I will be posting a (hopefully) regular stream of cards every couple days on the main Card Creation forum for critiquing, then having the somewhat final forms added here until we get a rough draft. Playtesting will need to happen, but that's a problem for a later day.
Design Standards/Goals:
1. This is a 360 card cube. 50 cards in each color, 60 Guild, and 50 Colorless.
2: The majority of card's need to be easily grokkable. Player's are playing with hundreds of cards they've never seen before. Making each design easy to understand will make the whole process alot smoother.
3. Creature card power levels should be around the current design standards, and noncreature card power levels should be around Urza's block design standards. Planeswalker's will be measured on a case by case basis.
4. There will be reprints in this cube (roughly 10%). I will be choosing the most simplistic cube effects (Think Lightning Bolt and Original Dual lands) and extremely interesting engine cards (Think Reveillark) and using them to take a bit of work load off of this project, and give the players of a bit of familiarity.
Seasonal Harvest2G
Sorcery {U}
Search your library for a basic land card and put that card on the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
Rebound
[Blue, NC_CMC3]
Decipher2U
Sorcery {U}
Look at the top three cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest into your graveyard.
Rebound
[Green, NC_CMC1]
Primal InfusionG
Enchantment {R}
Whenever a creature you control dies, you may sacrifice Primal Infusion. If you do, add an amount of G to your mana pool equal to that creature's power.
[Green, C_CMC1]
Lotus WardenG
Creature - Beast {MR}
1/1 1: Put a +1/+1 counter on Lotus Warden. Activate this ability only once each turn and only any time you could cast a sorcery.
Remove three +1/+1 counters from Lotus Warden: Add three mana of any one color to your mana pool.
[Black, C_CMC3]
Braingorger1BB
Creature - Zombie {U}
3/2
When Braingorger enters the battlefield, you draw two cards and you lose 2 life.
Primal InfusionGG
Sorcery {MR}
As an additional cost to cast Primal Infusion, discard a creature card.
Add mana to your mana pool equal to the mana cost of the discarded card.
Lotus WardenG
Creature - Beast {MR}
1/1
At the beginning of your upkeep, tap an untapped land you control and put a +1/+1 counter on Lotus Warden. Then, if there are 3 or more +1/+1 counters on Lotus Warden, sacrifice it. At the beginning of your next main phase, add three mana of any one color to your mana pool.
Lotus WardenG
Creature - Beast {MR}
1/1
At the beginning of your upkeep, tap an untapped land you control and put a +1/+1 counter on Lotus Warden. Then, if there are 3 or more +1/+1 counters on Lotus Warden, sacrifice it and add three mana of any one color to your mana pool.
I don't like Lotus Warden with a trigger during your upkeep. When it's then, it pretty much forces you to play one mana down. Then when it finally explodes it gives you 3 mana during your upkeep so it can only be used for instants and things with flash, and your own upkeep is pretty much the worst time to play those. Maybe make the trigger happen in your precombat main phase and make it optional?
I don't like Lotus Warden with a trigger during your upkeep. When it's then, it pretty much forces you to play one mana down. Then when it finally explodes it gives you 3 mana during your upkeep so it can only be used for instants and things with flash, and your own upkeep is pretty much the worst time to play those. Maybe make the trigger happen in your precombat main phase and make it optional?
Agreed. Perhaps it could be "Remove three +1/+1 counters from ~: add 3 mana of any color to your mana pool"? That would make play decisions around it very interesting - do I let him keep growing into a beater or spend the mana for this big spell? It would also fix the obvious problem of three mana only usable during the upkeep.
Braingorger is a bit too strong, as determined by the precedent of Sign in Blood. An extra 1 for a 3/2 is pretty darn powerful. I like the idea; maybe make it a 1/2 or 1/3 instead.
Seasonal Harvest and Decipher are excellent designs. Powerful enough to push in a cube but won't completely break the game. Nice!
Primal Infusion really seems like it's out of the color pie. Fast temporary mana is a red thing. That said, extracting it from a creature card does feel very green. Perhaps it could be a Gruul card instead? Either way, I like the design (at least, until someone uses it on the second turn to cast Ulamog off a discarded Emrakul or similar...). It might be safer to give it a restriction that mana produced in this manner can only be used to cast creature cards.
I don't like Lotus Warden with a trigger during your upkeep. When it's then, it pretty much forces you to play one mana down. Then when it finally explodes it gives you 3 mana during your upkeep so it can only be used for instants and things with flash, and your own upkeep is pretty much the worst time to play those. Maybe make the trigger happen in your precombat main phase and make it optional?
I agree on all points. I actually intended for the mana to be used during the main phase, just an oversight on my part
Agreed. Perhaps it could be "Remove three +1/+1 counters from ~: add 3 mana of any color to your mana pool"? That would make play decisions around it very interesting - do I let him keep growing into a beater or spend the mana for this big spell? It would also fix the obvious problem of three mana only usable during the upkeep.
Braingorger is a bit too strong, as determined by the precedent of Sign in Blood. An extra 1 for a 3/2 is pretty darn powerful. I like the idea; maybe make it a 1/2 or 1/3 instead.
Seasonal Harvest and Decipher are excellent designs. Powerful enough to push in a cube but won't completely break the game. Nice!
Primal Infusion really seems like it's out of the color pie. Fast temporary mana is a red thing. That said, extracting it from a creature card does feel very green. Perhaps it could be a Gruul card instead? Either way, I like the design (at least, until someone uses it on the second turn to cast Ulamog off a discarded Emrakul or similar...). It might be safer to give it a restriction that mana produced in this manner can only be used to cast creature cards.
Thanks for the feedback
Lotus Warden: As I noted above, the lack of utility was unintentional. I updated the creature using some of your suggestions.
Braingorger: Ehh, it does seem strong, but I think the body is fine as it is. If it does play out stronger than I imagine it will, I can always bump it down to a 2/2.
Rebound Spells: Thanks! I actually got the land rebounder from a cube forum goer (don't remember who), but it sparked the idea for the second one
Primal Infusion: Hmm. Points are valid, but I don't have room in Gruul to fit it. I changed the card around a bit to be less oppressive and more in green's pie.
Primal Infusion seems right in green (check Food Chain).
I'm not sure about the powerlevel right now.
Needs an update in wording, though:
Primal Infusion
Enchantment {R}
Whenever a creature you control dies, you may sacrifice Primal Infusion. If you do, add an amount of to your mana pool equal to that creature's power.
Braingorger does seem a little strong indeed.
I'd say either cost it at 2BB, or make it only draw 1 card for 1 life, or make it 2/1 or 1/2.
Needs an update on wording as well:
Braingorger :1mana::symb::symb:
Creature - Zombie {U}
3/2
When Braingorger enters the battlefield, you draw two cards and you lose 2 life.
2. Lightning Bolt
3. Llanowar Elves
1/10/2013 - Immortal Elder (White, C_CMC4), Fearless Knight (White, C_CMC2), Unparalleled Foresight (Blue, NC_CMC3)
1/11/2013 - Demonic Mentor (Guild, UB_Control), Reckless Pride (Green, C_CMC1), Scrapyard Thug (Black, C_CMC1)
1/12/2013 - Seismic Seizure (Red, NC_CMC4), An'Zho Priest (White, C_CMC2), Soul Purge (White, NC_CMC1)
1/13/2013 - Rhox Purifier (White, C_CMC4), Kal, Fallen Prophet (Guild, BW_Control), Decaying Historian (Guild, BG_Midrange)
1/15/2013 - Blazing Figurant (Red, C_CMC2), Blinded Mentor (Red, C_CMC2), Vindictive Knight (Guild, BW_Removal)
1/16/2013 - Violent Decree (Black, C_CMC5), Beckoning Call (White, NC_CMC3), Eternal Shepherd (White, C_CMC3)
1/17/2013 - Trojan Shackler (Red, C_CMC4), Startling Ambush (Red, NC_CMC3), Goblin Quickblade (Red, C_CMC1)
1/22/2013 - Fusion Cellar (Colorless, Utility), Pandora's Reckoning (Colorless, Utility), Magnetic Hilt (Colorless, Equipment)
1/23/2013 - Inevia, Dryad's Progenitor (Green, NC_CMC1), Oracle's Premonition (Blue, NC_CMC2), Omnath's Sanctuary (Green, NC_Land)
1/25/2013 - Gareth, High Judge (White, NC_CMC5), Predator Chameleon (Green, C_CMC1), Wandering Wraith (Guild, BW_UtilityCreature)
1/30/2013 - Terra Mox (Colorless, ManaRock), Metamorphling (Blue, C_CMC5), Thunderous Stomp (Red, NC_CMC1), Ethereal Envoy (White, C_CMC2), Boros Tactician (Guild, RW_AggroCreature), Four Leaf Clover (Green, NC_CMC2), Wisp of Memories (Blue, C_CMC1), Spite Death (Guild, BR_Reanimation), Lightning Storm (Red, NC_CMC3), Reality Sculptor (Blue, C_CMC3)
1/31/2013 - Phyrexian Influence (Guild, BG_Enchantment), Overgrow (Green, NC_CMC3), Inspired Tinkerer (Blue, C_CMC4), Luna Ring (Colorless, ManaRock), Planar Excavator (Colorless, ManaRock), Izzet Curiosity (Guild, UR_Combo), Stampede Invoker (Green, C_CMC2)
2/1/2013 - Faithful Hymn (White, NC_CMC3), Inquisitive Hymn (Blue, NC_CMC3), Desecration Hymn (Black, NC_CMC3), Reckless Hymn (Red, NC_CMC3), Embracing Hymn (Green, NC_CMC3), Raindance Drake (Blue, C_CMC3), Devil's Chariot (Colorless, Equipment), Temporal Crossroads (Blue, NC_CMC3), Radiant Revolver (Colorless, Equipment), Fleshwrite (Black, C_CMC2)
Sorcery {U}
Search your library for a basic land card and put that card on the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
Rebound
Sorcery {U}
Look at the top three cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest into your graveyard.
Rebound
Enchantment {R}
Whenever a creature you control dies, you may sacrifice Primal Infusion. If you do, add an amount of G to your mana pool equal to that creature's power.
Creature - Beast {MR}
1/1
1: Put a +1/+1 counter on Lotus Warden. Activate this ability only once each turn and only any time you could cast a sorcery.
Remove three +1/+1 counters from Lotus Warden: Add three mana of any one color to your mana pool.
Creature - Zombie {U}
3/2
When Braingorger enters the battlefield, you draw two cards and you lose 2 life.
Sorcery {MR}
As an additional cost to cast Primal Infusion, discard a creature card.
Add mana to your mana pool equal to the mana cost of the discarded card.
Lotus Warden G
Creature - Beast {MR}
1/1
At the beginning of your upkeep, tap an untapped land you control and put a +1/+1 counter on Lotus Warden. Then, if there are 3 or more +1/+1 counters on Lotus Warden, sacrifice it. At the beginning of your next main phase, add three mana of any one color to your mana pool.
Lotus Warden G
Creature - Beast {MR}
1/1
At the beginning of your upkeep, tap an untapped land you control and put a +1/+1 counter on Lotus Warden. Then, if there are 3 or more +1/+1 counters on Lotus Warden, sacrifice it and add three mana of any one color to your mana pool.
(CubeTutor & MTGS)
360 Peasant Cube!
Custom Cube
RWU Miracles RWU
Agreed. Perhaps it could be "Remove three +1/+1 counters from ~: add 3 mana of any color to your mana pool"? That would make play decisions around it very interesting - do I let him keep growing into a beater or spend the mana for this big spell? It would also fix the obvious problem of three mana only usable during the upkeep.
Braingorger is a bit too strong, as determined by the precedent of Sign in Blood. An extra 1 for a 3/2 is pretty darn powerful. I like the idea; maybe make it a 1/2 or 1/3 instead.
Seasonal Harvest and Decipher are excellent designs. Powerful enough to push in a cube but won't completely break the game. Nice!
Primal Infusion really seems like it's out of the color pie. Fast temporary mana is a red thing. That said, extracting it from a creature card does feel very green. Perhaps it could be a Gruul card instead? Either way, I like the design (at least, until someone uses it on the second turn to cast Ulamog off a discarded Emrakul or similar...). It might be safer to give it a restriction that mana produced in this manner can only be used to cast creature cards.
Thanks for the feedback
Lotus Warden: As I noted above, the lack of utility was unintentional. I updated the creature using some of your suggestions.
Braingorger: Ehh, it does seem strong, but I think the body is fine as it is. If it does play out stronger than I imagine it will, I can always bump it down to a 2/2.
Rebound Spells: Thanks! I actually got the land rebounder from a cube forum goer (don't remember who), but it sparked the idea for the second one
Primal Infusion: Hmm. Points are valid, but I don't have room in Gruul to fit it. I changed the card around a bit to be less oppressive and more in green's pie.
(CubeTutor & MTGS)
360 Peasant Cube!
Custom Cube
RWU Miracles RWU
I'm not sure about the powerlevel right now.
Needs an update in wording, though:
(compare: Viridian Joiner)
Braingorger does seem a little strong indeed.
I'd say either cost it at 2BB, or make it only draw 1 card for 1 life, or make it 2/1 or 1/2.
Needs an update on wording as well:
(compare: Phyrexian Gargantua, Phyrexian Rager)
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Ghostly Battlefield
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