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MDV Featured Article -
MDV Idol: Finale! -
by Chris Newton (Tynion), Streetz, Death By Beebles and MDV Staff- posted
7/24/06 - discuss
here
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 Welcome
to the moment that you all have been waiting for! We have gathered the comments
and scores of our panel of Judges, and will now reveal their opinions and find
out who the first Magic Idol is!
The winner of Group A, bringing in 11 votes - which
consisted of 26.19% of the votes was Mother of the Lotus, by Dreager_Ex. This
group was a pretty close race as Time Rift was only edged out by a slim margin
of 2 votes.
In case you need a reminder, here is the Group A Champion…
Contestant #5 (Group A - Winner): Dreager_Ex
Mother of the Lotus - 1
Artifact Creature - Lotus
When Mother of the Lotus comes into play tap all lands you control and they
don't untap during your untap step.
When Mother of the Lotus leaves play you may play any number of lands until
end of turn.
Pay 3 life, and Sacrifice Mother of the Lotus: Search your library for any
three cards and put them into your hand.
She brought the blade to her chest and inserted it releasing enough life to
fill an entire planet. All that remained of her as her body turned to ash was
a single Black Lotus
1/1
This
card certainly is a powerhouse. The contest rules are asking for a broken card,
and this is certainly a broken card. For a single point of mana, I get a 1/1
creature whom I can sacrifice to search my library for any three cards and add
them to my hand. Not only that, but I can then add as many lands from my hand
into play as a result of him leaving play. The only drawback this card has is
that my lands do not untap while he is in play.
*PING*
That is the sound of the needle getting pulled too far and
breaking. If this guy required tapping as part of his activation, giving my
opponent an opportunity to deal with the creature, then perhaps… but this guy, a
creature, is better then Ancestral Recall, Demonic Tutor, and can be cast with a
point of Green or White… please.
I will say, that your flavor text is dynamite. I love the
creative flavor.
Score: 3.75
Flavor Text: 5
Play-ability: 1
Originality: 4
Broken-ness: 5
Streetz
stands up and waves his hands a bit. This has got to be the coolest card
I've ever seen. I mean gasp that a 1/1 mother could be so
influential in the world. [hiccup] I absolutely love it! Keep on
card-making Dreager_Ex because I know you want this. From start to finish, you
are a card-making star!
Streetz jolts back down into his chair and starts to tear.
This is a shining moment. You are so true to who you are,
and the cards that you make, as broken as they are, and you don't ever abandon
that concept! You are amazing...
Continues to weep.
This
card is absolute crap. I hate it. The design is absolutely horrid. You've done
nothing new, just broken already extremely good cards.
Let's throw away all concepts of reality here people. This
card is ridiculous, and you know it. Streetz you blubbering baby, shut up about
concepts and ideas. You're making me sick.
Dreager_Ex, the only thing marginally good about this card
was your Flavor Text. That was startlingly lucid, compared to your otherwise
trainwreck performance.
Score: 2.63
Flavor Text: 4.5
Play-ability: 1
Originality: 0
Broken-ness: 5
Chuckles
a bit... Group B had a little bit of controversy towards the end of the
voting period, as the voters started to actually ‘read’ the wording of the card
in the lead, Mind Crank. JSweeny, the creater of the card, had this to say about
the controversy:
The funny thing is that Mind Crank is more powerful
than I actually even intended it to be. While still hideously broken,
the first line should actually read ‘ ~ only untaps during your
opponent's upkeep’, ‘not ~ untaps during your opponent's upkeep, as it
does.’
However, I didn't notice the error until after the
editing deadline had passed, so I'm going to have to stick with the card
as worded. Funny how one word completely alters functionality, isn't
it?"
Sorry J, as the you mentioned, the edit deadline had come
and gone before the error was noticed, however, this error did not stop the
Voters from rallying behind their card. In the second biggest margin of victory,
Mind Crank cranked out the victory by a decisive 6 votes (17.65% vote
difference).
Since the Voters have spoken, your card will gain the honor
of being listed here with the winners, however, your card has been disqualified,
due to the fact that the erroneous card text leads to a single card infinite
loop. Here is JSweeny’s card, Mind Crank.
Contestant #15 (Group B - Disqualified): JSweeney
Mind Crank - 4
Artifact
Mind Crank untaps during your opponent's untap step.
T: The player whose turn it is takes another turn after this one. End the
turn. (Remove all spells and abilities on the stack from the game. The player
whose turn it is discards down to his or her maximum hand size. Damage wears
off, and "this turn" and "until end of turn" effects end.)
No, no, no. That just won't do. Let's try that again. and again. and again.
As a result of the DQ, the second place card has been
crowned Group B Champion..
Contestant #13 (Group B - Champion): Kinghonkey
Null Field - 4
Artifact
Lands cannot be tapped for mana.
The Planeswalker cried out for more power, but the lands had fallen silent.
Ohh,
tough break JSweeney. Try again in the next contest we will be doing. You had a
good concept, and the people seem to like you. I think all you needed to do was
add a mana cost to the cards activation, and it would have placed a limit on how
much you could ‘crank’ them. Get it? Crank them? Good stuff right there!
*Ahem* Null Field. Wow, I don’t know what to say.
The week leading into the Judging period, I sat and thought about judging Mind
Crank. I was misreading the card as the others seemed to be doing, and so I
thought for sure I would be judging that card in this slot. Instead, due to
fate, Null Field pulls through.
I guess I’ll say that I think it is fairly costed at 4,
however, that is what separates a broken card from a good card; its not fairly
costed. If this was sitting at 2, it would start to be painful to even think
about playing this card, so perhaps 3 makes it cheaply costed, and still a turn
faster than the current cost.
I do like the fact that it says Lands, and not Non-Basic
Lands. This means that the Duals and Basics are shut down, leaving only Moxen to
generate mana. This is a definite tough card. I just don’t know if it is broken
by terms of the contest. I can see it getting Restricted in Vintage, just like
Trinisphere, since it is the same thing, only different.
Your flavor text is also very good. Short and to the point.
Score: 4.25
Flavor Text: 5
Play-ability: 3
Originality: 5
Broken-ness: 4
 Streetz
wipes his eyes... I just hate to see JSweeney disqualified. But that's how
it goes in contests like these.
Now Kinghonkey, you are awesome. I just absolutely love the
flavor text. Not to mention, your spectacular and fabulous variation on a Null
Rod card. Oh, it's so beautiful.
In fact, your flavor text is so enthralling that there is a
new religion and 40 million people have joined the church of Kinghonkey. I don't
know that I can say much more. So amazing.. so true to yourself. So, inspiring.
Streetz puts his "water" bottle down and seems to be wiping his eye
again...*hiccup*
Thank
God that JSweeney didn't make the top, or I'd have to vomit all over that card.
Kinghonkey, your design is... ok. Your costing is... not.
It should be 3, no doubts. This call could have had you my vote. It's really too
bad that you can't make cards right.
And flavor text? Don't make me laugh. I've puked up better
flavor text.
Score: 3
Flavor Text: 0
Play-ability: 4
Originality: 4
Broken-ness: 4
Next
we have the Group C winner.
This one wasn’t even close.
Grabbing almost half of the votes (47.22%) with 17 is
Utopia, by noonespecial.
Contestant #22 (Group C - Champion): noonespecial
Utopia
Land - Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain,
Forest
If Utopia is in your opening hand, you may begin the game with it in play. (T:
Add W, U, B, R or G to your mana pool)
Interestingly only the most imaginative mages claim to have seen fabled
Utopia.
 Since
I like being honest with the fans, I will tell you an honest opinion. When I
first read this card, I just knew this would make the finals. I had picked out
two, whom I secretly thought would make it, and I went a respectable 50%.
Utopia is just a good card. Solid. You can begin the game
with it in play, it will provide you any color you could ask for, and it counts
as all the basic land types. This land is perfect compliment to the Moxen, as it
does not count as a land drop for your first turn, since you begin with it in
play, so you can play a handful of Moxen, play your land, and ramp up to five or
six mana on your first turn.
This card is just good, and dare I say, is Broken. Congrats
on your run away win. Noone.. isn’t that a strange name…
Score: 4.75
Flavor Text: 4
Play-ability: 5
Originality: 5
Broken-ness: 5
Now
this... Streetz waves his hands about as if he was in a dance club
is a card. I mean, this is a real card. This card is elegant, it's sexy and
phenomenal. Despite your name, noonespecial, YOU are phenomenal.
Tynion, can we switch seats, I have to be closer to the
card. This contest is so wonderful. I can't help but get emotionally attached to
it and this card. I see you winning this contest, noonespecial. If I was someone
special, maybe I would win this contest, but I'm not you. sigh
Distant
in the background No. Streetz get off of me!
This
card killed my inner-child. Absolutely, terribly, completely... boring. OOO, a
super land. Your flavor text should have saved this card, but actually all that
happened was the English language took a big crap on Utopia.
Terrific.
Who votes for these people anyway? And Streetz, what smoke
are you cracking?
Score: 3
Flavor Text: 2
Play-ability: 5
Originality: 0
Broken-ness: 5
…
smoke are your cracking?
Don’t you mean… nevermind! Next on the agenda is Group D,
which was won by mjd, with his card Contradicted Bazaar. The Bazaar won with a
pretty good margin of 5 votes.
It brought home 13 votes, which was 36.11% of that groups
total votes.
Contestant #34 (Group D - Champion): mjd
Contradicted Bazaar
Land
Contradicted Bazaar comes into play tapped.
T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
1, T, Sacrifice a creature: Deal X damage to target player. Where X equals the
sacrificed creatures power.
2, T, Remove all permanents from the game: Put a 20/20 colorless creature
token with flying and defender into play under each players control.
"Destruction is infinate, and life is eternal." -Groli, Diovenn Monstrosity
 I
don’t know where you are going with this. It comes into play tapped, so I
expected a stronger card. So then keep reading, I sacrifice a creature to do
some damage, and I believe Shivan Gorge already did that. Then I can remove all
permanents from the game to make two 20/20 walls, one in which my opponent
controls. Why? Why would I blow up the world to make two walls? What does that
have anything to do with anything? I shouldn’t bother phasing a creature out, or
removing something via Astral Slide, because there is a huge wall waiting for my
creature; so I guess I am at a loss of what the heck you are expecting me to do
with this bombshell.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of Jokulhaups and
Obliterate, but I can’t understand why a land would get this ability.
Contradicted is perfectly accurate.
Score: 3.5
Flavor Text: 5
Play-ability: 2
Originality: 5
Broken-ness: 2
Streetz
seems to fall asleep during Tynion’s review of the card.
You can see Death_By_Beebles is contemplating tapping him
on the shoulder to wake him up but keenly decides not to.
This
is goofy. I mean, Shivan Gorge + City of Brass - the pain + extra goofy
crap?
Terrible design. The 20/20 flying defender crap is just...
ew. What does a Bazaar have anything to do with a giant do-nothing?
The Flavor text, while remarkable, doesn't go with your
card. Which is crap. You all are crap.
Looks over at Streetz Get this slob out of here,
he's making me sick.
Score: 3
Flavor Text: 4
Play-ability: 1
Originality: 3
Broken-ness: 4
Streetz
wakes up quickly lifting his head and saying some gibberish. Bring me
another bottle of v... um... WATER!!! Oh... sorry. Um.
This card is super cool. Although its rather wacky. I'm so
really undecided on its brokeness that I don't know if you deserve a deal for
Magic Design or a straight jacket! Streetz laughs at himself ... really
loud
Seriously, keep on rockin' my friend.
Rolling
his eyes
Finally, we had another tightly contested group. Group E
sported two strong cards and in the end 'Beyond Understanding' fell just short,
in three votes. Group E’s Champion this time around is Congenital Monogram, by
McC.
Contestant #41 (Group E - Champion): McC
Congenital Monogram - 2
Artifact
You may begin the game with ~ in play.
Your mana pool doesn't empty and you are unaffected by mana burn.
T: Add two mana of any color to your mana pool.
1: Convert one mana in your mana pool to the color of your choice.
Sacrifice Congenital Monogram : Add WUBRG to your mana pool. Take an extra
turn after this one.
"As common as it is, its rare to find someone that can control it." -Koledron,
Prophet of Life
Pot
Smokers. That’s what the designers would have to be to make this card, or even
worse! They may need to be on something stronger, like the Crack!
Are you kidding me? Did you read what you created? It costs
2 to cast... maybe. It also may begin the game in play. I can tap this card and
add two colored mana, of my choice, to my pool, then I can sacrifice this thing
to add UWGBR to my mana pool and then take a turn after this one. I change my
mind, They would HAVE to be smoking the Crack. This is 'Beyond Understanding' of
why this card would be made. It runs right past Mother of the Lotus as far as
unbelievable cards go.
Oh, and by the way, it converts mana too. You do have some
slick flavor text, so you have a good starting point to spring from.
Congratulations on making it to the finals.
Score: 3.25
Flavor Text: 5
Play-ability: 1
Originality: 2
Broken-ness: 5
McC,
you ARE a champion. Just look at this card. It has everything I ever wanted and
an extra turn to boot. Thinking of playing this card in real life just makes me
fall to pieces. I am beside myself. You notice Streetz starts to slur his
words a bit during the last sentence.
The only real problem I have with this card is the flavor
text. I don't think it fits and I think Tynion is so wrong. Oh, and for the
record, I think Death_By_Beebles is mean - I don't like you.
I
don't give two Swords to Plowshares if you don't like me Streetz. You are drunk,
and your breath smells like my gym socks.
This card is stupid. Completely broken and utterly
ridiculous. It's just stupid and I hate it. I hate you all. Get my agent, I'm
out of here.
Score: 3
Flavor Text: 2
Play-ability: 4
Originality: 1
Broken-ness: 5
Gym
socks… shakes his head
That is it; the Judges votes are being tallied in the back
as we speak.
While we wait for the guys in the back to hammer away on
the calculator, I’d like to thank you all again for making the first Magic Idol
so successful.
I’d like to take a moment and offer a few honorable
mentions to a few select contestants:
Contestant #12: FuDaWg45
Ancient Renewal - 3G
Sorcery
Return all cards from your graveyard to your hand. Remove ~ from the game.
"Ancient mages found a secret,
But they found they couldn't keep it.
History had tools to beat it,
So they thought, 'Why not repeat it?'"
-Excerpt from an elvish bard's tale
His original submittal costed only 2G and the card did not
remove itself from the game. This would have made a huge difference. Somewhere
along the lines, FuDaWg45 got all shaky in the legs and felt he needed to change
what was Broken, when in fact, that is exactly what this contest was looking
for, a broke card, a tough break!
Contestant #19: stolin
Vitiator - X
Artifact
Vitiator comes into play with X charge counters.
Remove a charge counter from ~ : Draw a Card.
Once the Vitiator is used, corruption is inevitable
Contestant #20: Einsteinmonkey
Derange - UB
Sorcery
Put your library into your graveyard.
Those who are insane have less to lose
These two are also pretty good cards, and most likely
deserve to be in the finals, however, fate would rear its ugly head, and you
were both placed in the group that featured the juggernaut that is known as
Utopia. Another tough break!
I am being told now, that the votes have been tabulated.
What? Wait a minute! I am also being told that the producers cannot find
Streetz’s voting ballot anywhere! I am getting word from the Back, that they
believe Streetz may have taken his results and it may have been thrown away so
that no one would be able to see what his votes would have been.. not good!
I guess we will just tally the ballots we do have.
*gets the vote tally from someone in the back* Thank
you…
Here are your final Judging votes:
From Group A, Mother of the Lotus
gets a score of…. 3.19!
From Group B, Null Field’s
score is…. 3.625! A pretty good jump from 3.19.
Next, from Group C, Utopia….
3.875! Wow, another pretty good score.
From Group D, Contradicted Bazaar
gets…. 3.25! Mmm… that’s not going to cut it.
And finally, from Group E,
Congenital Monogram brings in a final score of….
3.125!
That means that your first ever Magic Idol is Utopia by
noonespecial! Congratulations noone! We here at MDV are very proud to present to
noone the first ever Magic Idol Championship!
Congratulations to all of our finalists, you had many cards
to fight through just to get here, and create such an epic showdown. In the end
though, Utopia proves once again that the game doesn’t start until the first
land drop is made, especially if that land begins the game in play.
Be sure to stop back in to Magic Deck Vortex again soon for
information on the second season of Magic Idol, where you’ll never know what the
contest will ask you to create.
Thanks again everybody! Good Night now!
- Chris Newton (Tynion), Streetz, Death By Beebles and MDV
Staff
You can discuss this article in the MDV forums
here.
Articles
Spotlights from 2006
The Games People Play - Tactical Magic. If I worked at R&D The Beginner’s Guide to Rogue Druid Week Primer Opting In: Ravnica MDV Idol: Finale! Avatar Week Primer Delusions of Mediocrity: Getting Stuffy in Here. Raiding Ravnica: Guildmages and You! Lands-More than Mana: Part One
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