The Card Creation League is a monthly contest in which players compete over seven rounds. Each month has an overall theme and/or story, determined by that month's host.
Each round, the host will assign a card creation task to the players. This task may vary between teams or players.
The first three rounds are open to everyone who joined in the sign-up thread, which will be posted near the end of the previous month. After these rounds, the Top 8 players will move on to three single elimination rounds to determine a winner.
Rounds usually last three to four days for submissions and about two days for critiques, but the host has final say in making the schedule.
For the first three rounds, players are divided into teams. Four teams is standard, but there may be more or less depending on the number of players. Each team will review another team's cards during the critique period of that round.
Each player must submit a Top 3 ranking for the team he or she critiques at the end of each round. Each 1st place is worth 3 points, 2nd place 2 points, and 3rd place 1 point.
Additionally, each player can receive 2 bonus points per round. One point is awarded for posting a Top 3, and one point for providing critiques for that team's cards.
Suggested areas to critique include creativity, balance, printability, and relation to the overall theme or that player's previous cards.
Players who do not post a card or a Top 3 will be put on "probation." Top 3 violations for a round can be removed by posting or PMing the host with your Top 3 before the end of the next round. Any player that would receive a second violation is disqualified from further competition that month.
At the end of the first three rounds, the Top 8 players will be selected by points (usually the top 2 from each team). In the case of ties, there may be more than 8 players advancing. The host will determine matchups for single elimination. At the end of each elimination round, remaining players not in that matchup will choose a winner to advance. The host will break any ties.
The final round is determined by public poll.
Prior to Top 8, players have a chance of getting a total of 100 points toward their score each Scoring Round. Scores for each Round are determined by the following equation:
Total points of Player A in round N = 100 * X/Y, where:
X = Total number of Scoring Points (Judge Points + Additional Points from Top 3 & Critiques)
Y = Total number of Possible Points (3 * Number of Judges + Additional Points)
3 points are given for a First Place Top 3 finish, 2 points for a Second Place, and 1 point for a Third Place. 1 additional point is awarded if a Top 3 is submitted. 1 additional point is awarded if Critiques are given for all entries to be judged.
This way the grading is more streamlined in the fact that all rounds prior to Top 8 are graded equally, and there is no handicap for any team that has fewer judges.
Each player accumulates points from each Scoring Round until the end of Round 3.
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You are a spellcrafter. More specifically, you are Innistrad's premier architect of words and thoughts, a scholar of secrets and lore, and a cunning wizard to boot. Through your pen and parchment, you have created many ingenious spells of all colors. Not just for the sake of it, mind you. Your creations almost always fetch a high price, from everyone including arcane mystics, to the church's monster slayers, to the royal vampire families. More recently, you have been approached by various customers to craft custom spells of their desire. This month, you will take on those tasks, and perhaps alter the course of your and Innistrad's future as well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are working in your study when a noise startles you. Turning around, you see a woman (she is a woman...right?) floating in the air. Her masked eyes look at you.
"Can I help you?" you ask politely. You're always polite to vampires.
"I need a spell," she says simply. "There's an elusive human running around my territory. I want him dead."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are working in your study when you hear a knock on the door. Opening it, you see a church priest, bedecked in his robes.
"Can I help you?" you ask politely. The church around these parts always has its coffers full.
"Yes, you can. One of our cathars is going on a mission into some dangerous territory. I need a spell he can use to protect himself."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are working in your study when you hear a banging on the door. You get up. Opening it, you see... oh, boy.
"What." you grunt.
"I need a spell."
"..."
"That does things of a very particular nature."
"..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your task: Choose ONE of the three jobs below and complete it. Please state clearly which one you chose before you do so.
Job 1 (Offered by Olivia Voldaren): Create a common or uncommon monoblack instant that kills a single target with some sort of restriction.
Clarification: Go for the Throat, Disfigure, or Chill to the Bone would all work. Spread the Sickness would not.
Job 2 (Offered by Father Ilben): Create an uncommon monowhite sorcery or enchantment or that buffs a single target if it is a Human and debuffs it if it is not.
Clarification: Bonds of Faith is a good example.
Job 3 (Offered by Ludevic the Insane): Create a rare monoblue enchantment with the following criteria:
CMC 3 or 4
Generates exactly 1 card advantage for you every turn or turn cycle
Disadvantages all of your opponents' creatures in some way
Has a zombie tribal theme
Does not contain "token" in its rules text
Has no more than 26 words in its rules text (mana symbols, reminder text and flavor text do not count)
Clarification: A turn cycle is the interval during which every player takes his or her turn. Good luck!
Blood of the InnocentB
Instant (U)
Destroy target Human creature. If Blood of the Innocent was cast from the graveyard, destroy target creature instead.
Flashback 3B(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Job 3 (Offered by Ludevic the Insane): Create a rare blue enchantment with the following criteria:
CMC 3 or 4
Generates exactly 1 card advantage for you every turn cycle
Disadvantages all of your opponents' creatures in some way
Has a zombie tribal theme
Does not contain "token" in its rules text
Has no more than 26 words in its rules text (mana symbols, reminder text and flavor text do not count)
Round 1 EntryTeam Parchment As the necro-alchemist leaves the room, you examine the very specific instructions that he has left for you. It seems that he has taken well for his zombies you produced for him a few years ago, and wonder what he has been up to.
However, there is no time for reminiscing. As you read the parchment, your mind begins to cringe at what evilness Ludevic has requested -- however, you know that he will leave you alive, since you have been of great asset to him.
Underground Lunges3U
Enchantment (R)
Exile target Zombie from your graveyard: Underground Lunges deals damage equal to the exiled card's power to target creature. Activate this ability only once per turn. "I can say, Ludevic, that this is a fine piece of magic to reuse your dismembered zombies into something more powerful."
Shadowfuryix, is there any reason why you made the third choice a lot harder than the other ones? I hate this challenge.
Ludevic's Surge 3U
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a zombie enters the battlefield, you may pay 1U to tap target creature. It does not untap during its controller's upkeep unless they sacrifice a creature.
Scrivener's Journal, Vol. I1
Legendary Artifact {M}
Level up - Light a candle
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[L1-3] You are working in your study when a noise startles you. Turning around, you see a woman (she is a woman...right?) floating in the air. Her masked eyes look at you.
"Can I help you?" you ask politely. You're always polite to vampires.
"I need a spell," she says simply. "There's an elusive human running around my territory. I want him dead."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
[LVL 4+] T:Expand Scrivener's Journal, Vol. I's flavor text.
I bowed slightly as I spoke.
"Cathars again, m'lady? And they got past the niedergeists?" Courtesy was of great importance when dealing with Lady Voldaren - lose your manners, lose your head, the saying goes. Gresh, my fetch, skittered around her legs, his one bulging eye eying her with intense and almost childish curiosity. Gresh, go away! Go stack that pile of scrolls you knocked over! The homunculus energetically dove into the mess of parchment, knocking over another shelf as he did so. If fetches weren't so hard to get by these days, I'd-
"The rabble hired an exorcist and a vampire hunter. The exorcist was vanquished, but most of the geists went with him." Lady Voldaren's voice was very deep, and resonated with the self-proclaimed nobility of her kind.
"Even the pyregeist? What a shame, a true favou..." My words trailed off as a bladed fingercap traced along my throat, and the vampire touched a drop of blood against her tongue.
"No more geists this time. And certainly no more fire. I won't be humiliated again by some fool with a bucket of water."
I swallowed nervously - as far as unsatisfied customers went, Olivia was amongst the worst. Behind me, there was the crash of wood on stone. Gresh, you blasted fool, you're supposed to clean this place up, not make the mess worse!
"I am deeply sorry, m'lady. Some bravery that man had to get close enough to a pyregeist to extinguish it though." That white mask, those scarlet eyes gave away no hint of emotion. "Luckily, m'lady, those are but butter-knives in a far greater arsenal I have at your disposal." That metaphor made me hesitate - do vampires even know what butter-knives are? It's not like they care for much else other than blood. No time for such thoughts now. "As a matter of fact, just last week I found a way to bind the will of living stone to raise a mighty titan of a warrior. Nothing like ten thousand pounds of rock to crush a stray cathar, m'lady." Waving my hand irritably, Gresh materialized at my side with a scroll, looking up expectantly. To my great surprise, I found he had delivered the right scroll. I rubbed his head (what wasn't covered in eye anyway), and he rubbed back against my hand gratefully before diving into the pile of scrolls with renewed vigor. "You must excuse Gresh, he's only been bonded to me for four days. Stitcher Geralf was gracious enough to replace Nythr after, well..." I didn't have the courage to finish that sentiment, partially because that's how I lost my last fetch.
With no recognition that I had uttered that last sentence, Lady Voldaren took the scroll gingerly and inspected it. "This sounds...inelegant. And conspicuous. My quarry is very slippery, scrivener."
My mind was racing now. Her attention seemed to be waning, which meant my last words would in all likelihood decide if I would survive this encounter. "Yes, yes, of course, quite inelegant, and very noticeable indeed." Not now, Gresh, ignoring a tug at my left sleeve. "Perhaps a suffocating spell? Nigh impossible to stop, and even harder to predict, m'lady."
"Do try to listen when I speak, scrivener. The man I seek is very elusive."
"Ah, yes. I'm awfully sorry, m'lady, but I - " What!? my nerves finally giving, in, I yanked away whatever Gresh was holding up to me. I could sense anticipation from the homunculus as I cast an eye over the scroll. The casterfonts were somehow unfamiliar to me, but I remember scribbling this down some fever night two full moons back. A smile came to my face. How do you feel about going toad-hunting next moonset, fetch? I was met with a soft, yet excited whirring sound. "A question, m'lady - are you concerned with this cathar returning as a geist?"
"Not in the slightest. We always keep geistcatcher rigs around for that purpose. My patience is wearing thin, scrivener, you better get to the point quickly." Her inscrutable gaze was fixed on the remaining blood running down her finger.
"Ah, yes of course. I believe I have something for you then, m'lady. Very elegant, very simple. And if I may say so, very novel."
"I'm listening, scrivener."
"It is, in effect, a gallow, but, of course, magical."
"Go on..."
"This scroll contains the procedures for weaving the night's darkness into a noose, strangling the victim while forcing out his soul. Very quick, and here's the kick, m'lady: As long as you can picture the target, it matters not where he is, so long as he is near a shadow."
Olivia's eyes glinted. "Once again, you have failed to disappoint me, scrivener."
Allowing myself a chuckle, I dipped the heron quill into a vial of ink and traced out the casterfont. "On the house, m'lady, as compense for my last item. In the meantime, feel free to look through my works, m'lady. This could take a while." Gresh perched on a stool beside me, taking in every my every mark on the parchment to check for errors.
Lady Voldaren stood motionlessly as I went to work. Eventually, she broke the silence. "You know, scrivener, your work is highly regarded amongst my peers."
"Thank, you, m'lady. It does not do to disappoint in this line of work."
"So Ithil noted too. He is a noble in Stormkirk - I believe you are acquainted to him?"
"Lord Ithil and I have conducted business together, yes."
"Yes, quite the gossiper, he is. In fact, he told me something about you the other night, scrivener. I take it you would not mind confirming this rumor?"
"Of course not. What did he say?"
"As a matter of fact, it was your ancestry he spoke of." I froze, nearly dripping ink all over the parchment. "He said that your great-grandfather was a famous vampire slayer, a cousin of the famed Saint Traft no less?"
I licked my lips, pausing to weigh out my reply. "Lord Ithil speaks the truth, m'lady. My father's side of the family - one I have never seen eye-to-eye with, I might add."
"Nonetheless, where your blood runs, so does his. Something to ponder, don't you think, scrivener?"
Before I could answer, Lady Voldaren, along with the finished scroll, vanished into the night.
Gresk wrapped himself around my leg, slowly pulling me out of my thoughts. "You know, for a necroalchemic abomination, you're quite soppy." Again, that soft whirr. "I suppose it's nice talking to...someone...who's not just here for business though. Good night, Gresk, and try not to make a mess." My voice faded as a knocked-over vial of ink spilled its contents all over a pile of scrolls I had prepared for Avabruck's new mayor, who came to me one night after being bitten by the old one. Funny that, it almost seems like a tradition there...
"You know what, I'll fix that tomorrow. Right now I need some shuteye."
Midnight Hanging1B
Instant {U}
Destroy target non-Spirit creature. Its controller puts a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield. A shadow tightens. A cathar falls. A geist awakens.
Team Ink (Job 3) "...So you can see my problem." finished Ludevic, as he casually sat down on my (very expensive!) werewolf-hide armchair. I stared at him for a moment, then smiled. "I think I have the perfect spell for your situation. You say the local townsfolk have begun graveyard patrols, to keep you and your *cough* assistants out? Then perhaps what you need is for the materials to come to you." "But it won't take long for them to figure out the source. And when they do, I'm not certain I'll be able to hold them off this time." I smiled again. "That can be taken care of."
Corpse Rising :2mana::symu:
Enchantment (R)
:1mana::symu:, :symtap:: Return target Zombie from your graveyard to your hand, then tap up to X target creatures, where X is the number of creatures in your graveyard. Even as the last claws it's way to the surface, a dozen more hands burst from the soil.
Note: Just so judges don't waste their time, it's exactly 26 (including X's).
Ludevic-mode is absurdly hard, but I'll give it a try:
Quote from Ludevic"s Offer »
Create a rare blue enchantment with the following criteria:
CMC 3 or 4
Generates exactly 1 card advantage for you every turn cycle
Disadvantages all of your opponents' creatures in some way
Has a zombie tribal theme
Does not contain "token" in its rules text
Has no more than 26 words in its rules text (mana symbols, reminder text and flavor text do not count)
Skaab Harvest1UU
Enchantment {R}
Whenever a creature attacks, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.
You may cast a Zombie spell from your graveyard once each turn. To the stitcher, battles are like fields, and cadavers are the yield.
*Note: Currently there do not exist any zombie tribal instants, nor any zombie cards with flash, so it is impossible to cast zombies from your graveyard on your opponents' turns unless you go out of your way to do so. Hence, I think I meet the "+1 card advatage per turn cycle" clause.
Task 2 Ward of Avacyn2W
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant Human Creature
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2.
If a non-Human creature would deal damage to enchanted creature, prevent all damage that creature would deal and destroy it.
Job 1 (Offered by Olivia Voldaren): Create a common or uncommon black instant that kills a single target with some sort of restriction.
Clarification: Go for the Throat, Disfigure, or Chill to the Bone would all work. Spread the Sickness would not.
Vampiric Bite1BB
Instant {UC}
Kicker - Pay 5 life.
As an additional cost of playing Vampiric Bite, tap a vampire creature you control.
Destroy target non-vampire creature, then gain life equal to that creature's toughness.
If Vampiric Bite was kicked, put that creature under your control instead. It's a vampire in addition to it's other types. "We prefer not to kill our stock, but sometimes... the temptation is too great." - Varn, Voldaren Noble
*Note: Currently there do not exist any zombie tribal instants, nor any zombie cards with flash, so it is impossible to cast zombies from your graveyard on your opponents' turns unless you go out of your way to do so. Hence, I think I meet the "+1 card advatage per turn cycle" clause.
Technically, there are a few zombie instants, as there are tribal instants with changeling.
I suppose that's a fair point, but no other wordings I've tried meet the word limit. =/
I dunno if I should change it, or just leave it, since changeling cards are a niche case (and not present in Innistrad). I suppose it comes down to shadowfury's verdict.
Does my card meet the "+1 card advantage each turn cycle" criteria?
Job 3- Holy cow! I do love a good challenge though...
Savant Stitching2UU
Enchantment (R)
Zombie creatures you control have all abilities of creature cards in your graveyard. All other creatures lose those abilities. B,T: Each player sacrifices a non-Zombie creature.
While enchantments generally don't tap, it seemed to offer the most space-savings while adhering to the "once per turn/turn cycle" requirement. Also, this can technically generate more than one unit (I don't currently know of another term for this, other than "card") of card advantage in a multiplayer game, but hopefully that is passable, given the multitude of restrictions already in place.
I was working in my study when a noise startled me. Turning around, I saw a woman floating in the air. Her masked eyes were looking directly at me.
"Can I help you?" I ask politely. I'm always polite to vampires - it keeps me in business, instead of the ground.
"I need a spell," she says simply. "There's an elusive human running around my territory. I want him dead."
In my few encounters with Olivia Voldaren, she has always been abrupt and to the point. I imagine it's a trait you pick up when you have to run House Voldaren, protect the territory of your family and maintain discipline amongst your disciples to ensure a strong and pure bloodline to keep House Voldaren, just that - House Voldaren. Deceit and intrigue amongst the Vampire community were both common as each family is constantly vying for supremacy and control of the shadowy nights of Innistrad and the privileges that come along with said supremacy.
However, this time something in what she was saying had a hint of discord or annoyance in it - something that wasn't usual for the Vampires of Innistrad and especially a person as vaunted and composed as Olivia Voldaren. The tone of her voice, evenly undulating, smooth and seductive was, to all appearances, completely normal and untroubled, and not the reason I picked up on the issue. It was the content of her dialogue that aroused my suspicion. In all my years of spell crafting, never had I been in a situation where a single human has given a Vampire family a problem which saw them asking me for assistance; they always handled it internally. With my interest piqued, a lesson learned early on in my spellcrafting days came to the fore of my mind.
Every time I remember how I learned this lesson, I scratch my metallic contraption of a left hand - a tick that won't seemingly go away. The sense that my hand is still there and itching. Sometimes infuriating, always helpful. Always ask what you need to know, regardless of your client. The repercussions of failure far outweigh the anger of someone who has been asked a sensitive question. If you craft a spell without knowing all the information of the situation, more often than not the spell will fail. This is where I have built my reputation. I always produce exactly what my client needs, usually by asking the questions others will not and making observations others will not. It is always a dangerous line to walk - the line between getting the information you need and asking one question too many. 'It's a line I gladly walk though', I think to myself as I continue to scratch my false appendage.
I had to ask, why would a lone human would see me visited by Olivia Voldaren.
"Forgive me if I seem too forward, miss, but is it not unusual for the esteemed House Voldaren to seek assistance in the... dispatch of a single human?" I asked tentatively.
With a slight narrowing of the eyes, I received a cool response. "Normally, yes. However, time is of the essence. My prey is crafty and has managed to steal a family item that absolutely must be returned to our care. If I were to hunt this wretch myself, the situation would be resolved already - but in a turn of events that are timed most incongruously, I must attend the needs of visiting family members. This spell is to be used by one of the enforcers and must be ready by tonight." She may have been unhappy to divulge such information about her house, but necessity dictates courses of action sometimes.
"Very well," I continue. "are there any particular details about this character I should know? Your esteemed self has had dealings with my craft before and know the importance of providing me with that which I must use to create this spell."
"Yes. He is a werewolf. If we could hunt by day we would destroy him utterly and without issue. Our human serfs cannot be trusted to retrieve this object that he has stolen. So as such my disciples hunt him by night. Unfortunately, he becomes quite cunning when the veil of the sleeping gods draws closed. Personally I'd enjoy hunting him myself," Olivia continued, in a show of rare personal insight "but as mentioned I have not the time to undertake such endeavors."
"Indeed - is there anything else I need to know about this person?" I inquired.
"No." The curt response told me that I had all the information I needed.
Indeed, my talent was enough that I could craft the required spell. Fortunate, because even though I will ask all the questions I need to ask, I sometimes dislike 'poking the bear'. Asking the right questions also has its price, I think as I rub the right side of my ribcage. Business is good, but business is always dangerous...
Edited: Seemed a little disjointed. Still does a bit. And grammar. Ugh.
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Whispering Dagger1B
Instant (C)
Destroy target transformed creature. (A transformed creature has a moon symbol on it. A creature that is a copy of a transformed creature is not transformed.) Borne by the night, it always finds its mark.
As stated in the rules text, the "transformed" version of the card is the one that you don't cast. I'm pretty sure that's clear, considering it says that the card has to have the moon symbol on it.
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The only objects that can transform are cards that physically have two faces. If a token or a card with a regular Magic back is instructed to transform, instead nothing will happen. Even if a token or non-double-faced
card is a copy of one face of a double-faced card, it can't transform.
My card would not, therefore, affect a creature that is a copy of a previously transformed creature, since it has no transform ability (unless, you know, they make a transform card that integrates copying other creatures - only when it has used its own transform ability would it become a viable target).
Nauseating Revelation :2mana::symu:
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, discard a creature card. If you do, creatures your opponent's control get -2/-0 until end of turn. "Well, if you didn't want to know, why did you bother storming my laboratory?" —Ludevic, necro-alchemist
Y'know, if you're planning to make Ludevic's route easier or do something cool, that might not work when they've been eliminated due to bad cards before then.
I never said anything about any of that. If you don't want to do the challenge, you don't have to.
Nauseating Revelation :2mana::symu:
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, discard a creature card. If you do, creatures your opponent's control get -2/-0 until end of turn. "Well, if you didn't want to know, why did you bother storming my laboratory?" —Ludevic, necro-alchemist
This does not work. It needs to generate +1 CA, not -1.
Underground Lunges3U
Enchantment (R)
Exile target Zombie from your graveyard: Underground Lunges deals damage equal to the exiled card's power to target creature. Activate this ability only once per turn. YES! Exactly 26 words! This was so hard.
I feel this merits its own post.
Note to all participants:
I am changing the challenge to "once per turn or turn cycle" instead of "once per turn cycle". Hopefully this makes it a little easier. Prophylaxis's card is fine in this case.
Aspect of Hesitation2WW
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant Creature
Enchanted creature can't be blocked unless the defending player pays 2 for each creature blocking it as long as it's a Human. Otherwise, it can't attack unless it's controller pays 2. "I'm sorry sir, there was just...something about him."
I expect with this [Transform] mechanic that everyone playing a Werewolf tribal deck will say "Autobots, rollout!" whenever the majority of their army transforms.
Despoil the Soul BBB
Instant {U}
Destroy target nonartifact, nonblack creature. If that creature is not destroyed this way; exile it and its controller loses life equal to that creature’s toughness.
Blood DebtB Instant (U)
Destroy target creature with power less than the number of creatures you
control. You gain life equal to that creature's toughness. "The Voldaren clan is never slighted. You will pay what you owe, whether it
be in coin or in crimson."
-Olivia Voldaren
If I could "like" or "upvote" you right now, I would.
Quote from Boing »
Into the Maw of Hell is a name so awesome, it deserves its own song.
It would be about a world of brown spikes and red fire, where men fight and scream and become blurry masses. Then it would change to somber, we learn that this glorious place exists only in Raymond Swanland's head. To visit it, you must enter the maw of Hell itself.
Power of the Avacynian1WW
Enchantment (U)
Human creatures you control get +1/+1.
When you control no Humans, sacrifice ~. If ~ is sacrificed in this way, it deals 3 damage to each Vampire, Werewolf, and Zombie creature on the battlefield. 1W: Target player gains control of ~.
Oh, this should be an interesting CCL. I pick job 2, crafting a spell for Father Ilben of the church.
Job 2: Angelfire1W
Sorcery (U)
If target creature is human, it gets +2/+2, first strike, and vigilance until end of turn. If it is not, Angelfire deals 3 damage to that creature. "Holy fire blesses the devout with burning zeal. Others, it just burns."
-Father Ilben
Name Mana
Sorcery
Effect: If target creature is human, ______ . If it isn't, ______.
Using Sunlance might be fun, but it bends the the color pie a lot. Another problem is that it specifies non-white. But it is great flavor of white's magic smiting the unclean, and this is Innistrad, where evil abounds. Hell with it, this'll be fun. Let's make it work. The angel smiting the evil and monstrous being with a blast of holy fire, whether it be the geist in the church or the vampires, werewolves and zombies outside of town.
Name Mana
Sorcery
Effect: If target creature is human, ______ . If it isn't, Name deals 3 damage to it.
Now for a beneficial effect. White is the color of angels here on Innistrad, and angels always fly. Do we want to give flying? Nah, let's not. Humans != angels, and evasion is troublesome to balance. But we can still imbue our champion with the might and power of angels. First strike is angelic (Baneslayer Angel, Shepard of the Lost), so's vigilance, so's a power boost (Angelic Blessing). Needs to be somewhat similar in power to Sunlance, otherwise it might as well not be a split mode spell.
Name Mana
Sorcery
Effect: If target creature is human, it gets +1/+1, first strike, and vigilance until end of turn. If it isn't, Name deals 3 damage to it.
Mana cost? How about 1W[/aRd]?[mana]W is far too powerful for a less restrictive Sunlance, and a higher cost makes it more palatable. That makes the human buff weaker compared to Mighty Leap, so we can probably up the power/toughness boost too.
Name 1W
Sorcery
Effect: If target creature is human, it gets +2/+2, first strike, and vigilance until end of turn. If it isn't, Name deals 3 damage to it.
Now we need a name, and flavor text. Remember what I said earlier about an angel's blast of holy fire? Let's go from there.
Angelfire1W
Sorcery
If target creature is human, it gets +2/+2, first strike, and vigilance until end of turn. If it is not, Angelfire deals 3 damage to that creature. "Holy fire blesses the devout with burning zeal. Others, it just burns."
-Father Ilben
Hardship's TollB
Instant (C)
Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the life its controller has lost this turn. When famine strikes the human population of Stensia, the sickly and the elderly will often choose to enter the Blessed Sleep on their own in order for their loved ones to have a better chance of living. The struggles for scarce prey amongst Stensia's vampires are far less altruistic.
Round 1
The Offer
Y = Total number of Possible Points (3 * Number of Judges + Additional Points)
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You are a spellcrafter. More specifically, you are Innistrad's premier architect of words and thoughts, a scholar of secrets and lore, and a cunning wizard to boot. Through your pen and parchment, you have created many ingenious spells of all colors. Not just for the sake of it, mind you. Your creations almost always fetch a high price, from everyone including arcane mystics, to the church's monster slayers, to the royal vampire families. More recently, you have been approached by various customers to craft custom spells of their desire. This month, you will take on those tasks, and perhaps alter the course of your and Innistrad's future as well.
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You are working in your study when a noise startles you. Turning around, you see a woman (she is a woman...right?) floating in the air. Her masked eyes look at you.
"Can I help you?" you ask politely. You're always polite to vampires.
"I need a spell," she says simply. "There's an elusive human running around my territory. I want him dead."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are working in your study when you hear a knock on the door. Opening it, you see a church priest, bedecked in his robes.
"Can I help you?" you ask politely. The church around these parts always has its coffers full.
"Yes, you can. One of our cathars is going on a mission into some dangerous territory. I need a spell he can use to protect himself."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are working in your study when you hear a banging on the door. You get up. Opening it, you see... oh, boy.
"What." you grunt.
"I need a spell."
"..."
"That does things of a very particular nature."
"..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your task: Choose ONE of the three jobs below and complete it. Please state clearly which one you chose before you do so.
Job 1 (Offered by Olivia Voldaren): Create a common or uncommon monoblack instant that kills a single target with some sort of restriction.
Clarification: Go for the Throat, Disfigure, or Chill to the Bone would all work. Spread the Sickness would not.
Job 2 (Offered by Father Ilben): Create an uncommon monowhite sorcery or enchantment or that buffs a single target if it is a Human and debuffs it if it is not.
Clarification: Bonds of Faith is a good example.
Job 3 (Offered by Ludevic the Insane): Create a rare monoblue enchantment with the following criteria:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Team Quill
Rocket_Powered_Turbo_Slug
mzc87
SushiOtter
ParaSiempre
Maokun
ced395
Solesticio
Wein_C
Prospero314
yewlas
Team Ink
CrazyMatt
Marr965
NotoriousLynx
Hyral
PsiJet
Koopa
Phyrexian Editor
Smores_Prime
Krey
AeroMage
Team Parchment
Egak
Pocketwatch
MirrorEntity
Lordschuft
Takaline
brasil_dude101
Jimmy Groove
Timothy, Mimeslayer
Prophylaxis
CodGod
Team Good and Evil
xecel
Brofaux
Ninja Caterpie
MagicBrains
Mundus
Rimeshade
Viperion
Burstinatrix
Gerrard's Mom
Oculus
Deadline is 9:00pm Pacific Time, Tuesday, October 4th. Critiques start at that time and last until 9:00pm Pacific Time, Friday, October 7th.
Blood of the Innocent B
Instant (U)
Destroy target Human creature. If Blood of the Innocent was cast from the graveyard, destroy target creature instead.
Flashback 3B (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Round 1 Entry Team Parchment
As the necro-alchemist leaves the room, you examine the very specific instructions that he has left for you. It seems that he has taken well for his zombies you produced for him a few years ago, and wonder what he has been up to.
However, there is no time for reminiscing. As you read the parchment, your mind begins to cringe at what evilness Ludevic has requested -- however, you know that he will leave you alive, since you have been of great asset to him.
Underground Lunges 3U
Enchantment (R)
Exile target Zombie from your graveyard: Underground Lunges deals damage equal to the exiled card's power to target creature. Activate this ability only once per turn.
"I can say, Ludevic, that this is a fine piece of magic to reuse your dismembered zombies into something more powerful."
Shadowfuryix, is there any reason why you made the third choice a lot harder than the other ones? I hate this challenge.
Ludevic's Surge 3U
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a zombie enters the battlefield, you may pay 1U to tap target creature. It does not untap during its controller's upkeep unless they sacrifice a creature.
Pssh. If I told you now, that would remove the fun from it entirely.
Introducing...the Tome of Flavor!
Scrivener's Journal, Vol. I 1
Legendary Artifact {M}
Level up - Light a candle
-------------------------------------------------------------------
[L1-3]
You are working in your study when a noise startles you. Turning around, you see a woman (she is a woman...right?) floating in the air. Her masked eyes look at you.
"Can I help you?" you ask politely. You're always polite to vampires.
"I need a spell," she says simply. "There's an elusive human running around my territory. I want him dead."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
[LVL 4+] T:Expand Scrivener's Journal, Vol. I's flavor text.
I bowed slightly as I spoke.
"Cathars again, m'lady? And they got past the niedergeists?" Courtesy was of great importance when dealing with Lady Voldaren - lose your manners, lose your head, the saying goes. Gresh, my fetch, skittered around her legs, his one bulging eye eying her with intense and almost childish curiosity. Gresh, go away! Go stack that pile of scrolls you knocked over! The homunculus energetically dove into the mess of parchment, knocking over another shelf as he did so. If fetches weren't so hard to get by these days, I'd-
"The rabble hired an exorcist and a vampire hunter. The exorcist was vanquished, but most of the geists went with him." Lady Voldaren's voice was very deep, and resonated with the self-proclaimed nobility of her kind.
"Even the pyregeist? What a shame, a true favou..." My words trailed off as a bladed fingercap traced along my throat, and the vampire touched a drop of blood against her tongue.
"No more geists this time. And certainly no more fire. I won't be humiliated again by some fool with a bucket of water."
I swallowed nervously - as far as unsatisfied customers went, Olivia was amongst the worst. Behind me, there was the crash of wood on stone. Gresh, you blasted fool, you're supposed to clean this place up, not make the mess worse!
"I am deeply sorry, m'lady. Some bravery that man had to get close enough to a pyregeist to extinguish it though." That white mask, those scarlet eyes gave away no hint of emotion. "Luckily, m'lady, those are but butter-knives in a far greater arsenal I have at your disposal." That metaphor made me hesitate - do vampires even know what butter-knives are? It's not like they care for much else other than blood. No time for such thoughts now. "As a matter of fact, just last week I found a way to bind the will of living stone to raise a mighty titan of a warrior. Nothing like ten thousand pounds of rock to crush a stray cathar, m'lady." Waving my hand irritably, Gresh materialized at my side with a scroll, looking up expectantly. To my great surprise, I found he had delivered the right scroll. I rubbed his head (what wasn't covered in eye anyway), and he rubbed back against my hand gratefully before diving into the pile of scrolls with renewed vigor. "You must excuse Gresh, he's only been bonded to me for four days. Stitcher Geralf was gracious enough to replace Nythr after, well..." I didn't have the courage to finish that sentiment, partially because that's how I lost my last fetch.
With no recognition that I had uttered that last sentence, Lady Voldaren took the scroll gingerly and inspected it. "This sounds...inelegant. And conspicuous. My quarry is very slippery, scrivener."
My mind was racing now. Her attention seemed to be waning, which meant my last words would in all likelihood decide if I would survive this encounter. "Yes, yes, of course, quite inelegant, and very noticeable indeed." Not now, Gresh, ignoring a tug at my left sleeve. "Perhaps a suffocating spell? Nigh impossible to stop, and even harder to predict, m'lady."
"Do try to listen when I speak, scrivener. The man I seek is very elusive."
"Ah, yes. I'm awfully sorry, m'lady, but I - " What!? my nerves finally giving, in, I yanked away whatever Gresh was holding up to me. I could sense anticipation from the homunculus as I cast an eye over the scroll. The casterfonts were somehow unfamiliar to me, but I remember scribbling this down some fever night two full moons back. A smile came to my face. How do you feel about going toad-hunting next moonset, fetch? I was met with a soft, yet excited whirring sound. "A question, m'lady - are you concerned with this cathar returning as a geist?"
"Not in the slightest. We always keep geistcatcher rigs around for that purpose. My patience is wearing thin, scrivener, you better get to the point quickly." Her inscrutable gaze was fixed on the remaining blood running down her finger.
"Ah, yes of course. I believe I have something for you then, m'lady. Very elegant, very simple. And if I may say so, very novel."
"I'm listening, scrivener."
"It is, in effect, a gallow, but, of course, magical."
"Go on..."
"This scroll contains the procedures for weaving the night's darkness into a noose, strangling the victim while forcing out his soul. Very quick, and here's the kick, m'lady: As long as you can picture the target, it matters not where he is, so long as he is near a shadow."
Olivia's eyes glinted. "Once again, you have failed to disappoint me, scrivener."
Allowing myself a chuckle, I dipped the heron quill into a vial of ink and traced out the casterfont. "On the house, m'lady, as compense for my last item. In the meantime, feel free to look through my works, m'lady. This could take a while." Gresh perched on a stool beside me, taking in every my every mark on the parchment to check for errors.
Lady Voldaren stood motionlessly as I went to work. Eventually, she broke the silence. "You know, scrivener, your work is highly regarded amongst my peers."
"Thank, you, m'lady. It does not do to disappoint in this line of work."
"So Ithil noted too. He is a noble in Stormkirk - I believe you are acquainted to him?"
"Lord Ithil and I have conducted business together, yes."
"Yes, quite the gossiper, he is. In fact, he told me something about you the other night, scrivener. I take it you would not mind confirming this rumor?"
"Of course not. What did he say?"
"As a matter of fact, it was your ancestry he spoke of." I froze, nearly dripping ink all over the parchment. "He said that your great-grandfather was a famous vampire slayer, a cousin of the famed Saint Traft no less?"
I licked my lips, pausing to weigh out my reply. "Lord Ithil speaks the truth, m'lady. My father's side of the family - one I have never seen eye-to-eye with, I might add."
"Nonetheless, where your blood runs, so does his. Something to ponder, don't you think, scrivener?"
Before I could answer, Lady Voldaren, along with the finished scroll, vanished into the night.
Gresk wrapped himself around my leg, slowly pulling me out of my thoughts. "You know, for a necroalchemic abomination, you're quite soppy." Again, that soft whirr. "I suppose it's nice talking to...someone...who's not just here for business though. Good night, Gresk, and try not to make a mess." My voice faded as a knocked-over vial of ink spilled its contents all over a pile of scrolls I had prepared for Avabruck's new mayor, who came to me one night after being bitten by the old one. Funny that, it almost seems like a tradition there...
"You know what, I'll fix that tomorrow. Right now I need some shuteye."
Midnight Hanging 1B
Instant {U}
Destroy target non-Spirit creature. Its controller puts a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
A shadow tightens. A cathar falls. A geist awakens.
[Clan Flamingo] Tier Archivist
[15:21] <@CC> Remember, if you argue, you are an idiot.
Untrophied Wins:
Perfect MCC Scores: 2
---------------------------------------------------------------
"...So you can see my problem." finished Ludevic, as he casually sat down on my (very expensive!) werewolf-hide armchair. I stared at him for a moment, then smiled.
"I think I have the perfect spell for your situation. You say the local townsfolk have begun graveyard patrols, to keep you and your *cough* assistants out? Then perhaps what you need is for the materials to come to you."
"But it won't take long for them to figure out the source. And when they do, I'm not certain I'll be able to hold them off this time." I smiled again.
"That can be taken care of."
Enchantment (R)
:1mana::symu:, :symtap:: Return target Zombie from your graveyard to your hand, then tap up to X target creatures, where X is the number of creatures in your graveyard.
Even as the last claws it's way to the surface, a dozen more hands burst from the soil.
Note: Just so judges don't waste their time, it's exactly 26 (including X's).
Ludevic-mode is absurdly hard, but I'll give it a try:
Enchantment {R}
Whenever a creature attacks, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.
You may cast a Zombie spell from your graveyard once each turn.
To the stitcher, battles are like fields, and cadavers are the yield.
Task 2
Ward of Avacyn 2W
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant Human Creature
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2.
If a non-Human creature would deal damage to enchanted creature, prevent all damage that creature would deal and destroy it.
You got 99 attackers but I'm blocking with 1.
The Winner is Judge | 7
This Winner is Also Judge | 6
Club Flamingo | Lots
Instant {UC}
Kicker - Pay 5 life.
As an additional cost of playing Vampiric Bite, tap a vampire creature you control.
Destroy target non-vampire creature, then gain life equal to that creature's toughness.
If Vampiric Bite was kicked, put that creature under your control instead. It's a vampire in addition to it's other types.
"We prefer not to kill our stock, but sometimes... the temptation is too great." - Varn, Voldaren Noble
Multicolored millcards in something other than dimir.
Technically, there are a few zombie instants, as there are tribal instants with changeling.
I dunno if I should change it, or just leave it, since changeling cards are a niche case (and not present in Innistrad). I suppose it comes down to shadowfury's verdict.
Does my card meet the "+1 card advantage each turn cycle" criteria?
Job 3- Holy cow! I do love a good challenge though...
Enchantment (R)
Zombie creatures you control have all abilities of creature cards in your graveyard. All other creatures lose those abilities.
B,T: Each player sacrifices a non-Zombie creature.
While enchantments generally don't tap, it seemed to offer the most space-savings while adhering to the "once per turn/turn cycle" requirement. Also, this can technically generate more than one unit (I don't currently know of another term for this, other than "card") of card advantage in a multiplayer game, but hopefully that is passable, given the multitude of restrictions already in place.
Mechanic Creator's Contest III- Winner
[Clan Flamingo]
Job 1
Story:
I was working in my study when a noise startled me. Turning around, I saw a woman floating in the air. Her masked eyes were looking directly at me.
"Can I help you?" I ask politely. I'm always polite to vampires - it keeps me in business, instead of the ground.
"I need a spell," she says simply. "There's an elusive human running around my territory. I want him dead."
In my few encounters with Olivia Voldaren, she has always been abrupt and to the point. I imagine it's a trait you pick up when you have to run House Voldaren, protect the territory of your family and maintain discipline amongst your disciples to ensure a strong and pure bloodline to keep House Voldaren, just that - House Voldaren. Deceit and intrigue amongst the Vampire community were both common as each family is constantly vying for supremacy and control of the shadowy nights of Innistrad and the privileges that come along with said supremacy.
However, this time something in what she was saying had a hint of discord or annoyance in it - something that wasn't usual for the Vampires of Innistrad and especially a person as vaunted and composed as Olivia Voldaren. The tone of her voice, evenly undulating, smooth and seductive was, to all appearances, completely normal and untroubled, and not the reason I picked up on the issue. It was the content of her dialogue that aroused my suspicion. In all my years of spell crafting, never had I been in a situation where a single human has given a Vampire family a problem which saw them asking me for assistance; they always handled it internally. With my interest piqued, a lesson learned early on in my spellcrafting days came to the fore of my mind.
Every time I remember how I learned this lesson, I scratch my metallic contraption of a left hand - a tick that won't seemingly go away. The sense that my hand is still there and itching. Sometimes infuriating, always helpful. Always ask what you need to know, regardless of your client. The repercussions of failure far outweigh the anger of someone who has been asked a sensitive question. If you craft a spell without knowing all the information of the situation, more often than not the spell will fail. This is where I have built my reputation. I always produce exactly what my client needs, usually by asking the questions others will not and making observations others will not. It is always a dangerous line to walk - the line between getting the information you need and asking one question too many. 'It's a line I gladly walk though', I think to myself as I continue to scratch my false appendage.
I had to ask, why would a lone human would see me visited by Olivia Voldaren.
"Forgive me if I seem too forward, miss, but is it not unusual for the esteemed House Voldaren to seek assistance in the... dispatch of a single human?" I asked tentatively.
With a slight narrowing of the eyes, I received a cool response. "Normally, yes. However, time is of the essence. My prey is crafty and has managed to steal a family item that absolutely must be returned to our care. If I were to hunt this wretch myself, the situation would be resolved already - but in a turn of events that are timed most incongruously, I must attend the needs of visiting family members. This spell is to be used by one of the enforcers and must be ready by tonight." She may have been unhappy to divulge such information about her house, but necessity dictates courses of action sometimes.
"Very well," I continue. "are there any particular details about this character I should know? Your esteemed self has had dealings with my craft before and know the importance of providing me with that which I must use to create this spell."
"Yes. He is a werewolf. If we could hunt by day we would destroy him utterly and without issue. Our human serfs cannot be trusted to retrieve this object that he has stolen. So as such my disciples hunt him by night. Unfortunately, he becomes quite cunning when the veil of the sleeping gods draws closed. Personally I'd enjoy hunting him myself," Olivia continued, in a show of rare personal insight "but as mentioned I have not the time to undertake such endeavors."
"Indeed - is there anything else I need to know about this person?" I inquired.
"No." The curt response told me that I had all the information I needed.
Indeed, my talent was enough that I could craft the required spell. Fortunate, because even though I will ask all the questions I need to ask, I sometimes dislike 'poking the bear'. Asking the right questions also has its price, I think as I rub the right side of my ribcage. Business is good, but business is always dangerous...
Edited: Seemed a little disjointed. Still does a bit. And grammar. Ugh.
-----
Whispering Dagger 1B
Instant (C)
Destroy target transformed creature. (A transformed creature has a moon symbol on it. A creature that is a copy of a transformed creature is not transformed.)
Borne by the night, it always finds its mark.
As stated in the rules text, the "transformed" version of the card is the one that you don't cast. I'm pretty sure that's clear, considering it says that the card has to have the moon symbol on it.
-----------------
My card would not, therefore, affect a creature that is a copy of a previously transformed creature, since it has no transform ability (unless, you know, they make a transform card that integrates copying other creatures - only when it has used its own transform ability would it become a viable target).
This is for me more than it is for anyone else. I sucks at colors.
Nauseating Revelation :2mana::symu:
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, discard a creature card. If you do, creatures your opponent's control get -2/-0 until end of turn.
"Well, if you didn't want to know, why did you bother storming my laboratory?" —Ludevic, necro-alchemist
9:00pm PST on Tuesday, October 4. Crits are right after. Updated OP.
I never said anything about any of that. If you don't want to do the challenge, you don't have to.
That's acceptable. Zombie tribal type is insignificant enough to not matter.
This does not work. It needs to generate +1 CA, not -1.
I feel this merits its own post.
Note to all participants:
I am changing the challenge to "once per turn or turn cycle" instead of "once per turn cycle". Hopefully this makes it a little easier. Prophylaxis's card is fine in this case.
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant Creature
Enchanted creature can't be blocked unless the defending player pays 2 for each creature blocking it as long as it's a Human. Otherwise, it can't attack unless it's controller pays 2.
"I'm sorry sir, there was just...something about him."
Amazing banners made by Brofaux.
Despoil the Soul BBB
Instant {U}
Destroy target nonartifact, nonblack creature. If that creature is not destroyed this way; exile it and its controller loses life equal to that creature’s toughness.
Submission for job 1:
Blood Debt B
Instant (U)
Destroy target creature with power less than the number of creatures you
control. You gain life equal to that creature's toughness.
"The Voldaren clan is never slighted. You will pay what you owe, whether it
be in coin or in crimson."
-Olivia Voldaren
Too interesting to not at least try. I just wondered, because you did say "something something something spoil the fun". Of Ludevic's route.
You got 99 attackers but I'm blocking with 1.
The Winner is Judge | 7
This Winner is Also Judge | 6
Club Flamingo | Lots
Power of the Avacynian 1WW
Enchantment (U)
Human creatures you control get +1/+1.
When you control no Humans, sacrifice ~. If ~ is sacrificed in this way, it deals 3 damage to each Vampire, Werewolf, and Zombie creature on the battlefield.
1W: Target player gains control of ~.
Pauper EDH:
UBPsychatogBU
UInvisible StalkerU
Not playing anything else. Money is tight.
Fardrink B
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
Oh, this should be an interesting CCL. I pick job 2, crafting a spell for Father Ilben of the church.
Job 2:
Angelfire 1W
Sorcery (U)
If target creature is human, it gets +2/+2, first strike, and vigilance until end of turn. If it is not, Angelfire deals 3 damage to that creature.
"Holy fire blesses the devout with burning zeal. Others, it just burns."
-Father Ilben
Ways white can buff its creatures include:
+x/+y (y usually greater than or equal to x, but not always. Indomitable Will)
Untap it (not useful on a sorcery, really. Call to Glory, etc.)
First strike ([/card]Hundred-Talon Strike[/card], Seize the Initiative, etc.)
Doublestrike (Doublecleave, True Conviction.)
Lifelink (Moment of Heroism, Lifelink, etc.)
Vigilance (Vigilance, Mammoth Umbra, etc.)
Flying (Asha's Blessing, Armored Ascension,)
damage prevention/redirection (Harm's Way, Healing Salve)
Ways white can punish creatures:
unable to attack or block (Pacifism, etc.)
destroy (Day of Judgement)
damage (Sunlance. Well, in Planar Chaos, anyway)
exile (Path to Exile.
tapping (Master Decoy, Blinding Beam.
unable to untap (Shackles, Blinding Beam)
Let's pick sorcery. Why? Why not, actually?
Name Mana
Sorcery
Effect: If target creature is human, ______ . If it isn't, ______.
Using Sunlance might be fun, but it bends the the color pie a lot. Another problem is that it specifies non-white. But it is great flavor of white's magic smiting the unclean, and this is Innistrad, where evil abounds. Hell with it, this'll be fun. Let's make it work. The angel smiting the evil and monstrous being with a blast of holy fire, whether it be the geist in the church or the vampires, werewolves and zombies outside of town.
Name Mana
Sorcery
Effect: If target creature is human, ______ . If it isn't, Name deals 3 damage to it.
Now for a beneficial effect. White is the color of angels here on Innistrad, and angels always fly. Do we want to give flying? Nah, let's not. Humans != angels, and evasion is troublesome to balance. But we can still imbue our champion with the might and power of angels. First strike is angelic (Baneslayer Angel, Shepard of the Lost), so's vigilance, so's a power boost (Angelic Blessing). Needs to be somewhat similar in power to Sunlance, otherwise it might as well not be a split mode spell.
Name Mana
Sorcery
Effect: If target creature is human, it gets +1/+1, first strike, and vigilance until end of turn. If it isn't, Name deals 3 damage to it.
Mana cost? How about 1W[/aRd]?[mana]W is far too powerful for a less restrictive Sunlance, and a higher cost makes it more palatable. That makes the human buff weaker compared to Mighty Leap, so we can probably up the power/toughness boost too.
Name 1W
Sorcery
Effect: If target creature is human, it gets +2/+2, first strike, and vigilance until end of turn. If it isn't, Name deals 3 damage to it.
Now we need a name, and flavor text. Remember what I said earlier about an angel's blast of holy fire? Let's go from there.
Angelfire 1W
Sorcery
If target creature is human, it gets +2/+2, first strike, and vigilance until end of turn. If it is not, Angelfire deals 3 damage to that creature.
"Holy fire blesses the devout with burning zeal. Others, it just burns."
-Father Ilben
Job 1?
Hardship's Toll B
Instant (C)
Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the life its controller has lost this turn.
When famine strikes the human population of Stensia, the sickly and the elderly will often choose to enter the Blessed Sleep on their own in order for their loved ones to have a better chance of living. The struggles for scarce prey amongst Stensia's vampires are far less altruistic.