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Renaissance Set — Design Phase
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Also, random Discover design:
@atrus159 I wouldn't compare Anticipate/One-Mana-Discover to Ponder xD Ponder was an attempt to make a one-mana "Draw three cards" spell work, they really don't come from the same place, there are just so many upsides to Ponder in this situation I'm not sure I could list them all x) Anticipate is a glorified cantrip: It just replace itself with another card from the top 3 of your library.
That said I looked for the closest card to Fortuitous Discovery I could find, it's Sleight of Hand and Fortuitous Discovery is mostly an upgrade so it's probably too strong. On the other hand, a sorcery-speed Anticipate does exist (Strategic Planning) but it has the strong upside of sending cards to your graveyard instead of the bottom of your library. So I guess making the Discover card a worst Anticipate could probably be an option option ^^
The opponent knowing the cards you choose is not that small of a detail though. Obviously they can play around what you take, keeping their best threats in hand if you choose a removal or counterspell for instance. But the cards you don't want also give them information about the cards you already have in hands (if you let your finisher go, you likely have one in hand already for instance.)
The idea was to have a very clean spell with very little text, but here's a proposition nonetheless to try to make it feel a bit better:
Fortuitous Discovery
1U
Sorcery
Discover anything.
If the discovery failed, draw a card.
To compensate for the opponent knowing your cards, you have the option of not taking any of the top three cards of your library. If you do, you automatically get the top fourth card of your library without knowing what it is.
Overall it's a little worse "Scry 3, draw a card" at sorcery speed. Would you still prefer the simpler one ("Discover anything", at instant speed for 1U)?
These may both be a bit too strong but i really like the idea of them.
I forget who asked this, but while psylian life doesn't mean anything, I really like the name. Also, @ningyounk, I don't think we need to change the name at all; it fits really well, sounds optimistic, and vaguely reminds me of "phyrexian" but with a positive spin.
As for Psylian Flow, I don't think we should use "psylian" in names or flavor text, because it's a game term. You don't see a card with the flavor text
"I scried 3, but there was nothing good, so I put all 3 to the bottom of my library.
- Mehalet, venerable scholar
XD
Then again, there are plenty of game terms used in names and text; "phyrexian" itself comes to mind. But since "psylian" has no real meaning (as of yet; it very reasonably could gain one), I think it's best to keep it as a game term.
Discovered Fervor - R
Target Creature gets +3/+0 and haste until end of turn.
Whenever a source you control deals at least 3 damage to a player while Discovered Fervor is in your graveyard, you may pay R. If you do, return Discovered Fervor from your graveyard to your hand.
Unearthed Malice - 1B
Target player sacrifices a creature.
Whenever your lifetotal goes from being above 10 to below 10 while Unearthed Malice is in your graveyard, you may pay 1B. If you do, return Unearthed Malice from your graveyard to your hand.
Invented Escape, no change except the "while in your graveyard" text.
Contrived Supremacy - 1WW
Create two 1/1 white soldier creature tokens with lifelink.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if Contrived Supremacy is in your graveyard and you have at least 10 more life than each opponent you may pay 1WW. If you do, return Contrived Supremacy from your graveyard to your hand.
Revealed Might -2G
Create a 3/3 green elephant creature token.
Whenever a counter is placed on a permanent you control while Revealed Might is in your graveyard you may pay 2G. If you do, return Revealed Might from your graveyard to your hand.
Also, they probably need a matching name to tell they are a cycle. Something to say they are things rediscovered from the past for instance. Unearthed could work but may have a Black subtext to it. Reclaim? Restore? Redeem? [Something] Back? Renewed [thing]?
@everyone Random concepts & thoughts:
Draw Spell (Unco)
1U
Instant
Discover an instant or sorcery.
Draw a card.
==> I'm trying to experiment on how to make the failed discoveries feel not too bad. Here, you still get some value for two-mana, even if you whiff.
Big Draw Spell (Unco)
3U
Instant
Discover anything two times.
==> I'm having difficulties picturing how good this is compared to other draw spell we had in the past like Weave Fate, Glimmer of Genius, or even Dig through Time. My instinct tell me this is closer to Dig Through Time than Weave Fate though x)
Muse's Revelation
XXU
Instant
Discover anything X times. You gain X psylian life.
==> It's inspired by X draw spells like Sphinx's Revelation, Pull from Tomorrow or Epiphany at the Drownyard. I don't know how it compares because you draw significantly less cards but you dig much deeper in compensation.
Suprise Blocker (Unco)
2U
Instant
CARDNAME costs 2 less to cast if it's not your turn.
Compose 3.
==> This is inspired by Tidal wave. It may be too strong of a removal though for blue ^^"
Springlife Demon (Mythic Rare)
3BB
Creature - Demon
4/4
Flying, Indestructible
Whenever CARDNAME dies, you lose 20 life.
==> Just a crazy Mythic, that could either be an alternative win condition if you manage to give it to an opponent then kill it, or just a really scary beating stick.
The idea was to make a card similar to Nissa, Vital Force that you can ultimate in one turn and, if you do, considerably changes how you play the rest of the game.
I realized afterwards that maybe "the Rancorous" and the avatar of "Spite" sounded more red (close to Hate) than Black (close to Sadness) which could have been a flavour win otherwise. I didn't really have an idea for the name, sorry xD
Powerwise, I would maybe consider giving the -X token a keyword. Either Lifelink or Indestructible I'd say ^^ If it was indestructible, It could be the first planeswalker with an ability at -XX for instance?
These are just random ideas being bounced around, and it would be best if you took them lightly. Those were just to fit him flavourfully into Orzhov colours.
Also, don't scrap the idea about Ajani being a kingpin and being black because it would be a great twist in the story.
Pragmatic Mentor is a quite funny title, it has an ironic flavour for sure ^^
@everyone Looking a the Ajani above though, I just realized we kind of already have an official WB life-matters planeswalker with Sorin. He's technically the vampire planeswalker but I'm not100% confident the two concepts aren't too close to each other now that I think about it
Speaking of planeswalkers, I have two questions:
- How do you feel about 4-abilities planeswalkers, considering they can't be achieved through the MTGCardsmith card maker? Should we strictly restrict the planeswalker to 3 abilities so we can't make all the cards on the site? (I'm personally in favour.)
- Admitting we do a Da Vinci planeswalker, what colours should he be? I really can't imagine him without Blue, but any other colour could work in combination with Blue, I think. My instinct tells me Blue/Red, what colours do you personally think Da Vinci is?
And 4 abilities Ajani seems fine too. But you can make it just by yourself alone. Or anyone with MtG card editor.
And I don't know about Da Vinci. Give some more infos about him. His personalities for example.
I thought of a concept, and I gave it a name. I don't see how using a plane's name makes it an inherently bad name.
@ningyounk
I'd say that Sorin is more life-swingy than life matters. I think that we can separate the concepts enough to make both seem unique.
On the story of a corrupt Ajani, I do agree that having a black legend/walker would be cliche. Perhaps he'd be an elected leader of sorts, but he has some sort of transformation clause on both sides? Mono-white to cast with an ability that transforms him into a ruthless dictator in WB, and the dictator-esque side of him has a transformation clause to make him mono-white again.
On four-ability planeswalkers, I think they would be fun to play with, but I'd rather stick with what we can do here for now. I haven't followed any of this closely, but I think it would be best to stick with what's available here.
On Da Vinci, I'd say that he's U/R because he worked with machines, but that's just taking it at face value.
- WU: Very meticulous artist that has an eye for details.
- UB: This one is the only one I have difficulties picturing.
- UR: Crazy unpredictable scientist/artist à la Izzet.
- GU: Visionary scientist à la Simic that studies anatomy, nature and such.
Here's a concept for an UR version:
It's overall a top-down design:
+1: I break the "Discover" formatting a little to make sure players get what it's supposed to do since reminder text wouldn't fit in a loyalty ability. It represents how he's always looking for new things to try.
-2: This is the protective ability since you can transform an opponent's creature. It represents him painting the world to his liking.
-6: This represents the fact that he often thinks outside the box and is always ahead of his time. Also, in the first story draft we made, he helped the heroes dealing with the corrupted Muse by bringing technology from other worlds to try on it, such as hedrons from Innistrad or moon rocks from Innistrad.
Also, what do you think of that art and name? ^^
I love the art and name. My one concern is that the -2 could do strange things in modern, such as making a creature into an Emrakul. I know that's a bit irrelevant, since we're looking at standard for balancing, but a concern I have nonetheless.
I really like the flavor and uniqueness of the -6, but I wonder if that makes it a little powerful in a control shell.
@Lujikul Yes, I think you're right on power level, I probably overshot a little on about every ability xD Let's break it down so I can explain my thought process:
+1: I added Scry 2 at the last minute because I thought that specific ability sounded too weak even thought the card itself is probably too strong. But, a posteriori, I don't think it needs it. Or maybe Scry 2 can become Scry 1, or go AFTER the discovery instead of before, à la Serum Visions.
-2: Clearly this is the most controversial. It's inspired by two very old cards: Sneak Attack and Through the Breach.
They are very very strong card for sure. Avinzi has a few twists on those cards:
- He can do it repeatedly.
- He costs one less mana (if you count the activation cost of Sneak Attack.)
- You can use the same creature card multiple times in a row.
- He's two-coloured which makes him a bit harder to cast.
- The creature is neither cast nor enters the battlefield. This means it doesn't trigger the Eldrazi Titans for instance.
So here are some options we could consider:
- Increasing the mana cost of Avinzi to 5. I just wanted him at 4 or 6 because of Ajani who is already at 5, but Ajani can move, he's less important for now I believe.
- Increasing the ability costs to -3, which means it's much harder to repeat. I do think it would make him unappealing though.
- Add a restriction to the card you can reveal (converted mana cost 5 or less, etc.)
- Ask the player to discard instead of revealing the card.
- Straight up change this ability. This could allow for an ability that's more protective, that would do a better job when cast on an opponent's creature. Like transforming a foe creature permanently by exiling the card for instance. "Exile a creature card from your hand. Target creature you don't control becomes a copy of it."
-6: There are currently very few cards that allows something similar in the game. Here are examples:
Some of the safeguards on this ability are that you still have to pay the mana cost for the spell. Also, the definition of cards you own from outside the game depends on the format. If you're playing kitchen table it can be any card of your collection, depending on how your friends are ok with that. If you're playing in a sanctioned constructed tournament, this means your sideboard. If your playing in a sanctioned limited tournament, it means all the cards you opened for this tournament and didn't put in your deck (which technically is your sideboard.) Finally, you can only play one card per turn.
I personally think this one is fine, but if we really want to tone it down, here are options:
- Increasing the loyalty cost by one so it takes 4 turns instead of 3 to build to it.
- Allowing to play cards from outside the game only on your turn.
- Restricting the cards you can play. (Only noncreature spells for instance.)
- Change it so you can put any number of cards in your deck for instance (but it's going to be a nightmare to build back the deck afterwards.)