The From The Vault series has always vaccinated me. Thematically, it is a cool, interesting design idea. However, they are really expensive to buy. So this month, we will all work together to make our own From The Vault sets. Let's start this round with enchantments.
Now that we are done with enchantment, we are moving to Instants and Sorcery cards.
Main Challenge - Design a 6/6 Giant creature card that cost 6, it has to be Mythic rarity (This is for a Vault series after all.)
Subchallenge 1 - Your card is gold (i.e. it has 2 or more different colors in it's mana cost). Subchallenge 2 - Your card can get an increase in power and/or toughness, but without paying mana.
For sub challenge 2, this entitles that by what any means that the creature increases it's P/T, does not require you to spend mana.
If you have more questions, feel free to ask in the MCC discussion thread.
DEADLINES
Design deadline: March 27th, 24h00 EST Judging deadline: March 29th, 24h00 EST
Design - (X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johnny/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 sync 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) Sub-challenges: One point awarded per satisfied sub-challenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Sunhome Titan4RW
Creature — Giant (M)
First strike
Whenever Sunhome Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, creatures you control get +2/+0 or +0/+2 until end of turn. “He’s better than just a fortification. He’s a perfect guardian for the guildhall, he scares criminals and attracts the citizens’ attention at the same time.”
—Nik Bojov, Sunhome guard veteran
6/6
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.)
Vannifar's Last Theorum4GU
Legendary Creature - Insect Giant (M)
Flash
Trample, shroud
Whenever combat damage from Vannifar's Last Theorum removes any number of loyalty counters from a planeswalker, put that many +1/+1 counters on Vannifar's Last Theorum and you may draw a card.
Vannifar's Last Theorum can't be blocked as long as it has fourteen or more +1/+1 counters on it.
6/6
End-Raze Titan4RG
Creature - Giant {M}
Menace
Whenever End-Raze Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, destroy target noncreature, nonland permanent an opponent controls. "Every available man" may not be enough to stop it.
6/6
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A mere ten days after the Mending, a young knight of Valeron and a young ranger of Eos made a discovery that would change Alara forever.
Shipsnatcher4UR
Creature - Giant Pirate (Mythic Rare)
Haste
When Shipsnatcher enters the battlefield or attacks, gain control of target nonland permanent with converted mana cost X or less for as long as Shipsnatcher remains on the battlefield, where X is Shipsnatcher's power. Untap that permanent. It gains haste until end of turn.
Shipsnatcher gets +1/+1 for each permanent you control but don't own.
6/6
Reaver Titan 4BR
Creature - Giant (M)
Haste
Whenever Reaver Titan attacks, sacrifice another creature. If you do, create an X/1 red and black Giant creature token, where X is equal to Reaver Titan's power, then put a +1/+1 counter on Reaver Titan.
6/6 Those reclaimed to shadows are half fire, half smoke, corporeal only at his whimsy.
Syndicate TitanWWWBBB
Creature — Giant (MR)
Lifelink
Whenever Syndicate Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, you may exile another target nonland permanent. If you do, target creature you control gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the exiled permanent's converted mana cost. "He might have deceived you, but don't worry: the Orzhov know how to make someone pay."
—Teysa Karlov, to Kaya
6/6
Kruphix, God of Value and Eldrazi. GU Gahiji: Wider is better. (Now with 40% more tokens!) RGW Daxos brought some frienchantments! WB Kynaios and Tiro: Four strong arms to hug you better. RGWU Saskia: You better not tell her that pointing is rude. BRGW Sidisi the Zombeesi, the Unmilled, Breaker of Graves, Mother of Zambambos. (Zombie tribal)BGU Omnath, The Angriest Elemental Ever & His Spike-Handed Buddies.RG (Retired but forever in my heart)
Round is now closed. Top points earner from each bracket moves on.
Brackets
RaikouRider vs Subject16
bravelion83 vs Fajen Thygia
Cantripmancer vs StonerOfKruphix
Freyleyes
bravelion83 vs Fajen Thygia
Cantripmancer vs StonerOfKruphix void_nothing
bravelion83 vs Fajen Thygia
RaikouRider vs Subject16 Superbajt
RaikouRider vs Subject16
Cantripmancer vs StonerOfKruphix
It's virtually impossible to create a 6/6 mythic for 6 which is not timmytastic. Everyone got points there.
End-Raze Titan4RG
Creature - Giant {M}
Menace
Whenever End-Raze Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, destroy target noncreature, nonland permanent an opponent controls. "Every available man" may not be enough to stop it.
6/6
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Spike sees a powerful finisher, and Johnny sees nothing for them. (2.5/3) Elegance: I always feel multicolor designs with a keyword from one color and long ability from the other, but otherwise correct.
Development - (3/3) Viability: No problems in color, rarity or rules. (2/3) Balance: The fact that this doesn't kill creatures makes it manageable in both limited and constructed, but still immediate AND repeatable destruction is dangerous, and shouldn't cost 6.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Combination of several cards, not unique effets, but correctly combined. (2.5/3) Flavor: If "every available man" is one, you did something wrong I can get behind this card representing End-Raze, though.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: No problems (2/2) Main Challenge: OK (2/2) Sub-challenges:OK
Total: 21/25
Shipsnatcher4UR
Creature - Giant Pirate (Mythic Rare)
Haste
When Shipsnatcher enters the battlefield or attacks, gain control of target nonland permanent with converted mana cost X or less for as long as Shipsnatcher remains on the battlefield, where X is Shipsnatcher's power. Untap that permanent. It gains haste until end of turn.
Shipsnatcher gets +1/+1 for each permanent you control but don't own.
6/6
Design - (2.5/3) Appeal: Spike likes the possibilites and choices, Johnny may try to increase power, but that's a very minor challenge. (0.5/3) Elegance: Long, complicated and filled with a bland trinket text. Additionally, the creature you take on ETB can attack, but the one you take on attack can't, which adds to the confusion.
Development - (3/3) Viability: No problems in color, rarity or rules. (0.5/3) Balance: If you can lose when you are on 14 life with two untapped 6/6, then you know something went wrong with the design.
Creativity - (2.5/3) Uniqueness: Repeatable Mind Control was never done this way rather because it's OP, not because nobody ever thought about it. The combination is fin (2/3) Flavor: Giant collecting ships? I don't feel the rules text shows it perfectly. It's interesting, though.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: OK (2/2) Main Challenge:OK (2/2) Sub-challenges: OK
Total: 18/25
Reaver Titan 4BR
Creature - Giant (M)
Haste
Whenever Reaver Titan attacks, sacrifice another creature. If you do, create an X/1 red and black Giant creature token, where X is equal to Reaver Titan's power, then put a +1/+1 counter on Reaver Titan.
6/6 Those reclaimed to shadows are half fire, half smoke, corporeal only at his whimsy.
Design - (2/3) Appeal: OK, your Timmy is still happy, but somewhat confused, as sometimes they don't want to sacrifice their creatures. Johnny and Spike understand it, but for Spike one turn of delay for tokens is a huge downside. (0.5/3) Elegance: First, someone may not know if the tokens are changing with Titan's power (they don't). Then, you have multiple similar tokens, each with different power. Additionally, tokens have non-squared stats. As their toughness is 1, that's not a big deal normally, but gets quite annoying with anthems/counters. Furthermore, the fact that the attack trigger creates aggresive creatures that don't attack is strange, especially if you are forced to sacrfice the tokens each turn. Finally, when creating a card related to a cycle, especially in name, you have to either break it (Erebos's Titan) or fully embrace it. If you create a 6/6 mythic rare Giant for 6 with a keyword and attack trigger, you have to give it the same ETB as well, and haste doesn't help here I think. A lot of small problems.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: No rules problem (unless I'm wrong about not changing power). Mythic mainly for being pushed, as it could be rare with this rule text. I can fathom this card being monored, but indeed it feels Rakdos enough. (2.5/3) Balance: Quite powerful if you replace goblins with 6/1 and more, but probably fair.
Creativity - (2.5/3) Uniqueness: Repeatable Hellion Eruption is interesting. (2.5/3) Flavor: The flavor is interesting, but X/1 seems quite corporeal, just frail.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: OK (2/2) Main Challenge: OK (2/2) Sub-challenges: OK
Total: 19.5/25
Syndicate TitanWWWBBB
Creature — Giant (MR)
Lifelink
Whenever Syndicate Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, you may exile another target nonland permanent. If you do, target creature you control gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the exiled permanent's converted mana cost. "He might have deceived you, but don't worry: the Orzhov know how to make someone pay."
—Teysa Karlov, to Kaya
6/6
Design - (1.5/3) Appeal: Johnny doesn't have anything to do with this card. Spike sees its power, and plays it whenever mono-Orzhov is doable, but it's too easy. Everyone can just cast this, attack, and inevitably win, so Spike isn't that happy about it. (2.5/3) Elegance: A little too long text for me to get full points. The choice of the target is weak, as you were probably targeting the most expensive permanent anyway.
Development - (3/3) 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? (0.5/3) Balance: It's impossible to win if you are attacked by this even once, and for six mana. Hard casting cost is not a proper explanation for this.
Creativity - (2/3) 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”? (2/3) Flavor: Is it a Bolas reference? Honestly, I don't see how this card is supposed to be related to him. In general, this card doesn't feel that Orzhovy. It feels just like generic WB titan.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: OK (2/2) Main Challenge: OK (2/2) Sub-challenges: OK
Total: 18.5/25
RaikouRider 21 vs 18 Subject16
Cantripmancer 19.5 vs 18.5 StonerOfKruphix
Design – 4.5
(1.5/3) Appeal: Timmy can play this, but he wants a bigger wow effect. Johnny doesn’t like this. Spike can get behind this, first strike on a big body decently costed, he says yes please.
(3/3) Elegance: Fits like a glove.
Development – 5.5
(2.5/3) Viability: This feels like it could pass as a rare, and not a mythic, but only just. The effects are pretty red and white.
(3/3) Balance: I don’t see this as a super powerful card breaking the game, nor a weak card at all. I think it is perfectly balanced.
Creativity - 5
(2/3) Uniqueness: The effects all in all are pretty generic, but still new.
(3/3) Flavor: The flavour is just wow. It is a titan in the sense of the M10 titans, and very boros as well. The flavour text perfectly wraps this card together. If I could I would give a 4 here.
Polish - 7
(3/3) Quality: I see no problems here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Yes
(2/2) Sub-challenges: Gains P/T and is gold.
Total: 22/25
Design – 5
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike and Timmy loves this. Johnny is on the fence.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The wording of adding counters is a lot to follow. (Please see quality)
Development - 4
(3/3) Viability: This is definitely mythic, and it passes well as a UG.
(1/3) Balance: This is a powerful card, really powerful. A 6 mana 6/6 with flash, trample and shroud is strong. I think that the card being legendary helps balance it, as well as having shroud, so you can’t buff it, instead of having hexproof. This card can provide allot of tempo/card advantage and act as a powerful finisher and a great tech card, my only problem is that it is too well stat-ed and costed for the effect.
Creativity – 4.5
(3/3) Uniqueness: This is pretty new and cool idea on a card. We don’t have to many cards that punish planeswalkers beside outright destroying them.
(1.5/3) Flavor: This is a great fit for a Semic card. A small thing that does not fit for me is the name with the type. Being Vannifar's theorem I think it should be more than just a giant insect. It could have used some flavour text to encapsulate the card.
Polish - 7
(3/3) Quality: I think it should be worded in a way more standard in the form of “Whenever Vannifar's Last Theorum deals combat damage to a planeswalker, put a +1/+1 counter on Vannifar's Last Theorum for each loyalty counter removed this way…” but since I think this can be open to interpretation I think that it is not needed to deduct a point here. Also, I think that shroud should be on a new line, but since shroud is not used any more, I will use hexproof as a stand in, and Carnage Tyrant says it works.
(2/2) Main Challenge: A mythic 6 mana 6/6.
(2/2) Sub-challenges: Gold that can increase its P/T without spending mana.
Total: 20.5/25
Design - 4
(2/3) Appeal: Spike likes the burst this can create. Timmy might not be to happy to sac a creature, but he like making a big, big token. Johnny is not into this.
(2/3) Elegance: Mechanically everything fits for me, the only problem I see here is how to manage the tokens that are created and keep track of each one, all being different each time.
Development - 4
(2/3) Viability: Mythic seems fine here. I feel that this could have been red and fit perfectly fine. The black feels like it was just tagged on.
(2/3) Balance: A 6 mana 6/6 with haste is strong, as well as creating +6/1 tokens, and increasing its power, but sacrificing a creature to get there adds some balance, since you will have to sacrifice the token if you don’t have other cannon fodder.
Creativity - 5
(3/3) Uniqueness: This feels like a nice new idea for a card.
(2/3) Flavor: The tokens being created should not be giants I think, giants should not have 1 toughness. Also, I think you should have tagged horror/apparition or something to them, instead of just a giant. Besides that, everything seems perfect.
Polish - 7
(3/3) Quality: I see no problems here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Mythic 6 mana 6/6
(2/2) Sub-challenges: Gold and P/T increase.
Total: 20/25
Design - 5
(2/3) Appeal: Spike and Timmy can get behind this. I am not sure that Johnny will find that much use for it, at least in the way that he likes to.
(3/3) Elegance: Everything fits for me.
Development - 3
(3/3) Viability: This is definitely mythic, and I can see it pass as WB. The effects are connected to the individual colors and fits to orzhov in a whole.
(0/3) Balance: Yeah, well, I don’t know what to say here. A 6 mana 6/6 with lifelink is strong, with those stats, it has the ability to exile any permanent, and on top of that, it can be used to buff a creature as well. And with that said, it triggers when played, and when it attacks. I think that even needing 3 white and 3 black mana, it is still a power house of a card.
Creativity – 5.5
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: The effects are pretty generic but combined well together.
(3/3) Flavor: I like this, it is a “Titan” from M10, but in Orzhov colors, but I would have liked it to be one of each color, instead of 3 of each (From a flavour aspect), but that isn’t really an Issue.
Polish - 7
(3/3) Quality: I see no problems here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Mythic 6 mana 6/6.
(2/2) Sub-challenges: Can increase its P/T without paying mana and is gold.
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Mostly a Timmy-Spike card; there's not a lot going on here for Johnny to mess with other than, say, copying the triggered ability. (3/3) Elegance: Hard to make a Titan-style design more elegant than this. A very simple triggered ability.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: If not for the Titan connection and the challenge, I think this card would feel more like a rare than a mythic - regardless, though, it's quite powerful for Limited so maybe mythic is the safer home for it. (3/3) Balance: Like I said, Limited bomb, but you have to have gone wide to make it work. I sort of wish it had flash instead of first strike, frankly, because as-is the +0/+2 option is going to be picked much less frequently especially on ETB.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: Plenty of precedent from battle cry to Fortify. (3/3) Flavor: Looks good, and makes sense especially in Boros, a guild that employs plenty of Giants.
Design - (2.5/3) Appeal: This is a Timmy-Spike card; maybe Johnny is interested in donating a planeswalker to use the triggered ability? (1/3) Elegance: A frankly messy card, from the strangely worded triggered ability to the redundancy of trample and unblockable to the borderline-keyword-soup addition of flash.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: Shroud is now a deprecated ability and has been for a long time. Colors and rarity fine. (2/3) Balance: Extremely pushed stats and keywords; the marquee ability would be quite niche anywhere but War of the Spark, so perhaps it's not THAT OP.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: The damage-to-planeswalker trigger is unique but ultimately just an adaptation of similar saboteur triggers like Necropolis Regent's. (2/3) Flavor: I feel like there's some deep flavor here but ultimately there's a lot I have to guess at, without room for flavor text.
Polish - (2/3) Quality: I'd really just say "Whenever THIS deals combat damage to a planeswalker..." instead of messing with triggers on removing loyalty counters due to damage. Also, it's "Theorem" and not "Theorum." (2/2) *Main Challenge: Done. (2/2) Sub-challenges: Done.
Total: 18/25
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Very much a card for Timmy, Spike, and especially Commander players. (3/3) Elegance: One keyword ability plus an easily comprehensible effect with the classic Titan trigger.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: Just like Leo's card, this feels more rare than mythic if not for the stipulations and it being a Titan. Colors are fine but this is very Chinese-menu multicolor - keyword is red, trigger is green. (3/3) Balance: Seems fine, powerful but situational.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: Lots of precedent for "destroy target noncreature permanent" and variants. (3/3) Flavor: Adore the flavor here.
Design - (3/3) Appeal: A definite all-rounder, being an exceedingly powerful card with a large, splashy, and unique effect. (2/3) Elegance: A few problems here for sure. The control effect, for one, doesn't last for as long as you control the Shipsnatcher but for as long as it's on the battlefield, meaning, counterintuitively, if someone else gains control of it, you keep all the permanents you stole with it. Also, giving the stolen permanents haste with the attack trigger will usually not do anything except in the case of T abilities or extra combats.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Colors look okay and I would never want this anywhere NEAR rare; mythic only please and thank you, for the sake of my Limited. (1.5/3) Balance: Let's not forget that with the Titan trigger, haste means you get two in the first turn the card drops. And with this card, that's bad news as you'll most likely be able to immediately gain control of two of your opponent's most expensive permanents off the bat, making your creature at least 8/8 while you're at it. Oh, and you can attack with the first one if it's a creature. This is too much. It is game-ending. The only saving grace is the "as long as Shipsnatcher remains on the battlefield" clause.
Creativity - (2.5/3) Uniqueness: Definitely unique ideas here, like some sort of evil inverse Zedruu, the Greathearted. (3/3) Flavor: No flavor text, but a completely and perfectly evocative name and GIANT PIRATE. Yes.
From The Vault - Titans
The From The Vault series has always vaccinated me. Thematically, it is a cool, interesting design idea. However, they are really expensive to buy. So this month, we will all work together to make our own From The Vault sets. Let's start this round with enchantments.
Now that we are done with enchantment, we are moving to Instants and Sorcery cards.
Moving on from the spells set, it is time for the TITAN set. Big creatures are always cool creatures, specially the core set titans, Frost Titan, Grave Titan, Inferno Titan, Primeval Titan and Sun Titan.
Main Challenge - Design a 6/6 Giant creature card that cost 6, it has to be Mythic rarity (This is for a Vault series after all.)
Subchallenge 1 - Your card is gold (i.e. it has 2 or more different colors in it's mana cost).
Subchallenge 2 - Your card can get an increase in power and/or toughness, but without paying mana.
For sub challenge 2, this entitles that by what any means that the creature increases it's P/T, does not require you to spend mana.
If you have more questions, feel free to ask in the MCC discussion thread.
DEADLINES
Design deadline: March 27th, 24h00 EST
Judging deadline: March 29th, 24h00 EST
(X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johnny/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 sync 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) Sub-challenges: One point awarded per satisfied sub-challenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
JUDGES
Freyleyes
void_nothing
Superbajt
PLAYERS
RaikouRider
Fajen Thygia
StonerOfKruphix
bravelion83
Subject16
Cantripmancer
Creature — Giant (M)
First strike
Whenever Sunhome Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, creatures you control get +2/+0 or +0/+2 until end of turn.
“He’s better than just a fortification. He’s a perfect guardian for the guildhall, he scares criminals and attracts the citizens’ attention at the same time.”
—Nik Bojov, Sunhome guard veteran
6/6
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.)
Legendary Creature - Insect Giant (M)
Flash
Trample, shroud
Whenever combat damage from Vannifar's Last Theorum removes any number of loyalty counters from a planeswalker, put that many +1/+1 counters on Vannifar's Last Theorum and you may draw a card.
Vannifar's Last Theorum can't be blocked as long as it has fourteen or more +1/+1 counters on it.
6/6
Creature - Giant {M}
Menace
Whenever End-Raze Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, destroy target noncreature, nonland permanent an opponent controls.
"Every available man" may not be enough to stop it.
6/6
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Creature - Giant Pirate (Mythic Rare)
Haste
When Shipsnatcher enters the battlefield or attacks, gain control of target nonland permanent with converted mana cost X or less for as long as Shipsnatcher remains on the battlefield, where X is Shipsnatcher's power. Untap that permanent. It gains haste until end of turn.
Shipsnatcher gets +1/+1 for each permanent you control but don't own.
6/6
Creature - Giant (M)
Haste
Whenever Reaver Titan attacks, sacrifice another creature. If you do, create an X/1 red and black Giant creature token, where X is equal to Reaver Titan's power, then put a +1/+1 counter on Reaver Titan.
6/6
Those reclaimed to shadows are half fire, half smoke, corporeal only at his whimsy.
Art: Francisco Garces
Creature — Giant (MR)
Lifelink
Whenever Syndicate Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, you may exile another target nonland permanent. If you do, target creature you control gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the exiled permanent's converted mana cost.
"He might have deceived you, but don't worry: the Orzhov know how to make someone pay."
—Teysa Karlov, to Kaya
6/6
Kruphix, God of Value and Eldrazi. GU
Gahiji: Wider is better. (Now with 40% more tokens!) RGW
Daxos brought some frienchantments! WB
Kynaios and Tiro: Four strong arms to hug you better. RGWU
Saskia: You better not tell her that pointing is rude. BRGW
Sidisi the Zombeesi, the Unmilled, Breaker of Graves, Mother of Zambambos. (Zombie tribal)BGU
Omnath, The Angriest Elemental Ever & His Spike-Handed Buddies.RG (Retired but forever in my heart)
Brackets
RaikouRider vs Subject16
bravelion83 vs Fajen Thygia
Cantripmancer vs StonerOfKruphix
Freyleyes
bravelion83 vs Fajen Thygia
Cantripmancer vs StonerOfKruphix
void_nothing
bravelion83 vs Fajen Thygia
RaikouRider vs Subject16
Superbajt
RaikouRider vs Subject16
Cantripmancer vs StonerOfKruphix
Creature - Giant {M}
Menace
Whenever End-Raze Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, destroy target noncreature, nonland permanent an opponent controls.
"Every available man" may not be enough to stop it.
6/6
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Spike sees a powerful finisher, and Johnny sees nothing for them.
(2.5/3) Elegance: I always feel multicolor designs with a keyword from one color and long ability from the other, but otherwise correct.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: No problems in color, rarity or rules.
(2/3) Balance: The fact that this doesn't kill creatures makes it manageable in both limited and constructed, but still immediate AND repeatable destruction is dangerous, and shouldn't cost 6.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Combination of several cards, not unique effets, but correctly combined.
(2.5/3) Flavor: If "every available man" is one, you did something wrong I can get behind this card representing End-Raze, though.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: No problems
(2/2) Main Challenge: OK
(2/2) Sub-challenges:OK
Total: 21/25
Creature - Giant Pirate (Mythic Rare)
Haste
When Shipsnatcher enters the battlefield or attacks, gain control of target nonland permanent with converted mana cost X or less for as long as Shipsnatcher remains on the battlefield, where X is Shipsnatcher's power. Untap that permanent. It gains haste until end of turn.
Shipsnatcher gets +1/+1 for each permanent you control but don't own.
6/6
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike likes the possibilites and choices, Johnny may try to increase power, but that's a very minor challenge.
(0.5/3) Elegance: Long, complicated and filled with a bland trinket text. Additionally, the creature you take on ETB can attack, but the one you take on attack can't, which adds to the confusion.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: No problems in color, rarity or rules.
(0.5/3) Balance: If you can lose when you are on 14 life with two untapped 6/6, then you know something went wrong with the design.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Repeatable Mind Control was never done this way rather because it's OP, not because nobody ever thought about it. The combination is fin
(2/3) Flavor: Giant collecting ships? I don't feel the rules text shows it perfectly. It's interesting, though.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: OK
(2/2) Main Challenge:OK
(2/2) Sub-challenges: OK
Total: 18/25
Creature - Giant (M)
Haste
Whenever Reaver Titan attacks, sacrifice another creature. If you do, create an X/1 red and black Giant creature token, where X is equal to Reaver Titan's power, then put a +1/+1 counter on Reaver Titan.
6/6
Those reclaimed to shadows are half fire, half smoke, corporeal only at his whimsy.
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: OK, your Timmy is still happy, but somewhat confused, as sometimes they don't want to sacrifice their creatures. Johnny and Spike understand it, but for Spike one turn of delay for tokens is a huge downside.
(0.5/3) Elegance: First, someone may not know if the tokens are changing with Titan's power (they don't). Then, you have multiple similar tokens, each with different power. Additionally, tokens have non-squared stats. As their toughness is 1, that's not a big deal normally, but gets quite annoying with anthems/counters. Furthermore, the fact that the attack trigger creates aggresive creatures that don't attack is strange, especially if you are forced to sacrfice the tokens each turn. Finally, when creating a card related to a cycle, especially in name, you have to either break it (Erebos's Titan) or fully embrace it. If you create a 6/6 mythic rare Giant for 6 with a keyword and attack trigger, you have to give it the same ETB as well, and haste doesn't help here I think. A lot of small problems.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: No rules problem (unless I'm wrong about not changing power). Mythic mainly for being pushed, as it could be rare with this rule text. I can fathom this card being monored, but indeed it feels Rakdos enough.
(2.5/3) Balance: Quite powerful if you replace goblins with 6/1 and more, but probably fair.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Repeatable Hellion Eruption is interesting.
(2.5/3) Flavor: The flavor is interesting, but X/1 seems quite corporeal, just frail.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: OK
(2/2) Main Challenge: OK
(2/2) Sub-challenges: OK
Total: 19.5/25
Creature — Giant (MR)
Lifelink
Whenever Syndicate Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, you may exile another target nonland permanent. If you do, target creature you control gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the exiled permanent's converted mana cost.
"He might have deceived you, but don't worry: the Orzhov know how to make someone pay."
—Teysa Karlov, to Kaya
6/6
Design -
(1.5/3) Appeal: Johnny doesn't have anything to do with this card. Spike sees its power, and plays it whenever mono-Orzhov is doable, but it's too easy. Everyone can just cast this, attack, and inevitably win, so Spike isn't that happy about it.
(2.5/3) Elegance: A little too long text for me to get full points. The choice of the target is weak, as you were probably targeting the most expensive permanent anyway.
Development -
(3/3) 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?
(0.5/3) Balance: It's impossible to win if you are attacked by this even once, and for six mana. Hard casting cost is not a proper explanation for this.
Creativity -
(2/3) 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”?
(2/3) Flavor: Is it a Bolas reference? Honestly, I don't see how this card is supposed to be related to him. In general, this card doesn't feel that Orzhovy. It feels just like generic WB titan.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: OK
(2/2) Main Challenge: OK
(2/2) Sub-challenges: OK
Total: 18.5/25
Cantripmancer 19.5 vs 18.5 StonerOfKruphix
Design – 4.5
(1.5/3) Appeal: Timmy can play this, but he wants a bigger wow effect. Johnny doesn’t like this. Spike can get behind this, first strike on a big body decently costed, he says yes please.
(3/3) Elegance: Fits like a glove.
Development – 5.5
(2.5/3) Viability: This feels like it could pass as a rare, and not a mythic, but only just. The effects are pretty red and white.
(3/3) Balance: I don’t see this as a super powerful card breaking the game, nor a weak card at all. I think it is perfectly balanced.
Creativity - 5
(2/3) Uniqueness: The effects all in all are pretty generic, but still new.
(3/3) Flavor: The flavour is just wow. It is a titan in the sense of the M10 titans, and very boros as well. The flavour text perfectly wraps this card together. If I could I would give a 4 here.
Polish - 7
(3/3) Quality: I see no problems here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Yes
(2/2) Sub-challenges: Gains P/T and is gold.
Total: 22/25
Design – 5
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike and Timmy loves this. Johnny is on the fence.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The wording of adding counters is a lot to follow. (Please see quality)
Development - 4
(3/3) Viability: This is definitely mythic, and it passes well as a UG.
(1/3) Balance: This is a powerful card, really powerful. A 6 mana 6/6 with flash, trample and shroud is strong. I think that the card being legendary helps balance it, as well as having shroud, so you can’t buff it, instead of having hexproof. This card can provide allot of tempo/card advantage and act as a powerful finisher and a great tech card, my only problem is that it is too well stat-ed and costed for the effect.
Creativity – 4.5
(3/3) Uniqueness: This is pretty new and cool idea on a card. We don’t have to many cards that punish planeswalkers beside outright destroying them.
(1.5/3) Flavor: This is a great fit for a Semic card. A small thing that does not fit for me is the name with the type. Being Vannifar's theorem I think it should be more than just a giant insect. It could have used some flavour text to encapsulate the card.
Polish - 7
(3/3) Quality: I think it should be worded in a way more standard in the form of “Whenever Vannifar's Last Theorum deals combat damage to a planeswalker, put a +1/+1 counter on Vannifar's Last Theorum for each loyalty counter removed this way…” but since I think this can be open to interpretation I think that it is not needed to deduct a point here. Also, I think that shroud should be on a new line, but since shroud is not used any more, I will use hexproof as a stand in, and Carnage Tyrant says it works.
(2/2) Main Challenge: A mythic 6 mana 6/6.
(2/2) Sub-challenges: Gold that can increase its P/T without spending mana.
Total: 20.5/25
Design - 4
(2/3) Appeal: Spike likes the burst this can create. Timmy might not be to happy to sac a creature, but he like making a big, big token. Johnny is not into this.
(2/3) Elegance: Mechanically everything fits for me, the only problem I see here is how to manage the tokens that are created and keep track of each one, all being different each time.
Development - 4
(2/3) Viability: Mythic seems fine here. I feel that this could have been red and fit perfectly fine. The black feels like it was just tagged on.
(2/3) Balance: A 6 mana 6/6 with haste is strong, as well as creating +6/1 tokens, and increasing its power, but sacrificing a creature to get there adds some balance, since you will have to sacrifice the token if you don’t have other cannon fodder.
Creativity - 5
(3/3) Uniqueness: This feels like a nice new idea for a card.
(2/3) Flavor: The tokens being created should not be giants I think, giants should not have 1 toughness. Also, I think you should have tagged horror/apparition or something to them, instead of just a giant. Besides that, everything seems perfect.
Polish - 7
(3/3) Quality: I see no problems here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Mythic 6 mana 6/6
(2/2) Sub-challenges: Gold and P/T increase.
Total: 20/25
Design - 5
(2/3) Appeal: Spike and Timmy can get behind this. I am not sure that Johnny will find that much use for it, at least in the way that he likes to.
(3/3) Elegance: Everything fits for me.
Development - 3
(3/3) Viability: This is definitely mythic, and I can see it pass as WB. The effects are connected to the individual colors and fits to orzhov in a whole.
(0/3) Balance: Yeah, well, I don’t know what to say here. A 6 mana 6/6 with lifelink is strong, with those stats, it has the ability to exile any permanent, and on top of that, it can be used to buff a creature as well. And with that said, it triggers when played, and when it attacks. I think that even needing 3 white and 3 black mana, it is still a power house of a card.
Creativity – 5.5
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: The effects are pretty generic but combined well together.
(3/3) Flavor: I like this, it is a “Titan” from M10, but in Orzhov colors, but I would have liked it to be one of each color, instead of 3 of each (From a flavour aspect), but that isn’t really an Issue.
Polish - 7
(3/3) Quality: I see no problems here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Mythic 6 mana 6/6.
(2/2) Sub-challenges: Can increase its P/T without paying mana and is gold.
Total: 20.5/25
bravelion83 - 22
Fajen Thygia - 20.5
Cantripmancer - 20
StonerOfKruphix - 20.5
(2/3) Appeal: Mostly a Timmy-Spike card; there's not a lot going on here for Johnny to mess with other than, say, copying the triggered ability.
(3/3) Elegance: Hard to make a Titan-style design more elegant than this. A very simple triggered ability.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: If not for the Titan connection and the challenge, I think this card would feel more like a rare than a mythic - regardless, though, it's quite powerful for Limited so maybe mythic is the safer home for it.
(3/3) Balance: Like I said, Limited bomb, but you have to have gone wide to make it work. I sort of wish it had flash instead of first strike, frankly, because as-is the +0/+2 option is going to be picked much less frequently especially on ETB.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Plenty of precedent from battle cry to Fortify.
(3/3) Flavor: Looks good, and makes sense especially in Boros, a guild that employs plenty of Giants.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Fine.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Looks done.
(2/2) Sub-challenges: And done.
Total: 22/25
(2.5/3) Appeal: This is a Timmy-Spike card; maybe Johnny is interested in donating a planeswalker to use the triggered ability?
(1/3) Elegance: A frankly messy card, from the strangely worded triggered ability to the redundancy of trample and unblockable to the borderline-keyword-soup addition of flash.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Shroud is now a deprecated ability and has been for a long time. Colors and rarity fine.
(2/3) Balance: Extremely pushed stats and keywords; the marquee ability would be quite niche anywhere but War of the Spark, so perhaps it's not THAT OP.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: The damage-to-planeswalker trigger is unique but ultimately just an adaptation of similar saboteur triggers like Necropolis Regent's.
(2/3) Flavor: I feel like there's some deep flavor here but ultimately there's a lot I have to guess at, without room for flavor text.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: I'd really just say "Whenever THIS deals combat damage to a planeswalker..." instead of messing with triggers on removing loyalty counters due to damage. Also, it's "Theorem" and not "Theorum."
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Sub-challenges: Done.
Total: 18/25
(2/3) Appeal: Very much a card for Timmy, Spike, and especially Commander players.
(3/3) Elegance: One keyword ability plus an easily comprehensible effect with the classic Titan trigger.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Just like Leo's card, this feels more rare than mythic if not for the stipulations and it being a Titan. Colors are fine but this is very Chinese-menu multicolor - keyword is red, trigger is green.
(3/3) Balance: Seems fine, powerful but situational.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Lots of precedent for "destroy target noncreature permanent" and variants.
(3/3) Flavor: Adore the flavor here.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Great.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(1/2) Sub-challenges: No p/t boosting.
Total: 21/25
(3/3) Appeal: A definite all-rounder, being an exceedingly powerful card with a large, splashy, and unique effect.
(2/3) Elegance: A few problems here for sure. The control effect, for one, doesn't last for as long as you control the Shipsnatcher but for as long as it's on the battlefield, meaning, counterintuitively, if someone else gains control of it, you keep all the permanents you stole with it. Also, giving the stolen permanents haste with the attack trigger will usually not do anything except in the case of T abilities or extra combats.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Colors look okay and I would never want this anywhere NEAR rare; mythic only please and thank you, for the sake of my Limited.
(1.5/3) Balance: Let's not forget that with the Titan trigger, haste means you get two in the first turn the card drops. And with this card, that's bad news as you'll most likely be able to immediately gain control of two of your opponent's most expensive permanents off the bat, making your creature at least 8/8 while you're at it. Oh, and you can attack with the first one if it's a creature. This is too much. It is game-ending. The only saving grace is the "as long as Shipsnatcher remains on the battlefield" clause.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Definitely unique ideas here, like some sort of evil inverse Zedruu, the Greathearted.
(3/3) Flavor: No flavor text, but a completely and perfectly evocative name and GIANT PIRATE. Yes.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Seems good.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Sub-challenges: And done.
Total: 22/25
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝