(This month's banner is my own elaboration on the art of the card Paliano, The High City, by Adam Paquette)
August MCC Round 4
"The King is dead..."
"...long live the King!" Even as a spirit... and even if his spirit too doesn't live anymore... Anyway, don't let Marchesa hear you acclaming him!
In the story "Betrayal", we learn about the past of Brago and Selvala, their friendship, the rise to power of Brago, his illness and treatments by the Custodi, his merciful assassination by Selvala, and his return as a spirit. In the story "Tyrants", we see Brago's second death by the hands of Kaya (paid by Marchesa), right in front of Adriana's eyes.
And now, some trivia: did you know that "custodi" is an actual Italian word, meaning "wardens" (plural, the singular is "custode")? Also, and certainly not by chance knowing where they got inspiration from for the plane, "Fiora" has an assonance with "Firenze", the real Italian name of Florence, the city where I'm proud to have been born and raised, and where I still live today.
Main challenge: Design a nonblack reanimation spell. That means an instant or sorcery spell that returns one or more creature cards from (your or any) graveyard to the battlefield. Both permanent and temporary effects are acceptable.
This is meant to represent the two times Brago had to face death: the first getting killed by Selvala and returning as a Spirit, the second by the hands of Kaya, paid by Marchesa, who then claimed the crown for herself. (This is not a requirement though, you can design a card that has nothing to do with Brago and Selvala without any problem. That's why this part isn't bolded.)
Subchallenges:
1- The card is gold (has more than one color in its mana cost, no hybrid).
2- The card can return more than one creatures from graveyards to the battlefield at the same time. (Notice: "can", not "must". A card that reanimates a single creature as its base effect but is able to reanimate more than one under certain circumstances is acceptable.)
Nonblack means color identity, otherwise you could just do a kicker spell with an off-color black kicker cost and have the reanimation as a "if this was kicked" effect, and that's too easy for the intended difficulty of the round.
Always in the spirit of the main challenge, I'll rule that at least one of the targets has to be a creature. Once one target is a creature, you may have other additional noncreature targets. For example, "return target creature card and target noncreature card" would be fine, but just "return target permanent" is not. The can vs must only applies to the subchallenge.
The intended difficulty of the challenge is exactly to make you design a reanimation spell without using black mana in any way. There are ways to do it, and I thought of at least two in-color pie ones to do that as I was creating the challenge, so it's possible. Obviously, I'll only say what they are after the deadline.
If you have any doubts, just ask, preferably in the discussion thread.
A reminder to everyone:
• In the MCC, putting rarity on cards is mandatory! If you don't put a rarity on your card, expect huge deductions in both Viability AND Quality.
• Also, you should format your text cards accordingly to the forum rules (see the "this formatting looks best" spoiler in the linked OP). Again, expect deductions in Quality otherwise.
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: Sunday, September 4th 23:59 EDT
Judge deadline: None for now, but please try to make it as soon as possible. A deadline might follow if necessary.
JUDGES
bravelion83
Voxzorz
Necarg
Blydden
PLAYERS
doomfish
Flatline
sperlman
willows
Only the above players are allowed to submit a card this round. This is the final round, so each of the judges will judge all entries and the player with the highest sum of scores is our champion for August. 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.)
Rebuild the Forces
Sorcery (R)
As an additional cost to cast Rebuild the Forces, sacrifice an artifact.
Return up to three target artifact creature cards with total converted mana cost 6 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. "I can fix them if you find me some parts."
(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)
Breath of the Titan3GW
Sorcery (R)
Return all creature cards with power less than the power of target creature you control from your graveyard to the battlefield. Tales tell of titans so grand and glorious that even the fallen would rise again to fight at their side.
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
Conclave's RenewalXXGW
Sorcery (M)
Convoke (Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature's color.)
Return up to X target creature cards with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield, then put a +1/+1 counter on each of those creatures.
Fight On Forever4RW
Sorcery (M)
Return to the battlefield under your control with a strife counter on it each creature card that was put into a graveyard from the battlefield this turn. Those creatures gain, "As long as this creature attacked this turn, it has indestructible."
The round is officially closed. Judges, you (we actually) may begin judging.
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.)
For the record, I tried to orient the balance of each of these cards around some basic mana cost math. Returning a singular creature from the graveyard to the battlefield by itself is worth about 3W at sorcery speed on a card, while doing so at instant speed is worth about 1 or maybe even 2 more, depending. Without further ado...
Rebuild the Forces
Sorcery (R)
As an additional cost to cast Rebuild the Forces, sacrifice an artifact.
Return up to three target artifact creature cards with total converted mana cost 6 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. "I can fix them if you find me some parts."
Design - (3/3) Appeal: This card's interesting artifact focus definitely leans it to being quite the Johnny card. Spike would probably try this card out due to its lower mana cost and playable additional cost. This can revive a big creature for Timmy, even if he dislikes sacrificing, but sacrificing noncreature artifact tokens such as clues might be okay with him in this case. Great work here! (2.5/3) Elegance: Can you return the artifact that is sacrificed with this card? No, of course not, but it might be a frequent enough rulings question that is actually is a minor detraction from this card's elegance. Aside from that, this is indeed elegant!
Development - (3/3) Viability: This card is interesting in that there are different ways to put this on a color wheel. (R/W) works because white is a typical reanimation color, and red is a color that cares about taking apart artifacts and putting them back together. Both colors here add something that the other one lacks, which is definitely a way of going about developing this sort of card. Rare is the perfect rarity for this card, as well. (2/3) Balance: Admittedly, this card only took me about five minutes to come up with an ideal scenario for. Turn 1, cast Thraben Inspector (or just a Turn 1 artifact). Turn 2, cast Tormenting Voice (or a similar discard outlet), discarding an artifact creature like Wurmcoil Engine or Soul of New Phyrexia. Turn 3, play this card, sacrifice the clue (or turn 1 artifact), ramp out a shiny new Wurmcoil Engine, Soul of New Phyrexia, or otherwise. Now, this is of course a bit of a dream scenario, but I am sure a proper Johnny could possibly come up with something better and less vulnerable (possibly involving Memnites and/or Ornithopters). Truthfully, I cannot agree that this card is perfectly fine as-is as a result, balance-wise. Having the rules text say "nontoken" could possibly help, but I would prefer just seeing this card tweaked and tuned some more. It is not too terribly far off, actually, and truthfully I would love to have a second impression of similar rules text to this.
Anyway, this is probably fine outside of constructed, especially if one builds a (R/W) artifact deck for it. In the right limited block, that could actually be quite a bit of fun, if a little difficult to pull off. This card is also of the sort to be fine in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Returning artifacts and creatures from graveyards to battlefields has been done before, of course. The words 'total converted mana cost' are what makes this particular card rather unique. (2.5/3) Flavor: I like the name, but the flavor text falls a little flat for me here as a Vorthos. Otherwise, good work here for this criterion!
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Perfect! (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 22/25
Final thoughts: I really want to try and play around with this sort of card now after having ruminated about it. Congratulations are in order on being a finalist for this month's MCC, as well!
Conclave's RenewalXXGW
Sorcery (M)
Convoke (Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature's color.)
Return up to X target creature cards with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield, then put a +1/+1 counter on each of those creatures.
Design - (3/3) Appeal: This is appealing to all three of the player psychographics. Timmy would love to reanimate a whole army of buffed creatures with other creatures, Johnny has some neat and interesting ways to play around with a mana cost that includes XX in it, and Spike could reasonably use this to at least some effect in a typical game in the proper deck. Wonderful work!
Notably, this card would also complete an infamously incomplete Return to Ravnica 'cycle'. (Guild spells with 'X' in their mana cost, of which Selesnya has none, while all of the other guilds have at least one.) (3/3) Elegance: Excellently elegant!
Development - (3/3) Viability: Green and white are the colors of convoke, white is a color that can return creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield, and green is the prime color of +1/+1 counters. Absolutely perfect placement on the color wheel. I cannot imagine this card existing as anything less than a mythic rare, either, so the choice of rarity is perfect here as well. (3/3) Balance: First off, this is a limited bomb, but mythic rares are allowed to be that without any real problems. This could even become a constructed cornerstone for (G/W). Yet, I gave this card a perfect balance score, and that is because this card is fair, regardless of the format. This card requires an exorbitant amount of mana (and creatures) to function optimally. This is definitely doable for (G/W), however. This is a wonderful late game card for that archetype as a result.
I am not even sure what else that I could relevantly type here in all honesty.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Returning creatures from graveyards to battlefields has been done before, of course, but not like this. Double X mana cost?! There is no official card in all Magic: The Gathering that is multicolored AND has a double X in its mana cost, none. That alone deserves more than three points for this criterion, but I would probably get fired from my shiny new judge position if I tried that. This card only gets more unique from there, too. Impressed is an understatement for this criterion. (2/3) Flavor: Great name, neat instances of trinket text, but no flavor text, and the latter is a travesty. There was definitely room for at least one line, especially since this card is a mythic rare.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Perfect! (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 24/25
Final thoughts: Convoke is one of my favorite keywords in the game, just like cascade, soulbond, and similar mechanics. If only there was at least one line of equally perfect flavor text, then, I admit, I would have likely given this card a perfect score! Otherwise, I just absolutely love everything else about this card. Even if you are not victorous this month, your created cards throughout this month have definitely won my appreciation, and I am dying to see more, sperlman. Also, congratulations on becoming an MCC finalist for the month!
Fight On Forever4RW
Sorcery (M)
Return to the battlefield under your control with a strife counter on it each creature card that was put into a graveyard from the battlefield this turn. Those creatures gain, "As long as this creature attacked this turn, it has indestructible."
Design - (1.5/3) Appeal: I believe that Timmy is the sort who would definitely wish to be encouraged to attack with every creature all at once because of this kind of card. Johnny could maybe do something with this, even if I am not entirely sure what as of writing this judgment. This costs about right to work for Spike, but it is a little too dependent on your opponent to really excite her. (2/3) Elegance: The first effect is relatively reasonable, but the second effect is kind of inelegant and otherwise requires inert counters and remembering what they actually do. Otherwise, this card is alright in execution.
Development - (3/3) Viability: White is the color of returning multiple creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield; red is the color of aggression, and this card conveniently takes control of your opponent's creatures and encourages combat with all of the affected creatures, which is definitely red. I would say this card is definitely (R/W) on the color wheel as a result.
My inner Melvin wants to know if these strife counters could otherwise do anything else potentially someday. I shall assume not; thus, I assume that the rules of the game would otherwise be intact.
Mythic rare is fitting enough for this card though due to its inherent intrigue. (3/3) Balance: This is more of a limited bomb than a constructed cornerstone, but this is alright for a mythic rare in my honest opinion. If you get to make a successful attack with all of your creatures, great! If your attacking creatures end up being 'unsuccessful', this card would turn that right around. The fact that this card also takes control of your opponent's creatures by having them come back on your side is also a little crazy, but for six mana at sorcery speed I would call that acceptable.
This card could be rather fun in casual and multiplayer, however. This card is just meant to break up infamously stale board states.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Returning creatures from graveyards to battefields has been done before, of course, but not quite like this. The second sentence of rules text definitely earns full points for this criterion! (1.5/3) Flavor: I like the name alright, but there is no flavor text on this card. My inner Vorthos wants to know why the counters are known as 'strife' counters, to be honest. Flavor text about strife as a concept hence seems fitting here.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: There is an unnecessary comma after the word 'gain' (minus half a point). (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 20.5/25
Final thoughts: To be honest, I had to reread this card several times before I could write up this judgment as accurately as I possibly could, but that is more my fault than not. Just as well, you certainly deserve earnest congratulations as a finalist of the month's MCC!
Breath of the Titan3GW
Sorcery (R)
Return all creature cards with power less than the power of target creature you control from your graveyard to the battlefield. Tales tell of titans so grand and glorious that even the fallen would rise again to fight at their side.
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Timmy being rewarded for playing high power creatures is always both exciting and appealing to him. This card is too potent for Spike to not try and find a way to use this for herself as well. Johnny could even combo this with cards like Phytoburst, which is quite the concept in and of itself! (3/3) Elegance: Even if the titan depicted might possibly need a breath mint, there is definitely a breathtaking balance of simplicity and depth going on here.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: I agree that this card as a whole fits best into (G/W) on the color wheel. Honestly, this card could very well have the potential to be mythic, but rare is an acceptable bend in this case due to a lack of rules text, at least in my honest opinion. (1.5/3) Balance: This criterion is this created card's one true weakness. If I were to cost this card, it would be closer to 5GW or maybe 4GW as a mythic rare. This card currently has been pushed to an uncomfortable extreme at a converted mana cost of only five. However, this card could still possibly exist, as it does promote healthy gameplay. It definitely has the potential to win a game within a limited format all by itself, but it is acceptable for a rare card to do that as far as I am concerned (although maybe not at a converted mana cost of five). What really keeps this balance score afloat are the plethora of deckbuilding decisions and fine tuning adjustments that would be required to use this card to its maximum potential. The gameplay involved with using this card optimally is also a rather delicate balance.
In casual and multiplayer, this card only gets better and easier to use, as well.
Truthfully, if this card had been costed at 4GW, this balance score would have been 2 or greater.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Returning creatures from graveyards to battefields has been done before, of course, but certainly not like this. You could say that my breath has been stolen away by this card's creativity for this pair of criteria. (3/3) Flavor: As a Vorthos, I am pleasantly pleased to claim that this is the most flavorful card of the entire round. I would argue that it is quite tasteful, as well.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Perfect! (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 23/DQ
Final thoughts: Worry not about being disqualified, doomfish. What mattered is that you created some excellent cards this month that you should be very much proud of. I assure you that you definitely have my congratulations for making it to the final round of the month's MCC! Again, best of luck in the finals of the month's CCL versus myself, as well!
I can't believe I forgot about the deadline and didn't polish my card.
I don't think I even want to read the critiques. And I liked the concept too...
edit: That being said, I polished the flavor and put the usual tags. If that disqualifies me, so be it.
Unfortunately, yes, it does because it counts as editing your submission after the deadline. I'm really sorry. I'm still willing and planning to judge your card anyway regardless of whether you will read it or not, but the score will not matter.
Judgments complete, not final until all judgments have been submitted.
For the record, the two ways I was talking about a few days ago were:
1- what everyone did, that is using white's ability to reanimate small creatures, or
2- granting unearth to creature cards in graveyards in a way similar to Past in Flames, after all unearth is just flashback for creatures so it looks fine for red and blue to grant it just like they can grant flashback to cards in graveyards.
There are probably more I didn't think about.
Rebuild the Forces
Sorcery (R)
As an additional cost to cast Rebuild the Forces, sacrifice an artifact.
Return up to three target artifact creature cards with total converted mana cost 6 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. "I can fix them if you find me some parts."
Design (3/3) Appeal - I can see Timmy liking the idea of sacrificing a little artifact to get back a single huge artifact creature. Spike can exploit the difference between the mana cost (three mana) and the six mana worth of creatures he can get back, and he really likes that. This card is reminiscent of Collected Company in that regard, and we've seen how much Spike likes that card because of the gain in mana. Johnny can do a lot of things with this, and he's already brewing. (2/3) Elegance - You can't return the artifact you sacrifice to pay for the additional cost as it's not yet in the graveyard when you choose targets (you have to choose targets before you actually pay costs while casting a spell). Is this intuitive enough? I don't know, I can see some less experienced player trying to do that and then asking why Rescue from the Underworld works that way and this does not. The answer, by the way, is that Rescue does not target the creature you sacrifice but only the one that is already in the graveyard. Other than this, no problem here. The card has very low comprehension complexity in its wording.
Development (3/3) Viability - White reanimates small creatures but doesn't care that much about artifacts that are not Equipment. Red, and especially blue, care more about artifacts in general, so I can see this in the color pie. Rarity also feels right to me. (2.5/3) Balance - The limitation on CMC not only makes sense in the color pie, but also here. You really don't want players to potentially get a Blightsteel Colossus on the battlefield for three mana (I know it's not possible as the Colossus can't stay in the graveyard and this card is a sorcery, but it's just the first example of a huge artifact creature that came to my mind). This looks like a card that you could cast on turn three, but I think most of the times you won't. You still need time to not only get an artifact to sacrifice (that's the easy part, especially in a Standard format like today's with Clues floating around), but also to get enough artifact creatures in your graveyard. Also to keep into account is this card's high flexibility: you can reanimate a single big creature, say one of those Gearhulks that are getting spoiled in these days (maybe even get it out on turn three? That could be a problem...), or a lot of little ones. That looks like an interesting decision that also affects how you build your deck. As for limited, I think this is only playable in an artifact environment, but even then, it depends. For example, if you were thinking of Kaladesh, you have to remember you can't reanimate Vehicles with this. In the graveyard, those are not creatures. At the contrary, in a format like both Mirrodin blocks this would be very playable. It's very environment-dependant: playable in the right limited environment, but not in a generic environment without a focus on artifacts and artifact creatures in particular. Finally, I see no particular problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - There are a few cards that work similarly. Searching for the phrase "total converted mana cost" in Gatherer returns five cards: Ancient Ooze (so old that I didn't even knew it existed and very different from your card), Naya Soulbeast (also very different), Protean Hulk (it cares about the library, while your card cares about the graveyard), Nahiri's Wrath (again different), and March from the Tomb. Now, this last card plays indeed in similar space as yours even if there are a few subtle differences. Anyway, it's not a space that has been throughly explored, it's still relatively new, and honestly March from the Tomb is not that memorable of a card. I honestly didn't think of it until I found it with that Gatherer search. (2.5/3) Flavor - The name is fine and the flavor text makes sense with the mechanics. It's not the most exciting flavor I've ever seen but it works well enough.
Polish (3/3) Quality - All good. (By the way, I'm stealing your way of denoting points deduction from your sample judgment. You made me realize that I was typing a lot of extra characters by writing those fully. Thank you!) (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Conclave's RenewalXXGW
Sorcery (M)
Convoke (Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature's color.)
Return up to X target creature cards with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield, then put a +1/+1 counter on each of those creatures.
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes convoke, reanimation of multiple creatures, and +1/+1 counters, so he definitely likes this card a lot. Johnny can definitely do something with this card. The cost looks a bit high to Spike, but he could be open to trying this. (2.5/3) Elegance - The use of X with convoke is not the simplest thing strategically, but this card has very low comprehension complexity.
Development (2.5/3) Viability - White reanimates small creatures, and no problem with that. The introduction of green is justified by convoke (a Selesnya keyword) and the +1/+1 counters, even if those are both things that white can already do by itself. Seeing how this impacts the board, I can see this being mythic. (2.5/3) Balance - If you get this in limited you can easily break a stall by making a big attack and then use your remaining creatures, if any, and mana to reanimate them while also making them bigger. That looks powerful but not broken, which is a good place to be. The same reasoning applies to constructed too, even if there stalls are less frequent. They are still there though, as the one-hour long game 3 of the Worlds final match demonstrates (I was exhausted after just watching it, I can only imagine the players after playing it...). In constructed, I'm a little worried by the potential to generate high-powered combos like Rally the Ancestors did, but this being a sorcery and requiring two colors of mana should help with that. Still, we can't completely exclude it. In casual and multiplayer, where games usually go longer so you have access to more mana, this looks even better.
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - We've had reanimation spells giving +1/+1 counters before, but I can't remember any card where the number of creatures you get to reanimate is tied to their CMC, and I also can't remember any reanimation spell with convoke actually esisting. (1.5/3) Flavor - The name is good and fits the concept very well. Too bad there's no flavor text, MSE shows me a couple lines could have fit.
Polish (3/3) Quality - You cut the first sentence from convoke's latest reminder text, but you know what? I am totally with you here. "Your creatures can help cast this spell" is unhearable! Ok that reminder text is allowed to be looser, but only "The land continues to burn" is worse to hear. I'm not only not deducting points for cutting that sentence, but if I were allowed I'd actually give you some bonus points! (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Fight On Forever4RW
Sorcery (M)
Return to the battlefield under your control with a strife counter on it each creature card that was put into a graveyard from the battlefield this turn. Those creatures gain, "As long as this creature attacked this turn, it has indestructible."
Design (1.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes to reanimate his dead creatures right after an attack, but he would rather spend six mana to cast a new huge creature. Johnny could maybe use this in some kind of engine. Spike wants something that could win the game by itself for six mana, and this doesn't look like it to him. (2/3) Elegance - It can require a couple reads to grasp, but it's not that hard to understand. I'm very thankful for the counters, that should help a lot in actual gameplay.
Development (1.5/3) Viability - White usually reanimates only small creatures, with either low CMC or power, but this still has restrictions and looks like an acceptable bend. I honestly can't see anything red here, to me it just looks like you put it only to pass subchallenge 1. If you cast this after a huge attack that killed a lot of creatures, this has a huge impact on the board, and that can justify its mythic rarity. (2/3) Balance - I expect this to be more playable in limited than constructed, as there are more stalls and this is most effective after a big attack. In constructed there should be better things to do with six mana. I don't see any big problem in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - I thought there had to be a card working similarly, but Gatherer showed me that I'm either wrong about that or that I can't use it... I can't remember anything like that conditional indestructibility either. (1.5/3) Flavor - The name is good. No flavor text, even though MSE tells me three lines can fit for sure, even four maybe.
Polish (2.5/3) Quality - An unneeded comma after the word "gain" (-0.5). (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 18/25
Flatline: 22.5
sperlman: 21
willows: 18
Out of competition
I judged this card normally but when I saw the result, I wondered whether to put the scores here or not. Well, in the end I decided to go for honesty and transparency and I put them. Feel free to ignore them if you want. I understand that it hurts getting a DQ with such a high score, and again I'm really sorry for that, but there are rules and it is my role as host to make sure they are respected. Man, I feel like I'm a Consul from Kaladesh speaking like this...
Breath of the Titan3GW
Sorcery (R)
Return all creature cards with power less than the power of target creature you control from your graveyard to the battlefield. Tales tell of titans so grand and glorious that even the fallen would rise again to fight at their side.
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes reanimating his dead creatures and this lets him do so while also caring about having a large creature on the battlefield, which he loves. Johnny could come up with some engine involving this card. Spike doesn't like that much that you have to rely on a creature you control. (3/3) Elegance - This card is a perfect example of the power of simplicity and elegance.
Development (2.5/3) Viability - White reanimates small creatures, no problem with it. Caring about the power of a creature you control is a very nice way to make this feel green too, even if nothing on this card is mechanically specific to green. Rarity looks good to me. (2/3) Balance - I could see playing this in limited, but it's not the first choice for a noncreature spell to include in your limited deck. In constructed, this generates an interesting tension between wanting to include the highest number of little creatures in your deck, to maximaze the number of creatures you get to reanimate, while also including some large ones to be the target for this. This creates interesting deckbuilding decisions. I see no particular problem in casual and multiplayer.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - I'm amazed at the fact that a card this simple and elegant has never been actually printed. This looks very original. (3/3) Flavor - Yes, you were right, the flavor is not only there, but it's also very vey good. The name is good and the flavor text is wonderful, I really like it very much both in itself and in how well it makes sense with the mechanics.
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.)
I'm sorry I'm late... School started and I've been suuuuuper busy. Will finish judgments by tomorrow.
No problem, we've already run late enough, one or two more days won't make the difference.
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.)
[b]Rebuild the Forces[/b]
Sorcery (R)
As an additional cost to cast Rebuild the Forces, sacrifice an artifact.
Return up to three target artifact creature cards with total converted mana cost 6 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. "I can fix them if you find me some parts."
[b]Design[/b]
[b]Appeal:[/b] Johnny loves it, Spike probably likes it, and Timmy doesn't care very much.
2/3
[b]Elegance:[b] Very nicely done, simple and easy to understand. Overall card feels good.
3/3
Total: 5/6
[b]Development[/b]
[b]Viability:[/b] It's odd that this card isn't blue, but it doesn't seem wrong. Rarity is good and no other issues that I can see.
3/3
[/b]Balance:[/b] This is potentially very broken, depending on the combos you could pull with it. I can't think of anything off the top of my head, but the total CMC restriction really helps with this. Also goes super nice with Wurmcoil Engine... ^u^
2/3
Total: 5/6
[b]Creativity[/b]
[b]Uniqueness:[/b] This is very similar to Trash for Treasure, but still manages to be interesting, so some points here.
1.5/3
[b]Flavour:[/b] The flavour is interesting, but it's hard for it to stand on its own; I feel like it needs to be in a set that supports the whole "robot army" theme. Name is okay, but sounds a bit clunky. Flavour text is decent.
2/3
Total: 3.5/6
[b]Polish[/b]
[b]Quality:[/b] No issues here.
3/3
[b]Main Challenge:[b] Satisfied.
2/2
[b]Subchallenges:[/b] Both satisfied.
2/2
[b]Conclave's Renewal[/b] XXGW
Sorcery (M)
Convoke (Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature's color.)
Return up to X target creature cards with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield, then put a +1/+1 counter on each of those creatures.
[b]Design[/b]
[b]Appeal:[/b] Very Spikey, Johnny might also be interested. Timmy doesn't care.
2/3
[b]Elegance:[b] It's a bit complex, and it takes a second read to double check what it does. It's not super confusing though, so you don't lose many marks here.
2/3
Total: 4/6
[b]Development[/b]
[b]Viability:[/b] Mythic is good, could also potentially be rare. Colours are fine.
3/3
[/b]Balance:[/b] This is very well balanced, being quite powerful while not being overpowering. Limited bomb, and likely a constructed staple.
3/3
Total: 6/6
[b]Creativity[/b]
[b]Uniqueness:[/b] This feels quite similar to Rally the Ancestors and Return to the Ranks. Still interesting though.
1.5/3
[b]Flavour:[/b] No flavour text, while there is definitely room. Name is good, and flavour overall is really nice.
2/3
[b]Fight On Forever[/b] 4RW
Sorcery (M)
Return to the battlefield under your control with a strife counter on it each creature card that was put into a graveyard from the battlefield this turn. Those creatures gain, "As long as this creature attacked this turn, it has indestructible."
[b]Design[/b]
[b]Appeal:[/b] Seems pretty Timmy to me. Johnny and Spike don't care.
1.5/3
[b]Elegance:[b] Takes a bit of reading, but not very complex.
2/3
Total: 3.5/6
[b]Development[/b]
[b]Viability:[/b] Colours and rarity both fine. No other issues.
3/3
[/b]Balance:[/b] The fact that it also returns your opponent's creatures makes this a ridiculous limited bomb, and potentiall fantastic in constructed. It isn't a problem outside of limited though.
2/3
Total: 5/6
[b]Creativity[/b]
[b]Uniqueness:[/b] Really cool and unique design. Full points.
3/3
[b]Flavour:[/b] No flavour text, while there is definitely room. Name is good, and overall flavour is good.
2/3
Total: 5/6
[b]Polish[/b]
[b]Quality:[/b] No issues.
3/3
[b]Main Challenge:[b] Satisfied
2/2
[b]Subchallenges:[/b] Both satisfied.
2/2
Total: 7/7
[b]Total: 20.5/25[/b]
Judgment done on the final version, I never got the chance to see the original.
[b]Breath of the Titan[/b] 3GW
Sorcery (R)
Return all creature cards with power less than the power of target creature you control from your graveyard to the battlefield. Tales tell of titans so grand and glorious that even the fallen would rise again to fight at their side.
[b]Design[/b]
[b]Appeal:[/b] Again, Johnny and Spike love it, while Timmy is pretty much indifferent.
2/3
[b]Elegance:[b] Nice and simple, very clean design.
3/3
Total: 5/6
[b]Development[/b]
[b]Viability:[/b] Colours are fine, it should probably be mythic though. No other issues.
2/3
[/b]Balance:[/b] This is really, really powerful. I would be most afraid of it in an Abzan combo sacrifice deck in modern, but it would definitely see play in every format except maybe legacy and vintage. It should almost certainly cost 6, and even then it would have to go through some serious playtesting.
1.5/3
Total: 3.5/6
[b]Creativity[/b]
[b]Uniqueness:[/b] This is a really cool and unique card. There's an interesting parallel between this and Fell the Mighty.
3/3
[b]Flavour:[/b] Flavour is really nice. The name is awesome, and the flavour text is very invocative. Nicely done.
3/3
Total: 6/6
[b]Polish[/b]
[b]Quality:[/b] No issues.
3/3
[b]Main Challenge:[b] Satisfied
2/2
[b]Subchallenges:[/b] Both satisfied.
2/2
Rebuild the Forces
Sorcery (R)
As an additional cost to cast Rebuild the Forces, sacrifice an artifact.
Return up to three target artifact creature cards with total converted mana cost 6 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. "I can fix them if you find me some parts."
DESIGN
(2/3) Appeal: John cries tears of joy at this card, Tim scoffs at it, and Spike will like it depending on the quantity and quality of artifacts in the format.
(3/3) Elegant: This card is not wordy in the slightest, and is simple and concise while doing so.
DEVELOPMENT
(3/3) Viability: This card fits so well at rare, and definitely fits in white with its effect. The additional cost pulls it into red's territory too, so you're all good.
(2.5/3) Balance: This could potentially lead to some really broken interactions, but for the most part only returning 6 mana's worth and only being able to return creatures make it fine. I might argue that the cost in two colors and sacrificing an artifact is too high for the card, considering March from the Tomb
CREATIVE
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Speaking of March from the Tomb, this is effectively the same for artifact creatures. The additional cost adds something, but not enough to really make it unique.
(1.5/3) Flavor: The flavor is there and makes sense, but it seems REALLY LAZY. "Rebuild the Forces" isn't breaking any new ground, and the flavor text is the sort of generic thing that you'd hear 354 times in Skyrim. It's there, but it's pretty poorly executed.
QUALITY
(3/3) Quality: I can't technically dock you points for using the :sym: method of mana, but just know that it really annoys me.
(2/2) Main: Done
(2/2) Sub: Done and Done.
TOTAL: 20.5/25
Conclave's RenewalXXGW
Sorcery (M)
Convoke (Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature's color.)
Return up to X target creature cards with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield, then put a +1/+1 counter on each of those creatures.
DESIGN
(1.5/3) Appeal: This doesn't appeal to Tim at all, John loves the combo reanimation potential, and Spike likes the idea but worries a lot about the cost being a problem.
(3/3) Elegance: Simple, concise, and understandable.
DEVELOPMENT
(1.5/3) Appeal: Effects like this may have been Mythic in the recent past with sets like RTR and OG Innistrad, but recently, design has made a push for weird and splashy cards in the mythic slot, and not usually just power. I understand that it tries to continue the cycle from RTR, but it can easily do that at rare. Secondly, this card should really be more focused in white than green, as the +1/+1 counter is rather unnoticeable.
(1.5/3) Balance: This card looks to follow the same problem that Dark Salvation did. A really good and powerful spell with a lot of potential, but the multiple X's cause its cost to not become valuable until 8+ mana. In formats like EDH, it could be viable, but not in a format that's anywhere near quick. This won't be a problem, but it's not good to see a constructed appealing mythic be generally underpowered.
CREATIVE
(2/3) Uniqueness: This card is pretty similar but notably different to Return to the Ranks. But it's pretty unique in its own right.
(1/3) Flavor: The flavor is boring. No flavor text, a vague name, and an effect that only kind of works with the name and colors leaves me unsatisfied.
POLAND
(3/3) Quality: No real problems here. I agree with bravelion in that the sentence you cut from the convoke reminder text is unnecessary.
(2/2) Main: Done
(2/2) Sub: Done and done.
TOTAL: 17.5/25
Fight On Forever4RW
Sorcery (M)
Return to the battlefield under your control with a strife counter on it each creature card that was put into a graveyard from the battlefield this turn. Those creatures gain, "As long as this creature attacked this turn, it has indestructible."
DESIGN
(2.5/3) Appeal: I could see this appealing to all three psychographics, but Spike might worry over the high cost.
(1.5/3) Elegance: The first sentence makes me want to vomit. It's strenuous to read and the strife counters do nothing unless you're in a format all about strife counters, which is unlikely.
DEVELOPMENT
(2/3) Viability: This isn't really a red effect, and it could be argued that this should be rare, rather than mythic, but I feel like it could work at mythic. Either way, nothing about this is really red. It's practically a monowhite effect.
(2/3) Balance: It's kind of hard to evaluate the power of a card like this. Overall, though, I think this card is a little too powerful. The ability to get multiple creatures reanimated for 6 mana is really potentially powerful, and it's very powerful if there's already a deck for it in any format. In addition, giving those creatures indestructible is something that should be expensive. (see Fated Return) But, it likely wouldn't be TOO much of a problem, except potentially in standard.
CREATIVE
(2/3) Uniqueness: This card is for the most part, unique, but it has a LOT of similarities to the aforementioned Fated Return.
(2/3) Flavor: WHY DOES EVERYONE IGNORE FLAVOR TEXT WHEN THERE'S ROOM. However, Fight On Forever isn't the worst flavor for the effect, but, there's nothing exciting about it.
POLAND
(1.5/3) Quality: Not only is the strife counter unnecessary, it also should go at the end of the sentence instead of stuffing it in the middle. You can also drop the comma before the quotes. MtG doesn't use them.
(2/2) Main: Done
(2/2) Sub:Done and done.
TOTAL: 17.5/25
Flatline: 20.5 + 20.5 + 22.5 + 22 = 85.5
Sperlman: 17.5 + 20.5 + 21 + 24 = 83
Willows: 17.5 + 20.5 + 18.5 + 20.5 = 77
At the moment of posting (potentially subject to change), Flatline looks to be the champion of the August MCC!
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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
This means that Flatline is officially our champion for this month! Congratulations!
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 card Paliano, The High City, by Adam Paquette)
August MCC Round 4
"The King is dead..."
"...long live the King!" Even as a spirit... and even if his spirit too doesn't live anymore... Anyway, don't let Marchesa hear you acclaming him!
In the story "Betrayal", we learn about the past of Brago and Selvala, their friendship, the rise to power of Brago, his illness and treatments by the Custodi, his merciful assassination by Selvala, and his return as a spirit. In the story "Tyrants", we see Brago's second death by the hands of Kaya (paid by Marchesa), right in front of Adriana's eyes.
And now, some trivia: did you know that "custodi" is an actual Italian word, meaning "wardens" (plural, the singular is "custode")? Also, and certainly not by chance knowing where they got inspiration from for the plane, "Fiora" has an assonance with "Firenze", the real Italian name of Florence, the city where I'm proud to have been born and raised, and where I still live today.
Main challenge: Design a nonblack reanimation spell. That means an instant or sorcery spell that returns one or more creature cards from (your or any) graveyard to the battlefield. Both permanent and temporary effects are acceptable.
This is meant to represent the two times Brago had to face death: the first getting killed by Selvala and returning as a Spirit, the second by the hands of Kaya, paid by Marchesa, who then claimed the crown for herself. (This is not a requirement though, you can design a card that has nothing to do with Brago and Selvala without any problem. That's why this part isn't bolded.)
Subchallenges:
1- The card is gold (has more than one color in its mana cost, no hybrid).
2- The card can return more than one creatures from graveyards to the battlefield at the same time. (Notice: "can", not "must". A card that reanimates a single creature as its base effect but is able to reanimate more than one under certain circumstances is acceptable.)
Nonblack means color identity, otherwise you could just do a kicker spell with an off-color black kicker cost and have the reanimation as a "if this was kicked" effect, and that's too easy for the intended difficulty of the round.
Always in the spirit of the main challenge, I'll rule that at least one of the targets has to be a creature. Once one target is a creature, you may have other additional noncreature targets. For example, "return target creature card and target noncreature card" would be fine, but just "return target permanent" is not. The can vs must only applies to the subchallenge.
The intended difficulty of the challenge is exactly to make you design a reanimation spell without using black mana in any way. There are ways to do it, and I thought of at least two in-color pie ones to do that as I was creating the challenge, so it's possible. Obviously, I'll only say what they are after the deadline.
If you have any doubts, just ask, preferably in the discussion thread.
Also, please take note of the following points.
On rarity and formatting:
You can read my latest article about my opinion on this matter.
On the use of "create" vs. "put onto the battlefield" for tokens. This is an official ruling for this month.
(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: Sunday, September 4th 23:59 EDT
Judge deadline: None for now, but please try to make it as soon as possible. A deadline might follow if necessary.
JUDGES
bravelion83
Voxzorz
Necarg
Blydden
PLAYERS
doomfish
Flatline
sperlman
willows
Only the above players are allowed to submit a card this round. This is the final round, so each of the judges will judge all entries and the player with the highest sum of scores is our champion for August. 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.)
Sorcery (R)
As an additional cost to cast Rebuild the Forces, sacrifice an artifact.
Return up to three target artifact creature cards with total converted mana cost 6 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
"I can fix them if you find me some parts."
Sorcery (R)
Return all creature cards with power less than the power of target creature you control from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Tales tell of titans so grand and glorious that even the fallen would rise again to fight at their side.
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
Conclave's Renewal XXGW
Sorcery (M)
Convoke (Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature's color.)
Return up to X target creature cards with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield, then put a +1/+1 counter on each of those creatures.
Sorcery (M)
Return to the battlefield under your control with a strife counter on it each creature card that was put into a graveyard from the battlefield this turn. Those creatures gain, "As long as this creature attacked this turn, it has indestructible."
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.)
LONG LIVE THE KING!DING DONG, THE KING IS DEAD!For the record, I tried to orient the balance of each of these cards around some basic mana cost math. Returning a singular creature from the graveyard to the battlefield by itself is worth about 3W at sorcery speed on a card, while doing so at instant speed is worth about 1 or maybe even 2 more, depending. Without further ado...
(3/3) Appeal: This card's interesting artifact focus definitely leans it to being quite the Johnny card. Spike would probably try this card out due to its lower mana cost and playable additional cost. This can revive a big creature for Timmy, even if he dislikes sacrificing, but sacrificing noncreature artifact tokens such as clues might be okay with him in this case. Great work here!
(2.5/3) Elegance: Can you return the artifact that is sacrificed with this card? No, of course not, but it might be a frequent enough rulings question that is actually is a minor detraction from this card's elegance. Aside from that, this is indeed elegant!
Development -
(3/3) Viability: This card is interesting in that there are different ways to put this on a color wheel. (R/W) works because white is a typical reanimation color, and red is a color that cares about taking apart artifacts and putting them back together. Both colors here add something that the other one lacks, which is definitely a way of going about developing this sort of card. Rare is the perfect rarity for this card, as well.
(2/3) Balance: Admittedly, this card only took me about five minutes to come up with an ideal scenario for. Turn 1, cast Thraben Inspector (or just a Turn 1 artifact). Turn 2, cast Tormenting Voice (or a similar discard outlet), discarding an artifact creature like Wurmcoil Engine or Soul of New Phyrexia. Turn 3, play this card, sacrifice the clue (or turn 1 artifact), ramp out a shiny new Wurmcoil Engine, Soul of New Phyrexia, or otherwise. Now, this is of course a bit of a dream scenario, but I am sure a proper Johnny could possibly come up with something better and less vulnerable (possibly involving Memnites and/or Ornithopters). Truthfully, I cannot agree that this card is perfectly fine as-is as a result, balance-wise. Having the rules text say "nontoken" could possibly help, but I would prefer just seeing this card tweaked and tuned some more. It is not too terribly far off, actually, and truthfully I would love to have a second impression of similar rules text to this.
Anyway, this is probably fine outside of constructed, especially if one builds a (R/W) artifact deck for it. In the right limited block, that could actually be quite a bit of fun, if a little difficult to pull off. This card is also of the sort to be fine in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Returning artifacts and creatures from graveyards to battlefields has been done before, of course. The words 'total converted mana cost' are what makes this particular card rather unique.
(2.5/3) Flavor: I like the name, but the flavor text falls a little flat for me here as a Vorthos. Otherwise, good work here for this criterion!
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Perfect!
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 22/25
Final thoughts: I really want to try and play around with this sort of card now after having ruminated about it. Congratulations are in order on being a finalist for this month's MCC, as well!
(3/3) Appeal: This is appealing to all three of the player psychographics. Timmy would love to reanimate a whole army of buffed creatures with other creatures, Johnny has some neat and interesting ways to play around with a mana cost that includes XX in it, and Spike could reasonably use this to at least some effect in a typical game in the proper deck. Wonderful work!
Notably, this card would also complete an infamously incomplete Return to Ravnica 'cycle'. (Guild spells with 'X' in their mana cost, of which Selesnya has none, while all of the other guilds have at least one.)
(3/3) Elegance: Excellently elegant!
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Green and white are the colors of convoke, white is a color that can return creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield, and green is the prime color of +1/+1 counters. Absolutely perfect placement on the color wheel. I cannot imagine this card existing as anything less than a mythic rare, either, so the choice of rarity is perfect here as well.
(3/3) Balance: First off, this is a limited bomb, but mythic rares are allowed to be that without any real problems. This could even become a constructed cornerstone for (G/W). Yet, I gave this card a perfect balance score, and that is because this card is fair, regardless of the format. This card requires an exorbitant amount of mana (and creatures) to function optimally. This is definitely doable for (G/W), however. This is a wonderful late game card for that archetype as a result.
I am not even sure what else that I could relevantly type here in all honesty.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Returning creatures from graveyards to battlefields has been done before, of course, but not like this. Double X mana cost?! There is no official card in all Magic: The Gathering that is multicolored AND has a double X in its mana cost, none. That alone deserves more than three points for this criterion, but I would probably get fired from my shiny new judge position if I tried that. This card only gets more unique from there, too. Impressed is an understatement for this criterion.
(2/3) Flavor: Great name, neat instances of trinket text, but no flavor text, and the latter is a travesty. There was definitely room for at least one line, especially since this card is a mythic rare.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Perfect!
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 24/25
Final thoughts: Convoke is one of my favorite keywords in the game, just like cascade, soulbond, and similar mechanics. If only there was at least one line of equally perfect flavor text, then, I admit, I would have likely given this card a perfect score! Otherwise, I just absolutely love everything else about this card. Even if you are not victorous this month, your created cards throughout this month have definitely won my appreciation, and I am dying to see more, sperlman. Also, congratulations on becoming an MCC finalist for the month!
(1.5/3) Appeal: I believe that Timmy is the sort who would definitely wish to be encouraged to attack with every creature all at once because of this kind of card. Johnny could maybe do something with this, even if I am not entirely sure what as of writing this judgment. This costs about right to work for Spike, but it is a little too dependent on your opponent to really excite her.
(2/3) Elegance: The first effect is relatively reasonable, but the second effect is kind of inelegant and otherwise requires inert counters and remembering what they actually do. Otherwise, this card is alright in execution.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: White is the color of returning multiple creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield; red is the color of aggression, and this card conveniently takes control of your opponent's creatures and encourages combat with all of the affected creatures, which is definitely red. I would say this card is definitely (R/W) on the color wheel as a result.
My inner Melvin wants to know if these strife counters could otherwise do anything else potentially someday. I shall assume not; thus, I assume that the rules of the game would otherwise be intact.
Mythic rare is fitting enough for this card though due to its inherent intrigue.
(3/3) Balance: This is more of a limited bomb than a constructed cornerstone, but this is alright for a mythic rare in my honest opinion. If you get to make a successful attack with all of your creatures, great! If your attacking creatures end up being 'unsuccessful', this card would turn that right around. The fact that this card also takes control of your opponent's creatures by having them come back on your side is also a little crazy, but for six mana at sorcery speed I would call that acceptable.
This card could be rather fun in casual and multiplayer, however. This card is just meant to break up infamously stale board states.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Returning creatures from graveyards to battefields has been done before, of course, but not quite like this. The second sentence of rules text definitely earns full points for this criterion!
(1.5/3) Flavor: I like the name alright, but there is no flavor text on this card. My inner Vorthos wants to know why the counters are known as 'strife' counters, to be honest. Flavor text about strife as a concept hence seems fitting here.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: There is an unnecessary comma after the word 'gain' (minus half a point).
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 20.5/25
Final thoughts: To be honest, I had to reread this card several times before I could write up this judgment as accurately as I possibly could, but that is more my fault than not. Just as well, you certainly deserve earnest congratulations as a finalist of the month's MCC!
(3/3) Appeal: Timmy being rewarded for playing high power creatures is always both exciting and appealing to him. This card is too potent for Spike to not try and find a way to use this for herself as well. Johnny could even combo this with cards like Phytoburst, which is quite the concept in and of itself!
(3/3) Elegance: Even if the titan depicted might possibly need a breath mint, there is definitely a breathtaking balance of simplicity and depth going on here.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: I agree that this card as a whole fits best into (G/W) on the color wheel. Honestly, this card could very well have the potential to be mythic, but rare is an acceptable bend in this case due to a lack of rules text, at least in my honest opinion.
(1.5/3) Balance: This criterion is this created card's one true weakness. If I were to cost this card, it would be closer to 5GW or maybe 4GW as a mythic rare. This card currently has been pushed to an uncomfortable extreme at a converted mana cost of only five. However, this card could still possibly exist, as it does promote healthy gameplay. It definitely has the potential to win a game within a limited format all by itself, but it is acceptable for a rare card to do that as far as I am concerned (although maybe not at a converted mana cost of five). What really keeps this balance score afloat are the plethora of deckbuilding decisions and fine tuning adjustments that would be required to use this card to its maximum potential. The gameplay involved with using this card optimally is also a rather delicate balance.
In casual and multiplayer, this card only gets better and easier to use, as well.
Truthfully, if this card had been costed at 4GW, this balance score would have been 2 or greater.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Returning creatures from graveyards to battefields has been done before, of course, but certainly not like this. You could say that my breath has been stolen away by this card's creativity for this pair of criteria.
(3/3) Flavor: As a Vorthos, I am pleasantly pleased to claim that this is the most flavorful card of the entire round. I would argue that it is quite tasteful, as well.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Perfect!
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 23/DQ
Final thoughts: Worry not about being disqualified, doomfish. What mattered is that you created some excellent cards this month that you should be very much proud of. I assure you that you definitely have my congratulations for making it to the final round of the month's MCC! Again, best of luck in the finals of the month's CCL versus myself, as well!
Flatline - 22
willows - 20.5
Unfortunately, yes, it does because it counts as editing your submission after the deadline. I'm really sorry. I'm still willing and planning to judge your card anyway regardless of whether you will read it or not, but the score will not matter.
Judgments complete, not final until all judgments have been submitted.
For the record, the two ways I was talking about a few days ago were:
1- what everyone did, that is using white's ability to reanimate small creatures, or
2- granting unearth to creature cards in graveyards in a way similar to Past in Flames, after all unearth is just flashback for creatures so it looks fine for red and blue to grant it just like they can grant flashback to cards in graveyards.
There are probably more I didn't think about.
Design
(3/3) Appeal - I can see Timmy liking the idea of sacrificing a little artifact to get back a single huge artifact creature. Spike can exploit the difference between the mana cost (three mana) and the six mana worth of creatures he can get back, and he really likes that. This card is reminiscent of Collected Company in that regard, and we've seen how much Spike likes that card because of the gain in mana. Johnny can do a lot of things with this, and he's already brewing.
(2/3) Elegance - You can't return the artifact you sacrifice to pay for the additional cost as it's not yet in the graveyard when you choose targets (you have to choose targets before you actually pay costs while casting a spell). Is this intuitive enough? I don't know, I can see some less experienced player trying to do that and then asking why Rescue from the Underworld works that way and this does not. The answer, by the way, is that Rescue does not target the creature you sacrifice but only the one that is already in the graveyard. Other than this, no problem here. The card has very low comprehension complexity in its wording.
Development
(3/3) Viability - White reanimates small creatures but doesn't care that much about artifacts that are not Equipment. Red, and especially blue, care more about artifacts in general, so I can see this in the color pie. Rarity also feels right to me.
(2.5/3) Balance - The limitation on CMC not only makes sense in the color pie, but also here. You really don't want players to potentially get a Blightsteel Colossus on the battlefield for three mana (I know it's not possible as the Colossus can't stay in the graveyard and this card is a sorcery, but it's just the first example of a huge artifact creature that came to my mind). This looks like a card that you could cast on turn three, but I think most of the times you won't. You still need time to not only get an artifact to sacrifice (that's the easy part, especially in a Standard format like today's with Clues floating around), but also to get enough artifact creatures in your graveyard. Also to keep into account is this card's high flexibility: you can reanimate a single big creature, say one of those Gearhulks that are getting spoiled in these days (maybe even get it out on turn three? That could be a problem...), or a lot of little ones. That looks like an interesting decision that also affects how you build your deck. As for limited, I think this is only playable in an artifact environment, but even then, it depends. For example, if you were thinking of Kaladesh, you have to remember you can't reanimate Vehicles with this. In the graveyard, those are not creatures. At the contrary, in a format like both Mirrodin blocks this would be very playable. It's very environment-dependant: playable in the right limited environment, but not in a generic environment without a focus on artifacts and artifact creatures in particular. Finally, I see no particular problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - There are a few cards that work similarly. Searching for the phrase "total converted mana cost" in Gatherer returns five cards: Ancient Ooze (so old that I didn't even knew it existed and very different from your card), Naya Soulbeast (also very different), Protean Hulk (it cares about the library, while your card cares about the graveyard), Nahiri's Wrath (again different), and March from the Tomb. Now, this last card plays indeed in similar space as yours even if there are a few subtle differences. Anyway, it's not a space that has been throughly explored, it's still relatively new, and honestly March from the Tomb is not that memorable of a card. I honestly didn't think of it until I found it with that Gatherer search.
(2.5/3) Flavor - The name is fine and the flavor text makes sense with the mechanics. It's not the most exciting flavor I've ever seen but it works well enough.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - All good. (By the way, I'm stealing your way of denoting points deduction from your sample judgment. You made me realize that I was typing a lot of extra characters by writing those fully. Thank you!)
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 22.5/25
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes convoke, reanimation of multiple creatures, and +1/+1 counters, so he definitely likes this card a lot. Johnny can definitely do something with this card. The cost looks a bit high to Spike, but he could be open to trying this.
(2.5/3) Elegance - The use of X with convoke is not the simplest thing strategically, but this card has very low comprehension complexity.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability - White reanimates small creatures, and no problem with that. The introduction of green is justified by convoke (a Selesnya keyword) and the +1/+1 counters, even if those are both things that white can already do by itself. Seeing how this impacts the board, I can see this being mythic.
(2.5/3) Balance - If you get this in limited you can easily break a stall by making a big attack and then use your remaining creatures, if any, and mana to reanimate them while also making them bigger. That looks powerful but not broken, which is a good place to be. The same reasoning applies to constructed too, even if there stalls are less frequent. They are still there though, as the one-hour long game 3 of the Worlds final match demonstrates (I was exhausted after just watching it, I can only imagine the players after playing it...). In constructed, I'm a little worried by the potential to generate high-powered combos like Rally the Ancestors did, but this being a sorcery and requiring two colors of mana should help with that. Still, we can't completely exclude it. In casual and multiplayer, where games usually go longer so you have access to more mana, this looks even better.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - We've had reanimation spells giving +1/+1 counters before, but I can't remember any card where the number of creatures you get to reanimate is tied to their CMC, and I also can't remember any reanimation spell with convoke actually esisting.
(1.5/3) Flavor - The name is good and fits the concept very well. Too bad there's no flavor text, MSE shows me a couple lines could have fit.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - You cut the first sentence from convoke's latest reminder text, but you know what? I am totally with you here. "Your creatures can help cast this spell" is unhearable! Ok that reminder text is allowed to be looser, but only "The land continues to burn" is worse to hear. I'm not only not deducting points for cutting that sentence, but if I were allowed I'd actually give you some bonus points!
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 21/25
Design
(1.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes to reanimate his dead creatures right after an attack, but he would rather spend six mana to cast a new huge creature. Johnny could maybe use this in some kind of engine. Spike wants something that could win the game by itself for six mana, and this doesn't look like it to him.
(2/3) Elegance - It can require a couple reads to grasp, but it's not that hard to understand. I'm very thankful for the counters, that should help a lot in actual gameplay.
Development
(1.5/3) Viability - White usually reanimates only small creatures, with either low CMC or power, but this still has restrictions and looks like an acceptable bend. I honestly can't see anything red here, to me it just looks like you put it only to pass subchallenge 1. If you cast this after a huge attack that killed a lot of creatures, this has a huge impact on the board, and that can justify its mythic rarity.
(2/3) Balance - I expect this to be more playable in limited than constructed, as there are more stalls and this is most effective after a big attack. In constructed there should be better things to do with six mana. I don't see any big problem in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - I thought there had to be a card working similarly, but Gatherer showed me that I'm either wrong about that or that I can't use it... I can't remember anything like that conditional indestructibility either.
(1.5/3) Flavor - The name is good. No flavor text, even though MSE tells me three lines can fit for sure, even four maybe.
Polish
(2.5/3) Quality - An unneeded comma after the word "gain" (-0.5).
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 18/25
Flatline: 22.5
sperlman: 21
willows: 18
Out of competition
I judged this card normally but when I saw the result, I wondered whether to put the scores here or not. Well, in the end I decided to go for honesty and transparency and I put them. Feel free to ignore them if you want. I understand that it hurts getting a DQ with such a high score, and again I'm really sorry for that, but there are rules and it is my role as host to make sure they are respected. Man, I feel like I'm a Consul from Kaladesh speaking like this...
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes reanimating his dead creatures and this lets him do so while also caring about having a large creature on the battlefield, which he loves. Johnny could come up with some engine involving this card. Spike doesn't like that much that you have to rely on a creature you control.
(3/3) Elegance - This card is a perfect example of the power of simplicity and elegance.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability - White reanimates small creatures, no problem with it. Caring about the power of a creature you control is a very nice way to make this feel green too, even if nothing on this card is mechanically specific to green. Rarity looks good to me.
(2/3) Balance - I could see playing this in limited, but it's not the first choice for a noncreature spell to include in your limited deck. In constructed, this generates an interesting tension between wanting to include the highest number of little creatures in your deck, to maximaze the number of creatures you get to reanimate, while also including some large ones to be the target for this. This creates interesting deckbuilding decisions. I see no particular problem in casual and multiplayer.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - I'm amazed at the fact that a card this simple and elegant has never been actually printed. This looks very original.
(3/3) Flavor - Yes, you were right, the flavor is not only there, but it's also very vey good. The name is good and the flavor text is wonderful, I really like it very much both in itself and in how well it makes sense with the mechanics.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 23/25
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here)
CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016
DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for:
"Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index. Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
No problem, we've already run late enough, one or two more days won't make the difference.
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.)
[b]Design[/b]
[b]Appeal:[/b] Johnny loves it, Spike probably likes it, and Timmy doesn't care very much.
2/3
[b]Elegance:[b] Very nicely done, simple and easy to understand. Overall card feels good.
3/3
Total: 5/6
[b]Development[/b]
[b]Viability:[/b] It's odd that this card isn't blue, but it doesn't seem wrong. Rarity is good and no other issues that I can see.
3/3
[/b]Balance:[/b] This is potentially very broken, depending on the combos you could pull with it. I can't think of anything off the top of my head, but the total CMC restriction really helps with this. Also goes super nice with Wurmcoil Engine... ^u^
2/3
Total: 5/6
[b]Creativity[/b]
[b]Uniqueness:[/b] This is very similar to Trash for Treasure, but still manages to be interesting, so some points here.
1.5/3
[b]Flavour:[/b] The flavour is interesting, but it's hard for it to stand on its own; I feel like it needs to be in a set that supports the whole "robot army" theme. Name is okay, but sounds a bit clunky. Flavour text is decent.
2/3
Total: 3.5/6
[b]Polish[/b]
[b]Quality:[/b] No issues here.
3/3
[b]Main Challenge:[b] Satisfied.
2/2
[b]Subchallenges:[/b] Both satisfied.
2/2
Total: 7/7
[b]Total: 20.5/25[/b]
[b]Design[/b]
[b]Appeal:[/b] Very Spikey, Johnny might also be interested. Timmy doesn't care.
2/3
[b]Elegance:[b] It's a bit complex, and it takes a second read to double check what it does. It's not super confusing though, so you don't lose many marks here.
2/3
Total: 4/6
[b]Development[/b]
[b]Viability:[/b] Mythic is good, could also potentially be rare. Colours are fine.
3/3
[/b]Balance:[/b] This is very well balanced, being quite powerful while not being overpowering. Limited bomb, and likely a constructed staple.
3/3
Total: 6/6
[b]Creativity[/b]
[b]Uniqueness:[/b] This feels quite similar to Rally the Ancestors and Return to the Ranks. Still interesting though.
1.5/3
[b]Flavour:[/b] No flavour text, while there is definitely room. Name is good, and flavour overall is really nice.
2/3
Total: 3.5/6
[b]Polish[/b]
[b]Quality:[/b] Nothing wrong here.
3/3
[b]Main Challenge:[b] Satisfied
2/2
[b]Subchallenges:[/b] Both satisfied.
2/2
Total: 7/7
[b]Total: 20.5/25[/b]
[b]Design[/b]
[b]Appeal:[/b] Seems pretty Timmy to me. Johnny and Spike don't care.
1.5/3
[b]Elegance:[b] Takes a bit of reading, but not very complex.
2/3
Total: 3.5/6
[b]Development[/b]
[b]Viability:[/b] Colours and rarity both fine. No other issues.
3/3
[/b]Balance:[/b] The fact that it also returns your opponent's creatures makes this a ridiculous limited bomb, and potentiall fantastic in constructed. It isn't a problem outside of limited though.
2/3
Total: 5/6
[b]Creativity[/b]
[b]Uniqueness:[/b] Really cool and unique design. Full points.
3/3
[b]Flavour:[/b] No flavour text, while there is definitely room. Name is good, and overall flavour is good.
2/3
Total: 5/6
[b]Polish[/b]
[b]Quality:[/b] No issues.
3/3
[b]Main Challenge:[b] Satisfied
2/2
[b]Subchallenges:[/b] Both satisfied.
2/2
Total: 7/7
[b]Total: 20.5/25[/b]
Judgment done on the final version, I never got the chance to see the original.
[b]Design[/b]
[b]Appeal:[/b] Again, Johnny and Spike love it, while Timmy is pretty much indifferent.
2/3
[b]Elegance:[b] Nice and simple, very clean design.
3/3
Total: 5/6
[b]Development[/b]
[b]Viability:[/b] Colours are fine, it should probably be mythic though. No other issues.
2/3
[/b]Balance:[/b] This is really, really powerful. I would be most afraid of it in an Abzan combo sacrifice deck in modern, but it would definitely see play in every format except maybe legacy and vintage. It should almost certainly cost 6, and even then it would have to go through some serious playtesting.
1.5/3
Total: 3.5/6
[b]Creativity[/b]
[b]Uniqueness:[/b] This is a really cool and unique card. There's an interesting parallel between this and Fell the Mighty.
3/3
[b]Flavour:[/b] Flavour is really nice. The name is awesome, and the flavour text is very invocative. Nicely done.
3/3
Total: 6/6
[b]Polish[/b]
[b]Quality:[/b] No issues.
3/3
[b]Main Challenge:[b] Satisfied
2/2
[b]Subchallenges:[/b] Both satisfied.
2/2
Total: 7/7
[b]Total: 21.5/25[/b]
DESIGN
(2/3) Appeal: John cries tears of joy at this card, Tim scoffs at it, and Spike will like it depending on the quantity and quality of artifacts in the format.
(3/3) Elegant: This card is not wordy in the slightest, and is simple and concise while doing so.
DEVELOPMENT
(3/3) Viability: This card fits so well at rare, and definitely fits in white with its effect. The additional cost pulls it into red's territory too, so you're all good.
(2.5/3) Balance: This could potentially lead to some really broken interactions, but for the most part only returning 6 mana's worth and only being able to return creatures make it fine. I might argue that the cost in two colors and sacrificing an artifact is too high for the card, considering March from the Tomb
CREATIVE
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Speaking of March from the Tomb, this is effectively the same for artifact creatures. The additional cost adds something, but not enough to really make it unique.
(1.5/3) Flavor: The flavor is there and makes sense, but it seems REALLY LAZY. "Rebuild the Forces" isn't breaking any new ground, and the flavor text is the sort of generic thing that you'd hear 354 times in Skyrim. It's there, but it's pretty poorly executed.
QUALITY
(3/3) Quality: I can't technically dock you points for using the :sym: method of mana, but just know that it really annoys me.
(2/2) Main: Done
(2/2) Sub: Done and Done.
TOTAL: 20.5/25
DESIGN
(1.5/3) Appeal: This doesn't appeal to Tim at all, John loves the combo reanimation potential, and Spike likes the idea but worries a lot about the cost being a problem.
(3/3) Elegance: Simple, concise, and understandable.
DEVELOPMENT
(1.5/3) Appeal: Effects like this may have been Mythic in the recent past with sets like RTR and OG Innistrad, but recently, design has made a push for weird and splashy cards in the mythic slot, and not usually just power. I understand that it tries to continue the cycle from RTR, but it can easily do that at rare. Secondly, this card should really be more focused in white than green, as the +1/+1 counter is rather unnoticeable.
(1.5/3) Balance: This card looks to follow the same problem that Dark Salvation did. A really good and powerful spell with a lot of potential, but the multiple X's cause its cost to not become valuable until 8+ mana. In formats like EDH, it could be viable, but not in a format that's anywhere near quick. This won't be a problem, but it's not good to see a constructed appealing mythic be generally underpowered.
CREATIVE
(2/3) Uniqueness: This card is pretty similar but notably different to Return to the Ranks. But it's pretty unique in its own right.
(1/3) Flavor: The flavor is boring. No flavor text, a vague name, and an effect that only kind of works with the name and colors leaves me unsatisfied.
POLAND
(3/3) Quality: No real problems here. I agree with bravelion in that the sentence you cut from the convoke reminder text is unnecessary.
(2/2) Main: Done
(2/2) Sub: Done and done.
TOTAL: 17.5/25
DESIGN
(2.5/3) Appeal: I could see this appealing to all three psychographics, but Spike might worry over the high cost.
(1.5/3) Elegance: The first sentence makes me want to vomit. It's strenuous to read and the strife counters do nothing unless you're in a format all about strife counters, which is unlikely.
DEVELOPMENT
(2/3) Viability: This isn't really a red effect, and it could be argued that this should be rare, rather than mythic, but I feel like it could work at mythic. Either way, nothing about this is really red. It's practically a monowhite effect.
(2/3) Balance: It's kind of hard to evaluate the power of a card like this. Overall, though, I think this card is a little too powerful. The ability to get multiple creatures reanimated for 6 mana is really potentially powerful, and it's very powerful if there's already a deck for it in any format. In addition, giving those creatures indestructible is something that should be expensive. (see Fated Return) But, it likely wouldn't be TOO much of a problem, except potentially in standard.
CREATIVE
(2/3) Uniqueness: This card is for the most part, unique, but it has a LOT of similarities to the aforementioned Fated Return.
(2/3) Flavor: WHY DOES EVERYONE IGNORE FLAVOR TEXT WHEN THERE'S ROOM. However, Fight On Forever isn't the worst flavor for the effect, but, there's nothing exciting about it.
POLAND
(1.5/3) Quality: Not only is the strife counter unnecessary, it also should go at the end of the sentence instead of stuffing it in the middle. You can also drop the comma before the quotes. MtG doesn't use them.
(2/2) Main: Done
(2/2) Sub:Done and done.
TOTAL: 17.5/25
Sperlman: 17.5 + 20.5 + 21 + 24 = 83
Willows: 17.5 + 20.5 + 18.5 + 20.5 = 77
At the moment of posting (potentially subject to change), Flatline looks to be the champion of the August MCC!
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: 22.5 + 20.5 + 20.5 + 22 = 85.5
sperlman: 21 + 20.5 + 17.5 + 24 = 83
willows: 18 + 20.5 + 17.5 + 20.5 = 76.5
This means that Flatline is officially our champion for this month! Congratulations!
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.)