A better argument against the name clockwork would be that it already has an established mechanical identity, but as they did with slivers I wouldn't really mind changing that identity if it meant improving the mechanic.
Clockwork Bear2(2/G)
Artifact Creature - Bear Torsion 2 (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this has less than two +1/+1 counters on it, put one on it.)
1/1
That suggestion for a mechanic name comes from torsion springs, the most common type of mainspring in clockwork technology. Flavour it like having a second spring winding the mainspring if effort is expended.
I'm pretty sure it's Biomancy becuase the prefixes in magic are generally Latin/Greek based. For example Necro in Latin/Greek means relating to death where as pyro means relating to fire/flame. Bio is the prefix for life in Latin/Greek. Biotech actually is what would fit in with the cycle.
But Biotech is the exact opposite of what we're trying to describe. Biotech is life being used as technology. This is technology being used as life. What we're looking at here is more accurately called biomimetics in our parlance. So, "Mimec X" (Mimec Raptor, Mimec Devourer, etc.) perhaps?
Okay, since we're going with Modular, here's a new name for all the 'Clockwork X' creatures: Createch (Kree-tek). We already have necrotech and pyrotech, so createch is the form of magic that makes the mechanical animals work.
It's like reverse devour. I'm not sure how I like it though, it feels kinda weird to have the creatures with the keyword being the ones being eaten.
It can also affect non-creature artifacts, or even equipment and components. Why is the Wurm wearing Lightning Greaves? Answer: It isn't, it ate them. It a flavourful mechanic, I think.
Modular... How are our steampunk creatures modular? Can we take one creature apart and put the parts onto another creature? That's what the original Modular mechanic represented. If we can't do that with our creatures, why put Modular here?
Modular can be reworked to involve graft as a sort of "Bigger creatures eat smaller creatures" thing. Perhaps Incorporate X (You may sacrifice this creature whenever another creature enters the battlefield. If you do, put X +1/+1 counters on it.)
Or
Incorporate: Effect (You may sacrifice this creature whenever another creature enters the battlefield. If you do, Effect) - This latter version could go on non-creature artifacts, showing that the creature has eaten the artifact and incorporated it into it's body.
Short but a good story .Poor Ruslan........ I wonder how he rect if he meet with Kuba again.
"Look mommmy, Kuba came back!" And his mother employs Kuba as a house servant. People on Ravnica have probably seen far weirder things than a sentient Snapjaw.
Wasn't that always the plan? Archester's put down the base 2-colours of the wedges (BR spellslingers), [Steam] focuses on the opposing colour in the wedge (W lawkeepers/spellslinger counters) while adding toys for the Archester factions and [Ahead] ramps everything up mechanically.
When did they change the 'Sliver' mechanic?
Though we can use the word 'Tension'; like Tension X.
Voting for Growing.
That suggestion for a mechanic name comes from torsion springs, the most common type of mainspring in clockwork technology. Flavour it like having a second spring winding the mainspring if effort is expended.
But Biotech is the exact opposite of what we're trying to describe. Biotech is life being used as technology. This is technology being used as life. What we're looking at here is more accurately called biomimetics in our parlance. So, "Mimec X" (Mimec Raptor, Mimec Devourer, etc.) perhaps?
Alternative names: elftech, animech...?
It can also affect non-creature artifacts, or even equipment and components. Why is the Wurm wearing Lightning Greaves? Answer: It isn't, it ate them. It a flavourful mechanic, I think.
Modular... How are our steampunk creatures modular? Can we take one creature apart and put the parts onto another creature? That's what the original Modular mechanic represented. If we can't do that with our creatures, why put Modular here?
Or
Incorporate: Effect (You may sacrifice this creature whenever another creature enters the battlefield. If you do, Effect) - This latter version could go on non-creature artifacts, showing that the creature has eaten the artifact and incorporated it into it's body.
I so want Elpseth, Knight Errant. My Modern Knights is brillaint as is, but that will just kill.
Oh, and I'm back.
"Look mommmy, Kuba came back!" And his mother employs Kuba as a house servant. People on Ravnica have probably seen far weirder things than a sentient Snapjaw.
Most of the spellslingers don't cast specific spells, like spellshapers. They just cast 'effects' appropriate to their colour.
Split the difference: Not all engineers see eye to eye. Not everything in the set has to be a steampunk pun.
As for the Mizzium component, what are we calling it? Are we going with Raptor's or my suggestion?