MTG Cardsmith Community Forums
Common Challenge
For this challenge, please design a common card. It's that simple. You can use cards you've already designed. The card should be
- interesting/new
- flavorful
- balanced (not overpowered, not unplayable)
- simple (easy to understand at first glance)
- most importantly, common (https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/common-knowledge-2011-04-18, https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/common-courtesy-2002-06-10)
Deadline: Friday, April 19, but that's flexible.
Examples:
I'm interested to see what you guys come up with.
- interesting/new
- flavorful
- balanced (not overpowered, not unplayable)
- simple (easy to understand at first glance)
- most importantly, common (https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/common-knowledge-2011-04-18, https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/common-courtesy-2002-06-10)
Deadline: Friday, April 19, but that's flexible.
Examples:
I'm interested to see what you guys come up with.
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
My only criticism is that the vast majority of these cards are too complex to be common. Commons teach new players, and you riffle through 10 in a draft. If I cannot determine what your card does on the first read, it won't win. I just wanted all of you to keep that in mind, no offense to anyone.
Later when I judge this I will give some more specific feedback and give out faves, but here are my favorite cards in each submission so far:
@Corwinnn: Fight with Courage
@Faiths_Guide: Bramble Druid
@ArmisJoe: Scruple
@ElMagici: Swinging Tendrils
@TenebrisNemo: Tiger Stallion
Did you ever read my comment on the Deputy?
I hadn’t until now, but I think you are absolutely right
This card was inspired by the Ixalan set in magic the gathering, which came out in 2017.
I'm hoping it's basic enough for your common cards request, but with enough gusto to be a card worth putting in a deck!
There is no limit on cards old and new, since I don't want to be unfair to anyone that submits later, but please don't waste my time. (And when I get around to judging this, each person will be judged by their best submission IMHO (in my humble opinion, get it right.))
@bnew07, thanks for submitting as well. Your commons seem very interesting while still being fairly simple, so good job.
Oh, cool!
Old:
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/search-the-records
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/asylum-inmate
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/doomed-mafioso
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/newspaper-1
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/monstrous-revelation
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/spirit-of-animosity
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/zombunnies
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/gruesome-grimoir
(Note: I'm primarily doing this as a cheat sheet for when I judge later, if you didn't all realize that)
@Corwinnn: Fight with Courage
@Faiths_Guide: Bramble Druid
@ArmisJoe: Undip [previously: Scruple]
@ElMagici: Swinging Tendrils
@TenebrisNemo: Tiger Stallion
@bnew07: Rix Maadi Hellhound
@sorinjace: Cataract Navigator
@Ilmarinen: Unicorn of Forgotten Dreams [EDIT: Story Retold, I just realized that the bargain effect is literally a drawback]
@Mila: Provoke the Beasts
@Ranshi922: Boaring Creature Card
@EternalWolf88: Spirit of Animosity
Thanks and congrats to all competitors!
The most important thing to remember is I have no direct impact on your life, and the same with the rest of the Cardsmith community. So you don't have to agree with me or listen to me or care about what I say.
Honorable Mention: @Frostbvrn: Tortle Wanderer
Why It's Snazzy: All you need to do is scroll up - @ArmisJoe said "love Tortle Wonderer wish you added some sweet flavor text to add some back story to it!"
Some Feedback: Green isn't big on flying, but this card actually works perfectly in white. Also, making a token every turn is not common - Emeria Angel is rare. So to summarize, this is a well-designed interesting mono-white rare.
The Rest:
Aim True: first strike isn't really green
Absorbing Shadow: counterspells aren't really black, no matter the flavor, and this also raises the question, do all lands only tap for black mana now?
Somehow I missed you when doing my best card per submission thing by accident. Not sure how that happened.
HM. @ElMagici: Swinging Tendrils
Why It's Snazzy: It's certainly common, and it's costed correctly, which were the main criteria for this contest.
Some Feedback: I think the card could have been a little more interesting. This is a great card to put in one of your sets, but it doesn't really excite me.
The Rest:
Light Faerie: same issue, except the times when flash is relevant on a 1/1 are not numerous, so you just end up playing this end of turn every time
Gorgon's Presence: I don't know what color this effect is but I'm pretty sure it's not both green and blue. Also it's a bit hard to comprehend
HM. @sorinjace: Cataract Navigator
Why It's Snazzy: Definitely simple enough to be a common, and costed correctly, just like the previous card.
Some Feedback: Like the last card still, could use some more innovation. Just because a card is common doesn't mean it has to be boring, just scroll down for why that is.
HM. @Mila: Spark Golem
Why It's Snazzy: This can lead to some interesting play patterns, I think. It would fit right into War of the Spark and is an interesting design space that hasn't really been explored in Magic. I mean, you have Heart of Kiran I guess, but not much has really been done with converting loyalty into other resources.
Some Feedback: It should probably have a subtype. Also, it seems like it could be abused. I'm not sure though. It might be like Kin-Tree Invocation, which I love but is not overpowered because you have to wait until the late game to cheat on mana.
The Rest:
Provoke the Beasts: these effects feel like they could be more connected for me. Maybe that's just me though