Darksteel Designer 2: A Flourishing Oasis (Wave 1 Round 2)

[Cashew]

Taysir sat amongst the date trees of the Oasis alone with his flock at his water. The small Oasis seemed to be his only world and him the only human. For several days he tried to leave wandering into the desert towards another oasis only to discover it was the same one, with the small lizard basking ing it's waters hissing at him whenever he approached.

Eventually he resigned himself to this fate waiting for it to change and for him to leave. As the weeks wore on Taysir noticed more and more of the Desert disappearing and more of the lush grass that surrounded the Oasis growing out where once was only sand.

As the years went by Taysir watched centuries of growth spur from the Oasis. As the water itself grew deeper and further so did the trees. The once simple date trees were now immense trees forming a canopy across a now heavily vegetated jungle floor. The plants weren't the only things to grow throughout the jungle new creatures begin to appear larger and more beastly with each passing year. In the lake, the once small lizard had grown into an immense reptile that constantly attacked Taysir and his herd whenever they needed water.

************************************************** ********
Welcome to Round 2 of Wave 1 of the Darksteel Designer Season 2. The second round isn't as simple as the first. As the design inspiration is almost entirely up to you. Not only that, your design should symbolize the entire theme of the Green Sphere.

1) This plane segement is dominated by Green mana. We are looking for Green creatures and cards. Lands should be heavily Green. Think Arabian-style creatures, but don't limit yourself to them only. These creatures are not legendary.

2) You may create several entries if you desire, however all must emulate a central theme of this plane. Be it a keyword or simple linked concept such as -1/-1 counters in Shadowmoor. You may only submit one rare card, one uncommon card, one common card. You may also submit a land of any rarity.

3) Designers and contestants may play in this round. Entries are due 9/12.

4) The Design Team will choose the top entries, voting by all will choose the overall winner. The Design Team will hold the right to nominate any card created through this process to the set.

5) Text Form Entries only. If you can find an artwork save it for later it may come in handy.

6) Submitting an entry gives all rights to that card and ideas to the Design Team. Once the round is complete members of the Design Team may use your card or idea in any manner that they deem fit including but not limited to set inclusion, editting, and use of artwork (if permission was given). Artists retain all intellectual property associated with their artwork.

7) Last and foremost, Darksteel Designer is all about storytelling through cards. You may if you choose expand on the current story through usage of storytelling elements beyond your card. Feel free to create a history or event around your creation.

[final_press]

Dense Undergrowth
Land (U)
Dense Undergrowth comes into play tapped.
T: add G to your mana pool.
1, T: Target attacking creature gets -1/-0 until end of turn.
"On home turf, skill and cunning can be enough to outrun the fastest of predators." - Taysir

Yeah, okay... reused idea, but this seems to be the correct thread to repost it in. There already seems to be a slight theme from the cards chosen that focus around attacking or blocking, "whenever you attacked" "can only block alone" etc. While not the flashiest of lands, this one act as a kind of bridge between a Forest and a Briar Patch, which was an old favourite of mine.


Enraged Hive 1GG
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a creature an opponent controls deals damage to you, put a 0/1 green insect creature token with flying into play.

[Cashew]

Site's definitely not dead. Wonder if too much going on for people to want to participate =)

[final_press]

I can see you trying to move this along at the kind of speed necessary to be productive enough to create a set, but I think it may all be too much too fast... with too many threads. It's going to be hard to strike a balance... as this sort of format is going to discourage a lot or people from posting, "Rules, backstory, sub-tribes, waves?... I'll stick with MCC".

[boiwithteeth]

Cautious Ape 4G
Creature - Ape C
Whenever Cautious Ape becomes blocked, you may untap Cautious Ape. If you do, Cautious Ape gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
[UNTAP]: Put a +1/+1 counter on Cautious Ape. Play this ability only during your main phase.
3/3

Enraged Ogre 2G
Creature - Ogre U
Enraged Ogre attacks each turn if able.
3/4

More later maybe. Feedback or more direction could be helpful too. Thanks. I also just want to say I like this idea because I've always wanted to design a set, but never have time. So this is the perfect way for me.

[Azrael Subucni]

I've gotta agree with final_press, the speed at which the rounds are progressing is probably overwhelming. Not everyone can design a dozen cards a week. I'm not sure how/if I'm gonna be able to keep up.


Ravenous Jaguar - 1GG
Creature - Cat
Whenever Ravenous Jaguar deals combat damage to a creature, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
2/3
Uncommon

Tranquil Glade - GGGG
Enchantment
Green creatures you control get +1/+1 and can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.
Rare

I will also leave one other thing, which you can take or leave...

River Boa - 1G
Creature - Snake
Islandwalk
G: Regenerate River Boa.
2/1

Yes, not my original card, but wizards reprints things all the time. They do so to see how it works in a new environment created by the set. And given that anti-opposing colors is a part of the theme, it seemed appropriate. I had no better common to submitt, so I give you this. I may add flavor text to these later, if I can think of any.

Also, am I correct in my understanding that except for 6 people, all sentient life on this plane is dead? Because, from a design standpoint, that seems really, really limiting....

[Cashew]

Also, am I correct in my understanding that except for 6 people, all sentient life on this plane is dead? Because, from a design standpoint, that seems really, really limiting....

Green - Non-sentient except Taysir. He was alone at an oasis.
Black - Baghdad. Entire city is alive..or sorta alive thanks to Naliah.
White - Alexandria. Entire city is alive and well full of humans.
Blue - Island of Wak-Wak. An entire city of humanoids devoted to flight.
Red - Deserts and Mountains. A nomad tribe and whatever creatures fill the mountains.

Also. Colorless: Artifacts, Sand-things, Fatima the Mad (a walker)

Beyond that. Djinn,Efreet have not been ruled out yet, and will be included in some way. Just right now we're designing a Green Sphere where the only human is Taysir. I'll slow down rounds some. The whole thing though is the contest is ongoing. It may be a month before Wave 1 is finished due to edits, etc.

The beauty of this contest, is you can skip doing numerous things and succeed at doing a couple and still win if your ideas are great.

[final_press]

Cautious Ape G
Creature - Ape C
Whenever Cautious Ape becomes blocked, you may pay GG. If you do, Cautious Ape gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
1/1

I think this design is going to need a little work if you compare it to Elvish Berserker which is much stronger, and sadly doesn't seem to see too much play (at least as far as I've seen).

[Your Worst Nightmare]

I didn't see this thread before.

Singing Forest - 5G
Creature - Plant
T: Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.
Singing Tree got teh huge lol!1
4/5

Will post more later.

In the meantime, what's the difference between Djinns and Efreets, exactly?

[boiwithteeth]

I think this design is going to need a little work if you compare it to Elvish Berserker which is much stronger, and sadly doesn't seem to see too much play (at least as far as I've seen).

Yeah, I was kind of going for just a bad common that doesn't see play, but every set has them. I took it in a whole new direction now though and I think it's more interesting.

[Oblivion]

Hopefully I've gotten the rules of this mechanic correct:

Barkh – If you control X or more Forests and/or Islands, after this spell has resolved, put it on the stack again. It resolves if all players pass priority. Remove it from the game if this spell resolves successfully

Barkh is Persian for growth, power, abundance and violence. The continuos growth seen by Taysir is interpreted by him as the Oasis’s claim for power over the once-dominant desert. The strength of the Oasis is transferred to its denizen who grow stronger with increasing time, correlating with the new-found lushness.

This ability typifies what can happen if growth if permitted to continue unfettered. Those who don’t tow the line get swallowed. Its a largely UG ability (forests and bodies of water) but, if given the chance, I would like to explorethe Black-er side to this mechanic. Dual lands like Breeding Pool count as both Islands and Forests, so a single land of that type has a Barkh count of 2

Patient Growth
GG
Sorcery
Common
Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn
Barkh 1

Enroaching Growth
2GG
Sorcery
Uncommon
Search your library for a land card and put it into play tapped. Then shuffle your library.
Barkh 4

Stunted Growth
1UG
Instant
Rare
Put target card from a single graveyard on top of its owners library
Barkh 2

[boiwithteeth]

Burrowing Wurm 3GG
Creature - Wurm
Rare
When Burrowing Wurm comes into play, destroy target creature without flying. If this ability would target a creature you control, put a +1/+1 counter on Burrowing Wurm instead.
5/5

[Cashew]

Oblivion unfortunately you missed the spheres from this set will all be very seperate. No gold at this time. No hybrid. And most certainly cards that interact well together based on dual+ colors.

[Oblivion]

Urg.....

Can I resubmit? If so....

Barkh – If you control X or more Forests, after this spell has resolved, put it on the stack again. It resolves if all players pass priority. Remove it from the game if this spell resolves successfully

Patient Growth
GG
Sorcery
Common
Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn
Barkh 1

Enroaching Growth
2GG
Sorcery
Uncommon
Search your library for a land card and put it into play tapped. Then shuffle your library.
Barkh 4

Stunted Growth
1GG
Instant
Rare
Put target card from a single graveyard on top of its owners library
Barkh 2

Kinda sad about the gold/hybrid no-go there...but the mechanic still works without the second colour (since most of the original abilities were Green ones to begin with)

[Cashew]

Cool, the ability needs simplification, but I like the dig into Progress with enough power and definitely encourages mono-color.

[Oblivion]

Barkh - If you control X or more Forests, put this spell on the stack again after it sucessfully resolves. If it resolves again, remove it from the game.

Simple enough?

[Cashew]

http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Djinn - best 10-14 on them.

[Your Worst Nightmare]

@Oblivion, if I understand your ability correctly, it is supposed to play the spell a second time, if you have the necessary lands, and then remove it from the game. Sort of like a free flashback that happens right away. Did I get it right?

But then, why give Barkh 2 to a spell that has already has double green mana in its cost? If you're not playing nonbasic lands, when will you ever play the spell and not have two forests in play?

[Cashew]

That's all good points YWN and ones I was going to make myself if nothing further comes up that interests me. Barkh should really encourage mono-colordom and basic lands, I was thinking like Barkh level of 3 would be easy to reach for a free flashback.

Was also thinking of it in terms of what if Barkh highlighted alot of the things about Green such as creatures coming into play stronger or having different effects. More of an ability word than a keyword.

[Oblivion]

@YWN: Yes, you are correct.

Am I getting it right that you want to make it harder for the Barkh to occur? If that's the case, then I can increase the count, no problem

@Cash: An ability word? Like First Strike?

Let's see...

Ever-present Lizard
Creature - Lizard
1GG
1/1
Trample
Barkh 5 (If you control 5 or more Forests, ~ comes into play as a 4/4 creature instead)

[Cashew]

Ability Word is like Radiance/Granduer (just signifies a theme)

But yes, that is what I was thinking of, it plays out much simpler if worded as an ability word.

Nature's Resurgence G
Sorcery
Search your library for a Forest card. Then shuffle your library
Barkh - If you control three or more Forests you may put that land into play tapped.

This would allow us to use weaker concepts and give them situational block power. This for instance is cheaper than Rampant Growth, and similar to Safewright Quest. However, it's only better than Rampant Growth probably on Turn 3 or more, and different than Safewright as it can only get Forests.

A seemingly minor change to how I worded it makes the whole thing interesting. Whatcha think. I'm going to push this through on Friday if nothing else comes up =)

[Oblivion]

Hm

It IS simpler, that's for sure, but I was sort of gunning for a more complicated mechanic, one that would get the rules gurus churning in their chairs.

I can always recreate it for another sphere (dibs on this tech!!!!!!) though.

So Barkh reads like this: When this spell resolves, it checks the number of Forests you own. If it meets the Barkh criteria, a second (sometimes weaker) ability triggers.

Patient Growth
GG
Sorcery
Common
Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn
Barkh 3 - If you control 3 or more Forests, target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. If this ability triggered, remove this card from the game after it resolved

Enroaching Growth
2GG
Sorcery
Uncommon
Search your library for a land card and put it into play tapped. Then shuffle your library.
Barkh 6 - If you control 6 or more Forests, search your library for a basic land card and put it into play. If this ability triggered, remove this card from the game after it resolved

Stunted Growth
1GG
Instant
Rare
Put target card from a single graveyard on top of its owners library
Barkh 4 - If you control 4 or more Forests, put a non-creature permanent on top of its owner's library. If this ability triggered, remove this card from the game after it resolved

Evolved Lizard
1GG
Creature - Lizard
Uncommon
1/1
Trample
Barkh 6 - If you control 6 or more Forests, ~ comes into play as a 4/4 creature instead. If this ability triggered, remove this card from the game after it resolved

Cool?

[ShaKadelic]

Insidous Predator 3GG
Creature - Beast (R)
Deathtouch
G: Renegerate ~.
Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from play, put a +1/+1 counter on ~.
4/4

Savage Wildcat 1GG
Creature - Cat (UC)
Whenever a creature comes into play, ~ gains First strike until end of turn.
3/2

Jungle Fever GG
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature.
Enchanted creature gets +3/+0 and gains trample.

[Your Worst Nightmare]

Dauas:

FORESTNAME Grove - 1G
Enchantment (Common)
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a fruit counter on CARDNAME.
Remove a fruit counter from CARDNAME: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.

Tropius - 3G
Creature - Pokémon (Uncommon)
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a fruit counter on Tropius.
Remove a fruit counter from Tropius: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
2/2

FORESTNAME Reaches - 1GG
Enchantment (Rare)
At the beginning of your upkeep, search your library for a basic land card, put that card into play tapped, then shuffle your library.


TWICE THE CYCLE, TWICE THE POWA!

Tree of Something - G
Creature - Plant (Common)
Defender
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.
0/2

Tropius - 3G
Creature - Pokémon (Uncommon)
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
2/2

FORESTNAME Elemental - GGGG
Creature - Elemental (Rare)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
3/3


I couldn't decide which cycle idea I liked best, so I present them both. FORESTNAME is supposed to be, as it should be obvious, the name of the oasis/forest/whatever it is in this green sphere. (Y'know, like Rushwood, Skyshroud, Krosa, and others.) The rare enchantment came directly from my scrapped custom set, so treat it with due respect. :P

The idea for the fruit counter came from Utopia Tree, but I guess it can be changed if someone has a more flavorful idea. "Tropius, don't I know that from somewhere?" you ask. Yes, yes you do. (http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Tropius_(Pok%C3%A9mon)) (It's obviously a placeholder name. I need to give you guys something to edit, right? :P)