MDV Idol 4 Discussion Thread

[Tynion]

This thread is for the discussion of the contest in general. You can use this thread for any round of the contest. Just be sure to keep your conversation here and not in the submission thread.

[boobers]

Just to be 100% sure, our submissions have to be tribal in some way?

[Tynion]

Yes he must be tribal. You will be building off of him as well, so plan to make him with the ability to actually have cards relate to him. He must be an existing tribe as well. I don't remember if I specified that or not.

Thanks for asking.

[Tynion]

boobers, please edit your submission and cut/paste your card explaination in here please. I am trying to keep the thread clean of discussion to ease my organizing the entries at the end.

Thanks a lot.

Note to participants: Something that came up in Fit the Flavor is that you should try to get your submission in early to make sure you are not piggy-backing someone elses design. What you can do is to just leave a message in the thread saying "This spot reserved" Then edit it later with your submission. But it would suck to have designed a cool card and then find out that someone else did the same thing yesterday and now you look like a copy-cat.

[Tynion]

After six entries, I think you guys are not understanding the contest.

You are designing a revolutionary who is rebelling against his own kind. In the example I gave, I changed a White Knight to Red, and broke down chivalry and honor. Make certain that you are going with the grain of the contest.

[hamsandwich]

i am confused by this. i think most of us are trying to come up with a tribal legend with a revolutionary ability. i.e. a way to change the field. so this is not correct? i have created a human advisor who causes great change through sacrifice, not(to my knowledge) a very advisor like ability. the only exception is the one orzhov advisor, but it is nowhere near mine. am i, too, off track? because i feel like i'm dead on.

by the way, when did it become revolutionary for a knight to have first strike, or be red for that matter? similar i understand the change ability in your example by turning all knights red, but otherwise he would fit right in to any RW tribal deck.

[Mad Mat]

Originally Posted by Tynion

After six entries, I think you guys are not understanding the contest.

You are designing a revolutionary who is rebelling against his own kind. In the example I gave, I changed a White Knight to Red, and broke down chivalry and honor. Make certain that you are going with the grain of the contest.

This is very unclear in the rules or article, so you may want to stress it there as well.

[Cashew]

No, and I verified with Tynion.

Think of this way:
You want to make a creature who goes against the flow, and takes others with him.

In the example provided:
Thananite, the New Way 2RR
Legendary Creature – Human Knight
First Strike
All knights you control are Red.
When a knight you control attacks, it deals 1 damage to target creature the defending player controls.
Chivalry has always been a limitation of the knighthood, not a definition.
2/2

All knights you control are Red.

Knights aren't typically Red, since it's the color of passion and chaos. Knights typically favor White adhering discipline and loyalty to help people, often offering defensive properties that show that. By putting them Red it opens them into a world where Knights act recklessly and often foolhardy.

When a knight you control attacks, it deals 1 damage to target creature the defending player controls.

This isn't typical of knights to do direct damage and goes against their role as protectors of the people.

Chivalry has always been a limitation of the knighthood, not a definition.

This flavor wraps it all up, they have abandoned Chivalry and the defense of the population in order to kill other's. Best part is the whole thing stays in the general construct of the Knight tribe with the ability very close to how Red often operate (Flanking).

I'll list a few creatures I see in the game as exemplifying what this contest is looking for (or that represent a deep change from the norm)

Akroma, Angel of Fury - Although, not really strong on the leadership aspect of the challenge, it is everything Angels are not.
Rotlung Reanimator - Evil and dark, raising the dead. Everything a Cleric should not.
Haakon, Stromgald Scourge - Another dark knight who rallies Knights to a murdeorus cause.
Savra, Queen of the Golgari - What's an elf doing promoting sacrifice?
Thelon of Havenwood - Why is this guy making Thallids not spend their spore counters. It defies all their logic to spread further.

When desiging for this try to pick a tribe or group and go from there.

Take for instance the Dimir. A revolutionary Dimir creature would bring the guild out of the shadows and encourage it's members to act in the open. Perhaps something like:

Sirslav, Dimir Spy 1UB
Creature - Human Rogue
Play with the top card of your library revealed.
Your opponents cannot play cards that share a type with the top card of your library.
2/2
Why hide in the shadows, when we possess the power to control them in the open? - Sirslav

IMO, this style card would fit as well. It's not in the tribal scheme, but instead it revolutionizes the way you might play the Dimir Guild.

Ultimately what is the safest route is a creature that goes against the norm and brings others with it, sort of a lord that makes your entire tribe oddball itself.

Rovesh, Elven Warlord 2GR
Creature - Elf Beserker
Elf creatures you control must attack each turn if able.
Elf creatures have +1/+0 and trample.
3/3
"Come my brother's for too long we have fought from the forest, let us take the fight to their lands."

[CoglineErro]

How's my new one? Does it fit the flavor?

[boobers]

I completely see what you mean now! I was going a totally different direction with it.

[Eldros]

I don't what to fix with my submission (of there is anything to fix with it), as I was going with the one thrull who led the revolt against their creator. But I'm not sure if the mechanic is completely in the revolutionary spirit. Any feedback?

[Cashew]

Any feedback?

You're on the right track. The main thing I want to add is, what exactly is different about a Thrull with a name and what sense of change would it bring to it's thought process on it's kin?

How's my new one? Does it fit the flavor?

It's more on track, however there is a certain leadership quality your creature should have to get other's to follow it. I don't see that here.

[Maleficent]

My flavor is kind of... different. The revolutionaryism is more implied and deep than I can really tell on the card, and the creature is more of a false revolutionary (but still a revolutionary). That ok? :/

[Tynion]

Thanks Cashew, you are a pal and a peach.

Check out my latest Blog for information that might be helpful in your design.

[CoglineErro]

Mine makes people follow its views by forcing them not to die, thus making their way of recklessness not as reckless. Thus their ideal of death in battle is denied and they are forced to fight with that knowledge. It's a little more subtle way, but if this contest has no room for that sort of subtlety let me know and it will be changed.