(This banner is my own elaboration on the art of the card Hour of Revelation by Raymond Swanland.)
July MCC
Judge signups
Nicol Bolas not only destroyed the city of Naktamun, but also my original plan for this month's MCC. I was going to focus on the four known Hours and I had prepared all the challenges, but the Hour cycle being the story spotlights for HOU and the way the story has been going killed that first plan. Fortunately, I was able to make another plan in the last days, focused on the three insect gods and Bolas himself crossed with the mechanics of HOU. Now, there is another thing that might kill this new plan, and it's the eventual lack of judges. Do you want to help me, already a judge by default, preventing a second devastation of my plans (pun totally intended)? Well, just sign up here then!
SAMPLE CARD
If you've never judged before, please judge this card with the usual MCC rubric which you can find right under the card, post your sample judgment right here in this thread and I'll get back to you asap. Assume all challenges (main and both sub) to be fully met.
Samut’s Speed1GR
Enchantment (U)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creatures has haste and hexproof until end of turn.
When enchanted creature deals combat damage, it’s controller draws a card. Samut’s steps can be faster than even the light of lightning storms.
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.
Judge signups will stay open until the design deadline for Round 1 or until we get enough judges, whichever comes first. Given that today is already June 30th, the judge signups will be going on in parallel with Round 1.
(This will also work for me as a place to attach all the banners I've made, a different one for each round. I apologize in advance to those this might create problems to, as I know attachments can cause problems on mobile.)
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.)
If you end up being short a judge, I'm happy to pinch-hit.
Samut’s Speed1GR
Enchantment (U)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creatures has haste and hexproof until end of turn.
When enchanted creature deals combat damage, it’s controller draws a card. Samut’s steps can be faster than even the light of lightning storms.
Design (2/3) Appeal: Because it's unclear what the card actually does (See below), It's difficult to know how highly any player archetype would value it. Both abilities probably appeal to Timmy, as they're straightforward yet powerful. Johnny likes the second ability, as any Curiosity-type effect lends itself to exploitation (especially this one). Spike is hesitant to rely on an aura for value, even if it grants hexproof, though this one also comes with a pretty lucrative second ability that could force bad decisions from opponents. (1/3) Elegance: The "speed" theme is supported by the card granting haste, but besides that, nothing else seems to reference it. Beyond that, haste, hexproof, and curiosity don't share any thematic similarities between them, leaving the card feeling disjointed and aimless.
Development - (1/3) Viability: Haste (red) and Hexproof (Green) fit their individual colors fine, but the only Gruul-colored card to have or grant hexproof is Domri Rade. Even though there's a small precedent for this, hexproof just isn't an ability that Gruul is supposed to get, at least not at uncommon rarity. The first ability is so badly templated that I don't actually know what it's supposed to do. Permanents don't have static abilities that only last until end of turn. Is the card supposed to have flash and an ETB ability? Is it supposed to be an activated ability? There's really no way to be sure. The second ability is at least understandable, but it's not an ability that has ever seen print (I suspect because it's far too powerful, and not interactive enough). I suppose it could work on the right card, but this card is not the appropriate place to introduce it. (1/3) Balance: The going rate for auras that do each of the two things in the first ability is about 1 mana. So far, so good. However, the second ability isn't a straight curiosity copy, as it triggers on ANY combat damage, rather than damage to a player or opponent. This makes the ability significantly better than Curiosity's, and means the card is almost definitely undercosted. If it DID specify "...combat damage to a player", the balance would be fine (except for not really knowing what the first ability does). It would never see print in a Standard-legal set given the power of the second ability, but also, Wizards doesn't like putting hexproof on auras. It's only been done once. Casual players are probably fine with this card, besides the flavor issues (see below). Commander players in Gruul and Naya don't really need more ways to grant haste, but as-mentioned, hexproof doesn't show up on auras very often. That would be a boon for them. The versatility of the second ability alone (as-written) would cause the card to see some play. Not that this matters much in these colors, but it works equally well defensively as offensively. If there are any RG pillowfort decks I'm not aware of, they'd love this.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: No new mechanics are introduced, and I suspect the non-specificity of the second ability was an oversight, not a design decision. However, hexproof, haste, and the curiosity effect haven't ever been seen on an aura together, in any configuration. There's probably good stylistic reason for that, but for the sake of uniqueness, it's something. (1/3) Flavor: The name is fine; it follows the same pattern as Mirri's Guile, Hanna's Custody, and Jace's ingenuity. Speed is kind of a boring word to use for it, but that's more of a personal opinion. Nothing about the card besides it granting haste has anything to do with quickness or reflexes. The flavor text attempts to evoke a sense of mythology surrounding Samut and her legendary speed, but it just doesn't work. What does it mean for steps to be faster than lightning? Why does it matter that the light comes from lightning storms, specifically? Is it referencing the frequency of flashes or the actual speed of light? The flavor text could have helped make sense of an otherwise confused card, but it comes off as unfocused and juvenile.
Polish - (0/3) Quality:R should precede G in the mana cost. Missing Aura subtype. "Enchanted creatures" should be singular. "Until end of turn" is either totally erroneous or indicates that the ability is missing an activation cost or ETB trigger (in which case, "has" should be "gains".) "When" should be "Whenever," as the design implies that it might happen multiple times to the same object. There's no need to specify "it's controller" draws a card. It should say "draw a card" or "you may draw a card" (and anyway, "it's" should be "its"). (2/2) *Main Challenge: Yup (2/2) Subchallenges: Yup and Yup
I reiterate what I've already said via pm and welcome you officially as a judge! The judgment is very good and I see you've also corrected the very few points I had mentioned in my earlier pm response. Perfect! Looking forward to working with you if needed, Rocco! (Hint: very probably it will be needed...)
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.)
I am always happy to help you judge your custom card creation contests, Leo, especially if it involves saving the day in the process of doing so. With that in mind, may I be your fourth judge for this month?
I am always happy to help you judge your custom card creation contests, Leo, especially if it involves saving the day in the process of doing so. With that in mind, may I be your fourth judge for this month?
You definitely may! I was actually thinking whether you would show up again right yesterday... I think I've lost count of how many times you've "saved the day" by now...
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.)
You definitely may! I was actually thinking whether you would show up again right yesterday... I think I've lost count of how many times you've "saved the day" by now...
I am pretty sure that this probably makes for the fifth time, at least by my odd count? I can only hope that I have the opportunity to save even more metaphorical days in the future as well.
(This banner is my own elaboration on the art of the card Hour of Revelation by Raymond Swanland.)
July MCC
Judge signups
Nicol Bolas not only destroyed the city of Naktamun, but also my original plan for this month's MCC. I was going to focus on the four known Hours and I had prepared all the challenges, but the Hour cycle being the story spotlights for HOU and the way the story has been going killed that first plan. Fortunately, I was able to make another plan in the last days, focused on the three insect gods and Bolas himself crossed with the mechanics of HOU. Now, there is another thing that might kill this new plan, and it's the eventual lack of judges. Do you want to help me, already a judge by default, preventing a second devastation of my plans (pun totally intended)? Well, just sign up here then!
SAMPLE CARD
If you've never judged before, please judge this card with the usual MCC rubric which you can find right under the card, post your sample judgment right here in this thread and I'll get back to you asap. Assume all challenges (main and both sub) to be fully met.
Samut’s Speed 1GR
Enchantment (U)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creatures has haste and hexproof until end of turn.
When enchanted creature deals combat damage, it’s controller draws a card.
Samut’s steps can be faster than even the light of lightning storms.
(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.
Judge signups will stay open until the design deadline for Round 1 or until we get enough judges, whichever comes first. Given that today is already June 30th, the judge signups will be going on in parallel with Round 1.
(This will also work for me as a place to attach all the banners I've made, a different one for each round. I apologize in advance to those this might create problems to, as I know attachments can cause problems on mobile.)
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.)
Enchantment (U)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creatures has haste and hexproof until end of turn.
When enchanted creature deals combat damage, it’s controller draws a card.
Samut’s steps can be faster than even the light of lightning storms.
Design
(2/3) Appeal: Because it's unclear what the card actually does (See below), It's difficult to know how highly any player archetype would value it. Both abilities probably appeal to Timmy, as they're straightforward yet powerful. Johnny likes the second ability, as any Curiosity-type effect lends itself to exploitation (especially this one). Spike is hesitant to rely on an aura for value, even if it grants hexproof, though this one also comes with a pretty lucrative second ability that could force bad decisions from opponents.
(1/3) Elegance: The "speed" theme is supported by the card granting haste, but besides that, nothing else seems to reference it. Beyond that, haste, hexproof, and curiosity don't share any thematic similarities between them, leaving the card feeling disjointed and aimless.
Development -
(1/3) Viability: Haste (red) and Hexproof (Green) fit their individual colors fine, but the only Gruul-colored card to have or grant hexproof is Domri Rade. Even though there's a small precedent for this, hexproof just isn't an ability that Gruul is supposed to get, at least not at uncommon rarity. The first ability is so badly templated that I don't actually know what it's supposed to do. Permanents don't have static abilities that only last until end of turn. Is the card supposed to have flash and an ETB ability? Is it supposed to be an activated ability? There's really no way to be sure. The second ability is at least understandable, but it's not an ability that has ever seen print (I suspect because it's far too powerful, and not interactive enough). I suppose it could work on the right card, but this card is not the appropriate place to introduce it.
(1/3) Balance: The going rate for auras that do each of the two things in the first ability is about 1 mana. So far, so good. However, the second ability isn't a straight curiosity copy, as it triggers on ANY combat damage, rather than damage to a player or opponent. This makes the ability significantly better than Curiosity's, and means the card is almost definitely undercosted. If it DID specify "...combat damage to a player", the balance would be fine (except for not really knowing what the first ability does). It would never see print in a Standard-legal set given the power of the second ability, but also, Wizards doesn't like putting hexproof on auras. It's only been done once. Casual players are probably fine with this card, besides the flavor issues (see below). Commander players in Gruul and Naya don't really need more ways to grant haste, but as-mentioned, hexproof doesn't show up on auras very often. That would be a boon for them. The versatility of the second ability alone (as-written) would cause the card to see some play. Not that this matters much in these colors, but it works equally well defensively as offensively. If there are any RG pillowfort decks I'm not aware of, they'd love this.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: No new mechanics are introduced, and I suspect the non-specificity of the second ability was an oversight, not a design decision. However, hexproof, haste, and the curiosity effect haven't ever been seen on an aura together, in any configuration. There's probably good stylistic reason for that, but for the sake of uniqueness, it's something.
(1/3) Flavor: The name is fine; it follows the same pattern as Mirri's Guile, Hanna's Custody, and Jace's ingenuity. Speed is kind of a boring word to use for it, but that's more of a personal opinion. Nothing about the card besides it granting haste has anything to do with quickness or reflexes. The flavor text attempts to evoke a sense of mythology surrounding Samut and her legendary speed, but it just doesn't work. What does it mean for steps to be faster than lightning? Why does it matter that the light comes from lightning storms, specifically? Is it referencing the frequency of flashes or the actual speed of light? The flavor text could have helped make sense of an otherwise confused card, but it comes off as unfocused and juvenile.
Polish -
(0/3) Quality: R should precede G in the mana cost. Missing Aura subtype. "Enchanted creatures" should be singular. "Until end of turn" is either totally erroneous or indicates that the ability is missing an activation cost or ETB trigger (in which case, "has" should be "gains".) "When" should be "Whenever," as the design implies that it might happen multiple times to the same object. There's no need to specify "it's controller" draws a card. It should say "draw a card" or "you may draw a card" (and anyway, "it's" should be "its").
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yup
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yup and Yup
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.)
You definitely may! I was actually thinking whether you would show up again right yesterday... I think I've lost count of how many times you've "saved the day" by now...
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.)