May MCC Round 1 - Family tree

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bravelion83
MKM MCC going on now
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Post by bravelion83 » 1 year ago

MCC-SNC.jpg
(This month's banner is my own elaboration on the art of the card Meeting of the Five by Dominik Mater.)


May MCC Round 1

Family tree


Or "family three", as in "three colors"? Ok, this joke is bad, I'm sorry.

As is tradition by now, this month we will celebrate the latest set, in this case Streets of New Capenna, by exploring its mechanics and themes, as usual in this kind of MCC months.



Main Challenge

Choose one of the five SNC families.
(Your choice in this round will not influence your choices in future rounds.) If you want, you can write your choice in your submission post, especially if somehow it's not obvious just by looking at your card. This is the only exception to the "no design notes" rule for this month. You still cannot write anything else in addition to the text card and the optional render in your submission post outside of naming your chosen family.

Design a traditional multicolored (aka "gold") card that has mana symbols of exactly two of the colors of your chosen family only in its mana cost and not in its rules text, and at least one mana symbol of the third color only in your card's rules text but not in its mana cost. You canNOT use mana symbols of any colors outside of your chosen family anywhere on the card. Please see Clarifications to see what does and doesn't count.

Subchallenge 1 - Your card has your chosen family's signature mechanic... (shield counters, connive, casualty, blitz, or alliance)
EDIT - ...ON ITSELF. Granting it to other things does NOT count.
It's always been in the clarifications since the very first moment, but apparentely it also needs to be mentioned here. When I say "please read clarifications" I really mean it. Often I will skip little details for the sake of brevity in the challenge statement when I think some things are obvious. For example, here I use the verb "to have", not "to use". I say "your card HAS the mechanic", not just "your card USES the mechanic". I thought that was enough to make it clear that the card has to have the mechanic on itself. Apparently, I might have been wrong, so I'm adding it here too.

Subchallenge 2 - Your card has flavor text that mentions your chosen family by name (Brokers, Obscura, Maestros, Riveteers, Cabaretti).


Clarifications
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Main Challenge

• The family you chose should be clear just by looking at what colors you used on your card, the two in the mana cost and the third in the rules text. That's why explicitly stating which is your chosen family is optional this round. This won't always be the case in future rounds though. In each round this month you will have to choose a family, and wherever it might not be obvious, you will be required to explicitly state it in your submission post. But that's a problem for the future. In this round it's optional but still advised.

• "Traditional multicolor" means two different regular colored mana symbols (W, U, B, R ,G) in your card's mana cost. The third symbol in the rules text also must be one of the five regular colored mana symbols.

• Other mana symbols of any kind, including hybrid mana, "twobrid" mana, Phyrexian mana both regular and hybrid, and colorless mana (C), do NOT count towards the Main Challenge. You can still use any of those symbols in addition to the required ones though.

• Both ally and enemy color pairs are allowed in your card's mana cost.

• You're not restricted to only one symbol of each color you use. For example, say you choose the Cabaretti. Then you could make a card that costs RW, RRW, RWW, RRWW, RRRWWW, etc... with an ability that contains G, GG, GGG, etc... The number of each specific mana symbol doesn't matter, all that matters is that at least one of each required mana symbol is there and in the right position on the card.

• The Main Challenge does NOT care about the generic part of the mana costs, only the colored part. Use all the generic mana you want. Beware, I'm talking about generic mana, like 1, 2, 3, X, etc... and NOT colorless mana (C). If you were playing back then, as I was, Oath of the Gatewatch should have taught you the difference between those two.

• Any non-mana symbols can appear in your card, for example T, Q, E, chapter symbols if you make a Saga, starting loyalty and loyalty costs if you make a planeswalker, and so on... As long as it's NOT a MANA symbol, you're fine.

If you use any colors of mana anywhere on the card outside of the colors of your chosen family, it's an automatic DQ for not meeting a Main Challenge requirement. Please, don't make me do that.


Subchallenge 1

Your card has to have the ability itself. Granting it does NOT count.

• For shield counters, that means your card has to use them on itself, in any way you want, entering with them, gaining them somehow, removing them from itself as a cost, etc... but only putting them on other permanents (because, yes, according to the CR, shield counters can go on any permanent, not just creatures) or only removing them from other permanents while not also on or from itself does NOT count.

If you're curious about that CR reference, here you go (emphasis mine):
CR (SNC edition) wrote:122.1c A shield counter on a permanent creates one replacement effect and one prevention effect that protect the permanent. These effects are "If this permanent would be destroyed as the result of an effect, instead remove a shield counter from it" and "If damage would be dealt to this permanent, prevent that damage and remove a shield counter from it."
If you make a card that puts shield counters on or removes them from other things in addition to itself, that's fine, because it puts them on or removes them from itself as a part of that.

If your card puts shield counters on or removes them from other things but not on or from itself, or if it can put shield counters on or remove them from other things while also not putting them on or removing them from itself at the same time, that does NOT count.

For example:

"CARDNAME enters the battlefield with a shield counter on it", "put a shield counter on CARDNAME", and "put a shield counter on each creature you control" are all fine.

"MANA: put a shield counter on target creature" does NOT count, as you're not forced to put it on the permanent itself.

"MANA: put a shield counter on CARDNAME and up to one other permanent" is good, because it puts the shield counter on itself as part of the process.

"Remove a shield counter from CARDNAME: [do something]" is fine, it's removing the counters from itself.

"Remove a shield counter from a creature you control: [do something]" is NOT fine, it can remove the counters from itself but it doesn't have to, it can also just remove them from other things instead of itself.

In short, ask yourself: when I use this card, do I have to put or remove a shield counter on or from this card itself as part of whatever else it might do? If the answer is yes, this Subchallenge is met. If the answer is no, this Subchallenge is failed.

• For connive, casualty, and blitz it's similar. Your card must have the ability itself. It can also grant it to other things, but only as long as it also has it itself.

• Alliance is an ability word, so it can't be granted, and so if your card has it, this Subchallenge will be automatically met.


Subchallenge 2
• It should be self-explanatory. Another thing which will make your choice of family evident if you do it.

• Your chosen family's name can be used in any context. As long as the word is there, you're fine.

• Obviously, if your card doesn't even have flavor text, this Subchallenge is automatically failed.


If you have any more questions, post them in the MCC discussion thread.

DEADLINES

Design deadline: Monday, May 9th 23:59 EDT

Judging deadline: Thursday, May 12th 23:59 EDT


RUBRIC
MCC Rubric
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Design
(X/3) Appeal - Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
(X/3) Elegance - Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?

Development
(X/3) Viability - How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity?
(X/3) Balance - Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?

Creativity
(X/3) Uniqueness - Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel "fresh"?
(X/3) Flavor - Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?

Polish
(X/3) Quality - Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(X/2) Main Challenge (*) - Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
(X/2) Subchallenges - One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.

Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.

JUDGES

bravelion83
void_nothing


PLAYERS

Everyone can enter this round. Just reply to this thread posting a card that meets the Main Challenge and any number (that includes zero) of Subchallenges. Future rounds will only be open to those who advance. Come join us!


A reminder to everyone:
In the MCC, putting rarity on cards is mandatory! If you don't put a rarity on your card, expect huge deductions in both Viability AND Quality.
Please check out the MCC Guidelines and FAQ if you have the will and time. Link in my signature. Among the many things you can find there are a detailed explanation of the rubric (section 6.2) and the recommended card formatting (section 4) that you should use to format your text cards. Expect deductions in Quality otherwise.


BRACKETS

Judge: bravelion83
Henlock
Jimmy Groove
kwanyeegor-ii
MonoRedMage
slimytrout

Judge: void_nothing
haywire
Ink-Treader
netn10
Pygyzy
RaikouRider
Venedrex

Top 4 from each bracket advance.
Last edited by bravelion83 1 year ago, edited 9 times in total.
Author of the MCC Guidelines and FAQ. | For my projects, including Jeff Lionheart, my murder mystery story "One pierced heart, two mindful horns", and republished articles from my series "The Lion's Lair", see Leo's content index (Last updated on March 24th 2024 - Added OPHTMH Episode 4).
After I'm done republishing my articles I want to reprise the series focusing it more on editing, wording, and templating. Suggest potential future article topics here.
My CCCG Resume (Updated on February 27th 2024)
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Blue = MTGSalvation Green = MTGNexus
MCC - Winner (9): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019, Jan Mar 2022, Apr 2023 || Host (30): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last on MTGS), Aug 2019 (first on MTGN) Oct 2019, Jan Jun 2020 Apr Oct 2021, Feb May Sep Dec 2022, Mar Jun Sep Dec 2023, Mar 2024 || Judge (58): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last on MTGS), every month from Aug 2019 (first on MTGN) to Feb 2020, May Jun 2020, Mar Apr Sep Oct 2021, Feb May Sep Dec 2022, Mar May Jun Sep Dec 2023, Jan Mar 2024
CCL - Winner (4): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last on MTGS), Jun 2021 (tied with slimytrout) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016
DCC - Winner (3): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar), Feb Apr 2022 || Host (12): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016, Jun Sep Dec 2021, Mar Jun Sep Dec 2022, Mar Jun 2023

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Venedrex
Wait, we can have titles?
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Post by Venedrex » 1 year ago

Encoded Missive
Artifact (U)
Encoded Missive enters the battlefield with a shield counter on it.
, Scry 1, then you may move all counters from Encoded Missive onto target creature.
, , Sacrifice Encoded Missive: Target creature you control fights target creature you don't control.
The Brokers send messages containing both the names of contract breakers, and the means to neutralize them.
Last edited by Venedrex 1 year ago, edited 10 times in total.
Epicurean, EDH without Universes Beyond.

http://nxs.wf/np748831

Pygyzy
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Joined: 4 years ago
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Post by Pygyzy » 1 year ago

Last-Minute Replacements 2uB
Instant (R)
Casualty 2
Create a token that's a copy of a creature card in your graveyard that was put there from the battlefield this turn.
Rr, Exile Last-Minute Replacements from your graveyard: Until end of turn, creatures you control pay casualty costs as though their power were 2 greater.
The Maestros don't care who you are, only what you're made of.
Last edited by Pygyzy 1 year ago, edited 9 times in total.

Ink-Treader
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Post by Ink-Treader » 1 year ago

Dramatic Interrogation UR
Instant (U)
Casualty 2 (As you cast this spell, you may sacrifice a creature with power 2 or greater. When you do, copy this spell.)
Dramatic Interrogation deals 2 damage to target creature or planeswalker. Scry 2. Then, if Dramatic Interrogation is a copy, add BB.
Pain is usually sufficient, but the Maestros find that a little showmanship can get more.
Last edited by Ink-Treader 1 year ago, edited 2 times in total.

netn10
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Post by netn10 » 1 year ago

Winged Agent WB
Creature - Angel Rogue (Rare)
Flying
Whenever you discard a creature card with mana value 3 or less, you may pay U. If you do, draw a card. If you don't, return that creature card to your hand.
The Obscura employs angels to show the public a good face. Most of the time, these angels genuinely believe in changing the family from within.
2/3

slimytrout
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Post by slimytrout » 1 year ago

Party Animal 1WG
Creature - Cat Druid (M)
3R: Create a 1/1 red Warrior creature token with haste.
Alliance - Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, creatures you control get +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the number of times this ability has resolved this turn.
The Cabaretti say they never show up late to a party. They also say the party doesn't start until they arrive.
2/2
Last edited by slimytrout 1 year ago, edited 2 times in total.

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bravelion83
MKM MCC going on now
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Post by bravelion83 » 1 year ago

A reminder to everyone that the deadline is in a day and a half, and we still have way too few submissions. Get your entries in!
Author of the MCC Guidelines and FAQ. | For my projects, including Jeff Lionheart, my murder mystery story "One pierced heart, two mindful horns", and republished articles from my series "The Lion's Lair", see Leo's content index (Last updated on March 24th 2024 - Added OPHTMH Episode 4).
After I'm done republishing my articles I want to reprise the series focusing it more on editing, wording, and templating. Suggest potential future article topics here.
My CCCG Resume (Updated on February 27th 2024)
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Blue = MTGSalvation Green = MTGNexus
MCC - Winner (9): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019, Jan Mar 2022, Apr 2023 || Host (30): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last on MTGS), Aug 2019 (first on MTGN) Oct 2019, Jan Jun 2020 Apr Oct 2021, Feb May Sep Dec 2022, Mar Jun Sep Dec 2023, Mar 2024 || Judge (58): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last on MTGS), every month from Aug 2019 (first on MTGN) to Feb 2020, May Jun 2020, Mar Apr Sep Oct 2021, Feb May Sep Dec 2022, Mar May Jun Sep Dec 2023, Jan Mar 2024
CCL - Winner (4): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last on MTGS), Jun 2021 (tied with slimytrout) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016
DCC - Winner (3): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar), Feb Apr 2022 || Host (12): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016, Jun Sep Dec 2021, Mar Jun Sep Dec 2022, Mar Jun 2023

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RaikouRider
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Post by RaikouRider » 1 year ago

Cabaretti

District-Wide Revel GW
Enchantment {R}
Alliance - Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, create a 1/1 green and white Citizen creature token if that creature wasn't a token. Then you may pay 3R. If you do, District-Wide Revel deals X damage to any target, where X is the number of creatures you control.

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Jimmy Groove
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Post by Jimmy Groove » 1 year ago

Riveteer Pressurer
Creature - Viashino Citizen (R)
When Riveteer Pressurer enters the battlefield, each player sacrifices a creature.
Whenever a player sacrifices a creature, you may pay . If you do, put a +1/+1 on target creature you control.
"You don't seem to understand why you should listen to me. Ain't because of my dedication. It's because of the dedication of more others than you can count. You do not want to screw with us."
2/2

kwanyeegor-ii
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Post by kwanyeegor-ii » 1 year ago

Halosource Warden GU
Creature - Human Soldier (Uncommon)
Halosource Warden enters the battlefield with a shield counter on it.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if Halosource Warden has no shield counters on it, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
W, T: You gain life equal to the number of counters on Halosource Warden.
Some of the Brokers wanted to help Spara get over his fixation by making sure the prophecy never came true.
1/1
畫龍點睛

I'm a simple Magic player since several years ago from China. Now I live in New Jersey.

haywire
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Post by haywire » 1 year ago

Pro Bono
Enchantment (R)
Pro Bono enters the battlefield with three shield counters on it.
,: You may move a counter from target permanent you control onto another target creature. If a counter is placed on a permanent an opponent controls this way, draw a card.
At the beginning of your end step, if Pro Bono has no counters on it, you may sacrifice it. When you do, gain control of target creature with one or more counters on it, then double the number of each kind of counter on that creature.
For the Brokers, "without charge" was more figure-of-speech than literal fact.

Henlock
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Post by Henlock » 1 year ago

Field Solicitor 1wu
Creature - Human Citizen Advisor (u)
Whenever a shield counter is removed from a permanent you control, draw a card.
2g, : Put a shield counter on target creature or planeswalker without a shield counter on it.
The Brokers always have someone nearby.
3/3

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MonoRedMage
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Post by MonoRedMage » 1 year ago

Industrial Sludge RG
Creature - Ooze {R}
Industrial Sludge can't be blocked by creatures with lesser power.
Whenever a source deals damage to Industrial Sludge, put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature you control and Industrial Sludge deals 1 damage to each opponent.
B: Industrial Sludge gets +1/+1 until end of turn. If it entered the battlefield this turn, you gain 1 life.
Blitz RG
The Riveteers' safety standards at work.
1/1

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bravelion83
MKM MCC going on now
Posts: 4041
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Location: Florence, Italy

Post by bravelion83 » 1 year ago

The round is closed. Brackets in a few minutes.

BRACKETS

Judge: bravelion83
Henlock
Jimmy Groove
kwanyeegor-ii
MonoRedMage
slimytrout

Judge: void_nothing
haywire
Ink-Treader
netn10
Pygyzy
RaikouRider
Venedrex

Top 4 from each bracket advance.


Probably I won't be able to start judging today because of real life things I have to deal with today. I'll try my best to make it within the (self-imposed) deadline.





Judgments complete. Edited for typos, there were many of them here, more than usual. I'm sorry.

Henlock
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Henlock wrote:
1 year ago
Field Solicitor 1wu
Creature - Human Citizen Advisor (u)
Whenever a shield counter is removed from a permanent you control, draw a card.
2g, : Put a shield counter on target creature or planeswalker without a shield counter on it.
The Brokers always have someone nearby.
3/3
Design
Appeal 3/3 - Spike wants to enter a loop where you put a shield counter on this, untap this, remove the shield counter somehow, draw, put a new shield counter on this, untap this, rinse and repeat. Her only wish is probably that doing this would cost her less mana. Johnny also likes that loop and he will find a way to get enough mana to do it... What's that you say, Johnny? "Oh, don't worry, Leo, that's easy, just pair this with some kind of infinite mana combo!" Ok, thanks for your contribution, Johnny. Timmy likes protecting his creatures, and this is also big enough by itself to catch his interest. By the way, Spike also likes 3/3s with upside for just three mana.
Elegance 3/3 - No problems here.
Development
Viability 2/3 - The premise is the same as Jimmy Groove's card so I won't repeat it here. (Yes, I've written that judgment before this one, I don't always go in order.) I don't see any white here. The first ability is card draw, where blue is primary and white is still meant to be a distant fifth even though it's getting more tools. Blue can also interact with counters much more than white. The activated ability could have been either green or white in my opinion, you went with green and that's fine, but if there is some white on this card it's in the activated ability, not the first one. I think this should have been a mono-blue card with either a green or white (or maybe even G/W hybrid) activation. No problems with rarity or the rules.
Balance 3/3 - A 3/3 with upside for three mana is definitely playable in limited at least. The potential for card advantage could also make this relevant in constructed if Johnny manages to find a reliable way to enter the loop Spike would want to enter. (See Appeal.) By "constructed" I actually mean Standard. If you could remove any kind of counter and not just shield counters, then it could have been considered, maybe, in older formats. A very good reason to make this interact only with shield counters, though, is that you don't want all minus planeswalker activations to automatically turn into cantrips. I see no problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
Uniqueness 2.5/3 - There are a few existing cards with effects that trigger on removing counters, mostly the cycle of suspend cards like Aeon Chronicler, but they are all rather old by now and not too many. The activated ability almost feels like reverse proliferate, it puts a counter that isn't there instead of putting one that's already there.
Flavor 2/3 - No problems with the name, but the flavor text feels a little too bland to me. Also, I think you could say that about all five families of New Capenna, maybe some more than others, but for example it would also make total sense in the Cabaretti: "The Cabaretti always have someone nearby (to party with)." And you could easily find reasons for the others too.
Polish
Quality 2.5/3 - Reminder text for shield counters is missing. (-0.5) Usual obligatory mention of hyphens instead of em dashes, but, also as usual, no deduction for that.
Main Challenge 2/2 - Good.
Subchallenges 1/2 - You're not forced to put or remove the counter on or from this creature specifically, you can remove the counter from any permanent you control and you can put the counter on any creature or planeswalker, so Subchallenge 1 is NOT met. Read the clarifications spoiler for more info, it's been there since the very beginning of the round. Subchallenge 2 met, no problems there.
TOTAL 21/25
Jimmy Groove
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Jimmy Groove wrote:
1 year ago
Riveteer Pressurer
Creature - Viashino Citizen (R)
When Riveteer Pressurer enters the battlefield, each player sacrifices a creature.
Whenever a player sacrifices a creature, you may pay . If you do, put a +1/+1 on target creature you control.
"You don't seem to understand why you should listen to me. Ain't because of my dedication. It's because of the dedication of more others than you can count. You do not want to screw with us."
2/2
Design
Appeal 2.5/3 - Timmy likes creatures that can grow, but he doesn't like having to sacrifice creatures to make them grow. Johnny could use especially the second ability in many different ways. Spike sees the first ability as removal and she likes the skill involved in using it in the optimal way, so that you lose the least and make your opponents lose the most out of it.
Elegance 2.5/3 - The text is very clear and easy to understand. The only thing some less experienced players might not realize at first glance is that the second ability triggers out of any creature entering the battlefield, not just yours, but they will immediately get it when it's pointed out to them.
Development
Viability 2/3 - I know that today the real R&D has relaxed on three-colored cards needing to actually have all three colors represented on them, but I don't personally agree with this new policy. If a color is there, there should be something of that color, even something where that color is tertiary, but it should be there. Of course this is only my own personal interpretation, but I think it's fine as long as it's consistent and I'm not saying this just for you. All cards in my bracket are judged against the same criteria, and what's important is that uniformity of judgment. That said, I just can't see any red here. The first ability is black and the second green. I think this should have been a mono-black card with the green mana in the rules text as it is now, or a Golgari-colored card if you prefer to remove the optional payment. Of course, the former wouldn't have met the Main Challenge this round, but I'm talking about the card in a vacuum. I wonder if this card could have been uncommon, but it's clearly fine as a rare. No problems with the rules.
Balance 3/3 - The rate is clearly fine for today's standards. A two-colored bear with upside at rare is just fine today, in fact it might not even always make the cut in competitive deck construction. A thing I really like here is how well the second ability interacts with both casualty and blitz, the mechanics of the two black-red families. You could easily play this not just in a Riveteers deck but also in a mainly Maestros deck that only splashes green. Both abilities affecting each player in different ways is also interesting, the first one is bad for you because you also have to sacrifice a creature, this one if you have no others, and the second one is good for you, giving you +1/+1 counters (I assume they are counters) for any creature that enters, even your opponent's ones. Playable in limited, at the very least it's removal. I can see this in some Aristocrats-style decks that are willing to splash green. I see no problems in casual. In multiplayer, "each player" is obviously very relevant for the sacrifice, and this card only gets better there.
Creativity
Uniqueness 1/3 - Assuming that what you put on the creature is a +1/+1 "counter" (see Quality), then there is nothing new here.
Flavor 2/3 - I checked Gatherer for name, rules text, and flavor text, and I can confirm that the family name "Riveteers" always appears as plural. Apparently the "s" at the end is part of the name of the family, so it should have been included here both in the name and in the rules text. This card should have been called "Riveteers Pressurer". This is also a Quality mistake. Anyway, there are good news too! I really like the flavor text, and I particularly appreciate the clever use or the word "screw", used here as a verb, but that can also mean the tool. I find that pun fits really well in the engineer faction.
Polish
Quality 1/3 - "...put a +1/+1 (WHAT?) on target creature..." A +1/+1 counter, I guess. The word "counter" missing is a big deal, it could look like it's a permanent invisible bonus, and that's strictly Un-territory (Really Epic Punch), so -1. As I mentioned in flavor, this family name is always plural, so this card should have been named accordingly ("Riveteers Pressurer"). There are two instances of this mistake, once in the card name and once in the rules text, so -0.5 twice makes -1. Usual obligatory mention of hyphens instead of em dashes, but, also as usual, no deduction for that.
Main Challenge 2/2 - Good.
Subchallenges 0/2 - It doesn't have blitz and it doesn't mention the Riveteers in the flavor text, so none met.
TOTAL 16/25
kwanyeegor-ii
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kwanyeegor-ii wrote:
1 year ago
Halosource Warden GU
Creature - Human Soldier (Uncommon)
Halosource Warden enters the battlefield with a shield counter on it.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if Halosource Warden has no shield counters on it, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
W, T: You gain life equal to the number of counters on Halosource Warden.
Some of the Brokers wanted to help Spara get over his fixation by making sure the prophecy never came true.
1/1
Design
Appeal 2/3 - Timmy likes a creature that can first protect itself and then grow indefinitely. Johnny could do some counter shenanigans. Spike isn't interested in life gain that much and this creature probably grows a little too slowly for her taste.
Elegance 3/3 - No problems here.
Development
Viability 2/3 - The premise is the same as the previous card, so I won't repeat it here. I see no blue here. All three Bant... ehm, excuse me, Brokers colors can enter with a shield counter. The +1/+1 counter granting ability is certainly not blue, it could be either green or white, but it feels more green as it can make the creature grow to large sizes. Life gain is white but could also be green. Where is the blue? This could have been just a mono-green card with a white activation. I see no problems with rarity or the rules.
Balance 2.5/3 - For once, I don't have much to say here. It looks good. Costs look right. It's nice that the play pattern this implies means it will get essentially protected twice, first by the shield counter and then, when that is gone, by being able to grow indefinitely. Playable in limited for sure. Probably a bit too slow for competitive constructed. I see no problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
Uniqueness 1.5/3 - It vaguely reminds me of Denry Klin, Editor in Chief, but it's probably just because both have a triggered ability with an intervening if clause that cares about having no counters. The life gain taking into account all kinds of counters does feel somewhat new, but we've been seeing things like this at least since Ikoria introduced keyword counters.
Flavor 3/3 - It doesn't feel like a home run to me, but it certainly does its job very well. Halo is a precious and relatively scarce resource in New Capenna, so having some wardens guarding it makes sense, but if the Halo source is meant to be Giada, Font of Hope, she would be Cabaretti. I'll just take this as another generic source of Halo. The flavor text by itself is also very good and it fits perfectly in the lore. Bonus trivia: did you know that "Falco Spara" has been translated into Italian as "Falco Sparo" with a final "o" instead of an "a"? As an Italian myself, I still can't understand why. Yes, the word "spara" in Italian it's a conjugation of the verb "sparare" which means "to shoot", so "spara" would be the singular third person of the indicative: "egli spara" (or "lui spara") means "he shoots" and "essa spara" (or "lei spara") means "she shoots". Italian has no neutral gender, so you can't really translate "it shoots", but if you could it would also be translated as "[hypothetical gender-neutral subject] spara". Maybe they thought this was a problem. Well, guess what? They "solved" it by turning it into the first person instead of the third, but it's still a conjugation of the same verb! "Io sparo" means "I shoot". So what's the point of doing it? I still can't get over it... And "Falco" is also a real Italian word, meaning the raptor bird "falcon". It's not used as a real first name though. But I'm digressing as usual, so let's just move on.
Polish
Quality 2.5/3 - Reminder text for shield counters is missing. (-0.5) Usual obligatory mention of hyphens instead of em dashes, but, also as usual, no deduction for that.
Main Challenge 2/2 - Good.
Subchallenges 2/2 - Both met.
TOTAL 20.5/25
MonoRedMage
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MonoRedMage wrote:
1 year ago
Industrial Sludge RG
Creature - Ooze {R}
Industrial Sludge can't be blocked by creatures with lesser power.
Whenever a source deals damage to Industrial Sludge, put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature you control and Industrial Sludge deals 1 damage to each opponent.
B: Industrial Sludge gets +1/+1 until end of turn. If it entered the battlefield this turn, you gain 1 life.
Blitz RG
The Riveteers' safety standards at work.
1/1
Design
Appeal 2/3 - Timmy likes a creature that does a bunch of things and that can grow, but the starting point might be a little too low for him. With so many things going on, Johnny will probably find one to use. Conveniently for him, for example, the second ability doesn't say a source "an opponent controls", so he could easily find some way to trigger it himself, such as giving this indestructible somehow and repeatedly pinging it. He could even find a way to untap the pinger and repeat that as many times as he needs to kill all of his opponents at once, as it also conveniently says 1 damage to "each" opponent. I can see Spike being somewhat interested in this card but not fully excited by it.
Elegance 1.5/3 - The text is quite long, in fact it's ten lines and 4 breaks, breaking what I consider to be the limit of microtext (the EMA version of Animate Dead, which is ten lines and 2 breaks). Yes, I know it can happen that you break this limit unintentionally, as happened to me in the final round for March... Anyway, I'm digressing as usual. This is apparently simple enough, after all if you break it down each single piece is very easy to understand, but if you put it all back together it turns into a card that takes some thought and maybe a couple readings to fully grok. Maybe some of those pieces could have been left out, like for example the incidental life gain in the "Shade" ability. Also, reading the first ability on a 1/1 can feel a little awkward at first, before you realize you can pump it. You might go like "Wait, the only thing this can't be blocked by is 0-powered creatures?" Yes, there are Walls and defenders, but you might not realize the real synergy in your first reading. The length of the text also doesn't help you in seeing it immediately.
Development
Viability 3/3 - The first ability is a variation on daunt, which is green. For those who might not know, "daunt" is the nickname of the ability "this creature can't be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less", as seen for example on Arlinn's Wolf, and it's primary green. I also think it fits very nicely in green as the opposite of skulk, which is a blue and black ability. In the second ability, the +1/+1 counter is green and the 1 damage to each opponent obviously red. The activated ability is just the classic "Shade" ability, which is indeed primary in black, so all three colors are represented in the correct places on the card. The only thing that might be a small bend for black is the pure life gain, usually when black gains life it's by draining or via lifelink. Blitz is obviously in all three Jund... ehm, excuse me, I mean Riveteers colors. I think rarity is appropriate. I see no problems with the rules.
Balance 2.5/3 - The combination of the reverse skulk with the "Shade" ability is very interesting. Luckily it starts small and costs a lot of colored mana of one color in a three-colored faction to become big. The life gain feels a little superfluous to me. The second ability is also interesting because it can be protection in disguise. "Do you want to burn me? Then I'll make my friend stronger and I'll burn you back!" Blitz is fine, maybe this is not the card that takes advantage of it the best, but the play of blitzing this in, granting it haste in the process, then pumping it up for a nice attack while your opponent might have no blockers, gaining some life in the process, and finally drawing a card out of this, looks good. Playable in limited for sure but I'm not sure about competitive constructed, specifically Standard. Maybe, but maybe not. I see no problems in casual except for the text length. In multiplayer, "each opponent" is very relevant.
Creativity
Uniqueness 2.5/3 - I surprisingly (at least to me) discovered while searching Gatherer for precedents that the first ability is brand new. No results for "can't be blocked by creatures with lesser power", and searching for just "lesser power" returns mainly the mentor keyword for the Boros in GRN. There are a few other results, but none are of the "can't be blocked" variety. The second ability is essentially an enrage trigger with just a slightly different wording. There are a few cards that care about whether they entered this turn, most recently Kaito Shizuki and Crew Captain, but that rider has never been paired with the "Shade" ability. The only card where the blitz cost is exactly equal to the mana cost is Mayhem Patrol (Night Clubber has two different costs even though the mana value is the same), and the only card with a multicolored blitz cost is Ziatora's Envoy. Overall, the whole package doesn't scream "new" to me, but a lot of the single details are.
Flavor 2/3 - The name and general flavor are fine. I only have issues with the flavor text, mainly two. One is that it feels a little too bland to me, and the other is that it doesn't really fit on the card. It's just a single line, but this is the main reason why this card falls into microtext territory (see Elegance above). With no reminder text (it's a rare, you can leave it out) and no flavor text, it wouldn't be microtext.
Polish
Quality 3/3 - Reminder text for blitz is missing, but this is a rare and it totally does NOT fit in here, so that's not a problem. Usual obligatory mention of hyphens instead of em dashes, but, also as usual, no deduction for that.
Main Challenge 2/2 - Good.
Subchallenges 2/2 - Both met.
TOTAL 20.5/25
slimytrout
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slimytrout wrote:
1 year ago
Party Animal 1WG
Creature - Cat Druid (M)
3R: Create a 1/1 red Warrior creature token with haste.
Alliance - Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, creatures you control get +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the number of times this ability has resolved this turn.
The Cabaretti say they never show up late to a party. They also say the party doesn't start until they arrive.
2/2
Design
Appeal 3/3 - Timmy is literally throwing the party! Johnny could use the tokens for unintended purposes. Spike likes that this card can do it all by itself without external help.
Elegance 2.5/3 - The text is maybe a bit long (seven lines of rules text plus two of flavor text in the MSE M15 frame), but still very easy to understand.
Development
Viability 3/3 - The +X/+X bonus feels white if small and green if big. Every color can create appropriate tokens, so red making a hasty Warrior is fine even though token making feels more green and white in a vacuum. This must be at least rare for sure, the activation is repeatable and each time you do it the additional bonus that you get keeps increasing. If you create one token, your creatures, including the token you've just created, will get +1/+1. If you create two tokens, it will be a total of +3/+3 (+1/+1 from the first trigger and +2/+2 from the second). If you go on and make one more, the bonus will be +6/+6, with four +10/+10 and so on. And this card does this all by itself, excluding other creatures you might cast, reanimate, or whatever on the same turn. No problems with the rules, but yes, this probably needs to be mythic...
Balance 3/3 - ...and to have a high activation cost. Four mana for a 1/1 can look like a high cost at first, but when you consider the pattern I've just talked about it feels necessary. And the tokens also have haste, so those four tokens you've just created, that are now all 11/11s, can attack immediately along with this now 12/12! Find a way to give them trample, which shouldn't be too difficult, and we're talking about a lot of damage. Yes, doing this with four tokens will cost you sixteen mana (rightly, and this is why it needs to be so), but even just attacking with two 4/4s with haste and a 5/5 doesn't look bad. You're attacking for 13 by paying eight mana. Or maybe you used another spell, possibly cheaper, to make the hasty tokens, like, say, Thatcher Revolt. You will have to sacrifice the tokens at end of turn, but by then the damage is done! Or you could use something like Sokenzan Smelter, it's harder to do but it's in Standard. Must play in limited with a good chance in constructed in my opinion. I see no problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
Uniqueness 2/3 - The most original thing here is X being the number of times the ability has resolved. I've only been able to find a single precedent with that same exact text, Bronze Cudgels. Other cards have something like "if this is the third time this ability has resolved this turn", or whatever number, I say three because I've immediately thought about Ashling the Pilgrim. The rest is nothing new.
Flavor 3/3 - It would be hard to do better. Everything is perfect, from name to flavor text. Wonderful job!
Polish
Quality 2/3 - Wrong order of mana symbols in the mana cost, G comes before W in WUBRG order. It's cyclical. I'm convinced it's just an oversight on your part, but it's still a serious mistake, so -1. Usual obligatory mention of hyphens instead of em dashes, but, also as usual, no deduction for that.
Main Challenge 2/2 - Good.
Subchallenges 2/2 - Both met.
TOTAL 22.5/25
Results (bold advance)
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slimytrout: 22.5
Henlock: 21
kwanyeegor-ii: 20.5
MonoRedMage: 20.5

Jimmy Groove: 16
Author of the MCC Guidelines and FAQ. | For my projects, including Jeff Lionheart, my murder mystery story "One pierced heart, two mindful horns", and republished articles from my series "The Lion's Lair", see Leo's content index (Last updated on March 24th 2024 - Added OPHTMH Episode 4).
After I'm done republishing my articles I want to reprise the series focusing it more on editing, wording, and templating. Suggest potential future article topics here.
My CCCG Resume (Updated on February 27th 2024)
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Blue = MTGSalvation Green = MTGNexus
MCC - Winner (9): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019, Jan Mar 2022, Apr 2023 || Host (30): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last on MTGS), Aug 2019 (first on MTGN) Oct 2019, Jan Jun 2020 Apr Oct 2021, Feb May Sep Dec 2022, Mar Jun Sep Dec 2023, Mar 2024 || Judge (58): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last on MTGS), every month from Aug 2019 (first on MTGN) to Feb 2020, May Jun 2020, Mar Apr Sep Oct 2021, Feb May Sep Dec 2022, Mar May Jun Sep Dec 2023, Jan Mar 2024
CCL - Winner (4): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last on MTGS), Jun 2021 (tied with slimytrout) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016
DCC - Winner (3): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar), Feb Apr 2022 || Host (12): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016, Jun Sep Dec 2021, Mar Jun Sep Dec 2022, Mar Jun 2023

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void_nothing
Look On My Sash...
Posts: 14927
Joined: 4 years ago
Answers: 124
Pronoun: he / him
Location: Tal Terig, Zendikar

Post by void_nothing » 1 year ago

haywire
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Design
(1.5/3) Appeal - Really this is mostly a Jxnny card. Certain Txmmys might enjoy getting to actually gain control of a creature with this card.
(1/3) Elegance - While this card has internal synergy for sure, it also has a LOT going on - including the oddness that is tapping an enchantment.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Colors look fine - moving counters is usually blue but the activated ability seems alright in green, and this NEEDS to be rare.
(2.5/3) Balance - The complexity of this card makes it really difficult to evaluate. The abilities are slow, but snatching a creature with any amount of +1/+1 counters on it from an opponent and then doubling the counters is a big effect.

Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - Can't fault this aspect. A lot of new ideas.
(3/3) Flavor - Name is evocative, of course, being a real concept that most people are familiar with. Card tells a decent story - the Brokers helping someone out in order to make them owe a favor.

Polish
(2.5/3) Quality - Some spacing issues in the activated ability cost.
(2/2) Main Challenge (*) - Looks good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Done.

Total: 20.5/25
Ink-Treader
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Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Txmmy likes blasting things but the scale of this card is a bit small. Jxnny will do silly things with the last clause. Spike appreciates double removal that's "free."
(2.5/3) Elegance - Quite a bit going on for an uncommon but the card is basically fine.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Colors look fine - it's a combination platter multicolor sort of deal. With the potential to add black mana, red can add fast mana and there's a creature sacrifice involved - it just kind of fits.
(3/3) Balance - Sure, nothing to complain about here. Removal for Limited that could find a specific Constructed home.

Creativity
(1.5/3) Uniqueness - On some level this is mostly a Magma Jet, but "if it's a copy" is pretty fun and inventive.
(3/3) Flavor - Sure, these effects are disparate enough that flavor can get abstract, but you pinned this one down quite well.

Polish
(3/3) Quality - Looks nice.
(2/2) Main Challenge (*) - Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges - And done.

Total: 22.5/25
netn10
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Design
(3/3) Appeal - Txmmy likes a flying beater (even a small one) that can recur things. Jxnny has plenty to combo with here. Spike would like this even if it was just the body - the triggered ability makes it great.
(2.5/3) Elegance - "If you do/if you don't" lines are always a little bit of a mouthful, but this card's pretty comprehensible.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Colors and rarity are what they need to be.
(1/3) Balance - The body is already somewhat pushed; the fact that the "if you don't" clause returning the creature card doesn't require a payment makes this an infinite discard outlet combo piece. I think this'd basically be a fine card if the return were delayed until end of turn.

Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness - The triggered ability is not 100% unprecedented, but it's interesting, plus - Angel Rogue!
(3/3) Flavor - I'm a little uncertain about the status of Angels on New Capenna (the plane), but the flavor text sealed the deal for me here.

Polish
(3/3) Quality - Fine.
(2/2) Main Challenge (*) - Looks good to me.
(1/2) Subchallenges - No connive.

Total: 20.5/25
Pygyzy
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Design
(3/3) Appeal - Txmmy likes resurrecting big dudes. Jxnny has a lot of interesting knobs to play with. Spike likes the value over time in casualty.dek.
(3/3) Elegance - Card's somewhat complex in functionality, but also easy to understand - nice one.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Colors and rarity definitely fit.
(3/3) Balance - Sure - For the mana you have to spend on this it's probably always best to use it with casualty, but on the whole it's balanced for a lot of situations.

Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - There are enough unique aspects here for me to give you full points even if the card doesn't have one specific unique functionality. The activated ability from the graveyard uses interesting space that was just recently explored with the Neon Dynasty Pilot tokens and similar.
(3/3) Flavor - A good total package with really nice, effective flavor text.

Polish
(3/3) Quality - Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge (*) - All good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - And done.

Total: 25/25
RaikouRider
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Design
(3/3) Appeal - Everybody's into this one - Txmmy's appeal should be obvious, Jxnny loves powerful triggered abilities, and Spike wants the token army plus the ability to use burn when needed.
(2.5/3) Elegance - Multipartite triggered ability, plus being an enchantment and the "not a token" clause makes this a variant version of alliance - but altogether the card's comprehensible.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Main ability is green-white, red ability is gated behind a red cost. Definitely needs to be rare particularly for Limited.
(2.5/3) Balance - Sure - getting the token on a nontoken creature ETBing is pushed, but the burn ability is expensive to use repeatedly.

Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness - Nothing unprecedented here, and other alliance cards have burn abilities, but this would play in a new way.
(3/3) Flavor - No flavor text, but it's easy to get the flavorful feel of a block party getting out of hand.

Polish
(3/3) Quality - Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge (*) - Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges - And done.

Total: 23/25
Venedrex
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Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - A bit small-scale for Txmmy, but they can appreciate the protected fight. Jxnny and Spike both see a lot of utility.
(3/3) Elegance - Very comprehensible and functional.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Colors and rarity look perfect.
(3/3) Balance - No complaints at all.

Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - Scrying and fighting are certainly well-trod areas, but this feels new in several ways.
(3/3) Flavor - Absolutely great flavor-and-function synergy, with one helping the other. Wish I could give you a fourth point.

Polish
(2.5/3) Quality - Superfluous comma in the flavor text.
(2/2) Main Challenge (*) - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Done.

Total: 23.5/25
Totals (Bold advance)
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Pygyzy 25
Venedrex 23.5
RaikouRider 23
Ink-Treader 22.5

haywire 20.5
netn10 20.5
Psst, check the second page of Custom Card Contests & Games! Because of the daily contests, a lot of games fall down to there.

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