MTG Cardsmith Community Forums
Uncharted Spells Challenge
Greetings fellow Cardsmiths!
For this challenge, your task is to show me top-down designs of legendary instants and sorceries for untold stories in magic history.
Entry Criteria
1) No joke cards
2) Must be either a legendary instant or a legendary sorcery
3) No tribal legendary spells
4) Old and new entries allowed.
5) 3 entry maximum.
6) Must represent a pivotal story moment in MTG history that has not yet been represented on a card.
7) Must have the naming convention shown in the example’s below with the format “PERSON’S ADJECTIVE EVENT/ACTION” (for example, YAWGMOTH’S VILE OFFERING)
8) If flavor text is included (not a must, but encouraged), it should describe the story moment being depicted.
9) Must be in color pie according to https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/mechanical-color-pie-2017-2017-06-05
10) Must be balanced for standard and limited play.
Here are three examples from Theros Block. The first tells the story of Xenagos’ ascension to godhood by representing his forsaking of mortality (discarding his hand) and achievement of godhood (taking an extra turn). However his former mortality taints this process (skips his draw step).
The second tells the story of Kiora’s theft of Thassa’s bident. She steals the bident after a lengthy battle (gain control of target artifact), and from it she gains power and knowledge after she planeswalks away (draw = CMC).
The third tells the tragic story of Elspeth’s death. After defeating Xenagos, Heliod betrays his champion (Exile target creature or planeswalker) and strikes her down. Ajani, who witnessed the act, is utterly humbled and traumatized by the experience (the ‘silence’ effect).
Each of these stories were not told in-block, but are perfect for legendary instants and sorceries now that they exist. Be sure to match the naming convention (and if you want the flavor text convention either I or WOTC used) with your entries.
Cards will be graded according to the following holistic scale (Out of 100):
Templating: 10
The card should formatted like a real magic card, using the correct phrasing, grammar, and punctuation.
Flavor: 30
The card should be an direct representation of an important moment in MTG history. The name, flavor text, color, and mechanical identity should align exactly with the chosen event.
Legendary I/S Attributes: 10
The card should follow the naming convention described in the entry criteria. It should be a legendary instant or sorcery with no other types. The legendary border should be used and the set symbol should match the story moment if possible. The flavor text (if used) should describe the event.
Power Level in Standard: 20
The card should NOT be broken/overpowered in the standard format. The legendary I/S designed for Dominaria are a good example of the correct power level. The card should be costed appropriately for the effect.
Power Level in Limited: 15
The card should have an appropriate rarity for limited play. It should not be oppressive in draft/sealed (like the Scarab God, Pack Rat, Umezawa’s Jitte). It should also be appropriately costed for Limited.
Play Pattern / Gameplay: 15
The card should create a healthy play pattern. It should not create repetitive play patterns. It should be fun to play and create meaningful decisions.
I will not make the score breakdown for the entries public (only the final score for the winners), but you can private message me after the challenge ends for your overall score and some feedback on your card if you desire.
The top 5 scoring entries will be rewarded as follows:
1st: 5 favorites of your choice
2nd: 4 favorites of your choice
3rd: 3 favorites of your choice
4th: 2 favorites of your choice
5th: 1 favorite of your choice
I will also award 1 favorite each for the following three categories:
1) Most Novel
2) Best Name
3) Best Flavor Match
This contest will close at 10:00PM EST on Friday, August 10th.
If you have any questions, feel free to post them to this thread.
Happy Smithing!!!
For this challenge, your task is to show me top-down designs of legendary instants and sorceries for untold stories in magic history.
Entry Criteria
1) No joke cards
2) Must be either a legendary instant or a legendary sorcery
3) No tribal legendary spells
4) Old and new entries allowed.
5) 3 entry maximum.
6) Must represent a pivotal story moment in MTG history that has not yet been represented on a card.
7) Must have the naming convention shown in the example’s below with the format “PERSON’S ADJECTIVE EVENT/ACTION” (for example, YAWGMOTH’S VILE OFFERING)
8) If flavor text is included (not a must, but encouraged), it should describe the story moment being depicted.
9) Must be in color pie according to https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/mechanical-color-pie-2017-2017-06-05
10) Must be balanced for standard and limited play.
Here are three examples from Theros Block. The first tells the story of Xenagos’ ascension to godhood by representing his forsaking of mortality (discarding his hand) and achievement of godhood (taking an extra turn). However his former mortality taints this process (skips his draw step).
The second tells the story of Kiora’s theft of Thassa’s bident. She steals the bident after a lengthy battle (gain control of target artifact), and from it she gains power and knowledge after she planeswalks away (draw = CMC).
The third tells the tragic story of Elspeth’s death. After defeating Xenagos, Heliod betrays his champion (Exile target creature or planeswalker) and strikes her down. Ajani, who witnessed the act, is utterly humbled and traumatized by the experience (the ‘silence’ effect).
Each of these stories were not told in-block, but are perfect for legendary instants and sorceries now that they exist. Be sure to match the naming convention (and if you want the flavor text convention either I or WOTC used) with your entries.
Cards will be graded according to the following holistic scale (Out of 100):
Templating: 10
The card should formatted like a real magic card, using the correct phrasing, grammar, and punctuation.
Flavor: 30
The card should be an direct representation of an important moment in MTG history. The name, flavor text, color, and mechanical identity should align exactly with the chosen event.
Legendary I/S Attributes: 10
The card should follow the naming convention described in the entry criteria. It should be a legendary instant or sorcery with no other types. The legendary border should be used and the set symbol should match the story moment if possible. The flavor text (if used) should describe the event.
Power Level in Standard: 20
The card should NOT be broken/overpowered in the standard format. The legendary I/S designed for Dominaria are a good example of the correct power level. The card should be costed appropriately for the effect.
Power Level in Limited: 15
The card should have an appropriate rarity for limited play. It should not be oppressive in draft/sealed (like the Scarab God, Pack Rat, Umezawa’s Jitte). It should also be appropriately costed for Limited.
Play Pattern / Gameplay: 15
The card should create a healthy play pattern. It should not create repetitive play patterns. It should be fun to play and create meaningful decisions.
I will not make the score breakdown for the entries public (only the final score for the winners), but you can private message me after the challenge ends for your overall score and some feedback on your card if you desire.
The top 5 scoring entries will be rewarded as follows:
1st: 5 favorites of your choice
2nd: 4 favorites of your choice
3rd: 3 favorites of your choice
4th: 2 favorites of your choice
5th: 1 favorite of your choice
I will also award 1 favorite each for the following three categories:
1) Most Novel
2) Best Name
3) Best Flavor Match
This contest will close at 10:00PM EST on Friday, August 10th.
If you have any questions, feel free to post them to this thread.
Happy Smithing!!!
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Story_Spotlight
My card depicts Xenagos' spark ignition:
I wanted to give him a mana ability as a +1 and not do tokens, but the text is fiddly and it didn't work.
This may be a little high, power-level-wise, but I think that it is straight-forward enough. Thoughts?
Check the card comments for more on the story!
I'd like to join this contest. But it's too bad that the cards have to involve existing stories!
May I post cards based on custom characters to help bump this thread? You don't have to count them as entries.
I'll even post a disclaimer. I just want to see this challenge get some love!