We know Kaladesh is a plane with artificers. And we know that Maro's sworn not to give up on contraptions. Could this finally be the block to make that silly mechanic come true? A boy can hope...
You beat me to mentioning this. Good catch! I don't really think we're going to be getting contraptions yet, but MaRo's been known for being good at pretending he hasn't done something when he has (e.g. Poison). I'm anyway excited for this steampunk world, so it doesn't make too much of a difference to me.
From experience I think it's unlikely that Kaladesh will have the same quirk as Innistrad -artifact token-, but I'm pretty sure that the clue token are a good part of the mechnical overlap or rather feed into Kaladesh's mechanics. Maybe we have some transmutation-like effects, or something like morbid for artifacts. That sort of thing.
bassimelwakil asked: IIRC Kaladesh got nicknamed the "awesome set" by you because 1. The set plays Innistrad good 2. The world is one players have really wanted (steampunk it now seems) 3. It solves a long-standing design issue 4. It's bringing back/debuting a mechanic you've been trying to do for ages. Hope I got nothing wrong because that's what I've been expecting (although I thought #2 meant it was an Egyptian or Viking world but Kaladesh is really cool too)
My own work with contraptions came up with a mechanic like this card:
Assembling Machine 2
Artifact - Contraption U
Assemble 2 (2, Tap another creature you control: That creature assembles this contraption.)
Whenever ~ becomes assembled, put a 1/1 colorless Construct artifact creature token onto the battlefield.
I'm gonna second that wizards has worked out a thematic and mechanically appropriate artifact color pie. My guess is that they've finalized both a creative and destructive role for each color vis a vis artifacts.
I don't think Contraptions will be done as tokens, those would be too hard to track without the necessary token cards. I think we'll see Contraptions manifest as cards somehow; perhaps as cards without mana costs that can be assembled by Riggers and possibly other creatures? Or, perhaps Contraptions exist as a "meta-object" composed of Input and Output Part artifacts? These allow you to create artifacts with activated or triggered abilities.
EDIT: Since my suggestion is entering YMTC territory, I've created a topic to showcase my idea there.
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
I think they will rework this mechanic in a new different way:
You will take out parts and assemble a big guy from 2-3-4 artifact cards.
Example: You have 2 x 2/2 cards that assemble into a 5/5 with trample. I do not know if this mechanic exist in the game but it makes sense to have it in the new set.
That is not how contraptions could work according to the one card that mentions them.
If the mechanic involves, effectively, stapling two cards currently on the battlefield together into something bigger, then Steamflogger Boss' text does not work.
As I was reading these comments, it made me think of the Kalda trio from Mirrodin (Sword, Shield + Helm). Maybe the assembling / contraption theme would be some kind of spin inspired by these 3 cards, which all work on their own and become something much bigger when assembled. Just a thought...
I think they will rework this mechanic in a new different way:
You will take out parts and assemble a big guy from 2-3-4 artifact cards.
Example: You have 2 x 2/2 cards that assemble into a 5/5 with trample. I do not know if this mechanic exist in the game but it makes sense to have it in the new set.
That is not how contraptions could work according to the one card that mentions them.
If the mechanic involves, effectively, stapling two cards currently on the battlefield together into something bigger, then Steamflogger Boss' text does not work.
It can if they work the way I proposed. You just need a minimum of two Input Parts, two Output Parts, and a Rigger capable of assembling Contraptions.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
Yeah, but how? And to make it possible... You need a super op card that will win the game... 3 + 1 different cards... That is a lot of tutoring..
Instead of requiring specific cards like in the case of the Kaldra trio, the concept could instead work around controling a certain number of contraptions and get an effect based on the number of assembled contraptions. Otherwise, they could have a sub-type which counts towards making something greater. I am also thinking of something that could work inspired by blasting station and the other stations.
Why are we still pretending this is ever going to be useful? Did I miss some announcement concerning contraptions? Because this seems like a really terrible mechanic for magic... A mechanic where I have to play two to four cards to get value, and maybe even have another support card... it sounds unplayable.
You should Question Mark about Contraptions on Blogatog. He's comitted to figuring out a way to do Contraptions before he retires. Steamflogger Boss started as a joke, but has since become a major player request.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
The contraptions are the greatest riddle of Magic design, and there are a lot of possible answers to it. The mechanic might fall flat in actual play, but I'm certainly looking forward to seeing it if and when it comes.
Kaladesh would be a perfect place for contraptions, but I somehow doubt they'll be present. Maybe Return to Kaladesh in 2021.
It totally can work though.
Imagine a ruling like this:
assemble:1.assemble is a keyword action.
2.Assemble a contraption stands for "choose a creature you control, exile it and any number of artifact tokens you control, then put a creature artifact token contraption to the battlefield, that has all abilities of the exiled objects and is X/Y with X the total power of among exiled cards, Y the total toughness, and a +1/+1 counter on it for each token exiled this way. This token gains "when it dies, return the exiled creature card to the battlefield and put Z 1/1 thopters with flying to the battlefield, with Z the number of +1/+1 counters on it".
This is quite complex but the flavor is there: you gear up your creatures with your artifacts into a giant robot. I pushed it in order to make this a playable mechanic (totally unnecessary if it does not add to your board presence... We don't want banding 2.0), assembling two contraptions means building up to robots, which seems good to me here.
You can also imagine something in that vein that just pumps up your creature with your tokens without removing them, in which case, assembling 2 is so much more busted (but you don't get the feeling of "assembling").
I know you said you pushed it to help advance the board state, but this would be considered overly complex and confusing and require significant effort to track. Contraptions would have to be effective and yet simple, streamlined.
Goblin Rigger 1R Assemble - If this creature would become untapped, you may have it remain tapped and instead put a Contraption token card on the battlefield.
1/2
Damage Contraption
Artifact - Contraption R, Sacrifice ~: ~ deals 3 damage to target creature or player.
Draw Contraption
Artifact - Contraption 1U, Sacrifice ~: Draw 2 cards, then discard a card.
Growth Contraption
Artifact - Contraption G, Sacrifice ~: Target creature you control gets +3/+3 until the end of the turn.
Protection Contraption
Artifact - Contraption W, Sacrifice ~: Target creature you control gains protection from the color of your choice until end of turn.
This design may actually be OP, but it is a simple and efficient way to demonstrate that your Rigger is being utilized to Assemble (remains tapped) and the contraption token would be one of your choice of the five available. You could limit the tokens to a specific grouping (create an alignment with shards or wedges somehow) to avoid color pie break.
Just out of curiosity: Has anyone ever expressed an actual reason WHY they want Contraptions to return?
I honestly do not get why this and (OMG!!) Contraptions (!!) is even a thing in the first place?
First off, Contraptions aren't returning, because so far there have been no Contraptions. Fans want Contraptions to debut because, despite design's intentions of making it just a joke card, Steamflogger Boss interested a lot of players, as much because it's a red card proposing red do something besides burn and smash face.
Again, go Question Mark on Blogatog for more info.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
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We know Kaladesh is a plane with artificers. And we know that Maro's sworn not to give up on contraptions. Could this finally be the block to make that silly mechanic come true? A boy can hope...
Thoughts?
StandardArena:U/R Drakes
Modern
URStormUR
UBRDeath's ShadowUBR
Some other ideas as to what he could be referring to are:
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice
UR Mizzix of the Izmagnus ~~~ Build your own win-condition: Finite Spellslinging
UR Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer ~~~ We are the Borg. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.
WUB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic ~~~ A Guide to dying slowly
UBR Marchesa, the Black Rose ~~~ Marchesa's undying Marionettes
RGW Mayael the Anima ~~~ All Hail the Big Chungus
GWU Chulane, Teller of Tales ~~~ Permanents Only ETB Shenanigans
BGU Sidisi, Brood Tyrant ~~~ Sidisi's Restless Servants
WUBRG The Ur-Dragon ~~~ Dragons eat your face
That would be exactly why I suggested it
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice
http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/144501907188/iirc-kaladesh-got-nicknamed-the-awesome-set-by
I'd wager we're about to see Contraptions.
Assembling Machine 2
Artifact - Contraption U
Assemble 2 (2, Tap another creature you control: That creature assembles this contraption.)
Whenever ~ becomes assembled, put a 1/1 colorless Construct artifact creature token onto the battlefield.
"Personally I love high-riak, low-reqars gambles. Life's best with a decent amount of riak. And f*** reqars."
EDIT: Since my suggestion is entering YMTC territory, I've created a topic to showcase my idea there.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
That is not how contraptions could work according to the one card that mentions them.
If the mechanic involves, effectively, stapling two cards currently on the battlefield together into something bigger, then Steamflogger Boss' text does not work.
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
It can if they work the way I proposed. You just need a minimum of two Input Parts, two Output Parts, and a Rigger capable of assembling Contraptions.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/latest-developments/three-things-i-get-mail-about-2007-05-11
Why are we still pretending this is ever going to be useful? Did I miss some announcement concerning contraptions? Because this seems like a really terrible mechanic for magic... A mechanic where I have to play two to four cards to get value, and maybe even have another support card... it sounds unplayable.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
Originally, yes, but enough people have campaigned for it that they will probably end up doing it anyway.
In this article: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/tell-me-what-you-want-2016-03-07 Mark Rosewater writes "I have vowed that before I retire (which isn't anytime soon) I will crack the Contraption puzzle."
The contraptions are the greatest riddle of Magic design, and there are a lot of possible answers to it. The mechanic might fall flat in actual play, but I'm certainly looking forward to seeing it if and when it comes.
Kaladesh would be a perfect place for contraptions, but I somehow doubt they'll be present. Maybe Return to Kaladesh in 2021.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
I honestly do not get why this and (OMG!!) Contraptions (!!) is even a thing in the first place?
Fully-powered 600-Card "Dream Cube" https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/dreamcube
450-Card "Artificer's Cube" https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/artificer
Cubing in Indianapolis...send me a PM!!
I know you said you pushed it to help advance the board state, but this would be considered overly complex and confusing and require significant effort to track. Contraptions would have to be effective and yet simple, streamlined.
This design may actually be OP, but it is a simple and efficient way to demonstrate that your Rigger is being utilized to Assemble (remains tapped) and the contraption token would be one of your choice of the five available. You could limit the tokens to a specific grouping (create an alignment with shards or wedges somehow) to avoid color pie break.
First off, Contraptions aren't returning, because so far there have been no Contraptions. Fans want Contraptions to debut because, despite design's intentions of making it just a joke card, Steamflogger Boss interested a lot of players, as much because it's a red card proposing red do something besides burn and smash face.
Again, go Question Mark on Blogatog for more info.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.