Quick question: What is the standard policy on explaining flavor in your post? I've notice on some cards this round (and in previous rounds/months) that people put an explanation in their post. I was always under the impression that it was up to the judges to determine whether the card was reasonably flavorful. I understand that the flavor on some cards might be kind of obscure, though, and might need a little background in case the judge happens to miss the point of the card (perhaps because the object of the flavor is unfamiliar to him/her, etc.). What say you?
I personally, as a judge am against the person having to explain the flavour of their card. I am the biggest advocate against it and likely would take points off for it.
However, when circumstances dictate it (like when real world references are involved) I believe it is acceptable because otherwise there is almost no chance that myself and other judges will understand ALL of the submissions. As such, without them, it would be mighty difficult to remain impartial.
What do you think about thawing glaciers in the deck? They won't be affected by high tide, but with multiple untapping effects, they can fetch a couple islands in one turn. Thoughts, Opinions?
A few of the early builds ran Glaciers, but it just didn't add to the deck for 3 reasons.
1) It's not an island. With High Tide being the focal point of the deck, any land in the deck generally needs to be an island.
2) This deck is very very land light. My build only runs 9 islands, so even if you do start fetching them all out, you're not going to be able to get very many. Add to this the fact that this deck is mana hungry, and rarely can afford it's lands to come into play tapped or not produce mana.
3) The ability is only ever relevant when you're already going off. I've found that when I try and go off, I usually succeed without needing to bother with this effect. The only times I can't normally is when it's like turn 3 against goblins and Glaciers would make that even harder than already is.
So I've been thinking...I want to keep disrupts around, but also want to toolbox my sideboard to better deal with artifacts. What about md-ing the disrupts in place of opt? it ups the counterspell count to 12, and if nothing else can be used as a cantrip for 1 mana. disrupt would also help out significantly against opposing counters, burn, and namely discard. just a thought. comments?
Because it gives you no selection and it can't be used as a cantrip.
The problem with it is that you generally want to play it turn 1. It HAS to have a target instant or sorcery, you're not allowed to simply play it for no reason and draw a card.
pic 1: Very very very similar to Teferi. Youthful Teferi, though, not the kid as we've seen him in Saga or that grandpa in Invasion. 'Course, walkers can take any form but WotC don't print walkers. So, either this is just another random black... I mean, afrodominarian mage or it is... Teferi from the past! Sounds strange, but would fit the time theme perfectly.
You know what.. the pic may be OF Teferi. But I will tell you right now that it is NOT for a card of him.
Teferi is in Time Spiral, as the book shows, but if I remember corectly, he is still a planeswalker. As such the card, if it even is a pic of Teferi, will likely be along the lines of Teferi's Care or Teferi's Moat.
No matter what people may wish or think, it will not be a card called Teferi, something something.
Jitte was perfectly fine, and even occasionally helpful for the format.
It will be replaced by more burn/Moldervine Cloak's/removal or whatever useful cards Time Spiral brings.
The only thing I didn't like about Jitte was the text alot of people miss..
Ah, that makes sense. I'll try not to be such a nublet.
Solidarity seems an intersting deck. I can't find the cards for it in New Zealand without paying lots of money for them. (Dunno how much Reset is worth, but I can't afford to pay $NZ50 each for them) I'll definitely play this online though.
Also, I prefer using Echoing Truth in the board, as getting hit by the Chalice makes us unable to go off until Turn Death+5.
As far as Resets go, if they are expensive, which they usually are as they tend to be difficult to find, look around and see if you can find any Italian ones. That's what I did, and they are both easier to find and rather less expnsive.
Bonus: Actually, that weird border is part of the screen cap. Don't worry, doesn't make much sense to me either.
Balance: I briefly toyed with giving her protection from black instead, but that's a little boring...and ultimately, she DID destroy all evil in the universe (though she got by with a little help from her friends).
FCQ: You wouldn't know it to look at her, but she gets the best selection of equipment in the game, gets healing and transportation and fire magic, and even learns more unusual spells. Alis Landale is a bad***. [EDIT: ...and would stomp Cloud flat. There, I said it.]
Still, thanks for the judging!
Lol you'll get no argument from me
I think Cloud was garbage. As for Alis, I don't know, I only played PSO not the originals (though I do own a Sega Master System :p)
Well just reporting in that I won my match against raia 2-1. Fun games, especially the third one when neither one of us were mana screwed in the beginning :p.
I confirm my loss. I like game 3 how I went from being horribly flooded, to mana screwed, such a random match indeed
Bonus (4.5/5): The art is pretty good, but when ther flavour of the card has nothing to do with it, showing him with Gandalf in the widely known seen is a bit meh.
Balance (9/10): Not too strong and not too weak. Perhaps a bit much for limited but that's why he's a rare. Unfortunately he's one of those creatures that are at ods with themselves. It seems to always want to be attacking (being a huge flier) but has a tap ability as well.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (8/10): The flavour is pretty good, but there are a few things. First 2 damage isn't all that much when you figure it's being swumg by a gigantic beast, and it made of fire/also huge. Secondly, while giving it flying (and maybe there are Balrogs that fly) makes it cooler and stronger, the art should depict the fat which it does not.
Total (21.5/25)
Bonus (3/5): No render
Balance (7/10): Seems a bit on the overpowered side to me. It reminds me of Lightning Angel but much, much meaner. A 4-mana, 4-power unblockable guy is powerful, and being 3 colours hardly represents a downside what with all the mana fixing available. Add to this the fact that he is untargetable (only spells but still powerful) and he just seems a bit much.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (9/10): I'm personally not familiar with this character, but from what I've read you seem to have captured him well. Having said that, while I know that the dice is part of the gambling flavour, non-Un magic does not use dice, and as such this card has too much of an Un feeling to it.
Total (19/25)
GPM moves to the next round
Bonus (4/5): Render is pretty meh, if you enjoy making cards, I recommend finding either Magic Set Editor, or MTGEditor. Both are excelent rendering programs that are easy to install/learn.
Balance (1/10): This card is so incredibly broken that I find a hard time even giving it a 1. I personally would rank this right up there with Will and Bargain in terms of brokenness. For one card, that is uncounterable, adds mana, and costs nothing, it completely locks your opponent out of the game barring some wacky decklist. While it seems like it may hurt you too, your deck is of course built around it, and is full of Man-lands and Non-Spell sources of damage.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (5/10): While the flavour is pretty good, the creativity and quality suffer a huge blow, as this is just a generic land, with a broken ability.
Total (10/25)
Bonus (2/5): No render and it's monocoloured
Balance (2/10): Only slightly less broken than your opponents card. The card is more powerful than Ihsan's Shade as it has regeneration, but the card really gets out of hand when you read the last ability. The fact that this card goes nuts with Cute Puppy or any other card with a strong effect and discard as a cost makes him absolutely insane.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (8/10): While I feel you captured the "never dies" element of this character, you completely skipped over his main attribute. The fact that he is a killing machine (or so I am led to believe from his wiki entry, as I don't watch these kinds of films)
Total (12/25)
In the clash of the obscenely broken titans, Zealot_of_Death comes out ahead.
No card submitted
Bonus (5/5): That art is even in my textbook
Balance (6/10): Wow, this card is a bit on the strong side for 3 mana. Even giving the opponent a choice doesn't make all that much difference, as a 3/1 double-striker OR an Unsummon every single turn for no mana (that also blocks 1 or 2 power guys) are both a bit overpowered. I think 4 would have been much more appropriate.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (10/10): Congratulations. I'm in university right now, and one of the things I am studying is greek and roman mythology. You captured the flavour of these creatures perfectly, right up to the choice of death your opponent has. The "either way you lose" flavour works beautifully. And kudos for correct wording from obscure cards.
Total (21/25)
Tahn moves on to the next round
Bonus (4/5): Without the wierd border, it would have got the extra 1.
Balance (9/10): In general, she is very balanced, however I would question the destroy ability. This ability has been deemed a bit out of the colour wheel which is why thePaladins were removed from the base set.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (8/10): The creativity and quality are both very well done, however the flavour confuses me a bit. While I assume she becomes powerful as you progress throughout the game, along with her party, I don't think a generic small woman would be a 3/3 creature.
Total (21/25)
No submission
Istanbul moves on
Bonus (5/5): Nice
Balance (9/10): Seems perfectly balanced to me. Being an undercosted beater is made up for by the fact that he may turn against you at the drop of a hat. Still a bit powerful (as 4-mana, 4-power hasters usually are) but by no means too good.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (8/10): In general pretty good, however "destroyed" is a bit ambiguous to me. I think it should be more along the lines of "Whenever ~ is put into a graveyard from play...".
Total (22/25)
As a sidenote: I really wish I hadn't read about a certain of his exploits... * Raia shudders
Bonus (5/5): Okay render, even if the character is UG-LY.
Balance (7/10): I'd put this on the weak side of things. A 3/3 for 6 mana isn't particularily strong, nor is a coin flip ability that may do something relevant, and costs a boatful of mana (not to mention a 50/50 chance to kill itself as well.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (6/10): While the flavour is captured adequately, the creativity and quality take a hit with something so complicated. That's alot of text for something so random, and +2/+2 counters are no longer used.
Total (18/25)
I personally, as a judge am against the person having to explain the flavour of their card. I am the biggest advocate against it and likely would take points off for it.
However, when circumstances dictate it (like when real world references are involved) I believe it is acceptable because otherwise there is almost no chance that myself and other judges will understand ALL of the submissions. As such, without them, it would be mighty difficult to remain impartial.
A few of the early builds ran Glaciers, but it just didn't add to the deck for 3 reasons.
1) It's not an island. With High Tide being the focal point of the deck, any land in the deck generally needs to be an island.
2) This deck is very very land light. My build only runs 9 islands, so even if you do start fetching them all out, you're not going to be able to get very many. Add to this the fact that this deck is mana hungry, and rarely can afford it's lands to come into play tapped or not produce mana.
3) The ability is only ever relevant when you're already going off. I've found that when I try and go off, I usually succeed without needing to bother with this effect. The only times I can't normally is when it's like turn 3 against goblins and Glaciers would make that even harder than already is.
Because it gives you no selection and it can't be used as a cantrip.
The problem with it is that you generally want to play it turn 1. It HAS to have a target instant or sorcery, you're not allowed to simply play it for no reason and draw a card.
You know what.. the pic may be OF Teferi. But I will tell you right now that it is NOT for a card of him.
Teferi is in Time Spiral, as the book shows, but if I remember corectly, he is still a planeswalker. As such the card, if it even is a pic of Teferi, will likely be along the lines of Teferi's Care or Teferi's Moat.
No matter what people may wish or think, it will not be a card called Teferi, something something.
It will be replaced by more burn/Moldervine Cloak's/removal or whatever useful cards Time Spiral brings.
The only thing I didn't like about Jitte was the text alot of people miss..
"Win target draft"
I think the point to finishers is that you don't let them die.
Everyone else calls it Sea Stompy.
Basically because it's like Fish + Zoo and a Fish Zoo is an Aquarium, and Marine Land is the name of a theme park here based on water/fish.
Even when I wake him at 3 or 4 in the morning to build and play 300 card highlander prismatic with legacy banned, and basic lands restricted too.
I love you hunny
Yes Echoing Truth is important for the board.
As far as Resets go, if they are expensive, which they usually are as they tend to be difficult to find, look around and see if you can find any Italian ones. That's what I did, and they are both easier to find and rather less expnsive.
Lol you'll get no argument from me
I think Cloud was garbage. As for Alis, I don't know, I only played PSO not the originals (though I do own a Sega Master System :p)
I confirm my loss. I like game 3 how I went from being horribly flooded, to mana screwed, such a random match indeed
Balance (9/10): Not too strong and not too weak. Perhaps a bit much for limited but that's why he's a rare. Unfortunately he's one of those creatures that are at ods with themselves. It seems to always want to be attacking (being a huge flier) but has a tap ability as well.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (8/10): The flavour is pretty good, but there are a few things. First 2 damage isn't all that much when you figure it's being swumg by a gigantic beast, and it made of fire/also huge. Secondly, while giving it flying (and maybe there are Balrogs that fly) makes it cooler and stronger, the art should depict the fat which it does not.
Total (21.5/25)
Balance (7/10): Seems a bit on the overpowered side to me. It reminds me of Lightning Angel but much, much meaner. A 4-mana, 4-power unblockable guy is powerful, and being 3 colours hardly represents a downside what with all the mana fixing available. Add to this the fact that he is untargetable (only spells but still powerful) and he just seems a bit much.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (9/10): I'm personally not familiar with this character, but from what I've read you seem to have captured him well. Having said that, while I know that the dice is part of the gambling flavour, non-Un magic does not use dice, and as such this card has too much of an Un feeling to it.
Total (19/25)
Balance (1/10): This card is so incredibly broken that I find a hard time even giving it a 1. I personally would rank this right up there with Will and Bargain in terms of brokenness. For one card, that is uncounterable, adds mana, and costs nothing, it completely locks your opponent out of the game barring some wacky decklist. While it seems like it may hurt you too, your deck is of course built around it, and is full of Man-lands and Non-Spell sources of damage.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (5/10): While the flavour is pretty good, the creativity and quality suffer a huge blow, as this is just a generic land, with a broken ability.
Total (10/25)
Balance (2/10): Only slightly less broken than your opponents card. The card is more powerful than Ihsan's Shade as it has regeneration, but the card really gets out of hand when you read the last ability. The fact that this card goes nuts with Cute Puppy or any other card with a strong effect and discard as a cost makes him absolutely insane.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (8/10): While I feel you captured the "never dies" element of this character, you completely skipped over his main attribute. The fact that he is a killing machine (or so I am led to believe from his wiki entry, as I don't watch these kinds of films)
Total (12/25)
Balance (6/10): Wow, this card is a bit on the strong side for 3 mana. Even giving the opponent a choice doesn't make all that much difference, as a 3/1 double-striker OR an Unsummon every single turn for no mana (that also blocks 1 or 2 power guys) are both a bit overpowered. I think 4 would have been much more appropriate.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (10/10): Congratulations. I'm in university right now, and one of the things I am studying is greek and roman mythology. You captured the flavour of these creatures perfectly, right up to the choice of death your opponent has. The "either way you lose" flavour works beautifully. And kudos for correct wording from obscure cards.
Total (21/25)
Balance (9/10): In general, she is very balanced, however I would question the destroy ability. This ability has been deemed a bit out of the colour wheel which is why the Paladins were removed from the base set.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (8/10): The creativity and quality are both very well done, however the flavour confuses me a bit. While I assume she becomes powerful as you progress throughout the game, along with her party, I don't think a generic small woman would be a 3/3 creature.
Total (21/25)
Balance (9/10): Seems perfectly balanced to me. Being an undercosted beater is made up for by the fact that he may turn against you at the drop of a hat. Still a bit powerful (as 4-mana, 4-power hasters usually are) but by no means too good.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (8/10): In general pretty good, however "destroyed" is a bit ambiguous to me. I think it should be more along the lines of "Whenever ~ is put into a graveyard from play...".
Total (22/25)
As a sidenote: I really wish I hadn't read about a certain of his exploits...
* Raia shudders
Balance (7/10): I'd put this on the weak side of things. A 3/3 for 6 mana isn't particularily strong, nor is a coin flip ability that may do something relevant, and costs a boatful of mana (not to mention a 50/50 chance to kill itself as well.
Flavor/Creativity/Quality (6/10): While the flavour is captured adequately, the creativity and quality take a hit with something so complicated. That's alot of text for something so random, and +2/+2 counters are no longer used.
Total (18/25)
Zealot_of_Death
Tahn
Istanbul
Blinking Spirit
I think it would be very important, and allow us to add information about matchups to the Legacy forum.