Consider this scenario:
An aura card with spellshape/aurify/whatever is cast for its alternate cost, but the aura does not grant a boost to toughness.
Is it correct that: 1. The aura resolves putting a 0/0 on to the battlefield and attaches to it; 2. The next time state-based effects are checked the 0/0 creature dies; 3. Any triggered abilities the aura has based on the enchanted creature dying would trigger?
If this sequence works like this, you could use this mechanic to turn auras into sorceries.
Example: Death Pact BB
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature you control
When enchanted creature dies, each opponent sacrifices a creature.
Spellshape BB
You could put this aura on your own critter for some kind of delayed strategy (say, as a rattlesnake in multiplayer), or you could just cast it with a 0/0 target, effectively making it a sorcery.
This opens the design space for red and black auras, though it could work in any color.
The Sabine Women1WU
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant creature with power 2 or less
You control enchanted creature.
Creatures controlled by the enchanted creature's owner can't attack you.
Brofaux
Good, simple design. Feels both green and black, and it would be a limited staple. But, dinosaurs are paleontology, not archaeology. FAIL.
Mundus
This guy is good, really good. Too good, for red. Red shouldn't be getting back all its artifacts for free, even if it is through the form of hating on opponents playing artifacts. Maybe if you had taken off the free artifact on entering the battlefield.
Spitfire1023
Very neat card. A combo enabler, for sure. Is putting the artifact onto the battlefield too powerful, though? It would still be quite good if it just returned artifacts to your hand, but then maybe it would be too close to Buried Ruin?
bloodyspasm
Fun card, but the 1 cost ability is probably unnecessary. Since you cast it for two, you'd want the pterodactyl in most situations. Also, the dragon doesn't have flying! Not a very evolved dragon. Also, dinosaurs are paleontology, not archaeology. FAIL.
~Aura~
Nice legend that feels very archaeologist-y. Color combination and abilities are perfect. All around good design.
Eskimo_Rage
I like this a lot! The two land cost is probably high enough to be limiting but still worth it. And skeletons need another off-type lord, right Death Baron? The costs are great, but since he is a utility creature and the skeletons stick around after his death, maybe he should be a simple 1/1?
Summon_Legend
Neat, makes everything "timeless". This is the kind of strong card that a timecrafting deck needed but never got. Seems like white should be in ths cost, more esper than grixis.
hoyerhan
Nice opposed color land. The ability is fun and fits both colors, but it probably doesn't need to be random. If you wanted to limit the effect, you could go with "top card of your graveyard". That would make the reorder effect slightly more relevant (with multiples, at least), since right now it's needlessly tacked on.
CrimsonCrossfire
A little costly, but this golem is crazy strong. Trample and double strike and recursion for half its casting cost? Still, I don't think its overpowered. The only "problem" I see is people just discarding it and returning it for other purposes with no intention of playing it. What if Replenish was like Dredge, in that it replaced a draw?
Zoomba
Wait... isn't this just Expedition Map with built-in recursion at the same rarity? Also you could totally cheat because you don't have to reveal the "land" you searched for...
Berenzen
At first, I thought this wurm's ability was too much. But the more I think about it, the more I'm OK with it. I like that it has defender, but has targeted attack. It's kind of like having both provoke and unblockable. He should probably be a tiny bit more expensive... or maybe not.
OmegaLegacy Sleep spellbomb. Also, the most realistic depiction of 99% of archaeologybooks. Hey, that 1% is pretty interesting though.
JonFuryZacharias
Cool enchantment, it would have fit into Future Sight nicely. I might be missing something but I don't think the effect is powerful enough to be Mythic, since it bounces everyone, and with enough counters it will take a while to go off. Still a good card, though.
Rudyard
This is very interesting... my first thought is that this couldn't be a common. But on the other hand, lands don't have the kind of complementary abilities creatures have, so I don't think there's a huge threat of being broken. Good flavor, too.
Boing
So simple and clean I can't believe something like this doesn't exist already! Could have gone anywhere into the scars block. A good build around card for budget discard/madness/hellbent decks.
Eventide Sojourner
This, sadly, is also a fairly realistic depiction of archaeology, or more what happens after archaeology. Good design, and would be fun in multiplayer.
Winner
I really wanted to go with OmegaLegacy or Eventide Sojourner, but I'll give this one to ~Aura~ instead for the interesting wedge legend. Congrats!
SP: As everyone has pointed out, its just a plain better version of EoDS and it's practically a better version of Blightsoil Druid. It simply combines both of them in a more flexible package. Just to differ a bit, what about a cost of 1(B/G) and a p/t of 2/1? Kind of like Leaf Gilder, but still has it's place. Alternatively, keep the 1cmc and drop him to 0/1? Side note: He's probably a druid, rather than a shaman. But that doesn't really matter.
HG: Milling that much on attack is pretty powerful for a one drop. Since you call him a greeter, what about making him trigger only on blocking. You could also give him defender and bump up the toughness.
CT: I like the latest design, but it is still undercosted. Maybe 1(G/W) cost and lose convoke? Also, it is the Selesnya Conclave and the Simic Combine.
The whole "As long as ~ is the only untapped Weather you control..." bit could be keyworded, but it is written out here for the sake of comprehension.
Jasmine Mist3GW
Enchantment - Weather (C)
As long as Jasmine Mist is the only untapped Weather you control, prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to you by creatures with power 3 or greater. (G/W),T: Prevent all combat damage that target creature with power 3 or greater would deal to you this turn.
Cursed LightningBR
Enchantment - Weather (C)
As long as Cursed Lightning is the only untapped Weather you control, whenever a player activates an ability of a Weather, Cursed Lightning deals 1 damage to that player. (B/R),T: Cursed Lightning deals 1 damage to each player.
Rain of Frogs1BG
Enchantment - Weather (U)
As long as Rain of Frogs is the only untapped Weather you control, whenever a land is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, put a 1/1 black and green Frog creature token onto the battlefield. (B/G)(B/G),T, Sacrifice a land: Destroy target land.
Eroding Winds3RWU
Enchantment - Weather (R)
As long as Eroding Winds is the only untapped Weather you control, nonbasic lands lose all abilities. R(W/U),T: Tap target nonbasic land. It doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.
Gilded Touch2G
Sorcery (C)
For each counter on target creature, put another of those counters on that creature.
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Reinforce 2 - 2G(2G, Discard this card: Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature.)
The idea here is to fit two complementary mechanics together, one from each block (half-block, miniblock?). The effect is a reference to Gilder Bairn, but I limited it to creatures in order to control planeswalker tricks and so that it could fit more comfortably at common.
JonFuryZacharias
Little and a critter, satisfying both requirements. But kind of pointless. It can't attack and use its ability, so its just a weird creature. Just like the prairie dog itself...
Brofaux
I like it a lot! It's like a cuddly licid for players. Very interesting life gaining mechanic.
hoyerhan
Could be good in an aggressive discard deck. Not really a critter though, and it seems like the name was just phoned in. Voodoo? Come on...
Spitfire1023
Sure, it's a little critter, but this is terrible. I mean, come on, you could have given the kitty something. Nonbasic yarn walk?
OmegaLegacy
Very cool firebreathing enabler. Though why does it have nonbasic landwalk? That seems like it makes it too powerful for a one mana common.
Zoomba
Very neat card! I am sure there is some kind of cool trick you could do by sac'ing it on turn two to get five mana worth of spells out.
Summon_Legend
There's a lot going on here, but I like most of it. The XX cost is appropriate, as you're punished for trying to get just 1 Juzam Djinn, break even at 2, and start making up mana at 3, but then you're spending 10 total anyway. I think most people would just end up cycling it for the little critters, though.
Eventide Sojourner
So simple and powerful, I'm surprised this isn't a card already. Probably should be a rare. Very good all around.
wingedcoyote
A non-artifact construct? Sure, why not. Bobombs are little critters, I suppose. Low costed armageddons just aren't a lot of fun, and they're very powerful, but the delay to tap does give opponents a window to take out the little 1/1. For some reason, I think it works but I'm not sold on it.
Deus of Calamity
Alf + Ferret? The ultimate cat-killer. I like it, we need more ferrets in magic. Good cost for two abilities that green needs more of. A lot like the Silhana Ledgewalker.
bloodyspasm
Very nice interpretation of how bed bugs would work in magic. I might have just upped the power to 2, as the extra toughness seems weird for a red insect, though I understand why its necessary.
Eskimo_Rage
I like the idea, kind of like a new take on Giant Oyster. However, if the limpet is indestructible, it doesn't need that high of a toughness. Also, why have a hybrid mana cost and a two-mana ability? Unlike the witch cycle from Shadowmoor, the limpet is useless without its ability.
Winner
Zoomba! Much respect to Eventide Sojourner and Brofaux for their entries, it was close, and kudos to everyone else for the group of submissions.
Yeah!
Countering your own spell isn't so bad if, say, you cast a lightning bolt at some dude that gets sac'd in response. It counters shenanigans by turning your wasted burn into more burn!
Malfunction1R
Tribal Enchantment - Gremlin Aura (C)
Enchant artifact
When enchanted artifact becomes tapped, destroy it and return Malfunction to the battlefield flipped.
/// Vexing Saboteur
Creature - Gremlin
2/1
Swordsmith's Curse 2R
Tribal Enchantment - Gremlin Aura (U)
Enchant equipped creature
Equip abilities of equipment attached to enchanted creature can't be activated.
When enchanted creature attacks or blocks, destroy it and return Swordsmith's Curse to the battlefield flipped.
/// Bladeling Creature - Gremlin
Equip abilities of equipment attached to Bladeling can't be activated. RRR: Attach target unattached equipment to Bladeling.
1/1
Haywire 2RR
Tribal Enchantment - Gremlin Aura (R)
Enchant artifact creature
You control enchanted creature. Enchanted creature attacks each turn if able.
When enchanted creature dies, return Haywire to the battlefield flipped.
/// Gear Tyrant
Creature - Gremlin RR,T: Exile target Gremlin, then return it to the battlefield.
2/2
Reclusive Puppeteer 3BB
Creature - Spider (R)
Reach, deathtouch
Whenever a creature with flying dealt damage by Reclusive Puppeteer this turn dies, return that card to the battlefield under your control. Those in its web twist and sway like marionettes on silken strings.
2/5
Æther Blast2R
Instant (C)
Counter target spell you control.
Æther Blast deals 5 damage to target creature or player. Some spells are destined for greatness. Others are destined for fuel.
Creature - Rabbit Beast (U)
Haste
When you cast a spell, return Charging Jackalope to its owner's hand.
2/1
IIW: antlers
An aura card with spellshape/aurify/whatever is cast for its alternate cost, but the aura does not grant a boost to toughness.
Is it correct that: 1. The aura resolves putting a 0/0 on to the battlefield and attaches to it; 2. The next time state-based effects are checked the 0/0 creature dies; 3. Any triggered abilities the aura has based on the enchanted creature dying would trigger?
If this sequence works like this, you could use this mechanic to turn auras into sorceries.
Example:
Death Pact BB
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature you control
When enchanted creature dies, each opponent sacrifices a creature.
Spellshape BB
You could put this aura on your own critter for some kind of delayed strategy (say, as a rattlesnake in multiplayer), or you could just cast it with a 0/0 target, effectively making it a sorcery.
This opens the design space for red and black auras, though it could work in any color.
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant creature with power 2 or less
You control enchanted creature.
Creatures controlled by the enchanted creature's owner can't attack you.
IIW: visiting Jamuraa
Brofaux
Good, simple design. Feels both green and black, and it would be a limited staple. But, dinosaurs are paleontology, not archaeology. FAIL.
Mundus
This guy is good, really good. Too good, for red. Red shouldn't be getting back all its artifacts for free, even if it is through the form of hating on opponents playing artifacts. Maybe if you had taken off the free artifact on entering the battlefield.
Spitfire1023
Very neat card. A combo enabler, for sure. Is putting the artifact onto the battlefield too powerful, though? It would still be quite good if it just returned artifacts to your hand, but then maybe it would be too close to Buried Ruin?
bloodyspasm
Fun card, but the 1 cost ability is probably unnecessary. Since you cast it for two, you'd want the pterodactyl in most situations. Also, the dragon doesn't have flying! Not a very evolved dragon. Also, dinosaurs are paleontology, not archaeology. FAIL.
~Aura~
Nice legend that feels very archaeologist-y. Color combination and abilities are perfect. All around good design.
Eskimo_Rage
I like this a lot! The two land cost is probably high enough to be limiting but still worth it. And skeletons need another off-type lord, right Death Baron? The costs are great, but since he is a utility creature and the skeletons stick around after his death, maybe he should be a simple 1/1?
Summon_Legend
Neat, makes everything "timeless". This is the kind of strong card that a timecrafting deck needed but never got. Seems like white should be in ths cost, more esper than grixis.
hoyerhan
Nice opposed color land. The ability is fun and fits both colors, but it probably doesn't need to be random. If you wanted to limit the effect, you could go with "top card of your graveyard". That would make the reorder effect slightly more relevant (with multiples, at least), since right now it's needlessly tacked on.
CrimsonCrossfire
A little costly, but this golem is crazy strong. Trample and double strike and recursion for half its casting cost? Still, I don't think its overpowered. The only "problem" I see is people just discarding it and returning it for other purposes with no intention of playing it. What if Replenish was like Dredge, in that it replaced a draw?
Zoomba
Wait... isn't this just Expedition Map with built-in recursion at the same rarity? Also you could totally cheat because you don't have to reveal the "land" you searched for...
Berenzen
At first, I thought this wurm's ability was too much. But the more I think about it, the more I'm OK with it. I like that it has defender, but has targeted attack. It's kind of like having both provoke and unblockable. He should probably be a tiny bit more expensive... or maybe not.
OmegaLegacy
Sleep spellbomb. Also, the most realistic depiction of 99% of archaeology books. Hey, that 1% is pretty interesting though.
JonFuryZacharias
Cool enchantment, it would have fit into Future Sight nicely. I might be missing something but I don't think the effect is powerful enough to be Mythic, since it bounces everyone, and with enough counters it will take a while to go off. Still a good card, though.
Rudyard
This is very interesting... my first thought is that this couldn't be a common. But on the other hand, lands don't have the kind of complementary abilities creatures have, so I don't think there's a huge threat of being broken. Good flavor, too.
Boing
So simple and clean I can't believe something like this doesn't exist already! Could have gone anywhere into the scars block. A good build around card for budget discard/madness/hellbent decks.
Eventide Sojourner
This, sadly, is also a fairly realistic depiction of archaeology, or more what happens after archaeology. Good design, and would be fun in multiplayer.
Winner
Artifact (U)
,T: Target nonland permanent becomes colorless. (This effect lasts indefinitely.)
WUBRG,T: Target nonland permanent becomes all colors. (This effect lasts indefinitely.)
IIW: Horns
New Challenge:
Archaeology
HG: Milling that much on attack is pretty powerful for a one drop. Since you call him a greeter, what about making him trigger only on blocking. You could also give him defender and bump up the toughness.
CT: I like the latest design, but it is still undercosted. Maybe 1(G/W) cost and lose convoke? Also, it is the Selesnya Conclave and the Simic Combine.
The whole "As long as ~ is the only untapped Weather you control..." bit could be keyworded, but it is written out here for the sake of comprehension.
Jasmine Mist 3GW
Enchantment - Weather (C)
As long as Jasmine Mist is the only untapped Weather you control, prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to you by creatures with power 3 or greater.
(G/W),T: Prevent all combat damage that target creature with power 3 or greater would deal to you this turn.
Cursed Lightning BR
Enchantment - Weather (C)
As long as Cursed Lightning is the only untapped Weather you control, whenever a player activates an ability of a Weather, Cursed Lightning deals 1 damage to that player.
(B/R),T: Cursed Lightning deals 1 damage to each player.
Rain of Frogs 1BG
Enchantment - Weather (U)
As long as Rain of Frogs is the only untapped Weather you control, whenever a land is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, put a 1/1 black and green Frog creature token onto the battlefield.
(B/G)(B/G),T, Sacrifice a land: Destroy target land.
Eroding Winds 3RWU
Enchantment - Weather (R)
As long as Eroding Winds is the only untapped Weather you control, nonbasic lands lose all abilities.
R(W/U),T: Tap target nonbasic land. It doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.
IIW: Horns
Sorcery (C)
For each counter on target creature, put another of those counters on that creature.
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Reinforce 2 - 2G (2G, Discard this card: Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature.)
The idea here is to fit two complementary mechanics together, one from each block (half-block, miniblock?). The effect is a reference to Gilder Bairn, but I limited it to creatures in order to control planeswalker tricks and so that it could fit more comfortably at common.
Little and a critter, satisfying both requirements. But kind of pointless. It can't attack and use its ability, so its just a weird creature. Just like the prairie dog itself...
Brofaux
I like it a lot! It's like a cuddly licid for players. Very interesting life gaining mechanic.
hoyerhan
Could be good in an aggressive discard deck. Not really a critter though, and it seems like the name was just phoned in. Voodoo? Come on...
Spitfire1023
Sure, it's a little critter, but this is terrible. I mean, come on, you could have given the kitty something. Nonbasic yarn walk?
OmegaLegacy
Very cool firebreathing enabler. Though why does it have nonbasic landwalk? That seems like it makes it too powerful for a one mana common.
Zoomba
Very neat card! I am sure there is some kind of cool trick you could do by sac'ing it on turn two to get five mana worth of spells out.
Summon_Legend
There's a lot going on here, but I like most of it. The XX cost is appropriate, as you're punished for trying to get just 1 Juzam Djinn, break even at 2, and start making up mana at 3, but then you're spending 10 total anyway. I think most people would just end up cycling it for the little critters, though.
Eventide Sojourner
So simple and powerful, I'm surprised this isn't a card already. Probably should be a rare. Very good all around.
wingedcoyote
A non-artifact construct? Sure, why not. Bobombs are little critters, I suppose. Low costed armageddons just aren't a lot of fun, and they're very powerful, but the delay to tap does give opponents a window to take out the little 1/1. For some reason, I think it works but I'm not sold on it.
Deus of Calamity
Alf + Ferret? The ultimate cat-killer. I like it, we need more ferrets in magic. Good cost for two abilities that green needs more of. A lot like the Silhana Ledgewalker.
bloodyspasm
Very nice interpretation of how bed bugs would work in magic. I might have just upped the power to 2, as the extra toughness seems weird for a red insect, though I understand why its necessary.
Eskimo_Rage
I like the idea, kind of like a new take on Giant Oyster. However, if the limpet is indestructible, it doesn't need that high of a toughness. Also, why have a hybrid mana cost and a two-mana ability? Unlike the witch cycle from Shadowmoor, the limpet is useless without its ability.
Winner
Jon Zacharias, the Furious WWW
Legendary Creature - Human Cleric (R)
Lifelink
RRR,T: Jon Zacharias, the Furious deals 3 damage to each creature.
3/3
This is inspired as much by the sig quote as by the name.
Countering your own spell isn't so bad if, say, you cast a lightning bolt at some dude that gets sac'd in response. It counters shenanigans by turning your wasted burn into more burn!
The next challenge is:
Little critters
Tribal Enchantment - Gremlin Aura (C)
Enchant artifact
When enchanted artifact becomes tapped, destroy it and return Malfunction to the battlefield flipped.
///
Vexing Saboteur
Creature - Gremlin
2/1
Swordsmith's Curse 2R
Tribal Enchantment - Gremlin Aura (U)
Enchant equipped creature
Equip abilities of equipment attached to enchanted creature can't be activated.
When enchanted creature attacks or blocks, destroy it and return Swordsmith's Curse to the battlefield flipped.
///
Bladeling
Creature - Gremlin
Equip abilities of equipment attached to Bladeling can't be activated.
RRR: Attach target unattached equipment to Bladeling.
1/1
Haywire 2RR
Tribal Enchantment - Gremlin Aura (R)
Enchant artifact creature
You control enchanted creature. Enchanted creature attacks each turn if able.
When enchanted creature dies, return Haywire to the battlefield flipped.
///
Gear Tyrant
Creature - Gremlin
RR,T: Exile target Gremlin, then return it to the battlefield.
2/2
IIW: Horns
Creature - Spider (R)
Reach, deathtouch
Whenever a creature with flying dealt damage by Reclusive Puppeteer this turn dies, return that card to the battlefield under your control.
Those in its web twist and sway like marionettes on silken strings.
2/5
Instant (C)
Counter target spell you control.
Æther Blast deals 5 damage to target creature or player.
Some spells are destined for greatness. Others are destined for fuel.
IIW: little critters