "Whenever you cast a spell or activate an ability with S in the cost, draw a card."
Even in the dead of winter, life finds a way to blossom.
My Namesake: Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
Snow Creature - Elemental (R)
Whenever you play a Snow card, put a +1/+1 counter on Snowdown Protector.
SS: Move a +1/+1 counter from Snowdown Protector to target Snow creature you control.
In a world frozen by cold, even the ice has a mind of its own.
2/2
You got 99 attackers but I'm blocking with 1.
The Winner is Judge | 7
This Winner is Also Judge | 6
Club Flamingo | Lots
Instant (U)
Target snow land becomes a 3/3 Elemental creature with flash freeze and “When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, destroy it” in addition to its other types. (This effect lasts indefinitely. When a creature is dealt damage by a source with flash freeze, tap it. That creature doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.)
Even the glaciers bend to Heidar's will.
GWU Bant Manifest - The Future Is Here. Or it will be at the end of turn. GWU
Snow Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant creature
When Frozen in Time enters the battlefield, tap enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.
Snowfall - Whenever another snow permanent enters the battlefield under your control, you may return Frozen in Time to its owner's hand.
Snow Enchantment (R)
Hexproof
Constellation - Whenever Nyx Aurora or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay S. If you do, put an ice counter on target land. (S can be paid with one mana from a snow permanent.)
Lands with ice counters on them are snow and have “Whenever you tap this land for mana, add 1 to your mana pool.”
Such a chilling display can only be the work of the gods.
Creature - Avatar {U}
{Blue color indicator}
Flying
S, T: Untap X target snow permanents, where X is the number of colors among permanents you control.
The Guilds were learning to fear the icy chill of the Ingheta.
1/3
I don't know if there's a proper way to format the colour indicator; if there is, let me know and I'll update the post.
⚫ Instant (C)
(Bitter Chill is black. S can be paid with one mana from a snow permanent.)
Spend only black mana to cast Bitter Chill.
Put three -1/-1 counters on target nonsnow creature.
Death by freezing can be made far more painful than freezing to death.
While there isn't any precedent for or against this on non-flip cards, I feel like this reminder text for color would show up if common cards were ever printed with a color indicator now that card color is no longer part of rules text.
Judgings are final.
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.
8buffalo vs. Cardz5000
8buffalo
Design (8.5/10)
Creativity – No existing card cares about a mana symbol in both the mana cost of a spell and the activation cost of an ability. While modifying land types is nothing new, that's more than enough to get a high score here.
Elegance – Very clear and easily understandable.
Potential – Timmy doesn't care. Both Johnny and Spike are interested in the draw triggered ability: Johnny to find combo pieces, and Spike to get card advantage.
Development (8.5/10)
Viability – I feel this is a good fit as an ability all colors can have. After all, all colors have both snow lands and cantrips. I could see this as a rare, as it's very strong in multiples, letting you draw multiples card out of every snow spell you cast, but that's the only concern I have here.
Balance – Other than being very strong in multiples, as I just explained above, I don't see any particularly dangerous interaction here. Surely playable in limited in any deck with enough snow spells, which shouldn't be difficult to put together in an hypothetical snow block. I don't know about constructed, probably it's not playable there unless as part of some card advantage engine.
Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Both met.
Quality (1.5/3) – There should not be a period after "Enchant land" as it's a keyword (half a point deducted). The word "snow" in "Enchanted land is Snow" should not be capitalized (see Scrying Sheets, half a point deducted). "in the cost" should be "in its mana cost" for spells (see Frontline Medic and Rage Extractor for example) or "in its activation cost" for activated abilities (see the Oracle text of Artifact Possession, Haunting Wind, Imprison, and Powerleech), so the wording should be "Whenever you cast a spell with S in its mana cost or activate an ability with S in its activation cost, draw a card" (half a point deducted).
Total: 20.5/25
Design (8/10)
Creativity – I can't remember anything like this already existing.
Elegance – All good here.
Potential – Timmy and Johnny don't care. This is a pure Spike card, as most good removal is.
Development (9/10)
Viability – How to have a card that effectively costs black mana without having any black mana symbols in the cost. Very clever. This also lets you use an effect that clearly belongs only in black on a card with a colorless cost. About rarity, this fits in a very long tradition of -X/-X cards in black at common, see Disfigure, Last Gasp, and Grasp of Darkness (unfortunately today we must have Lash of the Whip and Throttle, but I digress), so no problems here.
Balance – As I just remembered, today this would unfortunately probably cost more mana, especially as it's a common, but I agree more with your costing. Very playable in limited, it's a very high pick that heavily pushes you towards black. I can see this making an appearance in constructed too, especially in a world of bad and scarce removal like we have today.
Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Both met.
Quality (3/3) – All good here. I too can see the reminder text for the color indicator on a common, so no points deducted for that.
Total: 22/25
8buffalo 20.5
Cardz5000 22
admirableadmiral vs. riliss
admirableadmiral
Design (6.5/10)
Creativity – While this exact effect has never been done before, snow lands with activated abilities requiring snow mana are nothing new (see Scrying Sheets and Mouth of Ronom).
Elegance – All good here.
Potential – This is mostly a Johnny card, he's very excited and he's eagerly looking for ways to break that ability. Timmy doesn't care. Spike may use this, but only as a way to give pseudo-vigilance to a creature.
Development (7/10)
Viability – It can feel strange to give black and red a way to untap permanents. It also violates the unwritten rule of modern design that all lands have to add mana or fetch you lands that add mana. I understand that this would have forced you to not meet subchallenge 1, as you would have had to add "T: Add 1 to your mana pool.", which contains 1, but it would have been much better here. Sometimes it's better to ignore one of the challenges to have a better card overall, and I feel this may have been the case. Rarity is fine, given the easy combo potential.
Balance – Very high combo potential, I wouldn't be surprised to see this in a constructed combo deck, even if that's the only place I can see this in constructed. It may be playable in limited for the pseudo-vigilance.
Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Both met. This is not what I thought of as I wrote subchallenge 1, but it satisfies the letter of the law with no problem, so it's fine. It was meant to force you to be creative with the mana cost, but you bypassed the problem by having no mana cost at all. Very clever.
Quality (2.5/3) – The word "snow" in "target Snow permanent" should not be capitalized (see Heidar, Rimewind Master, Rimefeather Owl, Skred, and other cards too, also the reminder text for snow mana itself, half a point deducted).
Total: 18/25
Design (5/10)
Creativity – Flash freeze is nothing else but Wall of Frost's ability that triggers on damage instead of blocking, and that's already been done on Mercurial Kite. Animating lands is also a well known ability (even if I think it's never been done calling out a snow land specifically), and so it is the "Illusion" ability. The mix of abilities has never been done before, but each single part of it has.
Elegance – I had to read it a couple of times to get it, but indeed that's the cleanest way to write an effect like this. I don't like the name "flash freeze" containing the word "flash", it makes it look like they are similar or linked abilities, while that's not true. At least "flashback" is a compound word.
Potential – Timmy doesn't care. Johnny may try to do something with it. Spike would have liked this much more without the "Illusion" drawback.
Development (6.5/10)
Viability – Animating lands can be in all colors (see Worldwake, with both its manlands and the Zendikons in all colors). Instead, I have a lot of trouble seeing flash freeze and the "Illusion" ability in any color other than blue. Maybe flash freeze can be in white too (see Kor Hookmaster), but it makes no sense in black, red, or green. Rarity can be fine, even if I see this leaning towards rare.
Balance – Two mana can be fine to animate a land and make it a 3/3, that's what Treetop Village does. They both have an added bonus too (here flash freeze and on the Village trample), but the Village has no drawback on activation, so maybe the "Illusion" ability wasn't necessary after all. It can be playable in limited, but I can't see this in constructed.
Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Both met.
Quality (2/3) – Today, this would have the "base PT" wording (see Ensoul Artifact, half a point deducted). Also, "in addition to its other types" should come before the granted abilities (see Dismiss into Dream, half a point deducted). Putting it all together, this should have said the following (with the same reminder text):
Target snow land is an Elemental creature with base power and toughness 3/3 in addition to its other types and has flash freeze and "When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, destroy it."
Total: 15.5/25
admirableadmiral 18
riliss 15.5
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.)
8buffalo vs. Cardz5000
Creativity – There are cards that let you get more mana when you tap a land for mana.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – Johnny and Spike would play with it. Timmy might use it to make a big spell.
8/10.
Development:
Viability – No problems here.
Balance – It should definitely have a higher mana cost, since you would not put ice counters on an opponent's lands.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
9/10
Polish:
Challenges – Non-snow mana.
Quality – No problems here.
4/5
Total: 21/25
Creativity – So many Claustrophobia variants. At least this is colourless.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – Johnny can use it.
8/10.
Development:
Viability – No problems here.
Balance – Instead a triggered ability, I think it should have been an activated ability. Other than that, I think it's okay.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
9/10
Polish:
Challenges – Both met.
Quality – No problems here.
5/5
Total: 22/25
Creativity – Since there are no cards with S in its mana cost, it's original.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – Johnny and Spike like it.
8/10.
Development:
Viability – I think it should be rare.
Balance – This should cost more than just two mana, since there are activated abilities that just cost S. That means you get a card for just one mana.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
7/10
Polish:
Challenges – Both met
Quality – It should be like this:
Enchant land
Enchanted land is snow and has "Whenever you cast a spell with S in its mana cost or activate an ability with S in its activation cost, draw a card."
Snow is not a card type, it's a supertype, like legendary.
3/5
Total: 18/25
Creativity – This is original.
Elegance – No problems here.
Potential – It's a Spike card.
8/10.
Development:
Viability – No problems here.
Balance – It's not perfect, but I think this could be printed.
Creative Writing – No problems here.
9/10
Polish:
Challenges – Both met.
Quality – No problems here.
5/5
Total: 22/25
As always, no complaints and it's not final until the deadline has passed.
Design (9.5/10)
Creativity – It's the first snow creature to implement its love for snow in this way, and the combination of abilities is original.
Elegance – Fits the bill here overall.
Potential – Timmy likes that this gets big rather quick. Johnny might find a fun use for the counters, especially since they can be moved. Spike Likes the power level. It's very affinity-like for snow with the abuse of snow lands.
Development (7/10)
Viability – I feel like this might be better off with a green color identifier. Otherwise it feels neutral enough to be snow mana bound.
Balance – In an environment with snow lands and other cards this is quite pushed. As stated before, this reads as snow affinity and would likely be a tournament staple of snow, especially with the lack of color commitments. Too good.
Creative Writing – Fits well.
Polish – (4.5/5)
Challenge (1/2) – Sub Challenge 1 not met.
Quality (2.5/3) – Snow should be lower case in the rules text.
Total: 20/25
Design (5.5/10)
Creativity – A snow card that cares about colored permanents this way is new.
Elegance – This card has kinks in both it's mechanics and flavor that throw off the elegance and leave me with a stink eye. I'll explain flavor details in other sections, but mechanically it's very strange to have a creature cost snow mana exclusively and not be snow itself. It seems like a poor way to avoid it being unable to untap itself as written when a better choice would of been to make it a snow creature that untaps "Other" snow permanents.
Potential – Timmy doesn't like it. Johnny loves untap effects to begin with and the color clause ads an intersting problem to solve (and abuse.) Spike would probably shy away from a card that doesn't stand up so well on its own.
Development (7/10)
Viability – This checks out in color, and balance wise feels like an uncommon. However, it is very unusual for an avatar to be an uncommon.
Balance – Power level wise this feels on point, though the lack of being a snow creature while caring about snow and costing snow weakens its potential synergy it a way I don't like.
Creative Writing – The name is generic enough to be anywhere were there is cold, but the flavor texts throws me off. Between the care of multiple colors and the reference to guilds I'm left wondering is the setting Ravnica only to be confused further by the reference to Ingheta, a place I can find no reference to. What it amounts to is, I don't really have a clue about this flavor wise. That's not good.
Polish (5/5)
Challenge (2/2) – Both Challenges met.
Quality (3/3) – Looks fine.
Total: 17.5/25
Design (5/10)
Creativity – The abilities are pretty generic overall, though snow hasn't done it on a land.
Elegance – The flavor is quite off for a land. This reads like it should of been an artifact, which was against the challenge.
Potential – Timmy doesn't like a land that can't make mana. Spike doesn't either, but will still find it useful to have an untap on the land. Johnny likes how this can be incorperated into any tricky little deck he wants. Plus untapping is really their thing.
Development (6/10)
Viability – Lands need to produce mana. This does not. I get you were trying to fit the card into this challenge, but perhaps this was the wrong design to go with. If it did produce mana I could see this being rare. As is, maybe it'd be an uncommon instead.
Balance – It's a very powerful and cheap effect for a land to have, especially since snow lands can be worked into many deck types. Dangerous, even with the lack of mana production.
Creative Writing – The Zur refrence is appreciated, but a dynamo usually references an artifact and what Zur says supports this card as an artifact.
Polish – (4.5)
Challenge (2/2) – If fits even if it should of been an artifact instead.
Quality (2.5/3) – Snow should be lower case in the rules text.
Total: 15.5/25
Design (5.5/10)
Creativity – Well, you made a keyword of a very traditionally icy mechanic and showcased on an instant that makes snow ele lands. It feels different because of that.
Elegance – The concept here makes sense, the rules text however is clunky and off.
Potential – Timmy and Johnny arn't big on this and while it has some appeal to Spike, probably isn't effecient enough outside of limited combat tricks/efficient bodies.
Development (8/10)
Viability – I'd think this fits together without color attachments and the like if it weren't for flash fleeze. Make it blue. It is complex enough for an uncommon.
Balance – It'd be stuck in limited land which is fine. Not overly impressive, but reasonable.
Creative Writing – Straightforward and works overall.
Polish (4/5)
Challenge (2/2) – Fine here.
Quality (2/3) – The "in addition to its other types" clause should be before you talk of it's abilities, which contributes to why this feels clunky.
Total: 17.5/25
Creativity – Not sure I like combining constellation with snow permanents like this. The idea of offering lands a boost like this is neat.
Elegance – Flavour is somewhat lost on me. Took a couple of reads to really get to grips with what the card was trying to do.
Potential – I'm skeptical that there's a build for this but if there is Johnny will be the one looking for it. Timmy and Spike will just use Heartbeat of Spring of something.
Development (X/10) –
Viability – Works for green and at this rarity.
Balance – I don't see the need for hexproof, this isn't the sort of enchantment that players shouldn't be allowed to deal with.
Creative Writing – I sort of like the flavour text and name but I still don't fully get this card.
Polish –
Challenge (X/2) –
Quality (X/3) –
Total: X/25
Creativity – Snowfall looks like a nice mechanic idea. Otherwise the rest of card is fairly simple.
Elegance – The flavour is clear and the card looks straightforward and natural.
Potential – Likely limited all star. May see some constructed play given the colour neutrality.
Development (X/10) –
Viability – A traditionally blue card like this might need to a little costly to justify the effect becoming colourless. Rarity is fine.
Balance – Seems about right.
Creative Writing – The flavour is clear enough to merit the lack of flavour text. The name isn't what I would have chosen though.
Polish –
Challenge (X/2) –
Quality (X/3) –
Total: X/25
Creativity –
Elegance –
Potential –
Development (X/10) –
Viability –
Balance –
Creative Writing –
Polish –
Challenge (X/2) –
Quality (X/3) –
Total: X/25
Creativity – Using colours to decide what to untap is new.
Elegance – I get what it does and theme's make some sense.
Potential – Johnny will find an infinite combo, Spike might even get some good play off it.
Development (X/10) –
Viability – This card is blue in name only, and is probably unfair in nonblue decks as it'll cheaply and easily untap permanents, especially since snow lands are a thing. Multiple untapping on a stick probably makes this card rare.
Balance – I have my concerns, but it's probably just abour narrow enough to prevent being too broken.
Creative Writing – Nice name, nice flavour text.
Polish –
Challenge (X/2) –
Quality (X/3) –
Total: X/25
AliasBot
Design
Creativity – Somewhat reminiscent of Rimefeather Owl's last two abilities (and other cards involving ice counters), but very original nonetheless.
Elegance – Way too wordy to be understandable at a glance, but clear enough once you take the time to read it all. Admittedly, the wording has to be like that and there's no standard way to make it shorter.
Potential – Timmy is interested in this just as he is about any card that lets him ramp into his big monsters. Johnny likes the challenge this gives him: how do I take advantage of a lot of extra snow mana? Spike doesn't care.
Development
Viability – Perfect both in color and rarity. I can't see any problems here.
Balance – It's kind of like a Fertile Ground for all your lands, but needs more enchantments to work. Keeping that into account, three mana feels like it can be the right cost. It could probably have been just 2G though, especially since you need a lot of enchantments to get enough value out of this. I can't see myself playing this in limited, and neither in constructed unless I'm playing either some sort of weird combo deck or a deck with both a very high mana curve (so it needs all that extra mana) and enough enchantments. Those are very rare circumstances.
Creative Writing – It feels somewhat strange to have snow on Theros, but other than that the flavor would be fine here. The problem is that there shouldn't be any flavor text at all on this card, because there's no room for it, and MSE confirms this.
Polish
Challenge – Subchallenge 1 NOT met, as G and 1 are not snow mana symbols. Subchallenge 2 met.
Quality – Reminder text should be in italics (this is a serious mistake as it's very evident, very easy to correct and there's a big difference between rules text and reminder text so they should never get confused, one point deducted). There should be the reminder text (in addition to the mana the land produces.) after the ramp ability, (see Crypt Ghast and other cards, half a point deducted).
Design
Creativity – Keeping permanents tapped is a usual place to go with flavor about cold and snow. Snowfall is the real new part of the card, but after landfall and constellation it doesn't shine for originality.
Elegance – A bit wordy, but clear enough.
Potential – Timmy doesn't care. Johnny could try to do something with the snowfall ability, but probably not much. Spike is very interested as he sees pseudo-removal that can be moved to another creature, should a more dangerous creature enter the battlefield.
Development
Viability – This effect is supposed to be blue. There's been some bleed in white (Plumes of Peace, which is also blue) and green (Entangling Vines, which is considered a mistake by some, including me). I don't feel very good giving an effect like this to any color. Rarity looks fine.
Balance – An enhanced Claustrophobia that can be cast by any color but costs one mana more. It feels like a balanced cost, if not a little too low. Surely playable in limited. Only playable in constructed if you play a snow deck and you desperately need some extra removal, regardless of its quality.
Creative Writing – Name is good. No room for flavor text.
Polish
Challenge – Both met.
Quality – All good here.
Design
Creativity – I can't remember anything like this already existing. There have been cards that move +1/+1 counters, but not interacting with snow like this.
Elegance – The only problem in ease of understanding can be "play a snow card". Maybe not everyone realizes that both casting a snow spell and playing a snow land count. Other than that, everything's fine.
Potential – Timmy may be interested in a creature that can become very large if you just play enough snow spells or lands. Johnny thinks about ways to exploit the counter moving ability. Spike particularly appreciates that this triggers on snow lands too, but is not excited to have to play a snow deck (that means having potentially serious limitations in deckbuilding) to get full value out of this.
Development
Viability – It makes sense to have a snow creature playable by any color that grows with any other snow card you play. Rarity is fine, this can't certainly be any less than a rare.
Balance – Both costs looks balanced enough. Maybe this could have costed one mana more and still be playable. Very playable in limited. Only playable in constructed if you're playing a snow deck, but it's very good there.
Creative Writing – All good here.
Polish
Challenge – Subchallenge 1 NOT met, as 2 is not a snow mana symbol. Subchallenge 2 met.
Quality – "Snow" as a supertype in rules text should not be capitalized (see Ohran Yeti and other cards, half a point deducted).
Design
Creativity – A colorless card with an effect that cares about how many colors you play. Very original.
Elegance – All good here.
Potential – Timmy doesn't care. Johnny is very excited by this card, because of both the untap part and the challenge of maximizing the effect via deckbuilding and gameplay. Spike may be interested in untapping snow lands, but nothing more than that.
Development
Viability – This must be evalued as a colorless card, even if it's blue, because it can be cast with any color of mana (it's sort of the opposite of Ghostfire). I'm not sure I like to bleed untap out of blue, but at least this is limited by the number of colors you play and by requiring the snow supertype. I think this could have been better as a rare, as Bloom Tender is.
Balance – Costs look right. Having to play the most colors possible with a colorless card is a hidden additional cost, and that's a very good example of lenticular design, which is always hard to do right. Surely playable in limited, but I don't see this in constructed.
Creative Writing – It feels a little strange to see snow on Ravnica. Also, I don't know what the Ingheta is (Google didn't help either), but I guess it would be explained in the hypothetical set this comes from.
Polish
Challenge – Both met.
Quality – The word "Guilds" in the flavor text should not be capitalized (half a point 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.)