Check out "The Lion's Lair", the article series where I specifically talk about custom card design with the intent to help new custom card designers get better at it. The article index is always updated with the latest content. #11 has been out for three days. Jeff quickly made a name for himself among Oreskos ranks. He was well known for being a valorous and selfless fighter. He refused promotion multiple times because he felt his place was among the troops, not among those who decided everything but didn't step foot in battle a single time. One day he was patrolling the surroundings with his boss, when at the side of the road they saw a dying human screaming: "For Heliod's sake, help me! Help me!" The boss told Jeff to proceed on their road, because the Leonin had no god to share with the humans, and that human was invoking a god's name. But Jeff replied: "I don't care about such details! He's suffering and I'm going to help him!" His boss replied: "Lionheart!" with a bit of sarcasm, "You're not going to do that! This is an order! If you disobey, I'll fight you as our enemy and King Brimaz will banish you from our land!" Jeff didn't care. He ran to the dying human and gave him a healing potion: "Here! This will heal you! Use it and then wait for me over there, behind those rocks!" Jeff's boss attacked him. After a long and exhausting battle, Jeff finally dealt the fatal strike to his boss. "What have I done!" he screamed, then he felt like passing out. He fell to the ground, eyes closed. After a few moments to regain control of himself, he opened his eyes, but he didn't recognize the place. "Where is my boss's body? Where are those rocks? And where is that stranger? Where am I?" Panicked by all those thoughts, he closed his eyes again, keeping his head into the palm of his hands. Then he reopened them and he was back on the land he knew. He saw the rocks. He ran towards them. The human behind was healed and waiting for him.
"Thanks! I don't know how I would have done without you! I'm a merchant and I've been robbed of all my goods. They escaped and left me dying on the road! What's your name, my savior?"
"My name is..." Jeff pondered for a moment how wise it was to tell him his real name. Then he thought he could trust him. He just saved his life after all, at the expense of his boss's one. "...Jeff Lionheart."
"You have the heart of a real lion indeed! I saw how you had to fight against your own companion to heal me."
"Yeah. But now I have no home. I can't go back to Oreskos. They'd see me as a traitor."
"Then come with me to my home! I'm from Meletis and I can be your host there! It's the least I can do for the one who saved my life!"
"Many thanks, but I think I just have to follow my own road. Anyway, what's your name, so that I could find a safe place in Meletis should I need it?"
"Just ask of Martin Hellanos! Everybody knows me in Meletis!"
"Do you need anything else, Martin?"
"No, thanks. You have already done more than enough for me!"
"Then you can go back to Meletis now. Maybe one day we'll see again!"
"I sure hope so! Thank you again, Jeff! I owe you my life!" screamed Martin as he disappeared into the horizon.
And there he was. Alone. He had that image of a different unknown landscape stuck in his mind. He travelled all of Theros during his long walks, and he didn't recognize that place. What could it be? Maybe there were other worlds beyond the one he knew? And now that he had no home on Theros, may one of them be his new home perhaps? One thing was for certain: "I don't belong here, not anymore. Where is my home? Where is my home now?" he screamed to the sky. He closed his eyes, and disappeared again.
Jeff, Champion of the Meek2WW
Legendary Creature - Cat Warrior (M)
Vigilance T: Another target blocking or blocked creature you control gains indestructible until end of turn. When that creature is dealt combat damage this turn, exile Jeff, then return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner’s control.
3/3
//
Jeff, the Free Spirit
((R/W)) Planeswalker - Jeff (M)
+1: Until your next turn, target creature can’t attack or block.
-2: Jeff, the Free Spirit deals 2 damage to target creature that attacked or blocked this turn.
-8: Creatures you control get +4/+0 and gain trample, vigilance, and indestructible until end of turn.
4
(The example card is only meant for clarity of this round's requirements, not for balance.)
Art 1: http://ruth-tay.deviantart.com/art/Lion-Warrior-111616144
Art 2: http://caananwhite.deviantart.com/art/LIONman-184810466 Main challenge: keeping the same character you used in the previous rounds, design a double-faced card in the style of the Origins planeswalkers (legendary creature on the front face, planeswalker on the back face) that shows your character's spark igniting. Please include a link to or a quote of your round 2 entry in your submission.
Keep in mind how they transform: you have to have them leave the battlefield and re-enter transformed, or find some other way to put loyalty counters on them before state-based actions are checked. If you just have them transform themselves directly, they won't have loyalty counters on them and they'll die! This won't be directly cause of DQ, but it will certainly affect judgments heavily.
Please don't include any notes. Posting any card-related notes will be cause of disqualification this month. Use only the flavor elements on the card itself to tell your character's story. Those are: card name, art (if you choose to make a render, in which case remember to give credit to the artist), subtypes, flavor text (in the creature side, because planeswalker cards don't have it), mechanical flavor (telling flavor through the card's mechanics).
Subchallenge 1: The front face (the legendary creature side) is exactly the same color(s) of your round 2 card.
Subchallenge 2: The back face (the planeswalker side) does not contain the word "emblem" in its rules text.
• For subchallenge 1, color identity does NOT count. It needs to have the same colors in the mana cost or in its color indicator.
• Subchallenge 1 only checks the front face of your double-faced card (the legendary creature side). The planeswalker on the back face can have additional colors, drop some colors, or even change colors completely. That may also be useful to tell your character's story. Of course, it can also just stay the same colors.
Design -
(X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card? (X/3) Elegance: Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development - (X/3) Viability: How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity? (X/3) Balance: Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity - (X/3) Uniqueness: Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel “fresh”? (X/3) Flavor: Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish - (X/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating. (X/2) *Main Challenge: Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge? (X/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Player deadline: Wednesday, July 22th 23:59 EDT
Judge deadline: Monday, July 27th 23:59 EDT
I allowed one extra day for both designs and judgings because of the difficulty of the round.
JUDGES
bravelion83
Piar
Ryder052
Tilwin
PLAYERS
Asrama
Awkward Squirtle
CasualR
CommanderZ (admitted to this round after Marco dropped, as he was the following player in that bracket from round 2, using round 1 scores as tiebreakers)
hopefulhawkeye Marco (dropped)
Moss_Elemental
netn10
Sagharri BRACKETS
bravelion83
Asrama vs Awkward Squirtle
hopefulhawkeye vs Moss_Elemental
Piar
CasualR vs CommanderZ
Asrama vs Awkward Squirtle
Ryder052
netn10 vs Sagharri
CasualR vs CommanderZ
Tilwin
netn10 vs Sagharri
hopefulhawkeye vs Moss_Elemental
Judges, happy judging! Please respect the deadline.
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.)
Hallowed KnightWW
Creature - Spirit Knight (Uncommon)
First strike
When Hallowed Knight enters the battlefield, you may put a creature card with converted mana cost 1 or less from your hand or graveyard onto the battlefield. His squires honors him long after they died. 2/2
Round 2:
Zeria, the Exalted Watcher4WW
Legendary Creature - Spirit Knight (Rare)
You may tap four untapped creatures you control with converted mana cost 1 or less rather than pay Zeria's mana cost. W, Tap an untapped creature you control with converted mana cost 1 or less: Zeria gains your choice of flying, first strike, vigilance or lifelink until end of turn. "My squires serves me as I serve them, for they chose me for their salvation."
4/4
Round 3
Zeria, the Exiled SquireW
Legendary Creature - Spirit Soldier (Mythic) W, T: Target creature you control with converted mana cost 2 or more gains your choice of flying, first strike, vigilance or lifelink until end of turn. When that creature deals combat damage to a player this turn, exile Zeria, then return him to the battlefield transformed under its owner's control. "I seek redemption, Thalia. Show me the path to glory, and I will aid you in everything that you need."
1/1
////////////////
Zeria, Glory-Born
Planeswaker (Color identity - White)
+1: Creatures you control with converted mana cost 1 or less gains your choice of flying, first strike, vigilance or lifelink until end of turn.
-X: Put X 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens onto the battlefield.
-1: Put a creature card with converted mana cost 1 or less from your hand or your graveyard onto the battlefield.
{3}
Gruul Brawler1RG
Creature - Human Warrior (U)
At the beginning of each end step, if Gruul Brawler fought another creature this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Gruul Brawler. "In the Gruul, you grow up fast or you don't grow at all."
- Feralt, Brawler Champion
3/2
Veltar, Brawling Mentor3RG
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior (R)
Creatures you control have "1R, t: This creature fights another target creature." 2G: Put a +1/+1 counter on each other creature you control that fought this turn.
4/4
Veltar, Wandering Fighter2RG
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior (M) RG: Veltar, Wandering Fighter fights target creature you don't control. If Veltar has dealt damage to two or more creatures this turn, exile him, then return him to the battlefield transformed and under his owner's control.
4/4
// Veltar, Fists of Fury
((R/G)) Planeswalker - Veltar (M)
[+1]: Veltar, Fists of Stone deals 3 damage to target creature.
[-2]: Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. That creature fights target creature you don't control.
[-6]: Until your next turn, Veltar, Fists of Fury becomes a 6/6 Human Warrior creature with indestructible and "2: Veltar, Fists of Fury fights target creature." (He doesn't lose loyalty while he's not a planeswalker.)
[3]
Shipwreck Looter1U
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
Whenever Shipwreck Looter deals combat damage to a player, plunder 1 (to plunder 1, exile the top card of target player’s library. You may put a plundered card into its owner’s graveyard at any time to add 1 to your mana pool)
Put two cards you plundered into their owners’ graveyards: Draw a card, then discard a card.
1/2
Glint-Eye, Sky Raider3UU
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (M)
Flying
When Glint-Eye, Sky Raider deals damage to a player, plunder 2. (to plunder 2, exile the top two card of target player’s library. You may put a plundered card into its owner’s graveyard at any time to add 1 to your mana pool)
Put X cards you plundered into their owner’s graveyard: Search target player’s library for an artifact card with converted mana cost X and put it onto the battlefield under your control. That player then shuffles his or her library. Play this ability only once each turn.
4/4
So far: Glint-Eye, Dread Captain3BU
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (M)
Whenever Glint-Eye, Dread Captain or another pirate you control deals combat damage to a player, plunder 2. Then, if you have seven or more plundered cards, exile Glint-Eye then return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner’s control. (To plunder 2, exile the top two card of target player’s library. You may put a plundered card into its owner’s graveyard at any time to add 1 to your mana pool)
3/3
/////////
Arnaut Glint-Eye, Buccaneer
Planeswalker - Arnaut (M)
+1 You gain an emblem with “Whenever one or more creature you control deals combat damage to a player, plunder 1.”
-2 Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the the amount of plundered cards you have. Put one into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library.
-8 Target player loses X life and you draw X cards, where X is the the amount of plundered cards you have owned by that player.
5
Regretfully I am bowing out of this round. Good luck to the participants.
Thanks for letting me know!
CommanderZ is officially admitted to round 3 in Marco's spot as repechage, to avoid having an odd number of players (which would make preparing judging brackets really difficult if not impossible, I know because I tried). He was the following player in that bracket from round 2, using round 1 scores as tiebreakers.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016 DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for: "Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index.Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
Deckhand RascalR
Creature - Human Pirate (Uncommon)
Haste Unity - If you control two or more creatures that share a type with ~, it gets +1/+1 and has menace. "Someday I'll be captain of this ship! I will be the great terror of the skies!"
1/1
Art Direction: A young bandanna-ed pirate hanging from the riggings of an Airship, looking towards the horizon.
Anara, Pirate Queen4RR
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (Rare)
First strike, menace
Whenever Anara, Pirate Queen enters the battlefield, put two 1/1 red Pirate creature tokens with menace onto the battlefield.
Whenever a Pirate you control deals combat damage to a player, gain control of target artifact that player controls. (This effect lasts indefinitely.)
4/4
Anara, Dauntless Captain1RR
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (Mythic)
Menace
Whenever a nontoken Pirate creature you control attacks, put a red 1/1 red Pirate creature token with menace onto the battlefield tapped and attacking.
Whenever another Pirate creature you control dies, exile Anara, Dauntless Captain, then return her to the battlefield transformed.
3/3
----
Anara, Vengeant Queen
( ) Planeswalker - Anara (Mythic)
+1 Until your next turn, creatures you control get +1/+0 and gain first strike
-2 Put two 1/1 black and red Skeleton Pirate creature tokens with haste and menace onto the battlefield.
-8 Untap and gain control of all nonland permanents. They gain haste until end of turn. Sacrifice all permanents you don't own at the beginning of your next end step.
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.)
Judgments are up! Sorry again for how close to the deadline these are, but please do bring up any comments/concerns in the discussion thread and I'll be happy to respond to them. Both brackets were super tight this round. The competition is at a very high level right now. Pretty exciting!
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Spike and Timmy both get a kick out of this one. Spike because it's efficient and allows for skill-testing outplays, Timmy because of the incredibly powerful ultimate. Johnny isn't too enthused, as this card doesn't give him many ways to express himself (through mechanics at least).
(2.5/3) Elegance: Anara meshes together really well. The skeleton Pirates are such a clever and fun touch, but two different tokens that do the same thing made by the same card isn't ideal. Menace is a really smart motif for a pirate queen.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: All the abilities look red on first glance. I do notice though that the ultimate allows mono-red to kill enchantments. Granted, Anara's ult probably just means the game is over regardless, but that's one of red's major weaknesses. Rarity is correct.
(3/3) Balance: Limited bomb, and will see just as much if not more play than Brimaz, King of Oreskos in constructed formats. Ironically, I can see situations where you'd rather have the creature side out and the opponent kills a pirate to force you to transform. That's a good balance check to give the opponent some recourse. I could certainly see people clamoring to build an Anara deck with a critical mass of pirates in a set. Nothing she does is game-breaking though.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: We've not yet seen a pirate lord before (Although Gerrard Capashen is the epitome of swashbuckling.), but the mechanics are all very reminiscent of recent cards. The front side looks a lot like Monastery Mentor, the transform trigger is more-narrow Liliana, Heretical Healer trigger, the +1 looks like Rally the Forces, the -2 looks like supercharged Dragon Fodder, and the -8 is a larger-scale Tibalt ultimate. Nothing really new here, but maybe that's for the best - complexity is still a concern for cards like this despite being mythics.
(3/3) Flavor: Anara has really solid flavor. She's Dauntless and brings along her bad-buddies, but when she sees one of her own fall she ignites and is no longer Dauntless. Instead she seeks vengeance for her fallen shipmates.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: Missing a period at the end of the +1 ability.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Anara is intact.
(1/2) Subchallenges: No emblem, but she's gained a color.
Total: 19.5/25
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike has opportunities for outplays. Timmy gets to experience Arbarad's power. Johnny has some interesting triggers and tools to work with, but it isn't terribly expressive for him.
(3/3) Elegance: Arbarad certainly has a theme going on. He board sweeps a lot! Having a motif to work with really goes a long way with cards like this, and you've picked a fascinating one. The synergies between the ultimate and the other abilities is really clever too.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Everything about Arbarad is white, and abundantly fair. Mythic is the only rarity option.
(2.5/3) Balance: The stats of Brimaz, with the wrath threat of False Prophet. If Arbarad always transformed I'd be concerned about him being too strong, but the condition of having another creature die alongside him makes for a very interesting tension. Mental playtests suggest he's pushed for Standard, and could be a little broken there if he has the right cards supporting him. He's too expensive to be overpowered in eternal formats. Limited bomb for sure, but that's mythics for you.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: There's some precedent to what Arbarad is about - False Prophet, Mageta the Lion, and Sunblast Angel. For a long time though, the closest we've gotten to a character like this was Elspeth.
(3/3) Flavor: Both names are fine, and the flavor elements seem to resonate pretty well. He'd need good art, but I can see him being a hit with the Vorthos crowd.
Polish -
(1.5/3) Quality: "non-Legendary" should be "nonlegendary". There's a typo semicolon at the end of the -7 ability. Also, it's missing the legendary type.
(0/2) *Main Challenge: Arbarad is still on-theme. Edit: Unfortunately, he doesn't have the legendary type, which is the primary requirement of the main challenge.
(1/2) Subchallenges: Same colors, but has an emblem.
Total: 20.0/25 DQ for not meeting main challenge.
CasualR - 19.5
CommanderZ - 20.0 DQ for not meeting main challenge.
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Timmy gets the experience of a Pirate planeswalker's spark igniting. Spike likes that he has control over when Glint-Eye transforms and can use it to his advantage. Johnny doesn't have a whole lot of expressing going on.
(3/3) Elegance: Everything fits together very nicely and we see Arnaut really likes to plunder things. Inbuilt synergies make him look exciting and fun on first blush.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: Plunder and the rest of the mechanics are solidly UB, though plunder's mana acceleration seems a bit out of color. The only concern rules-wise is that having seven plundered cards means you can have 7 whenever you like as a huge burst. That's actually terrifying. Mythic is the obvious (and correct) rarity.
(2.5/3) Balance: Considering how powerful plunder actually would be, five mana for a 3/3 seems pretty appropriate here. Players will certainly still try to play Pirates in any environment they can play him in. It's possible he plunders too much and breaks formats, but I think he's answerable and formats would have balances in place to make plunder fair.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: We've yet to see a Treasure-seeking Pirate Lord (though Gerrard Capashen is quite a swashbuckler). Plunder is new, but each of the planeswalker abilities are things we've basically seen before. That said, there isn't much design space for planeswalkers so that's not much of a surprise.
(3/3) Flavor: Names seem spot on. No room for flavor text, but the flavor still comes together very well. Smart to go with the popular Pirate trope.
Polish -
(1/3) Quality: The reminder text for plunder 2 says "card" instead of "cards." There's also no final period in that reminder text. In the -2 ability, "the amount of cards" should be "the number of cards". Pirate should be capitalized. The emblem needs to be plural.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Here we see Glint-Eye in fantastic form.
(0/2) Subchallenges: Neither subchallenge was met.
Total: 18.0/25
Design -
(3/3) Appeal: Nice job here. Timmy gets to experience either a growing creature or a spark-ignition moment. Johnny gets to have a sac outlet to express clever shenanigans. Spike gets to prove his skill by knowing when to transform (or not).
(2/3) Elegance: A couple of awkward wording moments that break the reading groove - Specifically the transform conditional. The card as a whole makes sense, flavor & mechanics work pretty well together.
Development -
(1.5/3) Viability: Everything about this card is solidly black. The -2 ability has some rules ambiguity that concerns me. "Until your next turn" doesn't specify when the effect lasts until. Note for example that detain reminder text says "until the start of your next turn" which would be preferable here. Rarity is marked correctly.
(3/3) Balance: Limited isn't much of a concern here, this being a mythic, but it'd play fine there. Standard would probably try to make Morghul work. Interestingly, Morghul plays really well in multiples since his planeswalker side will gradually kill itself, and also provides fuel for another untransformed version. It doesn't seem like it'd break any formats.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: We haven't seen something quite like this, but all the abilities feel like things we've seen even though we haven't - I think that's a good thing. The variable starting loyalty is a fascinating mechanic.
(2.5/3) Flavor: The name of the planeswalker side didn't make sense to me, until I considered that he's devouring his own spark. Even so, that should be more clear with a different name. I definitely see the "Fallen Remnant" in him, which is pleasing to Vorthos.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: Templating concern: "transform him if he's not a planeswalker" could be templated more cleanly. I'd recommend the exile + return transformed standard set by the Origins Five. Or a separate trigger "When ~ transforms..."
(2/2) *Main Challenge: It's Morghul.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Same color, no emblem.
Fallen RemnantB
Creature — Spirit (C)
Fallen Remnant enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each other creature you control named Fallen Remnant and each card named Fallen Remnant in your graveyard. Legends tell of the hero Artas, who slew the Fallen King and cut his soul into a thousand pieces so he may never rise again.
1/1
Morghul, the Risen King4BB
Legendary Creature — Spirit (M)
When Morghul, the Risen King enters the battlefield, exile all creature cards from your graveyard, then sacrifice all other creatures you control. Put all cards exiled this way onto the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may reveal Morghul from your hand. If you do, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.
4/4
Morghul, Eater of Souls2BB
Legendary Creature — Spirit (M)
Sacrifice another creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on Morghul, Eater of Souls. Then, you may remove all +1/+1 counters from Morghul. If you do, transform him if he's not a planeswalker, then put that many loyalty counters on him. His hunger will not be sated until he consumes the source of the power that once felled him, and makes that power his own.
3/3
//
Morghul, Spark Devourer
(B) Planeswalker — Morghul (M)
-1: Each player sacrifices a creature or planeswalker. If a player can’t, that player loses 4 life.
-2: Until your next turn, whenever one or more creature cards are put into a graveyard from anywhere for the first time each turn, put up to one of those cards onto the battlefield under your control.
-8: Destroy all creatures, then return each card put into a graveyard this way to the battlefield under your control.
0
Shipwreck Looter1U
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
Whenever Shipwreck Looter deals combat damage to a player, plunder 1 (to plunder 1, exile the top card of target player’s library. You may put a plundered card into its owner’s graveyard at any time to add 1 to your mana pool)
Put two cards you plundered into their owners’ graveyards: Draw a card, then discard a card.
1/2
Glint-Eye, Sky Raider3UU
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (M)
Flying
When Glint-Eye, Sky Raider deals damage to a player, plunder 2. (to plunder 2, exile the top two card of target player’s library. You may put a plundered card into its owner’s graveyard at any time to add 1 to your mana pool)
Put X cards you plundered into their owner’s graveyard: Search target player’s library for an artifact card with converted mana cost X and put it onto the battlefield under your control. That player then shuffles his or her library. Play this ability only once each turn.
4/4
So far: Glint-Eye, Dread Captain3BU
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (M)
Whenever Glint-Eye, Dread Captain or another pirate you control deals combat damage to a player, plunder 2. Then, if you have seven or more plundered cards, exile Glint-Eye then return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner’s control. (To plunder 2, exile the top two card of target player’s library. You may put a plundered card into its owner’s graveyard at any time to add 1 to your mana pool)
3/3
/////////
Arnaut Glint-Eye, Buccaneer
Planeswalker - Arnaut (M)
+1 You gain an emblem with “Whenever one or more creature you control deals combat damage to a player, plunder 1.”
-2 Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the the amount of plundered cards you have. Put one into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library.
-8 Target player loses X life and you draw X cards, where X is the the amount of plundered cards you have owned by that player.
5
Deckhand RascalR
Creature - Human Pirate (Uncommon)
Haste Unity - If you control two or more creatures that share a type with ~, it gets +1/+1 and has menace. "Someday I'll be captain of this ship! I will be the great terror of the skies!"
1/1
Art Direction: A young bandanna-ed pirate hanging from the riggings of an Airship, looking towards the horizon.
Anara, Pirate Queen4RR
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (Rare)
First strike, menace
Whenever Anara, Pirate Queen enters the battlefield, put two 1/1 red Pirate creature tokens with menace onto the battlefield.
Whenever a Pirate you control deals combat damage to a player, gain control of target artifact that player controls. (This effect lasts indefinitely.)
4/4
Anara, Dauntless Captain1RR
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (Mythic)
Menace
Whenever a nontoken Pirate creature you control attacks, put a red 1/1 red Pirate creature token with menace onto the battlefield tapped and attacking.
Whenever another Pirate creature you control dies, exile Anara, Dauntless Captain, then return her to the battlefield transformed.
3/3
----
Anara, Vengeant Queen
( ) Planeswalker - Anara (Mythic)
+1 Until your next turn, creatures you control get +1/+0 and gain first strike
-2 Put two 1/1 black and red Skeleton Pirate creature tokens with haste and menace onto the battlefield.
-8 Untap and gain control of all nonland permanents. They gain haste until end of turn. Sacrifice all permanents you don't own at the beginning of your next end step.
4
Advocate of Iharem1W
Creature - Human Cleric (R)
White sorcery spells you cast cost WW less to cast. “As Iharem’s patience runs out, the judgment day draws ever nearer.”
1/1
Arbarad, Prophet of Iharem2WW
Legendary Creature - Human Cleric (M)
When Arbarad enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a white sorcery card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
Whenever you cast a white sorcery spell, white creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn.
2/4
Arbarad, Envoy of Iharem3WW
Creature - Human Cleric (M)
Vigilance
When Arbarad dies, if another creature you control died this turn, return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner's control. If you do, destroy each creature that dealt damage this turn.
3/4
Arbarad, Avatar of Iharem
(W) Planeswalker - Arbarad (M)
[+1]: Up to one target creature gains vigilance and indestructible until your next turn.
[-3]: Return to the battlefield all non-Legendary creature cards in your graveyard that were put there from the battlefield this turn.
[-7]: You get an emblem with "2WW: Destroy all creatures.";
[4]
Status: judging complete. Not final until deadline.
Check out "The Lion's Lair", the article series where I specifically talk about custom card design with the intent to help new custom card designers get better at it. The article index is always updated with the latest content.
Note - When I say "#N in MOQX", it means: this is the mistake number N in my "Mark of Quality, part X" article.
Challenges: what counts is always the letter of the law.
Quality: half a point deducted for any error in templating, wording, spelling, or grammar, no matter how little they may be; a whole point for particularly serious errors.
No complaints unless I got something objectively wrong.
Shipwreck Looter1U
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
Whenever Shipwreck Looter deals combat damage to a player, plunder 1 (to plunder 1, exile the top card of target player’s library. You may put a plundered card into its owner’s graveyard at any time to add 1 to your mana pool)
Put two cards you plundered into their owners’ graveyards: Draw a card, then discard a card.
1/2
Glint-Eye, Sky Raider3UU
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (M)
Flying
When Glint-Eye, Sky Raider deals damage to a player, plunder 2. (to plunder 2, exile the top two card of target player’s library. You may put a plundered card into its owner’s graveyard at any time to add 1 to your mana pool)
Put X cards you plundered into their owner’s graveyard: Search target player’s library for an artifact card with converted mana cost X and put it onto the battlefield under your control. That player then shuffles his or her library. Play this ability only once each turn.
4/4
So far: Glint-Eye, Dread Captain3BU
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (M)
Whenever Glint-Eye, Dread Captain or another pirate you control deals combat damage to a player, plunder 2. Then, if you have seven or more plundered cards, exile Glint-Eye then return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner’s control. (To plunder 2, exile the top two card of target player’s library. You may put a plundered card into its owner’s graveyard at any time to add 1 to your mana pool)
3/3
/////////
Arnaut Glint-Eye, Buccaneer
Planeswalker - Arnaut (M)
+1 You gain an emblem with “Whenever one or more creature you control deals combat damage to a player, plunder 1.”
-2 Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the the amount of plundered cards you have. Put one into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library.
-8 Target player loses X life and you draw X cards, where X is the the amount of plundered cards you have owned by that player.
5
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - The great flavor of a Pirate planeswalker makes Timmy like this, but I'm not sure it's a perfect fit mechanically. Johnny may try to use this in a milling deck or more probably to look for combo pieces with the planeswalker side's abilities. Spike likes having access to additional mana and cards. (3/3) Elegance - Cards like these are inherently wordy and complex, so I'm going to be a bit more generous than usual here. In this case, with that premise, I see nothing wrong here.
Development (3/3) Viability - All abilities make sense in blue/black, and also Pirates as a class make sense in this color combination. Rarity is obviously right (I expect to say this a lot this time!). (2.5/3) Balance - Obvious limited bomb. This looks balanced in that it doesn't look too easy to transform, but not too hard either. I think this may see play in some blue/black control deck in Standard too, mainly because the last two abilities of Arnaut planeswalker look something such a deck would love to have. I don't see particular problems in casual or multiplayer. Getting plundered for a lot of cards might be a bit unfun to some players, but as a mythic, I don't think this would be too big of a problem.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - Interacting in all possible ways with plunder makes this card gain full points here. (2/3) Flavor - Names and card concept are very good, but there's no room for flavor text in the creature side. The only thing I don't get clearly from the card is the story going on in the exact moment Arnaut's spark ignites. Does his spark ignite because of a particular hard loot to obtain? I'd like to know more of his story in that moment, but that's hard to do in a card without flavor text. Anyway, it's a good thing that the card leaves me wanting to know more of his story.
Polish (0/3) Quality - In the front face's triggered ability, in "another pirate you control", the word "pirate" should be capitalized, because it's a creature type (#11 in MOQ1, half a point deducted). A period is missing at the end of the reminder text for plunder (half a point deducted). Colons are missing in all activated abilities of the planeswalker side, and this is technically a functional mistake, because an activated ability without a colon is no longer an activated ability in the rules (half a point deducted). A player "gets" emblems, not "gains" (half a point deducted). In the emblem, the word "creature" should be plural and the verb conjugated accordingly ("one or more creatures you control deal combat damage", half a point deducted). "In any order" or "in a random order" is missing at the end of the -2 ability (half a point deducted). In the -8 ability, "where X is the the amount..." (half a point deducted). Seven times half a point makes 3.5 points, but the maximum I can deduct here is 3 points, so that's what I'm doing. (2/2) Main Challenge - The character evolution is evident. (0/2) Subchallenges - I think it's the first time ever I've got to give a zero here. The front face is blue/black, while the round 2 card was monoblue. The back face gives an emblem as its +1 ability.
Fallen RemnantB
Creature — Spirit (C)
Fallen Remnant enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each other creature you control named Fallen Remnant and each card named Fallen Remnant in your graveyard. Legends tell of the hero Artas, who slew the Fallen King and cut his soul into a thousand pieces so he may never rise again.
1/1
Morghul, the Risen King4BB
Legendary Creature — Spirit (M)
When Morghul, the Risen King enters the battlefield, exile all creature cards from your graveyard, then sacrifice all other creatures you control. Put all cards exiled this way onto the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may reveal Morghul from your hand. If you do, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.
4/4
Morghul, Eater of Souls2BB
Legendary Creature — Spirit (M)
Sacrifice another creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on Morghul, Eater of Souls. Then, you may remove all +1/+1 counters from Morghul. If you do, transform him if he's not a planeswalker, then put that many loyalty counters on him. His hunger will not be sated until he consumes the source of the power that once felled him, and makes that power his own.
3/3
//
Morghul, Spark Devourer
(B) Planeswalker — Morghul (M)
-1: Each player sacrifices a creature or planeswalker. If a player can’t, that player loses 4 life.
-2: Until your next turn, whenever one or more creature cards are put into a graveyard from anywhere for the first time each turn, put up to one of those cards onto the battlefield under your control.
-8: Destroy all creatures, then return each card put into a graveyard this way to the battlefield under your control.
0
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes flavorful planeswalkers. I don't see much for Johnny to do, the "for the first time each turn" kind of limits him, but at least he can use this as a sacrifice outlet. Spike likes this: easy enough to transform, and he can somewhat protect himself with his -1. (2.5/3) Elegance - Cards like these are inherently wordy and complex, so I'm going to be a bit more generous than usual here. In this case, with that premise, I see nothing particularly bad here, just a few necessary wordings that can leave less experienced players perplex, mainly "if he's not a planeswalker" (necessary to prevent him from returning a creature if you activate the transforming ability multiple times in response to one another) and "up to one of those cards".
Development (2.5/3) Viability - These are all things black can definitely do. Rarity is obviously right. There is an unwritten rule of design this card might technically break, and that's that if you activate the transforming ability twice or more in response to each other, the first instance to resolve will transform Morghul, remove all +1/+1 counters and put a number of loyalty counters on him. Then, the following instances of the ability will do as much as they can and they won't transform Morghul, because of the "if he's not a planeswalker" clause, but they will still put each a +1/+1 counter on him and then ask you "do you want to turn this counter into a loyalty counter?", to which any conscious Magic player will answer yes, but if you answer no for any reason, you'll have a planeswalker with both loyalty counters AND +1/+1 counters on him, thus breaking the unwritten rule that says that there shouldn't be multiple types of counters on a permanent. Now, this is very unlikely to happen, as it requires a player not paying sufficient attention to what they're doing, but it's still technically possible. (2.5/3) Balance - The more creatures you sacrifice to him before he transforms, the stronger he is as a planeswalker. This looks balanced enough, but it may be very strong (maybe too strong?) with token strategies. Put a lot of token onto the battlefield as quickly as you can, then cast Morghul, sacrifice a lot of tokens to him and make the last one transform him immediately. It costs you card advantage, but it may be worth it. Anyway, limited bomb as most planeswalkers, and if that interactions with tokens proves strong enough it may see Standard play. In multiplayer, he gets even stronger, because the "until your next turn" lasts more and because there are more creatures to hit with the ultimate. I don't see big problems in casual.
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - The ultimate is a bit similar to the one of Sorin, Lord of Innistrad, but other than that it's good here. The transformation involving +1/+1 counters changing to loyalty counters also gives this points here. (3/3) Flavor - Names and flavor text are very good. The name "Spark Devourer" makes a lot of sense with his -1 ability.
Polish (3/3) Quality - All good here. (2/2) Main Challenge - The character evolution is evident. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Treetop ForagerG
Creature - Elf (U)
Treetop Forager can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.
Whenever Treetop Forager deals combat damage to a player add G to your mana pool during your postcombat main phase.
(1/1)
Eagon, the Hoarder3GG
Legendary Creature - Elf Shaman (R)
Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)
Whenever a Forest enters the battlefield under your control you may have it enter the battlefield tapped instead, if you do, Eagon, the Hoarder gets +2/+2 and trample until end of turn. "A fat Elf? Now I've seen it all...."
-Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen
4/5
Eagon, Sylvan Gatherer1GG
Legendary Creature – Elf Shaman (M)
: Add two mana in any combination of colors to your mana pool.
If your mana pool contains at least one mana of each color, exile Eagon, then return him to the battlefield transformed.
(2/2)
// Eagon, Paradise Gargantua
Planeswalker – Eagon (M)
Eagon, Paradise Gargantua is all colors.
(+2) Eagon, Paradise Gargantua becomes a 6/6 Elf Giant until end of turn. Prevent all damage that would be dealt to him this turn.
(-2) Destroy target noncreature permanent.
(-5) Add WUBRG to your mana pool.
(4)
Design (2/3) Appeal - Timmy likes flavorful planeswalkers, and he also likes to turn him into a 6/6 that takes no damage. Johnny likes the challenge to assemble all five colors of mana in your pool and might try to do something with the mana producing ability. Spike isn't impressed by the planeswalker side, that doesn't protect himself, and the transforming condition also might be a bit too much of a hoop to jump through. (1.5/3) Elegance - Cards like these are inherently wordy and complex, so I'm going to be a bit more generous than usual here. In this case, even with that premise, caring about mana while it's still in your pool is a concept less experienced players will definitely have a hard time with. Many beginners or less experienced player might and probably will wrongly understand that it transforms if you control a land of each basic land type. The mana pool is an advanced concept in Magic. Elvish Mystic is more comprehensible to those players because they might see it as "I can use it just like a Forest".
Development (3/3) Viability - Everything we've got here is something green can do, even though that +2 animation ability feels more white than green, but it's probably just because of the similarity to Gideon's marquee ability that's been on all his planeswalker cards (Gideon Jura, Gideon, Champion of Justice, and Gideon, Battle-Forged). In the end green can animate lands, so I guess it's still acceptable for it to do so on a planeswalker too (even if that permanent is all colors in theory, but you still cast it using only green mana). Rarity is obviously right. (2.5/3) Balance - The transforming condition may make this a bit hard to transform in limited, as you practically have to build a three-colored deck, or at least a two-colored deck with a splash, because you have to add three colors of mana to your pool via lands and you can use the creature side's activated ability to get the other two colors you miss. This is easier to do in a multicolored environment, like lastly seen in KTK, and is way harder in a environment that somehow favors monocolor (Shadowmoor comes to mind). So in the end, Eagon's playability will depend on the environment he finds himself within more than usual, and this is true for both limited and constructed. In constructed, a bigger number of dual lands available helps. Once you transform him, he kind of feels like a utility planeswalker, even his ultimate is not a true ultimate, but a pseudo-mana ability (if I remember well the rules, loyalty abilities are never mana abilities). Becoming a 6/6 that takes no damage as a plus ability is strong though, and the lack on indestructible is probably what made possible for you to make that a plus ability. In the end, if you animate him, than I can still Murder him with no problems, while I can't do that on the various versions of Gideon. I see no particular problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - I can't remember anything already existing caring about having one mana of each color in your mana pool like this. I can't either remember a planeswalker caring about all five colors like this. (1.5/3) Flavor - Names are fine, no flavor text on the creature side to judge.
Polish (1.5/3) Quality - In the front face, the "if" should be "when", as it's clearly meant to be a triggered ability (half a point deducted). The planeswalker side should not have the text "is all colors", but it should have a five colored color indicator (see the Oracle text of Transguild Courier, half a point deducted). In the +2 ability, the word "creature" is missing ("becomes a 6/6 Elf Giant creature...", half a point deducted. (2/2) Main Challenge - The character evolution is evident. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Gruul Brawler1RG
Creature - Human Warrior (U)
At the beginning of each end step, if Gruul Brawler fought another creature this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Gruul Brawler. "In the Gruul, you grow up fast or you don't grow at all."
- Feralt, Brawler Champion
3/2
Veltar, Brawling Mentor3RG
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior (R)
Creatures you control have "1R, t: This creature fights another target creature." 2G: Put a +1/+1 counter on each other creature you control that fought this turn.
4/4
Veltar, Wandering Fighter2RG
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior (M) RG: Veltar, Wandering Fighter fights target creature you don't control. If Veltar has dealt damage to two or more creatures this turn, exile him, then return him to the battlefield transformed and under his owner's control.
4/4
// Veltar, Fists of Fury
((R/G)) Planeswalker - Veltar (M)
[+1]: Veltar, Fists of Stone deals 3 damage to target creature.
[-2]: Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. That creature fights target creature you don't control.
[-6]: Until your next turn, Veltar, Fists of Fury becomes a 6/6 Human Warrior creature with indestructible and "2: Veltar, Fists of Fury fights target creature." (He doesn't lose loyalty while he's not a planeswalker.)
[3]
Design (2/3) Appeal - Timmy likes flavorful planeswalkers, and he loves one that screams to him: fight. Fight! FIGHT! I don't see that much for Johnny to do here honestly (I may be wrong though, as a Johnny is the only thing I am not). Spike likes this, you transform him using a removal ability, and once transformed he gives you even more removal. He protects himself very well. (3/3) Elegance - Cards like these are inherently wordy and complex, so I'm going to be a bit more generous than usual here. In this case, with that premise, I see nothing wrong here.
Development (3/3) Viability - Fight is red and green, dealing direct damage is red, pumping creatures before making them fight is green, and the ultimate is again an animation ability (they must be popular, there are a lot of them this round). As I mentioned in my judgment of hopefulhawkeye's card, which uses an animation ability too, this ability feels more white than green, but that's probably just due to the fact that such an ability is Gideon's thing. In the end, Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker also animates himself, even though in a slightly different way, so at least it's something red can certainly do. Indestructible is green anyway, and having him gain yet another fight ability when he animates himself definitely helps making the ultimate feel good in those colors. Rarity is obviously right. (3/3) Balance - This is a limited bomb, and I'm certain this would totally see a lot of constructed play, as all abilities are removal and he protects himself in a really excellent way. Then, when the way is clear, just turn him into a 6/6 and smash your opponent's face with him. What more could you want from a planeswalker in constructed? Probably not just in Standard, someone might try to make this work in Modern, and I think they might succeed. Definitely playable in casual, even though repeatable removal can get into slightly unfun territory. I think this gets weaker in multiplayer, as there will be more damage to be dealt via burn or fighting because there are more creatures, but that's not a problem. Not all cards must be multiplayer powerhouses after all. This does more than enough anyway.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - I can't remember a card so much about fighting, let alone a planeswalker card. (2/3) Flavor - Names are fine, no flavor text on the creature side to judge. Bonus points for the card concept, which is very good: a fighter is all about fighting, and his transforming condition plays in that too, as to deal damage to two creatures in one turn he has to fight one of them and either fight or deal damage in combat to the other. That's wonderful mechanical flavor!
Polish (2/3) Quality - In the front face, the "and" between "transformed" and "under" should not be there (half a point deducted). In the planeswalker side, Veltar suddenly changes name in the +1 ability from "Fists of Fury" to "Fists of Stone", to return then "Fists of Fury" in the ultimate (half a point deducted). (2/2) Main Challenge - The character evolution is evident. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Aspiring Illusionist2UU
Creature - Wizard (U)
When Aspiring Illusionist enters the battlefield, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of target nonlegendary creature with converted mana cost 3 or less that has "When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it." "Your replications are small and fragile, Zeryl. What am I to do with you?" - Berous, Senior Mage
2/1
Art description: A wizened mage looks disapprovingly over his apprentice's shoulder as his apprentice conjures an etherial representation of the frog he is attempting to replicate.
Zeryl the Replicant3UU
Legendary Creature - Shapeshifter Wizard (M)
You may have Zeryl the Replicant enter the battlefield as a copy of any nonlegendary creature on the battlefield except its name is still Zeryl the Replicant, it's legendary in addition to its other types, and it gains "2U: Exile Zeryl the Replicant. Return it to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step." "You had misunderstood me, Berous. I have decided that the subject I will use will be myself."
4/4
Zeryl Anadar1UU
Legendary Creature - Shapeshifter Wizard (M) 2U: Exile Zeryl Anadar, then return it to the battlefield under its owner's control as a copy of any nonlegendary creature on the battlefield except its name is still Zeryl Anadar, it's legendary in addition to its other types, and it gains this ability. If this is the second time this ability has been activated this turn, instead exile Zeryl and return it to the battlefield transformed under its owner's control.
2/2
// Zeryl, Living Facsimile
(U) Planeswalker - Zeryl
You may have Zeryl, Living Facsimile enter the battlefield as a copy of another target planeswalker except his planeswalker type is still Zeryl.
[+1]: Until end of turn, Zeryl becomes a copy of target creature. (He doesn't lose loyalty while he's not a planeswalker.)
[-2]: Put a token onto the battlefield that’s a copy of target creature.
[-7]: Exile Zeryl then return him to the battlefield. (As Zeryl, Living Facsimile.)
<4>
Shoulda coulda woulda done this
Clarifications: the +1 borrows its language from Sarkhan, so it should work. The exile as its ultimate clarifies that it enters as the Living Facsimile, since while exiled it flips back (I think?).
Feel free to chime in on if you think it's cool/stupid/op.
Design (1.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes flavorful planeswalkers, but I don't think he would like this mechanically that much. Yes, he can copy his big monsters, but that's about it for him. Johnny loves this card, there are many tricks he can do with coyping things. Spike likes to copy opposing planeswalkers and use them against his/her opponent, but I'm not sure this is efficient enough for him. (1/3) Elegance - Cards like these are inherently wordy and complex, so I'm going to be a bit more generous than usual here. In this case, even with that premise, the card looks quite confusing, at least potentially. It may not be that easy to track which features change and which not while copying a creature with Anadar. Also, the Facsimile's first ability deletes his other normal loyalty abilities, and it has those of the planeswalker he copies instead, if you choose to copy one when it enters. That can be unintuitive and confusing for less experienced players. Finally, the card just feels like it has too much going on, and that doesn't help here.
Development (3/3) Viability - No problem here: copying and flickering are both blue, and rarity is obviously right. (1.5/3) Balance - In limited, you can still use Anadar to copy one creature a turn, and anyway copying your opponent's bomb sounds good as a plan. In constructed, this card is really narrow, there are only a few specific decks that want this. The most unappealing factor there is that you need to mostly rely on what your opponents play, unless you want to build your whole deck around Zeryl. In fact, the only way to prevent that is by playing yourself things you want to copy: for creatures it's obvious that you can do that, but you can even copy a planeswalkers of yours with the Facsimile. The planeswalker uniqueness rule does NOT kick in because it keeps Zeryl's planeswalker type, and that's all the rules care about. So, in the end, in constructed this is practically only playable if you build your deck around it, a thing that Johnny is very happy to do, but that unfortunately hurts this card's playability quite a bit. I see no particular problems in multiplayer. In casual, this will certainly generate a lot of confusion.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - This does a lot of things planeswalkers never did before, so all good here. We've never had a planeswalker based on copying stuff before. (1.5/3) Flavor - You never used Zeryl's last name before, so that's fine as a card name even if a bit generic (I know that Wizards did it before, for example with Garruk Wildspeaker, Nissa Revane, and Gideon Jura among others). The "Living Facsimile" name fits perfectly his flavor though. No room for flavor text on the creature side.
Polish (0/3) Quality - Full list:
• "Legendary Creature - Shapeshifter Wizard" doesn't fit in the type line, as you can easily verify in MSE (half a point deducted).
• As unlikely and strange as it may sound, all the instances of "it" in the creature side should be "he", as the Origins DFC planeswalkers shows us that cards like this use gendered pronouns even in the creature side (half a point deducted). This is an exception though, so don't start to use "he"/"she" to refer to the card itself on ordinary creatures!
• Ashling the Pilgrim tells us that the creature side should say "has resolved" and not "has been activated", but the fact that that is a replacement effect (the word "instead" gives it away) implies that it would actually need to say "would resolve" (half a point deducted).
• All Origins planeswalkers also shows us the creature side should say "exile Zeryl, then return..." (half a point deducted).
• In the planeswalker side, rarity is obvious but missing (half a point deducted).
• The Facsimile's first ability can't target, as that is a static effect and those never target, nor they even could, as they don't go on the stack, and targets don't mean anything outside of the stack. The word "target" should simply not be there: "as a copy of another planeswalker..." (half a point deducted).
• Yes, the +1 works, but that reminder text should be in italics, as should that in the ultimate (half a point deducted).
• No, the ultimate doesn't make Zeryl re-enter as the Facsimile, but as Anadar, so that reminder text is wrong. That's because the ultimate doesn't say "transformed", so the front face (in this case, Anadar) is the default one that is up whenever he re-enters, just as any other DFC from either Innistrad block or Origins works. A comma is missing before "then" in the ultimate, by the way (half a point deducted).
• Finally, this doesn't affect the judgment as it's not part of the card, but remember that DFCs "TRANSFORM", and DO NOT "FLIP"! Flip cards from Kamigawa flip! I see "transform" and "flip" getting confused way too often, much more than it should happen.
Eight times half a point makes 4 points, but the maximum I can deduct here is 3 points, so that's what I'm doing.
(2/2) Main Challenge - The character evolution is evident. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
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.)
This means our finalists are: Awkward Squirtle
CasualR
Moss_Elemental
netn10
Sagharri
Round 4 will be posted in a few hours.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016 DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for: "Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index.Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
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July MCC Round 3
"The Spark"
Check out "The Lion's Lair", the article series where I specifically talk about custom card design with the intent to help new custom card designers get better at it. The article index is always updated with the latest content. #11 has been out for three days.
Jeff quickly made a name for himself among Oreskos ranks. He was well known for being a valorous and selfless fighter. He refused promotion multiple times because he felt his place was among the troops, not among those who decided everything but didn't step foot in battle a single time. One day he was patrolling the surroundings with his boss, when at the side of the road they saw a dying human screaming: "For Heliod's sake, help me! Help me!" The boss told Jeff to proceed on their road, because the Leonin had no god to share with the humans, and that human was invoking a god's name. But Jeff replied: "I don't care about such details! He's suffering and I'm going to help him!" His boss replied: "Lionheart!" with a bit of sarcasm, "You're not going to do that! This is an order! If you disobey, I'll fight you as our enemy and King Brimaz will banish you from our land!" Jeff didn't care. He ran to the dying human and gave him a healing potion: "Here! This will heal you! Use it and then wait for me over there, behind those rocks!" Jeff's boss attacked him. After a long and exhausting battle, Jeff finally dealt the fatal strike to his boss. "What have I done!" he screamed, then he felt like passing out. He fell to the ground, eyes closed. After a few moments to regain control of himself, he opened his eyes, but he didn't recognize the place. "Where is my boss's body? Where are those rocks? And where is that stranger? Where am I?" Panicked by all those thoughts, he closed his eyes again, keeping his head into the palm of his hands. Then he reopened them and he was back on the land he knew. He saw the rocks. He ran towards them. The human behind was healed and waiting for him.
"Thanks! I don't know how I would have done without you! I'm a merchant and I've been robbed of all my goods. They escaped and left me dying on the road! What's your name, my savior?"
"My name is..." Jeff pondered for a moment how wise it was to tell him his real name. Then he thought he could trust him. He just saved his life after all, at the expense of his boss's one. "...Jeff Lionheart."
"You have the heart of a real lion indeed! I saw how you had to fight against your own companion to heal me."
"Yeah. But now I have no home. I can't go back to Oreskos. They'd see me as a traitor."
"Then come with me to my home! I'm from Meletis and I can be your host there! It's the least I can do for the one who saved my life!"
"Many thanks, but I think I just have to follow my own road. Anyway, what's your name, so that I could find a safe place in Meletis should I need it?"
"Just ask of Martin Hellanos! Everybody knows me in Meletis!"
"Do you need anything else, Martin?"
"No, thanks. You have already done more than enough for me!"
"Then you can go back to Meletis now. Maybe one day we'll see again!"
"I sure hope so! Thank you again, Jeff! I owe you my life!" screamed Martin as he disappeared into the horizon.
And there he was. Alone. He had that image of a different unknown landscape stuck in his mind. He travelled all of Theros during his long walks, and he didn't recognize that place. What could it be? Maybe there were other worlds beyond the one he knew? And now that he had no home on Theros, may one of them be his new home perhaps? One thing was for certain: "I don't belong here, not anymore. Where is my home? Where is my home now?" he screamed to the sky. He closed his eyes, and disappeared again.
Jeff, Champion of the Meek 2WW
Legendary Creature - Cat Warrior (M)
Vigilance
T: Another target blocking or blocked creature you control gains indestructible until end of turn. When that creature is dealt combat damage this turn, exile Jeff, then return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner’s control.
3/3
//
Jeff, the Free Spirit
((R/W)) Planeswalker - Jeff (M)
+1: Until your next turn, target creature can’t attack or block.
-2: Jeff, the Free Spirit deals 2 damage to target creature that attacked or blocked this turn.
-8: Creatures you control get +4/+0 and gain trample, vigilance, and indestructible until end of turn.
4
(The example card is only meant for clarity of this round's requirements, not for balance.)
Art 1: http://ruth-tay.deviantart.com/art/Lion-Warrior-111616144
Art 2: http://caananwhite.deviantart.com/art/LIONman-184810466
Main challenge: keeping the same character you used in the previous rounds, design a double-faced card in the style of the Origins planeswalkers (legendary creature on the front face, planeswalker on the back face) that shows your character's spark igniting. Please include a link to or a quote of your round 2 entry in your submission.
Keep in mind how they transform: you have to have them leave the battlefield and re-enter transformed, or find some other way to put loyalty counters on them before state-based actions are checked. If you just have them transform themselves directly, they won't have loyalty counters on them and they'll die! This won't be directly cause of DQ, but it will certainly affect judgments heavily.
Please don't include any notes. Posting any card-related notes will be cause of disqualification this month. Use only the flavor elements on the card itself to tell your character's story. Those are: card name, art (if you choose to make a render, in which case remember to give credit to the artist), subtypes, flavor text (in the creature side, because planeswalker cards don't have it), mechanical flavor (telling flavor through the card's mechanics).
Subchallenge 1: The front face (the legendary creature side) is exactly the same color(s) of your round 2 card.
Subchallenge 2: The back face (the planeswalker side) does not contain the word "emblem" in its rules text.
• For subchallenge 1, color identity does NOT count. It needs to have the same colors in the mana cost or in its color indicator.
• Subchallenge 1 only checks the front face of your double-faced card (the legendary creature side). The planeswalker on the back face can have additional colors, drop some colors, or even change colors completely. That may also be useful to tell your character's story. Of course, it can also just stay the same colors.
(X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
(X/3) Elegance: Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development -
(X/3) Viability: How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity?
(X/3) Balance: Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity -
(X/3) Uniqueness: Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel “fresh”?
(X/3) Flavor: Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish -
(X/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(X/2) *Main Challenge: Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
(X/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Player deadline: Wednesday, July 22th 23:59 EDT
Judge deadline: Monday, July 27th 23:59 EDT
I allowed one extra day for both designs and judgings because of the difficulty of the round.
JUDGES
bravelion83
Piar
Ryder052
Tilwin
PLAYERS
Asrama
Awkward Squirtle
CasualR
CommanderZ (admitted to this round after Marco dropped, as he was the following player in that bracket from round 2, using round 1 scores as tiebreakers)
hopefulhawkeye
Marco(dropped)Moss_Elemental
netn10
Sagharri
BRACKETS
bravelion83
Asrama vs Awkward Squirtle
hopefulhawkeye vs Moss_Elemental
Piar
CasualR vs CommanderZ
Asrama vs Awkward Squirtle
Ryder052
netn10 vs Sagharri
CasualR vs CommanderZ
Tilwin
netn10 vs Sagharri
hopefulhawkeye vs Moss_Elemental
Judges, happy judging! Please respect the deadline.
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.)
Round 3
Zeria, the Exiled Squire W
Legendary Creature - Spirit Soldier (Mythic)
W, T: Target creature you control with converted mana cost 2 or more gains your choice of flying, first strike, vigilance or lifelink until end of turn. When that creature deals combat damage to a player this turn, exile Zeria, then return him to the battlefield transformed under its owner's control.
"I seek redemption, Thalia. Show me the path to glory, and I will aid you in everything that you need."
1/1
////////////////
Zeria, Glory-Born
Planeswaker (Color identity - White)
+1: Creatures you control with converted mana cost 1 or less gains your choice of flying, first strike, vigilance or lifelink until end of turn.
-X: Put X 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens onto the battlefield.
-1: Put a creature card with converted mana cost 1 or less from your hand or your graveyard onto the battlefield.
{3}
Gruul Brawler 1RG
Creature - Human Warrior (U)
At the beginning of each end step, if Gruul Brawler fought another creature this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Gruul Brawler.
"In the Gruul, you grow up fast or you don't grow at all."
- Feralt, Brawler Champion
3/2
Veltar, Brawling Mentor 3RG
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior (R)
Creatures you control have "1R, t: This creature fights another target creature."
2G: Put a +1/+1 counter on each other creature you control that fought this turn.
4/4
Veltar, Wandering Fighter 2RG
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior (M)
RG: Veltar, Wandering Fighter fights target creature you don't control. If Veltar has dealt damage to two or more creatures this turn, exile him, then return him to the battlefield transformed and under his owner's control.
4/4
//
Veltar, Fists of Fury
((R/G)) Planeswalker - Veltar (M)
[+1]: Veltar, Fists of Stone deals 3 damage to target creature.
[-2]: Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. That creature fights target creature you don't control.
[-6]: Until your next turn, Veltar, Fists of Fury becomes a 6/6 Human Warrior creature with indestructible and "2: Veltar, Fists of Fury fights target creature." (He doesn't lose loyalty while he's not a planeswalker.)
[3]
So far:
Glint-Eye, Dread Captain 3BU
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (M)
Whenever Glint-Eye, Dread Captain or another pirate you control deals combat damage to a player, plunder 2. Then, if you have seven or more plundered cards, exile Glint-Eye then return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner’s control. (To plunder 2, exile the top two card of target player’s library. You may put a plundered card into its owner’s graveyard at any time to add 1 to your mana pool)
3/3
/////////
Arnaut Glint-Eye, Buccaneer
Planeswalker - Arnaut (M)
+1 You gain an emblem with “Whenever one or more creature you control deals combat damage to a player, plunder 1.”
-2 Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the the amount of plundered cards you have. Put one into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library.
-8 Target player loses X life and you draw X cards, where X is the the amount of plundered cards you have owned by that player.
5
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!
Thanks for letting me know!
CommanderZ is officially admitted to round 3 in Marco's spot as repechage, to avoid having an odd number of players (which would make preparing judging brackets really difficult if not impossible, I know because I tried). He was the following player in that bracket from round 2, using round 1 scores as tiebreakers.
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.)
Anara, Dauntless Captain 1RR
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (Mythic)
Menace
Whenever a nontoken Pirate creature you control attacks, put a red 1/1 red Pirate creature token with menace onto the battlefield tapped and attacking.
Whenever another Pirate creature you control dies, exile Anara, Dauntless Captain, then return her to the battlefield transformed.
3/3
----
Anara, Vengeant Queen
( ) Planeswalker - Anara (Mythic)
+1 Until your next turn, creatures you control get +1/+0 and gain first strike
-2 Put two 1/1 black and red Skeleton Pirate creature tokens with haste and menace onto the battlefield.
-8 Untap and gain control of all nonland permanents. They gain haste until end of turn. Sacrifice all permanents you don't own at the beginning of your next end step.
4
BRACKETS
bravelion83
Asrama vs Awkward Squirtle
hopefulhawkeye vs Moss_Elemental
Piar
CasualR vs CommanderZ
Asrama vs Awkward Squirtle
Ryder052
netn10 vs Sagharri
CasualR vs CommanderZ
Tilwin
netn10 vs Sagharri
hopefulhawkeye vs Moss_Elemental
Judges, happy judging! Please respect the deadline.
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 -
(2/3) Appeal: Spike and Timmy both get a kick out of this one. Spike because it's efficient and allows for skill-testing outplays, Timmy because of the incredibly powerful ultimate. Johnny isn't too enthused, as this card doesn't give him many ways to express himself (through mechanics at least).
(2.5/3) Elegance: Anara meshes together really well. The skeleton Pirates are such a clever and fun touch, but two different tokens that do the same thing made by the same card isn't ideal. Menace is a really smart motif for a pirate queen.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: All the abilities look red on first glance. I do notice though that the ultimate allows mono-red to kill enchantments. Granted, Anara's ult probably just means the game is over regardless, but that's one of red's major weaknesses. Rarity is correct.
(3/3) Balance: Limited bomb, and will see just as much if not more play than Brimaz, King of Oreskos in constructed formats. Ironically, I can see situations where you'd rather have the creature side out and the opponent kills a pirate to force you to transform. That's a good balance check to give the opponent some recourse. I could certainly see people clamoring to build an Anara deck with a critical mass of pirates in a set. Nothing she does is game-breaking though.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: We've not yet seen a pirate lord before (Although Gerrard Capashen is the epitome of swashbuckling.), but the mechanics are all very reminiscent of recent cards. The front side looks a lot like Monastery Mentor, the transform trigger is more-narrow Liliana, Heretical Healer trigger, the +1 looks like Rally the Forces, the -2 looks like supercharged Dragon Fodder, and the -8 is a larger-scale Tibalt ultimate. Nothing really new here, but maybe that's for the best - complexity is still a concern for cards like this despite being mythics.
(3/3) Flavor: Anara has really solid flavor. She's Dauntless and brings along her bad-buddies, but when she sees one of her own fall she ignites and is no longer Dauntless. Instead she seeks vengeance for her fallen shipmates.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: Missing a period at the end of the +1 ability.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Anara is intact.
(1/2) Subchallenges: No emblem, but she's gained a color.
Total: 19.5/25
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike has opportunities for outplays. Timmy gets to experience Arbarad's power. Johnny has some interesting triggers and tools to work with, but it isn't terribly expressive for him.
(3/3) Elegance: Arbarad certainly has a theme going on. He board sweeps a lot! Having a motif to work with really goes a long way with cards like this, and you've picked a fascinating one. The synergies between the ultimate and the other abilities is really clever too.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Everything about Arbarad is white, and abundantly fair. Mythic is the only rarity option.
(2.5/3) Balance: The stats of Brimaz, with the wrath threat of False Prophet. If Arbarad always transformed I'd be concerned about him being too strong, but the condition of having another creature die alongside him makes for a very interesting tension. Mental playtests suggest he's pushed for Standard, and could be a little broken there if he has the right cards supporting him. He's too expensive to be overpowered in eternal formats. Limited bomb for sure, but that's mythics for you.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: There's some precedent to what Arbarad is about - False Prophet, Mageta the Lion, and Sunblast Angel. For a long time though, the closest we've gotten to a character like this was Elspeth.
(3/3) Flavor: Both names are fine, and the flavor elements seem to resonate pretty well. He'd need good art, but I can see him being a hit with the Vorthos crowd.
Polish -
(1.5/3) Quality: "non-Legendary" should be "nonlegendary". There's a typo semicolon at the end of the -7 ability. Also, it's missing the legendary type.
(0/2) *Main Challenge: Arbarad is still on-theme. Edit: Unfortunately, he doesn't have the legendary type, which is the primary requirement of the main challenge.
(1/2) Subchallenges: Same colors, but has an emblem.
Total:
20.0/25DQ for not meeting main challenge.CommanderZ -
20.0DQ for not meeting main challenge.Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Timmy gets the experience of a Pirate planeswalker's spark igniting. Spike likes that he has control over when Glint-Eye transforms and can use it to his advantage. Johnny doesn't have a whole lot of expressing going on.
(3/3) Elegance: Everything fits together very nicely and we see Arnaut really likes to plunder things. Inbuilt synergies make him look exciting and fun on first blush.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: Plunder and the rest of the mechanics are solidly UB, though plunder's mana acceleration seems a bit out of color. The only concern rules-wise is that having seven plundered cards means you can have 7 whenever you like as a huge burst. That's actually terrifying. Mythic is the obvious (and correct) rarity.
(2.5/3) Balance: Considering how powerful plunder actually would be, five mana for a 3/3 seems pretty appropriate here. Players will certainly still try to play Pirates in any environment they can play him in. It's possible he plunders too much and breaks formats, but I think he's answerable and formats would have balances in place to make plunder fair.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: We've yet to see a Treasure-seeking Pirate Lord (though Gerrard Capashen is quite a swashbuckler). Plunder is new, but each of the planeswalker abilities are things we've basically seen before. That said, there isn't much design space for planeswalkers so that's not much of a surprise.
(3/3) Flavor: Names seem spot on. No room for flavor text, but the flavor still comes together very well. Smart to go with the popular Pirate trope.
Polish -
(1/3) Quality: The reminder text for plunder 2 says "card" instead of "cards." There's also no final period in that reminder text. In the -2 ability, "the amount of cards" should be "the number of cards". Pirate should be capitalized. The emblem needs to be plural.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Here we see Glint-Eye in fantastic form.
(0/2) Subchallenges: Neither subchallenge was met.
Total: 18.0/25
Design -
(3/3) Appeal: Nice job here. Timmy gets to experience either a growing creature or a spark-ignition moment. Johnny gets to have a sac outlet to express clever shenanigans. Spike gets to prove his skill by knowing when to transform (or not).
(2/3) Elegance: A couple of awkward wording moments that break the reading groove - Specifically the transform conditional. The card as a whole makes sense, flavor & mechanics work pretty well together.
Development -
(1.5/3) Viability: Everything about this card is solidly black. The -2 ability has some rules ambiguity that concerns me. "Until your next turn" doesn't specify when the effect lasts until. Note for example that detain reminder text says "until the start of your next turn" which would be preferable here. Rarity is marked correctly.
(3/3) Balance: Limited isn't much of a concern here, this being a mythic, but it'd play fine there. Standard would probably try to make Morghul work. Interestingly, Morghul plays really well in multiples since his planeswalker side will gradually kill itself, and also provides fuel for another untransformed version. It doesn't seem like it'd break any formats.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: We haven't seen something quite like this, but all the abilities feel like things we've seen even though we haven't - I think that's a good thing. The variable starting loyalty is a fascinating mechanic.
(2.5/3) Flavor: The name of the planeswalker side didn't make sense to me, until I considered that he's devouring his own spark. Even so, that should be more clear with a different name. I definitely see the "Fallen Remnant" in him, which is pleasing to Vorthos.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: Templating concern: "transform him if he's not a planeswalker" could be templated more cleanly. I'd recommend the exile + return transformed standard set by the Origins Five. Or a separate trigger "When ~ transforms..."
(2/2) *Main Challenge: It's Morghul.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Same color, no emblem.
Total: 21.5/25
AwkwardSquirtle - 21.5
Check out "The Lion's Lair", the article series where I specifically talk about custom card design with the intent to help new custom card designers get better at it. The article index is always updated with the latest content.
Note - When I say "#N in MOQX", it means: this is the mistake number N in my "Mark of Quality, part X" article.
Challenges: what counts is always the letter of the law.
Quality: half a point deducted for any error in templating, wording, spelling, or grammar, no matter how little they may be; a whole point for particularly serious errors.
No complaints unless I got something objectively wrong.
Asrama vs Awkward Squirtle
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - The great flavor of a Pirate planeswalker makes Timmy like this, but I'm not sure it's a perfect fit mechanically. Johnny may try to use this in a milling deck or more probably to look for combo pieces with the planeswalker side's abilities. Spike likes having access to additional mana and cards.
(3/3) Elegance - Cards like these are inherently wordy and complex, so I'm going to be a bit more generous than usual here. In this case, with that premise, I see nothing wrong here.
Development
(3/3) Viability - All abilities make sense in blue/black, and also Pirates as a class make sense in this color combination. Rarity is obviously right (I expect to say this a lot this time!).
(2.5/3) Balance - Obvious limited bomb. This looks balanced in that it doesn't look too easy to transform, but not too hard either. I think this may see play in some blue/black control deck in Standard too, mainly because the last two abilities of Arnaut planeswalker look something such a deck would love to have. I don't see particular problems in casual or multiplayer. Getting plundered for a lot of cards might be a bit unfun to some players, but as a mythic, I don't think this would be too big of a problem.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - Interacting in all possible ways with plunder makes this card gain full points here.
(2/3) Flavor - Names and card concept are very good, but there's no room for flavor text in the creature side. The only thing I don't get clearly from the card is the story going on in the exact moment Arnaut's spark ignites. Does his spark ignite because of a particular hard loot to obtain? I'd like to know more of his story in that moment, but that's hard to do in a card without flavor text. Anyway, it's a good thing that the card leaves me wanting to know more of his story.
Polish
(0/3) Quality - In the front face's triggered ability, in "another pirate you control", the word "pirate" should be capitalized, because it's a creature type (#11 in MOQ1, half a point deducted). A period is missing at the end of the reminder text for plunder (half a point deducted). Colons are missing in all activated abilities of the planeswalker side, and this is technically a functional mistake, because an activated ability without a colon is no longer an activated ability in the rules (half a point deducted). A player "gets" emblems, not "gains" (half a point deducted). In the emblem, the word "creature" should be plural and the verb conjugated accordingly ("one or more creatures you control deal combat damage", half a point deducted). "In any order" or "in a random order" is missing at the end of the -2 ability (half a point deducted). In the -8 ability, "where X is the the amount..." (half a point deducted). Seven times half a point makes 3.5 points, but the maximum I can deduct here is 3 points, so that's what I'm doing.
(2/2) Main Challenge - The character evolution is evident.
(0/2) Subchallenges - I think it's the first time ever I've got to give a zero here. The front face is blue/black, while the round 2 card was monoblue. The back face gives an emblem as its +1 ability.
Total: 18/25
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes flavorful planeswalkers. I don't see much for Johnny to do, the "for the first time each turn" kind of limits him, but at least he can use this as a sacrifice outlet. Spike likes this: easy enough to transform, and he can somewhat protect himself with his -1.
(2.5/3) Elegance - Cards like these are inherently wordy and complex, so I'm going to be a bit more generous than usual here. In this case, with that premise, I see nothing particularly bad here, just a few necessary wordings that can leave less experienced players perplex, mainly "if he's not a planeswalker" (necessary to prevent him from returning a creature if you activate the transforming ability multiple times in response to one another) and "up to one of those cards".
Development
(2.5/3) Viability - These are all things black can definitely do. Rarity is obviously right. There is an unwritten rule of design this card might technically break, and that's that if you activate the transforming ability twice or more in response to each other, the first instance to resolve will transform Morghul, remove all +1/+1 counters and put a number of loyalty counters on him. Then, the following instances of the ability will do as much as they can and they won't transform Morghul, because of the "if he's not a planeswalker" clause, but they will still put each a +1/+1 counter on him and then ask you "do you want to turn this counter into a loyalty counter?", to which any conscious Magic player will answer yes, but if you answer no for any reason, you'll have a planeswalker with both loyalty counters AND +1/+1 counters on him, thus breaking the unwritten rule that says that there shouldn't be multiple types of counters on a permanent. Now, this is very unlikely to happen, as it requires a player not paying sufficient attention to what they're doing, but it's still technically possible.
(2.5/3) Balance - The more creatures you sacrifice to him before he transforms, the stronger he is as a planeswalker. This looks balanced enough, but it may be very strong (maybe too strong?) with token strategies. Put a lot of token onto the battlefield as quickly as you can, then cast Morghul, sacrifice a lot of tokens to him and make the last one transform him immediately. It costs you card advantage, but it may be worth it. Anyway, limited bomb as most planeswalkers, and if that interactions with tokens proves strong enough it may see Standard play. In multiplayer, he gets even stronger, because the "until your next turn" lasts more and because there are more creatures to hit with the ultimate. I don't see big problems in casual.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - The ultimate is a bit similar to the one of Sorin, Lord of Innistrad, but other than that it's good here. The transformation involving +1/+1 counters changing to loyalty counters also gives this points here.
(3/3) Flavor - Names and flavor text are very good. The name "Spark Devourer" makes a lot of sense with his -1 ability.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - All good here.
(2/2) Main Challenge - The character evolution is evident.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 22.5/25
hopefulhawkeye vs Moss_Elemental
Design
(2/3) Appeal - Timmy likes flavorful planeswalkers, and he also likes to turn him into a 6/6 that takes no damage. Johnny likes the challenge to assemble all five colors of mana in your pool and might try to do something with the mana producing ability. Spike isn't impressed by the planeswalker side, that doesn't protect himself, and the transforming condition also might be a bit too much of a hoop to jump through.
(1.5/3) Elegance - Cards like these are inherently wordy and complex, so I'm going to be a bit more generous than usual here. In this case, even with that premise, caring about mana while it's still in your pool is a concept less experienced players will definitely have a hard time with. Many beginners or less experienced player might and probably will wrongly understand that it transforms if you control a land of each basic land type. The mana pool is an advanced concept in Magic. Elvish Mystic is more comprehensible to those players because they might see it as "I can use it just like a Forest".
Development
(3/3) Viability - Everything we've got here is something green can do, even though that +2 animation ability feels more white than green, but it's probably just because of the similarity to Gideon's marquee ability that's been on all his planeswalker cards (Gideon Jura, Gideon, Champion of Justice, and Gideon, Battle-Forged). In the end green can animate lands, so I guess it's still acceptable for it to do so on a planeswalker too (even if that permanent is all colors in theory, but you still cast it using only green mana). Rarity is obviously right.
(2.5/3) Balance - The transforming condition may make this a bit hard to transform in limited, as you practically have to build a three-colored deck, or at least a two-colored deck with a splash, because you have to add three colors of mana to your pool via lands and you can use the creature side's activated ability to get the other two colors you miss. This is easier to do in a multicolored environment, like lastly seen in KTK, and is way harder in a environment that somehow favors monocolor (Shadowmoor comes to mind). So in the end, Eagon's playability will depend on the environment he finds himself within more than usual, and this is true for both limited and constructed. In constructed, a bigger number of dual lands available helps. Once you transform him, he kind of feels like a utility planeswalker, even his ultimate is not a true ultimate, but a pseudo-mana ability (if I remember well the rules, loyalty abilities are never mana abilities). Becoming a 6/6 that takes no damage as a plus ability is strong though, and the lack on indestructible is probably what made possible for you to make that a plus ability. In the end, if you animate him, than I can still Murder him with no problems, while I can't do that on the various versions of Gideon. I see no particular problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - I can't remember anything already existing caring about having one mana of each color in your mana pool like this. I can't either remember a planeswalker caring about all five colors like this.
(1.5/3) Flavor - Names are fine, no flavor text on the creature side to judge.
Polish
(1.5/3) Quality - In the front face, the "if" should be "when", as it's clearly meant to be a triggered ability (half a point deducted). The planeswalker side should not have the text "is all colors", but it should have a five colored color indicator (see the Oracle text of Transguild Courier, half a point deducted). In the +2 ability, the word "creature" is missing ("becomes a 6/6 Elf Giant creature...", half a point deducted.
(2/2) Main Challenge - The character evolution is evident.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 19/25
Design
(2/3) Appeal - Timmy likes flavorful planeswalkers, and he loves one that screams to him: fight. Fight! FIGHT! I don't see that much for Johnny to do here honestly (I may be wrong though, as a Johnny is the only thing I am not). Spike likes this, you transform him using a removal ability, and once transformed he gives you even more removal. He protects himself very well.
(3/3) Elegance - Cards like these are inherently wordy and complex, so I'm going to be a bit more generous than usual here. In this case, with that premise, I see nothing wrong here.
Development
(3/3) Viability - Fight is red and green, dealing direct damage is red, pumping creatures before making them fight is green, and the ultimate is again an animation ability (they must be popular, there are a lot of them this round). As I mentioned in my judgment of hopefulhawkeye's card, which uses an animation ability too, this ability feels more white than green, but that's probably just due to the fact that such an ability is Gideon's thing. In the end, Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker also animates himself, even though in a slightly different way, so at least it's something red can certainly do. Indestructible is green anyway, and having him gain yet another fight ability when he animates himself definitely helps making the ultimate feel good in those colors. Rarity is obviously right.
(3/3) Balance - This is a limited bomb, and I'm certain this would totally see a lot of constructed play, as all abilities are removal and he protects himself in a really excellent way. Then, when the way is clear, just turn him into a 6/6 and smash your opponent's face with him. What more could you want from a planeswalker in constructed? Probably not just in Standard, someone might try to make this work in Modern, and I think they might succeed. Definitely playable in casual, even though repeatable removal can get into slightly unfun territory. I think this gets weaker in multiplayer, as there will be more damage to be dealt via burn or fighting because there are more creatures, but that's not a problem. Not all cards must be multiplayer powerhouses after all. This does more than enough anyway.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - I can't remember a card so much about fighting, let alone a planeswalker card.
(2/3) Flavor - Names are fine, no flavor text on the creature side to judge. Bonus points for the card concept, which is very good: a fighter is all about fighting, and his transforming condition plays in that too, as to deal damage to two creatures in one turn he has to fight one of them and either fight or deal damage in combat to the other. That's wonderful mechanical flavor!
Polish
(2/3) Quality - In the front face, the "and" between "transformed" and "under" should not be there (half a point deducted). In the planeswalker side, Veltar suddenly changes name in the +1 ability from "Fists of Fury" to "Fists of Stone", to return then "Fists of Fury" in the ultimate (half a point deducted).
(2/2) Main Challenge - The character evolution is evident.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 22/25
As promised, glurman out of competition:
Design
(1.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes flavorful planeswalkers, but I don't think he would like this mechanically that much. Yes, he can copy his big monsters, but that's about it for him. Johnny loves this card, there are many tricks he can do with coyping things. Spike likes to copy opposing planeswalkers and use them against his/her opponent, but I'm not sure this is efficient enough for him.
(1/3) Elegance - Cards like these are inherently wordy and complex, so I'm going to be a bit more generous than usual here. In this case, even with that premise, the card looks quite confusing, at least potentially. It may not be that easy to track which features change and which not while copying a creature with Anadar. Also, the Facsimile's first ability deletes his other normal loyalty abilities, and it has those of the planeswalker he copies instead, if you choose to copy one when it enters. That can be unintuitive and confusing for less experienced players. Finally, the card just feels like it has too much going on, and that doesn't help here.
Development
(3/3) Viability - No problem here: copying and flickering are both blue, and rarity is obviously right.
(1.5/3) Balance - In limited, you can still use Anadar to copy one creature a turn, and anyway copying your opponent's bomb sounds good as a plan. In constructed, this card is really narrow, there are only a few specific decks that want this. The most unappealing factor there is that you need to mostly rely on what your opponents play, unless you want to build your whole deck around Zeryl. In fact, the only way to prevent that is by playing yourself things you want to copy: for creatures it's obvious that you can do that, but you can even copy a planeswalkers of yours with the Facsimile. The planeswalker uniqueness rule does NOT kick in because it keeps Zeryl's planeswalker type, and that's all the rules care about. So, in the end, in constructed this is practically only playable if you build your deck around it, a thing that Johnny is very happy to do, but that unfortunately hurts this card's playability quite a bit. I see no particular problems in multiplayer. In casual, this will certainly generate a lot of confusion.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - This does a lot of things planeswalkers never did before, so all good here. We've never had a planeswalker based on copying stuff before.
(1.5/3) Flavor - You never used Zeryl's last name before, so that's fine as a card name even if a bit generic (I know that Wizards did it before, for example with Garruk Wildspeaker, Nissa Revane, and Gideon Jura among others). The "Living Facsimile" name fits perfectly his flavor though. No room for flavor text on the creature side.
Polish
(0/3) Quality - Full list:
• "Legendary Creature - Shapeshifter Wizard" doesn't fit in the type line, as you can easily verify in MSE (half a point deducted).
• As unlikely and strange as it may sound, all the instances of "it" in the creature side should be "he", as the Origins DFC planeswalkers shows us that cards like this use gendered pronouns even in the creature side (half a point deducted). This is an exception though, so don't start to use "he"/"she" to refer to the card itself on ordinary creatures!
• Ashling the Pilgrim tells us that the creature side should say "has resolved" and not "has been activated", but the fact that that is a replacement effect (the word "instead" gives it away) implies that it would actually need to say "would resolve" (half a point deducted).
• All Origins planeswalkers also shows us the creature side should say "exile Zeryl, then return..." (half a point deducted).
• In the planeswalker side, rarity is obvious but missing (half a point deducted).
• The Facsimile's first ability can't target, as that is a static effect and those never target, nor they even could, as they don't go on the stack, and targets don't mean anything outside of the stack. The word "target" should simply not be there: "as a copy of another planeswalker..." (half a point deducted).
• Yes, the +1 works, but that reminder text should be in italics, as should that in the ultimate (half a point deducted).
• No, the ultimate doesn't make Zeryl re-enter as the Facsimile, but as Anadar, so that reminder text is wrong. That's because the ultimate doesn't say "transformed", so the front face (in this case, Anadar) is the default one that is up whenever he re-enters, just as any other DFC from either Innistrad block or Origins works. A comma is missing before "then" in the ultimate, by the way (half a point deducted).
• Finally, this doesn't affect the judgment as it's not part of the card, but remember that DFCs "TRANSFORM", and DO NOT "FLIP"! Flip cards from Kamigawa flip! I see "transform" and "flip" getting confused way too often, much more than it should happen.
Eight times half a point makes 4 points, but the maximum I can deduct here is 3 points, so that's what I'm doing.
(2/2) Main Challenge - The character evolution is evident.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 15.5/25
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.)
Bold advance to the final round.
Asrama: 18 + 18 = 36
Akward Squirtle: 22.5 + 21.5 = 44
CasualR: 19.5 + 18 = 37.5
CommanderZ: DQ (creature side not legendary, and that was an explicit requirement of the main challenge)
netn10: 17 + 17 = 34
Sagharri: 20 + 14 = 34
(there's a tie here, so both players advance)
hopefulhawkeye: 19 + 15.5 = 34.5
Moss_Elemental: 22 + 19.5 = 41.5
This means our finalists are:
Awkward Squirtle
CasualR
Moss_Elemental
netn10
Sagharri
Round 4 will be posted in a few hours.
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.)