Votes: Void_nothing, Flatline (the name is a little weird though :P)
Phyrexian Gemstone2
Artifact (U) T: Add C to your mana pool. M, T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
(I don't know how to make phyrexian mana symbols)
The Phyrexian mana symbol is :sympu:. Of course you would change the 'u' to whatever color you want the symbol to be. The only reason mine doesn't show as Phyrexian mana symbol is because I didn't put a space between the mana symbol and the period at the end of my sentence. I hope this helps, and thanks for the vote.
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(22 Total) - October 2014; December 2014; January 2015; April 2015; June 2015; August 2015; September 2015; November 2015; December 2015(T); January 2016; March 2016(T); April 2016; June 2016; October 2016; December 2016(T); February 2017; April 2017; December 2017; November 2018(T); January 2019; April 2019; June 2019
(8 Total) - May 2015; May 2016; June 2016; August 2016; October 2016; December 2016; October 2017; May 2019
(7 Total) - September 2015; October 2015; January 2016; March 2016; April 2016; July 2016(T); March 2019(T)
Votes: Indighost, Aznathom
Mention: Flatline (Your card doesn't actually work as Waste is not a land type. Wastes are Basic Lands and that's all they are, they don't get a land type of their own. Would've been much happier with it if it just gave "add 1 colorless" to all your lands.)
Shoot! I forgot about that! Thanks for pointing that out. It was a last second idea. You are correct, it would need to read as you've suggested, although it feels less flavorful that way.
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(22 Total) - October 2014; December 2014; January 2015; April 2015; June 2015; August 2015; September 2015; November 2015; December 2015(T); January 2016; March 2016(T); April 2016; June 2016; October 2016; December 2016(T); February 2017; April 2017; December 2017; November 2018(T); January 2019; April 2019; June 2019
(8 Total) - May 2015; May 2016; June 2016; August 2016; October 2016; December 2016; October 2017; May 2019
(7 Total) - September 2015; October 2015; January 2016; March 2016; April 2016; July 2016(T); March 2019(T)
Returning Ghoul2BBBB
Undying (When this creature dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control with a +1/+1 counter on it.)
Persist (When this creature dies, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)
1/2
Don't know what this card is supposed to do
I can tell you: when this creature dies, both abilities trigger, and you (or whoever its controller was when it died) can put them on the stack in any order whey want. The first one to resolve will return the creature to the battlefield with the appropriate type of counter. The other ability will do nothing because it doesn't find the creature card to be returned in the graveyard (it's already on the battlefield). So basically, you get to choose which one you want to apply. Obviously, 99% of the time it will be undying (you prefer it to be bigger when it comes back, not smaller), so this creature might as well have only undying. That's why I didn't vote for it. I still love mix and match cards, but this one is indeed confusing for those players that don't have a deep rules knowledge, which are the majority.
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MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016 DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for: "Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index.Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
Leap of Faith5UW
Sorcery (MR)
Leap of Faith can't have or gain flash.
Tap all permanents you control. At the beginning of your next upkeep, draw cards until you have seven cards in hand and your life becomes equal to your starting life total.
the first ability doesn't prevent the spell from being cast "as though it had flash"
I feel you Alias, in that I've sometimes found myself muttering or wanting to say "I guess my cards aren't very popular this month". I sometimes end up wondering why stuff that I thought was pretty good got completely ignored. But you have to consider that it is competitive and there are certain contributors who have a track record of knowing what they're doing and will almost always end up toward the top 3. Sometimes my designs end up being misguided or whack, sometimes I hit the spot. I know that I'm relatively new to this in the grand scheme, but I'm improving I think.
Unfortunately, the way things are typically done with the contests, there isn't normally feedback given on the entrees, so one is sort of just left to figure out on one's own what one might be doing wrong. In a sense, I've been using the fact that when a certain card does end up getting lots of votes to figure out which designs of mine work best and are most prone to positive response. I'm not playing to win as much as to continually take on the challenge and hone my chops.
For the most part, no. 10-mana super bomby cards rarely feel creative or display any meaningful amount of design knowledge. They may be powerful and cool, but votes usually go toward cards that show a good grasp of balance, flavor, originality, usefulness and archetype suitedness (e.g., it's easy to tell if the card would go in an aggro deck, a control deck, etc.), as well as the basic mechanics of Magic.
If we look at your Endless Power entry, it's hard to tell why anyone would want it. You play with the top card of your library revealed (fine), but you can't play the top card like with Future Sight, and the enchantment has no abilities that care what the top card of our library is like Mul Daya Channelers. So what benefit is there from revealing it?
Then it says "You may rearrange the top three cards of your library". When can I do this? When the enchantment enters the battlefield? Is it an activated ability that costs 0? Is it triggered by something? Is it some kind of bizarre static ability? How does it work mechanically? This is a big problem: I actually don't understand what the card does, or how it actually works.
And why does it cost eight mana? The effect is hardly different from Sensei's Divining Top or Mirri's Guile, which both cost 1 and are better anyway because they don't let the opponent know what our top card is (the Top even gets you an extra draw, not that Sensei's Divining Top is a forerunner of good card design). Another similar and better card is Tomorrow, Azami's Familiar, which costs 6 and is at least a serviceable blocker in addition to filtering our draws (quite efficiently, too). A spell that costs eight shouldn't be providing some small utility effect like fiddling with the top few cards of my library, it should provide me with an advantage big enough that I'll quickly win the game with it.
The point is, you need to think about all these aspects of your card: the cost, the effects (in terms of mechanical workability and usefulness) and how your card stacks up against similar cards that exist already, in addition to intuitiveness and basic appeal. I'm not trying to discourage you from entering the DCC or anything, but you should be aware that most of the regular contestants are relatively serious about designing cards. You can still have fun, but there's a big difference between fun designs and ones that are just silly or poorly thought out.
That is true and something to watch out for that I've caught myself in on occasion. An idea might be cool and powerful, but if its mana cost is really high to compensate, it sometimes just ends up being a near-unplayable card. So when I saw, I think for example you (Alias) had a card entry recently that costed something like 15UU or 16UU, my immediate intuition was "that spell will very rarely actually get cast". It can end up feeling convoluted.
The other general tendency to be careful about, which I've been guilty of before, is simply that drive to make really powerful things that haven't been done before. It can potentially turn out good if well thought out, but I've caught myself in a trap of making cards that just don't work or lack balance that way.
For the most part, no. 10-mana super bomby cards rarely feel creative or display any meaningful amount of design knowledge. They may be powerful and cool, but votes usually go toward cards that show a good grasp of balance, flavor, originality, usefulness and archetype suitedness (e.g., it's easy to tell if the card would go in an aggro deck, a control deck, etc.), as well as the basic mechanics of Magic.
If we look at your Endless Power entry, it's hard to tell why anyone would want it. You play with the top card of your library revealed (fine), but you can't play the top card like with Future Sight, and the enchantment has no abilities that care what the top card of our library is like Mul Daya Channelers. So what benefit is there from revealing it?
Then it says "You may rearrange the top three cards of your library". When can I do this? When the enchantment enters the battlefield? Is it an activated ability that costs 0? Is it triggered by something? Is it some kind of bizarre static ability? How does it work mechanically? This is a big problem: I actually don't understand what the card does, or how it actually works.
And why does it cost eight mana? The effect is hardly different from Sensei's Divining Top or Mirri's Guile, which both cost 1 and are better anyway because they don't let the opponent know what our top card is (the Top even gets you an extra draw, not that Sensei's Divining Top is a forerunner of good card design). Another similar and better card is Tomorrow, Azami's Familiar, which costs 6 and is at least a serviceable blocker in addition to filtering our draws (quite efficiently, too). A spell that costs eight shouldn't be providing some small utility effect like fiddling with the top few cards of my library, it should provide me with an advantage big enough that I'll quickly win the game with it.
The point is, you need to think about all these aspects of your card: the cost, the effects (in terms of mechanical workability and usefulness) and how your card stacks up against similar cards that exist already, in addition to intuitiveness and basic appeal. I'm not trying to discourage you from entering the DCC or anything, but you should be aware that most of the regular contestants are relatively serious about designing cards. You can still have fun, but there's a big difference between fun designs and ones that are just silly or poorly thought out.
Go back and read the card again. It says "You may reorder and play the top three cards of your library." It costing eight is because Future Sight was considered the base line. Going two further cards deep earned it a extra two cmc, and the ability to freely reorder those cards at your whim earned it the last bump. Also, the reorder ability was added when we play tested it, because keeping the top three cards in perfect order was a pain, and rearranging them felt more natural. I'm aware that R&D prefers to avoid activated abilities that cost 0, so I took the liberty to make it a static ability as they did with Sphinx of Jwar Isle. Perhaps it should have come with reminder text, but I was assuming that people would be able to understand it. (I hope it didn't fail to get points because no one read it closely enough.)
As for Exponential Time Dilation, yeah, it had a Flashback cost of 17UUU, but, as with the "Increasing" cycle from Innistrad, it had an increased effect on flashback. I thought it would be feasible because I've seen Time Stretch cast fairly easily, and while ETD costs twice as much on flashback, I feel people would stretch to attain those four turns. We never play tested that one, though, so I could be wrong, and I can understand your counterpoint.
Anyways, if it's a matter of voting for those who are expected of having expertise, then maybe I should design a card or two that demonstrates my rules expertise. Though, how to do so. . .
Even if you can play the top card, it still doesn't work. Sphinx of Jwar Isle only works because its ability doesn't change the game state. Rearranging the top cards as a static ability is a complete rules headache and is probably mechanically impossible. It's also really weird that you can rearrange the top three cards, but you don't need to anyway because (somehow) you can already cast the second and third cards from the top (even if nobody knows what they are? the wording suggests I can somehow) because of the "you may rearrange and play" wording.
A better way of doing the effect would be like this:
When Endless Power enters the battlefield, exile the top three cards of your library.
You may play cards exiled with Endless Power.
Whenever you play a card exiled with Endless Power, exile the top card of your library.
(Optional: When Endless Power leaves the battlefield, put all cards exiled with it into their owner's graveyard/shuffle them into their owner's library.)
Or just make it the same as Future Sight, but with an activated ability that's the same as Top's first ability.
So, I've played seven days and gotten a total of six points. Clearly my designs are very popular.
Though, what is the issue, really? Are splashy cards not desirable, because I've been posting exciting cards that I would want to put into a cube.
This question is as old as the DCC itself. Every new participant asks it at some point, myself included. While there is no perfect answer, I have found that when it comes to card design, simple is better. If you can make a card that is straight forward, elegant, and at the same time interesting and full of subtle depth, you probably have yourself a winner. A good rule of thumb is, if a card takes more than one read to figure out what it does, or how powerful it may or may not be, that card probably won't fare very well. That's why planewalkers don't usually get a lot votes, they are very hard to evaluate for power level. It's the same reason many of them cost $40 upon release, but end up going for $8 after people realize it's not as awesome as it first seemed.
Anyway, it's been a while since a random card design discussion broke out, I'm happy to see one. I highly encourage people to post their thoughts and questions here. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how helpful and friendly the regulars in these threads are (Groovelord and BrainPo's responses being perfect examples).
Edit: BTW, don't be discouraged Alias_Moniker, you give good card. Just keep pluggin' away.
(22 Total) - October 2014; December 2014; January 2015; April 2015; June 2015; August 2015; September 2015; November 2015; December 2015(T); January 2016; March 2016(T); April 2016; June 2016; October 2016; December 2016(T); February 2017; April 2017; December 2017; November 2018(T); January 2019; April 2019; June 2019
(8 Total) - May 2015; May 2016; June 2016; August 2016; October 2016; December 2016; October 2017; May 2019
(7 Total) - September 2015; October 2015; January 2016; March 2016; April 2016; July 2016(T); March 2019(T)
I feel where Alias is coming from in that it can be a bit discouraging to have designs you were excited about get no votes a lot. Even more generally on the forum, it can be disappointing to have one's designs or even entire threads passed over in silence as well. I think part of it is simply that if someone is perceived as a newbie or just has wild ideas, they're prone to simply be ignored because people don't want to waste their time on it. I've also occasionally seen cases where instead of someone being ignored, they are outright sniped by a commentator. There is a nice and not so nice way to give criticism.
To some extent that's been my perception of the entire Custom Card Creation forum - mostly the ignoring people part.
I think it'd actually be beneficial if there was more feedback about the cards in this thread.
I understand where you are coming from BrainPo, but please don't take what you perceive as being ignored personally. People need to realize that everybody here just does this as a hobby. Often times real life doesn't allow for as much time as one would like to reply to people’s comments and inquiries as thoroughly as they would like, if they have time to respond at all. One of the nice things about the DCC itself is the fact that it is so quick and easy to participate. There is no month long commitment, and there is no commitment to take time to write out your evaluation of other's cards (nor the inevitable request for an explanation for one’s opinion that often follows). This appeals to those of us that don't have as much time to put into these threads as others. Written critiques are sometimes given in the DCC, and are highly encouraged, but if you’re looking for consistent feedback on your designs, perhaps you would enjoy the MCC or CCL better.
As far as newbies designs being ignored, I don’t think that is really that prevalent (of course I could be wrong). If I remember correctly, Indighost won the first DCC he ever fully participated in. Personally, I really enjoy seeing new players entering the community. It seems like a lot of the old guard has moved along (see the death of Club Flamingo), so we’re going to need some new people to step up. Like most things, designing cards is a skill that takes some time to truly master. The first time I competed in the DCC I finished 6th, and it took several months for me to finally break through. To be honest, the only reason I stuck it out after the first couple of months was because of some encouraging words from Rudyard (thanks Rudyard ). I still lose the MCC on an almost monthly basis. With a lot of trial, error and observation, my card making has come a long way since I first started a couple of years ago. I encourage all new comers to stick it out as I did. If designing cards is something you truly enjoy, the votes will come eventually.
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(22 Total) - October 2014; December 2014; January 2015; April 2015; June 2015; August 2015; September 2015; November 2015; December 2015(T); January 2016; March 2016(T); April 2016; June 2016; October 2016; December 2016(T); February 2017; April 2017; December 2017; November 2018(T); January 2019; April 2019; June 2019
(8 Total) - May 2015; May 2016; June 2016; August 2016; October 2016; December 2016; October 2017; May 2019
(7 Total) - September 2015; October 2015; January 2016; March 2016; April 2016; July 2016(T); March 2019(T)
just noticed that club flamingo is gone the other day, whoa. end of an era.
Yeah, it's a bit sad. Participation is down across all contests these days, which is too bad 'cause there's a lot of really talented designers around these forums. I just took a look at today's DCC entries, and I gotta say, there is some amazing stuff there. One of the best days I've seen in a while (I have no idea how I'm gonna pick just two). I'm wondering if there is any way to get people back interested in these forums.
Where have you gone GG Crono?
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you. Woo woo woo.
What's that you say MDenham?
aftermarketradio has left and gone away.
Hey hey hey, hey hey hey.
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(22 Total) - October 2014; December 2014; January 2015; April 2015; June 2015; August 2015; September 2015; November 2015; December 2015(T); January 2016; March 2016(T); April 2016; June 2016; October 2016; December 2016(T); February 2017; April 2017; December 2017; November 2018(T); January 2019; April 2019; June 2019
(8 Total) - May 2015; May 2016; June 2016; August 2016; October 2016; December 2016; October 2017; May 2019
(7 Total) - September 2015; October 2015; January 2016; March 2016; April 2016; July 2016(T); March 2019(T)
Hey guys! New computer, can't access the old one, and I forgot how to do the mana symbols, so I just typed them out: Is that okay? I also don't think I worded the first part of the ability correct, would enjoy some help there.
I thought this was a fun card idea for the potential of Eldritch Moon: The fourth sister of Gisela/Bruna/Sigarda's is raised and fights alongside Sigarda against the Brusela combination, using her darker/anti-hero methods (hence the angel/demonness) now that the world is apoclyptic and Avacyn isn't there to kill her. The way she revives stuff works with her own resurrection. Perhaps Lily revived her in desperation? (She might hate angels, but I bet she hates dying more)
Hint: "Whenever CARDNAME destroys a creature" isn't the correct wording. It'd need to be "Whenever a creature dealt damage by CARDNAME dies this turn" or something. But since you need to pay mana for the ability to work, it's probably fine if you just make it "whenever a creature an opponent controls dies".
DreamstrikeU
Instant (U)
As an additional cost to cast Dreamstrike, an an untapped creature you control with converted mana cost X.
Counter target spell unless its controller pays X.
I have the utmost respect for Rudyard as a designer, but I don't understand what this card does and how it's getting so many votes. Normally I'm okay with typos, but this one makes it impossible to parse the card. Am I supposed to tap the creature, or sacrifice it, or do something else with it? Are people assuming tap? I like the card in many of the possible configurations, but not knowing which was intended keeps me from voting for it.
Ha! It's funny, I did exactly what RukiMotomiya did as far as Rudyard's card is concerned, except I voted for it.
BTW...Long time no post RukiMotomiya. It's good to see you around.
Edit: Rudyard's card makes me think of this....
fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too. Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghi t pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.
Edit2: FTR, I didn't make up what's in the spoiler above, it's just something I came across a while ago that I thought was interesting.
(22 Total) - October 2014; December 2014; January 2015; April 2015; June 2015; August 2015; September 2015; November 2015; December 2015(T); January 2016; March 2016(T); April 2016; June 2016; October 2016; December 2016(T); February 2017; April 2017; December 2017; November 2018(T); January 2019; April 2019; June 2019
(8 Total) - May 2015; May 2016; June 2016; August 2016; October 2016; December 2016; October 2017; May 2019
(7 Total) - September 2015; October 2015; January 2016; March 2016; April 2016; July 2016(T); March 2019(T)
@ Flatline: It is good to be around again! RL stuff has had me not have access to a lot of stuff lately and that gave me too much stress to really remember to DCC, but things are more chill now, so hopefully I can make a more every day mark!
@ Groovelord in thread: She probably should have the non-angel clause. If I did that, I'd also make a non-demon clause to the first one for symmetry. It fits flavorfully, too.
@Ruki - In response to your HM, the reason Twilight of the Idols costs more than Wrath of God is that, originally the card exiled all legendary *permanents* and was modeled more after Apocalypse. Still, even though it's now just legendary creatures and planeswalkers, it exiles rather than destroys, so I kept it at 5 mana.
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But it's release week for the hot new big set. You can bet nostalgia's gonna get its butt kicked by SOI stuff in the DCC this month.
I can tell you: when this creature dies, both abilities trigger, and you (or whoever its controller was when it died) can put them on the stack in any order whey want. The first one to resolve will return the creature to the battlefield with the appropriate type of counter. The other ability will do nothing because it doesn't find the creature card to be returned in the graveyard (it's already on the battlefield). So basically, you get to choose which one you want to apply. Obviously, 99% of the time it will be undying (you prefer it to be bigger when it comes back, not smaller), so this creature might as well have only undying. That's why I didn't vote for it. I still love mix and match cards, but this one is indeed confusing for those players that don't have a deep rules knowledge, which are the majority.
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here)
CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016
DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for:
"Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index. Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
the first ability doesn't prevent the spell from being cast "as though it had flash"
Though, what is the issue, really? Are splashy cards not desirable, because I've been posting exciting cards that I would want to put into a cube.
Unfortunately, the way things are typically done with the contests, there isn't normally feedback given on the entrees, so one is sort of just left to figure out on one's own what one might be doing wrong. In a sense, I've been using the fact that when a certain card does end up getting lots of votes to figure out which designs of mine work best and are most prone to positive response. I'm not playing to win as much as to continually take on the challenge and hone my chops.
For the most part, no. 10-mana super bomby cards rarely feel creative or display any meaningful amount of design knowledge. They may be powerful and cool, but votes usually go toward cards that show a good grasp of balance, flavor, originality, usefulness and archetype suitedness (e.g., it's easy to tell if the card would go in an aggro deck, a control deck, etc.), as well as the basic mechanics of Magic.
If we look at your Endless Power entry, it's hard to tell why anyone would want it. You play with the top card of your library revealed (fine), but you can't play the top card like with Future Sight, and the enchantment has no abilities that care what the top card of our library is like Mul Daya Channelers. So what benefit is there from revealing it?
Then it says "You may rearrange the top three cards of your library". When can I do this? When the enchantment enters the battlefield? Is it an activated ability that costs 0? Is it triggered by something? Is it some kind of bizarre static ability? How does it work mechanically? This is a big problem: I actually don't understand what the card does, or how it actually works.
And why does it cost eight mana? The effect is hardly different from Sensei's Divining Top or Mirri's Guile, which both cost 1 and are better anyway because they don't let the opponent know what our top card is (the Top even gets you an extra draw, not that Sensei's Divining Top is a forerunner of good card design). Another similar and better card is Tomorrow, Azami's Familiar, which costs 6 and is at least a serviceable blocker in addition to filtering our draws (quite efficiently, too). A spell that costs eight shouldn't be providing some small utility effect like fiddling with the top few cards of my library, it should provide me with an advantage big enough that I'll quickly win the game with it.
The point is, you need to think about all these aspects of your card: the cost, the effects (in terms of mechanical workability and usefulness) and how your card stacks up against similar cards that exist already, in addition to intuitiveness and basic appeal. I'm not trying to discourage you from entering the DCC or anything, but you should be aware that most of the regular contestants are relatively serious about designing cards. You can still have fun, but there's a big difference between fun designs and ones that are just silly or poorly thought out.
The other general tendency to be careful about, which I've been guilty of before, is simply that drive to make really powerful things that haven't been done before. It can potentially turn out good if well thought out, but I've caught myself in a trap of making cards that just don't work or lack balance that way.
Go back and read the card again. It says "You may reorder and play the top three cards of your library." It costing eight is because Future Sight was considered the base line. Going two further cards deep earned it a extra two cmc, and the ability to freely reorder those cards at your whim earned it the last bump. Also, the reorder ability was added when we play tested it, because keeping the top three cards in perfect order was a pain, and rearranging them felt more natural. I'm aware that R&D prefers to avoid activated abilities that cost 0, so I took the liberty to make it a static ability as they did with Sphinx of Jwar Isle. Perhaps it should have come with reminder text, but I was assuming that people would be able to understand it. (I hope it didn't fail to get points because no one read it closely enough.)
As for Exponential Time Dilation, yeah, it had a Flashback cost of 17UUU, but, as with the "Increasing" cycle from Innistrad, it had an increased effect on flashback. I thought it would be feasible because I've seen Time Stretch cast fairly easily, and while ETD costs twice as much on flashback, I feel people would stretch to attain those four turns. We never play tested that one, though, so I could be wrong, and I can understand your counterpoint.
Anyways, if it's a matter of voting for those who are expected of having expertise, then maybe I should design a card or two that demonstrates my rules expertise. Though, how to do so. . .
A better way of doing the effect would be like this:
When Endless Power enters the battlefield, exile the top three cards of your library.
You may play cards exiled with Endless Power.
Whenever you play a card exiled with Endless Power, exile the top card of your library.
(Optional: When Endless Power leaves the battlefield, put all cards exiled with it into their owner's graveyard/shuffle them into their owner's library.)
Or just make it the same as Future Sight, but with an activated ability that's the same as Top's first ability.
Anyway, it's been a while since a random card design discussion broke out, I'm happy to see one. I highly encourage people to post their thoughts and questions here. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how helpful and friendly the regulars in these threads are (Groovelord and BrainPo's responses being perfect examples).
Edit: BTW, don't be discouraged Alias_Moniker, you give good card. Just keep pluggin' away.
To some extent that's been my perception of the entire Custom Card Creation forum - mostly the ignoring people part.
I think it'd actually be beneficial if there was more feedback about the cards in this thread.
As far as newbies designs being ignored, I don’t think that is really that prevalent (of course I could be wrong). If I remember correctly, Indighost won the first DCC he ever fully participated in. Personally, I really enjoy seeing new players entering the community. It seems like a lot of the old guard has moved along (see the death of Club Flamingo), so we’re going to need some new people to step up. Like most things, designing cards is a skill that takes some time to truly master. The first time I competed in the DCC I finished 6th, and it took several months for me to finally break through. To be honest, the only reason I stuck it out after the first couple of months was because of some encouraging words from Rudyard (thanks Rudyard
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you. Woo woo woo.
What's that you say MDenham?
aftermarketradio has left and gone away.
Hey hey hey, hey hey hey.
I thought this was a fun card idea for the potential of Eldritch Moon: The fourth sister of Gisela/Bruna/Sigarda's is raised and fights alongside Sigarda against the Brusela combination, using her darker/anti-hero methods (hence the angel/demonness) now that the world is apoclyptic and Avacyn isn't there to kill her. The way she revives stuff works with her own resurrection. Perhaps Lily revived her in desperation? (She might hate angels, but I bet she hates dying more)
EDIT: Got the mana symbols to work.
EDIT: Improved Viscara's wording, corrected Shukkets name in my voting.
BTW...Long time no post RukiMotomiya. It's good to see you around.
Edit: Rudyard's card makes me think of this....
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghi t pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.
EDIT: aw, fiddlesticks. yeah, that was supposed to say "tap." sheesh
@ Groovelord in thread: She probably should have the non-angel clause. If I did that, I'd also make a non-demon clause to the first one for symmetry. It fits flavorfully, too.