You guys proved that you are skilled in politics just enough to pass the first challenge. But politics is only one side of the coin when it comes to multiplayer.
But what is another side? Teamwork is.
Main Challenge: Design a card with "Assist", "Surge" or "Lieutenant" in its rules text.
Subchallenge 1: Your card's color identity doesn't include any colors from the color identity of your card from round 1 (listed below). Subchallenge 2: Your card's converted mana cost is 6 or greater.
Main Challenge: Important! Your choices every round will slightly affect next rounds, mostly in terms of color identity, so be careful. Your card can have more than one of the listed abilities at the same time if needed.
Subchallenge 1: Your card's mana cost and rules text do not have mana symbols that appear in the mana cost and/or rules text of your card from round 1. Your card can be colorless in any case even if your first card was colorless too. Subchallenge 2: Your card's converted mana cost is no less than six.
Please feel free to ask additional questions if you have any in the MCC Discussion thread.
Design Deadline: All submissions are to be final and submitted by December 15th 11:59 PM EST
Judging Deadline: All judgements are to be final and completed by December 21th 11:59 PM EST
Design - (X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card? (X/3) Elegance: Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development - (X/3) Viability: How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity? (X/3) Balance: Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity - (X/3) Uniqueness: Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel “fresh”? (X/3) Flavor: Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish - (X/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating. (X/2) *Main Challenge: Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge? (X/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Contestants:
StonerOfKruphix G
IcariiFA G
RaikouRider W
Jimmy Groove B
bravelion 83 W
Cardz5000 C
Clockwork Gamer W
Superbajt W
InfinityDie G
Flintlock B
soramaro R
Hemlock R
A reminder to everyone: In the MCC, putting rarity on cards is mandatory! If you don't put a rarity on your card, expect huge deductions in both Viability AND Quality.
Also, you should format your text cards accordingly to the forum rules (see the "this formatting looks best" spoiler in the linked OP). Again, expect deductions in Quality otherwise.
Memory Extractor4UR
Creature — Sphinx Wizard (M)
Surge 4(U/R)(You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn.)
Flying
When Memory Extractor enters the battlefield, exile all instant and sorcery cards from each player’s graveyard. You may cast those cards for as long as Memory Extractor remains on the battlefield, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any type to cast those spells.
4/4
Design - (3/3) Appeal: A 4/4 flyer with big splashy mechanics is going to play well to most audiences. This feels like one of those cards that all three standard types of players would experiment with. (2.75/3) Elegance: A little complex at first glance, but ultimately pretty easily grokkable. Feels like a comprehensive card.
Development - (2.75/3) Viability: I think mythic is appropriate for this, and the rules, as far as I can tell, accommodate nicely. I'm not 100% sure that it should be castable in mono-red, but that's a minor concern, as I think that envelope could be pushed. (2.25/3) Balance: I feel like this is a little strong, mostly in that it hits ALL graveyards. I think restricting it to "target player's graveyard" would be just fine and produce interesting and challenging game decisions. I also feel like this kind of toolbox opportunity has the potential to be easily broken, with players dumping half their libraries into their graveyards, playing this guy, and then using those tools to protect him up the wazoo while they cast the other spells he janked. I don't have the time this time around to research specific situations, but I think there's some concern there.
Creativity - (2.75/3) Uniqueness: I feel like this is really innovative in the way it focuses on instants/sorceries and gives the "while this creature lives" clause. (2.75/3) Flavor: The name feels a little bland for a mythic; I almost want him to be legendary and specifically named (doing so might also help in balance, but this is mostly a flavor idea for me). However, the overall overwhelming slam dunk of a sphinx who steals all the instants and sorceries and gives you a library to cast them from is spectacular. Nicely done.
Gold-Lance Captain4W
Creature - Human Knight (R)
Exalted, vigilance Lieutenant - At the beginning of combat on your turn, if you control your commander, create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token with Exalted.
--- "On that fateful day, the ears of wheat on the Akrasan plains were replaced with spearheads of the faithful, gleaming in the afternoon light." - Marid of the Tower, A Chronicle of the Conflux 3/5
Design - (2.25/3) Appeal: I feel like Timmy and Spike both appreciate this, while Johnny can use it, but will often opt for something else. (2.75/3) Elegance: Pretty basically grokkable.
Development - (3/3) Viability: White is definitely where this squarely lands, no rules issues, and while I could see it at mythic, it doesn't feel mythic. Rare is probably correct. (2.75/3) Balance: I think this is mostly fine. Compared to Sublime Angel, it's not overpowered. I don't think it's going to wrack or ruin any formats.
Creativity - (2.5/3) Uniqueness: This feels 90-95% fresh. Several twists on existing aspects. (2.5/3) Flavor: Name is good. The flavor text feels...a little wordy. It also almost feels like it's going down the Swords to Plowshares route, but then veers off. I'm not sure what, but something feels out of place with the flavor text. I generally like the overall package.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Fine. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Met. (1/2) Subchallenges: Not CMC of 6 or greater.
Total: 21.75/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
MinutemanWRB
Creature - Human Soldier (U)
First Strike
You may have any number of cards named Minuteman in your deck. Lieutenant - Whenever Minuteman attacks, if you control your commander, you may search your deck for a card named Minuteman, and put it onto the battlefield. They heard the Aenyr at the gate, and within a minute, every single one fell.
2/1
Design - (2.25/3) Appeal: Johnny and Spike like this just fine. Timmy is ok with it, but sorta meh. (3/3) Elegance: Probably the most elegant of my entries this round. It's a very well-woven package.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: I...don't really see why this is black (unless it's because all cards with the "you can put 40 in your deck!" text have been black). Not even sure it needs to be red. Mono white could easily take this on, imo. Rules are fine, though, and I could see it at uncommon. (2.75/3) Balance: I think this is a little too little to get for a tri-color spell. I'd sorta like to see this at 1WR (maybe 2WR) with "whenever ~ attacks, you may search your library for a card named ~ and put it into play tapped and attacking".
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: There is definitely some untapped design space in the "a deck may have any number of..." arena. This does a good job of exploring that in a way that feels natural. I like it a lot. (2.75/3) Flavor: I feel like the flavor text is a bit too ambiguous. I think the "they" at the start of the line fall to the minutemen, but it could also be the case that the minutemen fell...I would like less ambiguity, something like "The Rock Trolls heard the Aenyr at the gate; a minute later, not a single troll was left." (That's not great writing, either, but you get the gist.) The name/card concept is spectacular, though. Very evocative and feels like the kind of thing Vorthos would really appreciate.
Polish - (2.75/3) Quality: Wording should be "A deck can have any number of cards named ~." (2/2) *Main Challenge: Met. (1/2) Subchallenges: Not CMC of 6 or greater.
Total: 22/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Lion’s Share5UR
Sorcery (R)
Assist (Another player can pay up to 5 of this spell's cost.)
Target player reveals the top five cards of their library. Exile one and put the rest into their owner’s hand. Until end of turn, you may cast the exiled card without paying its mana cost. Given how heavy the prize chest was, Shuzug was almost sad his partner hadn't taken more. Almost.
Living Compliment4UU
Creature - Illusion (R) Lieutenant - As long as you control your commander and your commander is a creature, Living Compliment is a copy of your commander except that it is not legendary and it's power and toughness are 8/8. Some wizards have an annoying habit of flattering themselves.
5/5
Memory Extractor4UR
Creature — Sphinx Wizard (M)
Surge 4(U/R)(You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn.)
Flying
When Memory Extractor enters the battlefield, exile all instant and sorcery cards from each player’s graveyard. You may cast those cards for as long as Memory Extractor remains on the battlefield, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any type to cast those spells.
4/4
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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.)
Poweful Awakening4GGG
Sorcery (R)
Surge 3GGG(You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn.)
Until end of turn, all lands your team controls become 2/2 Elemental creatures with haste. They are still lands. If Powerful Awakening's surge cost was paid, untap all lands your team controls.
Electrostatic SurgeXUR
Sorcery {R}
Electrostatic Surge deals 2 damage to each of X target creatures. Tap each creature dealt damage this way. “Result 317: Remained conscious for entirety of trial. Directional control seems to now be functioning as expected."
—Izzet research notes
Setessan Dreamweaver1GW
Creature - Human Shaman {R} Lieutenant - As long as you control your commander, the first enchantment spell you cast each turn costs X less, where X is the number of times your commander has been cast from the command zone this game.
Whenever an enchantment you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, you may draw a card. 2/4
Gold-Lance Captain4W
Creature - Human Knight (R)
Exalted, vigilance Lieutenant - At the beginning of combat on your turn, if you control your commander, create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token with Exalted.
--- "On that fateful day, the ears of wheat on the Akrasan plains were replaced with spearheads of the faithful, gleaming in the afternoon light." - Marid of the Tower, A Chronicle of the Conflux 3/5
Steal the Spotlight3URR
Instant [Rare]
Surge UR(You may cast a spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate have cast another spell in the same turn)
Return target spell to its owner's hand. If it's an instant or sorcery, you may copy it. If you do, you may choose new targets for the copy.
___ ''There's no I in teamwork, but there is a ME in Comet Storm.''
Djinn of Shared Wishes4UU
Creature - Djinn (R)
Flying Lieutenant — As long as you control your commander, whenever you casts an instant or sorcery spell, if that spell targets only your commander, copy the spell for each other creature you control that spell could target. Each copy targets a different one of those creatures. "Your wish is their wish."
5/5
Hierophant of the Beyond1WB
Creature - Vampire Cleric (r) Lieutenant- As long as you control your commander, whenever you would be dealt commander damage, you lose that much life instead.
Whenever your commander enters the battlefield, if Hierophant of the Beyond is in your graveyard, put it onto the battlefield.
2/1
MinutemanWRB
Creature - Human Soldier (U)
First Strike
You may have any number of cards named Minuteman in your deck. Lieutenant - Whenever Minuteman attacks, if you control your commander, you may search your deck for a card named Minuteman, and put it onto the battlefield. They heard the Aenyr at the gate, and within a minute, every single one fell.
2/1
Electrostatic SurgeXUR
Sorcery {R}
Electrostatic Surge deals 2 damage to each of X target creatures. Tap each creature dealt damage this way. “Result 317: Remained conscious for entirety of trial. Directional control seems to now be functioning as expected."
—Izzet research notes
Design .:. (0/3) Appeal: I have a hard time seeing any player type reflected here. It's not splashy enough for Txmmy. There's no untapped combo potential in tappin creatures. And for Spike this card might be a tad too weak. (3/3) Elegance: The card is easy to understand and makes sense.
Development .:. (3/3) Viability: Red, blue, damage, tapping, rare, yes. (3/3) Balance: Compared to Winter Blast this seems about right. I sense no brokenness.
Creativity .:. (2/3) Uniqueness: Besides Winter Blast I see a good amount of Aurelia's Fury here. (3/3) Flavor: Good old izzet flavor text : )
Polish .:. (3/3) Quality: No flaws detected! (1/2) Main Challenge: The main challenge, in its most literal interpretation, is satisfied. Yet the entry is not in the spirit of the challenge. This is not a card about teamwork. (1/2) Subchallenges: Subchallenge 1 satisfied!
Total: 19/25
Timely Tactician3WWW
Creature — Human Soldier (R)
Flash
Assist (Another player may pay up to 3 of this spell's cost.)
When Timely Tactician enters the battlefield, target player creates three 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens. Creatures that player controls gain first strike until end of turn.
Other creatures you control get +1/+1. "Heard you were having a bad time. It's okay, now."
1/1
Design .:. (1/3) Appeal: Txmmy has a natural affinity for everything multiplayer, this card also ticks the lots-of-power box. (3/3) Elegance: The card is easy to understand and makes sense.
Development .:. (3/3) Viability: All these things are kind of white. Rare is fine. (3/3) Balance: Six first striking power and 1 additional power at instant speed makes this a good combat trick that might swing the game for you. Not bad for six mana but not broken in a multiplayer environment.
Polish .:. (3/3) Quality: No flaws detected! (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge satisfied! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges satisfied!
Total: 22/25
Hierophant of the Beyond1WB
Creature - Vampire Cleric (r) Lieutenant- As long as you control your commander, whenever you would be dealt commander damage, you lose that much life instead.
Whenever your commander enters the battlefield, if Hierophant of the Beyond is in your graveyard, put it onto the battlefield.
2/1
Design .:. (2/3) Appeal: Txmmy likes commander and its cards. Is there a way to abuse this recursion ability? I'm asking you, Jxnny. (3/3) Elegance: The card is easy to understand and makes sense.
Development .:. (3/3) Viability: Commander damage prevention, kind of, this is new but feels white. Recursion is black. Seems about right. (3/3) Balance: So, it transforms damage, weird! Things that interact with life lost already interact with commander damage, so this doesn't open up any new ways to abuse this I can think of right now. I don't know how strong this card is. An opponent who wants to win through commander damage has to attack twice as often if this remains on the battlefield. This might buy some time but is no replacement for actual answers or own threats.
Creativity .:. (3/3) Uniqueness: A card like this I have not seen so far, not in actual magic and not as custom card. (3/3) Flavor: Weird card with strange ability and mystical name. But maybe it's just beyond me.
Polish .:. (2,5/3) Quality: "Whenever" indicates this is a triggered ability, "instead" indicates this is a replacement effect. An ability can't be both. Probably simply write ", if you woud be dealt . . ." (3/3) Elegance: The card is easy to understand and makes sense. (1/2) Subchallenges: Subchallenge 1 satisfied!
Lion’s Share5UR
Sorcery (R)
Assist (Another player can pay up to 5 of this spell's cost.)
Target player reveals the top five cards of their library. Exile one and put the rest into their owner’s hand. Until end of turn, you may cast the exiled card without paying its mana cost. Given how heavy the prize chest was, Shuzug was almost sad his partner hadn't taken more. Almost.
Design - (1,5/3) Appeal: Timmy likes big spells with big effects. Johnny and Spike are more pessimistic. (3/3) Elegance: This card is easy to understand and makes sense.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Massive enough effect to be rare, blue and red parts of a color pie. (2/3) Balance: This card is way too to have any impact on eternal formats and be played almost everywhere outside of Comander and Limited, but it also reads as "draw four cards and cast one card for free" which is quite a lot. You can distribute the effects between two players, sure, but it's not necessary so you can save it all for you. Is it what you intended?
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Quite similar to the Talent of the Telepath. But not so much. (3/3) Flavor: Good name, sweet Battlebond flavor. I can easily imagine this card without any effort.
Polish - (2/3) Quality: Pretty sure it should be "exile one of them". (2/2) *Main Challenge: Satisfied. (2/2) Subchallenges: Both yes.
Total: 20,5/25
Poweful Awakening4GGG
Sorcery (R)
Surge 3GGG(You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn.)
Until end of turn, all lands your team controls become 2/2 Elemental creatures with haste. They are still lands. If Powerful Awakening's surge cost was paid, untap all lands your team controls.
Design - (2,5/3) Appeal: Spike is the least interested, but not completely against this card. Johnny and Timmy, however, are happy. (3/3) Elegance: Just like any other card like this, your card is easy to undersnatd and makes sense.
Development - (3/3) Viability: The effect is massive but probably not enough (and not unique enough) to make it a mythic. The color is very very green. (2/3) Balance: Almost nothing when you don't have a teammate (also entwined Rude Awakening costs 6GG and works only on your lands, but I remember it being kinda playable.) Nuts if you do.
Creativity - (1,5/3) Uniqueness:Rude Awakening + Sylvan Awakening more or less (more more than less...) The only difference is teamwork + surge tweaks which is not enough to get a high score here. (2/3) Flavor: The name is quite generic. I can see it referencing cards that were mentioned in Uniqueness sections, but "powerful" still looks like the most ununspired choice.
Steal the Spotlight3URR
Instant [Rare]
Surge UR(You may cast a spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate have cast another spell in the same turn)
Return target spell to its owner's hand. If it's an instant or sorcery, you may copy it. If you do, you may choose new targets for the copy.
___ ''There's no I in teamwork, but there is a ME in Comet Storm.''
Design - (1/3) Appeal: Johnny, maybe. All other players care only a little. (2,5/3) Elegance: It's just a bit tricky but easy enough to understand and makes sense.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Returning spells to hands and copying them is blue-red. Twincast is also rare so I can see this spell being a rare as well. (3/3) Balance: Surge cost is a big deal but it looks surprisingly appropriate if you keep in mind that casting more than one spell on your opponent's turn is tricky. However, it's a mild version of a counterspell for such cost.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness:Psychic Rebuttal comes to mind. Other than that, can't remember any similarities. (3/3) Flavor: The name feels very Battlebond-esque. Nice job here. Took me some time to understand the flavor text tho.
Polish - (1,5/3) Quality: Wrong wording of a surge reminder text and the dot punctuation mark is missing. Kinda weird choice of quotation marks. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Satisfied. (2/2) Subchallenges: Yes and yes.
Design - (2.5/3) Appeal: Timmy obviously likes this, Johnny has a lot of ways to abuse this, it's a bit too expensive and conditional for Spike. (2.5/3) Elegance: A bit complicated in multiple aspects.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: This is not strictly a "viability" problem but nevertheless it's an aesthetic issue: I feel as though the card should either be a 4/4 that becomes an 8/8 or a 5/5 that becomes a 10/10, as 5 to 8 does not work as well numerically. (2.5/3) Balance: Seems fine. It's a big effect but that requires two cards to be out on the battlefield and that costs quite a bit, in a color with less mana accel than most others. However, it might need testing with certain commanders.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: Basically a riff on Quicksilver Gargantuan. (2.5/3) Flavor: Name is preeeetty on the nose. Flavor is otherwise nice.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: If it's supposed to be a possessive, it's just i-t-s, and if it's supposed to be contraction, it's i-t-apostrophe-s. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Good. (2/2) Subchallenges: Done.
Total: 20.5/25
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Kind of an all-rounder; enchantress is one of those Commander archetypes that everyone can enjoy. (2.5/3) Elegance: A bit wordy but nothing too confusing or that hasn't been done ever before.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Colors and rarity right. So's the flavor. (3/3) Balance: Strong stuff - especially for the Sterling Grove impression it does - but probably fair.
Creativity - (2.5/3) Uniqueness: Two variants on relatively rare abilities that are pretty interesting ways of doing those abilities. (2.5/3) Flavor: Name's serviceable. I guess there's not much room for flavor text.
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Mostly for Timmy/Johnny. Spike's not really a Zada, Hedron Grinder fan. (2.5/3) Elegance: These effects always have some kind of inelegance to them.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Zada herself suggests that if this effect has to be a single color it leans red over blue, but blue is still acceptable. (3/3) Balance: Seems alright for its cost.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: Again, a Zada riff. (2.5/3) Flavor: A good enough name but nothing special.
December MCC 2018 Round 2 - Together Forever
You guys proved that you are skilled in politics just enough to pass the first challenge. But politics is only one side of the coin when it comes to multiplayer.
But what is another side? Teamwork is.
Main Challenge: Design a card with "Assist", "Surge" or "Lieutenant" in its rules text.
Subchallenge 1: Your card's color identity doesn't include any colors from the color identity of your card from round 1 (listed below).
Subchallenge 2: Your card's converted mana cost is 6 or greater.
Subchallenge 1: Your card's mana cost and rules text do not have mana symbols that appear in the mana cost and/or rules text of your card from round 1. Your card can be colorless in any case even if your first card was colorless too.
Subchallenge 2: Your card's converted mana cost is no less than six.
Please feel free to ask additional questions if you have any in the MCC Discussion thread.
Design Deadline: All submissions are to be final and submitted by December 15th 11:59 PM EST
Judging Deadline: All judgements are to be final and completed by December 21th 11:59 PM EST
(X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
(X/3) Elegance: Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development -
(X/3) Viability: How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity?
(X/3) Balance: Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity -
(X/3) Uniqueness: Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel “fresh”?
(X/3) Flavor: Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish -
(X/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(X/2) *Main Challenge: Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
(X/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Judges:
Raptorchan
void_nothing
Cantripmancer
Antiantiserum
Contestants:
StonerOfKruphix G
IcariiFA G
RaikouRider W
Jimmy Groove B
bravelion 83 W
Cardz5000 C
Clockwork Gamer W
Superbajt W
InfinityDie G
Flintlock B
soramaro R
Hemlock R
Brackets:
Raptorchan
Flintlock
Superbajt
Clockwork Gamer
void_nothing
Jimmy Groove
RaikouRider
IcariiFA
Cantripmancer
bravelion83
soramaro
InfinityDie
Antiantiserum
Cardz5000
StonerOfKruphix
Hemlock
A helpful tip for those formatting their cards:
(3/3) Appeal: A 4/4 flyer with big splashy mechanics is going to play well to most audiences. This feels like one of those cards that all three standard types of players would experiment with.
(2.75/3) Elegance: A little complex at first glance, but ultimately pretty easily grokkable. Feels like a comprehensive card.
Development -
(2.75/3) Viability: I think mythic is appropriate for this, and the rules, as far as I can tell, accommodate nicely. I'm not 100% sure that it should be castable in mono-red, but that's a minor concern, as I think that envelope could be pushed.
(2.25/3) Balance: I feel like this is a little strong, mostly in that it hits ALL graveyards. I think restricting it to "target player's graveyard" would be just fine and produce interesting and challenging game decisions. I also feel like this kind of toolbox opportunity has the potential to be easily broken, with players dumping half their libraries into their graveyards, playing this guy, and then using those tools to protect him up the wazoo while they cast the other spells he janked. I don't have the time this time around to research specific situations, but I think there's some concern there.
Creativity -
(2.75/3) Uniqueness: I feel like this is really innovative in the way it focuses on instants/sorceries and gives the "while this creature lives" clause.
(2.75/3) Flavor: The name feels a little bland for a mythic; I almost want him to be legendary and specifically named (doing so might also help in balance, but this is mostly a flavor idea for me). However, the overall overwhelming slam dunk of a sphinx who steals all the instants and sorceries and gives you a library to cast them from is spectacular. Nicely done.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Fine.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Met.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 23.25/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
(2.25/3) Appeal: I feel like Timmy and Spike both appreciate this, while Johnny can use it, but will often opt for something else.
(2.75/3) Elegance: Pretty basically grokkable.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: White is definitely where this squarely lands, no rules issues, and while I could see it at mythic, it doesn't feel mythic. Rare is probably correct.
(2.75/3) Balance: I think this is mostly fine. Compared to Sublime Angel, it's not overpowered. I don't think it's going to wrack or ruin any formats.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: This feels 90-95% fresh. Several twists on existing aspects.
(2.5/3) Flavor: Name is good. The flavor text feels...a little wordy. It also almost feels like it's going down the Swords to Plowshares route, but then veers off. I'm not sure what, but something feels out of place with the flavor text. I generally like the overall package.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Fine.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Met.
(1/2) Subchallenges: Not CMC of 6 or greater.
Total: 21.75/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
(2.25/3) Appeal: Johnny and Spike like this just fine. Timmy is ok with it, but sorta meh.
(3/3) Elegance: Probably the most elegant of my entries this round. It's a very well-woven package.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: I...don't really see why this is black (unless it's because all cards with the "you can put 40 in your deck!" text have been black). Not even sure it needs to be red. Mono white could easily take this on, imo. Rules are fine, though, and I could see it at uncommon.
(2.75/3) Balance: I think this is a little too little to get for a tri-color spell. I'd sorta like to see this at 1WR (maybe 2WR) with "whenever ~ attacks, you may search your library for a card named ~ and put it into play tapped and attacking".
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: There is definitely some untapped design space in the "a deck may have any number of..." arena. This does a good job of exploring that in a way that feels natural. I like it a lot.
(2.75/3) Flavor: I feel like the flavor text is a bit too ambiguous. I think the "they" at the start of the line fall to the minutemen, but it could also be the case that the minutemen fell...I would like less ambiguity, something like "The Rock Trolls heard the Aenyr at the gate; a minute later, not a single troll was left." (That's not great writing, either, but you get the gist.) The name/card concept is spectacular, though. Very evocative and feels like the kind of thing Vorthos would really appreciate.
Polish -
(2.75/3) Quality: Wording should be "A deck can have any number of cards named ~."
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Met.
(1/2) Subchallenges: Not CMC of 6 or greater.
Total: 22/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
BraveLion83: 23.25
soramaro: 21.75
InfinityDie: 22
Sorcery (R)
Assist (Another player can pay up to 5 of this spell's cost.)
Target player reveals the top five cards of their library. Exile one and put the rest into their owner’s hand. Until end of turn, you may cast the exiled card without paying its mana cost.
Given how heavy the prize chest was, Shuzug was almost sad his partner hadn't taken more. Almost.
Creature - Illusion (R)
Lieutenant - As long as you control your commander and your commander is a creature, Living Compliment is a copy of your commander except that it is not legendary and it's power and toughness are 8/8.
Some wizards have an annoying habit of flattering themselves.
5/5
Creature — Sphinx Wizard (M)
Surge 4(U/R) (You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn.)
Flying
When Memory Extractor enters the battlefield, exile all instant and sorcery cards from each player’s graveyard. You may cast those cards for as long as Memory Extractor remains on the battlefield, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any type to cast those spells.
4/4
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.)
Sorcery (R)
Surge 3GGG (You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn.)
Until end of turn, all lands your team controls become 2/2 Elemental creatures with haste. They are still lands. If Powerful Awakening's surge cost was paid, untap all lands your team controls.
Sorcery {R}
Electrostatic Surge deals 2 damage to each of X target creatures. Tap each creature dealt damage this way.
“Result 317: Remained conscious for entirety of trial. Directional control seems to now be functioning as expected."
—Izzet research notes
Creature - Human Shaman {R}
Lieutenant - As long as you control your commander, the first enchantment spell you cast each turn costs X less, where X is the number of times your commander has been cast from the command zone this game.
Whenever an enchantment you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, you may draw a card.
2/4
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Creature - Human Knight (R)
Exalted, vigilance
Lieutenant - At the beginning of combat on your turn, if you control your commander, create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token with Exalted.
---
"On that fateful day, the ears of wheat on the Akrasan plains were replaced with spearheads of the faithful, gleaming in the afternoon light." - Marid of the Tower, A Chronicle of the Conflux
3/5
Instant [Rare]
Surge UR (You may cast a spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate have cast another spell in the same turn)
Return target spell to its owner's hand. If it's an instant or sorcery, you may copy it. If you do, you may choose new targets for the copy.
___
''There's no I in teamwork, but there is a ME in Comet Storm.''
I'm sure you can think of something by yourself.
Creature - Djinn (R)
Flying
Lieutenant — As long as you control your commander, whenever you casts an instant or sorcery spell, if that spell targets only your commander, copy the spell for each other creature you control that spell could target. Each copy targets a different one of those creatures.
"Your wish is their wish."
5/5
Creature - Vampire Cleric (r)
Lieutenant- As long as you control your commander, whenever you would be dealt commander damage, you lose that much life instead.
Whenever your commander enters the battlefield, if Hierophant of the Beyond is in your graveyard, put it onto the battlefield.
2/1
Creature - Human Soldier (U)
First Strike
You may have any number of cards named Minuteman in your deck.
Lieutenant - Whenever Minuteman attacks, if you control your commander, you may search your deck for a card named Minuteman, and put it onto the battlefield.
They heard the Aenyr at the gate, and within a minute, every single one fell.
2/1
Raptorchan
Flintlock
Superbajt
Clockwork Gamer
void_nothing
Jimmy Groove
RaikouRider
IcariiFA
Cantripmancer
bravelion83
soramaro
InfinityDie
Antiantiserum
Cardz5000
StonerOfKruphix
Hemlock
(Top two advance)
Let's judge.
Sure.
Sorcery {R}
Electrostatic Surge deals 2 damage to each of X target creatures. Tap each creature dealt damage this way.
“Result 317: Remained conscious for entirety of trial. Directional control seems to now be functioning as expected."
—Izzet research notes
Design .:.
(0/3) Appeal: I have a hard time seeing any player type reflected here. It's not splashy enough for Txmmy. There's no untapped combo potential in tappin creatures. And for Spike this card might be a tad too weak.
(3/3) Elegance: The card is easy to understand and makes sense.
Development .:.
(3/3) Viability: Red, blue, damage, tapping, rare, yes.
(3/3) Balance: Compared to Winter Blast this seems about right. I sense no brokenness.
Creativity .:.
(2/3) Uniqueness: Besides Winter Blast I see a good amount of Aurelia's Fury here.
(3/3) Flavor: Good old izzet flavor text : )
Polish .:.
(3/3) Quality: No flaws detected!
(1/2) Main Challenge: The main challenge, in its most literal interpretation, is satisfied. Yet the entry is not in the spirit of the challenge. This is not a card about teamwork.
(1/2) Subchallenges: Subchallenge 1 satisfied!
Total: 19/25
Timely Tactician 3WWW
Creature — Human Soldier (R)
Flash
Assist (Another player may pay up to 3 of this spell's cost.)
When Timely Tactician enters the battlefield, target player creates three 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens. Creatures that player controls gain first strike until end of turn.
Other creatures you control get +1/+1.
"Heard you were having a bad time. It's okay, now."
1/1
Design .:.
(1/3) Appeal: Txmmy has a natural affinity for everything multiplayer, this card also ticks the lots-of-power box.
(3/3) Elegance: The card is easy to understand and makes sense.
Development .:.
(3/3) Viability: All these things are kind of white. Rare is fine.
(3/3) Balance: Six first striking power and 1 additional power at instant speed makes this a good combat trick that might swing the game for you. Not bad for six mana but not broken in a multiplayer environment.
Creativity .:.
(2/3) Uniqueness: A clear reference to Timely Reinforcements and also some parallells to Celestial Crusader.
(3/3) Flavor: Soothing.
Polish .:.
(3/3) Quality: No flaws detected!
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge satisfied!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges satisfied!
Total: 22/25
Creature - Vampire Cleric (r)
Lieutenant- As long as you control your commander, whenever you would be dealt commander damage, you lose that much life instead.
Whenever your commander enters the battlefield, if Hierophant of the Beyond is in your graveyard, put it onto the battlefield.
2/1
Design .:.
(2/3) Appeal: Txmmy likes commander and its cards. Is there a way to abuse this recursion ability? I'm asking you, Jxnny.
(3/3) Elegance: The card is easy to understand and makes sense.
Development .:.
(3/3) Viability: Commander damage prevention, kind of, this is new but feels white. Recursion is black. Seems about right.
(3/3) Balance: So, it transforms damage, weird! Things that interact with life lost already interact with commander damage, so this doesn't open up any new ways to abuse this I can think of right now. I don't know how strong this card is. An opponent who wants to win through commander damage has to attack twice as often if this remains on the battlefield. This might buy some time but is no replacement for actual answers or own threats.
Creativity .:.
(3/3) Uniqueness: A card like this I have not seen so far, not in actual magic and not as custom card.
(3/3) Flavor: Weird card with strange ability and mystical name. But maybe it's just beyond me.
Polish .:.
(2,5/3) Quality: "Whenever" indicates this is a triggered ability, "instead" indicates this is a replacement effect. An ability can't be both. Probably simply write ", if you woud be dealt . . ."
(3/3) Elegance: The card is easy to understand and makes sense.
(1/2) Subchallenges: Subchallenge 1 satisfied!
Total: 22,5/25
StonerOfKruphix 22,0
Cardz5000 19,0
Sorcery (R)
Assist (Another player can pay up to 5 of this spell's cost.)
Target player reveals the top five cards of their library. Exile one and put the rest into their owner’s hand. Until end of turn, you may cast the exiled card without paying its mana cost.
Given how heavy the prize chest was, Shuzug was almost sad his partner hadn't taken more. Almost.
Design -
(1,5/3) Appeal: Timmy likes big spells with big effects. Johnny and Spike are more pessimistic.
(3/3) Elegance: This card is easy to understand and makes sense.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Massive enough effect to be rare, blue and red parts of a color pie.
(2/3) Balance: This card is way too to have any impact on eternal formats and be played almost everywhere outside of Comander and Limited, but it also reads as "draw four cards and cast one card for free" which is quite a lot. You can distribute the effects between two players, sure, but it's not necessary so you can save it all for you. Is it what you intended?
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Quite similar to the Talent of the Telepath. But not so much.
(3/3) Flavor: Good name, sweet Battlebond flavor. I can easily imagine this card without any effort.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: Pretty sure it should be "exile one of them".
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Satisfied.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both yes.
Total: 20,5/25
Sorcery (R)
Surge 3GGG (You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn.)
Until end of turn, all lands your team controls become 2/2 Elemental creatures with haste. They are still lands. If Powerful Awakening's surge cost was paid, untap all lands your team controls.
Design -
(2,5/3) Appeal: Spike is the least interested, but not completely against this card. Johnny and Timmy, however, are happy.
(3/3) Elegance: Just like any other card like this, your card is easy to undersnatd and makes sense.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: The effect is massive but probably not enough (and not unique enough) to make it a mythic. The color is very very green.
(2/3) Balance: Almost nothing when you don't have a teammate (also entwined Rude Awakening costs 6GG and works only on your lands, but I remember it being kinda playable.) Nuts if you do.
Creativity -
(1,5/3) Uniqueness: Rude Awakening + Sylvan Awakening more or less (more more than less...) The only difference is teamwork + surge tweaks which is not enough to get a high score here.
(2/3) Flavor: The name is quite generic. I can see it referencing cards that were mentioned in Uniqueness sections, but "powerful" still looks like the most ununspired choice.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Flawless.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Satisfied.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both yes.
Total: 21/25
Instant [Rare]
Surge UR (You may cast a spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate have cast another spell in the same turn)
Return target spell to its owner's hand. If it's an instant or sorcery, you may copy it. If you do, you may choose new targets for the copy.
___
''There's no I in teamwork, but there is a ME in Comet Storm.''
Design -
(1/3) Appeal: Johnny, maybe. All other players care only a little.
(2,5/3) Elegance: It's just a bit tricky but easy enough to understand and makes sense.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Returning spells to hands and copying them is blue-red. Twincast is also rare so I can see this spell being a rare as well.
(3/3) Balance: Surge cost is a big deal but it looks surprisingly appropriate if you keep in mind that casting more than one spell on your opponent's turn is tricky. However, it's a mild version of a counterspell for such cost.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Psychic Rebuttal comes to mind. Other than that, can't remember any similarities.
(3/3) Flavor: The name feels very Battlebond-esque. Nice job here. Took me some time to understand the flavor text tho.
Polish -
(1,5/3) Quality: Wrong wording of a surge reminder text and the dot punctuation mark is missing. Kinda weird choice of quotation marks.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Satisfied.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yes and yes.
Total: 20/25
Flintlock 20,5
Clockwork Gamer 20
(2.5/3) Appeal: Timmy obviously likes this, Johnny has a lot of ways to abuse this, it's a bit too expensive and conditional for Spike.
(2.5/3) Elegance: A bit complicated in multiple aspects.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: This is not strictly a "viability" problem but nevertheless it's an aesthetic issue: I feel as though the card should either be a 4/4 that becomes an 8/8 or a 5/5 that becomes a 10/10, as 5 to 8 does not work as well numerically.
(2.5/3) Balance: Seems fine. It's a big effect but that requires two cards to be out on the battlefield and that costs quite a bit, in a color with less mana accel than most others. However, it might need testing with certain commanders.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Basically a riff on Quicksilver Gargantuan.
(2.5/3) Flavor: Name is preeeetty on the nose. Flavor is otherwise nice.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: If it's supposed to be a possessive, it's just i-t-s, and if it's supposed to be contraction, it's i-t-apostrophe-s.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Done.
Total: 20.5/25
(3/3) Appeal: Kind of an all-rounder; enchantress is one of those Commander archetypes that everyone can enjoy.
(2.5/3) Elegance: A bit wordy but nothing too confusing or that hasn't been done ever before.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Colors and rarity right. So's the flavor.
(3/3) Balance: Strong stuff - especially for the Sterling Grove impression it does - but probably fair.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Two variants on relatively rare abilities that are pretty interesting ways of doing those abilities.
(2.5/3) Flavor: Name's serviceable. I guess there's not much room for flavor text.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(0/2) Subchallenges: Neither fulfilled.
Total: 21.5/25
(2/3) Appeal: Mostly for Timmy/Johnny. Spike's not really a Zada, Hedron Grinder fan.
(2.5/3) Elegance: These effects always have some kind of inelegance to them.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Zada herself suggests that if this effect has to be a single color it leans red over blue, but blue is still acceptable.
(3/3) Balance: Seems alright for its cost.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Again, a Zada riff.
(2.5/3) Flavor: A good enough name but nothing special.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks fine.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Done.
Total: 21.5/25
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝