Ability Contest - Unbound

I'm starting a new full set on MTGCardsmith called Frostveil, along with another one I've started called Ultarin. The first custom ability I've chosen for Frostveil is Unbound. Examples and ability text will are here -

Unbound X (X: Put this creature onto the battlefield from your hand. Unbound only any time you could cast a sorcery.)

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The rules of this contest are simple: make the most creative card with unbound that you can. Judging will be based on -

-Creativity - MAX 20 points
-Card Balance (Not too over- or under-powered.) - MAX 4 points
-Originality - MAX 6 points


Prizes for the top three scores will be as follows -

1st Place - 5 favorites of your choice and a follow
2nd Place - 4 favorites of your choice
3rd Place - 3 favorites of your choice
4th Place - 2 favorites
5th Place - 1 favorite

Top placing competitors will go down only five places, so ties will receive the same reward. So, if two people tie for first, they will both get five favorites and a follow. More than two in a tie may result in a tiebreaker.

I hope to see some awesome cards for this contest, and I wish good luck to all participating!

Comments

  • I like the ability, but people will always go for the ability because it's a reduced casting cost. Making flash all but useless on the green card (which is off color if I remember correctly.) Maybe do something like "You may pay 4uuu and play this anytime you can play a sorcery, if you, lose X life" or something similar. You have an idea that is good, just needs some refining.
  • edited January 2019
    Unbound says "Activate this ability .." but it isn't worded as an activated ability. I think this wording is better-

    Unbound [Cost] ([Cost]: Put this creature card from your hand onto the battlefield. Unbound only as a sorcery.)
  • Thanks @Tomigon, I appreciate the suggestion and I'll change the wording. @Bowler218 I appreciate your suggestion too but I'd still like to keep it as is.
  • The cards are changed for the new wording too.
  • edited January 2019
    I am trying make sense of what this ability really gets you. What is the hook that makes it work. May be your examples just don't sell me on it. The yeti is only one mana less, but you can't flash it in. Like okay, I guess, as such a bland option pool. I get not everything needs be earth shattering impact to the game, but this doesn't scream It's UNBOUND! when it's played. Like oh one mana cheaper.

    The Leviathan is such a stupidly expensive creature, no one is ever hard casting it outside of limited play. The Unbound doesn't reduce the cost enough to make that a remotely appealing choice. I still need be casting it on turn 7, and am losing all my lands. It's all or nothing there. If it cost 5-6 people might think about it, but at 7 it's high and slow of a creature. People would just assume play something that they could actually cast in a reasonable time table without hindering themselves. As someone who plays Ghalta in standard, 10/10 or bigger creatures still die. Playing it for it's unbound cost is too high risk , not enough reward.

    Even the name Unbound doesn't feel like has identity summed up in it's mechanic. Take Unleash, http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?text=+[Unleash]
    Creatures are set lose, but forgo blocking. Like a dog you let off the leash, you can't get them to come back, as they are free do as they please. This thematicly makes sense. It's not a great mechanic, but I can get what they are going for.

    If we are going purely for cost reduction/bonus ability, Spectacle, Radkos new mechanic does this, and again fits what it is about thematicly. It either makes them cheaper or grants a bonus whenever an opponent loses life. Given the way Radkos are putting on a very danger show, it works as a name and mechanic. (Probably the best of the 3 mechanics wizards have done for that guild.)

    So Why is it called Unbound? These examples do not give me sense of that, as just feels like generic alternative cost ability. The examples do not give a sense of what this mechanic wants to be, or capture that ability's name. There's no consistency between them. Between simply having the proper lvl of impact to gameplay and flavor it doesn't do either for me. As someone who puts a ton of thought into what names I pick for my mechanics, and what those words mean I don't feel like that was the case here.

    Am I being too harsh?...May be, but I would be putting myself thru same paces if this were my cards. I would want to redefine this mechanic it having a more clear identity. Does mean I am not going make cards for this? Actually I probably will, as I see something that doesn't work for me, I make it a point to reconcile it into something that fits. I will see what I can come up with.
  • Unbound feels like a mechanic with potential, but it currently reads as a spite/salt mechanic from playing against someone with too many counterspells.

    Saying you cast it for its unbound cost will help keep things even and justify lower costs.
  • edited January 2019
    Here's my take on the Leviathan and my first Entry

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    Aegis By Lastjustice

    Aegis N (Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter
    that spell or ability unless its controller pays {N}.)


    Entry 2
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  • edited January 2019
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  • edited January 2019
    Entry 3
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    Entry 4

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  • So wait, we're allowed to make an Unbound card and then just post it here?
  • edited January 2019
    Anyways how do I post my card?
  • edited January 2019
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  • edited January 2019
  • I think I'm just gonna have to settle for this...
  • Due to a number of entries not sufficient to judge I'm extending the deadline of this contest to February 22nd.
This discussion has been closed.