Each card type of Magic typically has a vice. Today’s cards are, for the most part, all balanced one way or another with something that can eliminate a certain card type. An example of this might be of how an Instant countering spell can stop a Sorcery. Or perhaps a Sorcery mass removal spell can stop of fist full of creatures.

The formula begins to get a little unfair for a group of cards called, Artifact Creatures. Not only are they susceptible to creature removal spells and effects, but they are also vulnerable to artifact hate. Not only are these creatures removed by a Swords to Plowshares, but also are destroyed by a Disenchant! Not only does an Earthquake shake them up, but a Shatter breaks them apart!

Very few Artifact Creatures have ever graced the Standard scene, not including the Mirrodin Block - where everything was an Artifact. A few examples of these beauties might include: Yotian Soldier, Phyrexian War Beast, Masticore, and Phyrexian Dreadnought.

This is where you, the Card Designer, come into play.

Since you guys did so well in the last season of Magic Idol, this time we decided to handicap you a little bit.. That’s right! You guys are pros at this now, and we can turn up the difficulty level a notch. So in this season’s contest, we will give you a scenario, and you must design your creature, with the setting presented below, in mind.

Lets see what the contest will challenge you with this time:

Contest Description:

You have no cards in hand to start your turn. You have just drawn a card, and it is an artifact creature, and you enter your Pre-Combat Main Phase. You have a total of 12 mana available to cast the creature, and activate any ability(ies) the card may have. Your card has the following text (your handicap) on it:

"As ~ comes into play, your opponent reveals his hand.
When ~ leaves play play, you lose the game."

Upon revealing your opponent’s hand, you find a Shatter and a Dark Banishing sitting there, as well as sufficient mana available for him to cast both spells.

You know that you need to cast this creature, and have it available to block your opponent’s creature next turn, in order to stay alive and continue this hair-rending duel.

As if being able to add your victory to your signature was not a good enough prize for the winner of this contest, the winning card design will be added to the MDV Fictional Card Set: Celixia, as a part of an upcoming Expasion Set.

That's an unbelievable prize! So what are you waiting for? Register your card now!

Guidelines:

• All entries must be posted in the forum, in the thread that will be provided for you, for registration. You will be registered by simply posting your entry. Do not PM your entry to any Judge or Administrator.
• You must submit your entry no later than 09/1/06.
• The deadline for editing you entry will be 09/3/06. (Two days later)
• Your registered design must be in accordance to the rules that are set forth in these Guidelines, Design Rules, and Contest Rules, and according to the Contest Description provided above and at the top of the registration thread for this contest. All cards not following these rules will be disqualified prior to MDV voting.
• Make your card as flavorable as possible, as we are still The Site for the Casual Player.
• Do NOT post a card picture or link to a picture, just post the text version of your card.

Design Rules:

• Your card must have an original Flavor Text.
• Your card can not include ante, flipping, or any other mechanic of the game removed by Wizards of the Coast over the years.
• Your entry must be an Artifact Creature.
• Your card should be designed to be part of the Basic Set of Magic, not Celixia, nor any other alternate expansion set (Unglued, Unhinged, Portal, etc.) released by Wizards in the past, present, or future. You may use mechanics found in expansions that are not carried into the Core Set.
• Do not use any symbols during your registration. This includes, but is not limited to: color symbols, tap symbols, etc... just use 12XWUBRG, and T:.
• Please note, that this contest is different than the last contest, in that you are trying to make a balanced card this time around, and in the future. You will be notified if this rule will be changed for the contest.

Contest Rules:

• Registration will run until 9/1/06.  Registration technically begins on 8/28/06 (Monday).
• Following the registration, which will end on a Friday, there will be two days to edit your submission.
• The submissions will be broken down into smaller groups, where you will be able to vote for one registered entry per group. (Done by a series of polls.) The voting polls will set to end after five days.
• The top vote getting submission in each group will then be judged by the three Judges.
• Following the Judging portion of the contest, there will be five days for you to cast your final vote for the next Magic Idol. The top voting getting submission in this final round will be crowned Magic Idol 2: In the Crossfire Champion.
• All Guidelines, Design Rules, Contest Rules, and Descriptions are subject to change at anytime. You will be notified by a posting at MagicDeckVortex.com in this event.

All entries are to be submitted in the forum.

Click here to begin registering your design. Remember, it only takes a few moments to register yourself for the forum. Click here to get yourself a user name and password, and then get your card registered in the Design Thread provided for this contest in the forum.

Also, only submission should be made in this thread.  Any discussion on this contest should be made here.

Good luck!

Judges:
Streetz
Tynion
Death By Beebles

 

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