Laboratory 38
Legendary Land (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a mutation counter on each creature that already has a mutation counter on it. Creatures with an odd number of mutation counters on them get +1/+1 for each mutation counter on them. Creatures with an even number of mutation counters on them get -1/-1 for each mutation counter on them.
T: Put a mutation counter on target creature. Add U to your mana pool.
Laboratory 38 is a Legendary Land from an expansion I'm working on. Obviously, it's ridiculously wordy right now. Any ideas of how to make it less so would be great, as would any comments on the overall idea.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I haven't really played since Onslaught block, so if I'm unaware of developments since then, I apologize in advance.
The current set I'm working on creating FallingStar.
Couldn't you make it work with regular +1/+1 / -1/-1 counters? The idea of regularly switching creatures between powerful and weak states is surely intriguing, but the implementation seems awkward.
In general, it is considered taboo to use both +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters in the same set. They way it is implemented right now is the only way it can be done without changing its' flavor.
Any chance you could give us flavour/background information. Right Now it's really unclear what this land is trying accomplish.
More specifically are mutation counters elsewhere in the set. Could it somehow be established that they cause the +1/+1 to -1/-1 swing elsewhere.
Also a small technical point but lands should really always tap for mana (without recurring a creature in play) or fetch a land.
I definitely don't have this mechanic elsewhere in the set. If I use mutation counters on other cards, they will have effects like "When ~ enters the battlefield, put a mutation counter on target creature. Creatures with mutation counters on them have flying."
And I want the land to tap for U. I also want it to have have the effect of putting a mutation counter on a creature when you use it. I could change the wording to "T, add U to your mana pool: put a mutation counter on target creature", but that also seems awkward.
Like I said before, this card is giving me problems.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I haven't really played since Onslaught block, so if I'm unaware of developments since then, I apologize in advance.
The current set I'm working on creating FallingStar.
Not only that, but creatures with mutation counters are always essentially going to die, since state based actions would be checked after the resolution of either ability, so there's not even really that much you can do with this...
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"In the beginning, MTG Salvation switched to a new forum format.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
It was at that moment that I realized: I'm kinda just making these things up. We can just write the rules the way we want them to work. People will have fun, and people will get it.
I would keep it to power-boosting effects. Still not sure if that's too much for a land to do, but it's a step in the right direction. Actually, why don't you go ahead and just make it a cheap enchantment?
I like the idea overall but I have to agree, it seems like a lot for a land to do. It feels more like an enchantment with an activation cost to put counters on things, and then adding more during the upkeep with the trigger seems fine. I don't know the flavor of your set, but I also feel like the bonuses make it feel more WB or BG. I guess based on a simic idea and green giving power bonuses and blue giving decreases, it's fine. It just doesn't feel mono U is all.
The activation to put a counter on seems too cheap, just tapping the land AND getting mana for it. It could be bad when you have the only creature in play and you need the mana, but outside of that, it should cost mana to activate. I'm not sure something so wordy needs a mana ability.
Yeah, I pretty much agree with everyone's analysis. I messed this one up. I liked the idea of the card, and the flavor fit what I wanted in the set, but it was just doing too much. Back to the drawing board!
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I haven't really played since Onslaught block, so if I'm unaware of developments since then, I apologize in advance.
The current set I'm working on creating FallingStar.
I think it can work, but with a cole changes. I don't think you should add a counter at your Upkeep. Instead, the land should have its same abilities with the counters, but tap for mana OR to put a counter down. So it would look more like:
Laboratory 38
Legendary Land
T: Add U your mana pool
T: Put a Mutation Counter on target creature
Creatures with an odd number of mutation counters on them get +1/+1 for each mutation counter on them. Creatures with an even number of mutation counters on them get -1/-1 for each mutation counter on them.
That seems a bit more balanced, especially if it were to enter tapped as well.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I make art!
Sorry for any grammar/spelling errors, I mostly post from my tablet/smartphone.
Currently playing: Standard: UBRControl
Commander:
White Makes Right (Mikaeus, The Lunarch)
Izzet Fun Yet? (Jhoira of the Ghitu)
The Perfect Storm (Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge)
Dead Grave Walking (Skullbriar, the Walking Grave)
How Could You Be So Heartless? (Heartless Hidetsugu)
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Legendary Land (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a mutation counter on each creature that already has a mutation counter on it. Creatures with an odd number of mutation counters on them get +1/+1 for each mutation counter on them. Creatures with an even number of mutation counters on them get -1/-1 for each mutation counter on them.
T: Put a mutation counter on target creature. Add U to your mana pool.
Laboratory 38 is a Legendary Land from an expansion I'm working on. Obviously, it's ridiculously wordy right now. Any ideas of how to make it less so would be great, as would any comments on the overall idea.
The current set I'm working on creating FallingStar.
More specifically are mutation counters elsewhere in the set. Could it somehow be established that they cause the +1/+1 to -1/-1 swing elsewhere.
Also a small technical point but lands should really always tap for mana (without recurring a creature in play) or fetch a land.
In general, it is considered taboo to use both +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters in the same set. They way it is implemented right now is the only way it can be done without changing its' flavor.
I definitely don't have this mechanic elsewhere in the set. If I use mutation counters on other cards, they will have effects like "When ~ enters the battlefield, put a mutation counter on target creature. Creatures with mutation counters on them have flying."
And I want the land to tap for U. I also want it to have have the effect of putting a mutation counter on a creature when you use it. I could change the wording to "T, add U to your mana pool: put a mutation counter on target creature", but that also seems awkward.
Like I said before, this card is giving me problems.
The current set I'm working on creating FallingStar.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
Comic Book Set
Archester: Frontier of Steam (A steampunk set!)
A Good Place to Start Designing
I am a student game developer; Check out my stuff
The activation to put a counter on seems too cheap, just tapping the land AND getting mana for it. It could be bad when you have the only creature in play and you need the mana, but outside of that, it should cost mana to activate. I'm not sure something so wordy needs a mana ability.
The current set I'm working on creating FallingStar.
Laboratory 38
Legendary Land
T: Add U your mana pool
T: Put a Mutation Counter on target creature
Creatures with an odd number of mutation counters on them get +1/+1 for each mutation counter on them. Creatures with an even number of mutation counters on them get -1/-1 for each mutation counter on them.
That seems a bit more balanced, especially if it were to enter tapped as well.
Sorry for any grammar/spelling errors, I mostly post from my tablet/smartphone.
Currently playing:
Standard:
UBRControl
Commander:
White Makes Right (Mikaeus, The Lunarch)
Izzet Fun Yet? (Jhoira of the Ghitu)
The Perfect Storm (Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge)
Dead Grave Walking (Skullbriar, the Walking Grave)
How Could You Be So Heartless? (Heartless Hidetsugu)