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.
A huge part of design is being able to iterate and improve on the designs of others. Throughout the month you have all judged each others cards, now its time to be able to act on your judgements. Don't just give criticism and not solutions. Design! Iterate! Show us what you got!
Our Finalists: Flatline and Selesticio
So our challenge is Choose three cards designed by other contestants in previous rounds of the January CCL. Redesign and improve those card. Note the restrictions below:
Your new designs don't have to follow all the restrictions of the challenge the original was in.
All three original cards can't be from the same round.
All three original cards can't be from the same designer.
You may add what you felt was wrong about the original card if you feel it was necessary.
None Yet
Feel free to ask questions if your unsure about anything in the Discussion Thread
I'm starting off with my favorite card from the month (Hemlock's round 3 entry). I am applying the change I suggested when the discussion was had as to whether or not the card is too powerful. I think this is an excellent way to tone it down a bit.
Imagine into RealityXUUU
Sorcery (Rare)
Reveal the top X cards of your library. You may put any number of permanent cards with converted mana cost X or less from among them onto the battlefield. Then put all cards revealed this way that weren't put onto the battlefield into your graveyard.
Mass Produce
Sorcery (R)
Reveal the top X cards of your library. You may put any number of artifact cards with converted mana cost X or less from among them onto the battlefield. Then put all cards revealed this way that weren't put onto the battlefield into your graveyard.
Last, let's look at Koopa's color bleed entry from the Top 8 round. I felt his card was a bit efficient for repeated mono-green creature removal. I've powered the card down quite a bit here by making it require Jund colors to get the full effect. Also, the card is no longer a color bleed(break?).
Whiptail Scorpion2G
Creature - Scorpion (R)
Deathtouch 2G, T: Whiptail Scorpion deals damage equal to it's power to another target creature. I don't think even Zegana could manufacture a more efficient killing machine.
1/1
Flametail Scorpion1BG
Creature - Scorpion (R)
Deathtouch 2R, T: Flametail Scorpion deals 1 damage to target creature. "The Dragon swarms of Jund may be impressive, but it is often the less awe inspiring creatures that lead to one's demise."
1/3
(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)
Thanks for the heads up Selesticio. You saved me some research. I kinda felt like a card like that might already exist, which is part of the reason I said in last night's PM that I might be changing one of my entries. I'll have to post something new tonight. Thanks again!
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
(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)
It was quite hard to find 3 cards that I could fix without changing them completely. Some were just good, others just too flawed, and I really wanted to respect the creators' ideas and flavor, along with the source challenge.
In the 1st round we were asked to create an iconic creature. Forestguy came up with a quite interesting design, but that needed some tweaking.
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
Nightshade Demon2BB
Creature - Demon (R)
Flying
When Nightshade Demon enters the battlefield, if you cast it from your hand, you may search your library for a card with converted mana cost less than or equal to the number of Swamps you control, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. Your void of knowledge is as dark as my mind.
3/3
In the 3rd round, we needed to create a hybrid design, that would fit both colors as a mono-colored card. Koopa did a good job on this one, but there were some concerns regarding 0 mana creatures.
Blundering Mastodon(G/W)
Creature - Elephant (U)
When Blundering Mastodon enters the battlefield, return a creature you control to its owner's hand. "As graceful as a mastodon" - Abzan saying for "A disaster on legs".
3/3
Blundering Mastodon(G/W)
Creature - Elephant (U)
When Blundering Mastodon enters the battlefield, return a green or white creature you control to its owner's hand. "As graceful as a mastodon" - Abzan saying for "A disaster on legs".
3/3
Finally, in one of the toughest rounds ever, we had to design a bleed and a break card. Asrama designed one of my favorite breaks, but most players detected a major flaw I missed as well: it's almost impossible to get rid of this (Dovescape too, but at least it's much cheaper). I also felt that red should leave creatures alone, so I added two clauses instead of one.
Break:
Immolate the Æther2RRR
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a player casts a spell, counter it. Immolate the Æther deals damage equal to that spell's converted mana cost to target creature or player of that spell's controller choice. Raya could feel the rage bubbling within her. "What will we do now?", asked Attama. "Burn it", came the answer. "Burn it all".
It should be pretty obvious: Red does not get to counter spells. Much like other red pie-breaking cards like Final Fortune, and Form of the Dragon, the flavor allows it do something that it otherwise wouldn't. Countering here isn't about control or preventing your opponent from achieving their goals, but rather turning the spells into pure energy that fans greater and greater flames.
Immolate the Æther1RRR
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a player casts a noncreature spell, if it doesn't target Immolate the Æther, counter it. Immolate the Æther deals damage equal to that spell's converted mana cost to target creature or player of that spell's controller choice. Raya could feel the rage bubbling within her. "What will we do now?", asked Attama. "Burn it", came the answer. "Burn it all".
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.
A huge part of design is being able to iterate and improve on the designs of others. Throughout the month you have all judged each others cards, now its time to be able to act on your judgements. Don't just give criticism and not solutions. Design! Iterate! Show us what you got!
Our Finalists: Flatline and Selesticio
So our challenge is Choose three cards designed by other contestants in previous rounds of the January CCL. Redesign and improve those card. Note the restrictions below:
Due Date: Whenever your finished.
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
Thought of the Month:
I gave up from trying to require the 'i' on my name: SolesticIo
ANYTHING GOES
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
I'm starting off with my favorite card from the month (Hemlock's round 3 entry). I am applying the change I suggested when the discussion was had as to whether or not the card is too powerful. I think this is an excellent way to tone it down a bit.
Gentle Rain
Sorcery (U)
Untap target basic land.
Draw a card.
"When the sky breaths life into the earth, no flower can resist the joy"
Next, let's take netn10's blue take on Genesis Wave from round 2 and make it work in blue...
Mass Produce
Sorcery (R)
Reveal the top X cards of your library. You may put any number of artifact cards with converted mana cost X or less from among them onto the battlefield. Then put all cards revealed this way that weren't put onto the battlefield into your graveyard.
Last, let's look at Koopa's color bleed entry from the Top 8 round. I felt his card was a bit efficient for repeated mono-green creature removal. I've powered the card down quite a bit here by making it require Jund colors to get the full effect. Also, the card is no longer a color bleed(break?).
Flametail Scorpion 1BG
Creature - Scorpion (R)
Deathtouch
2R, T: Flametail Scorpion deals 1 damage to target creature.
"The Dragon swarms of Jund may be impressive, but it is often the less awe inspiring creatures that lead to one's demise."
1/3
Thought of the Month:
I gave up from trying to require the 'i' on my name: SolesticIo
In the 1st round we were asked to create an iconic creature. Forestguy came up with a quite interesting design, but that needed some tweaking.
Nightshade Demon 2BB
Creature - Demon (R)
Flying
When Nightshade Demon enters the battlefield, if you cast it from your hand, you may search your library for a card with converted mana cost less than or equal to the number of Swamps you control, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
Your void of knowledge is as dark as my mind.
3/3
In the 3rd round, we needed to create a hybrid design, that would fit both colors as a mono-colored card. Koopa did a good job on this one, but there were some concerns regarding 0 mana creatures.
Blundering Mastodon (G/W)
Creature - Elephant (U)
When Blundering Mastodon enters the battlefield, return a green or white creature you control to its owner's hand.
"As graceful as a mastodon" - Abzan saying for "A disaster on legs".
3/3
Finally, in one of the toughest rounds ever, we had to design a bleed and a break card. Asrama designed one of my favorite breaks, but most players detected a major flaw I missed as well: it's almost impossible to get rid of this (Dovescape too, but at least it's much cheaper). I also felt that red should leave creatures alone, so I added two clauses instead of one.
Immolate the Æther 1RRR
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a player casts a noncreature spell, if it doesn't target Immolate the Æther, counter it. Immolate the Æther deals damage equal to that spell's converted mana cost to target creature or player of that spell's controller choice.
Raya could feel the rage bubbling within her. "What will we do now?", asked Attama. "Burn it", came the answer. "Burn it all".
Thought of the Month:
I gave up from trying to require the 'i' on my name: SolesticIo