DeusofCalamity Infernal TimeLooter 1UUBB Creature - Demon Wizard Rogue {R}
Flying
Whenever ~ attacks and isn't blocked, you may take an extra turn after this one. If you do, skip your next turn after the extra turn.
3/3
Templating: The right way would have been: “[...] If you do, skip your next turn after that turn.” Also, the L in the “looter” half of the name shouldn’t be capitalized.
Flavor: I can’t see the infernal side of the card and isn’t unglued. Also, can’t catch (from a flavor perspective) why this looter brings back the time he steals.
Power level: So, this is a dude that makes Time Warp every time he can’t be blocked, wich means that he can inflict 6 damage when attacking (if your opponent wasn’t able to block it, surely he wouldn’t be the second time.) Also, even if you’re giving him an extra turn as well, you’re the first one who gets the two consecutive turns, with this dude ready to inflict those 6 damage, all the mana you can make (twice), and at least two draws (and even more damage if you have more dudes.) This wouldn’t be so dangerous if it couldn’t be repeteable. This feels excessive, period.
pstmdrn Screeching Weasel Creature - Weasel C
All creatures able to block Screeching Weasel do so. "A weasel?! I was sure the demons were upon us!"
1/1
Template: No issues here.
Flavor: Simple and clear. Nothing too impressive. Nice flavor text, beside the fact you’re missing the speaker’s identity.
Power level: Hum, this is strictly better than Taunthing Elf. Even if making obsolete a previous design wich played well in the past and is in its perfect balance, the real problem here is that your card is % 0 original and/or innovative. It feels like a self DQ to me.
brasil_dude101
Magnetic Marionette3 Artifact Creature - Construct{U}
You may cast Magnetic Marionette any time you could cast an instant by sacrificing an artifact in addition to its other costs.
When Magnetic Marionette enters the battlefield, change the target of target spell that targets only a single creature or artifact to Magnetic Marionette. 2/2 Template: The first ability feels like it should keyworded. Also, there seems to be a missing word: “[...] in addition to paying its other costs.”
Flavor: Elegant. Easily understandable. Actually, excelent for me. Every single part of the card gives us an element of the situation that’s hapening. Thumbs up here!
Power level: So, this guy is the worst enemy for opponent’s aura spells (worst than Naturalize.) Let’s say your opponent is casting a Zephid’s Embrace on his Merfolk of the Pearl Trident, then BAM! For the same cmc as a Cancel, you don’t only deny him the spell, but also put a 2/2 dude onto the battlefield, and gain control of the embrace. Woof! That’s too much for an aura hosser. Just gainig control of it would have been doubtly ok. But putting also a dude on the table to have where place the aura feels like tespassing a line you shouldn’t (at least, not at 3) You know, if playing auras feels like a risky move for almost the players, why would R&D make a card that deliberately kills a whole card subtype and could fit any archetype?
Eventide – 64
Temnein il-Kor 3UB Creature - Kor Rogue (U)
Shadow
Whenever ~ deals combat damage to a player, that player reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card. <fontSizE=">"">"><SPanStylE=">"font-family:TimESNEWRoman">">BB</Pan></ont>: Regenerate ~.
2/3 "You're thinking too much. Let me help you with that." Template: No issues here. Flavor: Well, I don’t see the side of this card at all. Also, any of the name’s parts tells me nothing that could help me to understand the flavor without reading the novel it is suppossed to have been drawn from. You had the chance to “explain” a little trough the flavor text, but it never happened. Power level: What you have done is to improve Doomsday Specter’s evasion and give regeneration to it for just 1 more. It feels overpowered, and also uninnovative. Specially the first one. Anyway, since we have seen the improvement on the power level of the game in the last years, I’m afraid that this is even posible to see print (surely with a toughness decreasement to 2, and at rare.)
PsiJet – 14
Persistant Rogue1W Creature - Human Rogue (R)
If ~ is removed from the battlefield, add a tax counter to an artifact target opponent controls.
If a rogue you control would be sent to the graveyard, instead put ~ in the graveyard instead.
Persist (When this creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control with a -1/-1 counter on it.) "He didn't learn the first time." - Taxing Vigilant
1/2
Template: The right wording for this would have been:
If NAME leaves the battlefield, put a tax counter on target artifact an opponent controls. If a Rogue you control would be destroyed, sacrifice NAME instead. Persist
Flavor: The name feels extremely clumsy to me. Also, it doesn’t say anything about what the card’s flavor tries to transmit. I can’t see why this dude would give his life for another rogue, or why it would rise a tax over a particular object when he “leaves”. I think you’ve deeply failed in transmiting your idea of what’s happening here.
Power balance: First of all, I think you should have used “destroyed” instead of “be put into a graveyard” just to avoid the weirdness of a situation involving -1/-1 counters or toughness detriment. This guy means two free regenerations for your rogues, wich feels cool. What I don’t like is the fact that his second ability seems to have been forcely made to fit your avatar. Since rares tend to manage by themselves the abilities that involves the type of counters they create, a kind of creature that only adds counters for a determinated mechanic tend to be common or uncommon. This guy feels like competing for your avatar’s protagonism, instead of being a clear lucky of him. I think that a card managing two different kind of counters is counterintuitive from a gameplay perspective, and R&D tend to avoid this just because the negative impact it could have on new players.
Deadly Budah - 0 (probation) No show
Top 3:
Clarifications: I feel this pool had a very poor perform, talking about flavor and power level, specially the last one. So I decided to give the ranks in function of originality.
1st place: Brasil_Dude 2nd place: Deus 3rd place: Psi_jet
Marr965: Lack of card type/creature type bothers me. The last line is needlessly complicated; why is it necessary for noncreature artifacts that are copied to become a creature in the first place?
Gerrard's Mom: Nice name, and nicely meshed abilities. Quite powerful, and possibly overpowered; I don't know of any WW deck past, present, or future that wouldn't run this.
Krey: Good call on the nonland restriction; this guy provides some nice early card advantage but not the tempo advantage bouncing lands would cause. I'd say the power level is about right. Hooray for flavor text, and for getting insight into Reks's character! Somewhat redundant-feeling combination of abilities, considering it'll often be used to bounce creatures that would have blocked it.
Rocket_Powered_Turbo_Slug: The clear winner in the flavor department. Seems to be overcosted, though; it pales in comparison to another four-mana anti-defender, Gatecrasher Ogre, in terms of efficiency (though this might often be used defensively, to protect one's own walls from removal, ironically enough).
IlGreven: It's really cool how this card can switch from evasiveness to removal. I'd love to give it first strike somehow and use it as a cheap Visara the Dreadful or Avatar of Woe. Flavor text is always a plus.
EDIT: Does anybody cares about the reviews? I mean, I've brought a lot of comments about each card last round and recived 0 feedback. I've started playing this because I though this was more interactive than the DCC and the FCC, buth here is any discussion at all. Just saying... May be it would be a good idea to create a CCL discussion thread? May I create it? (Also, it would be helpful to don't find ourselves diving trough a ton of non-entry/judging posts in order to find the aforementioned ones.)
Hey Blackbull,
There is a CCL discussion thread. It's just not stickied. It's probably on the second page by now, since it isn't used much.
Judgeholder
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Take a mechanic from the pre-mirrodin era, and a mechanic after the mirrodin era, and create a card that flavorfully melds both mechanics.
Gerrard's Mom: The activation cost of the Neck Snap also seems a bit cheap to me; as a one-drop, this guy sure is restrictive on the opponents (Mother of Runes is still considered powerful, right?) Anyway, I guess I can see the connection between rogue and scapegoat, although I feel it could have been a bit stronger.
Marr965: I'm a bit confused as to how this is supposed to work, but I assume it animates every artifact and copies it for a turn. A little flavor text would perhaps have shown me the connection between the rogue and the 'goat. What is its types by the way?
IlGreven: Okay, so both of them are, to some extent, evading rats that can damage your board. Having a low toughness balances it, I guess, but the difference between the rogue and the scapegoat is that the rogue can kill selectively, and is much easier to evade with (compared to losing all your lands anyway...)
Rocket_Powered_Turbo_Slug: Interesting interactions going on here...one gives something defender, the other flicks it...my only qualm would be that a scapegoat should be similar to the rogue, not just complement him.
Krey: It sure makes Æther Adept look awful! Other than the obvious undercostedness, I really like this guy and how he contrasts with yer rogue.
mzc87:
BlankW
Sorcery {U}
Prevent all judging that would be dealt to target competitor this round.
Team Muscle: You are the brawn of the operation. Your job is to get rid of any unpleasantness that might bar the way, either by brute force or some other method. Make a creature that can can get rid of other creatures to take the fall.
Avatar Synergy: How well does your Scapegoat's abilities compare to your Rogue's abilities? x/10 Beatdown Skills: How well does your Scapegoat clear the road? x/10 Creativity: Originality, style, flavor, and templating. x/10 Power Balance: Could it see print, and would it be weak, balanced, or bah-roken? x/5
*** Evaluations Complete ***
AS: Xiarius is an identity thief, stealing creature types and becoming immune to them. Your thug has no identity of its own, and it can only borrow one from another creature you control... provided it doesn't have Shroud or Protection. How does the Flowstone Blade ability line up with Xiarius, either in form or style? 4/10
BS: If the thug had Clone's wording for its EtB trigger, it could at least kill an opponent's Legendary creatures. As it stands, nothing about it really says "Beatdown Artist" to me. The Flowstone ability could easily end up killing the Thug before it takes out anyone else, given that most Rogues aren't known for being tough. 3/10
C: An updated version of Dance of Many (targeting Clone variant) seems like a bad idea. The fact that its limited to a creature you control seems worse. At Uncommon, I can understand the targeting (identity thieves are historically Rare), but handicapping yourself that much feels like overkill. I like the Flowstone to give it some style, which I'm guessing is why you used "Polymorphous." To me, though, that word implies it can continue changing into different creatures. Lastly, the flavor text is misleading. After all, if they 'body double' Xiarius, they'll kill him. If he doesn't have protection from them, anyway. 3/10
PB: Underpowered. There is a reason Dance - or a creature with its wording - hasn't seen print since Fifth Edition. The guys at WotC realized the inherent flaws in the design. And Flowstone + 0/0 = confusion. 3/5
Final: You might have been better off using the copy wording for Renegade Doppleganger or Unstable Shapeshifter to give it more style. I was, sadly, underwhelmed. 13/35
AS: Wajur makes creatures bigger; Netherfang shrinks the competition. The symmetry/synergy in the first abilities is definitely there, and a case of mistaken identity could be made here. The divergence is in the second abilities is where things get a little cloudier, but overall a good frame job is in the works. 7/10
BS: Repeatable shrinkage on demand can easily clear the road, even if a 5/5 body isn't enough to quite do the trick. Again, the life loss is a little out of place, but still overall a good fit for the challenge. 8/10
C: Repeatable shrinkage on demand has only been done three times in the past: Exhibits A, B, and C. The "restriction" regarding blocked creatures is a twist, but the activation cost is way too low. Manacles was the same cost, but it was restricted to a single creature. Kuro demanded a life payment for each activation. The Plaguelord demanded a sacrificial lamb/goat each time. And the fact that the life loss is an unrestricted activation is way beyond the pale as well. Like the name, like the flavor text, but the straight pump effects lack finesse. 6/10
PB: Bro. Ken. A 6 CMC Uncommon should not be a 5/5... except maybe in Green, and even that should be french/virtual vanilla at most. Both abilities, being the repeatable monsters that they are, belong at Rare. And, as stated above, the ability to flood either - as long as mana is open - is overpowered. 0/5
Final: Great design for the challenge, but the card would never see print without major changes in the activation costs. And rarity. 21/35
Final: 0/35 - No submission
AS: Hroth destroys attacking or blocking creatures. Your assassin can do either or both. Umm... yeah. No further comments necessary. 10/10
BS: It can blow up creatures when it comes in, if cast during combat. If only it did it during a main phase. 9/10
C: Flash is available to both White and Black, so that works. A virtual vanilla 2/1 3 CMC is fine at Uncommon; doubly so with the triple-colored cost. I do have two points of contention regarding templating, though. A) All cards named "Assassin" also have the subtype "Assassin." B) You forgot the reminder text for when :symw::symb: is paid in the casting cost to do both. If you wanted to avoid that possibility, you should add "may" to the text. The name is a little off from the "grey" color as well. 7/10
PB: Make the templating changes and print it. 5/5
Final: Just... damn. I may steal this for a friend's block. And Hroth found a perfect chump to feed to the cops. 31/35
AS: Sasprus appears to have a kinship with Darth Ashling, leaving anguish in his wake. The Esquire has first strike and a Lure effect, provided another Rogue is attacking. Not seeing a similarity here. At all. Other than shared colors and creature types. 1/10
BS: A distraction does allow everyone else to get in and put a hurting on someone, provided he isn't alone in his deceptive actions. 9/10
C: Knight Rogue. That's a new one. It's also more conflicted than Knight Mercenary. Creatures with built-in Lure are either patsies (low P/T) or headaches (deathtouch, basilisk, etc.) by design. For an "impoverished" knight, he's packing some serious power. The name doesn't fit, the subtypes are a wonky combination, and the flavor text... it just doesn't feel like it matches well. 4/10
PB: The CMC is far too low for the given rarity and abilities. Lure and first strike are also counter-intuitive. Most Knights with first strike at that rarity are 2/X, as are most creatures with built-in Lure effects. And most of those creatures are at 4 CMC and higher without a second ability. 1/5
Final: If this is Sasprus scapegoat, the Beggar God is going to find himself pinched by the constabulary. 15/35
As always, if I have offended, I am open and welcome to rebuttal.
@BlackBull - I didn't even think about the Specter from Planeshift (never had one; can't ever remember anyone playing it). The name is two parts: "Temnein" is a root of the word "tome," meaning 'to cut.' I don't know what novels you're referring to. "il-Kor" was from Time Spiral Block; Blue Kor with Shadow. Honestly, given modern Power Creep, I think this would be Uncommon these days. See also: Savannah Lions. Additionally, regarding your view that the cards weren't innovative this round: the scapegoats were supposed to be non-legendary rogues that A) fit team descriptions and B) had skills similar to the Avatar. I think my entry fit both those criteria rather well without being broken.
Oh, now I see what you wanted the CCL Discussion thread for. So far it's mainly just been used to coordinate who is hosting each month. I don't think there's a problem responding to critiques in this thread, if that's what you want to do. I always enjoy hearing people's comments, thinking about what people say and how I would redesign the card is one thing that I think has improved my design skills a lot.
I always enjoy hearing people's comments, thinking about what people say and how I would redesign the card is one thing that I think has improved my design skills a lot.
GilGaladTheChef - Five-Eyed Lookout
Although I have to guess at its rarity (I'd put it at uncommon, same as Counterbalance), I really like its implications, especially its combo with Malakrias itself.
Umi_no_Samui -- Alibius Ooze
The card is very good, though I think it's more rare than uncommon. The clause of keeping the name is what puts it into rare territory for me: It adds both clunk and a strategic purpose that can be game-breaking in Limited.
Jimmy Groove -- Gutterspy
Well, you needed a clasher to help your other two cards, and this one does fit the bill, though I think the fact that its ability has clash actually puts this into common territory (though I agree it's an uncommon if the ability just happened).
netn9 -- Kataque Elite Infiltrator
I'm sort of casting my head sideways at the actual avatar (whether Steal should be an ability word or as is), and whether KEI should just make it similar to this steal mechanic. It does do its job, at the very least.
Darkfire_Games -- Wordthief Prodigy
I think this card is too fragile for what it does, and too specific. This would be just fine if you removed the name-sharing clause, and it would also be fine if it had more than 1 toughness (3, I think, is probably the best toughness for it).
BlackBull -- Alley Hypnotist
This is a card I really do think would see print as is. Well, it might go UU or 1U, but other than that, I don't see too much wrong with it.
Since I too am tight on time, I won't be able to post the next round on schedule, so you can all have one extra day for critiques, and the next round will be up on Sunday.
Decent card. It would fit well with your avatar, even though its abilities should be a bit higher with the life loss aspect IMHO.
No worries
I think the life loss is not as overpowered as you think - I took the basic concept of the creature from Wicked Akuba.
By the way, is it just me, or was this entire round really poorly executed? There were a few really good entries, but almost all failed in either flavor or design.
1. BRASIL DUDE 101 (Magnetic Marionette) (13/15) (Won out with the more original design)
2. PSTMDRN (Screeching Weasel) (13/15)
3. EVENTIDE (Temnein il-Kor) (12/15)
CARD Infernal TimeLooter1UUBB
Creature - Demon Wizard Rogue (R)
Flying
Whenever Infernal TimeLooter attacks and isn't blocked, you may take an extra turn after this one. If you do, skip your next turn after the extra turn.
{3/3}
SCORES Balance 4/5 (The only thing I can compare this to is something like Chronatog. He definitively gives off that vibe off "I can do something crazy, you just don't know what it is yet.") Flavor 3/5 (He fits in with your Master Thief, but to be honest, I'm a little iffy on the whole 'demons stealing time' thing. Does it just magically become night? Does the sun not even move and they are free to roam about as they please? What?) Formatting 4/5 (I'm easy on this point, but I've had other judges rip me for this in the past: Don't use ~. Put for the actual sticking points of your card, why is the L in TimeLooter capitalized? With no surrounding explanation, I can't tell if was intentional or accidental.)
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- Yes, 1 will negate itself, but as soon as you get two to stick to the battlefield, you're one Mana Short away from totally locking down your opponent.
CARD Screeching WeaselG
Creature - Weasel (C)
All creatures able to block Screeching Weasel do so. "A weasel?! I was sure the demons were upon us!"
{1/1}
SCORES Balance 5/5 (AH! AAH! I'm having Taunting Elf visions! I feel like 1/1 is fair for this guy since he doesn't have the support of the long history of Elf Buffs.) Flavor 3/5 (This fits in very well with your thief and seems like it would be something he would use. I'm docking a point here because it's Taunting Elf with an extra point of power.) Formatting 5/5 (Nothing appears to be wrong.)
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- How long have you been playing magic? (More specifically, what cards are you very familiar with?)
- I like the thief's steal lands from opponent's graveyards ability. That's neat.
CARD Magnetic Marionette3
Artifact Creature - Construct (U)
You may cast Magnetic Marionette any time you could cast an instant by sacrificing an artifact in addition to its other costs.
When Magnetic Marionette enters the battlefield, change the target of target spell that targets only a single creature or artifact to Magnetic Marionette.
{2/2}
SCORES Balance 4/5 (Well, the creature that immediately comes to mind is Muck Drubb. Sacrifice and Discard aren't really quite equal, so 1BB and a Card from your hand still seems more expensive/difficult than 3 and a Memnite.) Flavor 5/5 (Your story ties in the marionette beautifully to your thief.) Formatting 4/5 (Qasali Ambusher has the correct wording for the alternate cast with flash.)
CARD Temnein il-Kor3UB
Creature - Kor Rogue (U)
Shadow
Whenever Temnein il-Kor deals combat damage to a player, that player reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card. BB: Regenerate Temnein il-Kor. "You're thinking too much. Let me help you with that."
{2/3}
SCORES Balance 4/5 (Thoughtsize that your opponent both pays for and takes the brunt of is not terribly balanced. The major issue I have with this is that it has Shadow. If it'd had Flying or Islandwalk/Swampwalk I'd've had less of a problem with it because there are more prevalent ways to deal with those creatures, especially those with flying. That being said, increase his casting cost by 1 or make his power 1 to balance.) Flavor 3/5 (While your thief and scapegoat do similar things, I need more extraneous stuff (simple flavor text would suffice) to tie the two together more.) Formatting 5/5 (Again, I've been ripped on this before. Don't use Tilde for competitions.)
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- Small note: It was startling to find you submission at the top of your post when the established tradition (read: What I see everyone else doing) is to put it after all your old submissions.
CARD Persistant Rogue1W
Creature - Human Rogue (R)
If Persistant Rogue is removed from the battlefield, add a tax counter to an artifact target opponent controls.
If a rogue you control would be sent to the graveyard, instead put Persistant Rogue in the graveyard instead.
Persist (When this creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control with a -1/-1 counter on it.) "He didn't learn the first time." - Taxing Vigilant
{1/2}
SCORES Balance 3/5 (Since the tax counters do nothing without the presence of your master thief, it really takes away from the power of your card. I've been told time and again making certain cards reliant on other specific cards is a bad idea. And now, I share that with you.) Flavor 4/5 (While you've said nothing to confirm this, I guess that your scapegoat is a flunky for your thief.) Formatting 4/5 (Wow, three people used ~ this time. Weird. As I've told Deus and Eventide, I've been ripped for ~ use. Now, the only thing that is actually problematic is when you are referring to subtypes of permanents, you must capitalize (e.g. Rogue instead of rogue.))
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- Not really something that I'll dock for in formatting, but its persistent, not persistant.
GilGaladTheChef - This one seems very limited in what it does. Unless you got a way to organize your deck it could help but it is a long shot to counter some spell.
Umi_no_Samui - You took the easy way around the restriction. The abilities and flavor are very nice. The CMC activated ability balances it well. Flavor text is ok.
Jimmy Groove - The only relation between your rogue and the goblin is that they mention the clash mechanic. Flavor text helps bring in the idea behind the card. Still a very interesting card.
netn9 - Very interesting concept. Just with unblockable and shroud it would have been powerful enough. The ability is too good for the keywords it has. Just a couple of these creatures and the opponent wil have a tough time to get back. Great flavor text.
Darkfire_Games - Very interesting. The ability, even when it is not as recurring as in Nert, accomplishes a similar effect while keeping an original feel to it.
BlackBull - I think that one mana to gain control of a creature is just too much, more so when it is for as long as your creature stays in the battlefield. The only drawback seems to be the limitation of 1 mana creatures and the fragile 1/1 body.
1. Darkfire Games 2. Umi No Samui
3, Net9
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Those who endure in the face of suffering, those whose faith shines long in evil days, they shall see salvation." -Song of All, canto 904
Magnetic Marionette3 Artifact Creature - Construct{U}
You may cast Magnetic Marionette any time you could cast an instant by sacrificing an artifact in addition to its other costs.
When Magnetic Marionette enters the battlefield, change the target of target spell that targets only a single creature or artifact to Magnetic Marionette. 2/2
Template: The first ability feels like it should keyworded. Also, there seems to be a missing word: “[...] in addition to paying its other costs.”
Flavor: Elegant. Easily understandable. Actually, excelent for me. Every single part of the card gives us an element of the situation that’s hapening. Thumbs up here!
Power level: So, this guy is the worst enemy for opponent’s aura spells (worst than Naturalize.) Let’s say your opponent is casting a Zephid’s Embrace on his Merfolk of the Pearl Trident, then BAM! For the same cmc as a Cancel, you don’t only deny him the spell, but also put a 2/2 dude onto the battlefield, and gain control of the embrace. Woof! That’s too much for an aura hosser. Just gainig control of it would have been doubtly ok. But putting also a dude on the table to have where place the aura feels like tespassing a line you shouldn’t (at least, not at 3) You know, if playing auras feels like a risky move for almost the players, why would R&D make a card that deliberately kills a whole card subtype and could fit any archetype?
What you have to remember is that you'd have to sacrifice an artifact if you ever intended on making use of it, because it's ability is pointless if it's played on your turn. And while you may just sacrifice an Ornithopter, and consequently lose nothing, you could also very easily have to sacrifice a huge Everflowing Chalice to stop your opponent from killing your titan.
The power level of the card varies with the deck: In aggro, this is just a straight up grey ogre since you shouldn't ever want/need to use its effect, while in control, it's significantly more expensive because control doesn't play pointless artifacts, and therefore sacrificing any artifact is a significant setback.
Critique noted though.
Doom Lich: Even though the application is more narrow, the fact that you can Clone one of your creatures, and then give it psuedo-firebreathing is probably at Rare level. Also, I am not sure how this guys could ever be "mistaken" for your legend. :\
Oculus: This should definitely be a rare, due to the fact that he is a 5/5 for 6, that is almost unkillable in combat. It is an interesting card, nonetheless.
Ryder052: I like how you designed your creature. It's very nice. However, I don't think you needed to have that restrictive of a mana cost.1{symwb}{symwb} would have been more appropriate.
void_nothing: Your creature doesn't do anything remotely close to your legend, but its an ok card.
Darkfire - I've been playing since 1994. When I started, The Dark was phasing out, but Fallen Empires hadn't come out yet. I took a few short breaks. The blocks I know very little about are Tempest Block and Judgment Block, though I am picking up understanding quick!
The card is very good, though I think it's more rare than uncommon. The clause of keeping the name is what puts it into rare territory for me: It adds both clunk and a strategic purpose that can be game-breaking in Limited.
Thank you for the feedback. It’s solid reasoning, and I was struggling with attempting to keep it toned down to an Uncommon. I can definitely understand the feelings of clunk. I should have worked on that a bit more after I had gotten the costing on the ability to where I wanted it.
Krey
Umi_no_Samui - You took the easy way around the restriction. The abilities and flavor are very nice. The CMC activated ability balances it well. Flavor text is ok.
I did sort of take the ‘easy way’, if you want to call it that, but while sometimes elegance is nice, I didn’t feel the need to over-complicate things. It fits the requirements by being a non-legendary rogue that functions as a ‘fall guy’ while still fulfilling the ‘information gathering’ role I was assigned. You say ‘easy way’ I say ‘effective’. Regardless, thank you for the feedback. The activation cost was what I was most worried about.
Marr695
Okay, it provides a scapegoat. But it does so for EVERYONE!
Right, now back to business. It doesn't really float my boat, but I'm not sure why...
I'll accept that it's not a card that everyone would like, as I've given similar answers in the past, but without knowing specificly or even vaguely what it is you didn't like about it that's not something I can address.
And it is meant to work as a scapegoat for anyone. That's what the flavor text was attempting to hint at, that there is an illicite service offered for those with less 'honorable' careers. An Alibius Ooze can be grown to desired specifications, and 'bought' for the mana payment required to turn it into a copy of the creature you want it to copy.
Gerrard’s Mom
I'm not sure why you gave it Changeling, that makes it step on Shapesharer's toes too much. I'm actually really surprised this ability has never been done, you would have been better off without the Changeling and keeping the name. I guess that wouldn't have let you copy your legend, but it would have stood on its own more, instead of being a Sakashima/Shapesharer mashup.
Shapesharer was one of the creatures I had looked at to try and get the ability to work the way I wanted it to. The way I look at it, Shapesharer has a cheeper activation cost, and can trigger the Legendary rule, which could be good or bad depending on the situation it's used in. Alibius Ooze on it's own cannot trigger the legendary rule, for good or bad, and so I had it cost more. I gave it Changeling since it was supposed to be a rogue to fit the design conditions, and to try and convey the flavor that it could be anyone you want it to copy, regardless of creature type.
Nice submissions so far. A mini-Counterbalance / Sensei's Divining Top is powerful, but fine as a creature one-shot. Works well with your other cards too.
I'm not sure why you gave it Changeling, that makes it step on Shapesharer's toes too much. I'm actually really surprised this ability has never been done, you would have been better off without the Changeling and keeping the name. I guess that wouldn't have let you copy your legend, but it would have stood on its own more, instead of being a Sakashima/Shapesharer mashup.
I'm sure somebody got to this, but Goblin Shortcutter? Sure it's better with your guy out, but you could have at least made it a few creatures.
Hmm, smaller Mindleech Mass that is better at getting through but allows the opponent to choose what you get. Still, this is pretty rough, shroud and unblockable make it very hard to deal with.
The mana investment makes this probably fine - 7 total for a chance at up to 3 spells. It almost seems pointless that he is a creature, though. I think it would have worked better as a standard activated ability, not an upkeep trigger. And maybe the ability mana cost should have been red/blue as well.
Interesting. I don't know if it would actually be printed at 1 mana - Threads of Disloyalty is 3 and doesn't give you a creature, but I guess there are a lot fewer 1-mana guys than 2-mana, and a 1/1 is easier to kill than an enchantment. Works well with your previous submissions, but I'd prefer it if you could include them in the same post.
1. GilGaladTheChef
2. BlackBull
3. DarkfireGames
Not sure what people who think my submission is overpowered are thinking, there is a window every turn and the turn he is played where you can kill him, he's worse against and in a multicolor deck, and paying for the whole thing is basically a slower Divine Verdict.
Not sure what people who think my submission is overpowered are thinking, there is a window every turn and the turn he is played where you can kill him, he's worse against and in a multicolor deck, and paying for the whole thing is basically a slower Divine Verdict.
You forgot the bit where it's effectively an Order of the Stars that trades a tiny window of opportunity for a 1/1 that can attack, as well as kill something when need be.
It can be killed by instant speed effects on any turn, that's not really tiny. Mother of Runes is definitely better on the protection front, and Loyal Sentry is better at killing attackers. No worries though, I should have probably made it rare but didn't think it was splashy enough at the time.
DeusofCalamity
Infernal TimeLooter 1UUBB
Creature - Demon Wizard Rogue {R}
Flying
Whenever ~ attacks and isn't blocked, you may take an extra turn after this one. If you do, skip your next turn after the extra turn.
3/3
Templating: The right way would have been: “[...] If you do, skip your next turn after that turn.” Also, the L in the “looter” half of the name shouldn’t be capitalized.
Flavor: I can’t see the infernal side of the card and isn’t unglued.
Also, can’t catch (from a flavor perspective) why this looter brings back the time he steals.
Power level: So, this is a dude that makes Time Warp every time he can’t be blocked, wich means that he can inflict 6 damage when attacking (if your opponent wasn’t able to block it, surely he wouldn’t be the second time.) Also, even if you’re giving him an extra turn as well, you’re the first one who gets the two consecutive turns, with this dude ready to inflict those 6 damage, all the mana you can make (twice), and at least two draws (and even more damage if you have more dudes.) This wouldn’t be so dangerous if it couldn’t be repeteable. This feels excessive, period.
pstmdrn
Screeching Weasel
Creature - Weasel C
All creatures able to block Screeching Weasel do so.
"A weasel?! I was sure the demons were upon us!"
1/1
Template: No issues here.
Flavor: Simple and clear. Nothing too impressive. Nice flavor text, beside the fact you’re missing the speaker’s identity.
Power level: Hum, this is strictly better than Taunthing Elf. Even if making obsolete a previous design wich played well in the past and is in its perfect balance, the real problem here is that your card is % 0 original and/or innovative. It feels like a self DQ to me.
brasil_dude101
Magnetic Marionette 3
Artifact Creature - Construct{U}
You may cast Magnetic Marionette any time you could cast an instant by sacrificing an artifact in addition to its other costs.
When Magnetic Marionette enters the battlefield, change the target of target spell that targets only a single creature or artifact to Magnetic Marionette.
2/2
Template: The first ability feels like it should keyworded. Also, there seems to be a missing word: “[...] in addition to paying its other costs.”
Flavor: Elegant. Easily understandable. Actually, excelent for me. Every single part of the card gives us an element of the situation that’s hapening. Thumbs up here!
Power level: So, this guy is the worst enemy for opponent’s aura spells (worst than Naturalize.) Let’s say your opponent is casting a Zephid’s Embrace on his Merfolk of the Pearl Trident, then BAM! For the same cmc as a Cancel, you don’t only deny him the spell, but also put a 2/2 dude onto the battlefield, and gain control of the embrace. Woof! That’s too much for an aura hosser. Just gainig control of it would have been doubtly ok. But putting also a dude on the table to have where place the aura feels like tespassing a line you shouldn’t (at least, not at 3) You know, if playing auras feels like a risky move for almost the players, why would R&D make a card that deliberately kills a whole card subtype and could fit any archetype?
Eventide – 64
Temnein il-Kor 3UB
Creature - Kor Rogue (U)
Shadow
Whenever ~ deals combat damage to a player, that player reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card.
<fontSizE=">"">"><SPanStylE=">"font-family:TimESNEWRoman">">BB</Pan></ont>: Regenerate ~.
2/3
"You're thinking too much. Let me help you with that."
Template: No issues here.
Flavor: Well, I don’t see the side of this card at all. Also, any of the name’s parts tells me nothing that could help me to understand the flavor without reading the novel it is suppossed to have been drawn from. You had the chance to “explain” a little trough the flavor text, but it never happened.
Power level: What you have done is to improve Doomsday Specter’s evasion and give regeneration to it for just 1 more. It feels overpowered, and also uninnovative. Specially the first one. Anyway, since we have seen the improvement on the power level of the game in the last years, I’m afraid that this is even posible to see print (surely with a toughness decreasement to 2, and at rare.)
PsiJet – 14
Persistant Rogue 1W
Creature - Human Rogue (R)
If ~ is removed from the battlefield, add a tax counter to an artifact target opponent controls.
If a rogue you control would be sent to the graveyard, instead put ~ in the graveyard instead.
Persist (When this creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)
"He didn't learn the first time." - Taxing Vigilant
1/2
Template: The right wording for this would have been:
If NAME leaves the battlefield, put a tax counter on target artifact an opponent controls.
If a Rogue you control would be destroyed, sacrifice NAME instead.
Persist
Flavor: The name feels extremely clumsy to me. Also, it doesn’t say anything about what the card’s flavor tries to transmit.
I can’t see why this dude would give his life for another rogue, or why it would rise a tax over a particular object when he “leaves”. I think you’ve deeply failed in transmiting your idea of what’s happening here.
Power balance: First of all, I think you should have used “destroyed” instead of “be put into a graveyard” just to avoid the weirdness of a situation involving -1/-1 counters or toughness detriment.
This guy means two free regenerations for your rogues, wich feels cool. What I don’t like is the fact that his second ability seems to have been forcely made to fit your avatar. Since rares tend to manage by themselves the abilities that involves the type of counters they create, a kind of creature that only adds counters for a determinated mechanic tend to be common or uncommon. This guy feels like competing for your avatar’s protagonism, instead of being a clear lucky of him.
I think that a card managing two different kind of counters is counterintuitive from a gameplay perspective, and R&D tend to avoid this just because the negative impact it could have on new players.
Deadly Budah - 0 (probation)
No show
Top 3:
Clarifications: I feel this pool had a very poor perform, talking about flavor and power level, specially the last one. So I decided to give the ranks in function of originality.
1st place: Brasil_Dude
2nd place: Deus
3rd place: Psi_jet
Marr965: Lack of card type/creature type bothers me. The last line is needlessly complicated; why is it necessary for noncreature artifacts that are copied to become a creature in the first place?
Gerrard's Mom: Nice name, and nicely meshed abilities. Quite powerful, and possibly overpowered; I don't know of any WW deck past, present, or future that wouldn't run this.
Krey: Good call on the nonland restriction; this guy provides some nice early card advantage but not the tempo advantage bouncing lands would cause. I'd say the power level is about right. Hooray for flavor text, and for getting insight into Reks's character! Somewhat redundant-feeling combination of abilities, considering it'll often be used to bounce creatures that would have blocked it.
Rocket_Powered_Turbo_Slug: The clear winner in the flavor department. Seems to be overcosted, though; it pales in comparison to another four-mana anti-defender, Gatecrasher Ogre, in terms of efficiency (though this might often be used defensively, to protect one's own walls from removal, ironically enough).
IlGreven: It's really cool how this card can switch from evasiveness to removal. I'd love to give it first strike somehow and use it as a cheap Visara the Dreadful or Avatar of Woe. Flavor text is always a plus.
1. IlGreven
2. Gerrard's Mom
3. Rocket_Powered_Turbo_Slug
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Hey Blackbull,
There is a CCL discussion thread. It's just not stickied. It's probably on the second page by now, since it isn't used much.
Judgeholder
Take a mechanic from the pre-mirrodin era, and a mechanic after the mirrodin era, and create a card that flavorfully melds both mechanics.
OI!
Judgings for Team Infiltrator:
Gerrard's Mom: The activation cost of the Neck Snap also seems a bit cheap to me; as a one-drop, this guy sure is restrictive on the opponents (Mother of Runes is still considered powerful, right?) Anyway, I guess I can see the connection between rogue and scapegoat, although I feel it could have been a bit stronger.
Marr965: I'm a bit confused as to how this is supposed to work, but I assume it animates every artifact and copies it for a turn. A little flavor text would perhaps have shown me the connection between the rogue and the 'goat. What is its types by the way?
IlGreven: Okay, so both of them are, to some extent, evading rats that can damage your board. Having a low toughness balances it, I guess, but the difference between the rogue and the scapegoat is that the rogue can kill selectively, and is much easier to evade with (compared to losing all your lands anyway...)
Rocket_Powered_Turbo_Slug: Interesting interactions going on here...one gives something defender, the other flicks it...my only qualm would be that a scapegoat should be similar to the rogue, not just complement him.
Krey: It sure makes Æther Adept look awful! Other than the obvious undercostedness, I really like this guy and how he contrasts with yer rogue.
mzc87:
Blank W
Sorcery {U}
Prevent all judging that would be dealt to target competitor this round.
Top 3:
1. Krey
2. IlGreven
3. Gerrard's Mom
[Clan Flamingo] Tier Archivist
[15:21] <@CC> Remember, if you argue, you are an idiot.
Untrophied Wins:
Perfect MCC Scores: 2
---------------------------------------------------------------
Doom Lich - I like your card a lot and it fits well with your rogue, but I am not sure where the red comes in flavor-wise.
Oculus - I really like your shade theme! Your scapegoat is a fitting distraction.
Swishh - ++ZILCH++
Ryder052 - A very cool card! Excellent Synergy with your Rogue.
Void Nothing - A Nice, flavorful entry with awesome synergy!
Monkey Playing MTG - ++ZILCH++
TOP 3
3. Void Nothing
2. Oculus
1. Ryder052
[Clan Flamingo]
Top 3
3. Psi Jet
2. Deusofcalamity
1. Brasil dude 101
If I get some more free time I may post more in depth reviews but I just wanted to get my top 3 in before the deadline.
Well, you get more points if you review, but it is not mandatory!
[Clan Flamingo]
Beatdown Skills: How well does your Scapegoat clear the road? x/10
Creativity: Originality, style, flavor, and templating. x/10
Power Balance: Could it see print, and would it be weak, balanced, or bah-roken? x/5
*** Evaluations Complete ***
AS: Xiarius is an identity thief, stealing creature types and becoming immune to them. Your thug has no identity of its own, and it can only borrow one from another creature you control... provided it doesn't have Shroud or Protection. How does the Flowstone Blade ability line up with Xiarius, either in form or style? 4/10
BS: If the thug had Clone's wording for its EtB trigger, it could at least kill an opponent's Legendary creatures. As it stands, nothing about it really says "Beatdown Artist" to me. The Flowstone ability could easily end up killing the Thug before it takes out anyone else, given that most Rogues aren't known for being tough. 3/10
C: An updated version of Dance of Many (targeting Clone variant) seems like a bad idea. The fact that its limited to a creature you control seems worse. At Uncommon, I can understand the targeting (identity thieves are historically Rare), but handicapping yourself that much feels like overkill. I like the Flowstone to give it some style, which I'm guessing is why you used "Polymorphous." To me, though, that word implies it can continue changing into different creatures. Lastly, the flavor text is misleading. After all, if they 'body double' Xiarius, they'll kill him. If he doesn't have protection from them, anyway. 3/10
PB: Underpowered. There is a reason Dance - or a creature with its wording - hasn't seen print since Fifth Edition. The guys at WotC realized the inherent flaws in the design. And Flowstone + 0/0 = confusion. 3/5
Final: You might have been better off using the copy wording for Renegade Doppleganger or Unstable Shapeshifter to give it more style. I was, sadly, underwhelmed. 13/35
AS: Wajur makes creatures bigger; Netherfang shrinks the competition. The symmetry/synergy in the first abilities is definitely there, and a case of mistaken identity could be made here. The divergence is in the second abilities is where things get a little cloudier, but overall a good frame job is in the works. 7/10
BS: Repeatable shrinkage on demand can easily clear the road, even if a 5/5 body isn't enough to quite do the trick. Again, the life loss is a little out of place, but still overall a good fit for the challenge. 8/10
C: Repeatable shrinkage on demand has only been done three times in the past: Exhibits A, B, and C. The "restriction" regarding blocked creatures is a twist, but the activation cost is way too low. Manacles was the same cost, but it was restricted to a single creature. Kuro demanded a life payment for each activation. The Plaguelord demanded a sacrificial lamb/goat each time. And the fact that the life loss is an unrestricted activation is way beyond the pale as well. Like the name, like the flavor text, but the straight pump effects lack finesse. 6/10
PB: Bro. Ken. A 6 CMC Uncommon should not be a 5/5... except maybe in Green, and even that should be french/virtual vanilla at most. Both abilities, being the repeatable monsters that they are, belong at Rare. And, as stated above, the ability to flood either - as long as mana is open - is overpowered. 0/5
Final: Great design for the challenge, but the card would never see print without major changes in the activation costs. And rarity. 21/35
Final: 0/35 - No submission
AS: Hroth destroys attacking or blocking creatures. Your assassin can do either or both. Umm... yeah. No further comments necessary. 10/10
BS: It can blow up creatures when it comes in, if cast during combat. If only it did it during a main phase. 9/10
C: Flash is available to both White and Black, so that works. A virtual vanilla 2/1 3 CMC is fine at Uncommon; doubly so with the triple-colored cost. I do have two points of contention regarding templating, though. A) All cards named "Assassin" also have the subtype "Assassin." B) You forgot the reminder text for when :symw::symb: is paid in the casting cost to do both. If you wanted to avoid that possibility, you should add "may" to the text. The name is a little off from the "grey" color as well. 7/10
PB: Make the templating changes and print it. 5/5
Final: Just... damn. I may steal this for a friend's block. And Hroth found a perfect chump to feed to the cops. 31/35
AS: Sasprus appears to have a kinship with Darth Ashling, leaving anguish in his wake. The Esquire has first strike and a Lure effect, provided another Rogue is attacking. Not seeing a similarity here. At all. Other than shared colors and creature types. 1/10
BS: A distraction does allow everyone else to get in and put a hurting on someone, provided he isn't alone in his deceptive actions. 9/10
C: Knight Rogue. That's a new one. It's also more conflicted than Knight Mercenary. Creatures with built-in Lure are either patsies (low P/T) or headaches (deathtouch, basilisk, etc.) by design. For an "impoverished" knight, he's packing some serious power. The name doesn't fit, the subtypes are a wonky combination, and the flavor text... it just doesn't feel like it matches well. 4/10
PB: The CMC is far too low for the given rarity and abilities. Lure and first strike are also counter-intuitive. Most Knights with first strike at that rarity are 2/X, as are most creatures with built-in Lure effects. And most of those creatures are at 4 CMC and higher without a second ability. 1/5
Final: If this is Sasprus scapegoat, the Beggar God is going to find himself pinched by the constabulary. 15/35
Final: 0/35 - No submission
5b. Monkey Playing MTG
5a. swishh
4. Doom Lich - 13/35
3. void_nothing - 15/35
2. Oculus - 21/35
1. Ryder052 - 31/35
As always, if I have offended, I am open and welcome to rebuttal.
@BlackBull - I didn't even think about the Specter from Planeshift (never had one; can't ever remember anyone playing it). The name is two parts: "Temnein" is a root of the word "tome," meaning 'to cut.' I don't know what novels you're referring to. "il-Kor" was from Time Spiral Block; Blue Kor with Shadow. Honestly, given modern Power Creep, I think this would be Uncommon these days. See also: Savannah Lions. Additionally, regarding your view that the cards weren't innovative this round: the scapegoats were supposed to be non-legendary rogues that A) fit team descriptions and B) had skills similar to the Avatar. I think my entry fit both those criteria rather well without being broken.
GilGaladTheChef - Five-Eyed Lookout
Although I have to guess at its rarity (I'd put it at uncommon, same as Counterbalance), I really like its implications, especially its combo with Malakrias itself.
Umi_no_Samui -- Alibius Ooze
The card is very good, though I think it's more rare than uncommon. The clause of keeping the name is what puts it into rare territory for me: It adds both clunk and a strategic purpose that can be game-breaking in Limited.
Jimmy Groove -- Gutterspy
Well, you needed a clasher to help your other two cards, and this one does fit the bill, though I think the fact that its ability has clash actually puts this into common territory (though I agree it's an uncommon if the ability just happened).
netn9 -- Kataque Elite Infiltrator
I'm sort of casting my head sideways at the actual avatar (whether Steal should be an ability word or as is), and whether KEI should just make it similar to this steal mechanic. It does do its job, at the very least.
Darkfire_Games -- Wordthief Prodigy
I think this card is too fragile for what it does, and too specific. This would be just fine if you removed the name-sharing clause, and it would also be fine if it had more than 1 toughness (3, I think, is probably the best toughness for it).
BlackBull -- Alley Hypnotist
This is a card I really do think would see print as is. Well, it might go UU or 1U, but other than that, I don't see too much wrong with it.
1. BlackBull
2. GilGaladtheChef
3. Umi_no_Samui
2. Ryder052
3. Doom Lich
Host, December 2015: A Winter Wonderland? - R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL April 2014: A Game of Fate - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinal|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL December 2012: Spy Games - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL November 2010: The Perfect Crime - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL August 2009: A Commander's Journey: Signups|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
I've got tons of art from the web. Want art for a render? PM me! Want to create your own collection? Start here!
No worries
I think the life loss is not as overpowered as you think - I took the basic concept of the creature from Wicked Akuba.
By the way, is it just me, or was this entire round really poorly executed? There were a few really good entries, but almost all failed in either flavor or design.
[Clan Flamingo] Tier Archivist
[15:21] <@CC> Remember, if you argue, you are an idiot.
Untrophied Wins:
Perfect MCC Scores: 2
---------------------------------------------------------------
1. BRASIL DUDE 101 (Magnetic Marionette) (13/15) (Won out with the more original design)
2. PSTMDRN (Screeching Weasel) (13/15)
3. EVENTIDE (Temnein il-Kor) (12/15)
ALL CARDS
Infernal TimeLooter 1UUBB
Creature - Demon Wizard Rogue (R)
Flying
Whenever Infernal TimeLooter attacks and isn't blocked, you may take an extra turn after this one. If you do, skip your next turn after the extra turn.
{3/3}
SCORES
Balance 4/5 (The only thing I can compare this to is something like Chronatog. He definitively gives off that vibe off "I can do something crazy, you just don't know what it is yet.")
Flavor 3/5 (He fits in with your Master Thief, but to be honest, I'm a little iffy on the whole 'demons stealing time' thing. Does it just magically become night? Does the sun not even move and they are free to roam about as they please? What?)
Formatting 4/5 (I'm easy on this point, but I've had other judges rip me for this in the past: Don't use ~. Put for the actual sticking points of your card, why is the L in TimeLooter capitalized? With no surrounding explanation, I can't tell if was intentional or accidental.)
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- Yes, 1 will negate itself, but as soon as you get two to stick to the battlefield, you're one Mana Short away from totally locking down your opponent.
ALL CARDS
Screeching Weasel G
Creature - Weasel (C)
All creatures able to block Screeching Weasel do so.
"A weasel?! I was sure the demons were upon us!"
{1/1}
SCORES
Balance 5/5 (AH! AAH! I'm having Taunting Elf visions! I feel like 1/1 is fair for this guy since he doesn't have the support of the long history of Elf Buffs.)
Flavor 3/5 (This fits in very well with your thief and seems like it would be something he would use. I'm docking a point here because it's Taunting Elf with an extra point of power.)
Formatting 5/5 (Nothing appears to be wrong.)
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- How long have you been playing magic? (More specifically, what cards are you very familiar with?)
- I like the thief's steal lands from opponent's graveyards ability. That's neat.
ALL CARDS
Magnetic Marionette 3
Artifact Creature - Construct (U)
You may cast Magnetic Marionette any time you could cast an instant by sacrificing an artifact in addition to its other costs.
When Magnetic Marionette enters the battlefield, change the target of target spell that targets only a single creature or artifact to Magnetic Marionette.
{2/2}
SCORES
Balance 4/5 (Well, the creature that immediately comes to mind is Muck Drubb. Sacrifice and Discard aren't really quite equal, so 1BB and a Card from your hand still seems more expensive/difficult than 3 and a Memnite.)
Flavor 5/5 (Your story ties in the marionette beautifully to your thief.)
Formatting 4/5 (Qasali Ambusher has the correct wording for the alternate cast with flash.)
ALL CARDS
Temnein il-Kor 3UB
Creature - Kor Rogue (U)
Shadow
Whenever Temnein il-Kor deals combat damage to a player, that player reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card.
BB: Regenerate Temnein il-Kor.
"You're thinking too much. Let me help you with that."
{2/3}
SCORES
Balance 4/5 (Thoughtsize that your opponent both pays for and takes the brunt of is not terribly balanced. The major issue I have with this is that it has Shadow. If it'd had Flying or Islandwalk/Swampwalk I'd've had less of a problem with it because there are more prevalent ways to deal with those creatures, especially those with flying. That being said, increase his casting cost by 1 or make his power 1 to balance.)
Flavor 3/5 (While your thief and scapegoat do similar things, I need more extraneous stuff (simple flavor text would suffice) to tie the two together more.)
Formatting 5/5 (Again, I've been ripped on this before. Don't use Tilde for competitions.)
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- Small note: It was startling to find you submission at the top of your post when the established tradition (read: What I see everyone else doing) is to put it after all your old submissions.
Persistant Rogue 1W
Creature - Human Rogue (R)
If Persistant Rogue is removed from the battlefield, add a tax counter to an artifact target opponent controls.
If a rogue you control would be sent to the graveyard, instead put Persistant Rogue in the graveyard instead.
Persist (When this creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)
"He didn't learn the first time." - Taxing Vigilant
{1/2}
SCORES
Balance 3/5 (Since the tax counters do nothing without the presence of your master thief, it really takes away from the power of your card. I've been told time and again making certain cards reliant on other specific cards is a bad idea. And now, I share that with you.)
Flavor 4/5 (While you've said nothing to confirm this, I guess that your scapegoat is a flunky for your thief.)
Formatting 4/5 (Wow, three people used ~ this time. Weird. As I've told Deus and Eventide, I've been ripped for ~ use. Now, the only thing that is actually problematic is when you are referring to subtypes of permanents, you must capitalize (e.g. Rogue instead of rogue.))
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- Not really something that I'll dock for in formatting, but its persistent, not persistant.
NO SUBMISSION
IL GREVEN - FORMULATING RESPONSE
MARR965 - AWAITING CRITIQUE
ROCKET POWERED TURBO SLUG - AWAITING CRITIQUE
KREY - FORMULATING RESPONSE
GERRARD's MOM - FORMULATING RESPONSE
GilGaladTheChef - This one seems very limited in what it does. Unless you got a way to organize your deck it could help but it is a long shot to counter some spell.
Umi_no_Samui - You took the easy way around the restriction. The abilities and flavor are very nice. The CMC activated ability balances it well. Flavor text is ok.
Jimmy Groove - The only relation between your rogue and the goblin is that they mention the clash mechanic. Flavor text helps bring in the idea behind the card. Still a very interesting card.
netn9 - Very interesting concept. Just with unblockable and shroud it would have been powerful enough. The ability is too good for the keywords it has. Just a couple of these creatures and the opponent wil have a tough time to get back. Great flavor text.
Darkfire_Games - Very interesting. The ability, even when it is not as recurring as in Nert, accomplishes a similar effect while keeping an original feel to it.
BlackBull - I think that one mana to gain control of a creature is just too much, more so when it is for as long as your creature stays in the battlefield. The only drawback seems to be the limitation of 1 mana creatures and the fragile 1/1 body.
1. Darkfire Games
2. Umi No Samui
3, Net9
1. Gerrard's Mom
2. Monkey Playing MTG
3. Mar
Generals meant to be drafted first in a single pack of 6 cards.
And here is the actual cube, meant to be drafted in 4 regular sized packs. (60 card decks)
What you have to remember is that you'd have to sacrifice an artifact if you ever intended on making use of it, because it's ability is pointless if it's played on your turn. And while you may just sacrifice an Ornithopter, and consequently lose nothing, you could also very easily have to sacrifice a huge Everflowing Chalice to stop your opponent from killing your titan.
The power level of the card varies with the deck: In aggro, this is just a straight up grey ogre since you shouldn't ever want/need to use its effect, while in control, it's significantly more expensive because control doesn't play pointless artifacts, and therefore sacrificing any artifact is a significant setback.
Critique noted though.
Doom Lich: Even though the application is more narrow, the fact that you can Clone one of your creatures, and then give it psuedo-firebreathing is probably at Rare level. Also, I am not sure how this guys could ever be "mistaken" for your legend. :\
Oculus: This should definitely be a rare, due to the fact that he is a 5/5 for 6, that is almost unkillable in combat. It is an interesting card, nonetheless.
Ryder052: I like how you designed your creature. It's very nice. However, I don't think you needed to have that restrictive of a mana cost.1{symwb}{symwb} would have been more appropriate.
void_nothing: Your creature doesn't do anything remotely close to your legend, but its an ok card.
1) Ryder
2) Oculus
3) Doom Lich
Take a mechanic from the pre-mirrodin era, and a mechanic after the mirrodin era, and create a card that flavorfully melds both mechanics.
[Clan Flamingo]
IlGreven
Thank you for the feedback. It’s solid reasoning, and I was struggling with attempting to keep it toned down to an Uncommon. I can definitely understand the feelings of clunk. I should have worked on that a bit more after I had gotten the costing on the ability to where I wanted it.
Krey
I did sort of take the ‘easy way’, if you want to call it that, but while sometimes elegance is nice, I didn’t feel the need to over-complicate things. It fits the requirements by being a non-legendary rogue that functions as a ‘fall guy’ while still fulfilling the ‘information gathering’ role I was assigned. You say ‘easy way’ I say ‘effective’. Regardless, thank you for the feedback. The activation cost was what I was most worried about.
Marr695
I'll accept that it's not a card that everyone would like, as I've given similar answers in the past, but without knowing specificly or even vaguely what it is you didn't like about it that's not something I can address.
And it is meant to work as a scapegoat for anyone. That's what the flavor text was attempting to hint at, that there is an illicite service offered for those with less 'honorable' careers. An Alibius Ooze can be grown to desired specifications, and 'bought' for the mana payment required to turn it into a copy of the creature you want it to copy.
Gerrard’s Mom
Shapesharer was one of the creatures I had looked at to try and get the ability to work the way I wanted it to. The way I look at it, Shapesharer has a cheeper activation cost, and can trigger the Legendary rule, which could be good or bad depending on the situation it's used in. Alibius Ooze on it's own cannot trigger the legendary rule, for good or bad, and so I had it cost more. I gave it Changeling since it was supposed to be a rogue to fit the design conditions, and to try and convey the flavor that it could be anyone you want it to copy, regardless of creature type.
2. BlackBull
3. DarkfireGames
You forgot the bit where it's effectively an Order of the Stars that trades a tiny window of opportunity for a 1/1 that can attack, as well as kill something when need be.
[Clan Flamingo] Tier Archivist
[15:21] <@CC> Remember, if you argue, you are an idiot.
Untrophied Wins:
Perfect MCC Scores: 2
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Team Mastermind Top 3
1. Darkfire Games
2. GilGaladTheChef
3. Jimmy Grove