"The future is easy because it doesn't exist, but the past is painful because it lives forever."
-Fred Durst, Limp Bizkit (source: the beginning of this video of "Almost Over") Main Challenge: Design an instant or sorcery card with flashback. No DFCs! (if that is even possible...)
Subchallenges:
1- The flashback cost does NOT share a color with the card's mana cost (please see Clarifications).
2- The card has CMC 3 or less.
For subchallenge 1, remember that colorless is not a color. This means that a card with a purely colorless mana cost (either because there is only generic mana or because of C) and a colored flashback cost or vice versa DOES pass the challenge.
@Bravelion: Regarding challenge 1, will a non-mana flashback cost (such as Cabal Therapy's) fit the challenge?
A non-mana flashback cost can't share a color with the mana cost because it has no color itself, so it's kind of like the case about colorless costs I mentioned in the clarifications spoiler, so it's fine by the letter of the law. It's not what the spirit of the challenge is, but I'll rule that a non-mana flashback cost DOES indeed pass subchallenge 1.
would a flashback cost that doesn't contain mana but does require your deck to have access to a different color fit the challenge? (i.e. if Battle Screech would have been a blue card but with the same flashback cost)
Yes, that would also pass subchallenge 1, but not because it mentions another color. Mentioning another color in the flashback cost does not make the cost that color, it's still a colorless flashback cost, so you're back to the previous case. The end result is the same anyway (passing the challenge).
In short, to pass subchallenge 1, the flashback cost can be anything, mana and/or non-mana, as long as it shares no color with the mana cost. It's obvious that the flashback cost can't share any color if it doesn't have any.
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.
DEADLINES In green, the next deadline to come.
In blue, further future deadlines to come.
In red, past deadlines.
Player deadline: Sunday, March 13th 23:59 EDT
Judge deadline: Thursday, March 17th 23:59 EDT
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.)
Rehabilitate
• Sorcery [U] (Nonexistent mana costs can't be paid.)
Return target permanent card from your graveyard to your hand.
Flashback 1G(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) Just like new.
Avacyn's DecreeWW
Instant (R)
Creatures you control gain protection from the color of your choice until end of turn. If Avacyn's Decree was cast from a graveyard, it deals 4 damage to each creature instead.
Flashback 3RR(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Soulfire Siphon2B
Sorcery (R)
Soulfire Siphon deals 3 damage to target creature or player. You gain 3 life.
Flashback WR (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) The reaction burns and body and perfectly sears the soul, making it all the more delicious to the one consuming it.
Increasing Influence
Sorcery (R)
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. If Increasing Influence was cast from a graveyard, gain control of target creature instead.
Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
(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)
Battle for Zendikar1WW
Sorcery [R]
Put three 1/1 white Kor Ally creature tokens onto the battlefield. If Battle for Zendikar was cast from a graveyard, put three 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature tokens onto the battlefield instead. They have "Sacrifice this creature: Add 1 to your mana pool."
Flashback 2CC
Avacyn's Intervention2W
Instant {uncommun}
Destroy target attacking creature. If Avacyn's Intervention was cast from a graveyard, it deals damage equal to that creature's power to the creature's controller.
Flashback 3RR(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) All will burn. All will bleed.
Psychosis1B
Instant{R}
Destroy target creature with converted mana cost 3 or less. If Psychosis was cast from a graveyard, counter target spell with converted mana cost 3 or less instead.
Flashback—1U Rot the mind and the body will crumble soon after.
Ghastly Research2U
Sorcery (U)
Draw two cards.
Flashback — 3B, Sacrifice a creature. (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Rumbling of the Horde2GG
Sorcery
Creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain trample until end of turn.
Flashback 0
You may not cast Rumbling of the Herd's from your graveyard unless you control 8 or more creatures.
Algal Bloom1G
Sorcery - Uncommon
Until end of turn, whenever a land is tapped for mana of any type that was spent to cast Algal Bloom, that land's controller adds one additional mana of that type to his or her mana pool.
Flashback BB With the right mixture of food, water, and dirt, algae can put out more than they take in.
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
Sweep the LegW
Instant (U)
Tap target creature. If Sweep the Leg was cast from a graveyard, Sweep the Leg deals 3 damage to target tapped creature instead.
Flashback — R. "Good, get it on the ground first. Then, quick, stab it in the neck!"
— Havin, guard trainer
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: It's splashy. Getting to destroy a creature and hit the opponent for its power would be something Timmy could enjoy somewhat. Spike likes the value that comes with destroying two creatures. Johnny at least isn't bothered.
(3/3) Elegance: Pretty straigthforward. Simple effect at first and doesn't get much more complicated the second time around. You're not referencing too many things.
Development -
(1/3) Viability: Any card that had flashbackcosts in different color than the original casting cost, had an effect that both colors had access to. For example Ancient Grudge, green and red both are allowed to destroy artifacts. Or close to your card, Burning Oil, while red usually can deal damage to any creature, it's limited to attacking creatures, to also allow white access to it.
On your card however, red is able to destroy an attacking creature, which is nothing red has access to. That's a color pie violating, even if you do it on a white card. I'm pretty sure if this was in the file for a set, the flashback cost would get changed to w/r very quickly. Uncommon is a good fit though.
(2/3) Balance: Getting to destroy an attacking creature twice is pretty strong. It might even put your opponent on hold completely, when there's an effect like that lingering in your grave.
However that comes at a high cost of 5 mana for part two and different colors. Since this is uncommon it might actually spark an entire archetype in its draft format: white-red control, as destroying attacking creatures won't do a whole lot for the classic white-red aggro deck.
If I was the lead developer I'd probably cut the alterating effect, make it the same both times and change the casting cost and the flashback cost to be white-red-multicolored, to limit access for other draft archetypes. Right now, white-blue would just pick this up for the one-time effect, as that would still be good enough.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: A mixture of Cinder Cloud and the "Increasing"-cycle. I don't feel there's a whole lot new going on here.
(2.5/3) Flavor: I like how Avacyn has to intervene twice and the second time around she gets real angry. I wish you had incorporated that in your flavortext. It doesn't seem to fit very well. It's not so much "all", more like "this creature". And there's no burn going on. Bleeding sort of fits though.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Just write (U). Shorter and there won't be any typos on the word.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Instant with Flashback.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Fitting casting cost of 3 and differently colored Flashback.
Total: 19/25
Design -
(3/3) Appeal: With two big splashy effects like that Timmy will be overjoyed to rip this card. Spike might even find some use for it.
(2/3) Elegance: It's a bit confusing that this card plays differently from other Flashback cards, as it's practicially two entirely different spells. The mechanics represent two opposites, which makes them easy to sepparate, so you are really minimizing the confusion.
Development -
(1.5/3) Viability: The two effects are well established in their respective colors. Rare seems like a good fit. But I feel this isn't a good way for Flashback to take. Flashback is all about getting the same spell twice. This walks into a similar territory as Splitcards with Fuse. It looks like it should be a different mechanic entirely.
(2/3) Balance: At 6 mana this is quite heavily costed. I don't think Blood Tribute has seen much play and tapping a vampire (while resulting in a slightly different effect) is a lot less than another 6 mana of a different color. What I'm saying is, this card is weak. But maybe it can still shine one the kitchen table and in multiplayer formats. So it's still got potential.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Pretty close to Blood Tribute. Different effects for Flashback cards when cast from the grave has been explored with the "Increasing" cards. But getting entirely new effects for a different cost is something that's so new, it might warrant a new mechanic. That's pretty fresh.
(2.5/3) Flavor: I'd have liked for this to have a name more akin to the "Increasing"-cycle. Like Wavering Judgement or something. But I guess it's also nice that Sorin passes different judgements on different players. So I guess this works. Not sure about a plane 'living', though.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Sorcery with Flashback.
(1/2) Subchallenges: White Flashback, black Casting Cost, which is not 3 or less.
Total: 19/25
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike likes to draw cards. Especially four out of one card. Yummy! Johnny probably finds a way to use 4 artifacts out of one card.
(3/3) Elegance: Pretty clear what's going on. Investigate like you've never investigated before!
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Even though white and blue are definately the investigating colors, I'm not sure I like double investigation on white at uncommon. I guess it's just as far as I'd be willing to accept card draw in white.
(2/3) Balance: 4 cards for 12 mana. Not very good. At least it's instancable at 2 mana. But you'll have to pay at least 4 mana before you get to draw anything. Truly something you don't want to play often in your deck. So uncommon might be the wrong rarity for an effect like this.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Using keywords like that twice on a card has been done before. But in combination with Flashback it's a whole new level of overdoing it. Fun!
(2/3) Flavor: The name doesn't exactly roll right off your tounge, the concept is crystal clear though. Not sure how the flavor text adds to the whole.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good to me.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Sorcery with Flashback alright.
(2/2) Subchallenges: All met.
Total: 21/25
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike is thrilled. Timmy might see the benefit in dealing with creatures, but giving his opponent a creature? eh Johnny might just need a card like that to buy time.
(2/3) Elegance: Getting tokens out of kills is always a tricky read. I was thinking about how this would have been fine if your opponent would get the creature until I realized that's exactly what you did.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: A genious way to shift that ability to blue! Love it. I wish these kinds of cards would just exile the creature to prevent flavor fails, but that's not up to you to solve. Not sure about rare. It's strong removal, alright, but not the planeswalker-killing kind. But I guess it'd warp the draft format at uncommon.
(2.5/3) Balance: If I remember correctly Sever the Bloodline has seen quite some play back in it's day. Your initial casting cost is comparable, with your effect being considerably weaker, but 7 mana pitted against 3 and a 2/2 zombie? I think you're a bit off here. But it's a different color, so not by much.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Both effects on their own have been done, but the combination with that fluid transition is something incredibly creative!
(2.5/3) Flavor: The name doesn't fit so well the first time it's casted, but the flavortext salvages the thing. Nicely done.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Nothing botched. Nice execution.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Sorcery with Flashback. Check.
(2/2) Subchallenges: 3 mana. Check. Different colors. Check.
Total: 22/25
P E: 19
SelesnyaNewLife: 19 theazurespirit: 21 TriceDefied: 22
Also, while you seek revenge or want to express your gratitude, why not head over to the CCL Final Poll and judge your judge?
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
As usual, top 2 from each bracket advance. Judges, happy judging! Judging complete. Not final until deadline.
Check my "Mark of Quality" articles (link in signature) for a list of the most common Quality mistakes to avoid.
Challenges: what counts is always the letter of the law, unless explicit specifications of the host.
Quality: half a point deducted for any error in templating, wording, spelling, or grammar, no matter how little they may be; a whole point for particularly serious errors.
No complaints unless I got something objectively wrong.
Battle for Zendikar1WW
Sorcery [R]
Put three 1/1 white Kor Ally creature tokens onto the battlefield. If Battle for Zendikar was cast from a graveyard, put three 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature tokens onto the battlefield instead. They have "Sacrifice this creature: Add 1 to your mana pool."
Flashback 2CC
Design (3/3) Appeal - Timmy likes creating tokens, and the visual feedback of that on the battlefield is very good here. Johnny can use the tokens somehow, and he can also use the fact that the Scions sacrifice themselves. Spike likes the power-to-cmc ratio here: limited Spikes see a better Hordeling Outburst, a card they already liked, and constructed Spikes can compare this to Lingering Souls, the tokens don't fly but you get more of them. Will that be enough to have a higher flashback cost? (2.5/3) Elegance - Wordy but clear enough.
Development (3/3) Viability - White can create tokens without any problems, and the association between Eldrazi and colorless mana makes the flashback cost fine. Rare is definitely the right rarity for this card. Somehow it reminds me of Increasing Devotion. (3/3) Balance - The aforementioned Hordeling Outburst shows that three mana can be worth three tokens, which by the way also have a very relevant creature type (Ally). Charging one mana more for three more tokens out of flashback feels appropriate. This is certainly playable in limited, and might also make a splash in Standard. I can't see this in larger formats. I don't see any problem in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - Between the colorless mana symbols in the flashback cost and having the kind of tokens you create depend on the type of mana you spend, there is plenty of innovation here. (2/3) Flavor - There are precedents for cards having the same name as sets (the intentional Time Spiral/Planar Chaos/Future Sight block and Conflux come to mind, so that's not a problem. I'm sure this is a top down design that started with the card name, and I think the result is good enough. Both sides of the battle are represented, and with the right colors (or lack thereof): Allies primary white and Eldrazi colorless. The mechanics do match with the name you started with, and that creates a very nice flavor even without flavor text. I usually give half points here for a card without flavor text, but given what I just said and the fact that MSE tells me there wouldn't have been room anyway, I want to make an exception here and give you a 0.5 points bonus.
Polish (2.5/3) Quality - In the Scions' mana ability, 1 should be C (half a point deducted). (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Rumbling of the Horde2GG
Sorcery
Creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain trample until end of turn.
Flashback 0
You may not cast Rumbling of the Herd's from your graveyard unless you control 8 or more creatures.
Design (1.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes playing a lot of creatures as required by the last ability and also likes pumping them. Johnny has the challenge of accumulating enough creatures to flash this back, but the payoff isn't exactly something he cares about. Spike just disregards the last ability, knowing it will be almost impossible to flash this back, and what he sees is a pump spell that is definitely not worth the mana it costs. (3/3) Elegance - Easy enough to understand and the card concept makes sense.
Development (1/3) Viability - The effect is definitely green. The last ability feels a little more white than green (white is the "I want a lot of small creatures" colors, green is the "I want fewer creatures but bigger" color), but it's still something that definitely makes sense in green. This is the only reason for the one point you get to keep here, because rarity is missing and I can't judge something that is not there. This costs you a lot of points both here and in Quality. (1.5/3) Balance - This could be useful in limited in situations where players are stalled because they both have a lot of creatures. This can definitely help you break the stall. Still, I wouldn't necessarily play this in my limited deck, even if I'm in green. I expect this to be a late pick and a card that sometimes makes the cut but even if it does it's the 22nd-23rd nonland card in your deck. No way this would see play in constructed. There are no problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - The restriction on casting this from your graveyard is definitely original. (1.5/3) Flavor - Both the "Horde" and "Herd" flavors work here especially because you need a lot of creatures to flash it back. No flavor text, even though a couple lines could fit.
Polish (1/3) Quality - Rarity is missing (one point deducted, it's a fundamental part of a card). The name changes in the rules text ("Horde" becomes "Herd", half a point deducted). When referring to the number of creatures, you write it out (it should be "eight or more creatures", half a point deducted). (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (1/2) Subchallenges - No shared colors, but costs more than three mana.
Algal Bloom1G
Sorcery - Uncommon
Until end of turn, whenever a land is tapped for mana of any type that was spent to cast Algal Bloom, that land's controller adds one additional mana of that type to his or her mana pool.
Flashback BB With the right mixture of food, water, and dirt, algae can put out more than they take in.
Design (2/3) Appeal - Timmy likes having more mana to cast more and bigger creatures. Johnny can use the extra mana, as could Spike. Everyone can accept this card even though I see no one getting fully excited by it. (1/3) Elegance - This is a card that requires more than one read to fully understand. Also, a lot of players won't like this working for opponents too.
Development (1/3) Viability - The effect is certainly green, but also certainly NOT black. Black might do something similar with Swamps, but not with any land. Rarity feels right to me. Also, having to remember which types of mana you spent to cast this card may cause memory issues. (1/3) Balance - This is not a card made for limited, it's not a combat trick and not a removal spell, I think this would be a last pick that doesn't make the cut in your deck. In constructed, it could work in a casual deck built around big mana, and there would be no problems there, but I can't see it in competitive formats.
Creativity (1/3) Uniqueness - We've already seen similar effects in cleaner cards. (2.5/3) Flavor - The name is fine and makes sense with the mechanics. The flavor text is fine even though is sounds kind of bland and not that professional to me.
Polish (3/3) Quality - I'm definitely not sure about the wording, but I can't find any clear mistake. (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Avacyn's DecreeWW
Instant (R)
Creatures you control gain protection from the color of your choice until end of turn. If Avacyn's Decree was cast from a graveyard, it deals 4 damage to each creature instead.
Flashback 3RR(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Design (2/3) Appeal - Timmy likes to protect his creatures, even though he doesn't like to damage them too together with the opponent's ones. He still like how this affects the battlefield overall. There's not so much for Johnny here. Spike loves this card, to his eyes it's a protective spell that turns into a Wrath. (3/3) Elegance - Easy to understand and makes a lot of sense with the concept of Avacyn gone mad.
Development (3/3) Viability - The white part is white and the red part is red. It's a tautology but it's what we have here. Good. Protection is deciduous now so it can still be used infrequently and at high rarities, and this is conveniently and rightly rare. (2.5/3) Balance - The mana cost feels fine for the main part. The flashback cost also feels fine, enough given the damage, if even a bit on the low side given the inherent card advantage of flashback. I'd say strong but not broken, that's a very good place to be. This is certainly playable in limited, not sure about constructed. I wouldn't be surprised to see it getting a little Standard play though. I can't see any problem in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - Having a spell turn into a completely different one with flashback feels original, even though we have already seen effects that change depending on whether you cast them from the graveyard, but not this much. (2.5/3) Flavor - The flavor is a home run. Amazing, and it doesn't even have flavor text! Avacyn was created to protect the humans, but then she goes mad and protects them from themselves by killing them. This card reflects this perfectly in name and mechanics. MSE tells me that indeed there is no room for flavor text, and that alleviates its absence, allowing me to prize how well this card manages to convey its flavor even without it.
Polish (3/3) Quality - All good. (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
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.)
Increasing Influence
Sorcery (R)
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. If Increasing Influence was cast from a graveyard, gain control of target creature instead.
Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
For some reason the mana symbols in your post appear to me collected at the bottom rather than in their place. Weird. Design -
(1/3) Appeal: Timmy would like the big play, and Spike the big swing in board state, of stealing the opponent's best creature. However, both would probably prefer the consistency of simply playing their own. I don't think Johnny is very interested. (3/3) Elegance: No issues here
Development - (2/3) Viability: Each result is within the slice of the pie of the color required to cast it. This feels fine at rare, and that's where permanent control effects should generally be. There is an issue with this card, however. It is strictly better than Threaten and Act of Treason. Wizards has not printed a strictly better version of those cards, leading me to believe they wouldn't allow it. The closest is mark of mutiny, but even that has a clear downside if the creature survives. (2/3) Balance: As a rare, this card would be strong, but not too strong in limited. While it's unlikely it would see competetive constructed play, both spellslinger and control magic casual decks could be interested.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: Neither resolution is anything particularly new, but the juxtaposition of the two obviously related but separate effects feels fresh enough. Also, apparently having a different effect on flashback hasn't actually been printed. (1.5/3) Flavor: The name is fine. Scant room for flavor text.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: Based on Increasing Savagery and such from AVR, the wording should be "If Increasing Influence was cast from a graveyard, gain control of that creature instead." (2/2) *Main Challenge: Filled. (2/2) Subchallenges: Both filled.
Sweep the LegW
Instant (U)
Tap target creature. If Sweep the Leg was cast from a graveyard, Sweep the Leg deals 3 damage to target tapped creature instead.
Flashback — R. "Good, get it on the ground first. Then, quick, stab it in the neck!"
— Havin, guard trainer
Design -
(1/3) Appeal: While not pushed, this card holds enough power that spike would be interested. The card offers little for Johnny and Timmy. (2.5/3) Elegance: The completely different effect when flashed back could be confusing, but the flavor and direct relationship between them mostly mitigates that.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Each ability is within the slice of the pie of the color required to cast it. This is probably best at uncommon. (2.5/3) Balance: This would certainly see limited play, where it would be strong but not oppressive, especially as, if you didn't cast and recast it all at once, the opponent could play around the flashing back, and WR: bolt a creature isn't exceedingly strong. It would likely see some standard play, but it probably isn't fun enough for casual or strong enough for non-rotating formats.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: There actually aren't any cards that deal damage to target tapped creature. Also, having a different effect on flashback hasn't actually been printed. (2.5/3) Flavor: The flavor isn't overly strong but it synergizes perfectly with the mechanics.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: As the targeting requirements are different, it would be incorrect to word it "that creature" like Increasing Savagery, so you're good there. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Filled. (2/2) Subchallenges: All good.
Skim the Depths1UU
Sorcery (U)
Look at the top three cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom in a random order. If Skim the Depths was cast from a graveyard, look at the top thirty cards instead.
Flashback 1BB, Pay 3 life
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Spike likes Anticipate and tutors, and while the mana cost and sorcery speed could turn them off to it, the fact that it only costs 1 card would likely counteract that. Johnny likes tutors and card filtering too, as they help assemble the combo. Timmy might like the "thirty" but would largely be uninterested. (2/3) Elegance: This is a little wordy, and players would likely have to read it twice. The life cost could also seem a little off, but not enough so to deduct points.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: The effect when cast from hand is fine in blue. The flashback seems like a bend at first, but black can certainly get filter draw if it pays life, and the intention is clearly a tutor, a solidly black effect. I don't think this is ok at uncommon. While tutors are, and this is a tutor by the turn you can cast in limited, this is not just a simple tutor. (3/3) Balance: This would certainly see limited play, as Anticipate is decent and the full tutor attached to it, which this would be by the time you cast it in limited, is quite sweet. 2 cards for 6 mana at sorcery speed is also pretty assuredly not too strong. It could also see play in a standard U/B control deck. It likely costs too much for non-rotating competetive formats, and the top 30 cards mightn't be enough for EDH. However, it would be enough for casual.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: The effect when cast from cast from hand is not unique, but the flashback certainly is. Never before has a card referred to the number 30 outside of life. No tutor has ever searched half your library. Excellent job. (1.5/3) Flavor: Name is fine, scant room for flavor text.
Polish - (2/3) Quality: Put them on the bottom of what, your hand? (2/2) *Main Challenge: Filled. (2/2) Subchallenges: All good.
Twilight from BeyondBB
Sorcery (R)
Put a white and black Horror creature token onto the battlefield with "This creature's power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards you own in exile."
Flashback WW(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) The dusk didn't come from the sun. Neither did the dawn.
Design -
(1/3) Appeal: Johnny really loves the possibilities this card offers. Unless there was a clear, incidental way to exile their own cards, Timmy and Spike would likely be uninterested. (3/3) Elegance: This is fine.
Development - (3/3) Viability: This feels like a solidly rare effect. There is little color pie precedent for this, Ulamog's Despoiler and Adept of the Beyond both care about cards opponents own in exile. As such, there's no reason for a deduction here. (1/3) Balance: The power level of this is much more context-dependent than usual. I don't think this would see much limited play, as the cards necessary for it to be good would likely be inconsistent. I doubt it would see standard play, though it's possible, as simple pseudo-vanilla creatures usually aren't that good even when they're undercosted, though Tarmogoyf proves this isn't always the case. There would certainly be casual decks based around it but I doubt there'd be many.
Creativity - (2.5/3) Uniqueness: Effects that set power and toughness are classic, and having tokens with them is not new. However, doing it based on exile certainly is. It's also worth noting that no existing card benefits from having flashback in quite this way. (2/3) Flavor: Name and flavor text are there and seem in line with the card, but don't really resonate.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: Quoted abilities should be in a separate sentence, as with Ajani Goldmane, Growth Spasm, and Sound the Call. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Filled (2/2) Subchallenges: All good.
(1/3) Appeal: Spike might play with this.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: It should be uncommon.
(3/3) Balance: I don't have any problems with this.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: You get a different effect depending on where it was cast. Interesting.
(1/3) Flavor: I find the name doesn't fit the card that well. Also, the effect you get from the graveyard doesn't fit the flavour of the card.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: It should be Flashback 1U.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 19.5/25
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny might play with it, as would Spike.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: No problems here.
(3/3) Balance: Obviously, this would be put into a deck that encourages discarding. So I have no real complaints about it. Flashback cost seems reasonable.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Inspired by Evermind in a way. Based on Nature's Spiral.
(3/3) Flavor: No problems here.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 23/25
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Spike might play with it, as would Johnny.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: One could argue this could be uncommon.
(2/3) Balance: This costs half as much as Morbid Hunger and it's flashback cost is even less. I think even as a rare, its mana cost shoule be higher. And its flashback cost should be higher, even if it has two colours.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: Morbid Hunger as a rare and a different flashback cost..
(3/3) Flavor: No problems here.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: R should be before W. Reminder text has to be italicized.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 19/25
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Spike would play with this. Johnny might play with this.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: No problems here.
(2/3) Balance: It think its mana cost shoule be the same as Deep Analysis and it flashback could be lower in mana cost, like 1B instead, since you're also sacrificing a creature.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: It's Deep Analysis, only cheaper and a different flashback cost.
(2/3) Flavor: Some flavour text would have been nice. There is room for it.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: All is good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: X/25
Freyleyes: 19.5 Guesswork: 23
Jimmy Groove: 19 shinike1729: 20
As always, do not complain and it's not final until the deadline.
(This month's banner is my own elaboration on the art of the card Rally the Peasants by Jaime Jones)
March MCC Round 2
"Sins of the Past"
"The future is easy because it doesn't exist, but the past is painful because it lives forever."
-Fred Durst, Limp Bizkit (source: the beginning of this video of "Almost Over")
Main Challenge: Design an instant or sorcery card with flashback. No DFCs! (if that is even possible...)
Subchallenges:
1- The flashback cost does NOT share a color with the card's mana cost (please see Clarifications).
2- The card has CMC 3 or less.
For subchallenge 1, remember that colorless is not a color. This means that a card with a purely colorless mana cost (either because there is only generic mana or because of C) and a colored flashback cost or vice versa DOES pass the challenge.
(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.
DEADLINES
In green, the next deadline to come.
In blue, further future deadlines to come.
In red, past deadlines.
Player deadline: Sunday, March 13th 23:59 EDT
Judge deadline: Thursday, March 17th 23:59 EDT
JUDGES
bravelion83
Moss_Elemental
doomfish
caliburdeath
PLAYERS
admirableadmiral
Asrama
Flatline
Freyleyes
Guesswork
Jimmy Groove
maplesmall
mirrorentity
P E
palanthas
SelesnyaNewLife
shinike1729
sperlman
theazurespirit
thenoodler
TriceDefied
BRACKETS
Judge: bravelion83
admirableadmiral
Asrama
palanthas
sperlman
Judge: Moss_Elemental
Freyleyes
Guesswork
Jimmy Groove
shinike1729
Judge: doomfish
P E
SelesnyaNewLife
theazurespirit
TriceDefied
Judge: caliburdeath
Flatline
maplesmall
mirrorentity
thenoodler
As usual, top 2 from each bracket advance. Judges, happy judging!
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 [U]
(Nonexistent mana costs can't be paid.)
Return target permanent card from your graveyard to your hand.
Flashback 1G (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Just like new.
Instant (R)
Creatures you control gain protection from the color of your choice until end of turn. If Avacyn's Decree was cast from a graveyard, it deals 4 damage to each creature instead.
Flashback 3RR (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Sorcery (R)
Soulfire Siphon deals 3 damage to target creature or player. You gain 3 life.
Flashback WR (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
The reaction burns and body and perfectly sears the soul, making it all the more delicious to the one consuming it.
Sorcery (R)
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. If Increasing Influence was cast from a graveyard, gain control of target creature instead.
Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Sorcery [R]
Put three 1/1 white Kor Ally creature tokens onto the battlefield. If Battle for Zendikar was cast from a graveyard, put three 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature tokens onto the battlefield instead. They have "Sacrifice this creature: Add 1 to your mana pool."
Flashback 2CC
Avacyn's Intervention 2W
Instant {uncommun}
Destroy target attacking creature. If Avacyn's Intervention was cast from a graveyard, it deals damage equal to that creature's power to the creature's controller.
Flashback 3RR(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
All will burn. All will bleed.
Instant{R}
Destroy target creature with converted mana cost 3 or less. If Psychosis was cast from a graveyard, counter target spell with converted mana cost 3 or less instead.
Flashback—1U
Rot the mind and the body will crumble soon after.
Sorcery (U)
Draw two cards.
Flashback — 3B, Sacrifice a creature. (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Sorcery (U)
Investigate, then investigate again.
Flashback 1U
"The pieces don't line up as neatly as we thought."
--Jace
Sorcery
Creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain trample until end of turn.
Flashback 0
You may not cast Rumbling of the Herd's from your graveyard unless you control 8 or more creatures.
Host, December 2015: A Winter Wonderland? - R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL April 2014: A Game of Fate - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinal|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL December 2012: Spy Games - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL November 2010: The Perfect Crime - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL August 2009: A Commander's Journey: Signups|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
I've got tons of art from the web. Want art for a render? PM me! Want to create your own collection? Start here!
Sorcery - Uncommon
Until end of turn, whenever a land is tapped for mana of any type that was spent to cast Algal Bloom, that land's controller adds one additional mana of that type to his or her mana pool.
Flashback BB
With the right mixture of food, water, and dirt, algae can put out more than they take in.
- My Full Mirrodin Cube (draft it here)
- My One-Drop Cube (draft it here)
MCC Winner Nov ‘14 & Nov ‘15
Instant (U)
Tap target creature. If Sweep the Leg was cast from a graveyard, Sweep the Leg deals 3 damage to target tapped creature instead.
Flashback — R.
"Good, get it on the ground first. Then, quick, stab it in the neck!"
— Havin, guard trainer
(2.5/3) Appeal: It's splashy. Getting to destroy a creature and hit the opponent for its power would be something Timmy could enjoy somewhat. Spike likes the value that comes with destroying two creatures. Johnny at least isn't bothered.
(3/3) Elegance: Pretty straigthforward. Simple effect at first and doesn't get much more complicated the second time around. You're not referencing too many things.
Development -
(1/3) Viability: Any card that had flashbackcosts in different color than the original casting cost, had an effect that both colors had access to. For example Ancient Grudge, green and red both are allowed to destroy artifacts. Or close to your card, Burning Oil, while red usually can deal damage to any creature, it's limited to attacking creatures, to also allow white access to it.
On your card however, red is able to destroy an attacking creature, which is nothing red has access to. That's a color pie violating, even if you do it on a white card. I'm pretty sure if this was in the file for a set, the flashback cost would get changed to w/r very quickly. Uncommon is a good fit though.
(2/3) Balance: Getting to destroy an attacking creature twice is pretty strong. It might even put your opponent on hold completely, when there's an effect like that lingering in your grave.
However that comes at a high cost of 5 mana for part two and different colors. Since this is uncommon it might actually spark an entire archetype in its draft format: white-red control, as destroying attacking creatures won't do a whole lot for the classic white-red aggro deck.
If I was the lead developer I'd probably cut the alterating effect, make it the same both times and change the casting cost and the flashback cost to be white-red-multicolored, to limit access for other draft archetypes. Right now, white-blue would just pick this up for the one-time effect, as that would still be good enough.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: A mixture of Cinder Cloud and the "Increasing"-cycle. I don't feel there's a whole lot new going on here.
(2.5/3) Flavor: I like how Avacyn has to intervene twice and the second time around she gets real angry. I wish you had incorporated that in your flavortext. It doesn't seem to fit very well. It's not so much "all", more like "this creature". And there's no burn going on. Bleeding sort of fits though.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Just write (U). Shorter and there won't be any typos on the word.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Instant with Flashback.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Fitting casting cost of 3 and differently colored Flashback.
Total: 19/25
(3/3) Appeal: With two big splashy effects like that Timmy will be overjoyed to rip this card. Spike might even find some use for it.
(2/3) Elegance: It's a bit confusing that this card plays differently from other Flashback cards, as it's practicially two entirely different spells. The mechanics represent two opposites, which makes them easy to sepparate, so you are really minimizing the confusion.
Development -
(1.5/3) Viability: The two effects are well established in their respective colors. Rare seems like a good fit. But I feel this isn't a good way for Flashback to take. Flashback is all about getting the same spell twice. This walks into a similar territory as Splitcards with Fuse. It looks like it should be a different mechanic entirely.
(2/3) Balance: At 6 mana this is quite heavily costed. I don't think Blood Tribute has seen much play and tapping a vampire (while resulting in a slightly different effect) is a lot less than another 6 mana of a different color. What I'm saying is, this card is weak. But maybe it can still shine one the kitchen table and in multiplayer formats. So it's still got potential.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Pretty close to Blood Tribute. Different effects for Flashback cards when cast from the grave has been explored with the "Increasing" cards. But getting entirely new effects for a different cost is something that's so new, it might warrant a new mechanic. That's pretty fresh.
(2.5/3) Flavor: I'd have liked for this to have a name more akin to the "Increasing"-cycle. Like Wavering Judgement or something. But I guess it's also nice that Sorin passes different judgements on different players. So I guess this works. Not sure about a plane 'living', though.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Sorcery with Flashback.
(1/2) Subchallenges: White Flashback, black Casting Cost, which is not 3 or less.
Total: 19/25
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike likes to draw cards. Especially four out of one card. Yummy! Johnny probably finds a way to use 4 artifacts out of one card.
(3/3) Elegance: Pretty clear what's going on. Investigate like you've never investigated before!
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Even though white and blue are definately the investigating colors, I'm not sure I like double investigation on white at uncommon. I guess it's just as far as I'd be willing to accept card draw in white.
(2/3) Balance: 4 cards for 12 mana. Not very good. At least it's instancable at 2 mana. But you'll have to pay at least 4 mana before you get to draw anything. Truly something you don't want to play often in your deck. So uncommon might be the wrong rarity for an effect like this.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Using keywords like that twice on a card has been done before. But in combination with Flashback it's a whole new level of overdoing it. Fun!
(2/3) Flavor: The name doesn't exactly roll right off your tounge, the concept is crystal clear though. Not sure how the flavor text adds to the whole.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good to me.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Sorcery with Flashback alright.
(2/2) Subchallenges: All met.
Total: 21/25
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike is thrilled. Timmy might see the benefit in dealing with creatures, but giving his opponent a creature? eh Johnny might just need a card like that to buy time.
(2/3) Elegance: Getting tokens out of kills is always a tricky read. I was thinking about how this would have been fine if your opponent would get the creature until I realized that's exactly what you did.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: A genious way to shift that ability to blue! Love it. I wish these kinds of cards would just exile the creature to prevent flavor fails, but that's not up to you to solve. Not sure about rare. It's strong removal, alright, but not the planeswalker-killing kind. But I guess it'd warp the draft format at uncommon.
(2.5/3) Balance: If I remember correctly Sever the Bloodline has seen quite some play back in it's day. Your initial casting cost is comparable, with your effect being considerably weaker, but 7 mana pitted against 3 and a 2/2 zombie? I think you're a bit off here. But it's a different color, so not by much.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Both effects on their own have been done, but the combination with that fluid transition is something incredibly creative!
(2.5/3) Flavor: The name doesn't fit so well the first time it's casted, but the flavortext salvages the thing. Nicely done.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Nothing botched. Nice execution.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Sorcery with Flashback. Check.
(2/2) Subchallenges: 3 mana. Check. Different colors. Check.
Total: 22/25
SelesnyaNewLife: 19
theazurespirit: 21
TriceDefied: 22
Also, while you seek revenge or want to express your gratitude, why not head over to the CCL Final Poll and judge your judge?
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
Judge: bravelion83
admirableadmiral
Asrama
palanthas
sperlman
Judge: Moss_Elemental
Freyleyes
Guesswork
Jimmy Groove
shinike1729
Judge: doomfish
P E
SelesnyaNewLife
theazurespirit
TriceDefied
Judge: caliburdeath
Flatline
maplesmall
mirrorentity
thenoodler
As usual, top 2 from each bracket advance. Judges, happy judging!
Judging complete. Not final until deadline.
Check my "Mark of Quality" articles (link in signature) for a list of the most common Quality mistakes to avoid.
Challenges: what counts is always the letter of the law, unless explicit specifications of the host.
Quality: half a point deducted for any error in templating, wording, spelling, or grammar, no matter how little they may be; a whole point for particularly serious errors.
No complaints unless I got something objectively wrong.
Design
(3/3) Appeal - Timmy likes creating tokens, and the visual feedback of that on the battlefield is very good here. Johnny can use the tokens somehow, and he can also use the fact that the Scions sacrifice themselves. Spike likes the power-to-cmc ratio here: limited Spikes see a better Hordeling Outburst, a card they already liked, and constructed Spikes can compare this to Lingering Souls, the tokens don't fly but you get more of them. Will that be enough to have a higher flashback cost?
(2.5/3) Elegance - Wordy but clear enough.
Development
(3/3) Viability - White can create tokens without any problems, and the association between Eldrazi and colorless mana makes the flashback cost fine. Rare is definitely the right rarity for this card. Somehow it reminds me of Increasing Devotion.
(3/3) Balance - The aforementioned Hordeling Outburst shows that three mana can be worth three tokens, which by the way also have a very relevant creature type (Ally). Charging one mana more for three more tokens out of flashback feels appropriate. This is certainly playable in limited, and might also make a splash in Standard. I can't see this in larger formats. I don't see any problem in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - Between the colorless mana symbols in the flashback cost and having the kind of tokens you create depend on the type of mana you spend, there is plenty of innovation here.
(2/3) Flavor - There are precedents for cards having the same name as sets (the intentional Time Spiral/Planar Chaos/Future Sight block and Conflux come to mind, so that's not a problem. I'm sure this is a top down design that started with the card name, and I think the result is good enough. Both sides of the battle are represented, and with the right colors (or lack thereof): Allies primary white and Eldrazi colorless. The mechanics do match with the name you started with, and that creates a very nice flavor even without flavor text. I usually give half points here for a card without flavor text, but given what I just said and the fact that MSE tells me there wouldn't have been room anyway, I want to make an exception here and give you a 0.5 points bonus.
Polish
(2.5/3) Quality - In the Scions' mana ability, 1 should be C (half a point deducted).
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 23/25
Design
(1.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes playing a lot of creatures as required by the last ability and also likes pumping them. Johnny has the challenge of accumulating enough creatures to flash this back, but the payoff isn't exactly something he cares about. Spike just disregards the last ability, knowing it will be almost impossible to flash this back, and what he sees is a pump spell that is definitely not worth the mana it costs.
(3/3) Elegance - Easy enough to understand and the card concept makes sense.
Development
(1/3) Viability - The effect is definitely green. The last ability feels a little more white than green (white is the "I want a lot of small creatures" colors, green is the "I want fewer creatures but bigger" color), but it's still something that definitely makes sense in green. This is the only reason for the one point you get to keep here, because rarity is missing and I can't judge something that is not there. This costs you a lot of points both here and in Quality.
(1.5/3) Balance - This could be useful in limited in situations where players are stalled because they both have a lot of creatures. This can definitely help you break the stall. Still, I wouldn't necessarily play this in my limited deck, even if I'm in green. I expect this to be a late pick and a card that sometimes makes the cut but even if it does it's the 22nd-23rd nonland card in your deck. No way this would see play in constructed. There are no problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - The restriction on casting this from your graveyard is definitely original.
(1.5/3) Flavor - Both the "Horde" and "Herd" flavors work here especially because you need a lot of creatures to flash it back. No flavor text, even though a couple lines could fit.
Polish
(1/3) Quality - Rarity is missing (one point deducted, it's a fundamental part of a card). The name changes in the rules text ("Horde" becomes "Herd", half a point deducted). When referring to the number of creatures, you write it out (it should be "eight or more creatures", half a point deducted).
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(1/2) Subchallenges - No shared colors, but costs more than three mana.
Total: 15.5/25
Design
(2/3) Appeal - Timmy likes having more mana to cast more and bigger creatures. Johnny can use the extra mana, as could Spike. Everyone can accept this card even though I see no one getting fully excited by it.
(1/3) Elegance - This is a card that requires more than one read to fully understand. Also, a lot of players won't like this working for opponents too.
Development
(1/3) Viability - The effect is certainly green, but also certainly NOT black. Black might do something similar with Swamps, but not with any land. Rarity feels right to me. Also, having to remember which types of mana you spent to cast this card may cause memory issues.
(1/3) Balance - This is not a card made for limited, it's not a combat trick and not a removal spell, I think this would be a last pick that doesn't make the cut in your deck. In constructed, it could work in a casual deck built around big mana, and there would be no problems there, but I can't see it in competitive formats.
Creativity
(1/3) Uniqueness - We've already seen similar effects in cleaner cards.
(2.5/3) Flavor - The name is fine and makes sense with the mechanics. The flavor text is fine even though is sounds kind of bland and not that professional to me.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - I'm definitely not sure about the wording, but I can't find any clear mistake.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 15.5/25
Design
(2/3) Appeal - Timmy likes to protect his creatures, even though he doesn't like to damage them too together with the opponent's ones. He still like how this affects the battlefield overall. There's not so much for Johnny here. Spike loves this card, to his eyes it's a protective spell that turns into a Wrath.
(3/3) Elegance - Easy to understand and makes a lot of sense with the concept of Avacyn gone mad.
Development
(3/3) Viability - The white part is white and the red part is red. It's a tautology but it's what we have here. Good. Protection is deciduous now so it can still be used infrequently and at high rarities, and this is conveniently and rightly rare.
(2.5/3) Balance - The mana cost feels fine for the main part. The flashback cost also feels fine, enough given the damage, if even a bit on the low side given the inherent card advantage of flashback. I'd say strong but not broken, that's a very good place to be. This is certainly playable in limited, not sure about constructed. I wouldn't be surprised to see it getting a little Standard play though. I can't see any problem in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - Having a spell turn into a completely different one with flashback feels original, even though we have already seen effects that change depending on whether you cast them from the graveyard, but not this much.
(2.5/3) Flavor - The flavor is a home run. Amazing, and it doesn't even have flavor text! Avacyn was created to protect the humans, but then she goes mad and protects them from themselves by killing them. This card reflects this perfectly in name and mechanics. MSE tells me that indeed there is no room for flavor text, and that alleviates its absence, allowing me to prize how well this card manages to convey its flavor even without it.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 22.5/25
admirableadmiral: 23
sperlman: 22.5
Asrama: 15.5
palanthas: 15.5
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.)
For some reason the mana symbols in your post appear to me collected at the bottom rather than in their place. Weird.
Design -
(1/3) Appeal: Timmy would like the big play, and Spike the big swing in board state, of stealing the opponent's best creature. However, both would probably prefer the consistency of simply playing their own. I don't think Johnny is very interested.
(3/3) Elegance: No issues here
Development -
(2/3) Viability: Each result is within the slice of the pie of the color required to cast it. This feels fine at rare, and that's where permanent control effects should generally be. There is an issue with this card, however. It is strictly better than Threaten and Act of Treason. Wizards has not printed a strictly better version of those cards, leading me to believe they wouldn't allow it. The closest is mark of mutiny, but even that has a clear downside if the creature survives.
(2/3) Balance: As a rare, this card would be strong, but not too strong in limited. While it's unlikely it would see competetive constructed play, both spellslinger and control magic casual decks could be interested.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Neither resolution is anything particularly new, but the juxtaposition of the two obviously related but separate effects feels fresh enough. Also, apparently having a different effect on flashback hasn't actually been printed.
(1.5/3) Flavor: The name is fine. Scant room for flavor text.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: Based on Increasing Savagery and such from AVR, the wording should be "If Increasing Influence was cast from a graveyard, gain control of that creature instead."
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Filled.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both filled.
Total: 17.5/25
(1/3) Appeal: While not pushed, this card holds enough power that spike would be interested. The card offers little for Johnny and Timmy.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The completely different effect when flashed back could be confusing, but the flavor and direct relationship between them mostly mitigates that.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Each ability is within the slice of the pie of the color required to cast it. This is probably best at uncommon.
(2.5/3) Balance: This would certainly see limited play, where it would be strong but not oppressive, especially as, if you didn't cast and recast it all at once, the opponent could play around the flashing back, and WR: bolt a creature isn't exceedingly strong. It would likely see some standard play, but it probably isn't fun enough for casual or strong enough for non-rotating formats.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: There actually aren't any cards that deal damage to target tapped creature. Also, having a different effect on flashback hasn't actually been printed.
(2.5/3) Flavor: The flavor isn't overly strong but it synergizes perfectly with the mechanics.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: As the targeting requirements are different, it would be incorrect to word it "that creature" like Increasing Savagery, so you're good there.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Filled.
(2/2) Subchallenges: All good.
Total: 20/25
(2/3) Appeal: Spike likes Anticipate and tutors, and while the mana cost and sorcery speed could turn them off to it, the fact that it only costs 1 card would likely counteract that. Johnny likes tutors and card filtering too, as they help assemble the combo. Timmy might like the "thirty" but would largely be uninterested.
(2/3) Elegance: This is a little wordy, and players would likely have to read it twice. The life cost could also seem a little off, but not enough so to deduct points.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: The effect when cast from hand is fine in blue. The flashback seems like a bend at first, but black can certainly get filter draw if it pays life, and the intention is clearly a tutor, a solidly black effect. I don't think this is ok at uncommon. While tutors are, and this is a tutor by the turn you can cast in limited, this is not just a simple tutor.
(3/3) Balance: This would certainly see limited play, as Anticipate is decent and the full tutor attached to it, which this would be by the time you cast it in limited, is quite sweet. 2 cards for 6 mana at sorcery speed is also pretty assuredly not too strong. It could also see play in a standard U/B control deck. It likely costs too much for non-rotating competetive formats, and the top 30 cards mightn't be enough for EDH. However, it would be enough for casual.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: The effect when cast from cast from hand is not unique, but the flashback certainly is. Never before has a card referred to the number 30 outside of life. No tutor has ever searched half your library. Excellent job.
(1.5/3) Flavor: Name is fine, scant room for flavor text.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: Put them on the bottom of what, your hand?
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Filled.
(2/2) Subchallenges: All good.
Total: 20/25
(1/3) Appeal: Johnny really loves the possibilities this card offers. Unless there was a clear, incidental way to exile their own cards, Timmy and Spike would likely be uninterested.
(3/3) Elegance: This is fine.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: This feels like a solidly rare effect. There is little color pie precedent for this, Ulamog's Despoiler and Adept of the Beyond both care about cards opponents own in exile. As such, there's no reason for a deduction here.
(1/3) Balance: The power level of this is much more context-dependent than usual. I don't think this would see much limited play, as the cards necessary for it to be good would likely be inconsistent. I doubt it would see standard play, though it's possible, as simple pseudo-vanilla creatures usually aren't that good even when they're undercosted, though Tarmogoyf proves this isn't always the case. There would certainly be casual decks based around it but I doubt there'd be many.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Effects that set power and toughness are classic, and having tokens with them is not new. However, doing it based on exile certainly is. It's also worth noting that no existing card benefits from having flashback in quite this way.
(2/3) Flavor: Name and flavor text are there and seem in line with the card, but don't really resonate.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: Quoted abilities should be in a separate sentence, as with Ajani Goldmane, Growth Spasm, and Sound the Call.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Filled
(2/2) Subchallenges: All good.
Total: 19/25
maplesmall: 20
mirrorentity: 20
thenoodler: 19
(1/3) Appeal: Spike might play with this.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: It should be uncommon.
(3/3) Balance: I don't have any problems with this.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: You get a different effect depending on where it was cast. Interesting.
(1/3) Flavor: I find the name doesn't fit the card that well. Also, the effect you get from the graveyard doesn't fit the flavour of the card.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: It should be Flashback 1U.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 19.5/25
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny might play with it, as would Spike.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: No problems here.
(3/3) Balance: Obviously, this would be put into a deck that encourages discarding. So I have no real complaints about it. Flashback cost seems reasonable.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Inspired by Evermind in a way. Based on Nature's Spiral.
(3/3) Flavor: No problems here.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 23/25
(2/3) Appeal: Spike might play with it, as would Johnny.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: One could argue this could be uncommon.
(2/3) Balance: This costs half as much as Morbid Hunger and it's flashback cost is even less. I think even as a rare, its mana cost shoule be higher. And its flashback cost should be higher, even if it has two colours.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: Morbid Hunger as a rare and a different flashback cost..
(3/3) Flavor: No problems here.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: R should be before W. Reminder text has to be italicized.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 19/25
(2/3) Appeal: Spike would play with this. Johnny might play with this.
(3/3) Elegance: No problems here.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: No problems here.
(2/3) Balance: It think its mana cost shoule be the same as Deep Analysis and it flashback could be lower in mana cost, like 1B instead, since you're also sacrificing a creature.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: It's Deep Analysis, only cheaper and a different flashback cost.
(2/3) Flavor: Some flavour text would have been nice. There is room for it.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: All is good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Met
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: X/25
Guesswork: 23
Jimmy Groove: 19
shinike1729: 20
As always, do not complain and it's not final until the deadline.