I might guess that spectacle might be a more balanced version of miracle, castable for its spectacle cost the moment you draw it. It would be a very Rakdos-themed (and the 'hour of need flavor' was one of the storm scale limits to making miracle effect, Rakdos eschews that), being castable whenever you draw it also takes away a lot of the finagling and remembered about a 'first draw'
This sort of card is the perfect example of a Rakdos mentality. If you draw it, cast it /now/. Are you going to be ready to use it.. eh maybe let's try and see!
In essence, you abandon the ability to control your timing with the ability to get discounts, sounds very Rakdos to me.. and has more thematic design space than miracle.
Miracle is an '8' on the storm scale article.. though in early days Maro listed it as a 4 or 5..
This is a tricky mechanic and tricky wording.
Cardz: You forgot to add 'make a note' or similar mention. The card seems a little bit overpowered. The idea that any creature can be cast for 3 mana could lead to some real disruptive issues. Clones can be cheap, but that's because the limiting factor is the creature already having been played. This could result in an 8 mana bomb getting slammed t3 while also letting the color pie get subverted. In the end, too powerful, but interesting idea.
Hemlock: As a card in play, it seems fair and balanced, two colors you need for a cost. However as a draft uncommon this is format-breaking. This is 95% second or third pick. Essentially it lets you flat out announce your colors rather than relying on subtle signaling. You just tell your neighbors 'I'm taking W and G' after drawing a W or G bomb pack one. It would fundamentally change draft, especially at uncommon. Imagine 3-4 players announcing their colors straight out.. that's a different game entirely. Not sure if that was the intention, but it is too much of a different game once this is announced. If this was chosen secretly.. it would be kind of dull, but not so game warping.
Raptorchan: First, a few wording issues. The second ability needs to be basic land cards with the chosen type, you chose the type, not the card itself. Next, its really powerful to fetch three lands for a three mana card. But like the Hemlock's card, it fundamentally changes draft signaling by allowing you to announce colors. It also allows your neighbors to pick a land.. almost certainly it will be a land that is a 'dump color' for them. SO three players have announced colors: One you are collecting and two your opponents are dumping. And since they expect you to be collecting that color, they'll dump it harder. In the end, this will likely give you a more powerful deck even if you decide to cut this mega-fixer. As a rare this is less table-warping than an uncommon.. but as it effects 3 players, it can perhaps be a huge headache.
This round was tough and the effects on draft and signaling are not usually a part of card design. Well done despite the rough tone of my critiques. It's a tough top 3.
TOp 3: Pretty close
1. Raptorchan: The situations it creates could be interesting
2. Hemlock: Interesting idea to tinker with signals but I think too wild for uncommon.
3. Cardz: Not bad, but I think it stretches the mana curve too much to potentially play anything for that cost.
Paliano Mutamorph3UU
Creature - Shapeshifter (U)
Draft Paliano Mutamorph face up.
When you draft your next card after drafting this, record the converted mana cost of that card.
As Paliano Mutamorph enters the battlefield, choose a value noted with Paliano Mutamorph. This creatures enters play with that many +1/+1 counters.
0/0
Raikourider- A card like is why 'mill' should be a keyword action. I see alot if confusion, especially working with cards that 'look at the top 5, put x into your hand the rest into your graveyard' would trigger this. As written it doesn't work as smoothly as intended. Also this needsot be in a limited meta full of mill effects.
Cardz5000 - Brutal hate on all acend cards with a blunt mallet. Also I could see this as being very annoying, even potentially forcing games to mill. (If both players get to 1 life after a board wipe and the decks have no haste, you may just have ot sit on 9 lands. Bad for play.
zdtsd - I'm confused if this will revealed the card, and what does it do without a bottom of the library effect. QUite weird.
StoneofKruphix: Your first clause works on their turn but not on yours, which relies on some timing triggers in a non-intuitive way for very little payout. The combination seems completely weird and definitely not hybrid UW
Hemlock - Decent card, a bit aggressive with a chance to swithc it up later.
Raptorchan - This lets blue tutor creatures and planeswalkers, which it usually doesn't do. I like the combo, but I worry about color /cost
Subject16 - Aside from 2 card 'I win' combos, its good for cheap sweepers. I'mnot a fan, sorry.
It's been a heck of a week. I got an idea in my head and I can't focus. I also could pick a card.. head space. I got the idea to pick a rare effect. In standard, red rare cards can exile top cards and cast them this turn. A few cards do this, so I though I'd enhance it. If you need a combo card for some reason let's say.. Apex of Power
Manic Velocimancer2RR
Creature - Human Wizard(R)
Spells you cast from exile cost 2 less to cast. R, T,Discard a card: Exile the top two cards of your library. Until end of turn, you may cast nonland cards exiled this way. When a chronomancer wants something done, they want it done now.
2/2
Sephon19: A bit undercosted, especially since it can kill anything that can block it. Viglence pushes this into broken territory.
Subject16: I see the reach for things with classes, but it falls flat onhow many exceptions to it, like mutants and such.
Gateways7: Don't feel and assassin vibe, might be much for a common since enchantment creatures need to be volume to be a thing.. and this would weaken them all. Decent card but at common bad for its format.
kwanyeegor: Lornwyn elves are assassiny, but this feels like you'd never get this ability. Too few targets and too many chances for the opponent to dodge it.
StonerOfKruphix: Feels quite white and the legendary status makes it acceptably assassin. I like.
Hemlock: Interesting and thematics, but who would ever make the trade to block a 1/2. It feels like it would sit on defense forever, where your opponent chooses what to trade.
Top 3:
1. Stoner of Kruphix
2. Hemlock
3. SUbject16
third was close, but I think subject was more clever, even if it may not have paid off
So the crits are late, if it still counts I'll post it
RaikouRider: Interesting, but it does seem like strictly superior to several cards. The Prey half is superior so some fight effects, and tacking a token onto it is nutty. Also.. how does the token generation work if the target is made illegal?
zdtsd: COnverting mana to energy breaks the mechanics. Interesting idea, but a bit broken.
Cardz: Interesting, but needs alot of work and a ramp spell needs ot be cast earlier to be effective.
BrainPo: This seems like it would be rare unless hte set is land focused. Otherwise I like it.
netn10: Interesting but it nets 5 mana that's a bit much.
Sephon: This is weird, it sounds good but plays unusual.. sac in main step, get a new shapeshifter, wait til next turn, attack, sac, repeat. Feels weird.
Silverknife Inquisitor1WW
Creature - Cat Assassin(U)
First Strike
As long as two or more creatures are attacking you or a planeswalker you control, Silverknife Assassin has flash. "Our ends are righteous beyond measure, our means are justified beyond question
3/2
Protomycal Shambler3GG
Creature - Fungus (R)
Trample
When Protomycal Shambler deals combat damage to a player, create a 1/1 green Saproling token. 2G: Target Saproling you control becomes a copy of Protomycal Shambler (This effect lasts indefinitely.)
5/5
Well, the color-balance theory suggests Gruul, Orzhov, and Azorious (supported by Street Riot and Assassin's Trophy flavor text) and Domri's a safe bet but there are some other possibilities.
1) A masked planewalker (Actually Elspeth the returned) Elspeth's unique story situation makes her a manipulatable pawn. Also, about the time that they were planning out this story, it also the time they got rid of the Planeswalker Uniqueness rule: Previously, the reveal of 'The masked Orzhov leader is actually Elspeth!' would have been hampered by them being exempt from the planeswalker rule. Maybe preventing a story arc like this was a factor in scrapping that rule..
2) Kiora's an easy mark: If we discard the color-balance theory, Kiora's the ultimate mark: She's borderline obsessed with revenge for Zendikar, she's recklessly seeking new power, and fascinated by Sea Monsters. She's also not happy that the Gatewatch didn't save enough of Zendikar. For Bolas, this is basically a game of tee-ball. A few emotional tweaks and Kiora's down in the Zonots breeding her own sea monster superweapons. It just fits so perfectly into Bolas's plans.
I really doubt they would go through the trouble and allow a problematic card into the format. I think the banning of Ferocidon at the same time that play design became a thing. In their eyes,I think its a vastly overpowered card. Though it was a broad power, not a high power.
It does too much, too widely, for almost no opportunity cost. It shuts down lifegain and hoses tokens.. all tacked onto an on-curve body, so you don't even have to slow down while doing it or even choose between your hoser and an attacker. Oh and it's splashable.. and evasion(if somewhat weak) The only downsides are the self-hit form the ETB effect and 'dies to removal'
It's bad for an environment, it's abilities are almost too much(in breadth, not power) to be put on /any/ on-curve body, let alone an evasive 3-drop. With Ferocidon you didn't have to choose between the Sideboard for Lifegain or Tokens or a Single big blocker, nor did you have to give up much for it. Probably the only reason it didn't see mainboard play was that crasher was better for the deck that it went it.
I think Jump Start is actually very good in limited, if unexciting. You have to look at the psychographics.
Timmy wants to cast spells twice, that will satisfy them, and surveilling into the graveyard feels like a waste. But Johnny would love to get a spell to where they can use it with surveil. Johnny also love the way it increases your instant/sorcery interactions without needing more cards.
Spike on the other hand.. would use it in a different way.
Jump start cards will round out your mana curve. Especially Radical Idea... it basically tacks cycling onto your high cost bombs, excess lands, or situational cards ). With enough Ideas/moderate jump start cards, you can really stretch the curves. I think some pros will do serious number crunching and I would not be surprised to see a pro-tour win with several radical ideas and a 'shocking at first glance' mana curve.
Also, jump start is great on situational cards if you get surveil. Maximize Altitude at the right time can flat out win games. Now 'the right time' is few and far between, but you can surveil away Maximize, or pitch it to another jump starter, and let it sit the graveyard until that 'right time' comes up.
Izzet's advantage in limited are far more subtle that you'd expect. I expect experts to be able to make some seriously powerful decks using jump start and if the format isn't lightning-fast, could see multiple Radical Ideas being key pieces in a very resilient and flexible machine.
This sort of card is the perfect example of a Rakdos mentality. If you draw it, cast it /now/. Are you going to be ready to use it.. eh maybe let's try and see!
In essence, you abandon the ability to control your timing with the ability to get discounts, sounds very Rakdos to me.. and has more thematic design space than miracle.
Miracle is an '8' on the storm scale article.. though in early days Maro listed it as a 4 or 5..
Cardz: You forgot to add 'make a note' or similar mention. The card seems a little bit overpowered. The idea that any creature can be cast for 3 mana could lead to some real disruptive issues. Clones can be cheap, but that's because the limiting factor is the creature already having been played. This could result in an 8 mana bomb getting slammed t3 while also letting the color pie get subverted. In the end, too powerful, but interesting idea.
Hemlock: As a card in play, it seems fair and balanced, two colors you need for a cost. However as a draft uncommon this is format-breaking. This is 95% second or third pick. Essentially it lets you flat out announce your colors rather than relying on subtle signaling. You just tell your neighbors 'I'm taking W and G' after drawing a W or G bomb pack one. It would fundamentally change draft, especially at uncommon. Imagine 3-4 players announcing their colors straight out.. that's a different game entirely. Not sure if that was the intention, but it is too much of a different game once this is announced. If this was chosen secretly.. it would be kind of dull, but not so game warping.
Raptorchan: First, a few wording issues. The second ability needs to be basic land cards with the chosen type, you chose the type, not the card itself. Next, its really powerful to fetch three lands for a three mana card. But like the Hemlock's card, it fundamentally changes draft signaling by allowing you to announce colors. It also allows your neighbors to pick a land.. almost certainly it will be a land that is a 'dump color' for them. SO three players have announced colors: One you are collecting and two your opponents are dumping. And since they expect you to be collecting that color, they'll dump it harder. In the end, this will likely give you a more powerful deck even if you decide to cut this mega-fixer. As a rare this is less table-warping than an uncommon.. but as it effects 3 players, it can perhaps be a huge headache.
This round was tough and the effects on draft and signaling are not usually a part of card design. Well done despite the rough tone of my critiques. It's a tough top 3.
1. Raptorchan: The situations it creates could be interesting
2. Hemlock: Interesting idea to tinker with signals but I think too wild for uncommon.
3. Cardz: Not bad, but I think it stretches the mana curve too much to potentially play anything for that cost.
Paliano Mutamorph 3UU
Creature - Shapeshifter (U)
Draft Paliano Mutamorph face up.
When you draft your next card after drafting this, record the converted mana cost of that card.
As Paliano Mutamorph enters the battlefield, choose a value noted with Paliano Mutamorph. This creatures enters play with that many +1/+1 counters.
0/0
Raikourider- A card like is why 'mill' should be a keyword action. I see alot if confusion, especially working with cards that 'look at the top 5, put x into your hand the rest into your graveyard' would trigger this. As written it doesn't work as smoothly as intended. Also this needsot be in a limited meta full of mill effects.
Cardz5000 - Brutal hate on all acend cards with a blunt mallet. Also I could see this as being very annoying, even potentially forcing games to mill. (If both players get to 1 life after a board wipe and the decks have no haste, you may just have ot sit on 9 lands. Bad for play.
zdtsd - I'm confused if this will revealed the card, and what does it do without a bottom of the library effect. QUite weird.
StoneofKruphix: Your first clause works on their turn but not on yours, which relies on some timing triggers in a non-intuitive way for very little payout. The combination seems completely weird and definitely not hybrid UW
Hemlock - Decent card, a bit aggressive with a chance to swithc it up later.
Raptorchan - This lets blue tutor creatures and planeswalkers, which it usually doesn't do. I like the combo, but I worry about color /cost
Top 3:
1) Hemlock
2) Raptorchan
3) Raikourider
Manic Velocimancer 2RR
Creature - Human Wizard(R)
Spells you cast from exile cost 2 less to cast.
R, T,Discard a card: Exile the top two cards of your library. Until end of turn, you may cast nonland cards exiled this way.
When a chronomancer wants something done, they want it done now.
2/2
Subject16: I see the reach for things with classes, but it falls flat onhow many exceptions to it, like mutants and such.
Gateways7: Don't feel and assassin vibe, might be much for a common since enchantment creatures need to be volume to be a thing.. and this would weaken them all. Decent card but at common bad for its format.
kwanyeegor: Lornwyn elves are assassiny, but this feels like you'd never get this ability. Too few targets and too many chances for the opponent to dodge it.
StonerOfKruphix: Feels quite white and the legendary status makes it acceptably assassin. I like.
Hemlock: Interesting and thematics, but who would ever make the trade to block a 1/2. It feels like it would sit on defense forever, where your opponent chooses what to trade.
Top 3:
1. Stoner of Kruphix
2. Hemlock
3. SUbject16
third was close, but I think subject was more clever, even if it may not have paid off
zdtsd: COnverting mana to energy breaks the mechanics. Interesting idea, but a bit broken.
Cardz: Interesting, but needs alot of work and a ramp spell needs ot be cast earlier to be effective.
BrainPo: This seems like it would be rare unless hte set is land focused. Otherwise I like it.
netn10: Interesting but it nets 5 mana that's a bit much.
Sephon: This is weird, it sounds good but plays unusual.. sac in main step, get a new shapeshifter, wait til next turn, attack, sac, repeat. Feels weird.
2. BrainPo
3. Cards
Creature - Cat Assassin(U)
First Strike
As long as two or more creatures are attacking you or a planeswalker you control, Silverknife Assassin has flash.
"Our ends are righteous beyond measure, our means are justified beyond question
3/2
Creature - Fungus (R)
Trample
When Protomycal Shambler deals combat damage to a player, create a 1/1 green Saproling token.
2G: Target Saproling you control becomes a copy of Protomycal Shambler (This effect lasts indefinitely.)
5/5
1) A masked planewalker (Actually Elspeth the returned) Elspeth's unique story situation makes her a manipulatable pawn. Also, about the time that they were planning out this story, it also the time they got rid of the Planeswalker Uniqueness rule: Previously, the reveal of 'The masked Orzhov leader is actually Elspeth!' would have been hampered by them being exempt from the planeswalker rule. Maybe preventing a story arc like this was a factor in scrapping that rule..
2) Kiora's an easy mark: If we discard the color-balance theory, Kiora's the ultimate mark: She's borderline obsessed with revenge for Zendikar, she's recklessly seeking new power, and fascinated by Sea Monsters. She's also not happy that the Gatewatch didn't save enough of Zendikar. For Bolas, this is basically a game of tee-ball. A few emotional tweaks and Kiora's down in the Zonots breeding her own sea monster superweapons. It just fits so perfectly into Bolas's plans.
It does too much, too widely, for almost no opportunity cost. It shuts down lifegain and hoses tokens.. all tacked onto an on-curve body, so you don't even have to slow down while doing it or even choose between your hoser and an attacker. Oh and it's splashable.. and evasion(if somewhat weak) The only downsides are the self-hit form the ETB effect and 'dies to removal'
It's bad for an environment, it's abilities are almost too much(in breadth, not power) to be put on /any/ on-curve body, let alone an evasive 3-drop. With Ferocidon you didn't have to choose between the Sideboard for Lifegain or Tokens or a Single big blocker, nor did you have to give up much for it. Probably the only reason it didn't see mainboard play was that crasher was better for the deck that it went it.
Timmy wants to cast spells twice, that will satisfy them, and surveilling into the graveyard feels like a waste. But Johnny would love to get a spell to where they can use it with surveil. Johnny also love the way it increases your instant/sorcery interactions without needing more cards.
Spike on the other hand.. would use it in a different way.
Jump start cards will round out your mana curve. Especially Radical Idea... it basically tacks cycling onto your high cost bombs, excess lands, or situational cards ). With enough Ideas/moderate jump start cards, you can really stretch the curves. I think some pros will do serious number crunching and I would not be surprised to see a pro-tour win with several radical ideas and a 'shocking at first glance' mana curve.
Also, jump start is great on situational cards if you get surveil. Maximize Altitude at the right time can flat out win games. Now 'the right time' is few and far between, but you can surveil away Maximize, or pitch it to another jump starter, and let it sit the graveyard until that 'right time' comes up.
Izzet's advantage in limited are far more subtle that you'd expect. I expect experts to be able to make some seriously powerful decks using jump start and if the format isn't lightning-fast, could see multiple Radical Ideas being key pieces in a very resilient and flexible machine.