Yet again I happened to be a host of this contest for a month, so here I declare open the recruitment to December MCC judge team. As usual, I hope for four judges including me, but heavy on the pot, not so heavy on the luck, so three feels more realistic.
Judge signups will remain open until the end of round 1. If you have never judged before, please post a judgment of the sample card using the official rubric. If you have judged before, please just post here to say you're willing.
Let's assume all challenges and subchallenges are met.
Ghor Clan Grappler2RG
Creature - Human Berserk (U)
Trample
Whenever a creature you control blocks, target creature an opponent control loses trample until end of turn. "Makes you feel the real deal." - Domri Rade
3/5
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.
I've judged before, but it was WAAAAAY back when, so I'll take a stab at the sample card and we'll see how rusty I am.
Design - (1/3) Appeal: Spike will give this card at least strong consideration, with possible-to-probable deck inclusion based on the environment. Timmy is tempted, but not really impressed. Johnny takes just long enough to figure out if it's somehow abusable before relegating it to the "if I really need an answer to trample" bin. (1/3) Elegance: It's a little convoluted at first, but the final product is grokkable. This doesn't really need to have trample. A 3/5 with a defensive ability isn't going to want to be swinging to the face. Similarly, it doesn't really connect that his presence on the board conveys the ability to all your creatures (though that could be fixed with flavor, see below), or that you get to choose any creature controlled by any opponent. It would make a lot more sense to have specifically the blocked creature lose trample until end of turn.
Development - (2.25/3) Viability: This card fits fine in red (in accordance with Archetype of Aggression and Blind Fury); in fact, it could probably be mono-red, except that it's a very defensive card. I almost wonder if it would be a better fit without trample and in red/white, where a lot of battle-related trickery tends to end up (although then we'd have to lose the Ghor-Clan linkage, I believe). (Ooooh, I sorta like it in red/white and with vigilance instead of trample. ) Rules are ok, I think, and it's the kind of not super-powered or flashy, niche card that fits well in the uncommon slot. (2.5/3) Balance: This is the area that I have the least knowledge in right now, but based on what I know of the current environment, I think it's ok. It's a good solution for casual and multiplayer formats (especially the latter, perhaps too much so based on current ability wording). I don't see it creating a deck on its own, and I don't think it fits into an existing one, nor would I think it would prove itself to be particularly problematic. The cost is a tiny bit aggressive, as most 3/5's for 4 come with a drawback of some sort such as defender or enters the field tapped, or are legendary, but two colors in the cost might be sufficient to allow this.
Creativity - (2.75/3) Uniqueness: I feel like there's some unexplored design space (at least within actually printed cards) with ability removal, and trample is at the top of the list. It's an evergreen keyword and losing it is both easy to understand and has a big impact on any creature that has it. I like where the card takes me, even if it's application may be a little narrow. It's not entirely unique, as Archetype of Aggression and Blind Fury demonstrate, but it's not your every day card. Actually, a slight bump up because, unless I'm missing alternate wording, there are very few cards that give you a benefit whenever a creature you control blocks (only, versus "whenever a creature you control blocks or becomes blocked"). (1/3) Flavor: Name is quite nice, both linking to existing Ghor-Clan cards and using the idea of a grappling creature to explain why creatures would lose trample. If it's truly going to allow all your creatures to become grapplers, though, I feel like the flavor could be better focused on the idea of a military leader or battle strategist. As is, it sounds more like he should only make creatures lose trample when he himself blocks them. Domri is a fine source for Gruul/Ghor-Clan flavor text, but the text itself doesn't do anything for me. I don't know how "feeling the real deal" makes me lose trample (or gives me insight into making other creatures lose trample), and I can't think of any puns or links that make it connect to the card itself, so it falls sorta flat.
Polish - (2/3) Quality: The name needs a hyphen between Ghor and Clan. Should be a Human Berserker. Should be "...an opponent controls...". (2/2) *Main Challenge: Dang, does it ever meet the main challenge. (2/2) Subchallenges: You totally nailed those subchallenges.
I've judged before, but it was WAAAAAY back when, so I'll take a stab at the sample card and we'll see how rusty I am.
Didn't expect such hardened veteran being back in business again. Will be proud to work with you. Also, the amount of effort you put into your judging puts me to shame.
I would have signed up as well, but it appears you're fine for now, so feel free to count me as a reserve judge should you need one. I will post a card as a player in the meantime. It will be just a judge entry if I end up judging.
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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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Yet again I happened to be a host of this contest for a month, so here I declare open the recruitment to December MCC judge team. As usual, I hope for four judges including me, but heavy on the pot, not so heavy on the luck, so three feels more realistic.
Judge signups will remain open until the end of round 1. If you have never judged before, please post a judgment of the sample card using the official rubric. If you have judged before, please just post here to say you're willing.
Ghor Clan Grappler 2RG
Creature - Human Berserk (U)
Trample
Whenever a creature you control blocks, target creature an opponent control loses trample until end of turn.
"Makes you feel the real deal." - Domri Rade
3/5
(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.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
(1/3) Appeal: Spike will give this card at least strong consideration, with possible-to-probable deck inclusion based on the environment. Timmy is tempted, but not really impressed. Johnny takes just long enough to figure out if it's somehow abusable before relegating it to the "if I really need an answer to trample" bin.
(1/3) Elegance: It's a little convoluted at first, but the final product is grokkable. This doesn't really need to have trample. A 3/5 with a defensive ability isn't going to want to be swinging to the face. Similarly, it doesn't really connect that his presence on the board conveys the ability to all your creatures (though that could be fixed with flavor, see below), or that you get to choose any creature controlled by any opponent. It would make a lot more sense to have specifically the blocked creature lose trample until end of turn.
Development -
(2.25/3) Viability: This card fits fine in red (in accordance with Archetype of Aggression and Blind Fury); in fact, it could probably be mono-red, except that it's a very defensive card. I almost wonder if it would be a better fit without trample and in red/white, where a lot of battle-related trickery tends to end up (although then we'd have to lose the Ghor-Clan linkage, I believe). (Ooooh, I sorta like it in red/white and with vigilance instead of trample. ) Rules are ok, I think, and it's the kind of not super-powered or flashy, niche card that fits well in the uncommon slot.
(2.5/3) Balance: This is the area that I have the least knowledge in right now, but based on what I know of the current environment, I think it's ok. It's a good solution for casual and multiplayer formats (especially the latter, perhaps too much so based on current ability wording). I don't see it creating a deck on its own, and I don't think it fits into an existing one, nor would I think it would prove itself to be particularly problematic. The cost is a tiny bit aggressive, as most 3/5's for 4 come with a drawback of some sort such as defender or enters the field tapped, or are legendary, but two colors in the cost might be sufficient to allow this.
Creativity -
(2.75/3) Uniqueness: I feel like there's some unexplored design space (at least within actually printed cards) with ability removal, and trample is at the top of the list. It's an evergreen keyword and losing it is both easy to understand and has a big impact on any creature that has it. I like where the card takes me, even if it's application may be a little narrow. It's not entirely unique, as Archetype of Aggression and Blind Fury demonstrate, but it's not your every day card. Actually, a slight bump up because, unless I'm missing alternate wording, there are very few cards that give you a benefit whenever a creature you control blocks (only, versus "whenever a creature you control blocks or becomes blocked").
(1/3) Flavor: Name is quite nice, both linking to existing Ghor-Clan cards and using the idea of a grappling creature to explain why creatures would lose trample. If it's truly going to allow all your creatures to become grapplers, though, I feel like the flavor could be better focused on the idea of a military leader or battle strategist. As is, it sounds more like he should only make creatures lose trample when he himself blocks them. Domri is a fine source for Gruul/Ghor-Clan flavor text, but the text itself doesn't do anything for me. I don't know how "feeling the real deal" makes me lose trample (or gives me insight into making other creatures lose trample), and I can't think of any puns or links that make it connect to the card itself, so it falls sorta flat.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: The name needs a hyphen between Ghor and Clan. Should be a Human Berserker. Should be "...an opponent controls...".
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Dang, does it ever meet the main challenge.
(2/2) Subchallenges: You totally nailed those subchallenges.
Total: 16.5/25
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
*wipes a single tear of happiness*
Didn't expect such hardened veteran being back in business again. Will be proud to work with you. Also, the amount of effort you put into your judging puts me to shame.
Glad you are in too.
Let's don't overdo it, I am not even sure this contest will be interesting enough to attract many people.
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.)