January MCC 2019 Round 4 - Throughout the Universe Displayed
It's Divinity Month in the MCC this time around.
Main Challenge: Design a card whose rules text contains the phrase "without paying its mana cost" or "without paying their mana costs."
Subchallenge 1: Your card has a mandatory or optional additional cost to cast it. Subchallenge 2: Your card is not mythic rare.
Subchallenge 1: Bankrupt in Blood has a mandatory additional cost. Urza's Rage has an optional additional cost (in this case, kicker).
Design Deadline: All submissions are to be final and submitted by February 5th 11:59 PM EST
Judging Deadline: All judgements are to be final and completed by February 8th 11:59 PM EST
Design - (X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card? (X/3) Elegance: Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development - (X/3) Viability: How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity? (X/3) Balance: Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity - (X/3) Uniqueness: Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel “fresh”? (X/3) Flavor: Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish - (X/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating. (X/2) *Main Challenge: Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge? (X/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Iron Effigy
Artifact Creature - Construct (R)
As an additional cost to cast ~, sacrifice an artifact or creature.
Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to ~, each opponent reveals the top two cards of his or her library. You may cast a creature card revealed this way without paying its mana cost. Made to be broken.
1/3
Propulsion Mage1UR
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
As an additional cost to cast Propulsion Mage, discard a card.
Haste
Whenever Propulsion Mage deals combat damage to a player, you may cast target instant or sorcery card with a converted mana cost 2 or less from your graveyard without paying its mana cost. If you do, exile it. "Not fast enough!"
2/3
I missed the deadline indeed, feel free to include this in your judgements or not.
Gregarious Instinct2GU
Enchantment (r)
You may cast creature spells with the same name as a creature you control without paying their mana costs. Birds of a feather...
I missed the deadline indeed, feel free to include this in your judgements or not.
Gregarious Instinct2GU
Enchantment (r)
You may cast creature spells with the same name as a creature you control without paying their mana costs. Birds of a feather...
FOUL! You can't submit a card after the deadline! What kind of shenanigans is the MCC promoting these days!!!? I will not stand for this, I tell you....
...wait. That's not very gregarious of me, is it? Oh. Never mind, then.
Seriously, I don't understand why no one just used a plain old kicker
Iron Effigy
Artifact Creature - Construct (R)
As an additional cost to cast ~, sacrifice an artifact or creature.
Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to ~, each opponent reveals the top two cards of his or her library. You may cast a creature card revealed this way without paying its mana cost. Made to be broken.
1/3
Design - (1/3) Appeal: The lack of control on results scares off everyone but Timmy, even in multiplayer. (1.5/3) Elegance: Additional cost to cast a creature needs more explanation for me. That's not how Magic does things normally. Also, the flavor text says about breaking. Meanwhile, it's enough to scratch it to activate, but Shattering it does nothing.
Development - (2/3) Viability: Color Pie and rarity OK. You didn't say what to do with the rest of the cards, and it's unspoken rule that if there are more than one cards from a library revealed or looked at, you can't assume that they won't change their positions during the action and you need to say what to do with them later. This card is not a good place to break this rule. (1.5/3) Balance: I'm quite sure that this card is quite weak, however, it looks really annoying, making each creature with power 1 or 2 virtually unable to attack for mere one mana (even if not in the first turn usually). Combination of "weak, but looks strong and annoying" is a wrong place to be.
Creativity - (2.5/3) Uniqueness: If you remove things that Magic usually doesn't do, you are left with a creature casting creatures from opponent's library. sounds quite new to me, but not totally unheard of (Etali, Primal Storm). (2/3) Flavor: One card enters, many others leave? I don't see how this card is supposed to work.
Polish - (2/3) Quality: ~ is banned here. (2/2) Main Challenge: OK (2/2) Subchallenges: OK
Total: 16.5/25
Propulsion Mage1UR
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
As an additional cost to cast Propulsion Mage, discard a card.
Haste
Whenever Propulsion Mage deals combat damage to a player, you may cast target instant or sorcery card with a converted mana cost 2 or less from your graveyard without paying its mana cost. If you do, exile it. "Not fast enough!"
2/3 Design - (1.5/3) Appeal: Johnny is happy with this card, but Timmy and Spike are only mildly interested. (2.5/3) Elegance: Magic doesn't do additional costs this way. Bloodrage Brawler is the way to do it, and I don't see any gains from your way. It's obviously to fill a subchallenge.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: Rules OK. This card is easily monored, which is wrong. You could probably make it an uncommon, but rare works too. (2.5/3) Balance: One problem with this card is it being a TERRIBLE topdeck.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Aside for additional cost, casting sorceries from your graveyard is nothing new, but doing it on damage with haste is quite new. (2.5/3) Flavor: Flavor's all right, but lacks some oomph.
Polish - (2/3) Quality: with a converted mana cost. Also, if you exile it, it won't resolve, you wanted "If that card would be put into your graveyard this turn, exile it instead." here. Basically, Goblin Dark-Dwllers. (2/2) Main Challenge: OK (2/2) Subchallenges: OK
Total: 19.5/25
Gregarious Instinct2GU
Enchantment (r)
You may cast creature spells with the same name as a creature you control without paying their mana costs. Birds of a feather...
Design - (1.5/3) Appeal: Johnny is going wild with imagination. Spike is interested only if Johnny finds a good combo for it, otherwise, it's just do-nothing enchantment. Timmy is rather looking for diversity than for the copies of the same card, even if there's a possibility for some crazy turn. (3/3) Elegance: Short, understandable text. Perfectly works in flavor.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Rarity and rules work. Limited creature Omniscience is new, but GU sounds right. (2.5/3) Balance: This card is purely a combo piece, which is always scary. However, it sounds like a quite complicated, junky combo, which is fine. I have no idea how fair are those points.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Very new and potentially interesting card. (3/3) Flavor: Well, I'm not native English speaker, and I had to check what gregarious means. And that's an advantage for me, I like learning new words from Magic cards. The name fits the flavor and mechanics very well.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: No issues found. (2/2) Main Challenge: OK (1/2) Subchallenges: No additional costs.
Iron Effigy
Artifact Creature - Construct (R)
As an additional cost to cast ~, sacrifice an artifact or creature.
Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to ~, each opponent reveals the top two cards of his or her library. You may cast a creature card revealed this way without paying its mana cost. Made to be broken.
1/3
Design - (1/3) Appeal: Spike passes. Probably too much work to bother for Johnny. Timmy may use it for lulz, yet again, the price of sacrificing is not 100% for him. (3/3) Elegance: See no problems.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Many things can be done in colorless for high cost. The cost is not high, but sacrifice can pass for pseudo-red I guess. Rare is fine. (2/3) Balance: A card that involves randomness this way is something I can't call perfectly balanced.
Creativity - (2,5/3) Uniqueness: Free casting is known, but being done this way, this is unique enough. (2/3) Flavor: Kinda abstract for me. I'd like to say I didn't get it. Maybe the problem is on my side, but maybe the flavor is just not edtablished very well.
Polish - (1,5/3) Quality: "~" is not acceptable IIRC and "his or her" was changed to "their". Also another extra space between words. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Yes. (2/2) Subchallenges: Yes.
Total: 19/25
Propulsion Mage1UR
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
As an additional cost to cast Propulsion Mage, discard a card.
Haste
Whenever Propulsion Mage deals combat damage to a player, you may cast target instant or sorcery card with a converted mana cost 2 or less from your graveyard without paying its mana cost. If you do, exile it. "Not fast enough!"
2/3
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Spike and Johnny can use it, Timmy is less interested thanks to restrictions. (3/3) Elegance: Understandable and makes sense.
Development - (3/3) Viability: This can be Izzet and this is rare. (2/3) Balance: Should be more oppressive with such cost and restrictions I guess. Wildfire Eternal comes to mind. Also I'd prefer prowess or some sort of evasion instead of haste.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Actually, there are lot of cards that allow you to cast things for free after damaging the opponent. Even from the graveyard. But of course, not EXACTLY like that. (2,5/3) Flavor: I'd like to say the flavor text doesn't make much sense for me, everything else is okay.
Polish - (2/3) Quality: "As an additional cost to cast this spell", "with converted mana cost". Not quite sure if "If you do, eile it" right or wrong, but flashback exists so I'll let it pass. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Yes. (2/2) Subchallenges: Yes.
Total: 20,5/25
Gregarious Instinct2GU
Enchantment (r)
You may cast creature spells with the same name as a creature you control without paying their mana costs. Birds of a feather...
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Johnny would gladly play it, Spike and Timmy like free stuff but it depends. (3/3) Elegance: Very clear.
Development - (3/3) Viability: It looks like something that GU could do. Rare is fine. (2/3) Balance: Being a combo piece always lowers the card's potential. It just can't do anything on its own. Would I like to open it at Limited? Probably not. Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Can't think about anything similar which is surprising. (2,5/3) Flavor: I'd like to avoid "..." in flavor texts when it's not someone's quote, and even more when the flavor text is a proverb.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Perfect. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Yes. (1/2) Subchallenges: Only second subchallenge is satisfied.
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Given how costly in terms of the sacrifice and easy to whiff this card is, Spike is not interested. Timmy and Johnny probably are, however. (1.5/3) Elegance: Quite wordy, the alt-cost seems tacked on, and not being able to get an artifact despite being able to sacrifice one offends me on some small level.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Feels like one of those wacky dumb old artifact rares. (2.5/3) Balance: Not OP, but definitely swingy. I can understand feeling bad losing to such a thing.
Creativity - (2.5/3) Uniqueness: Similar precedent exists but nothing exact. (1.5/3) Flavor: Name and flavor text don't go together; why iron if you're supposed to break it? Maybe more like a "Ceramic Effigy"? Also not getting what the additional cost has to do with the flavor.
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Kind of an all-rounder because who doesn't like free spells? (2/3) Elegance: A relatively wordy effect coupled with the additional cost wrinkle; it is functionally different from a "when this ETBs, sacrifice it unless" trigger, yes, but not punishing you for having the spell countered, allowing you to blink the card to fill your graveyard, and allowing you to cast if if you can't pay the cost and sacrifice it intentionally seem like features rather than bugs.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Colors and rarity seem okay. (2/3) Balance: Timing restriction certainly helps but free flashback is always concerning, even only for cheap spells (after all...).
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Variant with multiple unique elements of a well-trodden effect. (2.5/3) Flavor: Something's just not clicking; "Propulsion" doesn't seem quite like the right word for cast-from-graveyard, and the flavor text ties in with the haste but not as well with the triggered ability.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: "with converted mana cost", no "a". (2/2) *Main Challenge: Done. (2/2) Subchallenges: And done.
Total: 21/25
Design - (3/3) Appeal: All-rounder - Lots of people like tribal decks, and only EDH players would be disapponted - and even then... (3/3) Elegance: Very neat little line of text.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: Colors perfect. This seems like it could or should be a mythic if not for the subchallenge but rare isn't beyond the pale. (2/3) Balance: Definitely takes setup but definitely seems abuseable.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Lots of spell-free-making enchantments out there from Aluren to Omniscience but this is a quite neat take. (3/3) Flavor: Spot-on.
January MCC 2019 Round 4 - Throughout the Universe Displayed
It's Divinity Month in the MCC this time around.
Main Challenge: Design a card whose rules text contains the phrase "without paying its mana cost" or "without paying their mana costs."
Subchallenge 1: Your card has a mandatory or optional additional cost to cast it.
Subchallenge 2: Your card is not mythic rare.
Judging Deadline: All judgements are to be final and completed by February 8th 11:59 PM EST
(X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
(X/3) Elegance: Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development -
(X/3) Viability: How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity?
(X/3) Balance: Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity -
(X/3) Uniqueness: Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel “fresh”?
(X/3) Flavor: Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish -
(X/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(X/2) *Main Challenge: Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
(X/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
void_nothing
Superbajt
Raptorchan
Contestants:
IcariiFA
Hemlock
Cantripmancer
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Artifact Creature - Construct (R)
As an additional cost to cast ~, sacrifice an artifact or creature.
Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to ~, each opponent reveals the top two cards of his or her library. You may cast a creature card revealed this way without paying its mana cost.
Made to be broken.
1/3
Artist: Anato Finnstark
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
As an additional cost to cast Propulsion Mage, discard a card.
Haste
Whenever Propulsion Mage deals combat damage to a player, you may cast target instant or sorcery card with a converted mana cost 2 or less from your graveyard without paying its mana cost. If you do, exile it.
"Not fast enough!"
2/3
Gregarious Instinct 2GU
Enchantment (r)
You may cast creature spells with the same name as a creature you control without paying their mana costs.
Birds of a feather...
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
...wait. That's not very gregarious of me, is it? Oh. Never mind, then.
Artifact Creature - Construct (R)
As an additional cost to cast ~, sacrifice an artifact or creature.
Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to ~, each opponent reveals the top two cards of his or her library. You may cast a creature card revealed this way without paying its mana cost.
Made to be broken.
1/3
Design -
(1/3) Appeal: The lack of control on results scares off everyone but Timmy, even in multiplayer.
(1.5/3) Elegance: Additional cost to cast a creature needs more explanation for me. That's not how Magic does things normally. Also, the flavor text says about breaking. Meanwhile, it's enough to scratch it to activate, but Shattering it does nothing.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: Color Pie and rarity OK. You didn't say what to do with the rest of the cards, and it's unspoken rule that if there are more than one cards from a library revealed or looked at, you can't assume that they won't change their positions during the action and you need to say what to do with them later. This card is not a good place to break this rule.
(1.5/3) Balance: I'm quite sure that this card is quite weak, however, it looks really annoying, making each creature with power 1 or 2 virtually unable to attack for mere one mana (even if not in the first turn usually). Combination of "weak, but looks strong and annoying" is a wrong place to be.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: If you remove things that Magic usually doesn't do, you are left with a creature casting creatures from opponent's library. sounds quite new to me, but not totally unheard of (Etali, Primal Storm).
(2/3) Flavor: One card enters, many others leave? I don't see how this card is supposed to work.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: ~ is banned here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: OK
(2/2) Subchallenges: OK
Total: 16.5/25
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
As an additional cost to cast Propulsion Mage, discard a card.
Haste
Whenever Propulsion Mage deals combat damage to a player, you may cast target instant or sorcery card with a converted mana cost 2 or less from your graveyard without paying its mana cost. If you do, exile it.
"Not fast enough!"
2/3
Design -
(1.5/3) Appeal: Johnny is happy with this card, but Timmy and Spike are only mildly interested.
(2.5/3) Elegance: Magic doesn't do additional costs this way. Bloodrage Brawler is the way to do it, and I don't see any gains from your way. It's obviously to fill a subchallenge.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Rules OK. This card is easily monored, which is wrong. You could probably make it an uncommon, but rare works too.
(2.5/3) Balance: One problem with this card is it being a TERRIBLE topdeck.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Aside for additional cost, casting sorceries from your graveyard is nothing new, but doing it on damage with haste is quite new.
(2.5/3) Flavor: Flavor's all right, but lacks some oomph.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: with
aconverted mana cost. Also, if you exile it, it won't resolve, you wanted "If that card would be put into your graveyard this turn, exile it instead." here. Basically, Goblin Dark-Dwllers.(2/2) Main Challenge: OK
(2/2) Subchallenges: OK
Total: 19.5/25
Enchantment (r)
You may cast creature spells with the same name as a creature you control without paying their mana costs.
Birds of a feather...
Design -
(1.5/3) Appeal: Johnny is going wild with imagination. Spike is interested only if Johnny finds a good combo for it, otherwise, it's just do-nothing enchantment. Timmy is rather looking for diversity than for the copies of the same card, even if there's a possibility for some crazy turn.
(3/3) Elegance: Short, understandable text. Perfectly works in flavor.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Rarity and rules work. Limited creature Omniscience is new, but GU sounds right.
(2.5/3) Balance: This card is purely a combo piece, which is always scary. However, it sounds like a quite complicated, junky combo, which is fine. I have no idea how fair are those points.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Very new and potentially interesting card.
(3/3) Flavor: Well, I'm not native English speaker, and I had to check what gregarious means. And that's an advantage for me, I like learning new words from Magic cards. The name fits the flavor and mechanics very well.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: No issues found.
(2/2) Main Challenge: OK
(1/2) Subchallenges: No additional costs.
Total: 22/25
IcariiFA 19.5
Hemlock 22
Artifact Creature - Construct (R)
As an additional cost to cast ~, sacrifice an artifact or creature.
Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to ~, each opponent reveals the top two cards of his or her library. You may cast a creature card revealed this way without paying its mana cost.
Made to be broken.
1/3
Design -
(1/3) Appeal: Spike passes. Probably too much work to bother for Johnny. Timmy may use it for lulz, yet again, the price of sacrificing is not 100% for him.
(3/3) Elegance: See no problems.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Many things can be done in colorless for high cost. The cost is not high, but sacrifice can pass for pseudo-red I guess. Rare is fine.
(2/3) Balance: A card that involves randomness this way is something I can't call perfectly balanced.
Creativity -
(2,5/3) Uniqueness: Free casting is known, but being done this way, this is unique enough.
(2/3) Flavor: Kinda abstract for me. I'd like to say I didn't get it. Maybe the problem is on my side, but maybe the flavor is just not edtablished very well.
Polish -
(1,5/3) Quality: "~" is not acceptable IIRC and "his or her" was changed to "their". Also another extra space between words.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yes.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yes.
Total: 19/25
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
As an additional cost to cast Propulsion Mage, discard a card.
Haste
Whenever Propulsion Mage deals combat damage to a player, you may cast target instant or sorcery card with a converted mana cost 2 or less from your graveyard without paying its mana cost. If you do, exile it.
"Not fast enough!"
2/3
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Spike and Johnny can use it, Timmy is less interested thanks to restrictions.
(3/3) Elegance: Understandable and makes sense.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: This can be Izzet and this is rare.
(2/3) Balance: Should be more oppressive with such cost and restrictions I guess. Wildfire Eternal comes to mind. Also I'd prefer prowess or some sort of evasion instead of haste.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Actually, there are lot of cards that allow you to cast things for free after damaging the opponent. Even from the graveyard. But of course, not EXACTLY like that.
(2,5/3) Flavor: I'd like to say the flavor text doesn't make much sense for me, everything else is okay.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: "As an additional cost to cast this spell", "with converted mana cost". Not quite sure if "If you do, eile it" right or wrong, but flashback exists so I'll let it pass.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yes.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yes.
Total: 20,5/25
Enchantment (r)
You may cast creature spells with the same name as a creature you control without paying their mana costs.
Birds of a feather...
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny would gladly play it, Spike and Timmy like free stuff but it depends.
(3/3) Elegance: Very clear.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: It looks like something that GU could do. Rare is fine.
(2/3) Balance: Being a combo piece always lowers the card's potential. It just can't do anything on its own. Would I like to open it at Limited? Probably not.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Can't think about anything similar which is surprising.
(2,5/3) Flavor: I'd like to avoid "..." in flavor texts when it's not someone's quote, and even more when the flavor text is a proverb.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Perfect.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yes.
(1/2) Subchallenges: Only second subchallenge is satisfied.
Total: 21,5/25
IcariiFA 20,5
Hemlock 21,5
(2/3) Appeal: Given how costly in terms of the sacrifice and easy to whiff this card is, Spike is not interested. Timmy and Johnny probably are, however.
(1.5/3) Elegance: Quite wordy, the alt-cost seems tacked on, and not being able to get an artifact despite being able to sacrifice one offends me on some small level.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Feels like one of those wacky dumb old artifact rares.
(2.5/3) Balance: Not OP, but definitely swingy. I can understand feeling bad losing to such a thing.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Similar precedent exists but nothing exact.
(1.5/3) Flavor: Name and flavor text don't go together; why iron if you're supposed to break it? Maybe more like a "Ceramic Effigy"? Also not getting what the additional cost has to do with the flavor.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: "Their library".
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges: And done.
Total: 19.5/25
(3/3) Appeal: Kind of an all-rounder because who doesn't like free spells?
(2/3) Elegance: A relatively wordy effect coupled with the additional cost wrinkle; it is functionally different from a "when this ETBs, sacrifice it unless" trigger, yes, but not punishing you for having the spell countered, allowing you to blink the card to fill your graveyard, and allowing you to cast if if you can't pay the cost and sacrifice it intentionally seem like features rather than bugs.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Colors and rarity seem okay.
(2/3) Balance: Timing restriction certainly helps but free flashback is always concerning, even only for cheap spells (after all...).
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Variant with multiple unique elements of a well-trodden effect.
(2.5/3) Flavor: Something's just not clicking; "Propulsion" doesn't seem quite like the right word for cast-from-graveyard, and the flavor text ties in with the haste but not as well with the triggered ability.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: "with converted mana cost", no "a".
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges: And done.
Total: 21/25
(3/3) Appeal: All-rounder - Lots of people like tribal decks, and only EDH players would be disapponted - and even then...
(3/3) Elegance: Very neat little line of text.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Colors perfect. This seems like it could or should be a mythic if not for the subchallenge but rare isn't beyond the pale.
(2/3) Balance: Definitely takes setup but definitely seems abuseable.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Lots of spell-free-making enchantments out there from Aluren to Omniscience but this is a quite neat take.
(3/3) Flavor: Spot-on.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looking good.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges: And done.
Total: 22.5/25
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
IcariiFA 19.5 + 20.5 + 21 = 61
Cantripmancer 16.5 + 19.5 + 19.5 = 55.5
Congrats to Hemlock!
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝