I am not quite sure... They changed all planeswalkers to legends to make Legendary rule more "universal" but then delivered "legendary" sorceries and instants that have nothing to do with the Legendary rule.
Apart from the degendering language, this was the only thing that I really disliked about all the spoilers. A "Legendary Sorcery" is not actually legendary in the traditional sense...it's just an additional requirement to cast the card. As you said, that doesn't seem elegant.
Really well done guys. I hope you both enjoyed designing for this round.
I. FreshMeat Feedback:
1) Legacy: This card is a very powerful card...slightly too powerful in my opinion. Even still I like the direction this card is going, and it is an exciting and fun card. It would definitely see play, both in Delver decks and red decks looking to beat Delver (like Red Prison or Burn or Stompy variants), either in the main or in the sideboard.
I could see a few different ways to take this card in future drafts of it. Some small change like changing the mana cost to RR would probably suffice. I could also see replacing your ability with the following: "You may copy any spell with converted mana cost one or less an opponent controls by paying its mana cost." Despite wanting to nerf the card a bit, I think this is excellent design.
Mimic MageRR
Creature - Goblin Wizard (R)
Whenever an opponent casts a spell with converted mana cost one or less, you may cast a copy of that spell by paying its mana cost. You may choose new targets for that copy.
2/2
2) Commander: This was the only card of the round I didn't like. It's too busy, requires too much work, and looks more frustrating than fun to play with. The following re-imagining shows some new ways to design it.
Cthane, the Cavern Queen2UB
Legendary Creature - Gorgon Horror (R)
Cthana's power is equal to the number of times she has been cast from the command zone.
When Cthane enters the battlefield, destroy all other creatures with power equal to her power. For each creature destroyed this way, create a 1/1 black Zombie (artifact??) creature token.
*/4
3) Modern: I believe this is my favorite card of the whole round. Powerful, exciting, and encourages a deck composition heavier on the creature count than Blue is accustomed to. Only easily slots into Merfolk. A+ design!
4) Pauper: I think White has enough of this style of effect already, so this feels a bit like overkill. However, I do love Flickerwisp and I'd be thrilled to have access to it in Pauper, so this was a hit in my book. I think Pauper players would by and large be excited about this downshift, so this is definitely a good proposal to take to the boardroom
II. IcariiFA Feedback
1) Legacy: A solid tool for Burn or Red prison variants to combat Delver. Also at present a good tool for the Delver mirror (I think the only change to the card I'd make would be "any player" instead of "an opponent"). A conservative submission, but I think that's emblematic of the sorts of cards Wizards likes to print to impact a format like Legacy - changes at the margins rather than at the core of the format. This has enough potential and application to make Legacy players excited.
The flavor and name of this card is also on point. Fun yet professional.
2) Commander: My second favorite card of the round, and my favorite of your submissions. I think the design here is exquisite. Just a supremely fun card all around, and unique to boot. The one change I'd make is: "As long as ~ is your commander, damage dealt by Animus Ring counts as Commander damage."
3) Modern: Another well-designed card. Not likely to shakeup the format, but definitely potent and worthy of an inclusion in certain types of decks. I'd be most excited to try it out with Journey to Eternity, as this serves as Sharkura Tribe Elder #5-8 for that (atm janky) deck. This card really shows an attention to detail - the two power helps make it a versatile tool, similar to how the two points of power on Snapcaster Mage is frequently relevant.
4) Bulwood Escort: I don't know quite how to feel about this card. This is the only card among all submissions that I simply don't know how to judge without seeing it playtested. An excellent way to counter threat removal in Stompy and Elves. A more versatile "lifegain" spell against Burn for Elves and Stompy. Who knows. Since my Pauper decks are U Delver and UR Kiln Fiend, I'm not a green expert in this format, so I don't know how exciting or great or "busted" this really is. My fear is that it's too potent a swiss-army knife, especially since it's capable of nullifying Electrickery and Crypt Rats, which are among the few ways to deal with Elf and Stompy decks. I still like the design and like the card, and would probably want to see it playtested before coming to any sort of conclusion. This card would definitely excite Green mages!
If true, I feel like the designs alone show a fair effort. Like, they seem interesting enough to actually give me confidence in the potential of this set.
I always like seeing good build-arounds.
The designs are deeper and more interesting than usual...Richard Garfield's hand is definitely evident in this design. Like you, I'm genuinely excited about this set.
Freyalise, Woodland Deceit2RG
Legendary Planeswalker - Freyalise (M)
+2: Until your next turn, counter all activated abilities of target permanent unless they're mana abilities, and up to one target permanent you control that shares a card type with it gains all activated abilities of that permanent.
-2: Target creature fights another target creature controlled by a different player.
-6: Add five mana in any combination of R and/or G. Whenever this mana is used to activate an ability of a permanent you control, copy that ability. You may choose new targets for the copy.
{3}
Challenge 1 —Design a card for Legacy. It cannot be mono-White.
Challenge 2 — Design a two-colored commander of the type and color chosen in Round 1. It will be a headline commander for Commander 2018.
Challenge 3 — Design a card for Modern.
Challenge 4 — Design a new card, or choose a card to downshift, for Pauper.
1 — Design a card for Legacy. It cannot be mono-White. Mimic Mage1R
Creature - Goblin Wizard (R)
Whenever an opponent casts an instant or sorcery with converted mana cost 1 or less, you may copy that spell. If you do, you may choose new targets for the copy. "She may not be the strongest, or the smartest, but I've never seen anyone learn so fast." - Jakrav, Boros Embermage
2/2
2 — Design a two-colored commander of the type and color chosen in Round 1. It will be a headline commander for Commander 2018. Cthane, the Cavern Queen3UB
Creature - Gorgon Horror (M)
Flash
When Cthane enters the battlefield, destroy all creatures with power 0 or less. For each creature destroyed this way, create a 1/1 black Zombie artifact creature token unless its controller pays 1 life. 2U: Creatures target player controls get -1/-0 until end of turn. Activate this ability only while Cthane is in the command zone. “They invade my home, hunt my sisters and I, don’t they have families of their own to hunt?”
4/4
3 — Design a card for Modern. Study the Signs1U
Instant (U)
Convoke
Scry 2, then draw a card. The future belongs to those who've already seen it.
4 — Design a new card, or choose a card to downshift, for Pauper. Flickerwisp
Design a card for Legacy. It cannot be mono-White.
Crazeomancer1R
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Whenever an opponent draws one or more cards outside of his or her draw step, Crazeomancer deals 2 damage to that player. "Didn't think you couldn't think now did you!?"
2/2
Design a two-colored commander of the type and color chosen in Round 1. It will be a headline commander for Commander 2018.
Torazin, Unleashed Malice4BR
Legendary Creature - Efreet (M)
When Torazin, Unleashed Malice enters the battlefield, you may create a legendary artifact token with "T, 4: This deals 4 damage to target creature or player. Treat this as commander damage." named Animus Ring.
As long as you control Animus Ring, Torazin has flying and is indestructible.
4/4
Design a card for Modern.
Guide to Wonder1G
Creature - Human Shaman (R)
Whenever you play a land, scry 2.
Sacrifice Guide to Wonder: You may play an additional land this turn. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery. "The greatest of journeys leads to discoveries yet seen."
2/1
Design a new card, or choose a card to downshift, for Pauper.
Bulwood Escort1G
Creature - Elf Warrior (C)
Flash
When Bulwood Escort enters the battlefield, prevent all noncombat damage that would be dealt this turn. The canopy of Bulwood provides more than leaves and branches for its protection.
2/1
|Katamari|: Solid design. I could see this being printed in OGW or a revisit to an Eldrazi plane, and I think it is well balanced and leads to interactive Magic (suspense-building as well, which is good for them Twitch views!).
mirrodin71: This card does not do what the challenge calls for. Moving beyond that, I like the general direction the card is going. Color choice is good (anything in the Bant colors feels appropriate). I like the CMC of 2 which makes the effect playable and impactful.
I would make 2 changes: (1) drop the angel type. (2) the C should be 1. Not only is that more conventional, but it promotes the sort of interactivity that contemporary Magic design emphasizes (soft answers instead of absolute ones).
netn10: I'm a big fan of this design. It rifts on traditional Green abilities but asks you to build an entirely different deck with it. Drop the Blue (or the Green)! Making this card multicolor is unnecessary and limiting. I like the direction you took the challenge.
RaikouRider: The colorless symbol doesn't do anything here. Is it here just for the sake of showing that this card completes the challenge? The way it would be worded if printed would be "Spend only colorless mana on X."
Moving beyond that, I think the card is fair? Spend 7 mana to deal 10 damage to everything except what's on your side of the board. Very good with Tron, but I think Rolling Thunder and [card]Banefire{/card] would still get the nod. I don't know if I have any suggestions. I could see something like this being printed as the stock red rare sweeper that Standard often has, and the card scales appropriately (it's not too good at 3 or 4 mana, so good job there!).
Subject16: A take on Through the Breach that opens up some unique possibilities in exchange for running some colorless lands. I like it, and I think that the colorless cost addition feels judicious and flavorful. Why did you choose to have the creature return to hand instead of being sacrificed? I don't think it matters all that much for these styles of decks, but that is a significant power boost that may or may not be the right move (I suspect it's fine, but would like to hear the reasoning).
Gerrard's Mom: Good design, although this isn't the sort of ability that needs the C symbol. Big picture I'm a fan, but we can clean it up a little bit. Let's make it an Eldrazi to help the colorless mana requirement make sense. And let's have the artifact "become a Vehicle with Crew 2 and power/toughness equal to its mana cost" instead of having the vehicle acquire the power/toughness as it is crewed.
Beyond that, I like how the card opens up some interesting deckbuilding and gameplay with artifacts that do something when tapped or untapped. That seems fun, and this is a fun way to enable those sorts of things. As currently written the card could be an uncommon, and I think I like making the activated ability cost merely R to boost its Constructed potential. It's perfectly powerful and balanced as written though.
Springwood Dryad1G
Creature — Dryad (U)
Whenever you play a land that doesn't have the same name as another land you control, Springwood Dryad explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back on top or into your graveyard.) The toys of the Dryad child are the mysteries of the natural world.
1/1
Nestled Grove
Land (C)
Nestled Grove enters the battlefield tapped.
When Nestled Grove enters the battlefield, target creature you control explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back on top or into your graveyard.) : add G to your mana pool.
NOTE: Y'all are going to need more judges since there are twice as many cards as usual. I'm willing to judge up to 2 or 3 contestants in this round to ease the judging burden should not enough judges sign up.
Actually, do y'all know of a website that lets you search by alphabet? Like does Scryfall let you search for lands whose dictionary entries would be between"Pendlehaven" and "Rishadan Port"?
I wish this article had an MTGO section, or at least did an MTGO card value evaluation alongside the other. It does take some work to calculate the MTGO prices because you need to manually look at the price of other versions of the card from GoatBots or Cardhoarder, but that's what would make the article valuable for us MTGO folks!
I. FreshMeat Feedback:
1) Legacy: This card is a very powerful card...slightly too powerful in my opinion. Even still I like the direction this card is going, and it is an exciting and fun card. It would definitely see play, both in Delver decks and red decks looking to beat Delver (like Red Prison or Burn or Stompy variants), either in the main or in the sideboard.
I could see a few different ways to take this card in future drafts of it. Some small change like changing the mana cost to RR would probably suffice. I could also see replacing your ability with the following: "You may copy any spell with converted mana cost one or less an opponent controls by paying its mana cost." Despite wanting to nerf the card a bit, I think this is excellent design.
Mimic Mage RR
Creature - Goblin Wizard (R)
Whenever an opponent casts a spell with converted mana cost one or less, you may cast a copy of that spell by paying its mana cost. You may choose new targets for that copy.
2/2
2) Commander: This was the only card of the round I didn't like. It's too busy, requires too much work, and looks more frustrating than fun to play with. The following re-imagining shows some new ways to design it.
Cthane, the Cavern Queen 2UB
Legendary Creature - Gorgon Horror (R)
Cthana's power is equal to the number of times she has been cast from the command zone.
When Cthane enters the battlefield, destroy all other creatures with power equal to her power. For each creature destroyed this way, create a 1/1 black Zombie (artifact??) creature token.
*/4
3) Modern: I believe this is my favorite card of the whole round. Powerful, exciting, and encourages a deck composition heavier on the creature count than Blue is accustomed to. Only easily slots into Merfolk. A+ design!
4) Pauper: I think White has enough of this style of effect already, so this feels a bit like overkill. However, I do love Flickerwisp and I'd be thrilled to have access to it in Pauper, so this was a hit in my book. I think Pauper players would by and large be excited about this downshift, so this is definitely a good proposal to take to the boardroom
II. IcariiFA Feedback
1) Legacy: A solid tool for Burn or Red prison variants to combat Delver. Also at present a good tool for the Delver mirror (I think the only change to the card I'd make would be "any player" instead of "an opponent"). A conservative submission, but I think that's emblematic of the sorts of cards Wizards likes to print to impact a format like Legacy - changes at the margins rather than at the core of the format. This has enough potential and application to make Legacy players excited.
The flavor and name of this card is also on point. Fun yet professional.
2) Commander: My second favorite card of the round, and my favorite of your submissions. I think the design here is exquisite. Just a supremely fun card all around, and unique to boot. The one change I'd make is: "As long as ~ is your commander, damage dealt by Animus Ring counts as Commander damage."
3) Modern: Another well-designed card. Not likely to shakeup the format, but definitely potent and worthy of an inclusion in certain types of decks. I'd be most excited to try it out with Journey to Eternity, as this serves as Sharkura Tribe Elder #5-8 for that (atm janky) deck. This card really shows an attention to detail - the two power helps make it a versatile tool, similar to how the two points of power on Snapcaster Mage is frequently relevant.
4) Bulwood Escort: I don't know quite how to feel about this card. This is the only card among all submissions that I simply don't know how to judge without seeing it playtested. An excellent way to counter threat removal in Stompy and Elves. A more versatile "lifegain" spell against Burn for Elves and Stompy. Who knows. Since my Pauper decks are U Delver and UR Kiln Fiend, I'm not a green expert in this format, so I don't know how exciting or great or "busted" this really is. My fear is that it's too potent a swiss-army knife, especially since it's capable of nullifying Electrickery and Crypt Rats, which are among the few ways to deal with Elf and Stompy decks. I still like the design and like the card, and would probably want to see it playtested before coming to any sort of conclusion. This card would definitely excite Green mages!
Legendary Planeswalker - Freyalise (M)
+2: Until your next turn, counter all activated abilities of target permanent unless they're mana abilities, and up to one target permanent you control that shares a card type with it gains all activated abilities of that permanent.
-2: Target creature fights another target creature controlled by a different player.
-6: Add five mana in any combination of R and/or G. Whenever this mana is used to activate an ability of a permanent you control, copy that ability. You may choose new targets for the copy.
{3}
I will provide feedback because I'm the host.
art by Steve Prescott
February CCL 2018 Finals Poll - VOTE NOW!
The Challenge - The Boardroom
Entries
mirrodin71: This card does not do what the challenge calls for. Moving beyond that, I like the general direction the card is going. Color choice is good (anything in the Bant colors feels appropriate). I like the CMC of 2 which makes the effect playable and impactful.
I would make 2 changes: (1) drop the angel type. (2) the C should be 1. Not only is that more conventional, but it promotes the sort of interactivity that contemporary Magic design emphasizes (soft answers instead of absolute ones).
netn10: I'm a big fan of this design. It rifts on traditional Green abilities but asks you to build an entirely different deck with it. Drop the Blue (or the Green)! Making this card multicolor is unnecessary and limiting. I like the direction you took the challenge.
RaikouRider: The colorless symbol doesn't do anything here. Is it here just for the sake of showing that this card completes the challenge? The way it would be worded if printed would be "Spend only colorless mana on X."
Moving beyond that, I think the card is fair? Spend 7 mana to deal 10 damage to everything except what's on your side of the board. Very good with Tron, but I think Rolling Thunder and [card]Banefire{/card] would still get the nod. I don't know if I have any suggestions. I could see something like this being printed as the stock red rare sweeper that Standard often has, and the card scales appropriately (it's not too good at 3 or 4 mana, so good job there!).
Subject16: A take on Through the Breach that opens up some unique possibilities in exchange for running some colorless lands. I like it, and I think that the colorless cost addition feels judicious and flavorful. Why did you choose to have the creature return to hand instead of being sacrificed? I don't think it matters all that much for these styles of decks, but that is a significant power boost that may or may not be the right move (I suspect it's fine, but would like to hear the reasoning).
Gerrard's Mom: Good design, although this isn't the sort of ability that needs the C symbol. Big picture I'm a fan, but we can clean it up a little bit. Let's make it an Eldrazi to help the colorless mana requirement make sense. And let's have the artifact "become a Vehicle with Crew 2 and power/toughness equal to its mana cost" instead of having the vehicle acquire the power/toughness as it is crewed.
Beyond that, I like how the card opens up some interesting deckbuilding and gameplay with artifacts that do something when tapped or untapped. That seems fun, and this is a fun way to enable those sorts of things. As currently written the card could be an uncommon, and I think I like making the activated ability cost merely R to boost its Constructed potential. It's perfectly powerful and balanced as written though.
2)|Katamari|
3)Subject16
HM: Gerrard's Mom
Creature — Dryad (U)
Whenever you play a land that doesn't have the same name as another land you control, Springwood Dryad explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back on top or into your graveyard.)
The toys of the Dryad child are the mysteries of the natural world.
1/1
Nestled Grove
Land (C)
Nestled Grove enters the battlefield tapped.
When Nestled Grove enters the battlefield, target creature you control explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back on top or into your graveyard.)
NOTE: Y'all are going to need more judges since there are twice as many cards as usual. I'm willing to judge up to 2 or 3 contestants in this round to ease the judging burden should not enough judges sign up.
My favorite painter is Thomas Cole, and he did a cycle of paintings on this very subject. They now sit in the National Gallery in DC. http://www.explorethomascole.org/tour/items/73/series/
I had a copy of Youth in my bedroom growing up.