A little
about CELIXIA...
First, and most important, is the fact that CELIXIA is
a fictional set of Magic: the Gathering cards designed by John Streetz
(me!). It is set in a new realm called CELIXIA and hosts many new
creature types including Vhad, Empod, Arikahn, Drynn, Estos and more.
But before I go on, let me tell you some history....
Celixia
is actually the name of an RPG I created in my earlier days.
CELIXIA hosted a number of cool creatures I drew, one of which is called
the ESTOS. In this fictional Magic: the Gathering set, you will
find many creatures from Celixia as well as some from Paradoxia, my
brother's RPG. The Estos will be the main creature theme running
throughout the block. I
originally planned the set to be 165 (which has grown from it's original 90
maximum), but now the set has over 300 cards with a current max of 306 cards.
As of September 2005, the set is officially complete.
There
are several themes running throughout the set. You can find
information about the themes and mechanics below. I have taken some of the ideas on the cards
from existing cards in Magic: the Gathering, from internet sites that
talk about new mechanics, as well as my own ideas. I cannot
individually credit anyone specific for each card, although if I recall
-- I will mention it at the bottom of the card. Thank you to anyone who might have given me an
idea for any of the cards in the set. I use MTGLAIR'S MTGEDITOR
to make all the cards, as you see them.
The Estos are a magical race
that are of pure energy. Much like slivers, they do not reproduce,
per se. The Estos
Hive is what spawns them but their means of existence are not just
from the Hive. High-level enchantments are also capable of turning
raw material or basic lands into estos. Where did the Estos come
from on the realm known as CELIXIA? See the storyline on the
visual spoiler for more info
there.
The Estos span across all colors in Magic.
While they are pure in energy, that can still pack quite a punch as you
will see in cards like Fury Estos and Bastestos (two red cards, I know..
but there are many others). Also, the estos can provide energy
needed to cast powerful spells. You won't see any of those cards
until after the base set, but know that they will be powerful!
Aside from
the Estos, there has to be
other creatures or characters that interact with them. As I
mentioned earlier, my brother,
Jason, did some of the artwork you see on the cards I've created (all
non-Estos). I
have modified and/or colored much of the art you see in the set. I have
spent countless hours searching the web for backgrounds, images, and
concepts to help me with illustrating certain cards.
Much of the
image work is done in Microsoft PhotoDraw V2. If you see art
on any of the cards that you created and do not want me to use, please
email me. I will
resolve the issue immediately. Also note that I do my best to
credit any artists whose art I use on the cards, but given the web,
sometimes it is impossible.
A little more about the races of CELIXIA will be
added to this page at a later date.
Feel free to email
me with comments and/or suggestions. I will be sure to post of few
of your comments on the new Visitor's
Comment page.
NOTE: You
can find a brief and preliminary story line on the visual spoiler page.
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Ambush X
Whenever one or more creatures attack you, if this card is in your hand, you may play it as an instant for it's Ambush cost. If you do, return it to your hand at end of
combat.
Note: This mechanic was originally developed by the_planeswalker on
the http://boards1.wizards.com
message boards. It has been modified a bit and expanded upon
since.
Chaos concept.
Chaos is the general term for shuffling your library. There
are cards that can help you shuffle your library and other cards that
have an effect upon shuffling. Take for instance New Perspective,
originally designed by Zamm and later modified by myself and Hankroyd.
Whenever you shuffle your library you can pay either a blue mana or a
white mana. If you pay a white mana you gain 3 life. If you
pay a blue mana you look at the top three cards of your library and put
them back in any order. Plus you can shuffle your library for
5. This isn't a bomb card or anything, but it is useful when you
have other cards like the Mykar Wizard which taps to shuffle your
library, or cards like the Mystic Estos.. which could be considered a
bomb. Some people find this mechanic annoying.. but when you look
at Mind's Desires decks... it's not really.
Also, I recently found
a mechanic on Noddegamra's
website. It involves shuffling a card into your library
instead of sacrificing it. The mechanic is originally by Le Chat
from the Wizard's Message Boards. I found this to have great
synergy with the chaos concept and thus changed the white removal bid
daddy spell, a Dax artifact, and sacrificial enchantments in each color
and a few others.
Reclaim.
To help fulfill the 'chaos' concept running throughout the set,
Reclaim has been added. Reclaim lets you shuffle a card in your
graveyard into your library for a cost. It's that simple.
Black and Blue get the most 'reclaim' cards since they lack the 'ambush'
mechanic. It is on cards from Common to Rare.
Orbs.
Orbs are simply a type of artifact that hold quite a bit of
influence in some races and legends. Orbs generally are a powerful
artifact although there are some that are quite simple. Some
creature get bonuses from the Orbs while others have quite the
opposite. More information to follow.
Note: Domains lands have been eradicated from CELIXIA. |