Sheltering Ancients and Fate Transfer. Remove your continuous upkeep counters to another creature or take back those +1/+1 counters you have been handing out.
My only concern with SHM so far is how wonky Limited would be with practically no removal. ...
That's because Wither is built in removal - it's damage that doesn't go away and eventually wears creatures down that might not normally fall in combat.
Huh... New speculation:There are no Sorceries in Lorwyn. Between this and Instants they are redundant. This is pretty neat though. So much for the bright happy Shire-type plane so many were expecting.
If you are right on a Sorcery light environment it would point to a heavy creature environment, one that would fit the rumored tribal theme.
Coppro, The troll puts 5 creatures into your opponents control. Now, when you attack with the warpride, you will get a minimum of 4 extra copies of the warband. Presumably some of those flying creatures have already attacked. You still get the extra copies of the warpride even if there are no creatures to block.
Mutantman, I posted without even reading your submission. Please forgive the duplication. Sarnathed maybe.
You get an extra creature for every creature they control!!!. It doesn't matter if their creatures are tapped or not.
Nactal - Warpride
Nacatl War-Pride must be blocked by exactly one creature if able.
Whenever Nacatl War-Pride attacks, put X tokens into play tapped and attacking that are copies of Nacatl War-Pride, where X is the number of creatures defending player controls. Remove the tokens from the game at end of turn.
Nactal Warpride likes Doubling Season and Warp World as well
I have not read the entire thread so forgive me if this idea has already been posted.
A pragmatic way to give Purple a unique identity would be to give it mastery over a new card type.
Green destroys artifacts
White destroys enchantments
Black destroys creatures
Red destroys lands
Blue destroys/counters spells
Purple destroys/manipulates turns or time
I posted an idea years ago for a new permanent type called Events. These are essentially hybrids between lands and enchantments.
Like lands, the don't cost mana to play and only one event may be played per turn.
They represent the passage of time to tell a story and must be played in order i.e an event with a time index of II could not be played before the second turn, an event with a time index of IV could not be played before the fourth turn. Also, you normally can't turn back the clock to play an earlier event once a latter event is played i.e., if you play a time index event of IV you cant play any time index events of I, II or III.
Purple would be the color of time manipulation. It would allow changing the order in which events are played, rewriting history, leapfroging to future events etc.
You may not like the event idea...
but I hope you would agree that adding a new type permanent of some form would be a good way to give a 6th color a distinct identity
Life and Limb calls to me to find a way to break it... well, I guess it's not really breaking it, considering we already know what to do with a ton of mana. However, this does make Earth Surge a bit more usable. All your Saprolings and lands are 3/3s, throw in a few Glorious Anthems and Green-ious Anthems (Gaea's Anthem, was it?) and you've got a very large army. And considering all your Saprolings now tap for mana, it won't be that hard to power them out. I like it, I'll have to work on it. -Jack
Gauntlet of Power (or whatever it is) to double your mana and pump your team
or just coat of arms
Add Seedborn Muse and a few convoke spells for good measure
I too haven't looked at what the contestants submitted. Your thoughts and feed back are always appreciated. My cards are shown in BLUE
Conrad Corbett Really Focus (uncommon) 4U Sorcery Discard any number of cards, then draw that many cards. Then, discard any number of cards, then draw that many cards. Lead Designer Notes: I really like how this card does the same thing twice but in a way where the two have some interaction with one another. Design another card that can go in a cycle with this one (and yes, it will be uncommon). This means the card cannot be blue. The card must be an instant or sorcery.
Reproduce (uncommon) 5GG Sorcery Put a 1/1 green squirrel token in play for each creature you control. Then, put a 1/1 green squirrel token in play for each creature you control.
Andrew Emmott Skritano Tumbler (uncommon) 2R Creature - Human Nomad Shaman 2/1 Whenever you play an instant or sorcery spell, for each red mana spent on that spell, Skritano Tumbler deals 1 damage to target creature. Lead Designer Notes: I think having cards that add effects based on the mana spent for the spell is meaty design space. For this set, I want to do a vertical creature cycle in red. This will be the uncommon so make a common or rare (in red – vertical cycle means a common, uncommon and rare in the same color). As this one's effect is damage, don't use damage as an effect.
Mirror Shard Channeler (Rare) 2R Creature - Human Nomad Shaman 2/1 Whenever Mirror Shard Channeler is the target of an instant or sorcery spell, copy that spell once for each red mana spent on that spell, you may choose new targets for each copy.
Christopher Jablonksi Pants of the Dead [Macabre Pants--I mean Dance](uncommon) 3BB Enchantment - Aura Enchant black creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+1. When enchanted creature deals combat damage to an opponent, return target,creature from your graveyard to play. Attach CARDNAME to that creature. If you can't, sacrifice CARDNAME. Lead Designer Notes: I like how this spell creates a reason to change the target of the enchantment. This effect seems cool enough that I want to sprinkle some more in the set. Lose the “enchant colored creature” and the “If you can't, sacrifice enchantment”. The effect doesn't have to be a combat damage trigger. Finding one that can work in common would be a big plus.
Anger Management (common) R Enchantment - Aura Enchanted creature has haste and attacks each turn if able. Whenever a creature is played, attach CARDNAME to that creature.
Greg Krajenta Expansive Gardens (Rare) GGG Enchantment If Expansive Gardens is on the stack green spells and abilities cost 3 less to play. Whenever a forest is tapped for mana add G to your mana pool. Lead Designer Notes: I'm obviously nervous about mentioning the stack, but there's something interesting about spells that have an effect while being played. I'd like to see an example of something in common or uncommon that would have an interesting play in limited.
Leaf Bringer (Common) 1G Creature – Elf Druid 1/1 When you play Leaf Bringer,y ou may put a land from your hand into play for each spell that is played until Leaf Bringer comes into play.
Andrew Probasco Infernal Contest (rare) 1B Sorcery Search your library for a card and remove it from the game face down. Target opponent chooses a card type. Reveal the removed card, if it is not of the chosen type, put that card into your hand. Lead Designer Notes: I like the idea of cards that allow a mind game between you and your opponent where each one of you is trying to figure out what the other is thinking. Let me see another rare, not black or blue.
Double Dare (rare) RR Sorcery Players search their library for a land, creature, enchantment or artifact card and put that card in play unless any player has Double Dare deal them 7 damage. Players then shuffle their libraries.
Noah Weil Seraphim Surge (rare) 6WWW Sorcery Pyre: 3(When you play a spell with Pyre 3, you may remove any multiple of 3 cards from your graveyard from the game. For each instance of 3 you remove, reduce this card's casting cost by 1) [In these cards' case, if you remove 18 cards from your graveyard as you play it, its casting cost is CCC] Put all creature cards with flying from all graveyards into play under your control. Pyre X: Lead Designer Notes: I like Pyre because I like the idea of using your graveyard as a resource. Common cards with Pyre seem straightforward. I want to see an uncommon card that will have some build around me appeal for the budget player and drafters. Don't feel tied to Pyre 3.
Earth Ripper (Uncommon) 4GG Creature – Llurghoylf 2/2 Trample. Earth Ripper gets +1/+1 for each land in each graveyard. Pyre: Land(When you play this, you may remove any number of land cards from your graveyard from the game. For each land card you remove, reduce this card's casting cost by 1) Aaron Weiner
Persistent Armorer (common) 2W Creature – Human Soldier 2/2 Other creatures you control get +0/+1. 0: Persistent Armorer becomes an enchantment.（It's no longer a creature. This effect doesn't end at end of turn.） Lead Designer Notes: The persistent mechanic seems cool. I want to see a splashy rare with this ability. Something sexy we can preview. Add mana to the activation.
Yavimaya Angel (common) 1GW Creature – Druid Angel 2/2 Flying. Creatures you control get +1/+1 for each enchantment in play. Sacrifice an Enchantment: Yavimaya Angel becomes an enchantment.（It's no longer a creature. This effect doesn't end at end of turn.）
Landon Winkler Invisible Presence (Common) 1U Enchantment – Aura Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't be blocked except by creatures with defender. Auratide 3 (When you play an Aura with converted mana cost 3 or more, you may put this card from your graveyard into play.) Lead Designer Notes: I think we're going to do a common and uncommon cycle of this mechanic. What I'm missing is a card that while doesn't have auratide would play well with cards that do. But you need to be subtle as I don't want it obvious that this is what the card's supposed to do. Don't mention the words “enchantment” or “aura”.
Mental Drain (rare) 1B Enchantment Whenever a card is put into a graveyard its owner may search their library for a card with the same name and put it in their graveyard then shuffle their library.
(Picture: Pike)
Petrifying Visage (Uncommon) = Good use of illustration and name. I would have worded it a little differently (B-)
"Until end of turn, target creature and each creature that shares its name cannot attack or block."
(Picture: Rings)
Mana Circle (Rare) = Good link to the picture but I wouldn't give this kind of mana filtering based on sacrifice to White (C-)
(Picture: Spear)
Paralyzing Ray (Common) = Solid, I like the reference to the rays in the picture (C+)
(Picture: Child)
Claudius, Wizard-Protector (Rare) = Cool card, too bad its not Green or White. It doesn't feel very Blue to me but I like the link to the illustration (B)
(Picture: Cauldron)
Elixir of Madness = Excellent and versatile (A)
(Picture: Cape)
Geomancer (Rare) = Intersting. I get the link with morph from the picture but I don't think I see the connection with land destruction (B)
(Picture: Flag)
Breaking the Rules of Engagement = Not bad. You would have a better artistic link to provoke if the creatures where shown fighting each other rather than charging. (C)
(Picture: Sword)
Bumbling Recruit = Interesting twist but I don't think this would radically alter your drafting strategy as a "build around me" card. For that reason I give it a (C)
Picture: Monster)
Raging Gargaloth (Common) = Cool name but only an average link to the illustration (C-)
(Picture: Staff)
Congregation of Heroes (Rare) = Good idea, strong link to the image but maybe a little too powerful (A-)
I'd say your cards were better than at least half the contestants. My favorites were Congrefation of Heroes and Elixir of Madness
Red (common) Instant or sorcery. No direct damage or destruction (artifact or land).
Red (uncommon) Creature. Want a build around me for draft (aka something that will encourage players to go down a path or paths he or she wouldn't normally had they not drafted this card early
Green (common) Creature. Something that costs four or more mana.
Green (rare) Non-creature spell. Green's lacking in "wow" factor (aka something that will impress the player by how different it is).
So, how do you think I would have fared with the WOTC judges?
That's because Wither is built in removal - it's damage that doesn't go away and eventually wears creatures down that might not normally fall in combat.
If you are right on a Sorcery light environment it would point to a heavy creature environment, one that would fit the rumored tribal theme.
Hunted Troll likes Avatar of Might. I see some good casual Timmy fun in the future.
Coppro, The troll puts 5 creatures into your opponents control. Now, when you attack with the warpride, you will get a minimum of 4 extra copies of the warband. Presumably some of those flying creatures have already attacked. You still get the extra copies of the warpride even if there are no creatures to block.
Mutantman, I posted without even reading your submission. Please forgive the duplication. Sarnathed maybe.
Here is another minor combo
Arcanum Wing + Galvanic Arc
Aven Mindslicer + Wierd Harvest
Cryptic Annelid + Killer Instict
Even the Odds + Teysa, Orzhov Scion
Grave Peril + Hunted Wumpus
You get an extra creature for every creature they control!!!. It doesn't matter if their creatures are tapped or not.
Nactal - Warpride
Nacatl War-Pride must be blocked by exactly one creature if able.
Whenever Nacatl War-Pride attacks, put X tokens into play tapped and attacking that are copies of Nacatl War-Pride, where X is the number of creatures defending player controls. Remove the tokens from the game at end of turn.
Nactal Warpride likes Doubling Season and Warp World as well
Quagnoth :4mana::symg:
Creature - Beast, Rare
Shroud.
:symg::symg::Quagnoth gets +1/0 and trample until end of turn
3/4.
A pragmatic way to give Purple a unique identity would be to give it mastery over a new card type.
Green destroys artifacts
White destroys enchantments
Black destroys creatures
Red destroys lands
Blue destroys/counters spells
Purple destroys/manipulates turns or time
I posted an idea years ago for a new permanent type called Events. These are essentially hybrids between lands and enchantments.
Like lands, the don't cost mana to play and only one event may be played per turn.
They represent the passage of time to tell a story and must be played in order i.e an event with a time index of II could not be played before the second turn, an event with a time index of IV could not be played before the fourth turn. Also, you normally can't turn back the clock to play an earlier event once a latter event is played i.e., if you play a time index event of IV you cant play any time index events of I, II or III.
Purple would be the color of time manipulation. It would allow changing the order in which events are played, rewriting history, leapfroging to future events etc.
You may not like the event idea...
but I hope you would agree that adding a new type permanent of some form would be a good way to give a 6th color a distinct identity
Throw in Acadamy Ruins to recover the ornithopter (if you really want it back)
Gauntlet of Power (or whatever it is) to double your mana and pump your team
or just coat of arms
Add Seedborn Muse and a few convoke spells for good measure
Perhaps monogreen midrange stompy can exist as an aggressive deck with squal line to the dome to finish the game.
I must say I can see trample as being Red in terms on unstoppability but I'm not sure why haste fits into the Green pie.
Conrad Corbett
Really Focus (uncommon)
4U
Sorcery
Discard any number of cards, then draw that many cards.
Then, discard any number of cards, then draw that many cards.
Lead Designer Notes: I really like how this card does the same thing twice but in a way where the two have some interaction with one another. Design another card that can go in a cycle with this one (and yes, it will be uncommon). This means the card cannot be blue. The card must be an instant or sorcery.
Reproduce (uncommon)
5GG
Sorcery
Put a 1/1 green squirrel token in play for each creature you control.
Then, put a 1/1 green squirrel token in play for each creature you control.
Andrew Emmott
Skritano Tumbler (uncommon)
2R
Creature - Human Nomad Shaman
2/1
Whenever you play an instant or sorcery spell, for each red mana spent on that spell, Skritano Tumbler deals 1 damage to target creature.
Lead Designer Notes: I think having cards that add effects based on the mana spent for the spell is meaty design space. For this set, I want to do a vertical creature cycle in red. This will be the uncommon so make a common or rare (in red – vertical cycle means a common, uncommon and rare in the same color). As this one's effect is damage, don't use damage as an effect.
Mirror Shard Channeler (Rare)
2R
Creature - Human Nomad Shaman
2/1
Whenever Mirror Shard Channeler is the target of an instant or sorcery spell, copy that spell once for each red mana spent on that spell, you may choose new targets for each copy.
Christopher Jablonksi
Pants of the Dead [Macabre Pants--I mean Dance](uncommon)
3BB
Enchantment - Aura
Enchant black creature
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1.
When enchanted creature deals combat damage to an opponent, return target,creature from your graveyard to play. Attach CARDNAME to that creature. If you can't, sacrifice CARDNAME.
Lead Designer Notes: I like how this spell creates a reason to change the target of the enchantment. This effect seems cool enough that I want to sprinkle some more in the set. Lose the “enchant colored creature” and the “If you can't, sacrifice enchantment”. The effect doesn't have to be a combat damage trigger. Finding one that can work in common would be a big plus.
Anger Management (common)
R
Enchantment - Aura
Enchanted creature has haste and attacks each turn if able. Whenever a creature is played, attach CARDNAME to that creature.
Greg Krajenta
Expansive Gardens (Rare)
GGG
Enchantment
If Expansive Gardens is on the stack green spells and abilities cost 3 less to play.
Whenever a forest is tapped for mana add G to your mana pool.
Lead Designer Notes: I'm obviously nervous about mentioning the stack, but there's something interesting about spells that have an effect while being played. I'd like to see an example of something in common or uncommon that would have an interesting play in limited.
Leaf Bringer (Common)
1G
Creature – Elf Druid
1/1
When you play Leaf Bringer,y ou may put a land from your hand into play for each spell that is played until Leaf Bringer comes into play.
Andrew Probasco
Infernal Contest (rare)
1B
Sorcery
Search your library for a card and remove it from the game face down. Target opponent chooses a card type. Reveal the removed card, if it is not of the chosen type, put that card into your hand.
Lead Designer Notes: I like the idea of cards that allow a mind game between you and your opponent where each one of you is trying to figure out what the other is thinking. Let me see another rare, not black or blue.
Double Dare (rare)
RR
Sorcery
Players search their library for a land, creature, enchantment or artifact card and put that card in play unless any player has Double Dare deal them 7 damage. Players then shuffle their libraries.
Noah Weil
Seraphim Surge (rare)
6WWW
Sorcery
Pyre: 3(When you play a spell with Pyre 3, you may remove any multiple of 3 cards from your graveyard from the game. For each instance of 3 you remove, reduce this card's casting cost by 1) [In these cards' case, if you remove 18 cards from your graveyard as you play it, its casting cost is CCC]
Put all creature cards with flying from all graveyards into play under your control. Pyre X:
Lead Designer Notes: I like Pyre because I like the idea of using your graveyard as a resource. Common cards with Pyre seem straightforward. I want to see an uncommon card that will have some build around me appeal for the budget player and drafters. Don't feel tied to Pyre 3.
Earth Ripper (Uncommon)
4GG
Creature – Llurghoylf
2/2
Trample. Earth Ripper gets +1/+1 for each land in each graveyard. Pyre: Land(When you play this, you may remove any number of land cards from your graveyard from the game. For each land card you remove, reduce this card's casting cost by 1)
Aaron Weiner
Persistent Armorer (common)
2W
Creature – Human Soldier
2/2
Other creatures you control get +0/+1.
0: Persistent Armorer becomes an enchantment.（It's no longer a creature. This effect doesn't end at end of turn.）
Lead Designer Notes: The persistent mechanic seems cool. I want to see a splashy rare with this ability. Something sexy we can preview. Add mana to the activation.
Yavimaya Angel (common)
1GW
Creature – Druid Angel
2/2
Flying. Creatures you control get +1/+1 for each enchantment in play.
Sacrifice an Enchantment: Yavimaya Angel becomes an enchantment.（It's no longer a creature. This effect doesn't end at end of turn.）
Landon Winkler
Invisible Presence (Common)
1U
Enchantment – Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can't be blocked except by creatures with defender.
Auratide 3 (When you play an Aura with converted mana cost 3 or more, you may put this card from your graveyard into play.)
Lead Designer Notes: I think we're going to do a common and uncommon cycle of this mechanic. What I'm missing is a card that while doesn't have auratide would play well with cards that do. But you need to be subtle as I don't want it obvious that this is what the card's supposed to do. Don't mention the words “enchantment” or “aura”.
Mental Drain (rare)
1B
Enchantment
Whenever a card is put into a graveyard its owner may search their library for a card with the same name and put it in their graveyard then shuffle their library.
Here are my thoughts on your cards
(Picture: Pike)
Petrifying Visage (Uncommon) = Good use of illustration and name. I would have worded it a little differently (B-)
"Until end of turn, target creature and each creature that shares its name cannot attack or block."
(Picture: Rings)
Mana Circle (Rare) = Good link to the picture but I wouldn't give this kind of mana filtering based on sacrifice to White (C-)
(Picture: Spear)
Paralyzing Ray (Common) = Solid, I like the reference to the rays in the picture (C+)
(Picture: Child)
Claudius, Wizard-Protector (Rare) = Cool card, too bad its not Green or White. It doesn't feel very Blue to me but I like the link to the illustration (B)
(Picture: Cauldron)
Elixir of Madness = Excellent and versatile (A)
(Picture: Cape)
Geomancer (Rare) = Intersting. I get the link with morph from the picture but I don't think I see the connection with land destruction (B)
(Picture: Flag)
Breaking the Rules of Engagement = Not bad. You would have a better artistic link to provoke if the creatures where shown fighting each other rather than charging. (C)
(Picture: Sword)
Bumbling Recruit = Interesting twist but I don't think this would radically alter your drafting strategy as a "build around me" card. For that reason I give it a (C)
Picture: Monster)
Raging Gargaloth (Common) = Cool name but only an average link to the illustration (C-)
(Picture: Staff)
Congregation of Heroes (Rare) = Good idea, strong link to the image but maybe a little too powerful (A-)
I'd say your cards were better than at least half the contestants. My favorites were Congrefation of Heroes and Elixir of Madness
Instant or sorcery. No direct damage or destruction (artifact or land).
Red (uncommon)
Creature. Want a build around me for draft (aka something that will encourage players to go down a path or paths he or she wouldn't normally had they not drafted this card early
Green (common)
Creature. Something that costs four or more mana.
Green (rare)
Non-creature spell. Green's lacking in "wow" factor (aka something that will impress the player by how different it is).
So, how do you think I would have fared with the WOTC judges?
We need a creature. Something splashy for Timmy.
Black (uncommon)
Make an aura you want to put on your own creatures.
Black (rare)
Can be anything.