Darksteel Designer Round 4 - Submission

[Cashew]

Narrative found in the blog (http://www.magicdeckvortex.com/blog/?p=75)

Objective: Create a card from 1 of 4 flavor text.

The Flavor Texts:
Poem 1:
“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”

Poem 2:
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”

Poem 3:
“The earth belched and the sky churned, and then in the blink of the eye there was only ocean and it. But it stood alone, wading thru the destruction.”

Poem 4:
“I wish this body
might be dew in a field
of flowers.”

Special Constraints:
- Text Form Only.
- Must comply to to visual match syntax
- Entries can be submitted via PM or Reply to Thread.
- Oblivion & Maleficent if you want an initial card defense/explanation please private message it to me before the due date.
- Due Date 1/22/2008

The Standards:
Visual Match Syntax
<Card Name> - <Casting Cost>
<Card Type> - <Card Subtype>
<Card Rules>
<Flavor Text>
<Creature P/T>
<Set - Rarity>

A simple syntax for the text cards that virtually mimcs the Layout of a Magic card.

example: Kird Ape
Kird Ape R
Creature - Ape
Kird Ape gets +1/+2 as long as you control a Forest.
It puts the "fur" in "fury."
1/1
9th - Uncommon

Hints:
- Design is equally as important as overall flavor.
- Without images, discover how to flavor a card through design aspects.
- Each flavor text is geared towards one of four major personality types, identifying with the quote may make it easier to create a card.
- Obviously our cards have no set, so just make sure you throw on a rarity.

[Maleficent]

Hahahaha, lolcats. That's great XD

This is an interesting task, hmm, may the clan of flavor prevail once more ;)

[Luthervamplord]

Alright then, I missed out on the previous rounds but I'm here to have a go this time around:

Liturgy of Blood 3B
Enchantment
Whenever a source you control deals damage to a player, you may put a blood counter on Liturgy of Blood.
When Liturgy of Blood is put into a graveyard from play, you lose life equal to the number of Blood counters on it.
Remove X Blood Counters from Liturgy of Blood, Pay X Life: Add B to your mana pool for each counter removed this way.
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”


Yes, that will do nicely

[Maleficent]

Blood Rites exists, so you know ;) and ah, the format is a bit different this time. Wouldn't do to have a worthy adversary disqualified :p

[Luthervamplord]

Thanks for the save there Mal; let me re-read the layout and I'll see where I need to work around it.

Edited my existing post; hope that settles the matter and means I won't get disqualified

[ShaKadelic]

By the way, is there a way to know because of what i can get disqualified?

[Cashew]

Things like:
1) Extremely not following the given layout.
2) Providing a carded example
3) Not using one of the four provided flavor texts.
4) Taking my mother out to a nice fish dinner and never calling her again afterwards.

[ThunderHog]

Things like:
4) Taking my mother out to a nice fish dinner and never calling her again afterwards.

:banghead: I knew I was forgetting something!!!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Anyway, when we submit an entry, how are we supposed to place it in a 'set' if it's not already a pre-existing card?

Edit: Also, do we have to use the quotes around the flavor texts?

[death by aggro]

TH,

1. It doesn't need to be part of a set; he just said it was part of no set.:P

2. Yes.

[FrycHiKn]

I was watching the Standards, sooo it is only creatures or it can be another type of spell.

[Cashew]

Can be anything obviously if not a creature it has no P/T.

[Maleficent]

By the way, is there a way to know because of what i can get disqualified?

Read the rules? XD

@Luth, there is no set! :paranoid:

[GG Crono]

I was struck upside the head by the blunt instrument of Inspiration, and thus PM'd a submission for this round.

[Luthervamplord]

:paranoid: I'm not sure what you mean Mal; if you read my card there clearly is not mention of set.... :paranoid:

[guest1234]

Poem 3:
“The earth belched and the sky churned, and then in the blink of the eye there was only ocean and it. But it stood alone, wading thru the destruction.”


Wish I understood this one... what is "it", and where did the sky go?

[CoglineErro]

Hail and Brimstone 2BBWW
Sorcery
Remove target creature from the game until end of turn, then destroy all nonland permanents.
“The earth belched and the sky churned, and then in the blink of the eye there was only ocean and it. But it stood alone, wading thru the destruction.”
Rare

[Ryuzaki]

@Guest: Interesting to see you around here again. "It" would most likely be the card itself, and if I think about it at first would sound like a creature who "floods" the world. Destruction in a flooded world though? That part is odd.

[Your Worst Nightmare]

My submission:

Morning Poet - 1GG
Creature - Human Druid
Sacrifice Morning Poet: Target player untaps all basic lands he or she controls.
"I wish this body
might be dew in a field
of flowers."
0/3
Rare


Arguments for:
This flavor text is a death haiku by Tembo, some japanese dude. The author compares his body to dew, which seems to represent the transient nature of his life. Hence, a sacrificing ability that results in literal morning dew (sunrise again and your lands are as good as new, as the promise of a new day so foretells). So dew = morning, haiku = poet, and you have the card's name.
Mechanically, this card is a Early Harvest on legs. Weak, frail legs, definitely not for combatting. (Hence the zero attack power.) It's rare as Early Harvest also is, and at its worst is a sorcery-speed version of it. But unlike Early Harvest, you can play this one and wait until the next turn to use it. That way, you can de facto duplicate all the mana your basic lands can produce, rather than that number minus 3 (the three mana you'd normally spend on playing an Early Harvest).
Why a 0/3? Firstly, because attack power would be redundant as you don't want to attack with this creature if you want to use it properly. Secondly, because less attack allows for greater thoughness. I thought about making it 0/4 to withstand Incinerates as well, but this is a human poet, not a steel building. And an old poet at that. It made no sense for this guy to trigger Colfenor's Urn... But before you think this is a crappy card because it dies to Incinerate (It still survives Shock...), read the next point. Forth and last, unlike Early Harvest, my card combos with Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker, Lifeline, Reveillark (a card from Morningtide), Dawn of the Dead, Corpse Dance or Nighteyes the Desecrator for infinite mana, and so many more cards it's not even funny. Well, actually it is funny. :D

[hellmoose]

Adapting Changeling 1wubrg
Creature - Shapeshifter
At the begining of your upkeep choose one of the following - Trample, Flying, First Strike, Deathtouch, Vigilance or protection from a color of your choice.
Adapting Changeling gains the chosen ability until your next upkeep.
You may not choose the same Ability two times in a row.

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”

3/3
Rare

[Azrael Subucni]

All very interesting quotes.... but I kept coming back to one. I think my interpretation may be a little different than other peoples, though.


Vivae, the Breath of Life 4WW
Legendary Creature - Angel
Flying
At the end of each of your opponents' turns, gain life equal to the damage dealt to you this turn.
"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."
2/4
Rare


The more I read the quote, the more it sounded like a fanatical healer of some sort. This is either a little too good or a little too weak, I can't tell. Hopefully third time will be the charm.

[Streetz]

My submission:

Ravenous Boon - 1UG
Creature - Elemental Beast
Shroud
Whenever a new permanent comes into play under your control, you may put a +1/+1 counter on <THIS>.
“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
1/1
<R>

[ShaKadelic]

Cerebral Gnawer :2mana::b::b:
Creature - Worm Spirit
Cerebral Gnawer is unblockable and indestructible.
Cerebral Gnawer attacks each turn if able.
Pay half your life, rounded up: Remove Cerebral Gnawer from the game. Any player may play this ability.
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”
2 /1
Rare

[GG Crono]

Guess I'll post mine, despite PMing it to Cashew. I wasn't certain how things were Done 'round these parts.

Embodied Agony - 2RB
Creature - Elemental Horror
Whenever Embodied Agony would be dealt damage, prevent that damage. It deals that much damage to each other creature.
"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."
2/2
Rare

[ThunderHog]

After cycling though all the entries posted in this thread, I'm thinking I have a decent chance this round. :D

Then again, I'm not seeing some of the optimal contenders' entries anywhere - which means either they haven't posted them, or they were sent via PM. That said, anything is still possible as always.

[Maleficent]

I'm not sure what you mean Mal; if you read my card there clearly is not mention of set....

Of course there isn't... anymore... nor is there a rarity... anymore XD

Hm, these flavors are somewhat uninspirational. Some have interesting possibilities though... hmm....

[Zaknifa]

Here is my attempt

Dead Eye, Moralless Cutthroat :3mana::b:
Legendary Creature-Human Mercenary Assassin
Haste
When Dead Eye, Moral Less Cutthroat comes under a players control untap it.
:3mana:,:tap:: Deal 5 damage to target creature.
Pay 4 life: Gain control of Dead Eye, Moralless Cutthroat. Any player may play this ability.
"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."
3/2
{Rare}

[Cashew]

Entries are due tomorrow. If you like the last minute it is here.

[death by aggro]

Man, my server issues kept me from working on mine. Oh well, I guess I can just take this round to sit back and observe. But I'll definetely come back for the next one.

[Ryuzaki]

Update on this?