I suppose monohybrid lends itself well to making cycles.
Ignifrax(2/R)(2/R)(2/R)
Creature - Elemental {R}
Trample
When Ignifrax enters the battlefield, if red mana was spent to cast it, it gains haste and "at the beginning of your end step, sacrifice this creature". These behemoths of coal and ash will wander peacefully for centuries, until the smallest flame awakens their true nature.
6/6
Reclaimed Relic1(2/G)
Artifact {U} T: Add G to your mana pool. Time and nature had ground the metal to worthless rust, but the magic remained intact.
Into the Broken SunX(2/W)(2/W)
Instant {U}
Exile target creature with converted mana cost X.
Traumatic Backlash2BR
Sorcery {R}
Each player sacrifices two creatures, then loses life equal to the total power of creatures he or she sacrificed this way. The bigger they are, the harder they fall on you.
Don't forget, everyone at the table gets to see the cards! (Plus I don't really think about development when I make cards here...)
That's true, multiplayer is a self-balancing environment in a way. I'm not sure that matters enough though - either it drops too early for everyone to deal with it, or it drops late enough that it doesn't matter.
Also you have my IIW but Atogaholic won (his challenge is "Tertiary")
Oops. I'm sure he'll live.
Dual entry just in case:
Fevered HateR
Sorcery {U} Strive - Fevered Hate costs 1R more to cast for each target beyond the first.
Any number of target creatures each get +2/-2 until end of turn.
Limit Remover Machination
Artifact Creature - Construct (R)
Reveal ~ as you draft it. Reveal the cards you have drafted and note the highest converted mana cost of a nonland revealed this way.
~'s casting cost is equal to the number noted this way.
4/4
Consortium's Doomsday Machine
Artifact Creature - Horror (R)
Trample
Will off the Council - Reveal ~ as you draft it. Starting with you, each player votes for power or toughness. Note the votes.
~'s casting cost is equal to the number of votes, gets +2/+1 for each vote for power and +1/+2 for each vote for toughness.
0/0
IIW: Doomsday Machines
I feel like I just got punched in the eye by a rules book. Assuming there's a way to word these in a way that works, they're cute designs. Limit Remover Machination is an agressive body if you don't draft any bombs (or pick it first and get a 4/4 for 0). Doomsday Machine will always be over the curve (assuming an 8-man draft, it'll be an 8/16 trample for 8 on its best day), no to mention multiples. They're adorable ideas but need a big rethink.
Recompense1U
Instant (U)
Draw X cards, where X is equal to one plus the number of players who voted for a choice you didn't vote for during the last vote.
IIW: What are the other two paths?
Nice, but potential memory issues. Minor issues mind you, and none that are fixed easily. "If you voted this turn, ..."?
Despotic Constable2WB
Creature - Human Soldier Will of the Council - When Despotic Constable comes into play, starting with you, each player votes for appeasement or punishment. If appeasement gets more votes, each player loses 2 life and you gain life equal to the life lost this way. If punishment gets more votes or the vote is tied, creatures your opponents control get -2/-2 until end of turn.
2/3
IIW: Creatures with Unusual Jobs
Despotic Constable is a little too close to Bite of the Black Rose for my liking. It's very powerful though, especially considering it's almost always a one-sided Infest in one-on-one.
Temporal Impulsiveness1RR
Sorcery [R] Will of the Council—Starting with you, each player votes for past or future. If past gets the most votes, each player may cast an instant or sorcery card in their graveyard without paying its mana cost. If a card cast this way would be put into a graveyard this turn, exile it instead. If future gets the most votes or is tied for the most votes, each player discards their hand, then draws seven cards.
IIW: explore the mantle of the color pie
Seems fine. I'm sure there's something degenerate to be done, but
Destroy target creature targeted by a spell an opponent controls.
"One way or another, you won't be doing business with him again." -Marchesa, the Black Rose
IIW: Cards for Lifegain.dec
Cancel++. Honestly it might be better to say "Counter target spell you don't control. Destroy all creatures being targeted by that spell". It's a cool design though, takes me back to Teferi's Response.
Highland Development1RR
Enchantment (R) Parley — At the beginning of your upkeep, each player reveals the top card of his or her library. You may cast one of those cards and spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast it. Then each player draws a card.
(Compare with Phyrexian Arena)
I'm not entirely sure this is how Parley is meant to be used but I'll let it slide. Not so much Phyrexian Arena as it is a worse Well of Ideas. Cool effect, but could use some testing in terms of cost. One could argue it's more at home in blue/black, although red is still feasible.
Reveal Bureaucratic Intimidator as you draft it. Note the players seated to the left and right of you.
Intimidate.
Whenever players finish voting, if a noted player voted differently than you, you may change that player's vote.
3/3 "Miss Marchesa only asks for your utmost and loyal support in this coming electoral race."
IIW: Political Satire
Edit: Thank you Cythare!
*sprays you with water*
Taking away players' decisions is bad. You're taking an interactive mechanic and saying it's no longer interactive for two players.
Oh, and 2B for a 3/3 intimidate is also brutal. Cost more or be more fragile please.
Paliano's Finest2W
Creature - Human Soldier (U)
Whenever players finish voting, each opponent who voted for a choice you didn't vote for can't attack you during his or her next combat phase. The most honest and upstanding police force money can buy.
2/3
Grandiose Illusionist3U
Creature - Human Rogue (R)
Dethrone
Grandiose Illusionist can't be blocked.
When Grandiose Illusionist enters the battlefield, you may have target player gain 20 life. If you do, when Grandiose Illusionist leaves the battlefield, that player loses 20 life.
2/1
IIW: Tertiary
Funnily enough, Paliano's Finest is exactly what I was looking for.
Grandiose Illusionist is super cute too. Unblockable might be a touch too brutal but other than that it's spot-on.
Mana Brokerage
Conspiracy (R)
Other players may pay any amount of mana to have you add that mana to your mana pool.
You may pay any amount of mana to have another player add that mana to his or her mana pool. (Mana includes its color.)
In other words, players can trade mana, but they need your permission to do so (and trust that you don't spend the mana). Credit to Moon-E for this wording.
This will almost always be last-picked, and it almost always will be hilarious. The fact is that no matter how bad conspiracies are, they're free to use. I'd love to see a control player pick this up in order to play Counterspell-for-hire.
Kerreg, Sword of the Council
Legendary Creature - Human Knight Will of the Council — Starting with you, at the beginning of combat on your turn, each player votes for a player that is not you. Kerreg attacks a player with the most votes or tied for the most votes this combat if able.
Dethrone
5/5
IIW: What is this? a plane for ants?
As much as I hate this being those colors, it's probably the most suitable. If anything, blue can probably be cut. I recognize that Dethrone was thrown in for extra intrigue, but it detracts from the main mechanic.
Otherworldly Flask3
Artifact (M)
Draft Otherworldly Flask face up.
Whenever you draft a card, if you have less than three card names noted with cards named Otherworldly Flask, you may choose to draft that card face up and note its name. T: Choose a card you own from outside the game with a name you noted as you drafted cards named Otherworldly Flask. You may play that card without paying its mana cost. "This ingenious device is meant to hold a wish-granting djinn. Here I've simply cut out the middle man."
-Daretti, Scrap Savant
IIW: Strive
Woo the Grixis control deck now gets free, instant-speed Pelakka Wurms turn 3. If you still had to pay for it it *might* be balanced. It's a very cool idea though.
Ugh, Oculus is back. I'm going to have to start winning again, aren't I?
Muzzio's Entomologist2U
Creature — Human Artificer (R) 2U, T: Put a 1/1 colorless Insect artifact creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
Whenever an Insect you control deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card. “Artifice doesn't just mimic life, it flatters it.”
2/2
IIW: Cards for your first ever deck.
As much as I love the card, the costs make me uneasy.
If a curious 1/1 for 3 with flying is okay (let's say a Sturmgeist fixed at 1/1), then a spellshaper that makes them for 2U is okay. If you don't have to discard a card, it should cost more. But as soon as this dies, the tokens stop being curious, which makes it less valuable. 1U 1/2 with 3U activation? Hm.
Temporal Impulsiveness1RR
Sorcery [R] Will of the Council—Starting with you, each player votes for past or future. If past gets the most votes, each player may cast an instant or sorcery card in their graveyard without paying its mana cost. If a card cast this way would be put into a graveyard this turn, exile it instead. If future gets the most votes or is tied for the most votes, each player discards their hand, then draws seven cards.
IIW: explore the mantle of the color pie
This gave me an idea too cute to waste.
Muzzio's Mandate2U
Sorcery {R} Will of the Council - Starting with you, each player votes for progress or nostalgia. If progress gets the most votes, you may put an artifact card from your hand onto the battlefield. If nostalgia gets the most votes or is tied for the most votes, you may return an artifact card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
SelesnyaNewLife
GG Crono
Jimmy Groove
Ninja Caterpie
NVRBLND
Also as an aside, as this is the first time running this contest I'm curious about how people feel about the rules. There was some confusion on the lists when it came to creature type (since some were races and others were classes) as well as picking something from all three lists. Could I have worded things better/differently or presented things better? Any thoughts going forward? I have planned several more challenges in advanced but they are subject to change/adjustments. Feel free to post your thoughts here or PM me.
I like the idea of the restrictions, but there's a bit too much overlap on the creature types. Having both races and classes on the list is unnecessarily restrictive.
Judging Criteria:
Concept (X/5) - Is it interesting? Elegance (X/5) - Is it aesthetic? Development (X/5) - Is it balanced? Flavor (X/5) - Is it delicious?
SelesnyaNewLife (13/20)
Concept (4/5) - Adorable, even if it's not a new effect.
Elegance (4/5) - White getting a 6/1 is wierd. Otherwise no problems.
Development (2/5) - This is so much worse than Puresteel Paladin it's ridiculous. Either the body needs to be more worthwhile (such as a 2/4 for 1WW or something), or we need a second effect. Kor Outfitter would be a good starting point.
Flavor (3/5) - It's not a home run but it's easy to see what you were going for.
GGCrono (15/20)
Concept (5/5) - Beautiful.
Elegance (4/5) - There's no particular reason for this to be a Horror.
Development (2/5) - In a world where Thunderblust exists, we can (at the very least) get away with not giving this body a drawback. Realistically, the lack of trample means you'll eat a small creature before trading with 4 power turn six. And if you uptrade on the block, you're not going to be sacrificing the lands anyway. The numbers need a serious rethink, and you also have you ask yourself how much two lands are worth.
Flavor (4/5) - A bit of flavor text wouldn't have gone amiss, but the mechanics carry a lot of flavor on their own, which is important.
Jimmy Groove (19/20)
Concept (5/5) - Explosive Revelation/Treasure Dive on a body. For a big fat mythic, it's not too excit-OR ATTACKS. You have my attention.
Elegance (4/5) - It should use Explosive Revelation's wording. Otherwise fine.
Development (5/5) - Anyone who lets this resolve is in for a bad time. Then again, that's true for most of the mythics that cost 8. The lack of haste, evasion, and protection makes up for the big impact it has on the game.
Flavor (5/5) - Puns are an automatic 5/5. Anyone who tells you otherwise has a bad sense of humor.
Ninja Caterpie (13/20)
Concept (3/5) - Bad Midnight Banshee effect on a powerful body. It's not exciting, but the concept is workable.
Elegance (4/5) - Having a big fat body sit back and tap is feel-bad town. This guy should be free to swing while clearing out tokens. This is as much as design flaw as it is balancing.
Development (4/5) - The body is the saving grace for an otherwise bad card. The problem is that you can't use teh ability without keeping the body back. Dropping the body to 6/6, and replacing the activation cost with "2B, Sacrifice a creature" would make it more usable.
Flavor (2/5) - Bland and generic, but fitting.
NVRBLIND (17/20)
Concept (5/5) - Pretty awesome.
Elegance (3/5) - Merfolk should have a class (Wizard seems appropriate here). The wording is also off ("When Sonic Wavecaller enters the battlefield, tap up to X target creatures, where X is the number of Islands you control. Those creatures don't untap during their controllers' next untap step.")
Development (5/5) - The effect is slightly better than Sleep, and the body, while respectable, can't make great use of the two turn grace period. Coupled with needing a hefty blue commitment, I'd say this is fine.
Flavor (4/5) - Good, but the name and flavor text still use some tweaking.
That card is pretty gross though. While we're slowly creeping up to improving Elite Vanguard (Soldier of the Pantheon is a minor improvement), the effects shouldn't be this strong, nor should they be at uncommon. A monocolor rare with only one of those abilities could possibly see print, but not with both.
While this card could possibly be red, you've really shoehorned it in. Barring lack of precedent, I wouldn't call the first ability red (Auriok Windwalker, Leonin Shikari), and the anthem effect gives no reason for this to be red. If the bonus was +2/+0 I'd be more inclined to say it's fine (except for the part where it's still way too good).
High Priest of Deceit2WB
Creature - Human Cleric {R}
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a 1/1 white Human creature token onto the battlefield. , , Sacrifice three Humans: Put a 5/5 black Demon creature token onto the battlefield. Father Moric's followers never realized his true allegiances until it was too late.
2/3
Vithian Horde2BR
Creature - Human Warrior {R}
Trample
When Vithian Horde is dealt combat damage by a creature, that creature's controller puts a 2/2 black Zombie creature token onto the battlefield. Their desperation drove them ever further into Bant, unwittingly dragging a piece of Grixis with them.
6/6
Writ-Priest of EpharaWU
Creature -Human Advisor {M}
Lifelink, protection from creatures
Writ-Priest of Ephara deals damage to players in the form of that player drawing cards.
Writ-Priest of Ephara deals damage to creatures and planeswalkers in the form of that permanent's controller drawing cards.
4/4
Hydroform Agent2UG
Creature - Human Mutant {C}
Evolve 1: Hydroform Agent gets -1/+1 until end of turn. It helps to be flexible when working for the Simic.
2/2
Rot Farm Cycle3BG
Enchantment {R}
Whenever a nontoken creature dies, you may put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token onto the battlefield. BG, Sacrifice X Saprolings: Put target creature card with converted mana cost X from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control.
Mire Predator4GG
Creature - Crocodile {U}
Protection from black
When Mire Predator enters the battlefield, it fights target creature you don't control.
3/4
Mundivorus3RRR
Creature - Elemental {M}
Trample, Haste
Sacrifice a permanent: Mundivorus gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
6/1
Earthen-Stance Paragon4W
Creature - Nymph Warrior {U} 3R: Until end of turn, Earthen-Stance Paragon assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power. A mountain would be easier to move. A landslide would be easier to stop.
2/8
A cheaper but narrower Clone. I don't see any problems with it but it's not too exciting.
The intention was to copy things not necessarily in play at the time (think Nevermaker), but in essence yes.
Matca Champion2RG
Creature - Human Warrior {R}
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, Matca Champion gets +1/+1 until end of turn. 1R, T: Matca Champion fights target creature you don't control. "Welcome to the jungle, we got fun and games!"
2/3
Minds UnfetteredRW
Enchantment {U}
Spells that target players or other spells cost 2 more to cast. "We don't need no thought control!"
Ring of Fire2RR
Enchantment {R}
At the beginning of your end step, put a burn counter on Ring of Fire, then Ring of Fire deals damage equal to the number of burn counters on it to each creature.
When there are no creatures on the battlefield, sacrifice Ring of Fire. "I went down, down, down, and the flames went higher..."
S'pose so. I'm just wary of making it too much better than Ball Lightning.
Ignifrax (2/R)(2/R)(2/R)
Creature - Elemental {R}
Trample
When Ignifrax enters the battlefield, if red mana was spent to cast it, it gains haste and "at the beginning of your end step, sacrifice this creature".
These behemoths of coal and ash will wander peacefully for centuries, until the smallest flame awakens their true nature.
6/6
Reclaimed Relic 1(2/G)
Artifact {U}
T: Add G to your mana pool.
Time and nature had ground the metal to worthless rust, but the magic remained intact.
Into the Broken Sun X(2/W)(2/W)
Instant {U}
Exile target creature with converted mana cost X.
IIW: Commander 2015's commanders.
Traumatic Backlash 2BR
Sorcery {R}
Each player sacrifices two creatures, then loses life equal to the total power of creatures he or she sacrificed this way.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall on you.
Isn't this just a worse Sire of Insanity?
You control a Boros Lawmaker. Getting someone else to judge you would be redundant.
That's true, multiplayer is a self-balancing environment in a way. I'm not sure that matters enough though - either it drops too early for everyone to deal with it, or it drops late enough that it doesn't matter.
Oops. I'm sure he'll live.
Dual entry just in case:
Fevered Hate R
Sorcery {U}
Strive - Fevered Hate costs 1R more to cast for each target beyond the first.
Any number of target creatures each get +2/-2 until end of turn.
IIW: Bearded things.
I feel like I just got punched in the eye by a rules book. Assuming there's a way to word these in a way that works, they're cute designs. Limit Remover Machination is an agressive body if you don't draft any bombs (or pick it first and get a 4/4 for 0). Doomsday Machine will always be over the curve (assuming an 8-man draft, it'll be an 8/16 trample for 8 on its best day), no to mention multiples. They're adorable ideas but need a big rethink.
Nice, but potential memory issues. Minor issues mind you, and none that are fixed easily. "If you voted this turn, ..."?
Despotic Constable is a little too close to Bite of the Black Rose for my liking. It's very powerful though, especially considering it's almost always a one-sided Infest in one-on-one.
Seems fine. I'm sure there's something degenerate to be done, but
Cancel++. Honestly it might be better to say "Counter target spell you don't control. Destroy all creatures being targeted by that spell". It's a cool design though, takes me back to Teferi's Response.
I'm not entirely sure this is how Parley is meant to be used but I'll let it slide. Not so much Phyrexian Arena as it is a worse Well of Ideas. Cool effect, but could use some testing in terms of cost. One could argue it's more at home in blue/black, although red is still feasible.
*sprays you with water*
Taking away players' decisions is bad. You're taking an interactive mechanic and saying it's no longer interactive for two players.
Oh, and 2B for a 3/3 intimidate is also brutal. Cost more or be more fragile please.
Funnily enough, Paliano's Finest is exactly what I was looking for.
Grandiose Illusionist is super cute too. Unblockable might be a touch too brutal but other than that it's spot-on.
This will almost always be last-picked, and it almost always will be hilarious. The fact is that no matter how bad conspiracies are, they're free to use. I'd love to see a control player pick this up in order to play Counterspell-for-hire.
As much as I hate this being those colors, it's probably the most suitable. If anything, blue can probably be cut. I recognize that Dethrone was thrown in for extra intrigue, but it detracts from the main mechanic.
Woo the Grixis control deck now gets free, instant-speed Pelakka Wurms turn 3. If you still had to pay for it it *might* be balanced. It's a very cool idea though.
As much as I love the card, the costs make me uneasy.
If a curious 1/1 for 3 with flying is okay (let's say a Sturmgeist fixed at 1/1), then a spellshaper that makes them for 2U is okay. If you don't have to discard a card, it should cost more. But as soon as this dies, the tokens stop being curious, which makes it less valuable. 1U 1/2 with 3U activation? Hm.
WINNER: Atogaholic
HM: CC, ManyCookies
Next: Strive
Oh god I was just about to waste a lot of time wasn't I. Thanks for keeping track of this in my absence.
The original intention was creatures, but as long as it's something that would fit into the setting I'm not fussed.
This gave me an idea too cute to waste.
Muzzio's Mandate 2U
Sorcery {R}
Will of the Council - Starting with you, each player votes for progress or nostalgia. If progress gets the most votes, you may put an artifact card from your hand onto the battlefield. If nostalgia gets the most votes or is tied for the most votes, you may return an artifact card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
I like the idea of the restrictions, but there's a bit too much overlap on the creature types. Having both races and classes on the list is unnecessarily restrictive.
Judging Criteria:
Concept (X/5) - Is it interesting?
Elegance (X/5) - Is it aesthetic?
Development (X/5) - Is it balanced?
Flavor (X/5) - Is it delicious?
SelesnyaNewLife (13/20)
GGCrono (15/20)
Jimmy Groove (19/20)
Ninja Caterpie (13/20)
NVRBLIND (17/20)
1 - Jimmy Groove
2 - NVRBLIND
3 - GGCrono
While this card could possibly be red, you've really shoehorned it in. Barring lack of precedent, I wouldn't call the first ability red (Auriok Windwalker, Leonin Shikari), and the anthem effect gives no reason for this to be red. If the bonus was +2/+0 I'd be more inclined to say it's fine (except for the part where it's still way too good).
Creature - Human Cleric {R}
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a 1/1 white Human creature token onto the battlefield.
Father Moric's followers never realized his true allegiances until it was too late.
2/3
Vithian Horde 2BR
Creature - Human Warrior {R}
Trample
When Vithian Horde is dealt combat damage by a creature, that creature's controller puts a 2/2 black Zombie creature token onto the battlefield.
Their desperation drove them ever further into Bant, unwittingly dragging a piece of Grixis with them.
6/6
Writ-Priest of Ephara WU
Creature -Human Advisor {M}
Lifelink, protection from creatures
Writ-Priest of Ephara deals damage to players in the form of that player drawing cards.
Writ-Priest of Ephara deals damage to creatures and planeswalkers in the form of that permanent's controller drawing cards.
4/4
Hydroform Agent 2UG
Creature - Human Mutant {C}
Evolve
1: Hydroform Agent gets -1/+1 until end of turn.
It helps to be flexible when working for the Simic.
2/2
IIW: Paliano's finest
Enchantment {R}
Whenever a nontoken creature dies, you may put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token onto the battlefield.
BG, Sacrifice X Saprolings: Put target creature card with converted mana cost X from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control.
Mire Predator 4GG
Creature - Crocodile {U}
Protection from black
When Mire Predator enters the battlefield, it fights target creature you don't control.
3/4
Mundivorus 3RRR
Creature - Elemental {M}
Trample, Haste
Sacrifice a permanent: Mundivorus gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
6/1
IIW: Things with beards.
Earth, Warrior, 2/8
EDIT: No human...Oread?
Earthen-Stance Paragon 4W
Creature - Nymph Warrior {U}
3R: Until end of turn, Earthen-Stance Paragon assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power.
A mountain would be easier to move. A landslide would be easier to stop.
2/8
The intention was to copy things not necessarily in play at the time (think Nevermaker), but in essence yes.
Matca Champion 2RG
Creature - Human Warrior {R}
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, Matca Champion gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
1R, T: Matca Champion fights target creature you don't control.
"Welcome to the jungle, we got fun and games!"
2/3
Minds Unfettered RW
Enchantment {U}
Spells that target players or other spells cost 2 more to cast.
"We don't need no thought control!"
Ring of Fire 2RR
Enchantment {R}
At the beginning of your end step, put a burn counter on Ring of Fire, then Ring of Fire deals damage equal to the number of burn counters on it to each creature.
When there are no creatures on the battlefield, sacrifice Ring of Fire.
"I went down, down, down, and the flames went higher..."
IIW: Oppressively junky.