I began with this design (based on 'Display' that I made for Prismari):
Oozing Host1B
Creature - Human (U)
Deathtouch
Taint 2BB (If you cast this for 2BB, it enters the battlefield with a Larva counter on it. When it dies, return it to the battlefield.)
1/1
Just a kickered rebound for creatures. Not too deep or impressive.
Then I gave it a twist:
Oozing Host1B
Creature - Human
Deathtouch
Taint 2BB (If you cast this for 2BB, it enters the battlefield with a Larva counter on it. When it dies, you may sacrifice a creature. If you do, return this card to the battlefield. Otherwise, create two 1/1 black Horror creature tokens.)
1/1
A lot longer, but this gives the mechanic character. Taint cards synergize with each other, since you can use the tokens from one to recover another creature that's bigger, or better in the moment (it's hard to give up 3 creatures for a simple 1/1 deathtouch, but sometimes it's the right move.) Also, Taint decks gain synergies with cards that reward going wide, sacrificing effects, or cheap creatures in general.
It goes from being a generic kicker, to becoming the whole strategy for a color pair.
Now some generals:
Granidor, Tainter Supreme4BB
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard
At the beginning of your end step, create a 1/1 black Horror creature token. T, Pay 2 life: Put a Larva counter on target nontoken creature you control without a Larva counter on it. When it dies, you may sacrifice a creature. If you do, return that card to the battlefield. Otherwise, create two 1/1 black Horror creature tokens.
4/5
Lugreza, Acolyte of Growth2GB
Legendary Creature - Elf Cleric GB, T, Exile another creature you control with a Larva counter on it: Create a 7/7 Horror creature token with Trample.
Taint 4BG (If you cast this for 4BG, it enters the battlefield with a Larva counter on it. When it dies, you may sacrifice a creature. If you do, return this card to the battlefield. Otherwise, create two 1/1 black Horror creature tokens.)
3/4
I feel like this is trying to do too much with one mechanic. I think the first version was fine, though didn't really feel "larva flavored", and the "get tokens when this dies" by itself seems fine too, but the combination of the two makes it much less elegant.
I like the former version better, just because it give opportunity for the card to have abilities that care about having the larva counter for buffing, and then it recurs as a "baby" version of what just died.
Oozing Host 1B
Creature - Human (U)
Taint 3BB (If you cast this for 2BB, it enters the battlefield with a Larva counter on it. When it dies, return it to the battlefield.)
Deathtouch
CARDNAME has +2/+2 and menace as long as it has a Larva counter on it.
1/1
So you get a 3/3 menace deathtouch that dies and spawns a 1/1 deathtouch (probably shouldn't be human)
I second rowanalpha on everything.
Choice and interactivity are good, but more is not always better. Especially for a set mechanic. Layer on more complexity and strategic depth on top of the mechanic, don't build too much into it. It limits your options for what kind of things you can add onto cards with the mechanic and prevents you from making nice simple commons with the mechanic.
Oozing Host 1B
Creature - Human (U)
Deathtouch
Taint 2BB (If you cast this for 2BB, it enters the battlefield with a Larva counter on it. When it dies, return it to the battlefield.)
1/1
Just a kickered rebound for creatures. Not too deep or impressive.
Then I gave it a twist:
Oozing Host 1B
Creature - Human
Deathtouch
Taint 2BB (If you cast this for 2BB, it enters the battlefield with a Larva counter on it. When it dies, you may sacrifice a creature. If you do, return this card to the battlefield. Otherwise, create two 1/1 black Horror creature tokens.)
1/1
A lot longer, but this gives the mechanic character. Taint cards synergize with each other, since you can use the tokens from one to recover another creature that's bigger, or better in the moment (it's hard to give up 3 creatures for a simple 1/1 deathtouch, but sometimes it's the right move.) Also, Taint decks gain synergies with cards that reward going wide, sacrificing effects, or cheap creatures in general.
It goes from being a generic kicker, to becoming the whole strategy for a color pair.
Now some generals:
Granidor, Tainter Supreme 4BB
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard
At the beginning of your end step, create a 1/1 black Horror creature token.
T, Pay 2 life: Put a Larva counter on target nontoken creature you control without a Larva counter on it. When it dies, you may sacrifice a creature. If you do, return that card to the battlefield. Otherwise, create two 1/1 black Horror creature tokens.
4/5
Lugreza, Acolyte of Growth 2GB
Legendary Creature - Elf Cleric
GB, T, Exile another creature you control with a Larva counter on it: Create a 7/7 Horror creature token with Trample.
Taint 4BG (If you cast this for 4BG, it enters the battlefield with a Larva counter on it. When it dies, you may sacrifice a creature. If you do, return this card to the battlefield. Otherwise, create two 1/1 black Horror creature tokens.)
3/4
I like the former version better, just because it give opportunity for the card to have abilities that care about having the larva counter for buffing, and then it recurs as a "baby" version of what just died.
Oozing Host 1B
Creature - Human (U)
Taint 3BB (If you cast this for 2BB, it enters the battlefield with a Larva counter on it. When it dies, return it to the battlefield.)
Deathtouch
CARDNAME has +2/+2 and menace as long as it has a Larva counter on it.
1/1
So you get a 3/3 menace deathtouch that dies and spawns a 1/1 deathtouch (probably shouldn't be human)
Choice and interactivity are good, but more is not always better. Especially for a set mechanic. Layer on more complexity and strategic depth on top of the mechanic, don't build too much into it. It limits your options for what kind of things you can add onto cards with the mechanic and prevents you from making nice simple commons with the mechanic.
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice