A twisted, multi-tentacled, biology-defying man... with no face and a magenta eye... oh wait, that's not an eye! And that's not a man! That's an Eldrazi titan! And it just got trapped into the Heron Moon of Innistrad! It has been literally *melded* with the moon! Emrakul and the moon are now a single thing.
Main Challenge: Design a meld pair. Please see clarifications (really, this time do check them, they're important).
Subchallenges:
1- Both front sides share the same color identity.
2- At least one of the front sides is NOT a creature.
On the Main Challenge:
• A meld pair is two cards with a complete Magic card on the front side and half of an oversized Magic card on the back side. One of the two cards' front face has an ability that exiles them both and then melds them, making the combined oversized Magic card on the back faces enter the battlefield as a single permanent. Pay attention to the wording of the melding ability. If you have doubts, check the existing meld cards, which conveniently I'm just about to reference.
• There are three meld pairs in Eldritch Moon: Graf Rats + Midnight Scavengers = Chittering Host Hanweir Battlements + Hanweir Garrison = Hanweir, the Writhing Township
and of course... Gisela + Bruna = Brisela!
• Your job is to design a fourth meld pair, possibly (but it's not mandatory) meant to be included in Eldritch Moon. This means you need to design two front faces and their combined back face. Three text cards total.
• Those three text cards will be judged as a single card. No need for judges to comment on each of them separately, just apply the usual rubric to the whole package of two front sides and one back side.
• Remember about color indicators: if you make a colorless back side, like in all three meld pair in EMN, you don't need a color indicator, but if you make a colored back side you do! If you apply the wrong color indicator, or you apply one where you shouldn't, or you don't apply one where you should, points will be deducted.
On subchallenge 1:
• Only the two front sides are checked. The back side can have a different color identity, you can do what you want with it.
• Color identity includes both mana symbols in the mana cost and the text box. You cannot have any off-color mana symbol in the rules text.
• All the three existing meld pairs would pass this challenge but for different reasons. Brisela and Chittering Host would pass for having two monocolored front sides of the same color, while Hanweir would pass because the red mana symbols in the Battlements give them a monored color identity which is the same as the Garrison.
On subchallenge 2:
• Again, only the two front sides are checked. The back side can be whatever you want.
• The spirit of this subchallenge is to reflect Emrakul (a creature) being melded with the moon (which is made of silver and so it would clearly be an artifact as a card, or anyway it's not a creature). You're not forced to followed this input though, as long as one of your front sides does not have the card type "creature" you're good.
• Of the three existing meld pairs, only Hanweir would pass this challenge, as the Battlements are not a creature. Both Brisela and Chittering Host would fail this challenge, as Bruna, Gisela, the Rats, and the Scavengers are all creatures.
• Artifact creatures, enchantment creatures, and land creatures all count as creatures, so they still need a noncreature counterpart to meld with to pass this challenge.
This is all I can think of for now. If you have any more doubts, just ask, preferably in the discussion thread.
Also please read this, on the use of "create" vs. "put onto the battlefield" for tokens. This is an official ruling for this round.
With the announcement of the new templating of creating tokens (creature and non-creature) with the Rise from the Tides promo, should we begin using that language on the next round, if we so choose to create a card that generates tokens? I hold the MCC in high regard and that the contest has high standards for card creation, so it makes sense to me that our designs continue to develop appropriate design language.
Please let me know, Bravelion or a congregation of judges as to what you would like to do.
Thanks,
Folza
Thanks for posting this Folza. I wasn't aware of this change until just now. If people are going to be held to the new template in the next round (which is probably the correct way to go), I highly recommend that the new template is mentioned and highlighted in the OP. That will help to get the word out there and avoid any feel bad moments. Another option would be to adopt a short grace period in which either template would be acceptable. Either way, posts like Folza's are very helpful to those that aren't able to follow MTG as closely as others. Thanks again Folza!
At the contrary, I was perfectly aware of that promo but just didn't think about the fact that people might want to use that new wording already instead of waiting until Kaladesh comes out, as it will officially debut there. I thought about what to do and I have reached the following personal conclusion. As the official debut of Kaladesh is on September 2nd at PAX West, I personally will keep using the "put onto the battlefield" wording until then and only start using the "create" wording after that date. I don't expect others to follow the same practice, everyone is free to do what they want.
I think the proposal of a short period of time in which both wordings are acceptable in our contests sounds the most reasonable to me. I personally say that period should begin right now and end once Kaladesh is released (the last day of September). It's two months in which we all can become used to the new wording and all other eventual changes Kaladesh might bring (I was reading yesterday a thread in the Rumor Mill where vehicles were mentioned... and there's still Mechanic E unaccounted for by the way...).
So let me state this in an official way. The following will be valid from now on for me personally as a judge, and I'll enforce it as host in the last month of July (and in August too if no one else volunteers and I host again):
• Both "put onto the battlefield" and "create" wordings will be acceptable starting right now and ending with the end of the September MCC. Just make sure your card follows the rules of English grammar, and also notice the different place of the word "tapped" in the two wordings.
• Starting with the October MCC, I will no longer accept the "put onto the battlefield" wording for tokens, and I WILL deduct points for that then.
This is what I am going to do and that's my own personal decision. Other hosts and judges are free to do whatever they want, but I'd like if we all followed a common way. The only thing I would ask for to other hosts and judges is to be as clear as possible about what they want to do about this beforehand. Thanks. Obviously all of this is going to be repeated in the OP of the final round of July and in all future rounds I will judge or host from now until the end of September.
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.
DEADLINES In green, the next deadline to come.
In blue, further future deadlines to come.
In red, past deadlines.
Player deadline: Monday, August 1st 23:59 EDT
Judge deadline: Saturday, August 6th 23:59 EDT As soon as the final judgment is in.
I'm allowing a little more time to both players and judges because of the difficulty of the round.
JUDGES
bravelion83
Necarg
doomfish
PLAYERS
Flatline
glurman
RaikouRider
Only the three players above are allowed to submit a card.
Each card will be judged by all judges. Remember, the judges will apply the rubric only once to the whole package, so the maximum score from each jugde is always 25 as normal, not 75. Of course, mistakes will still be punished anyway, so a little mistake on just one face will influence the score. The player with the highest sum of scores will be our MCC champion for July. Good luck everyone!
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.)
Ooh this'll be fun! I expected this to be the last round
Debt Collector1BB
Creature - Human Cleric (U)
When Debt Collector enters the battlefield, distribute two -1/-1 counters among one or two target creatures.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you both own and control Debt Collector and an enchantment named Debts of the Masses, exile them, then meld them into Immeasurable Vice.
2/2
Debts of the Masses3BB
Enchantment (R)
When Debts of the Masses enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on each creature.
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature with a -1/-1 counter on it. (Melds with Debt Collector.) "What is owed must be paid. In blood if need be."
- Undan, Debt Collector
Immeasurable Vice B Enchantment (R)
Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, return that card to the battlefield under your control unless an opponent pays 3 life. "Even the dead come back to gamble here."
- Undan, Debt Collector
Globe Trotter2GG
Creature - Elemental Horse {R}
Globe Trotter's power and toughness are each equal to the number of nonbasic lands on the battlefield. 5GG: If you both own and control Globe Trotter and a card named Exotic Growth is in your graveyard, exile them, then meld them into Globewrither. */*
Exotic Growth1GG
Sorcery {U}
Search your library for a land card and put that card onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library. (Melds with Globe Trotter.)
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Globewrither G Creature - Elemental {R}
Hexproof, trample
Globewrither's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands on the battlefield plus the number of creatures on the battlefield.
When Globewrither enters the battlefield, destroy all nonland, noncreature permanents.
Whenever a nonland, noncreature permanent enters the battlefield, destroy it. */*
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.
No Man's Land
Enchantment (R)
When No Man's Land enters the battlefield, name a nonbasic land card.
Each card of the chosen name loses all types and abilities and has " : Add to your mana pool." (Melds with Wasteland Wanderer.)
Wasteland Wanderer
Creature — Eldrazi (R)
Menace
Wasteland Wander's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands you control named Wastes.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you both own and control Wasteland Wander and an enchantment named No Man's Land, exile them, then meld them into He Who Lays Waste.
*/*
He Who Lays Waste
Creature — Eldrazi (M)
Menace
He Who Lays Waste's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands named Wastes on the battlefield.
Nonbasic lands lose all types and abilities, are named Wastes, and have " : Add to your mana pool".
*/*
(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)
No Man's Land
Enchantment (R)
When No Man's Land enters the battlefield, name a nonbasic land card.
Each card of the chosen name loses all types and abilities and has " : Add to your mana pool." (Melds with Wasteland Wanderer.)
Wasteland Wanderer
Creature — Eldrazi (R)
Menace
Wasteland Wander's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands you control named Wastes.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you both own and control Wasteland Wander and an enchantment named No Man's Land, exile them, then meld them into He Who Lays Waste.
*/*
He Who Lays Waste
Creature — Eldrazi (M)
Menace
He Who Lays Waste's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands named Wastes on the battlefield.
Nonbasic lands lose all types and abilities, are named Wastes, and have " : Add to your mana pool".
*/*
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy loves meld cards, and this makes no exception. Spike likes depriving opponents of colored mana. I don't see anything particular for Johnny here, even though I feel there must be something strange he can do that I'm not seeing here. (2.5/3) Elegance - Wordy, but very easily understandable.
Development (1.5/3) Viability - It's hard to judge a colorless card for color pie, but I remember having read that the mechanical space they found for colorless in OGW was essentially "mess with your opponent's things", which turning their lands into Wastes totally qualifies as. I don't see any problem there. I see a problem with rarities instead: either the front faces or the back one have the wrong rarity. They should all be rare, all be mythic, or the back face be mythic as well as one of the front ones (like in Brisela). (2.5/3) Balance - It makes no real sense to judge a rare meld pair for limited. In constructed, I think this should be playable. Messing with your opponent's land is typically very powerful. That may be not that fun for some casual players though.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - This is definitely unique, we never saw effects turning lands into Wastes before. (1.5/3) Flavor - Ok, the flavor works: a wanderer wanders too far into an Eldrazi wrecked wasteland until he becomes one with it. Too bad there's no room anywhere for at least a little flavor text to better round it out. Also, the name "No Man's Land" really feels like the name of a land more than an enchantment. On the other side, "He Who Lays Waste" is a wonderful name for a thing that interacts with Wastes. Let's say those essentially cancel out.
Polish (0/3) Quality - In No Man's Land, it should be "each [u]land with[/uj] the chosen name…" (the card clearly cares about lands on the battlefield, so it should say "land" and not "card", half a point deducted; "with the chosen name" is the stardard template, another half a point deducted). Wasteland Wanderer becomes a Wander in the meld ability (half a point deducted). No color indicator needed for a colorless back face (see all EMN Eldrazi Werewolves, half a point deducted). The back face can't be mythic when none of the front faces are (Brisela is mythic but Gisela is mythic even though Bruna is regular rare, with both rare front faces the back face qould certainly also be regular rare, half a point deducted). The full stop at the end of He Who Lays Waste should be in the quotation marks, not outside (unlike ordinary grammar, half a point deducted). (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Globe Trotter2GG
Creature - Elemental Horse {R}
Globe Trotter's power and toughness are each equal to the number of nonbasic lands on the battlefield. 5GG: If you both own and control Globe Trotter and a card named Exotic Growth is in your graveyard, exile them, then meld them into Globewrither. */*
Exotic Growth1GG
Sorcery {U}
Search your library for a land card and put that card onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library. (Melds with Globe Trotter.)
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Globewrither G Creature - Elemental {R}
Hexproof, trample
Globewrither's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands on the battlefield plus the number of creatures on the battlefield.
When Globewrither enters the battlefield, destroy all nonland, noncreature permanents.
Whenever a nonland, noncreature permanent enters the battlefield, destroy it. */*
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy loves meld and also loves creatures, so something like Globewrither's CDA greatly appeals to him, especially when coupled with trample. I don't see anything particular for Johnny here. Spike likes the overall package, but especially the back face. He also likes that Exotic Growth can look for any land. (2.5/3) Elegance - It would be hard to make a meld pair less wordy than this, except for the back face, which is very wordy. Other than that, no problems here.
Development (3/3) Viability - Everything is in color. Rarities are fine: the back face is rare but also one of the front faces is, so that's fine (it's the same situation as Brisela). (3/3) Balance - No point in considering rare meld cards for limited, I'll just say that the uncommon card, Exotic Growth, looks very playable. This should see Standard play, it requires a lot of mana to meld, but the Growth helps you working towards that, and the payoff is also there, as Globewrither will at least be an 8/8 (seven lands used to meld plus it counts itself as a creature). I see no problems in casual and multiplayer.
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - Nothing new in the effects of the single faces, but having a sorcery as a meld card and the twist of taking a spell card out of your graveyard to use meld that's required as a consequence is definitely unique. (1.5/3) Flavor - The names and concept are fine but not great in my opinion. I would really have liked to see some flavor text on Exotic Growth, where there is definitely room for it.
Polish (3/3) Quality - All good. (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Ooh this'll be fun! I expected this to be the last round
Interestingly, it was not what I first planned. Then, between round 1 and round 2 the idea hit me and I instantly loved it, so I went back and changed my plan. Now I'm very glad I did and I see no other way the final round could have been.
Debt Collector1BB
Creature - Human Cleric (U)
When Debt Collector enters the battlefield, distribute two -1/-1 counters among one or two target creatures.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you both own and control Debt Collector and an enchantment named Debts of the Masses, exile them, then meld them into Immeasurable Vice.
2/2
Debts of the Masses3BB
Enchantment (R)
When Debts of the Masses enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on each creature.
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature with a -1/-1 counter on it. (Melds with Debt Collector.) "What is owed must be paid. In blood if need be."
- Undan, Debt Collector
Immeasurable Vice B Enchantment (R)
Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, return that card to the battlefield under your control unless an opponent pays 3 life. "Even the dead come back to gamble here."
- Undan, Debt Collector
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes meld cards, but likes the other existing ones more as they meld into big creatures, even though the Vice can help him get back his dead creatures. Johnny can definitely do something with those -1/-1 counters floating around. I think this is more of a Spike card, and he's quite excited by the card advantage this promises. (3/3) Elegance - All the faces are easily understandable and the less wordy possible.
Development (3/3) Viability - Everything is in color and rarities look fine. No problems with the rarity of the back face, as one of the front faces has the same rarity even though the other does not, like Brisela. (3/3) Balance - No point in judging a rare meld card for limited, but the uncommon looks quite playable by itself. What is likely to cause this to see Standard play is that it's removal that turns into recursion, both things that a black Standard deck really likes. The Vice allowing you to steal creatures from opponents' graveyards can produce interesting gameplay in multiplayer too.
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - Melding into an enchantment is definitely new and feels very unique, even though the effects are nothing new and the Vice especially feels more like an upgrade on Athreos, God of Passage. (3/3) Flavor - Names and concept are good. You even found room for flavor text, and that's very good too. No complaints.
Polish (3/3) Quality - All good. (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.)
Design - (2.5/3) Appeal: Debt Collector is a very spikey card. A solid body paired with removal, splitable and lasting. Great. Debts of the Masses is a fun Johnny card, while also big enough for Timmy. The melding of the two looks like something mostly only Timmy would enjoy, as it's a big effect, tied to creatures. (2.5/3) Elegance: The effects are very neat and well picked. The collector is simple, yet plays very well with the Debts. The Debts have a big effect that goes a long way, but at the same time also keeps things simple. The Vice is kind of a mechanical break, as it doesn't tie into the -1/-1 counter theme.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Black is a very good fit for all of these effects. The rarities also seem appropriate. The Vice is a bit on the complex side, affecting all creatures, but putting them onto your side, but it works as you'd expect it, so there's little chance of this going misunderstood. (1.5/3) Balance: The collector is somewhere between Farbog Boneflinger and Skinrender. Seeing how Skinrender is incredibly strong and the Flinger is fine, I'd say your card should have costed 4. Paying 1 mana over the bear to get two -1/-1 counters you can distribute is very powerful.
This will be a mean powerhouse in limited. A solid uncommon for constructed.
Debts is pretty close to Call to the Grave, its immidiate effect makes it stronger, but being selective like that is a bit weaker again, so I'd say it's in a good spot.
The combination of the two isn't very strong I'd say. It's super opressive in limited, but it's very hard to get there and it should be rewarded. For constructed I'm not so sure. You just gave up on a creature and a pretty good enchantment for a card that does very little on its own.
Getting the meld off is also very hard, as you need the Collector to make it through an entire round. The reward feels underwhelming for constructed.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: There has been very little -1/-1 counter distribution so far, so this is a great mechanic to use. Debts is absolutely fantastic, I imagine it would make for very interesting decks. The Vice is mostly Athreos, God of Passage kicked into overdrive. (1.5/3) Flavor: I'm not sure how -1/-1 counters represent debt. I get how a Debt Collector would be violent. The counters sort of mark creatures as debted I guess? I would have expected that lots of debts plus a debt collector would make for ultimate debt collecting, instead it becomes gambling. Seems backwards. And now I imagine a zombie at a slot machine. Weird.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Looks good. (2/2) Main Challenge: Does it meld? Yes it does! (2/2) Subchallenges: Black and enchantment.
Total: 21/25
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Pretty sure Spike would enjoy a card like Globe Trotter. Maybe Timmy could get invested too. Exotic Growth fuels decks for Johnny. Globewrither is certainly Timmys dream creature. (2/3) Elegance: Globe Trotter is fairly simple. So is Exotic Growth. Then comes along Globewrither and it's got almost as much rulestext than the other two combined. It's got so much going on.
Development - (2/3) Viability: Green is certainly the correct color for these cards. Rare for the horse and uncommon for the sorcery also fits well. The Globe Trotter got some issues though.
It at the same time punishes playing nonbasics for your opponent and rewards it for yourself. Punishment mechanics are something we rarely see these days, but I feel like asymmetric punishment is off the table.
Then it also requires you to keep track of all the lands that keep coming (and going in case of fetches) across all players. Not something one should have to do. So putting +1/+1 counters on it when it enters the battlefield would be the better thing to do. (1.5/3) Balance: Globe Trotter looks worrying for multiplayer formats. 4 mana for something that's most likely 7/7 upwards. Oh boy. In one-on-one formats this should mostly be a reverse Imperiosaur.
Exotic Growth lets you spend that one mana over Sylvan Scrying to get that land into play. Pretty good. I don't think there's a reason for something like this to get printed, but it's not unfair or anything. So, why not.
Globewrither is of course a big threat. Turn 6 an approximate 10/10 trample with hexproof is pretty scary. At least it doesn't have haste. Then it also comes with this super good global disenchant. Even better, gets rid of planeswalkers. I think the hexproof is just too much for this.
It's not that hard to get it going, given how you just need have have one of the parts played and not on the board at the same time.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: While Exotic Growth doesn't do anything super exciting Globe Trotter cares about nonbasics in a unique way and Globewrither is just a very interesting card with all this nonland, noncreature and vice versa going on. (2/3) Flavor: Globe Trotter is a bit punny, but I'll take it. I would have liked a flavortext on Exotic Growth. Not sure I get the writher part of Globewrither. Apparently to writhe means twist in pain. What does it imply as a noun? I don't get what your Trotter and Growth formed there.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Looks good. (2/2) Main Challenge: Certainly melding. (2/2) Subchallenges: Green and sorcery.
Total: 19.5/25
Design - (2/3) Appeal: No Man's Land is somewhat of a Blood Moon, so maybe Spike might take interest. Wasteland Wanderer has the potential to become big, so it's somewhat of a Timmy card. Johnny likes the incentive to build a deck around wastes. (2.5/3) Elegance: It's a shame how No Man's Land can't make the cards into Wastes. The wanderer is simple. So is the backside. The cards mostly follow the same theme.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: I guess No Man's Land has quite the cost requirement and doesn't actually destroy the land, so it's fine. Rare is still a good idea. I'm not sure why Wasteland Wanderer needs to be a Rare. It's just a bit more cost effecient Walker of the Wastes. (2.5/3) Balance: No Man's Land is pretty close to Imprisoned in the Moon, it probably won't have much of an impact anywhere. Rather, lots of people would be disapointed to rip this card. Wasteland Wanderer is strong, but not too strong. It goes into a very specific deck and that's fine.
The combination of the two doesn't get too much bigger. You mostly gain the Blood Moon effect out of it, which often has quite the impact. But it takes time to get there and is easier to deal with.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: I like the idea of Pithing Needle for lands. Wasteland Wanderer, again, shares the concept with Walker of the Wastes, as does He Who Lays Waste, except that got a Blood Moon on top. Combining the two is quite cool though. (1.5/3) Flavor: Eldrazi do not have a gender, so it should be It That Lays Waste. Otherwise the names are superb. A few more flavortexts would have been nice.
Polish - (1.5/3) Quality: Two rares don't meld into a mythic rare.
"Permanents with the chosen name lose all land types ..." would be a more correct wording, even without an example existing.
Mana symbols can't be color indicators and while I don't understand why they can't just make a grey color indicator to indicate colorlessness, MaRo claims they haven't found a way, which is why none of the DFCs with a colorless backside have an indicator in Eldritch Moon. (2/2) Main Challenge: Does meld. (2/2) Subchallenges: Enchantment and same color identity.
Total: 18.5/25
glurman 21
RaikouRider 19.5
Flatline 18.5
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
Well, all of my work was deleted when my computer crashed, so that's great. I now have to redo two reviews.
(Scores are not necessarily final yet.)
Failing Checks 1-3 will take points from your Elegance score, Failing 4 will take from viability, and 5 from quality.
1. You need to always want to meld a pair, or at least have a choice in doing so. If the front faces have some unique features the back doesn't have, you need a choice to meld.
2. There has to be a way to ensure that the pair will meld, even if the first part is removed. The pair is a meld pair for a reason, and you have to help the players meld the card. For example, Bruna reanimates Gisela, and Midnight Scavengers brings back Graf Rats to hand. The exception is that if the 1st part doesn't typically have good removal for it (say, a land), this point isn't really needed.
3. Unless the pair is incredibly basic, the pair should have some elements of the two front faces in the melded side. Emrakul isn't changing Storm Crow to Darksteel Colossus, he's changing Storm Crow to Wretched Gryff.
4. Both front faces should have the same rarity, or at the very least a similar one (in the case of rare and mythic). This is mainly due to complexity and NWO, as you don't want a player too confused by the rarity disparaging between the two sides.
5. Remember to have the (Melds with [other half]) on the card without the meld ability.
CARD: Debt Collector1BB
Creature - Human Cleric (U)
When Debt Collector enters the battlefield, distribute two -1/-1 counters among one or two target creatures.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you both own and control Debt Collector and an enchantment named Debts of the Masses, exile them, then meld them into Immeasurable Vice.
2/2
Debts of the Masses3BB
Enchantment (R)
When Debts of the Masses enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on each creature.
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature with a -1/-1 counter on it. (Melds with Debt Collector.) "What is owed must be paid. In blood if need be."
- Undan, Debt Collector
Immeasurable Vice B Enchantment (R)
Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, return that card to the battlefield under your control unless an opponent pays 3 life. "Even the dead come back to gamble here."
- Undan, Debt Collector
DESIGN
(2/3) Appeal: The card appeals fantastically to Spikes and Johnnies, but Timmy is left with something to be desired.
(0/3) Elegance: The card fails all three of the elegance checks above, and even goes directly against check 2, due to the fact that both front faces can easily kill the first face. Also, the fact that, on an empty or one sided board, both fronts are completely useless is a problem. The pair is only minutely good at parity and terrible when ahead.
R & DEVELOPMENT
(2/3) Viability: The two fronts are different rarities, which is not good and fails check 4. Other than that, the pair looks reasonable, although you could potentially have passed the second card at uncommon.
(.5/3) Balance: So, you have a Skinrender Lite for one less mana, which is already quite powerful, then you have effectively an Edict on every players turn for 5, which is also quite powerful, and then it all turns into Grave Betrayal with the slight twist that sometimes it doesn't work. This seems a wee bit way to powerful to me, especially considering you can combo it with Shadowborn Apostle and just have B : Get a free demon from your deck unless an opponent pays 3-18 life. That's broken as all hell. (Another note I didn't realize: Debt Collector even has more versatility than it's Scars of Mirrodin counterpart, since you can split it. Even better, or, for this criterion, worse.)
CREATIVE DEPARTMENT THAT DIDN'T GET ME A HAL AND ALENA CARD
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: The most Unique card is Debts of the Masses, which is rather unique. However, the Collector is just Skinrender Lite + and Immeasurable is a noncreative amalgam of Athreos and Grave Betrayal.
(2/3) Flavor: The card has a lot of flavor, but it doesn't make sense that the Collector goes away when the Vice comes in. It seems that he would be there for that too. Also, the two references to Undan make it clear that the Debt Collector should have been a legendary creature.
POLAND AT THE SUMMER GAMES (plz don't sue)
(3/3) Quality Assurance Team: Looks good to me!
(2/2) Main Course: Fulfilled.
(2/2) Side Dish: Both Fulfilled.
TOTAL: 15/25 (Btw don't be too sad with the lower score. The high amount of cards and my checks almost ensured that my scores would be lower this round.)
Card: Globe Trotter2GG
Creature - Elemental Horse {R}
Globe Trotter's power and toughness are each equal to the number of nonbasic lands on the battlefield. 5GG: If you both own and control Globe Trotter and a card named Exotic Growth is in your graveyard, exile them, then meld them into Globewrither. */*
Exotic Growth1GG
Sorcery {U}
Search your library for a land card and put that card onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library. (Melds with Globe Trotter.)
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Globewrither G Creature - Elemental {R}
Hexproof, trample
Globewrither's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands on the battlefield plus the number of creatures on the battlefield.
When Globewrither enters the battlefield, destroy all nonland, noncreature permanents.
Whenever a nonland, noncreature permanent enters the battlefield, destroy it. */*
DESIGN
(3/3) Appeal: Well, I'll be damned, it appeals pretty well to all of the psychographics. Nice Job there.
(2.5/3) Elegance: You (surprisingly) passed all three of the first checks, but the back face does lead to a very unfun situation for the opponent, since it doesn't really interact, and stops a lot of decks outright. It's not quite the mana cost that has the permission to do that. Additionally, The back side only has all of the rules text.
DEVELOPMENT
(2/3) Viability: You get a point taken off from check 4. Otherwise, the card doesn't really break any rules.
(1/3) Balance: Exotic Growth has a real danger of causing problems, since it can greatly help out Tron, Eldrazi, etc. , and then the two last abilities on the back side are fundamentally unfun for players to experience, and it really limits the deckbuilding in the format it's in (esp. with the hexproof on the back). Both the Exotic Growth and the back have the potential to make an oppressive enviroment, and that's a large problem.
CREATIVE
(1/3) Uniqueness: Exotic Growth is just Rampant Growth Plus, and the back is an Altar Golem with a Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer stapeled onto it that Purify's when it enters. Admittedly, that's a lot of effects, but that's because there's just too much text on the card.
(2/3) Flavor: The flavor is there, and makes sense, it's just too little and too subtle to really have any impact.
POLISH
(3/3) Quality: Looks good!
(2/2) Main: Looks good!
(2/2) Sub: Both look good!
TOTAL: 18.5/25 (Btw don't be too sad with the lower score. The high amount of cards and my checks almost ensured that my scores would be lower this round.)
Card: No Man's LandCC
Enchantment (R)
When No Man's Land enters the battlefield, name a nonbasic land card.
Each card of the chosen name loses all types and abilities and has " : Add to your mana pool." (Melds with Wasteland Wanderer.)
Wasteland Wanderer1CC
Creature — Eldrazi (R)
Menace
Wasteland Wander's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands you control named Wastes.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you both own and control Wasteland Wander and an enchantment named No Man's Land, exile them, then meld them into He Who Lays Waste.
*/*
He Who Lays Waste C Creature — Eldrazi (M)
Menace
He Who Lays Waste's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands named Wastes on the battlefield.
Nonbasic lands lose all types and abilities, are named Wastes, and have " T : Add C to your mana pool".
*/*
DESIGN
(1.5/3) Appeal: Wasteland Wanderer and He Who Lays Waste can appeal to all typings, but you'd be hard pressed to find a psychographic that No Man's Land appeals to. Its only use is to turn off fixing, and even then it doesn't do that good of a job. I can only find this being useful in Legacy for anyone, and you can just use Sinkhole there.
(2/3) Elegance: The pair fails Check 2, but other than that, it looks elegant enough.
DEVELOPMENT
(2/3) Viability: The card doesn't break anything, but the Wasteland wanderer does NOT need to be Rare in any way. It really should be uncommon.
(1.5/3) Balance: You have a card that does near nothing at all, then you have an actually balanced card in Wasteland Wanderer, and then you have Blood Moon. On a giant stick. On turn four. Blood Moon is a problem card, and this looks to be even worse. That's a little bit of a problem.
CREATIVE
(1/3) Uniqueness: You have Walker of the Wastes with a minor change or two and Blood Moon: Wastes Edition. Not too creative. To add to that, that Blood Moon Plus is just a Blood Moon with the previous card stapled onto it.
(1/3) Flavor: Other than [insert generic spaghetti monster], I don't see the flavor here. Why does the Wanderer change, why does No Man's Land leave? Why isn't No Man's LAND a land?
POLAND
(0/3) Quality: Well, let's get started:
No Man's Land should say "Each land with" instead of "Each card of" for multiple reasons, as card does not specify the card to a permanent, and with is standard rather than of.
Wasteland Wanderer is referenced as Wasteland Wander in its rules text.
You don't need a color indicator for colorless back faces.
The Back face should be rare, like the front faces.
The period should be inside the quotes, not outside.
(2/2) Main: Satisfied - Hamilton
(2/2) Sub: Fulfilled
TOTAL: 13/25 (Btw don't be too sad with the lower score. The high amount of cards and my checks almost ensured that my scores would be lower this round.)
My thoughts are with the friends and family of the Orlando Shooting victims and with the rest of the LGBTQA+ community.
Check out my Newborder Peasant Cube here! http://www.cubetutor.com/draft/37467
Necarg, please don't acknowledge this in any way whatsoever.
True Name Mafia (Win),Clan Contest IX Mafia (Win), Bravely Default Mafia (Loss), BOTAS (loss), BfV (Loss), Ace Attourney (loss)
Rules Advisor before they were eradicated
So congratulations to both glurman and RaikouRider, our July MCC champions!
Thanks to all the players and judges!
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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(This month's banner is my own elaboration on the art of the cards Coax from the Blind Eternities and Emrakul, the Promised End, both by Jaime Jones)
July MCC Final Round
"Man in the Moon"
A twisted, multi-tentacled, biology-defying man... with no face and a magenta eye... oh wait, that's not an eye! And that's not a man! That's an Eldrazi titan! And it just got trapped into the Heron Moon of Innistrad! It has been literally *melded* with the moon! Emrakul and the moon are now a single thing.
Main Challenge: Design a meld pair. Please see clarifications (really, this time do check them, they're important).
Subchallenges:
1- Both front sides share the same color identity.
2- At least one of the front sides is NOT a creature.
On the Main Challenge:
• A meld pair is two cards with a complete Magic card on the front side and half of an oversized Magic card on the back side. One of the two cards' front face has an ability that exiles them both and then melds them, making the combined oversized Magic card on the back faces enter the battlefield as a single permanent. Pay attention to the wording of the melding ability. If you have doubts, check the existing meld cards, which conveniently I'm just about to reference.
• There are three meld pairs in Eldritch Moon:
Graf Rats + Midnight Scavengers = Chittering Host
Hanweir Battlements + Hanweir Garrison = Hanweir, the Writhing Township
and of course...
Gisela + Bruna = Brisela!
• Your job is to design a fourth meld pair, possibly (but it's not mandatory) meant to be included in Eldritch Moon. This means you need to design two front faces and their combined back face. Three text cards total.
• Those three text cards will be judged as a single card. No need for judges to comment on each of them separately, just apply the usual rubric to the whole package of two front sides and one back side.
• Remember about color indicators: if you make a colorless back side, like in all three meld pair in EMN, you don't need a color indicator, but if you make a colored back side you do! If you apply the wrong color indicator, or you apply one where you shouldn't, or you don't apply one where you should, points will be deducted.
On subchallenge 1:
• Only the two front sides are checked. The back side can have a different color identity, you can do what you want with it.
• Color identity includes both mana symbols in the mana cost and the text box. You cannot have any off-color mana symbol in the rules text.
• All the three existing meld pairs would pass this challenge but for different reasons. Brisela and Chittering Host would pass for having two monocolored front sides of the same color, while Hanweir would pass because the red mana symbols in the Battlements give them a monored color identity which is the same as the Garrison.
On subchallenge 2:
• Again, only the two front sides are checked. The back side can be whatever you want.
• The spirit of this subchallenge is to reflect Emrakul (a creature) being melded with the moon (which is made of silver and so it would clearly be an artifact as a card, or anyway it's not a creature). You're not forced to followed this input though, as long as one of your front sides does not have the card type "creature" you're good.
• Of the three existing meld pairs, only Hanweir would pass this challenge, as the Battlements are not a creature. Both Brisela and Chittering Host would fail this challenge, as Bruna, Gisela, the Rats, and the Scavengers are all creatures.
• Artifact creatures, enchantment creatures, and land creatures all count as creatures, so they still need a noncreature counterpart to meld with to pass this challenge.
This is all I can think of for now. If you have any more doubts, just ask, preferably in the discussion thread.
Also please read this, on the use of "create" vs. "put onto the battlefield" for tokens. This is an official ruling for this round.
(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: Monday, August 1st 23:59 EDT
Judge deadline:
Saturday, August 6th 23:59 EDTAs soon as the final judgment is in.I'm allowing a little more time to both players and judges because of the difficulty of the round.
JUDGES
bravelion83
Necarg
doomfish
PLAYERS
Flatline
glurman
RaikouRider
Only the three players above are allowed to submit a card.
Each card will be judged by all judges. Remember, the judges will apply the rubric only once to the whole package, so the maximum score from each jugde is always 25 as normal, not 75. Of course, mistakes will still be punished anyway, so a little mistake on just one face will influence the score. The player with the highest sum of scores will be our MCC champion for July. Good luck everyone!
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.)
Debt Collector 1BB
Creature - Human Cleric (U)
When Debt Collector enters the battlefield, distribute two -1/-1 counters among one or two target creatures.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you both own and control Debt Collector and an enchantment named Debts of the Masses, exile them, then meld them into Immeasurable Vice.
2/2
Debts of the Masses 3BB
Enchantment (R)
When Debts of the Masses enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on each creature.
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature with a -1/-1 counter on it.
(Melds with Debt Collector.)
"What is owed must be paid. In blood if need be."
- Undan, Debt Collector
Immeasurable Vice
B Enchantment (R)
Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, return that card to the battlefield under your control unless an opponent pays 3 life.
"Even the dead come back to gamble here."
- Undan, Debt Collector
Creature - Elemental Horse {R}
Globe Trotter's power and toughness are each equal to the number of nonbasic lands on the battlefield.
5GG: If you both own and control Globe Trotter and a card named Exotic Growth is in your graveyard, exile them, then meld them into Globewrither.
*/*
Exotic Growth 1GG
Sorcery {U}
Search your library for a land card and put that card onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
(Melds with Globe Trotter.)
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Globewrither
G Creature - Elemental {R}
Hexproof, trample
Globewrither's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands on the battlefield plus the number of creatures on the battlefield.
When Globewrither enters the battlefield, destroy all nonland, noncreature permanents.
Whenever a nonland, noncreature permanent enters the battlefield, destroy it.
*/*
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
No Man's Land
Enchantment (R)
When No Man's Land enters the battlefield, name a nonbasic land card.
Each card of the chosen name loses all types and abilities and has " : Add to your mana pool."
(Melds with Wasteland Wanderer.)
Wasteland Wanderer
Creature — Eldrazi (R)
Menace
Wasteland Wander's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands you control named Wastes.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you both own and control Wasteland Wander and an enchantment named No Man's Land, exile them, then meld them into He Who Lays Waste.
*/*
He Who Lays Waste
Creature — Eldrazi (M)
Menace
He Who Lays Waste's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands named Wastes on the battlefield.
Nonbasic lands lose all types and abilities, are named Wastes, and have " : Add to your mana pool".
*/*
Judgments complete, not final until deadline.
Excuse me for the little delay but yesterday and today I've been busy writing my new article.
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy loves meld cards, and this makes no exception. Spike likes depriving opponents of colored mana. I don't see anything particular for Johnny here, even though I feel there must be something strange he can do that I'm not seeing here.
(2.5/3) Elegance - Wordy, but very easily understandable.
Development
(1.5/3) Viability - It's hard to judge a colorless card for color pie, but I remember having read that the mechanical space they found for colorless in OGW was essentially "mess with your opponent's things", which turning their lands into Wastes totally qualifies as. I don't see any problem there. I see a problem with rarities instead: either the front faces or the back one have the wrong rarity. They should all be rare, all be mythic, or the back face be mythic as well as one of the front ones (like in Brisela).
(2.5/3) Balance - It makes no real sense to judge a rare meld pair for limited. In constructed, I think this should be playable. Messing with your opponent's land is typically very powerful. That may be not that fun for some casual players though.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - This is definitely unique, we never saw effects turning lands into Wastes before.
(1.5/3) Flavor - Ok, the flavor works: a wanderer wanders too far into an Eldrazi wrecked wasteland until he becomes one with it. Too bad there's no room anywhere for at least a little flavor text to better round it out. Also, the name "No Man's Land" really feels like the name of a land more than an enchantment. On the other side, "He Who Lays Waste" is a wonderful name for a thing that interacts with Wastes. Let's say those essentially cancel out.
Polish
(0/3) Quality - In No Man's Land, it should be "each [u]land with[/uj] the chosen name…" (the card clearly cares about lands on the battlefield, so it should say "land" and not "card", half a point deducted; "with the chosen name" is the stardard template, another half a point deducted). Wasteland Wanderer becomes a Wander in the meld ability (half a point deducted). No color indicator needed for a colorless back face (see all EMN Eldrazi Werewolves, half a point deducted). The back face can't be mythic when none of the front faces are (Brisela is mythic but Gisela is mythic even though Bruna is regular rare, with both rare front faces the back face qould certainly also be regular rare, half a point deducted). The full stop at the end of He Who Lays Waste should be in the quotation marks, not outside (unlike ordinary grammar, half a point deducted).
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 17.5/25
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy loves meld and also loves creatures, so something like Globewrither's CDA greatly appeals to him, especially when coupled with trample. I don't see anything particular for Johnny here. Spike likes the overall package, but especially the back face. He also likes that Exotic Growth can look for any land.
(2.5/3) Elegance - It would be hard to make a meld pair less wordy than this, except for the back face, which is very wordy. Other than that, no problems here.
Development
(3/3) Viability - Everything is in color. Rarities are fine: the back face is rare but also one of the front faces is, so that's fine (it's the same situation as Brisela).
(3/3) Balance - No point in considering rare meld cards for limited, I'll just say that the uncommon card, Exotic Growth, looks very playable. This should see Standard play, it requires a lot of mana to meld, but the Growth helps you working towards that, and the payoff is also there, as Globewrither will at least be an 8/8 (seven lands used to meld plus it counts itself as a creature). I see no problems in casual and multiplayer.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - Nothing new in the effects of the single faces, but having a sorcery as a meld card and the twist of taking a spell card out of your graveyard to use meld that's required as a consequence is definitely unique.
(1.5/3) Flavor - The names and concept are fine but not great in my opinion. I would really have liked to see some flavor text on Exotic Growth, where there is definitely room for it.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 22/25
Interestingly, it was not what I first planned. Then, between round 1 and round 2 the idea hit me and I instantly loved it, so I went back and changed my plan. Now I'm very glad I did and I see no other way the final round could have been.
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes meld cards, but likes the other existing ones more as they meld into big creatures, even though the Vice can help him get back his dead creatures. Johnny can definitely do something with those -1/-1 counters floating around. I think this is more of a Spike card, and he's quite excited by the card advantage this promises.
(3/3) Elegance - All the faces are easily understandable and the less wordy possible.
Development
(3/3) Viability - Everything is in color and rarities look fine. No problems with the rarity of the back face, as one of the front faces has the same rarity even though the other does not, like Brisela.
(3/3) Balance - No point in judging a rare meld card for limited, but the uncommon looks quite playable by itself. What is likely to cause this to see Standard play is that it's removal that turns into recursion, both things that a black Standard deck really likes. The Vice allowing you to steal creatures from opponents' graveyards can produce interesting gameplay in multiplayer too.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - Melding into an enchantment is definitely new and feels very unique, even though the effects are nothing new and the Vice especially feels more like an upgrade on Athreos, God of Passage.
(3/3) Flavor - Names and concept are good. You even found room for flavor text, and that's very good too. No complaints.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 24/25
Flatline: 17.5
RaikouRider: 22
glurman: 24
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.)
(2.5/3) Appeal: Debt Collector is a very spikey card. A solid body paired with removal, splitable and lasting. Great. Debts of the Masses is a fun Johnny card, while also big enough for Timmy. The melding of the two looks like something mostly only Timmy would enjoy, as it's a big effect, tied to creatures.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The effects are very neat and well picked. The collector is simple, yet plays very well with the Debts. The Debts have a big effect that goes a long way, but at the same time also keeps things simple. The Vice is kind of a mechanical break, as it doesn't tie into the -1/-1 counter theme.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Black is a very good fit for all of these effects. The rarities also seem appropriate. The Vice is a bit on the complex side, affecting all creatures, but putting them onto your side, but it works as you'd expect it, so there's little chance of this going misunderstood.
(1.5/3) Balance: The collector is somewhere between Farbog Boneflinger and Skinrender. Seeing how Skinrender is incredibly strong and the Flinger is fine, I'd say your card should have costed 4. Paying 1 mana over the bear to get two -1/-1 counters you can distribute is very powerful.
This will be a mean powerhouse in limited. A solid uncommon for constructed.
Debts is pretty close to Call to the Grave, its immidiate effect makes it stronger, but being selective like that is a bit weaker again, so I'd say it's in a good spot.
The combination of the two isn't very strong I'd say. It's super opressive in limited, but it's very hard to get there and it should be rewarded. For constructed I'm not so sure. You just gave up on a creature and a pretty good enchantment for a card that does very little on its own.
Getting the meld off is also very hard, as you need the Collector to make it through an entire round. The reward feels underwhelming for constructed.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: There has been very little -1/-1 counter distribution so far, so this is a great mechanic to use. Debts is absolutely fantastic, I imagine it would make for very interesting decks. The Vice is mostly Athreos, God of Passage kicked into overdrive.
(1.5/3) Flavor: I'm not sure how -1/-1 counters represent debt. I get how a Debt Collector would be violent. The counters sort of mark creatures as debted I guess? I would have expected that lots of debts plus a debt collector would make for ultimate debt collecting, instead it becomes gambling. Seems backwards. And now I imagine a zombie at a slot machine. Weird.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Does it meld? Yes it does!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Black and enchantment.
Total: 21/25
(3/3) Appeal: Pretty sure Spike would enjoy a card like Globe Trotter. Maybe Timmy could get invested too. Exotic Growth fuels decks for Johnny. Globewrither is certainly Timmys dream creature.
(2/3) Elegance: Globe Trotter is fairly simple. So is Exotic Growth. Then comes along Globewrither and it's got almost as much rulestext than the other two combined. It's got so much going on.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: Green is certainly the correct color for these cards. Rare for the horse and uncommon for the sorcery also fits well. The Globe Trotter got some issues though.
It at the same time punishes playing nonbasics for your opponent and rewards it for yourself. Punishment mechanics are something we rarely see these days, but I feel like asymmetric punishment is off the table.
Then it also requires you to keep track of all the lands that keep coming (and going in case of fetches) across all players. Not something one should have to do. So putting +1/+1 counters on it when it enters the battlefield would be the better thing to do.
(1.5/3) Balance: Globe Trotter looks worrying for multiplayer formats. 4 mana for something that's most likely 7/7 upwards. Oh boy. In one-on-one formats this should mostly be a reverse Imperiosaur.
Exotic Growth lets you spend that one mana over Sylvan Scrying to get that land into play. Pretty good. I don't think there's a reason for something like this to get printed, but it's not unfair or anything. So, why not.
Globewrither is of course a big threat. Turn 6 an approximate 10/10 trample with hexproof is pretty scary. At least it doesn't have haste. Then it also comes with this super good global disenchant. Even better, gets rid of planeswalkers. I think the hexproof is just too much for this.
It's not that hard to get it going, given how you just need have have one of the parts played and not on the board at the same time.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: While Exotic Growth doesn't do anything super exciting Globe Trotter cares about nonbasics in a unique way and Globewrither is just a very interesting card with all this nonland, noncreature and vice versa going on.
(2/3) Flavor: Globe Trotter is a bit punny, but I'll take it. I would have liked a flavortext on Exotic Growth. Not sure I get the writher part of Globewrither. Apparently to writhe means twist in pain. What does it imply as a noun? I don't get what your Trotter and Growth formed there.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Certainly melding.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Green and sorcery.
Total: 19.5/25
(2/3) Appeal: No Man's Land is somewhat of a Blood Moon, so maybe Spike might take interest. Wasteland Wanderer has the potential to become big, so it's somewhat of a Timmy card. Johnny likes the incentive to build a deck around wastes.
(2.5/3) Elegance: It's a shame how No Man's Land can't make the cards into Wastes. The wanderer is simple. So is the backside. The cards mostly follow the same theme.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: I guess No Man's Land has quite the cost requirement and doesn't actually destroy the land, so it's fine. Rare is still a good idea. I'm not sure why Wasteland Wanderer needs to be a Rare. It's just a bit more cost effecient Walker of the Wastes.
(2.5/3) Balance: No Man's Land is pretty close to Imprisoned in the Moon, it probably won't have much of an impact anywhere. Rather, lots of people would be disapointed to rip this card. Wasteland Wanderer is strong, but not too strong. It goes into a very specific deck and that's fine.
The combination of the two doesn't get too much bigger. You mostly gain the Blood Moon effect out of it, which often has quite the impact. But it takes time to get there and is easier to deal with.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: I like the idea of Pithing Needle for lands. Wasteland Wanderer, again, shares the concept with Walker of the Wastes, as does He Who Lays Waste, except that got a Blood Moon on top. Combining the two is quite cool though.
(1.5/3) Flavor: Eldrazi do not have a gender, so it should be It That Lays Waste. Otherwise the names are superb. A few more flavortexts would have been nice.
Polish -
(1.5/3) Quality: Two rares don't meld into a mythic rare.
"Permanents with the chosen name lose all land types ..." would be a more correct wording, even without an example existing.
Mana symbols can't be color indicators and while I don't understand why they can't just make a grey color indicator to indicate colorlessness, MaRo claims they haven't found a way, which is why none of the DFCs with a colorless backside have an indicator in Eldritch Moon.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Does meld.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Enchantment and same color identity.
Total: 18.5/25
RaikouRider 19.5
Flatline 18.5
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
(Scores are not necessarily final yet.)
Failing Checks 1-3 will take points from your Elegance score, Failing 4 will take from viability, and 5 from quality.
1. You need to always want to meld a pair, or at least have a choice in doing so. If the front faces have some unique features the back doesn't have, you need a choice to meld.
2. There has to be a way to ensure that the pair will meld, even if the first part is removed. The pair is a meld pair for a reason, and you have to help the players meld the card. For example, Bruna reanimates Gisela, and Midnight Scavengers brings back Graf Rats to hand. The exception is that if the 1st part doesn't typically have good removal for it (say, a land), this point isn't really needed.
3. Unless the pair is incredibly basic, the pair should have some elements of the two front faces in the melded side. Emrakul isn't changing Storm Crow to Darksteel Colossus, he's changing Storm Crow to Wretched Gryff.
4. Both front faces should have the same rarity, or at the very least a similar one (in the case of rare and mythic). This is mainly due to complexity and NWO, as you don't want a player too confused by the rarity disparaging between the two sides.
5. Remember to have the (Melds with [other half]) on the card without the meld ability.
Debt Collector 1BB
Creature - Human Cleric (U)
When Debt Collector enters the battlefield, distribute two -1/-1 counters among one or two target creatures.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you both own and control Debt Collector and an enchantment named Debts of the Masses, exile them, then meld them into Immeasurable Vice.
2/2
Debts of the Masses 3BB
Enchantment (R)
When Debts of the Masses enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on each creature.
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature with a -1/-1 counter on it.
(Melds with Debt Collector.)
"What is owed must be paid. In blood if need be."
- Undan, Debt Collector
Immeasurable Vice
B Enchantment (R)
Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, return that card to the battlefield under your control unless an opponent pays 3 life.
"Even the dead come back to gamble here."
- Undan, Debt Collector
DESIGN
(2/3) Appeal: The card appeals fantastically to Spikes and Johnnies, but Timmy is left with something to be desired.
(0/3) Elegance: The card fails all three of the elegance checks above, and even goes directly against check 2, due to the fact that both front faces can easily kill the first face. Also, the fact that, on an empty or one sided board, both fronts are completely useless is a problem. The pair is only minutely good at parity and terrible when ahead.
R & DEVELOPMENT
(2/3) Viability: The two fronts are different rarities, which is not good and fails check 4. Other than that, the pair looks reasonable, although you could potentially have passed the second card at uncommon.
(.5/3) Balance: So, you have a Skinrender Lite for one less mana, which is already quite powerful, then you have effectively an Edict on every players turn for 5, which is also quite powerful, and then it all turns into Grave Betrayal with the slight twist that sometimes it doesn't work. This seems a wee bit way to powerful to me, especially considering you can combo it with Shadowborn Apostle and just have B : Get a free demon from your deck unless an opponent pays 3-18 life. That's broken as all hell. (Another note I didn't realize: Debt Collector even has more versatility than it's Scars of Mirrodin counterpart, since you can split it. Even better, or, for this criterion, worse.)
CREATIVE DEPARTMENT THAT DIDN'T GET ME A HAL AND ALENA CARD
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: The most Unique card is Debts of the Masses, which is rather unique. However, the Collector is just Skinrender Lite + and Immeasurable is a noncreative amalgam of Athreos and Grave Betrayal.
(2/3) Flavor: The card has a lot of flavor, but it doesn't make sense that the Collector goes away when the Vice comes in. It seems that he would be there for that too. Also, the two references to Undan make it clear that the Debt Collector should have been a legendary creature.
POLAND AT THE SUMMER GAMES (plz don't sue)
(3/3) Quality Assurance Team: Looks good to me!
(2/2) Main Course: Fulfilled.
(2/2) Side Dish: Both Fulfilled.
TOTAL: 15/25 (Btw don't be too sad with the lower score. The high amount of cards and my checks almost ensured that my scores would be lower this round.)
Globe Trotter 2GG
Creature - Elemental Horse {R}
Globe Trotter's power and toughness are each equal to the number of nonbasic lands on the battlefield.
5GG: If you both own and control Globe Trotter and a card named Exotic Growth is in your graveyard, exile them, then meld them into Globewrither.
*/*
Exotic Growth 1GG
Sorcery {U}
Search your library for a land card and put that card onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
(Melds with Globe Trotter.)
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Globewrither
G Creature - Elemental {R}
Hexproof, trample
Globewrither's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands on the battlefield plus the number of creatures on the battlefield.
When Globewrither enters the battlefield, destroy all nonland, noncreature permanents.
Whenever a nonland, noncreature permanent enters the battlefield, destroy it.
*/*
DESIGN
(3/3) Appeal: Well, I'll be damned, it appeals pretty well to all of the psychographics. Nice Job there.
(2.5/3) Elegance: You (surprisingly) passed all three of the first checks, but the back face does lead to a very unfun situation for the opponent, since it doesn't really interact, and stops a lot of decks outright. It's not quite the mana cost that has the permission to do that. Additionally, The back side only has all of the rules text.
DEVELOPMENT
(2/3) Viability: You get a point taken off from check 4. Otherwise, the card doesn't really break any rules.
(1/3) Balance: Exotic Growth has a real danger of causing problems, since it can greatly help out Tron, Eldrazi, etc. , and then the two last abilities on the back side are fundamentally unfun for players to experience, and it really limits the deckbuilding in the format it's in (esp. with the hexproof on the back). Both the Exotic Growth and the back have the potential to make an oppressive enviroment, and that's a large problem.
CREATIVE
(1/3) Uniqueness: Exotic Growth is just Rampant Growth Plus, and the back is an Altar Golem with a Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer stapeled onto it that Purify's when it enters. Admittedly, that's a lot of effects, but that's because there's just too much text on the card.
(2/3) Flavor: The flavor is there, and makes sense, it's just too little and too subtle to really have any impact.
POLISH
(3/3) Quality: Looks good!
(2/2) Main: Looks good!
(2/2) Sub: Both look good!
TOTAL: 18.5/25 (Btw don't be too sad with the lower score. The high amount of cards and my checks almost ensured that my scores would be lower this round.)
No Man's Land CC
Enchantment (R)
When No Man's Land enters the battlefield, name a nonbasic land card.
Each card of the chosen name loses all types and abilities and has " : Add to your mana pool."
(Melds with Wasteland Wanderer.)
Wasteland Wanderer 1CC
Creature — Eldrazi (R)
Menace
Wasteland Wander's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands you control named Wastes.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you both own and control Wasteland Wander and an enchantment named No Man's Land, exile them, then meld them into He Who Lays Waste.
*/*
He Who Lays Waste
C Creature — Eldrazi (M)
Menace
He Who Lays Waste's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands named Wastes on the battlefield.
Nonbasic lands lose all types and abilities, are named Wastes, and have " T : Add C to your mana pool".
*/*
DESIGN
(1.5/3) Appeal: Wasteland Wanderer and He Who Lays Waste can appeal to all typings, but you'd be hard pressed to find a psychographic that No Man's Land appeals to. Its only use is to turn off fixing, and even then it doesn't do that good of a job. I can only find this being useful in Legacy for anyone, and you can just use Sinkhole there.
(2/3) Elegance: The pair fails Check 2, but other than that, it looks elegant enough.
DEVELOPMENT
(2/3) Viability: The card doesn't break anything, but the Wasteland wanderer does NOT need to be Rare in any way. It really should be uncommon.
(1.5/3) Balance: You have a card that does near nothing at all, then you have an actually balanced card in Wasteland Wanderer, and then you have Blood Moon. On a giant stick. On turn four. Blood Moon is a problem card, and this looks to be even worse. That's a little bit of a problem.
CREATIVE
(1/3) Uniqueness: You have Walker of the Wastes with a minor change or two and Blood Moon: Wastes Edition. Not too creative. To add to that, that Blood Moon Plus is just a Blood Moon with the previous card stapled onto it.
(1/3) Flavor: Other than [insert generic spaghetti monster], I don't see the flavor here. Why does the Wanderer change, why does No Man's Land leave? Why isn't No Man's LAND a land?
POLAND
(0/3) Quality: Well, let's get started:
(2/2) Sub: Fulfilled
TOTAL: 13/25 (Btw don't be too sad with the lower score. The high amount of cards and my checks almost ensured that my scores would be lower this round.)
Glurman: 15
RaikouRider: 18.5
Flatline: 13
Check out my Newborder Peasant Cube here! http://www.cubetutor.com/draft/37467
True Name Mafia (Win),Clan Contest IX Mafia (Win), Bravely Default Mafia (Loss), BOTAS (loss), BfV (Loss), Ace Attourney (loss)
Rules Advisor before they were eradicated
Flatline: 17.5 + 13 + 18.5 = 49
glurman: 24 + 15 + 21 = 60
RaikouRider: 22 + 18.5 + 19.5 = 60
So congratulations to both glurman and RaikouRider, our July MCC champions!
Thanks to all the players and judges!
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.)