A color that's typically behind in terms of raw card advantage or resources should have significantly better drops on-curve, but for some reason that's usually green's shtick - a color that also happens to get both card advantage and resources.
White gets the most efficient removal, the best 1 and 2 drops, and goes back and forth with green for efficiently costed keyword soup creatures, like Baneslayer Angel
I love evoke. It's just great. But what if it went the other way? What if instead of paying less mana to just get the ETB, I could pay more mana to get more ETB?
Enchantment Eater 2W
Creature - Elemental (C)
When Enchantment Eater enters the battlefield, destroy target enchantment.
Ephemeral 4W (You may cast this spell for its ephemeral cost. If you do, it's exiled when it enters the battlefield. Return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.)
3/2
Minimulldrifter 2U
Creature - Elemental (U)
Flying
When Minimulldrifter enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Ephemeral 4U (You may cast this spell for its ephemeral cost. If you do, it's exiled when it enters the battlefield. Return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.)
2/1
Shriekmom 4B
Creature - Elemental (R)
Menace
When Shriekmom enters the battlefield, destroy target creature an opponent controls.
Ephemeral 7B (You may cast this spell for its ephemeral cost. If you do, it's exiled when it enters the battlefield. Return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.)
3/2
Faultbringer 3R
Creature - Elemental (R)
When Faultbringer enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you sacrifice a land.
Ephemeral 1RR (ou may cast this spell for its ephemeral cost. If you do, it's exiled when it enters the battlefield. Return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.)
5/4
Briar Friar 3G
Creature - Elemental Monk (C)
When Briar Friar enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature you control.
Ephemeral 4G (You may cast this spell for its ephemeral cost. If you do, it's exiled when it enters the battlefield. Return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.)
3/3
If you presented this to me as the lead of development, I would try to explain to you how much extra domain influence this has over Heroic, as it combos with removal spells, and essentially doubles their power-level. The measures of domain influence for removal spells are already maxed-out.
There's simply no way to do this within reasonable conventions.
It's not really creative either, as the interactivity is so bland. You're definitely going to want to go back to square one and start again.
I wouldn't ask you, no worries.
Don't say that, because the context was, "If you brought this to me as the lead of development.".
You wouldn't have a choice to ask me.
Life is all about choice. I'd probably just go above your head, point out that you design the worst cards (even by amateur standards), and that you actively dislike the game and the company that makes it.
But sure, let's pretend your hypothetical, or anything else you've ever typed here, means anything.
Cursed Mirror says "As Cursed Mirror enters the battlefield, you may have it become a copy of any creature on the battlefield..." I have a question about the wording. Clones says "You may have Clone enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield," so it enters as a copy and triggers any ETBs. But this says "as it enters, it may become a copy" - does that mean it doesn't get any ETBs of the copied creature? Does it even count as entering as a creature, or is it becoming once afterward? Is it too late to trigger?
I'd like to put it in Purphoros, God of the Forge if it can trigger Purphoros and make more tokens by copying a Siege-Gang Commander.
Extract works as printed. I was going to include something for searching other player's libraries, but thought that would over-complicate the design, and would mix-match with the flavor and flavor-text.
Explosive Veg would draw 1 card the way you have this worded. There is nothing here to the effect of "For each card that player would have searched for, that player draws a card instead." Not sure if that wording would be more broken or less though
If you presented this to me as the lead of development, I would try to explain to you how much extra domain influence this has over Heroic, as it combos with removal spells, and essentially doubles their power-level. The measures of domain influence for removal spells are already maxed-out.
There's simply no way to do this within reasonable conventions.
It's not really creative either, as the interactivity is so bland. You're definitely going to want to go back to square one and start again.
Formats shouldn't revolve entirely around the existence of a single card that anybody can play with essentially no cost.
Don't say that, because that's exactly what fetchlands are except as a single archtype.
Fetchlands allow archetypes, not limit them. They certainly don't define formats as far as being able to, or in this case, unable to, play an entire deck. There is a huge difference between something being prominent and defining. If you feel that fetchlands are so detrimental to a format that this card has to be this aggressively costed, just ban them. At least then the games aren't goldfish games. Archetypes will be extremely limited, but at least they would exist.
The first ability should be "Look at the top three cards of your library and manifest one of them. Put the rest into your graveyard." That way your opponent won't know what the facedown card is.
The second ability should definitely be a -1 and MAAAAAAYBEEEE the first one, since he has an ability to gain loyalty outside of activating a loyalty ability.
From a templating standpoint, you've made a walker that would have 5 text boxes, unless they put the "Can be commander" text with the loyalty gaining ability in one box. Not a bad thing, but not something we've seen before either.
I wanted the first loyalty ability to be semi-reanimator, but it might be too strong, and, as you mentioned, ruins the surprise element.
I wanted something to make the facedown creatures more than bears, but it might be overwhelming.
It is pretty wordy for a planeswalker. I just felt that morph/ manifest, even having received a commander deck, still needed a shot in the arm.
This is a very malevolent design. While I don't want to say its flat out broken the simple fact that this could on its own on the first turn shut down a players ability to play at all means it probably just shouldn't exist or at least get a preemptive ban in legacy and maybe modern.
It would be banned in all sanctioned formats. Probably unsanctioned ones as well. It does nothing but generate nongames.
If they really wanted this, they would just ban fetchlands in any format this would be printed into
Or they can begin to build their decks more strategically, no longer being allowed to rely on the increasing cheap fetch land bids.
Banning the fetchlands would be a better way to do that.
Why should building my mana base be so heavily decided upon "can I risk the chance that this 0 cost card that any deck can play just automatically beats me with no way out?"
Formats shouldn't revolve entirely around the existence of a single card that anybody can play with essentially no cost. If the hate for these effects needs to be this powerful, just ban the cards this is meant to answer. At least then, actual game play would happen, instead of this card's controller waving middle fingers at frustrated opponents who 2-0 scoop
This is a very malevolent design. While I don't want to say its flat out broken the simple fact that this could on its own on the first turn shut down a players ability to play at all means it probably just shouldn't exist or at least get a preemptive ban in legacy and maybe modern.
It would be banned in all sanctioned formats. Probably unsanctioned ones as well. It does nothing but generate nongames.
If they really wanted this, they would just ban fetchlands in any format this would be printed into
Solid design at a fair cost. Though the second ability feels a little strange. I'm not sure how strong the ability actually is yet it doesn't feel like its doing enough. Shifting to +1/+0 alongside some keywords like trample or flying might make it feel/play better.
+2/+2 felt like a bit too much. That's probably the most flexible of the knobs on this design for sure though. I mostly liked the idea of swinging for 40 the turn after ult
White gets the most efficient removal, the best 1 and 2 drops, and goes back and forth with green for efficiently costed keyword soup creatures, like Baneslayer Angel
It's part of the new white card advantage initiative, if I am not mistaken. Enough to stay afloat, not enough to get ahead.
Both philosophically and mechanically, I kinda like that white doesn't get good draw. It doesn't seek answers because it has all the answers.
Enchantment Eater 2W
Creature - Elemental (C)
When Enchantment Eater enters the battlefield, destroy target enchantment.
Ephemeral 4W (You may cast this spell for its ephemeral cost. If you do, it's exiled when it enters the battlefield. Return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.)
3/2
Minimulldrifter 2U
Creature - Elemental (U)
Flying
When Minimulldrifter enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Ephemeral 4U (You may cast this spell for its ephemeral cost. If you do, it's exiled when it enters the battlefield. Return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.)
2/1
Shriekmom 4B
Creature - Elemental (R)
Menace
When Shriekmom enters the battlefield, destroy target creature an opponent controls.
Ephemeral 7B (You may cast this spell for its ephemeral cost. If you do, it's exiled when it enters the battlefield. Return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.)
3/2
Faultbringer 3R
Creature - Elemental (R)
When Faultbringer enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you sacrifice a land.
Ephemeral 1RR (ou may cast this spell for its ephemeral cost. If you do, it's exiled when it enters the battlefield. Return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.)
5/4
Briar Friar 3G
Creature - Elemental Monk (C)
When Briar Friar enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature you control.
Ephemeral 4G (You may cast this spell for its ephemeral cost. If you do, it's exiled when it enters the battlefield. Return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.)
3/3
Life is all about choice. I'd probably just go above your head, point out that you design the worst cards (even by amateur standards), and that you actively dislike the game and the company that makes it.
But sure, let's pretend your hypothetical, or anything else you've ever typed here, means anything.
It copies ETBs. I'd love a good clone that doesn't though
Explosive Veg would draw 1 card the way you have this worded. There is nothing here to the effect of "For each card that player would have searched for, that player draws a card instead." Not sure if that wording would be more broken or less though
I wouldn't ask you, no worries.
These ideas seem pretty bad.
Fetchlands allow archetypes, not limit them. They certainly don't define formats as far as being able to, or in this case, unable to, play an entire deck. There is a huge difference between something being prominent and defining. If you feel that fetchlands are so detrimental to a format that this card has to be this aggressively costed, just ban them. At least then the games aren't goldfish games. Archetypes will be extremely limited, but at least they would exist.
I wanted the first loyalty ability to be semi-reanimator, but it might be too strong, and, as you mentioned, ruins the surprise element.
I wanted something to make the facedown creatures more than bears, but it might be overwhelming.
It is pretty wordy for a planeswalker. I just felt that morph/ manifest, even having received a commander deck, still needed a shot in the arm.
New version in OP
Banning the fetchlands would be a better way to do that.
Why should building my mana base be so heavily decided upon "can I risk the chance that this 0 cost card that any deck can play just automatically beats me with no way out?"
Formats shouldn't revolve entirely around the existence of a single card that anybody can play with essentially no cost. If the hate for these effects needs to be this powerful, just ban the cards this is meant to answer. At least then, actual game play would happen, instead of this card's controller waving middle fingers at frustrated opponents who 2-0 scoop
It would be banned in all sanctioned formats. Probably unsanctioned ones as well. It does nothing but generate nongames.
If they really wanted this, they would just ban fetchlands in any format this would be printed into
+2/+2 felt like a bit too much. That's probably the most flexible of the knobs on this design for sure though. I mostly liked the idea of swinging for 40 the turn after ult