Uncover N (To uncover N, look at the bottom N cards of your library. Put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)
This mechanic combines the themes of library and graveyard interaction which are both very important to the set idea. Uncover also introduces more interaction with the bottom of the library, which suites both mechanical interest in exploring new territory, and the generally dark and ominous tone of the set idea.
You may just be familiar with this mechanic already, as it's something I have had around for a while, and posted here in different ways before.
Noble Bloodseeker ( )
Creature- Vampire Cleric (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, Uncover 1.
, : Reveal the top card of your library and put it into your hand. You lose life equal to that card’s converted mana cost.
2/1
Slithering Intrusion ( )
Instant (U)
Target player reveals their hand, you choose a card from among them. That player discards that card, then draws a card.
Uncover 1.
Seems like a solid graveyard-friendly spin on scry. The only issue I have is that taking cards off of the bottom of a library (as opposed to simply putting them on the bottom) is, manually, a PITA that falls just short of shuffling. Especially when dealing with sleeved EDH decks.
Seems like a solid graveyard-friendly spin on scry. The only issue I have is that taking cards off of the bottom of a library (as opposed to simply putting them on the bottom) is, manually, a PITA that falls just short of shuffling. Especially when dealing with sleeved EDH decks.
The set has a generally greater focus on that kind of complexity over board complexity than most sets.
Noble Bloodseeker feels UB to me, what with the potential for so much library manipulation over multiple turns. It does look like the basis for a cool archetype though. What sort of archetypes do you have so far for the set?
Noble Bloodseeker feels UB to me, what with the potential for so much library manipulation over multiple turns.
Black gets more library manipulation than usual in this set because of it's a theme. Noble Bloodseeker is more blue than most black cards, but it's still very much black enough IMO.
What sort of archetypes do you have so far for the set?
I don't think the variable is necessary. Think of it like explore. For example, of the given cards here, arguably the weakest are the cards that uncover for more than 1.
It's also physically much more easier to just take one card from the bottom of your library rather than take and count # number of cards from bottom.
Just as it is easier to scry 1 than scry 3. Yet we have such variation.
But it is a large part of the reason why I have kept the number fairly low. No Uncover 8 or anything like that.
IMO it would also keep it more flavorful as it shrouds the bottom of library more in mystery - the cards are being uncovered slowly one by one. ... Doesn't 'uncover' imply that the cards would be revealed? My mind kinda of jumped with that description to some mechanical implementation where the card is revealed, then put into your grave unless <something> and you put it into your hand instead.
The flavour is you personally are uncovering them. Your opponent doesn't get to see them because it doesn't need to be public, it's your discoveries. This happens to match the world flavour better as my idea is for a fairly divided society among the people of the world, not too eager to work together and share.
Regardless, Uncover isn't top down. The flavour is at least good enough.
Just as it is easier to scry 1 than scry 3. Yet we have such variation.
Have you actually sat down, taken a deck, and picked the top 2-5 cards from top, and then compared it to picking the 2-5 cards from bottom? It's not impossible, but clearly harder than picking off top. Add in any extra actions, such as ordering and deciding whether to keep or pitch, and that time begins to accumulate.
Which is why scry gets to be evergreen but Uncover doesn't.
Just as it is easier to scry 1 than scry 3. Yet we have such variation.
Have you actually sat down, taken a deck, and picked the top 2-5 cards from top, and then compared it to picking the 2-5 cards from bottom? It's not impossible, but clearly harder than picking off top. Add in any extra actions, such as ordering and deciding whether to keep or pitch, and that time begins to accumulate.
Which is why scry gets to be evergreen but Uncover doesn't.
Which is why scry gets to be evergreen but Uncover doesn't.
The basis of your statement seems to suggest that scry is evergreen because it's to simple.
No the basis of my statement is Scry is simple enough to be evergreen while Uncover is not, but the standard of simplicity for evergreen mechanics is significantly higher than for set specific mechanics, which means I have some room to work with.
As you might be aware, most cards scry for 1, which is in itself a lot more simple than scrying for more than 1 as can be seen in its reminder text being a lot shorter than scrying for more than 1. For that reason, I would recommend adjusting uncover into a variant that only picks the last card of your deck, since that's quite tolerable to physically do IRL and it also removes much of other time consuming choices/actions one might have to do afterwards. This would make it essentially a binary choice instead of some "put N in grave, and N-1 on top in some order" variant where the available combination of choices increases dramatically.
Restricting it to 1 would make it simpler and easier, but it would also make the mechanic less versatile and remove the strategic depth of Uncovering for more than one.
I want to have at least a few cards with Uncover 2 or 3, and I think that should be simple enough.
This mechanic combines the themes of library and graveyard interaction which are both very important to the set idea. Uncover also introduces more interaction with the bottom of the library, which suites both mechanical interest in exploring new territory, and the generally dark and ominous tone of the set idea.
You may just be familiar with this mechanic already, as it's something I have had around for a while, and posted here in different ways before.
Noble Bloodseeker ( )
Creature- Vampire Cleric (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, Uncover 1.
, : Reveal the top card of your library and put it into your hand. You lose life equal to that card’s converted mana cost.
2/1
Slithering Intrusion ( )
Instant (U)
Target player reveals their hand, you choose a card from among them. That player discards that card, then draws a card.
Uncover 1.
Shapen Searcher ( )
Creature- Beast (U)
: Uncover 2.
2/3
Great Haze Drinker ( )
Creature- Worm Beast (R)
Flying
Whenever Great Haze Drinker attacks, you may pay . If you do, Uncover X.
6/6
Ancient of Guidance ( )
Creature- Spirit Beast (U)
You may look at the top card of your library. (You may do this at any time)
: Uncover 1
6/6
All feedback is appreciated!
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice
The set has a generally greater focus on that kind of complexity over board complexity than most sets.
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice
Which makes this completely fine here. I like it. Kind of scry kind of not. It's...weird
Black gets more library manipulation than usual in this set because of it's a theme. Noble Bloodseeker is more blue than most black cards, but it's still very much black enough IMO.
Forbidden (more on this later )
Flashback
Uncover
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice
It's a neat idea, like a slightly more black version of scry. I'm kind of confused why it would be in green, though.
- Rabid Wombat
Uncommon
Green has some of the most mill cross filter cards like Mulch and Commune with the Gods.
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice
Compare Contingency Plan, Naga Oracle and Sultai Ascendancy.
That's the key reference for this mechanic, given how very close it is to actually being it.
Just as it is easier to scry 1 than scry 3. Yet we have such variation.
But it is a large part of the reason why I have kept the number fairly low. No Uncover 8 or anything like that.
The flavour is you personally are uncovering them. Your opponent doesn't get to see them because it doesn't need to be public, it's your discoveries. This happens to match the world flavour better as my idea is for a fairly divided society among the people of the world, not too eager to work together and share.
Regardless, Uncover isn't top down. The flavour is at least good enough.
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice
Which is why scry gets to be evergreen but Uncover doesn't.
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice
No, that's why scry exists but Uncover doesn't.
No the basis of my statement is Scry is simple enough to be evergreen while Uncover is not, but the standard of simplicity for evergreen mechanics is significantly higher than for set specific mechanics, which means I have some room to work with.
Restricting it to 1 would make it simpler and easier, but it would also make the mechanic less versatile and remove the strategic depth of Uncovering for more than one.
I want to have at least a few cards with Uncover 2 or 3, and I think that should be simple enough.
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice
Yes. It is shorter and allows for higher Uncover numbers that can't really be done like that.
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice