What a night. You were not the only one who thought that taking out the competition before the game begins would be a good idea. The number of guests at the inn comes the morning is significantly lower than the number that was there the evening before. You can't help but take it as a good sign: Surely your survival means that fate is in your favor. You will win this game, you will get your heart's desire.
One of the jet-eyed attendants waits at your door as you leave your room. He signals you to follow and so you go down steps that you have not noticed before. Down and down you go, deep into the cliff. Torches in the walls on both sides provide ample light, but also cause the shadows to dance in a way that makes you nervous. You try to shake of the nervous feeling - You are not a child, after all – and yet the feeling lingers.
You come, at last, to a large room. Most of it is occupied by a table that seems to be craved from the rocks around you, as if it grew straight from the room's floor like a strange mushroom. The wall across from the door is a large mirror, reflecting your bewildered expression. One by one, the remaining pilgrims pile into the room and seat around the large table. There are only eight of you now. The wall-mirror shows the whole lot of you: A pale elf, a metal-casted human, a kangaroo-person, a sage-looking lizard, a decorated warrior, a serious looking vedalken, a gnarly troll and a changeling. You wonder how you stand compared to the others.
A man enters. His face is oddly familiar, but you are certain you never met him before. You'd remember meeting someone with eyes completely white. Unlike the attendants, it is clear that his eyes are not gems inserted into the sockets but rather his real actual eyes. The lack of pupil makes it impossible to know what he is looking at, but you get a distinct feeling that he is looking at everything at the same time.
The man seats, and speaks, his voice deep and tantalizing:
"And so you've made it, congratulations,
My warmest welcome and salutation.
This is a game, one unlike any other
a unique experience, as you might discover.
Win, and you heart's desire you'll receive
Lose, and all you've wagered you'll have to give.
And if you try and attempt to cheat,
then, friend, I do not envy the fate you'll meet. "
A deck of cards appears in his hand – or was it always there? Fate (for it is surly Fate himself, no?) shuffles it quickly.
"One last thing, before we begin.
To play the game you must buy in.
What I ask is simple, but may be a hard concession.
To play the game you must wager your most valued possession."
Your most valued possession? Can you truly give that up? You've had it for so long, and to go without it will sadden you, but if you win, will it matter? And can Fate really know what's your most valued possession? Could you give him something else of value to get in the game?
Challenge: Design a card to represent your most valued possession to buy in to the game. Your peers will judge its true value. If you fail to supply fate with your truest valued possession, you'll find yourself out of the game, or worse.
Zoomba and maximumbuttitude – You've always worked to get power, and you've climbed your way out of the very bottom. Your most valued possession is not of great worth to others, but it is important to you – it is a memoir of the first time you've climbed out of that bottomless pit and got a taste of success. (Just make sure it's not a planeswalker, anything else that fits the description is fine.)
Antny223 and Ink-Treader – Your whole life was geared to cheting death and living forever. You've kept something on the side to enjoy when you've achieved this goal. Something unique you were going to savor for many years as you live forever. It won't be the same without it, but if giving it up means you get a chance to never die, then there is really no other option (Again, anything but a planeswalker that fits this description is good. )
Balefire and Gerrard's Mom – Your loved one goes with you, wherever you go, but over time it has become harder and harder to remember the little details. That's why to kept a reminder of them. It might not be big, or of any importance to others, but for you it means the world. Could you really give up the last remnant of your loved one? (Anything but a planeswalker that makes sense as a reminder of your loved one will do)
NVRBLND and RaikouRider – Ah, soon you will prove your love and win the game. Soon, a bright future will emerge for you and your darling. But for now, you must make a concession. What is your most valued possession? Surely nothing is worth enough compared to a lifetime with your one true love. No, the more you think about it, the more you realize that your most valued possession is not a physical object, but rather a memory: the first time you laid eyes on your love. You still recall it vividly, and think about it every day. Can you give up this one, perfect memory for a chance of happiness? (Anything that symbolizes this memory and is not a planeswalker is acceptable).
Deadline for submission is April 28th, when Sunday becomes Monday in Philadelphia.
Why is it that every time I try, I end up 1v1'ing GM at some point?
Ironcast Blossom2
Artifact {U}
: Add to your mana pool. Spend
this mana only to cast artifacts spells
or or activate abilities of artifacts. "An everlasting token of love.
But a love of what?"
Malchor Ironwright1U
Legendary Artifact Creature - Human Artificer {R}
, Discard an artifact card: Search your library
for an artifact card with converted mana cost less than
or equal to the discarded card's converted mana cost, reveal
that card, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. Hundreds of gizmos. Thousands of parts. One solution. 1/3
Rot from WithinB
Instant {C}
Choose one - Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature; or
destroy target creature with a -1/-1 counter on it.
Entwine 3(Choose both if you pay the entwine cost.)
Forgotten Locket1
Artfact {U} Imprint — , : Exile target card in
your graveyard, then return each other card exiled with
Forgotten Locket to your graveyard.
, , Sacrifice Forgotten Locket: Return
the exiled card to your hand Memories can be forgotten, but never lost.
Ironbind2UB
Instant {R}
Exile target creature. Put an artifact token
onto the battlefield that has all activated
abilities of that creature. "Talents are wasted in the hands of simpletons -
My machines are better built, and more efficient."
Grand Entrance2UR
Enchantment
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may cast an instant or sorcery spell with converted mana cost equal to or less than that creature's from your hand without paying its mana cost. As she entered the room some men's hearts burned with the intensity of the sun, others went cold as ice, but all noticed her arrival.
Empyrean Almagest7
Legendary Artifact (M) X, T: Reveal the top X cards of your library. Put all artifact, enchantment, instant, and sorcery cards revealed this way into your hand, then put the rest of the cards into your graveyard. "I believe the record is reading three of the tomes. The lich's spell failed before the pages did."
-Dhat, mortal and terrified of it
Why is it that every time I try, I end up 1v1'ing GM at some point?
Holder.
Fate does not care what cause has brought you to his game, only that you'll pay. There are no 1v1s at this point. The top scoring plyers will move to the next round, the rest will be eliminated.
EDIT: and besides, last time you went 1v1 versus GM on a CCL I hosted you won, so quit whining :).
Staff of Whispers3
Artifact (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. 3, T: Choose a color. Add 1 mana of that color to your mana pool for each creature card of that color in your graveyard. "The magic of woods is born off the souls of our ancestors" - Jerug.
Jerug, the Whisperer of Death2WGB
Legendary Creature - Elf Wizard(M)
Whenever a creature deals combat damage to a player, you may have that creature's controller sacrifice it. That player draw cards equal to the sacrificed creature's power, then gains life equal to its toughness. "There is a fragile peace in these woods, one which I will strive to maintain at any cost." - Jerug
3/4
Round 1
Price of DesperationB
Enchantment (R)
You don't lose the game for having 0 or less life.
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. You lose life equal to its converted mana cost. If a nonblack is revealed this way, exile ~.
Round 2
Nefarious Tutor1BB
Sorcery(R)
As an additional cost to cast ~, sacrifice a creature.
Search your library for a card, reveal it and put it into your hand. If that card's converted mana cost is less than the sacrificed creature's converted mana cost you may search your library for a card named Nefarious Tutor, reveal it, put it into your hand then shuffle your library.
Round 3
Venomous Thoughts2RB
Enchantment (R)
Whenever an opponent draws a card, if that player has more cards in hand than you, that player gains a poison counter. 1, Discard a card: Target player draws a card. Any player may activate this ability.
Ace, Ultimate Predator1BRG
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior Shaman {M}
As long as you control a Dragon creature, Ace, Ultimate Predator gets +2/+2 and has flying. 2RG, Tap an untapped Dragon creature you control: That creature deals damage equal to its power to another target creature. Hunting from dragonback, Ace is the most feared predator in all of Jund. 3/3
Hykka, Outland Dragonstoker1RG
Legendary Creature - Human Shaman {R}
When Hykka, Outland Dragonstoker enters the battlefield, search your library for a Dragon card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. T: Reveal any number of Dragon cards from your hand. Dragon spells you cast this turn cost 1 less to cast for each card revealed this way. Ace loves Hykka as much as his dragons. Hykka knows that when two predators meet in Jund, only one leaves alive. 1/2
Impulsive ResearchR
Enchantment {U} 1R, Discard a card: Draw a card. Hykka's fearlessness and talent overwhelmed Ace, the rider nearly losing his life to an entire storm of dragons at his love's command. Feeling it was the only way to impress her, Ace started scouring the skies, searching for the strongest, fastest, and most vicious dragon in all of Jund.
Breath of the Worldheart Dragon2RR
Sorcery {R}
Target creature you control deals damage equal to its power to each other creature and each player. During the Sundering of Alara, the Worldheart Dragon was sealed away within a sangrite cache. No shaman in Jund dares enter the volcano the most powerful dragon ever to soar Jund's skies sleeps in.
Crater Hellkite6RR
Creature - Dragon {R}
Flying, haste
When Crater Hellkite enters the battlefield, it deals 5 damage to each other creature. R: Crater Hellkite gets +1/+0 until end of turn. Armored with magma-resistant scales, it can dive into a volcanic crater, then ride a violent eruption outward and ram its prey with speed even other dragons have no hope to match. 5/5
Edit: Adding a render because I found amazing art for this!
Scalina Squamatis1BRG
Legendary Creature - Lizard Shaman (R) 1R: Target Lizard or Snake creature you control gains provoke until end of turn. 1BG, Sacrifice a creature: Return target Lizard or Snake creature card from your graveyard to your hand. “My brethren have been shunned, disrespected, and tormented for millennia. Now is our time. Our supremacy shall be known.”
3/2
Animal Detention Center
Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. 1WU, T, Tap an untapped Human creature you control: Put a collar counter on target non-Human creature.
Prevent all damage that would be dealt by creatures with collar counters on them. “First rule, recruits: If it doesn’t look like you, it’s subhuman. Apply electroshock liberally.”
Gormuos, Slumbering Oracle1GUB
Legendary Creature - Fungus Zombie (R)
Hexproof 2, Exile a card from your hand: Search your library for a card, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it. Then put the exiled card on top of your library. A colony that extends to every corner of the Festering Necropolis, it's rumored that breathing Gormuos' spores brings both terrible amnesia and powerful insight.
0/6
Portrait of Weakness1B
Enchantment — Aura (U)
Enchant creature
When Portrait of Weakness enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on enchanted creature.
Whenever enchanted creature attacks or blocks, put a -1/-1 counter on it. “Show the most powerful man in the world his own flaws, and he self-destructs. They always do.”
—Scalina Squamatis
Hognose SnakeG
Creature — Snake (U) W, T: Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by Hognose Snake this turn. “Even outside the walls, the little ones played dead, as we had all learned to. We must no longer live like that. I picked it up, and it became my first companion on my quest for our liberation.”
—Scalina Squamatis
1/1
Ama Burda, the All-Pouch1WW
Legendary Creature - Kangaroo Shaman (R)
Vigilance
When Ama Burda, the All-Pouch dies, return to the battlefield all other permanent cards in your graveyard that were put there from the battlefield this turn.
2/2
Heartbreaking Choice3BB
Sorcery (U)
Choose two target creatures controlled by the same player. Their controller chooses and sacrifices one of them. Then that player loses life equal to the other creature's power. Ama's heart still beat, but her smile was buried with her husband's body.
Heart-Gate Locket2
Artifact - Equipment (R)
Hideaway (This artifact enters the battlefield tapped. When it does, look at the top four cards of your library, exile one face down, then put the rest on the bottom of your library.)
If equipped creature would be destroyed, instead remove all damage from it and destroy this Equipment. When you do, you may play the exiled card without paying its mana cost.
Equip 3
Strike the OppressiveW
Instant (U)
Exile target creature with power less than or equal to that creature's controller's life total minus your life total. "Never forget that there is a power greater than yours."
-Ama Burda, the All-Pouch
Sorry had to build a garden and entertain parents
What could be a more precious reminder of my lost husband than our only son, the freedom fighter...
Resolute RunnerRW
Creature - Kangaroo Rebel (R)
Haste
Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to you, put a +1/+1 counter on Resolute Runner.
2/2
Weathered Lockpicks2
Artifact (C)
Weathered Lockpicks enters the battlefield with three charge counters on it. 2, t, remove a charge counter from Weathered Lockpicks: Target creature can't be blocked this turn. With two sticks of metal, Pyxll opened her first barred portal. And soon all doors were open to her.
Excellent flavor. I wonder if the activated ability could lose the mana cost...
Grand Entrance2UR
Enchantment
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may cast an instant or sorcery spell with converted mana cost equal to or less than that creature's from your hand without paying its mana cost. As she entered the room some men's hearts burned with the intensity of the sun, others went cold as ice, but all noticed her arrival.
Interesting enchantment. Doesn't seem too unbalanced.
Why is it that every time I try, I end up 1v1'ing GM at some point?
Ironcast Blossom2
Artifact {U}
: Add to your mana pool. Spend
this mana only to cast artifacts spells
or or activate abilities of artifacts. "An everlasting token of love.
But a love of what?"
Malchor Ironwright1U
Legendary Artifact Creature - Human Artificer {R}
, Discard an artifact card: Search your library
for an artifact card with converted mana cost less than
or equal to the discarded card's converted mana cost, reveal
that card, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. Hundreds of gizmos. Thousands of parts. One solution. 1/3
Rot from WithinB
Instant {C}
Choose one - Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature; or
destroy target creature with a -1/-1 counter on it.
Entwine 3(Choose both if you pay the entwine cost.)
Forgotten Locket1
Artfact {U} Imprint — , : Exile target card in
your graveyard, then return each other card exiled with
Forgotten Locket to your graveyard.
, , Sacrifice Forgotten Locket: Return
the exiled card to your hand Memories can be forgotten, but never lost.
Ironbind2UB
Instant {R}
Exile target creature. Put an artifact token
onto the battlefield that has all activated
abilities of that creature. "Talents are wasted in the hands of simpletons -
My machines are better built, and more efficient."
Seems appropriately costed. "A love of what?" indeed...
Ace, Ultimate Predator1BRG
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior Shaman {M}
As long as you control a Dragon creature, Ace, Ultimate Predator gets +2/+2 and has flying. 2RG, Tap an untapped Dragon creature you control: That creature deals damage equal to its power to another target creature. Hunting from dragonback, Ace is the most feared predator in all of Jund. 3/3
Hykka, Outland Dragonstoker1RG
Legendary Creature - Human Shaman {R}
When Hykka, Outland Dragonstoker enters the battlefield, search your library for a Dragon card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. T: Reveal any number of Dragon cards from your hand. Dragon spells you cast this turn cost 1 less to cast for each card revealed this way. Ace loves Hykka as much as his dragons. Hykka knows that when two predators meet in Jund, only one leaves alive. 1/2
Impulsive ResearchR
Enchantment {U} 1R, Discard a card: Draw a card. Hykka's fearlessness and talent overwhelmed Ace, the rider nearly losing his life to an entire storm of dragons at his love's command. Feeling it was the only way to impress her, Ace started scouring the skies, searching for the strongest, fastest, and most vicious dragon in all of Jund.
Breath of the Worldheart Dragon2RR
Sorcery {R}
Target creature you control deals damage equal to its power to each other creature and each player. During the Sundering of Alara, the Worldheart Dragon was sealed away within a sangrite cache. No shaman in Jund dares enter the volcano the most powerful dragon ever to soar Jund's skies sleeps in.
Crater Hellkite6RR
Creature - Dragon {R}
Flying, haste
When Crater Hellkite enters the battlefield, it deals 5 damage to each other creature. R: Crater Hellkite gets +1/+0 until end of turn. Armored with magma-resistant scales, it can dive into a volcanic crater, then ride a violent eruption outward and ram its prey with speed even other dragons have no hope to match. 5/5
Edit: Adding a render because I found amazing art for this!
Yep. Dragon. A terrifying one at that. One would be hard pressed to find a more impressive one.
Scalina Squamatis1BRG
Legendary Creature - Lizard Shaman (R) 1R: Target Lizard or Snake creature you control gains provoke until end of turn. 1BG, Sacrifice a creature: Return target Lizard or Snake creature card from your graveyard to your hand. “My brethren have been shunned, disrespected, and tormented for millennia. Now is our time. Our supremacy shall be known.”
3/2
Animal Detention Center
Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. 1WU, T, Tap an untapped Human creature you control: Put a collar counter on target non-Human creature.
Prevent all damage that would be dealt by creatures with collar counters on them. “First rule, recruits: If it doesn’t look like you, it’s subhuman. Apply electroshock liberally.”
Gormuos, Slumbering Oracle1GUB
Legendary Creature - Fungus Zombie (R)
Hexproof 2, Exile a card from your hand: Search your library for a card, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it. Then put the exiled card on top of your library. A colony that extends to every corner of the Festering Necropolis, it's rumored that breathing Gormuos' spores brings both terrible amnesia and powerful insight.
0/6
Portrait of Weakness1B
Enchantment — Aura (U)
Enchant creature
When Portrait of Weakness enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on enchanted creature.
Whenever enchanted creature attacks or blocks, put a -1/-1 counter on it. “Show the most powerful man in the world his own flaws, and he self-destructs. They always do.”
—Scalina Squamatis
Hognose SnakeG
Creature — Snake (U) W, T: Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by Hognose Snake this turn. “Even outside the walls, the little ones played dead, as we had all learned to. We must no longer live like that. I picked it up, and it became my first companion on my quest for our liberation.”
—Scalina Squamatis
1/1
Staff of Whispers3
Artifact (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. 3, T: Choose a color. Add 1 mana of that color to your mana pool for each creature card of that color in your graveyard. "The magic of woods is born off the souls of our ancestors" - Jerug.
Jerug, the Whisperer of Death2WGB
Legendary Creature - Elf Wizard(M)
Whenever a creature deals combat damage to a player, you may have that creature's controller sacrifice it. That player draw cards equal to the sacrificed creature's power, then gains life equal to its toughness. "There is a fragile peace in these woods, one which I will strive to maintain at any cost." - Jerug
3/4
Round 1
Price of DesperationB
Enchantment (R)
You don't lose the game for having 0 or less life.
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. You lose life equal to its converted mana cost. If a nonblack is revealed this way, exile ~.
Round 2
Nefarious Tutor1BB
Sorcery(R)
As an additional cost to cast ~, sacrifice a creature.
Search your library for a card, reveal it and put it into your hand. If that card's converted mana cost is less than the sacrificed creature's converted mana cost you may search your library for a card named Nefarious Tutor, reveal it, put it into your hand then shuffle your library.
Round 3
Venomous Thoughts2RB
Enchantment (R)
Whenever an opponent draws a card, if that player has more cards in hand than you, that player gains a poison counter. 1, Discard a card: Target player draws a card. Any player may activate this ability.
That staff worries me a little. Any artifact that can generate more mana that it costs to cast it is always something to be watched closely. The fact that any color can use it seems a little off to me.
Ama Burda, the All-Pouch1WW
Legendary Creature - Kangaroo Shaman (R)
Vigilance
When Ama Burda, the All-Pouch dies, return to the battlefield all other permanent cards in your graveyard that were put there from the battlefield this turn.
2/2
Heartbreaking Choice3BB
Sorcery (U)
Choose two target creatures controlled by the same player. Their controller chooses and sacrifices one of them. Then that player loses life equal to the other creature's power. Ama's heart still beat, but her smile was buried with her husband's body.
Heart-Gate Locket2
Artifact - Equipment (R)
Hideaway (This artifact enters the battlefield tapped. When it does, look at the top four cards of your library, exile one face down, then put the rest on the bottom of your library.)
If equipped creature would be destroyed, instead remove all damage from it and destroy this Equipment. When you do, you may play the exiled card without paying its mana cost.
Equip 3
Strike the OppressiveW
Instant (U)
Exile target creature with power less than or equal to that creature's controller's life total minus your life total. "Never forget that there is a power greater than yours."
-Ama Burda, the All-Pouch
Sorry had to build a garden and entertain parents
What could be a more precious reminder of my lost husband than our only son, the freedom fighter...
Resolute RunnerRW
Creature - Kangaroo Rebel (R)
Haste
Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to you, put a +1/+1 counter on Resolute Runner.
2/2
That's... pretty endearing. I was worried that this might be a little powerful, but looking at Retaliator Griffin... it seems to fine.
Missing rarity. But seriously, this is a pretty cool card. the color combination is correct, but kinda awkward since UR decks don't tend to run very many creatures. Still, solid.
I wonder if there isn't a better way to word the effect. "Noncreature, nonland" is more awkward, but saves on space. In any case, 7 for a card that is effectively "X, : Draw X cards" seems a bit strong (especially since you'd obviously build your deck to maximize it). I feel like this would need testing, but might be passable.
This is interesting. It's both better and worse than Tumble Magnet and that saw play in both limited and standard. That being said, its applications are much narrower, which I guess justifies the lower cost. Very well put together.
I don't really get any flavor connection here, so I have to judge the card on its own merits. If it didn't cost it seems like it would break dredge in half, but as is, it just seems like an awkward mana rock. I mean, it has the potential to be really good, but it seems like you'd have to work so hard for it. I dunno how I feel about this.
I understand that your avatar is a dragon-lord and whatnot, but having a dragon as a memory of your first meeting with your love is... odd? The card itself is quite the beast, though I'm not sure where it stands. Looking at my namesake cardBalefire Dragon, yours deals less continuous damage, is slightly smaller, but has firebreathing and haste... It would need testing, but I feel like with its cost it might be print-able.
The card itself is fine, but I really don't like it very much. The ability is worthless while attacking, and doesn't prevent extraneous damage so it might as well just have allowed you to pump toughness. I also "get" why the activation is white, but it makes the card kind of awkward as a one-drop. I dunno, I guess I'm just not a fan.
NOOOOOO. FIRST THE FATHER, NOW THE BABY?!
This is an incredibly efficient beater. I might be tempted to change it to combat damage, but that might weaken it too much. Nice job.
Who is fated to continue, and who is doomed to dismissal...?
Fairly designed, simple but a bit plain. The flavor is confusing (a love of what indeed??), but it does suit the challenge. Also, bales on fire, I finally get it haha...
A good memory and a cool idea. Beefy in a burn deck, but the initial investment (and how it's a 4-drop) balance it out. The flavor, dang son. Very nice, really enjoy this one.
That is a hell of an EDH bomb. Really powerful and valuable hand-filling in decks (control?) that play a long, long game. I like the flavor, and it's certainly something you could spend eternity on, provided you out-ensorcell the last guy!
Charge counters are odd for lockpicks, but it's a good, simple design and a great common with savory flavory to boot. Sounds appropriate to the challenge, too, if a bit direct heh.
Probably doesn't need the tap for 1, and I'm inclined to color-restrict it as well. I don't think it's broken or anything, but certainly very high potential. Something to savor? Sure, if I was a lich I'd love to bathe in corpse mana, that sounds neat.
Beefy dragon who brings the beats, solid design but it's hard to impress with a dragon nowadays. There's just so many. You're wagering the memory of the horse she rode in on? Interesting... Not sure how I feel about it. Definitely something your protagonist values in diverse ways though.
Cute and clever 2-drop, RW aggro would love this guy and so do I. Also jesus what a thing to wager - sounds genuine to me.
1. NVRBLND
2. Gerrard's Mom
3. Zoomba
Honorable mention to all, this round was tough to pick.
Zoomba - Very solid combination of flavor and utility, this is a solid common for limited that probably wouldn't be a high pick but could be useful. Good Work
maxbutt - Very interesting design that fits well with your multicolored critter theme, I don't know if it screams "freedom" but the flavor does add a nice story
Ink-Treader - This is a very odd card, draw X is powerful but its high cost means it probably won't see much play outside of EDH. Also the drawbacks of not being a straight draw make it less exciting as you have to invest a lot of mana and it could whiff, the flavor is strong though
Antny - I like this a lot, it could potentially be very strong in the right deck and Johnny loves to build around this, the flavor is strong and it feels important
Balefire - Very good design, this would definitely fit into a Mirrodin-esque artifact block and could possibly be broken but isn't blatantly so. The flavor text could be stronger but I love the name
Gerrard's Mom - Giving up your own son is pretty brutal, props for feeling like the biggest sacrifice. The card is really good elegant design that would be played in almost all Boros aggro decks but it isn't broken either
Raikou Rider - Interesting take on the challenge but you did it very well. This is an EDH bomb that is fun and flavorful, and the "memory" or the crater causing itself is really cool
Top 3:
1. Gerrard's Mom
2. Raikou Rider
3. Antny223
Balefire
Flavor is pretty neat, it's a good niche mana rock. No complaints.
NVRBLND
I like the concept here, I assume you are making it rare. It might be undercosted, and would definitely be more fun as an ability on a creature itself, although it might be hard to word. Fun concept for your prompt.
Ink-Treader
Sweet words. I'm not sure it's quite mythic, but it is pretty nice draw for certain EDH decks. The choice of types is flavorful.
Zoomba
Fits the prompt well, but it needs a little oomph to even consider being played in Limited. If it added power or cost less to activate that would be nice. Limited filler is fine but compared to Prowler's Helm for example it would basically just make people mad.
Antny223
Pretty easy infinite mana rock is a good companion for immortality. It's a little bit weird for like blue to count creatures in its graveyard, wonder if just counting cards of that color and costing a bit more would have worked but this isn't bad.
RaikouRider
I suppose since you haven't made an actual dragon yet this is a good time for that. It does a lot of dragony things, but none of them are super new.
maximumbuttitude
It's kind of sad that this only works on defense, I like the off-color but I wish it dropped the tap, maybe adding more mana, so you could at least mount some offense with it. Seems like this could be a common, overall it's just bad regeneration.
Balefire
Broken--needs to enter the battlefield tapped or have some other way that you can't play other copies of it off itself.
NVRBLND
I would personally trigger this on the casting of a creature spell. Seems slightly strong as worded. Cool idea though!
Ink-Treader
Love the flavor of this card! Power level is strong but feels about right.
Zoomba
I like your flavor, but this seems really weak compared to say, Prowler's Helm. Should cost one mana.
Antny223
Definitely synergizes with your past submissions, and the 3 activation cost makes it fair.
Gerrard's Mom
Definitely powerful, and a pain to deal with in the aggro mirror. Balanced in that it's just a hasty bear in the control matchup.
maximumbuttitude
Wow, what a wonderful blocker! This guy can muck up the ground fast for just one mana. Would love this in any kind of big mana limited deck.
Chapter 5 – The Deal
What a night. You were not the only one who thought that taking out the competition before the game begins would be a good idea. The number of guests at the inn comes the morning is significantly lower than the number that was there the evening before. You can't help but take it as a good sign: Surely your survival means that fate is in your favor. You will win this game, you will get your heart's desire.
One of the jet-eyed attendants waits at your door as you leave your room. He signals you to follow and so you go down steps that you have not noticed before. Down and down you go, deep into the cliff. Torches in the walls on both sides provide ample light, but also cause the shadows to dance in a way that makes you nervous. You try to shake of the nervous feeling - You are not a child, after all – and yet the feeling lingers.
You come, at last, to a large room. Most of it is occupied by a table that seems to be craved from the rocks around you, as if it grew straight from the room's floor like a strange mushroom. The wall across from the door is a large mirror, reflecting your bewildered expression. One by one, the remaining pilgrims pile into the room and seat around the large table. There are only eight of you now. The wall-mirror shows the whole lot of you: A pale elf, a metal-casted human, a kangaroo-person, a sage-looking lizard, a decorated warrior, a serious looking vedalken, a gnarly troll and a changeling. You wonder how you stand compared to the others.
A man enters. His face is oddly familiar, but you are certain you never met him before. You'd remember meeting someone with eyes completely white. Unlike the attendants, it is clear that his eyes are not gems inserted into the sockets but rather his real actual eyes. The lack of pupil makes it impossible to know what he is looking at, but you get a distinct feeling that he is looking at everything at the same time.
The man seats, and speaks, his voice deep and tantalizing:
"And so you've made it, congratulations,
My warmest welcome and salutation.
This is a game, one unlike any other
a unique experience, as you might discover.
Win, and you heart's desire you'll receive
Lose, and all you've wagered you'll have to give.
And if you try and attempt to cheat,
then, friend, I do not envy the fate you'll meet. "
A deck of cards appears in his hand – or was it always there? Fate (for it is surly Fate himself, no?) shuffles it quickly.
"One last thing, before we begin.
To play the game you must buy in.
What I ask is simple, but may be a hard concession.
To play the game you must wager your most valued possession."
Your most valued possession? Can you truly give that up? You've had it for so long, and to go without it will sadden you, but if you win, will it matter? And can Fate really know what's your most valued possession? Could you give him something else of value to get in the game?
Challenge: Design a card to represent your most valued possession to buy in to the game. Your peers will judge its true value. If you fail to supply fate with your truest valued possession, you'll find yourself out of the game, or worse.
Zoomba and maximumbuttitude – You've always worked to get power, and you've climbed your way out of the very bottom. Your most valued possession is not of great worth to others, but it is important to you – it is a memoir of the first time you've climbed out of that bottomless pit and got a taste of success. (Just make sure it's not a planeswalker, anything else that fits the description is fine.)
Antny223 and Ink-Treader – Your whole life was geared to cheting death and living forever. You've kept something on the side to enjoy when you've achieved this goal. Something unique you were going to savor for many years as you live forever. It won't be the same without it, but if giving it up means you get a chance to never die, then there is really no other option (Again, anything but a planeswalker that fits this description is good. )
Balefire and Gerrard's Mom – Your loved one goes with you, wherever you go, but over time it has become harder and harder to remember the little details. That's why to kept a reminder of them. It might not be big, or of any importance to others, but for you it means the world. Could you really give up the last remnant of your loved one? (Anything but a planeswalker that makes sense as a reminder of your loved one will do)
NVRBLND and RaikouRider – Ah, soon you will prove your love and win the game. Soon, a bright future will emerge for you and your darling. But for now, you must make a concession. What is your most valued possession? Surely nothing is worth enough compared to a lifetime with your one true love. No, the more you think about it, the more you realize that your most valued possession is not a physical object, but rather a memory: the first time you laid eyes on your love. You still recall it vividly, and think about it every day. Can you give up this one, perfect memory for a chance of happiness? (Anything that symbolizes this memory and is not a planeswalker is acceptable).
Deadline for submission is April 28th, when Sunday becomes Monday in Philadelphia.
Good luck
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
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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
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Artifact {U}
: Add to your mana pool. Spend
this mana only to cast artifacts spells
or or activate abilities of artifacts.
"An everlasting token of love.
But a love of what?"
Legendary Artifact Creature - Human Artificer {R}
, Discard an artifact card: Search your library
for an artifact card with converted mana cost less than
or equal to the discarded card's converted mana cost, reveal
that card, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
Hundreds of gizmos. Thousands of parts. One solution.
1/3
Instant {C}
Choose one - Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature; or
destroy target creature with a -1/-1 counter on it.
Entwine 3 (Choose both if you pay the entwine cost.)
Artfact {U}
Imprint — , : Exile target card in
your graveyard, then return each other card exiled with
Forgotten Locket to your graveyard.
, , Sacrifice Forgotten Locket: Return
the exiled card to your hand
Memories can be forgotten, but never lost.
Instant {R}
Exile target creature. Put an artifact token
onto the battlefield that has all activated
abilities of that creature.
"Talents are wasted in the hands of simpletons -
My machines are better built, and more efficient."
Enchantment
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may cast an instant or sorcery spell with converted mana cost equal to or less than that creature's from your hand without paying its mana cost.
As she entered the room some men's hearts burned with the intensity of the sun, others went cold as ice, but all noticed her arrival.
Signature by DarkNightCavalier at Heroes of the Plane Studios
Empyrean Almagest 7
Legendary Artifact (M)
X, T: Reveal the top X cards of your library. Put all artifact, enchantment, instant, and sorcery cards revealed this way into your hand, then put the rest of the cards into your graveyard.
"I believe the record is reading three of the tomes. The lich's spell failed before the pages did."
-Dhat, mortal and terrified of it
It's a common occurrence. Going up against GMom in the last round, that is.
Choose one of these judge of creation:
Make Strionic Resonator shine!
You can not grasp the true form of Ashiok's attack!
Fate does not care what cause has brought you to his game, only that you'll pay. There are no 1v1s at this point. The top scoring plyers will move to the next round, the rest will be eliminated.
EDIT: and besides, last time you went 1v1 versus GM on a CCL I hosted you won, so quit whining :).
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
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I'm not whining. I just want to be fwends. :3
Staff of Whispers3
Artifact (R)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
3, T: Choose a color. Add 1 mana of that color to your mana pool for each creature card of that color in your graveyard.
"The magic of woods is born off the souls of our ancestors" - Jerug.
Legendary Creature - Elf Wizard(M)
Whenever a creature deals combat damage to a player, you may have that creature's controller sacrifice it. That player draw cards equal to the sacrificed creature's power, then gains life equal to its toughness.
"There is a fragile peace in these woods, one which I will strive to maintain at any cost." - Jerug
3/4
Round 1
Price of DesperationB
Enchantment (R)
You don't lose the game for having 0 or less life.
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. You lose life equal to its converted mana cost. If a nonblack is revealed this way, exile ~.
Round 2
Nefarious Tutor1BB
Sorcery(R)
As an additional cost to cast ~, sacrifice a creature.
Search your library for a card, reveal it and put it into your hand. If that card's converted mana cost is less than the sacrificed creature's converted mana cost you may search your library for a card named Nefarious Tutor, reveal it, put it into your hand then shuffle your library.
Round 3
Venomous Thoughts 2RB
Enchantment (R)
Whenever an opponent draws a card, if that player has more cards in hand than you, that player gains a poison counter.
1, Discard a card: Target player draws a card. Any player may activate this ability.
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior Shaman {M}
As long as you control a Dragon creature, Ace, Ultimate Predator gets +2/+2 and has flying.
2RG, Tap an untapped Dragon creature you control: That creature deals damage equal to its power to another target creature.
Hunting from dragonback, Ace is the most feared predator in all of Jund.
3/3
Legendary Creature - Human Shaman {R}
When Hykka, Outland Dragonstoker enters the battlefield, search your library for a Dragon card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
T: Reveal any number of Dragon cards from your hand. Dragon spells you cast this turn cost 1 less to cast for each card revealed this way.
Ace loves Hykka as much as his dragons. Hykka knows that when two predators meet in Jund, only one leaves alive.
1/2
Enchantment {U}
1R, Discard a card: Draw a card.
Hykka's fearlessness and talent overwhelmed Ace, the rider nearly losing his life to an entire storm of dragons at his love's command. Feeling it was the only way to impress her, Ace started scouring the skies, searching for the strongest, fastest, and most vicious dragon in all of Jund.
Sorcery {R}
Target creature you control deals damage equal to its power to each other creature and each player.
During the Sundering of Alara, the Worldheart Dragon was sealed away within a sangrite cache. No shaman in Jund dares enter the volcano the most powerful dragon ever to soar Jund's skies sleeps in.
Crater Hellkite 6RR
Creature - Dragon {R}
Flying, haste
When Crater Hellkite enters the battlefield, it deals 5 damage to each other creature.
R: Crater Hellkite gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
Armored with magma-resistant scales, it can dive into a volcanic crater, then ride a violent eruption outward and ram its prey with speed even other dragons have no hope to match.
5/5
Edit: Adding a render because I found amazing art for this!
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Legendary Creature - Lizard Shaman (R)
1R: Target Lizard or Snake creature you control gains provoke until end of turn.
1BG, Sacrifice a creature: Return target Lizard or Snake creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
“My brethren have been shunned, disrespected, and tormented for millennia. Now is our time. Our supremacy shall be known.”
3/2
Land (R)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
1WU, T, Tap an untapped Human creature you control: Put a collar counter on target non-Human creature.
Prevent all damage that would be dealt by creatures with collar counters on them.
“First rule, recruits: If it doesn’t look like you, it’s subhuman. Apply electroshock liberally.”
Legendary Creature - Fungus Zombie (R)
Hexproof
2, Exile a card from your hand: Search your library for a card, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it. Then put the exiled card on top of your library.
A colony that extends to every corner of the Festering Necropolis, it's rumored that breathing Gormuos' spores brings both terrible amnesia and powerful insight.
0/6
Enchantment — Aura (U)
Enchant creature
When Portrait of Weakness enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on enchanted creature.
Whenever enchanted creature attacks or blocks, put a -1/-1 counter on it.
“Show the most powerful man in the world his own flaws, and he self-destructs. They always do.”
—Scalina Squamatis
Hognose Snake G
Creature — Snake (U)
W, T: Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by Hognose Snake this turn.
“Even outside the walls, the little ones played dead, as we had all learned to. We must no longer live like that. I picked it up, and it became my first companion on my quest for our liberation.”
—Scalina Squamatis
1/1
Legendary Creature - Kangaroo Shaman (R)
Vigilance
When Ama Burda, the All-Pouch dies, return to the battlefield all other permanent cards in your graveyard that were put there from the battlefield this turn.
2/2
Heartbreaking Choice 3BB
Sorcery (U)
Choose two target creatures controlled by the same player. Their controller chooses and sacrifices one of them. Then that player loses life equal to the other creature's power.
Ama's heart still beat, but her smile was buried with her husband's body.
Heart-Gate Locket 2
Artifact - Equipment (R)
Hideaway (This artifact enters the battlefield tapped. When it does, look at the top four cards of your library, exile one face down, then put the rest on the bottom of your library.)
If equipped creature would be destroyed, instead remove all damage from it and destroy this Equipment. When you do, you may play the exiled card without paying its mana cost.
Equip 3
Strike the Oppressive W
Instant (U)
Exile target creature with power less than or equal to that creature's controller's life total minus your life total.
"Never forget that there is a power greater than yours."
-Ama Burda, the All-Pouch
What could be a more precious reminder of my lost husband than our only son, the freedom fighter...
Resolute Runner RW
Creature - Kangaroo Rebel (R)
Haste
Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to you, put a +1/+1 counter on Resolute Runner.
2/2
Everyone judges everyone else.
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
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I've got tons of art from the web. Want art for a render? PM me! Want to create your own collection? Start here!
Excellent flavor. I wonder if the activated ability could lose the mana cost...
Interesting enchantment. Doesn't seem too unbalanced.
Seems appropriately costed. "A love of what?" indeed...
Yep. Dragon. A terrifying one at that. One would be hard pressed to find a more impressive one.
Interesting flavor. Seems balanced too.
That staff worries me a little. Any artifact that can generate more mana that it costs to cast it is always something to be watched closely. The fact that any color can use it seems a little off to me.
That's... pretty endearing. I was worried that this might be a little powerful, but looking at Retaliator Griffin... it seems to fine.
1. Zoomba
2. Gerrard's Mom
3. Balefire
Choose one of these judge of creation:
Make Strionic Resonator shine!
You can not grasp the true form of Ashiok's attack!
my namesake cardBalefire Dragon, yours deals less continuous damage, is slightly smaller, but has firebreathing and haste... It would need testing, but I feel like with its cost it might be print-able.This is an incredibly efficient beater. I might be tempted to change it to combat damage, but that might weaken it too much. Nice job.
2. Zoomba
3. NVRBLND
2. Gerrard's Mom
3. Zoomba
Honorable mention to all, this round was tough to pick.
maxbutt - Very interesting design that fits well with your multicolored critter theme, I don't know if it screams "freedom" but the flavor does add a nice story
Ink-Treader - This is a very odd card, draw X is powerful but its high cost means it probably won't see much play outside of EDH. Also the drawbacks of not being a straight draw make it less exciting as you have to invest a lot of mana and it could whiff, the flavor is strong though
Antny - I like this a lot, it could potentially be very strong in the right deck and Johnny loves to build around this, the flavor is strong and it feels important
Balefire - Very good design, this would definitely fit into a Mirrodin-esque artifact block and could possibly be broken but isn't blatantly so. The flavor text could be stronger but I love the name
Gerrard's Mom - Giving up your own son is pretty brutal, props for feeling like the biggest sacrifice. The card is really good elegant design that would be played in almost all Boros aggro decks but it isn't broken either
Raikou Rider - Interesting take on the challenge but you did it very well. This is an EDH bomb that is fun and flavorful, and the "memory" or the crater causing itself is really cool
Top 3:
1. Gerrard's Mom
2. Raikou Rider
3. Antny223
Signature by DarkNightCavalier at Heroes of the Plane Studios
Flavor is pretty neat, it's a good niche mana rock. No complaints.
NVRBLND
I like the concept here, I assume you are making it rare. It might be undercosted, and would definitely be more fun as an ability on a creature itself, although it might be hard to word. Fun concept for your prompt.
Ink-Treader
Sweet words. I'm not sure it's quite mythic, but it is pretty nice draw for certain EDH decks. The choice of types is flavorful.
Zoomba
Fits the prompt well, but it needs a little oomph to even consider being played in Limited. If it added power or cost less to activate that would be nice. Limited filler is fine but compared to Prowler's Helm for example it would basically just make people mad.
Antny223
Pretty easy infinite mana rock is a good companion for immortality. It's a little bit weird for like blue to count creatures in its graveyard, wonder if just counting cards of that color and costing a bit more would have worked but this isn't bad.
RaikouRider
I suppose since you haven't made an actual dragon yet this is a good time for that. It does a lot of dragony things, but none of them are super new.
maximumbuttitude
It's kind of sad that this only works on defense, I like the off-color but I wish it dropped the tap, maybe adding more mana, so you could at least mount some offense with it. Seems like this could be a common, overall it's just bad regeneration.
2. Balefire
3. Ink-Treader
Broken--needs to enter the battlefield tapped or have some other way that you can't play other copies of it off itself.
NVRBLND
I would personally trigger this on the casting of a creature spell. Seems slightly strong as worded. Cool idea though!
Ink-Treader
Love the flavor of this card! Power level is strong but feels about right.
Zoomba
I like your flavor, but this seems really weak compared to say, Prowler's Helm. Should cost one mana.
Antny223
Definitely synergizes with your past submissions, and the 3 activation cost makes it fair.
Gerrard's Mom
Definitely powerful, and a pain to deal with in the aggro mirror. Balanced in that it's just a hasty bear in the control matchup.
maximumbuttitude
Wow, what a wonderful blocker! This guy can muck up the ground fast for just one mana. Would love this in any kind of big mana limited deck.
t3:
1) maximumbuttitude
2) Gerrard's Mom
3) Ink-Treader
Most of the submissions were wonderful. Be proud of yourselves.
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Balefire: Seems worst than Sol Ring (not that sol ring isn't powerful).
NVRBLND: Interesting, I'd want to try it out and that's all that really matters.
Ink-Treader: This might too costly to see play, but I love the effect.
Raikou Rider: It's a dragon, and at eight mana I can't get too excited.
MaximumButtitude: Nice idea, could use a little vigilance.
Gerrards Mom: Haste feels like the wrong choice to go with the ability.
Zoomba: Love the flavour.
Top 3:
1. Ink-Treader
2. NVRBLND
3. Zoomba
Zoomba
Gerrard's Mom
NVRBLND
Ink-Treader
Next round will probably be up only later today.
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!