I removed the string that still had an uncredited card (Deeproot's Gifts). You may edit this post to repost those images if you can find or remove that render. Do not remove this text. Thanks!
-Gerrard's Mom
Text versions of cards would be nice, as uncredited artwork tends to vanish.
I think elvish manipulator should cost 2 more. It has 2 abilites, the first already making it roughly comparable to llanowar (and with duals, better than llanowar), and the second ability is also very good.
Warrior totem -- might as well be an enchantment.
keeneye -- personally, I think this is too good. 2/1 reach for 1 cc is already a bit much, but its also in a relevant creature type.
Matriarch's tap ability isn't green, sylvan library notwithstanding.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sometimes, the situation is outracing a threat, sometimes it's ignoring it, and sometimes it involves sideboarding in 4x Hope//Pray." --Doug Linn
It was at that moment that I realized: I'm kinda just making these things up. We can just write the rules the way we want them to work. People will have fun, and people will get it.
It was at that moment that I realized: I'm kinda just making these things up. We can just write the rules the way we want them to work. People will have fun, and people will get it.
Says who? First strike isn't a color-specific ability and it never has been.
The modern color pie says first strike isn't green. The only two mono green cards in in modern with first strike are legendary.
Also, Warcaller is far too good. Compare its ability to Chameleon Colossus. 4 green mana and all your elves get +6/+6 with no other help? It can be an attacking 8/9 turn four playing just him and forests.
EDIT: In regards to Keeneye compared to Ezuri's Archers: 2/1 for 1 is a lot different than a 1/2 for 1. Keeneye is better at swinging and trading with ground critters, Ezuri's is better at blocking fliers and little guys. You can't say Ezuri's Archers is just better because it's not, they serve different purposes.
Says who? First strike isn't a color-specific ability and it never has been.
Huh? I don't understand what you mean by this, every keyword ability appears in certain colors more than others. Blue cards can get haste, but they don't get it very often. In the same way, first strike isn't part of green's color pie. There's nothing preventing you from giving green first strike, just like there's nothing preventing me from giving white deathtouch, but just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.
IMO, if you're arguing for an ability in a specific color you need one of two things. A) Sufficient evidence that the ability in question is part of that color's modern color-pie, or B) a good reason to shift that ability into the color.
Green clearly doesn't get first strike by modern standards, and I don't see any good reason that first strike should be shifted into green.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"In the beginning, MTG Salvation switched to a new forum format.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
It was at that moment that I realized: I'm kinda just making these things up. We can just write the rules the way we want them to work. People will have fun, and people will get it.
Green clearly doesn't get first strike by modern standards
Except for the green cards that do. First strike is an ability that every color utilizes in modern. Saying "Yeah, but it's mostly green legendaries" is pointless because it's not just green legendaries nor does that make those creatures less green.
IMO it works just fine because it's only on warriors here. And there's only so much you can do with elves as a mechanic without doing reprints.
Except for the green cards that do. First strike is an ability that every color utilizes in modern. Saying "Yeah, but it's mostly green legendaries" is pointless because it's not just green legendaries nor does that make those creatures less green.
IMO it works just fine because it's only on warriors here. And there's only so much you can do with elves as a mechanic without doing reprints.
Cards with first strike and green in them in modern. (As already linked by MOON-E, I felt as though you didn't actually look at them)
Let's go through them:
Bant Sureblade: Requires white, doesn't even need green.
Ember Weaver: Requires a red permanent.
Glissa Sunseeker: Rare, legendary.
Glissa, the Traitor: Rare, legendary, has black (tertiary in first strike)
Mirri, Cat Warrior: Rare, legendary.
Rakeclaw Gargantuan: Has both white and red.
Spitting Slug: Timeshifted from The Dark. Not indicative of modern design
Titanic Ultimatum: Also has both white and red.
Now take off the cards that require other colors and we're left with Glissa Sunseeker, Mirri, Cat Warrior, and Spitting Slug. Take out Spitting Slug because it's a time shifted card and not indicative of modern design and what are we left with? Two rare, legendary creatures. It's not most, it is just legendary creatures that first strike shows up on in mono green and there's only two of them in the past 10 years. There is no precedence for this much first strike at lower rarities in mono green.
Look at it this way. First Strike is not only not in green's modern color pie, but it's also kind of the easy way out in this case. You need an ability for the warriors just because, as you said, there's only so much that you can do. But MaRo likes to say that restrictions breed creativity - in this case, I think restricting yourself by saying you aren't going to use first strike here, gives you the opportunity to get more creative with these cards.
Look at it this way. First Strike is not only not in green's modern color pie, but it's also kind of the easy way out in this case. You need an ability for the warriors just because, as you said, there's only so much that you can do. But MaRo likes to say that restrictions breed creativity - in this case, I think restricting yourself by saying you aren't going to use first strike here, gives you the opportunity to get more creative with these cards.
First strike is an excellent, useful ability. It makes complete sense on a warrior creature. I chose to use first strike to make elves more formidable. First strike makes elves more formidable.
I don't think there's really anything wrong with giving a few green cards first strike. After all, these are just custom cards, it's not like it's really going to negatively affect anything.
As far as the actual cards go, I have a few comments:
Tribal Healer and Elvish Manipulator are probably under costed by 1. I think Arbor Elf is a perfectly fine card that doesn't really need to be obsoleted by commons.
Matriarch's Hand just doesn't seem to do enough for a GGG legendary creature. I think most tribal lords are actually more powerful than this guy without being legendary or as color intensive.
Have I not made it clear how very little I care about such arbitrary restrictions?
Well, you did ask for our thoughts. Part of conventional design is using abilities that fit within a certain color's slice of the color pie. If you want to completely ignore that, that's fine. Your opinions on what "good" design is can completely differ from convention, but it's hard to get feedback from people when you choose to purposefully ignore the conventions that they follow.
This is custom card design, you're free to do whatever you want, but if you're asking for other's opinions then expect them to be based on the existing standards, not your own.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"In the beginning, MTG Salvation switched to a new forum format.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
It was at that moment that I realized: I'm kinda just making these things up. We can just write the rules the way we want them to work. People will have fun, and people will get it.
Well, you did ask for our thoughts. Part of conventional design is using abilities that fit within a certain color's slice of the color pie. If you want to completely ignore that, that's fine. Your opinions on what "good" design is can completely differ from convention, but it's hard to get feedback from people when you choose to purposefully ignore the conventions that they follow.
This is custom card design, you're free to do whatever you want, but if you're asking for other's opinions then expect them to be based on the existing standards, not your own.
Saying "You can't have green creatures with first strike because mostly only legendary green creatures have had first strike" is an arbitrary and asinine rule to follow IMO. I don't see that as a valid criticism. The earlier criticism of the Matriarch's T ability not being green went away awfully quick when I pointed out an example of it being green. There are more examples of green creatures with first strike. You're not beating a dead horse, you're beating a dead, autistic horse.
This is unnecessary and inappropriate use of the word "autistic." Infraction issued.
-Gerrard's Mom
I think Silvos should be well aware by now that first strike is not well-supported in green's part of the color pie, but he still wants to use it. I don't think this argument is going to be very productive. You can suggest some other abilities or make comments about the other cards if you like, but let's drop the first strike argument.
Thanks!
The earlier criticism of the Matriarch's T ability not being green went away awfully quick when I pointed out an example of it being green.
Well, I wanted to focus on the other, more significant issue, but we can talk about that if you want. Gilt-Leaf Seer is one of only 4 green cards (to my knowledge) that allow you to rearange the top of your library, the others being Ferocious Charge, Llanowar Empath, and Tel-Jilad Justice, all of which use the mechanic scry. Scry was a mechanic that was shared by all colors, so it's appearance in green IMO doesn't signify that this effect should be green, the same way I don't think having Rebound in white gives it the precedence for instant and sorcery shenanigans. However, considering the card in question is legendary and mythic, I don't feel like this specific breech of the color pie is all that significant.
Personally, I don't see anything arbitrary or asinine about the arguments myself and other posters have made here, they've been well reasoned with very clear examples. You don't have to listen to us, but please respect out opinions even if you choose to ignore them.
It was at that moment that I realized: I'm kinda just making these things up. We can just write the rules the way we want them to work. People will have fun, and people will get it.
The earlier criticism of the Matriarch's T ability not being green went away awfully quick when I pointed out an example of it being green.
No, I simply quickly realized that talking to you would be like talking to a wall. A wall that doesn't want to be commented on or criticized, but rather likely just wanted pats on the back.
Posting cards only in image form is loathsome. Make some text cards to go with them!
Your cards (or those of them that I can see) are littered with issues.
Even with mono-green in mind the amount of green mana symbols in those costs is quite high; this means both activation costs and casting costs. I don't see a good mechanical reason for this.
Dedicated Scout
1/2 exalted for :symg::symg: at common.
Considering Akrasan Squire, Duty-Bound Dead and Aven Squire I'd put this safely at :1mana::symg:.
At the same time I have no idea what this card does in this group of cards. Exalted seems like a randomly thrown onto the card. There are two lords (one granting mass trample) and one mass-pumping Elf - all suggesting that you usually want to attack with multiple creatures.
So looked at within the context of these cards the card is terrible design. Without context it is awfully uninspired and probably overcost due to your phobia against generic mana costs.
The name doesn't give an exalted vibe either.
Keeneye Sniper
2/1 reach for at common.
Ezuri's Archers don't attack for 2.
This is Elite Vanguard in green first, a creature that can block fliers second. While there is nothing wrong with it in general, this isn't a common. Check 2/1s for C at common and see whether they come without drawback.
Seasoned Battlemonger
3/2 :symg::symg: at common; gains first strike for :symg::symg:.
First strike is not primarily or secondary green. It doesn't go on green commons - there is only one monogreen card created in modern times with first strike. It's a rare legendary creature and probably a reference to that other legendary green creature getting first strike.
And arguably it was created before there was a definite reassignment of keywords to colors a few blocks later.
Tribal Healer
0/1 untapper of lands and Elf creatures for at common.
I feel the name and ability are not a good match.
What's wrong with ":symtap:: Untap target Forest or Elf."?
Elvish Dreamwalker
1/1 taps for X=1/2*Forests +1/+1 counters. Costs :1mana::symg::symg: at rare.
More name ability dissonance. I guess "-walker" fits in there with some stretching, and it's definitely and Elf... Is it walking while it dreams or in other peoples dreams? And why do things grow big because of it?
Halving the number of counters seems inelegant. I'd suggest making it the full number of Forests you control and the cost getting adjusted accordingly.
Elvish Lifeweaver
1/1 +1/+1 counter lucky charm. Costs :symg::symg: at rare.
Name works. Ability works kinda.
This is a perfect example of a card that doesn't need so much green mana in its mana cost. Also since you pay for all the counters individually it doesn't seem like it needs to be rare. I'd not be surprised if this works as an uncommon at :symg:. It's no Quirion Dryad after all.
Elvish Warcaller
2/3 power-based mass Elf-pumper. Costs :symg::symg::symg: at uncommon.
The color commitment seems excessive and arbitrary.
I feel at uncommon you ought to get either an ability that affects all your Elves or an ability that scales through pump effects - both together like that seems like a good place to start thinking rare - also the activation cost ought to be higher due to that self-synergistic potential.
You made Tribal Healer and then forgot about it? This is far less green feeling. One of the two has to go anyway, I'll vote for this.
Matriach, *bla*
hexproof, dies to hand, taps to look at top 3, 1/1 for :2mana::symg::symg:. Legendary rare.
"Matriarch" is a well-known title. Using it as a name for someone with a name and title is ill-advised.
At four mana it shouldn't be a 1/1.
The hexproof ability seems arbitrary.
The second ability seems like something that could work.
The third ability is terrible. It's usually not green and even when it is, then it's not something you want to put on a card. Gilt-Leaf Seer supported an elaborate top-of-library theme. What does this support? Synergy with itself? If you are really that keen on helping a player to get the died Elves back into their hand, then remove the hoops and go straightforward.
There are multiple ways to accomplish that. If you are set on a tap-ability, then how about revealing the top three cards and putting all Elves directly into the hand?
Matriach's Hand
Elf lord, :sygm::symg:: mass trample for Elves. Costs :symg::symg::symg:. Legendary rare.
Not a good name. I was surprised to see this as legendary. The abilities are also not noteworthy enough. Compare Ezuri, Renegade Leader. I personally consider Ezuri a little weak-looking on paper; though the amounts of mana Elf decks can ramp to make it a lot more Timmy-tastic in practice, so that's okay. Yours fails to deliver - I don't even care to activate that ability twice.
I see an overcosted Wizened Cenn for Elves - a creature type that has better nonlegendary stuff to put into their decks.
Matriach's Elite
Elf lord; protection from blue and from black, first strike. Costs :1mana::symg::symg::symg:. Rare.
A little less disappointing than Matriarch's Hand since this one doesn't even pretend to be legendary. I don't see the Shaman in this.
First strike should still not be green except in very rare circumstances - which doesn't even mean any rare could get it. I say make this one the legendary creature (at :2mana::symg::symg: maybe) and scrap the design originally called Matriarch's Hand - the two cards are too similar anyways.
By fusing them into one plausible design you get quite a bit better overall.
Matriach's Canopy
Elf bird-killer :symg::symg:. Uncommon.
You forgot a word in the name, I guess?
The card is a little boring, but the principle idea is fine. Trophy Hunter was a more intriguing design and I'd suggest you look for a way to be less bland as well.
---
Cheers.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Planar Chaos was not a mistake neither was it random. You might want to look at it again.
[thread=239793][Game] Level Up - Creature[/thread]
The names were made with high fantasy in mind. Characters like The Mountain and Dog in A Song of Ice and Fire aren't actually those things. Matriarch's Canopy is not an actual canopy. It protects the elves from flying creatures. Get it? The Matriarch's Hand is called that because he performs physical tasks/violent acts at her will, sort of like "The Right Hand of God." Dedicated Scout is called that because of the combo of being a scout and having exalted. And so on and so forth.
I made the G mana such a focal point to emphasize mono-green.
No, I simply quickly realized that talking to you would be like talking to a wall. A wall that doesn't want to be commented on or criticized, but rather likely just wanted pats on the back.
And, look at that, I was right.
I already changed one of the cards based on feedback. Just because I don't value your feedback doesn't mean I don't want feedback. I'm looking at all of the cards with SecretInfiltrator's feedback in mind.
Oh Christ, seriously? It's not common for green so it must never be done*?
If you're going to do something that's not common, have a reason better than "I felt like it". Gilt-Leaf Seer made sense in context, none of your cards care about the top of your library, so it feels random (in addition to being out of color)
Like I said, do whatever you want, just don't pretend I'm being unreasonable for critiquing these cards based on normal standards.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"In the beginning, MTG Salvation switched to a new forum format.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
It was at that moment that I realized: I'm kinda just making these things up. We can just write the rules the way we want them to work. People will have fun, and people will get it.
If you're going to do something that's not common, have a reason better than "I felt like it". Gilt-Leaf Seer made sense in context, none of your cards care about the top of your library, so it feels random (in addition to being out of color)
Like I said, do whatever you want, just don't pretend I'm being unreasonable for critiquing these cards based on normal standards.
The same card makes use of that ability.
Some/one of your elves die/s, they get shuffled into your library.
Look at the top 3 cards of your library, put the elf you want on top.
The same card makes use of that ability.
Some/one of your elves die/s, they get shuffled into your library.
Look at the top 3 cards of your library, put the elf you want on top.
Just like SecretInfiltrator said, the ability is far too inefficient at doing what it wants to do. When your elves get shuffled back in, digging 3 cards into your deck isn't really going to help you. Since you can't bottom any like scry, you're not even seeing any more cards than normal beyond the first activation (each turn you're only seeing one new card). If you want to have an ability that's good at getting your elves back, why not make it actually good at getting your elves back? Not only would SI's suggestion make a lot more sense and work a lot better, it would also actually be part of green's color pie.
It was at that moment that I realized: I'm kinda just making these things up. We can just write the rules the way we want them to work. People will have fun, and people will get it.
Reworked and added a few more.
I removed the string that still had an uncredited card (Deeproot's Gifts). You may edit this post to repost those images if you can find or remove that render. Do not remove this text. Thanks!
-Gerrard's Mom
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
I think elvish manipulator should cost 2 more. It has 2 abilites, the first already making it roughly comparable to llanowar (and with duals, better than llanowar), and the second ability is also very good.
Warrior totem -- might as well be an enchantment.
keeneye -- personally, I think this is too good. 2/1 reach for 1 cc is already a bit much, but its also in a relevant creature type.
Matriarch's tap ability isn't green, sylvan library notwithstanding.
"Sometimes, the situation is outracing a threat, sometimes it's ignoring it, and sometimes it involves sideboarding in 4x Hope//Pray." --Doug Linn
Dedicated Scout: I really love the flavor of this card.
Seasoned Battlemonger: First strike in green?
Matriarch: Card sifting isn't green.
Matriarch's Elite: Again with the frist strike
Warrior Totem: Why is this an artifact?
A lot of these cards are fine, but the first strike doesn't make sense in green.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
Comic Book Set
Archester: Frontier of Steam (A steampunk set!)
A Good Place to Start Designing
Ezuri's Archers is better for the same cost.
Gilt-Leaf Seer.
I've kept it relegated to warriors. And, Elvish Archers, [CARD]
Emerald Dragonfly[/CARD], Glissa Sunseeker, etc.
//gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?text=+[first">+[strike]&color=|[G]&format=[%22Modern%22]"]Here is a list of every green instance of first strike in the modern era. Disregarding the timeshifted card, only 3 of these cards have first strike without the inclusion of White or Black. All three are legendary, and Mirri is a reprint from a previous era.
EDIT: There's also really no reason to shift first strike into green.
You might be able to get away with a little bit of first strike in green, but it definitely shouldn't be on multiple cards and at common.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
Comic Book Set
Archester: Frontier of Steam (A steampunk set!)
A Good Place to Start Designing
All 5 colors have numerous instances of first strike. Green just has the second fewest.
Says who? First strike isn't a color-specific ability and it never has been.
The modern color pie says first strike isn't green. The only two mono green cards in in modern with first strike are legendary.
Also, Warcaller is far too good. Compare its ability to Chameleon Colossus. 4 green mana and all your elves get +6/+6 with no other help? It can be an attacking 8/9 turn four playing just him and forests.
EDIT: In regards to Keeneye compared to Ezuri's Archers: 2/1 for 1 is a lot different than a 1/2 for 1. Keeneye is better at swinging and trading with ground critters, Ezuri's is better at blocking fliers and little guys. You can't say Ezuri's Archers is just better because it's not, they serve different purposes.
Huh? I don't understand what you mean by this, every keyword ability appears in certain colors more than others. Blue cards can get haste, but they don't get it very often. In the same way, first strike isn't part of green's color pie. There's nothing preventing you from giving green first strike, just like there's nothing preventing me from giving white deathtouch, but just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.
IMO, if you're arguing for an ability in a specific color you need one of two things. A) Sufficient evidence that the ability in question is part of that color's modern color-pie, or B) a good reason to shift that ability into the color.
Green clearly doesn't get first strike by modern standards, and I don't see any good reason that first strike should be shifted into green.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
Comic Book Set
Archester: Frontier of Steam (A steampunk set!)
A Good Place to Start Designing
Except for the green cards that do. First strike is an ability that every color utilizes in modern. Saying "Yeah, but it's mostly green legendaries" is pointless because it's not just green legendaries nor does that make those creatures less green.
IMO it works just fine because it's only on warriors here. And there's only so much you can do with elves as a mechanic without doing reprints.
Cards with first strike and green in them in modern. (As already linked by MOON-E, I felt as though you didn't actually look at them)
Let's go through them:
Bant Sureblade: Requires white, doesn't even need green.
Ember Weaver: Requires a red permanent.
Glissa Sunseeker: Rare, legendary.
Glissa, the Traitor: Rare, legendary, has black (tertiary in first strike)
Mirri, Cat Warrior: Rare, legendary.
Rakeclaw Gargantuan: Has both white and red.
Spitting Slug: Timeshifted from The Dark. Not indicative of modern design
Titanic Ultimatum: Also has both white and red.
Now take off the cards that require other colors and we're left with Glissa Sunseeker, Mirri, Cat Warrior, and Spitting Slug. Take out Spitting Slug because it's a time shifted card and not indicative of modern design and what are we left with? Two rare, legendary creatures. It's not most, it is just legendary creatures that first strike shows up on in mono green and there's only two of them in the past 10 years. There is no precedence for this much first strike at lower rarities in mono green.
My custom sets:
Caeia Block (Released - Beta)
Generals of Dareth (In Design)
Have I not made it clear how very little I care about such arbitrary restrictions?
First strike is an excellent, useful ability. It makes complete sense on a warrior creature. I chose to use first strike to make elves more formidable. First strike makes elves more formidable.
As far as the actual cards go, I have a few comments:
Tribal Healer and Elvish Manipulator are probably under costed by 1. I think Arbor Elf is a perfectly fine card that doesn't really need to be obsoleted by commons.
Matriarch's Hand just doesn't seem to do enough for a GGG legendary creature. I think most tribal lords are actually more powerful than this guy without being legendary or as color intensive.
Well, you did ask for our thoughts. Part of conventional design is using abilities that fit within a certain color's slice of the color pie. If you want to completely ignore that, that's fine. Your opinions on what "good" design is can completely differ from convention, but it's hard to get feedback from people when you choose to purposefully ignore the conventions that they follow.
This is custom card design, you're free to do whatever you want, but if you're asking for other's opinions then expect them to be based on the existing standards, not your own.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
Comic Book Set
Archester: Frontier of Steam (A steampunk set!)
A Good Place to Start Designing
Saying "You can't have green creatures with first strike because mostly only legendary green creatures have had first strike" is an arbitrary and asinine rule to follow IMO. I don't see that as a valid criticism. The earlier criticism of the Matriarch's T ability not being green went away awfully quick when I pointed out an example of it being green. There are more examples of green creatures with first strike. You're not beating a dead horse, you're beating a dead, autistic horse.
This is unnecessary and inappropriate use of the word "autistic." Infraction issued.
-Gerrard's Mom
Thanks!
Well, I wanted to focus on the other, more significant issue, but we can talk about that if you want. Gilt-Leaf Seer is one of only 4 green cards (to my knowledge) that allow you to rearange the top of your library, the others being Ferocious Charge, Llanowar Empath, and Tel-Jilad Justice, all of which use the mechanic scry. Scry was a mechanic that was shared by all colors, so it's appearance in green IMO doesn't signify that this effect should be green, the same way I don't think having Rebound in white gives it the precedence for instant and sorcery shenanigans. However, considering the card in question is legendary and mythic, I don't feel like this specific breech of the color pie is all that significant.
Personally, I don't see anything arbitrary or asinine about the arguments myself and other posters have made here, they've been well reasoned with very clear examples. You don't have to listen to us, but please respect out opinions even if you choose to ignore them.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
Comic Book Set
Archester: Frontier of Steam (A steampunk set!)
A Good Place to Start Designing
No, I simply quickly realized that talking to you would be like talking to a wall. A wall that doesn't want to be commented on or criticized, but rather likely just wanted pats on the back.
And, look at that, I was right.
"Sometimes, the situation is outracing a threat, sometimes it's ignoring it, and sometimes it involves sideboarding in 4x Hope//Pray." --Doug Linn
Your cards (or those of them that I can see) are littered with issues.
Even with mono-green in mind the amount of green mana symbols in those costs is quite high; this means both activation costs and casting costs. I don't see a good mechanical reason for this.
Dedicated Scout
At the same time I have no idea what this card does in this group of cards. Exalted seems like a randomly thrown onto the card. There are two lords (one granting mass trample) and one mass-pumping Elf - all suggesting that you usually want to attack with multiple creatures.
So looked at within the context of these cards the card is terrible design. Without context it is awfully uninspired and probably overcost due to your phobia against generic mana costs.
The name doesn't give an exalted vibe either.
Keeneye Sniper
This is Elite Vanguard in green first, a creature that can block fliers second. While there is nothing wrong with it in general, this isn't a common. Check 2/1s for C at common and see whether they come without drawback.
Seasoned Battlemonger
And arguably it was created before there was a definite reassignment of keywords to colors a few blocks later.
Tribal Healer
What's wrong with ":symtap:: Untap target Forest or Elf."?
Elvish Dreamwalker
Halving the number of counters seems inelegant. I'd suggest making it the full number of Forests you control and the cost getting adjusted accordingly.
Elvish Lifeweaver
This is a perfect example of a card that doesn't need so much green mana in its mana cost. Also since you pay for all the counters individually it doesn't seem like it needs to be rare. I'd not be surprised if this works as an uncommon at :symg:. It's no Quirion Dryad after all.
Elvish Warcaller
I feel at uncommon you ought to get either an ability that affects all your Elves or an ability that scales through pump effects - both together like that seems like a good place to start thinking rare - also the activation cost ought to be higher due to that self-synergistic potential.
Elvish Manipulator
Matriach, *bla*
At four mana it shouldn't be a 1/1.
The hexproof ability seems arbitrary.
The second ability seems like something that could work.
The third ability is terrible. It's usually not green and even when it is, then it's not something you want to put on a card. Gilt-Leaf Seer supported an elaborate top-of-library theme. What does this support? Synergy with itself? If you are really that keen on helping a player to get the died Elves back into their hand, then remove the hoops and go straightforward.
There are multiple ways to accomplish that. If you are set on a tap-ability, then how about revealing the top three cards and putting all Elves directly into the hand?
Matriach's Hand
I see an overcosted Wizened Cenn for Elves - a creature type that has better nonlegendary stuff to put into their decks.
Matriach's Elite
First strike should still not be green except in very rare circumstances - which doesn't even mean any rare could get it. I say make this one the legendary creature (at :2mana::symg::symg: maybe) and scrap the design originally called Matriarch's Hand - the two cards are too similar anyways.
By fusing them into one plausible design you get quite a bit better overall.
Matriach's Canopy
The card is a little boring, but the principle idea is fine. Trophy Hunter was a more intriguing design and I'd suggest you look for a way to be less bland as well.
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Cheers.
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
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I made the G mana such a focal point to emphasize mono-green.
Oh Christ, seriously? It's not common for green so it must never be done*?
*except for those times when it has been done
I already changed one of the cards based on feedback. Just because I don't value your feedback doesn't mean I don't want feedback. I'm looking at all of the cards with SecretInfiltrator's feedback in mind.
If you're going to do something that's not common, have a reason better than "I felt like it". Gilt-Leaf Seer made sense in context, none of your cards care about the top of your library, so it feels random (in addition to being out of color)
Like I said, do whatever you want, just don't pretend I'm being unreasonable for critiquing these cards based on normal standards.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
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Archester: Frontier of Steam (A steampunk set!)
A Good Place to Start Designing
The same card makes use of that ability.
Some/one of your elves die/s, they get shuffled into your library.
Look at the top 3 cards of your library, put the elf you want on top.
Gilt-Leaf Seer was in a set that had a //gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?text=+[clash">"]major mechanic that cared about the top of your library, and was followed by another set that had a //gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?text=+[kinship">"]another mechanic that cared about the top of your library. This made the ability very relevant.
Just like SecretInfiltrator said, the ability is far too inefficient at doing what it wants to do. When your elves get shuffled back in, digging 3 cards into your deck isn't really going to help you. Since you can't bottom any like scry, you're not even seeing any more cards than normal beyond the first activation (each turn you're only seeing one new card). If you want to have an ability that's good at getting your elves back, why not make it actually good at getting your elves back? Not only would SI's suggestion make a lot more sense and work a lot better, it would also actually be part of green's color pie.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
Comic Book Set
Archester: Frontier of Steam (A steampunk set!)
A Good Place to Start Designing