I saw a comment on Discord that was asking if we could change the Descend mechanic, and since we've had a few changes to it already, and people seem to like it, I thought we could put it to a vote. (changes in bold)
Original: Descend (If you have ten or more creature cards in your graveyard, you get the graveyard's blessing for the rest of the game.)
Version 2: Descend (If you have ten or more creature cards in your graveyard, you get the crypt's blessing for the rest of the game.)
Version 3: Descend (If you have eight or more creature cards in your graveyard, you get the crypt's blessing for the rest of the game.) 1 vote
Version 4: Descend (If you have eight or more creature cards in your graveyard, you get the undercity's blessing for the rest of the game.) 1 vote
Version 5: Descend (If you have ten or more permanent cards in your graveyard, you get the undercity's blessing for the rest of the game.) 3 votes
considering people have already made cards with the version you originally posted, and individual changes in mechanics have happened before, I think it should stay the same (version 3) and people can change it if they want to
Version 5 mirrors Ascend the best, and would probably be the best option if that is what the intention.
I do like undercity's blessing, however, I feel this only really works well for Golgari flavor. Otherwise, the crypt's blessing feels better to me. If it were intended for a set like Ixalan, trying to find a hidden crypt filled with mystical secrets feels a lot more flavorful than something like the undercity, which is just another city, only underground.
@Corwinnn, version 4 seems like the most realistic variation, but version 5 does mirror ascend the best. If mirroring ascend and making a flavorful, less balanced mechanic is the point, then version 5. BUT if making a more balanced, but a less flavorful mechanic was the point, version 4.
1st Place - 1/4 Circuit Point Architect of Legends by @shadow123 https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/architect-of-legends A lot of times a mechanic can seem forced into a card, but this is not one of those cards. I kinda wish I had made this card... it's creative, it drips with flavor and it's probably the best use of this artwork I've seen, and I've seen this artwork a lot!
2nd Place Agent of the Grave by @Ral1000 https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/agent-of-the-grave What I love about this card is the way it feeds the Mechanic, and would make building a Descend deck a viable possibility even in a draft format. There was tough competition with this Mechanic but in the end I really liked this one the most.
3rd Place Ranshi, Midnight Musician by @ChoyBoi https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/ranshi-midnight-musician I wasn't sure what to expect from the Song mechanic, but two of the song cards made it into my top twelve, and this was the clear winner. This made the top three a very tight race!
There were a lot of great cards made this week! Kudos to everyone who entered. Here are my Top Twelve cards from this week! https://mtgcardsmith.com/user/Corwinnn/sets/52237 The first three are in order, but the others are just randomly there.
I really think there's still some design space for the mechanic that hasn't been explored, and I'd love to see the different versions be tested out. I'm not sure which version you think is best, so I'll leave that up to you. (:
Hasn't Glyph, Descend, and Painborn already been done? Are we allowed to repeat mechanics?
My mechanics for this week:
Transcend by @ArmisJoe Transcend (To transcend a card, exile it with a transcend counter on it. As long as it remains exiled, you may cast it as though it was in your hand.)
Note that ArmisJoe acutally called it "trascend" but I believe that was a spelling error for "transcend".
AND
Ephermeral by @Beeswax Ephemeral (This spell costs {2} less to cast if its target entered the battlefield this turn.) Wording update by @IronCrusher - Ephemeral (This spell costs {2} less to cast if it targets a permanent that entered the battlefield this turn.)
@Usaername It does work. Cards keep track of the turn they enter the battlefield. It wouldn’t cause memory issues either because it is the turn they entered.
Comments
Original: Descend (If you have ten or more creature cards in your graveyard, you get the graveyard's blessing for the rest of the game.)
Version 2: Descend (If you have ten or more creature cards in your graveyard, you get the crypt's blessing for the rest of the game.)
Version 3: Descend (If you have eight or more creature cards in your graveyard, you get the crypt's blessing for the rest of the game.) 1 vote
Version 4: Descend (If you have eight or more creature cards in your graveyard, you get the undercity's blessing for the rest of the game.) 1 vote
Version 5: Descend (If you have ten or more permanent cards in your graveyard, you get the undercity's blessing for the rest of the game.) 3 votes
Thoughts?
Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city’s blessing for the rest of the game.)
Oh also... undercity vs. crypt
I do like undercity's blessing, however, I feel this only really works well for Golgari flavor. Otherwise, the crypt's blessing feels better to me. If it were intended for a set like Ixalan, trying to find a hidden crypt filled with mystical secrets feels a lot more flavorful than something like the undercity, which is just another city, only underground.
Just a reminder... this ends tomorrow!
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/meralyn-fablemage
Archive, by Me:
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/farseeker
Song type, by Shadow123:
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/love-song
Counter strike, by Faiths_Guide ft. Jicklemania2,
Manashift, by AustinSmith:
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/bismuth-sentry
Dismember, by Corwinnn,
Specialty, by TenebrisNemo:
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/bloodchiefs-limbcleavers
Descend, by Corwinnn:
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/necropolis-pilferer
Archive, by Me:
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/tsessa-acquisitions-archivist
Counter strike, by Faiths_Guide ft Jicklemania2:
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/radden-of-the-waterweavers
Descend, by Corwinnn,
Predator, by Flameice2:
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/soul-of-vitriol
Rhythm, by Me:
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/melded-muse
This was a fun one to make
1st Place - 1/4 Circuit Point
Architect of Legends by @shadow123
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/architect-of-legends
A lot of times a mechanic can seem forced into a card, but this is not one of those cards. I kinda wish I had made this card... it's creative, it drips with flavor and it's probably the best use of this artwork I've seen, and I've seen this artwork a lot!
2nd Place
Agent of the Grave by @Ral1000
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/agent-of-the-grave
What I love about this card is the way it feeds the Mechanic, and would make building a Descend deck a viable possibility even in a draft format. There was tough competition with this Mechanic but in the end I really liked this one the most.
3rd Place
Ranshi, Midnight Musician by @ChoyBoi
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/ranshi-midnight-musician
I wasn't sure what to expect from the Song mechanic, but two of the song cards made it into my top twelve, and this was the clear winner. This made the top three a very tight race!
There were a lot of great cards made this week! Kudos to everyone who entered. Here are my Top Twelve cards from this week!
https://mtgcardsmith.com/user/Corwinnn/sets/52237
The first three are in order, but the others are just randomly there.
@shadow123 @Ral1000 @ChoyBoi , each of you can choose up to two custom mechanics for future challenges. Pick any mechanics you can find in Mechanic Encyclopedia for ALL or Tome of TheMechanix, or you can make new mechanics! Comment on this thread or send me PM. If you don't want to choose, that's also ok!
Wow! Thanks so much for the first place! All your comments makes me feel super happy. I know I'll have a great start to school today!
I'll choose mechanics shortly.
Congrats to the other winners and top 12 cards!
Wow, I was not expecting this. Congrats to @shadow123 and @Ral1000, as well as all the other top 12! I'll choose the mechanics shortly.
My two mechanics for this week are:
Painborn by @Animist!
(Each 1 life you pay while casting this spell pays for {1}. It enters the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it for each 1 life paid this way.)
and... Why not? Descend by @Corwinnn!
I really think there's still some design space for the mechanic that hasn't been explored, and I'd love to see the different versions be tested out. I'm not sure which version you think is best, so I'll leave that up to you. (:
Glyph by @RandomFandom
(Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a target, instead put that many rune counters on it.)
Mount by @Revan
(Mount [cost] ([cost]: Attach this creature to another creature you control. It cannot attack or block.)
My mechanics for this week:
Transcend by @ArmisJoe
Transcend (To transcend a card, exile it with a transcend counter on it. As long as it remains exiled, you may cast it as though it was in your hand.)
Note that ArmisJoe acutally called it "trascend" but I believe that was a spelling error for "transcend".
AND
Ephermeral by @Beeswax
Ephemeral (This spell costs {2} less to cast if its target entered the battlefield this turn.)
Wording update by @IronCrusher -
Ephemeral (This spell costs {2} less to cast if it targets a permanent that entered the battlefield this turn.)