Hey all, im dillying around with MSE, and designing my own custom set/block just as something to pass the time. I've come up with a new mechanic for the set, and I am trying to figure out the proper phrasing that doesnt require 3 cards to fit all of the reminder text. So, Im here to see if anyone here could lend a hand.
The set is loosely based on Norse mythology, and the mechanic in question is for the UR faction of the set, which is aligned with the "Loki" figure of the story. I tried to get a good grasp on his Trickery and Illusion theme from stories and even some of the Marvel comics/movies.
Heres how I have it now, in its entirely too wordy version:
Spellsculpt {param1} - Look at the top {param1} card(s) of your library. If any of them are Instants and/or Sorceries, you may put any of them onto the battlefield as a 0/0 Illusion creature with two +1/+1 counters on them. You may cast those spells as though they were in your hand for as long as they remain on the battlefield. If you do, sacrifice that creature.
I am trying to capture the same essence as Manifest did for Morph, but bringing a new paradigm of having "living spells" for virtual card advantage. The mechanic may be a bit strong for initial testing, but hopefully it will self-balance by having weak/overcosted instants/sorceries in the set.
Due to the hefty amount of rules involved with your mechanic, there isn't too much that can feasibly be shortened. I'd start by cutting out some of the redundant words, resulting in the following:
Spellsculpt 1 (Look at the top card of your library. If it's an instant or sorcery card, you may put it onto the battlefield as a 0/0 Illusion creature with two +1/+1 counters on it. You may cast it from the battlefield for as long as it remains there.)
Spellsculpt N (Look at the top N cards of your library. Put any number of instant or sorcery cards among them onto the battlefield as a 0/0 Illusion creature with two +1/+1 counters on it. You may cast them from the battlefield for as long as they remain there.)
You also need to include what happens to the cards that aren't put onto the battlefield this way, which your reminder text doesn't include. Keep in mind that this makes the reminder text quite a bit longer.
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How to use card tags (please use them for everybody's sanity)
[c]Lightning Bolt[/c] -> Lightning Bolt
[c=Lightning Bolt]Apple Pie[/c] -> Apple Pie
Vowels-Only Format Minimum deck size: 60 Maximum number of identical cards: 4 Ban list: Cards whose English names begin with a consonant, Unglued and Unhinged cards, cards involving ante, Ancestral Recall
Hmm, thanks fro the assistance, I completely forgot about what to do with the cards that you dont Spellsculpt. Thinking on it, I may just use Manifest text/ruling, but change it to "instants or sorceries" instead of creatures. Its not exactly what I was originally aiming for, but the logistics of that route seem simpler.
Actual game effect question - As I have it written now, without changing anything. How powerful do you think it would end up being, the whole "free creature that you can turn into a spell later" effect. Im really trying to capture the feeling of Loki's trickery and mastery of illusions/mind affecting magic, but thats sorta difficult to do within Magic game mechanics.
Also A have a 2nd mechanic I wouldnt mind a small critique on, if you wouldnt mind:
Whenever this creature dies, if it attacked or blocked this turn and isn’t a Spirit return it to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It becomes a Spirit in addition to its other creature types.
Its pretty much a slightly more narrow version of Undying. I am debating making it Einherjar X, and have it come back with more than 1 counter, but thatd probably require the base creatures be slightly weaker.
Im also combining it with the Renown/Monstrous mechanic, and the creatures so far have had some kind of clause akin to "If ~ is a Spirit, it has [keyword]."
I'd say:
Spellsculpt N (Look at the top N cards of your library. Put any number of instants or sorceries from among them onto the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on them. They become 0/0 Illusion creatures. You may cast those cards as though they were in your hand.)
For what it's worth, this keyword would induce some hefty rules headaches, but I'll imagine you've worked out those kinks. =P
As for Einherjar, your version is basically functional. In terms of pure function, I'd ask only: should it lack the clause, from Undying and Persist, that returns it under its owner's control?
From a broader design standpoint, I'd offer two thoughts. First, are you getting something mechanically useful from the combat requirement? It raises the complexity of the ability substantially, compared to Undying/Persist. While it makes Einherjar different, is that tradeoff worth it? Second, "Einherjar" isn't in the vocabulary of most English-speaking players, nor does it approximate an English word (a small group with German or related experience might catch "ein"). It has historical roots, and is appropriate for your set, but it carries no meaning for most of the people reading the card. I would suggest considering a translation or approximation of the meaning of the word so that it conveys some hint of what it does, for the sake of alleviating memory concerns. When this creature dies, if it attacked or blocked this turn and isn’t a Spirit, return it to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It becomes a Spirit in addition to its other creature types.
Mechanically, for Einherjar, the requirement of having attacked/blocked is mostly a nod to the Norse mythology that only those who died in battle would be taken to Valhalla as an Einherjar. Someone walking through a village and getting blasted by a Lightning Bolt or Murdered wouldnt be deemed worthy, but someone who stood toe-to-toe with a Hill Giant would earn their place in the afterlife.
Also, good catch on the translation. I probably should find an English equivalent to the term, for those whom arent as familiar with the Norse mythos. How does "Chosen" sound? Or Glory?
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The set is loosely based on Norse mythology, and the mechanic in question is for the UR faction of the set, which is aligned with the "Loki" figure of the story. I tried to get a good grasp on his Trickery and Illusion theme from stories and even some of the Marvel comics/movies.
Heres how I have it now, in its entirely too wordy version:
I am trying to capture the same essence as Manifest did for Morph, but bringing a new paradigm of having "living spells" for virtual card advantage. The mechanic may be a bit strong for initial testing, but hopefully it will self-balance by having weak/overcosted instants/sorceries in the set.
Spellsculpt 1 (Look at the top card of your library. If it's an instant or sorcery card, you may put it onto the battlefield as a 0/0 Illusion creature with two +1/+1 counters on it. You may cast it from the battlefield for as long as it remains there.)
Spellsculpt N (Look at the top N cards of your library. Put any number of instant or sorcery cards among them onto the battlefield as a 0/0 Illusion creature with two +1/+1 counters on it. You may cast them from the battlefield for as long as they remain there.)
You also need to include what happens to the cards that aren't put onto the battlefield this way, which your reminder text doesn't include. Keep in mind that this makes the reminder text quite a bit longer.
[c]Lightning Bolt[/c] -> Lightning Bolt
[c=Lightning Bolt]Apple Pie[/c] -> Apple Pie
Vowels-Only Format
Minimum deck size: 60
Maximum number of identical cards: 4
Ban list: Cards whose English names begin with a consonant, Unglued and Unhinged cards, cards involving ante, Ancestral Recall
Actual game effect question - As I have it written now, without changing anything. How powerful do you think it would end up being, the whole "free creature that you can turn into a spell later" effect. Im really trying to capture the feeling of Loki's trickery and mastery of illusions/mind affecting magic, but thats sorta difficult to do within Magic game mechanics.
Also A have a 2nd mechanic I wouldnt mind a small critique on, if you wouldnt mind:
Its pretty much a slightly more narrow version of Undying. I am debating making it Einherjar X, and have it come back with more than 1 counter, but thatd probably require the base creatures be slightly weaker.
Im also combining it with the Renown/Monstrous mechanic, and the creatures so far have had some kind of clause akin to "If ~ is a Spirit, it has [keyword]."
Spellsculpt N (Look at the top N cards of your library. Put any number of instants or sorceries from among them onto the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on them. They become 0/0 Illusion creatures. You may cast those cards as though they were in your hand.)
For what it's worth, this keyword would induce some hefty rules headaches, but I'll imagine you've worked out those kinks. =P
As for Einherjar, your version is basically functional. In terms of pure function, I'd ask only: should it lack the clause, from Undying and Persist, that returns it under its owner's control?
From a broader design standpoint, I'd offer two thoughts. First, are you getting something mechanically useful from the combat requirement? It raises the complexity of the ability substantially, compared to Undying/Persist. While it makes Einherjar different, is that tradeoff worth it? Second, "Einherjar" isn't in the vocabulary of most English-speaking players, nor does it approximate an English word (a small group with German or related experience might catch "ein"). It has historical roots, and is appropriate for your set, but it carries no meaning for most of the people reading the card. I would suggest considering a translation or approximation of the meaning of the word so that it conveys some hint of what it does, for the sake of alleviating memory concerns.
When this creature dies, if it attacked or blocked this turn and isn’t a Spirit, return it to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It becomes a Spirit in addition to its other creature types.
Also, good catch on the translation. I probably should find an English equivalent to the term, for those whom arent as familiar with the Norse mythos. How does "Chosen" sound? Or Glory?