The goal is for the effect to copy a spell that targets the creature (even if that spell is itself a copy), hopefully chaining onto other Communal creatures for maximum value, but preventing an infinite loop with itself or other Communal creatures or from copying further spells cast that turn.
So, for example, if you have two Sylvan Bards, and you target one of them with Giant Growth, you can copy the Giant Growth and target the second Sylvan Bard with it, but you can't copy the copy (unless there is a creature on the battlefield that hasn't communed that turn).
Sylvan Bard (Common) G
Creature - Elf
1/2
Communal (This creature communes whenever it becomes the target of an instant or sorcery spell that targets only this creature. You may copy that spell and choose a target you control that hasn’t communed this turn for the copy.)
Ah, thanks for the idea. I've managed to shorten it even further, but am still hopeful that it can be shortened even more. The version below is six lines of reminder text on MSE - more like 5 1/2 really. I'd like to lose the "half-a-line" that's on the sixth line. I changed it to this because I realize that the prototype allowed my opponents to force my creatures to commune and allowed me to copy their Shocks back to their creatures. It also now triggers from spells with multiple targets, but I don't think that will be a problem since the creature will commune before resolution of the spell, thereby preventing infinite loop shenanigans.
Communal 3.0:
Communal (This creature communes whenever it becomes the target of an instant or sorcery spell you control. Copy that spell and choose a target you control that hasn’t communed this turn for the copy.)
EDIT: If the creature has an additional ability that is only one line of text, such as Vigilance, then the reminder text shrinks to 5 even lines and looks pretty nice. The previous version was still six lines of reminder text even with the additional line of rules text.
If anyone reads this and have a shorter idea, please share it as I'm still looking.
Do you have mechanics that care about whether a creature has communed this turn? If not, maybe:
Whenever you target this creature with an instant or sorcery for the first time each turn, you may copy that spell targeting another creature you control you haven't targeted with an instant or sorcery this turn.
Communal (Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell with a single target that could target this creature, you may pay (G/W). If you do, copy that spell. The copy targets this creature.)
The goal is for the effect to copy a spell that targets the creature (even if that spell is itself a copy), hopefully chaining onto other Communal creatures for maximum value, but preventing an infinite loop with itself or other Communal creatures or from copying further spells cast that turn.
So, for example, if you have two Sylvan Bards, and you target one of them with Giant Growth, you can copy the Giant Growth and target the second Sylvan Bard with it, but you can't copy the copy (unless there is a creature on the battlefield that hasn't communed that turn).
Sylvan Bard (Common)
G
Creature - Elf
1/2
Communal (This creature communes whenever it becomes the target of an instant or sorcery spell that targets only this creature. You may copy that spell and choose a target you control that hasn’t communed this turn for the copy.)
Communal 3.0:
Communal (This creature communes whenever it becomes the target of an instant or sorcery spell you control. Copy that spell and choose a target you control that hasn’t communed this turn for the copy.)
EDIT: If the creature has an additional ability that is only one line of text, such as Vigilance, then the reminder text shrinks to 5 even lines and looks pretty nice. The previous version was still six lines of reminder text even with the additional line of rules text.
If anyone reads this and have a shorter idea, please share it as I'm still looking.
Whenever you target this creature with an instant or sorcery for the first time each turn, you may copy that spell targeting another creature you control you haven't targeted with an instant or sorcery this turn.
Is it any more awkward than Cipher's?