To all the people saying this couldn't be Common - I'm not sure that's right. Sure, it typically wouldn't be a Common if Wizards printed it, but a 2/2 flyer with an ability similar to Looter il-Kor would be fine in a hypothetical environment where a 2/2 flyer is slightly less good than usual.
And it's not like Wizards would never print a small angel. They just don't make a habit of it. In a set where Angels and Demons were a major part of the flavour I don't see a problem with this card.
The FCC is supposed to be about good card design. I don't see that there's a need to be ultra-conservative about which cards are acceptable. Cards should be plausible (so no Blue Goblins which tap to give +2/+2) but shouldn't need to fall strictly within the scope of stuff Wizards has already printed.
Congrats to Jack Power! In my view it's a fine card.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
--
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
It's a blue ability you say? So scry shouldn't be on any card but a blue card unless it's uncommon? Cloudchaser Kestrel is a 2/2 flier with a come into play effect and a repeditive blue ability and it's not uncommon.
Soltari Visionary isn't uncommon and it has evasion+repeditive effect.
pegasus charger would just stop this card in its tracks as would a goldmeadow harrier.
Note that the ability forces you to put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library then draw. You don't get to see what you're drawing and you might not want to lose anything that's in your hand so you decide not to attack.
I agree about the small angel thing- Angelic Page was a cool common angel, but only because she was just that- a lesser angel. I think a 2/2 flying scout sounds fine.
I just wanted to comment again, that even though people are criticizing the card (which I guess is fine, most of it has a point, and it doesn't change the fact that it's a solid card), it's extremely difficult to design a strong, playable common, that not only makes itself useful, but also stays within common range. I think this is very strong, but it could definitely pass. I just feel bad for the judges last round... Must have been hard to gauge all this.
Nice work. While I think overall this is a decent card (from a mechanical point of view)...the flavor irks me, somewhat. For one thing, I think Angels should really be at least 3/3 preferably higher (they are celestial beings made of pure mana, afterall. Give'em some credit here).
Perhaps if it were an Aven, a Faerie, or something, I'd like it alot more.
Seconded. Angels are supposed to be big, unique and iconic - I believe the last common Angel was in Invasion. And Angel Scout?? Really, Aven or Faerie would do much better. I also believe that while Mindshift is nice ability, the card shouldn't be common when you place it on a 2/2 flying body for 3 mana.
Nice idea, but i think the mind shift is probably more of a blue/black ability. Also other then being an angel costing 1[W][W] and being a 2/2 thats already too cheap for an angel these days.... Where's the draw back for a card that good? Maybe instead of Mindshift have a triggered ability like a Scouts Warning on the card instead and possibly increasing the mana cost somehow. In which case say you were to keep the mindshift ability make her cost include a different color.
She just doesnt seem all White to me.
I think though with some subtle changes she would be a great card to play with, however she's still under costed.
I think that this card is a little too good at a common, but whatever. Nice work. The mechanic seems worded strangely, but it is correctly done. Just one of those instances where it sounds off but isnt. Nice pic too.
As a catch-all for all complaints about mindshift: it isn't a card drawing mechanic; it's a card filtering mechanic. (If you have no cards in hand, you get no cards from mindshifting) My original idea was something along the lines of Credit Voucher. Discard had been done to death, and creating another mechanic that causes a shuffle was kinda boring, so I went with the bottom of the library. It fits with all colors, although the higher 'shift values would be in blue (forgetting the past to learn the future) and black (self-brainwashing), and I couldn't see white having any more than mindshift 1, possibly 2 (changing battle tactics); but I can certainly see mindshift having a place in all colors.
It's obvious that the idea of a common Angel is divisive, to say the least, so I won't add any more to it.
The artwork on the card is amazing, but I do have to agree with the critics on many things. The one thing that keeps white in check is that it does not filter or draw cards on its own. This is the color of the amazingly efficient creature (2/2 for W anyone?) and as thus the mechanic should not be on a creature that is solely white or red. Black, blue and believe it or not green could be justified in having this. I actually disagree personally with green, but as of late green has been getting creatures that draw so why not. Also, an angel at common is pretty unusual. The mechanic itself does seem cool as does the artwork. Criticism aside, congrats.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
EDH Decks:
UWMerfolk (Sygg, River Guide) B Vampires (Anowon the Ruin Sage) BRU Zombies! (Lord of Tresserhorn) WUBRG Allies (Karona, False God) W Soldiers (Darien, King of Kjeldor)
The one thing that keeps white in check is that it does not filter or draw cards on its own.
This is not accurate.
The reason mindshift works in white is because it is a keyword and the reason it works on this card is because ti is common. R&D designs certain keywords to give draw smoothing capabilities to all colors. See: Judge Unworthy, Bandage, Sunfire Balm, Springjack Knight. Scry, cantriping, cycling, and clash are all abilities that wouldn't normally be a part of white's slice of the pie but they play a vital roll in smoothing draws for limited. The mechanic is a perfect fit for a common card.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
The Golden Rule of forums: If you're going to be rude, be right. If you might be wrong, be polite.
Record: 3-2
Simpsons Mafia (Newbie) - Vanilla Mafia - Win
The Fiasco Corporation - Town Reporter - Loss
Doomsday Mafia - Mafia Roleblocker - Win
Battle Royale Mafia - Serial Daykiller - Loss
Danger City Mafia - Vanilla Town - Win
And it's not like Wizards would never print a small angel. They just don't make a habit of it. In a set where Angels and Demons were a major part of the flavour I don't see a problem with this card.
The FCC is supposed to be about good card design. I don't see that there's a need to be ultra-conservative about which cards are acceptable. Cards should be plausible (so no Blue Goblins which tap to give +2/+2) but shouldn't need to fall strictly within the scope of stuff Wizards has already printed.
Congrats to Jack Power! In my view it's a fine card.
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
It's a blue ability you say? So scry shouldn't be on any card but a blue card unless it's uncommon? Cloudchaser Kestrel is a 2/2 flier with a come into play effect and a repeditive blue ability and it's not uncommon.
Soltari Visionary isn't uncommon and it has evasion+repeditive effect.
pegasus charger would just stop this card in its tracks as would a goldmeadow harrier.
Note that the ability forces you to put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library then draw. You don't get to see what you're drawing and you might not want to lose anything that's in your hand so you decide not to attack.
I just wanted to comment again, that even though people are criticizing the card (which I guess is fine, most of it has a point, and it doesn't change the fact that it's a solid card), it's extremely difficult to design a strong, playable common, that not only makes itself useful, but also stays within common range. I think this is very strong, but it could definitely pass. I just feel bad for the judges last round... Must have been hard to gauge all this.
Art Page
Alters for sale
Seconded. Angels are supposed to be big, unique and iconic - I believe the last common Angel was in Invasion. And Angel Scout?? Really, Aven or Faerie would do much better. I also believe that while Mindshift is nice ability, the card shouldn't be common when you place it on a 2/2 flying body for 3 mana.
Post 1
Post 2
Post 3
Tired of losing to mana problems or interested to learn more about Magic's mana system?
Comprehensive take
Simplified solution
Are you a fan of Magic and the Game of Thrones?
She just doesnt seem all White to me.
I think though with some subtle changes she would be a great card to play with, however she's still under costed.
The artwork on the card is amazing, but I do have to agree with the critics on many things. The one thing that keeps white in check is that it does not filter or draw cards on its own. This is the color of the amazingly efficient creature (2/2 for W anyone?) and as thus the mechanic should not be on a creature that is solely white or red. Black, blue and believe it or not green could be justified in having this. I actually disagree personally with green, but as of late green has been getting creatures that draw so why not. Also, an angel at common is pretty unusual. The mechanic itself does seem cool as does the artwork. Criticism aside, congrats.
UWMerfolk (Sygg, River Guide)
B Vampires (Anowon the Ruin Sage)
BRU Zombies! (Lord of Tresserhorn)
WUBRG Allies (Karona, False God)
W Soldiers (Darien, King of Kjeldor)
This is not accurate.
The reason mindshift works in white is because it is a keyword and the reason it works on this card is because ti is common. R&D designs certain keywords to give draw smoothing capabilities to all colors. See:
Judge Unworthy, Bandage, Sunfire Balm, Springjack Knight. Scry, cantriping, cycling, and clash are all abilities that wouldn't normally be a part of white's slice of the pie but they play a vital roll in smoothing draws for limited. The mechanic is a perfect fit for a common card.
Current New Favorite Person™: Mallory Archer
She knows why.
GWU Bant Manifest - The Future Is Here. Or it will be at the end of turn. GWU