The latest blogatog reveales that contraptions will be assembled from a contraption deck, making it a bit harder to do the jump to black border. Here is a mechanic inspired by contraptions that doesn't need outside decks. (It still needs a track token, but I think that's acceptable complexity for a main set mechanic.)
Timeslip
Use this to track your current day (day 1 comes after day 3.)
When you advance to a day, rattle all cards exiled on that day.
<<Day 1 | \/Day 2\/ | Day 3>>
(This "token" comes in boosters so you may use a counter to keep track of your current day. As you play cards with timeslip, you exile them to the right, bottom, and left of the token -Days 1, 2 and 3-. These cards will rattle as you get back to their day by playing more timeslip cards.)
AfterimageU
Sorcery
Draw a card.
Timeslip (Then exile this card on your current day and advance a day.)
When Afterimage rattles, scry 1.
Boomblast2R
Sorcery
Boomblast deals 2 damage to any target.
Timeslip (then exile this card on your current day and advance a day.)
When Boomblast rattles, it deals 1 damage to any target.
Driftslide3U
Instant
Return target creature to its owner's hand.
Timeslip (then exile this on your current day and advance a day.)
When Driftslide rattles, tap target creature an opponent controls.
This mechanic is very parasitic, because the more timeslip, the more effects, like a landslide. One way to keep them in check is to require mana in rattles. This way a player is restricted on the number of timeslips he or she can do in a turn.
Twist Flesh3BB
Sorcery
Destroy target creature.
Timeslip (then exile this card on your current day and advance a day.)
When Twist Flesh rattles, you may pay 1B. If you do, target opponent sacrifices a creature.
Mindslip3B
Sorcery
Target opponent discards two cards.
Timeslip (then exile this card on your current day and advance a day.)
When Mindslip rattles, target opponent discards a card.
Finally, timeslip can be in creatures too:
EchoscreamerR
Creature - Goblin Berserk
Haste
If Echoscreamer would die, timeslip (exile this card on your current day and advance a day.)
When Echoscreamer rattles, you may pay R. If you do, create a 1/1 red Goblin creature token with haste.
1/1
This is pretty interesting. It seems like Contraptions use two core pieces of tech: The extra deck and a clock system. Timeslip is a simplified version of the latter, which I think is a good move. Splitting these two cores apart is probably the best way for Contraptions to transition the black border in some way.
I'm a little skeptical about how the clock system actually plays, given it involves a good deal of book-keeping, but your method of getting cards into position is good. I'm not convinced that your method of advancing from one position to the next is safe (advancing every time you cast a spell with the appropriate keyword means advancing multiple times in a turn is possible, which can be dangerous), but this tech is so new we don't have a great way to know.
I think if you want to stick with advancing a day every time you cast a timesplip spell, every timeslip spell should have a rattle cost. This makes it almost like Splice in that every time you cast a timesplip spell, it can have extra effects for extra mana. That said, this just sounds like a more complicated, more parasitic version of Splice.
For that reason, I'm inclined to stick with the upkeep trigger method of advancing to the next position, which is safer with free effects.
One sidenote: Your choice of words is a little weird. Using the word "day" to track your position is great, but "timeslip" and "rattle" has me scratching my head. Being honest, idk what else you would use, but I'm sure there are better options.
Honestly, mechanically timeslip was done fine already with Arc Blade and company except that a dedicated keyword could cut some unnecessary fat from using the generalized suspend.
I think one of the grand benefits of Contraptions over this is that permanents are more interactive than nonpermanent card types and Contraptions are artifacts. Permanents also are more palpable when it comes to triggers, so I'd suggest making these things enchantments.
I don't get "rattle" either. Like a snake or alarm clock?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Planar Chaos was not a mistake neither was it random. You might want to look at it again.
[thread=239793][Game] Level Up - Creature[/thread]
I am not following uncard spoilers because I don't want that set to exist and am trying to pretend it doesn't.
Judging your mechanic on its own merits, why doesn't this just suspend 3 itself on resolution? That's functionally a little dissimilar but I think a significant improvement in many ways.
Timeslip
Use this to track your current day (day 1 comes after day 3.)
When you advance to a day, rattle all cards exiled on that day.
<<Day 1 | \/Day 2\/ | Day 3>>
(This "token" comes in boosters so you may use a counter to keep track of your current day. As you play cards with timeslip, you exile them to the right, bottom, and left of the token -Days 1, 2 and 3-. These cards will rattle as you get back to their day by playing more timeslip cards.)
Afterimage U
Sorcery
Draw a card.
Timeslip (Then exile this card on your current day and advance a day.)
When Afterimage rattles, scry 1.
Boomblast 2R
Sorcery
Boomblast deals 2 damage to any target.
Timeslip (then exile this card on your current day and advance a day.)
When Boomblast rattles, it deals 1 damage to any target.
Driftslide 3U
Instant
Return target creature to its owner's hand.
Timeslip (then exile this on your current day and advance a day.)
When Driftslide rattles, tap target creature an opponent controls.
This mechanic is very parasitic, because the more timeslip, the more effects, like a landslide. One way to keep them in check is to require mana in rattles. This way a player is restricted on the number of timeslips he or she can do in a turn.
Twist Flesh 3BB
Sorcery
Destroy target creature.
Timeslip (then exile this card on your current day and advance a day.)
When Twist Flesh rattles, you may pay 1B. If you do, target opponent sacrifices a creature.
Mindslip 3B
Sorcery
Target opponent discards two cards.
Timeslip (then exile this card on your current day and advance a day.)
When Mindslip rattles, target opponent discards a card.
Finally, timeslip can be in creatures too:
Echoscreamer R
Creature - Goblin Berserk
Haste
If Echoscreamer would die, timeslip (exile this card on your current day and advance a day.)
When Echoscreamer rattles, you may pay R. If you do, create a 1/1 red Goblin creature token with haste.
1/1
I'm a little skeptical about how the clock system actually plays, given it involves a good deal of book-keeping, but your method of getting cards into position is good. I'm not convinced that your method of advancing from one position to the next is safe (advancing every time you cast a spell with the appropriate keyword means advancing multiple times in a turn is possible, which can be dangerous), but this tech is so new we don't have a great way to know.
I think if you want to stick with advancing a day every time you cast a timesplip spell, every timeslip spell should have a rattle cost. This makes it almost like Splice in that every time you cast a timesplip spell, it can have extra effects for extra mana. That said, this just sounds like a more complicated, more parasitic version of Splice.
For that reason, I'm inclined to stick with the upkeep trigger method of advancing to the next position, which is safer with free effects.
One sidenote: Your choice of words is a little weird. Using the word "day" to track your position is great, but "timeslip" and "rattle" has me scratching my head. Being honest, idk what else you would use, but I'm sure there are better options.
I think one of the grand benefits of Contraptions over this is that permanents are more interactive than nonpermanent card types and Contraptions are artifacts. Permanents also are more palpable when it comes to triggers, so I'd suggest making these things enchantments.
I don't get "rattle" either. Like a snake or alarm clock?
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
Factions: Sleeping
Remnants: Valheim
Legendary Journey: Heroes & Planeswalkers
Saga: Shards of Rabiah
Legends: The Elder Dragons
Read up on Red Flags & NWO
Judging your mechanic on its own merits, why doesn't this just suspend 3 itself on resolution? That's functionally a little dissimilar but I think a significant improvement in many ways.