Instead of tweaking the mana costs, I almost feel like they should each have some sort of "drawback": "Whenever LEGENDNAME leaves the battlefield, put the top card of your library in the graveyard."
Quick Decision - RR - Instant
Reveal the top card of your library.
Until end of turn, you may cast it as though as it were an instant
If you don't, exile it at end of turn. MadnessR
Perhaps, make "Happiness" a split-card "Happiness/Depress" & "Lost Man" transformable, "Lost Man/Enlightened Soul"
___________________________________________________ Happiness - (No Mana Cost) - Instant
Whenever Happiness is revealed from anywhere, each player gains 1 life.
As long any player has ## life or more, the player with the most life wins the game. MiracleWUBRG"To share it is to enjoy it."
------------------------------------------------------------ Depress - (No Mana Cost) -Sorcery
Whenever Depress is exiled from anywhere, you lose the game.
As long as you have ## life or less, exchange life totals with target player. MadnessWUBRG"Pain has a purpose, not a profit."
___________________________________________________
Lost ManWR
Creature - Human
Lost Man must attack each turn if able.
Whenever Lost Man deals damage to a player, search your library for a card named Happiness,
reveal it, then shuffle afterwards. If Happiness is not revealed this way, transform Lost Man.
2/1 "A person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance."
------------------------------------------------------------- Enlightened Soul
Creature - Spirit
Enlightened Spirit can't attack or block.
At the beginning of each upkeep, you may exile a card from your hand.
If you do, gain life equal to it's converted mana cost, otherwise transform Enlightened Soul.
2/2 "Insanity is in the eye of it's beholder, what bliss?"
Aura Ripple # (Reveal the top # cards of your library. You may put an Aura with a converted mana cost less than or equal to LEGENDNAME into your hand. Put the rest of the cards revealed this way on the bottom of your library afterwards.)
I'd just like to start off by saying that I really like this & I agree with harlannowick.
Although it's been a while myself, since I've last played Magic. (Ravnica was introduced.)
To bring it to magic, you could create cards & mechanics, based on the amount of life you have,
(Ex. red & black cards would benefit from having little to no life, white & green would from having little or a lot)
On the note of "Star Magic" with the idea of two allies & two enemies, this format should be called "Conquer"
Each player begins the game with & limited to a set amount of basic lands, aka "Territories" but here's the kicker:
Each player may use the lands of their allies to cast spells & abilities. This way, players have more room in their decks for spells.
Players lose when they have no lands to cast spells & any other permanents they controlled become "Conquered"
by the enemy who destroys your last territory, However, your life is distributed with your remaining allies.
Thank you, Darth, you have identified some flaws & I've adjusted the mechanics in accordance to some of those.
However, being that the tri-color tribes are based off of the combination of 3, duo-color guilds, it's difficult
to say which mechanics are appropriate to each tribe, just based off of one individual color from each tri-color tribe.
But, gotta say, good eye on the "Deprave" mechanic. It just seems long overdue.
If I'm being perfectly honest, I don't like any of the abilities. First off, any mechanic that requires that players understand the minutiae of priority passing is too complicated and a bad idea. This means that Expose, Liberate, Commend, and Eavesdrop are all flat unprintable in my eyes. Many of your other mechanics are potentially fine, but your templating is off for a few of them. Here are some template fixes for the offending mechanics...
I find it hard to believe that you don't like any of the abilities, however,
I appreciate that you took that much time to point out the errors you have.
I've made a few adjustments to the 'offending' mechanics & will post card examples this weekend.
MECHANIC: Eavesdrop <number><cost> (Whenever LEGENDNAME would be exiled from anywhere, you may pay {param2}. If you do, reveal the top {english_number(param1)} cards of each players library & put them back in any order.)
MECHANIC: Liberate <cost> (Whenever LEGENDNAME would be put into the graveyard from anywhere, you may pay {param1}. If you do, search your library for a card with liberate, shuffle your library, then put it on the top of your library. Exile LEGENDNAME afterwards.)
MECHANIC: Commend <number><cost> (As long as LEGENDNAME is in the graveyard, any player may put the top {english_number(param1)} cards of his or her library into the graveyard. If any player does, that player may gain {param1} life. Exile LEGENDNAME afterwards.)
MECHANIC: Influence (Whenever LEGENDNAME deals combat damage to a creature, put an influence counter on it. Creatures with influence counters can not block creatures with influence.)
MECHANIC: Cherish <cost> (If LEGENDNAME would be put into a graveyard from anywhere, you may pay {param1}. If you do, put LEGENDNAME in your hand, then discard a card.)
MECHANIC: Respire <cost> (Exile LEGENDNAME from your hand: Return target card with converted mana cost less than or equal to LEGENDNAME from your graveyard to your hand.)
MECHANIC: Expose <cost> (Whenever LEGENDNAME would be revealed from anywhere, any player may pay {param1} to cast a copy of LEGENDNAME. If any player does, exile LEGENDNAME afterwards.)
MECHANIC: Augment <number> (When LEGENDNAME enters the battlefield, put {english_number(param1)} +1/+1 counters on it. When CARDNAME is put into the graveyard from the battlefield, put a 1/1 colorless Auggie creature token on the battlefield under your control for each +1/+1 counter on LEGENDNAME.)
"Whenever LEGENDNAME leaves the battlefield, put the top card of your library in the graveyard."
Quick Decision - RR - Instant
Reveal the top card of your library.
Until end of turn, you may cast it as though as it were an instant
If you don't, exile it at end of turn. Madness R
___________________________________________________
Happiness - (No Mana Cost) - Instant
Whenever Happiness is revealed from anywhere, each player gains 1 life.
As long any player has ## life or more, the player with the most life wins the game.
Miracle WUBRG "To share it is to enjoy it."
------------------------------------------------------------
Depress - (No Mana Cost) -Sorcery
Whenever Depress is exiled from anywhere, you lose the game.
As long as you have ## life or less, exchange life totals with target player.
Madness WUBRG "Pain has a purpose, not a profit."
___________________________________________________
Lost Man WR
Creature - Human
Lost Man must attack each turn if able.
Whenever Lost Man deals damage to a player, search your library for a card named Happiness,
reveal it, then shuffle afterwards. If Happiness is not revealed this way, transform Lost Man.
2/1 "A person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance."
-------------------------------------------------------------
Enlightened Soul
Creature - Spirit
Enlightened Spirit can't attack or block.
At the beginning of each upkeep, you may exile a card from your hand.
If you do, gain life equal to it's converted mana cost, otherwise transform Enlightened Soul.
2/2 "Insanity is in the eye of it's beholder, what bliss?"
Although it's been a while myself, since I've last played Magic. (Ravnica was introduced.)
To bring it to magic, you could create cards & mechanics, based on the amount of life you have,
(Ex. red & black cards would benefit from having little to no life, white & green would from having little or a lot)
On the note of "Star Magic" with the idea of two allies & two enemies, this format should be called "Conquer"
Each player begins the game with & limited to a set amount of basic lands, aka "Territories" but here's the kicker:
Each player may use the lands of their allies to cast spells & abilities. This way, players have more room in their decks for spells.
Players lose when they have no lands to cast spells & any other permanents they controlled become "Conquered"
by the enemy who destroys your last territory, However, your life is distributed with your remaining allies.
Definitely food for thought.
However, being that the tri-color tribes are based off of the combination of 3, duo-color guilds, it's difficult
to say which mechanics are appropriate to each tribe, just based off of one individual color from each tri-color tribe.
But, gotta say, good eye on the "Deprave" mechanic. It just seems long overdue.
I find it hard to believe that you don't like any of the abilities, however,
I appreciate that you took that much time to point out the errors you have.
I've made a few adjustments to the 'offending' mechanics & will post card examples this weekend.
but thank you again, harlannowick
SUB-GUILD 1: Laton-Ary (WU+B) 1-A
SUB-GUILD 2: Laton-Ryk (WB+U) 1-B
SUB-GUILD 3: Laton-Iph (UB+W) 1-C
MECHANIC: Eavesdrop <number><cost> (Whenever LEGENDNAME would be exiled from anywhere, you may pay {param2}. If you do, reveal the top {english_number(param1)} cards of each players library & put them back in any order.)
EDITED: 6/15/16 - 9:15 PM (EST)
SUB-GUILD 1: Delaw-Ary (WU+R) 2-A
SUB-GUILD 2: Delaw-Ord (WR+U) 2-D
SUB-GUILD 3: Delaw-Nux (UR+W) 2-E
MECHANIC: Liberate <cost> (Whenever LEGENDNAME would be put into the graveyard from anywhere, you may pay {param1}. If you do, search your library for a card with liberate, shuffle your library, then put it on the top of your library. Exile LEGENDNAME afterwards.)
EDITED: 6/15/16 - 9:15 PM (EST)
SUB-GUILD 1: Fanin-Ary (WU+G) 3-A
SUB-GUILD 2: Fanin-Irb (WG+U) 3-F
SUB-GUILD 3: Fanin-Ava (UG+W) 3-G
MECHANIC: Commend <number><cost> (As long as LEGENDNAME is in the graveyard, any player may put the top {english_number(param1)} cards of his or her library into the graveyard. If any player does, that player may gain {param1} life. Exile LEGENDNAME afterwards.)
EDITED: 6/15/16 - 9:15 PM (EST)
SUB-GUILD 1: Sevol-Ryk (WB+R) 4-B
SUB-GUILD 2: Sevol-Ord (WR+B) 4-D
SUB-GUILD 3: Sevol-Kag (BR+W) 4-H
MECHANIC: Influence (Whenever LEGENDNAME deals combat damage to a creature, put an influence counter on it. Creatures with influence counters can not block creatures with influence.)
EDITED: 6/15/16 - 9:15 PM (EST)
SUB-GUILD 1: Ajang-Ryk (WB+G) 5-B
SUB-GUILD 2: Ajang-Irb (WG+B) 5-F
SUB-GUILD 3: Ajang-Jye (BG+W) 5-I
MECHANIC: Cherish <cost> (If LEGENDNAME would be put into a graveyard from anywhere, you may pay {param1}. If you do, put LEGENDNAME in your hand, then discard a card.)
EDITED: 6/15/16 - 9:15 PM (EST)
SUB-GUILD 1: Elran-Ord (WR+G) 6-D
SUB-GUILD 2: Elran-Irb (WG+R) 6-F
SUB-GUILD 3: Elran-Gnu (RG+W) 6-J
MECHANIC: Respire <cost> (Exile LEGENDNAME from your hand: Return target card with converted mana cost less than or equal to LEGENDNAME from your graveyard to your hand.)
EDITED: 6/15/16 - 9:15 PM (EST)
SUB-GUILD 1: Ixyro-Iph (UB+R) 7-C
SUB-GUILD 2: Ixyro-Nux (UR+B) 7-E
SUB-GUILD 3: Ixyro-Kag (BR+U) 7-H
MECHANIC: Deprave <action> (As long as each land you control is tapped, {param1}.)
EDITED: 6/15/16 - 9:15 PM (EST)
SUB-GUILD 1: Horam-Iph (UB+G) 8-C
SUB-GUILD 2: Horam-Ava (UG+B) 8-G
SUB-GUILD 3: Horam-Jye (BG+U) 8-I
MECHANIC: Expose <cost> (Whenever LEGENDNAME would be revealed from anywhere, any player may pay {param1} to cast a copy of LEGENDNAME. If any player does, exile LEGENDNAME afterwards.)
EDITED: 6/15/16 - 9:15 PM (EST)
SUB-GUILD 1: Augma-Nux (UR+G) 9-E
SUB-GUILD 2: Augma-Ava (UG+R) 9-G
SUB-GUILD 3: Augma-Gnu (RG+U) 9-J
MECHANIC: Augment <number> (When LEGENDNAME enters the battlefield, put {english_number(param1)} +1/+1 counters on it. When CARDNAME is put into the graveyard from the battlefield, put a 1/1 colorless Auggie creature token on the battlefield under your control for each +1/+1 counter on LEGENDNAME.)
EDITED: 6/15/16 - 9:15 PM (EST)
SUB-GUILD 1: Ghouz-Kag (BR+G)(BR/G) 0-H
SUB-GUILD 2: Ghouz-Jye (BR+R)(BG/R) 0-I
SUB-GUILD 3: Ghouz-Gnu (RG+B)(RG/B) 0-J
MECHANIC: Spoil <number> (Pay {param1} life: The controller of LEGENDNAME sacrifices it. Any player may activate this ability.)