For the sculler/oblivion ring route, the return trigger could be to return one to the battlefield, not necessarily the one that came from the battlefield. That could also enable some shenanigans, but I don't think the second piece to that combo exists yet. Maybe worded like this:
Prevention sphere 1BW
Enchantment
When ~ enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent. Its controller reveals his or her hand and exiles all cards with the same name as the exiled card.
When ~ leaves the battlefield, return one of the exiled cards to the battlefield under its owner's control and the rest to their owners' hands.
This version of the card, rather than o-ring + extort, also makes playing against esper more interesting. If you think they have the detention sphere, you only play one so they can't 2-for-1 you on the board. If you think they have the prevention sphere, you play all of them so you don't get 2-for-1'ed in your hand.
How likely is it that we'll have cipher on instants, rather than just sorceries? Both cards that have been spoiled with the mechanic so far are sorceries. I personally think that's how all of them will end up due to the power of ciphering a spell onto an unblocked creature during the declare blockers step, but if like to hear arguments both ways.
Noble Hierarch? Really? Bloodthirst was in 3 colors and scry was barely in 2, if I remember correctly. This puts exalted into white, blue, black, and green. That's 4. I wouldn't be surprised if Nicol Bolas was the only multicolored card in the set anyway. Just to give newer players a taste of what they're getting themselves into.
Pixialation looks to be coming from the scan process IMO
Better than circles of confusion! I've wanted to say something about those since I learned that that's a technical term...
Anyway, spoilers:
Despite what a lot of people are saying, I really like the miracle mechanic. Once I realized you didn't have the turn to cast it it got a lot simpler. The only thing I don't like is the template. Do you really need a little arrow to tell you something the text box can tell you?
i am sure SOME people will cheat, but it will not be widespread.
you know how some people draw their card, then begin shuffling their hand? ya know, flipping their cards about.
THAT is what people are afraid will happen. Draw, shuffle hand, then attempt to cast a miracle never having announced the beginning of a main phase...
in theory, it might catch some people off-guard.. if it becomes an issue I will make it habit to say "please do not put the card you draw into your hand, if you do I will assume you have begun your 1st main phase unless you say otherwise."
ALSO: the ruling will probably state that priority has to be passed back and forth before the miracle trigger window becomes invalidated. almost like a quasi-triggered ability "do you want to cast this for its miracle cost"
There are ways to get around this. I'd probably set it in a different pile so they can track it. Before the game tell them you won't take BS about it, and then point to that when they flip it around in their hand.
I've seen this one a few times (even "guilty" of it myself back in ye old days) from players who only got half the message on how the stack and co worked.
"So you use your Prodigal pyromancer's ability on me? In response I tap him with Gideon's lawkeeper so he can't use it!"
Yup folks, since the ability activated last happens first, it can be used to "counter" other abilities. Which has led to more than one pinger staredown.
I was starting out playing my brother, whose favorite card was rimescale apprentice (no longer sure of the name... it's been a while). So I would attack and he'd tap my attacker. I ended up making an exalted deck and played him with that when I got a great idea: if I attack with two creatures and he taps one, then the other one is attacking alone, so it gets the bonus!
Then a few years later I became a rules adviser. Funny how things work.
I just want Liliana to go down so I can get a couple for my legacy pox deck. I have 4 tombstalkers in it right now, I'm pretty sure thats not correct...<_>
4 tombstalker is a lot. I'm hoping she goes down though too. I need 3 more.
I don't mean to derail the deck discussion, but I am curious on your thoughts:
Bloodline Keeper - Is this a good control card, a good aggro card, or both (depending on deck construction)?
At first I thought it was a good control card because it lets you make constant chump-blockers. Then I thought it was better in aggro (2BBB for +2/+2 pump and swing for the win). So, I'm not sure - its my favorite card in the set I would like to build a deck around it but I don't think there are many vampires in the set. If it is a control card - that's fine, but in an aggro deck, that's not.
;p Any input is welcomed!
Using him as an overrun isn't as good an idea as using him as a CA engine. If you overextend into an overrun, you can get blown out pretty easily.
Alleviate needs to be a permanent and is SERIOUSLY harsh. Although if that's not what you were going for, it needs to be reworded. All instant and sorcery spells on the stack? I think mentioning the stack is less confusing than not mentioning it in this case.
Hey clan long time no speak, been busy with moving to Lackland and work and training and no car to get to the card shop. So do living weapons work with Mentor of the Meek?
Yeah, I'll probably be pretty sparse for a while. Haven't had much magic time. But yes, Living weapons put a 0/0 onto the battlefield, which the mentor sees as having 2 power or less and triggers, and THEN attaches the equipment. The fact that the power changed doesn't make a difference anymore.
Leyline of protection doesn't do anything. You'll still die the second the counters fall off. Giving it instead "players' life totals can't change" would protect you, or, if you can sweep turn 2 no matter what, making it stop your life total from going below 1 would help.
"Sword of Truth and Beauty" or "Sword of Theory and Practice", perhaps?
EDIT: Another one I thought of:
Sword of Death and Destruction 3
Artifact - Equipment
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has protection from Red and Black.
When equipped creature deals damage to a player, destroy target artifact that player controls and he or she loses 3 life.
Equip 2
Sword of Truth and Beauty should be a GW sword, and should keep its name.
Truth and Beauty are alternate names for Top and Bottom quarks to differentiate them more from Up and Down.
But why would you give them the ability instead of just using the text that's already there? By putting the ability on her, you lose all of the "Creatures you control have" and the quotation marks, which makes it look a lot sleeker. I like it how it finally ended up better.
Prevention sphere 1BW
Enchantment
When ~ enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent. Its controller reveals his or her hand and exiles all cards with the same name as the exiled card.
When ~ leaves the battlefield, return one of the exiled cards to the battlefield under its owner's control and the rest to their owners' hands.
This version of the card, rather than o-ring + extort, also makes playing against esper more interesting. If you think they have the detention sphere, you only play one so they can't 2-for-1 you on the board. If you think they have the prevention sphere, you play all of them so you don't get 2-for-1'ed in your hand.
Soul of the Lightning RR
Creature - Spirit (U)
Haste
Splice onto Creature R
2/1
IIW: the card from the "[set] mechanics" article that showcases a new keyword.
Better than circles of confusion! I've wanted to say something about those since I learned that that's a technical term...
Anyway, spoilers:
EDIT: Darn, I missed a whole thread. The sever the bloodline one.
Exile target non-angel creature you control and return it to the battlefield at the beginning of last turn's upkeep.
There are ways to get around this. I'd probably set it in a different pile so they can track it. Before the game tell them you won't take BS about it, and then point to that when they flip it around in their hand.
I was starting out playing my brother, whose favorite card was rimescale apprentice (no longer sure of the name... it's been a while). So I would attack and he'd tap my attacker. I ended up making an exalted deck and played him with that when I got a great idea: if I attack with two creatures and he taps one, then the other one is attacking alone, so it gets the bonus!
Then a few years later I became a rules adviser. Funny how things work.
4 tombstalker is a lot. I'm hoping she goes down though too. I need 3 more.
Using him as an overrun isn't as good an idea as using him as a CA engine. If you overextend into an overrun, you can get blown out pretty easily.
Yeah, I'll probably be pretty sparse for a while. Haven't had much magic time. But yes, Living weapons put a 0/0 onto the battlefield, which the mentor sees as having 2 power or less and triggers, and THEN attaches the equipment. The fact that the power changed doesn't make a difference anymore.
Sword of Truth and Beauty should be a GW sword, and should keep its name.
But why would you give them the ability instead of just using the text that's already there? By putting the ability on her, you lose all of the "Creatures you control have" and the quotation marks, which makes it look a lot sleeker. I like it how it finally ended up better.