As new sets come out I see the same abilities over and over with no move toward a keyword for them. With the desire to simplify card text, I see no reason the following abilites shouldn't have their own keyword.
"~ enters the battlefield tapped" appears often enough to be keyworded, but I can't think of a word to use for it that's suitable for all (or even most) cases in which it appears. Wizards probably can't either or they'd have done it a long time ago.
And, of course, I'd scrap intimidate (up there with dredge and recover in my most hated mechanics list) and consolidate all 'creatures with characteristic X can't block this' into a single mechanic; let's call it dread.
Barrenton Cragtreads
:2mana::symwu::symwu:
Creature - Kithkin Scout
Red dread
3/3
Dread Warlock 1BB
Creature - Human Wizard
Nonblack dread
2/2
Dust Elemental 2WW
Creature - Elemental
Flash
Flying, nonartifact dread, nonblack dread (*)
When Dust Elemental enters the battlefield, return three creatures you control to their owner's hand.
6/6
Highborn Ghoul BB
Creature - Zombie
Highborn Ghoul has nonartifact dread and dread in the colors it isn't. (**)
2/1
Maybe even...
Bog Rats B
Creature - Rat
Wall dread
1/1
(*) I know it's functionally different to fear, but it's close enough for me. Besides, fear was functionally different pre-keywording too.
(**) I know it's very inelegant wording, but what else can you do with such an ill-conceived mechanic?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Thou shalt not have others of the same Legendary before me Thou shalt not frame images with the modern card face Thou shalt not change rules in vain Remember the Reserved List to keep it holy Honor thy Slivers and the symmetry of their abilities Thou shalt not kill mana burn Thou shalt not sacrifice depth for accessibility Thou shalt not steal combat damage from the stack Thou shalt tell a story through thy cards All must be one
None. Wizards should work on releasing balanced sets with consistent color pies, not keywording every effect that appears on more than one card.
I kind of agree. Words like "Hexproof" are nice and simple and easier to say. But when they start keywording too much, it'll be annoying. I did think that maybe they oughta keyword Firebreathing, but I like it as "Magic lingo."
Rage: ~ attacks each turn if able. Bloodcrazed Neonate
Panic: ~ can't block. Gravecrawler
Looting: Whenver ~ deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card. Neurok Commando
Infiltrate: ~ is unblockable. Blighted Agent
I'm sure there are more.
What would you add?
And, of course, I'd scrap intimidate (up there with dredge and recover in my most hated mechanics list) and consolidate all 'creatures with characteristic X can't block this' into a single mechanic; let's call it dread.
Barrenton Cragtreads
:2mana::symwu::symwu:
Creature - Kithkin Scout
Red dread
3/3
Dread Warlock
1BB
Creature - Human Wizard
Nonblack dread
2/2
Dust Elemental
2WW
Creature - Elemental
Flash
Flying, nonartifact dread, nonblack dread (*)
When Dust Elemental enters the battlefield, return three creatures you control to their owner's hand.
6/6
Highborn Ghoul
BB
Creature - Zombie
Highborn Ghoul has nonartifact dread and dread in the colors it isn't. (**)
2/1
Maybe even...
Bog Rats
B
Creature - Rat
Wall dread
1/1
(*) I know it's functionally different to fear, but it's close enough for me. Besides, fear was functionally different pre-keywording too.
(**) I know it's very inelegant wording, but what else can you do with such an ill-conceived mechanic?
Thou shalt not frame images with the modern card face
Thou shalt not change rules in vain
Remember the Reserved List to keep it holy
Honor thy Slivers and the symmetry of their abilities
Thou shalt not kill mana burn
Thou shalt not sacrifice depth for accessibility
Thou shalt not steal combat damage from the stack
Thou shalt tell a story through thy cards
All must be one
????: ~ does not untap during your untap step Galvanic Juggernaut
RGGruul Aggro
WSoul Sisters
WBTokens
BUGRRestore Balance
BMono-Black Infect
EDH:
RGWMayael, the Anima
GWURoon of the Hidden Realm
BDrana, Kalastria Bloodchief
Invisible Stalker
Hexproof, Unblockable
1/1
Simple