Ugh, these seem like fun cards, but I can't get past how unsatisfyingly hard they are to get. Ilyss in particular: there's the plot effect, the bouncing a spell on the stack effect, the cmc check, the free play, the plot 3 more.. too many steps, its like illusionary mask and scroll rack had a baby.
I think there's a really fun idea there, just needs a cleaner execution.
This article made me sort of hate magic, and its going to be in the back of my mind the next time my friend, once again, tries to get me back into tournament magic. Its just not worth playing when this is part of the game.
Really nice article, I'm looking forward to the next one. We could use more broad, theoretical articles about card design, its a fascinating subject. I do disagree with this bit though:
Given that we've seen Isamaru, Hound of Konda and Watchwolf, I don't know if "severely overpowered" is a fair assessment. It is almost certainly too good today, but I don't think its inconceivable that it could see print when other strong weenies have rotated, especially with the push on white little guys these days.
My skin also prickles at the "strictly better than X" argument. This is a good guideline in most cases, but its only a start, not solely enough to discount a card outright. Skywing Aven is strictly better than Neurok Prodigy, but is far from overpowered, for example.
But its my small issue with an otherwise great article.
I was also intrigued by this card. I think you have to take notice when a card says to both search and put into play. See also: tinker, tooth and nail.
I don't think this card is in that league. Just saying.
Though of course there's always the Sneak Attack effect to worry about, making sure the deck works without Wild Pair. I'd love to play undercosted fatties with a drawback to get overcosted fatties with abilities, but that deck probably sucks rocks without WP.
I seriously love that there is absolutely no consensus about how good the angel is, or even what kind of deck wants to use it. Its a pretty simple card and one that, no matter how unassailible any given opinion seems, does not have any obvious power level. That's awesome.
Edit: This debate keeps getting better! People pointing out the ability to play after missed drops, or to run tighter lands. And while I disagreed with Solace, his points a few posts down are way solid - a surprisingly subtle card.
The fact Jaya has 2 toughness, taps, and costs 3 (more than lavamancer, etc) prevents her from being anything like broken.
The fact that she costs only marginally more than the answers to her makes her worthwhile. And she's got flavor shooting our of her everything, thats a real nice card. Serious bummer to play against in limited though.
I am shocked at how many people are simply dismissing the angel. Control can use it, instant-speed tricks could make it amazing, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if open-minded players made it work in beatdown.
I love the card from a flavor standpoint, I've always liked this aspect of white and thought it was underused. Also seems like a fun casual card. But I couldn't disagree with this more:
And Debt of Loyalty is not a White card. All it does is turn the next destruction into a steal. Who would feel a debt of loyalty if someone promised to heal you, and then blasted you himself?
Debt of Loyalty is one of my favorite white cards ever. White doesnt care what caused your destruction, it *saved* you, you *owe* it.
"I know I killed you, but then I saved you. I could have let you die. You're in my debt, do my bidding." This sort of letter-of-the-law stuff is the best part of white. In the same way, I think this new card has a nice twisted logic to it.
I would guess that these two aren't the same person, but probably just two dudes from the same culture/society/faction. They look similar, but as someone mentioned I think the color palette and tone are making them look more similar than they are.
Btw, what is the guy in this new picture doing? Picking lint out of his armor?
This makes a lot of sense, though I would tweak it conceptually to:
Past-Present-Future.
That is, TS uses the past of Dominaria, where blocks followed eachother time-wise.
Planar chaos will reuse mechanics from more recent sets (Mirrodin, Kamigawa and Ravnica). Each of these blocks was wholly disconnected from the others and could theoretically be having its stories going on concurrently. That way, planar chaos mixes elements from different planes' co-temporal, "present" storylines.
This would make a lot of sense as a new approach to inter-block interaction, since Ravnica mechanics could be briefly expanded upon for a set.
The future thing will be tricky without spoiling things, but I think citing Rosewater's comment here is spot on.
I really like these, especially the ones with 2 abilities that are independently useful, but can together create an even splashier effect if you set things up just right.
Lure of Sirens, Destruction Mania, Stygian Reflection and Fey Festival are the best examples, and Aether Bomb might even qualify in a very carefully built deck.
Very elegant, sort of remniscent of the best of the entwine cards, but without all that actual keywording and costs.
That seems unkind of your opponent, I definately would have let you take it back. It was clear what your intention was.
That said, its nothing new to be screwed by optional upkeep costs. Its the same thing we had to deal with with echo, and with cumulative upkeep the first time around, for that matter. I imagine lots more horror stories of this kind.
Again, though, lame move by your opponent. Not so sure about the judge - it wasn't really his place to force your opponent to let it go, when you had technically passed your opportunity to pay the cost, but maybe he could have given you a break.
Its one thing to take a fair card and slap on an ability, but 2 cards? Thats just lazy and obnoxious.
Bluffmaster can be expected to work half the time.
2/3 for 1UU, with 2 cards attached.
Knowledge Seeker is 2 power for 1U.
Plus it averages 2 pure-business spells, or a land, your choice. Worst case it blows through 3 of what you didn't need. Best case you get an ancestral with only the kind of card you need, and a 2/1.
Avianomancer takes a Theiving Magpie, takes 1U off the cost, and tacks on "draw a card". Historically, a card on a creature costs 2, so lets call that 2 extra cards, and a minor sac ability for any other bird tokens.
You get one chance to design a card, and you just squeeze out a beater for unclever, blatant 3-for-1 card advantage? We know, card advantage is good. Grats. It annoys me how lazy these designs are; what a squandered opportunity.
I think there's a really fun idea there, just needs a cleaner execution.
Given that we've seen Isamaru, Hound of Konda and Watchwolf, I don't know if "severely overpowered" is a fair assessment. It is almost certainly too good today, but I don't think its inconceivable that it could see print when other strong weenies have rotated, especially with the push on white little guys these days.
My skin also prickles at the "strictly better than X" argument. This is a good guideline in most cases, but its only a start, not solely enough to discount a card outright. Skywing Aven is strictly better than Neurok Prodigy, but is far from overpowered, for example.
But its my small issue with an otherwise great article.
I don't think this card is in that league. Just saying.
Though of course there's always the Sneak Attack effect to worry about, making sure the deck works without Wild Pair. I'd love to play undercosted fatties with a drawback to get overcosted fatties with abilities, but that deck probably sucks rocks without WP.
Edit: This debate keeps getting better! People pointing out the ability to play after missed drops, or to run tighter lands. And while I disagreed with Solace, his points a few posts down are way solid - a surprisingly subtle card.
The fact that she costs only marginally more than the answers to her makes her worthwhile. And she's got flavor shooting our of her everything, thats a real nice card. Serious bummer to play against in limited though.
I am shocked at how many people are simply dismissing the angel. Control can use it, instant-speed tricks could make it amazing, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if open-minded players made it work in beatdown.
Debt of Loyalty is one of my favorite white cards ever. White doesnt care what caused your destruction, it *saved* you, you *owe* it.
"I know I killed you, but then I saved you. I could have let you die. You're in my debt, do my bidding." This sort of letter-of-the-law stuff is the best part of white. In the same way, I think this new card has a nice twisted logic to it.
The first one might be something split second related? Though probably not.
Btw, what is the guy in this new picture doing? Picking lint out of his armor?
Past-Present-Future.
That is, TS uses the past of Dominaria, where blocks followed eachother time-wise.
Planar chaos will reuse mechanics from more recent sets (Mirrodin, Kamigawa and Ravnica). Each of these blocks was wholly disconnected from the others and could theoretically be having its stories going on concurrently. That way, planar chaos mixes elements from different planes' co-temporal, "present" storylines.
This would make a lot of sense as a new approach to inter-block interaction, since Ravnica mechanics could be briefly expanded upon for a set.
The future thing will be tricky without spoiling things, but I think citing Rosewater's comment here is spot on.
Edit: See also: guesswork's post, with the same basic idea: http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=48935
Lure of Sirens, Destruction Mania, Stygian Reflection and Fey Festival are the best examples, and Aether Bomb might even qualify in a very carefully built deck.
Very elegant, sort of remniscent of the best of the entwine cards, but without all that actual keywording and costs.
But I cringed at the Viper comment, since it's a child of ophidian and lowland basilisk if you ask me
That said, its nothing new to be screwed by optional upkeep costs. Its the same thing we had to deal with with echo, and with cumulative upkeep the first time around, for that matter. I imagine lots more horror stories of this kind.
Again, though, lame move by your opponent. Not so sure about the judge - it wasn't really his place to force your opponent to let it go, when you had technically passed your opportunity to pay the cost, but maybe he could have given you a break.
Bluffmaster can be expected to work half the time.
2/3 for 1UU, with 2 cards attached.
Knowledge Seeker is 2 power for 1U.
Plus it averages 2 pure-business spells, or a land, your choice. Worst case it blows through 3 of what you didn't need. Best case you get an ancestral with only the kind of card you need, and a 2/1.
Avianomancer takes a Theiving Magpie, takes 1U off the cost, and tacks on "draw a card". Historically, a card on a creature costs 2, so lets call that 2 extra cards, and a minor sac ability for any other bird tokens.
You get one chance to design a card, and you just squeeze out a beater for unclever, blatant 3-for-1 card advantage? We know, card advantage is good. Grats. It annoys me how lazy these designs are; what a squandered opportunity.