Peacebroker: Nice idea. I like the dynamics behind stopping one creature easily but never an army. However, I think it might be too powerful for just :2mana::symw:.
Mana Surge
Instant
Tap all untapped lands you control.
For each land tapped this way, add two mana of any one color to your mana pool.
Suicide Bombing: I think there's an official wording for that ability, something like "desroy a creature" or "choose and destroy a creature." Anyways, I think (comparing this to Terminate) that the additional cost is a bit much for just getting around untargetability. Perhaps cost it at just :symb:, or maybe allow it to do more, like cantrip or deal direct damage?
Beastmaker :2mana::symg::symg:
Creature - Human Spellshaper (R)
Whenever you play a spell, counter it. If you do, put a green beast token into play with power and toughness equal to the converted mana cost of the countered spell.
I know it's not the same ability as the original spellshapers, but it's the same general idea, no?
Kami of the Empty Sky - :4mana::symg:
Creature -- Spirit (C)
:2mana::symg:, sacrifice Kami of the Empty Sky: Destroy target creature with flying.
Soulshift 4
2/1
This seems good, designwise. The saccability + the soulshift might actually make this a card worthy of siding in in limited.
Conflagrate Mind - :xmana::1mana::symr:
Sorcery (U)
Target player puts the top X cards of his or her library in his or her graveyard.
I agree that this seems really out of the color pie for red. Red really doesn't deal with the library at all, being the worst at tutoring, second worst at drawing, etc. Also, mill is a narrow enough ability that there's not much room for customization, which color pie shifting almost always includes.
Vigilant Steeds - :5mana::symw:
Creature - Soldier
Vigilance
3/7
I don't really get the flavor on this. Why are steeds soldiers? Ah well. This seems good. Balanced, but still not something that would be played. Nice job.
Book of Reality -
Legendary Artifact (R)
If a creature's Soulshift ability would trigger, that creature's controller draws a card instead.
I really like this. It sort of hoses soulshift, but it can also help it as well. Intriguing.
Mindcrime - :symu::symb::symr:
Sorcery (R)
Search target opponent's library for any card and remove it from the game. As long as it's removed from the game, you may play it by paying its converted mana cost.
An interesting take on Jinxed Idol. Speaking of which, I'd think this is more of an artifacty ability, or at least monoblue. I don't see where red or black fit in.
Hi, everyone! If you hadn't guessed yet, this is my welcome thread. Yay! I'm the same Nex3 from MTGnews (although I completely stopped posting there a while before it went down the drain, so most people here probably don't remember me). So yeah!
Also, be sure to check out my general announcement thread here.
Rather than make a new thread any time something celebratable happens to me, I've just created this one. The first things to celebrate: Joining MTGsalvation and being done with another round of finals! WOO!
Yes, I like TheSorcerer's ideas. The second one wouldn't allow the creatures to deal combat damage, though, unless the transport itself had first strike, and it's probably not a good idea to bind yourself to giving all transports first strike. The first one is really good, though. Templated differently, it looks like:
Transport X (X: Remove target creature you control from the game. Play this ability as a sorcery. During the declare blockers step, if ~ is not blocked, put all creatures removed from the game by ~ into play tapped and attacking.)
This doesn't have the same flavor of the transport having a set amount of room, however.
Rampaging Simian (2GG)
Creature - Ape
2/2
Whenever a creature blocks during your turn, Rampaging Simian gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
"Whenever a creature an opponent controlls blocks" would be less wordy. I think this is great. It's nice to see some encouragement for green weenies ;).
Conspiracy Theorist (2U)
Creature - Cephalid
2/2
Sacrifice Conspiracy Theorist: Counter target spell unless its controller pays 2.
Pretty good. Decent p/t for the cost (for blue) and a great ability. The lack of a mana cost for the ability could push it over the edge, though. Could be a tad too powerful.
Cackling Nightstalker (3B)
Creature - Nightstalker
2/1
Whenever Cackling Nightstalker deals damage to a creature, that creature's controller discards a card at random.
Hard to say on this one. The ability is killer, but it has no evasion and it costs four for a 2/1; I'd say it's probably balanced, but not really playable, and could stand to be a bit more powerful.
Searing-Talon Warrior (2RR)
Creature - Viashino
2/1
First strike
You may divide Searing-Talon Warrior's combat damage among any number of blocking or blocked creatures.
Don't Viashino usually have the return-to-your-hand clause? Anyhoo, I like this, but I think the "or blocked" clause is too defensive, especially for red. I'd take it out and lower the cost to :1mana::symr::symr: or :2mana::symr:.
Sheep Dog (1W)
Creature - Hound
2/2
Sheep Dog may block up to two creatures each combat.
Chump-blocker extrordinaire! I love it. It's not very powerful, but as balanced as it's gonna get and quite well-made as well.
I think your problem is not that you can't find the right wording but that you're trying to cram too much stuff into one ability. Try parring it down. Your four points:
1) Creatures transported can still use their abilities (Like Tims can tap while attacking)
2) The ability is kinda like banding... but not...
3) The creatures transported will be able to do their damage and stuff if they are blocking, doing the blocking, or if they go unblocked...
4) I need to sum this up into a few words or less...
Well, really, it's more like:
1)Transported creatures can use abilities
2)Transported creatures have a role in combat
So, here are a few ideas that cut some of the stuff you wanted, but are more concise:
Transport Y (When ~ attacks, remove up to Y creatures you control from the game until end of turn. ~ gets +X/+0 , where X is the total power of all creatures removed this way.)
Transport X (When ~ attacks, remove up to X creatures you control from the game until end of turn. On the declare blockers step, if ~ is not blocked, put all creatures removed from the game by ~ into play tapped and attacking.)
Note that for both of these, removal from the game could become tapping with a bit of modification. Also, for both of them, activated abilities could easily be played, if not while they're attacking, then in addition to being transported. Finally, for the first one, it could modify power and toughness, but that gets to be too wordy.
Instant
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn.
Mana Surge
Instant
Tap all untapped lands you control.
For each land tapped this way, add two mana of any one color to your mana pool.
Beastmaker :2mana::symg::symg:
Creature - Human Spellshaper (R)
Whenever you play a spell, counter it. If you do, put a green beast token into play with power and toughness equal to the converted mana cost of the countered spell.
I know it's not the same ability as the original spellshapers, but it's the same general idea, no?
This seems good, designwise. The saccability + the soulshift might actually make this a card worthy of siding in in limited.
I agree that this seems really out of the color pie for red. Red really doesn't deal with the library at all, being the worst at tutoring, second worst at drawing, etc. Also, mill is a narrow enough ability that there's not much room for customization, which color pie shifting almost always includes.
I don't really get the flavor on this. Why are steeds soldiers? Ah well. This seems good. Balanced, but still not something that would be played. Nice job.
I really like this. It sort of hoses soulshift, but it can also help it as well. Intriguing.
An interesting take on Jinxed Idol. Speaking of which, I'd think this is more of an artifacty ability, or at least monoblue. I don't see where red or black fit in.
Also, be sure to check out my general announcement thread here.
Transport X (X: Remove target creature you control from the game. Play this ability as a sorcery. During the declare blockers step, if ~ is not blocked, put all creatures removed from the game by ~ into play tapped and attacking.)
This doesn't have the same flavor of the transport having a set amount of room, however.
"Whenever a creature an opponent controlls blocks" would be less wordy. I think this is great. It's nice to see some encouragement for green weenies ;).
Pretty good. Decent p/t for the cost (for blue) and a great ability. The lack of a mana cost for the ability could push it over the edge, though. Could be a tad too powerful.
Hard to say on this one. The ability is killer, but it has no evasion and it costs four for a 2/1; I'd say it's probably balanced, but not really playable, and could stand to be a bit more powerful.
Don't Viashino usually have the return-to-your-hand clause? Anyhoo, I like this, but I think the "or blocked" clause is too defensive, especially for red. I'd take it out and lower the cost to :1mana::symr::symr: or :2mana::symr:.
Chump-blocker extrordinaire! I love it. It's not very powerful, but as balanced as it's gonna get and quite well-made as well.
Well, really, it's more like:
1)Transported creatures can use abilities
2)Transported creatures have a role in combat
So, here are a few ideas that cut some of the stuff you wanted, but are more concise:
Transport Y (When ~ attacks, remove up to Y creatures you control from the game until end of turn. ~ gets +X/+0 , where X is the total power of all creatures removed this way.)
Transport X (When ~ attacks, remove up to X creatures you control from the game until end of turn. On the declare blockers step, if ~ is not blocked, put all creatures removed from the game by ~ into play tapped and attacking.)
Note that for both of these, removal from the game could become tapping with a bit of modification. Also, for both of them, activated abilities could easily be played, if not while they're attacking, then in addition to being transported. Finally, for the first one, it could modify power and toughness, but that gets to be too wordy.