Congratulations on advancing past another round! I hope it was helpful to get a preview of tonight's article a little ahead of time.
Welcome to the third Design Challenge - "Silver & Gold". The first design challenge asked you to make fifteen cards. The second required ten. We're keeping with this trend and for the third challenge we're asking you to design five cards. (Boy, next week sounds easy.) Just five cards, that's all.
Okay, it might be a little harder than it sounds. This task is asking for three things of these cards:
#1) All five cards must be rare. And not just any kind of rare cards. We're looking for sexy, get-people-excited, preview worthy rares. This doesn't just mean they have to be cool and interesting; the cards have to be something the audience can easily grok. For this category you will be judged on how well the cards feel as rares, how exciting they are and how grokkable they are. (If the term "grokkable" confuses you, see below.)
#2) All five cards must be traditional multicolor. By traditional, I mean with multiple colors represented in the mana cost and a gold frame (so no split cards or hybrid funny business). For this category you will be judged on how well the cards function as multicolor. Is each color represented in the spell? Would this spell be impossible to do in monocolor? As far as what color combinations you use, you have the following rules. The cards do not need to be a cycle. You may use any color combinations you like. Each of the five colors have to be represented on a least one card and no two cards can have the same color combination.
#3) All five cards have to be Un-cards. That is, all five cards have to fit the style of Unglued and Unhinged. Yes, you're designing silver bordered cards. You will be responsible for the entire look and feel of the card.
What this means is that for each card you have to provide a realistic name, realistic flavor text if appropriate and a hundred-word description of how the card will look (including the card concept for the art) and how it will be laid out if it is in any way different from normal. This test is not about the designing of the card - you will also get a chance to do that, see below. This category will be judged based on how much it feels like an Un-card (which includes not being something we can just put into a normal set) and how well the entire overall card as a holistic whole feels. This criteria is probably the hardest one of the challenge. Un-cards are designed very differently from most cards as all the different pieces have to be created at the same time to meld them together and create cards with an overall feel. I am putting a limit of no more than two parody cards, and you are by no means required to do even one. I also want to note that this category will be judged much more on your ability to design outside the box than your ability to create humor. (Being funny will mostly help you holistically.)
To help with this assignment, I am going to suggest a number of my columns on relevant topics.
No house rules on this one. Since two weeks seems to be about the norm for this, barring during the holidays, I'm going to go ahead and put the cutoff for entries to one week from now, and for judgements to the week after. The latter should be much easier at this point.
No house rules on this one. Since two weeks seems to be about the norm for this, barring during the holidays, I'm going to go ahead and put the cutoff for entries to one week from now, and for judgements to the week after. The latter should be much easier at this point.
Contestants please post their entries in Spoilers in this thread.
Jump Ball :2mana::symu::symr:
Sorcery
If you're not the owner of Jump Ball, you may pay instead of paying its mana cost.
Toss Jump Ball in the air to the height of at least two feet above the middle of the table. Each player attempts to catch Jump Ball in the air. The player who does, adds Jump Ball to his or her hand and draws two cards. “Watch the elbows!”
Art: Basketball court. A Goblin referee is about to toss a jump ball, as a Zombie and a Knight get ready to jump for it. A crowd of assorted monsters cheers on.
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Spike, Tournament Winner :2mana::symw::symb:
Legendary Creature – Human Gamer
Spike, Tournament Winner is Indestructible.
:4mana:: Put a card you own from outside the game on top of your library.
1/1 “Just wait till I get my Yawgmoth's Time Mox!”
Art: A photo of a Pro-Tour feature match. That’s right, a photo. Spike doesn't need no stinkin' Vorthos-ish art.
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Animate Card :1mana::symu::symg:
Enchantment – Aura
Enchant Card
Enchanted Card is a creature with a power and toughness equal to its dollar retail value. “No, it’s not Canadian Dollars…Not Australian either…guess again.”
Art: A knight (pathetically small) is charged by a crazed axe-wielding Black Lotus. In the background, a Tolarian Academy and a Library of Alexandria exchange cannon fire. Around the frame, antropomorphic sword-weilding Moxen are engaged in fencing duels. The watermark is a dollar sign.
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Feature Match :3mana::symw::symg:
Legendary Enchantment – Aura
Enchant Game
You may play Feature Match only if you are not playing in the enchanted game.
All spells in enchanted game cost less to play, and all creatures in enchanted game have +X/+X. X is the number of spectators observing the game. “When Benny told his friends he needs them to “cheer on his ‘tog deck”, they didn’t realize he was being literal”
Art: Several spectators huddled around a game table. On the table, a group of iconic creatures (Psychatog, Wild Mongrel, Spiritmonger, White Knight, etc.) do battle as three-dimensional figures. A Serra Angel is going down, singed in a blast of flame.
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Forbidding Mage 1WU
Creature - Wizard
As Forbidding Mage comes into play, name a nonland card.
The named card can't be played in any game you can see from your seat.
2/2 Legends say that Forbidding Mages were created when a group of DCI employees were sucked through the time-space continuum into Dominaria.
Art: a spinoff on Meddling Mage, of course. The 'Pikula' figure is in the center of the art, dominating over an entire tournament hall. The white/blue rays from his hands engulf some of the players and shock others.
I do think it would be better to use [spoiler] tags on entries posted in the thread. This makes it easier for contestants to avoid even the temptation of plagiarizing one another.
The Ladies Man2RW
Creature - Human Knight
At the beginning of your upkeep look at the top card of your library. If it is a creature and the artwork is of a female, you may pay RW and put that creature into play. If not put that card on the bottom of your library.
1/1 It takes a certain man to love Phage...
Art: It should show a big, large knight. Think of Gallahad or Lancelot in looks. Around him there are a few notable females from Magic History including but not limited to: Akroma, Phage, Glissa, and others. There should be a few random women running around on the border, even one trying to climb out of textbox to get to the Knight.
Vorthos, Artwork Gamer3GU
Legendary Creature - Human Gamer ,T: Put an Autographed card from your hand into play.
Vorthos, Artwork Gamer gets +1/+1 for each Autographed card in play.
2/3 "Wait'll I get my Autographed Iron Myr!"
Art: There should an all dressed-up Role-Player at the front of a line to get a magic card signed by an Artist. It should probably be a fairly accurate portrait of the artist who drew this card.
Squatter's Nest2BG
Enchantment - Aura
Enchant Land
Enchanted Land gets "T: Put a 1/1 Squatter Token into play".
Sacrifice a Squatter: Untap Enchanted Land.
Art: There should a dirty man wrestling with a squirrel in the foreground. They seem to fighting over some Acorns and the Squirrel's Nest. Across the border and textbox there should acrorns and pieces of straw strewn about like they had pulled pieces of what they were fighting over and used them as impromptu weapons.
Izzet Time?2UR
Instant
Whenever an opponent asks for the time, you may play Izzet Time? without paying it's mana cost.
Izzet Time? deals X damage to target creature or player. Where X is the current time rounded to the nearest hour.
Art: It should show a clock. It face should be cracked like it's be damaged. As you go around the clock, starting at 1 O'Clock, there fire coming out of the edges. As you go farther along the flames get bigger and bigger. Until you reach 11 and 12, where the flames are so large that they go into the border and off the card.
Spoiler3BBUU
Sorcery
Remove Spolier from the game.
Put a Copy of a card not yet released into play. "I don't remember that being in Planar Chaos!"
Art: Should show many cards being sucked into a vortex. Over the vortex's mouth there should be a sign that says "Warning: Spoilers Ahead!". Cards should be placed everywhere possible. In the border, in the rules text, even in the name box.
I agree with my compatriots here that this was hard. Very hard. Well I thought it was easier then the last one, but thats just me.
Enchant Player
Spells enchanted player plays cost X less, where X equals the number of consecutive games of Magic: the Gathering they've won today. SLAM DUNK! doesn't even begin to describe it.
The art should show a mage who is on fire, (similar to some sports video games where if you were doing really well, you were lit on fire to show this.) Show this mage doing a slam dunk on a basketball hoop while other creatures (goblins, humans, whatever you feel like) look on, dumb struck.
Over-UnderUR
Instant
Choose a number, an opponent chooses "more" or "less". Search your library for a card who's name has "more" or "less" than the chosen number of words, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your library. (Hyphenated words are one word.)
"I'll take those odds!"
- Jalum Grifter
Show two mages in battle (similar to mana clash type cards.) Instead of fightning with lightning, one mage is using numbers and the other is using up and down arrows.
Savage Rare-Drafter4BR
Creature - Human Basilisk
Whenever a creature blocks or becomes blocked by a creature with a higher rarity than its own, destroy it at end of combat. "Moss Kami? please..I'll take the Akki Lavarunner."
4/4
Show a player, similar to the creature depicted on collector protector, but show surrounded by piles of shiney and rare cards and a bonfire, where he is using common cards as kindling.
Team Up3GW
Sorcery
Target player who is playing a game of Magic: The Gathering joins your game and leaves his or hers, you are on a team with that player. You each keep your life totals and permanents from your respective games. Repeat this process with your opponent and one of target player's opponents. "Hey, That's a nice spiritmonger you've got there..."
Show two players in a jumping high five.
Time Elemental IIGU
Creature - Elemental
Time Elemental II costs 1 more to play for each turn you've taken past your first.
Time Elemental II comes into play with a +1/+1 counter for each turn you've taken past your first. "You know what? Screw memory issues!"
2/2Show an elemental or ooze type creature of your choosing, show it growing across the artwork, perhaps in different stages like the famous evolution of man image. Have numbers (which represent the turns) floating around the artwork and card.
Wow, this was easily the hardest round to date. Not sure if i'm happy with them. Subject to change.
Wait in Line! 2UB
Enchantment
Spells cost more to play for each ticket counter on Wait in Line!.
Whenever a player plays a spell, put a ticket counter on Wait in Line!.
Whenever a spell resolves, that spell's controller must shout "Please Wait in Line!". Teferi began to unleash the torrent of mana - stopping suddenly when he released that the counter read #39 and he was #150...
Wait in Line!'s art would have a line of prominent Magic identities (Phage, Akroma, Urza, Karn etc) standing in line, each holding a numbered ticket and looking at a big flashing red light of a number 39. Wait in Line! utilises an exclaimation mark much alike To Arms! - to get across the urgency and the demandings of the card name. The card attempts to emulate the frustrating nature of those bothersome lines at banks and the like.
Mistform Ultimus (Take 2) pokes fun at the original Mistform Ultimus and the design around it. The creature types would be small and the creature type box would reach down to almost the bottom of the card, allowing for the creature types. The art would be Mistform Ultimus surrounded by obscure creature types such as an Oyster, Eggs and Pig.
Aaand Action! 1RW
Instant
Choose two creatures in play. For the rest of the turn each player must speak as if they were one of the chosen creatures. Next turn, each player must speak as if they were the creature they did not choose the turn before.
"In this scene we have Serra Angel and Squee, Goblin Nabob. Aaand Action!"
The art for Aaand Action! would be taken from the perspective of a Video Camera - in that the recording numbers would be visible and the sheen of the glass highlighted. In the scene itself would be Serra Angel and Squee within the Balcony scene of Romeo & Juliet, dramatically posed.
Homelands Devotee 1GW
Creature - Human Druid
You may replace cards in play with identical cards of any expansion.
Homelands Devotee gets +2/+2 for each card in play from the Homelands expansion. "Honestly, how can this be "Magic's all-time design low"? Marjhan, Orcish Mine and Timmerian Fiends - classics!"
1/1
Homelands Devotee's art would picture a human surrounded by various Homelands arts. The card's border would be replaced by the old one, with the {UN} symbol replaced by the Homeland's set symbol. This card attempts to humour a set which Mark Rosewater named to be "Magic's all-time design low", hence the reference on the card.
Judge's Bane 1UW
Interrupt
At end of turn, your turn doesn't end. You may play spells and abilities as if it were the end of turn.
Your opponent's turn starts when this spell resolves, but it is still your turn. "Ever the bane of the black and white Judges, the Bane devours on those who delve into the comprehensive rules"
Judge's Bane pokes fun at the concept of the Comprehensive rules being overly complivated. The art would show a zebra being surrounded by ferocious lions with magic cards in hand. The Zebra symbolises the Judge, and would have a whistle around its neck in the art to show this.
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may remove a card in your hand from the game and hide it. If you can put that card into play or on the stack without an opponent noticing, you can play it without paying its mana cost. If an opponent notices, that opponent gains control of that card.
A play on Cheatyface, with bad results if you're not sneaky enough. It rewards players who pay attention to the game...and rewards players who are sneaky enough (or playing strategically...there are certain cards you just don't want). The art would be something like a court magician hiding Magic cards up his sleeves while the king was looking elsewhere.
Goblin Tax Collector RW Creature- Goblin
Creatures can't attack unless their controller pays 1 for each attacking creature. Creatures can't block unless their controller pays 1 for each blocking creature.
Sign here, fill out forms 279-a, b, and c in quadruplicate...wait ten to twelve weeks, and the check should be in the mail. 1/1 He charges a tax on attacking and blocking, and might be more suited to regular Magic play. The art, however, would give it away...picture a ratty goblin in a rumpled suit, half untied tie, and surrounded by a sea of paperwork.
Ultimate Chase Rare WURGB Creature- Illusion
You may remove two rare cards in your hand from the game rather than pay Ultimate Chase Rare's mana cost. Ultimate Chase Rare has all abilities of all rare cards in play. Ultimate Chase Rare's power and toughness are each equal to the market value of all permanents you control.
*/*
Another interesting card that could cause some headaches were it not intended for an Un set. In the artwork, put small images of Jitte, Pithing Needle, and other overly expensive chase rare cards of the past.
Demonic Hellion, Eater of Souls 3RRBB Creature- Nightmare Horror Demon
Flying, trample, haste
This guy is so scary, we were afraid to print it. 8/8 The art here would be of a cute fluffy kitten with big eyes.
Squirrel Prayer Meeting 2GW Enchantment
All creatures are 1/1 Squirrels with no abilities.
1: Squirrels gain protection from the color of your choice. Any player may play this ability.
"Confess it, brother! CONFESS!" A bunch of squirrels sitting while listening to a giant squirrel wearing priests' garb. I think it's funny.
This round was NOT easy, as coming up with ideas that are not for general play is harder than it sounds. I like the cards I have created for this round, though, and feel that some of them would be decent in an Un set. In particular, the Demonic Hellion would probably become a player favorite.
Do I still need to PM this to the judges, or is here sufficient? If so, who are all the judges? We seem to have lost some down the road.
And yes, no incantatrix for you. Or anyone. That class makes puppies cry. Mostly because they are the former Big Bads who have been Baleful Polymorphed into said puppies. By you. Because you're an incantatrix.
Quote from Yukora »
This is Deraxas we're talking about.
Remember, the girl that just killed an aspect of herself before literally consuming her?
Yeah, I don't see her handling a pissing match in any way other than a duel.
Quote from RedDwarfian »
Yes mistress...
Quote from About epic-level D&D »
There are only so many epic, psuedonatural barbarian/blackguard half-dragon akutenshai vampire balor paragons they can throw at you, right?
Quote from Concerning breeding habits of humans in fantasy games »
I suppose it's true. Though the logistics implied in a human/Great Wyrm Prismatic Dragon pairing makes me shudder.
...Something tells me that even should all arcane casters in the world unite, that the Grease spell would NOT be sufficient.
DSignified Duelist RW
Creature - Human Warrior
First strike
When <this> comes into play, you may have each opponent sign on it.
<This> gets +1/+1 for each different signature on it.
1/1
Design: A proud, grinning Keldon warrior with his standard attire and holding the top of a parchment in his right hand as though he is giving that for someone to sign on. The parchment would be lined (for easy signing) and would occupy most of the card space, leaving only just enough for the rest of the card. And the crossing out is intentional, by the way.
Simic Shedding 1GU
Instant
Remove all sleeves on target creature and put each of them into play as a token copy of that creature.
Design: A dog-like creature which keeps scratching and shedding its skin, which falls down as regular card sleeves. The sleeves falls to the bottom of the card and collects into a pile, which is converging into a copy of that creature.
Three Card Mountie - 1RWR
Creature - Canadian Knight
Haste.
Whenever Three Card Mountie becomes the target of a spell or ability, play a game of Three Card Monte with that spell or ability's controller using this card and the top two cards of your library. Counter that spell or ability unless its controller selects Three Card Mountie, then put the other two cards into your graveyard.
5/5
Description: The art would feature a brawny, noble member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, alongside two ghostly versions of himself. These semi-transparent Mounties would look less realistic and more like face-cards in a standard playing card deck. There would also be a fake "crease" running vertically down the middle of the card.
Total Protonic Reversal - UR
Enchantment
When Total Protonic Reversal comes into or leaves play, turn your library upside-down. (Physically flip it over so your bottom card becomes your top card) "Cephalids and Moggs, living together...Concordant Crossroads..."
Description: All of the elements of this card would be laid-out in reverse vertical order. (From top to bottom: Collector #/Artist Credit, Flavor Text, Rules Text, Type Line/Expansion Symbol, Art, Name/Casting Cost). All of the text and symbols would be right side up and readable when oriented this way, though their placement would be flipped horizontally, giving the impression that card is upside-down. The art would feature an Izzet wizard calmly standing in a chaotic magical laboratory where gravity seems to be reversed. Her hair falls upward, as does a dropped beaker and the liquid inside it. When the card is held upside-down, it becomes more clear that the wizard is actually standing on the ceiling and that gravity is operating normally.
Loose Change Elemental - 2GB
Creature - Elemental
Loose Change Elemental comes into play with five coins stacked on it. Whenever Loose Change Elemental deals damage to a creature, stack five coins on Loose Change Elemental.
Loose Change Elemental gets +1/+1 for every coin stacked on it. You cannot touch or adjust stacked coins. If you knock a coin off the stack, sacrifice Loose Change Elemental.
0/0
Description: A dwarf stoops to pick up a shiny coin at the forefront of the art box, oblivious to the animated mass of coins about to crash down upon him from behind. Though each coin is very small compared to the overall size of the creature (which takes up most of the art box), the varying color and texture of the Elemental should make it clear what it is composed of. A few coins have fallen off the Elemental and landed on and in the text box.
Jester's Jester - 1UB
Creature - Human Comedian
Whenever an opponent laughs, Jester's Jester is unblockable and can't be the target of spells or abilities until end of turn.
Whenever Jester's Jester deals combat damage to an opponent, that player reveals his or her hand. Chose a card from it. That player discards that card. If that player laughs before you choose a card, you may chose an additional card. "All right son, knock 'em dead. Literally." -Hirshon, Court Jester
1/1
Description: The art would be similar in style and composition to DiTerlizzi's Coercion, but both figures would be facing forward and look like the Jesters on the Ice Age and 9th edition Jester's Cap. Other Jester equipment might be seen, but would not be the focus of the art. A faint harlequin pattern watermark would be behind the text box.
Mnemonic Tutor - BR
Instant
Search your library for a card and remove it from the game face down. Chose an opponent. If that opponent guesses the card removed from the game by Mnemonic Tutor, you lose 5 life. Otherwise, put the card into your hand. Shuffle your library. "It's easy; just remember: BLMSMRMJMEMPARTWTTYWFOW***TOC. Unless you're playing second. Then..."
Description: The Demon from Demonic Tutor sits in a frustrated/bored position at a too-small school deck as a nerdy human in a sweater-vest points to a list of tournament staple cards written on a blackboard. Their order corresponds to the acronym in the flavor text.
I don't play paper magic, so I've never played with any of the Un sets. Nevertheless, this was a fun challenge. I liked finding mechanical areas that are too unpredictable for formal play, but not so random as to make strategy impossible. I'm really pleased with Loose Change Elemental, as chump blocking actually becomes a viable strategy for removing it if you can do it for a few turns. Being faced with the prospect of simply tapping your 25/25 without destroying it is, to my mind, a very fun game-state that you could never have in regular magic. I'm also curious as to whether or not Mnemonic Tutor could be a regular Magic card; my instinct says that it would be too predicable in tournament play but a solid limited card. I think it works well here, at least. Three Card Mountie is my least favorite of the five, but only because it is hard to word and the rules of Three Card Monte would have to be relegated to the FAQ...but even it has some fun, unexpected play implications (like having to play yourself and mill two cards if you want to pump him up).
Seeing that I will be disqualified for not handing in all five cards (thanks to a lack of unglued talent and time), here is my last request to the judge: Would you mind giving a small comment on the two I posted?
I've finished my judgings. I'll talk about each card in my write-up this time, which will take more time than I'll have today (most likely). I'm hesistant to post scores without explanation this round so instead I'll explain how I scored.
Unlike previous rounds where I assigned points for all the criteria for the round, I decided to award points for the more subjective and important criteria and subtract points for not meeting the obvious criteria. This round is worth 16 points, and here's the breakdown:
Innovation: 1-6 points
Exciting/Sexy/Preview-Worthy: 1-6 points
Grokkable: 1-2 points
Discretionary: 1-2 points
Funny: 2-4 bonus points (ie., funny earned you extra points, not funny did not hurt your score)
Not "Un": Minus 1-4 points (ie., could be printed in a normal set)
Not gold: Minus 1-4 points (ie., are the abilities obviously not related to the colors. I was not strict on this, only when it was really glaring.)
Doesn't work: Minus 1-4 points (ie., doesn't function correctly as worded)
Not Rare: Well, I would have deducted for a card that didn't feel rare, but I never had to.
Overall, I was very happy with what I saw this round. There was a higher level of innovation than usual and some of the cards were really quite cool. Some players struggled this round, some delivered a fairly solid bunch of cards. And just so I don't leave you completely hanging...
of course we'll have to wait and see what TIBA thinks, but in my opinion this round had a clear winner: Rowsdower.
Jump Ball
This is inventive and clever but it falls short in execution. For one 2 cards for four mana won't quite hit the sexy "play me!" mark it's going for. Also, the difficulty of snatching a card out of the air, combined with the fact that the card will likely get destroyed in the process means this has some wrinkles to iron out, but it's definitely a doable idea.
Spike, Tournament Winner
As appropriate as it is to continue the cycle, everybody tries their hand at this, so the idea is a zero on creativity. The execution is decent and the ability is incredibly strong, but how is this card even slightly white?
Animate Card
One of my favorites. Great concept, simple and effective execution, hilarious art concept. I just loved this. The only problem here is that card values are not definite, but I suppose if players agreed upon a single source ahead of time it would be fine.
Feature Match
Oozing with innovation, but riddled with problems. A rare with a powerful effect is sexy; an effect you will never be able to play in your own game isn't. And, um... how on earth does a spectator tap mana to pay for a card? There might be a way to word this to make it work, but as is it just doesn't.
Forbidding Mage
Decent all around but nothing particularly new or exciting here.
The Ladies Man
Ugh. Another card that likes girls is not the way to go for innovation and this one is completely uninteresting to boot. To top it off, the flavor is red but mechanically it has nothing to do with red/white at all.
Vorthos, Artwork Gamer
Working with autographs is a clever idea and the execution is decent, but the flavor is seriously off. Autographs do not even come close to encompassing Vorthos' interests.
Squatter's Nest
Other than the flavor, the only thing "Un" about this card is its brokenness.
Izzet Time?
This, on the other hand, is clever, "Un" and fun. It's simple, has a playable effect, and overall is pretty good.
Spoiler
Another one of my favorites. As worded, it doesn't exactly work but it's fairly easy to fix and the fixed version is practically perfect. Excellent job!
On Fire
Fairly innovative, but most of the time this effect will do absolutely nothing, and that's not sexy. Also, the card's colors are completely different than its flavor.
Over-Under
Very creative and a sexy effect. The problem here is that rarely will it ever be feasible to choose anything other than 2 (since choosing 1 means your opponent says "lower" which means you get no cards. Choosing 3 means your opponent says "higher" and the number of cards with four-word-or-more names is pretty slim).
Savage Rare-Drafter
Fairly clever but also very similar to Rare-Be-Gone.
Team Up
Getting A Head anyone?
Time Elemental II
I really liked this. Clever, interesting, creative, funny. Excellent job.
You really struggled with this round. Most of your cards did silly things but just for the sake of being silly. There wasn't anything fun mechanically to the cards.
Wait in line!
The abilities here aren't "Un" and the shouting has no relevance to the game at all.
Mistform Ultimus (Take 2)
This doesn'y do anything different than the original, except that this one never actually gets new creature types so it actually loses all the charm of the original. Perhaps it would be funny to have print so small you'd need a magnifying glass to read it, but without something else fun the card does it just wouldn't be worth it.
Aaand Action!
A clever idea, but the card doesn't actually do anything. Without some sort of reward or penalty attached, what's the point of the card?
Homelands Devotee
This one made me chuckle. Easily your best this round. Not great, but fun.
Judge's Bane
Creative with good flavor, but it's highly non-grokkable and again it doesn't really do anything.
Prestidigitation
Considering you posted it is a variation on Cheatyface, you obviously understand the innovation level is low here. Additionally, I'm really not sure how you sneak a spell on the stack since the only way to do that is to announce it. This just doesn't work.
Goblin Tax Collector
A decent card, but it isn't "Un" in the slightest and so it also doesn't work on the innovation, exciting, etc., areas.
Chase Rare
Nicely executed all around. This is an excellent "Un" card. The only issue here is the same with Alx's Animate Card: there's no definite value for a card so there needs to be an agreement ahead of time as to what source you use. These effects wouldn't really work as a one-of, then, but if card value was a larger set theme it would make sense.
Demonic Hellion, Eater of Souls
Again, this card is only "Un" in that it's ridiculously undercosted. The flavor is cute but it's really just a rehash of Infernal Spawn of Evil.
Squirrel Prayer Meeting
The effects here are pretty dull but it's one of the funniest cards this round.
DSignified Duelist
Another clever way of working with autographs. The wordplay of the name is absolutely brilliant.
Simic Shedding
A little short in the exciting/sexy department, but it's innovative and clever, simple, and funny.
It's a shame your work ended here. With just two cards done you still managed a reasonable average score, especially considering your total was divided by five.
Three Card Mountie
I'm not a big fan of using "mini game" effects that can't be explained on the card, but other than that... it's clever, innovative, funny, quite (maybe too) powerful. It's got it all. (oh, and the arrangement of the mana symbols was not lost on me. )
Total Protonic Reversal Follow the FCC much? Clever, with a funny joke, but as a 1-shot effect it doesn't really do much. Not bad, but not as good as your others.
Loose-Change Elemental
Possibly the best card this round. It's innovative, clever, funny, potent, silly, unique, great art concept. Loved it.
Jester's Jester
Your only miss this round. There's not much interesting going on here and, well, discouraging laughter probably isn't the best idea for an "Un" card.
Mnemonic Tutor
The least "Un" of your cards this round, it could be printed in a normal set if there was a slot for something a little sillier (a la Goblin Game) but I think it does fit an "Un" set as well. The art description and flavor text are great.
I felt like the colors chosen for your cards were loosely connected at best but mostly felt completely arbitrary, which pulled your score down a bit. Also, you provided no card concept descriptions and very little flavor text; the latter made it substantially harder to like your cards, the former is a failure to follow the rules.
Clamwar
I didn't get this reference and I had to look up what it means. I guess it's fairly fitting, but there's really nothing Un about the card, except the "no shower" clause which is flavorful but pretty much unenforceable. It's also very wordy and I had to read it a couple times just to figure out what it's supposed to do.
Freeze!
A valliant attempt, but the execution is pretty much just a cross between Volrath's Motion Sensor and Orim's Chant. The Motion Sensor was fun because it was a challenge; this pretty much just makes you sit there for a turn and do nothing (since you can't tap anything). Not fun.
Insult
The reminder text shenanngians were a little overdone, but overall I really liked this. It is clever, well-executed, highly innovative, and would probably be a lot of fun.
Social Weapons
The name is... odd. But a very solid card overall.
Rhyme Shrine
Well it seems clever, but... unless I missed something it doesn't do anything. At all. It's a shame because it's a good opportunity for a rhyming sub-game. Something along the lines of when a card hits the graveyard players can take turns coming up with words that rhyme with it and the last person who can gets some kind of benefit. Could be fun.
Spike, Tournament Winner
As appropriate as it is to continue the cycle, everybody tries their hand at this, so the idea is a zero on creativity. The execution is decent and the ability is incredibly strong, but how is this card even slightly white?
Uhm, it's white because it's indestructible?! And it's indestructible because Spike will NEVER EVER die to a random Shock?! I thought the logical connection was obvious.... :cries:
Quote from Kraj »
Jump Ball
This is inventive and clever but it falls short in execution. For one 2 cards for four mana won't quite hit the sexy "play me!" mark it's going for. Also, the difficulty of snatching a card out of the air, combined with the fact that the card will likely get destroyed in the process means this has some wrinkles to iron out, but it's definitely a doable idea.
Would it have scored higher if it cost just UR to play? (not trying to retroactively change the card, just trying to find out where I went wrong)
On Fire
Fairly innovative, but most of the time this effect will do absolutely nothing, and that's not sexy. Also, the card's colors are completely different than its flavor.
what colors would you put this in?
Over-Under
Very creative and a sexy effect. The problem here is that rarely will it ever be feasible to choose anything other than 2 (since choosing 1 means your opponent says "lower" which means you get no cards. Choosing 3 means your opponent says "higher" and the number of cards with four-word-or-more names is pretty slim).
I feel that this card is made to be built around, and I like the mind game aspect of it.
Savage Rare-Drafter
Fairly clever but also very similar to Rare-Be-Gone.
Aside from caring about rarity (although in the oposite direction) and color, There isn't much similar. I chose the colors because red and black are the best at destroying creatures.
Team Up
Getting A Head anyone?
I actually didn't realize this until after the deadline. I only skimmed the articles when they were printed, because they were so long. I had an inkling that this card might not be original, my mistake for not doing the research.
Time Elemental II
I really liked this. Clever, interesting, creative, funny. Excellent job.
Uhm, it's white because it's indestructible?! And it's indestructible because Spike will NEVER EVER die to a random Shock?! I thought the logical connection was obvious.... :cries:
Well... indestructble is not a white ability, it's an artifact ability. Other than the cycle of Myojin, the only non-artifact indestructible card is Konda, and that's only because of his storyline tie to That Which Was Taken. So, no dice there.
Would it have scored higher if it cost just UR to play? (not trying to retroactively change the card, just trying to find out where I went wrong)
That probably would have helped. It's tricky to make card drawing sexy anyway as such efforts often lead to brokenness, and the ability is so unpredictable it would be next to impossible to gauge a balance. But yes, I think the lower cost would have made it more eye-catching.
With the abilities as-is, I would probably keep the colors the same but change the flavor. It's just rather absurd (and not in the good way) to have a card called "On Fire" that's not red.
Aside from caring about rarity (although in the oposite direction) and color, There isn't much similar.
Except that caring about rarity is the only thing that makes those two cards "Un". And it's not just that it cares about rarity it's that it destroys based on rarity, which is exactly what Rare-Be-Gone does. Granted this card is a twist on the theme, but not enough to feel like a fresh idea.
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I can't believe I'm two weeks late on this. One week I had broken DSL, and my dial-up didn't work at the speed I needed to flit between pages, but this week I have no excuse. I've allowed myself to get too buried in schoolwork.
I'm halfway done, I've got no work due tomorrow, so I'll be covering the rest in the morning and posting scores.
Alx's Cards Jumpball is a neat idea, but it's not doable for a number of reasons, not least of which is it's asking for a lawsuit. Otherwise, though, these submissions were very ambitious. Creative use and exploration of the Ass-Whuppin Mechanic.[/spoiler]
Alx's Score: 13 out of 16.
Skitsojd's EntriesIf you're going to mention Phage, the card ought to work for Phage, and Ladies Man doesn't. The card is also perilously close to being Ladies' Knight. Vorthos is Red, and I don't understand what autographs have to do with anything. Squatter's Nest is a little bit edgy for Magic... some people could find it too offensive. I mean, not that there's a huge hobo lobby, but still. Izzet time needs to mention what type of time we're using, if you mean the current hour in damage, etc... and Unglued cards generally still need to do something and Spoiler doesn't.
I don't know, I don't think you really grasped the Un dynamic. Ladies' Man, Squatter's Nest, and Izzet Time? have some potential, but even then only Ladies' Man really feels like a Rare. 9/16
...why is a card called On Fire that shows someone On Fire White/Blue? Over-Under would be better if the number was kept hidden. Time Elemental also, in Un tradition, ought to be "Time Elemental (Not the Legends One)".
A couple of the cards were blah. On the other hand, I really liked the Rare Drafter and Team-Up a lot, so it sort of balances out a bit. 11/16
Mistform Ultimus is already kind of a joke in to himself. While I see room in an Un set for references, just reprinting the card with the oracle text in mini-size is a bit feeble a joke. Wait in Line needs a Suspend mechanism rather than what you're doing here. Aand Action has potential, but you don't really go anywhere fruitful with it. It ought to be an Enchantment, and there's no punishment or reward for failing or succeeding at the task. And Judge's Bane doesn't do anything at all; it doesn't even make sense.
Homelands Devotee is a solid card, but otherwise... meh'age. 6/16
Simic Shedding worries me. It's already ruled that removing your pants occurs at a faster-than-mana speed. Why should slipping sleeves on a card be different? Anyway, this is basically just a clone effect; it's not very Un. Also, you're short three cards on your submission. 5/16
I'm surprised to hear you say you've never played with the Un sets, because any of these could probably be printed as is in such a set. Mnemonic Tutor is a little too close to being printable normally, but other than that, bangup job. 15/16
[spoiler=Zu Faul's entry] Clamwar RWU
Sorcery
Play Clamwar only if you haven't showered today.
Each player chooses a number of creatures he or she controls equal to the number of creature
controlled by the player who controls the fewest. Then each player gains life equal to the
total toughness of creatures he or she chose, then each creature deals damage to a player of
it's owner's choice equal to it's power. Tap all creatures chosen that way.
Freeze! BGW
Sorcery
Until the end of his or her next turn, target player puts his or her hands over his or her head
isn't allowed to move any part of his or her body beneath his or her shoulders.
Insult WBR
Instant
You gain Provoke until end of turn (Players with Provoke have "insult target creature: it
does very stupid things" (doing very stupid things means, that it is very furious. very, very
furious. (very furious means: "at the beginning of the combat phase flip a coin. If it comes up
head, it attacks this turn, if it comes up tails it can't attack this turn. Instead it throws
itself at you (that means, that its owner sacrifices it and it deals damage to you equal to
it's mana cost. If it's a Squirrel, laugh at it. (You may only target each creature once a turn
for each instance of Provoke)))) That cow's got a Fat Ass!
Social Weapons URG
Sorcery
Make a joke. Draw a card for each person in the room who laughed about it. (You may laugh at
your own jokes.)
Do you know this one?
Rhyme Shrine GUB
Enchantment
Whenever a player plays a spell,
if he wants he may yell
when the name of the spell
rhymes with a card which into the graveyard fell.
Playing into a theme of Unhinged and Unglued, these cards are each quite different. Freeze! reduces the ability to move (like Volrath's Motion Sensor, for example), or are more about the social side of the game (Social Weapons). Insult is ridiculously stuffed with italics, and Rhyme Shrine is a card to build a deck around. Finally, Clamwar's restricition is without precedent.[/spoiler]
Clamwar would be a very stupid card, since it doesn't do much of anything, except that that makes a lot of sense for a card called Clamwar. I like Insult a lot, and I know several people that would love Social Weapons, but you forgot to make Rhyme Shrine do anything... literally, I mean. All it does is let you rhyme. Which you could do anyway.
11/16
Final Standings as of this Round, including all previous scores;
Alx: 72.4
Skitsojd: 48.8
Moogie: 72.7
Ace: 40.1
Avatar of Kokusho: 58.7
Jeek: 54.4
Rowsdowser: 74.6
zu_faul: 48 (but this is still pending Kraj's judgement on this entry, so it's not actually final so much.)
This being less serious than the real Designer Search, I am inclined not to cut anyone per se, letting anyone who wishes to continue, but it is certainly unlikely that in the remaining two rounds Ace or Skitsojd could pull into the top 3.
(but this is still pending Kraj's judgement on this entry, so it's not actually final so much.)
Well I'll be damned. I didn't even realize he had PM'd since everyone else posted in the thread. My bad, big time. I'll post a score asap (which means later tonight when I get home and have access to the spreadsheet doohicky I used for scoring).
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No house rules on this one. Since two weeks seems to be about the norm for this, barring during the holidays, I'm going to go ahead and put the cutoff for entries to one week from now, and for judgements to the week after. The latter should be much easier at this point.
Contestants please post their entries in Spoilers in this thread.
Jump Ball :2mana::symu::symr:
Sorcery
If you're not the owner of Jump Ball, you may pay instead of paying its mana cost.
Toss Jump Ball in the air to the height of at least two feet above the middle of the table. Each player attempts to catch Jump Ball in the air. The player who does, adds Jump Ball to his or her hand and draws two cards.
“Watch the elbows!”
Art: Basketball court. A Goblin referee is about to toss a jump ball, as a Zombie and a Knight get ready to jump for it. A crowd of assorted monsters cheers on.
-----
Spike, Tournament Winner :2mana::symw::symb:
Legendary Creature – Human Gamer
Spike, Tournament Winner is Indestructible.
:4mana:: Put a card you own from outside the game on top of your library.
1/1
“Just wait till I get my Yawgmoth's Time Mox!”
Art: A photo of a Pro-Tour feature match. That’s right, a photo. Spike doesn't need no stinkin' Vorthos-ish art.
-----
Animate Card :1mana::symu::symg:
Enchantment – Aura
Enchant Card
Enchanted Card is a creature with a power and toughness equal to its dollar retail value.
“No, it’s not Canadian Dollars…Not Australian either…guess again.”
Art: A knight (pathetically small) is charged by a crazed axe-wielding Black Lotus. In the background, a Tolarian Academy and a Library of Alexandria exchange cannon fire. Around the frame, antropomorphic sword-weilding Moxen are engaged in fencing duels. The watermark is a dollar sign.
-----
Feature Match :3mana::symw::symg:
Legendary Enchantment – Aura
Enchant Game
You may play Feature Match only if you are not playing in the enchanted game.
All spells in enchanted game cost less to play, and all creatures in enchanted game have +X/+X. X is the number of spectators observing the game.
“When Benny told his friends he needs them to “cheer on his ‘tog deck”, they didn’t realize he was being literal”
Art: Several spectators huddled around a game table. On the table, a group of iconic creatures (Psychatog, Wild Mongrel, Spiritmonger, White Knight, etc.) do battle as three-dimensional figures. A Serra Angel is going down, singed in a blast of flame.
---
Forbidding Mage 1WU
Creature - Wizard
As Forbidding Mage comes into play, name a nonland card.
The named card can't be played in any game you can see from your seat.
2/2
Legends say that Forbidding Mages were created when a group of DCI employees were sucked through the time-space continuum into Dominaria.
Art: a spinoff on Meddling Mage, of course. The 'Pikula' figure is in the center of the art, dominating over an entire tournament hall. The white/blue rays from his hands engulf some of the players and shock others.
The Ladies Man 2RW
Creature - Human Knight
At the beginning of your upkeep look at the top card of your library. If it is a creature and the artwork is of a female, you may pay RW and put that creature into play. If not put that card on the bottom of your library.
1/1
It takes a certain man to love Phage...
Art: It should show a big, large knight. Think of Gallahad or Lancelot in looks. Around him there are a few notable females from Magic History including but not limited to: Akroma, Phage, Glissa, and others. There should be a few random women running around on the border, even one trying to climb out of textbox to get to the Knight.
Vorthos, Artwork Gamer 3GU
Legendary Creature - Human Gamer
,T: Put an Autographed card from your hand into play.
Vorthos, Artwork Gamer gets +1/+1 for each Autographed card in play.
2/3
"Wait'll I get my Autographed Iron Myr!"
Art: There should an all dressed-up Role-Player at the front of a line to get a magic card signed by an Artist. It should probably be a fairly accurate portrait of the artist who drew this card.
Squatter's Nest 2BG
Enchantment - Aura
Enchant Land
Enchanted Land gets "T: Put a 1/1 Squatter Token into play".
Sacrifice a Squatter: Untap Enchanted Land.
Art: There should a dirty man wrestling with a squirrel in the foreground. They seem to fighting over some Acorns and the Squirrel's Nest. Across the border and textbox there should acrorns and pieces of straw strewn about like they had pulled pieces of what they were fighting over and used them as impromptu weapons.
Izzet Time? 2UR
Instant
Whenever an opponent asks for the time, you may play Izzet Time? without paying it's mana cost.
Izzet Time? deals X damage to target creature or player. Where X is the current time rounded to the nearest hour.
Art: It should show a clock. It face should be cracked like it's be damaged. As you go around the clock, starting at 1 O'Clock, there fire coming out of the edges. As you go farther along the flames get bigger and bigger. Until you reach 11 and 12, where the flames are so large that they go into the border and off the card.
Spoiler 3BBUU
Sorcery
Remove Spolier from the game.
Put a Copy of a card not yet released into play.
"I don't remember that being in Planar Chaos!"
Art: Should show many cards being sucked into a vortex. Over the vortex's mouth there should be a sign that says "Warning: Spoilers Ahead!". Cards should be placed everywhere possible. In the border, in the rules text, even in the name box.
I agree with my compatriots here that this was hard. Very hard. Well I thought it was easier then the last one, but thats just me.
On Fire 2WU
Enchantment - Aura
Enchant Player
Spells enchanted player plays cost X less, where X equals the number of consecutive games of Magic: the Gathering they've won today.
SLAM DUNK! doesn't even begin to describe it.
The art should show a mage who is on fire, (similar to some sports video games where if you were doing really well, you were lit on fire to show this.) Show this mage doing a slam dunk on a basketball hoop while other creatures (goblins, humans, whatever you feel like) look on, dumb struck.
Over-Under UR
Instant
Choose a number, an opponent chooses "more" or "less". Search your library for a card who's name has "more" or "less" than the chosen number of words, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your library. (Hyphenated words are one word.)
"I'll take those odds!"
- Jalum Grifter
Show two mages in battle (similar to mana clash type cards.) Instead of fightning with lightning, one mage is using numbers and the other is using up and down arrows.
Savage Rare-Drafter 4BR
Creature - Human Basilisk
Whenever a creature blocks or becomes blocked by a creature with a higher rarity than its own, destroy it at end of combat.
"Moss Kami? please..I'll take the Akki Lavarunner."
4/4
Show a player, similar to the creature depicted on collector protector, but show surrounded by piles of shiney and rare cards and a bonfire, where he is using common cards as kindling.
Team Up 3GW
Sorcery
Target player who is playing a game of Magic: The Gathering joins your game and leaves his or hers, you are on a team with that player. You each keep your life totals and permanents from your respective games. Repeat this process with your opponent and one of target player's opponents.
"Hey, That's a nice spiritmonger you've got there..."
Show two players in a jumping high five.
Time Elemental II GU
Creature - Elemental
Time Elemental II costs 1 more to play for each turn you've taken past your first.
Time Elemental II comes into play with a +1/+1 counter for each turn you've taken past your first.
"You know what? Screw memory issues!"
2/2Show an elemental or ooze type creature of your choosing, show it growing across the artwork, perhaps in different stages like the famous evolution of man image. Have numbers (which represent the turns) floating around the artwork and card.
Wow, this was easily the hardest round to date. Not sure if i'm happy with them. Subject to change.
Wait in Line! 2UB
Enchantment
Spells cost more to play for each ticket counter on Wait in Line!.
Whenever a player plays a spell, put a ticket counter on Wait in Line!.
Whenever a spell resolves, that spell's controller must shout "Please Wait in Line!".
Teferi began to unleash the torrent of mana - stopping suddenly when he released that the counter read #39 and he was #150...
Wait in Line!'s art would have a line of prominent Magic identities (Phage, Akroma, Urza, Karn etc) standing in line, each holding a numbered ticket and looking at a big flashing red light of a number 39. Wait in Line! utilises an exclaimation mark much alike To Arms! - to get across the urgency and the demandings of the card name. The card attempts to emulate the frustrating nature of those bothersome lines at banks and the like.
Mistform Ultimus (Take 2) 3UG
Creature - Abomination, Aboroth, Advisor, Aladdin, Albatross, Alchemist, Ali-Baba, Ali-from-Cairo, Alligator, Ambush-Party, Angel, Ant, Antelope, Ape, Archaeologist, Archer, Archon, Artificer, Asp, Assassin, Assembly-Worker, Atog, Aurochs, Avatar, Avenger, Avizoa, Badger, Ball-Lightning, Bandit, Banshee, Barbarian, Barishi, Basilisk, Bat, Bear, Beast, Bee, Beeble, Being, Berserker, Bird, Blinkmoth, Boar, Bodyguard, Bringer, Brother, Brownie, Brushwagg, Bull, Bureaucrat, Camarid, Camel, Caravan, Caribou, Carnivore, Carriage, Carrier, Cat, Cave-People, Centaur, Cephalid, Cheetah, Chicken, Child, Chimera, Citizen, Clamfolk, Cleric, Cobra, Cockatrice, Constable, Construct, Cow, Crab, Crocodile, Crusader, Cyclops, Dauthi, Demon, Deserter, Designer, Devil, Devouring-Deep, Dinosaur, Djinn, Dog, Donkey, Doppelganger, Dragon, Dragonfly, Drake, Dreadnought, Drill-Sergeant, Drone, Druid, Dryad, Dwarf, Eater, Eel, Effigy, Efreet, Egg, Elder, Elemental, Elephant, Elf, El-Hajjâj, Enchantress, Entity, Erne, Essence, Exorcist, Expansion-Symbol, Eye, Faerie, Fallen, Farmer, Ferret, Fiend, Fish, Flagbearer, Fox, Frog, Frostbeast, Fungus, Fungusaur, Gaea’s-Avenger, Gamer, Gargoyle, Gatekeeper, General, Ghost, Ghoul, Giant, Gnome, Goat, Goblin, Golem, Gorgon, Graveborn, Gremlin, Griffin, Guardian, Gus, Gypsy, Hag, Harlequin, Heretic, Hero, Hipparion, Hippo, Homarid, Hornet, Horror, Horse, Horseman, Hound, Human, Hydra, Hyena, Illusion, Imp, Incarnation, Infernal-Denizen, Inquisitor, Insect, Island-Fish, Jackal, Jellyfish, Juggernaut, Kavu, Keeper, Kelp, King, Kirin, Kithkin, Knight, Kobold, Kor, Kraken, Lady-of-Proper-Etiquette, Lammasu, Leech, Legionnaire, Lemure, Leper, Leviathan, Lhurgoyf, Licid, Lizard, Lord, Lurker, Lycanthrope, Mage, Maiden, Mammoth, Manticore, Marid, Martyr, Master, Medusa, Mercenary, Merchant, Merfolk, Mime, Minion, Minor, Minotaur, Miracle-Worker, Mist, Mob, Mold-Demon, Monger, Mongoose, Monk, Monster, Moonfolk, Mummy, Murk-Dwellers, Mutant, Myr, Mystic, Nameless-Race, Narwhal, Nephilim, Niall-Silvain, Nightmare, Nightstalker, Ninja, Noble, Nomad, Octopus, Ogre, Ooze, Orb, Orc, Orgg, Ouphe, Ox, Oyster, Paladin, Paratrooper, Peacekeeper, Pegasus, Penguin, Pentavite, People-of-the-Woods, Pest, Phantasm, Phelddagrif, Phoenix, Pig, Pikemen, Pincher, Pirate, Pixie-Queen, Plant, Poison-Snake, Poltergeist, Pony, Preacher, Priest, Prism, Pyknite, Rabbit, Raider, Ranger, Rat, Rebel, Reflection, Rhino, Robber, Roc, Rock-Sled, Rogue, Sage, Salamander, Samurai, Sand, Saproling, Satyr, Scavenger, Scorpion, Scout, Serf, Serpent, Shade, Shaman, Shapeshifter, Shark, Sheep, Ship, Shyft, Singing-Tree, Sister, Skeleton, Slith, Sliver, Slug, Smith, Snake, Soldier, Soltari, Sorceress, Spawn, Speaker, Specter, Spellshaper, Sphinx, Spider, Spike, Spirit, Splinter, Sponge, Spuzzem, Spy, Squirrel, Stangg-Twin, Starfish, Strider, Survivor, Swarm, Tactician, Tarpan, Teddy, Tetravite, Thief, The-Biggest-Baddest-Nastiest-Scariest-Creature-You’ll-Ever-See, Thopter, Thrull, Thundermare, Tiger, Titan, Toad, Tortoise, Townsfolk, Tracker, Treefolk, Triskelavite, Troll, Turtle, Twin, Undead, Unicorn, Vampire, Vedalken, Viashino, Villain, Viper, Volver, Vulture, Waiter, Walking-Dead, Wall, War-Rider, Warrior, Wasp, Weird, Whale, Whippoorwill, Wight, Wiitigo, Wirefly, Witch, Wizard, Wolf, Wolverine, Wolverine-Pack, Wolves-of-the-Hunt, Wombat, Worm, Wraith, Wretched, Wurm, Yeti, Zombie, Zubera
It may wear over two hundred faces, but its mind is its own.
Mistform Ultimus (Take 2) pokes fun at the original Mistform Ultimus and the design around it. The creature types would be small and the creature type box would reach down to almost the bottom of the card, allowing for the creature types. The art would be Mistform Ultimus surrounded by obscure creature types such as an Oyster, Eggs and Pig.
Aaand Action! 1RW
Instant
Choose two creatures in play. For the rest of the turn each player must speak as if they were one of the chosen creatures. Next turn, each player must speak as if they were the creature they did not choose the turn before.
"In this scene we have Serra Angel and Squee, Goblin Nabob. Aaand Action!"
The art for Aaand Action! would be taken from the perspective of a Video Camera - in that the recording numbers would be visible and the sheen of the glass highlighted. In the scene itself would be Serra Angel and Squee within the Balcony scene of Romeo & Juliet, dramatically posed.
Homelands Devotee 1GW
Creature - Human Druid
You may replace cards in play with identical cards of any expansion.
Homelands Devotee gets +2/+2 for each card in play from the Homelands expansion.
"Honestly, how can this be "Magic's all-time design low"? Marjhan, Orcish Mine and Timmerian Fiends - classics!"
1/1
Homelands Devotee's art would picture a human surrounded by various Homelands arts. The card's border would be replaced by the old one, with the {UN} symbol replaced by the Homeland's set symbol. This card attempts to humour a set which Mark Rosewater named to be "Magic's all-time design low", hence the reference on the card.
Judge's Bane 1UW
Interrupt
At end of turn, your turn doesn't end. You may play spells and abilities as if it were the end of turn.
Your opponent's turn starts when this spell resolves, but it is still your turn.
"Ever the bane of the black and white Judges, the Bane devours on those who delve into the comprehensive rules"
Judge's Bane pokes fun at the concept of the Comprehensive rules being overly complivated. The art would show a zebra being surrounded by ferocious lions with magic cards in hand. The Zebra symbolises the Judge, and would have a whistle around its neck in the art to show this.
Prestidigitation 1UR
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may remove a card in your hand from the game and hide it.
If you can put that card into play or on the stack without an opponent noticing, you can play it without paying its mana cost.
If an opponent notices, that opponent gains control of that card.
A play on Cheatyface, with bad results if you're not sneaky enough. It rewards players who pay attention to the game...and rewards players who are sneaky enough (or playing strategically...there are certain cards you just don't want). The art would be something like a court magician hiding Magic cards up his sleeves while the king was looking elsewhere.
Goblin Tax Collector RW
Creature- Goblin
Creatures can't attack unless their controller pays 1 for each attacking creature.
Creatures can't block unless their controller pays 1 for each blocking creature.
Sign here, fill out forms 279-a, b, and c in quadruplicate...wait ten to twelve weeks, and the check should be in the mail.
1/1
He charges a tax on attacking and blocking, and might be more suited to regular Magic play. The art, however, would give it away...picture a ratty goblin in a rumpled suit, half untied tie, and surrounded by a sea of paperwork.
Ultimate Chase Rare WURGB
Creature- Illusion
You may remove two rare cards in your hand from the game rather than pay Ultimate Chase Rare's mana cost.
Ultimate Chase Rare has all abilities of all rare cards in play.
Ultimate Chase Rare's power and toughness are each equal to the market value of all permanents you control.
*/*
Another interesting card that could cause some headaches were it not intended for an Un set. In the artwork, put small images of Jitte, Pithing Needle, and other overly expensive chase rare cards of the past.
Demonic Hellion, Eater of Souls 3RRBB
Creature- Nightmare Horror Demon
Flying, trample, haste
This guy is so scary, we were afraid to print it.
8/8
The art here would be of a cute fluffy kitten with big eyes.
Squirrel Prayer Meeting 2GW
Enchantment
All creatures are 1/1 Squirrels with no abilities.
1: Squirrels gain protection from the color of your choice. Any player may play this ability.
"Confess it, brother! CONFESS!"
A bunch of squirrels sitting while listening to a giant squirrel wearing priests' garb. I think it's funny.
This round was NOT easy, as coming up with ideas that are not for general play is harder than it sounds. I like the cards I have created for this round, though, and feel that some of them would be decent in an Un set. In particular, the Demonic Hellion would probably become a player favorite.
Do I still need to PM this to the judges, or is here sufficient? If so, who are all the judges? We seem to have lost some down the road.
"I am in the arcane, and the arcane is in me."
Official Matron Mother of Clan Planar Chaos
Awesome Avatar and signature by DarkNightCavalier
Deraxas, Dark Maiden of Shimia,, still oddly obsessed with a mindmage.
If you wouldn't mind, TIBA, a status list of current scores and who are in this round would be helpful.
Current New Favorite Person™: Mallory Archer
She knows why.
DSignified Duelist RWCreature - Human Warrior
First strike
When <this> comes into play, you may have each opponent sign on it.
<This> gets +1/+1 for each different signature on it.
1/1
Design: A proud, grinning Keldon warrior with his standard attire and holding the top of a parchment in his right hand as though he is giving that for someone to sign on. The parchment would be lined (for easy signing) and would occupy most of the card space, leaving only just enough for the rest of the card. And the crossing out is intentional, by the way.
Simic Shedding 1GU
Instant
Remove all sleeves on target creature and put each of them into play as a token copy of that creature.
Design: A dog-like creature which keeps scratching and shedding its skin, which falls down as regular card sleeves. The sleeves falls to the bottom of the card and collects into a pile, which is converging into a copy of that creature.
Three Card Mountie - 1RWR
Creature - Canadian Knight
Haste.
Whenever Three Card Mountie becomes the target of a spell or ability, play a game of Three Card Monte with that spell or ability's controller using this card and the top two cards of your library. Counter that spell or ability unless its controller selects Three Card Mountie, then put the other two cards into your graveyard.
5/5
Description: The art would feature a brawny, noble member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, alongside two ghostly versions of himself. These semi-transparent Mounties would look less realistic and more like face-cards in a standard playing card deck. There would also be a fake "crease" running vertically down the middle of the card.
Total Protonic Reversal - UR
Enchantment
When Total Protonic Reversal comes into or leaves play, turn your library upside-down. (Physically flip it over so your bottom card becomes your top card)
"Cephalids and Moggs, living together...Concordant Crossroads..."
Description: All of the elements of this card would be laid-out in reverse vertical order. (From top to bottom: Collector #/Artist Credit, Flavor Text, Rules Text, Type Line/Expansion Symbol, Art, Name/Casting Cost). All of the text and symbols would be right side up and readable when oriented this way, though their placement would be flipped horizontally, giving the impression that card is upside-down. The art would feature an Izzet wizard calmly standing in a chaotic magical laboratory where gravity seems to be reversed. Her hair falls upward, as does a dropped beaker and the liquid inside it. When the card is held upside-down, it becomes more clear that the wizard is actually standing on the ceiling and that gravity is operating normally.
Loose Change Elemental - 2GB
Creature - Elemental
Loose Change Elemental comes into play with five coins stacked on it. Whenever Loose Change Elemental deals damage to a creature, stack five coins on Loose Change Elemental.
Loose Change Elemental gets +1/+1 for every coin stacked on it. You cannot touch or adjust stacked coins. If you knock a coin off the stack, sacrifice Loose Change Elemental.
0/0
Description: A dwarf stoops to pick up a shiny coin at the forefront of the art box, oblivious to the animated mass of coins about to crash down upon him from behind. Though each coin is very small compared to the overall size of the creature (which takes up most of the art box), the varying color and texture of the Elemental should make it clear what it is composed of. A few coins have fallen off the Elemental and landed on and in the text box.
Jester's Jester - 1UB
Creature - Human Comedian
Whenever an opponent laughs, Jester's Jester is unblockable and can't be the target of spells or abilities until end of turn.
Whenever Jester's Jester deals combat damage to an opponent, that player reveals his or her hand. Chose a card from it. That player discards that card. If that player laughs before you choose a card, you may chose an additional card.
"All right son, knock 'em dead. Literally." -Hirshon, Court Jester
1/1
Description: The art would be similar in style and composition to DiTerlizzi's Coercion, but both figures would be facing forward and look like the Jesters on the Ice Age and 9th edition Jester's Cap. Other Jester equipment might be seen, but would not be the focus of the art. A faint harlequin pattern watermark would be behind the text box.
Mnemonic Tutor - BR
Instant
Search your library for a card and remove it from the game face down. Chose an opponent. If that opponent guesses the card removed from the game by Mnemonic Tutor, you lose 5 life. Otherwise, put the card into your hand. Shuffle your library.
"It's easy; just remember: BLMSMRMJMEMPARTWTTYWFOW***TOC. Unless you're playing second. Then..."
Description: The Demon from Demonic Tutor sits in a frustrated/bored position at a too-small school deck as a nerdy human in a sweater-vest points to a list of tournament staple cards written on a blackboard. Their order corresponds to the acronym in the flavor text.
I don't play paper magic, so I've never played with any of the Un sets. Nevertheless, this was a fun challenge. I liked finding mechanical areas that are too unpredictable for formal play, but not so random as to make strategy impossible. I'm really pleased with Loose Change Elemental, as chump blocking actually becomes a viable strategy for removing it if you can do it for a few turns. Being faced with the prospect of simply tapping your 25/25 without destroying it is, to my mind, a very fun game-state that you could never have in regular magic. I'm also curious as to whether or not Mnemonic Tutor could be a regular Magic card; my instinct says that it would be too predicable in tournament play but a solid limited card. I think it works well here, at least. Three Card Mountie is my least favorite of the five, but only because it is hard to word and the rules of Three Card Monte would have to be relegated to the FAQ...but even it has some fun, unexpected play implications (like having to play yourself and mill two cards if you want to pump him up).
AoK: No need to PM, we can read the thread from this point.
I haven't forgotten, but I have been distracted. I'll get to this as soon as I can.
Current New Favorite Person™: Mallory Archer
She knows why.
For the others: Good luck. It has been good fun.
Unlike previous rounds where I assigned points for all the criteria for the round, I decided to award points for the more subjective and important criteria and subtract points for not meeting the obvious criteria. This round is worth 16 points, and here's the breakdown:
Innovation: 1-6 points
Exciting/Sexy/Preview-Worthy: 1-6 points
Grokkable: 1-2 points
Discretionary: 1-2 points
Funny: 2-4 bonus points (ie., funny earned you extra points, not funny did not hurt your score)
Not "Un": Minus 1-4 points (ie., could be printed in a normal set)
Not gold: Minus 1-4 points (ie., are the abilities obviously not related to the colors. I was not strict on this, only when it was really glaring.)
Doesn't work: Minus 1-4 points (ie., doesn't function correctly as worded)
Not Rare: Well, I would have deducted for a card that didn't feel rare, but I never had to.
Overall, I was very happy with what I saw this round. There was a higher level of innovation than usual and some of the cards were really quite cool. Some players struggled this round, some delivered a fairly solid bunch of cards. And just so I don't leave you completely hanging...
of course we'll have to wait and see what TIBA thinks, but in my opinion this round had a clear winner: Rowsdower.
Skitsojd 6.8
moogie 9.6
Ace 6
Avatar of Kokusho 7.4
Jeek 0 (6.4)
Rowsdower 14.8
zu_Faul 5.8
This is inventive and clever but it falls short in execution. For one 2 cards for four mana won't quite hit the sexy "play me!" mark it's going for. Also, the difficulty of snatching a card out of the air, combined with the fact that the card will likely get destroyed in the process means this has some wrinkles to iron out, but it's definitely a doable idea.
Spike, Tournament Winner
As appropriate as it is to continue the cycle, everybody tries their hand at this, so the idea is a zero on creativity. The execution is decent and the ability is incredibly strong, but how is this card even slightly white?
Animate Card
One of my favorites. Great concept, simple and effective execution, hilarious art concept. I just loved this. The only problem here is that card values are not definite, but I suppose if players agreed upon a single source ahead of time it would be fine.
Feature Match
Oozing with innovation, but riddled with problems. A rare with a powerful effect is sexy; an effect you will never be able to play in your own game isn't. And, um... how on earth does a spectator tap mana to pay for a card? There might be a way to word this to make it work, but as is it just doesn't.
Forbidding Mage
Decent all around but nothing particularly new or exciting here.
Ugh. Another card that likes girls is not the way to go for innovation and this one is completely uninteresting to boot. To top it off, the flavor is red but mechanically it has nothing to do with red/white at all.
Vorthos, Artwork Gamer
Working with autographs is a clever idea and the execution is decent, but the flavor is seriously off. Autographs do not even come close to encompassing Vorthos' interests.
Squatter's Nest
Other than the flavor, the only thing "Un" about this card is its brokenness.
Izzet Time?
This, on the other hand, is clever, "Un" and fun. It's simple, has a playable effect, and overall is pretty good.
Spoiler
Another one of my favorites. As worded, it doesn't exactly work but it's fairly easy to fix and the fixed version is practically perfect. Excellent job!
Fairly innovative, but most of the time this effect will do absolutely nothing, and that's not sexy. Also, the card's colors are completely different than its flavor.
Over-Under
Very creative and a sexy effect. The problem here is that rarely will it ever be feasible to choose anything other than 2 (since choosing 1 means your opponent says "lower" which means you get no cards. Choosing 3 means your opponent says "higher" and the number of cards with four-word-or-more names is pretty slim).
Savage Rare-Drafter
Fairly clever but also very similar to Rare-Be-Gone.
Team Up
Getting A Head anyone?
Time Elemental II
I really liked this. Clever, interesting, creative, funny. Excellent job.
Wait in line!
The abilities here aren't "Un" and the shouting has no relevance to the game at all.
Mistform Ultimus (Take 2)
This doesn'y do anything different than the original, except that this one never actually gets new creature types so it actually loses all the charm of the original. Perhaps it would be funny to have print so small you'd need a magnifying glass to read it, but without something else fun the card does it just wouldn't be worth it.
Aaand Action!
A clever idea, but the card doesn't actually do anything. Without some sort of reward or penalty attached, what's the point of the card?
Homelands Devotee
This one made me chuckle. Easily your best this round. Not great, but fun.
Judge's Bane
Creative with good flavor, but it's highly non-grokkable and again it doesn't really do anything.
Considering you posted it is a variation on Cheatyface, you obviously understand the innovation level is low here. Additionally, I'm really not sure how you sneak a spell on the stack since the only way to do that is to announce it. This just doesn't work.
Goblin Tax Collector
A decent card, but it isn't "Un" in the slightest and so it also doesn't work on the innovation, exciting, etc., areas.
Chase Rare
Nicely executed all around. This is an excellent "Un" card. The only issue here is the same with Alx's Animate Card: there's no definite value for a card so there needs to be an agreement ahead of time as to what source you use. These effects wouldn't really work as a one-of, then, but if card value was a larger set theme it would make sense.
Demonic Hellion, Eater of Souls
Again, this card is only "Un" in that it's ridiculously undercosted. The flavor is cute but it's really just a rehash of Infernal Spawn of Evil.
Squirrel Prayer Meeting
The effects here are pretty dull but it's one of the funniest cards this round.
Another clever way of working with autographs. The wordplay of the name is absolutely brilliant.
Simic Shedding
A little short in the exciting/sexy department, but it's innovative and clever, simple, and funny.
It's a shame your work ended here. With just two cards done you still managed a reasonable average score, especially considering your total was divided by five.
I'm not a big fan of using "mini game" effects that can't be explained on the card, but other than that... it's clever, innovative, funny, quite (maybe too) powerful. It's got it all. (oh, and the arrangement of the mana symbols was not lost on me. )
Total Protonic Reversal
Follow the FCC much? Clever, with a funny joke, but as a 1-shot effect it doesn't really do much. Not bad, but not as good as your others.
Loose-Change Elemental
Possibly the best card this round. It's innovative, clever, funny, potent, silly, unique, great art concept. Loved it.
Jester's Jester
Your only miss this round. There's not much interesting going on here and, well, discouraging laughter probably isn't the best idea for an "Un" card.
Mnemonic Tutor
The least "Un" of your cards this round, it could be printed in a normal set if there was a slot for something a little sillier (a la Goblin Game) but I think it does fit an "Un" set as well. The art description and flavor text are great.
Clamwar
I didn't get this reference and I had to look up what it means. I guess it's fairly fitting, but there's really nothing Un about the card, except the "no shower" clause which is flavorful but pretty much unenforceable. It's also very wordy and I had to read it a couple times just to figure out what it's supposed to do.
Freeze!
A valliant attempt, but the execution is pretty much just a cross between Volrath's Motion Sensor and Orim's Chant. The Motion Sensor was fun because it was a challenge; this pretty much just makes you sit there for a turn and do nothing (since you can't tap anything). Not fun.
Insult
The reminder text shenanngians were a little overdone, but overall I really liked this. It is clever, well-executed, highly innovative, and would probably be a lot of fun.
Social Weapons
The name is... odd. But a very solid card overall.
Rhyme Shrine
Well it seems clever, but... unless I missed something it doesn't do anything. At all. It's a shame because it's a good opportunity for a rhyming sub-game. Something along the lines of when a card hits the graveyard players can take turns coming up with words that rhyme with it and the last person who can gets some kind of benefit. Could be fun.
Current New Favorite Person™: Mallory Archer
She knows why.
Uhm, it's white because it's indestructible?! And it's indestructible because Spike will NEVER EVER die to a random Shock?! I thought the logical connection was obvious.... :cries:
Would it have scored higher if it cost just UR to play? (not trying to retroactively change the card, just trying to find out where I went wrong)
what colors would you put this in?
I feel that this card is made to be built around, and I like the mind game aspect of it.
Aside from caring about rarity (although in the oposite direction) and color, There isn't much similar. I chose the colors because red and black are the best at destroying creatures.
I actually didn't realize this until after the deadline. I only skimmed the articles when they were printed, because they were so long. I had an inkling that this card might not be original, my mistake for not doing the research.
Thank you.
Well... indestructble is not a white ability, it's an artifact ability. Other than the cycle of Myojin, the only non-artifact indestructible card is Konda, and that's only because of his storyline tie to That Which Was Taken. So, no dice there.
That probably would have helped. It's tricky to make card drawing sexy anyway as such efforts often lead to brokenness, and the ability is so unpredictable it would be next to impossible to gauge a balance. But yes, I think the lower cost would have made it more eye-catching.
With the abilities as-is, I would probably keep the colors the same but change the flavor. It's just rather absurd (and not in the good way) to have a card called "On Fire" that's not red.
I agree. I just don't think it plays out as well as it looks in the abstract.
Except that caring about rarity is the only thing that makes those two cards "Un". And it's not just that it cares about rarity it's that it destroys based on rarity, which is exactly what Rare-Be-Gone does. Granted this card is a twist on the theme, but not enough to feel like a fresh idea.
Current New Favorite Person™: Mallory Archer
She knows why.
I'm halfway done, I've got no work due tomorrow, so I'll be covering the rest in the morning and posting scores.
Alx's Score: 13 out of 16.
Skitsojd's EntriesIf you're going to mention Phage, the card ought to work for Phage, and Ladies Man doesn't. The card is also perilously close to being Ladies' Knight. Vorthos is Red, and I don't understand what autographs have to do with anything. Squatter's Nest is a little bit edgy for Magic... some people could find it too offensive. I mean, not that there's a huge hobo lobby, but still. Izzet time needs to mention what type of time we're using, if you mean the current hour in damage, etc... and Unglued cards generally still need to do something and Spoiler doesn't.
I don't know, I don't think you really grasped the Un dynamic. Ladies' Man, Squatter's Nest, and Izzet Time? have some potential, but even then only Ladies' Man really feels like a Rare. 9/16
Moogie's Entry
...why is a card called On Fire that shows someone On Fire White/Blue? Over-Under would be better if the number was kept hidden. Time Elemental also, in Un tradition, ought to be "Time Elemental (Not the Legends One)".
A couple of the cards were blah. On the other hand, I really liked the Rare Drafter and Team-Up a lot, so it sort of balances out a bit. 11/16
Ace's Cards
Mistform Ultimus is already kind of a joke in to himself. While I see room in an Un set for references, just reprinting the card with the oracle text in mini-size is a bit feeble a joke. Wait in Line needs a Suspend mechanism rather than what you're doing here. Aand Action has potential, but you don't really go anywhere fruitful with it. It ought to be an Enchantment, and there's no punishment or reward for failing or succeeding at the task. And Judge's Bane doesn't do anything at all; it doesn't even make sense.
Homelands Devotee is a solid card, but otherwise... meh'age. 6/16
Avatar of Kokusho's Cards
Prestidigitation ought to be "face down"... this way you can always remove a Phage or something, and trick an opponent into "catching" you.
Goblin Tax Collector isn't Rare.
Another Infernal Spawn of Evil. Not enough spin to be worth repeating the same joke. Now if it was a penguin...
I'm sold in Ultimate Chase Rare and Squirrel Prayer meeting, though. "Confess!" 11/16
Jeek's Cards
Simic Shedding worries me. It's already ruled that removing your pants occurs at a faster-than-mana speed. Why should slipping sleeves on a card be different? Anyway, this is basically just a clone effect; it's not very Un. Also, you're short three cards on your submission. 5/16
Rowsdowser's Cards
Three Card Mountie is a perfect 10 out of 10.
I'm surprised to hear you say you've never played with the Un sets, because any of these could probably be printed as is in such a set. Mnemonic Tutor is a little too close to being printable normally, but other than that, bangup job. 15/16
[spoiler=Zu Faul's entry] Clamwar RWU
Sorcery
Play Clamwar only if you haven't showered today.
Each player chooses a number of creatures he or she controls equal to the number of creature
controlled by the player who controls the fewest. Then each player gains life equal to the
total toughness of creatures he or she chose, then each creature deals damage to a player of
it's owner's choice equal to it's power. Tap all creatures chosen that way.
Freeze! BGW
Sorcery
Until the end of his or her next turn, target player puts his or her hands over his or her head
isn't allowed to move any part of his or her body beneath his or her shoulders.
Insult WBR
Instant
You gain Provoke until end of turn (Players with Provoke have "insult target creature: it
does very stupid things" (doing very stupid things means, that it is very furious. very, very
furious. (very furious means: "at the beginning of the combat phase flip a coin. If it comes up
head, it attacks this turn, if it comes up tails it can't attack this turn. Instead it throws
itself at you (that means, that its owner sacrifices it and it deals damage to you equal to
it's mana cost. If it's a Squirrel, laugh at it. (You may only target each creature once a turn
for each instance of Provoke))))
That cow's got a Fat Ass!
Social Weapons URG
Sorcery
Make a joke. Draw a card for each person in the room who laughed about it. (You may laugh at
your own jokes.)
Do you know this one?
Rhyme Shrine GUB
Enchantment
Whenever a player plays a spell,
if he wants he may yell
when the name of the spell
rhymes with a card which into the graveyard fell.
Playing into a theme of Unhinged and Unglued, these cards are each quite different. Freeze! reduces the ability to move (like Volrath's Motion Sensor, for example), or are more about the social side of the game (Social Weapons). Insult is ridiculously stuffed with italics, and Rhyme Shrine is a card to build a deck around. Finally, Clamwar's restricition is without precedent.[/spoiler]
Clamwar would be a very stupid card, since it doesn't do much of anything, except that that makes a lot of sense for a card called Clamwar. I like Insult a lot, and I know several people that would love Social Weapons, but you forgot to make Rhyme Shrine do anything... literally, I mean. All it does is let you rhyme. Which you could do anyway.
11/16
Final Standings as of this Round, including all previous scores;
Alx: 72.4
Skitsojd: 48.8
Moogie: 72.7
Ace: 40.1
Avatar of Kokusho: 58.7
Jeek: 54.4
Rowsdowser: 74.6
zu_faul: 48 (but this is still pending Kraj's judgement on this entry, so it's not actually final so much.)
This being less serious than the real Designer Search, I am inclined not to cut anyone per se, letting anyone who wishes to continue, but it is certainly unlikely that in the remaining two rounds Ace or Skitsojd could pull into the top 3.
Well I'll be damned. I didn't even realize he had PM'd since everyone else posted in the thread. My bad, big time. I'll post a score asap (which means later tonight when I get home and have access to the spreadsheet doohicky I used for scoring).
Current New Favorite Person™: Mallory Archer
She knows why.