Ok I know this is technicly Orb-based but it is a Mechanic so I think it deserves it's own thread. I was wondering what it might do and then I went back to the orginal Channel Text and lets look at what I find:
Channel: 12 (The name of it)
Life: 21 (Pay life)
More: 21 (Matching numbers, this cost less if you pay more)
Damn it, there was one other word too that support the theory but I forget it now.
i doubt very seriously there would be anything that closely resembles channel.....it would produce some seriusly unhealthy situations in every format that's not type 2 or CBS constructed (and even then it might).
I was not saying that the card itself was going to reprinted, I mean I am not stupid. I am just saying the maybe, maybe the mechanic with its name will have the same ability it did. Resonible?
Chanel X - at the begining of your upkeep you may distribute X +1/+1 onto target creature.
Fading Soul :symg::symg::symg:
Creature - Spirt
This creature comes into play with 3 +1/+1 counters on it.
Chanel 1 - at the begining of your upkeep you may distribute 1 +1/+1 onto target green creature.
Soulshift 2
0/0
They won't reprint anything remotly close to the original channel mechanic unless it's costed like 10 or more. The reason is that channel's mechanic allows you for a turn to buypass the biggest restriction in magic: putting mana producers into play (it's what balances the game, just check out type 1's restricted list to get an idea of why). Your 19 first life points is a resource which can easily be given up, and that's why cards which have only life-payment as a cost are broken and busted in half (read: Necropotence, Channel, Yawgmoth's Bargain), but the ones that cost mana aswell are balanced (i.e. Greed is crap, but if it was just pay 2 life it would be broken).
I think R&D have learned their lesson and my 0.02$ is that a card which has "pay X life:do something" will never ever be printed again (unless the do something is totally crap).
12 Instances? Okay, that's 6 very simple "Vanguard" esque enchantments (Much like Form of the Dragon ).
[Just making these up to display what I'm talking about]:
Channel Terashi 1WW
Enchantment
When Channel Terashi comes into play, destroy target tapped creature.
Pay X life: Destroy target tapped creature with converted mana cost X or less.
Channel the Unspeakable 1UU
Enchantment
When Channel Unspeakable comes into play, draw a card.
Pay X life: Draw a card, where X is the number of cards in your hand.
Channel Yukora 1BB
Enchantment
When Channel Yukora comes into play, target player sacrifices a creature.
Pay X life: Target player sacrifices a creature. X is equal to the number of creatures your opponent controls.
Channel ? 1RR
Enchantment
When Channel ? comes into play, return target sorcery card in your graveyard to your hand.
Pay X life: Return target sorcery card in your graveryard to your hand. X is equal to the sorcery's converted mana cost.
Channel Kodama 1GG
Enchantment
When Channel Kodama comes into play, put a 3/3 green spirit token into play.
Pay X life: Put a 3/3 green spirit token into play
Channel Genju WUBRG
Enchantment
When Channel Genju comes into play, do something zany.
Pay X life: Do something zany.
These cards show how the "morals/non-spirits" (planeswalkers are non-spirits, afterall) are crossing over to the Spirit side.
[I know Kodama and Terashi aren't in the orb, they were just the first Legendary Spirits that came to mind...]
out of interest "Pay" appears 6 times in the Orb. Therefore there can only be 6 cards that have you pay life or some other resource for an effect. Channel type effects (life for resources) are rare but not unknown in magic, think Fire Covenant from Ice Age and Minion of the Wastes from Tempest. There have been others like Necropotence and Yawgmoth's Bargain, but they have been so strong that they needed to be banned/restricted.
What this tell us is that it's hard to balance cards like this which use life instead of mana to generate an effect. This being said, it could be done, but life payment is really a Black ability. The only white ability that uses life payment is preventing damage to creatures, so a cycle of "pay life for effect" cards seems unlikely.
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12 Instances? Okay, that's 6 very simple "Vanguard" esque enchantments (Much like Form of the Dragon ).
[Just making these up to display what I'm talking about]:
Channel Terashi 1WW
Enchantment
When Channel Terashi comes into play, destroy target tapped creature.
Pay X life: Destroy target tapped creature with converted mana cost X or less.
Channel the Unspeakable 1UU
Enchantment
When Channel Unspeakable comes into play, draw a card.
Pay X life: Draw a card, where X is the number of cards in your hand.
Channel Yukora 1BB
Enchantment
When Channel Yukora comes into play, target player sacrifices a creature.
Pay X life: Target player sacrifices a creature. X is equal to the number of creatures your opponent controls.
Channel ? 1RR
Enchantment
When Channel ? comes into play, return target sorcery card in your graveyard to your hand.
Pay X life: Return target sorcery card in your graveryard to your hand. X is equal to the sorcery's converted mana cost.
Channel Kodama 1GG
Enchantment
When Channel Kodama comes into play, put a 3/3 green spirit token into play.
Pay X life: Put a 3/3 green spirit token into play
Channel Genju WUBRG
Enchantment
When Channel Genju comes into play, do something zany.
Pay X life: Do something zany.
These cards show how the "morals/non-spirits" (planeswalkers are non-spirits, afterall) are crossing over to the Spirit side.
[I know Kodama and Terashi aren't in the orb, they were just the first Legendary Spirits that came to mind...]
Another problem is the fact that 5-colors does not apear, there for ruining the cycle.:(
The problem is with a mechanic in the form you presented, all of those cards are hideously broken. Its not just the cards though. Being able to pay X life for an effect equivalent to X is disgustingly good. (The unspeakable one is nearly as broken as necropotence). The mechanic would beg to be broken in this form.
-DL
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Thanks @ R&Doom at "Ye Olde Sig and Avatar Shoppe" for the banner.
12 Instances? Okay, that's 6 very simple "Vanguard" esque enchantments (Much like Form of the Dragon ).
[Just making these up to display what I'm talking about]:
Channel Terashi 1WW
Enchantment
When Channel Terashi comes into play, destroy target tapped creature.
Pay X life: Destroy target tapped creature with converted mana cost X or less.
Channel the Unspeakable 1UU
Enchantment
When Channel Unspeakable comes into play, draw a card.
Pay X life: Draw a card, where X is the number of cards in your hand.
Channel Yukora 1BB
Enchantment
When Channel Yukora comes into play, target player sacrifices a creature.
Pay X life: Target player sacrifices a creature. X is equal to the number of creatures your opponent controls.
Channel ? 1RR
Enchantment
When Channel ? comes into play, return target sorcery card in your graveyard to your hand.
Pay X life: Return target sorcery card in your graveryard to your hand. X is equal to the sorcery's converted mana cost.
Channel Kodama 1GG
Enchantment
When Channel Kodama comes into play, put a 3/3 green spirit token into play.
Pay X life: Put a 3/3 green spirit token into play
Channel Genju WUBRG
Enchantment
When Channel Genju comes into play, do something zany.
Pay X life: Do something zany.
These cards show how the "morals/non-spirits" (planeswalkers are non-spirits, afterall) are crossing over to the Spirit side.
[I know Kodama and Terashi aren't in the orb, they were just the first Legendary Spirits that came to mind...]
Whoa, those Channels are waaaaay too good. Let's look at each one:
White one: This one is pretty fair since it needs a lot of tapping effects like Kitsune Diviner and Icy Manipulator.
Blue one: Too broken in aggro decks, where you simply unload your hand, pay "X" life (which would be zero), and draw extra cards each turn.
Black one: This definately is not fair, especially when you get to kill a creature the moment it comes into play. Add that with removal and your opponent will almost never have another creature on the board. Too good for 1BB.
Red one: This one goes straight into red aggro using stuff like Lava Spike, Volcanic Hammer, and other sorcery speed burn. This would be a problem espcially with Lava Spike, since you can simply burn out your opponent by constantly returning it back to your hand for one life and one mana a piece. Plus it provides constant splicing fodder, namely Glacial Ray, making this card broken.
Green one: This is the worst of them all. You do realize that I can pay X life, even if X is zero, to generate infinite tokens. Nope, this won't see print.
I just used them for illustration sake, but, the flavor makes sense, no?
Also, with twelve, the following numbers could work...
Two could reference their name three times; Three reference it twice.
[2 x 3] + [3 X 2] = 12
So, two could be worded something like...
Channel the Duck 1WW
Enchantment
Pay X life, Put a Charge Counter on Channel the Duck: Do something wacky. X is equal to the number of Charge counters on Channel the Duck.
I'd like to see the channel ability as a sort of kicker cost. Something like:
Great Balls of Fire :symr::symr:
Instant
Channel 2 (You may pay 2 life in addition to other costs paid for this spell.)
GBOF deals 3 damage to target creature. If you paid the channel cost, GBOF also deals 3 damage to that creature's controller.
Channel (For each 1 life you pay as you play this spell, it costs 1 less.)
This way you wouldn't need X costs. You could have, say, black creature for 5BB, playable from two mana up - if you pay the required amount of life (5 for two mana, 4 for three etc.)
This is something of a long-shot, but assuming for a moment that this is a keyworded creature ability, green hasn't had a 'class' based keyword yet (ie, Bushido, Ninjutsu. Sure, there's Isao, but that's green getting bushido in the same way that Jugan means green gets flying.), and the namesake is originally a green card, this could conceivably be the Monk (or whatever) 'class' ability. Would make some sense on the channeling of spirits theory as well, as the monks seem to be the only ones still attempting to make peace with the kami.
What if Channel is just a keyword for the spells and abilities that require you to pay life for the effect?
It would go like this (using older cards as examples):
Boseiju, Who Shelters All
Legendary Land
Boseiju, Who Shelters All comes into play tappet.
:symtap:, Channel 2: Add 1 to your mana pool. If that mana is spent on an instant or sorcery spell, that spell can't be countered by spells or abilities.
Greed
3B
Enchantment
B,Channel 2: Draw a card.
Channel
GG
Sorcery
Channel X: Add for each point of life spent this way.
What if Channel is just a keyword for the spells and abilities that require you to pay life for the effect?
It would go like this (using older cards as examples):
Boseiju, Who Shelters All
Legendary Land
Boseiju, Who Shelters All comes into play tappet.
:symtap:, Channel 2: Add 1 to your mana pool. If that mana is spent on an instant or sorcery spell, that spell can't be countered by spells or abilities.
Greed
3B
Enchantment
B,Channel 2: Draw a card.
Channel
GG
Sorcery
Channel X: Add for each point of life spent this way.
It definitely wouldn't make much sense. In pretty much every set there are some of cards with paying life as a cost; it's nothing special. One could argue bushido isn't either, but it's a clean, very "keywordable" mechanic that holds a LOT of flavor value.
Channel: 12 (The name of it)
Life: 21 (Pay life)
More: 21 (Matching numbers, this cost less if you pay more)
Damn it, there was one other word too that support the theory but I forget it now.
Anyway Speculate what it will do here.
Edit: The Orb is messing with me, Cost is 22
Something like you may pay X life in addition to X Mana...
or whatever
I was not saying that the card itself was going to reprinted, I mean I am not stupid. I am just saying the maybe, maybe the mechanic with its name will have the same ability it did. Resonible?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpgjnU7C3Aw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe7kkZixasc
Chanel X - at the begining of your upkeep you may distribute X +1/+1 onto target creature.
Fading Soul :symg::symg::symg:
Creature - Spirt
This creature comes into play with 3 +1/+1 counters on it.
Chanel 1 - at the begining of your upkeep you may distribute 1 +1/+1 onto target green creature.
Soulshift 2
0/0
maybe any thoughts?? Opinions?
Now THAT i could see wizards doing. who else sees the potential irony of merging Mr. BabyCakes with Arcbound Ravager??
Machius proudly supports R_E's right to Rumour!
Why not just reprint Hatred and get it over with?
I think R&D have learned their lesson and my 0.02$ is that a card which has "pay X life:do something" will never ever be printed again (unless the do something is totally crap).
[Just making these up to display what I'm talking about]:
Channel Terashi 1WW
Enchantment
When Channel Terashi comes into play, destroy target tapped creature.
Pay X life: Destroy target tapped creature with converted mana cost X or less.
Channel the Unspeakable 1UU
Enchantment
When Channel Unspeakable comes into play, draw a card.
Pay X life: Draw a card, where X is the number of cards in your hand.
Channel Yukora 1BB
Enchantment
When Channel Yukora comes into play, target player sacrifices a creature.
Pay X life: Target player sacrifices a creature. X is equal to the number of creatures your opponent controls.
Channel ? 1RR
Enchantment
When Channel ? comes into play, return target sorcery card in your graveyard to your hand.
Pay X life: Return target sorcery card in your graveryard to your hand. X is equal to the sorcery's converted mana cost.
Channel Kodama 1GG
Enchantment
When Channel Kodama comes into play, put a 3/3 green spirit token into play.
Pay X life: Put a 3/3 green spirit token into play
Channel Genju WUBRG
Enchantment
When Channel Genju comes into play, do something zany.
Pay X life: Do something zany.
These cards show how the "morals/non-spirits" (planeswalkers are non-spirits, afterall) are crossing over to the Spirit side.
[I know Kodama and Terashi aren't in the orb, they were just the first Legendary Spirits that came to mind...]
I do believe that Blazing Shoal is the closest thing you'll get to it.
*does a jig* :chibi:
'buster
HR Analyst. Gamer. Activist | Fearless, and forthright | Aggro-control is a mindset.
Elspeth and Jhoira rock my world.
What this tell us is that it's hard to balance cards like this which use life instead of mana to generate an effect. This being said, it could be done, but life payment is really a Black ability. The only white ability that uses life payment is preventing damage to creatures, so a cycle of "pay life for effect" cards seems unlikely.
Another problem is the fact that 5-colors does not apear, there for ruining the cycle.:(
-DL
Thanks @ R&Doom at "Ye Olde Sig and Avatar Shoppe" for the banner.
Extended: Ichorid, Elvis, TEPS
Vintage: Ichorid, PitchLong
Legacy: Ichorid
TVV
Whoa, those Channels are waaaaay too good. Let's look at each one:
White one: This one is pretty fair since it needs a lot of tapping effects like Kitsune Diviner and Icy Manipulator.
Blue one: Too broken in aggro decks, where you simply unload your hand, pay "X" life (which would be zero), and draw extra cards each turn.
Black one: This definately is not fair, especially when you get to kill a creature the moment it comes into play. Add that with removal and your opponent will almost never have another creature on the board. Too good for 1BB.
Red one: This one goes straight into red aggro using stuff like Lava Spike, Volcanic Hammer, and other sorcery speed burn. This would be a problem espcially with Lava Spike, since you can simply burn out your opponent by constantly returning it back to your hand for one life and one mana a piece. Plus it provides constant splicing fodder, namely Glacial Ray, making this card broken.
Green one: This is the worst of them all. You do realize that I can pay X life, even if X is zero, to generate infinite tokens. Nope, this won't see print.
Also, with twelve, the following numbers could work...
Two could reference their name three times; Three reference it twice.
[2 x 3] + [3 X 2] = 12
So, two could be worded something like...
Channel the Duck 1WW
Enchantment
Pay X life, Put a Charge Counter on Channel the Duck: Do something wacky. X is equal to the number of Charge counters on Channel the Duck.
I'd like to see the channel ability as a sort of kicker cost. Something like:
Great Balls of Fire :symr::symr:
Instant
Channel 2 (You may pay 2 life in addition to other costs paid for this spell.)
GBOF deals 3 damage to target creature. If you paid the channel cost, GBOF also deals 3 damage to that creature's controller.
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Think.
Channel (For each 1 life you pay as you play this spell, it costs 1 less.)
This way you wouldn't need X costs. You could have, say, black creature for 5BB, playable from two mana up - if you pay the required amount of life (5 for two mana, 4 for three etc.)
It would go like this (using older cards as examples):
Boseiju, Who Shelters All
Legendary Land
Boseiju, Who Shelters All comes into play tappet.
:symtap:, Channel 2: Add 1 to your mana pool. If that mana is spent on an instant or sorcery spell, that spell can't be countered by spells or abilities.
Greed
3B
Enchantment
B,Channel 2: Draw a card.
Channel
GG
Sorcery
Channel X: Add for each point of life spent this way.
It definitely wouldn't make much sense. In pretty much every set there are some of cards with paying life as a cost; it's nothing special. One could argue bushido isn't either, but it's a clean, very "keywordable" mechanic that holds a LOT of flavor value.
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