^see subject line. let me know what you think of these.
Reckless Research :symr::symr: [C or U]
Sorcery
Exile the top 3 cards of your library. Until end of turn, you may cast those cards as if they were in your hand.
^based on new chandra's ability. On the one hand, draw 3 for 2! in red! On the other hand, not really. I thought at 3 mana, the cost would just be too high to allow you to do anything more than play one card, tops, and that sucks (even for red). I'm worried this is pushing it a bit too much, though.
Slithering Asp [U]
Creature - Snake
1/1
Whenever Slithering Asp deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card.
I think a one mana ophidian style creature would be pretty exciting. But maybe this should require you to pay 1 to get the card, too.
Andariel, Maiden of Avarice :symb::symb::symb: [R or MR]
Legendary Creature - Demon
3/3
Flying
Pay 1 life: Exile the top card of your library.
Whenever Andariel deals damage to a player, you may put all cards exiled by Andariel into your hand.
I wanted to make a Necropotence variant on a creature, but not another Griselbrand. She is intentionally very aggressively costed so she can get in the red zone faster and as a callback to necropotence and other classic BBB spells. Under normal circumstances you wouldn't get cards from her until after your attack on your fourth turn, which seems ok.
I hope you like these, but all comments and critiques are appreciated. Thanks!
Reckless Research is awesome. It's very on colour for current design. Not sure about the power level though.
I like the Curiosity ability in green, but Slithering Asp seems too cheap. Also, I feel like green should get a thematic disadvantage: maybe the ability should appear only on medium to huge creatures, making it harder to sneak past in the early game?
Andariel is difficult for me to evaluate. I think the ability feels very black, but instant-speed activation makes me nervous. Maybe sorcery-speed payment on a slightly larger body?
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“Tell me who you walk with, and I'll tell you who you are.” Esmeralda Santiago Art is life itself.
I don't think we wana leap right into ancestral recall territory when we are exciting about a new combo enabling, dig, or blow out turn ability. I think that's not the sort of world we want to live in anymore. I like the idea of giving red good cards and access to more cards though.
I like your green ophidian because it surprised me and I think it's interesting territory. It seems pretty scary though. Though ophidian guys are sorta not actually cards anymore so maybe that's where we are at.
Reckless Research is good. Slithering Asp seems a bit under-costed, and with Keen Sense available, a little redundant. I'd be tempted to make him cost 2 and then give him regenerate.
No love for white?
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Things WotC cares about:
-making certain Standard cards can be played in Modern, therefore increasing their value and increasing WotC's profit margin
Things WotC does not care about:
-keeping the ban list as short as possible
-taking chances with an entire format for the benefit of a single card
-catering to play styles that newer players generally don't like and will lose them more players than it will gain
-keeping the meta balanced between archetypes/colors/whatever
-keeping cards on the secondary market cheap (available yes, but not cheap)
-keeping the meta diverse (as long as a single deck doesn't threaten the popularity of the format)
So turn 4 (or turn 2 with Dark Ritual in the format) almost-guaranteed-draw-19? Insane. First, the cost has to go up. Black doesn't get a 3/3 flyer for 3 without a drawback, much less one with such an upside. Next, you have to set it up so that it has the Necropotence balance of not getting them while you still have a main phase. Maybe word it as:
"Whenever ~ deals combat damage to a player, you may pay X life and exile the top X cards of your library face-down. At the beginning of the end step, put those cards into your hand."
Something along those lines.
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I would agree that Andariel needs a sorcery-speed restriction. This makes her much more vulnerable to blowouts by combat tricks, rather than "No blocks? Okay, I'll pay 1. Resolves? I'll pay 1 again." Etc.
As for cost-efficiency, she either needs to go up in mana cost, or have a demon drawback, like discarding your hand, or losing half your life, etc. Bump her up to 4 mana, and I think you could swing it, though.
I don't think we wana leap right into ancestral recall territory when we are exciting about a new combo enabling, dig, or blow out turn ability. I think that's not the sort of world we want to live in anymore. I like the idea of giving red good cards and access to more cards though.
I didn't intend to make a red ancestral recall, but this is a tough spell to balance because if you make it too expensive, it becomes impossible to cast more than one of the cards you "draw", and then it's probably just sucky. What if it only exiled two cards but cost 1R? Does that weaken it too much?
Slithering Asp seems a bit under-costed, and with Keen Sense available, a little redundant. I'd be tempted to make him cost 2 and then give him regenerate.
the only thing that really excites me about this is the mana cost of just G. I think that *makes* the card, and as a 1G I think it just loses a lot of its impact. What if it still cost G but required 1 mana to activate the card draw each time?
So turn 4 (or turn 2 with Dark Ritual in the format) almost-guaranteed-draw-19? Insane. First, the cost has to go up. Black doesn't get a 3/3 flyer for 3 without a drawback, much less one with such an upside. Next, you have to set it up so that it has the Necropotence balance of not getting them while you still have a main phase.
Well, my thought is that they could blow you out with all sorts of 1 mana removal if you tried that, but I forgot I didn't make her ability sorcery speed only, which I had meant to do. (Good call Aradon and Izuki.)
That said, I don't think the body-for-cost is problematic. Not for a triple-black rare legend. Every color except maybe blue has had creatures of that power level these days. Running with Sigismond0's suggestion, how about this version?
Andariel, Maiden of Avarice :symb::symb::symb: [MR]
Legendary Creature - Demon
3/3
Flying
Whenever Andariel deals combat damage to a player, you may pay X life and exile the top X cards of your library face down.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put all cards exiled by Andariel way into your hand.
Now she has to stick around for your opponent's turn before you get the cards, opening up a lot more risk in her ability. I'm thinking of making her a 3/2, which makes her even more of an auto-lose to burn. Thoughts?
No love for white?
I'm not much of a fan of white card draw, but I think it could have its moments. Balance-esque effects (but with draw rather than discard) seem like an in-flavor spot for it. But I don't think white should get explosive card drawing, so how about as an enchantment.
Parity :1mana::symw::symw: [R]
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card if you have fewer cards in hand than an opponent.
Supercharged Parity :2mana::symw::symw: [R]
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card if you have fewer cards in hand than an opponent, then gain 3 life if you have less life than an opponent, then put a 1/1 white soldier creature token onto the battlefield if you control fewer creatures than an opponent.
Reckless Research - If the cost is too high, it greatly limits the number of cards you can play. So what if you cap the number you can play anyway and push the cost low so that it is more playable? i.e.:
R Sorcery (U)
Exile the top three cards of your library. Until your next turn, you may play one of those cards.
Slithering Asp - This is really strong turn 1 on the play. If your opponent doesn't have a turn 1 answer then you get a good quick boost.
Andariel, Maiden of Avarice - What if it was just a combat triggered Ancient Craving? That would continue the theme of three and being not optional would force you to not attack with her when your life total gets low.
^see subject line. let me know what you think of these.
Reckless Research :symr::symr: [C or U]
Sorcery
Exile the top 3 cards of your library. Until end of turn, you may cast those cards as if they were in your hand.
Reckless Research So what if you cap the number you can play anyway and push the cost low so that it is more playable?
I like that too. My only critique is that it feels less red by making it less explosive and more selective.
Andariel, Maiden of Avarice - What if it was just a combat triggered Ancient Craving? That would continue the theme of three and being not optional would force you to not attack with her when your life total gets low.
I like that idea a lot too - makes her less combo-ish and more of a super-efficient aggro threat. Does it make her not mythic enough, though? (answer is probably not given the number of un-mythic mythics we have already)
Reckless Research :symr::symr: [C or U]
Sorcery
Exile the top 3 cards of your library. Until end of turn, you may cast those cards as if they were in your hand.
This isn't card draw.
I've seen the same design for two cards and think that's adequate. Any reason you choose "cast" over "play"?
Slithering Asp [U]
Creature - Snake
1/1
Whenever Slithering Asp deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card.
I thought about this card a lot myself. Even Scroll Thief and Stealer of Secrets are three mana and they are already very stripped down. I agree it would be very exciting, but also needs to be tested. I don't think it's impossible to make an environment where it's fair.
Reckless Research :symr::symr: [C or U]
Sorcery
Exile the top 3 cards of your library. Until end of turn, you may cast those cards as if they were in your hand.
Compare to Ideas Unbound. Even dodges the graveyard-filling function that was a major draw of that card.
How about something like:
Learn from experience (or adapt to survive)
2G
Enchantment
Whenever a source deals damage to you, you may draw 1 card. Kall was quick to discover that in the woods you either learn to fend or die trying.
Reckless Research :symr::symr: [C or U]
Sorcery
Exile the top 3 cards of your library. Until end of turn, you may cast those cards as if they were in your hand.
^based on new chandra's ability. On the one hand, draw 3 for 2! in red! On the other hand, not really. I thought at 3 mana, the cost would just be too high to allow you to do anything more than play one card, tops, and that sucks (even for red). I'm worried this is pushing it a bit too much, though.
Slithering Asp [U]
Creature - Snake
1/1
Whenever Slithering Asp deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card.
I think a one mana ophidian style creature would be pretty exciting. But maybe this should require you to pay 1 to get the card, too.
Andariel, Maiden of Avarice :symb::symb::symb: [R or MR]
Legendary Creature - Demon
3/3
Flying
Pay 1 life: Exile the top card of your library.
Whenever Andariel deals damage to a player, you may put all cards exiled by Andariel into your hand.
I wanted to make a Necropotence variant on a creature, but not another Griselbrand. She is intentionally very aggressively costed so she can get in the red zone faster and as a callback to necropotence and other classic BBB spells. Under normal circumstances you wouldn't get cards from her until after your attack on your fourth turn, which seems ok.
I hope you like these, but all comments and critiques are appreciated. Thanks!
I like the Curiosity ability in green, but Slithering Asp seems too cheap. Also, I feel like green should get a thematic disadvantage: maybe the ability should appear only on medium to huge creatures, making it harder to sneak past in the early game?
Andariel is difficult for me to evaluate. I think the ability feels very black, but instant-speed activation makes me nervous. Maybe sorcery-speed payment on a slightly larger body?
Art is life itself.
I like your green ophidian because it surprised me and I think it's interesting territory. It seems pretty scary though. Though ophidian guys are sorta not actually cards anymore so maybe that's where we are at.
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No love for white?
-making certain Standard cards can be played in Modern, therefore increasing their value and increasing WotC's profit margin
Things WotC does not care about:
-keeping the ban list as short as possible
-taking chances with an entire format for the benefit of a single card
-catering to play styles that newer players generally don't like and will lose them more players than it will gain
-keeping the meta balanced between archetypes/colors/whatever
-keeping cards on the secondary market cheap (available yes, but not cheap)
-keeping the meta diverse (as long as a single deck doesn't threaten the popularity of the format)
"Whenever ~ deals combat damage to a player, you may pay X life and exile the top X cards of your library face-down. At the beginning of the end step, put those cards into your hand."
Something along those lines.
As for cost-efficiency, she either needs to go up in mana cost, or have a demon drawback, like discarding your hand, or losing half your life, etc. Bump her up to 4 mana, and I think you could swing it, though.
Karador EDH
Comments on decks welcome: http://tappedout.net/users/AradonTemplar/
Currently developing Set 1 of 3, 'Shadow': http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=436885
I didn't intend to make a red ancestral recall, but this is a tough spell to balance because if you make it too expensive, it becomes impossible to cast more than one of the cards you "draw", and then it's probably just sucky. What if it only exiled two cards but cost 1R? Does that weaken it too much?
the only thing that really excites me about this is the mana cost of just G. I think that *makes* the card, and as a 1G I think it just loses a lot of its impact. What if it still cost G but required 1 mana to activate the card draw each time?
Well, my thought is that they could blow you out with all sorts of 1 mana removal if you tried that, but I forgot I didn't make her ability sorcery speed only, which I had meant to do. (Good call Aradon and Izuki.)
That said, I don't think the body-for-cost is problematic. Not for a triple-black rare legend. Every color except maybe blue has had creatures of that power level these days. Running with Sigismond0's suggestion, how about this version?
Andariel, Maiden of Avarice :symb::symb::symb: [MR]
Legendary Creature - Demon
3/3
Flying
Whenever Andariel deals combat damage to a player, you may pay X life and exile the top X cards of your library face down.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put all cards exiled by Andariel way into your hand.
Now she has to stick around for your opponent's turn before you get the cards, opening up a lot more risk in her ability. I'm thinking of making her a 3/2, which makes her even more of an auto-lose to burn. Thoughts?
I'm not much of a fan of white card draw, but I think it could have its moments. Balance-esque effects (but with draw rather than discard) seem like an in-flavor spot for it. But I don't think white should get explosive card drawing, so how about as an enchantment.
Parity :1mana::symw::symw: [R]
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card if you have fewer cards in hand than an opponent.
Supercharged Parity :2mana::symw::symw: [R]
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card if you have fewer cards in hand than an opponent, then gain 3 life if you have less life than an opponent, then put a 1/1 white soldier creature token onto the battlefield if you control fewer creatures than an opponent.
I think I like the supercharged version more.
Sorcery (U)
Exile the top three cards of your library. Until your next turn, you may play one of those cards.
Sort of a red Impulse.
Slithering Asp - This is really strong turn 1 on the play. If your opponent doesn't have a turn 1 answer then you get a good quick boost.
Andariel, Maiden of Avarice - What if it was just a combat triggered Ancient Craving? That would continue the theme of three and being not optional would force you to not attack with her when your life total gets low.
2011 says hi :3
I like that too. My only critique is that it feels less red by making it less explosive and more selective.
I like that idea a lot too - makes her less combo-ish and more of a super-efficient aggro threat. Does it make her not mythic enough, though? (answer is probably not given the number of un-mythic mythics we have already)
This isn't card draw.
I've seen the same design for two cards and think that's adequate. Any reason you choose "cast" over "play"?
I thought about this card a lot myself. Even Scroll Thief and Stealer of Secrets are three mana and they are already very stripped down. I agree it would be very exciting, but also needs to be tested. I don't think it's impossible to make an environment where it's fair.
Griselbrand is not Necropotence. It's Yawgmoth's Bargain.
I don't think a card with such a strong saboteur ability needs to be that cost efficient in size.
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
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Thank you. I will correct the title of this post to accurately reflect that, so as not to confuse anyone.
Actually it's neither, but I think I still get your point.
Compare to Ideas Unbound. Even dodges the graveyard-filling function that was a major draw of that card.
Learn from experience (or adapt to survive)
2G
Enchantment
Whenever a source deals damage to you, you may draw 1 card.
Kall was quick to discover that in the woods you either learn to fend or die trying.
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