Hey CCC! I recently played Warkite Marauder in a friend's Cube, and it won me a couple of games almost singlehandedly by taking out my opponents' only flying blockers.
It got me thinking, what does an Eternal playable version of this card look like? I love the ideas in this forum, and I'd love to see your designs for cards inspired by Warkite Marauder.
Challenge rules
It has to turn creatures into 0/1s with no abilities.
It should probably be Blue. I know this effect can be White (see Darksteel Mutation), but I feel like Red or Black prefer to kill stuff, and it doesn't seem very Green either. You've got some fun artifact, colourless, snow etc. design? Cool. I'd love to see it.
Please include what format(s) and power-level it's designed for. If you're pitching one mana 3/1s with the Marauder's ability, I won't be expecting you to say it's for Standard unless you're throwing in some hefty drawbacks too.
I'd like some flavour. I'm a bit of a Vorthos, and while I'm not expecting you to come up with a whole new setting, I'd like at least a flavourful name. Flavour text optional, but encouraged.
You can throw in as many entries as you like. That said, if it's functionally the same card or 95% of something you've already submitted, but with different flavour text, that feels a bit like playing the odds - I encourage you to be surgical and make each design feel unique.
The winner will be decided by CCC forum consensus. A simple show of hands should do it. If someone's done lots of cards, make it clear which one you're voting for. If we have a tie, I'll have the deciding vote because I organised this.
The challenge is open until 30 September. Voting will be open from 1-2 October and I'll announce a final winner on 3 October.
What do I win?
I mean, the short answer is nothing. But, like, the respect of your peers? That's its own reward! This is just meant to be a bit of fun. Not interested? No problem.
I have questions!
Ask and I will answer.
My design
I thought I'd throw my hat into the ring and offer some inspiration at the same time.
Enchanting Morgan 1UU
Creature - Merfolk (R)
Whenever Enchanting Morgan attacks, target creature loses all abilities and has base power and toughness 0/1, and target land becomes an Island for as long as you control Enchanting Morgan.
2/1 Her magic alters not only men's perceptions, but the very earth they walk on.
Design notes and considerations
I'm not 100% sure that wording is right. I basically want both the land and creature-changing effects to last for as long as you control Enchanting Morgan. I know you smart people will tell me if I've fluffed something somewhere.
This is designed for Legacy Merfolk. I've been really pleased to see that deck get some powerful new tools recently. I'm not sure if this would make the cut, but I'd hope people would at least test it. I think it's around the power level of Tide Shaper, but probably a bit weaker. It does come in off a Vial and is repeatable land and creature denial, but being a whole extra mana and having to survive to attack is a whole thing. And, while it's broadly unblockable thanks to Lord of Atlantis and his many friends, any removal spell at the right time could lead to a massive blowout.
I cut the two 'defending player controls' because they ate a lot of character count, because I'm not designing for multiplayer, and because, heck, if you want to turn your Caverns into Islands to get out from under a Blood Moon, I say that's a neat little line and more power to you. I also changed it to 'for as long as you control ~' instead of 'for as long as ~ remains on the battlefield' because that was shorter and close to functionally identical in Legacy.
Finally, I can see it's likely to cause memory issues, especially in paper and double especially if there's more than one, so there's probably a version that uses Flood counters or something and says 'Creatures with Flood counters on them have base power and toughness 0/1 and lose all abilities. Lands with Flood counters them on are Islands.' I haven't done that because it would make having multiples stronger without 'When ~ leaves the battlefield, remove all Flood counters from all permanents.', which also eats a ton of characters.
What's a morgan?
I came across morgans/morgens as a child, when I was way too into mythology. If you're not familiar with them, Wikipedia can tell you more. They're water spirits, but mostly in stories they just drown people in existing bodies of water, rather than being able to magic them up. I'll concede that's a bit of a flavour stretch.
I'm also not 100% on the name, given how close 'enchanting' is to Magic's enchantment card type, which this does nothing with. All the alternatives (alluring, enthralling, beguiling etc.) I considered didn't convey it changing not just the mental world, but the physical one too.
And no, I know there wouldn't be space for flavour text on a physical card. It's just for the purposes of the challenge.
That's it!
Thanks for reading. I'd appreciate any feedback on my design and I'm eager to see yours too!
"Did you think to kill me? There's no flesh and blood within this cloak to kill. There is only an idea. Ideas are bulletproof." - V, V for Vendetta. Alan Moore
Merfolk is the most sensible home and, personally, I'd just change it to a softlock on one creature each turn cycle.
Warfin Marauder 1U
Creature - Merfolk Pirate
Flying
Whenever CARDNAME attacks, target creature loses all abilities and has base power and toughness 0/1 until the beginning of your next turn.
2/1
Can you define what you mean by "Eternal Playable"? Legacy? Vintage? Commander?
I mean, that was just my inspiration. 'Eternal-playable' isn't one of the rules, people can design for whatever format they like. But for me, it was 'What if Warkite Marauder but for Legacy?' because that's the format I follow most closely. But anyone can enter anything - Standard, Pioneer, Vintage, Limited, whatever. Heck if you've got an Alchemy or Un-set design, I'd love to see it.
Warfin Marauder 1U
Creature - Merfolk Pirate
Flying
Whenever CARDNAME attacks, target creature loses all abilities and has base power and toughness 0/1 until the beginning of your next turn.
2/1
This is clean, simple and fun. The name is neat. The extended duration and unlimited targeting makes it a lot better for Commander especially - was that what you were aiming for, rowan?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Did you think to kill me? There's no flesh and blood within this cloak to kill. There is only an idea. Ideas are bulletproof." - V, V for Vendetta. Alan Moore
Merfolk is the most sensible home and, personally, I'd just change it to a softlock on one creature each turn cycle.
Warfin Marauder 1U
Creature - Merfolk Pirate
Flying
Whenever CARDNAME attacks, target creature loses all abilities and has base power and toughness 0/1 until the beginning of your next turn.
2/1
Flying doesn't really fit for a merfolk IMO. Its a little nonbo with lords, but maybe it can be unblockable but then it needs to cost a bit more
Warfin Marauder 1U
Creature - Merfolk Pirate
Skulk
Whenever CARDNAME attacks, target creature loses all abilities and has base power and toughness 0/1 until the beginning of your next turn.
2/1
Warfin Marauder 1UU
Creature - Merfolk Pirate
CARDNAME is unblockable
Whenever CARDNAME deals combat damage to a player, target creature loses all abilities and has base power and toughness 0/1 until the beginning of your next turn
2/2
I think we can make it a bit more for commander with:
Warfin Marauder 1(U/B)(U/B)
Creature - Merfolk Pirate
Menace
Whenever CARDNAME deals combat damage to a player choose one:
:target creature loses all abilities and has base power and toughness 0/1 until the beginning of your next turn.
:Draw two cards, then discard a card. You wouldn't want to see an angry merfolk
2/2
pucatrade
big receipts
alpha mox emerald
beta time walk
4 goyfs received
3 liliana of the veil
4 karn liberated
3 force of will
4 grove of the burnwillows
snapcaster mage
3 horizon canopy
2 full art damnation
I like that hybrid design, dave. Is there precedent for modal combat damage triggers? It can definitely be done in the rules, I just don't remember seeing it before and wonder what other designs you're channelling?
A reminder for everyone else that you've got a couple more days to submit a design if you're keen.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Did you think to kill me? There's no flesh and blood within this cloak to kill. There is only an idea. Ideas are bulletproof." - V, V for Vendetta. Alan Moore
A more competative Renegade Doppelganger was the thought behind this.
Shape Trader UU
Creature - Shapeshifter (R)
When Shape Trader enters the battlefield or at the beginning of your upkeep, target creature becomes a copy of Shape Trader until end of turn. Then, you may have Shape Trader become a copy of a creature you control until end of turn.
0/1
Don't know if it's actually good enough for merfolk. My main thought was I wanted to move it's trigger away from combat.
Right, it's 1 October, so time to vote. I liked a lot of the designs - y'all took it in some interesting directions. Thanks again for sharing them.
My vote goes to user_938036's Shape Trader for thinking outside the box and finding a different way to do the effect. A fun little card.
Voting open until tomorrow. Winner declared on Monday.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Did you think to kill me? There's no flesh and blood within this cloak to kill. There is only an idea. Ideas are bulletproof." - V, V for Vendetta. Alan Moore
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It got me thinking, what does an Eternal playable version of this card look like? I love the ideas in this forum, and I'd love to see your designs for cards inspired by Warkite Marauder.
Challenge rules
I mean, the short answer is nothing. But, like, the respect of your peers? That's its own reward! This is just meant to be a bit of fun. Not interested? No problem.
I have questions!
Ask and I will answer.
My design
I thought I'd throw my hat into the ring and offer some inspiration at the same time.
Enchanting Morgan 1UU
Creature - Merfolk (R)
Whenever Enchanting Morgan attacks, target creature loses all abilities and has base power and toughness 0/1, and target land becomes an Island for as long as you control Enchanting Morgan.
2/1
Her magic alters not only men's perceptions, but the very earth they walk on.
Design notes and considerations
I'm not 100% sure that wording is right. I basically want both the land and creature-changing effects to last for as long as you control Enchanting Morgan. I know you smart people will tell me if I've fluffed something somewhere.
This is designed for Legacy Merfolk. I've been really pleased to see that deck get some powerful new tools recently. I'm not sure if this would make the cut, but I'd hope people would at least test it. I think it's around the power level of Tide Shaper, but probably a bit weaker. It does come in off a Vial and is repeatable land and creature denial, but being a whole extra mana and having to survive to attack is a whole thing. And, while it's broadly unblockable thanks to Lord of Atlantis and his many friends, any removal spell at the right time could lead to a massive blowout.
I cut the two 'defending player controls' because they ate a lot of character count, because I'm not designing for multiplayer, and because, heck, if you want to turn your Caverns into Islands to get out from under a Blood Moon, I say that's a neat little line and more power to you. I also changed it to 'for as long as you control ~' instead of 'for as long as ~ remains on the battlefield' because that was shorter and close to functionally identical in Legacy.
Finally, I can see it's likely to cause memory issues, especially in paper and double especially if there's more than one, so there's probably a version that uses Flood counters or something and says 'Creatures with Flood counters on them have base power and toughness 0/1 and lose all abilities. Lands with Flood counters them on are Islands.' I haven't done that because it would make having multiples stronger without 'When ~ leaves the battlefield, remove all Flood counters from all permanents.', which also eats a ton of characters.
What's a morgan?
I came across morgans/morgens as a child, when I was way too into mythology. If you're not familiar with them, Wikipedia can tell you more. They're water spirits, but mostly in stories they just drown people in existing bodies of water, rather than being able to magic them up. I'll concede that's a bit of a flavour stretch.
I'm also not 100% on the name, given how close 'enchanting' is to Magic's enchantment card type, which this does nothing with. All the alternatives (alluring, enthralling, beguiling etc.) I considered didn't convey it changing not just the mental world, but the physical one too.
And no, I know there wouldn't be space for flavour text on a physical card. It's just for the purposes of the challenge.
That's it!
Thanks for reading. I'd appreciate any feedback on my design and I'm eager to see yours too!
Warfin Marauder 1U
Creature - Merfolk Pirate
Flying
Whenever CARDNAME attacks, target creature loses all abilities and has base power and toughness 0/1 until the beginning of your next turn.
2/1
I mean, that was just my inspiration. 'Eternal-playable' isn't one of the rules, people can design for whatever format they like. But for me, it was 'What if Warkite Marauder but for Legacy?' because that's the format I follow most closely. But anyone can enter anything - Standard, Pioneer, Vintage, Limited, whatever. Heck if you've got an Alchemy or Un-set design, I'd love to see it.
This is clean, simple and fun. The name is neat. The extended duration and unlimited targeting makes it a lot better for Commander especially - was that what you were aiming for, rowan?
Flying doesn't really fit for a merfolk IMO. Its a little nonbo with lords, but maybe it can be unblockable but then it needs to cost a bit more
Warfin Marauder 1U
Creature - Merfolk Pirate
Skulk
Whenever CARDNAME attacks, target creature loses all abilities and has base power and toughness 0/1 until the beginning of your next turn.
2/1
Warfin Marauder 1UU
Creature - Merfolk Pirate
CARDNAME is unblockable
Whenever CARDNAME deals combat damage to a player, target creature loses all abilities and has base power and toughness 0/1 until the beginning of your next turn
2/2
I think we can make it a bit more for commander with:
Warfin Marauder 1(U/B)(U/B)
Creature - Merfolk Pirate
Menace
Whenever CARDNAME deals combat damage to a player choose one:
:target creature loses all abilities and has base power and toughness 0/1 until the beginning of your next turn.
:Draw two cards, then discard a card.
You wouldn't want to see an angry merfolk
2/2
pucatrade
big receipts
alpha mox emerald
beta time walk
4 goyfs received
3 liliana of the veil
4 karn liberated
3 force of will
4 grove of the burnwillows
snapcaster mage
3 horizon canopy
2 full art damnation
A reminder for everyone else that you've got a couple more days to submit a design if you're keen.
Shape Trader UU
Creature - Shapeshifter (R)
When Shape Trader enters the battlefield or at the beginning of your upkeep, target creature becomes a copy of Shape Trader until end of turn. Then, you may have Shape Trader become a copy of a creature you control until end of turn.
0/1
Don't know if it's actually good enough for merfolk. My main thought was I wanted to move it's trigger away from combat.
My vote goes to user_938036's Shape Trader for thinking outside the box and finding a different way to do the effect. A fun little card.
Voting open until tomorrow. Winner declared on Monday.