Collapsing SynapseUB
Instant [Rare]
Return target permanent to its owner’s hand. If you paid the retrace cost, that player discards a card at random.
Retrace (You may play this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Art by aspius @ DeviantArt.com
Born of Light1WW
Instant
Target white creature gains Lifelink and cannot be blocked except by white or artifact creatures until the end of the turn.
Retrace (You may play this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
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"Those who endure in the face of suffering, those whose faith shines long in evil days, they shall see salvation." -Song of All, canto 904
Careless Excavation - :2mana::symr:
Sorcery
Draw four cards, then discard three cards at random. If no land cards were discarded in this way, remove Mining Expedition from the game.
Retrace "If the dirt stops flying, kill them." - Vol the Taskmaster
Timeless Bounty1GG
Sorcery
Choose one - Return up to three target land cards from your graveyard to your hand; or you may play up to three additional lands this turn.
Entwine - Sacrifice a land. (Choose both if you play the entwine cost.)
Retrace (You may play this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to playing its other costs.)
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Never ever create a card without taking the extra minute to double check it.
:symu::symu::symb:
sorcery
Target player draws 1 card.
if an island was discarded to pay for the retrace cost draw an additional card.
if a swamp was discarded to pay for the retracecost target player discards a card.
retrace The mind is a powerfull weapon.
Magma Tunnels
Land t:AddRR to your mana pool. Sacrifice ~ at end of turn.
Retrace. "All land has lava under it, calling it out does ruin the land, but you can always find new land" - Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Balance 4/10 It's definitely underpowered. The price is two high for mana fixing, especially because this card doesn't produce mana and fixes for only one turn. The fact that it's an instant means you can mess with your opponent's lands - it's kind of like a Magus of the Moon for a single land with cummulative upkeep - 1U/, discard a land card. And that's pretty bad.
Flavor 5/5 Your flavor text is very good, although I'm not sure what kind of set a human groundskeeper would fit into. It seems a little too like the real world, but I won't deduct points because you pulled it off very well. It's in the right colors.
Creativity 2/4 The fact that you get fodder for the card is definitely innovative, but I dislike the ability; I don't feel like it does enough. In order to get those last two points, you would have had to create an ability that not only fed off retrace but did something innovative to the game state as well.
Quality 4/4 Checks out.
I would really like for you to have templated this "Target land becomes a copy of the chosen land until end of turn." That would open up more synergies and more opportunities to punish your opponent (giving them legendary lands, pain lands, etc.)
Balance 6/10 Two instant speed damage on a retrace card is ridiculous in limited. In constructed, however, I think that it's a bit weak. It definitely couldn't see any play outside of Standard for sure. I think Puncture Bolt is better, and Flame Javelin definitely so. Nevertheless, it's still a consideration. It's additional ability is wayy to expensive to ever see constructed play.
Flavor 3/5 OK, I'm docking you for the flavor text. It's just not nearly provocative enough. You don't want to say "much more fire", you want to say "a cyclone of white fire hot enough to scorch the heavens themselves" or something random like that. Tri-Axis Flame is also a pretty bad name. Other than that, everything fits.
Creativity 4/4 Solid on creativity. The mechanic totally relies on retrace. You really did what I wanted you to do with this round.
Quality 4/4 Good!
I would have done the card so that the ability was something like "Tri-Axis Flame does two damage to target creature or player for each spell named Tri-Axis Flame played this turn". That would solve the balance problem, as 6 mana and a land for 6 damage could actually be competitive. Plus it opens up more possibilities!
Balance 5/10 This card is too good to be printable. It's repeatable bounce, which means you can keep a permanent off the board every single turn of the game, and this card lets you do that without any card disadvantage! You trade a land for a random card of theirs (although chances are usually going to be pretty high that you hit their pesky permanent). It's good against control because you can bounce their lands and get random discards from them, because you can play it enough that it eventually will resolve, and because you can play it at the end of their turn. It's good against combo because you slow them down while simultaneously stripping their hand of necessary cards, and it's good against aggro because once they've emptied their hand the card becomes UB, discard a land card: destroy target permanent, and because it keeps big non-haste threats from being able to attack. There are a few things you should have done to keep the card balanced. First, it should have been a sorcery. Second, it shouldn't be able to target lands. And third, you should probably raise the mana cost a little bit.
Flavor 4.5/5I feel that the card you submitted Collapsing Synapse indicates that the body part is degenerating or withering already. A name for a discard spell wants to denote action. Thoughtsieze. I am a black mage actively taking away your thoughts. Contrast to something like "Thought Fail". This is a pretty small thing though, overall the flavor is wonderful. The picture fits perfectly!
Creativity 4/4 This reminds me of River's Grasp, but I really like your twist on it! In my opinion it's not bad at all to mirror to some extent what another card has done before, as long as you mix things up a little in a cool new way. You did that. You did something I've never seen done with Retrace as well.
Quality 4/4 Yes.
Bonus +1! I love your set symbol and you submitted a render with art, but mostly this for your creativity and the card's slickness.
Balance 5/10 The retrace doesn't do much for the power level of the card. Mind's Desire is pretty much the highest mana cost you can realistically pay after playing a bunch of storm cards, and all you'll get with this card is two scattershots, which is totally dwarfed by the aforementioned card's effects. I don't feel this card would see any constructed play. Nevertheless, it's sick in limited!
Flavor 5/5 Great name, and it's definitely red. I really wish there was a little bit more flavor to help me get into the groove of this card, but I really don't think there'd be room for flavor text, so I won't fault you for it.
Creativity 1/4 It's a sorcery speed Scattershot with retrace. The synergy with retrace will get you a point.
Balance 5/10 Repeatable lifelink is solid, but at three mana and a land card each turn, it's just not going to cut it in constructed. If a deck needs a card with lifelink and evasion, they'll just run Divinity of Pride or something.
Flavor 4/5 I wish you had submitted flavor text for this. I'm pretty sure there'd be plenty of room on the card, even after reminder text for Retrace. Nevertheless, the name's good, and all of your abilities definitely work in white.
Creativity 0/4 I double and triple checked this card. I don't see any synergy between the abilities and retrace, and all of the abilities have definitely been done before. The abilities dont even have synergy with eachother, because lifelink is going to trigger regardless of whether or not the creature goes blocked.
Quality 4/4
I gave you a very low score for this card, mostly due to creativity issues. I still think you're a good designer, and I'm not trying to start anything.
Balance 10/10 This card is very niche. The best application I can think of is in Loam decks, where it is very good. It churns more and more lands into your graveyard, dredging Loams back into your hand like crazy and then discarding them for you free of charge. Yet there's a nice tension between the amount of dredging you can do while still having favorable odds that you'll discard a land card. I can't think of a single situation where this card is unbalanced.
Flavor 5/5 Your flavor text is BEAUTIFUL. The name's okay and everything else checks out. Card draw is fine in red when it's accompanied by that random discard.
Creativity 3/4 This is very creative. But I feel that the likelihood of me drawing into a land and then randomly discarding it, regardless of how many lands I've retraced, remains pretty static. If the execution made it emphasize more what you were trying to get at, you'd have had full points here.
Balance 8.5/10 Oh, dear lord. I understand what this card does mechanically, but how it would play in a game is totally beyond me. Here's my best shot, though: 1. It can be Overgrowth. You have to have cards in your graveyard for this to work, but as a three drop, you sac one land and then put three into play for a net gain of two mana. This card is slightly better because you aren't just getting Gs of it, but that's fine. 2. It can be Life from the Loam. Rather than require 1G and a draw to bring LFTL back, this guy requires 1GG and a land in hand (although you get it back). That's actually pretty competitive with Loam. In addition to the mana acceleration, I think that makes the card just a bit over the curve. Fairly balanced nonetheless.
Flavor 5/5 It's a bounty, sure. It's timeless because it keeps getting retraced, I think.
Creativity 4/4 I definitely can't fault you here. The way you combined these already existent abilities into a card that shares no parallel in magic today is pretty impressive.
Round requirements 2/2 Balance 8/10 I think this card is a little bit too powerful. Legacy 40-land decks with Standstill are pretty popular, and they'd absolutely love a way to Mulch their way into a card that knocks their opponent down a full 20 or so. These decks are really good at getting cards into their graveyards really fast, and this card would just make that too powerful. Balanced in other formats, though :).
Flavor 4/5 Your flavor text sounds like a quotation. I'd like to see who said it. Other than that, everything is fine.
Round requirements /2 Balance 7/10 This is a very solid way to draw cards if you're in blue. Mulldrifter shows us how good it is to repeat "draw two cards" effects. Retracing off a swamp is much weaker, especially in this environment, where you're just giving your opponent an opportunity to get some Reveillark fodder in the graveyard. It's an excellent card in an attrition game, and that's where it would see play. Flavor 2/5 When you're going for one philosophical-sounding statement for flavor text, it needs to totally blow your mind out of the park. I also really would have liked it had you submitted a name for this card. You'll get points though, because it's definitely on color. Balance /10 Creativity 3/4 I really like this stipulation on retrace. It's cool, and I could definitely see it being printed in the future. I wish there had been a bit more creativity with the abilities, though. Quality 0/4 -.5: "Sorcery"; -.5 no name; -.5 "draws a card"; -.5 "If"; -.5 "If"; -.5 "powerful"; -.5 "that player draws"; -.5 "If a swamp/island was used to pay [no-name]'s retrace cost". In order to get a better score here, you'd have to do a better job avoiding typos. In addition, look at past magic cards that do similar things in order to get the text on them correct. For example, Serum Visions shows us that card-draw is written out. "a card" or "two cards" rather than "1 card" and "2 cards".
I really do like this card a lot more than the score implies. I just had to take off so many points for quality and stuff..
Balance 9/10 I'm surprised this card seems so balanced to me. It's major card disadvantage and it limits your long-term land development, but still! CC on the turn a land comes into play?? I don't think I have ever seen that before, and for good reason. On the other hand, it's really difficult to play and really all it does is accelerate you to your drops a turn earlier. Red decks would use this to play Demigod on turn 4 and probably Ashenmoor Gouger on turn 2, but those things aren't broken - just very good. In Life from the Loam decks, however, I think this card might be a bit too good. Basically, it gets to activate every single turn and single-handedly pay for life from the loam. LFTL makes up for any card advantage that would normally be lost as well, which is pretty sick. Probably printable, but I think it's a little bit too good. Think Tarmogoyf.
Flavor 5/5 The whole idea of using lava for mana totally clicks with me, and both drawbacks are totally on-flavor.
Creativity 4/4 I'm overwhelmed by the creativity in this card. Retrace on a land is really awesome, and here it's flavorful, and it really does have a ton of synergy with the land's ability.
Quality 3/4 I don't understand why the card says "sac ~ at end of turn" rather than just make it a "T, sacrifice ~:" But I mean the card still works fine. I will take half a point off for awkward grammar in the flavor text. You could have just written two sentences. And the fact that you managed to use the word "land" three times in only one sentence perplexes me.
Balance 7/10 This is not powerful. You could have pushed it a little more and costed it less, but right now the caster needs 4BB and a land in hand (two if it's being played from the graveyard) in order to play the retraced card once. This wouldn't see play, but had you costed it a little better it would be pretty handy.
Flavor 4/5 The name isn't too good. You could have just called it "Horrors Forgotten". It wouldn't have been as awkward, and people would just assume that the spell was bringing them back. Flavor text woulda been nice.
Creativity 3/4 It's reminiscent of Yawgmoth's Will, but instead it's costed like Yawgmoth's Bargain. I like that you created a new ability, but I don't like that you created an ability that really requires that you have tons of mana and three or four lands in hand to really be used properly.
Quality 4/4
The winner, by a nose, is UmbrellaExile!
If anybody has any questions or comments about my judging, feel free to ask! (PM)
I'm still learning, so constructive criticism is cool =]
EDIT: 69th post! Woo!
@ rugglesworth: The groundskeeper name and quote refer to the card Groundskeeper, rather than real life groundskeepers. The flavour behind the card is that since it is only the tears of a groundskeeper, it only returns what was grown rather than rebuilding the land from actually tending it.
It's part of a vertical cycle I am working on that is the uncommon, the rare is a Mirrorweave for lands!
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Looking to start a clan for Zork fans, PM if interested.
Atrius' Posts1W
Instant
You win target thread. If you aren't Atrius, Atrius wins that thread instead. "Wait, can you actually win a thread?" - Atrius.
Awesome! Well let's see then, I tend to have this bad habit of just jumping in when I think of a card idea I like for the round, without thinking about my schedule. In this case, I'm going to be away without internet at PAX this weekend (which is freakin' awesome, I can't wait) but I suppose the soonest I'll be able to judge will be Tuesday night.
That being said, it's really not too much of a wait period, so it should be alright.
The challenge!
Create a unique creature type that is a class, and make a card that justifies the flavor of that type.
For example; GOOD Creature type scientist, and the ability to mix parts of spells. BAD Creature type scientist, but functionally are wizards. BAD Creature type janitor, with the ability to "mop the floor" with your enemy.
Keep in mind that you can use any race you want - but the challenge here is to make a unique class creature type (ex. Warrior, Wizard, Assassin, Shaman, etc.) and not just a unique creature type.
Double-Edged Sword!
Kind of like a bonus section, but there's a catch! If you attempt to get the bonus point, and fail, you will lose points elsewheres. Be warned. Bonus Point (1): Make the card's casting cost only include one colored mana symbol. The catch? Generally when a card has a more intensive mana symbol, it can "do more" in color without raising an eyebrow. If your card has an ability that is too exclusive, then a card that would normally get the bonus point may instead lose points off of flavor. Bonus Points(2): Make the card not a creature. The catch? Making a non-creature card that has a class type is tricky - It would be Tribal, yes, but how would one go about designing a card that was flavorfully perfection as a class, while not being a creature at all? It's a bit of a paradox. I don't recommend attempting this bonus point, as you're likely to wind up losing points instead, but if you really think you can, go for it, because I'd love to see how it would turn out. Bonus Points(2): Does not say, "Other so-and-so's get..." and then an ability. Do not make a lord. The catch? There isn't one. I just don't want people to make any lords, at least not in the Elvish Champion sense. In the Scarblade Elite sense? Go for it.
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Never ever create a card without taking the extra minute to double check it.
Gardener's touch 2G
Tribal sorcery - Gardener (rare)
Choose any number of lands and put a garden counter on them.
Whenever a land with a garden counter on it is tapped for mana its controller adds one mana of any color to his or her manapool. This mana may only be used to play creature spells. Look daddy this flower followed me home, can I keep it?
Biomythical Sage1UGG
Creature - Human Professor
:symtap:, Tap an untapped creature you control: Put a lesson counter on all creatures tapped this way.
Other creatures you control with more than four lesson counters on them are Professors in addition to their other creature types.
discontinued...
Twins of the Crystal Moon 4U
Creatures - Moonfolk Twin
Flying
~ comes into play with a twin counter.
As long as ~ has a twin counter on it it gets +1/+2
If a spell targets ~, you may remove a twin counter and pay :2mana::symu:. If you do, counter that spell.
1/2
...i blame you
i'd make a luatis if we actually knew for certain what they did ;P
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-This signature intentionally left blank to increase general intrigue and mystery-
Nicholas, Adept Alchemist1UR
Legendary Creature-Human Alchemist 1, T, Sacrifice a land you control: Shuffle your library. Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal an instant or sorcery card. You may play that card without paying it's mana cost and put the rest of the cards on the bottom of your library in any order. Break anything down to the basest of particles, and you can reshape them into anything your mind desires.
2/1
Fair Trade 3U
Tribal Enchantment - Merchant (U)
Whenever a nonland permanent comes into play, its controller may exchange control of it and a card of his or her choice with the same converted mana cost.
Boros Ironsmith 3RW
Creature- Human Blacksmith
2RT: Put a artifact equipment token named "Footman's Blade" with "Equipped creature gets +2/+0 and has First Strike, Equip 1" into play.
2WT: Put a artifact equipment token named "Footman's Shield" with "Equipped creature gets +0/+2 and has Absorb 1, Equip 1" into play.
3/3 "My swords can give any man an edge and my shields can save any life."
To him,
Nothing has worth
Unless it belongs
To someone else.
It is not the lust for wealth
That drives him
Simply the hunter's thrill,
And the moment
Of acquisition.
Nothing is truly your own.
It is his –
Whether you know it or not.
For the rest of the Seer's Parables click here
The "P" in my name comes from a magicthegathering.com article in which they were contemplating adding a sixth color to Magic for Planar Chaos. here is a link to that article
Gleeful Demolitioner1RR
Creature - Human Saboteur
Sabotage 2R(Whenever this creature attacks and isn't blocked, you may pay :2mana::symr:. If you do, prevent all combat damage this creature would deal this turn and choose one - Destroy all permanents attached to target land; or destroy target land with no permanents attached to it.)
Whenever a land is put into a graveyard from play, put a +1/+1 counter on Gleeful Saboteur. With a press of a button, all of Hogin's accomplishments were turned to a pile of rubble. Adding to the wound was the fact that the saboteur was dancing around him in circles with a huge grin on his face.
1/1
Battle Mastery1W
Tribal Enchantment - Master Aura
Enchant Warrior or Soldier
Enchanted creature is a Master in addition to its other types and gets +1/+1 for each other Master in play. Daru Blademasters strive against one another, their rivalry pushing them to greater heights of power.
Planeshaper's Design - :2mana::symug:
Tribal Enchantment - Planeshaper
At the beginning of your first main phase, you may put a card in your hand into play. That card is a Land and has ":symtap:: Add one mana of any of this card's colors to your mana pool." When anything can come out of anything, nothing is impossible with enough effort.
To clarify: the idea is that the card doesn't have any other abilities. I was shooting for text like that of Blood Moon.
CrystaliteBayonet1
Artifact - Crystalitian Equipment (U)
Crystalite Bayonet can be attached only to a Crystalitian creature.
Equipped creature has first strike, deathtouch and gets +2/+0.
Equip 1 Sharp and nocive like no other, a Crystalitian's bonemade bayonet is considered the most dangerous weapon in Niehh.
The Crystalitian society is a very hardened and violent culture that lives in the plane of Niehh. Crystalitians are living forms made of unknown elements mixed with almost the common ones we could find here, or in the plane of Dominaria, or anywhere, that finishes conformming a pseudo=living materia that's mostly artificial unorganic that organic. That materia is called Crystalite.
The only terrible thing about the Crystalitians is that their "bones" are so F**ING sharp and toxic that if you try to hold one of them in your hands, your flesh will literaly melt and it's toxines will kill you in a matter of seconds.
When a crystalitian is defeated in the Royal Tournament, its executioner has the right to extract from it one rib and use it to construct a new bayonet that will show off proudly in the army files when the war arrives.
Example creature:
Crystalitian Cadet(2/B)(2/R)
Artifact Creature - Crystalitian Soldier (C)
1B: Regenerate Crystalitian Cadet.
1R: Crystalitian Cadet gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
1/2
Radivan BattleweaverRW
Creature - Human Songsmith
:symwr:, :symq:, Discard a card: Put a hymn counter on each red or white creature you control. The first voices of battle, the endless chorus of the righteous.
2/2
Radivan Marshal2RW
Creature - Human Songsmith
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a hymn counter on target creature you control.
:2mana::symwr::symwr:, :symq:, Discard a card: Creatures you control get +1/+1 for each hymn counter on them. They are the next verse, the embodiment of retribution.
3/3
Redea, God-King of Radiva4RRWW
Legendary Creature - Human Songsmith
Protection from black and blue
Songsmiths you control have first strike and haste.
:4mana::symwr::symwr:, :symq:, Discard a card: Draw a card for each hymn counter on target creature you control. By his voice and sword he conducts both hymn and battle.
5/5
If I can, I will post renders when I get home. Sadly, can't make them at work. Sorry for the trio in the submission, but I felt a cycle just had more impact than a single card.
@Atrius, sorry I didn't notice that. I had actually never heard of groundskeeper before!
EDIT: My last card didn't meet round requirements. I proposed a race rather than a class. Here's my new one!
Fantasy Weaver 1UU
Legendary Creature - Human Writer
Whenever a player plays a spell, remove the top card of each player's library from the game.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if more cards have been removed from the game with Fantasy Weaver than there are cards in play, put all permanents removed from the game with Fantasy Weaver into play, then remove all other permanents from the game.
1/3
Flarecaster3R
Creature - Human Arcanist U
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a rune counter on Flarecaster.
Remove one rune counter from Flarecaster: Flarecaster deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
Remove three rune counters from Flarecaster: Destroy target land.
2/2
The idea here is that arcanists use arcane runes rather than traditional mana to cast spells. I made this one uncommon, but rarer ones would likely pack a greater punch with flashier abilities.
Asking out a girl is like trying to cast a first turn Necropotence. Sometimes the other player will have the Force of Will to say no. You shouldn't let that stop you from trying it.
Collapsing Synapse UB
Instant [Rare]
Return target permanent to its owner’s hand. If you paid the retrace cost, that player discards a card at random.
Retrace (You may play this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Art by aspius @ DeviantArt.com
Sorcery
~ deals 1 damage to each creature.
Retrace, Storm
retrace + storm = waaaaaaaah
Thanks to Spiderboy4 of High~Light for the above sig banner.
I happen to run a game for a set:
The Safeguard Custom Card Competition
I happen to be working on another set:
Peddler's Empire
First card revealed.
Instant
Target white creature gains Lifelink and cannot be blocked except by white or artifact creatures until the end of the turn.
Retrace (You may play this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Sorcery
Draw four cards, then discard three cards at random. If no land cards were discarded in this way, remove Mining Expedition from the game.
Retrace
"If the dirt stops flying, kill them." - Vol the Taskmaster
Experiments Series: #5 (Courtly Intrigue Mafia) | #4 (Drunken Tracker) | #3 (Big Red Button) - coming soon | #2 (Pope Mafia) | #1 (Iso's Inflammable Mafia)
Mini Games: MTGS Mafia Redux II (Invitational, Evil Mirror Universe) | Unreal City
Old Games (bad): The Greenwood Affair | Blood Moon Mafia
Sorcery
Choose one - Return up to three target land cards from your graveyard to your hand; or you may play up to three additional lands this turn.
Entwine - Sacrifice a land. (Choose both if you play the entwine cost.)
Retrace (You may play this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to playing its other costs.)
sorcery
Target player draws 1 card.
if an island was discarded to pay for the retrace cost draw an additional card.
if a swamp was discarded to pay for the retracecost target player discards a card.
retrace
The mind is a powerfull weapon.
Thank you for Heroes of the Plane Studios for this awesome sig.
Legacy:
Shardlessless BUG (active)
Shardless BUG (retired)
UW Stoneblade (retired)
Maveric (retired)
Thopters (retired)
Dark Horizons (retired)
Dreadstill (retired)
Armageddon Staxx (retired)
- You think it is over, but Ibraman has just begun...
- When it rains, women get wet.
Land
t:AddRR to your mana pool. Sacrifice ~ at end of turn.
Retrace.
"All land has lava under it, calling it out does ruin the land, but you can always find new land" - Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Horrors Unforgotten 4BB
Sorcery
Target instant or sorcery card in your graveyard gains retrace until end of turn.
Retrace
--Ertai, wizard adept
Balance 4/10 It's definitely underpowered. The price is two high for mana fixing, especially because this card doesn't produce mana and fixes for only one turn. The fact that it's an instant means you can mess with your opponent's lands - it's kind of like a Magus of the Moon for a single land with cummulative upkeep - 1U/, discard a land card. And that's pretty bad.
Flavor 5/5 Your flavor text is very good, although I'm not sure what kind of set a human groundskeeper would fit into. It seems a little too like the real world, but I won't deduct points because you pulled it off very well. It's in the right colors.
Creativity 2/4 The fact that you get fodder for the card is definitely innovative, but I dislike the ability; I don't feel like it does enough. In order to get those last two points, you would have had to create an ability that not only fed off retrace but did something innovative to the game state as well.
Quality 4/4 Checks out.
I would really like for you to have templated this "Target land becomes a copy of the chosen land until end of turn." That would open up more synergies and more opportunities to punish your opponent (giving them legendary lands, pain lands, etc.)
Balance 6/10 Two instant speed damage on a retrace card is ridiculous in limited. In constructed, however, I think that it's a bit weak. It definitely couldn't see any play outside of Standard for sure. I think Puncture Bolt is better, and Flame Javelin definitely so. Nevertheless, it's still a consideration. It's additional ability is wayy to expensive to ever see constructed play.
Flavor 3/5 OK, I'm docking you for the flavor text. It's just not nearly provocative enough. You don't want to say "much more fire", you want to say "a cyclone of white fire hot enough to scorch the heavens themselves" or something random like that. Tri-Axis Flame is also a pretty bad name. Other than that, everything fits.
Creativity 4/4 Solid on creativity. The mechanic totally relies on retrace. You really did what I wanted you to do with this round.
Quality 4/4 Good!
I would have done the card so that the ability was something like "Tri-Axis Flame does two damage to target creature or player for each spell named Tri-Axis Flame played this turn". That would solve the balance problem, as 6 mana and a land for 6 damage could actually be competitive. Plus it opens up more possibilities!
Balance 5/10 This card is too good to be printable. It's repeatable bounce, which means you can keep a permanent off the board every single turn of the game, and this card lets you do that without any card disadvantage! You trade a land for a random card of theirs (although chances are usually going to be pretty high that you hit their pesky permanent). It's good against control because you can bounce their lands and get random discards from them, because you can play it enough that it eventually will resolve, and because you can play it at the end of their turn. It's good against combo because you slow them down while simultaneously stripping their hand of necessary cards, and it's good against aggro because once they've emptied their hand the card becomes UB, discard a land card: destroy target permanent, and because it keeps big non-haste threats from being able to attack. There are a few things you should have done to keep the card balanced. First, it should have been a sorcery. Second, it shouldn't be able to target lands. And third, you should probably raise the mana cost a little bit.
Flavor 4.5/5I feel that the card you submitted Collapsing Synapse indicates that the body part is degenerating or withering already. A name for a discard spell wants to denote action. Thoughtsieze. I am a black mage actively taking away your thoughts. Contrast to something like "Thought Fail". This is a pretty small thing though, overall the flavor is wonderful. The picture fits perfectly!
Creativity 4/4 This reminds me of River's Grasp, but I really like your twist on it! In my opinion it's not bad at all to mirror to some extent what another card has done before, as long as you mix things up a little in a cool new way. You did that. You did something I've never seen done with Retrace as well.
Quality 4/4 Yes.
Bonus +1! I love your set symbol and you submitted a render with art, but mostly this for your creativity and the card's slickness.
Penguinwriter
Balance 5/10 The retrace doesn't do much for the power level of the card. Mind's Desire is pretty much the highest mana cost you can realistically pay after playing a bunch of storm cards, and all you'll get with this card is two scattershots, which is totally dwarfed by the aforementioned card's effects. I don't feel this card would see any constructed play. Nevertheless, it's sick in limited!
Flavor 5/5 Great name, and it's definitely red. I really wish there was a little bit more flavor to help me get into the groove of this card, but I really don't think there'd be room for flavor text, so I won't fault you for it.
Creativity 1/4 It's a sorcery speed Scattershot with retrace. The synergy with retrace will get you a point.
Quality 4/4
Krey
Balance 5/10 Repeatable lifelink is solid, but at three mana and a land card each turn, it's just not going to cut it in constructed. If a deck needs a card with lifelink and evasion, they'll just run Divinity of Pride or something.
Flavor 4/5 I wish you had submitted flavor text for this. I'm pretty sure there'd be plenty of room on the card, even after reminder text for Retrace. Nevertheless, the name's good, and all of your abilities definitely work in white.
Creativity 0/4 I double and triple checked this card. I don't see any synergy between the abilities and retrace, and all of the abilities have definitely been done before. The abilities dont even have synergy with eachother, because lifelink is going to trigger regardless of whether or not the creature goes blocked.
Quality 4/4
I gave you a very low score for this card, mostly due to creativity issues. I still think you're a good designer, and I'm not trying to start anything.
Balance 10/10 This card is very niche. The best application I can think of is in Loam decks, where it is very good. It churns more and more lands into your graveyard, dredging Loams back into your hand like crazy and then discarding them for you free of charge. Yet there's a nice tension between the amount of dredging you can do while still having favorable odds that you'll discard a land card. I can't think of a single situation where this card is unbalanced.
Flavor 5/5 Your flavor text is BEAUTIFUL. The name's okay and everything else checks out. Card draw is fine in red when it's accompanied by that random discard.
Creativity 3/4 This is very creative. But I feel that the likelihood of me drawing into a land and then randomly discarding it, regardless of how many lands I've retraced, remains pretty static. If the execution made it emphasize more what you were trying to get at, you'd have had full points here.
Quality 3.5/4 The word "in" is extraneous.
Balance 8.5/10 Oh, dear lord. I understand what this card does mechanically, but how it would play in a game is totally beyond me. Here's my best shot, though: 1. It can be Overgrowth. You have to have cards in your graveyard for this to work, but as a three drop, you sac one land and then put three into play for a net gain of two mana. This card is slightly better because you aren't just getting Gs of it, but that's fine. 2. It can be Life from the Loam. Rather than require 1G and a draw to bring LFTL back, this guy requires 1GG and a land in hand (although you get it back). That's actually pretty competitive with Loam. In addition to the mana acceleration, I think that makes the card just a bit over the curve. Fairly balanced nonetheless.
Flavor 5/5 It's a bounty, sure. It's timeless because it keeps getting retraced, I think.
Creativity 4/4 I definitely can't fault you here. The way you combined these already existent abilities into a card that shares no parallel in magic today is pretty impressive.
Quality 4/4
TywinLannister
Balance 8/10 I think this card is a little bit too powerful. Legacy 40-land decks with Standstill are pretty popular, and they'd absolutely love a way to Mulch their way into a card that knocks their opponent down a full 20 or so. These decks are really good at getting cards into their graveyards really fast, and this card would just make that too powerful. Balanced in other formats, though :).
Flavor 4/5 Your flavor text sounds like a quotation. I'd like to see who said it. Other than that, everything is fine.
Creativity 4/4 Absolutely.
Quality 4/4
Balance 7/10 This is a very solid way to draw cards if you're in blue. Mulldrifter shows us how good it is to repeat "draw two cards" effects. Retracing off a swamp is much weaker, especially in this environment, where you're just giving your opponent an opportunity to get some Reveillark fodder in the graveyard. It's an excellent card in an attrition game, and that's where it would see play.
Flavor 2/5 When you're going for one philosophical-sounding statement for flavor text, it needs to totally blow your mind out of the park. I also really would have liked it had you submitted a name for this card. You'll get points though, because it's definitely on color. Balance /10
Creativity 3/4 I really like this stipulation on retrace. It's cool, and I could definitely see it being printed in the future. I wish there had been a bit more creativity with the abilities, though.
Quality 0/4 -.5: "Sorcery"; -.5 no name; -.5 "draws a card"; -.5 "If"; -.5 "If"; -.5 "powerful"; -.5 "that player draws"; -.5 "If a swamp/island was used to pay [no-name]'s retrace cost". In order to get a better score here, you'd have to do a better job avoiding typos. In addition, look at past magic cards that do similar things in order to get the text on them correct. For example, Serum Visions shows us that card-draw is written out. "a card" or "two cards" rather than "1 card" and "2 cards".
I really do like this card a lot more than the score implies. I just had to take off so many points for quality and stuff..
Sharda
Balance 9/10 I'm surprised this card seems so balanced to me. It's major card disadvantage and it limits your long-term land development, but still! CC on the turn a land comes into play?? I don't think I have ever seen that before, and for good reason. On the other hand, it's really difficult to play and really all it does is accelerate you to your drops a turn earlier. Red decks would use this to play Demigod on turn 4 and probably Ashenmoor Gouger on turn 2, but those things aren't broken - just very good. In Life from the Loam decks, however, I think this card might be a bit too good. Basically, it gets to activate every single turn and single-handedly pay for life from the loam. LFTL makes up for any card advantage that would normally be lost as well, which is pretty sick. Probably printable, but I think it's a little bit too good. Think Tarmogoyf.
Flavor 5/5 The whole idea of using lava for mana totally clicks with me, and both drawbacks are totally on-flavor.
Creativity 4/4 I'm overwhelmed by the creativity in this card. Retrace on a land is really awesome, and here it's flavorful, and it really does have a ton of synergy with the land's ability.
Quality 3/4 I don't understand why the card says "sac ~ at end of turn" rather than just make it a "T, sacrifice ~:" But I mean the card still works fine. I will take half a point off for awkward grammar in the flavor text. You could have just written two sentences. And the fact that you managed to use the word "land" three times in only one sentence perplexes me.
I'm very impressed.
Balance 7/10 This is not powerful. You could have pushed it a little more and costed it less, but right now the caster needs 4BB and a land in hand (two if it's being played from the graveyard) in order to play the retraced card once. This wouldn't see play, but had you costed it a little better it would be pretty handy.
Flavor 4/5 The name isn't too good. You could have just called it "Horrors Forgotten". It wouldn't have been as awkward, and people would just assume that the spell was bringing them back. Flavor text woulda been nice.
Creativity 3/4 It's reminiscent of Yawgmoth's Will, but instead it's costed like Yawgmoth's Bargain. I like that you created a new ability, but I don't like that you created an ability that really requires that you have tons of mana and three or four lands in hand to really be used properly.
Quality 4/4
The winner, by a nose, is UmbrellaExile!
If anybody has any questions or comments about my judging, feel free to ask! (PM)
I'm still learning, so constructive criticism is cool =]
EDIT: 69th post! Woo!
Timeless Bounty + Heartbeat of Spring = JESUS
Timeless Bounty + Gauntlet of Power = A BOY SCOUT
It's part of a vertical cycle I am working on that is the uncommon, the rare is a Mirrorweave for lands!
Atrius' Posts 1W
Instant
You win target thread. If you aren't Atrius, Atrius wins that thread instead.
"Wait, can you actually win a thread?" - Atrius.
That being said, it's really not too much of a wait period, so it should be alright.
The challenge!
Create a unique creature type that is a class, and make a card that justifies the flavor of that type.
For example;
GOOD Creature type scientist, and the ability to mix parts of spells.
BAD Creature type scientist, but functionally are wizards.
BAD Creature type janitor, with the ability to "mop the floor" with your enemy.
Keep in mind that you can use any race you want - but the challenge here is to make a unique class creature type (ex. Warrior, Wizard, Assassin, Shaman, etc.) and not just a unique creature type.
Double-Edged Sword!
Kind of like a bonus section, but there's a catch! If you attempt to get the bonus point, and fail, you will lose points elsewheres. Be warned.
Bonus Point (1): Make the card's casting cost only include one colored mana symbol. The catch? Generally when a card has a more intensive mana symbol, it can "do more" in color without raising an eyebrow. If your card has an ability that is too exclusive, then a card that would normally get the bonus point may instead lose points off of flavor.
Bonus Points(2): Make the card not a creature. The catch? Making a non-creature card that has a class type is tricky - It would be Tribal, yes, but how would one go about designing a card that was flavorfully perfection as a class, while not being a creature at all? It's a bit of a paradox. I don't recommend attempting this bonus point, as you're likely to wind up losing points instead, but if you really think you can, go for it, because I'd love to see how it would turn out.
Bonus Points(2): Does not say, "Other so-and-so's get..." and then an ability. Do not make a lord. The catch? There isn't one. I just don't want people to make any lords, at least not in the Elvish Champion sense. In the Scarblade Elite sense? Go for it.
Tribal sorcery - Gardener (rare)
Choose any number of lands and put a garden counter on them.
Whenever a land with a garden counter on it is tapped for mana its controller adds one mana of any color to his or her manapool. This mana may only be used to play creature spells.
Look daddy this flower followed me home, can I keep it?
Thank you for Heroes of the Plane Studios for this awesome sig.
Legacy:
Shardlessless BUG (active)
Shardless BUG (retired)
UW Stoneblade (retired)
Maveric (retired)
Thopters (retired)
Dark Horizons (retired)
Dreadstill (retired)
Armageddon Staxx (retired)
- You think it is over, but Ibraman has just begun...
- When it rains, women get wet.
Biomythical Sage 1UGG
Creature - Human Professor
:symtap:, Tap an untapped creature you control: Put a lesson counter on all creatures tapped this way.
Other creatures you control with more than four lesson counters on them are Professors in addition to their other creature types.
discontinued...
Twins of the Crystal Moon 4U
Creatures - Moonfolk Twin
Flying
~ comes into play with a twin counter.
As long as ~ has a twin counter on it it gets +1/+2
If a spell targets ~, you may remove a twin counter and pay :2mana::symu:. If you do, counter that spell.
1/2
...i blame you
i'd make a luatis if we actually knew for certain what they did ;P
Legendary Creature-Human Alchemist
1, T, Sacrifice a land you control: Shuffle your library. Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal an instant or sorcery card. You may play that card without paying it's mana cost and put the rest of the cards on the bottom of your library in any order.
Break anything down to the basest of particles, and you can reshape them into anything your mind desires.
2/1
Couldn't resist the corny ft.
Sigil: an MMORPCCG ">Mexus: An MMORPCCG
Tribal Enchantment - Merchant (U)
Whenever a nonland permanent comes into play, its controller may exchange control of it and a card of his or her choice with the same converted mana cost.
Thanks to Spiderboy4 of High~Light for the above sig banner.
I happen to run a game for a set:
The Safeguard Custom Card Competition
I happen to be working on another set:
Peddler's Empire
First card revealed.
Creature- Human Blacksmith
2RT: Put a artifact equipment token named "Footman's Blade" with "Equipped creature gets +2/+0 and has First Strike, Equip 1" into play.
2WT: Put a artifact equipment token named "Footman's Shield" with "Equipped creature gets +0/+2 and has Absorb 1, Equip 1" into play.
3/3
"My swords can give any man an edge and my shields can save any life."
For the rest of the Seer's Parables click here
The "P" in my name comes from a magicthegathering.com article in which they were contemplating adding a sixth color to Magic for Planar Chaos. here is a link to that article
Creature - Human Saboteur
Sabotage 2R (Whenever this creature attacks and isn't blocked, you may pay :2mana::symr:. If you do, prevent all combat damage this creature would deal this turn and choose one - Destroy all permanents attached to target land; or destroy target land with no permanents attached to it.)
Whenever a land is put into a graveyard from play, put a +1/+1 counter on Gleeful Saboteur.
With a press of a button, all of Hogin's accomplishments were turned to a pile of rubble. Adding to the wound was the fact that the saboteur was dancing around him in circles with a huge grin on his face.
1/1
Atrius' Posts 1W
Instant
You win target thread. If you aren't Atrius, Atrius wins that thread instead.
"Wait, can you actually win a thread?" - Atrius.
Tribal Enchantment - Master Aura
Enchant Warrior or Soldier
Enchanted creature is a Master in addition to its other types and gets +1/+1 for each other Master in play.
Daru Blademasters strive against one another, their rivalry pushing them to greater heights of power.
Tribal Enchantment - Planeshaper
At the beginning of your first main phase, you may put a card in your hand into play. That card is a Land and has ":symtap:: Add one mana of any of this card's colors to your mana pool."
When anything can come out of anything, nothing is impossible with enough effort.
To clarify: the idea is that the card doesn't have any other abilities. I was shooting for text like that of Blood Moon.
Experiments Series: #5 (Courtly Intrigue Mafia) | #4 (Drunken Tracker) | #3 (Big Red Button) - coming soon | #2 (Pope Mafia) | #1 (Iso's Inflammable Mafia)
Mini Games: MTGS Mafia Redux II (Invitational, Evil Mirror Universe) | Unreal City
Old Games (bad): The Greenwood Affair | Blood Moon Mafia
Crystalite Bayonet 1
Artifact - Crystalitian Equipment (U)
Crystalite Bayonet can be attached only to a Crystalitian creature.
Equipped creature has first strike, deathtouch and gets +2/+0.
Equip 1
Sharp and nocive like no other, a Crystalitian's bonemade bayonet is considered the most dangerous weapon in Niehh.
The Crystalitian society is a very hardened and violent culture that lives in the plane of Niehh. Crystalitians are living forms made of unknown elements mixed with almost the common ones we could find here, or in the plane of Dominaria, or anywhere, that finishes conformming a pseudo=living materia that's mostly artificial unorganic that organic. That materia is called Crystalite.
The only terrible thing about the Crystalitians is that their "bones" are so F**ING sharp and toxic that if you try to hold one of them in your hands, your flesh will literaly melt and it's toxines will kill you in a matter of seconds.
When a crystalitian is defeated in the Royal Tournament, its executioner has the right to extract from it one rib and use it to construct a new bayonet that will show off proudly in the army files when the war arrives.
Example creature:
Crystalitian Cadet (2/B)(2/R)
Artifact Creature - Crystalitian Soldier (C)
1B: Regenerate Crystalitian Cadet.
1R: Crystalitian Cadet gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
1/2
EDIT: Yeah... I know its a complete delirium.
Creature - Human Songsmith
:symwr:, :symq:, Discard a card: Put a hymn counter on each red or white creature you control.
The first voices of battle, the endless chorus of the righteous.
2/2
Radivan Marshal 2RW
Creature - Human Songsmith
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a hymn counter on target creature you control.
:2mana::symwr::symwr:, :symq:, Discard a card: Creatures you control get +1/+1 for each hymn counter on them.
They are the next verse, the embodiment of retribution.
3/3
Redea, God-King of Radiva 4RRWW
Legendary Creature - Human Songsmith
Protection from black and blue
Songsmiths you control have first strike and haste.
:4mana::symwr::symwr:, :symq:, Discard a card: Draw a card for each hymn counter on target creature you control.
By his voice and sword he conducts both hymn and battle.
5/5
If I can, I will post renders when I get home. Sadly, can't make them at work. Sorry for the trio in the submission, but I felt a cycle just had more impact than a single card.
EDIT: My last card didn't meet round requirements. I proposed a race rather than a class. Here's my new one!
Fantasy Weaver 1UU
Legendary Creature - Human Writer
Whenever a player plays a spell, remove the top card of each player's library from the game.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if more cards have been removed from the game with Fantasy Weaver than there are cards in play, put all permanents removed from the game with Fantasy Weaver into play, then remove all other permanents from the game.
1/3
Creature - Human Arcanist U
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a rune counter on Flarecaster.
Remove one rune counter from Flarecaster: Flarecaster deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
Remove three rune counters from Flarecaster: Destroy target land.
2/2
The idea here is that arcanists use arcane runes rather than traditional mana to cast spells. I made this one uncommon, but rarer ones would likely pack a greater punch with flashier abilities.
Level 1 DCI Judge
Check out my Commons Cube.