My idea for the set was originally to have "corrupted" (purple) mana that changed the permanents you cast with it somehow. It just didn't work any way I tried it. So I tried a different approach. Instead of having warped versions of individual cards, I now have "warped" tribal. Even though the described tribes are the "main" tribes of those colors, there will also be "warped" cards of other tribes. For example white and blue dragons. Hopefully that will make it less parasitic, even though the set is tribal focussed. I don't think adding four more (two warped, two unwarped) tribes for this set is a wise idea, so I'll save those for a possible future set, if I ever get that far.
The plane
A vedalken experiment in the central tower of the plane went terribly wrong, spreading a cloud of antimatter over large parts of the plane. Centuries later the antimatter cloud has settled, but what they find in the affected areas isn't death and destruction, it's life! Those affected by the cloud have survived and reproduced, and new races have emerged. But are they really "new races?" One thing is for certain, they don't plan on sharing the plane with its original inhabitants.
The overarching theme of vortex is out-of color tribal. 5 tribes that typically belong to a single color have "mutated" and are now defined by two different colors of mana. These are the tribes:
Vedalken. Blue -> red and green
The blue vedalken act as we know them, they are cunnung and have a dispassionate view towards life.
The red/green vedalken are passionate and love life, and love to reproduce. They are thrillseekers.
Aurochs. Green -> blue and black
The green Aurochs like to work together to trample anything in their path, but the blue and black aurochs have evolved into something entirely different. They work together in a hive mind, sharing every thought with each other. They are still dependent on each other, but in an entirely different way.
foxes - white -> black/ red
To the white foxes, values and tradition are important, they value life and become very old.
Black and red foxes don't become very old. It's not that they don't have the genes for it, they just get killed prematurely. Often by accident, often by themselves.
Minor tribe: white dragons. Most have reverse firebreathing (+0/+1) In higher rarities they tend to give protection and prevent damage.
The mechanics
Tribal. Also tribal instants, sorceries, etc. Perhaps even tribal lands.
Aurochs:
Stampede: ("~gets +1/+0 for each other attacking creature it shares a creature type with")
Mindlink: (~ has all activated abillities of each permanent it shares a creature type with)
Vedalken:
Mindshrink X: Whenever you play a spell that shares a creature type with ~, target player puts the top X cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Procreate: Whenever you play a spell that shares a creature type with ~, if ~ us not a token, put a token into the battlefield that is a copy of ~.
Foxes:
Lord effects, lifegain.
(Upkeep) costs, usually paid in lives.
******
Cards so far:
White foxes
Golden tail pupW creature - Fox {C}
If ~ would be put into a graveyard from your library or hand, put it into the battlefield instead. They all have a right to live. Some just more so than others.
1/1
Dancing backstabberW creature - Fox {C}
Lifelink At least you feel bliss just before her knife hits your spine.
1/1
Nurturing vixen1W creature - Fox {C} W : Prevent the next X damage dealt to target creature this turn, where X is the number of fox permanents you control. The more she is needed, the more she thrives
0/1
Festival singer2W creature - Fox {C}
Flash
When ~ enters the battlefield, foxes you control gain " : Target player gains 3 life"
2/2
Red and black foxes Kin eaterR creature - Fox berserker {C}
When ~ enters the battlefield, sacrifice a creature you control. If that creature is a fox, ~ deals 2 damage to target creature.
2/1
Rabid ReynardB creature - Fox berserker {C}
Whenever a creature you control dies, ~ gets deathtouch until end of turn. If that creature was a fox creature, it gets +2/+0 and deathtouch until end of turn instead. He doesn't just cause death, he seeks it out.
1/1
Howling ninetail2RB creature - Fox berserker {R}
As you cast ~, you may pay any amount of life. ~ enters the battlefield with that many +1/+1 counters on it.
At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a +1/+1 counter from ~, then ~ deals 3 damage to target creature.
0/0
Green aurochs Aurochs calfG Aurochs {U}
trample
whenever ~ attacks, it gets +1/+0 for each other attacking aurochs.
0/1
Provoking aurochs4G Aurochs {U}
whenever ~ attacks, it gets +1/+0 for each other attacking aurochs.
All creatures able to block ~ do so.
2/1
Black and blue aurochs
Toxic nodeB Aurochs node {C} B : ~ gains deathtouch until end of turn.
1/1
Selfish nodeU Aurochs node {C} 2U:Return ~ to its owner's hand. It tried to flee from the system, and that's how the system learned how to flee.
0/1
Unassigned node Aurochs node {C}
Mind link (~ has all activated abilities of each permanent that shares a type with it)
0/2
Filtering node2U Aurochs node {U}
Mind link (~ has all activated abilities of each permanent that shares a type with it) U : draw a card, then discard a card.
1/3
Node of efficiencyU Aurochs node {R}
Mind link (~ has all activated abilities of each permanent that shares a type with it)
Activated abilities of ~ cost 2 less to activate. This effect can't reduce the amount of mana an ability costs to activate to less than 1 mana.
1/2
Blue vedalken Vedalken soldierU Creature - vedalken soldier {C}
When ~ deals combat damage to a player, that player puts the top two cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard. "So what if he dies. He wasn't one of the smart ones anyway."
1/1
Ulima, mind killerUU Legendary creature - vedalken wizard {R}
When ~ dies, each opponent puts a number of cards from his or her library into his or her graveyard equal to the number of cards in that player's graveyard.
3/1
Red and green vedalken Vedalken caretakerG Vedalken breeder {C}
Procreate: Whenever you play a spell that shares a creature type with ~, if ~ is not a token, put a token into the battlefield that is a copy of ~.
0/1
Rampaging vedalkenR Vedalken breeder {C}
haste
Procreate: Whenever you play a spell that shares a creature type with ~, if ~ is not a token, put a token into the battlefield that is a copy of ~.
sacrifice ~ at the beginning of the next end step.
1/1
Mother of warriorsRRGG Vedalken breeder {M}
Procreate: Whenever you play a spell that shares a creature type with ~, if ~ is not a token, put a token into the battlefield that is a copy of ~.
trample, haste
4/4
Other Dragon of the ring3WW Dragon clerk {R}
flying
When dragon of the ring enters the battlefield, choose a color. W: The next time a source of the chosen color deals damage to you, prevent that damage.
3/4
Purple mana in and of itself is fine, but the fact that every other keyword has to do with +1/+1 counters makes this set seem like it'd be very linear.
I think I should try to reduce the number of +1/+1 counter mechanics to two. See infect and proliferate. I guess i'd go for purify, since it's the most flexible. Perhaps I should change it to THIS permanent instead of A permanent. To turn it from a rare mechanic to a mechanic that can be found in all rarities.
Purify would then work like this: Remove a +1/+1 counter from THIS creature, do X.
To keep with the flavor, the X on red and black cards would then often include "sacrifice this creature at the end of turn" but not always.
There would still be a cycle of flipcards that have the counters condition, but others would not. They would still represent those who use the power of the vortex for their own gain.
I think I need a final mechanic to represent the people who live in fear that they will fall prey to the vortex, but are they even interesting to play with?
Simplicity: as long as ~ power is 1 or less, ~ has Y
Or perhaps more similar to Naya's 5 power matters
Agressive guard2W creature - elephant soldier {C}
Simplicity R: Switch ~'s power with its toughness. Sometimes, offense is the best defense
1/5
or
Hag assassin1BB creature - hag {U}
target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn
Simplicity 2B: target creature gains deathtouch until end of turn.
2/2
or
Fertile fungusGGG creature - fungus {r}
Simplicity :symtap:: Put a creature token that is a copy of fertile fungus in the battlefield.
1/1
Village of the cloaked menW enchantment {u}
Creatures you control are 0/1
Sacrifice ~:draw a card
But the simplicity mechanic makes no sense outside of the block.
I assume the purple mana is a new "mana qualifier", more like snow mana than actual new color. Otherwise, you will have to consider interactions with Doman, Sunburst etc. (or even rainbow lands like City of Brass). Do you plan purple spells?
I actually really like the idea of "corrupted" mana. What I'm not sure I like is that one purple mana is somehow more valuable than regular mana. It may lead to unwanted interactions with cards like Reflecting Pool and Mirari's Wake.
My suggestion:
Make the sac-lands generate 2 purple mana and make them come untapped (so they are not worse than Simic Growth Chamber cycle karoo lands).
Make the filter land say "Tap, 3: Add 3 purple to your mana pool" (so the purple mana isn't too easily acessible).
I really love the design of Eye of the vortex, it has great synergy. It may be too wild though. You may want it to come into play tapped and only generate additional mana as long as it is untapped (so you can control the life loss).
Good points. The fact that you need to sacrifice makes it different enough from snow mana I guess.
Perhaps it should work like this? Corrupted plains Basic vortex land - Plains
When ~ enters the battlefield, sacrifice a plains or a palace.
:symtap:: add W to your mana pool.
Simplicity looks a lot better that way. I still like power 1 matters too though! I might use both.
The lands are a problem. Any vortex land can't be basic because of the sacrifice, yet you need to be able to get enough vortex mana to be able to play with vortex cards.
Perhaps I should just add "you can have any number of cards named..." to the most basic vortex land.
I've added 19 Rare cards and 12 uncomon cards that will hopefully demonstrate that the mechanics are flexible enough to create a set with. If you see anything clearly broken or have other suggestions I'd love to hear them!
Personal favorite among the new cards:
Doombringer pyromancer1R vortex creature-human wizard {R}
Mutate (~ may deal damage in the form of +1+1 counters.)
:symtap:: ~ deals one damage to target creature or player, it deals one damage to you.
:2mana::frown::symtap:: ~ deals one damage to target creature, and one additional damage for each +1/+1 counter on that creature.
0/1
I completely changed the mechanics of the set, but the idea behind the plane is still the same. I actually like the mechanics now, especially mind link, even though I will likely completely break that one. Then again, all mechanics in the set have the potential to be completely broken, so in-set it's probably fine
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The plane
The overarching theme of vortex is out-of color tribal. 5 tribes that typically belong to a single color have "mutated" and are now defined by two different colors of mana. These are the tribes:
Vedalken. Blue -> red and green
The blue vedalken act as we know them, they are cunnung and have a dispassionate view towards life.
The red/green vedalken are passionate and love life, and love to reproduce. They are thrillseekers.
Aurochs. Green -> blue and black
The green Aurochs like to work together to trample anything in their path, but the blue and black aurochs have evolved into something entirely different. They work together in a hive mind, sharing every thought with each other. They are still dependent on each other, but in an entirely different way.
foxes - white -> black/ red
To the white foxes, values and tradition are important, they value life and become very old.
Black and red foxes don't become very old. It's not that they don't have the genes for it, they just get killed prematurely. Often by accident, often by themselves.
Minor tribe: white dragons. Most have reverse firebreathing (+0/+1) In higher rarities they tend to give protection and prevent damage.
The mechanics
Tribal. Also tribal instants, sorceries, etc. Perhaps even tribal lands.
Aurochs:
Stampede: ("~gets +1/+0 for each other attacking creature it shares a creature type with")
Mindlink: (~ has all activated abillities of each permanent it shares a creature type with)
Vedalken:
Mindshrink X: Whenever you play a spell that shares a creature type with ~, target player puts the top X cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Procreate: Whenever you play a spell that shares a creature type with ~, if ~ us not a token, put a token into the battlefield that is a copy of ~.
Foxes:
Lord effects, lifegain.
(Upkeep) costs, usually paid in lives.
******
White foxes
Golden tail pupW
creature - Fox {C}
If ~ would be put into a graveyard from your library or hand, put it into the battlefield instead.
They all have a right to live. Some just more so than others.
1/1
Dancing backstabberW
creature - Fox {C}
Lifelink
At least you feel bliss just before her knife hits your spine.
1/1
Nurturing vixen1W
creature - Fox {C}
W : Prevent the next X damage dealt to target creature this turn, where X is the number of fox permanents you control.
The more she is needed, the more she thrives
0/1
Festival singer2W
creature - Fox {C}
Flash
When ~ enters the battlefield, foxes you control gain " : Target player gains 3 life"
2/2
Red and black foxes
Kin eaterR
creature - Fox berserker {C}
When ~ enters the battlefield, sacrifice a creature you control. If that creature is a fox, ~ deals 2 damage to target creature.
2/1
Rabid ReynardB
creature - Fox berserker {C}
Whenever a creature you control dies, ~ gets deathtouch until end of turn. If that creature was a fox creature, it gets +2/+0 and deathtouch until end of turn instead.
He doesn't just cause death, he seeks it out.
1/1
Howling ninetail2RB
creature - Fox berserker {R}
As you cast ~, you may pay any amount of life. ~ enters the battlefield with that many +1/+1 counters on it.
At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a +1/+1 counter from ~, then ~ deals 3 damage to target creature.
0/0
Green aurochs
Aurochs calfG
Aurochs {U}
trample
whenever ~ attacks, it gets +1/+0 for each other attacking aurochs.
0/1
Provoking aurochs4G
Aurochs {U}
whenever ~ attacks, it gets +1/+0 for each other attacking aurochs.
All creatures able to block ~ do so.
2/1
Black and blue aurochs
Toxic nodeB
Aurochs node {C}
B : ~ gains deathtouch until end of turn.
1/1
Selfish nodeU
Aurochs node {C}
2U:Return ~ to its owner's hand.
It tried to flee from the system, and that's how the system learned how to flee.
0/1
Unassigned node
Aurochs node {C}
Mind link (~ has all activated abilities of each permanent that shares a type with it)
0/2
Filtering node2U
Aurochs node {U}
Mind link (~ has all activated abilities of each permanent that shares a type with it)
U : draw a card, then discard a card.
1/3
Node of efficiencyU
Aurochs node {R}
Mind link (~ has all activated abilities of each permanent that shares a type with it)
Activated abilities of ~ cost 2 less to activate. This effect can't reduce the amount of mana an ability costs to activate to less than 1 mana.
1/2
Blue vedalken
Vedalken soldierU
Creature - vedalken soldier {C}
When ~ deals combat damage to a player, that player puts the top two cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
"So what if he dies. He wasn't one of the smart ones anyway."
1/1
Ulima, mind killerUU
Legendary creature - vedalken wizard {R}
When ~ dies, each opponent puts a number of cards from his or her library into his or her graveyard equal to the number of cards in that player's graveyard.
3/1
Red and green vedalken
Vedalken caretakerG
Vedalken breeder {C}
Procreate: Whenever you play a spell that shares a creature type with ~, if ~ is not a token, put a token into the battlefield that is a copy of ~.
0/1
Rampaging vedalkenR
Vedalken breeder {C}
haste
Procreate: Whenever you play a spell that shares a creature type with ~, if ~ is not a token, put a token into the battlefield that is a copy of ~.
sacrifice ~ at the beginning of the next end step.
1/1
Mother of warriorsRRGG
Vedalken breeder {M}
Procreate: Whenever you play a spell that shares a creature type with ~, if ~ is not a token, put a token into the battlefield that is a copy of ~.
trample, haste
4/4
Other
Dragon of the ring3WW
Dragon clerk {R}
flying
When dragon of the ring enters the battlefield, choose a color.
W: The next time a source of the chosen color deals damage to you, prevent that damage.
3/4
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Purify would then work like this: Remove a +1/+1 counter from THIS creature, do X.
To keep with the flavor, the X on red and black cards would then often include "sacrifice this creature at the end of turn" but not always.
There would still be a cycle of flipcards that have the counters condition, but others would not. They would still represent those who use the power of the vortex for their own gain.
I think I need a final mechanic to represent the people who live in fear that they will fall prey to the vortex, but are they even interesting to play with?
Simplicity: as long as ~ power is 1 or less, ~ has Y
Or perhaps more similar to Naya's 5 power matters
Agressive guard2W
creature - elephant soldier {C}
Simplicity R: Switch ~'s power with its toughness.
Sometimes, offense is the best defense
1/5
or
Hag assassin1BB
creature - hag {U}
target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn
Simplicity 2B: target creature gains deathtouch until end of turn.
2/2
or
Fertile fungusGGG
creature - fungus {r}
Simplicity :symtap:: Put a creature token that is a copy of fertile fungus in the battlefield.
1/1
Village of the cloaked menW
enchantment {u}
Creatures you control are 0/1
Sacrifice ~:draw a card
But the simplicity mechanic makes no sense outside of the block.
Good points. The fact that you need to sacrifice makes it different enough from snow mana I guess.
Perhaps it should work like this?
Corrupted plains
Basic vortex land - Plains
When ~ enters the battlefield, sacrifice a plains or a palace.
:symtap:: add W to your mana pool.
The lands are a problem. Any vortex land can't be basic because of the sacrifice, yet you need to be able to get enough vortex mana to be able to play with vortex cards.
Perhaps I should just add "you can have any number of cards named..." to the most basic vortex land.
Personal favorite among the new cards:
Doombringer pyromancer1R
vortex creature-human wizard {R}
Mutate (~ may deal damage in the form of +1+1 counters.)
:symtap:: ~ deals one damage to target creature or player, it deals one damage to you.
:2mana::frown::symtap:: ~ deals one damage to target creature, and one additional damage for each +1/+1 counter on that creature.
0/1