November 2009 - MCC - Submission Thread

[Your Worst Nightmare]

Welcome to MDV's November 2009 Monthly Card Design Contest. Now officially hosted by yours truly, which all by itself guarantees a 400% increase in epic and awesome when compared with all past months. But don't worry, the MCC Hot Tub is big enough for ANYONE who wishes to participate! So jump right in - the water's suspiciously warm!

Now, what theme did I choose for the first MCC officially and completely under my guidance? What I'm liking most of all about this new turn Magic is taking is the return of underused creature types. It's been years since we've seen a Hag, a Scarecrow, an Elk, an Antelope, a Boar, an Octopus, a Basilisk, a Turtle, a Jellyfish! But recent sets, with the exception of the Alara block, yet another category in which it's but a dark smudge on an otherwise shiny table, have all delivered that and more! Noggle, Siren, Ally, and Surrakar are all-new creature types that have recently joined the ranks of choosable types for Conspiracy! In regards to that, this month's theme is none other than:

Create a card with two or more creature types in its typeline.

Yes, the creature types have to be in the card's typeline. No changeling shenanigans for you! Note that I don't specify the card has to be a creature, but I will question whether the two creature types are pertaining to the tribal card if you choose to make one. In other words, a "Tribal Instant - Merfolk Wizard" will have to have reason to be both a Merfolk and a Wizard. I will also question made-up creature types if you choose to go that way. Don't think you'll likely get away with creating the creature types Seneschal or Dream when the creature types Advisor and Illusion exist. If you're going to make something up, make sure it's in fact original and it deserves having its own type.


And now for the annoying formal boring stuff, you will be judged on four categories, on a set rubric of 40. A perfect submission should look like this:

Aesthetics: 10/10
Balance: 10/10
Creativity: 10/10
Design: 10/10
TOTAL: 40/40

And what each category is about is as follows:

Aesthetics: Is your card worded correctly, or is it a pain to read? Is your card good-looking, or did you render it in MSPaint? Does the art, regardless of its prettiness, match what the card does? Is the expansion symbol understandable, or is it a garbled collection of pixels? Essentially, in here I will consider the visual aspects of your card.

Balance: Would your card singlehandedly win you the game and break a few formats along the way if printed for real? Or on the other hand, is your card so weak it would hardly be playable, even in limited? Is your card the rarity it should be and does it have the cost it should have for its effect? This category cares about how good your card is in terms of playability and whether you overboard the limit.

Creativity: Is your card original? Does it do something no other card in existence does or combines mechanics in a way no other has? Or is your card yet another version of an already overused trope? Here I will care about how innovative your card is.

Design: Does your card have all the abilities in the world, or is it simple and easy-to-read? Is your card grokkable, or does it take a Ph.D. just to understand what it's supposed to do? Does it interact in an understandable way with other cards in existence without generating sick format-warping combos? Does it work within the current rules of Magic? Or would your card be one of those rules-nightmare cards Wizards wishes they had never made? (Here's looking at you, Piracy and Shahrazad.) I will care about what your card does and how it does it in this category.


And now, the standard rules:

1) Your card must be in card form.
This means you'll have to do extra work beyond simply designing the card. First, you'll need a way to render the card. I highly recommend the Magic Set Editor (http://magicseteditor.sourceforge.net) as it's still highly updated, and is very simple to use. The best looking renders are done by hand in a Photoshop program, but this is not necessary.

You will also need to find a website to host the image for it to be submitted. There are numerous free ones out there if you don't have access to a web host already. One I know to work personally that just requires registration and is very easy to use is Photobucket (http://photobucket.com). An alternative is to use MDV's very own attachment system, also free of course, though that way only people who are logged in will be able to see your card. Refer to the MCC's FAQ thread to learn how to use the attachment service.

Which leads to one last thing you have to find for your card - art.

2) All artwork should be credited and non-copyrighted.
While it may be very hard to find out who made a random image you rip straight off an image search, I highly recommend you locate galleries that will let you know who drew it while using it. Two massive galleries that you should know are Elfwood (http://www.elfwood.com) and deviantART (http://www.deviantart.com).

Make sure you check the artist's profile page thoroughly to see if they are copyrighted are not. You can even go the extra step and ask for permission, which I highly encourage. It is essential that you credit them on the card as well.

3) Submit your entry in this thread.
This thread is for submissions only. There is a separate discussion thread for comments on others cards or talking about the contest itself. A small description and/or explanation of your entry in your submission post is acceptable, but no more than that. If you *MUST* add something else to your post, which I already frown upon, at least put it inside spoiler tags. ([*spoiler]The text that will appear spoilerized.[*/spoiler], minus the *s, will produce the intended effect.)

4) Submit only one entry.
If I'm stressing this particular detail, you better believe it's important. And come deadline, make sure the card you wish to be judged is the only one on your submission post, or is clearly indicated as such.

5) Your card must be balanced.
Do not expect to win if you create some off-the-wall insane creature that has every ability for 10 mana, is a 9/5, is named "Blinky, the Happy Clown" and has a rubber duck for art. The goal is to create a card that could seemingly be printed. From the flavor to the mana cost to the power level of the card - all parts are considered.

6) Stick to the Magic-multiverse.
Magic is a fantasy game. What it isn't is high-tech, sci-fi, or horror. Real-life photograph, like a picture of yourself, is also a no-no in most cases. Magic is also PG-13, so make sure your card accommodates that.

7) Do not create a new keyword.
Use existing keywords, as there are plenty to go around. Feel free to use non-evergreen keywords, the so called "block-based" ones. Just be careful about getting freaky with keywords like affinity and typecycling that are broader and still have uncharted designscape, as well as abilitywords like radiance and chroma that doesn't really take much to, in fact, stop being radiance and chroma abilities. I allow some leniency, but don't stretch it too far.

8) Use correct post-M10 wording.
And this one I cannot stress enough. Magic 2010 changed a lot of the wording some of us were already used to. But Gatherer is always up-to-date on cards' correct wordings, and you can also ask other people for help in the discussion thread, including me. It's the wording that explains what your card does, so if your card's wording is wrong, how can the card be right?

9) Your entry must submitted by November 22nd.
Simple enough? Submit, edit, change as many times as you want until that date, then there will be no more. Keep in mind though that the date may always be changed according to unforeseen circumstances.

And lastly,

10) Have fun!
After all, that's what everyone's here for.


Please use the discussion thread for any other questions regarding the contest. Remember that it's the Writer's Guild that votes on each month's top contenders, decided by me, and that the winning card is hosted on the main site for all to see. Good luck everyone, and let us see those entries!

[Your Worst Nightmare]

[evol_intentions]

[ThunderHog]

[Tekkactus]

Image to come!

Verisieni
Creature- Vampire Fungus (R)

Whenever Verisieni deals damage, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Whenever Verisieni is dealt damage, put a +1/+1 counter on it.

2/3

"What doesn't kill you... well, it's probably not one of these."

Veri + sieni, in case my brilliance is lost on you again. Please note dual meaning of the second term for additional Fridge Brilliance.

[Cashew]

Concept: A slight update to Licids. I wanted to create a creature a spirit creature that was drawn to creatures of a certain tribe. Wolf became my natural choice due to the already existing link between Wolves and Spirits. The Wolf Spirit essentially exists as a Spirit, but when a new Shaman enters the battlefield its essence is instinctively drawn to assist the Shaman returning to its Spirit form once its task is done.

Design Notes:

While Turntimber Ranger has been the most recent Wolf token creator. There has been a Wolf creation theme from Shamans in Magic. This undoubtedly comes from real life & AD&D traits of the Shaman.
http://discordianism.suite101.com/ar...f_spirit_guide

A hidden treat though is the direct inspiration - Everquest. I'm sure numerous players have tried to create Spirit of the Wolf homage cards, but I really like the design on this one. If you're not familiar. SoW is a nature spell primarily cast by Druids, Shamen, Beastlords, & Rangers that speeds up your character's movement. SOW has become a standard acronym in MMROPG for a movement speed increase. Makes me all nostalgic for my first MMROPG character ever - Tokken a Halfling Druid.

I chose to limit it to only Shaman creatures out of simplicity although Druid was included early on in the design. Shaman in Magic do have a minor affinity towards Wolf creatures which solidified my design. See: Master of the Wild Hunt, Wolf-Skull Shaman

The name may be more of an enchantment, but fits the scheme of simplicity in primal and shamanistic cultures. If it was Kawigama you wouldn't even question it =)

[Kamahl's Disciple]

My submission: -

[CoglineErro]

Ok, I think this one. A slightly new take on the classic Creature type pairing.

[MechanicalMind]

entry changed. not final, tho.

[p-chan]

[Umexx]

[kingez36@hotmail.co.uk]

Representing my love for Razorfin Hunter, Gaea's Skyfolk, Coiling Oracle and their ilk

Spoiler:

[Luthervamplord]

[GG Crono]

Direct link: http://i35.tinypic.com/9u3dea.jpg

Proper artwork pending.

[MTG59895]