You find yourself in the renegade safehouse beside the Concealed Courtyard and you're talking with your those that have become your fellows by now, when you see Renegade Prime and her daughter arrive. You listen to the girl's speech. You think about what you personally have lost, the invention of a lifetime that's now gone. Many thanks, Consulate! Then, you witness Renegade Prime, her daughter and a few others following an aetherborn into the back room. You don't know where they're going, but one thing is clear: something big is about to begin. Your spirit is ready to fight, but that's not enough without weapons. Maybe Renegade Prime will get some somehow. Anyway, it's better you start preparing something, even if with not that much material available, you will literally have to improvise.
Main challenge: design a nonland, nonartifact card with improvise."Let's see what I can make out of these scraps..."
Subchallenge 1: the card has the same color identity as your avatar from Round 1 (aka your Round 1 card). Please quote or link to your Round 1 entry in your submission. If you don't put a link or quote to your Round 1 card in your submission, this subchallenge is automatically failed. You can't expect the judges to dig for your cards from past rounds.The things you create reflect who you are.
Subchallenge 2: the card has converted mana cost 3 or less.There is not much you can work with, you can't make something big.
For the main challenge, as long as your card does not have the card type "land" or "artifact" you're good. I don't even know how you would make a functional land card with improvise, but let's just avoid that for sanity.
For subchallenge 1, remember color identity includes mana symbols in the mana cost and rules text. If you made a multicolored card in Round 1, you can make a monocolored card with the other colors as activation costs and have it count. For example, if I made a green/white gold card in Round 1, I can make a monowhite card with a green activation cost. This subchallenge checks the color identity of your Round 1 card, that of your Round 2 card and then compares them to see if the results are the same. Are they? Yes: the challenge is passed. No: the challenge is failed.
Feel free to ask any additional questions you might have in the discussion thread.
A friendly reminder I left everyone a few months ago but it's still valid:
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.
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
Design deadline: Wednesday, February 15th 2017 23:59 EDT
Judging deadline: Saturday, February 18th 2017 23:59 EDT
(Yes, you read that right, it's 19 players because of multiple ties in round 1. In this round there will be three brackets of five players and one bracket of four, provided all eligible players post a card. In all brackets the top 2 will advance to make the usual 8 players for round 3.)
BRACKETS
RaikouRider and Remba are DQ'ed for not submitting a card.
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.)
Aerial Insight2U
Instant {R}
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you’re done activating mana abilities pays for1.)
Target creature gains flying until end of turn.
Draw a card.
Copy Aerial Insight for each artifact card taped to pay it’s cost. You may choose new targets for the copies. First we jump, then we figure out how not to fall to our deaths.
Impulsive Project Manager1R
Creature - Human Artificer (Rare)
Haste
At the beginning of your upkeep, exile the top card of your library. If it's an artifact card, you may cast it. "I'm a simple man. I see a great idea, and I begin to work."
2/1
Relentless Scavangining2R
Sorcery (Mythic)
Improvise
Exile all artifact cards from your graveyard. Until end of turn, you may cast those cards. "To fight a war for freedom, one must use the most free tools in Kaladesh; The tools that are free from the shackles of the Consulate."
Hot-Wire Rebel
Creature — Human Pilot (R)
Flash
When Hot-Wire Rebel enters the battlefield, untap target vehicle you control. That vehicle becomes an artifact creature as long as you control Hot-Wire Rebel. "Keys? Who needs those?"
1/4
Rebuilding Project
Sorcery (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for .)
Return each artifact card with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. "We're going to need to utilize all of our resources if we are to fix this mess."
(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)
Orb WardenWU
Creature - Vedalken Artificer (R)
Artifact spells you cast cost 1 less to cast.
Artifact spells your opponents cast cost 1 more to cast. "I may be employed by the consul, but I don't work for them." - Vorn Daan
1/4
Artificial Intelligence (Uncommon) XXWU
Instant
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Target player gains X life and draws X cards.
Determined Remaker1WW
Creature - Dwarf Artificer (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put an artifact card with converted mana cost 1 or less from your hand or graveyard onto the battlefield. "Let them destroy everything I have and everyone I love. It won't dissuade me."
1/3
Present Arms2W
Instant (U)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. That creature gains first strike until end of turn. Attach up to one target Equipment you control to it. "How's my new blade strike you?"
Shielding Juryrigger1WB
Creature - Aetherborn Artificer (R) 2, exile an artifact card from your graveyard or hand: Target creature gains indestructible until end of turn. If that creature is an artifact, put a +1/+1 counter on it. "It won't work for long, but it'll work long enough." - Danin, Renegade mechanic
3/3
Expulsion BombxxWB
Sorcery (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Exile X target nonland permanents. "I think I've figured out Rashmi's teleportation theory. Well mostly the going away part, less of the coming back bit." Danin, Renegade Mechanic
Weldfast Saboteur1B
Creature - Aetherborn Artificer Rogue (R)
Menace
Sacrifice a noncreature artifact: Destroy target noncreature artifact. Activate this ability only once each turn. "When you only have so long to live, what is there left to lose? Risk it all."
2/2
Aether PlunderingXXB
Instant (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for1.)
Target opponent sacrifices X creatures and/or Vehicles they control. Create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token for each non-token creature or Vehicle sacrificed this way. The Weldfast re-purpose aether from living beings and sabotaged inventions alike.
Peema Reshaper1GG
Creature - Human Artificer {R} X, Discard an artifact card with converted mana cost X: Choose one. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
∙ Create an X/X Construct artifact creature token.
∙ Create X 1/1 Servo artifact creature tokens.
2/3
hold
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A mere ten days after the Mending, a young knight of Valeron and a young ranger of Eos made a discovery that would change Alara forever.
Dissident Dream ShaperUB
Creature - Aetherborn Artificer (R)
You may look at the top card of your library. (You may do this at any time.) UB, Discard a card: Reveal the top card of your library. If the revealed card is a creature or artifact card, create a token that's a copy of the revealed card except it's an artifact in addition to its other types.
"I no longer create the dreams of tyrants, but nightmares for the free"
2/2
Nightmare in the MachineXUB
Instant (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Target opponent exiles the top X cards of his or her library. Create a token that is a copy of a creature card among the exiled, except it has protection from that opponent and is an artifact in addition to its other types. "I don't know your greatest fear, but I know one of them, and building it into a machine programmed to kill you is good enough for me." -Noz Banin
Inspired Inventor1UU
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
When Inspired Inventor enters the battlefield, you may create a token that is a copy of target artifact. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Dovin!"
- Zeryl Anadar
2/2
Captivating Display4UU
Sorcery (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Each player draws a card for each artifact they control. "Look at all these inventions! They give me so many ideas!"
- Zeryl Anadar
Apparatus Bonder1G
Creature - Elf Artificer (R)
Fabricate 1 (When this creature enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on it or create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token.)
Sacrifice an artifact: Attach target Equipment you control to target creature you control. "Gear always has multiple options!"
1/1
Bio Mechanics2G
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has trample and "Tap an untapped artifact you control: This gets +2/+2 until end of turn."
Quicksmith General3WW
Creature - Dwarf Artificer (R)
When Quicksmith General enters the battlefield, target artifact you control gains "T: Create a colorless 1/1 Servo artifact creature token." for as long as you control Quicksmith General. "Oh, this? Production management is another expertise of mine."
3/2
Whir of ProductionXWWW
Sorcery (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Create X 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature tokens. "A standing army's better than a standing trinket."
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
Night Market Prodigy1BB
Creature - Aetherborn Vampire Artificer (R)
Lifelink
Pay 2 life: Target artifact creature gains your choice of deathtouch, lifelink, or menace until end of turn. Activate this ability only once each turn. "Aether is scarce down here, so I resort to a different essence."
3/3
Callous RetrievalXB
Sorcery - (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Exile X target artifact or creature cards from your graveyard. Until end of turn, you may cast cards exiled this way as though they had improvise. You lose X life. "Shortage and pressure leave no room for ethic reservations."
—Gonti, to Pia
Jajeet Tinkerer1U
Creature - Human Artificer (R)
Hexproof 1U: The next time you would draw a card this turn, instead reveal the top two cards of your library. Put each artifact card revealed this way into your hand, then put the rest of the revealed cards on the bottom of your library in any order.
1/2
Mechanized Disruption2U
Sorcery (U)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Mechanized Disruption costs 1U more to cast for each creature your opponents control.
Return up to three target creatures to their owners' hands.
Visionary Biomimic2G
Creature — Elf Artificer (U)
Whenever an artifact creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature if you control another creature with greater power or toughness than it.
3/2
Mechanized Symbiosis2G
Instant (U)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Two target creatures each get +1/+2 until end of turn.
If one of those creatures has deathtouch, the other gains deathtouch until end of turn. The same is true for indestructible, reach, and trample.
Empty Hero1RR
Creature - Human Warrior (U)
Trample
When Empty Hero enters the battlefield, each player sacrifices an artifact. Empty Hero enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it, where X is the number of artifacts sacrificed this way. "All I feel is rage."
2/2
Unsafe Drift2R
Sorcery (U)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Choose one or both —
- Target Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.
- Target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
The round is closed. Freyleyes's submission is accepted. RaikouRider and Remba are DQ'ed for not sumbitting a card. This means 17 players, so one bracket of five and three brackets of four. Brackets are right here and in the OP.
Weldfast Saboteur1B
Creature - Aetherborn Artificer Rogue (R)
Menace
Sacrifice a noncreature artifact: Destroy target noncreature artifact. Activate this ability only once each turn. "When you only have so long to live, what is there left to lose? Risk it all."
2/2
Aether PlunderingXXB
Instant (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for1.)
Target opponent sacrifices X creatures and/or Vehicles they control. Create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token for each non-token creature or Vehicle sacrificed this way. The Weldfast re-purpose aether from living beings and sabotaged inventions alike.
Design (2/3) Appeal - I don't think Timmy is interested. Johnny is limited by the fact that he can't target himself, that would have allowed him a lot more tricks. Spike is the one this card is for, and he does like it indeed.
(2.5/3) Elegance - A bit on the wordy side, but still easy to understand and resolve.
Development (2.5/3) Viability - No doubt sacrificing creatures is black even though sacrificing artifacts is not. But if Wizards themselves did it and if Maro himself said hitting Vehicles is an acceptable bend because they're very close to creatures, they're just not creatures all the time, than who am I to say no? Black should not be able to sacrifice artifacts at all, but in this context I have to count it as nothing more than a bend. Rarity feels right.
(3/3) Balance - Certainly playable in limited, and maybe in Standard too. It vaguely reminds me of Dark Salvation, and not just for the mana cost. Both give you tokens and kill creatures. Liliana gives you bigger tokens but just kills a single creature, and this card has upsides and downsides on that. Upsides: killing multiple creatures, being able to hit Vehicles too, being able to pay with artifacts. Downsides: smaller tokens, the opponent gets to choose what to sacrifice. Overall the comparison is reasonable in my opinion, and this card could see some Standard play just like Liliana's spell did. I don't see any problem in casual. In multiplayer, the choice of which opponent to hit is interesting, as always with cards that say "target opponent" and not "each opponent".
Creativity (1.5/3) Uniqueness - Forced sacrifice in black and Servo creation are nothing new, even though this exact combination of effects is new. The fact that it hits Vehicles too helps a bit here, but it's just a twist and relatively obvious as there are already cards that say "creature or Vehicle" in the Kaladesh block (see for example the aforementioned Daring Demolition).
(3/3) Flavor - I see no problems with the flavor of this card, it's not exceptional but it works just fine.
Polish (0.5/3) Quality - You were right in the discussion thread, there are indeed multiple mistakes here. In the reminder text for improvise, there is an extra space between the 1 mana symbol and the full stop (yes, I saw that, -0.5). "They control" should be "he or she controls", and the use of gendered pronouns in Magic templating should be well known by now, so -1. "Non-token" should be a single word without the hyphen (-0.5), and the same goes for "re-purpose" in the flavor text (I checked and I didn't find the spelling with the hyphen, -0.5). I also think it would be templated "for each nontoken permanent sacrificed this way" if it were printed for real, but I'm not deducting points for this because the way it is still works just fine.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met. In retrospect, I should have forbidden the use of X for subchallenge 2 but I didn't think about it so you get away with that.
Total: 19/25
You knew this was going to happen, and it happened exactly for the reason you foresaw. What more to say? Congratulations for your divining powers! See you next month, I'm sure you'll be there!
Quicksmith General3WW
Creature - Dwarf Artificer (R)
When Quicksmith General enters the battlefield, target artifact you control gains "T: Create a colorless 1/1 Servo artifact creature token." for as long as you control Quicksmith General. "Oh, this? Production management is another expertise of mine."
3/2
Whir of ProductionXWWW
Sorcery (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Create X 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature tokens. "A standing army's better than a standing trinket."
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes producing a huge amount of tokens in a single burst. Johnny could use the tokens somehow. Any token generator would be good for that purpose, but being able to use the Servos you just created to improvise another copy of this does feel like something Johnny would like. Spike will use this if it proves efficient enough.
(3/3) Elegance - Simple, short, and clear. Even the mana cost mirrors Whir of Invention! What more could I ask for?
Development (3/3) Viability - Everything is in color and rarity is definitely right, especially if this is meant to be a cycle.
(2.5/3) Balance - Certainly playable in limited if white is your primary color. In constructed I see this having a similar role as White Sun's Zenith, but with multiple downsides: sorcery speed, smaller tokens, it doesn't go back into your library to be drawn again later. The only upside I see is improvise. I think it could have costed just double white, but then you lose the connection to Whir of Invention. Maybe this could see a little Standard play anyway, but the triple colored cost does hurt there. I don't see any problem in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity (0.5/3) Uniqueness - Whir of Invention existing hurts here, as does the lack of anything mechanically new. Token creation exists in every set, and Kaladesh is full of Servos in particular.
(3/3) Flavor - Everything works perfectly, and I could very easily see both the name (again, especially if it's a cycle) and the flavor text getting printed as is.
Polish (3/3) Quality - All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met. In retrospect, I should have forbidden the use of X for subchallenge 2 but I didn't think about it so you get away with that.
Empty Hero1RR
Creature - Human Warrior (U)
Trample
When Empty Hero enters the battlefield, each player sacrifices an artifact. Empty Hero enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it, where X is the number of artifacts sacrificed this way. "All I feel is rage."
2/2
Unsafe Drift2R
Sorcery (U)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Choose one or both —
- Target Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.
- Target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
Design (2/3) Appeal - This looks like a card Timmy would like quite a lot. Animating a Vehicle without needing to tap creatures to crew it (so that those other creatures are still available to attack) while also pumping it or even another creature looks very appealing to him. I don't see anything for Johnny here at first glance. Spike likes the effects, but he might feel this should cost less.
(3/3) Elegance - I see no problems here.
Development (2.5/3) Viability - Usually red gives more power than toughness, and I remember a recent question on Blogatog about Brute Force where Maro says that +N/+N with both numbers being the same is a bend in red. Still, Built to Smash has been printed as recently as Kaladesh. Except for that, everything is in color. I can definitely see something like this at uncommon.
(2/3) Balance - Definitely playable in limited. I'm not sure about constructed though, and by that I mean Standard. If Start Your Engines doesn't see play, I doubt this would either. I see no problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity (1/3) Uniqueness - The existence of Start Your Engines really hurts here. Making this a modal spell helps a little but not too much.
(1.5/3) Flavor - The name is fine, but there is no flavor text for me to judge. MSE shows me a couple lines could have fit.
Polish (3/3) Quality - Ok, the fact that you're bringing up that you're subject to the non-Latin characters restriction saves you from the 1-point deduction I would have given you due to using hyphens instead of bullet points. But then how could you use the long dash after "choose one or both"? Isn't it a non-Latin character too?
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 19/25
There is nothing wrong with this card, the absence of flavor text hurt a little but for all the rest it's just a fine card. There were cards that were even better in this bracket, that's all. You might have simply got unlucky with the brackets. I definitely hope to see you again next month.
Dabbling Novitiate1WR
Creature - Dwarf Artificer (R)
Haste T: Exile target artifact card from your graveyard. If you do, you get EE(two energy counters). T, Pay EE: Target vehicle you control becomes an artifact creature and gains trample and haste. Sacrifice it at the end of your turn. "I take trash and turn it into treasure. It's a gift few appreciate, let alone bring to fruition."
2/4
Aether FusionXRW
Instant (U)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Exile target artifact, creature, or enchantment with converted mana cost X. Aether Fusion deals X damage to that permanent's controller. "Sometimes I wonder if we take the spark of creativity too literally."
- Galvanius
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy and Spike both like a piece of removal with damage attached. Nothing for Johnny here.
(2.5/3) Elegance - A bit on the wordy side, but still easy to understand and resolve.
Development (3/3) Viability - Everything is in color and rarity is acceptable in my opinion, even if knowing Wizards they could also print something like this at rare...
(3/3) Balance - I can easily see this both in limited and constructed. Requiring two colors is interesting in limited as if you take it early, as is often the case with removal, you're kind of forced to be Boros while you could prefer to stay open. This is a good place to be for a card that would be perfect in the gold uncommon cycle we're used to see in almost any set by now. Another thing to mention here is the notable lack of the words "or less". You're forced to choose exactly the value of X equal to the cmc of the thing you want to exile, and you can't overpay to deal more damage. That's a very good way to balance the card and avoid it becoming too much like just an improvise Blaze to the opponent's head. I see no problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity (1/3) Uniqueness - The combination of effects has never been done before, but each single part reminds me of a loooot of other cards, too many to list here.
(3/3) Flavor - Nothing to say here, everything's good.
Polish (2.5/3) Quality - In the flavor text attribution, the dash should be long and with no space afterwards: —Galvanius (-0.5).
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met. In retrospect, I should have forbidden the use of X for subchallenge 2 but I didn't think about it so you get away with that.
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016 DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for: "Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index.Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Spike and Johnny are livid. Timmy as well actually, as big effects are just his thing. Nice one, I feel like giving 4 points here. (2.5/3) Elegance: Double Xs and their interaction with improvise is going to confuse some newer players, but that's a minor concern. The card reads well enough.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Reviving artifacts while caring about their cost feels very white. I think the raw numbers justify blue, as the supreme artifact supervisor. Rare is a good fit. (0.5/3) Balance: Truly, a very hard to evaluate card. My notion is that it's broken. I'd say as soon as you resolve this for 3 in the lategame in the right modern deck your opponent is pretty much done for.
So, 8 mana and you can tap artifacts for that. Doesn't sound so very likely to happen. Looking at affinity though it might cause some major issues even at 0. WU, get all those artifact lands and memnites and ornithopters back?
CMC 1 and 2 are probably just as abusable. No, I don't think I like that. So this would probably need testing, but I'd put a big red flag on it in the file as a developer.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Seems like a simple concept in a new scale. That's unique enough for me. (1.5/3) Flavor: A quote like that needs someone who said it, unless it's super obvious from the artwork. Other than that, it's a nice flavortext. Not sure if I like the Project in the name.
Renegades aren't exactly knows for their bureaucracy.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Looks good. (2/2) Main Challenge: Check. (2/2) Subchallenges: W/U and cmc=2. Check and check.
Total: 20.5/25
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Spike likes drawing cards, Johnny sees fuel for his engine. Sweet. Probably a fun card for multiplayer as well. (3/3) Elegance: Simple enough.
Development - (2/3) Viability: Blue and rare seems appropriate. I don't like effects that may or may not benefit your opponent on a potent card like this. It's either not a drawback at all or it completely kills the card in a mirror match. Not the kind of gameplay you want to go for. (1/3) Balance: So, WotC was willing to go as far as Reverse Engineer. Your card is just asking to be abused. As soon as you got 4 artifacts this gets terribly strong.
They never printed 'draw a card for each creature' for under 5 mana, most likely for a very good reason. Artifacts are more likely to linger around than creatures, and even though it's not as simple to pile up tokens,
most of the time you'll have 5 artifacts on the board by turn 3 or 4 if you really try to. It doesn't help much that maybe your opponent will also draw a card. This will quickly become a 3 mana draw 5. Or worse in later portions of the game.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: We've drawn cards for creatures before, but for artifacts is new. Also that everyone else also gets to draw. (2.5/3) Flavor: The flavortext is written a bit clumsy, but it's got all the right ideas.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: Even though I'd prefer your wording, it's "he or she controls." (2/2) Main Challenge: Check. (1/2) Subchallenges: Blue.
Total: 20/25
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Spike likes the power. Johnny sees a wincondition. Timmy isn't exactly the go wide kind of guy, but +2/+2 and trample for each artifact? Sounds good enough. (3/3) Elegance: Pretty straightforward.
Development - (2/3) Viability: A very green concept with the trample and the tapping for buffs. A bit weird for green to care about the number of artifacts you have, but that's fine in an artifact focused set.
The improvise feels forced. I don't see how anyone is ever going to use that. It's just 2 mana, you have that and you absolutely want to retain those artifacts for the pumping. (3/3) Balance: 2 extra damage for each artifact you control. Pretty hard to deal with a creature that got this as soon as you got 3 artifacts to back up your dude.
So this is really swingy, but then again, auras come with a high risk, so it's fine to reward that with a little punch every once in a while.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: A pretty cool way to make artifacts a wincondition. (1/3) Flavor: On Kaladesh they call it Lifecraft, not Bio. Bio sounds so modern, it really only has a home on Ravnica. So, artifacts become part of the .. life force and power up this dude? I don't really see it.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: "This creature gets..." (2/2) Main Challenge: Yup. (2/2) Subchallenges: Green and cmc=3. Check.
Total: 21.5/25
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Spike likes card draw on instant speed. Johnny might see fuel for his engine. Timmy likes effects this big. (2.5/3) Elegance: Double Xs and their interaction with improvise is going to confuse some newer players, but that's a minor concern. The card is simple otherwise.
Development - (2/3) Viability: We don't do big time card draw on instant speed on uncommon. That effect is on a rare scale. The colors are fine. (3/3) Balance: So, how does this hold up to Sphinx's Revelation, a card that has went too far? Double X makes this rather costy, even if it costs one colored mana less. Tapping your artifacts doesn't lift that burden.
So, most likely scenario, you resolve this for 6, tap 4 artifacts. You draw 4 cards and gain 4 life. That's fair.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: Feels too much like a fixed Sphinx's Revelation with an X and Improvise tacked on. (1/3) Flavor: No flavor text makes me sad and AI is a bit unfitting for this. AI is a single problem solving instance that doesn't go away like that.
This should have been more about pooling resources.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Ssh, don't tell anyone, but I don't care about the order in which the parts of the card appear as long as they are easily discernable.
Even though yours does look a bit silly, no matter how official it is. (2/2) Main Challenge: Yep. (2/2) Subchallenges: W/U and cmc=2. Checks out.
Total: 20/25
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Spike loves the card advantage. Johnny loves the build-around-me aspect. Timmy drools in a corner. Don't mind him. (3/3) Elegance: A bit weird on moving the cards into a new zone before getting to play them, but the aim of the card requires it and it probably makes for neat and organized gameplay.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Red isn't very known for getting cards back from the grave, but it occasionally gets it on higher rarities, so mythic is a good fit.
I like how you turned it around, so that this card can be played with itself and it can hit the same targets again and again. (1/3) Balance: Have you repeated that back to yourself out loud? "Yawgmoth's Will for artifacts." ... with upside?
That's just too much card advantage and can't be right. Even though it would make for some exciting decks I'm sure.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Makes one think of Yawgmoth's Will, but that only adds to the excitement of the card. (3/3) Flavor: Name is cool, fitting and very red. Pretty sure there's better ways to convey the idea of the flavor text, but it does get the message across.
Polish - (2/3) Quality: With a non-evergreen mechanic, reminder text is required. It's "Scavenging". (2/2) Main Challenge: As requested. (2/2) Subchallenges: Red and cmc=3. Check and check.
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
Design
(2/3) Appeal: Spike and Johnny.
(2/3) Elegance: Complex, but not overly so.
Development
(1.5/3) Viability: Blue works. Your card's absurd efficiency as a draw spell hurts you in this area as well. Even for a rare, this is insane in limited.
(0/3) Balance: In an improvise deck, your card is very close to Reverse Engineer, except it costs 2U instead of 3UU. Your card is on the same level as Treasure Cruise in terms of power; it essentially reads "U, Tap two artifacts you control: Draw three cards. Activate this ability only if there is a creature on the battlefield." That's game-breakingly good. In fact, if you use a mana-producing rock (like Cultivator's Caravan), you'll copy the spell three times, letting you draw four cards. Though it requires setup, the ability to draw four cards for one mana is too good for any format in the game.
Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness: It doesn't do much new, though it does combine old things.
(2.5/3) Flavor: The name, mechanics, and flavor text are all great. The only problem is that your flavor text seems like it should be attributed to someone.
Polish
(1.5/3) Quality: The wording on the copy ability is incorrect. You should use Storm's templating ("When you cast this spell, copy it for each artifact tapped to pay for this card's mana cost. You may choose new targets for the copies.").
(4/5) Challenges: The challenge explicitly states that if you do not link your round 1 card, you fail the subchallenge.
Total: 15.5/25
Design
(1/3) Appeal: Spike might be interested.
(1/3) Elegance: Your card has a lot of moving parts and often is a headache to calculate.
Development
(3/3) Viability: It fits.
(1.5/3) Balance: The fact that your card can cost eleven mana or more quite easily makes me feel rather poor about this one. Compare to Sea God's Revenge; your card has improvise, yes, but even with that, it often costs significantly more mana.
Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness: This feels like a Strive/Improvise mashup.
(1.5/3) Flavor: This could use some flavor text, and even still I don't really get why this is more expensive the more creatures your opponents have.
Polish
(3/3) Quality: Good job on using the correct kind of apostrophe in owners'.
(5/5) Challenges:
Total: 17/25
Design
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny is all over this. Spike wants to abuse this with Lion's Eye Diamond.
(2.5/3) Elegance: It's not simple, but it's not hard to understand.
Development
(3/3) Viability: This fits in black.
(1/3) Balance: This simply has too much potential to be completely broken. If nothing else, this has highly dangerous potential in older formats for doing things like recurring Lion's Eye Diamonds. Combining graveyard recursion and cost reduction has far too high of potential for abuse. Also, I would have preferred it if this card exiled itself upon use.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Yawgmoth's Will meets Kaladesh.
(3/3) Flavor: Your flavor text is impeccable. The name, mechanics, and flavor text are all excellent, and form a strong package.
Polish
(3/3) Quality:
(5/5) Challenges:
Total: 21/25
Design
(1.5/3) Appeal: As an efficient combat trick, this appeals to spike. The deckbuilding synergy appeals to johnny somewhat as well.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The way that the keywords were chosen aren't very intuitive, but otherwise it's clean enough. I will add that I would have also put Vigilance on the list of shared keywords, as it's also in green's color pie. Missing hexproof is another oddity, but given the nature of the spell I think it's actually okay to exclude that one.
Development
(3/3) Viability: Green pump spell that cares about green keywords. Uncommons is a good fit.
(3/3) Balance: In limited, this is a powerful uncommon, but certainly within bounds. How good the ability-sharing keywords are will depend on the density of said keywords at common/uncommon in a given set, so I'm not going to judge you too harshly in that area.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness: The way you approached sharing keywords is very unique, especially how it only shares green keywords.
(1.5/3) Flavor: The flavor is a little weak on the card, and the lack of flavor text doesn't help.
Polish
(2.5/3) Quality: There shouldn't be a line break in between the pump ability and the keyword sharing ability.
(5/5) Challenges:
(This month's banner is my own elaboration on the art of the cards Chandra's Revolution and Pia's Revolution, both by Clint Cearley)
February MCC Round 2
"Preparations"
You find yourself in the renegade safehouse beside the Concealed Courtyard and you're talking with your those that have become your fellows by now, when you see Renegade Prime and her daughter arrive. You listen to the girl's speech. You think about what you personally have lost, the invention of a lifetime that's now gone. Many thanks, Consulate! Then, you witness Renegade Prime, her daughter and a few others following an aetherborn into the back room. You don't know where they're going, but one thing is clear: something big is about to begin. Your spirit is ready to fight, but that's not enough without weapons. Maybe Renegade Prime will get some somehow. Anyway, it's better you start preparing something, even if with not that much material available, you will literally have to improvise.
Main challenge: design a nonland, nonartifact card with improvise. "Let's see what I can make out of these scraps..."
Subchallenge 1: the card has the same color identity as your avatar from Round 1 (aka your Round 1 card). Please quote or link to your Round 1 entry in your submission. If you don't put a link or quote to your Round 1 card in your submission, this subchallenge is automatically failed. You can't expect the judges to dig for your cards from past rounds. The things you create reflect who you are.
Subchallenge 2: the card has converted mana cost 3 or less. There is not much you can work with, you can't make something big.
For the main challenge, as long as your card does not have the card type "land" or "artifact" you're good. I don't even know how you would make a functional land card with improvise, but let's just avoid that for sanity.
For subchallenge 1, remember color identity includes mana symbols in the mana cost and rules text. If you made a multicolored card in Round 1, you can make a monocolored card with the other colors as activation costs and have it count. For example, if I made a green/white gold card in Round 1, I can make a monowhite card with a green activation cost. This subchallenge checks the color identity of your Round 1 card, that of your Round 2 card and then compares them to see if the results are the same. Are they? Yes: the challenge is passed. No: the challenge is failed.
Feel free to ask any additional questions you might have in the discussion thread.
A friendly reminder I left everyone a few months ago but it's still valid:
(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
Design deadline: Wednesday, February 15th 2017 23:59 EDT
Judging deadline: Saturday, February 18th 2017 23:59 EDT
JUDGES
bravelion83
doomfish
admirableadmiral
Blydden
PLAYERS
Flatline
Folza
Freyleyes
glurman
Hellgrammite
IcariiFA
Indighost
Legend
Necarg
netn10
RaikouRider
Raptorchan
Remba
sperlman
StonerOfKruphix
Tilwin
Vertain
void_nothing
willows
(Yes, you read that right, it's 19 players because of multiple ties in round 1. In this round there will be three brackets of five players and one bracket of four, provided all eligible players post a card. In all brackets the top 2 will advance to make the usual 8 players for round 3.)
BRACKETS
RaikouRider and Remba are DQ'ed for not submitting a card.
Top 2 from each bracket advance.
Judge: bravelion83
Folza
Necarg
Raptorchan
Tilwin
Judge: doomfish
Flatline
glurman
IcariiFA
Legend
netn10
Judge: admirableadmiral
Freyleyes
sperlman
Vertain
willows
Judge: Blydden
Hellgrammite
Indighost
StonerOfKruphix
void_nothing
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.)
Hope I am not to late.
Aerial Insight 2U
Instant {R}
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you’re done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Target creature gains flying until end of turn.
Draw a card.
Copy Aerial Insight for each artifact card taped to pay it’s cost. You may choose new targets for the copies.
First we jump, then we figure out how not to fall to our deaths.
Creature - Human Artificer (Rare)
Haste
At the beginning of your upkeep, exile the top card of your library. If it's an artifact card, you may cast it.
"I'm a simple man. I see a great idea, and I begin to work."
2/1
Relentless Scavangining 2R
Sorcery (Mythic)
Improvise
Exile all artifact cards from your graveyard. Until end of turn, you may cast those cards.
"To fight a war for freedom, one must use the most free tools in Kaladesh; The tools that are free from the shackles of the Consulate."
Creature — Human Pilot (R)
Flash
When Hot-Wire Rebel enters the battlefield, untap target vehicle you control. That vehicle becomes an artifact creature as long as you control Hot-Wire Rebel.
"Keys? Who needs those?"
1/4
Rebuilding Project
Sorcery (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for .)
Return each artifact card with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
"We're going to need to utilize all of our resources if we are to fix this mess."
Artificial Intelligence (Uncommon)
XXWU
Instant
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Target player gains X life and draws X cards.
Instant (U)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. That creature gains first strike until end of turn. Attach up to one target Equipment you control to it.
"How's my new blade strike you?"
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Expulsion Bomb xxWB
Sorcery (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Exile X target nonland permanents.
"I think I've figured out Rashmi's teleportation theory. Well mostly the going away part, less of the coming back bit." Danin, Renegade Mechanic
Aether Plundering XXB
Instant (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1 .)
Target opponent sacrifices X creatures and/or Vehicles they control. Create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token for each non-token creature or Vehicle sacrificed this way.
The Weldfast re-purpose aether from living beings and sabotaged inventions alike.
Creature - Human Artificer {R}
X, Discard an artifact card with converted mana cost X: Choose one. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
∙ Create an X/X Construct artifact creature token.
∙ Create X 1/1 Servo artifact creature tokens.
2/3
hold
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Creature - Aetherborn Artificer (R)
You may look at the top card of your library. (You may do this at any time.)
UB, Discard a card: Reveal the top card of your library. If the revealed card is a creature or artifact card, create a token that's a copy of the revealed card except it's an artifact in addition to its other types.
"I no longer create the dreams of tyrants, but nightmares for the free"
2/2
Instant (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Target opponent exiles the top X cards of his or her library. Create a token that is a copy of a creature card among the exiled, except it has protection from that opponent and is an artifact in addition to its other types.
"I don't know your greatest fear, but I know one of them, and building it into a machine programmed to kill you is good enough for me."
-Noz Banin
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
When Inspired Inventor enters the battlefield, you may create a token that is a copy of target artifact.
"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Dovin!"
- Zeryl Anadar
2/2
Captivating Display 4UU
Sorcery (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Each player draws a card for each artifact they control.
"Look at all these inventions! They give me so many ideas!"
- Zeryl Anadar
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has trample and "Tap an untapped artifact you control: This gets +2/+2 until end of turn."
Whir of Production XWWW
Sorcery (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Create X 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature tokens.
"A standing army's better than a standing trinket."
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
Creature - Aetherborn Vampire Artificer (R)
Lifelink
Pay 2 life: Target artifact creature gains your choice of deathtouch, lifelink, or menace until end of turn. Activate this ability only once each turn.
"Aether is scarce down here, so I resort to a different essence."
3/3
Sorcery - (R)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Exile X target artifact or creature cards from your graveyard. Until end of turn, you may cast cards exiled this way as though they had improvise. You lose X life.
"Shortage and pressure leave no room for ethic reservations."
—Gonti, to Pia
Mechanized Disruption 2U
Sorcery (U)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Mechanized Disruption costs 1U more to cast for each creature your opponents control.
Return up to three target creatures to their owners' hands.
Creature — Elf Artificer (U)
Whenever an artifact creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature if you control another creature with greater power or toughness than it.
3/2
Mechanized Symbiosis 2G
Instant (U)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Two target creatures each get +1/+2 until end of turn.
If one of those creatures has deathtouch, the other gains deathtouch until end of turn. The same is true for indestructible, reach, and trample.
Creature - Human Warrior (U)
Trample
When Empty Hero enters the battlefield, each player sacrifices an artifact. Empty Hero enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it, where X is the number of artifacts sacrificed this way.
"All I feel is rage."
2/2
Unsafe Drift 2R
Sorcery (U)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
Choose one or both —
- Target Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.
- Target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
BRACKETS
Top 2 from each bracket advance.
Judge: bravelion83
Folza
Necarg
Raptorchan
Tilwin
Judge: doomfish
Flatline
glurman
IcariiFA
Legend
netn10
Judge: admirableadmiral
Freyleyes
sperlman
Vertain
willows
Judge: Blydden
Hellgrammite
Indighost
StonerOfKruphix
void_nothing
Judgments complete, not final until deadline.
Design
(2/3) Appeal - I don't think Timmy is interested. Johnny is limited by the fact that he can't target himself, that would have allowed him a lot more tricks. Spike is the one this card is for, and he does like it indeed.
(2.5/3) Elegance - A bit on the wordy side, but still easy to understand and resolve.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability - No doubt sacrificing creatures is black even though sacrificing artifacts is not. But if Wizards themselves did it and if Maro himself said hitting Vehicles is an acceptable bend because they're very close to creatures, they're just not creatures all the time, than who am I to say no? Black should not be able to sacrifice artifacts at all, but in this context I have to count it as nothing more than a bend. Rarity feels right.
(3/3) Balance - Certainly playable in limited, and maybe in Standard too. It vaguely reminds me of Dark Salvation, and not just for the mana cost. Both give you tokens and kill creatures. Liliana gives you bigger tokens but just kills a single creature, and this card has upsides and downsides on that. Upsides: killing multiple creatures, being able to hit Vehicles too, being able to pay with artifacts. Downsides: smaller tokens, the opponent gets to choose what to sacrifice. Overall the comparison is reasonable in my opinion, and this card could see some Standard play just like Liliana's spell did. I don't see any problem in casual. In multiplayer, the choice of which opponent to hit is interesting, as always with cards that say "target opponent" and not "each opponent".
Creativity
(1.5/3) Uniqueness - Forced sacrifice in black and Servo creation are nothing new, even though this exact combination of effects is new. The fact that it hits Vehicles too helps a bit here, but it's just a twist and relatively obvious as there are already cards that say "creature or Vehicle" in the Kaladesh block (see for example the aforementioned Daring Demolition).
(3/3) Flavor - I see no problems with the flavor of this card, it's not exceptional but it works just fine.
Polish
(0.5/3) Quality - You were right in the discussion thread, there are indeed multiple mistakes here. In the reminder text for improvise, there is an extra space between the 1 mana symbol and the full stop (yes, I saw that, -0.5). "They control" should be "he or she controls", and the use of gendered pronouns in Magic templating should be well known by now, so -1. "Non-token" should be a single word without the hyphen (-0.5), and the same goes for "re-purpose" in the flavor text (I checked and I didn't find the spelling with the hyphen, -0.5). I also think it would be templated "for each nontoken permanent sacrificed this way" if it were printed for real, but I'm not deducting points for this because the way it is still works just fine.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met. In retrospect, I should have forbidden the use of X for subchallenge 2 but I didn't think about it so you get away with that.
Total: 19/25
You knew this was going to happen, and it happened exactly for the reason you foresaw. What more to say? Congratulations for your divining powers! See you next month, I'm sure you'll be there!
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes producing a huge amount of tokens in a single burst. Johnny could use the tokens somehow. Any token generator would be good for that purpose, but being able to use the Servos you just created to improvise another copy of this does feel like something Johnny would like. Spike will use this if it proves efficient enough.
(3/3) Elegance - Simple, short, and clear. Even the mana cost mirrors Whir of Invention! What more could I ask for?
Development
(3/3) Viability - Everything is in color and rarity is definitely right, especially if this is meant to be a cycle.
(2.5/3) Balance - Certainly playable in limited if white is your primary color. In constructed I see this having a similar role as White Sun's Zenith, but with multiple downsides: sorcery speed, smaller tokens, it doesn't go back into your library to be drawn again later. The only upside I see is improvise. I think it could have costed just double white, but then you lose the connection to Whir of Invention. Maybe this could see a little Standard play anyway, but the triple colored cost does hurt there. I don't see any problem in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
(0.5/3) Uniqueness - Whir of Invention existing hurts here, as does the lack of anything mechanically new. Token creation exists in every set, and Kaladesh is full of Servos in particular.
(3/3) Flavor - Everything works perfectly, and I could very easily see both the name (again, especially if it's a cycle) and the flavor text getting printed as is.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met. In retrospect, I should have forbidden the use of X for subchallenge 2 but I didn't think about it so you get away with that.
Total: 21.5/25
Design
(2/3) Appeal - This looks like a card Timmy would like quite a lot. Animating a Vehicle without needing to tap creatures to crew it (so that those other creatures are still available to attack) while also pumping it or even another creature looks very appealing to him. I don't see anything for Johnny here at first glance. Spike likes the effects, but he might feel this should cost less.
(3/3) Elegance - I see no problems here.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability - Usually red gives more power than toughness, and I remember a recent question on Blogatog about Brute Force where Maro says that +N/+N with both numbers being the same is a bend in red. Still, Built to Smash has been printed as recently as Kaladesh. Except for that, everything is in color. I can definitely see something like this at uncommon.
(2/3) Balance - Definitely playable in limited. I'm not sure about constructed though, and by that I mean Standard. If Start Your Engines doesn't see play, I doubt this would either. I see no problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
(1/3) Uniqueness - The existence of Start Your Engines really hurts here. Making this a modal spell helps a little but not too much.
(1.5/3) Flavor - The name is fine, but there is no flavor text for me to judge. MSE shows me a couple lines could have fit.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - Ok, the fact that you're bringing up that you're subject to the non-Latin characters restriction saves you from the 1-point deduction I would have given you due to using hyphens instead of bullet points. But then how could you use the long dash after "choose one or both"? Isn't it a non-Latin character too?
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 19/25
There is nothing wrong with this card, the absence of flavor text hurt a little but for all the rest it's just a fine card. There were cards that were even better in this bracket, that's all. You might have simply got unlucky with the brackets. I definitely hope to see you again next month.
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy and Spike both like a piece of removal with damage attached. Nothing for Johnny here.
(2.5/3) Elegance - A bit on the wordy side, but still easy to understand and resolve.
Development
(3/3) Viability - Everything is in color and rarity is acceptable in my opinion, even if knowing Wizards they could also print something like this at rare...
(3/3) Balance - I can easily see this both in limited and constructed. Requiring two colors is interesting in limited as if you take it early, as is often the case with removal, you're kind of forced to be Boros while you could prefer to stay open. This is a good place to be for a card that would be perfect in the gold uncommon cycle we're used to see in almost any set by now. Another thing to mention here is the notable lack of the words "or less". You're forced to choose exactly the value of X equal to the cmc of the thing you want to exile, and you can't overpay to deal more damage. That's a very good way to balance the card and avoid it becoming too much like just an improvise Blaze to the opponent's head. I see no problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
(1/3) Uniqueness - The combination of effects has never been done before, but each single part reminds me of a loooot of other cards, too many to list here.
(3/3) Flavor - Nothing to say here, everything's good.
Polish
(2.5/3) Quality - In the flavor text attribution, the dash should be long and with no space afterwards: —Galvanius (-0.5).
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met. In retrospect, I should have forbidden the use of X for subchallenge 2 but I didn't think about it so you get away with that.
Total: 21.5/25
Necarg: 21.5
Tilwin: 21.5
Folza: 19
Raptorchan: 19
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.)
(3/3) Appeal: Spike and Johnny are livid. Timmy as well actually, as big effects are just his thing. Nice one, I feel like giving 4 points here.
(2.5/3) Elegance: Double Xs and their interaction with improvise is going to confuse some newer players, but that's a minor concern. The card reads well enough.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Reviving artifacts while caring about their cost feels very white. I think the raw numbers justify blue, as the supreme artifact supervisor. Rare is a good fit.
(0.5/3) Balance: Truly, a very hard to evaluate card. My notion is that it's broken. I'd say as soon as you resolve this for 3 in the lategame in the right modern deck your opponent is pretty much done for.
So, 8 mana and you can tap artifacts for that. Doesn't sound so very likely to happen. Looking at affinity though it might cause some major issues even at 0. WU, get all those artifact lands and memnites and ornithopters back?
CMC 1 and 2 are probably just as abusable. No, I don't think I like that. So this would probably need testing, but I'd put a big red flag on it in the file as a developer.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Seems like a simple concept in a new scale. That's unique enough for me.
(1.5/3) Flavor: A quote like that needs someone who said it, unless it's super obvious from the artwork. Other than that, it's a nice flavortext. Not sure if I like the Project in the name.
Renegades aren't exactly knows for their bureaucracy.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Check.
(2/2) Subchallenges: W/U and cmc=2. Check and check.
Total: 20.5/25
(3/3) Appeal: Spike likes drawing cards, Johnny sees fuel for his engine. Sweet. Probably a fun card for multiplayer as well.
(3/3) Elegance: Simple enough.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: Blue and rare seems appropriate. I don't like effects that may or may not benefit your opponent on a potent card like this. It's either not a drawback at all or it completely kills the card in a mirror match. Not the kind of gameplay you want to go for.
(1/3) Balance: So, WotC was willing to go as far as Reverse Engineer. Your card is just asking to be abused. As soon as you got 4 artifacts this gets terribly strong.
They never printed 'draw a card for each creature' for under 5 mana, most likely for a very good reason. Artifacts are more likely to linger around than creatures, and even though it's not as simple to pile up tokens,
most of the time you'll have 5 artifacts on the board by turn 3 or 4 if you really try to. It doesn't help much that maybe your opponent will also draw a card. This will quickly become a 3 mana draw 5. Or worse in later portions of the game.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: We've drawn cards for creatures before, but for artifacts is new. Also that everyone else also gets to draw.
(2.5/3) Flavor: The flavortext is written a bit clumsy, but it's got all the right ideas.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: Even though I'd prefer your wording, it's "he or she controls."
(2/2) Main Challenge: Check.
(1/2) Subchallenges: Blue.
Total: 20/25
(3/3) Appeal: Spike likes the power. Johnny sees a wincondition. Timmy isn't exactly the go wide kind of guy, but +2/+2 and trample for each artifact? Sounds good enough.
(3/3) Elegance: Pretty straightforward.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: A very green concept with the trample and the tapping for buffs. A bit weird for green to care about the number of artifacts you have, but that's fine in an artifact focused set.
The improvise feels forced. I don't see how anyone is ever going to use that. It's just 2 mana, you have that and you absolutely want to retain those artifacts for the pumping.
(3/3) Balance: 2 extra damage for each artifact you control. Pretty hard to deal with a creature that got this as soon as you got 3 artifacts to back up your dude.
So this is really swingy, but then again, auras come with a high risk, so it's fine to reward that with a little punch every once in a while.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: A pretty cool way to make artifacts a wincondition.
(1/3) Flavor: On Kaladesh they call it Lifecraft, not Bio. Bio sounds so modern, it really only has a home on Ravnica. So, artifacts become part of the .. life force and power up this dude? I don't really see it.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: "This creature gets..."
(2/2) Main Challenge: Yup.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Green and cmc=3. Check.
Total: 21.5/25
(3/3) Appeal: Spike likes card draw on instant speed. Johnny might see fuel for his engine. Timmy likes effects this big.
(2.5/3) Elegance: Double Xs and their interaction with improvise is going to confuse some newer players, but that's a minor concern. The card is simple otherwise.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: We don't do big time card draw on instant speed on uncommon. That effect is on a rare scale. The colors are fine.
(3/3) Balance: So, how does this hold up to Sphinx's Revelation, a card that has went too far? Double X makes this rather costy, even if it costs one colored mana less. Tapping your artifacts doesn't lift that burden.
So, most likely scenario, you resolve this for 6, tap 4 artifacts. You draw 4 cards and gain 4 life. That's fair.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Feels too much like a fixed Sphinx's Revelation with an X and Improvise tacked on.
(1/3) Flavor: No flavor text makes me sad and AI is a bit unfitting for this. AI is a single problem solving instance that doesn't go away like that.
This should have been more about pooling resources.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Ssh, don't tell anyone, but I don't care about the order in which the parts of the card appear as long as they are easily discernable.
Even though yours does look a bit silly, no matter how official it is.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Yep.
(2/2) Subchallenges: W/U and cmc=2. Checks out.
Total: 20/25
(3/3) Appeal: Spike loves the card advantage. Johnny loves the build-around-me aspect. Timmy drools in a corner. Don't mind him.
(3/3) Elegance: A bit weird on moving the cards into a new zone before getting to play them, but the aim of the card requires it and it probably makes for neat and organized gameplay.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Red isn't very known for getting cards back from the grave, but it occasionally gets it on higher rarities, so mythic is a good fit.
I like how you turned it around, so that this card can be played with itself and it can hit the same targets again and again.
(1/3) Balance: Have you repeated that back to yourself out loud? "Yawgmoth's Will for artifacts." ... with upside?
That's just too much card advantage and can't be right. Even though it would make for some exciting decks I'm sure.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Makes one think of Yawgmoth's Will, but that only adds to the excitement of the card.
(3/3) Flavor: Name is cool, fitting and very red. Pretty sure there's better ways to convey the idea of the flavor text, but it does get the message across.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: With a non-evergreen mechanic, reminder text is required. It's "Scavenging".
(2/2) Main Challenge: As requested.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Red and cmc=3. Check and check.
Total: 22/25
glurman 20
IcariiFA 21.5
Legend 20
netn10 22
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
(2/3) Appeal: Spike and Johnny.
(2/3) Elegance: Complex, but not overly so.
Development
(1.5/3) Viability: Blue works. Your card's absurd efficiency as a draw spell hurts you in this area as well. Even for a rare, this is insane in limited.
(0/3) Balance: In an improvise deck, your card is very close to Reverse Engineer, except it costs 2U instead of 3UU. Your card is on the same level as Treasure Cruise in terms of power; it essentially reads "U, Tap two artifacts you control: Draw three cards. Activate this ability only if there is a creature on the battlefield." That's game-breakingly good. In fact, if you use a mana-producing rock (like Cultivator's Caravan), you'll copy the spell three times, letting you draw four cards. Though it requires setup, the ability to draw four cards for one mana is too good for any format in the game.
Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness: It doesn't do much new, though it does combine old things.
(2.5/3) Flavor: The name, mechanics, and flavor text are all great. The only problem is that your flavor text seems like it should be attributed to someone.
Polish
(1.5/3) Quality: The wording on the copy ability is incorrect. You should use Storm's templating ("When you cast this spell, copy it for each artifact tapped to pay for this card's mana cost. You may choose new targets for the copies.").
(4/5) Challenges: The challenge explicitly states that if you do not link your round 1 card, you fail the subchallenge.
Total: 15.5/25
(1/3) Appeal: Spike might be interested.
(1/3) Elegance: Your card has a lot of moving parts and often is a headache to calculate.
Development
(3/3) Viability: It fits.
(1.5/3) Balance: The fact that your card can cost eleven mana or more quite easily makes me feel rather poor about this one. Compare to Sea God's Revenge; your card has improvise, yes, but even with that, it often costs significantly more mana.
Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness: This feels like a Strive/Improvise mashup.
(1.5/3) Flavor: This could use some flavor text, and even still I don't really get why this is more expensive the more creatures your opponents have.
Polish
(3/3) Quality: Good job on using the correct kind of apostrophe in owners'.
(5/5) Challenges:
Total: 17/25
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny is all over this. Spike wants to abuse this with Lion's Eye Diamond.
(2.5/3) Elegance: It's not simple, but it's not hard to understand.
Development
(3/3) Viability: This fits in black.
(1/3) Balance: This simply has too much potential to be completely broken. If nothing else, this has highly dangerous potential in older formats for doing things like recurring Lion's Eye Diamonds. Combining graveyard recursion and cost reduction has far too high of potential for abuse. Also, I would have preferred it if this card exiled itself upon use.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Yawgmoth's Will meets Kaladesh.
(3/3) Flavor: Your flavor text is impeccable. The name, mechanics, and flavor text are all excellent, and form a strong package.
Polish
(3/3) Quality:
(5/5) Challenges:
Total: 21/25
(1.5/3) Appeal: As an efficient combat trick, this appeals to spike. The deckbuilding synergy appeals to johnny somewhat as well.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The way that the keywords were chosen aren't very intuitive, but otherwise it's clean enough. I will add that I would have also put Vigilance on the list of shared keywords, as it's also in green's color pie. Missing hexproof is another oddity, but given the nature of the spell I think it's actually okay to exclude that one.
Development
(3/3) Viability: Green pump spell that cares about green keywords. Uncommons is a good fit.
(3/3) Balance: In limited, this is a powerful uncommon, but certainly within bounds. How good the ability-sharing keywords are will depend on the density of said keywords at common/uncommon in a given set, so I'm not going to judge you too harshly in that area.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness: The way you approached sharing keywords is very unique, especially how it only shares green keywords.
(1.5/3) Flavor: The flavor is a little weak on the card, and the lack of flavor text doesn't help.
Polish
(2.5/3) Quality: There shouldn't be a line break in between the pump ability and the keyword sharing ability.
(5/5) Challenges:
Total: 21/25