I feel like the Morph cost should be similarly costed to a spell that would keep it alive (since that's the whole point of morphing it.) Something like 1W, WW, etc - those spells you can use to give creatures protection - would kind of fit a Morph cost for this creature.
I really like the idea behind these cards, but I can't help but feel like they're all going to wind up with a thousand lines of text. I mean, I certainly don't have a problem with that, but most people don't like long-winded design :/
I think a 1/1 for 0 is appropriate in current design space, because it avoids all of the issues of previous sets.
As an artifact creature, it would be insane only in the context of Mirrodin. Or perhaps it would be played in a block with storm, but presently, it's fine - though personally I think it's not the most interesting card, and it serves the purpose of bettering, or at least sustaining, swarm/aggro/rush.
@Fumar - I disagree with your assessment Unstable Timefault, I feel like you reacted without thinking. If you're concern is that for 4cmc you can situationally bounce two lands, Plow Under would like a word with you.
Sorry if that came across a little harsh, just a designer pet peeve is when people jump at a new idea as "broken, imbalanced, impossible" without really thinking through previous design.
Also, for Gap Time, I understand the concern with returning itself, except I don't see what abuse you need to prevent at 1GU, since it's a 1-for-1.
Otherwise, I agree with your assessment. These are some vary neat cards for sure!
I had an idea similar to this, but it was just permanents. Essentially, I had it costed at 2UU for the initial counter, and UU for the secondary counter. The way I saw it, I wanted you to pay a bit more for the primary counter (so it didn't literally over-lap Cancel) and then the second counter is strong, gives you card advantage, but costs a permanent.
That, or another idea that is slightly unrelated but, inspired by your idea;
Complete Control2UU
Instant
Permanents you control gain "Sacrifice this permanent: Counter target spell" until end of turn.
Unfortunately Fumar, increasing power level by increasing rarity is perfectly viable. There are numerous examples of cards that go from good to better to best as they increase from common to uncommon to rare.
That being said, it's definitely not the best way to go about designing a card, but it's certainly important to factor in rarity when you're figuring out how powerful your card would be.
In this card, the Selkie is a terrible card to use in comparison, since it's hybrid and doesn't accurately represent the intensity of mana used in the cost. In this case, Carven Caryatid shows that in double cost, you can essentially pick up a 2/2 (without defender) that lets you draw a card. The Selkie pushes this by allowing you two colors.
So, the bounce half of the card is probably too weak without flash, but slightly too strong with it at 1UU. The card draw half is slightly too strong with flash at 1UU.
The options would likely be to make this a rare, which would be fairly disappointing as it isn't rare material, make this cost 2UU so it's a non-splashable versatile powerhouse, or make it an uncommon and cost it at UUU, which only works if "color matters" is a theme surrounding design in your set/whatever.
I agree, this ability is strong at 4cmc, but really weak at 5cmc, primarily because the 4cmc guy already hit the board and is pounding you. I prefer to not make this mechanic so cut-and-dry, but rather work with the design space it leaves open.
2WU
Enchantment
As ~ comes into play, name a creature card.
When ~ comes into play, return each creature that shares a name with the named creature to its owner's hand.
When an opponent plays a spell that shares a name with the named creature, sacrifice ~ and gain control of that creature spell.
For 2WU, it's a slower, harder to remove ban ala Meddling Mage, with the added benefit of actually bouncing the card (and therefore acting as removal, not just prevention.) Plus, it's more of a "soft ban" because if the player wants to play two copies of the creature, they're just going to have to give you one.
So he actually already did give it one green, one white and one blue ability.
The problem is those abilities are also white.
Flying is as white as it is blue.
Vigilance is primarily white, secondarily blue and green.
While you could justify that the flying is in blue, justifying that it's green to get vigilance just plain doesn't make sense since its other colors both do it, if not better.
I could see this card being interesting enough with Flying, First Strike and Flash. There are definitely other options, too.
Triad's Rivalry1BB
Enchantment
When ~ comes into play, choose three creature types.
For each creature of the first type, creatures of the second type get -1/-1. The same is true for the second and third type, and the third and first type.
Prism Tower6
Artifact
Creatures that are one color get -1/-1.
Creatures that are two or more colors get +1/+1.
Creatures that are three or more colors have shroud.
Creatures that are four or more colors have flying, haste, trample and vigilance.
Creatures that are five colors get +5/+5.
Fumar, you realize that Lure the Marauders works for your opponent as well, plus it's their deck, not yours, so unless they happen to have a 1 of bomb, it's going to be work out evenly (and in most cases, be lots of fun, especially multi-player!) Comparing it to Bribery isn't really fair, they don't serve even remotely the same function.
...that plus your 'fix' does the exact same thing (except they get your library, which is probably a more powerful effect since you can build around it), but less elegantly, not fun in multi-player, and for 1 more. :/
Why would you strip the Fallen Emperor of his crown AGAIN?! D: His life is so tough...
Team Fortress 2 Spy1B
Creature - Human Assassin
Flash, haste
As an additional cost to play Spy, destroy a creature that you own but don't control. T: Destroy target tapped creature. "Watch out - the Engineer is a spy!"
1/1
Fallen Emperor 1W
Legendary Creature - Human
For each aura attached to ~, creatures you control get +2/+2.
As long as ~ is enchanted, it can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponent controls and is a Lord in addition to its other creature types. I used to be the great emperor of a dynasty long since fallen. Now, I wander without a cause.
1/2
As an artifact creature, it would be insane only in the context of Mirrodin. Or perhaps it would be played in a block with storm, but presently, it's fine - though personally I think it's not the most interesting card, and it serves the purpose of bettering, or at least sustaining, swarm/aggro/rush.
Sorry if that came across a little harsh, just a designer pet peeve is when people jump at a new idea as "broken, imbalanced, impossible" without really thinking through previous design.
Also, for Gap Time, I understand the concern with returning itself, except I don't see what abuse you need to prevent at 1GU, since it's a 1-for-1.
Otherwise, I agree with your assessment. These are some vary neat cards for sure!
That, or another idea that is slightly unrelated but, inspired by your idea;
Complete Control 2UU
Instant
Permanents you control gain "Sacrifice this permanent: Counter target spell" until end of turn.
That being said, it's definitely not the best way to go about designing a card, but it's certainly important to factor in rarity when you're figuring out how powerful your card would be.
In this card, the Selkie is a terrible card to use in comparison, since it's hybrid and doesn't accurately represent the intensity of mana used in the cost. In this case,
Carven Caryatid shows that in double cost, you can essentially pick up a 2/2 (without defender) that lets you draw a card. The Selkie pushes this by allowing you two colors.
So, the bounce half of the card is probably too weak without flash, but slightly too strong with it at 1UU. The card draw half is slightly too strong with flash at 1UU.
The options would likely be to make this a rare, which would be fairly disappointing as it isn't rare material, make this cost 2UU so it's a non-splashable versatile powerhouse, or make it an uncommon and cost it at UUU, which only works if "color matters" is a theme surrounding design in your set/whatever.
2WU
Enchantment
As ~ comes into play, name a creature card.
When ~ comes into play, return each creature that shares a name with the named creature to its owner's hand.
When an opponent plays a spell that shares a name with the named creature, sacrifice ~ and gain control of that creature spell.
For 2WU, it's a slower, harder to remove ban ala Meddling Mage, with the added benefit of actually bouncing the card (and therefore acting as removal, not just prevention.) Plus, it's more of a "soft ban" because if the player wants to play two copies of the creature, they're just going to have to give you one.
The problem is those abilities are also white.
Flying is as white as it is blue.
Vigilance is primarily white, secondarily blue and green.
While you could justify that the flying is in blue, justifying that it's green to get vigilance just plain doesn't make sense since its other colors both do it, if not better.
I could see this card being interesting enough with Flying, First Strike and Flash. There are definitely other options, too.
Enchantment
When ~ comes into play, choose three creature types.
For each creature of the first type, creatures of the second type get -1/-1. The same is true for the second and third type, and the third and first type.
Artifact
Creatures that are one color get -1/-1.
Creatures that are two or more colors get +1/+1.
Creatures that are three or more colors have shroud.
Creatures that are four or more colors have flying, haste, trample and vigilance.
Creatures that are five colors get +5/+5.
...that plus your 'fix' does the exact same thing (except they get your library, which is probably a more powerful effect since you can build around it), but less elegantly, not fun in multi-player, and for 1 more. :/
Team Fortress 2 Spy 1B
Creature - Human Assassin
Flash, haste
As an additional cost to play Spy, destroy a creature that you own but don't control.
T: Destroy target tapped creature.
"Watch out - the Engineer is a spy!"
1/1
Fallen Emperor 1W
Legendary Creature - Human
For each aura attached to ~, creatures you control get +2/+2.
As long as ~ is enchanted, it can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponent controls and is a Lord in addition to its other creature types.
I used to be the great emperor of a dynasty long since fallen. Now, I wander without a cause.
1/2