This Month we will be concentrating on some of the most common mistakes made by new and experienced custom magic card designers alike.
Each challenge will concentrate on a single issue, having us work to try and improve on these potential points of weakness and give us a better understanding on how to tackle these issues.
Our first challenge for this month is going to be about one of the first mistakes tat any new person creating a custom card runs into, making an overcomplex rare.
The first types of custom cards are nearly always big splashy rare creatures, like angels, dragons, demons, etc etc.
However the designs tend to be full of extra abilities and effects as the designer is straining to showcase as much as they can into a single card.
Even for experienced designers it can be so tempting to add an extra minor effects, a keyword or something else that can pull focus away from the main idea of the card.
So our challenge for this week is Create a rare, iconic creature with a single ability that's approximately 4 lines or less. It can also include 0-1 evergreen keywords.
A single ability means either an activated, passive or triggered ability. Two separate but connected abilities are not allowed. This is about stripping a rare down to its most elegant parts.
For those without MSE etc, 4 lines is approximately 150 characters including spaces.
Iconic creatures are: Angels, Sphinxes, Demons, Dragons and Hydras
Evergreen keywords are mechanics used every set such as flying, trample or first strike
The evergreen keyword in't included in your line count
Reminder text isn't included in your word/line count.
Feel free to ask questions if your unsure about anything in the Discussion Thread
Due Date: January 5th.
Important note: There will be three rounds followed by a top 8, then semifinals and finals. Do join in the fun.
You can now begin judging the the six names beneath your name. Looping from bottom to top as necessary.
Angel of Perseverance
Creature — Angel (R)
Flying Tenacity — As long as each opponent has more life than you, Angel of Perseverance has vigilance and lifelink. "No matter the odds, we shall never surrender!"
3/4
(22 Total) - October 2014; December 2014; January 2015; April 2015; June 2015; August 2015; September 2015; November 2015; December 2015(T); January 2016; March 2016(T); April 2016; June 2016; October 2016; December 2016(T); February 2017; April 2017; December 2017; November 2018(T); January 2019; April 2019; June 2019
(8 Total) - May 2015; May 2016; June 2016; August 2016; October 2016; December 2016; October 2017; May 2019
(7 Total) - September 2015; October 2015; January 2016; March 2016; April 2016; July 2016(T); March 2019(T)
Ugin's Riddle-Bearer2UU
Creature - Sphinx (Rare)
Flying
At the begining of your upkeep, look at the top card of your library. You may manifest it. "To defeat the Eldrazi, one must use the secrets of the other worlds, secrets that are unknown to the Eldrazi."
3/3
ThragnosXXG
Legendary Creature - Hydra (R)
Trample
Thragnos enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it.
Sacrifice a creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on Thragnos.
Remove a +1/+1 counter from Thragnos: Put a +1/+1 counter on each other creature you control. "Thragnos. All consuming benefactor, but a benefactor nonetheless." - Nissa Revane
0/0
Tyrant of Scales4WB
Creature - Demon (R)
Menace
When Tyrant of Scales dies, if an opponent has more creatures than you, he or she sacrifices a number of creatures equal to the difference. "Negotiating" out of paying coin to the Orzhov often led to far worse deals.
4/4
Lady Aubade, Dean of Charms2UU
Legendary Creature - Vampire (R)
Flying
Auras you control gain “you control enchanted permanent”. "If you are to accept what Brovell has to offer, you must also accept that my rule is law."
2/3
Omen Spinner4U
Creature - Sphinx (R)
Flying
Whenever Omen Spinner deals combat damage to a player, you may pay 3U. If you do, fateseal 3. "I've seen your future. It looks good. For me, anyway."
3/5
Three-Headed Sphinx2UU
Creature — Sphinx (R)
Flying 2U: Exile the top three cards of your library face down. Target opponent chooses one of them. Put the chosen card into your hand and the rest into your graveyard. Each of its heads asks a different riddle, but the right solution is always the same.
3/3
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.)
Keeper of the Black Garden3BG
Creature - Demon (R)
Whenever a player taps a land for mana, that player adds one mana to his or her mana pool of any type that land produced, then loses 1 life. "I won't charge for you to take from my garden. My fruit exacts its own price."
5/4
Embodiment of Solitude5BB
Creature - Demon {R}
Flying
When Embodiment of Solitude enters the battlefield, if it was cast, each player sacrifices all other creatures and planeswalkers he or she controls. He demands mortals face their fears alone. 4/4
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A mere ten days after the Mending, a young knight of Valeron and a young ranger of Eos made a discovery that would change Alara forever.
Starblast Dragon1RRR
Creature - Dragon (R)
Flying
Discard an instant, sorcery, or enchantment card, T: Destroy target nonenchantment permanent. “Our terrestrial lives are as nothing before those of the celestials.”
-Vadexei, star charter
4/4
Threatening Dragon3RR
Creature — Dragon(R)
Flying XXR: Threatening Dragon gets +X/+0 until end of turn. It can't be blocked by X or fewer creatures this turn.
5/5
Impatient Sphinx3UB
Creature - Sphinx (R)
Flying
When Impatient Sphinx enters the battlefield, look at the top card of your library. Target player guesses the converted mana cost of that card. If that player guessed wrong, destroy target creature.
3/4 I have no time for fools.
Spirit of Life's Cycle 1WW
Creature - Spirit (R)
Flying
Whenever a non-Spirit creature dies, its controller puts a 1/1 white Spirit creature token onto the battlefield.
Whenever another Spirit creature dies, its controller gains 1 life.[/spoiler]
2/2
Disciple of Peace2WU
Creature - Human Monk (R)
Vigilance
If a creature dealt damage by Disciple of Peace this turn would die, return it to its owner's hand instead. "I will not kill you. You may stay here peacefully, or you may leave. But you will not kill anyone. That I will not allow."
4/5
Unwavering Guardian3WW
Creature - Angel (R)
Flying
You may cast Unwavering Guardian from your graveyard as long as you control a legendary creature. No matter how many times they struck her down, she was always at the hero's side.
4/4
Flying
When Basic Tutor enters the battlefield, Search your library for a card with converted mana cost equal to or less than the number of basic lands you control, Add it to your hand then shuffle your library.
"First the basics ..."
2/2
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MtG is where you can hate white players or black players, and still not be racist.
Predictor Sphinx3UU
Creature - Sphinx (R)
Flying
Whenever Predictor Sphinx deals combat damage to a player, name a card. Reveal a card at random from your hand. If the card revealed is the card you named, draw a card. I predict justice!
4/4
@Jimmy: I think you have a wrong creature type
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Trophyless guy.
Thought of the Month: I gave up from trying to require the 'i' on my name: SolesticIo
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Know your weaknesses and strive to improve them.
This Month we will be concentrating on some of the most common mistakes made by new and experienced custom magic card designers alike.
Each challenge will concentrate on a single issue, having us work to try and improve on these potential points of weakness and give us a better understanding on how to tackle these issues.
Our first challenge for this month is going to be about one of the first mistakes tat any new person creating a custom card runs into, making an overcomplex rare.
The first types of custom cards are nearly always big splashy rare creatures, like angels, dragons, demons, etc etc.
However the designs tend to be full of extra abilities and effects as the designer is straining to showcase as much as they can into a single card.
Even for experienced designers it can be so tempting to add an extra minor effects, a keyword or something else that can pull focus away from the main idea of the card.
You can read a bit more on my article that I wrote on this subject.
So our challenge for this week is Create a rare, iconic creature with a single ability that's approximately 4 lines or less. It can also include 0-1 evergreen keywords.
Due Date: January 5th.
Important note: There will be three rounds followed by a top 8, then semifinals and finals. Do join in the fun.
You can now begin judging the the six names beneath your name. Looping from bottom to top as necessary.
Flatline
Skyform
Moss_Elemental
shinike1729
theazurespirit
Todris052
maplesmall
Solesticio
Hemlock
Ink-Treader
bubblecat2
RickyRister
RaikouRider
void_nothing
Asrama
Forestsguy
netn10
Koopa
IcariiFA
glurman
Jimmy Groove
bravelion83
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Creature — Angel (R)
Flying
Tenacity — As long as each opponent has more life than you, Angel of Perseverance has vigilance and lifelink.
"No matter the odds, we shall never surrender!"
3/4
Creature - Sphinx (Rare)
Flying
At the begining of your upkeep, look at the top card of your library. You may manifest it.
"To defeat the Eldrazi, one must use the secrets of the other worlds, secrets that are unknown to the Eldrazi."
3/3
Legendary Creature - Hydra (R)
Trample
Thragnos enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it.
Sacrifice a creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on Thragnos.
Remove a +1/+1 counter from Thragnos: Put a +1/+1 counter on each other creature you control.
"Thragnos. All consuming benefactor, but a benefactor nonetheless." - Nissa Revane
0/0
Creature - Demon (R)
Menace
When Tyrant of Scales dies, if an opponent has more creatures than you, he or she sacrifices a number of creatures equal to the difference.
"Negotiating" out of paying coin to the Orzhov often led to far worse deals.
4/4
Legendary Creature - Vampire (R)
Flying
Auras you control gain “you control enchanted permanent”.
"If you are to accept what Brovell has to offer, you must also accept that my rule is law."
2/3
Host, December 2015: A Winter Wonderland? - R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL April 2014: A Game of Fate - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinal|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL December 2012: Spy Games - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL November 2010: The Perfect Crime - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL August 2009: A Commander's Journey: Signups|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
I've got tons of art from the web. Want art for a render? PM me! Want to create your own collection? Start here!
Creature - Sphinx (R)
Flying
Whenever Omen Spinner deals combat damage to a player, you may pay 3U. If you do, fateseal 3.
"I've seen your future. It looks good. For me, anyway."
3/5
Creature — Sphinx (R)
Flying
2U: Exile the top three cards of your library face down. Target opponent chooses one of them. Put the chosen card into your hand and the rest into your graveyard.
Each of its heads asks a different riddle, but the right solution is always the same.
3/3
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.)
Creature - Demon (R)
Whenever a player taps a land for mana, that player adds one mana to his or her mana pool of any type that land produced, then loses 1 life.
"I won't charge for you to take from my garden. My fruit exacts its own price."
5/4
Creature - Demon {R}
Flying
When Embodiment of Solitude enters the battlefield, if it was cast, each player sacrifices all other creatures and planeswalkers he or she controls.
He demands mortals face their fears alone.
4/4
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Starblast Dragon 1RRR
Creature - Dragon (R)
Flying
Discard an instant, sorcery, or enchantment card, T: Destroy target nonenchantment permanent.
“Our terrestrial lives are as nothing before those of the celestials.”
-Vadexei, star charter
4/4
Choose one of these judge of creation:
Make Strionic Resonator shine!
You can not grasp the true form of Ashiok's attack!
Creature — Dragon(R)
Flying
XXR: Threatening Dragon gets +X/+0 until end of turn. It can't be blocked by X or fewer creatures this turn.
5/5
Impatient Sphinx 3UB
Creature - Sphinx (R)
Flying
When Impatient Sphinx enters the battlefield, look at the top card of your library. Target player guesses the converted mana cost of that card. If that player guessed wrong, destroy target creature.
3/4
I have no time for fools.
Spirit of Life's Cycle 1WW
Creature - Spirit (R)
Flying
Whenever a non-Spirit creature dies, its controller puts a 1/1 white Spirit creature token onto the battlefield.
Whenever another Spirit creature dies, its controller gains 1 life.[/spoiler]
2/2
Host, December 2015: A Winter Wonderland? - R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL April 2014: A Game of Fate - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinal|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL December 2012: Spy Games - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL November 2010: The Perfect Crime - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL August 2009: A Commander's Journey: Signups|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
I've got tons of art from the web. Want art for a render? PM me! Want to create your own collection? Start here!
Creature - Angel (R)
Flying
Spells cost 3 more to cast.
Everything bows to her presence.
3/3
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
Creature - Human Monk (R)
Vigilance
If a creature dealt damage by Disciple of Peace this turn would die, return it to its owner's hand instead.
"I will not kill you. You may stay here peacefully, or you may leave. But you will not kill anyone. That I will not allow."
4/5
Creature - Angel (R)
Flying
You may cast Unwavering Guardian from your graveyard as long as you control a legendary creature.
No matter how many times they struck her down, she was always at the hero's side.
4/4
Creature - Demon (R)
Flying
When Basic Tutor enters the battlefield, Search your library for a card with converted mana cost equal to or less than the number of basic lands you control, Add it to your hand then shuffle your library.
"First the basics ..."
2/2
Creature - Sphinx (R)
Flying
Whenever Predictor Sphinx deals combat damage to a player, name a card. Reveal a card at random from your hand. If the card revealed is the card you named, draw a card.
I predict justice!
4/4
@Jimmy: I think you have a wrong creature type
Thought of the Month:
I gave up from trying to require the 'i' on my name: SolesticIo