Magic Great Designer Search Test #5
This was a great challenge and a lot of fun. It forced me into top-down design mode and I pretty much had to come up with entirely new cards.
Wizards gave the designers 10 "holes to fill" and the details on what needed to go into those holes. The catch - art had already been done for the cards. The full art (which is worth checking out along with my answers) is at http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/designersearch/episode3
I hate these challenges. I sleep like crap the night after they're released. Off to read what the real candidates did...
White (uncommon)
We need an answer to all the token making in the environment. Be subtle.
Rings of Resistance (Picture #2)
2W
Enchantment
Uncommon
Whenever a creature comes into play, that creature's controller sacrifices it unless they pay X, where X is the number of other creatures that share a type with this creature.
White (rare)
We're looking for a weird Johnny-style enchantment
Rally Around the Flag (Picture #8)
3WWW
Enchantment
Rare
Creatures in your graveyard can attack or block as though they were in play. (They still tap to attack)
Blue (common)
We need a sorcery. No card filtering or drawing. No bounce (aka returning cards to hand).
Internal Reflection (Picture #4)
U
Sorcery
Common
Swap target creature's power and toughness (this effect does not end at end of turn)
Blue (rare)
We need a creature. Something splashy for Timmy.
Arcris, Master Replimagus (Picture #1)
5UU
Rare
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a token into play that is a copy of target creature you control.
3/3
Black (uncommon)
Make an aura you want to put on your own creatures.
Petrifying Glare (Picture #3)
BB
Enchantment - Aura
Uncommon
Enchant creature
Flash
Destroy all creatures blocking or blocked by enchanted creature at end of combat.
Black (rare)
Can be anything.
Bargain with the Past (Picture #10)
2B
Sorcery
Rare
Sacrifice all permanents that came into play under your control since the beginning of your last turn.
Draw three cards.
Red (common)
Instant or sorcery. No direct damage or destruction (artifact or land).
Disrupting Overlay (Picture #7)
2R
Instant
Common
Players may not play instants or sorceries until end of turn. Draw a card.
Red (uncommon)
Creature. Want a build around me for draft (aka something that will encourage players to go down a path or paths he or she wouldn't normally had they not drafted this card early; examples of this type of card are Lightning Rift, Mark of Eviction and Momentary Blink).
Sulfurous Alarmist (Picture #6)
2R
Creature - Human Wizard
Uncommon
Morph - 1R
When Sufurous Alarmist is turned face up, turn target creature face up until end of turn.
At the beginning of your upkeep, turn Sulfurous Alarmist face down.
0/1
Green (common)
Creature. Something that costs four or more mana.
Fangren Behemoth (Picture #9)
Creature - Behemoth
Common
5GG
Sacrifice an artifact: put a Metal token on Fangren Behemoth.
Remove a Metal token from Fangren Behemoth: Regenerate Fangren Behemoth.
6/4
Green (rare)
Non-creature spell. Green's lacking in "wow" factor (aka something that will impress the player by how different it is).
Sheep in Wolf's Clothing (Picture #5)
3G
Enchantment - Aura
Rare
Enchant creature you control
GG: Sacrifice enchanted creature. Search your library for a creature with a lower converted mana cost than enchanted creature and put it into play. Attach Sheep in Wolf's Clothing to this creature.
Allow me to apologize for at least two cards that will cause the Rules Manager much pain. Mechanically, the only card that I felt had to be driven by the art was the Morph, as that's a very clear sign. Presumably this set has morphs if the art is to be in it. I tried to keep a decent mix of Timmy (Master Replimagus), Johnny (Sheep in Wolf's Clothing) and Spike (Bargain With the Past) and keep the complexities appropriate for the rarity. Picture #7 was the hardest - as a flavor goob, this is a significant event, but it's clearly Red, and the choices are uncommon creature or common sorcery.
Wizards gave the designers 10 "holes to fill" and the details on what needed to go into those holes. The catch - art had already been done for the cards. The full art (which is worth checking out along with my answers) is at http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/designersearch/episode3
I hate these challenges. I sleep like crap the night after they're released. Off to read what the real candidates did...
White (uncommon)
We need an answer to all the token making in the environment. Be subtle.
Rings of Resistance (Picture #2)
2W
Enchantment
Uncommon
Whenever a creature comes into play, that creature's controller sacrifices it unless they pay X, where X is the number of other creatures that share a type with this creature.
White (rare)
We're looking for a weird Johnny-style enchantment
Rally Around the Flag (Picture #8)
3WWW
Enchantment
Rare
Creatures in your graveyard can attack or block as though they were in play. (They still tap to attack)
Blue (common)
We need a sorcery. No card filtering or drawing. No bounce (aka returning cards to hand).
Internal Reflection (Picture #4)
U
Sorcery
Common
Swap target creature's power and toughness (this effect does not end at end of turn)
Blue (rare)
We need a creature. Something splashy for Timmy.
Arcris, Master Replimagus (Picture #1)
5UU
Rare
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a token into play that is a copy of target creature you control.
3/3
Black (uncommon)
Make an aura you want to put on your own creatures.
Petrifying Glare (Picture #3)
BB
Enchantment - Aura
Uncommon
Enchant creature
Flash
Destroy all creatures blocking or blocked by enchanted creature at end of combat.
Black (rare)
Can be anything.
Bargain with the Past (Picture #10)
2B
Sorcery
Rare
Sacrifice all permanents that came into play under your control since the beginning of your last turn.
Draw three cards.
Red (common)
Instant or sorcery. No direct damage or destruction (artifact or land).
Disrupting Overlay (Picture #7)
2R
Instant
Common
Players may not play instants or sorceries until end of turn. Draw a card.
Red (uncommon)
Creature. Want a build around me for draft (aka something that will encourage players to go down a path or paths he or she wouldn't normally had they not drafted this card early; examples of this type of card are Lightning Rift, Mark of Eviction and Momentary Blink).
Sulfurous Alarmist (Picture #6)
2R
Creature - Human Wizard
Uncommon
Morph - 1R
When Sufurous Alarmist is turned face up, turn target creature face up until end of turn.
At the beginning of your upkeep, turn Sulfurous Alarmist face down.
0/1
Green (common)
Creature. Something that costs four or more mana.
Fangren Behemoth (Picture #9)
Creature - Behemoth
Common
5GG
Sacrifice an artifact: put a Metal token on Fangren Behemoth.
Remove a Metal token from Fangren Behemoth: Regenerate Fangren Behemoth.
6/4
Green (rare)
Non-creature spell. Green's lacking in "wow" factor (aka something that will impress the player by how different it is).
Sheep in Wolf's Clothing (Picture #5)
3G
Enchantment - Aura
Rare
Enchant creature you control
GG: Sacrifice enchanted creature. Search your library for a creature with a lower converted mana cost than enchanted creature and put it into play. Attach Sheep in Wolf's Clothing to this creature.
Allow me to apologize for at least two cards that will cause the Rules Manager much pain. Mechanically, the only card that I felt had to be driven by the art was the Morph, as that's a very clear sign. Presumably this set has morphs if the art is to be in it. I tried to keep a decent mix of Timmy (Master Replimagus), Johnny (Sheep in Wolf's Clothing) and Spike (Bargain With the Past) and keep the complexities appropriate for the rarity. Picture #7 was the hardest - as a flavor goob, this is a significant event, but it's clearly Red, and the choices are uncommon creature or common sorcery.