Design (6/10)
Creativity – Feels like a revamped Nekrataal, nothing really new but different enough.
Elegance – Pretty elegant, the -2/-2 seems out of place though
Potential – Johnny likes it, it isn't effecient enough for Spike, Timmy likes if he can kill big things to make big things.
Development (7/10)
Viability – Very black, rare seems appropriate for limited's sake.
Balance – Appropriately costed but still seems underpowered. When you cast it early it will probably be a sorcery speed 3 mana kill spell which isn't great. Has the potential for 2 for 1.
Creative Writing – The name is appropriate but there is no flavor text so its not very exciting.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Though next time please use the mana symbols, bold the name, etc. Makes it easier to read.
Total: 18/25
Design (5/10)
Creativity – Feels like a less explosive but more resilient Ball Lightning
Elegance – A little clunky, its very wordy but the mechanics come together nicely
Potential – I think Burn would take the explosiveness over the resiliency, has some casual burn appeal however. Noone else is really interested
Development (8/10)
Viability – Definitely red, rare seems appropriate for limited.
Balance – Appropriately costed, gives you nice options to curve early or late.
Creative Writing – I like the name but with no flavor text it feels kind of generic.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Total: 18/25
Design (9/10)
Creativity – A new twist to a lord effect, the land sacrificing gives it a unique feel
Elegance – Easy to understand an build around
Potential – Too slow for Spike but Timmy and Johnny both see a lot of potential
Development (6/10)
Viability – Black in the way it can both give or take power, also sacrificing resources for power
Balance – I would lower it to -1/1 or -1/2 and probably give it a CMC of 2. Right now it feels slow. Rare is good for a lord
Creative Writing – The flavor isn't really clicking, who is it a champion for? How is this creation championlike?
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Total: 20/25
Design (5/10)
Creativity – Nothing really unique about this besides the random -1 power
Elegance – Easy to understand and use
Potential – Too slow a 1 drop for spike, Timmy and Hohnny both like it a little more for shenanigans and potential
Development (7/10)
Viability – Its a creatures that can smash face and is a bear, very green
Balance – No reason for this to be rare, it isn't that powerful and doesn't feel epic. The balance is ok , would be a decent limited card
Creative Writing – I like the flavor text, and the flavor of a bear growing is ok but its not something Vorthos is gonna look at more than once
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Total: 17/25
Design (8/10)
Creativity – Good way of incorporating an old idea into a new mechanic, though the negative power feels forced
Elegance – Straightforward and easy to see how it would be good
Potential – Spike likes it in limited though not constructed, Timmy is neautral and Johnny is bored
Development (8/10)
Viability – Its a defensive weenie that is best as part of a group, sounds White to me
Balance – Uncommon is good as this thing would be annoying in limited with multiples. Appropriate power and toughness for a defensive dude
Creative Writing – Even without flavor text the flavor comes through extremely well
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Total: 21/25
Design (9/10)
Creativity – Great job incorporating the negative power into the design, definitely feels unique
Elegance – Wordy but straightforward, its a little clunky but can be figured out pretty easily
Potential – Spike probably thinks its too gimmicky, Johnny and Timmy are drooling
Development (9/10)
Viability – "Loses the Game" and wants tuff dead, sounds Black to me
Balance – Mythic is definitely appropriate, seems balanced, its a huge effect but takes a lot of cost/cards/prep to use
Creative Writing – Love the name, the flavor text makes me want to know more about the ancient power
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Total: 23/25
Design (10/10)
Creativity – Very nice blend of effcts and incorporates the negative power and toughness seamlessly
Elegance – Very elegant and easy to understand
Potential – Spike likes the versatility, Timmy is thinking of fun tricks, Timmy is meh
Development (9/10)
Viability – Blue likes cards, this card works with other cards
Balance – Uncommon is great, could potentially cost 3 but that might be broken
Creative Writing – The name and flavor fit and feel like part of a bigger world
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Total: 24/25
Design (7/10)
Creativity – Nothing brand new here but the combination makes it feel unique
Elegance – More complex then it looks at first glance however its easy enough to understand
Potential – Probably too gimmicky for spike but the numbers are there, Johnny isn't excited but Timmy likes it
Development (7/10)
Viability – Feels very boros, its aggressive but needs a swarm to help
Balance – Should probably cost 1 more, 5/5 haste on turn 2-3 is pretty powerful, even if there are restrictions
Creative Writing – The name and flavor seem like a bit of a stretch, however it makes some sense
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Echo of the Endbringer4B
Creature - Spirit (M)
Deathtouch
At the end of each turn, if a permanent was put into a graveyard from the battlefield that turn, put a doom counter on Echo of the Endbringer.
Echo of the Endbringer gets +1/+0 for each doom counter on it.
When Echo of the Endbringer deals combat damage to a player, you may exile it. If you do, that player loses the game. It is nothing but wisp, a residue, an infinitesimal trace of an ancient power. But when a power so terrible is awakened, even a trace can bring a world to its knees.
-8/5
Seepslime
Creature - Ooze {R}
When you cast Seepslime, you may search your library for a card named Seepslime and put it into your hand.
Seepslime gets +1/+1 for each creature card named Seepslime in your graveyard.
A deck can have any number of cards named Seepslime.
-5/-5
Decrepitude3BB
Creature - Elemental {R}
Morph 2BB(You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
When Decrepitude enters the battlefield or is turned face up, all other creatures get +X/+X until end of turn, where X is Decrepitude's power. (If its power is -2, other creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn.)
-2/4
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
- My Powered Cube (draft it here)
- My Full Mirrodin Cube (draft it here)
- My One-Drop Cube (draft it here)
MCC Winner Nov ‘14 & Nov ‘15
Interlock Crawler RW
Creature - Wurm (U)
Haste
As long as you control an untapped land, ~ gets +5/+0.
As long as you control an untapped creature, ~ gets +0/+5. Without our connections, we're nothing.
- Ashram Besste
-1/-1
Nyxborn LeechBG
Enchantment Creature - Leech (U)
Bestow BG
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on Nyxborn Leech and enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature gets -1/-1. Pharikas menders often employ methods that are both, cure and curse.
-1/-1
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
I've been a lurker for years on the Rumor Mill and also here, following this game since it still was called FCC and trying to design cards for the challenges but keeping them for myself, doing it just for fun and not for the competition. Now that I've got out of my lurking for other reasons, I thought I might as well finally give this a try for real.
Collective Will2GW
Creature — Elemental (R)
Trample
Collective Will gets +2/+2 for each other creature you control. Individuals don’t exist by themselves in the Conclave. While each of them has a distinct physical body, their will is united, unique and strong.
-1/-1
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.)
Sewer Wurm1BG
Creature - Wurm (M)
Morph 4BG(You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
When Sewer Wurm is turned face up, each other creature gains +X/+X until end of turn, where X is equal to Sewer Wurm's Power.
-4/5
I know it's the challenge, but I foresee a lot of judge comments saying "this creature doesn't make sense having negative power." Just because it's part of the challenge doesn't excuse poor design choices.
On a less serious note, that's 2 months in a row now my name has been misspelled. Is it actually that difficult?
Design (8/10) Creativity – Pretty much a branch off of the design space opened up by Warden of the Beyond. It is still a unique effect, however, and it's cool to see design based off of that. Elegance – I hate the stats on this thing. I feel like it would be so much cleaner with even (or almost even) stats (I would have preferred it just as an 0/1). But that's probably more of a personal thing. Otherwise it's fine. Potential – It rewards you for building around it. It's kind of like Jace's Phantasm in that you get a big evasive beater as a payoff for building around the card.
Development (8.5/10) Viability – I know we still only have Warden of the Beyond to go off of, but I do still feel like this is a white effect. I think the colors you made it are more justified by flavor than ability. This type of card strikes me as falling into (W/U) (or even just W). Other than that it's fine. Balance – Again, like Jace's Phantasm, it would probably show up as being a powerful card in niche strategies. I think it would be tough to construct a limited format where this card is good (although now that I think about it, it is pretty sweet with delve), but overall I think it's a fair card. Creative Writing – At first I didn't like the flavor text. Then I read up on Ashiok a little bit more. Now I like it. Go figure.
Polish Challenge (2/2) – Fine. Quality (3/3) – Also fine.
Total: 21.5/25
Design (6/10) Creativity – So it's a 1-mana Force of Savagery that if you can't buff it is a modular Battlegrowth? It's not the most groundbreaking thing ever, but it's interesting enough. Elegance – I mean, obliterator and "dies as soon as you play it" don't really work together for me. It is sweet if it manages to live though. Potential – Someone would try to make this work with crusade/lord effects, cause it is a tank if it hits the ground running.
Development (4/10) Viability – I feel like colorless can get away with a lot, but slapping on all the abilities just feels like a bit much. Fine at rare, just cause it's a unique kind of card. Balance – This feels pretty bad to me. Having to go through hoops for a guy who just dies to every removal spell just isn't worth it. Most of the time it's just gonna put a counter on a dude. Creative Writing – The name seems inappropriate for something that dies so easily, and the flavor text is just silly.
Polish Challenge (1/2) – Challenge 1 failed. Quality (2.5/3) – "Arcbound," there shouldn't be an "and" in between the abilities.
Total: 13.5/25
Design (4/10) Creativity – Kind of meh. The plus for having power 1 or greater is nice, but the Sengir think has been done to death. Elegance – The card fits nicely in terms of flavor, but this should really be an 0/1 with a higher threshold for the ability (probably 3 or 4 power). Vampires are typically aggressive, and none of them have this much of a skew towards toughness. Potential – Vampires are a popular enough tribe that this could get some use, although there are probably better options.
Development (7.5/10) Viability – Definitely black, but probably could be bumped down to uncommon without any real issues. Balance – This kind of reminds me of Slumbering Dragon in that you play it early, and your opponent ignores it until it starts to effect that game. The only problem is that this card is probably just too vulnerable and would probably take too long to get going (also is completely useless as a top deck). Limited it's probably good not great, constructed it really has no shot. Creative Writing – Name is good. Really want flavor text on this though.
Design (10/10) Creativity – Very nice. Alternate win cons are always nice, and while this feels a little like the win con of Mayael's Aria, it's cool that it doesn't feel like a win-more from having a 20 power creature. Elegance – Very good. The win effect makes sense from a flavor perspective as the seed growing into something unstoppable. Potential – This is the type of card that screams to be built around. Definitely a lot of potential.
Development (6.5/10) Viability – Certainly green, maybe could be pushed down to rare, but probably fine at mythic. Balance – You got me. I couldn't find a way to break it. No P/T setting tricks that don't also take away abilities. I'm sure it's out there, I just can't find it. Unfortunately, that means this card is pretty far from playable. Maybe if it had "At the beginning of each upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on it" to represent it's growth, that way it could also be a respectable blocker while going towards victory. This will probably only have appeal in the casual circles, the same way that cards like Helix Pinnacle (or most alt win cons for that matter) do. Creative Writing – The name and flavor text make sense and fit with the card nicely, though the flavor text is a little dark for a mono green card in my opinion.
Design (5/10) Creativity – It's a decent twist to the idea, but it still falls under the category of "Gets bigger when things die," which has be done quite a bit. Elegance – Ah yes, the "no counters but you're still gonna have to use them" design. I know +1/+0 counters aren't a thing anymore, but even that would be better than what you have. Probably the best solution is "Whenever another creature dies, put a ... counter on ~ for each creature that died this turn. ~ gets +1/+0 for each ... counter on it." It's wordy, but it's a much cleaner design. Also, obligatory comment about how it would probably be fine as an 0/3. Potential – This could get out of hand if your able to sacrifice a bunch of creatures in one turn, so there's some potential there.
Development (7/10) Viability – Seems fine all around. Balance – Limited this is fine, as getting this to reach it's full potential would be difficult, and it always has 3 toughness, so it trades with a lot of things. In constructed formats where these sort of things can be built around, it could be pretty dangerous. With a sac outlet and 4 creatures, you can buff it to a 15/3 immediately, which will end the game quick if not dealt with. That being said, the 3 toughness would probably stop this from being too dangerous, so this is probably safe and would probably be pretty interesting in certain decks. Creative Writing – So bad. Ludevic is an alchemist, so how his pet is a horror I have no idea (also alchemy is more blue). Also, Ludevic lives on the province of Nephalia, while Geralf and Gisa fought in the Moorland on Gavony, which are separate places.
Design (7/10) Creativity – Super Magical Hacker? Super Magical Hacker. Elegance – I'm pretty sure the idea is that this card is switching polarities, in which case, it does a decent job of conveying it. The lengthy description needed for this ability doesn't really help with being able to easily grasp the concept. Also, just because it's big doesn't mean it needs to have trample. And there's the fact that the interaction between deathtouch and trample is very confusing for new players, thus why it doesn't appear on cards together. Potential – Definitely a build around card, I'll give you that. Cards like this make you look for things to abuse it with.
Development (4.5/10) Viability – The fun part. First, let's start with whether or not this actually works in black-border Magic, for which the answer is probably not, but I can't say for sure (not a rules expert). There's a reason this was done in silver-border, and I'm not sure enough has changed in the past 10 years for this to be acceptable. Then again, other silver-border cards have made it into black-border, so who knows. Now, onto the question of "Would this card be printed if it was within the rules?" for which I think the answer is a resounding no. It is a complicated card that would probably cause more rules headaches than it would be worth.
Other issues: pretty sure they got it right when they put it in blue the first time. Blue can mess with text of cards (maybe a point in favor of this card being possible?), so this would probably fall under its jurisdiction as well. Balance – Nice and quick, OK in Limited cause it's big, awesome as a Commander, would never see play in a constructed format ever. Creative Writing – Name and flavor text nicely reflect the fact that it switches things. Not amazing, but good.
Polish Challenge (2/2) - Good. Quality (3/3) – You beat the system. I can't penalize you for a templating that doesn't exist.
Total: 16.5/25
Design (2.5/10) Creativity – Pretty much just Bane of the Living plus Massacre Wurm. Elegance – This could say creatures get -2/-2 when it gets turned face up and it would still be the same card 99% of the time. You could just do that and make it a 0/4 and essentially nothing would change, but the design would be much cleaner. Potential – Someone could try to make this a high power creature when it turns face up, but then you probably don't need the extra boost anyway, so I guess it's just a worse Bane of the Living.
Development (4/10) Viability – I don't care that the effect is almost always negative, it says +X/+X on it, so it should probably also be either green or white. Could probably be bumped down to uncommon as well. Balance – It's an Infest that leaves behind an 0/4. The effect is fine, so the card probably has some worth in limited, but the added body doesn't justify the added cost for constructed formats. Creative Writing – The name does fit very nicely for what the card does, so that's nice.
Design (7.5/10) Creativity – It's basically a super Scion of the Wild, so it's not the most creative idea in the world. Elegance – Alright, this is a creature with negative stats I can get behind. The creature can't exist without others around it, and the more there are, the more powerful it is. Perfect. Potential – Probably has potential in token strategies, especially since it has trample and gets a super boost.
Development (8/10) Viability – All good here. Balance – Cards like this are typically very underwhelming. However, I think this one would at least have the potential to be good in limited where it could break through large enough board stalls. Still nowhere close to constructed. Creative Writing – Name and flavor text are very nice. I wish that the flavor text was quoted to someone though. It just feels like a quote to me.
I know this closed yesterday but just putting this out there to share a fun design
Scorpion Shade 3BB
Creature - Scorpion {u}
While Scorpion Shade has negative power it deals damage as though it's power is an absolute value (the same number but positive) and has infect.
1B: Scorpion Shade Gets +2/+2 or -1/+1 until end of turn.
"It skitters, grows, it snaps and stings, in darkness lurks less deadly things."
-2/2
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Enchantment Creature - Jellyfish [uncommon]
Bestow 3UU
Defender
Enchanted creature gain -4/+4 and has defender
-4/4
Creativity – Feels like a revamped Nekrataal, nothing really new but different enough.
Elegance – Pretty elegant, the -2/-2 seems out of place though
Potential – Johnny likes it, it isn't effecient enough for Spike, Timmy likes if he can kill big things to make big things.
Development (7/10)
Viability – Very black, rare seems appropriate for limited's sake.
Balance – Appropriately costed but still seems underpowered. When you cast it early it will probably be a sorcery speed 3 mana kill spell which isn't great. Has the potential for 2 for 1.
Creative Writing – The name is appropriate but there is no flavor text so its not very exciting.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Though next time please use the mana symbols, bold the name, etc. Makes it easier to read.
Total: 18/25
Creativity – Feels like a less explosive but more resilient Ball Lightning
Elegance – A little clunky, its very wordy but the mechanics come together nicely
Potential – I think Burn would take the explosiveness over the resiliency, has some casual burn appeal however. Noone else is really interested
Development (8/10)
Viability – Definitely red, rare seems appropriate for limited.
Balance – Appropriately costed, gives you nice options to curve early or late.
Creative Writing – I like the name but with no flavor text it feels kind of generic.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Total: 18/25
Creativity – A new twist to a lord effect, the land sacrificing gives it a unique feel
Elegance – Easy to understand an build around
Potential – Too slow for Spike but Timmy and Johnny both see a lot of potential
Development (6/10)
Viability – Black in the way it can both give or take power, also sacrificing resources for power
Balance – I would lower it to -1/1 or -1/2 and probably give it a CMC of 2. Right now it feels slow. Rare is good for a lord
Creative Writing – The flavor isn't really clicking, who is it a champion for? How is this creation championlike?
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Total: 20/25
Creativity – Nothing really unique about this besides the random -1 power
Elegance – Easy to understand and use
Potential – Too slow a 1 drop for spike, Timmy and Hohnny both like it a little more for shenanigans and potential
Development (7/10)
Viability – Its a creatures that can smash face and is a bear, very green
Balance – No reason for this to be rare, it isn't that powerful and doesn't feel epic. The balance is ok , would be a decent limited card
Creative Writing – I like the flavor text, and the flavor of a bear growing is ok but its not something Vorthos is gonna look at more than once
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Total: 17/25
Creativity – Good way of incorporating an old idea into a new mechanic, though the negative power feels forced
Elegance – Straightforward and easy to see how it would be good
Potential – Spike likes it in limited though not constructed, Timmy is neautral and Johnny is bored
Development (8/10)
Viability – Its a defensive weenie that is best as part of a group, sounds White to me
Balance – Uncommon is good as this thing would be annoying in limited with multiples. Appropriate power and toughness for a defensive dude
Creative Writing – Even without flavor text the flavor comes through extremely well
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Total: 21/25
Creativity – Great job incorporating the negative power into the design, definitely feels unique
Elegance – Wordy but straightforward, its a little clunky but can be figured out pretty easily
Potential – Spike probably thinks its too gimmicky, Johnny and Timmy are drooling
Development (9/10)
Viability – "Loses the Game" and wants tuff dead, sounds Black to me
Balance – Mythic is definitely appropriate, seems balanced, its a huge effect but takes a lot of cost/cards/prep to use
Creative Writing – Love the name, the flavor text makes me want to know more about the ancient power
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Total: 23/25
Creativity – Very nice blend of effcts and incorporates the negative power and toughness seamlessly
Elegance – Very elegant and easy to understand
Potential – Spike likes the versatility, Timmy is thinking of fun tricks, Timmy is meh
Development (9/10)
Viability – Blue likes cards, this card works with other cards
Balance – Uncommon is great, could potentially cost 3 but that might be broken
Creative Writing – The name and flavor fit and feel like part of a bigger world
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Total: 24/25
Creativity – Nothing brand new here but the combination makes it feel unique
Elegance – More complex then it looks at first glance however its easy enough to understand
Potential – Probably too gimmicky for spike but the numbers are there, Johnny isn't excited but Timmy likes it
Development (7/10)
Viability – Feels very boros, its aggressive but needs a swarm to help
Balance – Should probably cost 1 more, 5/5 haste on turn 2-3 is pretty powerful, even if there are restrictions
Creative Writing – The name and flavor seem like a bit of a stretch, however it makes some sense
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Meets both criteria
Quality (3/3) – Fine
Total: 19/25
1. Venser FR
2. GG Crono
3. Scarbo
4. Rillis
Signature by DarkNightCavalier at Heroes of the Plane Studios
Creature - Spirit (M)
Deathtouch
At the end of each turn, if a permanent was put into a graveyard from the battlefield that turn, put a doom counter on Echo of the Endbringer.
Echo of the Endbringer gets +1/+0 for each doom counter on it.
When Echo of the Endbringer deals combat damage to a player, you may exile it. If you do, that player loses the game.
It is nothing but wisp, a residue, an infinitesimal trace of an ancient power. But when a power so terrible is awakened, even a trace can bring a world to its knees.
-8/5
Creature - Ooze {R}
When you cast Seepslime, you may search your library for a card named Seepslime and put it into your hand.
Seepslime gets +1/+1 for each creature card named Seepslime in your graveyard.
A deck can have any number of cards named Seepslime.
-5/-5
My Namesake: Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
Creature - Elemental {R}
Morph 2BB (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
When Decrepitude enters the battlefield or is turned face up, all other creatures get +X/+X until end of turn, where X is Decrepitude's power. (If its power is -2, other creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn.)
-2/4
- My Full Mirrodin Cube (draft it here)
- My One-Drop Cube (draft it here)
MCC Winner Nov ‘14 & Nov ‘15
Creature - Elemental (R)
Life's Light gets +X/+X, where X is your life total.
-13/-13
It is like life itself: beautiful, potent, and fragile.
I run a Tumblr for Magic-related statistics, graphs, and quizzes. Come check it out!
Creature - Wurm (U)
Haste
As long as you control an untapped land, ~ gets +5/+0.
As long as you control an untapped creature, ~ gets +0/+5.
Without our connections, we're nothing.
- Ashram Besste
-1/-1
Enchantment Creature - Leech (U)
Bestow BG
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on Nyxborn Leech and enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature gets -1/-1.
Pharikas menders often employ methods that are both, cure and curse.
-1/-1
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
Collective Will 2GW
Creature — Elemental (R)
Trample
Collective Will gets +2/+2 for each other creature you control.
Individuals don’t exist by themselves in the Conclave. While each of them has a distinct physical body, their will is united, unique and strong.
-1/-1
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.)
Creature - Wurm (M)
Morph 4BG (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
When Sewer Wurm is turned face up, each other creature gains +X/+X until end of turn, where X is equal to Sewer Wurm's Power.
-4/5
On a less serious note, that's 2 months in a row now my name has been misspelled. Is it actually that difficult?
Creativity – Pretty much a branch off of the design space opened up by Warden of the Beyond. It is still a unique effect, however, and it's cool to see design based off of that.
Elegance – I hate the stats on this thing. I feel like it would be so much cleaner with even (or almost even) stats (I would have preferred it just as an 0/1). But that's probably more of a personal thing. Otherwise it's fine.
Potential – It rewards you for building around it. It's kind of like Jace's Phantasm in that you get a big evasive beater as a payoff for building around the card.
Development (8.5/10)
Viability – I know we still only have Warden of the Beyond to go off of, but I do still feel like this is a white effect. I think the colors you made it are more justified by flavor than ability. This type of card strikes me as falling into (W/U) (or even just W). Other than that it's fine.
Balance – Again, like Jace's Phantasm, it would probably show up as being a powerful card in niche strategies. I think it would be tough to construct a limited format where this card is good (although now that I think about it, it is pretty sweet with delve), but overall I think it's a fair card.
Creative Writing – At first I didn't like the flavor text. Then I read up on Ashiok a little bit more. Now I like it. Go figure.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Fine.
Quality (3/3) – Also fine.
Total: 21.5/25
Creativity – So it's a 1-mana Force of Savagery that if you can't buff it is a modular Battlegrowth? It's not the most groundbreaking thing ever, but it's interesting enough.
Elegance – I mean, obliterator and "dies as soon as you play it" don't really work together for me. It is sweet if it manages to live though.
Potential – Someone would try to make this work with crusade/lord effects, cause it is a tank if it hits the ground running.
Development (4/10)
Viability – I feel like colorless can get away with a lot, but slapping on all the abilities just feels like a bit much. Fine at rare, just cause it's a unique kind of card.
Balance – This feels pretty bad to me. Having to go through hoops for a guy who just dies to every removal spell just isn't worth it. Most of the time it's just gonna put a counter on a dude.
Creative Writing – The name seems inappropriate for something that dies so easily, and the flavor text is just silly.
Polish
Challenge (1/2) – Challenge 1 failed.
Quality (2.5/3) – "Arcbound," there shouldn't be an "and" in between the abilities.
Total: 13.5/25
Creativity – Kind of meh. The plus for having power 1 or greater is nice, but the Sengir think has been done to death.
Elegance – The card fits nicely in terms of flavor, but this should really be an 0/1 with a higher threshold for the ability (probably 3 or 4 power). Vampires are typically aggressive, and none of them have this much of a skew towards toughness.
Potential – Vampires are a popular enough tribe that this could get some use, although there are probably better options.
Development (7.5/10)
Viability – Definitely black, but probably could be bumped down to uncommon without any real issues.
Balance – This kind of reminds me of Slumbering Dragon in that you play it early, and your opponent ignores it until it starts to effect that game. The only problem is that this card is probably just too vulnerable and would probably take too long to get going (also is completely useless as a top deck). Limited it's probably good not great, constructed it really has no shot.
Creative Writing – Name is good. Really want flavor text on this though.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Good.
Quality (3/3) – Good.
Total: 16.5/25
Creativity – Very nice. Alternate win cons are always nice, and while this feels a little like the win con of Mayael's Aria, it's cool that it doesn't feel like a win-more from having a 20 power creature.
Elegance – Very good. The win effect makes sense from a flavor perspective as the seed growing into something unstoppable.
Potential – This is the type of card that screams to be built around. Definitely a lot of potential.
Development (6.5/10)
Viability – Certainly green, maybe could be pushed down to rare, but probably fine at mythic.
Balance – You got me. I couldn't find a way to break it. No P/T setting tricks that don't also take away abilities. I'm sure it's out there, I just can't find it. Unfortunately, that means this card is pretty far from playable. Maybe if it had "At the beginning of each upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on it" to represent it's growth, that way it could also be a respectable blocker while going towards victory. This will probably only have appeal in the casual circles, the same way that cards like Helix Pinnacle (or most alt win cons for that matter) do.
Creative Writing – The name and flavor text make sense and fit with the card nicely, though the flavor text is a little dark for a mono green card in my opinion.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Good.
Quality (3/3) – Good.
Total: 21.5/25
Creativity – It's a decent twist to the idea, but it still falls under the category of "Gets bigger when things die," which has be done quite a bit.
Elegance – Ah yes, the "no counters but you're still gonna have to use them" design. I know +1/+0 counters aren't a thing anymore, but even that would be better than what you have. Probably the best solution is "Whenever another creature dies, put a ... counter on ~ for each creature that died this turn. ~ gets +1/+0 for each ... counter on it." It's wordy, but it's a much cleaner design. Also, obligatory comment about how it would probably be fine as an 0/3.
Potential – This could get out of hand if your able to sacrifice a bunch of creatures in one turn, so there's some potential there.
Development (7/10)
Viability – Seems fine all around.
Balance – Limited this is fine, as getting this to reach it's full potential would be difficult, and it always has 3 toughness, so it trades with a lot of things. In constructed formats where these sort of things can be built around, it could be pretty dangerous. With a sac outlet and 4 creatures, you can buff it to a 15/3 immediately, which will end the game quick if not dealt with. That being said, the 3 toughness would probably stop this from being too dangerous, so this is probably safe and would probably be pretty interesting in certain decks.
Creative Writing – So bad. Ludevic is an alchemist, so how his pet is a horror I have no idea (also alchemy is more blue). Also, Ludevic lives on the province of Nephalia, while Geralf and Gisa fought in the Moorland on Gavony, which are separate places.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Good.
Quality (3/3) – Good.
Total: 17/25
Creativity – Super Magical Hacker? Super Magical Hacker.
Elegance – I'm pretty sure the idea is that this card is switching polarities, in which case, it does a decent job of conveying it. The lengthy description needed for this ability doesn't really help with being able to easily grasp the concept. Also, just because it's big doesn't mean it needs to have trample. And there's the fact that the interaction between deathtouch and trample is very confusing for new players, thus why it doesn't appear on cards together.
Potential – Definitely a build around card, I'll give you that. Cards like this make you look for things to abuse it with.
Development (4.5/10)
Viability – The fun part. First, let's start with whether or not this actually works in black-border Magic, for which the answer is probably not, but I can't say for sure (not a rules expert). There's a reason this was done in silver-border, and I'm not sure enough has changed in the past 10 years for this to be acceptable. Then again, other silver-border cards have made it into black-border, so who knows. Now, onto the question of "Would this card be printed if it was within the rules?" for which I think the answer is a resounding no. It is a complicated card that would probably cause more rules headaches than it would be worth.
Other issues: pretty sure they got it right when they put it in blue the first time. Blue can mess with text of cards (maybe a point in favor of this card being possible?), so this would probably fall under its jurisdiction as well.
Balance – Nice and quick, OK in Limited cause it's big, awesome as a Commander, would never see play in a constructed format ever.
Creative Writing – Name and flavor text nicely reflect the fact that it switches things. Not amazing, but good.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) - Good.
Quality (3/3) – You beat the system. I can't penalize you for a templating that doesn't exist.
Total: 16.5/25
Creativity – Pretty much just Bane of the Living plus Massacre Wurm.
Elegance – This could say creatures get -2/-2 when it gets turned face up and it would still be the same card 99% of the time. You could just do that and make it a 0/4 and essentially nothing would change, but the design would be much cleaner.
Potential – Someone could try to make this a high power creature when it turns face up, but then you probably don't need the extra boost anyway, so I guess it's just a worse Bane of the Living.
Development (4/10)
Viability – I don't care that the effect is almost always negative, it says +X/+X on it, so it should probably also be either green or white. Could probably be bumped down to uncommon as well.
Balance – It's an Infest that leaves behind an 0/4. The effect is fine, so the card probably has some worth in limited, but the added body doesn't justify the added cost for constructed formats.
Creative Writing – The name does fit very nicely for what the card does, so that's nice.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Good.
Quality (3/3) – Good.
Total: 11.5/25
Creativity – It's basically a super Scion of the Wild, so it's not the most creative idea in the world.
Elegance – Alright, this is a creature with negative stats I can get behind. The creature can't exist without others around it, and the more there are, the more powerful it is. Perfect.
Potential – Probably has potential in token strategies, especially since it has trample and gets a super boost.
Development (8/10)
Viability – All good here.
Balance – Cards like this are typically very underwhelming. However, I think this one would at least have the potential to be good in limited where it could break through large enough board stalls. Still nowhere close to constructed.
Creative Writing – Name and flavor text are very nice. I wish that the flavor text was quoted to someone though. It just feels like a quote to me.
Polish
Challenge (2/2) – Good.
Quality (3/3) – Good.
Total: 20.5/25
Withengar: 21.5/25
Freyleyes: 13.5/25
IlGreven: 16.5//25
Asrama: 21.5/25
vertain: 17/25
Flatline: 16.5/25
palanthas: 11.5/25
bravelion83: 20.5/25
Scorpion Shade 3BB
Creature - Scorpion {u}
While Scorpion Shade has negative power it deals damage as though it's power is an absolute value (the same number but positive) and has infect.
1B: Scorpion Shade Gets +2/+2 or -1/+1 until end of turn.
"It skitters, grows, it snaps and stings, in darkness lurks less deadly things."
-2/2