(A big thank you to bravelion83 for this banner, an elaboration on the art of these cards: Maelstrom Nexus by Steven Belledin and Maelstrom Wanderer by Thomas M. Baxa.)
September MCC Round 2
“Best Friends & Worst Enemies”
Welcome back to the September MCC! Now that we are all aboard, we shall all depart on our scenic trip across the multiverse! I, Bly, shall be your lively tour guide for the rest of this month!
Let us begin with Ravnica, a plane of dual colors, all dueling it out. Depending on the daily agenda, the guilds within this metropolis of a plane can be allies or foes working together for a common goal or against one another for very different reasons.
This round, it is up to each of you to choose your colors once more while you are here! One can only hope that your choice of color was a wise one during Round 1…
Choose one of the following options. Please note your chosen option along with your entry!
Main Challenge: Design a card with two ally colors in its mana cost.
Sub Challenge 1: The card has an even converted mana cost.
Sub Challenge 2: The card uses the color of your Round 1 card as one of its colors. Please quote your Round 1 card along with your submission!
Main Challenge: Design a card with two enemy colors in its mana cost.
Sub Challenge 1: The card has an odd converted mana cost.
Sub Challenge 2: The card does not use the color of your Round 1 card anywhere on the card. Please quote your Round 1 card along with your submission!
As a quick reference, these are the ally colors. WU (Azorius) UB (Dimir) BR (Rakdos) RG (Gruul) GW (Selesnya)
As another quick reference, these are the enemy colors. WB (Orzhov) BG (Golgari) GU (Simic) UR (Izzet) RW (Boros)
If you have any requests for further clarification, please do not hesitate to inquire, but preferably do so in the actual MCC Discussion Thread.
In addition, please take note of the following points.
A reminder to everyone: you're supposed to explicitly mention in your submission which option you've chosen. Please don't make us judges make extra work having to sort out who chose which option in our brackets before judging. Thanks.
On rarity and formatting (courtesy of bravelion83):
A reminder to everyone: In the MCC, putting rarity on cards is mandatory! If you don't put a rarity on your card, expect huge deductions in both Viability AND Quality.
Also, you should format your text cards accordingly to the forum rules (see the "this formatting looks best" spoiler in the linked OP). Again, expect deductions in Quality otherwise.
With the announcement of the new templating of creating tokens (creature and non-creature) with the Rise from the Tides promo, should we begin using that language on the next round, if we so choose to create a card that generates tokens? I hold the MCC in high regard and that the contest has high standards for card creation, so it makes sense to me that our designs continue to develop appropriate design language.
Please let me know, Bravelion or a congregation of judges as to what you would like to do.
Thanks,
Folza
Thanks for posting this Folza. I wasn't aware of this change until just now. If people are going to be held to the new template in the next round (which is probably the correct way to go), I highly recommend that the new template is mentioned and highlighted in the OP. That will help to get the word out there and avoid any feel bad moments. Another option would be to adopt a short grace period in which either template would be acceptable. Either way, posts like Folza's are very helpful to those that aren't able to follow MTG as closely as others. Thanks again Folza!
At the contrary, I was perfectly aware of that promo but just didn't think about the fact that people might want to use that new wording already instead of waiting until Kaladesh comes out, as it will officially debut there. I thought about what to do and I have reached the following personal conclusion. As the official debut of Kaladesh is on September 2nd at PAX West, I personally will keep using the "put onto the battlefield" wording until then and only start using the "create" wording after that date. I don't expect others to follow the same practice, everyone is free to do what they want.
I think the proposal of a short period of time in which both wordings are acceptable in our contests sounds the most reasonable to me. I personally say that period should begin right now and end once Kaladesh is released (the last day of September). It's two months in which we all can become used to the new wording and all other eventual changes Kaladesh might bring (I was reading yesterday a thread in the Rumor Mill where vehicles were mentioned... and there's still Mechanic E unaccounted for by the way...).
So let me state this in an official way. The following will be valid from now on for me personally as a judge, and I'll enforce it as host in the last month of July (and in August too if no one else volunteers and I host again):
Both "put onto the battlefield" and "create" wordings will be acceptable starting right now and ending with the end of the September MCC. Just make sure your card follows the rules of English grammar, and also notice the different place of the word "tapped" in the two wordings.
Starting with the October MCC, I will no longer accept the "put onto the battlefield" wording for tokens, and I WILL deduct points for that then.
This is what I am going to do and that's my own personal decision. Other hosts and judges are free to do whatever they want, but I'd like if we all followed a common way. The only thing I would ask for to other hosts and judges is to be as clear as possible about what they want to do about this beforehand. Thanks. Obviously all of this is going to be repeated in the OP of the final round of July and in all future rounds I will judge or host from now until the end of September.
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
DEADLINES* In green, the next deadline to come.
In blue, further future deadlines to come.
In red, past deadlines.
Player deadline: Saturday, September 17th 23:59 EDT
Judge deadline: Tuesday, September 20th 23:59 EDT
*Time extensions are infrequent but possible until the deadline is past.
JUDGES
Blydden
bravelion83
doomfish
Flatline
PLAYERS U glurman R Groovelord U IcariiFA R Marco U Necarg U netn10 W RaikouRider U Raptorchan G StonerOfKruphix G sperlman W Tesco(black)lotus B thenoodler U Vertain B void_nothing B Voxzorz R Your BFF
BRACKETS: The top two in each bracket advance to Round 3.
Blydden
glurman
IcariiFA
sperlman
Voxzorz
bravelion83
Marco
netn10
Your BFF
Tesco(black)lotus
(Adapted from a submission that I liked during Round 1 of this year's September MCC. Credit to willows for today's card name.)
(Also, this no non-Latin unicode characters error is insufferable.)
No Stone Unturned1UU
Sorcery (U)
Escalate 2(Pay this cost for each mode chosen beyond the first.)
Choose one or both —
- Draw two cards.
- Investigate three times. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token onto the battlefield with "2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.") The mystery was solved, yet the horrors remained an enigma.
Greenweaver ApprenticeG
Creature - Elf Druid (C) Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Greenweaver Apprentice gains "T: add G to your mana pool" until end of turn. "My bond to the land is weak and unstable. Teach me your ways."
—Meriz, to Mina
0/2
I like this card a lot, even if I do not know as to whom Meriz nor Mina are. This is a great way to attempt mana tappers at 1 CMC after the shift that Magic has seen in that regard. I wonder if the landfall ability could reworded, but probably not.
Genin of Minamo1U
Creature - Human Ninja (c)
Ninjutsu U (U, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.)
Whenever Genin of Minamo deals combat damage to a player, you may return to owner’s hand, if you do tap target creature. It doesn’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.
1/1
Minamo from Kamigawa never had any ninjas as far as I know. Thankfully, I do know what the 'Genin' reference means (as I have been subjected to watching the particular anime being referenced, also I know some Japanese), and this card does feel like a weaker variant of a typical ninja. This card definitely feels blue as well, but the qualitative errors throughout this card prevent it from having a place in the top three among this stiff competition. I apologize.
Young Stitcher2U
Creature - Human Wizard (U)
When Young Stitcher enters the battlefield, scry 2, then put the top two cards of your library into your graveyard. "Good boy. His brain deserves to stay in the head, do you agree?" - Geralf, to Gisa
2/2
His brain should stay in his head. Good idea.
I really like this card.
Necromancer's ApprenticeB
Creature - Human Wizard (U)
When Necromancer's Apprentice enters the battlefield, search your library for a creature card and put it into your graveyard, then shuffle your library. "I have fresh bodies for you, master."
1/1
WhY dId YoU aLsO dO a NeCrOmAnCeR?!
I am not sure if this effect necessarily works at a mana cost of B. To the untrained eye, this effect looks almost worthless. To the trained eye, this might as well be tutoring in the right deck.
Apprentice Oracle1U
Creature — Merfolk Wizard (C)
Whenever another Wizard you control becomes tapped, you may scry 1. Professor, can you explain how to use the scrying pool again?
1/2
Tribal effects are something that I have never been the biggest fan of typically, but this works as intended. I am just not sure if I like this card due to how frequently 'Wizard' is used as a creature type along with how excessively scrying can be very bad for game health.
Snapcaster Page
Creature — Human Wizard (U)
When Snapcaster Page enters the battlefield, search your library for an instant or sorcery card and put that card into your graveyard. Then shuffle your library. "Let me fetch that for you my lord."
1/1
I know that this card has been the subject of a bit of a debate on the CCL Discussion Thread as of some time ago, but flavorfully I believe this card is just fine. I also realize that this card's intended purpose is not necessarily tutoring (unlike a certain card above) but flashback. There are some powerful flashback cards out there, but this card is ideally played early enough to provide the opponent plenty of warning. Otherwise, it is U for a fair body and an accompanying form of restricted, non-permanent tutoring. I believe that this card should be okay as a result.
(My apologies, I was too tired to make a card or vote yesterday. Today is a new day with my new mechanic.)
Harbinger of Dark Days2BB
Creature - Horror (U)
Deathtouch Prisma — Whenever you cast a black spell, Harbinger of Dark Days gains menace until end of turn. "The sun shall turn black
and become affixed in the sky.
Only then, the end..."
—Prophecy at Mount Walkrist
3/3
I know, it is kind of weird to vote for myself as well, but fair's fair, yes?
To be honest, while we are complimenting each other, you literally took on iterating on Banding, a mechanic that I would rather not touch even with a ten and a half meter pole. The mechanic that I believe is the third worst mechanic ever printed on an official Magic: The Gathering card, behind only Storm and Ante. It is a little similar to both Crew and Battalion and other official iterations of Banding, but it is also a new iteration that uses up a tidy design space, enough so to build a set or two with in my opinion.
I also actually really like the reference to banding in Banding General.
To be honest, I kind of wish people could vote on individual cards for each rarity rather than having to vote on the designs as a whole but Que Serra Serra.
Mad CultistR
Creature - Human Shaman (C) T: Add R to your mana pool. You may only spend this mana on spells you cast from exile. True power lies in the forbidden spaces beyond the reach of our normal senses.
1/1
Design - (1.5/3) Appeal: A card like this has an exciting idea, especially for Johnny since it is a niche card. Timmy enjoys anything that ramps, although this ramp is very specific. This specificity is also a problem for Spike, especially since there are not that many impulsive draw cards that could actually use this card's mana as far as I know. (3/3) Elegance: Elegant enough to cast from exile!
Development - (2/3) Viability: However, I am not sure if this would see print at common, although it could perhaps see print at uncommon. Official Magic: The Gathering cards have made a conscious shift away from creatures that add mana to your mana pool for only 1 CMC, as it homogenizes the pool of cards similarly to Lightning Strike and Doom Blade. A nice and easy fix would be to make this card a 2/1 for 1R, however. Nonetheless, this is still the sort of card that I would like to see printed someday whenever there are enough cards in the card pool that are similar to Act on Impulse.
As a note, mana acceleration is both red and green, yet red primarily does it in the form of sorceries or instants while green primarily taps permanents for its mana. So, there is a bit of a color bleed here in an odd and unusual way. (1.5/3) Balance: Depending on however many cards in a limited format that can impulsively draw cards that there are, this card would either be a limited all-star or a limited last pick. Everywhere else, I do not picture this card doing enough in order to break anything in particular as of yet. It is just not very good in constructed formats as of right now, but would be just fine in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: "Spend this mana only to cast spells from exile." is a very unique line of rules text that has never seen print before on any official Magic: The Gathering card. Well done! (2/3) Flavor: "Mad Cultist" is a very generic name, and honestly reads more like a black card in some respects. (I am surprised that it is actually an unused name, as a matter of fact.)
The flavor text honestly reads as though it should be a quotation spoken by the actual person that is being depicted with the card.
As a Vorthos player, I cannot say that I am really pleased, but at least the rules text of the card are succinctly flavorful.
Polish - (1.5/3) Quality: The second sentence of rules text should read "Spend this mana only to cast spells from exile." (minus one and a half points due to a necessary rewrite of a sentence of rules text). (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 18.5/25
Final thoughts: They have gone mad! Absolutely mad!
Wild Sparkspitter2R
Creature - Elemental (U) T: Wild Sparkspitter deals 1 damage to target creature. q: Wild Sparkspitter deals 1 damage to you. "It's even a little too wild for me." -Chandra Nalaar
1/3
Design - (1.5/3) Appeal: This is definitely a Johnny card that encourages you to accrue enough life to best use this card to its full potential, especially since it can untap itself for some sort of engine. Spike would definitely like to use this card since it can remove anything that can be pinged over and over, especially since life is a resource for her. Timmy is unexcited by this card. (2/3) Elegance: The untap symbol is inherently inelegant, and the continuous tapping and untapping would get a little repetitive to use which would also be an elegance problem.
Development - (1/3) Viability: I am doubting as to whether or not this card fits only onto red on the color wheel mechanically. The second ability basically reads "Pay 1 life: Untap Wild Sparkspitter" which is black. The untap symbol is unnecessary as a result, and Wizards of the Coast themselves alongside that the untap symbol is a design failure. If anything, this card could be multicolored as red and black. This card also perhaps should be rare instead of uncommon due to its complexity and ability to remove anything that can be pinged with enough life. (0.5/3) Balance: There are a couple cards that I would like to compare this card with, balance-wise, even if they are both outside of Standard: Gut Shot and Crackleburr. The former card tells us that 2 life and a card is worth about 1 damage. R gets Shock by default, however, so it is easy to say that Gut Shot by itself is a little weak, but not weak enough to allow precedent for this card in my opinion, even if it can only target creatures (and thank goodness for that at least).
The latter card tells us that this card cannot be strong on its own, yet synergy with other cards would make this more interesting as a card. Essentially, this card cannot be this repeatable for a cost that is so minimal. It could even be a tap/untap engine after it has been played, allowing one to pay 20 life to convoke for 20 or something else equally absurd, and I am certain that I am only hinting at the surface of the possible combos here. All official untap cards also come with an attached mana cost as a result of this, while this card has no mana cost attached to it, only a minimal amount of life payment.
This card is also oppressive because it can also just kill the majority of possible creatures on the board with enough life if left alive, especially only a few turns into the game.
There is no non-eternal format that I do not see this card making less enjoyable, unfortunately.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: Red has plenty of pingers, but repeatable pingers that deal damage to the controller are at least a little more unique. (2.5/3) Flavor: I am not a Chandra expert, but I do not picture a mono-red planeswalker saying that anything is too wild for them. However, card is indeed very wild, spitting sparks everywhere and all of that.
Polish - (2/3) Quality: The name of the person speaking the quotation requires it's own line in the flavor text (minus half a point). This card also needs reminder text since it uses the untap symbol (minus half a point). (Q is the untap symbol.)
In addition, the dash right next to the name of person being credited with the quotation should be a long dash '—' and not a short dash. (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 15/25
Final thoughts: This judgment was a difficult one to write, as I did not want to be harsh, but this card is of the sort that really needs to go back to the drawing board. My apologies.
Baloth Yearling (Common) 2G
Creature - Beast
2/2
Ravenous 2 (When this enters the battlefield, you may exile a creature card from your graveyard. If you do, put two +1/+1 counters on this.) "Young baloths can eat double their weight every day. Now that I think about it, so can old baloths." - Gergwyn, Small Game Hunter
Design - (0.5/3) Appeal: Despite this looking like it should be a Timmy card, it is a little too small for Timmy, and even if it gets bigger, it actually would still be a little too small for him. Johnny does not need this card for his machinations. Spike does not need this card for her gameplay, either, as it is basically an on-curve vanilla creature currently. (2.5/3) Elegance: The improper textual template that has been used here detracts from this card's elegance score. If this were actually printed, I feel as though the text would sort of be all over the place in an unfamiliar way. Ravenous itself does not seem to be inelegant design.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: This card definitely goes with the grain of New World Order, and hence can exist at common. Exiling cards from graveyards can be done at green, but it would typically done in all other colors first, so it is not quite a perfect fit onto the color wheel. +1/+1 counters are definitely green, however. If I read this card without seeing any colors, I would probably try and put it into black on the color wheel first, and then green afterwards. (3/3) Balance: A 4/4 for 2G is rather strong, yet that actually feeds into the primary strength of green, its creatures. Besides, Leatherback Baloth was a perfectly fine card. If this card whiffs, it is only a 2/2 for 2G, which is almost unplayable anyway. It is a little bit rough, although certainly not unusual, to have a creature in your graveyard by turn 3 as well.
Basically, this card is fine in all formats, casual, and multiplayer.
Creativity - (1/3) Uniqueness: Admittedly, ravenous is a custom keyword, but awarding full uniqueness points for that alone just seems at least a little bit silly. As it stands, this custom keyword reads a little bit like an inverse of scavenge mixed with devour. Cards that exile cards from graveyards as a cost has been done aplenty as well. (2/3) Flavor: I like the name, but the flavor text is a little wordy for my liking as a Vorthos. Nonetheless, this new keyword does play somewhat nicely with the intent of this card's flavor.
Polish - (0/3) Quality: This card has its templating all wrong, unfortunately, even as a text card. The rarity should be next to the card's types, the mana cost should be next to the name, and the power/toughness should be below the rules text and the flavor text rather than above (minus one and a half points). The name of the person credited with saying the quotation requires it's own line in the flavor text (minus half a point). There should also be no space between the dash and the person's name (minus half a point). Furthermore, reminder text for this new ravenous keyword is not correct; the word "creature" should come immediately after both instances of 'this' (minus half a point).
As a final note, the dash right next to the name of person being credited with the quotation should be a long dash '—' and not a short dash. (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 15.5/25
Final thought(s): Do not be discouraged! Ravenous looks like it is a keyword that has some sort of promise in the right sort of set, surely. I cannot wait to see more instances of it in your cards.
Search for Evidence(2/U)(2/U)
Instant (U)
Choose one at random --
Draw two cards.
Investigate four times.
Sometimes it's hard to find the answer right away.
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Tammy is basically uninterested in this card. Jenny loves unique cards like this full of intrigue. This card is pushed enough so that Spike would also definitely like it enough as well, even if the word 'random' is one of her least favorite words. (2.5/3) Elegance: Random effects by their very nature are inelegant design, so unfortunately I am unable to award this card with full elegance points despite the fact that it has only ten words of actual rules text.
Development - (2/3) Viability: This card looks very much like it should be blue, but the word 'random' is not blue at all. That word belongs primarily in red and secondarily in black. Neither of those aforementioned colors use investigate, however. The easiest way to re-balance this card would be to start by removing the word 'random'.
Twobrid mana is also rather weird to viably develop, yet I suppose this sort of card concept could effectively work at uncommon due to a lack of rules text. (0/3) Balance: The problem with this card, balance-wise, is that Weave Fate is overpowered for only UU. Making this card an instant instead of a sorcery like Divination is a big balance problem, especially since both effects are equally playable. The fact that this card is random does not do enough to ensure this card's balance. I would cost this card at about 3U tentatively, but even then this is a weird card to try and balance properly.
Notably, investigating four times might actually be the stronger effect of the pair, since the clue tokens themselves could be used for shenanigans aplenty.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Well, this is a weird submission to grade in regards to the uniqueness criterion, but I suppose it is a unique form of both card draw and investigate put together modally. (2.5/3) Flavor: I am surprised this card name is not taken! It fits quite nicely here, and it is also flavorful. The flavor text is quite nice as well. However, as a Vorthos, the flavorful and mechanical disconnect of this card prevents me from awarding this card a perfect score. Searching for evidence is not at all random when done by a professional investigator; it is methodical and orderly.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: The non-Latin unicode error is a real pain in hindsight. Nevertheless, a long dash '—' should have been used instead of two short dashes. Also, the reminder text for investigate is missing here (minus half a point). (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with "2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.") (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 17.5/25
Final thought: I would love to play around with a balanced version of this card without the word 'random', though.
Traitor of the Night2BB
Creature - Demon (M)
Flying, lifelink
When Traitor of the Night enters the battlefield, you gain an extra turn after this one. Target opponent gains control of you during that turn.
Whenever Traitor of the Night deals combat damage to a player, each player sacrifices that many non-demon creatures. Power and treachery. What else would you expect from a demon?
6/4
Design - (1.5/3) Appeal: This is definitely a Jenny card through and through. Tammy would prefer players to take their turns one after the other fairly. I doubt that Spike would ever want to play this card under typical circumstances, but this card truly demands an atypical deck, which is fair. (1.5/3) Elegance: As seeing tournament-level play of Emrakul, the Promised End has demonstrated, gaining control of someone else's turn can be a big mess. The inherent complexity of the third line of rules text does not help out this card's elegance, either.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: Well, this card fits into black nicely on the color wheel. It also is the correct rarity as a mythic.
However, the effect of giving your opponent your turn may be a rules bend. Not enough to break in this day and age, but enough to be a little concerned about this card's viability without it being legendary. (2.5/3) Balance: Believe it or not, this card actually does have somewhat of a precedent to balance around, if a rather old one, known as Eater of Days, kind of. They have the same converted mana cost, which helps. Clearly, this minion has the smaller body, even though it also has lifelink to effectively make up the loss of a turn.
Basically, you have to build your deck around this card, so I doubt that you can ever actually draft it in Limited, which is the main reason that I cannot give this submission a perfect score for this criterion. You really cannot put non-Demon cards into a deck with this, so your early game needs to be spell-based without a chance of backfiring back onto you. Doom Blade is a good start, but I leave it otherwise up to those Modern Johnnies and Jennies to find a way. This card is also a great way to really get to know your friends around a casual or multiplayer table, too.
This card works. Yes, the previous sentence was rather weird for me to type, admittedly.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: A card like this has never been printed before. End of story. (2.5/3) Flavor: The card does not feel cohesively synonymous for myself as a Vorthos. Basically, the mechanics feel a little too epic compared to this card's flavor. This card looks as though it should be a legendary creature, or is otherwise missing something. Otherwise, I really do quite like the name and the flavor text.
Polish - (2/3) Quality: The words "you gain" should be replaced with the word 'take' (minus half a point). The term "non-demon" should have a capitalized D (minus half a point). (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 19.5/25
Final thought: This submission noodled my mind.
Search your library for a creature card with converted mana cost X or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle your library.
Search your library for X plus one basic land cards, reveal those cards, and put one onto the battlefield tapped and the rest into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
Karametra blesses her cities with valorous champions and abundant harvests.
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Johnny likes pretty much any card with X in its mana cost. Timmy loves this card because it allows him to play big creatures for a two mana premium from his library or search for more lands to play more creatures from his hand. Spike could use this card to tutor or ramp as well at a reasonable mana cost, depending on the situation. What an appealing card! (2.5/3) Elegance: Tutoring for multiple cards is never going to be elegant, unfortunately, but this card otherwise earns a near-perfect score for this criterion in my opinion.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Both of this card's modes fit just right into green on the color wheel. The rarity is also correct. (2/3) Balance: This card's mana cost is a little pushed for being a modal spell. Individually, both effects would be fine at a cost of XGG, but together on a modal spell this could be troublesome. I would likely balance both effects by forcing them both to stay in color. The first effect does not search for a green creature specifically unlike Green Sun's Zenith and the second effect does not specifically search for Forests. Otherwise, this card would likely receive a perfect balance score from me. Perhaps this card is fine in practice, admittedly, and in all honesty it may very well just depend on the intended power level of the actual sets that this card could be slotted into.
This looks like a lot of fun in both casual and multiplayer, and also looks like a dream card for any green deck in a limited format (but this is of course fine for a rare card).
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: This card is basically Chord of Calling and Nissa's Pilgrimage stapled together as a modal spell. However, I would indeed call it an innovation with the worth of at least half credit for this criterion. (3/3) Flavor: The flavor here is just fabulous! Fantastic!
Polish - (2/3) Quality: It is a bit quirky that the first choice ends with ", then shuffle your library." while the second mode ends with "Then shuffle your library." (minus half a point, as that is just too silly to overlook realistically). There should be no space at all between the rules text and the flavor text (minus half a point). (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 21/25
Final thoughts: Using X to get around the first subchallenge's restriction was quite clever, and I was curious if anyone would catch that. Credit where credit is due! In my experience, uniqueness is a small price to pay for an otherwise basically perfect card.
Vile Corrupter2BB
Creature — Human Rogue (Rare) T : You may pay target creature’s mana cost. If you do, gain control of that creature. (This effect lasts indefinitely. Mana cost includes color.) The corruption has a price that some find useful to pay.
2/3
Design - (1.5/3) Appeal: I do not believe that Timmy is of the sort to like this card. Johnny, on the other hand, loves this card for its sheer potential involving lots of mana and lots of untapping. Spike also likes this card, but the fact that the ability is rather restrictive prevents her from necessarily loving it. (2.5/3) Elegance: This card's effect is a little inelegant by its very nature, but this card is still clean enough to have a perfect score.
Development - (2/3) Viability: Rare is the perfect rarity for this card. I am not sure if black is the right color for this card's effect, however. Changing control of permanents has historically been blue on the color wheel. As a result, I would say that this is almost a full-on color hemorrhage. (1.5/3) Balance: This card has a niche outside of what may be its intent, which is taking control of artifact creatures, or other creatures with no colors in their mana cost. It is also indefinite, which is weird because it makes a lot more sense for the effect to last until this creature leaves the battlefield. I am curious as to how this card could warp limited, since if you are versus a black deck that has this card and your black deck does not have this card, you may very well just lose. This card also looks more fun in casual than it does in multiplayer for similar reasons.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: Gaining control of permanents has been done quite a lot already, but this is actually a rather unique way of doing it. Even then, it is still a little bit like Willbreaker and other similar cards. (2.5/3) Flavor: The flavor here is spot on, but it is still not enough to justify this card being black instead of blue.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: There is an unnecessary space between the tap symbol and the colon (yes I noticed that, minus half a point). (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 18/25
Final thoughts: Thanks to this card, I actually learned today that 'corrupter' is the correct spelling of the word. How weird!
Infernal RetrievalBBB
Sorcery (R)
Choose one -
Put target creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. You lose life equal to that card's converted mana cost.
Search your library for a card, reveal it, and put it into your hand, then shuffle your library. You lose life equal to that card's converted mana cost. "Do you suppose what you want or what you need is more expensive?" - Kiv-Xanos, Rakdos summoner
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Timmy does not like paying large amounts of life as a cost. However, both Johnny and Spike do not mind as long as it lets the both of them do whatever they want, and this card does indeed let them both do just that. (3/3) Elegance: Excellently elegant!
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: Black is the perfect placement on this color wheel for this sorcery. However, this card could have perhaps been mythic rare instead of rare as it has two very potent effects in one, plus the mana cost is rather pushed. Nevertheless, rare is borderline okay in this case. (2.5/3) Balance: The first effect is fine; Death was costed as far less, and even then, it was a split card (and it is also a really old card). The second effect is the more frightening of the two choices. As a rare, this would be a must-have if you were playing monoblack in limited. This looks a bit unfriendly for casual, but looks quite friendly for multiplayer by comparison. Admittedly, the strict mana cost and heavy loss of life makes me unsure as to whether or not this card would break anything in particular.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Modal cards have been done before, of course, but not a modal tutor card. Even if half of this card is basically Death, the other half combined makes this card too unique to pass up on a high uniqueness score. (3/3) Flavor: The flavor here is spot on. Wonderful work!
Polish - (1/3) Quality: The bullet points were correct in the actual card, but I cannot quote it properly due to the infamous 'non-unicode Latin characters' error that I am currently experiencing. I had hoped that it would go away by the time that I had written up this judgment, but oh well.
However, there are still qualitative errors in this card, mainly in the flavor text. The name of the individual credited as saying the quotation requires it's own line in the flavor text (minus half a point). In addition, there should be no space between the dash and the individual's name (minus half a point). Lastly, the dash just to the left of the name of individual being credited with the quotation should be a long dash '—' and not a short dash (minus half a point); the short dash after "Choose one" should also be a long dash '—' (minus half a point). (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 19/25
Final thought: Personally, I would have gone with 'Abyssal Retrieval' for the name of this card, but that is just me as it is the same difference. For what it is worth, I do like what this card is trying to do.
Lethal Provocateur2RR
Creature-Devil (U)
First strike
When Lethal Provocateur enters the battlefield, target creature must attack you during it's controller's next turn, if able. Sharp claws and sharp wit, all wrapped up in an infuriating package. 3/1
Design - (1.5/3) Appeal: This card is a little too small to appeal to Tammy. Spike very much likes this card, however. Jenny likes this card for how it can combo with red's famous power abilities like firebreathing, but this card itself is not really anything to build around. (3/3) Elegance: This card reads a little weirdly, but that is more qualitative and does not detract from the elegance score here for this criterion.
Development - (3/3) Viability: This card's effect definitely fits into red on the color wheel for its innate feeling of impulsiveness. First strike is also primarily red. Uncommon looks to be the right rarity for this card, as well. (3/3) Balance: This card is correctly costed. This card may be a little infuriating to play against, but it is kind of like Lightning Strike attached to a 3/1 creature with first strike, which reads as 'balanced' to me. This card has quite the Limited appeal, but at uncommon and at this mana cost that is totally fine. This card would play well in casual I believe (just think of all the ways you can make sure your creatures do not have to attack); in multiplayer it would especially shine.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: This card's enters the battlefield effect is something that I am surprised Wizards has not done more of in red, actually. It is similar to other mechanics like goad and provoke, yet is also neither of those. (3/3) Flavor: The flavor is spot on. Sharply done!
Polish - (0.5/3) Quality: This card could have fit in the first strike reminder text, but this is not strictly necessary. The apostrophe in 'it's' should be nixed (minus half a point); the very same goes for the comma between turn and if as well (minus half a point). The phrase 'must attack' should simply be the word "attacks" as well (minus half a point). The dash between "Creature" and "Devil" in the type line should be by itself with single spaces rather than serving as a hyphen to connect both words (minus half a point). The power and toughness of the creature should not be bolded (minus half a point). (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 19.5/25
Final thought(s): This card's qualitative errors gave me a bit of a headache, to be honest. Please do try for a perfect quality score during the next round!
If your username has been bolded here, congratulations are in order — you have qualified for Round 2 of the September MCC! Best of luck!
If your username has not been bolded here, there is always next month. Thank you for participating; best of luck next month!
King of Bones, Death's ChosenBBB
Legendary Creature - Lich Wizard (M)
Wither
Whenever the King of Bones attacks, put a -1/-1 counter on each creature target opponent controls.
Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, you may exile the King of Bones. If you do, return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner's control.
3/3
-- Wyrmwood Lifebane
(B) Planeswalker - Wyrmwood (M)
+1: Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
0: Each player discards a card. Draw a card.
-1: Target player sacrifices a creature.
-5: Destroy all creatures target opponent controls. They can't be regenerated.
2
Fury of the Dragonkin1R
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has haste. R: Enchanted creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn. 2R, Sacrifice Fury of the Dragonkin: Put two +1/+1 counters on enchanted creature. The dragon’s shout to set ablaze the fires of war.
Servitor of Kozilek6C
Artifact Creature - Eldrazi Golem (R)
When Servitor of Kozilek dies, each player with fewer than seven cards in hand draws cards equal to the difference.
7/7
(When I saw the Pia Nalaar spoiler today, I literally cried.)
Votes: netn10 & IlGreven
Honorable Mention: bravelion83 (I like the card, but Rattlechains already ate up this design space for the time being.)
Engineer Extraordinaire2U
Creature - Human Artificer (U)
When Engineer Extraordinaire enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token.
Artifact creatures you control have flying. She had previously been told that servos and thopters were incompatible. She certainly showed them otherwise.
1/3
For the record, I tried to orient the balance of each of these cards around some basic mana cost math. Returning a singular creature from the graveyard to the battlefield by itself is worth about 3W at sorcery speed on a card, while doing so at instant speed is worth about 1 or maybe even 2 more, depending. Without further ado...
Rebuild the Forces
Sorcery (R)
As an additional cost to cast Rebuild the Forces, sacrifice an artifact.
Return up to three target artifact creature cards with total converted mana cost 6 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. "I can fix them if you find me some parts."
Design - (3/3) Appeal: This card's interesting artifact focus definitely leans it to being quite the Johnny card. Spike would probably try this card out due to its lower mana cost and playable additional cost. This can revive a big creature for Timmy, even if he dislikes sacrificing, but sacrificing noncreature artifact tokens such as clues might be okay with him in this case. Great work here! (2.5/3) Elegance: Can you return the artifact that is sacrificed with this card? No, of course not, but it might be a frequent enough rulings question that is actually is a minor detraction from this card's elegance. Aside from that, this is indeed elegant!
Development - (3/3) Viability: This card is interesting in that there are different ways to put this on a color wheel. (R/W) works because white is a typical reanimation color, and red is a color that cares about taking apart artifacts and putting them back together. Both colors here add something that the other one lacks, which is definitely a way of going about developing this sort of card. Rare is the perfect rarity for this card, as well. (2/3) Balance: Admittedly, this card only took me about five minutes to come up with an ideal scenario for. Turn 1, cast Thraben Inspector (or just a Turn 1 artifact). Turn 2, cast Tormenting Voice (or a similar discard outlet), discarding an artifact creature like Wurmcoil Engine or Soul of New Phyrexia. Turn 3, play this card, sacrifice the clue (or turn 1 artifact), ramp out a shiny new Wurmcoil Engine, Soul of New Phyrexia, or otherwise. Now, this is of course a bit of a dream scenario, but I am sure a proper Johnny could possibly come up with something better and less vulnerable (possibly involving Memnites and/or Ornithopters). Truthfully, I cannot agree that this card is perfectly fine as-is as a result, balance-wise. Having the rules text say "nontoken" could possibly help, but I would prefer just seeing this card tweaked and tuned some more. It is not too terribly far off, actually, and truthfully I would love to have a second impression of similar rules text to this.
Anyway, this is probably fine outside of constructed, especially if one builds a (R/W) artifact deck for it. In the right limited block, that could actually be quite a bit of fun, if a little difficult to pull off. This card is also of the sort to be fine in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Returning artifacts and creatures from graveyards to battlefields has been done before, of course. The words 'total converted mana cost' are what makes this particular card rather unique. (2.5/3) Flavor: I like the name, but the flavor text falls a little flat for me here as a Vorthos. Otherwise, good work here for this criterion!
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Perfect! (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 22/25
Final thoughts: I really want to try and play around with this sort of card now after having ruminated about it. Congratulations are in order on being a finalist for this month's MCC, as well!
Conclave's RenewalXXGW
Sorcery (M)
Convoke (Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature's color.)
Return up to X target creature cards with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield, then put a +1/+1 counter on each of those creatures.
Design - (3/3) Appeal: This is appealing to all three of the player psychographics. Timmy would love to reanimate a whole army of buffed creatures with other creatures, Johnny has some neat and interesting ways to play around with a mana cost that includes XX in it, and Spike could reasonably use this to at least some effect in a typical game in the proper deck. Wonderful work!
Notably, this card would also complete an infamously incomplete Return to Ravnica 'cycle'. (Guild spells with 'X' in their mana cost, of which Selesnya has none, while all of the other guilds have at least one.) (3/3) Elegance: Excellently elegant!
Development - (3/3) Viability: Green and white are the colors of convoke, white is a color that can return creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield, and green is the prime color of +1/+1 counters. Absolutely perfect placement on the color wheel. I cannot imagine this card existing as anything less than a mythic rare, either, so the choice of rarity is perfect here as well. (3/3) Balance: First off, this is a limited bomb, but mythic rares are allowed to be that without any real problems. This could even become a constructed cornerstone for (G/W). Yet, I gave this card a perfect balance score, and that is because this card is fair, regardless of the format. This card requires an exorbitant amount of mana (and creatures) to function optimally. This is definitely doable for (G/W), however. This is a wonderful late game card for that archetype as a result.
I am not even sure what else that I could relevantly type here in all honesty.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Returning creatures from graveyards to battlefields has been done before, of course, but not like this. Double X mana cost?! There is no official card in all Magic: The Gathering that is multicolored AND has a double X in its mana cost, none. That alone deserves more than three points for this criterion, but I would probably get fired from my shiny new judge position if I tried that. This card only gets more unique from there, too. Impressed is an understatement for this criterion. (2/3) Flavor: Great name, neat instances of trinket text, but no flavor text, and the latter is a travesty. There was definitely room for at least one line, especially since this card is a mythic rare.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Perfect! (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 24/25
Final thoughts: Convoke is one of my favorite keywords in the game, just like cascade, soulbond, and similar mechanics. If only there was at least one line of equally perfect flavor text, then, I admit, I would have likely given this card a perfect score! Otherwise, I just absolutely love everything else about this card. Even if you are not victorous this month, your created cards throughout this month have definitely won my appreciation, and I am dying to see more, sperlman. Also, congratulations on becoming an MCC finalist for the month!
Fight On Forever4RW
Sorcery (M)
Return to the battlefield under your control with a strife counter on it each creature card that was put into a graveyard from the battlefield this turn. Those creatures gain, "As long as this creature attacked this turn, it has indestructible."
Design - (1.5/3) Appeal: I believe that Timmy is the sort who would definitely wish to be encouraged to attack with every creature all at once because of this kind of card. Johnny could maybe do something with this, even if I am not entirely sure what as of writing this judgment. This costs about right to work for Spike, but it is a little too dependent on your opponent to really excite her. (2/3) Elegance: The first effect is relatively reasonable, but the second effect is kind of inelegant and otherwise requires inert counters and remembering what they actually do. Otherwise, this card is alright in execution.
Development - (3/3) Viability: White is the color of returning multiple creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield; red is the color of aggression, and this card conveniently takes control of your opponent's creatures and encourages combat with all of the affected creatures, which is definitely red. I would say this card is definitely (R/W) on the color wheel as a result.
My inner Melvin wants to know if these strife counters could otherwise do anything else potentially someday. I shall assume not; thus, I assume that the rules of the game would otherwise be intact.
Mythic rare is fitting enough for this card though due to its inherent intrigue. (3/3) Balance: This is more of a limited bomb than a constructed cornerstone, but this is alright for a mythic rare in my honest opinion. If you get to make a successful attack with all of your creatures, great! If your attacking creatures end up being 'unsuccessful', this card would turn that right around. The fact that this card also takes control of your opponent's creatures by having them come back on your side is also a little crazy, but for six mana at sorcery speed I would call that acceptable.
This card could be rather fun in casual and multiplayer, however. This card is just meant to break up infamously stale board states.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Returning creatures from graveyards to battefields has been done before, of course, but not quite like this. The second sentence of rules text definitely earns full points for this criterion! (1.5/3) Flavor: I like the name alright, but there is no flavor text on this card. My inner Vorthos wants to know why the counters are known as 'strife' counters, to be honest. Flavor text about strife as a concept hence seems fitting here.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: There is an unnecessary comma after the word 'gain' (minus half a point). (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 20.5/25
Final thoughts: To be honest, I had to reread this card several times before I could write up this judgment as accurately as I possibly could, but that is more my fault than not. Just as well, you certainly deserve earnest congratulations as a finalist of the month's MCC!
Breath of the Titan3GW
Sorcery (R)
Return all creature cards with power less than the power of target creature you control from your graveyard to the battlefield. Tales tell of titans so grand and glorious that even the fallen would rise again to fight at their side.
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Timmy being rewarded for playing high power creatures is always both exciting and appealing to him. This card is too potent for Spike to not try and find a way to use this for herself as well. Johnny could even combo this with cards like Phytoburst, which is quite the concept in and of itself! (3/3) Elegance: Even if the titan depicted might possibly need a breath mint, there is definitely a breathtaking balance of simplicity and depth going on here.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: I agree that this card as a whole fits best into (G/W) on the color wheel. Honestly, this card could very well have the potential to be mythic, but rare is an acceptable bend in this case due to a lack of rules text, at least in my honest opinion. (1.5/3) Balance: This criterion is this created card's one true weakness. If I were to cost this card, it would be closer to 5GW or maybe 4GW as a mythic rare. This card currently has been pushed to an uncomfortable extreme at a converted mana cost of only five. However, this card could still possibly exist, as it does promote healthy gameplay. It definitely has the potential to win a game within a limited format all by itself, but it is acceptable for a rare card to do that as far as I am concerned (although maybe not at a converted mana cost of five). What really keeps this balance score afloat are the plethora of deckbuilding decisions and fine tuning adjustments that would be required to use this card to its maximum potential. The gameplay involved with using this card optimally is also a rather delicate balance.
In casual and multiplayer, this card only gets better and easier to use, as well.
Truthfully, if this card had been costed at 4GW, this balance score would have been 2 or greater.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Returning creatures from graveyards to battefields has been done before, of course, but certainly not like this. You could say that my breath has been stolen away by this card's creativity for this pair of criteria. (3/3) Flavor: As a Vorthos, I am pleasantly pleased to claim that this is the most flavorful card of the entire round. I would argue that it is quite tasteful, as well.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Perfect! (2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met! (2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 23/DQ
Final thoughts: Worry not about being disqualified, doomfish. What mattered is that you created some excellent cards this month that you should be very much proud of. I assure you that you definitely have my congratulations for making it to the final round of the month's MCC! Again, best of luck in the finals of the month's CCL versus myself, as well!
Submission
Old Mechanic: Radiance
New Mechanic: Prisma
(Prisma — Whenever you cast a [COLOR] spell, X.)
(Prisma — {COST}: X. Activate this ability only if you have cast another [COLOR] spell this turn.)
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to read this. So, about radiance...
Radiance is originally from Ravnica: City of Guilds. It was the Boros mechanic then and is currently a 9 on the Storm Scale for its playability issues. It has since been 'replaced' with Battalion starting with Gatecrash as the Boros mechanic. While Radiance is flavorful and interesting, it is unfortunately a mechanical design failure. The main problem with Radiance is that it affects the whole of the board state in an unintuitive way.
Enter Prisma as a solution. By 'evolving' Radiance to become self-contained, it naturally becomes a lot more intuitive, easier to design and develop, and more playable.
Firstly, Prisma will only ever function alongside the colors in the mana cost of the card itself. Secondly, Prisma effects are intended to be more self-oriented rather than board-oriented in order to promote understandability. Thirdly, Prisma can be a universal mechanic, since every color cares about its own colors intrinsically, unlike Radiance.
Lastly, as a bit of trivia, I designed Kristel as a tribute to Boros, that which bequeathed the original mechanic of Radiance.
Elvish Seer1G
Creature - Elf Shaman (C) T: Add G to your mana pool. Prisma — T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if you have cast another green spell this turn. The vividness of nature is ubiquitous.
1/2
Aethereal Library1U
Enchantment (U)
When Aethereal Library enters the battlefield, scry 3. Prisma — Whenever you cast a blue spell, you may pay 1U. If you do, draw a card. Knowledge is ultimately its own reward.
Horde of Rats4BB
Creature - Rat (R)
Rats you control have menace. Prisma — Whenever you cast a black spell, create X 1/1 black Rat creature tokens, where X is the number of Rats you control. It is paltry for one to look down upon vermin until their plague brings one down with them.
3/3
Kristel, Archangel of Glory5RW
Legendary Creature - Angel (M)
Flying
Attacking creatures you control have indestructible. Prisma — RW: Creatures you control gain double strike until end of turn. Activate this ability only if you have cast another red or white spell this turn.
5/5
(A big thank you to bravelion83 for this banner, an elaboration on the art of these cards: Maelstrom Nexus by Steven Belledin and Maelstrom Wanderer by Thomas M. Baxa.)
September MCC Round 2
“Best Friends & Worst Enemies”
Let us begin with Ravnica, a plane of dual colors, all dueling it out. Depending on the daily agenda, the guilds within this metropolis of a plane can be allies or foes working together for a common goal or against one another for very different reasons.
This round, it is up to each of you to choose your colors once more while you are here! One can only hope that your choice of color was a wise one during Round 1…
Choose one of the following options. Please note your chosen option along with your entry!
Sub Challenge 1: The card has an even converted mana cost.
Sub Challenge 2: The card uses the color of your Round 1 card as one of its colors. Please quote your Round 1 card along with your submission!
Sub Challenge 1: The card has an odd converted mana cost.
Sub Challenge 2: The card does not use the color of your Round 1 card anywhere on the card. Please quote your Round 1 card along with your submission!
WU (Azorius)
UB (Dimir)
BR (Rakdos)
RG (Gruul)
GW (Selesnya)
WB (Orzhov)
BG (Golgari)
GU (Simic)
UR (Izzet)
RW (Boros)
If you have any requests for further clarification, please do not hesitate to inquire, but preferably do so in the actual MCC Discussion Thread.
In addition, please take note of the following points.
Specifically for this month:
On rarity and formatting (courtesy of bravelion83):
You can read bravelion83’s latest article in regards to his latest opinion on this topic. I would also recommend reading the first series of his Lion’s Lair articles as well! They are all quite good.
On reminder text:
On the use of “create” versus “put onto the battlefield tokens”. This is the official ruling for this month, courtesy of bravelion83.
(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
DEADLINES*
In green, the next deadline to come.
In blue, further future deadlines to come.
In red, past deadlines.
Player deadline: Saturday, September 17th 23:59 EDT
Judge deadline: Tuesday, September 20th 23:59 EDT
*Time extensions are infrequent but possible until the deadline is past.
JUDGES
Blydden
bravelion83
doomfish
Flatline
PLAYERS
U glurman
R Groovelord
U IcariiFA
R Marco
U Necarg
U netn10
W RaikouRider
U Raptorchan
G StonerOfKruphix
G sperlman
W Tesco(black)lotus
B thenoodler
U Vertain
B void_nothing
B Voxzorz
R Your BFF
BRACKETS: The top two in each bracket advance to Round 3.
Blydden
glurman
IcariiFA
sperlman
Voxzorz
bravelion83
Marco
netn10
Your BFF
Tesco(black)lotus
doomfish
Necarg
Raptorchan
Vertain
void_nothing
Flatline
Groovelord
RaikouRider
StonerOfKruphix
thenoodler
Please and thank you!
~Bly
(Adapted from a submission that I liked during Round 1 of this year's September MCC. Credit to willows for today's card name.)
(Also, this no non-Latin unicode characters error is insufferable.)
No Stone Unturned 1UU
Sorcery (U)
Escalate 2 (Pay this cost for each mode chosen beyond the first.)
Choose one or both —
- Draw two cards.
- Investigate three times. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token onto the battlefield with "2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
The mystery was solved, yet the horrors remained an enigma.
I really like this card.
WhY dId YoU aLsO dO a NeCrOmAnCeR?!I am not sure if this effect necessarily works at a mana cost of B. To the untrained eye, this effect looks almost worthless. To the trained eye, this might as well be tutoring in the right deck.
(unlike a certain card above)but flashback. There are some powerful flashback cards out there, but this card is ideally played early enough to provide the opponent plenty of warning. Otherwise, it is U for a fair body and an accompanying form of restricted, non-permanent tutoring. I believe that this card should be okay as a result.StonerOfKruphix
Flatline
(My apologies, I was too tired to make a card or vote yesterday. Today is a new day with my new mechanic.)
Harbinger of Dark Days 2BB
Creature - Horror (U)
Deathtouch
Prisma — Whenever you cast a black spell, Harbinger of Dark Days gains menace until end of turn.
"The sun shall turn black
and become affixed in the sky.
Only then, the end..."
—Prophecy at Mount Walkrist
3/3
To be honest, while we are complimenting each other, you literally took on iterating on Banding, a mechanic that I would rather not touch even with a ten and a half meter pole. The mechanic that I believe is the third worst mechanic ever printed on an official Magic: The Gathering card, behind only Storm and Ante. It is a little similar to both Crew and Battalion and other official iterations of Banding, but it is also a new iteration that uses up a tidy design space, enough so to build a set or two with in my opinion.
I also actually really like the reference to banding in Banding General.
To be honest, I kind of wish people could vote on individual cards for each rarity rather than having to vote on the designs as a whole but Que Serra Serra.
Judgments are not final until Round 2 begins, which will be tomorrow afternoon.All judgments have been reviewed and are now final.(1.5/3) Appeal: A card like this has an exciting idea, especially for Johnny since it is a niche card. Timmy enjoys anything that ramps, although this ramp is very specific. This specificity is also a problem for Spike, especially since there are not that many impulsive draw cards that could actually use this card's mana as far as I know.
(3/3) Elegance: Elegant enough to cast from exile!
Development -
(2/3) Viability: However, I am not sure if this would see print at common, although it could perhaps see print at uncommon. Official Magic: The Gathering cards have made a conscious shift away from creatures that add mana to your mana pool for only 1 CMC, as it homogenizes the pool of cards similarly to Lightning Strike and Doom Blade. A nice and easy fix would be to make this card a 2/1 for 1R, however. Nonetheless, this is still the sort of card that I would like to see printed someday whenever there are enough cards in the card pool that are similar to Act on Impulse.
As a note, mana acceleration is both red and green, yet red primarily does it in the form of sorceries or instants while green primarily taps permanents for its mana. So, there is a bit of a color bleed here in an odd and unusual way.
(1.5/3) Balance: Depending on however many cards in a limited format that can impulsively draw cards that there are, this card would either be a limited all-star or a limited last pick. Everywhere else, I do not picture this card doing enough in order to break anything in particular as of yet. It is just not very good in constructed formats as of right now, but would be just fine in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: "Spend this mana only to cast spells from exile." is a very unique line of rules text that has never seen print before on any official Magic: The Gathering card. Well done!
(2/3) Flavor: "Mad Cultist" is a very generic name, and honestly reads more like a black card in some respects. (I am surprised that it is actually an unused name, as a matter of fact.)
The flavor text honestly reads as though it should be a quotation spoken by the actual person that is being depicted with the card.
As a Vorthos player, I cannot say that I am really pleased, but at least the rules text of the card are succinctly flavorful.
Polish -
(1.5/3) Quality: The second sentence of rules text should read "Spend this mana only to cast spells from exile." (minus one and a half points due to a necessary rewrite of a sentence of rules text).
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 18.5/25
Final thoughts: They have gone mad! Absolutely mad!
(1.5/3) Appeal: This is definitely a Johnny card that encourages you to accrue enough life to best use this card to its full potential, especially since it can untap itself for some sort of engine. Spike would definitely like to use this card since it can remove anything that can be pinged over and over, especially since life is a resource for her. Timmy is unexcited by this card.
(2/3) Elegance: The untap symbol is inherently inelegant, and the continuous tapping and untapping would get a little repetitive to use which would also be an elegance problem.
Development -
(1/3) Viability: I am doubting as to whether or not this card fits only onto red on the color wheel mechanically. The second ability basically reads "Pay 1 life: Untap Wild Sparkspitter" which is black. The untap symbol is unnecessary as a result, and Wizards of the Coast themselves alongside that the untap symbol is a design failure. If anything, this card could be multicolored as red and black. This card also perhaps should be rare instead of uncommon due to its complexity and ability to remove anything that can be pinged with enough life.
(0.5/3) Balance: There are a couple cards that I would like to compare this card with, balance-wise, even if they are both outside of Standard: Gut Shot and Crackleburr. The former card tells us that 2 life and a card is worth about 1 damage. R gets Shock by default, however, so it is easy to say that Gut Shot by itself is a little weak, but not weak enough to allow precedent for this card in my opinion, even if it can only target creatures (and thank goodness for that at least).
The latter card tells us that this card cannot be strong on its own, yet synergy with other cards would make this more interesting as a card. Essentially, this card cannot be this repeatable for a cost that is so minimal. It could even be a tap/untap engine after it has been played, allowing one to pay 20 life to convoke for 20 or something else equally absurd, and I am certain that I am only hinting at the surface of the possible combos here. All official untap cards also come with an attached mana cost as a result of this, while this card has no mana cost attached to it, only a minimal amount of life payment.
This card is also oppressive because it can also just kill the majority of possible creatures on the board with enough life if left alive, especially only a few turns into the game.
There is no non-eternal format that I do not see this card making less enjoyable, unfortunately.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Red has plenty of pingers, but repeatable pingers that deal damage to the controller are at least a little more unique.
(2.5/3) Flavor: I am not a Chandra expert, but I do not picture a mono-red planeswalker saying that anything is too wild for them. However, card is indeed very wild, spitting sparks everywhere and all of that.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: The name of the person speaking the quotation requires it's own line in the flavor text (minus half a point). This card also needs reminder text since it uses the untap symbol (minus half a point). (Q is the untap symbol.)
In addition, the dash right next to the name of person being credited with the quotation should be a long dash '—' and not a short dash.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 15/25
Final thoughts: This judgment was a difficult one to write, as I did not want to be harsh, but this card is of the sort that really needs to go back to the drawing board. My apologies.
(0.5/3) Appeal: Despite this looking like it should be a Timmy card, it is a little too small for Timmy, and even if it gets bigger, it actually would still be a little too small for him. Johnny does not need this card for his machinations. Spike does not need this card for her gameplay, either, as it is basically an on-curve vanilla creature currently.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The improper textual template that has been used here detracts from this card's elegance score. If this were actually printed, I feel as though the text would sort of be all over the place in an unfamiliar way. Ravenous itself does not seem to be inelegant design.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: This card definitely goes with the grain of New World Order, and hence can exist at common. Exiling cards from graveyards can be done at green, but it would typically done in all other colors first, so it is not quite a perfect fit onto the color wheel. +1/+1 counters are definitely green, however. If I read this card without seeing any colors, I would probably try and put it into black on the color wheel first, and then green afterwards.
(3/3) Balance: A 4/4 for 2G is rather strong, yet that actually feeds into the primary strength of green, its creatures. Besides, Leatherback Baloth was a perfectly fine card. If this card whiffs, it is only a 2/2 for 2G, which is almost unplayable anyway. It is a little bit rough, although certainly not unusual, to have a creature in your graveyard by turn 3 as well.
Basically, this card is fine in all formats, casual, and multiplayer.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: Admittedly, ravenous is a custom keyword, but awarding full uniqueness points for that alone just seems at least a little bit silly. As it stands, this custom keyword reads a little bit like an inverse of scavenge mixed with devour. Cards that exile cards from graveyards as a cost has been done aplenty as well.
(2/3) Flavor: I like the name, but the flavor text is a little wordy for my liking as a Vorthos. Nonetheless, this new keyword does play somewhat nicely with the intent of this card's flavor.
Polish -
(0/3) Quality: This card has its templating all wrong, unfortunately, even as a text card. The rarity should be next to the card's types, the mana cost should be next to the name, and the power/toughness should be below the rules text and the flavor text rather than above (minus one and a half points). The name of the person credited with saying the quotation requires it's own line in the flavor text (minus half a point). There should also be no space between the dash and the person's name (minus half a point). Furthermore, reminder text for this new ravenous keyword is not correct; the word "creature" should come immediately after both instances of 'this' (minus half a point).
As a final note, the dash right next to the name of person being credited with the quotation should be a long dash '—' and not a short dash.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 15.5/25
Final thought(s): Do not be discouraged! Ravenous looks like it is a keyword that has some sort of promise in the right sort of set, surely. I cannot wait to see more instances of it in your cards.
(2/3) Appeal: Tammy is basically uninterested in this card. Jenny loves unique cards like this full of intrigue. This card is pushed enough so that Spike would also definitely like it enough as well, even if the word 'random' is one of her least favorite words.
(2.5/3) Elegance: Random effects by their very nature are inelegant design, so unfortunately I am unable to award this card with full elegance points despite the fact that it has only ten words of actual rules text.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: This card looks very much like it should be blue, but the word 'random' is not blue at all. That word belongs primarily in red and secondarily in black. Neither of those aforementioned colors use investigate, however. The easiest way to re-balance this card would be to start by removing the word 'random'.
Twobrid mana is also rather weird to viably develop, yet I suppose this sort of card concept could effectively work at uncommon due to a lack of rules text.
(0/3) Balance: The problem with this card, balance-wise, is that Weave Fate is overpowered for only UU. Making this card an instant instead of a sorcery like Divination is a big balance problem, especially since both effects are equally playable. The fact that this card is random does not do enough to ensure this card's balance. I would cost this card at about 3U tentatively, but even then this is a weird card to try and balance properly.
Notably, investigating four times might actually be the stronger effect of the pair, since the clue tokens themselves could be used for shenanigans aplenty.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Well, this is a weird submission to grade in regards to the uniqueness criterion, but I suppose it is a unique form of both card draw and investigate put together modally.
(2.5/3) Flavor: I am surprised this card name is not taken! It fits quite nicely here, and it is also flavorful. The flavor text is quite nice as well. However, as a Vorthos, the flavorful and mechanical disconnect of this card prevents me from awarding this card a perfect score. Searching for evidence is not at all random when done by a professional investigator; it is methodical and orderly.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: The non-Latin unicode error is a real pain in hindsight. Nevertheless, a long dash '—' should have been used instead of two short dashes. Also, the reminder text for investigate is missing here (minus half a point). (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with "2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 17.5/25
Final thought: I would love to play around with a balanced version of this card without the word 'random', though.
Design -
(1.5/3) Appeal: This is definitely a Jenny card through and through. Tammy would prefer players to take their turns one after the other fairly. I doubt that Spike would ever want to play this card under typical circumstances, but this card truly demands an atypical deck, which is fair.
(1.5/3) Elegance: As seeing tournament-level play of Emrakul, the Promised End has demonstrated, gaining control of someone else's turn can be a big mess. The inherent complexity of the third line of rules text does not help out this card's elegance, either.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Well, this card fits into black nicely on the color wheel. It also is the correct rarity as a mythic.
However, the effect of giving your opponent your turn may be a rules bend. Not enough to break in this day and age, but enough to be a little concerned about this card's viability without it being legendary.
(2.5/3) Balance: Believe it or not, this card actually does have somewhat of a precedent to balance around, if a rather old one, known as Eater of Days, kind of. They have the same converted mana cost, which helps. Clearly, this minion has the smaller body, even though it also has lifelink to effectively make up the loss of a turn.
Basically, you have to build your deck around this card, so I doubt that you can ever actually draft it in Limited, which is the main reason that I cannot give this submission a perfect score for this criterion. You really cannot put non-Demon cards into a deck with this, so your early game needs to be spell-based without a chance of backfiring back onto you. Doom Blade is a good start, but I leave it otherwise up to those Modern Johnnies and Jennies to find a way. This card is also a great way to really get to know your friends around a casual or multiplayer table, too.
This card works. Yes, the previous sentence was rather weird for me to type, admittedly.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: A card like this has never been printed before. End of story.
(2.5/3) Flavor: The card does not feel cohesively synonymous for myself as a Vorthos. Basically, the mechanics feel a little too epic compared to this card's flavor. This card looks as though it should be a legendary creature, or is otherwise missing something. Otherwise, I really do quite like the name and the flavor text.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: The words "you gain" should be replaced with the word 'take' (minus half a point). The term "non-demon" should have a capitalized D (minus half a point).
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 19.5/25
Final thought: This submission noodled my mind.
(3/3) Appeal: Johnny likes pretty much any card with X in its mana cost. Timmy loves this card because it allows him to play big creatures for a two mana premium from his library or search for more lands to play more creatures from his hand. Spike could use this card to tutor or ramp as well at a reasonable mana cost, depending on the situation. What an appealing card!
(2.5/3) Elegance: Tutoring for multiple cards is never going to be elegant, unfortunately, but this card otherwise earns a near-perfect score for this criterion in my opinion.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Both of this card's modes fit just right into green on the color wheel. The rarity is also correct.
(2/3) Balance: This card's mana cost is a little pushed for being a modal spell. Individually, both effects would be fine at a cost of XGG, but together on a modal spell this could be troublesome. I would likely balance both effects by forcing them both to stay in color. The first effect does not search for a green creature specifically unlike Green Sun's Zenith and the second effect does not specifically search for Forests. Otherwise, this card would likely receive a perfect balance score from me. Perhaps this card is fine in practice, admittedly, and in all honesty it may very well just depend on the intended power level of the actual sets that this card could be slotted into.
This looks like a lot of fun in both casual and multiplayer, and also looks like a dream card for any green deck in a limited format (but this is of course fine for a rare card).
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: This card is basically Chord of Calling and Nissa's Pilgrimage stapled together as a modal spell. However, I would indeed call it an innovation with the worth of at least half credit for this criterion.
(3/3) Flavor: The flavor here is just fabulous! Fantastic!
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: It is a bit quirky that the first choice ends with ", then shuffle your library." while the second mode ends with "Then shuffle your library." (minus half a point, as that is just too silly to overlook realistically). There should be no space at all between the rules text and the flavor text (minus half a point).
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 21/25
Final thoughts: Using X to get around the first subchallenge's restriction was quite clever, and I was curious if anyone would catch that. Credit where credit is due! In my experience, uniqueness is a small price to pay for an otherwise basically perfect card.
(1.5/3) Appeal: I do not believe that Timmy is of the sort to like this card. Johnny, on the other hand, loves this card for its sheer potential involving lots of mana and lots of untapping. Spike also likes this card, but the fact that the ability is rather restrictive prevents her from necessarily loving it.
(2.5/3) Elegance: This card's effect is a little inelegant by its very nature, but this card is still clean enough to have a perfect score.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: Rare is the perfect rarity for this card. I am not sure if black is the right color for this card's effect, however. Changing control of permanents has historically been blue on the color wheel. As a result, I would say that this is almost a full-on color hemorrhage.
(1.5/3) Balance: This card has a niche outside of what may be its intent, which is taking control of artifact creatures, or other creatures with no colors in their mana cost. It is also indefinite, which is weird because it makes a lot more sense for the effect to last until this creature leaves the battlefield. I am curious as to how this card could warp limited, since if you are versus a black deck that has this card and your black deck does not have this card, you may very well just lose. This card also looks more fun in casual than it does in multiplayer for similar reasons.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Gaining control of permanents has been done quite a lot already, but this is actually a rather unique way of doing it. Even then, it is still a little bit like Willbreaker and other similar cards.
(2.5/3) Flavor: The flavor here is spot on, but it is still not enough to justify this card being black instead of blue.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: There is an unnecessary space between the tap symbol and the colon (yes I noticed that, minus half a point).
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 18/25
Final thoughts: Thanks to this card, I actually learned today that 'corrupter' is the correct spelling of the word. How weird!
(2/3) Appeal: Timmy does not like paying large amounts of life as a cost. However, both Johnny and Spike do not mind as long as it lets the both of them do whatever they want, and this card does indeed let them both do just that.
(3/3) Elegance: Excellently elegant!
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Black is the perfect placement on this color wheel for this sorcery. However, this card could have perhaps been mythic rare instead of rare as it has two very potent effects in one, plus the mana cost is rather pushed. Nevertheless, rare is borderline okay in this case.
(2.5/3) Balance: The first effect is fine; Death was costed as far less, and even then, it was a split card (and it is also a really old card). The second effect is the more frightening of the two choices. As a rare, this would be a must-have if you were playing monoblack in limited. This looks a bit unfriendly for casual, but looks quite friendly for multiplayer by comparison. Admittedly, the strict mana cost and heavy loss of life makes me unsure as to whether or not this card would break anything in particular.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Modal cards have been done before, of course, but not a modal tutor card. Even if half of this card is basically Death, the other half combined makes this card too unique to pass up on a high uniqueness score.
(3/3) Flavor: The flavor here is spot on. Wonderful work!
Polish -
(1/3) Quality: The bullet points were correct in the actual card, but I cannot quote it properly due to the infamous 'non-unicode Latin characters' error that I am currently experiencing. I had hoped that it would go away by the time that I had written up this judgment, but oh well.
However, there are still qualitative errors in this card, mainly in the flavor text. The name of the individual credited as saying the quotation requires it's own line in the flavor text (minus half a point). In addition, there should be no space between the dash and the individual's name (minus half a point). Lastly, the dash just to the left of the name of individual being credited with the quotation should be a long dash '—' and not a short dash (minus half a point); the short dash after "Choose one" should also be a long dash '—' (minus half a point).
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 19/25
Final thought: Personally, I would have gone with 'Abyssal Retrieval' for the name of this card, but that is just me as it is the same difference. For what it is worth, I do like what this card is trying to do.
(1.5/3) Appeal: This card is a little too small to appeal to Tammy. Spike very much likes this card, however. Jenny likes this card for how it can combo with red's famous power abilities like firebreathing, but this card itself is not really anything to build around.
(3/3) Elegance: This card reads a little weirdly, but that is more qualitative and does not detract from the elegance score here for this criterion.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: This card's effect definitely fits into red on the color wheel for its innate feeling of impulsiveness. First strike is also primarily red. Uncommon looks to be the right rarity for this card, as well.
(3/3) Balance: This card is correctly costed. This card may be a little infuriating to play against, but it is kind of like Lightning Strike attached to a 3/1 creature with first strike, which reads as 'balanced' to me. This card has quite the Limited appeal, but at uncommon and at this mana cost that is totally fine. This card would play well in casual I believe (just think of all the ways you can make sure your creatures do not have to attack); in multiplayer it would especially shine.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: This card's enters the battlefield effect is something that I am surprised Wizards has not done more of in red, actually. It is similar to other mechanics like goad and provoke, yet is also neither of those.
(3/3) Flavor: The flavor is spot on. Sharply done!
Polish -
(0.5/3) Quality: This card could have fit in the first strike reminder text, but this is not strictly necessary. The apostrophe in 'it's' should be nixed (minus half a point); the very same goes for the comma between turn and if as well (minus half a point). The phrase 'must attack' should simply be the word "attacks" as well (minus half a point). The dash between "Creature" and "Devil" in the type line should be by itself with single spaces rather than serving as a hyphen to connect both words (minus half a point). The power and toughness of the creature should not be bolded (minus half a point).
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 19.5/25
Final thought(s): This card's qualitative errors gave me a bit of a headache, to be honest. Please do try for a perfect quality score during the next round!
thenoodler - 19.5
Your BFF - 19.5
void_nothing - 19
BrainPo - 18.5
Venser_FR - 18
mederer - 17.5
Legend - 15.5
Koopa - 15
If your username has been bolded here, congratulations are in order — you have qualified for Round 2 of the September MCC! Best of luck!
If your username has not been bolded here, there is always next month. Thank you for participating; best of luck next month!
King of Bones, Death's Chosen BBB
Legendary Creature - Lich Wizard (M)
Wither
Whenever the King of Bones attacks, put a -1/-1 counter on each creature target opponent controls.
Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, you may exile the King of Bones. If you do, return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner's control.
3/3
--
Wyrmwood Lifebane
(B) Planeswalker - Wyrmwood (M)
+1: Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
0: Each player discards a card. Draw a card.
-1: Target player sacrifices a creature.
-5: Destroy all creatures target opponent controls. They can't be regenerated.
2
Honorable Mentions: Everyone! Really wondrous entries yesterday!
Fury of the Dragonkin 1R
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has haste.
R: Enchanted creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
2R, Sacrifice Fury of the Dragonkin: Put two +1/+1 counters on enchanted creature.
The dragon’s shout to set ablaze the fires of war.
Blydden
BrainPo
Koopa
Legend
mederer
thenoodler
StonerOfKruphix
Venser_FR
void_nothing
Your BFF
bravelion83
glurman
Jimmy Groove
L0ng5h0t
mirrodin71
Necarg
Raptorchan
RedGauntlet
sperlman
doomfish
admirableadmiral
Forestguy
Freyleyes
netn10
RaikouRider
Snow Creature - Penguin
Tesco(black)lotus
Vertain
Flatline
Amuzet
Clockwork Gamer
DaAwesomeCheeto
Folza
Groovelord
IcariiFA
Marco
Voxzorz
Servitor of Kozilek 6C
Artifact Creature - Eldrazi Golem (R)
When Servitor of Kozilek dies, each player with fewer than seven cards in hand draws cards equal to the difference.
7/7
Votes: netn10 & IlGreven
Honorable Mention: bravelion83 (I like the card, but Rattlechains already ate up this design space for the time being.)
Engineer Extraordinaire 2U
Creature - Human Artificer (U)
When Engineer Extraordinaire enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token.
Artifact creatures you control have flying.
She had previously been told that servos and thopters were incompatible. She certainly showed them otherwise.
1/3
LONG LIVE THE KING!DING DONG, THE KING IS DEAD!For the record, I tried to orient the balance of each of these cards around some basic mana cost math. Returning a singular creature from the graveyard to the battlefield by itself is worth about 3W at sorcery speed on a card, while doing so at instant speed is worth about 1 or maybe even 2 more, depending. Without further ado...
(3/3) Appeal: This card's interesting artifact focus definitely leans it to being quite the Johnny card. Spike would probably try this card out due to its lower mana cost and playable additional cost. This can revive a big creature for Timmy, even if he dislikes sacrificing, but sacrificing noncreature artifact tokens such as clues might be okay with him in this case. Great work here!
(2.5/3) Elegance: Can you return the artifact that is sacrificed with this card? No, of course not, but it might be a frequent enough rulings question that is actually is a minor detraction from this card's elegance. Aside from that, this is indeed elegant!
Development -
(3/3) Viability: This card is interesting in that there are different ways to put this on a color wheel. (R/W) works because white is a typical reanimation color, and red is a color that cares about taking apart artifacts and putting them back together. Both colors here add something that the other one lacks, which is definitely a way of going about developing this sort of card. Rare is the perfect rarity for this card, as well.
(2/3) Balance: Admittedly, this card only took me about five minutes to come up with an ideal scenario for. Turn 1, cast Thraben Inspector (or just a Turn 1 artifact). Turn 2, cast Tormenting Voice (or a similar discard outlet), discarding an artifact creature like Wurmcoil Engine or Soul of New Phyrexia. Turn 3, play this card, sacrifice the clue (or turn 1 artifact), ramp out a shiny new Wurmcoil Engine, Soul of New Phyrexia, or otherwise. Now, this is of course a bit of a dream scenario, but I am sure a proper Johnny could possibly come up with something better and less vulnerable (possibly involving Memnites and/or Ornithopters). Truthfully, I cannot agree that this card is perfectly fine as-is as a result, balance-wise. Having the rules text say "nontoken" could possibly help, but I would prefer just seeing this card tweaked and tuned some more. It is not too terribly far off, actually, and truthfully I would love to have a second impression of similar rules text to this.
Anyway, this is probably fine outside of constructed, especially if one builds a (R/W) artifact deck for it. In the right limited block, that could actually be quite a bit of fun, if a little difficult to pull off. This card is also of the sort to be fine in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Returning artifacts and creatures from graveyards to battlefields has been done before, of course. The words 'total converted mana cost' are what makes this particular card rather unique.
(2.5/3) Flavor: I like the name, but the flavor text falls a little flat for me here as a Vorthos. Otherwise, good work here for this criterion!
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Perfect!
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 22/25
Final thoughts: I really want to try and play around with this sort of card now after having ruminated about it. Congratulations are in order on being a finalist for this month's MCC, as well!
(3/3) Appeal: This is appealing to all three of the player psychographics. Timmy would love to reanimate a whole army of buffed creatures with other creatures, Johnny has some neat and interesting ways to play around with a mana cost that includes XX in it, and Spike could reasonably use this to at least some effect in a typical game in the proper deck. Wonderful work!
Notably, this card would also complete an infamously incomplete Return to Ravnica 'cycle'. (Guild spells with 'X' in their mana cost, of which Selesnya has none, while all of the other guilds have at least one.)
(3/3) Elegance: Excellently elegant!
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Green and white are the colors of convoke, white is a color that can return creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield, and green is the prime color of +1/+1 counters. Absolutely perfect placement on the color wheel. I cannot imagine this card existing as anything less than a mythic rare, either, so the choice of rarity is perfect here as well.
(3/3) Balance: First off, this is a limited bomb, but mythic rares are allowed to be that without any real problems. This could even become a constructed cornerstone for (G/W). Yet, I gave this card a perfect balance score, and that is because this card is fair, regardless of the format. This card requires an exorbitant amount of mana (and creatures) to function optimally. This is definitely doable for (G/W), however. This is a wonderful late game card for that archetype as a result.
I am not even sure what else that I could relevantly type here in all honesty.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Returning creatures from graveyards to battlefields has been done before, of course, but not like this. Double X mana cost?! There is no official card in all Magic: The Gathering that is multicolored AND has a double X in its mana cost, none. That alone deserves more than three points for this criterion, but I would probably get fired from my shiny new judge position if I tried that. This card only gets more unique from there, too. Impressed is an understatement for this criterion.
(2/3) Flavor: Great name, neat instances of trinket text, but no flavor text, and the latter is a travesty. There was definitely room for at least one line, especially since this card is a mythic rare.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Perfect!
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 24/25
Final thoughts: Convoke is one of my favorite keywords in the game, just like cascade, soulbond, and similar mechanics. If only there was at least one line of equally perfect flavor text, then, I admit, I would have likely given this card a perfect score! Otherwise, I just absolutely love everything else about this card. Even if you are not victorous this month, your created cards throughout this month have definitely won my appreciation, and I am dying to see more, sperlman. Also, congratulations on becoming an MCC finalist for the month!
(1.5/3) Appeal: I believe that Timmy is the sort who would definitely wish to be encouraged to attack with every creature all at once because of this kind of card. Johnny could maybe do something with this, even if I am not entirely sure what as of writing this judgment. This costs about right to work for Spike, but it is a little too dependent on your opponent to really excite her.
(2/3) Elegance: The first effect is relatively reasonable, but the second effect is kind of inelegant and otherwise requires inert counters and remembering what they actually do. Otherwise, this card is alright in execution.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: White is the color of returning multiple creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield; red is the color of aggression, and this card conveniently takes control of your opponent's creatures and encourages combat with all of the affected creatures, which is definitely red. I would say this card is definitely (R/W) on the color wheel as a result.
My inner Melvin wants to know if these strife counters could otherwise do anything else potentially someday. I shall assume not; thus, I assume that the rules of the game would otherwise be intact.
Mythic rare is fitting enough for this card though due to its inherent intrigue.
(3/3) Balance: This is more of a limited bomb than a constructed cornerstone, but this is alright for a mythic rare in my honest opinion. If you get to make a successful attack with all of your creatures, great! If your attacking creatures end up being 'unsuccessful', this card would turn that right around. The fact that this card also takes control of your opponent's creatures by having them come back on your side is also a little crazy, but for six mana at sorcery speed I would call that acceptable.
This card could be rather fun in casual and multiplayer, however. This card is just meant to break up infamously stale board states.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Returning creatures from graveyards to battefields has been done before, of course, but not quite like this. The second sentence of rules text definitely earns full points for this criterion!
(1.5/3) Flavor: I like the name alright, but there is no flavor text on this card. My inner Vorthos wants to know why the counters are known as 'strife' counters, to be honest. Flavor text about strife as a concept hence seems fitting here.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: There is an unnecessary comma after the word 'gain' (minus half a point).
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 20.5/25
Final thoughts: To be honest, I had to reread this card several times before I could write up this judgment as accurately as I possibly could, but that is more my fault than not. Just as well, you certainly deserve earnest congratulations as a finalist of the month's MCC!
(3/3) Appeal: Timmy being rewarded for playing high power creatures is always both exciting and appealing to him. This card is too potent for Spike to not try and find a way to use this for herself as well. Johnny could even combo this with cards like Phytoburst, which is quite the concept in and of itself!
(3/3) Elegance: Even if the titan depicted might possibly need a breath mint, there is definitely a breathtaking balance of simplicity and depth going on here.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: I agree that this card as a whole fits best into (G/W) on the color wheel. Honestly, this card could very well have the potential to be mythic, but rare is an acceptable bend in this case due to a lack of rules text, at least in my honest opinion.
(1.5/3) Balance: This criterion is this created card's one true weakness. If I were to cost this card, it would be closer to 5GW or maybe 4GW as a mythic rare. This card currently has been pushed to an uncomfortable extreme at a converted mana cost of only five. However, this card could still possibly exist, as it does promote healthy gameplay. It definitely has the potential to win a game within a limited format all by itself, but it is acceptable for a rare card to do that as far as I am concerned (although maybe not at a converted mana cost of five). What really keeps this balance score afloat are the plethora of deckbuilding decisions and fine tuning adjustments that would be required to use this card to its maximum potential. The gameplay involved with using this card optimally is also a rather delicate balance.
In casual and multiplayer, this card only gets better and easier to use, as well.
Truthfully, if this card had been costed at 4GW, this balance score would have been 2 or greater.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Returning creatures from graveyards to battefields has been done before, of course, but certainly not like this. You could say that my breath has been stolen away by this card's creativity for this pair of criteria.
(3/3) Flavor: As a Vorthos, I am pleasantly pleased to claim that this is the most flavorful card of the entire round. I would argue that it is quite tasteful, as well.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Perfect!
(2/2) Main Challenge: Main challenge met!
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both subchallenges met!
Total: 23/DQ
Final thoughts: Worry not about being disqualified, doomfish. What mattered is that you created some excellent cards this month that you should be very much proud of. I assure you that you definitely have my congratulations for making it to the final round of the month's MCC! Again, best of luck in the finals of the month's CCL versus myself, as well!
Flatline - 22
willows - 20.5
Submission
Old Mechanic: Radiance
New Mechanic: Prisma
(Prisma — Whenever you cast a [COLOR] spell, X.)
(Prisma — {COST}: X. Activate this ability only if you have cast another [COLOR] spell this turn.)
Radiance is originally from Ravnica: City of Guilds. It was the Boros mechanic then and is currently a 9 on the Storm Scale for its playability issues. It has since been 'replaced' with Battalion starting with Gatecrash as the Boros mechanic. While Radiance is flavorful and interesting, it is unfortunately a mechanical design failure. The main problem with Radiance is that it affects the whole of the board state in an unintuitive way.
Enter Prisma as a solution. By 'evolving' Radiance to become self-contained, it naturally becomes a lot more intuitive, easier to design and develop, and more playable.
Firstly, Prisma will only ever function alongside the colors in the mana cost of the card itself. Secondly, Prisma effects are intended to be more self-oriented rather than board-oriented in order to promote understandability. Thirdly, Prisma can be a universal mechanic, since every color cares about its own colors intrinsically, unlike Radiance.
Lastly, as a bit of trivia, I designed Kristel as a tribute to Boros, that which bequeathed the original mechanic of Radiance.
Elvish Seer 1G
Creature - Elf Shaman (C)
T: Add G to your mana pool.
Prisma — T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if you have cast another green spell this turn.
The vividness of nature is ubiquitous.
1/2
Aethereal Library 1U
Enchantment (U)
When Aethereal Library enters the battlefield, scry 3.
Prisma — Whenever you cast a blue spell, you may pay 1U. If you do, draw a card.
Knowledge is ultimately its own reward.
Horde of Rats 4BB
Creature - Rat (R)
Rats you control have menace.
Prisma — Whenever you cast a black spell, create X 1/1 black Rat creature tokens, where X is the number of Rats you control.
It is paltry for one to look down upon vermin until their plague brings one down with them.
3/3
Kristel, Archangel of Glory 5RW
Legendary Creature - Angel (M)
Flying
Attacking creatures you control have indestructible.
Prisma — RW: Creatures you control gain double strike until end of turn. Activate this ability only if you have cast another red or white spell this turn.
5/5