Of course, after the crime has been committed, the authorities come in and investigate the crime scene.
Challenge: Design a card that represents the process of an investigation. See clarifications. Subchallenge 1: Not a sorcery. Subchallenge 2: Flavour text that's not a quote.
Challenge: While this may be subject to interpretation, I'll lay out some examples. Scrying, drawing cards, getting cards from your graveyard to your hand, etc.
(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.
DEADLINES In green, the next deadline to come.
In blue, further future deadlines to come.
In red, past deadlines.
Player deadline: Wednesday, April 13th 2016 23:59 EDT
Judge deadline: Sunday, April 17th 2016 23:59 EDT
Interrogate
Enchantment (U)
When Interrogate enters the battlefield, exile target creature until Interrogate leaves the battlefield.
When Interrogate enters the battlefield, investigate. (Put a colorless Clue artifact token onto the battlefield with " , Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
Whenever you sacrifice a Clue, you may return Interrogate to its owner's hand. The list of possible suspects was endless.
(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)
Blood Detective1BB
Creature - Vampire (rare)
At the beginning of each end step, if one or more players lost life this turn, you may investigate. B, t, Pay 1 life: Scry 2.
2/2 Each drop that he tastes quenches his thirst for blood and truth.
Daring Investigator3U
Creature - Human Advisor (U)
Whenever another nontoken creature dies, put a hint counter on Daring Investigator.
Whenever Daring Investigator dies, draw a card for each hint counter on it. In the end, he was certain.
2/3
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
Inquisitor MesoxacWUB
Legendary Creature - Human Cleric (M)
Whenever a player casts a spell, put a truth counter on Inquisitor Mesoxac. WUB, Remove seven truth counters from Inquisitor Mesoxac: Search your library for up to seven cards and put those cards into your hand. Then shuffle your library. A glance, a hex, a book, a cup, a rumor, a mirror, and a coin. He had all the pieces.
3/4
Perplexing Revelation2U
Instant (U)
Perplexing Revelation costs 2 less to cast if two or more creature cards in graveyards share a name.
Scry 3, then draw a card. The investigation took an interesting turn when authorities found Erik's corpse. Again.
Well of the Souls
Legendary Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. T: Put a 1/1 black snake token with deathtouch onto the battlefield. T, Sacrifice Well of the Souls: search your library for a card named The Lost Ark, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your library afterwards. "Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?"
- Indiana Jones
Hunt for Accomplices2U
Enchantment (U)
At the beginning of your upkeep, target opponent puts the top three cards of their library into their graveyard. If one of those cards shares a name with a creature that player controls, repeat this process. When the nobles realized they couldn't stop the rebels by force, they switched tactics, arresting those who supported the resistance in an attempt to undermine their logistics and root our their leaders.
Outmaneuver the MastermindU
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant player
At the beginning of your upkeep or whenever a nontoken creature enchanted player controls dies, put a evidence counter on Outmaneuver the Mastermind.
Remove three evidence counters from Outmaneuver the Mastermind: Counter target spell enchanted player controls. Underlings are liabilities.
Spirit Channeler2B
Creature - Human Wizard (R) T, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: Spirit Channeler becomes a copy of the exiled card until end of turn. In a murder investigation, the most valuable witness is the victim.
2/3
Haphazard FriskingGUR
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.
Whenever a creature dies, put another target card from your graveyard on top of your library.
At the beginning of your upkeep, exile a random card from your graveyard. If you do, Haphazard Frisking deals damage equal to that card's converted mana cost to target creature. If they don't have what you want, try shaking them down harder.
Check my "Mark of Quality" articles (link in signature) for a list of the most common Quality mistakes to avoid.
Challenges: what counts is always the letter of the law, unless explicit specifications of the host.
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.
Red Herring1UR
Creature - Fish (U)
Flash
If an opponent would investigate, you investigate instead.
When Red Herring enters the battlefield you may change the target of target spell with a single target. It is an error to miss the forest for all the trees, but a grave error to miss the sea for all the droplets of water.
2/1
Design (2/3) Appeal - Too small for Timmy to care, and investigate isn't a Timmy ability anyway. Johnny likes this card very much, especially the last ability. Spike likes investigating, and even more when he gets to steal his opponents' investigations. (2.5/3) Elegance - The last two abilities (the investigate one and the redirection one) feel mechanically disconnected, and that hurts a bit here. Still, the strong flavor helps alleviate that somehow.
Development (1.5/3) Viability - Mechanically, this could easily be a monoblue card, but I admit that a monoblue card named "RED Herring" would feel very strange. Given that, this has to be part red, and you can justify that because target changing is red too. This really feels like a rare to me, mostly because of the investigation stealing ability. (1.5/3) Balance - I think this is playable in limited, but I have an hard time seeing this in constructed. Maybe if an investigate deck arises this could see some sideboard play against that particular deck, but I can't honestly see such a deck at the moment. Seeing your investigation being stolen will be unfun from the other side of the table, but it's kind of the point of the card and anyway once you get to steal a Clue, you'll hardly get any more, as your opponent just won't investigate anymore. This might as well read "Your opponents can't investigate" in that regard.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - The "I get to investigate instead of you" ability is definitely original and makes this card feel very unique. (3/3) Flavor - The flavor text is very good and I could easily see it printed as is. The name is fine and the fact that it's an English saying (it would be quite hard to translate it into Italian for example, but I know what it means) adds to the flavor. The flavor is also what makes the last two ability feel a bit more connected: they are two different ways to deceive the investigator (aka your opponent).
Polish (2/3) Quality - Investigate is a new mechanic and would certainly have reminder text on an uncommon, especially one that messes heavily with it (half a point deducted). No comma after the trigger condition (half a point deducted). (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Inquisitor MesoxacWUB
Legendary Creature - Human Cleric (M)
Whenever a player casts a spell, put a truth counter on Inquisitor Mesoxac. WUB, Remove seven truth counters from Inquisitor Mesoxac: Search your library for up to seven cards and put those cards into your hand. Then shuffle your library. A glance, a hex, a book, a cup, a rumor, a mirror, and a coin. He had all the pieces.
3/4
Design (2/3) Appeal - Timmy could use this to look for big creatures and such, but his fun is in playing them, not searching for them. To Johnny this reads "put your whole combo and even more into your hand", so how can't he like it? Spike likes tutoring too, but he realizes there is quite a price to pay for it. (2/3) Elegance - Wordy, but understandable enough.
Development (1.5/3) Viability - Mechanically, this is a monoblack card, as tutoring for any card is strictly black. Maybe you could say the trigger condition feels more blue than black, even though blue is really there only for flavor: the name of the counters ("truth"), which can easily be adapted anyway, and the investigation flavor. I can't see anything white here, neither in mechanics nor in flavor. As for rarity, there's no way tutoring for seven cards isn't mythic by itself. (0.5/3) Balance - Power and toughness are fine for a mythic, even though the real strength of this card is obviously in the tutoring. Casting seven spells among all players is a noticeable price, but is it high enough for the huge reward of tutoring seven cards? It could be, playtest would be needed to say that. Anyway, I can't see anything that tutors for any seven cards being printed for real. There are big issues of repetitive play and power level here. This would be a must-play in limited and very probably constructed worthy, but I just can't see a realistic way it would see print. Repetitive play is an issue in casual too, actually even more than in competitive formats.
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - Tutoring for seven cards makes this very unique, even though I'm not sure it's in a good way. (3/3) Flavor - The flavor is very good, especially the flavor text that gives a really nice justification for the seven counters required and the seven cards you get to search for.
Polish (3/3) Quality - All good here. (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Perplexing Revelation2U
Instant (U)
Perplexing Revelation costs 2 less to cast if two or more creature cards in graveyards share a name.
Scry 3, then draw a card. The investigation took an interesting turn when authorities found Erik's corpse. Again.
Design (2/3) Appeal - Timmy doesn't care. Johnny likes digging into his library for combo pieces, and he also has the added challenge of how to put two creatures with the same name into graveyards. Spike loves the effect, and even more the potential to get it at a huge discount. (3/3) Elegance - I see no problems here.
Development (2.5/3) Viability - No problems with the color pie. This feels like a pushed uncommon to me, but if I imagine this at rare it would indeed be a little underwhelming. (2.5/3) Balance - I'll admit I'm a bit concerned about the cost reduction, as "scry 3 then draw" is just too powerful at one mana, but it just feels appropriate that the condition to achieve the cost reduction is something that usually only happens in the late game. It would be quite hard to cast this for one mana in the first few turns of the game. It would be interesting to test this with selfmill. If you have room for a card drawing spell in your limited deck, this is what you're looking for. I could also see this getting some constructed play. I see no particular problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - The cost reduction condition is new and feels very original. The rest not as much, but it's still good enough. (3/3) Flavor - The name is fine and makes sense with the card concept. I love the flavor text, it feels like something professional that could be printed as is. Also, it manages to justify flavorfully the cost reduction with just a single word ("Again"). Wonderful work!
Polish (2.5/3) Quality - "Share a name" is nonstandard wording with no existing precedent. Cards like Candles of Leng, Curse of Misfortunes, Pyromancer Ascension, and Scalpelexis suggest the right wording would be "have the same name" (half a point deducted). (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Codi and Murph, Kid DetectivesUU
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (Rare)
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, you may pay 1. If you do, investigate. Whenever a case goes cold, Codi and Murph are there to heat it up!
2/2
Design (1.5/3) Appeal - Timmy doesn't care. Johnny may use investigate to dig into his library for combo pieces, but it's hard for him to do that reliably. Spike really does not like that this relies on your opponent doing something, but he likes drawing cards. (3/3) Elegance - It would be hard to do better in this regard.
Development (3/3) Viability - No problems with the color pie. Rarity feels justified by investigate being repeatable. (0.5/3) Balance - I think this would cause a stasis-like gameplay that feels really unfun. This is a card that discourages your opponents from casting any spell to avoid giving you card advantage. That's not good from a gameplay perspective, even if it might be very good for you from a strategic point of view. This looks playable in limited with these stats, but I don't think it would see constructed play, it's just way too conditional.
Creativity (2/3) Uniqueness - Investigate is still new and this is a nice twist on it, so overall it feels fresh enough even without anything particularly original. (2/3) Flavor - I really do not like the overall flavor here, and especially the flavor text. It just feels too childish to me. I understand it's meant to represent two children, but it still feels too pushed for a black border Magic card. I'd see this flavor much better on a silver-bordered card. I actually feel like there may be some hidden reference I'm missing here, and unfortunately Google didn't help me (I tried). I think it may be something obvious in the USA but almost unknown outside. If that's the case, I apologize.So I was indeed missing something. The "kid detective" trope makes the flavor of this card fine, even if I'm still convinced it wouldn't be something we would see printed on a real Magic card.
Polish (2.5/3) Quality - Investigate is a new mechanic and would certainly have reminder text here as there is a lot of room for it (half a point deducted). (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (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.)
Haphazard FriskingGUR
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.
Whenever a creature dies, put another target card from your graveyard on top of your library.
At the beginning of your upkeep, exile a random card from your graveyard. If you do, Haphazard Frisking deals damage equal to that card's converted mana cost to target creature. If they don't have what you want, try shaking them down harder.
Design -
(3/3) Appeal - Timmy gets his stuff back. Johnny and Spike get value with proper play.
(0.5/3) Elegance - This is a ton of stuff to remember, and it takes a lot of stretching for me to understand how the mechanics fit the flavor.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: No color pie, rules or rarity issues.
(2/3) Balance: Having a meaningful ability that triggers off every creature death is really going to bog down some multiplayer games. The number of rules is also somewhat unpalatable in multiplayer.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: This card is unique, but some of that is simply due to having a ton of rules.
(0.5/3) Flavor: Haphazard Frisking sounds like a red sorcery. I am not sold at all on the mechanic-flavor connection.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(2/2) *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?
(2/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: 18/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Spirit Channeler2B
Creature - Human Wizard (R) T, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: Spirit Channeler becomes a copy of the exiled card until end of turn. In a murder investigation, the most valuable witness is the victim.
2/3
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Maybe johnny or spike can break this, but timmy cant.
(3/3) Elegance: very elegant.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: black doesn't copy stuff.
(2.5/3) Balance: generally bad in limited, outside of specific environments.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Its been done.
(3/3) Flavor: very flavorful.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(2/2) *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?
(2/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: 21/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Seize the Suspect1UW
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
Enchant creature
You control enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature can't attack. In contrast to the rest of the guild, the Azorius lawmages are quick in action.
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Strong card, somewhat difficult for johnny to build around.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The card gives you more than the title would imply.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: no pie, rules or rarity issues.
(0/3) Balance: This card is insanely broken. Compare this to Stasis Snare. Consider all the creatures that don't need to attack to be strong.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: stealing with a drawback has been done, but this is a flavorful incarnation.
(2/3) Flavor: It isn't clear why a seized suspect would start working for you.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(2/2) *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?
(2/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: 18.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny might find a combo. Spike is likely to play with it.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: I think this should be rare, since you get to investigate every time this enters the battlefield.
(2/3) Balance: Maybe this should cost 1 more, to avoid abuse. You can cast it, sac the Clue, then play it again, not necessarily in the same turn.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Stasis Snare with investigate.
(3/3) Flavor: No problems here.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 21/25
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: If Johnny likes drawing cards, this would help. Spike would like it, too.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: Maybe this should be mythic rare.
(0/3) Balance: I said in Uniqueness that this hasn't been seen before, and there's a reason: It would make any card that lets you scry potentially broken. It would turn Serum Visions into Ancestral Recall. With Cryptic Annelid, get a 1/4 creature and SIX cards for just four mana. So no, I don;t think this will ever be printed.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Definitely haven't seen this before.
(3/3) Flavor: No problems here.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 20/25
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny might play with this. Spike might play with it, too.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: No problems here.
(2/3) Balance: Crystal Ball lets you scry 2 for just one mana, so the activated ability could cost one black mana or, to fit the flavour, keep the pay 1 life part.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: The first line hasn't been done before, but there is another set after Shadows of Innistrad, so, maybe...
(3/3) Flavor: No problems here.
Polish -
(1/3) Quality: The first line should read “At the beginning of each end step, if a player lost life this turn, you may investigate. (Damage causes loss of life.) Compare this to Bloodchief Ascension.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 21/25
Design -
(1/3) Appeal: Johnny would play with this.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: No problems here.
(3/3) Balance: Casting cost and body all seem reasonable.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: There not much here that hasn't been done before.
(3/3) Flavor: No problems here.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: “When CARDNAME dies...”
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met
Kid Detectives are a pretty common trope here in the US; I'm surprised it isn't more well-known globally. Sources that use the kid detective trope include Nancy Drew, Encyclopedia Brown, the Hardy Boys, Gravity Falls, and Scooby Doo.
I knew I was missing something, thanks for pointing this out. I'll recheck my judgments tomorrow. For what it's worth, between those you mention the only one I know (and vaguely) is Scooby Doo.
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.)
Well of the Souls
Legendary Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. T: Put a 1/1 black snake token with deathtouch onto the battlefield. T, Sacrifice Well of the Souls: search your library for a card named The Lost Ark, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your library afterwards. "Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?"
- Indiana Jones
Design -
(1.5/3) Appeal: Spikes definitely love this card, I'm not quite so sure about Johnnies and Timmies.
(2/3) Elegance: It's understandable... if you know Indiana Jones/adventure style. Otherwise, you're relying on art to tie together the snakes, well, and Lost Ark.
Development -
(1.5/3) Viability: It's a land, so it's hard to say it's breaking anything about the color pie, but it should definitely be a mythic.
(.5/3) Balance: I looked on gatherer, and I couldn't find any land that enabled a free creature per turn, much less a deathtouch one. In addition, this lets you sac it to find another land if it's not working for you, and it hits the land untapped. It's legendary at least, but still, this is a near auto include in multiple decks through multiple formats.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: There have been cards that make creatures. I don't know of many lands that sac to find a unique land though. It might be interesting to see a cycle of lands that fetch different "levels".
(1.5/3) Flavor: Well of Lost Souls is a bit specific for those that aren't familiar with the reference. The quote at least explains where the movie comes from.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: No problem.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: It's not quite the expectation I had for an "investigation", but I think it gets there.
(1/2) Subchallenges: Flavor text was a quote.
Hunt for Accomplices2U
Enchantment (U)
At the beginning of your upkeep, target opponent puts the top three cards of their library into their graveyard. If one of those cards shares a name with a creature that player controls, repeat this process. When the nobles realized they couldn't stop the rebels by force, they switched tactics, arresting those who supported the resistance in an attempt to undermine their logistics and root our their leaders.
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: A Johnny card, to be sure. And Vorthos.
(2.5/3) Elegance: It takes a moment to "get it". I'm not sure it gets there all the way, but it gets far enough.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: I don't see any issues here.
(2/3) Balance: I think this is mostly a limited/casual card, as it seems relatively simple to play around. At most, it will likely mill 10 to 15 cards, which isn't bad, but I'm not sure anyone would be able to make a constructed deck around it. Maybe?
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: I think this is an interesting way to combine blue's love of mill with decent flavor.
(2.5/3) Flavor: It mostly works.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: I'm not sure that first comma needs to be there... but that's just ticky-tack.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Sure.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yup.
Outmaneuver the MastermindU
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant player
At the beginning of your upkeep or whenever a nontoken creature enchanted player controls dies, put a evidence counter on Outmaneuver the Mastermind.
Remove three evidence counters from Outmaneuver the Mastermind: Counter target spell enchanted player controls. Underlings are liabilities.
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: I think this is another Johnny/Vorthos card. Which makes sense for investigation.
(2/3) Elegance: If anything, when I think of "mooks", I think of nontoken creatures. I think most nontoken creature decks usually are putting out there mooks before this card would come online, but it would punish them for not getting there in time. But at a cost of just U, throwing out three of these early might be painful. Maybe if it was 1U?
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: I think I might put this as a "once per turn" thing, just to prevent the feel-bads of being an opponent and seeing six counters on there and knowing I might as well just forfeit.
(2/3) Balance: I'm not sure this works so much in multiplayer, but I'm sure somebody would want to jam it in their deck. It could be a fun pet card. I don't think it's too oppressive, apart from the possible example mentioned above.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: This feels fresh to me. There's cards that use counters, but none to my experience use counters to... well... counter.
(2.5/3) Flavor: I think the name is a little wordy.
Polish -
(2.75/3) Quality: I believe it should be "an" evidence counter.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Good.
Total: 21.75/25
1) Ink-Treader
2) Jimmy Groove
3) Rhand
Please let me know if I've messed anything up, like math.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Club Flamingo Entries: +50
Club Flamingo Wins: 1!
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ANATOMY OF A MYSTERY
Round 2: The Crime Scene
Of course, after the crime has been committed, the authorities come in and investigate the crime scene.
Challenge: Design a card that represents the process of an investigation. See clarifications.
Subchallenge 1: Not a sorcery.
Subchallenge 2: Flavour text that's not a quote.
MCC Rules
(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.
DEADLINES
In green, the next deadline to come.
In blue, further future deadlines to come.
In red, past deadlines.
Player deadline: Wednesday, April 13th 2016 23:59 EDT
Judge deadline: Sunday, April 17th 2016 23:59 EDT
Judges:
Moss_Elemental
bravelion83
LnGrrrR
aurorasparrow
Players:
ArchSinncubus
doomfish
Flatline
glurman
Ink-Treader
Jimmy Groove
proudawesome
Rhand
riliss
SelesnyaNewLife
Sunshinesoldier
Tesco(black)lotus
theazurespirit
thenoodler
TriceDefied
void_nothing
Good luck, everyone
Enchantment (U)
When Interrogate enters the battlefield, exile target creature until Interrogate leaves the battlefield.
When Interrogate enters the battlefield, investigate. (Put a colorless Clue artifact token onto the battlefield with " , Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
Whenever you sacrifice a Clue, you may return Interrogate to its owner's hand.
The list of possible suspects was endless.
Creature - Vampire (rare)
At the beginning of each end step, if one or more players lost life this turn, you may investigate.
B, t, Pay 1 life: Scry 2.
2/2
Each drop that he tastes quenches his thirst for blood and truth.
Creature - Human Advisor (U)
Whenever another nontoken creature dies, put a hint counter on Daring Investigator.
Whenever Daring Investigator dies, draw a card for each hint counter on it.
In the end, he was certain.
2/3
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
Legendary Creature - Human Cleric (M)
Whenever a player casts a spell, put a truth counter on Inquisitor Mesoxac.
WUB, Remove seven truth counters from Inquisitor Mesoxac: Search your library for up to seven cards and put those cards into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
A glance, a hex, a book, a cup, a rumor, a mirror, and a coin. He had all the pieces.
3/4
GWU Bant Manifest - The Future Is Here. Or it will be at the end of turn. GWU
Instant (U)
Perplexing Revelation costs 2 less to cast if two or more creature cards in graveyards share a name.
Scry 3, then draw a card.
The investigation took an interesting turn when authorities found Erik's corpse. Again.
Legendary Land (R)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
T: Put a 1/1 black snake token with deathtouch onto the battlefield.
T, Sacrifice Well of the Souls: search your library for a card named The Lost Ark, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your library afterwards.
"Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?"
- Indiana Jones
Enchantment (U)
At the beginning of your upkeep, target opponent puts the top three cards of their library into their graveyard. If one of those cards shares a name with a creature that player controls, repeat this process.
When the nobles realized they couldn't stop the rebels by force, they switched tactics, arresting those who supported the resistance in an attempt to undermine their logistics and root our their leaders.
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant player
At the beginning of your upkeep or whenever a nontoken creature enchanted player controls dies, put a evidence counter on Outmaneuver the Mastermind.
Remove three evidence counters from Outmaneuver the Mastermind: Counter target spell enchanted player controls.
Underlings are liabilities.
Choose one of these judge of creation:
Make Strionic Resonator shine!
You can not grasp the true form of Ashiok's attack!
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
T, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: Spirit Channeler becomes a copy of the exiled card until end of turn.
In a murder investigation, the most valuable witness is the victim.
2/3
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.
Whenever a creature dies, put another target card from your graveyard on top of your library.
At the beginning of your upkeep, exile a random card from your graveyard. If you do, Haphazard Frisking deals damage equal to that card's converted mana cost to target creature.
If they don't have what you want, try shaking them down harder.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Moss_Elemental
Flatline
TriceDefied
Tesco(black)lotus
doomfish
bravelion83
sunshinesoldier
riliss
glurman
SelesnyaNewLife
LnGrrrR
Rhand
Jimmy Groove
Ink-Treader
ArchSinncubus*
aurorasparrow
theazurespirit
thenoodler
void_nothing
proudawesome*
* They haven't submitted a card as of this post, but just in case...
The top two from each bracket advances.
Check my "Mark of Quality" articles (link in signature) for a list of the most common Quality mistakes to avoid.
Challenges: what counts is always the letter of the law, unless explicit specifications of the host.
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.
Design
(2/3) Appeal - Too small for Timmy to care, and investigate isn't a Timmy ability anyway. Johnny likes this card very much, especially the last ability. Spike likes investigating, and even more when he gets to steal his opponents' investigations.
(2.5/3) Elegance - The last two abilities (the investigate one and the redirection one) feel mechanically disconnected, and that hurts a bit here. Still, the strong flavor helps alleviate that somehow.
Development
(1.5/3) Viability - Mechanically, this could easily be a monoblue card, but I admit that a monoblue card named "RED Herring" would feel very strange. Given that, this has to be part red, and you can justify that because target changing is red too. This really feels like a rare to me, mostly because of the investigation stealing ability.
(1.5/3) Balance - I think this is playable in limited, but I have an hard time seeing this in constructed. Maybe if an investigate deck arises this could see some sideboard play against that particular deck, but I can't honestly see such a deck at the moment. Seeing your investigation being stolen will be unfun from the other side of the table, but it's kind of the point of the card and anyway once you get to steal a Clue, you'll hardly get any more, as your opponent just won't investigate anymore. This might as well read "Your opponents can't investigate" in that regard.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - The "I get to investigate instead of you" ability is definitely original and makes this card feel very unique.
(3/3) Flavor - The flavor text is very good and I could easily see it printed as is. The name is fine and the fact that it's an English saying (it would be quite hard to translate it into Italian for example, but I know what it means) adds to the flavor. The flavor is also what makes the last two ability feel a bit more connected: they are two different ways to deceive the investigator (aka your opponent).
Polish
(2/3) Quality - Investigate is a new mechanic and would certainly have reminder text on an uncommon, especially one that messes heavily with it (half a point deducted). No comma after the trigger condition (half a point deducted).
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 19.5/25
Design
(2/3) Appeal - Timmy could use this to look for big creatures and such, but his fun is in playing them, not searching for them. To Johnny this reads "put your whole combo and even more into your hand", so how can't he like it? Spike likes tutoring too, but he realizes there is quite a price to pay for it.
(2/3) Elegance - Wordy, but understandable enough.
Development
(1.5/3) Viability - Mechanically, this is a monoblack card, as tutoring for any card is strictly black. Maybe you could say the trigger condition feels more blue than black, even though blue is really there only for flavor: the name of the counters ("truth"), which can easily be adapted anyway, and the investigation flavor. I can't see anything white here, neither in mechanics nor in flavor. As for rarity, there's no way tutoring for seven cards isn't mythic by itself.
(0.5/3) Balance - Power and toughness are fine for a mythic, even though the real strength of this card is obviously in the tutoring. Casting seven spells among all players is a noticeable price, but is it high enough for the huge reward of tutoring seven cards? It could be, playtest would be needed to say that. Anyway, I can't see anything that tutors for any seven cards being printed for real. There are big issues of repetitive play and power level here. This would be a must-play in limited and very probably constructed worthy, but I just can't see a realistic way it would see print. Repetitive play is an issue in casual too, actually even more than in competitive formats.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - Tutoring for seven cards makes this very unique, even though I'm not sure it's in a good way.
(3/3) Flavor - The flavor is very good, especially the flavor text that gives a really nice justification for the seven counters required and the seven cards you get to search for.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - All good here.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 18.5/25
Design
(2/3) Appeal - Timmy doesn't care. Johnny likes digging into his library for combo pieces, and he also has the added challenge of how to put two creatures with the same name into graveyards. Spike loves the effect, and even more the potential to get it at a huge discount.
(3/3) Elegance - I see no problems here.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability - No problems with the color pie. This feels like a pushed uncommon to me, but if I imagine this at rare it would indeed be a little underwhelming.
(2.5/3) Balance - I'll admit I'm a bit concerned about the cost reduction, as "scry 3 then draw" is just too powerful at one mana, but it just feels appropriate that the condition to achieve the cost reduction is something that usually only happens in the late game. It would be quite hard to cast this for one mana in the first few turns of the game. It would be interesting to test this with selfmill. If you have room for a card drawing spell in your limited deck, this is what you're looking for. I could also see this getting some constructed play. I see no particular problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - The cost reduction condition is new and feels very original. The rest not as much, but it's still good enough.
(3/3) Flavor - The name is fine and makes sense with the card concept. I love the flavor text, it feels like something professional that could be printed as is. Also, it manages to justify flavorfully the cost reduction with just a single word ("Again"). Wonderful work!
Polish
(2.5/3) Quality - "Share a name" is nonstandard wording with no existing precedent. Cards like Candles of Leng, Curse of Misfortunes, Pyromancer Ascension, and Scalpelexis suggest the right wording would be "have the same name" (half a point deducted).
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 22/25
Design
(1.5/3) Appeal - Timmy doesn't care. Johnny may use investigate to dig into his library for combo pieces, but it's hard for him to do that reliably. Spike really does not like that this relies on your opponent doing something, but he likes drawing cards.
(3/3) Elegance - It would be hard to do better in this regard.
Development
(3/3) Viability - No problems with the color pie. Rarity feels justified by investigate being repeatable.
(0.5/3) Balance - I think this would cause a stasis-like gameplay that feels really unfun. This is a card that discourages your opponents from casting any spell to avoid giving you card advantage. That's not good from a gameplay perspective, even if it might be very good for you from a strategic point of view. This looks playable in limited with these stats, but I don't think it would see constructed play, it's just way too conditional.
Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness - Investigate is still new and this is a nice twist on it, so overall it feels fresh enough even without anything particularly original.
(2/3) Flavor -
I really do not like the overall flavor here, and especially the flavor text. It just feels too childish to me. I understand it's meant to represent two children, but it still feels too pushed for a black border Magic card. I'd see this flavor much better on a silver-bordered card. I actually feel like there may be some hidden reference I'm missing here, and unfortunately Google didn't help me (I tried). I think it may be something obvious in the USA but almost unknown outside. If that's the case, I apologize.So I was indeed missing something. The "kid detective" trope makes the flavor of this card fine, even if I'm still convinced it wouldn't be something we would see printed on a real Magic card.Polish
(2.5/3) Quality - Investigate is a new mechanic and would certainly have reminder text here as there is a lot of room for it (half a point deducted).
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 19/25
glurman: 22
sunshinesoldier: 19.5
SelesnyaNewLife: 19
riliss: 18.5
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here)
CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016
DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for:
"Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index. Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
Design -
(3/3) Appeal - Timmy gets his stuff back. Johnny and Spike get value with proper play.
(0.5/3) Elegance - This is a ton of stuff to remember, and it takes a lot of stretching for me to understand how the mechanics fit the flavor.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: No color pie, rules or rarity issues.
(2/3) Balance: Having a meaningful ability that triggers off every creature death is really going to bog down some multiplayer games. The number of rules is also somewhat unpalatable in multiplayer.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: This card is unique, but some of that is simply due to having a ton of rules.
(0.5/3) Flavor: Haphazard Frisking sounds like a red sorcery. I am not sold at all on the mechanic-flavor connection.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(2/2) *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?
(2/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: 18/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Maybe johnny or spike can break this, but timmy cant.
(3/3) Elegance: very elegant.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: black doesn't copy stuff.
(2.5/3) Balance: generally bad in limited, outside of specific environments.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Its been done.
(3/3) Flavor: very flavorful.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(2/2) *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?
(2/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: 21/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Strong card, somewhat difficult for johnny to build around.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The card gives you more than the title would imply.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: no pie, rules or rarity issues.
(0/3) Balance: This card is insanely broken. Compare this to Stasis Snare. Consider all the creatures that don't need to attack to be strong.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: stealing with a drawback has been done, but this is a flavorful incarnation.
(2/3) Flavor: It isn't clear why a seized suspect would start working for you.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(2/2) *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?
(2/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: 18.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
1. theazuredrake
2. thenoodler
4th place at CCC&G Pro Tour
Chances of bad hands (<2 or >4 land):
21: 28.9%
22: 27.5%
23: 26.3%
24: 25.5%
25: 25.1%
26: 25.3%
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny might find a combo. Spike is likely to play with it.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: I think this should be rare, since you get to investigate every time this enters the battlefield.
(2/3) Balance: Maybe this should cost 1 more, to avoid abuse. You can cast it, sac the Clue, then play it again, not necessarily in the same turn.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Stasis Snare with investigate.
(3/3) Flavor: No problems here.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 21/25
(2/3) Appeal: If Johnny likes drawing cards, this would help. Spike would like it, too.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: Maybe this should be mythic rare.
(0/3) Balance: I said in Uniqueness that this hasn't been seen before, and there's a reason: It would make any card that lets you scry potentially broken. It would turn Serum Visions into Ancestral Recall. With Cryptic Annelid, get a 1/4 creature and SIX cards for just four mana. So no, I don;t think this will ever be printed.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Definitely haven't seen this before.
(3/3) Flavor: No problems here.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 20/25
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny might play with this. Spike might play with it, too.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: No problems here.
(2/3) Balance: Crystal Ball lets you scry 2 for just one mana, so the activated ability could cost one black mana or, to fit the flavour, keep the pay 1 life part.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: The first line hasn't been done before, but there is another set after Shadows of Innistrad, so, maybe...
(3/3) Flavor: No problems here.
Polish -
(1/3) Quality: The first line should read “At the beginning of each end step, if a player lost life this turn, you may investigate. (Damage causes loss of life.) Compare this to Bloodchief Ascension.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 21/25
(1/3) Appeal: Johnny would play with this.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: No problems here.
(3/3) Balance: Casting cost and body all seem reasonable.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: There not much here that hasn't been done before.
(3/3) Flavor: No problems here.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: “When CARDNAME dies...”
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met
Total: 20/25
TriceDefied: 20
Tesco(black)lotus: 21
doomfish: 20
As always, no complaints, and it's not final until the deadline has passed.
I knew I was missing something, thanks for pointing this out. I'll recheck my judgments tomorrow. For what it's worth, between those you mention the only one I know (and vaguely) is Scooby Doo.
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 -
(1.5/3) Appeal: Spikes definitely love this card, I'm not quite so sure about Johnnies and Timmies.
(2/3) Elegance: It's understandable... if you know Indiana Jones/adventure style. Otherwise, you're relying on art to tie together the snakes, well, and Lost Ark.
Development -
(1.5/3) Viability: It's a land, so it's hard to say it's breaking anything about the color pie, but it should definitely be a mythic.
(.5/3) Balance: I looked on gatherer, and I couldn't find any land that enabled a free creature per turn, much less a deathtouch one. In addition, this lets you sac it to find another land if it's not working for you, and it hits the land untapped. It's legendary at least, but still, this is a near auto include in multiple decks through multiple formats.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: There have been cards that make creatures. I don't know of many lands that sac to find a unique land though. It might be interesting to see a cycle of lands that fetch different "levels".
(1.5/3) Flavor: Well of Lost Souls is a bit specific for those that aren't familiar with the reference. The quote at least explains where the movie comes from.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: No problem.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: It's not quite the expectation I had for an "investigation", but I think it gets there.
(1/2) Subchallenges: Flavor text was a quote.
Total: 14.5/25
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: A Johnny card, to be sure. And Vorthos.
(2.5/3) Elegance: It takes a moment to "get it". I'm not sure it gets there all the way, but it gets far enough.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: I don't see any issues here.
(2/3) Balance: I think this is mostly a limited/casual card, as it seems relatively simple to play around. At most, it will likely mill 10 to 15 cards, which isn't bad, but I'm not sure anyone would be able to make a constructed deck around it. Maybe?
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: I think this is an interesting way to combine blue's love of mill with decent flavor.
(2.5/3) Flavor: It mostly works.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: I'm not sure that first comma needs to be there... but that's just ticky-tack.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Sure.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yup.
Total: 21/25
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: I think this is another Johnny/Vorthos card. Which makes sense for investigation.
(2/3) Elegance: If anything, when I think of "mooks", I think of nontoken creatures. I think most nontoken creature decks usually are putting out there mooks before this card would come online, but it would punish them for not getting there in time. But at a cost of just U, throwing out three of these early might be painful. Maybe if it was 1U?
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: I think I might put this as a "once per turn" thing, just to prevent the feel-bads of being an opponent and seeing six counters on there and knowing I might as well just forfeit.
(2/3) Balance: I'm not sure this works so much in multiplayer, but I'm sure somebody would want to jam it in their deck. It could be a fun pet card. I don't think it's too oppressive, apart from the possible example mentioned above.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: This feels fresh to me. There's cards that use counters, but none to my experience use counters to... well... counter.
(2.5/3) Flavor: I think the name is a little wordy.
Polish -
(2.75/3) Quality: I believe it should be "an" evidence counter.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Good.
Total: 21.75/25
1) Ink-Treader
2) Jimmy Groove
3) Rhand
Please let me know if I've messed anything up, like math.
Club Flamingo Wins: 1!