Dovin of the Perfect Order 4UUWW
Legendary Planeswalker - Dovin
+4: Choose the player with the most cards in hand. Each other player draw cards equal to the difference. Then each player’s life total becomes the highest life total among all players.
-4: Until your next turn, your opponents skips their untap step.
-8: You get an emblem with "All creatures lose all abilities and have base power and toughness 1/1."
-16: You get an emblem with "You choose all targets for all spells and abilities."
Starting Loyalty: 8
So, this PW got a very melvinian design. There's an aesthetic behind the numbers of this card. 8 cmc, 8 starting loyalty, a -8 ability, the ultimate that is double 8 and a plus that is half 8. Not only this represente his seek of a perfect order, but the 8 himself is a very particular number due to his nature to be the only one perfectly symmetrical, and so a symbol of order and perfection. That's why also the first ability reflect his desire of the perfect order, giving each player the same amount of resources equal to each other, gaining life and drawing cards, like it's typical of Dovin and the azorious combination of colors in general.
But, of course, not everything can be perfectly symmetrical or it would be a crappy PW, so let's make it worth casting it since we're already spending 8 mana pretty much color intensive. We know Dovin is able to find the flaw of every system, and mechanically that means giving him Stax-like abilities, so here you go: a one-side Stasis for one turn (or two) and a splashy, interesting ultimate that is directly homaging the Gleemax from unglued. I'm pretty sure that even if is a silver-border card his effect is perfectly doable in black-border and I can't imagine a best way to represent Dovin ultimate mastery about controlling the rules and mechanisms of every system possible.
I tought at the beginning to reverse the last 2 effects (Gleemax effect until my turn and one side Stasis as emblem), but I think Dovin would be much more fun and enjoyable to play with and against this way. Not possible to elect him as your commander, but obviously designed with commander and multiplayer in mind.
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EDIT: Ok, I modify the card. Now is with 4 abilities with a -4, because this way everything is a multiple or divisible for 8 in some way. The -4 is the classic Tragic Arrogance which seems fitting with the idea of symmetrical order and help to protect Dovin from threats.
EDIT: Actually, I think a Balanceinstead of Tragic Arrogance effect is even better in order to protect Dovin and give a "symmetrical order" idea.
***Bonus. Just realized now:
First ability : W and U
Second ability :Either W or U (ex: Stasis / Yosei, the Morning Star )
Third Ability : mono W
Last ability : mono U (blue is the color of redirecting and choosing new targets of spells and abilities)
Now looks really like a truly perfect Melvin card.
EDIT3: Ok, This card is too wordy. Let's make it more elegant. Planar Cleansing instead of Balance, and swithing the middle abilities.
Whatever, Humility is Dovin power, not mass destruction. And since somebody is observing all the other abilities are just weak, an emblem effect should make it worth to play it. Now the order is truly perfect.
Dovin of the Flawless System 8UW
+2: Each player draw two cards and gain 2 lifes. -4: For each player, you choose from among the permanents that player controls an artifact, a creature, an enchantment, and a planeswalker. Then each player sacrifices all other nonland permanents they control.
-6: Each player chooses a number of creatures they control equal to the number of lands controlled by the player who controls the fewest, then sacrifices the rest. Players discard cards and sacrifice the other permanents types at the same way.
Starting Loyalty: 8
EDIT:
Dovin of the Flawless System 6UW
Legendary Planeswalker - Dovin
+2: Each player draw two cards and gain 2 lifes.
-4: Tap all creatures your opponents control. They don't untap in their next untap step.
-6: Creatures your opponents control can't attack or block and their abilities can't be activated until Dovin of the Flawless System leaves the battlefield.
Starting Loyalty: 8
I will recycle here the Balance and Tragic Arrogance abilities. Still with a melvinian feel with all numbers raising up by 2. Sleep and one side global Arrest is much more Dovin fitting. Also I made again the pattern of a mono W ability, mono U ability, and one that requires both U and W.
Just not sure if the last ability is worded right for a static and continous effect that works also for the future creatures entering the battlefield, like Peacekeeper effect.
The problem here is that neither planeswalker would make it into a draft deck, let alone standard. 4UUWW requires a control deck, but the +4 is REALLY BAD in a control deck, because you already draw more cards than your opponents. So 8 mana target opponent draws 3-4 cards is not good. Then, you get a -4 that is usually not relevant; are you seriously able to cast an 8 mana spell but not able to kill your opponent's creatures? The -8 is fine, but to keep dovin alive you give your opponent a reload, so it doesn't really do anything better than a normal wrath. Finally, the ult is completely irrelevant. Make it "You win the game" or something. This card is a cool concept, but needs a huge buff. 6+ cmc walkers are not especially good. They see some play, but not much, and this is no Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker.
The problem here is that neither planeswalker would make it into a draft deck, let alone standard.
If Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker made it to be printed on a Standard set meant to be drafted, despite having a mana cost even more harsh and color intensive (requires 3 colors), I don't see how this Dovin shouldn't be playable in the right environment with the right mana fixing or slow limited environment to support it.
And the Planeswalker deck version of course wouldn't make in a draft deck and let alone Standard, because you can find those PW's only in precon decks and are not meant for competitive standard but only casual play. I don't understand this critic.
Ah, not to mention that in constructed (for example EDH) some decks would just love to play and even cheat Dovin mana cost (Narset for example)
but the +4 is REALLY BAD in a control deck
Why all azorious PW's must just fit in a classic control shell? How boring. The first ability is "group-hug" friendly a lot of players like that strategy in EDH and if you are smart enough in the right deck and the right moment you can make the first ability one side advantage (for example with emptying quickly your hand, perhaps because you play lot of mana rocks, which helps also to cast him earlier, and to pay lifes to gain certain effect or to be in advantage against aggro decks.)
So 8 mana target opponent draws 3-4 cards is not good.
Remember is +4 not a +1 and let alone a minus ability, I can't make it too broken. Once again, the +4 is a "play around" ability, if you are smart you know how to gain advantage of it (obviously not in a classic "draw-go" deck), if not, group hug players would still appreciate it.
Then, you get a -4 that is usually not relevant
Once again, you have to be smart to play this Dovin, is not an obvious brainless card that makes you automatically win and go in advantage no matter what you do in any moment of game. If you cast Dovin and make is -4 in a moment where an opponent or opponents tapped their mana and creatures out, the ability effectively reads "gain an extra turn after this", and give you precious time to find a more definitive answer meanwhile. Since you can do his -4 2 times in a row, Dovin can effectively be used as a Time Stretch which is a very powerful advantage, especially in EDH.
The -8 is fine, but to keep dovin alive you give your opponent a reload, so it doesn't really do anything better than a normal wrath.
You forget that this card is versatile. paying 4WWUU to do Planar Cleansing is not good, but is not terrible either. But more importantly, Planar CLeansing does only one thing, while this is, for the nature of being a PW's, is a strictly better modal spell that could potentially remains on the battlefield a lot of turns and serve multiple purposes, which is why having also a Planar Cleansing ability immediately available in the moment of need make it so good.
It's the same as saying that Garruk, Primal Hunter is a bad Soul's Majesty because it draw cards at the same way with 2GGG instead of just 4G. Yeah sure, but what makes Garruk so good is the fact that because is a PW can do other things and virtually repeat the effect multiple times, that's why you can't say is a strictly worse Soul's Majesty
Exactly same thing apply to Dovin.
Anyway, is really funny that you are saying that his -8 is fine. You know why? Because I just realize that destruction ability do not belong to Dovin as a mechanical and flavour identity. Dovin is able to nerf and stifle creatures abilities, not to directly destroy them. So instead of Planar Cleansing would fit much better the character to give him a Humility effect (Not sure if until Dovin leaves the battlefield or as an emblem effect, maybe as emblem would be too strong and oppressive).
I should change the PW's version also accordingly.
Finally, the ult is completely irrelevant. Make it "You win the game" or something.
I don't understand, please explain. Why is irrelevant? To me it sounds very powerful and very fun to use also.
They see some play, but not much, and this is no Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker.
Well sir, just like not every 4 cmc PW can be Jace, the Mind Sculptor, not every 8 cmc PW can be Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker, which is the apex of the strongest PW ever made at that mana cost..not the average, standard one. I think this in EDH can be actually very fun and interesting to play. Not super-powerful? Yeah probably but not oppresively broken either.
Ok, cards are changed again. Dovin Pw deck version is laughably weak, but that's what it should supposed to be. Ok, maybe at this time it can cost only 8 mana.
Legendary Planeswalker - Dovin
+4: Choose the player with the most cards in hand. Each other player draw cards equal to the difference. Then each player’s life total becomes the highest life total among all players.
-4: Until your next turn, your opponents skips their untap step.
-8: You get an emblem with "All creatures lose all abilities and have base power and toughness 1/1."
-16: You get an emblem with "You choose all targets for all spells and abilities."
Starting Loyalty: 8
So, this PW got a very melvinian design. There's an aesthetic behind the numbers of this card. 8 cmc, 8 starting loyalty, a -8 ability, the ultimate that is double 8 and a plus that is half 8. Not only this represente his seek of a perfect order, but the 8 himself is a very particular number due to his nature to be the only one perfectly symmetrical, and so a symbol of order and perfection. That's why also the first ability reflect his desire of the perfect order, giving each player the same amount of resources equal to each other, gaining life and drawing cards, like it's typical of Dovin and the azorious combination of colors in general.
But, of course, not everything can be perfectly symmetrical or it would be a crappy PW, so let's make it worth casting it since we're already spending 8 mana pretty much color intensive. We know Dovin is able to find the flaw of every system, and mechanically that means giving him Stax-like abilities, so here you go: a one-side Stasis for one turn (or two) and a splashy, interesting ultimate that is directly homaging the Gleemax from unglued. I'm pretty sure that even if is a silver-border card his effect is perfectly doable in black-border and I can't imagine a best way to represent Dovin ultimate mastery about controlling the rules and mechanisms of every system possible.
I tought at the beginning to reverse the last 2 effects (Gleemax effect until my turn and one side Stasis as emblem), but I think Dovin would be much more fun and enjoyable to play with and against this way. Not possible to elect him as your commander, but obviously designed with commander and multiplayer in mind.
___________
EDIT: Ok, I modify the card. Now is with 4 abilities with a -4, because this way everything is a multiple or divisible for 8 in some way.
The -4 is the classic Tragic Arrogance which seems fitting with the idea of symmetrical order and help to protect Dovin from threats.EDIT: Actually, I think a Balanceinstead of Tragic Arrogance effect is even better in order to protect Dovin and give a "symmetrical order" idea.
***Bonus. Just realized now:
First ability : W and U
Second ability :Either W or U (ex: Stasis / Yosei, the Morning Star )
Third Ability : mono W
Last ability : mono U (blue is the color of redirecting and choosing new targets of spells and abilities)
Now looks really like a truly perfect Melvin card.
EDIT3: Ok, This card is too wordy.
Let's make it more elegant. Planar Cleansing instead of Balance, and swithing the middle abilities.Whatever, Humility is Dovin power, not mass destruction. And since somebody is observing all the other abilities are just weak, an emblem effect should make it worth to play it. Now the order is truly perfect.
Dovin of the Flawless System 8UW
+2: Each player draw two cards and gain 2 lifes.
-4: For each player, you choose from among the permanents that player controls an artifact, a creature, an enchantment, and a planeswalker. Then each player sacrifices all other nonland permanents they control.-6: Each player chooses a number of creatures they control equal to the number of lands controlled by the player who controls the fewest, then sacrifices the rest. Players discard cards and sacrifice the other permanents types at the same way.
Starting Loyalty: 8
EDIT:
Dovin of the Flawless System 6UW
Legendary Planeswalker - Dovin
+2: Each player draw two cards and gain 2 lifes.
-4: Tap all creatures your opponents control. They don't untap in their next untap step.
-6: Creatures your opponents control can't attack or block and their abilities can't be activated until Dovin of the Flawless System leaves the battlefield.
Starting Loyalty: 8
I will recycle here the Balance and Tragic Arrogance abilities. Still with a melvinian feel with all numbers raising up by 2.Sleep and one side global Arrest is much more Dovin fitting. Also I made again the pattern of a mono W ability, mono U ability, and one that requires both U and W.
Just not sure if the last ability is worded right for a static and continous effect that works also for the future creatures entering the battlefield, like Peacekeeper effect.
Deal with it.
If Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker made it to be printed on a Standard set meant to be drafted, despite having a mana cost even more harsh and color intensive (requires 3 colors), I don't see how this Dovin shouldn't be playable in the right environment with the right mana fixing or slow limited environment to support it.
And the Planeswalker deck version of course wouldn't make in a draft deck and let alone Standard, because you can find those PW's only in precon decks and are not meant for competitive standard but only casual play. I don't understand this critic.
Ah, not to mention that in constructed (for example EDH) some decks would just love to play and even cheat Dovin mana cost (Narset for example)
Why all azorious PW's must just fit in a classic control shell? How boring. The first ability is "group-hug" friendly a lot of players like that strategy in EDH and if you are smart enough in the right deck and the right moment you can make the first ability one side advantage (for example with emptying quickly your hand, perhaps because you play lot of mana rocks, which helps also to cast him earlier, and to pay lifes to gain certain effect or to be in advantage against aggro decks.)
Remember is +4 not a +1 and let alone a minus ability, I can't make it too broken. Once again, the +4 is a "play around" ability, if you are smart you know how to gain advantage of it (obviously not in a classic "draw-go" deck), if not, group hug players would still appreciate it.
Once again, you have to be smart to play this Dovin, is not an obvious brainless card that makes you automatically win and go in advantage no matter what you do in any moment of game. If you cast Dovin and make is -4 in a moment where an opponent or opponents tapped their mana and creatures out, the ability effectively reads "gain an extra turn after this", and give you precious time to find a more definitive answer meanwhile. Since you can do his -4 2 times in a row, Dovin can effectively be used as a Time Stretch which is a very powerful advantage, especially in EDH.
You forget that this card is versatile. paying 4WWUU to do Planar Cleansing is not good, but is not terrible either. But more importantly, Planar CLeansing does only one thing, while this is, for the nature of being a PW's, is a strictly better modal spell that could potentially remains on the battlefield a lot of turns and serve multiple purposes, which is why having also a Planar Cleansing ability immediately available in the moment of need make it so good.
It's the same as saying that Garruk, Primal Hunter is a bad Soul's Majesty because it draw cards at the same way with 2GGG instead of just 4G. Yeah sure, but what makes Garruk so good is the fact that because is a PW can do other things and virtually repeat the effect multiple times, that's why you can't say is a strictly worse Soul's Majesty
Exactly same thing apply to Dovin.
Anyway, is really funny that you are saying that his -8 is fine. You know why? Because I just realize that destruction ability do not belong to Dovin as a mechanical and flavour identity. Dovin is able to nerf and stifle creatures abilities, not to directly destroy them. So instead of Planar Cleansing would fit much better the character to give him a Humility effect (Not sure if until Dovin leaves the battlefield or as an emblem effect, maybe as emblem would be too strong and oppressive).
I should change the PW's version also accordingly.
I don't understand, please explain. Why is irrelevant? To me it sounds very powerful and very fun to use also.
Well sir, just like not every 4 cmc PW can be Jace, the Mind Sculptor, not every 8 cmc PW can be Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker, which is the apex of the strongest PW ever made at that mana cost..not the average, standard one. I think this in EDH can be actually very fun and interesting to play. Not super-powerful? Yeah probably but not oppresively broken either.
Ok, cards are changed again. Dovin Pw deck version is laughably weak, but that's what it should supposed to be. Ok, maybe at this time it can cost only 8 mana.