Hi everyone, I'm not an extensive speaker, english is not my native language, and I'm a hobbyist card designer with too few IRL Magic Experience.
That said, I still want to share with you my fun at designing a Wonderland flavoured set and get your insightful feedback
And maybe one day, some people will playtest this and have fun - I would be thrilled.
If you crave pictures, the work-in-progress visual spoiler is here : Wanderlands Set
Here goes my text spoiler (without text flavor for now), I will update it when I have stable enough stuff.
Later on, when it will be more refined, I will talk more about the mechanics and synergies I envision.
Mechanics
Yield (If this spell is countered, or you sacrifice this creature, create a Food artifact token with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.")
Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
Surprise {cost} (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Slumber (Any time you could untap this creature, you may put a +1/+1 counter on it instead.)
White
Snowdrop FelineW
Creature — Cat {W}
Lifelink
If you control a Snow Land, whenever ~ enters the battlefield add S.
1/1
White PawnW
Creature — Human Soldier {W}
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, you gain 2 life.
1/1
Pleasant OysterW
Creature — Oyster Citizen {W}
Yield (If this spell is countered or sacrificed, create a Food artifact token with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.")
1/2
Gentleman with Mane1W
Creature — Cat Citizen {W}
Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on ~.
If you gained life this turn, ~ can’t attack.
2/2
Sir Rabbit’s Housemaid2W
Creature — Human Peasant {W}
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, create three Food artifact tokens. W, Sacrifice an artifact: ~ has indestructible until end of turn.
2/1
Frog Footman2W
Creature — Frog Citizen {W}
Slumber (Any time you could untap this creature, you may put a +1/+1 counter on it instead.)
As long as ~ is tapped, blocking creatures you control gain +0/+1.
3/1
Misleading Bellman2W
Creature — Human Pirate {W}
First strike
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, you may untap a nonland permanent under your control.
2/2
Griffowl2W
Creature — Griffin {W}
Flying
Surprise 2W (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
2/3
Hedgehogs Assortment3W
Creature — Hedgehog {W}
Vigilance W, : Target creature gains +0/+4 until end of turn.
2/4
Griffowl Nibbler3W
Creature — Griffin Chimera {W}
Flying, Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
3/3
Busy Gawkmaw4WW
Creature — Hippo {W}
Lifelink, Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
5/5
Queen’s Tarts1W
Artifact — Food {W}
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, tap target creature. 2, , Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.
Psychiatric Unit1W
Enchantment - Aura {W} Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can’t attack or block.
Enchanted creature has “2, Sacrifice this creature: Draw a card.”
Savage SquadronWW
Instant {W}
If you control a creature with flying, ~ costs W less to cast.
Target player sacrifices an attacking or blocking creature.
Civilization2W
Instant {W}
Nobles, Clerics, Citizens and Peasants you control get +2/+2 until end of turn. Other creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.
Lapse of Certainty2W(Reprint)
Instant {W}
Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, put it on top of its owner’s library instead of into that player’s graveyard.
Psyche’s Rift 2W
Instant {W}
Exile target artifact or enchantment.
Surprise 1W (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Brave Testing2WW
Sorcery {W}
Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
Put three +1/+1 counters on target creature.
Flying Pig2W
Creature — Angel Pig {W}
Flying
Whenever a creature with flying enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 on it.
2/2
White Bishop2W
Creature — Human Cleric{W}
Lifelink
As long as an opponent controls a creature with power 4 or greater, ~ gets +2/+2 and can’t be blocked by creatures with power 4 or greater.
2/2
White Knight2W
Creature — Human Knight{W}
Flash
When ~ enters the battlefield, choose up to one creature card in your graveyard that was put there this turn. Return it to the battlefield tapped.
3/2
White Rook3W
Artifact Creature — Construct {W}
Defender
~ can block an additional creature each combat.
As long as an opponent controls a creature with power 4 or greater, ~ can attack.
4/4
Turtle-Dove Mount4W
Creature — Turtle Bird Chimera {W}
Flying
Surprise 3W (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
3/4
Literary Craboise3WW
Creature — Crab {W}
Slumber (Any time you could untap this creature, you may put a +1/+1 counter on it instead.)
Whenever ~ taps, blocking creatures you control have indestructible until end of turn.
3/5
Into the Rabbit-HoleW
Instant {W}
Exile target creature. Its controller gains life equal to its power.
Surprise W (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Wonderful Dream1W
Enchantment — Aura {W} Enchant creature
Whenever damage would be dealt to enchanted creature, prevent all damage instead, you gain 3 life.
Immediate Trial1W
Instant {W}
Destroy target tapped creature.
Surprise W (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Cure for Everything2W
Instant {W}
Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
Choose up to one creature card in your graveyard that was put there this turn. Return it to the battlefield tapped.
Game of Chess2WW
Enchantment {W}
At the beginning of your end step, if you gained 2 or more life this turn, create a 1/1 White Pawn creature token with lifelink.
Insurance Banker1W
Creature — Human Citizen {W} , Pay 2 life: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. , Pay 3 life: Target permanent has indestructible until end of turn. , Pay 5 life: Put target permanent back into your hand.
2/1
Goods BrokerWW
Creature — Human Citizen {W}
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, for each noncreature artifact owned by target opponent, this opponent may pay one life for the artifact or sacrifice it.
1/2
White Queen2WW
Creature — Human Noble {W}
When ~ enters the battlefield, search your library for an enchantment card, reveal it, put it into your hand then shuffle your library.
2/4
White King3WW
Creature — Human Noble {W}
As ~ enters the battlefield, choose a nonland card name. Spells with the chosen name can’t be cast.
Creatures you control have first strike.
3/3
Chiroptera’s TwinkleWW
Instant {W}
Target creature gets +2/+2 and gains flying until end of turn.
You may cast this card from your graveyard for BB and create two 1/1 black Feloptera creature tokens with flying. Then exile ~.
Alice’s Bounty2WW
Enchantment {W}
Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control.
Humans you control have first strike. Other creature types you control have vigilance.
Surprise 1WW (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Princess LilyW
Creature — Human Noble {W}
Whenever an opponent draws a card, you gain 3 life.
Exile ~ : The next creature card you cast this turn can be cast as though it had flash.
1/1
Ann, Reasonable Dreamer1WW
Legendary Planeswalker — Ann {W}
At the beginning of your end step, if you gained life this turn, create a X/X white Illusion creature token, where X is the life you gained this turn.
(+1) You gain 2 life.
(-8) Destroy all nonland permanents an opponent controls.
Starts at 3 loyalty
Blue
Resourceful MiceU
Creature - Mouse Peasant {U}
Whenever an opponent mills one card or more at once, ~ gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
0/2
Mock Turtle1U
Creature - Turtle {U}
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may switch Mock Turtle’s power and toughness until end of turn.
Yield (If this spell is countered or sacrificed, create a Food artifact token with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”)
1/2
Fish Footman2U
Creature - Fish Citizen {U}
Whenever ~ blocks, Scry 3.
2/2
Talkative Flowers2U
Creature - Plant {U}
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, tap target creature. It doesn’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.
Surprise 1U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
1/3
Tortoise Teacher2U
Creature - Turtle Advisor {U}
Slumber (Any time you could untap this creature, you may put a +1/+1 counter on it instead.)
As long as ~ is tapped other Turtles you control have +1/+1.
1/3
Tottering Eggfolk2U
Artifact Creature - Egg Citizen {U}
When ~ dies, create an Eggshell token with “UU, Exile this artifact: Draw a card.”
2/1
Tulgey's Fungi3U
Creature - Fungus {U}
Whenever a Faerie or Chimera enters the battlefield under your control, target player mills one card.
2/4
Tulgey's Fruitgrabber2UU
Creature - Monkey Rogue {U}
Flying
Whenever ~ deals combat damage to a player, draw a card.
Yield (If this spell is countered or sacrificed, create a Food artifact token with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”)
2/3
Giant Caterpillar5U
Creature - Insect Advisor {U}
Defender, Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, ~ can attack until end of turn.
5/5
Un-birthdayU
Instant {U}
Target player draws a card, reveals it, and mills X cards, where X is the converted mana cost of the card revealed this way.
Yield (If this spell is countered or sacrificed, create a Food artifact token with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”)
Only a Pack of Cards1U
Instant {U}
Return target permanent to its owner’s hand. Each player mills two cards.
Surprise U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Through the Looking-GlassUU
Instant {U}
Counter target artifact or creature spell.
Questionable OrdersUU
Instant {U}
As an additional cost to cast ~, discard a card.
Counter target spell.
Piece of CakeUU
Sorcery {U}
Destroy target Food: Its owner draws a card. Draw a card.
Surprise U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Mock Turtle Soup2U
Instant {U}
Target creature loses all abilities and becomes a blue Turtle with base power and toughness 0/4 until end of turn.
Yield (If this spell is countered or sacrificed, create a Food artifact token with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”)
Raving High-Tea2UU
Sorcery {U}
Target opponent mills one card per creature types under their control.
Yield (If this spell is countered or sacrificed, create a Food artifact token with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”)
Confused Drake1U
Creature - Bird {U}
As long as you control another bird, ~ has flying.
T: Change the target of target spell that targets only a single creature to ~. Then, exile ~.
1/1
Mallet-Flamingos2U
Artifact Creature - Bird {U}
Flying
T: Add 2 to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast Artifact spells. ~ doesn’t untap during your next untap step.
2/2
Lizard of All Trades2UU
Creature - Lizard Peasant {U}
Whenever ~ taps, you may tap target creature under an opponent’s control. Activated abilities of that creature can’t be activated.
2/4
Literate Gryphon3UU
Creature - Griffin Advisor {U}
Flying
Whenever you draw a card, target opponent mills two cards.
3/3
Jubjub Bird3UU
Creature - Bird {U}
Flying, Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
4/4
Well-Mannered Prater1U
Enchantment Aura {U} Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has "Whenever this card taps, its controller draws a card".
Surprise U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Rabbit's QuicknessUU
Sorcery {U}
Target creature can’t be blocked until end of turn.
Surprise U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Mail's Arrival2U
Sorcery {U}
Return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.
Surprise 1U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Hard-Working Minions1UU
Instant {U}
Draw three cards, then discard a card.
Surprise 1U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Pool of Tears3U
Enchantment {U}
When an Island enters the battlefield under your control, tap target creature an opponent controls. That creature doesn’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.
Clever Jokes2UU
Enchantment {U}
At the beginning of your upkeep, target opponent chooses one:
• They mill two cards and you Scry 1.
• They mill one card and you Scry 2.
Writer's Tool4UU
Enchantment Aura {U} Enchant artifact or creature
You control enchanted permanent.
Surprise 3UU (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Sleepy Dormouse1UU
Creature - Mouse {U}
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, target opponent taps every creature under their control.
Creatures with Slumber, Madness or Delirium under any opponent’s control don’t untap during their untap step.
1/2
Provident MayflyUUU
Creature - Insect Mystic {U}
Flying
Whenever ~ blocks, target opponent mills five cards.
Whenever an opponent mills one or more cards, create a blue 1/1 Caterpillar token.
1/3
Commandant Dodo1UU
Creature - Bird Pirate {U}
Whenever ~ deals damage to a creature, remove all +1/+1 counters from that creature.
Whenever ~ blocks, other blocking creatures you control get +0/+2.
2/2
Instructive Feast1U
Sorcery {U}
Target opponent gains control of target X food you control. They mill X cards, and you draw X cards, where X is the number of food you’ve given control of.
Tulgey Woods2U
Enchantment {U}
Whenever you discard or mill a card, you may pay 1. If you do, create a 2/2 blue Griffatiel creature token with flying.
Box of Comfits1UU
Artifact - Food
When ~ enters the battlefield, each player draws three cards. 2, , Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.
Surprise UU (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Writer's Muse1UUU
Instant {U}
Name a spell: Until end of turn its text is changed by replacing all instances of “target” with “each”.
Surprise 1UU (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Gigantism3UU
Sorcery {U}
Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
Exile target creature you control and create a copy of it with base power and toughness 5/5. If you sacrificed a food while casting this spell, the copy has indestructible until end of turn.
Wonderland's Key5UU
Artifact {U}
When ~ enters the battlefield, draw three cards.
Whenever an opponent draws a card, you may draw a card.
You have no maximum hand size.
Cheshire Cat1UUU
Legendary Creature - Cat Spirit {U}
Flash
When ~ enters the battlefield counter target spell.
~ can’t be blocked.
2/2
You have a lot of Keywords going on here and I don't think several of them need to be.
Startler doesn't do enough to warrant being a keyword. It won't have the legs to carry a large number of cards.
Mad could probably just be exert to add a +1/+1 counter.
Gluttony will need more support than you've given it. It makes sense as a mechanic, but there aren't enough cards here actually making food to support it. Also, to the reminder text, there aren't (yet) any Food with colors.
Early is interesting idea, but its rare for players to play more than one spell per turn, so I think its not going to be a relevant decision of when to play it. If it was the second spell (like the Surge mechanic) there's active planning and decision making necessary involved. The effective addition of flash also makes the spell hard to do on mono-color cards, though your blue ability costs is a step in the right direction.
Thanks rowanalpha for your feedback, it helps me refine the mechanics to ensure it could be fun to actually play them.
I think I can fix it up a bit, based on your observations. Mad would be more flexible strategy-wise with : "Mad (Any time you could untap this creature, you may put a +1/+1 counter on it instead.)"
Startler would then synergize nicely with it, allowing you to cast a Startler creature during your second main phase to get that +1/+1 counter and still choosing to untap the Mad creature on your next turn.
For Gluttony and Cook I realize I forgot to post here the White food card I've made.
I will add it to the spoiler, and also consider adding a food creation mechanic on some of the creatures.
Food cards will be colored in this set, except for food tokens.
For Early, I thought of making it a straightforward "paid" pseudo-flash with one effect : "Early {cost} (You may cast this spell for its Early cost during an opponent’s turn, if you do put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control.)"
The effect could be different for each creature with it, making the formatting more like a "Keyword - Effect description" I guess, like Landfall or Spell mastery, but as there is a {cost} here... well, I don't know yet.
I'm not much versed into some rules subtilities, alas, so would it make a difference having it worded like this ? : "Early {cost} (If this is the first card played during any turn, put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control. You may cast it for its Early cost during an opponent’s turn.)"
So, part of the issue is simply keyword overload. You've shown a subset of white cards and there are 6 new keywords plus flashback, snow, and two versions of kicker. For comparison, Khans of Tarkir has 6 keywords across all the colors and, morph aside, they were less complex than most of these.
The thing to realize is that something doesn't need to be keyworded to be a mechanic. Something should be keyworded if (a) it has complex rules under the hood that the keyword can significantly shorthand, (b) its going to show up on a large number of cards and, potentially, (c) other cards want to interact that keyword or cards that have it. Having too many is asking the player to try to keep track of too much shorthand all at once for little gameplay gain. You should pick about 3 Keywords/Ability Words that you want to use most across the set, and have the rest just written out on cards.
Looking at Startler, removing "When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, untap target non-land permanent." isn't so complex that it takes up too much space on the card, and many cards will still have them in reminder text. It kinda works in white, blue and green, but its definitely not something red or black cards should be doing, so it will only be on a few cards (you've only put it on one so far) and its not something I could see other cards pointing to in a way that doesn't seem forced (Creatures with Startler get +1/+1...?).
Just to give a real world comparison, Zendikar Rising has 7 equipment with "When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, attach it to target creature you control." which is just as long as your text, but it wasn't keyworded.
The same is true for Yield (which should just be a written out "dies" trigger), Cook (written out additional cost), and Gluttony (written out cost reduction a la Torgaar, Famine Incarnate)
Mad feels better with your update, and that is both an ability that would want to show up in most or all colors and one that other cards would more likely want to point to, so a keyword makes more sense there. The flavor feels a little odd though, more like napping than madness.
A good alternate cost mechanic (like Kicker) creates a decision (do I cast the spell early or hold it until I can kick it?). The issue with Early is still that there's almost never going to be a reason to not cast it for its Early cost, unless you don't have blue mana. Also, you have way undercosted it, as your Early costs are only 1 mana more to gain (effectively) flash and a +1/+1 counter on any of your creatures (making it a combat trick of sorts) should cost 3-4 more than the base spell, not to mention potentially surprise blocking. There are also timing issues with trying to cast the first spell on your opponent's turn, since they always have priority to act first on their turn.
This might work better:
Early [cost] (If you have not cast a spell this turn, you may cast CARDNAME as though it had flash for its Early cost. If you do, it enters the battlefield tapped with a +1/+1 counter on it)
This means:
No timing/priority issues
Only one early spell per turn
No surprise blocking
Choice to cast the creature as have as a blocker on your turn, or wait to get a bigger creature.
Alternately, you could take out the flash part all together and its just a bonus for having your creature enter play tapped.
Private Mod Note
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That said, I still want to share with you my fun at designing a Wonderland flavoured set and get your insightful feedback
And maybe one day, some people will playtest this and have fun - I would be thrilled.
If you crave pictures, the work-in-progress visual spoiler is here : Wanderlands Set
Here goes my text spoiler (without text flavor for now), I will update it when I have stable enough stuff.
Later on, when it will be more refined, I will talk more about the mechanics and synergies I envision.
Mechanics
White
Snowdrop Feline W
Creature — Cat {W}
Lifelink
If you control a Snow Land, whenever ~ enters the battlefield add S.
1/1
White Pawn W
Creature — Human Soldier {W}
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, you gain 2 life.
1/1
Pleasant Oyster W
Creature — Oyster Citizen {W}
Yield (If this spell is countered or sacrificed, create a Food artifact token with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.")
1/2
Gnat 1W
Creature — Faerie Chimera {W}
Flying, Lifelink
1/1
Gentleman with Mane 1W
Creature — Cat Citizen {W}
Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on ~.
If you gained life this turn, ~ can’t attack.
2/2
Sir Rabbit’s Housemaid 2W
Creature — Human Peasant {W}
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, create three Food artifact tokens.
W, Sacrifice an artifact: ~ has indestructible until end of turn.
2/1
Frog Footman 2W
Creature — Frog Citizen {W}
Slumber (Any time you could untap this creature, you may put a +1/+1 counter on it instead.)
As long as ~ is tapped, blocking creatures you control gain +0/+1.
3/1
Misleading Bellman 2W
Creature — Human Pirate {W}
First strike
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, you may untap a nonland permanent under your control.
2/2
Griffowl 2W
Creature — Griffin {W}
Flying
Surprise 2W (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
2/3
Hedgehogs Assortment 3W
Creature — Hedgehog {W}
Vigilance
W,
2/4
Griffowl Nibbler 3W
Creature — Griffin Chimera {W}
Flying, Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
3/3
Busy Gawkmaw 4WW
Creature — Hippo {W}
Lifelink, Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
5/5
Queen’s Tarts 1W
Artifact — Food {W}
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, tap target creature.
2,
Psychiatric Unit 1W
Enchantment - Aura {W}
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can’t attack or block.
Enchanted creature has “2, Sacrifice this creature: Draw a card.”
Savage Squadron WW
Instant {W}
If you control a creature with flying, ~ costs W less to cast.
Target player sacrifices an attacking or blocking creature.
Civilization 2W
Instant {W}
Nobles, Clerics, Citizens and Peasants you control get +2/+2 until end of turn. Other creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.
Lapse of Certainty 2W (Reprint)
Instant {W}
Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, put it on top of its owner’s library instead of into that player’s graveyard.
Psyche’s Rift 2W
Instant {W}
Exile target artifact or enchantment.
Surprise 1W (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Brave Testing 2WW
Sorcery {W}
Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
Put three +1/+1 counters on target creature.
Flying Pig 2W
Creature — Angel Pig {W}
Flying
Whenever a creature with flying enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 on it.
2/2
White Bishop 2W
Creature — Human Cleric{W}
Lifelink
As long as an opponent controls a creature with power 4 or greater, ~ gets +2/+2 and can’t be blocked by creatures with power 4 or greater.
2/2
White Knight 2W
Creature — Human Knight{W}
Flash
When ~ enters the battlefield, choose up to one creature card in your graveyard that was put there this turn. Return it to the battlefield tapped.
3/2
White Rook 3W
Artifact Creature — Construct {W}
Defender
~ can block an additional creature each combat.
As long as an opponent controls a creature with power 4 or greater, ~ can attack.
4/4
Turtle-Dove Mount 4W
Creature — Turtle Bird Chimera {W}
Flying
Surprise 3W (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
3/4
Literary Craboise 3WW
Creature — Crab {W}
Slumber (Any time you could untap this creature, you may put a +1/+1 counter on it instead.)
Whenever ~ taps, blocking creatures you control have indestructible until end of turn.
3/5
Into the Rabbit-Hole W
Instant {W}
Exile target creature. Its controller gains life equal to its power.
Surprise W (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Wonderful Dream 1W
Enchantment — Aura {W}
Enchant creature
Whenever damage would be dealt to enchanted creature, prevent all damage instead, you gain 3 life.
Immediate Trial 1W
Instant {W}
Destroy target tapped creature.
Surprise W (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Cure for Everything 2W
Instant {W}
Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
Choose up to one creature card in your graveyard that was put there this turn. Return it to the battlefield tapped.
Game of Chess 2WW
Enchantment {W}
At the beginning of your end step, if you gained 2 or more life this turn, create a 1/1 White Pawn creature token with lifelink.
Insurance Banker 1W
Creature — Human Citizen {W}
2/1
Goods Broker WW
Creature — Human Citizen {W}
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, for each noncreature artifact owned by target opponent, this opponent may pay one life for the artifact or sacrifice it.
1/2
White Queen 2WW
Creature — Human Noble {W}
When ~ enters the battlefield, search your library for an enchantment card, reveal it, put it into your hand then shuffle your library.
2/4
White King 3WW
Creature — Human Noble {W}
As ~ enters the battlefield, choose a nonland card name. Spells with the chosen name can’t be cast.
Creatures you control have first strike.
3/3
Chiroptera’s Twinkle WW
Instant {W}
Target creature gets +2/+2 and gains flying until end of turn.
You may cast this card from your graveyard for BB and create two 1/1 black Feloptera creature tokens with flying. Then exile ~.
Alice’s Bounty 2WW
Enchantment {W}
Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control.
Humans you control have first strike. Other creature types you control have vigilance.
Surprise 1WW (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Princess Lily W
Creature — Human Noble {W}
Whenever an opponent draws a card, you gain 3 life.
Exile ~ : The next creature card you cast this turn can be cast as though it had flash.
1/1
Ann, Reasonable Dreamer 1WW
Legendary Planeswalker — Ann {W}
At the beginning of your end step, if you gained life this turn, create a X/X white Illusion creature token, where X is the life you gained this turn.
- (+1) You gain 2 life.
- (-8) Destroy all nonland permanents an opponent controls.
Starts at 3 loyaltyBlue
Resourceful Mice U
Creature - Mouse Peasant {U}
Whenever an opponent mills one card or more at once, ~ gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
0/2
Rocking-Horse-Fly 1U
Creature - Faerie Chimera {U}
Flying
Whenever you untap ~, Scry 1.
1/1
Mock Turtle 1U
Creature - Turtle {U}
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may switch Mock Turtle’s power and toughness until end of turn.
Yield (If this spell is countered or sacrificed, create a Food artifact token with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”)
1/2
Fish Footman 2U
Creature - Fish Citizen {U}
Whenever ~ blocks, Scry 3.
2/2
Talkative Flowers 2U
Creature - Plant {U}
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, tap target creature. It doesn’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.
Surprise 1U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
1/3
Tortoise Teacher 2U
Creature - Turtle Advisor {U}
Slumber (Any time you could untap this creature, you may put a +1/+1 counter on it instead.)
As long as ~ is tapped other Turtles you control have +1/+1.
1/3
Tottering Eggfolk 2U
Artifact Creature - Egg Citizen {U}
When ~ dies, create an Eggshell token with “UU, Exile this artifact: Draw a card.”
2/1
Tulgey's Fungi 3U
Creature - Fungus {U}
Whenever a Faerie or Chimera enters the battlefield under your control, target player mills one card.
2/4
Tulgey's Fruitgrabber 2UU
Creature - Monkey Rogue {U}
Flying
Whenever ~ deals combat damage to a player, draw a card.
Yield (If this spell is countered or sacrificed, create a Food artifact token with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”)
2/3
Giant Caterpillar 5U
Creature - Insect Advisor {U}
Defender, Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, ~ can attack until end of turn.
5/5
Un-birthday U
Instant {U}
Target player draws a card, reveals it, and mills X cards, where X is the converted mana cost of the card revealed this way.
Yield (If this spell is countered or sacrificed, create a Food artifact token with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”)
Only a Pack of Cards 1U
Instant {U}
Return target permanent to its owner’s hand. Each player mills two cards.
Surprise U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Through the Looking-Glass UU
Instant {U}
Counter target artifact or creature spell.
Questionable Orders UU
Instant {U}
As an additional cost to cast ~, discard a card.
Counter target spell.
Piece of Cake UU
Sorcery {U}
Destroy target Food: Its owner draws a card. Draw a card.
Surprise U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Mock Turtle Soup 2U
Instant {U}
Target creature loses all abilities and becomes a blue Turtle with base power and toughness 0/4 until end of turn.
Yield (If this spell is countered or sacrificed, create a Food artifact token with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”)
Raving High-Tea 2UU
Sorcery {U}
Target opponent mills one card per creature types under their control.
Yield (If this spell is countered or sacrificed, create a Food artifact token with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”)
Confused Drake 1U
Creature - Bird {U}
As long as you control another bird, ~ has flying.
T: Change the target of target spell that targets only a single creature to ~. Then, exile ~.
1/1
Mallet-Flamingos 2U
Artifact Creature - Bird {U}
Flying
T: Add 2 to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast Artifact spells. ~ doesn’t untap during your next untap step.
2/2
Lizard of All Trades 2UU
Creature - Lizard Peasant {U}
Whenever ~ taps, you may tap target creature under an opponent’s control. Activated abilities of that creature can’t be activated.
2/4
Literate Gryphon 3UU
Creature - Griffin Advisor {U}
Flying
Whenever you draw a card, target opponent mills two cards.
3/3
Jubjub Bird 3UU
Creature - Bird {U}
Flying, Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
4/4
Well-Mannered Prater 1U
Enchantment Aura {U}
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has "Whenever this card taps, its controller draws a card".
Surprise U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Rabbit's Quickness UU
Sorcery {U}
Target creature can’t be blocked until end of turn.
Surprise U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Mail's Arrival 2U
Sorcery {U}
Return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.
Surprise 1U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Hard-Working Minions 1UU
Instant {U}
Draw three cards, then discard a card.
Surprise 1U (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Pool of Tears 3U
Enchantment {U}
When an Island enters the battlefield under your control, tap target creature an opponent controls. That creature doesn’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.
Clever Jokes 2UU
Enchantment {U}
At the beginning of your upkeep, target opponent chooses one:
• They mill two cards and you Scry 1.
• They mill one card and you Scry 2.
Writer's Tool 4UU
Enchantment Aura {U}
Enchant artifact or creature
You control enchanted permanent.
Surprise 3UU (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Sleepy Dormouse 1UU
Creature - Mouse {U}
Whenever ~ enters the battlefield, target opponent taps every creature under their control.
Creatures with Slumber, Madness or Delirium under any opponent’s control don’t untap during their untap step.
1/2
Provident Mayfly UUU
Creature - Insect Mystic {U}
Flying
Whenever ~ blocks, target opponent mills five cards.
Whenever an opponent mills one or more cards, create a blue 1/1 Caterpillar token.
1/3
Commandant Dodo 1UU
Creature - Bird Pirate {U}
Whenever ~ deals damage to a creature, remove all +1/+1 counters from that creature.
Whenever ~ blocks, other blocking creatures you control get +0/+2.
2/2
Instructive Feast 1U
Sorcery {U}
Target opponent gains control of target X food you control. They mill X cards, and you draw X cards, where X is the number of food you’ve given control of.
Tulgey Woods 2U
Enchantment {U}
Whenever you discard or mill a card, you may pay 1. If you do, create a 2/2 blue Griffatiel creature token with flying.
Box of Comfits 1UU
Artifact - Food
When ~ enters the battlefield, each player draws three cards.
2,
Surprise UU (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Writer's Muse 1UUU
Instant {U}
Name a spell: Until end of turn its text is changed by replacing all instances of “target” with “each”.
Surprise 1UU (You may cast a spell at any time for its surprise cost, if another player has cast an instant or flash card this turn.)
Gigantism 3UU
Sorcery {U}
Gluttony (Each food you sacrifice while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that food’s color.)
Exile target creature you control and create a copy of it with base power and toughness 5/5. If you sacrificed a food while casting this spell, the copy has indestructible until end of turn.
Wonderland's Key 5UU
Artifact {U}
When ~ enters the battlefield, draw three cards.
Whenever an opponent draws a card, you may draw a card.
You have no maximum hand size.
Cheshire Cat 1UUU
Legendary Creature - Cat Spirit {U}
Flash
When ~ enters the battlefield counter target spell.
~ can’t be blocked.
2/2
Edith, Thoughtful Dreamer 4U
Legendary Planeswalker - Edith {U}
- (+1) Draw a card.
- (-3) You control target permanent until end of turn.
- (-10) You may cast sorceries, instants and enchantments for 0 until end of turn.
Starts at 5 loyalty-
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StaffStartler doesn't do enough to warrant being a keyword. It won't have the legs to carry a large number of cards.
Mad could probably just be exert to add a +1/+1 counter.
Gluttony will need more support than you've given it. It makes sense as a mechanic, but there aren't enough cards here actually making food to support it. Also, to the reminder text, there aren't (yet) any Food with colors.
Early is interesting idea, but its rare for players to play more than one spell per turn, so I think its not going to be a relevant decision of when to play it. If it was the second spell (like the Surge mechanic) there's active planning and decision making necessary involved. The effective addition of flash also makes the spell hard to do on mono-color cards, though your blue ability costs is a step in the right direction.
I think I can fix it up a bit, based on your observations.
Mad would be more flexible strategy-wise with : "Mad (Any time you could untap this creature, you may put a +1/+1 counter on it instead.)"
Startler would then synergize nicely with it, allowing you to cast a Startler creature during your second main phase to get that +1/+1 counter and still choosing to untap the Mad creature on your next turn.
For Gluttony and Cook I realize I forgot to post here the White food card I've made.
I will add it to the spoiler, and also consider adding a food creation mechanic on some of the creatures.
Food cards will be colored in this set, except for food tokens.
For Early, I thought of making it a straightforward "paid" pseudo-flash with one effect : "Early {cost} (You may cast this spell for its Early cost during an opponent’s turn, if you do put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control.)"
The effect could be different for each creature with it, making the formatting more like a "Keyword - Effect description" I guess, like Landfall or Spell mastery, but as there is a {cost} here... well, I don't know yet.
I'm not much versed into some rules subtilities, alas, so would it make a difference having it worded like this ? : "Early {cost} (If this is the first card played during any turn, put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control. You may cast it for its Early cost during an opponent’s turn.)"
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StaffThe thing to realize is that something doesn't need to be keyworded to be a mechanic. Something should be keyworded if (a) it has complex rules under the hood that the keyword can significantly shorthand, (b) its going to show up on a large number of cards and, potentially, (c) other cards want to interact that keyword or cards that have it. Having too many is asking the player to try to keep track of too much shorthand all at once for little gameplay gain. You should pick about 3 Keywords/Ability Words that you want to use most across the set, and have the rest just written out on cards.
Looking at Startler, removing "When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, untap target non-land permanent." isn't so complex that it takes up too much space on the card, and many cards will still have them in reminder text. It kinda works in white, blue and green, but its definitely not something red or black cards should be doing, so it will only be on a few cards (you've only put it on one so far) and its not something I could see other cards pointing to in a way that doesn't seem forced (Creatures with Startler get +1/+1...?).
Just to give a real world comparison, Zendikar Rising has 7 equipment with "When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, attach it to target creature you control." which is just as long as your text, but it wasn't keyworded.
The same is true for Yield (which should just be a written out "dies" trigger), Cook (written out additional cost), and Gluttony (written out cost reduction a la Torgaar, Famine Incarnate)
Mad feels better with your update, and that is both an ability that would want to show up in most or all colors and one that other cards would more likely want to point to, so a keyword makes more sense there. The flavor feels a little odd though, more like napping than madness.
A good alternate cost mechanic (like Kicker) creates a decision (do I cast the spell early or hold it until I can kick it?). The issue with Early is still that there's almost never going to be a reason to not cast it for its Early cost, unless you don't have blue mana. Also, you have way undercosted it, as your Early costs are only 1 mana more to gain (effectively) flash and a +1/+1 counter on any of your creatures (making it a combat trick of sorts) should cost 3-4 more than the base spell, not to mention potentially surprise blocking. There are also timing issues with trying to cast the first spell on your opponent's turn, since they always have priority to act first on their turn.
This might work better:
Early [cost] (If you have not cast a spell this turn, you may cast CARDNAME as though it had flash for its Early cost. If you do, it enters the battlefield tapped with a +1/+1 counter on it)
This means:
No timing/priority issues
Only one early spell per turn
No surprise blocking
Choice to cast the creature as have as a blocker on your turn, or wait to get a bigger creature.
Alternately, you could take out the flash part all together and its just a bonus for having your creature enter play tapped.