|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Feb 28, 2014 21:13:24 GMT
I am running a design contest. Four rounds, with each round you getting a design task, and a detailed grade (creativity, balance, flavor, etc.) and feedback. After the four rounds, a winner is chosen, with bragging rights attached (maybe a signature line brag, or something).
Signups will be open for a while; more than 24 hours, less than a week. I'll post the close date for entrants once I see the interest and response rate.
To give a preview, the first task is:
Make a new tribe with a mechanic tied to/related to/specific to that tribe. This can be a new race or one that isn't supported tribal at the moment (so no elves, Minotaur, gorgons, etc. {Brushwagg} or Starfish is fine). Design a common, uncommon, and rare card that tie in (probably they will each be a creature of that tribe, though a {Fungal Bloom} style card would not be out of the question).
|
|
|
|
Post by adestructiveforce on Mar 1, 2014 1:33:32 GMT
Do demons count as unsupported?
|
|
|
|
Post by kaleo42 on Mar 1, 2014 9:54:49 GMT
 This is a mechanic I have been working on for a long time. |
|
Flicker
Junior Member
Bow To The Keyblade Master
Posts: 75 
|
Post by Flicker on Mar 2, 2014 6:32:01 GMT
My take on what Steamflogger Boss could have been.  Telepathic Engineer {U}{R}{1} Creature - Wizard Rigger Uncommon Assemble a Contraption 4 (Choose any number of artifacts you control with the total converted mana cost equal or more than four, sacrifice the chosen artifacts, and put a 4/4 contraption onto the battlefield under your control.) "Although the mind has limitless power, it likes to have some bodyguards in order to have enough time to use said power." [1/3] Zid, Mechanical Genius {U}{R}{R} Legendary Creature - Goblin Rigger Rare Assemble A Contraption X (Choose any number of artifacts you control, sacrifice the chosen artifacts, and put a(n) X/X contraption onto the battlefield under your control, where X is equal to the total converted mana cost of the chosen artifacts.) "They said that my love of machines would eventually kill me, but I think that my love will kill them." Wrench Of One Million Uses {5} Artifact - Equipment Rare Wrench of One Million Uses can only be equipped to a Rigger. Whenever the equipped creature assembles a contraption, you may assemble two contraptions instead. {3} Equip "Found long ago in the Izzet steam vents, this wrench has been admired for many centuries, and now it seems a goblin has stolen it. ~Azorious Historian How do you guys like it? Nonsensical Tinkerer {R}{U} Creature-Rigger Common Assemble A Contraption 1 (Choose any number of artifacts you control with the total converted mana cost equal or more than one, sacrifice the chosen artifacts, and put a 1/1 contraption onto the battlefield under your control.) |
|
|
|
Post by nightwolf on Mar 2, 2014 7:03:28 GMT
This is a mechanic I have been working on for a long time. I think this is dope. Its like splice but better |
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 3, 2014 12:03:24 GMT
I'm gonna say no on demons. The idea is really to make a new tribe, and the "unsupported races are ok" is a nod in case you wanted to build in an area Wizards has lightly touched but not explored (like frogs ). While "Demon Tribal" isn't a well supported thing, there are plenty of cards that reference Demons or non-Demons (see the ogre/Demon relationships in Kamagawa, for one example, like {Villainous Ogre}). Now if you want to do Devils or Succubuses or Principalities or Abominations or Horrors, those would all be ok (Though if you pick Abomination, be aware that the card {Abomination} was initially "Summon Abomination" and is now "Creature-Horror"...just a fun fact). I'm going to leave entry open until the end of tomorrow....lets say midnight Pacific standard time, Tuesday night/Wednesday morning (though honestly, if you get it in before I check it Wednesday I will let it in). Oh, and for the record, I'm going to allow the Riggers/Constructs even though technically there is already a rigger/construct lord, since the lord is nonsensical in the current rules, and Mark Rosewater has said that they currently haven't figured out any way to support it. That is the hard line rule though, that anything more supported than once card is out. There are other cards that used to interact with a creature type, but with changes to creature type only interact with themselves. |
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 3, 2014 12:54:34 GMT
I don't want to comment on cards made already, but I want to reiterate one part of the task, that you make a Common, an uncommon, and a rare. Failure to follow that part of the task is not a disqualification or a zero score, but would be held against you.
If you need to make any changes to your cards, that is fine until I grade then Wednesday morning.
|
|
Flicker
Junior Member
Bow To The Keyblade Master
Posts: 75
|
Post by Flicker on Mar 3, 2014 14:39:13 GMT
Whoops! Fixed it sorry  |
|
|
|
Post by icescythe on Mar 3, 2014 15:34:45 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 7, 2014 19:21:16 GMT
Ok, I lef tit open a little longer...I'm thinking the board may not have enough interest to do these contests regularly, but let's keep going with this one.
I will have detailed critiques later, probably over the weekend, along with the goals for round two.
there will be four rounds.
|
|
|
|
Post by kaleo42 on Mar 10, 2014 7:45:20 GMT
As they continue the support will likely grow.
|
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 10, 2014 13:17:21 GMT
This is a mechanic I have been working on for a long time. Grading! I will grade each applicant, probably over the course of the day, and then post the second challenge. The grading scale is as below, with each category out of ten points. I hadn't said what my grading scale was (such as that it should be balanced and printable), so if my grading scale is far off what you were aiming at, I apologize for the confusion. I think some of you focused on fun, without concern for other aspects. If you wish, I will let you, as a one time courtesy, modify or completely redo your first entry when you turn in the second round card(s). Flavor:3/10 I'm not sure I understand the flavor, since attaching abilities onto things doesn't have an obvious connection to frogs, and there was no room for flavor text, I don't see what it's flavor is. That said, I can imagine flavor that could work, like in a world where frogs turn out to have been genious wizards all along and are only now angry enough to show their power. That feels like a stretch though on my part, trying to make it work. Creativity/Originality:7/10 I love the ability a lot. As said before, this is like "splice onto creature" and splice is awesome, just arcane is crappy. That said, it is also basically Forecast from the old Ravnica block, but with an added restriction. It treads ground close to what exists, but that is not necessarily a problem. As Maro has said, the number of card abilities that are basically a specialized form of Kicker is a long list. Templateing/Wording:6/10 I believe that the land should say "this permanent" instead of "this card", as we don't really talk about spells or permanents in play as cards. "this card's effect" is not a supported phase at the moment, and the first time I read it I thought that you got to put the frog (or a copy of it) into play. Also, I assume the land makes the creature it structures be able to tap for mana (though useless since it can't be used that turn...I would prefer it come into play tapped to avoid the awkward wording. Also, as a nitpick, "structure" may not be the best choice of word, since it is a noun (which is nonsensical in this context) or a verb (as you intended)...this may seem silly, but R+D feels the naming of {Counsel of the Soratami} was a fail becaus, especially when you say the card out loud, it is unclear whether it is a group of Soratami (counsel) or whether it is advice given by the Soritami (council). Balance/Printability: 8/10 This is an awesome ability that I think could definitely see print. Thank you for using "cast" instead of "enters the battlefield," as tokens were my first thought to abuse and break the ability. That said, it seems abusable, and I worry how to cost it. I think the uncounterable frog could be (1) cheaper to activate, but either way it is either backbreaking or semi-useless. But, with {cavern of souls} as a guide on what Wizards is willing to print, I think costing its ability (1) less would be fine. I think the land may be costed correctly since its a temporary boost, but attaching effects to lands is always risky and prone for abuse with creature based card draw. I like that the land is still colored mana, so that not anyone can use it. I think the bounce effect should cost (1) more, as repeatable bounce is really strong. Also, if you have four of those in hand and enough mana, any creature can bounce four creatures. If you like the cost, maybe limit it to creatures you don't control, just to make it a little less powerful and versatile Overall/Subjective/WOW factor:9/10 I really like the ability and the examples you chose. I think with a little more polish, this could easily see print and be an awesome ability. Also, while artwork is not required at all, it does get bonus points in this section Total: 33/50 |
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 10, 2014 13:45:54 GMT
My take on what Steamflogger Boss could have been. Telepathic Engineer {U}{R}{1} Creature - Wizard Rigger Uncommon Assemble a Contraption 4 (Choose any number of artifacts you control with the total converted mana cost equal or more than four, sacrifice the chosen artifacts, and put a 4/4 contraption onto the battlefield under your control.) "Although the mind has limitless power, it likes to have some bodyguards in order to have enough time to use said power." [1/3] Zid, Mechanical Genius {U}{R}{R} Legendary Creature - Goblin Rigger Rare Assemble A Contraption X (Choose any number of artifacts you control, sacrifice the chosen artifacts, and put a(n) X/X contraption onto the battlefield under your control, where X is equal to the total converted mana cost of the chosen artifacts.) "They said that my love of machines would eventually kill me, but I think that my love will kill them." Wrench Of One Million Uses {5} Artifact - Equipment Rare Wrench of One Million Uses can only be equipped to a Rigger. Whenever the equipped creature assembles a contraption, you may assemble two contraptions instead. {3} Equip "Found long ago in the Izzet steam vents, this wrench has been admired for many centuries, and now it seems a goblin has stolen it. ~Azorious Historian How do you guys like it? Nonsensical Tinkerer {R}{U} Creature-Rigger Common Assemble A Contraption 1 (Choose any number of artifacts you control with the total converted mana cost equal or more than one, sacrifice the chosen artifacts, and put a 1/1 contraption onto the battlefield under your control.) Flavor:9/10 I love the flavor you gave, and it shows through in only a few cards. These intellectuals, who are also really destructive...sort of a mix of shortsighted and looking to the horizon (longsighted?). Very Izzet. That said, Rigger is a job or title or class. While this may belong in templating, I want to see what creatures are riggers (are they all goblins, etc.). I am also a sucker for flavor text (though the flavor text is a little stilted). Also, though this is addressed below, I love the idea that this ability isn't usually strong on its own, but that there are a lot of ways to double it or enhance it, making it strong. Creativity/Originality:8/10 The flavor is so purely Izzet that I had to ding for creativity there, and the fact that the equipment does the same thing as the existing {steamflogger boss}. But the ability is not really like anything I have seen before. Templateing/Wording:1/10 This is the biggest problem I know of with {steamflogger boss} and the reason Maro says they haven't printed riggers yet. I applaud you taking a stab at it, but it's still not right. your equipment and {steamflogger boss} say that the rigger assembles the contraption...creatures don't do thing like that, they cause you to do things like that. On the riggers that make contraptions you used the standard form of "Assemble a contraption" , like we now say "sacrifice a creature." You would not say "{lord of the pit} sacrifices a creature" or "{Nemata, grove guardian} puts a token into play," you the player do those things. There is not real answer to this problem, but it is still a big problem. Also, your rare and common creatures are missing their power and toughness, and mana costs should be (1)(u)(r)...not (u)(r)(1) or (1)(r)(u).....colorless costs go first, and mana symbols are listed in WUBRG order. Also, per the steamflogger boss rulings, "Contraption" is a "new artifact type" and you do not say that they are creatures; you need to say that they are a creature and also you should give them a creature type (awkward since you want their creature type to be contraption," but thats already an artifact type...it would be like making a creature and naming it a Gate, (like the guildgates). Again, Wizards didn't do you any favord with Steamflogger. Balance/Printability: 7/10 I think this could definitely see print. At first I thought it was weak, but then I imagined - turn one (1) mana artifact, turn two (2) mana artifact, turn three your rare rigger, turn four four mana artifact and sac for 7/7....strong, but not too ridiculous since it removes your other board presence, and a single {vapor snag} and you've lost three cards and a lot of tempo. That said, its also a great sac outlet. and it could get reduculous with the doubling. I think that it should cost more, maybe add a mana cost or a tap cost to it (tap cost would allow steamflogger boss's haste to be more relevant). Also, the rare one is too strong at three mana, especially when compared to your other three mana rigger. Adding a colored ana isn't enough of a cost there. I like that it is converted mana cost, because I would have hated it if you could feed a contraption into a new contraption...too abusable and makes it almost a blink effect. Overall/Subjective/WOW factor:5/10 I had to ding you somewhere for submitting four cards, so I figured this is where I would do it. Aside from that, I think this is neat and a great johnny cards. It works well in build around decks with lots of doubling effects. It's also good as a cheap repeatable artifact sac outlet, and you can sac twice for each artifact, sinc reyou can sac the contraption. If it were a little weaker, making the doubling effect more necessary and more fair, I would love it even more. Total: 30/50 |
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 10, 2014 14:10:46 GMT
I'm not sure how to grade this as it probably is designed for an un set?. I hadn't said my grading criteria (balance/printability) or said that I was looing for non-un cards, so I'll try to take that into consideration. In the future, know that I love fun cards or cards with jokes, but I am looking for cards that could be black border cards. Flavor:2/10 Why turtles? I like the idea that they are defensive usually, but why would a turtle explode? exploding turtles are sort of funny, and "a goblin did it" is a valid answer to every question in magic, but still, I want to see better flavor and connection to the effect. Creativity/Originality:9/10 You blew this out of the park as far as I'm concerned on creativity. there are cards that sac for damage or that trigger off defense, but I love how this plays. I also like that every member of a race has it built in, but that your instant can do it whenever you want. This does make the instant into a modified and limited {fling}, but is still cool. Templateing/Wording:1/10 Ok, so I get what the ability does...mostly...but the wording it way off. As it reads, you can attack, then before blockers are declared, sacrifice him to deal damage directly to that "attacked player". Or you can deal damage to a "blocked player" which is not really a thing. If you meant "target blocked creature or target player" that was unclear. I think you ment "If Turtle blocks or is blocked, sacrifice it and it deals damage equal to its toughness to target player or to target attacking or blocking creature." Also, for an activated ability, you shouldn't use "when" You should either say "If turtle is attacking, sacrifice it...." or "Sacrifice turtle to .....Use this ability only when turtle is attacking or blocking." This needs to be an ability word so that you can reference it (Cycling is an ability word, Battalion is an italicized non-keyword..."destroy target creature with battalion" would not work), so you did that correctly. But it should be Self Destruct (R), with the rest as reminder text. Balance/Printability: 8/10 Actually, if you ignore the .templating issues, I think this ability is awesome. Its not a surprise, but it creates aprehention and makes the other player play strangely. If it were only when attacking, I would say its costed correctly or even overcosted. Since this almost reads R:Deathtouch, it becomes very powerful as a deterant. However, seeing the deathtouch creatures they make currently, I am ok with this. I think the danger is using it as direct damage to the opponent, but I think that's ok. Overall/Subjective/WOW factor:8/10. Well, I said WOW when I read them the first time (not nessisarily a good wow) and I say WOW about the ability itself not that I thought of how a fixed version would play, but the middle area was not as impressive. That said, a card which you dismiss at first and appreciate later is really nice. Total: 28/50 |
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 10, 2014 14:15:24 GMT
Round Two!  Make a card with that as the picture. Typing the card text is enough, you don't need to make an image of the card unless you want to. You have until Wednesday night. Goodluck! |
|
|
|
Post by icescythe on Mar 10, 2014 15:41:35 GMT
ha, thanks for the harsh grading, and sorry for the un-s, i just enjoy the limitless creativity involved in un-cards. i suppose i should really work on my wording, thanks for the suggestion. anyways, without further ado, for this contest:  EDIT: definitely meant to be an anti-red sideboard card |
|
|
|
Post by kaleo42 on Mar 13, 2014 19:07:17 GMT
So i wanted to make it look good but I have been sick and away from the program I use. I havent seen you post ratings yet so hopeully this late entry wont be discarded. Refute the Revered {1}{W}{B} Instant Exile target legendary permanent. No longer will we be defined by ancient fears and beliefs. got it done  |
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 13, 2014 19:25:55 GMT
So i wanted to make it look good but I have been sick and away from the program I use. I havent seen you post ratings yet so hopeully this late entry wont be discarded. Refute the Revered {1}{W}{B} Instant Exile target legendary permanent. No longer will we be defined by ancient fears and beliefs. got it done I was waiting for nightwolf and flicker to post...You weren't around for the first round, and in theory I would need to cut off entrants, but sinc etwo of the three entrants may have dropped, I'll make an exception. You have 24 hours to also post for assignment one (the scores from each section will be added together at the end for the grand winner....you will have a ten point cut for round one for "late entrant" which is really to counteract that you can see my grading criteria and no one else could. You have secret knowlege!) |
|
|
|
Post by kaleo42 on Mar 13, 2014 20:34:41 GMT
You realize i posted the frogs right?
|
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 13, 2014 20:48:59 GMT
You realize i posted the frogs right? LOL! I'm so sorry...I scrolled up to confirm who posted what, and saw nightwolf's quote of your frogs....I'm sorry man. I'll grade these new cards probably tomorrow. Maybe our wayward entart will be back in time. If anytone else wants to join in, you can have the same offer I said before, p[ost for first round and second round before I grade, and you'll get a small penalty to counteract the advantage of seeing my previous grades. |
|
Flicker
Junior Member
Bow To The Keyblade Master
Posts: 75
|
Post by Flicker on Mar 17, 2014 21:53:52 GMT
I shall not partake in the specific event, however I plan to participate in future events. |
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 18, 2014 13:25:12 GMT
ha, thanks for the harsh grading, and sorry for the un-s, i just enjoy the limitless creativity involved in un-cards. i suppose i should really work on my wording, thanks for the suggestion. anyways, without further ado, for this contest: EDIT: definitely meant to be an anti-red sideboard card GRADING! Sorry for the delay. Flavor:10/10. I love the flavor here, and it matches the picture well. The dragon is not obviously damaged, but he does appear to be stopped short by ice and white/blue magic. Also, whether this was intended or not, I love that an ice shield will stop fire, but not for long (it melts). The creature taping mechanic doesn't jive as well (though it does match the picture, that there is a shield and separately ice grabbing the dragon), but all in all a great flavorful card that could go on any plane or set. Creativity/Originality:9/10. I don't think I have ever seen where a player gets straight protection from a color like that. The frost breath mechanic has been done, but I feel like its just an add on, so it's not really a plus or minus. Templateing/Wording:4/10. The wording on the tap mechanic should have been "Tap target creature. That creature doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step. " I think the "next turn" language should be "until your next turn" (like the detain mechanic) or "until the beginning of your next upkeep. " You gaining protection from a color is novel, but I think you did it perfectly. Balance/Printability: 7/10 I think you under costed this by at least one mana. Basically you have half a sorcery speed {frost breath} along with a color specific sorcery speed {fog} (fog is different than protection, but if red is targeting you, it is probably dealing you damage). Also, this is weaker because the two abilities are a bit of an anti-combo (see below). So I think 1(U) would be fair. Or keep the casting cost and make it an instant, taping their guy down for two of their turns, or being in response to a damage spell. Overall/Subjective/WOW factor:7/10 The only problem I have with it is that the abilities don't go well mechanically together. You hit the Vorthos notes, but Melvin is grumpy. If I gain protection from red next turn, then why do I care that the creature doesn't untap next turn? Yes, tapping it now can let me attack this turn, and staying tappecd can let me swing past next turn, and it hinders utility creatures from using tap abilities, and if they are playing Blue/Red, you can tap their blue creature and gain protection from their red creatures.....There are many legitimate befits.....but it still FEELS wrong that you are keeping it tapped on the turn you are gaining your protection from it. Total: 37/50 |
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 18, 2014 14:53:48 GMT
So i wanted to make it look good but I have been sick and away from the program I use. I havent seen you post ratings yet so hopeully this late entry wont be discarded. Refute the Revered {1}{W}{B} Instant Exile target legendary permanent. No longer will we be defined by ancient fears and beliefs. got it done Flavor:10/10. I love this, with it's connection to the art (the dragon looks so surprised and afronted that he is being attacked back), It's connection to the past (see {vindicate}, and the feeling that it is too strong a card...it seems awesome and meta to me to talk about not being afraid of old taboos on a card that alludes to a "too strong" taboo). I didn't like the color combination as much as I want to, so I gave it a 9/10 and wrote a detailed analysis of why. Then I saw {hero's demise} and figured that I was wrong. For your curiosity though, I'll include my prior thoughts below. [[[[ ]]]
Creativity/Originality:6/10 I'm not sure how to rate this, because its not super creative, but it doesn't need to be....this is an example of where less is more. There is no card just like this, but it is basically a mix of {vidicate} and {hero's demise}. "Creativity" isn't always "more is better," and while this has lower creativity, I think it has the right amount of creativity.
But, since creativity isn't the strength of this card and I want room on the grading scale to recognize really creative stuff, I'm giving it a 6/10
Templateing/Wording:10/10 Nothing to see here.
Everything is good.
Balance/Printability: 6/10 So I think this is too strong. In many ways it isn't as good as vindicate, but in some ways it is better. I would take "kill target creature" over "exile target legendary creature". When its all permanents, in some ways it becomes a bigger downside to add the "legendary only" clause because Vindicate can hit basic lands. On the other hand, this will be a dead card a lot less frequently than {Hero's demise} since someone may have a legendary land but no legendary creatures. Also, comparing to vindicate, this is an instant.
I wouldn't want to change the casting cost, but I would make it a sorcery and say that it's a fair card then. Development may want to make it "destroy" instead of "exile" but I like adding more exile effects with all the indestructible stuff out there...also keeping it exile makes it not strictly worse than vindicate...vindicate is VERY strong, so strictly worse than it isn't bad, but people don't like when things are strictly worse, so Its nice to give upsides along with downsides.
Overall/Subjective/WOW factor:10/10 I think I literally said WOW when I read this. I had expected White Or Blue cards, or even red cards if you focused on the dragon itself as the overpowering attacker. I would never have guessed WB, but it fits really well. Also, I love old school cards, so my first thought was "fixed vindicate!" (see balance above, I think it's not as fixed as I first thought.) Home run overall for me.
Total: 42/50
|
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 18, 2014 14:57:48 GMT
Awesome job everyone! Please forgive the slow grading on my end...It's partially business, partially ba dinternet, and partially wanting to wait and see if everyone would post an entry.
Round three!
Make a token generating card that is Blue, Black, and/or Red (It can be gold, just not mono-G, mono-W, or G/W).
Then make a second card to go in the same set that is a "tokens matter" card ({intangible virtue}, {doubling season}, etc. They do not have to have the same color identity, though they can.
Edit: Lets have this round up by end of day Wednesday.
|
|
Flicker
Junior Member
Bow To The Keyblade Master
Posts: 75
|
Post by Flicker on Mar 18, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
Parasitic Infestation {U}{B}{B}{2}
Enchantment Rare
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a parasite counter on target non-parasite creature.
When all creature(s) on the battlefield have a parasite counter on them, destroy all creatures, then put X 1/1 parasite tokens onto the battlefield, where X is equal to the number of creature(s) destroyed by Parasitic Invasion.
If there are only parasite creatures on the battlefield, destroy Parasitic Invasion.
"The Boros army can withstand adversaries that stand taller than Ravnica's highest pillar. However, can they live though an adversary that is smaller than any of Simic's creations?"
Mass Mutation #705 {U}{G}{1}
Enchantment Uncommon
Creature tokens you control gain +1/+1 and Flying.
"Well, I can't say I'm overjoyed with the results, but at least they didn't violently explode like #546."
~Mutation Chamber Log
|
|
Flicker
Junior Member
Bow To The Keyblade Master
Posts: 75
|
Post by Flicker on Mar 18, 2014 21:33:21 GMT
AHH WHAT HAPPENED
let me fix it real quick.
|
|
|
|
Post by kaleo42 on Mar 20, 2014 10:50:11 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 20, 2014 12:50:27 GMT
AHH WHAT HAPPENED let me fix it real quick. Is what is posted now the fix? I don't think I saw it pre-fix. |
|
Flicker
Junior Member
Bow To The Keyblade Master
Posts: 75
|
Post by Flicker on Mar 20, 2014 18:52:15 GMT
On my phone it is fixed, I don't have the app, and it is screwy on the computer. So I don't know how it looks on the app.
|
|
|
|
Post by ieatfood7 on Mar 20, 2014 19:38:40 GMT
On my phone it is fixed, I don't have the app, and it is screwy on the computer. So I don't know how it looks on the app. It looks normal to me, and says it was edited. |
|
