Morphologist (Rare) 3U
Creature – Human Wizard
1/1 U: Morphologist becomes a copy of target nontoken creature and gains this ability. Turn that creature face down. (It’s a 2/2 colorless creature.)
Reminiscence U
Enchantment
When Reminiscence enters the battlefield, put your graveyard on top of your library in any order.
You can’t search or shuffle your library. 1U, Sacrifice Reminiscence: Shuffle your library. “Like all fiction, memories should be enjoyed in moderation.” - Soya Sen
Originality 6/10:Reminisce is the name of a card that has an effect for 2U that is nearly identical to what Reminiscence can do for 1UU. It's otherwise relatively original as far as I'm aware in that it implements existing effects in a new way. The most original aspect is putting your entire graveyard on top of your library. No existing card does that. Flavor 6/10: The name works within the context of the challenge but comes across as weak in relation to the rather big (and unique) effect of putting your entire graveyard on top of your library. "Total Recall" or something would fit the mechanical impact better. The flavor text jives with the mechanic in that you only get to draw one card per turn (unassisted) but doesn't jive with the massive stacking of the entire graveyard all at once. Printability 5/10: I imagine this card as a U sorcery that just says "Put your graveyard on top of your library" and then consider that it's much more than that. It's printable, but not at U. I suspect 2UU would be okay. Playability 6/10: The primary effect alone seems like innocuous in a vacuum, like a late game limited life-saver or the type of thing that casual Johnny would toy, but I suspect that at this cost it would wind up being some kind of weapon for Spike. Add on the "can't search or shuffle" clause and a way out of it all and it becomes even more appealing. Timmy would rather use Elixir of Immortality. It could inspire a deck design.
Auto-Hypnosis (Rare) 1UUU
Enchantment
At the beginning of your end step you may scry X, where X is the converted mana cost of the last spell you cast this turn. It is in my mind...somewhere.
Originality 6/10:Eyes of the Watcher exists so there is already an enchantment that allows you to scry, but not in the same way Auto-Hypnosis does. Flavor 4/10: The name and flavor text work well together but don't mesh with the mechanic very well. There isn't a total disconnect, but there's a weak connection between being hypnotized by the casting of your own Unsummon (for example). Printability 8/10: It's simple and balanced. Outside of the so-so flavor, it's totally printable. Playability: 5/10 It's a modest design, playable but not exciting, and certainly not an auto-include or build-around.
Spellplunder Field (Rare) GUB
Enchantment 1, Exile a spell you control: Choose target card in a graveyard with converted mana cost less than or equal to that of the exiled spell. Until end of turn, you may play the chosen card without paying its mana cost. "Some are lost in these fields forever, each seed of new thought consumed by the deep roots of memory." -Khaym, Grave Oracle
Originality 9/10: As far as I know, Nivmagus Elemental is the only existing card that exiles a spell you control, but the concept has been around fantasy forums quite a while. More often than not, it's poorly implemented. Not so here. This is an original use of a rare contingency that activates a unique mechanic. Flavor 6/10: "Spellplunder" goes well with the mechanic and works well with the challenge. Even though "Field" is a familiar term used in many Magic card names, it doesn’t help here outside of connecting it to the flavor text, which itself is superfluously flowery to the point of being contrived. (Kind of like what you just read. :)) Printability 6/10: It’s printable in a multicolor set, but would possibly need some tweaking due to the infinite possibilities this thing poses in the eternal cardpool. Playtesting is in order. Playability 6/10: It's a unique, potentially powerful puzzle piece, yet it's not for everyone. Timmy doesn’t know why you would ever want to exile your own spell, but Johnny-Spike could probably break this.
Reminisce (Rare) 2U
Instant
Search your library for a card with the same name as a card in any graveyard, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. "The answer to any mystery can be found in the past." - Neville, Library Keeper
Originality 2/10:Reminisce is the name of an existing card. This looks an awful lot like Rudyard’s card, which was the 2nd card of the thread and hasn’t been edited. Otherwise, the effect is original as far as I know. I have no doubts that you conceived of it yourself. It's a good idea to look at previous card entries before posting your own though. Flavor 3/10: The overall flavor is excellent, but that’s a lot easier to achieve when using the name of an existing card. Get into the habit of checking existing cardnames when posting. The flavor text is excellent and sounds just like something Neville would say. Printability 2/10: You got the rarity right and probably the converted mana cost, too. Not the card type though. It should be a sorcery. A card that utilized the graveyard to tutor for a card is thoroughly black though. If it targeted an instant or sorcery, then I could see it being blue. It should probably also target the card in the graveyard and possibly only target a card in your graveyard, but those are minor issues. Playability 9/10: It’s an awesome tutor effect. If it were printable, it would be an auto-include in every toolbox with an island.
Dread Recall (Uncommon) B
Sorcery
Kicker 3G
Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand. If Dread Recall was kicked, return target noncreature card from your graveyard to your hand.
Exile Dread Recall.
Originality 1/10: Raise Dead has been around since Alpha, and there have been many set filler takes on it but never one with Kicker. Flavor 8/10: The flavor is excellent. I'm always a sucker for old school references. Your story was too cool. Printability 9/10: Totally printable. The rarity and colors are right. It might need to be reworded to prevent confusion as to what exactly is being returned if it's kicked. Playability 2/10: It's strength lies in limited. Outside of limited, it's a slightly more playable than most other Raise Dead cards. And the only thing that makes them playable is the fact that they have a mana cost.
Retrogress 3UU
Instant
Return all permanents that entered the battlefield this turn to their owners' hands, then draw a card for each permanent returned this way. The surest way to jog one's memory? Run back time itself.
Originality 7/10: There are few cards that look for "entered the battlefield this turn", so it's not strictly entirely original in that regard, but it is a rare contingency and none of the existing cards that have it are blue. Flavor 8/10: Nearly perfect. The card drawing feels tagged on. Printability 8/10: It's printable but not perfectly so. Not only does the card drawing feel tagged on, it seems like too much. Playability 5/10: Outside of limited, it's a bit weak even for casual and there are cards that easily trump it.
Nostalgia (Common) B
Sorcery
Search your library for a card with the same name as a card in your graveyard and put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
Originality 9/10: It's an original way to tutor. Flavor 8/10: If it cost 1B, it would be even more nostalgic. You'da had 10/10 here if your comment was your flavor text. Printability 5/10: Printability at this cost and rarity is unlikely but not impossible. Sorcery was the right call If it cost 1B and was rare, it would be perfect. Playability 8/10: It's as playable as any sub-Demonic Tutor tutor card and even more than most, especially at B.
Second Thoughts (Uncommon) U
Enchantment
Whenever you draw a card, put a charge counter on Second Thoughts.
Remove four charge counters from Second Thoughts: Draw a card. Engrammatic duplication is essential for deep cover agents - their employers can consult with the copied brain without needing to pull the agent from cover.
Originality 5/10: Conceptually, this sort of thing has been around since Living Artifact and has taken many forms. These days they're typically thought of as "quests." This one is a good design but an obvious design and closely resembles others I've seen. However, the closest existing card to compare it to is Ior Ruin Expedition, which really isn't that close. Flavor 6/10: "Five turns" to get a "second thought" isn't adding up. A name implying knowledge gathered over time would have been fitting. Even though the given name doesn't mesh well with the mechanics, it meshes very nicely with the flavor text. I love that flavor text. Printability 10/10: Totally printable. Playability 3/10: Without assistance (such as Howling Mine), it takes five turns to draw one card. If you draw this on turn five it's a wasted draw in all but the longest games. And there are far better options to fill slots of a deck that relies on drawing cards. Basically, it's limited material at best.
Scarlet Thread 1
Artifact T: Put target card from a graveyard onto the bottom of its owner's library. G,T, Sacrifice Scarlet Thread: put target card from a graveyard on top of its owner's library. I take a hair from each deadly beast I encounter as a memento. The most dangerous animal I've ever seen used to leave one of hers as a calling card. - Gerolf, Behemoth Poacher
Originality 0/10:Junktroller + Noxious Revival =/= Original Flavor 4/10: Oh how I want that G to be R. And it's even possible thanks to Fossil Find - then the return could've been to hand yet random, but it would have been worth it in terms of flavor. The name and flavortext are good for the challenge. Printability 8/10: It's printable. After all, a lack of originality or flavor never stops WotC. Playability 2/10: Totally dependant on a given metagame, which can be said of any card I know, but in the grand scheme, it's forgettable.
...just brainstorm if you think you're qualified. Remember that qualifications come through via pro points as well, so if you have done well in MQs but not won, you may also be qualified.
Sorry I misinterpreted this. I'll delete my posts.
Morphologist (Rare) 3U
Creature – Human Wizard
1/1 U: Morphologist becomes a copy of target nontoken creature and gains this ability. Turn that creature face down. (It’s a 2/2 colorless creature.)
It's an awesome idea. I'm unsure if WotC would implement it outside of an Unset though. But then again, they went ahead with doulbe-sided cards, so who knows.
Vesuvan Dead3UB Creature - Shapeshifter Zombie
You may have Body Double enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature card in a graveyard.
Unearth UB A dead shapeshifter rarely stays that way.
I just didn't understand it until after the fact, but I love the idea now.
I feel ya though. I really liked Morphologist and was sure it would get some votes.
Feel free to comment.
aurorasparrow
Originality 6/10: Reminisce is the name of a card that has an effect for 2U that is nearly identical to what Reminiscence can do for 1UU. It's otherwise relatively original as far as I'm aware in that it implements existing effects in a new way. The most original aspect is putting your entire graveyard on top of your library. No existing card does that.
Flavor 6/10: The name works within the context of the challenge but comes across as weak in relation to the rather big (and unique) effect of putting your entire graveyard on top of your library. "Total Recall" or something would fit the mechanical impact better. The flavor text jives with the mechanic in that you only get to draw one card per turn (unassisted) but doesn't jive with the massive stacking of the entire graveyard all at once.
Printability 5/10: I imagine this card as a U sorcery that just says "Put your graveyard on top of your library" and then consider that it's much more than that. It's printable, but not at U. I suspect 2UU would be okay.
Playability 6/10: The primary effect alone seems like innocuous in a vacuum, like a late game limited life-saver or the type of thing that casual Johnny would toy, but I suspect that at this cost it would wind up being some kind of weapon for Spike. Add on the "can't search or shuffle" clause and a way out of it all and it becomes even more appealing. Timmy would rather use Elixir of Immortality. It could inspire a deck design.
TOTAL 23/40
Gallus
Originality 6/10: Eyes of the Watcher exists so there is already an enchantment that allows you to scry, but not in the same way Auto-Hypnosis does.
Flavor 4/10: The name and flavor text work well together but don't mesh with the mechanic very well. There isn't a total disconnect, but there's a weak connection between being hypnotized by the casting of your own Unsummon (for example).
Printability 8/10: It's simple and balanced. Outside of the so-so flavor, it's totally printable.
Playability: 5/10 It's a modest design, playable but not exciting, and certainly not an auto-include or build-around.
TOTAL 23/40
Gerrard's Mom
Originality 9/10: As far as I know, Nivmagus Elemental is the only existing card that exiles a spell you control, but the concept has been around fantasy forums quite a while. More often than not, it's poorly implemented. Not so here. This is an original use of a rare contingency that activates a unique mechanic.
Flavor 6/10: "Spellplunder" goes well with the mechanic and works well with the challenge. Even though "Field" is a familiar term used in many Magic card names, it doesn’t help here outside of connecting it to the flavor text, which itself is superfluously flowery to the point of being contrived. (Kind of like what you just read. :))
Printability 6/10: It’s printable in a multicolor set, but would possibly need some tweaking due to the infinite possibilities this thing poses in the eternal cardpool. Playtesting is in order.
Playability 6/10: It's a unique, potentially powerful puzzle piece, yet it's not for everyone. Timmy doesn’t know why you would ever want to exile your own spell, but Johnny-Spike could probably break this.
TOTAL 27/40
lgmhorus
Originality 2/10:Reminisce is the name of an existing card. This looks an awful lot like Rudyard’s card, which was the 2nd card of the thread and hasn’t been edited. Otherwise, the effect is original as far as I know. I have no doubts that you conceived of it yourself. It's a good idea to look at previous card entries before posting your own though.
Flavor 3/10: The overall flavor is excellent, but that’s a lot easier to achieve when using the name of an existing card. Get into the habit of checking existing cardnames when posting. The flavor text is excellent and sounds just like something Neville would say.
Printability 2/10: You got the rarity right and probably the converted mana cost, too. Not the card type though. It should be a sorcery. A card that utilized the graveyard to tutor for a card is thoroughly black though. If it targeted an instant or sorcery, then I could see it being blue. It should probably also target the card in the graveyard and possibly only target a card in your graveyard, but those are minor issues.
Playability 9/10: It’s an awesome tutor effect. If it were printable, it would be an auto-include in every toolbox with an island.
TOTAL 16/40
Oculus
Originality 1/10: Raise Dead has been around since Alpha, and there have been many set filler takes on it but never one with Kicker.
Flavor 8/10: The flavor is excellent. I'm always a sucker for old school references. Your story was too cool.
Printability 9/10: Totally printable. The rarity and colors are right. It might need to be reworded to prevent confusion as to what exactly is being returned if it's kicked.
Playability 2/10: It's strength lies in limited. Outside of limited, it's a slightly more playable than most other Raise Dead cards. And the only thing that makes them playable is the fact that they have a mana cost.
TOTAL 20/40
Phyrexian Editor
Originality 7/10: There are few cards that look for "entered the battlefield this turn", so it's not strictly entirely original in that regard, but it is a rare contingency and none of the existing cards that have it are blue.
Flavor 8/10: Nearly perfect. The card drawing feels tagged on.
Printability 8/10: It's printable but not perfectly so. Not only does the card drawing feel tagged on, it seems like too much.
Playability 5/10: Outside of limited, it's a bit weak even for casual and there are cards that easily trump it.
TOTAL 28
Rudyard
TOTAL 30/40
Savia
TOTAL 24/40
TacticalCelebrant
Originality 0/10: Junktroller + Noxious Revival =/= Original
Flavor 4/10: Oh how I want that G to be R. And it's even possible thanks to Fossil Find - then the return could've been to hand yet random, but it would have been worth it in terms of flavor. The name and flavortext are good for the challenge.
Printability 8/10: It's printable. After all, a lack of originality or flavor never stops WotC.
Playability 2/10: Totally dependant on a given metagame, which can be said of any card I know, but in the grand scheme, it's forgettable.
TOTAL 14/40
Top 3
1st Place: Rudyard
2nd Place: Phyrexian Editor
3rd Place: Gerrard's Mom
Leap Into Battle (Common)
W
Instant
Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains flying until end of turn.
I summon all my strength and courage and take a flying leap across the cavern, ready for any surprise that might await me.
GU
Sorcery
Choose one – Proliferate; or populate.
Level 1
Distract (Common)
U
Instant
Tap target creature.
Draw a card.
I create a diversion and attempt to sneak by the goblin while it's distracted.
Is this in response to me?
Sorry I misinterpreted this. I'll delete my posts.
3U
Creature – Human Wizard
1/1
U: Morphologist becomes a copy of target nontoken creature and gains this ability. Turn that creature face down. (It’s a 2/2 colorless creature.)
Have you had time to consider it?
Discipline (If you cast this spell during your turn, you may copy it. If you do, you may choose new targets for the copy.)
How about flash with a french vanilla ability?
Body Double