Learning development skills is nearly as important as design skills when designing custom sets. So this month we will be focusing on the limited environment instead of constructed.
ROUND 3 CHALLENGE: Scenario: The limited archetypes and common interactions are coming together really nicely. The constructed format also is looking very exciting, with the balance and interplay looking just right. However your play test data show that far too commonly the commons or uncommons are being first picked in draft, causing the format to lack depth. You don't have time to redesign the power level of all the commons/uncommons but you do have a few rare slots left to create some exciting cards for limited. However your aware that you don't want to either make the card too oppressive or make the card rock the boat for your standard format.
The Challenge: Design a non-legendary Rare Creature card that is FUN (for both players) and powerful in limited but is unlikely to see any play in standard. This should be a card that a player is happy to first pick over a common removal spell but won't be an uninteractive or unbeatable powerhouse like Spectra Ward, Pack Rat etc...
If your card relies on a specific environment please note that in your submission but be aware that making the card too reliant is generally a sign that the card may need a re-design.
When considering if the card will see play in standard, use the current standard format as you baseline.
The Card Creation League is a monthly contest in which players compete over six rounds. Each month has an overall theme and/or story, determined by that month's host.
Each round, the host will assign a card creation task to the players. This task may vary between teams or players.
The first three rounds are open to everyone who joined in during the 1st Round. After these rounds, the Top 2 players from each group will move on to semifinals. This implies that at the semifinal stage there will be 2*(Number_Of_Groups) contestants participating.
The groups are created randomly by the host, with a size of one group at most five contestants, and the number of groups at least four. Each round, each group critiques one other group it has not yet critiqued.
Those who advance to the semifinals are again divided into two groups composed evenly of group winners and runner-ups.
In the semifinals, the remaining players critique all entries in the other group, in the end Top 2 from each team advance, meaning there are four finalists.
The host will break any ties up to this point, by providing critiques for the contestants in question and judging appropriately.
The finals are decided by a public poll.
Submission and critique periods follow the schedule below.
For the first three rounds, players are divided into teams. Four teams is standard, but there may be more depending on the number of players. Each team will review another team's cards during the critique period of that round.
Each player must submit a full Ranking for the team he or she critiques at the end of each round. Last place is worth 1 points, each one higher is worth 1 point more. In a group of 4 players, the scores would be 4 points for the 1st place, 3 for 2nd, 2 for 3rd and 1 for 4th. This is only different from the previous 'Top 3' where you are judging a team with more than four players. These critiques are submitted in the same thread as the submissions for that round.
Additionally, each player can receive 4 bonus points per round. Two points are awarded for posting a full Ranking, and up to two points for providing critiques for that team's cards. Short comments are worth one, more in-depth notes are worth two. It is up to the host's impression to qualify the critiques as either type.
Suggested areas to critique include creativity, balance, printability, and relation to the overall theme or that player's previous cards.
Grading System:
Prior to Semifinals, players have a chance of getting a total of 100 points toward their score each Scoring Round. Scores for each Round are determined by the following equation:
Total points of Player A in round N = 100 * X/Y, where:
X = Total number of Scoring Points (Judge Points + Additional Points from Ranking & Critiques)
Y = Total number of Possible Points ( (Number of Contestants in Group - 1) * Number of Judges + Additional Points)
The final pre-Semifinal score is a mean of all previous scores.
More points for critiques if you do them well (previously 2, now up to 4).
We post a full ranking for the judged team, as opposed to the Top 3.
We have 5 rounds, first 3 of them are open, then 8-10 man semifinals and 4 man finals.
The Schedule is as follows:
1st-7th: Round 1. You can join in later (Round 2 or 3) freely, but of course you are at a severe handicap.
8th-12th: Round 2 and critiques for Round 1.
13th-17th: Round 3 and critiques for Round 2.
18th-20th: Critiques for Round 3.
21th-24th: Semifinals
25st-27th: Critiques for Semifinals.
28th-End of the month: Finals.
Next month's 1st-7th: Final public poll.
Deadline for submissions: 23:59 July 18 GMT+0
Deadline for critiques: 23:59 July 20 GMT+0
Don't forget to include critiques of the previous round's submissions.
The current scores will be up later this week....
TEAMS
Sorry for the delay I'm not 100% today. I'll update the other thread and OP in a few hours after I get some more rest
Team #1(who reviews team Team #4)
Koopa
CasualR
Freshmeat
CardLurd
Killer of Giants
Team #2(who reviews team Team #5)
Ninja Caterpie
Moss_Elemetnal
GenesisMan
Chemtrails
Mix Master Mikaeus
Team #3(who reviews team Team #6)
net10
glurman
Bravelion83
Ryder052 (Dropped)
Rithaniel
Team #4(who reviews team Team #7)
Badfiend
Asrama
SelesnyaNewLife
PsyOp
Tactical Celebrant
Team #5(who reviews team Team #1)
Prophylaxis
Folza
KoolKoal
Am Shegar
RaikouRider
Team #6(who reviews team Team #2)
Doomfish
scrad_the_wanderer
Eskimo_Rage
Charm_Master3125
willows
Team #7 (who reviews team Team #3)
Sagharri
Hemlock
Piar
Lef
Jimmy Groove
Janete, Cursed Angel2WW
Legendary Creature - Angel (R)
Flying
When Janete, Cursed Angel enters the battlefield, target opponent puts a legendary 5/5 black Demon creature token with flying named Mikal onto the battlefield. No matter how bright she shined, a darkness always loomed.
5/5
Magma Elemental5RG
Creature - Elemental (Rare)
Trample
When Magma Elemental enters the battlefield, return target nonland card chosen at random from your graveyard to your hand. Magma Elemental deals damage equal to that card's converted mana cost to target creature or player.
7/5
Despotic Vampire2B
Creature - Vampire (R)
Lifelink, flying B: Target creature you control gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Despotic Vampire gets +1/+1 until end of turn. “Their blood belongs to me, and I shall take it when I please.”
2/2
Bringer of Thousand Melodies5UU
Creature - Leviatan (Rare)
Hexproof
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player draw cards until he or she have seven cards in his or her hand. Its mere presence makes the young, calm and the monks of the Bodayan find true enlightenment.
5/5
Skullreaver5BB
Creature - Horror (R)
Skullreaver costs 1 less to cast for each creature card in your graveyard.
Flying
When Skullreaver enters the battlefield, target opponent reveals his or her hand. You choose a creature card from it. That player discards that card. Reveal your hand. Your opponent may choose a creature card from it. You discard that card.
5/5
Goldnight Archangel5WW
Creature — Angel (R)
Flying
When Goldnight Archangel enters the battlefield, you gain life equal to the total power of creatures you control. She’s the one who brings light to the night.
4/4
Master of Webs3GG
Creature — Spider (R)
Reach
Other creatures you control have reach.
Whenever a creature you control blocks a creature with flying, you may gain life equal to its toughness.
2/4
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.)
Whenever enchanted player casts a spell, that player loses 1 life.
At the beginning of each end step, if the enchanted player cast 2 or more spells that turn, put a relief counter on Scintillating Scotoma.
If there are 3 or more relief counters on Scintillating Scomota, the enchanted player may discard their hand. If they do, sacrifice Scintillating Scomota.
One must empty their mind to make the pain go away.
Botomless Keg Innkeeper2RR Creature - Human(R)
Haste
As long as each player controls a creature, each creature can't attack and has "T: This creature fights another target creature". Bottomless Keg competes for patrons not with other taverns but with an arena.
4/4
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Wizards can start putting booster packs inside dog poo and dog owners will still complain.
Abzan Reinforcer3G
Creature - Human Warrior (R)
Outlast G(G, T: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Outlast only as a sorcery.)
If one or more +1/+1 counters would be placed on a creature, twice that many +1/+1 counters are placed on that creature instead.
3/3
Hellish Undertaker3BBB
Creature - Demon (Rare)
Flying
Whenever Hellish Undertaker attacks, each player sacrifices a creature. Put a +1/+1 counter on Hellish Undertaker for each creature sacrificed this way.
4/4
Fellspawn Demon4BB
Creature - Demon (R)
Flying
Whenever Fellspawn Demon is dealt damage, put a 1/1 black Imp creature token with flying onto the battlefield. Heldon's blade struck true, but his pride turned to horror as the flesh he sloughed from the demon grew into another.
4/4
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
Buzeti, the All-Knowing6U
Legendary Creature - Sphinx (R)
Flying
You may look at the cards in your library.
If Buzeti, the All-Knowing would leave the battlefield, shuffle her into your library instead.
5/7
I read up about mesopotamian language (Sumeric) to try and find a fitting name for my card.
As always with these language experiments I learned lots of fun things and the name I ended up with sounds weird.
So, Buzeti is a made-up word from BUZUR, the god who discloses secrets and 'eti' which is a somewhat feminine suffix.
I hope that makes it less weird. From what I understood you'd pronounce the name 'Putsethi'.
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
Future-Echo Flameshaper3RR
Creature - Human Shaman (R)
Whenever Future-Echo Flameshaper attacks, shuffle your library, then reveal the top card. If the revealed card is a creature, put a token that's a copy of that creature onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. Exile that token at the beginning of the next end step. "I have gazed long into the fire. I have seen your fate. It wasn't pretty."
3/3
Barrow Conscriptor8WW
Creature - Kithkin Soldier (R)
Delve
When Barrow Conscriptor enters the battlefield, put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield for each creature card exiled with its delve ability.
3/3
Spirit of Lost Aeons1UU
Creature - Spirit (R)
Flying
When Spirit of Lost Aeons deals combat damage to a player, take an extra turn after this one and that player gains control of Spirit of the Lost Aeons. "When time thickens, no two drops fall at the same speed"
1/3
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Se murió Kung Fu
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ROUND 3 CHALLENGE:
Scenario: The limited archetypes and common interactions are coming together really nicely. The constructed format also is looking very exciting, with the balance and interplay looking just right. However your play test data show that far too commonly the commons or uncommons are being first picked in draft, causing the format to lack depth. You don't have time to redesign the power level of all the commons/uncommons but you do have a few rare slots left to create some exciting cards for limited. However your aware that you don't want to either make the card too oppressive or make the card rock the boat for your standard format.
The Challenge: Design a non-legendary Rare Creature card that is FUN (for both players) and powerful in limited but is unlikely to see any play in standard. This should be a card that a player is happy to first pick over a common removal spell but won't be an uninteractive or unbeatable powerhouse like Spectra Ward, Pack Rat etc...
If your card relies on a specific environment please note that in your submission but be aware that making the card too reliant is generally a sign that the card may need a re-design.
When considering if the card will see play in standard, use the current standard format as you baseline.
Each round, the host will assign a card creation task to the players. This task may vary between teams or players.
The first three rounds are open to everyone who joined in during the 1st Round. After these rounds, the Top 2 players from each group will move on to semifinals. This implies that at the semifinal stage there will be 2*(Number_Of_Groups) contestants participating.
The groups are created randomly by the host, with a size of one group at most five contestants, and the number of groups at least four. Each round, each group critiques one other group it has not yet critiqued.
Those who advance to the semifinals are again divided into two groups composed evenly of group winners and runner-ups.
In the semifinals, the remaining players critique all entries in the other group, in the end Top 2 from each team advance, meaning there are four finalists.
The host will break any ties up to this point, by providing critiques for the contestants in question and judging appropriately.
The finals are decided by a public poll.
Submission and critique periods follow the schedule below.
For the first three rounds, players are divided into teams. Four teams is standard, but there may be more depending on the number of players. Each team will review another team's cards during the critique period of that round.
Each player must submit a full Ranking for the team he or she critiques at the end of each round. Last place is worth 1 points, each one higher is worth 1 point more. In a group of 4 players, the scores would be 4 points for the 1st place, 3 for 2nd, 2 for 3rd and 1 for 4th. This is only different from the previous 'Top 3' where you are judging a team with more than four players. These critiques are submitted in the same thread as the submissions for that round.
Additionally, each player can receive 4 bonus points per round. Two points are awarded for posting a full Ranking, and up to two points for providing critiques for that team's cards. Short comments are worth one, more in-depth notes are worth two. It is up to the host's impression to qualify the critiques as either type.
Suggested areas to critique include creativity, balance, printability, and relation to the overall theme or that player's previous cards.
Grading System:
Prior to Semifinals, players have a chance of getting a total of 100 points toward their score each Scoring Round. Scores for each Round are determined by the following equation:
Total points of Player A in round N = 100 * X/Y, where:
X = Total number of Scoring Points (Judge Points + Additional Points from Ranking & Critiques)
Y = Total number of Possible Points ( (Number of Contestants in Group - 1) * Number of Judges + Additional Points)
The final pre-Semifinal score is a mean of all previous scores.
We post a full ranking for the judged team, as opposed to the Top 3.
We have 5 rounds, first 3 of them are open, then 8-10 man semifinals and 4 man finals.
1st-7th: Round 1. You can join in later (Round 2 or 3) freely, but of course you are at a severe handicap.
8th-12th: Round 2 and critiques for Round 1.
13th-17th: Round 3 and critiques for Round 2.
18th-20th: Critiques for Round 3.
21th-24th: Semifinals
25st-27th: Critiques for Semifinals.
28th-End of the month: Finals.
Next month's 1st-7th: Final public poll.
Deadline for submissions: 23:59 July 18 GMT+0
Deadline for critiques: 23:59 July 20 GMT+0
Don't forget to include critiques of the previous round's submissions.
The current scores will be up later this week....
TEAMS
Sorry for the delay I'm not 100% today. I'll update the other thread and OP in a few hours after I get some more rest
Team #1(who reviews team Team #4)
Koopa
CasualR
Freshmeat
CardLurd
Killer of Giants
Team #2(who reviews team Team #5)
Ninja Caterpie
Moss_Elemetnal
GenesisMan
Chemtrails
Mix Master Mikaeus
Team #3(who reviews team Team #6)
net10
glurman
Bravelion83
Ryder052 (Dropped)
Rithaniel
Team #4(who reviews team Team #7)
Badfiend
Asrama
SelesnyaNewLife
PsyOp
Tactical Celebrant
Team #5(who reviews team Team #1)
Prophylaxis
Folza
KoolKoal
Am Shegar
RaikouRider
Team #6(who reviews team Team #2)
Doomfish
scrad_the_wanderer
Eskimo_Rage
Charm_Master3125
willows
Team #7 (who reviews team Team #3)
Sagharri
Hemlock
Piar
Lef
Jimmy Groove
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Legendary Creature - Angel (R)
Flying
When Janete, Cursed Angel enters the battlefield, target opponent puts a legendary 5/5 black Demon creature token with flying named Mikal onto the battlefield.
No matter how bright she shined, a darkness always loomed.
5/5
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
Dropping
Giving out critiques for rounds 1 and 2.
Thank you for letting me know and for doing those final critiques.
Hopefully we will see you next month.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Creature - Elemental (Rare)
Trample
When Magma Elemental enters the battlefield, return target nonland card chosen at random from your graveyard to your hand. Magma Elemental deals damage equal to that card's converted mana cost to target creature or player.
7/5
Creature - Vampire (R)
Lifelink, flying
B: Target creature you control gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Despotic Vampire gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
“Their blood belongs to me, and I shall take it when I please.”
2/2
Host, December 2015: A Winter Wonderland? - R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL April 2014: A Game of Fate - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinal|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL December 2012: Spy Games - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL November 2010: The Perfect Crime - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL August 2009: A Commander's Journey: Signups|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
I've got tons of art from the web. Want art for a render? PM me! Want to create your own collection? Start here!
Creature - Leviatan (Rare)
Hexproof
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player draw cards until he or she have seven cards in his or her hand.
Its mere presence makes the young, calm and the monks of the Bodayan find true enlightenment.
5/5
Creature - Horror (R)
Skullreaver costs 1 less to cast for each creature card in your graveyard.
Flying
When Skullreaver enters the battlefield, target opponent reveals his or her hand. You choose a creature card from it. That player discards that card. Reveal your hand. Your opponent may choose a creature card from it. You discard that card.
5/5
Goldnight Archangel 5WW
Creature — Angel (R)
Flying
When Goldnight Archangel enters the battlefield, you gain life equal to the total power of creatures you control.
She’s the one who brings light to the night.
4/4
Creature — Spider (R)
Reach
Other creatures you control have reach.
Whenever a creature you control blocks a creature with flying, you may gain life equal to its toughness.
2/4
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.)
Enchantment - Aura Curse(R)
Enchant player
Whenever enchanted player casts a spell, that player loses 1 life.
At the beginning of each end step, if the enchanted player cast 2 or more spells that turn, put a relief counter on Scintillating Scotoma.
If there are 3 or more relief counters on Scintillating Scomota, the enchanted player may discard their hand. If they do, sacrifice Scintillating Scomota.
One must empty their mind to make the pain go away.
Creature - Human (R)
Haste
As long as each player controls a creature, each creature can't attack and has "T: This creature fights another target creature".
Bottomless Keg competes for patrons not with other taverns but with an arena.
4/4
Creature - Human Warrior (R)
Outlast G (G, T: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Outlast only as a sorcery.)
If one or more +1/+1 counters would be placed on a creature, twice that many +1/+1 counters are placed on that creature instead.
3/3
Creature - Demon (Rare)
Flying
Whenever Hellish Undertaker attacks, each player sacrifices a creature. Put a +1/+1 counter on Hellish Undertaker for each creature sacrificed this way.
4/4
I'm not too sure about this one, since I'm not following the Standard scene.
Infernal Dealer 3BB
Creature - Demon (R)
Flying
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player chooses one -
Creature - Demon (R)
Flying
Whenever Fellspawn Demon is dealt damage, put a 1/1 black Imp creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
Heldon's blade struck true, but his pride turned to horror as the flesh he sloughed from the demon grew into another.
4/4
You got 99 attackers but I'm blocking with 1.
The Winner is Judge | 7
This Winner is Also Judge | 6
Club Flamingo | Lots
Legendary Creature - Sphinx (R)
Flying
You may look at the cards in your library.
If Buzeti, the All-Knowing would leave the battlefield, shuffle her into your library instead.
5/7
As always with these language experiments I learned lots of fun things and the name I ended up with sounds weird.
So, Buzeti is a made-up word from BUZUR, the god who discloses secrets and 'eti' which is a somewhat feminine suffix.
I hope that makes it less weird. From what I understood you'd pronounce the name 'Putsethi'.
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
Creature - Human Shaman (R)
Whenever Future-Echo Flameshaper attacks, shuffle your library, then reveal the top card. If the revealed card is a creature, put a token that's a copy of that creature onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. Exile that token at the beginning of the next end step.
"I have gazed long into the fire. I have seen your fate. It wasn't pretty."
3/3
Creature - Kithkin Soldier (R)
Delve
When Barrow Conscriptor enters the battlefield, put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield for each creature card exiled with its delve ability.
3/3
Creature - Spirit (R)
Flying
When Spirit of Lost Aeons deals combat damage to a player, take an extra turn after this one and that player gains control of Spirit of the Lost Aeons.
"When time thickens, no two drops fall at the same speed"
1/3