The final showdown with Gleemax did not go as you’ve expected. Gleemax has proven to be extremely powerful for a brain in Jar, and to have almost every nasty trick known to magic under his command. Your colleague gets eaten by Eldrazis before he’s able to set his cards, but gives you the time to spring your trap, and defeat Gleemax. You then spend no time in reconditioning Gleemax, to make sure he’ll never harm another soul.
You emerge from Gleemax’s chamber covered in sweat and slime, and find that nearly all of Wizards employees have compacted themselves into the hall outside the chamber. They all look stunned. Apparently, when you’ve attacked Gleemax, he called out to everyone, but now that he’s been neutralized, they are all confused, the fog in their brain slowly clearing.
“Gleemax will control Wizards no more”, you tell them. “From now on,we go back to making Magic: the Gathering the best and most fun collective card game there is in the good old fashioned way.”
Someone in the back cheers. the cheer dies out after a bit. it’s stifling in the hall, with several dozens of sweaty nerds packed in. They all seem to wait for someone to tell them what to do, their minds still used to being controls. You tell them to spread out, and start touring the facilities to find out what’s hidden down here, re-cardify any creatures they might find and start putting the place back together.
Slowly, you rehabilitate Wizards. You find the real Mark Rosewater locked in a cell at one of the bottom levels. He has been there for quite some time. You can see writing all over the walls. On close examination it seems that he designed a Roseane themed set while he was imprisoned. No sign of the horned fellow you thought was MaRo. You also can’t track Richard Garfield anywhere. You take stock of the alien technology that was amassed over the years. Some of it is definitely amazing. With it and the R&D team, you soon restore Wizards to a place that’s fun to work.
*************Two Weeks Later***************
“Would.. you.. like… a… drink.. Mas..ter?” You turn to see Gleemax with a tray of cocktails attached to it. Someone has painted a smiley face on his jar and put him in a french-maid costume. It’s a bit creepy. It has been a non-stop party now that his evil influence has been broken. The Cardmakers and Imitation Matrixes made the weekly EDH games really epic, and all the technology means you have plenty of free time to just party all the time.
You’re about to ask for a Gerrard Capashen when someone comes running towards you in a panic. You see that it’s one of the designers who started work with you. He speaks out of breath: “Hasbro <heave> CEO <heave> Here! Wants to <heave> see why <heave> we haven’t aunched the winter set as planned <big heave>!”
You look up to see a group of seriously-dressed businessmen walking towards you. A well-kept man who you can only assume is the CEO starts barking at you: “You in charge here? Where is Forscythe? where’s Rosewater? why are you partying instead of working? why was there no winter set? We had an agreement with Gleemax! Well?! why aren’t you saying anything?!”
My, what an unpleasant guy. You wonder if you should try to explain, but decide against it. He did mention Gleemax, meaning he probably knew about it and didn’t care. Hell, he probably condoned it. You feel mad that these suits made money out of your fellow designer’s suffering, but then an idea comes to you, and you instantly relax. “Of course”, you answer, “come this way, all your questions will be answered until you’re completely satisfied.”
You lead them to the chamber where Gleemax used to stay. Everything you need is still there from your fight. It doesn’t take long, really. The management of Hasbro isn’t really a challenge after defeating an all-powered alien brain.
A few minutes later you leave with the CEO and his staff in toe. They are quite more pleasant now, even if they grit their teeth a bit when they tell you that they appreciate your work and won’t bother you again.
Thing go back to the new normal then. Parties, gaming, and drinks all week long. That is, until a skype call from one of your college mates brings you to a new realization. Your mate works at a large entertainment company, and the conditions are very bad: working at all hours, with low pay and terrible management. You realize that you can’t just stop at Wizards and hasbro. A short plane ride and a few minutes at the offices and the management at your friend’s company is now much more easy to deal with.
You start a tour, and pretty soon all of the fortune 500 companies become very pleasant places to work in.
Of course, that draws some unwanted attention, but a short visit to Washington takes care of that. It’s amazing how easy it was to finally get the President, Senate, and Congress to all work together once they’ve gone through the Process.
Unfortunately, not everyone sees things your way. Especially the United Nations, who keeps on being useless in your eyes. With your new funds, it doesn’t take long before world peace is achieved, and all the world leaders are under your influence.
Finally, it’s peaceful. Sort of. You think that Gleemax made its way to earth somehow. This means there are other races out there. Others who might stop your fun.
Well, you have the sources of the entire planet at your disposal. It doesn’t take long before you’re ready to take to the stars, and bring the entire universe into the fold. Soon, all will smile under your command....
But first, allow me to offer critique for your submissions:
Essence Spinner - This is a very solid card, with a lot of crazy interactions it can enable. I’m certain it and Meren of Clan Nel Toth are going to be BFFs very quickly.
Ruinous Spiteblade - After Ebonblade Reaper and Master of Cruelties, this fails to impress. Aside from the scenario given, this card would have little effect on the game.
Dream Reveler - I like how you’ve included inner synergy that has nothing to do with the combo. It makes the card feel more whole. I like where you went with the card, but aside from maybe menace, I fail to see where black fits in the equation. This is a powerful finisher that can dominate games, and as such I’d rather it would have had some form of self protection and be mythic rather than the first ability.
Painted Smile - Interesting take on the “what to do with Gleemax?” question. I like the sinister white flavor, but I’m a bit underwhelmed by the card itself. I feel that it’s just another pacifism variant, and that you could push the envelope more to make it feel more like someone is being reconditioned to be good against their will.
Overall - Very clever of you to use Gleemax’s advantages against it. You shown an ability to design individual cards that card come together at the right time and make an awesome Magic moment happen.
Nervous Stress - First part’s fine, I’m actually somewhat surprised that there have not been a card like that in Magic before. The untap clause is just weird, and makes no sense mechanically or flavorly. It’s pretty obvious it’s just there to enable the combo.
Azorius Council - Not sure why it’s legendary. Not that’s it’s not special, it just doesn’t feel legendary per se. The ability is great and would make for a great casual card, but it doesn’t sit with the Azorius flavor, who are more about bogging the opponent than utilizing the graveyard. Lastly, while I do like the design, there is no way it’d be printed like this: It should exile the card after it’s cast.
Macabre Undertaker - Probably the strongest point of your submission. This is a good replacement for black control decks that can’t get their hands on Liliana of the Veil, offering versatility with a pretty good alt win condition for games that take too long. The johnny in me wonders how quickly can you pop this one: considering the existing Dredge legacy deck, can you get something like 90% of your deck into your graveyard by turn 2 or 3 and then reanimate this guy? Worth checking.
Brain Dissection - This is a very cruel BU trick that would make the griefers of the world smile. I actually really like the all out nastiness of it. Another strong submission.
Overall - You’ve mentioned that you are not a Johnny, and it shows. I can see the struggle you have in coming up with a synergy to win against an over-powered opponent. But I feel that being a good designer means that sometimes you can’t design just for your strength, and need to challenge yourself. It took me all of four seconds to come up with three modern-legal two card combos that would defeat Gleemax, and I thought a three card “I win the game” combo is something that should not be hard to come up with. You’ve made some bad design choices for the sole reason of getting the cards to combo together, where you should have tried to see the interactions that come more naturally, and build up on those.
The winner, with 13 out of 17 votes, is Ink-Treader!
Congratulation to you!
I’d also like to thank everyone who participated, and especially anyone who took the time to give me feedback and let me know they’re having a good time with my crazy story. I didn’t know where I was going with this when I started, I just thought having a CCL were the contestants play designers obliged to make a last minute winter-theme set would be a great fit for the holiday season. Coupled with inspiration from one of my favorite MaRo articles and the fact that I have played The Stanley Parable earlier in 2015, and you’ve got the craziness that was CCL December 2015.
Half-Horn, War Sage1RR
Legendary Creature - Minotuar Shaman (R)
Whenever you cast an instant spell while Half-Horn, War Sage is attacking, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for that copy.
3/2
Votes: Bravelion, Maplesmall (not sure if you meant this as an un-card, but I found it adorable)
Emergent Heroics1G
Instant (U)
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. Until end of turn, whenever you cast a spell that targets that creature, put two +1/+1 counters on it. Some are destined to become heroes, others are made heroes with a flash decision.
Jungle Sovereign5GGG
Creature - Ape Shaman (R)
Trample
When Jungle Sovereign enters the battlefield, destroy all artifacts. for each artifact destroyed this way, its controller puts a 1/1 green Ape creature token onto the battlefield.
8/8
Denied by the Gatewatch3UU
Instant (U)
Denied by the Gatewatch costs 1 less to cast for each card you own in exile.
Counter target spell. "We've suffered enough. This plane had suffered enough. Now it's time to show the titan that we can resist them."
- Jace
My biggest problem was that the main requirement was an iconic creature, not a creature of an iconic type. I don't think the term "iconic creature" is hard to define. I don't think the term "cool creature" is hard to define. I'm upset that there appearantly a major requirement that I was not aware of (and I wasn't the only one) that was hidden away. I have, I think, stated enough reasons why it didn't make sense to me to even consider creature type as having anything to do with making an iconic rare.
Edit: Oh, and thanks for the reading material, BTW. I'm sure it took some time to curate.
I should mention, anywone who wants to post critique of the finalist's submissions is welcome to do so. I will post a critique of my own before annoucing the winner.
No it doesn't. The icons for each color have always been the same since Hydra's where finalized as green's iconics. Its true not all iconics are used on every plane but that isn't relevant.
I actually think it's really relevant. It goes to show that the term "iconic" is fluid. Please remeber that before Sphinxes, Djins and Leviathans were considered the blue iconic creature type. Green went a long time with only Beast as an iconic creature type. Tomorrow Wizards might decide that dragons should appear in all colors and change the red iconic creature type to phoenixes. who knows.
This is basically all incorrect, again Iconic is a specific design term for the most recognizable rare creature for each color in all of magic. Gods and elementals where in each color, Vampires are too small and not as popular or large as Demons, Sphinxes (or dragons/angels) not being in Khans doesn't make them not the most iconic rare creatures for those associated colors.
Again the details of the requirements where detailed in the clarifications section. I thank you for the feedback that the design term iconic maybe should of been explained elsewhere. But really the clarifications spoiler is there exactly to clear up this situation.
I'd like to see a source for that definition, if you can find it. Regardless, that doesn't matter much, because that was not the challenge. The challenge was: "Create a rare, iconic creature with a single ability that's approximately 4 lines or less. It can also include 0-1 evergreen keywords." not "Create a rare creature of an iconic creature type of its color..."
If a black angel or a blue dragon would be fine for your challenge (and nothing say they don't) please don't tell me that the color matters in the decision of what is or isn't iconic.
Iconic is a design term in mtg, just like the characteristic types. (Human, Merfolk, Vampire/Zombie, Golbin, Elf)
I included it in the clarifications from the start, I'm sorry if you feel that isn't sufficient.
EDIT: I would never include a challenge that asked for a "Iconic" card in the non-mtg design sense as that is a highly subjective term that doesn't make for a good design challenge. Its like me simply asking you to make a "cool" card.
Is there an outside list of iconic creatures? Probably not, since it changes from block to block. Gods were iconic in Theros, Elementals were iconic in Lorwyn. Vampires were iconic for half of magic. Were there sphinxes in Tarkir? No, but that doesn't mean blue didn't have iconic creatures in Khans.
This is an arbitrary limitation, which should have been part of the main challenge if you felt they were integral to it.
Iconic in this reference only means it has to be an Angel, Sphinx, Demon, Dragon or Hydra.
Um... what now? If the creature type was part of the requirements, why was it not mentioned in the main challenge? I didn't see the clarification that mentioned it until well after the deadline, and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. I interpreted the challenge as a rare card that has an ability that's iconic. Is Doran, the Siege Tower not iconic? how about Godsire? Morphling? Verdant Force? Sliver Queen? Juzám Djinn? Ball Lightning? I could go on...
Mostly I'm annoyed that a main requirement was hidden in the clarifications. I ignored it in my critique, and I do not intend to change it. I encourage others to do the same.
Welcome to the final poll, Gleemax is waiting your input.
For this final showdown, two contestant have made their way through the trails and tribulation of being a fledgling designer in a corporation controlled by an evil alien brain in a jar. You can read about their adventures here: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Top 8 Semifinals Finals
Our two fearless designers are now pitched in the battle of their lives:
Ink-Treader
Vs
Bravelion83
Their mission was to create a total of four cards:
Three cards designed to defeat Gleemax, a player with 1000 life and all magic cards ever created as his library
One final card to show what they choose to do with Gleemax once they defeated it
Heh, poison might work, but what's the fun in that? (And yet I can't help but think of this in terms of one turn kills...)
Alright...
Essence Spinner1BG
Creature - Hag Druid (R) T, Sacrifice another creature: Add the sacrificed creature's mana cost to your mana pool. (Mana cost includes color. If a mana symbol has multiple colors, choose one.) "Such potential. You could become many things..."
0/2
Ruinous SpitebladeBB
Creature - Human Assassin (R)
Deathtouch
Whenever Ruinous Spiteblade attacks and isn't blocked, if your life total is less than defending player's, you may have his or her life total become equal to your own. "Mutually assured destruction is a fantastic modus operandi."
1/1
Dream Reveler4UB
Creature - Nightmare (R)
Whenever you cast a spell, if you didn't cast it from your hand, Dream Reveler gets +2/+2 and gains menace until end of turn.
Whenever Dream Reveler deals combat damage to a player, you may search his or her library for a card and exile it. That card’s owner shuffles his or her library. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast it.
4/4
And as for after the battle...
Painted Smile1WW
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature attacks or blocks each turn if able.
If enchanted creature would deal damage to a creature, planeswalker, or player, that permanent's controller or that player instead gains that much life. "So... happy... So... much... joy... Must... share..."
Every card you say? Plan here is simple. Ruinous Spiteblade brings Gleemax to my level, Dream Devourer steals a Wound Reflection, Essence Spinner sacrifices the Dream Devourer so I can cast Wound Reflection. Gleemax falls on my end step. And then it's time for some... reconditioning.
Nervous Stress2UU
Sorcery (R)
Target player puts the top X cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard, where X is the number of cards in that player’s graveyard. Untap target creature that player controls. They say stress is a physiological response of your body to make you alert. It may be good for your body, but it certainly puts a heavy burden on your mind.
Azorius Council4UU
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard (R) T: You may cast target blue instant or sorcery card with converted mana cost equal to Azorius Council’s power from your graveyard without paying its mana cost. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery. “The Council has accepted your request. You’re allowed to perform again that ritual you asked to repeat.”
4/3
Macabre Undertaker1BB
Creature — Human (M)
At the beginning of your end step, if there are forty or more cards in your graveyard, you win the game. B, T: Choose one —
• Each player sacrifices a creature.
• Each player discards a card.
• Each player puts the top two cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
1/4
Brain Dissection3UB
Sorcery (R)
Target player reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card. You draw X cards and gain X life, where X is that card’s converted mana cost. “Let’s see what’s inside...”
How it works: you need to have the Undertaker and the Council on the battlefield without summoning sickness. You cast the Stress on yourself untapping the Council and then recur the Stress with the Council until you have the forty cards in your graveyard that the Undertaker requires. If you don't have any card in your graveyard to start the combo, that's what the activated ability on the Undertaker is for. The activation cost should not be a problem as you should only need to activate this ability once (if at all) to start the combo. This should be allowable based on this:
[quote from="Asrama »" url="http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/creativity/custom-card-creation/custom-card-contests-and-games/658237-december-final-round-im-here-to-design-cards-and?comment=7"]You may assume that you could activate something once if the mana to do so is not too high (say one to three mana).
Brain Dissection is what I do to Gleemax after his defeat.
I hope this submission is fine. Let me know if there are any problems with it.
And now it's up to you: Who should win the battle? Who will parish from Gleemax's fury?
The winner will receive epic bragging rights, and his very own ending, depending on their fourth card.
The final showdown with Gleemax did not go as you’ve expected. Gleemax has proven to be extremely powerful for a brain in Jar, and to have almost every nasty trick known to magic under his command. Your colleague gets eaten by Eldrazis before he’s able to set his cards, but gives you the time to spring your trap, and defeat Gleemax. You then spend no time in reconditioning Gleemax, to make sure he’ll never harm another soul.
You emerge from Gleemax’s chamber covered in sweat and slime, and find that nearly all of Wizards employees have compacted themselves into the hall outside the chamber. They all look stunned. Apparently, when you’ve attacked Gleemax, he called out to everyone, but now that he’s been neutralized, they are all confused, the fog in their brain slowly clearing.
“Gleemax will control Wizards no more”, you tell them. “From now on,we go back to making Magic: the Gathering the best and most fun collective card game there is in the good old fashioned way.”
Someone in the back cheers. the cheer dies out after a bit. it’s stifling in the hall, with several dozens of sweaty nerds packed in. They all seem to wait for someone to tell them what to do, their minds still used to being controls. You tell them to spread out, and start touring the facilities to find out what’s hidden down here, re-cardify any creatures they might find and start putting the place back together.
Slowly, you rehabilitate Wizards. You find the real Mark Rosewater locked in a cell at one of the bottom levels. He has been there for quite some time. You can see writing all over the walls. On close examination it seems that he designed a Roseane themed set while he was imprisoned. No sign of the horned fellow you thought was MaRo. You also can’t track Richard Garfield anywhere. You take stock of the alien technology that was amassed over the years. Some of it is definitely amazing. With it and the R&D team, you soon restore Wizards to a place that’s fun to work.
*************Two Weeks Later***************
“Would.. you.. like… a… drink.. Mas..ter?” You turn to see Gleemax with a tray of cocktails attached to it. Someone has painted a smiley face on his jar and put him in a french-maid costume. It’s a bit creepy. It has been a non-stop party now that his evil influence has been broken. The Cardmakers and Imitation Matrixes made the weekly EDH games really epic, and all the technology means you have plenty of free time to just party all the time.
You’re about to ask for a Gerrard Capashen when someone comes running towards you in a panic. You see that it’s one of the designers who started work with you. He speaks out of breath: “Hasbro <heave> CEO <heave> Here! Wants to <heave> see why <heave> we haven’t aunched the winter set as planned <big heave>!”
You look up to see a group of seriously-dressed businessmen walking towards you. A well-kept man who you can only assume is the CEO starts barking at you: “You in charge here? Where is Forscythe? where’s Rosewater? why are you partying instead of working? why was there no winter set? We had an agreement with Gleemax! Well?! why aren’t you saying anything?!”
My, what an unpleasant guy. You wonder if you should try to explain, but decide against it. He did mention Gleemax, meaning he probably knew about it and didn’t care. Hell, he probably condoned it. You feel mad that these suits made money out of your fellow designer’s suffering, but then an idea comes to you, and you instantly relax. “Of course”, you answer, “come this way, all your questions will be answered until you’re completely satisfied.”
You lead them to the chamber where Gleemax used to stay. Everything you need is still there from your fight. It doesn’t take long, really. The management of Hasbro isn’t really a challenge after defeating an all-powered alien brain.
A few minutes later you leave with the CEO and his staff in toe. They are quite more pleasant now, even if they grit their teeth a bit when they tell you that they appreciate your work and won’t bother you again.
Thing go back to the new normal then. Parties, gaming, and drinks all week long. That is, until a skype call from one of your college mates brings you to a new realization. Your mate works at a large entertainment company, and the conditions are very bad: working at all hours, with low pay and terrible management. You realize that you can’t just stop at Wizards and hasbro. A short plane ride and a few minutes at the offices and the management at your friend’s company is now much more easy to deal with.
You start a tour, and pretty soon all of the fortune 500 companies become very pleasant places to work in.
Of course, that draws some unwanted attention, but a short visit to Washington takes care of that. It’s amazing how easy it was to finally get the President, Senate, and Congress to all work together once they’ve gone through the Process.
Unfortunately, not everyone sees things your way. Especially the United Nations, who keeps on being useless in your eyes. With your new funds, it doesn’t take long before world peace is achieved, and all the world leaders are under your influence.
Finally, it’s peaceful. Sort of. You think that Gleemax made its way to earth somehow. This means there are other races out there. Others who might stop your fun.
Well, you have the sources of the entire planet at your disposal. It doesn’t take long before you’re ready to take to the stars, and bring the entire universe into the fold. Soon, all will smile under your command....
Expect the ending to be posted soon.
Edit: Ending is here.
But first, allow me to offer critique for your submissions:
Essence Spinner - This is a very solid card, with a lot of crazy interactions it can enable. I’m certain it and Meren of Clan Nel Toth are going to be BFFs very quickly.
Ruinous Spiteblade - After Ebonblade Reaper and Master of Cruelties, this fails to impress. Aside from the scenario given, this card would have little effect on the game.
Dream Reveler - I like how you’ve included inner synergy that has nothing to do with the combo. It makes the card feel more whole. I like where you went with the card, but aside from maybe menace, I fail to see where black fits in the equation. This is a powerful finisher that can dominate games, and as such I’d rather it would have had some form of self protection and be mythic rather than the first ability.
Painted Smile - Interesting take on the “what to do with Gleemax?” question. I like the sinister white flavor, but I’m a bit underwhelmed by the card itself. I feel that it’s just another pacifism variant, and that you could push the envelope more to make it feel more like someone is being reconditioned to be good against their will.
Overall - Very clever of you to use Gleemax’s advantages against it. You shown an ability to design individual cards that card come together at the right time and make an awesome Magic moment happen.
Nervous Stress - First part’s fine, I’m actually somewhat surprised that there have not been a card like that in Magic before. The untap clause is just weird, and makes no sense mechanically or flavorly. It’s pretty obvious it’s just there to enable the combo.
Azorius Council - Not sure why it’s legendary. Not that’s it’s not special, it just doesn’t feel legendary per se. The ability is great and would make for a great casual card, but it doesn’t sit with the Azorius flavor, who are more about bogging the opponent than utilizing the graveyard. Lastly, while I do like the design, there is no way it’d be printed like this: It should exile the card after it’s cast.
Macabre Undertaker - Probably the strongest point of your submission. This is a good replacement for black control decks that can’t get their hands on Liliana of the Veil, offering versatility with a pretty good alt win condition for games that take too long. The johnny in me wonders how quickly can you pop this one: considering the existing Dredge legacy deck, can you get something like 90% of your deck into your graveyard by turn 2 or 3 and then reanimate this guy? Worth checking.
Brain Dissection - This is a very cruel BU trick that would make the griefers of the world smile. I actually really like the all out nastiness of it. Another strong submission.
Overall - You’ve mentioned that you are not a Johnny, and it shows. I can see the struggle you have in coming up with a synergy to win against an over-powered opponent. But I feel that being a good designer means that sometimes you can’t design just for your strength, and need to challenge yourself. It took me all of four seconds to come up with three modern-legal two card combos that would defeat Gleemax, and I thought a three card “I win the game” combo is something that should not be hard to come up with. You’ve made some bad design choices for the sole reason of getting the cards to combo together, where you should have tried to see the interactions that come more naturally, and build up on those.
The winner, with 13 out of 17 votes, is Ink-Treader!
Congratulation to you!
I’d also like to thank everyone who participated, and especially anyone who took the time to give me feedback and let me know they’re having a good time with my crazy story. I didn’t know where I was going with this when I started, I just thought having a CCL were the contestants play designers obliged to make a last minute winter-theme set would be a great fit for the holiday season. Coupled with inspiration from one of my favorite MaRo articles and the fact that I have played The Stanley Parable earlier in 2015, and you’ve got the craziness that was CCL December 2015.
I hope you all enjoyed yourselves.
Ending will be posted soon.
Half-Horn, War Sage 1RR
Legendary Creature - Minotuar Shaman (R)
Whenever you cast an instant spell while Half-Horn, War Sage is attacking, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for that copy.
3/2
Emergent Heroics 1G
Instant (U)
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. Until end of turn, whenever you cast a spell that targets that creature, put two +1/+1 counters on it.
Some are destined to become heroes, others are made heroes with a flash decision.
Jungle Sovereign 5GGG
Creature - Ape Shaman (R)
Trample
When Jungle Sovereign enters the battlefield, destroy all artifacts. for each artifact destroyed this way, its controller puts a 1/1 green Ape creature token onto the battlefield.
8/8
Denied by the Gatewatch 3UU
Instant (U)
Denied by the Gatewatch costs 1 less to cast for each card you own in exile.
Counter target spell.
"We've suffered enough. This plane had suffered enough. Now it's time to show the titan that we can resist them."
- Jace
Edit: Oh, and thanks for the reading material, BTW. I'm sure it took some time to curate.
I actually think it's really relevant. It goes to show that the term "iconic" is fluid. Please remeber that before Sphinxes, Djins and Leviathans were considered the blue iconic creature type. Green went a long time with only Beast as an iconic creature type. Tomorrow Wizards might decide that dragons should appear in all colors and change the red iconic creature type to phoenixes. who knows.
I'd like to see a source for that definition, if you can find it. Regardless, that doesn't matter much, because that was not the challenge. The challenge was: "Create a rare, iconic creature with a single ability that's approximately 4 lines or less. It can also include 0-1 evergreen keywords." not "Create a rare creature of an iconic creature type of its color..."
If a black angel or a blue dragon would be fine for your challenge (and nothing say they don't) please don't tell me that the color matters in the decision of what is or isn't iconic.
Is there an outside list of iconic creatures? Probably not, since it changes from block to block. Gods were iconic in Theros, Elementals were iconic in Lorwyn. Vampires were iconic for half of magic. Were there sphinxes in Tarkir? No, but that doesn't mean blue didn't have iconic creatures in Khans.
This is an arbitrary limitation, which should have been part of the main challenge if you felt they were integral to it.
Um... what now? If the creature type was part of the requirements, why was it not mentioned in the main challenge? I didn't see the clarification that mentioned it until well after the deadline, and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. I interpreted the challenge as a rare card that has an ability that's iconic. Is Doran, the Siege Tower not iconic? how about Godsire? Morphling? Verdant Force? Sliver Queen? Juzám Djinn? Ball Lightning? I could go on...
Mostly I'm annoyed that a main requirement was hidden in the clarifications. I ignored it in my critique, and I do not intend to change it. I encourage others to do the same.
Emblem Barrier 2W
Creature - Spirit Wall (U)
Defender
Haunt (When this creature dies, exile it haunting target creature.)
The creature haunted by Emblem Barrier has defender.
0/5
For this final showdown, two contestant have made their way through the trails and tribulation of being a fledgling designer in a corporation controlled by an evil alien brain in a jar. You can read about their adventures here:
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Top 8
Semifinals
Finals
Our two fearless designers are now pitched in the battle of their lives:
Vs
Bravelion83
Their mission was to create a total of four cards:
The submissions:
Ink-Treader:
Bravelion83:
And now it's up to you: Who should win the battle? Who will parish from Gleemax's fury?
The winner will receive epic bragging rights, and his very own ending, depending on their fourth card.
Good luck!