(This month's banner uses the art of Approach of the Second Sun by Noah Bradley. It was created by the wonderful bravelion83.)
June 2017 MCC Finals: The Final Command
The second sun is coming, Bolas's return is nigh, and Amonkhet is on the brink of devastation. But, we can't just focus on the present. We also must reflect on the past, the anthologies beforehand. That's exactly what's happening this month. The first two rounds will let you choose between highlighting the Egyptian plane's glory or the past of the Commander series. The Third will put you squarely in the God-Pharaoh's realm, and Round 4 will give you a long look at the achievements of Commander in the past.
We have come to the end, and when finishing a journey, one must always look at the past. Namely, for this round, Commander's recent past. In this round, you'll be taking on the Commander R&D's Greatest Challenge: Designing 4-colored Commanders.
Main Challenge: Design a Legendary Creature with Four Colors in its Color Identity.
Subchallenge 1: The Card does not have more than 1 Evergreen Keyword Ability.
Subchallenge 2: The Card has a converted mana cost of 4 or less.
Main: 1) The card must have exactly 4 colors in its color identity, which is the culmination of any colors in the mana cost, text box, and color indicators.
2) If the card is double-faced, the front side must be legendary.
Sub 1: The keywords this challenge is talking about is as follows:
Deathtouch
Defender
Double Strike
First Strike
Flash
Flying
Haste
Indestructible
Lifelink
Menace
Prowess
Reach
Trample
Vigilance
Sub 2: Converted mana cost is the total cost determined by adding all symbols in the upper right corner.
Ask about any text that needs clarifying in the MCC discussion thread.
A reminder to everyone: In the MCC, putting rarity on cards is mandatory! If you don't put a rarity on your card, expect huge deductions in both Viability AND Quality.
Also, you should format your text cards accordingly to the forum rules (see the "this formatting looks best" spoiler in the linked OP). Again, expect deductions in Quality otherwise.
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.
Good luck all!
Player deadline: Sunday, July 9th, 23:59 EDT
Judge Deadline: Thursday, July 13th, 23:59 EDT
Judges Necarg
Bravelion83
Tilwin
StonerofKruphix
Players
TheHittite
iphanx
Rocco
Flatline
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My thoughts are with the friends and family of the Orlando Shooting victims and with the rest of the LGBTQA+ community.
Check out my Newborder Peasant Cube here! http://www.cubetutor.com/draft/37467
Necarg, please don't acknowledge this in any way whatsoever.
True Name Mafia (Win),Clan Contest IX Mafia (Win), Bravely Default Mafia (Loss), BOTAS (loss), BfV (Loss), Ace Attourney (loss)
Rules Advisor before they were eradicated
Omylia of the FacelessUBRG
Legendary Creature - Elf Soldier [M]
Haste
All creatures are legendary.
Whenever a creature token dies, its controller loses 1 life. “The death of a million is not a statistic; it's a million individual tragedies.”
5/4
Squig, Grand ShusherBRGW
Legendary Creature - Goblin Advisor [M]
Squig, Grand Shusher can't be countered.
Whenever a player casts a spell, if it isn't during a main phase on his or her turn, that player loses 5 life and discards a card. "Sit down and wait your turn or I'll introduce you to Mr. Quiet Stick."
5/5
Goromal, Imminence AdeptUBRG
Legendary Creature — Ogre Wizard (M)
Once during each of your turns while you're searching your library, you may cast an instant or sorcery card from your library. 2BG, T, Sacrifice a creature: Search your library for a creature card and reveal that card. Put that card onto the battlefield unless each opponent sacrifices a creature, then shuffle your library. Everything is inevitable.
4/5
Captain Japeth, Scavengeer
Legendary Creature — Human Pirate (M)
Flash
Creatures your opponents control have +1/+0 as long as they're attacking another opponent.
Whenever an opponent loses the game, you may draw a card for each nontoken creature you control. If you can’t beat ‘em, wait for somebody else to beat ‘em.
3/3
Derwyn, Nest-Raider2U
Legendary Creature — Merfolk Scout (M)
Whenever Derwyn, Nest-Raider enters the battlefield or deals combat damage to a player, create a 0/1 colorless creature token named Egg.
As long as you control an attacking dinosaur, Derwyn, Nest-Raider can’t be blocked. RGW, T: Target creature token named Egg you control becomes a 5/4 red, green and white dinosaur creature token named Loyal Raptor.
2/3
Azur, the CompleatWUBR
Legendary Creature — Human Praetor (M)
Except for the first spell cast each turn, generic mana costs can’t be paid using colored mana.
Spells your opponents cast that target either another opponent or a spell, ability, or permanent controlled by another opponent cost 2 less to cast.
5/5
Zutong, Hatemancer1UUB
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard (M)
Whenever Zutong, Hatemancer enters the battlefield or a creature you control becomes blocked, you get an experience counter. 1RG, Remove two experience counters from yourself: Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player this turn, you may draw a card, and that creature deals 1 damage to target creature defending player controls.
5/4
Felnia, Gambit ArchmageRGWU
Legendary Creature - Deva Wizard (M) 1 : Target instant spell can’t be countered by spells or abilities and gains “Create a 1/1 white blue Soldier token.” 1 : The next sorcery card you cast this turn can be cast as though it had flash and that spell gains “Each creature you control gets +1/+1 until end of turn.” 2 : Copy target instant or sorcery spell you control. You may choose new targets for the copy.
3/5
Back from an internetless vacation just in time....
Vivascia the GenerousRGWU
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard (M)
Hexproof
Whenever a permanent you control becomes attached to Vivascia the Generous, you may pay 1. If you do, create a token that is a copy of that permanent for each other creature you control that permanent could target. Each of those tokens enters the battlefield attached to a different one of those creatures. Exile the copies at the beginning of the end step.
3/4
(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)
And the round is over! All judges (including Tilwin if possible) are to judge all cards, so no bracket this time!
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My thoughts are with the friends and family of the Orlando Shooting victims and with the rest of the LGBTQA+ community.
Check out my Newborder Peasant Cube here! http://www.cubetutor.com/draft/37467
Necarg, please don't acknowledge this in any way whatsoever.
True Name Mafia (Win),Clan Contest IX Mafia (Win), Bravely Default Mafia (Loss), BOTAS (loss), BfV (Loss), Ace Attourney (loss)
Rules Advisor before they were eradicated
Omylia of the FacelessUBRG
Legendary Creature - Elf Soldier [M]
Haste
All creatures are legendary.
Whenever a creature token dies, its controller loses 1 life. “The death of a million is not a statistic; it's a million individual tragedies.”
5/4
Design (3/3) Appeal - Timmy likes both the stats and abilities. He digs the flavor of "All creatures are legendary". Johnny can use the trigger somehow. This is also efficient enough for Spike, and he especially likes this against token decks. (3/3) Elegance - Just perfect.
Development (3/3) Viability - Leyline of Singularity is blue and affects all nonland permanents, and creatures are just a subset of that, so I guess it's fine. The death trigger is black for sure but it can feel Golgari. Haste accounts for red (and green too if you don't count the trigger as partly green). The overall anti-tokens feel of the card also makes it feel right as an every-color-but-white card, as white is the token color. It also feels definitely mythic to me. (3/3) Balance - For once, this will be probably be relatively short, but hey, that's because it's good! Limited bomb if you can pay the cost, but I guess if this was in a draftable set there would be plenty of mana fixing in it. I definitely expect this to see constructed play, but I don't see it being broken. The cost is still very restrictive. Not only I don't see any problem in casual or multiplayer, but I can easily see this becoming a fan favorite there.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - The "I hate tokens" feel is original and it totally gives this card its own identity. "All creatures are legendary" feels like a good twist on the aforementioned Leyline of Singularity, and the single parts are nothing new though. (3/3) Flavor - Very good. The name is fine, but that flavor text! I have no words to say how much I love it! It's just beautiful, both in itself and in how well it feels with the anti-token mechanics. Terrific job here!
Polish (3/3) Quality - All good. (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 25/25
I originally had a 2.5 in Uniqueness, but then I figured out it would feel really bad to give out a 24.5/25, so I raised it to 3 and gave you a perfect score. I really feel like this card deserves it, it's very hard to make an elegant and effective four-colored card, and as a judge I'm not one that gives out 25s here and there. I think I've only awarded a perfect score a handful of times in the three years I've been judging so far. Now you get to be part of those, so congratulations!
Goromal, Imminence AdeptUBRG
Legendary Creature — Ogre Wizard (M)
Once during each of your turns while you're searching your library, you may cast an instant or sorcery card from your library. 2BG, T, Sacrifice a creature: Search your library for a creature card and reveal that card. Put that card onto the battlefield unless each opponent sacrifices a creature, then shuffle your library. Everything is inevitable.
4/5
Design (3/3) Appeal - Timmy likes everything here except the "sacrifice a creature" cost, but that's just a minor point. Johnny could also use both abilities quite easily. Spike really doesn't like the opponent getting the choice in the activated ability, but he definitely likes the potential card advantage of the static one. (1.5/3) Elegance - Very wordy (nine lines in MSE's M15 frame). Also very complex in gameplay, especially the first ability. The text looks easy enough to understand at least.
Development (3/3) Viability - Panglacial Wurm is green, but I can see the first ability as accounting for red and blue as they are the colors most focused on instants and sorceries. The second ability accounts for black and green both in cost and effect. If this is not a mythic, I don't know what a mythic should be. (1.5/3) Balance - Panglacial Wurm costed seven mana and was limited to casting itself, this costs just four mana (in four different colors, that's true and it helps) and can cast any instant or sorcery out of your library. At least, you still have to pay that spell's costs (might that need reminder text by the way?), but I still feel like this might be a bit too easy to abuse, especially in larger formats that have plenty of good effect that let you search your library at will, such as fetchlands in Modern for example. I see no big problems with the activated ability, even if that looks potentially abusable too. It has a built-in safety valve in that your opponents (and each of them, not just one! This aspect is huge in multiplayer...) can sacrifice creatures to avoid you getting the one you want, but what if you're looking for, say, an Eldrazi titan while no other opponent has creatures to sacrifice? You could end up with an Emrakul in play for four mana. That sounds a lot like Aetherworks Marvel, and we know how that story ended... The only format left to mention is limited and what can I say? Provided you can pay the cost, a bomb is a bomb.
Creativity (2/3) Uniqueness - I don't know if this card would exist had Panglacial Wurm never been designed before, but the first ability is a very good twist on it. I could summarize the second ability as a new composition from old pieces. (2.5/3) Flavor - The name and flavor text are both fine in a vacuum, I just don't clearly see how they're linked to the mechanics, but they still work well enough.
Polish (2/3) Quality - A comma is very probably missing between the words "turns" and "while" (-0.5). There is very little precedent for that first ability, but looking at Karador, Ghost Chieftain, I can say that the "once" should not be there and it should specify "one instant or sorcery card" later instead (-0.5): "During each of your turns, while you're searching your library, you may cast one instant or sorcery card from your library." (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 19.5/25
Felnia, Gambit ArchmageRGWU
Legendary Creature - Deva Wizard (M) 1 : Target instant spell can’t be countered by spells or abilities and gains “Create a 1/1 white blue Soldier token.” 1 : The next sorcery card you cast this turn can be cast as though it had flash and that spell gains “Each creature you control gets +1/+1 until end of turn.” 2 : Copy target instant or sorcery spell you control. You may choose new targets for the copy.
3/5
Design (3/3) Appeal - Timmy likes a big creature with a bunch of abilities. Johnny can probably do something with this card, especially the last ability. Spike likes the flexibility of having a lot of different abilities at his disposal and the skill of choosing the right thing to do in every situation. (1/3) Elegance - Very wordy (nine lines in MSE's M15 frame). Also very complex in gameplay, especially the first two abilities. Making spells gain text is not so easy both from a rules and complexity point of view. The card is definitely a bit puzzling to look at.
Development (0.5/3) Viability - Easy things first: this is mythic, no doubt about that. I'm afraid that and the last ability being in color are the only positive things I can say here. The first and second ability should be swapped to be in color. As is, none of them are. Let me explain. The first ability gives a spell uncounterability. That's primary red, an acceptable bend in green (green usually gets it on creatures, not instants), and only tertiary in blue. Supreme Verdict is a famous example: there uncounterability is the blue part, and it has been much discussed. In the end it was allowed as it was part of a cycle. Last Word is another famous example. That's how tertiary status works: the color gets the ability but very rarely, both in the sense of time and card rarity. Here's where being an hybrid ability matters: hybrid means that ability has to make sense in both monocolors separately. Uncounterability might make sense in blue, even if that's already a stretch as it's only tertiary, but it makes no sense at all in monowhite. Token making makes a lot of sense in white, less in blue even though it's still allowed. What colors should uncounterability be in to make sense? Red for sure, if you had to choose a second color definitely green. Green can also make tokens without any problem, and red is still allowed to. Let's move on to the second ability. What card does it come from? Quicken, a blue card! And what's the Anthem color? White! If you put them both together you get a white/blue ability, that would be actually gold and not hybrid though. See the irony? The first ability makes sense in the second one's colors, and vice versa! Those abilities are also much more gold than hybrid. (2/3) Balance - Despite being a clear limited bomb, I'm not sure it would see Standard play. It just needs a lot of mana and cards to work effectively. The first ability can affect any player's spells, and that has important multiplayer implications. I see no particular problem in casual.
Creativity (2/3) Uniqueness - The (not completely correct technically) use of hybrid, the fact that you're giving additional text to spells (even though splice exists), the overall feeling of the card... there are so many things that feel original here. Still, we've already seen almost every single sentence as a single spell by itself before. (1.5/3) Flavor - No problems in introducing new creature types, but they have to make sense. To verify that, I had to look up the meaning of "Deva". For what I understand, it's essentially a divinity (I apologize for any unwanted oversimplification I might be doing here). One could argue that we already have the god creature type for that, but I don't want to enter such kind of discussion. The point I do want to make is that if that's the case, that should be more than a simple archmage or wizard. I feel like those last two words do make sense with one another, but not with Deva, if I understood correctly what it is. If I did not, I apologize but it's just from pure ignorance. No flavor text, but not a problem because there's no room for it.
Polish (2.5/3) Quality - "...white and blue Soldier token" (-0.5). The only serious problem might be spells "gaining" text. I have my fair share of doubts about that wording, but I wasn't able to find any precedent, and the only thing that looks like it might be relevant is splice, that technically copies the whole text box in the CR, and that's clearly not what we have here. In the absence of proof, I have to give you the benefit od the doubt. (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 16.5/25
Vivascia the GenerousRGWU
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard (M)
Hexproof
Whenever a permanent you control becomes attached to Vivascia the Generous, you may pay 1. If you do, create a token that is a copy of that permanent for each other creature you control that permanent could target. Each of those tokens enters the battlefield attached to a different one of those creatures. Exile the copies at the beginning of the end step.
3/4
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes this both in how it reads and how it plays. Johnny could do something with the trigger. Spike likes hexproof on a relevant creature, but he's more attracted by that than the trigger, and I feel like the trigger is actually the point of the card. (2/3) Elegance - Very wordy (nine lines in MSE's M15 frame). Beside its length, the text looks easy enough to understand at least.
Development (2.5/3) Viability - Hexproof is green and blue. It's clear that the triggered ability is meant to interact with Auras and Equipment, and that's a white thing. What is supposed to be red here? Maybe the fact that the copies are temporary, but that feels weak from a color pie perspective (not talking power level here). Mythic it is, that's for sure. (2/3) Balance - This is a bomb in limited as long as you can pay its cost, which I assume would be possible if this were to be printed in a real booster set. Lots of mana fixing would certainly be there in such an environment. For this to see constructed play, you need to build your deck around it, including a healthy dose of Auras and Equipment. I think that would prevent this from seeing competitive play (even though it's still a 3/4 with hexproof, but in four different colors), but would probably make this a casual favorite. I see no particular problems in multiplayer.
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - We've already seen similar effects before (things like Precursor Golem come to mind, even if it's not exactly the same but the feel is similar), but I can't remember any of those for Auras and Equipment. Also, very clever way to make a card that revolves completely around those subtypes without explicitly mentioning them. (2.5/3) Flavor - The name is fine and makes sense with the mechanics. She's generous because she gives out Auras and Equipment to everyone. I would be curious how Vivascia is supposed to be pronounced in English, as my first instinct is to pronounce it like it would be in Italian, which is what in English would be written as Vivasha (the Italian "scia" sound being almost always the same as the English "sha"). No flavor text, but not a problem because there's no room for it.
Polish (2/3) Quality - "...that permanent could target" is a serious problem here. Permanents don't and can't target, spells and abilities target. Auras don't target the thing they enchant while on the battlefield, but they only do when you cast them as Aura spells on the stack. Equipment don't target either when they're on the battlefield, their equip ability does, only when you activate it and only as long as it's on the stack. This should say "...that permanent could be attached to" (that's the best wording in my opinion) or at the very least "...that permanent could enchant or equip" (-1 for functional mistake). (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.)
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(This month's banner uses the art of Approach of the Second Sun by Noah Bradley. It was created by the wonderful bravelion83.)
June 2017 MCC Finals: The Final Command
The second sun is coming, Bolas's return is nigh, and Amonkhet is on the brink of devastation. But, we can't just focus on the present. We also must reflect on the past, the anthologies beforehand. That's exactly what's happening this month. The first two rounds will let you choose between highlighting the Egyptian plane's glory or the past of the Commander series. The Third will put you squarely in the God-Pharaoh's realm, and Round 4 will give you a long look at the achievements of Commander in the past.
We have come to the end, and when finishing a journey, one must always look at the past. Namely, for this round, Commander's recent past. In this round, you'll be taking on the Commander R&D's Greatest Challenge: Designing 4-colored Commanders.
Main Challenge: Design a Legendary Creature with Four Colors in its Color Identity.
Subchallenge 1: The Card does not have more than 1 Evergreen Keyword Ability.
Subchallenge 2: The Card has a converted mana cost of 4 or less.
Main: 1) The card must have exactly 4 colors in its color identity, which is the culmination of any colors in the mana cost, text box, and color indicators.
2) If the card is double-faced, the front side must be legendary.
Sub 1: The keywords this challenge is talking about is as follows:
Ask about any text that needs clarifying in the MCC discussion thread.
As always please remember
(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.
Good luck all!
Player deadline: Sunday, July 9th, 23:59 EDT
Judge Deadline: Thursday, July 13th, 23:59 EDT
Judges
Necarg
Bravelion83
Tilwin
StonerofKruphix
Players
TheHittite
iphanx
Rocco
Flatline
Check out my Newborder Peasant Cube here! http://www.cubetutor.com/draft/37467
True Name Mafia (Win),Clan Contest IX Mafia (Win), Bravely Default Mafia (Loss), BOTAS (loss), BfV (Loss), Ace Attourney (loss)
Rules Advisor before they were eradicated
Legendary Creature - Elf Soldier [M]
Haste
All creatures are legendary.
Whenever a creature token dies, its controller loses 1 life.
“The death of a million is not a statistic; it's a million individual tragedies.”
5/4
Image source
Squig, Grand Shusher BRGWLegendary Creature - Goblin Advisor [M]
Squig, Grand Shusher can't be countered.
Whenever a player casts a spell, if it isn't during a main phase on his or her turn, that player loses 5 life and discards a card.
"Sit down and wait your turn or I'll introduce you to Mr. Quiet Stick."
5/5
Legendary Creature — Ogre Wizard (M)
Once during each of your turns while you're searching your library, you may cast an instant or sorcery card from your library.
2BG, T, Sacrifice a creature: Search your library for a creature card and reveal that card. Put that card onto the battlefield unless each opponent sacrifices a creature, then shuffle your library.
Everything is inevitable.
4/5
Legendary Creature — Human Pirate (M)
Flash
Creatures your opponents control have +1/+0 as long as they're attacking another opponent.
Whenever an opponent loses the game, you may draw a card for each nontoken creature you control.
If you can’t beat ‘em, wait for somebody else to beat ‘em.
3/3
Legendary Creature — Merfolk Scout (M)
Whenever Derwyn, Nest-Raider enters the battlefield or deals combat damage to a player, create a 0/1 colorless creature token named Egg.
As long as you control an attacking dinosaur, Derwyn, Nest-Raider can’t be blocked.
RGW, T: Target creature token named Egg you control becomes a 5/4 red, green and white dinosaur creature token named Loyal Raptor.
2/3
Legendary Creature — Human Praetor (M)
Except for the first spell cast each turn, generic mana costs can’t be paid using colored mana.
Spells your opponents cast that target either another opponent or a spell, ability, or permanent controlled by another opponent cost 2 less to cast.
5/5
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard (M)
Whenever Zutong, Hatemancer enters the battlefield or a creature you control becomes blocked, you get an experience counter.
1RG, Remove two experience counters from yourself: Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player this turn, you may draw a card, and that creature deals 1 damage to target creature defending player controls.
5/4
Legendary Creature - Deva Wizard (M)
1 : Target instant spell can’t be countered by spells or abilities and gains “Create a 1/1 white blue Soldier token.”
1 : The next sorcery card you cast this turn can be cast as though it had flash and that spell gains “Each creature you control gets +1/+1 until end of turn.”
2 : Copy target instant or sorcery spell you control. You may choose new targets for the copy.
3/5
Vivascia the Generous RGWU
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard (M)
Hexproof
Whenever a permanent you control becomes attached to Vivascia the Generous, you may pay 1. If you do, create a token that is a copy of that permanent for each other creature you control that permanent could target. Each of those tokens enters the battlefield attached to a different one of those creatures. Exile the copies at the beginning of the end step.
3/4
Check out my Newborder Peasant Cube here! http://www.cubetutor.com/draft/37467
True Name Mafia (Win),Clan Contest IX Mafia (Win), Bravely Default Mafia (Loss), BOTAS (loss), BfV (Loss), Ace Attourney (loss)
Rules Advisor before they were eradicated
Omylia of the Faceless UBRG
Legendary Creature - Elf Soldier [M]
Haste
All creatures are legendary.
Whenever a creature token dies, its controller loses 1 life.
“The death of a million is not a statistic; it's a million individual tragedies.”
5/4
Design
(3/3) Appeal - Timmy likes both the stats and abilities. He digs the flavor of "All creatures are legendary". Johnny can use the trigger somehow. This is also efficient enough for Spike, and he especially likes this against token decks.
(3/3) Elegance - Just perfect.
Development
(3/3) Viability - Leyline of Singularity is blue and affects all nonland permanents, and creatures are just a subset of that, so I guess it's fine. The death trigger is black for sure but it can feel Golgari. Haste accounts for red (and green too if you don't count the trigger as partly green). The overall anti-tokens feel of the card also makes it feel right as an every-color-but-white card, as white is the token color. It also feels definitely mythic to me.
(3/3) Balance - For once, this will be probably be relatively short, but hey, that's because it's good! Limited bomb if you can pay the cost, but I guess if this was in a draftable set there would be plenty of mana fixing in it. I definitely expect this to see constructed play, but I don't see it being broken. The cost is still very restrictive. Not only I don't see any problem in casual or multiplayer, but I can easily see this becoming a fan favorite there.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - The "I hate tokens" feel is original and it totally gives this card its own identity. "All creatures are legendary" feels like a good twist on the aforementioned Leyline of Singularity, and the single parts are nothing new though.
(3/3) Flavor - Very good. The name is fine, but that flavor text! I have no words to say how much I love it! It's just beautiful, both in itself and in how well it feels with the anti-token mechanics. Terrific job here!
Polish
(3/3) Quality - All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 25/25
I originally had a 2.5 in Uniqueness, but then I figured out it would feel really bad to give out a 24.5/25, so I raised it to 3 and gave you a perfect score. I really feel like this card deserves it, it's very hard to make an elegant and effective four-colored card, and as a judge I'm not one that gives out 25s here and there. I think I've only awarded a perfect score a handful of times in the three years I've been judging so far. Now you get to be part of those, so congratulations!
Goromal, Imminence Adept UBRG
Legendary Creature — Ogre Wizard (M)
Once during each of your turns while you're searching your library, you may cast an instant or sorcery card from your library.
2BG, T, Sacrifice a creature: Search your library for a creature card and reveal that card. Put that card onto the battlefield unless each opponent sacrifices a creature, then shuffle your library.
Everything is inevitable.
4/5
Design
(3/3) Appeal - Timmy likes everything here except the "sacrifice a creature" cost, but that's just a minor point. Johnny could also use both abilities quite easily. Spike really doesn't like the opponent getting the choice in the activated ability, but he definitely likes the potential card advantage of the static one.
(1.5/3) Elegance - Very wordy (nine lines in MSE's M15 frame). Also very complex in gameplay, especially the first ability. The text looks easy enough to understand at least.
Development
(3/3) Viability - Panglacial Wurm is green, but I can see the first ability as accounting for red and blue as they are the colors most focused on instants and sorceries. The second ability accounts for black and green both in cost and effect. If this is not a mythic, I don't know what a mythic should be.
(1.5/3) Balance - Panglacial Wurm costed seven mana and was limited to casting itself, this costs just four mana (in four different colors, that's true and it helps) and can cast any instant or sorcery out of your library. At least, you still have to pay that spell's costs (might that need reminder text by the way?), but I still feel like this might be a bit too easy to abuse, especially in larger formats that have plenty of good effect that let you search your library at will, such as fetchlands in Modern for example. I see no big problems with the activated ability, even if that looks potentially abusable too. It has a built-in safety valve in that your opponents (and each of them, not just one! This aspect is huge in multiplayer...) can sacrifice creatures to avoid you getting the one you want, but what if you're looking for, say, an Eldrazi titan while no other opponent has creatures to sacrifice? You could end up with an Emrakul in play for four mana. That sounds a lot like Aetherworks Marvel, and we know how that story ended... The only format left to mention is limited and what can I say? Provided you can pay the cost, a bomb is a bomb.
Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness - I don't know if this card would exist had Panglacial Wurm never been designed before, but the first ability is a very good twist on it. I could summarize the second ability as a new composition from old pieces.
(2.5/3) Flavor - The name and flavor text are both fine in a vacuum, I just don't clearly see how they're linked to the mechanics, but they still work well enough.
Polish
(2/3) Quality - A comma is very probably missing between the words "turns" and "while" (-0.5). There is very little precedent for that first ability, but looking at Karador, Ghost Chieftain, I can say that the "once" should not be there and it should specify "one instant or sorcery card" later instead (-0.5): "During each of your turns, while you're searching your library, you may cast one instant or sorcery card from your library."
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 19.5/25
Felnia, Gambit Archmage RGWU
Legendary Creature - Deva Wizard (M)
1 : Target instant spell can’t be countered by spells or abilities and gains “Create a 1/1 white blue Soldier token.”
1 : The next sorcery card you cast this turn can be cast as though it had flash and that spell gains “Each creature you control gets +1/+1 until end of turn.”
2 : Copy target instant or sorcery spell you control. You may choose new targets for the copy.
3/5
Design
(3/3) Appeal - Timmy likes a big creature with a bunch of abilities. Johnny can probably do something with this card, especially the last ability. Spike likes the flexibility of having a lot of different abilities at his disposal and the skill of choosing the right thing to do in every situation.
(1/3) Elegance - Very wordy (nine lines in MSE's M15 frame). Also very complex in gameplay, especially the first two abilities. Making spells gain text is not so easy both from a rules and complexity point of view. The card is definitely a bit puzzling to look at.
Development
(0.5/3) Viability - Easy things first: this is mythic, no doubt about that. I'm afraid that and the last ability being in color are the only positive things I can say here. The first and second ability should be swapped to be in color. As is, none of them are. Let me explain. The first ability gives a spell uncounterability. That's primary red, an acceptable bend in green (green usually gets it on creatures, not instants), and only tertiary in blue. Supreme Verdict is a famous example: there uncounterability is the blue part, and it has been much discussed. In the end it was allowed as it was part of a cycle. Last Word is another famous example. That's how tertiary status works: the color gets the ability but very rarely, both in the sense of time and card rarity. Here's where being an hybrid ability matters: hybrid means that ability has to make sense in both monocolors separately. Uncounterability might make sense in blue, even if that's already a stretch as it's only tertiary, but it makes no sense at all in monowhite. Token making makes a lot of sense in white, less in blue even though it's still allowed. What colors should uncounterability be in to make sense? Red for sure, if you had to choose a second color definitely green. Green can also make tokens without any problem, and red is still allowed to. Let's move on to the second ability. What card does it come from? Quicken, a blue card! And what's the Anthem color? White! If you put them both together you get a white/blue ability, that would be actually gold and not hybrid though. See the irony? The first ability makes sense in the second one's colors, and vice versa! Those abilities are also much more gold than hybrid.
(2/3) Balance - Despite being a clear limited bomb, I'm not sure it would see Standard play. It just needs a lot of mana and cards to work effectively. The first ability can affect any player's spells, and that has important multiplayer implications. I see no particular problem in casual.
Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness - The (not completely correct technically) use of hybrid, the fact that you're giving additional text to spells (even though splice exists), the overall feeling of the card... there are so many things that feel original here. Still, we've already seen almost every single sentence as a single spell by itself before.
(1.5/3) Flavor - No problems in introducing new creature types, but they have to make sense. To verify that, I had to look up the meaning of "Deva". For what I understand, it's essentially a divinity (I apologize for any unwanted oversimplification I might be doing here). One could argue that we already have the god creature type for that, but I don't want to enter such kind of discussion. The point I do want to make is that if that's the case, that should be more than a simple archmage or wizard. I feel like those last two words do make sense with one another, but not with Deva, if I understood correctly what it is. If I did not, I apologize but it's just from pure ignorance. No flavor text, but not a problem because there's no room for it.
Polish
(2.5/3) Quality - "...white and blue Soldier token" (-0.5). The only serious problem might be spells "gaining" text. I have my fair share of doubts about that wording, but I wasn't able to find any precedent, and the only thing that looks like it might be relevant is splice, that technically copies the whole text box in the CR, and that's clearly not what we have here. In the absence of proof, I have to give you the benefit od the doubt.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 16.5/25
Vivascia the Generous RGWU
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard (M)
Hexproof
Whenever a permanent you control becomes attached to Vivascia the Generous, you may pay 1. If you do, create a token that is a copy of that permanent for each other creature you control that permanent could target. Each of those tokens enters the battlefield attached to a different one of those creatures. Exile the copies at the beginning of the end step.
3/4
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes this both in how it reads and how it plays. Johnny could do something with the trigger. Spike likes hexproof on a relevant creature, but he's more attracted by that than the trigger, and I feel like the trigger is actually the point of the card.
(2/3) Elegance - Very wordy (nine lines in MSE's M15 frame). Beside its length, the text looks easy enough to understand at least.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability - Hexproof is green and blue. It's clear that the triggered ability is meant to interact with Auras and Equipment, and that's a white thing. What is supposed to be red here? Maybe the fact that the copies are temporary, but that feels weak from a color pie perspective (not talking power level here). Mythic it is, that's for sure.
(2/3) Balance - This is a bomb in limited as long as you can pay its cost, which I assume would be possible if this were to be printed in a real booster set. Lots of mana fixing would certainly be there in such an environment. For this to see constructed play, you need to build your deck around it, including a healthy dose of Auras and Equipment. I think that would prevent this from seeing competitive play (even though it's still a 3/4 with hexproof, but in four different colors), but would probably make this a casual favorite. I see no particular problems in multiplayer.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - We've already seen similar effects before (things like Precursor Golem come to mind, even if it's not exactly the same but the feel is similar), but I can't remember any of those for Auras and Equipment. Also, very clever way to make a card that revolves completely around those subtypes without explicitly mentioning them.
(2.5/3) Flavor - The name is fine and makes sense with the mechanics. She's generous because she gives out Auras and Equipment to everyone. I would be curious how Vivascia is supposed to be pronounced in English, as my first instinct is to pronounce it like it would be in Italian, which is what in English would be written as Vivasha (the Italian "scia" sound being almost always the same as the English "sha"). No flavor text, but not a problem because there's no room for it.
Polish
(2/3) Quality - "...that permanent could target" is a serious problem here. Permanents don't and can't target, spells and abilities target. Auras don't target the thing they enchant while on the battlefield, but they only do when you cast them as Aura spells on the stack. Equipment don't target either when they're on the battlefield, their equip ability does, only when you activate it and only as long as it's on the stack. This should say "...that permanent could be attached to" (that's the best wording in my opinion) or at the very least "...that permanent could enchant or equip" (-1 for functional mistake).
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 20/25
The_Hittite: 25
Flatline: 20
Rocco: 19.5
iphanx: 16.5
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.)