Hi! Long-time lurker in very specific subforums but I wanted to share something that I was really quite happy with: Merging MTG Commander with Dungeons and Dragons.
Background: My playgroup has 6 players while I DM (DND 5e). The adventurers encountered a demonic jester that threw the party through a black void and onto the plane of Grixis (though they didn't know at the time), and I had them transform into Commander cards, gave them a themed deck, and had them face off against a Zombie-themed Horde.
Anyways, here are the custom commanders. I tried to find credit for the artists for any piece I used in the art, but honestly I can't remember where I grabbed some of them because I never thought I'd post these on the internet. If you happen to know, I'll include the credit for sure! Altering definitely varied for each commander, which was another bit of fun.
Kidd Rock, the Passive Fist1RW
Legendary Creature — Dragonborn Monk
Double strike, vigilance
Whenever Kidd Rock blocks a creature, draw a card. 1W: Tap or untap target creature. 1RW: The next instant or sorcery spell you cast from your hand this turn gains rebound. A passive fist won't start a fight, but it will end it.
2/2
(You’d think the bard, but actually a monk)
Art: Liv Hathaway - https://livhathaway.deviantart.com/art/Five-Storms-196166462
The only player to have his original character die. His old character was a chaotic storm; Kidd Rock is (supposed to be) a defensive type that won’t start a fight. Been an interesting transition. Likes to strengthen her stomach by repeatedly swallowing this chunk of ebon steel. Unsure why. The only art I didn't want to alter; it was perfectly fitting.
Deck Theme: Monks and Equipment
Lyst, the AbysswalkerUBR
Legendary Creature — Half-Elf Wizard
Flying, prowess
Whenever a zombie enters the battlefield under your control, scry 1. 1R: Lyst deals 2 damage to target creature or player. XUB: Exile target creature from a graveyard with converted mana cost X. Create an X/X blue and black Zombie creature token. Perhaps the dead have hints to a forgotten past.
1/2
Morg'doth, the GentleRWB
Legendary Creature — Half-Orc Warrior
Haste, trample
Whenever Morg'doth attacks, target creature can't block this turn. 1R: Morg'doth gets +2/+0 until end of turn. 2WB,t: Morg'doth deals damage equal to his power to target creature. This is when he's gentle; beware when he's enraged.
4/3
Morg’Art by Helen Blizzard: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/GVzgN
Morg’doth is all about drinking, eating, and slaying just like any good half-orc. Somehow has befriended a little girl named Linnes and has named his sword such. Morg'doth's player is the only one so far to give himself a title, so that was easy.
Deck Theme: Warriors!
Rolen, the Night ProwlerUBB
Legendary Creature — Half-Elf Rogue
Deathtouch, Menace
Whenever Rolen deals combat damage to a player, that player discards that many cards. UB: Rolen gains shadow until end of turn. XBB: Put X -1/-1 counters on target creature. Locked doors are meaningless to those of the night.
2/2
Artists unknown. Also found both parts (main + face) on Pinterest
Main: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/0d/65/b2/0d65b23bfdfdc975509f176a0d498bcd--character-concept-character-ideas.jpg
Face: ???
Rolen is our rogue - except he’s the worst rogue and always crit fails whenever doing anything sneaky or rogueish. Once killed a prisoner because he “wanted to figure out how his new daggers work.” Unfortunately, he's the brunt of all of our teasing. Unfortunately, also the least satisfactory in terms of the art alter. The face/hood perspective is askew.
Deck Theme: Rogues and -1/-1 Counters (ish)
Sif of the Lunar Hunt1RG
Legendary Creature — Human Archer
First strike, reach
If a werewolf you control would transform, you may choose to have it not transform. 2R: Sif deals 3 damage divided as you choose among one, two, or three target creatures. 1G: Transform target human or werewolf you control. Claiming blood debt is easy like hunting crippled tortoise. (except it's written in Russian, I think that's what it was)
3/3
Sif, the Bloodcrazed
Legendary Creature — Werewolf (..?)
First strike, trample
If a werewolf you control would transform, you may choose to have it not transform. 1RG: Sif gets a +1/+1 counter and fights target creature you don't control. 1G: Transform target human or werewolf you control. Bathed in blood after a night of fowl mutilation.
3/3
Front art: Skyzocat - https://skyzocat.deviantart.com/art/Commission-Luxia-380880994
Flipped art: Chenbo - https://chenbo.deviantart.com/art/Kill-you-tonight-408008801 [Thank god, I could find the original, so many others claiming it’s their work]
Sif is hilariously portrayed with a thick Russian male accent by our player. Like Lyst, her memory is also a little fuzzy and may or may not be a werewolf. Once, she cashed in a blood debt Rolen owed her and had him slaughter a chicken in order to distract her during a full moon. Hilarity ensued. One of the more satisfactory alter jobs.
Deck Theme: Werewolves and Archers
Zambiss, the InspirationalGWU
Legendary Creature — Dragonborn Bard
Hexproof, lifelink
Whenever you gain life, you may have target player draw a card. 1W: Target creature gets +1/+2 until end of turn. 1GU: Search your library for an Enchantment card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library. The wandering minstrel finds inspiration around the world for his songs... and his battles.
1/4
ArtsFartsy by Chris Rahn - http://chrisrahnart.blogspot.com/2010/03/two-more-for-bastion.html
Ahh, the bard. Always gotta have a bard. Player has a recorder (remember those?) and plays it whenever doing something bardic. Inspired by the coolest bard ever, Kvothe of The Kingkiller Chronicle (Book 3, why?), except the whole being a dragonborn thing. Was really fun to alter the art.
Deck Themes: Enchantments and anything musical
Probably not balanced, but they're all supposed to be on a team. They thoroughly squashed the zombie horde and it was fun. It was particularly special because our player for Rolen plays online with us via webcam but was present in-person for this session. Anyways, it was a super fun project for me, and I enjoy seeing what other people come up with!
Background: My playgroup has 6 players while I DM (DND 5e). The adventurers encountered a demonic jester that threw the party through a black void and onto the plane of Grixis (though they didn't know at the time), and I had them transform into Commander cards, gave them a themed deck, and had them face off against a Zombie-themed Horde.
Anyways, here are the custom commanders. I tried to find credit for the artists for any piece I used in the art, but honestly I can't remember where I grabbed some of them because I never thought I'd post these on the internet. If you happen to know, I'll include the credit for sure! Altering definitely varied for each commander, which was another bit of fun.
Legendary Creature — Dragonborn Monk
Double strike, vigilance
Whenever Kidd Rock blocks a creature, draw a card.
1W: Tap or untap target creature.
1RW: The next instant or sorcery spell you cast from your hand this turn gains rebound.
A passive fist won't start a fight, but it will end it.
2/2
(You’d think the bard, but actually a monk)
Art: Liv Hathaway - https://livhathaway.deviantart.com/art/Five-Storms-196166462
The only player to have his original character die. His old character was a chaotic storm; Kidd Rock is (supposed to be) a defensive type that won’t start a fight. Been an interesting transition. Likes to strengthen her stomach by repeatedly swallowing this chunk of ebon steel. Unsure why. The only art I didn't want to alter; it was perfectly fitting.
Deck Theme: Monks and Equipment
Legendary Creature — Half-Elf Wizard
Flying, prowess
Whenever a zombie enters the battlefield under your control, scry 1.
1R: Lyst deals 2 damage to target creature or player.
XUB: Exile target creature from a graveyard with converted mana cost X. Create an X/X blue and black Zombie creature token.
Perhaps the dead have hints to a forgotten past.
1/2
Artists unknown – just like his memory. Both parts found on Pinterest
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/0a/81/e4/0a81e4dd89ac9f897e27fab626bbef3f--fantasy-artwork-skeleton-dnd.jpg
http://www.pitt.edu/~hjm29/elf_wizard.jpg
Lyst is an amnesiac wizard searching for his past. He’s also got a penchant for necromancy. He’s been having Morg’doth carry a bag of skeletons for him in preparation for... something, I dunno. Also realized recently that he's not a I misread Half-Elf and that he's actually a High Elf. Awkward..
Deck Theme: Wizards, Spells, and Necromancy
Legendary Creature — Half-Orc Warrior
Haste, trample
Whenever Morg'doth attacks, target creature can't block this turn.
1R: Morg'doth gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
2WB,t: Morg'doth deals damage equal to his power to target creature.
This is when he's gentle; beware when he's enraged.
4/3
Morg’Art by Helen Blizzard: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/GVzgN
Morg’doth is all about drinking, eating, and slaying just like any good half-orc. Somehow has befriended a little girl named Linnes and has named his sword such. Morg'doth's player is the only one so far to give himself a title, so that was easy.
Deck Theme: Warriors!
Legendary Creature — Half-Elf Rogue
Deathtouch, Menace
Whenever Rolen deals combat damage to a player, that player discards that many cards.
UB: Rolen gains shadow until end of turn.
XBB: Put X -1/-1 counters on target creature.
Locked doors are meaningless to those of the night.
2/2
Artists unknown. Also found both parts (main + face) on Pinterest
Main: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/0d/65/b2/0d65b23bfdfdc975509f176a0d498bcd--character-concept-character-ideas.jpg
Face: ???
Rolen is our rogue - except he’s the worst rogue and always crit fails whenever doing anything sneaky or rogueish. Once killed a prisoner because he “wanted to figure out how his new daggers work.” Unfortunately, he's the brunt of all of our teasing. Unfortunately, also the least satisfactory in terms of the art alter. The face/hood perspective is askew.
Deck Theme: Rogues and -1/-1 Counters (ish)
Legendary Creature — Human Archer
First strike, reach
If a werewolf you control would transform, you may choose to have it not transform.
2R: Sif deals 3 damage divided as you choose among one, two, or three target creatures.
1G: Transform target human or werewolf you control.
Claiming blood debt is easy like hunting crippled tortoise. (except it's written in Russian, I think that's what it was)
3/3
Legendary Creature — Werewolf (..?)
First strike, trample
If a werewolf you control would transform, you may choose to have it not transform.
1RG: Sif gets a +1/+1 counter and fights target creature you don't control.
1G: Transform target human or werewolf you control.
Bathed in blood after a night of fowl mutilation.
3/3
Front art: Skyzocat - https://skyzocat.deviantart.com/art/Commission-Luxia-380880994
Flipped art: Chenbo - https://chenbo.deviantart.com/art/Kill-you-tonight-408008801 [Thank god, I could find the original, so many others claiming it’s their work]
Sif is hilariously portrayed with a thick Russian male accent by our player. Like Lyst, her memory is also a little fuzzy and may or may not be a werewolf. Once, she cashed in a blood debt Rolen owed her and had him slaughter a chicken in order to distract her during a full moon. Hilarity ensued. One of the more satisfactory alter jobs.
Deck Theme: Werewolves and Archers
Legendary Creature — Dragonborn Bard
Hexproof, lifelink
Whenever you gain life, you may have target player draw a card.
1W: Target creature gets +1/+2 until end of turn.
1GU: Search your library for an Enchantment card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
The wandering minstrel finds inspiration around the world for his songs... and his battles.
1/4
ArtsFartsy by Chris Rahn - http://chrisrahnart.blogspot.com/2010/03/two-more-for-bastion.html
Ahh, the bard. Always gotta have a bard. Player has a recorder (remember those?) and plays it whenever doing something bardic. Inspired by the coolest bard ever, Kvothe of The Kingkiller Chronicle (Book 3, why?), except the whole being a dragonborn thing. Was really fun to alter the art.
Deck Themes: Enchantments and anything musical
Probably not balanced, but they're all supposed to be on a team. They thoroughly squashed the zombie horde and it was fun. It was particularly special because our player for Rolen plays online with us via webcam but was present in-person for this session. Anyways, it was a super fun project for me, and I enjoy seeing what other people come up with!
Cheers