Welcome to the Card Creation League! This Round is for the Top 2 Only. Feel free to watch and comment in the CCL Discussion thread!
Our Finalists:
IcariiFA
FreshMeat
Theme
This month we'll be unleashing our imaginations to make the familiar unfamiliar, the old new, the antiquated fresh. For this challenge, we will be looking to shake up Magic's eternal formats. Every year, be it in a Commander, Conspiracy, or Standard set, Wizards tries to print cards designed specifically to improve older formats. Fatal Push, Sanctum Prelate, Palace Jailer, Ash Barrens, Flusterstorm, and Field of Ruin are all examples of cards that R&D designed specifically for that purpose. It is important for us to develop the twin design skills of (i) insight into why a format has the contours and gameplay style it has and (ii) the ability to design cards for a format without upending or destroying it. This final round will help us develop those skills.
Please be sure to read the clarifications, and keep in mind that the cards need to be designed with usual R&D constraints in mind. In specific, that means, for example, that your Modern card needs to be printed in a Standard set, but your Legacy card can be printed in a Standard set or a supplemental product like Battlebond or Conspiracy. Have fun!
Challenge
Challenge 1 —Design a card for Legacy. It cannot be mono-White.
Challenge 2 — Design a two-colored commander of the type and color chosen in Round 1. It will be a headline commander for Commander 2018.
Challenge 3 — Design a card for Modern.
Challenge 4 — Design a new card, or choose a card to downshift, for Pauper.
Make sure to include a rarity.
For Challenge 1, the card CANNOT be mono-White. I want us to avoid designing White prison cards because that's been the flavor of the day for the past few years for this card slot. Palace Jailer, Sanctum Prelate, and Alms Collector were all printed to bolster Death and Taxes, so let's show some love to something else please!
For Challenge 2, you may design a creature or a Planeswalker.
Challenge 3 is self-explanatory, just make sure the card is printable in Standard.
For Challenge 4, both options are equally valid. Sometimes a downshift is more tantalizing (Seeker of the Way, Mortician Beetle) and sometimes a new card is more tantalizing (Ash Barrens). I will say one thing — the benefit of a downshift is that you can have a higher overall complexity level because the downshift will likely be occurring in a Masters set. Recent created additions to Pauper include Thraben Inspector, Palace Sentinels, Ash Barrens, and Thermo-Alchemist.
Your submissions are due Monday, March 5th, 23:59 PST.
Schedule
Round 1 — Open to Everyone (January 31st-February 6th)
Round 2 — Open to Everyone (February 5th–10th)
Rounds 1 and 2 Critiques (Due February 12th)
Top 8 — Open to top 8 finishers (February 13th–17th)
Top 8 Critiques (Due February 20th)
Top 4 — Open to top 4 finishers from last round (February 20th–24th)
Top 4 Critiques (Due February 26th)
Final (End of month, winner determined by public poll)
New color or colors? My efreet from round one was red and black, but the new color was black. Could I do a blue/black one since blue is the other main color for efreet, or does it have to exactly match?
I warn you in advance, I know very little about any constructed meta game, but I tried my best.
1 — Design a card for Legacy. It cannot be mono-White. Mimic Mage1R
Creature - Goblin Wizard (R)
Whenever an opponent casts an instant or sorcery with converted mana cost 1 or less, you may copy that spell. If you do, you may choose new targets for the copy. "She may not be the strongest, or the smartest, but I've never seen anyone learn so fast." - Jakrav, Boros Embermage
2/2
2 — Design a two-colored commander of the type and color chosen in Round 1. It will be a headline commander for Commander 2018. Cthane, the Cavern Queen3UB
Creature - Gorgon Horror (M)
Flash
When Cthane enters the battlefield, destroy all creatures with power 0 or less. For each creature destroyed this way, create a 1/1 black Zombie artifact creature token unless its controller pays 1 life. 2U: Creatures target player controls get -1/-0 until end of turn. Activate this ability only while Cthane is in the command zone. “They invade my home, hunt my sisters and I, don’t they have families of their own to hunt?”
4/4
3 — Design a card for Modern. Study the Signs1U
Instant (U)
Convoke
Scry 2, then draw a card. The future belongs to those who've already seen it.
4 — Design a new card, or choose a card to downshift, for Pauper. Flickerwisp
Design a card for Legacy. It cannot be mono-White.
Crazeomancer1R
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Whenever an opponent draws one or more cards outside of his or her draw step, Crazeomancer deals 2 damage to that player. "Didn't think you couldn't think now did you!?"
2/2
Design a two-colored commander of the type and color chosen in Round 1. It will be a headline commander for Commander 2018.
Torazin, Unleashed Malice4BR
Legendary Creature - Efreet (M)
When Torazin, Unleashed Malice enters the battlefield, you may create a legendary artifact token with "T, 4: This deals 4 damage to target creature or player. Treat this as commander damage." named Animus Ring.
As long as you control Animus Ring, Torazin has flying and is indestructible.
4/4
Design a card for Modern.
Guide to Wonder1G
Creature - Human Shaman (R)
Whenever you play a land, scry 2.
Sacrifice Guide to Wonder: You may play an additional land this turn. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery. "The greatest of journeys leads to discoveries yet seen."
2/1
Design a new card, or choose a card to downshift, for Pauper.
Bulwood Escort1G
Creature - Elf Warrior (C)
Flash
When Bulwood Escort enters the battlefield, prevent all noncombat damage that would be dealt this turn. The canopy of Bulwood provides more than leaves and branches for its protection.
2/1
art by Steve Prescott
February CCL 2018 Finals - The Boardroom
Welcome to the Card Creation League! This Round is for the Top 2 Only. Feel free to watch and comment in the CCL Discussion thread!
Our Finalists:
IcariiFA
FreshMeat
Theme
This month we'll be unleashing our imaginations to make the familiar unfamiliar, the old new, the antiquated fresh. For this challenge, we will be looking to shake up Magic's eternal formats. Every year, be it in a Commander, Conspiracy, or Standard set, Wizards tries to print cards designed specifically to improve older formats. Fatal Push, Sanctum Prelate, Palace Jailer, Ash Barrens, Flusterstorm, and Field of Ruin are all examples of cards that R&D designed specifically for that purpose. It is important for us to develop the twin design skills of (i) insight into why a format has the contours and gameplay style it has and (ii) the ability to design cards for a format without upending or destroying it. This final round will help us develop those skills.
Please be sure to read the clarifications, and keep in mind that the cards need to be designed with usual R&D constraints in mind. In specific, that means, for example, that your Modern card needs to be printed in a Standard set, but your Legacy card can be printed in a Standard set or a supplemental product like Battlebond or Conspiracy. Have fun!
Challenge
Schedule
1 — Design a card for Legacy. It cannot be mono-White.
Mimic Mage 1R
Creature - Goblin Wizard (R)
Whenever an opponent casts an instant or sorcery with converted mana cost 1 or less, you may copy that spell. If you do, you may choose new targets for the copy.
"She may not be the strongest, or the smartest, but I've never seen anyone learn so fast." - Jakrav, Boros Embermage
2/2
2 — Design a two-colored commander of the type and color chosen in Round 1. It will be a headline commander for Commander 2018.
Cthane, the Cavern Queen 3UB
Creature - Gorgon Horror (M)
Flash
When Cthane enters the battlefield, destroy all creatures with power 0 or less. For each creature destroyed this way, create a 1/1 black Zombie artifact creature token unless its controller pays 1 life.
2U: Creatures target player controls get -1/-0 until end of turn. Activate this ability only while Cthane is in the command zone.
“They invade my home, hunt my sisters and I, don’t they have families of their own to hunt?”
4/4
3 — Design a card for Modern.
Study the Signs 1U
Instant (U)
Convoke
Scry 2, then draw a card.
The future belongs to those who've already seen it.
4 — Design a new card, or choose a card to downshift, for Pauper.
Flickerwisp
Crazeomancer 1R
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Whenever an opponent draws one or more cards outside of his or her draw step, Crazeomancer deals 2 damage to that player.
"Didn't think you couldn't think now did you!?"
2/2
Design a two-colored commander of the type and color chosen in Round 1. It will be a headline commander for Commander 2018.
Torazin, Unleashed Malice 4BR
Legendary Creature - Efreet (M)
When Torazin, Unleashed Malice enters the battlefield, you may create a legendary artifact token with "T, 4: This deals 4 damage to target creature or player. Treat this as commander damage." named Animus Ring.
As long as you control Animus Ring, Torazin has flying and is indestructible.
4/4
Design a card for Modern.
Guide to Wonder 1G
Creature - Human Shaman (R)
Whenever you play a land, scry 2.
Sacrifice Guide to Wonder: You may play an additional land this turn. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
"The greatest of journeys leads to discoveries yet seen."
2/1
Design a new card, or choose a card to downshift, for Pauper.
Bulwood Escort 1G
Creature - Elf Warrior (C)
Flash
When Bulwood Escort enters the battlefield, prevent all noncombat damage that would be dealt this turn.
The canopy of Bulwood provides more than leaves and branches for its protection.
2/1